a cloud of witnesses, or, the sufferers mirrour made up of the swanlike-songs, and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors to the sixteenth century, in their treatises, speeches, letters, prayers, &c. in their prisons, or exiles, at the bar, or stake, &c. / collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of eusebius, fox, fuller, petrie, scotland, and mr. samuel ward's life of faith in death, &c. and alphabetically disposed by t.m., m.a. cloud of witnesses. part mall, thomas, b. or . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing m estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a cloud of witnesses, or, the sufferers mirrour made up of the swanlike-songs, and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors to the sixteenth century, in their treatises, speeches, letters, prayers, &c. in their prisons, or exiles, at the bar, or stake, &c. / collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of eusebius, fox, fuller, petrie, scotland, and mr. samuel ward's life of faith in death, &c. and alphabetically disposed by t.m., m.a. cloud of witnesses. part mall, thomas, b. or . flavel, john, ?- . [ ], p. printed for the author, and are to be sold by robert boulter ..., london : . "to the reader" signed: j.f. 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mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng christian martyrs -- early works to . church history -- middle ages, - . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a cloud of witnesses ; or , the sufferers mirrour , made up of the swanlike-songs , and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors , to the sixteenth century , in their treatises , speeches , letters , prayers , &c. in their prisons , or exiles ; at the bar , or stake , &c. collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of eusebius , fox , fuller , petrie , scotland , and mr. samuel ward 's life of faith in death , &c. and alphabetically disposed . by t. m. m. a. hebr. . . wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses , let us run with patience the race , that is set before us . james . . take , my brethren , the prophets , who have spoken in the name of the lord , for an example of suffering afflliction and patience . london . printed for the author , and are to be fold by robert boulter in saint paul's church-yard . . gentle reader , thou art desired to take notice , that through the transposing of some leaves of the manuscript , the authour living far distant , there hath been committed an errour at the press , in mr. iohn bradford's letters , beginning at page . line . immediately before mr. iohn brown. wherefore thou art entreated to turn to page . line . and read to page . line . and so the mistake will be rectified . renowned mr. samuel ward of ipswich gives the following testimony to the living speeches of dying christians , which he collected . as for their last speeches and apothegms , pity it is no better mark hath been taken , and memory preserved of them . the choice and prime i have culled out of ancient stories and later martyrologies , english , dutch , and french. the profit and pleasure hath paid me for the labour of collecting , and the like gain ( i hope ) shall quit the cost of thy reading . — by these , which are but an handful of christs camp-royal , it sufficiently appears , they had their faith fresh and lively in the face of their grand enemy , death ; and by vertue of their faith , their spirits , wits and tongues , untroubled , and undismayed . the learned and ingenious author of the preface to mr. frith's treatises of preparation to the cross ( under the title of vox pisces , or the book-fish ) gives the following testimony to several of the remarkable passages in this collection . perhaps unto some palats no lequor seemeth desirable , but that which hath a delicious tang of the curiosity of these later times , both for method and stile . for my part i say with the words in the gospel , luke . . the old wine is better . and accordingly contemplating and comparing the devout discourses written in our language upon the breaking forth of the light of reformation , i am far more deeply taken with the solid simplicity and powerful spirit , which methinks i find in the writings of those confessors and martyrs , who watered the garden of reformation with their own bloud in this land , then with the more elaborate and artificial composures , written more lately in the times of our peace . who in reading the letters and ghostly meditations of blessed bradford , taylor , philpot , &c. yea even of other their brethren less learned , that wrote and spake with that hand , heart , and breath , which they were most ready to yield up for the testimony of the truth , doth not therein perceive that lively warmth of holy zeal , which is able to awake even a dull and sleepy soul ? among which martyrs , as this worthy frith is one of the first for antiquity , so well may he be in the foremost rank for comfortable exhortation and soundness of doctrine . the collectors preface . the speeches of dying men are remarkable ; the speeches of dying christians are much more remarkable ; how remarkable then are the speeches of dying witnesses for christ ? it is rationally expected that dying men , much more that dying christians , and most of all that dying witnesses for christ should speak best at last . it is their last . and the sun shineth brightest at setting . they are immediately to give in their last account . they are upon the borders of eternity . and the motions of nature are more intense , as they draw nearer the center . to be sure , saints are most heavenly , when nearest heaven . rivers , the nearer the sea , the sooner are met by the tide . we have good scripture-ground to expect that dying christians , especially dying witnesses for christ , should have extraordinary assistances from on high for their last discourses : that the wine of the spirit should be strongest in them at their last . they have gods word for it , that in that hour it shall be given them , what they shall speak : for it is not they that speak but the spirit of their father . one observeth that when stephen was to deliver his last speech , and to suffer , he was filled with the holy ghost , so that all that sate in the council , looking stedfastly on stephen , saw his face , as if it had been the face of an angel. his soul was so warmed by the love of god , that he looked both his adversaries and the tempestuous approaching storm out of countenance . when he was stoned he got a larger sight . he saw the heavens opened , and his majestick glorious master , the light-giving diamond of heaven , standing at his fathers right hand . and this he got , no doubt , as for himself , so to hearten all those that were to come after , he being the first martyr after christ. hence it hath been often found , that their last speeches have been oraculous and prophetical . zenophon personates cyrus as inspired , whilst he is breathing out his last requests . the nearer we return to the original divinity ( as plotinus speaketh ) the more divine we grow . one observeth from a scripture instance , that what hath been asserted by dying witnesses , hath most speedily come to pass . zachariah told the children of israel , because ye have for saken the lord , he hath also forsaken you . for this he was immediately stoned , and the lord sealed his word very speedily afterwards ; for the assyrians coming with a small company against them , the lord delivered a very great multitude into their hands , and so without delay in their sight sealed the words of his dying witness zachariah . and why his word sooner then isaiah's , ieremiah's , ezekiel's ? &c. by them he pleaded much longer with his apostatizing church . i know none but this : it was the lords pleasure ; and to shew his respect to dying witnesses , that he would have what they say taken special notice of . it may be , that he might shew , that whatever fail , the words of dying witnesses shall not fall to the ground . it is true , we must not lay such weight upon these sayings , as we must lay upon scripture prophesies ; for though such sayings may be true prophesies , yet we are not infallibly assured that these are prophesies , till they be accomplished : yet their sayings , while dying for and in the lord , do give good encouragement to them that remain alive , and so to be much esteemed by them ; whether they respect the honour of god , or the good of souls . the last speeches of christs dying witnesses , have extorted even from heathens acknowledgments to the honour of god , that truly the christians god is a great god : yea , by them sinners have been converted . iustin martyr and others by observing the end the martyrs made , were brought out of love with the wayes of sin , and in love with the wayes of holiness . these speeches ( here collected ) are called swan-like songs for their remarkableness , a cloud of witnesses , and the sufferers mirrour for their usefulness . the israelites found not onely comfort in the shadow of the cloud in the wilderness , but a directive vertue therein , they were led by it . there is a double power in such instances both to comfort , and to assimulate . to see that others have suffered worse is no small comfort to sufferers . iacob's sheep conceived according to the colour of the rods , that lay in the troughs . our conceptions will be like our visions : like the examples that are set before our eyes . here ( as in a glass ) even the best may see their spots ; and all , especially sufferers , may learn how to dress themselves for death . how can the best of us read these passages , without shame for our low attainments , for our little proficiency in the school of christ ? how unlike are our faces to the faces in this mirrour ? how self-denying were they ? how selfish are we ? how crucified to the world were they ? how much glued thereunto are we ? how easie was it for them to chuse the greatest sufferings , rather then the least sin ? how hard is it for us not to chuse the greatest sin , rather then the least suffering ? how willing were they to part with all for christ ? how unwilling are we to part with littles for christ ? what an honour did they esteem it to suffer for christ , to be chain'd , to be whipt , to be wrackt , to be halter'd , to be stak'd for christ ? have we such esteems of sufferings for christ , and of such sufferings ? are not we ashamed of our glory ? how patient were they under the greatest tortures ? how impatient are we under very little troubles ? how hot was their love to christ , his truths , ordinances , people ? how cold is ours ? how zealous were they for the honour of god ? how luke-warm are we ? how magnanimous were they ? how cowardly and dastardly are we ? how humble were they ? how proud are we ? how broken-hearted were they ? how hard-hearted are we ? what sympathizing spirits had they ? how little fellow-feeling is there now among christians ? how active were they for the glory of god , and good of souls under their sufferings ? how slothful are we ? and how little do we for either under our sufferings ? how strong was their faith ? how weak is ours ? how fearless were they of man , who can only kill the body ? how fearful are we ? how many of these worthies attained unto assurance , and had their evidences for heaven clear ? how are the most of us in the dark , as to an interest in god , and a right and title to glory ? how willing and desirous were they to die , even a violent death ? how loth are we to die , even a natural death ? how did they without the least fear play on the hole of this asp , and with much courage put their hand into the den of this cockatrice ? but how doth the fear of this king of terrors make us subject to bondage ? thus they are useful to shame us : they are also usefull to prepare us to die , especially a violent death . such examples chalk the way more plainly , then bare direction : these encourage more heartily : these perswade more powerfully : these chide unbelief with more authority . i beseech you all , who are the lords people , ( said one lately ) not to scare at suffering for the interests , of christ ; because of any thing you may see fall out in these days , as to the sufferings of his servants : but be encouraged to do and suffer ; for i assure you , in the name of the lord , he will bear all your charges . i do again assure you , in his name , he will furnish all your expences , and bear all your charges . mr. rough learn'd the way to martyrdome by seeing and hearing austo at the stake in smithfield . coming from his burning , and being askt where he had been , he made answer , there where i would not but have been for one of mine eyes : & would you know where ? forsooth , i have been to learn the way . and soon after he followed him in the same place and the same kind of death . now if one president made him so good a scholar ; what dullards and non-proficients are we , if such a cloud of instances work not in us a chearful ability to expect and encounter the same adversary , so often foiled before our eyes ? i shall detain thee no longer from seeing these rare sights , but now invite thee in the words of rev. . . the good lord adde his blessing , that thine eye may affect thy heart , and that these remarkable passages may be thus usefull to all our souls , and that the cloud of witnesses may not be a standing witness against any of us . farewell . to the reader . reader , the life present is onely preparative to that to come , as the hidden life in the womb to the more perfect and noble life in the world , col. . salvation is not instantaneous . the heirs of glory make their gradual approaches to it , and enter upon their inheritance by degrees , rom. . . and the nearer they come to heaven , the more heavenly their spirits are . could a man but hear the last breathings and whispers of dying saints , how would he melt and ravish ? like the sun they appear most great and glorious at setting . god often leads them to the top of pisg●h , whence they have a prospect of canaan , a little bef●re they enter in to possess it . but although god doth frequently indulge those that die in the faith of christ with rare and excellent visions of christ , yet ordinarily those that die for christ as well as in christ , have a benjamin's portion in comparison of their brethren . there is a joy proper to martyrs , which is bestowed upon them as an honorarium , partly to reward their faithfulness in trials past ; and partly to encourage them to break through the difficulties which yet remain . in these joyes heaven is let down to earth , glory antedated , and a short salvation here obtained , pet. . . during the continuance of this glorious frame , they are acted above the ordinary rate of man , which makes the world stand at gaze , an● all that behold them to admire at them . their aspec● is rather angelical then humane , acts . . and they seem no longer fit to be reckoned to the tribe o● mortalls on earth , but rather ranked with the glorious saints and seraphims in heaven ; they no longer wrap themselves up in their garment of flesh but the onely strife among them seems to be wh● shall first cast it off , to put on the garments of glory prepared for them . reader , wouldst thou see some of these earthly angels ? men that are a little too low for heaven , and much too high for earth . wouldst thou see poor frail creatures trampling the world under their feet , and with an holy scorn smiling at the threat● of tyrants , who are the terrors of the mighty in the land of the living ? wouldst thou see shackled prisoners behave themselves like iudges ; and iudges stand like prisoners before them ? woulds● thou see some of the rare exploits of faith , in it highest elevation immediately before it be swallowed up in the beatifical vision ? to conclude , woulds● thou see the heavenly ierusalem pourtraied o● earth , as the earthly ierusalem once was upon 〈◊〉 tile , ezek. . . and wouldst thou hear the melodious voices of ascending saints , in a ravishing consort , ready to joyn with the heavenly chorus , 〈◊〉 their ravishing hallelujahs ? then draw near come and see . if thou be a man of an heavenly spirit , here is brave and suitable entertainment for th● spirit . and after thou hast conversed a while wit these excellent spirits , it may be thou wilt judg● as i do , that dead saints are sweeter companion ( in some respects ) for thee to converse with , the● those that are living . and when thou shalt see th● magnificent acts of their faith , their invincible patience , their flaming love to christ , their strange contempt of the world , their plainness and simplicity in the profession of the gospel , and their fervent love to each other ; thou wilt mourn also with me to consider the scandalous and shamefull relapse of professors from these glorious heights , and to think how many degrees these graces are gone back in the souls of professors , as the sun upon the dial of ahaz . the judicious collector hath gathered this posie from the martyrs graves , bound up in an excellent method , and presented it to thee . here thou hast the cream of the larger martyrologies scum'd off , the very spirits of them extracted , which is more cheap and less tiresome . he intends if god permit a second part speedily . and i assure thee he is a person singularly qualified for the work , having both materials and judgement to dispose his collections . bless god for such profitable instruments , and improve their labours . such a book hath been long desired , many have attempted it , but every one hath not that furniture of books and parts for it . solomon detecting some of those artifices which the buyer useth in trading , prov. . . detects this as one , it is naught , it is naught ( saith the buyer ) i. e. he disparageth the commodity , to beat down the price , but when he is gone he bo●steth . i am mistaken if thou also do not boast of thy penny-worth in this book when thou art gone and hast well perused it , that it may reach the end upon thy heart for which it is designed , is the desire of thy friend to serve thee , i. f. the books poetical prologue i tell their death's , who dying , made death yield , by scriptures sword , and faith's unbattered shield their number 's numberless who ran to die under their saviour's standard valiantly . more saints ten tyrant emperours did slay , then for a year , five thousand to each day . since iesu●tes from th' infernal lake did rise , more then eight hundred thousand lost their lives in thirty years . bloody duke d' alva will'd in six years eighteen thousand to be kill'd . in henry's and in mary's bloody reign eight thousand have inhumanely been slain . twelve thousand and seven hundred more were stockt , or whipt , or wrackt , or else exil'd , or mockt . i onely promise many a swan-like song ; read them , and beg of god with heart and tongue , that as the vine , that 's cut , and prun'd bears more in one year , then it did in three before ; so may christs vine : and may the saints of god ( as cammomile ) grow better being trod . and may christs sufferer● in like cases find the living god as near , as true , as kind , as these have found ; and learn sin more ●o fear , then parting with what er'e they count most dear . swan-like songs . a. adrian . adrian's wife seeing the coffin hooped with iron , wherein she was to be buried alive , spake thus , have you provided this pasty-crust to bake my flesh in ? agnes . agnes a roman martyr , contemning all threats of tortures , was assaulted as to her chastity . to the lascivious wretch she said , thou shalt willingly bathe thy sword in my blood , if thou wilt , but thou shalt not defile my body with filthy lust , do what thou canst . hereupon his eyes were struck out by a flame of fire , like unto a flash of lightning , and upon her prayer he was restored to sight again . when she saw a sturdy cruel fellow ( to behold ) approaching with a naked sword in his hand ; i am now glad ( said she ) and rejoyce more , that such an one as thou , a stout , fierce , strong , and sturdy souldier art come , then if one more feeble , weak , and faint-hearted should come . this , even this is he , i now confess , that i do love : i will make haste to meet him , and will no longer protract my longing desire . albane . albane ( england's proto-martyr ) delivered up himself to the souldiers instead of amphibolus , who had converted him to christianity , after he had fled to his house for refuge , and being bound , was carried before the judge , who at that time was sacrificing to his idols . the judge perceiving the fraud , told albane , forasmuch as thou hadst rather convey away the rebel and traytor to our gods , then deliver him up to the souldiers , that he might undergo due punishment for blaspheming our gods ; look what torments he should have suffered , if he had been taken , the same shalt thou suffer , if thou refuse to practise the rites of our religion . albane , notwithstanding his threats , told him plainly to his face , that he would not obey his command . then said the judge , of what house and stock art thou ? albane answered , it matters not of what stock i am ; but if thou desirest to know my religion , be it known unto thee , i am a christian , &c. then the judge demanded his name : my parents ( said he ) named me albane ; and i honour and worship the true and living god , that made all things of nothing . the judge told him , if he would save his life , he must come and sacrifice to their gods . albane answered , the sacrifice that you offer to the devil profits you nothing , but rather purchaseth for you eternal pains and hell fire . the judge commanded him to be beheaded . the executioner , observing his saith and fervent prayers , fell down at his feet , casting from him the sword , desired rather to be executed for , or with him , then to do execution upon him ; yet afterwards another gave the fatal blow . alcock . constable rolf ( iohn alcocks master ) having bail'd his servant , said unto him , i am sorry for thee ; for truly the parson will seek thy destruction : sir ( said alcock ) i am sorry i am a trouble to you ; as for my self i am not sorry , but i do commit my self into gods hands , and i trust he will give me a mouth and wisdome to answer according to right . yet ( said rolph ) take heed of him , he is a blood-sucker , &c. i fear not ( said a●cock ) he shall do no more to me then god will give him leave ; and happy shall i be , if god will call me to die for his truths sake . in his first letter to hadley he writes thus : o my brethren of hadley , why are ye so soon turned from them , which called you into the grace of christ , to another doctrine ? — though those should come unto you , that have been your true preachers , and preach another way of salvation , then by jesus christs death and passion , hold them accursed : yea , if it were an angel came from heaven , and would tell you that the sacrifice of christs body upon the cross once for all , were not sufficient for all the sins of all those that shall be saved , accursed be he . — why cometh this plague upon us ? cometh not this upon thee , because thou hast forsaken the lord thy god ? thine own wickedness shall reprove thee , and thy turning away shall condemn thee , that thou mayest know how evil and hurtful a thing it is , that thou hast forsaken the lord thy god. algerius . pomponius algerius , whilst he was a prisoner at venice , before he was burnt at rome , writ thus in his comfortable letter to the christians , departed out of babylon into mount sion . to mitigate your sorrow , which you take for me , i cannot but impart unto you some portion of my joyes , which i feel , to the intent you may rejoyce with me . — i shall utter that , which scarce any will believe : i have found a nest of honey , an honey-comb in the entrails of a lion. in the deep dark dungeon i have found a paradise of pleasure . in the place of sorrow and death , tranquility of hope and life : where others do weep , i do rejoyce ; when others do shake and tremble , there i have found plenty of strength and boldness : in strait bands , and cold irons i have had rest : behold he that was once far from me , now is present with me ; whom once i could scarce feel , i now see most apparently ; whom once i saw afar off , now i behold near at hand , whom once i hungred for , the same now approacheth and reacheth his hand unto me ; he doth comfort me , and heapeth me up with gladness ; he driveth away all bitterness ; he ministreth strength and courage , &c. — o how easie and sweet is the lords yoke ! learn , ye well-beloved , how amiable the lord is , how meek , and merciful , who visiteth his servants in temptations ; neither disdaineth he to keep company with us in such vile and stinking caves . will the blind and incredulous world ( think you ) believe this ? or rather will it not say thus ? no , thou wilt never be able to abide long the burning heat , the pinching hardness of that place , &c. the rebukes and frowning faces of great men how wilt thou suffer ? dost not thou consider thy pleasant countrey , the riches of the world , thy kinsfolk , the delicate pleasures and honours of this life ? dost thou forget the solace of thy sciences , and fruit of all thy labours ? wilt thou thus lose all thy labours which thou hast hitherto sustained ? finally , fearest thou not death which hangeth over thee ? o what a fool art thou , which for one words speaking mayest salve all this and wilt not ! but now to answer : let this blind world hearken to this again , what heat can there be more burning , then that fire which is prepared for thee hereafter ? what things more hard , and sharp , and crooked then this present life which we lead ? what thing more odious and hateful then this world here present ? and let these worldly men here answer me . what countrey can we have more sweet then the heavenly countrey above ? what treasures more rich or precious then everlasting life ? and who be our kinsmen but they which hear the word of god ? where be greater riches or dignities more honourable then in heaven . and as touching the sciences , let this foolish world consider , be not they ordained to know god ? whom unless we do know , all our labours , our night-watchings , our studies , and all our enterprises here serve to no purpose , all is but labour lost . furthermore let the miserable worldly men answer me . what remedy or safe refuge can there be unto him who lacks god , who is the life & medicine of all men , & how can he be said to fly from death , when he himself is already dead in sin ? if christ be the way , verity & life , how can there be any life without christ ? the solely heat of the prison to me is coldness ; the cold winter to me is a fresh spring in the lord. he that feareth not to be burned in the fire , how will he fear the heat of weather ? or what careth he for the pinching frost , which burneth for the love of the lord ? the place is sharp and tedious to them that be guilty , but to the innocent it is mellifluous . here droppeth the delectable dew , here floweth the pleasant nectar , here runneth the sweet milk , here is plenty of all good things . — in this world there is no mansion firm to me , and therefore i will travel up to the new ierusalem , which is in heaven , and which offereth it self to me without paying any fine or income . — i have travelled hitherto , laboured , and sweat early and late , watching day and night , and now my travels begin to come to effect . — what man can now cavil , that these our labours are lost , which have followed and found out the lord and maker of the world , and which have changed death with life ? — if to die in the lord be not to die , but to live most joyfully , where is this wretched worldly rebel , which blameth us of folly , for giving away our lives unto death ? o how delectable is this death to me ! to taste of the lords c●p. — i am accused of foolishness , for that i do not rid my self out of these troubles , when with one word i may . but doth not christ say , fear not them which kill the body , but him which killeth both body and soul ; and whosoever shall confess me before men , him will i also c●n●ess before my father which is in he●v●n ; and he that denieth me before men , him will i also deny before my heavenly father . seeing the words of the lord be so plain , how , or by what authority will this wise counsellor approve this his counsel which he doth give ? god forbid that i should relinquish the commandements of god , and follow the counsels of men ; for it is written , blessed is the man that hath not g●ne in the way of sinners , and hath not stood in the counsel of the ungodly , &c. psal. . . god forbid i should deny christ , where i ough to confess him ; i will not set more by my life , then by my soul ; neither will i exchange the life to come for this world here present . — this letter he underwrit thus ; from the delectable orchard of leonine prison , calend. august . an. . allen. sir edmond tyrrel bidding rose allen to give her father and mother good counsel , that they might become good catholicks ; sir ( said she ) they have a better instructour then i , for the holy ghost doth teach them , i hope , who i trust will not suffer them to erre . thereupon the knight said , it is time to look to such hereticks . sir ( said she ) with that which you call herelie , do i worship my lord god. then i perceive ( said tyrrel ) you will burn with the rest for company . no sir ( said she ) not for company , but for my christs sake , if so i be compelled , and i hope in his mercies if he call me to it , he will enable me to bear it . to try her tyrrel burnt the wrist of her hand with a candle , till the very sinews crackt asunder , saying often to her , what , whore , wilt not thou cry ? to which she answered , that she had no cause she thanked god , but rather to rejoyce ; you ( said she ) have more cause to weep then i , if you consider the matter well . at last she said , sir , have you done what you will do ? he answering , yea , and if thou th●nk it be not well , then mend it . she replied , mend it ! nay the lord mend you , and give you repentance , if it be his will ; and now if you think it good to begin at the feet , and burn the head also . she being asked by one , how she could abide the painful burning of her hand ; she said , at first it was some grief to her ; but afterward the longer she burned , the less she felt , even well near none at all . almondus . my body dies ( said a●ondus a via ) my spirit lives . gods kingdome abides ever , god hath now given me the accomplishment of all my de●●res . alost . francis d' alost , a cutler in flanders , being conducted to prison , said , now you have taken me , you think to deprive me of life , and thereby to bring great damage to me ; but you are deceived , for it is all one , as if you took counters from me to fill my hand with a great sum of gold . as he went to suffer , he used that speech of the apostle st. peter , i must now shortly put off this my earthly tabernacle , pet. . . which the love of iesus my lord constraineth me to do , cor. . . am●chus . turn ( said he ) the other side also , least raw flesh offend you . ambrose . i have not so lived ( said he ) that i am ashamed to live longer , nor yet fear i death , because i have a good lord. to calignon ( valentinians eunuch ) threatning death , he said , well , do you that which becomes an eunuch , i will suffer that which becomes a bishop . andrew . when the proconsul threatned andrew the apostle with the cross , if he left not off his preaching ; i would never ( said he ) have preached the doctrine of the cross , if i had feared the suffering of the cross. when he came to the cross on which he was to be crucified , he said , o cross most welcome , and long look'd for , with a willing mind joyfully i come to thee , being the scholar of him that did hang on thee ; welcome o christ longed and looked for ; i am the scholar of him that was crucified , long have i coveted to embrace thee , in whom i am what i am . anvil . frederick anvil of bearne , to the friers that willed him to call on the virgin mary , three times repeated , thine o lord is the kingdome , thine is the power and glory for ever and ever ; let us fight , let us fight , avant , satan , avant . apprice . bonner asking iohn apprice what he thought of the sacrament of the altar ; he answered , the doctrine you teach is so agreeable to the world , and embraced of the same , that it cannot be agreeable to the word of god. ardley . iohn ardley being urged by bonner to recant , cried out , if every hair of my head were a man , i would suffer death for my religion . being again sollicited to recant ; no , god forbid ( said he ) that i should do so , for then i shall lose my soul. arethusius . marcus arethusius having at the command of constantinus pulled down a certain temple , dedicated to idols , and instead thereof built up a church , where the christians might congregate ; under iulianus he was beaten , cast into a filthy sinck , put into a basket anointed with honey and broth , hung abroad in the heat of the sun , as meat for wasps to feed on , hereby it was hoped he would be enforced either to build up again the temple which he had destroyed , or else give so much money as would pay for the building of the same . this good man whilest he hung in the basket , did not onely conceal his pains , but derided those wicked instruments of his torments , calling them bafe , low , terrene people , and himself exalted , and set on high , when they told him they would be contented with a small sum of money from him : he said , it is as great a wickedness to confer one half-penny in case of impiety , as if a man should bestow the whole . askew . mrs. iane askew being called by the bishop of winchester , a parrot , told him , that she was ready to suffer not onely his rebukes , but all things that should follow besides ; yea , and all that gladly . to her confession in newgate she thus subscribed ; written by me jane askew , who neither wish death , nor fear its might , and as merry as one bound towards heaven . in her confession of her faith she saith , though god hath given me the bread of adversity , and the waters of trouble , yet not so much as my sins have deserved . when nicholas sharton counselled her to recant , as he had done , she said , it had been good for him never to have been born . in an answer to a letter of mr. lacell's , she writ thus ; o friend , most dearly beloved in god , i marvail not a little what should m●ve you to judge in me so slender a faith as to fear death , which is the end of all misery . in the lord i desire you not to believe of me such weakness , for i doubt not but god will perform his work in me , like as he hath begun . when wrisley lord chancellor sent to her letters at the stake , offering her the kings pardon , if she would recant ; she refusing once to look upon them , gave this answer : that she came not thither to deny her lord and master . attalus . he answered to every question , i am a christian . being fired in an iron chain ; behold ( said he ) o you romans , this is to eat man's flesh , which you falsly object to us christians . audebert . blessed be god ( said anne audebert of orleance ) for this wedding girdle ( meaning the chain ) my first marriage was on this lords day , and now my second to my spouse and lord christ shall be on the same . augustine . boughs fall off trees ( said he ) and stones out of buildings , and why should it seem strange that mortal men die ? austine . austine a barbar , born about hennegow in germany , as he was led to execution , being desired by a gentleman to have pity upon himself , and if he would not favour his life , yet that he would favour his own soul : he answered , what care i have of my soul , you may see by this ; that i had rather give my body to be burned , then to do that thing that were against my conscience . b babilas . babilas bishop of antioch , being cast by decius into a filthy stinking prison for the name of christ , with as many irons as he could bear , intreated his friends ( that visited him ) that after his death they would bury with him the signs and tokens of his valour , meaning his bolts and fetters . now ( said he ) will god wipe away all tears , and now i shall walk with god in the land of the living . bainham . mr. iames bainham , when he repented of his recantation in austin's church in london , he declared openly with weeping eyes , that he had denied god , and prayed all the people to beware of his weakness , and not to do as he did ; for ( saie he ) if i should not return again unto the truth , this word of god ( he having a new testament in his hand ) would damn me both body and soul at the day of judgement . he perswaded them to die by and dy , rather then to do as he did ; for he would not feel such an hell again for all the worlds good . when he was at the stake in the midst of the flaming fire , which had half consumed his arms and legs , he spake these words ; o ye papists , behold , ye look for miracles , and here now you may see a miracle ; for in this fire i feel no more pain , then if i were in a bed of down , it is to me as a bed of roses . bar●evil . iohn barbevil said to the friers that called him ignorant ass ; well , admit i were so , yet shall my bloud witness against such balaams as you be . bale . mr. john bale in his excellent paraphrase in apocalyps . in his preface — he that will live godly in christ jesus , and be a patient sufferer ; he that will stand in gods fear , and prepare himself to temptation ; he that will be strong when adversity shall come , and avoid all assaults of antichrist and the devil , let him give himself wholly to the study of this prophesie — he that knoweth not this book , knoweth not what the church is , whereof he is a member . — it containeth the universal troubles , persecutions and crosses , that the church suffered in the primitive spring , what is suffereth now , and what it shall suffer in the later times , by the subtilties of antichrist and his followers , the cruel members of satan ; and it manifesteth what promises , what crowns , and what glory the said congregation shall have , after this present conflict with the enemies , that the promised rewards might quicken the hearts of those that the torments feareth . — unto st. iohn were these mysteries revealed , when he was by the emperor domitianus exiled for his preaching , into the isle of patmos , at the cruel complaints of the idolatrous priests and bishops , and by him writ and sent out of the same exile into the congregations . — the contents of this book are from no place more freely and clearly opened , nor told forth more boldly , then out of exile . — flattery dwelling at home , and sucking there still his mothers breasts , may never tell out the truth , he seeth so many dangers on every side , as displeasure of friends , decay of name , loss of goods , offence of great men , and jeopardy of life , &c. the forsaken wretched sort hath the lord provided alwayes to rebuke the world of sin , hypocrisie , blindness ; for nought is it therefore that he hath exiled a certain number of believing brethren the realms of england , of the which afflicted family my faith is that i am one . whereupon i have considered it is no less my bounden duty , under pain of damnation , to admonish christs flock by this present revelation of their perils past , and dangers to come for contempt of the gospel , which now reigneth there above all in the clergy . — graciously hath the lord called them , especially now of late , but his voice is nothing regarded . his servants have they imprisoned , tormented , and slain , having his verity in much more contempt then before . we looked for a time of peace , ( saith the prophet ieremiah ) and we fare not the better at all ; we waited for a time of health , and we find here nothing else but trouble . and no marvel , considering the beasts head that was wounded , is now healed up again so workmanly , as rev. . mentioneth . the abominable hopocrisie , idolatry , pride , and filthiness of those terrible termagaunts of antichrists holy houshold , those two-horned whoremongers , those conjurers of egypt , and lecherous locusts , leaping out of the bottomless pit , which daily deceive the ignorant multitude with their sorceries and charms , must be shewed to the world to their utter shame and confusion . — . to tell them freely of their wicked works by the scriptures , i have exiled my self for ever from mine own native countrey , kindred , friends , acquaintance , ( which are the great delights of this life ) and am well contented for the sake of christ , and for the comfort of my brethren there , to suffer poverty , penury , abjection , reproof , and all that shall come beside . — here are we admonished before-hand of two most dangerous evils ; neither to agree with those tyrants , that wage war with the lamb in his elect members , nor yet to obey those deceitful bishops , that in hypocrisie usurp the churches titles . — of those hath our heavenly lord premonished us in this heavenly work of his , and graciously called us away from their abominations , lest we should be partakers of their sins , and so receive of their plagues . if we unthankfully neglect it , the greater is our danger . — barlaam . he holding his hand in the flame over the altar , sung that of the psalmist , thou teachest my hands to war , and my fingers to fight . barnes . i have been reported ( said dr. barnes at the stake ) to be a preacher of sedition , and disobedient to the kings majesty ; but here i say to you , that you are all bound by the command of god , to obey your prince with all humility , and with all your heart ; and that not onely for fear of the sword , but also for conscience sake before god : yea , i say further , if the king should command you any thing against gods law , if it be in your power to resist him , yet may you not do it . basil. when valens the emperour sent his officers to him , seeking to turn him from the faith : and first of all great preferments were offered him ; basil rejected them with scorn : offer these things ( said he ) to children . when he was afterwards threatned grievously ; threaten ( said he ) your purple gallants , that give themselves to their pleasures . when the emperors messenger promised him great preferment , alas , sir , ( said this bishop of caes●rca ) these speeches are fit to catch little children , that look after such things ; but we that are taught and nourished by the holy scriptures , are ready to suffer a thousand deaths , rather then to suffer one syllable or tittle of the scripture to be altered . when the emperour threatned to banish him , &c. if he obeyed not , he said , those bug-bears were to be propounded to children ; but for his part , though they might take away his life , yet they could not hinder him from professing the truth . when modestus the praefect asked him , know you not who we are that command it ? no body ( said basil ) whilst you command such things . know ye not ( said the praefect ) that we have honours to bestow upon you ? they are but changeable ( said basil ) like your selves . hereupon he threatned to confiscate his goods , to torment him , to banish him , or kill him ; he answered , he need not fear confiscation , that had nothing to lose nor banishment , to whom heaven onely is a countrey ; nor torments , when his body would be dash'd with one blow ; nor death , which is the onely way to set him at liberty . the praefect telling him he was mad , he said , opto me in ae●●ernum sic delirare , i wish i may for ever be thus mad. the praefect another time threatning him with death he said , would it would fall out so well on my side , that i might lay down this carkass of mine in the quarrel of christ , and in the defence o● his truth , who is my head and captain . the praefect desiring that he would not , by rashly answering , throw himself away , offered him a day and night to consider further of it ; but basil said , i have no need to take further counsel about this matter : look what i am to day , the same thou shalt find me to morrow ; but i pray god that thou change not thy mind . benden . alice benden , when she was in prison at canterbury , agreed with a fellow prisoner to live both of them with two pence half penny a day , to try thereby how well they could sustain penury and hunger before they were put to it . at her first coming into the bishops prison , she was much troubled , and expostulated why her lord did suffer her to be sequestred from her loving fellowes in so extreme misery ? but was comforted ▪ by these words , why ar● thou so heavy , o my soul ? the right hand of the lord can change all . at the stake she took forth a shilling of philip and mary , which her father had bowed● and sent her when she was first in prison , desiring her brother there present , to return the same to her father again , that he might understand she never lacked money whilst she lay in prison . bennet . mr. thomas ●ennet , a school-master in exceter , being press't by a doctour , a gray frier , to recant for putting upon the doors of the cathedral in schedules , that the pope is antichrist , and that we ought to worship god onely , and not the saints , said , i take god to record , my life is not dear to me , i am weary of it , seeing your detestable doings , to the utter destruction of gods flock , so that i desire death , that i may no longer be partaker of your detestable idolatries and superstitions , or be subject unto antichrist your pope . — away from me i pray you , vex my soul no longer , ye shall not prevail . — if i should hear and follow you this day , everlasting death should hang over me , a just reward for them that prefer the life of this world before life eternal . berger . peter berger , burnt at lions ● . beholding the multitude at the stake , said , great is the harvest , lord , send labourers , i see the heavens open to receive me . b●tken . when she was brought to the rack , she said , my masters , wherefore will you put me to this torture , seeing i have no way offended you ? is it for my faith's sake ? you need not torment me for that , for as i was never ashamed to make confession thereof , no more will i be now at this present before you , i will freely shew you my mind therein . but for all 〈◊〉 when they proceeded on with what they inte●●●● , alas my masters , said she , if it be so that i must suffer this pain , then give me leave first to call upon god. her request they granted : whilst she wa● praying , one of the commissioners was so sur●●●● with fear and terrour , that by and by he swo●●● ▪ ●nd could not be fetcht again , and so she esca●●● the torture . bilney . mr. thomas bilney in a letter to dr. tonstal bishop of london , he gives this account of his conversion . — the woman which was twelve years vexed with the bloudy flux , had consumed all that she had upon physicians , and yet was still worse and worse , untill such time as she came to christ , and after she had once touched the hem of his vesture , through faith she was healed . o mighty power of the most high ! which i also most miserable sinner have often tasted and felt . before i came to christ i had likewise spent all i had upon ignorant physicians . — they appointed me fastings , watchings , buying of pardons , and masses , &c. but at last i heard speak of jesus , even then , when the new testament was first set out by erasmu● . at first i was allured to read , rather for the latine ( having heard it was eloquently done ) then for the word of god. at the first reading i hit upon this sentence of st. paul , ( o most sweet and comfortable sentence to my soul ) in tim. . it is a true saying , and worthy of all acceptation , that christ jesus came into the world to save sinners , of whom i am chief . this sentence through gods instruction and inward working , did so exhilarate my heart , being before wounded with the guilt of my sins , insomuch that my bruised bones leapt for joy . after this the scripture began to be more pleasant to me then the honey or the honey-comb . therein i learned that all my travels , all my fasting and watching , all the redemption of masses and pardons , without faith in christ , were but a hasty and swift running out of the right way , or else much like the vesture made of fig-leaves , wherewithall adam and eve went about in vain to cover their nakedness , and could never obtain quietness and rest , till they believed in the promise of god , that christ the seed of the woman should break the serpents head . neither could i be relieved or eased of the sharp stingings of my sins , before i was taught of god , that even as moses exalted the serpent in the desart , so shall the son of man be exalted , that all which believe on him , should not perish , but have everlasting life . as soon as i began to taste and savour this heavenly lesson , which none can teach but god onely , i desired the lord to encrease my faith . and at last i desired nothing more , then that i being so comforted by him , might be strengthened by his holy spirit and grace from above , to teach the wicked his wayes , which are mercy and truth , that the wicked may be converted unto him by me , who sometimes was also wicked . — accordingly i did teach , and set forth christ , being made for us by god his father , our wisdome , righteousness , sanctification and redemption , cor. . who was made sin for us , i. e. a sacrifice for sin , that we through him should be made the righteousness of god , cor. . who became accursed for us , to redeem us from the curse of the law , gal. . — i taught that all men should first acknowledge their sins , and condemn them , afterward hunger and thirst for that righteousness , which is by faith in christ , &c. rom. . and forasmuch as this hunger and thirst was wont to be quenched with the fulness of mans righteousness . — therefore oftentimes have i spoken of those works , exhorting all men not so to cleave to them , as they being satisfied therewith , should loath or wax weary of christ. for those things i have been cryed out of , attached , and now cast into prison . his abjuration cost him dear , it brought him even to despair , his friends were fain to be with him night and day . bishop latimer saith , that he thought all the word of god was against him , and sounded his condemnation : to bring any comfortable scripture to him , was as though a man should run him through with a sword . the day before his execution , some friends finding him eating heartily , with much cheerfulness , and a quiet mind , they said , they were glad to see him at that time so heartily to refresh himself : o ( said he ) i imitate those , who having a ruinous house to dwell in , yet bestow cost as long as they may to hold it up . in prison he divers times proved the fire , by putting his finger near to the candle ; at the first touch of the candle his flesh resisting , and he withdrawing his finger , did after chide his flesh in these words ; quid uniu● m●mlri inustionem ferre n●n potes , & quo pacto cras totius corporis confl● grationem tolerabis ? what ( said he ) canst thou not bear the burning of one member , and how wilt thou endure to morrow the burning of thy whole body ? i feel , and have known it long by philosophy , that fire is hot ; yet i know some ( recorded in gods word ) even in the flame felt no heat , and i believe that though my body will be wasted by it , my soul shall be purged thereby . at the same time he most comfortably treated among his friends , of isa. . , , . but now , thus saith the lord , that created thee , o jacob , and he that formed thee , o israel ; fear not , for i have redeemed thee , i have called thee by thy name . thou art mine when thou passest through the waters , i will be with thee , and through the rivers , they shall not overflow thee ; when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt , for i am the lord thy god , the holy one of israel , thy saviour . the comfort whereof never left some of his friends to their dying day . the next morning the officers fetching him to execution , a certain friend entreated him to be constant , and to take his death patiently ; bilney answered , i am sailing with the mariner through a boisterous sea , but shortly shall be in the haven , &c. help me with your prayers . bland . mr. iohn bland a kentish minister , in his prayer at the stake . — lord jesus , for thy love i do willingly leave this life , and desire rather the bitter death of thy cross , with the loss of all earthly things , then to abide the blasphemy of thy holy name , or else to obey man in the breaking of thy command . — this death is more dear unto me then thousands of gold and silver . such love , o lord , hast thou laid up in my breast , that i hunger for thee , as the deer wounded desireth the soyl . blehere . levine blehere said to his friends , offering to rescue him by tumult ; hinder not the magistrates work , nor my happiness . father , thou foresawest the sacrifice from eternity , now accept of it i pray thee . bongeor . agnes bongeor , having prepared her self to go with her fellow-martyrs to the stake , putting on a smock made for that purpose , and sending away her sucking infant to a nurse , through a mistake of her name in the writ ( bowyer being put for bongeor ) was kept back . hereupon she made piteous moan , wept bitterly , &c. because she went not with them to give her life in defence of her christ ; of all things in the world , life was least looked for by her . in this perplexity a friend came to her , and put her in mind of abraham's offering up is●ac . i know ( quoth she ) that abraham's will before god was accepted for the deed , in that he would have done it , if the angel of the lord had not stay'd him ; but i am unhappy , the lord thinks not me worthy of this dignity ; and yet i would have gone with my company with all my heart ; and because i did it not , it is now my chief and greatest grief . she was grieved because she had not offered her self ( though she had given away her child ) which was more then abraham was put to . ) bossu . francis le bossu , a french martyr , to encourage his children to suffer martyrdome with himself , he thus spake unto them ; children , we are not now to learn , that it hath alwayes been the portion of believers to be hated , cruelly used , and devoured by unbelievers , as sheep of ravening wolves ; if we suffer with christ , we shall also reign with him let not these drawn swords terrifie us , they will be but as a bridge , whereby we shall pass over out of a miserable life into immortal blessedness . we have breathed , and lived long enough among the wicked ; let us now go , and live with our god. he and his two sons were killed , embracing each other , in the massacre at lyons in france , . bradford . mr. iohn bradford , the night before he was carried to newgate , he dreamt that chains were brought for him to the counter , and that the day following he should be carried to newgate , and that the next day he should be burnt in smithfield ; which accordingly came to pass . being askt what he should do , and whither he would go , if he should have his liberty ; he said , he cared not whether he went out , or no ; but if he did , he would marry and abide still in england secretly , teaching the people as the time would suffer him . when the keepers wife told him the sad news ( as she called it ) of the nearness of his death , being to be burned the next day , he put off his cap , and lifting up his eyes to heaven , said , i thank god for it , i have looked for the same a long time , and therefore it cometh not now to me suddenly , but as a thing waited for every day and hour ; the lord make me worthy thereof . cresw●ll offering to labour for him , and desiring to know what suit he should make for him , what you will do ( said he ) do it not at my request , for i desire nothing at your hands . if the queen will give me life , i will thank her ; if she will banish me , i will thank her ; if she will burn me , i will thank her ; if she will condemn me to perpetual imprisonment , i will thank her . the chancellor pressing him to do as they had done , in hopes of the queens mercy and pardon ; my lord ( said he ) i desire mercy with gods mercy , ( i. e. without doing or saying any thing against god and his truth , pag. . ) but mercy with gods wrath god keep me from . — gods mercy i desire , and also would be glad of the q●eens favour , to live as a subject without clog on conscience : but otherwise the lords mercy is better to me then life . — life in his displeasure is worse then death , and death with his favour is true life . he having refused again and again to answer to the chancellors quaeries , said , that no fear , but the fear of perjury made him unwilling to answer ( he having been six times sworn not to consent to the practising of any jurisdiction , or any authority on the bishop of r●me's behalf , within the realm of england ) i am not afraid of death , i thank god , i look and have looked for nothing else from your hands a long time ; but i am afraid when death cometh , i should have ma●ter to trouble my conscience by the guilt of perjury . — as for my death , as i know there are twelve hours in the day , so with the lord my time is appointed ; and when it shall be his good time , then i shall depart hence ; but in the mean season i am safe enough , though all the reople had sworn my death ; into his hands have i committed it , and do , his good will be done . the earl of derby sending one of his servants to him , willing him to tender himself , he told the messenger , that he thanked his lordship for his good will towards him , but in this case i cannot tender my self more then gods honour . the same servant saying also , ah mr. bradford , consider your mother , sister , friends , kinsfolk , countrey , what a great discomfort it will be to them to see you die as an heretick . mr. bradford replied , i have learned to forsake father , mother , brother , sister , friends , and all that ever i have , yea and my own self , for else i cannot be christs disciple . being askt by a good gentlewomans servant , that was sent to him , how he did ? he answered , well , i thank god : for as men in sailing , which be near to the shore or haven where they would be , would be nearer , even so the nearer i am to god , the nearer i would be . in a letter to his mother and brethren . — i am at this time in prison sure enough from starting to confirm that i have preached unto you : as i am ready ( i thank god ) with my life and blood to seal the same , if god vouchsafe me worthy of that honour . — if we suffer with him , we shall also reign w●th him . be not therefore faint-hearted , but rather rejoyce , at the least for my sake , who now am in the right and high way to heaven ; for by many afflictions we must enter into the kingdome of god. now will god made known his children . when the wind doth not blow , the wheat cannot be known from the chaffe ; but when the blast cometh , then flieth away the chaffe , but the wheat remaineth , and is so far from being hurt , that by the wind it is more cleansed from the chaffe . gold when it is cast into the fire is the more precious , so are gods children by afflictions . — indeed i thank god more for this prison , then for any parlour , yea then for any pleasure that eyer i had : for in it i find god my most sweet good god alwayes . — of all deaths it is most to be desired to die for gods sake : such are sure to go to heaven . — death , nor life , nor prison , nor pleasure , i trust in god , shall be able to separate me from my lord god and his gospel . — rejoyce in my sufferings , for it is for your sakes , to confirm the truth i have taught . — howsoever you do be obedient to the higher powers , that is , in no point either in hand or tongue rebel ; but rather if they command that which with good conscience you cannot obey , lay your head on the block , and suffer what they shall do , or say . by patience possess your souls . in his letter to the city of london . — i ask god heartily mercy , that i do no more rejoyce , then i do , having so great cause , as to be an instrument , wherein it may please my dear lord , and saviour to suffer . — although my sins be manifold and grievous , yet the bishops and prelates do not persecute them in me , but christ himself , his word , his truth , and religion . — let the anger and plagues of god most justly fallen upon us , be applied to every one of our deserts , that from the bottome of our hearts every one of us may say , it is i lord , that have sinned against thee : it is my hypocrisie , my vain-glory , my covetousness , uncleanness , carnality , security , idleness , unthankfulness , self-love , &c. which have deserved the taking away of thy word and true religion , of thy good ministers by exile , imprisonment , death , &c. — prepare your selves to the cross , be obedient to all that be in authority in all things , that be not against god , his word ; for then answer with the apostle , it is more meet to obey god , then man. howbeit never for any thing resist , or rise against the magistrates . avenge not your selves . commit your cause to the lord. if you feel in your selves an hope and trust in god , that he will never tempt you above that he will make you able to bear , be assured the lord will be true to you , and you shall be able to bear all brunts : but if you want this hope , flee and get you hence , rather then by your tarrying gods name should be dishonoured . in his letter to cambridge . — thou my mother , the university , hast not onely had the truth of gods word plainly manifested unto thee by reading , disputing , and preaching publickly and privately , but now to make thee altogether excuseless , and as it were almost to sin against the holy ghost , if thou put to thy helping hand with the romish rout to suppress the verity , and set out the contrary , thou hast my life and blood , as a seal to confirm thee , if thou wilt be confirmed , or else to confound thee , if thou wilt take part with the prelates and clergy , which now fill up the measure of their fathers , which slew the prophets and apostles , that all the righteous blood from abel to bradford may be required at their hands . — for the tender mercy of christ in his bowels and blood i beseech you to take christs eye-salve to anoint your eyes , that you may see what you do , and have done in admitting the romish rotten rags , which once you utterly expelled . o be not the dog returned to his vomit ; be not the sow that was washed , returning to her wallowing in the mire . beware least satan enter in with seven worse spirits , &c. it had been better you had never known the truth , then after knowledge to have run from it . ah! woe to this world , and the things therein , which hath now so wrought with you . oh that ever this dirt of the devil should daub up the eye of the realm ! — what is man whose breath is in his nostrils , that thou shouldst thus be afraid of him ? — dost not thou know rome to be babylon ? dost not thou know , that as the old babylon had the children of iudah in captivity , so hath rome the true iudah , i. e. the confessors of christ ? dost not thou know , that as destruction happened unto it , so shall it do unto this ? dost not thou know that god will deliver his people now , when the time is come as he did then ? hath not god commanded his people to come out of her ? and wil● thou give example to the whole realm to run unto her ? hast thou forgotten the woe that chris● threatneth to offence-givers ? wilt not thou remember that it were better that a milstone were hanged about thy neck , and thou thrown into the sea , then that thou shouldst offend the little one ? dear mother , receive some admonition of one of thy poor children , now going to be burned for the testimony of jesus ; come again to gods truth , come out of babylon , confess christ and his true doctrine , repent that which is past , &c. remember the readings , &c. of gods prophet bucer . call to mind the threatnings of god ( now somewhat seen ) by thy children , leaver , and others . let the exile of leaver , pil●inton , grindal , h●ddon , horn , scory , ponet , &c. something awake thee . consider the martyrdome of thy chickens , rogers , saunders , tailor . and now cast not away the poor admonition of me , going to be burned also , and to receive the like crown of glory with my fellows . — even now the axe is laid to the root . in his letter to lancashire and cheshire , &c. — indeed if i should simply consider my life with that which it ought to have been , and as god in his law requireth , then could i not but cry , as i do , righteous art thou , o lord , &c. but when i consider the cause of my condemnation , i cannot but lament , that i do no more rejoyce ; for it is gods truth . so that the condemnation is not a condemnation of bradford simply , but rather a condemnation of christ and his truth . bradford is nothing else , but an instrument in whom christ and his doctrine is condemned . and therefore , my dearly beloved , rejoyce , rejoyce , and give thanks with me , and for me , that ever god did vouchsafe so great a benefit to our countrey , as to choose the most unworthy ( i mean my self ) to be one , in whom it pleaseth him to suffer . — forget not how that the lord hath shewed himself true , and me his true preacher , by bringing to pass these plagues , which at my mouth you oft heard before . — my blood will cry for vengeance , as against the papists , gods enemies , &c. so against you , if ye repent not , amend not , and turn not unto the lord. in his letter to the town of walden . — what can you desire more , to assure your consciences of the verity taught by your preachers , then their own lives ? waver not therefore in christs religion truly taught you . never shall the enemies be able to burn it , and imprison it , and keep it in bonds , though they may imprison and burn us . — i humbly beseech you , and pray you in the bowels and blood of jesus , now i am going to death for the testimony of jesus , love the lords truth , love ( i say ) to love it , and to frame your lives thereafter . alas ! you know the cause of all these plagues fallen upon us , and of the success , which gods adversaries have daily , is for our not loving gods word . you know how that we were but gospellers in lips , and not in life . — remember that before ye learned a.b.c. your lesson was christs cross. forget not that christ will have no disciples , but such as will promise to deny themselves , and to take up their cross ( mark that , take it up ) and follow him , and not the multitude , custome , &c. — loth would i be a witness against you at the last day , as of truth i must be , if ye repent not , if ye love not christs gospe●● in his letter to b.c. — the world seems 〈◊〉 have the upper hand , the truth seems to be oppressed , and they which take part therewith an unjustly entreated . the cause of all this is god anger and mercy : his anger , because we hav● grievously sinned against him , we have been un●thankful for his word , &c. we have been so carnal , covetous , licentious , &c. that of his justice he could no longer forbear , but make us feel his anger , &c. his mercy is seen in this , that god do●● vouchsafe to punish us in this present life . if he should not have punished us , do not you think we should have continued in the evils we were in ▪ yes verily , we should have been worse . — the way to heaven is not the wide way of the world , but it is a strait way , which few walk in ; for few live godly in christ , few regard the life to come , few remember the day of judgement , few remember how christ will deny them before his father , that do deny him here , few consider that christ-will be ashamed of them in the last day , which are ashamed of his truth and true service , few cast up their accounts , what will be laid to their charge in the day of vengeance , few regard the condemnation of their own consciences , in doing that which they inwardly disallow , few love god better then their goods . — of this i would that ye were all certain , that all the hairs of your heads are numberless , so that not one of them shall perish , neither shall man or devil be able to attempt any thing , much less do any thing to you before your heavenly father , which loveth you most tenderly , shall give them leave ; they shall go no farther then he will , nor keep you any longer in trouble then he will. therefore cast on him all your care , for he is careful for you . onely study to please him , and to keep your consciences clean , and your bodies pure from the idolatrous service , which now every where is used , and god will marvellously and mercifully defend and comfort you . in his letter to erkinald rawlins and his wife . — first we have cause to rejoyce for these dayes , because our father suffereth us not to lye in iezabel's bed , sleeping in our sins and security , but as mindful of us , doth correct us as his children . — secondly , because they are dayes of tryal , wherein not onely ye your selves , but also the world shall know , that ye be none of his , but the lords darlings , whom we obey his servants we are . now it is seen whether we obey the world or god. — but the tryals of these dayes ye are occasioned more to repent , more to pray , more to contemn this world , more to desire life everlasting , more to be holy , for holy is the end ; wherefore god doth afflict us , and so to come to gods company . in his letter to mr. laurence saunders . — a friend having moved the prisoners to subscribe to the papists articles , with this condition , so far as they are not against gods word . dr. taylor , and mr. philpot think the salt sent by our friend is unseasonable ; for my own part , i pray god in no case i may seek my self , and indeed ( i thank god ) i purpose it not . in another letter . — this will be offensive ; therefore let us vadere plane , and so sane . i mean let us all confess we are no changlings , but re ipsa are the same we were in religion ; and therefore cannot subscribe , except we will dissemble both with god , with our selves , and with the world . in his letter to dr. cranmer , dr. ridley , and dr. latimer . — our dear brother rogers hath broken the ice valiantly ; this day ( i think ) or to morrow at the uttermost , hearty hooper , sincere saunders , and trusty tailor end their course , and receive their crown . the next am i , who hourly look for the porter to open me the gates after them to enter into the desired rest. god forgive me mine unthankfulness for this exceeding great mercy . for though i justly suffer ( for i have been a great hypocrite , &c. the lord pardon me , yea he hath done it , he hath done it indeed ) yet what evil hath he done ? christ , whom the prelates persecute , his truth , which they hate in me , hath done no evil , nor deserved death . — o what am i lord , that thou shouldest thus magnifie me ? is this thy wont , to send for such a wretched hypocrite in a fiery chariot , as thou didst for elias ? in his letter to the lord russel . — faith is reckoned , and worthily among the greatest gifts of god , by it , as we are justified , and made gods children ; so are we temples and possessours of the holy spirit , yea of christ also , eph. . and of the father himself , iohn . by faith we drive the devil away , pet. . we overcome the world , iohn . and are already citizens of heaven , &c. yet the apostle doth match even with faith , yea , as it were prefer suffering persecution for christs sake , phil. . — though the wisdome of the world think of the cross according to sense , and therefore flieth from it , as from a most great ignominy and shame ; yet gods scholars have learned to think otherwise of the cross , as the frame-house wherein god frameth his children like to his son christ , the furnace that fineth gods gold , the high-way to heaven , the suit and livery of gods servants , the earnest and beginning of all consolation and glory . in his meditation on the commandements . — as the first command teacheth me as well that thou art my god , as what god thou art ; therefore of equity i should have no other gods but thee , that is , i should onely hang on thee , trust in thee , serve thee , call on thee , obey thee , and be thankful to thee ; so because thou didst reveal thy self visibly , that thou mightest visibly be worshipped . the second commandement is concerning thy worship , that in no point i should follow in worshipping thee the device or intent of any man , saint , angel , or spirit , but should take all such as idolatry , and image-service , be it never so glorious . and why ? forsooth because thou wouldst i should worship thee as thou hast appointed by thy word ; for if service be acceptable it must be according to the will of him , to whom it is done , and not of him who doth it , &c. so that the meaning of this precept is , that as in the first i should have none other gods but thee , so i should have no worship of thee , but such as thou appointest — and therefore utterly abandon mine own will and reason , all the reasons and good intents of man , and wholly give my self to serve thee after thy will and word . — thou bidst me not to take thy name in vain , as by temerarious , or vain swearing , &c. so by denying thy truth and word , or concealing it , when occasion is offered to promote thy glory , and confirm thy truth . by reason whereof i may well see , that thou wouldst have me to use my tongue in humble confessing thee , and thy word , and truth after my vocation , &c. — thy ministers i pray not for , thy church i am not careful for , no not now ( good lord ) when wicked doctrine most prevaileth , idolatry , superstition , and abomination abound , the sacraments , &c. blasphemously corrupted , &c. all which my wickedness brought in , my profaning of the fourth commandement , and my not praying . thy ministers are in prison , dispersed in other countreys , spoiled , burnt , murthered , many fall ( for fear of goods , life , name , &c. ) from the truth they have received to most manifest idolatry , false preachers abound among the people , thy people dearly bought , even with thy bloud , are not fed with the bread of thy word , but with swillings and drink for swine . antichrist wholly prevaileth , and yet for all this also i am too careless , nothing lamenting my sins , which have been the cause of all this . — help thy church , cherish it , and give it harbour here and elsewhere for christs sake . purge the ministry from corruption , and false m●ni●ters . send out preachers to feed thy people . destroy antichrist and all his kingdome . give to such as be fallen from thy truth , repentance . keep others from falling , and by their falling do thou the more confirm us confirm thy m●nisters and poor people in prison and exile . strengthen them in thy truth . deliver them if it be thy good will. give them that with conscience they may so answer their adversaries that thy servants may rejoyce , and thy adversarie● be confounded . avenge thou thy own cause ( ● thou god of hosts ) help all thy people , and m●● especially , because i have most need . — set my heart strait in case of religion , to acknowledg● thee one god , to worship none other god , to re●verence thy name , and keep thy sabbaths . set m● heart right in matters of humane conversation , t● honour my parents , to obey rulers , and reverenc● the ministry of the word , to have hands clea● from bloud , true from theft , a body free from a●dultery , and a tongue void of all offence , but purge the heart first o lord , &c. — in his meditation concerning the sober usage of the body , and the pleasures of this life . — o that i could consider often and heartily that this body god hath made to be the tabernacle and mansion of our soul for this life ; but by reason of sin dwelling in it ; is become now to the soul nothing else but a prison , and that most strait , vile , stinking , filthy , &c. then should i not pamper up my body to obey it , but bridle it that it may obey the soul ; then should i flie the pain it putteth my soul unto by reason of sin and provocation to all evil , and continually desire the dissolution of it , with paul , and the deliverance from it , as much as ever did prisons his deliverance out of prison , for alonely by it the devil hath a door to tempt and so to hurt me . — if it were dissolved , and i out of it , then could satan no more hurt me , then wouldst thou speak unto me face to face , then the conflicting time were at an end , then sorrow would cease , and joy would encrease , and i should enter into inestimable rest . — in his meditation for exercise of true mortification . — he that will be ready in weighty matters to deny his own will , and to be obedient to the will of god , the same had need to accustome himself to deny his desires in matters of less weight , and to exercise mortification of his will in trifles . — if we cannot watch with christ one hour ( as he saith to peter ) we undoubtedly can much less go to death with him . wherefore , that in great temptations we may be ready to say with christ , not my will but thine be done , &c. help me to accustome my self continually to mortifie my concupiscence of pleasant things , i. e. of wealth , riches , glory , liberty , favour of men , meats , drink , apparel , ease , yea and life it self , &c. — in his meditation of gods providence . — this ought to be unto us most certain , that nothing i● done without thy providence o lord , i. e. without thy knowledge , i. e. without thy will , wisdome , and ordinance , for all these knowledge doth comprehend in it , &c. — this will we must believe most assurely to be● all just and good , howsoever otherwise it seem so unto us . — but though all things be done by thy providence , yet providence hath many and divers● means to work by , which means being contemned , thy providence is contemned also . — indeed when means cannot be had , then should we not tye thy providence to means , but make it free as thou art free ; for it is not of any need , that thou usest any instrument or mean to serve thy providence . thy power and wisdome is infinite , and therefore should we hang on thy providence even when all is clean against us . — grant ( dear father ) that i may use this knowledge to my comfort and commodity in thee ; i. e. grant that in what state soever i be , i may not doubt but the same doth come to me by thy most just ordinance ; yea , by thy merciful ordinance ; for as thou art just , and thou art merciful , yea , thy mercy is above all thy works . — look for thy help in time convenient , not onely when i have means , by which thou mayest work , and art so accustomed to do , but also when i have no means , but am destitute ; yea , when all means be directly and clean against me , grant ( i say ) yet that i may still hang on thee , and on thy providence , not doubting of a fatherly end in thy good time . and least i should contemn thy providence , or presuming upon it by uncoupling those things which thou hast coupled together , preserve me from neglecting thy ordinary and lawful means in all my needs ; if so be i may have them , and with a good conscience use them , although i know thy providence be not tyed to them farther then pleaseth thee . — howbeit so , that i depend in no part on the means , or on my diligence , wisedome , and industry , but on thy providence , which more and more perswade me to be altogether fatherly , and good , how far soever , otherwise it appear , yea is felt of me . in his meditation of gods presence . — there is nothing that maketh more to true godliness of life , then the perswasion of thy presence . ( dear father , and that nothing is hid from thee , but all to thee is open and naked , even the very thoughts which one day thou wilt reveal , either to our praise or punishment in this life , as thou didst david's faults , king. . or in the life to come , mat. . grant to me ( dear god ) mercy for all my sins , especially my hid and close sins , &c. and that henceforth i alwayes think my self conversant before thee , so that if i do well , i pass not the publishing of it , as hypocrites do , if i do or think any evil , i may know that the same shall not alwayes be hid from men . grant me that i may alwayes have in mind that day wherein all my works shall be revealed , so in trouble and wrong i shall find comfort , and otherwise be kept through thy grace from evil . in his meditation of god's pow●r , beauty , and goodness . — because thou lord wouldest have us to love thee , not onely dost thou will , entice , allure , and provoke us , but also dost command us so to do , promising thy self unto such as love thee , and threatning us with damnation if we do otherwise , whereby we may see both our great corruption and naughtiness , and also thine exceeding great mercy towards us . — what a thing is it , that power , riches , authority , beauty , goodness , liberality , truth , justice , which all thou art , good lord , cannot move us to love thee ? whatsoever things we see fair , good , wise , mighty , are but even sparkles of thy power , beauty , goodness , wisdome , which thou art . — in his meditation of death , &c — o dear father . — that our hearts were perswaded that when we go out of the prison of the body , and so taken into thy blessed company then . — whatsoever good we can wish we shall have , and whatsoever we loath , shall be far from us , &c. then should we live in longing for that which we now most loath . — if we remember the good things that after this life shall ensue , without wavering in the certainty of faith , the passage of death shall be the more desired . it is like a sailing over the sea to thy home and countrey : it is like a medicine or purgation to the health of the soul and body : it is the best physician . it is like a woman in travail ; for as the child ( being delivered ) cometh into a more large place then the womb , wherein it did lye before , so the soul being delivered out of the body , cometh into a much more large and ●air place , even into heaven . — in his prayer for the remission of sins . — o gracious god , who seekest all means possible how to bring thy children to the feeling , and sure sense of thy mercy ; and therefore when prosperity will not serve , then sendest thou adversity , graciously correcting them here , whom thou wilt shall with thee elsewhere live for ever . we poor misers give humble praises and thanks to thee ( dear father ) that thou hast vouchsafed us worthy of thy correction at this present , hereby to work that which we in prosperity and liberty did neglect . for the which neglecting , and many other our grievous sins , whereof we now accuse our selves before thee ( most merciful lord ) thou mightest have most justly given us over , and destroyed both souls and bodies . but such is thy goodness towards us in christ , that thou seemest to forget all our offences , and — wilt that we should suffer this cross now laid upon us for thy truth and gospels sake , and so to be thy witnesses with the prophets , apostles , martyrs , and confessours , yea with thy dearly beloved son jesus christ to whom thou dost now here begin to fashion us like , that in his glory we may be like him also . o good god , what are we on whom thou shouldest shew this great mercy ? o loving lord , forgive us our unthankfulness and sins . o faithful father , give us thy holy spirit now to cry in our hearts , abba , dear father , to assure us of our eternal election in christ , to reveal more and more thy truth unto us , to confirm , strengthen , and stablish us so in the same , that we may live and die in it as vessels of thy mercy , to thy glory , and to the commodity of thy church . indue us with the spirit of thy wisdome , that with good conscience we may alwayes so answer the enemies in thy cause , as may turn to their conversion , or confusion , and our unspeakable consolation in jesus christ , for whose sake we beseech thee henceforth to keep us to give us patience , and to will none otherwise for deliverance or mitigation of our misery , then may stand alwayes with thy good pleasure and merciful will towards us . grant this , dear father , not onely to us in this place , but also to all others elsewhere afflicted for thy names sake , through the death and merit of jesus christ our lord. amen . in his godly meditations . — we are rather to be placed among the wicked , then among thy children , for that we are so shameless for our sin , and careless for thy wrath , which we may well say to be most grievous against us , and evidently set forth in the taking away of our good king , and the true religion , in the exile of thy servants , imprisonment of thy people , misery of thy children , and death of thy saints : and by placing over us in authority thine enemies , by the success thou gavest them in all that they took in hand , by the returning again into our countrey of antichrist the pope . — what shall we do ? what shall we say ? who can give us penitent hearts ? who can open our lips , that our mouths might make acceptable confession unto thee ? — o what now may we do ? despair ? no , for thou art god , and therefore good ; thou art merciful , and therefore thou forgivest sins , with thee is mercy and propitiation ; and therefore thou art worshipped . when adam had sinned , thou gavest him mercy before he desired it , and wilt thou deny us mercy , which now desire the same ? adam excused his fault , and accused thee , but we accuse our selves , and excuse thee , and shall we be sent empty away ? — abraham was pulled out of idolatry , when the world was drown'd therein , and art thou his god onely ? israel in captivity in egypt was graciously visited and delivered , and dear god , that same good lord , shall we alwayes be forgotten ? how often in the wilderness didst thou defer and spare thy plagues at the request of moses , when the people themselves made no petition to thee ; and seeing we do not onely make our petitions to thee , but also have a mediator for us , now far above moses , even jesus christ , shall we ( i say ) dear lord , depart ashamed ? — take into thy custody and governance for ever our souls and bodies , our lives , and all that ever we have . tempt us never further then thou wilt make us able to bear , and — alwayes as thy children guide us , so that our life may please thee , and our deaths praise thee , through jesus christ our lord , for whose sake we heartily pray thee to grant these things , &c. not onely to us , but , &c. especially for thy children , that be in thraldome under their enemies , in exile , in prison , poverty , &c. be merciful to all the whole realm of england , grant us all true repentance , and mitigation of our misery . and if it be thy good will , that thy holy word and religion may continue amongst us . pardon our enemies , persecutors , and slanderers , and if it be thy pleasure turn their hearts . — oh mighty king and most high , almighty god , who mercifully governest all things which thou hast made , look down upon the faithful seed of abraham , &c. consecrated to thee by the anointing of thy holy spirit , and appointed to thy kingdome by thy eternal purpose , free mercy , and grace , but yet as strangers wandring in this vile vile of misery , brought forth daily by worldly tyrants like sheep to the slaughter . — thou hast destroyed pharaoh with all his horse and chariots , puffed up with pride against thy people , leading forth safely by the hands of thy mercy thy beloved israel through the high waves of the roaring waters . thou o god , the lord of all hosts and armies didst first drive away from the gates of thy people the blasphemous senacherib , slaying of his army by the angel in one night , and after by his own sons before his idols didst kill the same blasphemous idolater , &c. thou didst transfor● and change proud nebuchadnezzar , the enemy o● thy people , into a bruit beast , to eat grass and hay● to the horrible terrour of all worldly tyrants , &c. thou didst preserve those thy three servants i● babylon , who with bold courage gave their bodies to the fire , because they would not worship any dead idol , and when they were cast into the burning furnace thou didst give them chearful hearts to rejoyce and sing psalms , and saved●● unhurt the very hairs of their heads , turn●ng the flame from them to devour their enemies . thou o lord god by the might of thy right arm , which governeth all , broughtest daniel thy prophet safe into light and life forth of the dark den of the devouring lions , &c. — now also , o heavenly father , beholder of all things , to whom belongs vengeance , thou seest and con●iderest how thy holy name by the wicked worldlings , and blasphemons idolaters is dishonoured , thy sacred word forsaken , refused , and despised , thy holy spirit provoked , offended , thy chosen temple polluted and defiled . tarry not too long therefore , but shew thy power speedily upon thy chosen houshold , which is so grievously vexed , and so cruelly handled by thy open enemies . avenge thine own glor● , and shorten these evil dayes for thine elects sake . let thy kingdome come of all thy servants desired , and though we have all offended thy majesty , — yet for thine own glory ( o merciful lord ) suffer not the enemy of thy son christ , the romish antichrist , thus wretchedly to delude and draw from thee our poor brethren , for whom thy son once died , that by his cruelty , after so clear light , they they should be made captives to dumb idols and devillish inventions of popish ceremonies thereunto pertaining . suffer him not to seduce the simple sort with this fond opinion , that his false gods , blind , mumbling , feigned religion , or his foolish superstition doth give him such conquest , such victories , such triumph , and so high an hand over us . we know most certainly , o lord , that it is not their arm and power , but our sins and offences , that hath delivered us to their fury , and hath caused thee to turn away from us : but turn again , o lord , let us fall into thine hands , &c. least these vain idolaters do rejoyce at the miserable destruction of those men whom they make proselvtes , and from thy doctrine apostates . but o lord , thy will be fulfilled , this is thy righteous judgement to punish us with the tyrannical yoke of blindness , because we have cast away from us the sweet yoke of the wholesome word of thy son our saviour . yet consider the horrible blasphemies of thine and our enemies . — they say in their hearts there is no god , which either can or will deliver us : wherefore , o heavenly father , the governour of all things , the avenger of the causes of the poor , the fatherless , the widow , and the oppressed , look down from heaven with the face of thy fatherly mercies , and forgive us all former offences , and for thy son jesus christs sake have mercy upon us ; who by the force and cruelty of wicked and blasphemous idolaters , ( without causes approved ) are haled and pulled from our own houses , are slandered , slain , and murdered as rebels and traytors , like persons pernicious , pestiferous , seditious , pestilent , and full of mortal poyson , to all men contagious ; whereas we do meddle no farther but against the hellish powers of darkness , &c. which would deny the will of our christ unto us , we do contend no farther but onely for our christ crucified , and the onely salvation by 〈◊〉 blessed passion . — therefore ( o lord ) for 〈◊〉 glorious names sake , for jesus christs sake , &c. make the wicked idolaters to wonder and stan● amazed at thy almighty power . use thy wonte● strength to the confusion of thine enemies , and 〈◊〉 the help and deliverance of thy persecuted people ▪ all thy saints do beseech thee therefore : the young infants ( which have some deal tasted of thy sweet word ) by whose mouths thou hast promised to make perfect thy praises , whose angels do always behold thy face , who besides the loss of us their parents , are in danger to be compelled and driven ( without thy great mercies ) to serve dumb and insensible idols , do cry and call unto thee : their pitiful mothers , with lamentable tears lie prostrate before the throne of thy grace . thou father of the fatherless , judge of the widdows , and avenger of all the oppressed , let it appear , o lord omnipotent , that thou dost here judge , avenge , and punish all wrongs offered to all thy little ones that do believe in thee . do this , o lord , for thy names sake . arise up , o lord , and thine enemies shall be scattered and confounded . so be it . o lord most merciful , at thy time appointed . brown. iohn brown told his wife ( as he sate in the stocks ) that the arch-bishop had burnt his feet to the bones , so as he could not set them upon the ground , and all to make them deny christ , which ( said he ) i will never do ; for if i should deny him in this world , he would deny me hereafter . thomas brown being brought forth to be condemned , bonner said to him , brown , you have been before me many times , and i have took much pains to win thee from thine errors , yet thou and such like have , and do report that i go about to seek thy blood . yea my lord , ( said brown ) indeed you be a blood-sucker ; and i would i had as much blood as there is water in the sea for you to suck . bruger . a frier offering iohn bruger , a forreign martyr , a wooden cross at the stake , no ( said he ) i have another true cross imposed on me , which now i will take up . i worship not the work of mans hands , but the son of god. i am content with him for my onely advocate . bruse . i thank god ( said peter bruse ) my broken leg suffered me not to flie this martyrdome . buisson . i shall now have ( said iohn buisson ) a double goal-delivery ; one out of my sinful flesh , another from the loathsome dungeon i have long lain in . burgins . lord ( said annas burgins in the midst of his torments ) forsake me not , least i forsake thee . burgon . iohn burgon to his judges , asking him if he would appeal to the high-court , answered , is it not enough that your hands are polluted with blood , but you will make more guilty of it ? barnes . when dr. barnes was brought before cardinal wolsey , he told him , he thought it necessary that his golden shoos , and golden cushions , &c. should be sold and given to the poor , for that such things were not comely for his calling , neither was the kings majesty maintained by his pomp , but by god , who saith , by me kings reign . when the cardinal would have had him to re●fer himself to him , promising him favour , he an●swered , i will stick to the holy scripture , and t● gods book , according to the simple talent tha● god hath lent me . being called before the bishops and abbot o● westminster , who demanded of him , whether h● would abjure or burn , he was in a great agony and then thought rather to burn then to abjure ▪ but perswaded by gardiner and fox , because they said he should do more good in time to come , he abjured , and carried his fagot to pauls . after they had long detained him in prison notwithstanding , upon notice given him of their intentions to burn him , notwithstanding his abjuration , he escaped out of england into germany , where he made his supplication to king henry the eighth , against the lordly bishops and prelates of england , for the intollerable injuries , wrongs , and oppressions wherewith they had vexed not onely himself , but all true preachers of gods word , and professors of the same , contrary to the word of god , and their own laws and doctors . — i do not believe ( saith he ) that ever god will suffer long so great tyranny against his word , and so violent oppressions of christians , as they now use , and that in the name of christ and his holy church . — now it is come to that , that whoever he be , high or low , poor or rich , wise or foolish , that speaketh against them and their vicious living , he is either made a traytor to your grace , or an heretick against holy church , as though they were kings or gods. — if there be any men , that preach , dispute , or put forth in writing not any thing touching them , though it be never so blasphemous against god , the blood of christ , and his holy word , they will not once be moved therewith , — but if any man speak against their cloaked hypocrisie , or against any thing belonging to them , by which their abominations are disclosed , nothing can excuse , but he must either to open shame , or cruel death , and that under the accusation of treason . but who is he that would be a traitor , or maintain a traitor against your majesty ? sure no man can do it without the great displeasure of the eternal god. the doctrine of the gospel teacheth all obedience to rulers , and not sedition ; and such as have preached the word of god onely , have never been the movers of disobedience or rebellion against princes , but they have been ready to suffer with all patience whatsoever tyranny any power would minister unto them , giving all people example to do the same ; whereas the papists exempt the pope and priests from being bound to obey magistrates . yea , as to the people they teach , that the words requiring subjection are a counsel , and not a command ; and that the popes authority is sufficient to dispense with all the commandments of god. — wherefore most gracious prince , i lowly and meerly desire your majesty to judge between the bishops and me , which of us is truest faithfullest to god and to your majesty . the following articles were some of dr. barnes his position in his sermon , which the bishops condemned for heresie . ( ) if thou believe that thou art more bound to serve god to morrow , which is christmass day , or on easter day , or on whitsunday , for any holiness that is in one day more then another , thou art superstitious . ( ) now dare no man preach the truth and the very gospel of god , especially they that be feeble and fearful ; but i trust , yea i pray to god , that it may shortly come that false and manifest errours may be plainly shewed , &c. ( ) we make now adayes martyrs , i tru●● we shall have many more shortly ; for the verity could never be preached plainly , but persecution followed . ( ) i will never believe , neither can i believe that one man may be by the law of god 〈◊〉 bishop of two or three cities , yea of a whole countrey ; for it is contrary to saint paul , who saith , i have left thee behind to set in every city a bishop . ( ) it cannot be proved by scripture that a man of the church should have so great temporal possessions . ( ) sure i am , that they cannot by the law of god have any jurisdiction secular . ( ) they say they be the successors of christ and his apostles , but i can see them follow none but iudas ; for they bear the purse and have all the money . to burn me or to destroy me ( saith he in his defence of the two and twentieth article ) cannot so greatly profit them ; for when i am dead , the sun , and the moon , and the stars , and the elements , yea and also stones shall defend this cause against them , rather then the verity should perish . — as for me i do promise them here by this present writing , and by the fidelity i owe to my prince , that if they will be bound to our noble prince , after the manner of his law , and after good conscience and right , that they shall do me no violence , nor wrong , but discuss and dispute these articles , and all other that i have written after the holy word of god , and by christs holy scripture with me , then will i ( as soon as i may know it ) present my self unto our most noble prince to prove these things by gods word against you all . — he also writ unto king henry the eighth an excellent treatise to prove from the scriptures of truth , and out of the writings of the fathers , that faith onely justifieth before god. prefacing it thus , now if your grace do not take upon you to hear the disputation of this article out of the ground of holy scripture , my lords the bishops will condemn it , before they read it , as their manner is to do with all things , that please them not , and which they understand not , and then cry they , heresie , heresie , an heretick , an heretick , he ought not to be heard , &c. he writ also several other treatises , as what the church is , what the keyes of the church be , and to whom they were given . against free-will , that it is lawful for all men to read the holy scriptures , that mens constitutions , which are not grounded in scripture , bind not the conscience , &c. in which treatise he tells us , there be two manners of powers ; a temporal , and a spiritual power . the temporal is committed to magistrates ; in this power the king is chief and full ruler , &c. unto this power must we be obedient in all things that pertain to the ministration of this present life , and of the commonwealth , not onely for avoiding of punishment , but for conscience sake . so that if this power command any thing of tyranny against right and law ( alwayes provided it repugne not against the gospel , nor destroy our faith ) our charity must needs suffer it . — nevertheless if he command thee any thing against right , or do thee any wrong , if thou canst by any reasonable and quiet means ▪ without sedition , insurrection , or breaking of the common peace save thy self , or avoid his tyranny , thou mayest do it with good conscience . — but in no wise mayest thou make any resistance with sword or with hand , but obey , except thou canst avoid as i have shewed thee . — but now it will be enquired , if it please the king to condemn the new testament in english , and to command that none of his subjects shall have it under displeasure , whether they be bound to obey this command or no ? to this he answers ( having shewed why the king should not lay any such command on his subjects ) if the king forbid the new testament , or any of christs sacraments , or the preaching of the word of god , or any other thing that is against christ , under a temporal pain , or under the pain of death , men should first make faithful prayers to god , and then intercede the king for a release of the command . if he will not do it , they shall keep their testament , with all other ordinances of christ , and let the king exercise his tyranny ( if they cannot flee ) and in no wise under pain of damnation shall they withstand him with violence , but suffer patiently , and leave the vengeance of it to their heavenly father , which hath a scourge to tame those bedlams with , when he sees his time : neither shall they deny christs verity , nor forsake it before the prince , lest they run the danger of being denied by christ before his father . — this may be proved by the examples of the apostles , when the high priests of the temple commanded peter and iohn that they should no more preach and teach in the name of jesus : they made them answer , it was more right to obey god then man. also the pharisees came and commanded our master christ in herods name to depart from thence under pain of death : but he would not obey , but bid them go tell that wolf , behold i cast out devils , &c. nevertheless i must continue this day , to morrow , and the next day , &c. so that he left not the ministration of the word for the kings pleasure , nor yet for fear of death . the three children also would not obey the kings command against gods word . daniel would not leave off prayer , though commanded by the king. — so that christians are bound to obey in suffering the kings tyranny , but not in consenting to his unlawful command , alwayes having before their eyes , the comfortable saying of our master christ , fear not them that can onely kill the body ; and that of peter , happy are ye if ye suffer for righteousness sake , &c. — as for the spiritual power , it hath no authority to make statutes or laws to order the world by , but onely faithfully and truly to preach the word , not adding thereto , nor taking therefrom . — if these ministers will of tyranny , above the word of god , make any law or statute , it must be considered , whether it be openly and directly against the word of god , and to the destruction of the faith , &c. such statutes men are not bound for to obey , neither of charity , ( for here faith is hurt , which giveth no place to charity ) nor for avoiding of slander , &c. the more that men be offended at the word , and the stiffer they be against it , the more openly and plainly , yea and that to their faces , that make such statutes , must we resist them with these words , we are more bound to obey god then man. — the other manner of statutes be when certain things , that be called indifferent , be commanded to be done of necessity , &c. here must they also be withstood , and in no wise obeyed ; for in this is our faith hurt , and liberty of christianity , &c. and therefore must withstand them that will take this liberty from us , with this text of scripture , we are bought with the price of christs blood , we will not be the servants of men . this text is open against them , that will bind men● consciences in those things that christ hath left them free in . of this we have an evident example in paul , who would not circumcise titus , when the false brethren would have compelled him thereunto , as a thing of necessity . — it is plain , that by christ we are made free , and nothing can bind us to sin , but his word . — at the stake dr. barnes began with this protestation following : i am come hither to be burned as an heretick , and you shall hear my belief , whereby you shall perceive what erroneous opinions i hold . — i believe in the holy and blessed trinity , three persons and one god , that cteated and made all the world , and that this blessed trinity sent down the second person jesus christ into the womb of the most blessed and purest virgin mary , &c. i believe that without the consent of mans will or power , he was conceived by the holy ghost , and took flesh of her , and that he suffered hunger , thirst , cold , and other passions of our body , ( sin except ) &c. and i do believe that he lived here among us , and after he had preached and taught his fathers will , he suffered the most bitter and cruel death for me and all mankind . and i do believe that this his death and passion was the sufficient price and ransome for the sin of all the world ; and i do believe that through his death he overcame the devil , sin , death , and hell , and that there is none other satisfaction unto the father , but this his death and passion onely ; and that no work of man did deserve any thing of god , but only his passion , as touching our justification ; for i acknowledge the best work that ever i did is impure and unperfect . ( herewithal he cast abroad his arms , and desired god to forgive him his trespasses ) wherefore i trust in no good work that ever i did , but onely in the death of christ , and i do not doubt but through him to inherit the kingdom of heaven . — the sheriffe hastening him to make an end , he turned to the people and desired all men to forgive him , and if he had said any evil at any time unadvisedly , whereby he had offended any man , or given any occasion of evil , that they would forgive it him , and amend that evil they took of him , and to bear witness , that he detested and abhorred all evil opinions and doctrines against the word of god , and that he died in the faith of jesus christ , by whom he doubted not to be saved . bressius . if gods spirit say true , i shall streight rest from my labours . my soul is even taking her wings to flie to her resting place . brez . a lady visiting mr. guy de brez , a french minister , prisoner in the castle of tournay , told him , she wondred how he could either eat , or drink , or sleep in quiet ; for were i in your case ( said she ) the very terrour thereof would go ●igh to kill me . o madam ( said he ) the good cause , for which i suffer , and that inward peace of conscience , wherewith god hath endued me , makes me eat and drink with greater content , then mine enemies can , which seek my life . yea so far off is it , that my bonds or chains do any way terrifie me , or break off my sleep , that on the contrary , i glory and take delight therein , esteeming them at an higher rate , then chains and rings of gold , or any other jewels of price whatsoever . ye● when i hear the ratling of my chains , methinks i hear some instrument of musick sounding in mine ears : not that such an effect comes meerly from my chains , but in regard i am bound therewith for maintaining the truth of th● gospel . in his letter to his wife . — these thought came at first thronging into my head . what mean we to go so many in company together as we did ? had it not been for such and such , we had never been discovered , or taken . but meditating on the providence of god , my heart began to find wonderful rest , saying thus in my self , o my god , the day and hour of my birth was before ordained of thee , and ever since thou hast preserved and kep● me in great perils and dangers , and hitherto delivered me out of all . and if now the hour be come , wherein i must pass out of this life into thy kingdome , thy will be done . i cannot escape out o● thine hands ; yea though i could , yet , lord , the● knowest i would not , seeing all my felicity depends upon conforming my will to thine . — this world is not the place of our rest , no , heaven is ou● home , this is but the place of our banishment ▪ — take into your consideration the honour the lord doth you , in giving you an husband that is not onely called to be a minister of christs gospel , but also so highly advanced of god , as to be accounted worthy to partake of the crown of martyrdome . it is an honour , which the angels in heaven are not capable of . — i am here taugh● to practise , what i have preached to others ; yea let me not be ashamed to confess , that when i heretofore preached , i spake but as a parrot , in regard of that which i have now better learned by proo● and experience . ( all my former discourses , were as a blind mans of colours , in comparison of my present feeling . oh what a precious comforter in a good conscience ! ) i have profited more in the school-house of this prison , then ever i did in all my life before . — i would not change my condition with theirs that persecute me , though i am lodged in the vilest prison they have , dark and obscure , where i have no air to breath at , but a little stinking hole , where they lay all their rubbish , and where the drunkards commonly vent their urine , and though i be laden with irons both on my hands and feet , eating through the flesh even to the bare bones , &c. and that i may make no escape guarded with fourty men before the prison door . — when the provost brought him tidings that he was to be burnt at six , or thereabouts that day , he gave him thanks for the good news , which he had brought him . and going to the rest of the prisoners he said , brethren , i am this day to die for the doctrine of the gospel , and now , blessed be god , i joy and rejoyce therein . i had not thought that ever god would have done me this honour . i feel my self replenished with joy more and more , from minute to minute . my god addeth new courage to me , and my heart leapeth for joy within me . then exhorting them to be of good courage , he told them it was no hard matter to die , adding by way of acclamation , o how happy are the dead that die in the lord , for they rest from their labours , and their works follow them ! beware you do nothing ( said he ) against a good conscience , &c. for if you do , you shall certainly feel such an hell in your consciences , as will never cease to vex and trouble you . o my brethren , how good a thing is it to nourish a good conscience ! one of the prisoners asking him , whether he had finished a certain work , which he had begun , he answered , no , for now i must cease to labour , because i am passing along to the heavenly rest . the time of my departing is at hand , i go to reap that in heaven , which i have ●own on earth i have fought a good fight , i am at the point of finishing my course , from henceforth the crown of glory is laid up for me , which the lord , the righteous judge shall give unto me . methinks ( said he with a joyful and smiling countenance ) that my spirit hath obtained wings to sore aloft into heaven , being invited to the marriage supper of the lamb. the provost coming in with bands , mr. guy bid him welcome , and gave him thanks again for his good news . the provost replying that it grieved him much that things should be carried so , mr. guy joyfully answered , i accept of you as my good friend , i love you with all my heart . c. caesar. o lord ( said leonard caesar ) do thou suffer with me , lord , support me , and save me . caigneola . michaela caigneola , a noble matron , seeing her judges look out of the windows , said to her fellow martyrs , these stay to suffer the torments of their consciences , and are reserved to judgement , but we are going to glory and happiness . when certain poor women wept and cried , o madam , we shall never now have more alms ; yes hold ( said she ) yet once more , and plucked of her slippers , and such other of her apparel , as she could with modesty spare from the fire . calberg . i believe ( said thomas calberg to the friers , willing him to repent at the last hour ) that i am one of those workmen in christs vineyard , and shall presently receive my penny . calocerius . he seeing the great patience of faustinus and iolita , citizens of briria , in their very great torments , cried out , vere magnus est deus christianorum , verily great is the god of christians . which words being heard , caused him forthwith to be apprehended , and martyred with those two famous christians . cane . when a fool's cap was put on alexander cane's head ; can i have ( said he ) a greater honour done me , then to be served as my lord christ before herod ? lord , seeing my persecutours have no mercy , have thou mercy on me , and receive my soul. canesire . there is one passage in your letter ( said claude de la canesire , in a letter to his wife from lions ) which doth not a little comfort me , namely , that albeit you are loath to leave me , yet you had rather have no husband at all , then to have one that should betray the cause of christ. cardmaker . mr. i●hn cardmaker , burnt in smithfield , . in a letter to a friend writes thus . you shall right well perceive , that i am not gone back as some men do report me , but as ready to give my life as any of my brethren , that are gone before me . — that day , that i recant any point of doctrine , i shall suffer twenty kinds of death , the lord being my assistance , as i doubt not , but he will. — i have learned to rejoyce in poverty , as well as riches , for that i count now to be very riches . — i have conferred with some of my learned adversaries , and i find they are but sophisters and shadows . careles . iohn careles of coventry , weaver , being wisht by dr. martin to play the wise man's part , to save that which god hath bought . i thank you sir ( said he ) and i put you out of doubt , that i am most sure and certain of my salvation by jesus christ , so that my soul is safe already , whatsoever pains my body suffers here for a little time . art thou so predestinated to life ( said the doctour ) that thou canst no● perish in whatsoever opinion thou dost die . that god hath predestinated me to eternal life in jesus christ ( said he ) i am most certain , and even so i am sure that his holy spirit ( wherewith i am sealed ) will so preserve me from all heresies , and evil opinions , that i shall die in none at all . when the dr. told him that he was a goodly tall man , and might do the queen good service in ireland ; he said , wheresoever i am , i am ready to her grace the best service i can with body , goods , and life , and if she , or any under require me to do any thing contrary to christs true religion , i am ready also to do service in smithfield , as my bedfellows and other brethren have done , praised be god for them . in his letter to mr. philpot. — ah my true loving friends , how soon did you lay aside all other business to make a sweet plaister for my wounded conscience , yea , and that out of a painful pair of stocks , which place must needs be uneasie to write in ! but god hath brought you in a strait place , that you might set my soul at liberty . — ah good ieremy , hath phassur put thee into the stocks : why now thou hast the right reward of a prophet . — though you lye in the dark , slurred with the bishops black coal-dust , yet shall you shortly be made as white as snow in salmon , and as the wings of a dove that is covered with silver , and her feathers like gold . you know the vessel before it be made bright , is soiled with oyl and other things , that it may scour the better . o happy be you that you be now in the scouring house , for shortly you shall be set on the celestial shelf , as bright as angels . — my old friends of coventry have put the counsel in remembrance of me not six dayes ago , saying , i am more worthy to be burnt then any that hath been burned yet . god's blessing on their hearts for their good report . god make me worthy of that dignity , and hasten the time , that i may set forth his glory . — blessed be the time that ever i came into the kings bench to be joyned in love and fellowship with such dear children of the lord. in his letter to his wife . — are not two sparrows ( saith christ ) sold fer a farthing , and yet not one of them shall perish without the will of your heavenly father , &c. as though he should have said , if god hath such respect and care for a poor sparrow , which is not worth one farthing , it shall not be taken in the lime-twig , net , or pitfall , untill it be his good will and pleasure : you may be well assured , that not one of you ( whom he so dearly loveth , that he hath given his onely dear son for you ) shall perish or depart forth of this miserable life , without his good will and pleasure . — let not the remembrance of children keep you from god. the lord himself will be a father and a mother better then ever yo●● or i could have been unto them . he himself will do all things necessary for them , yea as much as rock the cradle , if need be . in his letter to mr. bradford . — if we had been thanful to god for the good ministers of his word , we had not so soon been deprived both of it and them . — take not away all thy true preachers forth of this realm ( o lord ) but leave us a seed , least england be made like unto sodom and gomorrah when thy true lots be gone . — hearken o heavens , and then earth give ear , and bear me witness at the great day , that i do here faithfully and truly the lord's message to his dear servant , to his singularly beloved and elect child iohn bradford . iohn bradford , thou man so specially beloved of god , i pronounce and testifie unto thee in the name of the lord jehovah , that all thy sins whatsoever they be , be they never so many , so grievous , or so great , be fully and freely pardoned , released , and forgiven thee , by the mercy of god in jesus christ thine onely lord and sweet saviour , in whom thou doest undoubtedly believe . christ hath cleansed thee with his blood , and cloathed thee with his righteousness , and hath made thee in the sight of god his father without spot or wrinckle , so that when the fire doth his appointed office , thou shalt be received ( as a sweet burnt-sacrifice ) into heaven , where thou shalt joyfully rema●n in god's presence for ever , as the true inheriter of his everlasting kingdom , unto the which thou wast undoubtedly predestinate , and orda●ned by the lords infallible purpose and decree before the foundation of the world was laid , and that this is most true that i have said , i call the whole trinity , the almighty and eternal majesty of god the father , the son , and the holy ghost to my record at this present , whom i humbly beseech to confirm and stablish in thee the true and lively feeling of the same . amen . selah . in his letter to his dear and faithful brethren in newgate , condemned to die . — cease not my dearly beloved , so long as you be in this life to praise the lord with all your hearts , for that of his great mercy and infinite goodness he hath vouched you worthy of this great dignity , to suffer for his sake , not onely the loss of goods , wife , and children , long imprisonment , cruel oppression , but death it self in the fire . this is the greatest promotion that god can bring you , or any other into , in this vail of misery ; yea , so great an honour , as the highest angel in heaven is not permitted to have , and yet hath the lord for his dear son christ's sake reputed you worthy of the same , yea , and that before me and many others , who have both long looked and longed for the same . — rejoyce with double joy , and be glad , my dear brethren , for doubtless you have more cause then can be exprest . but alas ! i that for my sins am left behind , may lament with the holy prophet , woe is me , that the dayes of my joyful r●st are prolonged . ah cursed satan ! which hath caused me so sore to offend my most dear loving father , whereby mine exile and banishment is so long prolonged . oh christ , my dear advocate , pacifie thy father's wrath , which i have justly deserved , that he may take me home to him in his sweet mercy . in his letter to mr. green , &c. — if they be so blessed of god that die in the lord , as the holy ghost saith they be , how much more blessed and happy then are you , that die not onely in the lord , but for the lord. — o blessed green , &c. fresh and green shalt thou be in the lord's house , and thy fruits shall never wither nor decay . — o happy mr. whittle , peter's part thou hast well play'd , therefore thy reward and portion shall be like his . now hast thou good experience of man infirmity , but much more proof and taste , yea sense and feeling of god's abundant bottomless mercy● although satan desired to sift thee , yet christ thy good captain pray'd that thy faith should not fail● god's strength is made perfect by thy weakness , &c. — but alas ! i lye like the lame man a● the pools side , and every one goeth into the place of health before me . in his letter to william tyms . — satan hath two great pieces of ordinance to shoot at you , with the which he cannot hurt you , because you have two bul-warks to defend you . the first of these terrible guns that he hath shot at you is fear and infidelity , for the uglesomness of death , and horrour of your many and great sins . but this pellet is easily put away with the sure shield of faith in the most precious death and blood-shedding of our dear lord and onely saviour , jesus christ , whom the father hath given to us wholly to be ours for evermore , and with him hath given us all things , as paul saith , so that though we be never so great sinners , yet christ is made unto us holiness , righteousness , and justification ; he hath clothed us all his merits , &c. and taken to himself all our sin , &c. so that if any should be now condemned for the same , it must needs be jesus christ , who hath taken them upon him . but indeed he hath made satisfaction for them to the uttermost , so that for his sake they shall never be imputed to us , if they were a thousand times more then they be . the other pestilent piece he shooteth off at you is , to provoke you to put some part of your trust and confidence in yourself , and in your own holiness and righteousness , that you may that way rob god of his glory , and christ of the honour and dignity of his death ; but blessed be the lord god , you have also a full strong bul-work to beat back this pestilent pellet , even the pure law of god , which proveth the best of us all damnable sinners in the light of god , and that our best works are polluted , in such sort as the prophet describes them , with the which manner of speaking , our free-will pharisees are much offended , for it felleth all mans righteousness to the ground . in his letter to mr. augustine bernher . — pray for me that i may be strong and hardy to lay a good load on that bloody beast of babylon . o that i might so strike him down , that he should never be able to rise again , but that stroke belongeth onely to the lord to strike at his coming , which i hope will be shortly . carpenter . all bavaria ( said george carpenter ) is not so dear to me as my wife and children , yet for christs sake i will forsake them cheerfully . carver . mr. derick carver , being asked by bonner whether he would stand for his confession , answered , he would , for your doctrine is poyson and sorcery . if christ were here , you would put him to a worse death , then he was put to before . at the stake he spake thus ; dear brethren and sisters , i am come here to seal with my blood christs gospel , because that i know it to be true . — as many of you as do believe upon the father , the son , and the holy ghost unto everlasting life , see you do the works pertaining to the same . as many of you as do believe on the pope of rome , you do believe to your utter condemnation , and except the great mercy of god prevent not , you shall burn in hell perpetually . in his prayer . — o lord my god , thou has● written , he that will not forsake wife , children , house , and all that ever he hath , and take up his cross , and follow thee , is not worthy of thee . lord , thou knowest that i have forsaken all to come unto thee . lord , have mercy upon me , for unto thee i commend my spirit , and my soul doth rejoyce in thee . chrysostome . eud xia the emperess having sent him a very threatning message , he gave this answer ; go , tell her , nil nisi peccatum timeo , i fear nothing but sin . when she had procured his banishment , as he went forth of the city , he said , none of these things trouble me ; but i said within my self , if the queen will , let her banish me , the earth is the lords , and the fulness thereof , if she will , let her cast me into the sea , i will remember ionah ; if she will , let her cast me into a burning fiery . furnace , or among wild beasts , the three children and daniel were so dealt with ; if she will , let her stone me , or cut off my head , i have st. stephen , and the baptist my blessed companions , if she will , let her take away all my substance , naked came i out of my mothers womb , and naked shall i return thither again . he used to say the devil 's first assault is violent , resist that , and his second will be weaker , and that being resisted , he proves a coward . clarebachius . i believe ( said adolphus clarebachius ) that there is not a merrier heart in the world at this instant then mine is : behold , you shall see me die by that faith i have lived in . colham . see sir iohn oldcastle under the letter ( o ) clark. when roger clark was sentenced , he said with much vehemency , fight for your god , for he hath not long to continue . at the stake he cried out to the people , behold the lamb of god , which taketh away the sins of the world . coligni . iasper coligni , great admiral of france , who was slain in the massacre at paris , august . . being shot in the left arm with two bullets , and the fore-finger of the right hand broke off with a third ; and being told by a gentleman , that it was to be feared the bullets were poysoned , he said , all must be as it pleaseth god. seeing his friends weep , which held his arm whilst the incisions were made , he said , my friends , why do you weep ? i judge my self happy that bear these wounds for the cause of my god. to mr. merlin , his chaplain , he said , these wounds , my friend , are gods blessings . the smart indeed is troublesome , but i acknowledge the will of my lord therein , and i bless his majesty , who hath been pleased thus to honour me , and to lay any pain upon me for his holy names sake : let us beg of him , that he will enable me to persevere to the end . speaking concerning those that wounded him , i know assuredly ( said he ) that it is not in their power to hurt me , no , though they should kill me , for my death is a most certain passage to eternal life . n when the blood-hounds brake open the house where he lay wounded , he spake thus , i perceive what is a doing , i was never afraid of death , and i am ready to undergo it patiently , for which ● have long since prepared my self . i bless god that i shall die in the lord. — ● now need no longer any help of man , therefore my friends get ye hence . — the presence of god to whose goodness i commend my soul is abundantly sufficiently for me . co●v●r . sheep we are for the slaughter ( said franc● co'ver to his two sons , massacred together with himself ) this is no new thing , let us follow millions of martyrs through temporal death unto eternal life . coo. roger coo being asked by the bishop of nor●ich● whether he would not obey the kings laws , answered , as far as they agree with the word of god , i will obey them . whether they agree with the word of god or no , we are bound to obey them ( said the bishop ) though the king were an infidel ; coo replyed , if shadrach , m●shach , and abedn●go had so done , neluchadn●zzar had neve● confessed the living god. constantine . being carried with other martyrs in a dung● cart to the place of execution , he spake thus● well , yet are we a precious odour , and a swee● savour to god in christ. cornford . iohn cornford one of the last five that suffered martyrdome in queen mary's dayes ( when th● sentence should have been passed , and they should have been executed by the papists ) being move● in spirit with a vehement zeal for god , in the nam● of them all pronounced sentence of excommunication against the papists , in these words . — in the name of our lord jesus christ the son of the most mighty god , and by the power of the holy spirit , and the authority of his holy and apostolick church , we do hereby give into the hands of satan to be destroyed , the bodies of those blasphemers and hereticks , that do maintain any errour against his most holy word , or do condemn his most holy truth for heresie , to the maintenance of any false church or feigned religion , so that by this thy just judgement against thy adversaries , thy true religion may be known to thy great glory , and our comfort , and to the edifying of all our nation lord jesus , so be it . — it is observable , that within six dayes after this excommunication queen mary died , and the tyranny of all eng●ish papists with her . con●ogue . brethren and sisters ( said peter conlogue of breda at the stake ) be you alwayes obedient to the word of god , and fear not those that can kill the body , for on the soul they can have no power ; as for me i am now going to meet my glorious spouse the lord jesus christ. cranm●r . when dr. th●mas cranmer archbishop of canterbury was excommunicated , he said , from this your judgement and sentence , i appeal to the just judgement of god almighty , trusting to be present with him in heaven , for whose presence in the altar i am thus condemned . in his letter to mr. wilkinson . — the true comforter in all distresses is onely god through his son jesus christ. whosoever hath him hath comfort enough , although he were in a wilderness all alone . he that hath twenty thousand in his company , if god be absent , is in a miserable wilderness . in him is all comfort , and without him is none . wherefore i beseech you seek your dwelling there , where you may truly and rightly serve god , and dwell in him , and have him ever dwelling in you . in his letter to mr. warcup . — be not so dainty , as to look for that at god , your dear fathers hands , which the fathers , patriarks , prophets , apostles , evangelists , saints , and his own son jesus christ did not find , i. e. all fair way and fair weather to heaven . — the devil standeth now at every inne-door in this city and countrey of this world , crying unto us to tarry and lodge in this or that place till the storms be over-past , not that he would not have us to wet our skin , but that the ●●me of our runn●ng our race might over-pass us to our utter destruction . — fear not the flail , fear not the fann●ng-wind , fear not the milstone , fear not the oven ; for all these make you more meet for the lords tooth . in his letter to dr. hill. — such as think it enough to keep the heart pure , notwithstanding that the outward man carry favour , as they deny god to be jealous , one that will have the whole man , having created , redeemed , and sanctified both for himself , so they play the dissemblers with the church of god , by their parting stakes between god and the world , offending the godly , whom either they provoke to fall with them , or make more careless and conscienceless , if they have fallen , and occasioning the wicked and obstinate to triumph against god , and the more vehemently to prosecute their malice against such as will not defile themselves in body or soul with the romish rags , now received among us . — call to mind that there are but two masters , two kind of people , two wayes , and two mansion places . the masters be christ and satan ; the people the servitors to either of these ; the wayes be strait and wide ; the mansions be heaven and hell. this world is the place of trial of gods people and the devils servants by whom they follow : the cross it is that doth make the trial . in his letter to royd●n and esing . — whom would it grieve , which hath a long journey to go through a piece of foul way , if he knew that after that , the way should be most pleasant , yea the journey should be ended , and he at his resting place most happy ? who will be afraid or loth to leave a little pelf for a little time , if he knew he should afterwards very speedily receive most plentiful riches ? who will be unwilling for a while to forsake his wife , children , friends , &c. when he knoweth he shall shortly after be associated to them inseparably , even after his own hearts desire ? who will be sorry to forsake his life , who is most certain of eternal life ? who loveth the shadow better then the body ? who can desire the dross of this world , but such as be ignorant of the treasures of the everlasting joy in heaven ? who is afraid to die , but such as hope not to live eternally ? — what way is so sure a way to heaven , as to suffer in christs cause ? if there be any way on horseback to heaven , surely this is the way , acts . tim. ● . the devil cannot love his enemies . should we look for fire to quench our thirst ? as soon shall gods true servants find peace and ●avour in antichrists regiment . in a letter to mrs. anne warcup . — my staffe standeth at the door . i look continually for the sheriffe to come for me ; and i bless god i am ready for him . now go i to practise that which i have preached . now am i climbing up to the hill ; it will cause me to puffe and to blow before i come to the cliffe . the hill is steep and high ; my breath is short , and my strength is feeble . pray therefore to the lord for me , that as i have now through his goodness even almost come to the top , i may by his grace be strengthned not to rest till i come where i should be . oh loving lord , put out thy hand , and draw me unto thee ; for no man cometh but he whom the father draweth . see my dearly beloved , gods loving mercy : he knoweth my short breath and great weakness . as he sent for elias in a fiery chariot , so sends he for me . by fire my dross must be purified , that i may be fine gold in his sight . in his letter to mr. augustine barnher . — i have now taken a more certain answer of death then ever i did . ah my god , the hour is come , glorifie thy most unworthy child . i have glorified thee ( saith this my sweet father ) and i will glorified thee . amen . some of the subscriptions of his letters were observable . the most miserable hard-hearted unthankful s●nner , iohn bradford . a very painted hypocrite , iohn bradford . miserrimus peccatur , iohn bradford . the sinful iohn bradford . pray , pray , pray , was the usual close of his letters which he writ in prison . when he came into smithfield , he fell flat on his face , and prayed ; then taking a fagot in his hand he kissed it , and so likewise the stake ; and standing by the stake , lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven , he said , o england , england , repent of thy sins , repents of thy sins , beware of idolatry , beware of false antichrist , take heed they do not deceive thee ; and to his fellow martyr he said , be of good comfort brother , for we shall have a merry supper with the lord this night ; and then embracing the reeds , he said , strait is the gate , and narrow is the way that leads to life , and few there be that find it . what can be so heavy a burden , as an unquiet conscience , to be in such a place , as a man cannot be suffered to serve god in christs religion ? if you be loth to depart from your kin and friends , remember that christ calleth them his mother , sisters , and brothers , that do his fathers will. where we find therefore god truly honoured according to his will , there we can lack neither friend nor kin. if you be loth to depart for the slandering of gods word , remember that christ when his hour was not yet come , departed out of his countrey into samaria , to avoid the malice of the scribes and pharisees , and commanded his apostles , that if they were pursued in one place , they should fly to another . thus did paul , and the other apostles . albeit when it came to such a point , that they could no longer escape , then they evidenced that their flying before came not of fear , but of godly wisdome to do more good ; and that they would not rashly , without urgent necessity offer themselves to death , which had been a tempting of god. after he had recanted , and was brought to saint m●ry's church in oxford , where dr. cole after he had preached bitterly against him , shewing why he was to be executed notwithstanding his recantation , prest him to evidence to the people his conversion to popery , dr. cranmer entreated the people to pray with him and for him , that god would pardon his sins , especially his recantation . after he had prayed , he told them , it is a sad thing to see so many so much dote upon the love of this false world , and be so careful of it , and so careless of gods love , or the world to come ▪ therefore this shall be my first exhortation , tha● you set not your minds overmuch upon this glozing world , but upon god , and the world to come , and to learn to know what this lesson meaneth , which st. iohn teacheth , that the love of this world is hatred against god. — let rich men consider and weigh three scriptures , luke . it is h●rd for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heaven . john . he that hath the su●stance of this world , and seeth his brother in necessity , and shutteth up his mercy from him , how can he say that he loveth god ? james . , . go to now ye rich men , weep and hard for the miseries that are coming upon you , your riches are corrupted . — another exhortation is , that next under god you obey your king and queen willingly and gladly , without murmuring or grudging . they are gods m●nisters : whosoever resisteth them , resisteth the ordinance of god. — and now i come ( said he ) to the great thing , that so much troubleth my conscience , more then any thing that ever i did , or said , in my whole life , and that is the setting abroad a writing contrary to the truth , which now here i renounce , and refuse as things written with my hand , contrary to the truth which i thought in my heart , and written for fear of death and to save my life if it might be . and forasmuch as my hand offended , writ●ng contrary to my heart , my hand shall first be punished therefore , for may i come to the fire it shall be first burned . at the stake , when the fire began to burn near him , he stretching out his arm put his right hand into the flame , which he held so stedfast , that all men might see his hand burned , before his body was touched . his eyes lifted up to heaven , he cried out even as long as he could speak , o his unworthy hand ! his last words were the words of stephen , lord iesus receive my spirit . cromwel . thomas lord cromwe● , earl of ess●x , the morning that he was executed , having chearfully eaten his break-fast , passing out of the prison down the hill in the tower , met the lord hungerford going to execution for other matter ; and perceiving him to be heavy and doleful , he willed him to be of good comfort ; for if you repent ( said he ) of what you have done , there is mercy enough for you with the lord , who for christs sake will forgive you ; and though the break-fast we are going to be sharp , yet trusting in the mercy of the lord , we shall have a joyful dinner . in his prayer on the scaffold . — o lord jesus , who art the onely health of all men living , and the everlasting life of them which die in thee — being sure that the thing cannot perish , which is committed to thy mercy , willingly now i leave this frail and wicked flesh , in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to me again at the last day in the resurrection of the j●st . — i see and acknowledge there is in my self no hope of salvation , but all my confidence , hope , and trust is in thy most merciful goodness . — thou , merciful lord , wast born for my sake , didst suffer hunger and thirst for my sake , didst teach , pray , and fast for my sake , all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake , thou sufferedst most grievous pains and torments for my sake , and finally thou gavest thy most precious body and blood to be shed on the cross for my sake ; now , most merciful saviour , let all these things profit me , &c. — let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spots and foulness of ●● sins , let thy righteousness hide and cover my un●righteousness . — cyprian . he went in the time of persecution into volun●tary banishment , lest ( as he said ) he should 〈◊〉 more hurt then good to the congregation . when he heard the sentence pronounced a●gainst him , he said , i thank god for freeing m● from the prison of this body . he said amen to his own sentence of martyrdome . the proconsul bidding him consult abou● it , he answered , in so just a cause there needs no deliberation . d. daigerfield . william daigerfield and ioan his wife ( who then gave suck to her tenth child ) being imprisoned in several prisons , bishop brooks sent for the man , and told him , that his wife had recanted , and so perswaded him to recant , and so sent him to his wife with a form of recantation with him , which when his wife saw , her heart clave in sunder , and she cried out , alas ! husband , thus long we have continued one , and hath satan so far perva●led with you , as to cause you to break the vow , which you made to god in baptisme ? hereupon he bewailed his promise , and beg'd of god that he might not live so long as to call evil good , and good evil , light darkness , or darkness light . and accordingly it came to pass . damlip . mr. adam damlip , when he had been almost two years in the marshalsey , considering how he could not employ his talent there to god's glory , as he desired ( though he had many favours in prison ) resolved to write to the bishop of winchester , earnestl● to desire that he might come to his tryal ; for ( said he ) i know the worst , i can but lose my present life , which i had rather do , then here to remain , and not to be suffered to use my talent to god's glory . when he understood by the keeper , that his suffering was near , he was notwithstanding very merry , and did eat his meat as well as ever he did in all his life , insomuch that some at the board said unto him , they wondred how he could eat his meat so chearfully , knowing he was so near his death ; ah masters ( said he ) do you think that i have been so long god's prisoner in the marshalsey , and have not yet learned to die ? yes , yes , and i doubt not but god will strengthen me therein . when he was told that his four quarters should be hanged at four parts of calice , and his head upon the lanthern-gate , then shall i not need ( said he ) to provide for my burial . delos . alas ( said iames delos to the monks that called him proud heretick ) here i get nothing but shame , i expect indeed preferment hereafter . denley . mr. i●hn denl●y being entreated by bishop bonner to recant , said , god save me from your counsel . in the fire , with the burning flame about him , he sung a psalm , and having his face hurt with a fagot hurled at him , he left singing for a while , and clapt his hands in his bleeding face , and afterwards put his hands abroad , and sung again till he died . dionysius . dionysius areopagita ( who seeing the gener●●● eclipse of the sun at christ's death , said to one● either the god of nature now suffers , or the frame of the world shall be dissolved ; and to another , god unknown in the flesh doth suffer . when he was apprehended by sisinius the praefect , and sharply reproved for preaching against the worship of their gods , and required to confess his errour , said , that they were no gods , whom they worshipped , but idols , the works of mens hands , and that it was through meer ignorance , folly , and idolatry , that they adored them ; adding , that there was but one true god , as he had preached . after he was grievously tormented , he was brought before sisinius the second time , who sentenced him to be beheaded forthwith . dyonisius told him , he worshipped such gods as would perish like d●ng upon the earth ; but as for my self ( said he ) come life , come death , i will worship none but the god of heaven and earth . he pray'd thus at his death . o lord god almighty , thou onely-begotten son , and holy spirit ; o sacred trinity , which art without beginning , and in whom is no division , receive the soul of thy servant in peace , who is put to death for thy cause and gospel . he used to say , that he desired these two things of god ( ) that he might know the truth himself , and ( ) that he might preach it , as he ought , to others . driver . alice driver in her first examination , hav●ng got her adversaries to acknowledge , that a sacrament is a sign , and that it was christ's body , his disciples did eat the night before he was crucified ; seeing it is ( said she ) a sign , it cannot be the thing signified ; and how could it be christ's body , that was crucified , seeing his disciples had eaten him up over night , except he had two bodies . at the end of her second examination , she said ; have you no more to say ? god be honoured . you be not able to resist the spirit of god in me a poor woman . i was an honest poor man's daughter , never brought up in the university , as you have been , but i have driven the plough before my father many a time ( i thank god ) yet notwithstanding in the defence of god's truth , and in the cause of my mr. christ , by his grace i will set my foot against the foot of any of you all , in the maintenance and defence of the same ; and if i had a thousand lives , they should go for payment thereof . when she was tied to the stake , and the iron chain put about her neck , o ( said she ) here is a goodly neckerchief , blessed be god for it . drowry . thomas drowry ( the blind boy , to whom bishop hooper , as he was going to the stake , after he had examined him , said ; ah poor boy , god hath taken from thee thy outward sight , but he hath given thee another sight much more precious : he that endued thy soul with the eye of knowledge and faith. ) shortly after bishop hooper's martyrdome , was cast into prison . afterwards the chancellor of glocester asking him , who taught him that heresie , that christ's body was not really present in the sacrament of the altar , he said , you , mr. chancellor , when in yonder pulpit you taught us that the sacrament was to be received spiritually by faith , and not carnally and really , as the pap●● teach . but ( said the chancellor ) do thou as i ha●● done , and thou shalt live as i do , and escape bu●●ing . though you ( said drowry ) can so easily d●●pense with your conscience , and mock god a●● the world , yet will not i do so . then said t●● chancellor , i will condemn thee ; god's will b●● fulfilled ( said drowry . ) e. edward . king edward the sixth ( our english i●sias ) being prest by archbishop cranmer , and bishop ruley to permit the lady m●ry to have mass in he●● house ; after he had argued notably against i●●bid them be content , for he would spend his life and all he had , rather then to agree to , and gra●●● that he knew certainly to be against the truth and then fell a weeping , insomuch that the bishop wept as fast as he ; and the archbishop tol● mr. cheek , his scholar had more divinity in hi●● little finger , then all they had in all their bodies . elizabeth . the lady elizabeth ( afterward queen of england ) when she came out of the barge at traytor● stairs , going into the tower , said , here landed as true a subject , being a prisoner , as ever lande● at these stairs . and before thee , o god , i speak it having no other friends but thee alone . her gentleman-usher weeping , she demande● of him what he meant so uncomfortably to use her , seeing she took him to be her comfort , and not to dismay her , especially for that she knew her truth to be such , that no man should have cause to weep for her . when the doors of the prison were locked and bolted upon her , she called for her book , desiring god , not to suffer her to build her foundation upon the sands , but upon the rock , w●ereby all blasts of blustering weather should have no power against her . when she was locked up close in prison , at first she was much daunted , but afterwards she brake forth into this speech ; the skill of a pilot is unknown , but in a tempest ; the valour of a captain is unseen , but in a battel ; and the worth of a christian doth not appear , but in time of tryal and temptation . mr. burrough's mos. self-denial , pag. . upon gardeners and other counsellors strict examination of her , she said , my lords , you do sift me very narrowly , but well i am assured , you shall not do more to me then god hath appointed , and so god forgive you all . some telling her , that they were perswaded god would not suffer sir henry b●n●field to make her away privately ; well , said she , god grant it be so ; for thou , o god , canst mollifie all such tyrannous hearts , and disappoint all such cruel purposes ; and i beseech thee to hear thy creature , which am thy servant , and at thy command , trusting by thy grace ever so to remain . as she passed over the water to richmond , going towards windsor , in their journey to woodstock , she espied certain of her old servants standing on the other side , very desirous to see her , and sent one of her men standing by unto them ; go to them ( said she ) and say these words from me , tanquam ovis , i. e. just like a sheep to the slaughter . at her departing from woodstock she wrote these verses with her diamond in a gla●● window . much suspected by me , nothing proved can be , q●oth elizabeth prisoner . when a popish priest press'd her hard to declare her opinion of christs presence in the sacrament , she truly and warily answered him thus ; t was the word that spake it , he took the bread and brake it , and what the word did m●ke it , that i believe , and take it . esch. iohn esch and henry voes burnt at ●ruxels : ● being asked what they believed , they said , the books of the old and new testmant . and being asked whether they believed the decrees of the councils , and the fathers , they said , such a● agreed to the scriptures they believed ; and being asked whether it were any deadly sin to transgress the decrees of the bishop of rom● , they said , that it is to be attributed onely to the precep● of god , to bind the conscience of man , or to lose it . being condemned , they gave thanks to god their heavenly father , which had delivered them through his great goodness from that false and abominable priesthood ( they having been augustine friers ) and made them priests of his holy order , receiving them unto him as a sacrifice of ●● sweet odour . the greatest errour that they were accused of , was that men ought to trust onely in god , forasmuch as men were lyars , and deceitful in all their words and deeds ; and therefore there ought no trust or asfiance to be put in them . the day of their execution ( said they ) the day we have long desired . one of them , feeing that the fire was kind led at his feet , said , methinks you do strow roses under my feet . eulalia . the virgin eulalia ( of emerita in portugal ) having secretly got out of her fathers house ( where she was kept close for fear , least she should offer her self to martyrdome ) went couragiously unto the tribunal , or judgement-seat , and in the midst of them all , cried out , would you know what i am ? behold ! i am one of the christians , an enemy to your divelish sacrifices , i spurn your idols under my feet , i confess god omnipotent with my heart and mouth . — go to thou hangman , burn , cut , mangle thou these earthly members ; it is an easie matter to break a brittle substance , but the inward mind thou shalt not hurt for any thing thou canst do . the judge endeavouring to perswade her to recant , saying , behold ! what pleasures thou mayest enjoy by the honourable house thou camest of ; what! wilt thou kill thy self , so young a flower , ( she being not much above twelve years of age ) and so near those honourable marriages and great dowries thou mayest enjoy ? eulalia did not answer him , but being in a great fury , spit in the tyrants face , threw down the idols , and spurnt abroad with her feet ●he heap of incense prepared for the censers . — when one joint was pulled from another , she said , behold , o lord , i will no● forget thee ; what a pleasure is it for them , 〈◊〉 christ , that remember thy triumphant victorie● to attain unto these high dignities . f. fabrianus . first better , ( said christopher fabrianus ) the sweet ; first the battel , the victory when i 〈◊〉 dead . every drop of my blood shall preach christ and set forth his praise . faninus . faninus an italian kissed the apparitor tha● brought him word of his execution . to one reminding him of his children , he said i have lest them to an able and faithful guardian . to his friends weeping , he said , that is we●● done , that you weep for joy with me . to one objecting christs agony and sadness t● his chearfulness : yea ( said he ) christ was sad , tha● i might be merry . he had my sins , and i have 〈◊〉 merits and righteousness . to the friers offering him a woodden crucif●● he said , christ needs not the help of this piece , 〈◊〉 imprint him in my mind and heart , where he ha●● his habitation . farellus . mr. william farellus , being questioned by 〈◊〉 magistrates of metis , by what authority , or 〈◊〉 whose request he preached , answered , by 〈◊〉 command of christ , and at the request of h●● members . farrar . mr. richard iones , coming to dr. robert farra● bishop of st. david , a little before his death , a●● seeming to lament the painfulness of the death he was to suffer , the bishop said to him , that if he saw him once to stir in the pains of his burning , he should then give no credit to his doctrine . accordingly he never moved , but even as he stood , holding up his stumps , so he continued still , till richard gravell with a staffe dashed him upon the head , and so strook him down . filicu . iohn filicul and iulian l●ville ( who suffered in france ) being threatned if they constantly persisted , to be burnt alive , and to have their tongues cut out , or otherwise onely to be strangled , and to have the use of their tongues , contemned the offer , saying , you would fain have us renounce our god for saving our selves from a little pain , but it shall not be so ; and looking one upon another , said , we are ready not onely to lose one or two of our members , but the whole body , and to be burned and burned again in the defence of the truth . when the time of their execution came , the officer put into their hands , being tyed , a wooden cross , which they flung away with their teeth , saying , that they were now to bear a more noble and excellent cross then that . when their tongues were cut , god gave them utterance , insomuch that they were heard to say , we bid sin , the flesh , the world farewel for ever , with whom we shall never have to do hereafter . at last when the tormenter came to smear them with brimstone and gunpowder , go to ( said filiolus ) salt on , salt on the rotten and stinking flesh . fillula . by these ladders ( said iohn fillula to his fellows ) we ascend the heavens , now begin we to trample under feet , sin , the world , the flesh , and the devil . filmer . henry filmer said to person and testwood ( his fellow martyrs ) be merry my brethren , and lift up your hands to god , for after this sharp break-fast ▪ i trust we shall have a good dinner in the kingdom of christ our lord and redeemer . flower . william flower ( alias branch ) being told his death was near , said , i hunger for the same , dear friend , being fully ascertain'd that they can kill but the body , which i am assured shall receive again life everlasting , and see death no more . bishop bonner perswaded him to recant , promising him thereupon great things , he answered , that which i have said i will stand to , and therefore i require that the law may proceed upon me . at another time , do what you will , i am at 〈◊〉 point ; for the heavens shall as soon fall , as i will forsake mine opinion . in his prayer . — have mercy upon me for thy dear son our saviour jesus christs sake , in whom i confess onely to be all salvation and justification and that there is none other mean , nor way , no● holiness , in which , or by which any man can be saved in this world. burning in the fire , he cried out three times●punc ; o the son of god have mercy upon me , o the son of god receive my soul. folks . elizabeth folks being examined , whether she believed the presence of christs body to be in the sacrament substantially and really ? answered , that she believed that that was a substantial and real l●e . when sentence of condemnation was rea● against her , she kneeled down , lifting up her eye and hands to heaven , she praised god that ever she was born to see that most blessed and happy day , that the lord would count her worthy to suffer for the testimony of christ ; and lord , if it be thy will , forgive them that have done this against me , for they know not what they do . at the stake she being hindred from giving her petticoat to her mother ( who kissed her , and exhorted her to be strong in the lord ) threw it away from her , saying , farewel all the world , farewel faith and hope ; and so taking the stake in her hand , said , welcome love , &c. when she and the other five that suffered with her , were nailed to the stakes , and the fire about them , they clapped their hands together for joy in the fire . fox . the day after queen mary's death mr. iohn fox preaching at basil to the english exiles , did with confidence tell them , that now was the time come for their return into england , and that he brought that news by command from god. the lady anne hennage being given up for dead , he told her , she had done well in fitting her self for death , but that she should not die of that sickness ; and being blamed by her son in law for disquieting her mind with hopes of life , he answered , that he had said no more then was commanded h●m ; for it seemed good to god that she should recover , and so she did . mrs. honywood having been sick of a consumption almost twenty years , was scarce able to speak when mr. fox came to her , onely faintly she breathed forth a desire to end her dayes . mr. fox , after he had prayed with her , told her , that she should not onely grow well of that consumption , but also live to an exceeding great age . as well might you have said ( quoth mrs. honywood ) that if i should throw this glass against the wall , i might believe it would not break to pieces ; and holding a glass in her hand , out of which she had newly drunk , she threw it forth , but the glass falling first on a chest , and then on the ground , neither brake nor crackt . accordingly this eminent christian gentlewoman being then sixty years of age , recovered and lived till she was above ninety , and could reckon above three hundred and sixty of her children and childrens children . he also foresaw his own death , and therefore sent away his sons that they might not be present . frith . mr. iohn frith with some others , ( chosen into christs church oxford , whose foundation was laid by cardinal wolsey ) conferring together upon the abuse of religion , then crept into the church , were therefo●e accu●ed of heresie unto the cardinal , and cast into prison , within a deep cave under the ground of the same colledge , where their salt fish was laid . through the filthy stinch thereof they were all infected , and some took their death , but mr. frith was wonderfully preserved ; and was translated from that university ( after many miseries undergone both beyond sea and in his own land ) to another school , namely , to a more setled discipline of affliction , the tower of london ; where , as he remained a patient in regard of the persecution , which he suffered , so did he also the office of a physician , in prescribing to others preparatives and remedies in the like case . to which end a.d. . he employed his pen in writing those treatises , which now go under the name of vox pisces , or the book-fish . concerning which ( the author of the preface thereunto ) observes , that in some sort they ran the fortune of the author , being held in captivity in the sea , and kept in iohah's prison , the belly of a fish , being in danger there to be consumed , as the author was like to have perished in the dungeon at oxford by the noysome stinch of fish. the wine therein offered ( saith the same author ) is the purest juyce of a grape of the vine ( christ jesus ) trode in the wine-press of persecution about an hundred years since : which being put in a paper vessel , and formerly miscarrying by wrack in the transporting , is now beyond expectation in a strange living vessel brought back again to land , no doubt to the end , that it might after long lying hid in store , be anew broached and dispersed abroad for the refreshing of many thirsty souls ; to whom it is like to taste not the worse , but the better for the long lying in so salt a cellar , as is the bottome of the sea , wherein , by all probability , it hath been buried for many years . mr. frith did not light his candle at the lamp of mr. calvin , which then was not extant ; nor of great luther , who was then but in the beginning of his growth . and yet ( saith the same author ) how judiciously is there shewn the use of the cross among christians to consist in the due preparation for it , and constant patience under it ? how foundly are we taught that our election and justification are of gods meer mercy , and not for any thing foreseen in us ? — that remission of sins is through christ onely . — that no man can merit for others . — that true believers do sin , yet fall not away utterly from christ. — as the work commends the author , so the author much more the work. when he wrote of the cross , he fought valiantly under the cross ; he turned his words of patience into the perfect work of patience . he had the like happ●ness to that of st. paul , to bring forth children unto christ in his bands . whilst he was kept close prisoner in the tower , by his letters and treatises he gained many souls to christ , and among others ( which is most observable ) he converted one r●s●●l to the truth , who had formerly dipped his pen in gall , and wrote most bitterly against the truth of the gospel , and against the writings of this prisoner of christ , then ● bands for the gospel . like a swan he sang most sweetly before his death , and foretold both particularly his own martyrdome , and the propagation of the gospel through all england within twenty years after his death ; which accordingly came to pass in the reign of king edward . he was as it were a pr●mrose in the new spring of the gospel : and though he wrote in the twilight between the night of popery , and the day of reformation , yet god so enlightned him , that his tre●●ise of the sacraments , was the candle at which that great torch archbishop cranmer was lighted , as mr. fox reporteth . that is the true cross ( saith mr. frith in his treatise called , a preparation to the cross ) which god doth lay upon us — for the word of god to suffer all scorns , mocks , lyes , and persecutions , and not to fear the most cruel , yea even the most shameful death . — that we may be prepared to bear the true cross , we must consider that no calamity falleth on us by fortune or chance , but by the counsel and appointment of god , as witnesseth the holy scripture . — it is undoubtedly no sma● comfort to be assured , that the cross is of god , and that we are chastened of god , and not of the devil , or of any wicked man , who utterly can have no power upon us , not so much as to move one hair of our head , beside the will of ▪ the lord. — but it is not enough to consider that we are afflicted through the counsel and will of god , but must moreover mark the cause and intent of his godly will ; for reason judgeth that we are punished , to the end to be hurt or destroyed , &c. but we must forsake reason , and cleave to the word of god , which teacheth that we suffer affliction to our health and salvation ; for afflictions are not signs of wrath and displeasure , but of grace and favour . — this is no small comfort to them that bear the cross , that they are not punished of the lord to their hurt or destruction , but to their health and salvation ; and that their afflictions , poverty , &c. are not signs of gods wrath , but instruments by which god is glorified . — when god doth afflict his people for their sins , he doth not therefore afflict them , that by their afflictions they should satisfie for their sins : for the passion and suffering of jesus christ is the ransome and expiation of our sins ; but that by affliction he may bring sinners to repentance . — when a christian seeth himself forsaken of all men , he must pray , and not cease to pray , but pray in faith mistrusting nothing . — god calleth invocation or crying on him in trouble , a sacrifice , the true and most acceptable honour . — so likewise he calleth the hope , whereby we tarry his help in affliction , sacrifice . sacrifice you the sacrifice of justice , and hope ye in the lord , q. d. that hope is a sacrifice , whereby we yield justice to god , that ( seeing he hath so promised ) he will pluck us out and deliver us , for so much as he is righteous and true . — of patience to god-ward , springeth forth patience toward men ; for when the heart is at peace with god , it tarrieth help of him , and utterly setteth aside lust to revenge . — our reason is therefore troubled and vexed in persecution , because it thinketh that we are afflicted because god either hateth us , or doth not regard us , neither will help us . these false opinions god plucketh from us , and teacheth us , that we are afflicted , not because he hateth us , but because he will either amend us , or when we be amended , continue us so . — and that in our affliction he will help us , and keep us , and also comfort us with the holy ghost , and set our conscience at peace , and make us be glad in god , &c. — christian patience hath certain conditions , whereby it is known to be true patience . ( ) it grudgeth not , neither excuseth it self , as though it should suffer unworthily for his sins , wherefore he sitteth down and holdeth his peace , as i●remiah saith . — ( ) is casteth all carefulness on god , and committeth it self wholly to god , that gods will be done and not his . ( ) it humbleth himself , and casteth off the pleasures of the world. ( ) he is merry and ready to suffer yet more heavy and g●ievous evils . — we must look for help in all afflictions ; for god promiseth his help , saying , i am with you , f●ar ye n●t , i will strengthen you . — but the manner , time , and kind of help is unknown unto us , that faith and hope may have place , which sticketh to these things which are not seen nor heard . — god delivereth when most need is , that his glory may shine the brighter . — he will therefore help , when we be in a manner compelled to despair in all humane help , and when all carnal counsel deceiveth us ; for god only will be glorified . — he doth prolong help for our utility and profit , that he might exercise and prove faith by temptation , so that he onely might possess the title and name of helper . — he that believeth makes not haste . he which yet seems afar off , shall appear at the end , and shall not lye : although he tarry , yet look for him , for he is coming , and at the last he shall come and shall not be slow . — it is also a great comfort to them that be in affliction , to remember that they have christ , and his prophets , and apostles , and all good and holy men for their examples , — furthermore , it is a great comfort to the godly , that the wicked ( whom god doth use as a rod to scourge the godly ) go not clear away without punishment , whom he maketh either shamefully ashamed , or through their own counsel he doth take them , and bringeth them into the same destruction , which they themselves have studied and found out for others . — the cause is , for he that hurteth one faithful , wrongeth not onely him , but god , who doth revenge the injury and wrong done to the faithful , as injury done to himself . — he that toucheth you , toucheth the apple of mine eye . — saul , saul , why persecuteth thou me . — if thou beest tempted concerning the gospel , or suffering persecution for the gospel , think of these scriptures , he that receeveth not my cross , and follows not me , is not worthy of me . if any man will come after me , let him forsake himself , and take his cross and follow me . for he that will save his soul shall lose it . contrariwise he that loseth his soul for my sake , shall find it . he that will confess me before men , i will confess him before my father . — the apostles rejoyced that they were counted worthy . — the servant is not above his lord : all they that will live godly in christ jesus must suffer persecution . — if thou must die , and leave wife and children and thy dear friends , say , the lord shall be their defender ; for g●● both will , and is able to cherish mine , to nouri●● and defend them ; for he is the father of the fa●therless , and the widows husband . i forget thing● behind my back , and endeavour my self to th●● things that are before my face . they that ha●● wives , let them be as though they had none , an● they that weep as though they wept not . — if satan say thou must forsake the world , what then answer thou contrariwise : i shall attain heaven for blessed are the dead that die in the lord. all th● world lyeth in wickedness . all that are born ●● god overcome the world , and this the victor● which overcometh the world , our faith . all th● world shall perish with its lusts and desires . lo●● not the world , nor the things of the world . we are strangers in this world , and citizens of heaven ▪ — ye sons of men , why love ye vanities , and seek lies ? how long love you infancy or childhood ? — — the godly have most comfort ; though i● this life they be as sheep ordained to be slain , and seem forsaken of god , &c. yet they do not despair ▪ no not in death , but are sure they shall pass through death to life eternal , &c. also they have this comfort , that their death is good and precious ; the● also know , that through christs death , death is overcome and abolished . — christ by his death hath changed their death into a sleep . — such as be at the point of death , ought to take comfort and be strong , in that they know that they carry with them both letter and token , which is baptisme , whereby their death is incorporate with the death of christ , and that it is not their death , so much as the death of christ. wherefore let them surely trust , that they shall overcome , as that death of christ hath overcome . unto the godly it is a great comfort , that they know that death is not in the power of tyrants , nor put into the hand of any creature , least they should be much troubled , &c. they shall onely die when it pleaseth the lord. — we cannot live any longer then the lord hath appointed , and we shall not die , though we be in the greatest peril , and extreme jeopardy before our hour . — then wherefore should they fear death ? they cannot live longer then god hath appointed , nor die any sooner . — it is the comfort of the godly in all adversity , that through the grace of god , they shall be revived , and raised up , as well the body as the soul ; the souls to justice , the bodies to glory . this hope the wicked have not , &c. — it is a great comfort that affliction shall not endure continually , and the afflictions of this time are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed upon us . — our trouble , which is but temporal and light , worketh an exceeding and eternal weight of glory unto us , who look not on the things that are seen , but on them which are not seen . — if a man praise a very fool ( saith mr. frith in his preface to his mirrour ) and think his wit good and profound , he is indeed more fool then the other . thus seeing man praiseth and commends riches , honour , &c. and such other vain and transitory things , which are but as a dream , and vanish like a flower of the field ; when a man should have most need of them , he himself is more vain then those things which are but vanity . if god hath opened the eyes of thy mind ( saith the mirrour it self ) and have given thee spirit and wisdome through the knowledge of his word , boast not thy self of it , but rather fear and tremble , for a chargeable office is committed unto thee which ( if thou fulfil it ) is like to cost thee thy 〈◊〉 at one time or other , with much trouble and pers●●cution : but if thou fulfill it not , then shall t●● office be thy damnation . for st. paul saith , w●●● to me if i ●●each not . and by the propher ezek●● god saith , if i say unto the wicked that he shall die t● death , and thou shew him not of it , the wicked shall 〈◊〉 in his iniquity , but i shall require his blood at thy ha●●● but peradventure our divines would expou●● these texts onely of them that are sent and ha●● cure of souls . whereunto i answer , that eve● man that hath the light of gods word revealed unto him , is sent wheresoever he seeth necessity , an● hath the cure of his neighbours soul , e. g. if go● hath given me my sight , and i perceive a blin● man going in the way , which is ready for lack 〈◊〉 sight to fall into a pit , wherein he would likely perish , i am bound by gods command to guide hi● till he be past that jeopardy , or else if he peris●● therein , his blood shall be required at my hand● thus if i perceive my neighbour like to perish 〈◊〉 lack of christs doctrine , then am i bound to instruct him with the knowledge god hath given me ▪ or else his blood shall be required at my hand ▪ peradventure they will say , that there is already one appointed to watch the pit , &c. and therefor● i am discharged and need take no thought . where unto i answer , i would be glad that so it were , notwithstanding if i perceive that the watchmen b● asleep , or run to the ale-house , &c. and through his negligence espie my neighbour in danger o● the pit , then am i nevertheless bound to lead him from it . i think that god hath sent me at that time to save that soul from perishing , and the law o● god and nature that bindeth me thereunto , which chargeth me to love my neighbour as my self , to do unto him as i would be done unto . — if god hath given thee riches , &c. thou art yet the very owner of them , but god is the owner , who saith by the prophet , gold is mine , and silver is mine , and he hath for a season made thee a steward of them , so see whether thou with be faithful in the distribution of them , according to his commands . — our spiritual possessionaries are double thieves and murtherers , as concerning the body , besides their murthering of the soul , for lack of gods word , which they will neither preach , or suffer any other to do it purely , but persecute them , and put them unto most cruel death : first , they are thieves and murtherers , because they distribute not what they have from charitable forefathers , to the intent it should have been ministred unto the poor , but upon horses , coaches , &c. gorgeous apparel , and delicate fare , &c. thus they defraud the poor of their bread , and so are thieves ; and ( because this bread is their life ) they are murtherers also . — besides they are thieves and murtherers for withdrawing their perfect members from labour , whereby they might minister unto their neighbours necessities ( i speak of as many as are not occupied about preaching gods word . ) besides these and many other treatises , he wrote also several choice letters , whilest he was prisoner in the tower. in his letter to the faithful followers of christs gospel , he thus expresseth himself . — it cannot be express'd , dearly beloved in the lord ) what joy and comfort it is to my heart to perceive how the word of god hath wrought , and continually worketh among you ; so that i find no small number walking in the wayes of the lord , according as he gave us commandment , willing that we should love each other , as he loved us . now have i experience of the faith which is in you , and can testifie , that it is without simulation , that ye love not in word and tongue onely , but in deed and truth . what can be more trial of a faithful heart , then to adventure not onely to aid and succour by the means of other ( which without danger may not be admitted unto us ) but also personally to visit the poor oppressed , and see that nothing be lacking unto them , but that they have both ghostly comfort and bodily sustenance , notwithstanding the strait inhibition and terrible menacing of these worldly rulers , even ready to abide the extreamest jeopardies that tyrants can imagine . this is an evidence that you have prepared your selves to the cross of christ , according to the counsel of the wise man , which saith , my son , when thou shalt enter into the way of the lord , prepare thy self unto tribulation . this is an evidence that you have cast up your accounts , and have wherewith to finish the tower , which ye have begun to build : and i doubt not but he that hath begun this work in you , shall for his glory accomplish the same , even unto the coming of the lord , which shall give unto every man according to his deeds . and albeit god of his secret judgements for a time keep the rod from some of them that ensue his steps , yet let them surely reckon upon it ; for there is no doubt , but all which will live devoutly in christ must suffer persecution ; for whom the lord loveth he correcteth , and chasteneth every child that he receiveth . — if ye be not under correction , of which we are all partakers , then are ye bastards , and not children . nevertheless we may not suppose that our most loving father should do that , because he rejoyceth in our blood or punishment , but he doth it for our singular profit , that we may be partakers of holiness , and that the remnants of sin , which ( through the frailty of our members ) rebel against the spirit and will , causing our works to go unperfectly forward , and may some deal be suppressed , least they should subdue us and reign over us . — of these things god had given me the speculation before , and now it hath pleased him to put in ure and practise upon me . i ever thought , yea and do think , that to walk after gods word , would cost me my life at one time or another ; and although the kings grace should take me into his favour , and not suffer the bloody edomites to have their pleasures upon me , yet will i not think that i am escaped , but that god hath onely deferred it for a season , to the intent that i should work somewhat that he hath appointed me to do , and so to use me to his glory . and i beseech all the faithful followers of the lord to arm themselves with the same supposition , marking themselves with the sign of the cross , not from the cross as the superstitious multitude do , but rather to the cross , in token that they be ever ready willingly to receive the cross , when it shall please god to lay it upon them . the day that it cometh not , count it clear won , giving thanks to the lord who hath kept it from you , and then when it cometh , it shall nothing dismay you ; for it is no new thing , but that which you have continually looked for . and doubt not but that god , who is faithful , will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able to bear , but shall ever send some occasion by the which ye shall stand stedfast , for either he shall blind the eyes of your enemies , and diminish their tyrannous power , or else when he hath suffered them to do their best , and that the dragon hath cast a whole flood of waters after you , he shall cause even the earth to ope● her mouth , & swallow them up . so faithful is he an● careful to ease us , when the vexation shall be too heavy for us , he shall send a ioseph before you , again●● ye shall come into egypt ; yea he shall so provide fo● you , that ye shall have an hundred fathers for one an hundred mothers for one , an hundred house for one , and that in this life , as i have proved b● experience , and after this life everlasting joy wit● christ our saviour . notwithstanding since thi● steadfastness comes not of our selves ( as st. austi● saith ) there was never man so weak or frail , no no● the greatest offender that ever lived , but that every man of his own nature should be as frail , and commit as great enormities , except he were kept from it by the spirit and power of god. i beseech you brethren , in the lord jesus christ , to pray with me , that we may be vessels to his land and praise ▪ what time soever it pleaseth him to call upon 〈◊〉 the father of glory give us the spirit of wisdome , understanding , and knowledge , and lighten the eyes of our mind , that we may know his waye● praising the lord eternally . — amen . john frith the prisoner of iesus christ , at all times abiding his pleasure . in his letter to his friends concerning his troubles . — i doubt not , dear brethren , but th●● it doth some deal vex you , to see the one part 〈◊〉 have all the words , and freely to speak what they list , and the other to be put to silence , and not to be heard indifferently ; but refer your matter unto god , who shortly shall judge after another fashion . — the archbishop of canterbury having sent one of his gentlemen , and one of his porters to fetch mr. iohn frith out of the tower to be examined ; the gentleman pitying him , endeavoured to perswade him to relent to authority , and to give place for a time , and not to cast himself away , and suffer all his singular gifts to perish with him with little profit to the world , &c. mr. frith gave him thanks for his good will , but told him farther , thus , my cause and conscience is such , that in no wise i either may or can for any worldly respect without danger of damnation start aside , &c. if i be demanded what i think of the supper of the lord , otherwise called the sacrament of the altar , i must needs say my knowledge and my conscience , though i should presently lose twenty lives , if i had so many . — and if i may be indifferently heard , i am sure mine adversarie , cannot condemn me or mine assertion , &c. yea marry , quoth the gentleman , you say well , if you might be indifferently heard ; but i much doubt thereof , for that our master christ was not indifferently heard , neither should be ( as i think ) if he were now present again in the world , &c. well , well , ( quoth frith unto the gentleman ) i know very well that the doctrine of the sacrament , which i hold and have opened , contrary to the opinion of this realm , is vety hard meat to be digested , both of the clergy and laity : but this i will say to you , that if you live but twenty years more , you shall see this whole realm of mine opinion , &c. and if it come not to pass , then account me the vainest man that ever you heard speak with a tongue . — all things well and rightly pondered , my death in this cause ( which is gods and not mine ) shall be better unto me and all mine , then life in continua● bondage and misery . the gentleman was 〈◊〉 wrought upon , that he contrived a way for mr. frith's escape , and prevailed with the porter 〈◊〉 agree with him in the suffering thereof , and then told him , that the business which he had undertaken , viz. to lead him as a sheep to the slaughter , 〈◊〉 grieved him , that he was overwhelmed with care and sorrows ; whereupon he was resolved , wh●● danger soever he incurred , to find out a way to deliver him out of the lyons mouth , and so acquainted him with the way that he and the porter ha●● agreed upon . mr. frith having diligently hearkened to his speech , said with a smiling countenance ▪ and is this the effect of your secret consultation all this while , surely you are like to lose your labour , for if you should both leave me here , and g● to croydon , declaring to the bishops that you ha●● lost frith , i would surely follow after as fast as 〈◊〉 could , and bring them news that i had found an● brought frith back again . do you think that i am afraid to declare mine opinion before the bishop in so manifest a truth ? you are a fond man ( sai● the gentleman ) thus to talk . do you think th●● your reasoning with the bishops will do any good ▪ i much marvel that you were so willing to flie the realm before you were taken , and now so unwilling to save your self when you may . marry ( sai● frith ) there is a great difference between escapin● then and now , then i was at liberty , and not attached ; but now being taken by the higher po●●ers , and that by almighty gods permission an● providence , i am fallen into the bishops hand● onely for religions sake , and for such doctrine , 〈◊〉 i am bound in conscience under pain of damnatio● to maintain . if i should now start aside , and run away , i should run from my god , and from the testimony of his word , whereby i should deserve a thousand hells . at the time of his burning dr. cook admonished all the people , that they should no more pray for him , then they would do for a dog. whereupon mr. frith smiling , desired the lord to forgive him . fulgentius . an arian bishop offering to punish the priest that had most mercilesly beaten him , if he desired it , he said , it is not lawful for a christian to meditate revenge , our lord christ well knows how to repay the injuries offered to , and inflicted on his servants . if my case be avenged , then lose i the reward of my patience . it may also scandalize many little ones , if i a catholick should require judgement at an arians hands . in the midst of his greatest sufferings he used to say ; plura pro christo toleranda , we must suffer more then this for christ. g. gardiner . william gardiner , an english merchant in portugal , was so much troubled in spirit at the sight of the idolatry , committed by the priests in the mass , at the solemnization of the marriage between the king of p●rtugal's son , and the king of spain's daughter , that he could not be quiet , till he had ( though in the presence of the king , and of the nobles , and whole city ) the next sabbath with one hand snatched away the cake from the priest , and trod it under his feet , and with the other overthrew the chalice . the king asking him how he durst be so bold ? he answered , most noble . kin● — the thing which you have seen , was not done nor thought of me for any contumely , or reproac● to your presence , but onely for this purpose ( a●● before god i do clearly confess ) to seek the salvation of this people . being ask'd who set him on ? he answered ▪ he was not moved by any man , but by his o●● conscience , there being no man under heaven for whose sake he would put himself into so manifest a danger , but he owed his service first to god and secondarily to their salvation ; wherefore if he had done any thing displeasing to them , the ought to impute it to themselves , who so irreverently used the sacrament of the lords supper unto so great idolatry , not without great ignomi●●●● the church , violation of the sacrament , and the peril of their own soals , except they repented . for this he was cruelty tormented , and burned and in the fire he ●un● ; psal. . iudge me , o god , and defend my 〈◊〉 against the unmerciful ●●ple . gauderin . christopher gauderin , having been a spend-thrift , was converted by lewis st●llius , telling him , that he ought rather to distribute of his gettings to the poor , then to spend them so wastfully ; for if he continued so , god would surely call him to an account for it , insomuch that he was chosen a deacon in the church ; in the execution of which office , he was taken and imprisoned , and being ask'd how he came to turn heretick , seeing he learned not that of his master the abbot , he answered , i am no heretick , but a right believing christian , which he taught me not indeed , but rather , other vile qualities , which i am ashamed now to rehearse . some objecting to him his youth , being about the age of thirty , he told them , that mans life consisted but of two dayes , viz. the day of his birth , and the day of his death . and for my part ( said he ) i am now willing by death to pass into eternal life . the morning that he was to be executed , he said to his fellow-prisoners ( having put on a clean shirt , and washed himself ) brethren , i am now going to be married , i hope before noon to drink of the wine of the kingdome of heaven . a frier coming to them ( as he said ) to convert them ; christopher said unto him , away from us , thou seducer of souls , for we have nothing to do with thee . one of his fellow-sufferers ( as the hangman was gagging him ) said , what , shall we not have liberty in this our last hour to praise our god with our voice and tongue . brother ( said gauderin ) let not this discourage us , for the greater wrong our enemies think to do unto us , the more assistance we shall find from god : and so he never ceased to comfort them , till he was gagged also , and burnt iune , . gerard. about the year . in the reign of henry the second , came about thirty waldens●s into england , gerardus being their minister , to labour to win disciples to christ. they were converted before a council of bishops at oxford , and gerard speaking for them all , said , we are christians , holding and reverencing the doctrine of the apostles . — being urged with arguments against their doctrine , they answered , they believed as they were taught by gods word , but would not dispute their faith . — being admonished to repent , and threatned if they did not , they despised their counsel , scorned their threats , saying , blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousness sake , for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . they were excommunicated , burnt in the foreheads for hereticks , mr. gerard both in the forehead and cheek ; their cloaths were cut off to their girdles , and so whipt through oxford , they singing all the while , blessed are ye when men hate you , and despitefully use you , &c. ghest . laurence ghest had his wife and seven children brought to him ( the bishop hoping to overcome him by his nat●ral affection to them ) and his wife beginning to exhort him to favour himself , he desired her not to be a block in his way , for that he was in good course , running toward the mark of his salvation . gibson . some of the articles exhibited against mr. richard gibson . — ( ) that he hath commended , allowed , defended , and liked both cranmer , l●tim●r , ridley , and all other hereticks here in this realm of england , according to the ecclesiastical laws condemned for hereticks , and also liked their opinions . ( ) that he hath comforted , aided ; assisted , and maintained both by words and otherwise , hereticks and erroneous persons , or at the least suspected and infamed of heresies , &c. ( ) that he hath affirmed that the religion now used in this realm , is in no wise agreeable to gods word and commandment , &c. the bishop asking him , if he knew any cause why the sentence should not be read against him , he said , the bishop had nothing wherefore justly to condemn him . sentence being read , he again admonished gibson to remember himself , and so save his soul. mr. gibson answered , that he would not hear the bishops babling , boldly protesting that he was contrary to them all in his mind , though he aforet me kept it secret , for fear of the law. and speaking to the bishop , he said , blessed am i , that am cursed at your hands , we have nothing now , but thus will i ; for as the bishop saith , so it must be . and no heresie is it to turn the truth of gods word into lies , and that do you . mr. gibson also propounded nine articles to bonner , by him to be answered by yea or nay , or else by saying he could not tell ( ) whether the scriptures of god , written by moses and other holy prophets of god through faith , that is in christ jesus , be available doctrine , to make all men in all things unto salvation learned , without the help of any other doctrine , or no ? ( ) whether the holy word of god , as it is written , doth sufficiently teach all men , of what dignity , estate , or calling by office whatsoever be or they be , their full , true , and lawful duty in their office ? and whether every man — be found upon the pain of eternal damnation , in all things to do , as he is thereby taught and commanded , and in no wise to leave undone any thing that is to be done , being taught and commanded by the same ? ( ) whether any man ( the lord jesus christ , god and man only except ) by the holy ordinance of god , ever was , is , or shall be lord over faith ? ( ) by what lawful authority or power any man of what dignity , estate , or calling soever he or they be , may be so bold as to alter or change the holy ordinances of god , or any of them , or any part of them ? ( ) by what evident tokens antichrist in his ministers may be known , seeing it is written , that satan can change himself into the similitude of an angel of light , and his ministers fashion themselves , as though they were ministers of righteousness ? ( ) what the beast is , which maketh war with the saints of god ? and what the gorgeous and glittering whore is , which sitteth upon the beast ? — gilby . mr. anthony gilby , an exiled minister of christ in queen mary's dayes , in his admonition speaks thus . — whereas many have written ▪ many profitable admonitions to you twain ( o england and scotland , both making one island most happy , if you could know your own hapiness ) — and others with pen and tongue , with word , with writing , with jeopardy and loss of lands , goods , and lives , have admonished you both twain of that cankered poyson of papistry , that ye foster and pamper to your own perdition and utter destruction of your selves and yours , souls and bodies , for now and ever . i thought it my duty ( seeing your destruction to mans judgement to draw so near ) hom much or how little soever they have prevailed , yet once again to admonish you both to give testimony to that truth , which my brethren have written , and especially to stir your hearts to repentance , or at the least to offer my self a witness against you , for the justice of god , and his righteous judgements , which doubtless ( if your hearts be hardned ) against you both are at hand to be uttered . thus by our writing , whom it pleaseth god to stir up of your nations all men that now l●ve , and that shall come after us , shall have cause also to praise the mercy of god , that so oft admonisheth before he strikes , and to consider his just punishment , when he shall pour forth his vengeance . give ear therefore betimes , o britain ( for of that name both rejoyceth ) whilest the lord calleth , exhorteth , and admonisheth : that is the acceptable time , when he will be found . if ye refuse the time offered , ye cannot have it afterward , though with tears ( as did esau ) ye do seem to seek it . yet once again in gods behalf i do offer you the very means , which if god of his mercies grant you grace to follow , i doubt nothing , but that of all your enemies speedily ye shall be delivered . ye rejoyce at his word , i am sure , if ye have any hope of the performance . then hearken to the matter which i write unto you , not forth of mens dreams and fables , nor forth of prophane histories , painted with mans wisdome , vain eloquence , or subtile reasons , but forth of the infallible word of god. — is not this gods curse and threatning ( amongst many others ) pronounced against the sinful land and disobedient people ? that strangers shall devour the fruit of thy land , and be above thee , &c. and thy strong walls wherein thou trusted , shall be destroyed , &c. and doth not isaiah reckon this also as the extremity of all plagues , for the wickedness of the people to have women raised up to rule over them ? but what saith the same prophet in the beginning of his prophesie , for a remedy against these and all other evils , y●ur hands are full of blood ( saith he ) o ye princes of sodom and people of gomorrah ; but wash you , make you clean , take away your wicked thoughts forth of my sight , ●ease to do evil , learn to do well , &c. then will i turn my hand to thee , and purge out all thy dross , and take away thy tynne , and i will restore thy iudges as aforetime , and counsellors as of old . and moses said before in the place alledged , that if thou wilt hear the voice of the lord 〈◊〉 god , and do his commandments , thou shalt be blessed 〈◊〉 the town , and blessed in the field . the lord shall ca●●● thine enemies , that rise up against thee , to fall befo●● thee , &c. lo the way in few words , o britany , 〈◊〉 win gods favour , and therefore to overcome thin● enemies . but to print this more deeply upon your hearts , o ye princes and people of that island whom god hath begun to punish , seek ( i want you ) no snifting holes to excuse your faults ▪ no political practises to resist gods vengeance ▪ — submit your selves to him , who holdeth you● breath in your nostrils , who with one blast of hi● mouth can destroy all his enemies . embrace hi● son christ , and repent betimes for your obstinacy against him and his word , and for your cruelt● against his servants . repent , repent . for repentance is the onely way of your redress and deliverance . — consider how the lord hath intreated israel and iuda , his own people , how oft they trespassed , and how he gave them over into the hands of their enemies : but whensoever they repented and turned again to god unfeignedly , he sent them judges and deliverers , kings and saviours . — noah pronounceth , that within a hundred and twenty years all flesh should be destroyed . we have many noahs , that so cry in our times ▪ yet no man repenteth . all the time that noah was preparing for the ark to avoid gods vengeance , the multitude derided this holy prophet , as the multitude of you two realms doth at this day deride all them that by obedience to gods word seek the means appointed to avoid gods judgments . then the people would not repent , but as if they should live for ever they married , they banqueted , they builded , they planted , deriding gods messenger . do not you the like ? i appeal to your own consciences . the lord calleth to fasting ( saith the prophet isaiah ) to mortifie themselves , and kill their lusts , but they kill sheep and bullocks . ieremy cries for tears and lamentation ; they laugh and mock-malachi crieth to the people of his time , turn unto me , and i will turn unto you , saith the lord of hosts , and they proudly answer , wherein shall we turn ? are you not such ? do you not ask , wherein shall we turn , when ye will not know your sins ? ye will not confess and acknowledge your faults , though ye go a whoring in every street , town , and village with your idols : though the blood of the oppressed cry every where against you for vengeance . so that seeing no taken of repentance , i cannot cry unto you with iohn baptist , o ye generation of vipers , who hath taught you to flie from the wrath to come ? — but i will wound you no more with the words of the prophets , or of this holy saint of god iohn baptist , but with our saviour christs two most sweet parables of the two sons and of the tilmen , to whom he set his vineyard , i will labour to set before your eyes your rebellion , hypocrisie , and cruelty , if so i can bring any of you to repentance . — he hath called you by his word many a time to work in his vineyard . i ask , what you have answered . some of you have said plainly , like rebellious children , that ye would not do it , that ye would not work in your fathers vineyard . shall i apply this part to scotland ? scotland was indeed called most plainly and evidently through the mercies of god both by their own faithful countreymen , and also by earnest travel of our english nation to come into the lords vineyard in the time of king edward the sixth , but refused . that time ( as ye know ) the vineyard in england by the children of god was not altogether neglected , and then most earnestly were ye●● ( o brethren of scotland ) required to joyn han●● with us in the lords work , but satan alas would not suffer it . his old fo●tred malice , and antichris●● his son , could not abide , that christ should grow●● to strong by joyning that isle together in perfect religion , &c. lest this one island should become a safe sanctuary ( as it began to be ) to all the persecuted in all places . — god hath also by the blood of his saints , shed amongst you , by favour and friendship , by war and the sword , yea by famine and pestilence , and also by all other means called you to labour in his vineyard ; but to this days alas ! we hear not of your humble obedience , but still ye say with stubborn faces , we will not labour , we will not be bound to such thraldome , &c. ye think perchance i am too sharp , and that i accuse you more then you deserve ; for amongst you many do know the will of your father , and many make profession of his gospel , but consider , brethren , that it is not enough to know the commandment , and to profess the same in mouth , but it is necessary , that ye refuse your selves , your own pleasures , appetites , and your own wisdome , if ye shall be judged faithful labourers in the lord● vineyard , and that ye bear the burthens , together with your brethren , and suffer heat and sweat , before ye taste the fruits with them . god will no●● be content , that ye look over the hedge , and behold the labours of your brethren , but he requireth that ye put your hands also to the labours , that ye travel continually to pluck up all unprofitable weeds , though in so doing the thorns prick you to the bone ; that ye assist your brethren in their labours , though it be with the jeopardy of your lives , the loss of your substance , and displeasure of the whole earth . — i must needs leave thee , o scotland , after i have advertized thee of this , that thou follow not the example of england , but let thy reformation be full and plain , according to gods holy will and word , without addition . let all the plants , which thy heavenly father hath not planted , be rooted out at once . let not avarice blind thee , nor worldly wisdome discourage thy heart ; let none bear the name of a teacher , that is known to be a fosterer of superstition , or any kind of wickedness . — thus must thou , o scotland , repent thy former inobedience , if that thou wilt be approved of the lord. and now do i return to thee , o england , i do liken thee to the second son in the parable , which answered his father with flattering words , saying , i go father , but yet he went not at al● . for since the time i had any remembrance , our heavenly father , of his great mercies , hath not ceased to call thee into his vineyard , and to these late dayes thou hast alwayes said , that thou wouldest enter and be obedient . in the time of king henry the eighth , when by tyndal , frith , biln●y , and other his saithful servants , god called england to dress his vineyard , many promised full fair , but what fruit followed , nothing but bitter grapes , yea , briars and brambles , the wormwood of avarice , the gall of cruelty , the poyson of filthy fornication , flowing from head to foot , the contempt of god , and open defence of the cake-idol , by open proclamation to be read in the churches , instead of gods scriptures . — it grieveth me to write these evils of my countrey , save onely that i must needs declare what fruit were found in the vineyard , after you promised to work therein , to move you to repentance , and to justifie gods judgements , how grievonsly soever he shall plague you hereaft●● wherefore i desire you to call to remembranc● your best state under king edward , when all me●● with general consent promised to work in th●● vineyard , and ye shall have cause i doubt not to ●a●ment your wickedness , that so contemned the voic●● of god for your own lusts , for your cruelty , for your covetousness , that the name of god was by your vanities evil spoken of in other nations ▪ — god grant you all repentant hearts , for no order or state did any part of his duty in those dayes . b●● to speak of the best , whereof you use to boast , your religion was but an english mattins , patch'd forth of the popes portess . many things were in your great book superstitious and foolish , all were driven to a present service , like the papists , that they should think their duties discharged , if the number were said of psalms and chapters . finally , there could no discipline be brought into the church nor correction of manners . — to what contempt was gods word , and the admonition of his prophets come in all estates before god did strike , some men are not ignorant . the preachers themselves for the most part could find no fault in religion , but that the church was poor , and lacked living . — sure many things should have been reformed , before that the kitchin had been better provided for our prelates in england . it was most evident that many of you under the cloak of religion , served your own bellies ; some where so busie to heap benefice upon benefice , some to labour in parliament for purchasing of lands , that the time was small , which could be found for the reformation of abuses , and every little that was spent upon the feeding of your flocks . — in a word , the go●●spel was so lightly esteemed ; that the most part of men thought rather that god should bow and stoop to their appetites , then that they should be subject to his holy commandments . — even the nobility and council would suffer no rebukes of gods messengers , though their offences were never so manifest ; let those that preached in the court , the lent before king edward deceased , speak their conscience , and accuse me if i lie ; yea , let a writing of northumberland's to mr. harlow be brought to light , and it shall testifie , that he was not ashamed to say , that the liberty of the preachers tongues would cause the council and nobility to rise up against them , for they could not suffer so to be entreated . these were the fruits in the time of harvest , a little before the winter came , and of the time of mary what should i write ? — it hath cast off the truth known , and confessed , and followeth lies and errours , which once it detested . it buildeth the building which once it destroyed ; it raiseth up the idols , which once were there confounded . — they persecute , they banish , they burn christ the son of god in his members . — but to be short , this onely remaineth for both these nations , that they repent , and return into the vineyard , with the first son , and bring forth the fruits of repentance . the fruits of repentance i call not onely to know your sins , and to lament them , but to amend your lives , and to make strait the lords paths by resisting satan and sin , and obeying god in doing the works of righteousness , and executing gods precepts and judgements , so long amongst you contemned , for even now is the axe put to the root of the tree , &c. th● lord hath now his fan in his hand , and will purge his floor , &c. repent therefore whilst you have time , before you be ●anned , hewn down , and fired . — here have we to lament the miserable state of mankind , which i● so seduced by the subtile serpent , that he canno● know his misery , when he is admonished , nor perceive his perdition , when it draweth so near . whe● the servants of god set forth his truth , they are charged to trouble realms and countreys , as wa● elias , when they warn men to joyn hands with wicked kings and princes , they are counted traytors , as was isaiah and ieremiah , such is mans malice . — wherefore i do admonish and exhort you both in the name of the living god , that howsoever yo● have hitherto shewed your selves the servants o● men , to bear and flatter with the world , that no● ye learn in gods cause to despise the faces of men to bend your selves against this wicked world , neither regarding the visors of honours , vain titles nor dignities , any farther then they seek gods onely glory , for his glory will he not suffer to be contemned for any cause ; no , he will pour contemp● on those princes that strive against his truth , b●● those that glorifie him , will he glorifie . — behold , your onely remedy remaining , is to repen● your time of ignorance , of stubbornness , of cruelty of idolatry , wherein ye have so long continued mourn for your ignorance , and now with all diligence seek for knowledge of the world of god and openly profess the gospel , which is the powe● of god , whereof ye ought not to be ashamed . cease at the last from your old stubbornness , and labour in the vineyard with all meekness . cease from your cruelty against christs members , and learn t● suffer for christs sake , if ye will be true christians . banish all idolatry and popish superstitio● from amongst you , else can ye have no part i● christs kingdome , no more then christ can be partaker with antichrist . pray to the lord of hosts and armies to give you the courage , strength , and means . the lords arm is not shortened now , no more then of old . be strong therefore in the lord , for the defence of the truth , though all the world rise against it . now when the battel is fierce against the living god for dead idols , against the gospel of christ for the inventions of antichrist , against christ members for popish ceremonies ; can any of you that will be accounted gods children , still halt of both hands ? — if you will maintain gods truth in the earth , he will receive you as his children into the heavens , if you confess his christ before this wicked generation , christ shall confess you before his father in the heavens , in the presence of his angels : but if you persist stubbornly to banish gods word , and his son christ in his members forth of your earthly kingdomes , how can ye look for any part in his heavenly kingdome ? — lo here is the choice of life and death , of misery and wealth offered to you by gods mercies , and the means how you may win gods favour opened , whereby onely ye may prevail against your enemies . god grant you hearts to answer as the people did to ioshua , offering the like choice . god forbid ( say they ) that we should forsake god , we will serve the lord our god , and obey his voice , for he is our god. and we your ban●shed brethren , by the power of god , to provoke you forwards , will thus pronounce with ioshua , that we and our f●milies will serve the lord god , though all nations run to idols , though all people do persecute us . we know that satan hath but a short time to rage , and that christ our captain right speedily will crown his souldiers , to whom as he is the eternal god with his father be all honour and glory for ever and ever . so be it . a short prayer which mr. gilby made for t●● faithful in those dayes . o lord god , and most merciful father , we beseech thee for the honour of th● holy name to defend us from that antichrist 〈◊〉 rome , and from all his detestable enormities , manners , laws , garments , and ceremonies . destroy tho● the counsel of all the papists and atheists , enemi●● of thy gospel , and of this realm of england . d●●●close their mischiefs and subtile practises . c●● found their devices . let them be taken in the● own wiliness . and strengthen all those that mai●tain the cause and quarrel of thy gospel , with i●vincible force and power of the holy spirit , so th● they fail not to proceed and go forward to that tr●● godliness , commanded in thy holy word , with 〈◊〉 simplicity and sincerity , to thy honour and glor● the comfort of thine elect , and the confusion 〈◊〉 thine enemies , through jesus christ our lord an● saviour . amen , amen . and say from the hear●● amen . glee . when the friers told madam la glee , that 〈◊〉 was in a damnable estate : it seems so indeed ( sai●●sne ) being now in your hands ; but i have a 〈◊〉 that will never leave me , nor forsake me , for 〈◊〉 that . thou hast ( said they ) renounced the faith it is true ( said she ) i have renounced your faith which i am able to shew is rejected , and accurse● of god , and therefore deserves not so much as 〈◊〉 be called faith. when news was brought her , that she was co●●demned to be hang'd , she fell down upon he● knees , and blessed god , for that it pleased him 〈◊〉 snew her so much mercy as to deliver her by such kind of death , out of the troubles of this wretche● world , and to honour her so far , as to call her 〈◊〉 die for his truth , and to wear his livery ( meaning the haltar , which the hangman had put about her neck ) then sitting down at table to break her fast with the three other condemned servants of christ , giving thanks to god , she exhorted them to be of good courage , and to trust unto the end in his free and onely mercy . she then called for a clean linen wastcoat , making her self ready , as if she had been going to a wedding . mr. w●rd tells us , that she put on her bracelets ; for i go ( said she ) unto my husband . being commanded ( as she was led to execution ) to take a torch into her hand , and to acknowledge she had offended god and the king : away , away , ( said she ) with it . i have neither offended god , nor the king , according to your meaning , nor in respect of the cause , for which i suffer . i am i confess a sinful woman , but i need no such light , for helping me to ask forgiveness of god for my sins past , or present . life such things your selves , who sit and walk in the darkness of ignorance and errour . then one of her kinsfolks met her in the way , and presented to her view her little children , praying her to have compassion on them . i must needs tell you ( said she ) that i love my children dearly ; but yet neither for the love i bear to them , or any thing else in this world , will i renounce the truth , or my god , who is and will be a father unto them , to provide better for them , then i should have done , and therefore to his providence and protection i commend and leave them . when she saw the three men about to die silent , and not to call on god , she ex●orted then thereto , and gave them an example . glover . mr. robert glover in his letter to his wife ha● many memorable passages , the chief i shall collec● — i thank you heartily ( most loving wife ) 〈◊〉 your letters sent to me in my imprisonment . read them with tears more then once or twic● with tears ( i say ) for joy and gladness , that go● hath wrought in you so merciful a work ; ( ) 〈◊〉 unfeigned repentance . ( ) an humble and heart reconciliaton . ( ) a willing submission and ob●●dience to the will of god in all things . — the●● your letters , and the hearing of your godly pr●●ceedings have much relieved and comforte● me , &c. and shall be a goodly testimony for you at the great day , against many worldly and dain●● dames , which set more by their own pleasure an● praise in this world , then by gods glory , little re●garding ( as it appeareth ) the everlasting health 〈◊〉 their own souls or others . — so long as god shal● lend you continuance in this miserable world above all things give your self continually to prayer , lifting up pure hands without anger , wrath , o● doubting , forgiving as christ forgives . and that w●● may be the better willing to forgive , it is good ofte● to call to remembrance the multitude and greatness of our sins , which christ daily and hour●● pardoneth and forgiveth us . — and because god● word teacheth us , not onely the true manner ●● praying , but also what we ought to do or not to 〈◊〉 in the whole course of our life , what pleaseth 〈◊〉 displeaseth god , and that as christ saith , the wo●● of god , that he hath spoken , shall judge us . let you● prayer be to this end especially , that god of hi● great mercy would open and reveal more and mor● daily to your heart the true sense , knowledge , an● understanding of his most holy word , and gi●● you grace in your living , to express the fruit thereof . and forasmuch as gods word is , as the holy ghost calleth it , the word of affliction , i. e. it is seldome without hatred , persecution , peril , danger of loss of goods and life , &c. call upon god continually for his assistance , casting your accounts what is like to cost you , endeavouring your self , through the help of the holy ghost by continuance of prayer , to lay your foundation so sure , that no storm or tempest shall be able to overthrow it ; remembering alwayes ( as christ saith ) lots wife , i. e. to beware of looking back to that thing that displeaseth god : and nothing more displeaseth god then idolatry , that is , false worshiping of god , otherwise then his word commandeth . — they object they be the church , &c. my answer was , the church of god knoweth and acknowledgeth no other head , but jesus christ the son of god , whom ye have refused , and chosen the man of sin , the son o● perdition , enemy to christ , the devils deputy and lieutenant , the pope . christs church heareth , teacheth , and is ruled by his word , as he saith , my sheep hear my voice . if you abide in me , and my word a●ide in you , you be my disciples . their church repelleth gods word , and forceth all men to follow their traditions . christs church dares not adde nor diminish , alter or change his blessed testament ; but they be not afraid to take away all that christ instituted , and go a whoring ( as the scripture saith ) with their own inventions , &c. the church of christ is , hath been , and shall be in all ages under the cross , persecuted , molested , and afflicted , the world ever hating them because they are not of the world ; but these persecute , m●rther , slay , and kill such as profess the true doctrine of christ , be they in learning , living , conversation , and other vertues never so excellent . chri●● and his church referred the trial of their doctrine to the word of god , and gave the people leave to judge thereof by the same word ; search th● scriptures . but this church taketh away the wor●● from the people , and suffereth neither learned nor unlearned , to examine or prove their doctrine by the word of god. the true church of go● laboureth by all means to resist and withstand the lusts , desires , and motions of the world , the flesh , and the devil : these for the most part give themselves to all voluptuousness , &c. — i likened them 〈◊〉 nimrod , whom the scripture calls a mighty hunter , telling them , that that which they could no● have by the word , they would have by the sword and be the church whether men will or no. — be●ware of such as shall advertise you something 〈◊〉 bear with the world , as they do , for a season . ther● is no dallying with gods matters . it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of god. remember the prophet elias , why halt ye on both sides ? remember what christ saith , he that putteth his ha●● to the plough , and looketh back , is not worthy of me . and seeing god hath hitherto allowed you as a good souldier in the fore-ward , play not the coward ▪ neither draw back to the rere-ward . saint ioh● numbreth among them , that shall dwell in the he●y lake , such as be fearful in gods cause . set before your eyes alwayes the examples of such , as have behaved themselves boldly in gods cause , as stephen , peter , paul , daniel , the three children , the widows sons , and in your dayes anne askew , la●rence sanders , iohn bradford , &c. be afraid in n●thing ( saith saint paul ) of the adversaries of christ● doctrine , the which is to them a sign of perdition , b●● to you of everlasting salvation . christ commandeth the same , saying , fear them not . let us not follow the example of him , who asked time first to take leave of his friends . if we do so , we shall find few of them , that will encourage us to go forward in our business , please it god never so much . we read not that iames and iohn , andrew and simon , when they were called , put off the time , till they had known their fathers and friends pleasure , but the scripture saith , they forsook all , and by and by followed christ. christ likened the kingdome of god to a precious pearl , the which whosoever findeth , selleth all that he hath to buy it . yea , whosoever hath but a little taste or glimmering how piecious a treasure the kingdome of heaven is , will gladly forego both life and goods for the obtaining of it . but the most part now adayes be like to aesops cock , which when he had found a precious stone , wished rather to have found a barley corn : so ignorant be they how precious a jewel the word of god is , that they choose rather the things of this world , which being compared to it , be less in value then a barley corn . if i would have given place to worldly reasons , these might have moved me ; the foregoing of you and my children ; the consideration of the state of my children , being yet young , apt and inclinable to vertue and learning , and so having the more need of my assistance ; i was never called to be a preacher or minister ; and ( because of my sickness ) fear of death in prison before i should come to my answer , and so my death to be unprofitable . but these and such like , i thank my heavenly father ( which of his infinite mercy inspired me with his holy ghost , for his sons sake , my onely saviour and redeemer ) prevailed not in me . but when i had by the wonderful permission of god fallen into their hands , at the first sight of the sheriffe , nature a little abashed ; yet ere ever i came to the prison , by the working of god and through his goodness , fear departed . — little justice was shewed by mr. sheriffe ; but the less justice a ma● findeth at their hands , the more consolation in conscience shall he find from god ; for whosoever is o● the world , the world will love him . after i came to prison , and had reposed my self there a while , i wept for joy and gladness my belly full , mu●i●g much of the great mercies of god , and ( as it were ) saying to my self after this sort , o lord , who am i , on whom thou shouldst bestow this thy great mercy , to be numbred among the saints that suffer for the gospels sake ? and so beholding and considering on the one side my imperfection , unableness , sinful misery and unworthiness , and on the other side the greatness of gods mercy , to be called to so high promotion , i was as it were amazed and overcome for a while with joy and glad●ess , concluding thus ; o lord , thou shewest power in weakness , wisdome in foolishness , mercy in sinfulness . who shall let thee to choose where and whom thou wilt ? as i have ever zealously loved the confession of thy word , so ever thought i my self unworthy to be partaker of affliction for the same . some travelling with me to dismissed upon bonds , to them my answer was ( to my remembrance ) after this sort ; forasmuch as the masters have imprisoned me , having nothing to burthen me withal , if i should enter into bonds , i should in so doing accuse my self : and seeing they have no matter to lay to my charge , they may as well let me pass without bonds , as with bonds . secondly , if i shall enter into bonds , covenant and promise to appear , i shall do nothing but excuse , colour , and cloak their wickedness , and indanger my self nevertheless , being bound by my promise to appear . — afterward debating the matter with my self , these considerations came into my head . i have from time to time with good conscience ( god i take to record ) moved all such as i had conference with to be no dalliers in gods matters , but to shew themselves after so great a light and knowledge , hearty , earnest , constant , and stable in so manifest a truth , and not to give place one jot contrary to the same . now thought i , if i shall withdraw my self , and make any shifts to pull my own neck out of the coller , i shall give great offence to my weak brethren in christ , and advantage to the enemies to slander gods word . it will be said , he hath been a great emboldner of others to be earnest and fervent , to fear no worldly perils and dangers , but he himself will give no such example . wherefore i thought it my bounden duty both to god and man , being ( as it were ) by the great goodness of god called and appointed hereunto , to set aside all fear , perils and dangers , all worldly respects and considerations , and like as i had before , according to the measure of my small gift , within the compass of my vocation and calling , from the bottome of my heart unfeignedly moved , exhorted , and perswaded all that pro●ess gods word , manfully to persist in the defence of the same , not with sword and violence , but with suffering and loss of life , rather then to de●ile themselves again with the whorish abominaon of the romish antichrist . so the hour being come with my fact and example to ratifie , confirm , and protest the same to the hearts of all true believers , and to this end ( by the mighty assistance of gods holy spirit ) i resolved my self with much peace of conscience , willingly to sustain whatsoever the romish antichrist should do against me . — when mr. warren the chancellor willed 〈◊〉 chief jaylor to carry me to the bishop , i laid 〈◊〉 his charge the cruel seeking of my death ; a●● when he would have excused himself , i told h●● he could not wipe his hands so : he was as g●●●● of my blood before god , as though he had mu●thered me with his own hands . he departed fro● me , saying i needed not to fear if i would be 〈◊〉 his belief . god open his eyes , and give him gra●● to believe this , which he and all of his inclinatio● shall find ( i fear ) too true for their parts , that 〈◊〉 they which cruelly , maliciously , and spitefully pe●secute , molest , and afflict the members of chri●● for their conscience sake , and for the true test●●mony of christs word , and cause them to be mo●● unjustly slain and murthered , without speedy re●pentance shall dwell with the devil and his ange● in the fiery lake everlastingly , where they sha●● wish and desire , cry and call , but in vain ( as the●● right companion epulo ) to be refreshed of them whom in this world they contemned , despised , disdained , as slaves , misers , and wretches . — the bishop laid to my charge my not coming to church here i might have dallied with him , and put him to his proofs . — notwithstanding i answered him through gods merciful help , that i neither ha● nor would come at their church , as long as their mass was used there , to save ( if i had them ) 〈◊〉 hundred lives . — the bishop asking me wh● should judge the word ? i told him , christ wa● content that the people should judge his doctrine by searching the scriptures , and so was paul. methinks ye should claim no farther priviledge no● preheminence then they had . — the bishop telling me , he was my bishop , and therefore i mu●● believe him : if you say black is white ( said i ) must i also say as you say , and believe the same , because you say it is so ? — if you will be believed because you be a bishop , why find you fault with the people , that believed mr. latimer , mr. ridley , mr. hooper , &c. that were bishops ? because they were hereticks ( said the bishop ) and may not you erre ( quoth i ) as well as they ? i looked for learning at my lords hand to perswade me , and he oppressed me onely with his authority . he said i dissented from the church , and asked me where my church was before kings edward's time ; i desired him to shew me , where their church was in elias time , and what outward shew it had in christs time ? — the tidings that i should be carried to lichfield did at first somewhat discourage me , fearing least i should by reason of my great sickness through extream handling ( which i looked for ) have died in the prison , before i should come to my answer : but i rebuked immediately with gods word this infidelity in my self , &c. after this manner , what make i of god ? is not his power as great in lichfield as coventry ? doth not his providence extend as well to lichfield as coventry ? was he not with habakkuk , daniel , meshach , and ieremy in their most dangerous imprisonments ? he knows what things we have need of them . he hath numbred all the hairs of our head . the sparrow falleth not to the ground without our heavenly fathers will , much more will he care for us , if we be not faithless , whom he hath made worthy to be witnesses of his truth . so long as we put our trust in him , we shall never be destitute of his help , neither in prison , nor in sickness , nor in health , nor in death , nor before kings , nor before bishops . not the devil himself , much less one of his ministers shall be able to prevail against us . with such like meditations i waxed chearful of good consolation and comfort . so that hearing one say , they could not provide horses enough for us , i said , let them carry us in a dung-cart for lack of horses , if they list , i am well content for my part . — i told iephcot the chancellors servant , that they should have judgement without mercy , that shewed no mercy , and this mercy i found at his hand at lichfield . he put me into a prison that same night , where i continued till i was condemned , in a place next to the dungeon , &c. very cold , with small light , and there he allowed me a bundle of straw instead of a bed , without chair , form , or any other thing to ease my self withall . god of his mercy gave me great patience through prayer that night , so that if it had been his pleasure , i could have have been contented to have ended my life . — in the time of my imprisonment i gave my self continually to prayer and meditation of the merciful promises of god , made unto all , without exception of persons , that call upon the name of his dear son jesus christ. i ●ound in my self daily amendment of health of body , increase of peace in conscience , and many consolations from god by the help of his holy spirit , & sometime ( as it were ) a taste and glimmering of the life to come , all for his onely son jesus christs sake . to him be all the praise for ever and ever . the enemy ceased not many times sundry wayes to assault me : oftentimes objecting to my conscience my own unworthiness of the greatness of the benefit to be accounted amongst those that suffer for christ , for his gospels sake . against him i replied ▪ with the word of god on this sort . what were all those whom god had chosen from the beginning to be his witnesses , and to carry his name before the world ? were they not men , as well subject to sin and imperfections , as other men be ? — who gave first unto him ? what hast thou that thou hast not received ? all have received of his fulness . they were no bringers of any goodness to god , but altogether receivers . they chose not god first , but god chose them . they loved not god first , but he loved them first : yea he both loved and chose them when they were his enemies , full of sin and corruption , as well as void of all goodness . — he is and will be the same god , as rich in mercy , as mighty , as able , as ready , as willing to forgive sins without respect of persons to the worlds end of all them that call upon him . god is near , he is at hand , he is with all , with all ( i say ) and refuseth none , excepteth none , that faith●ully in true repentance call upon him , in what hour , what place , or what time soever it be . it is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man to burden god ( as it were ) with his promise , and of duty to claim and challenge his aid , help , and assistance in all our perils , dangers , and distress , calling upon him not in the confidence of our own godliness , but in the trust of his own promises made in christ. — his word cannot lye , call upon me in the day of trouble , and i will hear thee , and thou shalt praise me . i answered the enemy also on this manner ; i am a sinner , and therefore unworthy to be a witness of this truth . what then ? must i deny his word , because i am not worthy to pro●ess it ? what bring i to pass in so doing , but adde sin to sin ? what is greater sin then to deny the truth of christs gospel ? he that is ashamed of me or of my words ( saith christ ) of him also will i be ashamed before my father , and all his angels . i might also by the same reason forbear to do any of gods commandments . when i am provoked to pray , the enemy may say to me , i am not worthy to pray , therefore i shall not pray , &c. — when the bishop came to lichfield — he perswaded me to be a member of his church , which had continued so many years . as for our church ( as he called it ) it was not known , he said , but lately in king edward's time . i profess my self to be a member of that church ( said i ) that is builded upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles , jesus christ being the head corner-stone . and this church hath been from the beginning ( said i ) though it bear no glorious shew before the world , being ever for the most part under the cross and affliction , contemned , despised , and persecuted . the bishop contended on the other side that they were the church . so cried all the clergy against the prophets of ierusalem ( said i ) saying , the church , the church , &c. so much out of mr. glover's choice letter . after he was condemned , his heart was lumpish and desolate of all spiritual consolation ; whereupon fearing least the lord had utterly withdrawn , he made his moan to mr. austine bernher , his familiar friend , telling him how he had prayed night and day to god , and yet had no sense of comfort from him . the minister desired him to wait patiently the lords leisure ; and howsoever his present feeling was , yet seeing his cause was just , he exhorted him constantly to stick to the same , and to play the man , not doubting but the lord in his good time would visit him , and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation , whereof ( said mr. bernher ) he was right certain and sure , and therefore desired him , whenever any such feeling of gods heavenly mercies should begin to touch his heart , that then he should shew some signification thereof . the next day , as he was going to the place of his martyrdome , and was come within light of the stake , although all the night before , praying for strength and courage , he could feel none ; suddenly he was so mightily replenished with gods holy comfort , and heavenly joys , that he cried out , clapping his hands to austine , and saying in these words , austine , he is come , he is come , &c. and that with such joy and alacrity , as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life , then as one passing out of the world by any pains of death . godfrey . when one called godfrey de h●mmele heretick , he said , no heretick , but an unprofitable servant , yet willing to die for his lord , and reckoning this death no death , but a life . goodman . mr. christopher goodman , an exiled minister of christ in queen mary's dayes , declaring the cause of all the then misery in england , and the onely way to remedy the same , writes as followeth from geneva . — if all in whom the people should look for comfort , be altogether declined from god ( as indeed they appear to be at this present time in england , without all fear of his majesty , or pity upon their brethren ) — then assure your selves ( dear brethren and servants of god ) there can be no better counsel , nor more comfortable or present remedy ( which you shall prove true , if god grant you his spirit and grace to follow it ) then in continual and daily invocation of his name , to rest wholly and onely upon him , make him your shield , buckler , and refuge , who hath so promised to be to all them that are oppressed and depend upon him ; to do nothing commanded against god and your conscience , preferring at all times the will of god to the will of men , saying and answering to all manner of persons , this god hath commanded , this we must do : that god hath forbidden , that we will not do . if you will rob us and spoil us for doing the lords will , to the lord must you make answer , and not to us ; for his goods they are , and not ours . if ye will imprison us , behold you are oppressours ; if ye will hang us , or burn us , behold ye are murtherers of them which fear the lord. — and for our part , if you take from us this vile and corruptible life , we are sure the lord will grant it us again with joy , and immortality , both of soul and body . if god give you grace to make this or the like answer , and strength to contemn their tyranny , you may be sure to find unspeakable comfort and quietness of conscience in the midst of your danger , and greatest rage of satan . and thus boldly confessing christ your saviour before men ( as by the examples of thousands of your brethren before your faces god doth mercifully encourage you ) you may with all hope and patience wait for the joyful confession of christ again , before his father and angels in heaven , that you are his obedient and dearly beloved servants ; being also assured of this , that if it be the will of god to have you any longer to remain in this miserable world , that then his providence is so careful over you , and present with you , that no man or power can take away your life from you , nor touch your body any farther then your lord and god will permit them , which neither shall be augmented for your plain confession , nor yet diminished for keeping of silence ; for nothing cometh to the servants of god by hap or chance , whose hairs of their heads are numbred . whereof if ye be so assured , as ye ought , there can be nothing that should make you to shrink from the lord. if they do cast you into prison with ioseph , the lord will deliver you : if they cast you to wild beasts and lions , as they did d●niel , you shall be preserved : if into the sea with ionas , you shall not be drowned ; or into the dirty dungeon with ieremy , you shall be delivered ; or into the fiery furnace with shadrach , meshach , and a●ednego , yet shall not be consumed . contrariwise , if it be his good pleasure , that you shall glorifie his holy name by your death , what great thing have you lost ? changing death for life , misery for felicity , continual vexation and trouble for perpetual rest and quietness , chusing rather to die with shame of the world , being the servants of god , then to live among men in honour , being the servants of satan , and condemned of god. otherwise , if you give place to the wickedness of men to escape their malice and bodily dangers , you shew your selves therein to fear man , more then the mighty and dreadful god : him that hath but power of your body , and that at gods appointment then god , himself , who hath power , after he hath destroyed the body , to cast both soul and body into hell-fire , there to remain everlastingly in torments unspeakable . and moreover , that which you look to obtain by these sinful shifts , you shall be sure to lose with grief and trouble of conscience ; for this saying of your master being true and certain , that they which seek to save their life ( meaning by any worldly reason or policy ) shall lose it . what shall be their gains at length , when by dissimulation and yielding to popish blasphemy , they dishonour the majesty of god to enjoy this short , miserable , and mortal life , to be cast from the favour of god , and company of his heavenly angels , to enjoy for a short time their goods and possessions among their fleshly and carnal friends , whenas their conscience within shall be deeply wounded with hell-like torments ? when gods curse and indignation hangeth continually over the heads of such , ready to be poured down upon them ; when they shall find no comfort , but utter despair with iudas , who for this worldly riches ( as he did ) have sold their master , seeking either to hang themselves with iudas , to murther themselves with francis spira , to drown themselves with justice hales , or else to fall into a raging madness with justice morgan ? what comfort had iudas then by his money received for betraying his master ? was he not shortly after compelled to cast it from him , with this pitiful voice , i have sinned in betraying innocent blood ? — then , dear brethren in christ , what other reward can any of you look for , committing the like offences ? — there is no trust but in god , no comfort but in christ , no assurance but in his promise , by whose obedience onely you shall avoid all danger . and whatsoever you lose in this world , and suffer for his name , it shall be here recompenced with double , according to his promise , and in the world to come with life everlasting , which is to find your life , when you are willing to lay it down at his commandment . i am not ignorant how unnatural a thing it is , and contrary to the flesh , willingly to sustain such cruel death , as the adversaries have appointed to all the children of god , who mind constantly to stand by their prosession , yet to the spirit notwithstanding is easie and joyful ; for though the flesh be frail , the spirit is prompt and ready . whereof ( praised be the name of god ) you have had notable experience in many of your brethren , very martyrs for christ , who with joy patiently , and triumphing have suffered and drunk with thirst of that bitter cup , which nature so much abhorreth , wonderfully strengthened no doubt by the secret inspiration of gods holy spirit ; so that there ought to be none among you so feeble , weak , or timerous , whom the wonderful examples of gods present power and singular favour in those persons , should not encourage , bolden , and fortifie to shew the like constancy in the same cause and profession . nevertheless great cause we have thankfully to consider the unspeakable mercy of god in christ , who hath farther respect to our infirmity , that when we have not that boldness of spirit to stand to the death , as we see others , he hath provided a present remedy , that being persecuted in one place , we have liberty to flee into another . when we cannot be in our own countrey with a safe conscience ( except we would make open profession of our religion , which is every mans duty , and so be brought to offer up our lives in sacrifice to god in testimony that we are his ) he hath mollified and prepared the hearts of strangers to receive us with all pity and gladness , where you may be also not onely delivered from the fear of death , and the papist●cal tyranny , practised without all measure in that countrey , but with great freedom of conscience hear the word of god continually preached , and the sacraments of our saviour christ purely and duely , ministred without all dregs of popery or superstition of mans invention , to the intent that you being with others refreshed for a space , and more strongly fortified , may be also with others more ready and willing to lay down your lives at gods appointment ; for that is the chiefest grace of god , and greatest perfection , to sight even unto blood under christs banner , and with him to give our lives . but if you will thus flee ( beloved in the lord ) you must not chuse unto your selves places , according as you fancy , as many of us , who have left our countrey have done , dwelling in popish places among the enemies of god in the midst of impiety ; some in france , as in paris , orleance , roan ; some in italy , as in rome , venice , padua , which persons in fleeing from their queen , run to the pope , fearing the danger of their bodies , seek where they may poyson their souls , thinking by this means to be less suspected of iezebel , shew themselves afraid and ashamed of the gospel , which in times past they have stoutly professed . and lest they should be thought favourers of christ , have purposely ridden by the churches and congregations of his servants , their brethren , neither minded to comfort others there , nor to be comforted themselves ; wherein they have shewed the coldness of their zeal towards religion , and given no small occasion of slander to the word of god , which they seemed to prosess . — this manner of fleeing then in ungodly , &c. neither is it enough to keep you out of the dominions of antichrist , and to place your selves in corners , you may be quiet and at ease , and not burthened with the charges of the poor , thinking it sufficient if you have a little exercise in your houses in reading a chapter or two of the scriptures , and then will be counted zealous persons , and great gospellers ; no brethren , and s●sters , this is not the way to shew your selves manful souldiers of christ , except you resort where his banner is displayed , and his standard set up , where the assembly of your b●ethren is , and his word openl● preached , and sacraments faithfully ministred ; for otherwise what may a man judge , but that such either disdain the company of their poor brethren , whom they ought by all means to help and comfort , according to that power that god hath given them for that end onely , and not for their own ease ; or else that they have not that zeal to the house of god , the assembly of his servants , and to the spiritual gifts and graces ( which god hath promised to pour upon the diligent hearers of his word ) as was in david , who desired , being a king , rather to be a door-keeper in the house of god , then to dwell in the tents of the ungodly , lamenting nothing so much the injuries done to him by his son absalom ( which were not small ) as that he was deprived of the comfortable exercises in the tabernacle of the lord , which then was in sion . neither doth there appear in such persons that greedy desire ( whereof isaiah makes mention ) which ought to be in the professours of the gospel , who never would cease or rest , till they should climb up to the lords hill , meaning the church of christ , saying one to another , let us ascend to the hill of the lord , to the house of the god of iacob , and he will teach us his wayes , and we shall walk in his footsteps ; for the law shall come forth of sion , and the word of the lord from ierusalem . which zeal the prophet doth not mention in vain , but to shew what a thirst and earnest desire should be in true christians , and how the same appeareth in seeking and resorting to those places , where it is set forth in greatest abundance and perfection , as was after christs ascension in ierusalem . and as that zeal shewed them to be of christ , by the like must we be judged christians also , that if we flee for christ , the places whereunto we flee , may bear witness for what cause we are fled . neither is it a sufficient excuse which many alledge , that they believe to be saved by christ , that they have sufficient knowledge of their duty , and the rest they can supply by their own diligence . i dare say their faith is not so much , but they had need to desire with the apostles , lord , encrease our f●ith . and if they will so confess , why do they forsake the chiefest means that god hath ordained , which is the open congregations of his people , where his word , the fountain of faith , is most purely preached , and where the godly examples of others may be a sharper spur to prick them forward ; and as for the knowledge and diligence of such , there may be no buckler to defend their doings ; for if they have those gifts whereof they boast , where may they better bestow them then in the church of god ? except they will say they are born to themselves , and have the gifts of god , which he would have common to others , applied to their own private fancy , which is to lap them up in a clout , and not to put them forth to the vantage of the owner , as did the unprofitable servant , and as do all they to whom god hath given either learning , counsel , or worldly substance , who either for the strength of cities , pleasantness of the air , tra●fick , or merchandize , or for any other worldly respect or policy do absent themselves from the congregation and company of their poor brethren , where christ hath advanced his standard , and blown his trumpet . if god then give you not strength at the first to stand in his profession to the death , nor that you cannot be quiet in conscience , abiding in your countrey , you see how his mercy hath given you liberty to kill , and what places he hath appointed you to flee unto , that is , where you may do good to your selves and others , where ye may be free from superstition and idolatry , where your faith may be encreased and not diminished , and your selves strengthened , and confirmed , and more strongly armed . but if you in tarrying will neither stand manfully to christ your master , but betray him , doing as the papists do ; nor yet with thanks use this remedy , that god hath granted to our infirmity , to resort to his churches , godlily instituted , what answer shall ye be able to make to his majesty , when he shall call for an account of your doings ? how shall you avoid his wrathful indignation , now ready to be poured upon his enemies ? — for in taking part with their impiety , you must be partakers of their cup likewise . neither is this any new or hard doctrine , that may exceed your capacity , but may rather be termed your a. b. c. and first principles , wherein none ought to be ignorant . that if we will be christs scholars , we must learn to bear his cross , and to follow him , not to cast it off our shoulders with the enemies , and run from him . — be no more deceived in so plain a matter . if the lord be god , follow him , if b●al be god , go after him . — let not the example of any lead you into errour , for men are but mortal . trust in the lord , for he is a sure rock . — trust not your own shifts , for they will deceive you . mark the end of others , and in time be warned . these lessons are hard to the flesh , but ea●●e to the spirit . the way of the lord is a strait path , but most faithful , sure and comfortable . — from geneva this first of ian. an. . goose. iohn goose ( burnt in england an. . ) being prest by the she●●ff of l●ndon to recant , and so deliver himself from death , answered , that for his religion he was at a pass , and neither could nor would recant the same . when the sheriff gave him some meat , of which he did eat heartily , he said to the standers by , i eat now a good and competent dinner , for i shall pass a sharp shower , before i go to supper . gordius . when a solemn feast was celebrated in caesarea , in honour to mars , gordius a citizen thereof , who had been a centurion , and had chosen exile for sometime in the heat of persecution , left the desert wherein he lived in exile , and got him up into the chief place of the theater , and with a loud voice cried out , behold , i am found of them that sought me not , and to those that asked not for me , have i openly appeared . the sheriff asking him , who he was , from whence he came , and for what he came thither ; i am come ( said he ) to publish , that i set nothing by your desires against the christian religion , but that i profess jesus christ to be my hope and safety . the sheriff threatning him with all kind of torments ; it would be to me a damage ( said he ) if i should not endure divers torments for christs cause . when he was tormented , he lifted up his eyes to heaven , saying , the lord is my helper , i will not fear the thing that man can do unto me ; i will learn no evil , for thou lord art with me . he blamed the tormentors if they favoured him at all . the sheriff promising great things , if he would deny christ ; it lieth not in you ( said he ) to place any in authority , which be worthy to have a place in heaven . when he was led out of the city to be burnt , many with tears beg'd him to save himself , but he said , weep not , i beseech you , for me , but rather for those that bring us to the fire , and thereby purchase hell fire to themselves . truly i am ready for the name of christ to suffer a thousand deaths , if need were . some perswading him to deny christ with his tongue , and to keep his conscience to himself : my tongue ( said he ) which by the goodness of god i have , cannot be brought to deny the author and giver of it ; for with the heart we believe unto righteousness , and with the mouth we confess unto salvation . gorgius . when the tyrant offered gorgius promotion : have ye any thing ( said he ) equal to , or more worthy then the kingdome of heaven . gonzalve . mr. iohn gonzalve a famous preacher in sevil , was often observed in all his sermons to aime at this mark , to deliver mens minds from that blind conceit of meriting by works , that so way might be made for justification onely by saith in christ jesus , and deeply to ingraft in them the knowledge of the sole merit of his plenary satisfaction . when he was led to the place of his martyrdome , he never shewed the least sign of his being dismay'd , but contrariwise with great constancy and courage of heart standing above all the people , to whom he had formerly preached and delivered the pattern of sound doctrine , he began with a loud voice to recite the psalm , which begins thus , o lord , my rock , be not thou silent to me , &c. he changed not his countenance upon the scaffold , though they had gagged him there , because he comforted and freely exhorted one of his sisters to be constant . when the time was come that those which should be burned were brought to the place of execution , they were every one commanded to recite the articles of their belief ; which they willingly did : but when they came to the article , i believe the holy catholick church , they were bid to adde the word romane , but they were silent . then did the monks and friers importune gonzalve's sisters , &c. to repeat the word romane , who answered , they would if they might hear gonzalve pronounce it . he being ungagged , the first word he spake was , that they should be of good courage , and not to adde one word more then what they had recited . grange . the bishop of arres telling mr. peregrine de la grange , that he was sorry to see him in that condition in prison . sir ( said he ) as for the base estate in which you now see me , god hath so comforted me therein with his grace , that i do without any great difficulty patiently suffer what he hath pleased to lay upon me ; yea i praise and bless his name , that he hath ballanced the weight of my afflictions , according to the strength which he hath given me , so as i sink not under the burden ; for as my sufferings in christ abound , he causeth his consolations by christ to abound in me also . it is usual ( said the bishop ) with such as you are to glory in this kind of speech ; for as soon as any afflictions do befall you , you by and by stile them the sufferings of christ ; and if any of you be put to death , then it is for gods truth : but when things are laid to the touchstone , the matter is nothing so , nor so . sir ( said mr. grange ) if your meaning be of such as have died for the doctrine , for which i am bound with this chain , and thus fettered with irons , i doubt not but they have given such a reason of their faith , that whosoever shall read their answers , and weigh the same without partiality , must needs judge as we do . and for my own part , i am ready to make it good , that the doctrine i now hold and teach , is according to godliness , taken out of the pure fountains of the holy scriptures , without adding thereto , diminishing or varying any way therefrom . we read ( said the bishop ) that in all times men have been wont to shelter themselves under the title of gods word , even the old hereticks , &c. i am not ignorant hereof ( said mr. grange ) in regard that satan knows how to transform himself into an angel of light , thereby to establish his delusions , causing darkness to be taken for light : but the holy ghost , who is the spirit of truth , hath in such wise discovered his juglings , that none are deluded thereby , but those who at noon day close their eyes that they may not behold the light . do you think ( said the bishop ) that the holy ghost hath given you such an illumination , that the truth should onely be revealed to you , and to none other . god forbid sir ( said mr. grange ) i should have any such thought . i am not of the mind of those dreamers , who brag of their having particular revelations of the holy spirit , but i speak of an ordinary and general revelation , such as is taught us out of the bible , &c. i am neither calvinist nor papist . i am a christian ; and what i hold concerning religion is taken out of christs doctrine , who is the onely doctor of his church . what calvin hath taught conformable to the word of god , i am of the same mind with him . and whereas you call your religion the old religion , and ours the new , it troubles me not at all ; since the father of lies hath long since forged the same , to disgrace the truth , &c. — in his dispute with the bishop concerning the real presence , &c. we may see what holy boldness mixed with meekness the lord had endued this holy servant of his with . when the provost gave him and monsieur de br●z ( of whom before ) notice , that they should die that day , they magnified god for his goodness , and gave the provost thanks for the good news , which he had brought them . monsieur la grange going to the rest of the prisoners , said , i am this day to die for the truth , and then the heavenly inheritance is prepared for me . my name is written in the book of life , never to be blotted out , because the gifts and calling of god are without repentance . — he called for a brush to brush his hat and cloak , causing his shoos to be blacked ; for now ( said he ) i am bidden to the marriage of the lamb , where i am to feast with him for ever and ever . being askt , whether he meant to suffer with those shackles on his heels ? i would i might ( said he ) yea and that they would bury them with me to , that they might manifest the inhumanity of my adversaries . he told his friends , he felt such joy of the holy ghost in his heart , that he could not with tongue express ; adding , that god shewed him a thousand times more favour by taking him after this manner out of this transitory life , then if he had let him die in his bed by sickness ; for now i shall die ( said he ) enjoying the benefit of all the powers of my soul , praying the lord to have mercy on me . monsieur la grange and de brez were sentenced to be hang'd for administring the lords supper against an express charge by the king given them to the contrary . when la grange was upon the ladder , he protested with a loud voice , that he died onely for preaching to the people the pure truth of god , taking heaven and earth to witness the same with him . gratwick . mr. stephen gratwick , seeing the bishops that sate upon to laugh , said unto them , why do ye laugh ? are ye confederate together for my blood , and therein triumph ? you have more cause to look weightily upon the matter ; for i stand here before you upon life and death . but you declare your selves what you are . you are lapped in lambs apparel , but you are bent to have my blood . — seeing you will have my blood , let me say a little more for my self : on sunday last you preached this truth , if any man think himself religious , and bridleth not his tongue , the same mans religion is vain : and yet in the mean time you seduced your tongue to slander us poor prisoners there present in iron hands , burdening us with the names of arrians , herodians , anabaptists , sacramentarians , pelagians : and when we stood up to purge our selves thereof , you said , you would cut out our tongues , and cause us to be pulled out of the church by violence . but there you gave your self a shrewd blow , &c. — being asked by the bishop of winchester if he would recant , he said , my faith is grounded more stedfastly then to change in a moment . it is no process of time can alter me , unless my faith were as the waves of the sea. when he was condemned , he desired god with a loud voice , that he would not lay his blood to their charge if it were his good will. green. mr. bartlet green wrote in mr. bar●r●m calthrops book a little before his death , thus . — two things have very much troubled me whilst i was in the temple , pride and gluttony , which under the colour of glory and good fellowship , drew me almost from god. — forsomuch as vain-glory is so subtile an adversary , that almost it woundeth deadly , ere ever a man can perceive himself to be smitten , therefore we ought so much the rather by continual prayer to labour for humbleness of mind . gluttony beg●nneth under a charitable pretence of love and society , and hath in it most uncharitableness . — let us therefore watch and be sober ; for our adversary the devil walketh about like a roaring lion , seek●ng whom he may devour . vale ( mi bartrame ) & mei memineris , ut semper simillimi efficiamur . vale , &c. farewell ( my bartram ) and remember me , that we may be alwayes like , farewell at newgate i●n . . a. . in his letter to mr. philpot. — being accused that i spake against the real presence , and the sacrifice of the mass , and that i affirmed that their church was the church of antichrist : i confessed it , and that i would continue therein , though not maintain it by learning , my conscience being satisfied in the truth , which is sufficient to my salvation . — i told mr. welch , forasmuch as it pleaseth you to use me so familiarly ( for he behaved himself towards me , as though i had been his equal ) i shall open my mind freely to you . i consider my youth , lack of wit and learning , which would god it were but a little under the opinion that some men have of me : but god is not bound to time , wit , or knowledge , but rather chooseth the weak things of the world to confound the mighty , neither can men appoint bounds to gods mercy ; for i will shew mercy on whom i will shew mercy . there is no respect of persons with god , whether he be old or young , rich or poor , wise or foolish , fisher or basket-maker . god giveth knowledge of his truth , through his free grace , to whom he list . — now i am brought hither before a great many bishops and learned men to be made a fool and a laughing-stock , but i weigh it not a rush ; for god knoweth that my whole study is to please him : besides that , i care not for mans pleasure or displeasure . as he was going to newgate ( after he was condemned ) there met with him two gentlemen , that seeing him burst out into tears , to whom mr. green said , ah my friends , is this your comfort you are come to give me ? must i who needed to have comfort ministred to me , become now a comforter of you ? — when he was going to , and was at the stake , he repeated this distich , christe deus , sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis , te duce vera sequir , te duce falsa nego in english thus . o christ my god , sure hope of health , besides thee i have none , the truth i love and falshood hate , by thee my guide alone . these verses he wrote in a book of mr. hussey's of the temple . behold thy self by me , such one was i as thou , and thou in time shall ●e , even dust as i am now ! bartlet green. in his letter to his friends of the temple . — very friends are they , which are knit together by the knot of charity . charity doth not decay , but increase in them that die faithfully . — if thy friend be out of sight , is thy friendship ended ? — if he be carried into heaven , is charity hindred thereby ? the fathers of the primitive church gave thanks for their friends that died in the faith , to prove that charity died not with death . — what saith saint paul , we are members of his body , of his flesh , and of his blood ; we are members one of another . is the hand or arm , foot or leg a member , when it is dissevered from the body ? what is it that couples us , but love ? when all things shall fail , love faileth never . hope hath his end , when we get that we hoped for . faith is finished in heaven . love endureth for ever : spiritual love , i mean ; for carnal love , when that which we love is lost , doth perish with the flesh . neither was that ever but fleshly love , which by distance of place or severing of bodies , is parted as●nder . — if we keep christs commandment in loving each other , as he loved us , then should our love be everlasting . this friendship paul felt , when it moved him to say , that neither length nor ●readth , n●ither height nor depth , should sever him from the love of christ. now you may say , why writeth thou this ? truly to the end , that if our friendship be stable , you may accomplish this the last request of your friend , &c. — mr. fleetwood , i beseech you remember witt●ance and cook , two singular men among common prisoners . mr. fernham , mr. fell , and mr. hussey ( as i hope ) will dispatch palmer and richardson , with his companions . i pray you mr. palmer think on i. grove , an honest poor man , tra●ford and rice apprice his accomplices . my cousin thomas witton ( a scrivener in lombard-str●et ) hath promised to further their delivery , at the least he can instruct you which way to work . i doubt not but that mr. bowyer will labour for goodwife cooper ( for she is worthy to be holpen ) and b●rard the frenchman . there be also divers others well-disposed men , whose deliverance if you will not labour for , yet i humbly beseech you to seek their relief . — for these and all other poor prisoners i make this my humble suit and prayer to you all my especial good friends , beseeching you by all the bonds of amity , in the bowels of mercy , to tender the cases of miserable captives . help to cloath christ , visit the afflicted , comfort the sorrowful , and relieve the needy . the very god of peace guide your hearts to have mercy on the poor , and love faithfully together . amen . this present monday when i look to die , and to live for ever . yours for ever , bartlet green. in his letter to mrs. elizabeth clark. — i shall not cease with continual prayer to labour for you , desiring almighty god to increase that which he hath long since begun in you , of sober life , and earnest zeal towards his region , she that is a true widow and friendless , putteth her trust in god , continuing day and night in supplication and prayer ; but she that liveth in pleasure is dead , even yet alive . and verily she is a true widow , that hath married christ , forsaking the vanities of the world , and the lusts of the flesh ; for as the married woman careth how to love and serve and please her husband , so ought the widow to give all her soul and heart , thoughts and words , studies and labours , faithfully to love god , vertuously to bring up her children and houshold , and diligently to provide for the poor and oppressed . — not to live in pleasure , but to watch unto prayer , stedfastly laying up all her trust in god. of anna it is written , that she never went out of the temple , but served god with fasting and prayer night and day , — to ●ring up her children and houshold godly in the nurture and information of the lord. — there are most manifest examples against parents for the offences of children . contrariwise how greatly might hanna rejoyce over samu●l her son , whom she had brought up in the house of the lord ? — but above all widows , thrice blessed was the happy mother of the seven sons , that so had instructed them in the fear of the lord , that by no torments they would s●rink from the love of his truth ? — to be liberal to strangers , to wash the saints feet , and minister to them in their adversity . saint paul ( as though they onely had been therefore meet ) appointed onely widows to minister to the saints , and to gather for the poor . — alas ! that christ so hungreth , and no man will feed him ; is so sore opprest with thirst , and no man will give him drink ; destitute of all lodging , and not relieved ; sick , and not visitted ; imprisoned , and not seen . in times past men could bestow large sums of money on copes , vestments , and ornaments of the church : why rather follow we not st. ambrose his example , who sold the same for the relief of the poor ; or chrysostom's command , who willed first to deck and garnish the living temple of god ? but alas ! such is the wickedness of these our last dayes , that nothing moves us , neither the pure doctrine , the godliness of life , nor good examples of the ancient fathers . if in any thing they erred , that will their charitable children embrace , publish and maintain with sword , faggot and fire : but all in vain they strive against the stream ; for though in despite of the truth , by force of the ears of crafty perswasion , they may bring themselves into the haven of hell ; yet can they not make all men believe that the banks move while the ship saileth , nor ever shall be able to turn the direct course of the stream of gods truth . — in another letter . — better is the day of death ( saith solom●n ) then the day of birth . — happy are the dead that die in the lord. man of woman is born in travel to live in misery ; man through christ doth die in joy to live in felicity : he is born to die , and dieth to live . strait as he cometh into the world with cries he uttereth his miserable estate ; strait as he departeth with songs he praiseth god for ever . scarce yet in his cradle , three deadly enemies assault him , after death no adversary may annoy him ; whilst he is here he displeaseth god , when he is dead , he fulfilleth his will. — here he dieth every hour , there he liveth continually ; here is sin , there is righteousness ; here is time , there is eternity ; here is harted , there is love ; here is pain , there is pleasure ▪ here is misery , there is felicity . — seek therefore the things that are above , &c. grey . the lady iane grey , daughter to the duke of suffolk , whose mother was daughter to mary , king henry the second's sister , having personated a queen for ten dayes , and upon queen m●ries proclamation being imprisoned , the queen sent mr. fecknam to her , two dayes before her death to commune with her , and reduce her from the doctrine of christ to queen maries religion . the effect which communication here followeth . madam ( said fecknam ) i lament your heavy case , &c. you are welcome unto me sir ( said the lady iane ) if you come to give me christian exhortation . and as for my heavy case ( i thank god ) i do so little lament it , that rather i account the same for a more manifest declaration of gods favour towards me , then ever he shewed me at any time before ; and therefore there is no cause , why either you or other which bear me good will , should lament or be grieved with this my case , being a thing so profitable for my souls health . i am here come ( said he ) from the queen and council to instruct you in the true doctrine of the right faith , &c. i heartily thank the queen ( said she ) who is not unmindful of her humble subject , and i hope no less that you will do your duty therein , both truly and faithfully . what is then ( said he ) requried of a christian ? to believe ( said she ) in god the father , son , and holy ghost , three persons and one god. what ( said he ) is there nothing else required or looked for in a christian , but to believe in him ? yes ( said she ) we must love him with all our heart , with all our soul , and with all our mind , and our neighbour as our self . why then ( said he ) faith justifies not , and saveth not . yes verily ( said she ) faith ( as paul saith ) onely justifies . why ( said he ) st. paul saith , if i have all faith without love , it is nothing . true ( said she ) for how can i love him , whom i trust not ? or how can i trust him , whom i love not ? faith and love go both together , and yet love is comprehended in faith . how must we love our neighbour ? ( said he ) to love our neighbour ( said she ) is to feed the hungry , to cloath the naked , and give drink to the thirsty , and to do to him as we would do to our selves . why then ( said he ) it is necessary unto salvation to do good works also , and it is not sufficient onely to believe . it is meet ( said she ) that a christian in token that he follows his master christ to do good works , yet may we not say , that they profit to our salvation ; for when we have done all , we be unprofitable servants , and faith onely in christs blood saveth us . how many sacraments are there ? ( said he ) two ( said she ) the one the sacrament of baptisme , by which i am washed with water , and regenerated by the spirit , and that washing is a token to me that i am a child of god : the other the sacrament of the lords s●pper , which offered to me is a sure seal and testimony that i am by the blood of christ , which he shed for me on the cross , made partaker of the everlasting kingdome . there are seven ( said he ) by what scripture ( said she ) find you that . well ( said he ) we will talk of that hereafter . what do you receive in the sacrament of the lords supper ? do you not receive the very body and blood of christ ? no surely ( said she ) i believe that the supper i neither receive flesh nor blood , but bread and wine , which bread , when it is broken , and wine , when it is drunken , putteth me in remembrance , how that for my sins , the body of christ was broken , and his blood shed on the cross , and with that bread and wine i receive the benefits that come by the breaking of his body , and shedding of his blood for our sins on the cross. why ( said he ) doth not christ speak these words , take , eat , this is my body ? require you any plainer words ? doth he not say it is his body ? i grant he saith so ( said she ) and so he saith , i am the vine , i am the door , and yet is not the vine , or the door . doth nor st. paul say , he calleth things that are not , as though they were . — when fecknam took his leave , he said , that he was sorry for her ; for i am sure ( said he ) that we two shall never meet . true it is ( said she ) that we shall never meet , except god turn your heart ; for i am assured , unless you repent and turn to god , you are in an evil case , and i pray god in the bowels of mercy , to send you his holy spirit . — in her letter to her father . — father , although it hath pleased god to hasten my death by you , by whom my life should rather have been lengthened ; yet can i so patiently take it , as i yield to god more hearty thanks for shortening my woful dayes , then if all the world had been given unto my possessions with life lengthened at my own will. — although my death at hand to you seem right woful , to me there is nothing that can be more welcome , then from this vale of misery to aspire to that heavenly throne of all joy and pleasure , with christ our saviour ; in whose stedfast faith ( if it be lawful for the daughter so to write to the father ) the lord that hitherto hath strengthened you , so continue you , that at last we may meet in heaven , with the father , the son , and the holy ghost . in her letter to mr. harding ( formerly her fathers chaplain , and a zealous preacher of the gospel , but then tnrn'd papist ) she writes thus . — as oft as i call to mind the dreadful and fearful saying of god , that he which layeth hold on the plough , and looketh back , is not meet for the kingdome of heaven ; and on the other side , the comfortable words of our saviour christ to those , that forsaking themselves do follow him . i cannot but marvel at thee , and lament thy case , who seemed sometime to be the lively member of christ , but now the deformed imp of the devil ; sometime the beautiful temple of god , but now the filthy and stinking kennel of satan ; sometime the unspotted spouse of christ , but now the shameless paramour of antichrist ; sometime my faithful brother , but now a stranger and an apostate ; sometime a stout christian souldier , but now a cowardly run-away : yea , when i consider these things , i cannot but cry out upon thee , thou seed of satan , and not of iudah , whom the devil hath deceived , the world hath beguiled , and the desire of life subverted , and made thee of a christian an infidel . wherefore hast thou taken the testament of the lord in thy mouth ? wherefore hast thou instructed others to be strong in christ , when thou thy self dost now so shamefully shrink , and so horribly abuse the testament and the law of the lord ? when thou thy self preachest not to steal , yet most abominably stealest , not from men , but from god , and committing most hainous sacriledge , robbest christ thy lord of his right members , thy body and soul , and choosest rather to live miserably with shame to the world , then to die , and gloriously with honour reign with christ , in whom , even in death is life ? why dost thou now shew thy self most weak , when indeed thou oughtest to be most strong ? the str●●gth of a fort is unknown before the assault , but thou yieldest thy hold , before any battery be made . oh wretched and unhappy man , what art thou but dust and ashes ? and wilt thou resist thy maker , that fashioned and framed thee ? wilt thou now forsake him that called thee from the custome-gathering of the romish antichristians , to be an ambassadour and messenger of his word ? he that first framed thee , and since thy first creation and birth preserved thee , nourished and kept thee , yea and inspired thee with the spirit of knowledge ( i cannot say of grace ) shall he not now possess thee ? darest thou deliver up thy self to another , being not thine own , but his ? how canst thou , having knowledge , or how darest thou neglect the law of the lord , and follow the vain traditions of men ; and whereas thou hast been a publick professor of his name , become now a defacer of his glory ? wilt thou refuse the true god , and worship the invention of man , the golden calf , the whore of b●bylon , the romish religion , the abominable idol , the most wicked mass ? wilt thou torment again , rent and tear the most prec●ous body of our saviour christ with thy bodily and fleshly teeth ? wilt thou take upon thee to offer up any sacrifice unto god for our sins , considering that christ ●ff●red up himself ( as p●u● saith ) u●●n the cross a live●y sacrifice once for all . can neither the punishment of the israelites , ( which for their idolatry they oft received ) nor the terrible threatnings of the prophets , nor the curse of gods own mouth , fear thee to honour any other god then him ? dost thou so regard him that spared not his dear and onely-son for thee , so diminishing , yea utterly extinguishing his glory , that thou wilt attribute the praise and honour due unto him to the idols , which have mouths , and speak not , eyes and see not , ears and hear not , whi●●●●all perish with them that made thee . — confounded be all they that worship them . — christ o●●ereth up himself once for all , and wilt thou offer him up again daily at thy pleasure ? but thou wilt say , thou dost it for a good intent . oh sink of sin ! oh child of perdition ! dost thou dream therein of a good intent , where thy conscience bears thee witness of gods threatned wrath against thee ? how did saul , how for that he disobeyed the word of the lord for a good intent , was thrown from his worldly and temporal kingdome ? — wilt thou for a good intent dishonour god , offend thy brother , and danger thy soul , wherefore christ hath shed his most precious blood ? wilt thou for a good intent pluck christ out of heaven , and make his death void , and deface the triumph of his cross by offering him up daily ? wilt thou either for fear of death , or hope of life , deny and refuse thy god , who enriched thy poverty , healed thy infirmity , and yielded to thee his victory , if thou couldst have kept it ? dost thou not consider , that the thread of thy life hangeth upon him that made thee , who can ( as he please ) either twine it harder to last the longer , or untwine it again to break the sooner ? dost thou not then remember the saying of david , when thou t●kest away thy spirit ( o lord ) from men , they die , and are tur●●d again to their dust ; but when thou let●est thy breath 〈◊〉 forth , they shall be made , and thou shalt renew the face of the earth . remember the saying of christ in his gospel ; whosoever seeketh to save his life shall lose it , but whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it . again , wh●soever loveth father or mother above me , is not meet for me . he th●t will follow me , let him forsake himself , and take up his cross , and follow me . what cross ? the cross of infamy and shame , of misery and po●●●●● of affliction and persecution for his names 〈◊〉 let the oft falling of these heavenly showres 〈◊〉 thy stony heart . let the two-edged sword of gods holy word sheer asunder the sinews of worldly respects , even to the marrow of thy carnal heart , that thou mayest once again forsake thy self , and embrace christ , and like as good subjects will not refuse to hazard all in the defence of their earthly and temporal governour , so fly not like a white-liver'd milk-sop from the standing wherein thy chief captain christ hath hath set thee in array of this life . fight manfully , come life , come death , the quarrel is gods , and undoubtedly the victory is ours . but thou wilt say , i will not break unity ; what ? not the unity of satan and his members ? not the unity of darkness ? not the agreement of antichrist and his adherents ? — tully saith of amity , amicitia non est nisi inter bonos . but mark my friends ; yea friend , if thou beest not gods enemy , there is no unity , but where christ knitteth the knot among such as he is . — the agreement of all men is not an unity , but a conspiracy . thou hast heard some threatnings against those that love themselves above christ , and against those that deny him for love of life ; saith he not , he that denies me before men , i will deny him before my father in heaven . and to the same effect writeth paul , it is impossible that they which were once enlightened , and have tasted of the heavenly gift , and were partakers of the holy ghost , and have tasted of the good word of god , if they fall away , &c. should be ren●wed again by repentance . and again , if we shall willingly sin after we have received the knowledge of his truth , there is no oblation left for sin , but the terrible expectation of judgement and fire , which shall devour the adversaries . thus paul writeth , and this thou readest , 〈◊〉 dost thou not quake and tremble ? well , if these te●rible and thundring threatnings cannot stir thee to cleave unto christ , and forsake the world ; yet let the sweet consolation and promises of the scriptures , let the example of christ and his apostles , holy martyrs and confessours incourage thee to take faster hold of christ. hearken what he saith , blessed are you when men revi●e you , and persecute you for my sake : rejoyce and be glad , for great is your reward in heave● ; for so persecuted they the prophets , that were before you . hear what isaiah saith , fear not the curse of men , be not afraid of their blasphemies ; for worms and moths shall eat them up like cloath and wooll , but my righteousness shall endure for ever , and my saving health from generation to generation . what art thou then ( saith he ) that fearest a mortal man , the child of man , which fadeth away like the flower , and forgetteth the lord that made thee , that spread out the heavens , and laid the foundation of the earth ? i am the lord thy god , that maketh the sea to rage , and be still , whose name is the lord of hosts : i shall put my word in thy mouth , and defend thee with the turning of the hand . christ also saith unto his disciples , they shall accuse you , and bring you before princes and rulers for my names sake ; and some of you they shall persecute and kill ; but fear you not , and care you not what you shall say ; for it is ●e spirit of your father that speaketh within you , even the hairs of your head are all numbred . lay up treasures for your selves , where no thief cometh , nor moth corrupteth . fear not them that kill the body , but are not able to kill the soul ; but fear him that hath power to destroy both soul and body . if ye were not of the world , the world would love his own ; but because ye are not of the world , but i have chosen you out of the world , therefore the world hateth you . let these and such like consolations taken out of scriptures , strengthen you to god-ward . let not the examples of holy men and women go out of your mind , as daniel and the rest of the prophets , of the three children , &c. — return , return again into christs war , and as becometh faithful warriour , put on that armour that st. pau● teacheth to be most necessary for a christian man ▪ and above all things take unto you the shield o● faith , and be you provoked by christs own example , to withstand the devil , to forsake the world , and to become a true and ●aithful member of his mystical body , who spared not his own body for our sins . throw down your self with the fear of his threatned vengeance for this so great and hainous ●ffence of apos●acy , and comfort your self on the other hand with the mercy , blood , and promise of him , who is ready to turn unto you , whensoever you turn unto him . disdain not to come again with the lost son , seeing you have so wandred with him . be not ashamed to turn again with him from the swill of strangers to the delicate of your most benigne and lov●ng father , acknowledging that you have sinned both against heaven and against earth : against heaven , by staining the glorious name of god , and causing his most sincere and pure word to be evil spoken of through you : against earth , by offending so many of your weak brethren , to whom you have been a stumbling block through your sudden sliding . be not ashamed — to weep bitterly with peter — to wash away the filth and mire of your offensive fall — to say with the publican , lord , be merciful to me a sinner . remember the horrible history of iulian of old , and the lamentable case of spira of late , whose case ( methinks ) should be so green in your remembrance , that being a thing of our time , you should fear the like inconvenience , seeing you are fallen into the like offence . last of all , 〈◊〉 the lively remembrance of the last day be alwayes before your eyes , remembring the terrour that at that time shall befall the runagates and fugitives from christ , who setting more by the world then by heaven , more by their life then by him that gave them life , did shrink , yea fall away from him that forsook not them ; and contrariwise , the inestimable joyes prepared for them , that fearing 〈◊〉 peril , nor dreading death , have manfully fought and victoriously triumphed over all power of darkness , over hell , death , and damnation , through their most renowned captain christ , who now stretcheth out his arms to receive you , ready to fall upon your neck , and kiss you , and to feast you with the dainties and delicates of his own precious blood ; which undoubtedly , if it might stand with his determinate purpose , he would not let to shed again , rather then you shall be lost . — the night before she suffered , she sent unto her sister , the lady k●therine the new testament in greek , at the end whereof she wrote thus . i have sent you ( good sister ) a book , which although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold , yet inwardly it is more worth then precious stones . it is the book of the law of the lord. it is his testament and last will which he bequeathed unto us wretches , which shall lead you to the path of eternal joy ; and if you with a good mind read it , and with an earnest mind do purpose to follow it , it shall bring you to an immortal and everlasting life . it shall teach you to live , and learn you to die . it shall win you more then you should have gained by the possession of your woful fathers lands ; for , as if god had prospered him , you should have inherited his lands : so if you ply diligently this book , seeking to direct your life after it , you shall be an inheriter of such riches , as neither the covetous shall withdraw from you , nor the thief steal , nor the moth corrupt . desire with david to understand the law of the lord god. live still to die , that you by death may purchase eternal life . trust not that the tenderness of your age shall lengthen your life : the young die ( if god call ) assoon as the old . labour alwayes to learn to die , defie the world , deny the devil , and despise the flesh , and delight your self onely in the lord. be penitent for your sins , but yet despair not ; be strong in faith , and yet presume not . desire with st. paul to be dissolved , and to be with christ , with whom , even in death , there is life . be like the good servant , and even at mid-night be waking , least when death cometh , and stealeth upon you , as a thief in the night , you be with the evil servant found sleeping , and least for lack of oyl ye be found like the foolish women , and like him that had not on the wedding garment , and then ye be cast out from the marriage . rejoyce in christ , as i do . follow the steps of your master christ , and take up your cross. lay your sins on his back , and alwayes embrace him . and as concerning my death , rejoyce as i do , that i shall be delivered of this corruption , and put on incorruption ; for i am assured , that i shall for loosing of a mortal life , win an immortal life , the which i pray god grant you , and send you of his grace to live in his fear , and to die in the true christian faith , from the which ( in gods name ) i exhort you that you never swarve , neither for hope of life , nor fear of death ; for if you will deny his truth for to lengthen your life , god will deny you , and yet shorten your dayes . and if you will cleave unto him , he will prolong your dayes to your comfort and his glory ; to the which glory god bring me now , and you hereafter , when it shall please him to call you . fare you well ( good sister ) and put your onely trust in god , who onely must help you . in her speech upon the scaffold . — good people , i am come hither to die , and by a law i am condemned to the same . the fact against the queens highness was unlawful , and the consenting thereunto by me ; but touching the procurement and desire thereof , i do wash my hands thereof in innocency before god and you , and therewith she wrung her hands . i pray you bear me witness , that i die a true christian , and that i look to be saved by no other mean , but onely by the mercy of god in the blood of his onely son jesus christ. i confess , when i did know the word of god , i neglected the same , loved my self and the world , and therefore this plague is worthily happened to me for my sins ; and yet i thank god of his goodness , that he hath thus given me a time and respite to repent ; and now , good people , while i am alive , i pray you assist me with your prayers . — in her prayer . — thou , o lord , art the onely defender and deliverer of those that put their trust in thee ; and therefore i being defiled with sin , &c. overwhelmed with miseries , vexed with temptations , and grievously tormented . with the long imprisonment of this vile mass of clay , my sinful body , doth come unto thee ( o merciful saviour ) craving thy mercy and help , who hast said , thou wilt not suffer us to be tempted above our power . — o merciful god , consider my misery best known unto thee , and be thou unto me a strong tower of defence . suffer me not to be tempted above my power , but either be thou a deliverer to me out of this great misery , or else give me grace patiently to bear thy heavy hand and sharp correction . it was thy right hand that delivered the people of israel out of the hands of pharaoh , who for the space of four hundred years did oppress them , and keep them in bondage . o deliver me sorrowful wretch ! ( for whom thy son christ shed his precious blood on the cross ) out of this miserable captivity and bondage . how long wilt thou be absent ? for ever ? o lord , hast thou forgotten to be gracious , and shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure ? wilt thou be no more entreated ? is thy mercy clean gone for ever , and thy promise come utterly to an end for evermore ? why dost thou make so long tarrying ? shall i despair of thy mercy o god ? far be that from me . i am thy workmanship , created in christ jesus ; give me therefore grace to tarry thy leisure . — when the handkerchief was tied about her eyes , she kneeling down , and feeling for the block said , what shall i do ? where is it ? and being directed by one of the standers by , she laid her head down upon the block , and stretching forth her body , said , lord , into thy hands i commend my spirit . in her troubles she writ the following verse with a pin . non aliena putes homini , quae obtingere possunt ; sors hodierna mihi , tunc erit illa tibi . in english thus , think nothing strange which man cannot decline , my lot's to day , to merren may le thine . deo juvante , nil nocet livor malus : et non juvante , nil juvat labor gravis . post tenebras spero lucem . in english thus , if god protect me , malice cannot end me , if not , all i can do will not defend me . after dark night i hope for light . h. haggar . he was persecuted for saying , ( a. . ) that there shou●d be a battel of priests , and all the priests should be slain : and that the priests should a while rule , but they should all be destroyed for making of false gods . — that the men of the church should be put down , and the false gods that they m●ke : and after that , they should know more , and then shou●d be a merry world . hale . when thomas hale was taken by an alderman of bristow and another , he said unto them , you have sought my blood these two years , and now much good do it you . he was burned a. . for saying , the sacrament of the altar is an idol . hall. nicholas hall in his answer to the first article against him , granted himself a christian man , and acknowledged the determinations of the holy church , i. e. of the congregation , or body of christ : but denied to call the catholick and apostolick church his mother , because he found not this word , mother , in the scripture . to the second he said , that whereas before he held the sacrament to be but onely a token or remembrance of christ's death , now he said , that there is neither token nor remembrance , becasue it is now misused , and clean turned from christs institution , &c. hallewin . harman . when cornelius hallewin of antwerp had received a sharp letter , sent him from the minister of the flemish church , upon the occasion of a recantation spread and falsly fathered upon cornelius : the blood gushed out of his nose , he spread abroad his arms , and made pitiful out-cries . what to deny the truth ( said he ) god forbid ! o that the faithful should conceive so hardly of me ! good god , thou knowest i am innocent , nor have i this way offended . when he was condemned to die , the margrave offered him , that he should die a more easie kind of death , if he would give ear to the priests , which he had brought to him to prison : no sir ( said he ) god forbid i should do such a thing . do ye with my body what ye will. as they bound him and harman of amsterdam harman willed the margrave to take heed what he did ; for ( said he ) this will not go for payment in gods sight in bereaving us thus of our lives . i wish you therefore to repent before it be too late . you cannot long continue this tyrannous course ; for the lord will shortly avenge it . a cross being offered them , and a promise that they should be beheaded , and not burnt , if they would take it into their hands , they said , they would not give the least sign , that might be , of betraying the truth , and that it was all one to them what death they were put to , so they died in and for the lord. the punishment ( they said ) could last but for a while , but the glory to come was eternal . at the stake cornelius fell on his knees , praying god to forgive his enemies , who had sinned through ignorance . when the margrave of antwerp offered halle●i● and harmar mitigation of torments upon abjuation : we are resolved ( said they ) these momentary afflictions are not worthy that exceeding weight of glory , that shall be revealed . hallingdale . articles against iohn hallingdale . — ( ) that during the reign of king edward , he did depart from his former faith and religion , and so doth continue , and determineth so to do , ( as he saith ) to his life's end . ( ) that he hath divers times said , that the faith , religion , and ecclesiastical service , received , observed , and used now in this realm is not good , but against gods command , &c. and that he will not in any wise conform himself to the same , ●ut speak , and think against it during his natural life . ( ) that he absenteth himself continually from his parish church , &c. ( ) that he will not have his child by his will ( as he saith ) confirmed by the bishop . unto all which articles he made this answer , that he confessed all , and every part to be true . he told b●nner , that the blood of the prophets , and of the saints , and of all that were slain upon the earth , was found in the babylonical church , which is the church where the pope is head . — because i will not come to your babylonical church , therefore you go about to condemn me . being demanded whether he would recant , he answered , that he would continue , and persist in his opinions to the death . when the sentence was read , he openly thanked god , that he never came into the church , since the abomination came into it . when william hallywell and the twelve more ( that were burnt in one fire at stratford the how near london ) were condemned , and carried down thither to be burnt , they were divided into two parts , in two several chambers : thereupon the sheriffe came to the one part , and told them , that the other had recanted , and their lives therefore should be saved , willing and exhorting them to do the like , and not to cast away themselves : unto whom they answered , that their faith was not built on man , but on christ crucified : then the sheriffe went to the other part , and said the like to them ; but they answered as their brethren had done before , that their faith was not built on man , but on christ and his word . hamelin . mr. philibert hamelin of tournay , refusing offers of escape out of prison , said , i esteem it altogetder unleseeming for a man , that is called to preach gods word unto others , to run away , and to break prison , for fear of danger , but rather to maintain the truth taught even in the midst of the flaming fire . after sentence of death was past upon him , he eat his meat as joyfully , as though he had been in no danger , speaking to them of the happiness of eternal life , evidencing that a good conscience is a continual feast . when he was apprehended , there was apprehended with him , his host , whom he thought he had converted , but afterward he renounced christ and his word : whereupon he said unto him , o unha●py , and more then miserable ! is it possible for you to be so foolish , as for the s●ving of a few dayes , which you have ●o ●●ve by the course of nature , so to start away , and deny the truth ? know you therefore , that although you have by your folishness avoided the corporal fire , yet your life shall be never the longer ; for you shall die before me , and god shall not give you the grace , that it shall be for his cause , and you shall be an example to all apostates . immediately after , as he was going out of the prison he was slain by two gentlemen , that had a quarrel with him : whereof when mr. hamelin heard , he professed he knew of no such thing before , but spake as pleased god to guide his tongue . and thereupon discoursed excellently of the providence of god , to the conversion of some present . when he was in prison a priest came in one sabbath with all his furniture to say mass : but mr. hamelin , when he saw him , pull'd off his garments , &c. saying , is it not enough for you to blaspheme god in churches , but you must also pollute the prison with your idolatry ? hamilton . mr. patrick hamilton , brothers son to iames hamilton , earl of arran , and sisters son to iohn stuart , duke of a●thai , hating the world , and the vanity thereof , left scotland , and travelled into germany , where he became intimate with martin luther , philip melancthon , francis lambert , and became an eminent professor , the zeal of gods glory did eat him up , so that he could not chuse , but he must return into his own countrey to make known the gospel . articles objected against him . — that the pope is antichrist . — that the popes laws be of no strength . — that he doubted , whether all children , departing immediately after their baptism , are saved or condemned . at the place of execution he gave his servant ( who had been his chamberlain a long time ) his gown , coat , &c. saying , these will not profit in the fire , they will profit thee . after this , of me thou canst receive no commodity , except the example of my death , which i pray thee bear in mind ; for albeit it be bitter to the flesh , and fearful before men , yet it is the entrance unto eternal life , which none shall possess that denies christ iesus before this wicked generation . the fire being kindled , he cried with a loud voice , lord iesus , receive my spirt . how long shall darkness overwhelm this realm ? and how long wilt thou suffer this tyranny of men ? a black frier , called campbel , who had pretended some love to the gospel , cried out to him , convert heretick , call upon our lady , say , salve regina , &c. his answer was , depart and trouble me not , thou messenger of satan . — wicked man , thou knowest the contrary , and the contrary to me thou hast confessed . i appeal thee before the tribunal seat of christ iesus . mr. fox saith , that he cited him to appear before the high god , as general judge of all men , to answer to the innocency of his death , &c. between that and a certain day of the next moneth , which he there named : and that the frier died before the said day came , without remorse of conscience , that he had persecuted the innocent . he was burnt febr. ult . a. . in his treatise stiled patricks places , by mr. iohn frith , who translated it out of latin into english. — he that loveth god loveth his neighbour . if a man say , i love god , and yet hateth his brother , is a lyar , &c. he that loveth his neighbour as himself , keepeth all the commandments of god. — he that hath faith loveth god. my father loveth you , because you love me , and believe that i am come of god. — it is not in our power to keep any one of the commandments of god. — but you will say , wherefore doth god bid us do that which is impossible for us ? i answer , to make thee know that thou art but evil , and that there is no remedy to save thee in thine own hand , and that thou mayest seek remedy at some other , &c. — the remedy is shewed in the gospel . — to believe god is to believe his word , and to account what he saith true . — faith is the gift of god. — faith is not in our power . — he that lacketh faith cannot please god. — all that is done in faith pleaseth god. — he that believeth the gospel shall be saved . — no manner of works make us righteous . — he that thinks to be saved by his works , calleth himself christ. — thou must do good works , but beware that thou do them not to deserve any good through them . — mrs. katherine hamilton ( sister to mr. patrick ) was also accused ; and being questioned about works , she answered , that none was saved by his works . one thereupon speaking to her of the works of congru● and condigno , she answered , work here , work there , what kind of working is all this ? no works can save me , but christ's . hamell . when godfrey hamell was condemned for an heretick : nay ( said he ) not an heretick , but an unprofitable servant of iesus christ. when the hangman went about to strangle him , to diminish his punishment , he refused it , saying , that he would abide the sentence , that the iudges had given . hankes . mr. thomas hankes being ask'd by bonner why he suffered his child to be unchristened so long ? answered , because we be bound to do nothing contrary to the word of god. being told , that baptism is commanded by the word of god : his institution therein ( said he ) i do not deny ; but all things invented and devised by man , &c. but will you ( said bonner ) deny that which all the world and your father have been contented withal ? what my father ( said hankes ) and all the w●rld hath done i have nothing to do with , but what god hath commanded me to do , to that stand i. bonner telling him that baget was converted to think well of their baptism : i build my faith ( said he ) neither upon this man , nor upon you ; but upon christ , who is the founder and author of all mens faith . bonner threatning to take another course with him : whatsoever ye do ( said he ) i am ready to suffer it ; for i am in your hands to abide it . bonner telling him he would not have any heresie talked in his house : why ( said he ) is the truth become heresie ? god hath commanded that we shou●d have none other talk in our house , in our beds , at our meat , and by the way , but all truth . darbishire ( bonners kinsman ) telling him , he was too curious ; for he would have nothing but his pretty gods book : he answered , and is it not sufficient for my salvation ? yes ( said d. ) for our salvation ; but not for our instruction . god send me the salvation ( said h. ) and you the instruction . bonner threatning him again : you are ( said he ) in the hands of god , and so am i. — that which i have said , i will stand to it god willing , there is no way to remove it . bonner telling him that a fagot would make him know and believe the sacrament of the altar : no , no ( said he ) a point for your fagot . what god thinketh meet to be done , that shall ye do , and more ye shall not do . bonner telling him , that he was willing to teach him , but he was so stubborn , that he would not learn : except ye learn me ( said he ) by the word of god , i will never credit you , nor believe you . harpsfield telling him , if his child died unchristened , he was damb'd and his child both : iudge you no farther ( said he ) then ye may by the scritures . — how can your child being an infant ( said harpsfield ) believe ? the deliverance of it ( said hankes ) from sin standeth in the faith of his parents : saint paul saying , — else were your children unclean . to trust to any ( said bonner ) we bid you not ; but to pray to them , we bid you : they that list ( said hankes ) receive your doctrine . you teach me , that i should not believe , nor trust in any , but to call on them ; and saint paul saith , how shall i call on him , on whom i believe not ? bonner calling him fool : he said , a bishop must be blameless , or faultless , sober , discreet , no chider , nor given to anger . mr. hankes telling bonner , that christ saith , these tokens shall follow them that believe in me : they shall speak with new tongues , c●st out devils ; and if any drink deadly poyson , it shall not hurt them . bonner ask'd him , with what new tongues do ye speak ? forsooth ( said hankes ) where before i came to the knowledge of gods word , i was a foul blasphemer and filthy talker . since i came to the knowledge thereof , i have praised god with the s●me tongue , and is not this a new tongue ? how do you ( said bonner ) cast out devils ? christ ( said hankes ) did c●st them out by his word ; and he hath left the same word , that whosoever doth credit , and believe it , shall c●st out devils . did you ( said bonner ) ever drink deadly poyson ? yea forsooth thee i have ( said hankes ) for i have drunk of the p●stilent traditions and ceremonies of the bishop of rome . bonner threatning that he should be burnt for an heretick : where prove ye ( said hankes ) that christ , or his apostles did kill any man for his faith ? did not paul ( said b. ) excommunicate ? yes , my lord ( said h. ) but there is a great difference between excommunication , and burning . — if you will have us grant you to be of god , then shew mercy ; for that god requireth . an old bishop perswading him to learn of his elders to bear somewhat : i will bear with nothing ( said he ) that is contrary to the word of god. fecknam charging him for building his faith on latimer , ●ranmer , ridley , &c. i build my faith ( said he ) upon no man , and that ye well know ; for if those men , and as many more , as they be , should recant , and deny that they have said , or done , yet will i stand to it , and by this shall ye know that i build my faith upon no man. chadsey asking him , what he said of the bishop of rome ? from him ( said he ) and all his detestable enormities , good lord deliver us . bonner saying , you speak of idols , and you know not what they mean : god hath taught us what they be ; ( said hankes ) for whatsoever is made , graven , or devised by mans hand , contrary to gods word , the same is an idol .. chadsey telling him , it was pity he should live : in this case ( said he ) i desire not to live , but rather to die . — i wou●d my part might be to morrow . bonner threatning to send him to newgate : my lord ( said he ) you can do me no better p●easure . bonner telling the keeper , his prisoner would not go to the sermon : yes , my lord ( said he ) i pray you let me go , and that that is good i will receive , and the rest i will leave behind me . bonner asking after his imprisonment , whether he was the same man he was before ? he answered , i am no changeling , nor none will be . miles huggard asking him , where he proved that infants were to be baptized ? go teach all nations ( said he ) baptizing them in the name of the father , and of the son , and of the holy ghost . sir , here is none excepted . bonner threatning him again : ye shall do no more ( said he ) then god shall give you leave . — 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 cloth or wooll . — his examination he writ himself , and subscribed it , t.h. who desireth all faithful men , and brethren , to pray unto god to strengthen me in his truth unto the end . pray , pray , pray , gentle brethren , pray . bonner advising him at his publick examination to speak advisedly ; for he stood upon life and death : well ( said he ) i will willingly receive what shall be put unto me . — my lord , as you be my friend in causing these my sayings to be written ; so do you cause them to be read , and yet i will never go from them . being exhorted to return again to the bosome of the mother church : no , my lord , ( said he ) that will i not ; for if i had an hundred bodies , i would suffer them all to be t●rn in pieces , rather then i will abjure , or reca●t . some of his friends being not a little confirmen by his example , and discourses , yet being somewhat afraid of so sharp a punishment , desired him a little before his death , that in the midst of the flame he would shew some token , if he could , whereby they might be more certain , whether the pain of burning were so great , that a man might not therein keep his mind quiet and patient ▪ whereupon it was agreed between them , that if the rage of the pain were tolerable , then he should lift up his hands above his head towards heaven , before he gave up the ghost . accordingly , when he had continued long in the fire , his speech taken away , his skin drawn together , his fingers consumed , so that all concluded he was dead ; contrary to all expectation , he reached up his hands , burning on a light fire , over his head , to the living , god and with great rejoycing ( as it seemed ) clapped them three times together . he was burned to ashes , iune . . in his letter to the congregation . — the holy spirit conduct and lead you all in all your doings , that you may alwayes direct your deeds according to his holy word , that when he shall appear to reward every man according to his works , ye may as obedient children , be found watching , ready to enter into his everlasting kingdome , with your lamps burning , and not be ashamed of this life , which god hath lent you , &c. all flesh ( saith the prophet ) is gr●ss , and all his glory as the flower of the field , which for a season sheweth her beauty , and as soon as the lord blowe●h upon it , it withereth away , and departeth . here we are as pilgrims and strangers , following the footsteps of moses , among many unspeakable dangers , &c. — in danger of that dreadful dragon , and his sinful seed , to be tempted , devoured , and tormented , who ceaseth not behind every bush to lay a ba●t , &c. casting abroad his apples in all places , times , and seasons , to see if adam will be allured and enticed to leave the living god , and his most holy commandment , &c. promising the world at will , to all that will fall down , and for a mess of pottage sell , and set at naught the everlasting kingdome of heaven . — therefore i am bold in bonds ( as entirely desiring your everlasting felicity ) to warn you , and most heartily desire you to watch and pray . — on the high mountains doth not grow most plenty of grass , neither are the highest trees farthest from danger , but seldome sure , and alwayes shaken of every wind that bloweth . such a deceitful thing ( saith our saviour ) is honour and riches , that without grace , it choketh up the good seed sown , &c. it maketh a man think himself somewhat , that is nothing at all ; for though for our honour we esteem our selves , and stand in our own light , yet when we shall stand before the living god , there shall be no respect of persons ; for riches helpeth not in the day of vengeance , nor can we make the lord partial for money . — though the world rage , and blaspheme the elect of god , ye know that it did so unto christ , his apostles , and to all that were in the primitive church , and shall be unto the worlds end . — i beseech you in the bowels of christ my lord jesus , stick fast unto the truth : let it never depart out of your hearts and conversations , &c. yours in him that liveth for ever . in his letter to his wife , after his condemnation . — i exhort you to love god with all your heart , and soul , and mind , &c. to lay sure hold on all his promises , that in all your troubles you may run strait to the great mercy of god , &c. and be sure that neither devil , flesh , nor hell shall be able to hurt you . but if you will not keep his holy precepts , and call for gods help to walk in the same , but will leave them , and do as the wicked world does , then be sure to have your part with the wicked world in the burning lake . beware of idolatry , which most of all stinks in gods nostrils , and hath been of all good men detested from the beginning of the world , for the which what kingdomes , &c. god hath punished with most terrible plagues , &c. to the utter subversion of them , is manifestly to be seen through the whole bible ; yea , for this he draadfully plagued his own people , &c. but how he hath preserved those that abhorred superstition and idolatry , &c. is also to be seen from the beginning , out of what great danger he hath delivered them ; yea , when all hope of deliverance was past , as touching their expectation , &c. i exhort you also in the bowels of christ , that you will exercise , and be stedfast in prayer , the onely mean to obtain of god whatsoever we desire , so it be askt in faith. o what notable things do we read in scripture , that have been obtained through fervent prayer ! — whatsoever you desire of god in prayer , ask it for jesus christ's sake , for whom and in whom god hath promised to give us all things necessary . though what we ask come not by and by , continue still knocking , and he will at length open his treasures of mercy , &c. — yet once again i warn you , that ye continue fervent in prayer , &c. in his letter to mr. throgmorton . — whereas the love of god hath moved you to require my son to be brought up before your eyes , and the self same love hath also moved me to leave him in your hands as a father in my absence , i shall require you in gods behalf , according to your promise , that ye will see him brought up in the fear of the lord , and instructed in the knowledge of his holy word , that he may learn to leave the evil , and know the good , &c. and this i require you to fulfill , or cause to be fulfilled , as ye before the living god will make answer for the same . — yours , and all mens in christ iesus . hector . bartholomew hector , being condemned , was threatned , that if he spake any thing to the people , his tongue should be cut off ; yet he did not forbear . he pray'd for the judges , that god would forgive them , and open their eyes . he refused a pardon , offered him at the stake . at his death many wept , saying , why doth this man die , who speaketh of nothing but of god ? when he was called before authority to be examined , he would answer them to nothing before he had made his prayer to god : whereupon falling down upan his knees , he said , lord , open my mouth , and direct my speech to utter that onely , that may tend to thy honour and glory , and the edification of thy church . when he was bound to the stake , gunpowder and brimstone was brought to be placed about him ; he lifting up his eyes to heaven , said , lord , how sweet and welcome is this to me ? hernaudes . mr. iulian hernaudes , ( a spanish martyr ) came from the wrack , and the tortures of the inquisition inflicted on him , for bringing with him , and causing to be brought into spain , many books of the holy scriptures in spanish ) as from a conquest , saying to his fellow-prisoners as he past by them , these hypocrites are gone away confounded , no less then wolves , that have been long hunted . when he was brought forth to his execution , he said to the rest , courage , my valiant and constant brethren , now is the hour come , in which as the true champions of iesus christ , we must witness his truth before men , and for a short tryal for his sake we shall triumph with him for ever and ever . herwyn . when iohn herwyn of flanders , was led to prison , the bailiffe meeting certain drunkards in the street , and saying , they say we have many gospellers in houscot , but it little appears by these disorders : he replied , mr. bailiffe , is drunkenness a sin ? what of that ( said the bailiffe ) why then ( said herwyn ) commit you not these fellows to prison , seeing it is your office to punish vice , and to protect such as fear god ? after he was in prison , because he was not called forth before the magistrates , assoon as he desired and expected , he grew heavy and sad , asking , why they so delayed the matter ? for his heart was fired with an holy zeal to confess christ before his judges . when he was brought forth , he admonished his judges to examine the doctrine of the roman church by the true touch-stone , which is the holy scripture , that so they might discern how opposite and contrary the one is to the other . consider also ( said he ) what the words of st. peter import , where the affirms , that we ought to obey god rather then man , &c. when he craved for justice , either one way or another , they urged him to desist from his opinion ; but he answered , that his faith was not built on an opinion , but ( said he ) the lord hath taught me to eschew evil , and do good . seest thou not ( said they ) how these opinions have troubled the world ? and how many of the learneder sort do contradict them ? so far is it off ( said he ) that the doctrine of the gospel should be the cause of troubles , debates and strifes , which raign in the world . these troubles indeed arise from the rage of men . and as for your learned men , it is impossible for humane wisedom to comprehend the doctrine of god ; for which cause christ saith , father i thank thee , that thou hast hid these secrets from the wise men of the world , and hast revealed them unto babes . when those two malefactors that were coupled with him brake prison and fled , he might have escaped , but fearing his flight might be imputed to the godly christians in the city , he would not fly . when he was advertised of his sentence , he thanked god for advancing him to so high an honour as to be counted worthy to suffer for his name . as he passed forth from the court , viewing the people , who waited to see him , he said , see here how this wicked world rewards the poor servants of christ. whilst i gave my self to drunkenness , &c. i was never in danger of these bands ( lifting up his hands which were bound ) i was then counted a good fellow , and at that time , who but i ? but no sooner began i by conversion to ask after a godly life , but the world made war upon me , and became my enemy , persecuting and imprisoning me , and now lest of all sending me to the place where i must pay my last debt . but the servant is no better then his lord ; for seeing they persecuted him , no question they will persecute us . at the stake he said , brethren , i fight under the standard , and in the quarrel of my great lord and captain christ. — i am now going to be crucified ; follow you me , when god of his goodness shall call yo● to it . he was burnt nov. . an. . hierome . i find two of this name . . mr. william hierome , vicar of stepney near london . being accused for preaching against magistrates , he affirmed ( as before he had preached ) that 〈◊〉 magistrate of himself could make any law or laws 〈◊〉 bind the infe●i ur people , unless it were by the power and authority of his or their princes to him or them given , but onely the prince . adding , if the prince make laws consenting to gods laws , we are bound to obey them ; and if he make laws repugnant to the laws of god , &c. yet we are bound not violently to resist , or grudge against him . at the stake he gave the following exhortation to the people ; i say unto you , good brethren , that god hath b●ught us all with no small price , neither with gold , nor silver , nor other such things of small value , but with his most precious blood . be not unthankful therefore , but do what you can to keep his commandments , i. e : love your brethren . — if god hath sent thee plenty , help thy neighbour that hath need , give him good counsel , if he lack . — bear your cross with christ. — let all christians put no trust nor confidence in their works , but in the blood of christ , to whom i commit my soul , beseeching you all to pray to god for me , and for my brethren here present with us , &c. . mr. hierome of prage . when he was brought prisoner to constance , several of the bishops said unto him ; hierome , why didst thou fly , and didst not appear when thou wast cited ? he answered , because i could not have any safe conduct , &c. and i would not my self be the occasion of my perils and danger ; but if i had known of this citation , although i had been in bohemia , i would have returned again . when certain cried out , let him be burned , let him be burned ; he answered , if my death doth delight and please you , in the name of god let it le so . when he was welcomed to prison by a friend of mr. hus , saying to him , be constant , and fear not death for the truths sake , of the which , when you ●ere at liberty , you did preach so much goodness ; he answered , truly brother , i do not fear death ; and for●smuch as we know that we have spoken . much thereof in times past , let us now see what may be known or done in ●ffect . vitus asking him how he did , he answered , truly brother i do very well . after a long sore imprisonment he was forced to recant and consent unto the death of mr. iohn hus , that he was justly condemned , and put to death ; but his hopes of freedome thereupon were disappointed , for they caused him to be carried back unto the same prison , but not so straitly chained and bound as before . after his recantation and consent to the death of mr. hus , he refused to answer to any questions propounded to him in private , except he might be brought before the council ; they supposing he would confirm his former recantation , sent for him may . an. . when he was brought before them , he began with prayer to god , beseeching him to give him spirit , ability and utterance , which might most tend to the profit and salvation of his own soul. then he spake unto them thus ; i know that there have been many excellent men which have suffered much otherwise , then they have deserved , being oppressed with false witnesses , and condemned with wrong judgement , as socrates , plato , anaxagoras , zeno , boetius , moses , ioseph , isaiah , daniel , and almost all the prophets , &c. iohn baptist , christ , stephen , and all the apostles who were condemned to death not as good men , but as seditious stirrers up of the people , and contemners of the gods and evil doers . — this was the old manner of ancient and learned men , and most holy elders , that in matters of faith they did differ many times in arguments , not to destroy the faith , but to find out the verity : so did augustine and hierome dissent . — as for mr. hus , he was a good , just , and holy man ( to his knowledge ) and much unworthy that death which he did suffer . — at last he added , that all the sin● that ever he had committed did not so much gnaw and trouble his conscience , as did that onely sin , which he had committed , in that most pestiferous fact , whenas in his recantation he had unjustly spoken against that good and holyman and his doctrine , and especially in consenting to his wicked condemnation . concluding that he did utterly revoke that wicked recantation , which he made in that cursed place , and that he did it through weakness of heart and fear of death , and that whatsoever he had spoken against that blessed man , he had altogether lied upon him , and that it did repent him with his whole heart that ever he did it . — being again brought forth to have judgement given him , and prest to recant what he had before spoken in open audience in commendation of mr. wickliffe and mr. hus , he said unto them , i take god to my witness , and i protest here before you all , that i do believe and hold the articles of the faith , as the holy catholick church doth hold and believe the fame ; but for this cause shall i now ce●oondemned , for that i will not consent with you to the condemnation of those most holy and blessed men aforesaid , whom you have most wickedly condemned , for their detesting and abhorring your wicked and abominable life . after the bishop of londy had ended his sermon , which was but an exhortation to condemn mr. hierome , he said unto them , you shall condemn me wickedly and unjustly ; but i after my death will leave a remorse in your conscience , and a nail in your heart , and here i cite you to answer unto me before the most high and just iudge within an hundred years . this prophesie was printed in the coin called moneta hussi , of the which coin i my self ( saith mr. fox ) have one of the plates , having the following superscription printed about it , centum revolutis annis d●o respondebitis & mihi . an hundred years come and gone , with god and me you shall reckon . after sentence was pronounced against him , a long mitre of paper , painted about with red devils , was brought to him , whereupon he said , our lord iesus christ , whenas he should suffer death for me , most wretched sinner , did wear a crown of thorns upon his head , and i for his sake , instead of that crown will willingly wear this m●tre or cap. when the fire was kindled , he said , into thy hands o lord i commend my spirit . — o lord god , father almighty , have mercy upon me , and pardon mine offences , for thou knowest how sincerely i have loved thy truth . when the executioner began to kindle the fire behind him , he bade him kindle it before his face ; for ( said he ) if i had been afraid of it , i had not come to this place , having had so many opportunities offered to me to escape it . at the giving up of the ghost he said , hanc animam in flammis offero christe tibi . this soul of mine in flames of fire , o christ i offer thee . — in his letter to mr. iohn hus. — my master , in those things which you have both written hitherto , and also preached after the law of god , against the pride , avarice , and other inordinate vices of the priests , go forward , be constant , and strong , and if i shall know that you be oppressed in the cause , and if need shall so require , of mine own accord i will follow after to help you as much as i can . in the letter of poggius ( secretary to the council of constance ) to leonard aretin concerning hierome's death . — i profess i never said any man , who in talking , especially for life and death , hath come nearer the eloquence of the ancients , whom we do so much admire . it was a wonder to see with what words , with what eloquence , arguments , countenance , and with what confidence he answered his adversaries , and maintained his own cause : that it is to be lamented that so fine a wit had strayed into the study of heresie , if it be true that was objected against him . — when it was refused that he should first plead his own cause , and then answer to the railings of adversaries , he said , how great is this iniquity , that when i have been three hundred and forty dayes in most hard prisons , in filthiness , in dung , in fetters , and want of all things , ye have heard my adversaries at all times , and ye will not hear me one hour ? — ye are men , and not gods ; ye may slip , and erre , and be deceived , and seduced , &c. when it was demanded what he could object to the articles against him ? it is almost incredible to consider how cunningly he answered , and with what arguments he defended himself . he never spake one word unworthy of a good man ; that if he thought in his heart , as he spake with his tongue , no cause of death could have been against him , no not of the meanest offence . — in the end poggius saith , o man , worthy of everlasting remembrance among men ! this epistle is in fascicu● . r●● . expetend . fol. . holland . a friend of mr roger holland's thanking the bishop for his good will to his kinsman , and beseeching god that he might have grace to follow his council ; sir ( said mr. holland ) you crave of god you know not what , i beseech god to open your eyes to see the light of his word . roger ( said his kinsman ) hold your peace , lest you fare the worse at my lords hands . no ( said he ) i shall fare as it pleaseth god , for man can do no more then god doth permit him . the register asking him , whether he would submit himself to the bishop , before he was entred into the book of contempt . i never meant ( said he ) but to submit my self to the magistrate , as i learn of st. paul , rom. . yet i mean not to be a papist ; they will not submit themselves to any other prince or magistrate , then those that must first be sworn to maintain them and their doings . b●nner telling him , roger , i perceive thou wilt be ruled by no good counsel , &c. he answered , i may say to you my lord , as paul said to felix , and to the iews , acts . cor. . it is not unknown to my master , whose apprentice i was , that i was of this your blind religion , &c. having that liberty under your auricular confession , that i made no conscience of sin , but trusted in the priests absolution , &c. so that lechery , swearing , and all othervices i accounted no offence of danger , so long as i could for money have them absolved . — and thus i continued , till of late god hath opened the light of his word , and called me by his grace to repentance of my former idolatry and wicked life . — the antiquity of our church is not from pope nicholas or pope ione , but our church is from the beginning , even from the time that god said to adam , that the seed of the woman should break the serpents head , &c. all that believed this promise were of the church , though the number were oftentimes but few and small , as in elias dayes , when he thought there was none but he that had not bowed the knee to baal , &c. moreover of our church have been the apostles and evangelists , the martyrs and confessors that have in all ages been persecuted for the testimony of the word of god. — after sentence was read against him , he said , even now i told you that your authority was of god and by his sufferance , and now i tell you , god hath heard the prayer of his servants , which hath been poured forth with tears for his afflicted saints , which daily you persecute . this i dare be bold in god to speak ( which by his spirit i am moved to say ) that god will shorten your hand of cruelty , that for a time you shall not molest his church . and this shall you in short time perceive , my dear brethren , to be the most true ; for after this day , in this place , shall there not be any by him put to the trial of fire and fagot . which accordingly came to pass . he was the last burnt in smithfield . then he began to exhort his friends to repentance , and to think well of them that suffered for the testimony of the gospel . the day that mr. holland and the rest suffered , a proclamation was made , that none should be so bold as to speak to them , or receive any thing of them upon pain of imprisonment . notwithstanding the people cried out , desiring god to strengthen them ; and they prayed for the people and the restoring of his word . at length mr. holland embracing the stake and the reeds , said , lord i most humbly thank thy majesty , that thou hast called me from the stake of death unto the light of thy heavenly word , and now unto the fellowship of thy saints , that i may sing and say , holy , holy , holy lord god of hosts . lord into thy hands i commit my spirit . lord , bless these thy people , and save them from idolatry . hooper . mr. iohn hooper in his exile writ a declaration of christ and his office , and a declaration of the holy commandmants of almighty god , &c. in his epistle ( before his declaration of christ and his office ) to the duke of somerset . — because the right of every just and lawful heir is half lost and more , when his title and claim is unknown , i have written this little book , containing what christ is , and what his office is , that every godly man may put to his helping hand to restore him again to his kingdome , — who hath sustained open and manifest wrong this many years , as it appeareth by his evidence and writing , the gospel sealed with his precious blood . — in his declaration — ch . . — jesus christ in all things executed the true office of a bishop , to whom it appertained to teach the people , which was the chiefest part of the bishops office , and most diligently and straitly commanded by god. as all the books of moses and the prophets teach , and christ commanded peter , iohn . and paul all the bishops and priests of his time , acts . — christ left nothing untaught , but as a good doctor manifested unto his audience all things necessary for the health of man , iohn . — he gave also his apostles and disciples after his resurrection commandment to preach , and likewise what they should preach , go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature , teaching them to observe what i have commanded , matt. . — as they did most sincerely and plainly without all glosses or additions of their own inventions , and were as testimonies of the truth , and not the authors thereof . — alwayes in their doctrine they taught the thing that christ first taught and gods holy spirit inspired them , gal. . cor. . holy apostles never took upon them to be christ's vicar in the earth , nor to be his lieutenant ; but said , let a men so account of us , as of the ministers of christ , and stewards of the mysteries of god , cor. . . and in the same epistle the apostle paul hiddeth the corinthians to follow him in nothing , but where he followed christ , chap. . they ministred not in the church , as though christ was absent , although his most glorious body was departed into the heavens above , but as present , that alwayes governeth his church with his spirit of truth , as he promised , matth. ult . behold i will be with you to the end of the world . in the absence of his body he hath commended the protection and governance of his church to the holy ghost , one and the same god with the father and himself . — it was no little pain that christ suffered in washing away the sins of this church : therefore he will not commit the defence thereof to man. it is no less glory to defend and keep the thing won by force , then it is by force to obtain the victory . — therefore he keepeth the defence and governance of the church onely and solely himself , in whom the devil hath not a jot of right . though the apostles were instructed in all truth , &c. they were but ministers , servants , testimonies , and preachers of this verity , and not christ's vicars on earth , &c. but onely appointed to approve the thing to be good , that god's law commanded , and that to be ill , which the word of god condemned . seeing that christ doth govern his church alwayes by his holy spirit , and bindeth all the ministers thereof unto the sole word of god : what abomination is this , that one bishop of rome , &c. should claim to be christ's vicar on earth , and take upon him to make any laws in the church of god to bind the conscience beside the word of god , and by their superstition and idolatry put the word of god out of his place ? — all , that are not blinded with the smoke of rome , know the bishop of rome to be the beast iohn describeth in the apocalyps , as well as the logician knoweth that risibilitate distinguitur homo a caeteris animantibus . christs supremacy and continual presence in the church admits no lieutenant , nor general vicar : likewise it admitteth not the decrees and laws of men brought into the church , contrary unto the word and scripture of god , which is onely sufficient to teach all verity and truth , for the salvation of man. — ch . . — this law teacheth man sufficiently as well what he is bound to do unto god , as unto the princes of the world , rom. . pet. . nothing necessary for man but in this law it is prescribed . of what degree , vocation , or calling soever he be , his duty is shewed unto him in the scripture . and in this it differeth from mans laws , because it is absolutely perfect , and never to be changed , nothing to be added to it , nor taken from it . and the church of christ the more it was , and is burdened with mans laws , the farther it is from the true and sincere verity of gods word . — though basil , ambrose , epiphanius , augustine , bernard , and others erred not in any principal article of the faith , yet they did not inordinately , and more then enough extol the doctrine and tradition of men , and after the death of the apostles , every doctors time was subject to such ceremonies and manners , that were neither profitable nor necessary . — — unto the writings of scripture onely , and not unto the writings of men , god hath bound and obligated his church . in this passage . i admonish the christian reader that i speak not of the laws of magistrates or princes , that daily order new laws for the preservation of their commonwealths , as they see the necessity of their realms or cities require ; but of such laws , as men have ordained for the church of christ , which should be now and for ever governed by the word of god. — this law must prevail . we must obey god rather then man. the example hereof we have in daniel of the three children , who chose rather to burn in the fiery furnace , then to worship the image that nebuchadnezzar had made . so did the apostles , acts . — cursed be those that make such laws ; and cursed be those that with sophistry defend them . — ch . . — the authority of gods word requireth me to pronounce this true judgement in the case of images that be not worshipped in the church , that their presence in the church is against gods word , as well as to say , sancta maria ora pro nobis . — the old testament saith , exod. . deut. . thou shalt make no image . the new saith , that christ came not to destroy the law , but to fulfill it , matth. . christ therefore hath left the commandments of the old law unto the church , in which he saith , thou shalt not make any image . — of late years images were in the temple , and honoured with pater noster , heart and mind , leg and knee : now they be applyed to another use to teach the people , to be lay-mens books , as damascene , &c. saith . o blasphemous and devillish doctrine ! — the most perfect churches of the prophets , christ , and his apostles used no such mean : and we ought to follow them and the word of god , writ by the prophets and apostles . — the words of gregory ad seren. episcop . m●ssil . part . . ep. . should move no man , though he say , quod legentibus scriptura , hoc ideotis pictura praestat cernentibus . this is but gregory's opinion . epiphanius was not of his mind , he willed the occasion of ill to be taken out of the church , as paul commandeth , thes. . this doctor was ( as all men know ) of singular learning and vertue . again against the authority of gregory the great i set the authority of athanasius the great , who denieth in express words the images to be the books of the lay people . lactantius firmianus crieth so out against images , that he saith there can be no true religion where they be . tertullian judgeth the same . — loved we god we would be content with the scripture . — shall not the patriarks , prophets , christ and his apostles suffice the church of god ? what although many learned men have approved images , should their wisdome maintain any contrary to the word of god ? — such as defend them have nothing but sophistical arguments to blind the people with . the scripture nor apostles church used none . had all asia , africa , and europe , and gabriel the archangel descended from heaven approved the use of images , forasmuch as the apostles never taught nor wrote any such thing , their authority should have no place ; the word of god solely and onely is to be prefer'd , which forbiddeth images . — ch . . — the office of christ to sanctifie us ( according to iohn . sanctifie my self , that they may be sanctified ) doth abrogate all other things that mans constitutions attribute any holiness unto , as bewitched water , &c. for onely christ sanctifieth , and all holiness we must attribute unto him . — sacraments must be used holily , yet not have this office of christ added to them . — ch . . — in the later dayes when christ , as king , was to be born , the angel declared the power and puissance of his kingdome . he shall reign over the house of jacob , and of his kingdome there shall be no end , luke . although the commonwealth of the church hath no certain place appointed , where it shall remain , as it was appointed in the old law , yet certain we be that this kingdome of christ remaineth upon the earth , and shall do till the earth be burned , matth. . . cor. . howbeit as christ wan and obtained this kingdome in the later dayes without shield or spear , so doth he preserve it with his holy spirit , and not with carnal weapons . my kingdome is not of this world , john . meaning he would not reign in this world , as a prince of this world in pomp and pride , but defend his people with his holy spirit , that the devil and the world should not break their patience , though many afflictions and sorrows should fight against them for the truth 's sake . christ doth not deny to be king of the world , but he meant not to reign worldlily , to the hinderance and defacing of the emperours dignity and title ; as the jews falsly accused him , as cyrillus l. . c. . in iohannem saith . — this kingdome shall be ever persecuted till the worlds end . isaiah the prophet described the church of this present life , saying , he will give you the bread of adversity , and the water of affliction , but he will not remove thy teachers , chap. . . thus the church shall alwayes remain but in affliction . i know such as favour not the truth , will interpret my words , that i condemn all princes and kings , as enemies of the gospel , because they peaceably enjoy their kingdomes , whereas i wish them alwayes so to do to the glory of god : but of the one thing i will assure every prince of world ; the more sincere he is in the cause of god , the more shall be his cross. — god indeed preserveth above humane reason his ministers , as he did iacob from the hands of esau , david from saul , daniel from the lions , and paul in the ship , when there was no humane hope of salvation . — likewise he governeth his church with his onely laws . — the onely law whereunto this congregation is bound is the gospel , as christ saith ; iohn . the holy ghost shall teach you all things , and bring to your remembrance all things which i have said unto you . here christ bindeth the apostles and all the church unto the things that he had taught them . — such as teach the people to know the commonwealth of the true church by these signs , the traditions of men , and the succession of bishops , teach wrong . those two false opinions have given unto the succession of bishops power to interpret the scripture , and power to make such laws in the church , as it pleased them . — god hath given the civil magistrates power and authority to make such laws for the commonwealth as shall be agreeable with reason , and not against gods law , and likewise power to interpret the same laws : but this is not to be admitted in the church , unto whom god hath given the gospel , and interpreted the same by his onely son , taught the meaning and contents thereof himself . — the adversaries of the truth defend many an errour under the name of the holy church : when the church therefore is named , diligently consider when the articles they would defend , were accepted of the church , by whom , and who was the author of them . leave not till the matter be brought unto the first original and most perfect church of the apostles . if thou find by their writings , that their church used the thing that the preacher would prove , then accept it , or else not . be not amazed , though they speak of never so many years , nor name never so many doctors . — if either the authority of bishops , or the greater part should have power to interpret the scripture , the sentence of the pharisees should have been prefer'd before the sentence of zachary , simion , elizabeth , or the blessed virgin. consider the true church is many time but a small congregation , as isaiah saith , unless god had left us a remnant , we had been as sodom . therefore the interpretation of the scripture is not obligated to ordinary power , nor the most part . — beware of deceit , when thou hearest the name of the church . the verity is then assaulted . they call the church of the devil , the holy church many time . — remember , christian reader , that the gift of interpreting the scripture is the light of the holy ghost given unto the humble and penitent person , that seeketh onely to honour god , and not unto those persons that claim it by title or place , because he is a bishop , or followed by succession peter or paul. — remember therefore to examine all doctrine by the word of god ; for such as preach it aright , have their infirmities and ignorance , they may depart from the truth , or else build some superstition and false doctrine upon the gospel of christ. superstition is to be avoided , false doctrine to be abhorred , whosoever be the author thereof , prince , magistrate , or bishop . as the apostles made answer , acts . we ought to obey god rather then man. — ch . . — the law is necessary for a justified man to teach him with what works he should exercise his faith , will , and obedience unto god. we may not chuse works of our own wisdome to serve him withal . he would have us to be governed by his word , as david saith , thy word is a light unto my feet : and christ , in vain do they worship me by the commands of men . — in the second declaration . — moses commandeth , deut. that no man should decline from this law , neither to the right , nor left hand , i. e. that no man should adde to , or take any thing from it , but simply to observe it , as it is given or written to us . from this right line and true rule of gods word man erreth divers wayes : sometimes by ignorance , because he knoweth not , or will not know , that onely the express word of god sufficeth . he holdeth with the most part , and condemneth the better , as it is to be seen at this present day . this reason taketh place , it is allowed of the most part , and established by so many holy and learned bishops , therefore it is true , &c. another way that leadeth from the word of god , is many times the power and authority of this world , as we see by the bishop of rome , and all his adherents , who give more credit to one charter and gift of constantine , then to the whole bible . another erreth by mistaking of the time , making his superstition far elder then it is , &c. one saith thus , my father believed , and should i believe the contrary ? — whereas no law at all should be spoken of conscience , but the onely word of god , which never altered , nor can be altered , matt. . luk. . psal. . . if heavens and earth made by word cannot be altered , how much more the word it self ! unto which law , the conscience of man in matters of faith is bound onely . — such as can interpret nothing , will say , i have an ill opinion of god in heaven , and of the superiour powers on earth , because i damn the disciples of the false doctors with the doctors , and take from all powers on earth authority to prescribe unto their subjects any law touching religion of the soul. as concerning those that be seduced by false teachers , st. luke c. . and ezekiel . and . judge as i do . — both he that leadeth to damnation , and he that is led , falleth into the pit . — notwithstanding i believe , that in the midst of darkness , when all the world ( as far as man might judge ) had sworn unto the bishop of rome , christ had his elect , that never consented to his false laws , as it was in the time of elias , kings . where god saith , he had preserved seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to baal . — as many as die before us , seduced by false teachers without repentance , the scripture condemneth : as many as believed them not , but trusted to the scripture ( or else deceived , yet repented before they died ) live eternally in joy and solace and are saved , as iohn saith rev. . in the blood of the lamb. — as touching the superiour powers of the earth , it is not unknown to all men that have read and marked the scripture , that it pertaineth nothing to their office to make any law to govern the consciences of their subjects in religion , but to reign over them in this case , as the word of god commandeth . howbeit in their realms they may make what laws they will , and as many as they will ; command them to be kept as long as it pleaseth them , and change them at their pleasure , as they shall see occasion for the wealth and commodity of their realms : — unto the which superiour powers we owe all obedience , both of body and goods , and likewise our daily prayer for them to almighty god , &c. and as many divers commonwealths as there be , so many divers laws there may be . howbeit all christian kings and kingdomes with other magistrates , should reign by one law , and govern the churches of their realms solely by the word of god , which is never to be changed . — thus christ commanded his apostles to teach , and their audience to hear the things he commanded , matth. . mark . — moses prescribeth unto his audience seven rules , wherewith he prepareth them to the receiving of the ten commandments . ( ) a right perswasion of gods word , that god will undoubtedly give the good promised to the good , and inflict the evil threatned against the evil . — ( ) to have a right opinion of the magistrates and superiour powers of the earth , to give them no more , nor any less honour and reverence then the word of god commandeth . — for lack of this preparative the world hath erred from the truth this many years . men do not look what gods word saith , but extol the authority of mans laws , preferring the decree of a general or provincial council before the word of god. — ( ) another preparative is obedience both to god and man. it were as good nere read the law , in case we mind not to be obedient . — ( ) to observe jus gentium . — ( ) to esteem the doctrine of the commandments , as it is worthy . — ( ) a true and right understanding of the law , not to constrain the letter against the mind of the text , but behold alwayes the consent of the scripture . — ( ) to adde nothing to this law , neither to take any thing from it . — if thou judgest that gods law containeth one part of such doctrine as is necessary for mans salvation , and the bishops laws another part , thou contemnest and dishonourest the whole law , and the giver thereof , and offendest against that command , deut. . . and prov. . — every thing that we do for the honour of god , not comanded by his word , is as strange , and not accepted by god ; as all good intentions , feigned works by man , and all things commanded by general councils , not expressed in the word of god , by the patriarks , prophets , christ , and the apostles , which be and ever were before god the holy and catholick church . whosoever adde any thing to their laws are the church of antichrist , deut. . . revel . . nadab and abihu offered strange fire , i. e. such as he commanded not . — read the commentaries of thom. val●●s and nicol. iu aug. de civit. dei , l. . and they will tell thee what superstition is , if thou believe not the scripture . superstition ( say they ) is a superfluous religion , what wayes soever it be superfluous whether it be of the superfluity of the things honoured , or of the things used for religion , or of the manner in religion . this doubtless is understood by the name of superstition , from whence soever the name hath its rise ; whatsoever thou dost to please god almighty , if it be not commanded in his word , it is superfluous superstition . — the purpose , end and will of the second commandment is , that gods pleasure is unto us , that we do not profane or dishonour the true religion or honour of god with superstitious rites or ceremonies not commanded by him . — i am a jealous god , q. d. when we two were married together for the love that i bore unto thee , i gave thee certain rules and precepts how in all things thou mayest keep my love and good will towards thee , and thou promisedst me obedience to my commandments , ex●d . . so honour me therefore , and love me as it standeth written in the writings and indentures written between us both , i cannot suffer to be otherwise honoured , then i have taught in my tables and testament . — against obeying of gods laws , the first sophism or carnal objection is , when men say it is no place nor time to learn or obey gods laws , we be not in the temple , &c. but in the broad world , and must do as other men do , and rather serve the place we be in , & u●ulare cum lupis , bark with the wolf , then speak of the scripture : besides , it is too dangerous a season , let it pass till the world be no more quiet , &c. — this objection moses breaketh , and proveth that the law should be alwayes received , and in every place . — those that observed it in the wilderness god fed by miracle from heaven , and preserved all their apparel , that it consumed not , nor perished in the wearing for the space of forty years . — a second objection is , when men put from themselves the obedience of the law unto others , saying , let the priests , &c. learn and keep the law , what should a prince , magistrate , or gentleman be so bound ? youth cannot be tied to so strait canons , it must not be so bridled , &c. this wicked acceptation of persons moses destroyeth , yea all ( saith he ) stand this day before the lord your god , your princes , your tribes , your elders , your officers , and all men of israel , your children , your wives , and thy guest , &c. no manner of prison is excluded from the league . — a third is presumption , when men know what is to be done , yet against their knowledge presuming of gods mercy , do the thing that is evil , saying , if i walk in the imagination of my heart , and take my pleasure , there is no danger , &c. but ( saith moses ) the lord will not favour such an one , but then be angry , and kindle his ire against him , so that every curse written in this book , shall rest on him , &c. a fourth is animosity , thus reasoning with ones self , who knoweth what his last hour shall be ? — but ( saith moses ) secret things belong to god , but the things that god hath revealed to us and our children for ever , that we do all the precepts of this law. — a fifth is desperation , when men think it is in vain for them to observe gods laws , there is no hope of their salvation , &c. it is impossible for him to return to god , and do all that god requireth , &c. moses gives a remedy against this dangerous disease , sheweth the way to god , declareth , that god is full of mercy , and ready to forgive , &c. — a sixth is the pretence of ignorance , saying , the scripture , the laws of god have so many mysteries , too hard for our capacities , &c. besides the doctors brawl and chide between themselves , and how should the unlearned understand it aright ? who can tell ( saith another ) whether this be the true law or not ? if it were the true law of god , then it should contain all verities , and have no deed of mans laws . now the greatest part of christians in name say , that this law is not sufficient , except it be holp and aided by the law of the bishops . — moses answereth and saith , this law is sufficient , simple and plain , easie to be understood , a perfect doctrine , and required of all men ; the commandment that i prescribe unto thee to day is not far above thee , nor put far from thee , &c. by which words it appeareth , that god hath made his will and pleasure simple and plainly open to his people , &c. yea the law of god to do well by is written naturally in the heart of every man , &c. though there were no law written , &c. mans conscience would tell him when he doth well and when ill . — farewell in our onely and sole joy and consolation , christ jesus . this holy exile parting with mr. bullinger and his friends at zurick , declared that the principal cause of his return to his own countrey was the matter of religion , &c. be sure ( said he ) neither the nature of the countrey , nor pleasure of commodities , nor newness of friends shall ever induce me to the oblivion of such friends and benefactors , and therefore you shall be sure from time to time to hear from me how it goes with me , but the last news of all i shall not be able to write ; for there said he , ( taking mr. bullinger by the hand ) where i shall take most pains , there shall you hear of me to be burned to ashes , and that shall be the last news , which i shall not be able to write . — when he was made bishop of worcester and glocester , the arms allotted him ( probably by his own appointment ) were , a lamb in a fiery bush , and the sun-beams from heaven descending down upon the lamb , rightly denoting as it seemed , the manner of his suffering , which afterward followed . after his return , in his sermons he corrected sin , and sharply inveighed against the iniquity of the world , and corrupt abuses of the church . — when he was elected bishop of worcester and glocester , he made humble supplication to the king , either to discharge him of the bishoprick , or to dispense with him as to the wearing of such garments and apparel as the popish bishops were wont to do . his petition the king granted , as appears by his letter to the archbishop of canterbury , telling him , that the rites and ceremonies he would be dispensed in were offensive to his conscience . the oath also , used then commonly in the consecration of bishops was against his conscience , as appears by the earl of warwick's letter to the archbishop , writ by the kings desire . in the beginning of queen mary's reign , when notice was given him that he should be sent for to london , and how dangerous it was for him to appear , he gave this answer : once i did flee , but now because i am called to this place and vocation , i am throughly perswaded to tarry , and to live and die with my sheep . when he was imprisoned in the fleet , he writes thus : i am so hardly used , that i see no remedy ( saving gods help ) but i shall be cast away in prison before i come to judgement . but i commit my just cause to god , whose will be done , whether it be by life or death . winchester exhorting him to the unity of the catholick church , and to acknowledge the popes holiness to be head of the same church , promising him the queens mercy ; he answered , that forasmuch as the pope taught doctrine altogether contrary to the doctrine of christ , he was not worthy to be accounted a member of christs church , much less to be head thereof ; wherefore he would in no wise condescend to any such usurped jurisdiction , neither esteemed he the church , whereof they called him head , to be the catholick church of christ , for the church of christ onely heareth the voice of her spouse christ , and flieth the strangers . howbeit ( said he ) if in any point to me unknown , i have offended the queens majesty , i shall humbly submit my self to her mercy , if mercy may be had with safety of conscience , and without the displeasure of god. come brother ( said he to mr. rogers , who was sent with him to the counter in southwark ) must we two take this matter first in hand , and begin to fire these fagots ? yea sir ( said mr. rogers ) by gods grace . doubt not ( said mr. hooper ) but god will give strength . the sheriffe telling mr. hooper he wondred that he was so hasty and quick with the lord chancellor , he answered mr. sheriffe , i was nothing at all impatient , although i was earnest in my masters cause , and it standeth me so in hand ; for it goeth upon life and death , not the life and death of this world onely , but also of the world to come . in his letter for the stopping of certain false rumours spread abroad concerning his recantation , by the bishops and their servants . — the grace of our lord jesus christ be with all them that unfeignedly look for the coming of our saviour christ. amen . dear brethren and sisters in the lord , and my fellow-prisoners for the cause of gods gospel , i do much rejoyce and give thanks unto god for your constancy and perseverance in affliction , unto whom i wish continuance to the end . and as i do rejoyce in your faith and constancy in afflictions that be in prison , even so i do mourn and lament to hear of our dear brethren , that yet have not felt such dangers for gods truth , as we have , and do feel , and be daily like to suffer more , yea the very extream and vile death of the fire ; yet such is the report abroad ( as i am credibly informed ) that i iohn hooper , a condemned man for the cause of christ , should now after sentence of death ( being in newgate prisoner , and looking daily for execution ) recant and abju●e that which heretofore i have preached ; and this talk ariseth of this , that the bishop of london and his chaplains resort unto me . doubtless if our brethren were as godly as i could wish them , they would think that in case i did refuse to talk with them , they might have just occasion to say that i were unlearned , and durst not speak with learned men ; or else proud , and disdained to speak with them . — but i fear not their arguments , neither is death terrible to me . — i am more confirmed in the truth , which i have preached heretofore , by their coming . therefore ye that may send to the weak brethren , pray them that they trouble me not with such reports of recantations as they do , for i have hitherto left all things of the world , and suffered great pains and imprisonment , and i thank god i am as ready to suffer death as a mortal man may be . it were better for them to pray for us , then to credit or report such rumours that be untrue . we have enemies enough of such as know not god truly : but yet the false report of weak brethren is a double cross . i wish your eternal salvation in jesus christ , and also require your continual prayers , that he which hath begun in us may continue it to the end . i have taught the truth with my tongue , and with pen heretofore , and hereafter shortly will confirm the same by gods grace with my blood . newgate feb. . . your brother in christ j. h. when the keeper told him he should be sent to glocester to be burned , he rejoyced very much , lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven , he praised god that he saw it good to send him among the people over whom he was pastor , there to confirm with his death the truth which he had before taught them , not doubting but the lord would give him strength to perform the same to his glory . sir anthony kingston ( formerly his friend , then a commissioner to see execution done upon him ) coming to him a little before his death , bid him consider that life was sweet , & death was bitter , &c. it is true ( said mr. hooper ) i am come hither to end this life , and to suffer death here , because i will not gainsay the former truth which i have heretofore taught among you . — true it is that daath is bitter , and life is sweet ; but alas ! consider that the death to come is more bitter , and the life to come is more sweet ; therefore for the desire and love i have to the one , and the terrour and fear of the other , i do not so much regard this death , nor esteem this life , but have settled my self through the strength of gods holy spirit , patiently to pass through the torments and extremities of the fire now prepared for me , rather then to deny the truth of his word , desiring you and others in the mean time to commend me to gods mercy in your prayers . i thank god ( said the knight ) that ever i knew you ; for god did appoint you to call me , being a lost child , and by your good instructions , where before i was both an adulterer and fornicator , god hath brought me to the forsaking and detesting of the same . if you had the grace so to do ( said the bishop ) i do highly praise god for it , and if you have not , i pray god you may have , and that you may continually live in his fear . the knight and the bishop parting with tears , the bishop told the knight , that all the troubles he had sustained in prison , had not caused him to utter so much sorrow . a papist telling him he was sorry to see him in that case . be sorry for thy self man ( said he ) and lament thine own wickedness ; for i am well , i thank god , and death to me for christs sake is welcome . when he was committed to the sheriffe of gl●cester , the mayor and aldermen at first saluted him , and took him by the hand . mr. mayor ( said mr. hooper ) i give most hearty thanks to you and to the rest of your brethren , that you have vouchsafed to take me a prisoner and condemned man by the hand , whereby to my rejoycing it is somewhat apparent that your old love and friendship towards me is not altogether extinguished , and i trust also that all the things i have taught you in times past are not utterly forgotten , &c. for the which most true and sincere doctrine , because i will not now account it falshood and heresie , as many other men do , i am sent hither by the queens command to die , and am come where i taught it to confirm it with my blood . and now mr. sheriffs , — my request to you is , that there may be a quick fire , shortly to make an end , and in the mean time i will be as obedient unto you , as your selves would wish . if you think i do amiss in any thing , hold up your finger and i have done : for i am not come hither as one inforced or compelled to die ; for it is well known i might have had my life with worldly gain ; but as one willing to offer and give my life for the truth , rather then to consent to the wicked papistical religion of the bishop of rome , &c. — when the sheriffs fetcht him from his chamber to the place of execution with bills , weapons , &c. mr. sheriffs ( said he ) i am no traytor , neither needed you to have made such a business to bring me to the place where i must suffer ; for if ye had willed me , i would have gone alone to the stake , and have troubled none of you all . when he saw the multitude of people that were assembled , he said unto them that were about him , alas ! why be these people assembled and come together ? peradventure they think to hear something of me now , as they have in times past ; but alas ! speech is prohibited me . notwithstanding the cause of my death is well known unto them : when i was appointed here to be their pastor , i preached unto them true and sincere doctrine , and that out of the word of god ; because i will not account the same to be heresie and untruth , this kind of death is prepared for me . when he was come to the place where he was to suffer , after he had begun to pray , a box was brought and laid before him upon a stool , with his pardon ( or at leastwise it was feigned so to be ) from the queen , if he would turn ; at the sight thereof he cried , if you love my soul away with it , if you love my soul away with it . in his prayer he was overheard to say ; lord , i am hell , but thou art heaven ; i am swill , and a sink of sin , but thou art a gracious god and merciful redeemer . — thou art ascended into heaven , receive me hell to be partaker of thy joyes , where thou sittest in equal glory with thy father ; for well knowest thou wherefore i am come hither to suffer , and why the wicked do persecute this thy poor servant , not for my sins and transgressions against thee , but because i will not allow their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood , and to the denial of the knowledge of thy truth , wherewith it did please thee by thy holy spirit to instruct me , the which with as much diligence as a poor wretch might ( being thereto called ) i have set forth to thy glory . and well seest thou , my lord and god ; what terrible pains and cruel torments be prepared for thy creature ; such , lord , as without thy strength none is able to bear , or patiently to pass . but all things that are impossible with man are possible with thee . therefore strengthen me of thy goodness , that in the fire i break not the rules of patience , or else asswage the terrour of the pains as shall seem most to thy glory . when he was at the stake , three irons made to bind him to the stake , were brought ; one for his neck , another for his middle , and the third for his legs . he refusing them , said , ye have no need thus to trouble your selves , for i doubt not but god will give strength sufficient to abide the extremity of the fire without bands : notwithstanding , suspecting the frailty and weakness of the flesh , but having assured confidence in gods strength , i am content ye do as ye shall think good . when he was first scorch'd with the fire , he pray'd , saying mildly , and not very loud ( but as one without pains ) o jesus the son of david have mercy upon me , and receive my soul. when the second fire was spent , and onely burnt his lower parts , he said , for gods love ( good people ) let me have more fire . in the third fire he prayed with somewhat a loud voice , lord jesus have mercy on me , lord jesus have mercy on me , lord jesus receive my spirit . the reasons of mr. hooper's refusing the episcopal habits , &c. i find thus . c. why do not you my lord use these innocent and harmless weeds ? h. i put my self upon the tryal of the searcher of hearts , that no obstinacy , but meer conscience makes me refuse these ornaments . c. these ornaments are indifferent of themselves , and of ancient use in the church . h. they are useless being ridiculous and superstitious . c. nay , my lord , being enjoyned by lawful authority , they become necessary , not to salvation , but to church-unity . h. being left indifferent by god , it is presumption in man to make them necessary . c. by a moderate use of these ceremonies we may gain papists into the church . h. while you hope to gain papists into the church , you lose many protestants out of it . c. you discredit other bishops , who have used this habit. h. i had rather discredit them then destroy mine own conscience . c. how think you , being a private person , to be indulged with , to the disturbance of the publick uniformity of the church ? h. if it please your grace but to read these letters , i hope you will be satisfied ( and then he produced the letters from the earl of warwick , an● king edward . ) c. these are to desire , that in such reasonable things , wherein my lord elect of glocester craveth to be born withall at your hands , you would vouchsafe your graces favour ; the principal cause is , that you would not charge him with any thing burdenous to his conscience . i. warwick . we do understand you stay from consecrating our well beloved mr. j. hooper , because h● would have you omit and let p●ss c●rtain rites and ceremonies ●ffensive to his conscience , whereby you thi●● you shall fall in premunire of laws ; we have though● good by advice of our council to discharge you 〈◊〉 manner of dangers , penalties , and forfeitur● 〈◊〉 should run into , by omitting any of the s●me , and 〈◊〉 our letters shall be your sufficient warrant and dis●charge . edward rex . in his letter writ in answer to one sent hi● concerning certain taken in bow church-yard whilst they were praying . — i do rejoyce in th●● men can be so well occupied in this perillous time and flee for remedy to god by prayer , as well fo● their own lacks and necessities , as also charitably to pray for them that persecute them . so doth the word of god command all men to pray charitably for them that hate them , and not to revile any magistrate with words , or to mean him evil by force and violence . they also may rejoyce that in well doing they were taken to prison . — thus fare you well , and pray god to send his true word into this realm again amongst us , which the ungodly bishops have now banished . in his letter to those christians so taken prisoners . — the grace , favour , consolation , and ●●d of the holy ghost be with you now and ever . so be it . dearly beloved in the lord , ever since i ●eard of your imprisonment i have been marvellously moved with great affections and passions , as well of mirth and gladness , as of heaviness and sorrow . of gladness in this , that i perceived how ye be bent and given to prayer and invocation of gods help in these dark and wicked proceedings of men against gods glory . i have been sorry to perceive the malice and wickedness of men to be so 〈◊〉 devillish , and tyrannical to persecute the 〈◊〉 of god for serving of god , &c. these 〈◊〉 doings do declate , that the papists church is 〈◊〉 bloody and tyrannical , then ever was the 〈◊〉 of the ethnicks and gentiles . — trajan the emperour commanded , that no man should be persecuted for serving of god : but the pope and his church have cast you into prison , being taken doing the work of god , and one of the excellentest works , that is required of christians , viz. whilest ye were in prayer . — o glad may ye be that ever ye were born to be apprehended , whilest ye were so vertuously occupied . blessed be they that suffer for righeeousness sake . if god had suffered them that took your bodies , then to have taken your life also , now had you been following the lamb in pertual joyes , away from the company and assembly of wicked men . but the lord would not have you suddenly so to depart , but reserveth you gloriously to speak and maintain his truth to the world . be ye not careful what ye shall say ; for god will go out and in with you , and will be present in your hearts and in your mouths to speak his wisdome , though it seems foolishness to the world . he that hath begun this good work in you , continue in the same unto the end . pray unto him , that ye may fear him only , that hath power to kill both body and soul , and to cast them into hell fire . be of good comfort , all the hairs of your head are numbred , and there is not one of them can perish , except your heavenly father suffer it to perish . now you be in the field , and placed in the fore-front of christs battel . doubtless it is a singular favour of god , and a special love of him towards you , to give him this preheminence , as a sign that he trusteth you before others of his people . wherefore ( dear brethren and sisters ) continually fight this fight of the 〈◊〉 your cause is most just and godly , ye stan● 〈◊〉 the true christ ( who is after the flesh in he●●●● ) and for his true religion and honour , 〈…〉 amply , fully , sufficiently , and abundantly contained in the holy testament , sealed with christs own blood . how much be ye bound to god , who put● you in trust with so holy and just a cause ? remember what lookers on you have to see and behold you in your fight , god and all his holy angels , who be ready alwayes to take you up into heaven , if ye be slain in his fight . also you have standing a● your backs all the multitude of the faithful , who shall take courage , strength , and desire to follow such noble and valiant christians , as you be . be not afraid of your adversaries ; for he that is in you , is stronger then he that is in them . shrink not although it be pain to you : your pains be not now so great , as hereafter your joyes shall be . read the comfortable chapters to the romanes , . , . hebrews . . and upon your knees thank god that ever ye were accounted worthy to suffer any thing for his names sake . read the second chapter of luke , and there you shall see how the shepherds , that watched their sheep all night , as soon as they heard that christ was born at bethlehem , by and by went to see him . they did not reason nor debate with themselves , who should keep the wolf from the sheep in the mean time , but did as they were commanded , and committed their sheep unto him , whose pleasure they obeyed . so let us do now we be called , commit all other things to him that calleth us . he will take heed that all things shall be well . he will help the husband : he will comfort the wife : he will guide the servants : he will keep the house : he will preserve the goods ; yea rather then it should be undone , he will wash the dishes , and rock the cradle . cast therefore all your care upon god ; for he careth for you . besides this , you may perceive by your imprisonment , that your adversaries weapons against you be nothing but flesh , and blood , and tyranny , for if they were able , they would maintain their religion by gods word ; but for lack of that , they would violently compel , such as they cannot by holy scripture perswade ; because the holy word of god , and all christs doings be contrary unto them . i pray you pray for me , and i will pray for you . fleet , ian. . . in a letter to certain of his friends . — now is the time of trial , to see whether we fear more , god or man. it was an easie thing to hold with christ , whilst the prince and world held with him ; but now the world hateth him , it is the true trial who be his . wherefore in the name , and in the vertue , strength , and power of his holy spirit , prepare your selves in any case to adversity and constancy . let us not run away , when it is most time to fight . remember none shall be crowned , but such as fight manfully ; and he that endureth to the end shall be saved . ye must now turn all your cogitations from the peril you see , and mark the felicity that followeth the peril , either victory in this world of your enemies , or else a surrender of this life to inherit the everlasting kingdome ▪ beware of beholding too much the felicity , or misery of this world ; for the consideration and too earnest love or fear of either of them draweth from god. wherefore think with your selves , as touching the felicity of the world , it is good ; but yet none otherwise then it standeth with the favour of god. it is to be kept ; but yet so far forth , as by keeping of it we lose not god. it is good abiding and tarrying still among our friends here ; but yet so , that we tarry not therewithal in gods displeasure , and hereafter dwell with the devils in fire everlasting . there is nothing under god , but may be kept , so that god , being above all things we have be not lost . of adversity judge the same . imprisonment is painful , but yet liberty upon evil conditions is more painful . the prisons stink ; but yet not so much as sweet houses , where the fear and true honour of god is lacking . i must be alone and solitary : it is better to be so , and have god with me , then to be in company with the wicked . loss of goods is great ; but loss of gods grace and favour is greater . i am a poor simple creature , and cannot tell how to answer before such a great sort of noble , learned , and wise men : it is better to make answer before the pomp and pride of wicked men , then to stand naked in the light of all heaven and earth before the just god at the later day . i shall die then by the hands of the cruel man : he is blessed , that loseth his life full of miseries , and findeth the life of eternal joyes . it is pain and grief to depart from goods and friends ; but yet not so much as to depart from grace and heaven it self . wherefore there is neither felicity , nor adversity of this world , that can appear to be great , if it be weighed with the joyes or pains in the world to come . i can do no more , but pray for you ; do the same for me , for gods sake . for my part ( i thank the heavenly father ) i have made mine accounts , and appointed my self unto the will of the heavenly father : as he will , so i will by his grace . — i am a precious jewel now , and daintily kept , never so daintily ; for neither mine own man , nor any of the servants of the house may come to me , but my keeper alone . ian. . . in another letter . — the grace , mercy , and peace of god the father , through our lord jesus christ , be with you my dear brethren , and with all those that unfeignedly love and embrace his holy gospel . amen . we must give god thanks for the truth he hath opened , &c. and pray unto him , that we deny it not , nor dishonour it with idolatry ; but that we may have strength and patience , rather to die ten times , then to deny him once . blessed shall we be , if ever god make us worthy of that honour to shed our blood for his names sake : and blessed then shall we think those parents , which brought us into this world , that we should be carried from this mortality into immortality . if we follow the command of paul , that saith , if ye be risen with christ , s●ek those things which are above , where christ sitteth at the right hand of god ; we shall neither depart from the vain transi●ory goods of this world , nor from this wretched and mortal life , with so great pains , as others do . — there is no better way to be used in this troublesome time for your consolation , then many times to have assemblies together of such men and women , as be of your religion in christ , and there to take and renew among your selves the truth of your religion , to see what ye be by the word of god , and to remember what ye were before ye came to the knowledge thereof ; to weigh and confer the dreams and false lyes of the preachers , that now preach , with the word of god , that retaineth all truth : and by such talk , and familiar resorting together , ye shall the better find out all their lyes , that now go about to deceive you , and also both know and love the truth that god hath opened to us . it is much requisite that the members of christ comfort one another , make prayers together , confer one with another ; so shall ye be stronger , and gods spirit shall not be absent from you , but in the midst of you , to teach you , to comfort you , to make you wise in all godly things , patient in adversity , and strong in persecution . ye see how the congregation of the wicked , by helping one another , make their wicked religion and themselves strong against gods truth and his people . — ye may perceive b●● the life of our fore-fathers , that christs words , in the world ye shall have trouble : h● that will live godly in christ must suffer persecution , be true ; for none of all his before our time escaped trouble : then shall ye perceive that it is but a folly for one that professeth christ truly , to look for the love of the world . ye be no better then your fore-fathers . be glad that ye may be counted worthy souldiers for this war : and pray to god when ye come together , that he will use and order you and your doings . ( ) that ye glorifie god. ( ) that ye edifie the church and congregation . ( ) that ye profit your own souls . in all your doings beware ye be not deceived ; for although this time be not yet so bloody and tyrannous , as the time of our fore-fathers , that could not bear the name of christ , without danger of life and goods ; yet is our time more perillous for soul and body . therefore of us christ said , think ye when the son of man cometh , he shall find faith upon the earth ? he speaks not of being christened and in name a christian , but of saving faith : and doubtless the scarcity of faith is now more ( and will , i fear , increase ) then it was in the time of the greatest tyrants , that ever were . in rev. . ye may perceive that at the opening of the fourth seal came out a pale horse , and he that sate upon him was called death , and hell followed him . this horse is the time , when hypocrites and dissemblers entred into the church , under pretence of the true religion , &c. that have killed more souls with heresie and superstition , then all the tyrants that ever killed bodies by fire , sword , or banishment , &c. and all souls , that trust to these hypocrites , live to the devil in everlasting pain , as is declared by hells following the pale horse . these pale hypocrites have stirred up earthquakes , i. e. the princes of the world against christs church . they have darkned the sun , and made the moon bloody , and have caused the stars to fall from heaven , i. e. they have darkned with mists , and daily darken the sun of gods word , imprisoned , and chained , and butchered gods true preachers , which fetch only light at the sun of gods word , that their light cannot shine unto the world , as they would : whereupon it comes to pass , that many christians fall from gods true word to hypocrisie , most devillish superstition and idolatry . — in his letter to bishop farrar , doctor tailor , mr. bradford , and mr. philpot , prisoners in the kings bench in southwark . — i am advertised , that we shall be carried shortly to cambride , there to dispute for the faith and for the religion of christ ( which is most true ) that we have and do profess . i am ( as i doubt not ye be ) in christ ready ) not onely to go to cam●ridge , but also to suffer , by gods help , death it self in the maintenance thereof . — i write this to comfort you in the lord , that the time draweth near , and is at hand , that we shall testifie before gods enemies gods truth . — may . . yours , and with you unto death in christ , j. h. in his letter to his wife . — as the devil hath entred into their hearts , that they themselves cannot , or will not come to christ to be instructed by his holy word ; so can they not abide any others to become christians , and lead their lives after the word of god , but hate , persecute , rob , imprison , and kill them , whether male or female ; though they have never offended gods or mans law , yea though they daily pray for them , and wish them gods grace ; having no respect to nature . the brother persecuteth the brother , the father the son , and most dear friends are become most mortal enemies . and no marvel ; for they have chosen sundry masters , the one the devil , the other god. the one agree with the other , as god and the devil agree between themselves . — as he that was born after the flesh persecuted in times p●st him that was born after the spirit , even so it is now . therefore forasmuch as we live in this life amongst so many great perils and dangers , the onely remedy is what christ hath appointed , ye shall possess your selves in patience . — when troubles come we must be patient , and in no case violently , nor seditiously to resist our persecutors ; because god hath such care of us , that he will keep in the midst of all troubles the very hairs of our heads , &c. and seeing he hath such care of the hairs of our heads , how much more doth he care for our life it self ? their cruelty hath no farther power then god permitteth , and that which cometh unto us by the will of our heavenly father , can be no harm , loss , destruction to us , but rather gain , wealth , and felicity . that the spirit of man may feel these consolations , the giver of them , the heavenly father , must be prayed unto for the merits of christs passion ; for it is not the nature of man that can be contented , until it be regenerated and possessed with gods spirit , to bear patiently the troubles of mind or body . when the mind of man sees troubles on every side , threatning poverty , yea death , except the man weigh these brittle and uncertain treasures , that be taken from him , with the riches of the life to come , and this life of the body with the life in christs blood , and so for the love and certainty of the heavenly joyes contemn all things present , doubtless he shall never be able to bear the loss of goods and life . — the christian mans faith must be alwayes upon the resurrection of christ , when he is in trouble , and in that glorious resurrection he shall see continual joy , yea victory and triumph over all persecution , trouble , sin , death , hell , the devil , and all other persecutors ; the tears and weepings of the faithful dried up , their wounds healed , their bodies made immortal in joy , their souls for ever praising the lord , in conjuction and society everlasting with the blessed company of gods elect in perpetual joy . if ye le risen with christ , seek the things which are above , where christ sitteth at the right hand of god the father . when he biddeth us seek the things that are above , he requireth that our minds never cease from prayer and study in gods word , until we see , know , and understand the vanities of this world , the shortness and misery of this life , and the treasures of the world to come , the immortality thereof , the joyes of that life , and so never cease seeking , until such time as we know certainly and be perswaded what a blessed man he is , that seeketh the one and findeth it , and careth not for the other though he lose it ; and in seeking , to have right judgement between the life present and the life to come , we shall find how little the pains , imprisonment , slanders , lies , and death it self is in the world , in respect of pains everlasting , the prison infernal , and dungeon of hell , the sentence of gods judgement , and everlasting death . when a man hath by seeking the word of god found out what the things above be , then must he set his affections upon them . and this command is more hard then the other ; for for mans knowledge many times sees the best : men know that there is a life to come , better then this present , &c. yet they set not their affection upon it , they do more affect and love indeed a trifle of nothing in this world , that pleaseth their affection , then the treasure of all treasures in heaven . we must set our affections on things above , i. e. when any thing worse then heaven , offereth it self to be ours , if we will give our good wills to it , and love it in our hearts , then ought we to see by the judgement of gods word , whether we may have it without gods displeasure ; if we cannot , if the riches of this world may not be gotten nor kept by gods law , neither our lives continued without the denial of his honour , we must set our affections upon the riches and life that is above , and not upon things that be upon the earth . this second command requires , that as our mind judgeth heavenly things to be better then earthly , and the life to come better then the present life ; so we should chuse them before other , and prefer them , &c. these things be easie to be spoken of , but not so easie to be used and practised . — read psa. . wherein is contained the prayer of a man , that being vexed with adversaries and persecutions , saw nothing but death and hell , apprehending not onely man , but god angry with him ; yet he by prayer humbly resorted unto god , and put the hope of his salvation in him , whom he felt his enemy . — in this command ( possess your lives by your patience ) god requires every one to be patient , he saith not , it is sufficient that other holy patriarchs , prophets , apostles , evangelists , and martyrs continued their lives in patient suffering the troubles of this world ; but christ saith it to every one of his people . by your patience continue you your life , not that man hath patience in himself , but that he must have it for himself of god , the onely giver of it , if he purpose to be a godly man. besides , as our profession and religion requireth patience outwardly , without resistance and force , so requireth it patience of the mind , and not to be angry with god , although he use us , that be his own creatures , as him listeth . we may not murmure against god , but say alwayes his judgements be right and just , and rejoyce that it pleaseth him to use us , as he used heretofore such as he most loved in this world . have a singular care to this command , be glad and rejoyce , &c. he sheweth great cause why , because your reward is great in heaven . christ also takes from us all shame and rebuke , as though it were not an honour to suffer for him , because the wicked world doth curse and abhor such poor troubled christians . he placeth all his honourably , saying , even so persecuted they the prophets that were before you . — we may learn by things that nourish and maintain us , both meat and drink , what loathsomness , and ( in a manner ) abhorring they come to before they work their perfection in us , &c. that whosoever saw the same would loath and abhor his own nourishment , before it come to its perfection . is it then any marvel if such christians , as god delighteth in , be so mangled and defaced in this world , which is the kitchin and mill , to boil and grind the flesh of gods people in , till they atchieve their perfection in the world to come ? — raw flesh is not meat wholesome for man , and unmortified men and women be not creatures meet for god. christs people must be broken and all to torn in the mill of this world , and so shall they be most fine meat to their heavenly father . — we must therefore patiently suffer , and willingly attend upon gods doings , although they seem clean contrary , after our judgement , to our wealth and salvation , as abraham did , when he was bid to offer his son isaac , in whom god promised the blessing and multiplying of his seed . ioseph at the last came to that which god promised him , although in the mean time , after the judgement of the world , he was never like to be , as god said he should be lord over his brethren . when christ would make the blind man to see , he put clay upon his eyes , which after the judgement of man was a means rather to make his double blind , then to give him his sight , but he obeyed and knew that god could work his desire , what means soever he used contrary to mans reasons . — to judge things indifferently , the trouble be not yet generally , as they were in our good fathers time , soon after the death and resurrection of our saviour christ. — was there ever such trouble as christ threatned upon ierusalem ? towards the end of the world we have nothing so much extremity as they had then , but even as we be able to bear . — in another letter . — i require you not to forget your duty towards god in these perillous dayes , in the which the lord will try us . i trust you do increase by the reading of the scriptures , the knowledge you have of god , and that you diligently apply your self to follow the same ; for the knowledge helpeth not , except the life be according thereto . — i commend you to god , and the guiding of his goost spirit , to stablish and confirm you in all well doing , and keep you blameless to the day of the lord , watch and pray , for this day is at hand . in his letter to his charitable friends in london . — for your liberality i most heartily thank you , and praise god highly in you for you , &c. praying him to preserve you from all famine , scarcity , and lack of the truth of his word , which is the lively food of your souls , as you preserve my body from hunger , and other necessities that would happen unto me , were it not cared for by the charity of godly people . such as have spoiled me of all that i had , have imprisoned me , and appointed not one half-penny to feed or relieve me withall ; but i do forgive them , and pray for them daily in my poor prayer to god , and from my heart i wish their salvation , and quietly and patiently bear their injuries , wishing no farther extremity to be used towards us : yet if the contrary seem best to our heavenly father , i have made my reckoning , and fully resolved to suffer the uttermost that they are able to do against me ; yea death it self by the aid of christ jesus , who died the most vile death of the cross for us , wretched and miserable sinners . but of this i am assured , that the wicked world with all his force and power shall not touch one of the hairs of our heads without leave and license of our heavenly father , whose will be done in all things . if he will life , life be it ; if he will death , death be it ; onely we pray that our wills may be subject to his will. — if we be contented to obey gods will , and for his commands sake to surrender our goods and our lives to be at his pleasure , it maketh no matter whether we keep goods and life , or lose them . nothing can hurt us that is taken from us for gods cause , nor can any thing at length do us good that is preserved contrary to gods command . let us wholly suffer god to use us and ours after his holy wisdome , and beware we neither use nor govern our selves contrary to his will by our own wisdome ; for if we do , our wisdome will at length prove foolishness . it is kept to no good purpose , that we keep contrary to his commandments . it can by no means be taken from us , that he would should tarry with us . he is no good christian that ruleth himself and his , as worldly means serve ; for he that so doth , shall have as many changes as chances in the world . to day with the world he shall like and praise the truth of god , to morrow , as the world will , so will he like and praise the falshood of man ; to day with christ , to morrow with antichrist . — glorifie your heavenly father both with your inward and outward man. if ye think ye can inwardly in the heart serve him , and yet outwardly serve with the world in external service the thing that is not of god , ye deceive your selves ; for both the body and soul must concurre together in the honour of god ; for if an honest wife be bound to give both heart and body to faith and service in marriage , and if an honest wives faith in the heart cannot stand with a whorish or defiled body , much less can the true faith of a christian in the service of christianity stand with the bodily service of external idolatry ; for the mystery of marriage is not so honourable between man and wife , as it is between christ and every christian. therefore ( dear brethren ) pray to the heavenly father , that as he spared not the soul nor the body of his dearly beloved son , but applied both of them with extream pain , to work our salvation both of soul and body : so he will give us all grace to apply our souls and bodies to be servants to him . — let us not deride our selves , and say our souls serve him , whatsoever our bodies do to the contrary for civil order and policy . but alas ! i know by my self what troubleth you , viz. the great danger of the world , that will revenge ( ye think ) your service to god with sword and fire , with loss of goods and lands : but ( dear brethren ) weigh on the other side , that your enemies and gods enemies shall not do as much as they would , but as much as god shall suffer them , who can trap them in their own counsels , and destroy them in the midst of their furies . remember ye be the work-men of the lord , and called into his vineyard , there to labour till evening-tide , that you may receive your penny , which is more worth then all the kingdomes of the earth ; but he that called us into his vineyard , hath not told us how sore and how fervently the sun shall trouble us in our labour , but hath bid us labour , and commit the bitterness thereof to him , who can and will so moderate all afflictions , that no man shall have more laid upon him , then in christ he shall be able to bear , unto whose merciful tuition and defence i commend both your souls and bodies . yours with my poor prayer . j. h. in a letter to a merchant of london . — i thank god and you for the great help and consolation i have received in time of adversity by your charity , but most rejoyce that you be not altered from truth , although falshood cruelly seeketh to disdain her . judge not my brother truth by outward appearance , for truth now worse appeareth , and is more vilely rejected then falshood . leave the outward shew , and see by the word of god what is truth , and accept truth , and dislike her not , though man call her falshood . as it is now , so it hath been heretofore : truth hath been rejected , and falshood received . such as have professed truth , have smarted , and the friends of falshood laughed them to scorn . the one having the commendation of truth by man , but the condemnation of falshood by god , flourishing for a time with endless destruction ; the other afflicted a little season , but ending with immortal joyes . wherefore , dear brother , ask and demand of your book , the testament of jesus christ , in these woful and wretched dayes , what you should think , and what you should stay your selves upon for a certain truth , and whatsoever you hear taught , try it by your book , whether it be true or false . the dayes be dangerous and full of peril , not onely for the world , and worldly things , but for heaven and heavenly things . it is a trouble to lose the treasure of this life , but yet a very pain if it be kept with the offence of god. cry , call , pray , and in christ daily require help , succour , mercy , wisdome , grace , and defence , that the wickedness of this world prevail not against us . — in his letter to mrs. wilkinson . — i am very glad to hear of your health , and do thank you for your loving tokens ; but i am a great deal more glad to hear how christianly you avoid idolatry , and prepare your self to suffer the extremity of the world , rather then to endanger your self to god. you do as you ought to do in this behalf , and in suffering of transitory pains , you shall avoid permanent torments in the world to come . use your life and keep it with as much quietness as you can , so that you offend not god. the ease that cometh with his displeasure turneth at length to unspeakable pains ; and the gains of the world , with the loss of his favours is beggary and wretchedness . — in his letter to mr. hall and his wife . — the dayes be dangerous and full of peril ; but let us comfort our selves in calling to remembrance the dayes of our fore-fathers , upon whom the lord sent such troubles , that many hundreds , yea thousands died for the testimony of jesus christ , both men and women , suffering with patience and constancy as much cruelty as tyrants could devise , and so departed out of this miserable world to the bliss everlasting , where now they remain for ever , looking alwayes for the end of this sinful world , when they shall receive their bodies again in immortality , and see the number of the elect associated with them in full and consummate joyes ; and as vertuous men suffering martyrdome now rest in joyes everlasting , their pains ending their sorrows , and beginning their ease : so did their constancy and stedfastness animate and confirm all good people in the truth , and gave them encouragement to suffer the like , rather then to fall with the world to consent unto wickedness and idolatry . wherefore , my dear friends , seeing god hath illuminated you in the same true faith , wherein the apostles , and evangelists , and all martyrs suffered most cruel death , thank him for his grace in knowledge , and pray to him for strength and perseverance , that ye be not ashamed nor afraid to confess it . ye be in the truth , and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it , nor antichrist with all his imps prove it false ; they may persecute and kill , but never overcome . be of good comfort , and fear god more then man. this life is short and miserable ; happy be they that can spend it to the glory of god. in his letter to mrs. warcop . — i did rejoyce to understand , that you be fully resolved by gods grace to suffer extremity , rather then to go from the truth which you have professed . — as you be travelling this perillous journey , take this lesson with you , practised by the wise men , matth. . such as travelled to find christ , followed onely the star , and as long as they saw it , they were assured they were in the right way , and had great mirth in their journey ; but when they entred into ierusalem , whereas the star led them not thither , but to bethlem , and there asked the citizens the thing that the star shewed before , they were not onely ignorant of bethlem , but lost the sight of the star , &c. — the word is the onely star that sheweth us where christ is , and which way we may come unto him ; but as ierusalem stood in the way , and was an impediment to the wise men , so doth the synagogue of antichrist , that beareth the name of ierusalem , i. e. the vision of peace , and among the people now is called the catholick church , standeth in the way that pilgrims must go by through this world to bethlem , i. e. the house of bread or plentifulness , and is an impediment to all christian travellers ; yea , and except the more grace of god be , will keep the pilgrims still in her , that they shall not come where christ is at all ; and to stay them indeed , they take away the star of light , which is gods word , that it cannot be seen . — ye may see what great dangers hapned unto these wise men , whilst they were learning of lyars ; where christ was . ( ) they were out of their way . and ( ) they lost their guide and conductor . — if we come into the church of men , and ask for christ , we go out of the way , and lose also our conductor and guide , that onely leadeth us streight thither . — sister , take heed , you shall in your journey towards heaven meet with many a monstrous beast : have salve therefore of gods word ; therefore ready you shall meet husbands , children , lovers and friends , that shall , if god be not with them , be very le●s and impediments to your purpose . you shall meet with slander and contempt of the world , and be accounted ungracious and ungodly , you shall hear and meet with cruel tyranny to do you all extremities ; you shall now and then see the troubles of your own conscience , and feel your own weakness ; you shall hear that you be cursed by the sentence of the catholick church , with such like terrours , that pray to god , and follow the star of his word , and you shall arrive at the port of eternal salvation , by the merits onely of jesus christ. — hudson . when thomas hudson of ailesham in norfolk saw the constables come to his house to apprehend him , he said ; now mine hour is welcome , friends , welcome , you be they that shall lead me to life in christ. i thank god therefore , and the lord enable me thereto for his mercies sake ; for his desire was , and he ever prayed ( if it were the lords will ) that he might suffer for the gospel of christ. when berry threatned him , saying , i will write to the bishop my good lord , &c. o sir ( said he ) there is no lord but god , though there be many lords and many gods . wilt thou recant ( said berry the priest ) or no ? the lord forbid ( said hudson ) i had rather die many deaths then to do so . when he came first to the stake , he was very sad , not for his death , but for lack of feeling his christ ; and therefore came from his fellow-sufferers under the chain , and fell down upon his knees , and prayed ; and at last he rose with great joy , as a man new changed , even from death to life , and ▪ said , now i thank god i am strong , and pass not what man can do unto me . hullier . mr. iohn hullier , conduct in kings colledge at cambridge , suffered martyrdome at cambridge , april . a. . in his letter to the christian congegation . — it standeth now most in hand ( o dear christians ) all them that look to be accounted of christs flock at the great and terrible day , when a separation shall be made , &c. faithfully in this time of great afflictions , to hear our master christs voice , the onely true shepherd of our souls , who saith , whosoev●r shall endure to the end shall be saved . — in this time we must needs either shew that we be his faithful souldiers , and continue in his battel to the end , putting on the armour of god , the buckler of faith , the breast-plate of love , the helmet of hope and salvation , and the sword of his holy word , with all instance of supplication and prayer , or else , if we do not work and labour with these , we are apostates and false souldiers , shrinking most unthankfully from our gracious and sovereign lord and captain christ , and leaning to belia● ; for he saith plainly , whosoever beareth not my cross , and followeth me , cannot be my disciple , and , no man can serve two masters ; for either he must hate the one and love the other , or else he shall lean to the one and despise the other . elias also said unto the people , why halt ye between two opinions ? if the lord be god , follow him ; or if baal be he , follow him . — if christ be that onely good and true shepherd , that gave his life for us , then let us , that bear his mark , and have our consciences sprinkled with his blood , follow altogether for our salvation his heavenly voice and calling , according to our profession and first promise . if we shall not , certainly ( say what we can ) though we bear the name of christ , we are none of his sheep indeed ; for he saith manifestly , my sheep hear my voice and follow me : a stranger they will not follow , but will flee from him ; for they know not the voice of a stranger . — the craft and wiliness of our subtile enemy is manifold and divers , and full of close windings : — at this present day if he cannot induce one throughly , as others do , to savour his devillish religion , and of good will and free heart to help to uphold the same , yet he will inveigle him to resort to his wicked and whorish school-house , and to keep company with his congregation there , and to hold his peace and say nothing , whatsoever he think , &c. by that subtile means flattering him , that he shall both save his life and also his goods , and live in quiet . but if we look well on christs holy will and testament , we shall perceive that he came not to make any such peace upon earth , nor that he gave any such peace to his disciples , i leave peace with you ( saith he ) my peace i give you , not as the world giveth it , give i unto you . let not your heart be troubled and fearful . these things have i spoken unto you , that in me ye should have peace , in the world ye shall have affliction ; but be of good cheer , i have overcome the world . the servant is not greater then his lord and master ; if they have persecuted me , they shall also persecute you . if any man come to me and hateth not his father and mother , &c. yea and moreover his own life , it is not possible for him to be my disciple . blessed be ye , that now weep ; for ye shall laugh : and woe be unto you that now laugh , for ye shall mourn and weep . he that will find his life , shall lose it . therefore the god of that true peace and comfort , preserve us that we never obey such a false flatterer , who at length will pay us home once for all , bringing for temporal peace and quietness , everlasting trouble , &c. for these vain and transitory goods , extream loss of the eternal treasure and inheritance ; for this mortal life , deprivation of the most joyful life immortal , and endless death most miserable , &c. — i judge it better to go to school with our master christ , and to be under his ferula and rod ( although it seems sharp and grievous for a time ) that at length we may be inheriters with him of everlasting joy , rather then to keep company with the devils scholars , the adulterous generation , in his school , that is all full of pleasure for a while , and at the end to be payed with the wages of continual burning in the most horrible lake , which burneth evermore with fire and brimstone , &c. — what doth he else , i pray you , that resorteth to the ministration and service , that is most repugnant to christs holy testament , there keeping still silence , and nothing reproving the same , but in the face of the world by his very deed it self , declare himself to be of a false , fearful , dissembling , feigned , and unfaithful heart , discouraging , as much as lies in him , all the residues of christs host , and giving a manifest offence unto the weak , and also confirming , encouraging , and rejoycing the hearts of the adversaries in all their evil doing ? by which he sheweth himself , neither to love god , whom he seeth to be dishonoured and blasphemed of an antichristian minister , nor yet his neighbour , before whom he should rebuke the evil , according to the command , thou shalt not hate thy neighbour , but reprove him , &c. — but god hath not given us the spirit of fear , but of power and love . be not ashamed to testifie our lord , but suffer adversity with the gospel , through the power of god , &c. fear not them that kill the body , &c. fear not , though they seem terrible unto you , neither be troubled , but sanctifie the lord god in your hearts . onely let your conversation be as becomes the gospel , &c. in nothing fearing your adversaries , which is to them a token of damnation , and to you of salvation , and that of god ; for unto you it is given not onely to believe in christ , but to suffer for his sake . — in the revelation it is written , that the fearful shall have their part with the unbelieving and abominable , in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone , which is the second death . — wide is the gate and broad is the way which leadeth to destruction , and many there be that go in thereat ; but strait is the gate , and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life , and few there be that find it . — thus i wholly commit you to him , and to the word of his grace , which is able to build further , beseeching you most heartily to pray for me , that i may be strong in the lord and in the power of his might , and stand perfect in all things , being alwayes prepared and ready , looking for the mercy of our lord unto eternal rest , and i will pray for you , as i am most bound . so i trust he will graciously hear us for his promise sake in christ. your christian brother , a prisoner of the lord , john hullier . in another letter to the congregation of christs faithful followers . — most dear christians , having now the sweet comfort of gods saving health , and being confirmed with his free spirit , ( be he onely praised therefore ) i am constrained in my conscience to admonish you , as ye tender the salvation of your souls , by all manner of means to separate your selves from the antichristian company , considering what is said in the revelation , if any man worship the beast and his image , and receive his mark in the forehead , or in his hand , the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of god , which is poured into the cup of his wrath , &c. — the beast is none other , but the carnal and fleshly kingdome of antichrist . — what do they else but worship this beast and his image , who after they had escaped from the filthiness of the world , through the knowledge of the lord and saviour jesus christ , are yet again tangled therein , and overcome , using dissimulation for fear of their displeasure , doing one thing outwardly , and thinking inwardly another : so having them in reverence under a cloak and colour , to whom they ought not so much as to say , god speed ; and adjoyning themselves to the malignant congregation , which they ought to abhor as a den of thieves and murderers , and a brothel-house of most blasphemous fornicators . — but this feignedness and dissimulation , christ and his gospel will no wayes allow . — whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation , of him also shall the s●n of man be ashamed , when he shall come in the glory of his father , &c. cursed be the dissemblers , &c. ye were once enlightned , and tasted of the heavenly gift . — and no man that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back , is apt for the kingdome of god. — they went out from us , but they were not of us ; for if they had been of us , no doubt they would have continued with us . — wherefore , good christians , for gods dear love , deceive not your selves through your own wisdome , and through the wisdome of the world , which is foolishness before god ; but certifie and stay your own consciences with the faithful word of god , &c. though gods mercy is over all his works , yet it doth not extend but onely to them that hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope unto the end , not being weary of well doing , but rather every day waxing stronger and stronger in the inward man. in the revelation , where it is entreated of the beast and his image , it is said , here is the sufferance of saints , and here are they that keep the commandments and faith of iesus christ ; intimating , that god doth use those wicked men as instruments for a time , to try the patience and faith of his peculiar people , &c. — peradventure you will say , what shall we do ? shall we cast our selves head-long to death ? i say not so ; but this i say , that we are all bound ( if ever we look to receive salvation at gods hands ) in this case to be wholly obedient to his determinate counsel , &c. and then to cast all our care on him , who worketh all in all for the best unto them that love him . now thus be commandeth , come away from her my people , that ye be not partakers of her sins , and that ye receive not of her plagues . — come out from among them , and joyn not your selves to their unlawful assemblies ; yea , do not once shew your selves with the least part of your body to favour their wicked doings . — now chuse you which way you will take , either the narrow , &c. or the broad way , &c. i for my part have now written this short admonition to you of good will , ( as god is my witness ) to exhort you to that way , which at length you shall prove and find to be best ; and i do not onely write this , but i will ( with the assistance of gods grace ) seal it with my blood . — hunter . atwell a sumner , telling william hunter it was never a merry world since the bible came abroad in english : say not so for gods sake ( said hunter ) for it is gods book , out of which every one that hath grace may learn to know what things both please god , and also what displeaseth him . could not we tell ( said atwell ) before this time how god was served ? no ( said hunter ) nothing so well as we may now , if that we might have his blessed word amongst us still , as we have had . you must turn or burn , ( said atwell ) god give me grace ( said hunter ) that i may believe his word and confess his name , whatsoever come thereof . whereas you doubt of my belief ( said hunter to wood the vicar of southwell ) i would it were tryed , whether that you or i would stand faster in our faith. yea thou heretick ( said wood ) wouldst thou have it so tryed ? that which you call heresie ( said hunter ) i serve my lord god withall ; i would that you and i were fast tyed to a stake , to prove , whether that you or i would stand strongest to our faith. it shall not be so tryed ( said wood ) no ( said hunter ) i think so ; for if i might , i think i know who would soonest recant ; for i durst set my foot against yours eyen to the death . bonner telling him , that he was content he should keep his conscience to himself , so that he would go to church , and receive , &c. no ( said he ) i will not do so for all the good in the world . then ( said bonner ) i will make you sure enough , i warrant you . well ( said hunter ) you can do no more then god will permit you . well ( said b. ) will you recant indeed by no means ? no ( said h. ) never while i live , god willing . bonner asking him how old he was , he said , he was nineteen years old . well ( said b. ) you will be burned ere you be twenty , if you will not recant . h. answered , god strengthen me in his truth . bonner , even after sentence was past , offering him , if he would then recant , to make him a freeman of the city , and to give him forty pound in money to set up with , or to make him steward of his house , &c. hunter said unto him , my lord , if you cannot perswade my conscience by scriptures , i cannot find in my heart to turn from god for the love of the world ; for i count all things worldly but loss and dung in respect of the love of christ. if thou diest in this mind ( said b. ) thou art condemned for ever . god judgeth righteously ( said h. ) and justifieth them , whom man condemneth unjustly . when he was brought to burntwood to be burned , his father and mother came to him , and desired heartily of god that he might continue to the end in that good way , which he had begun , and his mother said unto him , that she was glad that ever she was so happy to bear such a child , which could find in his heart to lose his life for christs names sake . then said he to his mother , for my little pain which i shall suffer , which is but short , christ hath promised me a crown of joy. may you not be glad of that , mother ? with that his mother kneeled down on her knees , saying , i pray god strengthen thee , my son to the end : yea i think thee as well bestowed , as any child that ever i bare . his father said , i was afraid of nothing but that my son should have been killed in the prison for hunger and cold , the bishop was so hard to him . the night before his execution , he had a dream , that he was where the stake was pitcht where he should be burned , and that it was at the towns end , where the butts stood , ( which was so indeed ) and that he met his father going to the stake , and that there was a priest at the stake , which went about to have him recant , and that he said to him , away false prophet , and that he exhorted the people to beware of him , and such as he was : which things came to pass accordingly . whilst he was led to the stake , the sheriffs son came to william and embraced him , saying , william be not afraid of these men , who are here present with bills and weapons , ready prepared to bring you to the place where you shall be burned . william answered , i thank god i am not afraid ; for i have cast my account , what it will cost me already . then the sheriffs son could speak no more to him for weeping . when he met his father ( according to his dream ) his father said unto him , god be with thee son william . william answered , god be with you good father , and be of good comfort ; for i hope we shall meet again when we shall be merry . at the stake the sheriffe told him , that there was a letter from the queen ; if he would recant , he should live , if not , he must be burned . no ( said william ) i will not recant , god willing . mr. brown telling him ( upon his desire to the people to pray for him as long as he was alive ) i will pray no more for thee , then i will pray for a dog. mr. brown ( said william ) now you have that you sought for , and i pray god it be not laid to your charge in the last day ; howbeit i forgive you . i ask no forgiveness of thee ( said mr. brown ) well ( said william ) if god forgive you not , i shall require my blood at your hands . then said william hunter , son of god shine upon me . immediately the sun in the firmament shined out of a dark cloud , so full in his face , that he was constrained to look another way . when the priest came ( according to his dream ) he said , away thou false prophet . beware of them good people , and come away from their abominations , lest that you be partakers of their plagues . then ( said the priest ) look how thou burnest here , so shalt thou burn in hell. william answered , thou lyest , thou false prophet , away thou false prophet , away . when the fire was kindled , his brother said to him , william , think on the holy passion of christ , and be not afraid of death . william answered , i am not afraid . then lift he up his hands to heaven , and said , lord , lord , lord , receive my spirit . higbed . mr. higbed of essex being prest by bonner to recant , answered , i will not abjure ; for i have been of this mind these sixteen years , and do what ye can , ye shall do no more then god will permit you to do , and with what measure ye measure unto us , look for the same again at gods hands . when his articles and answers were read , he said , — ye go about to trap us with your subtilties and snares ; and though my father and mother and other my kinsfolk did believe as you say , yet they were deceived in so believing : and whereas you say doctor cranmer and others , &c. be hereticks , i do wish that i were such an heretick , as they were and be . then bonner asked him again , whether he would turn from his error and come to the unity of their church ? no ( said he ) i would ye would recant ; for i am in the truth , and you in error . hus. mr. iohn hus preaching at the honourable and very solemn funeral of three in prague , who had been put to death in prison , for calling the pope antichrist , and speaking against indulgences , at whose funeral was sung on this wise , these be the saints which for the testament of god gave their bodies , &c. much commended them for their constancy , and blest god the father of our lord jesus christ , who had hid the way of his verity so from the prudent of the world , and had revealed it to the simple , who chose rather to please god , then man. this occasioned his expulsion out of prague , being before excommunicated by the pope . the emperour having given safe conduct to mr. iohn hus to come to the general council at constance , he promised to come , professing he was ready alwayes to satisfie all men , which shall require him to give a reason of his faith and hope , &c. and giving notice to all , that could object any error or heresie to him to appear , and not spare him . — the twenty sixth day after he came to constance , two bishops , &c. were sent to him to bring him before the pope and his cardinals : to whom he answered , i am not come to defend my cause particularly before the pope and his cardinals , but to appear before the whole council , and there answer for my defence openly , &c. unto all such things as shall be demanded , or required of me . notwithstanding forasmuch as you do require me so to do , i will not refuse to go with you ; and if it happen that they evil intreat me , yet nevertheless i trust in my lord jesus , that he will so comfort and strengthen me , that i shall desire much rather to die for his glory sake , then to deny the verity , which i have learned by his holy scriptures . when he came to the cardinals , they told him they had heard that he had taught great and manifest errors through the realm of bohemia , &c. you shall understand ( answered mr. hus ) that i am thus minded and affectioned , that i should rather chuse to die , then i should be found culpable of one only error , much less of many and great errors : for this cause i am willingly come to the general council , to receive correction , if any man can prove any errors in me . some of the articles presented to the council against him . — ( ) he saith that all priests be of like power . ( ) he holdeth this opinion , that a man being once ordained a priest or a deacon , cannot be forbidden or kept back from the office of preaching . when several false witnesses rose up against him , he said , albeit they were as many more in number as they are , i do much more esteem , yea and without comparison regard the witness of my lord god before the witness of all mine adversaries . he being ask'd whether it was lawful for him to appeal unto christ , answered , verily i do affirm before you all , that there is no more just , nor effectual plea , then that which is made unto christ ; forasmuch as the law doth determine , that to appeal is no other thing then in a cause of grief or wrong done by an inferiour judge to implore and require aid and remedy at an higher judges hands . who is then an higher judge then christ ? who can know , or judge the matter more justly , or with more equity ? in him is found no deceit , nor can he be deceived . who can better help the miserable and oppressed then he ? it being in his accusation , that he counsel'd the people to resist with the sword all such as did gainsay his doctrine , &c. he answered , that he at all times when he preached , did diligently admonish and warn the people , that they should arm themselves to defend the truth of the gospel , according to the saying of tbe apostle , with the helmet and sword of salvation ; & that he never spake of any material sword , but of that which is the word of god. some more articles against him , taken out of his treatise of the church . ( ) there is but one holy universal , or catholick church , which is the universal company of all the predestinate . ( ) a reprobate man is never a member of the holy church . — ( ) an heretick ought not to be committed to the secular powers to be put to death , for it is sufficient that he suffer the ecclesiastical censure . in his appeal . — forasmuch as the most mighty lord , one in essence , three in person , is both the chief and first , and also the last and uttermost refuge of all those which are oppressed : — and forasmuch as the lord jesus christ , very god and man , being compassed in with the priests , scribes , and pharisees , wicked judges and witnesses , &c. hath left behind him this godly example for them that shall come after him , to the intent they should commit all their causes into the hand of god. — o lord behold my affliction , &c. thou art my protector and defender . o lord , thou hast given me understanding , and i have acknowledged thee . — for mine own part i have been as a meek lamb , which is led unto sacrifice , and have not resisted against them . — deliver me from mine enemies , for thou art my god. — i appeal to the sovereign and most just judge , who is not defiled with cruelty , nor can be corrupted with gifts and rewards , neither yet be deceived by false witness . — i iohn hus do present and offer this my appeal to my lord jesus christ , my just judge , who knoweth , and defendeth , and justly judgeth every mans just and true cause . the day before his condemnation , when four bishops were sent by the emperour to him , to know whether he would stand to the judgement of the council , mr. iohn de clum spake thus unto him : mr. i. hus , — i require you , if you know your self guilty of any of those errours which are objected against you , that you will not be ashamed to alter your mind to the will of the council ; if contraiwise , i will be no author to you that you should do any thing contrary to your conscience , but rather to suffer any kind of punishment , then to deny that which you have known to be the truth . mr. hus with tears answered , verily as before i have oftentimes done , i do take the most high god for my witness , that i am ready with my whole heart and mind , if the council can instruct me any better by the scripture to change my purpose . one of the bishops telling him he should not be so arrogant as to prefer his own opinion before the judgement of the whole council ; he said , if he which is the meanest or least in all this council can convict me of errour , i will with an humble heart and mind do whatsoever the council shall require of me . when they condemned his appeal as heretical , he said , o lord jesus christ , whose word is openly condemned here in this council , unto thee again do i appeal , which when thou wast evil intreated of thine enemies , didst appeal unto god thy father , committing thy cause unto a most just judge , that by thy example we also , being oppressed with manifest wrongs and injuries , should flee unto thee . whilst they were reading his sentence — he interrupted them often ; and specially when he was charged with obstinacy , he said with a loud voice , i was never obstinate , but as alwayes heretofore , even so now again i desire to be taught by the holy scriptures ; and i do profess my self to be so desirous of the truth , that if i might by one onely word subvert the errours of all hereticks , i would not refuse to enter into what peril soever it were to speak it . when the sentence was ended , kneeling down upon his knees , he said ; lord jesus christ , forgive mine enemies , by whom thou knowest that i am falsly accused , &c. forgive them for thy great mercies sake . when he was degraded , he spake to the people thus ; these lords and bishops do exhort and counsel me , that i should here confess before you all , that i have erred ; the which thing to do , if it might be done with the infamy and reproach of man onely , they might peradventure easily perswade me thereunto , but now truly i am in the sight of the lord my god , without whose great ignominy and grudge of mine own conscience , i can by no means do that which they require of me . — with what countenance should i behold the heavens ? with what face should i look upon them whom i have taught , whereof there is a great number , if through me it should come to pass that those things , which they have hitherto known to be most certain and sure , should now be made uncertain ? should i by this my example astonish or trouble so many souls , so many consciences , endued with the most firm and certain knowledge of the scriptures and gospel of our lord jesus christ , and his most pure doctrine , armed against all the assaults of satan ? i will never do it , neither commit any such kind of offence , that i should seem more to esteem this vile carcase appo●nted unto death , then their health and salvation . when one of the bishops took from him the chalice , saying , o cursed iudas , &c. we take away from thee this chalice of thy salvation . but i trust ( said he ) unto god the father omnipotent , and my lord jesus christ , for whose sake i do suffer these things , that he will not take away the chalice of his redemption , but have a stedfast and firm hope that this day i shall drink thereof in his kingdome . the other b●shops took away the vestments put upon him , and each of them giving him their curse . whereunto he sa●d , that he did willingly embrace and hear those blasphemies for the name of our lord jesus christ. when the b●shops caused to be made a crown of paper , in which were printed three ugly devils , and this title set over their heads , h●resiarcha , a ring-leader of an heresie , and he saw it , he said , my lord jesus christ for my sake did wear a crown of thorns , why should not i then for his sake wear this light crown , be it never so ignominious : truly i will do it , and that willingly . when it was set upon his head , the bishops said , now we commit thy soul unto the devil . but i ( said mr. hus , lifting up his eyes toward heaven ) do commit my spirit into thy hands , o lord jesus christ , unto thee i commend my spirit which thou hast redeemed . when the people heard his prayers at the stake , they said , what he hath done afore we know not , but now we see and hear that he doth speak and pray very devoutly and godlily . after he had prayed some while , being raised by his tormentors , with a loud voice he said , lord jesus assist and help me , that with a constant and patient mind i may bear and suffer this cruel and ignominious death , whereunto i am condemned for the preaching of thy most holy gospel and word . when he beheld the chain with which his neck was to be tied to the stake , he smiling , said , that he would willingly receive the same chain for jesus christs sake , who ( he knew ) was bound with a far worse chain . the duke of bavaria , before the fire was kindled , coming to him , and exhorting him to be mindful of his safeguard , and renounce his errors , he answered ; what error should i renounce , whenas i know my self guilty of none ? for as for those things that are falsly alledged against me , i know that i never did so much as once think them , much less preach them ; for this was the principal end and purpose of my doctrine , that i might teach all men repentance and remission of sins , according to the verity of the gospel of jesus christ , and the exposition of the holy doctors ; wherefore with a cheerful mind and courage i am here ready to suffer death . he told them at his death , that out of the ashes of the goose ( so hus in the bohemian language signifies ) an hundred years after god would raise up a swan ( so luther in that language signifies ) in germany , whose singing should affright all those vultures , and who should escape their burning . this prophesie was exactly fulfilled in lut●er , who rose up just an hundred years after ( the year when mr. hus was burnt ) and though he so enraged the pope and his powerful party ; he died in his bed . in his letter to the people of prague . — be circumspect and watchful , that ye be not circumvented by the crafty trains of the devil ; and the more circumspect ye ought to be , for that antichrist laboureth the more to trouble you . the last judgement is near at hand , death shall swallow up many , but to the elect children of god , the kingdome of god draweth near , because for them he gave his own body . fear not death , love together one another , persevere in understanding the good will of god without ceasing . let the terrible and horrible day of judgement be alwayes before your eyes , that you sin not , and also the joy of eternal life , whereunto you must endeavour . let the passions of our saviour be never out of your minds , that you may bear with him and for him gladly whatsoever shall be laid upon you ; for if you shall consider well in your minds his cross , nothing shall be grievous unto you , and patiently you shall give place to tribulations , cursings , rebukes , stripes and imprisonment , and shall not doubt to give your lives for his holy truth , if need require . know ye , well beloved , that antichrist being stirred up against you , deviseth divers persecutions . — but i am in good hope , that through the mercy of our god , and by your prayers , i shall persist strongly in the immutable verity of god unto the last breath . — i commend you to the merciful lord jesus christ , our true god , and the son of the immaculate virgin mary , who hath redeemed us by his most bitter death , without all our merits from eternal pains , from the thraldome of the devil and from sin . from constance , a. . in his letter to his benefactors . — i exhort you by the bowels of jesus christ , that now ye setting aside the vanities of this present world , will give your service to the eternal king christ the lord. trust not in princes , nor in the sons of men , in whom there is no health ; for the sons of men are dissemblers and deceitful . to day they are , to morrow they perish ; but god remaineth for ever . he hath his servants not for any need he hath of them , but for their own profit , unto whom he performeth that which he promiseth , and fulfilleth that which he purposeth to give . he casteth off no faithful servant from him ; for he saith , where i am , there also shall my servant be ; yea , the lord maketh every servant of his to be the lord of all his possession , giving himself unto him , and with himself all things . — o happy is that servant , whom when the lord shall come , he shall find watching . happy is the servant which shall receive that king of glory with joy . wherefore well beloved lords and benefactors , serve you that king in fear . — in his letter to the lord iohn de clum . — the iniquity of the great strumpet , i. e. of the malignant congregation ( whereof mention is made in the apucalyps ) is detected , and shall be more detected ; with the which strumpet the kings of the earth do commit fornication , fornicating spiritually from christ ; and as is there said , sliding back from the truth , and consenting to the lies of antichrist , through his seduction , and through fear , or through hope of confederacy , forgetting of worldly honour . — i rejoyced to perceive your mind now to give over the vanity and painful service of this present world , and to serve the lord jesus christ quietly at home , whom to serve is to reign , as gregory saith , whom he that serveth faithfully hath jesus christ himself in the kingdome of heaven to minister unto him , as himself saith , blessed is that servant , whom when the lord shall come he shall find waking , and so doing . verily i say unto you , that he rising shall gird himself , and shall minister unto him . this do not the kings of the world to their servants . — in another letter . — as touching death , god doth know why he doth defer it both to me and to my well beloved brother mr. ierome , who i trust will do holily and without blame , and do know also that now he suffereth more valiantly then i my self a wretched sinner . god hath given us a long time that we may call to mind our sins the better , and repent for the same more fervently . he hath granted us time , that our long and great temptation should put away our grievous sins , and bring the more consolation . he hath given us time , wherein we should remember the horrible rebukes of our merciful king and lord jesus , and should ponder his cruel death , and so more patiently may learn to bear our afflictions . and moreover , that we might keep in remembrance how the joyes of the life to come are not given after the joyes of this world immediately , but through many tribulations the saints have entred into the kingdome of heaven ; for some of them have been cut and chopt all to pieces , some their eyes bored through , some sod , some roasted , some flain alive , some burned quick , stoned , crucified , grinded between milstones , drawn and haled hither and thither unto execution , drowned in waters , strangled , and hanged , torn in pieces , vexed with rebukes before death , pined in prisons , and afflicted in bonds : and who is able to recite all the torments and sufferings of the holy saints , which they suffered under the old and new testament , for the verity of god ? — and it will be a marvel if any man now shall escape unpunished , who dare boldly resist the wickedness and perversity , especially of those priests which can abide no correction . — in another letter . — i desire , that if audience be given me , that the king will be there present himself , &c. and that you right noble and gracious lord iohn , with the lord henry , and the lord wencelaus , &c. if you may , will be present , and hear what the lord jesus christ , my procurator , and advocate , and most gracious judge will put into my mouth to speak , that whether i live or die , you may be true and upright witnesses with me , lest lying lips should say hereafter , that i swerved from the truth which i have preached . — in another letter . — my faithful and beloved in christ , be not afraid with their sentence in condemning my books , they shall be scattered hither and thither abroad , like light butterflies , and their statutes shall endure as spider-webs . they were about to shake my constancy from the verity of christ , but they could not overcome the vertue of god in me . they would not reason with the scriptures against me , &c. and when i said i was desirous to be instructed , if i did in any thing erre , the chief cardinal answered , because thou wouldst be informed , there is no remedy but that thou must first revoke thy doctrine , according to the determination of fifty batchelors appointed . o high instruction ! — these things i thought good to write unto you , that you may know how they have overcome with no grounded scripture , nor with reason , but onely did essay with terrours and deceits to perswade me to revoke and to abjure . but our merciful god , whose law i have magnified , was and is with me , and i trust so will continue , and will keep me in his grace unto death . — in another letter . — beloved , i thought it needful to warn , that you should not be discouraged , because the adversaries have decreed that my books shall be burnt . remember how the israelites burned the preachings of the prophet ieremy , and yet they could not avoid the things that were prophesied of in them ; for after they were burnt , the lord commanded to write the same prophesie again , and that larger ; which was done . — it is also written in the books of the maccabees , that the wicked did burn the law of god , and killed them that had the same . again , under the new testament they burned the saints with the books of the law of god. — remember the sayings of our merciful saviour , by which he forewarneth us ; there shall ●e ( saith he ) before the day of iudgement great tribulation , such as was not from the beginning , until this day , nor shall be afterwards . so that even the elect of god should be deceived , if it were possible : but for their sakes those dayes shall be shortned . — the council of constance shall not extend to bohemia ; for i think that many of them which are of the council shall die before they shall get from you my books . they shall depart from the council , and be scattered abroad throughout all parts of the world , like storks , and then they shall know when winter cometh what they did in summer . i trust in god that he will send after me those that shall be more valiant ; and there are alive at this day that shall make more manifest the malice of antichrist , and shall give their lives to the death for the truth of our lord jesus christ , who shall give both to you and me the joyes of life everlasting . — this epistle was written upon st. iohn baptist's day in prison and in cold irons , i having this meditation with my self , that iohn was beheaded in his prison and bonds for the word of god. in another letter . — i desire you , if any man at any time have noted any levity , either in my talk , or in my conditions , that he do not follow the same , but pray to god for me , to pardon me that sin of lightness . — i look next day for the sentence of death , having a full trust that he will not leave me to deny his truth , &c. how mercifully the lord god hath dealt with me in marvellous temptations ye shall know , whenas hereafter by the help of christ we shall all meet together in the joy of the world to come . — i beseech you pray to god for our enemies . — in another letter to a minister . — my dear brother , be diligent in preaching the gospel , neglect not your vocation , labour like a blessed souldier of christ. first live godlily and holily . secondly , teach faithfully and truly . thirdly , be an example to others in well doing , that you be not reprehended in your sayings . — preach continually , but be short and fruitfull . — never affirm or maintain those things that be uncertain or doubtful . — exhort men to the confession of their faith. — against fleshly lust preach continually all that ever you can , for that is the raging beast which devoureth men , for whom the flesh of christ did suffer . in another letter . — o holy god , how largely doth antichrist extend his power and cruelty ? but i trust that his power shall be shortned , and his iniquity shall be detected more and more amongst the faithful people . — let antichrist rage so much as he will , yet he shall not prevail against christ. — i am greatly comforted in those words of our saviour , happy be you , when men shall hate you , and shall separate you , and shall re●uke you , and shall c●st out your name as execrable , for the son of man. rejoyce and be glad ; for great is your reward in heaven . o worthy , yea a most worthy consolation , which not to understand , but to practiae in time of tribulation , is an hard lesson ! — certainly it is a great matter for a man to rejoyce in trouble , and to take it for joy to be in divers temptations . a light matter it is to speak it , and to expound it ; but a great matter to fulfill it . for why ? our most patient and most valiant champion himself , &c. was troubled in spirit , and said , my soul is heavy unto death , &c. and yet he notwithstanding , being so troubled , said to his disciples , let not your hearts be troubled . — o most merciful christ , draw us weak creatures after thee ; for except thou shouldst draw us , we are not able to follow thee . — without thee we can do nothing , much less enter into the cruel death for thy sake . give us that prompt and ready spirit , a bold heart , an upright faith , a firm hope , and perfect charity , that we may give our lives patiently and joyfully for thy names sake . in another letter . — i love the counsel of the lord above gold and precious stones . wherefore i trust in the mercy of jesus christ , that he will give me his spirit to stand in his truth . pray to the lord , for the spirit is ready , but the flesh is weak . — know this for certain , that i have had great conflicts by dreams , in such sort as i had much ado to refrain from crying out . i dreamed of the popes escape before he went ; and after the lord iohn had told me thereof , immediataly in the night it was told me , that the pope should return to you again . i dreamed also of the apprehending mr. hierom , although not in full manner as it was done . all the imprisonments , whither and how i am carried , were opened to me before , although not fully after the same form and circumstance . many serpents oftentimes appeared to me , having heads also in their tail ; but none of them could bite me . these things i write , not esteeming my self a prophet , or that i extol my self , but onely to signifie to you what temptations i had in body and also in mind , and what great fear i had , lest i should transgress the commandments of the lord jesus christ. — in a letter to the lord iohn de clum . — i pray you expound to me the dream of this night . i saw how that in my church of bethlem they came to raze all the images of christ , and did put them out . the next day after i arose and saw many painters which made more fairer images , and many more then i had done before , which thing i was very glad and joyful to behold . and the painters with much people about them , said , let the bishops and priests come now , and put out these pictures . which being done , much people seemed to me in bethlem to rejoyce , and i with them : and i awaking therewith , felt my self to laugh , &c. — this vision the lord iohn and mr. hus himself in his book of epistles ( ep. . ) seemeth to expound , and applieth the images of christ to the preaching of christ and of his life . the which preaching and doctrine of christ , though the pope and cardinals should extinguish in him , yet did he foresee and declare , that the time should come , wherein the same doctrine should be revived again by others so plenteously , that the pope with all his power should not be able to prevail against it . in the forty eighth epistle , seeming to speak with the same spirit of prophesie , he hath these words ; but i trust those things , which i have spoken within the house , hereafter shall be preached upon the top of the house . in a certain treatise also by him written , de sacerdotum & monachorum carnalium abominatione , speaking prophetically of the reformation of the church , he hath these words ; moreover hereupon note and mark by the way , that the church of god cannot be reduced to its former dignity , or be reformed before all things first be made new . the truth whereof is plain by the temple of solomon . — as my mind now giveth me , i believe that there shall arise a new people , formed after the new man , which is created after god : of the which people new clerks and priests shall come and be taken , which all shall hate covetousness , and the glory of this life , hastening to an heavenly conversation . all these things shall come to pass , and be brought by little and little in order of times , dispensed of god for the same purpose : and this god doth and will do for his own goodness and mercy , and for the riches of his great longanimity and patience , giving time and space of repentance to them , that have long lain in their sins , to amend , and flie from the face of the lords fury , whilest in the mean time the carnal people , and carnal priests successively shall fall away and be consumed as with the moth , &c. in another letter . — you know how i have detested the avarice and inordinate life of the clergy ; wherefore , through the grace of god ; i suffer now persecution , which shortly shall be consummate in me , neither do i fear to have my heart poured out for the name of christ jesus . — if you shall be called to any cure in the countrey , let the honour of god and the salvation of souls move you thereunto , and not the having of the living or commodities thereof . — see that you be a builder of your spiritual house , being gentle to the poor , and humble of mind , and waste not your goods in great fare . i fear if you do not amend your life , ceasing from your costly and superfluous apparel , lest you shall be grievously chastised , as i also wretched man shall be punished , which have used the like , being seduced by custome and evil men , and worldly glory , whereby i have been wounded against god with the spirit of pride . and because you have notably known both my preaching and outward conversation , even from my youth , i have no need to write many things to you , but to desire you for the mercy of jesus christ , that you do not follow me in any such levity and lightness , which you have seen in me . you know how before my priesthood ( which grieveth me now ) i have delighted oftentimes to play at chess , and have neglected my time , and have unhappily provoked both my self and others to anger by that play. wherefore ( besides other my innumerable faults ) for this i desire you to invocate the mercy of the lord , that he will pardon me : — this letter to this minister was not to be opened by him before he was sure of mr. hus his death . in a treatise de sacerdotum , &c. before mentioned , he hath these words , in writing these things , ( and what else i have written before ) nothing else hath moved me hereunto , but onely the love of our lord jesus crucified , whose prints and stripes ( according to the measure of my weakness and vileness ) i covet to bear in my self , beseeching him to give me grace , that i never seek to glory in my self , or in any thing else , but onely in his cross , and in the inestimable ignominy of his passion . i do not therefore doubt but these things will like all such as unfeignedly love the lord christ crucified , and will not mislike not a little all such as be of antichrist , durst not have so written unless the lord jesus christ crucified by his inward motion had so commanded me . — hyperius . o what a difference is there ( said martin hyperius ) betwixt this and eternal fire ? who would shun this to leap into that ? finis . a cloud of vvitnesses ; or , the sufferers mirrour , made up of the swanlike-songs , and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors to the end of the sixteenth century , in their treatises , speeches , letters , prayers , &c. in their prisons , or exiles ; at the bar , or stake , &c. collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of eusebius , fox , fuller , clark , petrie , scotland , and mr. samuel ward 's life of faith in death , &c. and alphabetically disposed . by t. m. m.a. the second part. deut. . . remember the dayes of old , consider the years of many generations : ask thy father , and he will shew thee , thy elders , and they will tell thee . psal. . . for thy sake we are killed all the day long : we are counted as sheep to the slaughter . phil. . . in nothing be terrified by your adversaries , &c. printed for the author , and are to be sold by robert boulter . . a brief account of what may be expected in this collection by a friend to the author . reader , it is a comfort thetis gives her brave son in homer , that though he should be short liv'd , yet he should continue himself in the admiration of posterity . though these blessed martyrs , and saints departed sought not glory to themselves , yet they all obtained a good report , and their memory is blessed , whilst the memory of the wicked rots , or which is far worse ) stinks . i grant many of them went in a siery chariot to heaven ; yet those mantles that fell from them may , through the concurs of god , so spirit oth●rs , that they may do worthily in ephrat● , though they never arrive to the glory of the ●irst worthies . i d●ubt not but many of them might , by their staying l●nger in their houses of booths , have been very beneficial to the world ; yet sampson's violent death was not without profit to the church of god in pulling down the house of the philistines : and therefore i cannot but commend the essay , and elaborate collections of this author , in reviving the memories of these ancient christians . it was well observed by sir francis bacon , that old wood is best to burn , and old friends best to trust , and old books best to read . hence scholars set a great price upon an ancient manuscript . here are old things , men of ancient dayes , and old books in a new edition , for thy benefit . here you will not find the fault , that historians are commonly guilty of , who , like flattering limners , draw too favourably , or shadow over a wrinckle , and slily forge in some secret grace : here is an honest pen modestly , but yet faithfully giving thee an account of believers , who through much faith , patience , and tribulation entred into the king●ome of heaven . here are worthy patterns for you to follow ; glorious copies for you , who are but beginners in the world , to write after . they all call upon you so to follow them , as they followed christ. here is a cloud of witnesses , which if you have ( with iesus ) in your eye , you will be the better prepared to lay aside every weight , and to run with patience the race that is set before you . man is led by nothing better then by example ; and examples of great ones are most effectual : such are these . i know abundantly how this lazy formal age is ready to look on scripture-worthies , as men unimitable ; as giants , to whose stature they despair ever to arrive : but h●re you may be tolled on in your active and passive obedience , as lazy travellers will h●ld out with good company , which beat the path before them : here is no excuse left of frailty , which we are ready to make against obedience ; for th●se presidents in all ages abudantly testifie , that we frail men , by the power of the same grace of god , may reach to the same perfections . we are too apt in these dayes to think our selves good enough , if we find any worse then our selves ; but we should not content our selves to run with the foot-men , but to excell the best . i have of late thought it a very high way to growth and perfection , to collect some of the choicest frames of the best christians , and alwayes set them before us : blessed be the lord , this is done to thy hand ; and mayest thou reap the advantage of this labour . here thou mayest read thy defects in these holy mens excesses , and amend thy self without any diminution to their glory . here thou mayest receive light from that which dazleth thee , and lustre from that which ( at present ) ecclipseth thee . when thou considerest what a dastardly , cowardly spirit is within thee , what an enemy of the cross of christ thou art , here is that which will promote thy shame , that these ( under the dawnings of gospel-glory and grace ) should be as bold as lions , whil●t thou art as timerous as an hare . how do we shrink and tremble , whilst these were as rocks in the midst of the floods , standing unmoveable when the winds blew , and the seas made a noise . i heartily wish that the dew of heaven may fall upon these holy reliques , that such a spirit may attend the reader as did these , when called before kings and rulers for the name of christ. i heartily wish that these experiments of gods presence with his suffering and witnessing saints , may help thee to trust in god. i kn●w you ought to trust god upon his single bond , without a pawn or pledge of his power and faithfulness ; but certainly faith is wonderfully holpen by former experiences in all ages : and therefore let this epitome of the bo●k of martyrs ( as to the martyrs sayings ) strengthen thy confidence , and make thee r●ly on god , as a constant tried friend . th●se are all great instanc●s , that god is seen in the mount ; that he hath good will to the flaming bush ; that he is willing to accompany the church in the fiery furnace . say after the perusal of this manual , i dare trust in god in the greatest difficulties ; i will take no th●ught what to answer to the sons of men , but will believe it shall be given in that hour ; i will cast all my care on him ; i will assure my self , that as my tribulations do , so my consolations shall , abound ; he hath been others help , therefore under the shadow of his wings will i rejoyce ; they that know thy name , will put their trust in thee ; for thou lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee ; our fathers trusted in thee : they trusted , and thou didst deliver them : they cried unto thee , and were delivered : they trusted in thee , and were not confounded . here you have gods former dealings with , and appearings for his suffering saints to publish to thee and me , what his future behaviour will be . what david said of the tried sword , we may of god much rather , there is none like it . i have considered the dayes of old , the years of ancient times . i will remember the years of the right hand of the most high. moreover in these gleanings thou wilt see the excellency of christ , and the high advantages of faith , in that the lord christ is worthy , for whose sake all is to be parted from . here is the lord iesus rated and valued above all the comforts , contentments , and happiness of both the worlds : not that these were of a stoical apathy , or prodigal of their blood and lives ; onely christ was the first figure , and all the world but empty ciphers without him . the estimate which their souls set on christ , did infinitely exceed the rate , which they s●● on any thing else : all was but dross and dung , this is the voice of all these saints ●●arted , christ is not valued at all , if he be not valued above all . what shall i say more ? here you may see somewhat to shoar up the dejected christians , who may be too much discouraged at the low condition of gods church : upon reading here sad melancthon may be contente● to let god continue the reins of government in his own hands ; and we may , when even sinking , lea●● of austin ; let the world ( said he ) sink or swim , be ruined or prosper , i will bless the lord that made the world . here you may ( in short ) see the cavils against the cross , blown off to your hand : the objections against the truth abundantly silenced . here you will meet with seasonable cautions against unscriptural compliances . here cases of the present age are briefly debated and cleared : and here you may have a directory how to keep your consciences inoffensive towards god , towards the saints , and towards them that are without . but ( reader ) i will not detain thee from enjoying the labours of my friend . the lord bless them to thee and me . see that thou refuse not him that speaketh from heaven , nor these , whose blood ( like their masters ) cries against their enemies for vengeance ; but calls aloud to you to stand fast in the faith once delivered , and to consider the end of their warfare : which that thou mayest , is heartily desired by a cordial friend to all the friends of christ , s.l. swan-like song' 's . the second part. i. ieuville . nicholas ieuville , being condemned to be burned alive , and his tongue to be cut out , the tormentor putting the halter about his neck , said , praised be god , for i am now counted worthy to be one of the heavenly order . ignatius . when trajan the emperour returned from the parthian war , and came to antioch , having commanded gratulatory sacrifices to be offered in every city , he required ignatius , who was pastour of the church at antioch , to be present at those sacrifices : but he before trajan's face did justly and sharply reprove their idolatry , for which cause he was delivered by ten souldiers to be carried to rome . as he passed through asia , so guarded , he confirmed the congregations , through every city where he came , preaching the word of god to them , and giving them wholesome exhortations . when he came to smyrna , he wrote an epistle to the church at ephesus , and another to the church of magnesia on the river meander , and another to the church at trallis . in his epistle to the ephesians . — you have heard of my being carried bound from syria for the common name and hope . i hope through your prayers i shall so fight against the beasts at rome , that through martyrdome , i shall become his disciple , who offered himself a sacrifice for us unto god. — i do not command you , as if i were any thing ; for though i am in bonds for the name of christ , i am not as yet perfect in christ jesus . now i begin to be a disciple . — onesimus himself doth exceedingly commend your decent and meet order , and that you all live according to the truth , and that there is no place for herest among you , and that you hear none farther then he preacheth christ jesus in truth . — oppose their anger with mildness , and their proud brags with humility , and their cursings with praying , and their errors with stedfastness in the faith. — let us be found in christ jesus unto everlaststing life . without him nothing becomes you : in whom i carry about these bonds ( spiritual pearls ) in which i may stand advanced by the help of your prayer : of which i alwayes desire to be partaker , that i may be numbred among the ephesian christians , who have alwayes in the strength of christ consented with the apostles . see that you often meet together to give god thanks and to praise him ; for when you have often met together in the same place , the power of satan is weakened , and his mischief vanisheth away by the concord of your faith . the tree is manifested by its fruit , — the work of profession doth not now appear , unless by the power of faith we be found to persevere to the end . it is herrer to be a mute , and a christian , then to be talkative , and no christian. it is good to teach ; but let him that teacheth , do what he teacheth . in his letter to the m●gnesians . — it becomes us not onely to be called , but to be christians . — as there be two sorts of moneys ; one gods , the other the worlds ; so each sort hath its peculiar stamp . unbelievers have the stamp of the world ; believers in love have the stamp of god the father through jesus christ : through whom , unless our will be inclined to die after the example of his passion , his life is not in us . — there is one christ , then whom , nothing is more excellent . let all therefore agree as in one temple . — although i am in bonds , i am not to be compared with one of you yet at liberty . i know you are free from pride , and when i praise you i know you even blush . — in his exhortation prefixt to his epistle to the church at trallis , he perswades them not to refuse martyrdome , lest thereby they should lose the hope that was laid up for them . in the epistle it self . — i savour many things in god ; but i keep my self within bounds , lest i perish by vain glory . now i am mostly to fear ; neither am i to mind those that would puffe me up . they that praise me , scourage me . i do indeed love to suffer ; but that i am worthy , i know not . — i beseech you ( not i , but the love of christ jesus ) to make use onely of christian food , and to abstain from heresie , a strange herb. temporaries embrace christ , — but they are not of the fathers planting : if they were , there would appear the branches of the cross , and their fruit would be incorruptible . — in his epistle to the romans . — i , christ jesus his bond-man , hope i may salute you , if it be his will , that i may be judged worthy to reach the goal . i have begun well , if , ( or o that i may ) have grace to take my lot without let . i fear least your love hurt me . i would not that you should please men , but god , even as you do . — do you labour that i may be sacrificed unto god , seeing the altar is prepared , that you in love making a quire , may sing to the father in christ jesus , that a bishop of syria hath been honoured thus to set in the west , being called from the east . it is good to fall from the world to god , that i may rise in him . — beg onely this for me , that i may be supplyed with inward and outward strength , that i may not onely say , but will , and not onely be called , but be found a christian. if i be found so , i shall be called so , even then when i shall not appear to be a believer to the world. nothing visible is perpetual . the things that are seen are temporary : those , which are not seen , are eternal . christianity is a work , not a work of perswasion , but of greatness , when it is hated by the world. i write to the churches , and require of all , that i may voluntarily die for god , if that you forbid it not . i beseech you , bestow not upon me unseasonable love . suffer me to be the food for the wild beasts , by whom i shall enjoy god. i am gods corn , when the wild beasts have ground me to powder with their teeth , i shall be his white-bread . yea rather cunningly entice the wild beasts to be my sepulcher , and to leave nothing of my body behind them , lest when i am dead i be found troublesome to any . then shall i be a true disciple of christ indeed , when the world shall not see even my body . pray unto god for me , that by these instruments i may become a sacrifice unto god. from syria even till i came to rome i fought with beasts , as well by sea as by land , night and day being bound among the cruel leopards ( i mean my military guard ) who , the more benefits they received at my hands , became so much the worse unto me ; but i being exercised and now well acquainted with their injuries , am taught every day more and more to bear the cross : yet hereby am i not justified . would to god i might once enjoy the beasts prepared for me , which i wish also to fall upon me with all their violence , whom also i will cunningly entice , without delay to devour me , and not to abstain from me , as they have from others , whom for fear they have left untouched , and if they be unwilling to it , i will even compell them to fall upon me . pardon me . i know what is for my advantage . mr. clark renders it , i know well how much this will avail me . now do i begin to be a disciple , seeing i neither regard things visible , nor invisible , so i may gain christ. let fire , the cross , skirmishings with wild beasts , cuttings , butcherings or rentings in pieces , breakin gs of my bones asunder , manglings of my members , bruisings of my whole body , and the torments of the devil ( all the torments that man and the devil can invent ) fall upon me , so that i may enjoy jesus , the ends and kingdomes of this world will not help me . it is better for me to die for christ jesus , then to reign over the ends of the earth . what will it profit a man to gain the whole world , and lose his own soul ? i seek him , who died for us , and rose again . pardon me , my brethren , be not an hindrance to me , that i may not live ; be not unwilling that i should die . seeing i desire to be gods , do not gratifie the world. suffer me to enjoy pure light : when i shall be there , i shall be a man of god. permit me to emulate the sufferings of christ , my god. whosoever enjoyes him , understands what i desire , and will bear with me , when he knows what constrains me . the prince of this world would hold me and corrupt my soul and will for god. let none of you help him , but rather help me , that is , god. do not name christ jesus , and love or covet the world. let not envy dwell in you . — living , but in love with dying , i write unto you . my love is crucified ; and there is not in me a fire of love towards any thing of an earthly matter ; but living water , and he , that speaks within me , saith unto me , come unto the father . i rejoyce not in corruptible nourishment , nor in the pleasures of this life . i would have the bread of god , heavenly bread , the bread of life , which is the flesh of christ , the son of god , who in these last times is made of the seed of david and abraham , and for drink i would have his blood , who is love incorruptible , and life eternal . be mindful in your prayers of the church in syria , which instead of me hath the lord for their pastor . jesus christ alone will take care for it , and your love to him . but i am ashamed to be called one of that number . neither am i worthy , seeing i am the last of them , and an abortive : but through the mercy of god i have obtained , that i may be some one , if i can enjoy god. in his letter to the philadelphians . — ye children of the light , flie the dividing of truth and wicked doctrines . follow , as sheep , your pastor . — in your concord there is no place for the wolves to get in . if any one preach judaism unto you , do not hear him . it is better to hear christianity from one that is circumcised , then iudaism from one that is uncircumcised . if both do not preach christ jesus , they are to me funeral pillars and monuments of the dead , upon whom names onely are inscribed . — where division and anger is , god dwells not . — in his letter to the smyrnaeans . — jesus christ is truly dead , and truly risen . he hath not suffered onely according to appearance , as some infidels teach . — if these things be done by christ onely in opinion , i am bound onely in opinion . but why should i deliver up my self unto death , to the fire , to the sword , to beasts , but that he that is near the sword is near unto god , he that is present with the beasts is present with god ? i hear all onely in the name of christ , that i may suffer with him , he strengthning me , who is made perfect man. — what doth it profit me , if any one praise me ; and blaspheme my lord , not confessing him to be clothed with flesh ? — your prayer hath reached to the church of antioch , which is in syria , whence i salute you all , being bound in gods honourable bonds , though unworthy , being the last of all there , yet made worthy by the will of god , not according to my conscience , but of the meer grace of god , &c. — in one of his epistles he saith , truly i did see him ( christ ) in flesh after his resurrection , and do believe that it is he , &c. he used to say , that there is nothing better then the peace of a good conscience . that good and wicked men are like true and counterfeit money ; the one seems to be good and is not , the other both seems and is good . that the lions teeth are but like a mill , which though it bruiseth , yet wasteth not the good wheat , onely prepares and sits it to be made pure bread. let me ( said he ) be broken by them , so i may be made pure manchet for heaven . other graces are but parts of a christians armour , as the shield of faith , &c. but patience is the panoply , or whole armour of the man of god. ioan. the lady ioan , queen of navar , who was poysoned at paris a few dayes before the bloody massacre on aug. . . in her sickness she said , i take all this as sent from the hand of god my most merciful father ; nor have i during this extremity , feared to die , much less murmured against god for inflicting the same upon me , knowing that whatsoever he doth , he doth the same so , as all in the end shall turn to my everlasting good . — i depend wholly upon gods providence , knowing that all things are wisely disposed of by him . — as for this life , i am in a good measure weaned from the love of it , in regard of the afflictions that have followed me from my youth hitherto ; but especially because i cannot live without daily offending my good god , with whom i desire to be with all my heart . — in regard of mine own particular , my life is not dear unto me , seeing so long as i live in this frail flesh , i am still prone and apt to sin against god : onely my care is somewhat for my children , which god hath given me , because they shall be now deprived of me in their young years ; yet i doubt not , but although it should please god to take me from them , that himself will be a father to them , and a protector over them , as he hath been to me in my greatest afflictions ; and therefore i commit them wholly to his government and fatherly care . — she often uttered these words , o my god , in thy good time deliver me from this body of death , and from the miseries of this life , that i may no more offend thee , and that i may attain to that felicity , which thou in thy word hast promised me . — to a minister a little before her death she said , i neither expect salvation , righteousness , nor life from any else , then from my onely saviour jesus christ , being assured that his onely merit abundantly sufficeth for the full satisfaction of all my sins , albeit they are innumerable . ioris . iohn ioris of assahen , in a letter of his to his parents and friends , a little before his martyrdome writ thus . — most dear father and mother , sister and brother , i write here unto you comfortable news , viz. that in all my life , i never saw any day so pleasing to me , as this is , in which the lord hath counted me worthy to be one of his champions , and to suffer for his holy name : for which i give him most humble and hearty thanks . — rejoyce with me , i pray you , that god hath now called me to so glorious and welcome marriage day . o how precious in the sight of the lord our god is the death of his martyrs ! dear friends , two priests and some of the magistrates have sought to terrifie me with many threats , thinking to turn me aside from my holy profession ; but the lord of his great mercy hath given me grace to withstand them all . i plainly told them , i was not ashamed of the gospel of christ , but would be willing and ready to die in the defence thereof , following my lord and master jesus christ , through all afflictions , to be made partaker with him at last of his eternal joyes in his celestial tabernacle . wherefore if god shall call any of you forth to suffer ought for his names sake , bear the same ( i beseech you ) with meekness and patience , not declining from the truth for fear or favour , to the right hand or to the left , but fear him rather , who is able to cast soul and body into hell . the time which god hath lent us to converse in this world , is but short ; and therefore let us begin to abandon the love of this world , with all things therein , betimes , that so we may be ready to follow the call of god. dear father and mother , i do take my last farewell of you , until we meet together again in the kingdome of heaven , where we shall partake of that joy that shall last for ever , all sorrows , tears , and griefs being wiped away . be ye not therefore grieved , i pray you , but be patient ; for the affliction which is befallen me , is most acceptable to me , for which also i bless and praise the lord. iueson . thomas iueson , being prest to recant , said , i would not recant for all the goods in london : i do appeal to gods mercy , and will be none of your church , nor submit my self to the same . and that i have said , i will say it again . and if there came an angel from heaven , to teach me any other doctrine then that which i am in now , i would not believe him . iuleddo , or iulitta . a servant to a good gentlewoman telling mr. bradford , that her mistress had been sorer afflicted with her own father and mother , then ever he was with his imprisonment . mr. bradford bid her tell her mistress , that he had read that day a godly history , written by basilius magnus of iuleddo , a vertuous widow , she had great lands , and many children , and nigh her dwelt a cormorant , which for her godliness hated her , and out of very malice took away her lands , so that she was fain to go to law. the judge demanded of him , why he wrongfully with-held these lands from this woman . he answered , he might , because she was disobedient to the kings proceedings ; for she will in no wise worship his gods , nor offer sacrifice unto them . woman ( said the judge thereupon ) if this be true , thou art like not onely to lose thy land , but thy life . whereupon she said , and is there no remedy , but either to worship your false gods , or else to lose my lands and life ? then farewell suit , farewell lands , farewell children , farewell friends , yea and farewell life too , and in respect of the true honour of the everliving god , farewell all . at the place of her execution , she exhorted all women to be strong and constant ; for ( said she ) ye were redeemed with as dear a price as men ; for although ye were made of the rib of the man , yet be you all of his flesh : so that also in the case and trial of your faith towards god , ye ought to be as strong . mr. ward calleth her iulitta , and records her speech thus : we women received not onely flesh from men , but are bone of their bone , and therefore ought to be as strong in christs cause . mr. fox out of basil tells the story thus , that when the judge passed sentence against iulitta , she said , farewell riches , and welcome poverty ; farewell life , and welcome death . all that i have if it were a thousand times more , would i rather lose , then speak one wicked and blasphemous word against god my creatour . i yield thee most hearty thanks , o my god , for this grace , that i can contemn and despise this frail and transitory world , esteeming christian profession above all treasures . afterwards , when any question was demanded , her answer was , i am the servant of jesus christ. at the stake she said to the women beholding her , stick not , o sisters , to labour and travel after true pie●y and godliness . cease to accuse the frailty of feminine nature . what ? are not we created of the same matter that men are ? yea after gods image and similitude , are we made as lively as they . not flesh onely did god use in the creation of the woman , in sign and token of her infirmity and weakness , but bone of bones is she , in token that she must be strong in the true and living god , all falshoods forsaken , constant in faith , all infidelity renounced , patient in adversity , all worldly ease refused . wax weary ( my dear sisters ) of your lives , led in darkness , and be in love with my christ , my god , my redeemer , my comforter , which is the true light of the world . perswade your selves , or rather the spirit of the living god perswade you , that there is a world to come , wherein the worshippers of idols and devils shall be tormented perpetually , and the servants of the high god be crowned eternally . iusberg . brethren ( said iustus iusberg ) you see that my end approacheth , which howsoever i fear , as a man burdened with the body of sin ; yet am i resolved as a christian , joyfully to endure it , being assured that all my sins are fastened to the cross of christ. iuventius . chrysostome in an oration on iuventius and maximus , two martyrs , brings in this objection of the persecutours against them ; do not you see others of your rank do thus ? and them answering thus ; for this very reason we will manfully stand and offer our selves as a sacrifice for the breach that they have made . k. kennedy . alexander kennedy , who passed not eighteen years of age , when he was presented before his bloody butcherers , at first was faint , and gladly would have recanted ; but while the place of repentance was denied him , the spirit of god wrought in him , and with a chearful countenance , and a joyful voice , upon his knees he said , o eternal god , how wonderful is that love and mercy that thou bearest unto mankind , and unto me the most caitiffe and miserable wretch above all others ; for even now , when i would have denied thee , and thy son , our lord jesus christ my onely saviour , and so have cast my self into everlasting dammation , thou by thy own hand hast pulled me from the very bottom of hell , and made me to feel that heavenly comfort , which takes from me that ungodly fear wherewith before i was oppressed . now i defie death , do what you please , i praise my god , i am ready . kerby . mr. wingfield telling him , the fire is hot , the terrour is great , the pain extreme , life sweet ; better it were betime to stick to mercy , while there is hope of life , then rashly to begin , and then to s●rink ; he said , ah mr. wingfield , be at my burning , and you shall say there standeth a christian souldier in the fire ; for i know that fire , water , sword , and all other things are in the hands of god , and he will suffer no more to be laid upon us then he will enable us to bear . when sentence was past against him , he with most humble reverence holding up his hands , and bowing himself devoutly , said , praised be almighty god. kilian . to such as asked kilian , a dutch school-master , if he loved not his wife and children ? he answered , yes , if all the world were gold , and were mine to dispose of , i would give it all to live with them , though it were but in prison ; yet is my soul and my lord christ dearer to me then all things whatsoever . knight . when stephen knight was at the stake , he prayed , — o lord jesus christ , for whose love i leave willingly this life , and desire rather the bitter death of thy cross , with the loss of all earthly things , then to abide the blasphemy of thy most holy name , or to obey men in breaking thy holy commandement . thou seest , o lord , that where i might live in worldly wealth to worship a false god , and honour thine enemy , i chuse rather the torment of the body , and the loss of this life , and have counted all things but vile , dust , and dung , that i might win thee , which death is dearer unto me , then thousands of gold and silver . such love , o lord , hast thou laid up in my breast , that i hunger for thee , as the deer that is wounded desireth the soil . send thy holy comforter , o lord , to aid , comfort , and strengthen this weak piece of earth , which is empty of all strength of it self . thou remembrest , o lord , that i am but dust , and able to do nothing that is good . therefore , o lord , as of thine accustomed goodness and love , thou hast bidden me to this banket , and accounted me worthy to drink of thine own cup amongst thine elect ; even so give me strength , o lord , against this thine element , which as to my sight it is most irksome and terrible , so to my mind it may at thy commandement ( as an obedient servant ) be sweet and pleasant , that through the strength of thy holy spirit , i may pass through the rage of this fire into thy bosome , according to thy promise , and for this mortal receive an immortal , and for this corruption put on incorruption . accept this burnt-sacrifice and offering , o lord , not for the sacrifice , but for thy dear sons sake , my saviour , for whose testimony ● offer this free-will-offering with all my heart and with all my soul. o heavenly father , forgive me my sins , as i forgive all the world . o sweet son of god , my saviour , spread thy wings over me . o blessed and holy ghost , through whose merciful inspiration , i am come hither , conduct me into everlasting life . lord , into thy hands i commend my spirit . amen . keyser . leonard keyser , as he was led to the place where he was to be burnt , said , o lord jesus , remain with me , sustain and help me , and give me force and power . when the wood was ready to be set on fire , he cried with a loud voice , o jesus , i am thine , have mercy upon me , and save me . knox. mr. iohn knox , wearied with removing from place to place , by reason of the persecution that came upon him by the bishop of st. andrews , was determined to have left scotland , and to have visited the schools of germany ( he had then no pleasure in england , by reason that , although the popes name was suppressed , yet his laws and corruptons remained in full vigour ) but was prevailed with by some gentlemen , for their childrens sake , whose education he had undertaken , to go to st. andrews , that he might have the benefit of the castle , which was fortified against the papists , since the death of the cardinal in it . thither he came an. . where he was called to the ministry after this manner . mr. rough having shew'd in a sermon what power the congregation , how small soever , passing the number of two or three , had to elect any man in the time of need , as that was , in whom they espied the gifts of god , and how dangerous it was to refuse to hear the voice of such as desire to be instructed , he directed his words to mr. knox , saying , brother , you shall not be offended , although that i speak unto you that which i have in charge even from all those here present , which is this . in the name of god , and of his son jesus christ , and in the name of these that presently call you by my mouth , i charge you that you refuse not this holy vocation , but as ye tender the glory of god , the encrease of christs kingdome , the edification of your brethren , and the comfort of me , whom ye understand well enough to be oppressed by the multitude of labours , that you take upon you the publick office and charge of preaching , even as you look to avoid gods heavy displeasure , and desire that he shall multiply his graces upon you . and in the end he said to those that were present , was not this your charge to me ? and do ye not approve this vocation ? they answered it is , and we approve it . besides this vocation , that which necessitated mr. knox to enter in the publick place , was his beating by his pen dean annan ( a rotten papist ) that had long troubled mr. rough in his preaching , from all defences , that he was compelled to flie to his last refuge , the authority of the church , which ( said the dean ) damned all lutherans and hereticks , and therefore he would not dispute . whereupon mr. knox in the open audience of the parish-church of st. andrews told the dean thus ; as for your roman church , as it is now corrupted , and the authority thereof , wherein stands the hope of your victory , i no more doubt but that it is the synagogue of satan , and the head thereof , called the pope , to be that man of sin , of whom the apostle speaks , then i doubt that jesus christ suffered by the procurement of the visible church of ierusalem ; yea , i offer my self by word or writing , to prove the roman church this day farther to degenerate from the purity , which was in the daies of the apostles , then was the church of the iews , from the ordinance given by moses , when they consented to the innocent death of jesus christ. the people hearing the offer , cried with one consent , we cannot all read your writings , but we can all hear your preachings ; therefore we require you in the name of god , that ye let us hear the probation of what you have affirmed ; for if it be true , we have been miserably deceived . the next lords day he preached on dan. . and another king shall rise after them , and he shall be unlike unto the first , and he shall subdue three kings , and shall speak words against the most high , and shall consume the saints of the most high , &c. in the beginning of his sermon , he shewed the great love of god towards his church , whom he pleased to forewarn of dangers to come , so many years before they came to pass . — after he made a short discourse of the four empires , the babylonian , persian , grecian , and roman ; in the destruction of the fourth rose up that last beast , which he affirmed to be the roman church ; for to none other power , that ever hath been yet , do all the notes that god shewed to the prophets belong , except to it alone , and to it they do properly appertain , as such as are not more then blind may clearly see . — then he shewed that the spirit in the new testament gives to this king other new names ; as the man of sin , the antichrist , the whore of babylon , which he proved to belong to the papists , and their head the pope . — hereupon he was ( with mr. rough ) convented before the sub prior of st. andrews , &c. and several articles were read against them . the strangeness ( said the sub prior ) of these articles , which are gathered forth of your doctrine , have moved us to call for you to hear your answers . mr. knox said , i for my part praise my god , that i see such an auditory ; but because it is long since , that i have heard , that ye are one that is not ignorant of the truth , i may crave of you in the name of god , yea and i appeal your conscience before that supreme judge , that if ye think any article there expressed , contrary to the truth of god , that ye oppose your self plainly unto it , and suffer not the people to be therewith deceived ; but if in your conscience you know the doctrine to be true , then will i crave your patr●cinie thereto , that by your authority the people may be moved the ●ather to believe the truth . the sub prior answered , i come not here as a judge , but onely familiarly to talk , and therefore i will neither allow nor condemn , but if ye list , i will reason . why may not the church for good causes devise ceremonies to decore the sacraments , and other gods service ? k. because the church ought to do nothing but in faith , and ought not to go before , but is bound to follow the voice of the true pastor . s. it is in faith that the ceremonies are commanded , and they have proper significations to help our faith , they have a godly signification ; and therefore proceed from faith , and are done in faith. k. it is not enough that man invent a ceremony , and then give it a signification according to his pleasure ; for so might the ceremonies of the gentiles , and of mahomet be maintained : but if any thing proceed from faith , it must have the word of god for its assurance ; for faith comes by hearing , and hearing by the word of god. now if ye will prove that your ceremonies proceed from faith , and do please god , you must prove that god hath commanded them , else they are sin ; for whatsoever is not of faith , is sin . s. will ye bind us so strait , that we may do nothing without the express word of god ? what if i ask drink , think ye that i sin ? and yet i have not gods word for me . k. i would ye should not jest in so grave a matter , neither would i that you should begin to hide the truth with sophistry . — as to your drinking , i say , that if ye either eat or drink without assurance of gods word , in so doing you displease god by sinning against him ; for the creatures are sanctified by the word and prayer . the word is this , all things are clean to the clean . — but the question is not of meat or drink , wherein the kingdome of god consisteth not , but of gods true worshipping , without which we can have no society with god ; and here it is doubted , if we may take the same liberty in using of christs sacraments , that we may do in eating and drinking . — moses saith , all that the lord thy god commandeth thee to do , that do thou to the lord thy god , adde nothing to it , diminish nothing from it . by these rules i think the church of christ will measure gods religion , and not by that which seems good in their own eyes . s. pardon me , i spake it , because i was dry , frier follow the argument . f. i will prove that those ceremonies ye damn are ordained by god ; for the ceremonies of the church are the gold , silver , and precious stones , which do abide the fire , and consume not away , &c. k. i praise god , through christ , i find his word true ; christ bids us not fear when we shall be called before men to give confession of his truth ; for it shall be given in that hour , what we shall speak . if i had sought the whole scriptures , i could not have produced a place more potent to confound you . — i would learn of you what fire it is that your ceremonies do abide ? and in the mean give you this argument from the same text against you . that which can abide the fire , can abide the word ; but your ceremonies cannot abide the word , therefore they cannot abide the fire , then are they not gold , silver , and precious stones . f. i deny your m●nor , viz. that our ceremonies may not abide the trial of gods word . k. i prove , that abides not the trial of gods word , which gods word condemns ; but gods word condemns your ceremonies , therefore they do not abide the trial thereof , but as a thie● abides the trial of the inquest , and thereby is condemned to be hanged , &c. the minor is evident ▪ for the plain and strait commandement is , not th●● thing that appears good in thine eyes shalt thou do to the lord thy god , but what the lord thy god hath commanded thee , that do thou , adde nothing to it , diminish nothing from it . now unless ye be able to prove that god hath commanded your ceremonies , this command will damn both you and them . the frier would not answer directly , but ever fled to the authority of the church . whereto mr. knox answered oftner then once , that the spouse of christ had neither power nor authority against the word of god. then said the frier , you will leave us no church . indeed ( said mr. knox ) in david i read , that there is a church of malignants , that church ye may have without the word , &c. but as for me i will be of none other church , except of that which hath jesus christ to be pastour , which hears his voice , and will not hear a stranger . upon the appearance of one and twenty french gallies in the sight of the castle , the castle was demanded to be delivered , and the governour refusing , it was besieged by sea and land , the plague being within . mr. knox ever told them within , that their corrupt life , having fallen into all kind of licentiousness , puft up with pride of their success , and relying on england for help in case of need , could not escape the punishment of god. when they triumphed of their victory , he lamented , and said , they saw not what he saw . when they bragged of the force and thickness of their walls , he said , they should be but egge-shells . when they vaunted , england will rescue us , he said , ye shall not see them , but ye shall be delivered into your enemies hands , and shall be carried into a strange countrey . the last of iuly the castle was delivered upon articles , that the lives of all in the castle should be saved , and safely transported into france , &c. in france the principal , that looked for freedome , were put into several prisons , and the rest were left in the gallies , and miserably used , among which mr. knox was all the winter . when mr. iames balfour ( afterwards sir iames balfour , and an apostate ) would ask mr. knox , if he thought that ever they should be delivered ; his answer ever was , that god would deliver them from that bondage to his glory , even in this life . when the gallies returned to scotland , within sight of st. andrews , mr. iames willed mr. knox ( who was then extremely sick , that few hoped his life ) to look to the land , and asked if he knew it ? he answered , yes , i know it well , for i see the steeple of that place , where god in publick opened my mouth to his glory , and i am fully perswaded , how weak soever i now appear , that i shall not depart this life , till that my tongue shall glorifie his holy name in the same place . this he spake many years before he sate foot on scottish ground . in answer to a letter from those that were imprisoned in mount michel , mr. knox writes ; that if without the blood of any shed or spilt by them for their deliverance , they might set themselves at liberty , they might safely do it . but to shed any mans blood for their freedome , thereto would he never consent . adding farther , that he was assured that god would deliver them and the rest of that company , even in the eyes of the world , but not by such means they looked for , that the praise of their deliverance should redound to his glory onely . he willed therefore every one to take the occasion that god offered to them , provided that they did nothing against gods command for deliverance . — adding , that in one instant god delivered the whole company into the hands of unfaithful men , but so would he not relieve them ; but some would he deliver by one means , and at one time , and others must abide for a season upon his good pleasure . when mr. knox was delivered , he came into england , and was preacher to barwick , then to newcastle , then to london , &c. but before he was delivered , whilst in the gallies , he wrote a treatise containing the summe of his doctrine , and the confession of his faith , and sent it to his familiars in scotland , with his exhortation , that they should continue in the truth , which they had professed , notwithstanding any worldly adversity that might ensue thereof . whilst he was in england , he was in so great favour and esteem with king edward the sixth , that he was offered a bishoprick ; but he not onely refused and rejected it , but with a grave and severe speech declared , that the proud title of lordship , and that great state was not to be suffered to be in the church of god , as having quid commune cum antichristo , i. e. somewhat common with antichrist . king edward being dead , the persecution of queen mary made him leave england , with many other godly ministers ; and first he went to frankford , where for a time he preached the gospel to the english congregation there . there he wrote his admonition to england , an. . in his admonition to the true professours of the gospel of christ in england . — looking for a suitable scripture to handle for your consolation in these most dark and dolorous times , as i was turning my book , i chanced to see a note in the margin written thus in latin , vid eat anglia , let england beware , the note written was this , seldome it is that god worketh any notable work to the comfort of his church , but that trouble , fear , and labour cometh upon such as god hath used for his servants , and workmen ; and also tribulation most commonly followeth that church , where christ jesus is most truly preached . this note was made upon matth. . which place declareth that after christ had used the apostles , as ministers and servants to feed so many thousand , &c. he sent them to sea , &c. and there they met with a storm , that was like to overthrow their poor boat and them . — remembring that i had handled the same scripture in your presence , i thought nothing more expedient , then shortly to call to mind such things , as then , i trust , were touched . — why christ sent away from him the people , the evangelist iohn declareth , saying , when iesus knew that they were come to take him , that they might make him king , he passed secretly ( or all alone ) to the mountain . — the people sought by christ a carnal and worldly liberty , regarding nothing his heavenly doctrine , &c. viz. that such as would follow him , must suffer for his names sake persecution , must be hated of all men , must deny themselves , must be sent forth , as sheep among wolves : no part of this doctrine pleased them ; but their whole mind was upon their bellies , for sufficing whereof , they devised that they would appoint christ their worldly king ; for he had power to multiply bread at his pleasure . which vain opinion perceived by christ , he withdrew himself from their company , to avoid all such suspition , and to let them understand , that no such honours did agree with his vocation , who came to serve , and not to be served . — why the disciples should suffer that great danger , saint mark plainly shews , saying , that their hearts were blinded , and therefore did neither remember , nor consider the miracle of the loaves , i. e. albeit they touched the bread , &c. and gathered up twelve baskets full , &c. yet did not they rightly consider the infinite power of christ jesus by this wonderful miracle ; and therefore of necessity it was , that in their own bodies they should suffer trouble for their better instruction . when i deeply consider how the flock of christ was fed under king edward the sixth , and now behold the dispersion , &c. methinks i see the same causes to have moved god , not onely to withdraw his presence frem the multitude , but also to have sent his well beloved servants to the travels of the seas , &c. what were the affections of the greatest multitude that followed the gospel is easily judged by their lives . who lived ( in that rest ) as that he had refused himself ? — as that he had been crucified with christ ? — as that he had certainly looked for trouble to come upon him ? yea who lived not in delicacy and joy , and seeking the world and pleasures thereof , caring for the flesh and carnal appetites , as though death and sin had clean been devoured ? and what was this else then to make of christ an earthly king ? the word , that we professed , daily cried in our ears , that our kingdome , our joy , our rest and felicity , neither was , is , nor should be upon the earth , &c. but in heaven , into which we must enter by many tribulations . but , alas ! we sleeped in such security , that the sound of the trumpet could of many never be perfectly understood , but alwayes we perswaded our selves of a certain tranquility , as though the troubles , whereof mention is made within the scriptures of god , appertained not at all to this age , &c. and therefore was our heavenly father compelled to withdraw from us the presence of his verity , to the end we may more earnestly thirst for the same , and with more obedience embrace and receive it , &c. — i mean not that such as have left christ in body and heart shall embrace the verity , but such as by the infirmity of the flesh , and weakness of faith dare not openly and boldly confess that , which their hearts know to be most true , and lament for the imperfection by-past and present ; from such shall not the amiable presence of christ for ever be withdrawn ; but yet again shall the eyes of their sore troubled hearts behold the light of christs gospel , wherein they most delight . we the ministers , who were distributers of this bread ( the true word of god ) lacked not our offences , which also moved god to send us to the sea. and because no mans offences are so manifest unto me as mine own , i will onely censure my self . — ( o that all such ministers , as are put from their charges , would seriously and sadly peruse and lay to heart his humble confession . ) the portion of heavenly bread which i received from christ by his benediction multiplyed in breaking , &c. but alas ! how little did i consider the dignity of that office , and the power of god , that then multiplied the bread , the people received of my hands ? god i take to record in my conscience , that i delivered the same bread , that i received of christs hands ; and that i mixed no poyson with the same , i. e. i teached christs gospel without any mixture of mens dreams , devices , or phantasies , but alas i did it not with such fervency , with such indifferency and diligence , as now i know it was my duty . some complained in those dayes that the preachers were indiscreet persons , yea railers , &c. — but alas this day my conscience accuseth me , that i spake not so plainly , as my duty was to have done ; for i ought to have said to the wicked man expresly by his name , thou shalt die the death . i find ieremiah the prophet to have done so to pashur the high priest , and to zedekiah the king. — the blind love i did bear to this my wicked carkass , was the chief cause i was not fervent and faithful enough in that behalf ; for i had no will to provoke the hatred of all men against me . — as i was not so fervent in rebuking manifest iniquity , as i should , so was i not so indifferent a feeder as is required of christs steward ; for the love of friends and carnal affection of some men , with whom i was most familiar , allured me to make more residence in one place then in another , having more respect to the pleasure of a few , then the necessity of many . — moreover remaining in one place , i was not so diligent as mine office required ; but sometime by counsel of carnal friends i spared the body , some time i spent in worldly business of particular friends , and sometime in taking recreation ▪ &c. and albeit men may judge these to be light and small offences , yet i acknowledge that unless pardon should be granted unto me in christs blood , that every one of these three offences deserved damnation . — and beside these , i am assaulted , yea , infected and corrupted with seeking the favour , estimation , and praise of men . — o lord be merciful to my great offence , and deal not with me according to my great iniquity ; but according to the multitude of thy mercies remove from me the burden of my sin ; for of purpose and mind to have avoided the vain displeasure of man , i spared little to offend thy majesty . think not that i thus accuse my self without cause , to appear more holy , or to accuse my brethren ; no , god is judge to my conscience , that i do it from an unfeigned and sore troubled heart . — this great tempest cometh from the great mercy of our heavenly father , to provoke us to unfeigned repentance ; for neither preacher , nor professor did rightly consider the time of our merciful visitation , but we spent our time , as though gods word had rather been preached to satisfie our phantasies , then to reform our evil manners . which thing if we earnestly repent , then shall jesus christ appear unto our comfort , be the storm never so great . haste , o lord , for thy names sake . observe next the vehemency of the fear , which the disciples indured in that great danger , of longer continuance then any before ; they were in the midst of the raging sea , and it was night , and christ their comforter absent from them , and cometh not to them neither in the first , second , nor third watch. what fear think you were they in ? such as be in like danger in england do by this storm better understand , then my pen can express . — what we read here to have chanced to christs disciples , and their poor boat , the same thing hath chanced , doth , and will chance to the true church , travelling ( like a ship ) in the sea of this troublesome world , to the haven of eternal felicity . — the wind , that alwayes hath blown against the church of god , is the malice of the devil : as the wind is invisible , and yet the poor disciples feel that it troubleth and letteth their ship ; so the pestilent envy of the devil worketh in reprobates so subtily , that it cannot be espied by gods elect , nor by his messengers , till first they feel the blasts thereof to blow their ship backward . as the vehement wind causeth the waves of the sea to rage , and yet the dead water neither knoweth what it doth , nor can cease from being troubled , and troubling christs disciples in their poor ship ; so by the envy and malice of the devil are wicked and cruel , both subjects and princes ( whose hearts are like the raging sea ) compelled to persecute the true church of christ , and yet so blinded , that they see not their manifest iniquity , nor can they cease to run to their own destruction . — the whole malice of the devil hath alwayes this end , to vex and overthrow christs afflicted church . — albeit the tyrants of the earth have learned by long experience , that they are never able to prevail against gods truth , yet because they are bound slaves to their master the devil , they cannot cease to persecute the members of christ , when the devil bloweth his wind in the darkness of the night , i. e. when the light of christs gospel is taken away , and the devil reigneth by idolatry , superstition , and tyranny . — it is fearful to be heard that the devil hath such power over any man , but yet the word of god hath so instructed us , and therefore we must believe it . he is called the prince and god of this world , because he reigneth and is honoured by tyranny and idolatry in it . he is called the prince of darkness , that hath power in the aire . it is said , he worketh in the children of unbelief , &c. — and therefore wonder not that now the devil rageth in his obedient servants ; for this is their hour and power granted to them , they cannot cease , nor asswage their furious fumes ; for the devil , their sire , stirreth , moveth , and carrieth them at his will. — i do not attribute to him or them power at their pleasure , but onely as god shall suffer . when therefore i hear what the ravenous lions do , i pray , o lord , those cruel tyrants are loosed by thy hand , to punish our former ingratitude , whom , we trust , thou wilt not suffer to prevail for ever , but when thou hast corrected us a little , and hast declared to the world the tyranny that lurked in their boldened breasts , then wilt thou break their jaw-bones , and wilt shut them up in their caves again , that the generation and posterity following may praise thy holy name , before thy congregation . amen . — i know that god shall yet shew mercy to his afflicted church in england , and repress the pride of these present tyrants , as he hath done those that were before us . therefore , beloved brethren in our saviour jesus christ , hold up to god your hands , that are fainted through fear , and hear the voice of your god , who sweareth by himself , that he will not suffer his church to be oppressed for ever , and that he will not despise our sobs to the end , if we will rowe and strive against this vehement wind : i mean , if that ye will not turn back headlong to idolatry , then shall this storm be asswaged in despight of the devil . — be not moved from the sure foundation of your faith ; for albeit that christ iesus be absent from you ( as he was from his disciples in that great storm ) by his bodily presence , yet he is present by his mighty power and grace . he standeth upon the mountain in security and rest , i. e. his flesh and whole humanity is now in heaven , and can suffer no such trouble , as once he did ; yet he is full of pity and compassion , and doth consider all our travel , anguish , and labours ; wherefore it is not to be doubted , but that he will suddenly appear to our great comfort . the tyranny of this world cannot keep back his coming , more then the blustering wind and raging seas let christ to come to his disciples , looking for present death . — we gave you warning of these dayes long ago : for the reverence of christs blood let these words be noted ; the same truth , that spake before of these dolorous dayes , fore-spake also the everlasting joy prepared for such as should continue to the end . the trouble is come : o dear brethren look for the comfort , and ( after the example of the apostle ) abide in resisting this vehement storm a little space . the third watch is not yet ended . remember that christ came not to his disciples till the fourth watch . — observe next that the disciples at the presence of christ were more afraid then they were before : that christ useth no other instrument but his word to pacifie their hearts : that peter in a fervency first left the ship , and yet after feared : that christ permitted neither peter , nor the rest of his disciples to perish in that fear , but gloriously delivered all , and pacified the tempest . — there were three causes why the disciples knew not christ , but judged him to be a spirit : the darkness of the night , that letted their eyes to see him : the unaccustomed vision that appeared ; and it was above nature that a massy , weighty , and heavy body of a man ( such as they understood their master christ to have ) should be born up of , and walk upon the water of the raging sea and not sink : and finally , the horrour of the tempest , and great danger they were in perswaded them to look for none other , but certainly to be drowned . — what here hapned to christ himself , daily hapneth to the verity of his blessed word , &c. the truth and sincere preaching of his glorious gospel , sent by god for mans deliverance from sin , &c. is judged to be heresie and deceiveable doctrine , sent by the devil to mans destruction . — the chief note is this , the more nigh deliverance , and salvation approacheth , the more strong and vehement is the temptation of the church of god : and the more nigh that gods vengeance approacheth to the wicked , the more proud , cruel , and arrogant are they . whereby it commonly comes to pass , that the messengers of life are judged to be the authors of all mischief . thus the israelites cursed moses , alledging that he and aaron was the whole cause of their last extreme trouble . — this i write to admonish you , that although you see tribulation so abound , that no hope be left , that yet you decline not from god. and that albeit sometimes ye be moved to hate the messengers of life , that therefore ye shall not judge that god will never shew mercy after . no , dear brethren , as he hath dealt with others before you , so will he deal with you . — one cause why god permitteth such blood-thirsty tyrants to molest his church , is this , such is his justice , that he will not pour forth his extreme vengeance upon the wicked , until such time as their iniquity be so manifest , that their very flatterers cannot excuse it . pharaoh was not destroyed , till his own houshold servants and subjects abhorred and condemned his stubborn disobedience . — if gardener , tunstal , and bonner had suffered death when first they deserved it , papists would have alledged ( as they did ) that they were reformable , neither thirsted they for the blood of any man. and of lady mary , who hath not heard , that she was sober , merciful , and one that loved the commonwealth of england ? had she and her pestilent council been dead before these dayes , their iniquity and cruelty had not so manifestly appeared to the world . — thus ( dear brethren ) must the sons of the devil declare their own impiety and ungodliness , that when gods vengeance ( which shall not sleep ) shall be poured forth upon them , all tongues shall confess and say , that god is righteous in all his judgements . — the means christ used to remove the disciples fear is onely his word , he said , be of good comfort , it is i , be not afraid . the natural man ( that cannot understand the power of god ) would have desired some other present comfort in so great a danger , as either to have had the heavens to have opened , and to have shewed them such a light in that darkness , that christ might have been fully known by his own face , or else , that the winds and raging waves of the sea suddenly should have ceased , or some other miracle , that had been subject to all their senses , whereby they might have perfectly known that they were delivered from all danger . and truly equal it had been to christ jesus to have done any of these ( or any work greater ) as to have said , it is i , be not afraid : but he would hereby teach us the dignity and effectual power of his holy word . — this i write ( beloved in the lord ) that ye knowing the word of god , not onely to be that whereby were created heaven and earth , but also to be the power of god to salvation to all that believe , &c. may now in this hour of darkness and most raging tempest , thirst and pray , that ye may hear yet once again this amiable voice of your saviour christ , be of good comfort , it is i , be not afraid . — exercise your selves secretly in revolving that which sometimes you have heard openly proclaimed in your ears , and be every man now a faithful preacher to his brother ; if your communication be of christ , assuredly he will come before ye be aware . — what comfort was in the hearts of the disciples , when they heard these words , it is i , your master , your master , most familiar , whose voice you know , whose work you have seen , who commanded you to enter into this journey , it is i , be not afraid , cannot be exprest , but by those that have experienced the comforts of the spirit after great conflicts , &c. — it is certain christs voice had wrought in peter's heart , not onely a forgetting and contempt of the great tempest , but such boldness and love , that he could fear no danger following , but assuredly did believe that nothing could resist his masters command , and therefore he saith , command me to come , q. d. i desire no more then the assurance of thy command . if thou wilt command , i am determined to obey . the waters cannot prevail against me if thou speak the word : so that whatsoever is possible unto thee , by thy will and word may be possible unto me . — — such as bear reverence to gods most holy word , are drawn by the power and vertue of the same , to believe , and follow , and obey that , which god commandeth , be it never so hard , and contrary to their affections ; and therefore are they wonderfully preserved , when gods vengeances are poured forth upon the disobedient . — in peter's being afraid , seeing a mighty wind , and when he began to sink , crying , lord , save me : three things are principally to be noted ; from whence cometh the fear of gods elect : why they faint in adversity : what resteth with them in the time of their fear and down-sinking . — the cause of our fear , who would through the storms of the sea go to christ , is , that we more consider the dangers and lets that are in our journey , then we do the almighty power of him that hath commanded us to come to himself . — this i note for this purpose , that albeit this late most raging storm hath taken from you the presence of christ for a time , so that you have doubted whether it was christ which you saw before or not ; and albeit that the vehemency of this contrary wind , that would drive you from christ , hath so employed your ears , that almost you have forgotten what he was who commanded you to come to himself , when that he cried , come unto me , &c. pass from babylon , o my people , &c. yet despair not , such offences have chanced to gods elect before you . if obstinately ye shall not continue , yet shall you find mercy and grace . — so long as peter neither feared danger , nor mistrusted christs word , so long the waves did serve his feet , as if they had been dry , solid , and sure ground , &c. to instruct us , that lively faith makes man bold , and is able to carry in through such perils , as be uncapable to nature . but when faith begins to faint , then beginneth man to sink down in every danger . — indeed with gods elect in their greatest fear and danger , there resteth some small spark of faith , which by one means or other declareth it self ; albeit the af●l●cted person in fear or danger doth not presently perceive the same . — lord , save me , declares that peter knew the power of christ able to deliver him , and that he had some hope through christs goodness to obtain deliverance . — it is also to be noted , that in his great jeopardy peter murmureth not against christ , neither blame him , albeit at his command he had left his boat , he saith not , why lettest thou me sink , seeing i have obeyed thy command ? moreover , he asked help of christ alone . — immediately stretched forth his hand , &c. note , that god is alwayes nigh to those that call on him faithfully , &c. what was visibly done to peter , is done to christs members invisibly in all ages . — open your ears ( dear brethren ) and let your hearts understand that our god is unchangeable , his gracious hand is not shortned this day . — if we know the danger we are in , and unfeignedly call for deliverance , the lords hand is nigher then the sword of our enemies . christs rebuke of peter teacheth us , that god doth not flatter , nor conceal the faults of his elect , but maketh them manifest , that the offenders may repent , and that others may avoid the like offences . — in passing to christ through the storms of this world , it is not onely required that our faith be fervent in the beginning , but constant to the end , and not faint . — we have less excuse for doubting then peter , for he might have alledged , that he was not advertised that any great storm should have risen between him and christ , which we cannot justly alledge ; for since christ hath appeared to us , he hath continually blown in our ears , that persecution should follow the word that we professed . alas then , why doubt we through this storm to go to christ ? support , o lord , and let us sink no farther . — o blessed and happy are those that patiently abide the deliverance of the lord. the raging sea shall not levour them , albeit they have fainted , &c. the majesty of christs presence shall put to silence this boisterous wind , the malice of the devil , which so bloweth in the hearts of princes , prelates , and earthly men , &c. — — peradventure some there are of gods elect beholdin● such as have sometimes boldly professed christs verity , now to be returned to their accustomed abominations , and themselves to be so overcome of fear , that against their knowledge and conscience they stoop to an idol , and with their presence maintain the same fear , whether it be possible the members of christs body can be permitted so horribly to fall to the denial of their head. the dolour and fear of such i grant to be most just ; for o how fearfull is it for the love of this transitory life in the presence of man to deny christ , and his known and undoubted verity ? yet such as be not obstinate contemners of god i should counsel , that they would rather appeal to mercy , then to pass against themselves the fearfull sentence of condemnation , and to consider that god includeth all under unbelief , that he may have mercy on all . — and that all christs apostles fled from him , and denied him in their hearts , and yet were not rejected for ever . — some may demand , how shall it be known in whom faith is not utterly quenched , and in whom it is , seeing all flee from christ , and bow down to idolatry ? hard it is , and in a manner impossible , that one man should be able to judge of another , that could not elijah do of the israelites in his daies , but yet a man may of himself . — and wilt thou have a trial , whether the root of faith remaineth with thee or not ? feelest thou thy soul fainting in faith , as peter felt his body sink down in the waters ? art thou as sore afraid , that thy soul shall drown in hell , if thou consentest or obeyest idolatry , as peter was , that his body should drown in the waters ? desirest thou as earnestly the deliverance of thy soul , as peter did the deliverance of his body ? believest thou that christ is able to deliver thy soul , and that he will do the same according to his promise ? dost thou call upon him without hypocrisie , now in the day of thy trouble ? dost thou thirst for his presence , and for the liberty of his word again ? mournest thou for the great abominations that now overslow the realm of england ? if these promises remain in thy heart , then art not thou altogether destitute of faith , neither shalt thou descend to perdition for ever , but the lord shall mercifully stretch forth his mighty hand , and deliver thee . how ? it neither appertains to thee to demand , nor to me to define . — i think not that suddenly and by one means shall all the faithfull in england be delivered from idolatry : no , it may be that god so strengthens the hearts of some of those that have fainted before , that they will resist idolatry to the death , and that were a glorious and triumphant deliverance : of others god may so touch the hearts , that they will chuse to go as pilgrims , from realm to realm , suffering hunger , cold , heat , thirst , weariness and poverty , then they will abide ( having all abundance ) in subjection of idolatry : to some god may offer such occasions , that in despight of idolaters they may remain in their own land , and yet neither bow the knee to baal , nor lack the lively food of gods most holy word . — seeing we are so like the disciples , let us make such a complaint ( as the following one ) unto god. g god , the heathen are entred into thine inheritance , they have defiled thy holy temple , and have profaned thy blessed ordinances , &c. thy prophets are persecuted , and none are permitted to speak thy word freely , the poor sheep of thy pasture are commanded to drink the venemous waters of mens traditions , &c. such is the tyranny of these most cruel beasts , that they say plainly , they shall root us out at once , so that no remembrance shall remain of us on earth . o lord ▪ thou knowest we are but flesh , &c. we confess we are punished most justly , thy blessed gospel was in our ears , like a lovers song , it pleased us for a time ; but alas ! our lives did nothing agree with holy statutes . — but be thou mindfull , o lord , that thy enemies blaspheme thy holy name , &c. thy gospel is called heresie , and we are accused as traitors , for professing the same , &c. albeit our sins accuse and condemn us , yet do thou according to thy great name . — correct us , but not in thy hot displeasure , spare thy people , and permit not thine inheritance to be in rebuke for ever , &c. gather us yet once again to the wholesome treasures of thy most holy word , that openly we may confess thy blessed name within the realm of england . — amen . — abide patiently the lords deliverance , avoiding and flying such offences as may separate and divide you from the blessed fellowship of the lord jesus at his second coming . watch and pray , resist the devil , and rowe against this vehement tempest , and the lord shall come shortly to your comfort , and you shall say , behold , this is our god , we have waited for him , and he hath saved us . — mr. knox remained at frankford till some more given to unprofitable ceremonies , then to the sincerity of religion , essaied by a most cruel , barbarous , and bloody practice to dispatch him out of the way . they accused him to the magistrates of high treason against the emper●ur , and his son philip , and mary queen of england , for that in his admonition to england , he called the emperour no less an enemy to christ then n●ro , and queen mary more cruel then i●zabel . the magistrates , perceiving their malice , and abhorring their bloody attempt , gave advertisement secretly to him to depart their city , because they could not save him , if he were required by the emper●ur , or by the queen of england in the emperours name . the night before his departure he made a most comfortable sermon of the death and resurrection of christ , and of the unspeakable joyes that were prepared for gods elect , which in this life suffer persecution for the testimony of his blessed name . from frankford he went to geneva , and thence to diep , and thence to scotland . at his coming to edinburg , the lord made him instrumental for the comforting the troubled conscience of mrs. elizabeth adamson , who under extreme torments of body said , a thousand years of this torment , and ten times more joyned unto it , is not to be compared to a quarter of an hour that i suffered in my spirit . i thank my god , through jesus christ , that hath delivered me from that fearful pain , and welcome be this , even so long as it pleaseth the majesty of heaven to exercise me therewith . at his coming into scotland he began as well in private conference as preaching to shew how dangerous a thing it was to communicate in any son with idolatry . whereupon the question was debated , whether in any wise it was lawful for : christian to go to mass , or to communicate with the abused sacraments in the papistical manner ? i was urged , that paul at the command of iames , and of the elders of ierusalem passed to the temple and feigned himself to pay his vow with others ▪ but this and other things were so fully answered b● mr. knox , that mr. maitland confessed , i see ver● perfectly that our shifts will serve nothing before god seeing that they stand us in so small stead before men . his answer to the fact of paul , &c. was , ( ) the fact was most unlike going to mass ; for to pay vows was sometimes gods command , as was never idolatry ; and their mass from the original was and remained odious idolatry . ( ) i greatly doubt ( said he ) whether either iames's command , or paul's obedience , proceeded of the holy ghost , seeing he fell into the most desperate danger that ever he sustained before for obeying worldly-wise counsel . mr. knox was so successfull in a short time through the blessing of god , that the earl of glencarn , the earl of marschel , and henry drummond , were so contented with his exhortation , that they willed him to write unto the queen regent somewhat that might move her to hear the word of god. he obeyed their desire , and wrote that which was afterwards published , and is called , the letter to the queen dowager , which was delivered to her own hands , by the earl of glencarn . the queen having read it , delivered it to the bishop of gl●scow , saying in mockage , please you my lord to read a pasquil , which words coming to the ears of mr. knox , occasioned him to make the additions to his letter . — in his letter . — the christians victory standeth not in resisting , but suffering : as our sovereign master pronounceth to his disciples , that in patience they should possess their souls : and isaiah painteth forth all other battels to be with violence , tumult , and blood-shedding , but the victory of gods people to be in quietness , silence , and hope ; meaning that all others that obtain victory , do enforce themselves to resist their adversaries to shed blood , and to murder : but so do not gods elect , for they suffer all things at the command of him who hath appointed them to suffer , being most assuredly perswaded that then onely they triumph , when all men judge them oppressed ; for in the cross of christ alwaies is included a secret and hid victory , never well known till the sufferers appear altogether to be ( as it were ) exterminate ; for then onely did the blood of abel cry to god , when proud cain judged all memory of his brother to have been extinguished . — sometimes god toucheth the hearts of those , who in mans judgement have power to destroy his people , with pity to save them , &c. for two causes specially , ( ) to comfort his weak warriers in their manifold temptations . and ( ) to give a testimony of his favour to such great ones . — pity and mercy shewed to christs afflicted flock , as they never lacked reward temporal ; so if they be continued , and be not changed into cruelty , are assured signes and seals of everlasting mercy to be received from god. — from those words of christ , fu●fill the measure of your fathers , that all the blood which hath been shed since the blood of abel the just , till the blood of zechariah , &c. it is evident , that the murderers of our time are guilty of all the blood that hath been shed from the beginning ; and it is but equal and just it should be so ; for whosoever sheddeth the blood of any one of christs members , for professing his truth , consenteth to all the murder that hath been made from the beginning for that cause . as there is one communion of all gods elect , of which every member is participant of the righteousness of christ ; so is there a communion among the reprobates , by which every one of the serpents seed are guilty of all the iniquity which the whole body committeth , because they are altogether against christ jesus , and his eternal verity ; every one serving satan , the prince of this world , in their rank , age , degree , and estate . the kings and princes , that by power oppress the people of god , and will not suffer that they truly worship god , as he hath commanded , but will retain them in egypt , are brethren and companions to pharaoh : the prelates and priests , with their fathers the old pharisees , have taken away the key of knowledge , and have shut up the kingdome of heaven before men , so that neither they themselves will enter , nor suffer others to enter in . — as satan by craft hath corrupted the most holy ordinances of gods precepts of the first table , in the place of the spiritual honouring of god , introducing mens dreams , inventions , and fancies ; so hath he , abusing the weakness of man , corrupted the precepts of the second table , touching the honour that is due to parents , under whom are comprehended princes and teachers ; for now the devil hath so blinded the senses of many , that they cannot , or at least will not learn what appertaineth to god , and what to caesar ; but because the spirit of god hath said , honour the king ; therefore whatsoever they command , be it right or wrong , must be obeyed . it is blasphemy to affirm , that god hath commanded any creature to be obeyed against himself , that for the command of any prince , be he never so potent , men shall commit idolatry , embrace a religion which god hath not approved by his word , or confirm by their silence wicked and blasphemous laws made against the honour of his majesty ; and men that do so are traitors to their princes , whom by flattery they confirm in their rebelling against god. — god cannot lie , he cannot deny himself , he hath witnessed from the beginning , that no religion pleaseth him , except that which he by his own word hath commanded and established : the verity it self pronounceth this sentence , in vain do ye worship me , teaching for doctrines the precepts of men , and also all plantation , which my heavenly father hath not planted , shall be rooted out . before the coming of his well-beloved son in the flesh , he secretly punished all such as durst enterprise to alter or change his ceremonies or statutes , as in s●ul , uzziah , nadab , a●ihu is to be read , and will be now , after that he hath opened his counsel to the world by his onely son , whom he commandeth to be heard ; and after that by holy spirit , speaking in his apostles , he hath established the religion , in which he would have his true worshippers to abide unto the end , will he now ( i say ) admit mens inventions in the matter of religion , which he reputed for damnable idolatry ? if men or angels would affirm , that he will , or may do it , his own verity shall convince them of a lie ; for this sentence he pronounceth , not that which seemeth good in thy eyes , shalt thou do to the l●rd thy god , but that , which the lord thy god hath commanded thee , that do thou ; adde nothing unto it , diminish nothing from it , which , sealing up his new testament , he repeateth in these words , that which ye have , ho●d till i come , &c. — whilst mr. knox was thus occupied in scotland , letters came to him from the english church , assembled at geneva ( which was separated from the superstitious and contentious company that was at frankford ) commanding him in gods name , as he that was their chosen pastour , to repair unto them for their comfort . great desires there were to stay him in scotland , but he would not be perswaded , saying , once i must see that little flock , which the wickedness of men hath compelled me to leave ; adding , that if god blessed those small beginnings , and if that they continued in godliness , whensoever they pleased to command him , they should find him obedient . immediately after his leaving scotland , the bishops summoned him , and for non-appearance , burnt him in effigie at the cross in edinburg , an. . from the which unjust sentence , mr. knox made his appellation , and directed it to the nobility and commons of scotland , printed at geneva , an. . in his appellation . — to the nobility and states of scotland . — it is not onely the love of this temporal life ( right honourable ) nor the fear of corporal death that moveth me to expose unto you the injuries done against me , and to crave of you redress ; but it proceedeth partly from the reverence every man oweth to gods eternal truth , and partly from a love which i bear to your salvation . it hath pleased the lord of his infinite mercy , not onely to illuminate the eyes of my mind , &c. but to make and appoint me a witness , minister , and preacher of his doctrine , the sum whereof i communicated to my brethren in scotland , because i knew my self to be a steward , and must give an account , &c. i did therefore ( as gods minister ) whilst with them ( god is record and witness ) truly and sincerely , according to my gift divide the word of salvation , &c. — i affirmed ( so taught by my master christ jesus ) that whosoever denieth him , yea ●r is ashamed of him before this wicked generation , him shall christ deny , and of him be ashamed , &c. and therefore i feared not to affirm , that of necessity it is , that such as hope for life everlasting , avoid all superstition , vain religion , and idolatry ; vain i call , whatsoever is done in gods service or honour , without the express command of his word . — nevertheless me as an heretick , and this doctrine as heretical , have your false bishops and ungodly clergy condemned , pronouncing against me a sentence of death , in testification whereof they have formed a picture , from which false and cruel sentence , &c. i make it known to your honours , that i appeal to a lawful and general council , &c. most humbly requiring of your honours to receive me calling unto you , as to the powers of god , ordained into your protection against the rage of tyrants , not to maintain me in any iniquity , errour , or false opinion , but to let me have such equity , as god by his word , ancient laws and determinations of godly councils , grant to men accused or infamed . — it is lawfull to gods prophets and preachers of christ to appeal from the sentence and judgement of the visible church , to the knowledge of the civil magistrate , who by gods law is bound to hear their causes , and to defend them from tyranny , as appears in ieremiah's case , &c. he was condemned by the priests and prophets in ierusalem , &c. who then onely in earth were known to be the visible church , from which sentence he appealed , i. e. sought help of the princes . i am in your hands , &c. q. d. the princes of iudah and rulers of the people , to whom it belongs indifferently to judge between party and party , to justifie the just man , and to condemn the malefactour . you have heard a sentence of death pronounced against me by the priests , &c. i stand in your presence , whom god hath made princes , your power is above their tyranny , before you do i expose my cause , i cannot resist to suffer what you think just ; but least my lenity and patience should make you negligent in the defence of me in my just cause , &c. i dare not conceal . that if you murder me ( which thing ye do , if ye defend me not ) ye make your selves and this whole city guilty of my blood : whereupon they freed him from the sentence . — the same this prophet did before zedekiah . — this will more plainly appear in the fact of saint paul. — he appealed from all judgement of the priests at ierusalem to the emperour . — it seems that his cause was greatly to be suspected , partly for that he refused the judgement of those , that had most knowledge ( as all men supposed ) of gods will and religion ; and partly because he appealed to the emperour , who then was at rome , far absent from ierusalem , a man ignorant of god , and enemy to all vertue : but the apostle considering the nature of his enemies , and what things they had intended against him , did not fear to appeal from them , &c. grounding himself upon his innocency , he neither regarded the displeasure of festus , nor the brunt of the ignorant multitude , but appealed to caesar , &c. — what i think of mine own person god will reveal , when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed , &c. but touching the doctrine and cause , for which that adulterous and wicked generation of antichrists servants ( who will be called bishops among you ) have condemned me : i fear not , neither do i shame to confess and avow before man and angel to be the eternal truth of the eternal god ; and in that case i doubt not to compare my self with any member , in whom the truth hath been impugned , since the beginning . — seeing that my battel is against the proud and cruel hypocrites of this age , as that battel of those most excellent instruments was against the false prophets and malignant church of their ages . no man ought to think it strange that i compare my self with them , with whom i sustain a common cause . — but lest that some doubt remain , that i require more of you then you of conscience are bound to grant , — i purpose briefly , but yet freely to speak what god by his word doth assure me to be true . ( ) that in conscience you are bound to punish malefactours , and to defend innocents imploring your help . ( ) that god requireth of you to provide that your subjects be rightly instructed in his true religion , and that the same be by you reformed , whensoever abuses do creep in by the malice of satan , and negligence of men . ( ) that you are bound to remove from honour , and to punish with death ( if the crime so require ) such as deceive the people , or defraud them of that food of their souls ; i mean , gods lively word . — after that m●ses had declared what was true religion , viz. to honour god as he commanded , adding nothing to his word , neither diminishing any thing from it ; and after also he had vehemently exhorted them to observe the same law , he denounceth the punishment against the transgressours , if thy brother , son , daughter , wife , or neighbour , whom thou lovest as thine own life , sollicite thee secret , saying , let us go serve other gods , &c. let not thine eye spare him , &c. observe here , ( ) that such as sollicitate onely to idolatry , ought to be punished to death , without favour or respect of person , &c. ( ) that the punishment of such crimes , as are idolatry , blasphemy , and others that touch the majesty of god , doth not appertain to kings onely , but also to the whole body of the people , and every member thereof , according to his vocation , &c. god even streightly commandeth , that a city declining to idolatry should fall by the edge of the sword , and that the whole spoil of the same should be burned , no portion of it reserved , that the lord may turn from the fury of his wrath , &c. hinting , that by the defection and idolatry of a few , gods wrath is kindled against the whole , which is never quenched , till such punishment be taken upon the offenders , that whosoever served them in their idolatry be brought to destruction ; because that it is execrable and accursed before god. — if any think that this is contrary to the practise of the ap●stles , who finding the gentiles in idolatry , did call them to repentance , requiring no such punishment : i answer , that the gentiles before the preaching of christ , were never avowed by god to be his people , nor received into his houshold , neither were his laws given unto them to be kept in religion , nor policy ; and therefore no corporal punishment was inflicted on them , &c. but after they repented of their idolatries and embraced , and made one people with the believing iews , they were subject to the same law , as the iews were , and were liable to the same punis●ment if they returned to idolatry again . — in universal defections , and a general revolt , such as was in israel after ieroboam , there is a diverse consideration ; for then , because the whole people were conspired against god , none could be found to execute the punishment god had appointed , till god raised up iehu , whom he appointed for that purpose . — i know that your bishops , &c. will cry , a damned heretick ought not to be heard . but remember , my lords , what i protested in the beginning , upon which ground i continually stand , i am no heretick , no deceivable teacher , but the servant of christ jesus , a preacher of his infallible verity , innocent in all they can lay to my charge , &c. and therefore am unjustly condemned , from which cruel sentence i have appealed , and do appeal ( as before ) in the mean time most humbly requiring your honours to take me into your protection , to be auditors of my just defences , granting unto me the same liberty , which ahab , a wicked king , and israel , at that time a blinded people , granted to elijah in the like case , viz. that your bishops , and the whole rable of your clergy may be called before you , and before the people whom they have deceived ; that i be not condemned by multitude , custome , authority , or law devised by man , but that god himself may be judge betwixt me and my adversaries . let god , i say , speak by his law , prophets , christ jesus , apostles , and so let him pronounce what religion he approveth , and then be my enemies never so many , and appear they never so strong and learned , no more do i fear victory , then did elijah , being but one man , against the multitude of baal's priests . and if they think to have advantage by their councils and doctors , this i farther offer , to admit the one and the other as witnesses in all matters debatable , three things ( which justly cannot be denied ) being granted , ( ) that the most ancient councils , ●ighest to the primitive church , in which the learned and godly fathers examined all matters by gods word , may be holden of most authority . ( ) that no determination of councils , or man , be admitted against the plain verity of gods word , nor against the determination of those four chief councils , &c. ( ) that to no doctor be given greater authority , then augustine required to be given to his writings , viz. if he plainly prove not his affirmation by gods infallible word , that then his sentence be rejected and imputed to the errour of a man. — — to the commonalty of scotland . — i am most assuredly perswaded , that whatsoever is used in the papistical church , is altogether repugnant to christs blessed ordinance , and is nothing but mortal venome , of which whosoever drinketh , therewith he drinketh death and damnation , except by true conversion unto god he be purged from the same . — it will be said , that it is unreasonable , that ye should call your religion in doubt , which hath been approved and established by so long continuance , and by the consent of so many men before you . but i shortly answer , that neither is the long continuance of time , neither the multitude of men a sufficient approbation , which god will allow for our religion : for as some of the ancients witness , neither can long process of time justifie an errour , nor can the multitude of such as follow it , change the nature of the same ; but if it was an errour in the beginning , so it is in the end ; and the longer that it be followed , and the more that do receive it , it is the more pestilent , and the more to be avoided . if antiquity or multitude of men could justifie any religion , then was the idolatry of the gentiles , and now is the abomination of the turks good religion ; for antiquity approved the one , and a multitude have received and do defend the other . but otherwise to answer ; godl● men may wonder from what fountain such a sentence doth flow , that no man ought to try his faith and religion by gods word , but he may safely believe and follow every thing , which antiquity and multitude have approved . the spirit of god doth otherwise teach us , search the scriptures , &c. the bareans are commended for trying the apostles doctrine by gods plain scriptures . believe not every spirit , but try the spirits , &c. whoso doth evil hateth the light ; neither will he come to the light , lest that his works be manifested and rebuked . — truth being of the nature of fine purified gold , doth not fear the trial of the furnace ; but the stubble and chaffe of mens inventions ( such is their religion ) may not abide the flame of the fire . — seeing religion is to man , as the stomack to the body , which , if it be corrupted , doth infect all the members , it is necessary that the same be examined , and if it be found replenished with pestilent humours ( i mean with the fancies of men ) then of necessity it is that those be purged , else shall your bodies and souls perish for ever . a corrupt religion defileth the whole life of man , appear it never so holy . neither would i that ye should esteem the reformation and care of religion less to appertain to you , because you are no kings , rulers , iudges , nobles , nor in authority . — to believe and receive the gospel the commonalty are no less bound , then be their rulers and princes . — as your bodies cannot escape corporal death , if with your princes ye eat re drink deadly poyson ( although it be by ignorance or negligence ) so shall ye not escape the everlasting , if with them ye pro●ess a corrupt religion . — as the just liveth by his own faith , so doth the unfaithful perish by his own infidelity — if ye look for the life everlasting , you must try if ye stand in the faith ; and if ye would be assured of a true and lively faith , you must needs have christ truly preached unto you . — when the tabernacle was built and set in order , god provided how it and the things pertaining to the same should be sustained , so that they should not fall in decay : and this provision ( albeit heaven and earth obey his empire ) would he not take from the secret and hid treasures , which lie dispersed in the veins of the earth , neither yet would he take it onely from the rich and potent of the people , but the rich should give no more for that use , then the poor , nor the poor less then the rich . — if this equality was commanded by god for the maintenance of that transitory tabernacle , which was but a shadow of a better to come ; is not the same required of us , who have the verity , which is christ jesus ? he being clad in our nature is immanuel , i. e. god with us . and for the more assurance of his promise of being with us , &c. he hath erected among us the signs of his own presence with us , the true preaching of his word , and right administration of the sacraments , his spiritual tabernacle , to the maintenance whereof is no less bound the subject then the prince , the poor then the rich . — as the one is obliged to believe in heart , and with mouth to confess the lord iesus , so also is the other . — the poorest that in the dayes of this cruel persecution believeth in christ , and boldly doth confess him before this wicked generation , is no less acceptable before god , then is the king , that by his sword and power rooteth out idolatry , and so advanceth christs glory . — from geneva , iuly . . afterwards mr. knox called back again into scotland by some lords , &c. but a stop being for a while put upon his return , he writ from diep , octob. . . having left geneva . in his letter . — if any perswade you for fear of dangers that may follow , to faint in your former purpose , let him be judged of you both foolish and your mortal enemy : foolish , because he understood nothing of gods approved wisdome ; and enemy unto you , because he laboured to separate you from gods favour , provoking his vengeance and grievous plagues against you ; because he would that you should prefer your worldly rest to gods praise and glory , and the friendship of the wicked to the salvation of your brethren . i am not ignorant that fearful troubles shall ensue your enterprise : but o joyful and comfortable are the troubles and adversities , which man sustaineth for accomplishment of gods will revealed by his word ! how terrible soever they appear to the judgement of the natural man , yet are they never able to devour , nor utterly to consume the sufferers ; for the invisible and invincible power of god sustaineth and preserveth , according to his promise , all such , as with simplicity do obey him . — when the bishop of saint andrews threatned mr. knox , that if he preached there ( as he intended ) he should be assaulted with a dozen of culverings . being demanded his judgement , whether his preaching should not be delayed , answered , god is my witness , that i never preached christ jesus in contempt of any man , neither mind i at any time to present my self to that place , having either respect to my own private commodity , or to the worldly hurt of any creature : but to delay to preach to morrow ( unless the body be violently withholden ) i cannot in conscience ; for in this town and church god began first to call me to the dignity of a preacher , from the which i was reft by the tyranny of france , and procurement of the bishops , what torment i sustained in the gallies , &c. is now no time to recite . this onely i cannot conceal , which more then one have heard me say , when absent from scotland , that my assured hope was in open audience to preach at saint andrews , before i departed this life . and therefore , my lords , seeing that god , above the expectation of many , hath brought my body to the same place , where first i was called to the office of a preacher , and from the which i was most unjustly removed , i beseech your honours not to stop me from presenting my self unto my brethren : and as for the fear of danger , that may come to me , let no man be sollicitous ; for my life is in the custody of him , whose glory i seek ; and therefore i cannot so fear their boast or tyranny , that i will cease from doing my duty , when of mercy he offereth the occasion . i desire not the hand of any man to defend me , onely i crave audience , &c. whereupon the lords were fully content he should preach ; and so he did , upon the ejection of the buyers and sellers forth of the temple , applying the corruption that was then , to the corruption that is in papistry , and christs fact to the duty of those to whom god gives power and zeal to remove all monuments of idolatry . — when the lords and those that favoured reformation were driven from edinburg to sterling ( which was the time of their greatest trouble ) mr. knox preached on psal. . . , , . in the sermon . — god in wisdome sometimes suffers his chosen flock to mockage , and dangers , yea apparent destruction ; that they may feel the vehemency of gods indignation ; that they may know how little strength is in themselves ; that they may leave a testimony to the generations following , as well of the malice of the devil against gods people , as of the marvellous work of god in preserving his little flock by far other means , then man can espy . — it is a great and sore temtation , when god turns away his face from our prayers , &c. this temptation no flesh can overcome or abide , unless the mighty spirit of god interpose ; as appears in saul , when god would not hear him . the difference between the elect and reprobate in this temptation is this ; the elect , sustained by the secret power of gods spirit , still call upon god , albeit he appear to contemn their prayers , as iacob did , &c. but the reprobate , being denied their requests , do cease to pray , and contemn god , and it may be seek to the devil for what they cannot obtain by god. — such is our tender delicacy and self-love of our own flesh , that those things , which we lightly pass over in others , we can greatly complain of , if they touch our selves . — when the sins of men are rebuked in general , seldome is it that man descendeth within himself , accusing and condemning in himself that , which most displeaseth god ; but rather he doubteth that to be a cause , which before god is no cause indeed ; as the israelites supposed the cause of their overthrow was , because they had lifted the sword against their brethren of benjamin , and yet the express command that was given them , did deliver them from all crime in that cause . — the true cause was their going to execute judgement against the wicked without repentance for their own former offences and defection from god ; and their trusting in their own strength , they were a great multitude , and the other far inferiour to them . — when we were a few , &c. we called upon god , and took him for our protector , defence , and refuge ; among us we had no bragging of multitude , nor of our strength , nor of our policy ; we did onely sob to god to have respect to the equity of our cause , and to the cruel pursuit of the tyrannical enemy . but since that our number hath been multiplied , and great ones joyned with us , nothing hath been heard , but , this lord will bring these many hundred spears ; this man hath the credit to perswade the countrey ; if this eare be ours , no man in such bounds will trouble us . thus we made flesh our arm. — it resteth that we turn to the eternal our god ( who beateth down to the death , that he may raise up again , to leave the remembrance of his wonderous deliverance , to the praise of his own name ) which if we do unfeignedly , i no more doubt , but that this our dolour , confusion , and fear , shall be turned into joy , honour , and boldness , then that god gave victory to the israelites over the benjamites , after that twice with ignominy they were repulsed . yea , whatsoever shall become of us and our mortal carkases , i doubt not but that this cause ( in despight of satan ) shall prevail ; for it is the eternal truth of the eternal god. it may be that god shall plague some ; for that they delight not in the truth , albeit for worldly respects they seem to favour it : yea god may take some of his dearest children away , before that their eyes see greater troubles ; but neither shall the one , nor the other so hinder this action , but in the end it shall triumph . after the taking of kinghorn , at which time the queen regent blasphemously said , where now is iohn knox his god ? my god is now stronger then he even in fife . mr. knox preached a comfortable sermon , on the danger wherein the disciples of christ , when they were in the midst of the sea , and jesus upon the mountain , exhorting them not to faint , but to rowe against the contrary blasts , till that jesus christ should come ; for ( said he ) i am assuredly perswaded , that god will deliver us from this extreme trouble , as that this is the gospel of jesus christ , which i preach unto you this day . the fourth watch is not yet come , abide a little , the boat shall be saved , and peter , which hath left the boat , shall not drown . in his letter to sir william cicil , secretary of state in england . — as from god you have received life , wisdome , and honours , &c. so ought you wholly to apply the same to the advancement of his glory , &c. which alas ! in times past you have not done : for to the suppressing of christs true evangel , to the erecting of idolatry , and to the shedding of the blood of gods most dear children , have you by silence consented and subscribed this your most horrible defection from the known truth and once professed , &c. he hath not dealt with you , as with others , &c. but you guilty in the same offences hath he fostered ( as it were ) in his own bosome , during the time of that most miserable thraldome under queen mary ; and now hath set you at such liberty , as the fury of gods enemies cannot hurt you , except that willingly against his honour , you take pleasure to conspire with them . — god requires of you earnest repentance for your former defection , and an heart mindful of his merciful providence , and a will ready to advance his glory , that evidently it may appear , that in vain you have not received these graces of god. to performance whereof , of necessity it is , that carnal wisdome and worldly policy ( to both which you are too much inclined ) give place to gods naked truth . very love compells me to say , that except the spirit of god purge your heart from that venome , which your eyes have seen destructive to others , that you shall not long escape the reward of dissemblers . — now you are in that estate and credit , in the which you shall either comfort the sorrowful and aff●icted for righteousness sake , or else you shall molest and oppugne the spirit of god speaking in his messengers . the comforters of the afflicted for godliness have promise of comfort in their greatest necessities ; but the troublers of gods servants ( how contemned soever they appear before the world ) are threatned to have their names in execration to the posterities following . — except that in the cause of christs evangel you be found simple , sincere , fervent , and unfeigned , you shall taste of the same cup , which politick heads have drunk in before . — i hear that some of that poor flock , of late assembled in geneva , are so extremely handled , that those who most rudely have shed the blood of gods most dear children , find this day among you greater favours , then they do . alas ! this appeareth much to repugne to christian charity : for whatsoever hath been mine offence , this i fear not to affirm in their cause ; that if any that have suffered exile in those most dolorous dayes of persecution , deserve praise and commendation for peace , concord , sober and quiet living , it is they . — from diep , april . . in his letter to queen elizabeth . — consider deeply how for fear of your life you did decline from god , and bow to idolatry , going to mass under your sister mary her persecution of gods saints . let it not appear a small offence in your eyes , that you have declined from christ jesus in the day of your battel : neither would i that you should esteem that mercy to be vulgar and common , which you have received , viz. that god hath covered your offence , hath preserved your person , when you were most unthankful , and hath exalted you , &c. — commonly it is seen , that such as refuse the counsel of the faithful ( appear it never so sharp ) are compelled to follow the deceit of flatterers to their own perdition . — edinburg , iuly . a. . when mass was permitted to the queen for a time , mr. knox the next sabbath after the first mass , shewed what terrible plagues god had taken upon realms and nations for idolatry , and added , that one mass was more fearful to him , then if ten thousand armed enemies were landed in any part of the realm , of purpose to suppress the whole religion ; for ( said he ) in our god there is strength to resist and confound multitudes , if we unfeignedly depend upon him , whereof heretofore we have had experience ; but when we joyn hands with idolatry , it is no doubt but both gods amiable presence and comfortable defence will leave us , and what shall then become of us ? alas ! i fear that experience will teach us to the grief of many . when god began to make his words good , he did in the audience of many , dec. . ask god mercy that he was not more vehement and upright in suppressing that idol at the beginning ; for ( said he ) albeit i spake that , which offended some ( which this day they see and feel to be true ) yet did i not that , which might have been done ; for god had not onely given me knowledge and a tongue to make known the impiety of that idol , but he had given me credit with many , who would have put in execution gods judgements , if i would onely have consented thereto : but so careful was i of that common tranquility , and so loth was i to offend some , that in secret conference with zealous men i travelled rather to mitigate , yea to slacken that fervency god had kindled in them , then to animate or encourage them to put their hands to the lords work : wherein i acknowledge my self to have done most wickedly , and from the bottome of my heart do ask of my god pardon , that i did not what in me lay to have suppressed that idol in the beginning . when the queen accused him for stirring up her subjects against her mother & her self , and that he was the cause of much sedition & great slaughter in england , and that all he did was by necromancy : madam ( said mr. knox ) may it please your majesty patiently to hear my simple answers : and first , if to teach the word of god in sincerity , if to rebuke idolatry , and to will a people to worship god according to his word , be to raise subjects against their princes , then cannot i be excused ; but if the true knowledge of god and his right worshipping be the chief cause , which must move men to obey their just princess from their heart ( as it is most certain they are ) wherein can i be reprehended ? i think , and am surely perswaded that your majesty hath had , and now hath as unfeigned obedience of such as profess christ jesus within this realm , as ever your father or progenitors had of those that were called bishops . — and now shortly to answer the other two accusations , i heartily praise my god , through jesus christ , that satan , that enemy of mankind , and the wicked of the world , have no other crimes to lay to my charge , then such as the world it self knoweth to be most false and vain . if indeed in any of the places , where i was in england , during the time of my being there , there was either battel , sedition , or mutiny , i shall confess my self a shedder of blood ; but god so blessed my weak labours in barwick ( wherein then commonly used to be slaughter , by reason of quarrels that used to arise among souldiers ) that there was great quietness all the time that i remained there . and whereas they slander me of magick , necromancy , &c. all the congregations that ever heard me , know what i spake against such acts , and those that use such impiety : but seeing my master was accused thus , even that he was possessed with belzebub , i must patiently bear their false accusations . but yet ( said the queen ) you have taught the people to receive another religion , then their princes can allow ; and how can that doctrine be of god , seeing god commandeth subjects to be obedient to their princes ? madam ( said he ) as right religion took neither original , nor antiquity from worldly princes , but from the eternal god alone ; so are not subjects bound to frame their religion according to the appetite of their princes . — daniel and his fellows were subjects to nebuchadnezzar and unto darius , and yet they would not be of their religion . the three children said , we make it known to thee , o king , that we will not worship thy gods . and daniel prayed publickly to his god against the express command of the king. — you are not the church ( said the queen ) that i will nourish : i will defend the church of rome ; for i think it is the true church of god. your will madam ( said he ) is no reason , neither doth your thought make that roman harlot to be the immaculate spouse of jesus christ. and wonder not ( madam ) that i call rome an harlot ; for that church is altogether polluted with all kind of spiritual fornication , &c. yea i offer my self further to prove , that the church of the iews , who crucified christ jesus , when they manifestly denied the son of god , was not so far degenerated from the ordinances and statutes , which god gave by moses and aaron to his people , as the church of rome is declined from the purity of religion , which the apostles taught and planted . — you interpret the scriptures ( said she ) in one manner , and they in another ; whom shall i believe ? who shall be iudge ? believe ( said he ) god that speaketh plainly in his word ; and further then the word teacheth you , ye shall believe neither the one , nor the other . the word of god is plain in it self ; and if there appear any obscurity in one place , the holy ghost , who is never contrarious to himself , explains the same more clearly in other places . when he was accused as one that had irreverently spoken of the queen , and that travelled to bring her into hatred and contempt of the people , and that he had exceeded the bounds of his text. madam ( said he ) if your ears had heard the whole matter that i treated of , if there be in you any spark of the spirit of god , yea of honesty and wisdome , you would not justly be offended with any thing i spake . — my text was this , and now o kings understand , be learned ye iudges of the earth . after ( madam ) i had declared the dignity of kings and rulers , the obedience due to them , i demanded this question , but oh alas ! what account shall the most part of princes make before the supreme judge , whose throne and authority so shamefully they abuse ? the complaint of solomon is this day most true , that violence and oppression do occupy the throne of god on earth ; for whilst that murtherers , blood-thirsty men , oppressors , &c. dare present themselves before kings and princes , and the poor saints of god are banished and exiled , what shall we say , but that the devil hath taken possession in the throne of god , which ought to be ●earful to all wicked doers , and a refuge to the innocent and oppressed : and how can it be otherwise ? for princes will not understand , &c. gods law they despise , his statutes and holy ordinances they will not understand ; for in fidling and singing they are more exercised , then in reading or hearing gods most blessed word . &c. and of dancing ( madam ) i said , that albeit in scripture i find no praise of it , and in profane writers it is termed the gesture rather of those that are mad , then of sober men . yet do i not utterly condemn it , provided that two vices be avoided . ( ) that the principal vocation of those that use that exercise , be not neglected , for the pleasure of dancing . ( ) that they dance not , as the philistines their fathers , for the pleasure that they take in the displeasure of gods people ; for if they do so , they shall receive the reward of dancers , and that will be to drink in hell , unless they speedily repent . so shall god turn their mirth into sudden sorrow ; for god will not alwayes afflict his people , nor wink at the tyranny of tyrants . many that stood by witnessed , that mr. kn●x had recited the very words that publickly he spake . the queen looked about upon some of the reporters , and said , your words are sharp enough , as you have spoken them , but yet they were told me in another manner . — if you hear any thing of my self , that misliketh you , come to my self and tell me , and i shall hear you . madam ( said he ) i am called to a publick function within the church of god , and appointed by god to rebuke the sins of all . i am not appointed to come to every man in particular to shew him his offence ; for that labour were infinite . if your majesty pleaseth to frequent the publick sermons , then i doubt not but you shall fully understand , both what i like and mislike , as well in your majesty as in all others . or if your majesty will assign me a certain day and hour when it shall please you to hear the form and substance of doctrine , which is proposed in publick to the churches of this realm , i will most gladly wait upon your majesties pleasure , time , and place ; but to come and wait upon your chamber door , or elsewhere , and then to have no farther liberty , but to whisper my mind in your majesties ear , or to tell you what others think or speak of you , neither will my conscience , nor the vocation whereto god hath called me , suffer it . mr. knox departed with a reasonable merry countenance , whereat some papists offended , said , he is not afraid ; which heard by him , he answered , why should the pleasant face of a lady afray me ? i have looked in the faces of many angry men , and yet have not been afraid above measure . when the courtiers pickt quarrels against the preachers for reprehending avarice , oppression , excess , riotous cheer , banquetting , immoderate dancing , and whoredome , that thereof ensues , which then began to abound at court , alledging , that all their preaching was turned into railing . mr. knox told them ; it cometh to our ears , that we are called railers , whereof albeit we wonder , yet we are not ashamed , seeing that the most worthy servants of god , that before us have travelled in this vocation , have so been stiled ; but unto you do i say , that the same god , who from the beginning hath punished the contempt of his word , and hath poured forth his vengeance on such proud mockers , shall not spare you ; yea , he shall not spare you before the eyes of this wicked generation , for the pleasure whereof ye despise all wholesome admonition . have you not seen greater then any of you sitting where ye sit ( earl huntly ) pick his nails , and pull down his bonnet over his eyes , when idolatry , witchcraft , murder , oppression , &c. were rebuked ? was not this his common talk ? when these knaves have railed their fill , then will they hold their peace . have ye not heard it affirmed to his own face , that god should revenge that his blasphemy , even in the eyes of such as were witness to his iniquity ? by your hands hath god executed the judgement threatned . but what amendment can be espied in you ? idolatry was never in greater quiet , vertue and vertuous men never in more contempt , vice was never more bold , nor punishment less feared . and yet who guides the queen and court ? who but protestants ? o horrible slanderers of god , and of his holy evangel ! better it were unto you plainly to renounce christ jesus , then thus to expose his blessed evangel to mockage . if god punisheth not you that this same age shall see your punishment , the spirit of righteous judgement guides me not . when the queen sent for mr. knox , and would have him to perswade the people , especially the gentlemen of the w●st , not to put hand to punish any for using themselves in their religion as pleased them : he willed her majesty to punish male-factours according to the laws , and he durst promise quietness upon the part of them that professed the lord jesus within scotland ; but if her majesty thought to delude the laws , he said , he feared some would let the p●●ists understand , that without punishment they should not be suffered so manifestly to offend gods majesty . — i shall cause ( said the queen ) to summon all offenders , and ye shall know that i shall minister justice . i am assured then ( said he ) that ye shall please god , and enjoy rest and tranquillity within your realm , which to your majesty is more profitable , then all the popes power can be . in his letter to the earl of murray . — seeing i perceive my self frustrate of my expectation , which was , that you should ever have preferred god to your own affection , and the advancement of his truth to your own commodity , i commit you to your wit , and to the conducting of those which can better please you . — in a sermon concerning the queens marriage , he said , whensoever the nobility of scotland , who profess the lord jesus , consent that an infidel ( and all papists be infidels ) shall be head to our sovereign , ye do , so far as in you lies , banish christ jesus from this realm ; yea , bring gods vengeance on the countrey , a plague upon your selves , and perchance you shall do small comfort to your sovereign . when he was upon that account brought before the queen ; madam ( said he ) when it shall please god to deliver you from that bondage of darkness and errour , wherein ye have been nourished for lack of true doctrine , your majesty will find the liberty of my tongue nothing offensive . out of the pulpit i think few have occasion to be offended at me ; but there i am not master of my self , but must obey him , who commands me to speak plain , and to flatter no flesh upon the face of the earth . but what have you to do ( said she ) with my marriage ? i am sent ( said he ) to preach the evangel of iesus christ to such as please to hear . it hath two parts , repentance and faith. now , madam , in preaching of repentance , of necessity it is that the sins of men be noted , that they may know wherein they offend : but so it is , that the most part of your nobility are so addicted to your affections , that neither gods word , nor yet their commonwealth are rightly regarded ; and therefore it becometh me to speak that they may know their duty . ( and so he repeated to her self what he had said in publick ) whereupon the queen wept ; but when she had given place to her inordinate passions , mr. knox said , madam , in gods presence i speak , i never delighted in the weeping of any of gods creatures , &c. much less can i rejoyce in your majesties weeping ; but seeing i have given you no just occasion to be offended , but have spoken the truth , as my vocation craves of me , i must sustain your majesties tears , rather then i dare hurt my conscience , or betray the commonwealth by silence . about that time he p●ayed thus . — deliver us o lord from the bondage of idolatry . preserve and keep us from the tyranny of strangers . continue us in peace and concord among our selves , if thy good pleasure be , o lord , for a season . being asked , why he prayed for quietness for a season , and not absolutely ? his answer was , that he durst not pray , but in faith , and faith in gods word assured him , that constant quietness would not continue in that realm , wherein idolatry had been suppressed , and then was permitted to be erected again . the master of maxwell telling him , that he would not find that men will bear with him in times to come , as they had done in times past ; if ( said he ) god stand my friend , as i am assured he of his mercy will , so long as i depend upon his promise , and prefer his glory to my life and worldly profit , i little regard how men behave themselves towards me , &c. — the earl of murray , and the secretary sent for mr. knox , and lamented that he had so highly offended the queen by writing letters , desiring the brethren from all parts to convene at edinburg , that there was no hope for him , unless he would confess his offence , and put himself in her majesties will. i praise god through jesus christ ( said he ) i have learned not to fear the things that the godless multitude fear . i have the testimony of a good conscience , that i have given no offence to the queen ; for i have done nothing but my duty , and so my hope is , that my god will give me patience to bear what will ensue . when he was called before the queen and her council , the secretary lethington told him , the queen was informed , that he travelled to raise a tumult of her subjects against her , and for certification thereof , produced one of his letters , which he owned . then said the secretary , mr. knox , are not you sorry from your heart , that such a letter hath passed your pen , &c. before i repent ( said he ) i must be taught my offence . offence ( said lethington ) if there were no more but the vocation of the queens leiges , the offence cannot be denied . remember your self , my lord , ( said knox ) there is a difference betwixt a lawfull and an unlawfull vocation . if i have been guilty in this , i have oft offended since i came last into scotland ; for what vocation of brethren hath ever been since , to which my pen hath not served ? and before this no man laid it to my charge as a crime . then was then ( said lethington ) and now is now , we have no need of such vocation , as sometimes we have had . the time that hath been ( said knox ) is now before my eyes ; for i see the poor flock in no less danger , then it hath been at any time before ; except that the devil hath gotten a vizard upon his face , before he came in with his own face , discovered by open tyranny , seeking the destruction of all that refused idolatry , and then i think you will confess , the brethren lawfully assembled themselves for defence of their lives ; and now the devil comes under the cloak of justice , to do that which god would not suffer him to do by strength , by crafty deceit , making the prince party , &c. after a long conference between the queen and mr. knox , the secretary told him , he might return to his house for that night . i thank god and the queens majesty ( said he ) and madam , i pray god to purge your heart from papistry , and to preserve you from the counsel of ●latterers ; for how pleasant soever they appear to your ear and corrupt affections for the time , experience hath taught us , in what perplexity they have brought famous princes . after he was gone , the nobility in the presence of the queen absolved mr. knox. in his prayer for the queen . — o lord , if thy good pleasure be , purge the heart of the queen : majesty from the venome of idolatry , and deliver her from the thraldome and bondage of satan , into the which she hath been brought up , and yet remains , for the lack of true doctrine ; and let her see by the illumination of thy spirit , that there is no means to please thee , but by jesus christ thy onely son , and that jesus christ cannot be found but in thy holy word ; nor yet received , but as it prescribes , which is , to renounce our own wisdome , and preconceived opinion , and worship thee as it commands ; that in so doing she may avoid the eternal damnation which is ordained for all obstinate impeniten●s ; and that this poor realm may also escape that plague and vengeance which inevitably followeth idolatry , maintained against the manifest word , and the light thereof . secretary lethington was offended at two things therein . ( ) because he prayed for the queen conditionally , if it be thy good pleasure , &c. where have ye an example of such a prayer ? mr. knox answered , wheresoever the examples are , i am sure of the rule , which is this ; if we shall ask any thing according to his will , he shall grant us . — i have learned to pray in faith ; now faith ( you know ) depends upon the word of god ; and so it is , that the word of god teacheth me , that prayer profiteth the sons and daughters of gods election . — besides , did not the apostles pray as they commanded others to pray ? now peter commanded simon magus to pray conditionally , if it be p●ssible , &c. ( ) where find ye that the scriptures call any the bond-slaves of satan ( said the secretary ) or that the prophets of god spake of kings and princes so irreverently ? the scripture saith ( said mr. knox ) that by nature we are all the children of wrath , and our master christ affirms , that such as do sin , are servants to sin , &c. behold , i send thee ( saith christ to paul ) to the gentiles , to turn them from the power of satan unto god. — kings and queens are not excepted , but all unfaithfull are pronounced to stand in one rank , and to be in bondage to one tyrant the devil . — elisha was a subject in the kingdome of israel , and yet how little reverence did he give to the king ? he feared not to say to king iehoram , what have i to do with thee ? &c. as the lord of hosts liveth , in whose sight i stand , if it were not that i regard the presence of jehoshaphat , the king of judah , i would not have looked toward thee , &c. — lethington telling him , that we are not bound to follow extraordinary examples , unless we have the like command , &c. i grant ( said mr. knox ) if the example repugne the law ; as if a covetous man should borrow silver , raiment , &c. from his neighbour , and withhold the same , alledging the example of the israelites in egypt , &c. but where the example agrees with the law , &c. it stands to us in place of a commandement ; for as god in his nature is constant and immutable , so cannot he condemn in the ages subsequent , that which he hath approved in his servants before us . — lethington telling him , that prosperity doth not alwaies prove , that god approves the facts of men . yes ( said he ) when the facts of men agree with the law of god , and are rewarded according to his own promise expressed in his law , the prosperity that succeeds them is a most infallible assurance , that god hath approved them . — upon the nineteenth of august an. . a little while after the queen was married to the lord darley , who to please the protestants , came to church , mr knox preached upon isa. . , , , , &c. wherein he said , that god sets in government ( for the offences and ingratitude of the people ) boyes and women , and that god justly punished ahab and his posterity , because lie would not take order with that harlot iezabel ; for which sermon he was called in question , and in answering said more then he had preached ; for he added , that as the king had ( to please the queen ) gone to mass , and dishonoured the lord god , so should god in his justice make her an instrument of his ruine ; and so it fell out in a very short time . but the queen being incensed at these words , to please her he was forbid to preach for a time . this sermon he took care to have it printed , to make known to the world what ground there was to deal so with him , as he tells us . in his epistle to the reader . — i dare not deny ( least that in so doing i should be injurious to the giver ) but that god hath revealed to me secrets , unknown to the world , and also that he hath made my tongue a trumpet , to forewarn realms and nations , yea , certain great revelations of mutations and changes , when no such things were feared , nor yet was appearing : a portion whereof cannot the world deny ( be it never so blind ) to be fulfilled ; and the rest alas ! i fear , shall follow with greater hast , and in more full perfection then my sorrowfull heart desireth . notwithstanding these revelations and assurances , i did ever abstain to commit any thing to writing , contented onely to have obeyed the charge of him , who commanded me to cry . if any then will ask to what purpose this onely sermon is set forth , and greater matters omitted , i answer , to let such , as satan hath not altogether blinded , see , upon how small occasions great offence is now conceived . for this sermon ( from my bed ) i was called before the council , and after long reasoning , i was by some forbidden to preach in edinburg , so long as the king and queen were in town . — the sermon he writ for the press the last day of august . when the castle of edinburg was shooting against the exiled for christs sake ; and therefore he concluded thus ; lord into thy hands i commend my spirit , for the terrible roaring of guns , and the noise of armour do so pierce my heart , that my soul thirsteth to depart . be merciful to thy flock , o lord , and at thy good pleasure put an end to my misery . the next sabbath , after the earl of murray was slain , a note was sent to mr. knox , among the papers , wherein were written the names of those that desired the prayers of the church , with these words , take up the man , whom ye accounted another god . at the end of his sermon he bemoaned the loss that the church and state of scotland received by the death of that man , and said , that as god in his mercy giveth good and wise rulers , so he taketh them away in his wrath ; and then added , there is one in this company , that maketh the subject of his mirth this horrible murder , whereat all good men have cause to be sorry : i tell him , he shall die where there shall be none to lament him . the young gentleman that writ the note , hearing this comination , went home and said to his sister , that iohn knox was raving to speak of he knew not whom . his sister replied with tears in her eyes , telling him , that none of iohn knox's threatnings fell to the ground without effect : and so it fell out in this particular ; for this mr. thomas metellan shortly after went beyond sea to travel , and died in italy , having no known man to assist him , much less to lament him . he told his people , it was his desire to finish and close his preaching with preaching upon the history of christs passion . in his last sermon to his people at edinburg , ( which was preached at the election of mr. iames lawson to succeed him , to whom he had writ thus ; accelera mi frater , alioqui sero venies ; make haste , brother , otherwise you will come too late ; meaning , that if he made any stay , he should find him dead and gone . he called god to witness , that he had walked in a good conscience among them , not seeking to please men , nor serving his own or other mens affections , but in all sincerity and truth preached the gospel of christ most gravely and pithily , exhorting them to stand fast in the faith which they had received . in his sickness he said unto the earl of morton , who came to visit him ; my lord , god hath given you wisdome , honour , high birth , riches , many good and great friends , and is now to prefer you to the government of the realm . in his name i charge you , that you will use these blessings better in time to come , then you have done in times past : in all your actions seek first the glory of god , the furtherance of his gospel , the maintenance of his church and ministry ; next be carefull of the king , and the welfare of the realm . if you shall do this , god will be with you , and honour you : if otherwise you do it not , he will deprive you of all these benefits , and your end shall be shame and ignominy . these speeches the earl about nine years after , at the time of his execution , called to mind , saying , that he had found them true , and mr. knox therein a true prophet . a day or two before his death , he sent for mr. lindsay , mr. lawson , and the elders and deacons of the church , and said unto them , the time is approaching , for which i have long thirsted , wherein i shall be released from all my cares , and be with my saviour christ for ever ; and now god is my witness , whom i have served with my spirit in the gospel of his son , that i have taught nothing but the true and sincere word of god , the true and solid doctrine of the gospel ; and that the end i proposed in all my doctrine was , to instruct the ignorant , to confirm the weak , to comfort the consciences of those who were humbled under the sense of their sins , and born down with the threatnings of gods judgements . such as were proud and rebellious ; i am not ignorant , have blamed , and do yet blame my too great rigour and severity ; but god knoweth , that in my heart i never hated the persons of those , against whom i thundred gods judgements , i did onely hate their sins , and laboured according to my power to gain them to christ. that i did forbear none of whatsoever condition , i did it out of the fear of my god , who hath placed me in the ministry , and i know will bring me to an account . now brethren , for your selves , i have no more to say , but to warn you to take heed to the flock , over which god hath placed you overseers , which he hath redeemed with the blood of his onely begotten son. and now mr. lawson , fight a good fight , do the work of the lord with courage , and with a willing mind , and god from above bless you , and the church whereof you have charge : against it ( so long as it continueth in the doctrine of the truth ) the gates of hell shall not prevail . this spoken , and the elders and deacons dismissed , he called ▪ the two preachers to him , and said , there is one thing that grieveth me exceedingly ; you have sometimes seen the courage and constancy of the laird of grange , in the cause of god , and that most unhappy man hath cast himself away . i pray you two to take the pains to go to him , and say from me , that unless he forsake that wicked course , wherein he is entred , neither shall the rock , in which he confideth , defend him ; nor the carnal wisdome of that man , whom he counteth half a god ( this was young lethington ) yield him help , but shamefully he shall be pulled out of that nest , and his carkass hang before the sun ( and so it fell out ; for the next year , the castle which he did keep against the kings authority , was taken , and he hanged before the sun ) the soul of that man is dear unto me ; and if it be possible , i would fain have him saved . they went , but could not prevail ; yet at his death , he did express serious repentance for his sins . the next day he was much in prayer , crying , come lord jesus , sweet jesus , into thy hands i commend my spirit . being asked by those about him , if his pains were great , he answered , that he did not esteem that a pain , which should be unto him the end of all troubles , and beginning of eternal joyes . oftentimes , after some deep meditations , he burst forth in these words , o serve the lord in fear and death shall not be troublesome unto you : blessed is the death of those that have part in the death of christ. in the evening , having slept some hours together , but with great unquietness ; for he was heard to send forth many sighs and groans . being asked , after he awaked , how he did find himself , and what it was that made him to mourn so heartily in his sleep ? he answered , in my life time i have oft been assaulted with satan , & many times he hath cast in my teeth my sins , to bring me to despair ; yet god gave me strength to overcome all his temptations : and now that subtile serpent , who never ceaseth to tempt , hath taken another course , and seeks to perswade me , that all my labours in the ministry , and the fidelity that i have shewn in that service , hath merited heaven and immortality : but blessed be god , that brought to my mind these scriptures , what hast thou , that thou hast not received ? and not i , but the grace of god in me . with which he is gone away ashamed , and shall no more return . and now i am sure my battel is at an end ; and that without pain of body , or trouble of spirit , i shall shortly change this mortal and miserable life , with that happy and immortal , which never shall have end . after one had prayed for him , he was ask'd whether he heard the prayer ? he answered , would to god that ye had heard it with such an ear and heart as i have done : adding , lord jesus receive my spirit . with which words , without any motion of hands or feet , as one falling asleep , rather then dying , he ended his life . when he was buried , the earl of morton being near the grave , said by way of epitaph , here lies the body of him , who in his life time never feared the face of man. l. lalaeus . simon lalaeus to silvester his executioner said , never saw i a man in all my life , whose coming was more welcome to me then thine . silvester , seeing the great faith and constancy of this blessed martyr , was converted , and with all his family removed to the church at geneva . lambert . the first article against him was , whether he was suspect or infamed of heresie ? unto your first demand ( said he ) i answer , that i am not certain what all persons at all seasons have deemed or suspected of me ; peradventure some better , some worse . the opinion of the people was never one , but thought diversly of all the famous prophets , and of the apostles , yea and of christ himself : some saying that he was a very good man ; others said nay , and called him a seducer , &c. seeing therefore that all men did not say well by christ , the author of verity and truth , yea truth it self , &c. what should i need to regard , if at some time some person for a little cause should suspect of me amiss , and evil report of me ? &c. woe be unto you , when all men speak well of you ; for so did their fathers to the false prophets . — in his answer to their second demand . — our prelates have sent out commandments , that if any person shall adventure to keep any of luther's books , they shall be excommunicated , &c. but this is no novelty ; for so did their fore-fathers the prelates in christs time , &c. when christ went about preaching , the scribes and pharisees , who were prelates then , gave a general command , that whosoever confessed him to be christ , should be put out of the synagogue , &c. the apostles were in like manner served . in the old testament they procured of one , that was a temporal ruler at that season , to have the prophecy of ieremy ( for he of all other is most vehement against the dissimulation of priests ) to be burned . — if they had the spirit of christ , which they claim and pretend to , they would follow the counsel of the apostles , to prove all things , and to retain that onely which is good , refraining from all that hath semblance of evil ; and to try the spirits of them that should speak , whether they were of god , or no. — the priests ( saith chrysostome on matthew ) that were pharisees in christs time , made a●● ordinance , that whosoever should acknowledge i●s●● to be christ , should be excommunicate . if the ph●risees or priests , that now do occupy their rooms , should make a like ordinance , because they would not have christs doctrine professed for hindring their lucre , should we leave off to seek after the knowledge of christs doctrine ? no verily . — when it was objected against hierom , that he retained by him the works of eusebius and origen , he bringeth to prove , that it was lawful for him that passage of the apostle , prove all things , &c. — these things prove , that i and others may safely ( no good law inhibiting , but constitutions pharisaical ) read the works of luther , &c. in his answer to their fifth demand . — it is evident from christs words , when you have done all things commanded , say yet you be unprofitable servants , &c. that he would not have us esteem our merits , when we have done what is commanded by god , but reckon our selves to be servants unprofitable to god , forasmuch as he hath no need of our well doing for his own advancement , &c. and if we ought not to attend our merits in doing the commandment of god , much less in observing our own inventions , or traditions of men , unto which there is no benefit in all scripture , which paul calleth the word of truth and faith , promised . in his answer to the sixth demand . — that they will not suffer marriage to be solemnized at all times of the year ; i think it standeth not with christs rule , but rather is against the same . — it ought also freely to be administred , and without mony . — in the primitive church ( as ancient doctors deem , and the scripture in mine opinion recordeth the same ) there were no more officers in the churches of god then bishops and deacons . hierome in his com. on the epistles of paul saith , that those whom we call priests were none other then bishops , and the bishops none other then priests , &c. neither were they chosen , as they be now adayes , &c. but they were chosen not onely of the bishop , but with the consent of the people , among whom they should have their living , as sheweth cyprian , and the people ought to have power ( as he saith ) to chuse priests , &c. but alas ! such elections are now banished , and new fashions brought in . in his answer to the thirteenth demand . — i say that there is a purgatory in this world , the fire of tribulation , through which all christians shall pass , as testifies paul , whose testimony is full , notable , and true , albeit that few do know it , and fewer will believe it , that all that will live godly in christ iesus shall suffer persecution . in this purgatory do i now reckon my self to stand ; god send me well to persevere unto his honour . of this speaketh st. peter , — for a season ye are sundry wayes afflicted and tormented , that the trial of your faith , &c. though it be tried with fire , might be found unto laud , glory , and honour , at the appearing of iesus christ , &c. other purgatory know i none . — in his answer to the seventeenth demand . — forsomuch as no positive law of man , made without foundation of scripture , may bind any person , so that in breaking of such he shall therefore sin deadly , and of this sort made by man is the fast of lent , and other dayes ordained in your laws without authority of scripture , &c. — in his answer to the one and twentieth demand . — men may be wrongfully suspected of heresie , as the bishops and priests , with their oratour tertullus suspected paul , &c. and their predecessors spake of the prophets , yea , and of christ himself , calling him a seducer and preacher of heresie . men being thus suspected , ought in no wise therefore to cease preaching , as is evident in the instance of peter and iohn , &c. which is written without doubt for our instruction , so that thereby you may see when men be wrongfully suspected or in●amed of heresie , and so prohibited by bishops to preach the word of god , that they ought for no mans commandment to leave or stop , &c. — in his answer to the two and twentieth demand . — priests have two names in scripture , pres●yteri & sacerdo●es . they are most usually called presbyteri , who are set to be prelates in the church , to guide the same by his blessed word . and priests thus called presbyteri in the primitive church ( what time were but few traditions and ordinances to let us from the strait institution made by christ and his apostles ) were the very same and none other but bishops . — as many as are in this wise priests , ought to preach freely the word of god in all places and times convenient , &c. others be called priests by this word sacerdotes , and thus be all christians , &c. these ought not all to preach openl● in general assemblies , &c. yet privately are they bound for instruction of their servants , children , kinsfolk , &c. to speak that should be for the destruction of vice , and upholding and increase of vertue , &c. — notwithstanding this i say , both by supportation of gods law , and also of laws written in the d●crees , that in time of great necessity lay people may preach , &c. — in his answer to the four and twentieth demand . — excommunication bindeth before god , if it be lawfully denounced , if the persons be guilty , and if it be done with the consent of others gathered with the bishop in christs name for the behoof of christs church ; for so used st. paul in excommunicating the incestuous corinthian , and christ requireth , &c. so that excommunication ought to be done ( as methinketh ) by the congregation assembled together with their pastour , whose advice they ought principally to esteem and follow , if it be vertuous and godly . in his answer to the thirtieth demand . — where you speak of prelates deputies , i think such be little behoveful to christs flock . it were right and necessary , that as the prelates themselves will have the revenues , &c. they should themselves labour and teach diligently the word of god , and not shift the labour from one to another , till ( pity it is ) all be left undone . such doth saint iohn call thieves and murtherers , &c. — god would have every man get his living by the sweat of his own face , i. e. by his labour , according to his estate and calling . — in his answer to the five and thirtieth demand . — that one singular person may judge more rightly , then a great multitude assembled in a council , appeareth by gods law , and by the law of man. caiaphas is one instance ; a whole council did submit to his sentence . gamaliel is another . agreeable to this we find in the decrees , dist. . the whole council of nice commending the sentence of paphnutius , and upon this , that paphnutius did resist and prevail against the whole council ; the gloss notes , that one singular person may gain-say an universal generality , having a reasonable cause on his side . panormitane also gives his suffrage . i would ( saith he ) rather believe one lay person , bringing in for him authority of scripture , then universal council , that ordaineth a thing without scripture . in his answer to the five and fortieth demand . — concerning opinions or conclusions i can tell you of none other then i have shewed : the sum whereof i think concluded in these two scripture propositions , ( ) christ is the head corner-stone of our faith , whereupon it should be grounded , neither is there salvation in any other , &c. ( ) men do worship god in vain , teaching doctrines and precept or laws humane . thus i certifie you of all the opinions and conclusions which i intend or have intended to sustain , and not to decline from , neither for fear , nor yet for love of man or men . — these answers of mr. lambert the five and forty articles against him were directed and delivered to dr. warham arch bishop of canterbury , about the year . from the danger he was in at that time he was delivered by the death of dr. warham ; but falling into fresh troubles through the indiscretion of dr. tailor and dr. barnes , to make the quicker work ( following the precedent of st. paul , appealing to caesar ) he appeals to the king : who having lately taken upon him the title of the supreme head of the church of england , would shew that head had a tongue could speak in matters of divinity . in whitehall the place and day is appointed , where an act-royal was kept , the king himself being opponent , and lambert the answerer . when the king commanded him to declare his mind , &c. he gave god thanks , which had so inclined the heart of the king , that he himself would not disdain to hear , and understand the controversies of religion ; for that it hapneth oftentimes , through the cruelty of the bishops , that many good and innocent men in many places are privily murthered and put to death without the kings knowledge . but now forasmuch as that high and eternal king of kings , in whose hands are the hearts of all princes , hath stirred up the kings mind , that he himself will be present to understand the causes of his subjects . i do not doubt , but that god will bring some great thing to pass through him , to the setting forth of the glory of his name . when the king was worsted and wearied , arch bishop cranmer supplied his place , arguing though civilly , shrewdly against the truth ; and ( saith dr. fuller ) his own private judgement : which was worse ( saith the same author ) then keeping the clothes of those who killed stephen , seeing this arch bishop did actually cast stones at this martyr in the arguments he urged against him . yet after his whole body was reduced to ashes , his heart was found entire and untouched ; an argument of his cordial integrity to the truth , though fear too much prevailed , and too often on him . after the dispute was ended , the king said unto him , what sayest thou now ? art thou yet satisfied ? wilt thou live or die ? what sayest thou ? thou hast yet free choice . mr. l●mbert answered , i commend my soul unto the hands of god , but my body i wholly yield and submit to your clemency . the king notwithstanding commanded the lord cromwell to re●d the sentence of condemnation against him . and it is very observable , that through the pestiferous and crafty counsel of gardiner , satan ( who oftentimes raiseth up one brother to destroy another ) brought about the death of this martyr by such , viz. tailor , barnes , cranmer , and cromwell , who afterwards suffered the like for the gospels sake . after his legs were consumed and burned to the stumps , he lifting up such hands as he had , and his fingers ends flaming with fire , cried unto the people in these words , none but christ , none but christ. mr. clement cotton in his epistle to the reader , before his none but christ notes , that these words were uttered by mr. lambert , as the triumphant voice of faith , after that he had through the power of christ put to flight the fear of hell , sin , and death , &c. as by doubling of them may appear : and that by way of imitation ( not tying any to syllables ) they well beseem the thoughts and speeches also of every christian , upon sure and safe grounds , as in their daily , so even in their last conflicts to be taken up and used . latimer . after mr. hugh latimer was converted , and was become famous for preaching the word , dr. redman wrote to him to disswade him : to which letter he returned the following answer ; reverend mr. redman , it is enough for me , that christs seep hear no mans voice but christs ; and as for you you have no voice of christ against me , whereas for my part i have an heart ready to hearken to any voice of christ , that you can bring me . thus fare you well , and trouble me no more from talking with the lord my god. when he was cited to appear before dr. warham , arch bishop of canterbury , &c. and kept in london from his charge at west kingston in wiltshire , he wrote to the arch bishop , expostulating the case with him thus . — if peter thought it just , that by reason of his office he should not cease to teach and admonish the people , whilst he should be in this tabernacle , and that he should be so much the more instant therein , the nearer he drew to death . it cannot but seem unjust that those , that will not preach themselves , should hinder those that are willing , unless they be throughout conformable to their wills . — whatsoever i may suffer for the truth cannot trouble me ; for god liveth , and he hath taken the care of me . — o that we were as diligent in , & as much devoted to what god requires , as our own inventions . — hitherto i stand immoveable for gods commands , and so seek not my own gain or glory , but christs , and so shall stand whilst i breath . — who doth not see a manifest abuse of many things ? and seeing , grieve not because thereof ? and grieving , doth not labour the removal thereof ? and when shall it be removed , whilst the use is preached up , and the abuse concealed ? the truth is the abuse cannot but so long reign . — go forth and teach all things ( saith christ ) what all things ? all things ( saith he ) which i commanded you ; he doth not say all things , that shall seem unto your selves fit to be preached . go to therefore i beseech you by the immortal god , let us all and every one intend with all our soul to preach what god requireth , lest we become adulterators and hucksters of preaching , rather then true preachers ; especially seeing men are most dull towards the things of god , and most ready for their own things , needing no spurs at all , being deceived by an unjust estimation of things , and an innate superstition , received from fore-fathers , which can scarce be healed by any preaching , though frequent , earnest , and sincere . hence i dare not subscribe to the rude propositions ; because i dare not be a means of the continuing of popular superstition , lest i be the author of my own damnation thereby . — it is not i assure you any pride that hinders me from that subscription , which your lordship hath so often to my very great grief required of me . it cannot but be wicked not to obey the fathers of the church ; but yet they must see what and wherein they command , seeing it is said in a certain place , we ought to obey god rather then man. — the rude propositions ( as he calls them ) to which he was required to subscribe , may be seen in mr. fox in the same page . in a sermon of his at stamford , octob. . . he hath the following words concerning the crafty and deceitfull handling of those bishops in his examinations , and what subtile devices they used to intrap him . i was once ( saith he ) in examination before five or six bishops , where i had much turmoiling . every week thrice i came to examination , and many snares and traps were laid to get something . now god knoweth i was ignorant of the law , but that god gave me answer and wisdome what i should speak . it was god indeed ; for else i had never escaped them . at last the chamber wherein i was wont to be examined was somewhat altered ; whereas there was wont to be a fire in the chimney , now there was none but arras was hanged over the chimney . a subtile question being propounded to me ; i pray you mr. latimer ( said one ) speak out , i am very thick of hearing , and here be many that sit afar off . i marvelled at this , that i was bid speak out , and began to suspect somewhat , and gave an ear to the chimney , and there i heard a pen moving , they having appo●nted one there to write all my answers . god was my good lord , and gave me answer , i could never else have scaped it . after he was made bishop of w●rcester , he was accused before the king , the story whereof he gives us in a sermon he preached afterwards , before king edward . in the kings dayes that is dead ( saith he ) many of us were called together before him to say our minds in certain matters . in the end one kneeling down , accuseth me for preaching seditious doctrine . a heavy salutation . the king turned to me and said ; what say you to that sir ? then i kneeled down , and turned me first to my accuser , and said , sir , what form of preaching would you appoint me in preaching before a king ? would you have me preach nothing as concerning a king in the king's sermon ? — then turning to the king , i said , i never thought my self worthy , nor did i ever sue to be a preacher before your grace , but i was called to it , &c. and if your grace allow me for a preacher , i would desire your grace to give me leave to discharge my conscience , and to frame my doctrine according to my audience . — and i thank almighty god ( which hath alwayes been my remedy ) that my sayings were well accepted of the king , &c. it is even as the scripture saith , the lord directeth the kings heart . certain of my friends came to me with tears in their eyes , and told me they looked i should have been in the tower the same night . upon the coming in of the six articles , he did of his own free accord resign his bishoprick , and so was silent till king edward's dayes . at what time he first put off his rocket in his chamber among his friends , suddenly he gave a skip in the floor for joy , feeling his shoulders so light , and being discharged ( as he said ) of such an heavy burden . in king edward's dayes he was a diligent preacher , and an hard student at his study about two of the clock in the morning , winter and summer , though his body had been sore bruised by the fall of a tree , and he above sixty seven years of age ) and by the same spirit he did so evidently foreshew and prophesie of all those plagues , which a●terward ensued , that if england ever had a prophet , he was one . as touching himself , he ever affirmed , that the preaching of the gospel would cost him his li●e , to the which he no less chearfully prepared himself , then certainly was perswaded that winch●ster was kept in the tower for that purpose , as the event did too truly prove the same . it may be queried , seeing that latimer was outed of his bishoprick in the dayes of king henry the eighth , on the account of the sixth article , why was he not restored to the same under king edward the sixth , especiall seeing heath his successour was legally deprived , and the place actually void ; whereas on the contrary , hugh latimer continued hugh latimer , without any addition of preferment ? a late ecclesiastical historian answers , it was not for want of any favour from the king , &c. nor because his down-right sermons disobliged the courtiers , who generally delight in soft preaching , as in soft clothing ; nor out of sullenness , because he would not be bedded again with that wife , which ( though unwillingly ) had in his absence embraced another , &c. but we impute it either to his conscience ( oft-times sharpest in the bluntest men ) because he would not be built on the ruines of another , especially knowing heath one of a meek and moderate nature ; or to his age , who barzillai like was superannuated for earthly honour , &c. or because he found himself not fit for government , better for preaching , then ordering ecclesi●stical affairs : or lastly , because he prophetically foresaw , that the ingratitude of the english nation would shorten their happiness , and king edward's life ; and he was loth to come into a place , onely to go out thereof . sure i am it was a loud lye , which parsons tells , that latimer was kept bare . he kept himself bare , living not in the want but neglect , yea contempt of all worldly wealth ; though he was the corban or treasury , into which restored-ill-gotten-goods were cast to be bestowed on the poor , according to his discretion . at the coming of queen mary ( by the means no doubt of winchester ) a pursevant was sent down to cite him to appear at london , of which iohn carles gave him notice six hours before ; yet he would not escape , but prepared himself for his journey before the said messenger came to his house , at which the pursevant wondred : thereupon he said unto him ; my friend , you be a welcome messenger to me . and be it known unto you , and to all the world , that i go as willingly to london at this present , being called by my prince to render an account of my doctrine , as ever i was at any place in the world . i doubt not , but that god , as he hath made me worthy to preach his word before two excellent princes , so will he enable me to witness the same unto the third , either to her comfort or discomfort eternally , &c. as he came up to london through smithfield , without the pursevant ( for he having delivered his letters , departed , affirming , that he had command not to tarry for him ; whereby it is evident they would have had him fled out of the realm ) he said merrily , that smithfield had long groaned for him . in the tower being kept without fire in the frosty weather , he bade the lieutenant's man tell his master , that if he did not look better to him , perhaps he would deceive him . the lieutenant charging him with these words ; his answer was , i did indeed say so ; for you look , i think , that i should burn ; but except you let me have some fire , i am like to deceive your expectation , for i am like here to starve for cold . from the tower he was transported to oxford with archbishop cranmer , and bishop ridley to dispute with the learned men of both universities about the presence , substance , and sacrifice of the sacrament . when he was brought before the commissioners , and appointed to dispute , he alledged age , sickness , disuse and lack of books , saying , that he was almost as meet to dispute , as to be a captain of calice ; but he would ( he said ) declare his mind either by writing or word , and would stand to all that they could lay upon his back , complaining , that he was permitted to have neither pen nor ink , nor any book , but onely the new testament , then in his hand , which ( he said ) he had read over seven times deliberately , and yet could not find the mass in it , neither the marrow-bones , nor the sinewes of the same . when he was brought to dispute , in the close of his protestation , which he delivered to dr. weston in writing , saying , let me here protest my faith , for i am not able to dispute , and afterwards do your pleasure with me . he hath these words ; o sir , you may chance to live till you come to this age and weakness , that i am of . i have spoken in my time before two kings , more then once , two , or three hours together , without interruption , but now i could not be suffered to declare my mind before you , no not by the space of a quarter of an hour , without snatchings , revilings , checks , rebukes , and taunts . — i pray god give you grace ever well to use your gifts , and ever to remember , that he that dwelleth on high , looketh on the low things on the earth , and that there is no counsel against the lord ; and also that this world hath been , and yet is a tottering world : and that though we must obey princes , yet in the lord ; for who so doth obey them against the lord , they be most pernicious to them , and the greatest adversaries that they have ; for they so procure gods vengeance on them , if god be onely the ruler of things . — i would as fain obey my sovereign , as any in this realm ; but in these things i can never do it with an upright conscience . god be mercifull to us . amen . then ( said west●n ) you refuse to dispute , will you here then subscribe . no , good master ( said mr. latimer ) i pray be good to an old man , you may , if it please god , be once as old as i am ; you may come to this age , and to this debility . dr. cartwright telling him , that he was of his opinion , but he was sorry for it , and desired he might repent also . will you give me leave ( said mr. latimer ) to tell what hath caused mr. doctor here to recant ? it is poena legis , the pain of the law hath brought you back , and converted you , and many more , the which letteth many to confess god. and this is a great argument . there are few here that can dissolve it . smith telling him , he was not of chrysostome's and st. austine's faith : i am ( said he ) of their faith , when they say well , and bring scripture for them ; and farther , austine requireth not to be believed . weston telling him , he could not have found his doctrine forty years agone : the more cause ( said he ) have we to thank god , that hath now sent the light into the world. weston pressing him to recant : you shall have no hope ( said he ) in me to turn . i pray for the queen daily even from the bottom of my heart , that she may turn from this religion . when he was excommunicated by weston , he said , i thank god most heartily , that he hath prolonged my life to this end , that i may in this case glorifie god by that kind of death . when he was brought forth from the bailiffs to see a mass , with a general procession , and understood so much , he run as fast as his old bones would carry him to a shop , and would not look towards it . after the sentence was past upon him , he was committed again to prison in oxford , where in prayer he oftentimes continued so long kneeling , that he was not able to rise without help ; and among other things these were three principal matters he prayed for . ( ) that as god had appointed him to be a preacher of his word , so he would give him grace to stand to his doctrine to death , that he might give his hearts blood for the same . ( ) that god of his mercy would restore his gospel to england once again ; and these words once again , once again he did so inculcate and beat into the ears of the lord god , as though he had seen god before him , and spoke to him face to face . ( ) that god would preserve the lady elizabeth , and make her a comfort to this comfortless realm of england . neither were these things desired of him in vain , but the lord most graciously granted every one of these requests . ( ) the lord assisted him to be constant to the last . at the stake he lifted up his eyes towards heaven , with an amiable and comfortable countenance , saying , god is faithful , which doth not suffer us to be tempted above our strength . afterward he shed his blood in the ca●se of christ. the blood ran out of his heart in great abundance , his body being opened by the force of the fire . ( ) the gospel was restored again unto england . ( ) when the enemies tr●umphed , gods word was banished , no place left for gods servants to cover their heads , god hav●ng wonderfully preserved the lady elizabeth , set her on the throne , and thereby the captivity of sorrowfull christians was released . in his letter to mr. morice . — i thank you that now of late you would vouchsase to write unto me , so poor a wretch , to my great comfort among all these my troubles . — seeing there is no pain that can break my charity and patience , cause me to dishonour god , to displease god , to be displeased with god , nor to joy in god , bring me from surety of salvation , separate me from christ , or christ from me , i care the less for it . — in his letter in answer to dr. sherwood . — god gives us both what he knows best for us ; to me patience becoming a christian in the midst of my sufferings , and to you as sound a judgement , as you have now a fervent zeal . — i said that all popes , bishops , vicars , rectors , not entring by the door , but ascending some other way , are thieves and robbers , &c. hence you gather , that i said , all popes , bishops , vicars , rectors , simply are so . o my brother , is this a good collection ? — is there not a vast difference between these two assertions , all not entring in by the door are thieves , and all simply are thieves . whence i pray you could it seem to you to say , simply all are thieves , when i said onely , all not entring in by the door are thieves ? unless perhaps all appear to you to ascend some other way , and not to enter by the door ? if you think so , if you be wise , do not say that you do so think , you know how dangerous it will be for you to say so . — you say that christ did onely in secret , and not in publick , task the pharisees ; but i am but a man , not a searcher of hearts , &c. but did not christ by name accuse them , even before the multitude , saying , woe unto you , scriles and pharisees , hypocrites ? it is true , i am but a man , that see not the spot lying hid in anothers heart , but onely the life exposed to the view of all , and so knowing them by their fruits , whom christ would have so known . i do condemn that course of life , whoever take it up , which i find often condemned in the holy scriptures , and in the holy interpreters thereof . am not i then undeservedly found fault with by you ? — what i spake rightly concerning the church , you wickedly calumniate as if i had made all equal with peter as to the use of the keys , when there was not a word mentioned concerning the power of the keys , &c. — but i onely admonished my hearers , that the church of christ was built upon a rock , and not upon the sands ; least they trust in a dead faith , and not shew forth their faith by their works . — in his letter to sir edward bainton . — to recompence your goodness towards me , i shall not cease to pray my lord god , who is able , and also doth indeed reward all them that favour the favourers of his truth for his sake ; for the truth is a common thing , pertaining to every man , for the which every man shall answer another day : and i desire favour neither of your worship , nor of any man else , but in truth , and for the truth , i take god to witness , which knoweth all . — i marvel not a little how the bishop of london having so broad , wide , and large diocess , committed unto his cure , and so peopled as it is , can have leisure for preaching and teaching the word , in season , out of season , privately , publickly , to his own flock , convincing , exhorting , admonishing , &c. to trouble me , or to trouble himself with me , &c. — i do not think judges now adayes so deeply confirmed in grace , or so impeccable , but that it may behove and become preachers to admonish them to do well , to examine whether the accusers do not pervert the words of the accused ; and this i did upon occasion of the apostles saying , ye are not under the law , but under grace . what a saying is this ( said i ) if it be not rightly understood . the words sound as if he would encourage christians to break law , seeing they be not under the law : and what if paul's adversaries would have so taken them , and accused him of the same to my lord of london . if he would have heard paul declare his own mind , he would have escaped ; but if he would have rigorously followed , utcunque allegata & probata , and have given sentence after the relation of the accusers , good st. paul must have born a fagot at paul's cross , the bishop of london being his judge . — but my lord will say , peradventure that men will not take the preachers words otherwise then they mean therein . — as though st. paul's words were not otherwise taken . because he said , that our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of god , he was reported to mean , that we should do evil that good may come thereof , though he meant nothing so , &c. now my lord will not think ( i dare say ) that st. paul was too blame , that he spake no more warily , or more plainly to avoid the offence of the people , but rather the people for that they took no better heed to his meaning ; yea , he will pity the people who had been so long nuzled in the doctrine of the pharisees , and wallowed so long in darkness of mans traditions and superstitions , that they were unapt to receive the bright light of the truth , and wholesome doctrine of god , uttered by st. paul ; nor do i think that my lord will require more circumspection in me , then was in st. paul , when he did not escape slanderous reports of them , that be of corrupt judgements , who reported him to say whatsoever he appeared to them to say , or whatsoever seemed to them to follow of his saying : so they report us to say ( saith paul ) so they speak evil of us , whose damnation is just . and i think the damnation of all such , that evil report preachers now adayes is just also : yea , christ himself was mis-reported and falsly accused , both as to his words , and also as concerning the meaning of his words . he said , destroy you , they made it , i can destroy ; he said , this temple , they added , made with hands , to bring it to a contrary sense . — he did mean of the temple of his body , and they did wrest it to solomon's temple . — there be three sorts of persons , which can make no credible information . ( ) adversaries . ( ) ignorant ones , and without judgement . ( ) whisperers , which will spew out in hudder mudder more then they dare avow openly . the first will not , the second cannot , the third dare not : therefore the relation of such is not credible , and cannot occasion any indifferent judge to make process against any man. — it is a great commendation to be evil spoken of them , that be naught themselves , and to be commended of such is many times no little reproach . god send us all grace to wish well one to another , and to speak well one of another . meseems it were more comely for my lord ( if it were comely for me to say so ) to be a preacher himself , having so great a cure , as he hath , then to be a disquieter of preachers , and to preach nothing at all himself . — i am sure st. paul , the true minister of god , and faithful dispenser of gods mysteries , and right exemplar of all true and very bishops , saith , though some preach christ of envy , thinking to obscure me , and bring my authority into contempt , some of good will thinking to comfort me , notwithstanding so that christ be preached , i joy and will joy : so much he regarded more the glory of christ , and promotion of christs doctrine to the edification of souls , then the maintenance of his own authority , reputation and d●gnity , considering that what authority he had , it was to edification , and not to destruction . now i think it were no reproach to my lord , but rather very commendable , to joy with paul , and be glad that christ be preached qis vis modo , yea , though it were for envy , in disdain , despite , and contempt of his lordship . — the university of cambridge hath authority to admit twelve early , of which i am one , and the kings highness did decree , that all admitted of universities should preach throughout his realm , as long as they preached well . — to inhibit a preacher admitted of the king , is to disobey the king. — we low subjects are bound to obey powers , and their ordinances , and are not the highest subjects also , who ought to give us an ensample of such obedience ? as for my preaching it self , i trust in god my lord of london cannot justly blame and reprove it , if it be taken as i spake it , or else it is not my preaching , but his that falsly reporteth it ; as martial saith to one that depraved his book : quem recitas meus est , o fidentine , libellus ; sed male dum recitas , incipit esse tuus . in english thus ; mine is the book thou readest fidentine ; but thou not reading right dost make it thine . now i hear that my lord of london is informed , and hath informed the king , that i go about to defend bilney and his cause against his ordinaries and iudges , whereas i had nothing to do with bilney , except his judges did him wrong ; for i did nothing else but admonish all judges indifferently to do right . — it might have become a preacher to say as i said , though bilney had never been born . i have known bilney a great while , i think much better then ever did my lord of london , and to tell you the truth , i have known hitherto few such , so prompt and ready to do every man good after his power , both friends and foes , &c. in sum , a very simple good soul , nothing meet for this wretched world , whose blind fashion and miserable state ( yet far from christs doctrine ) he could as evil bear , and would sorrow , lament , and bewail it , as much as any man that ever i knew . — i cannot but wonder , if a man living so mercifully , so charitably , so patiently , so continently , so studiously and vertuously , and killing his old adam , i. e. mortifying his evil effections , and blind motions of his heart so diligently , should die an evil death . let him that standeth beware that he fall not . — i am ignorant in things , that i trust hereafter to know , as i do now know things , in which i have been ignorant heretofore . — it were too long to tell you , what blindness i have been in , and how long it was ere i could forsake such folly , it was so incorporate in me ; but by continual prayer , continual study of scripture , and oft communicating with men of more right judgement , god hath delivered me , &c. yea men think that my lord himself hath in times past thought , that by gods law a man might marry his brothers wife , who now both dares think and speak the contrary : and yet this his boldness might have chanced in pope iulius his dayes , to stand him either in a fire or a fagot . which thing pondered of my lord , might somewhat stir him up to charitable equity towards such who labour to do good , as their power serveth , with knowledge , and do hurt to no man with their ignorance ; for there is no greater distance then between gods law , and not gods law , nor is it so , or so , because any man thinketh it so , or so ; but because it is so , or so indeed , therefore we must think it so , or so , when god shall give us knowledge thereof ; for if it be indeed either so , or not so , it is so , or not so , though all the world have thought so these thousand years , &c. — the matter is weighty ( as you say ) and ought to be substantially looked upon , even as weighty as my life is worth ; but how to look substantially upon it , otherwise know not i , then to pray my lord god night and day , that as he hath emboldned me to preach his truth , so he will strengthen me to suffer for it , to the edification of them , who have by his working taken fruit thereby , and so i desire you and all others that favour me for his sake likewise to pray ; for it is not i ( without his mighty helping hand ) that can abide that brunt ; but i have trust that god will help me in time of need , which if i had not , the ocean i think should have divided my lord of london and me by this day ; for it is a rare thing for a preacher to have favour at his hand , who is no preacher himself , and yet ought to be . i pray god both he and i may discharge our selves , he in his great cure , and i in my little one to gods pleasure and safety of our souls . amen . in his reply to sir edward baynton's answer . — truly i were not well advised if i would not either be glad of your instruction , or yet refuse my own reformation ; but yet it is good for a man to look before he leap . — first , you mislike that i say i am sure i preach the truth , saying in reproof of the same , god knoweth certain truth . indeed none knoweth certain truth but god , and those which be taught of god , as faith paul ; for god revealeth it to them : and saith christ , they shall be all taught of god. — as to my arrogancy , either i am certain or uncertain that it is truth that i preach . if it be truth , why may i not say so , to encourage my hearers to receive the same more fervently , and pursue it more studiously ? if i be uncertain , why dare i be so bold to preach it ? if your friends in whom you trust so greatly be preachers , after sermon i pray you ask them whether they be sure that they taught you the truth or no. if they say they be sure , you know what followeth : if they say they be not sure , when shall you be sure that have such doubtful teachers ? — our knowledge here ( you say ) is but dark as through a glass . what then ? therefore it is not certain and sure . i deny your argument by your leave : yea , if it be by faith it is most sure , for the certainty of faith is the surest certainty , as duns and other school-doctors say . there is a great difference between certain knowledge and clear knowledge ; for that may be of things a●sent , that appear not , this requireth the presence of the object or thing known . — it is true there are too many that have a zeal for god , but not according to knowledge : there are also who have knowledge without zeal , holding the truth in unrighteousness : and there are , that have lost the spiritual knowledge of gods word , which they had before , because they have not ensued it , nor promoted the same , but rather with their mother wits have impugned the wisdome of the father , and hindred the knowledge thereof , which therefore hath been taken away from them . to him hath not , that also which he hath , i. e. seems to have , shall be taken away . to abuse that , which a man hath , or not to use it well , is as not to have it . — it behoveth every preacher to have so deep and profound knowledge , that he may call this or that truth , which this or that he taketh in hand to preach for truth ; and yet he may be ignorant in many things , both this or that , as apollo was , but such things , whether this , or that , he will not attempt to preach for the truth . — there be many things in scripture in which i cannot discern certainly verum & falsum , no not with all the exercise i have in scripture , nor yet with the help of all interpreters i have , to content my self and others in all scrupulosity , that may arise ; but in such i am wont to wade no farther in the stream , then that i may either go over , or else return back again , having ever respect , nor to the ostentation of my little wit , but to the edification of them that hear me , as far forth as i can , neither passing mine own , nor yet their capacity . — it is but foolish humility willingly to continue alwayes an infant still in christ ; — for though paul would not have us to think arrogantly of our selves , and above that , which it becometh us to think of our selves , yet he biddeth us so to think of our selves , as god hath distributed to every one the measure of faith . he that may not with meekness think in himself what god hath done in him , and of himself as god hath done for him , how shall he , or when shall he give due thanks to god for his gifts ? — every opinion or manner of teaching , which causeth dissention in a christian congregation is not of god , by the doctrine of st. iohn ; but not every thing , whereupon followeth dissention , causeth dissention . — an occasion is sometime taken , and not given . the galatians , having for preachers and teachers the false apostles , by whose teaching they were degenerate from the sweet liberty of the gospel into the sour bonds of ceremonies , thought themselves peradventure a christian congregation , when paul writ his epistle unto them , so that the false apostles might have objected to paul , that his apostleship was not of god ; forasmuch as there was dissention in a christian congregation by occasion thereof , while some would renew their opinions by occasion of the epistle , others would opine as they were wont to do , and follow their great lords and masters , the false apostles , who were not heathen , but high prelates of the professors of christ. — i would also learn of your friends , whether st. hieromes writings were of god , which caused dissention in a christian congregation ? what were they that called him falsarium and corrupter of scripture , and for envy would have bitten him with their teeth ? unchristen or christen ? what had unchristen to do with christian doctrine ? they were worshipful fathers of a christian congregation , men of much more hotter stomacks then right judgement , of a greater authority then good charity . but hierom would not cease to do good ( as he saith himself ) for the evil speaking of them that were naught , giving in that an ensample to us of the same . and i pray you what mean your friends by a christian congregation ? all those ( trow ye ) that have been christened ? but many of those be in worse condition , and shall have greater damnation , then many unchristned ; for it is not enough to a christian congregation that is of god , to have been christned , but it is to be considered what we promise when we be christned , to renounce satan , his works , his pomps ; which thing if we busie not our selves to do , let us not crack , that we profess christs name in a christian congregation in one baptism : and whereas they adde , in one lord , i read , not every one that saith lord , lord , &c. and why call ye me lord , lord , and do not that i bid you ? and whereas they adde , in one faith , st. iames saith , shew me thy faith by thy works . and the scripture saith , he that believeth god , attendeth to his commands . and the devils believe to their little comfort . i pray god save you and your friends from that believing congregation . — st. hier●m exhorts true preachers to suffer death for the same , when evil priests and false teachers and the people , that be by them deceived , are angry with them for preaching the truth , though they be christned as well as others . i fear st. hierom might appear to some christian congregation ( as they will be called ) to write seditiously , to divide the unity of a great honest number confessing christ in one baptism , one lord , one faith. — hierom calleth the priests masters , and very proverly : servants teach not their own doctrine , but the doctrine of their master christ to his glory : masters teach not christs doctrine , but their own to their own glory . — your friends have learned of st. iohn , that every one that confesseth iesus christ in flesh is of god , and i have learned of st. paul , that there have been , not among heathens , but among the christned , who confess christ with their mouth , and deny him with their acts . — i leave it to your friends to shew , utrum qui factis negant christum & vita sint ex deo necne per solam oris confessionem ; for they knew well enough from the same st. iohn , he that is of god sinneth not , and heareth the word of god. many shall hear , i never knew you , who shall not onely be christned , but also prophecy , and do many mighty works in the name of christ. — false prophets are called naughty servants ; servants , because they confess christ in the flesh ; and naughty , because they deny him in their deeds , not giving meat in due season , and exercising mastership over the flock . — in the people there is required a judgement to discern when gods ordinances are ministred , and when mens own , lest we take chalk for cheese , which all edge our teeth , and hinder digestion ; for it is commonly said , the blind eateth many a fly , as they did , which were perswaded of the high priests to ask barabbas and crucifie christ : and ye know that to follow the blind guides is to come into the pit with the same . — better it were to have a deformity in preaching , so that some would preach the truth of god , and that which is to be preached without cauponation and adulteration of the word , then to have such an uniformity , that the silly people should thereby be occasioned to continue still in their lamentable ignorance , corrupt judgement , superstition and idolatry , &c. — i see well , whosoever will be happy , and busie with vae votis , shall shortly after come coram no●is . — i shall have need of great patience to bear the false reports of the malignant church . — i wonder how men can go quietly to bed , who have great cures and many , and yet peradventure are in none of them all . — i must suffer of necessity , and so enter : so perillous a thing it is to live godly in christ iesus even in a christian congregation . god make us all christians after the right fashion . amen . in his letter to king henry the eighth . — saint austin saith , that he , who for fear of any power hid●th the truth , provoketh the wrath of god to come upon him ; for he feareth men more then god. saint chrysostome saith , that he is not onely a traitor to the truth , who openly for truth teacheth a lye , but he also , who doth not freely pronounce and shew the truth that he knoweth . — these passages made me sore afraid , and troubled in conscience , and at last drew me to this strait , that either i must shew forth such things as i have read and learned in the scripture , or else be of that sort , that provoke the wrath of god upon them and be traitors to the truth : the which thing rather then it should happen , i had rather suffer extreme punishment . for what other thing is it to be a traitor to the truth , then to be a traitor and a iudas unto christ , who is the very truth , and cause of all truth ? who saith , that whosoever deny him here before men , he will deny him before his father in heaven : the which denying ought more to be feared and dreaded , then the loss of all temporal goods , honour , promotion , fame , prison , slander , hurts , banishments , and all manner of torments and cruelties , yea and death it self , be it never so shameful and painful . but alas ! how little do men fear the terrible judgement of almighty god ? and especially they , who boast themselves to be guides unto others , and challenge to themselves the knowledge of holy scriptures , yet will neither shew the truth themselves ( as they be bound ) nor suffer them that would . so that what christ said to the pharisees may be said to them , woe be to you , &c. who shut up the kingdome of heaven before men , and neither will you enter in your selves , nor suffer them that would , to enter in . — now they have made it treason to have the scripture in english. here i beseech your grace to hear patiently a word or two . though as concerning your regal power you are to me and all your subjects in gods stead , &c. yet as concerning that you be a mortal man , in danger of sin , having in you the corrupt nature of adam , in the which all be conceived and born , and so have no less need of the merits of christs passion for your salvation , then i or other of your subjects have , &c. i was bold to write this rude , homely , and simple letter to your grace . — first i exhort you to make the life and process of christ and his ap●stles in preaching , and the words of christ to his disciples , when he sent them forth to preach his gospel . christ was born and lived very poor , though he might by his divine power have had all the treasures of this world when & where he would . but this he did to shew us that his followers should not regard and set by the riches and treasures of this world , if they happen to them , they should not set their hearts upon them . it is not against the poverty in spirit , which christ praiseth , to be rich , to be in dignity and honour , so that the heart be not set upon them . they be enemies to this poverty in spirit , though they have never so little , that have greedy desires to the goods of this world , onely because they would live after their own pleasure and lusts . — i will not that your grace should take away the goods due to the church , but take away all evil persons from the goods , and set better in their stead . i name nor appoint no person or persons , but remit your grace to the rule of our saviour christ , by their fruits ye shall know them . — the words that christ spake to his disciples , when he sent them to preach his gospel , are , that here they shall be hated and despised of all men worldly , and brought before kings and rulers , and that all evil should be said of them for their preaching sake ; but he exhorteth them to take patiently such persecution by his own example , saying , it becomes not the servant to ●e above the master , &c. read also the fourteeth chapter , and there your grace shall see that he promised to the true preachers no worldly promotion or dignity , but persecution , and that they should be betrayed even by their own brethren and children . in iohn also he saith , in the world you shall have oppression , and the w●rld shall hate you , but in me you shall have peace : and elsewhere , lo i send you as sheep among wolves . the true preachers go like sheep , harmless , and be persecuted , and yet they revenge not their wrong , but remit all to god : so far is it off that they will persecute any other but with the word of god onely , which is their weapon . this is the most evident token , that christ would that his gospel and the preachers of it should be known by , that it should be despised among worldly wise men , and be reputed foolishness by them , and deceivable doctrine , and the true preachers should be persecu●ed and driven from town to town , and at last lose both goods and life ; and yet they that persecuted them should think they did well and a great pleasure to god. — where the word of god is truly preached , there is persecution as well of the hearers , as of the teachers . he that will live godly in christ iesus must suffer persecution . it is not onely given you to believe in the lord , but to suffer perse●ution for his sake . where is quietness and rest in worldly pleasure , there is not the truth ; for the world loveth all that are of the world , and hateth all things that are contrary to it . st. paul calleth the gospel , the word of the cross. — may it please your grace to return to the golden rule of your saviour , by their fruits you shall know them . where you see persecution , there is the gospel , and there is the truth , and they that do persecute be without the truth . they whose works be naught , dare not come to the light , but go about to hinder it , letting as much as they may , that the holy scriptures should not be read in our mother tongue , saying , that it would cause heresie and insurrections , and so perswade , or fain would perswade your grace to keep it back . but here mark their shameless boldness , which be not ashamed to gather grapes of thorns , &c. and to call light darkness , &c. and to say , that that , which teacheth all obedience , should cause dissention and strife . — therefore good king , seeing the right david , our saviour christ hath sent his servants , his true preachers and his word to comfort our weak and sick souls , let not worldly wise men make your grace believe that they will cause insurrections and heresies , and such mischiefs as they imagine of their own mad brains , lest that he be avenged upon you and upon your realm , as was david upon the ammonites , and as he hath ever been avenged upon them , which have obstinately withstood and gainsaid his word . but peradventure they will say experience shews , how that such men as call themselves followers of the gospel , regard not your graces command , neither set by your proclamation , as appears by those that were punished in london for keeping such books , as your grace had prohibited by proclamation ; and so like as they regarded not this , so they will not regard other your laws , statutes , and ordinances . but this is but a crafty perswasion . — the very cause of your last proclamation , and the chief councellors ( as men say , and of likelyhood it should be ) were they , whose evil living and cloked hypocrisie those books uttered and disclosed . — and so it might be that these men did not take this proclamation as yours , but as theirs set forth in your name , as they have done many times more , &c. — there is no man , i hear say , that can lay any word or deed to their charge , that should sound to the breaking of your graces laws , this onely excepted , if it be yours , and not theirs . — there be some that for fear of losing of their wordly honour , will not leave off their opinion , which rashly , and that to please men withall , by whom they had great promotion , they took upon to desend by writing , &c. let these men remember st. paul and david . take heed of their worldly wisdome , which is foolishness before god , that you may do what god commandeth , and not what seems good in your own sight without the word , that your grace may be found acceptable in his sight , and one of the members of his church , and according to the office he hath called your grace unto , you may be found a faithful minister of his gifts , and not a defender of his faith ; for he will not have it defended by man , or by mans power , but by his word onely , by the which he hath evermore defended it , and that by a way far above mans power or reason , &c. wherefore gracious king , remember your self , have pity upon your soul , and think that the day is even at hand , when you shall give an account of your office , and of the blood that hath been shed with your sword. in the which day , that your grace may stand stedfastly and not be ashamed , but be clear and ready in your reckoning , and to have ( as they say ) your quietus est sealed with the blood of our saviour christ , which only serveth at that day , is my daily prayer . decemb. . a. . observe in this letter ( saith mr. fox ) the duty of a right pastour to truth ; that kings are many times abused by flatterers and wicked councellors , the subtile practises of prelates in abusing the name and authority of kings to set forth their own malignant proceedings , and the great boldness and divine stoutness of this servant of christ , who as yet being no bishop , so plainly and freely , without fear of death , adventuring his life to discharge his conscience , durst so boldly , to so mighty a prince , in such a dangerous case , against the kings law and proclamation , set out in such a terrible time , take upon him to write , and to admonish that , which no councellor durst once speak to him , in defence of christs gospel : and yet though his wholsome counsel did not prevail , god so wrought with his servant in doing his duty , that no danger , no nor displeasure rose to him thereby . it was not long after that the king made him bishop of worcester . touching the memorable acts and doings of this worthy man , i cannot neglect the taking notice of one ( for therein he spoke notably , though he said not a word ) viz. his bold enterprize in sending to king henry a present . it was a custome that every year upon ian. . every bishop should send the king a new-years-gift . mr. latimer , being then bishop of worcester , presented a new testament for his new-years-gift , with a napkin having this posy about it . fornicat●res & adulteros judicabit dominus , i. e. whoremongers and adulterers god will jundge . in his letter to mrs. wi●kinson out of bocardo in oxford . — if the gift of a pot of cold water shall not be in oblivion with god , how can god forget your manifold and bountiful gifts , when he shall say to you , i was in prison and you visited me . god grant us all to do and suffer , while we be here , as may be to his will and pleasure , amen . yours in bocardo , h. l. in his letter to dr. ridley , — you say except the lord assist me with his gracious aid , in the time of his service , i shall ( i know ) play but the part of a white-livered knight . truth it is , for , without me ( saith christ ) ye can do nothing , much less suffer death of our adversaries , through the bloody law prepared against us : but it followeth , if you abide in me , and my word abide in you , ask what you will , and it shall be done for you . what can be more comfortable ? — better a few things well pondered , then to trouble the memory with too much . you shall prevail more with praying , then with studying , though mixture be best ; for so one shall alleviate the tediousness of the other . i intend not to contend much with them in words , after a reasonable account of my faith given ; for it shall be but in vain . they will say , as their fatherr said , when they have no more to say , we have a law , and by our law he ought to die . be ye stedfast and unmoveable , stand fast . if ye abide , if ye abide , &c. but we shall be called obstinate , sturdy , ignorant , heady , and what not ? so that a man hath need of much patience , that hath to do with such men . — diotrephes now of late did ever harp upon unity , unity . yea sir ( said i ) but in verity , not in popery . better is a diversity , then an unity in popery . — the marrow-bones of the mass are altogether detestable , and therefore by no means to be born withall : so that of necessity the mending of it is to abolish it for ever . — what fellowship hath christ with antichrist ? — come forth from among them and separate your selves from them , saith the lord. it is one thing to be the church indeed , and another thing to counterfeit the church . — i thank you , that you have vouchsafed to minister so plentiful armour unto me , being otherwise altogether unarmed , saving that he cannot be left destitute of help , who rightly trusteth in the help of god. i onely learn to die in reading of the new testament , and am still praying to my god to help me in time of need . — my prayer shall you not lack , trusting that you do the like for me ; for indeed there is the help , &c. — there is no remedy ( now they have the master bowl in their hand and rule the roast ) but patience . better it is to suffer what cruelty they will put upon us , then to incur gods high indignation . wherefore be of good cheer in the lord , duly considering what he requireth of you , and what he doth promise you . our common enemy shall do no more then god will permit him . god is faithful who will not suffer us to be tempted above our strength , &c. be at a point what you will stand to : stick unto that , and let them both say and do what they list . they can but kill the body , which is of it self mortal : neither shall they do that when they list , but when god will suffer them , when the hour appointed is come . — let them not deceive you with their sophistical sophisms and fallacies : you know that false things may have more appearance of truth , then things that be most true . remember paul's watch-word , let no man deceive you with likeliness of speech . — fear of death doth most perswade a great number : be well ware of that argument . — the flesh is weak , but the willingness of the spirit shall refresh the weakness of the flesh . the number of the cryers under the altar must needs be fulfilled . if we be segregated thereunto , happy are we . that is the greatest promotion , that god giveth in this world to be such philippians , to whom it is given , not onely to believe , but to suffer , &c. but who is able to do these things ? surely all our ability , all our sufficiency is of god. he requireth and promiseth . let us declare our obedience to his will , when it shall be requisite , in the time of trouble , yea , in the midst of the fire . when that number is fulfilled , which i ween shall be shortly , then have at the papists , when they shall say , peace , all things are safe , &c. christ shall come gloriously , to the terrour of all papists ; but to the great consolation of all that will here suffer for him . comfort your selves one another with these words . — pray for me , pray for me , i say ; pray for me , i say ; for i am sometime so fearful , that i would creep into a mouse-hole : sometime again god doth visit me with his comfort . so he cometh and goeth , to teach me to feel and know mine infirmity , to the intent to give thanks to him that is worthy , lest i should rob him of his due , as many do , yea almost all the world . farewell . fare you well once again , and be thou stedfast and unmoveable in the lord. paul loved timothy marvellous well , notwithstaing he saith unto him , be thou partaker of the affliction of the gospel , and again , harden thy self to suffer afflictions . be faithfull unto death , and i will give thee a crown of life , saith the lord. mr. fox records one letter more of this holy mans , which he wrote when he was bishop of worcester to a iustice of peace , who could not at first bear his being told by this servant of god his fault in oppressing and wronging a poor man , but sent him word in great displeasure , that he would not take it at his hands , &c. but afterward proved a good man : in which letter his close is very observable . consider with your self ( saith mr. latimer ) what it is to oppress and defraud your brother , and what followeth thereof . it is truly said , the sin is not forgiven , except the thing be restored again , that is taken away . no restitution , no salvation : which is as well to be understood of things gotten by fraud , guile , and deceit , as of things gotten by open theft and rollery . i will do the best i can , and wrestle with the devil omnibus v●ri●us , to deliver you and your brother out of his possession . i will leave no one stone unmoved to have you both saved . there is neither arch bishop , nor bishop , nor any learned man in either university , or elsewhere , that i am acquainted with , that shall not write to you , and by their learning confute you . there is no godly man of law in this realm , that i am acquainted with , but they shall write to you , and confute you by law. there is neither l●rd nor lady , nor any noble person in this realm , that i am acquainted with , but they shall write unto you , and godlily threaten you with their authority . i will do all this , yea , i will kneel upon both my knees before the kings majesty and all his honourable council , with most humble petition for your reformation , rather then the devil shall possess you still to your final damnation : so that i do not despair , but verily trust one way or other to pluck both you and your crabbed brother ( as crabbed as you say he is ) out of the devils claws , maugre the devils heart . — in the moneth of october , an. . mr. latimer and dr. ridley were brought forth together to their final examination and execution . at his last appearence , being prest to recant , he said , — i must use here the counsel of cyprian , who when he was ascited before certain bishops , that gave him leave to take deliberation and counsel , to try and examine his opinion , he answered them thus . in sticking to , and persevering in the truth , no counsel nor deliberation must be taken ; and being asked , which was most like to be the church of christ , whether the persecuted , or the persecutor ? christ ( said he ) hath foreshewed , that he that doth follow him must take up his cross. how think you then my lords , is it like that the see of rome , which hath been a continual persecutor , is rather the church , or that small flock , which hath alwayes been persecuted even to death . mr. latimer being told , that his and st. cyprian's case was not one : yes verily ( said he ) my cause is as good as st. cyprian's ; for his was persecution for the word of god , and so is mine . as he was going to execution , dr. ridley spying him behind him , said ; o be ye there ? yes ( said mr. latimer ) have after as fast as i can follow . when he could not be suffered to answer dr. smith's sermon at their execution , on that in the corinthians : if i give my body to be burned , and have not charity , &c. he said ; well , there is nothing hid , but it shall be opened . when a fagot was brought kindled with fire , and laid at dr. ridley's feet , mr. latimer said , be of good comfort mr. ridley , and play the man ; we shall this day light such a candle by gods grace , in england , as i trust will never be put out . he received the flame , as it were embracing it , and crying out vehemently , o father of heaven receive my soul. laverock . hugh laverock , an old lame man , after he was chained to the stake , cast away his crutch ; and comforting iohn apprice a blind man , his fellow-martyr , said unto him , be of good comfort , my brother , for my lord of london is our good physician , he will heal us both shortly ; thee of thy blindess , and me of my lameness . lavoy . mr. aymond de lavoy , a french minister , having intelligence that some were sent to apprehend him ; and being willed by his friends to flie , and shift for himself , he said , that he had rather never to have been born , then so to do . it is the office of a good shepherd , not to flie in time of peril , but rather to abide the danger , lest the flock be scattered ; or else , least in so doing , he should leave some scruple in their minds , thus to think , that he had fed them with dreams and fables , contrary to the word of god. wherefore beseeching them to move him no more therein , he told them ; that he feared not to yield up both body and soul in the quarrel of that truth which he had taught , saying with st. paul , i am ready not onely to be bound for the testimony of christ in the city of bourdeaux , but to die also . when his hearers flew upon the sumner to deliver their preacher out of his hands , he desired them not to stop his martyrdome , seeing it was the will of god that he should suffer for him , he would not ( said he ) resist . whilst he was in prison , he bewailed exceedingly his former life , though there was no man that could charge him outwardly with any crime . one of the presidents coming to him , and shaking him by his beard , bid him tell what fellows he had of his religion . none ( said he ) but such as know and do the will of god my father , whether they be nobles , merchants , husbandmen , or of whatsoever degree they be . in his torments in prison he comforted himself thus ; this body once must die , but the spirit shall live . the kingdome of god abideth for ever . in the time of his tormenting , being but of a weak body , he swounded : afterward coming to himself again , he said ; o lord , lord , why hast thou forsaken me ? the president answering , nay wicked lutheran , thou hast forsaken god ; alas ! ( said he ) why do ye thus torment me ? o lord , i beseech thee , forgive them , they know not what they do . all their tortures could not force him to confess one mans name ; but he said unto them , i thought to have found more mercy with men ; wherefore i pray god i may find mercy with him . to the friers that came to confess him after his condemnation , he said ; depart , i will confess my sins to the lord. do ye not see how i am troubled enough with men ? will ye yet trouble me more ? others have had my body , will ye also take from me my soul ? away from me . at last he took a certain carmelite , bidding the rest to depart , whom after much talk he did convert to the truth . such trust have i ( said he to the judge ) in my god , that the same day when i shall die , i shall enter into paradise . the church ( said he ) is a greek word , signifying as much as congregation or assembly . and so i say , whensoever the faithfull do congregate together to the honour of god , and amplifying of christian religion , the holy ghost is verily with them . by this it should follow ( said the judge ) that there be many churches . it is no absurd thing ( said he ) to say there be many churches or congregations among the christians ; and so speaketh st. paul , to all the churches which are in galatia . when the judges left him , looking on him as a damned creature , he said with st. paul , who shall separate me from the love of god , shall the sword , hunger , or nakedness ; no , nothing shall pluck me from him . as he was carried to the place of execution , he sang psal. . and preaching still as he went , one of the souldiers bidding the carter therefore to drive apace , he said unto him , he that is of god heareth the word of god. many being offended , that passing by an image of the virgin mary , he would not pray unto her ; lifted up his voice to god , praying , that he would not suffer him at any time to invocate any other but him alone . at his execution he said , o lord , make haste to help me , tarry not , do not despise the work of thy hands : and you my brethren , that be students , i exhort you to learn the gospel ; for the word of god abideth for ever . labour to know the will of god , and fear not them that kill the body , but have no power upon your souls . my flesh repugneth marvellously against the spirit , but shortly i shall cast it away . i beseech you pray for me . o lord my god , into thy hands i commend my soul. laurence . i find three of this name recorded in the book of martyrs . first , laurence the deacon , when xistus his pastour was martyred under the emperour valerianus , was grieved that the son should be secluded from the father , that he should not suffer with him . seeing him led alone as a sheep to the slaughter , he cried out to him : o dear father , whither goest thou without the company of thy dear son ? whither hastenest thou , o reverend pastour , without thy deacon ? never wast thou wont to offer sacrifice without thy minister ? what crime is there in me , that offendeth thy fatherhood ? deniest thou unto him the fellowship of thy blood , to whom thou hast committed the distribution of the lords blood ? — he having after three dayes respit promised the merciless tyrant to declare where the churches treasure lay , caused a good company of poor christians to be congregated , and when the day of his answer was come , and he was strictly charged to staud to his promise ; he stretching out his arms over the poor , said ; these are the precious treasure of the church , these are the treasure indeed , in whom the faith of christ reigneth , in whom iesus christ hath his mansion-place : what more precious jewels can christ have , then those in whom he hath promised to dwell . it is written , i was hungry , and ye gave me to eat ; i was thirsty , and ye gave me to drink ; i was harbourless , and ye lodged me . look what ye have done to the least of these , the same have ye done to me . — no tongue is able to expre●s the tyrant's fury and madness hereupon . kindle the fire of wood ( saith he ) make no spare . hath this villain deluded the emperour ? away with him ; away with him , whip him , buffet him , brain him , jesteth the traitor with the emperour ? roast him , boyl him , toss him , turn him on pain of our high displeasure , do every one his office o ye tormentors . when he was on the fiery gridiron , which was as a soft bed of down to him , he spake thus unto the tyrant ; this side is now roasted enough , turn up o tyrant great , essay whether roasted or raw thou think the better meat . secondly , iohn laurence , who was burnt at colchester , march . an. . he being not able to go , being lamed with irons in prison , was born to the fire in a chair , and whilst he sate in the fire , the young children came about the fire , and cried as well as they could , lord strengthen thy servant , and keep thy promise ; lord strengthen thy servant , and keep thy promise . thirdly , henry laurence , who was burnt at canterbury , about the later end of august , the same year . he being required to put his hand to his answers , wrote , ye are all of antichrist , and him ye fol ; probably he would have written , and him ye follow , had not he been hindred . lawson . elizabeth lawson , continuing almost three years in prison , in which time her own son , and many others were burnt , said often ; good lord , what is the cause that i may not yet come to thee with thy children ? well , good lord , thy blessed will be done , and not mine . this good old woman , about the age of sixty , before she went to prison , had the falling-sickness ; but she told a friend of hers , that after she was apprehended , she never had it more . leafe . bonner pressing iohn leafe , an apprentice of london , to recant , he said , no ; but i will die in that doctrine that mr. rogers , hooper , cardmaker , &c. died for . — my lord , you call mine opinion heresie , it is the true light of the word of god , and i profess i will never forsake my well-grounded opinion , whilst i have breath in my body . when two bills were sent to him in the counter in breadstreet , the one containing a recantation , the other his confessions , to see which of them he would sign ; when that which contained his confessions was read ( for he could neither read nor write ) in stead of a pen he took a pin , and so pricking his hand , sprinkled the blood upon the said bill , willing the reader thereof to shew the bishop , that he had sealed the same bill with his blood already . lewes . mrs. ioyce lewes was converted by mr. iohn glover , who after she was in some trouble , willed her in any case not to meddle with that matter in respect of vain-glory , or to get her self a name , shewing to her the great danger she was like to cast her self into , if she should meddle in gods matter otherwise then christ doth teach . when the bishop reasoned with her , she told him ; i find not these things in gods word , which you urge and magnifie as things most needfull for mens salvation . if these things were in the same word of god commanded , i would with all my heart receive , esteem , and believe them . the bishop answering , if thou wilt believe no more then is in the scriptures , concerning matters of religion , thou art in a damnable case ; she was amazed , and being moved by the spirit of god , told him , that his words were ungodly and wicked . when news was brought of the coming down of the writ , de comburendo , &c. she sent for several christians to consult with them how she might behave her self , that her death might be more glorious to the name of god , comfortable to his people , and most discomfortable to the enemies of god. as for death ( said she ) i do not greatly pass , when i behold the amiable countenance of christ , my dear saviour , the ugly face of death doth not greatly trouble me . two priests sending her word , that they were come to hear her confession ; she sent them word again , that she had made her confession to christ her saviour , at whose hands she was sure to have forgiveness of her sins . as concerning the cause , for the which she should die , she had no cause to confess that , but rather to give unto god most humble praise , that he did make her worthy to suffer death for his word . and as concerning that absolution , that they were able to give unto her , by authority from the pope , she did defie the same , even from the bottom of her heart . about three of the clock in the morning , before her execution , satan questioned with her , how she could tell that she was chosen to eternal life , and that christ died for her ! i grant that he died , but that he died for thee , how canst thou tell ? but satan was soon put to flight , and she comforted in christ , by arguing her election , and christ dying for her in particular from her vocation , and the holy spirit working in her heart love and desire towards god to please him , and to be justified by him through christ , &c. when the sheriff about eight of the clock that morning came into her chamber , and told her bluntly , that she had but one hour to live , she was somewhat abashed ; but being told by a friend , that she had great cause to praise god , that he will so speedily take her out of this world , &c. she said , mr. sheriff , your message is welcome to me , and i thank my god , that he will make me worthy to adventure my life in his quarrel . in her prayer , as she was going to the stake , she desired god most instantly to abolish the idolatrous mass , and to deliver this realm from popery . to which most of the people said amen , yea the sheriff himself . lucius . he said to urbicius a corrupt judge , threatning death ; i thank you with all my heart , that free me and release me from wicked governours , and send me to my good and loving father . luther . how devoted dr. martin luther was to the pope , when he first appeared , and what brought him upon the stage , he himself tells us . — above all things , i desire the pious reader , and that for the sake of our lord himself , christ iesus , not onely to read these things with judgement , but with much pity , knowing i was a monk , and a most mad papist , when i undertook this cause , so drunk with , yea drowned in popish doctrines , that i was most ready to kill , and to co-work with the murderers of all those who withdrew their obedience from the pope in the least . so great a saul was i , as there be yet many more . i was not so cold in defending the papacy , as was eccius himself , and such as he , &c. so that thon wilt find in my first writings very many and great things humbly conceded to the pope , which now i account highest blasphemy , and do abominate . — at first i was alone , and most unfit and unable to handle so great matters ; i call god to witness , that his providence , not my own will and purpose , engaged me so far . when in the year . indulgences were sold most shamefully , i was then a preacher , and a young doctour of divinity ( as i was called ) and began to disswade the people from hearkning to the sellers of indulgences , and therein i thought surely i had the pope for my patron , and upon that confidence was very valiant , seeing he doth in the decrees condemn the immodesty of the gatherers of money , so he calleth the preachers of indulgences . thereupon i writ two letters , one to the arch bishop of moguntz , who had one half of the money for the indulgences ( i knew not then that the other half did belong to the pope ) the other to the bishop of branderburg ; beseeching them to restrain the impudence and blasphemy of the gatherers of the money . but the poor monk was contemned . being contemned i published a short disputation , and a sermon , concerning indulgences , and afterwards my resolutions , and that for the popes honour , not that indulgences might be condemned , but that good works of charity might be preferred before them . this was accounted troubling of heaven , and setting the world on fire . i am accused unto the pope , and am cited to appear at rome , and against single me rise up the whole papacy . these things were done in the year . whilst maximilian the emperour held a council at ausburg , in which cardinal cajetane was the popes legate . him prince frederick , duke of saxony prevailed with , that i should not be compelled to go to rome , but have my business heard and composed by himself . being called before him , poor i came on foot to ausburg , upon the cost of and with letters of credence from prince frederick to the senate , and some other good men , who disswaded me ( after i was come ) from going to the cardinal till i had caesars safe conduct . when the cardinals oratour was told by me so much , he was angry . what ( said he ) do you think that prince frederick will take up arms for you ? i answered , that i would by no means . where then ( said he ) will you abide ? i answered under heaven . but ( said he ) if you had the pope and cardinals in your power , what would you do ? i would ( said i ) give them all reverence and honour . — at my meeting with the cardinal i made the following protestation . i martin luther an augustine frier protest , that i do reverence and follow the church of rome in all my sayings and doings , present , past , ond to come ; and if any thing hath been or shall be said by me to the contrary , or otherwise , i count it , and will that it be counted and taken as though it never had been spoken . having before this writ to pope leo the tenth thus , — i offer my self prostrate under the feet of your holiness , with all that i am and have , save me , kill me , call me , recall me , reprove me , condemn me , even as you please . i will acknowledge your voice , the voice of christ residing and speaking in you . — — here see men in my case , how hard it is to rise out of errours generally received , and by long custome becomes as it were natural . how true the proverb is , it is hard to leave customes , and custome is another nature : and how truly austine saith ; custome if it be not resisted will become necessity . i who had then seven years read and taught the scriptures most diligently , privately and publickly , and had some taste of the knowledge of christ , viz. that we were justified and saved not by works , but by faith in christ , and now defended publickly ( he means in his dispute with eccius at lipsia in the year . ) that the pope is not by divine right head of the church ; yet i did not see what naturally followeth thence , viz. that the pope is therefore of necessity from the devil , for what is not of god is necessarily of the devil . i was ( i say ) so corrupted by example and the title of holy church and custome , that i granted to the pope an humane right , which yet if it be not underpropt with divine authority , is a lye and divelish ; for we must obey parents and magistrates , not because they command , but because it is the will of god. hence i can better bear those that do even pertinaciously cleave unto popery , especially if they have not read the scriptures , seeing i that so many years most diligently read them , did notwithstanding stick thereunto so firmly . — in the year . the pope sent prince frederick a golden rose by charles miltitius , who perswaded me earnestly to be reconciled to the pope , and to study the things of peace . i promised that i would most willingly do whatsoever truth and my conscience would allow , and assured him that i was most desirous of and studious for peace ; and seeing i was drawn and necessitated to do what i did , what i did was not my fault . — charles is accounted unwise , and the course he took imprudent ; but in my judgement , if the bishop of moguntz and the pope , before he had condemned me unheard , had taken the same course , the business had never come to this . — these things i relate good reader , that if thou wilt read my little works , thou mayest remember i am one of them , who ( as austine reports of himself ) profit by writing and teaching ; not one of those , who from nothing on a sudden become chieftains . farewell in the lord , and pray for the increase of the word against satan , who is alwayes mighty and malicious , but now most furious and raging , knowing his time is but short , and that the kingdome of his pope is shaken . the lord god confirm what he hath wrought in us , and perfect the work he hath begun in us , to his own glory . amen . march . an. . mr. clark tells us , that when they threatned to burn his books , he writ thus to spalatinus . — as for my self , i contemn rome's favour and fury . let them censure and burn all my books , i will do the like by theirs , and will put an end to all my humble observance of them , which doth but incense them more and more . in his epistle to melancthon from auslurg , when he appeared before cajetan . — here is nothing new or wonderfull , but that the city is filled my name , and every one desires to see such a boutefeau . play the man as you do in rightly teaching the youth . i am willing for them and you to he sacrificed , if it please the lord. i had rather die , and ( which is most grievous to me ) for ever want your most sweet company , then recant , and be an occasion to the most foolish and bitter enemies of all learning of destroying good learning . italy is fallen into egyptian darkness , so ignorant are all of christ and the things of christ , and yet we have these for our masters and teachers of faith and manners : so filled up is the anger of god against us . — farewell my philip , and by holy prayer avert the lords anger . — when cajetan wrote to prince frederick , either to send luther to rome , or to banish him out of his dominions , he wrote unto the prince as followeth . — i refuse not banishment , as seeing snares laid for me every where by my adversaries , neither can i easily live any where in safety . but what should i a miserable and humble monk hope for ? yea what danger should i not fear ? when they threaten your excellency , so great a prince , so great an elector , so devout a favourer of the christian religion , i know not what misery , if you do not either send me to rome , or banish me . wherefore least any evil should happen unto you for my sake ( which i am most unwilling of , behold i leave your countrey , being resolved to go where my mercifull god pleaseth , and to commit the event to his will. — — i still rejoyce in the love of god , and give him thanks that christ the son of god hath counted me worthy to suffer in so holy a cause . — novemb. . . in his letter to pope leo the tenth , april . . — i have indeed sharply inveighed against all wicked doctrines , and been biting to my adversaries for their impiety , of which i am so far from repenting , that i am resolved in contempt of mans judgement to persevere in that heat of zeal , after the example of christ , who in his zeal calls his adversaries a brood of vipers , blind , hypocrites , the children of satan : and of paul , who calls the sorcerer the child of the devil , full of all subtilty and wickedness ; and others , dogs , &c. if his hearers were tender and soft , they would account him biting and immodest . who more biting then the prophets ? the wicked mad company of flatterers have made the ears of this age so delicate , that as soon as we perceive our own wayes not approved , we cry out we are bitten ; and when we cannot repel the truth on any other account , we avoid it under the pretence of railing , impudence , &c. but what is salt good for , if it be not sharp ? what a sword if it will not cut ? cursed is the man that doth the work of the lord negligently . — i contend with none but onely about the word of truth . in all other things i will yield to any , but cannot and will not desert and deny the word . neither you , nor any body else can deny , but the court of rome is more corrupt then any babylon or s●dom . — i have therefore detested and could not endure that the people of christ should be deluded under your name and the church of rome , and so have resisted and shall resist them while i breath . — the roman court is desperate , the anger of god is come upon it to the full , it hates councils , fears to be reformed , &c. and makes good her mothers character , we would have healed babylon , but she is not healed , let us forsake her . — hence i have been troubled good le● , that you were made pope in these dayes , who wast worthy of better . she doth not deserve you , and such as you but satan himself , who doth indeed reign in that babylon more then you your self . o would to god , that laying aside that which your deadliest enemies boastingly call your glory , you would be content with being a private priest , and live upon your own inheritance . — what do you my leo at rome , but let the most wicked and accursed wretches use your name and authority to destroy mens estates and souls , to increase wickedness , to oppress faith and truth with the whole church of god. o most unhappy leo , you sit in a most dangerous seat . i tell you the truth , because i wish you well . if bernhard did sympathize with his eugenius ruling rome in a more hopefull condition , though then very corrupt , what may not we complain , to whom in the space of three hundred years there is such an accession of corruption and perdition ? it incomparably exceeds the wickedness of the turks . — behold my father leo , upon what account i have so inveighed against that pestilent see. i am so far from speaking against your person , that i hope i should do you the greatest courtesie , if i should stoutly and fiercely destroy that your prison , yea your hell. — but this i never intended , but was forced to do so by my adversaries . — when i was before cardinal cajetan , he might have made peace with a word , for i promised silence , and to put an end to my gause , if he would command my adversaries to do the same : but he justified my adversaries , and required me to recant , which he had not in his instructions . not luther but cajetan is to be blamed ; for what followed afterwards , seeing he would not suffer me to be silent , when i most earnestly desired it . — upon the occasion of eccius challenging me to dispute with him , many romish corruptions were brought to light . — now the name of the court of rome doth stink in the world , and the papal authority languisheth , their famous ignorance is misliked , of which there would have been no mention , if eccius had not interrupted the treaty between me and charles miltitius . — being yet perswaded to hearken to peace , &c , i come , holy father , and humbly beg , that you would ( if it may be ) put to your helping hand , by bridling those parasites , the great enemies of peace , whilst they pretend to be for peace . none may presume , that i will recant . i cannot bear the imposition of any laws for the interpreting of the word of god , which ought not to be bound , &c. these two things excepted , there is nothing that i cannot , yea will not do or suffer for peace . i hate contentions . i will provoke none ; no more will i be provoked . if i be provoked , i will not be without a tongue for my master christ. — take heed , my father , of hearkning to those syrens , who make you more then a meer man , even an half god , so that you may command any thing . — these are your enemies , and seek your soul to destroy . — how unlike is christ unto his successors , who yet would be his vicars ? and i fear many are so too properly . a vicar is of one absent . if the pope be president , christ being absent , what is he other then christs vicar ? but what then is that church , but a multitude without christ ? and what is such a vicar , but antichrist and an idol ? how much better do the apostles , who call themselves the servants of christ present , not the vicars of christ absent ? — in his appeal , nov. . . — seeing leo the tent doth persevere hardned in his tyranny , and hath by his bull condemned unheard , and unconvicted , and moreover as an infidel and an apostate doth flie and find fault with councils , and most wickedly prefer his tyranny before their power , and most impudently doth require me to deny the faith of christ , &c. and to omit nothing that may shew him to be antichrist , doth subject the scripture to himself , and with incredible blasphemy trample thereupon , i martin luther do make it known to all , that i stick to my former appeal from him to the next council , &c. — in a letter of his to herman tulichins before his treatise de captivitate babylonica ecclesiae . — whether i will or no , i am made more learned daily , so many and so great masters contending with me . i have writ more then two years ago concerning indulgences , but so , that i am now wonderfully sorry for the publishing of that book ; for i was then very superstitiously devoted to the roman tyranny , and therefore would not have indulgences , which i saw so generally approved , altogether rejected . — now o that i could perswade all booksellers and others that read my books , to burn those concerning indulgences , and instead thereof receive this position , indulgences are the wickednesses of the flatterers of rome . — whereas then i denied the popes primacy to be of divine right , i yielded it to be of humane right , — but now i know and am certain , that the papacy is the kingdome of babylon and the power of nimrod , that mighty hunter , and therefore instead of what i have written of that subject take this position , papacy is the mighty hunting of the roman bishop . — — when the cardinals burnt luther's books , he burnt the popes decrees , and his bull lately sent out against him , and gives us the following account why he did so . i martin luther , called dr. of divinity , do notifie to all that by my will , counsel , and help , the books of the pope of rome were burnt , &c. and that ( ) because we have ancient examples for the burning of wicked and corrupt books , acts . ( ) i am a baptised christian , and a doctor of holy scripture , and a daily preacher , and therefore it belongs to me , my condition , my oath , my office to abolish , at least to hinder perverse , false , seducing , and wicked doctrines . and yet ( ) i had not gone about this work , unless i had upon experience found the pope and pontificians corrupters and seducers , not onely to erre and seduce , but after many admonitions by me given so hardned and bewitched , that they will not onely not suffer themselves to be taught , but condemn and burn the evangelical doctrine to confirm their antichristian & diabolical abominations . — ( ) because by their burning of my books truth is endangered , &c. i have also , being moved , as i hope , by the holy ghost , for the confirming and preserving the christian verity and the common people , have caused their books to be burnt , having looked for their hopeless amendment . let none therefore be moved by the sublime titles of the books , the canon law , the decreetals , &c. but first see what is taught therein , and then judge whether they be burnt justly or unjustly . — when luther threw the popes bull into the fire , decemb. . . because ( said he ) thou hast troubled the holy one of the lord , eternal fire shall trouble thee . the same day in his prelection on the psalter he admonished his hearers to take heed of popish institutions . that this burning was but a small business : it should be that the pope , that is , the papal see should be burned . unless ( said he with a grave countenance ) ye do with all your hearts depart from the popish kingdome , your souls cannot be saved ; so diverse is the kingdome of the pope from the kingdome of christ and the life of a christian , that it would be safer to live in a wilderness , and see no man , then to live in that antichristian kingdome . let every one therefore , that hath any care of his own soul , take heed lest he deny christ by assenting to popery . whoever will now be a minister , he must perish either in this world , or that which is to come . if he dare not contradict the working of errour , in the world to come ; if he doth contradict , in this world his life will be hazarded . for my part , i had rather run any danger here , then expose my conscience to give such an account for silence as god will require . therefore having heartily dissented from the roman madness , i do now abominate that babylonian plague . and these things i will declare to my brethren , as long as i live . if i cannot withstand so great a destruction of souls , yet many of our own may be kept from running headlong to hell. let others do what they please . it is high time to repent . in his letter to prince frederick duke of saxony before his postills . — the apostle requires that a bishop should not onely be mighty in doctrine , but able to convince gain-sayers . not that i account my self a bishop , seeing the riches and mitre , by which a bishop is now known , are wanting , but because whosoever fulfills the office of preaching , dischargeth the office of bishop , who ought to be a two-handed ehud , and kill eglon : and i do set my self to the work of peace , being through the grace of god a bold contemner of my adversaries , though in the midst of swords , bulls , trumpets , and papistical alarms , that cannot terrifie me . and indeed what cannot i do in him , who comforts me ? — in his letter to iustus ionas . — i fear lest whilst we fight valiantly for grace and good works , we do in the mean time deprive our selves of grace and good works . truly having beheld these terrible dayes of anger , i desire nothing more , then that my head were a fountain of water , that i may weep for that late devastation of souls , which the kingdome of sin , and perdition wrought . the roman monster sits in the midst of the church , and boasts of his deity , the pontificials flatter him , the sophisters obey him , and the hypocrites will do any thing for him . in the mean time hell enlargeth her bosome , and openeth her mouth beyond measure , and satan sports in the ruining of souls . — pray to god for me , that i may be delivered from wicked and unbelieving men in this babylon , and that my mouth may be opened to the praise of the glory of the grace of the gospel of his son. — be of good courage , and fear not this baal-phogor , seeing he is scarce baal-zebub , a fly , if yet we believe , seeing jesus christ is god blessed for ever . — from the place of my exile , june . . when he had safe conduct from the emperour charles the fifth to come to and return from wormes , dated march . . he took his journey thither ; and though his friends informed him in a town near wormes , that his books were before his coming condemned in publick proclamations , and therefore that it was dangerous for him to go , notwithstanding the emparours promise , yet having heard all they could say , he told them , as for me , since i am sent for , i am resolved and certainly determined to enter the city in the name of our lord christ iesus , yea although i knew that there were so many devils to resist me , as there are tiles to cover all the houses in the whole world , &c. at his first appearance before the emperour , two things were demanded of him , whether those books there present were his , and whether he would recant their contents or edhere thereunto ? he granted the former ; but as to the later , forasmuch ( said he ) as the question concerneth faith , and the salvation of souls , and because it concerns the word of god , then which nothing is of greater account , as well in heaven , as on earth , and which all ought duly to rererence , it will be rash and dangerous to pronounce any thing , before i be well advised , seeing through unadvisedness i may speak less then the business requires and more then truth , both which call to mind that of christ , whosoever shall deny me before men , him will i deny before my father in heaven . i therefore humbly beseech the imperial majesty to grant me time to deliberate , so that i may satisfie the question without any prejudice to the word of god , and peril of my own soul. whereupon a days time was granted him . it is observable , that as he was going to appear , and whilst he was in that assembly of princes , luther was exhorted by some present to be couragious and to play the man , and not to fear that onely can kill the body , &c. and also , when thou art before kings , think not what thou shalt speak ; for it shall be given to you in that hour . when he appeared the next time , he answered thus , most serene emperour , and your most illustrious princes , and most merciful lords , i appear before you here at the hour prescribed unto me yesterday , in obedience to your command , humbly beseeching for gods mercy , that your renowned majesty , and your most illustrious honours would be pleased benignly to hear this cause , which is ( i hope ) the cause of righteousness and truth . — as for my self i can affirm nothing but this , that i have taught and writ hitherto in singleness of heart , what i thought tended onely to gods glory , and the sincere instruction of christs faithful ones . — as for the second question , i beseech your most excellent majesty , and your honours to observe , that all my books are not of one sort . there be some in which i have so sincerely and evangelically handled the religion that consists in faith and observance , that my very enemies are forced to be harmless , profitable , and worthy to be read of christians . — if i should revoke these , what shall i do ? even i alone of all men , repugning the unanimous confession of all , shall condemn that truth , which both friends and foes confess . another sort of my books inveigheth against the papacy , and the doctrine of the papists , as those , who by their doctrines and most wicked examples have corrupted the whole state of christianity in soul and body ; for none can deny , nor hide it , seeing the experience and sad complaints of all are witnesses , that the consciences of the faithful are most miserably insnared , vexed , and tortured by the popes laws , and the doctrines of men , and that the substance , especially of this famous germany hath been , and is yet most tyrannically and by unworthy means devoured : when as they themselves by their laws provide ( as in dist. . & . q. . & . ) that the popes laws and doctrines , that are contrary to the scripture and the sentiments of the fathers , should be reprobated for erroneous . if therefore i should revoke these , i shall strengthen tyranny , and open not onely windows , but doors and wide gates to so great wickedness , which is like to extend farther and with greater licentiousnesses , then ever it durst heretofore ; and by the testimony of this my retractation , their most licentious kingdome of wickedness , and lest subject to punishment , most intollerable to the miserable common people , will yet be more confirmed and established , especially if this be bruited , that i have done this by the authority of your most excellent majesty , and the whole r●man empire . good lord ! what a cloak shall i be to their wickedness and tyranny ? the third sort is of such , as i have writ against some particular persons , such who have laboured all that ever they could to maintain the romish tyranny , and to demolish the religion which i have taught . i confess i have been more bitter against these , then became my religion and profession . neither do i make my self a saint , nor do i dispute concerning my life , but concerning the d●ctrine of christ. it is notwithstanding unsafe for me to revoke these ; for this recantation will occasion tyranny and wickedness to reign again more ragingly over gods people , then ever yet , seeing i am a man , and not god , i can no otherwise defend my books , then iesus christ himself , my lord , defended his doctrine , who being examined about his doctrine before annas , and cufft by a servant , said , if i have spoken evil , bear witness of the evil . if the lord himself , who knew he could not erre , did not refuse to have testimony given against his doctrine , even by a most vile servant ; how much more then should i , that am but vile corruption , and can of my self do nothing but erre , desire and expect the testimony of any against my doctrine ? therefore i beseech , for gods mercy , your most excellent majesty , and your most illustrious honours , or any other of high or low degree , to give in his testimony , to convict my errours , to confute me by the scriptures of the prophets or evangelists and apostles , and i will be most ready , when taught , to recant any errour , yea will be the first that shall cast mine own books into the fire . i suppose hereby it is manifest , that i have well weighed the perils and dangers , as also the divisions and dissentions , which have risen through the world by occasion of my doctrine , of which i was yesterday gravely and sharply admonished : as for me , the face of things is very pleasant , when i see discords and dissentions stirred up upon the account of the word ; for such is the course , the lot , and event of the gospel ; for christ saith , i came not to send peace , but a sword ; i came to set a man at variance with his father . — the emperours prolocutor telling him , that he had not answered to the purpose , neither ought he to call in question , what hath been in time past defined and condemned in councils , and therefore a plain and direct answer , whether he would recant or no , was demanded of him ? seeing therefore ( said luther ) your most excellent majesty , &c. require a plain answer , i will give one , and that without horns or teeth ; unless i shall be convinced by scripture testimonies , or evident reason ; ( for i believe neither pope , nor councils onely , seeing it is evident , that they have often erred , and contradicted themselves ) i am so evercome by the scritures which i have alledged , and my conscience is so captiv'd to the words of the lord , that i may not , neither will i recant at all ; and that because it is neither safe nor honest to act against conscience . here i stand . i have nothing else to say . god be merciful to me . the princes consulted together upon this answer given by luther ; and when they had examined it , the prolocutor endeavoured to refell it , telling him , that it nothing availeth to renew disputation concerning things condemned by the church and councils , through so many ages , unless it should be necessary to give a reason to every one of every thing that is concluded ; but if this should be permitted to every one that gain ayeth the determination of the church and councils , to be convinced by the scriptures , we shall have nothing certain and established in christianity : and therefore the emperour required of him a plain and direct answer , either negative or affirmative , to this question ; art thou resolved to defend all thy works as orthodox● or wilt thou recant any thing in them ? then dr. martin besought the emperour , that he might not be compelled to recant against his conscience , captiv'd to and hindred by the holy scriptures , without manifest arguments to the contrary . the answer ( said he ) that is required , is a plain and direct answer . i have no other , then what i have already given . unless my adversaries can deliver my conscience from captivity to those ( they call ) errours by sufficient arguments , i cannot get out of the net , in which i am intangled . all things , which councils have determined , are not therefore true ; yea councils have erred , and determined often things contrary to themselves : and therefore the prolocutors argument falleth . i can shew that councils have erred , and therefore i may not revoke what is plainly and diligently exprest in scripture . hereupon the emperour resolved to pursue martin luther and his adherents by excommunication , and other means , that may be devised to extinguish his doctrine , yet would not violate his faith , but intended to give order for his safe return thither whence he was called , and certified the princes electors , dukes , and the other estates assembled so much in a letter to them . before luther had any answer from the emperour , several of all ranks visited him , and conferred with him ; among the rest the archbishop of triers sent for him , and dr. vaeus in the presence of many nobles protested that luther was not called to dispute , but onely the princes had procured license from the emperour benignly and brotherly to exhort him , &c. to whom he gave this answer ; most gracious and illustious princes and lords , i give you most humble thanks for your clemency and singular good will , from whence proceedeth this admonition . i do indeed acknowledge my self altogether unworthy to be admonished by so mighty princes . i have not reprehended all councils , but onely that of constence , and that because that council hath condemned the word of god , as appears in that this article of iohn hus , that the church of christ is the company of the elect , is condemned by it . — i am ready to lose blood and life for you , so i be not compelled to revoke the manifest word of god ; in defence whereof , we ought rather to obey god , then man. here i cannot avoid scandal . there be two manners of offences , at manners and at faith. — now it is not in my power to make christ not to be a rock of offence . — i am ready to obey magistrates , how wickedly soever they live , so that i be not inforced to deny the word of god. hereupon dr. vaeus admonished luther to submit his writings to the emperours and the princes judgement . he answered humbly and modestly , that he was so far from fearing their examination , that he was content to suffer his writings to be discussed most accurately of the meanest , so that it were done by the authority of the word of god and of the holy scripture . the word of god ( said he ) makes so clearly for me , that i may not yield , unless i be untaught , and taught better by the word of the lord. st. austin writeth thus ; i give this honour onely unto the canonical books to believe them to be altogether true ; as for other holy and learned doctors i onely so far believe them , as they write the truth . st. paul bids us , prove all things and hold fast that which is good . he saith also , though an angel from heaven should preach any other doctrine , &c. wherefore i humbly beseech you not to urge my conscience , bound in scripture bonds , to deny the so clear word of god. in all other cases i will be most obedient to you . the marquess of branderburg asking him , whether he was not resolved not to yield , unless he were convinced by the holy scripture : yes ( said he ) most noble lord , or else by clear and evident reasons . afterwards pentinger and dr. vaeus endeavoured to perswade luther to let the emperour and empire to pass judgement upon his writings simply and absolutely : he answered , that he was ready to do and suffer any thing , so that they would build on the authority of the holy scripture : otherwise he could not consent ; for god by the prophet saith , trust ye not in princes , nor in the children , &c. cursed is he that trusteth in man. when notwithstanding this answer they urged him more vehemently , he told them , nothing is less to be permitted to mans judgement , then the word of god. then they prayed him to submit his writings to the judgement of the next council . he agreed thereunto , provided , that they pass judgement concerning them out of the scriptures , and prove the contrary by testimonies thence . afterwards the arch bishop of triers treated privately with him to perswade him ; luther told him , it was not s●fe for him to submit so momentous a business to them , who after they had called him under safe conduct , attempting him with new commands , had condemned his opinion , and approved the popes bull. afterwards the arch bishop desired luther to shew what remedies there were in this case ; he answered , none better then gamalie●'s , who said , if this c●unsel or work proceed of men , it shall come to n●ught ; but if it be of god , ye cannot destroy it . caesar and the states may write to the pope , that they are certain , if this his purpose 〈◊〉 of god , it will of i●s own acc●rd come to n●ught within three , yea within two years . the arch bishop asking him , what if the same a●●icles , which the ●ouncil of constance condemned , be collected out of your writings to be submitted to a cou●cil : i may not ( said he ) and i will not hold my peace concerning such ; because i am certain the word of god is condemned by their decrees , therefore i will rather lose life and head , then abandon the manifest word of the lord. when luther was commanded by the emperour to return within one and twenty dayes under safe conduct : he said , it is as pleaseth the lord. blessed be the name of the lord. i humbly give most hearty thanks to the emperour , and all the princes , &c. for so benign and favourable audience , and for safe conduct to come and return . i desire nothing of you , but a reformation by the holy scripture ; and that i do most earnestly desire . otherwise i am ready to suffer all things , life and death , shame and reproach , for the emperour and empire , reserving nothing for my self , but onely the free word of god to be confessed and testified by me . in his letter to his father . — know , dear father , that your son is come to this , to be most certainly perswaded , that nothing is before , nothing more holy , more religious then gods command . but you will say , didst thou ever doubt hereof ? truly i did not onely doubt hereof , but i was altogether ignorant that it was so ; and if you will suffer me , i am ready to demonstrate that this ignorance was common to you with me . — if you had known that gods command is to be preferred before all things , you would by your paternal authority have taken away my monks cole ; and if i had known it , i should not have entred into the monastery without your leave , and against your consent . — but god hath caused all to work for good . — he would have me to experience the wisdome of the universities , and the holiness of the monasteries ; that is , that they should be known to me by many sins and impieties , lest occasion should be given to wicked men to triumph over their future adversary , that i condemned what i knew not . i therefore lived a monk , though without crime , not without fault . — will you now come and free me , my father ? the lord hath come before you and freed me . — my conscience is freed , which is the richest liberty . i am now a monk and no monk , a new creature , not of the pope , but of christ. the pope doth indeed create puppets , that is , idols like himself , in which number i was once a poor seduced one , but now freed by grace . — your authority over me doth indeed remain intire . but he that hath freed me , hath greater authority over me . — novemb. . . in his epistle to prince frederick . — the perils and dangers which seem to hang over your person , dominions , and subjects , and especially my self , condemned by edicts and bulls , by the popes and emperours authority upon my return are not unobserved ; certainly no less then a violent death is to be expected by me every hour . but what shall i do ? god calls and urges me to return . — to this i am not induced by pride and contempt of the emperour , or of your excellency , or of any magistrate ; for although sometimes we must not do what is commanded by man , as when any thing is commanded contrary or repugnant to the word of god , yet the power and authority is never to be contemned , but alwayes to be highly honoured . — but i am assured , that the beginning of my preaching at wittenberg came not from my self , but from god. neither can any kind of persecution and death teach me otherwise ; yea i think i prophesie rightly , that no terrours nor cruelty shall be able to put out this light. — besides , whilst i was absent from wittenberg , satan hath entred in among my flock , &c. and i have resolved rather to regard the great necessity of that church , then the offending or pleasing your excellency ; yea , then the hatred and fury of the whole world . certainly this is my flock , committed to me by the lord ; these are my children in christ. shall i doubt whether i should c●me to or stay from them , for whom i ought to lose my life , and chuse death , which i shall ( god helping me ) willingly and cheerfully . — i do also very much fear least some great and horrible insurrection be in germany , to punish germany ' s ? contempt of , and ingratitude for the blessings of god. we see with how great liking , applause , and concurrency the gospel is received by very many ; but many receive this blessing carnally , they plainly see the truth , but do not walk in the truth as they ought . — the ecclesiastical tyranny is weakned and broken , and that was all i aimed at in my writings . now i see god will proceed farther , and will sometime do the same that he did to ierusalem , when he overturned altogether both the ecclesiastical and political government for persecuting the gospel , and other outrages . i have lately begun to learn , that not onely the ecclesiastical , spiritual , but the political and civil authority ought to yield unto the gospel , &c. seeing therefore that god requires by ezekiel , that we be as a wall unto the people , i have thought it necessary to do all we can and ought by mutual counsels , studies , instructions , admonitions , exhortations , for the averting , or at least for the deferring ●f the anger and judgement of god. — this i dare affirm , and wish that your excellency were assured thereof , that it is far otherwise concluded in heaven , then in the convention at norinberg ; and in short time we shall see , that they , who n●w dream that they have quite dev●ured and e●ten up the gospel , have not so much as far fashi●n sake said gr●ce ( as the english expressi●n is ) for these untouched dain●ies . — the gospel begins to be ●ppressed , and therefore herein i ought not to regard any mortal . i beseech theref●re your , excel●ency to take in good part my coming home without your command , yea privity . you are the lord of my body , and little fortunes , but christ of the souls , to wh●m he hath sent me , &c. — i hope , being confident that my lord christ is stronger then our enemies , that he will defend me from their rage ; if he will not , his good will be done : this i can confidently promise , that no peril shall come to your excellency for my sake . — an. . in his letter to sebastian schlick , a bohemian nobleman . — the loathsome death of the papacy is at hand , and its unavoidable ruine approacheth ; and ( as daniel saith ) she comes to an end , and none shall help her . — in a short time i shall by my writings ( christ favouring of me ) free the bohemians from their reproach , and cause that the name of popery shall be odious and abominable throughout the world , and that to be a papist , and to be anathematized shall be all one . — iuly . . in his answer to king henry the eighth's book against him . — let not king henry impute my sharpness against him to me , but to himself . — if seeing that meer corruption and a wretched worm dare knowingly belye the majesty of my heavenly king , it cannot but be lawfull for me for my kings sake , to bespatter the king of england with his own dirt , and to trample under foot his crown , filled with blasphemy against christ. — the lord cleared up his will by degrees unto me , till by the hand of the mighty iacob , it came to this , that by evident and pure scriptures i was convinced , that the pope , cardinals , bishops , priests , monks , masses , and that whole kingdome with their doctrines and ministries , are meer lies , idols , and the very abomination standing in the holy place , yea and the scarlet whore sitting upon the beast , drunk with the blood of christs witnesses , and making the kings of the earth drunk with the cup of her fornications and abominations . — this truth being discerned , i was forced to retract some of my writings , and still do so , being sorry at the very heart i ever writ one syllable in favour of the pope and his kingdome . — yea , i spake too modestly in my treatise concerning the babylonish captivity of the church in calling papacy the popes mighty hunting ; for that from the example of nimrod may be said of all profane civil powers , to whom notwithstanding god would have us to be subject to honour them , and pray for them . i now say most truly , that papacy is the most pestilent abomination of prince satan . — — against the sayings of fathers , men , angels , devils , i set not ancient custome , not multitude , but the word of one eternal god. here i stand , sit , abide , glory , triumph over the papists , thomists , henry 's , sophisters , and all the gates of hell. the word of god is above all . god is on my side , what should i care if a thousand austines , a thousand cyprians , a thousand churches of henry be against me . god cannot erre nor deceive , but austine and cyprian , as all the elect may erre , yea have erred . — let the henry's , the bishops , the turk , and the devil himself do what they can , we are the children of the kingdome , worshipping and waiting for that saviour , whom they and such as they spit upon and crucifie . — if any be offended at my sharpness against the king , let him take this answer . — it is no great matter if i contemn and bite an earthly king , whenas he feared not at all in his writings to blaspheme the king of heaven . — in the year ● . a diet was held at norinberg in the absence of the emperour , wherein the edict of wormes was made null : of this the popes legate complained to the princes , saying , that luther was not punished according to the emperours edict . the princes answer was , that the court of rome neglected reformation : that germany was so far enlightned with the sermons and writings of luther , that if they should go about to put the edict in execution , great tumults would arise , and the people would be ready to think , that they went about to oppress the truth , and to put out the light of the gospel , that so they might the better defend those manifest vices which could be no longer concealed . in the year . luther married katherine a boren , who had formerly been a nun ; the change of his condition troubled him , because of the unseasonableness of the time , it being then , when germany weltred in the blood of the clowns , and saxony mourned for the death of their prince , insomuch that melancthon was fain to labour to comfort him all he could . in his letter to melancthon , who was much troubled at the rage of the papists , and caesars threats to subvert the gospel . — in private conflicts i am weak and you are strong , but in publick conflicts you are found weak , and i stronger , because i am assured that our cause is just and true . if we fall , christ the lord and ruler of the world falleth with us ; and suppose he fall , i had rather fall with christ then stand with caesar. i extremely dislike your excessive cares , with which ( you say ) you are almost consumed . that these reign in your heart , it is not from the greatness of the danger , but the greatness of your incredulity . if the cause be bad , let us revoke it and fall back ; if it be good , why do we make god a lyar ? — be of good comfort , i have overcome the world . if christ be the conquerour of the world , why should we fear as if it would overcome us ? a man would fetch such sentences as these upon his knees from rome or jerusalem . be not afraid , ●e couragious and cheerfull , solicitous for nothing , the lord is at hand to help us . when the diet was met at ausburg in the year . the elector of saxony sent to luther to know , whether the cause of religion should be referred to the judgement of the emperour ? he answered , this honour is to be given to the word of god onely to be iudge of sacred controversies . in his preface before the smalca●dian articles . — in many bishopricks divers parishes are destitute of spiritual food , &c. i fear for this christ will call a council of angels to destroy germany , as he destr●yed sodom and gomorrah . — our sins weigh us down , and suffer not god to be gracious to us ; because instead of repenting , we defend our abominations . o lord jesus christ , do thou summon and hold a council , and redeem thy servants by the glorious coming . the popes and popelings are past cure ; therefore help us poor and distressed men , who groan unto thee , and seek thee with our hearts , &c. when the papists charged him for an aposta●e ; he yielded himself to be one , but a blessed and holy one , who had not kept his promise made to the devil ; i am ( said he ) no otherwise a revolter then a magician , renouncing his covenant made with the devil , and betaking himself to christ. when he fell sick of the stone , he made his will , in which he bequeathed his detestation of popery to his friends , and to the pastours of the church , having made before this verse ; pestis eram vivus , moriens ●ro mortua papa : in english thus ; i living stopt romes breath , and dead will be romes death . in this last prayer feb. . . — i pray god to preserve the doctrine of his gospel among us ; for the p●pe and the council of tren● have grievous things in hand . — o heavenly father , my gracious god , and father of our lord jesus christ , thou god of all consolation , i give thee hearty thanks that thou hast revealed to met thy son jesus christ , whom i believe , whom i profess , whom i glorifie , whom the pope and the reut of the wicked persecute and dishonour . i beseech thee lord jesus christ receive my soul. o my heavenly father , though i be taken out of this life , and must lay down this frail body , yet i certainly know that i shall live with thee eternally , and that i cannot be taken out of thy hands . — lord into thy hands i commend my spirit , thou o god of truth hast redeemed me . in this last will. — o lord god , i thank thee that thou wouldst have me live a poor and indigent person upon earth . i have neither house , nor lands , nor possessions , nor money to leave . thou lord hast given me wife and children . them lord i give back unto thee . nourish , instruct , and keep them ( o thou the father of orphans , and judge of the widow ) as thou hast done to me , so do to them . when he saw his daughter magdalen ready to die , he read to her isa. . . thy dead men shall live together , with my dead body shall they arise , &c. adding , my daughter , enter thou into thy chamber in peace , i shall ere long ●e with thee ; for god will not permit me to see the punishment which hangs over the head of germany . when the elector gave him a new gown , he said , i am made too much of ; for if here we receive a full recompence for our labours , we shall hope for none in another life . i say flatly , that god shall not put me off with these low things . in the cause of god ( said he ) i am content to undergo the hatred and violence of all the world . when his head was out of order ( as it used to be towards his later end ) he would usually say , strike lord , strike mercifully , i am prepared ; because by thy word i am forgiven mine iniquities , and have fed upon thy body and blood . he used to say that three things would destroy christian religion ; forgetfulness of the blessings received by the gospel : security , which reigns every where : and worldly wisdome , which will seek to bring all things into order , and to support the publick peace by wicked counsels erasmus said of him , god hath given to this later age a sharp physician , and that because of the greatness of its diseases . mr. fox saith of him , that luther a poor fryer should be able to stand against the pope , was a great miracle : that he should prevail against the pope was a greater : and after all , to die in peace , having so many enemies , was the greatest of all . when myconius fell into a consumption . and wrote to luther , that he was sick unto life , and not unto death . luther wrote back , i pray christ our lord , our salvation and health , &c. that i may not live to see thee , and some others of our colleagues to die and go to heaven , and leave me here among the devils alone . i pray god i may first lay down this dry , exhausted , and unprofitable tabernacle . farewell , and god forbid that i should hear of thy death , while i live . the lord prolong thy life for me . this i desire ; this i will , and let my will be done , ( amen ) for this will hath the glory of god , not my pleasure , nor advantage for its end . by and by hopeless myconius recovered and lived six years longer even till after luther's death . hence iustus ionas speaking of him , saith , that man could have of god what he pleased . he would by no means endure that any should be called after his name ; for ( said he ) the doctrine which i teach is none of mine ; neither did idie for any man ; neither would paul , cor. . . &c. endure such terms : besides we are all christians , and profess the doctrine of christ : and lastly , because the papists use to do so , calling themselves pontificians , whom we nought not to imitate . m. mallot . often have we hazarded our lives ( said iohn mallot a souldier ) for the emperour charles the fifth , and shall we now shrink to die for the king of kings ? let us follow our captain . man. thomas man having broken prison after his recantation , said , if i be taken again of the pild knave priests , i wist well i shall go the holy angel , and then be an angel in heaven . accordingly the sheriffe of london , when he had brought him into smithfield to be burnt , put him into gods angel. he thanked god that he had been instrumental to convert seven hundred persons . marbeck . iohn marbeck was a skilfull organist in the quire of windsor , a man of admirable industry and ingenuity . his english concordance ( the first that ever was in english ) bishop gardiner himself could not but commend as a piece of singular industry . king henry the eighth hearing thereof , said , that he was better imployed , then those priests that accused him . being prest to discover hereticks , and being told he could not do god and the king greater service : if i knew ( said he ) who were hereticks indeed , it were somewhat ; but if i should accuse him to be an heretick that is none , what a worm would that be in my conscience , so long as i live . yea it were a great deal better for me to be out of this life , then to live in such torment . he being called a dolt who would not discover them , who should be sent for , and would utter then all they can of him . whatsoever ( said he ) they shall say of me , let them do it in the name of god , i will say no more of them , nor of any man else , then i know . being further prest to write down what he knew of such , he thus prayed unto god ; o most merciful father of heaven , thou that knowest the secret doings of all men , have mercy upon thy poor prisoner that is destitute of all help and comfort . assist me , o lord , with thy special grace , that to save this frail and vile body , which shall turn to corruption in its time , i have no power to say or to write any thing , that may be to the casting away of my christian brother ; but rather , o lord , let this vile flesh suffer at thy will and pleasure . grant this , o most merciful father , for thy dear son jesus christs sake . then he rose up , and began to search his conscience , what he might write , and at last writ thus : whereas your lordship will have me to write of such things , as i know not of my fellows at home , may it please your lordship to understand , that i cannot call to remembrance any manner of thing , whereby i may justly accuse any one of them , unless the reading of the new testament , which is common to all men , be an offence . more then this i know not . the bishop of winchester asking him , what helpers he had in setting forth his concordance ? none , my lord ( said he . ) none ? ( said the ●ishop ) how can that be ? it is not possible that thou shouldst do it without help . truly my lord ( said he ) i did it without the help of any man , save god alone . nay ( said the bishop ) i do not discommend thy diligence ; but what shouldst thou meddle with the thing , which pertaineth not to thee ? and then speaking to one of his chapl●ins , said , this fellow hath taken upon him to set out the concordance in english ; which book , when it was set out in latine , was not done without the help and diligence of a dozen learned men at least , and yet he will bear me in hand , that he hath done it alone . the bishop of salisbury asking him , how he could invent such a book , or know what a concordance meant without an instructer ? i will tell your lordship ( said he ) what instructer i had to begin it . when thomas matthews bible came first out in print , being not able to buy one , i borrowed one , and intended to have writ it out , and was gone as far as i●shua , which when mr. turner understood , he told me it would be a more profitable work to set out a concordance in english. a concordance ( said i ) what is that ? he told me it was a book to find out any word in the whole bible by the letter , and that there was such an one in latine already , and that it required not so much learning as diligence . this is all the instruction that ever i had before or after of any man. being asked , how he could with this instruction bring it to this order and form , as it is ? he answered , i borrowed 〈◊〉 latine concordance , and began to practise my wit ▪ and at last with great labour and diligence brought it into this order . — but i marvel greatly , why i should be so much examined about this book . have i committed any offence in doing it or no ? if i have , i am loth any other should be molested or punished for my fault . therefore to clear all men in this matter , this is my request , that ye will try me in the rest of the book that is undone . you see i have onely done with letter l. now take what word you will of m. and so in every letter following , and give me the words in a piece of paper , and let me be any where alone with pen , ink , and paper , the latine concordance , and the english bible , and if i bring you not those words written in the same order and form , as the rest be , then it was not i did it , but some other . this is honestly spoken ( said the bishop of ely ) and then shalt thou bring many out of suspition . accordingly he writ in a dayes time in the same order and form , as he had done the rest , all the words they gave him , which contained three sheets of paper and more . being threatned if he did not discover what he knew , his fingers should be made to tell : if you do tear ( said he ) the whole body in pieces , i trust in god you shall never make me accuse any man wrongfully . if thou art stubborn ( said dr. oking ) thou wilt die for it . die for it ? ( said marbeck ) wherefore should i die ? you told me the last day before the bishops , that as soon as i had made an end of that piece of the concordance they took me , i should be delivered , and shall i now die ? this is a sudden mutation . you seemed then to be my friend , but i know the cause , you have read the ballad i made of moses chair , and that hath set you against me ; but whensoever ye shall put me to death , i doubt not but i shall die gods true man , and the kings . this worthy confessor was of so sweet and amiable nature , that all good men did love , and few bad men did hate him : yet was he condemned in the year . to be burnt at windsor , which his pardon prevented , of which divers causes were assigned , ( ) that bishop gardner bare him a special affection for his skil in the mystery of musick . ( ) that such , who condemned him , procured his pardon out of remorse of conscience , because of the slender evidence against him . ( ) that it was done out of design to reserve him for a discovery of the rest of his party , and if so their plot failed them ; for being as true as steel ( whereof his fetters were made , which he wore in prison for a good time , he could not be frighted , or flattered to make any detection . marcus. v. arethusius . part. . marcus of arethuse being hung up in a basket , anointed with honey , and so exposed to the stinging of wasps and bees , said to his persecutors , that stood and beheld him , how am i advanced , despising you that are below on earth . marlorate . mr. augustine marlorate , minister of roan , when in the civil wars of france that city was taken by storm , was taken also , and brought before mon●orency , the constable of france , who said unto him , thou art he , who hast seduced the people . if i have seduced them ( said he ) it is god that hath done it rather then i ; for i have preached nothing to them , but his divine truth . you are a seditious person ( said the constable ) and the cause of the ruine of this city . as for that imputation ( said he ) i refer my self to all that have heard me preach , be they papists , or protestants , whether i ever medled with matters of the politick state , or no. — the constable told him ( swearing a great oath ) we shall see within a few dayes , whether thy god can deliver thee out of my hands , or no. it is observable how speedily gods judgements found out his persecutors . the captain that apprehended him was slain within three weeks , by one of the basest sou●diers in all his company . the constables son was shortly after slain in the battel of dreux . two of his iudges also died very strangely soon after , viz. the president of the parliament by a flux of blood , which could be by no means stanched : the other being a councellor , voiding his urine by his fundament , with such an intolerable stink , that none could come near him . villeben that switched him with a wand as he was carried on the hurdle to execution● , a while after escaped death by the loss of his hand , wherewith he had so basely smitten this servant of the lord. marsake . sir l●wis marsake was so glad of the sentence of condemnation , that he went out praising god and singing of psalms . to a souldier that would have hindred him from stepping aside to call upon god ; what ( said he ) will you not let us pray in that little time which we have ? when halters were put about the necks of his two fellow-sufferers , he seeing himself to be spared because of his order and degree , called to the lieutenant for one of those precious chains about his neck in honour of his lord. why i pray you ( said he ) do you deny me the badge of so excellent an order ? is not my cause the same with theirs ? marsh. mr. george marsh , minister in lancashire , writes thus concerning his troubles . — my friends and relations advised me to flee . — if i were taken , ( said they ) and would not recant ( as they thought i would not , and god strengthning and assisting me never shall ) it would not onely put them to great sorrow , and losses , and shame , but also my self , after troubles and painful imprisonment , unto shameful death . — to their counsel my weak flesh would gladly have consented , but my spirit did not fully agree , thinking and saying thus unto my self , that if i so fled away , it would be thought and reported , that i did not onely flee my countrey ▪ and nearest and dearest friends , but from christ holy word , of late years within my heart , or at least with my life professed , and with my mou●h taught . i knew not what to do , but ceased not by earnest prayer to ask and seek counsel of god , a●● of other my friends , whose godly judgement and knowledge i much trusted to . still i was undetermined what to do , but told a friend , that had prayed with me for direction , i doubted not but god ( according as our prayer and trust was ) would give me such wisdome and counsel , as should be most to his honour and glory , the profit of my neighbours and brethren , and mine own eternal salvation by christ in heaven . — at length one came to me with letters from a faithful friend ( which i never read , nor looked on ) who said thus , my friends advice was , that i should in no wise flee , but abide and boldly confess the faith of jesus christ. at which words i was so confirmed and established in my conscience , that from thenceforth i consulted no more , whether it were better to flee , or to tarry ; but was at a point with my self , that i would not flee , but go to mr. barton , who did seek me , and patiently bear what cross it should please god to lay upon me . whereupow my mind and conscience , being much troubled before , was now merry and in quiet state . — thereupon i went to mr. barton . he shewed me a letter from the earl of derby , wherein he was commanded to send me to lathum . thither i went. the earl asked me whether i was one that sowed dissention among the people ? i denied it , and desired to know mine accusers ; but that could not be granted . he asked me , whether i was a priest ? i said , no , but a minister , &c. i was asked , whether i had ministred with a good conscience ? i answered , i had ministred one year with a good conscience , i thanked god , and if the laws of the realm would have suffered me , i would have ministred still ; and if the laws at any time hereafter would suffer me to minister after that sort , i would minister again . — the vicar of prescot having communed with me a good while concerning the sacrament of the altar , told my lord and his council , that the answer which i had made before , and then made , was sufficient for a beginner , and one that did not profess a perfect knowledge in that matter : and thereupon i had more favour . hereupon i was much more troubled in my spirit then before , because i had not with more boldness confessed christ , but in such sort , as mine adversaries thereby thought they should prevail against me . hitherto i went about as much as lay in me , to rid my self out of their hands , if by any means , without open denying of christ and his word , that could be done . this considered i cried more earnestly to god to strengthen me with his holy spirit , with boldness to confess him , and to deliver me from their enticing words , and that i might not be spoiled through their philosophy , and deceitful vanity after the traditions of men , and ordinances of the world , and not after christ. — the vicar of prescot and parson of grapnal much exhorted me to leave mine opinions , saying , i was much deceived , understanding the scriptures amiss , and much counselled me to follow the catholick church of christ , and to do as others did . i answered , my faith in christ conceived by his holy word i neither might nor would deny , alter , or change for any living creature whatso●v●r ●e were . — afterwards mr. sherburn and mr. m●●r perswaded me to leave mine opinions because of the adv●rsity of the maintainers of them , and the prosperity of the favourers of the religion now used . i answered , that i believed and leaned onely to the scriptures , not judging things by prosperity or adversity . they advised me not to let shame hinder me from renouncing mine opinions . i answered , that what i did , i did not for the avoiding of any worldly shame , saying , my soul and life were dearer to me , then the avoiding of any worldly shame : neither yet did i it for any vain praise of the world , but in the reverent fear of the lord. — mr. sherburn told me that it was great pity i should cast my self away , &c. i answered , that my life , mother , children , brethren , sisters , and friends , with other delights of this life , were as dear and sweet to me , as unto any other man , and that i should be as loth to lose them , as another would , if i might hold them with a good conscience , and without the ignominy of christ. but seeing i could not do that , my trust was that god would strengthen me with his holy spirit to lose them all for his sake ; for i take my self ( said i ) for a sheep appointed to be slain , patiently to suffer what cross soever it shall please my merciful father to lay upon me . — after this mr. moor told me , i was unlearned , and erred from the catholick faith , stubborn , and stood altogether in mine own conceit . i answered , for my learning , i acknowledge my self to know nothing , but jesus christ , even him that was crucified , and that my faith was grounded on gods holy word onely , and such as ( i doubted not ) pleased god , and as i would stand in to the last , god assisting me , and that i did not say , or do any thing of stubbornness , self-wilfulness , vain-glory , or any other worldly purpose , but with good conscience , and in the fear of god. desiring him to speak to my lord and his council , that i might find some mercy at their hands ; but he giving me but short answer , then i said , i commit my cause to god , who hath numbred the hairs of my head , and appointed the dayes of my life , saying , i am sure god , who is a righteous iudge , would make inquisition for my blood , according as he hath promised . — i desire the reader of this relation to pray for me , and all them that be in bonds , that god would assist us with his holy spirit , that we may with boldness confess his holy name , and that christ may be magnified in our bodies , that we may stand full and perfect in all the will of god. — whilst i was at lancaster , some of good will towards me , but without knowledge , that came to talk with me , gave me the same counsel , that peter gave christ , as he went up to ierusalem ; master , favour thy self , &c. but i answered with christs sharp answer to peter again , get thee behind me satan , and perceiving that they were an hinderance to me , and that they savoured not the things which are of god , but the things that are of men ; i made them plain answer , that i neither could nor would follow their counsel , but that by gods grace i would both live and die with a pure conscience , and according as hitherto i had believed and professed ; for we ought in no wise ( said he ) to flatter and bear with them , though they love us never so well , which go about to pluck us away from the obedience which we owe unto god , and to his word , but after christs example , sharply to rebuke them for their counsel . — god so strengthened me with his spirit of boldness , according to my humble request and prayer before ( everlasting thanks be given to him therefore ) that i was nothing afraid to speak to any that came to me , no not even to judges , before whom i was thrice arraigned at the bar , among the thieves , with irons on my feet , and put up my hand as others did ; but yet with boldness i spake unto them , so long as they would suffer me . — they threatned and rebuked me , for my preaching to the people out of prison , and for my praying and reading so loud , that the people in the streets might hear . — when the bishop of chester came to lancaster , he was informed of me , and desired to send for me , and examine me ; but he said he would have nothing to do with hereticks so hastily . so hasty in judging and calling me hereticks are our bishops in their lordly dignities , before they hear , &c. contrary to the word of god , which saith , condemn no man before thou hast tried out the truth of the matter , and when thou hast made inquisition , then reform righteously . give no sentence before thou hast heard the cause , but first let men tell out their tale ; and he that giveth sentence in a matter before he hear it , is a fool , and worthy to be confounded . — it is no new thing for the bish●ps to persecute the truth and the prophets of the lord for their constancy in preaching of the true faith ; faith ; for so did their pharisaical fore-fathers . pashur was the head bishop of the temple , the ring-leader of false prophets , the chief heretick-taker , that is as much as to say , the outthruster of true godliness . he imprisoned the prophet ieremy , &c. the ungracious bishop i●son was such another , machab. . . — such were also the execrable and blind bishops annas and caiaphas , who never spake the truth of god themselves , unless it were against their wills , unwittingly to their own destruction . — at chester several times came to me , and with all probability of words and philosophy , or worldly wisdome , and deceitfull vanity , after the traditions of men , and the beggarly ordinances and laws of the world , but not after christ , went about to perswade me to submit my self to the church of rome , and to acknowledge the pope to be head thereof , and to interpret the scriptures no otherwise then that church did . i answered , that i do acknowledge and believe one holy catholick church , without which there is no salvation ; and that this church is but one , because it ever hath , doth , and shall confess one onely god , and him onely worship ; and one onely messiah , and him onely trust for salvation : which church is ruled and led by one spirit , one word , and one faith , &c. and is built onely upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles , jesus christ himself being the head-corner-stone , and not upon the romish laws , the bishop of rome being the supreme head , &c. and that this church is a little poor silly flock , dispersed and scattered abroad , as sheep without a shepherd , in the midst of wolves ; or as a company of orphans and fatherless children , led and ruled by the onely laws , counsels , and word of christ , who is the supreme head thereof , assisting , succouring , and defending her from all assaults , errours , troubles , and persecutions , wherewith she is ever compassed about . — i was thrust at with all violence of craft and subtilty , but yet the lord upheld me . everlasting thanks be to that merciful and faithful lord , who suffereth us not to be tempted above our might , but in the midst of our troubles strengtheneth us with his holy spirit of comfort and patience , giveth us a mouth and wisdome how and what to speak , where against all his adversaries are not able to resist . — at another appearance before the bishop , &c. the chancellor charged him , that he had preached most heretically and blasphemously in many parishes within the bishops diocess against the popes authority , the catholick church of rome , &c. he answered , that he neither heretically nor blasphemously preached or spake against any of the said articles , but simply and truly as occasion served , and ( as it were thereunto forced in conscience ) maintained the truth touching those articles , as ( said he ) all you now present did acknowledge the same in king edward's dayes . after the bishop of chester had read half-ways the sentence of condemnation , he asked him whether he would not have the queens mercy in time ? he answered , he did gladly desire the same , and did love her grace as faithfully as any of them , but yet he durst not deny his saviour christ , and so lose his mercy everlasting , and win everlasting death . being again called upon by the people to recant and save his life , he said , i would as fain live as any of you , if in so doing i should not deny my master christ , and again he should deny me before his father in heaven . when the bishop had read out the sentence , he said , now i will no more pray for thee then i will pray for a dog. mr. marsh answered , that notwithstanding he would pray for his lordship . when he was in the dungeon , and none suffered to come near him , some of the citizens would at a hole upon the wall of the city , that went into the dungeon , ask him how he did ? he would answer them most cheerfully , that he did well , and thanked god most highly , that he would vouchsafe of his mercy to appoint him to be a witness of his truth , and to suffer for the same , wherein he did most rejoyce , beseeching him that he would give him grace not to faint under the cross , but patiently bear the same to his glory , and comfort of his church . when he came to the place of execution , one shewing him a writing under the great seal , and telling him , it was a pardon for him if he would recant ; he said , that he would gladly receive the same ; but forasmuch as it tended to pluck him from god , he would not receive it upon that condition . after that he began to speak to the people , shewing the cause of his death , and would have exhorted them to stick unto christ. whereupon one of the sheriffs said , we must have no sermoning now . when the beholders supposed no less but that he had been dead , having been so long in the fire , he spread abroad his arms , saying , father of heaven have mercy upon me . upon this many of the people said , that he was a martyr , and died marvellous patiently and godly , which thing caused dr. cotes the bishop shortly after to preach in the cathedral , that he was an heretick , burnt like an heretick , and was a firebrand in hell . but shortly after the judgement of god took hold of the bishop ; it was a report in all mens mouths that he died burnt by an harlot . in his letter to the reader , touching his examinations . — though satan be suffered to sift us , as wheat , for a time , yet faileth not our faith , through christs aid , but that we are at all times able and ready to confirm the faith of our weak brethren , and alwayes ready to give an answer to every man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us , and that with meekness and reverence , having a good conscience ; and whenas they backbite us as evil doers , they may be ashamed , forasmuch as they have falsly accused our good conversation in christ. i thought my self well settled with my loving wife and children , and also well quieted in the peaceable possession of that pleasant euphrates ; but the lord , who worketh all for the best to them that love him , would not there leave me , but took my dear and beloved wife from me , whose death was a painful cross to my flesh . i thought also my self well placed under most loving and gentle mr. laurence saunders in the cure of langton . but the lord of his great mercy would not suffer me long there to continue , ( although for the small time i was in his vineyard i was not an idle workman ) but he hath provided me to taste of a far other cup ; for by violence hath he yet once again driven me out of that glorious babylon , that i should not taste too much of her wanton pleasures , but with his most dearly beloved disciples to have my inward rejoycing in the cross of his son iesus christ , the glory of whose church i see it well , standeth not in the harmonious sound of bells and organs , nor yet in the glistering of mitres and copes , nor in the shining of gilt images and lights , but in continual labours and afflictions for his names sake . god at this present here in england hath his fan in his hand , and after his great harvest , whereinto these years past he hath sent his labourers , is now sifting the corn from the chaffe , and purging his floor , and ready to gather the wheat into his garner , and burn up the chaffe with unquenchable fire . take heed and beware of the leaven of the scribes and pharises . — try all things , and choose that which is good . believe not every spirit , but prove the spirits , whether they be of god or not . — the true touch-stone is the word of god. — in his letter to the faithful professors of langton . — grace be unto you , and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of jesus christ our lord. amen . i thought it my duty to write unto you , my beloved in the lord , to stir up your minds , and to call to your remembrance the words that have been spoken to you before , and to exhort you ( as that good man , and full of the holy ghost , barnabas did the antiochians ) that with purpose of heart ye continually cleave unto the lord , and that ye stand fast , and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel ; whereof god be thanked , ye have had plenteous preaching by mr. sanders , and other ministers of christ , who now when persecution doth arise , because of the word , do not fall away , and forsake the truth , being ashamed of the gospel , whereof they have been preachers , but are willing and ready for your sakes , to forsake not onely the chief and principal delights of this life , viz. their native countrey , friends , livings , &c. but also to fulfill their ministry to the utmost , viz. with their painful imprisonments , and blood-sheddings , if need shall require , to confirm and seal christs gospel , whereof they have been ministers . they are ready , not onely to be cast into prison , but also to be killed for the name of the lord jesus . whether those , being that good salt of the earth , i. e. true ministers of gods word , by whose doctrine , being received by faith , men are made savoury unto god , and which themselves lose not their saltness ; now when they be proved with the boisterous storms of persecution , or others , being that unsavoury salt , which hath lost it saltness , i. e. those ungodly ministers , who do fall from the word of god to the dreams and traditions of antichrist ; whether of these ( i say ) be more to be credited and believed , let all men judge . wherefore my dearly beloved , receive the word of god with meekness , that is grafted in you , which is able to save your souls , and see that ye be not forgetfull hearers , deceiving your selves with sophistry , but doers of the word ; whom christ doth liken to a wise man , which buildeth his house upon a rock , &c. that when satan with all his legions of devils , with all their subtile suggestions , and the world with all the mighty princes thereof , with their crafty counsels , do furiously rage against us , we faint not , but abide constant in the truth , being grounded upon a most sure rock , which is christ , and the doctrine of the gospel , against which the gates of hell , i. e. the power of satan cannot prevail . and be ye followers of christ and his apostles , and receive the word in much affliction , as the godly thessalonians did . they onely are the true followers of christ and his apostles , that receive the word : and they onely receive the word , who both believe it , and also frame their lives after it , and be ready to suffer all manner of adversity for the name of the lord , as christ and all the apostles did , and as all that will live godly in christ iesus must do ; for there is none other way into the kingdome of heaven , but through much tribulation . and if we suffer any thing for the kingdome of heavens sake , and for righteousness sake , we have the prophets , christ , the apostles , and martyrs for an example to comfort us ; for they did all enter into the kingdome of heaven at the strait gate and narrow way , which few do find : and unless we will be content to deny our selves , and take up the cross of christ , and his saints , it is an evident argument that we shall never reign with him . but if we can find in our hearts patiently to suffer persecutions and tribulations , it is a sure token of the righteous judgement of god , that we are accounted worthy of the kingdome of heaven , for which we also suffer . it is verily ( saith the apostle ) a righteous thing with god to recompence tribulations to them that trouble us , and rest to us that be troubled . — these things we ought to have before our eyes alwayes , that in the time of persecution ( whereof all that will be the children of god shall be partakers , and some of us are already ) we may stand stedfast in the lord , and endure even to the end , that we may be saved ; for unless we , like good warriers of iesus christ , will endeavour our selves to please him , who hath chosen us to be souldiers , and fight the good fight of faith to the end , we shall not obtain that crown of righteousness , which the lord , that is a right our iudge , shall give all them that love his coming . let us therefore ground our selves on the sure rock christ ; for other foundation can no man lay , beside● that which is laid already , which is iesus christ. if any bu●ld on this foundation gold , silver , &c. by fire the apostle doth mean persecution , the portion of those that do preach and profess the word of christ , which is called the word of the cross. by gold , &c. he understands them , that in the midst of persecution abide stedfast in the word . by hay and stubble , such as in time of persecution do fall away from the truth . when christ doth purge his floor with the wind of adversity , these are scattered as light chaffe , which shall be burnt with unquenchable fire . if they which do believe , do in time of persecution stand stedfastly in the truth , the builder ( i mean the preacher of the word ) shall receive a reward , and the work shall be preserved and saved ; but if so be that they go back and swerve when persecution ariseth , the builder suffereth loss , i. e. shall lose his labour and cost ; but let he shall be saved , if he being tried in the fire of persecution , doth abide fast in the faith. wherefore my beloved , give diligent heed , that ye , as li●ing stones be ●uilt upon the sure rock , &c. — let ●s be sure , that unless we keep christ and his holy word dwelling by faith in the house and temple of our hearts , the same thing that christ threatneth to the iews , shall happen unto us , viz. the unclean spirit of ignorance , superstition , idolatry , and unbelief , the mother and head of all vices , which by the grace of god was cast out of us , bringing with him seven other spirits worse then himself , shall to our utter ruine return again to us , and so shall we be in worse case then ever we were before ; for if ●e , after we have escaped from the filthiness of the world , through the knowledge of the lord and saviour iesus christ , be yet entangled therein and overcome , then is the lat●r end worse then the beginning , and it had been letter for us not to have known the way of righteousness , 〈◊〉 after we have known it to turn from the holy commandment given unto us ; for it is then hapned unto us , according to the true proverb , the dog is turned to his vomit , and the son that was washed to wallowing in the mire . — it is not possible ( saith the apostle ) that they , which were once enlightned , &c. if they fall away , should be renewed again by repentance , &c. st. paul's meaning in this place is , that they that believe unfeignedly gods word , do abide stedfast in the known truth . if any therefore fall away from christ and his word , it is a plain token , that they were but dissembling hypocrites , for all their fair faces outwardly , and never believed truly &c. they went out from us , because they were not of us , &c. if we sin willingly after we have received the knowledge of the truth , there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin , but a certain fearful looking for of judgement , &c. wherefore let us , on whom the ends of the world are come , take diligent heed unto our selves , that now in these last and perillous times ( in which the devil is come down and hath great wrath , because he knoweth his time is but short , and whereof the prophets , christ , and the apostles have given us such warning ) we withhold not the truth in unrighteousness , believing , doing or speaking any thing against our knowledge and conscience , or without faith , &c. if ye believe me ye shall die in your sins . — dear friends , we trust to see better of you , and things which accompany salvation , and that ye being the good ground , watered with the moistness of gods word plentifully preached among you , will with a good heart hear the word of god and keep it , bringing forth fruit with patience ; and that you will be none of those forgetful and hypocritical hearers , who , although they hear the word , suffer the devil to catch away what was sown in their hearts , either having no root in themselves endure but a season , and as soon as persecution ariseth because of the word , by and by they are offended , or with the cares of this world , and deceitfulness of riches choak the word , and so are unfruitful . read the parable of the sower , and note especially , that the most part of the hearers of gods word are but hypocrites , hearing the word without any fruit or profit , yea to their greater condemnation ; for onely the fourth part of the seed doth bring forth fruit . therefore let not us that be ministers , or professors and followers of gods word be discouraged , though that very few do give credit and follow the doctrine of the gospel , and be saved . — we trust that ye will not , like the gadarenes , for fear to lose your worldly substance or other delights of this life , banish away christ and his gospel from among you . — if ye do , your own blood will be upon your own heads . and as ye have had more plentiful preaching of the gospel , then others , so ye shall be sure to be sorer plagued , and the kingdome of god shall be taken from you , and given to another nation , that will bring forth the fruits thereof . wherefore my dearly beloved in christ , take good heed unto your selves , and ponder well in your minds , how fearful and horrible a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living god , and see that ye receive not the word in vain , but declare your faith by your good works : among which the chiefest are to be obedient to the magistrates ( sith they are the ordinance of god , whether they be good or evil ) unless they command idolatry and ungodliness , i. e. things contrary to true religion ; for then we ought to say with peter , we ought more to they god then man. but in any wise we must beware of tumult , insurrection , rebellion , or resistance . the weapon of a christian in this matter ought to be the sword of the spirit , which is gods word , and prayer , coupled with humility and due submission , and with readiness of heart , rather to die then to do any ungodliness . — ( ) we must obey our parents , and be careful for our houses , that they be fed not onely with bodily food , but much rather with spiritual food , the word of god. ( ) whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you , do ye likewise unto them ; for this is the law and the prophets . ( ) pray for all estates . ( ) after these works , we must learn to know the cross : and ( ) what affection and mind we must bear towards our enemies , whatsoever they be to suffer all evils patiently , to pray for them that persecute us . and thus doing we shall obtain a certainty of our vocation , that we be the elect children of god. and thus i commend you , brethren , unto god and to the word of his grace , which is able to ●uild farther &c , beseeching you to help mr. saunders and me your late pastors , and all them that be in bonds , for the gospels sake , with your prayers to god for us , that we may be delivered from unreasonable men , &c. and that this our imprisonment may be to the glory and profit of our christian brethren in this world , and that christ may be magnified in our bodies , whether it be by death or life . amen . the grace of our lord be with you all . — the unprofitable servant of iesus christ , and now also his prisoner . g. m. iune . . postscript . save your selves from this untoward generation . pray , pray , pray . never more need . in his letter to his friends at manchester . — these are earnestly to exhort you and beseech you in christ , as ye have received the lord iesus , even so to walk , rooted in him , and not to be afraid of any terrour of your adversaries , be they never so many and mighty , and you on the other side never so few and weak ; for the battel is the lords . — as i was with moses , so will i be with thee , saith god , and will never leave thee , nor forsake thee . be strong and bold , neither fear nor dread ; for the lord thy god is with thee , whithersoever thou goest . now if god be ●n our side , who can be against us ? in this our spiritual warfare is no man overcome , unless he traiterously leave and forsake his captain , or cowardly cast away his weapons , or willingly yield himself unto his enemies , or fearfully turn his back and flie . be strong therefore in the lord and in the power of his might , and put on all the armour of god , that ye may be able to stand stedf●st against all the assaults of satan . — if we submit our selves to god , and his holy word , no man shall be able to hurt us ; god will deliver us from all troubles , yea from death also , till such time as we covet and desire to die , as he did paul , &c. let us therefore run with patience unto the battel that is set before us , and look unto iesus the captain and finisher of our faith , and after his example , for the rewards sake , that is set out unto us , patiently to bear the cross , and despise the shame . all that will live godly in christ iesus must suffer persecution . christ was no sooner baptized , and declared to the world to be the son of god , but satan was by and by ready to tempt him : which thing we must look for also ; yea the more we shall increase our faith and vertuous living , the more strongly will satan assault us , whom we must learn after the example of christ , to fight against and overcome with the holy and sacred scriptures , &c. and let the fasting of christ , when he was tempted in the wilderness , be an example unto us of our sober living , not for the space of fourty dayes ( as the papists do fondly fancy of their own brains ) but us long as we are in the wilderness of this wretched life , assaulted of satan , who like a roaring lion , &c. it is the nature and property of the devil alwayes to hurt and do mischief , if god do not forbid . indeed if god will not permit him , he cannot so much as enter into a filthy hog , &c. let us , knowing satans deceits and rankor , walk the more warily , and take unto us the shield of faith , &c. let us fast and pray continually , &c. to fasting and prayer must be joyned mercy to the poor and needy , &c. let us go boldly to the seat of grace , where we shall be sure to find grace and mercy to help in time of need . — wherefore , my dear brethren , be ye fervent in the law of god , and jeopard ye your lives , if need shall require , for the testament of the fathers , and so shall ye receive great honour , and an everlasting name . remember abraham , was not he found faithful in temptation , and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness ? ioseph in time of his trouble kept the commandment , and was made a lord of egypt . phineas was so fervent for the honour of god , that he obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood . ioshua for the fulfilling of the word of god was made the captain of israel . caleb bare record before the congregation , and received an inheritance . david also in his merciful kindness obtained the throne of an everlasting kingdome . elias being zealous and fervent in the law , was taken up into heaven . the three children remained stedfast in the faith , and were delivered out of the fire , and daniel from the mouth of the lions . thus whoever put their trust in the lord were not overcome . fear not ye then the words of ungodly men ; for their glory is but dung and worms ; to day they are set up , and to morrow they are gone ; they are turned into earth , and their memorial cometh to nought . wherefore let us take good hearts unto us , and quit our selves like men in the law , &c. let us not faint , because of affliction , wherewith god trieth all them that are sealed to everlasting life , &c. seeing we are in the narrow and strait way , that leadeth unto the m●st joyful and pleasant city of everlasting life , let us not stagger , or turn back , being afraid of the perilous way , but follow our captain christ therein , and be afraid , no not of death it self . consider also the course of this world , how many for their master's sake , or a little promotions sake will adventure their lives , as commonly in wars , and yet is their reward but light and transitory , and ours is unspeakably great and everlasting . they suffer pains to be made lords on earth for a short season ; how much more ought we to endure , it may be much less pains , to be made kings in heaven for evermore ? — seeing , brethren , it hath pleased god to set me , and that worthy minister of christ , iohn bradford , your countreyman , in the forefront of this battel , where ( for the time ) is most danger , i beseech you all in the bowels of christ to help us , and all our fellow souldiers standing in like perilous place , with your prayers to god for us , that we may quit our selves like men in the lord , and give some exmple of boldness and constancy , mingled with patience in the fear of god , that ye and others of our brethren , through our example , may be encouraged and strengthned to follow us , that ye also may leave example to your weak brethren in the world to follow you . amen . — brethren , the time is short , it remaineth that ye use this world , as though ye used it not ; for the fashion of this world passeth away . see that ye love not the world , nor the things that be in the world ; but set your affections on heavenly things , &c. be meek and long-suffering ; serve and edifie one another with the gift that god hath given you : beware of strange doctrine , &c. — august , . in his letter to ienkin crampton , &c. — these be earnestly to exhort you , yea and to beseech you in the tender mercy of christ , that with purpose of heart ye cleave unto the lord , and that ye worship him in spirit , in the gospel of his son ; for god will not be worshipped after the commandments and traditions of men , nor yet by any other means appointed , prescribed and taught us , but by his holy word : and though all men almost defile themselves with the wicked traditions of men , and ordinances after the world , and not after christ , yet do ye after the ensample of daniel , and his three companions , &c. be at a point with your selves , that ye will not be defiled with the unclean meats of the heathen , i mean , the filthiness of idolatry , and the very heathenish ceremonies of the papists , but as the true worshippers , serve ye god in spirit and verity , according to the sacred scriptures . above all things i wish you continually and reverently to search and read the scriptures , and with the wholesome admonitions of the same to teach , exhort , comfort , and edifie one another , now in this time of the great famishment of souls , for want of the food of gods word . and doubt not but that the merciful lord ( who hath promised to be with us , even to the worlds end , and when two or three are gathered together in his name he will be in the midst of them ) will assist you and teach you the right meaning of the sacred scriptures , will keep you from all errours , and lead you into all truth , as he hath promised . and though you think your selves unable to teach , yet at the command of christ , now in time of famine , seeing the hungry people in the wilderness far from any towns , if they be sent away fasting , are sure to faint and perish by the way , employ those five loaves and two fishes that ye have , upon that hungry multitude , although you think it nothing among so many . and he that increased the five loaves and two fishes to feed five thousand men , &c. shall also augment his gifts in you , not onely to the edifying of others , but to an exceeding great increase of your own knowledge in god and his holy word : and fear not your adversaries ; for either according to his accustomed manner , god shall blind their eyes , that they shall not spie you , or get you favour in their sight , or else graciously deliver you out of their hands by one means or other . comfort your selves in all your adversities , and stay your selves in him , who hath promised not to leave you , as fatherless and motherless children , without any comfort , but that he will come unto you , like a most gentle and merciful lord. — in another letter . — the same grace and peace do i wish unto you , which st. paul wisheth to them , to whom he writ , &c. grace is taken for the free mercy and favour of god , whereby he saveth us freely without any of our deservings or works of the law. peace is taken for the tranquility of conscience , being perswaded that through the onely merits of christs death and blood-shedding , there is an atonement and peace made between god and us , so that god will no more impute our sins unto us , nor condemn us . — be not ashamed of the testimony of our lord jesus , nor of us his prisoners , but suffer ye adversity with the gospel ; for which word we suffer , as evil doers , unto bonds ; but the word of god is not bound with us . therefore we suffer all things for the elects sake , that they also may obtain the salvation which is in christ jesus with eternal glory . wherefore stand ye fast in the faith , and be not moved from the hope of the gospel : so shall ye make us with joy to suffer for your sakes , and as the apostle saith , to fulfill that which is behind of the passions of christ in our flesh , for his bodies sake , which is the congregation . st. paul doth not here mean , that there wanteth any thing in the passion of christ , which may be supplied by man ; but the words are to be understood of the elect , in whom christ is and shall be persecuted to the worlds end . the passion of christ then , i. e. of this ch●rch , his mystical body , shall not be perfect till all , whom god hath appointed , have suffered for his sake . — on our parts nothing can be greater consolation and inward joy to us in our adversity , then to hear of your faith and love , and that ye have a good remembrance of us alwayes , praying for us as we do for you . now are we alive , if ye stand stedfast in the lord. good shepherds do alwayes count the welfare and prosperous estate of christs flock to be their own . while it goeth well with the congregation , it goeth well with them also , in whatever affliction they be : but when they see the church in peril , then be they weary of their own lives , and can have no rest nor joy . who is weak , and i am not weak ? who is offended , and i do not burn ? but this affection is not in them that seek their own lucre and glory . — god is wont for the most part to warn his elect what trouble shall happen to them for his sake , not to frighten them thereby , but rather to prepare their minds against the boisterous storms of persecution . — in his letter to robert langley . — i thank you for visitting me a prisoner for christ , and unacquainted with to your cost , and for your promise , that if i did want any thing necessary to this life , you with some others would help me , and rejoyce greatly in the lord , who stirs up the hearts of others to be careful for me in this my great necessity . i thank god as yet i do want nothing , and intend to be as little chargeable to others as i can ; yet if i want , i will be bold with you and others to send for your help , desiring you in the mean while to pray for me and all others in the bonds of christ , that god would perform the thing which he hath begun in us , that we may confess jesus christ with boldness , and fight the good fight of faith , in another letter . — these be to certifie you , that i greatly rejoyce in the lord , for that my sweet saviour christ doth stir up the minds , not onely of my familiar friends in times past , but of sundry heretofore to me unknown to help me , sending me not onely necessaries for this life , but comfortable letters , encouraging me and exhorting me to continue grounded and stablished in the faith , &c. i call daily upon god , in whom is all my trust , and without whom i can do nothing , that he would perfect what he hath begun , being assured he will so do ; forasmuch as he hath given me , not onely to believe , ●ut to suffer for his sake . the lord strengthen me with his holy spirit , that i may be one of the number of those blessed , which enduring to the end shall be saved . — my trust in the lord is , that this my business shall happen to the furtherance of the gospel . — god will to your consolation gloriously deliver by one means or other his oppressed . onely tarry ye the lords leisure , and wait still for the lord. he tarrieth not , that will come ; look for him therefore , and faint not , and he will never fail you . marshall . i was from eternity ( said christopher marshall of antwerp ) a sheep destined to the slaughter , and now i go the shambles . gold must be tried in the fire . massey . i must needs here mention an infant without a christian name , and not capable of speaking , because its death still speaks aloud . this infant was the child of perotine massey , the wife of a minister of gods word , for fear fled out of the island of guernsey . she with her mother and sister were burnt for absence from church . the babe properly was never born , but by the force of the flame burst out of his mothers belly alive ; and yet by the command of the bailiffe ( supreme officer in the then absence of the governour ) cast again into the fire , and therein consumed to ashes . it seems this bloody bailiffe was minded like the cruel tyrant , commanding , canis pessimi ne catulum esse relinquendum , though this indeed was no dog , but a lamb , and that of the first minute , and therefore too young by the levitical law to be sacrificed . here was a spectacle without precedent , a cruelty built three generations high , that grandmother , mother , and grandchild , should all suffer in the same flame . maximinus . we are ready ( said maximinus and iubentius ) to lay off the last garment , the flesh . melancthon . i tremble to think ( said philip melancthon ) with what blind devotion i went to images , whilst i was a papist . when luther began to oppose the pope , he was sent for by prince frederick duke of saxony to wittenberg to teach the greek tongue , and yet then he was but two and twenty years old an. . when he was first converted , he thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the truth , in the ministry of the gospel ; but after he had been a preacher a while , he complained , that old adam was too hard for young melancthon . in the year . he went with luther to lipswich , where he disputed with eccius . in this disputation eccius brought a very subtile argument , which he being not able suddenly to answer , said , i will answer you to morrow . eccius replying , that is little for your credit , if you cannot answer it presently . sir ( said he ) i seek dot mine own glory in this business , but the truth . to morrow god willing you shall hear further . in the year . when the divines of paris had condemned luther's doctrine and books , he wrote an apology for him against their furious decree . in his epistle to the reader . — see christian reader , what monsters in divinity europe hath bred . the last year the sophisters of colen and lorain condemned the gospel by some naked propositions , confirmed neither by scripture nor reason . m●dder then they are they , whoever they be , who have at paris condemned luther . — there is no cause to wonder that they are no more favourable to luther . alas ! they were not more favourable to their own great gerson , when the schools at paris were more wholesome . — it concerns us to consider , what is decreed , not who have decreed it . the apostle will not have us give place , no not to angels , corrupting the gospel . — farewell to the name of our masters , farewell to the name of parisians , unless in their own schools . in the christian commonwealth nothing prevails but the voice of christ , which whosoever hears not is not christs . — they say that luther ought rather to be overcome by fire , then by reason . — they accuse luther of heresie , not because he dissents from universities , fathers , councils ; not because he dissents from the scripture , and the opinions of universities , fathers , councils , they call the first principles of faith. — but it will be said luther doth dissent from the scripture , because he dissents from the expositions of scripture , which from fathers , councils , and schools , have hitherto been received . this is ( as i perceive ) the hinge of the controversie . here i ask this question of our masters , whether the scriptures be so delivered , that their meaning cannot certainly be collected without the exposition of councils , fathers , and schools ? if you deny that the meaning of the scripture cannot certainly be concluded without their glosses , i cannot see why the scriptures were delivered , or why the apostles invite us to the study of the scriptures ? — if you grant it , certainly the scripture ought to be preferred , not onely before the schools and fathers , but before councils determining otherwise . may not then luther oppose unto councils , fathers , schools , the certain sense and meaning of scripture ? but we will not yield so much , that luther opposeth the fathers and councils . — when the wars for religion brake out in germany , he foresaw in a dream the captivity of the e●ect●r of saxony , and the lantgrave of hess fifteen dayes before they were taken . when the plague broke out in wittinberg , and the university was removed , he said , he feared not that plague , but a far worse plague , which threatned the ruine of the commonwealth . in the year . in his letter to camerarius he gives this reason why he refused king henry's offers if he would come into england . — perhaps ( saith he ) many things are reported amongst you concerning england , that it lyeth open now for the religion of the purer doctrine ; but i have intelligence from a good hand , that the king hath no great care of the affairs of the church , onely this good comes of his rejecting the popes authority , that for the present no cruelty is used towards those that are desirous of better doctrine . when he went to hagenaw to meet the protestant divines there , foreseeing , that he should fall into a mortal disease , he made his will , and left it with cruciger , saying , viximus in synodis , & jam moriemur in illis . in english thus ; imploy'd in synods , living , oft was i , now in a synod i am like to die . he was often threatned with banishment out of germany , of which he writes thus ; i have through gods mercy been here these fourty years , and yet i could never say , or be sure , that i should remain here one week to an end . seven dayes before he died , many persons worthy of credit , betwixt nine and ten of the clock at night saw in the clouds over the tower of wittenqerg five rods bound together , after which two vanishing , the other three appeared severed in divers places , the branches of the rods turning towards the north , the handles towards the south . when this prodigy was told melancthon , he said , herein gods fatherly punishments are not swords , but rods , which parents use to correct their children withall : and i fear a dearth . when the pastors of the church visitted him in his sickness , he said unto them , by the goodness of god i have no domestical grief to disquiet me , &c. but publick matters affect me , especially the troubles of the church in this evil and sophistical age . but through gods goodness our doctrine is sufficiently explained and confirmed . when he heard by letters of the persecution of some godly men in france , he said , that his bodily disease was not comparable to the grief of his mind for his godly friends , and for the miseries of the church . — yet my hopes are very great , for the doctrine of our church is explained . if god be for us , who can be against us ? i desire ( said he ) to depart for two causes . ( ) that i may have the much desired sight of jesus christ , and the church triumphant . ( ) that i may be delivered from the cruel and implacable discords of divines . meyere . mr. giles meyere of flanders , after he was converted , he sought all means how to employ his talent . he was not onely carefull to preach to his charge , but he went from h●use to house , comforting and exhorting every one , as occasion served , out of the word of god , labouring above all with them to beware of the abominable superstitions of the papacy . when he was imprisoned . in a deep dark hole , he bore his affliction patiently , but so praised god for esteeming him worthy to suffer for his sake , and so comforted them that came to visit him , that they could not leave him without tears . in the midst of the fagots ( though he was gagged ) he was heard distinctly and plainly to say , father into thy hands i commend my spirit . mill. mr. walter mill being brought before the bishops of scotland to answer to articles against him , and placed in a pulpit before them , he prayed so long , that one of the bishops priests called out to him saying , sir walter mill arise , and answer to the articles , for you hold my lord here overlong . when he had ended his prayer , he answered , we ought to obey god rather then men . i serve one more mighty , even the omnipotent lord. and whereas you call me sir walter , call me walter , and not sir walter , i have been overlong one of the popes knights . being threatned with the sentence of death , if he would not recant , he said , i know i must die once ; and therefore as christ said to iudas , what thou dost do it quickly : so say i to you . ye shall know that i will not 〈◊〉 the truth ; for i am corn , i am no chaffe ; i 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 blown away with the wind , nor burst with the slail , i will abide both . being bid to pass to the stake , he said , nay , but if thou wilt put me up with thy hand , thou shalt see me pass up gladly ; for by the law of god i am forbidden to lay han● upon my self . being put , he ascended gladly , saying , i will go up unto the altar of god. after he had prayed , he spake thus to the people ; dear friends , the cause why i suffer this day is not for any crime laid to my c●arge ( albeit i be a miserable sinner before god ) but onely for the defence of the faith of iesus christ , set forth in the old and new testament to us ; for which ( as the faithfull martyrs have offered themselves gladly before , being assured ( after the death of their bodies ) of eternal felicity . so this day i praise god that he hath called me of his mercy among the rest of his servants to seal up his truth with my life , which as i have received it of him , so willingly i offer it to his glory . therefore as you will escape the eternal death , be no more seduced with the lies of priests , bishops , &c. and the rest of the sect of antichrist , but depend onely on iesus christ , and his mercy , that ye may be delivered from condemnation . being in the fire , he said , lord have mercy upon me , pray people while there is time . he was burnt an. . and by his death gave the very dead blow to popery ; for by his death the people of all ranks and conditions were so moved , that they made open profession of the truth , without any more dallying , and upon this occasion a covenant was presently entred in to defend one another against the tyranny of the bishops . so that he was the last that died for religion at that time in that kingdome . his epitaph . non nostra impietas , aut actae crimina vitae armarunt hostes in mea fata truces : sola fides christi sacris signata libellis , quae vitae causa est , est mihi causa necis . in english thus ; not any sin committed here by me against me arm'd my bloody enemy : the scripture faith , of life the onely cause , did cause my death , and that against all laws . monerius . claudius monorius , being cavilled at by the friers for eating a break-fast before his execution , said , this i do that the flesh may answer the readiness of the spirit . morall . let us not , my brethren , ( said iohn morall , an outlandish martyr ) fear the prisons ; seeing they are christs schools and colledges , wherein gods children learn their fathers lessons : there we find him true in his promises : there he manifests himself incomparably to his children . our prisons are schools of defence , where we learn how to ward off all the blows , that the world , flesh , or devil would foyl us with ; all which we learn of our captain christ. here we are quit of the vain allurements of the world : here we are freed of the fear of meeting idols in the streets : here we may without check call upon god , and sing psalms unto him . therefore let us not refuse to hear sermons for fear of going to prison . n. newman . iohn newman in his written answer to suffragen thornton . — it may please you to understand that good ministers all the time of king edward's reign taught us diligently , perswading us by the allegations of gods word , that there was no transubstantiation , nor corporal presence in the sacrament : their doctrine was not believed of us suddenly , but by their continual preaching , and also by our continual prayer unto god , that we might never be deceived , but if it were true , that he would incline our hearts unto it ; and if it were not true , that we might never believe it . we weighed , that they labourel with gods word , &c. — wherefore until such time as our consciences are otherwise taught and instructed by gods word , we cannot with safeguard of our consciences take it , as many suppose at this time . and we trust in god , that the queens highness , and her most honourable council , will not in a matter of faith use compulsion or violence ; because faith is the gift of god , and cometh not of man , or of mans laws , nor at such time as men require it , but at such time as god giveth it . being asked whether he would stand to what he had said ; i must need stand to it ( said he ) till i be perswaded by a further truth . it being replied ; nay , you will not be perswaded , but stand to your own opinion : nay ( said he ) i stand not to mine own opinion , god i take to witness , but onely to the scriptures of g●d ; and i take god to witness , that i do nothing of presumption , but that that i do is onely my conscience ; and if there be a further truth then i see , except it appear a truth to me , i cannot receive it as a truth . and seeing faith is the gift of god , and cometh not of man ; for it is not you that can give me faith , nor no man else ; therefore i trust ye will bear the more with me , seeing it must be wrought by god ; and when it shall please god to open a further truth to me , i shall receive it with all my heart . in his confession of his faith. — the lord is the protector of my life . the just shall live by faith ; and if he withdraw himself , my soul shall have no pleasure in him . — thus have i declared my faith briefly , which were no faith , if i were in doubt of it . this faith i desire god to increase in me . praise god for his gifts . nicaise . nicaise a say-maker in tournay for refusing to live according to the customes of the romish church , and to observe the traditions invented by her , &c. being condemned , and having heard the sentence , as he rose up , he said , now praised be god. as he was led to execution , seeing a great multitude of people , he lifted up his voice , and said , o ye men of tournay , open your eyes , awake ye that sleep , and stand up from the dead , and christ shall give ye light . as he joyfully ascended up the scaffold , he said , lord , they have hated me without a cause . as he was fastning to the stake , he said , eternal father , have pity and compassion upon me , according as thou hast promised to all , that ask the same of thee in thy sons name . noyes . when iohn noyes was asked by his brother in law if he did fear death , when the bishop gave judgement against him , he answered , he thanked god he feared death no more at that time then himself , or any other did being at liberty . being bound to the stake , he said , fear not them that can kill the body , but fear him that can kill both body and soul , and cast it into everlasting fire . when he saw his sister weeping and making moan for him , he bade her , weep not for him , but weep for her sins . when a fagot was set against him he took it , and kissed it , and said , blessed be the time that ever i was born to come to this . he said also , good people bear witness that i do believe to be saved by the merits and passion of jesus christ , and not by my own deeds . when the fire was kindled and burned about him , he said , lord have mercy upon me , christ have mercy upon me , son of david have mercy upon me . in his letter to his wife out of prison . — you desired me to send you some tokens to remember me . i therefore send you these scriptures even for a remembrance . st. peter saith , dearly beloved , be not troubled with this heat , that is now come among you to try you , as though some strange thing had hapned unto you , but rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of christs sufferings , that when his glory appeareth , ye may be merry and glad . if ye be railed on for the name of christ , happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and the spirit of god restest on you . — see that none of you suffer as a murtherer , &c. but if any suffer as a christian , let him not be ashamed , but glorifie god in this behalf ; for the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of god : if it first begin at us , what shall the end of them be , that believe not the gospel of god ? wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of god , commit their souls to him in well doing . st. paul saith , all that will live godly in christ iesus must suffer persecution . st. iohn saith , see that ye love not the world , nor the things of the world : if any man love the world , the love of the father is not in him ; for all that is in the world , as the lust of the flesh , the lust of the eyes , and the pride of life is not of the father , but is of the world , which vanisheth away and the lust thereof , but he that fulfilleth the will of god abideth for ever . — st. paul saith , what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? what company hath light with darkness ? or what part hath the believer with the infidel ? &c. wherefore come out from among them , and separate your selves now ( saith the lord ) and touch no unclean thing , so will i receive you , and i will be a father unto you , and ye shall be my sons and daughters , saith the lord almighty . — so farewell wife and children , and leave worldly care , and see that ye be diligent to pray . take no thought ( saith christ ) saying what ye shall eat , or what ye shall drink , or wherewith shall we be clothed ? ( after all these things do the geneiles seek ) for your heavenly father knoweth that you have need of all these things ; but seek ye first the kingdome of god and the righteousness there●f , and all these things shall be ministred to you . — o. o●colampadius . he fell sick in the year . and of his age . about the same time that zuinglius was unhappily slain . his grief for his death much increased his sickness . he foretold his own death : was very desirous to enjoy the heavenly light. sending for the ministers of the gospel to him , he spake to them thus ; o my brethren , you see what is done : the lord is come , he is , he is now calling me away . — what shall i say unto you , the servants of the lord , whom the love of god your master , the same study and doctrine have most intimately united , now that i am to take my leave of you ? salvation , hopes of heaven , truth , light for our feet is procured by christ for us : it becomes us to cast away all sadness , all fear of life and death , &c. my brethren , this onely remains , that we who have for some time walked in the wayes of christ , continue constant and faithful followers of him therein , persevering in purity of doctrine and holiness of life . other things jesus christ the lord , who is able and willing to look after his own concernments , will take care of . he will defend his own church . go to then , o my brethren , so let your light shine forth , that god the father may be glorified in us , and the name of christ be made illustrious and conspicuous by the light of your life . continue to love one another unfeignedly . lead your whole life as in the sight , as under the eye of god. in vain do we press to holiness , if our words be without deeds : there is need of the light of life , and the heavenly spirit , if we will confound satan , and convert this world unto christ the lord. o my brethren , what a cloud is there arising ? what a storm a coming ? what a defection is at hand ? but it becomes you to stand fast . the lord , who is careful of his own affairs , will be present with you . — for my self , i pass not the horrible aspersion of corrupting the truth , that is c●st upon me . i am just now going before the tribunal of christ , and that ( through grace ) with a clear conscience . there it will appear , that i have not seduced the church . — the night before he died , when a very dear friend returned to him , oecolampadius asked him , what news he had brought ? his friend answering , none . i will tell you some then ( said oeculampadius ) i shall presently be with my lord christ. a while after being asked , whether the light offended him ? he putting his hand to his heart , said , here is abundance of light . here is light enough . ogner , or ogvier . robert ognier's son said to his father and mother at the stake with him , behold millions of angels about us , and the heavens opened to receive us . to a frier that railed ; thy cursings are blessings . to a nobleman that offered him life and promotion ; do you think me such a fool , that i should change eternal things for temporary ? and to the people ; we suffer as christians , not as thieves or murtherers . when the prov●st of lile had seized on robert ogvier , his wife , and his two sons , baudicon , and martin , as they were conveyed along through the streets of the city , baudicon with a loud voice said , o lord , assist us by thy grace , not onely to be prisoners for thy name , but to confess thy holy truth in all purity before men , so far as to seal the same with our bloods for the edification of thy poor church . when they were brought before the magistrates , they said unto robert ogvier , &c. it is told us that you never come to mass , yea and also disswade others from coming thereto , and that you maintain conventicles in your houses . he answered , whereas you lay to my charge that i go not to mass , i refuse so to do indeed , because the death and precious blood of the son of god , and his sacrifice is utterly abolished there , and troden under foot ; for christ by one sacrifice hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified . — the mass is the meer invention of men , and you know what christ saith , in vain do they worship me , teaching for doctrines the commandments of men . — as for the second accusation , i cannot nor will deny , but there have met together in my house honest people fearing god , for the advancement of gods glory , and the good of many , and not to wrong any . i knew indeed the emperour had forbid it : but what then ? i knew also that christ in his gospel hath commanded it ; where two or three are gathered together in my name , there ( saith he ) am i in the midst of them . thus you see i could not well obey the emperour , but i must disobey christ. in this case then i choose rather to obey my god , then man. when one of the magistrates demanded what they did , when they met together ? baudicon the eldest son of robert ogvier answered , if it please you my masters to give me leave , i will open the business at large to you . leave being granted , he lifting up his eyes to heaven , began thus ; when we meet together in the name of our lord jesus christ , to hear the word of god , we first of all prostrate upon our knees before god , and in the humility of our spirits , do make a confession of our sins before his divine majesty : then we pray , that the word of god may be rightly divided , and purely preached : we also pray for our sovereign lord the emperour , and for all his honourable councellors , that the commonwealth may be peaceably governed to the glory of god ; yea we forget not you , whom we acknowledge our superiours , intreating our good god for you , and for this whole city , that you may maintain it in tranquility . thus i have summarily related what we do . think you now , whether we have offended highly in this matter of our assembling . when robert and baudicon were condemned , they praised god for the sentence ; and when they were returned to prison , after sentence was past , they rejoyced that the lord did them that honour to enroll them in the number of his martyrs . robert being told by a seducing frier , that i● he would give ear to him , he would warrant him he should do well : poor man ( said he ) how darest thou attribute that unto thy self , which belongs to the eternal god , and so rob him of his honour ; for it seems by thy speech , that if i will hearken to thee , thou wilt become my saviour . no , no , i have one onely saviour jesus christ , who by and by will deliver me from this present evil world . i have one doctor , whom the heavenly father hath commanded me to hear ; and i purpose to hearken to none other . another frier exhorting him to have pity of his soul which christ had redeemed : thou willest me ( said the good old man ) to pity mine own soul. dost not thou see what pity i have on it , when fo● th● name of christ i willingly abandon this body of mine ●n the fire , hoping to day to be with him in paradise . i have put all my confidence in god , and my hope wholly is fixt on the merits of christs death and passion : he will direct me the right way unto his kingdome . i believe whatsoever the holy prophets and apostles have written , and in that faith will i live and die . baudicon said , let my father alone and trouble him not thus , he is an old man , and hath an infirm body , hinder him not i pray you from receiving the crown of martyrdome . one telling baudicon , that he would sell all he was worth to buy fagots to burn him , and that he found too much favour ; he answered , the lord shew you more mercy . some of the friers having fastned a crucifix betwixt the old mans hands , when baudicon espied it , he said , alas ! father , what do you now ? will you play the idolater even at the last hour ? and then pulling the idol out of his hands , threw it away , saying , what cause hath the people to be offended with us , for not receiving of a jesus christ of wood ? we bear upon our hearts the cross of christ , the son of the everliving god , feeling his word written therein in letters of gold. baudicon beginning to sing on the scaffold the sixteenth psalm , a frier cried out , do ye hear my masters , what wicked errours these hereticks sing to beguile the people withall : whereupon baudicon replyed , thou simple idiot , callest thou the psalms of david the prophet , errours ? but no marvel ; for thus you are wont to blaspheme against the spirit of god. then turning his eye to his father , who was about to be chained to the stake , he said , be of good courage , father , the worst will be past by and by . the old man complaining of the blow , which the executioner gave him on the foot , as he was fastning to the post , a frier said , ah these hereticks they would be counted martyrs forsooth , but if they be but touched a little , they cry out as if they were killed : whereupon baudicon said , think you then that we fear the torment●rs ? no such matter ; for had we feared the same , we had never exposed our bodies to this so shameful and painful a kind of death . then he often reiterated those short breathings , o god , father everlasting , accept the sacrifice of our bodies , for thy wellbeloved son jesus christ his sake . with his eyes fixed on heaven , he said to his father , behold for i see heavens open , and millions of angels ready prest to receive us , rejoycing to see us thus witnessing the truth in the view of the world . father , let us be glad and rejoyce ; for the joyes of heaven are set open to us . when the fire was kindled he often repeated this in his fathers ear , faint not , father , nor be afraid ; yet a very little while , and we shall enter into the heavenly mansions . the last words they were heard to pronounce , were , iesus christ , thou son of god , into thy hands we commend our spirits . iane the wife of robert , whilst in prison , ( separated from her son martin ) was drawn away by a monk and prevailed with to let go her first faith ; and having promised to draw her son martin from his errours , he was suffered to come to her : which when he understood , o mother ( said he ) what have you done ? have you denied him , who hath redeemed you ? alas ! what evil hath he done you , that you should requite him with this so great an injury and dishonour ? now i am plunged into that wo , which i have most feared . ah good god! that i should live to see this . this pierceth me to the very heart . his mother hearing this , and seeing his tears , she with tears cried out , o father of mercies , be merciful to me miserable sinner , and cover my transgression under the righteousness of thy blessed son. lord , enable me with strength from above to stand to my first confession , and make me to abide stedfast therein , even to my last breath . when they that had seduced her came to her again , with detestation she said , avoid satan , get thee behind me : from henceforth thou hast neither part nor portion in me . i will by the help of god stand to my first confession ; and if i may not sign it with ink , i will seal it with my blood . when iane and martin heard the sentence past , returning to prison they said , now blessed be our god , who causeth us thus to triumph over our enemies . this is the wished hour . our gladsome day is come . let us not then ( said martin ) forget to be thankfull for the honour he doth us in conforming us to the image of his son. let us remember those that have traced this death before us ; for this is the high way to the kingdome of heaven . let us then , good mother , go on boldly out of the camp with the son of god , bearing his reproach with all his holy martyrs ; for so we shall find passage into the glorious kingdome of the everliving god. some of the company not brooking these words , said , we see now thou heretick , that thou art wholly possest body and soul with a devil , as was thy father and brother , who are both in hell. martin replied , sirs , as for your railings and cursings our god will this day turn them into blessings in the sight of all his holy angels . a certain temporizer endeavouring to stagger martin by the consideration of the multitude that believed not as he did ; his mother said , sir , christ jesus our lord saith , that it is the wide gate and broad way that leadeth to destruction , and therefore many go in thereat : but the gate is narrow that leadeth to life , and few there be that find it . do ye then doubt whether we be in the strait way , or no , when ye behold our sufferings ? would you have a better sign then this to know whether we are in the right way ? compare our doctrine with that of your priests and monks . we for our part are determined to have but one christ , and him crucified : we onely embrace the scriptures of the old and new testament . are we deceived in believing that which the holy prophets and apostles have taught ? martin being asked , whether he thought himself wiser then so many learned doctors ? answered , i pray you sir doth not christ our lord tell us , that his father hath hid the secrets of his kingdome from the wise and prudent , and revealed them to babes ? and doth not the lord oftentimes catch the wise in their own craftiness ? then came into the prison to martin two men of great authority , and perswading him to recant , promised him great matters , &c. martin gave them this answer , sirs , you present before me many temporal commodities : but alas ! do you think me so simple , as to forsake an eternal kingdome , for enjoying a short transitory life ? no sirs , it is too late to speak to me now of worldly commodities : speak of those spiritual ones , which god hath prepared for me to day in his kingdome . i purpose not to hearken after any other . onely let me crave one hours respite to my self , to give my self to prayer . afterwards martin declared the effect of this combate to certain brethren in prison , saying , let us lift up our heads , brethren , the brunt is over ; this i hope is their last assault . forget not i pray you the holy doctrine of the gospel , nor those good lessons , which you have learned from our brother guy ( probably he meant mr. guy de brez , of whom before in letter b. ) manifest it now to all , that you have received them not onely into your ears , but also into your hearts . follow me . we lead you the way . fear not , god will never leave you , nor forsake you . iane having ascended the scaffold , cried out to martin , come up , come up my son. as martin was speaking to the people , she said , speak out , martin , that it may appear to all , that we die not hereticks . she being bound to the stake , said , we are christians , and that which we now suffer , is not for murther , or theft , but because we will believe no more then the word of god teacheth us . both rejoyced , that they were counted worthy to suffer for the same . when the fire was kindled , with lifting up their hands to heaven in an holy accord , they said , lord iesus into thy hands we commend our spirits . oldcastle . sir iohn oldcastle , lord cobham , was of great birth , and in great favour with king henry the fifth , so as arch bishop arundel durst not meddle with him , till he knew the kings mind . the king when he heard the priests accusations , promised to deal with him himself , which accordingly he did in private , admonishing him to submit himself to his mother , the holy church , and as an obedient child to acknowledge himself cupable . the christian knight thus answered the king. most worthy prince . i am alwayes prompt and ready to obey , forasmuch as i know you a christian king , and the appointed minister of god , bearing the sword to the punishment of evil doers , and for safeguard of them that be vertuous . unto you ( next my eternal god ) owe i my whole obedience , and submit thereunto ( as i have done ever ) all that i have , either of fortuns or nature , ready at all times to fulfill whatsoever ye shall in the lord command me . but as touching the pope and his spirituality , i owe them neither suit nor service ; forasmuch as i know him by the scripture to be the great antichrist , the son of perdition , the open adversary of god , and the abomination standing in the holy place . when he was by a wi●e cited to appear before the arch bishop , &c. he told the messenger ( though he affirmed to him that it was the kings pleasure that he should obey that citation of the sumner ) that he would in no case consent to those most devillish practises of the priests . upon his non-appearance , the arch bishop judged him contumacious , and afterwards excommunicated him , &c. this constant servant of the lord perceiving himself compassed on every side with deadly dangers , he wrote a christian confession of his faith , and signed and sealed it with his own hand , which was a brief exposition of the common sum of the churches faith , called the apostles creed . in the close thereof . — i believe the universal law of god to be most true and perfect , and they which do not follow it in their faith and works ( at one time or another ) can never be saved : whereas he that seeketh it in faith , accepteth it , learneth it , delighteth therein , and performeth it in love , shall tast for it the felicity of everlasting innocency . this is my faith also , that god will ask no more of a christian believer in this life , but only to obey the precepts of that most blessed law. if any prelates of the church require more , or any other kind of obedience , he contemneth christ , exalting himself above god , and so becomes an open antichrist . all the premises i believe particularly , and generally all that god hath left in his holy scripture , that i should believe . this confession he delivered to the king , desiring him that it might be examined by the most godly , wife , & learned men of his realm , and if it be found in all points agreeable to the verity , that he might be holden for a true christian ; if it be proved otherwise , let it be condemned , provided that he be taught a better belief by the word of god. but the king would not receive it , but commanded it to be delivered to his judges . being threatned by arch bishop arundel , that he should be proclaimed an heretick : he said , do as ye shall think best , for i am at a point , i shall stand to my bill to the death . the arch bishop telling him , that all christians should follow the determinations of holy church : he said , that he would gladly believe and observe whatsoever the holy church of christs institution had determined , or whatsoever god had willed him either to believe or do ; but that the pope of rome with his cardinals , arch bishops , bishops , &c. had lawfull power to determine such matters as stood not throughly with his word , he would not affirm . when the arch bishop sent him their determination concerning the sacrament of the altar , &c. he saw that god had given them over for their unbeliefs sake , into most deep errours and blindness of mind , and that their uttermost malice was purposed against him , however he should answer , and therefore he put his life into the hands of god , desiring his onely spirit to assist him in his next answer . at his second appearance the arch bishop offering to absolve him from the curse that was against him ; he with a chearfull countenance said , god hath said by his holy prophet , maledicam benedictionibus vestris , i. e. i shall curse where you do bless : and further said , i will not desire your absolution ; for i never trespassed against you . and with that he kneeled down on the pavement , holding up his hands towards heaven , and said , i shrieve me here unto thee , my eternal living god , that in my frail youth i offended thee , o lord , most grievously in pride , wrath , and gluttony , in covetousness and in lechery . many men have i hurt in mine anger , &c. good lord i ask thee mercy . and therewith weepingly stood up again , and said with a mighty voice ; lo , good people , lo , for the breaking of gods law , and his great commandements , they never yet cursed me ; but for their own laws and traditions most cruelly do they handle both me and other men ; and therefore both they and their laws by the promise of god shall utterly be destroyed . being asked if he believed not in the determinations of the church ? no forsooth ( said ire ) for it is no god. being taxed to be one of wickliff's scholars : as for the vertuous man wickliffe ( said he ) i speak it before god and man , that before i knew that despised doctrine of his , i never abstained from sin ; but since i learned therein to fear my lord god , it hath otherwise i trust been with me . so much grace i could never find in all your glorious instructions . he said further , your fathers the old pharisees ascribed christs miracles to belzebub , and his doctrine to the devil , and you as their natural children have still the self same judgement concerning his faithfull followers . they that rebuke your vicious living must needs be hereticks , and that must your doctors prove , when you have no scripture to do it . — since the venome of iudas was shed into the church , ye never followed christ , nor stood in the perfection of gods law. being asked what he meant by that venome ? he answered , your possessions and lordships ; for then cried an angel in the aire ( as your own churches mention ) wo , wo , wo , this day is venome shed into the church of god. — rome is the very nest of antichrist , and out of that nest come all his disciples , of whom prelates , priests and monks are the body , these pild friers are the tail , which cover his most filthy part . — this is not onely my saying , but the prophet isaiah , who saith , he that preacheth lies is the tail behind . — then said he unto them all , christ saith in his gospel , wo unto you scribes and pharisees , hypocrites , for ye close up the kingdome of heaven before men , neither enter ye in your selves , nor suffer any other that would enter into it , but ye stop up the wayes thereunto by your own traditions . — the arch bishop telling him , that none should preach in his diocess , yea in his iurisdiction , that make division or dissention among the poor commons : he answered , both christ and his apostles were accused of sedition-making ; yet were they most peaceable men . but daniel and christ prophesied , that such a troublesome time should come , as hath not been yet since the worlds beginning : and this prophesie is partly fulfilled in your dayes , &c. christ saith also , if these dayes of yours were not shortned , scarcely should any flesh be saved ; therefore look for it justly , for god! will shorten your dayes . being asked what he said of the pope ? he said , as i said before , so say i again , that he and you together make up whole antichrist . — after the arch bishop had read the bill of his condemnation , the lord cobham said with a cheerfull countenance ; though you judge my body , which is a wretched thing , yet am i certain and sure , ye can do no harm to my soul , no more then could satan to the soul of iob. he that created that will of his infinite mercy and promise save it ; i have therein no manner of doubt . and therewith he turned himself to the people , and said with a loud voice , good people , for gods love be well ware of these men , for they will else beguile you , and lead you blind-fold into hell with themselves ; for christ saith plainly unto you , if one blind man lead another , they are like both to fall into a ditch . after this he fell down upon his knees , and before them all prayed thus for his enemies , lord god eternal , i beseech thee of thy great mercy sake forgive my pursuers , if it be thy blessed will. here it is observable , that arch bishop arundel that passed sentence of death against lord cobham , did feel the stroke of death , and had the sentence of god executed upon him , before the death of this famous martyr . the arch bishop died feb. . . and this condemned lord survived his condemner three or four years . oom . wonter oom writes thus from his prison at antwerp . — wellbeloved brother and sister , whom i love dearly for the truths sake , and for your faith in christ jesus . these are to certifie you that i enjoy the comfort of a good conscience , &c. whosoever will forsake this present evil world , and become followers of their captain christ , must make account to meet with many persecutions ; for christ hath told us aforehand , that we should be hated , persecuted , and banished out of the world for his names sake ; and this they will do , because they have neither known the father n●r me . but be not afraid , for i have overcome the world . st. paul also witnesseth the same thing , saying , all that will live godly in christ iesus , must suffer persecution , and to you ie it given to suffer , &c. and doth not our lord iesus say , blessed are you when men persecute you , and speak all manner of evil falsly , &c. now whereto serveth all this , but to bring us into a conformity with our lord and master jesus christ ? for christ hath suffered for us , leaving us an example , that we should follow his steps . he endured the cross , and despised the shame , &c. and became poor to make us rich . by him also are we brought by faith into that state of grace wherein we stand , rejoycing in the hope of the glory of god , knowing that tribulation worketh patience , &c. wherefore be not afraid of the fiery trial that is now sent among us to prove us ; for what father , loving his child , doth not correct it ? even so doth the lord correct those whom he loves ; for if we should be without correction , whereof all true christians are partakers , then were we bastards and not sons . and therefore solomon saith , despise not the chastning of the lord , &c. fear not then to follow the footsteps of christ ; for he is the head , and we are the members . we must after his example through many tribulations enter into heaven . let us say with st. paul , christ is unto me in life and death advantage ; and , o wretched creatures that we are , who shall deliver us from this body of death . — it is a good thing to hope , and quietly to wait for the salvation of the lord : and to bear the yoke in ones youth , &c. — the salvation of the righteous is of the lord ; he is their strength in the time of trouble . wherefore giving all diligence , let us adde to faith vertue , and to vertue knowledge , and to knowledge temperance , and to temperance patience , and to patience godliness , &c. out of my role , dec. . . origen . when he was but seventeen years old , his father being carried to prison , he had such a fervent mind to suffer martyrdome with him , that he would have thrust himself into the persecutors hands , had it not been for his mother , who in the night time privily stole away his clothes , and his very shirt also : whereupon more for shame to be seen naked , then for fear to die , he was constrained to remain at home ; yet when he could do no more , he wrote to his father in prison thus ; see o father , that you do not change your resolution for my sake . his fame was so great , that the emperour severus sent for him to come to rome , and commanded the provost of egypt to furnish him with all things necessary for his journey . the provost was very carefull to provide a ship , and divers garments , &c. but origen would receive no part thereof , no not so much as hose or shoes , but went in a single garment of cloth , and bare foot went to rome : and when at his arrival there were brought to him a mule and a chariot , to use which he liked best , he answered , that he was much less then his master christ , who rode but one day in all his life , and that was on a silly she ass ; and therefore he would not ride , except he were sick or decrepid , as his legs might not serve him to go . when he was brought into the presence of the emperour , and his mother , they saluted him , and rejoyced much to see him . being demanded what he professed ? he answered , verity . the emperour asking him what he meant thereby ? it is the word ( said he ) of the living god , which is infallible . the emperour asked which is the living god , and why he so called him ? origen answered , that he did put that distinction for a difference from them whom men ( being long drowned in errour ) did call their gods , whom they confess to have been mortal ones , and to have died ; but the god whom he preached was ever living , and never died , and is the life of all things that be , like as he was the creatour of them . — the emperour telling him , that he much marvelled why men of such great and wonderfull knowledge should honour for god a man , that was crucified , being but of a poor estate and condition : o noble emperour ( said origen ) consider what honour the wise athenians at this present do to the name and image of codrus , their last king ; for that when they had war with their enemies , who had answer made by the oracle of apollo , that if they slew not the king of athens , they should have the victory ; codrus hearing thereof , preferring the safeguard of his people before his own life , took to him garments of a slave , and bearing upon his shoulder a burden of sticks , he went to his enemies camp , and there quarrelling of purpose with some of them , and in the press hurting one with his knife , he was by him that was hurt struck through the body , and slain ; which being known to the enemies , they being confused , raised their camp , and departed ; and for this cause the athenians have ever since had the name of codrus in reverence worthily , and not without cause . now then consider most excellent prince , how much more worthily , with what greater reason and bounden duty ought we and all men to honour christ , being the son of god , and god , who not onely to preserve mankind from danger of the devil , his ancient enemy , but also to deliver man out of his dark and stinking dungeon of errour , being sent by god the father from the highest heavens , willingly took on him the servile garment of a mortal body ; and hiding his majesty , lived under the visage of poverty . and finally , not of his enemies immediately , but much more against reason , of his own chosen people the iews , unto whom he had extended benefits innumerable , and after his temporal nativity , were his natural people and subjects , he quarrelling with them , by declaring to them their abuses , and pricking them with condign rebukes , at the last he was not slain with so easie a death as codrus was , but in most cruel fashion was scourged , until no place in his body was without wounds , and then had long and sharp thorns set and press'd upon his head , and after long torments and despights , he was constrained to bear an heavy cross , whereon afterwards both his hands and feet were nailed with long great nails of iron , and the cross with his naked and bloody body , being lift up on high , was let fall with violence into a mortais , that his joynts were loosened ; and notwithstanding all this torment and ingratitude , he never grudged , but lifting up his eyes to heaven , he prayed with a loud voice , saying , father forgive them , for they know not what they do . this was the charity most incomparable of the son of god imployed for the redemption of mankind , who by the transgression of adam , the first man that was created , was taken prisoner by the devil , i. e. kept in the bondage of sin and errour , from actual visage of gods majesty , until he were on this wise redeemed , as it was ordained at the beginning . — but what maketh you bold to affirm ( said the emperour ) that jesus , which in this wise was crucified , was the son of god ? sir ( said origen ) sufficient testimony , which of all creatures reasonable ought to be believed , and for most certain proof to be allowed . what testimony is that said the emperour ? truly ( said origen ) it is in divers things , first , the promise of god , by whom this world was made ; also by his holy scriptures , speaking by the mouths of his prophets , as well hebrews as greeks , and others whom ye call vates and sybillas ; also by the nativity of jesus of a pure virgin , without carnal company of a man , the most clean and pure form of his living without sin , his doctrine divine and celestial , his miracles most wonderfull and innumerable , all grounded on charity onely , without ostentation , his undoubted and perfect resurrection the third day after he was put to death , his glorious ascension up into heaven in the presence and sight of five hundred persons , which were vertuous and of credence ; also the gift of the holy ghost in speaking all manner of languages , and interpreting the scriptures , not onely by himself , but afterwards by his apostles and disciples , and given to others by imposition of their hands . and all these ordinarily followed , according to the said promises and prophesies . in the reign of decius for the doctrine of christ he underwent bands and torments in his body , racking with bars of irons , dungeons , besides terrible threats of death and burning , &c. at length hearing that some christians were carried to an idol-temple to force them to sacrifice , he out of his zeal ran thither to encourage and disswade them from it ? when his adversaries saw him , they let go the other , and laid hold upon him , putting him to his choice , whether he would offer incense to the idol , or have his body defiled with a foul and ugly blackmoor . he chose to offer incense . then did they presently put incense into his trembling hands , and whilst he demurr'd upon it , they took his hands , and caused him to throw it into the fire , and thereupon presently cried out , origen hath sacrificed , origen hath sacrificed . after this fact he was excommunicated by the church ; and being filled with shame and sorrow he left alexandria , and came to ierusalem , where he was even constrained by importunity to preach to them . he took his bible , opened it , and the first place he cast his eye upon was this scripture , unto the wicked saith god , why dost thou preach my laws , and take my covenant into thy m●uth when he had read these words , he sate down , and burst out into abundance of tears , the whole congregation weeping with him also , so that he was not able to say any more unto them . after this he wandred up and down in great grief and torment of conscience , and wrote the following lamentation : in the bitterness and grief of mind i go about to speak unto them , who shall hereafter read this confused writing . but how can i speak , when my tongue is tied up , and my lips dare not once move or wag ? my tongue doth not his office , my throat is dried up , and all my senses and instruments are polluted with iniquity . — o ye saints and blessed of god , with waterish eyes , and wet cheeks soaked in dolour and pain , i beseech you to fall down before the seat of almighty god , for me miserable sinner , who by reason of my sins dare not crave ought at the hands of god. wo is me , because of the sorrow of my heart . — wo is me my mother , that ever thou broughtest me forth : — a righteous man to be conversant in unrighteousness : an heir of the kingdome of god to be now an inheritor of the kingdome of satan : a minister to be found wallowing in impiety : a man beautified with honour and dignity , to be in the end blemished with shame and ignominy : — a lofty turret , yet suddenly thrown to the ground : a fruitfull tree , yet quickly withered : a burning light , yet forthwith darkned : a running fountain , yet by and by dried up . wo is me that ever i was decked with gifts and graces , and now seen pitifully deprived of all . but who will minister moisture to my head ? and who will give streams of tears unto my eyes , that i may bewail my self in this my sorrowful plight ? alas ! o my ministry , how shall i lament thee ? o all ye my friends , tender my case , and pity my person , that am so dangerously wounded . pity me , o ye my friends , for that i have now trodden under foot the seal and cognisance of my profession , and joyned in league with the devil . pity me , o ye my friends , for that i am rejected , and cast away from before the face of god. — there is no sorrow comparable to my sorrow ; there is no affliction that exceeds my affliction , no bitterness that passeth my bitterness , no lamentation more lamentable then mine ; neither is there any sin greater then mine , and there is no salve for me . where is that good shepherd of souls ? where is he , that went down from ierusalem to iericho , which salved and cured him that was wounded by thieves ? seek me out , o lord , that am fallen from the higher ierusalem ; which have broken the vow i made in baptism , &c. alas ! that ever i was doctor , and now occupy not the room of a disciple . thou knowest , o lord , that i sell against my will : whereas i went about to enlighten others , i darkned my self : when i endeavoured to bring others from death to life , i brought my self from life to death : when i minded to present others before god , i presented my self before the devil : when i desired to be found a friend and favourer of godliness , i was found a foe and a furtherer of iniquity : when i set my self against the assemblies of the wicked , and reproved their doings , there found i shame , and the most pestilent wound of the devil . some promised me to be baptized ; but after that i passed from them , the devil the same night transformed himself into an angel of light , and said unto me , when thou art up in the morning , go on , and perswade them and bring them to god : but the devil going before me prepared the way , &c. and i ( o unhappy creature ) skipping out of my bed at the dawning of the day , could not finish my wonted devotion , neither accomplish my usual prayers , desiring that all men might be saved ; and come to the knowledge of the truth ) whilst in the mean time i wrapped my self in the snares of the devil . i gat me to those wicked men , i required of them to perform the covenant made the night before , i silly soul knowing not their subtilty , and we came to the baptism . o blinded heart , how didst thou not remember ? o foolish mind , how didst thou not bethink thy self ? o witless brain , how didst thou not understand ? but it was the devil that lulle● thee asleep , and in the end slew thy unhappy and wretched soul ? — o thou devil , what hast thou done unto me ? how hast thou wounded me ? i bewailed sometimes the fall of sampson , but now have i fallen worse my self : i bewailed formerly the fall of solomon , but now have i fallen worse my self . — sampson had his hair cut off , but the crown of glory is fallen off my head : sampson lost the carnal eyes of his body , but my spirititual eyes are put out : it was the wiliness of a woman that brought confusion upon him , but it was my tongue brought me into this sinfull condition . — alas ! my church liveth , yet i am a widdower : my sons be alive , yet i am barren : every creature rejoyceth , and i alone am desolate and sorrowfull , &c. bewail me , o ye blessed people of god , who am banished from god. — bewail me , who am shut out of the wedding-chamber of christ. — bewail me , who am abhorred of the angels , and severed from the saints . — who knoweth whether the lord will have mercy on me , and whether he will pity my fall ? whether he will be moved with my desolation ? whether he will have respect to my humiliation , and incline his tender compassions towards me ? i will prostrate my self before the threshold and porch of his church , that i may intreat all people both small and great , saying unto them , trample and tread me under foot , who am the unsavoury salt ; tread upon me , who have no tast , nor favour of god ; tread upon me , who am fit for nothing . now let the elders mourn , for that the staffe , whereon they leaned , is fallen . now let the young men mourn , for that their schoolmaster is fallen . now let the virgins mourn , for that the advancer of virginity is defiled . now let the ministers mourn , for that their patron and defender is shamefully fallen . wo is me , that i fell so lewdly : wo is me , that i fell most dangerously , and cannot rise again . assist me , o holy spirit , and give me grace to repent . let the fountains of tears be opened , and gush out into streams , to see if peradventure i may have grace throughly to repent , and to wipe out of the book of my conscience the accusations printed therein against me . but thou , o lord , think not upon my polluted lips , neither weigh thou the tongue , that hath uttered lewd things ; but accept of my repentance , &c. and have mercy upon me , and raise me up out of the mire of corruption ; for the puddle thereof hath even choaked me up . wo is me , that was sometimes a pearl glistering in the golden garland of glory , but now am thrown into the dust , and trodden in the mire of contempt . wo is me , that the salt of god now lieth on the dunghill , &c. now i will address my self and turn my talk unto god ; why hast thou lift me up , and cast me down ? — i had not committed this impiety , unless thou hadst withdrawn thine hand from me . — but why , o lord , hast thou shut my mouth by thy holy prophet david ? have i been the first that sinned ? or am i the first that fell ? why hast thou forsaken me , being desolate , and banished me from among thy saints , and astonished me , when i shonld preach thy laws ? — david himself , who hath shut up my mouth , sinned too bad in thy sight ; yet upon his repentance , thou receivedst him to mercy . peter , that was a pillar , after his fall , wiped it away with salt tears , not continuing long in the puddle of his infidelity . — now i humbly beseech thee , o lord , call me back ; for that i tread a most perillous and destructive way . grant me that good guide and instructer , the holy ghost , that i become not an habitation of devils : but that i may tread under foot the devil , that trod upon me , and overcoming his sleights , may be again restored to the joyes of thy salvation . — now all ye , which behold my wound , tremble for fear , and take heed that ye slumber not , nor fall into the like crime : but rather let us assemble together , and rend our hearts , &c. i mourn and am sorry at the heart-root , o ye my friends , that ever i so fell , &c. let the angels lament over me , because of this my dangerous fall . let the assemblies of saints lament over me , for that i am severed from their blessed societies . let the holy church lament over me , for that i am wofully declined . let all the people lament over me , for that i have my deaths wound . — bewail me , that am in like case with the reprobate jews ; for this , which was said unto them by the prophet , why dost thou preach my laws , &c. now soundeth alike in mine ears . what shall i do , that am thus beset with manifest mischiefs ? alas ! o death , why dost thou linger ? herein thou dost spite , and bear me malice . o satan , what mischief hast thou wrought unto me ? how hast thou pierced my breast with thy poysonous dart ? thinkest thou , that my ruine will avail any thing at all ? thinkest thou to procure to thy self any ease or rest , whilst that i am grievously tormented , who is able to signifie unto thee , whether my sins be wiped and done away ? whether i shall not again be coupled with , and made a companion to the saints ? o lord , i fall down before thy mercy-seat , have mercy upon me , who mourn thus out of measure , because i have greatly offended . — rid my soul , o lord , from the roaring lion. the assembly of the saints doth make intercession for me , who am an unprofitable servant . shew mercy , o lord , to thy wandring sheep , who is subject to the rending teeth of the ravenous wolf : save me , o lord , out of his mouth , &c. let my sackcloth be rent asunder , and gird me with joy and gladness . let me be received again into the joy of my god. let me be thought worthy of his kingdome , through the earnest petitions of the church , which sorroweth over me , and humbleth her self to jesus christ in my behalf : to whom with the father , and the holy ghost be all glory and honour for ever and ever . amen . ormes . cicely ormes of norwich was taken , for that she said to two martyrs at the stake , that she would pledge them of the same cup. the chancellour of norwich offered her , that if she would go to the church , and keep her tongue , she should be at liberty , and believe as she would : she told him , she would not consent to his wicked desire therein , do with her what he would ; for if she should ( she said ) god would surely plague her . then the chancellour told her , he had shewed more favour to her , then ever he did to any , and that he was loth to condemn her , &c. but she answered him , that if he did , he should not be so desirous of her sinful flesh , as she would ( by gods grace ) be content to give it in so good a quarrel . before she was taken this time , she had recanted , but never was quiet in conscience , till she had forsaken all popery . between the time she had recanted , and now was taken , she had provided a letter for the chancellour , to let him know that she repented her recantation from the bottom of her heart , and would never do the like again while she lived : but before the letter was delivered , she was taken . when she came to the stake , she kneeled down and prayed , and then said , good people , i believe in god the gather , god the son , and god the holy ghost , three persons and one god. this do i not , nor will i recant ; but i recant utterly from the bottom of my heart the doings of the pope of rome , and all his popish priests and shavelings . i utterly refuse , and never will have to do with them again by gods grace . and good people , i would ye should not think of me , that i believe to be saved , in that i offer my self here unto the death for the lords cause , but i believe to be saved by christs death and passion : and this my death is , and shall be a witness of my faith unto you all here present . good people , as many of you as believe as i believe , pray for me . laying her hand on the stake , she said , welcome the cross of christ. she was burnt at the same stake , that that simon miller and elizabeth cooper was burned at , to whom she had said , that she would pledge them , &c. after she had wiped her hand , blacked with the stake , she touched the stake again with her hand , and kissed it , and said , welcome the sweet cross of christ. after the tormentors had kindled the sire about her , she said , my soul doth magnifie the lord , and my spirit rejoyceth in god my saviour . oswald . iohn oswald denied to answer any thing , untill his accusers should be brought face to face before him : nevertheless ( said he ) the fire and fagots cannot make me afraid ; but as the good preachers , which were in king edward's dayes , have suffered and gone before , so am i ready to suffer and come after , and would be glad thereof . p. palmer . mr. iulius palmer was wont to say , none were to be accounted valiant , but such as could despise injuries . when he was a papist he told mr. bullingham , then a papist also , as touching our religion , even our consciences bear witness , that we taste not such an inward sweetness in the profession thereof , as we understand the gospellers to taste in their religion ; yea , to say the truth , we maintain we wot not what , rather of will , then of knowledge . but what then ? rather then i will yield to them i will beg my bread . his conversion was occasioned by the constancy of the martyrs at their death , he having oft said in king edward's dayes , that none of them all would stand to death for their religion . when he returned from the burning of bishop ridley and bishop latimer , he cried out , oh raging cruelty , oh tyranny tragical , and more then barbarous ! from that time he studiously sought to understand the truth for which they suffered . when he resolved upon leaving his fellowship in magdalens colledge in oxford , he was demanded of a special friend , whither he would go or how he would live ? he made this answer , domini est terra , & plenitudo ejus ; the earth is the lords , and the fulness thereof . let the lord work , i will commit my self to god , and the wide world . after his leaving his fellowship being at oxford , he was perswaded to hear frier iohn , that succeeded peter martyr , in the divinity lecture ; and hearing him blaspheme the truth , departed ; and being found in his chamber weeping , and askt why he slipt away so on a sudden ? o said he , if i had not openly departed , i should have openly stopped my ears ; for the friers blasphemous talk in depraving the verity , made my heart worse to smart , then if mine ears had been cut off from my head . afterwards supping in the company of the said frier , and other great papists , and having refused to kiss his hand , or to pledge him , and being askt why he was so unwise and uncivil in his carriage ? he answered , oleum eorum non demulcet , sed frangit caput meum , the oyle of these men doth not supple , but breaketh my head . another time a little before his death reasoning stifly for the truth , mr. barwick then fellow of trinity colledge told him , well , palmer , now thou art stout and hardy in thy opinion ; but if thou wert once brought to the stake , i believe thou wouldst tell me another tale . i advise thee beware of the fire , it is a shrewd matter to burn . truly , said palmer , i have been in danger of burning once or twice , and hitherto ( i thank god ) i have escaped . but i judge verily it will be my end at last , welcome be it by the grace of god. indeed it is an hard matter for them to burn , that have the mind and soul linked to the body , as a thiefs foot is tyed in a pair of fetters ; but if a man be once able , through the help of gods spirit , to separate and divide the soul from the body , for him it is no more mastery to burn , then for me to eat this piece of bread . after he had not onely resigned up his fellowship , but left his school at reading for conscience sake , he went to his mother at esham , hoping to get from her some legacies left him by his father . her first words to him were , thou shalt have christs curse and mine whithersoever thou goest . oh mother ( said he ) your own curse you may give me , which god knoweth i never deserved , but gods curse you cannot give me , for he hath already blessed me . — whereas you have cursed me , i again pray god to bless you , and prosper you all your life long . at his trial at newberry dr. ieffery told him he would make him recant , and wring peccavi out of his lying lips , ere he had done with him . but i know ( said palmer ) that although of my self i be able to do nothing , yet if you and all mine enemies , both bodily and ghostly , should do your worst , you shall not be able to bring that to pass , neither shall ye prevail against gods mighty spirit , by whom we understand the truth , and speak it so boldly . ah ( said ieffery ) are you full of the spirit ? are you inspired with the holy ghost ? sir ( said palmer ) no man can believe but by the inspiration of the holy ghost : therefore if i were not a spirtual man , and inspired with gods holy spirit , i were not a true christian. he that hath not the spirit of christ is none of his . i perceive ( said ieffery ) you lack no words . christ hath promised ( said palmer ) not onely to give us store , necessary , but with them such force of matter , as the gates of hell shall not be able to confound , or prevail against it . christ ( replied ieffery ) made such a promise to his apostles ; i trow you will not compare with them . palmer answered , with the holy apostles i may not compare , yet this promise i am certain pertaineth to all such as are appointed to defend gods truth against his enemies , in the time of their persecution for the same . then ( said ieffery ) it pertaineth not to thee . yes ( said palmer ) i am right well assured that through his grace it appertaineth at this present to me , as it shall appear if i may dispute with you before this audience . thou art but a beardless boy ( replied ieffery ) and darest thou presume to offer disputation , or to encounter with a doctor . remember doctor ( said palmer ) the wind blo●e●h where is listeth , &c. out of the mouth of infants , &c. thou hast hid these things from the wise , &c. god is not tied to 〈◊〉 , wit , learning , place , nor person ; and though your wit and learning be greater then mine , yet your belief in the truth , and zeal to defend the time is no greater then mine . — the catholick church i believe , yet not for her own sake , but be-because she is holy , that is to say , a church that grounds her belief upon the word of her spouse christ. after dinner sir richard alridges sent for mr. palmer to his lodging , and by offers tempted him to recant ; mr. palmer told him , that as he had in two places already recounced his livelyhood for christs sake , so he would with gods grace be ready to surrender and yield up his life also for the same , when god should send time . when the knight perceived he would by no means relent , well palmer said he , then i perceive one of us twain must be damned , for we be of two faiths , and certain i am there is but one faith that leadeth to life and salvation . o sir ( said palmer i hope we both shall be saved . how may that be said the knight ? right well sir ( said palmer ) for as it hath pleased our merciful saviour , according to the gospels parable to call me at the third hour of the day , even in my flowers , at the age of four and twenty years , even so i trust he will call you at the eleventh hour of this your old age , and give you everlasting life for your portion . mr. winchcome perswading him to take pity on the pleasant flowers of lusty youth before it be too late . sir ( said palmer , i long for those springing flowers that shall never fade away . brethren ( said palmer ) to his fellow prisoners an hour before his execution ) be of good cheer in the lord and faint not . remember the words of our saviour christ , matth. . , , . we shall not end our lives in the fire , but change them for a better life : yea for coles we shall receive pearls . for gods holy spirit certifieth our spirit , that he hath even now prepared for us a sweet supper in heaven for his sake which suffered first for us . as he arose from prayer at the stake , two popish friers came behind him , and exhorted him yet to recant and save his soul. mr. palmer answered , away , away , tempt me no longer ; away i say from me all ye that work iniquity , for the lord hath heard the voice of my tears . when he was bound to the post , he said , good people pray for us , that we may persevere to the end , and for christs sake beware of popish teachers , for they deceive you . when the fire was kindled and took hold of his body , and the bodies of iohn gwin and thomas a●kine , they lifted up their hands to heaven , and quietly and cheerfully , as though they had felt no smart , cried , lord iesus strengthen us , lord iesus assist us , lord iesus receive our souls . after their three heads by force of the raging and devouring flames of the fire were fallen together in a cluster , so that they were all judged already to have given up the ghost , suddenly mr. palmer as a man awaked out of sleep , moved his tongue and jaws , and was heard to pronounce this word , iesus . epitaphium in palmerum . palmerus flammas christi pro dogmate p●ssus , impositum pondus , ceu bona palma , t●lit . non retrocessit , sed contra erdentior ivit , illaesam retinens fortis in igne fidem . propterea in coelum nunc palmifer iste receptus iustiti● palmam not pereuntis habot . paulinus . when he had his city , gold , silver , and all taken away , he said , lord , let not the loss of these things trouble me ; for thou art all , and more then all these to me . pareus . david pareus , having foreseen the great miseries , that would come upon the palatinate , when the spaniards came in with their army , by prodigies and dreams , he was perswaded to retire himself . at his departure he cried out , o heidelberg , heidelberg ! but it is better to fall into the hands of god , then of men , whose tender mercies are cruelty . paschalis . it is a small matter ( said lewis paschalis ) to die once for christ : if it might be , i could wish i might die a thousand deaths for him . patingham . patrick patingham being much prest by bonner to recant , he protested that the church , which the bishop believed , was no catholick church , but was the church of satan , and therefore he would never turn to it , &c. peloquine . the inquisitors telling dyonisius peloquine his life was in his own hands ; then ( said he ) it were in an ill keeping . christs school hath taught me to save it by losing it , and not by the gain of a few dayes or years , to lose eternity . person . mr. anthony person being come to the place of execution , with a chearfull countenance embraced the post in his arms , and kissing it , said , now welcome mine own sweet wife ; for this day shalt thou and i be married together in the love and peace of god. pulling the straw unto him , he laid a good deal thereof upon the top of his head , saying , this is gods hat , now am i dressed like a true souldier of christ , by whose merits onely i trust this day to enter into his joy . peter . the apostle peter was crucified , his head being down , and his feet upward , he himself so requiring ; because he was ( he said ) unworthy to be crucified after the same manner & form , as the lord was , &c. seeing his wife going to her martyrdome , ( belike as he was yet hanging upon the cross ) he was greatly joyous and glad thereof , and cried out unto her with a loud voice , remember the lord iesus . none but christ , nothing but christ. phileas . phileas , bishop of the thumitans , whilst he was in bonds , before he received the sentence of death , wrote to the congregation , over which he was bishop , exhorting them to persist in the truth of christ professed , notwithstanding the torments inflicted upon the martyrs in his dayes , which he thus describes ; some beat them with cudgels , some with rods , some with whips , some with thongs , and some with cords . — some of them , having their hands bound behind their backs , were lifted up upon timber-logs , and with certain instruments their members and joynts were stretched forth , whereupon their whole bodies hanging were subject to the will of the tormentors , who were commanded to afflict them with all manner of torments , not on their sides onely , but bellies , thighs , and legs . they scratched them with the talens and claws of wild beasts . some were seen to hang by one hand upon the engine , whereby they might feel the more grievous pulling out of the rest of their joynts and members . — some were stretched out ( after they were beaten ) upon a new kind of rack . others were cast down upon the pavement , where they were oppressed so thick , and so grievously with torments , that it is not almost to be thought what afflictions they suffered . some died of their torments , not a little shaming and confounding their enemies by their singular patience . — others were condemned , and willingly and cheerfully were martyr'd . philpot. mr. iohn philpot , son of sir peter philpot of huntshire , being threatned to be removed from the kings bench to lullards tower , said , you have power to transfer my body from place to place at your pleasure , but you have no power over my soul. — god hath appointed a day shortly to come , in the which he will judge us with righteousness , howsoever you judge of us now . when story threatned him with a worse prison , he said , god forgive you , and give you more mercifull hearts , and shew you more mercy in the time of need . do quickly that you have in hand . bonner telling him , he marvelled they were so merry in prison , singing and rejoycing in their naughtiness ; methinks ( said he ) you do not well herein , you should rather lament and be sorry . my lord ( said mr. phi●pot ) the mirth that we make is but in singing certain psalms , as we are commanded by st. paul , willing us to be merry in the lord , singing together in hymns and psalms . — we are my lord in a dark comfortless place , and therefore it behoveth us to be merry , least as solomon saith , sorrowfulness eat up our heart ; st. paul saith , if any man be of upright mind , let him sing ; and we therefore to testifie we are of an upright mind to god ( though we be in misery ) do sing . after this conference with bonner , i was ( saith mr. philpot ) carried to my lords cole-house again , where i with my six fellows do rouz together in the straw as cheerfully ( we thank god ) as others do in their beds of down . when he was brought before bonner ( and the bishop of bath , &c. ) a second time , before he answered any questions , he fell down upon his knees before them , and prayed thus ; almighty god , thou art the giver of all wisdome and understanding , i beseech thee of thine infinite goodness and mercy in jesus christ to give me ( most vile sinner in thy sight ) the spirit of wisdome to speak and answer in thy cause , that it may be to the contentation of the hearers , before whom i stand , and also to my better understanding , if i be deceived in any thing . bonner telling the bishop of wercester , that he did not well to exhort him to make any prayer ; for in this point ( said he ) they are much like to certain arrant hereticks , of whom pliny maketh mention , that did daily sing antelucanos hymnos , praise unto god before the dawning of the day : mr. philpot replied , my lord , god make me and all you here present such hereticks as those were that sang those morning hymns , for they were right christians , with whom the tyrants of the world were offended for their well doing . afterwards he made this protestation ; i protest here before god , and his eternal son jesus christ my saviour , and the holy ghost , and his angels , and you here present , that be judges of that i speak , that i do not stand in any opinion of wilfulness , or singularity , but onely upon my conscience certainly informed by gods word , from the which i dare not go for fear of damnation . the bishop of worcester telling him he was of ●●ch arrogancy , singularity , and vain-glory , that he would not see what was clearly proved . ha my lords ( said mr. philpot ) is it now time , think you , for me to follow singularity or vain-glory , since it is now upon danger of my life and death , not onely presently , but also before god to come ? i know if i die in the true faith , i shall die everlastingly , or if i do not , as you would have me , you will kill me and many thousands more ; yet had i rather perish at your hands , then to perish eternally . and at this time i have lost all my commodities of this world , and now lie in a cole-house , where a man would not lay a dog , with the which i am well contented . the bishop of glocester asking him , what do you think your self better learned then so many notable learned men as be here ? mr. philpot answered , elias alone had the truth , when there were four hundred priests against him . the bishop telling him elias was deceived , for he thought there had been none good but himself , and there were seven thousand besides him . mr. philpot answered , yea , but he was not deceived in doctrine as the other four hundred were . he told the bishop of london at his third appear●nce before him , my lord , in that you say you will ●it on me in judgement to morrow , i am glad thereof , i look for none other but death at your hands , and i am as ready to yield my life in christs cause , as you be to require it . dr. story telling him , what ? you purpose to be a stinking martyr , and to sit in judgement with christ at the last day , to judge the twelve triles of israel ? yea sir ( said mr. philpot ) i doubt not thereof , having the promise of christ , if i die for righteousness sake , which you have begun to persecute in me . the chancellor of lichfield advising him not to cast himself away wilfully ; he answered , my conscience beareth me record , that i seek to please god , and that the love and fear of god causeth me to do as i do ; and i were of all other creatures most miserable , if for mine own will onely i do lose all the commodities i might have in this life , and afterward be cast to damnation ; but i am sure it is not my will , whereon i stand , but gods will , which will not suffer me to be cast away i am sure . mr. philpot being sent for by bonn●r that he might go with him to mass , the keepers as they were going along asked him , will you go to mass ; mr. philpot answered , my stomack this morning is too raw to digest such raw meats of flesh , blood , and bone . when he was put into the stocks , he said , god be praised that he hath thought me worthy to suffer any thing for his names sake . better it is to sit in the stocks of this world , then to sit in the stocks of a damable conscience . as he was conveyed out of the cole-house into a close tower , joyning to paul's church , through many straits , there ( said he ) i called to remembrance , that strait is the way to heaven . harpsfield accusing him for being like himself in oxford , when in disputation he would not give over ; he said , mr. harpsfield , you know in the schools of oxford , when we were young men , we did strive much upon vain-glory and contention , more then for the truth ; and if i was then in the time of my ignorance earnest in my own cause , i ought now to be earnest in my master christs cause , and his truth . i know now that nothing done upon vain-glory and singularity can please god , have it never so goodly a shew . morgan telling him he should be burned for his heresie , and afterwards go to hell fire ; he said , i tell thee thou hypocrite , that i pass not this for thy fire and fagots , neither do i ( i thank god my lord ) stand in fear of the same : my faith in christ shall overcome them ; but the hell fire which thou threatnest me is thy portion , and is prepared for thee , unless thou speedily repent , and for such hypocrites as thou art . when bonner would not grant him candle light , he said , seeing i shall not have my request , the lord shall be my light , i would my burning day were to morrow , for this delay is every day to die , and yet not to be dead . dr. chedsey telling him , he was not like to die yet ; he answered , i am the more sorry thereof , but the will of the lord be done of me to his glory . amen . bonner telling him , that he made other prisoners rejoyce and sing with him , he said , yea my lord , we shall sing , when you and such as you are shall cry vae , vae , wo , wo , except you repent . the bishop of worcester bidding him to follow his fathers before him , he said , it is forbidden us of god by the prophet ezekiel to follow our fathers , or to walk in their commandments . the bishop replying , it is written also in another place , ask of your fathers : mr. philpot rejoyn'd , we ought indeed to ask our fathers that have more experience and knowledge then we of gods will , but no more to allow them then we perceive they agree with the scriptures . pray for grace , said the bishop . prayer ( said philpot ) is the comfortablest exercise i feel in my trouble , and my conscience is quiet , and i have peace of mind , which cannot be the fruits of heresie . my lords ( said philpot to the bishops ) you must bear with me since i speak in christs cause ; and because his glory is defaced , and his people cruelly and wrongfully slain by you , because they will not consent to the dishonour of god ; if i told you not your fault , it would be required at my hands at the day of judgement . therefore know ye hypocrites indeed , that it is the spirit of god that telleth you your sin , not i , i pass not , i thank god , of all your cruelty , god forgive it you , and give you grace to repent . when he was condemned for an heretick , he said , i thank god i am an heretick out of your cursed church , but i am no heretick before god. the chief keeper greeting him thus , ah! hast not thou done well to bring thy self hither ? he said , well , i must be content , for it is gods appointment . the keeper promising him all favour , if he would recant ; nay ( said mr. philpot ) i will never recant , whilst i have my life , that which i have spoken ; for it is most certain truth , and in witness hereof i will seal it with my blood . a messenger coming to him from the sheriffe , bade him make ready , for the next day he should be burned at a stake with fire . mr. philpot returned this answer , i am ready , god grant me strength and a joyfull resurrection . and so he went into his chamber , and poured out his spirit unto the lord god , giving him most hearty thanks that he of his mercy had made him worthy to suffer for his truth . his servant taking his leave of him said , ah master farewell ; mr. bradford said unto him , serve god and he will help thee . entring into smithfield , the way was foul , and two officers took him up to bear him to the stake ; whereupon he said merrily , what ? will ye make me a pope ? i am content to go to my journeys end on foot . coming into smithfield , he kneeled down , saying , i will pay my vows in thee o smithfield . kissing the stake , he said , shall i disdain to suffer at this stake , seeing my redeemer did not refuse to suffer a most vile death upon the cross for me ? in his letter to the christian congregation . — it is a lamentable thing to behold at this present in england the faithless departing both of men and women from the true knowledge and use of christs sincere religion , which so plentifully they have been taught and do know , their own conscience bearing witness to the verity thereof . if that earth be cursed of god , which eftsoons receiving moisture and pleasant dews from heaven , doth not bring forth fruit accordingly ; how much more grievous judgement shall such persons receive which prove apostates ? — it is n●t onely given us to believe , but also to confess and declare what we believe in our outward conversation . the belief of the heart justifieth , and to acknowledge with the mouth makes a man safe , rom. , it is all one before god , not to believe at all , and not to shew forth the lively works of our belief . — whosoever in time of tryal is ashamed of me ( saith christ ) and of my words , of him the son of man will be ashamed before his father . — the prophet aggeus . telleth us , the lord shaketh the earth , that those might abide for ever which be not overcome . — let no man deceive you with vain words , saying , that you may keep your faith to your selves , and dissemble with antichrist , &c. this is the wisdome of the flesh , but the wisdome of the flesh is death and enmity of god , as our saviour for example aptly did declare in peter , who exhorteth christ not to go to ierusalem , but counselled him to look better to himself . — we cannot serve two masters , we may not halt on both sides , and think to please god. — our bodies are the temple of the holy ghost , and whosoever doth profane the temple of god , him will god destroy . cor. . — god judgeth all strange religion , which is not according to his institution , for whoredome and adultery . — we must glorifie god as well in body as in soul : moreorer , we can do no greater injury to the true church of christ , then to seem to have forsaken her by cleaving to her adversaries . wo be to him by whom any such offence cometh , it were better for him to have a milstone tied about his neck , &c. such be judasses , traitors to the truth , &c. — st. john in the apocalyps telleth us plainly , that none of those who are written in the book of life do receive the mark of the beast , i. e , papistical synagogue , either in their foreheads or hands , i. e. apparently or obediently . see the commands for separation , phil. . cor. . rev. . thes. . — many will say for their vain excuse , god is mercifull , &c. truth it is , the mercy of god is above all his works , but cursed is he that sinneth upon hope of forgiveness . — others say , but we ought to obey the magistrates , although they be wicked ; true , but god must have his due , as well as caesar his . — if they command any thing contrary to gods word , we ought not to obey their commandments , although we should suffer death therefore , acts . dan. ● . — some run to this , if i be elected to salvation , i shall be saved , whatsoever i do : such verily may reckon themselves to be none of gods elect children , that will do evil that good may-ensue , rom. . god having chosen us that we should be holy , &c. eph. . — the lord open our eyes that we may see how dangerous it is to decline from the knowledge of truth contrary to their conscience . — in his letter to iohn carles . — i am in this world in hell , but shall be shortly lifted up to heaven , where i shall look continually for your coming ; and though i tell you that i am in hell in the judgement of the world , yet assuredly i feel in the same the consolation of heaven , i praise god , and this loathsome and horrible prison is as pleasant to me , as the walk in the garden of the kings bench. — if god doth mitigate the ugliness of mine imprisonment , what will he do in the rage of the fire , whereunto i am appointed ? and this hath hapned unto me , that i might be hereafter an ensample of comfort , if the like happen unto you , or any other of my dear brethren with you , &c. — be joyfull under the cross , and praise the lord continually ; for this is the whole burnt-sacrifice which the lord delighteth in . in another letter to careles . — behold the goodness of god towards me , i am careless , being fast closed in a pair of stocks , which pinch me for very straitness , and will you be carefull ? be as your name pretendeth , cast all your care on god , set the lord before your eyes alwayes , for he is on your right side , that you should not be moved . — praise god and be joyfull , that it hath pleased him to make u● worthy to suffer somewhat for his names sake . the devil must rage for ten dayes . — written in a cole-house of darkness , out of a pair of painfull stocks , by thine own in christ , iohn philpot. in his letter to certain godly women , forsaking their own countrey for the gospel . — i read in the evangelists of certain godly women that ministred unto christ , following him in the dayes of his passion , and never forsook him , but brought oyl to anoint him being dead , until he had shewed himself unto them after his resurrection , and bid them tell his dispersed disciples , that he was risen , and they should see him in galile : to whom i may justly compare you ( my loving sisters in christ ) who of late have seen him suffer in his members , and have ministred to their necessity , anointing them with the comfortable oyl of your assistance , even unto death ; and now seeing ye have seen christ live in the ashes of them , he willed you to go away , and to declare to our dispersed brethren and sisters that he is risen , and liveth in his elect members in england , and by death doth overcome infidelity , and that they shall see him in galile , which is by forsaking this world , &c. — let your faith shine in a strange countrey , as it hath done in your own , that your father which is in heaven may be glorified by you to the end . — commend me to the whole congregation of christ , willing them not to leave their countrey without witness of the gospel , after that we all be slain , which already be stalled up and appointed to the slaughter ; and in the mean season to pray earnestly for our constancy , that christ may be glorified in us and in them both by life and death . — in his letter to his sister . — fear not whatsoever is threatned of the wicked world , prepare your back , and see it be ready to carry christs cross ; and if you see any untowardness in you ( as the flesh is continually repugnant to the will of god ) ask with faithfull prayer , that the good spirit of god may lead your sinfull flesh whither it would not . — my dissolution i look for daily , but the lord knoweth how unworthy i am of so high an honour , as to die for the testimony of his truth : pray that god would vouchsafe to make me worthy , as he hath for long imprisonment , for the which his name be praised for ever . — in his letter to certain godly brethren . — it is an easie thing to begin to do well , but to continue out in well doing is the onely property of the children of god , and such as assuredly shall be saved ; blessed are they that persevere to the end . — god in rev. . doth signifie to the church , that there shall come a time of temptation upon the whole world , to try the dwellers on earth , from the danger of which temptation all such shall be delivered as observe his word , which word there is called the word of patience , to give us to understand , that we must be ready to suffer all kind of injuries and slanders for the profession thereof . — oh how glorious be the crosses ●f christ , which bring the bearers of them unto so blessed ●n end ? shall we not be glad to be partakers of such shame as may bring us to so high a dignity ? — it is commanded us by the gospel , not to fear them that can kill the body , but to fear god who can cast both soul and body into hell fire : so much are we bound to observe this commandment , as any other which god hath given us . — now it will appear what we love best , for to that we love we will stick . — what loseth he , which in this life receiveth an hundred for one , with assurance of eternal life ? o happy exchange ! even now he is of the city and houshold of the saints with god , he possesseth the peace of god , which passeth understanding , and is made a fellow of the innumerable company of heaven , and a perpetual friend of all those that have died in the lord , from the beginning of the world . is not this more then an hundred fold ? — stand and be no cowards in the cause of your salvation ; for his spirit that is in us , is stronger then he , which in the world doth now rage against us . — i beseech you with st. paul to give your bodies pure and holy sacrifices unto god. — god tempteth us now as he did our father abraham , commanding him to sacrifice his isaac , which signifieth mirth , joy , &c. he by obedience preserved his isaac alive . god commands us to sacrifice our isaac , our joy , which if we be ready to do as a●raham was , our joy shall not perish , but live and be increased , the ram shall be sacrificed in the stead thereof , onely the concupiscence of the flesh intangled with the cares of this stinging world shall be mortified . — to , withstand the present temptations set before your eyes , how our saviour christ overcame them in the desert , and follow his example , if the devil tempt you , to take a worldly wise way , that you may have your fair houses , lands , and goods to live on still ; say , man liveth not onely by bread , &c. if the devil tempt you to forsake the faith , & to be conformable to the learned men of the world , say , it is written a man shall not tempt his lord god. if the devil offer you large promises of honour , dignity , &c. so that ye will worship idols ; say , go behind me satan , it is written , a man must worship his lord god , and serve him onely . if your mother , brother , sister , wife , child , kinsman or friend do seek of you to do otherwise then the word of god hath taught you , say with christ , that they are your mothers , brothers , sisters , wives , children and kinsmen which do the will of god the father . — in his letter to mr. harrington . — glorious is the course of the martyrs of christ at this day ; never had the elect of god a better time for their glory then this is . — — a man that is bid to a glorious feast , wisheth his friend to go with him , and to be partaker thereof . god doth call me , most unworthy , among others , to drink of the bride-cup of his son , &c. — i wish you be as i am , except these horrible bands , but yet most comfortable to the spirit . praised be the lord for the affliction which we suffer , and he gives us strength to continue to the end . — though my lords cole-house be but very black ▪ yet it is more to be desired of the faithfull , then the queens palace . — in his letter to the lady v●ne . — the spirit confirm , strengthen , and stablish you in the true knowledge of the gospel , that your faithf●ll heart may attain and tast with all the saints , what is the heighth , the depth , the length , and the breadth of the sweet cross of christ. amen . — ah! great be the plagues that hang over england , yea , though the gospel should be restored again . happy shall that person be whom the lord shall take out of this world not to see them . ah the great perjury which ●en have run into so wilfully by rece●ving antichrist again and his wicked laws ! oh that the lord would turn his just judgements upon the authors of the truce-breaking between god and us , &c. — the world wondreth how we can be merry in such extream misery ; but our god is omnipotent , which turneth misery into felicity : believe me ( dear sister ) there is no such joy in the world , as the people of christ have under the cross , i speak by experience ; therefore believe me , and fear nothing that the world can do unto you ; for when they imprison our bodies , they set our souls at liberty with god ; when they cast us down , they lift us up ; yea , when they kill us , then do they bring us to everlasting life . what greater glory can there be , then to be at conformity with christ , which afflictions do work in us ! god open our eyes to see more and more the glory of god in the cross of jesus christ , and make us worthy partakers of the same . let us rejoyce in nothing with st. paul , but in the cross of iesus christ , by whom the world is crucified unto us , and we unto the world . — death why should i fear thee ? since thou canst not hurt me , but rid me from misery to eternal glory . j. p. dead to the world , and living to christ. — in another letter to the same lady . i have felt under the cross ( thanks be given to god therefore ) more true joy and consolation then ever i did by any benefit that god hath given me in my life before . for the more the world doth hate us , the ●igher god is unto us , and there is no perfect joy but in god. in a fourth letter to the same lady . — satan hath brought me out of the kings bench into the bishop of london's cole-house , a dark and an ugly prison as any is about london ( but my dark body of sin hath wel● deserved the same , and the lord hath now brought me into outward darkness , that i might the more be enlightned by him , who is most present with his children in the midst of darkness ) where i cannot be suffered to have any candle-light , neither ink nor paper , but by stealth . — pray ( dear lady ) that my faith faint not , which at present ( i thank god ) is more lively with me , then it hath been in times past . i tast and feel the faithfulness of god in his promise , who hath promised to be with his in their trouble , and to deliver them . i thank the lord i am not alone , but have six other faithfull companions , who in our darkness do cheerfully sing hymns and praises unto god for his great goodness . we are so joyfull , that i wish you part of my joy . let not my strait imprisonment any thing molest you ; for it hath added and daily doth unto my joy , but rather be glad and thankfull unto god with me . — cheerfull and holy spirits under the cross be acceptable sacrifices in the sight of god. — in another letter to the same lady . — this is the day that the lord hath made , let us be glad and rejoyce in the same ; this is the way though it be narrow , which is full of the peace of god , and leadeth to eternal bliss . o how my heart leapeth for joy , that i am so near the apprehension thereof ! god forgive me mine unthankfulness and unworthiness of so great glory . — i have so much joy of the reward that is prepared for me most wretched sinner , that though i be in place of darkness and mourning , yet i cannot lament , but both night and day am so joyfull , as though i were under no cross at all , yea in all the dayes of my life i was never so merry , the name of the lord be praised therefore for ever and ever , and he pardon mine unthankfulness . — pray instantly that this joy be never taken from us , for it passeth all the delights of this world , it surmounteth all understanding . — i trust my marriage-garment is ready . — in his letter to a friend in prison that writ to him concerning infant-baptisme . — the same night i received your letter , as i was musing on it i sell asleep , and in the midst of my sweet rest i saw a great beautifull city all of the colour of azure , and white , and four-square , in a marvellous beautifull composition in the midst of the sky . the sight hereof so inwardly comforted me , that i am not able to express the consolation i had ; yea , the remembrance thereof causeth as yet my heart to leap for joy ; and as charity is no churl , but would others to be partakers of his delight , so methought i called to others , and when we together had beheld the same , by and by to my great grief it vanished . this dream i take to be of the working of gods spirit . i interpret the city the church , and the appearance of it in the sky , the heavenly state thereof , and that according to the primitive church , which is now in heaven , men ought to measure and judge of the church of christ , and on earth the marvellous quadrature of the same , the universal agreement in the same , that all here in the church militant ought to consent to the primitive church throughout the four parts of the world , the wonderfull joy i conceived , the unspeakable joy which they have that be at unity with christs primitive church , and my calling others to the fruition of this vision , my moving you and others to behold the primitive church in all your opinions concerning faith , and to conform your self in all points to the same , which is the pillar of truth . — let the bitter passion of christ , which he suffered for your sake ; and the horrible torments which the godly martyrs of christ have endured before us , and also the inestimable reward of your life to come , which is hidden yet a little while from you with christ , strengthen , comfort , and encourage you to the end of that glorious race which you are in . amen . pikes . william pikes some while before he was last taken , he was in his garden reading the bible ; and about twelve a clock of the day , his face being towards the south , there fell down four drops of fresh blood upon his book , he not knowing from whence it came . calling his wife to him , he said , what meaneth this ? will the lord have four sacrifices ? i see well enough the lord will have blood . his will be done and give me grace to abide the triall . wife , let us pray , the day draweth nigh . afterward he daily looked to be apprehended , till the time came indeed . being at the point of death in newgate , so that no man looked he should live six hours , he declared to them that stood by , that he had been twice in persecution before , and that now he desired the lord , if it were his will , that he might glorifie his name at the stake . place . monsieur pierre de la place president of the court of requests in france , when out of that entire love which his wife bore him , fell down at the feet of one of those bloody instruments of that barbarous m●ssacre , . to intreat some favour for her husband . he rebuked her , and told her , that it is not the arm of flesh we must stoop unto , but unto god onely . perceiving in his sons hat a white cross , which through infirmity he had placed there , thinking thereby to save himself , he sharply chid him , and commanded him to pluck that mark of sedition thence , telling him , we must now submit to bear the true cross of christ. pothnius . pothnius , bishop of lions , to the president asking him in the midst of his torments , what that christ was , answered , if thou wert worthy , thou shouldst know . polycarp . this famous bishop of smyrna , st. iohn's disciple , having been in prayer three dayes before his apprehension , in a vision by night he saw the bed set on fire under his head , and suddenly to be consumed . when he awoke he gave this exposition of the vision to them that were present , that in the fire he should lose his life for christs cause . when the pursuers were brought to the inne where he was , he might have escaped , but would not , saying , the will of god be done . as he was going to the place of judgement , there came a voice from heaven ( heard by several of his church ) saying , be of good cheer polycarpus , and play the man. when the proconsul bid him say , destroy these naughty men , he looked up to heaven , saying , thou , thou it is , that wilt destroy these wicked naughty men . the proconsul bidding him defie christ and he should be discharged , he answered , fourscore and six years have i been his servant , yet in all his time hath he not so much as once hurt me ; how then may i speak evil of my king and sovereign lord , which hath thus preserved me ? the proconsul still urging him to swear by caesar's prosperity , he replied , if thou requirest this , pretending that thou knowest not what i am , know then that i am a christian ; and if thou desire to know the doctrine of christianity , appoint a day , and thou shalt hear . — i have thought it my duty thus to say unto you , forsomuch as we are commanded to give unto the governours and powers ordained of god , the hounour meet and due to them , and not hurtfull unto us . — the proconsul telling him he had wild beasts to whom he would throw him , unless he took a better way : polycarp said , let them come , we have determined with our selves , that we will not by repentance turn us from the better way to the worse , but convenient it is , that a man turn from things that be evil unto that which is good and just . i will tame thee with fire ( replied the proconsu● ) if thou set not by the wild beasts , nor yet repent . then said polycarp , you threaten me with fire , which shall burn for the space of an hour , and shall be within a little while after put out and extinguished ; but thou knowest not the fire of the judgement to come , and of everlasting punishment which is reserved for the wicked and ungodly . but why make you all these delayes ? give me what death soever you list . when they would have tyed him to the stake with iron hoops , he said , let me alone as i am ; for he that hath given me strength to come to the fire , shall also give power that without this provision i shall abide , and not stir in the midst of the fire . when his hands were bound behind him , he prayed thus , o father of thy welbeloved and blessed son iesus christ , by whom we have attained the knowledge of thee , the god of angels and powers , and of every creature , and of all just men , which live before thee . i give thee thanks that thou hast vouchsafed to grant me this day that i may have my part among the number of the martyrs , to drink of the cup of christ , unto the resurrection of eternal life both of body and soul , through the operation of thy holy spirit , among whom i shall this day be received into thy sight for an acceptable sacrifice ; and as thou hast prepared and revealed the same before this time , so thou hast accomplished the same , o thou most true god , which canst not lye . wherefore for all these things i praise thee , i bless thee , i glorifie thee by our everlasting bishop iesus christ , to whom be glory evermore . amen . as soon as the fire was kindled , some of his church then present saw this marvellour thing ; the fire being like unto a vault or roof of an house , and after the manner of a shipmans sail filled with wind , compassed about the martyr , as with a certain wall , and he in the middle of the same , not as flesh that burned , but as gold and silver when it is tried in the fire : they smelt also a savour so sweet , as if myrrhe , or some other precious balm had given a scent . when they saw that his body could not be consumed by fire , one thrust him through with a sword ; which being done , so great a quantity of blood ran out of his body , that the fire was quenched therewith . polycarp going with st. iohn to a bath at ephesus , and espying cerinthus the heretick in it , said , eugiamus ocius , &c. let us depart speedily , for fear least the bath wherein the lords adversary is do fall upon us . he so detested h●reticks , then when marcion ( of his former acquaintance ) met him at rome , and wondring that he took no notice of him , said unto him , dost thou not know me polyc●rp ? yea ( said he ) i know thee well , thou art the eldest son to the devil . his manner was to stop his ears , if at any time he heard the wicked speeches of heretieks , and to ●●un those very places , where such speeches had been uttered . he suffered martyrdome in the seventh year of ●●rus , anno christi . and of his age . praetorius . arias praetorius the day before his death , dream'd he saw a coffin carried , and asking whose it was , he heard this answer , that christ was to be laid in his sepulcher , and that he should speedily follow him . when he awaked , he concluded his own death was not far off . whereupon he cried out , he that followeth christ , walks well , not in darkness . jesus , be thou merciful to me a miserable sinner , and draw me after thy self . prest . prest's wife being asked by the bishop of exeter , whether she had not an husband ? she answered , that she had an husband and children , and had them not : so long as she was at liberty , she refused neither husband nor children ; but now standing here as i do ( said she ) in the cause of christ and his truth , where i must forsake christ or my husband , i am contented to stick onely to christ my heavenly spouse , and renounce the other . here she making mention of the words of christ , he that leaveth not father or mother , sister or brother , or husband , &c. the bishop told her , that christ spake that of the holy martyrs , which died because they would not sacrifice to the false gods : so ( said she ) i will rather die then i will do any worship to that foul idol , which with your mass you make a god . the bishop telling her , that if she had been an honest woman , she would not have left her husband and children , and run about the countrey like a fugitive : she told him , sir , i laboured for my living , and as my master christ counselleth me , when i was persecuted in one city , i fled into another . when i would have my husband and children to leave idolatry , and to worship god in heaven , he with his children rebuked men , and troubled me . i fled not for whoredome nor for theft , but because i would not be partaker with him and his of that foul idol the mass. during a moneths liberty which was granted her by the bishop , she went into the cathedral at exeter , and seeing a dutchman making new noses to certain fine images which were disfigured in king edwards time ; what a mad man art thou ( said she ) to make them new noses , which within a few dayes shall all lose their heads ? the dutchman accused her , and laid it hard to her charge ; and she said unto him , thou art accursed , and so are thy images . he called her whore. nay ( said she ) thy images are whores , and thou art a whore-hunter ; for doth not god say , you go a whoring after strange gods , figures of your own making . when judgement was given against her , she lifted up her voice , and said , i thank thee , my lord , my god , this day have i found that i long sought . this favour they pretended after her judgement , that her life should be spared , if she would recant : nay that will i not ( said she ) god forbid , that i should lose the life eternal for this carnal and short life . i will never turn from my heavenly husband to my earthly husband ; from the fellowship of angels to mortal children : and if my husband and children be faithfull , then am i theirs . god is my father , god is my mother , god is my sister , my brother , my kinsman , god is my friend most faithfull . after her condemnation she refused to receive my money from well affected people , saying , i am going to a city , where money beareth no mastery . whilst i am here , god hath promised to feed me . when she was brought to the stake , without the ●alls of exeter , in a place called so then hay , in the ●roneth of november . the priests again as●●ulted her ; but she prayed them to have no more ●alk with her , and cried still , god be mercifull to 〈◊〉 a sinner , god be mercifull to me a sinner . this agnes priest , or prest , was the sole devonshire martyr ( saith dr. fuller ) under the reign of queen mary : wherefore as those parents , which have but one child , may afford it the better attendance , as more at leisure : so seeing by gods goodness we have but this single native of this countrey , yea of this diocess , we will enlarge , &c. ( ) her christian name , which mr. fox could not learn , ●e have recovered from another excellent author , mr. vowell in hollingshead , pag. . ( ) i am informed by the inhabitants thereabout , that she lived at northcot in the parish of boynton , in the county of cornwall , &c. ( ) she was a simple woman to behold , thick , but liltle and short in sta●●re , about four and fifty years of age . ( ) she was endited on munday the fourth week in lent , an. phil. & mar. . and . before w. stanford , iustice of the assize : so that we may observe more legal formality was used about the condemnation of this poor woman , then any martyr of far greater degree . ( ) her own husband and children were her greatest persecutors , from whom she fled ; because they would force her to be present at mass. ( ) she was condemned by bishop troublefield bishop of exeter , &c. yea she was the onely person in whose persecution bishop troublefield did appear ; and it is justly conceived , that blackstone his chancellour was more active then the bishop in procuring her death . potten . agnes potten of ipswich , in a night a little before her death , being asleep in her bed , saw a bright burning fire , right up as a pole , and on the side thereof she thought there stood a number of queen mary's friends looking on , then ( being asleep ) she seemed to muse with her self , whether her fire should burn so bright or no. and indeed her suffering was not far unlike her dream . at the stake she and ioan trunchfield , who sufferred with her , required the people to credit , and to lay hold on the word of god , and not upon mans devices and inventions ; and to despise the ordinances and institutions of the romish antichrist , with all his superstitious and rotten religion . pusices . shut thine eyes but a while ( said pusices to an old man trembling at martyrdome ) and thou shalt see gods light. r. rabeck . i●hn rabeck , a french martyr , being urged to pronounce iesu maria , conjoyned in one prayer , boldly answered , that if his tongue should but offer to utter those words at their bidding , he himself would bite it asunder with his teeth . ramus . the great crime that the sorbonists objected against peter ramus , and for which he suffered much , was , that by opposing aristotle he enervated divinity . whence we may see what a divinity they were for , who made aristotle the great master thereof , who laughs at the creation of the world , divine providence , and the immortality of the soul : and slighting life eternal , placed the happiness of man in this mortal life onely , and left nothing for man after death , then to have it said , he was happy : in a word , who defined humane felicity from mans ability , and not from divine grace . in his adverse condition he would comfort himself with the following verses : . committe vitam , rem , decus , dei unius arbitrio , animi tibi ex sententia confecta reddet omnia . illustris aurorae ut jubar , tua faciet ul sit aquitas , ut luce virtus sit tua● meridiana clarior . in english thus ; commit to god , life , wealth , and name , and what thou wilt shalt have the same . thy righteousness shall shine more clear , then the light of the morning 〈◊〉 . — deus ●abit his quoque finem● durate , ut vos●●t rebus servate secundis . — these shall not want an end . bear up , and wait till g●d doth better send . that which he first disliked in popery , was their execrable idolatry in corrupting the second commandment , and the sacrament of the lords supper . when in the possiac synod he heard the cardina● of lorain acknowledge , that the first of the fifteet● centuries since christ was a truly golden age but the rest were so much the worse , by how much they farther departed from the first , peter ramus concluded , that the age of christ and his apostles was to be restored , and chosen . when the civil wars brake forth in france for religion , he went into germany , and at heidelberg , having made to tremellius and the church a confession of his faith , he received the sacrament of the lords supper in that church . after his conversion he daily did read the old and new testament , and out of each chapter collected an index , containing rules and examples relating to both the parts of christian doctrine , viz. faith , and the actions of faith , and so made his commentaries ; and certainly he had made much greater progress in divinity , had he not been so soon ( not much above two years ) after his conversion taken away by a violent death . when in that horrid massacre at paris , begun aug. . . he was mortally wounded , aug. . in the seven and fiftieth year of his age , he was heard to commend his soul to god in these words : o iehovah , against thee onely have i sinned , and done evil before thee . thy judgements are truth and righteousness . have mercy upon , and pardon my murtherers ; for they know not what they do . read. some of the articles that were exhibited against adam read , and other scotch confessors , were these following : ( ) that images are not to be had in the kirk , nor to be worshipped . ( ) that it is not lawfull to fight for the faith , nor to defend the faith by the sword , if we be not driven to it by necessity , which is above all law. ( ) that the pope is not the successor of peter , but where he said , go behind me satan . ( ) that the pope exalts himself against god , and above god. ( ) that the blessings of the bishops ( of dumb dogs they should have been stiled ) are of no value . ( ) that the excommunication of the kirk is not to be feared , if there be no true cause for it . ( ) that we are no more bound to pray in the kirk , then in other places . ( ) that the pope is the head of the kirk of antichrist . ( ) that they which are called princes and prelates in the church , are thieves and robbers . by these articles exhibited in the year ( which god of his merfull providence caused the enemies of his truth to keep in their registers ) may appear how god retained some spark of light in scotland in the time of greatest darkness . when arch bishop blacater asked adam read , whether he believed that god was in heaven , he answered , not as i do the sacraments seven . whereupon blacater insultingly said unto the king , sir , lo , he denies that god is in heaven : whereat the king wondring , said , adam read what say you ? he answered , may it please your majesty to hear the end between the churle and me : and therewith turned to the bishop , and said , i neither think nor believe , as thou thinkest , that god is in heaven , though i am most assured , that he is not onely in heaven , but also in the earth ; but thou and thy faction declare by your works , that either you think there is no god at all , or else that he is so set up in heaven , that he regards not what is done on earth ; for if thou firmly believedst that god were in heaven , thou shouldst not make thy self check-mate to the king , and altogether forget that charge that iesus christ the son of god gave to his apostles , to preach the gospel , and not to play the proud prelates , as all the rabble of you do this day . and now sir ( said he to the king ) judge you whether the bishop or i believe best , that god is in heaven . then the king said to him , adam read , wilt thou burn thy bill ? he answered , sir , the bishop and you will. ridley . dr. nicholas ridley , then bishop of london , went about septemb. . ● . to see the lady mary , and offered to preach before her : but she told him , the door of the parish church adjoyning shall be open to you , if you come , and you may preach if you list ; but neither i , nor any of mine shall hear you . madam ( said he ) i trust you will not refuse gods word . i cannot tell ( said she ) what you call gods word , that is not gods word now , that was gods word in my fathers dayes . gods word ( said he ) is all one in all times , but hath been better understood , and practised in some ages , then in other . — after this conference , sir thomas wharton , one of the lady mary's officers , brought the bishop to the place where they dined : but the bishop after he had drunk , pausing a little while , and looking very sadly , brake out into these words , surely i have done amiss . why so , said the knight ? for i have drunk ( said he ) in that place , where gods word offered , hath been refused : whereas if i had remembred my duty , i ought to have departed immediately , and to have shaken off the dust of my feet for a testimony against this house . these words were spoken by the bishop with such vehemency , that some of the hearers afterwards confessed , that their hairstood upright upon their heads . this done the bishop departed . in the time of queen iane , in his sermon at paul's cross , he prophesied at it were , that if ever the lady mary were queen , she would bring in foreign power to reign over them , besides the subverting the christian religion then established . shortly after this sermon queen mary was proclaimed , and dr. ridley speedily repaired to fremingham in suffolk , to queen mary , but had but cold welcome there : he was spoiled of his dignity , and sent back upon a lame halting horse to the tower. in the tower he was sometimes invited to the lieutenants table , where he had conference with secretary brown , &c. in that conference . — it is not in scripture ( said dr. ridley ) as in the witness of men , where a ●umber is credited more then one . a multitude of affirmations in scripture , and one affirmation is all one as to the truth if the matter . that which any one of the evange●ists sp●ke , inspired by the holy ghost , is as true ●s that which is spoken by them all . what john saith of christ , i am the door of the she●p , is as true as what matthew , mark , luke , &c. say , this is my body ; ●●t the scripture words are onely true in the sence in which they were spoken . — as for unity , i embrace it , ●it be with verity , and joyned to our head christ. — ●●r antiquity , i am perswaded that to be true which ●reneus saith , that which is first , is true . our religion was first truly taught by christ himself and his apostles , &c. — you know i were a very fool , if i ●iu'd in this matter dissent from you , if that in my ●onscience the truth did not inforce me s● to do . ye per●ive i trow , it is out of my way , if i esteemed worldly ●●in . afterwards he was sent out of the tower with cranmer and latimer to dispute at oxford . when he was the first time brought before the commissioners , they asked him , whether he would dispute or no ? he answered , that as long as god gave him life , he should not onely have his heart , but also his mouth and pen to defend his truth . in his protestation before his disputation . — whilst i weighed with my self how great a charge of the lords flock was of late committed to me , for which i am certain i must render an account to my lord god , &c. and that moreover by the command of the apostle peter , i ought to be ready alwayes to give a reason of the hope that is in me with meekness and reverence unto every one , that shall demand the same . besides this considering my duty to the church of christ , and to your worships , being commissioners by publick authority , i determined to obey your command in openly declaring to you my mind touching the propositions which you gave me . and albeit ( plainly to confess unto you the truth in these things , which ye now demand of me ) i have thought otherwise in times past , then now i do ; yet ( god i call to record unto my soul , i lye not ) i have not altered my judgement , as now it is , either by constraint of any man , or laws , or for the dread of any dangers of this world , or for any hope of commodity , but onely for love of the truth revealed to me by the grace of god ( as i am undoubtedly perswaded ) in his holy word , and in the reading of the ancient fathers . dr. weston telling him , what he said contained onely evasions and starting holes . i cannot ( said dr. ridley ) start far from you , i am captive and bound . bertram ( said he ) was the first that pulled me ●y th● ear , and that first ●rought me from the common errour of the popish church , and caused me to search more diligently and exactly both the scriptures and the writings of the old ecclesiastical fathers in this matter . when he was condemned by them for an heretick , he said , although i be not of your company , yet doubt i not ●ut my name is writ in another place , whether this sentence will send us sooner , then we should come by the course of nature . in his letter to dr. crannier . — i wish you might have seen these mine answers before i had delivered them , that you might have corrected them : but i trust in the substance of the matter , we do agree fully , both led by one spirit of truth , and both walking after one rule of gods word . — i trust the day of our delivery out of all miseries , and of our entrance into perpetual rest , and unto perpetual joy and felicity draweth nigh . the lord strengthen us with his mighty spirit of grace . — pray for me i pray you , and so shall i for you . the lord have mercy of his church , and lighten the eyes of the magistrates , that gods extreme plagues light not on this realm of england . turn or burn . in his letter to mr. latimer in prison . — i pray you good father , let me have one draught more of your cup , wherein you mingle to me profitable with pleasant to comfort my stomack ; for surely except the lord assist me with his gracious aid in the time of his service , i know i shall but play the part of a white-liver'd knight . but truly my trust is in him , that in mine infirmity he should try himself strong , and that he can make the coward in his cause to fight like a man. sir , now i daily look when diotrephes with his warriours shall assault me : wherefore i pray you good father , for that you are an old souldier , and an expert warriour , and ( god knoweth ) i am but a young souldier , and as yet of small experience in these fights , help me i pray you to buckle mine harness . and now i would have you to think , that those darts are cast at my head , by some one of diotrephes , or antonius his souldiers , ( by antonius he meant some popish persecutour , as winchester , alluding thereby to the story of victor l. . de persecu● . aphri . ) object . . all men marvel greatly why you do not go to mass , which is a thing ( as you know ) now much esteemed of all men , yea , of the queen her self . answ. because no man that layeth hand on the plough , and looketh back , is fit for the kingdome of god ; and also for the same cause why st. paul wou●d not suffer timothy to be circumcised , which is , that the truth of the gospel might remain with us uncorrupt , gal. . and again , if i build again the things which i destroyed , i m●ke my self a trespasser . this is also another cause , lest i shou●d seem by outward fact to allow the thing , which i am perswaded is contrary to sound doctrine , and so shou●d be a stumbling block to the weak . but wo be to him by whom offence cometh , mat. . it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck , and he cast into the midst of the sea . object . . have not you used in times past to say mass your self , and therefore why will you not now vouchsafe once either to hear it , or see it . answ. i confess unto you my fault and ignorance ; but know you , that for these matters i have done penance long ago , both at paul 's cross , and at cambridge , and i trust god hath forgiven me mine offence , for i did it ignorantly . object . . but you know how great a crime it is to separate your self from the communion or fellowship of the church , and to make a scisme or division . answ. i know that the unity of the church is to be ●●tained by all means , and the same to be necessary to salvation ; but i do not take the mass , as it is at this lay , for the communion of the church , but a popish de●ice , &c. object . . admit there be a fault in the mass , do not you know both by cyprian and augustine that communion of sacraments doth not defile a man , but consent of deeds ; if you do not consent to the ●●ult in the mass , why do you trouble your self in ●ain ? answ. forasmuch as things done in the mass tend ●●enly to the overthrow of christs institution , i judge ●hat by no means , either in word or deed , i ought to con●ent unto it . what is objected out of the fathers is meant ●f them who suppose they are defiled , if any secret vice be ●●ther in the ministers , or in them that communicate with them , and not of them which do abhor superstition , ●●d wicked traditions of men , and will not suffer the same 〈◊〉 be thrust upon themselves , or upon the church in stead ●f gods word , and the truth of the gospel . object . . the mass is the sacrament of uni●● , &c. answ. it 's true , the bread which we break accord●●● to the institution of the lord , is the sacrament of 〈◊〉 unity of christs mystical body ; for we being many 〈◊〉 one bread , and one body , forasmuch as we are parta●●rs all of one bread. but in the mass the lords institution is not observed , for we are not all partakers of one ●●ead , but one devoureth all , &c. so that as it is used it may seem a sacrament of singularity , &c. — object . . is not abstaining from the church by reason of the mass contrary to the examples of the prophets and apostles of christ ? — answ. it can no where be shewed , that the prophets , or christ , or his apostles did in the temple communicate with the people in any kind of worshipping forbidden by the law of god. — how else i pray you can you understand that st. paul alledgeth , when he saith , cor. . what concord hath christ with belial ? or what part hath the believer with the infidel ? or how agreeth the temple of god with images ? for ye are the temple of the living god , as god himself hath said , i will dwell among them , and will be their god , and they shall be my people ; wherefore come out from among them , and separate your selves from them ( saith the lord ) and touch no unclean thing , so will i receive you , and will be a father unto you , and you shall be my sons and daughters , saith the lord god almighty . object . . for so much as you are so stifly , i will not say obstinately , bent , and so wedded to your opinion , that no gentle exhortations and wholsome counsels , no other kind of means can call you home to a better mind ; there remaineth that which in like cases was wont to be the onely remedy against stiffe-necked and stubborn persons , that is , you must be hampered by the laws , and compelled either to obey , whether you will or no , or else suffer that which a rebel to the laws ought to suffer ? — do you not know , that refusing to obey the laws of the realm , is the readiest way to stir up sedition and civil war ? it is better that you should bear your own sin , then that through the example of your breach of the common laws , the common quie● should be disturbed . how can you say you will be the queens true subject , whenas you do openly profess you will not keep her laws . answ. — i grant it to be reasonable , that he that ●y words and gentleness cannot be made to yield to that which is right and good , he that will not be subject to gods word , should be punished by the laws . — these things ought to take place against him who refuseth to do that is right and just , according to true godliness , not against him which cannot bear superstitions quietly , but doth hate and detost from his heart such kind of proceedings , and that for the glory of the name of god. — whosoever love their countrey in truth , i. e. in god , they will alwayes judge ( if at any time the laws of god and man are contrary ) that a man ought rather to obey god then man ; and they that think otherwise , and pretend a love to their countrey , forasmuch as they make their countrey to fight as it were against god , in whom consisteth the onely stay of that countrey , such are to be judged most deadly enemies and traitors to their countrey . — satan indeed hath ever this dart in readiness to hurl against his adversaries , to accuse them of sedition , that he may bring them if he can in danger of the higher powers . thus ahab said unto elias , art thou he that troubleth israel ? the false prophets complained of jeremy to their princes , that his words were seditious , and not to be suffered . the scribes and pharises accused christ as a seditious person , and one that spake against caesar. did not they at the last cry , if you let this man go , you are not caesars friend ? thus the oratour tertullus accused paul before felix the deputy , we have found this man ( saith he ) a pestilent fellow , and a stirrer up of sedition unto all the iews in the whole world . but were these indeed seditious persons ? god forbid ; but they were of men falsly accused , and wherefore i pray you ? but because the reproved before the people their guiles , superstitions and deceits . — a man indeed ought to obey his prince , but in the lord , and never against the lord ; for he that knowingly obeyeth his prince against god , doth not a duty to the prince , but is a deceiver of the prince , and a helper to him to work his own destruction . he is also unjust which giveth not to the prince that is the princes , and to god that is gods. — hitherto you see ( good father ) how i have in words onely made a flourish before the fight which i shortly look for , and how i have begun to prepare certain kind of weapons to fight against the adversary of christ. — and here methinks i see you suddenly lifting up your head to heaven after your manner , and then looking upon me with your prophetical countenance , and speaking thus unto me , trust not my son ( i beseech you vouchsafe me the honour of this name , for in so doing i shall think my self both honoured and loved of you ) trust not to these word-weapons ; for the kingdome of god is not in words but in power . remember alwayes the words of the lord , do not imagine aforehand what and how you will speak ; for it shall be given you even in that same hour what ye shall speak , mat. . for it is not ye that speak , but the spirit of your father that speaketh in you , mar. . i pray you therefore ( father ) pray for me , that i may cast my whole care on him , and trust on him in all perils ; for i know and am surely perswaded , that whatsoever i can think aforehand is nothing , except he assist me with his spirit when the time is . — pray that i may out of a true faith say with david , i will not trust in my bow , and it is not my sword that shall save me , psal. . for he hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse , &c. but the lord delights in them that fear him , and put their trust in his mercy . i beseech you pray , pray , pray , that i may enter this fight onely in the name of god. — in his letter to mr. bradford and his fellow-prisoners . — how joyfull it was to us to hear the report of dr. tailor , and of his godly confession , &c. i assure you it is hard for me to express . blessed be god which was and is the giver of that and of all godly strength and stomack in the time of adversity . — it is not the slanderers evil tongue but a mans evil deed that can with god defile a man ; and therefore with gods grace ye shall never have cause to doubt but that we will continue , &c. sir , blessed be god , with all our evil reports , grudges and restraints we are merry in god , and all our cure and care is and shall be ( by gods grace ) to please and serve him of whom we look and hope after these temporal and momentary miseries to have eternal joy and perpetual felicity with abraham , &c. through jesus christ our lord. in his letter to his cousin . — i can do no less then lament their case , who for fear of trouble or loss of goods will do in the sight of the world those things they know and are assured are contrary to the will of god , being assdred their end will be so pitifull ( without speedy repentance ) that i tremble to think of it . — alas ! such as should in this dangerous time have given you and me comfortable instructions have perswaded us to follow ( i lament to rehearse it ) superstitious idolatry : yea , and the worst of all is , they seek to prove it by scriptures . the lord for his mercy turn their hearts . amen . in another letter to mr. bradford . — oh dear brother , seeing the time is now come , wherein it pleaseth the heavenly father for christ our saviour his sake to call upon you , and to bid you come , happy are you that ever you were born thus to be found awake at the lords calling . — if it be not the place that sanctisieth the man , but the holy man doth by christ sanctifie the place , then happy and holy shall be that place where in thou shalt suffer , and which shall be sprinkled over with thy ashes in christs cause . all thy countrey may rejoyce of thee , that it ever brought forth such an one which would render his life again in his cause of whom he had received it . — we do look now every day when we shall be called on , blessed be god. i ween i am the weakest many wayes of our company , and yet i thank our lord god and heavenly father by christ , that since i heard of our dear . brother rogers his departing , and stout confession of christ and his truth even unto death , my heart ( blessed be god ) rejoyced of it , that since that time i never felt any lumpish heaviness in my heart , as i grant i have felt sometimes before . oh good brother , blessed be god in thee , and blessed be the time that ever i knew thee . in his letter to the brethren imprisoned . — what worthy thanks can we render unto the lord for you my brethren , namely , for the great consolation which through you we have received in the lord , who notwithstanding the rage of satan , that goeth about by all manner of subtile means to beguile the world , and also busily laboureth to restore and set up his kingdome again that of late began to decay and to fall to ruine , ye remain still unmoveable as men grounded upon a strong rock . and now albeit that satan by his souldiers and wicked ministers daily ( as we hear ) draweth numbers unto him ; so that it is said of him , that he plucketh even the stars out of heaven whiles he driveth into some men the fear of death , and loss of all their goods , and offereth unto others the pleasant baits of the world , &c. to the intent they should fall down and worship not the lord but the dragon , the old serpent , which is the devil , that great beast and his image , and should be enticed to commit fornication with the strumpet of babylon , &c. yet blessed be god the father of our lord jesus christ , which hath given unto you a manly courage , and hath so strengthned you in the inward man by the power of his spirit , that you can contemn as well all the terrours as also the vain allurements of the world , esteeming them as meer trifles and things of nought . — in the faith of christ stand ye fast my brethren , and suffer not your selves to be brought under the yoke of bondage and superstition any more , and be of good comfort , and remember that our grand captain hath overcome the world . — we never had a better or more just cause either to contemn our life or shed our blood , we cannot take in hand the defence of a more certain , clear and manifest truth . — shall we or can we receive and acknowledge any other christ instead of him , who is alone the everlasting son of the everlasting father , &c. let such wickedness my brethren , let such horrible wickedness be far from us . — what can your adversaries else do unto you by persecuting you , and working all cruelty and villainy against you , but make your crowns more glorious , yea beautifie and multiply the same , &c. in another letter to the brethren . — now even now ( out of doubt brethren ) the pit is opened against us , and the locusts begin to swarm , and abaddon now reigneth ; ye therefore ( my brethren ) which pertain unto christ , and have the seal of god marked in your foreheads , i. e. are sealed with the earnest of the spirit to be a peculiar people of god , quit your selves like men , and be strong ; for he that is in us is stronger then he which is in the world , and ye know all that is born of god overcometh the world , and this is our victory that overcometh the world , even our faith. let the world fret , let it rage never so much , be it never so cruel and bloody , yet be sure that no man can take us out of the fathers hands ; for he is greater then all , &c. who shall lay any thing to the charge of gods elect ? &c. who shall separate us from the love of christ ? shall tribulation ? &c. in his letter to mr. west his quondam chaplain . — i wish you grace in god , and love of the truth , without which truly established in mens hearts by the mighty hand of the almighty god ▪ it is no more possible to stand by the truth in christ in time of trouble , then it is for the wax to abide the heat of the fire . — i am perswaded christs words to be true , whosoever shall confess me before men , him will i confess also before my father which is in heaven ; and i believe that no earthly creature shall be saved , whom the redeemer and saviour of the world shall before his father deny . — if you had wished that neither fear of death , nor hope of worldly prosperity should let me to maintain gods word and his truth , which is his glory and true honour , it would have like me well . you desire me for gods sake to remember my self : indeed it is now time so to do , for so far as i can perceive , it standeth me upon no less danger then of the loss both of body and soul , and i trow then it is time for a man to awake , if any thing will awake him . he that will not fear him that threatneth to cast both body and soul into everlasting fire , whom will he fear ? with this fear o lord fasten thou together our frail flesh that we never swerve from thy laws . you say you have made much suit for me ; god grant that you have not in suing for my worldly deliverance impaired and hindred the furtherance of gods word and his truth . — to write unto these whom you name , i cannot see what it will avail me ; but this i would have you know , that i esteem nothing available for me , which also will not further the glory of god. — sir , how nigh the day of my dissolution and departure out of this world is at hand i cannot tell , the lords will be fulfilled how soon soever it shall come . — my conscience moves me to require both you and my friend dr. harvey to remember your promises made to me in times past of the pure setting forth and preaching of gods word and his truth . these promises although you shall not need to fear to be charged with them of me hereafter before the world , yet look for none other but to be charged with them at gods hand . my conscience and the love i bear you biddeth me now say unto you both in gods name , fear god and love not the world ; for god is able to cast both soul and body into hell fire . — — what is it else to confess or deny christ in this world , but to maintain the truth taught in gods word , or for any worldly respect to shrink from the same . he that will wittingly forsake either for fear or gain of the world any one open truth of gods word , if he be constrained he will assuredly forsake god and all his truth , rather then he will endanger himself to lose , or to leave that he loveth indeed , better then he doth god and the truth of his word . i like very well your plain speaking , telling me i must either agree or die . sir , i know i must die , whether i agree or no. but what folly were it then to make such an agreement by the which i could never escape the death which is common to all , and also incur the guilt of death and eternal damnation ? lord grant that i may utterly abhor and detest this damnable agreement so long as i live . — if you do not confess and maintain to your power and knowledge that which is grounded upon gods word , but will either for fear or gain of the world shrink and play the apostate , indeed you shall die the death . in his letter to mr. grindall , then in exile at frankford , afterward arch bishop of canterbury . — rejoyce in the lord , and as you love me and the other my reverend fathers and concaptives ( which undoubtedly are gloria christi ) lament not our state , but i beseech you to give to our heavenly father for his endless mercies and unspeakable benefits even in the midst of all our troubles given to us , most hearty thanks : for know ye , that as the weight of his cross hath encreased upon us , so he hath not , nor doth he cease to multiply his mercies to strengthen us , and i trust , yea by his grace i doubt nothing , but he will so do for christ our masters sake even to the end . — west your old companion , and sometime my chaplain alas hath relented , but the lord hath shortned his dayes ; soon after he had said mass against his conscience , he pined away , and died for sorrow . — my daily prayer is ( as god doth know ) and by gods grace shall be so long as i live in this world for you my dear brethren that are fled out of your own countrey , because you will rather forsake all worldly things then the truth of gods word , that god our eternal father , for our saviour christs sake will daily encrease in you the gracious gift of his heavenly spirit to the true setting forth of his glory and gospel , and make you to agree brotherly in the truth of the same , that there arise no root of bitterness among you that may infect that good seed which god hath sown in your hearts already , and that your life may be pure and honest , according to the rule of gods word , that others may be in love with your doctrine and with you , and glorifie our father which is in heaven . — now we expect nothing but the triumphant crowns in the lord of our confession from our old enemy . i commend my self humbly and heartily to your prayers , dr. grindal , and to the rest of the brethren with you , dearly beloved by me in the lord , viz. cheek , cox , turner , lever , sampson , chambers , &c. and others who love the lord in truth . i commend also to you my reverend fathers and fellow-prisoners in the lord , thomas cranmer , now most worthy the name of a true and great shepherd , yea arch bishop , and hugh latimer , that old souldier of christs , and the true apostle of our english nation . — in his letter to augustine bornher . — brother augustine , i bless god with all my heart in his manifold merciful gifts , given unto our dear brethren in christ , specially to our brother rogers , &c. and also to hooper , saunders , and tailor , whom it hath pleased the lord to set in the forefront of the battel against his adversaries , and hath endued them all ( so far as i can hear ) to stand in the confession of his truth , and to be content in his cause , and for his gospels sake to lose their lives . and evermore and without end blessed be our heavenly father , for our dear and entirely beloved brother bradford , whom now i perceive the lord calleth for ; for i ween he will no longer suffer him to abide among the adulterous and wicked generation of this world . i doubt not but he hath holpen those which are gone before in their journey , that is , hath animated and encouraged them to keep the high way , and so to run , that at length they might obtain the prize . the lord be his comfort , whereof i do not doubt ; i thank god heartily that ever i was acquainted with him , and that ever i had such an one in my house . i trust to god it shall please him of his goodness to strengthen me to make up the trinity out of paul's church to suffer for christ , &c. upon the thirtieth of september , . dr. ridley ( with father latimer ) was brought before the queens commissioners to undergo his last examination . whilst the commission was reading he stood bare , till he heard the cardinal named and the popes holiness , then he put on his cap ; and being admonished by the bishoy of lincoln , the popes delegate to pull it off , he answered , i do not put it on in contempt of your lordship , nor of the cardinal , in that he came of royal blood , &c. but that by this my behaviour i may make it appear , that i acknowledge in no point the usurped supremacy of rome ; and therefore i contemn and despite all authority coming from the pope . — as for taking off my cap , do as it shall please your lordships , and i shall be content . when lincoln in a long rhetorical speech perswaded him to recant , &c. he said ; my lord , in your exhortation i have marked especially three points , which you used to perswade me to leave my doctrine and religion , which i perfectly know and am throughly perswaded to be grounded not upon mans imaginations and decrees , but upon the infallible truth of christs gospel , and to look back and return to the romish see contrary to my oath , contrary to the prerogative and crown of this realm , and especially ( which moveth me most ) contrary to the expressed word of god. ( ) that the see of rome taking his ●eginning from peter , upon whom ( you say ) christ hath builded his church , hath in all ages lineally from bishop to bishop been brought to this time . ( ) that the holy fathers in their writings from time to time have confessed the same . ( ) that i was once of the same opinion . for the first . — christ in saying , upon this stone , doth not mean peter himself , &c. but his confession , that he was the son of god , upon this rock-stone i will build my church ; for this is the foundation and beginning of all christianity , with word , heart and mind to confess that christ is the son of god. — christs church is built not on the frailty of man , but upon the stable and infallible word of god , that christ is the son of god. — whilst the see of rome continued in the promotion and setting forth of gods glory , and due preaching of the gospel , the fathers commended and honoured rome , and so do i ; but after the bishops of that see , seeking their own pride and not gods honour , set themselves above kings , challenging to them the title of gods vicars , &c. i cannot but with s. gregory a bishop of rome confess , that the bishop of that place is the very true antichrist , whereof st. iohn speaketh by the name of the whore of babylon . — for the third , i cannot but confess i was once of the same religion you are of , yet so was st. paul a persecutour of christ. lincoln farther urging him to recant , &c. he said , am fully perswaded that christs church is found●d in every place where his gospel is truly received and effectually followed . — your gentleness is the same that christ had of the high priests . your lordship saith , you have no power to condemn me , neither at any time to put a man to death : so the high priests said , that it was not lawfull for them to put any man to death , but committed christ to pilate ; neither would suffer him to absolve christ , although he sought to do it . what ? ( said dr. weston ) do you make the king pilate ? no dr. ( said ridley ) i do but compare your deeds with caiaphas his deeds and the high priests , who would condemn no man to death , as you will not , and yet would not suffer pilate to deliver christ. being required to answer to his articles presently , though he had time given him till the morrow ; first ( said he ) i require the notaries to take and write my protestation , that in no point i acknowledge your authority , or admit you to be my judges , as you are authorized from the pope , &c. at last the bishop of lincoln with his cap in his hand desired him to turn . but dr. ridley made an absolute answer , that he was fully perswaded the religion he defended to be grounded on gods word , and therefore without great offence towards god , great peril and damage of his soul , he could not forsake his master and lord god. for my part ( said weston ) i take god to witness i am sorry for you . i believe it well my lord ( said ridley ) forasmuch as one day it will be burthenous to your soul. after sentence was read against him , the bishop of glocester came to his prison , and would have perswaded him yet to recant , upon promise of the queens mercy ; but he answered him , my lord , you know my mind fully herein , and for the doctrine which i have taught , my conscience assures me it was sound , and according to gods word ( to his glory be it spoken ) the which doctrine the lord god being my helper , i will maintain so long as my tongue shall wag , and breath is within my body , and in confirmation thereof seal the same with my blood . — do with me as it shall please god to suffer you , i am well content to abide the same with all my heart . — the servant is not above his master ; if they dealt so cruelly with our saviour christ , as the scripture maketh mention , and he suffered the same patiently , how much more doth it become us his servants . — the bishop bidding him to hold his peace , he answered , that so long as his tongue and breath would suffer him , he would speak against their abominable doings whatsoever hapned unto him for so doing . when in the degrading of him they read , we do take from you the office of preaching the gospel , &c. dr. ridley gave a great sigh , and looking up towards heaven , said , o lord god , forgive them this their wickedness . after his degradation brooks the bishop of glocester refusing to talk with him , he said , seeing that you will not suffer me to talk , neither will vouchsafe to hear me , what remedy but patience ? i refer my cause to my heavenly father , who will reform things that be amiss , when it shall please him . in his supplication to the queen . — it may please your majesty , for christ our saviours sake , in a matter of conscience ( and now not for my self but for other poor men ) to vouchsafe to hear and understand this humble supplication . it is so ( honourable princess ) that whilst i was bishop of london , divers tenants took leases of me and the cha●ter for valuable considerations , but now bishop bonner will not allow those leases , which must redound to many poor mens utter ruine . wherefore this is mine humble supplication , that either their leases may stand , or their moneys be restored to them , and their former leases ; now the fines paid to me may easily be repaid , if you will be pleased to command some portion of those goods i left in my house to be sold for that end . i suppose half of the value of my plate will go nigh to restore all such fines received . when bishop brooks delivered dr. ridley to the bailiffs , charging them not to suffer any to speak with him , and to bring him to the place of execution when they were commanded , he said , god i thank thee , and to thy praise be it spoken , there is none of you all able to lay to my charge any open or notorious crime ; for if you could it should surely be laid in my lap . i see very well you play the part of a proud pharisee ( said brooks ) exalting and praising your self . no , no , no ( said ridley ) to gods glory onely is it spoken . i confess my self to be a miserable wretched sinner , and have great need of gods help and mercy , and do daily call and cry for the same . the night before he suffered his beard was washed and his legs , and as he sate at supper with mr. mr. irish and mrs. irish , he invited them to his marriage ; to morrow ( said he ) i must be married , and was as merry as ever in all his life . wishing his sister , he asked his brother sitting at the table , whether she could find in her heart to be there o● no ; yea i dare say ( said his brother ) with all her heart . i am glad to hear so much of her ( said dr. ridley ) at this talk mrs. irish wept ; whereupon dr. ridley said , o mrs. irish , you love me not now i see-well enough , for in that you weep it doth appear you will not be at my marriage , neither are content therewith : indeed you be not so much my friend as i thought you had been ; but quiet your self , though my breakfast shall be somewhat sharp and painfull , yet i am sure my supper shall be more pleasant and sweet . when he arose from the table , his brother offered him to watch all night with him ; but he said , no , no , no , that you shall not , for i mind ( god willing ) to go to bed , and sleep as quietly to night ●s ever i did in my life . when he espied mr. latimer at the stake , he ran to him , embraced and kissed him , and said , be of good heart brother , for god will either asswage the fury of the flame , or else strengthen us to abide it . after dr. smith had preached on cor. . if i give my body to be burned , &c. dr. ridley kneeled down on his knees towards the lord williams , &c. ●nd said , i beseech you my lord , even for christs like , that i may speak but two or three words . whereupon the bayliffs , and dr. marshal vice-chancellor of oxford ran hastily to him , and with their hands stopped his mouth , and said , mr. ridley , if you will recant , you shall not onely have liberty to speak , but your life . not otherwise ( said ridley ) no ( said marshal ) well ( said dr. ridley ) so long is the breath is in my body i will never deny my lord christ and his known truth . gods will be done in me . — i commit our cause to almighty god , who shall indifferently judge all . being in his shirt , he said , o heavenly father , i give unto thee most hearty thanks , for that thou ●ast called me to be a professour of thee even unto death . i beseech thee , lord god , take mercy upon this realm of england , and deliver the same from all her enemies . to the smith he said , good fellow knock in the chain hard ; for the flesh will have his course . when his brother brought him gun-powder , he said , i will take it to be sent of god ; therefore i will receive it as sent of him . to my lord williams he said , my lord , i must be a suitor to you for divers poor men , and my sister , &c. there is nothing in all this world troubleth my conscience ( i praise god ) this onely excepted . when he saw the fire flaming towards him , he said , into thy hands o lord i commend my spirit . lord receive my soul , lord have mercy upon me . in his letter to all his true friends . — i warn you all that ye be not amazed or astonied at the kind of my departure and dissolution ; for i assure you , i think it the most honour that ever i was called to in all my life , and therefore i thank my lord god heartily for it , &c. for know ye , that i doubt no more , but that the causes wherefore i am put to death , are gods causes , and the causes of the truth , then i doubt that the gospel which iohn wrote is the gospel of christ , or that paul's epistles are the very word of god. and to have an heart willing to abide and stand in gods cause , and in christs quarrel even unto death . i assure thee ( o man ) it is an inestimable gift of god , given onely to the true elect , and dearly beloved children of god , and inheritors of the kingdome of heaven : for the holy apostle , and also martyr in christs cause st. peter , pet. . saith , if ye suffer rebuke in the name of christ , i. e. in christs cause , and for his truths sake , then are ye happy and blessed , for the glory of the spirit of god resteth upon you ; and if for rebukes suffered in the name of christ , a man is pronounced blessed and happy , how much more blessed and happy is he that hath the grace to suffer death also ? wherefore all ye that be my true lovers and friends rejoyce and rejoyce with me again , and render with me hearty thanks to god our heavenly father , that for his sons sake my saviour and redeemer christ , he hath vouchsafed to call me , being so vile and sinfull a wretch in my self , unto the high dignity of his true prophets , of his faithfull apostles , and of his holy elect and chosen martyrs to die in defence and maintenance of his eternal and everlasting truth . — if ye love me indeed , you have cause to rejoyce , for that it hath pleased god to call me to a greater honour and dignity then ever i did enjoy before , either in rochester or london , or should have had in durham , whereunto i was last of all elected ; yea i count it greater honour before god indeed to die in his cause , then is any earthly or temporal promotion or honour that can be given to a man in this world . and who is he that knoweth the cause to be gods , to be christs quarrel , and of his gospel , to be the commonweal of all the elect and chosen children of god , of all the inheritors of the kingdome of heaven ? who is he ( i say ) that knoweth this assuredly by gods own word , and the testimony of his conscience ( as i through the infinite goodness of god , not of my self , but by his grace acknowledge my self to do ) and doth in deed and in truth love and fear god , love and believe his master christ , and his blessed gospel , and the brotherhood , the chosen children of god , and also lusteth and longeth for eternal life ? who is he ( i say again ) that would not , that cannot find in his heart in this cause to be content to die ? — farewell pembrohe hall in c. of late mine own colledge , my cure and my charge what cafe thou art in now god knoweth , i know not well . — wo is me for thee mine own dear colledge , if ever thou suffer thy self by any means to be brought from setting forth gods true word . in thy orchard i learned without book all pauls epistles , yea and i ween all the canonical epistles , save only the apocalyps . of which study , although in time a great part did depart from me , yet the sweet smell thereof i trust i shall carry with me into heaven . the lord grant that this zeal and love to that part of gods word , which is a key to all the scripture , may ever abide in that colledge so long as the world shall endure . — o thou now wicked and bloody see of london , &c. hearken thou whorish bawd of babylon , thou wicked limb of antichrist , thou bloody wolf , why slayest thou and makest havock of the prophets of god ? why murthereft thou so cruelly christs poor silly sheep , which will not hear thy voice , because thou art a stranger , and will follow none other but their own pastor christ his voice ? thinkest thou to escape , or that the lord will not require the blood of his saints at thy hands ? — instead of my farewell to thee now , i say fie upon thee , fie upon thee , silthy drab , and all thy false prophets . — to you my lords of the temporality will i speak , &c. know ye that i had before mine eyes onely the fear of god and christian charity toward you that moved me to write , for of you hereafter i look not in this world either for pleasure or displeasure ; if my talk shall do you never so much pleasure or profit , you cannot promote me , nor if i displease you can you harm me , for i shall be out of your reach . — i say unto you as st. paul saith unto the galatians , i wonder my lords what hath bewitched you , that ye so suddenly are fallen from christ unto antichrist , from christs gospel unto mans traditions , from the lord that bought you unto the bishop of rome . i warn you of your perill ; be not deceived , except you will be found willingly consenters to your own death . — understand my lords , it was neither for the priviledge of the place or person thereof , that the see and bishop of rome were called apostolick , but for the true trade of christs religion which was taught and maintained in that see at the first of those godly men ; and therefore as truly and justly as that see then for that true trade of religion and consanguinity of doctrine with the religion and doctrine of christs apostle was called apostolick , so as truly and as justly for the contrariety of religion , and diversity of doctrine from christ and his apostles that see and the bishop thereof at this day both ought to be called and are indeed antichristian . the see is the seat of satan , and the bishop of the same that maintaineth the abominations thereof is antichrist himself indeed . — as for your displeasure by that time this shall come to your knowledge , i trust by gods grace to be in the hands and protection of the almighty , my heavenly father , the living lord , the greatest of all , and then i shall not need ( i trow ) to fear what any lord , no nor what king or prince can do unto me . — much cause have you to hear me patiently , seeing i am appointed to die , and look daily when i shall be called to come before the eternal judge , and therefore you cannot think , but that i onely study to serve my lord god , and to say that thing which i am perswaded assuredly by gods word shall and doth please him , and profit all to whom god shall give grace to hear and believe what i do say . — if the popes supremacy be necessary to salvation to be owned , how chanced it that ye were all ( my lords ) so light as for your princes pleasures , h. . and e. . which were but mortal men , to forsake the unity of your catholick faith , i. e. to forsake christ and his gospel ? how chanced it also that ye and the whole parliament did not onely abolish and expell the bishop of rome , but also did abjure him in your own persons , and did decree in your acts great oaths to be taken for that purpose ? on the other side , if the law and decree which maketh the supremacy of the see and bishop of rome over the universal church of christ be a thing of necessity required unto salvation by an antichristian law ( as it is indeed ) then ( my lords ) never think other , but the day shall come when ye shall be charged with this your undoing that which once ye had well done , and with this your perjury and breach of your oath , which oath was done in judgement , justice , and truth , agreeable to gods law. the whore of babylon may for a time dally with you , and make you so drunken with the wine of her filthy stews and whoredomes ( as with her dispensations and promises of pardon a poena & culpa ) that you may think your selves safe ; but be ye assured , when the living lord shall try the matter by fire , and judge it according to his word , unless ye repent , without all doubt ye shall never escape the hands of the living god for the guilt of your perjury and breach of your oath ; then shall ye drink of the cup of the lords indignation and everlasting wrath , which is prepared for the beast , his false prophets , and all their partakers . for he that is partner with them in their whoredomes and abominations , must also be partner with them in their plagues , and be thrown with them into the lake burning with brimstone and unquenchable fire . — in his letter to the prisoners , &c. and exiles . — for the fervent love that the apostles had unto their master christ , and for the great commodities and increase of all godliness , which they felt by their faith to ensue of afflictions in christs cause . and thirdly , for the heaps of heavenly joyes which the same do get unto the godly , which shall endure in heaven for evermore , for these causes they rejoyced that they were accounted worthy to suffer contumelies and rebukes for christs name . and paul was so much in love in that which the carnal man loatheth so much , i. e. with christs cross , that he judged himself to know nothing else but christ crucified , he gloried in nothing else but christs cross. — why should we christians fear death ? can death deprive us of christ , who is all our comfort , our joy , and our life ? nay forsooth ; but on the contrary death shall deliver us from this mortal body , which loadeth and beareth down the spirit , that it cannot so well perceive heavenly things , in the which so long as we dwell , we are absent from the lord. — and who that hath a right knowledge of christ our saviour , that he is the eternal son of god , life , light , the wisdome of the father , all goodness , all righteousness , and whatsoever heart can desire , yea infinite plenty of all these , above that that mans heart can conceive or imagine ( for in him dwelleth the fulness of the godhead bodily ) and also that he is given us of the father , and made of god to be our wisdome , our righteousness , our holiness , and our redemption ; who ( i say ) is that believeth this indeed that would not gladly be with his master christ ? — to die in the defence of christs gospel is our bounden duty to christ , and also to our neighbour ; to christ , for he died for us , and rose that he might be lord of all ; and seeing he died for us , we also saith st. iohn , ioh. . should jeopard , yea give our life for the brethren . — farewell ( dear brethren ) farewell , and let us comfort our hearts in all troubles and in death with the word of god , for heaven and earth shall perish , but the word of the lord endureth for ever . in his lamentation for the change of religion in england . — of late in every congregation throughout all england was made prayer and petition unto god to be delivered from the tyranny of the bishop of rome , and all his detestable enormities , from all false doctrine and heresie , and now alas ! satan hath perswaded england by his fal●hood and craft to revoke her old godly prayer , &c. — this is one maxime and principle in christs law , he that denieth christ before men , him shall christ deny before his father and all his holy angels in heaven . — now then seeing the doctrine of antichrist is returned again into this realm , and the higher powers alas ! are so deceived and bewitched , that they are perswaded it to be truth , and christs true doctrine to be errour and heresie , and the old laws of anticrist are allowed to return with the power of their father again . what can be hereafter looked for of christians abiding in this realm , but extreme violence of death , or else to deny their master ? — therefore prepare and arm thy self to die , for both by antichrists accustomable laws , and scripture prophesies , there is no likelyhood of any other thing , except thou wilt deny thy master christ , which is the loss at the last of body and soul unto everlasting death . — my counsel to such as are yet at liberty , is to flie from the plague and get them hence . i consider not onely the subtilties of satan , and how he is like to deceive ( it it were possible ) even the chosen of god , and also the great frailty , which is oftentimes more in a man , then he doth know in himself , and which in the time of temptation will utter it self ; but also the examples of christ , paul , elias , &c. and christ saith , when they persecute you in one city flie unto another . — truly before god i think that the abomination that daniel prophesied of so long before , is now set up in the holy place ; the doctrine of antichrist , his laws , rites , and religion contrary to christ , and to the true serving and worshipping of god i understand to be that abominition ; therefore now is the time in england for those words of christ , then ( saith christ ) they that be in jewry let them flie into the mountains , then ( saith he ) mark this then ; for truly i am perswaded , and i trust by the spirit of god that this then is commanded . by those in iewry i understand such who truly confess one living god , and the whole truth of his word after the doctrine of christs gospel ; these are bid in the time of antichrists reign to flie into the mountains , i. e. places of safeguard . the wo that followeth signifieth , that such are then in extreme danger who are letted by any means whatsoever , so that they be no wayes able to flie from the plague ; and christs bidding to pray that our flight be not in winter , nor on the sabbath day , bids us to pray that we may flie in time , and far enough from the danger of the plague . — rev. . the angel cries mightily with a loud voice , fli● my people out of babylon , lest you be infected with her faults , and so be made partakers of her plagues ; for her offences and sins are grown so great , that they come to heaven : certainly the time doth approach , and the lords day is at hand . paul also that blessed apostle forbids us , cor. . to joyn our selves with the unfaithfull , &c. this counsel to depart the realm some good persons may think good ; others may think it may indeed by gods word be lawfully done , but not to be counselled to be done ; for they will peradventure say , we should counsel a man alwayes to do that which is best of all , and of most perfection ; but boldly in christs cause to spend a mans life is best of all , and of most perfection , and to flee may smell of cowardliness : whereas in many things that which is best for one , at sometimes is not best for all at all times ; and it is not meet for a child to covet to run before he can go . — but every true christian , either brother or sister , after they be be called and brought into the wrestling-place to strive in christs cause for the best game , i. e. to confess the truth of the gospel in hope of everlasting life , should not shrink , nor relent one inch , nor give back , whatsoever shall befall , but to stand to their tackle , and stick by it even unto death , as they will christ shall stick by them at the later day . — some may think they may stay and escape the danger notwithstanding , by keeping their faith and religion close to themselves , inwardly worshipping god in spirit and truth , and outwardly not transgressing common order . whereas gods word requireth not onely the belief of the heart , but the confession of the mouth , forbids not onely the thing that is evil , but to abstain from all appearance of evil , and both consenters and doers are accounted guilty by gods word , and we may not do evil that good may come thereof . thy heart thou sayest god shall have , and yet will suffer thy body to do the thing that god abhors : take heed , o man , what thou sayest , thou canst not deceive the heart-searcher . to give god thy heart is to give him thy whole heart , to love him , to dread him , and to trust in him above all other things , and he loveth god that keeps his commands ; and to dread god above all other is rather willingly to incur the danger and perill of all fearfull things , then wittingly to do what god forbids , and to trust in him above all things is assuredly to trust to his promise of his reward and of his tuition , and of his goodness and mercy , and to prefer that above all things in the world , seem they never so strong , so wise , or so good . now how canst thou say truly , that god hath thus thy heart , when thy deeds do declare far another thing ? thy body , o man , is gods , and all the parts thereof , even as thy soul is ; he made them both , and christ with his blood redemed them both , and is lord of both ; for he hath bought them both dearly , and darest thou suffer any part of either of them to do service to satan ? surely in so doing thou committest sacriledge , and dost rob god. — what is it to bear the mark of the beast in the forehead , and in the hand , that st. iohn speaketh of ? i suppose he bears the mark of the beast in his forehead , which is not ashamed of the beasts wayes , but will profess them openly ; and he beareth his mark in the hand that doth the works , though he may be ashamed to own them . — it may be objected , o sir it is no small matter you speak of , to depart from a mans own native countrey into a strange realm . some have lands and possessions , which they cannot carry with them : some have father , mother , wife , children , and kinsfolk , from whom to depart is as hard a thing , and almost all one as to suffer death , &c. i grant here thou mayest heap a number of worldly in commodities , which are very like to ensue the departure out of a mans own countrey : but what of all these and a thousand more of the like sort ? i will set against them all one saying of christ , which to the true christian is able to countervail all these , yea to weigh them down , viz. if any man do come to me , and do not hate father and mother ( he means , and will not in his cause forsake his father and mother ) &c. he cannot be my disciple . — it may further be objected ; alas ! sir , i am an impotent man , an aged man , a sick man , a lame man , or i have so many small infants & a wife which live by my labour , if i leave them they will starve , and i am not able to carry them with me , such is my state , what shall i do ? o lamentable state ! o sorrowfull heart that can neither depart , nor without extreme perill is able to tarry still ! of the state of such as are not able to flie the infection of the pestiferous plague of antichrists abominations christ lamenting , not cursing , saith , wo be to the great bellied and travelling women , &c. for these my heart mourneth the more , the less i am able to give any comfortable counsel , but this , that alwayes as they look for everlasting life , they abide still in the confession of his truth , whatsoever shall befall , and for the rest to put their trust wholly in god , who is able to save them against all appearance . and commonly in extremities , when all worldly comfort faileth , and the danger is at highest , then unto his he is wont after his accustomed mercy , to be most ready to put his helping hand ; instance in daniel , the three children , paul pluckt out of the mouth of the lion , in the mount god raised up most of the judges for the delivering of his people . — as to such instances it may be objected these were special miracles of god which now are ceased ; and to require them at gods hands were it not to tempt god ? i grant such were great wonderfull works of god , &c. but gods hand is as strong as ever it was , and he is as good and as gracious as ever he was , but in such as are put to death for his sake he doth more , when in anguish of the torments he standeth by them , and strengthneth them in their saith to suffer in confession of the truth the bitter pangs of death , &c. — to die in christs cause is an high honour , to the which no man should aspire , but to whom god vouchsafeth that priviledge ; for no man is allowed to presume to take to himself any office of honour , but he which is thereunto called of god. iohn saith well , speaking of them which have obtained the victory by the blood of the lamb , and by the word of his testimony , that they loved not their lives even unto death . and our saviour christ saith , he that shall lose his life for my cause shall find it . this manner of speech pertaineth not to one kind of christians ( as the worldly do wickedly dream ) but to all , that truly pertain to christ ; for when christ had called unto him the multitude together with his disciples , he said unto them ( mark , he said not this unto his disciples or apostles only , but unto all ) whosoever will follow me , let him forsake or deny himself , &c. for whosoever will to save his life , forsake me and my truth , shall lose it , and whosoever shall lose , &c. whosoever shall ●e ashamed of me and my words , i. e. to confess me and my gospel before this adulterous generation , of him shall the son of man be ashamed , &c. know thou , o man of god , that all things are ordained for the furtherance of thee towards thy salvation . all things ( saith paul ) work with the good to goodness , &c. it is not as the wicked think , that poverty , adversity , sickness , tribulation , yea painfull death of the godly be tokens that god doth not love them , but even the clean contrary . — now ( thou , o man of god ) for the lords sake , let us not for the love of this life , tarry here too long , and be occasion of delay of that glorious consummation of all christs sufferers , in hope and expectation whereof the former martyrs have departed in the lord , and the which also the living indued with gods spirit , ought so earnestly to desire , &c. crying out , come lord iesus , come . then shall our weak body be transfigured and made like to christs glorious body , and then shall we see , and have the unspeakable joy and fruition of the glorious majesty of our lord , even as he is . who , or what then shall let us to jeopard ? yea to spend this life , which we have here , in christs cause ? in our lord god his cause ? o therefore thou man of god , that art loaden , and so letted , like unto a great bellied woman , that thou canst not flie the plague , yet if thou lust after such things , as i have spoken of , stand fast whatsoever shall befall thee in thy masters cause , and take this thy letting to flie for a call from god to fight in thy master christs cause . of this be thou certain , they can do nothing unto thee , which thy father is not aware of , or hath not foreseen before : they can do no more then it shall please him to suffer them to do for the furtherance of his glory , edifying of his church , and thine own salvation . — o be not afraid , and remember the end . what i have spoken for the comfort of the big-bellied woman , i mean to be spoken likewise to the captive and prisoner in gods cause ; for such i count to be as it were already summoned and pressed to fight under the banner of the cross of christ , and as it were souldiers allowed and taken up for the lords wars , to do their lord and master good and honourable service , and to stick to him even unto death , &c. to conclude , i say unto all that love christ jesus our redeemer and saviour , that love to follow the wayes of the holy ghost , who is our comforter and sanctifier , that love christs spouse and body , &c. yea , that love life and their souls health . hearken my dear brethren and sisters , &c. to the word of our saviour jesus christ , spoken to his apostles , and meant to all his in st. matthew's gospel , fear not them which kill the body , for they cannot kill the soul ; but fear him , &c. — the lord grant us of his heavenly grace and strength , that here we may so confess him in this world amongst this adulterous generation , that he may confess us again at the last day before his father , &c. — in his reasons why images should not be placed and erected in churches . — first the words of the command , exod. . repeated more plainly , deut. . where observe those words , thou shalt not make to thy self , mean , to any use of religion : and those , and setteth it in a secret place , imply , that no man durst then commit idolatry openly . — the reason why god gave this general prohibition is , lest thou being deceived , shouldst bow down to them , and worship them . this general law is generally to be observed , though some be not hurt by them . moses was not deceived or seduced by iethro's daughter , nor boaz by ruth , a woman of moab ; yet the general law was to be observed , thou shalt not joyn thy children in marriage with strangers , least she seduce thy son , &c. — if by vertue of the second commandment images were not lawfull in the temple of the jews , then by the second command they are unlawfull in the churches of christians ; but , &c. in the tabernacle and temple of god no images were appointed openly to beset , nor by practice afterwards used or permitted , so long as religion was purely observed ; therefore , &c. for the second command is moral and not ceremonial , &c. the jews by no means would consent to herod , pilate , or pe●ronius , that images should be placed in the temple at jerusalem , but rather offered themselves unto death , then to consent unto it . besides that iosephus commends them for observing the meaning of the law : sure they would not have endangered themselves so far , if they had thought images had been indifferent in the temple of god. — ath●nasius tells us , the invention of images came of no good , but of evil , and whatsoever hath an evil beginning , can never in any thing be judged good , seeing it is wholly naught . — t●rtullian expounding those words , little children , beware of images , saith , that the meaning is , as if he had said , little children , keep your selves from the shape it self or form of them . images in the church either serve to edify , or to destroy . if they edify , then there is one kind of edification , which the scriptures neither teach nor command , but alwayes disallow : if they destroy , they are not to be in the church . the command of god is , thou shalt not lay a stumbling-block before the blind , and cursed is he that maketh the blind wander in his way . images are snares and traps for the feet of the ignorant . — images do not stir up the mind to devotion , but distract the mind from prayer , hearing of gods word , &c. hence in the council-chamber of the lacedemonians no picture was suffered , least in consultation of the weighty matters of the commonwealth , their minds by the sight of the outward image might be withdrawn or wander from the matter . — to allow a most certain peril for an uncertain profit , and the greatest danger for the smallest benefit , in matters of faith and religion , is a tempting of god , and a grievous offence . — in the primitive church there were no images in places of assembly for religion ; this the heathens objected to the christians for a crime , as origen and arnobius testifie , &c. — lactantius saith , it is not to be doubted that there is no religion , wheresoever is any image . — not onely by varro's judgement , but also by st. augustine's approbation of varro , the most pure and chast observation of religion , and nearest the truth , is to be without images . — by the judgement of this ancient father ( epiphanius ) to permit images in churches is against the authority of scripture , meaning , against the second commandment , &c. besides epiphanius doth reject not onely graven and molten , but painted images . again , he spared not the image of christ : yea , he did not onely remove it , but with a vehemency of zeal cut in pieces : and he is carefull that no such kind of painted images be permitted in the church . — it is manifest to them that read histories , that not onely emperours , but also divers and sundry councils in the east church have condemned and abolished images both by decrees and examples . — but this notwithstanding experience hath declared , that neither councils , nor writings , preachings , decrees , making of laws , prescribing of punishments , have holpen against images , to which idolatry hath been committed , nor against idolatry , whilst images stood . — in his letter to his dear brother , and reverend fellow-elder in christ iohn hooper . — my dearly beloved brother , &c. whom i reverence in the lord , &c. forasmuch as i understand by your works , that we throughly agree and wholly consent together in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our religion , against which the world so furiously rageth in our dayes , howsoever in time past by certain by-matters and circumstances of religion , your wisdome and my simplicity ( i grant ) hath a little jarred , each of us following the abundance of his own sense and judgement . now ( i say ) be you assured , that even with my whole heart , god is my witness , in the bowels of christ , i love you in the truth , and for the truths sake , which abideth in us ; and , as i am perswaded , shall by the grace of god abide in us for evermore . because the world , as i perceive , brother , busily conspireth against christ our saviour , with all possible force and power , let us joyn hands together in christ ; and if we cannot overthrow , yet to our power , and as much as in us lies , let us shake those high altitudes , not with carnal but with spiritual weapons . let us also prepare our selves for death , by which after our short afflictions here , by the grace of our lord jesus christ , we shall triumph together with him in eternal glory . i pray you brother salute in my name your reverend fellow-prisoner and venerable father dr. cranmer , by whom , since the first day that i heard of his most godly and fatherly constancy , in confessing the truth of the gospel , i have conceived great consolation and joy in the lord. — it will also be to me great joy to hear of your constancy and fortitude in the lords quarrel . i am earnestly moved to counsel you , not to hasten the publishing of your works , especially under your own name , least your mouth should be stopped hereafter , and all things taken away from the rest of the prisoners , whereby otherwise if it so please god , may be able to do good to many . farewell in the lord , my most dear brother . — once again and for ever in christ , my most dear brother farewell . rieux . dionysius de rieux was one of them who was first burned at melda , or meaux in france , an. . for saying , that the mass is a plain denial of the death and passion of christ. he was alwayes wont to have in his mouth the words of christ , he that denieth me before men , him also will i deny before my father . rogers . mr. iohn rogers preaching at paul's cross even after queen mary was come to the tower of london , confirmed the truth of that doctrine which he and others had there taught in king edward's dayes , exhorting the people constantly to remain in the same , and to beware of all pestilent popery , idolatry and superstition . for that sermon he was called in question . in his examination and answer ian. . . — i never granted king henry the eighth to have any supremacy in spiritual things , as are the forgiveness of sins , giving of the holy ghost , authority to be a judge above the word of god. — the chancellor asserting , that the parliament that abolished the popes supremacy was with most great cruelty constrained thereunto . he answered , with cruelty ? why then i perceive that you take a wrong way with cruelty to perswade mens consciences ; for it should appear by your doings now , that the cruelty then used hath not perswaded your consciences . how would you then have your consciences perswaded with cruelty ? — sir richard southwell telling him , that he would not burn in this year , when it cometh to the purpose : he answered , sir , i cannot tell , but i trust to my lord god , yes ; lifting up his eyes to heaven . — i desire the hearty and unfeigned help of the prayers of all christs true members , the true imps of the true unfeigned catholick church , that the lord god of all consolation will now be my comfort , aid , strength , buckler and shield , as also of all my brethren that are in the same case and distress , that i and they all may despise all manner of threats and cruelty , and even the bitter burning fire , and the dreadfull dart of death , and stick like true souldiers to our dear and loving captain christ , our onely saviour and redeemer , and the onely true head of the church , that doth all in us all , which is the property of an head , and that we do not traiterously run out of his tents , or rather out of the plain field from him , in the greatest jeopardy of the battel , but that we may persevere in the fight ( if he will not otherwise deliver us ) till we be most cruelly slain of his enemies : for this i most heartily , and at this present with tears most instantly and earnestly desire and bes●ech you all to pray . in his second examination and answer ian. , . . — should ( said the chancellor ) when the parliament hath concluded a thing , any private person have authority to discuss , whether they had done right or wrong ? no , that may not be . i answered shortly , that all the laws of men might not , neither could rule the word of god , but that they all must be discussed and judged thereby , and obey thereto : and neither my conscience , nor any christians could be satisfied with such laws , as disagreed from that word . — mr. hooper and mr. cardmaker were examined before me . the lord grant us grace to stand together , fighting lawfully in his cause , till we be smitten down together , if the lords will be so to permit it ; for there shall not an hair of our heads perish against his will , but with his will ; whereunto the same lord grant us to be obedient unto the end and in the end . amen . sweet , mighty and mercifull lord jesus , the son of david , and of god. amen , amen , let every true christian say and pray . — i told the chancellor , that i would not be out of the catholick church , but into his church by gods grace , i would never come . well ( said he ) then is our church false and antichristian ? yes said i. — when i desired leave to confirm my doctrine by writing , you would not grant it , because i was a private person , and the parliament was above the authority of all private persons ; and therefore the sentence thereof might not be found fault with , &c. and yet my lord ( said i ) i can shew that one man hath come into a general council , and after the whole had agreed upon an article , hath by the word of god declared so pithily that the council had erred in declaring the said article , that he caused the whole council to alter their act. — panormitanus also ( said i ) saith , that unto a simple lay-man that bringeth the word of god with him , there ought to be given more credit , then to a whole council assembled together . — the chancellor facing me , and hoping to dash me out of couutenance , i told him , in that cause , being gods cause , he should not make me afraid to speak . — i was never the worse but the better to be earnest in a just and true cause , and in my master christs matters . — when winchester had read the condemnation , he declared that i was in the great curse , &c. well my lord ( said i ) here i stand before god and you , and all this honourable audience , and take him to witness , that i never wittingly nor willingly taught any false doctrine ; and therefore have i a good conscience before god and all good men . i am sure you and i shall come before a god that is righteous , before whom i shall be as good a man as you : and i nothing doubt but that i shall be found there a true member of the true catholick church of christ , and everlastingly saved : and as for your false church , ye need not to excommunicate me forth of it , i have not been in it these twenty years , the lord be thanked therefore . but now ye have done what ye can , my lord , i pray you yet grant me one thing , that my poor wife being a stranger , and having ten children by me , may come and speak with me as long as i live . she shall not come at thee said he . then i have tried out all your charity said i. — two things more i purposed to have touched , if i could have been permitted : the one , how it was lawfull for a private man to reason and write against a wicked act of parliament , or ungodly council , &c. the other was to prove , that prosperity was not alwayes a token of gods love . for the first — i shall adde one example more . the high priests , the elders , scribes and pharisees decreed in their council , and gave ●he same command to the apostles , that they should ●ot preach in the name of christ , as ye have also forbidden us . notwithstanding when they were charged therewithall , they answered , we ought more to obey god then man. even so we may answer you , god is more to be obeyed then man ; and your wicked laws cannot so tongue-tie us , but we will speak the truth . the apostles were beaten for their boldness , and they rejoyced that they suffered for christs cause . ye have also provided rods for ●s , and bloody whips ; yet when ye have done that which gods hand and counsel hath determined , that ye shall do , be it life or death , i trust that ●od will so assist us by his holy spirit and grace , that we shall patiently suffer it , and praise god for it . and whatsoever become of me and others , which now suffer for speaking and professing the truth , yet be ye sure that gods word will prevail and have the upper hand , when your bloody laws and wicked decrees , for want of sure foundation , shall fall in the dust . — for the second point . — it may please your lordship to understand , that we poor preachers whom you so evil intreat , did most boldly and plainly rebuke the evil government of those under king edward in many things , especially their covetousness , and neglect and small regard to live after the gospel , as also their negligence to occasion others to live thereafter . i might instance in what i once did at paul's cross , for which i was fain to answer before all the council , and many of my brethren did the like ; so that we for the not rebuking of their faults , shall not answer before god , nor be blame-worthy before men . — i am an english man born , and god knoweth do naturally wish well to my countrey . i have often proved that the things which i have much feared should come to pass , have indeed followed . i fear you have and will with your governing bring england out of gods blessing into a warm sun. i pray god i may fail of my guessing in this behalf : but truly that ( englands welfare ) will not be with expelling the true word of god out of the realm , and the shedding innocent blood . — gods works are wonderfull and incomprehensible by mans wisdome , &c. he hath put his beloved and dear heart into his enemies hands . — this to worldly wise men is a madness above all madness , and yet god doth this , — can the world shew the cause ? — this i am right sure of , that it was not because they were in heresies , and subject to false gods services , and idolatry , and their enemies men of god , and beloved of god. — the herods and pharaohs plainly determined , that if the men which they killed and handled evil had been gods people , god would never have suffered them to come into their hands , but rather have done the contrary , and have let iohn baptist kill herod , and the israelites pharaoh and nebuchadnezzar . even the like is now to be seen in us , and in our most cruel adversaries . they are not therefore the catholick church , because our mercifull god hath at this present given our lives into their hands : neither are we therefore hereticks , because we suffer punishment at their hands . — the holy men of god recorded in scripture , were in their dayes accounted to be hereticks , seditious , and d●sturbers of the whole world . — but here they will cry out , lo these men will be still like ●●hn baptists , the apostles and prophets , &c. i an●●er , we make not our selves like to them in doing ●iracles , &c. but onely in this , in doctrine , and in ●ffering persecution and infamy for the same . we ●●ve preached their very doctrine , and none other ●●ing , and for this cause we suffer the like reproach , ●ame , and rebuke of the world , and the like per●ecution , losing of our goods and lives , forsaking ( as ●●r master christ commandeth ) father , mother , ●●ster , brethren , wives , children , and all ●●at there is , being assured of a joyfull resur●●ction , and to be crowned in glory with them , ●ccording to the infallible promises made unto us in christ , our onely and sufficient mediatour , &c. — but let us consider , that if it be gods good will and pleasure to give his own beloved heart , i. e. his beloved church and the members thereof , into the hands of their enemies , ●o chasten , try , and prove them , and to bring them ●o the true unfeigned acknowledging of their own ●atural stubbornness , disobedience towards god ●nd his commands , as touching the love of god ●nd their brethren , and their natural inclination ●and readiness to love creatures , to seek their own ●usts , and pleasures , &c. to promote repentance in ●hem , and crying to god for forgiveness , and for he said of the spirit daily to mortifie those evil de●ires and lusts , &c. with many other causes . what doth he hereafter with those enemies , into whose ●ands he hath given his tenderly beloved darlings ? he destroyeth and damneth the impenitent enemies , as is evident in herod , pharaoh , &c. — and think ye that bloody butcherly bishop of w. and his most bloody brethren shall escape ? or that england shall not for their offences , and especially for the maintenance of their idolatry , and wilful following of them , not abide a great brunt ? ye undoubtedly . if god look not mercifully on england , the seeds of utter destruction are sown in i● already , &c. — spite of nebuchadnezzar's beard and maugre his heart , the captive , inthralled , and miserable jews must come home again , and have their city and temple builded up again by zerubbabel , &c. and babylon's kingdome must go to ruine , and be taken of strangers , the persians and medes . so shall the dispersed english flock be brought again into their former estate , or to a better , &c. and our bloody babylonical bishops , &c. brought to utter shame and ruine ; for god cannot , and undoubtedly will not for ever suffer their abominable lying false doctrine , their hypocrisie , blood-thirst , whoredome , idleness , their pestilent life , pampered in all kind of pleasure , their thrasonical boasting pride , their malicious , envious , and poysoned stomacks , which they bear towards his poor and miserable christians . if judgement begin at the house of god , &c. the morning that he should be burnt , he was found fast asleep , so that he could scarce with much jogging be awakened . at last being raised and waked and bid to make haste ; then ( said he ) if it be so , i need not to tie my points . so little daunted was this proto martyr , of all the blessed company that suffered in queen mary's dayes , at the tidings of death and of such a death . after he was degraded by bonner but one petition , viz. that he might talk a few words with his wife before his burning , but that would not be granted . probably he desired to speak to her , that he might reveal where he had hid the book he had writ of his examinations and answers : but mans malice could not hinder gods providence from bringing that book to his wifes hands after his death out of the blind corner in the prison , where he had hid , and where it could not be found by his enemies , though they made diligent search for his papers . when he was in prison he told the printer of mr. fox's acts and mon. who was then a prisoner also for religion , thus , thou shalt live to see the alteration if this religion , and the gospel to be freely preached again , and therefore have me commended to my brethren , as well in exile , as others , and bid them be circumspect in displacing the papists , and putting good ministers into churches , or else their end will be worse then ours . whilst he was a prisoner in newgate he had devised , that he with his fellows should have but one meal a day , they paying for two , the other meal should be given to those that lacked on the other side of the prison : but their keeper would not suffer it . the lords day before he suffered he drank to mr. hooper , being then underneath him , and said , that there never was a little fellow , that would better stick to a man , then he would stick to him : supposing they should both be burnt together . but it hapned otherwise . as he was to be brought out of newgate to smithfield , mr. woodro●fe , one of the sheriffs , came to him , and asked him if he would recant ? that which i have preached ( said mr. rogers ) i will seal with my blood . then ( said the sheriffe ) thou art an heretick . that shall be known ( said he ) at the day of judgement . well ( said w. ) i will never pray for thee . but ( said he ) i will pray for you . a little before his burning at the stake , his pardon was brought to him , if he would recant : but he utterly refused it . his wife and children being eleven in number , ten that could go , and one sucking on the breast , met him by the way as he was going towards smithfield : but this sight , grievous indeed to flesh and blood , could nothing move him . as he was burning , he washed his hands ( as it were ) in the flame . romanus . when galerius with asclepiades invaded the city of antioch , by force of armes to drive the christians to renounce their pure religion , romanus ran to the christians , at that time congregated together , and declared that the wolves were at hand , that would devour the christian flock ; but fear not ( said he ) neither let this imminent peril disturb you my brethren . hereupon old men and matrons , fathers and mothers , young men and maidens were most ready to shed their blood in the defence of their christian profession . — romanus so encouraged them , that they did not stick to offer their naked throats , wishing gloriously to die for the name of their christ. whereupon romanus was brought before the emperour , who said , what ? art thou the author of this sedition ? art thou the cause why so many shall lose their lives ? by the gods i swear thou shalt smart for it ; and first in thy flesh shalt thou suffer the pains , whereunto thou hast encouraged the hearts of thy fellows . romanus answered , thy sentence , o emperour , i joyfully embrace . i refuse not to be sacrificed for my brethren , and that by as cruel means , as thou canst invent : and whereas thy souldiers were repelled from the christian congregation , that so hapned , because it lay not in idolaters and worshippers of devils to enter into the holy house of god , and to pollute the place of true prayer . when the tormenters would not truss him up and draw out his bowels , because he was of noble parentage ; the captain commanded him to be scourged with whips with knaps of lead at the ends . instead of tears , sighs , and groans , romanus sung psalms all the time of his whipping , requiring them not to favour him for his noble birth . not the blood of my progenitors ( said he ) but christian profession maketh me noble . when the captain commanded his sides to be lanced with knives , until the bones appeared white again : sorry am i , o captain ( said he ) not that my flesh shall be thus cut and mangled ; but for thy cause am i sorrowfull , who , being corrupted with damnable errours , seducest others . he preached the second time the living god , and the lord jesus christ , his welbeloved son , and eternal life through faith in his blood ; together with the abomination of idolatry , &c. whereupon his face was buffeted , his eye-lids torn with their nails , his cheeks scotched with knives , the skin of his beard was plucked by little and little from the flesh , &c. thereupon the meek martyr said , i thank thee , o captain , that thou hast opened unto me many mouths , whereby i may preach my lord and saviour christ : look how many wounds i have , so many mouths i have lauding and praising god. when the captain blasphemingly said , thy crucified christ is but a yesterdays god ; the gods of the gentiles are of most antiquity . romanus desired the captain to hear what a child of seven years of age would say . his request being granted , tell me my babe ( said romanus ) whether thou think it reason that we worship one christ , and in christ one father , or else that we worship infinite gods ? to whom the babe answered , that certainly whatsoever it be that men affirm to be god must needs be one ; which with one is one and the same : and in as much as this one is christ , of necessity christ must be the true god ; for that there be many gods we children cannot believe . the captain hereat amazed , said , thou young villain and traitor , where and of whom learnedst thou this lesson ? of my mother ( said the child ) with whose milk i sucked in this lesson , that i must believe in christ. the captain thereupon commanded the child to be hoised up and scourged . the joyfull mother onely saw that sight with dry eyes : yea , the rebuked her sweet babe for craving a draught of cold water . she charged him to thirst after the cup , that the infants of bethlem once drank of , forgetting their mothers milk and paps . she willed him to remember little isaac , who beholding the sword wherewith , and the altar whereon he should be sacrificed , willingly proffered his tender neck to the dint of his fathers sword. then the butcherly tormentor pluckt the skin from the crown of his head , hair and all . the mother cried , suffer my child , anon thou shalt pass to him , that will adorn thy naked head with a crown of eternal glory . the child received the stripes with a smiling countenance . as they laid hands on romanus , to carry him to the place of execution , he looked back , and said , i appeal from this thy tyranny , o judge unjust , unto the righteous throne of christ , that upright judge ; not because i fear thy cruel torments and merciless handlings , but that thy judgements may be known to be cruel and bloody . when the tormentor required the child of the mother , who had taken it up in her arms , she kissing it , delivered the babe , and said , farewell my sweet child ; and as the hangman was cutting off its head , she sang , all laud and praise , with heart and voice , o lord , we yield to thee : to whom the death of all thy saints we know most dear to be . when romanus was cast into the fire , he said he should not burn . accordingly a great storm arose ( as it is reported ) and quenched the fire . then his tongue was cut out . nevertheless he spake , saying , he that speaketh christ , shall never want a tongue . think not that the voice , that uttereth christ , hath need of the tongue to be the minister . eusebius saith , that by his constancy in enduring his tongue to be pull'd out of his mouth , he really declared to all , that a divine vertue is never wanting to any , who suffer for godliness sake , which doth both mitigate their griefs , and corroborateth their hearts . this valiant souldier of christ was not at all , terrified thereat , but of his own accord put out his tongue , and willingly yielded the same to the tormentors hands . then he was clapt in prison again , and there a long while cruelly tormented , and at last in the year . strangled , and thereby according to his own desire was crowned with martyrdome . roper . george roper , a young man , at his coming to the stake , putting off his gown , fetcht a great leap . so soon as the flame was about him , he put out both his arms from his body like a roode , and so stood stedfast , not plucking his arms in at all , till the fire had consumed them , and burnt them off . rough. mr. iohn rough , a famous scotch minister in england in king edward's dayes , at the beginning of queen mary's reign fled into frizeland with his wife , where he laboured for his living in knitting of caps , hose , &c. till lacking of yarn , &c. he came over into england to provide for the maintenance of his occupation ; and at london hearing of the secret society and holy congregation of gods children there assembled , he joyned himself unto them ; and afterwards being elected their minister , continued for some time in fellowship with them , teaching and confirming them in the truth and gospel of christ. but not long after he was by a false brothers treachery taken , and clapt in newgate . when he was before bonner , he told him , that he utterly detested the service then used , and that if he should live as long as did me huselah , yet he would never come to hear the abominable mass , and other service , being as it was then . — dr. watson then bishop of lincoln , being at his examination , urged that he had done more hurt in the north parts in king edward's dayes , then an hundred besides , &c. why sir ( said mr. rough ) is this the reward i have for saving your life in those dayes ? he said , he had lived thirty years , and yet had never bowed his knee to ball. before bonner he affirmed , that he had been twice at rome , and there had seen plainly with his eyes , that the pope was the very antichrist ; for he saw more reverence given to him , then to that which they accounted their god. mr. rough having been at the burning of austoo in smithfield , and returning homeward again , met with one that as'd him , where he had been ? i have been ( said he ) where i would not for one of mine eyes but i had been . where have you been ? replied his friend . forsooth ( said he ) to learn the way . and so he told him , he had been at the burning of austoo , where shortly after he was burned himself . in his letter to some friends . — the comfort of the holy ghost make you able to give consolation to others , in these dangerous dayes , when satan is let loose , but to the trial onely of the chosen , when it pleaseth our god to sift his wheat from the chaffe . — i speak to gods glory ; my care in my great temptations was to have the senses of my soul open , to perceive the voice of god , saying , whosoever denieth me before men , him will i deny before my father and his angels : and to save the life corporal , is to lose the life eternal : and he that will not suffer with christ , shall not reign with him . therefore , most tender ones , i have by gods spirit given over the flesh , with the fight of my soul , and the spirit hath the victory . the flesh shall now ere it be long , leave off to sin : the spirit shall reign eternally . i have chosen death to confirm the truth by me taught . what can i do more ? consider with your selves , that i have done it for the confirmation of gods truth . pray that i may continue to the end . the greatest part of the assault is past , i praise my god. i have in all my assaults felt the present aid of my god , i give him most hearty thanks therefore . look not back , nor be ye ashamed of christs gospel , nor of the bonds i have suffered for the same . — it is no time for the loss of one man in the battel for the camp to turn back . up with mens hearts ; blow down the dawbed walls of heresie . let one take the banner , and the other the trumdet ; i mean , not to make corporal resistance , but pray , and ye shall have elias defence , and elizeus company to fight for you . the cause is the lords . — my heart with pangs of death is assaulted : but i am at home yet with my god alive . pray for me , &c. — from newgate prison in haste , the day of my condemnation . i. r. in his letter to the congregation two dayes before he suffered . — whosoever will live godly in christ jesus , must suffer persecution ; for it is given unto them not onely to believe , but to suffer : and the servant or scholar cannot be greater then his lord or master ; but by the same way the head is entred , the members must follow . — my dear soul is departing this life to my great advantage ; i make change of morality for immortality , of corruption to put on incorruption , to make my body like to the corn cast into the ground , which except it die first it can bring forth no good fruit . — happy are they that die in the lord , which is to die in the faith of christ , professing and confessing the same before many witnesses . — what a journey ( by gods power ) i have made these eight dayes , is above flesh and blood to bear : but ( as paul saith ) i may do all things through him , who worketh in me , iesus christ. my course ( brethren ) i have run , i have fought a good fight , the crown of righteousness is laid up for me , my day to receive it is not long to . pray ( brethren ) for the enemy doth yet assault . — be not ashamed of the gospel of the cross , by me preached , nor of my suffering ; for with my blood i affirm the same . i go before . i suffer first the baiting of the butchers dogs ; yet i have not done what i should have done . — what was undone , impute that to frailty and ignorance , and with your love cover that which was and is naked in me . god knoweth ye are all tender to me . my heart bursteth for the love of you . ye are not without the great pastour of your souls , who so loveth you , that if men were not to be found ( as god be praised there is no want of them ) he would cause stones to minister unto you . cast your care on that rock , the wind of temptation shall not prevail . past and pray ; for the dayes are evil . look up with your eyes of hope ; for your redemption is not far off , ( but my wickedness hath deserved that i shall not see it ) and also that which is behind of the blood of our brethren , which shall also be laid under the altar , shall cry for your relief . — the friday at night before mr. rough was taken , being in his bed he dreamed , that he saw two of the guard leading cuthbert sympson ( deacon of the said congregation ) and that he had the book about him , wherein were written the names of all them , that were of the congregation . afterwards he awaked , and having told the dream unto his wife , after some time spent in reading , he fell asleep again , and dreamed the same dream again : and awaking , told his wife his dream , and said , o brother cuthbert is gone . and whilst he was making ready for to go and see how it was with him , mr. sympson came into mr. rough's house , and brought the book with him . mr. rough having told him his dream , perswaded him to carry the book no more about with him : which he was loth to promise ; because ( said he ) dreams are but fancies , and not to be credited . then mr. rough straitly charged him in the name of the lord to do it . whereupon mr. sympson left the book with mrs. rough. and so the congregation was preserved . the next night mr. rough dreamed , that he himself was forcibly carried to the bishop , and that the bishop pluckt off his beard , and cast it into the fire , saying these words , now i may say , i have had a piece of an heretick burned in my house . and so accordingly it came to pass . rose . mr. thomas rose born at exmouth in devon , when he was first taken , was sorely stocked in prison . the stocks were very high and great ; so that day and night he did lie with his back on the ground , upon a little straw , with his heels so high , that by means the blood was fallen from his feet , his feet were without sense for a long time . — his mother might not be suffered to see him . — afterwards cranmer set him at liberty . — when he was brought before gardiner , being taken at bow in london with five and thirty more , winchester told him , that he would know who were his maintainers , or else he would make him a foot longer . my lord ( said he ) you shall do as much as pleaseth god , and no more , yet the law is in your hand ; but i have god for my maintainer , and none other . at his second examination the chancellour ask'd him , what he said to the real presence in the sacrament ? i wist right well ( said he ) you are made an instrument to seek innocent blood : well , you may have it , if god permit , it is present , and at hand ; for i came not hither to lie , but to die ( if god see it good ) in defence of that which i have said : wherefore you may begin when you think good , &c. — at his third examination the bishop saying , ah sirrah , you will admit nothing but scripture , i see well : no truly my lord ( said he ) i admit nothing but scripture for the regiment of the soul ; for faith cometh by hearing , and hearing by the word of god ; and where the word of god is not , there ought no belief to be given ; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin . — roth. richard roth in his letter to certain brethren and sisters condemned at colchester , and ready to be burned for the testimony of the truth . — o dear brethren and sisters , how much have you to rejoyce in god , that he hath given you such faith to overcome this blood-thirsty tyrant thus far ? and no doubt but he that hath begun that good work in you , will fulfill it to the end . o dear hearts in christ , what a crown of glory shall ye receive with christ in the kingdome of god ? oh that it had been the good will of god , that i had been ready to have gone with you . i lie in my lords little-ease in the day , and in the night in the cole-house alone , and we look every day when we shall be condemned ; but i lie still at the pools brink , and every man goeth in before me ; but we abide patiently the lords leisure , with many bands , in fetters and stocks , by the which we have received great joy in the lord. and now fare you well dear brethren and sisters in this world , but i trust to see you in the heavens face to face . — how blessed are you in the lord , that god hath found you worthy to suffer for his sake . — o be joyfull even unto death . fear it not , saith christ , for i have overcome death . — be strong , let your hearts be of good comfort , and wait you still for the lord. he is at hand . the angel of the lord pitcheth his tent round about them that fear him , and delivereth them which way he seeth best ; for our lives are in the lords hands , and they can do nothing unto us , before god suffer them : therefore give all thanks to god. o dear hearts , you shall be clothed with long white garments upon the mount sion , with the multitude of saints , and with jesus christ our saviour , who will never forsake us . o blessed virgins , you have played the wise virgins part , in that you have taken oyl in your vessels , that ye may go in with the bridegroom , when he cometh , &c. but as for the foolish , they shall be shut out ; because they made not themselves ready to suffer with christ , neither go out to take up his cross. o dear hearts , how precious shall your death be in the sight of the lord ? for dear is the death of his saints . o fare you well , and pray . the grace of our lord jesus christ be with you all . amen , amen . pray , pray , pray . by me r. r. written with mine own blood . the bishop asking him what he thought of his fellow-prisoner ralf allerton ; he answered , that he thought him to be one of the elect children of god ; and if he were put to death for his faith and religion , he thought he should die a true martyr . the bishop asking him how he did like the order and rites of the church , then used here in england ; he said , that he ever had , and then did abhor the same with all his heart . being perswaded to recant , and ask mercy of the bishop : no ( said he ) i will not ask mercy of him , that cannot give it . rought . a suffolk man ( so called ) and his wife and several others , being rebuked for going so openly , and talking so freely : their answer was , they acknowledged and believed , and therefore they must speak : and that the tribulation was by gods good will and providence , and that his judgements were right to pur●●● them with others for their sins : and that of very faithfulness and mercy god had caused them to be troubled bled : and that one hair of their heads should not perish before the time ; but all things should work unto the best to them that love god : and that christ jesus was their life and onely righteousness : and that onely by faith in him , and for his seke all good things were freely given them , also forgiveness of sins , and life everlasting . rupea . you may ( said castalia rupea ) throw my body from this steep hill , yet will my soul mount upward again . your blasphemies more offend my soul , then your torments do my body . russel . ieremy russel being apprehended in the diocess of glasgow in scotland , a. . and railed upon , answered , this is your hour and power of darkness . now sit ye as judges , and we stand wrongfully accused , and more wrongfully to be condemned ; but the day shall come , when our innocence shall appear , and that ye shall see your own blindness , to your everlasting confusion . go forward , and fulfill the measure of your iniquity . he comforted his fellow-prisoner alexander kennedy ( of whom see the second part under k. ) saying , brother fear not , more mighty is he that is in us , then he that is in the world : the pain that we shall suffer is short , and shall be light ; but our joy and consolation shall never have end : and therefore let us contend to enter in unto our master and saviour by the same strait way , which he hath taken before us : death cannot destroy us ; for it is destroyed already by him , for whose sake we suffer . rycetto . mr. anthony rycetto of vincence being condemned to be drowned , his son , about twelve years of age , comieg to visit him , besought him with tears to yield , and to save his life , that he might not be left fatherless . a true christian ( said his father ) is bound to forego goods , children , yea , and life it self , for the maintenance of gods honour and glory . a captain telling him , that francis sega was resolved to recant : what tell you me ( said he ) of sega ? i will perform my vows unto the lord my god. a priest presenting him with a wooden crucifix , exhorting him to return , and to die in the favour of god , reconciling himself to the church of rome , the holy spouse of christ : but he rejected the crucifix , and besought the priest to come out of the snare of the devil , to cleave to jesus christ , and to live , not according to the flesh , but after the spirit . if you do otherwise ( said he ) assure your selves your unbelief will bring y●u into that lake of fire , that shall never be quenched ; for though y●u confess with your mouth that you know iesus christ , yet you not onely deny him by your works , but you persecute him in his members , being bewitched by the pope , the open enemy of the son of god. as he was carrying to be drowned , because it was very cold , he called for his cloke , which they had taken from him . whereupon the wherry-man said unto him , fearest thou a little cold ? what wilt thou do , when thou art cast into the sea ? why art not thou carefull to save thy self from drowing ? dost not thou see that the poor flea skips hither and thither , to save her life ? his answer was , and i am now flying to escape eternal death . being arrived at the place where he was to suffer , the captain put a chain of iron about his middle , with a very heavy stone fastned thereto : then rycetto lifting his eyes to heaven , said , father forgive them ; for they know not what they do . and being laid on the planck , he said , lord iesus , into thy hands i commend my spirit . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e these are the last words of david , ● sam. . mat. . . acts . . act. . chr. . , . pet. . vere magnus est deus christianorum calocerius solamen miseris , &c. cor. . . longum iter per praecepta , breve & efficax per exempla , seneca . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , come and see . notes for div a -e wards life of faith in death , pag. . fox's acts and monumens , &c. vol. . pag. . fox . vol. ● . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox vol. . pag. . ward , &c. pag. . fox vol. . cont. p. . ward , pag. . ward , pag. , . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. ● . pag. . word , pag : . ward , pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . st. chrysoft . cont . gentiles . ward , pag. , fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . see the image of both churches printed . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . burroughs in mose self-de● al , pag. clarks lives , part . pag. . leiglis saints encouragements in evil times , pag. . clark , &c. pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . suppl . p. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . leigh 's saints encouragements in evil times . p. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . cons. p. . fox , vol. . p. , . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. , . pag. . pag. , . pag. , . this was his meditation in queen marie 's time . pag. , . pag. , . pag. , . pag. , . pag. , . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. , . pag. . pag. , . pag. . pag. , . pag. . see the godly meditations of mr. iohn bradford . p. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . pag. . ward , pag. . pag. . pag. . see his life and martyrdome before his works , set forth by mr. fox . tit. . acts . and . luke . dan. . dan. . mat. . cor. . gal. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . c●● . p. . ward , pag. . pag. . ward , pag. . pag. , . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . the mirrour of martyrs , pag. . fox . vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . clark 's first volume of lives , pag. . ward , pag. . fox vol pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . clarks martyrology &c. pag. . of his life . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag : . fox vol. . pag . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . , . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . clark's first volume of lives , pag. . leigh's sain●s encouragements in evil times . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . clarks first volume of lives , p. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox . vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . clarks second volume of lives . fox , vol. . p. , . fox , vol. . pag. . w●rd , pag. . ward , pag. . cl●●ks fi●st v●lum● of lives , pag. . fox v●● . . pag. . the mirrour of marty●s , pag. . fox , vol. ▪ pag. . ward , pag. . fox . vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox . vol. . pag. . she his life before his second vol. of acts and monun . fox , vol. : pag. . see the preface to vo● pisces , or the book-fish . it was found in the maw of a codfish in cambridge market , . and printed . a prep . to the cross. pag. , . pag. . pag. . see also ch . . of the prep . l. . a prepar . pag. , pag. . pag. . pag. , , . psal. . psal. . pag. , , &c. pag. , , &c. pag. , &c. a pr●p . to the cross , pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. , . see cha . . of the prep . to the cross , l. . and c. . l. . see pag. pag. . . pag. , &c. see also chap. . l. . see p. , &c. of the preparation , &c. pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . see page , &c. pag. , . see the glass to know thy self , p. , , &c. hag. . see his works , pag. , . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. , . fox , vol. . pag. . clark's first volume of lives , p. , &c. fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . cont . . clarks martyrology pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . see mr. gilby 's admonition to england and scotland to call them to repentance , printed at geneva , . pag. . pag. . deut. . isa. . pag. . deut. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . mat. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . josh. . see it at the end of the dialogue . fox , vol . cont . p. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox . vol. . pag. . john . cor. . luke . pag. . iohn . acts . iohn . chr. . luke . phil. . mat. . pag. . pag. . acts . rom. . rom. . iohn . psal. . pag. . ward , pag. . see his sermon on act. . . enlarged and printed at geneva . . pag. , &c. pag. . pag. . pag. . mat. . pag. . mat. . pag. . mat. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . psal. . pag. . isa. . pag. . pag. . pag. . clarks marty●ology pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox . vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . cont . pag. . pag. . psa. . . fox , vol. . com. pag. cor. . tim. . . deut. . . see pag. , , , . pag. . phil. . ● . rom. . . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . fox . vol. . pag . pag. . rom. . iames . pag. . pag. . tim. . cor. . luke . ephes. . pag. . tim. . fox , vol. . pag. , , &c. pag. . pag. . rom. . pag. . luke . pag. ● . psa. . mat. . psal. . mat. . heb. . mat. . isa. . luke . mat. . pag. . mat. . iohn . eph. . luke . clark's second vol. of lives , p. , &c. fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . cont . p. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . rev l. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . cont . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . the eccles. hist. of scorl . p. . fox , vol. . pag. . scot. hist. pag. . pag. . vol. . pag. . pag. . iohn . rom. . galat. . iohn . pag. . rom. . pag. . pag. . pag. . see the preface before the eccles. hist. of scotland . fox , vol. . pag . fox , vol. pag. . pag. . pag. . cor. . pag. . mark pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. ▪ pag. . prov. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . cont . pag. . fox , vol. . cont . p. . fox , vol. . cont . p. . psal. . mat. . . iohn . . fox , vol. . pag. ● . pag. . pag. . fox vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . clarks mart. of eccl. hist. pag. . fox . vol. . pag. . petrie's church hist. cent. . p. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . see his declaration of christ and his office , printed at zurick an . see his declaration of the ten holy commandments of almighty god , printed a. . pag. , . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . deut. , . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. : pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . see cabal . p. , . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . mat. . luke . iohn . pag. . pag. . pag. . col. . luke . pag. . pag. . gen. . gal. . luke . col. . pag. . pag. . mat. . mat. . cor. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol . pag. . mat. . ephes. . luke . mat. . kin. . iohn . iohn . , . luke . pag. . lev. . tim. . m●● . . pet. . phil. . rev. . matt. . pag. . revel . . pet. . ioh. ep. . luke . mal. . heb. . luke . iohn . cor. . psa. . hebr. . revel . . revel . . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . fox vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. ▪ . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . clarks first volume of lives , pag. . leigh's saints encouragements in evil times-out of luther 's pref●ce before daniel . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . mat. . pag. . pag. . luke . iam. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . ward 's living speeches , &c. pag. . notes for div a -e ps. . . psal. . , . psal. . , . notes for div a -e fox , vol. . cont . p. . clark 's first volume of lives , pag. , . v. mella patrum collect . per f. rous. pag. , . pag. . pag. . clark , pag. . rous , pag. . pag. . pag. . quid mihi neile ●ix ▪ ego novi . et diaboli ●ormenta . pag. . pag. . pag. . clark , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . cont . p. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . ward , pag. . vol. . pag. . the mirrour of the martyrs . pag. . burro●gh's on moses self denial , pag. . the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . the eccl●siastical history of scotland in folio , pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . d●u● . . ps. . . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . see his life set before the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . see this admonition at the end of the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . pag. . iohn . pag. . mark . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . exod. . , &c. pag. . exod. . pag. . pag. . pag. . luke . pag. . pag. . pag. . mat. . rev. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . ☜ pag. . ☜ pag. . pag. . ☞ pag. . isa. . see the history of t●oubles at frankford , pag. . . and the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. , . the ecclesiastical history of scotland pag. , . pag. . pag. . see this letter with the additions at the end of the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . mat. . iohn . . isa. . pag. . pag. . mat. . pag. . pag. . deut. . & . mat. . deut. . & . rev. . the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . pag. . see his appellation at the end of the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . ier. . pag. . pag. . ier. . pag. . acts . , , & . pag. . pag. . pag. . see pag. . to pag. . pag. , . deut. . deut. . & . pag. . deut. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . kings . pag. . pag. . iohn . & . acts . iohn . iohn . pag. . 〈◊〉 . exod. . pag. ● . pag. . the eccles. hist. of scotland , pag. , , . pag. . pag. . pag. . . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . iohn . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . ☞ pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . see his life before the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . see the sermon it self at the end of the said history , p. . pag. . pag. see his life before the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . ward , pag. , . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . thes. . iohn . pag. . pag. . pag. , . tim. . pet. . pag. . pag. . acts . acts . , . pag. . titus . pag. . ●ev . . pet. . ●phes . . p●g . . cor. . mat. . pag. . pag. . iohn . acts . pag. . acts . isa. . fuller's eccles h●st . cent. . l. . pog . . fox , vol. . pag. . see his eccles. hist cent. . l. . pag. . see his worthies of england pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . see none but christ. fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fuller 's ecclesiastiastical history , cent. . l. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. , . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . rom. . pag. . phil. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . matt. . hieron . tom. . in ieremiam , c. . pag. . pag. . matt. . pag. . matt. . matt. . matt. . iohn . matt. . pag. . iohn . ☜ pag. . ☞ pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . iohn . pag. . ☞ pag. . pag. . pag. . col. . tim. . rev. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . p. , . pag. . gal. . iohn . fox . vol. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . ward , pag. . see his epistle to the reader , before the first tome of his works , printed at jena , an. . see the first tome of his works , fol. . fol. . clark 's first volume of lives , pag. . see his works , tom : . fol. . see his works , tom. . fol. . oper. tom. . fol. . fol. . see his works , vol. . fol. . see his works , tom. . fol. . fol. , . fol. . ☞ fol. . fol. . fol. fol. . fol. . fol. . thes. . gal. . fol. . act● ● see his works , tom . fol. . fol. . fol. . fol. . mr. cla●k saith he concludes , that he returned to wittenberg under stronger protection then the elector could give him ; for ( saith he ) god alone can order and prom●te the truth without any mans helping hand ; therefore in this cause , he that most strongly trusts to gods assistance , he most surely defends himself and others . see his relation of luther 's life , p. . fol. . fol. . fol. . fol. . clarks first volume of lives , pag. . fol. . clarks first volume of lives , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . clark , ● pag. . pag. . pag. , . pag. . pag. . thee o christ have i taught , thee have i trusted , thee have i loved , into thy hands i commend my spirit , ward , pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . acts and mon. vol. . pag. . see m. clark in the life of myconius , pag. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fuller 's englands wo●●●es in b●●kshire . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. ●● . fuller , &c. pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. ▪ cont . pag. . clark 's first vol. of lives , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . the mirrour of martyrs , pag . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . ☞ acts . acts ●● . iam. . mat. . mat. . thes. . tim. . acts . mat. . mat. . mark . thes. . tim. . cor. . pet. . pag. . mat. . hebr. . iohn . hebr. . iohn . pag. . acts . matth. . acts . phil. . . c●r . . iohn . coll. . pag. . pag. . pag. . ward , pag. . fuller 's englands worthies in huntshire . pag. . ward , pag. . clarks first volume of lives , pag. . pag. . pag. , . see luthers works , tom. . fol. . pag. . 〈◊〉 pag. ▪ pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . for martyr . v●l. . com . p. . fox . vol. . pag. . pag. . see the ecclesiastical history of scotland , praef. pag. penult . see the mirrour of martyrs , pag. . ☜ pag. . hab. . heb. . pag. . fox , vol. . cont . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . tim. . cor. . matth. . see his life in melch. ●dam . pag. . . ward , pag. . ward , pag. ▪ . fox , vol. . con● . pag. . hebr. . . matt. ● . . matt. ● . . pag. . matt. . . pag. . matt. . . matt. . ●● iob . . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . mat. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . cont . p. . mat. . . iohn . . tim. . . phil. . . mat. . , . pet. . . heb. . . cor. . . rom. . . heb. . prov. . , . acts . . phil. . . rom. . . pag. . lam. . . psal. . . pet. . , , , . fox , vol. . pag. . see his life in clarks marrow of eccles. hist. pag. . whites little bo●k for children , p. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . clark , pag. . psal. . . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . iullus & palma● slorebit . shaw 's tomb-stone , pag. . see his life in clark 's first volume of lives , pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox . vol. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . cont . pag. . ward , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . s●e mr. cl●rks first 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 , p . &c. melchior . adam . in vita ejus , pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . the history of the worthies of england , p. , . fox , vol. . pag. . ward , pag. . fox . vol. . cont . pag. . vide vitam ejus a theophilo b●●●sio descriptam in p. r comment . de relig. christ. see the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. pag. pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . luke . gal. . pag. . pag. . pag. , . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . the other two he means are the protamartyr rogers , and the exile grindal . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . rev. . mat. . mark s. rev. . pag. . mat. . pag. . pag. . deut. . cor. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . acts . pag. . ier. . iohn . acts . acts . acts . acts . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . euseb. e●c● . h●st . g● . & lat. pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . pag. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . fox , vol. . pag. . the mirrour of martyrs , pag. . the ecclesiastical history of scotland , pag. . foo , vol. . cont . pag. . naphtali, or, the wrestlings of the church of scotland for the kingdom of christ contained in a true and short deduction thereof, from the beginning of the reformation of religion, until the year : together with the last speeches and testimonies of some who have died for the truth since the year : whereunto are also subjoyned, a relation of the sufferings and death of mr. hew mckail ... stewart, james, sir, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) naphtali, or, the wrestlings of the church of scotland for the kingdom of christ contained in a true and short deduction thereof, from the beginning of the reformation of religion, until the year : together with the last speeches and testimonies of some who have died for the truth since the year : whereunto are also subjoyned, a relation of the sufferings and death of mr. hew mckail ... stewart, james, sir, - . stirling, james, - ? [ ], p. s.n.], [edinburgh : . joint authorship attributed to james steuart and james stirling. cf. bm; halkett & laing ( nd ed.). place of publication from wing. errata: p. [ ]. reproduction of original in yale university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng mackail, hugh, ?- . church of scotland -- history. christian martyrs -- scotland. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion naphtali , or the wrestlings of the church of scotland for the kingdom of christ ; contained in a true and short deduction thereof , from the beginning of the reformation of religion , until the year . together with the last speeches and testimonies of some who have died for the truth since the year . whereunto are also subjoined a relation of the sufferings and death of m r hew m c kail , and some instances of the sufferings of galloway and nithisdale . lam . : . is it nothing to you , all ye that pass by ? behold and see , if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow , which is done unto me , wherewith the lord hath afflicted me , in the day of his fierce anger . mic . : . rejoice not against me , o mine enemy : when i fall , i shall arise ; when i sit in darkness , the lord shall be a light unto me . isai . , . what shall one then answere the messengers of the nation ? that the lord hath founded zion , and the poor of the people shall trust in it . printed in the year . ad lectorem . non hîc herculeae sunt cum sudore palestrae ; nullus olympiaco in pulvere ludus iners : pro sadore cruor christi de corpore manat ; ardua pro ludo est lucta , rapina , neces . scotica bis denis luctata ecclesia lustris ; penè dedit victas , lassa labore , manus . duros passa patres dudum , velut ame novercas , vi premitur ; stygia fraude subacta gemit . constitit effraenes contra tumidasque procellas ; proque fide steterat , dum stetit ulla fides . nusquam cana fides nunc est ; jurataque coeli numina , mortales , vinc'la nec ulla ligant . credula dum nimis est , fida haec ecclesia ; vanà spe lusâ , & rupto foedere strata jacet : strata tamen non tota jacet , de pulvere surgit ; auricomum tollet mox supra astra caput . ipsa triumphalem currum crux saeva ministrat ; sanctorum sanguis fertile semen erit . ecce ! sacerdotum turmam regumque coronam pendentem infami de trabe , lector , habes . cerne oculo , heroum facies & corpora cernas ; verba audi , & videas pectora plena deo , hîc loquitur princeps , magno cum judice , vates ; et juvenes , vatum spes animosa senum . hîc generosa cohors , miles , mercator , agelli cultor , & arte rudis , spirat ab ore deum . disce immortalem hinc animam , vitamque futuram ; nulla est , pro christo , mors male grata pio . pro christi crux , est , diademate laurea ; restis , faedere pro sancto , est vitta , monile , decus . reader the lord in great mercy , having wonderfully and with an outstretched arm , notwithstanding all the opposition of sathan and earthly principalities , redeemed scotland from the power and darkness , first of gentilism , and then of antichristianism , by raising of some burning and shining lights , and other instruments fitted for that work ; whereby the light of the glorious gospel , from a very small beginning , did increase more and more , untill at length , shining with brightness and heat as the sun in his strength , it filled the land with knowledge , in so much that the name thereof became jehouah shammah , the lord is there : and having built to himself a house upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles , not only sufficiently instructed with righteous laws and judgments for doctrine and worship ; but also provided with all ordinary officers necessary in the christian church , and with a form of church-government , of his own institution , distinct from , and without any prejudice unto the civil government of the kingdom , whereby the church of scotland , for soundness of faith , purity of worship , excellency of government , freedom and power of the gospel , beautiful order and unity , was not inferior to any , if not preferable to most of the reformed churches , and therefore was deservedly famous and esteemed amongst them : having also , for an hundred years , from it's first national establishment , preserved the same from utter overthrow , notwithstanding the many various and renewed endeavours of men , by force and fraud , to reduce it unto the same errors , ignorance and superstitions , wherein it self at first lay buried , and under which others groaned ; and several times revived and restored it , when by it's own impurity , indifferency and formality it began to decline , or by the treachery , subtilty , or violence of others it was oppressed ; thereby not only disappointing , confounding , and many times ruining the adversaries , and comforting and strengthening the faithful ; but also alwayes rebuilding to himself a temple , the glory whereof did far excell and darken the glory of the former : and having many times engaged the whole land to himself , by several most solemn obligations , of voluntary surrender and resignation , by frequently renewed oaths and covenants ; so that within these few years past , there were not many persons of age , of whatever degree , and not so much as one preaching minister in all the land , who not only did not make publick profession of the true reformed religion , but also subject themselves unto the presbyterial form of church government and discipline , & who did not ( which we desire to be noted ) for that effect in their own persons swear and subscribe with the hand unto the lord , in the national covenant and solemn league and covenant ; in so much , that as to the publick profession of the truth , and almost as to the number of persons , the church of scotland was of equal extent with the nation , and in that respect , of all other national churches , did most resemble the old church of the iewes : the lord , i say , having to the conviction and acknowledgement of our selves and others , done such great things for us , whereof we are glad , the present apostacy , whereby scotland's bethel is become bethaven , and the land that was sometimes holiness unto the lord , is become ( alas too edom-like ) the border of wickedness , & an aceldama , a tragical theatre of blood & persecution , ought to be unto us no less matter of sorrow , shame and fear , then it is sin in itself , & wonder and amazement unto others . who can hear our covenanted and kindest lord , who hateth putting away , and defieth us to shew the bill of our mothers divorcement , who groaneth under our backslidings , being pressed therewith as a cart full of sheaves , complaining that he is broken with our whorish hearts , and therefore declaring that he will be no more our husband ; nor we his wife , and that his heart cannot be toward us ; but that he will drive us out of his house , and love us no more , and not cover the lip for shame ? and in consequence thereof , who can behold the fathers house , not only defiled , by turning it into a house of marchandise and den of theeves , but the temple casten down to the ground , and the adversary in the midst thereof insultingly and scornfully set up their ensignes for signes of triumph ; and furder , behold the blood of the saints shed like water , and their flesh given to be meat to the fowles of the heaven and beasts of the earth , and not lament with jeremiah ? cap. : , , ▪ ● oh that my head were waters , and mine eyes a fountain of tears , that i might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people . oh that i had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men , that i might leave my people and go from them : for they be all adulterers , an assembly of treacherous men . and they bend their tongue like their bowe for lies : but they are not valiant f●r the truth upon the earth ▪ for they proceed from evil to evil , and they know not me , saith the lord. and this will the more appear , not only if we remember the general nature of backsliding , which is a very comprehensive sin , importing less love , fear and trust in the true god , and proclaiming more inconstancy , unfaithfulness , and ingratitude towards him , then sometimes is found in very heathens towards their idols ; but also if we consider that our present defection hath all circumstantial aggravations in the highest degree . for it is not in things only civil , indifferent , or of little moment ; but in things religious , necessary , important and which at least in their tendency and consequence reach to the very foundation : it is not the effect of common , humane and invincible infirmity ; but most free and voluntary , yea wilful and deliberate : it is not done by stealth , or in a corner ; but avowedly and openly in the sight of the sun : it is not private and personal ; but representative and authorized , by acts and proclamations of king , parliament and council : it is not smoothly and subtilly , but most tyrannically carried on by military violence and cruelty : it is not of a few or inconsiderable persons , but very universal ; the greatest part of all ranks , and of some ranks almost the whole , being some one way or other involved therein : it is not only of these , who were alwayes of known and professed disaffection to the cause and covenant of god ; but also of many who sometimes being exceeding zealous themselves , and exemplary and forcible upstirrers of others therein , are now become the chief ring-leaders theirof , and most bloody persecuters of those who remain stedfast in the truth : it is not in an heathenish or antichristian land , or church divided and broken with several sects , as some others are ; but even in scotland , so clearly enlightened , for which the lord had wrought so many wonderful works , which was under so many obligations of oaths and covenants to the contrary , and had been so united in the profession of the truth : it is not from violent force , inevitable necessity or irresistible temptation ( which is neither possible nor yet would excuse it ) but when the lord , by breaking the yoke of forrain usurpation , had given king and countrey the fairest opportunity which they ever had , to restore , confirm and advance his work ; as if he had delivered us , that we might work all these abominations : and all this for no other end , then the base flattering of the kings humor and inclination , the satiating of prelaticall pride and ambition , the indulging of the licentious profanity of some debauched & degenerated nobles and others , who could not endure the yoke of christ's sound doctrine and impartiall discipline , and the suppression of religion and righteousness in the subversion of the late work of reformation : whereby we have charged our selves with all the blood that hath been shed upon either side , during the former wars ; have laid a stumbling block before all , who shall see or hear of it , to blaspheme religion as a fiction , to condemn the late work of reformation as a false pretence for rebellion and self-interest , and to affirm that there is neither truth nor ingenuity in the professors thereof . pass over the isles of chittim and see , and send unto kedar , and consider diligently , and see if there be such a thing ; hath a nation changed their gods , which yet are no gods ? but scotland , ah scotland ! hath changed her glory for that which doth not profit . be astonished , o ye heavens at this , and be horribly afraid : and so much the rather , because few lands did ever make defection after this manner , but , as upon the one hand , the lord gave them up unto more backsliding , until they abounded more with atheism and all manner of abominations , then some pagan-nations , who never heard nor made profession of the gospel ; so upon the other hand , he alwayes pursued them with sorest plagues , not only of subjugation at home , scattering and exile abroad , dividing of kingdomes amongst themselves , and from their former rulers , and final subversion of whole empires , kingdomes and common-wealths ; but also many times with the final removal of the gospel , and utter dissolution of all visible national covenant-relation , as might be demonstrated from holy scripture , and other histories : and indeed , if he , to whom nothing is strange or impossible ( though they may seem both to us ) and whose wayes and thoughts are as far above ours , as the heavens are above the earth , do not in the soveraignity of his grace , recede from his ordinary method of dealing with such apostatizing people , and now when he hath seen our way do not heal us , we have , alas ! ●oo too just ground of fear , that we shall become such a proverb amongst the nations , that the generation to come of our children , and the stranger that cometh from a far land , when they see the plagues of this land , shall wonder and ask , wherefore hath the lord done this unto this land ? what meaneth the heat of this great anger ? oh! that the very first , and next following steps of defection ; together with the causes of the lord's wrath against the land , were remembered and acknowledged , and that all who have had any accession to the kindling of this flame ( and who can wholly justify himself ? if any would , be sure , his own mouth should condemn him ) would draw water and pour it out before the lord , for quenching thereof , and that the first resiclers from our national acknowledgment of sins and engagement to duties , would glorify god by confession , that he might turn from the fierceness of his anger ; but alas ! he hath at once pour'd out upon us the spirit of whoredome and of a deep sleep ! and hath both made us to erre from his way , and hard'ned our hearts from his fear . and as we should look bekind us to the rise , so before us to the result of th●se things ; for though every runner may read the primum mobile of this course , the great axletree and wheels upon which all moveth , and who are the furious drivers and slavish drawers thereof , and we have both seen the several degrees of motion and advancement , and smarted the sad effects of the same , yet i am affray'd , that there is now another spirit in persons and tendency in affairs then some men apprehend . whether there be a sufficient ground in the holy scriptures to think with some , that before the last fall of the roman antichrist , the popish religion shall once more overshadow the christian world ▪ is not proper here to enquire ; but considering the great affinity betwixt papacy and prelacy , and the already authorized and practized conformity of the one to the other , not only in government and discipline , whereby they have , for the most part , the same ecclesiastical courts and officers ; but also in worship , whereby they have the same liturgy , for substance of epistles , gospels , collects and letany ; the same ceremonies of rising , standing to the east , bowing , kneeling , crossing , &c. the same superstitious & fool-like vestments ; the same observation of many dayes , the same adorning of churches and chappels , with altars , books , candles , candlesticks , basins , images , and crucifix's on windows , and the same jesuitical sign upon their pulpit cloath ; and also in several points of doctrine , preached , licensed and printed , with many other things tedious to be enumerated : considering also the constitution of the kingdoms , which by ignorance , atheisme , disputing and oppugning of the authority of the holy scriptures , error , superstition , profaneness , indifferency , formality and hypocrisy in many , are much more then formerly disposed to embrace whatsoever shall be authorized or indulged : and considering the native tendency of the present course of backsliding , which leadeth unto the great whore , the mother of all these abominations , nothing but gross , wilfull or judicial ignorance , and estrangement from affairs , can deny that there is too just ground of fear , that ere long ( if the lord do not prevent it ) brittain may be again precipitated into the old gulf of antichristianism . and so much the rather , because it is universally observed and notourly known , that the number of professed papists , hath increased more within these six years , then it had for near sixty before ; the conviction whereof made some of the prelates themselves say some years hence , that since the year . there were more thousands of avowed papists in scotland ( compute then what may and must be in england and ireland ) then before that year there were hundreds . whence this is , and whether there be any positive resolution to reintroduce popery in these lands , i do not affirm , but remit it to the consideration of the impartial reader who understandeth the times , and to time it self , a great searcher and discoverer of secrets , to declare the genuine meaning and tendency of these things , that the king should publish in print , that the papists had been faithful subjects to him and his father , whilest others under pretence of religion had involved the kingdoms in blood ; was that bloody massacre in ireland , whereof they were the known and acknowledged actors , though perhaps not the only authors , such faithful service ? that the execution of penal statutes against papists should be superseded , whilst severe penal statutes are dayly enacted and executed against protestants , really , though not under that name and notion : that so many known and open idolatrous masses should be connived at & tollerated , whilst both publick & private meetings of protestants for pure worship are prohibited by law , and violently interrupted : that so many known professed papists , priests and jesuites , who do not publickly countenance the prelatical worship , are permitted to live peaceably and enjoy all their liberties , whilst non-complying protestants , for simple non-conformity to prelacy , are imprisoned , fined , confined , scourged , stigmatized , and many otherwayes oppressed and persecuted , in their estates , consciences and names : that so many papists especially in england should enjoy and be dayly advanced to the greatest places of publick power and trust , not only as members of parliament , council , and court , but as state-officers , lieutenants , sherifs , justices of counties , and officers in army , whilst stedfast protestants , for simple non-perjuring , are some of them not so much as permitted to sit in parliament , or any other iudicatory ; others of them discourted , disgraced , disarmed , imprisoned and proscribed , and all of them who will not forswear , declared incapable of publick power or trust in church or common-wealth : that a house for fathers or friers is provided ; whilst many faithful ministers are removed and chased from place to place , without any certain habitation : that there should be such universal report & so much presumption , of a popish hand in burning of london , which , for number and strength of protestant inhabitants , was the most considerable city in the world , and bulwark against the romish religion and designes , and yet , as if men were affrayed to try the truth in that matter , so little satisfying & effectual course taken , to try and punish the authors and actors , and to repress their many other insolent misdemeanors ; whilst many thousands of innocent protestants , who never burnt either house or city , for no other alleaged crime but their peaceable forbearance to bow to the idol which the king hath setup , are thrown into a furnace of fiery triall , seven times more heated then ever was known in the christian world for such a cause , all things being considered . it may seem strange to the nations about , and to the generations following , that the church of scotland which had been so faithful and chast , should have suffered herself to be thus prostituted , and that ( if she would not otherwayes , after the manner of her fathers , contend for the faith which she had receaved ) she did not cry to all the world by declarations and protestations ( as the maid under the law ) that she was forced ; and that of all the sons which she had brought forth , there were so few , either to take her by the hand , and plead openly for her , or to plead with her , that she would put away her whoredoms . this indeed is , and ought to be for a lamentation ; but let none therefore conclude ( as some of the profane and perfidious prelates , measuring others after their own baseness and treachery , had the impudence at first to misrepresent to the rulers ) that all were or are consentient unto this horrid apostacy ; for even at the beginning thereof , if synods ( which were then resolving to bear publick witness for the then established government of the church , and against the begun defection , and further progress thereof by the re-introduction of prelacy , which was then designed ) had not been , some of them , by proclamation prohibited to conveen , and others of them violently interrupted and raised by nobles , who , by order of parliament , were present for that effect ; and if some of her watchmen ( who were neither professedly driving on , nor secretly breathing after prelacy & prelatical promotion ) had not for reasons best known to themselves , too much courted and flattered the powers by their own silence , and withdrawing of their necessary and required concurrence in a publick joint testimony , there wanted not faithfulness , zeal , courage , resolutions and some endeavours in others to have emitted such declarations , as probably might have crushed the bold attempt of the prelates in it's infancy , and thereby have prevented much sin and suffering which hath ensued thereupon , and certainly would have witnessed to all the world , that the church without & against her consent was treacherously betrayed and violently forced . neither hath the truth , all along from that time till this , wanted many testimonies , though none of them were so national , universal , authoritative and solemn as they should have been ; and few of them ( perhaps ) so explicite , full , plain and bold , as the weight of the matter and other circumstances required : yea , the continued fears of the adversaries , expressed in the narratives of several of their own acts and proclamations , and their leavying of military force , for upholding of them and their cause ; the non-complyance of many thousands , their secret and open complaints and moans because of it , & their daily prayers to god against it , bear witness against this present course . besides , it is very observable , that some , who had been chief authors and active promoters thereof and complyers with the same , and others , who had been intimate familiars and favourers of prelats and their vice-curats , in sickness and at death did so much abhorre their way and loath their persons , that they would not admit their presence , but called for non-conforming ministers to speak to them and pray for them ; yea some gentlemen upon death-bed , did with much sorrow bemoan their own concurrence , and particularly their taking of the declaration against the covenant , and seriously warned and exhorted their old familiars and companions in that guilt to repent thereof , wishing they were able to go and make publick profession of their own repentance ; and others ( whilst some friends offered to bring prelatical men unto them ) professed , that though they had sported with such men in health , yet they durst not do so at death ; and some ministers who had conformed , in remorse thereof , forsook that way , and thereafter died with convincing evidence of repentance therefore , and dec●aration against the same : and indeed , as there was never any course in the land , which so visibly had the voluntary and active concurse of all and only the wicked and prophane ; so there was never a more universal concurrence and wrestling together by prayer , of all the godly without exception , against any party and cause , then now is against this ; for there needs no more to make any man ( though formerly their friend and familiar ) to hate their way and detest themselves , but to convince him of his own sin , make him thorowly apprehensive of death and judgment , and become a sincere seeker of god , and student of holiness in his own person . and further the late rising in armes , is an argument above contradiction , that prelacy is ●n out-landish and unnatural weed in scotland ; it is true , that it had it's immediat rise from cruell oppression , but it is as true , that all that oppression , was authorised by the rulers , exercised by the souldiers , and endured by the people , meerly because and upon accompt of their faithfulness and stedfastness in the covenant and cause of god , in a non-complyance with prelacy , otherwise they might have lived as quyetly as others , and so soon as they were in a probable capacity , by renewing of the covenant , they declared actively for that same cause , for which they had suffered so much : it is true also , that the action is condemned by some as rebellious , and the endeavour as indeliberate , irrational and presumputous ; but referring the reader to the following discourse for full satisfaction thereanent , i shall only here hint , that being altogether accidentally occasioned , by an unforseen emergent difference , betwixt or souldiers and as many countrey-men , ariseing from horrid oppression , through unjust lawes and cruell military execution thereof , without premeditated counsel or contrivance , it cannot be imagined that all the formalities , which may be judged necessary in a matter of that nature and importance , could have been in it : and yet it is presumed , that it wanted nothing but success to have made many of the same persons account the action just and necessary , and the enterprize , laudable and valorous . and as for the persons themselves , it may be truly and without all vanity affirmed . that these many years past , there hath not been in brittain such an other company of men joyned in armes for the covenant and cause of god : for though where armies were more numerous , there might be or was the like or greater number of persons truly godly ; yet where the whole number was so small , it will be very hard to parallel so many together , of sound judgement , true piety , integrity of heart , fervent zeal , and undaunted resolution and courage , and with so small a mixture of persons of corrupt mindes , profane conversations and sinistrous ends : and although we would not be prodigal of mens lives , especially of saints , at this time , when there is so great need and scarcity of intercessors , to stand between the dead and the living ; yet that simple act of renewing of the covenant is more glory to god , and a greater testimony and advantage to that buried covenant and cause , then ( we hope ) the loss of so many men as are faln , shall import of dammage thereunto . but above all , take notice of the many sufferings and sufferers hereafter mentioned , whose blood under the altar , and some of whese heads and hands standing betwixt heaven & earth , doth not only cry for vengeance , but night and day bear open witness against this adulterous geaeration . these mens testimony should have the more weight and credite with all , because of the persons , the matter , and manner thereof , which was not by wishing , words-speaking , or doing without danger , which is the height of too many men's atchievment in these dayes , but by blood , whereunto they resisted striving against sin , and thereby , being neither affrayed to act , nor ashamed to suffer for their lord and master , have left behind them a fair example of both to all , and a reproof to many , whose greater prudence then zeall , hath taught them to save themselves , by couching betwixt the burdens . that a great prince , and yet not so great as good , an eminent and more then ordinarly useful , and never to be forgotten instrument of the work of reformation and patron of the church , and a true & seeing prophet , did fall in scotland , when argile , wariston and mr guthrey , for no other cause but their good deeds , and particularly for loving of our nation and building of our synagogue , were led like innocent sheep to the slaughter , nothing but ignorance , malice , wickedness , or partiality can deny : for they wanted nothing to make them beloved , as they were esteemed and feared by their enemies , but that they neither did nor would , because for love and awe of god they durst not with others make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience . of these three mighty men , and others who by suffering since have obtained the crown ( though some of them , being but countrey-yeomen , had mean education , and little other learning , th●n what they learned in the gospel of him who is meek and lowly , and whom the zeall of his fathers house did eat up , it is below their due commendation , when it is affirmed , that never any men of the greatest spirits , piety and learning , did suffer and die with more meekness and patience toward their enemies , with more humility and confidence toward god , with more faithfulness and stedfastness in the truth , without the least injurious reflexion thereupon , or their own adherence thereunto , with more equability and composure of spirit , sweetly tempered with the sorrow 's of sin and joyes of the holy ghost , in assurance of pardon and life everlasting , and with less perturbation of mind , and alteration of carriage or countenance , then these worthies did . here indeed was the faith and patience of the saints , here did the lord stand by and strengthen them whom others forsook : yea the lord to the admiration of all , the conviction of many of their adversaries , the confirmation & establishment of the cause , the encouragement of many thousands , his own eternall glory , and their immortal commendation , did work in the hearts of all beholders , more ample & enduring epistles of commendation , then the most eloquent and pathetick rhetorician can writ in their favours . this accompt further i will give yow of the first ten who died together december . that they once resolved to speak severally to the people at their death ; but therea●●● considering , that for one common cause , and upon the same alleageances , they were all appointed to die one manner of death , together at one time and in one place , and having the conveniency of being together in the prison , they preferred to leave a word jointly behind them in writ : which as it was the cause of one conjunct testimony , and some others severally ; so the foreseing providence of god in this , is very observable : for had it been otherwise ( seing they were not at all permitted to speak to the people upon the scaffold , there had nothing of their joint testimony been extant , more then is of these who were not suffered to speak at their death in glasgow , & of the rest who suffered in othe● places of the west , of whom we have heard nothing more particularly , but that the same spirit of glory and of god resting upon them , did work in them all ▪ the same stedfastness , patience , humility , consolation , courage and confidence . these being the last times , wherein sin aboundeth , and the love of many is waxed cold , i cannot devine what pity shall be shewed to them that are in misery ; especially considering the universall decay of religion , and dark cloud of prejudice and discountenance , whereby the kingdom of christ is overshaddowed , generally the whole world over , and even amongst the reformed churches : nevertheless , there being a communion of saints , which should be entertained amongst both persons and churches , whereby these of the same true religion ( amongst other things ) reciprocally give and receave information of their common affaires , that , if they can or will express no other act of love , they may ( at least ) the more sutably sympathize , and mutually pray one for another ; and the lord in his providence , giving the opportunity , i thought it convenient , yea necessary , to communicat the following deduction of the wrestlings of the church of scotland for the kingdome of christ , hoping , that as it beareth the name , so , the wrestling church of scotland , in due time shall reap the blessing of naphtali , who gen. . . is called a hinde let loose , and said to give goodly words : for who can tell , but her wrestlings may be swallowed up of victory and liberty , and her ancient covenanted doctrin , worship and government , may become as pleasant and acceptable , as it is profitable , not only within herself , but also amongst the churches abroad . this title being only affirmative of her , and not negative of other churches , as if only she , and not also they , had wrestled for the kingdom of christ , let no man offend thereat : for as the lord redeemer hath several offices , equally necessary in themselves , and inseperable by man , and as particular churches , as well as persons , have their peculiar gifts and excellencies , and accordingly their distinct work assigned unto them , whereby ( amongst other things ) they , more or less eminently , assert and propugn this or that particular truth ; so in this distribution , whereas other churches have asserted and contended for his priestly and propheticall offices , the lot seemeth to have fallen upon scotland , to assert and wrestle more eminently then many others , for the croun and kingdom of jesus christ . for the establishment of this , did our first famous reformers strive by the evidence of holy scripture , as well as for soundness of doctrine and purity of worship ; for preservation and restauration of this , did their worthy successors zealously contend by petitions , warnings , conferences and disputations ; all invasion , usurpation , or the least encroachment upon this , di● they valiantly resist by protestations and declinatures ; and for a testimony to this , did they patiently suffer bonds , imprisonment , confinement , sentences of death , and ( of late ) death it self . neither should any man think this strange , as if presbyterial government were in itself unlawful , or the species of church government , were indifferent , and consequently contending and suffering therefore , unwarrantable or needless , as pretenders to different forms ( upon the right and left hand ) would have the world beleeve . hithertil indeed the church of scotland hath heen as a speckled bird , and the birds round about have been against her , she hath endured the scourge of many tongues , as well as the violence of many hands , upon both hands false witnesses have laid to her charge , things which she knew not , as being ( amongst other things ) too laxe or too rigide ; yea as unnatural children have eaten thorow their mothers bowels , so unkindly brethren have rewarded her evil for good , standing on the other side , and looking upon her and her affliction in the day of her calamity , rejoicing over her in the day of her destruction , and speaking proudly in the day of her distress , yea laying hands on her substance in the day of her calamity . the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of god , neither doth his invincible truth need the help of humane passions , if therefore , such men do not fear , i shall not desire , that their own tongues may fall upon themselves , and that the lord may render unto them according to their deeds , and according to the wickedness of their endeavours , but rather study the revenge of good will by prayer , that he would open their eyes & convert their hearts , that they may take revenge on themselves . charity , which thinketh no evil , obleegeth to beleeve , till wee see the contrary , that scripture , conscience , covenant and credite will make those who did once laudably assert , constantly propugn and adhere to the ius divinum of presbyterial government , until they publish ( which none can do ) as convinceing reasons of retractation & contrary practice : and whatever might be expected of others , religion , reason , candor , gratitude , and policy would seem to require , that those who in their distress intreated & obtained the succesful assistance of the covenanted interest of scotland , & others , who owe thereunto whatever they are , or have more then just nothing , debt , or broken fortunes , should have been so far from cont●mptuous throwing away the covenant as an old alm●nack , when , by it as a stirrup , they had mounted the saddle of power , promotion and riches , and from subtile dissolving the nerves , or forcible breaking the arme of pre●bytery , that they should rather have said to both as ruth to naom● , where th●u goest , i will go ; where thou lodgest , i will lodg ; thy people shall be my people , and thy god my god : where thou diest , i will die , and there will i be buried : god do so to me and more a●so if ought but death part thee and me . and it may be truly said , as the church of scotland hath had no detractors , but such as were ignorant of her , or mis-informed about her , or whom faction , partiality , prejudice , wickedness or love of unlawful liberty did inspire ; so no person or party hath endeavoured hithertil to root out presbytery , but the lord hath made it a burdensome stone unto them : and i am sure , there is no other form of church government can boast of so many testimonies by bl●od as presbyterial government might do . but of all contradicters , the church of scotland , of old and late , hath only had to do ( within herself ) with prelatists , some whereof , being high flown , have pleaded a jus divinum , others ( antiquaries ) have pleaded antiquity , and many adiaphorists of late , being beaten from both these strengths , have pleaded indifferency in general , and only jus carolinum , as to this or that species : but as no eyes , save their own , neither these except by delusion of their se●se , could ever see prelacy ( that is , an ordinary ecclesiastical ord●r , distinct from and superior to that of a preaching presbyter , having the sole power of ordination and jurisdiction ) in the holy scripture , otherwise then by prohibition to lord it over gods heritage , or in the example of diotrephes who loved preheminence ( as many famous writing , whereunto i refer the reader , unanswerably demonstrat ) & therefore , the office being a stranger in the word of god , rather then the bras●n serpent which once had divine institution , should be nehushtan in the church ; so let no man , exorcist-wise , adjure us by the charming words of antiquity , primitive times and bishops , fathers , &c. for moses we know , the prophets and apostles we know , but what is antiquity , and who are the primitive bishops and fathers ? must men be stigmatized , as giddy-headed novellists , and as much athenian in their principles and professions ▪ as other m●n in their newes , or then be implicite in-tail-following antiquaries ? no , there is a medium of proving all things , and holding that which is good : pure antiquity deserveth all esteem and reverence , but simple antiquity , as such , is neither a certain nor safe rule , and much less oblieging to future times , and so remote as our's are . our lord himself repelleth that pretence , that it was said of old : were there not many errors and corruption● ( which themselves will not justify ) as ancient , and early in the church ( yea more ) as prelacy is alleaged to be ? we are commanded to the law and testimony , but never to the fathers , and good reason , because few or none of them were without gross errours in judgment or practice : are not the writings of the first age very few , or obscure ? are not many of these and after ages lost or corrupted ? yea other later writings are deceatfully emitted under the name of ancient times and persons , so that in such a mist , it is hard to determine what was written by these fathers , what not : later , corrupt or inadvertant writters about these former times , did speak of persons and things , under the abused names which were corruptly used in th●ir own times : and the writtings of particular persons ( suppose of greatest antiquity ) do rather hold forth their own private opinion , or the practice of the time and place wherein they lived , then the universal judgment and practice of the church in all times and places . and if they will sanctuary themselves in primitive times , let it be cleared what is meant by primitive ; for if the two first ages be meant , it is more then they can do , to prove by sufficient authority , that there was then such a prelacy , as is before mentioned , or now usurped and exercised ; if after ages be meant , wherein the church grew more corrupt , and prelacy did aspire and exalt itself , to an universal supremacy in the bishop of rome , and establishment of that antichristian hierarchy , then indeed they are like themselves . for twins were never more like in face , then the present prelats resemble the romish , but then it were candor in them , to tell plainly , that papacy and prelacy are of one original , with this difference , that prelacy is the first born , or rather the father which begat the other ; and if they mean a middle time , betwixt these periods , wherein indeed bishops were first known in the church , and will reckon their descent from them , why are they so unlike unto them , that they look neither like sons nor successors ? ask those who have dived into these depths of antiquity , and they will tell , that a present prelat , and a faithful presbyterian pastor ( or moderator at most ) do little more differ , then the present prelats and these first primitive bishops : for as it was long before such a thing was known in the church , so when thorow the malice and subtilty of sathan , the ambition of some church-men , the unwatchfulness of others , and indulgence of some magistrats it did creep in , at first it was intended and acknowledged for no more , then a prudential humane device for greater unity ( a cure , because without warrant , worse then the desease , which , as the apostles never prescribed in their own times , though there were then many divisions , so there is alike reason to extend further to papal supremacy , in the case of divisions amongst prelats and patriarches ) and had never the impudence to aspire ( with some present prelats ) so high as a jus divinum ; at first these primitive bishops , being elected by other presbyters , with consent of the people , and not by the civil magistrat only , as now the prelats are by the kings letter to the dean and chapter , were ordained by the laying on of the hands of presbyters , and rot of bishops only , as the prelats are ; their ordination vas not essentially different from that of presbyters , nor to an order distinct from , and superior to that of presbyters or pastors , as the consecration of the prelats is alleaged to be ; neither did they ( though perhaps they had a negative voice ) usurp the sole power of ordination and jurisdiction , nor exerce the acts thereof , without the potestative concurrence of other presbyters , as now the prelats do ; many of them being holy , humble , and sober in their conversation toward the people and other presbyters , did nor ( with the present prelats ) assume the lofty tittles of lordship , grace , &c. nor live and ride in such state and pomp , claming and taking the preference of the greatest peeres of the land ; ordinarly , and especially at the beginning , they had not such vast charges , as now the prelats have diocies over hundreds of pastors , and many thousands of people , to whom it is utterly impossible to perform ministerial duties ; being diligent preachers themselves , they were not , as the prelats are , idle drons , nor non-residenrs , nor yet of a strange language to the people , as wallace , through his ignorance of the irish tongue , and almost of all others except his mothers , must be a barbarian to his diocy of the western-isles ▪ neither did they involve themselves in secular affairs and offices , then which , what is there more absurd in reason , and repugnant to scriptural precept and example ? for christ himself telleth us , that his kingdome is not of this world , joh. : ver . . and how can his officers be of it ? he refused to be a judge , luc. : . and , speaking to the disciples of civil authority and dominion , saith , it shall not be so amongst yow , mat. : ver . . luc. : ver . : and the apostle . paul telleth us , that ministerial weapons are not carnal . cor. : ver . : and that the ministers of the gospel should not entangle themselves with the affairs of this life tim. : ver . : that the ministerial calling is so weighty , that the best qualified and most diligent is not sufficient for it , cor. : ver . . how then are they sufficient for it , and civil affairs too ? and therefore they should wa● upon it , rom. : ver . : and give themselves wholly to it . tim. : ver . . and not wait ( as the prelats do ) upon courts , parliaments , council , convention of estats , &c. as members thereof , nor exerce the office of provosts , justices of peace , &c. nor will it excuse them , that they commit ministerial inspection of the flock to deputs : for if they be shepherds , should not the shepherds feed the flock ? ezeck . : ver . . if to them be committed the ministery , teaching , exhorting , should they not themselves wait upon these ? rom. : : if they must give accompt of souls , should they not watch for them ? heb. : ver . : and if the lord will require the flock at their hand . ezek. : ver . : how will they answer to god , the people , their own conscience ( if they have any ) or to others who ask a reason of them , for feeding of themselves only , and committing the flock to others , and especially to such who are so far from being learned , holy , apt to teach , blameless , of a good report , chast , sober , grave , lovers of good men , meek and gentle , as the scripture requireth , that many are novices , ignorant , prophane , light , given to wine , false , covetous , contentious , proud , passionat , and self willed , and so far from taking heed to the flock , or being an example to them , in word , conversation , charity , spirit , faith and purity , that they neither take heed to themselves , nor rule their own families well ? i remember that one speaking of such as commit the flock to vicar-curats ( as all are who serve under prelacy ) saith , adibunt per vicarios in paradisum , in persona in inferos . they shall go to heaven by their deputs , but to hell in person . these men ( if i may borrow an allusion from the duty and commendation of faithfull and approven ministers ) have taken forth the precious from the vile , and taught the people the difference betwen the holy and profane , and caused men to discern betwen the unclean and the clean ; but mark how , and for what end ? is it not by making sad the hearts of the righteous , whom they have selected , and set up as the only object of all their malice and persecution , and strengthening the hands of the wicked , whom they have taken into their bosome , as their only familiars and confidents . the one they thurst with the side and shoulder , the other they do not suffer to turn from his evill way , by promising him life . but if any desire more particular information about them , amongst other places to that purpose , let them read and consider , ier. . . to . and . . ezek. . . to . and . . . . zeph. . , mal. . . . mat. . and ( as face answereth to face in water ) they shall see their call , qualities , doctrine , conversation , works and influence amongst the people , and the effects of all , together with their righteous doom and reward . he hath already made contemptible and base before the people , those who have corrupted the covenant of levy , and being partiall in the law , have made many to stumble thereat , and will he not cause to cease from feeding of the flock , those who feed themselves , eat the fat and cloth with the wooll , but do not ( for indeed they cannot ) strengthen the deseas●d , heall the sick , bind up that which i● broken , bring back that which is driven away , nor seek that which is lost ? they have not only turned his house of prayer into a den of theeves , but from them is profanness gone forth over all the land , and seing they deserve no more honourable exit , will he not scourge out of his temple , those who have sold faith and a good conscience for a mease of pottage ? yea seing he hath said it , we will beleeve , that he will make the false prophet and the unclean spirit pass out of the land , and that these men shall bear the wounds or marks of false prophets , and for shame shall deny ( for lies are their ordinary refuge ) that ●ever they were prophets , and that others , perhaps their nearest relations , the fathers and mothers who begat them , shall so little esteem , regard or pity them , that they shall accompt them unworthy to live ( ye shall not live ) and that he will again gather those that are now sorrowfull for the solemn assemblies , that he will search for the flock , seek that which was lost , bring back that which was driven away , bind up that which was broken , & strengthen that which was sick , by the hand of pastors after his own heart , who , under and after the example of the great shepherd david , shall feed them in a good pasture with wisedome and understanding . to all this , as well as the curse upon them who make the blind to wander out of the way , let all the people say , amen . neither are they who plead an indifferency of forms of government , more scriptural or rationall then the former : for it seemeth equally absurd & incosinstant with the faithfulness of j. christ , who was faithfull to him who appointed him ; with the lords way of dealing with the jewish church , whereunto he prescribed a specifical and fixed form of government ; and with the perfection and plainness of the holy scriptures , wherein all church assemblies , officers , powers , acts , and who should exerce the same , & every other thing necessarily belonging thereunto , which the light of nature doth not teach , and is not common to it with civill government and order , are clearly held forth , expressly or by necessary consequence , in speciall or generall directions and warrantable examples ( as appeareth by the many debats extant thereanent ) to leave the government of his church indifferent , and arbitrarily determinable and alterable , according to the will of the civill magistrat , or the various and mutable humours and inclinations of persons , times and places , or the pretended conveniency of civil policy , as to leave doctrin and worship thus indifferent , and arbitrarily determinable and variable , according to these crooked and changable rules : if church government must be indifferent , and thus arbitrarily determinable and ambulatory , because the holy scripturs do not expressly affirme , that presbyterial government is the only government , which should be in the christian church , and also expressly declare , that it is unalterable to the worlds end , and that the first institution and practice thereof , by the apostles and their successors in the ministry , never was nor shall be repealed , why may not the civil magistrat , or any other arrogating a power of instituting or altering church government or officers , by parity of reason , make many other necessary and practicall points of faith , which are not more expressly declared by the holy scriptures to be unalterable truths , then presbyterial government is ( though all be evident enough ) to be also indifferent , & arbitrarily determinable & mutable ? & then farewel infant-baptisme , womens receaving of the lords ▪ supper , & observation of the first day of the week for the christian sabbath , yea , farewel law & testimony , & more sure word of prophecy , whereunto we should go & take heed ; & for a new rule of faith & practice , welcome humane prudence , state-policy , corrupt & changable disposition of man , & pretended necessity or conveniency of state , time & place ; yea welcome all doctrins & practices , which though they were once positively prohibited , can alleage that the scripture doth not expressly declare , that they never were nor shall be repealed . and where are we then ? in vain is the law , in vain is the pen of the scribe , and every one , without transgression , may do what seemeth good in his own eyes , if only he can temporize , and offe●d not the civil magistrat , by violation of his arbitrary institutions and lawes in church aff●i●s , wherein he must be supream . o my soul , come not int● the secrets of such latitudinarian , or rather ( in this ) nullifidian adiaphorists . we would not be here mistaken , as if we denyed to the civil magistrat any power , which the holy scriptures allow unto him ; for as we assert his office to be an ordinance of god , and his person ( being lawfully therewith vested ) to be signally impressed with a special character of majestick authority , wherefore , in a due subordination to him who is lord over all , he should be subjected to and obeyed ; so we chearfully grant , that , whereas the heathen magistrat ( because of his morall incapacity to exerce more power ) about religion and ecclesiastical affairs , hath only a power in actu signa●o and ●us ad rem , the christian magistrat hath ius in re , and in actu exercito may and should by his lawes establish the true religion within his dominions , and command his subjects to make publick profession thereof ; that by his civil sanction he may and should ratify ecclesiasticall sentences , aggreeable to the word of god ; that anent these he may and should exercise an antecedent discretive iudgment , whereby he may not adde an implicit approbation ; that for preaching and propagation of the gospel , and for nursing of piety and learning , he may and should provide necessary and convenient accommodation and encouragement , as to persons , places and revenues ; that for his own information and advice , he may call occasionall meetings of church officers and others , to confer and debate matters before him ; that pro r● nata he may convocate ecclesiasticall synods , to reason and conclude church affairs according to the scripture ; that for his own information , and for preventing of outward force and inward confusion , he may be present therein by himself or his delegats ; that by his power he may and should defend and encourage the church , in the free and peaceable possession of all her intrinsecall priviledges , and all the members thereof , in the profession and practice of the same ; that by the same authority he may and should repress error , heresy , superstition , atheisme , blasphemy and profanness , and punish the authors and spreaders thereof ; that in case of negligence , he may command all , and even ministers , to per●orme their r●spective duties in general , as necessity requireth ; and that for civil transgressions , he may civilly puni●h eccl●siastical persons , as well as other subjects , according to the law of god and righteous lawes of the land : the zealous discharge of all which , we would thankfully acknowledg to god and man , as the faithfull performance of that gracious promise , that kings shall be the churches nursing ●athe●s . but if discontented herewith , as if all this , together with the weighty affairs of the common wealth , were too little work for his transcendent power and abilities , and as if jesus christ had no kingdom or government , or these were not distinct from the kingdoms and government of the world , or though th●y were , as if he were equally head and fountain of both , he will needs a●bitrarily institut or alter , the species of church government ; authorise , exauthorise or restrain church-officers , in the exercise of the power of order or jurisdiction , in whole or in part , as the parliament and councill have prohibited some hundreds the whole exercise of their ministry , and the high commission ( which claimeth no power , but what is solely and immediatly derived from the king ) hath deprived some from the office , & interdicted others the administration of the lords supper ; if he will define articles of faith , and prescribe what heads of doctrine , ministers shall treat or not treat of in their sermons , as the king hath done in his printed letter to the bishop of york ; and thereupon primarily , immediatly , and antecedently to any judgment of the church , which is the pillar of truth , and to which the spirits of the prophets are subject , cognosce and determine of ministers doctrine , when the church herself is willing and ready to try the spirits ; and criminally or capitally punish them therefore , under the pretence of treason and rebellion , as several instances can be adduced against king and councill in the series of our church ; if he will ordain particular church censurs to to be executed against particular persons , for particular definite ecclesiastical ( alleaged ) offences , leaving nothing undone by himself in person , but the execution of what he hath appointed , as the parliament hath appointed suspension and deprivation of ministers , for not observing the bishops meetings , and the king in his commission to the high commission hath appointed excommunication , whereas they may as well immediatly suspend , deprive and excommunicat themselves , as appoint them to be executed in the manner specified in the said act of parliament and commission ; if after the example of antichristian or pagan nations , he will institut and enjoin needless , vain , superstitious , significant and burdensome rits in the worship of god , as most of the imposed ceremonies in the lyturgy , can be instructed be ; if he will arrogate the sole power of convocating ecclesiastical synods , which is an intrinsecall priviledg of the church , whereof she was in possession three hundred years before there was a christian magistrat in the world authorizing it ; and will imprison , confine , condemn , and banish ministers , for pleading and practising this right , as king james did not a few in and about the year . and the present king of late , by parliament , council and commissioner , did interdict all the lawfull assemblies of the church , which did not derive their power from the abjured and perjured prelats ; and if he will not only claim the only power of indicting ●●lemn fasts and thanksgivings , as de facto is done these ●or years past , but also institute a day to be aniversarily ●oly for ever , which no mortal man can do ; if , i say , 〈◊〉 will thus invade the kingdom of christ , confound it 〈◊〉 the kingdoms of the world , and equally exerce the ●overnments of both , no man needs pronounce , but rather fear the domesticall and personall doom , executed upon saul and uzziah for usurping the priests office . how in ●quall dealing is it , that he who clamoureth so much of other men , and particularly ministers wandering without their sphere , and overstretching-meddling with civil affairs , should himself be circumscribed and move within no fixed sphere ? is it not enough that he have a power objectively ecclesiasticall , about church affaires , but he must also have a power formally ecclesiasticall , whereby he may exerce acts purely spiritual , and proper to church officers ? will it not suffice him , that he have an externall power , of providing for the church , and protecting of her from outward violence or inward disorder , but he must also have an internall power , of doctrin , government , and disciplin , & the several forms & acts thereof ? is is not sufficent that he have an imperat power , whereby he may command all his subjects , as such , to do their respective duties ; but he must also have and elicit power , whereby he may at least materially or equivalently exerce spirituall acts in his own person ? will it not please him , that he have a civil power of punishing church officers , as subjects , for civil transgressions , but he must also have a spiritual power of censuring them for ecclesiasticall offences ? will it not content him that he have a secundary power of judiciall approbation or condemnation of what the church hath already found and declared to be truth or error , but he must also have a primary and immediat power of cognition of truth and error , antecedent to any judgment of the church thereanent ? will it not satisfy him , that he have a discretive power , whereby he may not implicitely ratify ecclesiasticall sentences , but he must also have a definitive power of authoritative decision ? and in a word , is it not enough , that he have a cumulative power of confirming and strengthening the power and priviledges of the church , but he must als● have a privative power , whereby ( if he please ) he may destroy the same ? that the lord hath had , and to the worlds end will have a church , none who beleeve the authority of the holy ●criptures can deny or question ; and that he hath fixed discriminative boundaries betwen his own and the kingdoms of the earth ( that is , betwen his church and other civil societies , and their respective governments ) is no less evident : for though both consist of men , and sometimes of the same persons ; though both have order and government ; a power to exercise the same , and that derived from god ; and the persons invested therewith should be qualified ; and in the exercise thereof should walk absolutely by the rule of the word ; punishing and censuring after clear conviction by confession or probation ; and should ultimatly aime at the glory of god , and good of the people ; and for that effect be mutually subservient and useful one to another ( in these , amongst other things , they aggree ) yet they are formally distinct : for they consist of men under distinct notions and relations ; civil society and policy is founded upon the light and law of nature , ecclesiasticall by revealed positive precept ; the one is common to all men as men , the other is peculiar to those who profess the true god ; the form of the one may be monarchical , the other not ; the object of the one is civil , the other is spirituall ; the nature of the one and manner of exerceing it , is magisterial , the other ministerial ; the acts and sentences of the one are corporall , rhe other spiritual ; the immediat rule of exerceing the one is the ●awes of the land ; and the other the word of god and ●cclesiastical constitutions aggreeable thereunto ; the one ●s performed in the name of the supream magistrat , the other in the name of jesus christ ; the immediat end of the one is the good of the common-wealth , the other the good of souls . yea though the church and common-wealth of the jewes , of all others that ever were , did most aggree , yet were they formally distinct : for they had ordinarily distinct rulers , the priest and levits for the one , judges and king 's for the other ; they had distinct acts sacrificing , praying &c. in the church , death , banishment , confiscation , inprisonment , ezra : . in the state ; they had distinct objects , the matters of the lord and the matters of the king , chron. . ; distinct lawes , the ceremoniall for the church , the judicial for the common-wealth , and the morall for both ; they had sometimes distinct members , when these of the one , were not admitted to some priviledges of the other ; the form of the state did alter from judges to kings , but the churches was unalterably the same ; and they had their distinct periods of duration , for the church continued ( though corrupt ) after the civil government was overturned by the romans . and as the church and state of the jewes were in these things distinct , so had they their distinct governments , and judicatories for exer●●ing the same respectively ; for exo. . . there are . elders , who v. . appear to be vested with authority , and to have aaron and hur for their presidents or moderators ; now these elders cannot be the , who numb . . shared of the government with moses , for these mentioned exod. . were in authority when the israelits were at sinai , whereas the other mentioned numb . . were chosen after they went from sinai ; neither can they be any other in civil authority , because before the election of those numb . . moses was alone in the government . again deut. . there are distinct causes , viz. blood & blood , plea and plea , which were civill , and stroke and stroke , which ( whether it was leprosy ) belonged to the priests to judge of ; lev. . ; distinct rulers . viz. the priests the levets , and the iudge , who v. . are distinguished by the disjunctive particle or ; distinct acts of telling ( or exponing ) the sentence of the law , & of telling iudgment v. . , & distinct penalties , of death , and puting the evill from israel , v . further in ● chr. . . ye will find of the levites who were officers and iudges , which must needs have been in ecclesiastical affairs , because , chron. : . there were princes of tribs , captains of thousands , hundreds , stewarts and officers , for civil affairs . and , chron. : , &c. there are church officers , priests , levits , chief of the fathers ; there are distinct matters , the matters of the lord and the matters of the king. ver. . there are distinct acts or sentences , for warning not to trespass is more proper to ecclesiastical then civil persons ; and there are distinct moderators or presidents , amariah is over you for the matt●rs of the lord , and zebadiah for the matters of the king. now what should all this mean , viz. distinct causes , and persons set over them to judge them respectively , and what meaneth these distinct acts , sentences and penalties , if not to hold out the distinction of government , and of judica●ories respectively exercing the same ? yea ●hat was in the old testament , we may know by what we read in the new , for matth. : ver . . and : ver . . and : v. , , . act. : v. , , . and : v. , . there are assemblies & councils , which must needs be ecclesiastical : not only because they consisted of ecclesiastical persons , the high priest , cheef priests and elders of the people ; cognosced of ecclesiastical causes , the life , doctrin and authority of christ and his apostles ; and past ecclesiastical sentences about preching in the name of christ , act. , and . but also because ( the jewes being subdued ) the supreme civil government was taken out of their hands , and little left them but the ecclesiastical . and if at any time , in the old testament , the same persons were members of both judicatories , it was under distinct notions and considerations , as ecclesiastical in the one , and civil in the other ; as now the ruling elder , under several considerations and capacities , may be a member of an ecclesiastical and civil iudicatory . it is true that the high priests and some kings had great hand in both civil & ecclesiastical affairs , but extraordinary , and ( may be ) typicall instances are not an ordinary and universal rule ; and it may be also , that in the new testament these councils meddled in civil affairs , for matth. : ver . . they take counsel against iesus to put him to death , but that was by corrupt abuse of their power , which crept in , in the declining state of the church , and when the civil government was taken from them by strangers , or when , wanting a magistrat , they took more upon them then at another time ; for it was not so from the beginning , and was by the like corrupt and extravagant abuse , as now the high commission ( if it be an ecclesiastical courr ) doth scourge , stigmatize , fine and banish , or the prelats now as members of parliament , council , and session , make themselves judges of blood , pleas , &c. and as this was the manner & difference of the jewish church and state under the old testament , so under the new testament , there is by divine institution , a formal and specifical difference , between the government of the church and common-wealth : for ye will not only find office-bearers given unto , and set in the church . rom. : ver . . cor. : ver . . ephes . : ver . . which are as wel distinct from office-bearers of the state as from the people , for neither magistrat nor people were ever called apostles , prophets ▪ evangelists , &c. especially in the apostles sense ; but also rulers , distinct from the rulers of the common-wealth , who thess . : ver . . are over the people , and hebr. : ver . . rule over them . now these rulers cannot be the magistrat , for in none of the places doth the apostle intend or mention him . besids , at that time there was not a christian magistrat to rule the state , and how should the rule of the church be committed to a pagan ? and tim. : ver . . he that labours in word and doctrin , seemeth to have more honour , then he who ruleth , which , if either magistrat or prelate be the ruler , how they will relish , & that the poor preaching presbyter should be more honoured then they , let any man iudge . here then are ecclesiastical rulers , distinct from these of the common-wealth . to these rulers belongeth the cognition of ecclesiastical offences , in contradistinction to civil causes and iudges ; matth. . — tell the church : now the civil magistrat cannot be this church , where is he ever so termed ? or how will he , ( being himself a heathen ) accompt another man so : here then is a church distinct from the common-wealth ; here are church-offences distinct from breaches of civil or municipall lawes ; here is church-delation or complaint , distinct from any complaint to the magistrat , tell the church ; and consequently , here is a church-power of cognition of these offences , distinct from that which resids in the magistrat , else it were in vain to tell the church , and as good or better to tell the magistrat ; and here is a church-sentence , let him be unto thee as a heathen , which the magistrat , being then heathen himself , would never pronounce against , or inflict as a punishment upon another man. to these church-rulers also is committed not only the power of order , or pastorall administration of word and sacraments , but also the power of jurisdiction , whether dogmatical , diatacticall , critical , or exusiastical , and not to the civil magistrat ; and accordingly jesus christ , giveth the keyes of the kingdome of heaven to peter and not to cesar mat. . : ye will find church-assemblies , distinct from parliaments , convention of est●ts , senats , &c. ( yea when the magistrat was an enemy ) determining questioned matters of faith and practice , act. : the apostle paul enjoineth the church of corinth and not the magistrat , both to excommunicat and absolve the incestuous man , cor. . . . and cor. . . : the same apostle leaveth titus and not the magistrat to ordain elders in every city . tit. . v. ; and accordingly it is performed by the presbytery , and not by the magistrat , tim. . : the apostle iohn thereateneth by himself and not by the civil magistrat , to censure diotrephes , . iohn . and as the power it self , and the several acts thereof are committed to church-officers ; so to them and not to the civil magistrat , are all the directions given for regulation of the exercise thereof , distinct from the directions given to the magistat for regulation of the affairs of the common-wealth : and so in the case of offence , there must be private rebuke before publick delation , mat. : , , . in the case of publick scandal , there must be a rebuking before all , tim. : : in the case of publick censure , there must be notoriety of the fault cor. . . or sufficient conviction of the person , by confession or probation , mat. . ; in the case of excommunication , it must be when the church is gathered together , cor. . . and not ( after the prelatical fashion ) in a corner ; in the case of absolution , there must be sufficient evidence of repentance , cor. . ; in the case of ordination of ministers , there must be the election of the people , act. . , , . trial , . tim. : . & laying on of the hands of the presbytery , tim. . . and they must be fixed to particular flocks , tit. . . how distinct are these , and all other directions given to church-officers for regulation thereof , from the directions given to the civill magistrat for regulation of the commonwealth ? and the church officers , & not the civil magistrat , are commended or discommended according as they faithfully or unfaithfully exerce this power and follow these directions : so the angel of the church of ephesus ( which i hope none will say was the magistrat ) is commended for trying them which said they were apostles and were not , revel . . it was not the emperor , senat , &c. that tryed these false apostles , as of late the parliament , council , high commission , ejected many hundreds of faithful ministers without trial ; the angels of the churches of pergamus and thyatira are discommended , for tollerating false doctrin and corrupt practice , v. . . . so is the church of corinth blamed for not timeous excommunicating of the incestuous person . cor. . for the like ommissions which are reproved in these angels , i know them who now deserve a sharper censure , sed quod defertur non aufertur . from all which , as the formal & specifical difference betwixt the power and government of church and common wealth is aboundantly evident ; so jesus christ himself , & not the civil magistrat , is the author & fountain of church-power and government ; then which , there can be nothing more clear to them who do not wilfully shut their own eyes , or whom the god of this world hath not blinded : for , besids that himself telleth us , that he hath receaved all power and judgement from the father , mat. . ver . . iohn . . . and iohn beareth him that testimony . iohn . . and who should derive power to others , but he who receaved it for that end ? let us consider his name and relation to the church ; in what relation he standeth to the common-wealth or civil magistrat , i do not here i●quire , but the apostle tells us , that he● , and not the civil magistrat , is head of the church ephes . . . and : . & , as such , he doth not only mystically communicat inward grace to the members , but occonomically derive power and direction for the outward regulation of the whole body . how then can the magistrat be head of the church , or supream governor in all causes ecclesiastical ? must the church have two heads , or a head above a head ? why may not a church officer or officers , as well claim ( with the pope ) to be head of the common-wealth ? will they shew us a warrant from scripture or reason for the one , which will not as strongly plead for the other ? well then , let christ be still head of the church . and as such . ye will find him , and not the civil magistrat , instituting all church-ordinances for administration of word and sacraments , mat. : . cor. : . for excommunication and absolution , matt. : , . and all other acts of government and disciplin : ye will find him , and not the civil magistrat . instituting church-offices ; he it is who gave , ephes . : . and sett in the church , cor. : v. . apostles , prophets , evangelists , teachers , &c. and who is he that dare alter by addition or diminution ? ye will find him , and not the civil magistrat , authorizing these officers to exerce the several acts of the power of order and jurisdiction , mat. : : ye will find him , & not the civil magistrat , furnishing these church-officers , with gifts and graces for their work ; as none goeth here upon their own expences , so can any magistrat breath the holy ghost , as christ did upon his apostles ? ioh. . ? in his name , and not in name of the magistrate , must they performe all church-acts ; they must assemble , mat. : . baptise , mat. : . excommunicat , cor. : ver . . and do all in his name : he , and not the magistrat , maketh lawes absolutely and primarily oblieging to the church and church-officers , and therefore is he called the lawgiver , isai . : . iam. : : he , and not the civil magistrat , will call church-rulers to their final accompt ; an accompt they must give , hebr. : . & to whom but to him that gave them commission , and is iudge ? isai . : : and in recognition of all this , the apostle paul acknowledgeth that the lord jesus , and not the civil magistrat , giveth ministerial power and authority , cor. : . and cor. , : and because of this , they are called the ministers of christ , cor. : . and ambassaders for christ , cor. : . and not of , or for the magistrat , as now the king termeth the prelats our bishops : his servants they are , & therefore should not be pleasers of man , nor of the magistrat , gal. : . as they ought to be , if he gave them commission : if the magistrat , as such , be head of the church , and fountain of church power and government , i would gladly know , how or whence the apostles , their successors and others in the ministery , had power to teach or govern the church , when there was no christian magistrat to derive power to them ? or whether they had any power at all , or were but usurpers ? or what the church shall do for power when the magistrat is heathen , antichristian , or a woman , child , a fooll , a tyrant , or heretick , &c. shall the church all this time want a head ? or shall the body of christ , have a pagan-head ? shall a woman , who must not speak in the church , be head of the church ? shall a child or idiot , who cannot govern themselves , have the external regulation of the church ? or shall cruell tyrants , who oppress or destroy the common-wealth , and bodies of men , have the regulation of the church , & of the souls of men ? we may then go to the pope , the turk , the wild indian-infidels and savages , for a head to the church before she want ; for what●ver belongeth to one man , as a magistrat , belongeth to all magistrats : but we will hold us content with the head , iesus christ , which the father hath given us . now from this , that church-power and government are thus distinct from the civil , and that jesus christ and not the magistrat , is author and fountain thereof , it evidently followeth , that it is not subordinat to the magitrat . it is true , that the magistrat hath much power objectively ecclesiasticall , and that church officers , as subjects , are subject to him ; yet ecclesiastical power it-self , is not properly subordinat to the civil . this will the more appear , not only because it is not derived from the magistrat , as the head or fountain thereof , nor is exerced in his name , but also if we consider , that proper subordination , is only in things flowing from the same fountain , and of the same nature , whereas civill and eccesiasticall powers are neither from the same immediat fountain ( if the one be from iehovah essentially considered , and as great lord creator and gubernator of the world , the other from the lord redeemer , head and king of his church ) nor yet are they of the same , but different natures , as is said before : again , if it were properly subordinat to the civil power , then the magistrat himself , might exerce all ecclesiasticall acts , in the administration of word and sacraments , as well as of jurisdiction ; for as nor ason can be adduced , why he may institute or alter church government or officers , or exerce the external regulation thereof , which will not by parity of strength infer his exercing acts of order ; so , every superior power including all the inferior . he may as well exerce all ecclesiastical power , as civil , if the one be subordinat to the other : and further , the magistrat himself , as a christian , is but a member of the church , and subject to church-government and discipline , though it should not be practised , except for most weighty causes , in great necessity , and with singular prudence , and all due respect and reverence to civil authority , and the person therewith vest●d ; and accordingly many magistrats have been censured : yea in some cases , as if the magistrat should unjustly forbid to preach , baptise , ordain , deprive , excommunicat &c. the church may exerce church power without and against his consent , which she could not do , if it were subordinat to him . i know there are many clamours of the absurdity and inconsistency of two collateral and co-ordinat supream powers and governments in one kingdom ; and indeed that absurdity and inconsistency may hold true , of two supream collaterall and co-ordinat powers ejusdem generis , but not in this case where they are diversi generis : yea of their own natures , they are so far from being hurtful , that , being rightly mannaged , they are singularly helpfull to one another : neither can these two powers and governments in a land , import now under the new testament greater absurdity and inconsistancy , then under the old , when the jewes had their ecclesiastical sanedrin , as well as civil courts for the affairs of the commoun-wealth . hence also it followeth , that as ecclesiastical power is not subject to the civil ; so , in matters ecclesiastical , there should be no appellation from the church to the civil magistrat : for though when church judicatories , without their sphere , meddle in civil causes as such , or , for ecclesiastical offences , inflict civil punishments , they may be declined as judges incompetent in the one case , & complaint of an unjust or heterogeneous sentence is lawful in the other ; & though the magistrat , before he adde his ratification , may require a reason of ecclesiasticall proceedings , or , in case of an injust sentence , may desire the church to consider the matter again ; & the church i● bound thus to give a reason , or consider the matter , especially in a degenerat or declining time of the church , when more is permitted to the faithful magistrat , then otherwise ; yet there can be no appellation from the church to the magistrat in ecclesiastical causes & sentences : not only because all appellations are from the inferior to the superior in eodem genere , but the church and state are not such , as is cleared before ; but also because the church is indued with compleat power of cognoscing & final determining ecclesiastical affairs , without dependance upon the state , and these determinations , being just , the lord hath promised to ratify , mat. : . and the magistrat , having no formal church power , cannot pronounce ecclesiastical sentence , or make redress by himself , & so the appellation is in vain . pauls appealing to caesar , act. : . will not help this weak cause ; for he did not appeal in an ecclesiastical cause , from an ecclesiastical court , to a court of another nature , but in a matter of alleaged sedition , from festus an inferior magistrat to caesar the supream . neither is the instance of ieremy stronger then the former ( ier. : . . &c ) for there is no mention of his appealing from the priests to the magistrat , but of his apology before the princes , who came to hear the matter , and their voluntary delivering him from the uniust persecution of the priests and prophets , who were not competent judges of life and death . neither is the exception of the difference betwixt a heathen and christian magistrat more valid in this matter ; for ( besids all that is before said ) in the old testament , the government of the church was committed to church-officers , even when the magistrat was religious , and why not in the new ? the government of the church is not committed to them , because the magistrat is heathen , or upon temporary , but upon other moral and immutable grounds , & therefore should not be taken from them when he becometh christian : it is sure , that the church had power given unto her to govern herself , when the magistrat was heathen , now when and where is that power repealed ? if church-govenment belong to the christian magistrat , then it is either as magistrat or as christian , if as magistrat or as christian , then ( according to the known maxime ) it belongeth to every magistrat , and so to the heathen , and to every christian , both which are false : was the magistrat no magistrat or incompleat , when ( being heathen ) he did not meddle with church government ? or did the church usurp and rob the heathen magistrat of that power , in the apostles dayes , and or years after ? shall the church , by the promise of nursing fathers , have less power and priviledge , or be in worse condition , by a christian then heathen magistrat ? and how vain i● the distinction of outward regulation of the church , and inward , ( for that must be the other terme ) for the inward regulation thereof belongs incontrovertibly to jesus christ , and if the magistrat hath the outward , what is left to the church ? these things , which , had they been formally digested , would have been more clear and convincing , are only thus confusedly and abruptly hi●ted : nor should i have said so much , if ( besids the erastian spirit , which , more then ever , doth now rage ) some parliamentary and council-expressions , and aggreeable practices , had not given occasion . whether it be primitive or not , let the reader judge , but sure i am , the kings government of the church and state ; charles , &c. supream governor in all causes as well ecclesiasticall as civil ; the bishops serving the king in the church , is neither scriptural nor safe dialect . him they may serve , and whether or how , time will tell ; but well know i , whom they do not ser●e in the church : and indeed it is proper , that they who are there , only by the will of man , should only serve man. his commissioners they are , and accordingly sharp hath deposed some ministers by vertue of the power which he hath from his majesty , and therefore they can expect no greater assistance , blessing or reward then he can give ; but yet there is a great●r to whom they must give an accompt . having ( beyond my first intention ) detained thee longer , then perhaps was necessary , or will be profitable or pleasant , thow may'st now speak with the deduction , which is of age , & able to answere for itself , if according to the patience , learning & justice of many , thow do not refute and condemn before thow know it ; or brandish big words , as he who upon a coronation-day , offereth duell to all who question the kings right , when he knoweth , that ( for major vis ) none dare appear in the contrary . but in the passing take a word of the national covenant , the solemn league and covenant , and solemn acknowledgment of sins and engagement unto duties , that at one view , thow may'st see scotlands engagements and breaches , the faithfulness of many , & flood of sin and suffering that hath overflowed the land : here is the terminus a quo and ad quem of our backsliding , whereof , though the most skilled artist cannot pourtray to the life the whole body ( the form is so monstruous & complexion so strange ) he may well darkly represent some lineaments of fingers and toes , that the reader may know ex ungue leon●m ; yet the author hath nervously asserted the truth , and drawn matters of fact , with such true collours , that he can only be accused for a picture fairer then the live-face of many persons & actions . to winde up all , be not discouraged upon the one hand nor insult upon the other , by the death of many mighty men of god , co-workers and eye witnesses of his work , within these few years past , and the stripling-stature of many survivers , who have not attained unto the dayes of the years of the life of their fathers , and ( being but of yesterday ) can know little of the lords ancient kindness to the land , except what th●ir fathers have told them : for as he hath reserved a numerous remnant of holy , learned , and faithful men , a rich cluster wherein there is a blessing , and we have reason to bless him who gave not our church dry breasts & a miscarrying womb ; so he can make the barren bear seven , & become a joyful mother of many children , and as he hath work for them , will raise up both shepherds and principal men . it is true , alas ! there is grown up a most degenerat off-spring of all qualities , some whereof ( and not the meanest ) being as profane as machiavel , who teacheth rulers to keep promise and oath no longer , then with pretended advantage they can break , and that it is a prejudice to be really religious , but not so honest as he , who notwithstanding affirmeth a necessity of seeming to be religious , which they are not , accompt no man to be a man , who , by whoring , swearing , drinking & spending all or more then they have , do not class themselves into their new profane orders , & become as cartesian in their religion , by atheistical doubtings & disputings about god , the holy scripturs , heaven , hell , &c. as others are in their philosophy . but here is an advantage , that by discovery , and distinguishing betwixt the precious and the vile , the lord hath made this defection contribut more to the facility ( as well as necessity ) of a future purgation of the church , then all her judicatures could ever effectuat without it . and further , as he hath frustrated many chief authors and promotters thereof of their hopes and designs , and called nobles , prelats and others to an accompt before they well tasted the expected sweetness , or were warm in their places or promotions ; so though herod & pilat may aggrie against the innocent , yet where men are like samsons foxes , only tied together by the tail of common corrupt principles , whilst their heads , of self interest and designs , look different wayes , what such a position , conjunction and aspect prognosticateth , let scripture , reason and experience be consulted and they will tell . let us not , in the meantime , mistake gods work , wayes , doings nor intentions , neither be envyous at evil doers , nor yet be curious nor anxious about futuritions , much less limit the holy one , to means , method or time , but bear the indignation of the lord because we have sinned , till he plead our cause , waiting upon him who is a god of judgment , and waiteth that he may be gracious , and in patience possess our souls , for ( though we do not ) he knoweth his own thoughts toward us , it may be they are thoughts of peace , and not of evil , to give an expected end , and that ( when he hath ripen'd deliverance ) he will bring us forth to the light , & we shall behold his righteousness . it is a crime of the highest nature with our rulers , to complain or supplicat for redress , others are either of deaf ears or feeble hands and cannot help , and seeing we can do no more for the cause and covenant of god , for our mother-church , the land , ourselves , our brethren & posterity , let us open our cause to him who tryeth the righteous . o lord hear , o lord forgive , o lord hearken and do : defer not for thine own sake , o my god : for thy city and thy people are called by thy name , amen . the testimony of m r james wood , minister of the gospel , and professor of theology in the university of s. andrewes , for presbyterial government . i mr james wood , being now shortly ( by appearance ) to render up my spirit to the lord , find my self obliged to leave a word behind me , for my just vindication before the world. it hath been said of me , that i have ( in word at least ) reseiled from my wonted zeal for presbyterial government , expressing my self concerning it , as if it were a matter not to be accounted of , & that no man should trouble himself in the matter & practice thereof . it is true , being under sicknes , i have some times said , i was taken up with weightier matters , then any external ordinance , and what wonder i said so ? being under such wrestling an●nt my interest in iesus christ , which is a matter of for greater concernment . surely any christian in this church that knows me , will judge there is a wrong done to me : for since the day that the lord convinced my heart ( which was by a strong hand ) that it was the ordinance of god , appointed by iesus christ , for governing & ordering his visible church , i never had the least change of thoughts , concerning the necessity of it , nor of the necessity of the use of it . and now i declare before god & the world , that i account so of it still : and that however there be some more precious ordinances , yet that this is so precious , that a true christian is obliged to lay down his life for the profession thereof , if the lord shall see it meet to put him to the tryal . and for my self , if i were to live , i would account it my glory , to seal this word of my testimony with my blood . of this my declaration , i take god , angels and men to be my witnesses , and have subscribed thi● presents with my hand , the of march . about hours afternoon , before mr william tullidaf and mr john carstairs , my brother in law , and john pitcarn , writer hereof . m r james wood. as the matter of this testimony is very considerable , especially from so great a man as mr wood was ; so the occasion & consequents thereof are very observable , which were thus : mr sharp , having formerly been intimately familiar with mr wood , came to visite him under his sickness ( whereunto sharps apostacy had no small accession ) & thereafter did falsely spread a report by word & writ , that mr wood had reseiled from presbyterial government . whereof when mr wood was informed , he was of new grievously affected and afflicted , and thereupon , for his own vindication , left this testimony behind him . but mr sharp finding himself thereby made a publlck lyar , ( making lyes still his refuge ) pursueth mr wood being dead , as well as alive , with a new slander , alleaging his testimony to be fictitious , or extorted from him , when , through distemper of his sickness , he knew not what he did , and thereupon caused summond the witnesses ▪ the writter and some other persons before the high commission : but the contrary of this was and is most evident , not only because this testimony was written and subscribed , a considerable number of dayes before his death , dureing which intervall ( as before ) he was so composed , that he spake many gracious words about his own soul , ordered his civil affairs , and a famous physician was not without hopes of his recovery ; but also because , hearing that some of his faithful brethren & co-presbyters were in the town , he sent once & again for them , and before them , and some other ministers at other times , purged himself of that unjust imputation , and did bear witness for presbyterial government more fully & freely then is in the written testimony , & some time thereafter , of his own accord did call for the writter , & ( there being none other present in the chamber at the beginning ) did indite and cause him writ the same , as it now is without any alteration ; as also in a letter written some considerable time before , ( inviting mr carstairs to come and visite him ) he had made mention of the backsliding , tryalls and sufferings of the times , and expressed his desire to live , that he might give a more free testimony to the truth . notwithstanding all which , mr sharp ( obstructing the reading of a letter written by mr carstairs to the chancelor , containing and clearing the matter of fact ) persisted with great attestations before the high commission , in his former false alleagance , and slandering both of the dead and the living , and caused imprison the writer and one of the witnesses , and forced the other ( whom , for his eminent parts , holiness and faithfulness , he most pursued ) to a retirement for his own safety . what shall be given to thee o sharp ! or what shall be done to thee ; o false tongue ? sharp arrows of the mighty and coals of juniper . the nationall covenant , or the confession of faith of the kirk of scotland , subscribed at first by the kings majesty and his houshold , in the yeare . thereafter , by persons of all rankes , in the yeare , by ordinance of the lords of the secret councill , and acts of the general assembly . subscribed againe by all sorts of persons in the yeare , by a new ordinance of council , at the desire of the general assembly : with a general band for maintenance of the true religion & the kings person . and now subscribed in the year . by us , noblemen , barons , gentlemen , burgesses , ministers , and commons , then under-subscribing : together , with our resolution and promises for the causes after specified , to maintaine the said true religion , and the kings majesty , according to the confession foresaid , and acts of parliament . and now , upon the supplication of the general assembly to his majesty's high commissioner , and the lords of his majesty's honorable privy council , subscribed again in the year . by ordinance of council , and act of general assembly . the tenor whereof here followeth . we all , and every one of us underwritten , protest , that , after long and due examination of our owne consciences , in matters of true & false religion , we are now throughly resolved of the truth , by the word and spirit of god ; and therefore we believe with our hearts , confess with our mouths , subscribe with our hands , and constantly affirme before god , and the whole word , that this onely is the true christian faith and religion , pleasing god , and bringing salvation to man , which now is by the mercy of god revealed to the world , by the preaching of the blessed evangel , and receaved , believed , and defended , by many and sundry notable kirks and realmes , but chiefly by the kirk of scotland , the kings majesty , and three estates of this realme , as gods eternall truth , and onely ground of our salvation : as more particularly is expressed in the confession of our faith , stablished , and publickly confirmed by sundry acts of parliament , and now of a long time hath beene openly professed by the kings majesty , and whole body of this realme both in burgh and land. to the which confession and forme of religion , wee willingly agree in our consciences in all points , as unto gods undoubted truth and verity , grounded onely upon his written word . and therefore , we abhorre and detest all contrary religion , and doctrine : but chiefly , all kinde of papistry , in generall and particular heads , even as they are now damned and confuted by the word of god , and kirk of scotland : but in special we detest and refuse the usurped authority of that roman antichrist upon the scriptures of god , upon the kirk , the civill magistrate , and conscience of men , all his tyrannous lawes made upon indifferent things against our christian liberty , his erronious doctrine , against the sufficiency of the written word , the perfection of the law , the office of christ , and his blessed evangel . his corrupted doctrine concerning originall sinne , our naturall inability and rebellion to gods law , our justification by faith only , our imperfect sanctification and obedience to the law , the nature , number and use of the holy sacraments . his five bastard sacraments , with all his rites , ceremonies , and false doctrine , added to the ministration of the true sacraments without the word of god. his cruell judgement against infants departing without the sacrament : his absolute necessity of baptisme : his blasphemous opinion of transubstantiation , or reall presence of christs body in the elements , and receiving of the same by the wicked , or bodies of men . his dispensations with solemne oathes , perjuries , and degrees of mariage forbidden in the word : his cruelty against the innocent divorced : his divellish masse : his blasphemous priesthood : his profane sacrifice for the sinnes of the dead and the quick : his canonization of men , calling upon angels or saints departed , worshipping of imagery , relicts , and crosses , dedicating of kirks , altars , dayes , vowes to creatures ; his purgatory , prayers for the dead , praying or speaking in a strange language , with his processions and blasphemous letany , and multitude of advocates or mediators : his manifold orders , auricular confession : his desperate and uncertaine repentance ; his general and doubtsome faith ; his satisfactions of men for their sinnes : his justification by works , opus operatum , works of supererogation , merits , pardons , peregrinations , and stations : his holy water , baptising of bells , conjuring of spirits , crossing , saning , anointing , conjuring , hallowing of gods good creatures , with the superstitious opinion joyned therewith : his worldly monarchy , and wicked hierarchy : his three solemne vowes , with all his shavelings of sundry sorts , his erronious and bloudy decrees made at trent , with all the subscribers and approvers of that cruell and bloudy band , conjured against the kirk of god : and finally , wee detest all his vaine allegories , rites , signes and traditions , brought in the kirk , without or against the word of god , and doctrine of this true reformed kirk , to the which we joyne ourselves willingly , in doctrine , faith , religion , discipline , and use of the holy sacraments , as lively members of the same , in christ our head : promising and swearing by the great name of the lord our god , that we shall continue in the obedience of the doctrine and discipline of this kirk , and shall defend the same according to our vocation and power , all the dayes of our lives , under the pains contained in the law , and danger both of body and soul , in the day of gods fearful judgment : and seeing that many are stirred up by sathan , and that roman antichrist , to promise , sweare , subscribe , and for a time use the holy sacraments in the kirk deceitfully against their own consciences , minding thereby , first , under the external cloak of religion , to corrupt and subvert secretly gods true religion within the kirk , and afterward , when time may serve , to become open enemies and persecutors of the same , under vain hope of the popes dispensation , devised against the word of god , to his greater confusion , and their double condemnation in the day of the lord jesus . wee , therefore , willing to take away all suspicion of hypocrisy , and of such double dealing with god and his kirk , protest , and call the searcher of all hearts for witnesse , that our mindes and hearts , do fully agree with this our confession , promise , oath and subscription , so that wee are not moved for any wordly respect , but are persuaded onely in our consciences , through the knowledge and love of gods true religion , printed in our hearts by the holy spirit , as we shall answer to him in the day , when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed . and because we perceave that the quietness and stability of our religion and kirk , doth depend upon the safety & good behaviour of the kings majesty , as upon a comfortable instrument of gods mercy , granted to this countrey , for the maintaining of this kirk , and ministration of justice amongst us , we protest and promise with our hearts under the same oath , hand-writ , and pains , that we shall defend his person and authority , with our goods , bodies and lives , in the defence of christ his evangel , liberties of our country , ministration of justice , and punishment of iniquity , against all enemies within this realm , or without , as we desire our god to be a strong and merciful defender to us in the day of our death , and coming of our lord iesus christ : to whom with the father . and the holy spirit , be all honour and glory eternally . like as many acts of parliament not onely in general do abrogate , annull , and rescind all lawes , statutes , acts , constitutions , canons , civil or municipall , with all other ordinances and practique penalties whatsoever , made in prejudice of the true religion and professours thereof ; or , of the true kirk-discipline , jurisdiction , and freedome thereof ; or in favours of idolatry and superstition ; or of the papisticall kirk : as act. . act. . parl. . act. . parl. . act. . parl. . of king iames the sixt , that papistry and superstition may be utterly suppressed according to the intention of the acts of parliament repeated in the . act. parl. . k iames . and to that end they ordaine all papists and priests to be punished by manifold civill and ecclesiastical pains , as adversaries to gods true religion , preached and by law established within this realme , act. . parl. . k. iames . as common enemies to all christian government , act. . parl. . k. iames . as rebellers and gainstanders of our soveraigne lords authority , act. . parl. . k. iames . and as idolaters . act. . parl. . k. iames . but also in particular ( by and atcour the confession of faith ) do abolish and condemne the popes authority and jurisdiction out of this land , and ordaine the maintainers thereof to be punished , act . parl. . act . part. . act . parl. . act . parl. . k. iames . do condemne the popes erronious doctrine , or any other erronious doctrine repugnant to any of the articles of the true and christian religion publickly preached , and by law established in this realme : and ordaines the spreaders and makers of books or libels , or letters , or writs of that nature to be punished , act . parl. . act . parl. . act . parl. . k. iames . do condemne all baptisme conforme to the popes kirk and the idolarry of the masse , and ordaines all sayers , willfull hearers , and concealers of the masse , the maintainers and resetters of the priests , jesuites , traffiquing papists , to be punished without any exception or restriction , act . parl. . act. . parl. . act. . parl. . act. . parl. . act. . parl. . act. . parl. . k. iames . do condemne all erroneous bookes and writtes containing erroneous doctrine against the religion presently professed , or containing superstitious rites and ceremonies papisticall , whereby the people are greatly abused , and ordaines the home-bringers of them to be punished , act . parl. . k. iames . do condemne the monuments and dregs of by-gone idolatry ; as going to the crosses , observing the feastivall dayes of saints , and such other superstitious and papisticall rites , to the dishonour of god , contempt of true religion , and fostering of great errour among the people , and ordaines the users of them to be punished for the second fault as idolaters , act . parl. . k. iames . like as many acts of parliament are conceaved for maintenance of gods true and christian religion , and the purity thereof in doctrine and sacraments of the true church of god , the liberty & freedom thereof , in her national , synodal assemblies , presbyteries , sessions , policy , discipline and jurisdiction thereof , as that purity of religion and liberty of the church was used , professed , exercised , preached and confessed according to the reformation of religion in this realm . as for instance , the . act. parl. . act. . parl. . act. . parl. . act. . parl. . of king iames . ratified by the . act. of king charles . so that the . act. parl. . and . act. parl. . of king iames . in the yeare of god . declares the ministers of the blessed evangel , whom god of his mercy had raised up , or hereafter should raise , agreeing with them that then lived in doctrin , and administration of the sacraments , and the people that professed christ , as he was then offered in the evangel , and doth communicate with the holy sacraments , ( as in the reformed kirk's of this realm they were publickly administrat ) according to the confession of faith , to be the true and holy kirk of christ jesus within this realm , and decerns and declares all and sundry , who either gainsayes the word of the evangel , received and approved , as the heads of the confession of faith , professed in parliament , in the yeare of god . specified also in the first parliament of king iames . and ratified in this present parliament , more particularly do specify , or that refuses the administration of the holy sacraments , as they were then ministrated , to be to members of the said kirk within this realme , and true religion , presently professed , so long as they keep themselves so divided from the society of christs body : and the subsequent act. . parl. . of k. iames . declares , that there is none other face of kirk , nor other face of religion , then was presently at that time , by the favour of god established within this realme , which therefore is ever stiled , gods true religion , christs true religion , the true and christian religion , and a perfect religion , which by manifold acts of parliament , all within this realme are bound to subscribe the articles thereof , the confession of faith , to recant all doctrine & errours , repugnant to any of the said articles , act. . & . parl. . act. . . . parl. . act . parl. . act . parl. . act . parl. . act . parl. . act . and . parl. . of k. iames . and all magistrats , sherifs , &c. on the one parte are ordained to search , apprehend , and punish all contraveeners ; for instance , act . parl. . act . parl. . act . par. . k. iames . and that notwithstanding of the kings majesty's licences on the contrary , which are discharged & declared to be of no force in so farre as they tend in any wayes , to the prejudice & hinder of the execution of the acts of parliament against papists & adversaries of true religion , act. . parl. . k. iames . on the other part in the . act. parl. . k. iames . it is declared and ordained , seeing the cause of gods true religion , and his highnes authority are so joyned , as the hurt of the one is common to both : and that none shal be reputed as loyall and faithfull subjects to our soveraigne lord , or his authority , but be punishable as rebellers and gainstanders of the same , who shall not give their confession , and make their profession of the said true religion , and that they who after defection shall give the confession of their faith of new , they shall promise to continue therein in time comming , to maintaine our souveraigne lords authority , and at the uttermost of their power to fortify , assist , and maintaine the true preachers and professors of christs evangel , against whatsoever enemies and gainestanders of the same : and namely ( against all such of whatsoever nation , estate , or degree they be of ) that have joyned , and bound themselves , or have assisted , or assists to set forward , and execute the cruell decrees of trent , contrary to the preachers and true professors of the word of god , which is repeated word by word in the article of pacification at perth the of februar . . approved by parliament the last of aprile . ratified in parliament . and related , act . parl. . of k. iames . with this addition , that they are bound to resist all treasonable uproars and hostilities raised against the true religion , the kings majesty , and the true professors . like as all liedges are bound to maintaine the king majesty's royal person ▪ and authority , the authority of parliaments , without the which neither any lawes or lawful judicatories can be established . act . act. . parl. . k. iames . and the subjects liberties , who ought onely to live and be governed by the kings lawes , the common lawes of this realme allanerly , act . parl. . k. iames the first . act. . parl . k. iames the . repeated in the act . parl. . k. iames . which if they be innovated or prejudged , the commission anent the union of the two kingdoms of scotland and england , which is the sole act of the . parl. of k. iames . declares such confusion would ensue , as this realme could be no more a free monarchy , because by the fundamentall lawes , ancient priviledges , offices and liberties of this kingdome , not onely the princely authority of his majesty's royal discent hath been these many ages maintained , but also the peoples security of their lands , livings , rights , offices , liberties , and dignities preserved , and therefore for the preservatien of the said true religion , lawes , and liberties of this kingdome , it is statute by the . act parl. . repeated in the . act parl. . ratified in the . act parl. . and . act parl. . of k. iames . and . act of k. charles . that all kings and princes at their coronation and reception of their princely authority , shall make their faithfull promise by their solemne oath in the presence of the eternal god , that , enduring the whole time of their lives , they shall serve the same eternal god to the uttermost of their power , according as he hath required in his most holy word , contained in the old and new testament . and according to the same word shall maintain the true religion of christ jesus , the preaching of his holy word , the due and right ministration of the sacraments now receaved and preached within this realme ( according to the confession of faith immediately preceeding ) and shall abolish and gainstand all false religion contrary to the same , and shall rule the people committed to their charge , according to the will and command of god , revealed in his foresaid word , and according to the laudable lawes and constitutions received in this realme , no wayes repugnant to the said will of the eternall god ; and shall procure , to the uttermost of their power , to the kirk of god , and whole christian people , true and perfite peace in all time coming : and that they shall be careful to root out of their empire all hereticks , and enemies to the true worship of god , who shall be convicted by the true kirk of god , of the foresaid crimes , which was also observed by his majesty , at his coronation in edinburgh . as maybe seene in the order of the coronation . in obedience to the commandment of god , conforme to the practice of the godly in former times , and according to the laudable example of our worthy and religious progenitors , & of many yet living amongst us , which was warranted also by act of councill , commanding a general band to be made and subscribed by his majesty's subjects , of all ranks , for two causes : one was , for defending the true religion , as it was then reformed , and is expressed in the confession of faith abovewritten , and a former large confession established by sundry acts of lawful generall assemblies , & of parliament , unto which it hath relation , set down in publick catechismes , and which had been for many years with a blessing from heaven preached , and professed in this kirk and kingdome , as gods undoubted truth , grounded only upon his written word . the other cause was , for maintaining the kings majesty , his person , and estate : the true worship of god and the kings authority , being so straitly joined , as that they had the same friends , and common enemies , and did stand and fall together . and finally , being convinced in our mindes , and confessing with our mouthes , that the present and succeeding generations in this land , are bound to keep the foresaid nationall oath & subscription inviolable , wee noblemen , barons , gentlemen , burgesses , ministers & commons under subscribing , considering divers times before & especially at this time , the danger of the true reformed religion , of the kings honour , and of the publick peace of the kingdome : by the manifold innovations and evills generally conteined , and particularly mentioned in our late supplications , complaints , and protestations , do hereby professe , and before god , his angels , and the world solemnly declare , that , with our whole hearts we agree & resolve , all the dayes of our life , constantly to adhere unto , and to defend the foresaid true religion , and ( forbearing the practice of all novations , already introduced in the matters of the worship of god , or approbation of the corruptions of the publicke government of the kirk , or civil places and power of kirk-men , till they be tryed & allowed in free assemblies , and in parliaments ) to labour by all meanes lawful to recover the purity and liberty of the gospel , as it was stablished and professed before the foresaid novations : and because , after due examination , we plainely perceave , and undoubtedly believe , that the innovations and evils contained in our supplications , complaints , and protestations have no warrant of the word of god , are contrary to the articles of the foresaid confessions , to the intention and meaning of the blessed reformers of religion in this land , to the above written acts of parliament , & do sensibly tend to the re-establishing of the popish religion and tyranny , and to the subversion and ruine of the true reformed religion , and of our liberties , lawes and estates , we also declare , that the foresaid confessions are to be interpreted , and ought to be understood of the foresaid novations and evils , no lesse then if every one of them had been expressed in the foresaid confessions , and that we are obliged to detest & abhorre them amongst other particular heads of papistry abjured therein . and therefore from the knowledge and consciences of our duety to god , to our king and countrey , without any wordly respect or inducement , so farre as humane infirmity will suffer , wishing a further measure of the grace of god for this effect , we promise , and sweare by the great name of the lord our god , to continue in the profession and obedience of the foresaid religion : that we shall defend the same , and resist all these contrary errours and corruptions , according to our vocation , and to the uttermost of that power that god hath put in our hands , all the dayes of our life : and in like manner with the same heart , we declare before god and men , that we have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turne to the dishonour of god , or to the diminution of the kings greatnesse and authority : but on the contrary , we promise and sweare , that we shall , to the uttermost of our power , with our meanes and lives , stand to the defence of our dread soveraigne , the kings majesty , his person , and authority , in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true religion , liberties and lawes of the kingdome : as also to the mutual defence and assistance , every one of us of another in the same cause of maintaining the true religion and his majesty's authority , with our best counsel , our bodies , meanes , and whole power , against all sorts of persons whatsoever . so that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that cause , shall be taken as done to us all in genearal , and to every one of us in particular . and that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion , allurement , or terrour from this blessed & loyall conjunction , nor shall cast in any let or impediment , that may stay or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good ends . but on the contrary , shall by all lawful meanes labour to further and promove the same , and if any such dangerous & divisive motion be made to us by word or writ , we , and every one of us , shall either suppresse it , or if need be shall incontinent make the same known , that it may be timeously obviated : neither do we fear the foul aspersions of rebellion , combination , or what else our adversaries from their craft and malice would put upon us , seing what we do is so well warranted , and ariseth from an unfeined desire to maintaine the true worship of god , the majesty of our king , and peace of the kingdome , for the common happinesse of our selves , and the posterity . and because we cannot look for a blessing from god upon our proceedings , except with our profession and subscription we joine such a life & conversation , as beseemeth christians , who have renewed their covenant with god ; we , therefore , faithfully promise , for our selves , our followers , and all other under us , both in publick , in our particular families , and personal carriage , to endeavour to keep our selves within the bounds of christian liberty , and & to be good examples to others of all godlinesse , sobernesse , and righteousnesse , and of every duety we owe to god and man , and that this our union and conjunction may be observed without violation , we call the living god , the searcher of our hearts to witness , who knoweth this to be our sincere desire , and unfained resolution , as we shall answere to jesus christ , in the great day , and under the pain of gods everlasting wrath . and of infamy , and losse of all honour and respect in this world , most humbly beseeching the lord to strengthen us by his holy spirit for this end , and to blesse our desires and proceedings with a happy successe , that religion and righteousnesse may flourish in the land , to the glory of god , the honour of king , and peace and comfort of us all . in witnesse whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the premisses , &c. the article of this covenant , which was at the first subscription , referred to the determination of the general assembly , being determined , and thereby the articles of perth , the government of the kirk by bishops , the civill places and power of kirkment , upon the reasons and grounds contained in the acts of the general assembly , declared to be unlawful within this kirk , we subscribe according to the determination foresaid . a solemn league and covenant for reformation , and defence of religion , the honour and happiness of the king , and the peace and safety of the three kingdoms of scotland , england , and ireland . we noblemen , barons , knights , gentlemen , citizens , burgesses , ministers of the gospel , and commons of all sorts in the kingdoms of scotland , england and ireland , by the providence of god living under one king , and being of one reformed religion , having before our eyes the glory of god , and the advancement of the kingdom of our lord and saviour jesus christ , the honour and happinesse of the kings majesty and his posterity , and the true publick liberty , safety , and peace of the kingdoms , wherein every ones private condition is included ; and calling to minde the treacherous and bloody plots , conspiracies , attempts and practices of the enemies of god against the true religion and professours thereof in all places , especially in these three kingdoms , ever since the reformation of religion , and how much their rage , power and presumption are of late , and at this time increased and exercised ; whereof the deplorable estate of the church and kingdom of ireland , the distressed estate of the church & kingdom of england , and the dangerous estate of the church and kingdom of scotland are present and publick testimonies : we have now at last ( after other means of supplication , remonstrance , protestation and suffering ) for the preservation of our selves and our religion from utter ruine and destruction , according to the commendable practice of these kingdoms in former times , and the example of gods people in other nations , after mature deliberation , resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemn league and covenant : wherein we all subscribe , and each one of us for himself , with our hands lifted up to the most high god , do swear , . that we shall sincerely , really and constantly , through the grace of god , endeavour in our several places and callings , the preservation of the reformed religion in the chuch of scotland , in doctrine , worship , discipline and government , against our common enemies ; the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of england and ireland , in doctrine , worship , discipline and government , according to the word of god , and the example of the best reformed churches ; and shall endeavour to bring the churches of god in the three kingdoms , to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion , confession of faith , form of church-government , directory for worship and catechizing ; that we and our posterity after us , may , as brethren , live in faith and love , and the lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us . . that we shall in like manner , without respect of persons , endeavour the extirpation of popery , prelacy ( that is , church-government by arch-bishops , bishops , their chancellours and commissaries , deans , deans and chapters , arch-deacons , and all other ecclesiasticall officers depending on that hierarchy ) superstition , heresy , schism , prophanesse , and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine , and the power of godliness ; lest we partake in other mens sins , and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues ; and that the lord may be one , and his name one in the three kingdoms . . we shall with the same sincerity , reality and constancy , in our severall vocations , endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the rights and priviledges of the parliaments , and the liberties of the kingdoms ; and to preserve and defend the kings majesty's person and authority , in the preservation and defence of the true religion , and liberties of the kingdoms ; that the world may bear witnesse with our consciences of our loyalty , and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his majesty's just power and greatnesse . . we shall also with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been , or shall be incendiaries , malignants , or evil instruments , by hindering the reformation of religion , dividing the king from his people , or one of the kingdoms from another , or making any faction , or parties amongst the people contrary to this league and covenant , that they may be broughr to publick triall , and receive condigne punishment , as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve , or the supream judicatories of both kingdomes respectively , or others having power from them for that effect , shall judge convenient . . and whereas the happinesse of a blessed peace between these kingdoms , denyed in former times to our progenitors , is by the good providence of god granted unto us , and hath been lately concluded , and settled by both parliaments , we shall each one of us , according to our place and interest , endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firme peace and union to all posterity , and that justice may be done upon the willfull opposers thereof , in manner expressed in the precedent article . . we shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of religion , liberty , and peace of the kingdoms , assist and defend all those that enter into this league and covenant , in the maintaining and pursuing thereof ; and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination , perswasion or terrour , to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed union and conjunction , whither to make defection to the contrary part , or to give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause , which so much concerneth the glory of god , the good of the kingdoms , and honour of the king ; but shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein , against all opposition , and promote the same according to our power , against all lets and impediments whatsoever ; and , what we are not able our selves to suppresse or overcome , we shall reveale and make known , that it may be timely prevented or removed : all which we shall do as in the sight of god. and because these kingdoms are guilty of many sins , and provocations against god , and his son jesus christ , as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers , the fruits thereof , we professe and declare before god , and the world , unfained desire to be humbled for our own sins , and for the sins of these kingdoms , especially that we have not , as we ought , valued the inesteemable benefit of the gospel , that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof , and that we have not endeavoured to receive christ in our hearts , nor to walk worthy of him in our lives , wich are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us . and our true and unfained purpose , desire , and endeavour for ourselves , and all others under our power and charge , both in publick and in private , in all dutyes we owe to god and man , to amend our lives , and each one to go before another in the example of a real reformation ; that the lord may turn away his wrath , and heavy indignation , and establish these churches and kingdoms in truth and peace . and this covenant we make in the presence of almighty god the searcher of all hearts , with a true intention to peform the same , as we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts , shall be disclosed ; most humbly beseeching the lord , to strengthen us by his holy spirit for this end , and to blesse our desires , and proceedings with such successe , as may be deliverance and safety to his people , and encouragement to other christian churches groaning under , or in danger of the yoke of antichristian tyranny , or to joyn in the same , or like association & covenant , to the glory of god , the enlargement of the kingdom of jesus christ , and the peace & tranquillity of christian kingdoms , and common-wealths . a solemn acknowledgement of publick sins and breaches of the covenant ; and a solemn engagement to all the duties contained therein , namely th●se which do in a more speciall way relate unto the dangers of these times : anno . we noblemen , barons , gentlemen , burgesses , ministers of the gospel , and commons of all sorts within this kingdom , by the good hand of god upon us , taking in serious consideration the many sad afflictions and deep distresses wherewith we have been exercised for a long time past , and that the land after it hath been sore wasted with the sword and the pestilence , and threatened with famine , and that shame and contempt hath been poured out from the lord against many thousands of our nation , who did in a sinful way make war upon the kingdom of england , contrary to the testimony of his servants and desires of his people , and that the remnant of that army returning to this land have spoiled and oppressed many of our brethren , and that the malignant party is still numerous , & retaining their former principles , wait for an opportunity to raise a new and dangerous war , not only unto the rending of the bowells of this kingdom , but unto the dividing of us from england , & overturning of the work of god in all the three kingdoms : and considering also that a cloud of calamities doth still hang over our heads , & threaten us with sad things to come , we cannot but look upon these things as from the lord , who is righteous in all his wayes , feeding us with the bread of tears , and making us to drink the waters of affliction , untill we be taught to know how evil and bitter a thing it is to depart away from him , by breaking the oath and covenant which we have made with him , and that we may be humbled before him by confessing our sinne , and forsaking the evil of our way . therefore being pressed with so great necessities and straits , and warranted by the word of god , and having the example of gods people of old , who in the time of their troubles , and when they were to seek delivery and a right way for themselves , that the lord might be with them to prosper them , did humble themselves before him , and make a free and particular confession of the sins of their princes , their rulers , their captains , their priests and their people , and did engage themselves to do no more so , but to reform their wayes and be stedfast in his covenant ; and remembring the practise of our predecessours in the year . wherein the general assembly , and all the kirk-judicatories , with the concurrence of many of the nobily , gentry , and burgesses , did with many tears acknowledge before god the breach of the national covenant , and engaged themselves to a reformation , even as our predecessors and theirs had before done in the generall assembly and convention of estates in the year . and perceiving that this duty , when gone about out of conscience and in sincerity , hath alwayes been attended with a reviving out of troubles , and with a blessing and successe from heaven ; we do humbly and sincerely in his sight , who is the searcher of hearts , acknowledge the many sins and great transgressions of the land ; we have done wickedly , our kings , our princes , our nobles , our judges , our officers , our teachers , and our people : albeit the lord hath long and clearly spoken unto us , we have not hearkened to his voice ; albeit he hath followed us with tender mercies , we have not been allured to wait upon him and walk in his way ; and though he hath stricken us , yet we have not grieved ; nay though he hath consumed us , we have refused to receive correction ; we have not remembred to render unto the lord according to his goodnesse and according to our own vows and promises , but have gone away backward by a continued course of backsliding , and have broken all the articles of that solemn league and covenant which we swore before god , angels and men . albeit there be in the land many of all ranks , who be for a testimony unto the truth , and for a name of joy and praise unto the lord , by living godly , studying to keep their garments pure , and being stedfast in the covenant and cause of god ; yet we have reason to acknowledge that most of us have not endeavoured with that reality , sincerity and constancy , that did become us , to preserve the work of reformation in the kirk of scotland ; many have satisfied themses with the purity of the ordinances neglecting the power thereof ; yea , some have turned aside to crooked wayes destructive to both . the prophane , loose and insolent carriage of many in our armies , who went to the assistance of our brethren in england , and the tamperings and unstraight dealing of some of our commissioners and others of our nation in london , the isle of wight , & other places of that kingdom , have proved great lets to the work of reformation , and setling of kirk-government there , wherby errour and schism in that land have been encreased , and sectaries hardened in their way . we have been so far from endeavouring the extirpation of prophannesse , and what is contrary to the power of godlinesse , that prophanity hath been much winked at , and prophane persons much countenanced & many times employed , until iniquity and ungodlinesse hath gone over the face of the land as a flood ; nay , sufficient care hath not been had to separate betwixt the precious and the vile , by debarring from the sacrament all ignorant and scandalous persons according to the ordinances of this kirk . neither have the priviledges of the parliaments and liberties of the subject been duly tendered , but some amongst our selves have labored to put into the hands of our king an arbitrary and unlimited power destructive to both , and many of us have been accessory of late to those means and ways , whereby the freedom and priviledges of parliaments have been encroached upon and the subjects oppressed in their consciences , persons and estates : neither hath it been our care to avoid these things which might harden the king in his evill way ; but upon the contrary he hath not onely been permitted , but many of us have been instrumentall to make him exercise his power in many things tending to the prejudice of religion and of the covenant , and of the peace and safety of these kingdoms ; which is so farre from the right way of preserving his majesty's person and authority , that it cannot but provoke the lord against him unto the hazard of both , nay under a pretence of relieving and doing for the king whilst he refuses to do what was necessary for the house of god , some have ranversed and violated most of all the articles of the covenant . our own consciences within , and gods judgements upon us without do convince us , of the manifold willfull renewed breaches of that article , which concerneth the discovery and punishment of malignants , whose crimes have not onely been connived at but dispensed with and pardoned , and themselves received unto intimate fellowship with our selves , and entrusted with our counsels , admitted unto our parliaments , and put in places of power and authority , for managing the publick affaires of the kingdome , whereby in gods justice they got at last into their hands the whole power and strength of the kingdome , both in judicatories and armies , and did imploy the same unto the enacting and prosecuting an unlawful engagement in warre against the kingdome of england , notwithstanding of the dissent of many considerable members of parliament , who had given constant proof of their integrity in the cause from the beginning , of many faithful testimonies and free warnings of the servants of god , of the supplications of many synods , presbyteries and shyres , and of the declarations of the generall assembly and their commissioners to the contrary : which ingagement as it hath been the cause of much sinne , so also of much misery and calamity unto this land , and holds forth to us , the grievousnesse of our sinne of complying with malignants , in the greatnesse of our judgement , that we may be taught never to split again upon the same rock , upon which the lord hath set so remarkable a beacon . and after all that is come to passe unto us because of this our trespasse , and after that grace hath been shewed unto us from the lord our god , by breaking these mens yoke from of our necks , and putting us again into a capacity to act for the good of religion , our own safety , and the peace and safety of this kingdowe , should we again-break his commandment and covenant , by joyning once more with the people of these abominations , and taking into our bosome those serpents which had formerly stung us almost unto death : this as it would argue great madnesse and folly upon our part , so no doubt , if it be not avoided . will provoke the lord against us to consume us untill there be no remnant nor escaping in the land. and albeit the peace and union betwivt the kingdoms be a great blessing of god unto both and a bond which we are obliged to preserve unviolated , and to endeavour that justice may be done upon the opposers thereof ; yet some in this land , who have come under the bond of the covenant , have made it their great study how to dissolve this union , and few or no endeavours have been used by any of us for punishing of such . we have suffered many of our brethren in severall parts of the land to be oppressed of the common enemy without compassion or relief ; there hath been great murmuring and repining because of expense of means and pains in doing of our duty ; many by perswasion or terror have suffered themselves to be divided and withdrawn to make defection to the contrary part ; many have turned off to a detestable indifferency and neutrality in this cause , which so much concerneth the glory of god and the good of these kingdoms ; nay many have made it their study to walk so , as they might comply with all times and all the revolutions thereof . it hath not been our care to countenance , encourage , intrust and employ such onely , as from their hearts did affect and mind gods work ; but the hearts of such many times have been discouraged , and their hands weakened , their sufferings neglected , and themselves slighted , and many who were once open enemies and alwayes secret underminers contenanced and employed ; nay even those who had been looked upon as incendiaries , and upon whom the lord had set marks of desperate malignancy , falshood & deceat were brought in , as fit to manage publick affaires ; many have been the lets and impediments that have been cast in the way to retard and obstruct the lords work , and some have keeped secret , what of themselves they were not able to suppresse and overcome . besides these and many other breaches of the articles of the covenant in the matter thereof , which it concerneth every one of us to search out and acknowledge before the lord , as we would wish his wrath to be turned away from us ; so have many of us failed exceedingly in the manner of our following and pursuing the duties contained therein , not onely seeking great things for our selves , and mixing of private interests and ends concerning our selves and friends and followers , with those things which concern the publick good , but many times preferring such to the honour of god and good of his cause , and retarding gods work until we might carry alongs with us our own interests and designes . it hath been our way to trust in the means and to rely upon the arm of flesh for successe , albeit the lord hath many times made us meet with dispointment therein , and stained the pride of all our glory , by blasting every carnall confidence unto us : we have followed for the most part the counsels of flesh and blood , and walked more by the rules of policy then piety , and have hearkened more unto men then unto god. albeit we made solemn publick profession before the world of our unfained desires to be humbled before the lord for our own sinnes , and the sinnes of these kingdoms , especially for our undervaluing of the inestimable benefit of the gospel , and that we have not laboured for the power thereof , and received christ into our hearts , and walked worthy of him in our lives , and of our true and unfained purpose , desire and endeavour for our selves , and all other under our power and charge both in publick and private , in all dutyes which we owe to god and man to amend our lives , and each one to go before another in the example of a reall reformation , that the lord might turn away his wrath and heavy indignation , and establish these kirks and kingdoms in truth and peace , yet we have refused to be reformed , and have walked proudly and obstinatly against the lord , not v●lueing his gospel , nor submitting our selves unto the obedience thereof , not seeking after christ , nor studying to honour him in the excellency of his person , nor employ him in the vertue of his offices , not making conscience of publick ordinances , nor private nor secret duties , nor studying to edify one another in love . the ignorance of god and of his son jesus christ prevailes exceedingly in the land ; the greatest part of masters of families amongst noblemen , barons , gentlemen , burgesses and commons neglect to seek god in their families , and to endeavour the the reformation thereof ; and albeit it hath been much pressed , yet few of our nobles and great ones ever to his day could be perswaded to perform family duties themselves and in their own persons ; which makes so necessary and useful a duty to be misregarded by others of inferior rank ; nay many of the nobility , gentry , and burrows who should have been examples of godlinesse and sober walking unto others , have been ring-leaders of excesse and rioting . albeit we be the lords people engaged to him in a solemn way , yet to this day we have not made it our study that judicatories & armies should consist of , and places of power and trust be filled with men of a blamelesse and christian conversation , and of known integrity and approven fidelity , affection and zeal unto the cause of god , but not onely those who have been neutrall and indifferent but disaffected and malignant , and others who have been prophane and scandalous have been intrusted ; by which it hath come to passe that judicatories have been the seats of injustice and iniquity , aad many in our armies by their miscarriages have become our plague , unto the great prejudice of the cause of god , the great scandall of the gospel , and the great increase of loosenesse & prophanity throughout all the land. it were impossible to reckon up all the abominations that are in the land , but the blaspheming of the name of god , swearing by the creatures , prophanation of the lords day , uncleannesse , drunkennesse , excesse and rioting , vanity of apparrel , lying and deceit , railing and cursing , arbitrary and uncontrolled oppression , and grinding of the faces of the poor , by landlords and others in place and power , are become ordinary and common sinnes ; and besides all these things , there be many other transgressions , whereof the land wherein we live are guilty : all which we desire to acknowledge and to be humbled for , that the world may bear witnesse with us , that righteousnesse belongeth unto god , and shame & confusion of face unto us as appears this day . and because it is needfull for these who find mercy not onely to confesse but also to forsake their sinne , therefore that the reality and sincerity of our repentance may appear , we do resolve and solemnly ingage our selves before the lord , carefully to avoid for the time to come all these offences , whereof we have now made solemn publick acknowledgement , and all the snares and tentations which tend thereunto : and to testifie the integrity of our resolution herein , and that we may be the better enabled in the power of the lords strength to perform the same , we do again renue our solemn league and covenant , promising hereafter to make conscience of all the duties whereunto we are obliged in all the heads and articles thereof , particularly of these which follow . . because religion is of all things the most excellent and precious , the advancing and promoving the power thereof against all ungodlinesse and profanity , the securing and preserving the purity thereof against all error , heresy and schisme , and namely independency , anabatisme , antinomianisme , arminianisme , socinianisme , familisme , libertinisme , scepticisme , and erastianisme , and the carrying on the work of uniformity shall be studied & endeavoured by us before all worldly interests , whether concerning the king or our selves , or any other whatsomever . : because many have of late laboured to supplant the liberties of the kirk , we shall maintain and defend the kirk of scotland , in all her liberties and priviledges , against all who shall oppose or undermine the same , or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatsomever . . we shall vindicat and maintain the liberties of the subjects , in all these things which concern their consciences , persons and estates . . we shall carefully maintain and defend the union betwixt the kingdoms , and avoid every thing that may weaken the same , or involve us in any measure of accession unto the guilt of those who have invaded the kingdom of england . . as we have been always loyall to our king , so we shall still endeavour to give unto god that which is gods , and to caesar the things which are cesars . . we shall be so farre from conniving at , complying with , or contenancing of malignancy , injustice , iniquity , prophanity and impiety , that we shall not onely avoid , and discountenance those things , and cherish and encourage these persons , who are zealous for the cause of god , and walk according to the gospel ; but also shall take a more effectuall course then heretofore in our respective places and callings , for punishing and suppressing these evils , and faithfully endeavour that the best and fittest remedies may be applyed for taking away the causes thereof , and advancing the knowledge of god , and holinesse and righteousnesse in the land : and therefore in the last place , as we shall earnestly pray unto god that he would give us able men fearing god , men of truth and hating covetousnesse to judge and bear charge among his people , so we shall according to our places and callings endeavour that judicatories and all places of power and trust both in kirk and state may consist of , and be filled with such men as are of known good affection to the cause of god , and of a blamelesse and christian conversation . and because there be many , who heretofore have not made conscience of the oath of god , but some through fear , others by perswasion and upon base ends and humane interests have entered thereinto , who have afterwards discovered themselves to have dealt deceitfully with the lord , in swearing falsly by his name , therefore we , who do now renew our covenant in reference to these duties , and all other duties contained therein , do in the sight of him who is the searcher of hearts , solemnly professe that it is not upon any politique advantage or private interest or by-end , or because of any terror or perswasion from men , or hypocritically and deceitfully , that we do again take upon us the oath of god , but honestly and sincerely and from the sence of our duty , and that therefore denying our selves and our own things and laying aside all self interest and ends , we shall above all things seek the honour of god , the good of his cause and the wealth of his people , and that forsaking the counsels of flesh and blood , and not leaning upon carnall confidences , we shall depend upon the lord , walk by the rule of his word , and hearken to the voice of his servants : in all which professing our own weaknesse we do earnestly pray to god who is the father of mercies through his son jesus christ , to be merciful unto us , and to enable us by the power of his might , that we may do our duty unto the praise of his grace in the churches . amen . the occasion of this acknowledgment and engagement was this ; the commission of the general assembly . considering the many breaches of the solemn league and covenant ( and particularly by the engagement in war that year against england ) the slackness of many in following the duties therein , and that many , ( being under age when it was first sworn ) had not been receaved into the same , did , by their act october . ordain it to be renewed with this solemn acknowledgment of sins & breaches , and engagement to duties , and to that effect , appointed two solemn fasts to be keeped in all the congregations of the land , for the causes contained in the acknowledgment of sins , and that intimation thereof should be made to the people upon the sabbath before , & that the covenant , together with the former acknowledgment of sins and engagement to duties , should be read publickly to the people , upon the day of the intimation , and the last fast day when the covenant was to be sworn . this resolution of the commission , upon the same grounds was unanimously approven by the committee of estats then sitting , and by their act october . ordained to be put in execution , in all things according to the directions of the commission : and accordingly in the moneth of december , it was for the second time sworn in all the congregations of the kingdome , upon the same day , ( except where vacancy or the ministers being under scandal or process did occasion a delay till another day , that the place was supplyed by another minister ) with great solemnity , and such mixture of joy & sorrow as became people entering in covenant with the lord , and was thereafter subscribed by all the swearers . after ward , the parliament conveening , in january by their very first act except the election of their president , upon the same grounds , resolved to keep a fast by themselves , for the causes contained in the acknowlegment , and to renew the covenant according to the order of the commission , which was also most solemnly done . and last of all the generall assembly . by their act , july . did unanimously and expresly ratify the proceedings of the commission , as to the acknowledgment of sins , engagement to dueties , the fasts , and renewing of the covenant by swearing and subscribing thereof . hence , as the covenant it self , so the solemn acknowledgment of sins & engagement to duties became national authorised by the supream judicatures of church and state and are still obliging by oath . oh! that the lord had kept these things in the imagination of the thought of our hearts for ever . errata . whilst this was upon the press , some errors which escaped in some sheets , were corrected in others , so that thou must not stumble though some copies be more correct then others . besides other literal escapes which will not marr the sense , before thou read the book , correct with thy pen th●se following . pag. . lin . . for other as , read as other . p. . l. . r. witnesses . p. . l. . r. solemn . p. . l. . r strong . p. . l. . r. sufficiently . p. . l . for or ▪ r on . ●b . l. . r. opportunity . p. . l. . for of , r. or . p. . l. . r. resolution . ib. l. . for● are , r. are a lb. . r. worthies . p. . l. . for . r. . lb. . for . r. . p. . l. . r. . ib. l. . r. . p. . l. . r. . p ▪ . l. . for hoth , r. both . p. . l. . for he , r. the. p. . l. . r. during . p. . l. . r. slain . p. . l. . de e the. ib. l. . r. generally . ib. . for the , r. that p. , l. . for out , r. ought . p. . l. . for what , r. that p . l . r. rageth in . p. . l. . for where , r. were . p. l. . r. his . p . l. . r. it is . p. . l. . r. advocats . a true and short deduction of the wrestlings of the church of scotland , for the kingdom of jesus christ , from the beginning of the reformation of religion , unto the year . after all these great & glorious things , which the lord in his love , mercy and faithfulness hath wrought for this land , and in his holiness and righteousness hath declared amongst us ; these clear and powerfull manifestations of his blessed truth , which have so brightly shined forth , to the glory , beauty and praise of this whole nation : after these many sacred and most solemn engagements , whereby , in the evidence and power of the same truth , all ranks and degrees , from the king even to the meanest , became , and are still bound and devoted to the most high and holy , our covenanted god , and to our blessed lord jesus christ , ( who alone is king in zion and of all saints , and whose are all the kings and kingdomes of the earth , ) for the advancement of his glory and kingdome , and for the owning and maintaining of his glorious work and precious truth , which is all our felicity and joy : and after all this horrid apostacy and rebellion , whereby the same wretched nation , in the same generation , and almost in the same persons , neither from the conviction of any pretended reason or conscience , nor from any solid persuasion of the very advantage designed ▪ but in the manifest spirit of wickedness and violence , have forgotten , despised and blasphemed the former power and glory ; rebelled against god , by breaking the holy covenant ; rejected our lord and saviour ; overturned the work of his own blessed spirit and arme ; abrogated and rescinded all these righteous lawes and ordinances , whereby it was established ; and by most unjust , arbitrary and cruel lawes and practises , have endeavoured the rebuilding and promoving of the kingdome of darkness and antichrist , and precipitating of all men , either into the same condemnation with themselves , or utter ruine and extermination ; after , we say , all these things , which the lord hath thus wrought and permitted in the midst of us , neither the discouragement and fainting of some , nor the unsuccesfulness of the more honest and zealous endeavours of others , nor yet our silence hithertil , is greatly to be wondered at . for , whose eyes can behold all these things , without dimnes and affecting of the heart ? and whose heart can consider them , without astonishment and horrour , if not stupefaction or discouragement ? how little wonder is it , that every visage ( suppose of the fairest nazarit ) be blacker then a coale ? that every eye run down with waters ? & that the souls of many refuse to be comforted , & neither do , nor dare rejoice as other people ? when not only , by their going a whoreing from the lord , their dayly bread , is become the bread or adversity and the waters of affliction , and when their famine of the word of the lord is such , that though they wander from sea to sea seeking it , they cannot find it ; bot also the comforter that should releeve their souls is far from them , and either covereth himself with a cloud , that their prayers cannot pass through ▪ or then answereth them , only by terrible things in righteousness ; how can they , who by their vanities have moved the holy god to jealousy , and thereby have provoked their rock to fell them , stand before their enemies , or chase a thousand & put ten thousand to flight ? & al●hough that we should plead with our mother , with our rulers , & with all other ranks of persons within the land , that they would put away their whoredomes out of their sight , & their adulteries from betwen their breasts ; yet what hope is there , that words shall prevaill , where the power and glory of the most high is contemned ? or that reason shall be heard , where the counsell of god is rejected ? here indeed is matter of wonder and praise , even the longsuffering of the lord , ( which is salvation ) and the mercy and faithfulness of our god , who hath not only hithertil preserved a remnant , even a holy seed , which shal be the substance of our land ; but ( after this late suddain and astonishing stroak of his holy indignation , which seemed to presage no less , then the woful overturning of this sinking church , into the depth of all darkness , and the dreadful overthrow of this whole land and nation , in the consummation of his fierce anger , to have been poured out in our desolation ) hath made light and salvation to arise , and glory and praise to spring forth , in making his grace more manifest and commending and asserting his work and covenant , more in the sufferings and death of his faithfull servants and witnesses , then in all the prosperity and victories , which formerly he vouchsaved upon us . o! blessed and exalted be his most holy name and aboundant grace , who for the wicked and momentany rejoycing of our adversaries , hath given to his people , such sweet consolations and exuberant praise ; and from the depths of our present distresses , and amidst the feares of so imminent and great judgments , hath , in stead of an apology before the world ▪ put a song of salvation in our mouth , that , as well to testify for the lord against the backsliders , as for the comfort and consolation of all who love and wait for his salvation , we may call the heavens to hear and the earth to give ear , that we may publish the name of the lord , and ascrib greatness to our god , whose work is perfect , and all his wayes iudgment ; a god of truth , and without iniquity , just and right is he. we have corrupted ourselves , our spot is not the spot of his children , we are a perverse and crooked generation : do we thus requit the lord , o foolish people and unwise ? yet is not he our father that hath bought us ? hath not he made us and established us ? let us then remember the dayes of old , when the most high did visit us , and the lord became our god , and we became his people and inheritance . this is the testimony of his dying withnesses , this is the voice of his present dispensations . we will therefore call to mind the years of the right hand of the most high , and the wondrous works of the lord , which he alone did work in our land : we will also declare our manifold engagements , and our most selemn and sacred covenants , with and to our god ; that the lord 's loving kindness may be made known ; that the innocency , strength and joy of his servants may appear ; that the glory of all his righteous judgments , which are either already come upon us , or which we have reason to fear , may be made manifest ; that wickedness may stop it's mouth ; and that all the enemies of the lord may be confounded . it is not here intended to resume these debates , which , as the adversaries have formerly moved , and pertinaciously maintained against the work of god , and almost against every passage and transaction thereof ; so have the lovers and owners of it , abundantly satisfied , and the lord himself determined with that power and evidence , that , the conversion of some and conviction of almost all , and even of it's most desperat opposers , is not the smalest part of it's glory : but seing the party that now prevaileth , hath disdained that method , and only by plain force and violence , in the most gross and desperat rebellion , blasphemy and perfidy against god and his cause , and the highest and most determined contempt and misreguard of all good conscience , and sacred oathes , that ever the sun beheld , hath carried on and advanced this present apostacy and defection , under which all the godly do mourn , and the land perisheth : we shall only here endeavour , the sincere and candid representation of these things , which , as they were once the glory of the lord , and joy of his people in this poor nation , so are they now the testimony and triumph of his witnesses , and the patience and hope of all his sufferers , and may be the full satisfaction of all , who shall hear of these late and present troubles , wherewith the lord doth exercise us , and will undoubtedly in the end prove , etiher the exaltation and praise , or the desolation and perpetuall confusion of backsliden scotland . when scotland ▪ through the usurpation of the roman antichrist , and the contagion of his abominations , and through the prid , lust and tyranny of prelacy , ( the very root and strength of that kingdom of wickedness ) had fallen into that gross and black darkness of ignorance and superstition , and into these strong delusions , ( wherewith the lord as he hath threatned , so hath he ever infallibly plagued that antichristian course ) and for many hundreth years had lien involved therein ; it pleased the lord in his wonderful mercy and free love , to cause the glorious light of the everlasting gospell again to arise and shine forth amongst us : which , as it is ever best witnessed by its own power and purity ; so through the power and wisdome of god alone , even by the weakness of very mean instruments , in the midst of the flames of fiery persecutions , and against the rage and fury of the devil ▪ and of all the powers of hell , was this work advanced and effectuated : as the recordes of these times from . until about the year . do plainly discover . dureing which period of time , these things are very observable . first that where and when ever the light and truth of god did discover & testify against the corruptions , errors , idolatry , and superstitions of popery in the same manner it testified and declared , that the popes usurped tyranny , and the prid , idleness and domination of the wicked prelates , were cheefly the authors and maintainers thereof . secondly . that such as the lord did from time to time call to , and send forth for the work of the ministry , did walk therein , with the same painfulness ▪ poverty , simplicity , humility , and equality which the holy command and practises of our blessed lord and his apostles , do so constantly commend : hence it is , that , in so far as this point could fall under the enquiry of these times , it is clearly held out , that they acknowledged no officer in god's house , superior to a preaching minister and according to the standard of this office , did they try , reject and crave the reformation of exorbitant prelacy . as the examinations and testimonies of the faithfull in these dayes do witness . thirdly . that as the love of god and his blessed truth , and the precepts , promise and presence of our lord jesus chirst , did enable unto all patience with joy , such as , by the call of a clear and necessary providence , the lord sett forth to be his witnesses ; ( who , for the love and testimony of jesus , cheerfully embraced the fire and faggott ) so when the lord did multiply the faithful to a reasonable capacity , they were so far from resigning themselves , and abandoning that first , and most just priviledge of self-defence ▪ to the arbitriment even of the lawful powers , and of that authority which they did acknowledge , that they not only owned it and stood to it ; but did account themselves so much the more obliged to their own preservation and esteemed the same so much the more endeared to them , that the se●ing forth of the glory of god , in the maintainance of the blessed gospel and the propagation and continuance thereof , seemed so necessarily to depend thereon : which endeavours , they did also further extend , in the bowels and bonds of brotherly affection in christ jesus , unto the same duty of defence & assistence to all his members . and in effect , if their principles and practices be well considered , it will appear , that , as when god called them to suffering , they loved not their lives unto death that they might witness a good confession ; so when they attained to any probability of acting , they thought themselves indispensibly obliged , upon their uttermost hazard to defend the gospel which they had receaved , and to suppress all superstition and idolatry contrary therto , although the motive of self-defence had not been conjoined : and it will also appear , that the necessity of convocations and combinations ( though not only without but even against authority ; yet being in order to such necessary and just ends ) did suffiriently warrand them befor god and all men , from the breach of any law or act then standing against the same , wherewith they might have been charged . for verification hereof , though the whole course of our reformation be an unquestionable evidence , yet let the instance of their first appearance be observed , wherein both the motives , actors and all other circumstances , do more clearly and beyond all cavillation hold out , that only the love and zeal of god , in the same spirit in which they had so constantly suffered , did stir them up , from the pure and vive sense of their indispensible duty and certaine priviledge , against all opposition whatsomever , to own and set themselves for the defence of the gospel and the true ministers thereof . the passage is thus . in or about the year the queen by the instigation of the prelats , ( perceaving the increase of the protestants , and fearing some inward distraction , during the wars then with england , if shee should fall upon a more rigorous and general course , ) did cause all the preachers to be summoned : whereupon the body and generality of the whole protestants , resolved to keep the dyet . but the bishops apprehending the hazard , did procure that they should be commanded instantly to the borders : nevertheless god had so provided ▪ that upon the same day the west-land quarter returned from it ; which consisting of many faithful men ▪ so soon as they understood the matter , they repaired to the queen , and plainly in the hearing of the prelates did charge them , with the cruel device intended , and certified her ' of their resolution , both to oppose it , and defend their brethren to their uttermost ; and ceased not , until that she was moved to discharge the citation . thereafter in the year . they entered into a covenant of constant mutual defence of the gospel , their ministers , and themselves , against all their adversaries , in these words , vve perceiving how sathan in his members , the antichrists of our time , cruelly do rage , seeking to overthrow and destroy the gospel of christ , and his congregation , ought , according to our bounden duty , to strive in our masters cause , even unto the death , being certaine of the victorie in him : the which our duty being well considered , vve do promise before the majesty of god , and his congregation , that we ( by his grace ) shal with all diligence continually apply our whole power , substance , and our very lives , to maintain , set forward , and establish the most blessed vvord of god , and his congregation : and shall labour according to our power , to have faithfull ministers , truly and purely to minister christs gospel and sacraments to his people . vve shal maintain them , nourish them , and defend them ; the whole congregation of christ , and every member thereof according to our whole powers , and waging of our lives , against sathan and all wicked power that doth intend tyrranny or trouble against the foresaid congregation . vnto the which holy vvord , and congregation , we de joyne us ; and so do forsake and renounce the congregation of sathan with all the superstitious abomination and idolatry thereof . and moreover , shall declare our selves manifest enemies therto , by this our faithful promise before god testified to this congregation , by our subscription at these presents . at edinburgh the third day of december , anno . god called to witness . like as in the year . being again necessitated to assemble for , and stand to the defence of the gospel and themselves , at perth , they renewed and enlarged the same engagement , according to the good hand and spirit of god upon his servants , in these words , at perth the last day of may , the year of god . yeares , the congregations of the vvest countrey , with the congregations of fife , perth , dundie , angus , merns and monross , being conveened in the town of perth , in the name of iesus christ , for setting forth of his glory , understanding nothing more necessary for the same , then to keep a constant amity , unity , and fellowship together , according as they are commanded by god , are confederate , and become bounden and obliged in the presence of god , to concurre & assist together in doing all things required of god in his scripture , that may be to his glory ; and at their whole powers to destroy and put away all things that doth dishonour to his name , so that god may be truly and purely worshipped . and in case that any trouble be intended aganst the said congregation , or any part or member thereof , the whole congregation shall concurre , assist , and conveen together , to the defence of the same congregation or person troubled : and shall not spare labours , goods , substance , bodies and lives , in maintaining the liberty of the whole congregation , and every member thereof , against whatsoever person shall intend the said trouble for cause of religion , or any other cause depending thereupon , or lay to their charge under pretence thereof , although it happen to be coloured with any other outward cause . and again in the moneth of august , the same year , after having sustained and valiantly resisted a second assault , both of the wicked prelats and of their other violent adversaries ; by a third band & oath they added a further caution to their former engagements , to the effect that in so just and holy a cause , they might never by force or fraud be thereafter fainted or divided . and lastly in april anno ● . they ingaged themselves in a fourth bond in these words , vve whose names are underwritten , have promised and oblidged our selves faithfully in the presence of god , and by these presents do promise , that we together in generall , and every one of us in special by himself , with our bodies , goods and friends , and all that we can doe , shall set forward the reformation of religion , according to gods vvord , and procure by all means possible , that the truth of gods vvord , my haue free passage within this realme , with due administration of sacraments , and all things depending upon the said vvord — that we shall each one with another , all of us , effectually concurre , joine in one , take & hold one plain part for the , — and recovery of our ancient freedome , liberties . — that we way be ruled by the lawes and custome of the countrey . — again that we shall tender the common cause , as if it were the cause of every one of us in particular ; and that the causes of every one of us now joyned together , being lawfull and honest , shall be all our cause in generall ; and that he that is enemy to the cause foresaid , shall be enemy to us all in so far . — wee have superadded these instances ( as wee might have done two or three more ) to the first proposed , because of their great resemblance , since there can be nothing more manifest , then that the same provocations the same spirit , the same principles , and the same design , did most uniformly influence all these transactions . now seeing that both the occasion , actors , aime , and end of the first action , and especially the observable providence of god , that without all contrivance of man did over-rule it , do clearly purge it of any intended rebellion or other wickedness ; certainly to affirm that all these things were nevertheless acted in , & by a rebellious spirit , must be a sinn , at least next unto that of high despit and blasphemy against the holy ghost , and spirit of grace , by whose power alone , this blessed work was effectuated : neither durst the arch-prelat himself though our arch-adversary in this our present cause , and though he knew that the same doth infallibly , either stand or fall upon the same principles and grounds with these cases now under consideration , proceed any further in his censure of these courses and practices ; then to disprove them as violent and disorderly . there is one thing further , which is also before touched , that the instances above adduced especially the first , both for the meanness of it's actors the unpremeditated plainness of its manner , and the singlness and purity of its end , doth most evidently make out , viz : that as these men of god , by their small and improbable appearance , did as much witness their unfained love of the truth and zeal of his glory , in the manifest contempt and hazard of their lives and fortuns , as when under the dispensation and call of another providence , they did patiently and cheerfully upon the same motives , lay down their lives , and suffer the loss of all things ; so the end of their undertaking , was not only their own just and necessary defence , which in such an apparent danger , might rather seem to be abandoned then intended , but above all things , the maintainance & defence of that blessed evangel , which was dearer to them , then all other interests whatsoever . wee know our great adversaries , who for the gain and pleasours of this life ( what then would they not do for the preservation of life it self ? ) have often renounced , and would again renounce all conscience , alleagance and truth ; and who by their detestable flatterv , in denying the lawfulness of self-defence , ( although in effect self be their only idol ) & pretending a fained affection , & illimited submission without reserve , do only court the powers , for the advanceing of these interests , which they seem to relinquish ; as the revolutions of the world , have frequently declared their practises in prejudice of both religion and royalty , and have often resolved both their practises and principles , into that one devilish position , the first yea only fixed rule of their religion skin for skin , yea all that a man hath will be give for his life ; these , we say , are not curious to enquire in this distinction ; yet , seeing they leave nothing unessayed whereby to promote their design , and therefore , do often cavil from such advantages as the work of god afterwards obtained , and particularly the concurrence of the peers and primores regni , and from the defect thereof in the first appearances , would infer the unlawfulness of rhe same , especially in order to the design of reformation ; therefore wee further add with these noble worthies , that as it cannot be denied , . that the right & priviledge of self-defence is not only founded in , but is the very first instinct of pure nature , and spring of all motion and action . . that it was competent to , and exercised by every individual , before that either society or government were known . . that it was so far from being surrendred or suppressed by the erecting of these , that it was & is the great end & motive , for which all voluntary societies and policies were introduced and are continued . . that it is a principal rule of righteousness , whereunto that great command of love to our neightbour , by the law of god & by our lord himself is resolved , & whereby it is interpreted ; so it doth infallibly follow , that the same right and priviledge is yet competent to all men , whither separatly or jointly ; and needeth no other prerequisit , but that of intollerable and inevitable injury ; ( which for a man to suffer under pretext of the good of the common-wealth , would be , for the delusion of an emptie name , only for the lust of others , really to deprive himself of his whole share and interest therein ) and is compleated for exercise by such a probable capacity , as may encourage the asse●ters thereof to undertake it . and as for that other , and more noble design of the maintainance and reformation of religion , waving the question and debate . whether the same can or ought to be by force maintained ? which may appear sufficiently determined to rationall men , by the very contrary practises of it's adversaries , who not only by force do fight aginst it , but most irreligiously usurpe and detort it 's own weapons viz : the precepts of our lord , for patience and meeknes under a dispensation of suffering , to the persuasion of a stupid submission , and casting away the opportunity of desence and acting ; that without controll they may work it's overthrow ; and supposing with all men , that force is not a proper argument of persuasion , and that religion neither can nor ought to be thereby propagated ; yet are we in conscience persuaded , that the grounds follouwing , evidently held out in the records of these times , are beyond contradiction . . that religion ( the highest concernment of gods glory and of mans happiness both temporall and eternall ) is the most important , dear and precious of all interests . . that to be violented in this ( which cannot be without an unjust force either or mens persons or goods ) is the most wicked and insupportable of all injuries . . that the propelling by force of such injuries ▪ was the justest cause and quarrell , that men in their primaeve liberty could be engaged in . . that , as for the security of this interest , and no wayes to make an absolut surrender thereof to the arbitriment of any , men were mostly induced to the appointing of governours , so the glory of god , which is the end of all things , but herein is most especially concerned was by the erecting of rule and government for the security of religion , more particularly and eminently intended . . that the powers appoin●ed for preservation , cannot warrantably endeavour subversion . . that , as every man is bound to obey god rather then man ; so such violence , and intollerable and inevi●able injury offered by he powers on this account , as to the person injured , destroyeth bo●h the common-welath of he people , & more specially , the glory of god which are the only ends of governments , maketh both the end , the means of government and authority , and the injured person's obligation thereunto , to cease . . as the persons , one or more , reduced to this estate and condition ▪ if by a real or apparent incapacity of acting , they conceave them selves called to a testimony by suffering ought herein with all patience , to give unto god the glory ; so having the opportunity of , and being called ▪ whither to their own defence , or the assi●●ing of their brethren in so just a cause , they ought therein valiantly to acquit themselves , for the glory of god , the mantainance of his truth , and the mutuall preservation one of another . . as the combination of more persons , whom the same common cause of just and necessary defence doth join together ▪ is founded upon and doth most natively arise from that primaeve right and priviledge , which at first gave being and rise to all societies , and whereunto , the force of extream necessity , through the perversion of that mean of government , appointed for their preservation , doth ultimatly reduce them ; so the duty of mutual assistance , is not only warranted by that principle of humanity and common stipulation , which is the motive and bond of mens entering into society , the immediat and subordinat end of all rule , and the most effective mean , whereby that superior end of the good and safety of every individuall therein included , can be best secured : but also , first , by that more endearing principle of christian and brotherly affection in the lord ; upon the indispensible force and obligation whereof , the very glory and righteousness of the great and last judgement seemeth to be founded , math. : . to the end . and , secondly , by that supream & chief concernment of god's glory , to which the interests of all powers & common-wealth's must certainly stoop and cede . and how is it possible , that any scruple anent this can remain with any considerat or conscientious person ? if we consider that whole cities , kingdomes ▪ & empires , for the violation of this duty , in not releeving & delivering of innocents from the unjust tyranny , even of lawful powers , have been involved in the guilt of the violence and cruelty , which had been only acted by one or a few persons , and have been overtaken therefore , by fearfull effects and iudgments , to their utter ruine and subversion . as is most evidently confirmed by that clear intimation thereof made by ieremiah , to the jewes , chap. .. . know ye for a certain that if ye put me to death , ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves , & upon this city , and upon the inhabitants thereof . . as the power & exercise of reformation hath been grosly calumniated by the adversaries , as if thereby were meant and had been practised manifest force and violence upon consciences and persuasions ; so on the other hand , open idolatry , blasphemy , perjury , venting and spreading of heresy , and such like abominations , ( being most dishonorable to god , and pernicious to all common-wealths ) ought without doubt , by all means to be suppressed , restrained and severely punished now , that this vindicative and ( in case of backsliding ) reforming power is committed to the magistrat , and that he is thereto mainly appointed , none will question ; but what if not only the supreame magistrat , but with him all the nobles and primores of the realme shall turn the principal perverters , and chief patrons of these abominations ? as we have already cleared , that , in case either the people or any part of them , be violented to a sinful complyance , or be wickedly persecuted for adhering to god in the profession and practise of the contrary duties ; they may lawfully defend themselves , and are mutually bound to assist and deliver one another : so it now comes to be considered , that , seing the maintenance of truth and the true worship of god , were and are the principal ends and motives of contracting of societies and erecting of governments , whereunto both the people and rulers , are not only separatly every one for himself , but jointly oblidged for the publick advancement & establishment thereof ; & that god doth therefore equally exact and avenge the sin of the rulers only , or of the people only , or of any part of the people only , upon the whole body of the rulers and people , for their simple tollerance and connivance , without their active complyance with the transgressors ; of necessity , both from the principles deduced , and from the most visible judgments of god agreeable thereto , there must be a superior and antecedent obligation to that of submission , incumbent upon all both jointly and separatly , for the maintenance , vindication and reformation of religion , in order to the promoting of these great ends of the publick profession of truth and true worship , which the lord doth indispensibly require . and though this position be indeed more evident , where express covenants betwixt god and the whole people , betwixt rulers and their subjects , and betwixt the people and subjects amongst themselves in order to these holy duties can be produced ; ye● seing all constitutions of societies and governments , do virtually suppose and imply the same , and are founded thereon , the assertion doth with equal certainty firmly hold : but that all contradiction may stop it's mouth , let the import and true meaning of the scriptures , and instances following be impartially weighed . deut. : ver . , , , . the lord saith , if thou shalt hear that in one of thy cities , certain men amongst yow have with-drawn the inhabitants of their city , to serve other gods , and if after deligent search●s the thing be found a truth , thou shal smite and destroy that city utterly . jos . : ver . , , . phin●has saith to the two tribes and the half , upon their supposed defection , if yee rebel to day against the lord , to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of israel : and judges . throughout , in the case of israel against benjamin and gibeah . all the places , as they clearly hold out the command and practise most consonant to our position ; so to think that the same may be evaded , by astricting the places to the hypothesis contained in the letter viz : of more or all the cities against one apostatizing , and that either an equal division of the cities , ( the one half faithful , the other backslidden ) should bring the matter to an accommodation ; or that the greater part backsliden ( who certainly had the casting voice in that democratick constitution , should oblige the fewer remaining stedfast , to a sinful acquiescence , is to elude all scripture , and mock the holy ghost by whom it is given . now , whither these places and what is premised , do warrand an just extention thereof in favours of the people , against backsliden rulers both supream and subordinat , or even in favours of a part of the people ( with the caution subjoyned ) against the greater part wickedly backsliden , let the world judge . oh! did the wrath of god , for the hidden and secret sin of one poor acursed achan , suddenly and fearfully overtake the whole people , and all the congregation of israel , so that , that man perished not alone in his iniquity ? and had not our reformers great reason to fear and tremble , least the manifest tolleration of proud , cruel , and flattering prelats , who had perverted the lawful powers into bloody persecuters ; and of idolatours priests , whose wickedness and idolatry had corrupted the whole land , might involve , not only themselves but the whole nation , in destroying and overflowing indignation . we are not ignorant of the no less wicked then ground less cavils of some , as if we would make or have every man to be a phinehas : and what then ? would god ( if wishes , yea prayers and teares could make it ) that all his servants were as phinehas , and that he would pour upon every one of them , the same spirit of holy zeall which was in him , that by removall of the cause , his fierce anger against this poor consuming land might cease . but as for that act of phinehas , the termes following being generall and ambigous , admitting of severall distinctions and subdistinctions , as it is not easy without distinguishing , in thesi to define an action and call extraordinary , and an action and call thereunto , only heroicall ; and to state the true specificall difference and just limits betwen an action and call extraordinary , and an action and call heroicall , as they are strickly taken and contradistinguished ; and clearly and convincingly to demonstrat , what and how much more is required in an extraordinary call to an extraordinary action , then is required in a sufficient call unto an heroicall action ? and whether an eminent measure of holy zeal , magnanimity and fortitude do constitut a sufficient call unto an heroicall action ; or do only dispose and fit the person for the right and better performance thereof , as a call unto the action , and the fitness of the person for doing of the same are contradictinguished ; or may not both dispose and fit the person for performance of the action , and also include and give a call unto the action it self : so when the matter is fully considered , it will be more difficult then perhaps is apprehended , to prove that the act of phinehas was extraordinary , strickly taken and in contradistinction to that which is only heroical ; or that his call thereunto was extraordinary , in contradistinction to that which is a sufficient call unto an heroicall action ; and more difficult to determine , otherwise then by naked assertion , what that extraordinary call was ? wherein it did consist ? wherein it did differ from , exceed or excell a call unto an heroick action ? and therefore , it will be also hard convincingly to demonstrat , that it might not have been lawfully done by another of the children of israel , whom the lord had animated thereunto , by the same holy zeall and resolution . and this is the more considerable , because , as we very rarely , ( if at all ) find the lord commending and rewarding persons for extraordinary actions , whereunto they had extraordinary calls , so much and so highly , as here he commendeth and rewardeth phinehas : so the text it self numb . . doth lay the great , if not the only weight and ground of his commendation and reward , upon his zeall , and not upon any extraordinary call , whereof there is not the least hint or insinuation ; for vers . the lord saith , he turned my wrath away from the children of ●srael , while he was zealous for my sake among them ; and therefore vers , . promiseth him , his covenant of peace . a seed after him , and the covenant of an everlasting priesthood , becaus , he was zealous for his god. and if any shall , as it is like some will alleadge , that heroicall actions , are not more imitable then these which are extraordinary ; it is humbly offered to be considered , anent heroicall actions in generall , whether , when the matter of an action is not only ordinary , that is , neither preternaturall nor supernaturall , though not very frequent ; but also just and lawfull , yea , and necessary , both by divine precept , & as a mean to a good and necessary end ; and when either , there is not , or doth not appear any other to do the work , whether , i say , in that case , a spirit of holy zeall , magnanimity and courage , wrought and excited by the lord in his servants and people , moe or fewer , being otherwise in a rationall and probable capacity , be not for that time a sufficient call , unto the performance of these actions which are commonly called heroicall ; and especially when and where , the action is not unnecessarily , irrationally , nor in vanity attempted , but may be and is performed , not only without prejudice of the true , necessary and chief good of the church and common-wealth , or of any particular person's just right and security ; but also in the case of the magistrat , and others , their wilfull and perverse neglecting of their duty , is necessarly undertaken , and is not only formally intended by the actor , but also natively and really doth conduce to the glory of god , the good of religion , the preservation and establishment of church and common-wealth , and of every particular person's just rights and security , by suppressing of impiety , promoving of truth and holiness , doing of justice , turning away of wrath and removing of present and preventing of future jugdments . and as for the particular instance of phinehas , if the lord did not only raise him up to that particular act of justice , but also warrant and accept him therein , and reward him therefore , upon the accompt of his zeall , when there was a godly and zealous magistrat , able , & whom we cannot without breach of charity presume , but also willing to execute justice ; how much more may it be pleaded , that the lord , who is the same , yesterday , to day and for ever , will , not only pour out of that same spirit upon others , but also when he gives it , both allow them though they be but private persons , and also call them being otherwise in a physical and probable capacity , to do these things in an extremely necessitous , and otherwise irrecoverable state of the church , to which in a more intire condition thereof , he doth not call them ; and particularly when there is not only the like or worse provocations , the like necessity of the execution of justice and of reformation , for the turning away of wrath and removall of judgments , that was in phinehas case ; but also when the supreme civil magistrat , the primores regni and other inferior rulers , are not only unwilling to do their duty , but so far corrupted and perverted , that they are become the authors and patronizers of these abominations . which is also the more considerable , because , if upon the fear or suspicion of the accidental hazard of private mens usurping of the office , or doing of the duty of publick persons , every vertue and vertous action , which may be so abused , shall be utterly neglected , impiety shall quickly gain an universall empire , to the extermination of all goodness . it is true , that the god of order hath assigned to every man his station and calling , within the bounds whereof he should keep , without transgressing by defect or excess ; and therein wait and act , in such a measure of the spirit as he is pleased to comunicate : and we do not hold such instances for regulare & ordinary precedents for all times and persons universally ; which while some have fancyed , and heeding more the glory and fame of the action , then the sound and solid rule of the holy scriptures , they have been tempted and carried to fearfull extravagancies : neither are insolent or disorderly much less wicked attempts , which sometimes have covered and yet may mask themselves with a pretence of zeal , upon this or any other ground to be licenced or approved ; but on the other hand , as these instances hold forth , for the conviction and reproof of our stupidity and indifferency , what an high pitch of holy zeall and courage , the servants of the lord have sometimes attained , and do further demonstrat , that he doth sometimes warrant even private persons , in their doing of these things in an extream necessity and collapsed state of the church , to which at other times he doth not call them : so when the lord , with whom is the residue of the spirit , doth breath upon his people more or fewer , to the exciting of more then ordinary zeal , courage and resolution , for the reforming of an apostat church , for the execution of justice upon the adversaries , and for the advancing and establishing of truth and holiness in the earth , wee should rather ascribe glory and praise to him , whose hand is not shortened , but many times choiseth the weak and foolish things of the world to confound the mighty and the wise , then condemn his instruments for rebels and usurpers , as it is like phin●has would have been , had he lived in this generarion , if the same lord , who by his spirit had acted him , had not also by his own hand rescued him . . as the right of self-defence , mutual assistance and reformation , is properly and only derivable from the grounds adduced ; so the concurse of the nobles and primores regni , is no wayes of absolute necessity , though indeed singularly conducible for the carrying on thereof . unto which concurrence , as they are doubly obliged , according to that , unto whom much is given , of the same much shall be required ; so , if they shall convert their power to the strengthning of the hands of the wicked , they do thereby not only aggravat their own condemnation , but by their endeavouring to wreath & fasten more strongly the yoke of wickedness and oppression , they do the rather and more justify the cause and plea of all the asserters of truth and righteousness . these are a part of the grounds , whereupon these noble worrhies , raised up by god & eminently by him inspired , did singly act for his own glory : which as they have left upon record for their own perpetual vindication , so thereby they did clearly purge themselves from all imputation of rebellion . nor were their proceedings and practises ever by any so much as termed disorderly , except by such who being altogether indifferent in the work of god , endeavour by all means to calumniat and shame them , from being made precedents to their own prejudice . fourthly . it is observable , that though the practises of these first times were extraordinary , and to many may appear disorderly , yet the faithful men whom the lord honoured both to suffer & to do for his name , did constantly and boldly charge both the rise and progress of these disorders , upon the persons then in power & authority , who , being ordained & entrusted by god , for the defence & maintenance of truth and righteousness , ( as the only true foundations and solid grounds of the peoples felicity whither temporal or eternal ; and including all the ends , for which either the power or persons of governours are appointed ; and consequently , the principal bonds of all obedience and subjection , for which all these engadgements are intended , and to which they do ultimatly refer ) by resieling and starting out from this most sacred and fixed line of subordination ; as they could not claim obedience to their unjust commands , so , far-less could they oblidge the people , to that more then slavish and brutish subjection , in the submitting of their souls , bodies & goods to the arbitriment of their cruel tyranny , directly contrary unto , and destructive of all these holy & great ends , both of gods glory , and the peoples spiritual and temporal good , for which they were constituted governours . that this was the source and fountain of all disorders in these times , and that it was so reputed to be , by these valiant worthies who then opposed them , the history thereof doth plainly verify . wee are not forgetful , how vehemently the powers on earth , which set themselves against the lord , and their creaturs and flatterers , have in all times decryed such assertions : the noise , belshings , & thundering , of treason , treason , wherewith the very mentioning of such positions , useth at once to be attended and condemned , do already sound in our ears : let such as are thereby alarmed , read the debats and controversies , both of former & later times ; especially these two martyrs against tyranny , lex rex , and the apologetical narration upon this subject . this is our peace and establishment before the lord and all men ; that wee with our noble reformers do acknowledge and honour authority as the great ordinance of god , for the uphold and maintainance of truth and righteousness ; and the persons therewith vested , not only as eminently thereby dignified , but also as most signally impressed , by a very sacred and illustrious character of the glorious majesty of the most high , who hath appoynted them : but on the orher hand , wee cannot but wish , that these same persons would constantly remember , that not only they are the ministers of god , and to him accountable ; but also his ministers to the people for their good , whom they neither ought to tyrannize over at their own pleasure , nor rule only for their own profit . o! that these sacred boundaries had ever been observed , & that both tyranny and rebellion with all their antidots and remedies , had been perpetually unknown . but shall tyranny , unto which , power , both in it's self is so easily corrupted , and by the flattery of others more frequently abused , be not only shrouded under the priviledge and impunity of a divine exemption ; but thereby , in effect be more intollerably licenced , to the acting of all wickedness and violence , and the perverting and overturning of all the ends of government ? and in the mean time , shall the peoples most just & necessary defence of themselves , ( whereunto they are seldome and very hardly provocked , even by the most extream necessity ) & of all their most precious concernments , the very ends for which the powers are ordained , be continually at the arbitriment of any court-creature or flatterer , proscribed and persecuted under these odious names of treason and rebellion ? certainly , neither the all-wise providence of god ; not yet the frame of nature can endure such a solecisme . for our part , as wee are perswaded , that none pleadeth for this absolut submission in the people and exemption of the prince but such as for advancing of their own interest , have first prostrated their consciences to the princes arbitriment , in a blind & absolut obedience ; whereby they know themselves sufficiently secured from all smart & inconvenience , of that more brutall then rationall submission contended for : so are wee confident , that seing subjection is principally enjoyned , for and in order to obedience , whatsoever reason or authority can be adduced to perswad an absolut & indispensible subjection , will far more rationally and plausibly infer an illimited and absolut obedience ; and that to plead for a priviledge in the point of obedience , & to disclam it in the point of subjection , is only the flattety of such , as having renounced with conscience all distinction of obedience , would devest others of all priviledges , that they may exercise their tyranny without without controll . but he who hath called rulers , gods ; doth notwithstanding himself remain the most high god over all the earth ; & from his obedience , neither the commands nor violence of kings of clay ought in the least to remove us . and as these inferior princes do often forget their subordination to the most high , in their unjust commands ; & would usurpe his throne , by an uncontrollable soverainty ; so the lord , by the warrand of his word , and approbation of his providence , and also of the people , ( when by them oppressed , but by himself animated & strengthned ) hath declared & made void this their pretended exemption and impunity , and removed the carcases of such kings and broken their scepter . amongst which precedents , the instance of these times , whereof we now speak , is worthily recorded , and deserveth better to be remembred . seing therefore , that neither the ordinance and commission of god , nor yet the surrender of the people , though into ane absolut slavery ( which yet no presumption less then their own most express consent can possibly infer ) can from any certain and rational ground and warrant , be either produced or pleaded for vesting the prince with that arbitrary and irresistible power and dominion , necessary and requisit to oblidge the subject to a stupid and brutish submission , to all possible injuries and outrages ; and that it is impossible for any rational man , to concede that priviledge of exemption and impunity to wickedness and fury , for murthering both the souls & bodies of poor subjects , which our very adversaries deny to weakness or folly in case of alienation of the kingdome or any part thereof , or any such gross act of mal-versation , & lastly seing the great inconvenience , of opening a door to rebellion & all disorder , mainly urged by the adversaries , against the permitting of the people any judgment or reflection upon the princes actings , doth more rationally plead for implicit & blind obedience , which they themselves disprove , then militat against necessary defence and resistance in case of persecution for lawfull non-obedience ; and that the great and true salvo of all these inconveniences , and the main establishment of the throne , is only true judgement and righteousness , no sober and impartial person can condemn their position , who denying that a tyrannous magistrat was the minister of god to them for their good , did plainly assert the lawfulness of self-defence , and holy reformation , without the violation of the ordinance of god. but if all these things do not satisfy , let , . the reason of gods delivering of the kingdom to the people and not to the king , with the law it self , deut . ver . . ( which the maner of the kingdom and in effect of tyranny , foretold by the lord and samuel sam. . v. . by way of dissuasive , did no wayes repeal ) . the import of the contract and covenant betwixt prince & subject , with the unquestionable interpretation and execution thereof , extant in the records of all times and nations ; . the deed of the people in opposing saul in favours of ionathan ▪ sam. . v. . and of the ten tribes in rejecting of rehoboam , king cap. . ( which though v. . i● be termed rebellion , yet is it no more thereby condemned , then good hezekiah , who is said king . ver . . to have rebelled against the king of assyria ) and o● libna in revolting from under iehoram , cron. . ▪ . the prophecies , manner , & practise of the most part of the late blessed reformations . and lastly let the peculiar right and constution of this kingdome by king and parliament be considered and solidly answered ; and then will wee also subscribe to the condemnation of our reformers and crave pardon for this digression . upon these grounds and principles did our noble ancestours vigorously bestir themselves , and proceed in the work of god. and as the lord was ever with them while they were with him , and did mind his work steadfastly in sincerity and uprightness of heart ; so notwithstanding all the fals-hood and faintings which many discovered , yet the lord himself did gloriously own it , and ceased not , until by the fair product of his own glory , in the clear manifestation of his blessed evangil , he had without the least prejudice of the fundamental constitution and rights of government , to the eternal confutation of all calumnies and reproaches , put on the copestone with these joyous , and never to be forgotten acclamations of grace , grace . thus in the year . the land is enlightned , the blessed gospel of our lord again revealed and restored ; in so much , that both by the first general assembly of this church then conveening , and the parliament then holden , a large confession of the true faith is framed ▪ approved and published . o! that men would remember , seriously consider and fix in their hearts , the greatness and excellency of this work of grace and glory , bringing salvation , peace and goodwil towards men ; and manifesting the praise and glory of god in the highest ; that in the just estimation thereof , they might also duly and truly ponder discern , approve or reject all things conducing , either to it's advantage or prejudice . but here is the root of all our sinn and misery , that though this light , be only our life ; and the salvation and redemption thereby revealed , be no less then the project of god's eternall love , and the subject of his eternall delight ; and was more dear and glorious to our lord jesus , then the bosome of the father , & all the glory of heaven ; yet men , so greatly and highly therein concerned , do at best but rejoyce therein for a season , and soon relapse , first into indifferency and formality , and then into error , superstition and all ignorance . this the devil , the author of all wickness , knowing and improving to the uttermost , for the advancement of his own kingdom , doth quickly take advantage of , for setting on work and promoving of that mystery of iniquity . which ( springing up in that bitter root of pride , and working in the spiritual power and subtilty thereof ) as it began to work very early in the christian church , even amongst the disciples themselves , in presence of their and our lord , ( as appeareth by their contention , who should be greatest ) and notwithstanding all the grace , power , and presence of the lord , which appeared in the times that followed , & all the long & violent persecution , wherewith the church of god was then exercised ; yet continuing it's motion , did still advance , until attaining it's maturity in the revelation of the man of sin , it filled and overwhelmed the christian world , with these strong delusions of superstition , idolatry , and all darkness that so long prevailed therein : so it is the main and only engine whereby sathan , as in all other churches , so in this of our's ▪ hath so actively bestired himself , and attempted the overthrow of their later reformations . these are the causes , why , notwithstanding of that great and glorious light which the lord made to shine amongst us , the true government and discipline of the church of christ ▪ ( though his own great ordinance , instituted both for fencing and securing of truth in purity , and for promoving of the same in power ; and though by the light of that same truth , clearly discovered and manifested ) through long opposition and many difficulties , did scarce in these dayes attain it's establishment . yet the lord , who of his own free mercy and grace , did visit us with the day-spring of his blessed gospel from on high ; did also by his own power and presence , in and with his faithful servants , at length also compleat his work , and establish his kingdome over us and his government amongst us : and so the kingdome became the lord's ; even the first fruits of the kingdomes of the earth , unto our lord jesus christ . the progress and period of this work , was from the year . unto the year . dureing which space , these things are very observable . . so soon as this church attained to freedome from persecution and contrary violence , they assembled in their first national synod in the year . by vertue of that intrinsick power and priviledg granted by our lord unto his church , and exercised by his apostles and their followers ; and that without any question or control : nor did they so much as petition for the licence of the then authority , though the same might have been more easily obtained , then the warrant at that time impetrated for conveening of the parliament . . as they first assembled , and by vertue of the same warrant , did set on foot and continue a constant series of their courts and meetings ; ( except in so far as by plain force and violence they were restrained ) so they held the same in the name of the lord jesus christ only , and in his sole authority , by direction of his word and spirit , concluded all their counsels , votes and acts. it 's true , that they much and long wished for , and thereafter heartily accepted the countenance and concurrence of the powers for the time ; and that , not only for decency , but also as the gracious performance of that promise , isa . . ver . . of the favour and assistance of kings and queens to the church in the later dayes : but as they were persuaded , that the lord jesus ( perfect in all his house ) when invested at his exaltation with all power in heaven and in earth , did make a full grant and commission of all gifts and offices requisit in his church , cor. . ver . . ephes . . v. . & . ( wherein neither king nor prince is mentioned ) and that there was no authority wanting to these first decrees made at ierusalem , though emitted upon that simple warrant , ast. . ver . . it seemed good unto the holy ghost and unto us , ( wherein neither king nor prince was included , ) so did they account it a gross usurpation , for the kings on earth , in place of their promised patrociny ( to which they are oblidged , ) to claim and invade an over-ruling arbitriment in the matters of god and his church ; & beleev that he who established the distinction and confirmed their right , by separating caesar's things from the things of god , doth also exact the same on their part . . the brethren conveening in these assemblies , did meet in perfect parity and equality ; against which ▪ , the extraordinary employments and commissions delegated to some , upon the account of the particular exigence of these times , did grant no priviledge or preheminence . from these three observations , without mentioning the first book of discipline , containing the true grounds and frame of presbyterial government , which was compiled in the year . and then approved by the whole church , and subscribed to by a great many lords and counsellors , it is evident that presbyterial government was from the beginning of the reformation constantly intended , and it's foundation really laid . we need not mention that the pope's authority and all jurisdiction flowing therefrom , was by law in the same year , expresly abrogated and discharged ; nor that in these first assemblies , greater benefices were craved to be dissolved , and prelacy reputed to be only an humane device ; nor is it necessary for us to clear , how that extraordinary employment of superintendency , used for a few years in the beginning , was both only designed for an interim , and in it self wholly different from prelacy , and was at length rejected as burthensome . all these things are sufficiently cleared by the late large apology . . it is observable , that as the avarice and power of some , who possessed and grasped after the churches revenues , did , by the procurement of a few packed commissioners , in the year , introduce these mock-bishops ( called tulchan ) for the better securing of their own gain , which in the assemblies immediatly succeeding , were first protested against , then quarrelled , and lastly restrained and subjected thereunto ; so the lord used the same as a warning , to awaken and animat his servants to a more vigorous prosecution of the establishment of his house in it's due government : in pursuance whereof , the assemblies with the king's concurrence , from the year until the year . did with much prayer , fasting and painfulness intend the work , until by perfecting of the second book of discipline , and reducing of the bishops to a simple dimission , and condemning their office as unwarrantable , they c●mpleated their work in the exact model of presbyterial government , in all it's courts and officers . . during this space in march . ( as we now reckon ) and after the assembly had condemned the office of bishops as unwarrantable , the king , his court and council did swear and subscribe to the national covenant ; by which both the pope's usurped authority over the church in one article , and his wicked hierarchy in another , are abjured : and the swearers did join themselves unto this true reformed church , in doctrine , faith , religion and discipline ; promising by the great name of the lord our god , to continue in the obedience of the doctrine and discipline thereof all the dayes of their lives . which discipline , as the foregoing assertions do clearly discover , to have been from the beginning fundamentally presbyterial ; so the model of presbytery being now compleated , and any shaddow of power that the mock-bishops had lately usurped , being now fully abrogated , it is sufficiently clear , that both prelacy is by this covenant abjured , and presbytery owned and sworn to . and really if it be further considered , that the assemblies both . and , while most intent and forward in the erecting of presbyteries , did enjoyn and require the same to be subscribed by all ranks of people in the land , and that these acts were both seconded and enforced by ordinances of king and council , it may be justly doubted , whether the impudence of the succeeding prelats in denying of the obligation , or perjury in breaking of it be greater . this is the great oath , into which , as the lord god did bring us by the power of his own spirit and truth , in opposition to that bloody bond , called the holy league , wherein antichrist and his followers , had at that time conjured themselves against the true church of god ; so the kingdom thereby became the lords , and we his peculiar people , as-well by the people's subjecting of themselves and their alleageance , as by the king 's submitting himself and his scepter , in a due subordination unto god and our lord jesus christ , for the maintenance and defence of his church and gospell , the liberties of the land and ministration of justice . and this oath and the ordinances enjoyning it , notwithstanding the many fearful violations thereof that have ensued , do yet stand to this day unrepealed and declared against , to the unanswerable conviction and condemnation , even in their own courts and consciences , of all it 's wicked transgressors . . as the tulchan bishops were the effect and product of the avarice of these lords that favoured them ; so the same principle of avarice and wickedness did again resist the work of god , when almost brought to perfection , by stirring up certain of the nobles to re-induce bishops , for the better inhaunsing of their benefices , and the devouring of the churches patrimony : and not only for their better establishment , that what they want of divine right and warrant , might be supplyed by the accession of the kings power and command ; but also that by their meanes , the growing wickedness of these times might abound without restraint or control , the devil inciteth others of the more prophane , licentious and violent courtiers , such as the earle of arran and his complices , to move and instigat the king , contrary both to the word and oath of god , to usurp the prerogative of jesus christ , who is alone king in zion , and to invade his churches priviledges , purchased for her with his own blood , by assuming to himself in the first and immediat instance , the cognition of her doctrine and censures : which though the church did constantly and valiantly oppose , both by petitions and protestations ; yet this wickedness did so impetously proceed , that all at once in a parliament summarily called in the year . the prerogative of our lord is translated upon the king , and his jurisdiction and empire exalted over all persons and causes , the estate of bishops & their power and dignity confirmed , & the power of the general assemblies of the church put in the king's hand . we mention not these things with any purpose to debate these questions , which have been moved on this subject ; only we are confident , that how extensive soever the king's power may be in the case of reformation ( which , alas ! for the most part cometh short of it's reach ) yet where a church is regularly constituted , and so acting , and by him sworn to be maintained , no king or prince ought so far to intrude himself into her power and priviledges , unto which he is neither called nor gifted , as to assume to himself a soveraign & immediat power of judging and discerning upon doctrine , and her most spirituall rights and censures , and thereby in effect not only to constitut himself a proper and direct church-officer , without our lords appointment ; but in stead of papacy so justly abrogated and so solemnly abjured , to erect and revive the same in himself ( a secular person ) far more absurdly and intollerably . we know that other formalities and notions are pretended , as these of treason , sedition , and disorder , to palliat and colour this usurpation ; but seing nothing spoken or acted by warrant of the word of god , can fall under the definition or pain of these crimes , and that all ministers and ecclesiastick courts are known , allowed and presumed , both to speak and act according to that only warrant , and lastly , seing both the warrant is to them committed , and the church is priviledged and permitted to have it 's own proper power and cognition thereanent , as it followeth by clear consequence , that the things questioned , must and ought to be first subjected to her tryal and cognition ; so none do deny the magistrat's just right and power , over both these things and persons , they being once lawfully found to be destitut of the warrant pretended . but seing both scripture and reason doth testify against this usurpation , as most unlawful in it self and injurious to our lord jesus , and that all experiences have proven it to be most pernicious to his church & kingdom , & therefore many of his faithful servants have worthily and valiantly resisted it , not only to bonds and banishment , but even to blood for the testimony of their lord & master ; we return to the purpose of this observation , which is to vindicat the honour of the lord's work , and the memory of his faithful servants , in the discovery of the old malice and subtilty of the great enemy of the church of god , working in the wicked prelats & their abettors ; who to the effect they may enjoy their carnall designes , and prosecute their wicked lusts without controll , endeavour mainly by an absolute surrender of all things , powers , persons and interests , to flatter and exalt the king unto an illimited soveraignty , and pretended omnipotency , thereby both to oblidge and enable him the more to such acts , deeds , and grants as are requisite for the satisfying of their vain ambition , insatiable covetousness and wicked lusts : which flattery and usurpation , being not more agreeable to the vain heart of man , then contrary to the kingdom of our lord , and the power and purity of his blessed gospel , what wonder if his faithful servants ( who can neither deny his name , nor dissobey his commands , by complying with the wicked practices , and the blasphemous flattery of these vile apostats ) be not only hated of all men ; but with their lord and master become the continual object of the reproaches , violence and cruelty of the wicked , as enemies and rebells to lawful authority ? now that the world may perceav the wicked intent and design of this prerogative , that it is none other then that of the devil ( as to conciliat and endear the powers to prelats , who while they creat the king's prerogative , pretend themselves to be the king 's only creatures ; so to arm and animat the same powers against our lord and his followers . ) let it's rise and effects both first and last be marked and observed , and the search will declare , that wicked men lusting to tyranny and licentiousness , are checked and galled by the freedom and power of faithful ministers in the application of the holy word and spiritual censures . what remedy ? this freedom is found treasonable , and prejudiciall to the king's service and interest , and the plain zeall of god is therefore taxed as sedition and treason ; and under these formalities , the priviledges of the church are infringed , and all the asserters thereof lashed with the same calumny : whereupon and to perfect the cure , the king must be declared in all and over all ; and by vertue of his fained omnipotency , and for recovery of that unity and order , which only the coming of our lord , his blessed gospel , and powerful ministry is pretended to have disturbed , the ancient policy or the church must be restored ; and the greatest flatterers made the archest prelats , who by inhaunsing and by destroying the power , may compesce the ( pretended ) insolency of the ministry ; and by the continual pretending of dissatisfaction and disloyalty , may terrify men out of all conscience , until by the introducing of will-worship and vain superstitions , they may extinguish all light , and thereby reduce that golden age of order into stupid flattery , and of unity into implicit obedience . and if these be not the kind caresses , and most native issues of prerogative and prelacy , and the very restoring and re-establishing of the kingdom of antichrist , he who cannot find it in this period , will find all supplyed by the next . . though we love not to reflect on events , and know that no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before him , yet seing thereby the lord's judgments are made manifest , men ought both to observe and fear . the dissastrous ends of all the promoters of prelats in these dayes , ( viz : of the earle of morton beheaded ; mr iohn douglass archbishop of st andrews dying in the pulpit ; the earle of arran , after disgrace , privately killed : mr patrick adamson arch-bishop of st andrews , after recantation and disgrace , dying in extream poverty ) may justly cause their course the rather to be shunned and detested : but that which we love rather to observe , is , that as the promoters and advancers of prelacy , were alwayes known to be men of no principles , and for the most part of very flagitious practices ; so the resisters thereof and favourers of presbytery , especially the lord 's faithful ministers in these dayes , were not only very eminent in knowledg , piety and holiness , but above all had that great testimony and confirmation , which our lord himself maketh use of , iohn . . that they sought not their own glory , and therefore neither spoke nor did of themselves , but sought his glory that sent them , and therefore were true and no unrighteousness was in them . as both their slighting of court favours , by which they were much tempted , and their obstinat refusall of bishopricks , ( whereof king iames himself bare them witness , ) doth testify . . the lord , whose work is perfect , and who when he beginneth will also make an end , hereafter in the year . shineth through the cloud , dissipateth the darkness , and after the storm blesseth us with a great calm ; wherein , the assemblies re-assuming their just power , and the matter by the king being brought to a treaty and conference , the bishops are first restrained , & then reduced . thereafter the order of presbyteries being set down & perfected in the year . both the nationall covenant is renewed and subscribed , by order of the secret council at the assemblies desire ; and all the power that remained either in bishops or commissioners , by the assembly is devolved upon the new erected presbyteries . and thus the work of the lord , in the parl. . iam. . bv the . act. thereof , ratifying presbyterial government in all it's assemblies , courts and officers , qualifying and restricting the former act. . anent the king's prerogative , and abrogating all acts contrary thereto or inconsistent therewith , and by other acts there recorded , receaveth it's last and full accomplishment with power and beauty , added to the former grace and glory . . that , as only the malice of sathan and wickedness of men , have in all ages opposed the establishment of presbytery ; so the lord , whose great work and ordinance it is , doth no less evidently commend it , by making , as on the one hand , it 's sincere and holy severity powerfully to coerce and restrain all vice and profanity ; so on the other hand , the harmonious and orderly subordination of it's courts and assemblies , most efficaciously to prevent and suppress all schisme and heresy : which both the experience of these and all succeeding times do most clearly confirm . but though the lord had shewed us all these great and manifold temptations and troubles , and terminated them all in such an wonderful and blessed deliverance , that we might for ever fear his great name , love his precious truth , and keep his holy covenant ; and though in the short sun-shine of that day of salvation , he caused both king and people to taste and see the order , beauty and power of that establishment ; yet , o! how soon did we forget the works of the lord ? we keeped not his covenant . o lord , the people of thine inheritance enjoyed it but a litle . it is not necessary for our design , that we should trace and recount all these sad steps and degrees , by which the holy and wise god thought fit , to bring back his church in this land unto that great distress that hereafter ensued , and caused her to wander long in a wilderness of great desertion ; nor what were the causes and beginnings of that so horrid defection , ( which the histories of the most partial pens , whatever provocations they pretend to be in the lord 's faithful ministers , cannot purge nor palliat from a mere design of carnal policy , ) carryed on by manifest di●simulation and palpable fraud . it is enough for us , ( let the true histories of these proceedings be examined , and it will appear without the help of our obsevation , ) that , as the beginnings of that defection were no other then the unfaithfulness of man , and the inconsistence of the wisdom of god with the carnal wisdom of this world , and that old opposition and rooted prejudice of the kings and powers of the earth , who have for the far greatest part set themselves , and taken counsel against the lord and against his anointed ; so for the unquestionable confirmation of all that hath been said , either as to the wicked rise or woful effects of prelacy in this church , the devil's part therein was visibly to promote his own kingdom , by re-acting the most palpable and gross mystery of iniquity that can possibly be described : in so far as this apostacy arising from small beginnings , by fair and smooth pretensions , crafty insinuations , court-flatteries , false calumnies and suggestions , open and gross perjuries , and violent dissorders , according to the working of sathan ; after great and long opposition by conferences , warnings & petitions , & faithful and constant testimonies and sufferings of the zealous witnesses of our lord , both unto bonds , banishment , & sentences of death , against the again aspiring prerogative and usurping prelacy under it's shaddow , did in the secret and holy judgement of god , chang the glory of god and of our lord jesus into the similitude and image of the roman beast , turning the power of godliness unto formality , his faithful ministers into corrupt hirelings , the power and life of preaching into flattery and vanity , the substance of religion into empty and ridiculous ceremonies , the beauty and purity of the ordinances into superstitious inventions of kneeling , crossing , holy dayes and the like , the beautiful and powerful government of gods house for the edification of souls , to a lordly dominion over consciences and violent persecution of mens persons ; and in a word , the great end of the glorious gospel and it's blessed ministry , even the salvation of poor sinners , which is the pleasure of the lord , the fruit of the travel of his soul , the joy of heaven , the crown and glory of the blessed apostles , and the end of all things , and of the second appearance of the great god , into an empty title , and specious pretext for the fulfilling of mens lusts and pleasures , the establishing of their power and tyranny , and the ruine and exterminion of all such as opposed , and mourned for all these abominations . thus , this work and kingdom of darkness did advance apace , and had almost attained unto it's full maturity , of hurrying this poor land and nation headlong , into that gulf of confusion , error and superstition , whereinto popery did formerly involve us , when it pleased the lord , according to his great mercy and faithfulness , to remember his covenant though we had fearfully forgotten it ; and in the midst of that growing darkness and those manifold confusions to cause his spirit to move , and light to arise upon this land , about the middle of the year . which appearing in the former power and glory , did from a very small and improbable beginning , even the opposition of a few weak women to the introducing and reading of that carcase of formality , the service-book , then ready to be imposed , proceed in such an univer●al , vigorous , regular and powerful method through the whole land , without the least mixture and ingredient of force and violence , but only by these most warrantable and inquestionable meanes of petitioning , remonstrating , protesting , and renewing their covenant with god and amongst themselves , that before the end of the year . the work of god was revived with more glory and splendor , then ever formerly it had attained . we know that not only the renewing of the covenant , especially with the enlargement explaining the same , in order to the novations in worship and corruptions in government , whereunto this church had apostatized , and the bond of mutual defence thereto added ; but also their protestings & joynt petitionings have been condemned as seditious & rebellious : but seing the same , both from the clear word of god , the pure light of nature , the zealous and valiant practices of our first reformers , and the lawes and constitutions of the realme are clearly warranted ; and by the power and presence of god were signally approved ; and by the supervenient acts of the king , parliament , and generall assembly so fully established and confirmed ; and seing that they only were and are condemned by such , as either being the children of the devil , filled with all subtilty and mischief , and enemies of all righteousness , cease not to pervert the right wayes of the lord ; or by such who for advancement of their own interests , have sacrificed all conscience and reason to ambition and covetousnes ; or by such who in base and open flattery of the king and of the powers , and neither knowing nor regarding any other interest or concernment , then that which dependeth on their pleasure , do set and serve the same in place of the most high ; or lastly , by such who never did nor do concern themselves in such enquiryes , but affect a pretended gallantry in gallio's indifferency , therefore , remitting such as are further desirous of satisfaction , unto the debats & papers of these times , and especially unto the late large apology , we shall only mention the steps and progress of the lords work , and our engagements therein , according to our first purpose . in the beginning of the year . great multitudes of people consisting of all ranks , being awaked by the arbitrary imposing of a service-book , more corrupt in some things then that of england , and the book of canons , and the erecting and violent exercing of the high commission-court , to the perverting of the pure worship of god , the utter subverting of all regular government , and the confounding of all things divine and humane , and the destroying of our civil liberties ; and conceaving the true cause of all the abounding sin , & imminent calamities of these times , to be the violation of the national covenant , formerly thrice sworn in the land , they again most solemnly , with a very wonderful & gracious mixture of tears and joy , renew the same almost in all parts of the land , with the addition above mentioned , to forbear the practice and approbation of all innovations in worship , or corruptions in government , until the same should be lawfully determined , and that other of mutual defence and assistance , in the prosecution of the ends of that covenant , against all sorts of persons whatsoever . and in november the same year , the generall assembly at glasgow determined anent the foresaid novations and corruptions , disproving and rejecting under these heads , the five articles of perth , the government of the church by bishops , the erecting of prelacy therein , and all the corruptions flowing therefrom , whereby the oath of the covenant is clearly explained and purifyed . in the year . the prelats being routed , run to court , 〈◊〉 up the king , england and irland with all their friends and popish partakers in scotland , against the faithful covenanters , as rebellious and seditious persons : but they having prepared for their own just defence , the lord by his outstretched arm and power , dispelling all these menacing clouds and imminent storms , doth by a pacification concluded , reduce a fair calm ; the king therein aggreeing that an assembly and parliament shall be held , and that all matters respectively shall be therein determined . the assembly sitting in august thereafter , the kings commissioner being present and assenting , doth ratify the conclusions of the last assembly at glasgow , and the commissioner and secret council subscribe the covenant , as it was then explained ; and at the petition of the assembly , it is enacted to be again subscribed for the fifth time , by the body of the whole land. but no faith , honesty , nor honor binding the prelats and a court by them over-ruled ; in the year . the king and prelats vigorously arm again , and prepare for a new war : but this intended war is composed by a new pacification , and in the mean time , the parliament ( formerly adjourned until iune ) doth conveen at the time appointed , and by their fourth , fifth and sixth acts fully establish presbyterial government ; ratify the covenant , with the addition and explanation of the assembly , and all acts made thereanent ; & abrogat the estate of bishops , and all acts whatsoever made in their favours . thereafter , in the treaty ensuing the pacification , it is agreed that the acts past in the last parliament , with these to be made in the next session thereof , shall be published in the king's name , and have the strength of laws in all time coming : which treaty being closed , and the last session of the above-mentioned parliament sitting in the moneth of iune . the king in person being present among them , and the oath of parliament ( for maintenance of religion in purity as then established , and of the king's authority , and the peoples liberties according to the covenant ; and for endeavouring by all just and humble meanes , of union and peace betwixt the three kingdomes ) appointed to be taken by that , & all succeeding parliaments , being taken ; by the second act thereof , superscribed by the king and subscribed by the president , the foresaid treaty is amply and perpetually confirmed , and the whole articles thereof are ratifyed and recorded . thus , by all the security , that either sacred oaths ; or acts of lawful & authorized assemblies ; ordinances of king and council ; doubled and re-iterated pacifications and treaties ; acts of parliament enacted & re-enacted ; the kings authority and consent being often and solemnly interposed , both by promise and hand-writ ; and all that either religion , truth , faith , honour or honesty could devise or grant , these wicked prelats are cast out of this church and kingdom , presbyterial government fully established , the pure worship of god , with his pure and powerful ordinances and ministry restored , and in the maintenance and pursuance of all these great blessings , the whole land , by many oaths & most solemn tyes , engaged unto the lord for ever . by all which blessings , and the restoring of the lord 's own ordinances amongst us , as the work of the gospel and the kingdom of our lord jesus , in the conversion of many thousands , were greatly advanced , and the glory of god , in the abounding of true piety and flourishing of righteousness , did eminently shine amongst us ; ( as the memory of these times in all such as fear god and love our lord jesus christ doth sweetly testify ) so all these great things were transacted , to the perpetual shame and confusion of all our calumnious adversaries , without any diminution of his majesty's just authority and greatness . as the power and glory of the lord was great in this land ; so the splendor and fame thereof reaching unto other nations , it pleased the lord thereby to provoke his people in england , at that time grievously groaning under the tyrannous yoke of prelacy , and justly alarmed by the imminent fears of prevailing popery , to set about and intend the like blessed reformation . it doth not concern us , to reflect on the causes and beginnings of that war betwixt the king and parliament there , nor what were the transactions betwixt the two kingdoms in order to that aid and assistance given by scotland , and how the same was mannaged : but this is certain , that , upon the representation of the most just and important grounds , of the maintenance of religion and liberty , against the prevailing power of popery , prelacy and tyranny in that kingdom of england ; and their most instant and earnest desires for our help and assistance ; and rhe most rational & clear motives of our own security , ( the hazard and loss whereof had undoubtedly been the consequence of the prelats victory there ) this kingdom was induced in the year . to enter into that sacred bond of the solemne league and covenant , never to be forgotten , containing no other articles then every one's sincere and constant endeavours , in their several places & callings , for the preservation of the reformed religion in this church , in doctrine , vvorship , discipline and government ; the reformation of the same in england and ireland , according to the vvord of god , and the example of the best reformed churches ; and the nearest conjunction and vniformity of all the three in truth , faith , and love ; the extirpation of popery , prelacy , error and profanity ; the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people , and of the kings person and authority in defence of the true religion , and the kingdom 's liberties ; the discovery and the punishment of incendiaries ; the retaining of the peace and vnion of the kingdomes ; the mutual assistance and defence of all entering into this league ; and the performing of all duties we owe to god , in the amendment of our lives , and in walking exemplarly one before another : and all these in order to no other end , then the glory of god , the advancement of the kingdom of iesus christ ; the honor and happiness of the king and his posterity ; and the true liberty , safety and peace of the kingdom . this is that covenant , which in all the controversies it hath occasioned , did never receave a greater confirmation , then from the malice and opposition of it's adversaries ; who in the same spirit & with the same spite , have alwayes persecuted and reproached it , with the same calumnies of rebellion , sedition and blood , which from the beginning , the devill hath ever been most active to raise and stir up against the lord jesus , his gospel , kingdom and followers . but seing such only as are blessed , do evite the offence of truth ; and all who truely seek gods glory or love the lord jesus , did and still do heartily approve and embrace this covenant : though it had brought the sword not only into britain , but with the truth into all the earth ; though it were reproached as unfriend not only to our king , but with our lord jesus to caesar and all the kings of the earth ; though it had divided and disturbed not only realms and states , but with the gospel , families and nearest relations ; and had with paul moved sedition throughout the whole world , we ought not thereby to be either shaken or offended . we know also , that all the subtilty and malice of hell have been set on work , and spared no calumny or cavillation , by which either it's words , matter or manner might be impugned : but these are so often and fully answered , and , without the assistance of any man's patrociny , by the obvious plainness of it's phrase , the holiness & importance of it's purpose , and the justice and necessity of it's way and manner , so clearly confuted , that nothing can be added . only seing the constancy of truth , ought not to cede to the confidence of prevailing powers , as we have asserted and do hold , the subject matter of this league and covenant to be in it self holy , just and true ; so we cannot but disprove the dangerous method of some , who the better to enforce the obligation of the oath of god , do suppose the matter thereof , especially as to that article against prelacy , to be antecedently indifferent , and not determined either by the word of god or any other moral precept : justly apprehending how easily in this light and backsliding time , such suppositions may become positions ; and that the obligation of the oath of god , now so much violated and little regarded , may be found too weak to secure mens stedfastness . as we are therefore persuaded , and would have all to consider and fix it in their hearts , that this wicked prelacy and it's hierarchy , are not only contrary to the word of god , to the practice of the holy apostles , to sound doctrine and the power of godliness ; ( under which express consideration we are also sworn to endeavour it's extirpation , ) but by the sad experience of all ages in the christian church , especially in these our later times , had been found most pernicious to all truth and righteousness , and the main engine and device , whereby the devil hath alwayes laboured , to advance his kingdom of darkness ; and therefore hath been the great butt and aime , for the overthrow whereof , the great work of god in this land , hath been so powerfully and gloriously manifested : so do we most constantly hold , that as wel this article against prelacy , as all the rest contained in this holy covenant , were and are antecedently oblidging both to king and people , without the supervention of either oath or promise ; and that the rooting out of prelacy , & the wicked hierarchy therein so obviously described , is the main duty , in the endeavour whereof , ( as most advantageous unto all these great and holy ends proposed by the covenant ) all the zeal of the faithful ought to be concentred . as for such profane jugglers , who neither considering this oath and covenant as a special ordinance and blessing of god , whereby we are more effectually stirred up and enabled , to the performance of all the duties of religion and righteousness therein contained ; nor knowing that this covenant made with god , and accepted by him , is also the lords covenant with us , for the securing and establishing unto us , all the great blessings and priviledges therein expressed , & that , as we therein do avouch the lord to be our god , so doth he avouch us to be his people , do from the righteousness and necessity of it's matter , vainly argue the superfluity of any accessory obligation , and would thence infer , that the same may be the more easily dispensed with or renounced : we de only remit them to that solemn covenant deut. . . &c. made there betwixt the lord and his people , and thereafter so often renewed , only for their greater engagement to the most necessary duties of god's express commands . we come in the next place , unto the manner and form of this league and covenant ; wherein , not purposing to resume the many debates that have been raised anent it , we shall only take notice , that these old acts and laws viz. act. . parl. . of mary . and act. . parl. . iam. . . made against leagues and bands contracted without the kings consent , are now obtruded with the force and lustre of a new act. cap. . of the last parliament , to condemn the covenant , as from the beginning unlawfull and rebellious : but as these old acts , at the time of the entering into this league and covenant , did then stand explained by the . act. parl. . charl. . ratifyed and authorized by the king himself , in a sense most consistent with the covenant , and could no wayes render the same from the beginning unlawful , much less could the revival thereof in their greatest rigour , or the superveniency of any other act thereanent , dissolve the sacred obligation of this oath once lawfully contracted ; so the reason of the former answer made ro this objection , and the justice and equity of that act. . p. . c. . whereby the same was declared , remaineth in ful force , viz. that no league nor bond made by the subjects for maintenance of religion , liberty , and the publick good of church or state , was or can be understood , to be prohibited by these old acts and laws objected . because , as the makers of such bonds , cannot be reputed to be movers of sedition , to the breach of the publick peace , ( which is the express reason and certification of these old acts objected ) so both the king and his government , being appointed for the preservation of these great ends and interests , and he himself principally oblidged , both by the command and oath of god upon him , to authorize all such bonds . covenants , and other means which may advance the same ; it were a gross paradox both in reason and religion , that the king's neglect of his duty and perverting of his office , to the overthrow of these ends for which he is ordained , should therefore oblige the people to a sinful complyance and stupid connivance , to the high dishonour of the great god and king of kings , and the utter ruine of the souls , bodies , and fortuns of themselves and their posterity . it 's true , it may be and is replyed , that this answer and reasoning , doth proceed from an unjust jealousy of kings , and is founded upon an intollerable presumption in the subject to censure and judge their actings : but seeing the entering into this covenant , and into all others which we allow , was so far from proceeding upon an unjust jealousy , that on the contrary , it was in a manner extorted , by the force of the most palpable and rational necessity that can be imagined ; and seeing the feeling and discerning thereof , is so far from that criminal presumption alleadged , that to disprove it , is in effect to deny both sense and reason , unless our adversaries can prove that notwithstanding thereof , the king is by god the lord , vested with such an uncontrollable dominion and soveraignty , that whatever violence , outrage , or cruelty he commit , the people are obliged by a patience , or rather stupidity greater then that of beasts , to endure without gain saying , it is impossible for them to establish the tyranny that they contend for . but that the world may see , that such objections are only the wicked flattery of selfish men , and how little they do therein either use or regard reason , in the late act abovementioned made against leagues and conventions , it is declared , that the explication contained in the act . viz. that such leagues and conventions as are made by subjects , for the preservation of the king , religion and the laws , are not prohibited by these old acts , is false and disloyall , and contrary to the true and genuine meaning thereof : which declaration is not only a naked assertion , and contrary to the express reason and certification of these old acts , which is before sett down ; but so blind and irrational , that in case of an interregnum , or the incapacity of the king to give his consent to any bond , meeting or convention , which in such a case may be absolutely necessary , it leaves no issue or expedient . it is not needful here to clear the necessity and advantages , which may induce subjects to the making of leagues and conventions in certain cases , without the consent of the prince ; nor the exigence of these times for the covenant we plead for : these things are cleared by undenyable records , which , all the wars , blood and confusions that thereafter ensued , ( flowing either from the perverse and obstinate opposition , violence , and persecution of the enemies of truth , or being the effect of gods righteous judgement upon such whose hearts were false , and proved unstedfast in his covenant , ) notwithstanding all the present insulting of the adversaries , doth nothing disprove . neither do we here resume the above mentioned practices of our first reformers , for justifying the case in hand , and the explication of these old acts here obtruded ; who , by all their necessary leagues , bands and conventions , never conceaved the same to be contraveened : only we cannot but regret , that , as the act made in the last parliament against conventions and bonds , was a fearful step of the present great apostacy , and directly levelled against the same covenant , by which the authors of the acts themselves were and are indissolubly obliged ; so that old act parliament . ja. . cap. . . which is thereby ratifyed and revived , was also one of the woful acts and effects of the wickedness that then prevailed in the land , and doth relate to and is expresly founded upon the . act. queen mary , parliament . . which , under the colour of discharging bonds of man-rent , was by the queen regent , then raging in persecution against the professors of the truth , directly intended for the overthrow of the gospel and congregation . we have hitherto only justifyed the lawfulness , or rather the necessity of the covenant ; as a league amongst subjects without the princes consent , and have not spoken thereto as a league with england , and the subjects of an other kingdom : because , as the first point is mainly denied by the adversary ; so the same being proven , upon in the same grounds ( first , of just & necessary defence of our selves , religion and libertyes ; secondly , of the assistance that we owe and do expect in case of persecution for truth , from all christians in the bowels of jesus christ , the obedience of his new and speciall command of love , and the remembrance of that great and last judgement , wherein by this law , all men shall be judged , without respect to the difference of nations and kingdoms ; and thirdly , upon the ground of the glory of god , which is the great end of all things , and to which all inferiour duties of submission and obedience ought to cede ) the justice and necessity of the covenant and league with england may be certainly concluded . o! that men , who weighing all things in the ballance of their own selfish interests and designes , do make the vain & airy enjoyment of court-favour , and the evanishing possession of such advantages , as may be acquired thereby , preponderate and cast the scales , in prejudice of these great and important concernments of the glory of god , and the advancement of the kingdom of our lord jesus , might yet be awakened by the terror of that dreadful and glorious judgement of the last day , to an impartial consideration of that duty , which we owe to all these that suffer and are persecuted for truth . surely if not visiting , not relieving and supporting ( when it is in our power , ) of the afflicted members of jesus christ , shall then be the condemnation of the reprobat , ( against which the exception of a contrary command of any king or prince , or that the afflicted were by men for truths sake declared rebells and traitors , or were of an other kingdome , shall furnish no defence ) can we in conscience think , that the refusal of assistance to the persecuted for christ's sake , when instantly thereto required , shall be , upon any of these pretended grounds , excused in that day ? we do not here mention the supervenient consent and authority of the king , by which the alleaged defects , to the acknowledgement of all our adversaries , were clearly purged : because ( though the same will afterwards fall in , as a great accession to the conviction of all apostats , yet ) we bless the lord who hath bottomed our faith and consciences upon more sure and fixed foundations ; and who gave his people more evident and gracious testimonies of his favour , power and presence , while they sincerely walked conform to the grounds mentioned , before the king's assent was obtained , then ever since . the entering into and taking of this covenant , was so much the more necessary and praise-worthy in us in scotland , for several reasons , . because it contains no other then the same duties and obligations , which were before by us so solemnly covenanted to , in our nationall covenant : neither is the restriction of our alleageance , supposed to be made therein , any other then the true and righteous qualification of all such engagements , most consonant unto and approven by our first large confession of faith chap. . anent the civil magistrate ; the kings coronation-oath recorded , ia. . p. . cap. . and the nationall covenant , as it was taken and subscribed both first and last : and though our adversaries have insulted upon the later confession of faith , as if both our former principles and practises were thereby disproved ; yet let the words be considered . viz. infidelity or difference in religion doth not make void the magistrat's iust and legal authority , nor free the people from due obedience , and we are confident , that no sober man will think the acknowledgement of just and legal authority and due obedience , a rational ground , to infer that tyranny over either consciences or persons , is thereby either allowed or priviledged ; which is all that by us is contended for . . because the same national covenant did powerfully oblige us thereunto : not only upon the account of that obstinate opposition , which the perfidious prelats in england , both by raising wars and breach of pacification , had plainly testifyed ; the revival whereof , in case of any probable capacity , we had just reason to apprehend , and by a posterior league , ( at that time , a most necessary and probable remedy , ) in pursuance of our former engagement , to provide against ; but also in respect of that express ground of opposition to the bloody bond of trent , and of the detestation of all the enemies of gods church , who thereby conjured themselves against it , contained in the national covenant : which could not but be a very fair persuasion and strong inductive , to engage in that sacred bond of the solemn league & covenant , against that same accursed conjuratiō , which at that time appeared so active . because the oath of parliament , first taken in the parliament . the king being present , obliging us to endeavour the preservation of the peace and vnion of the three kingdoms , did indispensibly oblige us to enter in this covenant , as a most necessary expedient thereto . having thus summarily reviewed , both the matter and manner of this solemn and important league and covenant , we cannot but wonder at the poor sophist●y of such , ( especially that more temporizing then seasonable casuist , ) who delude themselves in so great matters unto such an indifferency , as to assert , that this covenant doth as necessarily depend upon the king's consent for it's establishment , as the private vow of a daughter in her father's house , or of an wife under her husband's power , in things free and arbitrary , though not absolutely in their own disposal , did according to the judicial law of the jewes , fall under the father and husband's power of ratifying or annulling : but the simple proposal of these cases , doth hold out such a disparity both as to the persons , ( being only women under power , ) the things in themselves , being free , but at another's disposal , and many other circumstances tedious to insist on , and even as to law it self by which the case is determined , being meerly judicial , that none who fear the lord , or mind his glory in any measure of sobriety , will daigne it with an answer . and such indeed are the rest of the cavils and calumnies , wherewith the adversaries of truth have endeavoured to impugn and asperse this holy covenant ; and are so fully and often answered already , that to account them worthy the resuming and refuting , were in some sort after vowes to make inquiry . there is one thing that our adversaries have frequently objected , which we cannot ommit , viz. that the covenants , both national and solemn league were urged and pressed , both by church censures and civill sanctions , of loss of goods , sequestration and other arbitrary pains , which hath been heavily complained of , as a great violence done to conscience : but as it was then too evident , ▪ that this priviledge of conscience , was for the most part only pretended by such , as had litle or no feeling thereof ; so the practice of the present times , doth now fully discover , that what is now so insolently retorted , was never before really scrupled at . but the lawfullness of the course and practice then used , and the iniquity of this retortion will easily be cleared , if it be considered , . that the nationall covenant , being a standing , & binding oath upon the whole land , and in the year . only renewed with such an agreeable explanation , as none could or did quarrel , but such as thereby intended , to palliate and persist in their proceeding manifest violations , was according to the example of good josiah , ( who brought back the people , and caused them stand to the covenant of their fathers , chron. . . ) most justly commanded , and under the pains due to the breach therof , ordained to be re-taken . . that the solemn league and covenant , containing no other obligements , then what the national doth import , and being a most conducible expedient , both for the securing and prosecuting the ends thereof , and whereunto , the national covenant upon this ground did clearly oblige , the pressing of the same league , is warranted not only by the former ground ; but from the very bond of the national , became an indispensible duty : by which reasons , as the former proceedings are clearly justifyed , so the present practice , ( as being a direct and violent ranversing of these things , which were once so righteously and rationally established ) is the more condemned . but whatever be the disparity of these cases in the point of reason , we are sure that light and darkness do not more differ , then the lenity of these former times , from the rigour and violence now practized ; & that where one then suffered for obstinacy against the covenant , hundreths do now suffer for their stedfastness therein . as for these wars and great commotions , that ensued upon this great transaction of the solemn league , we will not thereon insist : only we are confident , that nothwitstanding all the calumnious constructions of our adversaries , al such as seek out and have pleasure in the works of the lord , will applaud unto the glory and righteousness thereof ; who , as by the sword of apostats in the years , and . he did punish in his justice , the hypocrisy and self-seeking of such in this land , whose hearts were not upright in his covenant , and thereafter in the year . did by a prevailing sectarian party , restrain and crush the gross and generall apostasy then intended , under an hypocritical pretext of pursuing the ends of the covenant , at that time so palpably perverted and abused ; so , for the manifestation of his own glory , and of his mercy to them that fear him and did not forget his covenant , he did intermix several gracious intervals of his aboundant compassion ; and at length did give unto his work and people , a full and absolute victory over that malignant spirit and party , that had so long prevailed in the land , and caused the wickedness of the wicked to cease , and all iniquity to stop it's mouth . thus in the years , and . & thereafter , the lord was with us while we were with him , and while we sought him , he was found of us ; but as we did forsake him , so did he also forsake us : by which position , all the mixture and varieties , both of our actings and gods providences in these times , may clearly be resolved . there was indeed at that time in the land , not only a party faithful unto god , and zealous for his name ; but also a great zeal of god , from clear knowledge and sad experience , generally and solemnly professed before god and all men in our publick acknowledgement anno : in consequence whereof , the league and covenant was also by the whole kingdom renewed that same year . and in answer thereunto , the lord did mightily both save and defend us from all our adversaries : and as he soon subdued our enemies at stirling , and turned his hand against our adversaries in the north , and caused the haters of the lord faign submission unto him ; so , for his own glory , the establishment of his people , and the utter confusion of his adversaries , he did highly advance his blessed work , by the accession of all these advantages , with the defect whereof , it had been formerly calumniated . the advantages we here mention are ( besides that publick acknowledgement then made , and in the deep sense thereof , the league and covenant solemnly again renewed and taken , whereby our engagements were not only doubled , but strongly confirmed ) . these many necessary and righteous lawes enacted in the then parliaments , both for the ratifying the later large confession of faith , and the larger and shorther catechisms , agreed unto by both kingdoms , and for the restraining and coercing of impiety and blasphemy , the encouragement of the ministry , and for the promoving of godliness . amongst which acts , that abolishing patronages , deserveth a more special and commendable remembrance : not only because of the many woful effects & abuses of patronage , as it then was ( & now is ) exercised , whereby frequently , godly men and in some measure qualified for the work of the ministry were ( & are ) unjustly restrained from labouring therein ; many congregations needlesly continued desolate , without afixed ministry ; many naughty men and utterly insufficient , at the sole arbitrement of patrons , violently obtruded upon the people , without and against their own consent ; presbyteries constrained ( contrary to the rule of the holy scriptures ) to ordaine men , whom the people neither choised , nor could cheerfully receave ; foundations of prejudice & strife , betwixt pastor and people laid , whereby the one cannot preach nor the other hear with profit ; symoniacal pactions often basely made betwixt patrons & the person presented , to the disgrace of the holy calling as-wel as to the sin and shame of the persons ; and the ministry of too many , in dispencing of word , sacraments & censures , made to depend too much upon the will and pleasure of man : but also because , it hath no precept in the word of god , nor example in the old jewish , nor new primitive and pure christian church , to warrant it ; because , intentionally and natively it spoileth the people of that right and priviledge , in electing their own pastors , which scripture and reason alloweth ; and because , being the patron 's ( pretended ) heritage , and therefore , by him vendible to whom he pleaseth , the whole and sole power of presenting of ministers , planting of churches , preaching of the gospel , & settling maintenance , may be turned over unto , & put in the hands of men , not only profa●e & strangers to both church & common-wealth , but also pro●es●ed enemies of the truth , yea , even papists or pagans . and therefore , ( being in itself a grievous and unwarrantable burthen ; destructive of the church and peoples liberties ; obstructive of the free course of the gospel ; the freedom , power & plainness of the ministry ; and occasional of much base flattery & partiality , under which , from the very times of superstition which introduced it , the church did heavily groan ) it must needs be so much the greater blessing to be delivered from it . the second advantage which the lord's work receaved , was by that great and long transaction with the king in order to his return , and admission to the government ; which at length , after repeated addresses , many treaties , and the interposing of forraign states and princes , produced the king's approbation and allowance of the nationall and solemn league and covenant : which both by his great oath unto the most high god , and his hand-writ and subscription , he most amply assured , promising in the same manner to advance & prosecute their ends , and to seek and procure the establishment thereof , and of presbyterial government , and of the whole work of god in all his dominions . we know our adversaries , persisting in their old malice , disown and exclaim upon this transaction as most disloyal and insolent , for subjects ( whose part is only to surrender & submit , ) to require and enter into treaties with their prince : but . as these reproaches are from the same wicked spirit , false grounds , and base and carnall ends , which from the very times of popery , have resisted , and been objected against the work of reformation in this land ; so do wee thereto oppose , ( in full assurance before god and all the world , ) these solid and evident reasons and warrants , whereby not only these treaties and transactions with the late king , but all these old contracts and agreements betwixt the then powers and people , ( which in some sort , are the very foundation of the protestant religion in this realm ) are justifyed and approven : wherein if there be any disparity , the difference of a king upon his throne actually exercing , from a prince only ascending thereto , must cast the advantage on our side . . seing there is no voluntary kingdom , which is not both erected , sustained , and continued by a fundamental contract , and no right thereto so good ( though even that of divid himself and his posterity , who held the kingdom , both by inmediate grant , and interposed oath of the most high , ) which is not setled and confirmed by this agreement , sam. . . kings . . . can any rationall man disprove or condemn treaties so naturally antecedent and previous thereto . . the reason and necessity of this treaty is so dependent upon the preceeding war with the last king , in which ( as-well as in his kingdomes ) this king did succeed him , that , seing it can have no opposers , but such as therein were enemies , we willingly refer hoth the cases to the determinations of the same reasons . and as for such who asserting the covenant , and the justice of the long parliaments war , do nevertheless disprove our procedure in this treaty , as their mis-information doth not prejudge the truth ; so neither are we answerable for their inconsequence . the third advantage which the lord gave his work , was by what the king did after his arrival in scotland , both before and at his coronation , for the greater confirmation of the covenant and work of god , and the more strong engaging of himself and this whole land unto the lord. before his coronation , he emitteth that declaration at dumfermling sufficiently known by this designation , wherein professing , and appearing in the full persuasion and love of the truth , he repenteth ( as having to do with & in the sight of god ) his fathers opposition to the covenant and vvork , of god , and his own reluctancies against the same , hoping for mercy through the blood of iesus christ , and obtesting the prayers of the faithful to god , for his stedfastness : and then protesteth his truth and sincerity in entering into the oath of god , resolving to prosecute the ends of the covenant to his utmost , and to have with it the same common friends and enemies , exhorting all to lay down their enmity against the cause of god , and not to prefer man's interest to god's , which will prove an idole of iealousy to provoke the lord , and he himself accounteth to be but selfish flattery , & so-forth proceedeth in the most cordial , sincere & assuring terms , to testify his love and zealous resolutions for god , his people and covenant , and on the other hand his great dislike and detestation of all persons , courses and interests contrary thereto . a declaration , so full of heart-professions , and high attestations of the great god , that none seriously considering the present times , can reflect thereon without horror and trembling from the holy jealousy of the lord , either for the then deep dissimulation , or the present unparalelled apostacy . however seeing the same is so assertive , that no words could adde to it's assurance , nor no argument less then the present apostacy , render it to any neutral person suspect of the least dissimulation ; sure we are , that the generality of the kingdom , did thereby obtain all the warrant of the king 's most full and clear assent to , and allowance of the covenant , that either law or reason could require . thereafter at his coronation , how the king did again confirm the covenant , and both he and his people thereby again engage themselves unto the lord , the order thereof printed and published to the world doth fully declare . in which , these passages are very observable . . that the king is desired in name of the people , jointly to accept the crown and maintain religion according to the national & solemn league & covenant , to which he declareth his cordial assent , wishing no longer to live , then he might see religion & this kingdō flourish in all happiness . . after a sermon most pertinently , plainly and powerfully preached upon that kings . v. , & . ( wherein amongst other things , the binding power & force of the oath of god , and the hazards of the breach thereof are fully represented ) the action commenceth with the king 's most solemn renewing of the national and solemn league and covenant , which was in this manner . the king kneeling and lifting up his right hand before the three estats of the kingdom , the commissioners of the general assembly , and the whole people and congregation , by his great oath in presence of the almighty god , the searcher of hearts , he assureth & declareth his allowance of the national covenant , & solenn league & covenant , promising faithfully to prosecute the ends thereof , and to establish the same with the presbyterial government and the whole vvork of god , in all his dominions . . that , having thus taken the covenants , the king is presented to the people , and their willingness , to have him for their king , demanded ; which they accordingly declare . . that he did also swear and take the coronation-oath appointed and recorded parl. . iac. . cap. . to which both the covenants are most consonant , promising by the eternal & almighty god , who liveth and reigneth for ever , to observe and keep the same . . that when he sword was put in his hand , he is desired to receave the same for the defence of the faith of iesus christ , & of the true religion according to the national & solemn league & covenant , & for the ministration of iustice ; which he accordingly accepteth . . after the crown is set upon his head , the peoples obligatory oath is proclaimed , whereby they all swear by the eternal & almighty god who liveth & reigneth for ever , to be true & faithful to the king , according to the national & solemn league & covenant . . being installed and set upon the throne , he is exhorted by the minister to remember , that his throne is the lord's throne , chron. . ver . . and being a covenanted king set thereon , he ought under god to rule for god , and especially to beware that he made not the lord's throne , a throne of iniquity , to frame mischief by a law , even such mischievous laws as have been enacted by his predecessors , destructive to religion , and grievous to the lord's people . . the nobles of the land ▪ being called one by one , and kneeling before the king on the throne , and holding their hands betwixt his hands , did swear by the eternal and almighty god who liveth and reigneth for ever , to be true and faithful to the king , according to the national and solemn league and covenant . . the action is closed by a most solid and weighty exhortation , both to king and people to keep the covenant , and beware of the breach of it ; which is enforced by these fearful threatenings and instances recorded in the scriptures of truth , against covenant-breakers , particularly these , nehem. . ver . . where nehemiah did shake his lap . saying , so god shake out every man from his house , & from his labour , that performeth not this promise , even thus be he shaken out and emptied , and all the congregation said , amen . ier. . v. , , , & . and chron. . , , & . with this pathetick application , that if they should break the covenant , god would shake off the king's crown , and turn him from the throne ; that he would shake the nobles out of their possessions , and empty them of their glory ; and would deliver both to the hands of their enemies who seek their life ; that breach of covenant and rebellion against god was an old and continued sin in the king's house , which god had already severely punished : if therefore the king should not acknowledge iesus christ king of zion , who is above him , but break this covenant , god's controversy against the king's family would be carried on unto the weakning if not the overthrow of it . and lastly , both the king and nobles are certifyed , that if the king and they who are engaged to support his crown , shall conspire together against the kingdom of iesus christ , both the supporters and the supported will fall together . this is that great action , wherein almost all the solemnities are so twisted with that sacred bond , that the world must acknowledge , that never king and people under the sun , became so expresly and strictly obliged both unto god , one to another , & amongst themselves , as we were and are by these most sacred oaths of the holy covenants , most indissolubly engaged . the fourth and last advantage , was that plenary and last complement of all securities whatsoever amongst men , viz. the ratification of all these preceeding treaties , transactions , engagements and actions , concluded and enacted by the king , then having attained the age of years compleat , and the parliament fully and freely conveened in the moneth of iune . whereby the same did pass into a perpetual law : and this covenant which from the beginning was and is the most firm and indispensible oath of god , became at length the very fundamental law of the kingdom , whereon all the rights and priviledges either of king or people , are principally bottomed and secured . this is the fair side of the transactions and providences of thesse times , and the effects of the lord 's favourable presence , and the consequence of that zeal which we have mentioned . o! that we had sincerely minded and walked agreeably to all these engagements , surely our times should have endured for ever : but seing both our own backslidings , and the lord 's withdrawing from us do evidently testify against us , let us ascribe righteousness unto our god , that in the remembrance of all these judgements wherewith he hath punished us less then our inquities deserve , we may not only take unto our selves shame and confusion of face , because we have sinned against him , and thereby stop the mouth of all these blasphemies and boastings of the adversaries of the lord , and his holy covenant , which our backslidings have so widely opened ; but in the thoughts of his faithfulness be encouraged to hope in his mercy , and for the return of our departed glory , although we have rebelled against him. the principal step of our defection , and the only rise and cause of all our sin and calamity , we acknowledge to have been no other , then that which is the condemnation of the world , that light indeed came unto us , but we loved darkness better then light , because our deeds were evil . for the lord did cause his gospel to shine amongst us , in as great power and purity as ever any nation enjoyed , and by the advantages of his own holy ministry and government , & the accession of our many fold covenants and engadgements , did beautify and secure the same unto us ; and though that after a long continuance of all these blessings , the lord by the ascendent power of his own spirit and glorious presence , did bring the whole land under these great convictions , mentioned in the conclusion of the league and covenant , of our not valueing the inestimable benefit of the gospel , nor endeauouring to receave christ in our hearts , and walk worthy of him in our lives , the only . duty and end of all our covenants and engagements , which is in effect god's greatest delight and glory in the world , and all our felicity ; and unto these unfained resolutions there annexed , of repentance and amendment ; and lastly though the lord from heaven had both plagued us for , and purged us from these fearful apostacies and defections , whereby men of corrupt minds , not holding the head and end of all things , even our lord jesus christ , were both in the years . and . soon turned aside from their stedfastness in the covenant , and became enemies unto god's own work and cause , and had therefore stirred us up to the renewing of our covenant with god in the year , with and after a most solemn acknowledgement both of the causes and evills of these defections , and a most serious detestation of , and resolution against both ; notwithstanding , we say , of all these things , yet the great sin and evil of not valueing , receaving , and walking worthy of our lord jesus . and the not directing and improving the great blessings of his gospel , ordinances , covenants , victories , and all other benefits and enjoyments bestowed on us for the promoving of the pleasure of our lord , and the establishing of his kingdom , for the salvation of sinners , did still remain . thence was it , that the generall and great zeall which then appeared , was so suddenly contracted to a very few , and much remitted in all : and that mens corruptions , turning former professions into feigned pretensions , and causing many , ( in place of the great and only end proposed ) to minde selfish designes , and worldly advantages , the lord was provoked to give up some to the prosecution of these base desires , 〈◊〉 which they had so quickly backsliden ; and to abandon others to the delusion of an over-credulous charity : which two evills did so far prevail in all the transactions of these times , that though the over-ruling providence of the most high , did bring forth thereof the advantages which we have al-ready , mentioned ; yet were men thereby acted to pursue treaties , over the belly of most signal warnings and most pregnant disswasives to the contrary , and to conclude agreements , and accept of securities in the great matters of god , and of his work so long contended for , and far advanced , which no rational man not preferring airy words and professions , and ink-subscriptions , to plain refusal , visible reluctancies , manifest resilings , open counter-actings , and strong and continued prejudices , would be satisfyed with , in his own private matters of almost the meanest concernment . but though the lord from heaven did at dumbar , testify against both this evil and sinful course , and the great sin and wickedness that had procured it , and thereafter by many of his faithful servants did give express testimony & warning against the same ▪ yet it is stil persisted in : and notwithstanding that by a new discovery , after all the assurance contained in the declaration at dumfermling that could be imagined , the lord did make it evident at clova , that all these condescensions were only the constraints of policy , the backsliding and delusion of these times did proceed , until , that under a pretence of necessity , preferring the arm of flesh to the almighty power and favour of the most high , and through the perswasion of a mock-repentance , only agreable unto that mock-treaty whereon it depended , we were induced again , to break the lord's commandement and our own engagement , in joyning with the people of these abominations ; to provoke the lord to be angry , until he should consume us utterly without a remnant or escaping ; and by partaking of their sins , became apt and ready to partake of their judgements , which the lord , by the hand of the treacherous , did suddenly inflict upon us for all our treachery : and thereby , according to his righteousness and great faithfulness , as he had brought upon us the blessing ; so he also brought upon us the curse of his holy covenant , and the fears of our own acknowledgement . these were our forsakings & backslidings , which provoked the lord also to forsake us , and at length to give us over unto , and leave us in the hands of our enemies ; and to lay on our necks that long and heavy yoke of forraign usurpation , under which , from the year . unto the year . we did so grevously groan . the remembrance of which things , doth necessarily oblidge us to the declaration of these things . . that as we desire heartily to resume these professions of unfeigned humiliation ( for the undervaluing of the precious gospel and slighting of our lord jesus christ ) contained in our holy covenant , wherein all the land without exception are and were so deeply concerned ; so ( although in the narration of the procedure of our sinful and wofull defection , the particular passages of self-seeking and over-credulous delusion , may import a narrower restricton , yet ) the lord is our witness , that the pure motive of his glory , and the honor and truth of his work and covenant , without prejudice to the persons of any , far less of such , whom we are perswaded the lord both did , and yet doth honor , to be instrumental in his work , and faithfull in his covenant , ( though neither in the former practice , or this present perswasion , we do agree ) have induced us to this reflection : which we earnestly obtest , may be looked upon by all , rather as the matter of our mourning then of our censure . . that whatever love and sincere respect we retain for such of the faithful , who ( through the holy and wise permission of the soveraign lord , by the influence of particular temptations , or of that general and powerful snare of an evil time ) were carried on to a sinful complyance with the evil courses thereof : yet we are perswaded , that the remitting of that zeal , sincerity and stedfastness , whereunto , in our solemn acknowledgement , upon the most powerful motives , we had then lately so seriously engaged our selves ; and the more politick then pious management of these treaties and transactions ; ( wherein the advancement of the work of god , and prosecution of the ends of the covenant so highly pretended , could not sincerely and zealously be intended , by any imaginary security or sinful assistance thereby obtained ) but especially the relapsing unto that most sinful conjunction with the people of these abominations , so solemnly and lately repented for , and resolved against , ( which , in stead of being salved , was , by the constrained , politick , dissembled , and formall repentance then used , to the mocking of the god of truth , and scorn of all our holy engagements , on all hands mostly aggravated and exaggerated ) these evils , we say , were the very foundations of this present apostacy , and the grounds of the lords controversy , which hath so long , and yet doth so greivously pursue this poor church and nation . o! that all men would yet at length , after all the evils and warnings which god hath sent amongst us , seriously consider their wayes , take unto themselves shame , and give unto god the glory , before the decree bring forth our utter destruction and desolation . who knoweth but the lord would repent himself for his servants , when he seeth our power is gone , and return on high for his own glory , and the congregation of the poor that compass him about , and render vengeance unto all his adversaries ? . that neither failing nor backsliding of many of the faithful , nor the wicked hypocrisy and dissimulation practized on the other hand , in the carrying on , and concluding of these treaties , whereby the king was brought under the bond of the holy covenant , doth lessen or annul his obligation thereto ; far less the security , which the people , especially such who know not these depths of sathan , did obtain thereby , for their warrant and confirmation : surely the greatest aggravation of perjury , cannot annul the sacred obligation of an oath ; nor an intended falshood , loose the bond of truth ; nor will vile dissimulation , and the most fearful mocking of god and the whole world , deliver from his holy justice and jealousy , who is a terrible and swift witness against , and avenger of all such abominations . did the wicked dissimulation and rebellious heart of the children of israel , wherewith they entered in covenant with the lord , deu. . . to . liberate them from the sin of apostacy , and all these fearful plagues threatened against it ? did not that dissimulate promise and engagement of the remnant of the jewes , made to ieremiah chap. . . rather hasten and aggravat the punishment of their disobedience , v. , and ? all who love truth or fear an oath , do no doubt abhor such wickedness . but the main objection is , that all these condescensions were extorted by force and fear , which doth excuse the dissimulation , and annul the oath . we shall not here insist to clear and refute this cavillation , which others have so fully answered : for as to the position , that neither force nor fear , do cause to cease the obligation of an oath in a matter meerly indifferent ; much less , holy , righteous and true ( as the matter of the covenant is ) all yeeld . but that neither force , fear , nor any other indirect way can be alleadged for the annulling of these engagements , both the preceeding treaties , the just and necessary reasons , and all other cicumstances do most evidently confirm ; so that the whole world may justly wonder , that these men , who both in profession and practice , do plainly evidence their profane indifferency , and regardless violation of all oaths , wherein interest doth not concurre , should by the manifest patronizing of all perfidy ( whereof no instance can be adduced in the breach of any treaty , wherein the stronger & weaker did ever compose any matter of right , which is not more justifyable ) & the shamefull disgracing of the king himself , ( whom neither conscience , honor , honesty , nor the example of his father could teach the constancy of the most mean and abject of his subjects , ) should plead & pretend to rational pretext for the present apostacy , and not rather content themselves , to say with the king in one of his declarations , emitted shortly after his return to england , that it is well known by what abusive meanes his majesty was adduced to make and publish that declaration at dumfermling , without any more special condescendence , which is impossible . but oh ! that the world did also know and consider all the re-iterated oaths and subscriptions , high and solemn attestations , free and unrequired professions , fearfull execrations , made before god , angels and men , both in publick , upon the throne , under the crown , in plain parliament , and also in private conferences , which many yet alive can sufficiently attest ; by which this poor church and nation was insnared , and precipitated into all the sin and misery , that since the year . unto this day , hath afflicted us . however the lord , who seeth and heareth , doth also consider , to require it , and the violence done to himself in many of his suffering members , who partly even in the conscience of the very things , which they that are mostly therein concerned , do mockat , dare not prostitute their consciences in an ambulatory complyance , with the wicked apostacy in these times . . we cannot but observe , that after the prevailing , and during the time of the english usurpation , these only , for the most part , remained mindful of , and faithful to the king , who were faithful and stedfast in the covenant ; when as these , who formerly did , and at present do pretend so highly , for the king , in prejudice both of jesus christ , and the holy covenant , did in their slavish complyance , abandon all alleagance and honesty , to complement the then powers , for the promoving of their own selfish designes , which is the only bond of all their engagements , and rule and aim of all their actions . and though many of them do now pretend to have been sufferers , yet it is well known , that if they had had the half of these temptations , which the faithful upon the account of their alleageance did constantly resist , the kings interest for their part , had been for ever forgotten , as it was by many of them openly renounced and abjured ; and that the main reason of their then seeming and pretended loyalty , was the improbability of credit with , and acceptance from the usurpers , because of their known naughtiness . having thus declared the lords great work and glorious presence amongst us , in all these mercies and judgements which he shewed upon us , and these strange vicissitudes & alternations , sometimes of his grace & power , engageing us with heart & hand unto himself , sometimes of our own hearts wickedness and unstedfastness , again causing us to apostatize and backslide from his holy command and covenant , which , daring the space of an hundred years from the year , have in the holy and wise providence of god passed over us ; that by all these great temptations , which our eyes have seen , and the signs and wonders which he hath wrought , we might know , that the lord is our god , and jesus christ our king ; and that by all these things , he only went about to establish us for a peculiar people unto himself , in the glorious light of his truth , and beauty of his holiness , far exalted above many other nations . we are now come to the year , wherein though the lord was pleased according to his glorious soveraignity , by his own immediate hand , to break the yoke of our oppressors , restore our covenanted king , lawes and liberties , and to make all factions , parties and interests , not only to cede unto , but unanimously to conspire for this blessed restitution ; yet how evidently hath it since appeared , that the lord had not given unto us an heart to perceave , eyes to see , nor ears to hear , unto that very day . we need not here resume the king 's most solemn and indissoluble engagements , which we have so lately mentioned , nor add that after worcester fight , and from beyond sea , he did confirm by private letters to persons of unquestionable credit , that he was , and through the grace of god would continue , the same man that he had declared himself to be in scotland ; nor that it was the conscience of that clause of the covenant , relating to the maintenance of his person and authority , which during the times of usurpation , did retain the sence and love of his interest , so fresh and deeply rooted in mens hearts ; nor that the publick owning , publishing and reprinting thereof by the then parliament in england in march . was the first public act that durst or did appear in his favours ; nor lastly need we remember that letter written and directed by the king , after his return to the presbytery of edinburgh and this whole church , wherein he declares himself resolued , by the grace of god to protect and preserve the government of the church of scotland as it is setled by law without violation ; seing that though according to it 's then state and posture , such a solemn and publick assurance might have been reputed a perpetual security ; yet the whole strain of the letter , is such as tendeth only to divide the whole ministery , and to abuse the greater part of them : and particularly , the altering and suppressing of that most fixed and certain ground of his engagement , even the word of god and the holy covenant , for that of law , which is but frail and moveable , did even then discover to many , that latent dissimulation and instability , whereby others were either weakly or willingly deluded . the thing we observe is , that both king and peoples obligations were not then greater , then the oportunity appeared to be most happy , for the accomplishing of the lord's work , the making of his name great & one in all these nations , & the nations happy & high above all nations in name & in praise , & the establishing of the king and his posterity upon the throne in glory & prosperity , & that the owning of , & adhering unto the solemn league and covenant , our magna charta of religion and righteousness , had both in the perswasion of all sober men , and even in the conviction of the greatest part of our adversaries , infallibly produced , and effectuated all these blessings . but oh! how suddenly and strangely was this blessed appearance overclouded , the expectation of all the godly disappointed , the joy and peace of all corrupted and marred , and this land reduced unto this present so woful desolation and sore distress , which though the groans , tears , and the blood of the persecuted , the cry of violence and oppression , the desolation and profanation of gods sanctuary , the reigning power of darkness , the pride , rage and blasphemy of perjury and all profanity , which hath filled the land , and the dreadful wrath of the most holy and great god , which both burneth round about , and hangeth over it , do sufficiently make manifest , yet for our greater upstirring to consider and lay to heart , that all these evils are come upon us because our god is not amongst us , and what the heat of this great anger meaneth , & also for the clearing of the innocency & testimony of the lords sufferers , we do shortly exhibite the violent course of this precipitant defection . the king being returned and re-established in may . the antichristian spirit of prelacy , ever enemy to the gospel and kingdom of our lord jesus , and the holy covenant whereby the same are promoted , taking occasion from these many troubles and confusions , which the opposition and false-heartedness of many in the same covenant , did principally provoke the lord to inflict upon thir lands , and advantage from the proneness of mens power to decline unto tyranny , and their corruptions to all licentiousness , did first most falsely and atrociously slander the covenant as the bond of all iniquity , rebellion and confusion , which prejudice being enforced which many apparent advantages that then did attend it , did so suddenly and strongly spread and root it self in the hearts of our nobles , rulers , and the generality of the land , that , without so much as seriously reflecting upon their former so solemn engagements , sacred oaths , publick professions , vigorous actings and appearances for the cause and covenant of the lord , with any consideration of conscience , honesty , or honor , which so great and sudden a mutation from their former wayes , though they had been as wicked , as in effect they are true and righteous , did certainly call for in sober and earnest repentance , they with the concurrence of such vile sycophants and treacherous persons in the church and ministry , as the worldly wealth and power of prelacy had wickedly debauched , set themselves in a most determined and resolute fury , whereinto all their former zeal for god is by the malice of satan suddenly corrupted , by the plain force of power , and colour of authority , whereunto they had now attained , to deface and overturn the whole work of god , raze it's fundations , annul his covenants , repeal all acts made in their favors , incapacitate and persecute all opposers , and lastly to efface and dissolve all sense and bond of conscience , by which this fearful course of apostacy , might be in the least , checked or controlled . we shall not here premise any thing , for clearing of the unlawfulness of the succeeding acts and deeds , whereby this apostacy was carried on , and for the loosing and freeing of us from all obligation of obedience thereto , or complyance therewith : any who can but suppose , that not only a whole parliament but also all men are , and have often been found liars , and compare impartially the things present with the things that are past , must necessarily conclude , that all these acts and deeds of defection were and are gross perjury and wickedness , and that so long as that maxim shal hold , that we ought rather to obey god then man , they can never be binding either in conscience or reason . seing therefore that the only rule of these counter-actings and overturnings , was to destroy that which the lord had so gloriously planted , and to loose that whereunto we were and are indissolubly obliged , referring our selves to what is already said , for vindicating the lords work and our holy covenants , we proceed to lay forth the sinfulness and wofulness of this defection , as follows . . in july . by immediate clandestine warrants , without any cause signifyed or citation given , the lord marquess of argile and some other gentlemen , ( who were conceaved to have been instrumental in the former work of god , and that they might be of influence for obstructing of the then designed overthrow thereof ) were attached and committed close prisoners . . in august . the committee of estates appointed by the parliament . being again set down , the very first day of their meeting , do violently seise upon several faithful ministers , peaceably and quietly assembled together , and imployed in the drawing up of a monitory letter to the king , in the most rational and dutiful manner , and for the most important and necessary ends , of gods glory , and the kings service , that can be imagined , as the letter it self set down at large in the apologetick narration doth testify . and though this duty and employment was no other , then what the meanest subject in the most private capacity might , and all were indispensibly obliged to have done ; yet those ministers and one gentleman with them , are therefore , instantly without hearing , committed prisoners . . this committee proceeding to prepare for the succeeding parliament , ( which was all it's work and design ) the parliament siteth down the day of january . where , having taken the oath of supremacy , without respect to it's due limitation contained in the . act. ia. . parl. . . then standing unrepealed ; and exalting the kings prerogative , upon the alleaged warrand of the vvord of god and laws of the land ( but in effect directly contrary to both ) above all offices , parliaments , laws , leagues , conventions , peace and war ; and likwise upon meer assertions & alleageances in place of declaring upon known and certain grounds ( which is all that any parliament can lawfully do ) directly innovating the fundamental law & constitution of the kingdom , & thereby making the kings throne , the foundation of all the succeeding perjury and apostacy ; they spoil and divest , first , the solemn league and covenant , and then the national covenant , presbyterial government , & the whole work of god , of all legal warrand and authority ; declaring all acts and practises made and standing in favours thereof , to be void and null : and by the same great act rescissory , they revive and reinforce all the corruptions and superstitions of crossing , kneeling and the like , introduced by any parliament since the reformation . as the acts of the first session of the last parliament do clearly testify . although that these acts have been and are , both in themselves & in their effects , just cause of great astonishment and mourning to all the faithful in the land ; yet when we remember that height of wickedness and profanity that then abounded , and the false , flattering , & perjurious sermons & practises , by which the parliament was thereunto instigated , but most of all that act that then passed for an anniversary ▪ thanksgiving ; wherein , as if we had been delivered to commit all this great wickedness , the spirit and work of the lord are heinously blasphemed and calumniated , as the only author and cause of all the blood , bondage , usurpation , rebellion , rapine , violence and other evils , that either the malice and wickedness of men had caused , or god in his righteous judgement had therefore permitted or inflicted ; and the ranversing of our blessed reformation , holy covenants , and the righteous laws whereby they were established , accounted the restitution of religion , righteousness , and liberties ; and the of may , as most auspicious , appointed for the yearly solemn commemoration thereof . ( a day , the profane institution whereof cannot be better demonstrated , then by it 's more profane observance and celebration ever since practised ) these things , we say , being considered , do justly adde horror to our astonishment & trembling unto our mourning . but that their practise might be also consonant to their acts and statutes , and , by cutting off or laying aside it 's most eminent opposers , the return of prelacy might be more effectually promoted , in the same session of parliament , not only was that innocent and faithful one , mr cut●ry , ( singled out and signally honoured by god , to bear testimony to the kingdom of his son jesus christ , his cause and covenant , ( for no other fault then his faithfulness therein , and his declining the king's usurped authority in prejudice of the kingdom of our lord jesus , and the priviledges of his church , clearly warranded by act parl. . la. . then standing unrepeal'd , and by a great cloud of faithful witnesses , who in like manner did testify against this usurpation ) cruelly slain and put to death ; but also , under the colour of certain epidemick crimes , wherein the soveraignity of divine providence , more then any man's malice , had involved the whole land , others who had been eminent in the work of god , particularly the marquess of argyle , were condemned to death , and forfeited : and several other faithful ministers , besides these who were at first imprisoned by the committee of estates , were without any cause signifyed , imprisoned , confined , or otherwise vexed and incapacitated . . the rise and re-establishment of this antichristian prelacy being thus prepared , in the interval after this first session of parliament , the king nominateth and presenteth bishops ; and four of them being called to court , are there re-ordained and consecrated : and that in such a manner as doth clearly infer their disowning and renouncing their former minstery , and their warrand & mission thereunto . in consequence whereof , all the ordinary meetings of presbyteries and synods are discharged , until they should of new be licenced & authorized thereto by the bishops now nominated and appointed , and , to the effect that matters might the better succeed , several of our faithful ministers , upon groundless suspitions , and for refusing of the oath of supremacy arbitrarly and rigorously imposed , without so much as admitting such qualifications , as no christian ought or can deny , are some of them banished and others confined . . the second session of this last parliament sitting in may . by their first act , they restore and re-establish prelacy in all it 's pretended rights , dignities and priviledges , but in effect , in it's real usurpations and corruptions . and for the better setling thereof , and evident declaring to the world , how erastian and antichristian this woful government is , both in it's rise , designs and effects , as by this act , the restitution thereof is expresly founded upon the king's supremacy , as being an inherent right in the crown for the disposal of the external government of the church , so it is also declared , that whatever the king shall determine with advice of the bishops and such of the clergy as he shall nominate , in the externall government of the church , shall be valid and effectual , without any other proviso then that the same be consistent with the laws of the realm . but the absolute complement of all wickedness and the hight of usurpation , above all that ever the papacy it self aspired unto , is that which followeth , whereby the king and parliament , for clearing all scruples which may occurre from former acts and practices , do rescind all former acts , by which , the sole and only power of jurisdiction within this church , doth stand in the church , and in the meetings and assemblies thereof ; and all acts of parliament and council , which may be interpreted to have given any church-power , jurisdiction , or government to the office-bearers of the church , their respective meetings , other then that which acknowledgeth a dependence upon , and subordination to the soveraign power of the king as supream , and is to be regulated and authorized in the exercise thereof by the bishops , who are to put order to ecclesiastick matters , and to be accountable to the king for their administration ; and the foresaid act parl. . la. . whereby the priviledges , power and other essentiall censures given by god to the spirituall office-bearers in his church , and warranded by his word are ratifyed , is even in so far and totally cassed and rescinded . and that the world may know how presumptuous and absurd this usurpation is , which cannot be justly conceaved without an instance of it's effects , we here subjoyn that act. sess . . of the same parliament for the constitution of a national synod , wherein the king is made soveraignly and properly to constitute this assembly , both as to the appointment of it's members constituent , and of it's constant president ; the absolute regulation of things there to be proposed ( which are declared to be only such as he shall please to signify , ) the determination and limitation of it's decisions , which are to be agreed to by the president as well as the major part , and providing that they be not contrary to the prerogative or the laws of the realm , and lastly , as to the necessity of the king's presence in person or by his commissioner , and of his ratification and approbation , without which no act or deed is to be of any force . now let the world consider , what he could have done more in the constitution and regulation of his own court of exchequer : and if he hath not done all , as to the constitution of this court , ( immediatly depending upon our lord jesus christ and his sole authority ) which he himself hath done or possibly could do ; by what warrand or rule , he who is king of kings will require . we shal not here stand to examine these acts according to former laws , oaths and engagements , hereby most fearfully violated and contemned ; this is a strain of wickedness above all that former times could imagine . o! that god would speak to the authors , but not in his wrath , and as he hath set his only son upon his holy hill of zicn ; so he would cause them to fear his displeasure , that they may yet be wise and instructed to kiss the son , left he be angry , and they perish from the way , when his wrath is kindled but a litle . surely to define , that the sole power and jurisdiction of this church , doth not stand within the same , but in some thing without beside our lord jesus ; and that the same is fountain'd in , and derived from the king ; and that all church-officers in all church matters , are accountable to him , who is neither thereto gifted nor called , is to set the king upon our lord jesus his throne , and a high derogation from , and reflection upon him , who hes builded the temple of the lord & bears the glory , & sits and rules both as king & priest upon his throne ; who , more worthy then moses , was faithful and perfect as a son over his own house ; and therefore did not leave his church destitute , of any such necessary and proper officer or assister , when neither king nor prince was so much as members thereof ; and lastly , it 's a plain perversion in stead of performance of that promise made to the church , isai . . ver . . that kings should be it's nursing fathers , where in place of dominion , there submission is expresly injoyned , they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth . we know that this empty notion of external policy , is vainly pretended to colour the matter : but seeing whatsoever can be meaned by external policy , even as to outward decency and order , is either particularly determined by our lord himself and his blessed apostles , or under the definition of general and evident rules left unto the churches arbitriment , whereby the king ( being no church-officer ) upon a double account is clearly excluded ; and seing that under the pretence of this external policy , the greatest & most superstitious novations in the pure worship of god , and the greatest corruptions and abuses both by the appointment of new officers in the church of christ without his own warrand , and the usurping and perverting of the power of spiritual censures in the government of gods house , may be and have been introduced , we doubt not , but all rational men do see the delusions of such vain pretences . and certainly since the act it self doth proceed , to grant the king all the power in & over both ecclesiastick causes & persons that can be imagined , it would be but ordinary ingenuity in our adversaries , plainly to assert , that the king is the great apostle and vicegerent of our lord jesus christ , in and over his house : although they should not only appear herein destitute of any better warrand , then this present act of parliament ; but most plainly to justify al the usurpation , that ever the pope or antichrist , can be charged with . . bishops being thus restored and admitted to sit and give voice in parliament , this mixture and the power of their antichristian spirit doth quickly exert it self : and without regard to the nature of parliamentary and all civil powers ( which are no wayes conversant about things and perswasions only internal , and meerly appertaining to conscience or to the word of god , which is the ground and warrant , upon which all power whatsoever being only declarative , in matters of this kind , ought certainly and expresly to proceed , ) they procure a dogmatick act declaring these positions , that it is lawful to subjects for reformation or necessary self-defence to enter into leagues , or take up arms against the king , and such like , to be rebellious and treasonable ; and particularly that the national covenant as it was explained in the year , and the solemn league and covenant were , and are in themselves unlawful oaths , and were taken by , and imposed upon the subjects of this kingdom , against the fundamental law and liberties thereof . ( which neither they nor all the invention of hell , is able to condescend upon or instruct ) and therefore , out of the plenitude of their power , ( as much as ever any pope pretended to ) they loose the obligation of conscience , and free the subjects of their engagements : and further , to compleat this their wickedness , they appoint a declaration of this high impiety , to be signed by all in publick trust , that none may be admitted to , or exerce the same , except they receave in their right hand or in their foreheads this their accursed mark . o! lord our god , thow art of purer eyes then to behold evil , and canst not look on iniquity : vvherefore lookst thou on them that deal treacherously , and holds thy tongue when the wicked devour the man that is more righteous then he ? yet surely o lord thou hast ordained them for judgement , and o mighty god , thou hast estabished them for correction . can the world beleeve , that a whole nation in it's most national capacity , including king , parliament and the body of the people , should after most clear and evident convictions , and signal manifestations of the glory and presence of god , in the most important and holy concernments of all truth and righteousness , most solemnly ( as it were ) to day engage themselves by oath unto the lord , and to morrow , without so much as seriously remembring gods holiness and terrible jealousy , either against these that break his holy covenant , or wickedly profane his name by taking it in vain , at once without any reason or probable motive rendered therefore , despise , contemn and trample the same holy and great engagements under foot , and urge others to the like wickedness and impiety ? if this tend unto , or shall prove effectuall for the preservation of his majesty's person , authority & government , as this act and statute is entituled , then surely he may break the covenant and prosper . but this is not all , for these men supposing by this act , that the work of god was utterly subverted and overthrown , they provide also against the fears of it's revival , by declaring all such gatherings and petitions that were used in the beginning of the late troubles , though the same be no other then that common priviledge of all men , which slavery it self ( much less subjection ) doth not take away , to be unlawful and seditious : and furder do statute and enact that no person by vvriting , printing , praying , preaching , or malicious and advised speaking , express or publish any words or sentences to stirre up the people to the dislike of the kings prerogative and supremacy , or of the government of the church by bishops , or justify any of the deeds , actings or things declared against by this present act. by all which , not only the security of religion and the liberty of the subject is utterly subverted , by prohibiting of the lawful , most necessary and only means of asserting thereof , in case the same should be invaded ; but we are also denyed and prohibited the license , so much as to mourn and pour out our prayer unto god , either apart or one with another , for all this horrid apostacy , or our heavy persecutions for non-complyance therewith ; so that the most innocent of all remedies , petitioning and prayer , and also the meanest and last of all comforts , even the tears and complaints of the afflicted , ( which god and nature hath hitherto placed beyond the reach of all cruelty ) are now severely forbidden . . by the third act of the same session of parliament , under the pretence that patronages , being the just & proper right of these concerned , were unjustly abolished in the year . notwithstanding that the same were only , in so far as they were burthensome to the church of god , and obstructive to the work of the gospel , then abrogated ; and in lieu thereof the civil interest and benefit of patrons more amply extended and secured ; yet on purpose that they might cast out and remove such faithful ministers , as notwithstanding all the wicked acts and practises then made for the overthrow of the work of god and presbyterial government , might have by their stedfastness ( at least ) put some demur to this impetuous defection , they statute and ordain , that all ministers who entered to the cure of any parish , in or since the year . have no right unto , nor shall possess any benefice or stipend for that same current year . or any year following , but decern their kirks and benefices ipso jure vacant : and then under pretext of favour , they clearly discover the design and snare intended , in declaring that every such minister who shall obtain the patron 's presentation and bishop's collation , betwixt and the twenty of september then nixt following , shall have right to his church and benefice , as if at his entry he had been lawfully presented , otherwise the act to stand in force against him . by which means this same parliament in their first session having enacted , that no patron should present , or minister presented have right , except they should first take the oath of supremacy , the very body and strength of the ministry of this church were reduced to this sore dilemma , either to take that oath of supremacy , which both by express acts and clear practises , was now declared and interpreted to be the very height of papacy , and root of prelacy , and by accepting of collation , to acknowledge these perfidious and usurping prelates , or to lose and be cast out of the ministry , likeas , de facto . and upwards of the faithful ministers , were by vertue of this act shortly thereafter outed and violented from the exercise of their ministry . . the prelates not having attained their full intent by this last act , do further prosecut their design of casting out , and incapacitating all such as either remained or might rise up to oppose their wickedness , and therefore they procure , . an act of parliament without either citation or reason alleaged or rendered , against the faithful ministers of edinburgh , ( who , being eminent lights , were also from the advantage of the place apprehended as more eminent opposers , ) discharging them of their , ministry , and ordaining them to remove themselves and families out of the city , after the of september then next to come . . by the fourth act of the same second session of parliament , to the effect that not one faithful minister might remain to witness against their defection , they statut and enact , that all ministers , for testifying their acknowledgement of , and complyance with the present government by prelates , keep and observe the bishops visitations and diocesian assemblies , and be assistant to them in all acts of church discipline as they shall be required , under the pain for the first fault of suspension from office and benefice , and of deposition if they should not amend . we are not here to redargue such lukewarm newters , as , by the subtilty of a vain distinction deceaving & being deceaved , under the pretence of innocent submission , do actually assist , partake , and comply with that wicked prelacy , which they are sworn to extirpat ; and at best , can only pretend to keep the covenant by that detestable neutrality , which , they have therein abjured ; their growing backsliding will quickly declare and free them of this imputation of neutrality . our regrate is for the faithfull , who are thus by the perjury and violence of such who of all men ought most to patronize them , not only outed of the ministry by deprivation from benefice or stipend , but declared by a parliament , a civil court , deposable from their spiritual office , as inconsistently and absurdly as if the same secular persons , who were authors thereof , had by the same act stept into their pulpits . . by the same last act , in imitation of julian the apostat , who found not a more effectual and devillish invention for suppressing & destroying christianity then the shutting up of their schools and colledges for learning , they ordain for the poysoning of all the springs and fountains thereof , that none teach or rule in an university or colledge , except they both take the oath of supremacy , and submit to , & own the government of prelacy , & that none be permitted to teach any school , or to be a paedagogue to children without the prelates licence . . by the same act , they not only prohibit any to preach in publick or in families without the prelats licence ; but advancing & pursuing their malice & persecution unto these very sanctuaries of rest & refuge , which even in former times , ( when the proud were called happy , & such as wrought wickedness were set up , yea they that tempted god. were delivered , ) the lord did provide and reserve for his own , wherein they that feared him , and thought upon his name , spoke often one to another , and the lord hearkened and heard it ; they under the pretence , lest the people should thereby be alienat from their lawful pastors ( as they call them ) who in effect are wolves and thieves , discharge all private meetings in houses for religious exercises , which might tend to the prejudice of the publick worship in churches : under which qualification , all christian fellowship and society , amongst such who cannot overcome their just aversion from these churches and publick meetings , which these apostat prelats have prophaned and polluted , and whereunto they have wickedly intruded , are prohibited and reproached . . by a proclamation emitted this second session of parliament , they again enjoin the observance of that anniversary holy day , the of may , even the moneth and day which they had devised of their own heart for a feast unto the people : and to the effect they might the more infallibly attain their purpose of outing all faithfull ministers , they subjoin the certification of deprivation of benefice , or stipend , against all such who should not , ( because in conscience could not ) observe it , like as de facto , severalls , who could not in conscience satisfy themselves either as to the authority or reason of the appointment , are therefore without citation or hearing , outed of their benefices and stipends for that year ; and the same either immediatly ingathered by the common collector , or gifted to some other . . in the same session of parliament , pretending that the whole land , ( a few only excepted , ) were notourly and heinously involved in the crimes of treason and lese-majesty , through no other cause nor occasion , then our most necessary , righteous , and lawful entering into the solemn league & covenant , and prosecuting the holy ends theirof , once so signally owned and countenanced by the lord , and so fully authorized by all the law & security that can be imagined ( for , as for the english usurpation , few were guilty of complyance therewith , who were not also most forward in this apostacy , and the very vilest and worst of such had been declared an honest man by an express and particular act of the same parliament ) they appoint a packed close committee , wherein the generality of the faithfull to the number of about , ( not adding a hundred more who by private resentment or upon some other prejudice were listed in this roll ) without citation or any cause signifyed , or any manner of tryal taken , were most arbitrarily fined , and for the most part in such pecuniary mulcts and summs as it pleased the malicious suggestions of the delators to impose , and in many particulars so absurdly , the sometimes the same person was found twice fined under divers stiles in diverse shires , and others were left blanck either in the name or surname , who might be filled up either for one person or another , as the best conjecture should determine ; and others were fined , who were dead long before , or were infants , and minors under age , and others who to this day could never be found . if this be the righteous judgement which the lord doth require , let the world declare . surely this act is such as hath no precedent nor fellow , except that other act of billeting , whereof , as the power and interest of some persons against whom it was intended have by an after act sufficiently discovered it's irregularity and absurdity ; so until the like discovery as to other acts may be obtained , it may evidently enough declare what manner of power and reason did over-rule this parliament : but these two acts being past , the parliament proceed to declare by their act of indemnity the kings special grace and goodness , in pardoning such whom only the parliaments own apostacy , and unparalelled rebellion against the god or heaven , made criminal , excepting for the most part only such who were most innocent . . this session of parliament being ended , the council go about the execution of the acts therein concluded , especially against the ministers not obtaining presentations , and by their act and proclamation at ●lasgow emitted , the . day of october . they command all such ministers to remove themselves forth of their respective parishes , betwixt and the — day of november then nixt ensueing , discharging them thereafter to exercise any part of their ministerial function within the same : what and how great the iniquity and rigor of this act is , we will not stand to declare . certainly , he who commanded his apostles to pray that their flight might not be in the winter , did regard and doth remember the great distress which many poor families then sustained , who , being deprived of livelyhood , turned out of doors , indigent and very numerous , might according to the cruelty of their adversaries have starved and perished . we need not here insist upon the particular steps , whereby the restless jealousies of these wicked prelats , did urge forward and advance this presecution , by their impetrating of reiterate acts and proclamations , until they obtained that last act and proclamation , concluding and adjudging all these ministers unto such a nice and impossible confinement , which not only the necessity of humane frailty , and it's dependance upon many indispensible conveniences , do render more rigid & intollerable , then the most strict imprisonment , and the most barbarous banishment ; but also the most curious skill of the most exact geographer can scarce make practicable : it is enough for us to note , that having , by a posterior proclamation , extended the same pains unto all ministers outed upon whatsoever ground of non conformity to this present course of apostacy , ( in which condition all the faithfull ministers in scotland a very few excepted , are included , ) there were never so many innocent and faithful ministers , in any christian church at once and for such a cause reduced to such hardships , fears , and uncertainties , and that by such persons , who not only are as deeply & solemnly sworn and engaged as they are , in the same cause and covenant , for which they suffer , but by such who once ( some of them at least ) appeared to have had the zeal of god , so that if it had been possible they would have pluckt out their own eyes , and have given them to such , whose enemies they now are , only because they tell them the truth : such is the fearful snare & prevailing power of apostacy ; but god seeth & telleth their wanderings , and putteth all their tears into his bottle . having , because of the necessary connection of these things , thus represented them together , we return to the third session of the same parliament , and its acts , where . by the first act thereof , they ratify the former act anent ministers , who entered in , and since the year , and such who keep not the diocesian meetings , and do recommend to the privy council the effectual execution theirof , and to call all such ministers , who dare to preach in contempt of that act to be punished as seditious persons , and also to be careful to remove and dispossess such who should be suspended or deprived for non-conforming , declaring that if they thereafter presume to exercise their ministry , they should be punished as seditious persons . thus , in the height of perfidy and violence , men under the pretext of abused and perverted authority , proceed to dare and presume against god , their own conscienc●● & all their sacred & indissoluble oaths and engagements , and to persecut such for preaching , who , standing stedfast therein , and having a dispensation of the gospel committed unto them , by him who is king in zion & higher then the kings of the earth , may & out to contemn the menaces of vain man , in regard of that heavy and severe woe sounding in their ears , if they preach not the gospel ; but the act doth furder proceed , to require of all , a due acknowledgement of , and hearty complyance with the kings government ecclesiastical and civil , and therefore to ordain and declare , that who ever shal ordinarily and wilfully withdraw and absent themselves , from the ordinary meetings for divine vvorship in their own churches on the lords day , whether upon the account of popery or other dissaffection , shall incurre , each heritor the loss of a fourth of that years rent , each yeoman the loss of a fourth ( or under ) of his moveables , each burgess the loss of his liberty and burgeship with the fourth of his moveables , and concludes with a reference to the council for further punishment , & more effectual execution , likeas in order hereunto the council by several proclamations since , have so much intended the severity of this act , that every parish in stead of having a lawfull pastor , is now inslaved to a graceless , violent hireling as it's lord and master , and to the extortion of souldiours appointed for his executioners and exactors . we shall not here debate the lawfulness or unlawfulness of the obedience here required , only for the vindication of many thousands of the faithful , who by their sufferings have born testimony against this act ; we add , . that waving the ordinary & captious maner of proposing the question in the terms of hearing or nor hearing , which strickly taken , are not the subject thereof , we are assured that none seriously pondering the obligation of the oath of god , sincerely , really & constantly all the dayes of our life to endeavour the extirpation of prelats and their dependants , but they will acknowledge , that the owning of , and submitting to the apostat curats according to this act as our ministers , is most diametrally opposit thereto : can we lawfully own such whom we are bound to abhorre ? or submit to such whom we are bound to extirpate ? surely this were to rebuild what we have destroyed . . that though some nimble sophisters , who fear not after vowes to make inquiry , can and have swallowed both owning and submitting as not repugnant to the duty of extirpation , yet , seing the direct contrary thereof , is by the terms themselves very significantly imported , and that these terms were for this express cause and design particularly elected and made choice of by the parliament , for ranversing of the obligation of the holy covenant , no sober man will be tempted by their delusion to think , either that owning and submitting signify no more then simple submitting , or that that active assenting and complying submission here mean'd , is no more then that stil and passive submission , unto which men by the force of inevitable necessity , and against their wills are oftentimes constrained . . that whoever pretending to enter into the ministery , doth presumptuously contemn and despise the sacred rule and order of entry appointed by the great shepherd , cannot be reputed to enter by the door , nor to be so much as externally by him sent or called : but such as do enter by gross and palpable perjury and wicked violence and intrusion , do without question contemn the sacred rule and order of gods word , so that to admit such to be so much as externally called were to make the god of order the author of confusion , and him who is the truth , the favourer of perjury . we know that this notion of an external call is conceited by many , to be no other thing , then the performance of such rites and solemnities , as are prescribed to the admission of a minister , done by such a person or persons , on whom the like hath been performed ; but seing that by many instances of gross disorder and violence , ( which are obvious for any man to suppose , ) many absurdities might be hence inferred , and that to be externally called according both to the meaning of truth , and the import of the words is , to have such a visible evidence of the call of iesus christ , as in reason and charity doth oblige all men to receave the person so called , as truely sent ; certainly if any person force his own entry into the ministry by open and profane contempt of the rule and order given by our lord jesus , he doth in like maner as palpably disprove any evidence of a lawful call , which he can pretend to , & no man is obliged either to beleeve him to be called or to receave him as sent. which things are so evident in themselves , that whoever denyeth them , is obliged by the same consequence to affirm , that if simon magus had in his horrid wickedness purchased the apostleship by money , the christian world had been bound to receave him as an apostle . . though we are not to lanch out into these depths , how the soveraignity of divine providence hath suffered churches to fall away into apostacy , and again recovered them , and if during these times of apostacy a standing ministry still continued , or how long it did ; if not , what way it was revived and raised up , in which cases true faith in jesus christ which is the substance of all , and a conscientious walking according to the measure of the times , doth certainly purge and sustain many things otherwise chargeable with informality ; yet of this weare confident , that it hath alwayes been both the sin and misery of all apostatizing churches , that they have not resisted the beginnings of defection , and when the authors theirof did prove incorrigible , though formerly ministers , that they did not separate from them , and account them as heathens and publicans , which course , if duely and zealously observed , had undoubtedly put a great stop and hinderance to the rise and wicked usurpation of antichrist , all whose malice and violence without the delusion and complyance of such who ought to have resisted them , had never proven so effectual . . that a man may be a minister , and yet not a minister unto all , so as to oblige them to receave him as sent to them , which may be intuitively understood beyond the light and power of any demonstration , if we but suppose the case of a particular congregation , living under , and acknowledging their own lawful pastor , & that amongst such , a few violent persons arising , bring in another minister by plain force , and cast out their lawful pastor , and if it be sincerely resolved what the faithful in that church are then obliged to do , surely none will think that they ought instantly to relinquish their true pastor , & own & submit to this intruder , but on the contrare all must grant that they ought to adhere to their lawful minister & not only discountenance & withdraw from the usurper , but by all lawful means endeavour his ejection ; which case , if but translated to the present condition of this oppressed church under usurping prelates , will with the same evidence resolve the question . . that whatever construction or interpretation many to whom it is given to believe but not to suffer , may put upon their hearing of the curates , as to the inferring or not inferring their owning of , and submission to their ministry , yet this is certain , that as it is the most probable argument and presumption of owning that can be alleadged , so is it that which this act requires for to testify both a due acknowledgement of , and hearty complyance with the present government by prelates , and as an undoubted evidence of the peoples giving their cheerful concurrence , countenance and assistance to the curates . . that seing hearing of the curates by the acknowledgement of all the more ingenuous is not a duty to which they are moved by conscience , but rather used by them as a thing though lawful yet arbitrary , for the eviting a greater inconvenience , & seing that this act and every article theirof is undoubtedly gross and wicked perfidy against god and his holy covenant , commanding the disowning and relinquishing the lords ministry whom we are bound to maintain , and the owning and encouraging by hearing such vile intruders as we are bound to extirpate , thereby designing expresly to involve all as much as is possible in the same perfidy , and to loose the former obligation of the oath of god ; whatever may be said in the case abstractly considered , yet we are perswaded that being thus stated , not hearing becomes a case of testimony , and an indispensible duty . . that as it is the sin and misery of all declining times that the zeall of god is at the best rather wished for as a blessing , then minded as a duty ; so we are confident that the true and right zeall of god should , and would not only inspire all with an unanimous aversion against the the profane intruding curates , but animate us as one man to drive away these wolves and thieves , and to eradicate these plants which our heavenly father never planted . . that though the curates could instruct and justify their external call , yet such are their lies & lightness by which they cause the people to erre , & the visible truth of their vile perjury and prophanity , which they preach and practise , that all serious observers may easily discover them to be inwardly ravening wolves under the sheeps cloathing of an pretended external call , of whom in conscience of our lords command all ought and should beware . . that whatever may be the difference in these things even amongst the faithful , yet all must aggree and acknowledge that the violent pressing of such to hear , who upon such probable grounds from a tender sense of conscience do only plead that christian , innocent , & most safe priviledge of a peaceable forbearance , is not only contrare to that ample promise of indulgence to tender consciences made and declared by the king from breda before his return . but is in effect to violent all conscience , and the hight of oppression and rigor . . that as the grounds laid down may and do sufficiently answer all objections , so therefrom may be shortly cleared , first , that common and ordinary sophism , that hearing and observing the ordinances is an indispensible duty from which neither the wickedness nor frailty of the minister doth loose : but as it may be easily answered , that this when acknowledged doth rather suppose then inferre the complexed lawfulness of hearing curates as ministers , and that their ministry is the lords ordinance , which is plainly denyed ; so we are also to consider , that such duties and performances are only acceptable unto the lord , specially in the matters of his worship which are intirely sound and wholly agreeable unto his will , truely done , in spirit , and altogether performed in truth , nam bo●um est ex omni causa , hence it is that the prophanity and wickedness even of the lords lawful priests , let be the perjury and profanity of wicked intruders , have not only caused the people to abhorre the offering of the lord to the priests heavy charge , but evē the lord himselfe to abhorre his sanctuary , & to account incense an abomination , so that he cannot away with the calling of assemblies , it is iniquity even the solemn meeting ; shall it then be accounted iniquity for to hate that which the lord hates , and withdraw from that which he hath forsaken ? ought we not rather to distinguish a holy abhorring from a profane contempt , though both of them proceed from the curats sin , and in the sense thereof rather wish for , and withdraw with jeremiah unto a cottage in the wilderness , that there we may mourn for all these abominations ; surely were there no more in this matter but that holines becomes the house of god for ever , and men of clean hands and a pure lip ought to draw near and turn unto him , it were sufficient to justify the lords people , who in drawing near to god , cannot in conscience either regard or make use of the mouths and hands of these apostates which are continually filled with lyes and violence , as either sent by the lord to them-ward , or to be imployed by them to god-ward , . from these grounds may be cleared that grand objection from our lords command to the people of the jewes , matth. . ver . , . saying , the scribes and pharisees sit in moses seat , therefore whatsoever they bid yow observe , that observe and do . whence some inferre that even such as without a title do usurp the office of teachers ought notwithstanding to be both heard and observed ; but it is answered , . that it neither appeareth from the words nor yet from any other record , that the scribes and pharisees did by intrusion possess themselves of moses chair , but on the contrare , as by moses chair is only understood the office of teaching , resolving and judging according to moses law , to which although the levites were appropriate , yet is there is no such determination thereanent in the word of god , as can by any manner of inference reject the scribes & pharisees as intruders , so it is more presumable ( that , seeing our lord in that long legend of evils & woes pronounced against them , doth not in the least charge them with intrusion , but rather acknowledge their vocation by calling them the builders ) they had thereto lawfully attained . . as our lords words bear no command for the people to hear , but only to observe and do what they heard , rather supposing then allowing that , which though for the time he endeavoured to improve to the best advantage , yet afterwards he intended not only to reform but utterly to abolish , & therefore cannot in reason infer a command & duty to hear the curates ; so neither our lords tolerance in this case can so much as infer it's lawfulness , except the cases were duely stated & compared , which if any will rationally do , by first supposing that the scribes and pharisees had then lately by gross perjury and violence thrust out the lords teachers & intruded themselves into the office , we are bold to affirm that our greatest adversaries dare not in this case assert , that our lord would so much as in the like words here used have insinuat a simple toleratiō . hitherto we have only observed the progress of these acts that directly tend to the overthrow of presbytery , and the erecting of prelacy , but as by the vilest of flatteries and most presumptuous of usurpations , soveraignity is puffed up and exalted to that supremacy , which is the necessary & only foundation of prelacy ; so it is no wonder if both in the righteous judgement of god , and through the influence of this wicked prelacy , the stay of lawful authority become a yoke of tyranny , and that these prelates , who make an absolute surrender of religion , conscience & all sacred concernments , for the gratifying , and to the arbitriment of these powers whose creatures they have often atheistically acknowledged themselves to be , do with the same and greater profusion subject both laws , liberties and the fortunes of others , to the lust of the same powers , which they may so easily pervert unto their own establishment and advancement : and this indeed is and hath alwayes been that great aggravation of our later prelacy , rendring the same worse and more intolerable : then the romish hierarchy , which being wholly dependent upon the pope , another and distinct head , and not upon the civil power , whose interests are oftentimes not only distinct but directly opposite , it hath neither that access , nor influence to abuse princes ; whereas our prelates deriving all their power and being from the kings supremacy by endeavouring for their own better establishment to render him incontrollably absolute over and in all things , they being otherwise mean and abject persons , having the least and almost no share nor interest in the commonwealth , and by reason of their ill right and worse conscience in what they do possess , being alwayes cruelly jealous , have by sad experience ever inclined the government unto tyranny ; and as in this late and worst catastrophe they have more prevailed then ever formerly they did , so the following instances do more clearly demonstrate this assertion . we shall not here repeat these acts whereby for the better and more easy establishment of prelacy then designed , this parliament for it's first work under pretence of vindicating & declaring the kings just right and prerogative , did in effect wholly corrupt and innovate the well tempered and firm constitution of our ancient government , which both all our ancient histories and records , the only evidence whereby fundamental laws are verifiable , do sufficiently declare , and the long continuance and endurance thereof , excellently commend . the first thing that thereafter occurs , is that act and offer of fourty thousand pounds sterling to the king yearly during his life , whereby in place of that relaxation from these burdens which the iniquity of usurpers had only from time to time imposed , a lasting and perpetual imposition , by it's continuance fully exequating the excess of the former , is entaild upon us , and that for no other end then the complementing of a few favourites of prelacy , and the maintaining of a military force over us , for their & the prelates security , & the persecution & slavery of the body of the people opposite thereto . the . thing is that rigid , irregular & exorbitant fining which we have already mentioned , clearly & unquestionably carried on & executed , by the same authors & for the same design . the . thing is that humble tender made to the king of our duty and loyalty , wherby in recognizance of the kings prerogative , and in a further acknowledgement of our duty , the parliament by the . act , session . do subject the persons , fortunes and whole strength of the kingdom to the kings pleasure and arbitrement , in that humble ( indeed , but also blind and inconsiderat ) offer of foot men , and horsmen sufficiently armed with dayes provision , to be ready upon the kings call to march to any part of his dominions for opposing whatsoever invasion or insurrection or for any other service : which offer , though possibly many do account it but a voluntary and cheerful expression of that readiness , which our ancestors have often witnessed for the defence of king and country ; yet in effect , if duely considered as concluded under the force of a statute & act of parliament , in place of that willingness and readiness alleadged , whereunto our ancestors were from time to time determined , by these visible and apparent exigencies of the common concernment which did require it , it will be found no other thing , then an implicite and slavish emancipation of our lives and libertyes , to the arbitrement of the powers , coloured with the pretext of loyall devotion to lawful authority . but whatever is herein exorbitant , is without question the proper effect and product of the jealousy of these apostate prelates , whom the inward disquiet of an evill conscience , causeth to apprehend terror round about . the . thing , wherein this wicked prelacy hath perverted the ancient and well constitute government of this realm , is their procuring , erecting , and exercing the high commission court , ( without so much as the approbation of that parliament wherein nothing would have been refused them , wherein not only ecclesiastick and civil jurisdiction are absurdly confounded , in impowering secular persons to suspend and depose , and pretended church-men and ministers to fine , confine and incarcerate , but the act. . parl. . iac. . discharging all new courts not approven in parliament , directly thereby contraveened ; neither will the catholicon of the kings omnipotent prerogative salve this breach , in respect the same prerogative , now in so great vigour , was by the act of this same parl iae. . and almost immediatly preceeding the act alleadged , then also recently enacted . but who can consider the arbitrary form of inquisition and summar procedour without any shaddow of legal process , used in the same commission , it 's tyranny and unwarrantable exacting of oaths and subscriptions , with it's new invented , insolent and affronting punishments more cruell to ingenuous spirits then death it self , and not be convinced of the gross and wicked corruption of this state-novelty , or rather monster ? the . thing which offers , is the accumulation and in effect the suppression of the ordinary offices of state ( the very stay and props of regular government , and the conduits and channells whereby it 's refreshing influences are diffused ) with , and by an extraordinar and superlative power and office in the single person of the kings commissioner . certainly as in the multitude of councellers there is safety , so on the other hand no king on earth can rule by such an deputation , who may not as lawfully alienate his crown : which devices are all the inventions of these wicked prelates , who knowing that if the king should either hear , see or act , but by such ears , eyes , & hands as they do assigne unto him , their affairs could not long prosper , do by such exorbitancies endeavour the establishment of their own tyranny . the . thing that occurs is not only the keeping up of a military force to the intolerable burden and slavery of this free nation , in so far as the ordinary and civil manner of legal execution , specially for fines and ecclesiastical delinquencies is now committed to , and managed by military force and violence , and thereby the manner of exacting often times rendered more hard and insupportable then the exaction it self ; but also that for satisfying the restless jealousies and endless fears of the evil consciences of these apostate prelates , more and greater forces under the vain pretence of forraign fears , which both the then condition and posture of these wars , the dis-proportion of the forces themselves , and the disposal of such as before were leavyed did clearly redargue , have been leavyed , and are kept on foot , for maintaining whereof the publick revenues are mis-applyed , the fines , when by the kings favour long delayed , at length exacted and expended , new taxations imposed , far exceeding the quantity of any formerly required , and at length the old assessment the great grievance of the late usurpation of new superadded , and the poor country and body of the land in it's greatest poverty subjected unto , oppressed and harrassed by more injurious extortions then ever the conquering sword of an forraign enemy did heretofore , or can probably license : and all these things clearly intended and carryed on for no other end then the support of this wicked prelacy , and it 's cruel bondage and spiritual tyranny . we need not mention for an aggravation of these violences , that these forces were leavyed by the immediate procurement of the perfidious prelates , without the advice of the king's council , ( ever from the beginning , what ever may be the present exaltation of prerogative , reputed to be one with the king , and who both by place and interest are therein indispensibly concerned ) seing it is not the least of the iniquities and calamities of these times , that the poor nation and it's greatest concernments are by them so basely abandoned . but this we must take notice of , that though our adversaries , by reason of the disastrous events that lately have happened , do now boast of a most special providence and fore-sight in all these oppressions ; yet it would be more just and rational on their part , to acknowledge that as oppression doth even make a wise man mad , so to see a free nation , by the perfidy and insolent domineering of a few up-start prelates , and the violence of their wicked and slavish favourites , reduced to the condition of a most insupportable and unnatural conquest , both was , is , and ever will be a most just cause and provocation to all ingenuous spirits and true patriots , to undertake the asserting of their own liberty , upon the greatest hazard . having thus truly and fully represented the exaltation of prerogative and prelacy , over and above all things divine and humane , sacred or profane , we shall briefly adde the bitter and cruel fruits and effects of this sinful and woful conspiracy . . as the laws above mentioned , enacted for the overthrow of presbytery and the restauration of this accursed prelacy , specially in so far as concerns the ministry , were and are such as did inevitably infer , either a sinfull complyance with that perjury and apostacy whereby they were framed , or the endurance of the pains and sufferings thereto subjoyned ; so almost the whole faithful ministers , are thereby first and last not only deprived of their benefices and livelyhood , ejected out of their respective parishes , and by imminent & visible force incapacitated from the exercise of their ministry , but some of them are banished , others confined , and the remnant reduced to such straits , fears and uncertainties as we have before represented . then might we have seen the shepherds smitten , and their flocks scattered , our teachers removed into corners , and the lords vineyard and sanctuary laid most desolate : so that in some whole countreyes and provinces no preaching was to be heard ; nor could the lords day be otherwise known , then by the sorrowfull remembrance of these blessed enjoyments whereof now we are deprived . oh! though we had not the zeal & courage of our ancestors , to have set our selves for the defence of the gospel , and the maintenance of the lords ministers and ordinances , of which we were so perfidiously and violently spoiled , yet that at least we had remembered , by prayer and supplication to god , in the dayes of our afflictions and of our miseries , all the pleasant things that we had in the dayes of old . . as this antichristian spirit did at the first discover it selfe , in that height and rage of prophanity and all excess , which suddenly overspread the land , and did very powerfully and evidently usher in the restitution of prelats ; so the same hath been ever since by them not only tolerated , but greatly countenanced and encouraged . we do not here mention their gross and wicked toleration of popery , whereby in thir few years it hath increased to a greater hight then ever it attained at any time in this land since the reformation , & that though it hath , & doth appear in that daring confidence , as in its avowed idolatrous masses and seminary priests amongst us , to contemn and despise these ancient and standing laws whereby such things are often and severely prohibited under the pain of death , yet to this day never one hath been publickly questioned and charged upon that account . the thing mostly to be noticed is , that the only grievance and eyesore of prelates is conscience and any measure of tenderness therein ; thence is it that the most innocent and peaceable forbearance in not bearing curates and the like , have been persecute with all rigor , whereas adulteries , blasphemies , swearing and drunkenness are so far from being punished or restrained , that the committers thereof are now only the persons most in fashion and favour ; yea it hath been known and can be instanced that persons conveened , and questioned , as disaffected , have either upon the discovery or information of their profanity and dissoluteness , been instantly and freely dismissed . oh that men and christians do so litle remember our lords own rule to judge and discern false prophets by their fruits , whereby he hath expresly said that we shall know them , and that men are so far blinded and bewitched , as not to see the mighty working of sathan in this mystery of iniquity , endeavouring under a meer shaddow and pretence of formality , to root out the power and life of religion and conscience , and to reduce this poor church unto that laodicean luke-warmness more desperate and incurable then coldness and death it self . . the faithful ministers being outed , and the hedge of presbyterian government removed , as prophanity and wickedness doth yet more abound , so there came out of this smoak , locusts upon our church , even a crue of curates for insufficiency , vanity , lies , and prophanity , the very scorn of reformation & scandal of religion . we need not here adduce particular instances , there is none who in the least observe their doctrine and maner of conversation but will easily acknowledge it : and the certainty of what we here affirm is so obvious unto all , that a particular condescendence would either prove an infinite labour , or too much abridge the extent of so sad a truth . it s true there are some who being convinced , and others who supposing the truth of what is here alleadged , do either doubt or deny these ; things to be the proper effects of prelacy , but rather of the licentiousness of men , and such accidents which may be incident to the best constitutions : but if it be considered , . that that thing which inseparably and infallibly attends another , may with more then ordinary probability be concluded to depend thereon by a certain influence : . that that which is no ordinance of jesus christ , but the visible product of the devils malice and mens pride and lust , can never be effectual for the establishing of truth , or promoting of holiness . . that such who not only discover in themselves the foresaid evils , but by open and most notorious perjury do usurp and invade and hold the offices they pretend to , must of necessity hate the light because their deeds are evil ; it will be very easily granted that prelacy , prelates , and their dependants , to whom all these things are clearly applicable , are not only the proper causes and authors of all the prophanity and wickedness under which this poor land now perisheth ; but most naturally introductive unto all these superstitions and abominations , wherein the devill by the same means did , and hath involved the christian world under the roman papacy . . the prelates and curates being thus established , from the ground and warrant of the acts mentioned , several proclamations and edicts , for the more effectual execution thereof and pressing conformity thereunto , & for the suppressing conscientious adherence to , or ( so much as is possible ) the very remembrance of our former engagements and covenants , and the holy ministry and government therein contained , are emitted and published . we have already mentioned that at glasgow , and these others to the same purpose which did ensue upon it . the first what we here note is , that the prelates conceaving that their persecutions already practized and to be practized , might excite the compassion of some to a charitable supply of the afflicted ; more to express their cruel malice then really to hinder that , which at best is not worth the noticing , under the pretext of dis●rder , they procure a discharge of charitable collections . and now let it be here observed once for all , that such is the cruelty , not only of the malice but of the very acts , procured by the prelates against conscientious non-conformists , that if they were followed with a sutable & compleat execution , there should remain no comfort to any abiding stedfast , other then that of arcadius mercy to the children of traitors , that life should be their grief , and death their relief . there was another proclamation emitted , at the time of the first planting of the curates , that all persons should keep their own parish churches , and should not repair to any other except in case of vacancy , under pain of twenty shillings scots toti●s quo●ies , to the effect that such as could not in conscience attend the curats conventicles , might be also deprived of any mean of edification , which the opportunity and neighbourhood of a faithful ministry might afford . then thereafter there is another edict published against unwarrantable preaching , praying , or hearing , whereby even such exercises , without which the communion of saints can hardly be intertained , are restrained & discharged ; in so much , that if a faithful outed minister should repair to any private family , or two or three moe then the domesticks of one house be found together , though only imployed in the most christian & edifying exercises of praying , lecturing or godly conference , their meeting is declared an unlawfull conventicle , and all such as are accessory , punishable accordingly . by a fourth proclamation , men are required to be assistent to , and concur with the curates in the exercise of discipline , as they shall be thereto called , though they be not told either by what warrant , or in what capacity they are to meddle in the matters of god ; for our adversaries do both disown elders , & allow deacons no rule . there is a fifth proclamation discharging all conventions & meetings whatsoever under the pretence of religion , which are not allowed by authority , certifying all persons accessory , that they shall be looked upon and punished by pecuniary and corporall pains , as seditions persons , at the arbitrement of the council , and especially that the ministers exercising therein , and their resetters or countenancers in any sort , shall be liable unto the highest pains due to seditious persons . and lastly , there is a sixt , commanding all masters of families to cause their servants and all their dependents , and all heritors and landlords to cause their tennants and tax-men to obey all acts of parliament or council enjoyning conformity , and particularly to frequent their parish churches , and to submit and conform to the curates their ministry , or else to remove them summarly from their service , and eject them out of their possessions : and also that heritors take bond and security of their intrant tennants in time coming , that they and their cottars and servants , shall give obedience as said is ; and lastly , that all magistrates of burghs cause their inhabitants give bond for the like obedience ; for which effects , these heritors and magistrates are warranded to charge them under the pain of rebellion : and whosoever shall contraveen this edict is certified and declared lyable to the same pains due to the non-conformists themselves , for whom he hereby is made answerable . this is the last act & proclamation for conformity not only in course , but even in the utmost of extremity and rigor , whereby , as many persons having a freedom as to their own practise , are further urged , contrare to all the rules of charity and moderation , to compel others towards whom they may rather desire a christian forbearance and indulgence to be used ; so the generality of the land without any exception whatsoever , are reached , and obliged to all the complyance with , and conformity to this wicked apostasy , and accursed and abjured prelacy , whereof they are capable , and that under such pains , as if generally incur'd and execute , should infallibly reduce the land to utter desolation and confusion . but the lord heareth and regardeth , and oh that men would also hear the voice of this poor church , that bewaileth her self and spreadeth out her hands , saying , vvoe is me now , for my soul is weary because of murtherers . . as we have observed the tyranny and illegali●● of the high commission granted for executing these ecclesiastick acts and edicts , both in it's constitution and procedor , so we do furder observe that whatever novelties and extravagancies the commssion it self contain , yet the practises of the court , having no other precedent in the christian world , save that of the spanish inquisition , do far exceed them . for . as persons are brought before them , either by seisure or summar citation without any cause signified , but to answer super inquirendis , contrary to an express standing law iac. . parl. . cap. . . which was also enacted when the kings prerogative was fresh and in full vigor ; so at their compearance , they have neither libel nor accuser , but are constrained instantly to make answer to whatsoever question the arbitriment of the archprelat pleaseth to demand . . as there is no time for advice permitted , so neither are lawful defences receaved or admitted ; but if any person do offer to propone any matter of that kind , he is required first to take the oath of supremacy , or some such engagement or subscription which they are assured he wil refuse . thus a gentleman of the name of porte●field , being conveened before them , and questioned for not owning the curate , he answers , that his not hearing the curate , could import no disaffection , nor bring him under the compass of the law , because the curate had calumniated him by such vile opprobries & reproaches , as were both scandalous in a minister , and just ground of resentment to any ingenuous spirit , as he was able to prove by sufficient witnesses : this the court having sustained as relevant , and the gentleman having adduced his witnesses , and one of them being examined and clearly proving , all further procedor is stopped , and he required to take the oath of supremacy , which he having refused , they sentence him in a great pecuniary fine , and confine his person far north , to the town of ●lgin . . if any person conveened do clearly answer all their questions & demands , so that he cannot be in that manner reached , then they require him in a most arbitrary way . either to take the oath of supremacy or some other subscription for obedience to ecclesiastick lawes , or any other bond or security they please to require : in which their tyranny they are so inconsequent , that they neither remember that lawes are made to be obeyed and not subscribed , and that obedience is secured by their own sanction , and not by the peoples handwriting , nor that the main objection by which they thēselves do impugn the covenant , & whereon the declaration against it , is expresly founded , is that the same was taken by , & imposed upon the subjects of this kingdō against the sundamental laws & liberties of the same which is not more fals if applied to these holy covenants , ( which were expresly founded , both upon the word of god , & the free consent of the body of the people , & most necessarly intended for the glory of god & the defence of religion & liberty , which are the foundations of all foundamentals , besides the accession of both law & authority by which they were warranted ) then true and evident in order to the case in hand , it being most certain , that whatever may be the extent of the peoples surrender under any constitution ; for the enforcing of their obedience or submission , yet the liberty of persuasion is so undoubtedly understood to be reserved , that it cannot be abridged by any imposed oath or subscription , without their own consent . we know the council hath both the power , and is in use to take bond for keeping the peace , but this is a practice so clearly warranted by law , and so antecedently sounded in reason and humanity , upon just and probable presumptions , to secure the peace by bond , which they might do by the persons imprisonment , that the parity is alleaged with as litle reason , as the practice controverted is voyd of equity : notwithstanding of all which , there is but one course before that commission-court , without mitigation either to banish , or fine , or confine ( or both ) the persons refusing . . if any do in his answers or demeanor offend , or be discovered thereby in the least to be guilty , they proceed to sentence without any breathing or intermission , wherein they so litle observe the warrant of their power and commission , that they oftentimes exceed all the proportion either of law or reason : for verifying whereof , let but the instances subjoined be considered , where we shall find persons . stigmatized and banished for not conforming , which neither their first nor second commission , bearing only power to ●ine , confine and imprison , nor the laws whereupon they could proceed , give warrant to do . we know the first commission that was printed , was afterwards renewed with some ex●ension & not printed , but though some copies thereof in write were spread abroad with power to stigmatize and banish , yet neither doth the principal contain any such warrant , nor can the extension therein made , infer the same in any sort , without admitting that the same court consisting of many members constituent of the secret council , might proteus-like transfigure themselves into this form in a moment . . we shal find men sentenced not only to banishment , but to deportation and slavery , viz. to be carried to barbadoes , where , being poor men and not able to redeem their liberty , they must undoubtedly be sold ; a punishment , which not only the disproportion of their delinquencies , but the whole tenor of our laws , and the undoubted priviledge of christianity , doth reprobate and condemn . these things duely considered and compared , it will be more then evident , that our oppressions and grievances by reason of this court alone , do far exceed all the pressures and injuries of that spanish inquisition , whereupon the united provinces have justified and approved their revolt from under the king of spain , to all protestant states and churches . . as these acts and proclamations are very wickedness ; so their execution hath been only rigor and cruelty , it were endless to enumerate all the distresses that have hereupon ensued upon particular persons and families , unto the imprisonment of many , confinement of some , deportation of others to remote islands , chasing of others to sore and anxious wanderings , & scattering of families unto beggery . any who can conceave the wickedness and violence that did prompt the prelats to the making of these acts and statutes , the arbitrary power of the high commission by which they were enforced , and the rage , violence and rapine that attends military force by which they were and are executed , may possibly conceave some part of these evils ; which , lest the strangeness thereof do render altogether improbable to men unacquainted , we shall here subjoin a few instances of many , of the procedors of the high commission court , leaving these of military force unto a more proper place . the parish of an●rum had been in former times under the blessing of mr john l●vings●on his ministry , who being banished the kingdom for no other cause then his eminency and stedfastness in the work of god , and refusing the oath of supremacy , there is obtruded by the bishop upon them in his place , one scot , an old excommunicate ●urate , continuing under that sentence and in his wickedness that procured the same , for which cause mainly , he is now complemented and rewarded with the accession of this kirk and benefice , to two others , which he still brooks & enjoyes , though very far distant from this place . this man coming amongst them , such as feared the lord , and remembered his work and covenant , are stirred up in the zeal of god to testify against his intrusion , whom , being a person excommunicate , entering by gross perjury , without their consent , and only seeking after the fleece and benefice , all that love our lord jesus and the prospering of his pleasure , were bound to abhor and detest : we do not justify any excess of human passion that might here have been admixed with the sincere zeal of god , which we are certain in it's worst appearance all men ought rather to excuse , then therefore condemn that duty , to which not only the people of that parish , but the whole church of scotland were and are in a higher measure indispensibly obliged in opposition to the present course of apostacy , and for extirpation of the apostat prelates . however four men of the parish are conveened before the high commission , where being examined they acknowledge , that mr scot being to preach at ancrum as their minister , they found themselves pressed in conscience to declare to him their dis-satisfaction with his entry , and that they were present with the rest of the people which were there at that time . this the commission , contrary the opinion of the more sober & most knowing amongst them , take for a confession of guilt , and immediatly proceed to sentence them , as c●ntemners of the ordinances , to be scourged through the town , sugmatized with the ●●tter t at the cross of edinburgh , and thereafter imprisoned , and with the first ship to be carried to the barb●●oes islands . all which was accordingly performed upon them . thus judgement is turned into gail , and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock . but god who sustained his servants with that constancy & courage , that neither the shame nor pain of scourging and burning , hindered them openly and audibly to rejoice in the lord , who counted them wo●thy to suffer for his name , beholdeth also mischief and spite to requite it with his hand . for the same alleaged crime , shortly thereafter they sentence two brothers , married men , to be carried to barbadoes , and their siste● , a young woman , to be scourged through the town of jedburgh . as for alleaged conventi●ling , there is one mr smit● , a minister seised upon and imprisoned , for no other c●ime then preaching to , and praying with a few secretly assembled for fear of the p●elates , in the name of the lord , without the least offence objected from any thing there spoken ; who being brought before the commission , and in his examination and answers to the bishop of st andrewes , calling him only sir , without lord or grace , he is therefore taxed by the commissioner , to whom he answered very respectfully , ( giving him his accustomed titles ) that he knew he was speaking to mr james sharp once a minister as he himself is . whereupon there is so great offence conceaved , that the commissioner did immediatly ordain him to be carried by the town-hangman to the thieves hole and there laid in the irons , in company with a fu●ious fatuous person , who was there loose : an indignity so great , unusual and insolent , that although he had behaved himself not only rudely in his demeanor , ( which is the worst that his adversaries can charge him with ) but had been most flagitious in his life ; yet nothing but that spirit of spite and rebellion that rageth apostats , could prompt christians to inflict upon one , who had ever carried so much as the title of a minister . but because the open iron-grate , whereby this hole is shut , gave too great access to the charity and compassion of many persons who came to visit him , he is therefore upon the third day thereafter carried up to the iron-house within the t●lbooth , & continued in his irons and fetters , and thereafter in close prison , until by sentence of the same commission , he was banished and confined to shetland , the coldest and wildest of all the scots islands ; where he was to expect no other comfort , then the company of some other faithful men , who for not owning and submitting to the curats , had been carried there by sentence of the same court. and as they did thus sentence a minister for exercising , so the same court having conveened before them an honest private man ... black , for being present at an alleaged conventicle , but in effect , at the meeting of a few christians for praying and hearing the lord's word , without so much as any other offence pretended ; because , according to the example and warrant of the primitive christians , he refused to give his oath , & thereupon to delate the names of such as he knew to have been present , and because he was not liberall in giving st andrewes his titles , the commissioner ordaineth him to be scourged thorow the town ; although it was well known to the court , that his information could give very small evidence , and they were convinced , that his refusal did not flow from contempt of the king's authority , but meerly and purely from scruple of conscience . these are a few instances of many particulars of this kind which might be alleaged , whereof there is no corner in the whole countrey , nor parish almost in the west , which cannot give evidence ; and therefore we do remitt any more ample confirmation of these things , until we have noted a few moe particulars for clearing thereof . . as we have observed the wickedness of these ecclesiastick laws , and the iniquity and irregularity of the act of fining , and the introducing of execution by military force ; ( a servitude unheard of and intolerable in any free nation ) so the evils and oppressions thereof can scarcely be numbered . for . upon pretence of that proclamation , commanding people to keep their parish-churches , and prohibiting the repairing to any other , except in case of vacancy under the pain of shillings scots toties quoties , the souldiours being disposed upon , to such places which are known to be most averse from this course of apostacy , lying at catch for their own advantage , have often taken the opportunity , where there was but one church in the bounds still enjoying a faithfull minister , and many vacancies about , to go and beset that church in the time of divine worship to the profane disturbance thereof : and thereafter either to cause call some old roll of the parishioners , and exact the fine of twenty shillings scots of all others without exception , or respect even to the licence contained in the proclamation it self in case of vacancy , or to require an oath of every person to know to what parish they belong , and that at the church door without permitting them to come forth , until they either give their oath or pay the fine , not only with such cursing , swearing and confusion , as would make infidels amazed to see the lords day so profaned , by christians professing the same common faith ; but with such rigor , by taking by force the bibles or garments from some poor persons , who have not wherewith to pay , and insolent beating and wounding of others to the effusion of blood , as may justify the greatest barbarity . we need not instance particulars in a truth so universally known . we proceed to another kind of this same violence , practised in other places where curates are planted ; who , to force and compel the people to that complyance with their ministry , which in conscience they are bound to abhor , cause form lists or rolls of such as keep not the church , and calling them after sermon , both men and women by name and surname , they amerciate the absents in such summs and fines as they please , & for the most part , far exceeding the pains contained in the act of parliament ; whereupon the souldiours are immediatly warranted to go and exact the same by quartering . which practice is not more unjust in it's illegal and summar procedor , then rigid and exorbitant ; both as to the quantity and the maner of exacting it , by reason of their riding and quartering - money ( which is therewith exacted ) and the other inconveniences which inseparably attend the rapine and violence of profane souldiours . . in many places , not contented thus to fine and exact , the souldiours , on the lords day , go to private houses , and by plain force compel and drive to the church all such as they find , and oftentimes do insolently beat and abuse persons who by reason of infirmity or sickness are really unable : a practise so cruel and absurd , that some of themselves have said , it was our lord's way to drive buyers and sellers out of the temple , but not to drive them into it . . as to the exacting and levying of the parliaments fines , the same was done ( by a reference of the councill to the commissioner , and his orders thereon ) in such an oppressive and exorbitant manner as cannot be paralelled . for . parties of horse being directed to several shires , when a party arrived in any shire , they direct their order to all the persons therein fined , intimating to them and every one of them to pay their respective fines , with three shillings sterling per diem for every horse-man in the party , from the day and date of their order until the fine be payed , and the payment signified to the commander of the party : by which extortions , many have been compelled to pay more for quartering then the summe and quantity of their fine ; and during the time of these oppressions , many have computed that the sherifdoms of air & re●frew , were compelled to pay upon the accompt of quarterings , over and above the fines , betwixt two and three thousand merks scots per diem . . there was no defence nor exemption allowed against these quarterings ; for whether the person fined did liberat himself by taking the declaration , or that it was alleaged that he was minor , or an infant , or never charged , or that his predecessor charged was since deceased , or that his predecessor was never charged , yea died before he was fined , or that the person quartered on was only relict of the person fined ( a poor widow living upon a mean joincture ) or that the person quartered on had no relation to the person fined , save that he lived in the house and place which once pertained to him , and which this person lawfully purchased , even before the other was fined ; yet all was repelled , and no complaint of this rigor and violence could be heard or receaved ; but on the contrary the complainer ( especially if he refused to take the declaration ) was rejected with most insolent reproaches and menaces . . that both in the up-lifting of the fine and exacting of the qwarterings , the extremity of rigor was used , by dragging some to prison , who either were known altogether indigent and insolvent , or did offer to renounce the benefit of the act of indemnity ( the forfaulture whereof was the alternative and utmost certification for not payment of the fine , contained in the act of fining ) or by plundering , beating , and spoiling others without possibility of redress . we need not adduce particular instances for the verification of these things , seing they were not done in a corner : but the cry of this violence as it filled the whole land ; so no doubt it also reached unto the very heavens , and is entered in to the ears of him who hateth violence and loveth righteousness , who saith unto princes , remove violence and spoil , and execute judgement and justice , take away your exactions from my people . one thing mainly to be considered is , that as prelacy is the great cause of all the sin and misery that afflicteth us ; so was it by the instigation of the same wicked apostats , that these fines so long delayed were thus at length rigorously exacted : and that for no other purpose , then the leavying of moe forces for their security and support , and the better strengthening of their tyranny . certainly were it not of the lord , who , because of our contempt of his glorious gospel , and blessed ministry , hath plagued us with stupidity , and smitten us with madness , blindness and astonishment of heart , to give unto us the reward of our own hands , and to cause us to eat the fruit of our doings , it were impossible that rational men after the feeling of so sore grievances , and the teaching of so many and sad experiences , should still couch under the burthen and submitt themselves to the yoke of a few insignificant apostate upstarts , and not rather acquit themselves like men , by pulling off these vizards of religion , under which they mask their villanies , and plucking them out of that sanctuary and great refuge of loyalty , which they do not more pretend then profane by all their horrid rebellion against god , and their cruell persecutions of his faithfull servants and the kings true subjects , which they palliat under this pretext ; to the effect that in the righteous and deserved punishment of these wicked men , both the sin and backsliding of the land might be sisted , and the fierce anger of the lord averted . this is the wickedness and violence of accursed prelacy , which though it hath diffused it self over the whole land , and left no corner thereof untouched , yet as the west hath been more grievously thereby oppressed and afflicted , so poor galloway in a manner hath been the point in which all it's malice and tyranny hath been concentred . we need not here search after particulars , or be curious for the verification thereof ; the cries and groans of that afflicted countrey have filled all mens ears , and the desolations thereof are obvious to every ones eyes : nor need we insist to purge their innocency or clear the causes of their sufferings , which were no other then their adherence to their faithfull ministers ( though casten out and rejected by men , yet continuing through the grace of god , to preach amongst them ) and their detestation of a crue of unworthy curates ( scatterers and devourers , not pastors of the flock ) thrust in amongst them more violently then upon any other part of the countrey . the thing we have here to observe is , that the manner of their persecution was first and last by plain hostile invasion . after which maner sir iames turner with his forces ( having twice before been amongst them ) in march , with greater power and fury then ever formerly , marcheth against them : where being arrived , what exactions , oppressions and insolencies , he and his forces committed by arbitrary fining , plundering , quartering , imprisoning , beating , wounding , binding men like beasts , chasing to moors and mountains , and by harassing and laying both parishes and countrey-sides almost wholly desolate ; the ruine and beggery of several hundreds of families , and the impoveverishing and great distress of many others do abundantly testify : and yet after all these atrocious injuries , by the contrivance and authority of the bishop of galloway , ( who sometimes appeared so zealous for the covenant and work of god , that , frequently in his administration of the sacrament of the lords supper to the people of his own parish , while he was a private minister , when they were sett at table and ready to participate , he caused them to renew the oath of the covenant , subjoining thereto both that solemnity and these words used by nehemia , chap. . . when in the like case he did shake his lap , and said , so god shake out every man from his house and from his labor , that performeth not this promise , even thus be he shaken out and emptied ) by the prescription , we say , of the same bishop and his synod , these poor oppressed people , after all these exactions , are urged and compelled to subscribe an acknowledgement that sir iames had used them civilly and discreetly ; whereby they were forced not only to deny common sense , and lay aside their just resentments , but by this their subscription ( which might be opposed to all their complaints ) they were virtually excluded from all hope of redress . all which things are not only confirmed by the notoriety of the matter of fact , but are also by that grievous and mournfull paper of their sufferings , most amply cleared and instructed . to which though sir iames hath made an answer for his own vindication , yet seeing the same doth for the most part resolve in a simple denyall ( which it was easy for him to make , having neither accuser nor contradicter ) and he at most giveth only an account of , & vindicateth his orders , without so much as denying the excess , that might have ensued in that military way of execution , ( expressly waving to answer the extortions of these parties , which were commissionated for civill fines ) any further reply were superfluous . this poor people having continued and lyen under all these miseries , for the space of seven moneths and upward after sir iames his third invasion , and thereby witnessed not only their very firm & christian patience towards god ; but also given a greater testimony of their loyally and submission to the king's commands , then all the flattering and flaunting professions of these their adversaries ( who rather then to suffer the hundred part of these hardships , would curse both god and their king ) will amount to : and knowing by sad experience , that both separat petitioning had been by sir iames insolently rejected , & that joint petitioning was by act of parliament condemned , and consequently all hope this way being cut off , upon an very accidental & indeliberat occasion , they were stirred up and gave the rise to the actions and commotions following ; which was thus . sir iames still breathing forth persecutions , upon the of november last , ordereth four souldiours , from dumfreis to the parish of dalray in galloway , to poind a poor old man's goods ; and in case they should find none , to seise and apprehend his person , and bring him prisoner to dumfries . the souldiours in prosecution of this order , apprehending the old innocent man , bind him hand and foot like a beast , and lay him bound upon the ground , ready to be carried along . when two or three of his neighbours , commoyed with so great an indignity , come and desire the souldiours to loose him , they , in stead of satisfying their desire , suddenly assault the countrey-men with their swords drawn , and necessitat them to their own defence : whereupon one of the souldiours being wounded , the other three throw down their arms , and the poor man is relieved , the countreymen , having thus accquited themselves against these first aggressors , in prosecution of their own necessary defence , against the violence of or more souldiours , who were oppressing in the same parish , ( whom now they had greater cause to fear then before ) upon the morrow thereafter , with the assistance of or whom they joined to themselves , they quietly seise upon and secure them , all of them rendering their arms , except one who was killed in his resistance . after this , the countrey being a little hereby alarmed , but most of all determined by their former sad experience , that sir james would certainly avenge himself of this affront , upon the whole countrey without distinction of free and unfree , and that in fury and rage , as far exceeding his former persecutions , as the cause was different , they gather to the number horsemen with some few footmen , and instantly resolving upon it , they march towards dumfreis ; where upon the of november they take sir james prisoner , and disarm the souldiours that were with him without harm or violence to any , except the wounding of one man who made more obstinate resistance . being thus by the over-ruling hand of divine providence , and the force of irresistible necessity , more then by any human contrivance , engaged in a business of this importance beyond all hope of retreat ; and considering how many in the west and els-where , did groan under the yoke of this wicked prelacy , and did suffer by their tyranny , whom the just apprehension of that rigour and cruelty , to which the report of what had hapned would enrage the adversaries against all without distinction , might persuade yea necessitat to a conjunction , they from dumfreis move towards the west . in the mean time , the report being brought to the council , the arch-bishop presiding and over-ruling in it , lieut. general dalzel is immediatly ordered to march with all the forces toward glasgow ; which accordingly was done , with more hast , rage and fury , then if infidels had with fire and sword invaded the land : and a proclamation is emitted against the rebels ( as they called them ) risen in arms in galloway , air , and other places of the west , ( when as at this time there were not men in the sherifdom of air , who had joyned with them ) declaring this insurrection to be manifest and horrid rebellion , and therefore charging the persons accessary , to lay down arms within hours after publication , without any assurance of indemnity offered , and lastly , commanding the whole subjects to be assisting to the lieutenant general , and being required by him or others in authority , to rise in arms , and assist with all their power , under the pain of rebellion . a proclamation so full of fury and madness , not only rendering such as were in arms desperate without hope , except in the cruel mercy of the wicked prelates ; but also engaging all without distinction , either actively to concur to the destroying of these poor , innocent and afflicted people , or els to prepare themselves for suffering the same pains and punishment , that it may justly be wondered at , that even the single motive of this proclamation , did not procure , to these galloway-men , a greater concourse . but that poor hand-full being come towards the west , and some hundreds there , ( whom partly the like pressures and fears of worse , but most of all , the sense and remembrance of the indispensible obligation of the holy covenant , for mutual sympathy and defence , and our uttermost endeavours all the dayes of our lives to prosecute the great and blessed ends therof , did thereto determine ) having , in the sincerity and simplicity of their hearts , joined themselves to that company , most harmlesly and inoffensively , without the least violence or exaction done to any , they march through the countrey until they come to lanerk . where , upon the consideration of the lord's wrath , imminent upon the whole land by reason of breach of covenant , and the many horrid sins thereon ensuing , and the apprehension of his holy displeasure yet continuing , ( whereof , by many visible and afflicting signs and tokens , they were most sadly convinced ) as men reduced to the last extremity and in great distress ( after the example of nehemiah and the iewes , neh. chap. , & . in the like case ) they resolve and do renew the solemn league and covenant : that ( at least ) by this action they might bear testimony both to the oppressed cause and truth of god and their own innocency . from lanerk upon the of november they march to bathga●e , and the morrow thereafter to colington , a place about two miles distant from edinburgh . that same night lieut. gen. dalzel coming to calder , there is a cessation agreed to betwixt them for that night , and until , upon the morrow , their grievances and petition might be presented to the council ; which they for that effect send to dalzel to be by him transmitted . but as , notwithstanding of this cessation , ( and though the same was timously signified to the bishop as president of the council , yet ) the countrey-troops leavyed about edinburgh , were not restrained from making an in-fall upon their quarters , where they rested securely upon the trust of the cessation ; so upon the morrow , before almost they were aware , and without giving up the cessation agreed to , dalzel finding a nearer way doth almost surprize them : whereupon they endeavour to march off , but finding the enemy so near , they are constrained to stand to & prepare for that conflict upon the south of pentland-hils : wherein the lient general 's forces and theirs being engaged , the very time and hour that the gentle-man sent by dalzel to the council , was presenting his letters and the west-land mens grievances , these poor men not exceeding eight or nine hundreds , and extremly weakened and spent by sore travail and watching , and mostly by their fasting and great abstinence , are ( according to the holy , wise and determinate counsel of god ) a litle after sun-set routed and dissipated . the number of the slain on both sides were reckoned , about and upwards of the westland men , and or of the generals forces . the number of the prisoners was greater , amounting in all to and upward : but , because the threed of this story hath precipitated our narration to this fatal period , the observations following will supply what is ommitted . . that these men who rose in the west , were not only ( for the most part ) persons of known and very exemplar integrity , piety and zeal for god ▪ and all of them ( severally and jointly ) so far from base and turbulent designes , that they cannot be supponed by any who know them , to have been ambitious of either rule or riches ▪ but also did with the same straightness and sincerity , in all parts declare , that their only motives were the rigor of extreme necessity , which constrained them to the defence of religion and liberty , and the conscience of that indispensible duty , vve all owe to god & one to another , in the bond of the holy covenant ; and in the innocency of a most harmless deportment , did fully conform themselves to these professions : so that it may truly be affirmed , that a company of more sincere , upright and harmless men , did never in any age appear in such a posture . which as it doth eminently appear , in their sparing and civil usage of sir iames turner , and their great abstinence and moderation in all places , not only from plunder and such insolencies , but even from the necessary means of subsistence ; so it is a truth so certain , that all their enemies ( save a few profane curates , who spare no lies whereby they may vent their malice ) must and do acknowledge it . . that as in many places , there were many found who joined themselves to the lieut. general 's forces , to assist against and suppress that faithfull afflicted company ; so the militia of edinburgh ( by order from the secret council to the town-council , and from the town-council to the several captains , who did administrate it to their respective companies ) did , in opposition to the same persons , take the following oath , viz. i shal be true and faithfull to the king , and shall defend his authority and maintain the same , against this insurrection and rebellion , and any other that shall happen , with the hazard of my life and fortune ; and the two shires of middle and east lauthians did arm very readily against them : but whether this insurrection was in rebellion against the king , or whether this conjuration and these practices , were not a manifest conspiracy and horrid rebellion against the great god , a few reflections on what we have premised shall hereafter clear . . that as only the force of necessity , from the rigor of their persecutions , and the cutting off of all liberty to petition or hope of redress , did compel the west-land men to this course ; so upon the first appearance and most slender insinuation of liberty to represent grievances to these in authority , they very wilingly and readily embraced the opportunity , and signified to the council , that the only evill under which the land perisheth , is the erecting of this wicked and tyrannous prelacy contrary to the holy covenant , and the cruel oppression , both in body & conscience of all that desire to continue faithfull therein : but how they were abused in this offer and transaction , we have before related . . that though the wicked prelats ( for the greater exaltation of their pride and triumph , both over god and his cause ) have boldly affirmed , that these men were by certain faithfull ministers persuaded and brought out , in the full assurance of most certain victory , and that their cause was such , that upon the event they could venture their salvation ; yet the contrary is most certainly known , & that they came out , for the most part , most voluntarly and of their own accord ; thinking it their duty ( as one of them in his testimony doth declare ) to appear for and help the lord against the mighty : and that , though they had and still retain a most firm persuasion of the justice of the lord's cause and covenant , and a very confident assurance that the lord will arise and own it , to the utter confusion of his adversaries ; yet , knowing that times and seasons are in the lord's hand , and that the time hath already been , when such who had indignation , and whose heart was against the holy covenant did prosper , and by arms pollute the sanctuary of strength , and place the abomination that maketh desolate , wherein , though the people that did know their god were strong and did exploits , yet did they fall by the sword , and by flame , and by captivity , and by spoil many dayes ; these men did neither limit the holy one , nor ballance their resolution upon the assurance of future events : yea the fear and apprehension of these many visible signs attending this action , whereby the lord 's standing controversie and continuing displeasure against the land , for fearfull breach of covenant , and the many horrible sins that have ensued ( which then more then ever were discovered , both in the actuall opposition of many , and faint withdrawing of others , of whom better things were looked for ) did justly make them conceave , that as the lord , who hath ever glorified his own name , would also now glorify it , both in their active and passive testimony ( a seal which his work and cause , hath not hitherto so visibly had ) and that they were rather thereto called , then to be the lands deliverers ; for which , all that fear the lord may think with trembling , greater judgments are yet ordained . . that amongst the many observable providences of god , whereby he brought this action to it's period , their turning from lanerk towards edinburgh , and leaving the west , specially these parts where many faithful men were preparing for a conjunction , doth bear the very eminent characters of the lord's work and purpose , which he hath since made manifest ; and was the occasion of the proscribing of several both ministers and gentlemen , as we shall hereafter mention . . that as the louthian-men were very active in appearing against this faithfull company ; so after the conflict , they were very vigilant and inhumane to take and spoil all such flyers as they rencountred : a sin which no doubt , by reason of it's greater aggravations , the lord will require with greater severity , then that of edom , obad. . &c. who rejoyced over the children of iudah in the day of their destruction ; and laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity , who stood in the cross way to cut off such as did escape , and delivered up these that did remain in the day of distress ; and therefore he is threatened by the lord , that for his violence against his brother , shame should cover him , and he should be cut off for ever . thus we have seen the indignation of the lord ; in the most dreadful and astonishing of all judgements , even his suffering and causing the righteous to fall before the wicked , in delivering the soul of his turtle dove unto the multitude of the wicked ; his name unto reproach and blasphemy , his strength into captivity , and his glory into the enemies hands : a providence that may justly move our astonishment to a greater height then that of iosuah chap . v. . oh lord , what wilt thou do unto thy great name ? and how terrible are the charge and succeeding judgements which these things do denounce ? but the lord who in wrath remembers mercy , maketh both judgement and mercy his peoples song ; and it is to his enemies alone , that a cup without mixture is poured out ; as the things which follow will declare . the arcbishop of st. andrews having caused celebrat the report of this victory , with almost as many guns from the castle as there were men slain in the fields , and as if the had been infidels , the prisoners are brought in , and secured . we cannot but here mention the ready and charitable relief , which many good people in edinburgh did then extend to them ; certainly it is gone up for a memorial before god , and shall have a return . but who can express the malice of that antichristian spirit , raging both in the arch-prelate and his dependents , which misery it self doth not satiate ; and therefore they do so exclaim against this poor expression of humanity , as preposterous and savouring of disaffection , that even some of their own complices did condemn them for it . the councill falling immediately to the examination of the prisoners , they remitt first , thereafter to the iustices to be arraigned or rather condemned as traitors , they having first determined and prescribed the very maner of their execution : and about the same time the commissioner going west , with some others impowered for that effect , do likewise at air and glasgow condemn other sixteen . these things we join together , because both their indictments , maner of tryall , doom and execution were the same , except in so far as shall be noted . the indictment and charge of treason exhibited against all , consisted of two heads and crimes , deduced from old and late acts of parliament , and aggravated by many circumstances , viz. rising and gathering in arms , and renewing the covenant without and against the kings authority and consent : every one 's particular accession was libelled from , and proven by his own confession before the council . this place might require a large digression for answering the crimes objected , and clearing the innocency of the lord's witnesses ; but seing the preceeding narration doth not only furnish all arguments thereto requisite , but warranteth them by precedents beyond contradiction , it shall suffice now to observe . . that god the fountain of all power , and author of all right , as , wherever he hath granted to any creature a being , he hath also armed it with a love and power of self-preservation sutable to it's capacity ; so much more , where , unto a being , he hath superadded a right , as in all rationall creatures , which cannot be violated but both by force and injury , hath he granted both the power and right of self-defence , which is really one and the same thing with it , and in effect nothing else but that divine impress and rational instinct , whereby the very course of nature is upholden , so inseparable from the being and right of the creature , that it never ceaseth , except where by the soveraign will and law of god , the right is first annulled and the being may be destroyed . which position , being the clear and true foundation of all rule and righteousness , and even of the being of all things , it may justly be wondered , that men should be found , who deny and would subvert it in it's first , principall and most immediate effects . but if according hereunto any will subsume and prove , that either by the lord 's ordaining of powers , or mens surrendar and submission thereto , ( made mainly for self-preservation , ) the foresaid right and power was or could be revoked or renounced , we shall most willingly quite the plea , and prostitute our selves to all the violences that tyranny can invent , since in that case there could be no injury . . that as all societies , governments and lawes are appointed in a due subordination to god and his superior will and law , for his glory and the common good of the people , including the safety of every individual ; so , if either this subordination be notoriously infringed , or these ends intollerably perverted , the common tie of both society , government and law , is in so far dissolved . hence is it that a king or rulers commanding things directly contrary to the law of god , may be and have been justly disobeyed , and by fury or folly destroying or alienating the kingdome , may be and have been lawfully resisted . these are conclusions which our greatest adversaries cannot but admit , and are not deducible from any other premisses . let us hear king iames , whose loyalty none can doubt , in a speech to the parliament in the year . he saith , a king degenerateth into a tyrant when he leaveth to rule by law , much more when he beginneth to invade his subjects persons , rights and liberties , to set up an arbitrary power , impose unlawful taxes , raise forces , make war upon his subjects , to pillage , plunder , wast and spoil his kingdomes . and lest his inconsequence be suspected , as if notwithstanding all this , he would have a tyrant incontrolable , it is upon the same grounds , that in his answer to cardinal perron , he justifyeth the protestants in france their defensive arms ; now how a discretive judgement in these cases , both of unrighteous commands , and wicked violence , and specially in the later , which is ( by far ) the more sensible , doth necessarily remain with the people , and in what maner the same is to be determined and cautioned , so as neither to license disobedience against authority , nor create sedition in the common-wealth , is already fully cleared . . that though all soveraign powers , ( upon the supposition of these true and great ends , and the presumption of reason and charity , that the persons intrusted do in like manner really intend them , ) be constituted indefinitly and therefore in appearance universally without restriction ; yet according to this known rule , that such particulars , as if expressed , would not ( far more if they cannot ) be consented to , are not understood to be comprised under a generall condescendence , such exceptions and limitations as are indispensibly implyed and could not lawfully be expresly renounced , do stand in full force . whereupon also both the righteousness of god's judgements , and the lawfullness of the peoples resistance against mal-versing powers , are clearly and certainly founded . . that not only the light of nature and undenyable reason together with the agreeable practice of all nations , specially of our ancestors , do evidently clear these principles proposed , but also our own express statutes declaring the reveal'd word and will of god to be the superior rule and law , and repealing all acts repugnant thereto . iac. . par. . chap. , , & . and explaining such acts as were generally made against unlawful convocations and leagues and bonds among subjects , to be understood with this due subordination and limitation car. . par. . c. . together with the king and peoples oaths of faithful administration and alleadgeance : whereby the coronation-covenant and contract , specially that made with this king ( the very bond of the kingdom ) is established and secured , do undoubtedly infer , beyond all contradiction , that both our government and lawes are constituted and to be interpreted with subordination to the law and will of god , and in order to these great ends of their establishment . . that though prevailing factions have in all times endeavoured , by their most excessive and boundless flatteries , to exalt and extend the powers to an equal degree of absoluteness in all causes and over all persons , meerly for their own base ends and private advantages ; yet if any of these persons would seriously consider , and would ingenuously declare their opinion , in a particular application of the case to themselves , what they would account lawfull for them to do either jointly or separately , in case that they were injuriously and violently invaded to the destruction of their lives or fortunes , or the subversion of their families and dearest and nearest concernments , their resolution in this point would easily justify the practises of all such , who , esteeming the glory of god and the maintenance of his gospel infinitely preferable to all other interests whatsoever , do valiantly offer and expose themselves for the vindication thereof , to the greatest hazards . . that through the manifest and notorious perversion of the great ends of society and government , the bond thereof being dissolved , the persons , one or moe thus liberated therefrom , do relapse into their primeve liberty and priviledge , and accordingly as the similitude of their case and exigence of their cause doth require , may upon the very same principles again join and associate for their better defence & preservation , as they did at first enter into societies . . that we being a nation so solemnly and expresly engaged by covenant unto god , & one with another , for the advancing and promoving of these holy and important ends therein contained , there lyeth upon all and every one of us an indispensible duty , by all possible means to promove the same , not only in our own conscientious and exemplary walking , and serious admonition and exhortation towards others ; but also in endeavouring ( in case of defection ) a national reformation , and valiant vindication of the glory of god , and his work and cause , against all incorrigible apostates ; as we would not not by conniving at their sin be partakers of their judgement , and as we would by destroying the accursed from amongst us , avert the imminent wrath of god from the whole land and nation . which position as we clearly before asserted , both from the profession and practise of our first reformers ; so , that qualification in the covenant , of our endeavours in our places and callings , is most agreeable thereto : seeing the same doth plainly import , that as every one is to confine himself to his own place and move in his own sphere , while all in their respective capacities do harmoniously concurre in the same work and duty ; so if any in higher place and imployment , do not only become remiss and forgetful of the oath of god ; but , according to the extent and influence of their power , would seduce and corrupt their inferiors unto their apostasy , it is both their place to resist such wickedness and violence , and their calling to endeavour either the reformation or removal of these who prove so contrary to , and obstructive of the ends whereunto they are ordained . neither can this inference appear unwarranted or hard unto any who will impartially consider , that though the same qualification doth in the like maner affect and define all duties whatsoever , which we owe either to god or our countrey ; yet it were most absurd thence to infer , that if these more eminently intrusted should either turn directly apostates and enemies to the christian faith , or adversaries and destroyers of the common-wealth , the people of an inferior degree might not step forward to occupy the places , and assert the interests , which these wicked men had so traiterously forfaulted and deserted . all which must necessarily be granted , if it be but rightly considered , that as order and the observance thereof , is only a mean subordinate to , and intended for the glory of god and the good of the people ; so must all the regulation and determination thereof be only admitted , in so far as it is conducible , and no wayes to render it destructive or repugnant to these great ends of its appointment . from all which we clearly conclude that thir words in the covenant of places and callings , are no more restrictive in the cases above mentioned , then a general 's command to his souldiours entering in battel ( being thus qualifyed ) doth impede the necessity of succession ( in case of the vacancy of any charge , either through death or desertion ) requisit for the obtaining of the proposed end of victory ; but that they are in effect ( specially the antecedent and subjoined words sincerely , really and constantly , all the dayes of our life being considered ) rather exegetick and ampliative . . that whatsoever laws , covenants and engagements were standing and binding unto us , before this late fearful apostacy and defection , they are still in the sight of god , and in the consciences of all that fear his name and mind his glory , the rather more strong and obligeing then in the least infringed or dissolved : it being impossible that such sacred oaths ( so solemnly sworn unto the most high ) and such righteous laws by vertue thereof statuted and enacted , for the carrying on , and establishment of the work of god thereby intended , should be ambulatory and mutable at the pleasure of men ; specially of such , who , without regard of god , conscience , honor or honesty , have , in the very pride and power of wickedness , not only broken the lords bands , casten away his cords , and violently ( under the pretext of abused authority ) overturned his whole work ; but done despite against the same , both by ignominious burning and blaspheming of the lords holy covenant . and this position rescissory we oppose unto their great act rescissory , and to all acts and practices of the like nature antecedent thereto , or dependent thereupon . being fully perswaded , that , though now they appear unequally ballanced , yet the lord shall declare from heaven his righteousness , and laugh at his enemies acts and devises , and have them all in derision . . that though we do heartily approve their 〈◊〉 veneration and just esteem of lawfull authority , ( the great and excellent ordinance of god ) who to prevent all prejudice that it may incur , and inconvenience that may ensue thereon , do so far transmit this respect to the person therewith vested , as to hold for a maxime ( but indeed equally against religion , reason and experience ) that the king doeth no wrong ; and though we are perswaded , that the true rise and cause of the sin and calamity under which we lye , is from the malice , perjury , flattery and violence of that antichristian spirit ruling in the apostat prelates ; and therefore would willingly cloath our selves , even in the sight of man , with that ample allowance and full authority , whereby the king did once approve the holy covenant , and countenance the lords work , as if the same did yet stand ( as it ought ) not retracted or repeal'd . yet seing our late parliament by their second act , session second , have reprobated and discharged all pretences of authority in this kind , notwithstanding that the same hath been and may be most necessary in many cases , for the preserving of the kingdom , & salving of state-inconveniences ; we do therefore rather subsist on the former grounds , and turn our complaint and prayer unto god , who is the great king over all , looking for his appearance , and waiting for his salvation . . that the glory of god and of our lord jesus christ , the defence and maintenance of the blessed gospel , and it 's precious ministry and ordinances , are duties & concernments infinitly more important , then the defence and preservation of our lives , liberties and the common-wealth , against the most barbarous and horrid violences and injuries that can be imagined : like-as , the violation and destruction of all these is so evidently designed , and wickedly practised , by this late and present apostacy , that a clearer ground and cause of self-defence and reformation cannot possibly be supposed ; so that to condescend to answer the peevish clamours of these neutral and careless men , who say , what needeth all this noise for the extrinsick and arbitrary forms of government and modes of vvorship , both with and without which , religion and righteousness have equally flourished and prospered ? where to shut our eyes from beholding the glory and grace of god , that in this land hath so visibly appeared in , and been advanced by this great ordinance of presbytery , by himself ( for that end ) appointed ; and also from the observing of these deludges of profanity , wickedness , superstition and violence , which the devill , by his great engine of prelacy , hath alwayes and in all churches caused and procured . . that as such was the state , condition and engagements of this church and kingdom , at the time of the king's return , and before the re-erecting of this prelacy , that all and every one of the nation were most strictly obliged sincerely , really and constantly to have resisted and opposed this wicked defection to the last drop of their blood ; so the sinfull complyance of many , and wofull fainting and withdrawing of others , might indeed incapacitat such as remain faithful from the best , but neither could nor can dis-engage them from their utmost endeavours . from these grounds and what hath been formerly represented , the argument of the indictment of treason above-mentioned viz. that all convocations and risings in arms , or subjects entering in leagues , without or against the kings authority , are treasonable : but such was the late rising and renewing of the covenant , therefore &c. may be easily and clearly answered , that all such risings and entering into leagues , as are not warranded and commanded by the superior law and authority of god ( who is king of kings and lord of lords ) which by our own express acts and statutes are acknowledged , and are not founded upon the fundamental right , and necessarily intended for the preservation of religion and righteousness , the great and principal end of all laws and governments , according whereunto our laws have also by posterior statutes been expresly interpreted , are indeed treasonable : but such the late rising was not ; but on the contrary was more clearly approven by these grounds , then any other the like instance which can be adduced or instructed , from the parallel of any other age or nation ; therefore it was altogether lawful , righteous and necessary . which answer , though the lords faithful witnesses did sufficiently insinuat and propone , yet both the constitution of the court , and persons of the judges before whom they were arraigned , were such , as the same was rather accounted an aggravation of their crime and treason . but seeing this was not done , without the specious pretexts , not only of iniquous laws , but also of religion and scripture ; we shall briefly consider , first , that queree often made to them , where they had read or how they could instruct , that , under the pretence of religion , it is lawful for subjects to rise in rebellion against lawfull authority ? to which it is answered , that this queree is a clear begging of the question , by expresly supposing that the late rising was only in pretence for religion , but really in rebellion , which ought first to have been proved , and is in effect an arrant calumny and falshood . . that even the queree it self seems to imply and grant , that for subjects to rise in arms really for the defence of religion , against the invasions of the powers under the pretence of lawful authority , is both lawful and laudable : which being the true case and cause of this late rising , and so clearly warranted both by the word and covenant of god , and the practise of all reformed churches ; we are content to refer these poor mens innocency , unto the consciences and secret thoughts of their adversaries . secondly , we shall consider these texts of scripture which were pretended against the innocents : and . it was much urged that rebellion is as the sin of witch-craft ; to which one of themselves did roundly and clearly answer , that , the place having been spoken by the prophet to a king , because of his disobedience and contempt of the command of god , and not to subjects , would sooner conclude his accusers then himself to be a rebell . secondly , it answered , that rising up against authority it self , the ordinance of god , and disobeying the powers therewith vested , standing and acting in their right line of subordination , is indeed rebellion , and as the sin of witchcraft ; but to resist and rise up against persons abusing sacred authority and rebelling against god the supream , is rather to adhere to god as our liege lord , and to vindicate both our selves and his abused ordinance , from man's wickedness and tyranny . the second text objected was that , math. . . where even our lord himself , when violently seised upon by wicked men , but who were then in authority ; did nevertheless restrain his disciples from his own defence and rescue , saying unto peter , put up again thy sword into his place : for all they that take the sword , shal perish with the sword ; to which , as it was sufficiently answered ( without any reply ) by one of these impeached , ( whom they accounted distracted , though without the least appearance of impertinency ) who thereto did oppone luke . . where our lord , speaking at the same time and to the same purpose , saith , he that hath no sword , let him sell his garment , and buy one ; yet for further clearing , we say , . that from the place it self in all the evangelists , it is most evident , that that command was given , and these words spoken by our lord , only for to testify his voluntar submission unto the fathers will , by laying down of his life for fulfilling of the scripture , as is clear from the same . of matth. v. . & iohn . . . otherwise the context being considered ( that not only in luke . . cited , he , forewarning his disciples of hazards to come , adviseth them to provide swords and weapons ; and in the of matt. , asserts his power to have called legions of angels to his assistance , which clearly implyes the lawfulness thereof ) this scripture objected doth more confirm then impugn the lawfulness of defensive arms. . is it possible that men should be so much demented by flattery , as to think that it was unlawful for jesus christ the mighty god and lord over all , to have defended himself by the assistance of his disciples , against the horrid wickedness and insurrection of the vilest of his creatures , had it not been , that it was necessary that the scriptures concerning him should be accomplished . . where our lord saith in the place objected , all they that take the sword , shal perish with the sword , as he thereby only condemneth unjust and offensive war ; so the saying it self , by its later part , doth tacitely imply the lawfulness and justice of both defensive and vindictive arms , the same being otherwise justly founded . though these texts were only objected , yet to help our adversaries , who are known not to be much conversant in the scripture , and to obviate the scruples that may thence arise to others , we subjoyn a third text iohn . . . where our lord saith , if my kingdom were of this world , then would my servants fight , that i should not be delivered to the iews , whence some infer , that all arms , even in defence of religion , are unlawfull and prohibited ; but it is answered , as the intent and scope of our lord's answer , was to clear himself of that calumny objected against him by the iews , that he made himself a king in opposition to caesar ; so the meaning of it is plain and obvious , to wit , that our lord's kingdom is not of the nature and for the ends , for which other kingdoms of this world were instituted ; but wholly spiritual for declaring the truth , and thereby gaining souls unto glory : whence as our lord would there infer that he came not to conquer to himself disciples by outward force , and thereby to gain followers by the spoiling of caesar and other princes ; so it is without all shaddow of connexion thence to conclude , that a people having receaved the blessing of the gospel and kingdom of iesus christ , should without resistance suffer themselves ( to the manifest dishonor of god and the hazard of the eternal damnation of themselves and their posterity ) to be impiously and sacriledgiously spoiled and deprived thereof , when they are in a capacity to defend the same . the truth whereof , together with the hypocrisy of our adversaries , may soon be discovered , if the question be but stated in the terms of one forraign & independent prince's invading another , meerly upon the account of the christian faith ; and whatever solution or evasion they shall herein make , will as exactly quadrat to the case in hand , it being almost ridiculous to conceave , that the greatest aggravation of invasions of this kind , to wit , that it is made by a prince upon his own subjects ( whose profession he himself is principally bound to maintain ) should import any speciality and difference in the cases . the last text is that of math. . . and remanent verses to the end , where our lord saith , resist not evill , but whosoever shall smite thee &c. with the other parallel places , specially rev. . .. but it is answered , that as these places do injoyn either patience , when the clear call and dispensations of god do inevitably call unto suffering , without which patience were no patience but rather stupidity ; or that bounty and debonairity which our lord would have his disciples to practise , in the remitting and dispensing with the utmost extensions and points of right , for the better reproving and condemning of the animosities and rigid contentions of men , for matters of small or no moment , and the more effectuall commending the grace and peace of the gospel ; so thence to infer that men should give way to all violence and sacriledge ( to the subverting of religion and righteousness ) is , after the manner of sathan , to cheat and abuse men by the holy scriptures of truth unto wickedness and error ; and grossly to exceed that signal rule mainly in these places intended , to wit , that we should be perfect even as our father which is in heaven is perfect , who , though he filleth the earth with his goodness , and extendeth his bounty unto all , causing the sun to rise upon the evill and on the good , yet doth he love righteousness , and helpeth and delivereth the oppressed ; and commandeth the zeal of his own glory ( wherein he himself doth often eminently appear ) by the hand of his people , to take vengeance on his adversaries . let us therefore in the consideration of what is said rev. . . he that leadeth into captivity , shall go into captivity ; he that killeth with the sword , must be killed with the sword , both possess our souls in patience under all the former sufferings , and hope and rejoice in the faith of the succeeding delivery there subjoyned . these are the defences which these faithful men did summarily hint at , and being often interrupted , were scarcely permitted to propone : all which being rejected as unworthy to be heard , what wonder , if what their advocats did plead in their defence , upon the point of quarter given , to some of them in the field , was also repelled ? we are not to dip in matters of this kind ; but certainly it much discovereth the spirit of malice and violence that now prevaileth , that neither the nature and import of quarter , which pertaineth nothing to grace or pardon ( whereof these men were declared incapable ) but is a paction of the law of nations , whereby the person worsted , by quitting of his arms , ( the only and oftentimes the probable means either of his safety or vengeance ) doth condition for , and redeem his immunity as to life ; nor yet the honor of the granters , persons commissionated by the king for the command of his forces , with the common priviledges and dignities belonging to such offices ; nor yet the practice of all nations about , even in the case of intestine war ; nor the rational arguments of humanity and prudence , not to reduce men to utter despair in succeeding insurrections ( from which no kingdom is priviledged ) nor lastly , the paucity of these few innocents , not exceeding or who could have been thereby benefited ( there being many other taken and not upon quarter ) could prevail against that pedantick distinction inter bellum justum & injustum . but this being alleadged to have been bellum injustum , ( as indeed it was in the justest sense ) therefore no faith nor quarter must be herein observed , quia , sc . adversus hostes tantum est bellum , at in perduelles , judicium , as if from this , one should conclude , that though in war there may be faith and quarter , yet in iudgement there ought neither to be truth nor performance . all defences therefore being repelled , these persons accused were all condemned to be hanged to death as traitors , and their heads and right hands to be cut off , to be disposed on by the council , and their goods and estates to be forfaulted to the kings use . and accordingly upon several dayes , this sentence was executed upon thirty five of these faithful men , and by ordinance of council , the heads of many of them were affixed upon the ports of several burghs ; and the right hands of the first ten ( to the high contempt of god and his holy covenant , and to the provocation of his jealousy ) on the tolbooth of lanerk , where the covenant was by them solemnly renewed and sworn . as for the other five , they were and are reprived ; one of them , who in all his tryall , to the conviction of all appeared most constant in the covenant , and bold and pertinent in his testimony , upon the colour of a fit of distraction ( by which he was once vexed ) and through the intercession of many in his behalf ; an other of them , for his vile and abject fainting to the very reproach of humanity , redeeming his life by becoming hang-man to seven of his fellows , when two ordinary executioners in the burghs about had plainly refused , declaring they would have nothing to do with the blood of such righteous men , and one of them therefore imprisoned ; the other three , partly because of their fainting and condescendence to take the declaration , and partly through the favour and intercession of friends . we shall not , nor cannot enter upon the particular declaration of that grace , constancy and courage , by which the lords faithful witnesses were sustained , and did bear testimony to the word of his truth , the holy covenant , and the cause and work of god. only this is certain , that the lord did not more desert that vile abject person to the weakness of flesh and blood , whereby he was depressed below the very contempt of men , then by his grace and glory , evidently to manifest the power thereof , he was eminently present with such as he honoured to be his witnesses , to cause them contemn and triumph over principalities and powers , hell and death , and all their terrours ; as may be evident from these things following . . that the council , pitching upon those men without choise , for a test of discrimination did require several of them , by taking the declaration , to renounce the covenant ; which they constantly refused . and so were martyred , not accepting deliverance , that they might obtain a better resurrection . . that mr hew mackaile , a young man of years of age , and an expectant in the ministery , being arraigned and accused through meer spite of the arch-bishop of st. andrewes , ( against whose iudas-like apostacy he had preached four years ago ) for no greater accession , then that he had been some few dayes with these that rose , with a sword ( having been most uncircumspectly taken , leaying them because of his infirmity and weakness the day before the conflict ) did not only most patiently endure cruel torture whereby he was examined , for the discovery of the contrivance of that rising , which all men knew and saw to be indeliberat ; but , notwithstanding the promise of favour plainly made to him upon condition of ingenuity ( which he sincerely used ) being also condemned , did utterly reject all insinuations made unto him upon condition of the least retractation ; and bitterly mourning for , and repenting of his apparent fainting and relinquishing , though ; it really proceeded more from his infirmity , then fear or love of life , but rejoycing in his own folly , whereby the lord did bring him to such a manifestation of his grace , and declaration of his glory , he , to the admiration of all , in his most constant and christian suffering , by his blood sealed the truth and glorified god. . that others of them , though obscure and illiterate men , upon the scaffold hurried and interrupted in the declaring of their testimony , by the prelats orders , and the rudeness and inhumanity of these that executed them ; yet did bear witness to the cause of god , and of that grace and assurance , whereby the lord upheld them , to the admiration and astonishment of all the beholders . . that though at glasgow and air , where eleven of them were executed , ( all mean countrey-men , and some of them of decrepit age , and others of them very young , not exceeding years ) their enemies caused beat drums about the scaffold that they might not be heard ( a barbarity never practised in scotland , and rarely heard of , except in the duke of alva's martyring of the protestants in the low-countreyes ) yet were they so litle thereby amazed , that both by words of of praise and thanksgiving to god , that had honoured such plough-men ( as they termed themselves ) to be his witnesses , and the constancy of their countenance and whole carriage , they did bear such testimony to the holy covenant , as both many were thereby confirmed , and their enemies ashamed . . that though some of them did appear weak and faint-hearted at first , yet so powerfully and abundantly was it given to them in that hour , that out of weakness they were made strong ; and declared that they had seen such glimpses of the glory of god betwixt the prison and the scaffold , that all fear was clearly discussed ; and particularly a young countrey-boy , not much above sixteen years of age , being condemned at aix , mostly because he did refuse to take the declaration , which they told him , was the renouncing of that covenant which he had taken at lanerk ; & though , both through fear and ignorance of the very grounds of christianity , he fell into great anxiety , neither daring to die , nor yet to redeem his life at the rate proposed ; yet after the prayers and conference of some that had access to him at irwin two dayes before his death , on the morning that he suffered , he appeared so much changed , both from the depth of fear and perplexity unto great resolution and joy , and so much enlightened with the knowledge of god in our lord jesus christ , and the hope of salvation through his name , that all that saw him , do bear testimony to the grace and wonderfull work of god , & of that joy of heart , that carried him to the scaffold , leaping and praising god. from all which particulars , and from the severall testimonies and speaches , which these left behind them in writing , we must conclude and rejoyce , that god out of the dark cloud of such a sad and astonishing providence which lately overspread us , hath brought forth so blessed and bright a cloud of witnesses , strengthened and filled with so much grace and glory , to bear testimony unto his name , covenant and cause and for the confirmation of all that love and wait for his salvation . we have hitherto ommitted , to say any thing to that oath of conjuration taken by the militia of edinburgh , and the concurrence and assistance of many others , who did either actually rise in arms for the suppressing of god's people and cause , or since the conflict did stop , apprehend , and spoil them in the cross way , and have been assisting and abetting to their deaths and persecutions , either as guarders of prisons , courts or scaffolds , or as iudges , clerks , advocats , assizers , or officers in the dooms pronounced against them . if , after all the truth , equity and reason that have been represented , and the power and glory which god hath declared , men will not hear and fear , nor be converted , neither the tongues of men and angels , nor of such as should return from the dead , would be of any force or persuasion to prevail with them . is it possible , that edinburgh should think that the pretence of a new invented oath of alleageance and fidelity to the king , and for the defence of his authority against all insurrections and rebellions , wherein the prelates and the up hold of their wickedness , and the subjecting of all the godly to their lust and tyranny , were and are clearly intended and designed , shall warrand them in the great day of the lord ( who is terrible unto the kings of the earth ) for taking part with rebels and apostats against the god of heaven , and for opposing and oppressing of such , as , continuing stedfast in the common cause and covenant ( for which edinburgh was once very honourable and eminent ) did only endeavour to liberat themselves from that intolerable bondage both of bodies and consciences ( more grievous then death ) under which they groaned ? doth edinburgh thus not only condemn the practice of our noble ancestors and reformers , who accounted it neither insurrection nor rebellion to set themselves for the defence of the gospel against the then powers , who did endeavour to oppress it ; but by this oath , abandon both religion and liberty , in this so perillous and backsliding a generation , to the lust and tyranny of abused authority , and whatsoever it shall please to impose , without control or contradiction ? do they thus remember the national covenant and the solemn league and covenant once so powerfully sworn and owned amongst them , and the mutuall defence and assistance , wherein every one of us is thereby bound to another , to the uttermost of our power , against all sorts of persons whatsoever , and not to suffer our selves , by whatsoever combination , terror or perswasion ; to be divided and withdrawn from that blessed vnion therein contained ? while on the contrary , they conspire and conjure themselves against such whom they are not only bound to assist , but also to relieve of all the persecutions and oppressions which they suffer and sustain , only for their adherence to the same holy covenants . surely these things being duly considered , this oath , in stead of qualifying the declaration ( in lieu whereof , being more general , plausible and insnaring it was contrived and imposed ) will be found a practical application of all the wickedness and unrighteousness , which is therein only speculatively declared ; and may in the righteous judgement of god , by reason not only of the equality , but even of the excess hereof to london's sin , bring upon edinburgh , london's plagues and judgements . we need not here insist to testify against the rest , who in any sort concurred or assisted in the opposition and persecution above-mentioned , the meanest part of whose accession , doth far exceed paul's keeping the clothes of such as stoned stephen . if we consider that the suffering and not opposing , to the utmost of our power , the shedding of innocent blood , doth involve all under that certain denounciation made by ieremiah unto the princes of iudah ; and all the people , ier. , . saying , know ye for certain , that if ye put me to death , ye shal surely bring innocent blood upon your selves , and upon this city , and upon the inhabitant thereof ; the most innocent amongst us , will find himself more concerned to repent of his own , then censure others for their accession . the serious thoughts whereof , may and ought justly to cause us tremble , left our manasseh-like sin in shedding of innocent blood , provoke the lord to wrath in such a measure as he will not pardon . but when we do reflect upon the rage , cruelty and barbarity that have ensued , the things that we have mentioned , may justly appear to be but the beginnings of evills . for first , immediatly after the conflict , the arch-prelat procureth a proclamation to be emitted prohibiting the resett and concealment of , or correspondence with any of these poor men that had escaped , or had been accessary unto the late rising , and ordaining all to pursue them as the worst of traitors under the pain of being accounted guilty of the same rebellion . in which proclamation , after the arch-bishop had impudently and absurdly laboured , that several persons , against whom , not so much as any delation or ground of suspicion could be alleaged , should , contrary to all reason , be insert , he at length prevailed that about gentlemen , ministers and others , alleaged more eminently guilty , should be therein by name expressed . certainly if it be considered , that neither reason nor prudence do advise to seek security only in revenge , but rather by an attemperation of clemency , in cases of this nature , to bring things to a composure , we must conclude , that such courses are only the product of blind prelatick-fury . . after the first executions at edinbugh , the commissioner and lieutenant general march unto the west , and there having condemned and executed several persons , as we have before mentioned , the lieutenant general staying behind , taketh up his quarter at kilmarnock ; and there , and from thence doth practise and issue forth such orders of cruelty , as the barbarity thereof may very probably render the narration suspected . for. . the countrey is burthened with such localities of corn and straw for troop-horses , ( more then double the number of these that were amongst them ) that to redeem themselves from the drudgery , they not only are content to quite the prices which the troopers ought to pay , but also to pay in to them such summs of money , as upon computation will equalize the valued rent of the shire . . notwithstanding of all the excise , fines and taxations imposed and leavyed for the maintenance of these forces ; yet upon pretence of want of moneys and pay , the souldiours are shortly thereafter permitted to take free quarter ; and consequently are licensed to all the abuses , that either rapine or cruelty may suggest . . dalzel , at and by his own hand , hath privately in his own chamber and quarters , not only by words menaced such , as after publick examination upon the account of intelligence , had been acquitted ; but also really ( by fire and sword , threatening to kill out-right , or rost and burn alive , such who being groundlessly questioned , had upon the first examination declared all they knew ) examined men by tortures . . such persons as he happeneth to apprehend , whether upon the suspicion of their having been with these that rose in arms , or having reset such after the conflict , are there-upon ordinarly stript naked to their shirts and breeches ; and thrust into prisons , in cold , hunger . nakedness , and sometimes in extreme straitness ; as in kilmarnock into dark and obscure little holes , which being destined for one man or two , and not capacious of more ( though standing upright ) then ten or twelve , they are so pinched , that not one of them can possibly so much as relieve himself of the continual pain of standing , by suffering his body to sink unto the ground ; and unto all the former miseries have that of their own dung and excrements superadded : so that the poor men would often chuse death rather then life . amongst which cruelties and rigors , that practised upon a petty heritor in or about the parish of vchilery , deserveth to be remembered : who , being apprehended upon a groundless suspition of reset of traitors ( as they tearm them ) was brought to kilmarnock-tolbooth ; where , being an old man full of obstructions , he was so suffocated with the smoak , there occasioned by a coal-fire , wanting a chimney-vent , that often-times a day the souldiours have in derision carried him out as dead , and after a litle recovery by reason of the free aire , with cruell scorn ignominiously returned him unto his prison . which barbarity they still continued , until by extremity of such usage , he is reduced to such weakness as there is litle hope of life . . there is one act , so far beyond , and without all shew and pretence of humanity and justice , as scarce any preface or testimony is sufficient to perswade the belief of it ; which is thus . dalzel having ordered a party to newmills to seise and apprehend one finlaw , living peacably in his own house , and they about the time of dalzel's return from air , returning and bringng with them the prisoner , he instantly calleth him to his chamber , and examineth him privately ( without so much as any one witness present ) whether or not he was with the rebels at lanerk ; the man in answer declareth , that he was there when they came to the place , but upon the account of his own private affairs . the general asketh in the nixt place , whom he knew to have been there amongst them , and because the man ( by declaring his ignorance ) appeared unwilling to discover any , he instantly calleth the lieutenant of the guard , and giveth orders to carry the poor man to the gallows and there to shoot him dead . the man being thus hurryed away , when he is brought to the place of execution , questioneth the lieutenant , if the general was serious in what he had ordered : whereunto the lieutenant replyeth that he knew nothing to the contrary ; the poor man declaring his innocency , obtesteth him ▪ both upon the grounds of humanity and christianity , that he would at least obtain him a reprival for that night , that he might prepare for death and eternity , and with some importunity prevaileth to move him to return to dalzel for a grant of the licence desired : but the lieut. general , in place of relenting , doth most severely threaten the lieutenant himself , telling him that he would teach him to obey his orders precisely without pleading for mitigation ; whereupon the lieutenant returning to the place , immediately ordereth the poor man to be shot , who was instantly stript naked and left dead upon the ground . a fact so barbarous and cruell , and in effect so plain a murder , being destitute of the least shaddow of either ordinary or martial law to colour it , that the horror thereof may justly render it incredible . . as this last act is such as barbarity it self would condemn , so it s well known that this man dalzel was therefore brought from musco , where it was supposed he had learned to comply with that arbitrary tyranny , and to exercise that barbarous cruelty , which there more then in any part of the christan world , is wickedly practised , as the only proper executioner , agreeably & accurately to serve the rigor and violence of this , accursed prelacy . which expectation he hath not at all frustrated : for both he and the arch-prelate of st andrews , are so wickedly acted by the same spirit of spite , rage and wickedness , that they have often grieved and openly complained , that such whom they have supposed , and would have instantly and utterly destroyed as criminals ( according to the excess of their own lust and malice , without respect to any measure or proportion of justice ) should either be proceeded against , or punished acording to the tenor of law ; accounting and impudently declaring , that these formalities ( as they are pleased to tearm the very substantials of law , and the great security of all mens lives and fortunes ) were , and are in their opinions mostly obstructive to the king's service . it were endless to enumerat all the evils , extortions , cruelties and exactions that this muscovia-beast hath acted and doth practise upon that poor countrey of the west , where retaining some of his forces , both horse and foot , the most slender suspicions , or the smallest surmises , though never so false , are accounted crimes and convictions ; and immediatly punished with such rigorous imprisonment as we have already described ; or by oppressive quartering , not only on the person suspected , but also on the whole bounds about : in which quartering , the souldiours do behave themselves with such insolency and rapine , that not only many hundreds of families are reduced to beggery , but in several parishes , the countrey almost laid waste and desolate ; so that now it is the common report and perswasion of all , that the west is appointed for ruine and destruction . . seing this is the case of almost that whole countrey , without respect to guilt or innocency , how hard and lamentable is the condition of such who were in the late rising , and have hithertil escaped ? it is impossible fully to represent all their sore distress and great perplexity which they sustain , wandering and hiding themselves in woods , mountains and caves of the earth , afflicted with all the pain and misery , that the extremity of cold , nakedness and hunger , with the continual uncertainty of their lives , can lay upon them , and hunted more then partridges , by the vigilant and cruell malice of their adversaries . we know that some of our profane apostate preachers ( who not only think the fiery tryall a strange thing , and are offended at the cross of christ , but preferring this worlds ease to their everlasting rest , do neither hearken to the warning , nor believe the promised and often experienced consolation of suffering ) have wickedly judged these poor men and their cause by the event , and affirmed that curse sa . . . to be on them accomplished : but as both the sin of sorcery and the sting of this threatning , imbittered fretting to the cursing of god , the very worm of the damned here recorded , do clearly discover and confute this calumny ; so are these apostate calumniators plainly and directly therein concerned , who , having such evident tokens of perdition , as are their vile apostacy and cruell persecution and reproach , may and ought to tremble in the pre-apprehensions thereof , which , without serious repentance , they cannot escape , when the righteous god who upholdeth his own with strength and joy in tribulation , shall hereafter give unto all of them , though now troubled , rest with all saints . but not only time , but heart and tongue would fail any christian , to relate all the violences , plunderings , extortions and insolencies , that from the beginning of this apostacy until this day have been and are committed by military force among us , first upon galloway , then upon both galloway and nithisdale , and now upon the whole west : which as they have been extended in bounds , so are they continually intended in cruelty . only this we shall say , if stobbing , wounding , beating , stripping and imprisoning mens persons , violent breaking of their houses both by day and night , and beating and wounding of wives and children , ravishing and deflowring of women , forcing wives and other persons by fired matches and other tortures to discover their husbands and nearst relations , although it be not within the compass of their knowledge , and driving and spoiling all their goods that can be carried away , without respect to guilt or innocency , in as cruell a manner as ever scotland saw exerced amongst them by a forrain enemy ( as can be instanced from every corner of that countrey ) may represent our present slavery & bondage ; certainly the same is so much the more miserable and insupportable , in that all this wickedness is most unnaturally perpetrated , both by our own countrey-men and sworn brethren , and so much the rather to be laid to heart by al , that , as al these things are only acted and allowed by the wicked malice and blind fury of this prevailing prelatick party , and for satisfying their insatiable hatred and revenge against all their opposers , so is the whole kingdom thereby disabled , and most obviously in these most dangerous times , exposed to the invasion , of any forrainer ; as may be very evident from these considerations . . the west , the strength and better part of the kingdom , is already disabled , not only by the above-mentioned oppressions , but by generall disarming , and taking of serviceable horses , and likely very shortly to be totally wasted and ruined . . the north and high-lands have been of late so much neglected and connived at , through the prevailing wickedness of the times , that they are wholly in disorder , and all places about infested by most insolent rapines and murthers : but since the actors are void both of religion & conscience , they cannot now be guilty of either rebellion or sedition , and since they are rather favourers of then enemies to prelates , it is no matter how great enemies they be to righteousness . . the whole kingdom is so exhausted by exactions and impositions , so vexed by generall oppression and disorder , from which the wickedness of prelatick rulers , suffer no place to be exempted ; & so disgusted with the violence and inhumanity they see done to their brethren ( their own flesh ) for such slight and unworthy causes and occasions , as the worst of men not interested , do justly apprehend prelacy and conformity to be ; that all are either disabled , disheartened , or disobleiged from the service of king and countrey . . there remaineth no strength nor force amongst us , but these two regiments of foot and nine troops of horses , which even with the addition of the five more intended , will not in all exceed foot and horse , and yet are they all and more then the countrey can wel bear , and these so debauched by licentiousness , cruelty and rapine , that neither can their hearts endure , nor their hands be strong against an enemy . these are the fruits of our departing from the lord , and again erecting and admitting this accursed prelacy . o! that god would cause us to know how evill and bitter they are ; but the prelats who fear not god , regard not the common-wealth , let the covenant & conscience be rooted out , then come on us what will : these are the only enemies of their usurpations & wicked lusts , and therefore must be accounted so both to king and countrey ; against these are our forces leavyed and maintained , and unto this design their numbers must be modelled and our exactions proportioned : the arraying of the countrey and establishing of the militia conform to our ancient laws and liberties may possibly arm the prelats enemies ; surely that course would not so violently press conformity , and execute their cruelty , nor so largely gratify a few nobles , who by the command of the troops must be made sharers of the spoil and booty , and so engaged for these vile prelates against the poor countrey . o blinded nobles ! are not the wealth and peace of the countrey your riches and stability ? o abject scotland ! how art thou abondoned ? this being the design , rage and jealousy of the tyrannizing prelats , in order thereunto there must be five troops more added to these already leavyed , and the countrey yet more oppressed for the securing and establishing of their wickedness . , they are endeavouring by all means to have the declaration against the covenant generally pressed , that either by violent straining they may destroy all conscience thereof , or may more fully discover , and more effectually reach all the faithful in the land , whom by the test of a refusal they purpose to stage and severely punish as enemies to authority . we shall not offer here to adde any thing against this declaration . if all that the lord hath done in this land now by the space of near an years , all that his servants have formerly declared and testifyed , and now of late have witnessed and sealed with th●●r blood , and all the tenor and purpose of this discourse avail not to justify our holy covenants , and condemn this horrid apostacy and wicked declaration , nothing certainly will be able to perswade , and the mighty power of god can only convert . only we have reason to fear that the same spirit of deceat , which , under the colour of due obedience to lawful authority , ensnared wretched edinburgh to a combination and conspiracy against the lord and his anointed , may renew the same practise upon the whole land , for the more easy involving of such in this apostacy , whom possibly the gross and palpable wickedness of the declaration might deterre : and to such we give this warning , that as all powers are subordinat to the most high , and appointed and limited by his holy will and commandment , for his own glory and the peoples good ; and as our alleagiance was , and standeth perpetually and expresly thus qualifyed , viz. in defence of religion and liberty , according to our first and second covenants ; and lastly , seing all alleagiance and obedience to any created power whatsoever , ( though in the construction of charity apparently indefinite , yet ) of it 's own nature is indispensibly thus restricted ; to renew the same , or take any the like oath of alleagiance purely and simply , purposely omitting the former and due restriction , especially where the powers are in most manifest and notorious rebellion against the lord , and opposition to his cause and covenant , is in effect equivalent to to an express rejecting and dis-owning of the same limitation , and of the soveraign prerogative of the great god and king over all , which is thereby reserved ; & as much as in plain terms to affirm , that whatever abused authority shall command or do , either as to the overturning of the vvork of god , subverting of religion , destroying of rights & liberties , or persecuting of all the faithful to the utmost extremity , we shall not only stupidly endure it , but actively concur with & assist in all this tyranny . and if this be not more , yea double wickdness above all that the declaration doth import , let all men consider . o! all ye who desire to behold the good that god will do for his people , beware of this high rebellion against him. . as all restraints of either conscience or law are now wickedly taken off , and only a convenient oppurtunity waited for , to re-introduce that dead carcase of formality , the service-book , and the whole bulk of these corrupt ceremonies and pernicious superstitions , that have been formerly , and alwayes found so destructive to the light & power of the gospell , & are so vain and ridiculous in themselves , that nothing but the very , spirit of darkness and judiciall delusion from the lord , can induce men to such fopperies ; so may we certainly expect the re-imposing of this heavy yoke , and all the sin , superstition , persecution and wrath which necessarily do attend it , except we abide stedfast in the lord's cause and covenant , instantly intreating and patiently waiting for his salvation , and glorious appearance again in this land. thus we have represented in part both the sin , sufferings and distresses that ly upon the whole land ; which though they be most heavy and greivous in themselves , yet are they in their tendency & presage more to be regarded . can any man seriously look upon the hatred and scorn of that light and truth ? wherein once we gloried , the spite against the holy covenant and all conscience , the blaphemy and sin against god , and the violence and persecution against all such as fear his name , whereby the enemy rageth and their tumult continually increaseth , and not be astonished ? is there any who believeth that god is , and that his words are truths and all his wayes judgements , his threatnings sure and certain , his jealousy as a consuming fire , his wrath so dreadful and his indignation so terrible , that only the same omnipotency which inflicteth the strokes , can sustain poor passive wretches from evanishing at it's smallest rebukes , and yet shall sustain them eternally , and not tremble because of the provocation of all these abominations ? o! that such whom the love of christ hath not constrained , nor the tears and weeping of a departing saviour moved , might be yet perswaded by the terror of the lord , & that the dread of god might make their hearts soft . surely abounding sin is the greatest woe , and prevailing transgression the greatest cause of mourning ; but above all sins and transgressions , christ despised in his gospell and ordinances , and persecuted in his members , is the most mournful and fearful : which as it scattered and destroyed the lord's peculiar people and nation , dear to him above all nations , and hath overturned and ruined the fairest part of the christian world , either in barbarity or gross darkness ; so is it the great condemnation of the whole world. this is the work and wickedness of accursed prelacy , most perjurious in it's rise and ever antichristian in it's designes and effects , as all who have hearts to understand what we have here declared , and eyes to see the present state and condition of matters , must and will acknowledge . this is thy sin , o scotland , and , if mercy prevent it not , shall be thy ruine . this is the voice , testimony and warning of all the sufferings of the lord's people ; who though continually afflicted and persecuted in their bodies , & though their souls be exceedingly filled with the contempt of the proud ; yet have not nor dare not deny the lord , his work , nor his holy covenant : whom though the lord hath caused to turn back from the enemy , and given for a spoil to them that hate them , yea given them as sheep for meat , and made them a reproach , a scorn and a derision ; yet have they nor forgotten the lord nor dealt falsly in his covenant . o! that men would ! consider this grace of god , whereby as he conforteth and sustaineth his servants in all their afflictions ; so he warneth backsliders to return , and all to flee from the wrath that is to come , and to save themselves from this wicked generation : which grace , as it allayeth to , the faithful the smart , so ought it to remove from all the scandal of our lord's cross , and is indeed that strength and presence of the captain of our salvation ( who was made perfect by suffering ) with all his sufferers , giving for the present joy and peace , and afterwards assured victory . now , seing it is the lord who hath so visibly brought upon us these sore trialls , that such as are approved may be made manifest , and so graciously delivereth them from the temptation thereof , yea thereby refineth , purifyeth and maketh many white , that they may be more abundant partakers both of his holiness and of his glory , and also eminently beareth witness to the truth , grace and power of his great work , his holy covenant , and precious ordinances and ministry amongst us , clearing them by his own testimony of all these calumnies , wherewith either through the invention of some men's malice , or the occasion of other mens weakness and sin , they were formerly aspersed , we shall shut up this discourse with this one word of exhortation . great hath been the sin of this land in not believing and obeying the glorious gospell , in not receaving the lord jesus in our hearts , and witnessing his light and grace and glory in our lives and conversations , but in resting on the outward forms and appearances of the true doctrine , worship , discipline and government , without labouring after the power of reformation , and beauty of holiness ( the only grace and blessing of all these enjoyments ) and in perverting and mannaging the possession and profession of all these things unto selfish ends and worldly advantages , o foolish people and unwise , have we thus requited the lord for all these mercies of his gospell , pure ordinances and holy covenants , to corrupt and deprave them from that great end of the glory of his grace and mercy in our salvation , unto the base designs of serving and satifying our own lusts to his dishonour ? and therefore is it that the lord , having often in his mercy corrected and warned us , hath now at length given us over unto this horrid apostacy and defection ; whereby , as the latent malice and hypocrisy of many , and the great fainting and want of zeal in all , have been manifestly discovered ; so the lord is feeding the wicked with their own delusions , and putting the zeal and constancy of all to the test , and in effect ripening this whole land , either for a glorious deliverance from that perverse spirit and generation of antichrist , that hath been long mingled in the midst of us , and even from the dayes of our first reformation , hath retained and continued the old enmity against the lord jesus and his blessed gospell and kingdom ; or else for a totall and final overthrow in utter darkness and desolation . and therefore o scotland , because the lord loved thy fathers , and delighteth not in thy destruction , hath he , after all our fearful backsliding and sinful fainting and departing which testify against us , neither left himself nor us without a witness ; but raised up amongst us his own faithful servants and our brethren , with whom we are all equally and indissolubly engaged in the same righteous cause and covenant , & by the mighty power of his grace , from the pure zeal of his glory , enabled them first to venture and then to lay down their lives for the testimony of his work and covenant , that we may yet at length consider and understand , that these were no more the labour and devices of carnal designs , then that corruption and weakness of flesh & blood could triumph both over it self & death & hell the chief of terrors . o! that men would therefore lay to heart their bonds & engagements unto the lord , repent of their backslidings , and cease from their opposition to his cause & covenant ; at least that such whom the lord hath not abandoned unto that depth of apostacy , whereunto others have made defection , would yet be wise & instructed , repent of their fainting & neutrality in the cause of god , & their connivance or complyance with the declared enemies thereof , & beware of that wicked declaration against the covenant , or any other oath and subscription likely to be the snare and temptation of these times , which either under the pretext of peace and order , or of due obedience unto lawful authority may be wickedly invented and imposed , really for the suppressing of truth , and advancing of this rebellion against the most high god , and the establishing of this antichristian prelatick - tyranny . we have already fully detected the mask and design of such impostures ; he who hath given authority and power unto kings and princes , and rendered the same sacred by his holy sanction and command , as he hath often punished their ingratitude and usurpation against his own soveraignity ; so will he not hold that people guiltless , who , being both his creatures and sworn subjects , either connive at , or comply with such rebellious princes in their wickedness . shall both the law of god , and the very propension of the heart and blood to the love and obedience of parents , cede to the obedience of kings and rulers , for the good and preservation of the common-wealth , and shall not far more all alleagiance & obedience to the same kings & rulers , cede and give place to our obedience to the most high our only soveraign lord , and the conscience of his holy oath and commandments , for advancement of his glory , the great and only end of all things ? fix it therefore in your hearts , first to love and fear the lord our god , and then to honour and obey the king ; and let the sincere and inward love of our lord jesus christ , the dear esteem of his precious gospel , and the remembrance of our most sacred and solemn oaths and covenants , and of that beauty , power and glory of his pure ordinances , ministry and government which we once enjoyed , alwayes dwell in your hearts , and ever determine and establish you to resist and disown all wicked usurpations against the lord and his anointed , all invasions against his crown and prerogative , all corruptions and humane inventions in his pure worship and ordinances , all perversion of the true government and comely order in his house , and al● violations of these indispensible & holy engagements , whereby this whole nation is perpetually joyned unto the lord ; and also ever animat yow to do or suffer for the lords great name and these precious & important concernments , as he requireth ; lest if ye either faint in your mindes , or give up your selves to the delusion of some carnal distinction , quiting the founder for the safer part , against the explicit testimony , or implicit inclination of your own consciences ( which later , if sincerely aiming at the glory of god , and in nothing repugnant to his holy word , is no otherwise to be regarded in times of temptation , then as that promised secret leading of the blind in the way they know not ) you not only lose your crown , but provoke the lord to cause all the churches know by your plagues , that he it is who searcheth the reins & hearts . but unto these few names in scotland that have appeared zealous for god , & have not forgotten his covenant in these declining times , & all these who favour their righteous cause ; the lord ( who liveth & was dead , and is alive for evermore , amen , ) knoweth your works , tribulation & poverty ( but yow are rich ) and also the blasphemy of them which say they are christians & are not , but are the synagogue of antichrist , fear none of these things which yow do or shall suffer , your afflictions are but for triall , and may be short : be faithful unto the death and ye shall have the crown of life . and as ye love god & the father of our lord jesus , who gave his only and eternall delight unto the death for us sinners ; as ye love our lord jesus christ who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood ; as ye love the holy spirit of grace who breatheth all this love into our hearts , and comforteth and sealeth us unto the day of redemption ; as ye love the blessed gospel , in the light whereof all this love is revealed , and god therein mainly glorified ; as ye love the church of god , which he hath purchased with his own blood ; as ye love ( for your own souls and for your posterity ) eternal life ; as ye love poor scotland and it's deliverance from the dreadful and imminent wrath of god ; and as you love the preservation of all interests either spiritual , temporal or eternal , adhere stedfastly to the holy covenants that sacred and firm bond and engagement unto all duties of religion and righteousness , our blessed sealed charter of all the lord's blessings and ordinances , especially of that great ordinance of the ministry and government of the lord's house , which he himself hath appointed the hedge of all other ordinances , and the great and most effectual mean of the gospel's establishment and advancement . for , as it is only the holy zeal of god inspired and animated by the fervent love of our lord jesus , and the fear of the lord 's great name , and the regard of his sacred oath , that can make you of quick understanding in these perillous times , for the discovering of both duties and dangers , and strengthen you with all might , either for doing or suffering , that you may endure unto the end ; so you may be assured , that if the lord's thoughts toward scotland be thoughts of peace and not of evil , to give us an expected end ( as we have great ground and perswasion of hope ) it shall be upon the broken plank of this despised covenant , that this tossed and ship-wrackt church shall be preserved , in midst of all these fluctuations , and at length attain to it's desired haven of peace and truth . yea though this apostacy and persecution should prevail to wear out the saints of the most high , and the lord ( because of the overspreading of abomination ) should determine and bring upon us utter desolation ; yet shall this your faithfulness be your peace , joy and victory . let all therefore that desire to be found faithful , look unto jesus and his joy ; that with him enduring the cross and despising the shame , we may neither faint nor be weary , but in end be partakers of his victory , throne and crown . thus we have seen and declared the great work of god in this land , from the first times of our reformation unto this day ; we have also teen our manifold provocations , whereby we have often turned , tempted and provoked the most high ; and all these judgements , temptations and discoveries , wherewith , by the space of now more then an hundred years , he hath corrected and exercised us ; and we are at length arrived unto , and have considered the present state and posture of our affairs : wherein though . the extremity of apostacy , exceeding all that any age can parallel , and aggreageable by all the circumstances of most clear and glorious manifestations , most solemn and sacred engagements , most sudden and causeless backsliding , and most national daring and violent defection that any church can be charged with . . the extremity of persecution and violence , which , considering either the actors ; ( once ring-leaders , now apostats from the same holy covenant which they persecut ) or the manner , by hostile and military force , without so much as regarding their own lawes which they pretend for warrant ; or the cruelty and excess , whereby mens lives are imbittered , making them prefer death to the slaveries and insolencies which they , sustain , are not to be instanced in any christian church . . the extremity of sin and profanity , and of the enemies boasting and blasphemy , whose mouths are set against the heavens , and all the spite of their tongues and indignation of their hearts , against the holy covenant and tenderness of conscience , over which and all their followers , they wickedly insult and rejoyce . and . the extremity of mens fainting and deserting so good a cause ; which in their hearts they secretly own and approve , but dare not avow , yea are ready to deny for fear of the adversaries , though , we say , these extremities ( undenyably apparent in our present condition ) do sadly denounce unto this land , the worst and most woful of all extremities , even utter forsaking and desolation , and that the end is come ; yet notwithstanding all these hopeless and desperat appearances , it is the lord who causeth light to shine out of darkness , and saith in the evening it shall be light , who saith unto dry bones , live , and calleth his people out of their graves , who even calleth things that are not as though they were , in whom all the seekers of his face ought to rejoyce , and joy in the god of their salvation . therefore , although that over and above all these menacing evils , the power and pride of the enemy should yet more prevail , even many degrees above all the appearances of human hope or help , & all neighbouring nations should not only give them the leisure and conveniency , but with all their might conspire and concurre with our enemies , to intend their persecution & strengthen their apostacy ; yet are the lord 's faithful , not only partakers of that river , the streams whereof make glad the city of god , though surrounded with the siege of of nations , batteries of mountains , and insurrections of the universe against it , and are built on that rock against which the very gates of hell cannot prevail , and do also know that their god whom they fear is able to deliver them from this fiery triall , and he will deliver them from their persecuters ; and if not , that nothing save the design of greater glory to this own name , in a greater mercy and salvation to his people shall impede it : but all that love the lord's salvation have also fair ground of hope , that the lord , as he will pour out his wrath upon his adversaries , so will he remember for scotland his covenant ; awake and give a shout against his enemies ; and that , now when he seeth their wrath , how they behave themselves strangely , and say our hand is high , and the lord hath not done all this , the lord will bring forth for his remnant ( even that holy seed which shall be the substance of this land ) that deliverance which is laid up in store with him , and sealed up amongst his treasures . for unto god belongeth vengeance and recompense , even the vengeance of his broken covenant , of his dear saints blood , and of his polluted sanctuary . the adversaries foot shal slide in due time , for the day of their calamity is at hand , and the things that shall come upon them , make haste . for the lord shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants , when he seeth that our power is gone , and there is none shut up or left : and the lord shall say , see now that i , even i am he , and there is no god with me : i kill and i make alive , i wound and i heal : neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand ; for i lift up my hand to heaven , and say , i live for ever . if i whet my glittering sword , and mine hand take hold on judgement , i will render vengeance to mine enemies , and will reward them that hate me . i will make mine arrows drunk with blood ( and my sword shall devour flesh ) and that with the blood of the slain and the captives , from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy . rejoyce , o ye nations , with his people , for he will avenge the blood of his servants , and will render vengeance to his adversaries , and will be mercifull unto his land and to his people . this is the song which god hath taught us , and therewith we shut up and seal the faith and patience of the saints . and now , having finished the narration intended of the work of god , and having seen and being persuaded that all the degrees and passages of its progress and advancement , were the very vestiges of the lords ascendent power and glory , which he hath also sealed by the salvation of many thousands for our assured confirmation , that as this work is of god , so shall it not come to nought ; but that these antichristian 〈◊〉 who oppose it , though in the same spirit and power of darkness , which hath mainly caused and procured all the sin , temptation and ruine that hath befallen any gospel-church , 〈◊〉 the blessed coming of our lord jesus in the fle●h , they should arise unto , yea surmount the very height of the papacy and antichrist himself , in their persecutions & tyranny ; they shall nevertheless in the end , be found even to fight against god , and perish for ever in their gain-saying . as we do therefore desire to remain stedfast , immoveable , and always abounding in the work of the lord , and every point and circumstance thereof , without fainting or wearying even unto the death . in and over which the lord hath caused his faithful witnesses so gloriously to triumph ; so we do only here subjoyn , for the clear and unanswerable conviction and condemnation of the perfidy and wickedness of these accursed prelates , both before the world and even in their own consciences , if any sense thereof do yet remain : that though we had never seen any of these great and glorious things , whereby the lord since the year . did revive , confirm and magnify his work amongst us , and that the national covenant had net been since retaken much less explained and established , nor the league and covenant ensued it ; yet since the same doth still stand in the plain and simple terms , wherein it was conceaved , and in that sense and meaning , wherein both it 's express words and all the circumstances which we have before observed do plainly evince that it was at first taken ; as this covenant doth remain unto this day ( notwithstanding all the prelats wickedness , perjury and violence ) unrepeal'd or condemned , and by no contrary explanation or gloss , either is or can be detorted , from being an undenyable abjuration of accursed prelacy and all it's corruptions ; so is it a certain , fixed and immoveable foundation for all the work of god that hath ensued , and a very sure ground of confidence to all who seriously perpend , and firmly adhere to it , that the lord who loved us of old , and chosed our fathers , shall yet again by his mighty spirit and power , turn the hearts of the children unto the fathers , and bring us back unto the lord god of our fathers , and upon this same foundation , yet repair our breaches , build up the old wastes , & raise & rear up his glory . finis . the last speeches and testimonies of some who have suffered for the truth in scotland , since the year . the last speech of the marques of argile , at his death in edinburgh , may . . many will expect that i speak many things , and according to their several opinions and dispositions , so will their expectations be from me , and constructions of me ; but i resolve to disappoint many , for i come not hither to justify my self , but the lord , vvho is holy in all his wayes and righteous in all his vvorks , holy and blessed is his name ; neither come i to condemn others : i know many . will expect that i will speak against the hardness of the sentence , pronounced against me ; but i will say nothing to it . i bless the lord , i pardon all men , as i desire to be pardoned of the lord my self : let the will of the lord be done ; that is all that i desire . i hope that ye will have more charity to me now , then yee would have had at an other time , seing i speak before the lord , to whom i must give an account very shortly . i know very well that my words have had but very litle weight with many : and that many have mistaken my words & actings both : many have thought me to be a great enemy to these great works , that have of late , been brought to pass . but do not mistake me , good people : i speak it in the presence of the lord , i entered not upon the work of reformation , with any design of advantage to my self , or prejudice to the king and his government ; as my later will which was written . and thereafter delivered to a friend ( in whose hands it still remaineth ) can show . as for these calumnies that have gone abroad of me , i blesse god , i know them to be no more : and as i go to make a reckoning to my god , i am free as to any of these , concerning the king's person or government . i was real and cordial in my desires to bring the king home , and in my endeavours for him when he was at home , and i had no correspondence with the adversaries army , nor any of them , in the time when his majesty was in scotland ; nor had i any accession to his late majesties horrid and execrable murther , by councel or knowledge of it , or any other manner of way . this is a truth , as i shall answer to my judge . and all the time his majesty was in scotland , i was still endeavouring his advantage ; my conscience beareth me witness in it . so much to that particular . and ( turning about he said ) i hope , gentlemen , you will all remember these . i confess , many look on my condition as a suffering condition : but i bless the lord , that he that hath gone before me , hath trod the wine-press of the father's wrath ; by whose sufferings , i hope that my sufferings shall not be eternal . i bless him that hath taken away the sting of my sufferings : i may say that my charter was sealed to day ; for the lord hath said to me , son , be of good cheer , thy sins are freely forgiven thee : and so i hope my sufferings shall be very easy . and ye know the scripture saith , the captain of our salvation was made perfect by sufferings . i shall not speak much to these things for which i am condemned , lest i seem to condemn others : it 's well known , it 's only for compliance , which was the epidemicall fault of the nation . i wish the lord to pardon them : i say no more . there was an expression in these papers presented by me to the parliament , of the contagion of these times ; which may by some be misconstructed , as if i intended to lay an imputation upon the work of reformation : but i declare that i intended no such thing ; but only related to the corruptions and failings of men , occasioned by the prevailing of the usurping powers . at this he turned and took them all witnesses . now , gentlemen , concerning the nation , i think there are three sorts of people that take up much of the world and of this nation . there is . the openly prophane : and truely i may say , though i have been a prisoner , i have not had mine ears shut ; i hear assuredly , that drinking , swearing , whoring were never more common , never more countenanced then now they are . truly if magistrats were here , i would say to them , if they lay forth their power for glorifying of god , by restraining this , they should fare the better ; if they continue in not restraining , they shall fare the worse . i say no more , but either let people shun prophanity and magistrats restrain it , or assuredly the wrath of god shall follow on it . . others are not openly prophane ( everyone will not allow that ) but yet they are gallio's in the matter : if matters go well as to their private interest , they care not whether the church of god sink or swim . but whatever they think , god hath laid engagements upon scotland : we are tyed by covenants to religion and reformation : these that were then unborn are yet engaged ; and in our baptisme we are engaged to it . and it passeth the power of all the magistrats under heaven to absolve them from the oath or god : they deceave themselves , and it may be would deceave others that think otherwise . but i would caveat this , people will be ready to think this a kind of instigation to rebellion in me ; but they are very far wrong that think religion and loyalty are not well consistent . whoever they be that separate them , religion is not to be blamed , but they. it 's true , it 's the duty of every christian to be loyall ; yet i think the orders of things are to be observed as well as their natures ; the order of religion as well as the nature of it . religion must not be the cock-boat , it must be the ship. god must have what is his , as well as caesar what is his : and these are the best subjects that are the best christians . and that i am looked on as a friend to reformation , is my glory . . there is another sort that are truly godly : and to them i must say what i fear , & every one hath reason to fear ( it's good to fear evil ) it 's true the lord may prevent it ; but if he do not ( and truly i cannot forsee any probability of it ) times are like either to be very sinning or very suffering times : and let christians make their choice : there is a sad dilemma in the business sin or suffer ; and surely , he that would choise the better part will choise to suffer . others that will choise to sin , shall not escape suffering ; they shall suffer , but it may be , not as i do ( turning about and , pointing to the maiden ) but worse : mine is but temporal , theirs shall be eternal ; when i shall be singing , they shall be howling . beware therefore of sin whatever yow are aware of , especially in such times . yet i cannot say of my own condition , but that the lord in his providence hath mind of mercy to me even in this world : for if i had been more favourably dealt with , i fear i might have been overcome with temptations , as many others are , and many more i fear will be ; and so should have gone out of the world , with a more polluted conscience , then through the mercy of god now i have . and hence my condition is such now , as when i am gone , will be seen not to have been such as many imagined . it 's fit god take me away , before i fall into these temptations that i see others are falling into ▪ and many others i fear will fall : i wish the lord may prevent it . yet blessed be his name , that i am keeped both from present evils & evils to come . here he turned about a litle & spoke some words to mr hutchison , when turning again to the people , he spoke as followeth . some may expect i will regrete my own condition : but truly i neither grudge nor repine ; nor desire any revenge . and i declare i do not repent my last going up to london ; for i had alwayes rather have suffered any thing , then ly under reproaches as i did . i desire not that the lord should judge any man ; nor do i judge any but my self : i wish , as the lord hath pardoned me , so he may pardon them for this and other things ; and what they have done to me , may never meet them in their accounts . i have no more to say , but to beg the lord , that when i go away , he would bless every one that stayeth behind . his last words , immediatly before he laid his head on the block after his doublet was off , were these . i desire you , gentlemen , all that hear me this day to take notice ( and i wish that all who see me might hear me ) that now when i am entering into eternity , and am to appear before my judge ; & as i desire salvation and do expect eternall salvation and happiness from him , from my birth to my scaffold , i am free from any accession by my knowledge , concerning counsel or any other way to his late ma. death ; and i pray the lord preserve his present maj. and to pour his best blessings on his person and government ; and the lord give him good and faithful councellors . turn-about to his friends , he said , many christians may stumble at this , and my friends may be discontented ; but when things are rightly considered , my freinds have no discredit of me , nor christians no stumbling block , but rather an encouragement . the last speech and testimony of m r james guthrie , minister of the gospel at sterlin , at his death at edinburgh , jun. . . which a day or two before his death he wrot , and left with some of his friends sealed and attested under his own hand . men and brethren , i fear many of yow become hither to gaze , rather then to be edified by the carriage and last words of a dying man : but if any have an hear to hear , as i hope some of this great confluence have , i desire your audience to a few words . i am come hither to lay down this earthly tabernacle and mortal flesh of mine ; and i bless god , through his grace i do it willingly and not by constraint . i say , i suffer willingly : if i had been so minded , i might have made a diversion , and not been a prisoner ; but being conscious to my self of nothing worthy of death or of bonds , i would not stain my innocency with the suspicion of guiltiness by my withdrawing : neither have i wanted opportunities and advantages to escape since i was prisoner , not by the fault of my keepers ( god knoweth ) but otherwise ; but neither for this had i light or liberty ; left i should reflect upon the lord's name , and offend the generation of the righteous : and if some men have not been mistaken , or dealt deceatfully in telling me so , i might have avoided not only the severity of the sentence , but also had much favor and countenance , by complying with the courses of the time : but i durst not redeem my life with the loss of my integrity ; god knoweth i durst not ; and that since i was prisoner , he hath so holden me by the hand , that he never suffered me to bring it in debate in my inward thoughts , much less to propone or hearken to any overture of that kind . i did judge it better to suffer then to sin ; and therefore i am come hither to lay down my life this day . and i bless god , i die not as a fool ; not that i have any thing wherein to glory in my self : i acknowledge that i am a sinner , yea one of the greatest and vilest that hes owned a profession of religion , and one of the most unworthy that hes preached the gospel ; my corruptions have been strong and many , and have made me a sinner in all things , yea even in following my duty : and therefore righteousness have i none of mine own , all is vile ; but i do beleeve that jesus christ came into the world to save sinners whereof i am chief : through faith in his righteousness and blood have i obtained mercy ; and through him and him alone , have i the hope of a blessed conquest and victory over sin , and sathan , and hell , and death , and that i shall attain unto the resurrection of the just ; and be made partaker of eternal life . i know in whom i have beleeved , and that he is able to keep than which i have committed unto him against that day . i have preached salvation through his name , and as i have preached so do i beleeve , and do commend the riches of his free-grace and faith in his name unto yow all , as the only way whereby ye can be saved . and as i bless the lord that i die not as a fool ; so also that i die not for evil-doing . not a few of yow may happily judge , that i suffer as a thief , or as a murtherer , or as an evil doer , or as an bussy body in other mens matters . it was the lot of the lord jesus christ himself , and hath been of many of his precious servants and people to suffer by the world as evil doers : & as my soul scareth not at it , but desireth to rejoice in being brought into conformity with my blessed head , and so blessed a company in this thing ; so do i desire and pray that i may be to none of yow to day , upon this account a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence : blessed is he that shall not be offended at jesus christ and his poor servants and members , because of their being condemned as evil doers by the world. god is my record , that in these things , for which sentence of death hath passed against me , i have a good conscience : i bless god , they are not matters of complyance with sectaries , or designes or practices against his majest . person or government , or the person or government of his royal father : my heart ( i bless god ) is conscious unto no disloalty ; nay , loyal i have been , and i commend it unto you to be loyal and obedient in the lord. true piety is the foundation of true loyalty : a wicked man may be a flatterer and a time-server , but he will never be a loyal subject . but to return to my purpose , the matters for which i am condemned , are matters belonging to my calling and function as a minister of the gospel , such as the discovery and reproving of sin ; the pressing the holding fast of the oath of god in the covenant , and preserving and carrying on the work of religion and reformation according thereto ; and denying to acknowledge the civil magistrat as the proper competent iudge in causes ecclesiastical : that in all these things which ( god so ordering by his gracious providence ) are the grounds of my inditement and death , i have a good conscience , as having walked therein according to the light and rule of god's word , and as did become a minister of the gospel . i do also bless the lord , that i do not die as one not desired . i know that by not a few i neither have been nor am desired . it hath been my lot to have been a man of contention and sorrow : but it is my comfort , that for my own things i have not contended , but for the things of jesus christ , for what relateth to his interest and work , and the well being of his people . in order to the preserving and promoting of these , i did protest against , and stood in opposition unto these late assemblies at st andrewes , dundee and edinburgh ; and the publick resolutions for bringing the malignant party into the judicatories and armies of this kingdom , conceaving the same contrary to the word of god , and to our solemn covenants and engagements ; and to be an inlet to defection , and to the ruine and destruction of the work of god. and it is now manifest to many consciences , that i have not been therein mistaken ; nor was not fighting against a man of straw . i was also desirous and did use some poor endeavours to have the church of god purged of insufficient and scandalous and corrupt ministers and elders ; for these things i have been mistaken by some , and hated by others : but i bless the lord , as i had the testimony of my own conscience ; so i was and am therein approven , in the consciences of many of the lord 's precious servants and people ; and how little soever i may die desired by some , yet by these i know i do die desired , and their approbation , and prayers , and affection is of more value with me , then the contradiction , or reproach , or hatred of many others ; the love of the one i cannot recompence , and the mistake , or hatred , or reproach of the other ; i do with all my heart forgive ; and wherein i have offended any of them , do beg their mercy and forgiveness . i do from my soul wish that my death may be profitable unto both , that the one may be confirmed and established in the straight wayes of the lord , and that the other ( if the lord so will ) may be convinced , & cease from these things that are not good , & do not edify but destroy . one thing i would warn yow all of , that god is wroth , yea very wroth with scotland , and threatneth to depart and remove his candlestick : the causes of his wrath are many , and would to god it were not one great cause , that causes of wrath are despised and rejected of men . consider the case that is recorded ier. . and the consequence of it , and tremble and fear . i cannot but also say , that there is a great addition and increase of wrath . . by that deludge of prophanity that overfloweth all the land , and hath reins loosed unto it every where , in so far that many have lost not only all use and exercise of religion , but even of morality , and that common civility that is to be found amongst the heathen . . by that horrible treachery and perjury that is in the matter of the covenant , and cause of god , and work of reformation : be astonished , o ye heavens at this , and be horribly afraid , be ye very desolate , saith the lord ; for my people have committed two evils , they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters , & hewed them out cisterns , broken cisterns that can hold no water : shall be break the covenant , and prosper ? shal the throne of iniquity have fellowship with god , which frameth mischief by a law ? i fear the lord be about to bring a sword on these lands , which shall avenge the quarrell of his covenant . . horrible ingratitude : the lord after years oppression & bondage hath broken the yoke of strangers from off our necks ; but what do we render unto him for this goodness ? most of the fruit of our delivery is to work wickedness , and to strengthen our selves to do evill . . a most dreadful idolatry , and sacrificing to the creature : we have changed the glory of the incorruptible god , into the image of a corruptible man , in whom many have placed almost all their salvation and desire , and have turned that which might have been a blessing unto us ( being kept in a due line of subordination under god ) into an idol of jealousy , by preferring it before him . god is also wroth with a generation of carnal , corrupt , time-serving ministers : i know and bear testimony that in the church of scotland , there is a true and faithful ministry : blessed be god , we have yet many who study their duty , and desire to be found faithful to their lord and master ; and i pray you to honor , and reverence , and esteem much of these for their works sake : and i pray them to be encouraged in their lord and master , who is with them to make them as iron-pillars , and brazen walls , and as a strong defenced city in the faithful following of their duty : but oh ! that there were not too many who mind earthly things , and are enemies to the cross of jesus christ , who push with the side and shoulder , who strengthen the hands of evill doers , who make themselves transgressors , by stustudying to build again what they did formerly warrantably destroy , i mean prelacy , and the ceremonies , and the service-book , a mystery of iniquity that works amongst us , whose steps lead unto the house of the great whore , babylon , the mother of fornications : or whosoever else he be that buildeth this jericho again , let him take heed of the curse of hiel the bethelite , and of that flying roll thereatened zech. . and let all ministers take heed that they watch , and be stedfast in the faith , and quit themselves like men , and be strong ; and give faithful and seasonable warning concerning sin and duty . many of the lords people do sadly complain of the fainting and silence of many watchmen ; and it concerneth them to consider what god calleth for at their hands in such a day : silence now in a watchman , when he is so much called to speak , and give his testimony upon the peril of his life , is doubtless a great sin. the lord open the mouths of his servants to speak his word with all boldness , that covenant-breaking may be discovered and reproved , and that the kingdom of jesus christ may not be supplanted , nor the souls of his people destroyed without a witness . i have but a few words moe to adde : all that are profane amongst you , i exhort them to repentance , for the day of the lord's vengeance hasteneth and is near : but there is yet a door of mercy open for you , if ye will not despise the day of salvation . all that are maligners , and reproachers , and persecuters of godliness , and of such as live godly , take heed what ye do , it will be hard for you to kick against the pricks ; you make your selves the butt of the lord's fury , and his flaming indignation , if ye do not cease from and repent of all your ungodly deeds . all that are neutral , and indifferent , and lukewarm professors , be zealous and repent ; lest the lord spew you out of his mouth . you that lament after the lord , and mourn for all the abominations that are done in this city , and in the land , and take pleasure in the stones and dust of zi●n , cast not away your confidence , but be comforted and encouraged in the lord. he will yet appear to your joy , god hath not cast away his people nor work in brittain and ireland : i hope it shall once more revive by the power of his spirit , and take root downward and bear fruit upward . there is yet a holy seed and precious remnant , whom god will preserve and bring forth : but how long or dark , our night may be , i do not know ; the lord shorten it for the sake of his chosen . in the mean while , be ye patient & stedfast , immoveable , alwayes abounding in the work of the lord , & in love one to another : beware of snares which are strawed thick : cleave to the covenant & work of reformation : do not decline the cross of jesus christ ; choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of god , then to enjoy the pleasurs of sin for a season ; and account the reproach of christ greater riches then all the treasure of the world. let my death grieve none of you , it will be more profitable and advantageous both for me , and for you , and for the church of god , and for christs interest and honor , then my life could have been . i forgive all men the guilt of it , and i desire you to do so also : pray for them that persecute you , and bless them that curse you , bless i say , and curse not . i die in the faith of the apostles and primitive christians , & protestant reformed churches , particularly of the church of scotland , whereof i am a member and minister . i bear my witness and testimony to the doctrine , worship , discipline and government of the church of scotland , by kirk-sessions , presbyteries , synods and generall assemblies . popery and prelacy , and all the trumpery of service and ceremonies that wait upon them , i do abhor . i do bear my witness unto the national covanant of scotland , and solemn league and covenant betwixt the three kingdoms of scotland , england and ireland : these sacred , solemn , publick oaths of god , i believe can be loosed nor dispensed with , by no person , or party , or power upon earth : but are still binding upon these kingdoms , and will be for ever hereafter ; and are ratifyed and sealed by the conversion of many thousand souls , since our entering thereinto . i bear my witness to the protestation against the controverted assemblies and the publick resolutions ; to the testimonies given against the sectaries ; against the course of backsliding and defection that is now on foot in the land , and all the branches and parts thereof , under whatsoever name or notion , or acted by whatsoever party or person . and in the last place , i bear my witness to the cross of jesus christ ; and that i never had cause nor have cause this day , to repent because of any thing i have suffered , or can now suffer for his name : i take god to record upon my soul , i would not exchange this scaffold , with the palace or mitre of the greatest prelate in brittain . blessed be god , who hath shewed mercy to such a wretch , and hath revealed his son in me , and made me a minister of the everlasting gospel , and that he hath daigned in the midst of much contradiction from sathan and the world , to seal my ministry upon the hearts of not a few of his people , and especially in the station wherein i was last , i mean the congregation , and presbytery of sterlin . god forgive the poor empty man , that did there intrude upon my labors , and hath made a prey of many poor souls , and exposed others to reproach , and oppression , and a famine of the word of the lord. god forgive the misleaders of that part of the poor people , who tempted them to reject their own pastor , and to admit of intruders ; and the father of mercies , pity that poor misled people : and the lord visit the congregation and presbytery of sterlin once more with faithful pastors ; and grant that the work and people of god may be revived thorow all britain , and over all the world. jesus christ is my light , and my life , my righteousness , my strength and my salvation : he is all my salvation , and all my desire . him , o him i do with all the strength of my soul commend unto you . blessed are they that are not offended in him : blessed are they that trust in him. bless him , o my soul , from henceforth even for ever . rejoyce , rejoice all ye that love him ; be patient and rejoice in tribulation : blessed are you , and blessed shall you be for ever and ever . everlasting righteousness and eternal salvation is yours : all are yours , and ye are christs , and christ is gods. remember me o lord with the favour thow bearest to thy people ; o visit me with thy salvation , that i may see the good of thy chosen , that i may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation , that i may glory with thy inheritance . now let thy servant depart in peace since mine eyes have seen thy salvation . ja. gutrhie . the last speech and testimony of the lord warist n , at his death in edinburgh , july . . right honourable , much honoured , and beloved auditors and spectators . that which i intended and prepared to have spoken at this time & in this condition , immediatly before my death ( if it should be so ordered that it should be my lot ) is not at present in my power , having been taken from me : but i hope the lord shall preserve it to bear my testimony more fully and clearly , then now i can in this condition , having my memory much destroyed , through much sore and long sickness , melancholy , and excessive drawing of my blood. though i bless the lord my god , that notwithstanding of the forementioned distempers , i am in some capacity to leave this short and weak testimony . i desire in the first place to confess my sins , so far as is proper to this place and case , and to acknowledge gods mercies ; and to express my repentance of the one , and my faith of the other , through the merits of the lord jesus christ our gracious redeemer and mediator : i confess that my natural temper ( or rather distemper ) hath been hasty and passionat ; and that in my manner of going about and prosecuting of the best pieces of work and service to the lord and to my generation , i have been subject to my excesses of heat , and thereby to some precipitations ; which hath no doubt offended standers by and lookers on , and hath exposed both me and the work to their mistakes , whereby the beauty of that work hath been obscured : neither have i in following of the lord's work , his good work , been without my own self-seeking ; which hath severall wayes vented is self to the offence of both god and man , and to the grief thereafter of my own conscience , and which hath often made me groan , and cry out with the apostle , o miserable man that i am , who shall deliver me from this body of death ? and to ly low in the dust mourning and lamenting over the same , deprecating god's wrath , and begging his tender mercies to pardon , and his powerful grace to cure all these evils . i must withal confess , that it doth not a litle trouble me , and ly heavy upon my spirit , and will bring me down with sorrow to the grave ( though i was not alone in this offence , but had the body of the nation going before me , and the example of persons of all ranks to insnare me ) that i suffered my self through the power of temptations , and the too much fear anent the straits that my numerous family might be brought into , to be carried unto so great a length of complyance in england with the late usurpers , which did much grieve the hearts of the godly , and made these that sought god ashamed and confounded for my sake , and did give no small occasion to the adversary to reproach and blaspheme , and did withall not a litle obscure and darken the beauty of severall former actings about his blessed and glorious work of reformation , happily begun and far advanced in these lands , wherein he was graciously pleased to employ , and by employing to honour me to be an instrument ( though the least and unworthiest of many ) whereof i am not ashamed this day , but account it my glory , how ever that work be now cried down , opposed , laid in the dust and trod upon : and my turning aside to comply with these men , was the more aggravated in my person , that i had so frequently and seriously made profession of my aversness from and abhorrence of that way , and had shown much dissatisfaction with these that had not gone so great a length ; for which as i seek god's mercy in christ jesus , so i desire that all the lord's people , from my example may be more stirred up to watch and pray , that they enter not into temptation . . i do not deny on the other hand , but must : testify in the second place , to the glory of his free-grace , that the lord my god hath often shewed and engraven upon my conscience , the testimony of his reconciling and reconciled mercy through the merits of jesus christ , pardoning all my iniquities , and assuring me that he would deliver me also by the graces of his holy spirit , from the spait , tyranny and dominion thereof ; and hath often drawn out my spirit to the exercise of repentance and faith , and after engraven upon my heart in legible characters his merciful pardon , and gracious begun cure thereof to be perfected thereafter , to the glory of his name , the salvation of my soul , and edification of his church . . i am pressed in conscience to leave here at my death , my true & honest testimony in the sight of god and man , to and for the nationall covenant : the solemn league & covenant ; the solemn acknowledgement of our sins , & engagement to our duties ; to all the grounds & causes of fasts and humiliations , & of the lords displeasure & contending with the land ; and to the several testimonies given to his interests , by generall assemblies , commissioners of the kirk , presbyteries , and by other honest and faithful ministers and professors . . i am pressed also to encourage his doing , suffering ; witnessing people , and sympathizing ones with these that suffer , that they would continue in the duties of mourning , praying , witnessing and symparthizing with these that suffer ; and humbly to assure them in the name of the lord our god , the god of his own word and work , of his own cause , covenant and people , that he will be seen , found and felt ( in his own gracious way and time , by his own means & instruments , for his own glory & honor ) to return to his own truths and interests and servants , and revive his name , his covenant , his word , his work , his sanctuary and his saints in these nations , even in the three covenanted nations , which were by so solemn bonds , covenants , subscriptions and oaths , given away and devoted unto himself . . i exhort all these that have been , or are enemies or unfreinds to the lord's name , covenant or cause , word , work or people , in britain and ireland , to repent and amend , before these sad judgements that are posting fast come upon them , for their sinning so highly against the lord , because of any temptation of the time on the right or left hand , by baits or straits whatsoever , and that after so many professions and engagements to the contrary . . i dare not conceal from yow that are friendly to all the lord's interests , that the lord ( to the commendation of his grace , be it humbly spoken ) hath severall times , in the exercise of my repentance and faith during my trouble , and after groans and tears upon these three notable chapters , to wit , the of ezra , the of nehemiah , and the of daniel , with other such sutable scriptures , and in the very nick of fervent and humble supplication to him , for the reviving again of his name , cause , covenant , word , and work of reformation in these covenanted nations , and particularly in poor scotland , which first solemnly engaged to him , to the good example and encouragement of his people in the other two nations to do the same also , that the lord , i say , hath several times given to me good ground of hope and lively expectations of his mercifull , gracious , powerful and wonderful renewing and reviving again of his fore-mentioned great interests in these covenanted nations : and that in such a way , by such means and instruments , with such antecedents , concurrents , consequents , and effects , as shall wonderfully rejoyce his mourning friends , and astonish his contradicting and counter-acting enemies . . i do earnestly recommend my poor wife and children and 〈◊〉 posterity , to the choicest blessings of god , an●●o the prayers and favour of all the lord's children an● servants , in their earnest dealing with god and men ●n their behalf , that they may not be ruined for ●y cause , but for the lord my god's sake , they 〈◊〉 be favoured , assisted , supplyed and comforted , 〈◊〉 so may be fitted by the lord for his fellowship and service ; whom god himself hath moved me often , in their own presence , and. with their own consent , to dedicate , devote and resign alike and as well , as i devote and resign my own soul and body to him for all time and eternity . . i beg the lord to open the eyes of all the instruments of my trouble , that are not deadly irreconcileable enemies to himself and his people , that they may see the wrong done by them to his interests and people , and to me and mine , and may repent thereof and return to the lord , and may more cordially own and adhere to all his interests in time coming : the good lord give unto them repentance , remission and amendement ; and that is the worst wish i wish them , and the best wish i can wish unto them . . i do earnestly beg the fervent prayers of all his praying people , servants and instruments , whether absent or present wherever they be , in behalf of his name , cause and covenant , work and people ; and in behalf of my wife , children and their posterity : and that the lord would glorify himself , edify his church , encourage his saints , further his work , accomplish his good word , by all his doings and dealings , in substance and circumstance toward all his own . . whereas i have heard that some of my unfreinds have slandered and defamed my name , as if i had been accessary to his late majestie 's death , and to the making of the change of the government thereupon ; the great god of heaven be witness and judge between me and my accusers in this ; for i am free ( as i shall now answer before his tribunal ) from any accession by counsel or contrivance , or any other way to his late majestie 's death , or to their making that change of government : and i pray the lord to preserve our present king his majesty , and to pour out his best blessings upon his royall posterity , and to give unto them good and faithfull counsellors , holy and wise counsels and prosperous successes , to god's glory and to the good and interest of his people , and to their own honour and happiness . . i do here now submit and commit my soul and body , wife and children and childrens children from generation to generation for ever , with all others his friends and followers , all his doing and suffering , witnessing and sympathizing ones , in the present and subsequent generations , unto the lord's choice mercies , graces , favours , services , employments , impowerments , enjoyments , improvements and inheritments , on earth and in heaven , in time and eternity . all which suits with all others , which he hath at any time by his spirit moved and assisted me to make and put up , according to his will , i leave before and upon the father's mercifull bowels , and the son's mediating merits , and the holy spirit 's compassionate groans , for now and evermore . amen . the joint testimony of these who died together in edinburgh , dec , . . subscribed by them in prison , the same day of their death . men and brethren . this is a great and important work , both for us who are now to render up our spirits to him that gave them ; and for yow who are not a litle concerned in the cause , and in our blood by justifying or condemning our sentence : and therefore , as we speak to yow as dying men , who dare not dissemble with god or man , nor flatter our selves ; so ye should not be idle , curious , or unconcerned spectators . we are condemned by men , and esteemed by many as rebels against the king ( whose authority we acknowledge ) but this is our rejoycing , the testimony of our conscience , that we suffer not as evill doers , but for righteousness , for the word of god , and testimony of jesus christ ; and particularly for our renewing the covenant , and in pursuance thereof , for preserving and defending of our selves by armes , against the usurpation and insupportable tyranny of the prelats ; and against the most unchristian and inhumane oppression and persecution , that ever was enjoyned and practised by just rulers , upon free , innocent and peaceable subjects . the covenant and cause being so just in themselves , and the duties of self-preservation and mutual defence in maintenance thereof , being to judicious and unbyassed men so clear , we need to say the less for vindication of our practice : only , the lawes establishing prelacy , and the acts , orders and proclamations made for complyance therewith , being executed against us by military force and violence ; and we with others , for our simple forbearance , being fined , confined , imprisoned , exiled , scourged , stigmatized , beaten , bound as beasts , and driven unto the mountains for our lives ; and thereby hundreds of families being beggared , several parishes and some whole country-sides exceedingly impoverished ; and all this , either arbitrarily and without any law , or respect had to guilt or innocency ; or unjustly contrary to all conscience , justice and reason , though under the pretence of iniquous laws ; and without regard had to the penalty specifyed in the law : and all remonstrating of grievances ( were they never so just and many ) and petitions for redress , being restrained by laws condemning all former remonstrances and petitions in the like cases ; there was no other remedy left to us , but that last of necessary self-preservation and defence . and this being one of the greatest principles of nature , warranted by the law or god , scriptural instances , and the consent and practices of all reformed churches and christian states abroad , and of our own famous predecessors at home , it cannot in reason or justice , be reputed a crime , nor condemned as rebellion by any humane authority . though we be not the first that have suffered for the cause or god within the land , yet we are among the first that have been legally condemned and put to death expresly for taking the covenant : and we are so far from being ashamed thereof , that we account it our honour to be reckoned worthy to suffer for such a cause ; and cannot but bless the lord , that we have such a cloud of witnesses , in this and other reformed churches , going before us in the same duty for substance , and in suffering therefore . we cannot but regret ( if we could with tears o● blood ) the nationall and authorized backsliding of the land , by perjury and breach of covenant ; the overturning of the work of reformation ; the great desolation of the house of the lord , by smiting of the shepherds and scattering of the flocks ; the intrusion of so many mercenary hirelings into the ministry , who because of apostacy , perjury , ignorance and profanness , can neither be acknowledged as god's mouth to the people in preaching , nor employed as their mouth to him in prayer ; the abounding of popery , superstition , and profanness by unheard-of oaths , blasphemies , uncleannesss and drinking , even in some whose office and place requireth them to be more examplary ; and the shedding of the blood of the saints by the rage of persecution : and therefore we cannot but disown all these abominable laws , courses & practices , & declare our abhorrence of the same , & dissent therefrom ; protesting before angels and men , that we be not interpreted as consenters thereto , and beseeching the hearer of prayer , that we be not involved in the guilt thereof , nor partake of the plagues which follow thereupon . as this land was happy above all nations , for the purity and plenty of the gospel , and for a form of church government more conform to the patern in the scriptures , then in others of the reformed churches ; so we acknowledge his great goodness to us in speciall , that gave us our lines in such pleasant places : for we have such full perswasion of the truth of the reformed religion in the church of scotland , and have felt so much of the power and sweetness thereof , that we do here declare our firm belief and perswasion of , and adherence to the same , in doctrine , worship , discipline and government , according to the nationall covenant , the solemn league and covenant , the confession of faith , catechisms , directory of worship , and propositions for government ; accounting it our honor and happiness to have been born in it , to have lived in communion with it , and now to die ( through grace ) members , witnesses and asserters thereof . and further as christians and as members of the same church and common-wealth ; in the fear and zeal of our god , in love to our brethren , in desire of the perservation of church and kingdom , and for our own exoneration , now when we take our leave of the world , we do seriously and in the bowels of christ , supplicate , warn , exhort and obtest yow all the inhabitants of the kingdom , from the king to , the meanest of the subjects , according to your old principles , professions , promises , declarations , oaths and covenants , faithfully to own , maintain , preserve and defend the said religion ; and after the example of our noble and renowned ancestors to quit your selves like men & christians , in endeavouring by all just means , according to your places and powers , to shake off this heavy yoke of prelacy , which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear , & which is destructive to all our true interests , religious and civill ; as ye would not involve your selves in the guilt and plagues of perjury and breach of covenant ; and as you tender the good of your own names , persons , estates , families and liberties , as well as of your immortal souls ; and as ye would partake of the good of god's chosen , and of our joyes , when ye come so near eternity as we are . we shall say no more , but as we were not afraid to take our lives in our hands , so we are not afraid to lay them down in this cause ; and as we are not ashamed of christ because of his cross , so we would not have you offended in christ nor discouraged because of us : for we bear you record , that we would not exchange lots with our adversaries ; nor redeem our lives , liberties and fortunes , at the price of perjury and breach of covenant . and further we are assured , though this be the da● of iacob's trouble , that yet the lord , when he hath accomplished the triall of his own , and filled up the cup of his adversaries , he will awake for judgement , plead his own cause , avenge the quarrel of his covenant , make inquiry for blood , vindicate his people , break the arm of the wicked , and establish the just ; for to him belongeth judgement and vengeance : and though our eyes shall not see it , yet we believe that the sun of righteousness shall arise with healing under his wings ; & that he will revive his work , repair the breaches , build the old wastes , and raise up the desolations ; yea the lord will judge his people , & repent himself for his servants , when their power is gone , and there is none shut up or left : and therefore , rejoyce , o ye nations , with his people : for he will avenge the blood of his servants , and will render vengeance to his adversaries , and he will be merciful to his land and people . so let thy enemies perish o lord ; but let them that love him , be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might . sic subscribitur . iohn meculloch of barholm . and. arnot . iohn gordon of knockbrex . robert gordon his brother . iohn ross . iohn schields iames hamilton . iohn parker in bosby . christopher strang. gawin hamilton . another testimony which was ▪ also left by such of the former ten persons , as were in the same chamber with thomas paterson merchant in glasgow ; who , being in like manner indited but dying of his wounds before sentence , did communicate the same to his friends , with his assent thereunto . men and brethren , being condemned by our rulers as traitors , lest we should seem to many to suffer as evill doers , in the first place , we bless and praise the lord our god , who hath made us ( the unworthiest of all men ) worthy to be faithfull to him , who is king of kings and lord of lords , and in simplicity and godly sincerity , singly to mind his glory ; and who also maketh the cross of christ ( though by men superscribed with treason ) our sweet consolation , and his own joy our strength . . we declare in the presence of the same god , before whom we are now ready to appear , that we did not intend to rebell against the king and his just authority , whom as we acknowledg for our lawful soveraign ; so we do earnestly pray in his behalf , that god would open his eyes and convert his heart , that he may remember his vowes made unto god , relieve this oppressed kirk , and long reign and flourish in righteousness . . we declare , that perceaving the holy covenants of our god broken , the work of the lord overturned , the gospel and kingdome of jesus christ despised and trampled upon , his pure ordinances corrupted , his faithful and our soul-refreshing ministers cast out , and the land filled with perjury and profanity , and like to be hurried back to that gulf of ignorance , superstition and confusion , whence the lord did so gloriously deliver us ; and finding our selves not only spoiled of our most precious blessings , and most dear enjoyments , but urged and compelled by cruel violence and barbarous persecution to wicked apostacy from our holy covenants , and to rebellion against our god ; and all this done by no other hand then the wicked and perjured prelats ; and for no other ends ( whatever they may pretend ) then the satisfying of their own vile lusts , and establishing their so often abjured antichristian tyranny , over both souls and bodies of men ; and lastly finding former petitions condemned as seditious , and our private complaints ( when but muttered ) insolently rejected , we did in the fear and zeal of our god , and by the warrant of his holy word , according to the first and most innocent instinct of pure nature , and the practice of all people and persons in the like case ; and after the example of all the oppressed kirks of jesus christ , and of our noble ancestors , take the sword of necessary self-defence , from the rage and fury of these wicked & violent men ▪ until we might make our heavy grievances known to his majesty , and obtain from his justice a satisfying remedy . we will not now mention our particular sufferings , nor the sighes and groans of poor wasted galloway , which though very heavy from the hand of man , are all to light for jesus christ ; nor are we willing to reflect upon these grievous and bitter lawes and edicts , by which they seem to be warranted : only we know that god is righteous , whose lawes and judgments are superior and above all the lawes and actions of men . and to him who will judge righteously , we intirly commit our cause , which is none other , then the reviving of the work of god and renewing of his covenant : which though it pleased the holy and wise god , not to favour with success in the field , and though by men it be made our condemnation , yet it is our righteousness ) innocency and confidence in his sight . and all praise and thanks be unto our god , who not only kept us stedfast in his covenant , and made us willing and ready to adventure our lives for his name ; but hath also accepted and dignifyed our offer , with this publick appearance : where , in his own glorious presence before whom we shall instantly appear , and before our often sworn and once zealous and tender brethren in the same cause , and in midst of thee o edinburgh , once famous for the glory and zeal of god and of this covenant , we may give and seal this our testimony with our blood . we therefore the unworthiest of all the faithful , do in the spirit of god and glory , testify and seal with our blood and lives , that both the national covenant and solemne league and covenant are in themselves holy , just , and true , and perpetually binding , containing no other thing , then our indispensable obligations to all duties of religion and righteousness , according to the revealed will of god , which no authority nor power of man , is or ever shall be able to disannul ; and that our blessed reformations both from popery and prelacy , and all that was done or ensued , in the sincere and upright prosecution thereof , was and is the work of god , which though men fight against , yet shall they never be able to prevail : and as this is our faith , so it is our hope to all that wait for the salvation of god , that our god will surely appear for his own glory , and vindicate his cause and persecuted people , and render vengeance to his adversaries even the vengeance of his holy temple and broken covenent . o be not then moved with our sufferings with are but light and momentany , for they work for us a far more , execeding and eternal weight of glory , and for you also a strong confirmation and abounding consolation , against the like trial that possibly may befal you . o then save your selves from this wicked and apostat generation , and be ye stedfast , unmoveable , alwayes abounding in the work and cause of the lord ; waiting for the appearance of our lord jesus christ , which in his times he shall shew , who only hath immortality , dwelling in the light which no man can approach , whom no man hath seen , or can see , to whom be honour and power everlasting . amen . the testimony of capt. andrew arnot , one of the former ten who died . decem. . dear friends and spectators , i am brought by the good providence of god to this publick place of execution ( which is no dishonour ) for points of treason , as is alleadged ; but god knoweth ( who knoweth the secrets of hearts ) whether in rebellion or not , i cam forth : he is my witness & wil be my judge . and whoever they be that any way have been instrumentall or incensed against me to procure this sentence against me , god forgive them , & i forgive them . i am not now purposed to disput the matter of my being in company with these worthy christians who are now defeat and broken , their blood shed , and they despitfully mocked by many : i acknowledge and declare that i was with them . as to the cause of my being with them , whither in rebellion or not god knoweth , and all israel shall know . and for me , i say the cause is the lords , who made the heaven and the earth , though now it be hated . and i desire to bear witness ( with the rest of the worthy witnesses , who are gone before and are now staged ) to that glorious work of reformation in britain and ireland , and to gospel-ordinances in their purity , as they have been taught and administrated these years last by past , and i adhere to the presbyterial way of doctrin , worship , discipline , and government , by general assemblies , synods , presbyteries , and sessions , according to the patern of the holy scriptures ( jesus christ himself being the head corner-stone ) the confession of faith , cathechismes shorter and larger , directory for worship , national covenant , solemne league & covenant , & every paper tending to the good of the true religion . and this i think fit to testify & declare under my hand ( not knowing if i shall have any liberty to speak , ) & intend , god willing , to seal with my blood shortly . i confess that unexpectedly i am come to this place , ( though some times i have had some small thoughts of it ) and i do account my self highly honoured to be reckoned amongst the witnesses of jesus christ , to suffer for his name , truth and cause ; and this day i esteem it my glory , garland , crown & royall dignity to fill up a part of his sufferings . and now i take my leave of you all my dear and worthy friends and acquaintances . the blessings of the eternall god be multiplied upon yow and your seed , and upon all the suffering friends of christ this day ; upon my dear and loving wife , who hath been a faithful sympathizer with me , and upon my dear children . the work of god is now at under , but christ shall carry the day : blessed is he that believeth and seeth not , for there shall be a performance . now the eternall god , who brought again the lord jesus christ from the dead , the great sheepherd of the flock , strengthen and establish you and all the lord's people . so pray ye and so prayeth your friend . andrew arnot . the testimony of john shields , yeoman one of the former ten who died at edinburgh the day of decemb. . i am a man unlearned and not accustomed to speak in publick , yet being now called to witness and suffer for the lord in publick , i cannot be altogether silent of that which religion and reason hath taught me anent the cause of my suffering . i bless the lord , i suffer not as an evil doer , especially not for any rebellion against his majesties lawful authority ; i attest him who is the searcher of hearts , that was never my intention in the least , and it is as litle the nature and intention of what i have done ; but for renewing of the covenant with the lord , and following the ends thereof , as to the suppressing of abjured prelats , and intruders upon the lords flock , and the restoring of the government of the house of god by presbyteries as he himself hath appointed in his word , with a faithful , godly , called , and sent ministery ; and together with pure ordinances , the power of godliness . for this i am condemned and to suffer this day . this i acknowledged freely before our judges ; this i still acknowledg , and am persuaded that herein i witness a faithful confession . this cause and covenant i commend to all the lord's people . it is not free for you to forsake if ; you are inviolably ingaged in it ; it is not safe to desert it , because of the curse of the perjurer and false swearer . there is unspeakable blessedness in the pursuance of it , whereof i can bear witness to the lord by my rich experience , since we began to do and suffer at this time for him : whereupon i cheerfully lay doun my life for this his cause ; he it is who justifieth it , what man or authority under heaven can condemn it ? arise o lord , let not man prevaill against thee ; plead and iudg this cause which is thine own , for thine own names sake . the testimony of another of the former ten persons left subscribed with a friend . i designed no rebellion against lawful authority , but the suppressing of prelacy and of profanity ; and advancing of holiness in gods world : in a word , i adhere to all the articles of the good covenant , and did intend the restoring of our good and soul-refreshing ministers , and the casting out of the dumb greedy dogs that cannot bark . in this cause i was a free voluntier pressed by none , thinking it my duty to appear for helping the lord against the mighty . this i testify under my hand from the tolbooth of edinburgh , the of december , . the testimony of m r alexander robertson , preacher of the gospel , and probationer for the ministry , who died at edinburgh , decemb. . . fearing that after the example of others , i should not be permitted to speak openly to the people , i thought fit ( beside my adherence to what my brethren , who have gone before me , left behind them concerning our common cause ) to leave a word in writ for satisfaction of them who survive me . that , for preservation & defence of the true religion of this church , and for the relief of my poor brethren afflicted & persecuted therefore , i joyned with others in armes , & that i renewed the covenant , that all men might the better know my cause and principles , i am so far from denying or being ashamed of , that i both acknowledge and avow it as my duty ; but let no man that will not condemn himself upon the same common obligations to do what i did , account me a rebell therefore , because with the same breath that i did swear , and with that same hand that i did subscribe to preserve and defend religion , i did also swear to defend the king and his authority . our church was not more glorious in her self & terrible to her adversaries , while we enjoyed pure ordinances of word and sacraments , and her beautiful assemblies for government and discipline , of the lords own institution , then she became of late deformed by the usurpation and tyranny of prelacy ; and i do solemnly declare as a dying man , who dare not dissemble , that as i thought and still averre that the erecting of this abjured prelacy is the cause of much of the sin in the land , and of all the sufferings of the lords people therein : so i had no worse design , then the restoring of the work of reformation according to the covenant , and more particularly the extirpation of prelacy , to which his ma : and all the subjects are as , much obliged as i. and let that be removed and the work of reformation restored , and i dar● die in saying , that his ma : shall not have in all his dominions , more loving , loyall , peaceable and faithfull subjects , then these who for their non-complyance are loaded with the reproaches of phanaticisme and rebellion . the sufferings and insupportable oppression of these that could not because of the command and oath of god , acknowledge & comply with prelacy , may seem light to some in whom the spirit of the old enmity that is betwixt the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent remaineth , and to others ( perhaps their friends ) who look thereupon at adistance ; but as there is just reason to think that if these rigid oppressions had been made known to his ma : his justice and clemency would have provided a remedy , and as the half thereof would have made the prelats , their patrons and adherents impatiently mad , for as loyal as they pretend to be ; so in the like cases of irresistible necessity , when there is little open door for representing of grievances and desires , and less hope of relief thereby , i suppose it will not be found condemned by the confessions of reformed churches , or doctrine of sound divines , but that it is authorized by the light and law of nature , by uncondemned examples in the holy scripture , and by the practice of all christian states , by armes to preserve and defend men lives , their religion , liberties and fortunes ; and especially , where they are not seeking to acquire a new religion or new liberties , but only to preserve their old or recover them , when they are violently & unjustly spoiled of the same , as in our case ; otherwise we should sin against the generation of the just , and condemn , as rebellious , the most of the through reformations of the reformed churches abroad , and of our own at home . if this course was lawfull , and if it was our duty to joyn therein , as i believe and lay down my life in the perswasion that it was ; and if all the kingdom was ( as they are ) bound by covenant to assist and defend one another in the ●ommon cause of religion and liberty , whatever may be said of these that came not forth to help the lord against the mighty , it cannot but be their dreadful sin , who joyned themselves in armes , or took oaths to oppose , suppress and break it , seing they have sided themselves against the lord and his work , and their carriage is a much higher degree of accession to the blood that is shed , then paul's keeping of the clothes of them that stoned stephen to death ; and i wish that they may lay the matter to heart and repent of it , that god may forgive them , as i forgive all men , and particularly mor●on who did apprehend me . i know that there is a holy seed in the land , who shall be the substance thereof , and i pray that the lord may make them more zealous and valiant for the truth upon earth ; i know also that there are many , whose bowells of compassion have been drawn forth toward these who took their lives in their hands , by prayers to god for them and charity to them , and especially in edinburgh toward the poor prisoners ( of whom i may not only say , that what they have done deserveth to be told for a memorial wherever the gospel is preached , but am assuredly confident , that besides the blessings of the poor and persecuted , the lord is not unrighteous to forget their work and labor of love , which they have shewed towards his name , in that they have ministred to the saints & do minister ) and yet i must needs regret , that so many in this city once famous and honoured for harmonious owning of the cause and covenant of god , and blessed above many other cities with solemn assemblies for worship and government , should have been ensnared into an oath so contradictory to the oath of the covenant ; & which was devised , contrived and imposed in lieu of the declaration against the same . and for a grave-stone to suppress the revival of the work of god within this land. the apostacy of this land is very great by perjury and breach of covenant , and so much the worse and more aggreageble , that it is authorized and very universal : and as i cannot but regret that so many are insnared therein , so i must needs warne all to abhorre and beware of all declarations and oaths contradictory to the covenant and renunciatory thereof , as they would not involve themselves in the guilt and plagues denounced against , and ordinarily inflicted upon perjury and breach of covenant ; and so much the rather , because this is like to be the shibboleth and triall of the times . as for my self , i have seen and do find so much worth in truth , which is to be bought at any rate but sold at none , and so much transcendent excellency and amiableness in christ , that not only with cheerfulness & confidence i lay down my life for him and his truth , committing my soul to him to be kept in hope of a joyfull resurrection of the body ; but also bless him that gave me a life to lose , and a body to lay down for him ; and although the merket and price of truth may appear to many very high , yet i reckon it low , and all that i have or can do , little and too little for him who gave himself for me and to me ; for i account all things but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of jesus christ my lord , for whom i now suffer the loss of all things , that i may win him , and be found in him , and that i may not only know the fellowship of his sufferings , but the power of his resurrection , and attain unto the resurrection of the dead . and as for yow , my dear friends , as i pray for you , that the god of all grace , who hath called us unto his eternall glory by christ jesus , after ye have suffered a while , may make yow perfect , stablish , strengthen and settle yow ; so i recommend to you the same truth , that you be not soon shaken in mind , but that ye hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering ; and as you have receaved the lord , so walk in him ; warning and obtesting you by all manner of obligations , and by the hope and joy of that crown which i wait for , that ye keep your selves unspotted with the abominable courses and practices of these times , whereunto ye may be tempted by the extremity of suffering ; and particularly that ye beware of unlawfull oaths and declarations against the cause and covenant of god , that ye have no complyance with , nor give consent unto this prelacy , which ye have abjured ; and that you be afraid and aware of popery , which by connivance doth so visibly abound and dayly increase ; but by fighting the good fight and keeping of the faith , you may finish your course , as i do , in the assurance of the crown of righteousness , which the lord the righteous judge , hath laid up and shall give unto me , and not to me only , but to all them that love his appearance . alexander robertson . the testimony of john nilson , of corsack who died at edinburgh . dec. . . being made a spectacle to the world , to angels , and to men , i found it necessary , for vindication of the truth & of my self , for undeceaving of some , & encouraging of others , to leave this line behind me , which with my innocent blood may speak when i am gone . i am condemned ( i shall not say how unjustly ) as a rebell against man , but the lord god of gods he knoweth , & all israel shall know that it is not for rebellion against god , but for endeavouring to recover the blessed work of reformation , and particularly for endeavouring to extirpate prelacy , which hath been the cause of so much sin and suffering within this land , and for renewing of the covenant , from the obligation whereof ( seing i made my vow and promise to the lord ) neither i my self , nor any humane authority can absolve me . and if any account this rebellion , i do plainly confess , that after the way which they call heresy , i worship the god of my fathers . although the insupportable oppression , under which i and many others did groan , were enough to justify our preserving and defending of our selves by armes , yet know that the cause was not ours but the lord's ; for we suffered all our grievous oppressions not for evill-doing , but because we could not in conscience acknowledge , comply with and obey prelacy , and submit unto the ministery of ignorant , light and profane men , who were irregularly and violently thurst upon us ; neither did we only or mainly designe our civil liberties , but the liberty of the gospel , the extirpation of prelacy , the restauration of our faithful pastors , the suppression of profanity , promoving of piety , the saving of ourselves from unjust violence , untill we had presented our grievances and desires ; and in a word , the recovering of the once glorious , but now ruined work of reformation , in doctrine , worship , discipline and government , according to the nationall covenant and solemn league and covenant , to which i declare my adherence , and through grace shall seal the same with my blood . my advocate drew up a supplication for me , wherein was acknowledged that i had been with the rebels ; but let none offend thereat : for ● do hereby declare , that i was so far from accounting that course rebellion , that i judged and still do judge it was my duty to joyn therein , and my honor to suffer therefore ; otherwise , i should have counted my self accessary to the blood of the lord's people which is shed ? and cannot but regret that others of the lord's people , when they heard of us , did not come forth with speed to help the lord against the mighty ; much more let all mourn , that not only many have appeared as enemies , but also conjured themselves against the lord , & the same covenant which they so solemnly sware ; and as for the petition it self , i knew not that expression was in it . being conscious to my self of so much weakness , & so many hainous sins which predomine in me , & of unfruitfulness under the gospel and unsutable walking thereto , i confess my self the vilest of sinners , and desire to mourn for the same , and pray that the lord for christ's sake may freely forgive me , as i have forgiven them that have wronged me , and hope through the righteousness of jesus christ to obtain the same ; and i do exhort all and every one of my friends to more holiness , prayer and stedfastness , alwayes abounding in the work of the lord ; and above all things , to detest & shun that wicked declaration against the covenant , the apparant temptation of the time , and the very mark of antichristian prelacy . all that i have is but little , but if i had many worlds , i would lay them all down , as now i do my life for christ and his cause , nothing doubting but the lord will abundantly provide for my wife and my six children , whom i commit to the lord's care , and recommend to the kindness and prayers of the faithful ; and do lay an express charge on my wife that she shew all my children , that i have bound them all to the covenant , for which now i lay down my life , and that she lay it upon them as my last command , that they adhere to every article thereof . the work and people of god are brought very low : it may be , because they were not ripe for a deliverance ; and for the greater triall , and filling up of the cup of the adversaries ; or , because there was litle , or less prayer then should have been amongst these who appeared at this time , that the lord hath made this late breach . but , dear friends , be not therefore tempted to call in question the work of reformation ; or to think the worse of christ and his cause , because of sufferings ; nor be discouraged because these few who took their lives in their hands , fell before the adversary ; for as sufferings are often sweetned by the spirit of god and glory that resteth upon the sufferers , and afterward bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby ; so the lord will arise in due time , and have mercy upon zion , and plead the cause which is his own : and this testimony , as i am this day to seal with my blood , so i subscribe with my hand . john nilson of corsack . the testimony of george crawford , yeoman who died at edinburgh , decemb. . seing i am to die after this manner , i lay before yow this testimony , which i avow before god , and leave behind me to the world. that which moved me to come along with these men , was their persuasion , and my desire to help them ( which with a safe conscience i could not well refuse ) who , being tyrannically opprest by the prelats and their dependants and upholders , and seing no other way was left to be taken , took up armes for their own defence ; and if this be rebellion , i leave it to the great god the supream judge to decern : for in my weak judgement , i found it warrantable from the word of god , and without prejudice of the king's authority ( whom i pray god to direct and guide in the right wayes of the lord , and to make him prosper therein , so that he may be surely set in his kingdom , having him whom no enemy can resist to defend him ) seeing there was nothing intended by us , against his or any others just and lawful authority . but that which was my principall and chief design , was giving my poor assistance to the rooting out of prelats & prelacy , and all such as are come into god's vine-yard without the master's commission , these hirelings who came not in at the true door , iesus christ , but have climbed up some other way as thieves and robbers , whose voice the sheep know not ( all which is too sadly confirmed by the dreadfull and horrid sins that are risen in the land , and the curses and plagues that have followed thereupon ) that so by taking away these , the abuses which proceed from them , and the sad consequences which follow their standing falling with them , the covenant of god might be re-established , and true pastors that were silenced might be set at liberty , their mouths opened , and they themselves put to the keeping of their flocks , and all other such persons , who were banished , or any other vvay under suffering , relieved . and i do adhere to the vvay of church-government svvorn to in the covenant , vvhich i think and assert to be conform to god's word ; vvhich , vvith his spirit directing , is the only patern and judge in all controversies : and hovvever our endeavours at this time have not been successful , it is of the lord , vvho vvill come in his own time , for he can do as well with few as vvith many ; but it is like the cup of the adversaries is not full : and who knoweth , but the lord god of hosts vvill hiss for the bee of egypt and the fly of assyria , vvho vvill be more cruel and blood-thirsty then vve vvere , to avenge the quarrel of his ovvn people , and to make vvay for the establishing of his ovvn cause . i say no more , but as i vvas vvilling to hazard my life for this cause , so i am ready to lay it down at my master's feet , seing he calls for it : and i pray the almighty , to send his spirit of consolation promised by his son to his ovvn people , to strengthen them and bear them through , till the appointed time of the lord 's coming with deliverance ; for he will come for his own cause , and for his peoples sake , and will not tarry . the last speech and testimony of m r hew m c kaile . preacher of the gospel and probationer for the ministry , at his death in edinburgh , decemb. . . being by a great surprisal of providence , thus staged before the world , in a matter of so universall concernment to all that fear god and desire to be stedfast in his covenant , i could not forbear to leave behind me this standing testimony , concerning the occasion and uses thereof , for the glory of god , for the vindication of my profession from the aspersions cast thereon by men , and the edification of these by my death , to whom i had devoted my life in the work of the ministery . i have esteemed the government of this church by presbytery , to be among the chief of the ordinances of jesus christ , which by his blood he hes purchased , and ascended up on high to bestovv as a gift upon it ; as being the very gospell-ministery in it's simplicity and purity from the inventions of men , and so the mean by which other ordinances are administred , and the most fundamental truths made effectual in the hearts of his people , and therefore that it ought with that same carefulness to be contended for . experience both of the having and wanting of it , hath given it this epistle of commendation , so as it may be both known and read of all men : which is also true of the solemne engagements of the nation thereto , by the nationall covenant , and solemn league and covenant , which i have esteemed in their rise & renewing , pregnant performances of that promise , isaiah . . . where it is evident , that where church reformations come to any maturity , they arrive at this degree of saying i am the lords & subscribing with the hand unto the lord. so was it in the dayes of the reforming kings of iudah , and after the restauration from the captivity in the dayes of nehemiah : this same promise did the lord jesus make yea & amen to us , when he redeemed us from spirituall babilon , which is so much the greater evidence , that these were the very motions of gods spirit in our first reformers , that they were expressly designed against the greatest motions of the spirit of darkness in antichrist and his supposts , and against the greatest confirmations that ever these abominations attained by the decrees of the council of trent , and that bloody bond called , the holy league . and therefore whatever indignity is done unto these covenants , i do esteeme to be no less then doing despite unto the spirit of grace in his most eminent exerting of himself ; but especially declaring against the same as flowing from a spirit of sedition and rebellion , to be a sin of the same nature with theirs , who ascribed christ his casting out of devils to beelzebub ; and that with this aggravation , that these scribes and pharisees came never the length of prefessing christ , and submiting themselves to him and his wayes . bu● we are condemned to death upon the account of this covenant , for adhereing to the dueties therein sworn to , by such as once did as much themselves as we have done , and some of them more then some of us : which considerations have moved me to great feares of gods wrath against the land , according to the curse that we are bound under , if we should break that covenant , & in the fear of it many times to pour out my soul before the lord ; & as soon as i heard of a party up in armes in behalf of the covenant ; ( all other door being shut , whereby the redress of the manifest violations of it might be obtained , and these by manifest & unheard of violence obtruded upon others ) to go along with them , being bound by that covenant against detestable indifferency and neutrality in this matter , & to esteem every injury done to any ingaged in this covenant upon account of it , as done to my self : very conscience of duty urged me to this against some reluctancy of fear of what might follow . upon the same reasons at lanrik , with the rest i declared my adherence to the covenant , by my lifting up of my hand , after the articles thereof were read . and here i cannot but with greef of heart acknowledg my fainting in a day of trial , that being ingaged with them upon such accounts , i many times in fear designed to withdraw , and at length did , which as it was the occasion of my falling into the hands of the enemy , so i think among other things it was the cause why god delivered me into their hands . upon the same fear , in all my examinations i have denied my ingagement with them , and endeavoured to vindicate my self by asserting the real designes i had to part from them , and have utterly cast away the glory of a testimony , which my very being in their company as a favourer of the ends of the covenant , and as one willing to contribute my best endeavours for the promoving of them , but especially my declaring for the covenant , did bear unto the truth and ordinances of jesus christ against this untoward generation : this i confesse to be no less then a denying of jesus christ , and a being ashamed of his words before men ; but i hope the lord who remembreth that we are but frail dust , shall not lay it to my charg , but according to his faithfulness and grace will forgive me , who by this publick confession , take to my self shame and confusion of face , and fly to the propitiation offered to all sinners in jesus christ . and these things as they have procured this death unto me , as an act of gods justice ; so they mind me of other evils in mine own heart , that have been the source of this my unwillingness to take on christ's cross : my heart hath not studied to maintaine that spirituality in walking with god and edifying exemplariness with others , that became one that had receaved the first fruits of the spirit and aimed at the ministery of the gospel , living in times of so much calamity for the church of god , and particular afflictions as to my self . if i had spent my dayes in groaning after my house from heaven , would i have shifted so fair an occasion of being cloathed with it ? alas that i have loved my lord and master jesus christ so litle ! alas that i have done so litle service to him , that i have so litle labour to follow me to my everlasting rest . this i speak to these especially , with whom i have familiarly conversed in my pilgrimage , that seing the lord will not grant me life to testify my real reformation of these things , my aknowledgement at death may have influence upon them , to study not only godliness but the power of it . as i acknowledg that i have not been free and ingenuous in these particulars formentioned , so in other things , wherein i interponed that holy name of god , as to the not being upon the contrivance of this riseing in armes , nor privy to any resolution thereanent , nor conscious of any intelligence at home or abroad concerning it , i was most ingenuous : and they have wronged me much , who said that i denied upon oath , that which they were able to make out against me , or knew to be truth ; but non alleage perjury against me , but such as are so manifestly guilty of it before the world , that their tougnes in such alleagances are no slander . although i be judged and condemned as a rebell amongst men , yet i hope even in order to this action to be accepted as loyal before god. nay there can be no greater act of loyalty to the king , as the times now go , then for every man to do his utmost for the exstirpation of that abominable plant of prelacy , which is the bane of the throne and of the countrey : which if it be not done , the throne shall never be established in righteousness , until these wicked be removed from before it . sure i ame these who are now comdemned as rebels against him by them , are such as have spent much time in prayer for him , and do more sincerely wish his standing , and have endeavoured it more by this late action so much condemned , then the prelates by condemning them to death . this disaster hath heightened greatly the afflictions of our chuch , and ought to teach all of you to drink the wine of astonishment : ye have not known tribulation till now : now we judg them happy that are fallen asleep and removed far away , and know that god hath been taking away his servants from the evils that were to come . know that god's designe is to make many hearts contrite , that have been formerly too whole , and have not lamented sufficiently the removeall of his ordinances and ministery , and the reproach rubed upon the work of reformation . beware that your sorrow be not a momentany motion of commoun compassion , that evanisheth when it may be there is some intermission in this violent course of sheding innocent blood : labour to have a constant impression that may sacrifice the heart , nay ye vvould live much in apprehension of approaching judgment . certainly the withdrawing of many from us , and not contributing their help to the great work , they were ingaged to , as well as we , the generall riseing against us in many places of the countrey , but above all this open sheding of the blood of the saints , which involveth the land in the guiltiness of all the righteous blood shed from the foundation of the world , have made scotland fit fuell for the fire of gods wrath. i can say nothing concerning times to come , but this , all things shall work together for good to them that love god , and so this present dispensation ; and they shall have most comfort in this promise , who are most willing that such afflictions as we are brought to , be the way that god choiseth to work their good . commit wholly the management of all maters to god , and make it your intire study night and day to keep your very garments clean : it is hard in times of so generall corruptions not to be defiled one way or other ; be free of the sin as you would be of the judgments , which will certainly be such as will make all the churches know , that god is the searcher of the hearts and trier of the reins , revel . . . and so will not be mocked by these pretences whereby , men colour their going along in an evill course , from the real love that they have to a present world . if naked presence amongst them who are esteemed rebels by men , be sufficient to engage them in the crime and punishment ( for that is all the ground of my condemnation ) shall not god be much more zealous of his own glory , against all who so much as seem to go along with this course of backsliding . as a good mean and encouragement , to all the duties of our time , labour to be rooted and grounded in the love of jesus christ ; this will be tender of any thing that may have the least reflexion upon him , his words or works , and will prompt the soul to zealous appearing for him at the greatest hazard , and to as much willingness to die for him , as to live that they may glorify him. and for the encouragement of yow all in this matter ▪ i do declare , that ever since the day of my coming into prison , god hath keeped my soul free from all amazement or fear of death ; that since my inditement and sentence , god hath so manifested himself at several times , that he hath lifted up my soul above prelats , principalities , & powers , death & hell , to rejoice & be glad in his salvation ; and from my soul to account him worthy , for whom in this his cause i should undergo the greatest shame or paine ; and to assured hopes of eternal communion with him in heaven : and that nothing hath more brangled my peace , then shifting , an open and free testimony before my examinators , to the work that i was ingaged in . i do freely pardon all that have accession to my blood , and wish that it be not laid to the charg of this sinful land , but that god would grant repentance to our rulers , that they may obtaine the same reconciliation with him , whereof i myself do partake . truely i beleeve many of them if not instigated by the cruel prelats ( at whose door our blood doth principally lie ) would have used more mitigation : but that reluctancy of mind to shed blood , will be so far from vindicating of them , that upon the contrary , it will be a witness against them in the day of the lord. i heartily submit my self to death , as that which god hath appointed to all men because of sin , and to this particular way of it , as deserved by my particular sins . i praise god for this fatherly chastisement , whereby he hath made me in part and will make me perfectly partaker of his holiness . i glorify him that called me forth to suffer for his name and ordinances , and the solemne engagements of the land to him , and that he hath taken this way to take me away from the evill to come . the lord bless all his poor afflicted groaning people that are behind . hereafter i will not talk with flesh and blood , nor think on the worlds consolations : farewel all my friends whose company hath been refreshful to me in my pilgrimage ; i have done with the light of the sun and moon , welcome eternal life , everlasting love , everlasting praise , everlasting glory . praise to him that sits upon the throne , and to the lamb for ever . though i have not been so with thee as i ought to have been in the house of my pilgrimage , yet thow hast made with me an everlasting covenant , ordered in all things and sure. and this is all my salvation , and all my desire . bless the lord o my soul ! that hath pardoned all my iniquities in the blood of his son , and healed all my deseases . bless him o all ye his angels that excel in strength , ye ministers that do his pleasure . bless the lord o my soul ! halelujah . edinburgh tolbooth , december . . sic subscribitur hew m c kail. i have heard that some of the prisoners are willing to save their lives by taking the declaration , that is , by abjuring that work and cause for which they adventured their lives : which if they do , our blood shall bear witness against them in the great day of god. and god shall so punish some of them in this life , that they shall curse the day that ever they shifted to dy on a scaffold . hew m c kail. the testimony of john wodrow , merchant in glasgow , who died in edinburgh , decemb. . . dear friends . i am condemned to die i shall say little concerning men who have judged and condemned me , they are to answer to god for it ; but i bless the lord , who hath counted me worthy to die for so good and honourable a cause . and that i be not mistaken after i am gone hence , i have thought fit to testify that in singleness and sincerity of heart , i came into the service , not constrained but from conscience of my being engaged by covenant to god , and with a full purpose to perform my vows made in that covenant unto the lord , in the strength of jesus christ ; and that i might endeavour to restore again the precious ordinances to their former purity & power , and to recover the fair church in this land ( which our blessed lord hath purchased to himself , and bought at so dear a rate ) to her former beauty , which is now defaced : and particularly to bring down that antichristian prelacy , and that perjured crue of prelats , who have so perfidiously wronged the interests of our blessed lord and master , jesus christ . this is the only cause for which i undertook this service , and joyned with others my dear and covenanted brethren ; and that i had no intention to wrong the king's person or authority , but to seek his real good , according to my duty in the word of god , and also as i sware in the same covenant wherein i did swear against prelacy . and notwithstanding i be condemned of men as a rebel , yet i am justifyed of god , my god and father , in and through my lord and saviour jesus christ , who giveth me sweet peace of conscience and joy of heart ; i grant it is not enough to justify me before him , that i had a just cause , unless likewise i had therewith the acceptation of my person through faith in the merits of jesus christ , who standeth in our nature in heaven , which i dare declare this day as a dying man , that i have obtained ; for i am confident that through his righteousness made over unto me , he hath made me free , in which i shall stand for ever ; and that within a few hours i shall see him in peace , as i am seen of him ; and behold and wonder , and wonder and behold for evermore that most glorious excellency of his. and this yeeldeth to me great consolation in all my extremities , were they never so great ; this i say is my peace and consolation this day , even christ my righteousness , who hath both accepted my person and cause : therefore i count it a small thing to be judged and condemned of men , for my testimony is on high , and my record in heaven . and now , my friends , i am condemned to die for adhering to my covenant made with god , for reformation of religion and conversation , to which all ranks of the land are as well bound as i , though many ( alas ! too many ) shaking off all fear of god have despised the oath , not only by breaking the covenant , but by professing and declaring avowedly the bond thereof null , and not binding either to their own or other mens consciences : and this mischief is framed by a law , which doth greatly highten the sin ; o! tell it not in oath , and publish it not in askelon . oh! that this should be heard of amongst papists and pagans , that professed reformed protestants should stand in so litle aw of a solemn oath , and name of the great and living god. but i exhort and obtest you all , that so much the more as others have made void his covenant , you would esteem it the more precious , and closely follow the reformation vowed , in every article thereof , upon all occasions given you of the lord ; and that you abhor , detest and refuse any engagement whatsoever , that may wrong your oath in the covenant directly or indirectly , as ye would escape the wrath of god that is coming on such breaking of covenant , but rather choise the greatest extremity of affliction , then the least sin of this sort ; as moses did , who refused to be called the son of pharaoh's daughter , but chused rather to suffer reproach for christ ; and be not afraid of suffering for christ , as though it were an evill thing , neither scar ye at his cross , for the lord himself saith , my yoke is easy and my burthen light ; yea it is lighter to us then to many that stand by : believe ; faith maketh all burthens light to the believing sufferer . and now i beseech you believers in christ , abide in him and bring forth fruit unto holiness , and study tenderness in all manner of conversation , and holiness without which no man shall see the lord ; and let not this profane and mocking generation have any thing to reproach you with , but that whereof you would not be ashamed , that when you suffer ye may not suffer as evill doers , that whereas they speak evill of you , they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good conversation in christ . it is not knowledge nor a bare profession that glorifieth god , but tenderness , holiness and righteousness , that do commend religion and his cause to all men , and shall convince your adversaries of their wickedness in wronging you , and make them the more inexcusable in that day when they shall be judged : yea , what know ye , but ye may win others by your tender and good conversation ? i recommend to you , that ye would be much and fervent in the use of that precious duty of prayer , wherein most near communion with god upon earth is to be found : be much in prayer , with and for others - forsake not the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is ( i wish they may see the evill of it who neglect it ) but exhort one another , and so much the more , as ye see the day approaching : earnestness and diligence will hasten the lord's coming with relief unto you , and to the lords born-down work ; and your slackness in this , may make the wheels of his chariot to move the more slowly . for the effectuall fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much with god ; it will do more then armies of men and weapons of war for your defence and deliverance . i beseech you also , my dear friends , that you acquaint yourselves with the word of god in the holy scripture , that ye may have acquaintance with jesus christ who is clearly set forth therein ; that ye may know him in his excellency and come to love and believe in him whom ye know ; that ye may be acquainted with his revealed will therein , and may know what is truth , and cleave fast thereto , from a sure persuasion that it hath the warrant of his word ; and may be guarded against every error of the wicked , and that ye may fully know what is good and what is evill ; and that ye may suffer with confidence , when ye are brought forth thereto as i am . finally , my dear friends , be ye perfect , be of good comfort , be of one minde , live in peace - and the god of love and peace shall be with you . john wodrow . the copy of john wodrow his letter to his wife , dated decemb . . . which was the day on which he suffered . my heart , reverence the good providence of the lord our god , who can do nothing wrong ; for whatsoever he doth is well-done , and my soul faith , amen . i had not a will of my own ( my heart ) since that day wherein yow and i parted , my lord and my god captivated it , & brought it to a submission unto his will : i bless him for evermore for it , that i was never left to my own will : praise , o praise him all ye living ! and o thou my soul praise the lord for it . i bless the lord for evermore that ever he visited my fathers family , that ever he condescended to come unto my fathers family , and to give a visit to the like of me : he visited me there , and set his love upon me , and hath chosen me for this very end , to be a witness for his covenanted reformation . for this my soul is glad , and my glory rejoyceth for this honour wherewith he hath honoured me ; and that , though i be condemned to die by men on earth , yet am i justifyed of god through the blood of my saviour jesus christ , who standeth in our nature in heaven , and hath made me free through his imputed righteousness made over unto me , in which i stand for ever ; and within a few hours i shall see him in peace , as i am seen of him , and behold and wonder , and wonder & behold for evermore , even that most glorious excellency which is in him. all that which is spoken of him is but litle : o my heart , my dear love , come and see i beseech yow ! i thought i had known something of my dearest lord before , that i had some love from and to him before , but never was it so with me , as it hath been with me since i came within the doors of this prison ; many a precious visit hath his gracious majesty given unto me . he is without all comparison ; o love , love him ! come to him , o taste and see , and that shall resolve the question best . the thing i suffer for is the covenanted reformation . i bless god , and all that is within me doth bless and magnify his holy name for this , tnat scotland did ever enter into a covenant with the lord , into a sworn covenant , with the hand lifted up to the lord : and i have now sworn and renued this covenant again for my self & you , and my four children in all the parts and points thereof ; and i pray , god help you to abide in the covenant for ever . and now i give you and my four children unto the lord , and commit you ro him as your covenanted god and husband , & my childrens covenanted father . i say no more , but either study to be indeed a sincere christian , & a seeker of his face in sincerity , or else you will be nothing at all . i recommend you and your young-ones to him , who is god all-sufficient , and aboundeth in mercy and love to them that love him and keep his covenant . the blessing of the covenant be upon you , so fare you well . so saith your loving and dying husband john wodrow . the testimony of ralph shields , an english-man who died in edinburgh , decemb. . . my friends . i am come here to die , and i thank god , it is not for evill doing that i now suffer : although i be charged with rebellion against the kings authority , yet declare before god and you all , that in all this matter i never intended to wrong his majestie 's just power and greatness , but for conscience sake did respect authority as the ordinance of god appointed for the punishment of evill doers , and that i wish his ma : all welfare both in this life , and the world to come , and that it may be his happiness to consider his obligations to god and perform the same , that so it may be well with him and his posterity to many generations ; and i pray god make him a friend to his cause and the truly godly who own the same , though falsly called phanaticks or turbulent persons . i declare i have such persuasion of the interest of religion reformed , and sworn unto in the covenant that i dare venture not only to lay down my own life , but if every hair of my head were a man , they should all be put to venture for this cause : i would not have the world to stumble at the cause , because of my death after this manner ; for i rejoyce greatly in it , and i desire every good christian as they tender their own souls that they would grip fast , lay hold on , and cleave to jesus christ and his way . my coming out at this time ( i say ) was not against his majesty , but for the covenant which is now troden under foot ; my intention was for the cause of christ ; i take god to witness , it was nothing else i came out for , and for that i am free to lay down my life . i bless god i am much encouraged in this , and not at all afraid to die for so good and clear a cause ; and i hope he will bring me thorow all my difficulties in this dark shadow of death : i hope i have the peace of a good conscience , and have had some glimpses from jesus christ of his countenance and reconciled face , since i came into this prison , for which i desire to bless his name with all my soul , heart and spirit . and i rejoyce that he hes made use of me to suffer for his cause ; and i think it too litle , not only to lay down my body , but ( if it were possible ) even my very soul at the stake for that cause and for jesus christ my good and kind master , who hath loved me and given himself for me . i give the lord thanks that i had some of his presence since i came into this condition : and again i say , i am much encouraged and not afraid to die , and bless him that i die not as a murtherer , or evill door , or rebel to authority , but for such a cause as this . o that it were the happiness of my nation of england , once to subiect themselves unto the sweet yoke of christs reformed government , under which this nation of scotland hath enjoyed so much of the power and life of the gospel , by a faithful ministry according to the covenant sworn by them both . and now , my dear friends in christ , and fellow-covenanters , though i be a stranger in this land , being an english-man , but trifted by providence in the prosecution of my calling , to have my residence for a time here in scotland , which i look upon , as a singulare evidence of god's special love to me , though i be a stranger , i say , to many of you , yet i must be bold as a dying friend , to beseech you by the mercy of god , and by your appearance before jesus christ , when we shall have to do with none but him as our judge , that ye be faithfull and stedfast in the cause of god , and covenant which ye have sworn with hands lifted up to the most high god , which no power on earth can loose you from , and that ye keep you from snares unto the contrary , and not suffer your selves to fall into a detestable neutrality and indifferency in that cause of god ; and especially that ye keep your selves free of any engagements by word or write , that may wrong your oath of the covenant . i commit my wife and children to his care , who careth for them that put their trust in him before the sons of men , not doubting but they shall be eyed with goodwil and favor by the godly , after i am gone . and now i render up my spirit to him who gave it me , and for whose sake i now lay down my life . to this god , my covenanted god , be glory , blessing and praise for now and ever , amen . that this is my mind and testimony , which i leave behind me , i witness by my ordinary subscription , r. shields . the testimony of humprey colhoune , at his death in edinburgh , decemb . . . dear friends and spectators , i am come here this day to this place to die this death , for crimes for which ( i thank god ) my conscience doth not condemn me . my crime , as is alleaged , is for disloyalty against the king's majesty ; yet i thank god , that my appearing lately with the lord's people was from my sense of my obligation in the covenant , and the sense of the wrongs done in the land , and the crying oppressions committed therein . this was the end of my appearing for the lord against his enemies , to bear witness against the same : the which obligation of the oath of god , i judge that none on earth can loose the conscience from . i bless the lord again and again , i die for this oath and covenant ; and i thank god also , that i have by the great mercy of the almighty god in christ jesus , obtained mercy and forgiveness for all my transgressions both against the first and second table of the law : and that through that ocean of grace which is in the lord jesus christ , i believe that i am justified and sanctified , and believe now to be glorified with him , by that blessed blood of his , which hath purchased this salvation to me , through faith in the same , made application of , according to the good covenant of grace . he hath performed this , out of his vvonderfull and incomparable free-grace ▪ and this is my joy and exceeding great rejoycing and consolation , and all my salvation , for vvhich i am grace's debtor throughout all eternity . i die vvith this my testimony , my adherence to the national covenant , to the solemn league and covenant , to the work of reformation a great length carried on , and now overthrown most sinfully by ungodly men , vvho have established their apostacy by law , which no just power on earth could ever do . also i adhere to the presbyterial government , the confession of faith , cathechisms larger and shorter , and to the solemn acknovvledgement of the church of scotland , and publick testimonies thereof against the sins of the time . this day i rejoyce that he hath counted me vvorthy to lay dovvn my life for him , as one that beareth vvitness against the breach of all the sacred oaths and ties that were established in this land , yea by the just laws both of god and man , which never could have been repealed lawfully , as this wicked generation hath done . dear friends , i hope ye will stand fast in this obligation , and in the solemn oaths and ties ye are under , and all the body of the land also will be stedfast in the same , upon the greatest hazard ye can meet with ; and that ye will study perfect holiness and nearness with god , which will help to keep you straight in this day of persecution and sharp triall that is now raging in this land : i bless the lord , i die not a fool , though some men have thought so of me by their speeches to me , since my imprisonment : neither durst i ever be the man to buy my liberty at such a dear rate as perjury , and to shake off these blessed bonds i did vvillingly come under ; and i thank god , i never yet to this moment rued or repented it ; and sure i am it is better for me to suffer the vvorst of deaths , then to preserve my life by breaking the oaths of god. i also give my testimony against prelacy and that vvicked hierarchy novv established in this land , as that vvhich the church of christ could never bear until this day , it being such a grand enemy to the purity of the gospel , and povver of godliness , yea a yoke vvhich the church of god groaneth under . i have no more to say , but commends all you the lovers of our lord jesus christ to god himself , and to the good vvord of his grace , vvhich is able to build you up untill the day of his appearance , and to give you all an inheritance with them that are sanctified through faith in our lord jesus christ . and subscribes my self an expectant and apparent heir of the grace of christ . humprey colhoun . the testimony of john wilson , who suffered at edinburgh , decemb. . . good people and spectators . i am here condemned to die upon alleaged rebellion against the king and his authority , which god knoweth , i never intended . for in my judgement , a man's endeavouring to extirpate perjured prelates and abjured prelacy , according as he is bound by oath in a sworn covenant , may very well stand with a man's loyalty to king and countrey ; for i am sure , the king and his subjects may be happy , yea more happy in the extirpation of prelates and prelacy , then in their standing ; yea the throne shall never be established in peace , until that wicked plant be plucked up by the roots , which hath so much wasted and made desolate the lord's vineyard : for my part , i pray that the lord may bless our king with blessings from heaven , and make him a friend to the interests of christ , as the best way for the standing of his throne to many generations ; and i pray for all that are in authority under his majesty , that the lord may not lay to their charge the innocent blood of his saints , which they have shed . but the ground of my sentence is truly , the renewing of the covenant with my god , and labouring to defend the same , according to my oath : and this i profess is and was my duty , and by the grace of god will not quite it ; and in token hereof , i am here before you all to lay down my life in defence of the same , and require you all to be witnesses to this my testimony ; i do declare , i am not ashamed , but count it my glory . i do likewise declare this before you all in the sight of god , the judge of all hearts , that since the day i did first swear and subscribe this covenant for reformation , it hath been sweet unto me , for i am persuaded in my conscience of the warrantableness thereof . i did swear the covenant four times , and the last time at lanerk , which was the sweetest time to me of them all ; for with my whole soul i renewed it , and gave up both my soul and body to him , to be at his disposal , which , i trust in god , i shall never rue . hearty praise and thanks be to the blessed god , that ever it pleased him to give unto this poor church that mercy to enter in covenant with himself , that he might be unto us a covenanted god , the richest mercy that can be bestowed on men . i have lived a presbyterian in my judgement , according as i have sworn , and judge it to be the only way that god hath appointed in his word , for the government of his church on earth ; for under that government the power and practice of religion hath greatly flourished , and many a soul hes been converted to the lord , and found sweet fellowship with him in his ordinances , by the ministry of his honest and and lawfully called servants . and blessed be the day that ever i heard a faithfull sent minister preach the gospell . i do declare before heaven and earth that my whole designe in this rising in armes , was only against abjured prelacy and prelaetes , the great oppressors of god's interests , and cruell persecuters of his people , both in their consciences and bodies ; and i judge their government and why not to be conforme to the word of god in the holy scriptures . i might cite many scriptures to this purpose , but i shall only name two luke . . but ye shall not be so ; but he that is greatest among you , let him be as the yonger ; and be that is chief , as he that doth serve . and pet. . . neither as being lords over god's heritage , &c. yea it may be seen from sad experience , that under their government , the power of godliness hath decayed , and avowed profanity and popery it self hath increased , both to the dishonor of the holy lord , and the great grief of the hearts of the godly . i am so persuaded of tne truth of the covenant , and of the error of their way , and that jesus christ is the only king and lord over his own house , and besides him there is none else , for he will not give his glory to another , i am so persuaded of these things , that i dare seal the truth thereof with my blood , and am come hither for the same end , without any fear or amazement ; yea if every hair of mine head were a man , i would have ventured all according to the covenant which i made with my god ; and although i be a poor polluted sinner , and my house not so with god , as it became ; yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant , well ordered in all things and sure , and this is all my salvation and all my desire ; and i hope the lord will soon tread down all his enemies with shame , and the enemies of his covenant also . therefore , let all that love the lord jesus christ and his truth and covenant , take comfort and courage , notwithstanding of all that which is come to pass , and let them not be ashamed to adhere thereunto , whatsoever sufferings they meet with therein , for he will make up that loss in himself , and avenge the wrongs done to himself & them in his own due time : i assure you , christ is a good master to serve : if ye knew him rightly & his cross , it is sweet & easy to the believer ; for he maketh death to be life , and bringeth light out of darkness . i desire to follow the blessed captain of my salvation through well and wo. i beseech you , my dear friends , whom now i am to part with , that ye stand to the defence of all the truths of god and of his word ; & that ye receive the lord christ , as he hath offered himself therein , ye who have not closed with him ; and that he who hath closed with him , abide in him by a lively faith and love , bringing forth fruits , that you may put credit on your profession , and keep off every thing that may shame your glorious and blessed master before this evill and adulterous generation . and i give you all warning and de●ort you heartily as ye love your own souls , and as ye will answer to him , who shall judge the quick and dead , that ye stand fast in all the duties ye are sworn unto in the national and in the solemn league and covenant , both towards god , your king and one another : and that ye beware of snares in taking of any oaths or declarations contrary in the least , to the oath of god in these covenants . i leave my wife and little children upon jesus christ my lord , who are now to be made a widow and fatherless for his sake , trusting , he will care for them ; and i recommend them to the counsell and kindness of his people under him. i can forgive the wrong done to me in taking away my life for this cause , and wish god to be merciful to these that have condemned me , or have had any hand in my death : but blessed be god , that brought and hath kept me on his side of this cause , and honoured me to be a publick witness for him and his blessed truth ; and cause ; for which i shall praise him in the world to come , whether i now go : yea i will praise him on the borders of death & eternity . to his blessed name , father , son , and holy ghost be praise for now and ever . so saith your dying friend for christ . john wilson . a true relation of the sufferings and death of m r hew m c kail. preacher of the gospel . m r hew m c kail having passed , and improven the vertuous means of his education ( at the university of edinburgh , and with his uncle mr hew mc kail , minister there , in whose family he did reside ) to the satisfaction and good hope of all , in the winter . upon the very turne of this sad catastrophe , offers himself to tryall ( being years old ) before the presbytery of edinburgh , in order to the work of the ministery ; and being by them amply approven and licensed , and having preached at several times with the great benefit and applause of all his hearers , he did preach his last publick sermon in edinburgh , in the great church thereof , upon the sabbath immediatly preceeding that of september . the day affixed by the then parliament , for the removal of the ministers of edinburgh . his text was song . . . in this sermon taking occasion to speak of the great and many persecutions , to which the church of god hath been and is obnoxious ; and amplifying the point from the persons and powers who have been instrumental therein , he said , that the church and people of god had been persecuted , both by a pharaoh upon the throne , a haman in the state , and a iudas in the church ; and falling to inlarge the several wayes and manner of the persecutions of these men , & the issue thereof ; the cases of haman and iudas appeared in the conviction of his adversaries , to have such a near resemblance to the state and condition of the then rulers of state and church , that though he did make no application , yet he was reputed to be guilty thereof . whereupon , within a few dayes thereafter , there was a party of horsemen sent to the place where he then lived near to edinburgh , for to seise his person and make him prisoner . but upon almost no more then a moments advertisement , he escapes out of his bed , and shifting only to another chamber , was miraculously preserved from the search then used , though most diligent and accurate . for this cause , he being necessitated to leave that place , retired home-ward to his fathers house , where having lurked a while , and thereafter as occasions call'd him spent the four years that have since interveen'd , in several places and with much uncertainty . yet during all this space , to the certain knowledge and sweet remembrance of all that conversed with him , he was most seriously exercised in the study of piety and true knowledge , wherein as he greatly advanced above all his equalls , so at length he became most eminent and exemplary . while he is thus living and employed at his fathers house , the late troubles arising : in the west fall out ; and the newes thereof having alarmed him with the rest of that countrey , upon the . of nov. last , being the sabbath ; for such motives and upon such considerations as he himself doth fully afterward declare , he joined himself to those who rose in these parts for the assisting of that poor afflicted party , as in their consciences , by their covenant , they thought themselves indispensably obliged . when and where he joined with them , or what was his part , or endeavours amongst them , needs not to be remembered . only this is certain , that being of a thin body , and tender constitution , he was so disabled and weakened with the toil and fatigue of continual marching and tempestuous weather ( particularly at air , where he lay a considerable time , as if he had been dead , by reason of fainting ) that he could no longer endure it . whereupon , on tuesday novemb. . he was necessitated to part from them in the morning , near to the new bridge upon cramond water : and in his way towards libberton parish , about twelve of the clock passing through bread's craigs , he was taken , without resistance , having only a small ordinary sword , by such of the countreymen , as were then sent out to view the fields ; in which passage it is very observable , that his escape formerly mentioned was not more miraculous , then his present taking was fatal : for it is without question , had he but retained and observed the least of that advertency and caution , wherein at other times he was known to be both ready & very happy , he might , without either hazard or trouble , have escaped this inconvenience ; but god who gave him the full experience of his turning all things unto the good of them that love him , did thus by his simplicity and folly , prepare the way for his own glory and his servants joy and victory . being brought to edinburgh , and first to the towns council-house , in their search for letters he was immediatly stript ; and there being none found , committed prisoner to the tolbuith . upon the wedensday , being the of november by order from the secret council , he was brought before the earle of dumfreis , lord sinclar , sir robert. manray of preist-field and others , in order to his examination ; and being interrogate concerning his joyning & being with the wesi-land forces , he conceaving himself not obliged by any law or reason , to be his own accuser , to the destruction of his life , did plainly deny the question ; but being desired to signe with his hand , what he had said and they caused write , though at first he appeared willing , yet partly being advised by the lord sinclar , to beware that he subscribed nothing , whereof the contrary would be found true , left it might therefore fare the worse with him , and partly scrupling at the terms of rebells and rebellion , wherein the question and his answer were conceaved , and partly bethinking that a simple denyall may import more then the pleading of not-guilty , he refused to subscribe his name , which being reported to the council gave great offence , and brought him under the suspition of a deep dissembler . on thursday novemb. . being again called before his examinators , upon the considerations mentioned , & for allaying the councils prejudice , & preventing the inconvenience he might there-through sustain , he gives in a declaration under his own hand , testifying , that he had been with the westland forces , with whom he occasionally mett , and that he resolved to have withdrawn from them upon the first opportunity which he was also about to do when he was taken , without either offering to flee or resist , which he desired the council the rather to believe , because he had told so much to william lawry of blackwood , a person imployed from the lieut. generall dalzell to the west-land forces . but notwithstanding that william lawry did testify this to be a truth , yet the council retaining former impressions , and apprehending that the presence and confronting of some other prisoners of the westland forces ( who plainly declared their accession to that rising ) and their deponing concerning him , did only move mr hew to this acknowledgement , although it be certainly known , that he had formed and subscribed the same the night before , they fortify and persist in their jealousy , and suspecting him to have been a contriver of the insurrection , and privy to all designes and intelligence relating to it , they dealt with him with great importunity to be ingenuous , and to declare who were the ring-leaders of the late rising , and what correspondence either at home or abroad was kept anent it : and this was done especially upon the monday dec. . at which time also the boots ( a terrible instrument of torture , which the humanity of our later times hath so much abhorred , that not only the fashion of them was forgot , but all torture for their cause , disused ; yet new ones such as they are ) were laid before him , upon the town council-house table , and he certifyed , that if he would not confess , he should be tortured by them to morrow . and accordingly upon tuesday dec. . he was again called before the council , where , after the examination & torture of iohn nilson of corsack , he was again examined by the earle of rothess the kings commissioner , the marquess of montress , and several of the privy councill , ( in the town council-house ) the bishop of st andrewes for the honor of his profession forsooth , and some others of the counsellers upon more real and christian motives , having at first withdrawn themselves : and being urged to confess , he declared , with a solemn attestation , that he knew no more , then he had already confessed , whereupon they ordered the executioner to put his leg into the boot and to proceed to the torture . but as he had before confessed and declared ingenuously all he knew , so this torture ( though in it self very violent and painful , by the extraordinary compression both of flesh , sinews and bones , by the force of timber wedges and hammer , & used upon him in a double measure , even to ten or eleven strokes , with considerable intervals ; as there remained no truth concealed which it could extort ) did not in the least move him to express any impatience or bitterness , but having sustained it most constantly and christianly , before he got the last three strokes , he protested solemnly in the sight of god , that he could say no more , though all the joints of his body were in as great torture as that poor leg , and desires to know what could hinder them to believe one of his profession , who had so solemnly declared as in the sight of god , that he knew no more then he had told , viz. that to the best of his knowledge , the rising in the west was meerly occasional , upon a discontent betwixt the people in the stewarty of galloway & sir iames turner , to which every one did run , as their hearts moved them when they heard of it . this torture was the cause why he was not indicted with the first ten , who being arraigned and sentenced on wedensday dec. . were hanged on the fryday thereafter , at the cross of edinburgh . many thought that considering his small accession unto that rising , which neither was nor could be proven to be more , then what he himself had freely confessed , and that he had suffered such hard measure by torture , & that not in order to the discovery of his own crime , but the declaring of the contrivers and his complices , that the same should have procured him favor , but the matter was otherwise determined . neither was the sermon before mentioned , so quite forgotten , though ill remembered , and often repeated in councill in these words achab upon the throne , and no more , and therefore upon monday the of dec. he and other seven receaved their indictments of treason , & were acordingly summoned to appear before the iustices on wedensday dec. . but his torture & close imprisonment thereafter ( for so it was ordered ) having cast him in a fever ; whereby he was utterly disenabled to make his appearance , upon tuesday dec. . he gave in to the lords of council his supplication of the tenor following viz. that whereas i have receaved an indictment of treason , which was yesterday delivered to me , and i appointed to make answer thereto to morrow , and seing in this matter of the highest importance , not only all the time allowed is very short , but i am and have been ever since my torture in a great distemper and fever , besides the great pain and utter inability of my leg , which hath constantly kept me bed-fast , and doth render me incapable not only of minding my own defence , but wholly unable either to walk or stand , far less to go and compeir before the lord iustice , as i doubt not but physicians will testify , if your lo : will order them to visit me , which i humbly beg ; and seing my accession to the crimes libelled is so very slender , being only simple presence , and that not only occasional , as i did declare before your lo : but also in some sort retracted and purged , by my purposed and actuall off-coming and deserting ; and lastly , seing i was put to sore torture , in order to a furder discovery , with a promise of favor , in case of my ingenuity , which i then singly used , as in the sight of god , to the utmost of my knowledge : may it therefore please your lordships , graciously to consider the premises , specially my utter inability to make my appearance , and to surcease any legall procedor against me , in this so weak and extream condition , and to discharge me of the foresaid citation and appearance . and your lo : answer . this petition and the following are therefore sett down verbatim , that both the utmost of his condescendence may appear , and the fainting that he so much regrates in his last speach , be the better understood . and with the same subscribed by him , there was given in , an attestation under the hands of seven chirurgeons , declaring his weak and sickly condition . hereupon the council did order two physicians , and two chirurgeons ( viz. sir robert cuningham , doctor hay , iames ●o●t●wick , and thomas kinkead . ) to visit him , and to return their attestation upon soul and conscience , betwixt and the morrow at ten of the clock , to the iustices . upon wedensday decemb. . the iustices being set , the attestation of the two doctors and chirurgeons above mentioned , is produced for mr hew m c kail , and other three of the prisoners indicted , and their excuse proponed thereupon . but the iustice finding , that the attestation , not bearing soul and conscience , did not agree to the warrand and order given by the councill , and that the physicians being called , did refuse upon point of priviledge to rectify it in these terms , although they declared , that the truth thereof was such , as they might safely confirm it by oath , they do only supersede their procedor against m. hew , and other two contained in the attestation , untill to morrow , and ordain iohn nilson of corsack , though also contained in the attestation , in respect the same as to his part , was not relevant , and the other four , to be brought to the bar , who accordingly being brought , were that day sentenced to be hanged on fryday thereafter . thursday december . the iustice-court being set , adjourns untill tuesday thereafter , and ordains m. hew and the other two to be peremptorily sisted that day before the down-sitting of the court. this afternoon , having obtain'd his reprivall , in the thoughts of his dubious condition , he composed the lines following . vitae ergò innumeris curarum erroribus actae , clausula consimilis perbreve finit iter . distrahor ambigui dubio discrimine fati : aeger enim jaceo ; sin revalesco , cado . saturnday dec. . his brother m. matthew goes from edinburgh to glasgow , with a letter from the lady marquess of dowglass , and another from the duchess of hamilton to the lord commissioner in his favors , but both proved ineffectual . like-as his cusing m. matthew m c kail carried another letter from the lady marquess of dowglass to the archbishop of st andrewes for the same purpose , but with no better success . dec. . sitting in judgement , the lord penton iustice clerk , and mr william murray ( advocate ) iustice depute . m. hew being indifferently recovered , he was brought before the iustice with other that were arraigned with him . and first , the general indictment is read , founded both on old and late acts of parliaments , made against rising and assembling in arms , and entering into leagues and covenants , and renewing the solemn league and covenant , without or against the kings authority , declaring the same to be rebellion and treason ; and thereafter amply subsuming upon all the acts , deeds and passages of the late insurrection with many aggravations ; particularly upon their taking and renewing the solemn league and covenant at lanerk ; and therefore charging them with , and concluding , that they ought to be punished for the same as traitors . after which mr hew his special indictment is read , bearing , that he had risen and joyned with the rebels , and was with them at air , vchilery and lanerk , and several other places on horsback , and had kept and was at several of their rendevouz's with a sword. whereunto mr hew being permitted to answer , began his discourse very constantly and composedly , declaring , that he looked upon himself , both from the conclusion of his indictment , and what had happened to others , as a man appointed by men , and determined in himself to die , whereupon he thought himself obliged to use the greater ingenuity , and then affirmed , that he was not ashamed to avow that he was one of that afflicted and persecuted party and perswasion called presbyterian . thereafter he proceeded to speak of the ties and engagements that were upon the land to god , in order thereto , and having commended the institution . dignity and blessing of presbyterial government , he said that the last words of the national covenant had alwayes great weight upon his spirit . whereupon the king's advocate , interrupting him , desired him to forbear that discourse , telling him that he was not there called in question for his perswasion , but for the crime of rebellion , in rising in arms against his ma : authority , to which he desired him to answer ; whereunto he answered , that the thing which moved him to declare himself as he had , and would have done , was that weighty and important saying of our lord jesus , whosoever shall confess me before men , him shall the son of man also confess before the angels of god ; but he that denieth me and my words before men , shall he denyed before the angels of god. as for the rebellion he was charged with , he said ; his accession was only simple presence with a sword , and that occasional , as his confession before the council did bear . the advocate answers , that not only presence , such as he was charged with , was treasonable , but all intercommuning or keeping company with rebells , though for the space only of half an hour ; and however , he said , he was guilty of a far deeper accession , and of many other things besides these contained in his own confession ; whereupon the advocate caused read his confession , and also the depositions of severall others that were examined , in so far as they concerned him . m. hew answered , that all the depositions read , contained no more then was in his own confession , nor could they make out any more against him ; and so in effect it was . the advocate after the sustaining of the indictment , having made use of ; and caused read the confessions of m. hew and the other persons accused before the assize , in place of probation , referred the matter to their cognition . the assize being enclosed gave their verdict una voce , and by the mouth of sir william murray of newtown their chancellor , report him to be guilty of being with the rebells at severall times and places , and at their rendevouz with a sword , according to his subscribed confession . however it was thereafter understood , that four or five of the assize , did with reluctancy pronounce this verdict● ▪ thinking death too great a punishment for so slender a guilt , and that the major part of the assize had cleansed him , if the fear of an assize of error had not prevailed with them . the verdict being reported , doom was pronounced , decerning and adjudging him and the rest to be taken on saturnday decemb. . to the mercate cross of edinburgh , and there to be hanged on a gibbet till they be dead , and that their goods and lands be escheated and forfeited for his highness's use . at the hearing of which sentence , he cheerfully said , the lord giveth life , and the lord taketh , blessed be the name of the lord. and as he was carried back through the guards to the tolbooth , when the people made lamention , he answered , though men cut us off , god will receave us , trust in god , trust in god. being come to his chamber , he immediately addressed himself to god by prayer , with great enlargement of heart for himself and his fellow-prisoners condemned with him . being afterwards asked , how his leg was , which was tortured ; he answered merrily , " the fear of my neck now maketh me forget my leg. thereafter he said . to another freind , o how good newes , to be within four dayes journey to enjoy the sight of jesus christ , and protested he vvas not so cumbered hovv to die , as he had been sometime to preach a sermon . to some vvomen lamenting for him , he said , that his condition , though he vvas young , and in the budding of his hopes and labours in the ministry , yet vvas not to be mourned for ; for , said he , one drop of my blood , through the grace of god , may make moe hearts contrite , then many years sermons might have done . this afternoon he supplicat the council for liberty to his father to come & visit him , vvhich being granted , his father the next night came to him . their first meeting was very sad ; & notwithstanding , that according both to the testimony of his parents , and knovvledge of all his relations , he vvas a most obedient son ; yet these inevitable infirmities vvhich are incident to the best of men , and cannot but furnish sad convictions , when considered in the power and pure light of the spiritual law of god , did greatly trouble him in the remembrance of the fifth commandment . the passage was thus . after prayer his father said unto him , hugo , i called thee a goodly clive-tree of fair fruits , and now a storm hath destroyed the tree and his fruits and branches . he ansvvered , that his fathers too good thoughts of him had afflicted him . his father said , he was perswaded , god was visiting not his own sin , but his parents sin upon him , so that he might say , our fathers have sinned , and we have born their iniquity . he said also , i have sinned , thow poor sheep what hast thow done . m. hew ansvvered with many groans , that through coming short of keeping the fifth commandment , he had come short of the promise , that his days should be prolonged in the land of the living , and that gods controversy with him , was for overvaluing his children , especially himself . on thursday the of december more from the importunity of friends , then of his own inclination , he gave in to the privy council , a petition , as follows . that whereas upon tuesday last i was indicted and condemned , for the treasonable deeds contained in the general and special indictment exhibited against me ; in the which special indictment , containing my whole accession to the said crimes , there is only libelled presence in several places , with an ordinary sword , likeas my own confession , which is the naked truth , doth declare , how the same was occasional ; and seeing that it was also in some sort purged & retracted by my withdrawing and deserting with the first conveniency , whereby not only my case appears to be different from that of others , but also as favourable as possibly can be , nixt to innocency it self ; likeas the same appeared no less to many of these gentlemen who were upon my assize . and seeing the torture i sustained , and the ingenuity i then used , as in the sight of god , to the utmost of my knowledge , deserve that favour that was at that time insinuated ; and that it is expected that his majesty ( whose mercy i beg ) according to his great clemency and the most usual practice in the like cases , will interpose his mercy , for the rescue of many , who are equally with me involved . may it therefore please your lordships graciously to consider the premisses , and to pardon my great rashnes and precipitancy , and therefore to indulge such a reprival at your lo. shall think convenient , until his majesty's gracious pleasure anent the premisses shall be fully known ; at least till the commissioner his grace , do return ; and your lo. answer . the words marked in this petition by a different character , were the amendments of his friends affection , which they were advised to put in , by some members of the privy council , to whom the copy of it had been presented immediately before the downsitting of the councill ; and thereupon the petition being transcribed , was in so great haste presented unto him , to subscribe it , that he got it not read . however the petition was both disrelished and refused by the council ; the truth is , some of his friends exceeding zealous of his safety , had moved to several members of the council , that the declaration might be tendered to him , and some time permitted him to advise thereanent ; which motion , it 's like , was attended with some insinuations , that probably he might be induced to subscribe it ; but as the motion was ineffectual without a warrand under his own hand , so even the authors thereof do bear him witness of his positive , fixed and often declared resolution , not to subscribe it at the highest rate : likeas , upon some surmises to the contrary , he thought it necessary for his own vindication , to leave it under his hand , that the above-mentioned resolution was from his own proper knowledge and motive , without the assistance of the least disswasive from any other person . during his abode in prison , the lord was very graciously present with him , both to sustain him against the fear of death , and to dispel all these over-cloudings of terror , unto which the frailty of flesh and blood hath sometime exposed the best of men ; and also in assisting him in prayer and praises , to the admiration of all his hearers , especially on the thursday's night dec. . whereon being set at supper with his fellow-prisoners and his father , and one or two besides , he requested his fellow-prisoners , saying merrily , eat to the full , and cherish your bodies , that we may all be a fat christmass pie to the prelates . after supper in thanksgiving he burst forth in blessing god , that had made him such a fool as to come to that prison ; and after many gracious words , continued saying , many crosses have come in our way and wrought but weakly upon us , but here is a cross that hath done more good then all the many that befell us before . then lamenting the condition of the church of god , with much earnestness , he used that exclamation in the last of daniel , what lord shall be the end of these wonders ! the last night of his life , being fryday decemb. . he proponed and answered himself , several questions , to the strengthening of his fellow-prisoners , and great refreshing of all his hearers . as . he inquired ; how should he , going from the tolbooth through a multitude of gazing people and guards of souldiers , to a scaffold and gibbet , overcome the impression of al these ? to which he answered ; by conceaving a deeper impression of a multitude of angels who are also on-lookers ; according to that , we are a gazing-stock to the vvorld , angels and men : for the angels rejoycing at our good confession are present to convey and carry our souls as the soul of lazarus , unto abraham's bosom ; not to receave them , for that is iesus christ's work alone , who will welcome them to heaven himself , with the songs of angels and blessed spirits ; but the angels are ministring spirits , always ready to serve and strengthen all dying believers . . as stephen saw the heavens opened , and iesus standing on the right hand of god , vvho then said , lord iesus , receave my spirit , so ( said he ) do i believe , that iesus christ is also ready to receave the souls of his dying sufferers . . he enquired , vvhat is the way for us to conceave of heaven who are hasting unto it , seing the word saith , eye hath not seen , nor ear heard , neither have entered into the heart of man , the things which god hath prepared for them that love him ? whereunto he answered , that the scripture helps us two wayes to conceave of heaven . the first is by way of similitudes , as in that rev. . where heaven is held forth , by the representation of a glorious city , there described ; but in the same place it is also termed the bride ; but o how unlike are these two , a bride and a city ! which doth clearly evidence the insufficiency and vast disproportion of all such similitudes ; and therefore he addeth , the scripture furnisheth yet a more excellent way to conceave of heaven ; and that is . by conceiving the love of christ to us , even what is the breadth and length and depth and hight and the immenseness of that love of christ , which passeth knowledge , which is also the highest and sweetest motive of praise ; unto him , that loved us , and washed us from our sins in his own blood , and hath made us kings and priests unto god and his father , to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever , amen . . by holding forth the love of the saints to jesus christ , and teaching of us to love him in sincerity , which is the very joy and exultation of heaven , rev. . . worthy is the lamb that was slain , to receave power , and riches , and wisdom , and strength , and honor , and glory , and blessing . and no other thing then the soul breathing forth love to jesus christ , can rightly apprehend the joyes of heaven . the last words which he spoke at supper , were in the commendation of love above knowledge , saying , o but notions of knowledge without love , are of small worth , evanishing in nothing , and very dangerous . after supper , his father having given thanks , he read the psalm , and his first words thereafter were , if there were any thing in the world sadly and unwillingly to be left , it were the reading of the scriptures . i said i shall not see the lord , even the lord , in the land of the living , but this needs not make us sad ; for where we go , the lamb is the book of scripture , and the light of that city , and there is life , even the river of the water of life , and living springs . to this he added many excellent observations , and making mention of the v. of the psal . o love the lord , all ye his saints , he added , that where love was , it was so operative , that it made flesh , spirit ; and where it was not , there spirit was made flesh : thereafter he sung a part of the same psalm . supper being ended , he cals smilingly for a pen , saying , it was to write his testament , wherein he only ordered some few books , which he had , to be redelivered to several persons . he went to bed a litle after eleven of the clock , and having slept wel till in the morning , he arose and called to his camerade iohn wodrow , saying pleasantly , up iohn ; for you are too long in bed ; you and i look not like men going this day to be hanged , seeing we lye so long . thereafter he said to him in the words of isaiah ch . . v. . who gave iacob for a spoil , and israel to the robbers ? did not the lord ? he against whom we have sinned , for they would not walk in his ways , neither were they obedient unto his law , &c. and i think , iohn , ( said he ) i have not known it , nor do i lay it to heart , as it is't said in the end of the verse . but , john ( said he ) for all this be not affraid , but read the . ch . v. . . for all will go well with us . iohn said to him , you and i will be chambered shortly in heaven , beside mr robertson . he answered , i fear , iohn , you bar me out , because you was more free before the council then i was ; but i shall be as free as any of you upon the scaffold . before break-fast . he said , he had got a clear ray of the majesty of the lord after his awaking , but it was a litle again over-clouded . thereafter he prayed , and attested the lord , that he had devoted himself to the service of god in the ministry of the lord jesus , and the edification of souls , very early ; adding albeit i have not been so with my god , yet thow hast made vvith me an everlasting covenant , ordered in all things and sure ; this is all my desire , joy and salvation , albeit thovv make me not a house to grovv . novv lord , vve come to thy throne , a place vve have not been accquainted vvith ; earthly king's thrones have dvocats against poor men , but thy throne hath jesus , an advocate for us . our supplication this day , is not to be free of death , nor of pain in death , but that vve may vvitness before many vvitnesses , a good confession . his father coming to him that morning to bid him ●arewel , his last words to him were , after prayer and a litle discourse , that his suffering vvould do more hurt to the prelates , and be more edifying to god's people then if he vvere to continue in the ministry , for tvventy years . and then he desired his father to leave him , else he would but trouble him , & i desire it of you , said he , as the best and last service you can do me , to go to your chamber , and pray earnestly to to the lord to be vvith me on that scaffold : for how to carry there is my care , even that i may be strengthened to endure to the end . about tvvo of the clock in the afternoon , he vvas carried to the scaffold vvith other five that suffered vvith him ; vvhere he appeared to the conviction of all that formerly knevv him , vvith a fairer , better and more stayed countenance then ever they had before observed . being come to the foot of the ladder , he directed his speech north-vvard to the multitude . and , premising , that as his years in the vvorld had been but fevv , so his vvords at that time should not be many . he spoke to the people , the speech and testimony vvhich he had before vvritten and subscribed . having done speaking to the people , who heard him with great attention , he sung a part of the psal . and then prayed with such povver and fervency , as forced many to vveep bitterly . having ended he gives his cloak and hat from him ; and vvhen he turnned himself and took hold of the ladder to go up , he said vvith an audible voice , i care no more to go up this ladder and over it , then if i were going home to my fathers house ; and as he went up , hearing a great noise amongst the people , he called dovvn to his fellovv-sufferers , saying , friends and fellow-sufferers , be not affraid , every step of this ladder is a degree nearer heaven . then having seated himself thereon , he said , i do partly believe , that , the nobles , counsellors , and rulers of the land , would have used some mitigation of this punishment , had they not been instigated by the prelates , so our blood lyes principally at the prelats door . but this is my comfort now , that i know my redeemer liveth , and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth , and though after my skin , worms destroy this body , yet in my flesh shall i see god , vvhom i shall see for my self , and mine eyes shall behold ( pointing to his eyes ) and not another , though my reins be consumed in me . and novv i do vvillingly lay dovvn my life for the truth and cause of god , the covenants and vvork of reformation , vvhich vvere once counted the glory of this nation . and it is for endeavouring to defend this , and to extirpate that bitter root of prelacy , that i embrace this rope ( the executioner putting the rope about his ncek . ) then hearing the people weep , he said , your vvork is not to vveep , but to pray that vve may be honourably born through ; and blessed be the lord , that supports me . novv as i have been beholden to the prayers and kindness of many since my imprisonment and sentence ; so i hope you vvill not be vvanting to me novv , in this last step of my journey , that i may vvitness a good confession : and that you may knovv the ground of my encouragement in this vvork , and vvhat my hope is , i vvill read to you the last chapter of the bible ; and having read it , he said , here you see the glory that is to be revealed upon me , a pure river of vvater of life , and so forth ( read the place ) vvhere the throne of god is , and the lamb is in it , vvhere his servants serve him and see his face , and his name is in their foreheads , and the lord god giveth them light , and they shall reign for ever and ever ; and here you see my access to my glory and revvard . let him that is a thirst come , and vvhosoever vvill let him take of the vvater of life freely . and here you see also my vvelcome , the spirit and the bride say , come . then he said , i have one vvord more to say to my friends , ( looking dovvn to the scaffold ) vvhere are you ? you need neither lament me nor be ashamed of me in this condition , for i may make use of that expression of christs , i go to your father and my father , to your god and my god , to your king and my king , to the blessed apostles and martyrs , and to the city of the living god , the heavenly ierusalem , to an innumerable company of angels , to the general assembly and church of the first-born , and to god the iudge of all , and to the spirits of just men made perfect , and to iesus the mediator of the new covenant ; and so i bid you all farevvell : for god vvill be more comfortable to you then i could be ; and he vvill also novv be more refreshing to me , then you can be : farevvel , farevvel in the lord. then the napkin being put on his face , he prayed a space vvithin himself , after vvhich he put up the cloath from his face , vvith his ovvn hand , and said , he had one vvord more to say , and that vvas to shevv them the comfort he had in his death , saying , i hope you perceaved no alteration or discouragement in my countenance and carriage , and as it may be your vvonder , so i profess it is a vvonder to my self , and i vvill tell yovv the reason of it : besides the justness of my cause , this is my comfort , vvhich vvas said of lazarus vvhen he dyed , that the angels did carry his soul into abraham's bosom ; so , that as there is a great solemnity here , of a confluence of people , a scaffold , a gallovvs , and people looking out at vvindovvs ; so is there greater & more solemn preparation in heaven , of angels to carry my soul to christ's bosom . again , this is my comfort , that it is to come in christ's hands , and he vvill present it blameless and faultless to the father , and then shall i be ever vvith the lord. and novv i leave of to speak any more to creatures , and turn my speech to thee . o lord ! and novv i begin my entercourse vvith god , vvhich shall never be broken off . farewel father and mother , friends and relations ; farevvel the vvorld and all delights , farevvell meat and drink , farevvel sun , moon and stars ; vvelcome god and father , vvelcome svveet lord iesus , the mediator of the nevv covenant , vvelcome blessed spirit of grace and god of all consolation , vvelcome glory , vvelcome eternal life , vvelcome death . then he desired the executioner not to turn him over , untill he should put over his ovvn shoulders himself , vvhich , after praying a little vvithin himself , he did , saying , o lord ! into thy hands i commit my spirit : for thou hast redeemed my soul , lord god of truth . thus in the year of his age , he died , as he lived , in the lord. finis . some instances of the sufferings of galloway and ntthisdale . because in the former deduction , mention is made of a paper containing some of the sufferings of galloway and nithisdale ▪ it is not inconvenient , for more particular information , to subjoyn a few instances out of the same paper . and first , at three several inroads which the souldiers have made into that countrey , in the years , and . they exacted from the people there , for adhereing to their old faithful ministers , and not submitting to the ministry of those whom the prelates violently obtruded upon them , the summes of money underwritten , viz.   lib. s. d. from families in the parish of carsphairn , from families in the parish of dalray , from families in balmaclelland , from families in balmacghie , from or families in tungland , from some poor persons in tuynham , from families in borg , from poor families in girton , from some poor families in anwith , from inconsiderable families in kirkpatrick-durham , from some few fam. in kirkmabrek , from families in monygaff , from families in kircudbright , from poor families in lochruton , notwithstanding they wanted a curate , from poor families in traquair , from kells parish , from corsemichall parish , from families in parton parish , from families in irongray , summa in the sheriffdom of dumfries-shire . from families in the town and parish of dumfries , from poor families in kirkmahoe , from families in dunscoir , in glencairn parish , summa of nithisdale summa totalis and although these summs ( being scots-money ) may seem small to strangers , yet considering that they are not leavyed proportionally from all the people , but some select persons within these bounds , and that there are or parishes of which there is no account at all ; and that the great expense of free quarter by the souldiers , in most of the parishes abovenamed ( which would amount to a great summ ) is not included , and that severall persons have not as yet payed , but are to pay their fines and cess ; and that severall of the poor people , through fear , at divers times have given bribes in money & other things to officers & souldiers , for keeping them free of cess & quartering ( notwithstanding whereof they were little or nothing the better ) and that the parliament before , arbitrarily and for no alleadged crime , had exacted by their act of fining , from persons within the said bounds , the summ of pounds scots money ; and that the cess ( besids free quartering ) levyed by the souldiers , according to the commissioner's order , for alleaged deficiency in payment of the said fines , extended to near as much as the principal , considering ( i say ) all these things , the summs are very considerable , and much greater then could have been expected in so little bounds , and in a countrey so poor and mountainous , and less fertill then many others in the land. but the exacting of money was not all , but in effect a small part of their oppression : for the carriage of the souldiers in free quartering was very cruel , barbarous and inhumane , as will appear by these general aggravations and particular instances . ordinarily in quartering , they did not content themselves with sufficiency , but set themselves to consume and waste needlessly ; sometimes throwing whole sheep to their dogs , and scattering corn , hay and straw , they and their boyes usually saying , we came to destroy , and we shall destroy yow . ordinarily when they had consumed the landlord , they quartered upon the poor tennants , and when they had consumed the tennants , did fall upon the land-lords , although they had conformed ; as they did upon a gentleman in kirkmahoe . frequently these who conformed from the beginning , and others who conformed of late , did no less suffer then these who conformed not at all ; and some in severall parishes , who had given all the obedience which was demanded , suffered more then these who gave none at all ; yea conforming husbands have been punished by fine , cess and quartering for their non-conforming wives . it is also to be considered , that , besids all that the countrey had thus suffered , the souldiers were again sent forth through the countrey , and new fines , cess & quarter were imposed upon the same persons and families who had been fined before ; yea , upon some it was doubled and tripled , so that some yeomens were fined in merks scots besids their former fines . all which is the more considerable , that , although the papists in that countrey were very numerous , few of them were troubled , and these inconsiderable persons , who were only fined in inconsiderable summs for the fashion . and particularly in the parish of balmaclelland , a poor widow with several fatherless children , after she had payed at severall times merks , and suffered the cess of souldiers dayes , coming to the commander of that party to complain of some wrongs done unto her , in stead of access , she is mercilessly boasted down stairs . in the same parish an old deaf man , after he had payed rex-dallers , and then given bond for pounds scots , was so tossed , what by being brought before the high commission , and what by rude usage at home , that he contracted sickness and dyed ; and thereafter his poor widow , having payed pounds , was quartered upon many dayes , until she was forced to leave her house , and through cold and double grief contracted a deadly sickness . in the same parish a poor man , having been quartered upon and payed pounds scots , was himself cast into prison , while souldiers quartered upon him at home . in the same parish , a gentleman , who did ordinarly come to church , was quartered upon by six souldier , notwithstanding that himself , his lady and most part of his family were sick . in the same parish a poor man being quartered upon dayes , and having payed pounds , and given bond for pounds , though as is informed , he hath not so much as a free cow , when he came to complain , he was beaten by the officer , and returning , was again beaten by the souldiers . in the same parish , a poor bed-rid man with his sick wife were necessitated to beg , until he gathered three pounds to give for his fine or cess . in the same parish a very poor bed-rid creple man was forced to pay merks . in the same parish a very old honest man , who being reckoned past years , and unable to work in his trad being a coupar , and scarce having the worth of a groat of free goods , but the countreyes charity , was forced to pay pounds . in the parish of corsemichall , the souldiers being quartered in a house , having lest some broth of mutton , did violently thrust away the hungry children from supping thereof , till first they set their dogs to leap it , and then did bid the children take what the dogs had left . in the parish of parton , the souldiers , horse and foot , after they had quartered weeks in a gentleman's house , till they had eaten up the provision wherewith he should have maintained his family , having five or six small children , they forced his wife and servants to the doors , after they had been their slaves and servants all that time , and then possessed themselves absolute masters of his whole houses , plenishings , cattell and what else was his within their reach ; and when some good neighbours had receaved the little ones for shelter , with great difficulty could they obtain one milk cow of twelve belonging to their father , for supply of the children . nota. this gentleman seems to be utterly broken , and hes been severall times imprisoned and miserably tossed up and down . in the parish of borg , in a gentlemans house , the souldiers did quarter for weeks , till they consumed the whole provision of the family , which was well furnished with meal and malt and other necessaries ; they also destroyed the whole plenishing ( except one table which they left in case they came again ) even to the pulling down of the partition-wall of the main dwelling house , and pulling down of an office-house without the gate : all this destruction they committed by giving and selling one part within the countrey , and sending another part to glasgow , and breaking and burning the rest of it , of purpose that it might be useless for the owner , who was forced to flee before , & betake himself to wandering with his brother and their families . and after they had committed all this vastation , they also fell upon their tennants , and forced them to bring in malt , sheep , fowls , and other things ( for their maintenance ) that they pleased to call for , and so ruined them also ; and two of his tennants they forced to scatter their families , having threatened to burn their houses , besids all the destruction they had done to their master and them before . in the parish of irongray , a poor tennant having bargained with the souldiers , to redeem his goods for pounds , when he came to dumfris , they would hardly take pounds , so that he was forced to borrow the over-plus . and being returned home to shear his corns , and expecting no more trouble from them , they came back upon him , and took away his beasts and all , even to the leading away of his hay . the like was practised upon another in the same parish . and further , some maintenance imposed in the year , being alleaged unpayed by severall gentlemen and others within the sheriffdom of nithisdale , letters of horning were raised by the collectors ; which letters and executions thereof were suspended , because the same was already payed , and yet notwithstanding , troopers were sent to cess and quarter upon the said persons , till they should make payment , although the suspension was not discussed ; and several of them , to be releeved of the heavy burthen of the cess & quartering , were constrained to make payment thereof , and that by and attour the cess for the same , which was far above the said maintenance , in so much that a gentleman who at first might have payed for pounds , the party that went to cess upon him would not aggree to remove for less then merks , yea after an order was procured from the commissioner , for removing the cess for the said maintenance , a party of or horsmen , with their boyes and horses , were sent once and again to quarter upon some gentlemen , until they were forced to make a new address to the commissioner for removal thereof . by all which , that countrey was so exhausted of money , that neither poor nor rich could get it to satisfy these men's demands , and the poor people were forced to sell their beasts in the merkets below their worth ; in so much that they were forced to sell a cow for two nobles or two crowns , the souldiers in the mean time standing by to receave the same , although the poor men had destitute families at home : yea many families whose summs are not here reckoned , in probability are totally ruined , and many others scattered , and particularly in lochrutton there are above families broken , in irongray the most part of the families are broken , beside several that are already put from house-keeping , the souldiers having taken away , both there and elsewhere , that which the people should have lived upon ; yea several gentlemen , formerly in good condition , were put from house-keeping , and forced to wander , and be beholden to others for a nights lodging , the souldiers having violently possessed themselves of their barns , cattel and other goods . neither is this all , the wickedness , prophanity and blasphemies of the souldiers , are rather to be abhorred and supprest then thought or spoken of , if the notoriety thereof were not universall in these bounds . in the parish of carsphairn , in an inn at the bridge of deugh , on the sabbath-day , some of them being quartered there , they most profanely and atheistically mocked at all preaching of the gospel , saying , let us go preach , and then read their text out of the cherry and the slae ( an old scotch amorous poem ) counterfeiting a form of divine worship , and as it is informed did sing an other part of the same poem in stead of the psalms , and used all other mocking modes , as if they had been serious at gods worship . in the parish of irongray , an honest man retiring himself to the fields for secret prayer ( not having liberty at home ) was followed by the souldiers , who drew swords upon him threatning to kill him , if they heard him praying any more , saying , sir , we have heard yow many times howling , if we hear yow again , &c. another time in that same parish , the master of the house was exhorting them to leave off their swearing and profanity , showing them the danger and hazard they were in of the condemnation of hell , some of the souldiours mocking at hell most blasphemously answered . by my soul ere i go to hell , it shall cost god hours pains ere he get me there . in the town of kircudbright , when one captain fin an horseman died , one of his camerads coming to see him , and finding him dead , came near and rudely gripping the dead man , used this horrid expression , what , divell art thow dead , man ? and did not tell me before , that i might have sent a letter to hell with thee ( to such a camerade of his as he named , who had died lately before ) to take up my winter quarters . in the same town also , as is informed , some of them conveening at the cross , & drinking there healths , one of them personating ... ( who dare express whom ) used this blasphemous expression to his camerads , ye are my angels , and i drink to you all . but we abhorre to mention any more of this sort : only this is certain , that atheism and blasphemy is become so ordinary with them , that some of themselves are forced to regret it . in the parish of carsphairn , some of the foot souldiers did so barbarously and cruelly struggle with a man's wife to have forced her ( till she was rescued out of their hands by some women ) that she for fear parted with child , and keeped her bed half a year , being near unto death , and little hope of recovery . also in a gentleman's house in the same parish , where they were quartered , they cruelly beat some of the servants to the effusion of their blood , for all the good service they had done them , postscript . by these things , which have been done in galloway and nithisdale , as the reader may compute , what vast susferings and horrid abominations must be in the whole land , many places whereof are no less disaffected to prelacy , when there are so many and gross , in so little bounds and so short time ; so he may preceave , what provocation that poor oppressed people had to endeavour their own preservation , and to take hold of any opportunity for vindicating their religious and civil interests : and what reason others , either in the same condition with them , or upon the common ground of non-conformity , being threatened and justly fearing to be shortly reduced thereunto , had , according to their obligation in the covenant , for mutual defence and assistance in the common cause of religion and liberty , to joyn with them for their help . neither should i have adventured to insert these instances , if ( besids the diligent care that was used in collecting of them , making them credible ; the notoriety thereof , whereby they were unquestioned in that part of the countrey ; and many such-like things ( whereunto all that is mentioned , is but like a preface ) committed since novemb. , especially in the western parts , rendering them probable ) they were not the native product of this prelatical course , betwixt which and them there is such connexion , as is betwixt the natural cause and the effect , and if the committers thereof had not had command , example and encouragement for many of them from the prelats , whom they resemble as much as face answereth to face in water . it is true the prelats should no more bear all the blame , then sathan ( who restraineth none but tempteth to all ) should be charged with all the sin of man , and they were and are first and chief in the transgression , who were their authors and are their upholders and abettors , and in retaliation of their flattery of the powers , and connivance at profanness in all , and in subserviency to their interest and designe , have perpetrated and permitted so much wickedness and oppression ; yea the peoples walking willingly after the commandement , will never excuse those , who by law , force & example make israel to sin : yet it is above contradiction , that prelacy is the chief though not the only interest , in subserviency to which all these things are done ; and the prelats themselves are a conjunct if not the principal cause thereof . these men having put off their former vizards , no man needeth further to unmask them . let these who employed and maintained sharp to agent their cause , and others who promoted him to the prelacy , declare their own experience , of his continued series of ungrate deceaving and undermining of them and their interests , under trust and professions to the contrary , as all men know that he hath impiously and perfidiously betrayed the church and cause of god : if they will not , let his own many letters written unto them , be produced , as in reason and for vindication they should , and they will evince him to be the archest traitor that ever scotland bred : and how can it otherwise be ? will he who is false to god , be true to any man ? if that man escape some stupenduous and disgracefull remark by the hand of god or man , i will not say , that others need neither fear the one nor regard the other , but sure i am , that many more experienced in the observation of divine providence ; and forse●ing then i am , are much mistaken . let the city of glasglow , and persons of all qualities , especially in that countrey-side , ingenuously say , whether that fiery zelot for the height of english hierarchy and ceremonies , and otherwise insignificant man , master burnet prelate there , doth nor , in just recompence of too many their enslaving their own light and conscience , in flattery of him , and complying with that course , most insolently domineer over them as his slaves , with as much prid , ambition , and contempt , as the most absolute prince doth over his vassals . let these of the synod of glasgow remember , with what deep dissimulation mr hamilton prelat of galloway , did by express suffrage declare , before the last synod there , against the same prelacy , which at that same instant of time , he was clandestinly corresponding with the rulers to establish . this man of all others , hath been the chief cause of all the oppression and persecution in that countrey , and thereby the occasion of the late riseing in armes , & blood that hath followed thereupon . one instance of mr honeyman prelate of orkney i cannot ommit , that in the year , when mr sharp had discovered himself , walking in his own garden , he said to a famous person who can bear witness thereof , ( just as balaam spake truth whether he would or not ) that mr sharp was as false as iudas , and i would gladly know , to whom this casuist , who since hath embraced a bishoprick , will compare himself for fals-hood , except to him who entered into iudas with the sop . i need tell no man who knoweth the persons , of the brutish sensuality of mr wallace p. of the isles , who studieth more the filling of his belly then he was ever fit for feeding of a flock ; nor of the hatred of godliness and good men in mr guthrey p. of dunkel who while he was minister at sterlin , was an old persecuter of both ; nor the scandalous drinking of mr sraughan p. of brechen , let those who visite him in his own house , declare how liberally he useth to entertain them with wine there , upon their own expence . it is true indeed , that mr lighton prelate of dumblan , under a jesuitial-like vizard of pretended holiness , humility , & crucifixion to the world , hath studied to seem to creep upon the ground , but alwayes up the hill , toward promotion & places of more ease , honor & wealth ; & as there is none of them all hath with a kiss so betrayed the cause , and smiten religion under the fifth rib , and hath been such an offence to the godly , so there is none who by his way , practice and expressions , giveth greater suspicion of a popish affection , inclination and design . if these men had not put off their own vaile , no pencil of the most skilled artist could have drawn them to the life , but now by shewing of themselves , they have saved others a labour , or at least made it more easy . and therefore i shall rake no more into this unpleasant dung-hil of the vilest vice , which they and their brethren in iniquity ( whom not nameing here doth not except from their part of the charg of ambition , prid , sensuality , idleness , covetousness , oppression , persecution , dissimulation , perjury , treacheiy , and hatred of godliness and good men , ) have heaped together in their own persons , and transsused to others over all the land. o the immense long suffering and unsearchable wisedome of god! who , hearing the cry of these things , stirreth not the zeal of all to execute his just judgment upon these men ; but it may be , that he is ripening and reserving them , for a more god-like strok , then any would be acknowledged to be , wherein man were instrumental . neither are their mercenaries , whom they hire as postillions to ride upon the fore-horse of all their wickedness , less skilled , but more foreward that way then their drivers . it were as far above the faith of any , who have not heard and seen , to beleeve , and might render any pen suspected of the want of truth or tenderness , to write the hundreth part , as it it easy to instance incredibly much , but endless to relate all that is true of the ignorance , lightness & profaness of these men . when i have told , that several lying in known and acknowledged fornication , without removall of the scandal , have been admitted to the ministry by the prelats who knew it , and violently obtruded by them & the patrons upon the offended people ; that some of them after admission , have been deprehended lying with women by the way side ; that others have been found guilty of actuall fornication , and of unanswerable presumptions of adultery with other mens wives ; and that drounkenness is both open and frequent amongst many of them , i may well awake the wonder , the blush and horrour of the reader , but i have only begun to shew a part ( & indeed avery small part ) of these mens wayes . a prophet he may be by way of prognostication , but let the world judg what manner of preacher he must be , who , offending that the people did not come to hear him , did , before the congregation , imprecate thus against himself , god nor i be hanged hut i shall make you all come . another refused to pay the price of a horse before he pleased , ( which he used to boast privately would be at doomsday ) because the seller , at the making of the bargan , in civility said , pay me when ye please ; and thereupon , to the scorn and derision of all , substained an action of law some dayes before a civill court. who will commerce with such horse-koopers ? but much less who can acknowledg such men for ministers ? these men , being themselves generally without substance and forme of religion , are such malicious persecuters of both in others , that as i could never hear of one soul turned from sathan to god by their labours ( whereof indeed there are many profane seals ) so they are become vile in the eyes of all , that are truly godly or but morally civil ; in so much that this is the only advantage , ( and indeed it is an advantage , for if they were more smooth and sober , they might be more insnaring ) that they do not wear a rough garment to deceave ; and though i cannot say , that their out-side is as unclean as their inner-side , yet it is such as saith in every mans heart , that the fear of god is not before their eyes . these are the pleasant birds , that are hatched and cherished under the warm wings of prelacy , of whom though no man can speak the half of the truth to a stranger , without exposing himself to the censure of partiality , passion or being a reproacher ; yet the universall and incontroverted notoriety of these things , in all places where they reside or converse , will absolve the relater before all men who know them . it is true , we do not charg every individuall with every particular , yet because they are generally true of many , and being notourly knows and sometimes represented are not remeeded , they are chargable upon the course , which being sinfull in self , the authors and abettors thereof are participant of the guilt , and lyable to the punishment . and indeed the lord hath already begun his controversy with some of them , not only by pouring shame and contempt upon them ( particularly upon traiterous sharp ) and drying up the right eye & blasting the gifts which severall seemed to have ( whether by their own negligence , which every man observeth , or immediat judgment , or both , i do not determine , ) but also by visible cursing of their substance , diverse of them being necessitated through poverty to sell their tithes at half worth , long before they are payable , and others of them to remove , leaving more debt behind , then they are able to discharge . neither have these men thus profaned the sanctuary only , & by the sins of the sons of ely made all men to abhor the offering of the lord ; but from them are issued forth , such overflowing streames of wickedness over all the land , that , besids all that is mentioned , there are other inconceavable & inexpressible atheistical abominations said to be committed by men , which , as it is a wonder the devil himself should dare to act , so for fear of the great and dreadful god , and of offending the ears of others , my heart trembleth to think , & my hand faileth to writ . o lord forgive , that ever anothers speaking , but much more acting , should have occasioned my thinking thereof . and yet as if all that is related were too little , for sanctuary to themselves , for further inslaving of the countrey , & venting of insatiable revenge ( cursed be their anger for it is fierce , and their wrath for it is cruell ) they have procured two proclamations , dated at edinburgh march. . . making mention of great evidence of many disaffected persons in the western shares , who are ready to break out in open rebellion , & involve the kingdom in blood ; & of just reason of suspition that these rebells will rise in armes against the king and his authority , and not only make use of the armes , powder and ammunition concealed or transported from enemies , but se●se upon the armes of others , and invade the ministers of the gospel &c. and therefore for preventing and disabling of them to put themselves in military posture , to make sudden marches or attempts upon other subjects or the standing forces , or to joine with other persons of pernicious and disloyal principles , &c. commanding all persons within the shires of lanerk , air , renfrew , wigton and stewarty of kire●dbright , who have refused or deserted publick trust , who withdraw from publick ordinances , and keep not their parish-churches , or do not submit to the present government of the church , and all who being warned did not joine to suppress the late rebellion , unless they take the oath of alleageance , and subscribe the declaration , that after the day of may next , by themselves or any other for their behoof , they do not keep any horse above the value of an hundred merks ; and in case of failzie , that the sherif value & deliver such horses to the informer without payment to be made therefore ; and before the first of may , to deliver to their respective sherifs all their armes and ammunition ( allowing gentlemen only swords ) under the pain of fining each gentleman in merks , & each other person in merks , whereof the one half to the informer ; and commanding all heritors and parishioners to defend the persons , families , and goods of their ministers , from all affronts and injuries , with certification that the sufferers and not opposers of the same , shall be reputed art & part , & he proceeded against with all rigor as guilty thereof ; and in case of surprizal , that they pursue , apprehend and present the committers before the council , otherwise to be lyable to reparation of damnage , &c. what new and strange policy is there here , that the narrative of both proclamations , in stead of concealing in the time of declared and continued war with forrainers , should proclaime that there are so many disaffected persons , who are ready to rise in armes , to seise upon the armes of others , and weaken the forces of the kingdom , thereby expressing the sense of their own deservings , and the fears of an evil conscience , discovering their own nakedness to enemies , and encouraging forrainers to invade with the more confidence ? must these shires , which , without derogation to others , do eminently flourish with men of piety towards god and true lo●alty , and during the king's exile , did retain a more faithful remembrance of his interest according to the covenants , then many other places of the kingdom , be , of all other shires within the same in recompense thereof , rewarded with the titles of disaffected persons , rebells , men of pernicious and disloyal principles , and spoiled of their goods ? whence should these , who being spoiled of all armes , first by the english , and then by the council since the king's return , be presumed to have concealed armes ! what ground is there to suggest unto the world , the transportation of armes from enemies ? must every man who will not throw away for nothing his horse and armes , which he hath purchased by his money , be therefore a seditious and disaffected person , and accordingly proceeded against with all rigor ▪ if none within these shires must keep a horse exceeding the value above-mentioned , how impossible is it to labour much of the ground ? how are covetous wretches , in hope of gaining horse without payment , and the half of the fines for concealed armes , animated to give in invidious informations against the owners ? and many poor well meaning people tempted , to redeem their beasts at the rate of perjury and breach of covenant ? what an absurd thing is it , to punish men otherwayes innocent , only for not accepting or deserting publick trust ; whereunto they neither have access , nor can continue in without formal and express perjury ? how irrational and unjust is it , to command ( under a penalty ) parishioners to do that which may be impossible , yea without the compass of their knowledge , such as opposing , but much more apprehending and presenting surprizers ? wherewith , i pray you , shall these who must deliver up all their armes ( reserving not so much as a sword ) defend themselves or any other man , against violence and surprizall ? we read in our history of a law , whereby for repressing of theft , men were not to shut their doors in the night , and satisfaction was ensured to the owner for any thing that should be stoln from him ; whereupon a countrey-man alleaging his goods to be stoln , obtained payment ; but being found thereafter that himself had hid them , he was hanged for a reward to himself and example to others : now what if some of these covetous and malicious men should ( for who can rationally promise and secure , but that they who have done worse , may also ) thus abstract or cause abstract their own goods ? what if the lord should immediatly smit them for offering strange fire ? or thieves and robers should fall upon them ? or evil spirits in humane shape ▪ should haunt or hurt them , must innocent people upon their invidious & false alleagance be therefore punished ? as if the parishioners of carpha●● should pay for mckinney's silver plate , which his own servant stole from him . ah scotland , which the lord planted a noble vine , wholly a right seed ! how are thow turned into a degenerate plant of a strange vine ? where is now the spirit of the fathers , that ( as if thy inhabitants were neither christians ; men nor patriots ) religion , the land , ourselves , and the posterity , in bodies , consciences , and estats should be thus emancipated , to the interest , lust and designe of prelats and their hirelings , whom the lords sparing is a greater wonder , then if he should convert them into pillars of salt for their apostacy : o backslide● scotland ! remember from whence thow art fallen , repent and do the first works , or else he will come unto thee quickly , and will remove thy candlestcik out of his place , except thow repent . finis . the english martyrologe conteyning a summary of the liues of the glorious and renowned saintes of the three kingdomes, england, scotland, and ireland. collected and distributed into moneths, after the forme of a calendar, according to euery saintes festiuity. vvherunto is annexed in the end a catalogue of those, who haue suffered death in england for defence of the catholicke cause, since king henry the . his breach with the sea apostolicke, vnto this day. by a catholicke priest. wilson, john, ca. -ca. ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the english martyrologe conteyning a summary of the liues of the glorious and renowned saintes of the three kingdomes, england, scotland, and ireland. collected and distributed into moneths, after the forme of a calendar, according to euery saintes festiuity. vvherunto is annexed in the end a catalogue of those, who haue suffered death in england for defence of the catholicke cause, since king henry the . his breach with the sea apostolicke, vnto this day. by a catholicke priest. wilson, john, ca. -ca. ? [ ], , [ ] p. printed at the english college press] permissu superiorum, [saint-omer : anno . "to the catholicks of england, scotland, and ireland" signed: i.w. priest, i.e. john wilson. identification of printer from stc. "a catalogue of those vvho haue suffered death in england, for defence of the catholicke cause, synce the yeare of christ .. vnto this yeare " (a different text from stc . ), a - . includes index. with a final errata leaf. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) 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proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the english martyrologe conteyning a svmmary of the lives of the glorious and renowned saintes of the three kingdomes , england , scotland , and ireland . collected and distribvted into moneths , after the forme of a calendar , according to euery saintes festiuity . vvhervnto is annexed in the end a catalogue of those , who haue suffered death in england for defence of the catholicke cause , since king henry the . his breach with the sea apostolicke , vnto this day . by a catholicke priest. eccles. . nomen eorum viuet in generationem & generationem . their memory shall liue from generation to generation . permissu superiorum . anno . ecce regni anglia dulcis patriae excidiū dolendū &c. mar●yribus , confessoribus , &c. behould the lamentable destruction of england so pleasant a countrey &c. an iland so shining with martyrs . confessours , and holy virgins , that scarcely shall yow passe by any famous village or streete , where yow shall not heare the glorious name of some new saint or other &c. matth. paris . in hist. angl. anno . gul. conquest . nvsquam gentium , vt opinor , reperies . &c. no where , i supose , shall yow find so many incorrupted bodyes of saintes ( as in england ) resembling that their euerlasting incorruptibility . which by diuine prouidence , i thinke , to be therfore so ordayned ; that a nation situated almost out of the world , should by consideration of their incorruption , be more confidently animated to the hope of eternall resurrection &c. author continuat . hist. ven. bedae l. . cap. . vixit anno . every corner of s. augustines monastery at cāterbury lieth full of the bodyes of sayntes , and those of no small name or merit ; but euen of such , as one wherof alone were sufficient to make england famous . &c. idem eodem lib. cap. . to the catholicks of england , scotland , and ireland . when i had almost brought this little worke to an end , ( deare catholicke countreymen ) i began to thinke with my selfe , to whome , among many so dearely affected , i might make bold to dedicate the same , therby the better to patronize that , which ouer bold presumption had cōceyued . and though the thing it selfe needed none other patrons or protectors then the glorious saintes themselues , of whome we are now to treat : yet because i might not seeme , in a manner , to defraude any heerin of their right & interest , which i imagined ; at last i thought it most conuenient , that yow , whose hartes and myndes are firmely fixed in the honour and veneration of so glorious and elected wightes , and for the imbracing wherof yow daily suffer so great and many persecutions , should take vpon yow this protection , for whose comfort and consolation principally ( next after the honour of the saintes themselues ) the same is published . i do not heere offer vnto yow any new thing ( which is alwayes commonly the custome of such to do who dedicate their workes to others ) but that which so many ages since , hath by a certaine inheritance , as it were , of your forfathers , descended still , by good right and title , vnto yow , and shall heerafter vnto your , and all posterity . only this , that i haue heere gathered togeather , and restored vnto yow againe , that which the iniury of tymes had violently taken from yow , and sought to abolish all memory therof : humbly presenting the same , as a duty of my loue towards yow , & my dearest countrey . wishing yow to take in good part , what my poore endeauours haue byn able to produce heerin for your spirituall consolation , in these your so great affictions and pressures : with desyre to be made partaker of your good prayers . this first of october . . yours wholy deuoted . i. w. priest. the calendar . ianvary midwyne conf. * eluane bish. * a thousand holy martyrs * meltorus mart. * croniacke conf. * edward king. peter conf. * . ced conf. guithelme bishop transl. william brituald bishop adrian abbot . transl. iudocus sethrid virg. * egwyne bishop benedict abbot . kentigerne abbot . beno confessour * alfred king * henry ermite milwyde virg. deicola abbot . vlfride bishop * wolstan bishop henry bishop . elfred virg. * malcalline abbot . brituald bishop * boysill abbot . * sophias bishop . cadocke mart. conuersion paul. eoglodius conf * theorithgid virg. * palladius bish. * arwaldi broth. mart. * gildas abbot . amnichade conf. adaman conf. febrvary . brigit virgin laurence bishop burchard bishop . wereburge virgin gilbert conf. liephard bish. i●hn . indractus mart. * inas king. * richard king augulus bishop transl. helena edelsted virg. * merigold mart. transl. wi●●rid bishop . william bish. canoch conf. edilwald bishop . * ermenild queene transl. kilian b. conwane conf. * sigfride bishop . tancone bishop . finan bishop . iohn bishop . * acca bishop . * mildred virgin vlsricke ermite cymbert bishop . * transl. gudwall bishop . transl. milburge virg. ethelbert king berectus conf. transl. furseus abbot iohn bishop . * sexulfe bishop . * alnoth martyr* oswald bishop . march dauid bishop . switbert bish. chad bishop . willeicke abb. wenlocke abbot furseus abbot wilgise confess . * frodoline abbot kinisdred virg. kiniswide virg. deifer ermite * felix bishop . bosa bishop . * himeline conf. transl oswyn king. gregory pope . fethno conf. * vigane conf. * ceolnulph king. * aristobulus bishop . alred abbot . * patricke bishop . edward king christian bish. alkmund mart. * cuthbert bish. herebert conf. isenger bishop . * hamund bishop . * egbert king. * lansrancke bishop . william martyr many holy martyrs . * archibald abbot . transl. fremund king. baldred conf. * pattone bishop transl. adelme bishop . april . sadocke . mart. * adrian . mart. * ebba abbesse . * richard bishop . burgundofora virg. guier priest. * tigernake bishop gotebald bishop . * celsus confessour ethelwold king. * sigene abbot . * duuianus conf. * frithstan bish. * paternus confess . eschillus bishop . guthlacke conf. hugh bishop* mechtild virg. * elfled virgin. * ethelnulph king. * eleua . oswald bishop transl. alban protom . marianus conf. * oswyn conf. * elphege bishop ceadwall king. transl. aldar b. anselme bishop birstan bishop . * george martyr . etheldred king mellitus bishop . egbert abbot . inuent . iuo b. tran. wilfrid b. obodius conf. * modan confess . * midan confess . * walburge virgin kortill bishop . * senan conf. * erconwald bishop . may assaph bish. vltan abbot german bishop . piran conf. * walter abbot ethelred king. * algiue queene* scandalaus conf. * edbert bishop tran. dubritiu iohn beuerley bish. wyre bishop . beatus conf. transl. bede priest fremund king martyr remigius bishop merwyne virg. * edith virg. * dympna virg. symon confess . transl. alban brandan abbot . transl. . virgins sewall bishop . dunstan bishop . alcuine abbot ethelbert king mart. godricke ermite constātine emper. henry king. william martyr edgar king * adelme bishop . augustine bishop fugatius conf. damianus conf. bede priest ionas abbot . * burien virg. * hieu virg. * wolstan martyr ivne . rufin mart. * vlfade mart. * malcolme king * eleutherius conf. * patrocke bishop . * boniface bishop mart. eboam bishop . mart. adlar bishop mart. vintruge priest mart. walter priest mart. abelhere priest mart. hamunt deacō mart. boso deacon mart. gunderhere m. mart. wilhere monke mart. adolph monke mart. gudwall bish robert abbot transl. wolstan william bish. disibode bish. columbe abbot tran. edmund king margaret queene ithimar bishop edilwald conf. * agatha virg. * elerius abbot * transl brandan abbot eadburge virg. transl. menigold mayne abbot transl richard bishop . leofgar bishop . mart. botulph abbot . dunstan abbot * iohn bishop . * transl. oswald k. transl. edward k. engelmund mart. alban protomart . souldiar mart transl. ortrude v. ediltrude virgin. rumwald bishop . amphibale mart. adalbert conf. transl. lebuine conf. nine hundred mart. * iohn conf. transl. leuine b. columbane monke * peter & paul apost . ethelwyne bishop * deusdedit bishop . ivly ivlius & aaron goluin bishop . swithin bishop . oudocke conf. transl. lanfranke b. guthagon conf. odo bishop modwene abbesse transl. anselme bishop sexburge abbesse tran. thom. of cant. hedda bishop . willebald bishop . edilburge virg. ercongote virg. grimbald abbot . kilian bishop colman mart. totnam mart. erwald mart. edilburge queene etto bishop . dronston conf. * luane abbot * transl. mildred virg. marchelme conf. transl. swithin bishop of winch. plechelme bishop eadgith queene harrucke bishop dauid abbot . transl. osmund bishop kenelme king mart. iohn abbot frideg and conf. edburge virgin transl. odilia diman conf. * ethelwide queene * arbogastus bishop wilfrede queene . * vodine bish. mart. * transl. lewine virg. wiaman mart. * vnaman mart. * sunaman mart. * christian virgin ioseph of arimathia hugh martyr sampson bishop lupus bishop owen conf. * lefrone abbesse tacwine bish. neoth conf. avgvst eethelwold bishop transl. wenlock alricke ermite * domitius conf. * transl. wallurge virg. oswald king. henry bishop alexander conf. * maude queene * fagane confess . * hugh bishop malcus bishop . * gilbert confessour * bertelme conf. * wigbert mart. * transl. werenfrid conf. margaret prioresse * thomas monke * thomas conf. ieron martyr helen empresse . clintanke king. oswyne king richard bishop . * arnulph conf. * iustinian mart. * alice prioresse * ebba martyr thom. of hereford pandwyne virgin * decuman mart. * rumbald conf. * agnes virg. mart. sebbe king transl. edwold fiaker conf. aidan bishop cuthberge abbesse transl. eanswide september elphege bishop * adaman abbot * transl. foillan bish. tran. cuthbert bish. marcellus bishop . altho abbot * bega virgin * transl. dunstan bish. ethelburge queene * queran abbot wulfhild virg. otger deacon conf. bather abbot * eanswide abbesse quemburge virg. * werenfrid conf. bernard conf. * chineburg queene * ninian bishop edith virgin martyrs stephen socrates transl. winocke abb. theodore bishop cibthacke confessour * edilhun conf. * higbald abbot * hereswide queene * transl. winibald abb. ceolfride abbot wulsy abbot iotaneus conf. * sigebert king * lioba abbesse cogan abbot . * honorius bishop . october roger bishop tran. guthagō wasnulph conf. transl. thom. of hereford ewaldi martyrs . edwyn king mart. conwalline abbot * ywy conf. comine abbot * osith virg. transl. hugh b. transl. eloquius keyna virgin robert bishop . gislen conf. pauline bishop iohn conf. edilburge abbesse canicke abbot wilfrid bishop . transl. edward k. colman martyr transl. burchard bishop . transl. oswald b. tecla abbesse lullus bishop . gallus abbot ethelbrit mart. ethelred mart. tran. ediltrude . mo●o martyr fridesuyde virgin transl. widebrord ethbyn abbot wendelm abbot . vrsula virgin mellon bishop cordula virg. dovatus bish. syra virgin * maglore bish. maxentia virg. * ardwine conf. * eatta bishop . albuine bish. transl. romwald b. symon apostle alfred king. eadsine bishop motiser conf. * egelnoth bishop foillan bishop november transl. boniface b. richard ermite * vulganius bishop . wenefride virgin tran. edith virg. clare martyr . malachy bishop . winocke abbot . willebrord bishop . florentius bishop . willehade bishop congilia abbesse * iustus bishop io●n bishop bertuine bishop . liu 〈…〉 nus bishop lebuine conf. kilian bish. conf. tran. erconwald laurence bishop dubri●ius bishop macloue bishop edmund bishop margaret qu. hugh bishop hilda abbesse fulke confess . * ermenburge queene edmund k. mart. humbert bishop . columban abbot osmane virgin * tathar er 〈…〉 e * eanflede queene * telean bishop * egbert abbot * oda virgin edwold conf. barucke ermite * withbuge virgin * december daniel confess . * neede virgin * lucius king birine bish. eloquius conf. osmund bishop emerita virg. christine virgin * congellus abbot* floremina virg. * odwald abbot . * gallanus conf. * conception of b. virg. agatha queene * ethelgine abbesse * chined ermite * geruadius bishop * elfred virg. * iudocus ermite edburge virgin mimborine abbot * transl. hilda virg. bean bishop tibbe virgin * tetta abbesse * winibald abbot macharias abbot * comogel abbot * edburge abbesse * hidelide virgin * imbware virgin * ruthius conf. * gregory conf. * ethelfrede virg. * gerrard confess . * transl. elphege bishop . thomas of canterbury eustach abbot * eternane conf. * an advertisment of the avthor to the catholicke reader . wheras all bookes ( good reader ) of what subiect soeuer , that are published to the view of the world , must passe the censures and iudgments of many sortes of people ; i haue thought it not amisse before thou enter any further into the contentes , to giue thee two or three short aduertisments in this place ; as well therby to preuent all occasions of misconstruction or cauill , that any man , perchance , may take against this little worke or sanctiloge of myne ; as also the better to informe thy vnderstanding , concerning diuers doubtes or other difficultyes , that in the reading therof may happily occurre vnto thee . . first then i would haue thee to vnderstand , that what i haue heere set downe in this ensuing martyrologe concerning the liues and miracles of these glorious and renowned saintes of our great-britany , and of the ilands belonging therunto ; i haue done the same with all truth , sincerity & conscience , to my knowledge : not contenting my selfe with bare wordes and relations only ; but haue in the margents quoted also the bookes and places of the authors , out of whome i haue gathered al that is heere alleaged . neyther haue i vsed any other authors herin , but such as are approued by the sea apostolick , or at leastwise permitted by the same reiecting all apocryphall legends or other fabulous historyes , that may be any way suspected of the least note of falsity or errour whatsoeuer . secondly i haue not taken vpon me in this catalogue or calendar to make an vniuersall martyrologe , but haue gathered togeather only the ancient saintes , martyrs , confessours & virgins of our three kingdomes , england , scotland & ireland : yet for that , besides these of our owne , there are some others also of foraine nations , by whome our said countreys haue receyued some notable or peculiar benefit , either publicke or priuate ; as hauing byn our apostles or patrons , eyther by way of preaching , teaching , protection , or otherwise in the cooperation to our conuersion , and consequently to be by vs honoured and reuerenced for such , as all our cath. ancestours and forfathers haue done before vs , and as we see all other catholicke countreys round about vs to do the like in the same case : these ( i say ) i haue thought good to accompt as our owne , & togeather with our owne to place thē on their proper festiuall dayes , to the end we may as well with due honour obserue their memoryes and solemnityes : as also therby auoyd the vngratefull obliuion of so great & inestimable benefits receyued by them and their merits . . the third aduertisement may be , that wheras it hath pleased god to giue vnto our little dominions so many glorious saintes , both martyrs , cōfessours & virgins ( besides these later of our dayes , whose names i haue also put downe in a catalogue a part by thēselues , in the later end of this booke ) who may be more then sufficient , to make a whole and complete calendar , throughout euery moneth , placing on euery day one ; yet for that a great number of our ancient saintes haue no proper festiuityes in our english catholicke church , and many of them forgotten and almost out of memory , by this vnfortunate fall of our countrey , frō the true and ancient catholicke faith , and vnion of the sea apostolicke : i haue thought it most conuenient for the more full accomplishing and perfecting of a martyrologe , that where any day falleth out to be altogeather voyd ; there to place one or more of the forsaid ancient saintes , whose publicke celebrity hath not byn hitherto kept ; & therof to make a commemoration only ( which in the roman & other martyrologes is often vsed ) noting the same with the signe of an asteriske or starre in the margent , to the end it may be knowne and obserued of the reader . and where none of these forsaid markes , so noted , is to be found ; then vpon that day is put the true festiuity of the saint , whome there thou shalt find placed . . and lastly , i do not meane by this ensuing martyrologe to introduce any other publicke obseruation or festiuity of any of the saintes heerin by me set downe , then that which the catholicke church of england hath in formertymes , and doth also at this present celebrate : but only my intention is to lay forth the summe of their liues and miracles as briefly as i may , for the increase of deuotion in the catholicke people , and for the duty and reuerenced owe vnto them both : leauing the rest to euery mans pri 〈…〉 re and particular deuotion , as he shall , by reading the same , be affected to their glorious veneration . wi 〈…〉 ing hartily all such catholickes of our said coūtreys , to whose hands this little worke may chance to come ; that if they haue any other notes , concerning these our ancient saintes lying by them , they would vouchsafe , eyther to impart the same vnto me , or be pleased themselues , by reuiewing this small labour of myne , to publish the same anew , and a 〈…〉 end my imperfections heerin , if any shal be found ; as well for the honour of the glorious saintes themselues , as the publike vtility of these our kingdoms and countreys . farewell . i. w. errata pag. monassery lege monastery eaetta eatta . venetion veneration . roall . royall the moneth of ianvary . a the first day . at glastenbury-abbey in somersetshire the commemoration of the sayntes midwyne and eluane confessors , who being two noble auncient britans by byrth , were sent by king lucius of britany to rome to pope elutherius , to treat of his conuersion to christian faith , and being there both baptized by the said pope , & s. eluane made a bishop , they were sent backe againe into britany , togeather with fugatius and damianus , who baptized the king and the greatest part of his nation , in the yeare of our lord . and after they had much laboured in teaching and instructing the new flocke of christ in our iland for many yeares , full of sanctity of life , and venerable old age , they both ended their happy dayes , about the yeare of christ , an hundred nynty and eight , & were buried at glastenbury , as the ancient records of that abbey do witnesse , and in other places of many holy martyrs , confessors , and virgins ; to whose prayers and merits , we humbly commend our selues . this last clause is alwayes thus to be repeated in the end of euery day . b the second day . at lichfield in staffordshire the commemoration of a thousand holy martyrs , of the british nation , who newly conuerted to the faith of christ , and being disciples and followers of s. amphibale priest , that suffered in the persecution of dioclesian emperour , and present at his martyrdome neere vnto the towne of s. albanes in hartfordshire , fled thence for feare of like torments ; but being ouertaken at lichfield , they were all in hatred of christian religion , there most cruelly put to death , by commandement of the president of brittany , about the yeare of christ three hundred and foure . the place where they suffered , was afterward called cadauerum campus , which is as much to say as lich-field in english , & where the forsaid citty is now built , and therof taketh his auncient name and denomination . and in other places of many holy martyrs , confessors , and virgins , &c. c the third day . in cornwall the cōmemoration of s. meliorus martyr , sonne to melianus duke of that prouince , who being his fathers only sonne and heyre , and secretly made a christian , was by a brother-in-law of his called rinaldus a pagan , cruelly murdered , partly in hatred of his faith and religion , and partly to inioy his inheritance . he first cut of his right hand , and then his left legge , and last of all his head , about the yeare of christ foure hundred and eleuen . his body was buried in an old church in cornwall , wherat in signe of his innocency , it pleased god forth with to worke many miracles ; where also his reliques were kept with great honour and veneration , euen vntill our dayes . d the fourth day . in scotland the commemoration of s. croniacke confessor , who borne of a very noble parentage in that kingdome , tooke a religious habit , and became a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , where in all kind of ●anctity of life , and monasticall discipline , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fifty . his memory is yet very famous amongst the catholickes , aswell of the scottish , as the irish nation ; in both which kingdomes in former tymes , many churches and altars haue byn dedicated in his honour . it is heere , and in many other places to be obserued , that the irish and scottish historiographers do oftentymes disagree about the natiue contrey of diuers saintes mentioned in this martyrologe ; for that in aunciēt tymes the iland of hybernia being called scotia , hath caused a great confusion , especially amongst forrayne wryters , who for want of knowledge heerin , do often confound the one nation with the other . e the fifth day . at vvestminster by london , the deposition of s. edward king and confessour , who being yet in his mothers wombe , was elected , crowned , and annoynted king by s. peter the apostle , as it was miraculously reueyled to s. brituald bishop of vvinchester , that liued at the same tyme. he was very famous for working of miracles , especially in curing a disease of swelling in peoples throtes , which was afterward therof called the kinges-euill . his body being taken vp thirty six yeares after his death , was found as flexible and vncorrupt , as when it was first buryed . he was canonized for a saint by pope alexander the third , in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred threescore and three . his translation was wont to be kept holy-day throughout england vpon the thirteenth day of october , of whome in that place we haue set downe a larger narration . f the sixt day . at bologne in france the commemoration of s. peter confessor , who being by s. augustine our english apostle ordayned abbot of a new monastery neere vnto canterbury , which k. ethelbert of kent had founded , and going ouer into france , was by tempest of sea , drowned neere to the coast of bologne , where the inhabitāts finding his body , buried it in an obscure place : but a certaine miraculous light from heauen being seene euery night to shine theron , the people began to inquire further what he was ; and at last hauing intelligence from england , that it was the forsaid abbot , they tooke vp his body , and translated it with great solemnity to bologne , and there with due veneration placed it in a church , wherat in signe of his sanctity and holines of life , miracles are said to haue byn forthwith wrought . this happened about the yeare of christ , six hundred and seauen . g the seauenth day . at london the festiuity of s. ced confessor and second bishop of that sea brother to s. chad of li●●field , who by his continuall preaching to the mercians and eastsaxons , conuerted many thousands to the faith of christ , and is worthily called their apostle . the sea of london being voyd for many years after the death of s. mellitus , he was at length consecrated therto , at the intercession of sigebert k. of the eastsaxons , who was newly conuerted to the christian faith . and afterwards building a goodly monastery at a place called lestinghen in the prouince of the deires , and replenishing the same with many monks , at last in great sanctity of life , full of venerable old age , he ended his blessed dayes , in the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and foure , and was buried in his forsaid new monastery , where he desceased . s. bede recounteth , that when afterward his brother s. chad died , his soule was seene to descend from heauen , with a troupe of angells , to accompany the same to paradise . a the eight day . at london the deposition of s. guithelme bishop and confessor , who borne of a noble bloud in our i●ād , & in the primitiue church of britany ordayned archbishop of london , was very famous for preaching the christian faith to the pagans of our nation : and after a most saintly life , full of miracles , in a good old age , he most blessedly departed this world , about the yeare of christ foure hundred and threescore . the same day at yorke the translation of s. vvilliam confessor and bishop of that sea , kinsman to k. stephen of england , who after he had most patiently endured many iniuryes and wrongs , yea and banishment also from his bishopricke and flocke , being againe restored by pope anastasius the fourth , in great holines of life , he ended his blessed dayes , in the yeare of christ , one thousand , one hundred , fifty and foure . his venerable body being , after many yeares , taken vp on this day , was with great solemnity translated to a more eminent place of his owne cathedrall church of yorke , wherat , in signe of his innocency , through his merits , it pleased god to worke miracles . b the ninth day . at canterbury the deposition of s. brituald bishop and confessor , who being constituted the first abbot of the monastery of rheaculse in kent , now called reaculer , which holy k. ethelbert of that prouince had founded soone after his conuersion , was thence promoted to the archbishopricke of canterbury , and succeeded s. theodore in that sea , which when he had gouerned for almost fourty yeares , in great sanctity and holines of life , full of venerable old age , he gaue vp his soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and thirty ; and was buryed at canterbury . the same day and same place the deposition of s. adrian abbot , who borne in in asricke , and sent into england with s. theodore of canterbury aboue named , by pope vitalian ; after he had taught the christian faith in our iland for nyne and thirty yeares togeather , full of sanctity of life & miracles , he departed to our lord , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and ten , and was buryed in s. augustines church at canterbury . the same day also at po●toise in france the translation of s. iudocus ( cōmonly called in english s. ioyce ) who descended of a noble brittish bloud , forsooke the world , and became an ermite in france , where in all kind of most godly life and conuersation , he ended his blessed dayes . his body being taken vp , on this day , threescore yeares after his death , was found as flexible and vncorrupt , as if it had byn buryed the day before . and being put into a costly shrine , was placed in a more eminent roome of the same church , about the yeare of christ seauen hundred and thirteene , wherat it pleased god to worke many miracles . c the tenth day . at brige neere paris in france , the commemoration of s. sethird virgin and abb●sse , daughter to annas king of the east-angles , and sister to s. edilburge virgin , who in her yong yeares went ouer into france and became a religious womā there in a monastery at the forsaid towne of brige , vnder the care of her said sister that then gouerned the same ; after whose death , she was made abbesse of the whole monastery ; where in very great sanctimony of life , ioyned with most godly conuersation and monasticall discipline , she yielded vp her blessed soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and threescore : and was buryed in the same place . d the eleuenth day . at vvorcester the deposition of s. egwine confessor , & third bishop of that sea , who being a man of very austere life , made a payre of iron-shackles , locked them close about his legges , then cast the keyes therof into the riuer of seuerne , an so went to rome with o●●a king of mercia ; desiring of god , that the said shackles might not be loosed from his leges , vntill he had made satisfation for all the synnes of his youthfull yeares : and in his returne backe , as he came ouer the sea , vpon a suddayne a fish leaped into the shippe , wherin he sayled ; which being taken and killed , the forsaid keyes of the shackles that he had throwne into the riuer , were found in the fishes belly ; the which being brought to the blessed bishop , he forthwith applyed them to the shackles that were about his legges , and straight vnlocking them , to the admiration of the behoulders , he came ioyfully home to his bishopricke . he founded the famous abbey of euesham neere vvorcester , & endowed it with great reuenewes & possessions , procuring from rome diuers priuiledges and franchises for the same , of pope constantine , by the meanes of k. coenred and k. o●●a , that then resided in that citty for deuotion sake . and after many other workes of piety , famous for miracles , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and sixteene : and was buried at euesham . e the twelfth day . at vvire-mouth in the bishopricke of durham , the deposition of s. benedict abbot , surnamed biscopus , who being descended of a noble parentage in our iland , went to rome , and after his returne thence , built a goodly monastery at the riuer-banke of vvire in the kingdome of the northumbers , wherin our famous s. bede was afterward brought vp . he founded there also a goodly church , dedicating the same to the blessed apostles s. peter and s. paul. and after a second voyage to rome , to procure priuiledges for his said monastery , full of sanctity and holinesse of life , he ended his venerable dayes , about the yeare of christ seauen hundred and three , and was buryed in the forsaid church which himself had built , wherat it pleased god to worke many miracles . f the thirteenth day . at glasco in scotland the deposition of s. kentigerne , abbot and confessour , sonne to king eugenius the third of scotland , who being created bishop of glasco , soone after resigned that dignity , and built himselfe a monastery in the same kingdome , gathering togeather six hundred monkes , whome he instructed in all kind of vertue and good learning , and was a myrrour to the christian world . and when he had thus cōtinued for very many yeares , full of venerable old age , ioyned with sanctity of life and miracles , he gaue vp his blessed soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and eight , and was buryed in the same place . g the fourteenth day . in north-wales the commemoration of s. beno priest and confessor , who leading an eremiticall life in the west part of england , was by an angell admonished to go into vvales to a noble man called trebuith , s. vvenefrides father , who gaue him a part of his lands and possessions to build a monastery , as also his daughter vvenefride to be instructed and brought vp in a religious manner : whose head being soone after cut of by cradocus sonne to alane king of the same contrey , for not yielding to his vnlawfull lust , he miraculously set on againe , she liuing fifteene yeares after . he ended his venerable life full of sanctity and miracles , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and threescore : whose body hath alwayes byn had in very great reuerence in our iland , especially of the ancient britanes of vvales . a the fifteenth day . at mailros in the kingdome of northumberland , the commemoration of blessed alfred confessour , and eighteenth king of that prouince , who being a most vertuous prince , in the one and twentith yeare of his raigne , contemning all worldly pompe and honour , to the admiration of all christendome , both he and his wife the queene , with mutuall consent entred into monasteryes , & became religious , she being veyled a nunne at a place called dormundcaster , two miles from peterburrow ; and he taking the habit of a monke in the forsaid monastery of maylros , where in great sanctity of life & obseruance of monasticall discipline , he spent the rest of his dayes , and finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and twenty , and was buryed in the same place . b the sixteenth day . at tyn-mouth in northumberlād the deposition of s. henry confessor and eremite , who borne in denmarke of very honourable parents , came ouer into england , and obtayned leaue of the prior of tyn-mouth to lead a solitary or eremiticall life in the iland of cochet , where he liued many yeares with only bread and water , and afterward he came to eate but thrice in the weeke , and three dayes also a weeke he kept sylence . on a tyme he would haue gone to durham , but had no boate to passe ouer the riuer of vvire ; wherfore being solicitous how to get ouer , a boate that was fastened on the other side of the water , brake loose , and of it selfe came ouer vnto him , wherin he passed . towards the end of his dayes , he got a swelling in one of his knees , through ouer much praying , which growing to an vlcer , at last brake , and when certayne little wormes crept therout , he would take and put them in againe , saying : go into your inheritance , where yow haue byn nourished , &c. and so perseuering in a most godly and saintly life for a long tyme , when the houre of death drew neere , he went into a little chappell in the same iland , and taking the belrope in his hand , when he had rung it , he departed this life . a monke of the next monastery hearing the bell ring , made hast thither , and found him dead , sitting vpon a stone with the belrope in his hand , and a candle standing lighted by him , which did yield so cleere a light that it dazeled the eyes of the behoulders . his body was brought to tyn-mouth , and there buried in the church of our b. lady , neere to the body of s. oswyn king and martyr , in the yeare of christ . which yeare also he died . c the seauenteenth day . at canterbury the commemoration of s. milwyde virgin , daughter to merualdus king of mercia , and sister to the saintes milburge and mildred virgins , who contemning all pleasures and delightes of this world , became a religious woman in a monastery in kent , neere vnto canterbury , which holy king ethelbert of blessed memory had foūded , where in great sāctimony of life and pious conuersation , she yielded her soule vp to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and sixteene . she had also a brother called meresine , a man of great holynes of life , liuing about the same tyme , of whome there is made often mention in our ancient historiographers of britany and england . d the eighteenth day . at sutrium in tuscany the deposition of s. deicola abbot and confessor , who borne in scotland of a noble parentage , and hearing of the vertues and sanctity of s. columbane the great , then liuing in italy , went ouer vnto him , became his disciple , and was afterward made abbot there of a new monastery , called s. martins , erected in a towne of tuscany , commonly named sutrium , where in great sanctity and holines of life , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred fourscore and eleuen . the same day in suetia the commemoration of s. vlsride bishop and martyr , who being an english man by byrth , and of great learning & knowledg in the scriptures , went ouer into the low countreyes first , and thence into suetia to preach the christian faith , which when he had done most feruently , and with great fruite of his holy labours for some yeares , he was there finally put to death , by the enemyes of christ , and so obtayned a palme of martyrdome , about the yeare of christ , one thousand thirty and foure . e the ninteenth day . at vvorcester the deposition of s. vvolstan bishop and confessour , who being brought vp from his youth in the abbey of peterburrow , and afterward made a monke in the monastery of vvorcester , was finally created bishop of the same citty in the tyme of k. edward the confessour , but being after deposed , through falfe & slaunderous accusations , by k. vvilliam the conquerour , and bishop lanfranke , was by a miracle that himselfe wrought at s. edwardes body in vvestminster , in the presence of many people , againe restored to his bishopricke , where in very great sanctity and holines of life , he perseuered to the end of his venerable dayes , which happened in the yeare of christ , one thousand nynty and fiue , and was buryed in his owne cathedrall church of vvorcester . this day was afterward cōmāded to be kept holy , in his memory , throughout england . the same day in suetia the passiō of s. hēry martyr & bishop of opslo , who going our of england , to preach the faith of christ in those partes , was honourably intertayned of the king of suetia , by whose counsell & direction he made war against the finlanders & subdued thē , wherby the whole countrey of finland was cōuerted to the christiā faith & he became their apostle . he was afterward slayne by the pagā people of the same countrey , being stoned to death , about the yeare of christ , one thousand , one hundred fifty and one . his body was afterward translated to opslo , and there kept in his cathedrall church vntil the dayes of martyn luther , when as his sacred reliques were prophaned , beatē to dust , & cast into the ayre f the twentith day . at ramsey-abbey in the i le of ely the cōmemoratiō of s. elsled virgin & abbesse , who descēded of a noble family , & daughter to ethelwold an earle in the prouince of the east-angles , after her fathers death , contēned all worldly & transitory prefermēts , & became a nunne in the monastery of ramsey , which her said father had lately founded , vnder the gouermēt of s. merwyne then abbesse therof , after whose descease , & elwyne that succeeded her , she was chosen gouernesse of that house , & confirmed in office by holy king edgar of blessed memory , wherin she so excelled in all kind of vertue , workes of mercy , & monasticall discipline , that her name was famous throughout englād , both aliue & dead . it happened vpō a tyme , before she was chosen abbesse , that being in the church at mattins , before day , with the rest of her sisters , & going into the middest according to the custome , to read a lesson , the candle wherwith she saw to read , chāced to be put out , & therupon wanting light , there came frō the fingers of her right hād such an exceding brightnesse vpō the suddaine , that not only herselfe , but all the rest of the quire also might read by it . another time also it fell out ( her charity being so exceeding great & bountifull towards the poore ) that through the large reliefe of the needy , her coffers were greatly emptied , in so much that the procuratour of the house , did checke her somwhat sharply for excessiue lauishnes . she with many teares , was silent & made moane to her supreme lord , crauing his assistance herin : and her prayers were not in vayne . for the empty chestes were againe miraculously filled as before by gods gracious recompence & approbation of her charitable beneficence & liberality . she died in all sanctimony and holines of life : about the yeare of christ nyne-hundred fourscore and twelue , & was buryed in our b. ladyes church of the same monastery , which her father had also built . g the one and twentith day . at virdune in france the deposition of s. malcalline abbot and confessour , who being an irishman by byrth , and descended of a noble stocke , went ouer into france in his youth ; and there entring into a monastery , became first a monke of the order of s. benedict , and afterward was made abbot of michells at virdune , where in very great sanctity of life and other vertues , especially in the exercise of monasticall discipline , in a good old age , he gaue vp his soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred threescore and eighteene . his body was buried in the same monastery , where the same is yet preserued with great honour & veneration of the inhabitants therabout . a the two and twentith day . at vvinchester in hampshire the commemoration of s. brituald confessour and bishop of that sea , who of a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , was ordayned bishop of vvinchester ; in which dignity after he had continued for many years , full of singular vertue and holines of life , he ended his venerable old dayes , about the yeare of christ , one thousand and fourty . he liued in the beginning of king edward the confessors raigne ; of whome it is wrytten , that he had a miraculous reuelation , how that he saw the said king edward , being yet in his mothers wombe , elected king , crowned and annoynted by s. peter the apostle , and ordayned to raigne foure & twenty yeares , & finally to dy without issue . moreouer in that vision he seeming to demaund of s. peter , who should raigne next after him , it was answered him againe , that the kingdome of england was gods kingdome , and he then would prouide a king for it . his body was buried at vvinchester , wherat many miracles , by his merits , are recorded to haue byn wrought . b the three and twentith day . at mailros vpon the riuer-banke of tyne in the kingdome of the northumbers , the commemoration of s. boysill confessour and abbot of that famous monastery , wherin s. cuthbert was brought vp , and vnder whome he first put on his religious habit , whose great holynes of life , and singular vertues especially in the gift of prophesy , haue byn famous in tymes past throughout our whole iland . and when he had for many yeares most exemplarly gouerned that monastery , being by an angell admonished of his death , he ioyfully departed this transitory life , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threscore and ten and was buryed in the same manastery . cuthbert succeeding him in his office . c the foure & twentith day . at beneuentum in italy the passion of s. sophias bishop & martyr , who being a noble britan by birth & sonne to guelleicus king of north-wales , became first a mōke , & then abbot of a monastery , which himselfe had built in vvales with his owne inheritāce ; and lastly hauing byn three tymes at hierusalem to visit the holy sepulcher of christ , & scauen tymes at rome on pilgrimage , was for his knowne vertues and innocency of life , created bishop of beneuentum in italy , where stāding at the altar at masse , was by a wicked fellow in hatred of christian beliefe thrust through the body with a lauce , & so receyued a crowne of martyrdom about the yeare of christ , foure hundred & nynty , & in the raigne of king arthur of brittany , whose kinseman he is said to haue byn . the same day in monmouthshire , the festiuity of s. cadocke martyr , nephew to bragham king of brecknocke , and cosyn to s. dauid bishop of meneuia , whose memory is famous , euen vntill this day in our iland of great brittany , especially in the forsaid prouince of mōmouth in south-vvales , where there are yet remayning churches & chappell 's dedicated in his honour . he suffered about the yeare of christ . d the fiue & twentith day . the conuersion of the glorious apostle s. paul , by whome our iland of great brittany hath receyued no small fauour . for that according to diuers ancient wryters , in the fourth yeare of nero the emperour his raigne ( the iewes being by his edict banished rome ) he personally came into brittany , and there preached the faith of christ. venantius fortunatus a most holy and learned mā wryting aboue a thousand yeares agone of s. paules perigrination , saith of him : transijt oceanum , vel qua facit insula portum , quasue britannus habet oras , atue vltima thule . after this he returned againe to rome where at last both s. peter and himselfe , on one , and the selfe same day , receiued the reward of their labours , by martyrdome , in the yeare of christ , threescore and nyne . the same day in ireland the commemoration of s. eoglodius monke and confessour , who descended of a noble parentage in that kingdome , and disciple to s. columbe the great , came with him ouer into scotland , and was his coadiutor in teaching and preaching the christian faith to the pictes , that then inhabited that countrey , where famous for sanctity of life , and other vertues , finally rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , foure hundred fourscore and seauen . e the six and twentith day . at barking in essex the commemoration of s. theorithgid virgin , who descended of a very noble brittish stocke , became a religious woman in the monastery of the forsaid towne of barking vnder the care of s. edilburge the first abbesse therof , & sister to s. erconwald bishop of london , who had newly founded that abbey ; where in great sanctimony of life , and feruour of spirit , she gaue vp her blessed soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred seauenty and eight : vnto whome s. edilburge appearing , as she lay on her death-bed , told her , with most sweet and comfortable words , that the tyme now drew neere , that she should be deliuered out of the prison of this world , into the ioyes of eternall blisse . f the seauen & twentith day . in scotland the commemoration of s. palladius bishop and confessour , who being a roman by birth , was sent thither in the yeare , foure hundred and eleuen , by pope celestine , to reduce that nation from certaine errors and heresyes , which pelagius the brittan had sowed among them ; where being ordayned bishop and primate of scotland , he instructed the people for many yeares in all good learning and other catholicke cerimonyes , according to the roman vse ; and lastly full of venerable old age , in great sanctity and holines of life , he gaue vp his soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , foure hundred and fourty . g the eight & twentith day . in the i le of vvight in hampshire , the commemoration of the saintes called arwaldi , brothers and martyrs , who being two noble yong men , descended of the bloud royall of the south saxons , & brothers to the king of that iland , were taken prisoners by ceadwall king of the geuisses & vvestsaxons who being but newly baptized , were by him commanded to be slaine in the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore & seauen . their bodyes were decently , interred in a church of that prouince by s. cymber abbot of redford in hampshire , by whome they had a little before byn baptized & instructed in the christian faith , wherat in signe of their innocency , it pleased god forthwith to worke miracles . a the nine & twentith day . in cornwall the deposition of s. gildas confessor and abbot of bangor in north-wales , who after he had written many famous bookes as well for the illustratiō of the vniuersall , as our primitiue church of brittany , became an eremite , & lead a most strict , and seuere kind of life in the mountaynes of cornwall , where full of venerable old yeares he rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ . he is famous yet among the cornishmen of englād especially for his writings , amgonst whome also there haue byn many churches & altars dedicated , in his honour . b the thirtith day . at fulda in the higher germany the deposition of s. amnichade confessour , who descended of a noble parentage in scotland , forsooke the world , went ouer the sea , and trauailing into germany , at last became a monke in the monastery of fulda , which had byn founded by s. bonisace an english-man , for the scottish nation ; where liuing a most godly and exemplar life , when he was ready to die , a great light was seene , and angelicall voyces heard in his cell , the which continued a long tyme after at his sepulcher , and were heard of all that came to visit it . he died about the yeare of christ , one thousand fourty and three : and lieth buryed at fulda in the forsaid monastery . c the one & thirtith day in scotland the commemoration of s. adaman priest and confessour , who being prefect of the monastery of nunnes in the towne of coludon ( now called coldingham ) in the marches of scotland , was of such rare and singular austerity of life , that it is wrytten of him , that he tasted meate but only twice in the weeke , to wit , sundayes and thursdayes ; and often spent whole dayes and nights in prayer and contemplation , vntill his dying day ; which happened about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourscore . this man is different from the other s. adaman of the same name , that instructed the scottishmen , about the obseruation of easter , whose festiuity is put downe afterward vpon the second day of september . the moneth of febrvary . d the first day . in ireland the deposition of s. brigit virgin , borne in the county of kildare in a towne called fochart , who in testimony of her virginity , touching the wood of an altar , the same presently in the sight of many people , became greene againe , and began to bud forth a fresh : and after many other miracles done , in signe of her sanctimony and innocency of life , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and fourty . there was a fayre church erected in her honour in the citty of london , which vntill this day is yet remayning , commonly called s. brides , as also many others both in england , ireland and scotland . and in the i le of man , where it is recorded that somtymes she liued , there is an ancient towne & church of her name , still retayning the vulgar denomination of s. brides . her body was interred at the towne of dunne , in the prouince of vlster , in the tombe , togeather with the venerable bodyes of s. patricke and and s. columbe , which was afterward miraculously reueyled to the bishop of that place , as he was praying one night late in the church , about the yeare of christ . ouer which , there shined a great light : of whome one wryteth thus . in * burgo duno , tumulo tumulantur in vno , brigida , patricius , atue columba pius the same monument was afterward destroyed in the raigne of k. henry the eight , by the lord leonard gray viceroy or deputy of that kingdome , to the great lamentation of all ireland . e the second day . at canterbury the deposition of s. laurence confessour and bishop of that sea , who comming into england with s. augustine and his fellowes to preach the christian faith , succeeded him in his sea of canterbury , which when he had gouerned most worthily , for diuers yeares , in great sanctity and holines of life , he rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and seauenteene , and was buryed in the porch of the church at canterbury , neere to the body of s. augustine , at whose tombe , it pleased god afterward to worke many miracles . the same day at hohemburge in the higher germany , the deposition of s. burchard bishop & confessour , brother to s. swithin of vvinchester , who being first a mōke in england , went ouer into germany to s. boniface archbishop of mentz , and thence to rome , where by pope zachary he was consacrated bishop of vvirtzburgh in franconia , and sent to that sea : where after he had spent fourty yeares in propagating the christian faith , ended his blessed dayes in a monastery at hohemburge , which himselfe had founded , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred fourscore and eleuen . f the third day . at hamburge neere ely in cambridgshire , the deposition of s. vvereburge virgin , daughter to vvulherus king of mercia , who despising all worldly delightes , became a religious woman in the monastery of nunnes at ely , vnder s. audry her aunt , and abbesse therof , where in all kind of exemplar good life and sanctimony , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse in the yeare of christ , six hundred seauenty & fiue . vpon her death-bed she commanded her body to be buryed at hamburge , but contrary to her will it was carried to the monastery of trickingham , where the gates fast locked , the same was kept and watched very carefully . but see a wonder . they which were appointed to watch the same , fell into a deepe sleepe , so as the people of hamburge comming in the night for the body , the gates , both of the monastery and church , were opened of themselues without mens hands ; and taking it away without any resistance , they interred it at hamburge , as before her death she requested . the same being taken vp againe , nyne yeares after her death , was found altogeather vncorrupt , her very garments not so much as any whit perished : where god testifying her holines by many miracles , was therby greatly glorified in this his virgin. it is recorded that her body was afterwards translated to chester , where in the tyme of k. vvilliam rusus was erected a goodly monastery in her honour , by syr hugh lupus earle of chester , and s. anselme archbishop of cāterbury , in the yeare of christ g the fourth day . at sempingham in lincolneshire the deposition of s. gilbert confessour , who descended of an honourable parentage , was the first founder of the order of religous men in england called gilbertines , where he built thirteene monasteryes of that order , to wit , eight of women , and fiue of men . and after a most godly and sainctly life , full of venerable old yeares , he departed this world , about the yeare of christ one thousand one hundred and fifty . his body was buryed in the said monastery of sempingham neere deeping in lincolnshire , where for a long tyme it was kept with great veneration , for the often miracles that were wrought therat : the same day at huncourt in the territory of cambray in hennalt , the passion of s. liephard bishop and martyr , who borne in our iland of great brittany , and there made bishop in her primitiue church , wēt on pilgrimage to rome , and in his returne homward foure miles from cambray , was slayne by certayne pagan theeues . his feast is celebrated in the church of cambray on this day with an office of three lessons . a the fifth day . at lewis in sussex the deposition of s. iohn confessour , of the order of chanons-regular , whose integrity of life and holy conuersation hath byn famous in tymes past , both at home and abroad . his life is extant in wrytten hand in a monastery of the low-countreys , as testifieth the reuerend father herebertus rosweydus of the society of iesus in the preface to his worke intituled , fasti sanctorum , whose festiuity he putteth downe on this day . the same day at glastenbury in somersetshire the cōmemoration of s. indractus martyr , who descended of the bloud-royall of ireland and cōming thence on pilgrimage to glastenbury in england , with a further intention to visit rome , was with nyne other companions , and his owne sister , called drusa , slayne at stapwich in the same prouince by certayne wicked fellowes of the vvestsaxons , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred & eight , whose bodyes , being brought to glastenbury abbey with great solemnity , were there very honorably interred , wherat it pleased god , in token of their innocency to worke miracles . b the sixt day . at rome the commemoration of blessed inas king of the vvestsaxons and confessour , who leauing the care of his kingdome to his kinsman ethelhard , went to rome , where he erected a schole for the english nation , as also a fayre church therto belonging in honour of our blessed lady , neere to the hospitall of sanctus spiritus , in the burgo or suburbes of s. peters , both which were afterwards consumed by fire . he was the first king of our nation , that ordayned throughout his dominions , that euery family should once a yeare giue a penny to the church of rome , in honour of s. peter the apostle , which contribution continued euer synce , euen vntill our dayes , commonly called by the name of peter-pence . he founded the abbey of vvells with the cathedrall church , dedicating the same to god and s. andrew the apostle . he new builded also the abbey of glastenbury , which was the fourth building of that monastery . besides , the said godly king did there in like manner , erect a chappell , plated all ouer with siluer and guilt , with ornaments also and vessels ( saith the story ) of gould and siluer . to the building of which chapp●●● , ne gau● , in weight , two thousand six hundred forty pounds of siluer ; and to the aultar , two hundred thr●escore and foure pounds of gold : a chalice with the patin , ten pound of gold : a censar eight pound : two candlesticke● , twelue pound and a halfe of siluer : a couer for the missall , or ( as then they vsed to call it ) the ghospell-booke , twenty pounds : vessels for wyne and water to the a●tar , thirty pounds of gold : a holy water pot , twenty pound of siluer : images of our sauiour , our bl. lady , & the twelue apostles , one hundred threescore and fifteene pound of siluer , and twenty eight pound of gold : a pall for the altar , and ornaments for the monks of gold and pret●ous 〈…〉 nes curiously wrought . all which he gaue ( saith the author ) to that monastery ; but the same was afterward in this last age , by commandement of k. henry the eight , defaced , spoyled , and robbed of all the forsaid , and infinite other treasure . and after all this , the forsaid king inas going in person to rome , and performing the things aboue mentioned , tooke finally vpon him the habit of a monke , where in great sanctity and holines of life , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ . and was there buryed in the entrance of s. peters church , as the ancient tables & records therof do declare . c the seauenth day . at luca in italy the depos●tion of s. richard king and conf●ssour , sonne to lotharius king o● kent , who , sor the loue of christ , taking vpon him a long peregrination , went to rome for d●notion to that sea , and in his way homward , died at luca , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and fifty , where his body is kept vntill this day with great veneration , in the oratory or chappell of s. frigidian , and a●orned with an epitaph both in verse and pros● . that in verse is this . hi● rex richardus requiescit sceptriser almus ; rex suit anglorum , regnum tenet ille pol●rum : regnum dimisit , pro christo cuncta reliquit ergo richardum nobis dedit anglia sanctum . hic genitor sanctae walburgis virginis almae , et willebaldi sancti , simul & winibaldi ; suffragijs quorum det nobis regna polorum . the same day at ●ondó the deposition of s. augulus bishop & martyr , who in the persecution of dioclesian the emperour , for peaching the christian faith in our iland of great brytany , was put to death , by the enemyes of truth , about the yeare of christ three hundred & fiue , a little after the death of s. alban . in like manner the same day at rhemes in ●rance the translation of s helena mother to constantine the great , who borne in colchester of essex , according to the ancient traditions of the britans , and daughter to coclus prince of britany , was famous for building of churches in honour of christ , and his saintes . she died at rome when she was fourscore yeares of age , and was afterward on this day translated to rhemes , where her sacred reliques are kept w●th great veneration . her memory hath byn very famous in tymes past in the greeke church , whose celebrity is there kept vpon the . of may , together with her sonne constamine . d the eight day . at strenshalt in the kingdome of the northumbers , the commemoration of of s. edelsled virgin & abbesse , daughter to oswyn king of the same prouince , who , by her father being dedicated vnto god for a famous victory , which he obtayned against the cruell penda king of the mercians , was cōmitted for her education to s. hilda abbesse of a monastery amongst the northumbers , called hartesey ; and when she came to riper yeares , she founded for her selfe another nunry in the same kingdome , called strenshalt , and was made abbesse therof , where in all kind of profound humility & sanctity of life , ioyned with other vertues , she gaue vp her soule to her heauēly spouse , about the yeare of christ six hundred and seauenty . her body was buryed in the same monastery , wherat for many ages following it pleased god to worke wonderous miracles . e the ninth day . in the territory of liege in the lower germany , the passion of s. menigold martyr , who borne in england , and descended of a very noble parentage , became first a captaine in the french and german warres , & afterward an eremite ; vnto whome arnulph the emperour gaue a little territory neere to the banke of the riuer of mosa , where he built himself a cottage or oratory for his deuotion . and as he was going one day to the church , was slaine in hatred of christiā saith , by certaine notorious malefactors & enemyes therof , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred . his body was afterward translated to huis , neere cull●n , vpon the fifteenth day of lune , where togeather with the body of s. domitian bishop , the same is kept with great veneration of the inhabitants of that place . f the tenth day . at † vvorcester the translatiō of s. vvilfrid the second of that name , confessour & bishop of yorke , whose great sanctity and holines of life it pleased god to manifest by the incorruption of h●s body , which being reueyled to s. oswald bishop of vvorcester to remayne interred in the monastery of rippon in yorkeshire , then decayed & destroyed by the danes , was by him sought for & foūd whole & incorrupt , togeather with the venerable bodyes of siue reuerēd abbots , tilbert , borwyn , albert , sygred and vvalden ; all which s. oswald trāslated to his cathedrall church of vvorcester , & there with great veneration and honour interred them , wherat it pleased god also in signe of their sanctity to worke miracles . he died about the yeare of christ seauen hundred & thirty . this s. vvilfrid is different from the other of the same name , whose festiuity is kept vpon the . of october . g the eleuenth day . at tyre in syria the commemoration of blessed vvilliam bishop and confessor , who being an englishman by byrth , became first a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , and was afterward sent into palestine , and made prior of the monastery of the holy sep 〈…〉 er in hierusalem : and in the yeare of christ one thousand , one hūdred & thirty , he was cōsecrated the first archbishop of tyre in syria : which function when he had inioyed six yeares , in all sanctity of life and vertuous conuersation , he ended there his happy dayes , in the yeare of our lord , one thousand one hundred thirty & seauen . the same day in breckneckshire of vvales the commemoration of s. canoch confessor , who being sonne to braghan king of brecknocke , & great vncle to s. dauid bishop of men●●ia , was very famous for holines of life in those partes , about the yeare of christ foure hundred fourscore and twelue , and whose memory is yet famous amongst the ancient britans of our iland , especially in south wales . he had a brother called s. cadocke , that was a martyr , & a sister named s. keyn● , who liued about the same time , in great opinion of sanctity , as the records of their liues yet extant , do demonstrate . a the twelfth day . at durham in the bishopricke , the commemoration o● s. ●dilwald bishop and confessour , who being first a m●n●e then abbot of the monastery of mailros in the kingdome of the northumbers , was lastly promoted to the bishopicke of lindisserne ( now translated to durham ) and succeeded s. edbert in that sea ; which when he had gouerned , like a worthy pastour of his flocke , for almost fourty yeares , in great sanctity of life and vertues therto agreeable , full of venerable old yeares , he finally reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred thirty and eight : and was buryed at lindisserne . b the thirteenth day . at ●ly in cambridgshire the deposition of s. ermenild queene , wise to vvulherus king of mercia , who after the death of her husband , became a religious woman in the monastery of ely , vnder her owne mother s. sexburge , who at that tyme was abbesse therof and after her said mothers descease , she was elected in her place , where famous for sanctimony and holines of life , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundredthreescore and eighteene . also the same day at * vvirtzburgh in germany , the translation of s. k●lian bishop and martyr , who descended of the bloud royall of ireland , for the loue he bare to his neighbour-countreyes , came thence with three other companiōs into flaunders , & so went into germany , where he was ordayned bishop of vvirtzburgh : which sea when he had held for few yeares , diligently attending to his flocke , he was slayne , togeather with his three forsaid companions , by the enemyes of christian saith in the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore and seauenteene . his body being buryed at vvirtzburgh , was afterward on this day taken vp , and translated to a more eminent place of the same church , where be●ore it lay ; but his principall festiuity is celebrated vpon the eight day of iuly . c the fourteenth day . in scotland the commemoration of s. con●●ane confessour , who borne in the 〈…〉 e kingdome , and des●●nded of a noble parentage , d●spised all pleasures of this world , & retyring himself to a monastery , became a religious man of the order of s. benedict in one of the ilands of or●ades neere scotland , where in all kind of exemplar good life , learning and vertuous conuersation , in a good old age , ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourty . his memory hath by● famous , euen vntill th●se our dayes , throughout the whole iland of great britany , but especially amongst the scottish nation : amongst whome also , diuers churches and altars haue in tymes past , byn erected and dedicated in his honour . d the fifteenth day . at vexouia in goth-land the deposition of s. sigfride bishop and confessour , who being archdeacon of the church of yorke , was sent by king alfred of england into gothia , to preach to the pagan people of that countrey , whome he conuerted to the christian faith , togeather with their king olaus , and so became their apostle . he was afterward made bishop of vexo●ia and metropolitan of goth●a , which sea when he had gouerned most worthily for many yeares in great sanctity and holines of life , full of venerable old age , he went to rest in our lord , about the yeare of christ , one thousand and two , and was buryed in his owne cathedrall church of vexouia , where his body was kept with great honour and veneration of that nation , for the myracles that were wrought therat , vntill these later yeares of schismes and heresyes in those prouinces . e the sixteenth day . at vverdt in cleeu-land the deposition of s. tancone bishop and martyr , who borne of a noble bloud in scotland , was first a monke , and then abbot of a monastery in the same kingdome , called amarbaricke , and being very desirous to help his neighbour-countreys for their soules health , went ouer into flaunders , and thence into cleeu-land , and there was made bishop of vverdt , where preaching continually and propagating the christian faith , he was at last slayne by the barbarous and incredulous people of that prouince in hatred therof , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred . his body was buryed at vverdt . f the seauenteenth day . at lindisferne in the kingdome of the northumbers , the depos●tion of s. finan bishop and confessour , who being first a monke of s. columbes m●nast●ry in the iland of hoy by scotland , was ordayned bishop of lindisferne , and succeeded s. aidan that sea , where in all kind of godly conuersation & sanctity of life , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and threescore . he is called the apostle of the mercians ( or middle englishmen ) by whose endeauours in preaching , a great part of that kingdome was first conuerted to christian faith , togeather with their prince peda , sonne to the notable persecutor penda , who with many great larles & lords of mercia , was at the in●●ance of holy king oswyn of northumberland , by him baptized , at * barwicke , as s. bede and other english historiographers do recount . there are many churches both in england and scotland dedicated in his honour . g the eighteenth day . at saltzburge in bauaria the commemoration of s. iohn confessour & bishop of that sea , who being a monke of an old monastery neere vvinchelsea in sussex , went ouer into germany to s. boniface archbishop of mentz , with whome he remained for a tyme , and after going to rome , was by pope gregory the third created the first bishop of saltzburge , and sent thither : which sea when he had most worthily gouerned and preached the christian faith for fourteene yeares togeather , and brought many thousands to the true worship of god , in great sanctity of life and venerable old age , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ seauen hundred fifty and seauen , and was buryed in his owne cathedrall church of saltzburge . a the ninteenth day . at hagustalde in the kingdome of the northumbers , the commemoration of s. acca confessour and bishop of that sea , who being one of s. vvillebrord his coadiutors , and going ouer with him into saxony and frizeland for the conuersion of those nations ; was sent backe againe into englād to the consecration of s. switbert , and there detayned and ordayned bishop of hagustalde , by s. vvilfrid the second of yorke : which pastorall function whē he had most worthily performed for many yeares , in great sanctity of life and godly conuersation , full of venerable old age , he reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred thirty and six . b the twentith day . in the i le of thanet in kent the deposition of s. mildred virgin , daughter to merualdus king of mercia , who contemning the vayne pleasures of this world , went ouer , in her tender yeares , into france , and there dedicated her selfe to god in a monastery of virgins , at kale ; but afterwards returning into england , and gathering togeather seauenty other virgins , was consecrated abbesse of a new monastery erected in the i le of thanet , by s. theodore archbishop of canterbury , where famous for sāctimony of life , & miracles , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hūdred threscore and foure . the forsaid monastery was afterward burned by the danes , with many others in our iland . there is yet to be seene a fayre church dedicated in her honour in london in the poultry , commonly called s. mildreds ; as also an old chappell yet stāding , erected likewise in her honour in a village or flaunders called milàn , three miles distant from the citty of s. omers . the same day at haselburrow in vviltshire the deposition of s. † vlfricke confessor and eremite , whose wonderfull life in prayer and abstinence , togeather with working of miracles , was very famous throughout england about the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred fifty and foure , about which tyme also he died ; and was buryed in a little oratory at the forsaid village of haselburrow , which himselfe had built , at whose body many miracles are recorded to haue byn wrought . c the one and twentith day . in the i le of wight in hampshire the commemoration of s. cymbert bishop and confessour , who being a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , & abbot of the monastery of redford in the same prouince , was in the raigne of ethelhard king of the vvestsaxons ordayned bishop , and placed in the ●le of vvight , where he confirmed the people in the christian faith , which s. vvilfride of yorke , had there planted some twenty yeares before , in the tyme of his banishment from that sea , where in all kind of most godly conuersation and sanctity of li●e , he gaue vp his blessed soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and thirty . d the two and twentith day . at gaunt in flaunders the translation of s. gudwall bishop and cōfessour , who being a noble britan by birth , & ordayned bishop in that primitiue church , preached incessantly the faith of christ with great profit in our iland . he built many monasteryes and became himselfe a father of an hundred and fourscore monkes . and after all this , thirsting the good of his neighbour-countreyes , he went ouer into the lower germany , and there taught the christian faith in like manner , with no lesse profit then in britany . and last of all , full of venerable old age , in great sanctity and holinesse of life , he rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , three hundred and fourty , and was one of the first of our iland that preached the christian faith in flaunders . his body hauing byn brought into england , was afterwards on this day , in the second persecution of the danes , translated to gaunt by arnulph earle of flaunders , and s. gerard abbot , in the yeare of christ , nyne hundred and threescore . where the same is still preserued with great veneration of the inhabitants . e the three and twentith day . at † vvenlocke in shropshire the translation of s. milburge virgin , daughter to merualdus prince of mercia , whose great sanctimony & innocency of life , it pleased god to manifest vnto the world , after her departure , by the manifold miracles wrought at her body , which being miraculously reuealed to a certaine godly man , in the raigne of k. vvilliam the cōquerour , was takē vp , and found sound & vncorrupt to the admiratiō of the behoulders ; and being put into a costly shrine , was kept in the monastery of vvenlocke , which she had built with her owne inheritance , vntill the tyme of king henry the eight , when the same was destroyed . she departed to our lord about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and foure , vpon the six and twentith day of may , but her feast is commonly celebrated on this day , both in england and other countreys . her life is wrytten at large by gotzelinus a monke of the monastery of s. bertin , in the citty of s. omers in artoys . f the foure & twentith day . at canterbury the deposion of s. ethelbert king of kent and confessour , who first of all other princes in our iland , after the britans , receyued the christian faith , by the preaching of s. augustine and his fellowes , sent from rome by pope gregory the great . he built many goodly churches and monasteryes in his dominions , and among the rest s. augustines at canterbury , s. andrewes at rochester , and s. paules at london . he departed this life in the yeare of christ , six hundred and sixteene , and was buryed at canterbury . the same day in scotland the depositiō of s. berectus confessour , who leading a monasticall life in that kingdome , was famous for sanctity of life & working of miracles , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and fourteene , about which tyme also he ended his blessed dayes , and was buryed in scotland . g the fiue & twentith day . at perone in picardy the translation of s. furseus abbot and confessour , sonne to k. philtan of ireland , who comming into england to sigebert king of the eastangles , built there a monastery , and gathered many monkes togeather , instructing them in all kind of vertue and good learning . and then leauing the care therof to his brother , called foillan , he went ouer into france , and there built another monastery at perone , where in his venerable old dayes , full of great sanctity and holines of life , he departed to our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and thirty . his body was buryed in the same monastery , of whome the monkes of that place , haue many particular hymnes in their office : the which being taken vp afterwards , was on this day translated to a more eminent place of the forsaid church of perone , where the same is kept with great veneration , for the miracles , that are recorto haue byn wrought therat . a the six and twentith day . at constance in the higher germany the commemoration of s. iohn bishop & confessour , who borne in scotland , and descended there of a noble parentage , became in that kingdome first a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , and thence went ouer into france to s. gallus abbot , that then was famous in those partes , of whome being throughly instructed in all kind of monasticall discipline , was at last ordayned bishop of constance , where after many yeares of most approued vertue and sanctity of life , he happily reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and foure , and was buryed in his owne cathedrall church of constance . b the seauen & twentith day . at lichfield in staffordshire the commemoration of blessed sexulfe bishop and confessour , who being the first abbot of the monastery of medshamsted ( now called peterburrow ) by whose persuasion vvulferus k. of mercia had newly founded the same , was ordayned bishop of lindisserne in the kingdome of the northumbers , and afterward translated to lichfield in the place of vvinsrid that was deposed by s. theodore of canterbury . in both which seas , he most worthily behaued himselfe in teaching and instructing his flocke for many yeares : and at last full of venerable old age , ioyned with sanctity of life , he departed to our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred . the same day in the prouince of the eastangles in the diocesse of ely , the cōmemoration of s. alnoth martyr , who being heardsman to s. vvereburge abbesse of the nunry of ely , became an anchoret , leading a most strict and seuere recluse life for the loue of god : whome when he had so serued for some yeares , he was slayne by certaine wicked theeues in hatred therof , and so receyued his crowne of martyrdome , about the yeare of christ . c the eight & twentith day . at yorke the deposition of s. oswald bishop & cōfessour , nephew to s. odo archbishop of canterbury , who being first made chanon of vvinchester , & then bishop of vvorcester , was lastly promoted to the archbishopricke of yorke , whose godly vertues and innocency of life , was afterward declared by the manifold miracles wrought at his body . amongst other works of charity , he was wont euery day to giue dinner to twelue poore men or pilgrims , seruing them at table with his owne hands , wash their feet , giue them money in almes , and alwayes at easter to giue them new apparrell . he died on this day in the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourscore and twelue , and was afterward translated to vvorcester vpon the fifteenth of october , on which day his principall festiuity is celebrated in our catholicke church of england , of whome also , in that place , we haue made a large relation . the moneth of march . d the first day . at meneuia in penbrookshire the deposition of s. dauid bishop and confessour , sonne to xantus prince of vvales , and vncle to the valiant , king arthur , who was so famous for working of miracles in his life tyme , that he became a great pillar , and vphoulder of the british primitiue church , especially in extinguishing the reliques of the pelagian heresy . he translated his bishopricke ( which was at carleon vpon v. ske ) vnto meneuia ( now called in the british tongue of his name , twy dewy , & in english s. dauids ) where finally after he had built twelue monasteryes , and replenished the same with monkes , being of the age of an hundred fourty & six yeares , he ended his blessed dayes , & was buryed in his owne church , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred fourscore & twelue . it is recorded by the british antiquityes , that by his prayers , he obtayned the heate and vertue that the waters of bath in somersetshire haue in curing and asswaging many deseases , though others do assigne it to haue byn found out long before . he was afterward canonized for a saint by pope ca 〈…〉 us the second . the same day at vverdt in cleeu-land the deposition of s. suitbert confessour , and first bishop of that sea , sonne to sigebert earle of nottingham , who going ouer into the lower germany and thence into saxony & frizland with s. vvillebrord and his company to preach the christian faith , was there elected bishop of vverdt , and sent backe into england to be consecrated ; and then returning to his sea , after much fruite wrought in that haruest , in great sanctity and holines of life , he reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , seauen hūdred & seauenteene . his body is kept at vverdt , where he died , with great veneration of the inhabitants . he was canonized by pope leo the third . e the second day . at lichfield in staffordshire the deposition of s. chad confenour and bishop of that sea , whose most exemplar life , togeather with working of manifold miracles is yet famous throughout england . the cathedrall church ( or minster ) of that citty , is dedicated to our blessed lady and s. chad. there is also a vvell neere to the same church , commonly called s. chads vvell ; in the bottome whereof , lieth , vntill this day , a cleere great marble stone , wheron s. chad was wont to kneele and pray in his oratory ; the water of which well , is very wholsome & soueraigne for many diseases . he died in the yeare of christ , six hundred threscore and foure , and lieth burved in his owne cathedrall church of lichfield . the same day at vverdt in cleeu-land the deposition of s. willeicke abbot and confessour , who going out of england with s switbert and his company to preach the christian faith to the pagans of the lower germany and saxony , was constituted abbot of a monastery at vverdt , which s. switbert had newly founded , where after the reaping of a fertile haruest in the conuersion of infinite soules to god , full of sanctity & miracles , reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ . f the third day . at tauracum in little britany the deposition o● s. vvenlocke abbot and confessour , who descended of the royall bloud of o● great britany , and nephew to francanus viceroy of that kingdome , went ouer into litle britany , and was ordayned abbot there of an ancient monastery called tauracum , whose li●e replenished with sanctity and miracles , was famous , aswell in our kingdome , as in france and flanders , about the yeare of christ , foure hundred and fourscore , about which tyme also he reposed in our lord. his body was afterward translated to gaunt in flanders in the normā persecution , and there is kept vntill this day with great veneration of the inhabitants , for the oftē miracles that haue byn wrought therat . g the fourth day . at perone in picardy the deposition of s. eurseu● abbot and confessour , sonne to philtan king of ireland , who cōming into england to sigebert king of the eastangles , built there a goodly monastery , and filled the same with monkes , wherof himselfe was ordayned abbot . and then after a while leauing the care therof to his brother foillan , he went ouer into france and built another monastery at perone , where in most godly and saintly exercise of life , he died on this day , about the yeare of christ , six hundred thirty and six . his body is preserued yet in the same monastery with great veneration for the frequent miracles that haue byn wrought therat . a the fifth day . in northumberland the commemoration of s. vvilgise confessour , a noble man of that prouince , and father to the famous s. vvillebrord , who casting from him the cares of this world , became an eremite , leading a solitary & seuere life in the kingdome of northumberland , where he built him a little cottage or oratory in honour of s. andrew the apostle , in which when he had l●ued many yeares , in continuall fasting , watching and prayer , full of sanctity of life , and venerable old age , he finally went vnto our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred thirty and six . s. alcuine maister to charles the great , wrote his life in elegiacall verse , as himsel●e witnesseth in the li●e of s. willebrord , where also in the end therof , he recounteth a miracle wrought by s. vvilgise , about the mu●tiplication of wyne . b the sixt day . at secking on the rhene in the lower germany , the deposition of s. frodoline ( otherwise called winsred ) abbotand confessour , sonne to conranus king of scotland , who going ouer into flaunders and germany for the conuersion of those people to christ , was ordayned abbot of a monastery , called secking , situated vpon the riuer-banke of rhene , where after he had conuerted many thousands to the faith of christ , in all kind of vertue and sanctity of life , he ended his venerable aged dayes , about the yeare of our lord , fiue hundred threescore and foure . the same day at dormundcaster two miles from peterburrow in northamptonshir● , the deposition of the saints kinisdred and kiniswide , virgins and sisters , daughters to penda k. of mercia , who being dedicated to god , euen from their infancy , despised all worldly preferments , and entring into a nunry at the forsaid towne of dormundcaster , there only studied how to serue their lord , in all kind of vertuous conuersation and sanctimony of life vntyll their dying day , which happened about the yeare of christ , six hundred thirty and foure . their bodyes were afterward translated to peterburrow , where s. ethelwold bishop of of vvinchester built a goodly monastery in their honour , about the yeare of our redemption , nyne hundred and fourscore . c the seauenth day . in north-wales the cōmemoratiō of s. deifer confessour , who borne of a noble british stocke , contemned the vanityes of this world , and became an eremite , leading for many yeares , a solitary and seuere kind of life , in all vertue and humility in the north of wales ; where among other miracles which he wrought , one is recorded , that by his prayers , he raised out of the ground a fountayne of cleere water very soueraigne for many diseases . he died in great sanctity and holines , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and foure , about which tyme also s. wenefride was famous in those partes for the miracles wrought at her body ; and with whome this holy man deifer had byn very conuersant , whilst she liued . d the eight day . at dunwich in suffolke the deposition of s. felix bishop & confessor , who comming out of burgundy where he was borne , was by s. honorius archbishop of canterbury sent to preach the christian faith to the eastangles , where he cōuerted the whole prouince , togeather with their king sigebert , & so became their apostle : and last of all was ordayned bishop of an old citty called dunmocke ( otherwise dunwich ) which at this day is more then halfe consumed by the sea . this holy man founded in that prouince , monasteryes , schooles , and churches . and after a most saintly life full of miracles , he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fifty , & was buried in the abbey of soam in cambridgshire , foure miles from ely , from whence in the danish persecution , he was translated to the monastery of ramsey . e the ninth day . at yorke the commemoration of s. bosa confessour and bishop of that sea , who being a monke of the monastery of strenshalt in the kingdome , of the northumbers , was at the instance of egfride king of that prouince , ordayned bishop of yorke , and placed in that sea , in the roome of s. wilsride , who then liued in exile in the i le of wight , being expulsed the dominions of northumberland by the forsaid king : which when he had gouerned most worthily for nyne yeares in all kind of good learning and vertue , and s. wilsride restored againe , he willingly returned to his monastery , & there in great sanctity of life , and heauenly contēplation he spent the rest of his dayes , and finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ seauen hundred . f the tenth day . at vissenaken in the lower germany the deposition of s. himeline confessour , who borne in ireland and there descended of a noble bloud , and allied to the famous bishop s. romwald of that nation , despising this transitory world , went ouer into the lower germany and there led an eremiticall life in the montaynes neere vnto thene in the duchy of brabant , where he was very famous for sanctity of life and other vertues ; the same being manifested afterward , by the manifold signes and miracles at his death , which fell out about the yeare of christ seauen hundred and threscore . his memory is vntill this day very famous in the forsaid towne of vissenaken , where his body remayneth , and is greatly honoured by the frequent concourse of such as dayly come to visit the same . g the eleuenth day . at tyn-mouth in the kingdome of the northumbers the translation of the venerable body of s. osuyne martyr , and king of the deires in the same prouince , who being impiously slayne in hatred of christian faith by osway king of the berniciās , it pleased god to manifest his innocency , by the wonderfull miracles wrought afterward at his body , which being on this day found out , was taken vp , and with great solemnity and veneration translated to a church of our blessed lady in an old towne of the same kingdome , now called tyn-mouth , where afterward was a godly monastery erected in his honour , and where his principall festiuity was wont in catholicke time to be celebrated on the twētith of august , on which day he was martyred in the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and one . a the tweluth day . at rome the deposition of s. gregory pope and doctor , who for his admirable workes and labours in gods church , was surnamed the great . he sent s. augustine with other monkes into england , for our cōuersion , who landing in the i le of thanet , and intertayned by king ethelbert of kent of blessed memory , within a while conuerted that prouince to the saith of christ , togeather with the said king ethelbert , and by little and little the whole realme of england . the memory of which our apostle s. gregory , hath byn very famous in former tymes in our countrey , whose feast was wont to be kept holyday , in diuers partes of the land , where also are many goodly churches and monuments yet remaining , erected and dedicated in his honour . he died in the yeare of christ , six hundred and foure ; and lieth buryed in s. peters church at rome . the same day in scotland the commemoration of s. fethno monke and confessour , who being a disciple of s. columbe the great of ireland , came with him ouer into scotlād , togeather with eleuē other cōpanions , all irishmen , to preach the christian faith to the pictes that then inhabited that kingdome , where after their conuersion from idolatry to the true knowledge of christ , famous for sanctity of life and other vertues , he there ended his blessed dayes about the yeare of christ . b the thirteenth day . in scotland the cōmemoration of s. vigane confel●our , who de●●●nded of a very honourable parentage in that kingdome , became there a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , of the congregation of cluniacke , whose great learning and vertue , hath not only i 〈…〉 rated very much the order of his religion , but the whole iland also where he was borne ▪ there is yet extāt in diuers libraryes of europe , a famous worke of his , intituled , sermones ad populum , which he wrote about the yeare of christ , one thousand and two , about which tyme also in great sanctity of life and venerable old age he departed to our lord , and was buryed in scotland . c the fourteenth day . a● lindisserne in the kingdome of the northumbers , the commernoration of s. ceolnulph king of that prouince and confessour , who leauing the care of his kingdome to eadbert his kinsman , and reiecting all worldly pleasures and titles , became a monke in the abbey of lindisserne , where in all kind of 〈…〉 and exemplar good life he spent the rest of his dayes , and finally in a good old age there gaue vp his soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred thirty and seauen . he was afterward buryed in the same place , neere to the venerable body of s. cuthbert bishop of that sea , at whose tombe many miracles are recorded to haue byn wrought in witnesse of his sanctity . d the fifteenth day . at glastenbury in somersetshire the festiuity of s. aristobulus bishop and martyr , who being a noble roman by birth , and one of the first christians of that citty , as appeareth by s. paul his salutation of him , in his epistle to the romans , was created bishop by s. peter the apostle , and sent by him into britany to preach the christian ●aith ; whereafter he had brought very many erring sheep to christes fould , most gloriously ended his blessed dayes by ma●tyrdome , about the yeare of christ threscore and ten . his memory hath byn famous in our ilād vntill these later tymes of schismes and heresyes , as being one of our first apo●tles and patrons . e the sixteenth day . at ridall-monastery the commemoration of blessed alred abbot and confessor , whose great learning and vertue hath much illustrated the catholicke church of christ , but especially our iland of great bri●any , where he was borne , liued , and died . he was first a monke of the venerable order of s benedict , and afterward became abbot of an ancient monastery called rhieuallis , ( now vulgarly ridall ) where in great sanctity of life , he ending his blessed dayes , reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred threescore & foure . he wrote the life of king edward the cōfessour , besides very many other lear●ed and p●ous bookes to the number of one and twenty : all which are yet extant to be seene in diuers libraries , as well in england , as other countreyes of europe . f the seauenteenth day . in ireland the deposition of s. patricke bishop and confessour , apostle of that i●and , who borne in the territory of bristow in somersetshire , & brought vp at glastenbury , went ouer , in his youth , into france to s. martyn his vncle then bishop of towers , who was brother to s. patrickes mother , of whome he was instructed in learning and other vertues : & afterwards going to rome , was there consecrated bishop by pope celestinus , and sent backe to preach the christian faith in scotland , which he did for a tyme with great fruit of his labour ; and thence he went into ireland because at that tyme the greatest part of the scotts inhabited that kingdome ) where he conuerted the whole iland , and so became their apostle , working wonderous miracles among them . he liued an hundred and two and twenty yeares , obtayning by his prayers , that no venemous creature should liue or breed in ireland , and died in the yeare of christ , foure hundred fourscore and one . his body was first interred in the towne of d●n , in the prouince of vlster , and afterward translated to the archbishops sea of armachan in the same kingdome , about the yeare of christ , one thousand , one hundred , threescore and seauenteene , as the ancient records of ireland do declare . g the eighteenth day . at corse-castle in the i le of purbecke in dorcetshire the passion of s. edward k. of the vvestsaxons and martyr , who through the trechery of his step-mother queene alfred ( desyrous that her owne sonne ethelbert should be king was slayne by certayne souldiers hired by the forsaid queene to that purpose , whilst he was on hunting , in the yeare of christ , nyne hūdred threescore and eighteene . his body was first interred at vvarham , and after at shastesbury , wherat it pleased god in witnesse of his innocency to worke many miracles . and last of all the same was translated to glastenbury-abbey in the yeare of christ , one thousand and one . the same day in ireland the deposition of s. christian bishop and confessour , who borne in the same iland , became there first a monke of the order of cisterce , and scholler to the famous s. malachy archbishop & primate of that kingdome , & afterward abbot of mellisonte , and last of all bishop , where in great sanctity of life he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ one thousand one hundred fourty and eight , whose memory is yet famous throughout ireland . a the ninteenth day . at derby the commemoration of s. alkmund martyr , sonne to alred king of northumberland , who being slayne in a battayle against the duke of vvil●on in the behalfe of the viceroy of vvorcester , named ethelmund , that pretended to recouer certayne lands , that vvolstan duke of vvilton detayned from him wrongfully , his body presently began to do miracles ; which being seene , and witnessed , the same was translated to derby , and there with great veneration interred most solemnly in a church erected in his honour , and called afterwards of his name , s. alkmunds , which in former catholicke tymes , hath byn a famous pilgrimage , especially for the northerne people of england . he suffered in the yeare of christ , eight hundred . b the twentith day . at lindisserne in the kingdome of the northumbers the deposition of s. cuthbert bishop and confessour , who descended of the kings bloud of ireland , became a monke first of the famous monastery of mailros , in the marches of scotland , and afterward was ordayned bishop of lindisserne : which bishopricke , after he had gouerned some two yeares , he resigned , and became an eremite , leading a most strict and seuere kind of life , in the iland of farne , and so continued vntill his dying day : which happened about the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore and eight . he was very famous for sanctity and working of miracles both aliue and dead . the same day , and same place the deposition of blessed herebert priest and cōfessour , a man of great holinesse of life , who often repayring to s. cuthbert aforsaid , alwayes vsed his counsell and direction , for the affayres both of his body and soule . and one day s. cuthbert telling him , that himselfe was shortly to leaue this world & passe to the other ; herebert fell downe at his feet , and importunely besought him that he might also passe to the next life with him , that had so long inioyed his company heere on earth . at whose earnest intercessiō , s. cuthbert falling to his prayers , finally obtayned the same . and so with in a while after , they both falling sicke , went both to our lord vpon the one and selfe same day and houre , in the yeare of christ , . and were both buryed at lindisserne . c the one and twentith day . at vverdt in cleeu-land the commemoation of s. isenger bishop and martyr , who descended o 〈…〉 a noble scottish family , contemned the vanityes of the world , and became first a monke in that kingdome , of the venerable order of s. benedict , and afterward abbot there of the monastery called amarbaricke , which whē he had gouerned for diuers yeares , mooued with zeale of conuerting his neighbour-countreyes , went ouer into flanders and germany , and being there ordayned bishop o 〈…〉 vverdt , was a little after slayne in defence of the christiā faith , by the infidels of that countrey , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred twenty and foure . his body being brought to vverdt , & there interred in his owne cathedrall church , was kept for a long tyme with great honour & veneratiō of the inhabitātes . d the two and twentith day . at sherborne in dorcet●hire the commemoration of s. hamund bishop of that sea and martyr , who in the danish persecution vnder the captaynes hingar & hubba , was for the confession of christ most barbarously slayne at merdune , by those tyrannicall pagans , who in the vastation of england , spared neyther ecclesiasticall nor religious person whatsoeuer . his martyrdome happened about the yeare of christ , eight hundred threescore and eleuen , and in the raigne of alfred king of the vvest saxons . e the three and twentith day . at lindisserne the commemoration of blessed fgbert king of the northumbers and confessour , who after he had gouerned that prouince most laudably for twenty yeares , contēned his crowne & dignity of a king , leauing the same to his sōne oswulph , & entring into the abbey of lindissern aforsaid , became there a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , where in very great sanctity of life , humility , obseruance of monasticall discipline and other vertues , he finally ended his peaceable dayes in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred threescore and eight . he endowed the archbishopricke ●f yorke , whilst he was king , with gr 〈…〉 〈…〉 newes , where also he founded a worthy library , and furnished the same with all good authors that could then be gotten . f the foure & twentith day . at canterbury the depositiō of s. lanfrāke confessour , and archbishop of that sea , who borne at pauia in lombardy , became first a monke of the abbey of becke , & then abbot of cane in normandy , and afterward ordayned archbishop of canterbury , at the request of king vvilliam the conquerour ; whose most pious life , & good learning , ioyned with extraordinary charitie to the poore , and assistance of the church of england , is yet memorable throughout the christian world . of this man there is a story recorded , how that in his yōger dayes he trauayling by the way , & chācing to be robbed by theeues , tooke the same so impatiently , that by no means he could be pacified for a tyme : but at lēgth cōming to himself againe , he brake forth into these words : vvhat ? haue i so much learning & knowledge both in philosophy , diuinity and scriptures , and yet haue not learned to be patient in aduersity ? surely , 〈…〉 uall not cease vntill i fynd out that learning . and vpon this , he presently went into france , and thence into normandy , where comming to the abbey of becke , he lay secretly for many yeares in that monastery , being reputed for an idiot and simple man , vntill at length his learning and wisdome being discouered , he was made prior of becke , and presently afterward abbot of s. stephens in cane aforsaid , and finally archbishop of canterbury . he died in the yeare of christ , one thousand fourscore and nyne , and was buryed in his owne church at canterbury . g the fiue & twentith day . at norwich in the county of norsolke the passion of s. vvilliam mareyr , who being a boy of the same citty of some ten yeares old , was by his father set an apprentice to a glouer of the same towne , whome the iewes of norwich secretly stealing away , crucified on a crosse in despite of christ & his blessed mother , vpō the feast of her annūciation . his body they cast into a wood or thicket , neere to the said citty , which being foūd & brought vnto the towne with a sollemne procession of the clergy , was placed in the great church , or minster of that sea , and there was wont , to be kept with great veneration . his martyrdome happened in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred forty and six , in the eleuenth yeare of the raigne of k. stephen . a the six and twentith day . at bardney in lincolnshire the commemoration of many holy monkes martyrs , who in the first danish persecution in our iland , were slayne by those pagan people in their owne monasteryes in hatred of christian religion . at what tyme also the said danes ranging abroad the countreyes , slew ( saith the story ) the abbot & the monkes of the monastery of croyland , and fiered their church , and houses belonging thervnto . at peterburrow also they made the like slaughter of religious persons ; and comming to the nunry of ely , they put the religious virgins all to the sword without compassion , and so receyuing theyr crownes of martyrdome , they went vnto our lord. all which happened in our countrey , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred threescore and ten . b the seauen & twentith day . in scotlād the depositiō of s. archibald abbot & confessour , descended of a very noble parentage in that kingdome , whose rare 〈…〉 e & conuersation togeather with the singular gifts of clemency towards the poore and orphanes , hath in former tymes byn famous both in england and scotland . his feast is recounted to haue byn celebrated on this day , by the ancient records of scotland and ireland : among both which nations , many altars , and some churches also , haue heertofore byn dedicated in his honour . he florished about the yeare of christ seauen hundred and eight , about which tyme also he desceased . c the eight & twentith day . in the marches of vvales the translatiō of the glorious ●ody of s. fremund king and martyr , sonne to ossa king of mercia , who setting aside his crowne and kingdome for the loue of christ , in the second yeare of his raigne , became an eremite in a little ilād of the marches of vvales , called in the british tongue illesage , where at last he was slayne by osway the apostata , in hatred of christiā religion , in the yeare of christ , seauē hundred fourscore and sixteene . he being afterward canonized for a saint in the yeare of our lord . and raygne of king henry the third , his body was taken vp on this day , & translated to a more eminent place of the same church where it lay before , wherat it pleased god to worke miracles . his principall festiuity is celebrated vpon the eleuenth day of may , of whome in that place , we haue made mention againe . d the nine & twentith day . in scotland the commemoration of s. baldred confessour , whose memory in ancient tymes hath byn very famous in that kingdome . for that he hauing sometymes preached to the people of three villages neere adioyning one to the other in scotland , called aldham , tiningham and preston , was so holy a man of life , that when he was dead , the people of ech village , contended one with another which of thē should haue his body , in so much , that at last , they not agreeing therabout , tooke armes , and ech of them sought by force to enioy the same . and when the matter came to issue , the said sacred body was found all whole in three distinct places of the house where he died ; so as the people of ech village comming thither , & carrying the same away , placed it in their churches , and kept it with great honour and veneration for the miracles , that at ech place it pleased god to worke . he liued in the tyme of s. kentigerne and s. columbe the great , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and ten , about which tyme also he gaue vp his soule to rest in our lord. e the thirtith day . at vverdt in cleeu-land the depositiō of s. pattone bishop of that citty and confessour , who descended of a worthy bloud in scotland , was first made abbot of the monastery called amarbaricke in the same kingdome , and thence going ouer into the lower germany and saxony , was at last consecrated bishop of vverdt , where in great sanctity of life and other vertues , diligently attending to his flocke & preaching the christian faith among them , he ended his venerable old dayes , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred threscore and two , and was buryed in his owne cathedrall church at vverdt , where his body was wont to be kept with great veneration of the inhabitants . f the one & thirtith day at malmesbury in vviltshire the translation of s. adelmus bishop & confessour nephew to inas king of the vvestsaxons , who trauayling in his youth into france and italy , through his diligence in studdies , attayned to great learning , both in the greeke and hebrue tongues , but especially in diuinity . in the knowledg wherof , he was in his dayes accompted excellent . after his returne into england , he first became a monke of the order of s. benedict at malmesbury , and then abbot of the whole monastery : and afterward going to rome with king ceadwall , he was there created bishop of sherborne by pope sergius , and sent backe to that sea : where after great labours taken in the gouernment therof , and many notable bookes wrytten for the instruction of men in christian life , he finally reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and nyne : whose body was afterward solemnly on this day translated to malmesbury , and there kept in catholicke tymes with great honour and veneratiō , for the manifold miracles , that are recorded to haue byn wrought therat . the moneth of april . g the first day . at pontoyse in france the commemoratio of the saintes sadoch & adrian , priestes & confessours , who being irishmen by birth , came ouer into france to preach the christian faith to the people and inhabitants of picardy , where they were honourably receyued and intertayned by s. richarius a noble man of that countrey , and afterward abbot of pontoyse . and when they had laboured in that new haruest for many yeares , and reaped therin most aboundant fruite , in the conuersion of infinite soules from their idolatrous superstitiō to the true worship of one god , they finally ended their happy dayes in a venerable old age , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and forty . their sacred reliques are kept vntill this day by the religious men in the forsaid monastery of pontoyse , with great veneration of the inhabitants . a the second day . at coldingham in the marches of scotland the commemoration of s. ebba virgin and abbesse , daugher to ethelfride king of northumberland , and sister to s. oswald and osway kings of the same prouince , who cōtēning the vanities of the world , became a religious woman , and receyued the holy veyle of chastity at the hands of blessed finan bishop of lindisserne : but afterward building two goodly monasteryes of her owne , one vpon the riuer of derwent , called of her name ebbecester , and the other at the forsaid coldingham , she became abbesse of the later , and ruled the same in all perfection and holines of life , hauing very many noble and vertuous virgins vnder her ; amōg whome , s. audry queene and flower of the i le of ely was one . and after she had heaped vp store of heauenly treasure , in a good old age , she went to her spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore and foure , whose memory hath in tymes past byn very famous both in england & scotland , where many goodly churches and chappels haue byn erected and dedicated in her honour ; and one yet standing to be seene in oxford , commonly called s. tabbes ; as also in the forsaid marches of scotland neere to coldinghā , there is a little port or hauen in the promōtory of that prouince , still retayning the name of s. tabbes-head . b the third day . at chichester in sussex the deposition of s. richard confessour and bishop of that sea , whose wonderfull life and doctrine , ioyned with the greatnes of his miracles , hath byn sufficiently manifested to the christian world . he was borne at vvich in vvorcestershire , and died at douer in kent , the ninth yeare of his presulshippe , and yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fifty and three . whose body being brought to chichester , so shined with miracles , that among others , it is recorded , that three dead men , were at the same , by his meritts , againe raised to life . he was canonized for a saint , by pope vrban the fourth seauen yeares after his death , and of christ . the same day at eureux in france the deposition of s. burgundosora virgin and abbesse , who descended of a noble brittish bloud and disciple to s. columbane the great of ireland , was by him sent ouer into france & there made abbesse of a monastery , which he had built at eureux , where in great sanctimony of life she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hūdred & ten . s. bede hath wryttē her life at large , wherin he recounteth many worthy and memorable actes of hers , especially for the obseruation of monasticall discipline , wherin she excelled . c the fourth day . in cornwall the commemoration of s. guier priest and confessour , who leading an eremiticall , and seuere kind of life in that prouince , and being companion to s. neoth ( by whose counsell the vniuersity of oxford was founded ) that liued in those partes with him in the tyme of king alfred , was very famous for sanctity of life , and working of miracles both aliue & dead . his name is yet very memorable , and frequent among the cornishmen , where in times past , haue byn many altars erected , and dedicacated in his honour . he died about the yeare of christ , eight hundred threescore and eleuen . d the fifth day . in scotland the deposition of s. tigernake bishop and confessour , whose godly life , and doctrine , hath not only illustrated that countrey , where he was borne , but his neighbour-kingdomes also round about : and therfore his memory not vnworthy to be recorded among the other saints of our iland , that hath byn made worthy of so glorious a patron . he died in all sanctity & holines of life , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and thirty , and was buryed in scotland . the same day in suetia the commemoration of s. gotebald bishop and confessour , who being an englishman by birth , went ouer into norway and sueueland and there propagated the christian faith with aboundant fruite of his holy labours , for many yeares ; and finally in great holines of life , there rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , one thousand and foure . e the sixt day . in ireland the deposition of s. celsus confessour and bishop of connerthen in the same kingdome , whose godly life , full of sanctity and miracles , hath byn very famous in former ages , both at home , and abroad . he was predecessour to s. malachy in his bishoppricke , and died in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred twenty and eight . the same day at hexam in northumberland the commemoration of s. ethelwold , king of the same prouince and martyr : who being wickedly slayne in the ciuill warres among his owne subiects , and his body brought to the church of hexam , it pleased god in signe of his innocency in that cause , to worke many miracles therat ; which being seene , and diligently examined , the same was with great solemnity & veneration honourably reconded in the said church as beseemed so pretious a treasure . he suffered about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred . f the seauenth day . in scotland the commemoration of s. sigene abbot and confessour , who descended of a very noble parentage in that kingdome , became a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , in a monastery of one of the ilands of orcades , belonging to that prouince , wherof afterward himselfe was made abbot . in which office he so behaued himselfe in sanctity of life , good learning and reformation of monasticall discipline , that his name was famous aswell throughout scotland at home , as in england , ireland and other countreyes abroad . he liued about the yeare of christ , six hundred and threescore , about which tyme also he reposed in our lord. g the eight day . at glastenbury in somersetshire the commemoration of s. duuianus confessour , & scholler to s. ioseph of arimathia , who being a noble man of britany ioyned himselfe to s. ioseph , and lead a solitary life with him and his companions , in the iland of auallonia ( now called glastenbury ) which king aruiragus of bri●any had graunted vnto them ; where being very famous for sanctity of life and miracles in that first primitiue church of our countrey , he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , one hundred and eleuen . his body was buryed at glastenbury , and there conserued with due veneration vntill the dayes of k. henry the eight , in whose raigne that monastery deca 〈…〉 ed. he was very nobly borne , and one of the first christians of our iland , that exercised a solitary or eremiticall life , after the comming of s. ioseph of arimathia into britany . a the ninth day . at vvinchester in hampshire , the commemoration of s. frithstan confessour & bishop of the same sea , who forsaking the burden of that dignity , betooke himselfe to a solitary kind of life , in a village neere to the said citty of vvinchester : in which he constantly perseuered in all sanctity and holinesse of life to his dying day , which happened in the yeare of christ , nyne hundred thirty and three , and was buryed at vvinchester , where his body was wont to be kept in catholicke tymes , with great honour and veneration . there is a story recorded , how that s. frithstane was wont euery day to say masse , and office for the dead ; and one euening as he walked in the church-yard reciting his said office , when he came to requiescant in pace ; the voyces in the graues round about , made answere aloud , and said amen . b the tenth day . at paderborne in the higher germany the deposition of s. paternus confessour , who borne in scotland of a worthy bloud & despising all wordly things , gate him ouer into germany , and there became a monke of the order of s. benedict in a monastery of the forsaid towne of paderborne , where , by diuine prophesy , he fortold the burning therof by causall fire , wherin himselfe , being in his cell , was also cōsumed to 〈…〉 shes , about the yeare of christ , one thousand fifty and eight . his memory is very famous , vntill this day , both in germany , where he liued , and in scotland also where he was borne . the same day in suetia the passion of s. eschillus bishop and martyr , who going out of england with s. sigfrid and his nephewes , to preach the christian faith to the sueuians , after he had laboured for many yeares incessantly in that kind , and brought many thousands to the true worship of god , was by the 〈…〉 redulous pagā people of that coūtrey , stoned to death , as he was preaching the word of 〈…〉 e , vpon good fryday ; and therby deserued to be crowned with martyrdome vpon the same day , that our blessed sauiour suffered for the redemption of mankind . this happened about the yeare of christ , one thousand and sixteene , and in the raigne of king edmund of england , surnamed iron-side . c the eleuenth day . in the i le of crowland in lincolnshire the deposition of s. guthlacke confessour and eremite , who being in his youth a souldiour , and of good parentage , became weary of the world , and retyred himselfe to the monastery of ripendowne ( now called rippon ) in yorkshire , where be tooke first the habit of a monke , & shortly after became an eremite in the forsaid i le of crowland . in which kind of life he continued in so great austerity of fasting , praying , & pennace , that he deserued twice a day for fifteene yeares togeather to enioy the glorious sight of his good angell , working wonderfull miracles both aliue and dead . he departed this world in a venerable old age , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and fourteene , and was buryed in cro 〈…〉 and abbey . d the tweluth day . at roane in france the commemoration of blessed hugh co 〈…〉 ssour & bishop of that sea , who being an englishmā by birth , & abbot of reading in barkshire , was thence in the time of k. henry the 〈◊〉 , promoted to the bishopricke of roane ; in which dignity he so worthily behaued himselfe ; for 〈…〉 x and thirty yeares togeather , that his name was famous in those dayes throughout all france . he died in great sanctity of life and miracles about the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred threescore and six . this man is different from the other s. hugh , bishop of the same place , whose fes 〈…〉 all day is celebrated vpon the nynth of this moneth . the same day at alaxion , also in france , the commemoration of s. mechtild virgin , who descended of the bloud ro all of scotlād , fled thēce secretly , with her yōgest brother alexander in base attire , into france , where placing him as a brother in the monastery of cistercian mōkes at fone , she wēt herself to a village nyne myles of , called alaxion & there made her a little cottage of stickes and rushes , liuing in great seuerity and pennance , manteyning herself with the labour of her owne hands till her dying day , which happened about the yeare of christ , one thousand and two hundred . the townesmen of alaxion buryed her body with great solemnity and veneration , god glorifying the same by many miracles . e the thirteenth day . at glastenbury in somersetshire the commemoration of s. elsled virgin , and neece to king ethelstane of england , whose wonderfull vertues , and holines of life , togeather with working of miracles , haue in tymes past , byn famous in our iland . she built herselfe a little oratory , by the counsell of s. dunstan , neere to the church of our blessed lady at glastenbury , in which she liued in continuall prayer , watching and fasting , vntill her dying day . and when vpon a tyme her vncle k. ethelstane , that was there on hunting , came to visit her , & with a great company , stayed and dined with her , she hauing but one little vessell of drinke ( called meath ) set the same before him and his trayne ; of which when euery one had dronke his fill , the said vessell was notwithstanding as full as before . she ended her blessed dayes about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred thirty and six , and was buryed at glastenbury . f the fourteenth day . at vvinchester in hampshire , the commemoration of blessed ethelnulph king of the vvestsaxons and confessour , whose godly acts in propagating and increasing the christian faith in our iland , is not only famous to all posterity , but may be an example also and myrrour to all other christian princes of europe . he made the tenth part of his kingdome free from all tributes and and exactions , and gaue it to the church in honour of our blessed lady , and other saints of god ; as also he sent euery yeare three hundred markes to rome , one hundred to s. peters church , another hundred to s. paules , and the third to be bestowed in almes at the popes discretion . and at last went thither himselfe in pilgrimage , togeather with his yongest sonne alfred , whome he cōmitted to pope leo for his education ; and there among other deeds of charity , he reedified the english-schoole that had byn a little before consumed by fire . and soone after his returne backe into england in most godly wise , he reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred fifty and seauen . matthew paris a monke of s. albans , and a very graue author , numbreth him among the canonized saints of our nation . his body was with all solemnity & veneration honourably reconded in the cathedrall church of vvinchester , where it yet remayneth among the monuments of our saxon and english kings . g the fifteenth day . at yorke the eleuation of the glorious & venerable body of s. oswald , bishop of that sea and confessour , who trauayling in his yonger dayes into france , became there first a monke in the monastery of floriacke , & returning into england , was afterwards ordayned bishop of vvorcester , and lastly , at the intercession of k. edgar , preferred to yorke where in great sanctity of life and miracles he ended his blessed dayes , in the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourscore and twelue . his body in the yeare . was on this day with all solemnity and reuerence taken vp by aldulph his successour in that sea , and set in a more eminent place of the cathedrall church of yorke , but afterward translated to vvorcester . he built the famous abbey of ramsey in the i le of ely , as also a goodly church at vvorcester , which he dedicated to our blessed lady . a the sixteenth day . at cullen in the higher germany the translation of part of the venerable body of s. alban protomartyr of great-britany , which togeather with other reliques being first carried thence to rome by s. germā bishop of auxier in france , when with s. lupus he came into britany to expell the pelagiā heresy , was afterwards brought backe to cullen by thcophania wife to the emperour otho the second , and there very honourably placed in the monastery of s. pantaleon , where the same is yet kept with great veneration of the whole citty . this s. alban in his youth before his conuersion to christian faith , being lord of verolame ( now called s. albans ) went to rome , and there made a royall chalēge of iustes for the honour of his realme , where before all others he had the price , and thereupon was made knight of the bath by the emperour dioclesian , and high steward of the britans ; who were then vnder the subiection of the romans . and after his returne home , being made a christian by s. amphibale priest , was for that cause shortly after apprehended , and put to death at the forsaid towne of s. albans in hartfordshire , about the yeare of christ , three hundred and three . fortunatus in his excellent booke of virginity speaking of martyrs , among others , commendeth s. alban thus : albanum egregium foecunda britannia profert . there was a goodly church and monastery afterwards erected at s. albans in his honour by ossa k. of the merciās , wherin the said body of s. alban was placed ; the which was in our last age , destroyed by k. henry the . his commandement , with hundreds more in our iland . b the seauenteenth day . at fulda in the diocesse of mentz in the higher germany , the commemoration of s. marianus cōfessour , who borne in scotland , & descended of a good parentage in that kingdome , went ouer into germany and tooke first the habit of a monke of the order of s. benedict , in the monastery of s. martins at cullen , and afterward at the forsaid towne of fulda , in an abbey , which s. boniface archbishop of mentz had sometimes founded for the scottish nation , where in great holines and sanctity of life , he reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , one thousand and threescore , and raigne of k. edward the confessour of england . he wrote many learned bookes which he left behind him to posterity , and are extant to be read in diuers libraryes of europe : the catalogue wherof yow may see set downe by diuers catholicke writers in print . c the eighteenth day . in the marches or borders of scotland the commemoration of s. oswyn confessour , who descended of a noble british parentage , contēned the vanityes of this world , & became a monke in an ancient monastery called lesting ( which s. chad of lichsield had sometymes founded ) in the kingdome of the northumbers , where giuing himself to continuall fasting , prayer and other bodyly pennāce , famous for sanctity of life and miracles , he departed this transitory world , and reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threscore and ten , whose name and holinesse haue byn very memorable in former tymes in our iland of great britany , especially among the northerne people , and borderers of scotland . d the ninteenth day . at green-wich in kent the passion of s. elphege bishop and martyr , who being first abbot of an ancient monastery neere bath in somersetshire , was thence promoted to the bishopricke of vvinchester , & after to canterbury . and when the danes came to inuade his church of canterbury , and demaunding of him three thousand markes of money , he like a good pastour of his flocke , manfully resisted , refusing to giue the said summe from his church . wherfore after seauen moneths imprisonment , and diuers kinds of torments , he was finally stoned to death at the forsaid towne of green-wich by the enemyes of truth , in the yeare of christ , one thousand and twelue ; whose body was first brought to london , and afterward translated to canterbury . about this tyme also ( as it is recorded ) were slayne by the said danes , for the christian faith , six and thirty monkes of s. augustines monastery in canterbury , and eight thousand of the lay people in other places of england . e the twentith day . at rome the deposition of blessed ceadwall king of the vvestsaxons and confessour , who before he was yet a christian himselfe , so much reuerenced the christian bishops , and clergy of the church of england , that when he had subdued the i le of vvight , being pagan , he gaue the fourth part therof to s. vvilfride ( at that tyme expulsed from yorke ) wherin he caused him to preach & plant the christian faith ; & afterwards wēt himselfe to rome , & was there baptized by pope sergius , where within a few dayes , being yet in his albes , he departed to our lord on this day , in the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore and nyne . his body lieth buryed in the entrāce of s. peters old church at rome , as the ancient tables and records therof do declare , wherof you may read s. bede more at large in his history of england , where he setteth downe two epitaphes engrauē ouer the forsaid kings tombe , the one in verse , the other in prose in memory of so famous an act to all posterity . that in verse is this . culmen , opes , sobolem , pollentia regna , triumphos , exuuias , proceres , mania , castra , lares ; quaeue patrum virtus , & quae congesserat ipse ceadual armipotens , liquit amore dei. vt petrum , sedemue pe●ri rex cerneret hospes , cuius fonte meras sumeret almus aquas , splendificumue iubar radianti carperet haustu , et quo viuisicus sulgor vbiue sluit . percipiensue alacer rediui●ae pramia vitae . barbaricam rabiem , nomen & inde suum . conuersus conuertit ouans , petrumque vocari sergius antistes iussit , vt ipse pater . fonte renascentis , quem christi gratia purgans , protinus ablutum vexit in arce poli. mira fides regis , clementia maxima christi , cuius consilium nullus adire potest . sospes enim veniens supremo ex orbe britanni , per varias gentes , per freta , perue vias , vrbem romuleam vidit , templumue verendum aspexit petri , mystica dona gerens . candidus inter o●es christi socialibus ibit , corpore nam tumulum , mente superna tenet . commutasse magis sceptrorum insignia credas , quam regnum christi promeruisse vides . the same day at ersord in the higher germany , the translation of s. adlar bishop and martyr , who being an englishman by birth , and a monke in the kingdome of the northumbers , went ouer into germany with s. boniface to preach the christian faith to that pagan nation , where being consecrated bishop of erford , he was , togeather with s. boniface , and fifty others , slayne by the barbarous people , at a towne called dockum in frizland , for the defence of christian faith , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred fifty and foure . his body was afterward on this day translated to ersord , and there is kept with great veneration of the inhabitants . f the one and twentith day . at canterbury the deposition of s. anselme bishop & confessour , who borne at augusta in burgundy , came thence into normandy to the abbey of becke , and there became first a monke , then prior , and lastly abbot of the said monastery . and being afterward promoted to the sea of canterbury , gouerned the same most laudably , vntill the tyme of king vvilliam rufus , by whome he was banished the realme , but againe restored by king henry the first . he celebrated two famous councells at london . and after a most holy life ioyned with great piety & learning , full of venerable old age , he ended his blessed dayes , in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred & nyne , and sixteenth yeare of his gouerment : and was buryed in his owne cathedrall church of canterbury , at the head of his predecessour lanfranke , at whose body it hath pleased god to worke many miracles . g the two and twentith day . at vvinchester in hampshire the commemoration of s. birstan confessour and bishop of that sea , whose godly life and miracles , haue much illustrated our iland of great britany . there is a story recorded , how on a tyme after his death he appeared to s. ethelwold his successor in the sea of vvinchester , togeather with s. birine and s. swithin , all in great glory , & told him : that he who was made worthy of so great glory in heauen , had no reason to be de●rauded of his honour on earth . after which tyme s. ethelwold caused his body to be kept with more veneration & reuerence then before . he died in great sanctity and holynesse of life , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred forty and foure , and was buryed at vvinchester . a the three and twentith day . the celebrity of s. george martyr , whose feast , for that he is patron of england , hath alwayes byn kept holy , and serued with a double office throughout our whole realme in former catholicke tymes , according to the vse of sarum . the same day at vvimborne in dorsetshire the passion of s. etheldred king of the vvestsaxons and martyr , who in the danish persecution , was slayne by the tyrannicall pagans , in hatred of christian religion , at an old towne in the west part of england called vvhittingham , in the yeare of christ , eight hundred threescore and twelue . his body was brought to the monastery of vvimborne , and there entombed with great veneration , as is yet to be seene by his epitaph , recorded by our english historiographers , thus : in hoc loco requies●it corpus s. etheldredi regis vvestsaxonum martyris , qui anno domini octingentesimo septuagesimo secundo , vigesimo tertio die aprilis per manus dacorum paganorum occubuit . b the foure & twentith day . at canterbury the depositiō of s. mellitus bishop & confessour , who being sent into england by s. gregory the great , with three other copanions to assist s. augustine in the haruest of soules , was shortly after his comming first created bishop of london , and afterwards gouerned the sea of canterbury , where in all venerable sanctity of life and miracles , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred twenty and foure : and was buryed neere to his predecessours s. augustine and s. laurence , in the north porch of his cathedrall church of canterbury . the same day in the monastery of s. columbe in scotland , the deposition of s. egbert abbot and confessour , who descended of a noble british linnage , sent s. vvillebrord and his fellowes into flanders and germany , to preach the christiā faith ; as also gaue instructions to the monkes of scotland , about the obseruation of the feast of easter . and finally in great sanctity of life and miracles reposed happily in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred twenty and nyne . also the same day at s. i●es in hūtingtonshire the inuētiō of the venerable body of s. iuo bishop & confessour , who comming out of persia into englād , there preached the christian faith ; & dying about the yeare of christ , six hundred , was afterward on this day found out , and taken vp by alwyn earle of the eastangles , and most honourably , and with great veneration entombed and placed in the abbey of ramsey , in the yeare of christ , one thousand and one , and raigne of king ethelred of england . moreour the same day at canterbury the trāslatiō of s. vvilfrid bishop of yorke and confessour , whose body in the second danish persecution , was on this day translated to canterbury , from rippon in yorkeshire , where he was first buryed , by s. odo archbishop of that sea , and there with great solomnity & veneration , placed in the cathedrall church of that citty , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fifty and seauen , wherat it pleased god to worke miracles . his principall festiuity is celebrated in our english catholicke church vpon the tweluth day of october . c the fiue & twentith day . at vvancourt in the territory of arras in the lower germany , the commemoration of s. obodius confessour and eremite , who descended of a very noble parentage in ireland , and contemning the vanityes of the world , in his youth , went ouer into the low-countreyes , & there lead a solitary and eremiticall kind of life in the aforsaid territory of arras , to the great edification of the inhabitants of that place ; where finally in great sanctity and holines of life , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred ; whose body is yet cōserued in the said towne of vvancourt , with great honour and veneration of the people dwelling therabout , as patron of that village . d the six and twentith day . in scotland the commemoration of the saints modane and midane brothers and confessours , who borne in the same kingdome , and there descended of a worthy family , contemned the vanityes of the world , and became religious monkes of the venerable order of s. benedict in their owne countrey , where in all kind of good learning , vertue , and sanctity of life , they finally , in a good old age , reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and foure . their memory hath in former catholicke tymes byn famous throughout scotland and ireland , where many aultars and oratories haue byn dedicated in their honour , as the ancient records of those kingdomes do declare . e the seauen & twentith day . at heydentine-monastery in the higher germany the deposition of s. walburge virgin and abbesse , daughter to s. richard king of england , who after the death of her father , being sent for by s. boniface archbishop of mentz and her vncle , was by him made abbesse of the forsaid monastery of heydentine , where in very great sactity & working of miracles she gaue vp her soule to her heauēly spouse , about the yeare of christ , seauē hūdred threscore & sixteene her body was afterward translated to eyst , and there placed in the cathedrall church of that citty ( neere to the venerable body of s. vvillebald her owne brother ; ) out of which there distilleth vntill this day , a most sweet and pretious oyle , very soueraigne for many diseases . ouer whose tombe is engrauen in marble this short epitaph . filia regis erat , sed egenam se faciebat , diues vt christo , regnaret semper in ipso . the feast of this her translation is celebrated in germany vpon the first of may with great solemnity and deuotion of the people of eyst . she was canonized for a saint by pope adrian the second . f the eight & twentith day . at vverdt in cleeueland the commemoration of s. kortill bishop and martyr , who borne of a noble parentage in scotland , became first a monke in that kingdome of the venerable order of s. benedict , in an anciēt monastery there called amarbaricke , wherof he being soone after made abbot , went ouer into the lower germany and saxony to propagate the christian faith newly planted in those partes ; and being there ordayned bishop of vverdt , was a little after in hatred of the same christian faith , slayne by the incredulous and barbarous saxons , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and twenty . his body was buryed at vverdt aforsaid , and there kept in former tymes with great veneration . g the nine & twentith day . in northwales the commemoration of s. senan confessour , who descended of an ancient and noble british bloud , contemned the vanities of the world , and became an eremite , leading a solitary and seuere kind of life in the north of vvales neere to the teritorry of s. wenefrides father , by whome s. wenefride her selfe was often visited , and after her death lay many yeares buried neere to his body , vntill her translation to shrewsbury . he liued in great sanctity and fame of miracles in the yeare of christ , six hundred and threescore , about which tyme also he happily reposed in our lord. his memory hath in former catholicke tymes byn very famous in our iland of great-britany , but especially among the welch-men . and in cornwall , there is yet a village and hauen of his name , commonly called s. senans . a the thirtith day . at london the deposition of s. erconwald confessour and bishop of that sea , sonne to offa king of the eastsaxons , who being first abbot of chertsey in surrey , which himselfe had built , was thence promoted to the bishopricke of london , wherin he so excelled in all sanctity and holines of life , that it pleased god to manifest the same to posterity , by the wonderfull miracles wrought by him both aliue & dead . he deseased in the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and fiue , and was buryed at london . he founded another goodly monastery of nunnes at barking in essex , wherof he ordayned his owne sister edilburge abbesse . the feast of his translation was wont to be kept in our countrey in catholicke tymes , with great solemnity , vpon the fourteenth of nouember ( in which place we haue againe made mention of him ) especia●ly in the diocesse of london , where it was appointed holy-day , as the ancient recordes of s. paules church do declare . the moneth of may. b the first day . at s. assaphs in flint-shire of vvales the deposition of s. assaph confessour and first bishop of that sea , who of a monke and disciple of s. kentigerne abbot of glasco in scotland , was ordayned bishop of an old towne in northwales named elgoa , but afterwards called s. assaphes of his owne name , where he excelled in all kind of vertue and singular holines of life vntill his dying day , which happened in a venerable old age , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred fourscore and sixteene . the same day at fossis in the territory of namures in the lower germany , the deposition of s. vltan abbot and confessour , sonne to philtan king of ireland , & brother to s. furseus and s. foillan , who going ouer into france and flanders , built a monastery or hospitall for the intertaynment of poore pilgrims at a place called fossis in the forsaid territory of namures , which he obtayned of s. gertrude abbesse of niuelle . and after infinite workes of piety and deuotion in that kind , he there finally went to our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and threescore , and was buryed at fossis . c the second day . in the lower germany the festiuity of s. german bishop and martyr , who being an englishman by birth , went ouer into the low countreyes to preach the faith of christ , where finally for his reward , he receyued a crowne of martyrdome . his life is to be read at large in wrytten hād , extant in a monastery of the low-countreyes , as testifieth a reuerend priest of the society of iesus , whose festiuity he appointeth on this day , in his booke intituled , fasti sanctorum &c. the same day at padstow in corn-wall the commemoration of s. piran confessour , who borne in ireland of a kings bloud , for the loue of god contemned the world , and became an ●●●mite in that kingdome , leading ( for many yeares ) a very str●ct and seuere kind of life , in so much that it pleased god to worke by him many miracles . among which , one is recorded , that with the flesh of three kyne , he sus●ayned ten armyes of nē for eight daye , as also raysed diuers dead men to life . and after all this he came ouer into england , and liued at padslow in corn-wall , where in great sanctity of life , he finally reposed in our lord , and where in like manner his body hath byn kept with great solemnity and veneration , in a chappell of the forsaid towne o padslow , which chappell is there to be seene vntill this day . d the third day . at mailros in the kingdome of northumberland , the deposition of s. wal●er abbot and confessour , sonne to dauid king of scotland , who forsaking the dignities and honours of the world , and refusing the archbishopricke and metropolitan sea of s andrewes in the same kingdome , became a monke and afterwards abbot of the goodly monastery of mail●os , situated in the marches of sco●land , in the kingdome of the northumbers , where in very great sanctity of life and working of miracles , he ended his blessed da●es , about the yeare of chri●● , one thousand and one hundred . his memory is yet famous throughout the whole realme of sco●land , where many chappell 's and altars haue in catholicke tymes byn dedicated in his honour , but now quite destroyed and defaced by the enemyes of gods truth , to the great lamentation of the christian world . e the fourth day . at bardney in lincolnshire the commemoratiō of blessed ethelred con●essour , and king of the mercians ( or middle englishmen ) who after he had ruled that kingdome most laudably for thirty whole yeares togeather , left the same to cocured his nephew , contemned the world , and tooke the habit of a monke in the monastery of bardney of the venerable order of s. benedict , and afterward became abbot of the same p●ace , where he so greatly excelied in all kind of vertue and sanctity of life , that his name was very famous in those dayes throughout england . he died about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and ten , and was buryed in in the same monastery . f the fifth day . at shepton in warwickshire the commemoration of s. algi●e queene , mother to king edgar of blessed memory and monarch of england , who so greatly excelled in piety , deuotion , and other eminent vertues whilst she liued , that her body in the yeare of christ , nyne hūdred threescore and fourteene ( which was some thirty yeares after her death ) being miraculously reueyled at shepton , it pleased god to worke many miracles therat , in testimony of her holinesse , & increase of deuotion in our iland of great britany . the same day in ireland the commemoration of s. scandalâus mōke & confessour , disciple to s. columbe the great of that nation , who comming ouer into scotland with a dozen other companions in company of the forsaid s. columbe , for the conuersion of the pic●es , who then inhabited that kingdome , was famous for sanctity and holines of life , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and four score , about which tyme also he reposed in our lord. g the sixt day . at lindis●erne in the kingdome of the northumbers , the deposition of s. edbert confessour and bishop of that sea , who taking vp the venerable body of s. cuthbert eleuen yeares after his death , and finding it altogeather vncorrupt , put the same into a new coffin , and said : happy were that man , who might lye in the old ; and within a few dayes after , full of sanctity and holines of life , he being called out of this world , was himselfe layd therin , according to his wish . at whose body it pleased god to worke many miracles in token of the innocency of his life . this happened in the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore and eighteene . the same day at landaffa in clamorganshire , the translation of s. dubritius bishop and confessour , who being somtime archbishop of carleon vpon vske and metropolitan of the britans , resigned the said sea to s. dauid , & became an eremite , leading a very strict & seuere kind of life in the moūtaynes of vvales , vntill his dying day ; which happened about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and twenty . his body was first buryed in the iland of bardsey , & afterward on this day translated to landa●●a , about the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred and twenty . a the seauenth day . at beuerl●● in yorkeshire the festiuity of s. ●oh● bishop and confessour , commonly called 〈…〉 iohn of beuerley , who after he had gouerned the sea of yorke in great sanctity and holines of life , for the space of three and thirty yeares , famous for miracles , he ended his venerable old dayes , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred twenty and one . his body was first buryed at yorke , but afterward with great honour and solemnity translated to beuerl●y , by bishop alred his successour , and there interred in the monastery which himselfe had built , where with great veneration the same was preserued euen vntill our dayes , and visited of many , especially for the great miracles that it hath pleased god to worke therat by his merits . the forsaid monastery of beuerley , was afterward , by licence of the pope , made a sanctuary , in the raigne of king ethelstane , who placed a certaine chayre of stone in the church , neere vnto s. io 〈…〉 s body , vpon which , this ins●ription was engrauen : hae● sedes lapidea di 〈…〉 ur freed-stoole , id est , pacis cathedra ; ad quam reus sugiendo perue●iens , o 〈…〉 odam ●●be● securitate . this festiuall day of his was afterward in a councell of bishops held at london in the yeare . appointed to be kept holy-day in his memory throughout england . b the eight day . at mus●●i●ht in the territory of liege , the ●●●tiu●ty of s. wyre cōfessour , d●sc●ded of a noble bloud in scotland , who being ordayned bishop of the deiri , in the kingdome of the northumbers , went ouer into the lower germany , where he became cōfessor to duke pepin of brabant , labouring incessantly in teaching and preaching the christian faith . and finally in great sanctity and venerable old yeares , he departed this life , at the monastery of s. odilia neere ruremond , vpon the riuer of mosa , about the yeare of christ seauen hundred thirty and one . his body was translated afterward to maestricht , and there with great veneration of the inhabitants is kept in the cathedrall church of that citty . c the ninth day . at vindecine among the zwitzers in the higher germany the deposition of s. beatus confessour and apostle of zuizerland , who being sonne to a nobleman of britany , wēt to rome in the primitiue church , partly on pilgrimage , & partly to be better instructed in the christian faith . and as he returned backe , he began to preach to the zwitzzers in heluetia , and conuerted many of them to the saith of christ , wherby he became their first apostle . he died there in an oratory which himselfe had built , where also his body was buryed , and many miracles wrought therat , about the yeare of christ , one hundred and eleuen , and was the first saint of our nation we read of , that died out of britany . d the tenth day . at durham in the bishopricke the translation of the venerable body of s. bede ●ri● and confessour , by whose wrytings the christian world hath byn much illustrated . when he was but seauen yeares old , he was committed for his education to s. benedict , abbot of the monastery of vvyremund , and afterward became a mōke in the same place , seruing god therin all the dayes of his life , as himselfe testifieth in the end of his fifth booke of the history of england . and being at last admonished of his death , by an angell , when the tyme drew neere , which was on the feast of our sauiours ascension , kneeling downe vpon the pauement of his cell , and singing , gloria patri , & silio , & spiritui sancto &c. haue vp the ghost , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred threscore and six . his body was afterward on this day translated to durham , and there with great veneration placed in the tombe togeather with s. cuthbert , with this old inscription or epitaph : beda dei famulus , monachorum nobile sydus , finibus è terrae profuit ecclesiae . soles iste patrum scrutando per omnia sensum , eloquio viguit , plurima composuit . annos in hac vita ter duxit vitae triginta , presbyter officio , vtilis ingenio . iunij septenis viduatus carne kalendis angligena , angelicam commeruit patriam . his principall festiuity is kept in our english catholicke church vpon the . of this moneth according to the vse of sarum , on which day he died . e the eleuenth day . in the marches of vvales the passion of s. fremund king and martyr , sonne to ossa king o● the mercians ( of middle 〈…〉 glishmen ) who after a y●are and a halfe , that he had ruled his kingdome , left the same , and for the loue of christ became an i remite in the marches of vvales , in a l●ttle iland there , called in the brit●sh tongue 〈◊〉 sage , where togeather with two vertuous priests he liued a very holy and exemplar kind of life , vntill king os●●ay , that was fallen from the christian saith , in hatred therof , secretly killed him , in the yeare of christ , seauen hūdred threescore & nyne . he was afterward canonized for a saint in the yeare , one thousand two hundred fifty and seauen , and raigne of king henry the third of england ; whose memory in catholicke tymes , hath byn very famous in our iland , especially among the ancient britans of north-vvales . f the tweluth day . at lincolne the deposition of s. remigius confessour and bishop of that sea , fa●ou● for sanctity of life and learning . he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 world in the yeare of christ , 〈◊〉 thousand fourscore and eleuen : whose 〈◊〉 being on this day interred with great 〈◊〉 , and veneration , in his cathe 〈…〉 church of lincoine , it pleased god in 〈…〉 ony of his holynes to worke wonderous signes ●nerat , especially in the raigne of king henry the third , when as all england went on pilgrimage thither , for the great miracles that were thē dayly wrought . he built two famous monasteryes by the help of king vvilliam the cōquerour , the one at battaile in sussex , the other at cane in normandy , which later he consecrated to s. stephen the protomartyr . and was the first that trāslated the bishopricke of dorchester to lincolne , where he built a goodly cathedrall church , and adorned the same ( saith stow ) with clarkes that were approued both in learning and manners . g the thirteenth day . at the monastery of ramsey in the i le of ely , in the prouince of the eastangies , the commemoration of s. merwyne virgin , who being a womā of great sanctimony & holinesse of life , was by king edgar of blessed memory , constituted abbesse of a new monastery , which by the help of alwyn earle of the eastangles , s. oswald bishop of yorke had newly ●ounded at ramsey , where in all vertuous conuersation and exemplar good li●e , especially in the obseruation of monasticall discipline , full of miracles , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred and fourscore , where her body was also interred , and kept for a long tyme with great veneration . this forsaid abbey of ramsey is different from another of the same name , which in tymes past hath byn also very famous in our iland , being situated in wiltshire , where vntill this day the ruines therof are remayning to be seene . a the fourteenth day . at pollesworth in vvarwickshire the commemoration of s. edith virgin , and sister to holy king edgar of blessed memory , who being a woman of rare vertue , was ordayned abbesse of a monastery at the forsaid place of pollesworth , which s. modwene of ireland had built with the goods of her owne inheritance ; where in all kind of sanctimony of life , and godly conuersation , full of miracles , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred & fourscore . this woman is different from another s. edith of the same name , whose festiuall dayes are celebrated vpon the sixteenth of september , and third of nouember , and was daughter to the forsaid edgar , and abbesse of vvilton , commonly called by the name of edith the yonger , and neece to this , of whome here we haue made mention . b the fifteenth day . at ghele in brabant the festiuity of s. dympna virgin and martyr , daughter to a pagan king of ireland , who being secretly instructed in the christian faith by s. gereberne a priest of her owne nation , after the death of her mother the queene , her father would haue married her , and made her his wife : which thing the holy virgin abhorring , stole priuily away into the lower germany , whither her father following her , and finding her out , cut of her head , with his owne hands , togeather with the head of s. gereberne in hatred of christian religion , about the yeare of christ , . her body is honourably reconded at ghele , and there is kept with great veneration , wherat it hath pleased god to shew infinite miracles , in signe of her innocency , especially in casting out diuells , as well to his owne glory , as increase of deuotion in the christian world , & especially in the low countreys . s. gereberns body was interred at the towne of santen vpon the riuer of rhene , and there has reliques were kept , whiles that place was catholicke , with great veneration of the dwellers therabout . c the sixteenth day . at burdeaux in gascoyne of france the deposition of s. symon confessour , an englishman by birth , and generall of the religious men called carmelites , who as he prayed to the blessed virgin , she appeared with a troupe of angells , holding vp the scapulare or coole of his order in her hāds , and said : that whosoeuer died in that habit should be saued . he desceased at burdeaux in the visitation of his generallship , about the yeare of christ , one thousand , fifty and two , where his body is yet kept with great veneration , god hauing , through his merits , adorned the same with many miracles . the same day at the towne of s. albans in hartsordshire , the translation of s. alban lord of v●r●l●me , knight of the bath , high steward of the britans , and the first martyr that suffered for christ in our hand . whose body was on this day by offa king of the mercians , in the yeare of christ . taken vp and translated to a church , that he had newly built in his honour , without the towne of s. albans . in which place also he founded a goodly monastery , & endowed it with great lands and possessions . this king offa went after in person to rome , and procured s. albans canonization , and priuiledges for the said monastery , of pope adrian the first : as also gaue to the sea of rome a certaine tribute of his kingdome , gathering yearly , of euery family of his dominions , certayne money for the same , commonly called peter-pence , which tribute continued in our iland vntill king henry the . when first the breach began with the sea apostolicke . the same day in like manner in scotland the deposition of s. brandan abbot and confessour , whose life and miracles haue byn famous in tymes past in our iland of great-britany . he flourished in the yeare of christ . about which tyme also he died . d the seauenteenth day . at elnona in the higher germany the translation of the venerable bodyes of three of t●e eleuen thousand virgins , martyred with s. vrsula , who be 〈…〉 g of the british nation , suffered death for defence of their v 〈…〉 ginity and christian religion , at cullen in germany , with the forsaid s. v●sula , and her companions , about the yeare of christ , three hundred fourscore and three . from whence on this day , three of their said glorious bodies were translated to elnona , and there very honourably and with great veneration reconded ; wherat it hath pleased god to worke miracles , as well for the increase of deuotion in the people , as also for confirmation of catholicke religion in those partes . e the eighteenth day . at yorke the deposition of s. sewall confessour and archbishop of the same sea , sometyme scholler in oxford to s. edmund archbishop of canterbury , whose integrity and innoc●cy of life , togeather with his admirable patience in aduersity , was so acceptable to god , that it pleased his diuine maiesty in signe therof , to worke miracles by him both aliue and dead : and among other , it is recorded , that lying on his death-bed , he turned water into wyne , by only blessing it . he ended his venerable old dayes ; after much sorrow and tribulation , in great sanctity and holinesse of life , in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fifty and eight , vpon the day of our blessed sauiours ascension , deseruing to receyue the crowne of his labours , on the same day , that christ our sauiour , after his bitter passion heere on earth for the redemption of mankind , entred into the glory of his eternall father . his body was buryed in hisowne cathedrall church of yorke , and there kept and visited with great veneration of the northerne people , euen vntill the tyme of king henry the . for the miracles that had byn wrought therat . f the ninteenth day . at canterbury the deposition of s. dunstan bishop and confessour , who being first abbot of the ancient and goodly monastery of glastenbury in somersetshire , was thence promoted to the bishopricke of vvorcester , and after to london , and ●ast of all to canterbury : whose godly workes of piety , togeather with the multitude of his miracles , are manifest to the christiā world . he d●ed in the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourscore and eight , and was buried at canterbury , where his body was wont , in catholicke tymes , to be kept with great veneration of all england , vntill these later dayes of schismes and heresyes in our kingdome . the same day at towers in france the deposition of s. al●uine , abbot and confessour , who borne in yorkeshire , and somtyme school-maister of yorke , went ouer into france , and became mai●●er to the emperour charles the great , by whose help he founded the vniuersity of paris , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and foure , hauing himselfe byn scholler to our famous s. bede in his youth . his notable labours and workes in gods church are yet memorable throughout the christian world . he died at towers in france about the yeare of christ . & was the first that composed the masse & office of the blessed trinity , and of s. stephen the protomartyr , which being afterward approued by our mother the holy catholicke church , is the same that now is vsually said in the romā missal & breuiary . g the twentith day . at here●ord the festiuity of s. ethelbert king of the eastangles and martyr , who comming into mercia to visit king ossa , and to treate of a marriage with his daughter , was through the malice of wicked quendred wife to ossa , miserably slayne at a town now called sutton-wallis , foure miles distant from here●ord , partly for ambition , therby to inioy his kingdome , and partly also for that he was a christian. his body being presently brought to heresord , and there interred , it pleased god forth with to shew the innocēcy of his cause , by the wonderfull miracles wrought therat ; ouer which , king kenulphus afterward erected a goodly church in his honour , placing there a bishops sea , and which is now the cathedrall church of that citty . he suffered in the yeare of christ . a the one and twentith day . at fin●hall among the northumbers the deposition of s. godricke eremite , who after he had lead a solitary life , for threescore yeares togeather , and twice on pilgrimage for deuotiō visited our sauiours sepulcher at hierusalem , and the blessed apostles bodyes at rome , full of great sanctity of life & veneble old age , togeather with innumerable miracles , he finally reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred & seauenty . his body was buryed at fin●hall in an oratory which himselfe had built , wherat , euen vntill the dayes of queene elizabeth , many miracles were wrought . the same day at constantinople the deposition of blessed constantine the great , who borne in our ●●and og great britany , according to ancient traditions ; was the first christian emperour , that restored peace to the church of god. he is by the greekes canonized for a saint , and his festiuity appointed on this day : among whome also many goodly churches and altars , haue in former ages , byn dedicated in his honour . and in north wales of our iland , there is yet remayning to be seene a fayre church , ●r●ted and dedicated in his name . b the two and twentith day . at vvindesore the deposition of holy k. henry , the sixt of that name , of england , who being a most vertuous and innocent prince , was wrongfully deposed by king edward the . & cast into the tower of london , where a little after he was most barbarously slayne by richard duke of glocester , in the yeare of christ , one thousand foure hundred threescore and eleuen . his body was first buryed in the monastery of cher●sey , where presently it began to doe miracles , which being s●ene , it was with great solemnity and veneration translated to vvindesore , and there honourably interred in the chappell of s. gregory , wherat also it pleased god , in wittnesse of his innocent life , to worke many miracles . moreouer it is recorded , that his veluet ●at which he vsed to weare , being put on mens heads , that were troubled with the head-ake , were presently cured . he builded the famous schoole of eaton , and was the founder of the kings colledg in cambridge . king henry the seauenth dealt which pope iulius the second about his canonization , but by reason of both their deaths , the same was broken of . c the three and twentith day . at rochester in kent the deposition of s. vvilliam martyr , who borne in the towne of perth in scotland , and taking his pilgrimage towards hierusale on foote through england , was by his owne seruant slaine in the high way , a little frō the aforsaid citty of rochester ; whose body being brought to the towne , it pleased god forthwith to worke many miracles therat in signe of his innocency , where the same was after interred , and kept with great veneration in the cathedrall church of s. andrew , in the same citty , vntill these our dayes . the story of his martyrdōe & miracles , is writtē at large by thomas monmouth , who liued about the yeare of christ , one thousand , one hundred and threescore . d the foure & twentith day . at glastenbury in somersetshire the commemoration of holy king edgar confessour , and first monarch of england , whose glorious actes in gods church are famous to all posterity . he builded and reedified seauen and fourty monasteryes , that had byn destroyed by the incursions of other barbarous nations , and endowed them with great maintenance ; as also caused , by his intercession to the sea apostolicke , all the clergy of his realme to be reformed . in the houre of his natiuity , it is recorded , that s. dunstan heard a voyce of angells singing , pax anglorum eccles●ae , &c. peace to the church of england . he died in all sanctity and holinesse of life , in the yeare of christ , nyne hūdred threescore and fifteene : whose body was with all solemnity and veneration , honourably interred at glastenbury ; which being takē vp in the yeare , one thousand fifty and two ( almost fourscore yeares after his death by aldar abbot of that place , was found whole and vncorrupt , & being cut , fresh bloud issued therout , as if he had byn newly dead ; wherupon he was put into a costly shrine of siluer , which himselfe had somtime giuen to that church , and placed vpon the high altar , togeather with the head of s. apollinaris , and the reliques of s. vincent martyrs , wherat miracles are recorded to haue byn wrought : and so continued there vntill the tyme of king henry the eight , and decay of that monastery . e the fiue & twentith day . at sherborne in dorcetshire the deposition of s. adelme bishop and confessour , nephew to inas king of the westsaxons , who trauayling into france in his youth , after his returne , became first a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict at malmesbury , and afterward being made abbot of that monastery , went to rome in company of king ceadwall , and was there created bishop of sherborne in dorcetshire by pope sergius , and sent backe to his bishopricke , where after great labours and many notable bookes wrytten for the instruction of men in christian religion , but especially one of virginity , which he dedicated to the nunnes of barkensteed , and wherby many were moued to that holy kind of religious life , he finally reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and nyne . his body was buryed at sherborne first , but afterward remooued to maimesbury , where the same was wont to be kept in catholicke tymes with great veneration . f the six and twentith day . at canterbury the deposition of s. augustine confessour and first bishop of that sea , who being sent from rome by s. gregory the great to preach the christian saith to the english nation , first conuerted king ethelbert of kent , and afterward by himselfe and others , the whole nation , and so became our apostle . he died in the yeare of christ , six hundred , and was buryed at canterbury , where his feast was wont to be kept ho●yday with great solemnity , and so likewise throughout the whole diocesse . the same day at gl●stenbury in somersetshire the festiuity of the saints fugatius and damianus confessours , who being sent into britany by s. eleutherius pope ( whose ●east is also this day celebrated ) did baptize k. lucius with the greatest part of his kingdome , as also did institute three archbishoprickes ( to wit london , yorke , and carleon in vvales ) and twenty eight bishoprickes in place of so many flaminies , teaching and instructing the people in all christian vertues and cerimonyes necessary for that new planted catholicke church . and when they had thus laboured for many yeares , sull of most venerable old age , and sanctity of life , they both ended their blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , one hundred fourscore and eleuen , and are said to haue byn buryed at gl●stenbury . g the seauen & twentith day . at geruaux in yorkshire the deposition of s. bede priest , who being a monke of the order of s. benedict in the monastery of s. peter and s. paul , vpon the riuer banke of vvyre , in the kingdome of the northumbers , so illustrated gods church by his wrytings , that not only in his life tyme , but euer synce he hath for the same byn called by the name of venerable . he departed this world in great sanctity and holinesse of life about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred threescore & six , and was buryed at geruaux in the monastery there , with this epitaph . presbyter hic beda requieseit carne sepultus ; dona christe animam in caelis gaudere per aeuum . daue i i sophia debriari fonte , cui iam suspirauit orans intento semper amore . but his body being afterward translated to durham , and placed in the tombe togeather with s. cuthbert , was there kept with great reuerence , euen vntill the dayes of the late queene elizabeth . there is a very ancient table hanging in the new church of s. peter at rome , which my sel●e haue seene and read , wherin are registred these words : in medio ecclesiae ante portā , quae dicitur argentea , sub lapide circulari , sepultum est corpus venerabilis bedae presbyteri &c. but it is not ( i suppose ) to be vnderstood of this our s. bede of england , ( as many do ) but rather of another of the same name , though not so anciēt as he , who was a mōke also of s. benedictes order , & very famous for learning , in the tyme of charles the great , with whome he liued ; and after his death ( which was in the yeare of christ , eight hundred and ninteene ) his body shining with miracles , was for a tyme translated to the monassery of s. benignus , neere genua in italy , and perhaps afterwards to rome . but whosoeuer this was , it is not any way manifest , that our s. bede was euer at rome , eyther aliue or dead . a the eight & twentith day . at luxouiū in france the commemoration of s. ionas abbot and confessour , who borne in scotland of a noble parentage , and contemning the world in the flower of his youth , went ouer into france and thence into lombardy to s. columbane the great , where he became a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , and s. columbanes disciple , and was afterward made abbot of luxouium , where in all kind of good learning , sanctity of life , and other vertues , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and thirty . he wrote the liues of s. columbane aforsaid , s. eustachius and s. bertulph abbots , which are to be seene at large in surius , though being annexed to the third tome of s. bedes workes , are , by errour , attributed vnto him . b the nine & twentith day . ats. buriens in corn-wall , the commemoration of s. burien virgin , who being an irish-woman of great nobility by birth , came ouer into england and liued a most vertuous and godly life for many yeares in corn wall , where in very great sanctimony and working of miracles , she finally gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse . her memory is very famous , euen vntill this day in our ilād of great britany , especially among the cornish-men , where there is a towne and port of her name in the cape or promont of cornwall , commonly called s. buriens : where also in tymes past hath byn a famous church erected in her honour . c the thirtith day . at colchester in essex the commemoration of s. hieu virgin , who borne of o● a noble bloud in the kingdome of the northumbers , & building there a goodly monastery called heorth●u ( of which the holy virgin hilda was first abbesse ) is said to haue byn the first woman in that kingdome , that tooke vpon her the vow and habit of a nunne , being veyled and consecrated therunto by s. aidan bishop of lindisferne . and a●terward cōming into the prouince of the fastangles , to the citty called calcaria ( and now colchester ) in all sanctimony and holines of life , she finally there ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and seauen . d the one & thirtith day . at eucsham in vvorcester-shire the festiuity of s. vvolstan , nephew to two kinges of mercia , who being slaine in hatred of christian religion by one of his owne kinsmen , a great light from heauen was seene for thirty dayes togeather to descend and remayne ouer the place , where he lay killed . by this miraculous token , his body being found out , was first buryed in the monastery of rependowne ( now called ripon ) in yorkeshire : and after when many miracles were wrought therat , it was translated to the abbey of euesham ( which holy s. egwyn bishop of worcester had founded not many yeares before ) and there with great solemnity and veneratiō placed in the church of that monastery wherat it pleased god , in testimony of his innocency , to shew wonderous things . he was martyred vpon the vigill of pentecost , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred fourty and nyne . the moneth of ivne . e the first day . at stone in staffordshire the commemoration of the saintes rufin and vlfade brothers & martyrs , sōns to vvulserus a pagā king of the mercians ; who for that they were made christians , and had receyued baptisme at the hands of s. chad bishop of lichfield , were both by their owne father slayne in hatred therof , as they were at prayer in s. chads oratory , about the yeare or christ , six hundred threescore & eight . their bodyes were by their mother queene ermenild ( afterward also a saint ) conueyed to stone , and there kept with great veneration , where also in tyme , was erected a goodly church , togeather with a priory , and dedicated in their honour . but the k. their father soone after repēting him of the fact , with great sorrow and cont●ition came to s. chad , and asking him forgiuenes , receyued the christian faith : wherupon destroying all the tēples of the idolatrous gods in his dominions , did in their places build churches and monasteryes ; and amōg the rest , he founded the goodly abbey of medeshamsteed ( now called peterburrow ) dedicating the same vnto god and s. peter the apostle , and enriching it with many and large poss●ssions . f the second day . at dunfermelling in scotland , the commemoration of b●essed malcoline , the third king of that name , and husband to the famous s. margaret queene of scotland , whose godly workes of piety & deuotiō are famous all to posterity , especially to his successors , as well in that kingdome , as to other princes of bloud in europe . he was so zealous in the loue of god , that he became more holy then any of his predecessors had byn before him , being wholy addicted to the repayring and erecting of churches , monasteryes , and bishoprickes . moreouer he was accustomed , with his religious qu. s. margaret , euery day to serue with his owne handes . poore people , with meate & drinke , he on the one side , and she on the other : & was the first king of that natiō that created earles in scotland . which kingdome after he had gouerned in all vertuous and pious manner , for six and thirty yeares , cōming into england , was violently oppressed and slayne at anwicke in the borders of scotland , by robert mowbray earle of northumber land , togeather with his eldest sonne edward , to the great lamentation of his countrey , and was buryed at dunfermelling , in the yeare of christ , one thousand fourscore and twelue . g the third day . at arke in apulia in the kingdome of naples , the commemoration of s. eleutherius confessour , who borne of a very good parentage in england , and taking his iorney to hierusalem for deuotion , returned thence backe by italy , where for the loue of god he became an eremite or pilgrime , leading a strict and seuere kind of life , so far from his natiue countrey ; at what tyme the plague infecting sorely those partes , full of great sanctity , and holynes of life , he finally rested in our lord. his body is kept at the forsaid towne of arke vntill this day , with due honour and veneration of the inhabitants , for the miracles , that by his merits , it hath pleased god to worke therat , and there is visited as chiefe patrone of the village . a the fourth day . at bodmin in corn-wall the deposition of s. patrocke bishop & cōfessour , whose most godly life and vertues , haue byn very famous in former ages , throughout our whole iland , but especially in corn-wall , where his memory is fresh vntill this day , and where many altars and oratories in catholicke tymes , haue byn erected and dedicated in his honour . he liued about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and fifty ; & is said to haue byn the first bishop of corn-well , placing his episcopall sea at the fornamed towne of bodmin , which bishopricke was afterwards translated to s. germans at cridington ( now called kirton ) in the same prouince , & lastly to excester in deuonshire by king edward the cōfessour , in the yeare of christ , one thousand and fifty . b the fifth day . at dockum in vvest-frizland the passiō of s. bonisace archbishop of mentz and apoltic of germany , who being an englishman by birth , went ouer into germany , & th●ce to rome , where he was created the first bishop of the forsaid citty of mentz , and sent thither to preach the christian faith , which he did incessantly for sixteene yeares togeather , reducing many thousands from their idolatry , to the true worship of christ , building churches & monasteryes for the cōtinuation and propagation therof . and at last going into frizland to preach to that people was there ●●ayne by the enemyes of christ , at the forenamed towne of dockum , in the yeare of our lord , seauen hundred fifty and foure . his body was afterward translated to mentz , and there honourably placed in the monastery of fulda , which himselfe had founded . the same day also , and same place , the passion of s. eboam , & s. adlar bishops ; s. vintruge , s. vvalter , and s. adelhere priests ; s. hamunt , and s. boso deacons ; s. vvaccare , s. gunderbere , s. vvilbere , s. hildebrand , and s. adolph monkes , and others to the number of fifty , most of them englishmen , who were with the forsaid s. bonisace martyred in frizland for preaching the christiā faith . and as they were his fellowes in trauaile & labours of propagating the name of christ : so were they worthy to be made partakers of his martyrdome . their bodyes are most of them kept at maestricht vpon the riuer of mosa , with great veneration of the inhabitants . c the sixt day . in the monastery of blandine neere gaunt in ●landers the depositiō of s. gudwall bishop and confessour , who borne of a noble and ancient brittish bloud , and despising all worldly honours and preferments , built many monasteryes in our iland , and became father to an hundred and fourscore mōkes , which he instructed in all kind of vertue & good learning : & at last being made bishop , he went ouer into france and flanders to preach the christian faith in those parts , where famous for sanctity of life and miracles , he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , foure hūdred and three . his body was first buryed in the forsaid monastery of blandine , but being afterward brought into england , was thence againe in the second persecution of the danes , translated to gaunt , by arnulph earle of flanders , and s. gerrard abbot , about the yeare of our lord , nyne hundred and fifty . d the seauenth day . at knaresburge in yorkeshire the deposition of s. robert abbot & confessour , who borne in the same prouince , became first a mōke at vvhitby , and then at fountaines , and last of all was ordayned abbot of knaresburge of the order of cisterce ; whose most holy life & cōuersatiō , hath byn wittnessed by the manifold miracles wrought at his body after his death ; out of which ( in the time of king henry the third ) there distilled a pretious sweet oyle , very soueraigne for many diseases . he was wont in his life time to recite euery day an hundred and fifty psalmes , in honour of christ and the blessed virgin mary . he died in the yeare of our lord , one thousand one hundred and fifty , & was buryed in his owne monastery . the same day at vvorcester the translation of s. vvolstan confessour and bishop of the same sea , whose wonderfull life and miracles haue byn famous throughout englād . his body being takē vp on this day was found sound & vncorrupted , togeather with his pontificall vestments , wherin he was buried , which was more thē an hūdred yeares after his death ; and was very solemnely , and with great veneration set in a more eminent place of his owne cathedrall church of vvorcester , in the yeare of christ . it is recorded , that the said church being afterward burned by casuall fire , the tombe wherin his body lay , was not so much as touched with the flame . e the eight day . at yorke the deposition of s. vvilliam confessour and bishop of that sea , kinsman to stephen king of england , who by false slaunders being accused to pope eugenius the third , was deposed frō his bishopricke , and one murdacke set vp in his place , but after againe restored by pope anastasius the fourth : wherin with great signes of sanctity and innocency of life , togeather with many miracles , he finally ended his blessed dayes , in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred fifty and foure , and was buryed at yorke . it is recorded by polidor virgil , that when he was restored againe to his bishopricke , and comming towards yorke , the people flocked in so great number to congratulate and welcome his returne , that passing ouer the riuer beyond pont-fract , the throng and presse was so great , that the bridge ( being but of wood ) brake , euen ●ust , as the b●shop was ouer , and threw all the rest into the water : which when the holy man saw , he fell downe vpon his knees , and besought our lord to saue them . whose prayers were soone heard . for though the streame was very strong and violent , yet were they euery one preserued from drowning . the same day in the diocesse of metz in the hig●er germany , the deposition of s. distoode bishop & cōfessour , who borne in ireland , and a monke of the order of s. benedict , was ordayned bishop of dullyn in the same kingdome ; but going ouer into germany to preach the christian faith , he resigned that dignity , and became abbot of a monastery there , which vntill this day is called of his name s. disibodes , in the forsaid diocesse of mentz , where in great sanctity of life and miracles , he ended his blessed da●es , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred . f the ninth day . in scotland the deposition of s. † columbe abbot and confessour , who borne in ireland , and descended of a noble parentage , forsooke the world , and all other eart●●y preferments , and became a monke in one of the ilands of orcades , called 〈…〉 oy , in a monastery there of the order of s. benedict , wherof at last he being made abbot , was so famous for sanctity and holines of life , that euen vntill this day his memory is fresh to the christian world , especially in the kingdomes of england , scotland & ireland , where there be many churchs yet remayning , dedicated in his honour . he desceased about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred fourscore and sixteene : whose body was afterward transl●ted into ireland to the towne of dune in the prouince of vlster , and there with great solemnity and veneration interred , togeather with the sacred reliques of s. patricke & s. brigit . he by his preaching conuerted to the faith of christ , the pictes that inhabited scotland , and is called their apostle , working very many miracles among them to his dying day . g the tenth day . at s. edmūdsbury in suss●lke the translatiō of s. edmūd king of the eastāgles & martyr , who in the danish incursions , vnder the captains hinguar & hubba , being first whipped , and then , bound to tree , and shot full of shaftes , was finally beheaded . all which torments he most constantly indured , euer calling vpon the name of iesus , vntill he had finished his martyrdome , which was in the yeare of christ , eight hūdred threescore and ten . his principall festiuity is celebrated in our catholicke church of england , vpon the twentith of nouember : but his body being taken vp afterward on this day , was with great solemnity translated from hexam in northumberland ( where he was martyred ) and placed in a goodly shrine , richly adorned with iewells and pretious stones in a church erected in his honour in suffolke , which of his name was euer since called s. edmūdsbury , wherat it is recorded many miracles haue byn wrought . and after this againe , in the yeare , one thousand & ten , the danes inuading the prouince of the eastāgles , alwyn the bishop of that diocesse brought the body of s. edmūd from bury aforsaid to london : at the comming wherof in at criplegate many miracles were wrought , where for the space of three yeares it remayned in the parish church of s. gregory neere vnto s. paules , and then was translated the second tyme to bury , in the yeare of christ , one thousand and thirteene . the same day in scotland , the festiuity of s. margaret queene , wife to holy malcome , king of that nation , & daughter to prince edward , surnamed the out-law , sonne of edmund ironside king of england , whose godly life and vertues , especially in deuotion and liberall almes to the poore , are yet famous both at home and abroad . she died in great sanctimony of life and miracles about the yeare of christ , one thousand fourscore and twelue , vpon the sixteenth of nouember : though her principall festiuity be celebrated vpon this day both in england and scotland . the same day also at rochester in kent , the deposition of s. ithimar bishop and confessour , who being a man of excellent learning and wisdome , succeeded s. paulinus in that sea , being consecrated therto , by honorius archbishop of canterbury : which when he had gouerned most worthily for . yeares togeather , in great sanctity , and holines of life , he reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threscore and eleuen , and was buried in s. andrewes church at rochester . a the eleuenth day . at lindisserne in the kingdome of the northumbers , the commemoration of s. edilwald priest & confessour , who borne in our iland of a noble parentage , succeeded s. cuthlert for twelue yeares togeather , in leading an eremiticall life in the iland of farne , commonly called holy iland . he was indued with so rare & singular vertues , that his very name was famous in those dayes , throughout england & scotland . s. bede recounteth that a certaine skynne wherwith s. edil 〈…〉 ald had stopped a hole in his oratory did miracles after his death : as also how by his prayers , he ceased a storme or tēpes , that arose on the sea , when certayne of his friēds , that came to visit him in the iland , returned homeward , which happened about the yeare of christ , six hundred , fourscore and nynteene ; about which tyme also he died , & was buryed in s. peters church at lindisserne in the raygne of king elfride of northumberland b the tweluth day . at b●schopssen in the higher germany the commemoration of s. agatha virgin , who being an english woman by birth , and leading a religious life in the monastery of vvimborne in dorcetshire , went ouer into germany with s. lioba , s. te 〈…〉 and others , whome s. bonisace ( an englishman in like manner , and 〈…〉 bishop of mentz ) had sent for into those partes , to be directrices in monasticall discipline , of certaine nunryes , which he there had newly founded ; where vnder the forsaid lioba , that was constituted abbesse of the fornamed monastery of bischopssen , she liued & died in great sanctimony and holinesse of life , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred fifty and seauen , and was buryed in the same place . c the thirteenth day . in north vvales the commemoration of s. elerius abbot and confessour , who borne of a noble british parentage , and setting aside the vayne pleasures of the world , built with the goods of his owne inheritance a monastery in the north-west part of our iland , now called north-wales , where he gathering togeather many deuout persons , lead a monasticall life , directing them in all kind of vertue and discipline , vntill his dying day . he liued in the tyme of s. vvenefrid , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threscore and foure ; of whome she receyued the holy veyle of chastity , and was ordayned abbesse of a monastery which s. beno her maister and tutour had erected in her fathers territory : as also wrote the whole story of her life , which is yet extant in wryttē-hand to be read in diuers libraryes of england . the bone of one of his armes , is yet in the custody of a catholicke gentleman of our countrey , who preserueth the same with great deuotion and veneration , as beseemeth so pretious a relique . d the fourteenth day . in scotland the translation of s. brandan abbot & confessour , borne in the same kingdome , whose godly life and doctrine , togeather with his manifold miracles , are yet famous throughout the christiā world , especially in our iland of great-britany . his principall festiuity , in our catholicke church of england , is celebrated vpon the sixteenth day of may , where also we haue made mention of him . there was a goodly church , as also a towne builded in his honour , in one of the ilands of orcades , which vntill this day , is commonly called by the name of s. brandans . he died about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and seauenty . e the fifteenth day . at vvilton in vviltshire the deposition of s. eadburge virgin , daughter to king edward the elder , who refusing all worldly honours and preferments , tooke a religious habit in the monastery of vvilton , and became a mirrour and rare example to the nobility of england , where she so excelled in all manner of vertue , but especially humility , that she euer thought herselfe the most contemptiblest of all the monastery : which thing how acceptable it was to god , it pleased him to manifest to the world , by the manifold miracles he wrought by her , both aliue & dead . she desceased about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred and fourteene , and was buryed at wilton . the same day at huis in the diocesse of l 〈…〉 ge , the translation of s. menigold martyr , who borne in england of a great parentage , became first a captaine in the french and german warres , and after an erem●te ; vnto whome 〈◊〉 the emperour gaue a ●●ttle territory 〈◊〉 to the riuer - 〈…〉 o● mosa , where ●e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an oratory for ●●s priuate deuotio 〈…〉 as he was one day going to church , was ●●a●●e by ce●tain● 〈◊〉 〈…〉 diers in hatred of his sanc●●ty , about 〈◊〉 ▪ eare of christ , ●●ne 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 body was afterward on this day , with great solemnity , tran●●ated to huis , where the same is yet kept with due honour & veneration o● the inhabitants . the same day also in little britany the deposition of s. maine abbot and confeuour , who borne in our iland of great britany , and kinsma to s. samp●on , went ouer with him into little britany , to preach the christian saith , where he fist lead a monasticall life at dole , vnder the forsaid s. sāpson , and afterward being made abbot of a monastery dedicated to s. iohn baptist in the same countrey , after many yeare of labour and toyle taken in the seruice of christ , and conuersion of many soules to him , famous for miracles , he finally rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and nynty . his body was buryed in the same monastery , which at this day of his name is commonly called s. maines , and there is kept with great honour and veneration . f the sixteenth day . at chichester in sussex , the translation of s. richard confessour and bishop of that sea , who hauing studied seaue yeares in the vniuersity of bologna in italy , and returning home , was first made chancelour of oxford and thē bishop of chichester : which sea when he had gouerned for nyne yeares , in great sanctity & holinesse of life , he died at douer in kent , in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fifty and three . his body being brought to chichester , was afterward on this day taken vp , and put into a goodly siluer shrine , and translated to a more eminent place of that cathedrall church , wherat so many miracles were dayly wrought , that infinite people made concourse thither from all partes of englād . this translation was made in the yeare , one thousand two hundred threescore and sixteene . the same day at hereford the passion of s. leofgar bishop and martyr , who being chaplyn to duke harold , su●ceeded ethelstane in that sea ; where in all kind of vertue , and good workes , exercising his pastorall functiō , he was by k. griffin of vvales , that violently and vniustly assaulted that citty , slayne , togeather with seauen of his chanons that denied him entrance into the church , which when the said griffin had spoyled & robbed of all the reliques , iewels , and other ornaments that were portable , he lastly fired both it , and the whole citty , in the yeare of christ , one thousand fifty and six . g the seauenteenth day . at hecknam in normandy the deposition of s. botulph abbot and confessour , who borne in scotland of a noble parentage , and going ouer into france , became there a monke , and afterward was made the first abbot of a new monastery called hecknam in normandy , which himselfe had caused to be built at his owne charges , where in great sanctity of life , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and foure . there is yet remayning a faire parish church dedicated in his honour without aldgate , in the citty of london ; besides many other ancient monumēts of him in the realme of england . and among the rest , there was a goodly ancient church & monastery of blackefriers erected in his honour in lincolnshire , neere to the sea side , which in processe of tyme growing to a fayre market-towne , was called therof botulphs-towne , and now by the corruption of our language , is vulgarly knowne by the name of boston ; which said church and monastery were both in the raigne of king edward the first consumed by fire , in the yeare , one thousand two hundred fourscore and seauen . a the eighteenth day . in scotland the cōmemoratiō of s. dunstan abbot & confessour , borne in that kingdome and descended there of a great parentage , who contemning the vanities of the world in the flower of his youth , tooke a religious habit , and became first a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict in scotland , and afterward was ordained abbot of the whole monastery ; where in great sanctity of life , famous for his learning and workes of piety , in a good old age , finally rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and seauenty , and was buryed in scotland . this man is different from the other s. dunstan of england , whose festiuall dayes are celebrated vpon the nineteenth of may , and seauenth of september . b the ninteenth day . at ely in cambridgshire , the commemoration of s. iohn confessour and bishop of the same sea , who being first a monke , and then abbot of fountaines in yorkeshire , was for his great vertue and holinesse of life ordayned bishop of ely ; in which dignity he so gouerned himselfe , especially in humility and charity to the poore , that his memory was very famous , aswell throughout england and scotland at home , as in other countreys abroad . and when he had sate in that sea for fiue yeares or therabout , famous for holinesse of life , full of venerable old age , he departed to our lord , in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred , twenty and fiue , in the raigne of king henry the third , and was buryed in his cathedrall church of ely , before the altar of s. andrew . c the twentith day . at glastenbury in somersetshire the translation of s. edward king and martyr , who through the deceipt of his step-mother queene alfred , was slayne at corse-castle in dorsetshire , as he was on hunting . his body was first buryed at vvarham , and then at shaftesbury , and lastly on this day with great solenity translated to glastenbury the tweluth yeare after his martyrdome , and yeare of christ , one thousand and one . he was canonized for a saint by pope innocentius the fourth . the same day at vvinockes-berge in flanders the translatiō of s. oswald king of northumberland and martyr , who after many glorious battayles and combatts sought in defence principally of the christian faith , was at length slayne in hatred therof by pēda a pagā king of the mercians or middle englishmen ) at a place in shropshire , called afterward of his name , oswaldes-tree ; where now is built a fayre market-towne , still retayning that anciēt name , though somwhat corrupted in pronunciation , and commonly called oswistry . his body was first buryed at peterburrow in northamptonshire , and after in the danish persecution on this day translated to berghen in flanders , where it is kept with great veneration of the inhabitants . his principall fel iuity was wont to be celebrated in our catholicke church of england vpon the fifth day of august , and in diuers places kept holy day . d the one and twentith day . at beuerwicke in the diocesse of harlē in south-holland , the passion of s. englemund martyr , borne of a noble parentage in england , who going ouer into holland and frizeland , for the propagation of christian faith , was by radbodus king of frisia , a pagan and enemy to christ , most cruelly put to death , about the yeare of our lord , seauē hundred twenty and seauen . his body was kept in an oratory at the forsaid towne of beuerwicke with great veneration , euen vntill the hollanders in this last age , falling from the obedience of the catholicke church and sea of rome , imbraced heresy . e the two and twentith day . in derswolds wood , neere to the towne of s. albās in hartfordshire , the passiō of s. albā , high steward of the britans , and the first martyr in our iland of the british nation , who in the persecution of dioclesian the emperour , was beheaded for being made a christian , and receiuing and succouring a christian priest , named amphibale , by whome he had byn baptized . he suffered about the yeare of christ , three hundred and three ; and was afterward canonized for a saint by pope adrian the first . the same day , & same place , the passion of one of the souldiers , that led s. alban to execution , who seing his constaney and patience in suffering for christ , being therwith greatly moued , confessed forthwith his errour , and asked the blessed martyr forgiuenesse : which when the persecutors beheld , they grieuously tormented him for the same . he notwithstanding , following s. alban to his death , when his head was cut of , tooke & imbraced it in his armes , & therby was immediatly cured of all his woūds inflicted by the persecutors . and therupon confessing christ , was by the enemyes of trut● finally beheaded , and so baptized in his owne bloud . the same day in like manner at s. omers in artoys in the monastery of s. bertin , the translation of s. ortrude virgin , borne in england of a noble bloud : whose body in the danish persecution was translated from an ancient monastery in our iland , called andria , to the forsaid abbey of s. bertin , and is there yet preserued in a siluer shrine , with great veneration among other reliques in the sacristia or vestrey of that church . she died about the yeare of christ , six hundred seauenty and nyne . f the three and twentith day . at ely in cambridgshire , the deposition of s. † edil●rude virgin and abbesse , daughter to annas king of the eastangles , and wise to king egfrid of northumberland , who liuing with her husband twelue yeares in perpetuall viginity , as s. bede recordeth , at last , with his consent , renounced the pleasure of this world and dignity of a queene , & became a nunne , first in the monastery of coldingham in the same kingdome , vnder s. ebba her aunt , and thence being ordayned abbesse of the monastery of ely , where before she had founded a goodly church in honour of s. peter the apostle , full of great sanctimony and holines of life , she finally wēt to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourscore . her body was buryed in the same monastery , ouer which there was erected a goodly church , & dedicated to her name . and being taken vp sixteene yeares after her death , by her sister s. sexburge then abbesse of that place , was found wholy vncorrupt , and as fresh , as if the had byn buryed but the day before . s. bede himselfe made a sonnet in moeter , in praise of this virgin , which yow may read in the fourth booke of his history of england and twentith chapter . she is called by sundry writers etheldride ; but in our owne language , most commonly knowne by the name of s. audry . g the foure & twentith day . at mechlyn in brabant , the passion of s. rumwald bishop and martyr , sonne to a king of ireland , who , after he was consecrated bishop of dublyn in that countrey , went to rome , and thence returning into flanders , began to preach the christian faith in the territory of mechlyn , and there first planted the same , vnder count ado of that prouince , of whome he was very honourably intertayned . and when he had thus laboured , in reducing the strayed sheep , to the fold of his maister christ , for many yeares , he was at length , there slayne in hatred of the christian faith by two wicked souldiers , one wherof , the blessed bishop had som tymes reprehended for adultery , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred , threescore & fifteene . his body remayneth still at mechlyn , and there is kept with great veneration in the cathedrall church , in a very sumptuous siluer shrine , though his principall feast be celebrated throughout the diocesse , vpon the first of iuly , with a double office as chiefe patrone of that citty . he was canonized by pope alexander the . a the fiue & twentith day . at verolamium , now called s. albans , in hartfordshire , the passion of s. amphibale priest and martyr , who being a noble yong man of britany , & going to rome with bassianus sonne to seuerus viceroy of the britans , was there by pope zepherinus instructed secretly in the christan faith , baptized , made priest , and sent backe into britany , there to preach vnto others , where he conuerted and baptized s. alban then high steward of the britans for the roman emperour . and being at last accused for teaching the doctrine of christ , had , by the persecutours , a hole made in his side ; and one of his guttes being taken out of his belly , & fastened to a stake , was driuen about the same , vntill all the rest were pulled out , and woone about the said stake . and when he was ready to giue vp the ghost , two angells were seene to descend , & carry his soule vp to heauen . there was a fayre church dedicated in his honour in vvinchester , where many miracles haue byn wrought at his reliques . and amōg others it is recorded , that one that had byn dead foure dayes , was raised againe to life . he suffered about the yeare of christ . being aboue an hundred yeares of age . the same day at egmond in holland the deposition of s. adalbert priest and confessour , nephew to oswald king of northumberland , and sonne to k. edilbald of the south saxons , who going ouer into the lower germany with s. vvillebrord and his fellowes to preach the christian faith , conuerted infinite soules in holland , and is therfore worthily called their apostle . count theodore of that prouince , built a goodly monastery neere vnto harlem in honour of him , whose sonne was afterward cured of a dangerous feuer by the meritts of s. adalbert . he died about the yeare of christ . the same day in like manner at dauentry in gelderland the translatiō of s. lebuine priest and confessour , borne of a noble family in england : who going ouer also into the low-countreyes , to preach and instruct the new-made christiās of those prouinces , after many labours & much fruite wrought in that kind , he ended there his venerable old dayes , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred , and threescore . his body was afterward on this day translated to dauentry , and there kept with great veneration , as chiefe patrone of that citty and diocesse . b the six and twentith day . at benchor in ireland the commemoration of nine hundred holy monkes martyrs , who being oppressed by certaine pagā pirates , that landed in that iland , were in hatred of christian religion slayne , and their monastery robbed and defaced , to the great lamentation of all ireland ; for that it was , in those dayes , a common store-house ( as it were ) of all good learning and vertue , out of which came the apostles of diuers prouinces of france , flanders and germany , who reduced them to the christian faith , and true worship of one god. many authors ( of forrayne nations especially ) do often tymes confound this monastery of benchor in ireland , with that of bangor in caerneruanshire of north-wales , thinking them to haue byn all one , wheras they were different , and situated in two seuerall kingdomes . c the seauen & twentith day . at cayon in the diocesse of towers in france , the deposition of s. iohn priest & confessour , who being a noble brytan by birth , and refusing all worldly and temporall honors in his countrey , went ouer into france , and there built himselfe a little oratory for his owne priuate deuotion in a solitary place neere vnto towers , where he was very famous for sanctity of life , working many miracles both aliue and dead . his body was buryed in the same oratory after his descease , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred thirty and seauen . there is a story recorded of a certaine bay tres , that this s. iohn had there somtymes planted ; which when after many yeares , it withered with age ; and was cut downe , being laid two yeares vnder a wall , and serued for a seate ●o sit on , was againe put into the ground , and through his merits , sprong and budded forth a fresh , to the admiration of all france . the same day at gaunt in flanders the translation of s. leuine bishop and martyr , an † irishman by byrth , and disciple to s. augustine our english apostle ; who leauing his bishopricke ( which was in scotland ) went ouer into flanders with s. 〈◊〉 and his fellowés , where preaching the christiā faith to the infidels of those partes , was by them apprehended , and had his tongue cut out of his mouth , which being by a miracle immediatly restored him againe , he was finally beheaded , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and twelue . his body being first interred in a village of the same prouince , was afterward on this day with great solēnity translated to gaunt , where being placed in the cathedrall church of that citty , is there yet preserued with great veneration of the inhabitants . d the eight & twentith day . in scotland the commemoration of s. columbane monke and confessour , who borne in the same kingdome of an honourable family , contemned the world , a 〈…〉 became a monke of the venerable order o● s. benedict in scotland , where in great sanctit● of life , and other vertues therto agreable he ended his blessed dayes , in the yeare o● christ , six hundred and fourty ; where also his memory hath byn famous in tymes past hauing had many chappell 's & altars dedicated in his honour . this man is differen● from the other s. columbane of ireland , surnamed the great , somtymes abbot and founde● of the monastery of bobia in lombardy , whos● feast is celebrated vpon the one & twenti● day of nouember . e the nine & twentith day . at rome the passion of the glorious apostles s. peter & s. paul , who in the persecution of nero the emperour , were on one , and the selfesame day put to death ; s. peter being fastened to a crosse with his head down ward , and s. paul beheaded . of these two apostles it is recorded by diuers very ancient wryters , that about the yeare of christ , threscore and seauen , they came both personally into our iland of great britany , and there preached the christian faith , founded churches , ordayned priests and deacons , and therfore may worthily be called our apostles , of whome we haue receyued so great benefitts . there are very many churches in our countrey dedicated in their honour , as speciall patrons of our iland . and in the tyme of king edward the confessor , s. peter appearing to a very holy man , shewed him , that himselfe had sometymes preached in britany , and consequently the speciall care he had of that church and countrey . the same day at lindisferne in the kingdome of the northumbers , the commemoration of s. ethelwyne bishop and confessour , who of a monke of s. benedicts order in s. columbes monastery in the iland of hoy in scotland , was ordayned bishop of lindisferne , where for many yeares hauing instructed his flocke , in all vertue , and good learning , finally in great sanctity of life , he reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and nynty , and in the raigne of osred king of northumberland . f the thirtith day . at canterbury the deposition of s. deusdedit bishop and confessor , surnamed frithona , who being an english saxon by birth , succeeded s. honorius in the sea of canterbury , being consecrated therto by ithimar bishop of rochester : wherin when he had spent nyne yeares , in continuall preaching and instructing his flocke , famous for learning and sanctity of life , he gaue vp his blessed soule to rest , in the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and foure , and was buryed in the church of s. augustines in canterbury , with his predecessors ; at whose body in confirmation of the innocency of his life , it pleased god to worke many miracles . the moneth of ivly . g the first day . at † carleon vpon vske in south-wales , the passion of the saintes iulius and aaron martyrs , who being two noble anciēt britans of the same citty , were in the persecution of the roman emperour dioclesian with many others in our british primitiue church , most cruelly put to death for the confession of christ , about the yeare of our lord , three hundred and foure . there was an ancient goodly church erected & dedicated in their honour in the forsaid citty of carleon , where also their bodyes haue in tymes past byn kept with great veneration of the old britans of south-vvales . the same day in little britany the deposition of s. goluin bishop and con●essour , borne in our iland of great britany of very honourable parents , who going ouer into little britany , and there leading an eremiticall life , for many yeares , was at last , against his will , elected , and vpon obedience consecrated bishop , about the yeare of christ , six hundred . in which function & dignity he excelled in all kind of sanctity and holines of life , working many miracles among the frenchmen , both aliue and dead . a the second day . at vvinchester in hampshire the deposition of s. su●ithin confessour and bishop of that sea , whose rare life , togeather with his working of miracles , is very famous to all posterity through the christian world . whensoeuer he was to consecrate any new church , though it were neuer so far of ; yet would he go thither on foote . it chanced on a market day at vvinchester that a womā passing ouer the bridg , with a basket of egges , where the holy man was sitting to see the workmen labour , about mending of the bridge ; and one of the said labourers offering to iest with the woman , and she resisting , brake all her egges : which thing the good bishop seeing , and lamenting the womans losse , made the signe of the crosse ouer the said broken egges , and immediatly they all became whos 's againe . he died about the yeare of christ , eight hūdred threescore and two , and was buryed at vvinchester . the same day at landaffa in clamorganshire of vvales the deposition of s. oudocke confessour and bishop of that sea , who being descended of a noble bloud in britany , was famous for holines of life and working of miracles , both aliue and dead . he was the third bishop of landaffa , and succeeded s. telean in the same sea , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and thirty . b the third day . at canterbury the translation of s. lanfranke confessour , and bishop of the same sea , who being abbot of cane in normandy , was thence , at the suite of k. vvilliam the conquerour , promoted to the sea of canterbury , where in great holines of life , he gouerned the same most laudably for nineteene yeares togeather , and at last desceased the third yeare of the raigne of k. vvilliam rusus , and yeare of christ , one thousand fourscore and nyne . vpon this day his body being taken vp afterward , was with great solemnity tran●lated to a more eminēt place of the church of cāterbury , wherat , it is recorded , many miracles haue byn wrought . the same day at oostkerke in flanders the deposition of s. guthagon confessour , sonne to a king of † scotland , who taking vpon him a voluntary pouerty for the loue of christ , went ouer into flanders , and there became a pilgrim● or eremite in the territory of tornay , where in great sanctity & holinesse of life , he reposed in our lord. his body was afterward taken vp by gerrard bishop of tornay , and set in a more eminent place of the church of oostk●rke , in the yeare of christ , one thousand ●●ty and nyne , where the same is kept with great honour and veneration of the inhabitants , and is yet to be seene there through iron grates , placed in a wall of the same church . c the fourth day . at canterbury the deposition of s. odo con●essour & archbishop of the same sea : who being a man of excellent learning & wisdome , was first made bishop of vvelles , & after of canterbury . in which dignity , in great sanctity of life & spirit of prophesy , he ended his venerable old dayes , in the yeare o● christ , nyne hundred f●fty and eight , and was buried at canterbury . matthew a monke of vvestminster recounteth a dreadfull exāple of reuenge , taken vpon his successour in that bishopricke , ealysine , who so soone as s. odo was dead , and procuring himsel●e to be elected in his roome by symony , the very first day o● his induction to that sea , he most cōtemptuously trode him vnder his feete in his graue . with which fact god being highly offended , soone after reuenged the same in the behalfe of s. odo . for ealssine going to rome for his pall , perished most miserabl● , through hungar and cold , in the alpes ( which thing was ●ortould also by s. odo ) being forced before his death , to put those his feete in the warme dung of horses , with which he had so insolently troden vpon the others body in his graue . d the fifth day . at burton vpon trent in staffordshire the festiuity of s. modu●ene virgin and abbesle , daughter to nang●●ee king of ireland , who after infinite miracles wrought in that kingdome , came into england , & there by the help of k. ethelnulse , whose sonne she by her prayers , had cured of a dangerous sicknesse , builded two famous monasteryes , neere to the forrest of arden in vvaruickshire , the one at polesbury , the other by the forrest side ; of which later she her selfe was abbesse first , and then of another monastery at the forsaid burton in staffordshire . and after this she went into scotland to king conwall her kinsman , and thence backe againe into ireland , where in all kind of rare sanctimony of life and miracles , she finally ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and seauenty , bequeathing her body to the forsaid monastery of burton , whither it was brought , and kept with great reuerence and veneration , euen vntill our dayes . among her many miracles , one is recorded , that by her prayers , she raised to life s. osith , being thē but a girle , that had byn drowned in a riuer three dayes , as may be read in the acts of s. osithes life . the same day at canterbury the translation of s. anselme confessour & bishop of the same sea , whose rare learning , vertues , and labours in gods church , togeather with his miracles and sanctity of life , are yet famous to the christian world . he died in the yeare of christ , . and in the nynth yeare of k. henry the first his raigne . his body was afterward on this day taken vp and translated to a more eminent place of his church at canterbury , with great solemnity and veneration , wherat , through his meritts , it hath pleased god to worke many miracles . e the sixt day . at ely in cambridgshire the deposition of s. sexburge queene and abbesse , wife to ercombert k. of kent , and daughter to annas king of the eastangles , who after the death of her husband , gouerned his kingdome for a while , and built a goodly monastery of nunnes in the i le of sheppey in kent , & then became herselfe a religious woman in the monastery of ely , wherof also ( after the death of her sister s. audry , who had that dignity whilst she liued ) she was made abbesse : and there in most godly wise , finally gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse christ , about the yeare of our lord , six hundred fourscore and nynteene ; and was buryed in the same place , neere to her said sister s. audry . whose body being taken vp seauen yeares after her death , was found whole and vncorrupt , which well declared the sanctimony , and holines of her life , whilst she liued . f the seauenth day . at canterbury the translation of s. thomas archbishop of the same sea and martyr , who being violently oppressed by king henry the second his seruantes , was , after many slaunders , calumniations and banishment suffered in defence of ecclesiasticall libertyes , slayne in the tyme of euensonge , in his pontificall vestments , before the high altar in his owne church of canbury , in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred threescore and seauenteene . his body being afterward on this day taken vp , and put into a costly siluer shrine , guilt , and set with pretious stones , was translated to a more eminent place of the same church , wherat it pleased god to worke infinite miracles . king henry the eight at his breach with the sea apostolicke destroyed this goodly monument , and taking all the treasure therof to his owne vse , caused his body to be burned to ashes & dispersed in the ayre , in the yeare of christ . the same day at vvinchester in hampshire the deposition of s. hedda confessour and bishop of that sea , whose godly and innocent life was afterward confirmed by the miracles wrought at his body in vvinchester , where he died , and was buryed in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and fiue . the same day also at eyst in germany , the deposition of s. vvillebald confessour and first bishop of that sea , sonne to s. richard king of the english : who going ouer to his vncle s. boniface into germany , was by him ordayned bishop of eyst , where full of great holines of life , he reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred fourscore and one . his body is buryed in the cathedrall church of that citty , and there preserued with great veneration . the same day in like manner at brige neere paris in france , the depositiō of the saintes , edilburge daughter to annas king of the eastangles , and ercongote daughter to king ercombert of kent , who being both abbesses of the said monastery of brige , the one succeding the other , and dying both on one day , in diuers yeares , deserued to haue their memoryes celebrated togeather , on one and the selfe same day , by our mother the holy cath. church . the former , s. edilburge , died about the yeare of christ , six hundred and threescore : and the other some foure yeares after , and were both buryed at brige aforsaid . g the eight day . at vvinchester in hampshire the depositiō of s. grimbald abbot and confessour , whome king alfred calling out of trā●e into england , vsed in all his consultations for the gouernment of his kingdome . he refused the archbishopricke of canterbury , and chose rather to be abbot of a new monastery , erected by the said k. alfred in the citty of vvinchester , where in most godly wise he ended his blessed dayes , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and foure . the same day at vvirtzburge in franconia the passiō of s. kilian bishop , togeather with the saints colmā , totnā & erwald mōkes and martyrs , who being borne in ireland all of very honourable families , and s. kilian sonne to the king of that iland , went ouer into germany , where s. kilian was ordayned bishop of vvirtzburge , and preaching the christian faith in those partes , were all at last by the enemyes of truth , slayne for the defence therof , vnder gosbert king of franconia , about the yeare of christ , six hundred nynty and seauen . their reliques are kept vntill this day at vvirtzburge , with great veneration of the inhabitants . a the ninth day . at barking in essex the deposition of s. edilburge queene , who being wife to inas king of the vvestsaxons , both she and her husband consented to enter into two monasteryes , and become religious : wherupon the king himselfe going to rome , and there taking vpon him the habit of a monke of s. benedicts order , the queene likewise entred into the monastery of barking aforsaid , and receyued the holy veyle of chastity , where in all kind of sanctimony of life , she finally ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and fourty . of this name of edilburge , there are three saintes of our nation , to wit , s. edilburge daughter to annas king of the eastangles , and abbesse of brige in france : s. edilburge , sister to s. erconwald bishop of london , and the first abbesse of this aforsaid monastery of barking : and this s. edilburge wherof we now speake , queene of the vvestsaxons . all which three being english women by byrth , liued togeather within the space of lesse then an hundred yeares . b the tenth day . at fisciacum in † hennalt the deposition of s. etto bishop and confessour , who being an irishman by byrth , and comming out of that kingdome with s. furseus and his fellowes , went ouer into france and germany , to preach the christiā faith , which he did with as great fruite and profit , as holinesse of life , vntill his dying day : which happened about the yeare of christ , six hūdred fifty & six . his body was afterward translated to letias in the same prouince , and there is kept vntill this day with great honour and veneration of the inhabitants , for the manifold miracles , that it hath pleased god in signe of his sanctity to worke therat . c the eleuenth day . in scotland the commemoration of s. dronston confessour , who borne in the same kingdome of the bloud royall , and vncle to aidan king of scotland , contemned the vanities of the world in his youth , and entring into a monastery there , tooke the religious habit of s. benedict . in which kind of life he so excelled in all humility and perfection , that his name was very famous throughout scotland and ireland , euen vntill his dying day , which happened full or sanctity of life and miracles , about the yeare of christ , six hundred : where also in ancient catholicke tymes , many chappell 's and altars haue byn dedicated in his honour . d the tweluth day . in ireland the commemoration of s. luane abbot and confessour , who being borne in the same iland of a noble parētage , became there first a monke of the order of s. benedict , and afterward abbot of the monastery of benchor in the same kingdome , where he was very famous for sanctity of life , in the tyme of s. malachy bishop of connerthen & primate of all ireland , with whome he liued many yeares , ending his venerable dayes in a good old age , about the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred and fourty , and in the raigne of king stephen of england . e the thirteenth day . at canterbury the translation of s. mildred virgin and abbesse , daughter to merualdus king of the mercians ( or middle englishmen ) who contemning the vanities of this life , became a religious woman in the i le of thanet in kent , and afterward abbesse of that monastery : in which kind of life she so excelled , especially in humility , that it pleased god to worke many miracles at her body after her death : which being on this day translated to cāterbury by s. lāfranke archbishop of that sea , was , togeather with the venerable body of s. edburge , most honourably placed there in the church of s. gregory , in the yeare of christ , one thousand fou●score and fiue . there was also a famous monastery built in her honour in the prouince of kent , besides many goodly churches e●ected and dedicated in her name in diuers places of england . part of her reliques were translated to dauentry in gelderland , and there kept vntill these our dayes , with great veneration of the people of geldria . she died about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and foure . f the fourteenth day . at dauentry in gelderland the festiuity of s. marchebne priest and confessour , who being an englishman by birth , and going ouer into the low-countreyes as companion to s. willebrord , preached there the faith of christ incessantly , for more then threescore yeares togeather , wherby he conuerted the greatest part of frizeland , and is called their apostle . and a ter infinite labours and toyles taken in that holy enterprize , full of great sanctity and holmes of life , and in a good old age , he finally reposed in our lord , at a place in transysleania ( to wit beyond the riuer of ysle ) called oldseele , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred threescore and two . his body was a●ter translated to dauentry , where the same was honoured , and preserued euen vntill our dayes , with great veneration of the inhabitants . g the fifteenth day . at vvinchester in hampshire the translation of s. swithin bishop of the same sea and confessour , whose life was so innocent , and vertues so rare , that it pleased god by him to worke many miracles both aliue and dead . when he was ready to depart out of this world , he commanded ( for humilityes sake ) his body to be buryed in the church-yard , wheron euery one might tread with their feet . but afterward when many and dayly miracles , were , by his merits , wrought at his graue , and the concourse of people therto began to be great , he was on this day taken vp , and translated to a church of his owne name , erected in winchester , commonly called s. swithins , which now of late in hatred of his memory is by the protestants named the trinity . this his translation happened about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred ; which day was afterward by commaundement kept holy , throughout the diocesse of vvinchester . the same day at oldseele beyond the riuer of ysle in gelderland , the deposition of s. plechelme bishop and confessour , who borne in our iland of great britany , and going to rome with s. vvero , was ordayned bishop of an old towne in scotlād named candida-casa , now called vvhitherne , & in his returne homward preached the christian faith to the frisians , where full of sanctity of life and miracles , he reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred thirty and two . his body is yet preserued at the forsaid towne of oldseele with great veneration of the people therabout . the same day also at pollesbury in vvarwickeshire the deposition of s. eadgith queene of northumberland , and sister to king ethelstane , who was giuen in matrimony to sithricke prince or the northumbers , a pagan , vpon condition he would become a curistian . which he accepted of : but soone after renouncing both his queene & faith , ended his life in a most miserable sort . and she setting aside the cares and troubles of this world , became a religious woman , & receyued the holy veyle of chastity in the monastery of polesbury aforsaid : where in great sanctimony of life , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ . the same day in like māner at vverdt in cleeucland , the passion of s. harrucke bishop and martyr , who being a scottishman by birth , and a monke of the monastery of amarbaricke in scotland , went ouer into the low countreyes and germany to propagate the christian faith , where being ordayned bishop of vverdt , was at last put to death by the enemyes of christ , and so ended a glorious martyrdome , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred thirty and one . moreouer in suetia the deposition of s. dauid confessour , who being an englishmā by birth & an abbot of the venerable order of cluniacke , went into suetia to preach the faith of christ to the infide●s of that coūtry , which he did for many yeares ; and after aboundant fruite reaped in that haruest by his holy labours and indeauours , famous for sanctity of life , he finally re●ed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , one thousand and two . a the sixteenth day . at salisbury in vvil●shire the translation of s. osmund confessour and bishop of the same sea , whose li●e and doctrine hath much illustrated , as well the vniuersall , as our catholicke church of england . he was the first that compiled the sarū breutary , and other cerimonies of that church , which were afterward receyued and vsed throughout the whole realme . for which cause in ancient tymes , the catholicke bishops of salisbury obtayned the title of the popes maister o● cerimonyes , and had their places alwayes assigned them in the popes chappell & other solēnit●es at rome , according to that dignity . his body was on this day solemnely translated to new salisbury from a village a mile distant from the s●me , now called old salisbury , where he died in the yeare of christ , one thousand fourscore and ninteene , and there placed in the great minster or cathedrall church of that citt● , in the middle of the chappell of our blessed lady , vnder a faire marble monument , wherat it pleased god to worke miracles through his merits . he wrote many learned bookes , and among others , the life of s. adelmus the first bishop of sherborne , yet extant in diuers libraryes to be read . he was canonized for a saint by pope calixtus the secōd , and his feast in many places of england hath on this day byn kept holy . b the seauenteenth day . at vvinchcombe in glocestershire the passion of s. kenelme king of mercia and martyr , who being but seauen yeares of age , and committed vnto his sister quendrede ●or his education , was , through her ambition of desire to raigne , caused secretly to be slayne by one of his guard , who cast his body into an obscure place among bushes and thornes : which thing being first miraculously reueyled at rome by an angell , that let fall a paper vpon s. peters aultar , wherin was wryttē in goldē letters the whole processe and manner of his death , the pope sent presently into englād to other christiā kings to inquire and search out his body : and the same being at last found , and with a sollemne procession brought vnto the church of vvinchcombe aforsaid , it pleased god forthwith to worke many miracles in witnesse of his innocency . his sister the authour of the soule fact was stroken blind , both her eyes falling out vpon a primer , wheron she was reading : which being stayned with the bloud of her said eyes , is yet kept in memory of the miracle of gods ●ustice . his martyrdome hapned about the yeare of christ . the same day at s. albans in hartfordshire , the deposition of s. iohn confessour , who being abbot of the monastery of the benediclines in that towne ; was very famous for sanctity of life and miracles throughout england , about the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred and fourteene . also the same day in the territory of namures the festiuity of s. fridegand priest and confessour , who being an irishmā by birth , went ouer into the low-coūtreyes with s. foillan and his fellowes to preach the christian faith , which he did most feruently with great fruite of his holy labour , till his dying day , which happened about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourty . his body was lost in the troubles of the late warres made by the french in the low-countreyes , to the great lamentation of the inhabitants of that place , who for their synnes were depriued of so glorious a patrone . c the eighteenth day . at alisbury in buckinghamshire the deposition of s. edburge virgin , daughter to red●ald king of the eastangles , who togeather with her sister s. edith became a religious woman in a monastery at the forsaid towne o● alisbury : where in great sanctimony o●●●●e , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare o● christ , six hundred and twenty . her body was a terward translated to a towne of her owne name , called edburgetowne , which now more corruptly we cōmonly call edburton , where the same hath byn preserued euen vntill our dayes , with great honour and veneration , for the mirac●●s that haue byn wrought therat . the same day at huis in the confines of the higher germany , the translation of s. odilia one of the eleuen thousand brittish virgins , martyred with s. vrsula , whose name & body being reueyled by her selfe to a holy religious man in paris , called ioannes de eppa , was found out , and vpon this day by siffred archbishop of cullen with great solemnity translated to the forsaid towne of huis , where the same was very honourably placed in the church of the religious men there of the order of the holy-cr●sse , and is preserued yet in the same place with great veneration of the inhabitants . d the ninteenth day . in scotland the commemoration of s. diman confessour , who descended of an honourable linnage in the same kingdome , contemned the world , and entring into a monastery , became a religious man of the venerable order of s. benedict in scotland , vnder the care and gouernment of s. sigenius abbot , whose scholler and disciple he was : where in all kind of singular humility , and other sanctity of life , in a venerable old age , he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and seauenty . e the twentith day . at vvilton in wiltshire , the commemoatiō of s. eth 〈…〉 i de queene , wife to k. al red of the vvest saxons , who after the death of her husband , built a goodly monastery in the forsaid towne of wilton for religious women , endowing it with great rentes and reuenewes : among whome also herselfe entring , tooke their habit and holy veyle of chastity , and became one of the number ; where in all kind of singular humility , vertue , and other sanctimony of life , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred and foure , and was buryed in the same place . f the one & twentith day . at strasburgh in the higher germany , the deposition of s. arbogastus con●●ssour and bishop of that sea , who being an irishman by birth , and a monke of the order of s. benedict , went ouer into france and germany , where he became an ermite for diuers yeares in the forrest of alsatia , and afterward was ordained bishop of strasburgh : which sea , when he had gouerned for twelue yeares , in great sanctity of life , and other vertues , he departed this world , and reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and eight . among many of his miracles , one is recorded , that by his prayers he reca●led to life sigebert sonne to king dagobert of france , that by misfortune had byn slayne by a wild boare . g the two and twentith day . at vvinchester in hampshire the commemoration of bl. vvilfr●de queene and abbesse , wife to holy king edgar , and mother to s. edith virgin , who being from a child brought vp among the religious woman in the monastery o● vvinchester , and afterward married to king ●dgar , reiecting the vanities of the world after her husbands death , entred againe into the said monastery , and became abbesse of the same ; where in all kind o● sanctimony and exemplar good life , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourscore and seauen : in which place also her body was interred , and there kept with great veneration , euen vntill our dayes . a the three and twentith day . at london the commemoration of s. vodine martyr and archbishop of the same sea in our british primitiue church , who being a man of singular sanctity of life , reproued king vortiger of britany , for putting away his lawfull wise , and taking another woman , whose father was a great enemy to the christiā faith : wherfore king hingist of kent , the said womās father , incēsed with rage against the holy bishop , caused him forthwith to be slayne ( like another s. iohn baptist , ) togeather with many other british priests and religious men , and so he receyued a crowne of martyrdome , about the yeare of christ , foure hundred and fifty . b the foure & twentith day . at vvinocks-berghen in flanders , the translation of s. lew●ne virgin & martyr who descending of a very honourable parentage in our iland of great-britany , was in the tyme of s. theodore archbishop of canterbury , slayne for the confessiō of christ , in the yeare of our lord , six hundred fourscore and seauen . her body was kept with great veneration in an old monastery of s. andrew , neere seaford-hauen in sussex , vntill the tyme of the second danish and norman incursions , & then on this day was trāslated to berghen aforsaid , and there placed in the cloister of s. winocke , in the yeare of christ , one thousand fifty and eight , wherat many miracles haue byn wrought . in the last vastation of flanders by the french , the said glorious body was lost , to the great lamentation of all flanders , but especially of the inhabitants of berghen , who by that meanes where depriued o● so great a treasure . c the fiue & twentith day in gothland the commemoration of the sainte● vviaman , vnaman , and sunaman , brethren and martyrs , nephewes to s. sigfride o● yorke and apostle of gothia , who going out of england into that countrey with their said vncle s. sigfrid for the conuersion therof , were , by the enemies of christ , slayne in hatred of christian religion . their bodyes were throwne into a riuer , and their heads being put into a vessell , & a great stone hāged therat , were cast into a poole neere vnto the place of their martyrdome , where on a tyme s. sigfride walking and deploring their deathes , on a suddaine there appeared three miraculous lightes vpon the water , that compassed the vessell wherin their said heads were , which he seeing , presently leaped into the poole , & imbracing thē wept & said : vindicet deus . wherto one answered , vindicatum erit , another replyed , in quem ? the third added , in filios filiorum &c. this happened about the yeare of christ , one thousand . d the six and twentith day . at derremond in flanders the festiuity of s. christian virgin , who descended of the bloud royall of our kings of england , had an angell sent from heauen ( as writeth molanus ) to instruct her in the christian faith : by whose admonition , to eschue the dangerous allurements of the world , she first stole secretly into scotland , and thence into flanders , and there after a priuate & most saintly life , full of miracles , she gaue vp her blessed soule to rest with her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , one thousand fourscore and twelue , and in the raigne of k. vvilliam rusus of england . her principall celebrity is kept at the forsaid towne of derremond , vpon the seauenth day of september , when her body was taken vp and translated to a more eminent place of the same church , where it is yet preserued with great veneration of the inhabitants , as patronesse of that village . e the seauen & twentith day . at glastenbury in sommersetshire the festiuity of s. ioseph of arimath●a , who going out of iury ( after he had buryed christ ) with s. mary magdalen and her company , to marselles in france , came thence into great-britany , with his owne sonne ioseph , and ten other disciples , where he obtained of king aruiragus , a little iland in somersetshire , called in the british tongue ins wi●●in ( now glastenbury ; ) & there leading a solitary life with his said fellowes , at last he cōuerted to the christian faith marius & coillus , sonne and nephew to king aruiragus , and then full of most venerable old yeares , he died , about the yeare of christ , fourscore and two . there was afterward a goodly monastery erected in that place of the order of s. benedict , which was the greatest in all england , and so remayned vntill the tyme of king henry the . when by his commandement the same was destroyed by syr vvilliam goald iustice of peace , to the lamentation of all christendome . his feast was wont to be celebrated on this day in many places of our realme , euen vntill the raigne of the late queene elizabeth . the same day at lincolne th● passion of s. hugh martyr , who being a child of t●n yeares old , was by the iewes of that citty in contēpt of christ & christian religion , nayled on a crosse , & so deserued to be crowned with the same death , that our blessed sauiour suffered for the redēptiō of mankind . the perfidious iewes , when he was dead , buryed his body in an obscure place , which the earth miraculously cast vp : and then they threw him into a well , who being there also by a miracle found out by his owne mother , the chanons of the same citty , with great veneration carried the same in processiō to the cathedrall church or minster , and there interred his holy reliques , in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fifty and fiue , and in the raigne of king henry the third of england . f the eight & twentith day . at dole in little britany the deposition of s. sampson bishop and confessour , who borne in our ilād of a royall british bloud , was first created archbishop of carleon vpon the riuer of vske , and metropolitan among the old britans of vvales , now commonly called carline ; and being inflamed with desyre of helping his neighbour-countreyes for their conuersion , went ouer into france , and there was constituted bishop of dole in little britany by king childebert of france : where after he had conuerted many thousands to the faith of christ , famous for miracles , he finally ended his venerable dayes , and reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and ●oure . his body was buryed at dole , and there in ancient times wont to be kept with great veneration and reuerence of the inhabitants . g the nine & twentith day . at troys in france the deposition of s. lupus bishop and confessour , who about the yeare of christ , foure hundred and fourty , togeather with s. german bishop of auxier , came ouer into our iland of great-britany , to expell the pelagian heresy , and to reestablish the catholicke and roman faith , which was among them before , and then began to be extinguished by the doctrine of pelagius the britan. at what time also is recorded a famous & miraculous victory achieued by the prayers of these two saintes , against those heretickes , by only crying and sounding out the word alleluia , wherwith the said pelagians were driuen away and discomfited . and for this singular benefit , that our countrey hath receyued by this seruant of christ , it seemeth not amisse , that his memory should be recorded among the ancient saintes of our nation ( though he were a frenchman by birth ) and his festiuity celebrated by vs , for the increase of deuotion in our iland , that was once made worthy of so glorious a patrone and protectour . the same day at lichfield in stassordshire , the commemoration of blessed owen confessour , who being a man of great esteeme and birth , and high steward to queene edildride of the east ●●gles , renounced the world , and became a monke , first in the monastery of lesting in the kingdome of the northumbers , vnder s. chad , that then was abbot therof , and after at lichfield : where being made worthy by god , to heare the voyce of angells one day descending vpon s. chads oratory to call him to heauē , in great sanctity and holines of life , he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourscore . a the thirtith day . in northumberland the deposition of s. le●rone virgin and martyr , who being abbesse of a monastery in the same kingdome , was in the second danish persecution togeather with many holy men and women , slaine in contēpt of the christiā faith . for the furious danes surprizing all the monasteries that stood in their wayes , put most of the religious persons , eyther to sword or fire . and among others , cōming to this monastery , whero● s. lefrone was abb●sse , a●ter that they had most barbarously and by violence abused the sacred virgins , they tithed the whole monastery , putting nyne to death , and leauing the tenth to sh 〈…〉 for herselfe , which vnheard-of-cruelty , the perfidious danes shewed towards many religious persons in our coūtrey , at their arri●all , and incursions , about the yeare of christ , one thousand and eleuen . the same day at canterbury the deposition of s. ta 〈…〉 yne confessour , and archbishop of the same sea , who being a man of excellent learning and wisdome , was , of a monke of the monastery of brewton , promoted to the archbishopricke of canterbury , and succeeded s. brituald in that office : where in all kind of holy conuersation , and sanctity of life , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and fourty , and in the raigne of king edbert of kent . his body was buryed in the cathedrall church of canterbury , where it yet remayneth in the old cloister . f the one and thirtith day . at hunstocke in corn-wall the deposition of s. neoth priest and confessour , who leading a solitary life in the vvest-part of england , was famous for sanctity of life & miracles , both aliue and dead . he was very familiar with king alfred of the vvestsaxons , by whose counsell and exhortation , the said king founded the famous vniuersity of oxford . with this man also there liued at the same tyme , another venerable holy man ( and as it were his companion ) called s. guier , vnto both which there haue byn many chappell 's and altars , in catholicke tymes past , dedicated with in the realme of england . and in humingtonshire in particular , there is yet remayning a faire towne and church , sometyme erected in memory of s. neoth , which vntill this day retayneth that ancient name , and is commonly called s. neots . he died about the yeare of christ , eight hundred threescore and eleuen . the moneth of avgvst . c the first day . at vvinchester in hampshire the deposition of s. ethelwold bishop and confessour , who being first a monke of glastenbury monastery , vnder s. dunstan , was afterward made abbot of abington , & thence promoted to the bishopricke of vvinchester : which when he had gouerned for one and twenty yeares togeather , in great sanctity of life & working of miracles , he rested in our lord , in the yeare of christ . & was buryed in his owne cathedral church of vvinchester : at whose body it hath pleased god to worke many miracles . it is recorded of this holy bishop , that in tyme of a great dearth , he brake all the plate belonging to his church , and gaue it to the poore , saying : that the church in good tyme might be againe prouided of ornaments necessary , but the poore that perished for want of food , could not be recouered . the same day at gaunt in flanders the translation of s. vvenlocke abbot and confessour , who descended of the ancient royall bloud of britany , became father to many monkes in an old monastery in the lesser britany , called tauracum , where in all kind of most holy life , he ended his blessed dayes . his body was afterward on this day with great solemnity translated to gaunt , about the yeare of christ , one thousand and fifty , and is there vntill this day preserued with great honour and veneration . d the second day . at durham in the bishopricke , the commemoration of s. alrike eremite and confessour who leading a solitary life in the forrest of carliele for many yeares togeather , was of such admirable sanctity and holinesse of life , that his memory , euen vntill our dayes , hath byn famous throughout the whole iland of britany . s. godricke an eremite also liuing in those partes at the same tyme , and being present at his death , saw his soule ascend into heauen , as it were in a sphericall forme of a burning wynd . his body was with great veneration interred at durham by the clergy of that church , about the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred and seauen , in which yeare he died . e the third day . in scotland the commemoration of s. domitiús confessour , who descended of a worthy lynage in the kingdome of ireland , became there a monke of the holy order of s. benedict , vnder the famous abbot s. columbe , whose scholler and disciple he was , where in all kind of good learning , vertue , & other sanctity of life , he ended his venerable old dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and eleuen . his memory hath , in tymes past , byn very famous throughout the iland of great-britany , especially in scotland , where he liued and died . f the fourth day . at furne in flanders in the diocesse of ipres , the translation of part of the glorious body of s. vvalburge virgin and abbesse , daughter to s. richard king of the english , who being sent for into germany by s. bonijace her vncle , archbishop of mentz , was by him ordained abbesse of a monastery there , which he had newly founded , called heyden●rae , where in all kind of sanctimony of life , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred threescore and sixteene . the rest of her body remayneth at eyst , whither it was before translated ; wherout , vntill this day , distilleth a precious oyle , very soueraigne formany diseases . her principall festiuity was wont to be celebrated in our catholicke church of england , vpon the one and twentith day of iune , according to the vse of sarum ; and in germany vpon the first of may. g the fifth day . at oswistree in shropshire the passion of s. oswald king of the northumbers and martyr , who after he had brought the angles , scots , and pictes vnto his subiection , was so zealous in the new planted faith of christ , that for defence therof principally he was slayne by penda the pagan king of mercia , at the forsaid towne of osistree , in the yeare of christ , six hundred thirty and fiue . s. bede recounteth , that on a day as he sate at dinner with s. aidan bishop of lindisferne , there was a siluer dish brought before him full of daynties , which when he saw , he caused presently to be brokē in little peeces , and giuen to the poore attending at his gate for almes , togeather with the meate that was therin , saying , they had more need therof then himselfe . the bishop sitting by , and delighted with such rare piety in a king , tooke him by the right hand , and said : this hand , i pray god , may neuer consume . and so saith s. bede , it fell out : for that his arme and hand being cut of at his death , remayned till his dayes whole and incorrupt , being kept in a siluer case , in s. peters church at bambrough . he finished the cathedrall church of s. peter at torke , which was before begun by his predecessour king edwyn . his body was first buryed at peterburrow , and part therof trāslated afterward to vvinockes-berghen in flanders , where the same was preserued with great veneration . a the sixt day . at vvinchester in hampshire the depositiō of blessed henry confessour and bishop of the same sea , who being a frenchman by birth , and brother to king stephen of england , became first a monke of the order of s. benedict , and after abbot of glastenbury , and last of all bishop of vvinchester , and legat apostolicall of england . in which dignity he behaued himself with so great humility and loue of the common people , for more then fourty yeares togeather , that his name was famous throughout all england & france . he died in great sanctity of life , and spirit of prophesy , in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred seauenty and one , about foure monethes before the martyrdome of s. thomas of canterbury . the same day at ●one in france the commemoration of s. alexander confessour , who descended of the bloud-royall of scotland , stole secretly thence for the loue of christ in base attyre , and went into france , where he became a lay-brother in a monastery of cistercian monkes at fone , labouring in the basest offices of the house , vnknowne till his dying day : which being then reueyled to the prior of the monastery vpon obedience , it pleased god to testify his worthines by a miracle after his death , which was thus . a monke of the same monastery , that had a sore vlcer in his brest , and now growne to a fistula , came to the said alexanders tombe , and there prayed . vnto whome alexāder appearing brighter then the sunne with two crownes , one on his head , and another in his hand ; the monke demaunded what that double crowne meant ? he answered and said : the crowne in his hand is for the temporall crowne , which i forsooke for christes loue ( for he should haue byn king of scotland , being next heyre thervnto by succession , as the story relateth : ) the other on my head , is that which i haue receyued common with other saintes . and that yow may be assured of the verity of this vision , you shal now be cured of your infirmity . and hauing thus spoken , and the other immediatly healed , he vanished away . he died about the yeare of christ , one thousand and two hundred . b the seauenth day . at vvestminster by london the commemoration of s. maude queene , daughter to s. margaret and holy king malcolme of scotland , & wife to k. henry the first of england , whose admirable and rare vertues , togeather with her singular & exemplar life , hath byn a patterne euer synce to all princesses in europe ; especially her exceeding charity towards the poore , whome she disdayned not , though neuer so foule leapers , but rather imbraced them with all delight , yea washed their soares and vlcers , neuer so loathsome and filthy : for whome she built also a goodly hospitall in the suburbes of london called s. g●les ; as also founded the priory of christes-church within ald-gate of the same citty . her body was with all veneration buryed at vvestminster in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred and eighteene , which yeare she desceased . in whose praise these distiches following were composed . prosper a non laetam secere , non aspera tristem , aspera risus ei , prospera terror erant . non decor essecit frag●lem , non sceptra superbam , sola potens humilis , sola pudica decens . she was in her tender yeares brought vp in the monasteries of religious womē at vvinchester and rumsey , in all exercise of vertue and learning . she built a faire stone-bridge ouer the riuer of lue at stratford-vpon-bow , as also gaue diuers goodly mannours and lands to the abbey of barking in essex , for mayntayning of the same . c the eight day . at glastenbury-abbey in somersetshire the commemoration of s. fagane confessour , and scholler to s. ioseph of arimathia , with whome when he had led a solitary life for many yeares in the iland of auallonia , now called glastenbury , and being by s. ioseph throughly instructed in the christian ●aith and other vertues , became himselfe a preacher therof and s. iosephs successour in his oratory , where the ●amous monastery of glastenbury was afterward built : where also in great sanctity & holines of life he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , one hundred and twelue ; and was one of the first confessours of our british nation . d the ninth day . at ely in cambridgshire the deposition of s. hugh bishop and confessour , who being first a monke and then abbot of the monastery of s. edmundsbury in suffolke , was thence promoted to the bishopricke of ely , where in all kind of most commendable vertues , especially in humility and abstinence , hauing gouerned that sea fiue and twēty years , he happily ended his venerable dayes , about the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fifty and foure . his body was very honourably interred in the cathedrall church of fly , within the chancell , which himselfe had newly built from the ground , consecrating the same in presence of king henry the third , and his sonne prince edward , in the yeare . and was there kept vntill our dayes with great honour and veneration of the people . he also built the bishops pallace at ely , besydes many other publicke works of charity , which he perfourmed whilst he liued . e the tenth day . at lesmor in ireland the commemoration of s. malcus bishop and confessour , who borne in england , and a monke of the monastery of vvinchester in hampshire , and of a most vertuous conuersatiō , was elected & consecrated bishop of lesmor in ireland . in which pastorall office , in great sanctity of life & working of miracles , he finally ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred twenty & fiue . he is also much praised by s. bernard , that liued at the same tyme ; who wryting the life of s. malachy , bishop and primate of ireland , among other thinges , he saith of s. malcus : that the wisdome of god was in him . &c. f the eleuenth day . at chichester in sussex the commemoration of bl. gilbert confessour & bishop of the same sea , whose integrity of life and vertuous conuersation , hath made him famous to posterity . he was a father of the fatherlesse ( saith the story of his life ) a comforter of mourners , a defender of widdowes , a relieuer of the poore , a helper of the distressed , and a diligent visitour of the sicke . and thus heaping vp heauenly treasure by the excercise of these and other like vertues , and by his continuall teaching and instructing the people , like a true pastour of christs flocke , full of venerable old age , he finally reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , one thousand three hundred and ●iue , & was buryed in his owne cathedrall church . at whose body matthew of vvestminster recordeth diuers miracles to haue byn wrought . he raised the foundations of our blessed ladyes chappell at chichester , but death preuenting his pious endeauour , the same was finished by another . g the tweluth day . at stafford in the ●ame shire , the commemoration of s. bertelme confessour , who descended of a noble british lynage in our iland , contemned the puddle and vanityes of the world in the flower of his youth , and became an e●mite for the loue of god , leading a most strict & seuere kind of life , in the woods neere stafford aforsaid : where in very great sanctity and holines of life , he ended his blessed dayes , & finally reposed in our lord. his body was afterward brought to stafford , and being there interred , was wont , in ancient tymes , to be kept with great veneration of the people of that prouince . a the thirteenth day . in frizeland the commemoration of s. vvigbert priest and martyr , who being an english-man by birth , descended of an honourable stocke , lead first a solitary life in ireland , and thence returning into england ; went ouer into frizeland to preach the christian saith to the pagans of that countrey , which when he had done for two yeares , without any great profit , returned againe , and gaue himselfe to his former eremiticall kind of life . but being sent thither the second tyme with s. vvillebrord & his fellowes , was by radbodus king of the frizians put to a mos● cruell death , for persuading the people to breake downe a certaine image of iupiter , which the said king had set vp to worship and offer sacrifice vnto , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore and fourteene . this man is different from the other s. vvigbert , whose feast is also celebrated vpon this day by the roman martyrologe , vnder the name and title of a confessour . b the fourteenth day . at elst in gelderland the translation of s. vverenfrid priest & confessour , who being a monke of the monastery of rippon in yorkeshire , went out of england into flāders and germany to preach the christian faith , where he conuerted the whole countrey of geldria , and became their apostle , labouring incessantly , by teaching and instructing them in the true way of life , vntill his dying day . his body was afterward with great solemnity and veneration , on this day translated to the forsaid towne of elst , wherat infinite miracles haue byn wrought , especially in curing the disease of the goute . he died about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and siue ; and is honoured of the inhabitantes of elst , as principall apostle and patrone of that prouince . c the fifteenth day . in the monastery of cateby , the commemoration of s. margaret prioresse , who borne at abington in barkeshire , and sister to s. edmund archbishop of canterbury , was by him ordayned prioresse of the forsaid monastery of cateby : whose most vertuous life and conuersation , full of sanctimony and miracles , deserued to be famous euen vntill our dayes throughout englād . she died about the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fifty and seauen , and was buryed in the same place . at whose body it hath pleased god , in testimony of her holines , & increase of deuotion in our iland of great-britany , to worke miracles , d the sixteenth day . at douer in kent the commemoration of s. thomas monke & martyr , who by certain french pirates , that lāded there in the night , was most barbarously slayne in defence of the goods of the church & monastery committed to his charge , about the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fourscore and fifteene , and raigne of king edward the first of england . his body was with great solemnity and veneration interred in the church of douer , wherat it is recorded that miracles haue byn wrought , in signe of his innocency . e the seauenteenth day . at hartford in the same shire , the festiuity of s. thomas archdeacon of northumberland and confessour , who hauing byn a disciple of s. edmund archbishop of canterbury , was of so great sanctity and holinesse o● life , that it pleased god to manifest the same after his death , by the manifold miracles wrought at his body . he died in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fifty and three , and was buryed in a little chappell of the carmelites at hartford . and for that there are three other saintes of this name , of the english nation , this man is cōmonly called , for distinctions sake , by the name of s. thomas of northumberland . the same day at egmond in north-holland ●n the d●ocesteo harlem the deposition o● s. ieron priest and martyr , who borne in scotland of a noble bloud , went ouer into holland to preach the christian faith to the peop●e o● that coūtrey : which whē he had done most painfully for many years togeather with great sruite and profit of his holy labours , was at last slayne in hatred therof by the danes and normans , that made incursions into those partes , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and fifty . his body was with great veneration brought to the monastery of egmond , and there placed neere to the venerable reliques of s. adalbert their apostle , both which are now destroyed and cast out o● the church , in these our vnhappy dayes , togeather with all other sacred reliques and images , in those partes , to the lamentation of the christian world . f the eighteenth day . at rome the deposition of s. helen empresse mother to constantine the great , who borne at colchester in essex ( as ancient records testifie ) and daughter to prince coelus of britany , was for her great zeale in christian religion , made worthy both of an earthly & heauēly crowne . she desceased at rome , about the yeare of christ , three hundred twenty and six , being of the age of fourscore yeares . her body was afterward translated to rhemes in france , and there is kept with great veneration . the greeke church doth celebrate her feast vpon the one and twentith day of may , togeather with her sonne constantine . she going to hierusalem found out the crosse , wheron our sauiour was nayled , and suffered his passion for the redemption of man-kind , and repayred that citty sore ruined through the warres of the roman emperours , adorning the same with many goodly churches and monumētes . she also builded the walles of the citty of london & colchester in england , togeather with a goodly church in the towne of bedsord , which being turned into a monastery , was called of her name helenslow , but afterward quite destroyed and ouerthrowne by the incursions of the danes , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred threescore and eight . g the ninteenth day . in south-wales the commemoration of s. clintanke k. of brecknocke and martyr , who being a very zealous and godly prince , as he was one day on hunting , was slayne by a pagan souldiar , partly in hatred of christian religion , and partly also for that a noble virgin should say , she would neuer marry any man except the said king , who was so zealons a christian. there was afterward a goodly church erected in his honour , neere to a riuer in south-wales , where he was slayne , and where with great veneration his holy body was interred , at which it pleased god in signe of his innocency to worke many miracles . a the twentith day . in northumberland the passion of s. oswine king of the t deires & martyr , who for that he was a most zealous christian , was impiously slayne by osway the pagan king of the bernicians , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and one . his body being throwne into an obscure place , & after miraculously found out , was with great veneration brought vnto tinmouth , and there placed in an ancient church erected in honour of our blessed lady . s. aidan liuing at the same tyme , and bishop of lindisserne , had a reuelation of his death , euen at the instant of his passion , who when he preached to the people , was wont oftentymes to say of him : this nation of ours is not worthy to haue so good a ruler or gouernour . &c. b the one & twentith day . in calabria in italy the commemoration of s. richard bishop and confessour , who descended of a worthy parentage in england , and going to the court of rome , was there made priest , and at length , for his vertue and learning , ordayned bishop of a place in calabria called s. andrews : where in great sanctity and holines , of life togeather with exceeding vigilancy ouer his flocke committed to his charge , he finally reposed in our lord. his body was interred in his said cathedrall church of s. andrew , and there is yet preserued with great deuotion and veneration of the inhabitantes , for the frequent miracles that haue byn wrought therat . he is patrone of that diocesse , and his feast is there celebrated with a double office , wherin he hath three proper lessons , conteyning the whole story of his life . c the two and twentith day . in bedfordshire the commemoration of s. arnulph confessour , who descended of a noble british lynage in our iland , for the loue of god , contemned the world , and became an eremite , leading a most strict and seuere kind of life in the county or prouince of bedford : where in great sanctity and holinesse he also ended his blessed dayes . his body was buryed in the same shire at a place called afterward of his name s. arnulphs-bury , where for a long tyme it was honoured , for the miracles it pleased god to worke therat . d the three and twentith day . at meneuia , now cal'ed s. dauids in penbrookeshire of vvales the commemoration o● s. iustinian monke and martyr , who being a noble britan , and building a monastery with his owne inheritance , in the iland of ramsey in penbrookeshire aforsaid , and hauing there gathered many monkes togeather vnder monasticall discipline , was in the said iland , by the diuells instigation , in hatred of his sanctity , slayne by three of the brethren of his said monastery , who were all presently stroken with a filthy leprosy by diuine iustice , in reuenge of so odious a fact , about the yeare of christ , foure hundred fourscore and six . his body was withall veneratiō & honour brought to the church of meneuia , where the same was by s. dauid himselfe then bishop therof , solemnely interred , and wherat it pleased god to worke many miracles . e the foure & twentith day . in cateby-monastery the commemoration of s. alice prioresse , and sister to s. edmund archbishop of canterbury , who borne at abington in barkeshire & a woman of admirable spirit and vertue , was after the death of her sister s. margaret , made prioresse of the monastery of cateby , where in very great humility and holinesse of life , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred and seauenty . her body was buryed in the same monastery neere to the body of her forsaid sister s. margaret , wherat in token of her sanctimony of life , whilst she liued , it pleased god to worke miracles after her death . f the fiue & twentith day at coldingham in norhamshire , in the marches of scotland , the passion of s. ebba abbesse and martyr , descended of the bloud royall of the kings of northūberlād , togeather with all her sisters in the monastery who in the first danish incursions , vnder the captayns hinguar & hubba , cut of their noses and vpper lippes , to deforme themselues , therby to anoyd the barbarous lust of the pagan persecutours ; who seeing them so mangled and defaced , commaunded their monastery to be fiered , and so they all ended their course of martyrdome . she was afterward canonized for a saint , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and fourscore . this woman is different from the other of the same name , who was the foundresse and first abbesse of this monastery of coldingham , and no martyr , for that the danes were not in her tyme yet come into england , nor almost two hundred yeares after . her commemoration we haue put downe before , vpon the second day of aprill . the same day at monte-flascone in tuscany the deposition of s. thomas confessour and bishop of hereford , who going to rome to pope martyn the second , about the affaires of his church , died in his way homward at the forsaid towne of monte-flascone , where his flesh being separated from his bones , was there honourably interred in the church of s. seuerine ; but his sacred reliques were brought to hereford , and there placed in a faire marble tombe in his owne cathedrall church , with great solemnity and veneration , the second day of october , in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fourscore and seauen . he was afterward canonized for a saint by pope iohn the two and twentith . g the six and twentith day . at isselbey in lincolnshire the commemotion of s. pandwyne virgin , who descended of a noble parentage in our iland of great-britany , was of such admirable vertue , and austerity of life , that in signe therof it pleased god to worke many miracles at her body after her death , which was kept for a long tyme with great veneration of the countrey-pleople , at the forsaid towne of isselbey . she died about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred and foure . the story of her life is wrytten at large , by richard pastour of the church of isselbey , wherof there is mentiō made in the catalogue of english saints , gathered by iohn capgraue a learned man of our nation , who liued in the tyme of king richard the second , and lead an eremiticall life in the prouince of kent . a the seauen & twentith day . in glocestershire the commemoration of s. decuman eremite and martyr , who borne of a very noble british parentage in south-wales , and brought vp in the christian faith from his youth , stole secretly away from his friends , and with a fagot of wood , insteed of a boat , miraculously passed ouer the riuer of seuerne , and came into glocestershire , where leading an eremiticall austere life , was at length slaine by a pagan souldier , in hatred of christian religion : whose head being cut of from his body , himselfe tooke vp from the ground , and carried to a fountayne , wherat he was wont to wash it . at which place there was afterward a goodly church erected in his honour , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and six , where his body was wont to be kept with great veneration of the inhabitants : as also another dedicated vnto him in the towne of vvells in somersetshire , which at this day is there standing to be seene . b the eight & twentith day . at brackley in northamptonshire , the commemoration of s. rumbald confessour , sonne to a british king of our iland , who as soone as he was borne into the world and baptized , did miraculously speake and fortell diuers wonderfull thinges ; and professing himselfe a christian , presently yielded vp the ghost . his body was with great veneration buryed at the forsaid towne of brackley , wherat , it is recorded , diuers miracles haue byn wrought . the same day at cullen in the higher germany , the commemoration of s. agnes virgin and martyr , who being a noble britan by birth , and one of the number of the eleuen thousand virgins martyred with s. vrsula , was for defence of her chastity there put to death with the rest of her fellowes , about the yeare of christ , three hundred fourscore and three , herselfe afterward miraculously reuealing her name : for which cause her body is peculiarly honoured of the inhabitants of cullen . c the nine & twentith day . at london the deposition of s. sebbe king of the east saxons and confessour , who after he had gouerned that kingdome thirty yeares in great peace and tranquillity , became a monke in the monastery of s. peter and s. paul at london , distributing the greatest part of his goods to the poore before his entrance , where within a few yeares after , in great sanctity of life , he peaceably rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and fifteene . his body was buried in the church of s. paul in london , in a costly marble coffin , where it was kept vntill our dayes with great veneration of the cittizens , for the miracles that are recorded to haue byn wrought therat . the same day at dorchester in oxfordshire , the translation of s. edwold confessour and eremite , brother to s. edmund king & martyr , who refusing the kingdome of the eastangles , gaue himselfe , for loue of christ , to a solitary life ; in which when he had liued many yeares in all sanctity and holines , at last ended his blessed dayes at dorchester , where his body being interred about the yeare of christ , eight hundred threescore and eleuen , was afterward , on this day , taken vp and translated to a more eminent place of the same church , where before it was land . d the thirtith day . in ●rance in the diocesse of meldune the deposition of s. fiaker confeslour , sonne to eugenius the fourth of that name , king of scotland , who forsaking all worldly dignities and delightes , went ouer into france with his sister s. syra , and became a religious man , by the help and directions of s. pharao bishop of meldune : where in very great sanctity and holinesse of life he ended his blessed daye● , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and thirty . in the citty of s. omers in artors , there is a chappell or oratory dedicated vnto s. fiaker within the par●sh church of s. margaret in the same towne , where his feast is kept on this day with great solemnity , and veneration , by the sodality or confraternity that is there instituted in his honour . where also is graunted plenary indulgence to all that rightly v●sit his chappell on this day , and fullf●ll the other circumstances conteyned in the bull of graunt , by pope clement the eight , dated in the yeare of christ one thousand ●iue hundred nynty and seauen . e the one and thirtith day . at lindisserne in the kingdome of the northumbers the deposition of s. aidan confessour , and bishop of the same sea , whose soule s. cuthbert , being then but a sheepheard , saw carried vp to heauen by two angells , and was therby conuerted to a religious life , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and one . the same day at vvimborne in dorcetshire the deposition of s. cuthberge abbesse sister to king inas of the vvestsaxons , who building a monastery of her owne charges at vvimborne , entred her selfe therin , tooke a religious habit , and became abbesse of the same . where in all kind of vertuous exercise , and monasticall discipline , togeather with working of many miracles , she finally gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spous● , about the veare of christ , seauen hundred twenty and seauen , also the same day at fulkstone in kent the translation of s. eanswide abbesse daughter to eadbald king of kent . who despising all worldly and temporall honours studied how to attaine to celestiall . and entring into a monastery at fulkstōe aforsaid , was afterward made abbesse therof ; where in great sanctimony and holinesse of life she died , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourty . her body was afterward on this day taken vp , and translated to a more eminent place of the same church , wherat it pleased god to worke miracles the moneth of september . f the first day . at vvinchester in hampshire the commemoration of s. elphege the first of that name , confessour and bishop of the same sea , whose godly life and doctrine , togeather with the spirit of prophesy , hath byn very famous in ancient tymes throughout england . he was the first that persuaded s. dunstan to lead a monasticall life , as also ordayned him and s. ethelwold priestes . and when the said dunstan was expelled the court by king ethelred , he came to this holy man elphege , of whome he was very gratefully receyued and cōforted . and finally full of venerable old age , replenished with sanctity of life & miracles , ●e peaceably rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourty and six , and was buried at vvinchester . this man is different from the other s. elphege of the same name , who was b●shop of canterbury , and martyred by the danes in the yeare . g the second day . in scotland the commemoration of s. adaman abbot and confessour , a man of wonder●ull vertue and austerity of life , who be●ng made abbot of s. columbes monastery in the iland of hoy by scotland , gouerned the same in great sanctity and holines , togeather with obse●uance of monasticall discipline vntill his dying day . he was one of the first , that by his doctrine and exhortations brought the scottishmen , as also a great part of the britans , to the catholicke obseruatiō of the feast of easter , who before followed the errour of the quartade●imans in keeping therof . he wrote in like manner a learned treatise of the same subiect ; as also another worke yet extant , intituled , de lo●is sanctis , and flourished about the yeare of christ , six hundred and seauenty . a the third day . at fossis in the territory of namures , the translation of s. foillan bishop and martyr , sonne to king philtan of ireland , who going to rome , was there created bishop by pope martin the first , and sent thence to preach the christian faith in france and flanders ; which when he had done for many yeares with very great labour & profit in that kind , he was at length slayne , togeather with three of his fellows at a place in namures , called silua carbonaria , or colliers-wood : which thing being reueyled to his brother s. vltan , and s. gertrude abbesse of niuell in brabant , his body was ●ought for , and being found out , was on this day afterward solemnly translated to the monastery of fossis , and there is yet preserued with great veneration . he suffered about the yeare of christ , six hundred and threescore . b the fourth day . at durham in the bishopricke , the translation of s. cuthbert bishop and confessour , who first leading a solitary life in the iland of farne ( now called cochet ) became afterward a monke , and then abbot of the monastery of mailros in northumberland , and last of all was promoted to the bishopricke of lindisferne ; the which he resigned after some yeares againe , & became an eremite . whose great holines of life hath byn manifested by the wonderfull miracles wrought by him , both aliue and dead . he desecased in the yeare of christ . his body being afterward on this day taken vp , & foūd altogeather whole and vncorrupt , was with great solēnity trāslated to the cathedrall church of durh●m & there kept with great veneration : whither also many thousandes went on pilgrimage , euen vntill the dayes of king henry the eight . the same day at treuers in the higher germany , the passion of s. marcellus bishop and martyr , who being a noble britan by byrth , and gathering togeather the dispersed christians in our countrey , that were conuerted to christ by s. ioseph of arimathia and his fellowes , in our primitiue british church , did by his preaching and doctrine so mooue king lucius , that he sent forth with to rome to pope eleutherius to treate about his conuersion to christian faith . he afterward went ouer into germany to preach , in like manner , the faith of christ to that people , where , as he was executing the office of a good pastour , he was finally martyred at treuers , about the yeare of our lord , one hundred and fourscore ; & was the first of our british nation , that suffered death for christ , out of the iland of great britany . c the fifth day . at alt-munster in germany , the commemoration of s. altho abbot and confessour , who borne in scotland , and descended of a noble parentage in that kingdome , went ouer into germany , in that primitiue church , and there became abbot of a new monastery , erected by s. boni●ace ( an englishman ) archbishop of mentz , and apostle of that countrey . which monastery was afterward of this mans name , commonly called altho-monastery , and now by continuance of tyme , more abruptly is tearmed alt-munster . he died in great sanctity and holines of life , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and threescore , and was buryed in the same place . d the sixt day . in cumberland the commemoration of s. bega virgin , who descended of a very noble parentage in ireland , and being instructed in the christian faith , came ouer into our iland of great-britany , and there led a most vertuous life in the forsaid prouince of cumberland : where in very great sanctimony of life , and working of miracles , she finally gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse . there hath byn in ancient catholick tymes a goodly church and monastery erected in her honour in cumberland , where her body was wont to be kept with great reuerence and veneration of the inhabitantes of that shire ; which place , in those dayes , was a famous pilgrimage , especially for the people of the northerne partes of england . e the seauenth day . at canterbury the translation of s. dunstan bishop and confessour , who being first abbot of glastenbury , then bishop of vvorcester , and after of london , was last of all created archbishop of canterbury , and primate of england : whose most holy life and miracles , are yet famous throughout the christian world . the diuell appearing to him on a time in the liknesse of a yong & beautifull woman , tempting him to vncleanesse , he tooke vp a paire of pinchers , that then lay by him , and caught the foule beast by the vpper lippe , and so holding him fast , and leading him vp and downe his chamber , after diuers interrogatories , draue him away . he died in great sanctity of life , in the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourscore and eight . his body was on this day taken vp , and with great solemnity , set in a more eminent place of the cathedrall church of canterbury , wherat it hath pleased god to worke many miracles . f the eight day . at lyming in kent the commemoration of blessed ethelburge queene , wife to holy edwyn the first christian king of northumberland , and daughter to k. ethel●ert of kent , who after the martyrdome of her lord and husband , fled out of northumberland , and came backe to her countrey of kent , where forsaking the pompe and vanities of the world , she built herselfe a little monastery at the forsaid towne of lyming , and there receyuing the holy veyle of chastity , was consecrated to god by the handes of s. honorius archbishop of canterbury : where in very great holines of life seruing her heauenly spouse , she became mother to many holy virgins and widdowes , that did imitate her religious purpose and profession . and so continuing in that godly vocation , for many yeares , full of all vertue and sanctimony of life , she finally went to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fourty and seauen . g the ninth day . in scotland the deposition of s. queran abbot and confessour , who descended of a noble family in that kingdome , contemned the vanities of the world , and entring into a monastery , became a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , & afterward abbot of the same ; whose singular life and miracles haue byn manifested aboundantly to the world , both at home and abroad . the same day at barking in essex the depositiō of s. vvulshild virgin & abbesse , daughter to vvulshelme an earle among the vvestsaxons , who being borne after eighteene yeares barrenesse of her mother , was in her very infancy consecrated to god , and cōmitted for her education to the religious virgins in the nunry of vvinchester ; but comming to riper yeares , she built herselfe a monastery at horton , and was by holy k. edgar confirmed abbesse therof , as also of the monastery of barking , which the said king had newly reedined and repayred , being sorely ruined through the incursions of the danes ; from whence being soone after expulled , with all her company , by the ambition of queene alstrude , was after . yeares banishment restored againe by the forsaid queene , she being admonished therto by s. ethelburge sometyme abbesse therof , who had appeared vnto her in a vision , when she lay sicke , complayning of the iniustice of the fact ; and there in very great fanctimony of life , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourscore and fiue , and was buryed at barking : whose body being taken vp thirty yeares after her death , was found , togeather with all her cloathes , as whole and sound , as if she had byn buryed but a few dayes before . a the tenth day . in the territory of ruremond in gelderland the deposition of s. otger deacon and confessour , who being a monke in the north of england where he was borne , and going to rome in company of s. vviro and plechelme , returned thence into the low countreyes , and was most honourably receyued of duke pepin of brabant , who gaue him a certaine territory and place of hab●tation in his dominions , where he might preach and plant the christian faith : which when he had done for many yeares , with great feruour of spirit , to the gayning of many thousand soules in those partes ; in great sanctity and holines of life , he receyued the reward of his labours by reposing in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred thirty and one . a great part of his body remayneth yet in the cathedrall church of ruremond , and is there kept with great veneration of the inhabitants of that diocesse . b the eleuenth day . in ireland the commemoration of s. bather abbot and confessour , scholler to s. columbe the great of that kingdome , who comming into scotland with him to preach the christian ●aith to the pictes , who then inhabited that countrey : and being a most vertuous and innocent man of life , was by him made abbot of a monastery in the same countrey , which he had newly erected . in which office and dignity he so behaued himselfe , especially in the reformation of monasticall discipline , that his name hath synce byn famous throughout the kingdomes of ireland and scotland . he desceased in great sanctity and ho●●nes of life , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred fourscore and eleuen . c the tweluth day . at fulkestone in kent the deposition of s. eansu i de virgin & abbesse daughter to eadbald king of kent , who forsaking all worldly conuersation and delights , obtayned of her father a solitary place in his kingdome to serue her spouse christ , which being graunted her at fulkestone aforsaid , she there built her selfe a little oratory for a tyme , and then gathering togeather many other noble virgins , imbraced a monasticall life , and became abbesse of the rest , her oratory being cōuerted into a nūry ; where in all kind of sanctimony of life and pious conuersation , glorious for miracles , she finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourty . the same day at vvimborne in dorcetshire the commemoration of s. quemburge virgin , sister to inas king of the vvestsaxons , who vnder the gouerment of s. cuthberge her sister and abbesse , receaued the holy veyle of chastity in the monastery aforsaid : where in very great vertue , humility , and other pious excercises , she ended her happy dayes , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred twenty and seauen . d the thirteenth day . at vvester-woort in gelderland , the deposition of s. vverensrid priest & confessour , who being an englishmā by byrth , and descended of an honourable family , became first a monke in the monastery of rippon in yorkeshire , and thence went ouer into the low-countreyes & germany to preach the christian faith , where he conuerted the whole prouince of geldria , and so became their apostle . he died on this day at the forsaid towne of vvester-woort , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and fiue : and was afterward solemnely translated to elst , where his body hath byn kept with great veneration of the inhabitants , for the manifold miracles that haue byn wrought therat , especially in curing the goute . e the fourteenth day . at arpine in the kingdome of naples the commemoration of s. bernard confessour , who being an englishman by birth , and going to ierusalem on pilgrimage ( togeather with s. gerard his companio ) to visit our sauiours sepulcher , in his returne backe fell sicke in italy , where after a short space , in all signes of sanctity and helines of life , he reposed in our lord. his body being obscurely buryed , was many yeares after miraculously reuealed to the archpriest of that place , who with a sollemne procession , brought the same vnto arpine , and placed it very decently in the church , where it is at this day kept with great veneration and honour of the inhabitants , as their chiefe patrone , for the manifold miracles , that euē in these our times are wrought therat , especially in curing of ruptures : wherby the same place is now becōe a famous pilgrimage , for such as are grieued with that infirmity . his life and miracles are recounted more at large in the records of the church of arpine ; of whome also there is a proper prayer with a hymne , or sequentia , wherin briefly is declared the whole story of his life : both which are commonly read in the masse and office of his festiuall day . f the fifteenth day . in the monastery of dormundcaster in northamptonshire two miles from peterburrow , the commemoration of blessed chinneburge queene , daughter to penda king of the mercians , and wife to alfred king of northumberland , who with the consent of her husband ( he also hauing left the world , and retyred himselfe to a monasticall life in the abbey of mailros ) became a religious woman in the forsaid monastery of dormūdcaster , where in all kind of sanctimony of life , and pious conuersation , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and ten . this forsaid monastery being afterward called of her name chinneburgcaster was in the yeare . quite ouerthrowne by the danes ; so as there is little or no memory therof left at this day , in our iland of great-britany . g the sixteenth day . in scotland the deposition of s. ninian bishop and confessour , who descended of a noble british bloud , was ordained bishop of a place called s. martins , amōg the south-pictes in the marches of scotland , whome he conuerted to the christian faith , and became their apostle . he after died in scotland , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and twelue ; whose body being buryed in the forsaid church of s. martin , was there kept with great honour and veneration euen vntill the dayes of k. henry the eight . in whose honour also many goodly churches and altars , haue in former catholicke tymes byn erected and dedicated , in the kingdome of scotland . the same day at vvilton , in the church of s. dionyse , the deposition of s. edith virgin and abbesse , daughter to holy edgar king of england , who despising all worldly and temporall perfermentes became a religious woman in the monastery of vvilton , vnder the care and gouernment of her owne mother vvilsrede , after whose descease , she was made abbesse of the same place : where in all sanctimony of life , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , in the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourscore and foure . there are many goodly churches and monumentes of her name yet to be seene in diuers places of englād : & one particularly at a towne called church-eaton in staffordshire , where there is a little well-spring of water , very soueraigne for many diseases , cōmonly called by the name of s. ediths well . a the seauenteenth day . in south-wales , the passion of the sayntes stephen and socrates martyrs , who being two noble ancient britans by byrth , and conuerted to the faith of christ in our primitiue church , by the preaching of s. amphibale priest and martyr , were in hatred therof , put to death in our iland , in the persecution of dioclesian the emperour , by most exquisite tormentes , togeather with many others for the same cause , about the yeare of christ , three hūdred & foure . there are diuers churches yet remayning in wales that in ancient tymes haue byn dedicated in their honour : among whome also , their memory is yet famous vntill this day , especially in monmouthshire , and the southerne partes adioyning . b the eighteenth day . at berghen in flanders , the translation of s. vvinocke abbot and confessour , who descended of a noble british bloud , and going ouer into the low countreyes to s. bertin abbot of the monastery of sitheù ( now called s. bertins ) in the citty of s. omers , was by him ordayned abbot of an ancient monastery named vvoromholt , called afterward of his name s. vvinockes ; where in all kind of sanctity of life & regular discipline , famous for miracles , he reposed in our lord. his body was afterward on this day translated to the forsaid towne of berghen , by baldwyn earle of flanders , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred ; and there is yet conserued with great veneration of the inhabitants , for the manifold miracles which it hath pleased god to worke therat . c the ninteenth day . at canterbury the deposition of s. theodore archbishop of that sea and confessour , who borne at tharsis in cilicia of a noble parentage , became first a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , and afterward was ordayned archbishop of canterbury , and sent thither from rome by pope vitalianus . he celebrated two prouinciall synods in our iland , the one at hartford , the other at hedtfeld , concerning the reformation of the clergy of england . and when he had in all vertuous and saintlike behauiour gouerned the forsaid sea of canterbury for two and twenty yeares , in most godly wise , he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and nynty , and was buryed at canterbury , with a famous epitaph in heroicall verse : some part wherof yow may read in s. bede , setdowne in the fi●th booke and eight chapter of his history of england . d the twentith day . in scotlād the cōmemoratiō of s. cybthacke priest & cōfessour , who being an irishman by birth , and nephew to s. columbe the great of that nation , despised all worldly preferments , and came ouer into scotland with his said vncle , to preach the christian faith to the pictes who then inhabited part of that kingdome . and at last entring into a monastery , became a monke of s. benedictes venerable order in the iland of hoy vnder the care of the forsaid s. columbe , who had newly founded the same , and was then abbot therof : where famous for sanctity of life and miracles throughout the whole kingdome , there ended his blessed dayes in rest , about yeare of christ , six hundred and foure . e the one & twentith day . in ireland the commemoration of s. edilhun confessour , who being an english-man by byrth , of great learning and vertue , and brother to another edilhun of the same name , then bishop of lindisferne , in the kingdome of the northumbers , went ouer into ireland , to lead a more quiet kind of life , remote from the world ; where after he had passed a few yeares , in very great holines and sanctity , he gaue vp his soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and fiue . he had for companion in this his peregrination into ireland , a noble yong man named egbert , with whome liuing in a monastery there , called in the irish tongue rathmelsig , whilst the plague infected sorely that countrey , he had a vision of his owne departure out of this life , and of the escape of his fellow egbert ; to whome , when he had related the whole , in an quietnes of spirit he gaue vp the ghost . f the two and twentith day . at ●indissa in the kingdome of the northumbers , the commemoration of s. higbald abbot and confessour , whose integrity of life and conuersation hath byn ●amous , in tymes past , throughout the whole iland of great-britany . he was abbot of an ancient monastery in the forsaid kingdome of northumberland , in the tyme of vvulhere king of the mercians ; and ended his happy dayes about the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore & fiue . he went into ●●eland a little before his death to visit the holy abbot egbert , who at that tyme was there very famous for the great opinion of his sanctity and holines of life : with whome he had very many spirituall conferences , and amōg other thinges , discoursing of the death of s. chad bishop of lichfield ( being a little before desceased ) holy egbert related to haue seene his foule carried vp to heauen , by the hands of angells , that descended thence to accompany the same . g the three and twentith day . at kale in france the commemoration of blessed hereswide queene , ne●ce to s. edwyn king of northumberland and martyr , sister to s. hlida , and wife to king ethelwold of the eastangles , who after the death of her lord and husband , forsaking all worldly pleasures , friends , and other prefermentes whatsoeuer , went ouer into france , & there taking a religious habit , receyued therwith the holy veyle of chastity in the forsaid monastery of kale , where in very great humility and sanctimony of life , she spent the rest of her dayes in prayer and contemplation of heauenly things , and finally gaue vp her blessed soule to her heauēly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore and ten . a the foure & twentith day . at eyst in the higher germany , the translation of s. vvinibald abbot and confessour , sonne to s. richard king of the english ; who going ouer into flanders & germany with s. vvillebrord and his fellowes to preach the christiā faith to those people , founded a monastery in the prouince of franconia , called heydelmaine , and became himselfe abbot therof ; which when he had gouerned for ten yeares , in great sanctity & holines of life , ●he happily reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and threescore . his body was afterward on this day , solemnely translated to the forsaid citty of eyst , and there placed in the cathedrall church , togeather with the venerable body of his brother s. willebald , where the same is preserued with great veneration of the inhabitants . b the fiue & twentith day at langres in france the deposition of 〈◊〉 . c●ol●●id con●es●our , and abbot of the ancient monastery of s. peter and s. paul , vpon the riuer banke of vvyre , in the kingdome of the northumbers , now cailed vvyre 〈…〉 , and ma●●●er to our famous s. bede , who going to rome to obtayne priuiledges for his sa●d monastery , died in his iorney homward at langres , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred & seauenteene : and there being most honourably interred in the cathedrall church of that citty , his body is kept vntill this day with great veneration . there is a letter of this holy mans yet extant in s. bedes history , which he wrote to n●ionus king of the pi●●es or redshankes , about the ●●ue obseruation of the feast of easter ; as also for the reformation of his clergy . to whome in like manner saith the story ) he sent cunning carpenters & workemen , to bu●d him a c●urch , after the fashion of those in nor●humberland . c the six and twentith day . at vvestminster by londō the depositiō of s. vvu●●y abbot and con 〈…〉 our , who being a man of great vertue and innocency of life , was by s. dunstan created the first abbot of vvestminster , where in all kind of exemplar good life , full of sanctity and miracles , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred and threescore . his body was buryed in the same monastery , and there was wont to be kept with great veneration of the citizens of lond●n . t●e same day in sco●land the commemoration of s. 〈…〉 us mon●e and conf●ssour , who borne in ireland , and descended of a worthy parentage in that kingdome , came thence into scotland in company of s. co 〈…〉 e the great of that nation , whose d 〈…〉 ple he was , a●d afterward his coadiutour impreaching the christian ●aith to the pictes . after whose co●●ersion , full of sanctity and miracle● , he gaue vp his soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , ●●ue hundred and fourscore . d the seauen & twentith day . at knobhersburge in the prouince of the eastangles , the commemoration of s. sige●ert king of the same prouince and martyr , who inflamed with the loue of god , left the administration of his kingdome to his cosyn egricke , and tooke a religious habit in a monastery which himselfe had newly erected called knobhersburge ; but a little after penda the pagan king of mercia , inuading his dominions , he was by his subiectes drawne , by force , out of his monastery , into the field , where vnarmed , hauing only a little rod in his hand , was slayne , togeather with his cosyn egri●ke , by the forsaid penda , in the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and two , and the seauenteenth of his raigne ; and was afterward declared a martyr . it is recorded by diuers historiograp●ers that he first founded the vniuersity of cambridge in his owne prouince , for the education and instruction of youth in all kind of good learning and liberall sciences . e the eight & twentith day . at fulda in tho higher germany the deposition of s. lioba virgin and abbesse , who being first a religious woman in the monastery of wimborne in dorcetshire , was called thence , togeather with s. te●la , s. agatha and diuers others , into germany , by s. boniface an englishman , and archbishop of mentz , and there made abbesse of a new monastery , which he had erected at a place called biscopssen ; where after she had led a most saintly life , full of miracles , she went at last to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred fifty and seauen , and was buryed at fulda , where her body is yet kept , togeather with the venerable body of s. boniface , with great veneration of that countrey round about . f the nine & twentith day . in scotland the commemoration of s. cogan abbot and confessour , who borne in the same kingdome of a very honourable parentage , became there a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , and after abbot of the whole monastery ; whose name being famous throughout our whole iland of great-bri●any ●or sanctity of life and lear●ning , he gaue vp his soule to rest in our lord , about the yeare of christ . & thr●●score . at whose body it pleased god , in cōfirmatiō of his holines to worke many miracles . in which kingdome also , there haue byn in tymes past many chappell 's and altars dedicated in his honour , but now all vtterly ruined by the v●fortunate change of relig●on in that countrey , to the lamentation of the christian world . g the thirtith day . at canterbury the deposition s. honorius archbishop of the same sea and confessour , who comming from rome into england with s. augustine our apostle , succeeded him afterward in his office , and was the fi●th archbishop o● canterbury . w●ich sea , when he had gouerned in all kind of sanctity and holy example of vertuous life , full of venerable old age , he reposed happily in our lord , in the yeare of christ , six hundred fi●ty and three , and was buryed in the cathedrall church of that citty with his predecessours : where his body was kept , euen vntill our dayes with great honor and veneration , due to so glorious a confessour . the moneth of october . a the first day . at london the deposition of s. roger confessour and bishop of the same s●a , whose admirable vertues , and sanctity of life , wittnesse the miracles that haue byn wrought at his body . he died at stepney a mile from london , in a house belonging to that bishops sea , in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred and fourty : whose body being brought to london , was with all honour and veneration , interred in the cathedrall church of s. paul the apostle , in a faire tombe by the north-wall , a little aboue the quire , with this epithaph , which is there yet remayning to be read . ecclesiae quondam praesul praesentis , in anno m. bis c. quater x. iacet his rogerus humatus . huius erat manibus domino locus iste dicatus . christe suis precibu● veniam des , tolle reatus . the people of parma in italy haue chosen him for one of the chiefe patrons of their citty , by reason of a meruaylous victory they obtayned against fredericke the empeperour , by the prayers of s. roger , whose body at that tyme shined with miracles in england . the same day at oostkerke in flanders the translation of s. guthagon confessour , sonne to the king of scotland , who taking vpon him a voluntary pouerty , for the loue of god , went ouer into flanders , and there became a pilgrime or eremite ; where in great sanctity of life he finally reposed in our lord. nicolas bishop of tornay , on this day , caused his body to be reuerently eleuated , and placed more decently in the forsaid church of oostkerke , in the yeare of christ , one thousand foure hundred fourty and foure , where the same is yet preserued with great veneration : whose feast in like manner in there on this day celebrated with great solemnity by the inhabitantes round about . moreouer the same day at condy in he 〈…〉 lt , the deposition of s. vvas 〈…〉 lph confessour , who des●ended o● a nob●e bloud in the kingdome of ireland , and brother to s. etto of that na●●on , did , for the loue of christ , fo●sa●e his countrey and friend● , and went ouer into france , to lead a solitary and strict kind of life , where in great sanctity and holines , famous for miracles , ●e ended his bl●ssed da●es , in the prouince o● hen 〈…〉 , whose body being yet preserued at the 〈◊〉 towne of cordy , is there honoured with great veneration of the inhabitants . b the second day . at hereford t●e translation of s. t●omas bishop and con●essour , who being first chancelour of the vniuer●●ty of ox●ord , & thē of the whole realme of ●nglād , was finally ord●●ned bishop o● hereford ; which sea , whē he had gouerned mo●●l●●dably for many yeares , he tooke his ●orney to rome , to pope mar ▪ in the second , and died in his way homward at m●te-●●s●o●e in the dukedome of florence , in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fourscore and seauē : whose sacred reliques being brought into england , were with great veneration , on this day placed in the cathedrall church of hereford . his miracles are registred in the same church to the number of foure hundred twenty & fiue : amōg which , it is recorded , that by his prayers were raised from death to life threscore seuerall persons , one and twenty leapers healed , and three and twenty blynd and dumme men to haue receyued their sight & speach . c the third day . in vvestphalia the passion of the saintes ●waldi , brethren and martyrs , commonly called al●us and niger , who being priests and monkes of the monastery of rippon in yorkeshire , went ouer into ireland , where liuing for diuers yeares in great austerity of life , at last returned , and went into friz●land to preach the christian faith to that nation , which they did for a long tyme , with great labour and profit , till comming into vvestphalia , they were slayne by the old pagan saxone , for the confession of christ , about the yeare of our lord , six hundred fourscore and si●teene . their bod●es were afterward miraculously found in the riuer of rhene , & most honourably layd in the church of s. cunibert at cullen , by duke pepin of france , about the yeare of christ . and there are kept with great veneration of the cittizens of that place . d the fourth day . in northumberland the passion of s. eduyn king and martyr , who being the first christian prince of that prouince , and conuerted to the faith of christ by the preaching of s. paulinus bishop of yorke , was afterward slayne in hatred therof , by the impious cadwalline king of the britans , & penda king of the mercians , in the yeare of christ , six hundred thirty and foure , and in the seauenteenth of his raigne . there was an ancient fayre church somtyme crected and dedicated in his honour in the citty of london , by new-gate market , which there remayned vntill it was dissolued in this last age by king henry the eight , togeather with many other like goodly monuments of catholicke piety in our kingdome . e the fifth day . in scotland the commemoration of s. conwalline abbot and confessour , whose rare vertues and learning haue in tymes past byn famous , not only throughout his owne countrey , but in others also . he was first a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , and then made abbot of an ancient monastery in the iland of iona belonging to scotland , where in great sanctity of life and other vertues , especially in the reformation of monasticall discipline , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and threefcore . f the sixt day . in northūberland the festiuity of s. ywy deacon and confessour , scholler and disciple to s. cuthbert of durham , whose great holines of life , hath in ancient catholicke tymes byn famous in our iland , especially among the northumbers . he died , as may be gathered out of antiquity , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and foure . the same day in scotland the commemoration of s. comine abbot and confessour , who descended of a noble bloud in the same kingdome , and disciple to s. columbe the great , in a monastery in the iland of hoy , was for his great learning and vertue , made abbot , by him , of another monastery in the same prouince ; whose godly life and miracles , haue in former tymes byn famous , both at home & abroad . he died about the yeare of christ . g the seauenth day . at chich in essex the passion of s. † osith queene and martyr , daughter to the king of the eastangles , and wife to suthred the last king of the eastsaxons , who with the consent to her husband , fo●●ooke the world , and receyued the holy veyle of chastity in the monastery of alisbury ; but afterward building another of her owne , in a village called chich , in the prouince or the eastsaxons , and gathering togeather many noble virgins , became herselfe abbesse therof , vntill the danes inuading that kingdome ; and comming vnto her said monastery , cut of her head in hatred of christian religion . the which she taking vp from the ground , carried three surlōges , ●o a church of s. peter & s. paul , where coming to the church dore imbrewed in her owne innocent bloud , she fell downe , and so ended the course of her martyrdome , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and seauenty . in the place also where she was beheaded there presently sprong vp a miraculous fountayne of water , very soueraigne for many diseases , which euen vntill this day is greatly esteemed by the inhabitantes neere about . her body was first buryed at alisbury in buckinghamshire ; but afterward , by a voyce from heauen it was commaunded to be translated to the forsaid monastery of chich , now commonly called s. osiths of her name , situated not far from the sea side , wherat it pleased god to worke many miracles , the same day at lincolne the translation of s. hugh confessour and bishop of the same sea ; whose body after fourscore yeares that it had byn buryed , was on this day taken vp , and being found altogeather vncorrupt , with a great quantity of cleere and sweet oyle in the tombe where it lay , was put into a costly shrine of siluer , guilt and richly adorned with precious stones , and set in a more eminent place of the same church or minster at lincolne , in the raigne of king edward the first , and yeare of christ . where it hath euer synce byn kept vntill these our later dayes , with great reuerence and veneration , for the miracles that haue byn wrought therat . a the eight day . at vvalciodore in the territory of liege the translation of s. eloquius priest and confessour , who borne in ireland of a noble parētage , & cōming into england , went thēce into the low-countreys with s. etto , & his fellowes to preach the christian faith ; where after much fruite reapt in gayning of soules to god , in great sanctity of life and working of miracles , finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and one . his body was afterward on this day translated to the monastery of vvalciodore aforsaid , where the same is kept with great veneration of the inhabitants . the same day in brecknockshire of vvales the deposition or s. keyna virgin , daughter to braghan king of brecknocke , and great aunt to s. dauid bish. of meneuia , who being in her infancy consecrated to god , left her countrey and came ouer the riuer of seuerne into england , and there liued a most austere life in a solitary wood full of serpents , into which no man durst enter for feare of death : but by her prayers they were all turned into stones , still retayning the shape of serpēts . and after that she had liued many yeares therin , without humane assisiance , she returned againe to her friends and countrey , and built herselfe a little cottage vpon a hill , where in continuall prayer and abstinence , clad in hayrcloth she serued her lord & sauiour vntill her dying day . and being ready to depart out of this world , an angell came downe from heauen , and put vpon her a white garment wrought with gould , bidding her to be in readinesse to enter into the kingdome of her celestiall spouse . she departed to our lord vpon this day , about the yeare of christ , foure hundred and nynty , and was buryed in the same prouince , where her memory hath byn famous euen vntill our dayes . she is called in the british tongue keyn-vayre , that is to say , keyne the virgin . b the ninth day . at lincolne the deposition of bl. robert surnamed grossa-testa , confessour and bishop of the same sea , whose great sanctity of life and vertues , ioyned with learning , especially in the hebrew , greeke , and latyn tongues , hath byn very famous in the church of christ. among other workes , he translated the testamentes of the twelue patriarkes out of greeke into latin , as also wrote very learned cōmentaryes vpon the psalter , yet extant to be seene in wrytten hand in diuers libraryes of europe . he was borne in suffolke , and in his youth trauayled into france , where applying his studyes , he attayned to great knowledge in philosophy and diuinity , and at his returne backe was promoted first to the arch deaconry of licester , and afterward to the bishopricke of lincolne , which when he had gouerned most laudably for eighteene yeares , he reposed happily in our lord , in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred fifty and three . his body was most solemnly interred in a goodly marble tombe in the south i le of his owne cathedrall church of lincolne , and there was wont to be kept with great reuerence and veneration , euen vntill the dayes of king henry the eight . the same day in the county of hennalt in the diocesse of cambray , the festiuity of s. gislen confessour , who being an irishman by birth , went to athens in greece , where he became first a monke of the order of s. s. basil , and thence returning by rome , came backe into the lower-germany , and there built himselfe an oratory in a village three myles distant from montz in hennalt , teaching and instructing the people of those partes in the christian faith with great fruite and feruour of spirit vntill his dying day , which happened about the yeare of christ , six hundred & fourty . his body is kept in a monastery of his owne name in the forsaid territory of hennalt , cōmōly called s. gislens , where it is honoured vntill this day with great veneration of the inhabitants round about . c the tenth day . at rochester in kent the deposition of s. pauline bishop and confessour , who comming into england with s. augustine and his fellowes , conuerted the kingdome of the northumbers , togeather with edwyn king of that prouince , and so became their apostle . he was ordayned the first archbishop of yorke ; but being thence expulsed after king edwyns death , he came backe againe into kent , and there gouerned the sea of rochester , being then voyd : where in great sanctity of life , he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare christ , six hundred fourty and fiue . his body was with all solemnity buryed in the cathedrall church of s. andrew in rochester , and there kept with great veneration . the same day at birlington in yorkeshire the deposition of s. iohn confessour , prior of the monastery of chanons-regular , whose godly life , full of sanctity , hath byn manifested sufficiently by the miracles he wrought both aliue and dead . he desceased in the yeare of christ , one thousand three hundred threescore and nynteene , and was buryed at birlington . d the eleuenth day . at barking in fssex , the deposition of s. edilburge abbesse , sister to s. erconwald bishop of lodon , who by him was cōstituted gouernesse of a new monastery that himselfe had built , by the forsaid towne of barking vpon the riuer of thames , where in all kind of sanctimony of life and monasticall discipline , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , in the yeare of christ , six hundred threefore and sixteene the same day in scotland the deposition of s. canicke abbot & cōfessour , whose godly life and miracles , haue byn famous throughout the christian world , but especially in scotland , where he was borne , liued , and died about the yeare of christ , eight hundred . e the tweluth day . at rippon in yorkeshire the deposition of s. vvil 〈…〉 ride confessour and archbishop of yorke , who being twice expulsed his bishopricke by egfrid king of the northumbers , went and preached to the southsaxons , where he conuerted the i le of vvight , and first planted the christian faith in that place . and when he had thus laboured for many yeares in his banishment to the gayning of infinite soules to god , being at last restored to his bishopricke , in all sanctity or life and miracles , he finally rested in our lord , vpon the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and eleuen ; and was buryed in s peters church at rippon aforsaid , which himselfe had built , on the south side of the high altar , ouer whose tombe was engrauen this ancient epitaph following . vvilfridus hic magnus requiescit corpore praesul , hanc domino qut aulam , du 〈…〉 us pieta●i amore fecit , & exi 〈…〉 o sacrauit nomine petri , c 〈…〉 laues cali christus dedit arbiter orbis , atque auro ac tyrio deuotus vestijt ostro . quin etiam sublime crucis radiante metallo , hic posuit tropheüm , nec non & quattuor auro scribi euangel 〈…〉 praerepit in ordine libros , ac thecam è ru●ilo his con 〈…〉 ignam condidit auro . paschalis qui etiam solem 〈…〉 a tempora cursus , catholci adiustum correxit dogma canonis , quem statuere paires , dubioque errore remoto , certa suae ge 〈…〉 i ostendit moderam 〈…〉 na ritus . inque loc 〈…〉 stis monachorum examina crebra colligit , ac monitis cauit quae regula patrum sedulus in 〈…〉 it , 〈…〉 sue do 〈…〉 ue forisue iactatus 〈…〉 mium per tempor a longa periclis . qu 〈…〉 decies ternos postquam egit episcopus annos , transijt , & gaudens caelestia regna petiuit : dona iesv , vt grex pastoris calle sequatur . f the thirteenth day . at vvestminster by london the translation of s. edward king and confessour , whose body in the nynth yeare of king henry the second , was by s. thomas of canterbury taken vp , and put into a costly shryne of siluer , guilt with gold , made by k. vvilliam the conquerour , and placed in the great church of vvestminster . in which also , euen vntill our dayes , was wont to be kept a ring of gold , with great veneration , which s. edward himselfe had somtyme giuen to s. iohn euangelist , asking him an aimes in the habit of a poore man , and was afterward brought vnto the said king from hierusalem , by a certaine pilgrime , as sent vnto him for a token by s. iohn . this day was afterward commaunded to be kept holyday throughout england , as is yet to be seene , aswell by a councell celebrated at oxford in the yeare of christ . as also by the letters of pope innocentius the . registred in the roman vaticane . the same day at vienna in austria the deposition of s. colman , martyr and somtyme bishop of lindisserne in the kingdome of the northumbers , who being borne in ireland of a noble scottish bloud , after he had preached incessantly to the english saxons , and among others conuerted penda the pagan king of mercia to the faith of christ , went ouer unto the higher germanr to instruct that nation also , where comming at 〈…〉 all into austria , was for defence therof , slayne by the barbarous people of that prouince , about the yeare of christ . his body was brought to vienna , and is there yet preserued with great veneration of that citty . g the fourteenth day . at vvirtzburgh in franconia , the translation of s. burchard confessour and bishop of the same sea , who being an englishman by birth , & brother to s. swithin bishop of vvinchester , went ouer into france and thence into germany to s. boniface , with whome he wēt to rome , & was there ordayned bishop of vvirtzburgh by pope zacharias , and sent backe to his sea. and after that he had laboured incessantly for fourty yeares togeather in christes vineyard , teaching & preaching the christian faith , full of sanctity and miracles , he gaue vp his soule to rest , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred fourscore and eleuen . his body was afterward on this day translated to the monas●ery of s. andrew in that citty , by hugh b●shop of vvirtzburgh , and there ▪ is kept with great veneration . a the fifteenth day . at vvorcester the translation of s. oswald bishop & confessour , nephew to s. odo archbishop of canterbury , who being first a chanon of vvinchester , was thence promoted to the bishopricke of vvorcester and lastly to yorke : whose godly l●●e and miracles are yet famous through the christian world . he died in the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourscore and twelue ; and was afterward on this day translated to vvorcester , whose feast was wont to be kept with great celebrity in catholicke tyme , as well in that church , as throughout the rest of england besides . the same day also at ochnofort in the higher germany , the depositiō of s. tecla virgin and abbesse , who being an englishwom●n by byrth , & sent for out of vvimborne ▪ monastery in dorcetshire into germany by s. bonijace b●shop of mentz , togeather with s. ●ioba and s. agatha , was there made abbesse of a nunry called ochnofort , which the said s. boniface had newly erected , where in great sanctimony & holines of life she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and fifty . b the six●eenth day . at mentz in the higher germany the depo 〈…〉 tion of s. lullus con●essour , and archbishop of that sea , who descended of a noble parentage in england , & hearing of the fame of s. boni●ace his countreyman , went ouer vnto him into germany , of whome he was first made priest , and then suffragan vnder him in the same sea whilst he liued , and his successour after his death . which when he had gouerned for two and thirty yeares , full of sanctity of life , he happily reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred fourscore and eight . the same day at arb●n also in germany the deposition of s. gallus abbotond confessour , whose life and doctrine haue in tymes past byn very famous in many places throughout europe . he was borne in ireland of a noble parentage , and disciple to s. columbane the great of that nation ; and died in germany about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourty , and was buryed at arbon aforsaid . c the seauenteenth day . at vvye in kent the passiō of the saintes ethelbrit and ethelred brothers and martyrs , who being nephewes to eadbald king of kent , were slayne in hatred of christian religion , about the yeare of christ . whose bodyes being cast into an obscure place , a miraculous light from heauen was seene to shine ouer them , and to detect the indecency of their buriall . wherfore being therby found out , they were brought to the monastery of vvye with great solemnity , wherat many miracles were forth with wrought . and in the raigne of king edgar of england , s. oswald ▪ bishop of vvorcester caused them to be remooued to ramsey , where also in signe of their innocency , it pleased god in like manner to worke many miracles . there was a goodly church erected in kent , and dedicated in their honour , by s. ermenburge queene of the mercians , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and nyneteene . the same day at ely in cambridgshire the translation of the venerable body of s. † ediltrude virgin and abbesse , daughter to annas king of the eastangles , and wife to egfrid king of the northumbers , who liuing with her husband twelue yeares in perpetuall virginity , with his consent became a religious woman , and receyued the holy veyle of chastity in the monastery of coldingham , vnder s. ebba her aunt , and afterward was made abbesse of the nunry of ely ; where in all sanctimony of life she went to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred & fourscore , & was buryed in the same monastery . but her fame increasing by the miracles wrought at her body , the same was taken vp sixteene yeares after her death by her owne sister s. sexburge then abbesse of that place , and being found fresh and wholy vncorrupt , was translated to a goodly church newly erected there in her honour , where it was wont to be kept , euen vntill our dayes , with great veneration . d the eighteenth day . at nassoin in the territory of liege in the lower germany , the passion of s. mono eremite and martyr , who descended of a noble parentage in scotland , forsooke the world , and went ouer into flanders and germany , and there became an eremite in the forest of arden , leading a most strict and seuere kind of life for many yeares togeather , where being finally slayne by certaine p●gan theeues in hatred of his religion , he happily attayned to the palme o● martyrdome , his body is buryed in the forsaid village of nassoin belonging to the abbey of s. huvert , in a church which himselfe had there somtyme bu●lt , and is kept with great veneration o● the inhabitants of that place . e the ninteenth day . at oxford the depositiō of s. frideswide virgin and abbesse , daughter to didan duke of oxford , who being so●licited by one algarus a noble yong man to yield vnto his ●ust , escaped miraculously his violence , he being on the suddaine stroken blynd by gods iustice for offering the same . she was afterward made abbesse of a monastery erected by her father in the same citty : which monastery in the tyme of king henry the first was conuerted to a priory of chanous regular , and so continued vntill king henry the . when as cardinall vvolsey obtayned the same of the pope , towards the founding of christs-colledge , which is now built in the same place . she died in all sanctimony and holines of life , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred thirty and nyne . there is an ancient chappell yet to be scene dedicated in her honour , in a village of artoys ca●led bomy , some foure leagues di●tant from the citty or s. omers , where her festiuity is kept with due veneration of the inhabitants . the same day at maestricht in brabant the translation of s. vvillebrord , the first bishop of that sea and con●essour , who being borne in yorkeshire , went ouer into the low countreyes with a dozen other companions , all holy men , and conuerted the greatest part of those prouinces to the christian faith , and so became their chiefe apostle . he died in all sanctity and holines of life , about the yeare of christ . and was afterward on this day translated to maestrcht , and there is kept with great honour and veneration , as principall patron o● that diocesse , where also his feast is celebrated with an office of nyne lessons . also the same day in ireland the deposition of s. ethbyn abbot and confessour , whose godly life and miracles haue in tymes past byn famous through the countreys round about . he died about the yeare of christ , six hundred and ten . f the twentith day . at toleys in † france the deposition of s. vvendelyn abbot & con●e●sour , sonne to the king of scotland , who forsaking all temporall preferments , and his owne inheritance to that crowne and kingdome , went ouer into france , and there became a religious man and afterward abbot of the monastery of toleys , where famous for sanctity of life and miracles , he reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred & twenty , and there lieth solemnly intombed . ouer whose body is also built a goodly chappell , which for the cōcourse of people , that come thither on deuotion to visit the same , and the miracles that are dayly wrought therat , the towne is now cōmonly called by the name of s. vvendelyns . g the one and twentith day . at cullen in the higher germany the passion of s. vrsula virgin and martyr , daughter to dionocus king of cornwall , who togeather with an eleuen thousand other british virgins ( as ancient authors do recount ) being shipped at london , to passe ouer into france , to be maried there to two legions of british souldiers , vnto whome maximus , that was by them chosen emperour , had giuen the countrey of armorica ; were by a contrary wynd driuen downe to the mouth of the riuer o● rhene , and there , neere vnto cullen , were all slayne by the barbarous hunnes and pictes , in defence of their virginity , about the yeare of christ , three hundred fourscore and three . most of their bodyes were brought to cullen , and there interred with great honour and veneration , and their memoryes celebrated vpon this day , throughout the christian world . there was afterward a goodly church built in cullen in their honour , called the church of the holy virgins ; which alwayes hath byn had in such reuerence among the inhabitants , that they neuer buried any other body there . neyther will the ground or earth of that church receyue any other body , no , not the corpes of yong infants newly baptized , but , as if were , vomiting them vp againe in the night , they will be cast aboue ground , as hath oftentymes byn tried . a the two and twentith day . at roane in france , the deposition of s. mellon bishop and con ●●●ou● , who being a noble britan by byrth , and sent to rome in the tyme of valerian the emperour to pay tribute for the kingdome of britany , was by pope stephen , instructed in the christian faith and baptized , and after created the first bishop of roane , and sent into france to his bishopricke : where in all kind of sanctity o● life & miracles , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , two hundred and fourscore . his body is kept vntill this day at roane in the cathedrall church of that citty , neere to the body of s. nicasius with great honour & veneration of the inhabitants . the same day at cullen the passion of s. cordula virgin and martyr , one of the eleuen thousand that suffered with s. vrsula , who being terrified the first day with the slaughter of her companions hid herselfe : but on the morrow repenting her therof , & discouering herselfe to the hunnes ; was finally also crowned with martyrdome , about the yeare of christ . aller●us magnus caused her body to be brought to cullen , where the same is kept with great honour . also the same day at fesuli in tuscane , the deposition of s. donatus bishop and confessour , who borne in scotland and descended of an honourable family , was created bishop of f●s●li ; where famous for sanctity o●●●fe and miracles in a good old age , he happily rep●sed in our lord. his feast is kept at fes●li a orsaid on this day , with great solemnity and deuotion of the inhabitants . b the three and twentith day . at the monastery of brige neere paris in france the commemoration of s. syra virgin , daughter to k. eugenius the fourth of sco●land , who reiecting all worldly pōpe & preferments , in her tender yeares , went ouer into france , with her brother s. ●i●ker , where the receyuing the holy veyle of cnastity , became a religious woman in the forsaid monastery of brige , vnder s. phara abbesse therof : where excelling in all kind of sanctimony of life , and godly conuersation , especially in the vertue of humility , she gaue vp her pure soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and thirty , and was buryed in the same place . c the foure & twentith day . at paris in france the festiuity of s. maglore bishop and confessour , who being a noble britan by birth , and kinsman to s. sampson , succeeded him afterward in his bishopricke of dole in little britany , and last of all became an ermite in france , where leading a strict and austere kind of life , famous for miracles , he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , . his body is kept with great veneration at paris in a monastery there of his owne name , commonly called s. maglors , wherat it hath pleased god in signe of his sanctity to worke many miracles . the same day in france also , the commemoration of s. maxentia virgin and martyr , who being daughter to one marcolane a noble man of scotland , and promised in matrimony to one of like dignity that was a pagan , she contēning the same , fled secretly into france with two of her trustiest seruāts , and there lay disguised for a tyme in a village called beauuaise , liuing in continuall prayer and contemplation , vntill being pursued by her pretended husband , was at last found out and descried . and when by no meanes she could be induced to yield vnto his mariage , he turning loue into fury , presently stroke of her head with his owne hands , as also the heads of her two seruants barbantius and rosebea . the innocency of whose cause was presently manifested by a miracle , which was , that she taking vp her owne head from the ground , carried it to the place where it now remayneth , where afterward was a goodly church ●rected in her honour , and god glorified therin by many miracles . whose sacred body charles then king 〈◊〉 france is said to haue greatly reuerenced , & adorned with sundry royall giftes . d the fiue & twentith day at the towne of ceprano in the kingdome of naples , the commemoration of s. ardwyne priest and confessour , who borne in england of very worshipfull parentes , and going to hierusalem to visit the holy sepulcher of our sauiour , in his returne backe from thence , came into italy , where at that tyme the plague sorely infecting the kingdome of naples , in great sanctity of life , he there gaue vp his blessed soule to rest . his body was with all solēnity interred in the forsaid towne of ceprano , where vntill this day it is kept with great honour and veneration of the inhabitants , for the dayly miracles it pleaseth god to worke therat , in testimony of his holinesse , and increase of the peoples deuotion to that place . e the six and twentith day . at lindisserne in the kingdome of the nor humbers , the deposition of s. eatta co●●ssour and bishop of that sea , who being first a monke and then abbot of the monastery of mailros in the same prouince , wa● afterward ordayned bishop of lindisfarne ( now translated to durham ) and predecessour to s. cuthbert ; which when he had gouerned in all kind of vertue and sanctity of life for fiue yeares or therabout , he was remoued to the church of hagustald , resigning the sea of lindisserne to s. cuthbert , and within a while after in great holines , famous for miracles , he departed to our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore and six . the same day in lorayne , the deposition of s. albuine bishop and confessour , who being an irishman by birth , and mōke of a monastery in the iland of hoy , ne●re sco●land , went ouer into germany to preach the christian faith , where he conuerted the whole dukedome of lorayne , and became the apostle of that prouince . he was afterward made bishop there of a place called frislarium in the towne of ●urbach ; where teaching and preaching continually to his flocke , in great sanctity of life & miracles , he finally ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and fifty . f the seauen & twentith day . at mechlyn in brabant the translation of s. romwald bishop and martyr , sonne to the king of † ireland , who being ordayned archbishop of dublyn in the same kingdome , went to rome for deuotion , and thence backe into the lower germany , where in the territory of mechlyn , vnder count ade of flanders , he first planted the christian faith , and became the apostle of that prouince . he was afterward slayne in hatred of christ , by two soldiours , in the same territory , in the yeare , seauen hundred threescore and fifteene . whose venera 〈…〉 body was afterward on this day translated to mechlyn with great solemnity and ven●tion , & put into a goodly shrine of siluer very richly set with precious stones , and other ornaments , wherat it hath pleased god to worke many miracles . he was canonized for a saint by pope alexander the fourth . g the eight & twentith day . in persia the passiō of the glorious apostle s. symon , surnamed zelotes , who according to diuers ancient wryters , among other his peregrinations , came into our iland of britany , about the yeare of christ , fourty and six , and there preached the christian faith , baptized , ordayned priests and deacons , er●cted c●urches and the like , wherby we may worthily call him our apostle , and with greater so emnity celebrate his fea●● , by whome we receyued so singular grace● and benefitts . he afterward went into persia with s. i●de to preach the christian faith to the inf●dels of that countrey , where at last he receyued the reward of his labour by martyrdome , being nayled to a crosse : though dorotheus wryteth , that he 〈…〉 ed , and was buryed in britany . the same day at vvinchester in hāpshire the deposition of b●●ssed alfred king of the vvestsixons and confessour , who after many glor●ous and victorious battayles achieued against the ●agā danes that infested his realme ; in great sanctity and holines of life he ended his blessed dayes , in the yeare of christ , eight hundred fourscore and nynteene , and lieth buried at vvinchester . he founded diuers goodly monasteryes , as t●●t of shaftesbury , of vvinchester , of ethelingsey , besides the famous vniuersity of oxford . a the nine & twentith day . at canterbury the deposition of s. eadsine bishop and confessour , who being chaplyn to king harold , was first preferred to the bishopricke o● vvinchester , and thence to canterbury , whose innocency of life and other vertues haue byn famous in our iland vntill these our dayes . he spent the greatest part of his time in continuall prayer & meditation of heauenly things . and when he had gouerned the flocke committed vnto his charge for twelue yeares , in a venerable old age he gaue vp his soule to rest , in the yeare of christ , one thousand and fifty : and was honourably interred in his owne cathedrall church of canterbury , where his body was wont to be kept with great veneration , for the miracles that haue byn wrought therat . the same day in scotland the commemoration of s. motifer monke and confessour , who borne in ireland and disciple to s. columbe the great , came with him ouer into scotland , & was his coadiutor there in preaching the christian saith to the pictes , who in those dayes inhabited that kingdome , where famous for sanctity of life , he made a holy end , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and fourscore . b the thirtith day . at cāterbury the depositiō of s. egelnoth , surnamed the good , confessour and anchbishop of the same sea , sonne to earle agehmare , and sometimes deane of christs church in canterbury , whose great holines of life togeather with his learning and vertues haue byn famous throughout christēdome , but especially in our iland of great britany . he died on this day , about the yeare of christ , one thousand and fourty , hauing byn bishop seauenteene yeares , & was solemnly interred in his owne church at canterbury , in the raigne of king hareld of england . it is recorded that he going to rome to fetch his archiepiscopall pall , brought thence with him an arme of s. augustine the doctor , and bestowed it vpon the abbey of couōtry in vvarwickshire , where the same was kept with great reuerence , vntill the tyme of king henry the eight , and decay of that monastery . c the one & thirtith day . in hennalt the passion of s. foillan bishop and martyr , sonne to philtan king of ireland , who-being first a monke , and then abbot of a monastery called knobhersburge ; in the kingdome of the eastangles , went to rome , and being there ordayned bishop by pope martyn the first , was sent backe into frace & flanders to preach the christiā faith , whereat last as he was exercising of his pastorall function , he was slayne , togeather with three other companions , in the territory of hennalt , in the diocesse of namures : whose death being reueyled to his brother s. vltan and s. gertrude abbesse of niuelle , his body was presently sought out , and being found , was with all solemnity brought to the monastery of fossis , and there is yet conserued with great veneration of the inhabitants . he suffered about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourty . the moneth of november . a the first day . at fulda in the higher germany the translation of s. boniface archbishop of mentz and martyr , who borne in the citty of london , and going into germany to preach the christian faith , went thence to rome , and was there by pope gregory the second ordayned the first bishop of mentz , and sent backe to his bishopricke ; where teaching and preaching the faith of christ to the germans , he conuerted the greatest part of that countrey , & became their apostle . he was finally martyred in frizeland , at a towne called dockum , with fifty other companions , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred firty & foure . his body was afterward of this day translated to the monastery of fulda , which himselfe had founded , where the same is kept with great honour and veneration , for the miracles that haue byn wrought therat . the same day in the monastery of hampole neere doncaster in yorkeshire , the cōmemoration of blessed richard confessour & ermite , whose singular spirit of piety & deuotion , is left written , and manifest to the world by his owne workes yet extant . he was first a doctor , and then leauing the world became an eremite , and led a solitary life neere to the forsaid monastery of hampole : to which place he was wont often to repayre , to sing psalmes and hymnes in honour of god , as himselfe testifieth in his workes . and after many spirituall bookes and treatises by him wrytten , full of great sanctity of life and venerable old age , he finally rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , one thousand three hundred fourty and nyne : and was buryed at hampole . e the second day . at lens in the prouince of artoys , the 〈…〉 iuity of s. vulganius bishop and confessour , who borne in ireland , and going thence with the saintes foillan , obodius , and others of that nation , into the lower german● , began there to preach the christian saith , and was at last consecrated bishop . where after infinite labours and trauayles taken for the loue of christ , in propagating his name and faith among the infidells of those partes in all 〈…〉 ctity and holines of life , he ended his blessed dayes about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and foure . his body is yet kept with great honour and veneration at the forsaid towne of lens , in the monastery there of the chanons-regular , where his feast is yearly celebrated on this day with great solemnity and deuotion of the inhabitantes of that place . f the third day . in north-wales the deposition of s. vvenefride virgin and martyr , daughter to a noble britan of those partes , called trebuith , whose head being cut of by cradocus sonne to alane king of north-wales , for not consenting to his vnlawfull iust , was by her maister s. beno set on againe , she liuing fifteene yeares a ter , to the admiration of the whole world for so famous a miracle . in the place where she was beheaded , presently sprang vp a miraculous fountayne , very soueraigne for the curing of many diseases : which vntill this day is a great pilgrimage and place of deuotion for all catholickes of england , commonly called s. vvenefrides well . her body was afterward translated to shrewsbury , about the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred thirty and eight . this festiuity of hers was wont to be celebrated in our catholicke church of england with an office of nyne lessons , according to the vse of sarum , and in many places kept holiday . the same day at vvilton in wi●●shire the translation of s. edith virgin , daughter to holy edgar king and monarch of england , who after the death of her mother vvilfred , was ordayned abbesse of the monastery of vvilton aforsaid : where in all sanctimony and holines of life , she gaue vp her soule to rest , and was buryed there in the church of s. dionyse , which herselfe had somtyme built , about the yeare of christ . whose body was afterward on this day taken vp , and translated to a more eminent place of the same church , wherat it is recorded many miracles to haue byn wrought this woman is commonly called by the name of s. edith the yonger . g the fourth day . in france the passion of s. cl●re priest and martyr , who descended o● a worthy british stocke , and borne in the citty of rochester in kent , his worldly friends would haue had him to marry a wife against his will , for which he forsaking both coūtrey & friēds , went ouer into normandy , where he taking holy orders , was made priest : and afterward going thence into france , for that he refused to yield to the lust of a noble womā of that coūtrey , was slayne by her procurement in defence of his charity , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and six . his body was buryed there in a village called volcassine , wherat it pleased god in signe of his innocency to worke many miracles . a the fifth day . at clar●uallis in the territory of lāgres in france , the festiuity of s. malachy bishop & cō 〈…〉 our , who being first a monke o● 〈…〉 hor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & then abbot , was after or 〈…〉 ned bishop or 〈…〉 rthen ●n the same 〈◊〉 , 〈…〉 & pr 〈…〉 ate o● ireland ▪ 〈…〉 e 〈◊〉 and di●d in the tyme of s. bernard , ●bout the care of ch 〈…〉 , on● thousand one hūd 〈…〉 〈◊〉 & eight ; who wrote vnto him diuers learned 〈◊〉 s , as also his whole life , yet extant among s. bernards workes . he desceas●d the second day o● this moneth in the forsaid monastery of clareuallis , though his 〈…〉 iuity be cōmonly celebrated on this day , because on the other is kept the commemoration of all-soules , especially among the monkes of the venerable order of cisterce . b the sixt day . in the monastery of vvoromholt by berg●en 〈◊〉 flanders the depositio o● s. vvinocke abbot and confessour , who d●sc●nded or a most noble & royall bloud in britany , went ouer into the lovver germany to s. ber 〈…〉 , who then liued there in great fame for his holynes , and was by him ordayned abbot of a monastery erected in flanders , called woromhol : where full of wonderfull holines & sanctity of life , togeather with working of many miracles , he reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and sixteene . his body was afterward translated to berghen a orsaid , where the same is preserued , euen vntill these our dayes with great veneration of the countrey round about : in whose honour the said towne is now also commonly called of him by the name of vvinockes-berghen . c the seauenth day . at epternake in the higher germany the depositiō of s. vvillebrord bishop & cōfessour , who being a mōke of rippon in yorkeshire , was sent out of england by the holy abbot egbert , with a dozen other companions to preach the christian faith in the low-countreys and germany ; and going thence to rome , was by pope sergius consecrated archbishop of maestricht in brabant , and sent backe to that sea. where after the conuersion of many thousand soules to the true worship of one god , he there ended his blessed dayes , in a monastery at the forsaid place of epternake , in the diocesse of treuers , which himselfe had built , in the yeare of christ , scauen hundred thirty and six . the same day at strasburge in the higher germany also , the deposition of s. florentius bishop and confessour , who being borne in scotland of an honourable parentage , went ouer into germany , in the tyme of king dagobert of france , whose daughter being dumbe and blind from her natiuity , he by his prayers restored both to speach and sight . and after going into the prouince of alsatia , was ordayned bishop of strasburge : where in all holines of life , attending diligētly to his charge , he gaue vp his soul to rest , about the yeare of christ , six hūdred threescore and fifteene , and was buried there in a monastery neere to the riuer of brusch , which himselfe had founded a little before , for the scottish nation . d the eight day . at bremen in east-frizland the deposition of s. vvillehade confessour & first bishop of the same sea , who going out of england , where he was borne , for the gōuersion of his neighbour-countreys , after he had preached to the saxons & frizians for more then fifty yeares togeather , & cōuerted many thousands to the christian faith , was at the request of charles the great , ordayned bishop of bremen in frizland . where after he had passed a venerable old age , ioyned with sanctity of life , he finally rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred fourscore and eleuen . his body was buryed in the cathedrall church of that citty dedicated to s. peter , which himselfe had built , and was there wont to be kept with great honour and veneration of the inhabitants , as chiefe patrone and apostle of that prouince , euen vntill these our later dayes of schismes and heresyes in those partes . e the ninth day . at vvhitby in yorkeshire the commemoration of s. congilla virgin and abbesse whose godly and vertuous life , togeather with the obseruation of monasticall discipline , hath deserued to be famous , in catholicke tyme , throughout england . she was cōstituted abbesse of an ancient monastery now called vvhitby , which oswy king of the northūbers had newly foūded ; wherin he caused his owne daughter ethelfred to be brought vp , vnder the care and gouerment of the forsaid congilla ; who famous for sanctimony of life and miracles , gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and eleuen . f the tenth day . at canterbury the deposition of s. iustus archbishop of the same sea and confessour , who comming into england with s. augustine and his fellowes , was first ordayned bishop of rochester , and after of canterbury , where in all holines of life , he desceased , about the yeare of christ , six hundred thirty and two , and was buryed at canterbury . the same day at michelmburgh in vvandalia the passion of s. iohn bishop and martyr , who being an irishman by byrth , & a monke , went ouer into the lower germany , and thence into vvandalia to preach the christian faith ; where being consecrated bishop of michelmburgh , was at length taken by the infidels of that countrey , and sorely beaten with cudgells . and when they could not auert him from calling vpon the name of iesvs , they first cut of his hands , and then his feet , and last of all his head , about the yeare of christ , one thousand threescore and six . g the eleuenth day . in the monastery of malòn in the territory of namures , the deposition of s. bertuine bishop and confessour , who borne in ireland of a noble parentage , and going ouer into the lower germany , to preach the christian faith , built himselfe a little oratory in honour of our blessed lady , in a village called malòn in the forsaid territory of namures , where in very great austerity & holinesse of life , he gaue himselfe wholy to contēplation and meditation of heauenly things , vntill his dying-day , which happened full of miracles , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and one . in the same place where he had built his said oratory , was afterward erected a goodly monastery of the institute of s. augustine , where his body is yet kept with great veneration of the inhabitants therabout . a the tweluth day . at asche in flanders the passion of s. liuinus bishop & martyr , who being borne in scotland , & scholler to s. augustine our english apostle , went ouer into flanders with three other companions to preach the faith or christ , where he was slayne in hatred therof by the pagans of that countrey , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and three . they first cut out his tongue , which being miraculously restored vnto him againe , he was finally beheaded . his body was first buryed at hauten , but afterward translated to gaunt in the yeare . the same day in ouerysle o● gelderland the f 〈…〉 uity of s. lebuine priest and confessour , who being a monke of rippon in yorkeshire , and disciple to s. vvillebrord , went ouer to s gregory bishop of maestricht in brabant , of whome he was sent to p●each to the saxons beyond the riuer of ysle ; where after he had conuerted many thousands to the faith of christ , full of sanctity and miracles he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare o● christ , seauen hundred and threescore . his body was afterward translated to dauentry , and there is kept in the cathedrall church of that citty with great veneration , as one of the chiefe patrons of the diocesse . b the thirteenth day . in the territory of arras in artoys the deposition of s. kilian bishop & confessour , who descended of the bloud-roall of scotland and kinsman to king fugenius the fourth of that name , despised , ●or the loue of god , a●l wor●dly preferments , and went ouer into the lower germany , to preach the christian faith ; where when he had reduced many thousands to christes flocke , replenished with sanctity o● life , he ended his blessed dayes , in a venerable old age , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourty . his body is kept vntill this day in a village called alb●niacke , in the diocesse of arras , where there is a goodly prior● of chanous-regular erectd in his name , common● called the priory of s. kilian . th●s man is different from the other s. kilian of the same name mentioned vpon the eight of iuly , who was of the irish nation , and a martyr . c the fourteenth day . at london the translation of s. erconwald confessour and bishop of the same sea , sonne to offa king of the eastsaxons , whose fame of sanc●ity and holines of life , togeather with working of miracl●s , hath byn notorious throughout christendome , but especially in england . he died in the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and fifteene , and was buryed at london in s. paules church , but afterward taken vp on this day , and trans●ated to a more eminent place o● the same church in the yeare of christ . at whose body it is recorded many m●racles to haue byn wrought . the same day at ewe in normandy the deposition of s. laurence bishop and confessour , who being first a monke and then abbot of glindalacke in ireland , was la 〈…〉 y ordayned bishop o● dublyn in the same kingdome : and thence going ouer into normandy , in great holines of life and miracles , ended his blessed dayes . he was a●terward canonized for a saint by pope honorius the third , in the yeare of christ , one thousand three hundred and six . his body still remayneth at ewe a●orsaid , where it is kept with due veneration of the inhabitants of that place . also the same day in bardsey-iland in north-wales the deposition o● s. d●●ritius confessour , archbishop o● carleon vpon vske , & primate of the old britans of vvales , who resigning his sea to s. dauid , king arthurs vncle , became an ermite in the wild mountaynes of north-wales ; where in very great austerity of life , full of miracles , in a venerable old age , he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred twenty and two ; and was buryed in the a●orsaid iland of bardsey . d the fifteenth day . at sainctes in france the deposition of s. macloue bishop and confessour , who being descended of a noble british bloud , & mōke of the monastery ot bangor in caerneruanshire of vvales , was thence promoted to the bishopricke of althene in little britany ( now called of his name in that vulgar language san-macloue ) and consecrated therto by leontius bishop or sainctes : which sea when he had gouerned most worthily for many yeares , in all sanctity of life and laudable vertues , comming to sainctes aforsaid , in a good old age gaue vp his soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , 〈…〉 e hūdred threescore and foure . his reliques were afterward translated to the monastery of gemblacum , where the same are yet preserued with great honour and veneration , for the manifold miracles , that in tymes past haue byn wrought therat . e the sixteenth day . at pontoyse in france the deposition of s. edmund bishop and confessour , who being somtyme treasurer of the church of salisbury , was ordayned archbishop of canterbery : which sea when he had gouerned for six yeares in all godly manner , being many wayes 〈…〉 red by king henry the third and 〈◊〉 otho , he resigned the same , went 〈◊〉 into france , and liued in voluntary banishment , spending the rest of his dayes in continuall prayer and meditation , in a monastery of chanons-regular at sorson : where in very great sanctity of life he departed this world , in the yeare of christ , one thousand two hundred and fourty . his body was brought with all solemnity to p 〈…〉 yse , where the same is kept with great honour and veneration vntill this day . he was canonized for a saint by pope innocentius the fourth , six yeares after his death . this day was afterward commaunded to be kept holy in his memory throughout england . king lewes of france caused his body to be translated to a more honourable place of the church in pontoyse , and bestowed theron a sumptuous shryne of siluer , guilt & richly adorned with many precious stones . the same day in scotland the deposition of s. margaret queene , wife to holy king malcolme the third of that name , and daughter to prince edward of england , surnamed the out-law , whose wonderfull life and vertues , especially in deuotion and liberall almes to the poore , are famous to posterity . her principall festiuity is celebrated vpon the tenth of iune , though she died on this day , in the yeare of christ , one thousand fourscore and twelue , and in the raigne of k. vvilliam rusus of england . f the seauenteenth day . at lincolne the deposition of s. hugh confessour and bishop of the same sea , who borne in burgundy , was sent for into england by king henry the second , and first made prior of the charterhouse-monks at vvittam in somersetshire , and thence elected and ordayned bishop of lincolne . in which function he so excelled in all kind of vertue and holines of life , that his merits deserued to haue the same manifested to the world , by the wonderfull miracles wrought at his body . he newly built the cathedrall church of lincolne from the foundations . and when he had most laudably gouerned his flocke for fourteene yeares , full of venerable old age , he gaue vp his soule to rest at london , in the yeare of christ , one thousand and two hundred . his body was presently brought to lincolne , at what tyme there happened to be present king iohn of england , and vvilliam king of scots , with very many of the nobility of both realmes . the two kinges for the great reuerence they , had vnto his holines , bare-headed carried his body from the gates of the citty vnto the church , where the same being most solemnly receyued by the prelates & clergy , was buryed behind the high altar , neere vnto the chappell of s. iohn baptist. he was afterward canonized for a saint by pope honorius the third , in the yeare of christ . the same day at strenshalt in the kingdome of the northumbers the deposition of s. hilda virgin and abbesse , descended of the bloud royall of the kinges of that prouince , who forsaking the vanityes of the world became a religious woman first in a little nunry neere to the riuer of vvire , and then abbesse of the monastery of hartsey ( now called vvhitby in yorkeshire ) & afterward of strenshalt , where in very great sanctity of life , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hūdred & fourscore . her feast is in many places obserued vpon the fifteenth of december , where also we haue againe made mention of her . g the eighteenth day . at santo-padre a village in the kingdome of naples , the commemoration of s. fulke cōsessour , who being an english-man by byrth , and descended of a noble family in our iland , tooke vpon him for the loue of christ , a long peregrination , to visit the holy sepulcher at hierusalem . and as he returned homeward by italy , the plague at that tyme sorely raging in those partes , in very great sanctity and holines of life , he receyued the reward of his labour , and ended his blessed dayes in rest , his body is vntill this day kept with great honour and veneration in the forsaid village , called by the italiās santo-padre , for the manifold miracles that are dayly wrought therat : wherby the same place is now become a pilgrimage of deuotion to visit his body , especially among the neapolitans , and people of calabria . a the ninteenth day . in kent the festiuity of s. ermenburge queene and abbesse , daughter to ercombert king of kent , and wife to merualdus king of the mercians ( or midle englishmen ) and mother to the three famous virgin-saintes milburge , mildred , and milwyde : who hauing built a goodly church and monastery in kent , in honour of her two kinsmen ethelbrit and ethelred martyrs , gathered togeather seauenty other virgins and holy women , and with consent of her husband , entred into the same , as abbesse and gouernesse of the rest : where in all sanctimony of life and vertuous conuersation , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and foure , and was buryed in the same place . b the twentith day . at hexam in northumberland the passion of s. edmund king and martyr , who being a saxon by bloud , borne in the citty of noremberge in that prouince , and nephew to ossa king of the eastangles , was by him adopted successour and heyre of that kingdome . and when had most christianlike gouerned the same for fifteene yeares , was in the first danish persecution , vnder the captaines hinguar and hubba , for the confession of christ , first whipped sorely , and then tied to a tree , and his body shot full of arrowes , was finally beheaded . whose head the danes carrying into a wood neere by , cast among briars and bushes . and when the tyrants forsooke those partes , and the christians seeking for the same , lost themselues in the forsaid wood , and one calling vpon another , asking with a loude voyce , vvhere art ? where art ? where art ? the blessed martyrs head answered , heere , heere , heere . by which miraculous voyce they found out the same . he suffered in the yeare of christ , eight hundred and seauenty . th● same day , and same place also , the passion of s. humbert bishop and mart●● , who being counsellour and companion to the ●orsaid king edmund in the administration of his kingdome , deserued to be made partaker with him of his martyrdome , & so obtayned a crowne of glory in the yeare o● our lord aboue mentioned . c the one and twentith day . at bobia in lombardy the deposition of s. columb● abbot and confessour , who being an irishman by byrth , and first a monke , then abbot of the monastery of benchor in the fame kingdome , went ouer into france , & there founded a monastery at luxouium , and thence passing into italy , he there also founded another at bobia , by the helpe of agilulph king of the lombards , of which himselfe became abbot . and after all these , and diuers other labours and toyles taken for the aduancement of christian religion in gods church , full of wonderfull sanctity of life and miracles , he ended his venerable dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourteene , and was buried in the forsaid monastery of bobia . d the two and twentith day . in france the cōmemoration of s. osmane virgin , descended of the bloud - royall of ireland , whose parentes being pagans , she notwithstāding in her tender years was priuately instructed in the christian faith . but afterward being to be espoused to a noble mā of the same kingdome but an ethnicke , forsooke both countrey and friends and fled secretly ouer into france , accompanied only with a mayd-seruant , that wayted on her called aclitenis , where in a wood neere to the riuer of loyre , she liued a very austere life , being clad with a coate made of bulrushes , and feeding her hungry body only with hearbes . it chanced one day , that a wild boare being chased in that wood by the hunters , came running to her , as it were , for succour . the huntesmen eagerly pursuyng the beast , stroke him with their speares with all their force , but could not once pearce his skynne . heerupon the virgin being discouered , was suspected to be a witch ; & being brought to the bishop , and found to belieue in christ , was by him baptized , & had a little territory assigned her , & a gardener appointed to cultiuate the same , for her bodily reliefe and sustenance : who being on a tyme deluded by the diuell to attempt some thing against her , was by diuine iustice suddainly stroken blynd : wherof he repenting himselfe , was by her prayers againe restored to his sight . and so she perseuering a longe tyme in that holy conuersation , full of sanctimony of life , was finally called thence vnto christ her spouse , whome she had so entyrely loued and serued . e the three and twentith day . at chepslow 〈◊〉 mōmouthshire of vvales , the cōmemoratiō of s. tathar confessour and eremite● , who being descended of a noble british lynage , cōtemned the world , & became an ermite in the mountaynes of monmouthshire , in the raigne of cradocke king of south-wales , about which tyme also in great sanctity of life and miracles , he ended his blessed dayes . he built of his owne inheritance a goodly church in the forsaid towne of chepstow , togeather with a fayre schoole for the education of youth in learning and vertue : for which his memory is yet famous in our iland , especially among the ancient britans of south-wales . f the foure & twentith day . at strenshalt in the kingdome of the northumbers the commemoration of blessed eanslede queene , daughter to edwyn , and wife to oswy kinges of northumberland ; who after the death of her lord , and husband , setting aside all worldly pompe and pleasure , tooke a religious habit , and became a nunne in the monastery of s. peter at the forsaid place of strenshalt , vnder the care and gouernement of her owne daughter ethelfred that then was abbesse of the same . where in all kind of profound humility , sanctimony of life , and other vertues , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourscore . g the fiue & twentith day at landaffa in clamorganshire of vvales the commemoration of s. telean martyr , and second bishop of the same sea , whose rare life , learning , & other eminent vertues haue in tymes past byn famous throughout england , especially among the ancient britans of our nation , where his memory is fresh euen vntill this day . he was very nobly borne , and brought vp vnder s. dubritius archbishop and metropolitan of vvales , togeather with s. dauid . and a little after his comming to his bishopricke , he was constrayned , through a vehement plague infecting those partes , to go ouer into france . the which being ceased and he returned , was soone after slayne by a certaine noble man of that countrey , called in the british tongue gueddan , about the yeare of christ , six hundred twenty and six . his body was buryed in his owne cathedrall church of landaffa ( to whome the said church is now dedicated ) where the same was preserued with all honour and veneration , euen vntill the dayes of king henry the eight of england . a the six and twentith day . at fulda in the higher germany , the commemoration of s. egbert abbot and confessour , who being a scottishman by birth , and descended of a noble family in that kingdome , forsooke his countrey , and went ouer into germany in that primitiue church , and there became first a monke , and after abbot of a monastery which s. boniface , archbishop of mentz and apostle of the germans had newly erected at fulda aforsaid . where in very great sanctity of life and doctrine , especially in the obseruāce of monasticall discipline he finally reposed in our lord. where also his body is yet kept with great honour & veneration of the inhabitants of that place . this man is different from the other s. egbert of the same name , that was abbot of s. columbs in scotland , whose feast is obserued vpon the foure and twentith day of aprill . b the seauen & twentith day . at rhode in brabant the deposition of s. oda virgin , who borne in scotland of the roall bloud of that kingdome , and being strokē blind , wēt ouer into the lower germany to the body of s. lambert at liege , where by his merits and her owne prayers she receyued againe her sight , vowing perpetuall chast●●y to god , that had so miraculouily deliuered her of that insirmity . her father , notwithstanding , would haue had her to marry ; but she detesting the same , neuer returned backe into her countrey , but lead a solitary and most holy life in the territory of liege : where in all sanctimony spending the rest of her dayes in continuall prayer and contemplation of heauenly things , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ seauen hundred & thirteene . her body remayneth in the forsaid village of rhode , and there , as patronesse of that towne , is kept with great veneration , for the often miracles that haue byn wrought therat . c the eight & twentith day . at dorchester in oxfordshire the deposition of s. edwold confessour and ermite , brother to king edmund the martyr , who refusing the kingdome of the eastāgles , after his brothers passion , gaue himselfe wholy , for the loue of christ , to a kind of solitary life and heauenly contemplation . in which after he had liued many yeares with great signes of sanctity & holines , ended his blessed dayes in an old monastery , at dorchester aforsaid , somtime called corn-house , and was there with great veneration interred , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred threescore and eleuen . d the nine & twentith day . in clamorganshire of vvales the cōmemoration of s. barucke confessour and ermite , who being descēded of a noble british race in our ilād , did for the loue of god contēne the world , and become an ermite , leading a most strict and seuere kind of life in a little iland of the sea , in clamorganshire , called afterward of his name , barucks-eye ( but now more corruptly bardsey : where in very great holines & sanctity of life , he gaue vp his blessed soule to rest in our lord. his memory is yet very famous in the forsaid prouince of clamorgan , as also among the ancient britans of our iland . e the thirtith day . at derham in nor●olke the cōmemoration of s. vvithburge virgin , daughter to annas king of the eastangles , and sister to s. audry and s. sexburge queenes who building with her owne patrimony a nunry at derham , entred therin & receiued a monasticall habit . where after she had spent her dayes in great holinesse and sanctimony of life , finally rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and threescore . s. ethelwold bishop of vvinchester in the yeare of christ . hauing repayred the abbey of ely defaced by the danes , and adioyning vnto it this forsaid nunry of derham , caused her body to be taken vp ( which was found whole and vncorrupt , after aboue . yeares from her death ) and translated to the abbey of ely , by abbot britlmote , and there placed neere to the holy body of s. audry her sister . the said monastery which she built , being afterward conuerted into a parish church , remayneth vntill this day in norsolke , still retayning the forsaid name of derham . the moneth of december . f the first day . at bangor in caerneruanshire of vvales the commemoration of s. daniel confessour , and bishop of the same sea , whose great sanctity of life and miracles , haue byn famous in former ancient tymes throughout our whole iland , both aliue and dead , especially among the anciēt britans of vvales . his body was buryed at bangor aforsaid , where the cathedrall church of that bishopricke , that now is , was erected and dedicated in his honour . he was the first bishop of that sea , and liued about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and sixteene , and in the raigne of king arthur of britany . g the second day . at dormundcaster two miles from peterburrow in northamptonshne the commemoration s. vve●de virgin and abbesse , daughter to penda a pagan king of the mercians , and sister to the holy virgins kinneburge , kinisdred , kinisuide and edburge , who contēning all worldly pompe and delightes , for the loue of christ , entred into the monastery of dormundcaster asorsaid , and there tooke the holy veyle of chaltity and monasticall habit , vnder the gouerment of her owne sister kinneburge that then was abbesse of the same ; where after the death of her sister idlurge , that succeeded kinneburge , she was elected also to that office. which three sisters one succeding another in the same dignity of abbesse , did , as it were , by an hereditar ) right , leaue one the other their sanctimony and holines of life , which e●h one conserued and augmented vntill her dying day . this was the yongest of fiue sisters , all saintes , and died about the yeare of christ , six hundred fourscore & twelu● . her body was translated to peterburrow , and there intombed very richly with the rest of her sisters a the third day . at chure in heluetia the passion of s. lucius the first christian king of britany and martyr , who being conuerted to the faith of christ by the saintes fugatius & damianus , sent from rome by pope eleutherius , afterward became himselfe a preacher of the same doctrine , and went ouer into france and thence into germany , where after many persecutions sustayned for the confession of christ , being at last ( according to ancient traditions ) ordayned the first bishop of chure , was there finally put to death by the incredulous people of that nation , about the yeare of christ , one hūndred fourscore & twelue . his feast is very solēnely celebrated with octaues at chure aforsaid , as is to be seene in the breuiary of that diocesse , wherin the whole story of his li●e is recounted at large . the same day at dorcester in dorcetshire the deposition of s. birine confessour , and first bishop of that prouince , who conuerted the vvestsaxons to the faith of christ , togeather with their king kinegilsus , and so became their apostle . he died in the yeare of christ , six hundred and fifty , and was buryed at the forsaid towne of dorcester , but afterward translated to vvinchester by s. hedde bishop of that citty , and there with great solemnity and veneration being placed in the cathedrall church of s. peter and s. paul , deserued to be honoured with this epigram of an ancient poet , that wrote his life in verse . dignior attolli quàm sit tyrinthius heros , quàm sit alexander macedo . tyrin hius hostes vicit , alexander mundum , birinus verumque . nec tantùm vicit mundum birinus & hostem ; sed sese bello vincens , & victus eodem . in like manner the same day in the territory of liege in the lower germany the deposition of s. eloquius priest & confessour , who borne in ireland , went ouer the sea , with diuers other companions to preach the christiā faith to the netherlanders ; where after much fruite reapt in great sanctity of life he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty & one : whose body was afterward translated to the towne of vvalciodore , and there is kept with great veneration , as patrone of that place . b the fourth day . at salisbury in vviltshire the deposition of s. osmund confessour and bishop of the same sea , who being a norman of noble birth , came into england with king vvilliam the cōquerour , by whome he was first made chancellour of the realme , and earle of dorset , and afterward , for that he was a most vertuous and learned man , he was elected bishop of salisbury : which church being begon by his predecessour he finished , adding therto a goodly library , which he furnished also with many excellent bookes . and when he had most laudably gouerned his flocke for sixteene yeares , in great sanctity and holines of life , he happily reposed in our lord , in the yeare of christ , one thousand fourscore and nynteene , and was buryed in his owne cathedrall church of salisbury , at whose body it pleased god to worke miracles . he was canonized for a saint by pope calixtus the third , two hundred and fifty yeares after his death . the same day at triuis in the territory of chure in the prouince of heluetia in germany , the festiuity of s. emerita virgin & martyr , sister to king lucius of britany , who going into germany with her said brother , was by the pagā people of that coūtrey , for the confession of christian saith , put to death , ending her glorious martyrdome by fire , about the yeare of christ , one hundred fourscore and thirteene . the whole story of her life is set forth at large in the breuiary of the diocesse of chure aforsaid , in her office on this day . c the fifth day . at vvinchester in hampshire the commemoration of s. christine virgin and abbesse , daughter to prince edward surnamed the out-law , and sister to the famous s. margaret of scotland , who togeather with her mother agatha , entred into the monastery of vvinchester , and there became a religious woman first , and afterward abbesse of the whole house . in which dignity she perseuering in all kind of exemplar sanctimony of life , and monasticall discipline , gaue vp her soule at last to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , one thousand and fourscore , and in the raigne of king vvilliam the conquerour . d the sixt day . in ireland the commemoration of s. congellus abbot and confessour , who being a most venerable monke of the order of s. benedict , and liuing with s. malachias , at that tyme bishop of connerthen in ireland , was by him ordayned abbot of an ancient monastery neere to the forsaid bishops sea in the same kingdome ; where in very great sanctity of life & miracles he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , one thousand , one hundred and fourty . the same day at cullen in germany the commemoration of s. florentina virgin and martyr , who being one of the number of the eleuen thousand holy british virgins martyred with s. vrsula , was for defence of her chastity there put to death with the rest of her fellowes , about the yeare of christ , three hundred fourscore and three , herselfe afterward miraculously reueyling her name . e the seauenth day . at durham in the bishopricke , the cōmemoration of s. odwald abbot and cōfessour , who of a monke of wonderfull innocency , and godly conuersation , was elected abbot of the monastery of lindisserne in the kingdome of the northumbers , where in ad kind of holines of life and monasticall discipline , full of miracles , he reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and six , and was afterward buryed at durham aforsaid . the same day in scotland the commemoration of s. gallanus monke and confessour , who borne in ireland , and descēded of a noble bloud in that kingdome , came ouer into scotland with s. columbe the great , whose senoller and disciple he was , where teaching & preaching the christian faith to the pictes that in those dayes inhabited scotland , famous for sanctity of life and miracles , he departed this world , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred and fourscore . f the eight day . the conception of the most glorious and immacusate virgin mary mother of god , by the grace and power of her sonne , that preserued her from all inquination of synne : which feast being first of all begun to be celebrated in our iland of great britany in the tyme of s. anselme archbishop of canterbury , and king vvilliam the conquerour , about the yeare of christ , one thousand threescore & ten , by the monkes of the venerable order of s. benedict , to the honour and glory of the blessed virgin ; was afterward confirmed by our mother the holy roman church , and cōmaunded to be kept holiday throughout christendome , to the increase of deuotion towards so mighty a patronesse . the same day at vvinchester in hampshire the commemoration of blessed agatha queene , daughter to salomon king of hungary , and wife to prince edward of england surnamed the outlaw , and mother to the two famous saintes margaret and christine , who when , after the death of her husband , she saw her sonne edgar , to whome the succession of the crowne of england by right belonged , to be iniustly depressed and molested by the inuasions of king harold first , and after of the conquerour , and therby frustrated of the recouery of the kingdome , she with her two daughters , resolued to take their iourney backe towards hungary by sca ; but being driuen by tēpest into scotlād , they were very honourably receyued by king malcolme , who tooke the forsaid margaret to wife . and after a while that they had stayed there , agatha the mother , and christine the other daughter , returned into england , entred both into the monastery of religious women at vvinchester , where in very great sanctimony of life , they finally ended their blessed dayes ; the mother desceasing about the yeare of christ , one thousand threescore and twelue : whose body being interred in the same monastery , hath byn kept with great veneration , euen vntill our dayes . g the ninth day . at shaftesbury in dorcetshire the commemoration of s. ethelgine abbesse , daughther to alfred king of the vvestsaxons , who despising all temporall and worldly preferments , tooke a religious habit , and became a nunne in the monastery of the forsaid towne of shaftesbury , which her father had there newly erected : wherof at last she being ordayned abbesse , gouerned the same in all sanctimony of life , and exact monasticall discipline , vntill her dying day , which happened about the yeare of christ , eight hundred fourscore and sixteene . a the tenth day . at glower in clamorganshire of vvales the commemoration of s. chi●●d confessour and eremite , who borne in wales , and there descended of an ancient and noble british lynage , contemned the vanityes of the world , and for the loue of christ , became an eremite , leading a most strict and seuere kind of life in the mountaynes of the forsaid prouince of clamorgan , where in very great sanctity and holines of life , he finally ended his happy dayes . his body was buryed at the forsaid towne of glower ; whose memory hath in tymes past , byn very famous throughout england , but especially among the ancient britans of vvales . b the eleuenth day . in morauia the commemoration of s. geruadius bishop and confessour , who borne in scotland and descended of a noble parentage in that kingdome , tooke a religions habit , and became a monke there of the venerable order of s. benedict , and thence went ouer into germany , and lastly into morauia , where being created bishop , he preached the christian faith incessantly to that nation , and became their apostle . and a ter that he had brought many thousands from their idolatry to the true worship of one god , full of venerable old age , in great sanctity and holines of life , he finally rested in our lord , about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and soure . c the tweluth day . in the i le of crowland in lincolnshire the commemoration o● s. el●rede virgin , daughter to offa the pagan king of mercia , who being conuerted to the christiā faith principally by the murder cōmitted by her mother vpon king ethelbert of the eastangles that came to demaund her in marriage for his wife , forsooke her said parents , friends and all other worldly prefermēts , and tooke a religious habit , in the monastery of s. guthlacke in the forsaid i le of crowland , where in great sanctimony of life , and obseruance of monasticall discipline , she gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred fourscore and thirteene , d the thirteenth day . at pontoyse in france the deposition of s. † iudo 〈…〉 confessour and ermite , who being desce●●ed of a most noble british bloud , forsaking all worldly prefermentes , went ouer into france , and there for the loue of christ , became an ermite . in which kind of life he so excelled in sanctity and holines , that it pleased god to manifest the same by the incorruptibility of his body , which is kept whole vntill this day with great veneration at the forsaid towne of po 〈…〉 oyse . he gaue almes foure tymes to christ visibly in the habit of a poore man , that demaunded the same ; and died in the yeare of christ , six hundred fifty and three . whose worthy praise this distich declareth . regia progenies veterum styrps clara britannúm , ecce nitet ru●la iudocus luce per orbem . the same day in the ●le of thanet in kent , the deposition of s. edburge virgin and abbesse , daughter to blessed ethelbert the first christian king of that prouince , who being baptized and instructed in the christian ●aith by s. augustine our apostle , forsooke the world , and entred into the mona 〈…〉 ery of holy virgins erected in the i le of thanet aforsaid , vnder the gouerment of her neece s. m●ldred , after whose death she became abbesse of the same place : where in all sanctimony of life , she ended her blessed dayes . s. lansranke archbishop of canterbury in the yeare of christ , one thousand fourscore and siue , translated her body , as also s. mildreds , vnto canterbury , and placed them there in the church of s. gregory , which he had newly repayred , and enriched , wherat miracles are recorded to haue byn wrought . e the fourteenth day . at cullen in germany the cōmemoratiō of s. munborine abbot and confessour , who borne in scotland , and descended of a noble bloud in that kingdome , despised the world , and became first a monke of the venerable order of s. benedict , and afterward went ouer into germany , and there was made abbot of a monastery dedicated to s. martin in calles : which when he had most laudably gouerned for twelue yeares or therabout , in great sanctity of life and miracles he ende● his blessed dayes , in the yeare of christ , nyne hundred four score and thirteene , and was buryed in the same place . f the fifteenth day . at strenshalt in the kingdome of the northumbers , the translation of s. hilda virgin and abbesse , daughter to prince herericke nephew to edwyn king of the same prouince , who from her infancy giuing herselfe wholy to deuotion and piety became a religious woman first in a little nunry by the riuer of wyre , and then was ordayned abbesse of a monastery erected in the forsaid kingdome , neere to the sea side called hartsey ( at this day cōmonly knowne by the name of vvhitby in yorkeshire ) & afterward of another monastery also in the same prouince called strēshalt , which herselfe had built ; where in all kind of holines of life & excercise of monasticall discipline , glorious for miracles she finally wēt vnto her spouse , in the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourscore . her body was after many yeares taken vp , and set in a more eminent place of the forsaid church of strenshalt , where before she lay buryed , wherat it pleased god to worke many miracles . g the sixteenth day . at aberdine in scotland the depositiō of s. bean confessour and bishop of the same sea , whose wonderfull holines of life , togeather with the miracles he wrought both aliue and dead , haue in tymes past byn famous throughout the christian world , but especially in scotland and ireland , where also many goodly churches & altars haue byn erected and dedicated in his honour . the same day at dormundcaster-monastery two miles from peterburrow in northāptonshire , the commemoration of s. tibbe virgin and anchoresse , who descended of a noble bloud in our iland , and kinswomā to the saints kinisdred and kiniswide , forsooke the pleasures of the world , and became an anchoresse for the loue of christ , liuing a most strict and seuere kind of reclused life in great holines and sanctimony vntill her dying day , which happened about the yeare of christ , six hundred threescore and nyne , and was buryed with her forsaid kinswomen at dormundcaster . a the seauenteenth day . at vvimborne in dorcetshire the commemoration of s. tetta abbesse , sister to cuthredus king of the vvestsaxons , who forsaking the vanityes of the world , and receyuing the holy veyle of chastity in the monastery of vvimborne aforsaid , was after the death of s. cuthberge foundreste therof , made abbesse of the same place , where in very great sanctimony of life , & obseruance of monastical discipline , she gaue vp her blessed soule to rest , about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and six . there is a letter yet extant wrytten by s. boniface archbishop of mentz to this s. tetta , for the sending of the virgins tecla , lioba , agatha , and others out of her monastery into germany , in the beginning of that primitiue church , to be made abbesses and directresses of diuers new monasteryes , which s. boniface aforsaid had erected in that countrey . b the eighteenth day . at heydelmayne in franconia the depositiō of s. vvinibald abbot & cōfessour , sonue to s. richard king of the english , who going ouer into the low-countreys and germany with s. boniface his v 〈…〉 cle , archbishop of mentz and apostle of the germans , was by him ordayned abbot of a monastery which himselfe had there founded in the same prouince , called heydelmayne ; which when he had gouerned for ten yeares in great sanctity of life , glorious for miracles and other renowned vertues , he ended his blessed dayes in rest , in the yeare of christ , seauen hundred and threescore , and was buryed in the same monastery , with this epitaph engrauen on his tombe . hic vvinibaldus richardi . silius almus , qui regnū anglorū 〈…〉 ox linquens , hoc monachorū claustrum fundauit , benedictique dicauit nomine , septingento quinquagesimoue anno . his body was afterward translated to eyst in germany , and there interred with his brother s. vvillebald , where it is kept with great veneration . c the ninteenth day . at vvirtzburgh in the higher germany the commemoration of s. marcharius abbot and confessour , who borne in scotland of a worthy family , and taking vpon him a monasticall habit in the same kingdome , went ouer into france , and thence into germany , and was ordayned abbot there of an ancient monastery in the forsaid citty of vvirtzburgh , where in very great sanctity of life , renowned for miracles , he ended his blessed dayes in peace , about the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred and fourty . among other his miracles one is recounted , that sitting at a banquet , he turued wyne into water , to the astonishment of all the behoulders there present . d the twentith day . in ireland the commemoration of s. comogel abbot and confessour , whose holy life and doctrine haue byn famous in tymes past in the kingdome of ireland , especially for the reformation & obseruance of monasticall discipline . he was abbot of the great and ancient monastery of benchor in ireland , & maister to the famous s. columbane of that nation , whome he instructed in all kind of good learning and other vertues , before his sending into france and italy . and when he had gouerned the same monastery for many yeares , full of sanctity and venerable old age , he finally gaue vp his soule to rest in our lord , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and foure . e the one and twentith day . at dormundcaster two myles from peterburrow in northamptonshire , the commemoration of s. edburge virgin and abbesse daughter to penda the pagan king of the mercians , who contemning all worldly and temporall pleasures , became a religious woman in the monastery of dormundcaster aforsaid , vnder the care of s. kinneburge her sister ; after whose death , she being chosen abbesse , gouerned the same in all sanctimony of life and other vertues , vntill her dying day , which happened about the yeare of christ , six hundred and fourscore , and was buryed in the same place neere to her said sister . this holy woman is different from the other three of the same name , whose festiuall dayes are celebrated vpon the fifteenth of iune , eighteenth of iuly , and thirteenth of december . and besides these , there was another edburge also , virgin and abbesse , daughter to ethelnulph king of the vvest saxons , who gouerned the monastery of holy virgins at vvinchester in hampshire , full of renowned holynes and same about the yeare of christ , eight hundred and threescore . f the two and twentith day . at barking in essex the commemoratiō of s. hildelide virgin and abbesse , who for her great vertue and sanctimony of life was made abbesse of the monastery of holy virgins at the forsaid towne of barking , and succeeded in that office s. edilburge , inter to to s. erconwald bishop of london , by whome the said monastery was crected : where in the exercise of all kind of vertue & obseruāce of monasticall discipline , renowned for miracles , she ended her blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , scauē hūdred . there is a story recorded , how that three blynd womē on a tyme came to this said monastery of barking to beseech the help and patronage of three holy virgins there desceased , and all famous for holines , to wit , the forsaid edilburge vvulfhild , and this our hildelide , and there praying a long tyme , they were at last restored to their sight ; but ech one by the intercessiō of that particular saint , to whome she prayed . this monastery was afterward in the danish persecution burned to the ground , defaced and spoyled , to the great lamentation or all england . c the three and twentith day . in vvales the commemoration of s. inthware virgin and martyr , who being descended of the ancient british bloud in our iland , liued a most godly and vertuous life in her fathers house , being wholy occupied in intertayning & seruing of pilgrims and strangers that resorted thither . after her fathers death , she being enuied for her holines of life by her stepmother , was by a malitious deuise of hers , accused to her own brother , called bana , to be an harlot : whervpon in this rage , he slew her with his owne hands , as she came one day from the church . whose innocency was presently testified by this wonderfull miracle ; that hauing her head cut of , she instantly with her owne handes tooke it vp from the ground , and carried it to the church from whence she came : as also in the same place where she was beheaded , there sprang vp a fountaine of cleere water , very soueraigne for many diseases . she suffered about the yeare of christ , seauen hundred . about which tyme also there liued three sisters of hers , all very holy women , called edware , vvilgith , and sidewell ; who as they were conioyned to her by neernes of bloud and byrth ; so where they also vnited in singular sanctimony of life . f the foure & twentith day . in scotland the commemoration of s. ruthius monke and confessour , who being an irishman by byrth , descended of a noble bloud in the same kingdome , became a disciple first to s. columbe the great of that nation , and afterward comming ouer with him into scotland , was his coadiutor in the cōuersion of the pictes to the christiā faith , that in those dayes inhabited that kingdome : where after the reducing of many soules from their errours , to the knowledg & worship of christ , famous for sanctity of life & grace of miracles he finally reposed in our lord , about the yeare of christ . b the fiue & twentith day in the monastery of s. meginhard in the higher germany the commemoration of s. gregory priest and confessour , sonne to king edward of the vvestsaxons , surnamed the elder , and brother to the holy virgin s. edburge of wilton , who being admonished by an angell , forsooke both countrey and friends , in the troublesome tyme of his fathers raigne and incursions of the danes , and went ouer into germany to s. eberhard a monke then famous in those partes both for sanctity of life and gift of prophesy ; vnto whome he associating himselfe in the forsaid monastery of s. meginhard , became a monke in the same place : where in very great holines of life , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , nyne hundred fourty and fiue . c the six and twentith day . at vvhitby in yorkeshire the commemoration of blessed ethelfrede virgin , daughter to oswy king of the northumbers , who contemning all worldly pompe and trāsitory glory , tooke a religious habit , togeather with the holy veyle of chastity , in a monastery of the same prouince , called afterward vvhitby , which her said father had there newly founded ; where vnder the gouernment of s. congilla , that was then ordayned abbesse therof , in all humility & sanctimony of life , she made a holy end , and gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse , about the yeare of christ , six hundred and seauenty . d the seauen & twentith day . at gallinaro a village in the kingdome of naples , the commemoration of s. gerard confessour , who being an englishman by byrth , and descended of a a worthly parentage in our iland , tooke vpon him for the loue of god a long peregrination to visit the holy sepulcher of christ in hierusalem ; which when he had performed and returning backe by italy , where at that tyme the plague sorely raged , in very great sanctity of life , gaue vp his soule to rest in our lord. his body is vntill this day kept with great honour and veneration , in the forsaid village of gallinaro , wherat in testimony of his holy life , miracles are yet daily wrought : so as the place is therby become a great pilgrimage , especially for the neapolitans & people of calabria . e the eight & twentith day . at canterbury the translation of s. elphege bishop and martyr , who being first abbot of a monastery neere vnto bath in somersetshire , was thence promoted to the bishoprick of vvinchester & lastly to cāterbury . he was slayne at greenwich in kent in the second danish persecution by those barbarous people in defence of his church of canterbury , and for not deliuering them three thousand markes of money belonging to the said church , in the yeare of christ , one thousand and twelue . his body was first brought to london , and afterward on this day solemnely translated to canterbury , and there placed in his owne cathedrall church of that citty , where it was wont in catholicke tyme to be kept with great honour and veneration . f the nine & twentith day . at canterbury the passion of s. thomas archbishop of the same sea , legate apostolicall and primate of england , who for defence of the liberties of the church , being many wayes iniured by king henry the second , was forced to appeale to pope alexāder the third ; of whome being acquited of all the calumniations and slaunders laid to his charge , was againe restored to his bishopricke , but within a while after being violently oppressed by some of the forsaid kinges seruants , to wit , syr vvilliam tracy , syr reynold fitzvrson , syr hugh moruill , richard breton , and others , was slayne in his owne church of canterbury , in the tyme of euensonge , before the high altar , in the yeare of christ , one thousand one hundred threescore and eleuen . whose martyrdome is heere described in these old verses : richardus breton , nec non moruillius hugo , guillelmus tracy , reginaldus filius-vrsi , thomam martyrium secêre subire beatum . fortis & inuictus his quattuor ensibus ictus primas anglorum thomas petit alta polorum . his body was shortly afterward put into a goodly shrine , beset with costly iewells & pretious stones , and placed in his owne cathedrall church of canterbury , wherat infinite miracles were wrought ; and so continued vntill the tyme of king henry the eight , by whose commandement the said monument was vtterly destroyed , and his sacred reliques burned to ashes , in the yeare of christ . g the thirtith day . in the abbey of flay the commemoration of s. eustach abbot and confessour , who for his singular vertue and innocency of life , being first a monke , was ordayned abbot of the forsaid monastery of flay . in which dignity he so excelled , in all kind of profund humility , charity to poore orphans , and other eminent vertues , especially in the exercise and obseruance of monasticall discipline , that his name deserued to be famous throughout our whole iland , in former catholicke tymes . he died about the yeare of christ , one thousand and two hundred . at whose body it pleased god afterward , in testimony of his holy life , to worke miracles . a the one & thirtith day in scotland the commemoration of s. eternane monke and confessour , nephew to s. columbe the great of ireland , who contemning all worldly honours and prefermentes , tooke a religious habit , and became a monke of the order of s. benedict in á monastery in the iland of hoy by scotland , vnder the gouerment of his forsaid vncle s. columbe ; where in all kind of sanctity of life , he ended his blessed dayes , about the yeare of christ , fiue hundred fourscore and eighteene . whose memory hath continued famous both in scotland where he liued , and in ireland where he was borne , euen vntill this last age . laus deó & beatiss . virg. mariae . an alphabetical table of the saintes names conteyned in the former martyrologe . a aaron martyr . iuly . acca b. . feb. adaman ab. . sept. adaman confess . . ianuar. adelme b. . mar. . may. adalbert conf . . iune . adelhere mart. . iune . adlar mart. . apr. . iune . adrian abbot . . ianuar. adrian priest . april . adolph mart. . iune . agatha virgin . iune . agatha queene . decem. agnes virg. mart. . august . aidan bishop . august . alban protomart . . apr. . may & . iune . albuine bishop . octob. albuine abbot . may. alkmund mart. . march. alexander conf. . august . alfred k. of northūb . . ian. alfred k. of westsa . . oct. algiue queene . may. alice prioresse . august . alnoth mart. . febr. alred abbot . march. alricke ermite . august . altho abbot . septemb. amnichade conf. . ian. amphibale mart. . iune . anselme b. . apr. . iuly . arbogastus bishop . iuly . archibald abbot . march. ardwyne conf. . oct. aristobulus bish. . mar. arnulph conf. . august . arwaldi martyrs . ian. assaph bishop . may. audry vide ediltrude . augulus mart . . febr. augustine bishop . may. b baldred conf. . march. barucke conf. . nou. bather conf. . septemb. bean bishop . decem. beatus conf. . may. bede priest . & . may. bega virgin . sept. benedict abbot . ian. beno conf. . ian. berectus conf. . febr. bernard conf. . sept. bertelme ermite . aug. bertuine bishop . nouemb. birine bishop . decemb. birstan bishop . april . boniface b. . iune . . nouem . bosa bishop . march. boso mart. . iune . botulph abbot . iune . boysil abbot . ian. brādan abb. . may . iun. brigit virg. . febr. brituald of canterb. . ian. brituald of vvinch . . ian. burchard b. . feb. . oct. burgundosora abbesse . apr. burien virg. . may. c cadocke mart . . ian. canicke abbot . octob canoch conf. . feb. ceadwall king . apr. ced bishop . ian. celsus bishop . apr. ceolfride abbot . sept. ceolnulph king . mar. chad bishop . mar. chinede ermite . dec. chineburge queene . sept. christian bish. . mar. christian virg. . iuly . christine virg. . decemb. clare mart. . nouemb. clintanke k. mart . . aug. cogan abbot . sept. colman bishop . octob. colman mart . . iuly . columbe abbot . iune . columbane abbot . nou. columbane monke . iune . conine abbot . octob. comogel abbot . decemb. cōception of our b. lady . de. congellus abbot . decemb. congilla abbesse . nou. constantine emp. . may. conwalline abbot . octob. conwan conf. . feb. cordula virg. . oct. chroniacke conf. . ian. cuthbert b. . mar. . sept. cuthberge abbesse . aug. cymbert bish. . febr. cyhthacke conf. . sept. d damianus conf. . may daniel . b. . decem. dauid bish. . march. dauid conf. . iuly . decuman mart. . aug. deicola abbot . ian. deifer conf. . march. deusdedit bishop . iune . diman conf. . iuly . disibode bish. . iune . domitius conf. . aug. donatus bish. . octob. dronston conf. . iuly . drusa mart. . febr. dubritius b. . may. . sept. dunstan b. . may. . sept. dunstan abbot . iune . duuianus conf. . april . dympna virg. mart. . may. e eadgith queene . iuly eadsine bish. . octob. eadware virg. . decem. eanslede queene . nou. eanswide abbesse . aug. . sept. eatta bishop . octob. ebba mart. . august . ebba virg. . april . eboam martyr . iune . edbert bish. . may. edburge of vvilson . iune . edburge of edburton . iuly edburge of kent . dec. edburge of peterb . . dec. edelfled abbesse . febr. edgar king . may. edilburge queene . iuly . edilburge of brige . iuly . edilburge of barking . oct. edilhun conf. . sept. ediltrude q . iun. . oct. edilwald bish. febr. edilwald ermite . iune . edith of polleswor . . may. edith of wilton . sept. . nouemb. edmund king mart. . iune . . nouemb. edmund bishop . nouemb. edward k. mart . . march. . iune . edward k. conf. . ian. . octob. edwold conf. . aug. . nouemb. edwyn king mart . . octob. egbert king . march. egbert abbot of scot. . apr. egbert abb. of eulda . nou. egelnoth bish. . octob. egwine bish. . ian. elerius abbot . iune . eleutherius conf. . iune elsled virg. . april . elsled abbesse . ian. elfred virg. . decemb. eloquius conf. . oct. . dec. elphage b. of winchest . . sept. elphege b. of cant. . apr. . decem. eluane bishop . ianuar. emerita virg. mart. . dec. engelmund mart. . iune . eoglodius conf. . ian. erconwald b. . ap. . no. ercongote abbesse . iuly . ermenburge queene . no. ermenild queene . febr. erwald mart. . iuly . eschillus mart. . apr. ethbyn abbot . octob. ethelburge queene . sept. ethelbert king conf. . feb. ethelbert king mart. . may. ethelbrit mart. . octob. ethelred ethelsrede virg. . decemb. ethelgiue abbesse . decemb. ethelnulph king. . apr. ethelred k. mart. . apr. ethelred k. abbot . may. ethelwide queene . iuly . ethelwold k. mart. . apr. ethelwold bish. . aug. ethelwyne bish. . iune . eter●ane conf. . dec. etto bishop . iuly . eustach conf. . decemb. ewaldi mart. . octob. f fagan conf. . august . felix bishop . march. fethno conf. . march. fiaker conf. . august . finan bish. . febr. florentius bish. . nouemb. florentina virg. mart. . dec. foillan b. . sept. . o●●ob . fremund k. mart. . march. . may fridegand conf. . iuly . frideswide virg. . octob. frithstan bishop . april . frodoline abbot . march. fugatius conf. . may. fulke conf. . nouem . furseus abbot . febr. . march. g gallanus conf. . dec. gallus abbot . octob. gerard conf. . decemb. gereberne mart. . may. german bish. . may. george mart. . apr. geruadius bish. . decemb. gilbert bish. . aug. gilbert conf. . febr. gildas abbot . ianuar. gislen conf. . octob. godricke ermite . may. goluin bishop . . iuly . gotebald bish . apr. gregory pope . march. gregory conf. . decem. grimbald abbot . iuly gudwall bishop . . feb. . iune . guier conf. . apr. gunderhere mart. . iune . guthagon conf. . iuly . . oct. guithelme bish. . ianuar. guthlacke conf. . apr. h hamund bishop . march. hamunt deacon . . iune . harrucke bishop . . iuly hedde bish. . iuly . heiu . virg. . may. helena empresse . . febr. . aug. henry ●rmite . ian. henry of opslo . ian. henry of vvinchest . . aug. henry king . may. herebert conf. . march. hereswide queene . sept. higbald abbot . sept. hilda ab. . nou. . dec. heldelide abbesse . decem. hildebrand mart. . iune . himeline conf. . march. honorius bish. . sept. hugh mart. . iuly ▪ hugh b. of ely . august . hugh b. of lincolne . nou. . octob. hugh b. of roane . apr. humbert bish. . nouemb. i ieron mart. . august . inas king . febr. indractus mart. . febr. inthware virg. . decemb. iohn of beuerley . may. iohn conf. . iune . iohn abbot . iuly . iohn of le●is . febr. iohn of birlington . octob. iohn of constance . febr. iohn of saltzburge . febr. iohn of michelmburge . no. iohn of ely . iune . ionas abbot . may. ioseph of arimathia . iuly . iotaneus conf. . sept. isenger mart. . march. ithimar bish. . iune . iudocus ermite . ●anuar . . decemb. iulius mart. . iuly . iuo bish. . april . iustus bishop . . nouemb. iustinian mart. . aug. k kenelme king . iuly . kentigerne abb. . ian. keyna virgin . octob. kilian mart. . febr. . iuly . kilian con● . . nouemb. kinisdred virgins . mar. kinis●ide kinneburge queene . sept. kortil bish. . april . l lanfranke bishop . . march. . iuly . laurence bish. of canterb. . febr. laurence b. of dublyn . nouemb. lebuine bish. . iune . . nouemb. lefrone abbesse . iuly . leofgar mart. . iune . leuine bish. . iune . . nouemb. lewyne virg. mart. . iuly . liephard mart. . febr. lioba abbesse . sept. luane abbot . iuly . lucius king . decemb. lullus bish. . octob. lupus bishop . . iuly . m macharius abbot . decemb. macloue b. . nouemb. maglore con● . . octob. maine abbot . iune . malachy bish. . nou. malcaline abbot . ian. malcus bish. . aug. malcolme king . iune . marcellus bish. . sept. marchelme conf. . iuly . margaret prioresse . aug. margaret queene . iune . . nouemb. marianus conf. . april . martyrs at lichfield . ian. martyrs at benchor . iune . martyrs at bardney . mar. maude queene . august . maxentia virg. . octob. mechtild virg. . apr. meliorus mart. . ●an . mellitus bishop . apr. mellon bish. . octob. menigold mart. . feb. . iune . meresine conf. . ian. merwyne virg. . may. midane conf. . april . midwyne conf. . ianuar. milburge virg. . febr. mildred virg. . feb. . iul. milwide virg. . ian. mimborine abbot . decem. modane conf. . apr. modwene abbesse . iuly . mono mart. . octob. motiser conf. . octob. n neoth conf. . iuly . ninian b. . sept. o obodius ermite . apr. oda virg. . nou. odilia virg. . iuly . odo bish. . iuly . odwald abbot . decemb. ortrude virg. . iune . osith virg. . octob. osmane virg. . nouem . osmund b. . iuly . dec. oswald king . iune . aug. oswald bish. . febr. . april . octob. oswyn king mart. . march . august . oswyn conf. . april . otger deacon . sept. oudocke bishop . iuly owen conf. . iuly p palladius bish. . ian. pa●dwine virg. . aug. paternus conf. . apr. pattone bish. . mar●h . patricke bishop . march. patroke bishop . . iune . paul apost . . ian. . iune ▪ pauline bish. . octob. peter apost . . iune . peter abbot . ian. piran conf. . may. plechelme bish. . iuly . q qvemburg virg. . sept. queran abbot . sept. r remigius bish. . may. richard king . febr. richard of chichester . apr. . iune . richard of calabria . aug. richard ermite 〈◊〉 . nouemb. robert bish. . octob. robert abbot . iune . roger bish. . octob. romwald bish. . iune . octob. ru●in martyr . iune rumbald conf. . iune . ruthius conf. . decemb. sadoch conf. . apr. sampson bish. . iuly . scandalaus conf. . may. sebbe king . august . senan conf. . april . sethrid virg. . ian. sewall bishop ● . may. sexburge virg. . iuly sexulse bish. . ●ebr . sidwell virg. . april . sigene abbot . april . sigebert king . sept. sig●ride bish. . feb. sop●ias bish. . ian. souldier mart. . iune . socrates mart. . sept. stephen switbert bish. . march. swithin bishop . & . iuly sunaman mart. . iuly . symon apost . . octob. symon conf. . may. syra virg. . octob. t ta●win bish. . iuly . tancone bish. . febr. tathar conf. . nouemb. tecla abbesse . octob. telean bish. . nou. tetta abbesse . decemb. theodore bish . sept. theorithgid virg. . ian. thomas of canterb. . iuly . . decemb. thomas of hereford . aug. . octob. thomas of northum . . aug. thomas monke . aug. tigernake bish. . april . totnan mart. . iuly . tibbe virg. . decemb. trans● . of . vir. . may v vigane conf. . march. vintruge mart. . iune . vl●ade mart. . iune . vlsricke ermite . feb. vl●ride bishop . ian. vltan abbot . may. vnaman mart. . iuly . vodine bishop . . iuly . vrsula virgin . oct. vulganius b. . nouemb. w vvaccare . iune . walburge virg. . apr. . august . walter abbot . may. walter mart. . iune . wasnulph conf. . octob. weede abbesse . decemb. wendelin abbot . octob. wenlocke abbot . march. wenefride virg. . nou. wereburge virg. . febr. weren●ride . aug. . sep. wiaman mart. . iuly . wigbert conf. . aug. wilfride of yorke . april . . octob. wilfride of vvorcester . febr. wilfred queene . iuly . wilgise conf. . march. wilgith virg. . decemb. willeicke conf. . march. willebrord bish. . octob. . nouemb. willebald bish. . iuly . willehade bish. . nouem . wilhere mart. . iune . william of yorke . ianuar. . iune . william of rochester . may william of norwich . march. william of tyre . feb. winfride abbot . march. winibald abbot . sept. . decemb. winocke abbot . sept. . nouemb. wolstan bishop . . ianuar. . iune . wolstan mart. . may. wulf hild abbesse . sept. wulsy abbot . sept. wyre bishop . may. y yvvy deacon . octob. the avthors alleaged in this booke , out of whome the former saintes liues are gathered . abbo floriacensis adam bremensis ado. alanus copus albertus crantzius albertus stadensis albinus flaccus almannus monachus aloysius lippomannus alredus rhieuallensis andreas leucander . annales baroniani annales heluetiorum antonius demochares arnoldus mirmannus arnoldus wion asser meneuensis aymo baronius card. beda . bernardus bernardus guido breuiarium cameracense breuiarium curiense breuiarium gandauense breuiarium moguntiuum breuiarium saltzburgense breuiarium sarum breuiarium sueticum carolus sigonius chronicon cameracense chronicon cluniacense chronograph . britanniae chronicon hyberniae concilium tridentinum continuator bedae cornelius tacitus egilwardus monachus extrauagans xysti pp . . felix crolandiensis folcardus doroborniensis franciscus cattanius franciscus belleforestius franciscus maurolycus gaufredus monumetensis georgius lilius gerardus liegh gildas sapiens gotzelinus morinensis gregorius magnus gregorius turonensis gulielmus eysengrenius gulielmus malmesburiēsis gulielmus neubrigensis gulielmus tyrius gulielmus ramesius hector boetius hector deidonatus helmodius presbyter hermannus contractus herebertus rosweyde hieronymus platus historia quadripartita historia antiqua scotorum hucbaldus monachus humfridus lhuide iacobus meyrus ioannes capgrauius ioannes frosyard ioannes de kirkstat ioannes lesleius ioannes maior ioannes magnus ioannes molanus ioannes nauclerus ioannes tritemius ioannes rouse lambertus de loos laurentius dunelmensis laurentius surius marcellinus monachus matthaeus parisiensis mathaeus westmonaster . mombritius . mosander nicolaus harpesfield nicolaus sanderus olaus magnus osbertus de stokes paulus diaconus paulus morigia petrus blesensis petrus cratepolius petrus gaselinus petrus de natalibus petrus sutor petrus de viel polidorus virgilius prosper aquitanius ranulphus cestrensis registrum cantuariense registrum de hide registrum lichfeldiense registrum lincolniense registrū d. pauli londinēs . registrum petriburgense renatus benedictus rhenanus richardus vitus rodulphus agricola rodulphus monachus rogerus houeden romanum martyrologium robertus buckland robertus caenalis robertus salopiensis senatus brauonius siluester giraldus sigebertus . sophronius speculum fr. carmelitarū stephanus lusinganius symon dunelmensis theodoretus thomas walsingam turgotus episcopus vincentius . vsuardus wernerus rollewincke finis . a catalogve of those vvho have svffered death in england , for defence of the catholicke cause , synce the yeare of christ . and . of king henry the viii . his raigne , vnto this yeare . the preface in the yeare of our lord . king henry the viij . after that he had raigned . yeares in great peace and prosperity , famous throughout the christian world , both for religion , learning , and prowesse , vpon displeasure taken against the popes holines , about his diuorce with queene catherine his lawfull wife ; began vnfortunately his breach with the sea apostolicke , forbidding by proclamation vpon the . of september , all suites to be made to the court of rome . &c. and so by little and little going forward in this course now begun , and being ( through euill counsell ) incited first against the clergy of england , condemning them in a premunire ( for relaxation wherof they were forced to giue him an hūdred thousād pounds ) and then against the pope ; at last intituled himselfe head of the church of englād , taking vpon wholy the gouerment of all the ecclesiasticall state in his dominions dissoluing and suppressing monasteryes & other religious places at his pleasure . and moreouer exacting an oath , vnder payne of death , of all sortes of subiectes , against their consciences , of this his pretended supremacy . this forsaid breach with the sea of rome , thus begun , and continued afterward vnder the raygne of king henryes two children edward and elizabeth , holdeth also vntill this day in our coūtrey in their successour k. iames , to the great griefe of all the christian catholicke world . the names of those , who for refusing the said oath , or otherwise resisting this their pretenced supremacy , haue suffered vnder these forsaid princes , are set downe as followeth , according to the yeares , moneths & dayes of their deathes . vnder king henry the viii . anno christi . henrici . anno . iohn houghton prior of the carthusians at london . augustine webster prior of the carthusians at exham . robert laurence prior of the carthusians at beuall . these were put to death at tyburne the . of aprill , for denying the kings supremacy . richard reynolds monke of s. brigits order of syon . iohn hayle priest , vicar of thistleworth . humsrey midlemore william exmew charterhouse monkes of london , suffered at tyburne . iune . sebastian newdigate iohn rochester iames warnet carthusians , at yorke . may richard bere thomas greene iohn dauis thomas iohnson williā greenwood charterhouse - monkes died in prison in iune & iuly . thomas scriuan robert salt vvalter persons thomas reading vvilliam horne charterhouse monke . aug. iohn fisher card. of s. vitalis , & bishop of rochester , at the tower-hill . iune . syr thomas more knight , at the tower-hill . iuly . anno christi . henr. . . iohn pasley abbot of whaley iohn castegate monke at lancaster . march. vvilliam haddocke monke , at whaley . mar. n. n. abbot of sauley n. astbebe monke o● geruaux at lancaster in march. robert hobbes abbot of vvoborne , togeather with the prior of the same monastery & a priest , suffered at vvoborne in bedfordshire , in march. doctor maccarell with . other priests , at tyburne . march. vvilliam thrust abbot of fountaynes adam sodbury abbot of geruaux at tyburne in iun. william would prior of birlington n. n. abbot of riuers anno . henr. . antony brorby of the order of s. francis , strangled with his owne gildle , at london . iuly . thomas cort franciscan , famished to death in prison . iuly . thomas belcham of the same order , died in newgate . august . anno . henr. . iohn forest frier obseruant , confessour to queene katherine , in smithfield . may. iohn stone an augustine friar , at canterbury this yeare . two and thirty religious men of the order of s. francis being cast into prison for denying the k. supremacy , died there through cold , stench , & famine , in aug. sept. and october . n. crost priest n. collins priest at tyburne . n. holland layman anno . henr. . adrian fortescue thomas dingley knights of s. iohns of ierusalē , at tower hill . iul. griffith clarke priest n. mayre monke at s. thomas wateringes . iuly . iohn tauers doctor of diuinity iohn harris priest . iuly . iohn rugge william onion priests , at reading , . nouemb. hugh faringdon abbot of reading , at reading . nouemb. richard whiting abbot of glastēbury iohn thorne roger iames monks of glastēbury at glastenb . nouem . iohn beck abbot of colchester , at colchester . decemb. anno . henr. . vvilliam peterson william richardson priestes , at calais . april . thomas abell edward powell priestes , in smithfield . iuly . rich. fetherstone laurēce cocke prior of dancaster william horne monke edmund bromley priest giles horne gentleman . at tyburne . august . clement philpot gentleman . darby genninges layman robert bird layman anno . henr. . dauid genson knight of the rhodes . . iuly . anno . henr. . german gardener priest iohn lark priest iohn ireland p 〈…〉 est at tyburne . march. thomas asbey layman vnder queene elizabeth . anno . elizabethae . iohn felton gentleman , in s. paules churh-yard . august . anno . elizabeth . . iohn story doctor of the canon-law , at tyburne . iune . anno . elizabeth . . thomas woodhouse priest , at tyburne . iune . anno . elizab. . cvthbert mayne the first priest of the seminaryes , at launston in cornwall . nouemb. anno . elizab. . iohn nelson priest , at tyburne . february . thomas sherwood gentleman . febr. anno . elizab. . everard hanse priest , at tyburne . iuly . edmund campian priest of the society of iesus . alexander briant priest of the same society of iesus . at tyburne . dec. raph sherwyn priest anno . elizab. . iohn pa 〈…〉 e priest , at chelemsford in essex . april . thomas ford priest. iohn shert priest. at tyburne . may. robert iohnson priest. thomas cottam priest of the society of iesus . william filby priest. at tiburne . may luke kirby priest. laurence iohnson priest william lacy priest richard kirkman priest at yorke . august . iames tompson priest , at yorke in nouemb. anno . elizab. . richard thirkill priest , at yorke . may. iohn slade laymā , at winchest . . oct. iohn body layman , at andouer . nouemb. william hart priest , at yorke . iames laburne gentleman , at lancaster . anno . elizab. . vvilliam carter layman , at tyburne . ian. george haddocke priest iohn mundine priest iames fen priest at tyburne . feb. thomas emersord priest iohn nutter priest iames bele priest iohn finch layman at lancaster . . april . richard white layman , at vvrixam in wales . octob. anno . elizab. . thomas aufield priest. thomas vvebley layman . at tyburne . iuly . hugh taylour priest marmaduke bowes layman at yorke . margaret clitherow cittizen of yorke , at yorke in march. anno . elizab. . edward transam priest nicol. vvoodfine priest at tyburne . ianuary . richard sergeant priest vvilliam tompson priest at tyburne . april . iohn addams priest iohn low priest at tyburne . octob. robert debdale priest robert anderton priest vvilliam marsden priest at tyburne . francis ingleby priest , at yorke . stephen rousam priest , at glocester . iohn finglow priest. anno . elizab. . mary queene of scotland , at foderinghay-castle . febr. thomas pilchard priest at dorcester in march. iohn sandes priest , at glocester . iohn hamley priest , at chard . alexander crow priest , at yorke . robert sutton priest , at stafford . edmund sikes priest. galriel thimbleby priest. george douglas priest. anno . elizab. . vvlliam deane pr. henry vvebly p. at milēdgreene by lōdō . . au. vvilliam gunter priest , at the theater by london . . august . robert morton priest hugh more gentlemā in lincolnes inne fields by lōdō . au. thomas acton alias ho 〈…〉 ord priest at clarkenwell in london . august . richard clarkeson priest thomas felton lay brother of the order of the minimes at hounslow . aug. richard liegh priest hugh morgan priest edward shelly esquire richard flower laymā at tyburne . aug. robert martyn layman iohn rocke layman margaret vvard gent. edward iames priest raph crochet priest. at chichester . oct. robert wilcockes priest edward campian priest christopher buxton priest at canterbury . octob. robert vvidmerpoole layman vvilliam wigges priest , at kingston . octob. iohn robinson priest , at ipswich . octob. iohn vveldon priest , at milendgreene by london . october . vvilliam har●ley priest richard vvilliās priest at halliwell by london . octob. robert sutton layman at clarkenwell . oct. vvilliam spenser priest. edward burden priest. iohn hewit priest. robert ludlam priest. richard sympson priest at darby . ni 〈…〉 las garlicke priest william lampley layman at glocester . anno . elizab. . george nicols priest richard yaxley priest thomas belson gentlemā at oxford . iul. humsrey vp-richard laymā iohn annas priest. robert da●by priest. anno . elizab. . christopher bales priest , in fleetstreet in london . march. alexander blake layman in grayes inne lane in london . march. nicolas horner layman in smithfield in london . march. miles gerard priest francis dickinson priest at rochester . aprill . antony middleton priest at clarkenwell in london . may. edward iohnes priest in fleetstreet in london . may. anno . elizab. . edmund geninges priest swithin vvelles gent. in grayes inne fields . dec. eustach vvhite priest polidor plasden priest brian lacy gentlemā . at tyburne . dec. iohn mason layman . sydney hodgson laymā momfort scot priest george bisley priest in fleestreet . iuly . williā dickinson priest at winchester . iuly . raph milner layman edmund duke priest richard holiday priest. at durham . iohn hogge priest richard hill priest. vvilliam pikes layman at dorcester . anno . elizab. . vvilliā patteson pr. at tyburne . ia. thomas portmore priest in s. paules churchyard in london . febr. roger ashton priest , at tyburne . iune . anno . elizab. . iames burden laymā , at winchest . . mar. antony page priest , at yorke . april . ioseph lampton priest at newcastle . iune . william dauis priest , at beumaris in wales , in septemb. edward waterson priest. anno . elizab. . vvilliam harington priest , at tyburne . febr. iohn cornelius mohun priest of the society of iesus . thomas bosgraue gentleman at dorcester . iuly . patricke samon layman iohn carey layman iohn ingram priest. thomas boast priest at newcastle . iames oldbaston priest. anno . elizab. . robert southwell priest of the society of iesus , at tyburne . march. henry walpole priest of the society of iesus at yorke . apr. alexander raulins priest george errington gent. william knight gentleman william gibson gentleman at yorke . henry abbots layman william freeman priest. anno . elizab. . n. auleby priest. n. thorpe priest. anno . elizab. . iohn buckley alias iones priest of the order of s. francis , at s. thomas waterings . iuly . anno . elizab. . thomas snow priest christopher robinson priest richard horner priest at yorke . n. grimston layman n. britton layman . anno . elizab. christopher vvharton priest , with a venerable matrone at yorke . may. iohn rigby , gentleman , at s. thomas waterings . iuly . robert nutter priest edward thuinge priest at lancaster in iune . thomas sprot priest thomas hunt priest at lincolne in iuly . thomas palaser priest iohn norton gentleman at durham in iuly . n. talbot gentleman . anno . elizab. . iohn pibush priest , at tyburne . february . roger filcocke priest of the society of iesus . marke barkworth priest of the order of s. benedict . at tyburne . feb. anne lyne gentlewoman widdow robert middleton priest. thrustan hunt priest. at lancaster . anno . elizab. . francis page priest of the society of iesus . thomas tichborne priest at tyburne . april . robert watkinson priest iames ducket layman n. harrison priest n. bates gentleman at yorke in april . anno . elizab. . & vltimo . laurence richardson alias anderton priest at tyburne . february . vnder king iames. anno . iacob . reg. . laurence bayly layman , at lancaster in march. iohn suker priest robert grissold laymā at warwicke in august . anno . iacobi . thomas vvilborne layman , at yorke . anno . iacobi . richard oldcorne priest of the society of iesus . at worcester . . apr. raph ashley layman at worcester . . apr. henry garnet priest , superiour of the society of iesus in england , in s. paules church-yard . may. anno . iacob . . robert drury priest , at tyburne . february . anno . iacob . . matthew flathers priest at yorke . mar. george geruis priest of the order of s. benedict , at tyburne . april . thomas garnet priest of the society of iesus at tyburne . iune . finis . certaine corrections and additions in the late english martyrs , which came to the authors knowledg after the printing of the former catalogue . anno . adde , iohn risby , and thomas rike . anno . adde n. hamelton priest. at yorke adde rob. bicardicke layman at yorke anno . adde , richard langley esquire at yorke . decemb. eodē anno put iohn sands , & stephē rousam in anno . anno . hugh morgan priest , corrige , gentleman . ibidem , edw. shelley esquire , corrige , gentleman . anno . roger ashton priest , corrige , gentleman . anno . adde , iohn watkinson ( aliâs vvarcoppe ) layman , at yorke . adde , anno . matthew hayes priest , at yorke . anno . dele illa verba , with a venerable matron . anno . iohn pibush priest , at tyburne , corrige , at s. thomas vvaterings . anno . laurence richardson , alias anderton priest , corrigesie , william richardson priest &c. anno . adde , william browne layman , at rippon . anno . richard oldcorne , corrige , edward oldcorne &c. yf , besides these , any other errours haue heerin escaped , either in names or syrnames , or in the yeares , or places of their sufferings ; i humbly desire the catholicke reader to pardon the same , and of himselfe in charity to amend them : to whose prudent iudgment , & censure of holy chvrch , i submit the whole . i. w. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * bar on . in annal. eccl. an . . ex antiquis monum . eyseng . cent . . p. . dist . . . capgrau . in catal. sanctor . britan. registr . monast. glascon . * bed. l. . hist. an. c. . in fin . mat. vvestmonast . in histor . anglic. . rouse de nomine ciuit. lichfeldiae . humfr. lhuide infragm . descrip . b 〈…〉 an . * io. capgrau . in catalog . sanctor . britan. anno domini . ex antiquis monum . prouinc . cornub. * io. le●●●us epis . rossen . l. . ●ist . scot. arnold . wion in addit . ad lib. . lig. vit●e lit . 〈◊〉 . a 〈…〉 ed. ri●uall . in eius vita . pol. virgil. l. . matt. paris . an . . surius tomo . vit . sanct. hac die . petr. in catal. rom. martyr . & alij . * ven. beda lib. . histor . gent. angl. cap. . arnold . vvion in appēd . ad lib. . lig . vi●● . beda lib. . ●ist . angl. cap. . . . . et lib. . cap. . catal. episco . lōdinens . apud wi● l. . lig . vit● . matth. westmonast . an domini . gauf . mo 〈…〉 ▪ l. . cap. . & . calendar secundū vs 〈…〉 s●● 〈◊〉 ●ac die . bed. l. . ●ist . cap. . ioan. tritem . de vir . illstr. polid. virgil. l. . & . ●istor . angl. beda l. . cap. . & . & l. . cap. . molan . in addit . ad vsuar. sigebert . in chrou . de hac transl. vid. calend . se● . vsum sarum , hac die . * catal. abbatis . monast. brigens . bed. l. . cap. . ●ist . angl. ranulph cestrens . in eius vita . matth. vvest . anno . florent . vvigor . in chron. anno molan . in addit . ad vs●a . hac die . & alii . bed. l. . cap. . & l. . cap. . mat. pa●is . & vvestm . anno domini ▪ molan . in addit . ad vs●a . io. lest. epis. ros. l. . de gest . sco. chron. britan. & vviō in mart. benedict . hac die molan . in addit . ad vsuar. & alij . * acta s. wenefridae apud surtom . . . nouemb. breuiar . sec. vsum sarum in lect . s. wenefridae . & r. b. in eius vita m. s. in collegio angl. audomarop . * bed. l. . cap. . wernerus rolwincke in fasciculo temporū . vvion . lib. . ligni vitae . paulus morigia ord . iesu. de vir. illustr . monac . plat. l. . de bono stat . rel. vita eius extat in veter . codice antuerpiae , in custodia cuiusdam nobilis viri , vbi festiuitas eius ponitur hac die . * matth. vvest . an . dom. . pol. vir. l. . hist. angl. ranulph cestrens . lib. cap. . & alij antiquiores . petrus in catalog . l. . cap. . vincent . in speculo . l. . cap. . . . & . molan . & mart. rom. hac die . * adam bremens . in hist. su 〈…〉 ca. l. . cap. . cranz . in metrop . & baron . in annal. ad annū citat . matth. vvest . an . . & mat. paris . eode an . pol. vir. l. . sur. tom . . malmes . & florēt in hist. calend. sec. vsū sarum hac die , & alij omnes . io mag. l. . in histor . goth. c. . molan . in addit . ad vsu. mart. rom. & breuiar . sueticum hac aie . * rob. bucklād in eius vita ex antiquis monumentis monast. rams . in vitis ss . mulierū angl. pag. . append. ad cron. frodoar . abb. arnold . vvion l. . ligni vitae in mart. bened. hac die . * matth. vvest . an . . in hist. angl pol. vir. l. . arnold . vvion l. . ligni vitae in catalog . epis●op . vvintonienfium . * ven. bed. in vita s. cuthber . cap. . & . et lib. . cap. . & lib. . cap. . hist. angl. io. capg . in catal. sanctorū britan. antiq. monumēta ec. beneuēt . triūph . eccl. col. anglic. romae . ex anti . monum . prou. monum . & in vita s. keyn . virg. apud r. bucklād , de vit . ss . mulierum angl. theodoret . in epist. ad tim. & in psal. . & lib. . de curād . graec. affect . sophron. serm. de natal . apost . arnol. mirmā . in theat . * hector boet. de gest . sco. ioā . lest. in hist. scot. & alij . * bed. in hist. gēt . angl. l. . cap. . molan . in appēd . ad vsuar. * prosp. in chron. an . dom. . & bed. l. . cap. . barō . tom . . annal. an . * vē . beda lib. . histor. angl. c. . matth. vvest . an . . pol. vir. l. . hist. angl. gul. neubrig . in hist. mart. rom. molan . in addit . ad vsuar. & alij hac die . io. trit . de vir . illustr . ord . d. benedict . l. . cap. . pet. cratepol . de epis. germ. vvion in mart. bened. bed. l. . histo . angl. cap. . tritem . de vir . illustr . l. . cap. . ioā . lesl. epi. ros. l. . de gest . scot. notes for div a -e laur. dunel . in eius vita apud sur. tom . . catal. scripto . britan. marian. scotus in chronic. girald . cambr. in histor. chron. hyber . rom. martyr . mol. & alij omnes hac . die . * aliter . hitres in duno , &c. sigeb . in chron. bed. l. . hist. angl. cap. . . & . matth. vvest . in hist. pol. vir. l. . cap. . . . sur. tom . . de vit . ss . egilwardus in eius vita apud sur. tom . . . octob. vvion in notis ad mart. bened. . octob. author cōtinua . hist. ven . bed. vincent . in spec . l. . cap. . rob. buckl . in eius vita lib. m. s. de vitis ss . mulier . angl. stous in annal. sub gul. rufo . anno . . molan . in ad● it . ad 〈◊〉 . ar . gul. neubrig . l. . cap. arnold . wion in martyr . 〈◊〉 . & alij ●●es hac die . mola 〈…〉 n addit . ad vsuar. & in indic . ss . belgij hereb . in sastis ss . herebertus in fastis ss . hac die . * gul. malmes . in eius vita . io. capg . in catal. ss . britania . * pol. vir. 〈◊〉 . . 〈◊〉 . cap. . matth. vvest . an . dom. . o●l . malmes . derebus gestis regū ang. in ina. arnol. vvion l. . ligni vitae . io. sto. in anna. angl de regno vvestsaxonum . ●abulae eccl. s. petri romae . sur tom . 〈◊〉 . vi● . ss . democh. l. . de sa 〈…〉 if . mis s 〈…〉 . mart. rom. wi 〈…〉 l. . ●igni 〈◊〉 molā . & ●ij ●nes hac die . martyr rom. marcel lin . l. . calend. se● . vs 〈…〉 m sarū & molan . hac die . sigeb . 〈◊〉 chron. . almannus monach. de eius translat . molan in addit . ad vsuard . hac die m●nalog . grae. . maij. * bed. l. . cap. . vvion . l. . ligni vitae . ingulph . de croyland . hereb . rosweyd in fast . ss . molā . in indi●ulo ss . belgij & in addit . ad vsuard . hac die . † wiccij ven. bed. l. . cap. . & in epitome . sur. to . . in vita s. oswaldi ● . octob. & alij . * gul. tyrius lib. cap. . & l. . cap. . wion● l. . ligni vitae , in catal. epis. tyriensium . * rob. buckl . l. m. s. de vitis ss . mulierū anglie . in vita s. keynae virg . fol. . * t●item . l. . d●vir . illustr . ord . d. benedict . cap. . matth. vvest . an . . vvion . . ligni vitae . matth. west . an . do. . vincent . in specul . litaniae sec. vsum sarun . molā . in ad●it ad vsuard . hhc ●ie . * herbipolis . petrus gaseli 〈…〉 . in suo martyrologio hac die . democh. l. de sacrif missae cap. . tomo . wion in martyr . bened. * io. lest. epis. r●ssens● . . de gest . scot. arnol. wion in addit . ad l. . lig●i vit● . ioan. & olaus magnus in hist. goth. l. cap. . & . molan in addit . ad vsuard . hac die ioan. l 〈…〉 s episcop . ros. l. . de gest . scot. cranz . in metrop . cap. . l. . vvion hac die in martyr . bened. beda l. . hist. angl cap. . & . gul. malmes . in histor . martyr . rom. molan . & alij omnes . hac ●ie . * ad murum . * ioan. tri tem . lib. cap. . wion l. . ligni vitae in catal. epis. saltzburg . * bed. l. . cap. . . & . matth. vvest . an . . & . molā . ●n indi●u●o ss . belgij pol. vir. l. . histo . angl. m●l●n . in 〈◊〉 . ●d vsuard . rob. b 〈…〉 l. in ●ius vita l. m. s. pag. . † aliter wilfrick . math. west . & paris . in historijs ad ●mū do. . * vē . beda l. . cap. . trit . l. . c. ▪ arnol. wion l. . ligni vitae . molan . in addit . ad vsuar. . it●●ij . sigeb . in chron. an . . sur. to . . in vit . ss . † monasterium ●●nelockense . gotzel . monac . in ●ius vi●a . ma. west . an . do. . pol. vir. l. . histo . vincent . in specul . l. . petr. in catal. gul. malmes . in hist. angl. & alij omnes ●ac die . bed. in epit. & in hist. cap. . & deinceps . item in hist. lib. . vvest . martyr . rom. molā . & alij ōnes hac die . gas●l . in catal . ss . et in m. s. calendar . wion . in martyr . bened. sur. to . . bed. l. . hist. c. . ay 〈…〉 ode g●st . fra. l. . c. . trit . de vir . ill 〈…〉 st . petr. in catal. l. cap. . & alij . * bellef . in cosmogr . democh. de sacr. missae cap. . tomo . wion l. . lignivitae in catal. epis. constant. * beda l. . hist. angl tritem . l. . devir . illustr . ord . d. benedict . cap. . matth. vvest . an . . * rob. buckl . in vita s. wereb . in libr. de vitis ss . mulierū anglic. senat. brauon . in eius vita . wion in mart. bened. hac die . sur. to . . . octob. calend. sec. vsum sarum . notes for div a -e gaufr . monum . in hist. britonū pol. virg . l. . mat. west . an . . gir. cambr. in eius vit . breuiar . sec. vsū sar. alijque omnes hac die . marty . rom. bed. l. . cap. . sur. tom . . vit . ss . molā . in indiculo ss . belgij tritem . de vir . illustr . cranz . metrop . l. . & alij beda in epit. & in hist. l. . ap . & deinceps . matth. vvest . an . . marty . rom. & alij hac die . marcel . in vita s. simiberti cap. . molan . in addi● . ad vsuar . et in indic . ss . belgij sur. to . . molan . in addit . ad vsuar . et in indic . ss . belgij wion hac die , & alij sur. in eius vita . bed. l. . cap. . histor . aymo de gest . frācorum l. . cap. . wion hac die , & alij * alcuinus in vita s. wil●ebror . apud sur. tom . . die . nouē●ris & in eius vita . ioan. lesla us episcop . ros. l. . de rebus scoticis . petr. cratepol . de epis. ●ern . molā . in addit . ad vsuara . gasel . hac ●ie . &c. math. vvest . an . . pol. virg . l. . hist. ranulph . cestrens . l. . hist. c. . rob. buck. de vitis earū hac die . * acta s. wenefr . . nouem . apud sur. & breui . sec. vsum sarum in lectio . s. wenefr . & antiq . monum . cambriae . vē . beda l. . cap. . & l. . cap. . vvest . an . . marty . rom. molan . & alij . * vē . beda l. . histo . cap. . math. west . in stor . histo . tritem . l. . cap. . wion . l. . ligni vitae in catal. episcop . eboracēs . molan . in addit . ad vsuar. & in indic . ss . belgij antiqua monum . hyber . vē . beda in epit. & l. . hist. cap. . west . an . . . & paris . ibi . & alij . bed. l. . cap. . paul. 〈…〉 c. de gest . ●ongobard . l● . cap. . & . mart. rom. breuiar . sec. vsi●m sarum . et alij ōnes hac die . * hect. boeri 〈…〉 s in ●ist . scot. ioā . ●est . l. . ilid . * arnol. wion . l. . ligni vitae . de script . ord. d. benedict . * matt. west . an . do. . continuator hist. v●n . bedae l. . cap. . & in . epit. an . . arnold . mirman . in theat . conuers . gentium doroth. insynopsi . baron . i ad no● . 〈◊〉 martyr . rom. hac die . * arnold . w 〈…〉 n l. . 〈…〉 ligno ●it● 〈◊〉 catal. scrip . ord. d. benedict . & ali . prosp. aquit . insua hist. mar. scot. an . . sige. in chron. an . . guliel . neubrig . l. . cap. . ioan. capgr . in catal. ss . britāniae sur. in eius vita . tom . . pol. virg . l. . histo . angl. westan . . martyr . rom. & alij ōnes hac die . vincent . in speculo l. . c. . & . wion . l. . ligni vitae . bernard . in vita s. malach. * ranulph . cestrens . l. . c. . & alij nostrat . vē . beda l. . cap. . . . . & . abbo floriac . inprolog . ad vit . s. edmūdi regis . vincent . in speculo sur. to . . hac die cū mart. r●m . & ali som. i bus . bed. l. . cap. . hist. angl. * cranz . metrop . l. . cap. . wion . l. . ligni vitae in catal. e●is . werdensium . * matth. west . ad ānum d. . in hist. maiori ang. * contin . epitom . vē . bedae an . . pol. virg . l. . hist. west . an . . wiō . l. . ligni vitae . & alij . math. west . an . . pol. vir. petr. in catal. l. . c. . et . vinc. in speculo tritem . de vir. illustr . l. . & . hier. platus l. . de bono status religiosi . . capgr . in catal. ss . britā . gul. nubrig . l. . cap. . geor. lilius in hist. anno . vincent . in specul . * ingulph . de croyland in histor . . stous annal. angl de reg. west sax . pag. . arnold . wion in mart. benedict . & oasel . ex antiq . s 〈…〉 monum . hac ai● . io. capgr . in catal. ss . britā . molan . in addit . vsuard . wion haec die in mart. benedict . * io. maior de gestis scot. l. . cap. . ex antiq . scot. monum . io. lest. l. . histo . scot. albert. cranz . metrop . l. . c. . wion in mart. bened. hac die . gul. malmes . de pontif . angl. bed. l. . cap. . calendar . sed . vsum sarum hac die . catal. episcop . sireburgensium . notes for div a -e * in vita . s. ri 〈…〉 ij . abbatis apud sur. to . . die . apr. de vitis ss . * rob. buckland in eius vita l. man. serful . . de vitis ss . mulierū angl. matth. west . & paris . an . dom. . sur. to . . breu. sec. vsion sarū . mart. rom. & alij . bed. to . . operū . sur. to . . vit. ss . in vita s. columb . mart. rom. & molan . * matth. paris . in hist. maiori ad an. . ex antiq . monum . britanniae . molan . in addit . ad vsuard . ●ac die . antiq. monum . regni scotiae . * adam . bremens . i● hist. gothorū l. . cap. ● . baronius to . . annal. mart. rom. hac die . bernard . in vita s. malach. * gul. malmes . l. . de reg . angl. symon dunelm . in chron . . asser meneuēs . an . . * io. les● . episco . rossens . l. . de gestis scot. wion in addit . ad l. . ligni vit . 〈◊〉 . * ioan. de kirkst . at in monasticis eyseng . cent . . part . . dist . . * matth. west . an . d. . & . pol. virgil. l. . ranulph . cestrensis l. . c. . de offie . & missa defunctorū ioan. tritem . de vir . illust. l. . cap. . lest. l. . hist. in fine . wion in mart. benedict . hac die . ioan. magnus in hist. goth. l. . c. . a nnales sueuici & breua . suev . faelix croland . gul. ramefius & petr. blesens . in eius vit . west . an . . sur. to . . pol. vir. l. . mar. rom. & molan . * mattl 〈…〉 . west . in hist. 〈…〉 aiori and an . christ. . chron. cluniacense &c. 〈◊〉 . * rob. buchland in eius vital . m. s. de . vit . ss . mulierum angl. ex . antiq . momon . galliae . * osbert . monac . in vita s. dunstani apudsur . to . . . maij. west . an . do. . * card. baron . in annal. tom . . matth. west . an . & . paris . an . . pol. vigil . l. . hist. gulielm . mal mes . de re gib . angl. matth. west . an . do. . arnold . wion in mart. benedict . calend. sec. vsum sarum hac die . hist , conuent . s. panta . impressa coloniae . . lidg. monac . buriens . in eius vita . molan . in addit . ad vsua . ●ac die . gerard. leigh in rudimentis insigniū de albano . * arnol. wion . l. . ligni vit . de script . ord. d. benedict . sixtus senens . in biblioth . lib. . * . trit . l. . c. . arnol. wion in append. ad l. 〈◊〉 . ligni vitae sur. to . . bac die . pol. vir. l. . mar. rom. & molā . in addit . ad vsuard . ioan. capgr . in catal. ss . augl . breu. sarū & alij ōnes hac die . vē . beda l. . histo . c. . . et . & epit. ad an . dom. . west . an . . . . & . bed. l. . bist . c. . petr. crat●pol . de epise . germa●iae . trit . l. . c. . & l. . c. . de vir . illustr . wion . hac die . io. trit . de vir . illust. & seript . eccles. syxt . senens . in biblioth . l. . pol. virg. l. histor . mart. rom. & molan . hac die . * matth. west . in hist. maiori ad an . do. . & . mart. rom. & ōnes alij ●ac die . sea. chrō . an . do. . ingulph . de croland in histor . marian. scot. & io. stous in anna 〈…〉 bus . bed. l. . c. . & . & l. . c. . 〈◊〉 . . sigeb . in chron. mart. rom. & alij omnes hac die . bed. l. . c. . & l. . cap. . marcell . in vita s. simibert . molan . & alij . matth. west . an . dom. . andr. leucāder & gotzelin . in eius vita . calend. sec. vsum sarum . * chron. lamberti de loos monach. camerac . ex antiq . monum . eccles. wācor●ens . & attrebatensis . * io. les● . epis. rossensis l. . de gest . scot. ex antiq . monum . wion . in addit . ad l. ligni vitae . * io. trit . de vir . illustr . ord. d. bened. l. . c. . anton. demochar . l. . sacrific . missae . arnold . wion in mart. hac die . mart. romanū die . maij. * albert. cranz . metrop . l. . ca. . wion l. . ligni vitae in catalog . episcop . werdēs . * acta . s. wenefr . virginis in diu 〈…〉 codic . & in . lectiō . eiusdem sanctae , in breuiar . sar. io. trit . l. . de vir . illust. bed. l. . hist. c. . mart. rom. molan . & omnes hac die . notes for div a -e arnol. wion in mart. benedict . ex chrō . britan. molan . in addit . ad vsua . bed. l. . c. . sigebert . in chron. vincent . in specul . & wion . hac die . he●iber . rosweyd . soc. iesu in tab. fast . ss . hac die . * chron. hyber● . & ●ntiqn●om●m . lee●●s . t●●sco . io. mel● . in ad li● . ad vst 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . ●est . 〈◊〉 . . de●●st . scot. 〈◊〉 da●idem . regem . * bed. l 〈◊〉 . ●ist . ●a● . . & in epito ad an. do. . pol. vi● . l. . mat. w●st . an . . et . * matth. west . 〈◊〉 . do. . & . & . * he●t . boet. de gest . sco. & les● . ibid. 〈◊〉 . . histor . & alij . vē . beda . l. . 〈◊〉 . . et in vita s. cuthb . mart. rom. molan . & alij omnes hac die . matth. west . an . . gauf● . monum . l. . c. . et . ●ist . vet . brit. humfr l 〈…〉 i de i 〈…〉 ag . des●ript . britan. be 〈…〉 . . c. ▪ . . & . 〈…〉 . de vi● . i 〈…〉 r. 〈…〉 . s●c . vs● s●r. m 〈…〉 t. r 〈…〉 . m●●ā . & alij . registr . e 〈…〉 e 〈◊〉 . mar● . in vita s. simiberti apud s●ri●m . mart. rom. molā . in addit . ad vsuar . et in indic . ss . belgij b. rhena . in ●ist . german . l. . eys●● . ce 〈…〉 . 〈◊〉 . part . . mart. rom. vsuard . annales heluet. matth. west . an . . author cōtin . eius hist. l. . cap. . trit . de vir . illust. molan . hac die . arnol. wion l. . ligni vit . cap. . ex antiq . monum . eccles. dunelmens . ioan. cap●●r . in catal. s● . britan. molā . in addit . a● vsuar . matth. pa●is . dei●● canonizat . an . do. . matth. west . an . do. . pol. vir. l. . histor . mat p r. an . . & . sto. in annal. in vita guliel . primi an . . * matth. west . in hist. maiori ad an. do. . & de eius electione ibid. * acta . s. edithae iunior is apud sur. to . . die . sept. matth. west . in hist. &c. sur. to . . de vit . ss . ●a●●ie . molā . in adait . ad vsuar . et in indic . ss . belgij rob. b●ckl . in eius vita . mart. rom. & alij o 〈…〉 es . spec 〈…〉 n ●ratr . carmelit . io. molā . in addit . ad vsuar. hac die . matth. west . an . . & . pol. vir. l. . hist. ioan. lidgate monac . buriēsis in eius vita . vid. respons . ad d. cooke an . . edi ▪ 〈◊〉 . . 〈◊〉 . . rom. mart. molan . & alij omnes hac die . io. molā . in ad●i● . ●d vsuar. regist. ecclesi● elnonēs . matth. pa●is . in ●ist . ang. an . . . & . catal. episco . eboracēs . s 〈…〉 r. to . . hac die . gul. ma 〈…〉 s. in hist. angl. petr. in catal. l. pol. vir. l. . mar● . rom. molā . & alii . trit . de script . e●●l . l. . vincent . in specul . lib. . gazelin . m●lā . & wion hac die . in s●is martyrologijs . west . an . . pol. vir. lib. . cōtin . vē . bed. l. . 〈◊〉 . ● , molā . 〈◊〉 . capgr . in catal. ss . britan. girald . cambr. & alij . matth. west & paris . an . . guliel . ne●brig . l. . cap. . item in vita s. roberti abbat . mart. rom. & alij . m 〈…〉 nal . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 die . 〈◊〉 . in ad li● . ad vsuard . pol. viz. l. . hist. a●gl . io. sto in a 〈…〉 l. a●gl . in ed 〈…〉 . . reg 〈…〉 . e 〈…〉 . w●●des . io. capg . in catal. ss . ang. thom. mo 〈…〉 m. in 〈◊〉 vita . molan . in ad●it . ad vsuar. * pol. vir. l. histo . angl. matth. west . an . . et . vincent . in specul . l. . c. . petr. in catal. l. . c. . et alij . wion l. . ligni vitae . bed. l. . hist. c. . west . an . . sur. in eius vita to . . guliel . mabnes . de pont. angl. in adelmo . mart. rom. & alij . greg. l. . registr . epist. . red. l. . ●●p . . & deinceps breuiar . six . vsum sarum . pont. vi●un . gauf monum . in hist. britan. pol. vir. matth. west . cestrens . & alij . matth. west . an . . con●in . eius bist . l. . cap. . & . bar. in annot . ad mart. rom. bac die . trit . devir . illustr . l. . c. . et l. . c. . tabul●e canobij s. benig . prope genuam . * arnol. wion l. . ligni vitae de script . ord . diui benedict . molan . passim in addit . ad vsuar. * ex antiq . monum . cornu . et registr . eiusdem eccl. ibid. * de ea vid. ven . be● . l. . c. . degest . angl. hulus meminit arnol● . wion in append. ad l. . lig . vita . matth. west . an . . i● . capg . in catal. ss . britā . author contin . hist. ven. bed. l. . cap. . notes for div a -e * ex monumentis monast. petri de burgo , & registr . lichfield . * turgot . episc. s. andreae in eius vita . hector deidonatus l. . hist. scot. molan . in append . ad vsuar rob. buc. in vita s. margar. reg. sco. * ex archiuio eccl. arcens . & inscriptione ipsius sepulchri . matth. west . in hist. maiori ad 〈◊〉 . . calend ▪ sec. rs 〈…〉 sarum hae die , sto. in vita s. edou . conf. vē . bed. in epit. sigebert in chron. marian. scot. l. . hist. an . . t●i. d●vi● . illustr . mart. rom. a●● , vsuard . & alij . io. moiā . i● addi● . advsuar . & in i●di● . ss . belgij sur. to . . in vita s. bonifacij io. molā . in ad●i● . ad vs●ar . 〈◊〉 die . sigebert . in chrō . an . do. . sur. . . vit. ss . & alij . sur. to . . rom. mart. & molā . hac die . matth. paris . an . . . & . de eius miraculis . matth. paris . an . . & . wion hac die . in suo martyr . malmes . & flor. in hist. angl. pol. vir. lib. . guliel . neubrig . l. . cap. . & . molā . in addit . ad vsuard . catal. epis. eboracēs . io. t●it . l. . 〈◊〉 . . le . 〈◊〉 . ill●st . ord . d. be●e li 〈…〉 . wion in mart. hac di● . & l. . lig . vitae . † colme . bed. l. . c. . & . et in epic. an . . he●m . contr. in chron. an . . mart. rom. baron . t●m . . annal. et ōnes alij . hac die . sur. to . . in eius vita . nou. registr . monast. s. edmūd . buriens . abbo floriacēs . in eius vita . pet. in catal. osbert . de stoke in eius vita . breuiar . sec. vsum sarum . mart. rom. molan . & alij hac die . bed. l. . c. . & . herebert . rosweyd . in fast . ss . hac . die . wion l. . ligni vita . * vē . bed. in vita s. cuthber . & l. . c. hist. angl. * arnol. wion in addit . ad mart. bened. l . & in vita s. liobae . * io. capg . in catal. ss . brita . item in act. s. wenef . . nouēbr . wion . in addit . ad l. . ligni vit . maurol . in mart. hac die pet. in catal. l. . c. . wiō in suo mart. hac etiam die . petr. in catal. vincent . in specul . pol. vir. west . an . . molan . in addit . ad vsuar. molan . in addit . ad vsua . & in i● d 〈…〉 . ss . ●e●gij hac die . pe●r . de v●●● . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . ●oc . in ei●s vi●a . renat . ●ened . in vit . ss . ga 〈…〉 . belforest . in descri . armori● . matth. west . & paris . an . . & . sur. to . . die . apr. breuiar . sec. vsum sarum . hac die . matth. west . ad an . do. . catal. episco . herefor . petr. in catal. l. . c. vlt. west . in hist. tho. walfingh . in ●pod . neustr. molan . in addit . ad vsuard . io. sto. in annal. sub edou . primo . * io. less . l. . de reb . gest . scot. wion in append . ad . l. . ligni vit . & alij . * matth. west . an . . & . arnol. wion l. . lig . vit . in catal. episco . eliens . sur. to . . . mart. pol. vi● . lib. . breuiar . sec. vsi●m sarum et epist. innocēt . pp . . matth. west . ad an . . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . hac die . albin . flaccus in vita s. willebr . molā . in indic . ss . belgij hac die . gild. epist. de excid . britan. bed. l. r. c. . gaufr . monum . lib. . sur. tom . . mart. rom. bed. gild. gaufr . paris . & alij citati supra . io. molā . addit . ad vsuar . et in indic . ss . belgij hac die . † s. audry . ven. bed. l. . c. . & . item in chron. de sex aetat . trit . de vir . illust. vincent . in specul . sigebert . in chron mart. rom. molan . & alij . omnes hac die . io. molā . in indic . ss . belgij & in addit . ad vsua . hac die . gild. de excid . brit. matth. paris . & west . passim . io. lidgat . monac . buriēs . in eius vita . gerard. liegh . in rudim . infigniū . io. molā . in indic . ss . belgij sur. to . . mart. rom. & alij . omnes hac die . marcel . in vita s. simibert . io. molā . in indic . ss . belgij * io. trit . l. . de vir . illustr . cap. . arnol. wion in append . ad . l. . lig . vitae . rom. mart. hac die . greg. turon . l. de gloria conf. c. & in hist. . † scottishman . breuia . gādauēss & ioan. molan . in addit . ad vsuard . hac die . & in iudic. ss . belgij * io. lest. l. . degest . scot. arnold . wion . in append . ad l. . lig . vita . maen●l . graec. ex sym. metaph. . iunij . innocēt . pp . epis. ad decēt . eysengr . cē . . p. . theodor. epist. ad tin. & in psal. . & l. . de curand . grac. affect . sophron. serm . de natal . apost . 〈…〉 lred . rieual . in vita edo . conf. mart. rom. * io. trit . l. . c. . wiō l. . lig . vitae . in catal. epis. lindis . bed. l. . hist. c. . & l. . c. west . an . . & 〈◊〉 . ioan. molan . in addit . ad vsuar . . iulij . notes for div a -e † cairlegion . gild. de excid . britan. ven. bed. l. . hist. cap. . mart. rom. hac die . cū molā . hu 〈…〉 f. ●huide in fragm descript . britan. rob. caenalis de reb . gall. l. . perio●h . g. renat . benedict . in vit . ss . gall. hac . die . wion . in addit . ad l. . lig . vit . matth. west . an . . sur. to . de vit . ss . molā in addit . ad vsua . . et ● . iulij . catal. episco . landafens . hac die . maurol . in mart. hac die vnà cum wion & alijs . west . an . do. . vincent . in specul . & alij . † aliàs ireland io. molā . in indie . ss . belgij & in addit . ad vsua . hac die . matth. west . an . . & . hereb . rosweyd . in ast . ss . hac die . molan . in addit . ad vsuar. h●●ebert . ros. in f 〈…〉 s ss . hac die . pol. vir. l. . hist. m●tth . west . an . . sur. to . . in vita s. osithae virg. petr. gaselin . maurol . & wion in suis mart. hac die . petr. in catald . . c. . ven. bed. l. . c. . west . an . . vincent . in specul . l. . c. . rob. buckl . in eius vita fol. . sur. to . . staplet . de trib . thomis . sander . de schis . angl. breuiar . sec. vsum sar 〈…〉 . hac die . bed. l. . c. . & . cap. . tritem . de vir . illustr . democh. l. . de sacrif . missae . & in catal. episco . eystens . mart. rom. & alij . bed. l. . c. . trit . de vir. illustr . contin . ven. bed. vincent . in specul . & alij . matth. west . an . . molan . in indic . ss . belgij gotzel . monach. in eius vita . io. trit . de vir . illustr . rom. mart. molan . gaselin . & wion hac die . io. trit . de vir. illustr . pol. vir. hist. l. . stephan . lusingā . co 〈…〉 na . c. . & chron. britan. fol. . wion hac die . in mart. benedict . † hannonia . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . hac die , et in indic . ss . belgij * io. lesl. ros. e●is . l. . hist. scot. wion l. . ligni vit . ioan. maior in hist. l. . cap. . * arnold . wion in append . ad . l. . lig . vitae . item in actis s. malac. malac. epis. . nouemb. matth. west . an . . & . pol. vir. l. . io. molan . in addit . ad vsua . & in indi● . ss . belgij hu●ba● . monac . in vita . s. leb . mart. rom. molan . in indi● . ss . belgij ba●die . matth. west . an . do. . sur. to . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . matth. paris . an . . & . ven. bed. l. . c. . in fine . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . & in indie . ss . belgij matth. west . . & . wion in mart. benedict . ha● di● . albert. cranz in metrop . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . . ●o . lest. l. 〈◊〉 . degest . sect. bre●iar . s 〈…〉 i 〈◊〉 h●c die . item . in chron. suet. & nor●eg . de gent. apostoiis ranul●h . cest 〈…〉 n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . m. s. l. . cap. . matth. w●st . pas●im in ●istor . & alij , calendar . sec. vsum sarum . hac die . matth. west . an . 〈◊〉 . con 〈…〉 . ven. bed. l. . 〈◊〉 . . ●incent . in spec●●l . l. . c. . matth. paris . an . . mart. rom. molā . & breuiar . sec. vsum sarum . matth. west . an . . in hist. flor. britan. io. molā . in 〈◊〉 . ad vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij maurol . in suo mart. h●c aie . vnà cum ●ion & chron. britan. fol. . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij * 〈◊〉 . l●s● . r●s . e 〈…〉 〈…〉 gest . 〈…〉 . l. . 〈◊〉 i● 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . . 〈◊〉 . vitae . * 〈…〉 . w●st . an . . chron. britan. f●l . . wiō l. lig . vita . cratepol . de epis. german . ant. democh. de sacrif . missa . to . . 〈◊〉 . . wi●n l. . lig . vit . in catal. epis●o . argent . * pol. vir. lib. . ranulph . cest● . in hist. angl. ite● in actas s. edi 〈◊〉 virg. * gul. mal nes . histor . ex antiq . monum . britan. & sto. ibidem . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . hac die , et in indic . ss . belgij antiq. britan. monum . * io. mag. 〈◊〉 hist. gothorū l. . c. . olâus magnus etiam in addit . ad ioan. io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . hac die , et in indic . ss . belgij io. capg . i● catal. ss . brit. pol. vir. 〈◊〉 . ca●●d . in d●s●rip . britan. pag. ●icol . harpesf . in hist. eccl●s . fol. . io. capg . in catal. ss . aug. matth. west . & paris 〈…〉 . . sigeb . in chron. an . . petr. in catal. l. . vincent . in specul . lib. . tritem . de vir . illustr . mart. rom. molan . & alij hac die ▪ mart. rom. molan . & alij omn●s hac die . bed. l. . eist . eccl c. . . . . & . gild. sapien. in eius vita . greg. t 〈…〉 de glo● . conf. * ven. bed. l. . hist. angl. cap. . matth. west . an . . arnol. wion in mart. benedict . hac die bed. l. . c. . ioan. tritem . l. . 〈◊〉 . . pol. vir. lib. . wion l. . lig . vitae . matth. west . an . ● . et . molam . in addit . ad vsua . & alij omnes hac die . notes for div a -e sur. to . in eius vita . tritem . de vir . illustr . pol. vir. lib. . histor . mart. rom. molan . & alij omnes hac die . sur. in vita . s. ethbini . octo. io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . hac die . * matth. paris . in chron. ad an . . & . * io. lest. episco . rossens . l. . de gest . scot. wion in append . 〈…〉 d l. . 〈…〉 g. vitae . marcel . in vit . s. simib . c. . mol. in addit . ad vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij wion . hac die in mart. benedict . bed. in epit. & l. 〈◊〉 . c. . . . & . io. maior histor. scot. l. . cap. mart. rom. & alij omnes . hac die . pol. vir. lib. . & . matth. west . & paris . ad ann . citat . wiō l. . in catal. episco . winton . * rob-buckl . in vita s. mechtil . virg. l. m. de vit . ss . mulie ū . angl. * matth. west . et paris . an . . & . item in actis s. marg. matris apud sur. to . . . iunij . * eysengr . c●nt . part . dist . . io. de kirkstat in monast. tabulae . glas●on . matth. west . an . . & paris . eodem an . pol. vir. l. . in fine . wion in mart. benedict . hac die . * io. molā . in appēd . ad mart. vsua . & ber. in vita s. malach. epis. * matth. west . in hist. an● l. ad an . citat . registr . cicestren . catal. epis. cicestrēs . * regist. eccle. stafford . & monument . antiq . eiusdem prouin . * ven. bed. l. . c. . & . marcel . in vita s. simibert . molan . in in●ic . ss . belgij io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij io. trit . de vir . illustr . l. . c. . wion in mart. benedict . * matth. west . in hist. ad an . . * matth. west . an . . pol. vir. lib. . histor. sto. in vita . edou . . matth. west . & paris , an . . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . e in ind. ss . belgij petr. cratep . de episco . german . wion & a●ij . niceph. l. . euseb. in vit . constant. socrat. l. . cap. . zozom . l. . c. . manal . graec. . maij. mart. rom. hac die . symon dunel . in histor . angl. * . capg . in catal. ss . brit. t now yorkshire bed. in epit. & histor. l. . c. . west . an . . & . molan . in addit . ad vsua . * regist. eccles. s. andr. in calab ▪ & officiūcius impress . romae . * ex antiq . monum . prouin● . bedford . * . capg . in catal. ss . brit. * matth. paris . in hist. maiori . ad an . d. . & deinceps . chron. britan. fol. . westan . . pol. vir. lib. . arnold . wion . lib. . lig . vitae . baron . tom . . annal. in defens . earumdē . catal. epis. herefor . regist. eiusdem eccle. pol. vir. l. . hist. ang l. * rich. parochus isselb . in eius vita apud io. capg . in cat. ss . angl. molā . in append . ad vsua . * io. capg . in catal. ss . ang. * ex registr . eccle. brackl . et antiqua monum . prouin● . north. * tabulae . coloniēs . ven. bed. l. . c. . mart. rom. hac die . sto. in . ann●l . angl. de regib . eastsax . gul. malmesb. lib. de pontif. & reg. angl. an . . io. lest. epis. ross. de reb . sco. lib. . hect. boet. l. . bellefor . in ann. francorū l. . c. . molā . & omnes hac die . bed. l. . 〈◊〉 . . . & et in vita s. cuthber . matth. west . an . . . & . breuiar , sarum & molan . hac die . io. molā . hac die chron. brit. fol. . rob. buckl . in eius vita pag. . notes for div a -e * matth. west . an . do. . & . in histor . angl. maiors . * tritem . d 〈…〉 . ill 〈…〉 . bed. l. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . . & . sixt. se●ens . in ●ibliot● . lib. . molan . in app●●d . ad vsua . molan . in addit . ad vs●ar . et in ind ▪ ss . belgij wion in mart. benedict . hac ●ie . bed. l. . c. . . . & . west . an . . . . . alan ▪ copus in dialog . dial . . cap. . abbo flori●● . in prolo . ad vit . s. edmundi ereuiar . sec. vsum sarum . democh. l. . de missa . contr . caluinū c. . eysengr ▪ cent . . p. . d . molan . mart. rom. * metrop . salisbur . & wion in appēd . lib. . lig . vitae . * chron. brit. fol. . wion . in appēd . ad l. . lig . vitae . sur. ●o . . malmes . in hist. angl. petr. in catal. lib. . pol. vir. lib. . * de ea habetur mentio in vit . edwin . reg. north. & in vit . ethelb . & eadb . regum cant. r. buckl . in vit . s. ethelb . abbatis . bark . fol. . mart. rom. vsuard . gasel . wion & alij . omnes hac die . hereb . rosweyd . in fast. ss . rob. buckl . in eius vital . m. s. de vit . ss . mul. angl. io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . e● in ind. ss . belgij wion in mart. benedict . hac die . * io. lesl. epis. ross. l. . de gest . scot. wion in append . ad lib. . lig . vit . rob. buckl . in eius vit l. m. s. angl. pag. . ex antiq . monum . cantiae . * matth. west . in hist. maio●i . ad an . . falix in martyr . hac die . eius vita habetur tom . . sto ij . ex m. s. codic . * ex reg. eccles. arpinēs . & arch. inscript . ipsius sepulch . * chron. brit. fol. . wion l. . lig . vit . rob. buckl . in eius vita l. m. s. fol. . ve. bed. l. . c. . io. molā . in addi● . ad vsua . & alij omnes hac die . sur. to . . cont. vē . bed. l. . pol. vir. l. . vincent . in specul . matth. west . an . . mart. rom. bed. ado. vsuar . & alij omnes hac die . molā . in addit . ad vsuard . et in ind. ss . bel 〈…〉 ij meyerus in anna. flandr . & alij . bed. l. . cap. . & in epit. tritem . de vir . illustr . mart. rom. & alij omnes hac die . * io. lest. episco . ross. l. . hist. scot. * vē . bed. l. . l. . hist●r . eccles. ●ent . angl. * vē . bed. l. . c. . io. molā . in appēd . ad vsua ▪ lit . h. * bed. l. . histor. cap. . wion lib. . lig . vit● . author ●ius vit● 〈…〉 d sur. 〈◊〉 . . wion hac die in mart. benedict . vē . bed 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . ● . & l. ●e se● a●tat . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . m 〈…〉 . in ad li● . ad v 〈…〉 d. revi●●● . f 〈…〉 es . lig●● . 〈◊〉 . w 〈…〉 . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . . w 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 . ad 〈◊〉 . . lig . 〈◊〉 . * h●ct . boet. de rebus gest . scot. & io. ●●st . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 l. . 〈◊〉 . * bed , l. . cap. . pol. vir. lib. . histor . matth. w●st . an . ● . et ● . & w 〈…〉 . li● . . lig . vit . registr . cantab. rudolph . b. rena . discip . in eius vita . mart. rom. molan . & alij . * io. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . l. ▪ hist. scot. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . w 〈…〉 i● 〈◊〉 . li● . . lig . vit● . be● . l. . 〈◊〉 . ● . 〈◊〉 . & l. . cap. . 〈◊〉 . to . . mart. r●● . mol ●n . & alij omnes hac die . notes for div a -e matth. paris . an . . & an . . & . descrip. ciuitat . parmēs . in italia . registr . eccles. d. pauli londinē . molā . in addit . ad vsuard . et in ind. ss . belgij mola● . in addit . ad vsua . e● in ind. ss . belgij pol. v●r. lib. . mart. rom. molan . bret●a● . sec vsum sarum . sur. to . . hac di● . & alij . bed. l. . cap. . sigeb . in chron. an . . mart. rom-molan . & a●j omnes hac die . vē . bed. in epit. & hist. l. . c. . . & . & l. . c. west . an . . . . . & alij . * io. lest. episco . ross. l. . hist. scot. wion in append . ad lib. . lig . vitae . hereb . rosw . in tab. de fast . ss . hac die . * io. lest. episco . ross. l. . hist. scot. wion in append. ad lib. . lig . vtta . † aliâs o 〈…〉 sy . io. capg . in catal. ss . angl. pol. vir. l. . hist. sur. to . . hac die . hereb . in fast ss . wion . lib. . lig . vitae . sur. to . . west . an . . petr. sutor in vit . cart. registr . eccles. lincoln . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua et in ind. ss . belgij rob. buckl . l. man. scrip . de vit . ss . mulier . angl. pag. . matth. west . & paris . an . . & . sixt. senens . in biblioth . lib. . io. trit . de vir . illustr . registr . eccles. lincoln . ioan. maior l. . hist. scot. c. . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij vē . bed. in epit. & lib. . histor. cap. . et l. . c. . . . & . sur. to . . & alij . io. molā . in addit . ad vsuar. bed. l. . cap. . . & . tritem de vir . illustr . molan . & alij . mart. ro 〈…〉 . mol in . petr. in catal. l . cap. vlt. vē . bed. l. . c. & l. . c. . & . & l. . cap. . mart. rom. molan . sur. to . . & omnes hac die . pol. vir. lib. . matth. paris . an . . & . sur. & mart. rom. . ian. regist. vati● . romae . mart. rom. breuiar . saltz . hect. boet. lest. de gest . sco. in ferquardo rege . egilwar . in eius vita . sur. tom . . tritem . de vir . illustr . molan . mart. rom. & alij . sur. to . . pol. vir. lib. . west . an . . et . molan . & alij . sur. in vita . s. bonifac. tritem . de vir . illustr . mart. rom. & alij . breuiar . mogunt & sur. tom . . tri●em . de vir ▪ illustr . vincent . inspec . molan . mart. rom. mart. rom. vsuard . hac die . sur. to . . lesl. de gest . sco. l. . in chenetto rege . matth. west . an . . pol. vir. l. . hist. cont. bed. l. . cap. ● . herebert . in tab. fast . ss . hac die . † audry . bed. l. . cap. . item de sex aetat . tritem . de vir . illust● . vincent . in spec . sigeb . in chron. mosand . apud sur. to . molan . in addit . ad vsit . et in indic . ss . belgij pol. vir. l. . hist. breuiar . sec. vsum sarum . mart. rom. hac die . nicol. sand. l. . desch s. angl. vitaeius m. s. rob. buckl . wion in mart. benedict . hac die . molan . in indic . ss . belgij mart. rom. molan . petr. in catal. † aliter germany peter cratep . de epis. german . exeges . l. . trit . de vir . illustr . l. . c. . molan . wion , & alij omnes hac die . ga●f . monum . l. 〈◊〉 . c. . hist. vec . britan ▪ baron . in annal. an . . ri●h ▪ vi●us i. v. doct : iahist . britan. mart. rom ▪ & omnes hac 〈◊〉 . pet. de . natal . de vit . ss . vinc. in spec . l. . cap. . mart. rom. molan . & alij . mart. rom. molan . in addit . ad vsuar. r●dulph . in vita albert. magni p. . cap. . franc. cat 〈…〉 ep. eesulan . in eius vit . mart. rom. ha● die . * io. lest. episto . ross. l. . de gest . scot. wion lib. . lig . vitae . sur. to . . hac die . tritem . de vir . illustr . l. . c. . & l. . c. . mart. rom. & molā . * rob. buckl . in eius vita . lib. m. s. de vit . ss . mulier . angl. fol. . * registr . eccles. cepranēs . & inscript . eius sepulturae ibidem sculpt . vē . bed. lib. . c. . & . tritem . lib. . c. ● . w●st . w 〈…〉 〈◊〉 c●tal . episco . lin 〈…〉 f. her eber . in fast . ss hac die . io. tri● . l. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . & l. . 〈◊〉 . . wi 〈…〉 l. . lig . vit . in catal. epis●o . frislar . et in mart. benedict . † aliter scotland . io. molā . i. addit . ad vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij ni 〈◊〉 . l. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . . p 〈…〉 . ●ir . li 〈…〉 . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . w 〈…〉 . a 〈…〉 . ● . & 〈◊〉 , . dorot● . in synop. a●●o 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . scot in hist. regist. de hide wion & alij . henr. hūtington . in sua hist. an . . regist eccles. cant. & catal. episco . cantuar. * hect. boet. de gest . sco. io. lest. l. . hist. scot. matth. west . an . . tritem . de vir . illustr . pol. vir. l. . in fine . wion in mart. benedict . vē . bed. l. . hist. angl. petr. in catal. tritem . de vir . illustr . vincent . in spec . lib. . io. molā . in addit ad vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij notes for div a -e vē . bed. in epit. sigeb . in chron. mar. scot. l. . hist. an . . wion hac die in mart. benedict . * sixtus senens . in biblioth . script . illustr . lit . r. codex m. s. in coll. angl. duacens . chron. camerac . la●b . de loos mo 〈…〉 . . a●tbert . & molan . in indi● . ss . belgij sur. ●o ▪ ▪ de vit . ss . robert. salop. in eius vita . bre ▪ 〈◊〉 . sarum . mart. rom. & alij . omnes hac die . sur. to . . . septē . wion in mart. bened. hac die . io. capg . in catal. ss . brit. mart. rom. & vsua . hac die . sur. to . . hac 〈◊〉 . vnà 〈◊〉 molan . i● ad●it . ad vs 〈…〉 r. b 〈…〉 . in not ad ma●● . rom. . nonas 〈◊〉 . ●e ●a . d. in 〈◊〉 vita ●t i 〈…〉 epist. mombr . ●om . . vit . ss . sur. to . . marcell . in vita . s. switber . molan . in 〈…〉 it . ad vsua . et in ind. ss . be 〈…〉 ij iacob . meyrus in ann. flandr . lib. . sur. to . . marcell . in vita s. simib . molan . in addit . & vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij . mart. rom. hac die . lesl. l. . de gest . scot. democ. tom . . de sacrif . missae cap. . albert , cranz . lib. . c. . & . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij mart. rom. sur. to . . tritem . de vir . illustr . * pol. vir. l. . hist. angl. wiō l. lig . vitae . bed. l. . c. . et l. . c. . . . mart. rom. molan . albert. stadens . in chron. hac die . helmod . in chron. scla● . l. . c. . cranz . me 〈…〉 op . l. . c. . tri em . de vir . illustr . io. molā . in oddit ad vsua . et in ind. ss . belgij io. molā . in addit . ad vsuar. et in ind. ss . belgij marcell . in vita . s. benifac . suitbert . & eius . sur. to . . tritem . lib. . de vir . illustr . cap. . molan . in addit . ad vsuar. et in ind. ss . belgij io. molā . in addit . ad vsuar. et in ind. ss . belgij regist. priorat . s. kiliā . albin . m●tth . west . an . do. . ●alend . sec. vsum sarum . hac die . mart. rom. eū barō . mo●an . in addit . a● vsuar. sur. ●o . . w●●● i● catal. epis●o . dubunē . matth. w●st . an . . gaufr monum . l . c. . & . . hist. 〈…〉 n. io. molā . in addit . ad vsuar. et in ind. ss . belgij petr. in catal. vita eius habetur romae m. s. in biblioth . baron . wion in mart. benedict . hac die . pol. vir. lib. . sur. to . . de vit . ss matth. west . an . . mart. rom. molan . & alij . sur. to . . & mart. rom. . iunij . io. molā . in addit . ad vsua . hac die . pol. vir. l. . . & . petr. sutor de vita carthufiana l. . c. . silu. girald . in eius vita west . an . . mart. rom. molan . & alij omnes hac die . vē . bed. l. . c. . & lib. . cap. . lippomannus tom . . west . an . . tri em . de vir . illustr . * regist. eccles. santo-padrien . & monument . ipsius sepulch . matth. west . an . . & . pol. vir. l. . hist. angl. & alij . abbo floriac . in eius vita . petr. in catal. osbert . de stokes in eius vita mart. rom. & omnes hac die . west . a● . . & . vē bed. in cius vita . ma●t . rom. & molā . hac die . io. lest. de gest . scot. hect. boet ibid. in eugenio . carol. sigon . de regno italiae . l. * vide fusius eius vitā l. manuscript . rob. buckl . de vita ss . mulier . angl. pag. . ex antiq . monum . hi●erniae et frāciae * re●istr . 〈◊〉 . chepst . et antiq . 〈◊〉 . pro●in● . mo 〈…〉 * bed. l. . eistor . angl. cap. . arnol. wion lib. . lig . 〈◊〉 . * regist. eccles. land●f . & catal. episco . eiusdem eccl. ex antiq . monum . cambriae * io. lest. episco . rossens . l. . de gest . scot. wion in append . ad lib . lig . vitae . io. m●lā . in a 〈…〉 . ad vs●●r . ●t in 〈◊〉 . ss ▪ 〈◊〉 hac die . gul. mal●nes . l. de p●t . angl. hac die . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i●s●st . s. * ex antiq . mo 〈…〉 m. cambr. de prou. clamorg . * eius vit . extat m. s. 〈…〉 a rob. buckl inter vit . ss . mul. angl. notes for div a -e * io. capg . in catal. ss . brit. ex regist. eccles. bangorē . * † ●aliâs eue wiö l. lig . vita chron. britan. fol. . regist. eccles. petribur . eyseugr . cent . . p. . dist . . p. . d. . p. . d. . p. . d. . . nauc . vol. . gē . . petr. de natal . l. . c. . annal. curiens . ratisbō . bauar . et monast. s. lucij ibidem . bernard . guido in catal. pōt . sub eleuth . vē . bed. l. . c. . west . an . . & . mart. rom. gul. ramesius in eius vita . wiō l. . lig . vitae . in catal. episco . dorcestrens . . molā . in addit . ad vsuar. et in ind. ss . belgij . ranulp . cestrens . in eius vita . l. . c. . mart. rom. & alij onmes hac die . eysengr . p. . cent. . d. . breuiar . curiens . in offic. . lection . hac die . * matth. west . an . ● . paris . eodem an . & . pol. vir. lib. . hist. angl. * bernard . in vita . s. malac. episcop . wion in append . ad lib. . lig . vitae . * tabulae coleniēs . * . trit . de vir . ill●str . l. . c. . wion in appēd . l. lig . vita . * hect. boet de gest . sco. io. lest. episco . ross. l. . ibidem . petr. in catal. l. . c. . sixt pp . . extrau . commun . tit . de relig . & vener . ss . conc. trid. baron . in not. ad mart. rom. hac die . * histor. scot. ex 〈…〉 sa francof . an . . lib. . matth. wesi . & paris . an . . wiō l. lig . vitae * matth. west , an . . & . gene 〈…〉 l. alf●●d● r●gis an . . pol. vir. lib. . & alij . * io. capg . in ca●●l . ss 〈◊〉 it . ex antiq . mo 〈…〉 . camb● i. e * io. lest. episcop . ross. l. . hist. scot. wion in append . ad lib. . lig . vitae . * pol. vir. l. . hist. angl. steph. lvsingā . cor . . c. . wion lib. ▪ lig . vitae . † ioyce . sur. to . pet● ▪ in catal. l. . cap. . vince●t . in sp 〈…〉 . wiō l. lig . vitae . rodu●● . ag●icol . in distich . registr . e●cles . cantuar. & rob. b 〈…〉 . in eius vital . m. s. de ss . mulier . angl. pag. . * io. l●st . e 〈…〉 . r 〈…〉 . . hi●tor . se●t . a 〈…〉 l. wi● . in a 〈…〉 d ad lib. . lig . vit 〈…〉 . r 〈…〉 t. m 〈…〉 . s. mar 〈…〉 . colon. vē . ded. l. . c. . & l. . c. . west an . . & . trit . de vir. illu . l. . c. . mart. rom. . ●lolā . i 〈…〉 〈◊〉 it . ad vsuar. ex vet . manuscr . * de hac vid. l. manuscript . de vit . ss . mulier . angl. pag. . regist. eccles. petribur . * rodulph . monac . in vita s. liobae apud sur. to . . . sept. wion lib. . lig . vitae . vita s. bonifac. episcop . mogunt . et germ. apost . democh. l. . de sacrif . miss . petr-cratep . de epis. germ. molā . in ind. ss . belgij . wion et alij hac die . * io. trit . chron. hirsaug . arnol. wiō in append . ad lib. . lig . vitae . * vita s. columb . apud bedam tom . . wiō l. . lig . 〈…〉 ae in not ad mart. bened. * chronog . britan. fol. . arnol. wiō . l. lig . vita . in vita s. edburgae abbatiss . thanat . insulae . decēb. * vē . bed. l. . c. . io. trit . l. . c. . wion in append . ad lib. . lig . vita . rob. bu 〈…〉 . in eius vita l. m. s. pag. . * eius vita habetur fi siùs in l. m. s. de vit . ss . mulier . angl. à rob. buckl . collect . ex antiq . monum . cambriae * hect. boet. de gest . sco. io. lest. episco . ross. l. . hist. sco. pag. . * io. trit . de vir . illu . ord . d. bened. l. . c. . arnol. wiō . l. lig . vitae . pag. . * pol. vir. l. . hist. angl. wiō l. lig . vitae . * registr . eccl. gallinar . & inscript . ipsius sepulchri ibidem sculpt . sur. to . . . agr. pol. vir. l. . hist. . capg . & breu. sec. vsū sarum pet. in cat. osb. in cius vita . mart. rom. . apr. maurol . & wiō hae die . sur. to . . hac die breuiar . sec. vsum sarum mart. rom. eius vit . habetur in hist. quadrip , impress . parisijs an . dom. . staplet . de trib . thomis & omnes auj hac di● . nicol. sand. l. . de schis . angl. * matth. west . in hist. maiori ad an . . wiō in append . ad lig . . lig . vitae . * . lest. lib. . de gest . sco. wion in append ad lib. . lig . vitae . notes for div a -e io. sto. in annal. hoc anno & sequētibus sand. l. . de schism . ang. nic. sād . lib. . de schism . ang. pa. . , . ric. hal. in eius vita . staplet . de tribus thom. sand. ib. l. . pag. . . sand. ib. pag. . boucher . de pass . frat. fransc. pag. . . & . bouch. ibid. & pag. . sand. ibi . sand l. . pag. . sand. pa. . , . sand. ib. pag. . . sād . pag. sand. pag . nicol. sander l. . de visib . monarc . pag. . & . concert . eccles. ang. concert . eccles. angl. concert . ibid. concert . eccles. ang. sand. l. . de schism . angl. concert . eccles. angl. et sand. vbi supra . concert . eccles. angl. et sand. pa. . concert . eccles. ang. pa. . . . . . cum sand. vbi supra . concert . eccles. ang. pa. . sād . pag. . concert . eccles. ang. pa. . sand. pa. . concert . eccles. ang. pa. . didacus de yepes episcop . taracon . de persec . angl. hispani●è didac . de yepes epis. taracon . de persec . angl. hispan . andr. philop. cont . edict . reginae . ang. pa. . did. yepes ibi . pag. . yepes vbi suprà pag. . . did. yepes in hist. persecut . angl. pag. . yepes vbi supra . pag. . l. . relatio mart. à th. w. edit . relat . mart. pag. . & . the fierie tryall of gods saints (these suffered for the witnes of iesus, and for the word of god, (vnder queene mary,) who did not worship the beast ... as a counter-poyze to i.w. priest his english martyrologe. and the detestable ends of popish traytors: (these are of sathans synagogue, calling themselues iewes (or catholiques) but lie and are not ... set downe in a comparatiue collection of both their sufferings. herewith also the concurrance and agreement of the raignes of the kings of england and scotland, since the first yeare of q. mary, till this present, the like before not extant. burton, francis, fl. - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the fierie tryall of gods saints (these suffered for the witnes of iesus, and for the word of god, (vnder queene mary,) who did not worship the beast ... as a counter-poyze to i.w. priest his english martyrologe. and the detestable ends of popish traytors: (these are of sathans synagogue, calling themselues iewes (or catholiques) but lie and are not ... set downe in a comparatiue collection of both their sufferings. herewith also the concurrance and agreement of the raignes of the kings of england and scotland, since the first yeare of q. mary, till this present, the like before not extant. burton, francis, fl. - . [ ], , [ ]; , [ ] p. : ill. (woodcuts) printed by t[homas]: p[urfoot and thomas creede]: for arthur iohnson, at london : . attributed to francis burton. the dedication is signed with a woodcut monogram incorporating the letters a b c f i n o r s t; it was later used as a publisher's device in books published by burton. a reply to: wilson, john. the english martyrologe. printers' names from stc. "a post-script to the wel affected reader" (caption title, printed by creede) has separate pagination and register. the last leaf is blank. a reissue of the edition, with the first quire reimposed to fill two leaves, omitting the dedication to lord salisbury. reproduction of the original in harvard university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng wilson, john, ca. -ca. ? -- english martyrologe -- controversial literature -- early works to . christian martyrs -- great britain -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the fierie tryall of gods saints ; ¶ ( these suffered for the witnes of iesus , and for the word of god , ( vnder queene mary , ) who did not worship the beast , nor his image , nor had taken his marke vpon their foreheads , or on their hands , or on their garments , and these liue and raigne with christ : reuel : . . ) as a counter-poyze to i. w. priest his english martyrologe . and the detestable ends of popish traytors : ¶ ( these are of sathans synagogue , calling themselues iewes ( or catholiques ) but lie and are not : these worshipped the beast saying , who is like vnto the beast ? who is able to warre with him . reuel . . . and these shall drinke of the wine of gods wrath , and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy angells , and before the saints , because they worshipped the beast and his image . re. . . & ) . set downe in a comparatiue collection of both their sufferings . herewith also the concurrance and agreement of the raignes of the kings of england and scotland , since the first yeare of q. mary , till this present , the like before not extant . at london , printed by t : p : for arthur iohnson . . to the prince . englands faire hope , ( borne , downe to quell the rage of rome ; that proud babell ; which in its swelling-madde desires , to worlds sole empire still aspires ; ) deigne ( sir ) to reade this little booke , at least with milde aspect to looke vpon 't . the pledge of loyaltie , and subiects loue to royaltie , it is . vouchsafe your princely grace to me , that humbly place , my faith and dutie ; first to god , then my king ( who vnitie did bring ) then to my countrie . the faithfull subiect of my lord the king , and your highnesse , to the patronage and protection of the high and mightie prince , henry , eldest sonne of our soueraigne lord the king , prince of wales &c. as that in one place was well sayd by heathen tullie ; non nobis solùm nati sumus , sed partē patria , partem parentes , partem liberi , partem amici , partem propinqui & familiares , peculiaritèr sibi vendicant : so elsewhere was it spoken no lesse christian-like . non quid quis fecerit , sed quo animo & studio fecerit , ponderandum est . of these sayings , the first seemed vnto me , to challenge at my hands a speciall dutie to my prince and country , which i knew not how to performe , but in this kind : the second i assumed as an apologie for my weake and slender performāce of that duty . if my desire ( noble prince ) to pay that debt for which by obligation diuine , naturall and nationall i stand obliged , hath transported me beyond that wherevnto i am able , of your princely clemency , i humbly beseech you , winke at that amisse , and of your heroicall and magnanimous spirit , shield me from the darts of the mightie and maleuolent . your kingly father out of the goodnes of his nature , ( for to iudge the worst , as dissonant to a good disposition ) hath been obserued to conceiue of things ill ment , ( or which at least might be doubtfully taken ) well : you certainly being the true heire as of his kingdomes so also of his vertues , cannot adiudge of that which is well ment , ill . the cause which i handle is not mine owne , but my prince and countryes , wherein what i haue done , i the rather vndertooke to publish at this time and in this kind by reason of these encouraging woordes of the reuerend , then bishop of chichester , now of ely , in his booke , cuititulus est , tortura torti , in epistola dedicatoria ad regiam maiestatem , his wordes are these , i am , vbi in discrimen adducta causa communitatis , spectator nemo sit , actor quisque &c. my intentions herein are right , wherein i desire , prodesse principi & patriae , non obesse : if i faile in my purpose , that is not want of will , but of power : if i haue performed ought herein that good is , that same also is , multò plus votis , quam factis . therefore for that sometimes noble q. elizabeths sake , ( for she deserued to be loued , etiam post mortem ) whose fame shall neuer die , ( nam virtus post funera viuit : ) for the king your fathers sake , who according to his names signification is , a maintainer ( of our peace ) : for the common wealths sake , which is the crowne of your glory : for your owne sake who are our hope , yeald me , as the reading hereof , so also your fauourable and princely protection ; then shall i not care for the faces of mine enemies . the faithfull subiect of my lord the king , and your highnesse . to the well affected , and loyall hearted reader . as to the spirit and soule of man nothing internally then a good conscience can bee more comfortable ; so externally , then a good report from others nothing can be more precious . and as for the first , euery one that will enjoye it , must himselfe alone by the vprightnesse of his owne actions , assure it vnto himselfe in the sincerity of his own heart ; so , for the secōd , as it depends not vpō ones selfe alone , but vpon the tongues and reports of others , euery christian by the rules of his profession is chargeable to his power to seeke the preseruation thereof towards others , whome hee knoweth to be wronged . this being graunted ( as it cannot be denyed ) if euery priuate mans good name so neerely touch him , as that for the preseruation thereof wee are all of vs to others reciprocally bound , and by law diuine obliged . how much more strictly then are all faithful subiects tyed , as much as in them lyeth , to maintaine the good name , honour , and reputation of their lawfull soneraignes , by traytors , rebels , and antichristians , so vniustly , jmpiously , and jmpudently taxed both in words and writings . for as his majestie is our king , by god appoynted to rule ouer his british and irish israell , both in church and common wealth : and as in dignity he is nulli secundus , nay more ( for that may seeme to admit an equall ) primus inter omnes , without a mate , highest : euen so the blemish of good name , honour , and reputation in his majestie , is of all others most dishonourable , most scandalous ; as his majesty is of all others most eminent , most conspicuous ; and therefore by euery good subiect as occasion offereth it selfe ( pro viribus ) to be maintained . if a naturall father haue a bad name , though vndesernedly , yet is that in the worlds eye ( that cannot iudge thereof , but by report ) a scandall vnto the children . our king is more , for he is not onely pater familiae , a father of a priuate family , but he is , pater patriae , a father of our country ; nay more , he is , pater multorum gentium & regnorum , a father of many kingdomes england , scotland , france , and ireland , and which is most , hee is a good christian , & christianae fidei defensor , the chiefe champion for defence of christian faith , through whose sides the enemy seeketh to wound the whole church of christ , and to lay aspersions of bloud and tyrany vpon all such as with him professe the gospell of christ . the consideration whereof ( as also a feruent desire to doe my country some publique seruice , in helping ( as much as in me lyeth ) to stop the mouths of our common aduersaries the papists , whose lauish tongs haue spit out aboundance of venome , and their pennes stung like scorpions , not onely our late most gracious and woorthy queene elizabeth ( of euer-blessed memorie , for the many vnspeakeable blessings that god with and through her bestowed vpon this and other kingdomes ) but also our present soueraigne lord and king , with both their state ministers , by charging them as falsely , so maliciously with cruelty , breach of promise , bloud , and bloudy persecution for conscience ) hath mooued mee to jmploye the best talent of my small ability to convince them of jmpudent and lying malicious slaunders and reproachfull vntruths . first in a few following lynes directed vnto all romish fauorites , clearing my present gracious soueraigne of breach of promise with recusants , for toleration of popery , wherein also i haue touched the ground of that slaunder , with the occasion and authors thereof , with some other matters of speciall moment . secondly , in a tabular computation ; by a comparatiue collection of all such martyrs as were burned in queene maries days , with all such priests , iesuites , & popish recusants , as their pseudomartyrologist i. w. priest pretends ( & but pretends ) to haue byn executed in england ( religionis ergò ) since the beginning of q. elizabeths raigne vntill this present yere . i haue cleared the second accusation of cruelty , bloud , and bloudy presecution for conscience , evidently proouing by their owne account , vnto the vnderstanding of the most simple , that is not wilfully blind , that many more of the first sort suffered death , and were in fire consumed onely for their conscience , within the lesse then six yeares raigne of queene marie , then of the second , third and fourth sort ( to wit , priests , iesuites , and recusants ) in . yeares since , and that not for religion , but a treason . whereby it appeareth how vnjustly our late woorthy queene , our present gracious king & their state-ministers , haue been and are most jmpudently & falsely of bloud & cruelty accused & taxed . nor haue i ought herein written to giue satisfaction to any such ( for let them sincke in their owne sinnes ) as being ouer deeply bewitched with romes jdolatry , doe hold that all treasons , all rebellions , all attempts , vi , aut fraude , against the persons and states of our late queene elizabeth , and our now present king , both were and are not only lawfull , but meritorious : but to enforme such of them as being of a milder temper , ( and yet looking that way ) willingly confesse and acknowledge , that all such as haue beene or are guilty of such crimes , haue deseruedly been punished ; but yet doe , or at least seeme to conceaue that their priests and iesuites haue suffered onely for their consciences , and therefore their persecution ( they being many in nomber ) is ( in their judgement ) great and lamentable . which were it graunted , or could ( as it neuer can ) bee prooued that they all dyed for their conscience onely , ( which yet is a conscience mis-enformed ) yet doth the nomber of our true martyrs in lesse then . yeres of queene maries raigne , ( although it should be permitted vnto them to take also into their number those fifty and two lay persons , ( for so many i thinke there are ) registred with the priests and iesuites in their owne martyrologe ) not onely equallize , but exceed the number of theirs in full fifty yeares since , by the number of almost . persons . insomuch , that if the numbers of persons suffering , and the number of yeeres of both sorts wherein they suffered bee compared , and the cause of all their sufferings admitted to be alike just or vnjust ( of which there is no comparison ) yet did the cruelty of queene marie and her popish clergie , out-strip queene elizabeth and king iames conjoyned , more then tenne for one ; and therefore learne , you that haue any sparke of grace remaining in you , to be good subiects to your king , and cease now at last to taxe your soueraigne any more of persecutiō , whose heart bleeds that he is forced to draw bloud from others for their jntollerable demerits . as for the truth of these collections whereat perhaps ( and not vnlike ) some popish spirits will take b exception ; vnderstand that m r. foxe that sometime reuerend father of our church , is my author , whome for the number of such professors of the gospell as were burned in queene maries dayes , i haue soly followed , who albeit happily ( for it is almost jmpossible to bee otherwise ) in some things in so large a volume , hee might commit some small errour in some particular cicumstances , because no historian can possibly be present euery where with his owne eyes and eares , but must of necessity giue credite vnto the relations of others in many poynts ; yet the granity of his person , his excellent learning , his great reading , his worthy and sober cariage , his sound judgement , and therein his wise choyce of authours , and the generall report of his honest and religious mind , by an vniforme consent of all such as knew him , freeth him from taxation of any wilfull and grosse errour , or willing mistaking , and from any malicious aslertion against the papists without a probable ground , throughout his worthy woorke , in whose behalfe i thinke it needlesse to bestowe much paines , because the honester and greater sort are honestly already of him perswaded , and for the rest as they are for number fewer , and their honesty little worth , so ate they many of them wilfully obstinate and will not bee perswaded . as for the other sort , to wit , popish priests , iesuites , and recusants , such as haue beene executed since the beginning of queene elizabeths raigne ( as i. w. pretendeth for religion ) vntill the yeare . they are coppyed word for word out of a booke called the c english martyrologe , by the authority of the popish supervisors ( as it should seeme ) allowed , vnles the nameles author thereof i. w. priest doe belye them . wherin i haue dealt as truely with them to a letter as i could , saue onely that i haue left out one person , and in steed thereof added two , to wit , william watson and william clarke , both priests executed at d winchester novemb. . . i know not how by the pseudomartyrologist omitted , for he might as well haue enrolled them as those which he hath done , being all alike , traytors to their prince and country . noram i disposed to cauill for that i find diuers of their priests noted in that his martyrologe by one name which yet i find set downe in our chronicles by an other name , as for example , in an. . ianuary . edward transam , and nicho. wodfine , so by this our martyrologist noted , are by others named edmund barbar and nicholas deuorax , which i note chiefly for this end , that none might be deceiued in thinking that more haue been executed , then in deed haue been , because one and the same persons are in their and our writings noted by different names , for they haue so many false names , that amongst them all i find not one good and true . he that at e london is called richard , at rome is called iohn , he that at rhesmes and doway is called peter , in england is called saul ; he that in the iesuites cells is sainted for his resolution , is at tyburne hanged for his treason . i haue i confesse transposed some of both sorts , both of our martyrs and their traytors , but only for this end that i might reduce them to our account , which beginneth the yeare on the . of march , according to the tabular register following , whereas both m r. foxe & the pseudomartyrologist began the yeare the first of ianuary ; as for example , m r. foxe hath noted iohn rogers the first martyr in queene marie her dayes , to haue suffered february . . which yet according to our account was in the yeare . likewise the pseudomartyrologist hath in his martyrologe noted william richardson to haue beene executed feb. . . which might seeme to be in the first yeare of king iames , which yet was in the latter end of queene elizabeth , and in the yeare of our lord . according as in that yeare in the table following you may see . now hauing compared their numbers together , i could not but admire their jmpudency in that voyde of shame , modesty , religion , christianity , they dare so publiquely and vnjustly without blushing , reuile and slaunder so gracious a princesse as was noble q. elizabeth , and so mercifull a king as is our soueraigne lord k. iames , considering that so many more suffered in the lesse then six yeares raigne of queene marie onely for religion , then haue sithence by their owne account beene executed in fiftie yeares of two succeeding princes ( and those not for religion but for their treasons ) the number of the true martyrs noted in print , being in all by this account almost . and the number of their seminary priests , iesuites , and recusants , by their own account not fully . which ( number and time considered ) is more then tenne for one . nor is there a greater disproportion in the number , then in the causes of their sufferings , the former suffering only for their conscience , the latter for their treasons . i am not ignorant that our aduersaries do taxe m r. fox of many f vntruths and many strange matters , whose errors , if any such were , i will not maintaine , but somewhat excuse by way of recrimination , by cyting out of this my popish author some such stories of his saints miracles , as i find in his sayd martyrologe expressed ( which he hath diuided according to the moneths of the yeare ) leauing the truth and likely-hoode to thy censure . ¶ popish miracles . and first in the moneth of ianuary ; i find this storie , that when saint chad bishop of litchfield dyed , his brother ceds soule ( who was before bishop of london ) was seene to descend from heauen with a troupe of angels , to accompany the same to heauen . another . st . egwine bishop of worcester , made a payre of iron shackles , locked them close about his legges , then cast the keyes therof into the riuer of seuerne , and so went to rome with offa king of mercia : desiring of god , that the said shackles might not be loosed from his legges , vntill he had made satisfaction for all the sinnes of his youthfull yeares : and in his returne backe , as he came ouer the sea , vpō a soden a fish leaped into the ship wherein he sayled , which being taken and killed , the foresayd keyes of the shackles that hee had throwne into the riuer , were found in the fishes belly , which hee applying to his shackles , forthwith vnlocked them . another . in north-wales the commemoration of s. beno priest , who leading an eremiticall life in the west parts of england , was by an angell admonished to goe into wales to a noble man called trebuith , s. wenefrides father , who gaue him a part of his lands and possessions to build a monasterie , as also his daughter wenefride to be instructed and brought vp in a religious manner : whose head being soone after cut off by cradocus sonne to alane king of the same country , for not yeilding to his vnlawfull lust , he miraculously set on againe , shee liuing fifteene yeares after . another . st . elsted virgin , and afterward abbesse ; it happened vnto her that before shee was chosen abbesse , shee being in the church at mattins before day , with the rest of her sisters , going into the middest according to the custome , to reade a lesson , the candle wherewith shee sawe to read chanced to be put out , and therevppon wanting light , there came from the fingers of her right hand such an exceeding brightnesse vppon the suddaine , that not onely her selfe , but all the rest of the quire might see to read by it also . and hauing another time giuen much to relieue the poore , whereby her chests were emptyed , being therefore for her lauishnes checked by the procurator of the house , she made moane to the lord , and her chests were againe myraculously filled as before . another . st . wereburge ; she vpon her death bed commanded her body to be buried at hamburge , but contrary to her will it was carried to the monastery of trickingham , where ( the gates fast locked ) the same was kept and watched very carefully . but see a woonder , they that kept it fell into a sleepe , so as the people of hamburge comming in the night to fetch the bodie away , the gates of the church and monasterie were opened without hands , of themselues , and so they carryed the bodie and buried it at hamburge , as before she requested . another . st . patrick : he obtained by his prayers , that no venomous creature should liue or breed in ireland . another . st . richard bishop of chichester : he dyed at douer in kent , his body being brought to chichester , so shined with miracles that ( besides others ) he raysed vp three dead men againe to life . another . st . frithstan ; one euening as hee was saying masse , as he walked in the churchyard , when he came to the words , requiescant in pace , the voyces in the graues round about , made answere aloud and said , amen . another . st . pyran : he sustained tenne armies of men for eight daies with the flesh of three kine , and also raysed diuers dead men to life . another . st . sewell : he for his integritie and innocency of life was such , and so acceptable to god , that it pleased his diuine maiestie in signe thereof , to worke miracles by him both aliue and dead ; and among others , it is recorded , that lying on his death-bed he turned water into wine , by onely blessing it . another . king henrie the sixt : his veluet hat which he vsed to weare , being put on mens heads that were troubled with the head-ache , they were presently cured . another . one of the souldiers that led s. alban to his death , repented when he saw the constancy of the martyr , & asked him forgiuenes , which the persecutors beholding , they grieuously tormented him for the same , but he following s. alban to his death when s. albans head was cut off , he tooke it vp and embraced it in his armes , and thereby was immediatly cured of all his wounds . another . st . swithine : he , when by a mischance a woman had broken all her egges , made the signe of the crosse ouer the same egges , and immediatlie they all became whole againe . another . the heads of wiaman , vnaman , and sunaman , being cut off and cast into a poole by the enemies of christ , s. sigfride on a time walking by the poole and deploring their deaths , on a suddaine there appeared three miraculous lights vppon the water , which encompassed the vessell wherein their sayd heads were ; which he seing , presently leaped into the poole , and embracing them wept and sayd , vindicet deus . whereto one answered , vindicatūerit ; another replyed , in quem ? the third added , in filios filiorum . another . a monke of a certaine monastery whereof s. alexander was , comming to the said alexanders tombe to pray , and hauing an vlcer in his breast which was now growne to a fistula ; alexander appeared vnto him brighter then the sun , with two crownes , one on his head , and another in his hand . the monke demaunded what that double crowne meant ? he answered : the crowne in his hand is for the temporall crown which he forsook for christs loue ( for he shold haue bin king of scotland , being next heire thereto , as the story reporteth ) the other on my head , is that which i haue receaued common with other saints . and that you may be assured of the verity of this vision , you shall be presently cured of your infirmity ; and hauing thus spoken and the other jmmediatly healed , he vanished away . another . st . decuman first passed ouer the riuer of seuerne miraculously with a faggot in steed of a boate , and afterwards was slaine by a pagan and his head cut off , which hee tooke vp from the ground and carryed it to a fountaine where hee was woont to wash it . another . st . dunstan : hee on a time , when the diuell appeared vnto him in the likenesse of a yong woman tempting him to vncleanesse , tooke a paire of pincers which lay by him , and caught the diuell by the vpper lippe , and so holding him fast , and leading him vp and downe his chamber , after diuers jnterrogatories droue him away . another . st . osith : shee after that the danes had cut off her head , tooke it vp in her hands and carryed it three furlongs to a church of s. peter , and s. paul , whither when she came all jmbrued in her owne innocent bloud , she fell downe , and so ended the course of her martyrdome . another . st . keyna : she by her prayers turned a wood full of serpents into stones , still retayning the likenesses of serpents : also she being ready to depart out of this world , an angel came downe from heauen , and put vpon her a white garment wrought with gould , bidding her to be in readinesse to enter into the kingdome of her celestiall spouse . another . st . edmund : hee hauing his head cut off by the danes , and cast into a wood neere by amongst bryars and bushes , the christians afterwards seeking for the same , lost themselues in the same wood , and calling one to another , where art ? where art ? the head answered , here , here , here , by which they found out the same . another . st . inthware : she hauing her head cut off by her owne brother bana vppon a day as shee came from church , because shee was accused by her stepmother to be an harlot , her jnnocency was presently testified by this , for that she presently tooke it vp in her owne hands and carryed it to the church from whence shee came . adde hereto also their late coyned ( death deseruing for the fact ) woonder of garnets face in a wheat strawe . vide librum cuius titulipars est , vera historia de admirabili spica . rightly englished , a fabulous story of a fained straw , first divulged by a foolish iack-daw . many more such grosse and palpable lying woonders are therein expressed , which i am weary to recount , and i almost wonder that they themselues are not ashamed to record for truths ; but as herein , so also in their false accusations of queene elizabeth and king iames , by vnjustly and maliciously taxing them with bloud , breach of promise , and bloudy persecution for conscience , they are most jmpudent and shamelesse , yea past shame and past grace ; for as a reuerend g father of our church elsewhere vpon another occasion ( though more rightly applyable to this generation ) said , qui semel modestiae limites transilijt , knauiter fit impudens . but the priests and iesuites in this poynt of jmpudency surpasse , and one maine reason hereof , as i take it , is because they hold the laye papists , of whome they haue their maintenance , in such a thraldome of jgnorant obedience , as that they dare not for feare of damnation read any booke whereby to enforme them in the truth , but only such as their traiterous and seditious vn-ghostly leaders shall permit : and so if they can hold the good opinions of their maintainers , they will neuer blush at whatsoeuer themselues say , or whatsoeuer bee said of them by others . if any friend shall thinke that this my labour might well haue beene spared , because the liues of the martyrs , the proceedings against them , & the times and causes of their sufferings are already by mr. foxe in his large booke thereof more fully expressed ; or otherwise should thinke that i do the papists too great a grace , by placing them in the same booke with the true martyrs of christ ; to him in friendly manner i thus replye , and first to the first . that though his allegation bee indeed true ( for i willingly confesse that hee hath deserued much for his extraordinary paines that wayes , and hath compassed so much and such variety of matter therein , as that i cannot say whether were greater , his labour or the readers profit ) yet cannot euery mans purse reach so great price as is that h booke at large ; and besides i haue not medled with any matter of historie contained therin , but only haue borrowed out of him the names of such as were in queene maries daies burned , as i haue likewise out of their martyrologist the names of their priests , iesuites , and recusants , for vnlesse i should set downe their names , i could make no good comparison of their numbers in opposition one to the other ; which is the especiall end whereat i aime . secondly , although that twentie or thirtie yeares , since many hundreds of thousands of persons were liuing that could viva voce beare record how cruelly and vnmercifully the professors of christs truth were dealt withall in queene maries daies , and could also ( if any seducing priest or iesuite had accused their soueraigne of cruelty ) haue thus replyed , away vild harlots , belie her not , fox queene elizabeth was a mercifull queene , but mine eies haue seene the aboundance of bloud shed in queene maries raigne onely for conscience , wherwith ye were neuer glutted , but now these viue-speakers in christs cause being by time consumed , it is more needfull to preserue by these neuer-dying memorials , the remembrance of their sufferings , especially seeing the aduersarie is so busie by all meanes that the pope , the diuell , or hell it selfe can possibly deuise to exalt their faction , and to bring a scandall both vpon our soveraignes , vs , and them . and to the second poynt ; that it is a grace vnto the papists and romanists to haue their priests and iesuites ranked with the true professors , i answere thus : it is not the punishment , nor the place , but onely the cause that maketh a man famous for vertue , or for vice jnfamous , loued of god for his owne free graces , or hated of god and good men for their villanies . if the iron barres whereon catesbies and percies heads are fixed and nailed on the parliament house , be a grace vnto them or any of their fauorites , because they possesse the highest places of that honourable house ; such grace haue all the kings enemies . if garnets scaffold because it was raysed aloft for more publique view , were an honour vnto him or any of his iesuited society , such honour haue all that are , were , or hereafter shall be his partakers . if london bridge or newgate grace that faction , because their friends dismembred limbes are so highly thereon aduanced ; let crowes and rauens likewise deuour all them that deserue the like grace for the like jnfidelity . lastly , if iudas their fellow-traitor can any whit at all grace them because he is noted in the booke of god , ( but with this foule addition , traitour ) let them likewise take him and make him a brother of their company , or rather jncorporate themselues into his society , but let all that beare ill will to the church of england , and the kings majestie as a principall member thereof ; let i say , their ends ( oh god ) be like vnto their master iudas , and let their bowels breake in sunder that would eat out the bowels of thy church of england ; and let this blacke word of traitour bee the jndelible spot , neuer to bee washed away , wherewith i brand all english italionated priests and iesuites , and their abbettors . adde to these also the iacobine fryer and rauilack , the two murtherers of two french kings henry . & henry . ( for these are also sons of one father the pope , the deuill their grandfather , and those before , their brethren in iniquity , neuer to be spoken of but to their shame with posterity , ) the felicity of whose raigne ( namely henrie the . ) and peaceable gouernment , free from danger of any desperate attempt of stabbing or poysoning , or other attempt of perill to his person by any of romes fauourites , our english popish recusants ( scienter loquor ) before that inhumane and hellish fact committed pleaded and strongly argued to proceed from that lenitie of his , in permitting a freedome of conscience to his subiects in matter of religion ; whereby they would inferre , that if our kings maiestie would desire to liue securely from any such attempts , not needing to feare perill either by stabbing , poysoning , powder , or otherwise , then let a toleration begraunted ; but how sound their conclusion is , france hath felt , england may feare , and all the world is amazed thereat . for if the king of france being a papist , and at most but suspected to affect the protestant religion , could not yet be secure in his person , how much lesse can our king expect any assurance of saftie by a toleration , his majesty being himselfe a professed protestant , and directly opposite in faith and religion . nay it might rather bee much feared , that it would bee a meanes to pull gods just judgements vpon him and vs , for permission of such false worshippe of the true god ; for so wee may read in diuers places of the old testament , that when the rulers of the people fell away from god , god sent vpon them many plagues , miseries , and oppressions by their enemies . and thus much in answere to the second poynt , which my friend may obiect . thine in all christian loue , monogram incorporating the letters francis bto (? and u) to the whole rabble of english-borne , romish male-contents , and disturbers of this state. not hoping hereby to reclaime you ( that are already by sathans witchcrafts seduced ) from your many dangerous and pernitious errors , which cleaue more fast vnto you then the skinne vnto the flesh , or the flesh vnto the bones , for that were extra spem sperare , a hope without any ground : nor yet in bitternesse of spirit ( onely ) purposing to rayle vpon you as many of you most jmpudently haue done against your owne mother , for that were want of charity : nor any waies intending to giue satisfaction vnto your vnsatisfiable obstinacy and wilfull-willing blindnesse , by reasoning scholastically , or propounding and framing logicall ( or as you vse sophisticall ) arguments to conuince your follies , for that would be in me presumption ; for what am i that after so many rare wits , and vnrefutable iudgemēts in matters diuine , as haue already laboured your conversion , i should hope of better successe therein then they before haue had ? i rather conclude with abraham , who told the rich man that desired a messenger to be sent from the dead to the liuing to warne them that they might auoyd the like daunger of comming there , that if they will not belieue the prophets , neither would they belieue though one came frō the dead : so if you will not be perswaded by the scriptures , and the strong and vn-answerable arguments of such excellent diuines as haue already laboured your convesion , neither will you be perswaded though christ himselfe should descend from heauen in person to confute you . but my scope and drift herein is , ( pro viribus ) first to preuent the fall of those who yet stand but are ready to fall . secondly , to free my late soueraigne queene elizabeth , that sometimes peerelesse prince , and my now dread soueraigne the kings majestie , and their state-ministers from many false and serpentine jmputations , layd vppon them by men of your rancke , of bad spirits , whose throats are open sepulchres , wherein to burie true honour , faith keeping , grace , mercie , pittie , piety , protection , truth and religion in eternall obliuion ; breathing out from thence ( as from the fournace of hell ) insteed thereof nothing but dishonour , breach of promise , disgrace , crueltie , bloud , want of deuotion , oppression , heresie , and irreligion . these are the motiues that enforced my pen ▪ these the reasons of my non-silence , who otherwise could haue been contented quietly and securely to haue reposed my selfe in the joyfull contemplation of gods manifold blessings and mercies of an extraordinary nature towards this nation , by continuance of the gospell amongst vs , which , that it is the truth , and that he himselfe with his owne right hand hath planted it , and defended it by the power of his owne arme , the many strange miracles ( for such say you must needs approoue the truth ) which himselfe from time to time since before the beginning of q. elizabeths raigne vntill this present hath wrought , doe euidently confirme and prooue . for is it possible that our late famous queene of euer-blessed memorie , and our now soueraigne the kings maiestie , should haue escaped the many pitts that haue beene digged for them , and not haue fallen therein ? is it possible that queene elizabeth , full of yeares but fuller of renowne , should haue liued vnto a gray-headed age , and quietly dying in her bed , to be maugre all her enemies , brought in peace vnto her graue ? is it possible that this present state wherein wee liue should now haue a being , seeing that hell , the pope , [ vt obiter notē . the word recusant , ( now so common ) vntill the eleauenth yeare of queene elizabeths ragine , was altogether vnknowne , ( as may appeare by all statutes and acts of parliament before that time made , wherin there is not a word thereof at all ) vntill which time all papists , some very few excepted , ( notwithstanding , that the religion then professed in the church of england , was the very same that it was in the former yeares of her raigne ) came ordinarily to our churches , nor was disparitie of religiō any cause of recusancy , vntil such times that the roaring bull of pope pius . ( for then the land began to swarme with recusants ) was published , and queene elizabeth by him anathematized : then the case was suddenly altered , those who before frequented our churches , now withdraw themselues from our society ; those who before yeilded obedience to his maiestie , now would not acknowledge her for their lawfull queene ; herevpon followed jmmediatly the rebellion in the north , and other dangerous conspiracies by your faction . and to proue that religion was not the cause of their recusancy ( besides that which hath beene abouesayd ) scotland will testifie , wherein albeit there haue beene and are many knowen papists both men and women , yet in all the time of king iames his raigne there , nor yet since he raigned here , haue any of thē absented thēselues or refused to come to our churches in scotland , & yet i make no question but you will say that the romish religion is one and the same there that it is here : you must needs then graunt , that not religion but the popes pleasure ( vnto whose girdle you are tyed ) is the cause of recusancy , and it behooueth his maiestie to haue speciall regard vnto you that are recusants , and by all good meanes that he can to assure his owne estate , in another regard then only that you will not , interesse sacris , with vs , for recusancy and treason are so linked one in the other , and compacted , that hardly can hee bee a recusant that is not a traitour likewise . see more hereof if you please in the and . pages of tortura torti . ] seminarie priests and iesuites , traitors and seditious persons haue conspired against it , had not the lord himselfe miraculously defended it , and maintained his truth ? i need not instance particular deliuerances , for who is he amongst vs that remembers not many ? but yet i cannot without ingratitude to god , our most gracious preseruer , ouer-slip in silence those two myracles of myracles , to wit , our deliuerance from spaines ( so falsely by them tearmed , but blessed be god therefore ) inuincible armado , an. . and from the mynes of fire and gunpowder prepared by ympes of hell , for englands funerall an. . which latter but that mine own eyes haue seene their preparations , i should ( with thomas ) scarcely haue belieued : and no maruell though in spain the report therof can with many hardly be credited , for some at our own home that haue not with their owne eyes seene it , or with their eares heard the delinquents , viva voce , confesse it , can hardly , yet conceaue halfe the malice therof , it seemes to those that haue any sparkes of humanitie , so passing cruell and incredible . these if the gospell must needs be confirmed by myracles , are true myracles . these are no counterfait jugling trickes , or popish impostures to delude the simple , such as were the sicknesse-healing child , or the picture of the traitour garnets face in a wheat strawe , found perhaps amongst a popish taylors wiues shreds , or brought in in the belly of a griffin or gryfō , intēding thereby the ruine of troynovant , as were the armed men of yore in the bellie of synons woodden horse , for troye the old its destruction : such as these we leaue to you to insert into your legenda aurea , or legend of lyes . as for persecution for conscience , against which in diuers of your pamphlets you so loudly cry , the comparison of times for continuance wherein , of persons for numbers in those times , how many , whose bloud on both sides haue been shed , and the causes ( partly ) wherefore , in the following table will appeare . but the grounds of religion , contained in the holy scriptures of the old and new testament , penned by the prophets and apostles , on which we build our faith , and the refutation of errors and false doctrine maintained by romish recusants , priests , and iesuites which in former times and in these times also haue & do cause so great disturbances & persecutions of the church of christ , i leaue to bee defended by those graue and strong pillars of our church , and learned fathers of our clergie , whose foundnesse in doctrine all the papists in the world are vnable to evince . concerning that dishonour wherewith very frequētly but falsely ( as is well * approued by the then bishop of chichester ) you taxe your soueraigne lord the kings maiestie for breach of promise with recusants , concerning a toleration of popish religion , that ( quantum in me est ) i may confute such vnjust exclamations against his majesties person and his honour , i will briesly touch that poynt , by declaring not onely vnto you , but vnto all the world that shall take notice hereof , what mine owne eares heard in an open court ( of mercy i may say rather then of justice in this case ) debated and censured . the case stood betweene the kings majestie & a great peere of this land , amongst whose many grosse slippes and juglorious acts , this poynt was as the rest ( all which his majestie was pleased , nay ( as sayd the lord cooke then the kings attourney ) commanded that they should not otherwise bee handled then as matters of contempt ) ripped vp and scanned . his name i could particularly instāce , but because it pleased my soveraigne to deale with him not in rigor of law & justice but meerly in grace , i hold it not my part ( othewise then what for clearing of the truth i needsly must ) him by name to disgrace . wherfore that i may helpe to wash away those aspertions of dishonour , vnjustly throwen vpon his sacred majesty by men of bad spirits , and that like spots and staines neuer to be done away ▪ they may seat themselues within the muddy circle of the duskie moone , their true centre , and not eclipse the bright honour of our splendant sun & glorious north-star , i will here relate frō whence by much probabilitie , this error at first sprange . this noble fore-remembred personage , whose greatnesse addes a greatnes to his fault , ( if i may linke nobilitie with such jgnoble actions ) ambitiously ( as it should seeme ) affecting a singular greatnesse , not at all regarding religion ( as some haue thought ) further then as it might serue him as a ladder to promotion , was in shew outwardly a seeming protestant , but vnder-hand and couertly , willing to be held a papist , jnsomuch that by his close carriage hee was very honourablie thought of by his majestie , & chosen by his majestie to be very neere vnto him , and yet neuerthelesse highly accompted of and respected amongst the romanists for a sure friend of theirs , vpon whom they might hold a dependance ; testified hereby , that with his owne hands he deliuered and presented their popish supplication vnto his majestie at theobalds , for a toleration in anno. . and that i may not seeme maliciously of my selfe without a ground to taxe him herein of ambition , obserue with me , that at his tryall ( by one for his learning judicious , for his knowledge experienced in matters of state ) it was by euident arguments prooued that his proceedings argued a manifest discontentmēt , and withall that all discontentments proceeded from either want , disgrace , or ambition ; but not from want , for his possessions and yearely revenues were exceding great ; not frō disgrace , for his majestie had many waies graced & highly honoured him ; ( which graces as he then did , so i now could particularly jnstance , but that thereby i must needsly discouer his person ) and therefore of necessitie from ambition . likewise as then by one was obserued his ambition in his jntentions and thoughts , so by another of higher rancke and dignitie was noted his dissimulation in his actions , for said he , there are in all his proceedings , vestigia manifesta , & vestigia occulta , giving withall an jnstāce herein , that this great personage had admitted t. p. that archtraitor to be a pentioner , but yet without hauing any oath administred him , either for his allegeance , or yet for his particular discharge of that place whereunto he was admitted , and yet vnderhand giuing out that he was sworne , wherevpon he jnferred thus , that wheresoeuer things were palliated which were , or fayned to be which are not , there alwaies is some deceit . at which time he was by a third honourable personage taxed expreslie for his hippocrisie , as being iacke on both sides , whereby hee had made himselfe odious to both protestants ( so tearmed ) and papists : nor yet ( though these are jnough ) are these all . but to returne to our purpose and matter in hand . before he ascended vnto that height of honor ( which then by the kings speciall favour he was advanced vnto ) i meane in queene elizabeths time , when his predecessours carriage had givē just occasion of the successours further disgrace , then [ at this very time was the same person imployed vnto his maiestie with letters from garnet the iesuites prouinciall , who had about that time receaued the popes breues to this purpose , quandocunque contigerit miseram illam faeminam ( meaning q. elizabeth ) ex hac vita exire , &c. that whensoeuer that wretched woman should die , the papists should not admit of any other to inherite , how neere so euer in bloud , vnlesse he were a ( romish ) catholique , and not so onely , vnlesse he would also sweare to vphold to his power the popish religion . but the kings happie acceptation with his good subiects , caused those to bee converted into ashes , and then come other breues enioyning their obedience to his maiestie , but coacta virtus non est virtus , gramercy horse when you cannot choose , then obay . this is that obedientia , ex necessitate , nempe ferreâ jlla & coactâ , which bellarmine noteth recognitionum , pag. . and how long this ? vntill they be able to cast him out whō they were forced to receaue . and your watson soone attempted that which hee knew his vnholy father the pope hartily wished . hee was a lowe man in person , but he aspyred high when he thought to bee lord chancellor of england : but missing that , hee was aduanced to the gallowes for preferment , but i thinke being purblind , he missed the waye that hee meant ] i say did this double-hearted lord jmploy t. p. the traytor vnto the kings majestie then king only of scotland , with certain letters of advise , but much in the behalfe of the english romish catholicks , aduising him that he should at such time as it should please the lord to call him to the possession of this his kingdome ( which as now he doth , so long lord grant he may quietly enjoye ) giue faire promises and hopes of tolleration vnto the papists , thereby ( as he therein pretended ) to prepare a more easie entrance for his majestie when time should serue . the kings majestie ( not as then suspecting the depth of this his councellors drifts , but vnderstanding him simply ) returned him an answere , with thankes for his advise , but withall jnferring a clause directly ( as since it appeareth ) contrarie to his councellors expectation . his majesties words in answere to the letter , were in effect as followeth . whensoeuer it shall please god in his due time to call mee to the possession of my right in england , i purpose not to make any jnnovation in the state , or to alter the lawes and ordinances thereof , &c. wherevppon a wise man would ( as the l l. did ) haue thus jnferred : no alteration in the state , no changing of lawes and ordinances therein established ; why then no toleratiō of poperie , no allowance of recusancy ; & not because it pleased the kings majestie out of the meeknesse of his spirit ( voyd of guile and double dealing ) to returne him thankes for his aduise ( although hee did not so much as make shew that he liked thereof ) therefore to conclude that a toleration should be granted . but he in his ambition besotted with his own follie , not expounding his majesties words as he meant , but as he himselfe conceited them , because he so ( as it should euidently appeare ) wished that it might bee , did so farre exceed the limits of his commission , and was so farre vainely transported , as that at t. p. his returne from the kings majestie , it was amongst the papists divulged ( though falsely ) that the king had also by the sayd t. p. giuen directions to the afore-remembred great personage , by word of mouth to wind himselfe into their favours , ( for that was the word ) and to giue hopes of toleration in his majesties name vnto recusants , and herehence chiefly arose that scandall of the kings honour , that he had broken promise with recusants . for the better confirmation whereof , and that his majesty neuer intended any such matter of toleration , conferre herewith watson the priest his confession vnto the honourable lord the lord of northampton at winchester ; who being by the earle ( by his majestie therevnto appoynted ) examined vpon the poynt of promise of toleration , freely confessed that albeit he were by some falsly accused to be the author of that report , yet it was most true that hee could neuer at any time draw any comfort from his maiestie in the point of conscience . all which notwithstanding ( besides the just cause that the powder-treason , and other dangerous conspiracies against his maiesties life and kingdomes , hatefull to god and all good men , gaue , of an hard hand ouer the papists ) yet let any of you ( that i may vse the words of an honorable counsellor ) even the most jmpudent & brazen faced amongst you , shew any the least prints ( if you can ) of bloudy steppes in his majesties course : nay rather i may much more truely say , hee is a man composed all of mercy , and not of any earthly element , subiect to passions and disturbance , but in a farre more diuine manner then ordinary men , resembling his maker , for good kings and mercifull are the most liuely representatiue jmages of the deitie , which causeth as the wicked without warrant , vpō gods mercies , so traitors and miscreant without reason vppon his majesties clemency jmpudently to presume , to their more just condemnation . and here let me tell you ( yet voyd of any desire of bloud or bloudy courses , as god can beare record vnto my soule , but onely admiring the mercies of our king ) that i greatly doubt whether any prince in the world ( king iames excepted ) if the like treason as was the powder-treason , had been plotted against him by persons of another religion or sect whatsoeuer , would haue suffered either man , woman , or child of so dangerous and damnable a profession , to haue breathed within his dominions , especially if the grounds of their religion ( as doth that of yours by euident proofes elswere convinced ) do allow of any such doctrine and enterprises . this powder-plot-treason was in it selfe , in the eyes of some of the actors therein , so horride and detestable , as that one of your owne iesuites from an apprehension of the jmmane cruelty thereof , ( not mooued with any commiseration of their miseries , who were by their designes destinated to the rage thereof , but proceeding from a trembling feare least it should be discouered ) could say to his fellow in profession and action , that if it were discouered it would be the vtter ruine and dissolution of their society . remember also robert winters dreame and the horror thereof , how it terrified his very soule with the gastly appearance of some of his consorts . and forget not the fearefull vengeance of god in suffering their faces to be so vgly disfigured with gunpowder in littletons house , who had prepared a destructiō for this whole kingdome with the same matter and substance ; and then conclude that god is iust , and therefore in his justice did punish their wickednesse with the inventions of their owne braines . was it not time to lop those ambitious aspyring thoughts of watson the priest and his confederates , as also to clippe the winges of the powder-treason contriuers and their fauorites , the first affecting in his owne person the high chancelorship of england ; and the latter building their hopes aboue the moone , amongst themselues concluding to set vp a protector of their own choosing out of the number of those popish lords , that by them were intended should bee preserued from that generall destruction of their sulphurious fire , all of them directlie ayming at the vtter ruine and destruction of this noble and renowned iland , and to make desolate the most glorious kingdome that is couered by the heauens . but as the most fruitfull trees beare their tops lowest , and the most barren and vnfruitfull shoote vp highest , euen so is it amongst men . those that are most emptie of vertue and laudable qualities , aspire in their ambition to places of highest honour vncalled , whereas the more worthy and vertuous would in their humility refuse them being jmposed , were it not onely for this , that they may thereby be the better jnabled to do good . admit that the kings majestie had in a religious pollicy promised a toleration , before he were fully seated in his kingdome , or come into this kingdome , nay that hee had so also meant indeed , as some of you haue falsely and jmpudently giuen out ; yet had he not , for your extreame ill carriage and disloyall demeanour , just cause to haue reuoked it ? for before that liberty could be established for you , there must needes haue beene a repeale made of those lawes and statutes formerly made against recusancy , which as they were by act of parliament confirmed , so must they haue been by the like authority disanulled . but your watson and clarke thought to make a shorter cut then so , by preventing the king in the performance of that which watson himselfe knew full well the king neuer purpose nor promised , albeit it should seeme by watsons owne confession , that he had much laboured and jmportuned his majestie therein . since which time also , if his majestie had promised the like ( as some of your faction haue falsely giuen out ) was not that matchlesse powder-treason plotted , contriued , furthered , and assisted by beasts ( for men i cannot call them , but rather deuils ) of your religion , both priests , iesuites , and ( as you stile your selues ) lay catholiques , a sufficient warrantise without prejudice to his honour , to recall such a grant as might giue protection to caterpillers , degenerate persons , miscreants , vipers , monsters , and not men , and whatsoeuer name more odious , that also ; yea vnworthy to bee called by the name of any of gods creatures , for they persist in their created natures , but the other do not but are degenerated from men to devils . that their damnable practise doth rightly moralize the tale of the husbandman , wherein hee is fabled to haue found a snake stiffe and almost dead with cold , and to haue brought him home in his bosome and warmed him by the fire , which after recouering began to hisse at the good man of the house for his paines , and would with his venomous tongue haue stung him to death , who had before saued his life ; which plainely bids king iames beware that he nourish not vipers in his own kingdome , i pray god not in his court. you seeme in some places of your writings to taxe queene elizabeth , and in her all true profes●ors of religion for a backward and frozen zeale towards the kings majesties rightfull succession in these his kingdomes , & to blazō your own forwardnesse in his majesties behalfe : but know , you false-hearted and degenerate men , that king iames knowes how to judge of spirits , and to hold you but hollow-hearted vnto him now , because whiles you were yet queene elizabeths subiects , you were then so vnto her , and to esteeme of our late queene honourably , and of vs as faithfull subiects then vnto her , so now no lesse vnto him . and albeit that for some reasons of state vnto her selfe best knowen , and which no doubt but his majestie now very well vnderstandeth , it pleased her to conceale the kings right from the multitude , yet i verily perswade my selfe that his majesty did neuer so much as conceiue a thought that queene elizabeth did euer purpose or intend to debarre him in his right of lawfull succession . and in this poynt your fellow catholiques thought to cast a bone between his majesty and his good subiects , but you are made to swallow it your selues , and some whose throats were to little it choaked . nor may i here let passe vntouched that propheticall speech of that worthy matriarke ( honourable amongst women ) q. elizabeth , who when in the first yere of her raigne shee was motioned to dispose her selfe to marriage ; that her subiects might enioy an happy issue of her own body , like as abraham when his sonne isaac sayd behold the fire and the wood , but where is the lambe for the burnt offring ? gen. . . replyed , deus providebit mi fili ; so shee ( abrahams daughter by fayth ) likewise , fideles mei subditi , my louing and faithfull subiects , although you may justly fear what may be the euent of my disposednes to a virgin life , yet be not depressed with care that way , nor dejected with sorrow , but trust in god , for deus providebit , hee euen god , euen that god who made sarahs barren wombe fruitfull , and he who , although i should marrie , can cause my wombe to be barren , he , who had another meat to eat that his disciples knew not of , ioh. . . euen he i say will provide you a king of his owne choosing , whome you do not so much as dreame of , my fathers will must bee done , ioh. . . i the lord will bee their god , and my seruant david shall be the prince amongst them . i the lord haue spoken it , ezech. . . which that your eyes haue , after . yeares after that , seene accomplished , do ye and your vn-holy father the pope fret out your heart-strings , ( for so god blesse , curse ye and spare not ) but let all good and faithfull subiects say alwaies , the lords name be praised . her own words ( worthy to be written in letters of gold ) are recorded by io. stow in his annalls of eng. in the beginning of her raign . and to draw to an end with you , because you harpe so much vppon two strings , to wit , breach of promise and bloudshedding ; remember the vowes that queene marie made to the suffolke men ( by whose ayd shee was setled in her kingdome ) and her violation thereof , although not forced therto by any conspiracy of the gospellers then , or any attempt ( by persons different to her in religion ) against her person after her right once proclaimed ; and withall forget not how much bloud her breach of promise cost , and hauing waighed both in an equall ballance of an jmpartiall and not prejudicate judgement , if then you justly can , vrge both and spare not , but in the meane space view in the table following with the eyes of pittie the catalogue of them , whose bloud was by her and her bloudy ministers so cruelly , only for religion , shed and exhausted . and so wishing that you would be , but little hoping that you will be , good subiects vnto his majestie ; as i found you so i leaue you , voyd of religion , emptie of honesty . by him that affoords you as good means to know me , as your martyrologist hath done me to know him . monogram incorporating the letters francis bto (? and u) this knot doth showe ( if thou would'st know ) the authors name ; then it vntye ( and him descrye ) or your priest blame . for had he set his name to his then had i mine also to this . ❧ a briefe collection of such martyrs as within the ( lesse than six yeares ) bloudy raigne of queene mary were burned in england for the profession of the gospell of christ iesus . ¶ opposed to the following english-romish martyrologe of i. w. priest. ❀ drawen jnto such an order as that at one viewe you may behold the yeare of our l : god , the yeares of the princes raignes both of england and scotland , the names of those that suffered , the day and moneth wherein they suffered , and the places of their suffering . ¶ a table very necessary for all lawyers , scriueners , clarkes , or whosoeuer else desire vpon any occasion to know how the double account of the yeares of the raignes of the princes of england and scotland , since the first yeare of queene marie , vntill this present yeare of our lord . doe agree and concurre . the like before not extant . ¶ but more especially published to prooue , vnto the vnderstanding of the most simple , that poperie is a false bloudy , antichristian and mercilesse religion , whose professors delight in shedding the bloud of gods saints ; and on the contrary , that the gospell which we now in england professe is the truth , and hath for truth beene confirmed with the bloud of many more martyrs ( in lesse then sixe yeares space ) then this popish priest in his martyloge with any shew of truth can ( though falsely ) pretend to haue suffered in england for religion in . yeares since . the fierie tryall of gods saints : ¶ these are they who were killed for the word of god , and for the testimonie which they maintained , revel . . . who crye with a loud voyce . ❀ how long lord which art holy and true ! doest thou not judge and auenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth . reuel . . . ❀ and these liue and raigne with christ , and are blessed because they dyed in the lord. revel . . . the yere of our l. god begining by this account mar. q. mary her rai . of engl. beginning iuly . . q. mary her raig . of scotlād begining decē . . the names of such martyrs as were burned in eng. in q. maries raign , for the profession of the gospell . the day of the mōneth wherin they suffered . the places where they suffered . . iuly . mariae angli . decē . mariae scot. .       . iuly . mariae angli . decē . . mariae scot. iohn rogers , burned . feb. . in smithfield . lawrence sanders , burned . . at coventry . io : hooper bish : of worcest : and gloucest : bur . . at gloucester d. taylor , burned . eodem . die . at hadley . tho : tomkins , burned . mar. . in smithfield . . iuly . mariae angli . decē . mariae scot. . william hunter , bur . mar. . at burntwod . tho : higbed , bur . eodem die . at horndon thomas cawston , bur . eodem die . at rayly . william piggot , burned . at braintree . stephen knight , bur . eodem die . at mauldon . iohn lawrence , bur . at colchester . d. farrar bish : of s. dauids , bu . at carmarthē rawlins white , bur . eod . fe . tēp . at cardiffe george marsh , bur . aprill . at westchest . william flower , bur . eodem die . at westminst . io. cardmaker , & io. warne , b. may . in smithfield . io. simson , bur . june . at rochford , io. ardley , bur . june . at rayly . tho hawkes , bur . june . at coxhall . tho. wats , bu . june . at chelmsford iohn tooly digged out of his graue , & bur . eod fe . tēp .   nicholas chamberlaine , bur . june . at colchester . thomas osmund , bur . . at māniugtre . william bamford , bur . . at harwicke . io. bradford , & io leafe , bur . . in smithfield . ioh. bland , io. frankesh . nicholas sheterden , & hum middleton , bur . july . . at cāterbury . margerie pullie ; nicho. hall , &   at tunbridge christo waide , bur . . at rochester . dirrick caruer , bur . . at lewis in s tho. iueson , bur . eod . se . tēp . at chichester iames abbes , bur . august . . at bury . ioh. denly , bur . . at vxbridge . george tankervile , bur . . at s. albons . patrick packhingham , bur . . at saffron-walden . iohn newman , bur . .   rich : hooke , bur . eodē mēse . at chichester . rich : colliar , wil : cooker , wil : hooper , henry lawrence , rich : wright , and wil : store , bur . eodē mēse . at cāterbury ely : warne , bur .   at stratf : bow robert smith , bur :   at vxbridge . steph : harward , bur . eodē mēse . at stratf : bow thomas fust , bur :   at ware. wil : haile , bur :   at barnet . wil : allen , bur :   at walsigham roger coo bur :   at yexford . thomas cobbe , bur : mēse s●pt . at thet̄ord . rob : streater , george catmer , anth : burward , geo : bradbrige , and iames tutty , bur : eodē mese . at cāterbury io : goreway , and tho : hayward , bur : eodē mēse . at lichfield . rob : glouer , and correlius bongey , bur : septēb . at coventry . bishop ridley , and bish : latimer , bur : octob. . at oxford . wil : wolsey , and robert piggot , bur : eodem die . at ely. iohn webb , george roper , & gre : parke , bur : nouē . . at cāterbury . io : philpot archdeacon , bur : decē . . in smithfield . thomas whittle , barthelet greene , iohn tudson , io. went , thomas browne ,     isabell foster , and ioane warren , bur : janu. in smithfield . iohn lomas . anne abbright , ioane catmer , ioane soke , and agnes snoth , bur : . at cāterbury . thomas cranmer archbish . of canter . bur : march. at oxford . iohn spicer , wil : cobberley , & io : maundrell , bur : . at salisbury . ioane trunchfield , and agnes potten , bur : eodē mēse . at ipswich . . mariae . ang. . mariae scot. . iohn harpoole , and ioane beech , bur : aprill . . at rochester . iohn hulliar , bur : . at cambridge rob : drakes , wil : tymmes , rich : spurge , tho : spurge , io : cauell , & george ambrose , bur : . in smithfield . christopher lyser , io : mace , iohn spencer , simō ioyne , rich : nichols , and iohn hamund , bur : . at colchester thomas drury , and thomas crooker , bur : may . at gloucester hughe lauerhoke , and ioh. ap rice , bur : . at stratford-bowe . katherine hull , ioane horns , eliz : thackvell , and margery . ellys , bur : . in smithfield . tho : spicer , ioh : denny , & edmund poole , bur : . at beckleys in suffolke . tho : harland , ●oh : oswald . tho : auington , and tho : read , bur : iune . . at lewis in suffolke . tho : whood , and thomas mylles , bur : . at lewis in suffolke . thomas moore , bur : june . . at leicester . henry adlington , lawrence pernham , henry wye , wil : halliwell , tho : bowyer , george searle , edm hurst , lyon cawch , ralph iackson , iohn derrifall , iohn rowth , elyz : pepper , and agnes george , bur : . at stratford bowe . roger bernard , rob : lawson and adam foster , bur : . at bury . iulius palmer , io : gwyn , & thomas askine , bur : iuly . at newbery . katherine cawches , guilian gilbert , perotine massey , and the said masseys infant breaking violently out of the mothers wombe into the fire , was taken out once and presently throwne againe into the fire , & bur . . in the isle of garnsey . tho ▪ dungale , iohn foremā , & anne try , bur . eodem die . at greensted . ioane wast , bur : august . . at darby . edw : sharpe , bur ▪ septem . . at bristow . iohn hart , tho : rauensdale ; as also a shoomaker and a currier , bur : . at mayfield . a carpenter , bur : . at bristow . iohn horne , and a woman , bur : . at wooton-vnderhedge . wil : waterer , steph : kempe , wil : hay , tho : hudson , wil : lowicke , and william prouting , bur : janua . at cāterbury . ni : final & mat : brabridge , b : . at ashford . io : philpot , & thomas stephens , bur : in janu. at wye . martine bucer , & paulus phagius bones digged vp and with their bookes bur : also peter martyrs wiues bones remooued and buried in a dunghill . febru . . at cābridge . . mariae ang. . mariae scot. tho : loseby , henry ramsey , tho : thirtle , marg : hyde , & agnes stanly bur : aprill . in smithfield . rich : sharpe , & tho : hale , bu : may . at bristow . steph : gratwicke , wil : monāt , & one king , bur : eodēmēse . in s. georges field . ione brabridge , wal , aplebly , & petronell his wife , edm : allen , & kath : his wife ioa : manings , & a blind maid , bu : iune . at maidstone . ioane fishcoke , nich : white , nich : pardue , barbara finall , brabridge his widdow , wilsons wife , & alice benden , bur : at cāterbury . rich : woodmā , george stephēs , wil : mainard , alex : hosmā , thomasine wood , mar : morris , iames morris , denis burgis , ashdōs wife & groues wife , bu : . at lewys in sussex . simō myller , & elyzab : cooper , bu : july . at norwich . wil : bongor , wil : purcas , th : benold , agnes siluerside , alias smith , helene euring , elyzab : folkes , wil : mount , alice his wife ; rose allyn ,     and ioh : iohnson , bur : august . . at colchester . rich : crashfield bur : . at norwich a woman , and one named fryar , bur : . at rochester . tho : benyon , bur : . at bristow . ralfe allerton , iames austoo , marge : austoo , and rich : rooth , bur : septem . at islington . agnes bongor , & margaret thurston , bur : eodem die . at colchester ioyce lewis , bur : eodē mēse . at litchfield . iohn ▪ kurd , bur : . at northamp . iohn noyes , bur : eodē mēse . at layfield cycely ormes , bur : . at norwich . iohn halingdale , wil : sparrow , & rih : gibson , bur : nouem . at colchester . iohn rough , & margery mearing , bur : decem. in smithfield . iohn warner , tho : athoth , io : mylles , nich : holden , iohn ashdon , & tho : spurdance , bur . eodem an. in chichester diocesse . . mariae ang. . mariae scot. . hugh fox , iohn deuenish , & cuthbert simson , bur : march. in smithfield . wil : nicholne , bur : aprill . . at hereford . wil : seaman , thomas carman , & tho : hudson , bur : may. at norwich . wil : harris , richard day , & christian george , bur : . at colchester henry pond , raynold eastland , robert southam , mat : richardby , & roger holland , bur : june . in smithfield . richard yeoman , bur : july at norwich . robert mylles , steph : cottō , robert dynes , ste : wight , iohn slade , & wil : pikes , bur : iuly . . at brainford . iohn cooke , robert myles , alex : lane , & iames ashley , bur : eodē mēse . at bury . thomas bembridge , bur : eodē mēse . in winchester diocesse . alex : gowch , and alice driuer , bur : nouē . . at ipswich . phil : humfrey , iohn david , hen : dauid , and a woman named preest , bur : eodē mēse . at exceter . this yere the . of nouem : dyed q. marie . iohn corneford , christopher browne , io : herst , alice , snoth , and kathe : knight , ( alias tynley ) being ( as sayth m. fox ) the last that suffered in queene maries raigne , were burned . . at cāterbury           the whole number of martyrs burned in . yeres of qu. maries raigne , by this account is about . a beadroll of all such traiterous priests , iesuits , and popish recusants , as by i. w. priest in his english martyrologe are by him recorded for martyrs in this kingdome , since the first yeare of queene elizabeth vntill the latter end of the sixt yeare of king iames our now soueraigne lord his raigne . ❀ drawen jnto such an order as that at one viewe you may behold the yeare of our l : god , the yeares of the princes raignes both of england and scotland , the names of those that suffered , the day and moneth wherein they suffered , and the places of their suffering . ¶ a table very necessary for all lawyers , scriueners , clarkes , or whosoeuer else desire vpon any occasion to know how the double account of the yeares of the raignes of the princes of england and scotland , since the first yeare of queene marie , vntill this present yeare of our lord . doe agree and concurre . the like before not extant . ¶ but more especially published to prooue , vnto the vnderstanding of the most simple , that poperie is a false bloudy , antichristian and mercilesse religion , whose professors delight in shedding the bloud of gods saints ; and on the contrary , that the gospell which we now in england professe is the truth , and hath for truth beene confirmed with the bloud of many more martyrs ( in lesse then sixe yeares space ) then this popish priest in his martyloge with any shew of truth can ( though falsely ) pretend to haue suffered in england for religion in . yeares since . the detestable ends of popish traytors : ¶ these are those vncleane spirits , who like frogges came out of the mouth of that dragon , and out of the mouth of that beast , and out of the mouth of that false prophet . revel . . . ¶ whose damnation is iust . rom. . . ❀ for they are the spirits of deuils , working myracles , to go vnto the kings of the earth , and of the whole world , togather them to the battle of that great day of god almighty . reuel . . . ❀ and these worshipped the beast . revel . . ▪ the yere of our l. god beginning by this account mar. . qu elizab . her raig . of eng : beginning no. . . q. mary her raig . of scotlād begining decē . . . the names of traitors as were executed in england in queene elizabeths raigne . the days of the moneth wherein they were executed . the places where they were executed .   nouēb . . eliz. angl. .         . elizab. angl. . mariae scot. .       . elizab. angl. . mariae scot.       . elizab : ang. . mariae scot.       . elizab. ang. . mariae scot.       . elizab. ang. . mariae scot. .       . elizab. ang. . mariae scot.       . elizab. ang. mariae scot. . this yere iuly . h. l. darly was proclaimed ki. and on the morrow after hee married the qu.       . elizab. angl. . mariae s●ot . . in this yeare of our l. god iune was our ( now ) kings maiesty borne , & christenned the . day of decem. following . the of febr. following the k. was murthered by traitors       . elyzab . ang. this yeare in the moneth of iuly q. mary being prisoner in lochleui●e willingly resigned her crown vnto       the yere of our l god beginning by this account mar. qu elizab . her raig . of eng : beginning no. . . k. iames his raig . of scot : begining iuly . . the names of such traytors as were executed in england in q. elizabeths raigne . the dayes of the moneth in which they were executed . the places where they were executed .     james the yōg prince , our now soueraigne lord & king , he was thē but two yeares old .           k. iames his rai . of scot. being the . king of that name .           iuly iacobi . sexti scoto . .       . elyzab . ang. iacob . scoto . .       . elyzab . ang. jacob. scoto . .       . elizab. ang. jacob. scoto . . iohn felton . august . . in paules church yard . . elyzab . ang jacob. scoto . . iohn story . june . at tyburne . . elyzab . ang. jacob. scoto . .       . elyz : iacob : . thomas woodhouse . june . at tyburne . . elyz : iacob . .       . eliz : iacob : .       . elyz : iaco :       . elizab : ang : iacob : scot : cuthbert mayne . nouem : at launston . iohn nelson . feb. . at tyburne . . elyzab : ang : jacob : scot : thomas sherwood , febru . .   . elyzab : ang : iacob : scot , anno. . in the moneth of ianuary , was published a proclamation against seminary priests and iesuits , and for calling home the queenes subie&s from forraigne seminaries , where they remained vnder colour of studie .     . elyzab : ang : iacob : scot :       . elyzab : ang : iacob : scot : euerard hanse . july . at tyburne . edmund campion . alexander bryant . ralphe sherwyn . decem. at tyburne . . elyzab : ang : iacob : scot : iohn paine . aprill . at chelmsford thomas ford. iohn shert . robert iohnson . may. . at tyburne . thomas cottam . william filby . luke kirby . lawrence iohnson . may at tyburne . william lacy. richard kirkman . august . at yorke . iames tompson . in nouem : at yorke . . elyzab : ang : iacob : scot : richard thirkhill . may. at yorke . william hart.   at yorke . iames laburne .   at lancaster . william carter . janu : . at tyburne . george haddocke , io : mundine , iames fen , thomas emerford , & iohn nutter . feb. . at tyburne . . elyzab : ang : jacob. scot. iames bele . iohn finch . aprill . at lancaster richard white . octo. . at wrixam .       this yeare also were . iesuits and seminary priests banished the realme , ianu : .     . elyzab : ang. jacob. scot. thomas aufield . thomas webley . july . at tyburne . hugh taylor . marmaduke bowes :   at yorke . margaret clitherow . in march. at yorke . n. hamelton . rob : bicardine .   at yorke . edward transam . nich : woodfine . janu. at tyburne . this yeare also were . priests & iesuits banished the realme , sep. .     . elyzab : ang : jacob. scot : . richard sergeant . william tompson . aprill . at tyburne . iohn adams . iohn low. rob : debdale rob : anderton . octo. . at tyburne . william marsden .   at tyburne . francis ingleby .   at yorke . stephen rowsam .   at gloucester john finglow .     . elyzab : ang : jacob. scot : . thomas pilchard . in march. at dorcester . iohn sands .   at gloucester iohn hamly .   at chard . alexander crowe .   at yorke . robert sutton .   at stafford . edmund sykes .     gabriell thimbleby .     george dowglas .     . elyzab : ang : iacob . scot : william deane . henry webley . august . . at myle-end-greene . william gunter . eodem die . at the theat : robert morton . hugh more . eodem die . at lincolns-inne fields . tho : acton , alias holford . eodem die . at clarkēwel richard clarkson . thomas felton . eodem die . at hownslow rich : leigh , edward shelley , hugh morgan , rich : flower , robert martyn , iohn rocke , & margaret wade . aug. . at tyburne . edward iames. ralph crochet . octob. . at chichester . robert wilcockes . edward campion . christo : buxton . rob : widmerpoole . eodem die . at cāterbury . william wigges . eodem die . at kingston . iohn robinson . eodem die . at ispwich . iohn weldon . october . at milēdgreen william hartley . rich : williams . eodem die . at halliwell . robert sutton . eodem die . at clarkēwel . william spencer .     edward burden .     iohn hewyt .     rob : ludham . richard simpson . nicholas garlicke .   at darby . william lampley .   at gloucester . elyzab : ang : iacob . scot. george nicols , rich : yaxley , tho : belson , hū : vp-richard . july . at oxford . iohn annas .     robert dalby .     christopher bales . march. . in fleetstreet . alexander blake . eodem d●e . in gr●●n-lane nicholas horner . eodem d●e . in smithfield . . elyzab : ang. jacob. scot. . myles gerrard . francis dickinson . aprill . . at rochester . anthony myddleton . m●y . . at clarkēwel edward iones . may . in fleetstreet . . elyzab . ang. jacob. scot. edmund gennings . decem. in grays inn fields . swithin welles . eustach white . decem. at tyburne . polydor plasden . bryan lacy. iohn mason . sidney hodgson . momfort scot. iuly . . in fleetstreet . george bisley . william dickinson . july . . at winchester ralph milner . edmund ducke .   at durham . rich : holiday .   ioh : hagge .   rich : hill.   william pykes .   at dorcester . william partison . iann . . at tyburne . tho : portmore . feb. . in paules church yard . this yeare also in the moneth of octob : was published a proclamation against priests and iesuits .     . elyz . iaco. . roger ashton . june . . at tyburne . . elyzab . ang jacob. scot. . iames burden . march at winchester . anthony page . aprill at yorke . ioseph lampton . iane. . at newcastle . william dauis . in sep●em . at beumaris . edward waterson .     william harrington . feb. . at tyburne . . elyzab : ang : iacob . scot. iohn cornelius mohum . july . at dorcester . tho : bosgraue patricke samon . iohn carey . iohn ingram .     thomas boast .   at newcastle . iames oldbaston .     robert southwell . march . at tyburne . . elzyab . ang. jacob. scot. henry walpole .     alexander rawiins . aprill ● . at yorke . george errington .   at yorke . william knight .   william gibson .   henry abbots .   william freeman .     . elizab ang. ● . iacob . s●ot . n : auleby .     n : thorpe .     . elyz : iaco. iohn buckley , alias iones . iuly . . at s. th : wa : . elizab. ang. ● iacob . scot. thomas snow .   at yorke . christoph : robinson   rich. horner .   n : grimston   n : britton .   . elyz : iaco : . math. hayes .   at yorke . . elizab. ang. ● jacob scot. . christopher wharton , with a namelesse woman . may. . at yorke . iohn rigby . july at s : th wa : robert nutter . in june . at lancaster edward thwinge . thomas sprot in iuly . at lincolne . thomas hunt. thomas palaser . eode mēse . at durham . iohn norton . n : talbot . iohn pibush . febr. . at tyburne . roger filcocke feb. ● . at tyburne . marke barkworth . anne lyue . . elyzab : ang : iacob . scot : robert middleton .   at lancaster . thurstan hunt.   . elyzab : ang : iacob . scot. francis page . aprill at tyburne . thomas tichborne . robert watkinson iames ducket . n : harrison . in aprill . at yorke . n : bates william richardson . feb. . at tyburne .   mar : being the last day of the yere by the account of eng : dyed queene elizab.   the whole number of such priests , iesuits , and recusants , as were executed in all the time of queene elizabeths raigne , being . yeares and . moneths , according to the martyrologists owne account , ( as he falsely pretends for religion ) amounts but to .     the yere of our l. god beginning by this account . mar. k. iames his rai : of engl : beginning mar : ● . k. iames his rai . of scot. begining iuly . . ● . the names of such traytors as were executed in england in k. iames his raigne . the day of the moneth in which ●hey were exe●uted . the places where they were executed .   . mar : iacob : ang : .   king iames his raigne of england .     . iacob : ang : . iacob : scot. stowe . william watson . nouem : at winchester william clarke . this yere also was published a proclamation against priests and iesui●s , that they should depart the land.     . iacob . ang. . iacob : scot : lawrence bayly . in march. at lancaster . iohn shuker . in august . at warwicke . robert griffold . . iacob : . iaco : . thomas wilborne .   at yorke . . iacob : ang iacob : scot : edward oldcorne . aprill . at worcester . in paules ralph ashley . henry garnet . may . churchyard . robert drury . febru . . at tyburne . this yeare also was published a proclamation that all iesuites and seminary priests , should depart the land.     . iacob : . iaco. mathew flathers . march at yorke . . iacobi . ang. . jacob : scot : george germs . aprill at tyburne . thomas garnet . june . at tyburne . . iaco : . ia●o : and thus endeth j : vv : priest the pseudo-martyrologist , by whole account there haue suffered since the first yeare of king james , of these popish traytors ( as he falsely pretends for religion ) to the number of .     . iaco. : iaco : .       .   iaco :       .           .           .           .           the popes charge to his bratts . estote proditores . goe kill your prince . a post-script to the wel affected reader . it may bee that some of antichristes broode will here crye out with open mouthes and say , ●ut , there are many of our catholique martyrs , who haue suffered persecution for their consciences that are not here mentioned . here is a collectiō indeed , to set down some , and leaue out the rest : where are those earles of northumberland and westmerland with their followers ? where the a bishops , deanes , archdeacons , canons , and other ecclesiastical persons ? where doctor lopez , party ? where many of the gentry , as abington , babington , tichborne , sauadge and their fellowes ? and of late where the lords cobham and gray ? where digbie , percy , catesbie , tresham , rookewood , the winters , litletons & their followers , with diuers others both of the nobilitie and gentrie , who for their consciences in seeking to aduance the ( by them so falsely called ) catholique religion , haue suffered martyrdome , some by death , some by imprisonment , some by banishment , some by losse of liuings , some one way , some another ? so condemning these collections with the author thereof to the fire , as sometimes their forefathers did the gospells confessors before registred . to stoppe whose mouthes let this suffice : first , that i neither propounded to my selfe , nor promised to them , to set downe herein the names of any other in queene mary her raigne , then onely of such as meerely for their consciences in professing christs gospell were in those dayes with fire and fagot martyred and burned , not at all medling with such as either were attainted or executed for treasons and rebellions , either against her person , state or dignitie , whom no good christians wil seeke to excuse , in so doing , nor of any other in q. elizab. or king iames their raignes , thē only of such seminary a priests iesuits & recusants , as i find recorded by their martyrologist i. w. priests whom many simple papists being seduced by their false teachers giue out to haue suffered onely for religion and their consciences , although that in all of these priests and iesuites , men of iudgement may easily discerne the contrarie , and as for many of them , the most simple cannot be ignorant that knoweth any thing , nor the most shamelesse denie , that is not past all shame , that they were executed for plotting and contriuing , for knowledge of , and concealing most barbarous & the like before vnheard of treasons , whereas true martyrdome indeede consisteth ferendo & patiendo , non in agendo , in bearing patiently , and suffering afflictions for christs cause , but not in plotting and attempting the liues and ouerthrowes of kings and countries , their lawfull and liege soueraignes and natiue ( though of them hated ) habitations and byrth-place : witnesse for proofe hereof , . ballard , . watson , . clarke , . garnet the iesuites prouinciall , . hall with others , the first of these was a chiefe actor and plotter ▪ in abingtons and babingtons conspiracie . anno . the second & third in cobhams and grayes , but more properly ( for they are the first mouers alwaies ) in watsons and clarkes their owne conspiracie , anno , . the fourth and fift in the gunpouder treason , which onely to name is instar omnium the most damnable bloodie plot that euer was contriued ( and i hope in time will proue as their owne greenwell prophesied , the very breakneck of all papists that will not bee recalled ) anno , . although i greatly feare that there are many in this kingdome , who , now god in his mercie hath defeated them , seeme to condemne the plotte , but yet would with all their hearts haue wished that it had taken effect , talia etenim nunquam probata antequàm acta , for such attempts as these ( to wit the gunpouder and others treasons , ) are neuer liked of , vnlesse they bee acted , but if performed , then applauded with a panegyricke orations . well , that papistes haue found so much mercie at the kinges handes ( notwithstanding this their more then heathenish crueltie ) as they haue , let them blesse god and thanke his maiestie , and i pray god they may make a good vse thereof , but let vs that are his faithfull subiects , reioyce in god for his and our owne deliuerance from so eminent danger , ascribing all glorie and thankfulnesse to god therefore , and vnspeakeable mildnes and forbearance in our king , whom no barbarous attempted cruelties , ( for then the gunpouder treason neuer was any more horrid , more hellish ) can prouoke vnto rigor , hee is so loath to bee of his very enemies accounted cruell . but lord grant thou ne incidat in scillam cupiens vitare carybdim , that his mercy towards his foes proue not crueltie to himselfe , his friends and good subiects . for this i may iustly say , that for a mercifull king in forgiuing his enemies , whom yet hee hath power to destroy , england may boast her selfe aboue all the nations of the world . secondly if papists will haue , besides these priestes , iesuits & recusants by their pseudomartyrologist noted , all other traitors and rebels to bee likewise enrolled , let them name as many as they can , and register them themselues , and take them into their number , for well i knowe that ( vnto honest men ) the more they name , the more infamous will they bee , because their horrible and damnable treasons are vnto all good men ( to whom onely i intend this post-script ) so odious , and vnto the world so apparant and palpable , that their names cannot but with disgrace bee recorded , whereas none , who were in queene , mary her raigne burned , did suffer for any other cause ( as the papists themselues cannot deny , but that they falsely call vs heretiques ) but onely for matter of religion ; nor can they bee iustly accused of any to haue attempted against the life of their then soueraigne lady queene mary , or to haue denied her for their lawfull queene , but so ( non obstante religionis disparitate , although they differed in religion ) to haue acknowledged her , so to haue prayed for her , in all humilitie submitting their neckes , as good subiects , to the yoake of temporall obedience to her maiestie , and like true christian martyrs , their bodies to the fire , for the onely profession of the gospel of christ iesus , whom in their bodies , goods and spirits they serued . thirdly , as i take not vpon mee to set downe precisely the name of euery particular priest , iesuite , and recusant , that suffered in queene elizabeths , and king iames their raignes , nor yet the iust number of those blessed martyrs that were burned in queene mary her raigne , but so many onely of both sortes as are for them in i. w. priest , his english a martyrologe , and for vs by that worthy man maister iohn fox in his booke of martyres recorded : so i am most certainely assured , that if i should nominate all those persons who in lesse then sixe yeeres raigne of queene mary were a famished for want of meate , imprisoned , dyed in prison , forced to flye , whipped , tortured and tormented onely for matter of religion , and some of these by the very handes of bloodie bishoppe bonner himselfe , they would farre exceede the number of all such priestes and iesuites , as the papistes can produce to haue endured in england any kinde of torture or corporall punishment whatsoeuer for religion , ( as they falsely pretend ) or otherwise for these fiftie and odde yeeres since . fourthly , and lastly , no priestes are b condemned simply for being priests , but if being borne his maiesties subiects , they shall take that order vppon them by authoritie deriued from the sea of rome , and afterwards shall returne into his maiesties kingdomes c to withdrawe and alienate the hearts of his subiectes , ( for so they all doe ) from their due allegeance . ) and for this lawe there is great reason . for as queene elizabeth was formerly ( nominatim ) by the pope excommunicated , and therevpon by the seducing of priestes and iesuites , ( the firebrands of christendome ) exposed both in her person and state to all daungers and treasonable practises that could by villaines bee deuised , and her kingdomes as the papists hold , d subiect to the popes disposing , so likewise the kings maiestie although hee bee not for ought i knowe , by the pope , by name excommunicated as yet , as queene elizabeth was , yet by the generall excommunication whereby all heretickes ( for such a one they hold his maiestie to bee directly ) are anathematized , hee standes at this instant excommunicated . and therefore papists holding opinions , as they doe , that it is a lawfull for subiects to kill their soueraignes , and take armes against them , so by the pope excommunicated , holding him no longer to bee their king by lawfull right of ruling , then the pope pleaseth ; which is onely thus qualified , rebus sic stantibus ; cùm deerunt vires , as long as they needes must , and that they dare doe no otherwise for feare of their neckes . is it not then great reason ( to you that in christ haue learned to obey i speake ) that his maiestie should as neere as hee can , preuent such daungers to himselfe and his state ? but here it may bee the priests will reply and say : wee are bound by oath , and therefore in conscience , to goe whether soeuer those of whom wee receiue our priestly orders , shall enioyne vs. but first answere me ; who enforced you thereto , either to leaue your country or to take that order ? did queene elizabeth ? doth king iames ? doe you not that of your owne voluntarie wils contrarie to your own known countrie lawes . secondly , whether that single ( sinnefull i may say ) oath bee of sufficient authoritie to dissolue that treble bond of allegeance , in which by being his maiesties borne subiects , you are bound by lawe b diuine , naturall and nationall . thirdly , if you before knowing the daunger thereof will yet voluntarily take such oaths ; where then is the fault ? in the prince that vppon good and warrantable grounds shall in a religious policie , to preuent the hazard of his owne , and his subiects states and liues , cause such a lawe to bee enacted , or in the priestes that shall c wilfully and in a resolute determination of working their countries ouerthrowe take such an oath ? and here for a shutting vp of all , giue me leaue , ( because the papists hold so much of the popes authoritie against princes by him excommunicated , ) to insert d two questions with their answeres , propounded by the right reuerend father in god the late lord bishoppe of london , vnto thomas garnet , aliàs roockwood , aliàs sayer a seminarie priest , at the time of the saide garnets arraignement at the sessions-house without newgate in london vpon thursday the . of iune . the first question was this . whether the saide garnet had euer read any authors whatsoeuer , vntill some hundreds of yeares after christs time , that did hold that the ende of excommunication tended to a depriuation of life . the second question was this . whether if the saide garnet himselfe helde lands , which by lawfull and lineall inheritance had descended from his auncestors vnto him , it were lawfull for the pope , garnet being by him excommunicated , to giue the lands vnto whom hee pleased ? garnets answere vnto the first was vncertaine , for saide hee , i remember not well what i haue reade concerning this point ▪ but vnto the second question hee answered directly , noe. why then , mildely replied the bishoppe , what reason haue you maister garnet , to hold that the pope hath more authoritie ouer the kings maiestie , being your soueraigne , then ouer you being but a priuate person , and his subiect . e garnet reioynder was silence , hauing first by a concession in his owne case graunted , that the popes authorities was of no force herein . thus much for satisfaction in this point vnto all men out of the mouth of thomas garnet seminarie priest . to this purpose see also iohn hart seminary priest , his wordes in his preface before his a conference with doctor reignolds . nor may i here neglect that offer which pope paulus the fourth made vnto queene elizabeth in the beginning of her raigne , who when he perceiued that his vsurped authoritie and primateship grew in england contemptible , condicionally that hee might hold that power here that vniustly hee had before done when this land was drowned in poperie , would haue beene contented , and caused the queenes maiestie to vnderstand that hee would be pleased , that all matters for religion should be administred in the same manner that then they were , ( being the very same then per omnia , that now it is ) onely his supremacie must bee acknowledged , for that indeed , not religion , not godlinesse , not any thing but pride and ambition to be in the eyes of the world aboue all , both was and is the cause of his raging madnesse . but that noble spirited queene , whose religion was founded vpon a rock , christ iesus being the chiefe corner stone , by whom all her building was ioyned together , scorned to be beholding to that italian priest for the exercise of that religion , which were it lawfull by his dispensation , she would and could by the power of god and her owne authoritie , maintaine against him , and all the power of darkenesse and hell it selfe , without being beholding to him . let those princes whose either pusillanimitie , or weaknes of their estates , or small assurance of their subiects loues , or want of courage to withstand his yoake of intrusion , or whose vnlawfull b mariages and thereby illicite issue and succession , must bee legitimated by a more illegitimate dispensation from his vnholinesse , that the power and sword of the one , may vphold the authoritie of the other , that his authoritie may reciprocally helpe to keepe that crowne vpon the head of him and his successors , who otherwise were thereof by their owne and gods lawes vncapable , verifying thereby that olde prouerbe , clawe me and i will claw thee : let they vsurped authoritie maintaine my illicite mariage , and my power and purse shall maintaine thy vsurped authoritie . let such as expect b donations of other princes kingdomes from their grand trāslator of empyres the pope , the diuels substitute , as philip the second of that name king of spaine did , vpon whom pius quintus , ( or rather impius intus ) the diuels vicegerent then at rome , conferred the kingdome of england ( but all the craft was in the catching ) instanced and approued as an act lawfull , by azorius the iesuite in his morall institutions , part second , booke eleuenth , chapter the fist , circa medium capitis . let such princes i say adhere to the pope , & subiugate their neckes to his trampling , but let those , whose cause is good , succession lawful , spirits more magnanimous , and of a better mettall , their subiects hearts generally , firmely assured , the word of god which is trueth it selfe on their side , power and abilitie to withstand ( and offend ) him and all his vnholy confederates , free princes next vnder god in their owne dominions . let these i say all learne of that renowned queene elizabeth this resolute saying , rare amongst men , but not to be paralleld by any woman , if my religion be allowable ? ( if my mariage lawfull , if my succession rightfull , ) by the popes dispensation , then is it so also without it , and god willing , i will maintaine it without him , who of his power can make it no more lawfull or vnlawfull then of it selfe it is without him ? for against the word of god there lieth no dispensation . and let great , great brittaines king make it known for an honour to him and his posteritie that great , elizaes spirit lodgeth in his brest , though happie she , in peace with god doth rest . thus holding poperie to be an hotch-poch of new religion coyned in the mints of the babylonish whore , who contendeth to aduance her kingdome a aboue the kingdome of christ , by all meanes that themselues , or hell it selfe can inuent , by crueltie , by blood , by deceit , by abusing the word of god , by equiuocation , by what not ? yea she hath so taught her brats , the priestes and iesuites , and infinite others by them seduced , to sweare and forsweare , to promise and protest , by whatsoeuer can bee named , ( although they haue no purpose to make good any of their vowes : in this kind ) as that they haue almost left no means whereby a man may be assured of anothers intentions , although he vowe it neuer so seeming seriously . call to minde the great and serious protestations that b watson the priest made in his quodlibeticall questions , c that albeit he differed in religion from that which was professed in the church of england , yet if either pope or spaniard should seeke by hostile meanes to inuade his countrie , hee would willingly spend his substance , nay his dearest blood against any such as should attempt it , and yet he himselfe was the first afterwards as i remember that came to the gallowes for violating it . if i could find any thing that good is in either priests or iesuites , i would commend them for it , but because i cannot , holding them all to bee traytors in heart vnto his maiestie , and their fauourers to be scarcely good subiects , i will end for their cōmendations with the words of a late , but wittie d satyrist ; f●uet illis , quisquis de illis tacet . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e a vide torturam torti . paginis . . . b three conversions of eng : part . in many places . c english martyrologe by j. vv. priest anno. . d vvatson , and clarke , executed at vvinchester in an. . novemb. . stowe . e henry garnet had . names , to wit , ganet , vvalley , darcy , roberts , farmer , and phillips . likewise edward hall alias oldecorne . likewise oswa●d ●esmund alias greenway . likewise thomas garnet alias rookwood , alias sayer , with many others . f three conversions of england in page . and many pages therof besides ianuary . page . ianuary . . page . ianuary . page . ianuary . page . february . page . march . page . aprill . page . aprill . page . may . page . maye . maye . page . iune . page . iuly . page . iuly . page . august . page . august . page . september . page . october . page . october . page . nouēber . page . decēber . page . g d. barlow in his answere to m. broughton . . h the booke at large ( worthy to be writtē in letters of gould ) is this yeare newly and well printed by the companie of stationets in london . notes for div a -e the miracles that god hath wrought for confirmation of his gospell . two miracles of miracles . the . the . the iesuits reported in spaine that there was no such matter as the gun-powder treason . related by the l. cooke at the earle of northumberl . conviction , in the star-chāber . iune . . childish and strawish myracles . in your supplication to the kings maiestie , anno. . & an. in many places thereof : as also in diuerss other treasonable bookes since by you set forth and dispersed . * tortura torti . page . the starre-chamber . omne animi vitium tanto conspectius i● se crimē habet , quanto maior qui peccat habetur . the now 〈◊〉 cooke . the lord archbishop of cant. the word thē vsed was , to hold an axe ouer the kings head . the l. zouch . vide tortûrā torti pag. . prom●ssa nescioquae commēti sunt quae tamen nulla suerunt & quod factū nunquā est , id fuisse tamen factium in vulgus spargebant . vide the earle of northamp . printed speech at garnets arraignment in pag. . of a aa the earle of salisburie in his answere to certaine scandalous papers . d. reynolds in his preface before his cōference with hart. d. morton , m. stocke , with many more . greenewell , & garnet . reported at his arraignmēt in vvestminst . hall ianu . mentioned in the earle of northamptōs speech in the first pag of l. confessed vnder his owne hand in an examination openly read in the star-chāber at the cōviction , of the earle of northumberl . iun. . . confessed in diuers examinations vnder their hands openly read the time and place aforesayd . simile . these forward spirits ( as they wold be thought ) for the kings succession would yet haue bereft vs of his head before the crowne had adorned it . tortura torti . page . see the catholique supplication to the kings maiestie in ann. neere beginning thereof . see your supplication to his maiestie , anno. . chap. . also in the first part of engl. three conversions , neere the beginning thereof . mentioned in m. fox his booke of martyrs in the very beginning of q. maries raigne . notes for div a -e a bristow in his motiues . chap. calleth these martyrs . aboue of thes saythe lay catholiques in their suplicatiō to the kings maiestie . abandoned their liuīgs rather then they would chāge their religiō . also the three cōuersions of england , part the first , page . a three conuersions page . of priests aboue . haue sealed the confession of their faith with blood within . yeeres . a small nūber in comparison of . martyrs in lesse then sixe yeeres . a vide pope sixtus the . his oration vpō the death and murther of henry the . french king , by a fryar . ne misericordia in inimicos fit crudelitas in se suosque a printed in anno . as hee saith , permissu superiorum . a vide fox his booke of martyres in queen maries raigne . b vide the lord burleigh late lord treasurer his booke intituled , execution of iustice for treason and not for religion . c earle of northampton in his prīted speech at garnets arraignemēt in the fourth page of the letter gg . d their refusall of the oath of allegeance proueth what they hold in this point , and the popes gift of ireland to the king of spaine , mentioned by azorius the iesuite in his institut . moral . confirmeth it . a vide faux his confession with others mentioned in the afore quoted page by the earle of northāpton . confer al , therewith cat●sbies answere to garnet in the last page of r. and also in the last page of t. of the former booke . his words are ; if it were lawfull not to admitte of the kings maiesty at first warranted by the popes breeues then was it also lawfull to cast him out . b this trebble bond thēselues whiles they laboured to seeme good subiects , acknowledged in their supplication to the kings maiestie , chap. . neere the end thereof . agreeable hereto is the earle of northamptons sound maxime in the last page of ff . in his speech to garnet . c scienti & volenti , non sit iniuria . d besides this priestes confession agaīst themselues , see also for thy better confirmation in this point , the iudgement of two great counsellors of state in their seuerall writings published by the earle of salisbury in his answere to certaine scandelous papers in the third page of c. and the earle of northampton in his speech at garnets arraignement , in the letter hh . in diuers pages thereof . e this thomas garnet is the last that our pseudomartyrologist . i. w. priest hath noted in his beadroll to haue suffered in king iames his raigne . a d. reignolds conference with harts , in harts owne preface therto . b relation of the state of religion in the west part of the world , neere the beginning therof . b azorius in his institutions , part . . booke . chapt . . a a strange thing that the pope claiming to bee but christs vicar , should yet challenge a larger power thē euer christ himselfe did , for christ confessed , that his kingdome was not of this world , and yet the pope will be a disposer and ●etter vp and puller downe of kings and kingdomes at his pleasure . b in his booke of quodlibets . c here was , mel in ore , fel corde : a smooth tongue , but a treacherous heart . d conclaue ignati , in apologia pro iesuitis , ad finem libri adiecta . a most excellent and pathetical oration, or, declamation of gregory nazianzen's stigmatizing, and condemning the emperor julian for his apostatising from the truth and containing, by way of history, the persecution of the christians during his reign, the confutation of pagan abominations and the obscenity, as well as absurdity, both of the substance and ceremonies of their pretended religion, with respect unto its doctrine and the ... ceremonies approved of among the primitive christians. gregory, of nazianzus, saint. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a most excellent and pathetical oration, or, declamation of gregory nazianzen's stigmatizing, and condemning the emperor julian for his apostatising from the truth and containing, by way of history, the persecution of the christians during his reign, the confutation of pagan abominations and the obscenity, as well as absurdity, both of the substance and ceremonies of their pretended religion, with respect unto its doctrine and the ... ceremonies approved of among the primitive christians. gregory, of nazianzus, saint. [ ], p. printed by w. godbid for h. herringman ..., london : . reproduction of original in yale university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng julian, -- emperor of rome, - . church history -- primitive and early church, ca. - . persecution. christian martyrs. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a most excellent and , and 〈◊〉 oration , or declamation of gregory nazianzen's stigmatizing , and condemning the emperor julian for his apostatising from the truth , and ●ontaining , by way of history , the persecution of the christians during his reign , the confutation of pagan abominations , and the obscenity , as well as absurdity , both of the substance , and ceremonies of their pretended religion , with respect unto it's doctrine , and the more , or lesse , consequential ceremonies , approved of among the primitive christians . london , printed by w. godbid , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the blew-anchor , at the lower walk of the new-exchange , m. dc . lxii . gregory nazianzen the divine . his upbraiding the emperour julian for his apostacy . hear this , all ye people , give ear unto me , every inhabitant of the earth ; for with a strong loud trum●et , and as mounted on a high ●ower , looking on all sides , every way , i call , to assemble you toge●her : hearken , countries , na●●ons , and languages , all sorts of men and ages , every one that ●ow is , or hereafter shall be : yea , ( to make my summons the more universal ) listen , i say , all ye powers of heaven , and angels altogether , by whose irresistable means a great tyrant was destroyed ; a great one , and not such a one as sihon king of the amorites , or ogge the king of bashan , petty potentates , and destructive to the israelites onely , a small portion of the universe , but the apostate dragon , the great wit , the all-daring assyrian , and common enemy of the whole world ; who not onely threatned ruine and destruction to all the earth , but also hatcht despiteful imaginations , and belched out most abominable blasphemies against the almighty . hear , o heavens , and give ear , o earth , ( for the times require i should use the loftiest terms of the most seraphical prophet , who spake the highest of all the rest ) neither is it to small purpose , he calling and invoking them for witnesses against a cast-down people of israel that had sinned against god , if i appeal unto the self-●ame creatures , against a dragon , a tyrant , who had as highly trans●ressed against the same god , to ●is own irrecoverable downfall , ●nd , as a just reward for that his ●●tragious wickedness . hear also , if thou hast any sense , ●ou soul of that great constance , 〈◊〉 the cristian souls of empe●ours that were before him : thou ●●ul , more especially , of constance , ●ho having attain'd the inheritance 〈◊〉 jesus christ , hast advanced his ●orship upon earth , and so well ●●ablished his authority with the ●●esent age , that , of all the emperors that ever were , mad'st thy self the most venerable , and commendable for the same . but , o dire misfortune ! the like whereof was never heard , that thou couldst not foresee an unlucky mishap , unworthy altogether , and incompatible with the merits of thine other illustrious acts , namely , thy making way for that man's rise unto empire and rule amongst christians , who , of all other , became the greatest enemy and persecutour of the christians . in which one act , to ill purpose , thou mis-imployed'st thy clemency and courtesie , by unfortunately preserving him to life , who was the death of so many , that far excelled him in all manner of vertue and piety , while they lived . nevertheless , that the soul of thou , the aforesaid constance , now receivest great solace , i verily assure my self , as well in perceiving that his wickedness long since extinguished , and christianity reduced to its pristine integrity , as in this my discourse , which , at present , i offer to god , as a more acceptable sacrifice , purer , and better , i suppose , than those of beasts , or other vain and detestable immolations of meats and drinks , the magnificence and greatness of which sacrifices declared more ●learly unto all the world their im●iousness , and ( as i may so term 〈◊〉 ) foolish wisdome in so doing . ●or the custome and practice of ●●esh and blood , siding with dark●ess , abandoned the light of truth , ●hich , while but glimmering upon ●●rrupt natures , the fruit thereof 〈◊〉 came dry , and in an instant withe●●d , together with the abomina●●e stock , that , for a time , sustain●● them . the rooting out of ●hich unfortunate wretches , be●●g men , sometimes of greater ●●rldly wealth than other worthi●●ss , hath rendred them equally 〈◊〉 famous , as well for their pre●●pitate downfal , as prophane 〈◊〉 worthiness , to all succeeding 〈◊〉 . as for my self , who offer unto god a sacrifice of thanksgiving , and pay my vows to the most high , who is he that can set up a theater of thankfulness , equal in any sort to the least grace we have received ? or , what voice thunder out thanksgiving in that manner as is most fit , for such ineffable benefits , as i would have it ? what auditors , with me , will entertain the words i am now a framing ? the retribution i am , at present , about to render unto the divine word through discourse in words , though not so agreeable perhaps to the efficacy of that gracious appellation the word , wherewith h● is so pleased ( among many other titles assumed by him ) to accep● of ? again , the sting of infamy b● reproach in words , as a deserve● and due punishment to him , wh● made it a crime unto christians i● the greek tongue to make use o● words ? in which regard , out of 〈◊〉 pernicious envy , and hatred towards us , he forbad all christian● the use and exercise of speaking that , which ought to be common to all men . in which his so doing , ●s if to him alone the propriety ●herein wholly belonged , thinking thereby to have more reason then ●ll other , he shewed himself thereby the most foolish and unreasona● of all men , and that for two rea●ons ; first , because thereby he ●eclared himself to be of opinion , ●hat the greek tongue was to be ●ade use of onely for the service ●f religious matters , and not like●ise as indifferently for all other ●urposes , according to the usual ●anner of uttering whatsoever no●●ons of the mind in that self-same ●ialect : just as if under the name ●nd notion of trading , he should ●orbid , at the same time , the use of ●ll manner of trades practised ●mong that nation . secondly , because he thought we were so dull , ●s not to perceive the things he ●id , to be done on set purpose , ●hereby greatly to deprive us of so ●onsequential a benefit : we making some account of the excellency of that language , and he fearing thereby his impiety , might the more easily be convinced . as if arguments had their force in the elegancy onely , and appropriating of greek words to the same purpose , and not in the knowledge rather of simple and sincere truth . besides , having a tongue , it 's less possible to hinder us from setting forth the truth therewith , than from otherwise adorning the same with eloquence in that language . so that , being inhibited by julian's ordinance to learn greek , he might hinder us onely to speak as the athenians did , that is to say , more elegantly , perhaps , and properly : but never the more , for all that , retain , or stop the currant of truth it self . whereby he made his weakness appear sufficiently , and yet never the more with-held himself from being reproved , and confuted , having over and above acknowledged , that in that he had nothing to doe to meddle , or to trouble his head with such matters . the truth is , it was not for a man who had no great assurance , either in the truth of his own re●igion , or in his own ability of ●eaking well , to go about to hin●er us from speaking ; no more ●han if he should think himself the ●aliantest champion in the world , ●nd thereupon forbid all gallant ●hen , either to fight , or to enter ●●to the lists with him . no , so to ●o would be thought rather a sign ●f a fearful coward , than valiant captain , seeing the prise is won of ●hose that fight , and not of them ●●at sit still ; of those that have ●●eir full strength allowed them , ●nd not of the maimed , or that are ●●ated in any part of their vigour 〈◊〉 try mastery with . if there●ore thou beest in fault , for hin●ering on thy part the means of ●ombating , and wilt not suffer 〈◊〉 to fight , therein thou shew●●t thy self overcome , and thence ●all i carry the victory against ●ee without contending , because thou permittest me not to fight . see then the fine doings of this wise emperor , and law-giver , who , that there might be nothing free , whatsoever , from his tyranny , hath published his own folly , by being , in the beginning of his reign , desirous , and undertaking after to exercise that his tyranny on words , and on the art of eloquent speaking . it will be a most fitting thing for me notwithstanding , to render all possible thanks to almighty god , with the words of my mouth , for recovering so to do through his providence to offer up unto him all kind of honorable sacrifice , not sparing any thing therein , either of goods , or other inheritance possessed by me ; who , having run the hazzard both of the times , and of his tyranny , have been preserved however , by the onely providence of god , for that purpose , whom , before all things , we are bound nevertheless , both with our words and deeds , to glorifie after that man●er . as out of an abundant harvest , ●herefore , common to all partakers ●ith me of such his grace , i 'l fi●●sh the intended discourse i have 〈◊〉 say of words , fearing , if i stretch 〈◊〉 speech farther , i be longer ●han is requisite , and somewhat ex●●avagant beyond the due bounds ●● that subject , for which i came ●ther to dilate of . and now , me-thinks , i perceive ●y discourse well-nigh approach●h , and advanceth it self , in a ge●●ral congratulation , to all that i ●●hold at present . and therefore , ●call unto a spiritual dance , and ●efreshment all you , who in fast●●g , weeping , and praying , pass ●●ys and nights to obtain deli●erance from oppressing evils , ●●ounding a most assured remedy ●●ereof on hope , that never fail●h . i call , in like manner , those , ●ho have suffered infinite pains , ●avels , and vexations , through ●●eat and d●verse torments of the times , been made a spectacle to men and angels , ( as the apostle speaks ) their bodies abased , but their souls remaining invincible , doing all things through christ that strengthneth , and comforteth them . and you , after the same sort , who , undervaluing ( the object of mortals malice ) wordly honors , have taken in good part the spoiling of your temporary goods , have , for a time , been injuriously separated from your husbands , wives , fathers , mothers , children , or any other , in whatever degree of blood , affinity or friendship , allyed unto you , were willing to participate with your saviour , in the fruit of his blood-shedding , and otherwise suffering for his name-sake , being now able to say and sing with the prophet unto god , thou hast caused men to ride over our heads , we went through fire and water , but thou broughtest us out into a place of safety . i call , on the other side also , to this famous banquet , all those , who , acknowledging god above all things , have hitherto re●●ined an assured faith , notwith●●anding the mysteries of provi●●nce , which , oftentimes out 〈◊〉 contrary accidents , draw un●oked for events , and by vertue ●●ereof , win us as evincingly to ●epentance , our reason being for●erly carried away with perverse ●●petuosity , which should have ●●en held out , or renewed it self , 〈◊〉 not being so envious at the fool●sh , ( as the psalmist hath it ) when 〈◊〉 saw the prosperity of the wick●● ; but rather conforming our ●●lves to the will of god , and con●●uing constant to the end , by put●ng little repose in what we saw ●resent before our eyes ; which ●eing brought to pass nevertheless 〈◊〉 we would have it , should con●●rm and further fortifie us in the ●●uth . i call , also , you , who have ●our minds wholly fixed on the ●ca●fold , and great theater of this ●orld . in doing whereof , i will 〈◊〉 the words of esdras , saying , ●ome hither , women , who come to see the plays , and stop the eyes of your minds , keeping them from errors and deceits , know , it 's the same god that 's exalted among the nations , exalted in all the earth : in all times , and things , he hath wonderfully and extraordinarily made himself known , but never so manifestly never so evidently , as at this time . moreover , would to god there were even in this good company , in this numerous troop , which heretofore chanted with us , not a feigned and unsavoury song , and whereunto we gave honorable way , have opinion they 'l one day render themselves worthy of reproof . but i wonder wherefore they are so retired apart from us , and marvel how , in so solemn a rejoycing , they are not present with us , and that contrarily they have made a particular dance , which falls not at all in any good cadence . they 'l pardon me though i speak after this manner , and that zeal encites me to declare and manifest things as they are . notwithstanding i will ●●eviate the stinging of my tongue , 〈◊〉 the honor of the hope and pre●●rvation of my brethren , having ●●w more respect to the antient ●●●endship , then to the neglect i 〈◊〉 . but yet because hereafter i ●●all be more patient , i will be ●ore vehement at present in chid●●g and reproving . i exclude then 〈◊〉 of this assembly with grief and ●●me trouble , a sort of men , la●enting at that they understand 〈◊〉 , grieving at that they feel for there lies the pity of their ●il ) however i reject it . these 〈◊〉 they who have not sowed on 〈◊〉 and firm ground , but their 〈◊〉 fell upon stony places , where ●●ey had not much earth ; the ●●me are they that hear the word , ●nd for a while with joy receive it , 〈◊〉 have they not root in themselves , ●nd therefore dure but for a time ; ●●r when tribulation or persecution ●riseth because of the word , by and 〈◊〉 they are offended . i will banish from this company yet further off those that are worse who departing from him that ha● purchased , and conducted them t● a place of greater safety , and magnificence , have given no manner o● resistance to the times , or to thos● that cousen'd them into a miserabl● and slavish captivity : but rather with obstinate alacrity , shewe themselves perverse , and of no reputation , being scandalized at th● good word of god , and suffere● themselves to be carried awa● without any affliction , or tentatio● at all assaulting them . nay rather , ( like inconsiderate wretches 〈◊〉 they are ) either to gain some littl● temporary estate , or retain other evil gotten goods , have sold their eternal salvation in exchange forsuch transitory trash , such riches ( falsly so called ) of short continuance . and now , seeing we have cut off from this noble assembly , that which is superfluous , let us take courage , and purifying our bodies and souls as much as is possible for us , all agreeing in one spirit , with one voice , sing the triumphant and ●●torious ditty that israel rejoy●●● in , at the time when the 〈◊〉 were swallowed up in the 〈◊〉 , ( meriam leading and be●●ning the tune , as followeth ) i 〈◊〉 sing unto the lord , for he hath 〈◊〉 gloriously , the horse 〈◊〉 his rider hath he thrown into 〈◊〉 sea. ( i change that of the 〈◊〉 ) but where it hath pleased 〈◊〉 , and as he thought fit and just , 〈◊〉 that doth , and disposeth all 〈◊〉 , even he that turneth the 〈◊〉 into the morning ( as the ●●●phet amos hath it ) and maketh 〈◊〉 day dark with night : — 〈◊〉 strengthneth the spoiled a●●●nst the strong : — he rules 〈◊〉 governs , as in a circle , all this ●●rld , that which agitated and t●●ubled , and which is not : all our 〈◊〉 that are subject to variation 〈◊〉 change , and that are carried ●●●etimes on this manner , and ●●●etimes on that , for our sakes , 〈◊〉 are immoveable , fix'd , and 〈◊〉 firm in the divine providence , however they seem to go ●● proceed contrarily . that whi●● is known to the world , ( viz. ●● divine wisdom of his father ) 〈◊〉 us is covered and hid : he hat● put down the mighty from th●● seats , and exalted them of low degree . also , ( which i have take from another text of scripture ▪ the arms of the wicked shall 〈◊〉 broken , but the lord upholdeth 〈◊〉 righteous . in like manner fro● another place , as my memo●● serves me , ( having abundance 〈◊〉 texts wherewith to compose th●● song , and which offer themselve● to this thanksgiving ) it 's he 〈◊〉 raisethg up the wicked above the 〈◊〉 , then putteth him down agai● that he appears no more : if we tak● heed to turn away readily , and 〈◊〉 the evil pass . who is he among them th●● treats of divine matters , that 〈◊〉 sufficiently sing , and make relatio● of these things ? who , that ca● worthily represent the power o● god , and make all his praises understood ? what voice or power of ●●●quence equal this miracle ? who 〈◊〉 that divided the sea by his 〈◊〉 , that brake the head of the 〈◊〉 in the waters , that brake 〈◊〉 head of the leviathan in pieces , 〈◊〉 gave him to be meat to the 〈◊〉 inhabiting the wilderness ? 〈◊〉 who hath shut up the sea with 〈◊〉 , when it brake forth , as if it 〈◊〉 issued out of the womb ? when 〈◊〉 the cloud the garment 〈◊〉 and thick darkness a 〈…〉 for it , and brake up for it my 〈◊〉 place , and set bars and 〈◊〉 , and said , hitherto shalt thou 〈◊〉 , and no further , and here shall 〈◊〉 proud waves be stayed ? truly 〈◊〉 hath appeased them , they not 〈◊〉 been long time furious and 〈◊〉 up . who is it that hath 〈◊〉 us the favour to go upon the 〈◊〉 of serpents and scorpions , 〈◊〉 laying not our selves in wait to 〈◊〉 their heels , that , at the same 〈◊〉 , assailed us publickly , and 〈◊〉 up their heads against us , 〈◊〉 also he ordained we should tread under our feet ? who is that hath done justice and judg●ment when it was not looked for who , that hath not for ever reac●ed out the rod of sinners upon 〈◊〉 righteous ? ( i say , upon the right●ous , if righteous any may be said be , while remaining upon eart● and no otherwise ) or ( to spe●● more humbly ) upon those 〈◊〉 knew god ? for the truth is , 〈◊〉 have not been afflicted as righteous for , as none simply are so , so , fo● being so none are afflicted but fo● their good , and to the end ( lik● brave champions ) they should pu● shame and confusion upon their afflicters . but , as sinners rather , w● had the punishment of sin through afflictions imposed upon us ; after which , the lord , in mercy , hath been pleased to shew his fatherly care and affection towards us , by his so having chastned us , that we might become wise , and ( as far as he thought needful ) to make us the more advised in our after return unto him . for , he hath not rebuked us in his anger , nor chastned 〈◊〉 in his heavy displeasure ; but 〈◊〉 shewed his mercy in the one , 〈◊〉 in the other , viz. in his chastise●●nt and pardon . who is it that 〈◊〉 done vengeance among the ●●●tions ? chid and rebuked his 〈◊〉 ? the lord strong and 〈◊〉 , the lord mighty in battel . 〈◊〉 a voice , a verse , that hath 〈◊〉 to the great graces we now 〈◊〉 , which isaiah uttered to 〈◊〉 ages , and is very agreeable 〈◊〉 this season , and sutable to the 〈◊〉 of benefits , at present , 〈◊〉 by us : sing , o heavens , be joyful , o earth , and break 〈◊〉 into singing , o mountains : god hath comforted his people , will have mercy upon his afflict●●● ▪ for all creatures , all 〈…〉 have knowledge , as i 〈◊〉 , of these things . for the 〈◊〉 was made subject to 〈◊〉 not willingly , but by reason of 〈◊〉 who hath subjected the same 〈◊〉 . because the creature it 〈◊〉 also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption , into th● glorious liberty of the children 〈◊〉 god. for we know , that the wh● creation groaneth and travelleth 〈◊〉 pain together untill now . the apostle also enters further into the sam● celebration , and rejoycing , to 〈◊〉 god's children have the enjoyin● of this contentment and delight now then , sing , o barren , ( for cannot pass by the alledging 〈◊〉 scripture ) thou that didst not bear● break forth into singing , and 〈◊〉 alond , thou that didst not travel wit● child , for more are the children 〈◊〉 the desolate , than the children of th● married wife . rejoyce also all you , who hav● been wrapt up in this unpleasan● and irksome winter of adversity for god hath had pity of his people , and hath not forsaken his inheritance : he hath done wonderful things , his antient determination and purpose is true , which 〈◊〉 to satisfie those that fear him , tha● hope in his mercy . for he hat● broken the gates of brass , and 〈◊〉 th● bars of iron in sunder . ●t's true , because of our 〈◊〉 he hath humbled us ; but 〈◊〉 ●ave been comforted , and the 〈◊〉 being broke , we have been 〈◊〉 by the grace of god , which 〈◊〉 called us , and which comforts 〈◊〉 that are lowly of heart . see 〈◊〉 i compose this hymn with 〈◊〉 words , and divine 〈◊〉 ▪ and truly , i know not how to 〈◊〉 merry , and recreate my soul 〈◊〉 any other , being transported 〈◊〉 my self ( as it were ) with ●●●lowing content . so that i 〈◊〉 no esteem of low and 〈◊〉 things , fitting and alledging 〈◊〉 many matters , which are 〈◊〉 unto me by the holy 〈◊〉 . ●ell then , there have been 〈◊〉 ( in the first place ) the 〈◊〉 of god's providence in 〈◊〉 translation of enoch , and 〈◊〉 of elias ; in noah that 〈◊〉 , and , with him , a 〈◊〉 of all things , in a little 〈◊〉 of wood , containing the whole world , from the deluge the universe , to the intent 〈◊〉 the earth after might be f●nished with more righteous in●●bitants . again , in old abraha● that was called , and gratifi'd in latter days with an off-spring , make faith of an other seed , 〈◊〉 promised posterity : who willing presenting , according to go● command , his onely son , that 〈◊〉 free-born , in sacrifice , in stead him found a ram in a bush , god's appointment , to offer 〈◊〉 unto the lord. the ruine 〈◊〉 of the wicked sodomites , 〈◊〉 were swallowed up with fire 〈◊〉 brimstone , was wonderful , wh● at the same time , righteous 〈◊〉 and his family were onely save● and , which is yet more wonder● the pillar of salt into which 〈◊〉 wife , for looking back , was tu●ed , remaining after , to represe● unto all faithless people , what fearful thing it is , when on called of god , to return 〈◊〉 unto the acting of what ever thi● expresly forbidden by him . we ●ead likewise of joseph , who was ●old into egypt , and being filled with the wisdom of god , was after made governor next under pha●aoh of that whole land , to make ●he better provision in a time of ●earth and scarcity , for his father ●acob , and all his houshold . moses ●ad the honor to see god , received , ●nd gave the law to the israe●●tes , and , being appointed by god 〈◊〉 to do , was their conductor out ●f egypt to the land of promise . the ten plagues of the egyptians , ●nd the deliverance of the israe●ites , at the same time inhabiting in ●he midst of them , was very won●erful . so was the sea its turning ●ack with a rod , and going toge●her again upon a word spoken by moses , at what time the israe●●tes had passage through the same , 〈◊〉 on dry ground , and the egypti●ns were drowned , and utterly ●ver-whelmed with the waters ●hereof to their final destruction . what can be spoken enough of those two canopies ( as i may 〈◊〉 speak ) carried over the heads 〈◊〉 the israelites by god himself , in their passage unto the land of canaan through the wilderness the pillar of the clowd which l●● them by day , and the pillar of fire which gave them light by night ? of manna , rained among●… them in their camps , as they went , from the lord out of heaven , and quails sent them from the same hand of providence enough to glut six hundred thousand persons in the wilderness ▪ of the just quantity of that heavenly manna measured out 〈◊〉 them by god , whereof they ha●… never the more to store up , th●● gathered more at a time then wa● commanded them , nor they 〈◊〉 less , to suffice nature , that gathered not so much ? of waters some drawn out of a stony rock others , of bitter made sweet ? of amaleck's being fought against b● prayers , in a mystical and hidde● manner ? the sun its standi●● still , and the moon staying her ●ourse ? jordan divided , and the walls of jericho falling upon the ●ound of trumpets made of rams ●orns , after compass'd about seven ●ays ? the earth , and the fleece 〈◊〉 wool , interchangeably wet ●nd dry ? strength in samson's long ●air , equal in power to a whole ●rmy ? a little company that ●ap'd water carrying away the ●ictory , and with as small a num●er vanquishing , beyond their ●nemies expectation , many thou●●nds of their adversaries ? i need ●ot , i perswade my self , recite so ●any wonders as followed upon ●he incamation , and happy comming of jesus christ into the ●orld by birth , or that which the ●oly apostles after did in his ●ame . many books and histo●●es there are , that plentifully bear ●itness of those matters . but of 〈◊〉 which is come to pass in these ●●mes , i shall again further make 〈◊〉 manifest unto you . hearken then , and i will relate the same to all you that fear god , to the intent that the generation that is next to come , and the succession of generations after that , may know the wonderful power of god. in which regard , because it s not so easie a matter to declare these things , without representing the greatness and quality of the peril wherein we were formerly plunged , and that cannot be done without discoursing of the evil complexion of his nature , and of what principles and seed of malice he came , who was the author thereof , to such outrages ( having by little and little encreased his impiety , even as poison that comes from cruel beasts , and venomous serpents ) referring the larger and more ample discourse of those acts , to those that have a purpose to compose tragical books and histories , ( for having not the leisure to dilate much of things too far from our present subject ) i shall , in reciting part among many others , leave something printed and engraven on your memory , as on a pillar , to be communicated to them that shall come after us , and betake me to his more principal and apparent actions . he then ( viz. julian ) having been first preserved by great constance , succeeding in the empire of his father , when the troops were armed against their chiefs , making some stirs , and ●he imperial house governed by ●ew captains : then , i say , ●eing saved with his brother by ●ncredible and extraordinary means , ●e gave not thanks either to god ●or his preservation , or to the emperor , by whose means he was preserved ; but persisting ungrateful both to the one and to the ●ther , shewed himself an apo●tate to god , and rebellious to constance his foster-father . now you must know , there was ● palace wherein these two bro●hers , who alone remained of the ●lood of the emperors , were , by ●he commandment of that most gracious prince , brought up , and there served according to the fashion of emperors . that he ( viz. constance ) did , to justifie himself in part , that the disasters , happening in the beginning of his reign , came not from him . then ▪ to shew the freedom and magnanimity of his courage , in calling them to the association with him in the empire . finally , for the better , and more firmly establishing of his estate . in which , notwithstanding , there fell out more goodness than prudence , with respect unto himself . they then , being at rest and tranquillity from all business , becaus● they had not yet the imperial dignity , but by destination , and i● hope , their age not permitting tha● they should be employed i● places of command ; received by the care of the emperor , who wa● their uncle , perfect instruction i● all sorts of sciences . certainly they gave themselves the more to philosophy , not onely that which treats of reasons and ●iscourses , but also moral , and which concerns piety , frequent●●g and conversing with persons ●ccomplish'd , and who made their ●ertues appear in their honest and ●●olish'd actions : so that they made ●hemselves to be enrolled in the ●rder of church-men , so far , ●hat they read the gospel to the ●eople , not thinking it any de●aing , or disparaging themselves ●n point of honor , so to do : but ●n the contrary , supposing there could not be in a prince or potentate a more excellent ornament , than to be actively employed in their own persons about offices touching religion . so that ●n them a great affection to moral philosophy , and christian doctrine , appeared , building for the saints and martyrs magnificent tombs , giving great gifts to churches , and being conversant about such like acts , which were evident tokens , and shined in both of them , for a time , as lively characters of christian philosophy , and the fear of god. one of them indeed was trul● and vertuously inclined to piety for , though of a stirring and troublesome nature , yet , for matte● of faith , he was constant and firm ▪ but the other dissembling , an● gaining time , hid under the appearance or shew of simplicity ▪ an evil intention of mind , ( a● one may guess at the matter . ) to which purpose i cannot conceal 〈◊〉 miracle that then hapned , a goo● one , and such as may serve for instruction to many , that are not so sincere as they should be in the truth of religion , of which openly they seem to make much profession . these two brothers being employed in beautifying the monuments of martyrs , and a jealousie between them who should bestow most magnificence and liberality in building a chappel they set up with great costs and charges ; as they did not proceed with the like design , so the masons wo●k thereabout did not go on with the 〈◊〉 success of dispatch to the one ●●rty , as to the other : for where●● what the eldest set workmen out , proceeded on to some tol●●able perfection , god being ●●eas'd to accept the same , as ●●metimes he did the sacrifice of 〈◊〉 , that , as an offering of the ●●rst-born , with a pure and sincere ●art , was presented unto him . ●he other's work , viz. of the ●●ungest , ( see , alack , the lord 's ●●ghting of the wicked in things ●●nder'd by them unto his ser●●ce , who by small discovereth ●●eater matters ) his work , i say , 〈◊〉 the sacrifice of cain , was ab●●minated by the martyrs . the ●artyrs indeed he made to smile at ●hat he did , but the ground , ne●●rtheless , sunk under that part 〈◊〉 the fabrick which was built by 〈◊〉 . which , so soon as perceived 〈◊〉 him , made him bestir himself 〈◊〉 taking pains to erect the same ●●ain out of hand ; but , after all 〈◊〉 labour and pains-taking , it disdained , for all that , to receiv● foundation from a person so d●famed , so blasted in his reput●tion ; as if thereby proclaiming 〈◊〉 the world the after-ruine whic● necessarily should befall it for 〈◊〉 own unworthiness ; or , as if in 〈◊〉 hapning , it would honor the ma●tyrs , by the neglect and litt●● esteem it seem'd to make of 〈◊〉 detestable a person . which ce●tainly was an undoubted presa●● of his folly and arrogance , as 〈◊〉 of the contempt he should 〈◊〉 afterwards towards holy ma●tyrs , together with many othe● outrages purposed by him to 〈◊〉 put in practise against the church● of the christians , and other th● like places destinated by the●unto sacred uses . with respe●● whereunto the almighty , aft●● this sort , ( though for the prese●● it was not known apparently 〈◊〉 any , yet ) at a distance seemed 〈◊〉 persecute , as it were , the persec●tor , and well nigh declared the reward and recompence of those 〈◊〉 impious doings . o the subtle nature of corrupt ●ypocrisie to do evil ! which , not●ithstanding , could not avoid the ●…ain that was set to catch him , ●nd into which he fell afterwards ! o how admirable is the lord , in manifesting what was to happen , ●y cutting down wickedness , and ●aking further declaration of his ●●acious providences ; a miracle ●…uly paradoxal , yet true . o the ●●eat fore-sight and heroick mind ●f the martyrs ! that for the pre●●nt , would not receive honor●…●rom him , who , for the future , ●hould disparage them , that re●used monuments and gifts from ●im , who should make many a ●rave champions faith , against ●is will , illustrious , and envy ●hem , at the same time , in their ●ombats and victories , for so fight●ng ! to say truth , they would not , ●y any means , permit themselves ●…lone should receive scandal , and ●e injuriously dealt withal ; viz. that their monuments should be ●uilt by so wicked hands , and other churches served with more holy , neither give occasion after to the author thereof thereby to boast in such his profaneness , 〈◊〉 setting up with the one hand 〈◊〉 some , and pulling down with the other to the rest , certain chapels dedicated to holy martyrs , some of them reproached , and other in outward shew reverenced and respected by him ; vailing , under a counterfeit appearance , ever , the true neglect and contempt he usually made of all things . wherein , nevertheless , 〈◊〉 found no great matter to glory of , though never so well advised in deceiving men , god almighty , at the same time , being undeceived , who understandeth all things , and confoundeth , in their ow● subtlety , the most crafty , though never so cunningly masking themselves under the colour of what ever appearances otherwise . for , although the lord with-held not , for a se●son , this indignity done to the martyrs , neither the forecast and hidden malice wherewith the 〈◊〉 was put in practice , nor stop●●d the current of such wicked in●●ence from falling upon them , 〈◊〉 causes ever just , and best ●●own unto himself , according to his inscrutable wisdome , 〈◊〉 secret disposal of all things , even as 't was his will to have 〈◊〉 iniquity of the amorites come ●its full , before their destruction ) ●et requisite it was nevertheless the story , that this malignant ●●ture should be detested of all 〈◊〉 , and the honour done by him the martyrs , as unworthy of 〈◊〉 , be utterly rejected . a thing , heeded , which may serve well 〈◊〉 the edification of many , there●● to discern the equity and justice god in his all-wise acceptance all things , in what manner so 〈◊〉 offered , and presented unto 〈◊〉 . for it is he that saith to israel ●hen they had sinned : bring no ●ore vain oblations , incense is an ●bomination unto me , the new moons , and the sabbaths , the calling of assemblies i cannot 〈◊〉 with ; it is iniquity , even the s●lemn meeting . neither doth 〈◊〉 that is sincere and down-right towards god , need any thing depe●ding upon men to take delight i● that 's unworthily presented unt● him , the lord no less abhorri●● him that killeth an oxe , then th●● slayeth a man ; that sacrificeth 〈◊〉 lamb , then that cutteth off a dog neck : casting out of his temp●● the hire of a whore , receiving 〈◊〉 holding suitable to his acceptan●● the sacrifice that is presented un●● him with pure and innocent hands with a mind lifted up to heave● and clean from taking pleasure 〈◊〉 whatsoever sin committed by hi● no marvail then , if he refused th● honour that julian after offered 〈◊〉 to him , seeing wickedly , and from 〈◊〉 malignant heart , he presented th● same unto god ; who regards 〈◊〉 as man , neither casteth he his 〈◊〉 upon the outward appearance , b● penetrateth even into the bottom of the heart and thoughts , whenc● virtue and vice fetch their appro●●l , and receive either recom●ence of reward , or punishment ●ccordingly , from the almighty . ●hus fared it with julian in this ●atter . if any difficulty of be●●ef therein remains , so that the ●●uth thereof may be called into ●●estion , there are witnesses yet ●●ving to be produced that saw the ●●me , who related , and represented 〈◊〉 miracle unto us , and who have 〈◊〉 purpose also to communicate a ●ore ample and full description ●●ereof unto posterity . well then , after become men , ●●ey should have entred into the ●recepts of philosophy ( would to god such their entrance had never ●een , or that they had attained ●nto the perfection thereof ; which , 〈◊〉 them that are well born , serves as 〈◊〉 weapon of true virtue , to defend ●hem from the impostery of all ●anner of contrary inconveni●●nces , though , to the perverse and ●●ase minded , it becomes sometimes 〈◊〉 spur , to set them forward in their untowardness , ( as in julian , wh● to give the devil his due , was we●● vers'd in the study of whatev●● profane literature . ) it 's true , 〈◊〉 was a great philosopher , and ye● for all that , 't was not possible 〈◊〉 him to conceal his disease , to kee● close in his mind the deceit of impiety that therein lurked . for , 〈◊〉 fire in wood , though the flame appears not , is known by the smo●● and sparkles that ascend from 〈◊〉 or , as water that runs in hollo● places , in time of great wind● having no way to expatiate it sel● nor issue free , but is oftner troubled , and mingled with earth , an● other filth , renders a sad noise fro● within , being prest with the violence of the wind , and kept bad by the force of other accident● meeting together with it : so thi● man , though he concealed much o● his profound wickedness by reaso● of the time , and instruction of th● emperour , it not being for a whil● either lawful , or safe to make known his irreligion openly , ye● discovered he nevertheless , some●●●●g then of the inwards of his ●●…ghts to men of more under●●●●ding and subtle in paganisme , 〈◊〉 in the true religion , and do●●●●… of jesus christ : also , in the 〈◊〉 which he had with his bro●●●● , wherein he maintained the ●●●…eks ( that is , the gentiles ) ●●●…ing then befitted him , under pre●●●…e of disputing to uphold the ●●●…ker side : but it was , indeed , a ●●…ourse , or exercise meerly a●●●●…st the true religion , and which 〈◊〉 much contented them who 〈◊〉 the character of a more impi●●● religion imprinted in their ●●●…ts . ●ut so soon as the emperour had ●●…ared his brother gallus king 〈◊〉 ●he romans , giving him , with 〈◊〉 government , a great part of 〈◊〉 land ; and that to julian also , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 permitted full power , and 〈◊〉 , to keep company with the ●…ctors and freely to hear the dis●●●rse of the gentiles : and also , 〈◊〉 asia was as a school to him of the false religion , whose in●●bitants , the most part of them , 〈◊〉 conversant and much verst in ast●●logy , and prognostication ; that 〈◊〉 can fore-tell things to come , 〈◊〉 likewise in sorcery , and in incha●●ments , ( a science ordinarily f●●lowing the other ) there remain no thing but one , viz. that 〈◊〉 and authority were joyned to i●piety . now , it was long befo●● that the great iniquity of some ●●quired this for him to our 〈◊〉 : as who say , the health , ● good constitution of the christi●● body being arrived to the 〈◊〉 of its perfection ; power , hono●● and plenty of all things brough● change . for , the truth is , it● harder matter to keep , then to ●●tain unto what is desired , an eas●● thing by care , and pains-taking , call back , and cause lost felicity return again , then to conserve after gotten : seeing , when in p●session of this world's goods 〈◊〉 any great aboundance , we are 〈◊〉 to wax proud , and a man's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wise man tells us ) shall 〈◊〉 him low : but honour shall 〈◊〉 the humble in spirit . 〈◊〉 , being humbled after afflicted 〈◊〉 our pride , ( for after pride , hu●●lity often follows , as after hu●●lity , honour ; god resisting the 〈◊〉 , and giving grace unto the 〈◊〉 , ) we are thereby the more ●●nestly enforced to seek after 〈◊〉 lost condition till we obtain 〈◊〉 same : which , after found , we 〈◊〉 not so heedful in preserving till 〈◊〉 made more wise by having the 〈◊〉 in the whole , or , at least in 〈◊〉 taken away from us . in this 〈◊〉 ( as it should seem ) it befel 〈◊〉 christians at that time , god , 〈◊〉 weigheth all things equally , ●●asureth all things justly , being ●●eas'd to oppose , after this man●●r , one contrary to , or with an 〈◊〉 . which , that holy man after ●od's own heart , david having 〈◊〉 much experience of in his life●●me , puts usually in the number of 〈◊〉 gracious mercies the lord 〈◊〉 done for him by abasing him , and then restoring him , not bei●● unmindful , upon any occasion , 〈◊〉 thankulness to acknowledge 〈◊〉 good he thereby received fr●● him . to which purpose , what 〈◊〉 he ? before i was afflicted , i 〈◊〉 astray : but now have ▪ i kept 〈◊〉 word : putting by this method ●●mility between sin and repe●tance , as if it were engendred 〈◊〉 the one , and likewise did engen●●●● the other . which , if ye mar●● is most true ; sin , for the 〈◊〉 part , being the mother of hu●●lity , and humility of repentan●● so we , after humble , have 〈◊〉 lifted up , and whereas heretof●●● being by little and little , thro●●● the good conduct of god brou●●● to such an estate , and measure 〈◊〉 happiness , as we are now in 〈◊〉 ( as i may so say ) at such his m●●cies , it seemed good unto god 〈◊〉 cast us down . among many other sad thin● that then befell us christians , ' tw●● none of the least , that the kin●dome , and life of caesar ( viz. 〈◊〉 gallus ) came to an end . how 〈◊〉 fell out , or by what means , i 〈◊〉 forbear to tell you , as being ●illing to offend either the 〈◊〉 thereof , or him that suffered it , that respect i owe unto the pie●● of them both . nevertheless , 〈◊〉 approving of them in their ●●●knesses , but considering them ●hey were men , they could 〈◊〉 of them be exempted from 〈◊〉 faulty , and in that regard both enough to be reprehended , were not possible that the reasons 〈◊〉 we shall use to accuse the 〈◊〉 , might be the justification of 〈◊〉 other . this man then ( julian i mean ) 〈◊〉 the appointment of constance , 〈◊〉 presently heir , not of the 〈◊〉 but of the kingdome of his ●ther gallus , and soon after was 〈◊〉 also with him , who gave him 〈◊〉 estate , being forced to pay the ●●mmon tributeof all men , as over●●me , and carried away by death , 〈◊〉 the loss , and destruction of all 〈◊〉 survived him . and now , what shall we touching this most divine , this 〈◊〉 christian emperour ? i care 〈◊〉 for addressing my complaint 〈◊〉 any but to thee , o thou 〈◊〉 soul , as if thou sawest , and he●est me , while , at present , dire●●ing my speech unto thee ! 〈◊〉 know , that it can offend thee in 〈◊〉 thing , who art now resident 〈◊〉 god , who inheritests his 〈◊〉 who art gone from us here 〈◊〉 to exchange thy earthless 〈◊〉 for a better , and more durabl●● heaven . tell me , neverthele●● who was it that suggested 〈◊〉 counsel unto thee of leaving 〈◊〉 thy successour ? who gave to 〈◊〉 that advice , which comes so 〈◊〉 short of that sublime subtlety ; 〈◊〉 great judgement , wherewith 〈◊〉 wa' st indued ; not onely above 〈◊〉 the princes of thine own 〈◊〉 but above them all , in like 〈◊〉 that ever were before thee ? th●● who hast purged our horizon 〈◊〉 barbarisme , and subdued do●●stick tyrants , the one by reas●● 〈◊〉 other by force , but with such ●●●terity both , that the one did no 〈◊〉 , was no let , or hinderance 〈◊〉 other : and whose trophees ●●●eived by armes and battles , 〈◊〉 fair , and great ; but those 〈◊〉 without effusion of blood , 〈◊〉 yet more excellent , and ap●●●red more glorious to all the 〈◊〉 . thou , to whom from all 〈◊〉 of the universe● embassa●●● , and deputies were sent : 〈◊〉 , to whom all nations yield●●● obedience , or , at least , were 〈◊〉 the point of obeying , so that 〈◊〉 , who were not yet 〈◊〉 , carried themselves in that 〈◊〉 , as if already they had been ●●●rcome : thou that wa'st led by 〈◊〉 hand of god in all thy delibe●●●ons and actions : thou whose ●●●gment seemed to surmount all 〈◊〉 force ; and thy force , on ●●other side , to surmount all ●●●gement : but the glory , or fame 〈◊〉 piety , bore the bell away , 〈◊〉 from the one , and the other . 〈◊〉 then , in this onely act of thine shewedst thou thy self 〈◊〉 , and hast been surprised ? 〈◊〉 what purpose , i beseech thee , 〈◊〉 that easie propension of this 〈◊〉 inhumane goodness ? which of 〈◊〉 infernal spirits was it that 〈◊〉 the same into thy mind ? 〈◊〉 was it possible that thou shoul● deliver , in an instant , to a 〈◊〉 villain , to a common murdere● ▪ 〈◊〉 fair an inheritance , so 〈◊〉 an ornament ? ( i mean the c●●●stians under thy dominion , in 〈◊〉 life time . ) the flock 〈◊〉 through the out-spreading 〈◊〉 of that bright morning-star , good sheepheard jesus christ shining upon them , is so 〈◊〉 in all the world ? the royal pr●●●●hood of god multiplied , 〈◊〉 spread abroad with so much 〈◊〉 and travail here on earth . it may be ( my brethren ) i 〈◊〉 seem unto you to have shewed 〈◊〉 self partial and malicious in 〈◊〉 discourse , in that , among the 〈◊〉 sons of my accusation , i do 〈◊〉 readily adde what is true . but , if observe what i have declared , ●●u'l find by the same arguments 〈◊〉 my complaint , i have suffici●●tly justified what i said , and ●●●ewise that the absolution is fix●● to the accusation . for , when i ●●oke , and used this term good●●ss , i thereby declared his inno●●nce . and now , who is he , among ●●em who have known him but ●●eanly , who knowes not that be●●use of his zeal to religion , and ●●fection to us-ward , wishing all ●●od , and prosperity to the chri●●●ans , he made so great account 〈◊〉 julian ? as also , that he made 〈◊〉 so much reckoning of the ho●●ur of his race , or of the increase 〈◊〉 the empire , as of us ? but , on 〈◊〉 contrary , would have given all ●●ings , the empire , life , and all ●hereof any thing is dear , and ●●ecious , for our assurance , and ●●eservation ? there having been ever man living , that desired a ●●ing more to heart , then he the ●●gmentation of christianity , and to see it attain to the height of glory , and power in his days . for certainly , neither the su●duing of nations , nor the goo● policy of his empire , nor 〈◊〉 abundance of his wealth , nor 〈◊〉 hieght of his honour , nor the co●templation that , in name , and e●fect , he was king of kings , 〈◊〉 any other things , in which 〈◊〉 ground their felicity in this wor●● ever brought him so much conte●● as that we by his means , and he 〈◊〉 , prospered both with go●● and men , and thereby ( as in a mi●rour ) saw the authority of 〈◊〉 church established indissolubly 〈◊〉 ever : raising thereon his consid●rations higher , and more royal● then many others , in clearly di●cerning that the roman estate ●●thered its greatness , and increas● with that of the christians . an● in consideration ( it seems ) th● untill the coming of christ in 〈◊〉 flesh , they attained not unto 〈◊〉 highest point of rising into an ●●solute empire of monarchy , 〈◊〉 perfection of government , which 〈◊〉 , and not before , could ever ●rought to pass , or accomplish●● : he remembred our cause , ( as 〈◊〉 reason he had to do so ) with 〈◊〉 much zeal , good will , and all ●●rty affection . so that , if it ●●pened at any time , that it was 〈◊〉 somewhat harsh to us , it 〈◊〉 not that he the less esteemed 〈◊〉 or would do us a dispeasure , or ●●●tifie others to our prejudice : 〈◊〉 his seeming severity tended 〈◊〉 to reduce us to one and the ●wor● belief , and not otherwise to ●●ide , and separate us by schismes . 〈◊〉 for all this , he was but little ●●tchful ( as we have formerly 〈◊〉 ) on his own guard through his ●●●plicity , as also , in his clemency 〈◊〉 appeared a kind of weakness : 〈◊〉 he that is without malice thinks 〈◊〉 of malice , and therefore he 〈◊〉 not of that which was to 〈◊〉 , by his not knowing what it 〈◊〉 to dissemble . by such means as these impiety 〈◊〉 in by little and little , two contrary affections meeting togethe● the one in a good people , the ●ther in the wickedest and 〈◊〉 atheistical man of the who●● world : who fretting without ca●● against the christians , had nothi●● to say against our doctrine : 〈◊〉 having no considerable precepts 〈◊〉 the gentiles school , that could 〈◊〉 maintained by reason , without e●ample , sought by his impiety 〈◊〉 render himself renowned and ●●mous , beginning , in a new ma●ner , a war with him , who ma●● him emperour . but when 〈◊〉 knew he could not carry it 〈◊〉 vertue , and lawful means , he 〈◊〉 do it by the contrary , namely 〈◊〉 the same affection , that he broug●● about his other mischeif and wic●edness . behold then the apolo●● made to christians in the 〈◊〉 half of constance : which 〈◊〉 not but seem just and equitable 〈◊〉 men of judgement . howev●● there are some who finding themselves satisfied in this matter , 〈◊〉 not yet be satisfied therewith , but ●●cuse him of simplicity , and small ●●resight in imparting the empire , 〈◊〉 thereby putting the authori●● , and forces into his hands , who ●as his enemy , and whose brother 〈◊〉 had formerly put to death . hereupon , it is necessary for us little to discourse upon this , though 〈◊〉 be but to shew that this act of 〈◊〉 was not wholly against reason , 〈◊〉 humanity both , no , nor yet un●ecoming altogether the grave ●●ovidence , and good judgement 〈◊〉 the emperour . for , it would 〈◊〉 a shame to us , having received 〈◊〉 much honour from him , and ●●owing him to be so accomplish●●d , and excellent in piety , not to ●●eak further in his just defence : 〈◊〉 especially , seeing he is dead , 〈◊〉 hath now left us . in which ●●gard we cannot justly be re●●oached for using flattery , having 〈◊〉 liberty to speak freely , with●ut any suspition , in proposing law●●l onely , and true grounded argu●ents on his behalf . to which purpose , who wou●● not have thought the honours co●ferr'd upon him should have re●dred him more mild , and peac●able ? as also , the confiden●● wherewith too assured of hi● more ingenious , and just ? lik●wise , in that the two brothers ha●… by a royal judgement , and sentence , the one received punishment , the other advancemen● there was no possibility of believing , that he , who had adorned j●lian's youth with dignities and honours greater then could ever b● hoped for by him , would ever punish the eldest without a just ●nd lawful cause . so that , for resolution of the thing in question so f●●… it may be answered , the one 〈◊〉 constance his acts ought to be attributed to the temerity of gal●● who was punished , and the oth●● to the good nature of himself , wh●… gave those honours unto julian or , to say truth , constance had no● so much assurance in julian's fait● and oath , as in the power that wa● then remaining in his own hand . some thinke , under the same ●elief alexander the great gave ●orus , not his life onely ( who ●ravely on the other side , fought ●or the crown ) but also the king●ome of the indies . neither ●ould he make his magnanimity ●etter appear , then by such an act ●f his , who being alexander , ●hought there went more of him 〈◊〉 overcoming , then by armes ; ●eeing 't was in his own power ( as 〈◊〉 conceived ) if the other , viz. ●orus , had shewed himself un●rateful , and rebellious thereupon , ●o have overcome and utterly vanquished him afresh . so his great ●ssurance , great constance his confidence , i mean , in his own strength , was the cause of his so liberally ●estowing those great honours , that ●ut of a magnanimous mind , and heroick spirit , he so profusely conferred upon julian . but what need i debate so much of this , seeing its easie for me , although i let go this reason , to gain my cause ? for if he that truste● another man , doth ill , how muc● more he that is trusted , if he fa●● in such his trust ? and if it b● blameable , not possibly to fore ▪ see an evil inclination ; in wh●● degree of blame and baseness sha●● we put that perverse nature , tha● so foully deceived him , who so fairly , and ingeniously trusted thereunto ? but certainly it 's a thing , whereof we cannot soon beware , unles● we be as malicious in our selves . besides , let us do what we can , it 's a hard matter to make a wicke● man good . for reason would , that this man should have shewed himself faithful to constance : an● if there had been any sparke of ill-will towards him , to have utterly extinguished the same . but , on the contrary , in recompense of so many benefits , he conceived against him an evil affection , became ● malefactor towards him his benefactor , making it his design to do evil unto that gracious emperour , who had no other design , then to do ●ood unto him . behold , good people , the do●trine that the platonists , the ●hrysipsians and the famous peripa●●ticks , the stoicks , and other , who ●orme their pallats to speak so ●rettily , have taught him ! take ●otice of the geometrical pro●ortion , the discourse of justice , ●nd of those patient philosophers , that maintain , it 's better to take , ●hen to do wrong . see also what ●rave preceptors , what great coun●ellors of state , what grave law-makers he took to him in the quar●ours , and drew out of taverns ; and of whom he was wont to say that [ he approoved not their manner of living , but rather admired their eloquence : ] nor it neither , but , possibly , rather their impiety . these alone were the men , whom he thought good to advise with , and to ask counsel of , in whatever to be done , or , otherwise , left undone by him . and , are we not well advised ( think ye , ) to admire this kind 〈◊〉 people , who forme idea's of co●mon-wealths in their discourse , th●● can never be reduced into act who sooth up cruell tyrants 〈◊〉 their oppression , with fair speechs and present to the gods a half pen●● with a grave look of the forehead ? of this sort , some believ● there is no god at all ; others n● p●ovidence , but that all thing● come to us by hap-hazzard , ●● chance : some , that we are governed by the stars , and figures ●● fatal necessity ; ( i know not where they have it , nor from whom ) others , that all things tend to voluptuousness , and therein the quintessence of humane life consists ; but , as for virtue , they give it a fine name onely , and extend its relation no further then the limits of this life , positively putting it down for granted , that [ the faults we commit in this life dyes with us , and no further account to be made for them after death . ] the ablest of all their wise men are endued ( it seems ) with no bette●●nowledge , but being wrapt up in ●he muddy and obscure darkness of ●rrour , and ignorance , never lifted ●p the understanding to discern ●ver so little the beams of saving ●ruth , but rather troubling them●elves with things here below , and that fall under the cognisance of the senses , never comprehended ●ny thing about the nature of devils ( as most reasonable it is that god , the creator of them , should be ) if there were any one among them , that had dived never so little further into the abstruse secrets of nature , being destitute , at the same time , of the grace of god , he rested upon that which to him seemed easier to understand , and brought the vulgar multitude to conforme themselves thereunto . is it then any great wonder , that he , who was endued with such precepts , and taught by such masters , should prove a traytor to him that trusted him ? a felon , and rebell to him that raised him up ? if there be yet any other question of defending , by accusing him , he could not ( i should think ) be much troubled in mind for the death of his brother , who was his brother's enemy by reason of his religion , and so much displeased to see christianity flourish . no , but being transported with rage rather against true piety , he the sooner troubled the state , to establish and give liberty to his false , and foolish opinions : it being requisite , according to their reasons , to annexe the empire to philosophy , and ( as it fell out after ) rather to complete , then to cause the evils of the common-wealth to cease . now the first act of his rebellion , and temerity was , to make himself be crowned , and to procure , or rather assume to himself the sublime title of emperour ; which , in times past , was wont to be obtained , not as a rape , or prey of fortune but by succession , or by the will of the emperour , or else ( as anciently practised ) by order from the senate . but he would 〈◊〉 acknowledge , as author of his ●●nour , him , who was the true ●●rd of the monarchy . then ●●ving forged in his mind a foolish ●●cessity of taking up armes , which 〈◊〉 was so rash , and un-advisedly ●●ld to undertake , ( see but what 〈◊〉 contrived , and to what point he ●●duced his oversight and folly , o 〈◊〉 extreme fury of this man ! ) 〈◊〉 went armed with great forces ●gainst his prince , and part of the ●est , under the colour and covert 〈◊〉 excusing himself for taking up●● him the crown . i say under 〈◊〉 colour , &c. because , as yet he ●●ssembled , and endeavoured to ●ver his disloyalty , and madness 〈◊〉 a time , when indeed , his whole ●ope , and full intention was to ●●tablish himself in the empire , ●nd by his ingratitude render him●●lf notable to all the world . wherein his hope ( as it fell out ●fter ) did not deceive him , was ●ot in vain . with respect where●nto , i would not that they should be ravish't with admiration , 〈◊〉 mind not the incomprehensib●● height of god's providence governing all things , and ascribe litt●● or nothing to him in the all-wise di●posing , and regulating of state● who , whatever they imagine to th● contrary , as sweetly , as secretly ordains whatever he will hav● brought to pass , in its due seaso● and the same for the better alway● though silly men sometimes mislike thereof , and are not , perhaps , satisfied in their understanding wherefore he doth so . no● this divine providence ( you mu●● know ) induced not this man 〈◊〉 do evil : for , god is not the author of evil , but of all goo● things , sin proceeding never from him , but from the party alone tha● makes choice thereof . as for this wicked impe of satan , ( i mean julian ) he stayed no● his restless motion , but readil● running to those companies thi● were of his government , and unto a part of the marches of the barbarians , whereof , rather by craft , ●hen by open war , he became ma●ter , approached the imperial court ( as instructed so to do , say ●ome of his party , by prognosti●ation , and the advertisement of devils , who promis'd him an hap●y adventure , and a change of ●hem that then governed the af●airs : ) or , according to the saying ●f those who know truth , he the ●ooner advanced , thereby to arrive , ●t a day prefixt , to effect horrible ●nd secret wickedness , as hasting to ●e at the murder , whereof himself was the author , covering the con●piracy then by means of one of ●is domesticks . so that , it was ●ot divining , but knowing certain●y , and the act it self a work of wickedness , and not a benefit the devils had granted him : who by ●hat which fell out in persia , have ●ade the power they had well ap●ear of luckily conducting his af●airs . let them be quiet then , who attribute to devils his celeri●y , or quick dispatchin that matter , however , we cannot deny but th●● the foul act of his consulting with d●vils was damnable . nevertheles● had not the disease of the emperour prevented the incursion of th●● tyrant , and the secret war bee● stronger then the disclosed army the villain had soon felt , that 〈◊〉 hasted to his ruine , and that , before he was chastised by the astonishment he was put into by 〈◊〉 persians , he had carried the punishment of his deserts to the r●man territory , where he , befo●● that , had contrived his wicked conspiracy , which was likely enough because as then he discovered no● himself , although enclosed with th● army of the most valiant emperor , that he might have no way of escaping : as it was easie to judge by that which happened afterwards , there being but little expectatio● of cutting off the means of retreat to him that had already th● empire in his hand . but , as th● emperour marched vertuously against perfidiousness and impiety ( good god what a mischeif do i 〈◊〉 make mention of ! ) he dyed 〈◊〉 the middest of the way , repen●●●g himself to god , and men , 〈◊〉 he had been so kind unto julian , 〈◊〉 , as much as it was then 〈◊〉 for him to do , shewed the af●●●tion he bore to the true religion . years , at present , mixt with joy 〈◊〉 down my cheeks , and , as the 〈◊〉 and floods , strive together , 〈◊〉 , in their meeting , mingle , and ●●●uble one an other , while i am ●●●covering what happened after . 〈◊〉 the end and issue was pleasant 〈◊〉 agreeable to us , as the begin●●ng had been sad and heavy , not ●●ely in regard of the christians , 〈◊〉 their afflictions , which pro●●eded , either by the instinct of 〈◊〉 evil spirit through the will of ●od , who knows the cause there●● ; or ( it may be ) from our ar●●gance , which had need of being ●●strained , and purged : but also 〈◊〉 the regret of that wicked soul , 〈◊〉 of those , carried together with 〈◊〉 ▪ to perdition . there are some , who bewail onely the last plagu● and torments they endure here below , as having no respect at al● but to this present life , and , 〈◊〉 their mind , regard not the futur● nor believe any chastisement sh●●● be imposed upon , or recompe●●● done them for the things commi●ted by them in this world , leadi●● the lives of beasts , and mindi●● nothing but the present time onely placing their soveraign good in h●mane tranquillity , and , contrarily attributing misfortune , and infelicity to adversity , and to thing that happen crosse to their desires ▪ but , as for my self , i deplore mo●● the torments they shall receive i● the other world , and the which 〈◊〉 surely , though secretly prepare● for the wicked ( to say nothing 〈◊〉 that which is more grievous , viz. to be deprived , to be banished from the presence of god for evermore . alas what sore punishmen● will that be ! ) but how can i refrain bewailing of this miserable man ? how otherwise chuse but more lament ●●ose , who , of their own accord , 〈◊〉 self-motion have retired them●●lves to his false worship , then ●●ose that compelled thereunto by ●●rsecution ? and how can i hinder 〈◊〉 lamenting yet more him , that ●●rried others , then those who vo●●ntarily rendred themselves , and 〈◊〉 part , or sided with the wicked 〈◊〉 their profaneness ? contrarily , it 's a thing neither ●rievous , nor irksome to christians 〈◊〉 suffer for the name of christ , ●ut a happy contentment , not one●y in consideration of the heavenly ●●fe , but also of the constancy and ●lory he hath made way for them to ●ttain unto here below among pe●ils . whereas to the followers of ju●ian , the evil that 's already befallen ●hem is beginning of future torments that are threatned , and destined for them hereafter . so that , it had been much better , they had been longer punished here , then to be reserved to that high seat of justice in heaven . but i will not in●● hereon further , that i may 〈◊〉 the law , that forbids rejoycing 〈◊〉 the fall of an enemy , when he 〈◊〉 cast down ; and that rather , bei●● our selves in better condition , 〈◊〉 should shew our compassion towards him in his greatest nece●sity . i will resume therefore the chi●● scope of my discourse , and spea● of him from whom proceeded 〈◊〉 unlimited a desire after vice , 〈◊〉 immense a zeal to all manner 〈◊〉 wickedness . how came it to pa●● that he ran so fast to mischief● from whence was that his enmity to jesus christ ? he entre● and entituled himself his disciple he had the knowledge , by conference , touching many subtle discourses of truth , proposed by himself , and heard , from others , fin● precepts of saving health , or eternal salvation . and behold , no sooner came he to be emperour , but he made open profession of paganisme , as if he had been ashamed of being formerly a chri●●●an , and for that reason would ●ischief the christians , because ●●mself had been a christian in the ●●ginning . but here was the ori●●nal of his audaciousness , ( as they 〈◊〉 , who boast of their being of his 〈◊〉 counsel ) having washed 〈◊〉 ground with filthy and dete●●●able blood , ( see , into what foul ●●rms i am constrained to fall ! ) 〈◊〉 had a purpose to have establish●d abominable ceremonies in op●osition unto ours , being himself ●according to the proverb ) as the ●ow that wallows in the mire . he ●rofaned his hands thinking to wash ●nd purge them with that , that ●●uched the sacrifice , which is done ●ithout effusion of blood , by means ●hereof we participate with god ●n his passion , and in his divine nature . the royal palace was ●mployed in dissections and sacrifices , serving himself in his wicked reign with wicked coun●ellers . and now , while making mention on of dissections , and of the foolis● or rather damnable affection he bore to them , i know not , whethe● i should put in writing , a common and triviall miracle , or give credi● unto what is said of it . for , the truth is , my mind hangs , as in 〈◊〉 ballance , not knowing which way to incline , there being some thing● worthy to be beleived , others not ▪ neverthelesse , it being no new thing , but oftentimes happening that upon the change of grea● estates , by means of such vai● dissections of beasts , &c. som● prodigious things have been presignified ( though , in this manner to fall out after , is that which seem● worthy of admiration , both to me , and to all them , who are willing , and have a desire that holy thing● should be declared , and handled holily ) i shall take the boldnesse to make further relation of what 's reported . behold then what happened . one day as he sacrificed , the standers by saw in the entrails of the beast [ a crosse crowned in a circle ] which ●●ought astonishment , and troubled ●●me of his own party , as if there●●… had been signified that we ●…ould carry away the victory : ●…t the prince of impiety being ●ore couragious , replyed that it ●●pressed rather we should be shut 〈◊〉 , and enclosed . behold then 〈◊〉 miracle that i spoke of ! if it 〈◊〉 false , the wind will blow it ●●ay , if true , it 's balaam prophe●●…ng ; and samuel coming again , ●●d appearing unto the witch of ●●ndor , and saul ; the devils con●●●sing christ , whether they will 〈◊〉 no , and the truth , to procure ●●lief , proved by its enemies . it ●…ay further be that this was done , 〈◊〉 ordained , to reduce this man ●●om his impiety . for god , who 〈◊〉 prone to mercy , can , and doth ●●ten use many extraordinary waies 〈◊〉 lead men unto salvation , through 〈◊〉 knowledge of the truth . see an other thing ( reported of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any , and credible ) one day , ●●…ing into a hideous , and almost inaccessible cave ( would to 〈◊〉 from thence he had fallen i● hell , rather then gone on furth●● to such mischiefs ) and having man in his company worthy of 〈◊〉 hells , who took himself to be great master in this science , 〈◊〉 rather sophistry ( for among th●● they have a fashion to devine 〈◊〉 conferring of future things 〈◊〉 devils in obscure places , wheth●● it be they love darknesse , beca●●● they are darknesse it self , and exc●lent work-men in the darkn●●● of sin , or , be it they avoid meeti●● with good people on the face of 〈◊〉 earth , least such , after seen them , might take any power fro● them in their devining ) he 〈◊〉 struck into a great fear . now , astonishment had seised on 〈◊〉 villanous man at his first entra●●● into the cave , before spoken 〈◊〉 and increased more and more aft●● ( for it 's said such dealers with 〈◊〉 devil have strange and inward b●ings , and representments ) and 〈◊〉 there appeared unto him ph●tasmes of fire , with ( i know not ●hat ) other follies , and raving ●●ymeras ; being surprized there●ith ( for he was a novice in this ●●ctrine ) he had recourse to the ●●rosse of christ , and call'd to his 〈◊〉 him against whom he then re●●●ted . ( that which followes is ●●ore notable . ) the crosse of ●hrist had the better of it : for the ●evils were overcome thereupon , 〈◊〉 the frights vanished ; but what 〈◊〉 out afterwards ? mischief took ●●eath again , he again grew hardy , 〈◊〉 begins , as formerly to play his ●●anks afresh ; whereupon the ●●me frights , in an instant , repre●●nt themselves . what then ? he ●as fain to addresse himself , once ●ore to the crosse of christ ; im●ediately after the devils are qui●●ed : whereat , the novice being in a great perplexity , the master 〈◊〉 the sacrifice , that was near 〈◊〉 perceiving the matter , pervert●● both the truth , and him , told 〈◊〉 the devils were not affraid of 〈◊〉 crosse of christ , but had both 〈◊〉 and christ in abomination . 〈◊〉 evill speech of that leud man c●●ried him away quite : for as he sai● so he immediately perswaded hi● and thereby drew this untowa●● disciple of his into the gulfe 〈◊〉 utter destruction . wherein th●● was nothing strange , for a vicio●● nature will sooner follow the co●●sell of a wicked man , then retire 〈◊〉 the advice of a good . what he 〈◊〉 and what he said more in the cave and what illusions he was cheat●● with before he came up , they 〈◊〉 learned the same , and since instr●cted others therein , know very we●● he came up i am sure , much tro●bled in mind , making the sa●● appear more evidently in his ou●ward gestures , and in the gastlyn●● of his looks , as also by those mean● further manifested , who they we●● whom he adored , continuing on 〈◊〉 that time more especially 〈◊〉 he was alwayes full of 〈◊〉 ) to commit all manner of ●●●kednesse . i say , from that time , ●●●ause then he shewed , and made 〈◊〉 be more seen . insomuch ( as i ●●●eive ) he gave it out to be taken 〈◊〉 of , that he had not lost his 〈◊〉 in descending , and having fel●●wship with devils , calling the ●●aviour , in that his being inspired , ●●ball , and appropriating there●●th to himself fair , and honourable 〈◊〉 . these were his beginnings . but 〈◊〉 that which he hatched was ●●●closed , and the mind that he had 〈◊〉 persecute us appear'd , he thought 〈◊〉 an other device worthy of a man ●●rowly flush't , and perfect in ●●ckednesse , or else , that had 〈◊〉 the same of those , who had 〈◊〉 exercised in such doctrine . for 〈◊〉 it was a thing too bold , and gross , 〈◊〉 declare war openly , and consti●●te himself captain of paganisme , ●hich had brought some difficulty to that whereat he aimed : so w● had made our selves more couragious , if they had not taken us b● force , and had opposed to tyrann● the great affection which we ha● to the true religion : it being th● disposition of generous courages t● be bent against those , who woul● carry things by force : even 〈◊〉 the flame , that 's excited by th● wind increaseth so much the more as the wind is more vehement grounding his judgment therein , no● onely by the reasons he had to● comprehend it , but also by precedent persecutions of the christians which had brought to christianity more glory , then diminution , in tha● christians had setled their minds i● piety , and , as hot iron in water , hardned them against perills . bu● he thought that making war wit● subtlety , and adding force with perswasion , also mingling a mild manner of dealing with his tyrannical power ( which was nothing else , but to cover the fire with abait , ) he thought ( i say ) that this manner of proceeding was ground●d on reason , and would carry the ●atter . for , above all things , he ●●vyed them , who were champi●ns of martyrdome , and therefore ●rove , with all his might , to force , ●nd constrain people to return to ●aganisme , and proceeded so sub●ely in it , that none perceived it : ●nd contrarily we endured punish●ents without having the honour ●f martyrdome . but , it was ●reat-simplicity in him , for all that , 〈◊〉 to do . first , because he per●waded himself , we knew not the ●ause why we were in trouble , ●nd that by this sophistry , and ca●illation , he thought to cover the ●ruth , not seeing that the more he ●aboured to take away these honors , ●o much the more he made us ap●ear greater , and fairer . secondly , ●or that he perswaded himself , that what we did , was for the desire of ●ain-glory , and not for the zeal of truth . as on their part , for the ●ame cause , they were wont to make use of empedocleans , of aristeans , of empedotineans of t●●phonians , and a troop of such li●● wicked juglers . one of whi●● casting himself into the gulphs 〈◊〉 sicily , to make men beleive 〈◊〉 should become a god , and be ●●ken from them , to change this 〈◊〉 for a better , was discovered 〈◊〉 his chamlet cloak , which the flam● cast out , to be dead , and cons●quently no god , but a lover on●● of vain glory , and an ignorant , 〈◊〉 silly asse . others , secretly retiring in pl●ces under ground , sick of the sam● disease of vain-glory , and love 〈◊〉 themselves , being discovered after got not so much renown by the●● secret retreats , as reproach for suc● their impostures . but , as for christians , its thei● only joy , to suffer for gods cause for the true religion of christ : i● comparison whereof , we ma●● little account of pleasing men have no other aim , but to be accepted of the almighty . besides which consideration , they ●●at are truly wise , and lovers of ●eavenly , and divine matters , 〈◊〉 to be joyned with christ alone , 〈◊〉 christs sake , without any other ●●ward : they that do good works ●ith intention of receiving recom●ence for the same , being in the ●econd degree of vertuous people : ●nd they that abstain from evil do●ng for fear of punishment , in the ●hird . thus is it with us , that are ●rue beleiving christians , and the proof that we are so minded indeed , ●s easie for them to find , that will undertake it . but , iulian desirous to deprive us that are christians of the chief honours , ( for many judge by their own affections , the affections of others ) above all , set upon our fame and reputation . wherein he proceeded not openly , as former persecutors , but tyrannically invented alwayes something against us , that it might be to him a chief crime , to force the people of the habitable earth and to tyrannize over the most perfect , and accomplish't doctrine that ever was . but certainly , he made war wit● us , and persecuted piety in th● cowardliest , and basest manner tha● might be , in regard , among th● persecutions wherewith he astlicte● us , he caused frauds , and decei● to interveene in troubling us . for , whereas power branche●● it self into two considerations , th● one consisting in perswasion , th● the other in force , and violence ▪ he made use of that part of his power which was the hardest and most inhumane , namely force ; ( reflecting for the most part unto tyranny , through the unrulinesse of the common people both in city and country , whose audaciousnesse is otherwise intollerable , being carried inconsiderately unto all attempts sometimes , without either wit , or discretion ) this force he put in practice against the christi●ns without any expresse edict , or ordinance , for what he would have them do , but onely that he would establish an unwritten law , by ●hich he forbad any one of them ●ould be sought after for his good ●ill , and affection to religion . the ●●ntlier part of his power , which ●as perswasion , he reserved to him●●lf , although he kept not the same ●●violately . for , as nature cannot ●ermit , that the leopard should ●uit his spots , or , the moore his ●lacknesse , or fire its heat , or ●he devil the hatred he bears to ●han ( who from the beginning was 〈◊〉 murderer ) so it could not suffer ●hat this man should abandon his ●ruelty , wherewith he was fully ●ncensed against us . but ( as they 〈◊〉 ) the cameleon changeth her self ●iversly , and can take all colours , ●ut while i leave there this fabu●ous sophister , proteus the egyptian iulian did the same to the christians , bearing towards them all affections of the soul , except mildnesse , his very mercies to them being cruell , and his perswasion mixt with much violence ; covering , under the outside of equal dealing , all manner of injustice , and oppre●sion . which the more easily 〈◊〉 be guessed at , by those subtle me●● usually put in practice by him , 〈◊〉 draw us to his lure : his perswasio● to this purpose being alwaies bri●● but his violence , which follow●● after , if not yeilded unto in wh●● he would have , lasting long . in 〈◊〉 word , his accustomed manner 〈◊〉 dealing with us , was after the fashion of hunters seeking to catch thei● game , viz. either with snares 〈◊〉 of fair words to take us , 〈◊〉 with other weapons of violence 〈◊〉 make after us , untill reduced unde● him as his prey . having resolved in his mind , and made good this division of hi● power into seeming mildnesse , an● force , he betook himself to another stratagem ( which only was resolved upon , though otherwise very inconstant , and extreamly variable in all his proposals ) and t' was this , to begin the execution of his wickednesse upon those of his own house , and guard ( a way practiced by all persecutours ) there being no hope ●f invading those that are further ●ff , if those nearer hand be not ●●rst looked after . even as an ar●y cannot fight its enemies , if , at ●he same time , it be revolted ●gainst it's chief . for this reason , ●e changed all the officers of the ●mperial house , putting some away , ●thers to death , neither , for that wanting in their several respects ●articularly to this great emperour , ●ut because they then shewed it most of all , and at the highest . for which two considerations they ●ecame ( it should seem ) unprofita●le and might not be suffered to serve him . he gained the souldiery afterwards , partly by himself , partly by means of their commanders : and esteeming it easier to perswade , he won some by offices and dignities , others , ( who knew no other law but the will of their prince ) by their simplicity : and ( to say more ) he drew to him a great part of the army , viz. as many as he found weak , and inclinable , and who then , and before , were servants of the times . having gained some , and in hope to gain others , he was not nevertheles● master of all , neither could he th●● persecuted us , procure to himself such a multitude by his ministry , but that yet there remained more then seven thousand , who bowed not the knee to the baal of his power , who worship't not the image of his gold , and who , though bitten perhaps with his serpentine words , by looking after on the brazen one , or on one that was a type of christ on the crosse , received no hurt by him . of which number there were not a few , that had honours and dignities , whom , a man would have judged in appearance , might have suffered themselves to be wrought upon , either by fear , or hope . there were also very many of low condition , of no great esteem , but for their number , unto whom having given the assault , he was by them repulsed : even as a great , and thick wall by a thin and ●●eak engine . moreover , he angred not him●●lf any more , because those that ●ot from him had courage , and ●onquered : for he was so much out ●f his senses , that those , whom he ●oped to overcome , seemed to him ●s all won already . yea , he had ●he boldness to undertake against ●he great standard , which being ●oftily displayed , with the cro●s woven therein , conducted , and magnificently guided the army , that had the vertue ( as the latine word bears the name ) of comforting , and lessening labours and trawails , and which ( as a man may say ) is the king of standards , as well of them adorned , and enobled with the pictures of emperours , enrich't with devises by embroderies of diverse colours , as of those carried at the end of a lance , and flying in the air , with faces of horrible dragons , and jaws gaping , casting flaming lights , and embroidered with ranks of shels represented to the life in cloath of gold , & thereby affording both applause , and pleasures to the beholders . after then that with content he had ordered his house , and thought he was on the top of all his businesse and out of whatever fear and danger , he attempted that which followes . what was that ? to suppresse the truth of god , by labouring , tooth and nayl , ( as we say in the proverb ) utterly to subvert , and root out , not onely the christians , but also christianity it self , from off the earth . o foolish , wicked , and ill taught man in things out of thy reach , and of highest concernment ! dared'st thou thus obstinately to undertake so silly , and unlikely an enterprise against that fair portion of gods inheritance , and manna of the habitable earth , which had penetrated throughout all extremities by means of the profit , and facility of preaching of the gospel , ( that thou childishly calledst folly , and yet had subdued the wise , withstood devils , and resisted time ) as being old , and new together , accordingly , as those of thy party , the heathens have composed one of thy gods ? the first , viz. the truth of the old testament , declared but to a few , the last , viz. that of the new to very many : the former , as the draught or discription of a shadow , the latter as the accomplishment of the same mystery folded up , and reserved for a certain time onely , and to be revealed after . again , who , and from whence art thou , that thou daredst to set upon so rich an inheritance of christ ? so rich , and great , i say , both , and which shall never perish , although there were never so many more furious , and more out-ragious then thou wast : but shall advance itself , and grow more and more famous for ever ? in regard i beleive the prophesies of old , and those things in like manner which are manifest at present before our eyes , things that as god he hath created , and as man inherited , which the law hath set forth , but grace accomplished , the prophets fore-told , the apostles confirmed , and the evangelists consummated , or made good and perfect from the beginning unto all ages . hast thou been so bold as to approach near the holy sacrifice of jesus christ with thy abominations ? and to come with the blood of thy beasts in opposition to his divine blood , that hath washt and purged all the world ? diddest thou dare to make war against peace ? to lift up thy loose hand against him that was fastned both for thee , and by thee upon the tree ? hast thou set , or composed thy tast against gall ? wouldest thou set up a trophee in defiance of the crosse of christ ? erect against his death a destruction ? against his resurrection a rebellion ? against the truest martyr that ever was ( if a martyr we may call him ) those that were no martyrs ? persecutor as herod , traytor 〈◊〉 judas , but that thou never shew●d'st thy repentance in an halter as ●e did ! thou who hast crucified ●esus christ in like manner as pi●ate ! enemy of god's as the iews ! who , to thine own inevitable , ●hough future destruction , wast ●eserved , for a time , to be author ●f so much mischeif ! dost thou ●othing respect those that have ●een sacrificed for the name of je●us christ ? hast thou no regard to ●hat great st. iohn baptist ? to st. pe●er , st. paul , st. iames , st. steven , ●nd a world of other valiant cham●ions , that both before , and since ●heir time , have miraculously main●ained gods truth in peril of their ●ives and goods ? manfully fought ●gainst fire and sword ? powerfully ●ubdued beasts and tyrants by pre●ent torments , and denounced condemnations , as if they had only borrowed their bodies , or , indeed , had no bodies sensible at all of what they suffered for gods cause ? now wherefore all this ? that with their mouth , at last , they should renounce the true religion ? so belike or , otherwise , thou wouldst never have caused honour● to be ordained for them , together with praises , and feasts . but so far off was this devil iulian from bringing this to passe , that the christians in his reign , for the most part , not onely still perfisted in their former profession , and defence of gods truth , but also by them devils were cast out , diseases cured , apparitions and prophesies followed , their humane bodies upon touching , or repairing unto , had vertue and power given them a● well as their sanctified souls , to work miraculous effects : yea further , drops onely of their blood , or , the like little remains of their martyrdome , had the same efficacy and power , &c. what sayest thou ▪ wilt thou still slight , and not yet have a reverent esteem of such like persons ? thou , who admirest the burning of hercules , caused upon a disaster of having offended women ? and the dismembring of pelops , either for the love of strangers , or gods ? with respect whereunto the pelopides rendred themselves noble and remarkable both by the shoulders , and by the ivory : who admirest the gelding of the phrygian preists , that receive their shame with the sweetnesse of musical instruments , wherewith appeased after ? the torments and cruelties used in the mysteries of mythra , and his burnings , as well just , as mystical ? that murdering of strangers kil'd by bull 's the sacrifice of that kings daughter , because of the city of troy ? and the blood of meniceus which was shed for the thebans ? then that of the daughters of scedasus at euctres ? thou that makest so great account of those young laconicks , who whipt one another till the blood followed , and besprinkled the altar for the delight of that chast goddesse , and virgin ? who makest so great esteem of the hemlocke of socrates ? of the thigh of epictetes ? of the belly of anaxarchus ? whose patience was more by necessity then of good will : who commendest also the precipices of cleombrotus , moved to cast himself from thence by the reading of the discourse of the soul ? the dispute of pythagoras touching his beanes ? the content of death by theanes ? or of i know not what other of his school , and sect ? neverthelesse , thou most wise and generous , if thou wilt not admire the things i have said came to passe heretofore because of our religion : at least contemplate on that which is present , and consider the patience of our scipioes , and epam●nonda's : seeing thou marchest with thy army , and causest thy self be served with meats common , and not delicate to eat : that approvest very much of those emperors , who make war , and conduct their armies themselves : that savourest of i know what generosity , and discretion in honouring the virtue of thine enemies , and makest more esteem of the valour ●f thine adversaries , then of the ●owardlinesse , and idlenesse of whosoever of thine own party : ●eest thou not many among us , ●aving in their possession neither ●ouses nor goods , stript likewise ●f their flesh and blood , and yet ●hrough such their sufferings approaching near unto god ? who ●ye on the bare earth , their feet ●as homer speaks of a certain devil that desired to honour him ) all ●irty ! who are humble , and yet ●levated above all here below ? who are on earth here with men , ●nd yet , at the same time , in heaven above with god ? who are bound , and yet free ? forced , and yet invincible ? who possesse nothing in the world , and yet injoy all things that are in the world ? who consist of two sorts of lives , the one which they make no reckoning of , the other , whereof they esteem very much ? who dye to live ? who through the dissolution of body and soul , are re-united unto god ? who live exempt from all inordinate affections , and yet filled with the holy and true love of god ? to whom appertains the fountain of light , whose beams already penetrate their souls : who are spiritually nourished , as it were , with angelicall singing of psalms ? and kept turns , whole nights , together in praising god ? who have thei● minds already in heaven , by a divine rapture , before they dye ? to whom appertains cleannesse and purity ? who know its all one to depart from this world , and to be with god ? to whom belongs rocks , and also paradise ? to be cast down upon the earth and yet to be set upon thrones in heaven ? to be naked in their bodies , and yet cloathed with incorruption in their souls ? to be here in deserts , but yet in heaven with good company ? who neglecting and repressing the sensualities of the body , injoy , for all that , a perpetual , and un expressible content of the soul ? whose tears are the deluge ●f sin , and restauration of the ●orld ? whose extended hands put ●ut fire , tame the raving of wild ●easts , dull the edge of the sword , ●ake whole troops fly away ? and ●now thou also , that , at length , ●hey shall withstand , and triumph ●ver thy impiety , although , for a 〈◊〉 , thou bravest it , and , with thy ●evils , dancest ( as i may so say ) 〈◊〉 the delights of thine own hearts ●●sts , and heathenish devices . nevertheless , o impudent fel●ow as thou art ! how can it be ●hat , in the mean time , thou better ●onsiderest not of these things ? ●hou , who art as liable to death , as ●ny other worldling ? how can'st ●hou find in thine heart to make no ●reater esteem of those before ●poken saints of god , neither to ●everence them as thou oughtest ? ●re not the gifts and graces , where●ith those clear lights of heaven ●hine so bright , far to be preferred ●efore the unsatiable covetousness ●f solon that wise man , whom craesus made tryal of with his lydian gold ? or the philocaly of s●crates , that is , an affection in doating upon fine things ? for i am ashamed to think of , much less b● in love with his foul sin ( of sod●my , i mean ) although , with ver● much artifice , heathen men hav● strove to cover it , and are commended for their so doing . o● the licourishness plato shewed i● sicily ? which brought him to suc● a condition , that he was sold without being redeemed by any of hi● own disciples , or other of th● greek nation ? or , the glutton● of xenocrates ? the cinicalne●● of diogenes ? who made a tun hi● house , wherein he more accounte● of beggars , then of princes ; o● barly-loaves , then of fine manche●● ( as the tragedy hath it . ) or , th● philosophy of epicurus ? who kne● no other soveraign good , then th● pleasure he took to please hi● senses . you , make great account o● crates . certes , 't was an exploi● worthy a brave philosopher , vo●untarily to quit himself of his ●reat revenues : and , that they not ●inder him in his study of philo●ophy , to cast away much riches ●ormerly possessed by him in great ●ontempt , but the manner of his ●penly making known the same , ●y boastingly publishing the know●edge thereof to posterity , is a ●●gn he was ambitious of popular ●pplause : a mark whereby we dis●ern him to be affected as well with ●he tumour of vain-glory , as with ●he humour of being a philosopher . ●ou admire him , who being at ●ea , and commanding all his goods , 〈◊〉 a tempest , to be cast over●oard , thanked fortune that she had ●educed him to a sultan , or to a ●hilosophers cloak . also anthiste●es , who , as a quarreller , having all ●is face broken , made no more ac●ount of it , then the writing on his ●prehead , as on a table the name ●f him that had beaten him ; to ●he end , peradventure , he might make his complaint more hainous against him , when time should serve . thou highly prizest 〈◊〉 other , that lived not long since who making his oraisons to th● sun , stood upon his feet as long a● the day lasted , observing , it ma● be , to begin then when it came nea● the earth , that such his prayer● might be the breifer , and finishing them when the sun set . thou als● makest great account of him , who in winter , being on the guard , too his charge so to heart , that he passe● the whole night , which froze hard in contemplation , and had hi● mind so intent thereon , that he fel● not the cold at all . thou praises● also the curiosity of homer's desir● to know the riddle of arcadia● and aristotle , who stayed sometim● on the bank of euripus , to understand the cause of its ebbing an● flowing ; neither of which bein● perfectly understood by either o● them , was the cause of the one an● of the others death . thou esteemest also of the wells of cleander of the girdle of anaxagoras , an● of the weeping of heraclitus . now tell me , how many hast thou of these ? and how long have they ●asted ? and wonderest thou not at so ●any thousand of ours , that have ●ollowed the like philosophy , and ●ar more admirable , all their lives ? ●eest thou not how , in all parts of ●he world , as well men , as women ●f our religion , have striven one ●ith an other , even unto admira●ion on all sides , who should be ●ost renowned for vertuous living , ●orgetting even the laws of nature , ●hen endeavouring to appease god 〈◊〉 their chast conversation and pa●ence , not onely the meaner sort ●f people that are wont to live of ●odily labour , but the great and fa●ous also for their ancestry and ●ignities ? who changed their for●erly accustomed delicious man●er of living in all plentifulness 〈◊〉 variety of delights , for the ●rder discipline of a more severe 〈◊〉 , to follow christ : who , though 〈◊〉 attaining to the grace of eloquent speaking , ( true piety not consisting in rhetorical straines , and in the fruit of wisdome proceeding from the lips ( according to the opinion of one of your own poets ) and being of little value , ) yet most excellent they were , notwithstanding , in the sweet disposition of their souls , in the sincere and exact government of their lives and actions , to the will of god. but this man , shutting his eyes to all this , and aiming onely to please devils , ( which already many times , justly overwhelmed him ) before he made any ordinances for common affairs , rush'● upon the christians : and , althoug● he had two things which gave hi● trouble , viz. the galileans ( for 〈◊〉 he was pleased injuriously to ca●● us ) and the persians , who , bearin● troubles patiently , continuall● made war against him : so it was he had a business came so near him that the persian war seemed 〈◊〉 him but as a play and fable : where of , though he made no shew , yet he was so transported with fury , that every one took notice of him : but this so prudent person , so good a common-wealths-man , considered not , that in the first persecutions , there happened but a little confusion and trouble , because our doctrine was not then spread among so many people , the knowledge of the truth as then made manifest but to few that had need of more light , but now that the word of our saviour is so far spread , and so well establish'd among us , to strive to pull it up , and to shake christianity , it 's no other thing , then to overthrow the roman empire , to expose to all manner of danger and ●azzard the whole state of the republick : which is the worst that our greatest enemies can wish to us , namely to see us receive these evils from our selves , and by the means of this new and admirable philosophy and policy , by which we become so happy , and return to the first age , and golden condition of the world that was without trouble , without all kind of dissention , or warring one with another . but they 'l tell me , the people are gently governed , taxes remitted , magistrates worthily chosen , theeves punished , and such like things , with respect unto temporary felicities , and make it good . for it must needs be we should have our ears tingle with such manner of applauding him in his government . but the divisions , neverthelesse , and commotions of towns and countryes , the destruction of families , the quarrels of private houses , the separation of married folks , that were likely to follow such a mischief , and , as the truth is indeed , have followed the same , brought they any augmentation to his glory , or commodity and benefit otherwise to the common-wealth ? who is he , that is such a partizan of paganisme , so void of common sense as to avow the same ? for , even as in a mans body , when a member or two are out of order , the other cease not to do their office , and to conserve the welfare of the rest that are in health , and the greater number , by means whereof , even those that were ill affected , ●ut of frame often come again to their naturall constitution : but when too many parts are ill affected , there 's scarce any remedy , but ●hat the whole body becomes in danger to be overthrown : so in ●tates and republiques , particular defects may sometimes be made ●p , when , at the same time , it fares well with the generall : but when ●he greater part is weak , without doubt the general is in much haz●ard to be destroyed . a case so obvious and trivial to every common understanding that the grossest enemies we have cannot possibly ●ut soon foresee the same , especi●lly at this time that the christians ●re so increased . but the malice of this man hath ●o blinded his reason , that hand over head he ceaseth not to molest ●ll manner of christians , little and great : yea , so tainted he is with all kind of wilfull hatred against us , not onely unworthy of a judiciou● emperour , but also of a far meane● man in understanding and place that , as if , with our name , h● could take from us the beleif whic● we repose in christ , he hath commanded our name should b● changed , and that we should be no longer called christians : yea , 〈◊〉 make us ashamed , as if thereby w● were accused of some great crime● he made a new edict touching th● same , calling us therein , and o●daining we should be called galileans , in stead of christians ; she●ing indeed thereby that the name o● christian is a glorious and honourable title , otherwise , certainly , 〈◊〉 would never have taken it from us ▪ and , in lieu thereof , given us a● other lesse famous , and not of the like reputation . or , whether fearing some vertue to lye hid under tha● name , which might cause those o● his party tremble , so oft as spoken in their hearing [ in like manner as those devils in the gospel are reported to have trembled at the name of christ ] took away the occasion of their being so troubled , by forbidding us to be called after that name . as for us , we desire not to change those names whereby he is called , knowing nothing more ridiculous , then those appellations of phales , isiphales , venerable pan , &c. wherewith he takes a pride to be stiled : being names not onely infamous , and shamelesse , but such , as upon consideration of the reasons wherefore at first they were taken up , cannot otherwise then give offence unto modest ears that take notice thereof , neither envy we his title of caball , whereof he boasts so much in his follies , or that other epethice of hercules kill-cowe , &c. worshiped as a god , because , in his thirteenth labour , he begot with child in one night fifty daughters of thyestes . if endeavour to find out new names , wherewith to reproach him for his fouler , and more villanous actions , we are not ignorant how to fit him with a great many more to the purpose , then those , whereby to vilifie us , he hath invented against the christians . the history of his unworthy acts is not so altogether unknown to us , but that it 's an easie task , thereout to furnish our selves with names more then a good many , whereunto to intitle him , as due to his deserts , though much unbeseeming the man he would be taken for , being not content to be stiled by the title of emperour of the romans onely , but also would be called emperour of the whole world . for so he perswaded himself , he should be before his death , as being bewitched into such a beliefe by those devils , and magicians that thereinto infatuated him . as for our being call'd galileans , that are ch●istians , we are no whit ashamed thereof , seeing christ our blessed redeemer was so called . yea further , seeing he that is lord , creatour , and governour of the universe , son , and word of god the father , sitteth on the same throne , with him , mediatour , and high priest , and , for the love of us , ( that despised , and cast his image in the dust , as ignorant , perhaps , a great many of us , of that high mistery of his deities conjunction with our flesh ) took upon him the forme of a servant , and ●ore our sins in his own body on the ●ree , that they might dye with him : if he , i say , suffered himself to be called a samaritan , and ( which is worse ) a devil : ( to whom it was an easie matter with an hoast of angels , yea , a word speaking only to vindicate himself , and repulse a whole world of wicked men ) and was neither offended thereat , nor made complaint against them that did him that injury , but sent them gently away , ( shedding tears to obtain pardon from god his father for them that crucified him ) shall we , that are vile worms , however christned in his name , hold it an unseemly thing , think it much to be defamed , after that sort , or troubled therewith , when , in the same manner , reproached for his sake ? god forbid . nay rather , — being reviled , we blesse : being persecuted , we suffer it , esteeming more of such injuries , and other scoffings , wherewith reproachfully thou tauntest us , then to be otherwise made rich by thee , for a time , with the muck of this worlds goods , then to be advanced by thee to fleeting honours , and offices , and whatever other earthly preferment that 's in thy power , and choice to confer upon us . yea , moreover , whereas it 's thy whole delight , thi●● hearts content is solely fixed on such matters , we stick not to make open profession unto thee , and unto all the world besides , in the words of the apostle , that we determine not to know , ( much lesse to be affected , and hunt after ) any thing among you , save jesus christ , and him crucified . he had one quality more in him , an unworthy and dishonest one both , and that was , he accustomed himself , when covertly ayming to gain us to his party , at the same time to put on the fox his skin upon that of the lions , or , ( as i cannot better express the same ) to cloth , under the mask of minos his justice , his own cruelty , and oppression . to abridge my discourse , the rest of his abominable actions i 'le leave further to be dilated , unto those hereafter that shall be pleas'd more largely to pen the whole history thereof , not doubting , but many will strive to make posterity acquainted with things of such consequence , and whether tragedy , or comedy , ( call them as you list ) deserve not to be concealed . as for my part , i 'le reduce unto those passages before spoken of , one , or two of his most signal acts , to let them who admire his deeds , and count him praise-worthy for the same , know , a man cannot invent charges enough , is not able to find faults so many , or reproaches so great and shameful , as he deserved . it 's a maxime among emperours , ( i know not whether it be practised with other monarchs , but among the romans it 's exactly observed ) viz. that , in honouring them , they set up for the reigning emperours , publick statues ; for , as for crowns , and diademes , they suffice not ( it should seem ) no , nor scarlet , nor solemne ordinances , nor taxes , and tributes , nor great number of people to applaud them at their first entrance into supreme authority : but it 's their pleasure , over and above , like gods , to be adored , that thereby they may be held for more majestical and sublime . they will also have the same adoration done , in like manner , even to their very pictures , and images , that thereby their eminency may be set forth more absolutely , and completely . among these images , and representations , each emperour chuseth severally unto himself certain of them : e. g. some , setting forth to the life great cities making presents : others , a famous victory crowned with triumph : some , magistrates on their knees , with devises expressing their charges and offices : others , cruell beasts kill'd with arrows , directly shot through again ; others certain vanquished barbarians laid prostrate at their feet , or otherwise kill'd in diverse manners . for they desire not onely the truth of things , whereof they assume the glory to themseves , but also , to have representations , and pictures thereof . see now how this man plotted , what craft by him was used against the christians . as those , who in drinks sometimes mingle poison , so he infused , upon a time , abomination among his imperial ceremonies , confounding together the adoration of idols with the ordinance of the romans . for which purpose , among the effigies of emperours , and other usual pictures , he caused to be interposed the resemblances of devils , and that done , exposed them to the people , cities , and principle governours of provinces . these images , or pictures were after that manner contrived , that who so adored the emperour , the mischief could not be avoided , but , at the same time , he must , of necessity , adore therewith devils , the effigies , or pictures of devils , being so cunningly interweaved with those of the emperour . now who so adored not those representations , the imperial majesty was offended therewith , and the party refusing to give honour thereunto found guilty of high treason against the emperour . there were some wiser , and more advised , who finding out the deceit , were not taken with this so artificially invented snare ; who were afterwards punished for such their prudence , under the pretence , they had not honoured the emperour : when as the true cause was , for their being faithful rather to the great monarch of heaven and earth , and to the true religion . a great number of the simpler and poorer sort of people were ensnared herein : who , in my opinion , deserved to be pardoned for their innocency , being by subtlety thereunto inforced . after this sort , matters being thus deceitfully handled , 't will be sufficient to make this person infamous , and worthy of just reproof , in regard private persons , and princes , should not govern themselves alike in their affairs , their actions being of different weight and importance , a private person not so much to be blamed when he doth any thing by subtlety , and after a covert manner , because otherwise , perhaps , he is not able to compass what he would have , by force , and therefore is constrained to use art , and dissimulation : but , as for a prince , it should be otherwise , because , as it is a shame to be overcome by force , so , i esteem it yet a greater , to cover his designs with craft , and faining . there 's beyond this an other matter , which , though it came from the same forge and conception , is yet worse , because the evil of greater consequence . i will annex it here unto what i have spoken formerly . there was a certain day , wherein the emperour would bestow a largesse , whether accustomed and ordinary , or more solemn and at a prefixt time , to manifest his inward malice towards us , it skills not . 't was ordained then , all the army should assist therein , that every one , according to his degree ▪ and dignity , might receive his largess and pay. ( behold here another mistery of villany , see here how iniquity playeth its part ) under the colour of liberallity he would bring it to passe , by alluring the souldiers with money , ( who for the most part , are ordinarily covetous enough , if not too unsatiable ) the businesse was this . being pompously set in great state , and also very powerful through his wiles , by reason whereof , ( as if he had been an other melampus , or pro●heus ) he could change himself into whatsoever formes , at his pleasure , ●ccording to the quality of affairs he had in hand , ( the story that i am ●bout to tell , would move compassion in whosoever of any good nature , or tollerable apprehension , whether beholding this sad specta●le with their eyes , or otherwise ●earing the samerelated unto them : ) there was before him gold , there was incense , and just against him fire ; close by stood the master of the ceremonies , who gave notice what was to be done : the outward pretence was , the making ●se of certain more ancient , and honourable ceremonies in that their reception of the emperours largesse , but the issue after was , they were to sacrifice incense in the fire , and receive from the emperour the wages of such their perdition ( very little indeed for a thing of so great concernment , for the losse of so many souls , by their committing therein so hainous and execrable an offence against the almighty . ) o wretched gain ! o miserable recompense ! wherewith the souldiery were betrayed , and sold by such an invention they who had conquered the whole universe , by means of a little fire , a little gold , and a little incense , were discomfited and destroyed ▪ 〈◊〉 ( which was more pitiful ) thought not upon their death and ruine . such as went thither , for the lucre of 〈◊〉 little money lost thereby their souls , kissing the emperours hand , and perceiving not , that , at the same time , they kist the hand o● their assasinate , and were nothing the better by so easily suffering themselves to be carried away , a● by an inviolable law , unto such simplicity , and unadvisednesse ▪ how many thousand persians should there have been to have made such a defeat ? how many archers , and slingers of stones ? how great a number of armed souldiers ? what engins to beat down walls could have done that , which one onely hand , one only journey , and one wicked counsel brought to pass , and accomplished ? i will insert here one story more lamentable then the former but ●ow recited . 't is reported that some of the before-said souldiers having been deceived by ignorance , after the act committed , and re●iring to their houses , as they were at table with their companions , and about to drink water ( as accustomed to doe ) not thinking of the mischief which they had brought upon themselves , but taking the cup in their hand , and lifting up their eyes on high , began to call upon the name of jesus christ : whereat , one of them more sensible of what they had done , then the rest , said to them , after this manner . [ what mean ye to invoke jesus christ , after renouncing him ? ] with which words being astonished , and stricken ( as it were ) half dead , what strange thing ( say they ) do you affright us withall ? tell us , when was it that we renounced him ? unto whom the other replying , when ye burnt incense before the emperour , which was a sign of such your renouncing him ; presently these poor souls leapt from the board , as men bereaved of their wits , and , incensed with despite and choler , ●an to the market-place , crying aloud , [ we are christians , we are christians , we have not been traitors to thee , o saviour christ ! let all the world know it , and principally our good god , for whose sake we are content to live or dye , as seemeth good to him : we have not wilfully abjured the confession of thy holy name ; if with our hands we have transgressed , our hearts never gave consent thereunto : we have been deceived with the emperors gold ; that was it , whereby we were contaminated : but such our unperceived abomination , when time was , we have since the knowledge thereof , utterly abandoned , and desire our blood may be shed in expiation for ●hat great offence formerly committed by us . ] after which out●ries openly made by them , they an directly to the emperour , furi●usly throwing the gold received ●rom him formerly , before his face , ●n presence of the standers by , unto ●he earth , exclaiming with a loud ●oice , we have not been call'd by ●hee to receive honour , but to be markt with the infamy of repro●ates : do us the honour , who are ●hy souldiers , to kill and sacrifice ●s to christ , who is our king : for ●he fire of incense burned by us at ●hy command , command us to be ●urned with fire ; and for the ashes ●hereof , reduce thou us to ashes : cause our hands to be cut off , which ●nwittingly have been advanced to other gods : honour others with thy gold , who will not repent the ●eceiving of it : as for us , the riches which we look for , is to gain christ , which gain vve prefer before all other gain , before vvhatever other riches , or honour , or things of this life , that thou art able to impart unto us . this vvas it they said , and advertised others to take notice of th● craft that vvas put upon them , t● purge themselves from the sins o● this intoxication , making satisfaction , or leastvvise endeavouring so to doe , by their blood , unto christ jesus that dyed for them with vvhich resolution of their the emperour being exceedingly irritated , vvould not , neverthelesse command them to be put to death publikely , for fear of rendring them martyrs in his so doing : but gav● order they should be sent forthvvith into exile , punishing them that vvay , the more reservedly , fo● the neglect , the little regard the● seemed to shevv unto his person i● their speeches , and actions before him , but novv specified . had he pu● them to death , there could nothing be more acceptable unto them and , as for his banishing of them , they vvere so far off from being troubled therevvith , that they too● it as a great favour from him , rejoycing with inward delight in their souls , ( i dare say ) in that thereby they conceived themselves the more freed , or at least , they were the more removed out of sight from being upon every occasion , defiled and deluded further with his enchantments and deceits . having this intention , and imploying otherwise his malice diverse wayes ( for his mind was nothing setled ) and inflamed more with a diabolicall fury , than with ●ny naturall reason , being uncon●tant in his resolutions , he concea●ed alwayes the secrets of his wick●dnesse . but as 't is said of the ●●re of mount aetna , that it is hid●en in the bowels of the earth , ●ourishing and increasing its self in ●eing retained by force , or some ●ther thing , ( viz. the breath of a gyant in torments ) rendring hor●ible murmurings continually from ●he low pits thereof , casts out a moke on the top , ( an inevitable sign of the calamity aproaching , if the fire become so great that it cannot be stayed ) and then with violence breaking its bounds , ascendeth upwards , and enlarging its widenesse , makes a strange vomiting , which spoiles and corrupteth the land neer adjoyning : so was it with this man , who sometimes commanded , and helped himself in our affairs with the frauds , and impostures of his deceitfull , and sophisticall edicts . but , since his untamed fury was let loose , he could not by any means conceale his malice . fo● from that time , he began to persecute those of our religion openly . where , passing over thos● ordinances he made against ou● sacred churches , ( which wer● generally published ) together wit● robbing us of those offerings , an● money consecrated to god , proceeding no less from avarice , the irreligion ; the forcibly taking a way of our holy ornaments , whic● were pulled from us by filth● and profane hands , the priests and sextons , for keeping them , being dragged up and down , and tormented , defiled also and covered over with blood streaming from their bodies torn with lashes of rods , when their hands at the same time , were fastned to pillars ; the crosse-bow-men running through provinces , and cities , wickeder and crueller then himself , who gave the command that we should be utterly routed instead of the persians and scythians : forbearing ( i say ) the speaking of these things , who is it that knoweth not the sa●agenesse of them of alexandria ? who , among many other enterprises which furiously they put in practice against us , making use of the licenciousnesse of the times , without any either honesty , or modesty in ●o doing , ( being a people furious ●nd turbulent by nature ) so far ●eightned after destruction , their ●hirst , that ( as 't is reported ) they fil●ed our holy temple with two sorts of blood , viz. the blood of beasts sacrificed , and of men. in which barbarousness of theirs an officer of the emperours army was chief , who , for this onely cruelty , got him a name , and made himself famous amongst them . who is he , moreover , that hath not heard of the swarms of the heliopolitans , and rashnesse of the gazeans ? who , for their mercylessenesse towards us , in recompense thereof were honoured and applauded by him , and had experience of his liberality . who is he that hath not been made acquainted with the fury of the arethusians ? who till then being altogether unknown , were since had by him in great reputation , it not being vertuous actions alwayes that bring reputation and credit to persons , but also superlative wickednesse sometimes , and , never the like heard of , brutish invention pu● in practice to punish innocen● christians . i will onely recite tha● which may seem horrible and crue● to very atheists themselves . certain chast virgins knowing little of worldly affairs , as excluded from the sight of almost all other save themselves , by these barbarous arethusians having been dragged stark-naked into the market-place , to the intent they might be put to the more open shame , were commanded to have the hair of their head cut off , after which , their flesh cut in peices , ( my god! scarce have i the patience to repeat it ) was immediately thereupon by them savagely devoured with their teeth in a feast sutable to that their execrable fury , filling their bellies also then with the raw livers of those virgins , and after that , common meat being brought in , some of them took the bowells and guts of the aforesaid virgins , yet reaking hot , and mingling them with hog-wash , threw them to the swine , before the others faces , that they might see their hungry hogs tear the same , and , together with barly mingled amongst it , eat it up all . a dish of meat which till then , never the like was fed upon , and wherewith the inventer thereof should have endeavoured to glut the devil onely : as , the truth is , the devil after made a fine meal of the blood of the wounds which that wicked emperour julian received in his bowells , and whereof he was slain when shot into his body in the last wars that he ever fought upon earth , with the persians . again , who is such a stranger in our affairs , as hath not heard of marcus arethusius a famous man among us ? who ignorant of the story of him , except i relate the same at present ? who in the raign of constantine's giving full liberty to the christians to exercise their religion , pull'd down one of the gentiles temples , or rather a retreat , or habitation of theirs for devils , and converted a great number of them that were pagans unto the christian faith , to the right way thereby unto everlasting life , as well by the excellency of his manners , as by his eloquence : and for the same cause , was not well liked of by the arethusians , or , at least , those among them that were followers of devils ? but , since the affairs of christians were troubled , and that those of the greeks , and other gentiles began to rise high , he could not avoid the violence of the time . for the vulgar , being wont ; for a time , to retain their passions . as fire that is hid in wood , or , as a stream of water that is stopt , upon any the least occasion riseth , and breaketh through all . he then observing the madnesse of the people , who were not a little animated against him , and threatned him , was resolved at first to flye from them , not so much for want of courage , as to obey the command of christ , which wills us to retire from one city to an other , and thereby to give way to our persecutours . for good christians must not onely regard their own particular , though never so vertuous and constant , as beware of their enemies , and that , on their part , they give not the least occasion to do them an injury , which , without scandall to their weak brethren , and to the prejudice of true religion which publikely they make unfained profession of , 't is in their choice to put by , or make prevention of . it so fell out , neverthelesse , that perceiving many to be apprehended , and dragged before magistrates because of him , and that there were some in danger of the losse of their souls , by reason of the cruel persecutions wherewith they were afflicted in their bodies for his sake , he would not altogether neglect them , who for the making sure of his person , were in hazzard to lose their own . wherefore , being first holily and well-advised , he returns back from his retirement , and offering himself to the people , resolved with patience to undergo whatever calamities of the times : with respect whereunto , what injuries and oppressions were there , unto which he was not exposed ? what could be more lamentable ? every one brought ( i know not what ) resolution to adhere to that foul sin of diversly afflicting him , carrying neither any regard to the constancy of him , nor to the quality of his persecutours ; who were the more irritated against him through a supposition , that his return to them proceeded rather from a contempt , or neglect that he made of their persons , then of any virtue , or constancy in himself to undergoe vvhatever tribulations to be inflicted upon him by their fury . whereupon , this holy old man , this voluntary souldier of jesus christ vvas led through the city ( venerable for his age , but more for his life to all the vvorld ) exposed to these tyrants , and hang-men , and conducted by people of all manner of qualities , rich and poor , young and old , men and women , some of one sort , and some of another , hurried together : yea ( and which was more strange to behold ) those who had estates , and were of the wealthiest , strove together , were emulous among themselves , who should punish him most , all indifferently esteeming it a commendable thing to inflict whatever torments upon him , and to triumph over him ; whom all the people of the town villanously handled , some halling him through the streets , other thrusting him into the kennels : these plucking him by the hair of his head , those smiting him upon every part-of his body : using further , shamelesse reproaches , and not to be spoken of , among so many other mischiefs ; just as those are wont to be done unto , vvho vvere punished in those paganish mysteries of mythra . he vvas also lifted up in the air as in a svving , too and fro tossed from one side to the other : he had his precious body received naked upon the points of their pen-knives , who acted their parts in this mournfull and sad tragedy against him : yea further , they put his legs in a presse , and squeesed them to the bones : they cut off his ears with a fine slender thread , making him , in the mean time , stand upright in a basket , and rubbing , or besmeering him all over with honey and salt , they exposed him to waspes and bees about noon , when the sun shined hottest and clear : which made his flesh seem , as it were , to melt , and gave those animals a warm throat full of this happy meat . i call the meat , this flesh happy , because , however tortured , yet suffering patiently for christs sake , he rendred every part of his body happy , as a blessed sacrifice , and most acceptable in the sight of god. there 's an other story as well worthy to be remembred , and spoken of him , and that is this . this good old man and young both ( for the dolours which he underwent in his old age caused him not to abate of the lively chearfulnesse he was indued within his youth ) smiling in the height of his torments , was heard to utter these famous and most remarkable words unto his tormentours , saying , [ i esteem very much the posture wherein you have put me in thus lifting me up , it 's a good omen to see my self exalted , and others below me . ] he had as much to say touching the different condition wherein himself was , in comparison of those that persecuted him : the contemplation whereof seemed to make him feel no more pain , then as if he had been onely an assister at the tormenting of another , taking those his sufferings for an honour , and not for a punishment , wherewith they seemed after a sort , but indeed were no way able to afflict him . where is there a man never so little gentle and debonaire , that is not affected with this gallantry , that reverenceth not this holy martyr for these brave acts ? but the times permitted not to shew pity in such cases to the christians , neither the irregular passions of the emperour , whose unrelenting will it was still , that the people , cities , and magistrates should , by all means , carry themselves cruelly unto us , though many of them , for all that , were utterly ignorant of the bottome of his wicked heart . thus went the affairs with this constant old man. if you ask the reason ? 't was because he refused to give five shillings to his executioners : which was an argument evident and plain , that he had the patience to suffer for the cause of god , and his true religion only . in regard , whilst they demaunded at first a great sum of money , in lieu of the temple it's being pull'd down by him , and would abate nothing of that price , but either the whole sum was to be laid down by him , or else he rebuild it at his own charge , one would have thought this refusall of him came from want of means , and disability to satisfie what was demanded , rather then from zeal to the true religion : but after that by his constancy he had gained to be abated in part , and continually had something cut off with respect unto the price formerly required , so that the demand in the end amounted but to a little in value , yea so little that it was easie for him to pay it , the difference between them was who should remain master , they in making him give something , though never so little , or he , on the contrary , ( who was not to be forced , ) to pay any thing at all , although very many there were that voluntarily offered to give for him more then they desired , not onely because of his unparallel'd piety , but also in consideration of his invincible and unconquerable constancy . at what time a man might cleerly see , he fought not in this list for money , but for religion . let then those that so much admire this philosophicall emperour , resolve us , whether these , and the like actions of his , were signes of mildnesse and gentlenesse , or contrarily , of much pride and cruelty . as for my part , i beleive the question is soon answered . i have not as yet declared how this sufferer was one of them , who had formerly saved this detestable prince , when all his race was in dangers , by secretly conveyhing him away from those that sought to destroy him . the reason , it may , be , of his deserving to be so grievously punished , namely , for his imprudent preserving him then , who became after so great a plague to all the world . in consideration of which whole businesse , with respect unto the patient suffering all manner of cruell torments , and other lamentable reproches by this martyr of ours , a certain greek , that is to say , a pagan in religion , ( though in his behaviour otherwise , somewhat above , and beyond all other of his kind that ever lived either before or since his time , to be admired at ) being not able any longer to behold the tormentours on his own party , and the constancy of him that endured thus all manner of punishment on the other , brake forth into these noteable words unto the emperor , and in the presence of the whole company that was then assembled together , & spake after this sort . [ are not we ashamed , sir , to fee our selves so overcome of the christians , that we have not the power to be masters over one poor old man , who hath gone through all sorts of torments , and of whom , if we had had the better , it had been no great matter ? is it not a great impeachment of our credit , when all 's done , to retire vanquished by him ? whereupon ( as it seemed then ) the other officers blush'd , but those kings , that is to say , the pagan priests mock'd at it . could any thing in the whole earth be more shameful and wretched , not with relation so much to him that suffered the same , as , on the other side , especially , who caus'd these mischiefs , and other the like abominable outrages to be put in practice ? in this sort , after a most barbarous , and never the like heard of inhumanity , dealt they with arethusius ? so that the cruelty of phalaris , and of echetus will seem small , in comparison of theirs ; more espcially of his who compelled them thereunto , and was author thereof . o that i could meet with the creature , that had the gift to infuse into me the knowledge of herodotus , the eloquence of thucidides , whereby to paint out the wickednesse of this man ; to set forth in livly colours to posterity , the whole history of those severall passages of profound villanies that were acted by him throughout all his whole life . i pass to make mention of orontes , or of them who had their throats cut in the night , which he hid in favour of the emperour , being staid because of the body of him to whose death he seemed to consent , for that would be more proper to be put in verse . neither will i speak of the caves , and places under ground in the imperial pallace ; or , of that which was done in ponds , and in pits , and in ditches filled with the pernicious treasure , and detestable mysteries , not only anatomies and dissections of children and virgins ( made use of to cause divels appear by divinations , & in other abominable and irregular sacrifices ) but also , of them who were in trouble for the true religion . concerning all which , it 's my advice not to tax him openly ; and that because himself was ashamed thereof . and good reason , for it 's certain , had he not endevoured to keep them secret , they had turned to his confusion , after made known and discovered . as for the christians of caesarea , a magnanimous people , and constant in piety , who were so injured , and cast down by him , it 's not a matter , it may be , which deserves reproach ; because that being irritated against fortune , ( which sometimes was contrary to him ) in time of prosperity he had ( in his opinion perhaps ) just cause of vengeance ; as also , we must excuse somewhat the injustce that then bore sway , and wherewith ●hey were then so much infested . who is it that knows not how ●he multitude furiously incensed ●gainst the christians , killed a great number of them , and threatned ●et worse ? and thereupon the governour of the province keeping a middle way betwixt the time present , and the edicts then already made , and esteeming it , on the one side , better to comply with the season , and on the other , to carry some respect unto the laws ; after putting a great number of the christians in prison , chastised also some pagans . whereof , being afterward accused , he was brought before the emperour , and thereupon deprived of his government : whom ( although alleadging the emperours ordinances , on which he had grounded his judgement ) it failed but a little of his being condemned thereupon unto death ; thoug● in the end , he experimented hi● clemency , and was banished only ▪ his reply , nevertheless , to th● emperour , was gallant and brave for , when extolling unto him th● valour of the pagans above the galileans , in that one paga● sometimes brought under his subjection many galileans . [ wha● great matter is it , ( quoth th● governor to the emperor ) if on● pagan overcome or subdue a multitude of galileans ? hath not you● highnesse made an edict for th● pagans to do thereafter ; are no● they backed by your command , to use all manner of violence against them , when whosoever will , is not only permitted , with all sor● of injustice , to molest them , but also assisted , and may call for what help as he thinks fit , at his pleasure , to wrong and confound them ? when as he that is most cruell , is most commended ; he reputed the best subject that exerciseth his wit most to vex them ? when for a pagan , in the least manner , to be courteous to a ga●ilean , is to be criminous in the ●ighest degree ? when noneless with●tand , none sooner yeild themselves ●o our fury , than those galileans ? when not only a few , but many ●undreds of them , though of force to resist , yet in obedience to your majesties pleasure and will , patiently submit themselves to one poor pagan executioner , to be punished ? to beat then those that resist not , and after to boast of their manhood that do so , what is it , but to publish rather their violence , than to make good their valour to posterity ? besides , the pleasure of a prince , or emperor , is a law not written , which , being upheld by force and authority , hath much more power in it , than when written , and not upheld by the same force to maintain it . this should not be so ( say they ) who have set forth unto us a new god , good and gracious . contrarily , your highness publickely hath forbidden us to trouble the christians , as also commanded that christians should not be injured at every mans pleasure ; so that thereby the christians are discharged from our causing them any more wrongfully to be afflicted . the hydra , though you cut of● one of its heads , is never the less hurtfull , because , in stead of tha● one cut off , other nine succeed in the place thereof . and ( if we must beleeve fables ) did we ever see a patarical chimaera gentle and pleasant , because it had three divers formes , which should rather cause the same to be thought hideous ? or , must that infernall cerberus , or scilla , the plague of sea-men , be counted harmless , because the upper parts thereof ( as 't is said ) are pleasing and beautifull to the sight , as resembling a faire creature of humane kind , when the rest of it are full of the figures of dogs-heads , and of other wild beasts , that commit all manner of mischief ? when it swalloweth up whole fleets of ships , and is as dangerous as charybdes , right over against the same ? but what ? wilt thou find fault with the arrowes and stones , and excuse the crosse-bowes , and those that shoot in them ? or , shall we condemn the hunters dogs for greedily running after their prey , and worrying of it , and at the same time , hold them excused and innocent , that make use of them ? 't will be very far from reason so to conceive , and needs some sophisticall cheat to cover over , and wrap up the truth by the force of a fair speaking tongue , to defend these vices . their 's a means ( i confesse ) to warrant ( in some sort ) him that would disguise himself with these subtleties , by taking to him the helmet of pluto , the ring of gyges ; which , in turning the beril or broad part , makes him that wears it , become invincible . on the contrary , this great impostor , by how much the more he striv●● to walk in the dark , and no body see him , to dance in a net ( as we say in the proverb ) and not be perceived , by so much the sooner ( as it happened ) was he descried and laid open by the judgement of truth : at least , by those that had eyes in their heads to perceive , that he alone was author of these mischiefs , of those actions , which himself with all his subtlety , was never able to make good . so easie a matter it is for wickednesse , we see , to be convinced and made manifest unto all men , when , however daubed over , for a time , with fair shewes , it hath recourse still unto its own naughtinesse , and falls foul upon the head alwayes of its first contrivers . if the acts thus committed by him untill this time were very uncouth , and far strange from magnanimity , or whatever other imperial vertue , may we say that what he fore-thought to put in practice for the time to come would prove better , and more ingenuous ? no such matter : yea , it had been somewhat more tolerable , if what he purposed to do , had not been far worse , and crueller , then that which we have already recited . for , even as a dragon , when he raiseth part of his scales , and beginneth to set up his bristles , the other being sin a readinesse , it s not possible for him , but he must also raise , and set them up , in like manner , although ; till then , they were composed , and stirred not : or , as in thunder , when rumbling in the clouds , the lightning thereof we di●cern with our eyes , before hear with our ears the great claps that follow after : so , this fulminating emperour had already hatched in his mind , and contrived in design those abominable enterprises which after he intended to bring to pass , and was fully bent most barbarously to put in practice against us which were so strange and unusuall till then , that to him alone it appertained both to invent , and to cause them after to be executed . it s true , before his time , the christians had been made sensible of grea● troubles and vexations that dioclesiaen their first persecutour , an● maximinian ( who succeeded him being worse , as also maximi● ( the cruellest of the three , whos● statues beaten down in publiqu● places , and yet to be seen , serv● as a memoriall of the hurt done b● him , and in which are engrave● for ever the deformities of his person ) ▪ brought upon them . but neither of these three , no , nor an● tyrant that ever preceded them at any time thought of , or invente● the like stratagems , wherewith 〈◊〉 torment us , had he lived to hav● finished such his diabolical desig● and hellish purposes against us . these then were his drifts , ( 〈◊〉 those of his privy councel averr● but he was prevented by the grac●ous providence of god , and 〈◊〉 the tears of many a good christia● that shed them in abundance , applying no other remedy against the venome of this their persecutour . it was in his intention also , to take all manner of liberty from christians : and to inhibit them all things : viz. the conference of publique assemblies , of markets , and of all places also , wherein any jurisdiction was held : as being none of them capable of such rights , if first he had not presented incense before the altar , and thereby discharged the salary of such , and so signal a mystery . o emperours , o kings , o law-makers ! have not yee ( even as the influence of heaven , the light of the sun , the benefit of the air , by a gracious and universall decree , are common to every one ) established laws , and ordinances for all the world freely and indifferently to make use of ? yet this wicked man , this perverter of all things would go about to deprive us christians thereof . so that though never so much injured in our persons , cheated in our goods , or receiving what ever other intollerable wrong from them , it should not be permitted us , by way of justice , to have any recourse to whatever laws , or ordinances , to right us . in this regard , they began to assume liberty to themselves to mock and flout us , yea to assault us with blowes unto that excesse , that they scarce suffered us to fetch our breath , or enjoy one quiet hour amongst them . which nevertheless , was so far from disheartning us for making ever the lesse profession of the faith and repose that we put in christ jesus , that it heightned in a great many of us who were so injured , a greater constancy to go●s glory , howbeit to the authors of our persecution , greater sham● and reproach for so troubling us . but le ts hear the reason , of all this ( i beseech you ) of this assasinate , of this apostate-law-givers thus dealing with us . you shall have it in his own words , your law ( quoth he ) permitteth you neither to defend your selves , nor to demand reason of justice , nor to possesse any thing in particular : but rather to make no account of this world , or , of the things that are in it , as being all of them transitory , and vain . mo●eover that , it 's not for you to render evil for evil , but whosover shall smite you on the one cheek , to turn to him the other also : again , to one suing you at the law , to take away your cloake , to let him have your coat also . it may be , he will adde , we must pray for them which despightfully use , and persecute us . for , how should not he have the exact knowledge of all things commanded , and permitted us christians ? he , i say , who before attaining to the empire , was entred into the order of a reader of the holy scriptures , and who had the honour to serve at the high altar , as also , to adorne our martyrs with churches , and chappels ? above all , i admire one thing of him , that , seeing he had exactly studied our books , he took no notice , ( or else , in good earnest , would not see that which is written elsewhere ) viz. every wicked man that goes away from god shall perish : in like manner , he that troubles them , who remain faithfull , and contrives punishments , whereof himself is worthy . with respect whereunto , if we must needs be such , as he will have us , and govern our selves according to those aforesaid precepts of our saviour , concerning the regulating our actions thereunto : and , as for himself , in the mean while it may be lawful for him to live as wickedly as he lists , in all manner of ungodliness , by using oppression , and whatever other deceit against christians , that desire to live more quietly , in all righteousnesse towards god , and good conversation towards their neighbour : if the actions ( i say further ) of mans life , being either vertuous or vicious , the gods , whom those of his own party seem to worship and obey , approve of vertuous men , and reject those that are vicious : if this be a thing confessed by the testimony of our very enemies , and of those that persecute us , we have then gained what we desire to have granted , we have obtained our cause . if it be said by them moreover , that on their side also , they have any honesty , or fair deportment , though but in word onely , and not in deed towards us , and are not so impudent and accomplished in wickedness ( thereby supposing to please themselves , though not their prophane gods ) as to maintain , that vice appertaines to them as their proper inheritance : let them shew us how , and what justice there is in it , that we should be so constant in our suffering afflictions , and they not to pardon such as pardon them ; considering we have the better at one time , and you at another ; seeing the affairs of this world rowle and change , first of one fashion , then of another . have the christians ever used you , as you have used them ? what libertys have we deprived you of ? against whom is it , we have incited the peoples fury ? to whom have we sent captains , that that did more than was commanded them ? what people have we reduced into the danger of hazarding their lives for us ? who are they we have deprived of their places and honours , appertaining unto them , as to honest men ? in a word , what did we ever commit like unto many things which you have in part executed , and in part , threatned to practise against us ? truely , you cannot say what : you ( i say ) who so reproach us for being defective , for our coming short of that meeknesse , and gentlenesse , that by christ our masters counsell is required of us . moreover , thou , who art so wise , and well advised , in shutting us up within the narrow precincts of christ's stricter advises in the gospel , why markest thou not , that in those very places , some things are injoyned us , upon promise of reward , if we do thereafter , which are not imposed for all that , upon necessity of obeying , under pain of punishment , if we not performe the same ? for , though it be a thing very excellent , and to be wished that all were perfect , and if possible , attain to the top of well-doing , in whatsoever commanded , or forbidden us : yet , seeing there 's a great difference between those that do those duties whereunto injoyned , some obtaining to a great height of perfection ; others unto a mediocrity only : what reason hast thou , to make ordinances , whereunto all are not bound for observance , and yet punishest such as performe them not ? every one , not deserving a reward for what he doth , being not liable presently unto punishing for what he doth not . and therefore , in binding our selves unto what we should observe , as much as may be , through the whole course of our lives , it becometh us , at all times , to regulate our manners and actions , by the laws of true philosophy ; which , as it rewardeth ever , where rewards become due to our deserts , by doing what it commands ; so it punisheth no● at any time , where punishments are not due for our not doing that , whereunto , by way of counsell we are onely , lovingly and most tenderly advised . but , i will again embarque my self in the discourse of what he [ julian ] did touching sciences , and the use of tongues ; it not being possible to ref●●in from often making mention of him , and forcing my self to defend him in what lies in my power to speak truely in his behalf , and yet justly otherwise , rendring him worthy of neglect , where he deserves the same . in which regard , he never did , ( i may speak it impartially ) a more unjust and insufferable action , than when he would have prohibited us christians the study thereof . which perverse resolution of his , barbarously intended against us , every man , me thinks , that with delight , addicteth himself to the profession of good literature , should contemn , even as i do , who cannot hold from revealing my self to be of that number , and who , by reason , and in comparison , thereof , have quitted altogether , and wholly abandoned all other things of this life ; whether they be goods , money , jewels , plate , authority , honours , or the like trash , depending upon those unappeaseable tormentours ; the vexatious desires of this world , that as in a dream , bring fading pleasures , but no true joyes to the beholders thereof with their eyes . but , as for my self , i have embraced the onely study of tongues , and other sciences , having no manner of regret at the pains i have endured , aswell by sea as land , to attain thereunto ; desiring that i , together with all my freinds and well-wishers , may be abundantly furnished , and fortified therewith : and which i have allwayes cherished , and chosen above all things , next unto that soverain good , the glory of god , and salvation of the elect , depending on him in his son , and our saviour je●us christ , through the grace and powerfull operation of the holy ghost . so that if every one ( as pindarus hath it ) feels , or is sensible of his own losse most , it 's necessary for me to discourse of this subject ; not any thing that can be imagined being so agreeable therewith , as to render all possible thanks to the word or son of god the father , by the words and benefit of the tongue , for that the study of tongues , and other liberal sciences have hitherto been left free to us . but , what ayled thee ? or from whence proceeded it ( o thou light and unsatisfiable man ! ) that thou wentest about to forbid the christians this study of sciences and tongues ? which was , not onely in the number of those evils , wherewith we were threatned , but also , well neer ordained and published . why so ? and wherefore i pray ? whose counsell , reason ( i beseech you ) hath carried thine understanding ? ( call'd by thee , in thine own terme , and fancied phrase , mercury . ) what willfully wicked men , what inchanted devils have suggested the same unto thee ? if thou wilt , we will tell the truth , why . it was requisite and meet for thee , after committing so many foul and enormous things , that thou shouldest be reduced unto such a passe , as to be hurried into thine own confusion , by , in what thou reputed'st more prudent and wise , therein unwittingly to make thy self appear to all the world a very fool through thy much over-sight , and indiscretion . for , say , i pray ; to what did this thy ordinance tend ? what reason therein had'st thou , for that thy new and strange prohibiting us the leave of attaining to the knowledge of the tongues , and other sciences ? if any equall , and indifferent ? produce the same , and wee 'l quietly be satisfi'd without further complaining . for , as accustomed we are to overcome with reason , so will we never ( with gods help ) be so destitute of common sense , so void of tolerable understandi●g , as not to yeild , and give place to reason , in like manner . yea , but reply you , sciences and the greek tongue belong to us ; even as barbarisme , and ignorance to your religion ; which consists in no other great matter , then to say only [ i beleeve . ] but they among you , nevertheless that follow the sect of pythagoras , will they not laugh you to scorn for so saying ? seeing [ ips● dixit , the master said it . ] was enough among them : viz. their great principle , and of more account , than whatever answer else , though never so prudent , and to more purpose . for after this first , and so much esteemed maxime of theirs , in making no further answer , ( which was injoyned all them that followed his philosophy , ) he accustomed himself to speak little : it being certainly observed among them , upon whatever question asked , or reason demanded to reply onely , [ so pythagoras is of opinion . ] and therewith without other satisfaction , or further resolution given , to rest content . so that , it was in a manner the same thing , though with some little change of words and syllables ; for them to remain satisfied with pythagoras their master 's [ i have said it . ] as for us , with respect unto what said by christ our master , to say [ we must beleeve . ] all this notwithstanding , you forbear not still to mock , and detract us , for that , by our religion , we have bound our selves to give credit unto that , which persons filled with the spirit of god , have transmitted unto us . whereas , their very authority , were there nothing else , is proof sufficient for what they have written , being of more power , and force , to convince the gainsayers , than all the ipse dixit's of pythagoras , all the demonstrations , and positions of whatever other philosophers , and humane doctors since the beginning . but suppose the tying our selves to believe certain doctrines , delivered unto us after that sort , be lyable in good earnest , to be reproved , and justly contradicted by you : how can you prove the use of tongues to be in your power only ? if so , how comes it to pass , that we , against your laws , and ordinances , have a share therein ? for , to whom belongs the greek tongue ? to whom to speak , and understand it ? i say , to speak , and understand it , thereby to distinguish the force of words , with which you aequiocate , when diverse things are comprehended under one , and the same expression ; some understanding one thing , and some another ? but thou must confesse , the greek tongue depends either on the service of thy religion ; or else , on the pleasure of those that first invented , and established the same . if on thy religion , tell me where , and by what preists , it was first ordained , that the greek tongue should be spoken therein ; as we see it hath been resolved , whereof , and to what divels , we should sacrifice ? for , according to the statutes , and rules of your doctors and preists , it 's not lawfull unto all , to use all alike ; or , to one , to use all after the same manner . in what place , ( as in the countrey of the lydians ) is it a holy thing , proper and pecu●iar unto them , to render curses unto hercules ? and to beleive , they do this fained god a great honour in singing reproachfully unto him ? or , ( as to the inhabitants of taurus ) to kill strangers ? and ( as in lacedemonia ) to be whip'd till the blood springs forth untill it touch the altar ? to whom is it a holy matter , ( as to the phrygians ) to be gelt , as they were , the musick sweetly sounding , and they losing their genitals in dancing ? or , ( as in other places ) to use sodomy , keep brothel houses , and make use of such other the like mysteries ? there was a custome , and ordinance also , to speak greek unto some of their devils . which , if still it should be used , it could not prove , or thereby be inferred as a proper , and peculiar thing for the greeks , or pagans to apply to some one of their gods , or devils that whereof every one might be served , every one of them make use of : . even , as it is ordained to sacrifice very many things that are vulgar and common : which , if thou sayest , it 's not so , and the dialect of this tongue appertains properly to thee , as of thy domain , and in this right , repellest us : i answer , it cannot be comprehended what reason thou hast for it , or how thou can'st appropriate it to devils . for , although the service , or caball of thy religion be performed in the greek tongue , it followes not therefore , that the greek tongue depends on religion : neither is it a sufficient reason to proscribe , and exclude us from making use of so good a dialect : the conclusion would not be pertinent . as if two qualities happen to be in one subject , it followes not , those two are one same thing . for , supposing one same man to have the art of drawing pictures , and melting gold , it should then follow that his gold-mel●ing , and picture-drawing should be one and the same thing : which but to suppose only were a very vain , and most absur'd conceit . i demand then of thee , ( who art so jealous of the greek tongue , ) what thou meanest , in not permitting , but rather going about to hinder us from making use of it ? forbiddest thou us thereby the down-right , and trivial manner of speaking thereof , accordingly as the common people are accustomed to speak it ? or , that of speaking more elegantly therein , and with choicer tearms , that are not so intelligible of the unlearned , or of those that are not so well ver'st in the knowledge of tongues . a tongue is not proper , or peculiar to them , who have invented it , or to any art , or profession comprehended in the mind : but to all that can understand it . for , even as in the artificial tuning of musical instruments , the string heightned , or loosed , renders divers sounds , yet all , according to his mind , that , to make good harmony therewith , playeth ; and governeth the instrument : so useth the divine word , the great and soveraign work-man , for matter of sciences , and so forth , with us ; it being , according to his pleasure , that this man should invent one art , that an other , and communicate the same , without appropriating either , to their first inventors : and thereby render out lives more pleasing , more acceptable , or more tunable each to other . tell me , then ? the greek tongue , appertains it to thee alone ? what ? the rudiments of letters , were not they the invention , first of all , of the phoenicians ? or ( as ●ome say ) of the egyptians ? or rather of the hebrewes , a wi●er peo●le then either of them , who maintain their law in tabl●s of stone , was first written by the finger of cod ? belongs it to thee alone , to speak elegan●ly , as those of athens ? and measures ( i ought first to have named the science of encamping , and making war ) to whom belong they ? belongs not that of war-like inventions to the euboeans , if it be true palamedes was of that nation , and for the same reason , evil spoken of , accursed , envyed , and after condemned by those that set forward to the conquest of troy ? well then , if the egyptians , phoenicians , and hebrews , of whose inventions we make use , in our doctrine : if the inhabitants of the isle of euboea , claim that as theirs properly , the same reason that thou alleagest : what shall we do ? or how justifie our selves to them ? w●… being liable , by the same law , tha● thou wouldest make , to be deprived of many excellent arts , descended unto us from others , and , consequently , our selves forced to render them back again to their firs● inventors ; till , at length afte● returning what we had from them ▪ it befall us , as it did the jaye i● the fable , who , when she had restored unto other birds the feathers that she borrowed of them her self afterwards remained naked and became deformed . to give an instance , or two , in certain particulars . the art of poesy , doth it belong to thee only ? or may it not rather be ascribed to a poor old woman ? who being punch'd on the shoulder ( as the tale goes ) by a young fellow passing by , and affronting her , she fell thereupon into such a fury , that unadvisedly , and upon a sudden she rapt out a verse : whereat the fellow taking delight , with more curiosity after skanned the feet thereof upon his fingers : and , by this means , the admirable art of poesy was first occasioned . again , if thou braggest , and art so vain-glorious because of thine armes , tell me , brave sir , from whom haddest thou them at the beginning ? were not the cyclops they that first invented the art of forging ? if scarlet also be so much prised by thee above all things , who made thee so cunning and knowing a man therein , as not to ascribe the first finding out thereof to the tyrians ? in whose countrey a shepheards dog of theirs browsing upon a swad of red beans , and his chapps becomming all over , as it were , bloody therewith , gave his master a hint thereby , to take notice of the flower thereof : and from thence sprang the first attempting to die , with the juice of it , that cloth which is now in so great esteem with you , o ye emperours ! and great persons . what sayest thou in thy claime farther unto husbandry , touching plowing , and tilling the earth ? as also , to the art of making ships ? when the athenians deny thee the right , to be the sole master , and proprietor thereof , by ascribing the first invention therein , to ceres , triptolemus dracon ; as also to celeus , icarus , and to the rest of that fabulous rout . where took your filthy mysteries , ( fit onely to be celebrated in the night ) their first rise ? to pass by these foolish matters , and have a fling again at thy fury , or rather impious acts : from whence hadst thou the invention of taking thy first imitation of formalityes , and giving the same to thy paganisme , as also other of thy most abominable ceremonies in serving thy false gods , are they not from the thracians , ( as the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies ; ) and thy manner of sacrificing from the caldeans , and cypriots ? even as astronomy from the babylonians ; magique , from the persians ; the art of divining by dreams , from the telinesians : as that , by birds , from the phrygians , who first observed the motion , and flying of them . to avoid prolixity ; from whence hath sprouted every science put in practise by thee ? hath not some one , or other , gathered from each of them a particular invention , and through reducing the whole altogether into one mass , thereby forged out unto thee a false , and foolish religion ? may we not then openly avow it to thy face , that when thou shalt have rendred up each art of thine , to it 's own authour and inventor , there will remain nothing behind to thee , but thine own folly , together with thy new ordinance of denying us all things , for the further establishing of thy fond and wicked religion ? thou being the first of the christians that hast plotted a revolt against jesus christ thy master ; as in former times , the scythian slaves rose up in rebellion , and revolted against the scythians that were their masters . in my conceit , thou hadd'st done better , to have endevoured the discomposing , the overthrowing of our union ; who , in relation to thy laws and ordinances , seem wicked , and perverse ; that thereby the remainder of thy empire being at rest from such like fighting businesse , a man might see the roman republique ( as in it's first splendor ) delivered from all civill warrs , which are far worse than forrain : even as we should rather prevent the destruction of our own bodies and flesh , than that of strangers . now , ( howbeit all the actions of this our impostor towards christians , in relation to what before spoken of , fall out to appear frauds , only cover'd over with courtesies , & consequently , far unworthy of imperial majesty , ) i shall yet produce some finer , and fuller of subtlety , that were acted by him . to which purpose , he perceiving after all this , that in confideration of the precepts , doctrines , and divine testimonies , aswell of the old , as new testament , ( of the old , by prophesies , and evident inspirations of gods spirit : likewise of the new , by the revelations of the son of god , and of miracles , great , and remarkable to confirme us in those things , which , by the fundamental positions of our religion , we make open profession of , ) we began to become most constant , and confident in the truth , and faith of christ ; that we might not be quitted in these respects without his assaulting , and offending us for the same , as he did others , upon the like occasion . behold he contrives and puts in execution his designes against us ! as rabsheketh ( leiuetenant to senacherib king of the assyrians ) sometime did against the jews , who entered with an army , into the country of judea , and having with great power , laid seige before jerusalem to take it , when he saw he could not carry it by force , and that the traitors within could not deliver him nothing according to his expectation , he endevoured with fine words , and in the jews own language , to make himself master thereof ; which the besieged taking notice of , demanded first that , addressing himself to them , he would speak in the assyrian tongue , and not in the hebrew , for fear , least under the sweetnesse of their own language , they might cunningly be brought into servitude : so this man [ the emperour julian ] after the same manner , desiring to bring us under his subjection , was upon the device of founding colledges in all towns , of erecting pulpits to preach in , and chairs to read and expound his pagan instructions , as well , those that concerned manners , as other pretended holy mysteries : likewise , of publishing a form of prayers sung by them , and answered one toanother : also , touching the discipline of those who should happen to be faulty in the preface of their caball ; and , generally , imitated all good orders , and establishments that are observed in our religion . for he had well-nigh brought to passe an ordinance for building of hospitals , and other publique houses , also recluses for virgins , and other that for devotion desire to retire themselves from worldly affairs : again , other places , where care to be taken in making provision for sick folke , and other sort of distributions to poor people : also , as we are wont to use letters of recommendation from one countrey to an other in favour of the necessitous , as occasion offered it self , so would he have ordained to be done on his party : with the like wholesome constitutions borrowed from us , and seemingly much approved , and liked by him , in like manner . behold then , what this new sophister , and teacher of strange doctrines had resolved upon ! but , in that , touching these matters , the purpose and intention of this man was not accomplish'd and effected , i cannot say whether it was more advantagious to us , ( that were forthwith delivered from him , and his ) or to him , ( whose enterprises were vain as dreams : ) because , easie it had been presently to discern the difference betwixt the actions of men , and the imitations of apes : of whom , though it be said , they can counterfeit some subtleties which men use , and do b●fore them , to deceive them , yet herein they are to seek , in that not able through their imitation to discover the reason of our craft in so doing . whereby it falls out , that neither the thessalonicall mare , nor the woman of lacedem●n , nor those who drink of the water of arethusa , i mean the sicilians do better carry away the price among them of their kind , then the ceremonies and customes of christians : which , though comely , significant , and grave , as also of laudable use , are such , not withstanding , as cannot be attained unto of any other sort of men , that go about to imitate them : their original being taken , not so much from the invention of men , as from the assistance of god , in their making , and continuing the same still to his church , and people . but , there 's nothing prettyer , then ( as on a theater ) to observe , and heed well the admirable imitation of these men , and excellency wherewith they endeavour to counterfeit us . what then , i trow , is the manner of their teaching ? what the end of their assembling together ? is it not , that ( as plato saith ) we may see this city move and wag ? which is but a discourse in words . whereas true philosophy , in the generall , consisting of two parts , viz. theoreticall , and practique : the former more hard and sublime , the latter , though lower , yet more profitable ; both of them , helping each the other , are in perfection in our religion . because , as we make use of the theory for the knowledge of heavenly things , so we establish the practique as the basis thereof : it not being possible to participate with , or to attain unto true knowledge in the theory , without endeavouring to do thereafter in the practique . as for their manners , i know not whether therein they are , either more ridiculous , or vile , and abject , their law-makers destitute of divine inspiration while compofing them , and the laws themselves thereupon resembling roots of trees undermined and carried away with water , floating up and down , without having any firm foundation whereupon , for any long time , to repose them . to compare , neverthelesse , our our condition with theirs in this regard ; as they give unto themselves the liberty to sport and play in many passages of their fables : so we , in like manner , are not debar'd of all mirth , when commanded , in scripture , to rejoyce with them that tejoyce : neither free , more then they from sadness , when advised to mourn with them that mourn &c. there being with us , as well as with them , a time ( as solomon speaks ) to weep , and a time to laugh : a time to dance : — a time to keep silence , and a time to speak . a time to love , and a time to hate : a time of war , and a time of peace . let their theater then ( i know not what else to call their temple ) be set up , and they of the better sort in the common-wealth , o● that have attained unto gray hairs , be placed in the highest chairs , o● whoever else make themselves taken notice of for the honour of their race , or wisdome in things of this world , ( wherein there is more false and fading pleasure , then true piety ; ) for wee 'l agree to them in this point . what then ? as for their after rejoycing , let themselves , in what they have a mind , please themselves , be cloathed with scarlet , honoured with flags and garlands : if this be true felicity , and above that which the common sort can attain unto , let them ( a gods name ) enjoy the same , esteem the estate that is vulgar and low to bring with it neglect and contempt both : contratily , the other , that 's more magnificent and exquisite , to gain authority , and beleif : never will they abase themselves so much , i am sure , as to esteem it , as we do , a point of honour to be humbled ; and , not in the fashion of clothes , but in the manner of well living to make true estimation of what represented before our eyes , imploying our whole time , not about trifles , and curiosities , but in that which depends on the inward man , and consists , not in seeking after popular applause , but in well governing all manner of unruly passions , and affections incident unto our souls . on which point , for the present , wee 'l set up our rest . now what followes after ? thou , for thy part , wilt represent unto thine auditory riddles , or dark , and hard matters to be interpreted [ divine oracles ] ( as thou callest them ) thou wilt read , and expound unto them books , that treat of the mystery of thy religion , and of the world. but , tell us , what are those books ? and who be the authours thereof ? will it not be a fine thing ( think ye ) to sing of the generation of the gods fained by hesiod , and of their wars set forth by him ? of the rebellions of tyrants and giants , with their deaths ? and of other horrible accidents and disasters that befell cottis , giges , briareus , enceladus ? of your gods , some described , by the same author , to have dragons feet , othe●s cloathed with thunder ? of your isles thrown down upon them , and serving for receptacles , and graves , to those that they are cast upon ? again , to sing of the sundry foul swarms , and diversity of imagined hydraes , chimera's , gorgon's , and the like monstrous mass , and confused rabble of all manner of other wickednesse , and profannesse ? are not these sweet things to gather out of hesiod , and to feed the ears of the people withall ? also , the bewitching story of orpheus following thereupon , with his harp , and song drawing after him wild-beasts , and birds ? to relate of jupiter his magnificent titles , and the many significations thereof ? with his being the most high soveraign among the gods , and yet covered with dung ( whether of sheep , of horses , or of mules , i know not ) that thereby he might make the power of his god-head understood , by his producing from thence a great number of small insectile creatures , and giving life unto them upon their productions ? after all which , to make mention of that impure goddesse of theirs , who more immodestly , than became her feminine deity , shewed her self half naked ; to make her worshippers ( i think ) as well in love with her , as with the religion , wherein she was publickely adored , and represented after that fashion , by her images , and other pictures in her temples , and else-where , to be look'd upon ? neither doth herein the totall or whole sum of their foolish fopperies consist but unto these , ( as upon a stage ) are made to appear phanes , euricapeu● , and he that swallowed the other gods , and vomited them up again , or discharged his stomach of them afterwards , to make himself known the father of gods , and men. are not here , in these high points of their religion 's mystical matters , sound and subtle doctrines of edification for the common people to gather out , and to make use of for their souls health . besides these , and a number of the like ridiculous toys , certain allegoryes are invented , by their doctors imaginations therein , transcending humane capacity by which they precipitate as weltheir own , as their auditorsunderstanding unto confusion . again , touching homer , and those many fond stories fabled by him , where wilt thou affixe the same ? for it 's he , who of old , composed comedyes , or rather tragedyes concerning your fained gods. you 'l finde ( i beleeve ) both the one , and the other in those redoubted poesies of his , whereof some cannot chuse but move and stir up their laughter , as well as other , tears . the truth is , 't was not a matter of small consequence for oceanus to be reconciled to thetis : and therefore , well might she run about , and rave like a mad woman , upon the thought only , that through the abstinence , for a time , of conjugall duties ; viz. in not commixing dry things with moist ; there might eminent danger follow after , to the prejudice of the whole world . be it so . but what tolerable reason may be given ? what the least sober interpretation can be made of that meeting of jupiter and juno , the same time , when at mid-noon , not at mid-night , juno so shamelessely entreated , and entised him also , mostlasciviously to accompany with her ? your poets endevour , indeed to dissemble it in their verses , strewing for them a bed of fresh hearbs , and renewing the same with flowers of safron , and hiacynths . but where ? and from whom had they these things ? to what end further ? and what reason is there yet among you , that the same juno , sister , and wise of the aforesaid jupiter , should sometimes hang in the air , and in the cloudes counter-ballanced with chaines of i●on , together with manacles of gold ? she , i say , who had her arms so white , and her fingers so rosie ? had any of the other gods demanded a reason of jupiter , wherefore that his fair goddesse was put into such a posture by him , without first asking pardon of him , for that his presumption , he had cast himself in danger of jupiter's displeasure , for that his good office shewed towards juno . at another time , the said juno , neverthelesse , sportingly encompassing her slender waste in the loose girdle of sweet love , put on , together with it , such blandishments of enticing affections , such winingly bewitching charmes of wanton expressions , that with his own lips thereupon , he could no longer refrain , from giving sentence on her behalf ; protesting she so irresistibly surprized him , in those her amorous allurements , that , of all his other mistrisses , there was none to be compar'd to her . what means also that divine mystery of the brown eye-brows , and the shaking of those locks that made all the heavens tremble ? what the wounding of mars , that dull lover ? and of that indiscreet adultresse venus the fair , shut up in a brazen nett , bound , and manacled by lame vulcan , who , to his own shame and confusion , assembling the gods together , to see this spectacle , for a little money let them depart again ? if able to render a reason of such like toyishness , tell us further , i pray , what was meant by that fright , and stir among the gods , touching that unchast helena , that by reason thereof , the heavens fell on such a thundring , the earth on such a cracking , that it wanted little , but both had been removed out of their places : the sea likewise turned upside-down ; the gates of hell opened , and thereupon , what before , so long time lay hid , made known and discovered . all which , and more , a great many the like strange things , having been as strangely and diversly delivered unto posterity ; who is he among you , so subtle and profound , yea , though he had the understanding of jupiter , that with what ever discurring imaginations higher than the cloudes , can reduce them to common sense , or in any kind of mediocrity , make them as much as tolerable to be understood ? which if true , & they are not ashamed to confess as much ; in like manner acknowledge them to be base and dishonest things ; then the proof thereof , ( without having recourse to a mythologie to serve them for a covering , with respect unto what they suppose so finely to have found out and invented , ) will be apparent and manifest enough . what shall we say further ? is it not a handsome thing , think ye , for those men , that hold so firmly & constantly unto what in the ceremonial circumstances of their profound religion , they make profession of , to abuse and fool themselves after this sort with obstruse and non-sense fables ? thus , neverthelesse , they are accustomed to do , for the most part , who thereby would endeavour in what ever , though never so weakly said , or done by them , to escape from being reprehended . but they 'le reply , perhaps , the businesses before spoken of are but meer conceptions , matters , which they so greatly stand not upon , but invented on set purpose onely to take up the peoples thoughts , and delight their fancies withall . if so , then let them produce , and shew us other things of their theology , that are more solid , and naturall , that we may further confer with them about the same , and , in the interim , tell us , whether it be not great sottishnesse to boast , and make a more then ordinary account of matters that are onely fabulous , and to be blushed at ? again , whether it be not a foul shame , to publish to all the world hidden things , and unknown to many ( sor every one is not learned ) with pictures , and figures , and ( which is worse ) with great losse of money in temples , altars , statues ? also by sacrifices , which put men to the cost of so many crowns ? when a man may be pious enough in the true religion without much cost , is it not a folly to desire rather to follow error , and falsehood with infinite charges ? but , let them say , they are fictions and jeasts , wherewith poets abound in their measures , and in fables , to delight , and tickle their ears therewith that hear them , mixing , after that sort , hidden and covered senses , that few but learned and discerning men know how to make use of : i ask the question , how can others make account of , or have those deites in any great estimation , when those poets of theirs , themselves abuse after that grosse manner , the gods they would have honoured , that it's reward enough for them , that they are not punished for their so doing ? for seeing , by their law , under pain of death , they are prohibited , in any manner , to use whatever blasphemy , or reproach towards the gods , what punishment , ( suppose ye ) are they worthy of , that frequently , and in publique mock , and jest at them , in their poesies , after the foulest manner , with the filthyest , and most injurious taunts can be thought on ; yea , and leave the same after , as in a comedy , unto posterity , for , a long time , to be laughed at ? touching their having some things more covered , other more manifest in their religious worshipping of their gods , i acknowledge that in our religion it is so also , but with this difference : in our books concerning the same , the common and litteral sense hath nothing foul , or dishonest in it : and that which is hid to the vulgar , to the learned therein it 's very admirable and clear : even as if a body perfect in beauty were in some secret place , covered with a vestment fit , and correspondent thereunto . moreover , representations and resemblances of divine things , ought , methinks , to have nothing therein dishonest , or , unworthy of what they signifie : or , be such as men would take ill , if the same should be done unto them . yea rather , they ought to be things exquisite in beauty , or , at least , not vile and base : that , either discreet men may justly take exception at , or , the vulgar be thereby scandalized . on the contrary , what you practise , there 's no credit to be given unto , and what outwardly represented by you , is as detestable . for , what sense is there , to make a man's self be led in the streets through the dirt , and drawn to the port among rocks and shells ? what is the end ? and to what purpose are such like things recorded by you ? as for thine own part , thou wilt forge us jests , and allegories , of thy travels and imaginations , but no body will give credit unto , o● beleeve the same . and why ? because what already in sight , and above-board , is plain eno●gh , and intelligible . whereby , as thou gainest none that will give eare unto thee , so thou losest lookers on , to behold and see what thou wouldest have taken notice of : men , aswell stopping their ears , as with-holding their eyes , the while , from the apprehension of such unlikely , and impertinent matters . again , the reason of your theory , and allegories is such , and so far from the purpose intended by you , that it is easier too bring together things far apart and seperated asunder , than to make agree , and reconcile in one and the same person , your fictions and figures . it being thus with them touching their religious mysteries fought and derived from naturall philosophy , what may , or will be said by them with respect unto their morality ? what principles and maxims have they in use therein to forme men unto vertue ? what remonstrances to better by degrees and make them more perfect ? they 'l reply , perhaps , and say , for example , first , that concord is a fine thing , viz. to see cities united , people , and families agree well together , and every one , for his own particular , to govern himself according to the right rules of uncorrupted nature ; which separating , and yet reuniting all things , hath composed , though of many parts , yet but one onely frame , or fabrick of the whole world . and this they 'l not stick ( it may be ) to shew , and set forth by diverse examples . but in relating to the wars of the gods , their seditions and revolts one with another , and an infinite number of mischiefs , and evils which they suffered , and procured thereby , and whereof the most part of their poesies are full : instead of peaceable , they make their auditory mutinous ; in stead of wise , vain ; rather than thereby render the proud , humble ; or the audacious , modest , and well mannered by such examples . for if , without having such ( as it were ) pictures before their eyes , it be an hard peice of business , to bring them from evill to good , from vice , to vertue ; who naturally are inclined , and given over , in a manner , to all filthinesse . how may we imagine it a thing possible , to perswade such unto a more orderly life , unto more peaceably behaving themselves : when in prosecution of such their other evilly inclined affections , they seem but only to conform themseves , in so doing , unto the examples of their false gods ? which profain deities of theirs , being diversly set forth unto them by poets , their only preachers , ( as i may so say ) some as patterns of one vice , some of another : what are they , the people , otherwise thereby , then as it were , encouraged unto the same ? what their gods , but their guides ( i mean the peoples conductors ) in whatever manner of evill concupi●cence ? neither are those foul feinds patterns only , but also pat●rons of all kind of abomination : and in consideration thereof , are as severally honoured , and served by their several worshippers and servants , with severall altars , and sacrifices , dedicated , and sacred unto such , and such foul enormities , &c. with respect whereunto , your party , having their full swing , and liberty to wallow in as licenciously as their hearts can wish ; would it not be a hainous matter to punish by law , things established by law ? for their gods to take vengeance on those men , for acting those things , in regard whereof , themselves are especially acknowledged to be divine , and more particularly , adored as the only patrons of such affairs , and in whose behalf , it 's rather an honourable , than reproachfull matter , to be vicious ; ( if vicious in such a case , it be lawfull to cal● any ? ) would any man beleeve this ? or , can there be any such in justice ? any supposed wrong o● offence taken so oppressive , an● not to be tolerated among you as this ? secondly , if we prefer , and extoll the honour and respect due to fathers , and mothers , and for that they are the first mediate cause of our entrance by birth into the world , give them honour with the first : doth not theology , and reason both teach that we should do so ? to which purpose , doth not their god saturne do well ? hath he not left them a fine example ? he , who gelt vranias , that he should beget no more gods , and then threw his genitals into the sea , whereof a god was after engendred ? and jupiter , that , in imitation thereof , rebelled against saturne his own father ? such examples of cruell paricides among the gods , and the like , do they not well to insert in their books to be imitated of children , in honouring their fathers and mothers , after the same fashion . the third point , shall be neglect of riches ; as who can say , the not procuring of them at all hands , is no matter how , though never so wickedly . to which end , in what matter shall their mercury be represented ? what shall we say to that sharke ? what honour ? and after what scene , are we to atribute the same to his budget ? to the vertue and gift of grace that this filching god had to steal , and carry away , with a trick of nimble conveyance , whatsoever he once laid his prolling fingers upon ? what to phoebus also , who is said to give nothing without gold ? unto whom , nothing is so welcome as ready coin ? behold ! are not these rare encouragements and examples , to put men , though by nature otherwise never so covetously affected , into an utter detestation of the muck of this world , money , so perniciously sought after . moreover , with what face can jove's preists exhort his worshipers unto continency , when jupiter , sometimes , wholly applyes himself to the love of women ? at other , to phrygian boys ? for whose sake ( if poets say true ) he turn'd himself into an eagle . &c. also , wherefore is it , that at a drinking match , wherein , meeting with other of your inferiour gods , to the end those profane deities might be more voluptuously attended upon , you feign him to cause them to be served , and waited upon by those boys , he so much delighted withall , in stead of butlers , and other servitours ? let hercules , ( if you please ) be there also , who deflowered fifty of the daughters of thyestes in one night : and then i know no reason , wherefore having put an end to this thirteenth labour of his , he may not be put likewise into the number of those other gods. their furious , as well as fighting god mars , will he not be a fine fomenter of peace ? a ready resolver upon all occasions , to cut of ●holler ? bacchus their god of wine , a sober deity to encourage his worshipers unto a due moderation in quaffing and drinking ? and that crafty companion of theirs cost●er , to withhold men from deceipt and cozenage ? again , when others are sad , that move from place to place , upon seeble and weak legs ; will not that limping god of theirs , that halts both on the one side , and on the other , be a notable bar , and obstacle to keep light and unseasonable jesters from scurrill mockery , and unbridled laughter ? jupiter , who together with a foul company of other devouring devils , ran so fast to that pompous , and magnificent feast of the aethiopians , without reproach ; a jolly means to remove and take away gluttony ? in like manner hercules [ kill-cowe ] ( as he is sometimes styled ) who , tormenting upon a time , a poor labourer , devoured one of the oxen of his team : and for that rare act of his , got himself a name , or title of renown ? and generally all those other gods , that make so much hast to be fed with the fumings , and incensings , and pourings out of all manner of offerings made unto them , in their sacrifices . these heathenish customes , hatefull doings , horrible abominations usually put in practice by those of your party , approach they any thing near ( think ye ) to that innocency , that excellency , that integrity of sound faith , and good life , whereunto we are exhorted , and which we [ all that unfainedly desire , not only to be thought , but also to be indeed christians ] are commanded in our religion , and doctrine ? no such matter . besides , we have other manner of light to lead us , other teachers , ( namely christ , and his apostles , and prophets , &c. ) to instruct us otherwise , and to instill into our hearts obedience , and reverence unto what enjoyned we are , or , upon whatever terms , councelled and advised by them . from whom we , upon every occasion ( whatsoever too many of us , god knowes , either through weaknesse , or , at least , willfulnesse , have not the power , or goodnesse to perform as becommeth their disciples ) are nevertheless at all times lovingly invited in the words of our saviour , [ — whatsoever ye would that men should do to you , do ye even so to them : for this is the law and the prophets . ] again , it is , with us a sin , not only to commit an evil actually either in word , or deed , but also to do the same in thought , as being liable thereby unto punishment before god ( who discerneth the secrets of the heart ) thought not so easie to be taken notice of by men , who cannot see the same , and consequently punish the offenders by that means . yea , so exactly are we bound to carry our selves in point of continency ( according to the rules of christ our master ) that even the eye is by him forbidden us , thereby onely to lust after any unlawfull thing . in point of anger not only the bloody hand , but also the bloody heart is restrained . in case of swearing , not onely that we swear not falsly , but also that not lightly in like manner , or , not at all : not at all , that is , in our common and ordinary discourse and talke , or , when as not legally called before a magistrate , thereby to attest the truth . as for our [ goods ( of fortune ] as we usually call the wealth of this world ) to possesse them , as if we possessed them not , by not valuing them in comparison of our chief good reposed in heaven . with respect whereunto , some , among us , have taken little thought for possessing any ; some , instead thereof have imbraced poverty : and , not a few , having first renounced the voluptuousnesse of the belly , and vice of gluttony ( a dangerous mistrisse , and mother of many sins ) have after that so consumed the part mortall , by means of the immortal , ( it may be said of a truth ) a man could not discern almost any flesh on them , having acquired a law of vertuous living to themselves by not being carried away so much as unto smaller sins , and whereof there is no account made that they are so . is it not an excellent thing , thus , whereas others punish onely acts outwardly committed against god , or man , we , the evil intentions of our hearts likewise ? and thereby endeavour , at least to cut away not onely the branches , but the root also , to stay not onely the streams , but to stop up also the head of that impure fountain from casting forth that noysomness which would quite poison us after , through its more violent , and dangerous defluxions ? tell me , in what place among you , and what people they are , that wish well to these that injure them ? where is it ( i beseech you ) that your men do good to those that hurt them ? as if reproaches offended nothing , but the truth ? who are they on your party , that take it patiently when persecuted ? that upon with-holding from you your cloak , will render unto them your coat also ? pray for those that curse you ? and ( in a word ) by a singular sweetnesse , overcome evil with goodnesse , endeavouring , by innocently suffering wrong , to make those that afflict you therewith better , if it be possible ? but admit we should grant you , that by your manner of endoctrinating your disciples , in time , you might cause them thereby to cut off somewhat from their former excesse , and superfluity of naughtinesse : how could you , for all that , by your never so much instructing them in your precepts , make them , or your selves attain unto that perfection , whereunto our religion aspireth ? seeing we are not content with well doing only for the present , but think ill of our selves , if not make a dayly progresse further and further in godliness so long as we live in this world , and also cause the same to appear evidently unto all that are acquainted with us . if not endeavour , with all our power , to do thereafter , we should be very sorry , and fitly enough might be thought only to resemble moles , who are said to move continually , and yet not to stir far from the same place : or otherwise to appear unto those that look upon us , like horses in a mill , who , by the force of a whip , turn all day incessantly in the same room , without advancing from where they began at the time , when they were first set about their work in the morning . for whatever mediocrity you suppose sufficient for those of your party , by the laws of your heathenish religion , to consist in : we hold it our duty to strive still , and labour more and more to add vertue to vertue , grace to grace , one good work still to another : as never thinking our selves perfect enough , or to have done all that is commanded us , while living in this world : till , at length , our race being run out here , we are brought unto the end of our journey , unto that glory which is above , and after shall be revealed unto us , for which we were created at first , and whether , through gods mercy , we doubt not but we shall attain at last , if , by the operation of the holy ghost , we fail not to set our mind , and thoughts for recovering the same , on the love of god the father , through a lively faith in his onely son , and our alone saviour jesus christ : who , by the mighty working of his power , whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself , will , without all peradventure , change these vile bodies of ours , and make them like unto his glorious body , take off from us the corruption of our flesh , and put on upon us the incorruption of his spirit , give us in exchange for this bochin , or vail of tears here , the endlesse comfort , and everlasting joyes of that heavenly jerusalem which is above : or that secure haven , after all our storms in this life , of never failing happinesse in the life to come : where we shall hunger no more , neither thirst any more , neither shall the sun light on us , nor any heat : where there shall be no more death , nor sorrow , nor crying , neither any more pain : where the lamb of god , that taketh away the sins of the world , shall feed us , and cloth us , and cherish us , and lead us continually unto flowing waters of the fountain of all felicity , and content for evermore . to whom , with the father , and holy ghost , three persons , and one ever living , and wise god , be all glory , and honour , and dominion , and might , and majesty , and thanks-giving , now at present , and world without end , amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e esa . . . in orations and speeches , the antients heretofore made to set forth , sometimes the goodness of famous men by way of ●postrophe , they spake unto them as if they had ●●en present , and had sense and apprehension of ●●at they spake ( whereof they were yet doubtful , ●appeareth here by our author gregory nazian●●n ) and not contented thus to commune with ●●em , they intreated them , that if they had any 〈◊〉 ( as here ) or knowledge of things in this ●●rld to do so and so . this was a kind of doubtful ●mpellation and solliciting of them , if their state 〈◊〉 such as that they could take notice of these 〈◊〉 , that then they would , &c. and no otherwise 〈◊〉 dr. fie●d of the church . lib. . cap. . ps . . . in the beginning was the word , and the word was with god , and the word was god , joh. . . cor. . . ps . . . ps . . . ex. . . amos . , . luk. . . ps . . . isa . . . rom. . , , . isa . . . of the . commandements . isa . . . pro. . . psal . . . admit we grant this history to be true , and that satans flight at the sign of the cross made by iulian , was inforced , might not god , for the confusion of the apostate and for the glory of the cross , which iulian , out of spight , 〈◊〉 hate of christ despised , put that terrour into satan , 〈◊〉 the sign of the crosse , that he was affrighted there●ith ; i think the●es no orthodox christian , who will 〈◊〉 , but that god might do it for such an end : and so , 〈◊〉 suppose , g. nazianzen here , with respect to this mira●●e of the crosse , may be understood . kin. . . d●n . . . num. . . janu● the persians worshiped the sun under the name of mythra , by offring up men as a sacrifice unto it . phil. . . pet. . . cor. , . cor. , . mar. . . . . . ps . . . king. . . ecles . . , , . mat. . . rev. . . christs victorie ouer sathans tyrannie wherin is contained a catalogue of all christs faithfull souldiers that the diuell either by his grand captaines the emperours, or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the popes, haue most cruelly martyred for the truth. with all the poysoned doctrins wherewith that great redde dragon hath made drunken the kings and inhabitants of the earth; with the confutations of them together with all his trayterous practises and designes, against all christian princes to this day, especially against our late queen elizabeth of famous memorie, and our most religious soueraigne lord king iames. faithfully abstracted out of the book of martyrs, and diuers other books. by thomas mason preacher of gods word. actes and monuments foxe, john, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) christs victorie ouer sathans tyrannie wherin is contained a catalogue of all christs faithfull souldiers that the diuell either by his grand captaines the emperours, or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the popes, haue most cruelly martyred for the truth. with all the poysoned doctrins wherewith that great redde dragon hath made drunken the kings and inhabitants of the earth; with the confutations of them together with all his trayterous practises and designes, against all christian princes to this day, especially against our late queen elizabeth of famous memorie, and our most religious soueraigne lord king iames. faithfully abstracted out of the book of martyrs, and diuers other books. by thomas mason preacher of gods word. actes and monuments foxe, john, - . mason, thomas, - ? [ ], , [ ] p. printed by george eld and ralph blower, london : . an abridgment, with additions, of: foxe, john. the book of martyrs. running title reads: the acts of the church. includes index. reproduction of the original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng christian martyrs -- early works to . persecution -- early works to . church history -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jennifer kietzman sampled and proofread - aptara rekeyed and resubmitted - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion christs victorie over sathans tyrannie . wherin js contained a catalogve of all christs faithfvll sovldiers that the divell either by his grand captaines the emperovrs , or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the popes , haue most cruelly martyred for the trvth . with all the poysoned doctrins wherewith that great redde dragon hath made drunken the kings and inhabitants of the earth ; with the confutations of them together with all his trayterovs practises and designes , against all christian princes to this day , especially against our late queen elizabeth of famous memorie , and our most religious soueraigne lord king iames . faithfully abstracted out of the book of martyrs , and diuers other books . by thomas mason preacher of gods word . london , printed by george eld and ralph blower . . to the most reuerend father in god , the lord archbishop of canterbury his grace , primate and metropolitan of all england , and one of his maiesties most honourable priuie councell . and to the right honourable sir edvvard coke , lord cheefe iustice of england , and one of his maiesties most honorable priuie councell : thomas mason wisheth all happinesse in this life , and eternall felicitie in the world to come . most reuerend and right honorable zealous lords , your daily and faithfull orator , being a professed soldiour vnder christs banner , in the behalfe of his spouse against antichrist : i could busie my selfe in no office so profitable for the church , and hurtfull vnto antichrist , as to gather together the bullets which haue been shot at him by christs souldiours in times past , that now his children may shoote them at him againe , with great facilitie . and whereas venerable m r fox , of worthy memory , hath gathered into one booke the acts and monuments of the church vnto his time ; one of the most profitablest bookes that is for gods children , except the bible ; a club able to beate downe the popish tower of babell : yet what with the labour of reading so large a volume , together with the deareness of the price thereof , few that haue the booke reade it ouer , and the most part of men are not able to buy it , whereby very little profit ariseth thereof vnto the church . i haue , according to my power , pared off the barke of this club , and made it tractable for all sorts of people ; they may buy it with little charge , and peruse it with small paines ; and i dare promise them that they shall reape as much profit by reading this abridgement , as by reading of the booke at large . i haue willingly omitted no matter of substance : here the reader may see the cruelty of the emperors vnto the primitiue church , and whom they put to death , and the manner of their deathes during the first ten persecutions ; and how , and when christianitie began in this realme : and what successe it hath had at all times ; and when , by what occasion , and by whom most of the monasteries , and cathedrall churches of this realme were builded , and how , when , and by whom , all points of popery came into the church ; and how the pope hath exalted himself against emperors & kings ; what iniuries he hath done to them : with the treasons , & conspiracies that papists haue practised , against those that the lord hath annointed , vnto this day : the reader may also heere see the innumerable multitude of the saints of god , that the papists haue from time to time murdered in all countries ▪ for the testimonie of the truth : with all the points of religion that the martyrs did defend vnto death ; and all the reasons that the papists vsed against their arguments , and how cruelly they handled them ; with many other most profitable things . after i had done this booke , i was discouraged from putting of it to print , by reason i found another had abridged the booke of martyrs before me ; but when i perceiued it was done but superficially , for all the points of religion that the martyrs defended , or papists obiected were omitted ; ( which disputations i chiefly labour to set forth ) therevpon i was resolued to goe forward . when i had begun to quote all the authors , from whence m r fox had his proofes for them that the emperors put to death , the quotations were almost as large as the story , and made it very vnpleasant : wherefore in most places , for breuitie , i haue omitted them , leauing them that would see the proofes to the book at large . i haue herein abridged many bookes , but especially the booke of martyrs ; as the papists cannot abide the booke of martyrs of all bookes : so much more will they hate my booke , which hath so truely and briefely discouered all their shame , not onely out of that booke , but out of diuers other bookes . wherefore most reuerend , and right honorable lords , your manifest dislike that you beare against the wickednes and falshood of antichrist ; hath imboldned me to be an humble sutor vnto your lordships , to bee the patrons of this my booke , and that you would vouchsafe to defend and further it , by your spirituall and temporall powers , to the honour of christ , the great dishonour of antichrist , and the vnspeakeable benefit of gods children . so with my hartie prayers , i commit both your honors , your soules , bodies , and all that you haue , vnto the safe preseruation of christ iesus and his holy angels . your lordships daily oratour , thomas mason , preacher of gods word in odiham , in the county of southampton : whose father was heire vnto s r iohn mason , sometime a priuy councelor vnto queene elizabeth . the epistle vnto the rbader . even as the reuelation and other places of scriptures ( good reader ) do● foretell antichrist to come , so this historie declareth the fulfilling of those prophecies in all points : all the martyrs died in this faith , that the pope is antichrist . i could bethink my selfe of no instruction so profitable for the reading of this booke , as to giue thee a few rules to manifest vnto thee that the popedome is that antichrist ; which i will endeuor to declare vnto thee by these rules following : first , by his outward place of abode ; secondly , by his inward and spirituall throne ; thirdly , by his doctrine ; fourthly , by his conditions ; fiftly , by the height , breadth , length and ruine of his kingdome . i will but open the way vnto thee , this booke shall proue by experience my sayings to be true . touching his outward seate , reuel . . . it is the citie that then did raigne ouer the kings of the earth , which was rome : the place is also described in the ninth verse , to be compassed about with seuen mountaines . this booke shall proue that rome hath seuen mountaines about it . in the same verse , this citie hath had fiue kings that were then falne , another king did raign , which was the emperour , when the reuelation was made , and another was to come afterward . this book shall teach thee , that the seuen kings signifie seuen maner of gouernments in rome , of which fiue was falne , the emperour then raigned , and after the pope should raigne there : so the holy ghost hath pointed out rome , as plainly as can be , the place of antichrists kingdome . touching his inward or spirituall seat , s. paule . thess. . . saith , he sitteth as god in the temple of god : antichrist signifieth an aduersary of christ ; and if it had bin meant of the turke , or any other aduersary that did not professe christianitie , he might easily be seene without so many reuelations : but hee is , according to the description of a false prophet , mat. . . a most grieuous wolfe to christs lambs , and yet so couered with a sheeps skin , that it is impossible to know him without the spirit of god. outwardly he seemeth to be a good tree , but his fruit is nothing but thornes and thistles to destroy gods children . matth. . . christ calleth them false christs and false prophets , prophecying , that they shall do such wonders , that if it were possible they should deceiue the elect ; so thou seest the antichrist which is prophecied of must be a professor of christ , as the pope is , which calleth himselfe the catholique church , but he is the onely aduersary thereof , as this book will teach thee by experience . touching the third point , to know him by his doctrines , . tim. . : they shall depart from the faith , and follow doctrines of diuels , and speake lies through hypocrisie : they shall haue their consciences seared with an hote iron forbidding to marrie and commaunding to abstain from meats : and they teach the same superstitious doctrins that s. paule warneth vs from coloss. . . let no man condemne you in meat and drinke , or in respect of an holy-day , or a new moone , nor sabboths , nor make you forsake christ the head in worshipping angels , neither let them burden you with traditions , as touch not , tast not , handle not , which things haue a shew of wisedome , in that the professors be voluntary religious , and humble their mindes , and spare not their bodies , nor haue their bodies in any estimation , but all is nothing but to fulfill a fleshly religion : and iude in his twelfth verse compareth them to clouds which in a drieth seem to bring raine but doe not : for , though they make great promises of feeding of soules , yet there is no true hope of remission of sins , nor assurance of eternall happinesse in their doctrines . and in . pet. . . he calleth them wells , not with a little water , but quite without water : for although by name they professe the trinity , yet their doctrins of euery person of the trinitie , and of al other points of religion , are contrary to wholsome doctrine , they maintaine their doctrines , though falsely , vnder the names of the scriptures , the catholique church , and the auncient fathers ▪ this is the golden cup that the church of antichrist holdeth in her hand , reuel . . . but it is full of abominations and filthines of her fornications : so if thou marke this booke , it is easie to know antichrist by the falsenesse and wickednesse of all his doctrines , yet coloured ouer with glorious shewes of truth and wholsomnesse , yea , although thou haddest no other meanes to discerne him by . touching the fourth point of the conditions of antichrist , iude in the eleuenth verse , saith , they follow the way of caine : all the persecutions of gods children before times were but types and prophecies of the papists in killing their brethren , as caine did , because they please god better then they . the abominable desolations of nabuchadnezzar , and of titus and vespasian of the materiall temples were but prophecies of the papists abominable desolations of gods saints . for this cause antichrist is called in the reuelation a great redde dragon , a serpent , and a cruell beast . s. iohn reuel . . . foresaw the church of antichrist , drunken with the bloud of the saints and martyrs of iesus christ. and although he had seen all the persecutions that were before or in his time , yet he wondred at the bloud that he foresaw that the papists should shed with a great maruaile . iude in his . verse saith , they are cast away in the deceit of baalams wages : for as baalam , though he knew the israelites to bee the blessed of god , yet he would haue cursed them for lucre sake if god would haue suffered him , so the papists maintaine doctrines which they know to be false , and commit all their murders of gods children , only to maintaine their kitchin pleasures , honour , glorie , riches , and other worldly respects , as it shall plainly appear vnto thee in this booke . in . pet. . . their eyes are full of adultery , and they cannot cease to sinne , beguiling vnstable soules . this booke will shew thee how inspeakeably wicked they are , according to this prophecie : they are spiritually called sodom , because in that case they exceede in wickednesse the sodomites . these and many other wicked conditions of theirs , are plentifully prophecied of in the scriptures ; and thou shalt see the true performances of the prophecies in this book , w ch wicked conditions shall plainly shew the pope to be antichrist . touching the height of antichrists kingdome , reuel . . . the church of antichrist is said to sit vpon a skarlet coloured beast , ful of names of blasphemy , which is the pope , who is a bloudy beast to gods children , & takes all gods names blasphemously to himself : and vers . . he & his church are arrayed with purple & skarlet , and deckt with gold , precious stones & pearls ; and how gloriously the pope and his church hath bin set forth , & how rich they haue bin , according to this prophecy , this book wil shew thee . in . thess. . he sitteth as god in the temple of god , and exalteth himself aboue all that is called god. c. caesar caligula the emperor , which vsed to sit in the temples of the idols , to be honored as god , & caused his picture to be set vp to be worshipt in all temples , and in the temple of ierusalem , yet was he not such an abominable idol as the pope maketh himselfe to be : he is the gaoler of purgatory , and thither comes ( as he saith ) all the soules of christians , except som few , to whom for building some religious houses , and for being otherwise a speciall maintainer of his kingdome : hee giueth a speciall prerogatiue , immediatly to go to heauen : these soules his prisoners hee punisheth how , and as long as he list , and at his pleasure he throweth any of them into hell , or sendeth any of them into heauen . of the reuenues of this gaole hath all the popes riches , honour , & superioritie aboue emperors , and kings proceeded : he hath taken from christ the honor of pardoning sins to himselfe : god made man of clay , but the pope and all his shauelings can daily make god of a piece of bread . in these , and many other respects ( as this booke will teach thee ) doth the pope exalt himself as god , according to this prophecie ; and he exalts himselfe aboue all kings , which are called gods , and at his pleasure with excommunications can cast them out of heauen and out of their kingdoms , as himselfe saith : he hath trode vpon emperours , & made them kisse his feet , hold his stirrups , and leade his horse . he made the emperor hen. . his wife and his child to wait three daies and three nights bare-foot in winter at his gates , to sue to him for his fauor , and gaue away his empire in the meane time . this prophecie of antichrists exaltation aboue princes , is verified in none but the pope . touching the breadth of his kingdom , it is not said he shall exalt himselfe aboue one or two , but aboue all that are called god , w ch are all christian rulers , spiritual & temporal , to whom god vouchsafeth this name , because hee ruleth and instructeth by them , and dwelleth in them , if they be good : this declareth the large limits of his kingdome . and as he is said heere to exalt himselfe aboue all kings , so reu. . . he is said to haue ten horns ; and in ver . . they are interpreted to be ten kings , which shal giue their power and authority vnto the beast , that is to say , the beastly pope , and fight with the lambe , that is , they shal be the popes butchers to destroy gods children ; and as the prophecies foretell such an antichrist as shall raigne ouer all christian princes , so this storie shall shew thee the true fulfilling of this prophesie in the pope . touching the length of his kingdome , it is prophecied antichrist shall raigne three yeares and a halfe ; and in reuel . . three times and a halfe : these times and these yeares are all one ; so is the fortie two moneths , reuel . . . for there be so many moneths in three years and a halfe : the same likewise is the . dayes in reuel . . . for there be iust so many daies in three yeares & a halfe , at . daies to the yeare , which was the number of the dayes of the iewes yeare . and it is common with the prophets to set downe a day for a year ; so by these prophecies antichrist must raign . yeares , which is iust so many yeares as christ preached daies : and gregory the first sheweth that antichrist began when one bishop exalted himselfe aboue all others . and though there were manie popes before him which did exalt themselues aboue all other bishops , yet he would not but haue himself called , seruus seruorū dei. wherefore sabinianus which succeeded him in the popedom , was a malitious detractor of his works , as thou maist see in this book . antichrist was not at his height vntill hildebrand had gotten aboue the emperor , for then he was aboue all that was called god ; yet antichrist began when the bishop of rome , being the least of all the foure patriarchs , exalted himselfe aboue all other bishops , which was about the yeare of christ . for then began pride and superstition to creep into the church , and anno . according to the number of the name of the beast in reu. . . latin seruice was set vp in england and all other places , and mass●s , ceremonies , letanies , and other romish ware , which was long before hildebrands time . and if we account the aforesaid . yeares of antichrists raigne from thence , there remaineth but about . yeares to come , vntil god shal call together the kings of the earth to destroy rome . touching the fall of his kingdom , mat. . . if god should not shorten his kingdom , none of gods children could be saued from his cruelty : but for the elects sake , reu. . . god first destroyed the tenth part of his kingdom : thou mayest note in this book when this prophecie was fulfilled ; and reu. . at the blowing of the foure first trumpets , the third part of all his kingdom is destroyed : which prophecie we see fulfilled at this day , for the third part of his kingdom are wholly become protestants , yet reuel . . . the church of antichrist is not heerewith moued to repent of her murders , sorceries , fornications , and thefts , but reu. . . glorieth her selfe that she is a queene , and shall be no widdow , that is , shee shall neuer lose her spouse the pope , therfore shall her plagues come at one day , death , sorrow , and famine , and shee shall be burned with fire , for strong is the lord god which will condemne her . the meanes of her destruction is set forth , reu. . ▪ the ten kingdomes that first tooke her part against gods children shall hate the whore , and make her desolate and naked , and eate her flesh and burne her with fire , for god doth put into their hearts to fulfill his will. the manner of the destruction of rome and the popedome , is declared reu. . . as fowles gather together to a dead carkasse , so god shall gather all nations together to warre against rome , and shall take her and the pope , the false prophet that worketh miracles , wherby he deceiued all that receiued his marke , and worshipped his image : and they shall not only be destroyed in this world , but they shall bee cast aliue into a lake burning with fire and brimstone , to wit , into eternall damnation : and reu. . . the angells and all gods children are exhorted to reioyce at her destruction , and vers . . rome shall be destroyed with such violence as a mill-stone falleth into the sea , and there shall neuer any more mill grinde any light corne , or anie be married in rome , but it shall euer after be a desolate wildernesse , as babylon was . they that cannot behold antichrist in this glasse , . cor. . . it is a signe the diuell , the god of this world , hath blinded their eyes : but as salomon when hee dedicated the temple , prayed god to heare euery one that prayed therein , so i beseech god with his holy spirit to illuminate all that shall reade this book , that they may plainly see the pope to be antichrist , and to flie from him lest they be partakers of his punishment in this world , and in the world to come . an abstract of all the histories of the chvrch from christ to this day . . the first booke . in describing the whole state of the prim●tiue , and latter times of the church : first shall be declared the suffering time of the church ▪ . yeares after christ : secondly , the flourishing time of the church , . yeares more : then the declining of true religion , . yeares more : sourthly , of the raigne of antichrist since sathan was loosed . lastly , of the reforming of the church in this last thrée hundred yeares . in the tractation of all which things , the christian reader may by experience obserue two special points : first , the nature of the world : secondly , the condition of the kingdome of christ : by the world is meant , all that by ignorance know not christ , and that will not beléeue him , or that persecute him . the kingdome of christ , are the beléeuers in christ , and take his part against the world ; and though they be much fewer then the other , and alwaies lightly hat●d and molested of the world , yet they are they whom the lord doth blesse , and euer will : and christs subiects which we call the ui●●b●e church , the●e are of two sorts ; first , of such as onely outwardly professe christ ; secondly , of such as by e●ection inwardly are ioyned to christ : the first , honour christ onely in their lippes , and partake the outward sacrament , but not the inward blessing : the second , in word and heart truely serue christ , and partake with the outward sacrament the grace of christ. and as betwéen the world & christs kingdome ▪ there is a continuall resistance , so betwéene these two parts of the uisible church oft groweth mortall persecution , so that the true church hath no greater enemies then her owne professors , which happened in the time of christ , and other times , but especially in the persecution of antichrist . who should rather haue receiued christ then the scribes and pharises , and who persecuted and reiected him more ? they refused christ to be their king , and chose caesar , who after destroyed them , whereby we may learue the daung●r of refusing the gospell . the like example is to be noted in the romains , for when pontius pilate had cer●ified tyberius caesar of the doings of christ ▪ of his myracles , resurrection , and ascention , and how he was receiued of many as god , he did beléeue , and willed the senate that christ might bee adored as god , but they refused , because he was consecrated before the senate of ro●●e had so decréed and approoued him , so obeying the law of man more then of god : they refused him , and contented themselues with the emperour , and as they preferred the emperour and reiected christ , god iustly stirred their emperours against them , that the senators were almost all deuoured by them , and the citty it selfe horribly afflicted thrée hundred yeares , for at last the same tyberius was a sharpe tyrant to them , who spared not his owne mother and nephewes , and of his princes and councellors , he left but two or thrée aliue : many were condemned with their wiues and children , maides also first defloured , then put to death . pilate , vnder when christ was crucif●ed , was depriued by him , and banished to lyons , and there slew himselfe , and agrippa by him was cast into prison . in the seuentéenth of his raigne christ suffered . after whose death this tyberius nero liued sixe yeares , during which time no persecution was in rome against the christians through the commaundement of the emperour . ●fter him succéeded c. caesar caligula , claudius nero , and domitius nero , which thrée were likewise scourges to the senate and people of rome . the first tooke other mens wiues from them , and defloured thrée of his owne sisters , and banished them , he commaunded himselfe to be worshipped as a god , and temples to bee erected in his name , vsing to fit in the temples amongst the gods , and made his image to be set vp in all temples , and in the temple of ierusalem : he wished all the people of rome had but one necke , that at his pleasure he might destroy them . by him herod , that killed iohn baptist , and condemned christ , was banished , where he died miserably . caiphas , which sat vpon christ , was at the the same time remoued from the high priests roome . the tribunes slew this caligula in the fourth yeare of his raigne , there was found in his closset two libels ; one called the sword , the other the daggar , in which were contained the names of the senators and nobles of rome which he had purposed to put to death , and there was found in a coffer diuers ●inds of poisons for the purpose to destroy a number of people , and being throwne into the sea , they destroyed a great number of fishes . claudius nero , which succéeded caligula , raigned thirtéene yeares , with no little cruelty , but domitius nero , which succéeded claudius raigned fouretéene yeares , with such cruelty , that he slew the most part of the senators , and all the order of knighthood : he abstained not from his owne mother , his sister , or any degrée of his kindred in monstrous vncleannesse and incest , and ca●sed them , with his brother , his owne wife great with childe , and his maister seneca to be put to death , together with lucan , and diuers of his kindred . he made rome to bee set on fire in twelue places , which continued sixe daies and seauen nights , to sée the example how troy burned , and the while sang verses of homer . he laid the sauit vpon the christians , and caused them to be persecuted , at last the senate proclaimed him a publike enemy , and condemned him to be whipped through the cittie to death , and for feare he fled , and slew himselfe , complaining he had neither friend nor enem● would doe it for him . in the latter end of his raigne anno . peter and paule were put to death for the faith of christ. thus you sée the iust iudgement of god from time to time , on those that contemne christ and will not receiue him , by this destruction of the romaines , by their emperors , and by their ciuill warres , and . romains slaine at one time by the fall of a theater . but most especiall by the destruction of the iewes , which in the yeare . and thrée yeares after the suffering of peter and paul , was destroyed by tytus and vespasian to the number of eleauen hundred thousands , besides them that were slaine in galily , and . were sold for slaues , and . were brought with tytus in triumph , and part deuoured with wilde beasts , and the rest most cruelly slaine . whereby all nations may take example to reiect the verity , and much more to persecute them which be sent of god for their saluation , likewise the emperors themselues for persecuting christ in his members , escaped not without their iust reward , as in this story hath and hereafter will appeare . steuen was the first martir ; the same day that hee suffered , nicanor one of the deacons with two thousand suffred for the faith , after herod slue iames the brother of iohn , whose accuser repented and confessed himselfe to bee a christian also , and was beheaded with him . simon one of the deacons was after bishop of bosrum in arabia , where hee was burned , and parmenas another of the deacons suffred for the faith . thomas preached to the parthians , medes , persians , germaines , hereaconies , bactries , and magies , and was slayne with a darte in calamia a city of iudea . simon zelotes preached in mauritania , aphricke and brittayne , who was crucified . iudas thaddeus , brother of iames , preached in mesopotamia and in edisseus , and the king there slew him in berito a citty thereof . simon the brother of iude and iames the younger , the sonne of mary cleopha and alpheus , as dorotheus writeth , was after iames bishop of ierusalem , and crucified in egipt , trayanus beeing emperour , but abdias writte hee was slaine with his brother iude by the people of suauir in persidis . marke was bishop of alexandria , hee preached in egypt , and there was drawne with ropes to the fire and burned in the raigne of trayanus . bartholomeus preached long time to the indians , and translated st matthewes gospell into their languadge , did many miracles there , and after many persecutions in albania of armenia , hee was beaten downe with staues , crucified , excoriated and beheaded - andrew , peters brother , was crucified at patris in achaya ( by egeas ) embracinge the crosse and reioycing therein . matthew conuerted ethiopia and egypt , hercan the king sent one to run him through with a speare . matthias preached to the iewes , and they stoned and beheaded him . phillip preached to the barbarous nations who crucified and stoned him at hirapolis of phrygia , where hee and his daughters with him were burned . the iewes required iames to stand vppon the battlement of the temple and disswade the people from christ , but hee preached him there and was throwne downe headlong and stoned , where hee was buried , at which time the iewes put many other to death for the testimony of christ. the first persecution by nero domitius nero domitius caused the first persecution , hee regarded neither sect , condition of life , or age , the streets were spread with dead bodies of christians , hee indeuored vtterly to abolish the name of christians : in this persecution , peter was crucified , who required his head to be hanged downward as vnworthy to dye like christ , the cause was thought to bee because symon magus , pretending to flye from the mount capitolinus to heauen , by peters prayers was brought downe headlong , and his ioynts beeing broken hee dyed , at that time peters wife suffred , and the same day twelue-month paule suffred . the second persecution by domitian . the church had some rest vnder vespatian , but domitian mooued the second persecution , he killed all the nephewes of iuda called the lords brothers , and slew all hee could find of the stocke of dauid as vespatian did before him , least any of that stocke should inioy the kingdome : in his time symon bishop of ierusalem , after other torments , was crucified , and iustus succéeded in his bishopricke . hee banished iohn to pathmos , and vnder pertinax hee was released and came to ephesus and continued there vnto the time of trayanus : gouerned the church of asia , and wrote his gospell there : flauia , daughter to flauius clemens a consull of rome , suffred for christs name , and with many other was banished out of rome to pontia . some of the stocke of dauid were brought to domitian to bee slaine , who séeing they were poore , and vnderstanding by them , that christs kingdome should bee heauenly and not worldly , he let them go and stayed persecutions , they after gouerned churches and liued in peace vnto the time of traianus , in the time of which persecution no kind of torment was omitted that might empaire the credit of the christians , they would not suffer their bodies to bee buried and yet the church dayly increased . euaristas , bishop of rome , next to clement , succéeded in the third yéere of traianus , and suffred nine yéeres after . alexander succéeded him , and conuerted many of the senators of rome to the faith ; he raysed the son of hermes from death to life , and made his mayd , being blind , to sée , which adrianus the emperour hearing of him sent word to the gouernor of rome to apprehend him and his two deacons , euentus a●d theodorus , and the said hermes , and quirinus ▪ a tribune , whose daughter albina hee cured , which cure , moued him to bee baptized , and suffer for the faith of christ , and aurelianus tooke alexander with hermes , his wife , children , and whole houshold , . put them in prison , and burned them all in a furnace , and martired the said theodorus for rebuking him thereof , and quirinus had his tongue cut out , then his hands and ●eete cut off , after was beheaded , and east to the dogges . the third persecution . there was but one yeare betweene the second and the third persecution by the emperour traianus , which was so grieuous that plinius secundus , an infidell , wrote to the emperour , that so many thousands were put to death without cause , sauing that they gathered themselues together before day to sing hymmes to a god which they called christ , he reasoned why that sin should be punished more then all other sins , and that he had put two christian maides vpon the racke to proue if they could haue extorted confession of further crime , but could not ; wherevpon the persecutions were greatly alayed , symeon , sonne of cleophas , bishop of ierusalem , was accused by the iewes to be a christian , and of the stocke of dauid , wherefore attalus commanded him to be scourged many dayes together beeing an hundred and twenty yeares old , his constancy was greatly admired ; he was crucified . because phocas , bishop of pontus , refused to sacrifice to neptune , traianus cast him into a hot●e furnace , and after into a scalding ●ath . sulpitius and seruilia , with there wiues , whom salma conuerted to the faith , were also then martired : salma was beheaded and lepidus , in the mount auentine , with whom suffred seraphia , a uirgen of antioch , in this time nereus and achilleus suffred at rome and one sagaris , who was martired in asia . in this time ignatius suffred , hee was sent from siria to rome ; comming to asia hee confirmed the churches , and comming to smirna , where policarpus was , he wrote diuers epistles to ephesus , to magnesia , and to trall●● ; hee was aiudged to be deuoured of beasts , and hearing the lions roare , i am the wheate of christ ( said he ) and shall be ground with the teeth of wild beasts that i may be pure bread : at this time many thousands died for the faith , amongst them one publius bishop of athens . hadrian the emperour , succéeded traianus , who slew zenon a noble man of rome , and for christ. borgomensis lib ▪ . makes mention of ten thousand in hadrians dayes to bee crucified in mount ararat , crowned with thornes , their sides pearced with darts , after the example of the lords passion . eustachius , a captaine , who was sent against the barbarians , and subdued them , hadrian met him honourably , and doing sacrifice to apollo for the victory , willed eustachius to doe so also , which hee refusing , hee was brought to rome , and with his wife and children suffred marterdome . faustin● us and iobita , cittizens of brixia , suffred marterdome with grieuous torments , caelocerius , seeing their great pa●ience cryed out , vere magnus deus christianorum , wherevpon he was apprehended , and suffred with them . anthia , a godly woman committed eleutherius her sonne vnto anicetus bishop of rome , who after was bishop of apulia , she with her sonn was beheaded , and iustus and pastor , two brethren , suffred vnder adrian at complutum in spaine . about the same time , simpronissa , the wife of gerulus , the marter , suffred , with her seauen children , beeing first , often scourged , then hanged by the haire of the head , then a stone fastned about her necke , she was cast into the riuer , after her children were martired w●th diuers punishments , they were tied to seauen sta●es & so racked with a pully thrusting thorough one in the necke , another in the brest ▪ another in the heart , another about the nauell , another cut in euery ioynt , another runne thorough with a speare , the last cut a sunder in the middle , then were they cast into a déepe pit , which the idolatrous priests intituled , ad septem biathanatos ▪ getulius , also a preacher at tiber with cerdelis , amantius and prinitiuus ▪ were condemned to the fire at hadrians commandment : sophia with her two children , serapia and salma , were likewise martired . hadriana at eleusina in athens sacrifising to the gentiles gods , gaue all men liberty to kill the christians , wherevpon quadracus bishop of athens and a●stydes ● philosopher , & serenus granus , a great noble man , w●ote apologies for the christians , so l●arnedly la●ing out their innocency , that the emperour wrot to the proconsull of asia , henceforth to exercise no more cruelty vpon the christians ; thus for a time they had some quiet . antonius pius succeeded hadrian , the rage of the heathen ceased not to persecute the chr●stians , but the emperours affection toward them appeared by an edict of his to the commons of asia , to ●ay the rage against the christians , ex●e●t they offended the laow of the empire , willing them to consider their patience in torments , and bouldnesse in earthquakes and tempests , when others quaked : this edict was proclamed at ephesus in the publicke assembly of all asia , which applased the tempest of per●ecution in his dayes . the fourth persecution . after him succéeded m : antonius verus , many christians in his time suffred diuers torments ▪ at smirna some were whipped that their ●eines appeared , and their bowels were seene , and after they were set vpon sharpe shelles taken out of the sea , and nayles and thornes set for them to goe vppon , and then throwne to beas●s to be deuoured , amongst whom germanicus suffred so constantly that they admir●d him . policarpus , a disciple to the apostles . yeares , a preacher . yeares placed by st. iohn in smirna , these persecutions beeing begunne , hee hid himselfe , with a few of his company , and continued night and day in supplication for the peace of the congregation . . dayes before his apprehension , he dreamed his bed was suddenly consumed with fire vnder him , which hee interpreted that hee should suffer martirdome by fire , and beeing found by the pursuers , hee intertained them cheerfully , made them di●e , and desired an houres respit to pray , which he did in such sort , that they which heard him were astonied , then they brought him to the citty vppon an asse , where irenarcus , herodes , and his father nicetes met him , caused him to come into their chariot and perswaded him to doe sacrifice , but when hee would not , they gaue him rough words , and thrust him downe the chariot , that he might breake hi● legs , but he went merrily to the place appoynted , where there came a voyce from heauen to comfort him : the proconsull disswaded him from the faith , and willed him to say with them , destroy these naughty men , who with constant countenance beheld the whole multitude , & looking vp to heauen said thou , th●● it is , that will destroy these wicked men , then the proconsu●l was ●arne●● with him ▪ and said , take thine oth , and defie christ , & i will discharge thee , who answered , these foure score and sixe yeares i haue béene his seruant and hee hath not hurt me , how then may i speake euill of my lord and king which hath thus preserued me , and when they could not preuaile by perswasions nor threatnings he was commanded to be cast to the lion , but because the lion had his prey already , the people with one voyce required that he might be burned , and when they would haue nayled him to the stake with iron hoopes , he said , hee that hath giuen me strength to ab●de the fire , shall also giue me power that i shall not stirre in this fire , which when they onely bound him , hee praysed god and testified his faith : the fire seemed to the beholders to compasse the body like a vayle , which seemed like gold and siluer , and yéelded a plesant smell ; the fire not consuming his body one thrust him in with a sword , whereby so much blood issued out of his body that it quenched the fire , after the body was taken and burned , at that time suffred twelue that came from philadelphia with diuers other , as metrodorus a minister and pionius a worthy man , who after grieuous torments were burned , and carpus , papylus , and agothonica a woman were put to death at pergamopolis in asia : felicitas with her seauen children suffred at roome , the first was whipped and prest to death , the second and third had their braines broken out , the fourth was cast downe head-longe and had his necke broken , the other thré were beheaded and left the mother slaine with the sword . at this time iustinus the learned piilosopher suffred , who wrote appologies to the senate of rome , the emperour , and liefetenant of the citty for the christians , hee preuayled so much with antonius pius that he stayed the persecution in asia , he vanquished crescens a philosopher , in reueng whereof hee procured his death . under this tyrant also suffered ptolomeus and lucius for confessing christ in alexandria●in egypt● a vicious infidell , whose wife was vicious , but conuerted by ptolameus , and departed from her vicious husband , wherefore in reuenge hee suborned a centurion to accuse him , who beeing brought before vrbanus hee condemned him to death , and lucius a christian blaming the iudge therefore , was with him also martired , also concordus , a minister of spoletum , because hee would not sacrifice to iupiter , but spate in his face , after sundry torments hee was beheaded : diuers other martires suffred vnder this tyrant , as symetricus , florellus , pontianus , alexander , caius epipodus , victor , corona , marcellus , and valerian , who were killed because they would not sacrifice to idols : under this tyrant suffred diuers martirs at uienna and lions in france , amongst whom vetius , zacharias , sanctus , maturus , attallus , blandina , alexander and alcibiades are chiefly renowned . vetius epagathus for reprouing the cruell sentence of the iudge against the christians , and making an apology for them was martired , hee was called the aduocate of the christians . at that time photinus , deacon to the bishop of lyons , about . yeares old , was first beaten , then cast into prison where hee dyed within two dayes . blandina , was fastened to a stake , and cast to beasts to bée deuoured , but none would touch her , so they put her in prison vntill another time . attalus was brought forth , with one alexander a phrigian phisition , who because hee encouraged the christians before the iudge , died most patiently broyled in an iron chaire . after blandina , and one ponticus , but fifteene yeares ould , was brought forth , the child dyed with extremity of torments : blandina after whipping gridirons , and beasts , was cast into a nette and throwne vnto a wild bull , and so gored to death ; they would not suffer the dead bodies to bee buried ; the causes why these persecutions were so sharpe , was , because the ethnicks , being seruants to the christians , by threatning , for feare , said the christians kept the feast of thiestes , and incest of oedipus , with other haiuous crimes . meleto bishop of sardis , and claudius apolinaris , bishop of hierapolis exhibited apologies vnto these emperours for the christians , so did athenagoras a philosopher and legate of the christians , whereby the persecution for the same time was stayed , others thinke that if was by a miracle in the emperours campe , for when the soldiers wanted water fiue dayes and were like to perish , a legion of the christian soldiers withdrew themselues and prayed , whereby they obtained raine for them , selues , lightenings and ha●le to discomfort and put to flight their enemies , wherevppon the emperour wrote to the gouernours to giue thankes to the christians , and giue them peace of whom came the victory . anthonius comodus sonne to verus succeeded and raigned . yeares , some thinke the persecution slaked in his time , by the fauour of martia the emperors concubine who fauored the christians , by reason whereof many nobles in rome receiued the gospell : amongst whem one apollonius , being accused by seuerus his seruant , but this accuser was sound false and therefore had his legges broken , yet hee was driuen to confesse his faith , and for the same beheaded by an ancient law , that no christian should be released without recantation . the emperour and the cittizens of rome on his birth day assembled to offer sacrifices to hercules and iupiter , proclaiming that hercules was patron o● the citty ; but vincentius , eusebius , perigrinus , potentianus , instructers of the people hearing thereof preached against the same , and conuerted iulius a senator , with others to the faith , whereof the emperor hearing , caused them to be tormented , and then prest to death , sauing that iulius was beaten to death with cudgels at the commandement of vitellus maister of the soldiers . perigrinus was sent of xistus bishop of rome to teach in france where the persecution had made wast , who established the churches and returned to rome & was martired : this xistus was the . bishop of rome , after peter , and gouerned the ministry there . yeares telesphorus succeeded him , and was bishop . yeares , and was martired : after him succeeded hyginus and died a martyr : after him succeeded pius , after them anicetus , soter , elutherius about the yeare . in the time of comodus , amongst others , were martired , serapion bishop of antioch , egesippus a writer of ecclesiasticall histories from christ to his time , also miltiades who wrote his apology for christian religion . about this time wrote hiraclitus , who first writ anotations vppon the new testament ; also theophilus bishop of cesaria , dionisius bishop of corinth , a famous learned man , who wrote diuers epistles to diuers churches , and exhorteth penitus a bishop that he would lay no yoke of chastity , vpon any necessity , vpon his brethren , also clemens alexandrinus , a famous learned man , liued in that time , and gautenus , who was the first that read in open schoole in alexandria , of whom is thought first to rise the order of uniuersities in christendome ; he was sent to preach to the indians by demetrius bishop of alexandria . in this tranquility of the church grew contention for easter day , which had beene stirred before of policarpus and anicetus , forthey of the west church , pretending the tradition of paul and peter , but indeed it was of hermes and pius , kept easter the . day of the first month , the church of asia followed the example of iohn the apostle , and obserued another day . the fifth persecution . after comodus raigned pertinax , after whom succeeded seuerus , vnder whom was raised the fift persecution , hee raigned . yeares : in the first ten hee was very fauorable , after ( through false accusations ) hee proclaimed , that no christian should be suffered , wherevppon an infinite number were slaine in the yeare . the crimes obiected was rebellion to the emperour , sacriledge and murdering of infants , incestuous pollutions , eating raw flesh , libidinous commixture , worshipping the head of an asse which wa● raised by the iewes , also for worshipping of the sunne in rising , because they vsed daily to sing vnto the lord , or because they vsed to pray towards the east , but the speciall matter was because they would not worship idols : these persecutions raged in affrica , alexandria , cappadocia , and carthage : the number that were slaine was infinite . the first that suffered was leonides , father of origen , who but . yeares old desired to haue suffred with his father , but that his mother in the night stole away his garments , and his shirt , yet he wrote to his father : take heed you alter not your purpose for our sakes , hee was so toward in knowledge of scripture and vertue , that his father would often in his sleepe kisse his breast , thanking god that he had made him so happy a father of so happy a sonne : his father being dead , and his goods confiscate to the emperour , hee sustained himselfe , his mother and sixe brethren by keeping schoole , at length hee applied himselfe wholly to scripture , and profited in the hebrew and greeke tongues , which hee conferred with other translations , as that of the . and found out other translations of aquila , of symachus and theodocian , with which he also ioyned . others : he wrote . bookes . the copies whereof hee vsed to sell for three-pence a peece to sustaine his liuing : hee had diuers schollers , as plutarchus serenus , his brother who was burned , and heraclitus and heron , which were beheaded , another serenus which was beheaded , and rahis and potamiena , shee was tormented with pitch poured on her , and martired with her mother marcella , she was executed by one basilides , who shewed her some kindnes in repressing the rage of the multitude ; shee thanked him and promised to pray for him , hee being required after to giue an oth , touching the idols and emperour , ( as the manner was ) refused it , confessing himselfe to be a christian and therefore was beheaded . there was one alexander , who after great torments , escaped and was bishop of ierusalem , narcissus who was . yeares old , he was vnwildy to gouerne alone : he was . yeares bishop of ierusalem , vntill the persecution of decius , he erected a famous library , where eusebius had his cheefe helpe in directing his ecclesiasticall history ; hee wrote many epistles , he licensed origen to teach openly in his church : after vnder decius in cesaria for his constant confession dyed in prison . policarpus sent andoclus into france , seuerus apprehending him , and first being beaten with bats he was after beheaded : in that time asclepiades suffred much for his confession , and was made bishop of antioch , and continued there seauen yeares . about this time ireneus , with a great multitude beside were martired , hee was scholler to policarpus , and bishop of lyons . yeares ; in his time the question of keeping easter was renewed betwixt victor bishop of rome , and the churches of asia , and when victor would haue excommunicated them , ireneus , with others , wrote to him to stay his purpose , and not to excommunicate them for such a matter . not long after followed tertullian who writ learned apologies for the christians , and confuted all that the slanderours obiected , hee wrote many bookes , whereof part yet remaine . victor bishop of rome died a martyr , after he had sitten there . or . yeares ; he was earnest in the matter of easter , and would haue excommunicated them that were contrary , but for ireneus and others who agreed to haue easter vppon the sunday , because they would differ from the 〈◊〉 , and because christ rose on that day . on the other side were diuers bishops of asia , as policrates bishop of ephesus , ( alleadging the example of philip the apostle ) with his three daughters , of iohn the euangelist at ephesus , policarpus at smirna , thraseas at eumenia bishop and martyr , and of sagaris of laodicea , bishop and martyr , and iapirius and melito at sardis with diuers other more . this sheweth that varience of ceremonies , was no strange thing in gods church . after victor succéeded zepherinus ; he sate . yeares . under seuerus also suffered perpetua , felicitas , and rouocatus her brother , and saturnius and satyrus brethren , and secumdulus , who dyed in prison , the rest were throwne to wild beasts . seuerus hauing raigned . yeares was slaine at yorke , by northerne men and scots , ( leauing two sonnes bassianus and geta , bassianus hauing slaine his brother in brittaine , gouerned the empire . yeares , he was slaine by his 〈…〉 , with his sonn● pyadumenus raigned one yeare and were 〈…〉 people , then varius heliogab : raigned two yeares , very 〈…〉 and was slaine by his sou●●iers drawne through the 〈…〉 . aurelius al●xander s●uerus raigned . year●s , well commended 〈…〉 fauoured the christians . mammea the emperours mother , commanded of ●erome for 〈…〉 she sent to ●n●ioch for origen , who stayed a while with the 〈…〉 and returned to alexandria , the emperour and his mother were 〈…〉 commotion in germany ▪ though there was no open persecution in his 〈…〉 iudges martyred many , because there was no 〈◊〉 to the contrary : as calixus 〈◊〉 of rome , who was tied to a great stone , and throwne out of a 〈…〉 he succeeded z●pherinus , and vibanus succeeded him , who died a 〈…〉 many 〈◊〉 , amongst whom was ●yburtius and valerianus , 〈…〉 of rome , and remained constant to martyrdome . agapitus but . yeares old , suffered in his time , who was 〈…〉 because he would not doe sac●ifice , after other torments , 〈…〉 the torments were executing , the ●udge fall suddenly from his 〈…〉 his bewels burned within him ▪ and dyed vnder whom also 〈…〉 of rome , was drawne through the citie and cast into ●●ber . in his time also pamachus a senator of rome , with his wife 〈…〉 other men and women , and sin pliciu● a noble senator ▪ all these 〈…〉 had their heads smitten off and their hands hanged vp on diuerse 〈…〉 under him also suffered quiritius , a no●le man of rome , with his 〈…〉 many more ; also t●berius and valerianus , 〈◊〉 of rome and 〈…〉 with 〈◊〉 , and afterwords beheaded ; also martina a uirgin . ¶ the sixt persecution . maximinus succéeded alexander , and for the hatered he bare him , he 〈…〉 pers●cution , against the teachers of the church 〈…〉 in his 〈◊〉 origen writ his booke de martyrio ; in ●is time 〈…〉 rome who ●ucc●●ded v●banus , with phillip his priest , was banished 〈…〉 there died . in these times notable men were raised vp to the church , as philetus bishop of antioch , and zebenus bi●hop of the same , ammonius schoolemaster of origen , 〈…〉 africanus origens scholler , and natalius who had suffered for the 〈…〉 ●●clepiodotus and theod●tus arrians promise● 〈…〉 to be the bishop of their sect , whereunto he yeelded , but the lord 〈…〉 and regarding it not , he was 〈◊〉 with angels , and hee 〈…〉 and what had happened vnto him , so zephirinus bishop , with the 〈…〉 him againe . after pontianus bishop of rome , antonius succéeded , and after him 〈◊〉 hipolitus bishop of a head citie in arabia , hee was a martyre , he was a great 〈◊〉 . prudentius maketh mention of great heapes of mart●res burned by . 〈…〉 saith , that hipolitus was drawne with 〈◊〉 horses through fields , 〈…〉 go●ianus succ●●ded ; maximinus and phillip succeeded him , and 〈…〉 two emperours were christned with their families and conuerted by fabianus bishop of rome and origen . phillip ▪ with his sonne ▪ was 〈…〉 captaines , because the emperours had commit●ed th●● treasures vnto ●●bianus . ¶ the seauenth persecution . decius hauing slaine the former emperours , inuaded the crown● , in the yeare . who 〈◊〉 a terrible persecution against the christians . fabianus was made bishop of rome , by lighting of a doue vpon him in the congregation , which was minded to elect some noble 〈…〉 and was put to death by decius , who proclamed the 〈◊〉 of christians , origen wrote of the rightuous●●●● of his faith● origen taught and 〈…〉 and sustained 〈◊〉 persecutions . under decius be 〈…〉 with bats of 〈…〉 , and death and 〈…〉 part of scripture , 〈…〉 of the . psalme ; why dost thou preach my iustification , and why dost thou take my testament in thy mouth ? 〈…〉 . in his time alexanderines bishop of 〈◊〉 ▪ where he had 〈◊〉 . yeares , and was brought from thence of casaria , and died therein prison . m●zananes succeeded him the . bishop after iames. babilas bishop of ●n●●och resisted an emperour , who against his promise had 〈◊〉 a kings sonne 〈…〉 suffer him to 〈◊〉 to the temple of the christian●s 〈…〉 was 〈◊〉 by him his body was 〈◊〉 into the sub●●bs of 〈…〉 the christians , as s●tte as his body taken out of the temp●e , 〈…〉 with fire . in decius his 〈◊〉 . uirgine suffered in antioch , one peter 〈…〉 one andrew , one paul●on● , one nichomachus an● dionisia a virgin were 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 chr●stians were led from 〈…〉 cappadocta , germanus , theophilus , cesarius , and vitalis suffered martyrdome , and policronios bishop of bathlon , and nesto● bishop of 〈…〉 olimpiades and maximus ; in 〈◊〉 anatolia a virgin , and aud●x 〈…〉 the faith. in his time diuerse suffered in alexandria before the 〈…〉 sayer 〈◊〉 vp the people ▪ first , they 〈…〉 a priest , beat him with 〈…〉 him in the face and eyes with 〈◊〉 , and them stoned him . 〈◊〉 tooke quinta a faithful● 〈…〉 through the 〈◊〉 vpon the hard stones , dashed 〈◊〉 against 〈…〉 then they spoyled all the christians , 〈◊〉 the citie , and tooke the they tooke apollima an ancient uirgin rashed out all her teeth , made a fire 〈…〉 she would deny chr●st ; but she 〈◊〉 suddenly into the 〈◊〉 and was burned . they tooke one serapion , and broke almost all the 〈…〉 and cast him from an vpper oft , so he dyed , shortly after came the 〈…〉 against the christians , wherevpon the persecution grew more 〈◊〉 . cromon and iulianus were laid vpon camels , and whipped , then cast into thy 〈◊〉 for the testimony of iesus ; a soldier tooke part with them going to mart●●●● , and was beheader ; also 〈…〉 was burned , and epimacus and alexander , hauing suffred bands and torments with 〈◊〉 scourges , were burned with . women , ammonarion a holy virgin , marcuria an aged mat●on , and dionisia mother of many faire children , after many torments , were slaine by the ●word . horon and ●●odorus egyptian● , were grieuously tormented and then burned ; there was one dioscorus of their company but ● . yeares old , whe●● the iudge 〈◊〉 for his 〈◊〉 age , being 〈◊〉 at his 〈…〉 . n●mesian an egypt●an was accused of theft and purg●d , and then was 〈◊〉 of christianitie and was more grieuously scourged then the théeues , and then was burned . amnon zenon , ptolomeus , ingenius souldiers , and an old man theophilus , they séeing a christian fearing to confesse his faith , incouraged him by signes and being noted and ready to be taken ; they pressed to the tribunall seate , and confessed themselues to be christians ; whereat the iudges and their assistants were greatly amased , and the christians imboldened , and they departed glad for the testimony they had giuen . ischrion often moued of his master to doe sacrifice , and refusing , he runne him through with a speare . in this time many wandred in wildernesse , suffered hunger , colde , danger of wilde beasts . clerimon bishop of nilus , an olde man , with his wife , flying to the mountaine of arabia , could neuer be found againe . dionisius alexandrinus suffered much a●fl●ction , and had strange deliuerances . first , the messenger was struck●n blinde & could not finde his house , after which three daies , god had him flye ; after , comming to ierusalem , he was taken , the keeper was from home when he was brought to prison , and the keeper returning home and finding diuerse runne away , he ranne away himselfe , and tolde the matter to one he met going to a mariage , who tolde it to them at the wedding , who in the night rushed towards the pri●oners with great shouting , they that kept the prisoners were afraid and left them , then the company willed them to depart , and they t●●ke dionisius , set him vpon an asse , and conueyed him away . in this time suffered one christopherus a cananite , . cubits high ; also meneates a florentine , and agatha a holy virgine in sicily , who suffered imprisonment , was be●ten , racked , famished , rayled on , tormented with sharpe shels and 〈◊〉 co●es , and her breasts were cut from her body . amongst others also suffered . virgines by diuerse k●nds of deathes ; triphon a very holy and constant man of nice , after much torments , suffered death by the sword . decius erected a temple at ephesus , and compelled all the citie to dee sacrifice ; . of his souldiers refused , and they hi● themselues in mount celius in caues ; the emperour caused them to be rammed vp with stones , and so they w●re martired . hieronimus writeth of a godly souldier , which could not be brought from his faith , was brought into a pleasant garden , laid vpon a soft bed , and an harlot sent to allure him , she offering to kisse him ▪ he bit off her tongue and ●pit it in her face . theodora a virgine , was commanded to the stewes , a young man , a christian , caused her to change garments with him , and conuey herselfe away , and offering himselfe to their violence , being found a man , he confessed himselfe a christian , and was condemned to suffer , theodora offered herselfe to the iudge , and desired that the other might be discharged , he commanded them both to be beheaded , and cast into the fire . agathon was condemned to lose his head for rebuking them that derived the dead bodies of christians . one paulus , and one andreas , were scourged , drawne through the citie , and aftrer troden to death vnder the féete of people ; also iustinus a priest of rome , and nicostratus a deacon , and portius a priest of rome , which is reported to haue conuerted the emperour phillip , were all martyred . secundarius , as he was led to the iaile , verianus & marcellinus asked whether they led the innocent , whereupon they were taken ▪ and after torments and beatings with waisters , were hanged , with fire put to their sides ; but the tormentors some fell sodainly dead , others were possessed with euill spirits . beza registers these to suffer in this tyrants time , hipolitus , concordia , hierenius , abundus , victoria a virgin being nobles or antioch : belias bishop of apollinia ; leacus , tyrsus , and galmetus , naza●zo , triphon , phillas , bishop of philocomus ; philocronius bishop of babilon , thesiphon bishop of pamphilia , nestor bishop of corduba , parmeuius priest , circensis , marianus , and iacobus , nemesianus , felix , rogatianus priest felicissimus , iouinius , basilius , ruffina and secunda virgins , tertullianus valerianus , nemesius , sempronianus , olimpiadus , teragone , zeno bishop of cesaria , marinus , archinius , priuatus bishop , theodorus bishop of pontus , pergentius and laurencius children , suffered persecution in tuscia . many reuolted , as serapion ▪ nichomachus in the middest of his torments , euaristus bishop of africa , nicoftratus a deacon , diuerse of them were punished by gods hand , some with euill spirits , some with strange diseases . at this time rose the heresie of nouatus , he disturbed cyprian bishop of carthage , and cornelius bishop of rome , he was assisted with maximus , vrbanus , sidonius , and celerius , but they forsooke him : after he allured three simple bishops in ●taly to lay their hands on him to make him bishop of rome , with coruelius , whom by all meanes he sought to defeate , and made the people that came to receiue the eucharist ▪ swea●e they would stand with him . two young men , aurelius , which was twise tormented , and mapalicus in the middest of his torments , told the proconsull , to morrow you shall see the running for a wager , meaning his ma●tyrdome . decius the emperour raigned but two yeares , and with his sonne , was slaine of the barbarians ; presently god sent a ple●ue yeares together , which made diuerse p●aces desolate , especially where the persecution most raigned the christians comforted and ministred vnto their sicke brethren , the infidels forsooke their neighbours and friends , and left them destitute of succour , vpon this plague ciprian wrote his booke , de mortalitate . vibias gallus ▪ and volusian his sonne , by treason , succeeded decius . gallus at the first was quiet , anone after published edicts against christians ; cyprian bishop of carthage was banished , others were condemned to the mines , as nemisianus , fex , lucius , with their bishops , priests and deacons ▪ to whom , and to seagrius and rogatianus cyprian wrote consolatory epistles : lucius bishop of rome was banished , whom cornelius succeeded , but a while after hee returned againe to his church , and stephanus succéeded him , and sate . yeares , . monethe , and died a martyre , betwixt him end cyprian fell a contention about rebaptizing of hereticks . emilianus slew the former emperours , and succéeded himselfe , after . moneths he was slaine , and valerius and galienus his sonne succeeded him . valerius . or . yeares was so cut●eous to christians , as no emperour before him , that his court was full of christians , but he was seduced by an egyptian magitian , finding himselfe hindred by them , from the practising of his charmes , hée brought the emperour to idols , he sacrificed infants , and reised the eight persecution . ¶ the eight persecution . ciprian was an african borne in carthage , an idolater , and giuen to magicke , he was conuerted to the faith , by ceci●a priest , by hearing the prophet ionas , as soone as he was conuerted , he gaue his goods to the poore : not long after he was priest , he was bishop of carthage , he had the gouernment of the whole east church ▪ and church of spaine , he was called the bishop of christian men : he loued to read tertullian , and called him his master . in the time of decius and gallus he was banished , in the time of valerianus he returned againe : but after , he was found in a carden , and his head stricken off . at this time zistus bishop of rome , with sixe of his deacons , more beheaded : one laurence a deacon , seeing the bishop goe to execution , cryed to him , deare father , whether goest thou without thy deare sonne ? he answered , within three daies thou shalt suffer in more painefull manner then i , which fell out accordingly : for laurence hauing distributed the goods of the poore , by the charge of the bishop , the emperour hearing thereof , commaunded him to render the treasure to him ▪ but after thrée daies respite , in sleede thereof , hee presented vnto him a sort of poore christians , as the treasure of the church ; whereupon hee commaunded laurence to bee broyled on a gridyron , where after hee had suffered a great space , hee said this side is rosted enough , turne vp tyrant , try whether rosted or raw be bettermeate . a souldier of rome was conuerted to the faith by the constant pro●●●●ion of this laurence , and desired to be baptized of him , but the iudge called him , and scourged , and be headed him . at this time suffered dionisius bishop of alexandria , he was banished and scourged , then remoued to a more strait place ; one gaius , one petrus , and one paulus were afflicted with him notwithstanding ; maximus , dioscorus , demetrius , and lucius , visited the brethren , also eusebius suffered affliction for the truth , who after was bishop of ●aodicia : faustus long after being an oldman , was beheaded ▪ but dionisius suruiued all these troubles and in great age departed in peace , after he had gouerned the church of alexandria . yeares , and taught schoole there . yeares , and maximus succeeded him . in the same time priscus , marcus , and alexander , who stepyed to the iudge , and declared themselues christians , with a woman , were giuen to wilde beasts . in carthage were . martyred in a lime kill for refusing , because they would not sacrifice to lupiter . maxima , donatilla , and secunda , three uirgins , after cruell torments , were giuen to beasts , which refused to touch them , then they were beheaded ; also one pontius after diuerse torments , was giuen to beasts , who refusing to touch him ▪ he was burned at which time claudius his iudge with anabius his assistant , were taken with wicked spirits , and bit off their owne tongues , and died . the same time zeno bishop of uerona was martyred ; one phillippus president of alexandria came downe with his wife , two sons , and his daughter eugenia she with two e●nuches , prothus and hiacintus , were conuerted to christianitie ; she put on the apparell of a man to a●●ide trouble , and to heare helenus bishop , and named herselfe eugenius . malena a marton of alexandria fell in lou● with her , end séeing that by no meanes she could obtaine her sute , she made an outcry , saying that eugenius went about to de●lowre her , and accused her to phillippus , so shee was forced to manifest her selfe to her father ; after , she wonne him and other of her kindred , to the faith , her father was after martyred : after , shee returned to rome with her eunuches , and conuerted basilla , who was beheaded after sundry torments . in the sixt yeare of valerianus , victor and victorinus , with claudianus and bossa his wife , after thrée yeares imprisonment , and diuerse torments , were put to death . fructuosus bishop of tarraconia , with his two deacons augurius and eulogius , at their execution , their hands bound behinde them vnloosed , and the fire flewe from them ▪ vntill they had prayed ▪ at which time a certaine souldier did sée the heauens open , and the martyres entred in ; which sight he shewed to the daughter of emilianus the president . this emperour valerianus , after he had raigned , with his sonne , about sixe yeares , and afflicted the christians two yeares , was taken of sapres king of the persians , who made him alwaies his footstoole to get vppon his horse till hee dyed . at the same time , amongst the romaines , there happenned . earthquakes together , whereupon the persecution was moderated : yet some ●uffered , as marinus , a noble-man , he was accused to be a christian of him that should succeede him ; the iudge gaue him three dayes to aduise himselfe , but being incouraged by theodi●tus bishop of cesaria , hee presented himselfe to the iudge , by whose sentence he was beheaded . galienus succeeded valerianus , and claudius succeeded him . vincentius maketh mention of . martyres that suffered vnder him : quintilianus succeeded him after aurelianus , vnder whom was moued the ninth persecution . ¶ the ninth persecution . as aurelianus was subscribing the edict against christians , he was terrified with ●●ghtning ▪ and about the . yeare of his raigne was slaine , yet vincentius and orosius reckon vp a great number of martyres which suffered vnder him in fraunce and italy . publius annins tacitus succeeded aurelianus , and raigned . moneths ; his brother florianus succéeded him . daies . marcus aurelius succéeded him , surnamed probus ; he moued no persecution : after he had raigned yeares , . moneths , because , by reason of peace , he had no worke for his souldiers , therefore he was slaine . carus with his two sonnes , carinus and numerianus succéeded him . yeares numerianus kil●● cerillus , for not suffering him to enter into the congregation of the christians , he being their bishop ; he was slaine of his father . dioclesian succeeded ; vntill the . yeare of his raigne the church was quiet , which quiet●●sse had indured . yeares ; the church grew mightily , and the chiefe of them in fauour with the emperour , were derotheus and gorgotheus , and diuerse moe . the church began to were wanton with peace , and to build large churches , but their desolutenes broght on them the tenth persecution . ¶ the tenth persecution . vvhilst dioclesian abstained from persecuting , he obtained diuerse victories , and being proud thereof , he would be worshipped as a god , calling himselfe brother of the sunne and moone , inioyned the people to kisse his feete , and in the . yeare of his raigne he moued persecution , he commaunded the churches of christians to be destroyed , and the scriptures to be burned ; put christians from magistracie , and constrained them with torments to offer to idols . after the proclamation of the edict , a noble-man , a christian openly rent it in pieces , for which act he was put to most bitter death . dioclesian began with his campe , willed the christians to lay away their weapons , and giue ouer their charges , which they did willingly . at tyre there were christians giuen to cruell beasts : preserued miracul●usly , though they were kept hungry of purpose ; they raged against those that brought the christians , and deuoured them they could catch , therefore they were beheaded , and cast into the sea. at that time was martyred the bishop of sidon , but siluanus bishop of gazen●●s , with . others , were slaine in the mettie-mines ; thon pamphilius an elder , and the glory of the church of cesaria , whom eusebius writeth of , was martyred . all the bishops and teachers in syria were imprisoned ; tyrannion throwne to fishes , arnobius a physition , slaine with brickbats , some drowned themselues rather then they would worship idols , siluanus bishop of emissa , with others were throwne to wilde beasts . in mesopotamia the christians were hanged by the feete , and choked with smoke : in cappadocia their legs were broken , in cilicia taragus , probus , and andronious martyred : the persecution was so outragious , that they refrained not from the slaughter of the emperours children , & the chiefest princes of his court , amongst whom was one peter of the houshold whom the king did loue as his owne childe , after cruell torments , he was whipped to the bones , powdered with salt and vineger , and ●ofled with a fire . dorotheus and gorgonius séeing it , reproued the emperour , and confessed they were christians ; wherefore , though they were in great authoritie , they were almost tormented as he , and strangled . anthonius bishop of nicomedia , and lucianus , and a great company of ●artyrs were beheaded . dioclesian beheaded his owne wife serena . elampia , agapen , irenea , cronia , and anastachia were burned , . christians were burned in one temple : in arabia many martyres were slaine with ●xes : i● phrigia , a whole citie of christians compassed , set on fire , and burned : in melitina , the bishop and elders were cast into prison . a sheriffe in doing execution vpon the christians was conuerted , and confessed himselfe a christian , and after diuerse strange torments , was burned . eugenius , auxentius , marderius , were martyred : in egypt , pelus and nilus bishops , were martyred , the rage was great in alexandria the bishop thereof and elders , faustus , didius , ammonius , phildas , hefichius , and theodorus , with many other were martyred . ( . souldiers , being christians , vnder the christian captaine mauritius , lying at 〈◊〉 in egypt , refusing to worship images , died altogether constant in the faith. ascla , phremon & apolinius with diuerse christians , were martyred at anteno , in scilia were . put to death ▪ in calcedon euphenea was martired , in rome , iohn & crispus priests , at babem● agricola and vitalis , at aquilia the emperour commaunded 〈◊〉 man to kil the christians , where felices and fortunatus was killed , victor suffered at 〈…〉 belua●ns lucian suffered . in spaine was great persecution as at emerita , eulalia , adula , vincensia , sabina , and christiana suffered ; leucadia virgin , augusta , and . besides were martyred . where was such persecution at ●re●●rs by the riuer mosella , that ●he blood of christians 〈◊〉 like a little brooke , and coloured by riuer ; hors●men 〈…〉 to kill the christians : agripina and augusta were 〈…〉 . in 〈◊〉 all the christians were destroyed , no tongue 〈…〉 the deathe and 〈◊〉 that this tyrant vsed , hanging them by one hand , 〈…〉 them ▪ and 〈…〉 but not to death : but euery day . eusebius saith , he saw the the 〈◊〉 of the pesecutors blunt with often slaughter , themselues for wearinesse sit downe and 〈◊〉 ; but the martyres nothing 〈◊〉 were patient for chr●sts sake . miletus bishop of 〈◊〉 gaue backe , wherefore peter bishop of 〈…〉 so did marcellus bishop of rome , wh●refore he was 〈…〉 and was martyard . in . dayes were 〈◊〉 martyres , besides many that 〈…〉 there were mariy●●d at alexandria . . 〈…〉 . more martyres . this persecution endured vntill about the . yeare of constantius ; at length , being out of hope to ex●inguish them , the slaughter ceased ▪ yet they 〈◊〉 many , and put . regmus 〈◊〉 the eyes of 〈◊〉 and condemned many to the 〈◊〉 . after dioclesian and maximi●anus had raigned about 〈◊〉 . yeares th●y●●● vp the empier , and the empire remained with constantius , and gal●●ius maxeminus . maxeminus presecuted the persecution about . yeares , vnt● the years . but constantius ●ather ●auoured the christians ●and to try 〈◊〉 cour●iers he ●eigned in sacrifice to 〈◊〉 , and commaunced his houshold so to d●e , and finding a number that constantly refused ●e cherished them and 〈◊〉 them to great places , and refused the back●●ders . maximinus vsed great cruceltie in the east churches 〈◊〉 god stayed his rage by sending him 〈◊〉 a bothe as pu●●●fied his ●●trals , from whence came inumerable multitudes whereupon he published edicts of peace to the christians and desired them to pray for him , but . monethes after he set out con●rary of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 them to be● 〈…〉 so persecution rose againe as great as before . siluanus , lucianus , petrus bishop , querinus bishop , marcellus , t●mothe , victorianus , symphocrianus , castorius , cast●us , cesarius , me●●●ous , nobilis dorotheus , gorgamus , pet●us vnto inumerable martyris ; iuliana , cosmus damanus basileus , with ●eauen others , dorathca , theophilus . theodosia vita● is , agricola , ●●cha , philemon , hireneus , januarius , festus , di●iderius , grigorius , spolitanus , agap●●s , cro●ia , hirenea . ●●heodora , with . others . florianus ▪ prinius , felicia●●● , vitus , modestus , crescentia , a●binus , rogatianus , donatianus , 〈◊〉 catharina , margareta . lucia 〈◊〉 a●theus the king with . simplicius faust●●●s , beatrix , panthaleon , grigor●ns , iustus , leocandia , anthonia , with infir●● . felix victor , with his parents , lucia widdowe , germinianus , with . others ; anastacia , c●●●ogonus , felix , audactus , adrianus nathalia , agnes of . yeares olde , these 〈◊〉 many other were then martyred . the emperour in his edict declared what plently they enioyed when they adored their 〈◊〉 . as 〈◊〉 as that persecution began , there was a miserable f●mine a●d pestilence , wherein the christians ( to their power ) re●●ued the gentiles , whereby grewe some yeare . 〈…〉 a christian woman , whose husband they had killed to satisfie the filthy desire of the emperour , shee killed her selfe rather then she would so doe . he banished a noble woman of rome , because she gaue her goods to the church . the people of rome , wearied with the vil●any of maxentius , ●●quired ayd● constantine , he gathered an armie in fraunce and brita●ne , and being in 〈◊〉 , looking vp to heauen about the going downe of the sunne , he sawe a brightnesse like acrosse , with starres of equall bignesse , with this inscription , in hoc vince . eusebius pamphilus reporteth he heard consta●tine often affirme it ; in the 〈…〉 , christ appeared vnto him with the signe of the same crosse , b●●ding ●im make the figure thereof and carry it before him in his warres , and he should hau● v●ctory ; whereupon he 〈◊〉 towards max●ntius , who not being able to sustaine constantines ●orce , and 〈◊〉 ●o the c●tie , was ouerthrowne of his horse in the floud , and ●●owned , and so ended th● last persecution , he gaue li●ertie , by procl●mation , to christians ●o prolesse their religion : di●clesian hea●ing her●of , dyed for sorr●w some say he poysoned 〈…〉 . licinius first ●oyned with constan●●ne , and ●onqu●red maximinus a great 〈◊〉 in the west , who killed his charm●rs that 〈◊〉 him ●o warre , and 〈…〉 with a disease , he glorified the god of the christians , and made a lawe for their 〈◊〉 . licinius called learning ▪ the poyson of the common wealth , and said it was a 〈◊〉 for a prince to be learned ; he said , the christians prayed for constant●●● 〈◊〉 and not for him , therefore he persecuted them , first in his owne court , them in the 〈◊〉 he rased many churches to the ground , he hanged theodorus on a crosse , thr●st nayles into his a●me pits then strucke off his head , he put to death basilius bishop , nicl●olaus bishop grig●r●us of armenia the great paul of 〈◊〉 whose ●ands were 〈◊〉 off ●ith a ●earing iron , in sebast●a he drowned . souldiers in a horse pond , the wiues of these . with ammones a deacon , after inumerable torments were sla●●e with th● sword . diuerse b●t●els were sought betwéene licinius and constantine first in hungary , where he was ou●r throwne , in macedonia , where he fled and ●ep●yred his arm●● , and being vanquished by sea and land , he yeelded to costantine , and was comm●●●●d●● liue a priuate life but he was killed by the souldiers in the yeare . constantius ●he father of constantine dyed in the yeare ▪ and wee buried at yorke . a●bon , the fi●st that su●●●red martyrdome in england , he was conuer●●d by a● phibolus , a persecuted clarke which he lo●ged ; the prince hearting thereof , sent out 〈◊〉 for him , albon came to the souldiers who brought him to the iudge , and 〈…〉 would not sacrifice to diuels , after he was grieuo●sly scourged he was beheaded , the clarke fled into wales , where he was set and made to runne about a stake , his b●lly being opened , whilst 〈◊〉 owels were drawne out , hee was stabbed with waggers , and after stoned , this was anno . it is to be noted that england was no● touched with any of the nine persecutions , but onely with the tenth , in which almost all christiantie was in the 〈◊〉 ex●inguished . galerius threatning the christians in antioch , romanus a noble man encouraged them he was strangely tormented , he requ●red the tyrant that a childe should be presented vnto him , he asked the childe whether it was ●ore reason●ble to serue one god rath●r th●n ●umerable ; the childe answered the tyrant , that one god was to be worshipped ; the tyrant scourged the childe , and pulled off the skinne of his head , the mother being by , exhorted the childe to patience , the childe was beheaded , and romanus cast in the fire , which when it would not burne him , hee was ●●angled in prison . gordius a centurion liued in the desert a long time , but at a ●eest of mars he got vpon the highest p●ace of the thea●or , and v●tered himselfe to all the people to bee a christian ; after many torments , he was ●urned . menas likewise ▪ a souldier , con●essed himselfe a christi●n in colis , and af●er diuerse torments , wa● beheaded . basilius writeth of . martyres , young gentlemen , professing themselues christians , they were caused to stand in winter in a pond all night , and in the morning bnrne● . nicephorus reporteth of . martyres drowned in a ponde at sebestia . cirus a poysition , with one ioannes , led a solitary life in arabia in persecu●ion , they hearing of the imprisonment of athanasia with her three daughters , theo●●ste , theodota , and eudoxa , they came to confi●me them , and being accused , and would not doe sacr●fice , they were put to death . sebastian , lieutenant or diaclesian , was accused to the emperour for encouraging diuers martyres : he was brought into the fielde , and of his owne souldiers shot through with innumerable darts , after threw his body into a iakes . nicostratus , with zoe his wife : tranquillinus , with martia his wife ; traglianus , claudius , castor , tiburtus , castullus , marcus , and marcellus , with others moe suffered with him . barla , a nobleman , whom basilius mentions in a sermon , after many torments he was sacrificed on an altar of their idols , they put fire and incense into his hand , thinking he would scatter it vpon the altar , and so haue sacrificed , but the fire burning about his hand , it endured as if it had béene couered about with embers , he saying the psalme , blessed is my god which teacheth in hands to fight . vincentius was so racked , that all the ioynts of his body cracked , then there was many wounds made in his body , then his flesh was combed with iron combes , sharply filed , then they scourged him , then they laid his body vpon an iron grate , and opened it with hooks , then they seared it with diuers plates , sprinkling the same with hot salt , then they drew him into a dungeon sprinkled with sharpe shels , and locked his féete in the stockes . philoronimus forsooke great possessions for christ , and was beheaded , and neither friends , wife , or children could moue him : also , procopius being conuerted , brake his siluer images , and gaue them to the poore , after gréeuous torments , his hands and féet being cut off he was beheaded : so was grigotius a young man vsed . panthion , theodorus , and gerion , with . were martyred , hermogines , eugraphus , samonas , gurias , abilus , hieron , indes , dominas , with two thousand were martired . enclasius and maximinius , whom fausta the uirgin conuerted in her torments : also , thusus , lucius , callinicus , apollonius , philemon , asilas , leonides , arianus , cyprian byshop of antioch , before his conuersion being a magitian , suffered with iustina a uirgine . glicerius , felix , fortunatus , achileus , arthemius , ciriacus , anthonius , marcellinus , cucusatus , barcimonia , felix byshop , audactus , ianuarius , fortunatus , septimus , these suffered vnder dioclesian . cassianus was stabbed of his schollers with iron pen● wherewith they vsed to write . eulalia was shut vp of her parents , least she should be cause of her death , shee brake out in the night , came to the iudge , confessed her selfe a christian , and reprooued the cruelty of the iudge , and their vanity in worshipping images , she threw downe the idols , and scattered the incense when she was brought to worship them ; she had one ioynt pulled from another , her flesh was scraped off with clawes of beasts to the bones , she reioysing and praising god , they seared her breasts with torches : when they had caught her haire , which hanged downe to her féet and couered her shame , shee opened her mouth ouer the flame and died . agnes , a romaine virgine , not marriageable , for her constancy in christ was condemned to be committed to the common stewes , and younkers appointed to assayle her , whom when she refused , she was tied to a corner of a stréet naked : one beholding the uirgine with vnchast eyes , was striken with lightning , his eies dashed out of his head , whom agnes prayed for and restored : after ●he was beheaded , she preferred the sight of her executioners more , then of her louers . there are many myracles reported of her . katherine openly resisted the emperor maxentius to his face , and rebuked him of his cruelty , after she had felt the racke , and the fouresharp cutting wheeles , she was beheaded . iulitta sued to the emperor for goods wrongfully detained from her , her aduersary accused her of christianity , being commanded to doe sacrifice with incense , shee refused it , and encouraged others , and was burned . barbara , a noble woman suffering cruell torments , as cords , and burning of her sides , was lastly beheaded for her faith. fausta , iuliana , anisia , iustina , lucia , agatha , and tecla , with all holy uirgines , suffered in the tenth persecution . ●aius succéeded xistus b. of rome : marcellinus , marcellus , eusebius were byshops afterward , and then miltiades , which was the last bishop of rome that was martyred : these all were martyrs . sapores king of persia put to death , acyndiuus , pegasius , anempodistus , epidephorus , simeon arch-byshop of seleu●ia , c●esiphon b. in persia , with other religious men . . symon , chéefe bishop of persia , was accused by the magitians , as he was leading to prison : v●●hazares , who was the kings schoole-maister , and had fallen from christianity , who sitting at the kings gate , rose vp and reuerenced him , but simion rebuked him with sharpe words , which made him put on mourning wéeds , sit wéeping at the gate ; saying , what hope haue i of god when my familiar friend simion disdaineth me , which being knowne to the king , and he confessing himselfe a christian , the king commaunded he should be beheaded : he desired of the king to certifie that he died for nothing but christianity , which he obtained ; simion being in prison , and hearing of it , reioyced , and the next day suffered with an . more . pusices , séeing an old father shrinke in the sight of the martyr● , said ; shut thine eies , be strong , and shortly thou shalt sée god , wherefore the king caused an hole to be made in his necke , and thereout pulled his tongue , and so he was put to death , and his daughter , a uirgine , died with him in christs cause , the number of them that were martyred in persia , was . this comming to constantines eares , mooued him , he graunted sapores his ambassadors all they requested , thinking thereby to mooue him to fauour the christians , and wrote to them to take compassion on the innocents , and shewed how the hand of god had béene against tyrants of the church . beniamin , for preaching christ , was thrust vnder the nailes with twenty sharpe prickes , when hee laughed at it , a sharpe réede was thrust into his yard , and a long thorny stalke vp into his body vntill hee died . under iulianus apostata , emilianus was burned , domitius was slaine in his caue : theodorus singing a psalme , was tormented from morning to night , hardly escaped with life , and being asked how hee could abide the torments , said , at first i felt some paine , but after there stood a young man by me , who so refreshed me , that it greeued me more when i was let down from the ingine then before . the arethusians of syria , tooke a company of uirgines , christians , whom first they set sorth naked to bee scorned of the multitude , then shaued them , then couered them with draffe , and caused them to bee deuoured of swine , their cruelty was the greater , because constantine restrained them , from defiling uirgines , and destroyed the temple of venus . marcus arethusius , because , at the commaundement of constantine , he pulled down a temple of idols , and builded a church for christians in the place , they stripped him naked , and beat him gréeuously , then put him in a filthy sincke , then they caused boyes to thrust him in with sharpe stickes , then they annointed him with hony and broath , and hung him in the sunne as meat for waspes and flyes , then they required somewhat towards the building of the temple againe : he answered , it were as great impiety to conferre one halfe-peny to a matter of impiety , as a great summe . constantine raigned about thirty yeares : he was borne in brittaine , his mothers name was helena , daughter of king coilus ; hee trauailed greatly for the peace of christians , he set peace amongst the byshops at dissention ; hee made prouision for preachers , and caused all to bee restored vnto the christians that was taken from them by persecutors . he wrote to his chéefe captaine , that ministers should be fréed from all publique duties and burthens : he wrote to eusebius for the edifying of new churches , and after he had gathered the nicene councel , for the vnity of the church , he writeth to alexander and arius for the same intent . he inioyned a prayer to his souldiers in stead of catechisme . we knowledge thee onely to be our god , we confesse thee onely to bee our king , we call vpon thée our onely helper , by thée we obtaine our victories , by thee we vanquish our enemies , to thee be attributed whatsoeuer commodities we presently enioy : by thee we hope for good thinges to come , vnto thee we direct all our sutes and petitions , most humbly befeeching thee to keepe constantinus our emperour , and his noble children to continue in long li●e , and to giue them victory ouer their enemies , through iesus christ our lord , amen . he graunted great immunities vnto the ministers that they might appeale from the ciuill iudge to their byshop , whose sentence was of as great value as if the emperor had pronounced it . he prouided maintenance for liberall sciences and arts , for the prosessors , there wiues and children , and gaue them great immunities . he wrote to eusebius byshop of nicomedia , to procure fifty uolumes of parchment well bound , and cause to bee written out of the scripture therein in a leageable hand , such things as were profitable for the instruction of the church , allowed him two ministers for the businesse : he was a father to the church , and inforced himselfe euery way to set forth the gospell , and to suppresse the contrary . the end of the tenth persecution . the second booke containing the next . yeares . by these persecutions hitherto , we may vnderstand that what the fury of sathan and rage of men could deuise to do by death or torments , all was to the vtmost attempted to extinguish the name and religion of christ , yet notwithstanding the wisedome of the world and the strength of men , christ hath the vpper hand as thou seest . now because the tying vp of sathan giueth the church rest ▪ we will leaue the affaires of the uniuersall church , and prosecute the histories of our country of england and scotland , beginning with king lucius , with whom the faith began first in this realme . the papists doe earnestly contend , that the faith of christ was first brought and receiued into england from rome , both in the time of eleutherius their byshop , in the yeare . and also in the time of augustine , whom gregory sent hither in the yeare . but it is proued otherwise by these seauen arguments . gildas affirmeth , that brittain receiued the gospel in the time of tyberius the emperor , vnder whom christ suffered , & saith farther , that ioseph of arimathia , was sent of philip the apostle from france to brittaine , in the yeare . and remained héere all his time , and founded the faith amongst the brittaines . tertullian , liuing about the time of elutherius , testifieth how the gospell was dispersed by the apostles , reckoneth brittany amongst the countries conuerted by them . origen , before the daies of elutherius , said the brittaines consented to christianity . bede affirmeth , that . yeares after christ , easter was kept in brittaine after the manner of the east church , on the fouretéenth day after the full moone , what day soeuer it was , and not on sunday as we doe , whereby is gathered , the first preacher came from the east , rather then from rome . nicephorus lib. . cap. . saith , simon zelotes spread the gospell in brittany . petrus cluniensis saith , that the scots in his time celebrated easter after the manner of the gréekes and as the brittaines , were not vnder the romain order , nor vnder their legate in the time of gregory , nor would admit any primasie of the byshop of rome aboue them . by the epistle of elutherius to lucius , it appeareth that lucius had receiued the faith before he wrote to elutherius , for the romaine lawes . elutherius might help some-thing to conuert the king , and to increase the faith , but was not the first that planted it , but if it were so , it maketh nothing for them , for he challenged no such supremacy as they doe , and was farre from their errours and superstitions . the chroniles write , that about the yeare . king lucius , sonne of coylus , which builded colchester , hearing of the myracles of christians in his time , writ to elutherius bishop of rome to receiue the faith ; the good bishop sent him certaine preachers , which conuerted the king of the brittaines , and baptized them , there were the twenty eight priests called flamines , which they turned to twentie eight bishoppes , and thrée arch-flamins , to thrée arch-bishops , to wit ; london , yorke , and glamargan by wales . thus all the realme setled in good order , lucius sent againe to elutherius for the romaine lawes , thereby likewise to gouerne the realme . unto whom elutherius wrote againe : we may reprooue the law of the romaines , but the law of god wee cannot reprooue : you haue with you both partes of the scriptures , out of them , by gods grace , with the councell of your realme , take yea law and rule your kingdome of brittaine , for you are gods uicar in your kingdome . the faith thus receiued of the brittaines , continued and flourished yeares , vntill the comming of the saxons , who then were pagans : whilst brittaine had thus receiued the faith , the emperors of rome were infidels , wherefore much trouble wos sought against them , as it was against all parts of christendome . lucius , after he had raigned about . yeares , died without issue : whereupon followed great misery and ruine to the realme , for sometime the idolatrous romaines , and sometimes the brittaines raigned , as violence and victory would serue ; one king murdering another , vntill at length the saxons depriued them both . some write ▪ but falsely , that king lucius , after he was baptized , forsooke his kingly honor and the land , and became a preacher in france and germany , and other places , and was made doctor and rector of the church of cureac , where hee was martyred , but this fansie is contrary to all our english stories , which doe agrée that he hauing founded many churches , and giuen great liberalities to the same , deceased in great tranquility in his owne land , and was buried at glocester . betwéene the time of king lucius , and the entring of the saxons , there raigned after lucius seuerus a romaine : after him bassianus , a romaine ; after him cerausius , a brittaine ; after him alectus , a romaine ; after him asclepiodotus , a brittaine ; after him coilus , a brittaine ; after him constantius , a romain ; after him constantinus , a brittain , by helena his mother , the daughter of king coilus , and wife of constantius . constantine first made the wals of london and colchester : when the romaines ruled it , it was ruled by infidels , and when the brittains ruled , by christians ; yet no persecution was raised in it , vntill the tenth persecution , which was so cruell , that all our english chronicles report , that all christianity almost in the whole land was destroyed , churches subuerted , and the scriptures burned , as before is shewed . it is worthy to be noted , that constantine , that worthy emperor , was not onely a brittaine borne , but his mother helena , daughter of king coilus a brittaine , but also by the helpe of the brittaines army , which constantine tooke with him , with great victories he obtained the peace of the uniuersall church , hauing thrée legions with him out of this realme , of chosen souldiers . after , maximinian tooke all the power that was left of fighting men , to subdue france , and after sent for . souldiours more at once , at which time conanus his partner sent for . uirgines out of brittaine , which were drowned and spoyled by the way by infidels , because they would not pollute themselues with them . thus brittaine being destitute of strength , had béene oppressed by guanus and melga , had not guethl●●us arch-bishop of london , and constantinus , brother to aldranus , defended the realme and state of religion . then came vortigerne , who murdred constance his prince , and inua●ed the crowne , and fearing constance his two brothers , he sent for ayde of the saxons , and married with the daughter of hengist , but not long after he was dispossessed of his kingdome by the said hengist , and the saxons beeing all infidels , and the brittaines were driuen out of the country . two hundred seuenty one of their nobles at one méeting at almesbury , being subtilly slain by the saxons , or at a place cald stonehenge , by the monument of which stones , there hanging , it séemeth the noble brittaines were there buried . i passe ouer the fabulous story of the welchmen , of bringing these stones from ireland by merlin . some stories record , they were slaine , being bid to a banket : thus came the angles and saxons fi●st into this realme , being yet infidels , about the yeare . they were diuers times driuen out by aurelius ambrosius , and his brother vter , but they returned againe , and at length possessed all , and droue the brittains into wales . hengistus raigned . years and dyed in kent , galfridus saith he was taken in the warre of aurelius ambrosius , and beheaded in the . yeare of his raigne . his sonne offa succeeded him twenty foure yeares , octa and imericus his sons succéeded him , . yeares , and were slaine by vter pendragon . the saxons deuided the realme into s●auen kingdomes : to the first kent ; to the second sussex and surrey ; the third west-sex , the fourth east●sex ; the fifth cambridgeshire , norffolke , and suffolke : the sixt , the countries of lincolne , leicester , huntingdon , northampton , oxford , darby , warwicke : the seauenth was king of northumberland : they continued so a while with great warres amongst themselues , at length all came to the possession of the west-saxons . this ●ingdome began in the yeare . and continued vntill about the comming of william the conqueror , which was . yeares . saint paules church in london was builded by ethelbert , king of kent , and sigebert king of essex , when ethelbert turned vnto the faith. malmsburie writeth , that mauricius the kinges chancellour , then byshoppe of london , did first begin this famous building of paules , and after richard his successour , bestowed all the rents of his byshoppricke vpon the same , and it may be the first church was ouerthrowne by the danes , and re-edified by these byshops . these kings of the brittaines raigned in wales and cornewall , vortiger , vortimer , vortiger againe , aurelius ambrosius , vter pendragon , arthur , constantius . aurelius conanus , vortiperius , malgo , carecius . the sinnes of the brittaines was the cause of the iust iudgement of god against them , as out of an old authour , and partly out of gildas doth appeare : these bee the words of the authour : there following constantinus , and others aboue named , out of the realme all the nobility , when the rascall sort had gotten their places , and through aboundance of riches were surprised with pride , they fell into so great fornication as neuer was heard of , and vnto all manner of wickednesse , that mans nature is inclined vnto ; hating the truth , louing lyes , regarding euill in stead of goodnesse , receiuing the deuill in stead of an angell of light , choose such for their kings as were most cruell , and if any seemed to bee humble and fauour the truth , they hated and backbited him as a destroyer of brittaine , and not onely the seculer men did thus , but also the byshoppes and teachers , therefore it was no maruell that such a people should loose their country which they had so defiled . as there were many wicked kinges among the saxons , so there were some very good , but none almost frō the first to the last , which was not either slain in war or murdred in peace , or constrained to make himselfe a monk , whether it were the iust iudgment of god , because they had violently dispossessed the brittains , they were not only vexed of the danes , conquered of the normans , but more cruelly deuoured themselues . ethelbert king of cambridgeshire , norffolke , and suffolke , came peaceably to king offa , for dispousage of athilrid his daughter , and by the councel of king offa , his wife was secretly beheaded . wherevpon offa , through repentance , made the first peter-pence to be giuen to s. peters church at rome . one lothbrooke a dane of the kings blood , being a hauking by the sea-side in a little boat , was cast by weather vpon the coast of norffolke , and being brought to king edmund , he retained him in great fauour , at length he was priuily murdered by one bericke , which being knowne , bericke was sent away in lothbrookes boate without tackling , and was driuen into denmarke , and being séene in lothbrookes boate , and examined of lothbrooke , he falsely said the king had killed him . wherevpon iugner and hubba , lothbrookes sonnes , gathering an army of danes inuauaded first northumberland , then norffolke , and sent to king edmund to deuide his treasures to him , and be subiect to him , else he would dispossesse him of his ●ingdome , he answered he would not be subiect to a pagan duke , vnlesse before hee become a christian , then the danes besiedged his house , but he fled and pitched a fielde with them , but the danes preuailing , he fled to the castle of halesdon , where they tooke him and bound him to a stake , and shot him to death . seauen or eight kings are highly commended in the histories for leauing there kingdomes , and becomming moonkes , but they are more to be discommended for leauing their calling , wherein they might so much benefite the church . there were foure persecutions in england , before austen came into england : the first vnder dioclesian ; the second , by the inuading of gnarius and melga , one captaine of the hunnes , the other of the picts , after they had slaughtered . uirgines , as before made a rode into brittaine , hearing it wanted strength , and murdered christians and spoiled churches without mercy : the third by the saxons , who destroyed christs saints and the churches , vntill aurelius ambrosius restored again the churches : the fourth , gurmundus king of the affricans ioyned with the saxons , and wrought much grieuance to the christians of the land , which persecution remained to the time of ethelbert the fift king of kent . in the t●me of ethelbert , the faith was receiued of the saxons ; by this meanes gregory bishop of rome , seeing brittaine children to be sould in rome , very beautifull , vnderstanding what country they were of , pittied that the country which was so beautifull , and angellicall , so to be subiect to the prince of darkenes : wherefore he sent thither austen with about forty preachers with him , and when they were apaled and would haue turned backe again ▪ gregory emboldned and comforted them with his letter , so they came to the i le of ●henet in kent , ethelbert as before was king of kent , he had married one berda , a french woman , vpon condition shee should vse the christian religion with one lebardus her byshop , austen sent to the king , signifying hee was come from rome , bringing with him glad tydings to him and all his people of life and saluation , if he would so willingly hearken vnto it , as he was gladly come to preach it vnto him . the king hauing heard of this religion by his wife , came to the place where austen was , austen against his comming erected a banner of the crucifire ( such then was the grosenesse of the time ) and preached to him the word of god , the king promised they should haue all things necessary , and none should molest them ▪ and gaue them frée leaue to preach to his subiects , and conuert whom they might to the faith. when they had this comfort of the king , they went with procession to canterbury , singing alleluia , with the letany that was vsed at rome in the great plague , we beséech thée o lord in all thy mercies , that thy fury and anger may cease from this citty , and from thy holy house , for we haue sinned , alleluia , they continued in the same citty preaching and baptizing , in the old church of s. martine , where the quéene was wont to resort , vntill the king was conuerted , at length the king séeing their myracles , and their godly conuersation , he heard them gladly , and was conuerted in the thirty sixe yeare of his raigne , anno . after him innumerable daily were adioyned vnto the church , whom the king did specially imbrase , but compelled none , then the king gaue austen a place for his byshops sea , at christs church in canterbury , and builded the abbey there , where after austen and all the kings of kent were buried , which now is called s. austine . then austen by the commandement of gregory , went into france to the bishop of arelatensis , to be consecrated arch-byshop , and so was then austen sent to gregory , so declare how they had sped , and to be resolued of diuers questions , how bishops should behaue themselues towards their clarke , of offerings and ceremonies , and what punishment for stealing church goods , and such like , to no great purpose ; therefore if thou béest disposed to sée them , i referre thee to the booke at large . gregory , after he had sent resolutions to these questions , sendeth moreouer more coadiutors , as melitus , iustus , paulinus , and ruffianus , with books and implements necessary for the english church , and in reward of austines paines , he sent him a pal onely to be vsed at the solemnity of the masse , and granteth two metropolitane seas , london and yorke , but granted to austen during his life , to be cheefe arch-bishop of all the land , and that they should not destroy the idolatrous temples , but conuert them to christian vses , and that austine should not be proud of the myracles that god wrought by him , & that he should remember they were not done for him , but for their conuersion , whose saluation god sought thereby . then he wrote to king ethelbert ▪ first hee praysed god , then the king , by whom it pleased god to worke such goodnesse of the people , then exhorted him to perseuer in his profession , and to be zealous therein , to conuert the multitude , and destroy idolatry , and to gouerne them in holinesse of conuersation , according to the emperor constantinus the great , comforting him with the promises of life , and reward to come . austine receiuing his pall , as aboue said , and of a monke being made an arch-byshop , hee made two metropolitanes , as gregorie commaunded ; then austine assembled the byshops and doctors of brittaine , in this assembly , hee charged the byshoppes that they should preach the word of god with him : also , that they should reforme certaine rites and vsages in the church , especially for keeping of easter , and baptizing after the manner of rome , the scots and brittaines would not agree thereto , refusing to leaue the custome which they so long time had continued . beda , fabianus , & others , write of a myracle wrought vpon a blinde englishman , when the brittaines could not helpe him . austine kneeling downe and praying , restored him to sight before them all , for a confirmation ( as these authours say ) of keeping of easter , i leaue the credite of the myracle to the authors of whom i had it . austine gathered another sinode , to the which seauen byshoppes , and the wisest men of the famous cittie of bangor came , they tooke councell of a holy man whether they should be obedient to austine , he had them agree to him if hee bee the seruant of god , and you shall know it by his humblenesse and meekenesse , you are the greater number , if he at your comming into the sinode arise vp and courteously receiue you , perceiue him to be an humble and meeke man : but if he shall contemne and despise you , despise you him againe ; thus the brittaine byshoppes entring into the councell , austine after the romish manner keeping his chaire , would not remooue , wherefore they being very much offended thereat , after some heate of words , departed in great displeasure , to whom austine said : if they would not receiue peace with their brethren , they should receiue war with their enemies . there was in bangor in wales an exceeding great monastery , wherein was two thousand and one hundred monkes , the monkes came out of this monasterie to chester , to pray for brocmayle , fighting for them against the saxons , ethelbert king of northumberland seeing them intenti●e to their prayers , and perceiuing it was to pray for their consull ; he said , although they beare no weapon , yet with their praiers and preaching they persecute vs , he commaunded his men to kill them , who killed , or rather martyred . of them . the authors that wrote this , say that the forespeaking of austine was verified on them , but galfridus monumetensis , saith , that ethelbert the king of kent being conuerted by austine to christs faith , seeing the brittaines deny their subiection to austine , therefore stirred vp the said ethelfrid to warre against the brittaines . after austine had baptized . in a riuer called swale by yorke , on a christmas day , perceiuing his end to draw neere , ordained laurencius his successor : by his baptizing in riuers it followeth there was then no vse of fonts , and the rites of baptizing in rome was not then so ceremoniall , nor had so many trinkets as it hath since : and not long after austine died , after he had sitten arch-bishop . or . yeares . about this time also gregory died , who was called the basest of all the byshops before him , and the best of all that came after him . ranulphus cestrensis writeth , that iohn the patriarch of alexandria , as he was at prayer , there appeared vnto him a comely uirgine ▪ hauing on her head a garland of oliue leaues , which named her selfe mercy , promising him if he would take her to wife , hee should prosper well : after that day this patriarch was so mercifull to the poore , that he counted them his maisters , and himselfe as steward vnto them . gregory withstood the pride of iohn , patriarke of constantinople , which would be the uniuersall and cheefe bishop of all others , calling him the fore-runner of antichrist , he brought in the title of the pope , seruus seruorum dei. sabinianus succeeded him two yeares , a malicious detractor of his workes , after him succeeded bonifacius the third , one yeare . after phocas had murdered his owne maister mauricius the emperor and his children , thinking to establish the empire to himselfe by friendship of his people , and especially with the pope , he granted boniface all his petitions , and to bee uniuersall head byshop ouer all churches . hiraclius the emperour that succeeded phocas , cut of his hands and feete , and threw him into the sea , but rome would not so soone loose the supremacy once giuen , as the giuer lost his life : for euer since they haue maintained the same with all force and pollicy , by the word of gregorie . boniface may well be called the fore-runner of antichrist , as gregory brought in the stile of seruus seruorum dei ; so he brought in volumus & mandamus , statuimus & praecipimus . besides the building of pauls , as aforesaid , by ethelbert king of kent , and sigebert king of essex : ethelbert also founded the church of s. andrew in rochester . moreouer , he caused a cittizen to make westminster abbey , which was inlarged and new builded by edward the confessor , and new re-edified by henry the third , and when he had raigned . yeares he died , anno . the foresaid ethelfrid king of northumberland , after the cruell murder of the monkes at bangor , was not long after slaine in the fielde of edwine , who succeeded him in his kingdome . first this ethelfride enuying this edwine , persecuted him , who hauing fled from him , as he sat in his study a stranger appeared vnto him and said ; i know thy thought and heauinesse , what wouldst thou giue him that should deliuer thee out of this feare , and make thee a mightier king then any of thy predecessors , and shew thee a better way of life then euer was sh●wed to any of thy ancestors ? wilt thou obey him and doe after his councell ? yea , said edwine , promising with all his heart so to do , and the stranger laying his hand on his head , he said ; when this is come to passe remember thy tribulation , and the promise which thou hast made , and with that hee vanished away . presently a friend of his came to him , and said , the heart of king redwaldus is with thee . this redwaldus suddainely assembled an hoast , wherewith he suddainely gaue ethelfride battell , and slew him , whereby edwine was quietly king of northumberland . he marryed the daughter of ethelbert king of kent , edwine yet remained a pagan , albeit his queene a christian , and paulinus the byshoppe ceased not to perswade him to the christian faith. when paulinus saw the king so hard to bee conuerted , he prayed to god for his conuersion , who reuealer vnto him the uision before mentioned ; whereupon paulinus comming to the king , he laie his hand● on the kings head , and aked if he knew that token ; the king be●ring the uision , and remembring the token , would haue fal●en at his f●ete , but suffe●ed him not , saying ; o king , you haue vaquished your enemies and obtained your kingdom , now receiue the faith of christ , as you promised , whereupon the king was baptized of paulinus at yorke ▪ with many of his seruants , and his idolatrous priests , which by their old law mustride but vpon mar●s , ga●e vpon horses , and rode and destroyed all the altars of their idols , and their idols temple . after this conuersion , was so great peace in the kingdome o● edwin , that a woman , laden with gold , might goe safe from the one side of the sea vnto the other , and by all his high waies he chained a bowle of brasse at euery fountaine , for passengers to refresh themselues with , and no man tooke them away during his life . king oswald , a christian , by prayer vnto god , with a little company ouerc●me cadwallo , and penda the britain● king , which with a mightie host came against him . there is much commendation in writing of this oswalds zeale in religion , and piety towards the poore ; he sent into scotland for a bishop called aydanus , a famous preacher , as he preached to the saxons in the scottish tongue , the king vnderstanding the scotish tongue , he disdained not to preach and expound the same to his nobles in the english tongue . king oswald being at dinner on easterday , one brought him word there was a great company of p●re people in the streets which asked almes of him , be commaunded the meate prepared for his owne table to be caried vnto them , and brake a si●●er platter in pieces and sen● it amongst them : by his meanes kinigillus king of the west saxons was conuerted to christs faith , and after he had raigned . yeares , he was slaine by the said penda , who was after slaine by osway brother to oswald , and succeeded him in his kingdome , together with his cosin oswine . this oswine gaue aydanus , the scotish bishop aforesaid , a principall horse , with the trappers and appurtenances , and as he w●s riding vpon this kingly horse , a poore man craued his charity , who hauing nothing else to giue him , gaue him his hor●e garnished as he was ; wherefore , as he came to dinner , he king chi●e him , he answere● ; o king , set you more prise by a horse , then by chr●st ? then the king prayed him to forgiue him , and he would not hencefoorth finde fault with him for giuing away any of his treasure : then aydanus wept , and being asked wherefore he wept , he answered , for that this king cannot liue long , this people is nto worthy to be ●uled by such a prince , which shortly came to passe , for osway caused him traterously to be slaine . one benedict , a great man with osway , that brought vp bede from his youth ▪ ●orsooke oswayes house , and all his kindred , to serue christ ; he was the first that brought vp the arte of glazing in windowes . about this time there was a counsell bolden at ste●ne-halt , for the right obseruing of easterday . king osway began with an oration , that it was necessary ●or such as serued one god , to liue in an vniforme order , and such as looked for one kingdom in heauen , should not differ in celebration of heauenly sacraments : then , by his commandement , colman bishop , said he receiued the order of keeping easter the . day of the first moneth , from his auncesters , forefathers , and from iohn euangelist : to which ▪ at the kings commandement , wilfride answered , easter is kept alwaies on the sunday , as we keepe it in rome , where peter and paul taught , in italy , france . affrick , egypt , greece ▪ and in all the world . i will not reproue saint iohn which kept the rights of moses law according to the letter , the church being yet iewish in many points , they could not reiect images inuented of the diuell , which all beleeuers ought of necessitie to detest , least they should offend the iewes ; therefore saint paul circumcized tymothy , therefore he shaued his head , and sacrificed in the temple : all this was done onely to eschew the offence of the iewes . therefore ●ames said to paul ; thou ●éest brother how many thousand iewes doe beleeue yet all are zealous of the old law ; yet , since the gospell was preached , it is not lawfull for the faithfull to be circumcized , nor to offer sacrifices of carnal things to god : but peter remembring that the lord did rise from death the first day after the sabbath , instituted easter on that day , and not according to the law , and though your forefathers were holy men , what is their fewnesse , being but a corner of an iland , to be preferred before the vniuersall church of christ ? then said the king ; did the lord giue the kingdome of heauen vnto peter ? and they both answer●d , yea ; then the king concluded : being saint peter is the doore-keeper of heauen , i will obey his orders in euery point , least when i come to the gates of heauen hee shut them against mee , and with this simple reason they consented . ethelwood preached vnto the people in southsax , and conuerted them to christ in the time of whose baptizing , the raine , which before they lacked three yeares , was giuen them plenteously , whereby there great famine slacked . about this time , the detestable sect of mahomet began to take place , which well agrées with the number of that beast signified in the reuelation . of mahomet came the kingdome of the haarines , now called saracens , to whom he gaue many lawes : they must pray southward , friday is their sunday , called the day of venus , he permitted them to haue as many wiues as they were able to maintaine , and as many concubines as they list : they must abstaine from wine , excep● on solemne daies : ●hey were to worship one onely god omnipotent . moses and the prophets were great ▪ but christ was greatest , being borne without mans seede , and taken vp into the heauen , with many such lawes ; at length the sarasins were wholly conquered by the turkes . theodorus was sent into england by vitellianus pope , and diuerse other monks with him , to set vp latine seruice in england and mas●es , cerimonies , letanies , and other romish ware , he was made archbishop of canterbury , and began to play the rex in placing and displacing bishops at his pleasure . he held a prouinciall counsell at therford , the contents thereof were the vniformitie of keeping easter , that no bishop should intermeddle in anothers di●cesse , that monasteries should be free from iurisdiction o● bishops , that monks should keepe the obedience they first promised , and not goe from one monastery vnto another without leaue of the abbot , that none of the clergy should be receiued in another diocesse without letters commendatory of his bishop , that foraine bishops and clergy men should be content with the hospitality offered them , and not meddle in any bishops iurisdiction without his permission , that once a yeare a prouinciall sinod should be kept , that no bishop should preferre himselfe before another , but according to his time of consecration , that as the people increased , so the number of bishops should be augmented . the next yeare was the sixt generall counsell of constance , where this theodore was present , vnder pope agatho ; mariage there was permitted to the greeke priests , and forbidden to the latine : in this counsell the latine masse was first openly said by iohn portuensis the popes legate . colfride , abbot of shirwin in northumberland , writ to naitonus king of picts , that shauen crownes was necessarie for all priests , and monks , for restraint of their lusts ; and that peter was shauen , in remembrance of the passion of christ , so we must weare the signe of his passion on the toppe of our head , as euery church beareth the holy crosse in the front thereof , that by the defence of that banner it be kept from euill spirits ; and exhorted him to imitate the apostolike churches , and , when he died , the prince of the apostles would open heauen gate to him ; whereat the king reioyced , and knéeling downe , thanked god that hee was worthy to receiue such a present from england , and made proclamation for the performance . when iue , king of the west saxons , had ruled them . yeares , he was perswaded by his wife etheburge , to goe to rome to be made a munke , when the king an● she had rested in a faire palace , richly adorned , she commanded all the roomes in the palace to be strewed with dung of vile beasts , and hogs and beasts to be laid therein ▪ and a sowe and pigs in her chamber , then she brought the king to visit the palace , and said , my lord , where are now the rich ▪ clothes of gold and siluer ▪ that we le●t héere ? where are the pleasant seruitors , delicacies , and costly dishes that we lately were serued with ? we shall vanish away as sodainly as these worldly things be passed , our bodies that are now delicatly kept , shall turne vnto the filth of the earth : therfore busie you to purchase the palace that euer shall indure , by meanes of these , and other words , the king resigned his kingdome vnto etheraldus his nephew , and for the loue of christ , in the habit of a poore man , accompanied with poore men ▪ went to rome ; and his wife went into the nunnery of barkin , seauen miles from london , where , after she had beene abbesse a certaine time , she died . this ●ue was the first king of the saxons , that made lawes for his country . in this time was beda , a man of worthy memory , he was a priest of the monastery of peter and paul , at wire ; at . yeares old , he was committed to the education of benedict ▪ as before ; at . yeares old ●e was made deacon , and at , priest. he wrote . uolumes ; in his treatise vpon samuel , he said ; if my exposition bring no vtilitie to the readers , yet it conduceth not a little to my selfe , that whilst my cogitation was vpon them , i had little minde of the slippery intisements of the world : hee continued in diligent study , vntill the age of . yeares , and in his latter end , whilst he was sicke seauen weekes , he translated the gospell of saint iohn into english. celulphus , king of northumberland , when hee had raigned . yeares was made a m●●ke in the abey of farne ▪ where , by his meanes , licence was giuen to the monks of that house to drinke wine , or ale , which before , by the institution of the aforesaid aydanus , drunke nothing but milke and water . cutbert , archbishop of canterbury , collected a great sinod , where these decrées were enacted , that bishops should be more diligent in seeing to their office , then in admonishing the people , and liue in peace one with another , and once a yeare goe about all the parishes of their diocesse . that they should admonish abbots , and monks , to liue regul●rly , and prelats not to oppresse their infertours , but loue them ▪ that none should be admitted to orders , before his life was examined : that the reading of holy scrip●ures shou●d be more frequented in monasteries : that priests should not dispose seculer businesses : that they should take no money for baptizing : that they should teach the lords prayer and créed in the english tongue : that they should ioyne in their ministery after one vniforme manner : that they should sing in the church with a modest voice : that the saboth be reuerently obserued : that the . canonicall powers be obserued euery day : that the rogation daies should not be omitted : that a festiual day for all saints should be celebrated , and a feast of s. gregory an● s. austin , our patron , should be obserued ▪ that the fasts of the . times should be kept : that churchmen should not giue themselues to drunkennesse : that the communion should not be neglected of the clergy , nor 〈◊〉 : that laymen should be examined , and well tried , before they become monkes : that monkes should not liue amongst lay-men : that publike prayer should bee made for kings , and princes . boniface , archbishop of mentz , a martyre , an english man , wrot a letter to king ethelbert , and rebuked him for abstaining from mariage , that he might liue in luxuriousnesse with nunnes , and that , he heard the chiefe of hi● kingdom , by his example , forsooke their wiues , and liued in adultery with nunnes ; whereby appeareth the great disorder of life that alwaies hath beene in these religious houses of nunnes , whose vowe of coacted chastitie hath neuer beene good to church or common-wealth ; and this boniface , and others were most to blame , for that they g●u● occasion thereof , by maintaining such superstitious orders of lasciuious nunnes , and other religious , restraining them from lawfull mariage . for we finde of him in stories , that , he being the popes legate , builded monasteries , canonized saints ▪ commanded reliques to be worshipped , permitted religious fathers to carry about nunnes with them a preaching ; and he founded the great monastery of f●loa in germany ▪ of english monkes , in which , no woman might enter , but only leba and sec●a two english nuns , and by him childericus , king of france was deposed , and pipinus ▪ the betrayer of his master , made king . from this boniface proceeded that detestable doctrine ; that in case the pope liued most filthily , and neglected himselfe , and all christianitie , and led inumerable soules with him to hell ▪ yet ought no man to rebuke him , because he hath power to iudge all men , and ought to be iudged of no man. pope gregory the . pope gregory the . pope zachary , and pope constantine the . wrought great masteries against the gréeke emperours , philipicus and leo , and others , for the maintaining of images in churches , of whom philipicus lost both his empire , and his eyes : and leo was excommunicated for the same cause . this gregory then brought into the masse canon , the clause for reliques , and the sacrifice for the dead . and zachary brought in the prieste uesture , and ornaments ; and constantinus was the first that gaue his feet to be kissed of the emperours . the aforesaid pipinus , which was the betrayer of his said master childericus king of france , and by the pope made king in his steed , to gratifie the sea of rome for this benefit to him , gaue vnto the said sea , the princedome of rauenna , and the kingdome of lombards , and many other great possessions of italy , with all the cities thereunto adioyning vnto the borders of uenice ; and this no doubt , is the same which falsly hath beene thought to ha●e beene the donation of constantine . to this pipinus was sent first into france the inuention of the orgaines out of grecia , by constantinus emperour of constantinople , in the yeare . pope stephanus succeeded pope constan●inus , and paul the . succeeded him ; hee thundred great excommunications against constantinus emperour of constantinople , for plucking downe images , set vp in the temples , notwithstanding he neglecting his cur●es , destroyed idolatry to the end of his life . then constantinus the . came to be pope , a layman , & brother to deside●ius , king of lumbardy , but he was shortly deposed , thrust into a monastery , & his eyes put out . stephanus the . succéeded paul , he cōdemned the seauenth councel of constantinople for hereticall , because the worshipping of images was condemned there : he aduanced the veneration of images , commanding them , most ethnically , to be incenced . in this time charles the great raigned ▪ by whom the pope caused d●siderius , the lumbard , king to be deposed . pope adrianus the . succéeded him , he added more then all the other to the veneration of images , writing a booke for the adoration and vtilitie of them ▪ commanding them to be taken for lay-mens calenders . as pope paul before him , made much of petronel , peters daughter , so this adrian clothed the body of peter all in siluer , and couered the altar of s. paul , with a pall of golde . he confirmed , by reuelation , the order of s. gregories masse , before the order of s. ambrose his masse : in this manner , both the masse bookes were said vpon the altar of s. peter , and the church doore shut and sealed by many bishops , who continued in praiers all night , that the lord would shew by some euident signe which of these seruices he would haue vsed ; and in the morning they found gregories masse booke plucked in pieces , and scattered about the church , and ambrose his booke lay open in the same place where it was layde ; pop● adrian expounded it , that as the leaues of gregories booke were sattered all ouer the church , so should gregories booke be vsed throughout the world , and that ambrose his seruice should onely be vsed in his owne church , where he was bishop , so gregories masse had onely the place , and hath to this day . charles , the sonne of the aforesaid pipinus , confirmed the gift of his father vnto the pope , and added thereunto the citie and dominion of uenice , histria , the dukedomes of foroinliense , spoletanum , be●e●entanum , and other more possessions to the patrimony of peter , making him the prince of rome and italy , wherefore the pope intituled him , most christian king , and ordained him onely to be taken for emperour , and made him patricium romanum ; and caroloman , carolus his eldest brother , being ●ead , bertha his wife , with her two children , came to pope adrian , to haue them confirmed into his fathers kingdome : the pope , to shew a pleasure to carolus , would not agrée , but gaue her , and her two children , and desiderius the lumbard king , with his whole kingdome , wife and children , into the hands of carolus , who led them into france , and kept them in seruitude during their liues . by this adrian , and pope leo his successor , was carolus magnus proclamed emperour , and the empire translated from the grecians to the frenchmen , in the year . where it continued about . yeares , vntil the comming of conradus and his nephew otho , which were germaines , and so hath continued amongst the almains vntill this time . this charles builded as many monasteries , as there be letters in the a. b. c. he was beneficiall to the poore , but cheefly to churchmen ; he held a councell at frankford , where was cōdemned the councel of nice●e irene , for setting vp & worshiping images . egbert succeeded ceolulphus , and when he had raigned . years in northumberland , was likewise shorne monk , about the time of the death of ceolulphus , in his monastery . in the year . the cities of weire , london , york , doncaster , with others ▪ were burnt . in the yeare . it rained blood it the citie of yorke , it fell from the top of s. peters church , the element being cléere ▪ out of the north part of the temple , & some expounded it to be a token of the comming of the danes , which entred thi● land about . years after . in the yeare . irene empresse of the greekes , by the meanes of pope adrian , tooke vp the body of constantinus emperour of constantinople , her husbands father , and burned it , and caused the ashes to be cast into the sea , because he disanulled images , as afore is said ; afterwards raigning with her son constantine the sixt being at disscen●ion with him ▪ she caused him to be cast into prison , and his eyes to be put out , so cruelly , that within short time he dyed : after , she held a councell at nice● , where it was decréed that images should againe be restored to the church , which councell also was repealed by another councell holden at frankeford , by charles the great ▪ wherin he did greatly lament , that no● so few as . bishops of the east did decree that images should be worshipped , which the church of god hath alwaies abhorred ; at length she was deposed by nicephorus , who raigned after her , and after , according to the iust iudgement of god , ended her life in much penury and misery . the first crosse and altar that was set vp in this realme , was in heuenfield in the north , vpon the occasion of oswald king of northumberland , fighting against cadwalla , where he in the same place set vp the signe of the erosse , kneeling , and praying there for victory . the church of winchester was founded by kingilsus , king of the mercians , and finished by his sonne . anno . the church of lincolne founded by paulinus bishop . the abbey of westminster begun by a citizen of london , by the instigation of ethelbert king of ●ent . . the schooles of cambridge erected by sigebert king of east angles , . the monastery of malmesbury , by meldulphus a scot , . after inlarged by agilbet bishop of winchester . the monastery of gloster , builded by opricus king of mercia , . the monastery of maybrose by aydanus the scottish bishop . the nunnery of he●renton , by he●y , which was the first nun in northumberland . the monastery of hetesey , by osway king of northumberland , who with his daughter elfred , gaue possessions for twelue monasteries , . the monastery of s. martine in douer , builded by whitred king of kent . the abbey of lestingie , by cedda , whom we call saint ced , . the monastery of whithy , by hilda , daughter to the nephew of king edwine ▪ . she builded also another monastery , called hacanus , not farre ●hence . the abbey of abbington , builded by sissa , king of southsaxons , . saint botulph builded an abbey on the east side of lincolne , called ioann● , . the monastery in ely , foūded by etheldred , daughter of anna k. of east angles , . the monastery of chertsey in southery , founded by erkinwald , bishoy of london . he founded also the nunnery of barkin . the abbey of peterborough founded by king ethelwald , . bardnere abbey , by king etheldredus , . glastenbury , by iue king of west saxons , . ramsey , by one aylewinus a nobleman , . king edgar builded , in his time , forty monasteries , he raigned , anno . the monastery of wincombe , builded by king kenulphus , . saint albons , builded by offa , king of mercians , . the abbey of eusham by egwinus bishop , . the abbey of ripon in the north , by wilfridus bishop , . the abby of echlingheie by king aluredus . the nunnery of shaftsbury , by the said aluredus , the same yeare ; so you see that monasteries began to be founded by the saxon kings , within . yeares after they were conuerted ; these had a zeale , but they lacked the true doctrine of christ , especially that article of free iustification by faith ▪ of iesus christ : for lacke whereof ▪ as well the builders , as they that were possessed in the same , haue both runne the wrong way , and béene deceiued : for so much as they did these things seeking thereby merits with god , remedy for ●heir soules , and remission of sinnes , as doth appeare , testified in their owne records , besides the . or . kings that forsooke their kingdomes to be monkes ; there were many quéenes and kings daughters entred into nunneries at that time , as thou maist sée them in the booke at large , named . the third booke containing the next . yeares , from the raigne of king egbertvs , vnto william the conquerour . egbertus , king of the west saxons , hauing put downe all the other kings he gouerned ●oly . king brithricus doubting egbert , because he was of the kings bloude , was chased out of the land into france ; where , hearing of the death of brithricus , hée came home , and ●btained the crowne . king bernulphus , and other kings , had him in deri●●●on , and made diuerse scorning rimes of him ; after he assembled his knights , and fought with bernulphus , in a place called elmeden , and there was ods , six or eight against one ; yet egbert , through the helpe of god , gat the victorie , at length he subdued all the kings , and ioyned their dominions to his , kingdome : he w●nne also the towne of chester from the brittaines , or welchmen , which they possessed vntill this time : then he called a counsell at ▪ winchester , where he was crowned king ouer this land , and where before it was called brittaine , he sent into all costs , and charged them straitly that henceforth the saxons should be called angles , and the land anglia . about the third yeare of his raigne , the danes which a little before had made horrible destruction in northumberland , as before , entred the second time , with a great host , and spoyled the isle of sh●p● in kent ; egbert met with them at carrum , but he was compelled to forsake the field : but in the next battell , with a small company , he ouerthr●w a great multitude o● them . the next yeare they turned againe into the land westward and ioyning with the britaines , did much harme in many places of egberts dominions ; after that , they a●●aded in the land , so that many of them were maried to english women , and many , that now be english men , descended of them . ethelwolfus the sonne of egbert succéeded him in his raigne ; he was bishop of winchester , and by the dispensation of the pope , was made king : he being nuzled therein , was alwaies deuout to holy church , he gaue th●m the tythes of all his goods and lands , and fréedome from all ser●age and ciuill charges . hee made his donation to god , the uirgin mary , and all the saints , for remission of our soules , and sins , and in that we haue , in some part , eased the seruitud of the church , they may the more diligently powre forth their praiers without ●easing , to god for vs. it is no swall derogation to the merits of christ thus to set remission of their sins , and remedie of their soules , in this donation , and such like déeds . the● king ethelwolfe went to rome with his yongest sonne alfred , and committed him to the bringing vp of pope leo the . and re-edified the english schoole in rome , which was founded by king offa , or king iue , which in egberts time was consumed with fire ; and , as king iue had done in his dominions , he gaue a penny yearely to be paid for euery fire-house throughout the realme , to the pope . also he granted . markes yearely to rome , to maintaine lights in saint perters church markes , and to maintaine lights in saint pauls church . markes , and to the pope one other markes : this done , he maried iudith , the daughter of carolus caluus , the french king , whom he made queene , contrary to the lawes of the west saxons , that no kings wife should haue the name , or place of a queene , because ethelburge poisoned king brithericus , her husband . the king was most ruled by the counsell of two bishops , one of them was swithinus bishop of winchester , who had béene scoole-master to the king , the king shewed his kinde nature , in that he not o●●y followed the aduertisments of his old schoole-master but in that he ceased not vntill he had made him bishop of winchester ; but as concerning the miracles which are read in the church of winchester , of this swithinus , them i leaue to be read together with the iliads of homer , or tales of robin hood . pope leo the succéeded adrian , stephen the . succéeded him , and gregory the . succéeded him , in whose time , by the commandement of lodouicus the emperour , a generall synode was commanded at aquisgrane , where it was decreed that euery church should haue sufficient of his owne reuenewes to maintaine the priests thereof , and that none of the clergie should weare any uestures of any precious or scarlet colour , nor kings on their fingers , except at masse time , or in giuing consecra●ions , and that they should not kéepe great ports or families , or vse great horses , or vse dice , or harlots , or vse any gold or siluer in their shooes slippers , or girdles ; by this it may bee coniectured what pompe or pride in these daies was crept into the clergie . after him succeeded pope sergius the . he first brought vp the altering of popes names , because his name was os porci , that is , swines snoute : he ordained the agnus twise to be sung in the masse , and the host to be diuided into thrée parts . pope leo the . succéeded him , it was enacted in a counsell of his , that no bishoppe should be condemned vnder . witnesses , as you sée in the witnesses of stephen gardiner , orderly practized ; he ordained the crosse , all set with precious stones , and gold , to be caried before him like a pope . next to him succéeded the whore of babilon , who appeared vnto the world , not only after the spirituall sence , but after the very letter and right forme of a whore indeed . in stead of a man pope , they chose a whore , called by name ione the her proper name was gi●berta , a dutch woman of magunce , who went with an english monke out of the abbey of ful●a , in mans apparell , vnto athens , after through her dexteritie of wit and learning , she was promoted vnto the popedome ▪ where she sate two yeares and sixe moneths ; after , in open procession , fell in trauell of childe , and so died . pope benedictus the . succeeded her in the whorish sea , he ordained the dirge to be said for the dead , yet before him ▪ gregorius the . had done his part therein . a●ter him succeeded pope nicholas the . who inlarged the popes decrees with many constitutions ▪ equalling the authoritie of them with the writings of the apostles . he ordained that no seculer prince ▪ nor the emperour should be present at their counsels , to the end they might murder such as they iudged to be hereticks , and that no lay man shold iudge clergy men ▪ or reason vpon the popes power . that no magistrate should haue power ouer a prelat , alledging that a prelat is called god. that all church seruice should be in latine , except with the sclauonians , and polonians . sequences in masse were by him first allowed , by him priests began to be ●●strained from mariage ; wherof hulderick bishop of aus●rough sent a letter to the pope , that his decrees , concerning single life of the clergie , were farre discrepant from al discretion , i feare how the members of the body wil do , when the head is so greatly out of frame . is not this a violence & tyranny , when a man is compelled by your decrees , to doe that which is against the institution of the gospell , and the old law , as appeareth by many examples ; there be many vnder a false pretence of continencie , going about to please men more then god , some lye with their fathers wiues , some are sodomits , and play the beasts with brute beasts ; wherefore , as saint paul saith ; because of fornication let euery one haue his owne wife . when the counsell of nice went about to establish this decrée , one paphnutius withstood them , confessing mariage to be honorable , and called the bed of matrimonie , chastitie , and perswaded the counsell from making that law : some take saint gregory for their defence in this matter , being ignorantly deceiued how dangerous this decree was , and how saint gregory after re●●ked the same , with con●igne fruit of repentance : for as he sent to his fish pond to haue fish , hée sée more then . infants heads , which were taken out of the same mote , then he confessed his decrée to be the cause of that so lamentable a murder , so he altered his decrée , commending the counsell of the apostle , which saith ; it is better to marry then to burne , what can be more foolish , then when any bishop , or archdeacon runne themselues headlong into all lust and adultery , and incest , and so●omitrie , yet shame not to say , that chaste mariage of priests stinkes : and they adde this filthy and foolish suggestion , that it is more honest priuily to haue to doe with many women , then openly to be bound to one wife . after this nicholas succéeded pope adrianus the . ioannes the . martinus the adrian the . and stephen the . by this adrian it was decreed , that no emperour , after that time , should haue any thing ●o doe in the election of the pope , and thus began the emperours first decay , and the p●pacie to swell ▪ and rise alo●t . about the latter end of the raigne of ethelwolfe , the danes with . ships , arriued about hampshire , through whose barbarous tyranny much bl●ut shed and murder hapne● heere amongst english men . they first ouercame ethelwolfe ; and after , he and his sonne ethelbaldus , warring against them in sou●her● , at okley , ●raue them to the sea ; where they houering a space , burst in againe with horrible crueltie . besids the iust iudgement of god for their manifold sinnes , which at this time most plentifully abounded , there was two outward causes of the danes comming into england ; the first was , the death of lothbroke ▪ which was falsly imputed to king edmond ▪ as is ●●●ore recited . the other was giuen by the meanes of osbright , raigning vnder the king of west saxons in the north parts , who rauished the wife of bruer one of his nobles ; wherefore the said bruer tooke shipping , and sayled into denmark● , where hee was brought vp , and had great friends ; and making his mone to codrinus the king , who being glad of some iust quarrell , leuied a great army , and sent them with ●ugnar and h●bba , his chiefe captaines , into england , who first arriued at holdernesse , and burned vp the contry , and killed , without mercie , men , women and children : and entring towards yorke , entred battell with osbright , where he , with the most part of his army , was slaine , so they tooke possession of yorke . ethelbald , eldest sonne of ethelwolfe succeeded his father in westsex , and ethelbright ●is second sonne , in k●nt ; they raigned both together . yeares . ethelbald maried iudith his stepmother , his fathers wife . after these two , succeeded ethelred , his third sonne , he was so incumbred with the danes , that he and his brother alured , fought nine battels with them in one yeare , and they spoyled and burned the citie of yorke . the northumberlands likewise rebelled , thinking to recouer their kingdome againe , whereby the strength of england was weakened , and the danes the more preuailed , after he had raigned . yeares in much trouble , he died . alured , otherwise called alfride , his brother succeeded him ; in the second mon●t● that he was made king , he gaue the danes a battell besides wilton , but he was put to the worst ; yet the danes did agree with him to depart out of westsax , and re●●ned from re●ding to london , and abode there all that winter : the number of the danes were so increased , as it is written of th●m , that in one day . of them were slaine , sho●ty after they increased double as many . the danes hauing the rule of the north part of england from the thames ▪ wi●h m●rcian london , and essex , they disda●●ed that alfride should beare any rule on the other side of the thames ; whereupon three kings of the danes ▪ with all their strength , made warre with him , that king alfride being ouerset with his e●emi●s , and forsaken of his people , he withdrew himselfe into a wood country in summersetshire , called etheling , standing in a marsh , that there is no comming to it without bo●e , where he had nothing to liue by , but what he got by hunting , and fishing ; there was a cottage of a poore swineheard , called dunwolfus , by whom the king was cheered with such poore fare as he and his wife could make him , for which , the king after set the swineheard to learning , and made him bishop of winchester . notwithstanding , the king , in time , was comforted by the prouidence of god : first , . danes were slaine , as they landed , by an ambushment of king alfrids men , who lay in garison for their owne safetie , then the king shewed himselfe more at large , and men out of wiltshire , somersetshire , and hampshire came to him , vntill hee had a strong company then the king apparelled himselfe in the habit of a minstrell , as he was very skilfull in musicke , and entred into the tents of the danes , lying at eddingdon , and there espied their idlenesse , and heard much of their counsell , and sodainly , in the nigh , he fell vpon the danes , and slew a great multitude of them ; his subiects bearing of his manly uictories , drew to him daily , so he wonne winchester from the danes , and diuers other townes , and forced them to sêeke peace , the which was concluded , vpon condition that gutrum their king should be christned , and that such as would not be christned should depart the country . king alfride , was king gutrums godfather at his baptisme , and named him athelstan , then he gaue norfolke ▪ suffolke ▪ and part of cambridgeshire , and northumberland to them that were christned , those that would not be christned , though they departed the realme , they did diuerse times returne againe , and did much spoile in many parts of the realme , but king alfride ouercame them euer . during the whole time of the danes , the land was plagued with warres , pestilence , and murren of beasts : the king alwaies thanked god , what troubles soeuer hapned vnto him , and after hee had raigned . yeares and sixe moneths , he died , and is buried at winchester . he euer bestowed eight houres in the day in studie , there was none in england more quicke in vnderstanding , nor more elegant in interpreting then he was . he sent for many learned men out of other countries , to instruct his people . he was the first that ordained certaine schooles of diuerse arts , at oxford , and franchised them with great liberties : he translated many bookes into the saxon tongue ; all that he could , by faire meanes and threats , he endeuoured to stirre vp his subiects to learning : he preferred none to any great place , except he were learned ; since his time , learning was neuer extinguished in this realme , edward his sonne succeeded him in his kingdoms . after stephen the fist was nine popes of rome in nine yeare . formosus being bishop of porti●ax , had offended pope ●one the . which was a woman , as before , and being afraid , fled ; and because he would not returne , he was excommunicated , and after disgraded , and made to sweare he would neuer claime his bishopricke againe , but remaine a seculer man : but pope martine released him of his oath , and restored him to his bishopricke , and shortly after he obtained the pap●ci● ; whereupon was a great controuersie : some held , because of his degradation and oath , he could not be pope ; others held the contrary , because he was absolued by pope martin from that his periury and degradation . he sent to arnulphus for ayde , who marching to rome , they would not suffer him to enter ; and a hare comming néere the citie , the host of arnulphus followed after with such a maine cry , that the valiant romaines , for very feare cast themselues downe from the wals ; so that arnulphus , with a little labour , scaled the wals , and gate the citie : thus he obtained the citie of rome , and rescued the pope , and beheaded his aduersaries , whom the pope to gratifie , blessed him , and crowned him for emperour . after formosus succéeded bonifacius the sixt , after him stephen the sixt , which so enuied formosus that he abrogated all his decrées , and tooke vp his body , and cut off two fingers from his right hand , and threwe them into tyber , and buried the body in a laymans sepulcre . romanus succéeded him , and repealed the acts of stephen , against formosus . theodorus the second succéeded him ; iohn the tenth succéeded him , who repugned the romaines , and held a sinode at rauenna of . bishops : the french king eudo , with his archbishops , being present , where he ratified all the decrées of formosus , and the contrary acts of stephen the sixt were burned . after him benedictus the . after him leo the . who was with strong hand taken and cast into prison , by one christopher , his owne houshold chaplin , which christopher being pope . moneths , was likewise hoysted from his papall throne by one sergius , he thrust him into a monastery , and shore him a munke ; thus in nine yeares were nine popes . this sergius was rude , vnlearned , proud , and cruell ; he before was put backe from the popedome by formosus , wherefore he caused the body of formosus to be taken vp againe , disgraded him , beheaded him , and cut off the other thrée fingers which were left , and threw his bodie into iyber ; and deposed all such as by formosus had beene consecrated . by this pope sergius came vp the vse to beare about candles on candlemasse day , for the purifying of the blessed uirgin , as though the sacred conception of the son of god were vnpure , and to be purified by candlelight . pope anastatius succeeded him , after him pope laudo succéeded , which was father of pope iohn the . pope iohn is said to be the paramour of theodora , a famous harlot of rome , by whom he had a daughter called marozia , and the aforesaid pop● sergius had a sonne by her , which after was pope iohn the . after , she maried guido marquis of tuscia , by the meanes of whom , and his friends at rome , she caused iohn the . to be smothered with a pillow , and iohn the . her sonne to be made pope ; but the clergy and people did not agrée to his election , therefor● pope leo the . was set vp in his place : after him pope stephen succéeded , who being poysoned , the said iohn the . was set vp againe in the papacie , where he raigned about . years . this strumpet marozia , maried two brothers one after another , she gouerned all rome , and the church at that time . after him succeeded stephen the . after him leo the . after him stephen the . after him , pope martine the . after him , pope agapetus the . about whose time began first the order of monks called ordo cluniensis . after king alfride , as before , his sonne edward succéeded , surnamed , the elder ; there were thrée edwards before the conquest : the first edward , the elder ; the second edward the martyre ; the third , edward the confessor . this edward began his raigne in the yeare . the princedome of wales , and the kingdome of scotland , with constantine king thereof , w●re subdued vnto him , also he recouered northfolke , suffolke , essex , and northumberland from the danes . in all hi● warres he had the victorie , his men were so inured with continuall practises of feates of warre , that when they heard of any enemies comming , they would neuer tarry for the king , or any of his dukes , but incountred with them , the assaults of enemies were to the souldiers but a trifle , and vnto the king a ridicle . then the king builded chester , twise as big as it was , and builded a castle at herford in the edge of wales , and another castle at the mouth of the water of auon , and another castle at buckingham ; and another vpon the riuer of ouse . he re-edified the townes of tocester , and wigmore , vpon the riuer of trent . he builded a newe towne ouer against nottingham , and made a bridge ouer the riuer betwixt the two townes , by the riuer of merce he builded a new citie called thilwall , and repaired the city of manchester , and diuerse others . his daughter edgitha was ●aried vnto otho , the first emperour of the almaines , when hée had raigned . yeares hee dyed . adelstan his sonne raigned after him , and was crowned at kingstone ; hée was nothing inferiour to his father in renowne of ciuile gouernment , and in prosperous successe in reducing this realme into subiection of a monarchie . he expelled the danes , subdued the scots , and quieted the welchmen . one elfredus , with seditious persons , conspired against the said king at winchester , presently after the death of his father , went about to put his eyes ; but , by the helpe of god , he escaped . elfred , being accused thereof , fled to rome to purge himselfe by his oath , before the pope , and swearing , or rather forswearing himselfe in saint peters church , suddenly , vpon his oath , fell downe , and within thrée dayes died . the pope sent to the king to know whether he would haue him buried in christian buriall ; at length , by perswasion of his kinred , he was buried in christian buriall . ater the death of sythericus king of northumberland , king adelstone seazed that prouince into his hands , and put out his sonne alanus , who fled into scotland , maried the daughter of constantine king of scots , by whose stirring , gathered a company of danes , scots , and others , and entred the north of humber with a strong nauie of . shippes . king adelstone and his people ioyned in fight with them at a place called binford ; where fighting with them from morning till night , after a terrible slaughter on both sides , the like hath not béene seene in england , king adelstone had the victorie ; fiue vnder kings were slaine in that battell , with constantine king of scots , and twelue dukes , with the most part of the strangers that were there . then king adelstone subdued the brittaines , and forced them to grant to him yearely tribute . lib. of gold , lib. of ●iluer , . heads of neate , with a certaine number of hawkes and dogs . king adelstone caused his guiltlesse brother edwine , through sinister suggestion of his cup-bearer , to be set in an old rotten bote in the broad sea , onely with one esquire with him , without any tackling ; where the tender prince dismai●e with the ●age o● windes and flouds , weary of his life , cast himselfe into the sea ; the esquire shif●ed for himselfe , and recouered the body of his maister , and brought it to sandich , were it was buried . the reason the king the more doubled of his brother , was because he was by his mother of a base bloud , and begotten before wedlocke : for king edward , his father , comming into his nurses house , was rauished with the beautie of one edwina a beautifull maide , begat that night of her king adelstone , and afterward married her : after the king was stricken with great repentance for the death of his brother , by the space of seauen yeares , at length the cup-bearer , his accuser , bearing the cuppe vnto the king , stumbled with one foote , and recouering himselfe with the other , saying ; thus one brother helpeth another . these words so moued the king , that forthwith he commaunded the false accuser of his brother to bee had out to execution ; and he builded two monasteries of middleton and michlenes , for his brothers soule . whereby it appeareth what was the speciall cause of building of monasteries , to wit , for releasing of sinnes for them departed , and them aliue , which is contrarie to the grace and veritie of christs gospell . he deuised diuers good and wholsome lawes , as well of the state ecclesiasticall as seculer , which thou maist see in the booke at large , whereby it is to bee vnderstoode that the vsurped power of the bishop of rome did not then extend or derogate from the authoritie of christian princes , but that euery one in ●is owne dominion had the doing of all causes ▪ whether they were spirituall or temporall , he raigned . yeares , and because he had no issue , his brother edmond succéeded him . this edmond expelled the danes , scots , normanes , and all forraine enemies out of the land , and recouered such cities as were in their hands from them ; then the king set his minde to building of monasteries , and furnishing of churches with possessions : in his time monks were dispersed out of the monastery of esham , and canons substituted in their place . at the first , religious houses were replenished with priests and canons , which were clergie men ; after , monkes succéeded , they professed chastitie , that is , to 〈◊〉 vnmaried , for so they defined chastitie in those blinde daies : the priests and canons liued more frée from monkish rules and obseruations , were common●y marie● , and in their life came néerer to seculer christians , so there was great enmitie betweene them , one ●uer sought to expell the other . thus monkes first beganne , about the time of this king edmond , when straitnes of life , with superstition , was had in veneration ; which men , either to haue publike fame with men , or merit of god , gaue themselues to leade a strict life . there was a monastery in fraunce called floriake , of the rule of benedict , from whence came our english monkes , for after they were professed there , returning into england , they daily congregated men to their profession , and for their outward holinesse and straite life we●e in great admiration , not onely with the rude sort , but with kings and princes , who founded them houses , maintained their rules , and inlarged them with possessions . after king edmund had raigned . yeares and a halfe , he was slaine , and buried at glastenbury , leauing bebing him two children , edwine , and edgar , but because they were vnder age , edred , brother to king edmund , gouerned , as protector , nine yeares with great moderation and fidelity to the young children . edwine , eldest sonne of king edmond was crowned at kingstone ; the day of his coronation he forsooke his nobles , and went into a chamber to a woman whom he inordinately had retained . dunstone , abot of g●astenbury , followed the king into the chamber , and brought him out by the hand , and accused him to odo archbishop , causing him to be separated from her company : for which ●act odo suspended the king out of the church . the king being displeased , banished dunstone , who went into flanders , where hée was in the monastery of a●andus : about that time the order of benedict monkes , or blacke monkes , beganne to multiply in england , so that priests and canons were put out in many places and monkes put in their 〈◊〉 , but king edwine , for the displeasure he bare to dunstone , so vexed all the order of the said monkes , that in malmesbury , glastenbury , and other places , he thrust out the monks and set seculer priests in their steed . edwine being hated of his subiects for his misdemeaners was remoued from his kingly honour , and his brother edgar receiued in his stéede : yet one raigned ouer all on the one side of the th●mes , and the other on the other side of the thames : but edwine after hee had raigned . yeares dyed , leauing no heire , wherefore all fell to edgar . edgar at the age of ▪ yeares began to raigne , but was not crowned vntill . yeares after . he sent for dunstone home againe , whom edwin had exiled , he was made bishop of woster , and after of london ; and not long after of canterbury . by his intre●tie to the king , oswoldus was made bishop of woster ; and by his meanes also ethelwaldus , abbot of abendon , was made bishoppe of winchester . by the meanes of these thrée bishoppes the multitnde of monkes began first to swarme in this realme of england . by the meanes of them king edgar , builded . monasteries , and by the instigation of them king edgar , in diuerse great houses , and cathedrall churches , where prebends and priests were before , displaced them , and set in monkes , and many seculer priests , being put to their choyce whether they would change their habit or leaue their roomes , departed out of their houses . after , oswaldus was made archbishop of yorke , and then they had their minde ; and when he by no perswasion could make the priests and canons of the cathedrall church of yorke become monkes , within the churchyard he erected another church of our lady , replenishing it with monkes , and there he kept his seat , and was euer conuersant , whereby the other church was desolate , and all the people gathered where the bishop was , so they were faine , for shame and contempt , either to relinquish the house , or become monkes : so did ethelwolfe driue out the canons and priests , out of the monasterie of hide in winchester , and placed his monkes so in oxford and mildune , and diuerse places more seculer priests and their wiues were expelled ●o giue place to monkes . the monkes of the primitiue time did differ from the monkes of the middle time , and from our monkes of the latter age . the name and order of monkes began . yeares after christ ; basilius magnus was one of the first institutors and commenders of that superstition . cassianus maketh mention of a certaine monastery in thebaid ▪ wherein were . monkes , vnder the gouernment of one abbot ; and héere also in england , mention is made before of bangor , wherein were . monkes , vnder one mans ruling , in the yeare . but these were such as either by tyranny of persecution were driuen into desart places , or else , of their owne de●●tion , ioyned with superstition , for the loue they had to spirituall contemplation , and hatred of the wicked world withdrew themselues from all company , hauing all things common ; these were lay-men leading a stricter kinde of life then others , as saint augustine , lerome , and others testifie , one thing pertaineth to the monkes , and another thing to the clergie ; the clergie fed the flocke , and the monkes are fed . it appeareth also by the forth canon of the councell of calcedon , that monkes should not meddle with matters of the church . and leo in his . epistle , doth forbid monkes and lay-men to bée admitted to preach . they differed from the monkes of the middle age in thrée points ; first , they were bound to no strict apparell , or dyet , or any thing else . secondly , they were but lay-men , onely being of a stricter life then the rest , and had nothing to doe in ecclesiasticall matters , vntill pope boniface the . gaue them authoritie . thirdly , though many of the monkes of the first age liued single from wiues , yet some of them were maried , and none of them were forbidden from mariage . athanasius in his epistle ad pracontium , saith , hee knew monkes and bishops maried men ▪ and fathers of children . yet though the former monkes were better then the latter , yet amongst them superstition beganne to créepe into the church , by the subtiltie of satan , and all for the ignorance of frée iustification by faith in christ , as for example ; one abbot moses testifieth of himselfe , that hee so afflicted himselfe with fasting , and watching , that hee felt no appetite to meate , and could not sleepe , that hee prayed to god to giue him a little sléepe some péece of the night . this cassianus doth testifie , cap. . cola. ● . hée saith also of an olde hermite that made a vowe hée would neuer eate without some guest , sometimes fasted thrée or foure dayes for lacke of guestes . one mucius , to declare his obedience to the abbot , did not sticke at the commaundement of the abbot , to cast his sonne into the water , not knowing whetherany were there to saue him from drowning , preferring the abbots commaundement before the commaundement of god. and basilius magnus , and nazeanzenus , with immoderate austeritie , did so plucke downe themselues , that when they were called to bee bishoppes , they were not able to sustaine the laboure thereof . after these monks , followed monkes of the middle age , who increased both in number and superstition , from their dennes in wildernesses , the approched to great townes , where they had solemn● monasteries , founded by kings , queenes , kings daughters , and rich consuls , for the remedie of their soules remission , and the redemption of their sinnes , the good of their fathers pos●erities , of their country , and the honour of our lady , and lightly it was for some murder , or great sinne . in which monasteries they abounded in wealth and riches , and did swim●e in superstition and pharisaicall hypocrisie , being yoaked , in all their doings , to certaine obseruations , in watching , in sleeping , in rising , in praying , in walking , in talking , in looking , in tasting , in touching , in gestures , and in their uestures ; and the number of their sects were diuerse : some , after basilius rule , went in w●ite● some , after benicts rule , went in blacke : some , after hieromes rule , their white cloth girt with leather girdles : some gregorians , copper coloured : some gray monkes ; some ware a coate of male vpon their hare bodies , with a blacke cloke thereupon : some had white rochets vpon a blacke cote : some cloke , coule , and cap , all blewe : some charter monkes , wearing heire-cloth next their body : some flagillants , went in long linnen shirts with an open place in the backe , where they beate themselues with scourges on the bare shinne euery day , before the people , till the bloud ranne downe , saying , it was reuealed by an angell , that in scourging themselues so , within thirtie daies and twelue houres they should be made so pure from sinne as they were when they first receiued bap●isme : some iesuits , with a white girdle , and a russet coule , with enumerable more orders ; they were so subiect to seruile rules , that no part of christian libertie remained amongst them , and so drowned in superstition , that they lost christs religion , and the sence of m●n . king edgar reduced england into a full and perfect monarchie , hee would suffer no man , of what degree soeuer he were , to da●ly out his lawes without punishment ▪ in all his time there was neither priuie picker , nor open theefe , for if any were a ●heefe , he was sure to leese his life . he coused ludwallus , prince of wales , to pay him yearely for tribute . wolues , whereby within foure yeares , a wolfe could scarce be found in england and wales . he had in readinesse . ships of warre , and in the sommer . kept the east seas , so many the west seas , and so many the south seas , in the winter he 〈…〉 progresse ouer the land , to sée how his lawes were kept , that the poore should not be opprest by the mightie . in the . yeare of his raigne eight kings that were vnder him , of which the king of scots was one , came to him to chester , and did him homage , next day in a royaltie he caused the eight kings , euery one rowing with an oare , to cary him in a bo●e vp and downe the riuer to the church of saint iohn and vnto his palace againe , in token that he was lord of so many prouinces . he sent one ethelwold , an earle of his priuie counsell , to sée elfrida , daughter of the duke of somerset , whose beautie was commended vnto him , who tolde the king all things contrary , and after maried her ; the king came to see her , her husband had prayed her to put on her worst apparell , and disgrace her selfe as much as shee could , but she set her selfe forth as gloriously as she could : when the king see her , hee was not so much inflamed with loue of her as with hatred to her husband , and sending for him to hunt with him , runne him through with his sword , and killed him : wherefore elfrida builded a monastery of nunnes in remission of her sinnes . hee was incontinent , and lasciuious in deflowring maids , hee deflowred wilfrida , a dukes daughter being a nunne , and had a daughter named editha by her ; and he comming to andiuer , thinking to haue his pleasure of a dukes daughter , the mother grieuing to haue her daughter a concubine , con●eyed another beautifull maid into his bed in stead of her daughter , which the king perceiuing , made the maid mistresse of both her master and mistresse . he had another concubine edelf●●eda , daughter to duke ordmere a professed nunne , of whom hee begat edward . but his greatest offence was in that he was the first , and chiefest cause of this monkery : for lying with this ethelfleda , dunstone held him from coronation seauen yeares , and had seauen ●●eres penance inioyned him . after he had raingned . yeares he dyed , and was buried at glastenbury . his penance was , to weare no crowne seauen yeares , to fast twise a wéeke , to giue his treasure to the poore , and to build a monastery of nunnes at shaftsbury , as he had robbed god of one uirgine , so he should restore many ; and that he should expell priests and canons , and place monkes in their place . as for the lying miracles , that all were healed of any disease that prayed at the tombe of this ethelfleda , and how saint dunstone hunted the deuill away with dogs , and caught him by the nose with a hote paire of tongues , and many other myracles of this dunstone , with many other lying myracles before ; in this treatise i haue omitted , thinking them not worthy to be abridged , referring thée therein to the booke at large . edward succéeded edgar , being his bastard sonne by ethelfleda the nunne , by the meanes of dunstone and the other bishoppes , onely to maintaine their monkery , and egel●ed the lawfull sonne of edgar was put backe : then they supposed they had established the kingdome of monkery for euer . yet alferus , duke of mercia , folowing the quéenes minde , with other great men , drou● the monkes out of the cathedrall and other churches , and set in the priests with their wiues againe : there were great contentions about the matter , and two councels . in the first councell , they being almost all against dunstone , he turned them by making a crucifixe speake on his side , which most likely was the voice of some monke through a cane . and in the second councell , the roofe of a chamber brake ▪ where they were all assembled , and all fell downe sauing dunstone , which stood vpon a beame , which did not fall : this was likely done to by policie vpon this the matter ceased , and dunston had all his will. king edward after hee had raigned almost . yeares , was murdered , and egelred his brother succeeded him : the queene being consenting to his murder , in repentance of her fact , builded two nunneries , one at amesbury , the other at we●ewell , this was edward the martyr . after pope agapetus the . succeeded pope iohn the . he is noted to bee an adulterer , incestuous , and tyrannous : of some of his cardinals he put their eyes out , of some he cut out their tongues , of some their fingers , of some their noses . in a generall councell before otho the first emperour of the germaines , it was articled against him , that he neuer said seruice , that in saying masse , hee did not communicate : that he committed incest with two of his sisters : that at dice , he called for the diuell to helpe him : wherefore he was deposed , and pope leo substitute in his place : but after the emperour was gone , by the whoores of rome , and their great promises , he was restored againe , and leo deposed . in the tenth yeare of his popedome he was s●●nd with a mans wife , and so wounded by her husband , that in eight dayes he dyed . after him , the romaines elected benedictus the first , without the emperour . because they had put downe leo and chosen another without his consent , the emperour came with his army , and set vp pope leo the eight againe ; wherefore leo crowned otho for emperour , and intituled him augustus , and what carolus magnus had giuen to the sea , and people of rome , he by a synodall decre ▪ granted to the emperour and his successors . the emperour againe restored to the sea of rome , all such donations and possessions as constantine , as they falsly pretend , or which carolus magnus tooke from the lumbards , and gaue to them . after him succéeded iohn the . against whom , for holding with the emperour , petrus , the chiefe captaine of the citie , with two consuls , and twelue aldermen , and other nobles , laide hands vpon the pope , and imprisoned him eleuen monethes : the emperour came to rome with his armie , executed the chiefe doers of the fact . but he committed petrus to the popes arbitrement , he caused him to bee stripped naked , his beard to bee shauen , and to be hanged by the heire of the head a whole day , then to be set vpon an asse , his face turned backeward , his hands bound vnder the asses tayle , and so to be ledde through the citie , then to bee scourged with rods , and banished the citie ; from this pope procéeded first the christning of bels. benedictus the . succéeded him , who was imprisoned by cinthius a captaine of rome , and there slaine . then came pope donus the . after whom , bonifacius the . was pope ; he 〈◊〉 the citizens of rome to conspire against him , tooke the treasure of saint peters church , and st●le to constantinople . the romaines set vp iohn the . pope ; boniface , by his treasure , procured a garison to take his part , and returned to rome , he tooke pope iohn , put out his eyes , threw him in prison , and famished him , but he , not long after , sodainly died . the romaines drew his carkeasse about the streets by the feete after his death , in despitefull manner , the people exclaiming against him . pope benedictus the . succeeded him by consent of the emperour otho , the second , and raigned . yeares . after him succeeded iohn the . after him , iohn the . after him , gregory the . crescentius , with the people of rome , and the clergy , conuenting against him , set vp pope iohn the . wherefore the emperour otho the . sent an armie into italy , got the citie , and tooke crescentius the consull , and pope iohn , he put out the eyes of pope iohn , and then killed him : he set crescentius vpon a vile horse , his nose and eares cut off , his face turned to the horse taile , and after his members were ●nt off , and he hanged vpon a gibbit . hee assembled a councell at rome , where he established the empire in his owne contry , and by the consent of otho , ordained seauen to be electors ; three bishops , three princes , to wit , prince palatine , the duke of saxony , the marquesse of brandenburge , to whom was added the king of boheme to giue the odde voyce , if the eauen voyces could not agree : this constitution being begun , anno . was after established in germany by otho , . which order remaineth to this day . after the death of king edward , egelred his younger brother , raigned in his steade ; vpon his coronation a cloud was scene through the land , one halfe like bloud , the other halfe like fire ; shortly after , the third yeare of his raigne , the danes ariued in sundry places of this land , and did much spoyle , and retyred to their ships againe , and about the same time a great part of london was consumed with fire . the king besieged the bishoppe of rochester ; dunstone required the king , for saint andrewes sake , to giue ouer the siege , yet he would not depart vntill the king had of him . lib. of gold . the danes , séeing the hatred of the subiects against the king , rose againe , and 〈◊〉 great harme in many places in england , that the king granted them great summes of money for peace , and a sore sicknesse of the bloudy flix , and hot feuours fell amongst the people , of which many dyed ; and a like murren amongst the beasts , and for lacke of iustice , many théeues and bribers were in the lan● . not long after , the danes inuaded the land againe in such sort that the king was so séeke in which coste he should first withstand them , and was compelled to appease them with great summes of money ; and for lacke of a good go●ernour , many things perishe● in the land : for the king gaue himselfe to lechery , and polluting his subiects , disinheriti●g them , and causing them with great summes to reda●●e the same againe . 〈◊〉 payed the danes tribute yearely , which was called dane-gilt ; which tribute increase● ▪ from . lib. yearely , and in fiue or sixe yeares , it came to . lib. yearely . ●dricke duke of mercia , and alfrike admirall of the ships , warned the danes 〈◊〉 whatsoeuer the king deuised against them , wherefore the king put out the eyes of th● admirals sonne , and of the two sonnes of duke edricke . the danes thus preuailing , were so proud , they forced the husbandmen to plo● , and sows their lands , and the whilst would sit at home with their wiues and daughters ▪ and fared of the best , when the husbandmen fared but scantly of their owne ; they were glad to please them , and call them lord danes ▪ which after was turned to a name of ●●proby , when they rebuked another , they called him lurdaine . the king in the . yeare of his raigne , maried emma , the daughter of richard duke of normandy , which mariage inhaun●ed the kings minde , that hee sent secret , and strait commissions to the rulers of euery towne in england , that vpon 〈◊〉 brices day , at an houre appointed , the danes should be suddenly slaine , and so it wa● performed . then swanus king of denmarke , hearing of this slaughter of the danes , with a great hoste and nauie , came into england , and did much spoyle , but at length he was met with of duke vskatell , and beaten , and many of the danes slaine , wherefore they returned to denmarke . the next yeare swanus entred into the land againe , and spoyled the contry , and euer when as he heard of the kings hoste comming , he tooke ship againe , and went to a● other part of the contry , and when the king would méete him by sea , he would fly , or else bribe the admirall , so they brought the englishmen into vnspeakeable misery , that the king was faine to giue them . lib. for peace . but after swanus broke cou●nant , and landed in northumberland with a great hoste , proclaiming himselfe king , caused the earle with the rulers of the contry , to sweare him fealty : so he conquered through the contry ▪ and tooke pledges of them . he tooke winchester , and oxford , and came to london , hearing the king was there ; he went into kent , and conquered canterbury , where he fired the citie , and slew . monke of the abbey of saint augustines , and . of the men and women of the citie , and they stoned elphegus ●●shoppe of canterbury to death at grinewich because hee would not giue them . lib. the king , for feare , sent his wife emma and his two sonnes , alfred and edward , 〈◊〉 the duke of normandy ; after , the king fled to the isle of wight , and went thence 〈◊〉 to normandy to his wife . swanus teared exceeding impositions vpon the people , and required a great summe of money of saint edmunds lands , which being d●nyed him ▪ because the land was frée , he spoyled the contry , despising the martyre , and mena●ing the place of his sepulchre : wherefore the people fell to prayer , and fasting , so that shortly after , swanus suddenly crying and yelling amongst his knights , dyed : wherfore canutus his sonne ruling as king after his father , builded the abbey of s. edmundsbury our saint edmonds sepulchre , and ditched their land with a great ditch ; ordained a house of monks there , and g●ue them their au●tient freedomes . after that , it was vs●● that the kings of england when they were crowned , offered their crownes to saint edmonds shrine ▪ and bought them againe . king eldred hearing the death of swanus , returned into england . canutus fled to sandwich , and cutting off the noses and hands of the pledges , which his father left 〈◊〉 him , sayled into denmarke . the next yeare canutus returned againe with a great host , and forced the people to be sworne vnto him , and giue him pledges . in this season king eldred died at london , after he had raigned . yeares , and was buried in paules . after whose death the most part chose canutus , the king of the danes , king ; generally all the clergie men choose him , but the citizens of london , and certaine nobles choose edmund , the eldest sonne of egelred king ; who for his hardinesse to indure labour was surnamed ironside . betwixt these two martiall princes many great battels were sought , with no great difference of victory ; at length , by rensent , they two onely tryed the quarell in the fight of both hosts , and when they had assayed each other with sharpe words and strokes , they both agréed , and kissed each other , and diuided the land betweene them , and during their liues loued as brethren . shortly after , one of the sonnes of duke edricus aforesaid killed king edmund , after hée had raigned two yeares . hee left two sonnes behinde him , edmund and edward , whom the wicked duke tooke from their mother , shee not knowing of her husbands death , and presented them to canutus , saying ; aue rex solus . canutus sent them to his brother swanus , king of sweueland , to be ●laine ; but hée sent them to solamon king of hungary , where edmund maried the kings daughter , and dyed : and edward was maried to agatha the daughter to the emperour henry the fourth . then canutus held a parliament , established the crowne to himselfe , hee disdained euer after those whom he found false to their natiue king , some of them he exiled , some he beheaded , and some died suddenly by the punishment of god ; and wicked duke edrike was beheaded , an● his head set vpon london bridge . in the meane time swaynus ▪ his brother , king of denmarke , dyed , and the land fell to canutus , hee 〈◊〉 toither , and tooke possession thereof , and returned , and maried emmalate wife of egelred by whom he had a sonne called hardyknight . he held a parliament at oxford , where it was agreed that englishmen and danes should hold the lawes made by king edgar . then the danes begun to be christians , and canutus went to rome , and returned . he gouerned the l●nd . yeares , and left two sonnes , harold and hardeknight , which was made king of denmarke in his fathers time . harold , called harefore for his swiftnesse , succéeded him , hee banished his stepmother emma , and tooke away her goods and iewels . hardeknight king of demmarke succéeded him , and when he had raigned two yeares , being merry at lambeth , he was suddenly strucke dumb● and died , being the last king of the danes that raigned in england . in the time of these danish kings , there was one godwine , an earle in england , when the aforesaid two s●nnes of king egelred , alfred and edward , came from normandy to england to visit their mother emma , and brought with them a great company of normaines , this godwine , hauing a daughter named godith , whom he thought to haue maried to edward , and made him king . hee perswaded the king hardeknight that the normaines should be slaine , and gat authoritie to order the matter himselfe . wherefore hée met them at guildowne , with a company of english souldiers , slewe almost all the normaines , winding their gots out of their bellyes , and put out the eyes of alfred the eldest brother , and sent him to the abby of elie , where hée fed him with bread and water , vntill shorty after hée dyed . edward escaped to his mother , who fearing godwine , sent him againe into normandy . this cruell fact to the normaines , séemeth to bée the cause why the iust iudgement of god , shortly after , conquered the english nation by the normaines . after the death of king hardeknight , last king of the danes , the lords sent into normandy for the aforesaid edward , yonger sonne of quéen emma , to take possession of the realme , who came with a few normaines , and was crowned at winchester . he maried godith , daughter of earle godwine , hee ruled with much wisdome and 〈◊〉 . yeares . in his time his mother emma was accused to be too familier with alwine bishop●● winchester , by the councell of godwine , they were committed to prison ; many of 〈◊〉 bishops laboured for them to the king , but robert archbishop of canterbury stopp●● their su●e , saying ; how dare you defend her , shée hath def●med her sonne the 〈◊〉 and taken her ler●erous lemman the bishop : she is accused to bee consenting to ●he death of her sonne alfred , and procured poyson for her sonne edward ; it she will 〈◊〉 bare footed for her selfe foure steps , and for the bishop fiue , vpon nine 〈…〉 , if she escape harmelesse , they shall be af●oyled : she agreed theris : then the ●ing and many nobles being present , she was led blindfold to the place , where irons lay burning hote , and passed the nine shares vnhurt , when they opened her eyes , and she s●e her selfe past the paine , she kneeled downe and gaue thankes to god , then the king asked her forgiuenesse but the archbishop f●ed into normandy . the said cruell 〈◊〉 godwine tooke bread and eate it , in witnesse that he was not guilty of the death of alfred the kings brother , but as soone as hee had recei●ed the bread he was choked at the table , before the king at winsor , and he was conueyed to winchester and buried . harold the second sonne of godwine succeeded edward , who was the last king of the s●x●ns . then the kings so●ne of denmarke came into england with . ships , who entred the north , and claymed the land ; the lords of the country rose against them , but the danes had the victory , then h●rold gaue them a great battell , and got the victory , and slew the king of denmarkes sonne . after this victory harold waxed proud and couetous , and would not diuide the pr●y to his knights , but kept it to himselfe . whereas harold had sworne to william duke of normandy ▪ after the death of king edward , to take possession of the kingdome of england to his vse , according to the will of king edward , that the duke of normandy should succéede him . the duke sent to him , admonishing him of the couenants that were agréed vpon betwixt them ▪ harald answered thus , that such a nice foolish promise ought not to be holden , concerning the land of another , without the consent of the lords of the same , especially because neede and dread compelled him thereto . whereupon duke william prepaired his armie , and sent to pope alexander concerning his title , and ●oiage , the pope confirmed him in the same , and sent him a banner . and they tooke shipping with a great company , and landed at hastings in sussex , the normans and harald ioyned battell in the place where af●ter was builded the abby of battell in sussex , where the normaines obtained the victory through the iust prouidence of god , where harold was wounded in the left eye with an arrowe , and incontinently dyed , when hee had raigned nine yeares , and was buryed at wal●ome . this duke william and king edward were by the fathers side , cosen germaynes . after this gregory the first , succeeded siluester the second ; he sate . yeares , 〈◊〉 moneth and . dayes pope . by the testimony of stella , benno , and platina , and many others , he was a sorce●er , and was exal●ed to the papacy by the deuill , vpon this condition , that after his death , he should giue himselfe to the deuill . he demaunded of the deuill how long he should ●nioy his popedome . hee answered , untill thou say masse in ierusalem thou shalt liue . at length the pope ▪ in lent , saying masse in the temple of the holy crosse , which church ( vnknowne to him ) was called ierusalem ▪ then hee knewe hee should dye ; then repenting , hee confessed his fault before all the people . ●f●er him succeeded iohn the . which brought in the feast of all-soules to bee celebrated next after all-saints day , by the meanes of odilo , abbot of cl●nake . this abbot , thinking that purgatory should bee in mount e●na , dreamed vppon a time that h●e , by his mas●es , had d●liuered diuerse sou●es from thence ; saying , that hee heard the voyces and lamentatious of d●uils , crying out , for that the soules were taken from them by masses , and dirges fun●rall , pope iohn the . succeeded him , and after him sergius the after him benedictus the . then iohn the . who was pr●moted by arte magicke of diuerse sorcerers . he brought in the fast of saint iohn baptist eauen , and of saint laurence . after him followed pope benedictus the . aspiring to his papacie by magicke , practising incha●tments and con●●rations in words : he resisted the emperour henricus the third , sonne of conradus , and placed in his roome pe●●us king of hungary . after for feare of henricus , he was faine to sell his sea● so gratianus , called gregorie the sixt , for . lib. at which time there was three popes in rome together raigning , one against another , benedictus the . siluester the . gregorius the . for which cause , henricus , surnamed niger , the emperour , displaced these three monsters , placing for them clement the second ; and en●cted that no pope shou●d be chosen without the consent of the emperour : and the romanes made an oth to the emperour to that effect . but the emper●ur being gone , they forgot their oath , and poysoned the pope ; which 〈◊〉 some impute to damasus the . his successor , and some to erazutus , which poysoned six p●p●s . damasus within . daies after he was pope , was poysoned . ●hen the romaines , and cardinals , sent to the emperour for a pope , who g●ue them leo the . he kept two councels , one at uercellis , where the doctrine of beri●garius against the real presence was condemned : the other was k●pt at moguntia , where , amongst many decrees , pri●sts were vtterly excluded from mariage , and that no ●ay man ●ight giue ●eni●●ce , bishopricke , and spirituall promo●ion , leo being at wormes with the emperour on christmas day , hee excommunica●ed the sub●eacon , for not reading the episte in latine ▪ the archbishop being at masse , staid and would go● no further , vnlesse his subdeacon were rest●red : whereupon the pope released him . leo was poysoned by brazutus , the first yeare of his popedome . victor the ● . succeeded him , hee kept a councell at florence , hee deposed diuerse bishops and priests for simony , and fornication : of simony , because they were tooke their li●ing of secular m●n for money● for fornication , because they were maried . in his ●econd yeare he was poysoned also ▪ by the said brazutus , by the procurement of hildebrand his master . stephanus the . succéeded him , hee was chosen without the emperour , hee accused the emperour of heresie , for deminishing the authoritie of the romaine sea. hée likewise called it symony for secular men to present to a spirituall liuing . he sent cardinall hildebrand with commission to reforme the matter : in the meane time he , tasting brazutus cup , dyed . after him the romaines set vp benedictus the tenth pope : but hildebrand perswaded the clergie to choose nicolaus the second , who by force caused the other pope to vnpope himselfe . nicolas called the councell of lateran , in which hée vnderminded the emperours ●urisdiction , and gaue the full authoritie or choosing the pope vnto a fewe cardinals , and certaine catholike persons , and against such as be popes without the full consent of the cardinals , he thundreth terrible blasts of excommunication , accursing them and their children with denils ; giuing power to cardinals , with the clergie and 〈◊〉 , to depose such person , and call a generall councell , where they will , against them . in this councell beringarius was forced to recant his doctrine against the reall presence in the sacrament , and the terme of transubstantiation was there first deuised . hée displaced the right heire of the dukedome of ap●●lia , and placed robertus quistardus to bée duke , and generall captain● of saint peters land : but it standeth not with the gospell , a bishop with outward armes to conquer christian men and countries . after hee had raigned three yeares and a halfe , he met with brazutus cup , and turned vp his héeles . then the emperour set vp coralus pope , but hildebrand set vp alexander the second , who ouercame coralus . then there was a councell kept at m●ntus , where alexander was declared pope , and it was concluded that priests should haue no wiues , and those that had wiues should say no masse : no benefices to bee bought for money , alle●uia to bee suspended in lent , that no ●pirituall man should enter into any church by a secular man , that the pope should be elected onely by the cardinals , this alexander being at masse , as hee was preaching vnto the people , told them he would not sit in the place , except he had the licence of the empe●our , which strucke heldebrand into such a furis , that as soone as masse was done , he forced him into a chamber , and beat him with his 〈◊〉 , rating him that he would séeke fauour of the emperour ; and kept him in custodie , all●wing him but twenty pence a day : and heldebrand incroched all the reuenewes of the church vnto himselfe . at l●st alexander , vnder this miserable indurance , died , hauing béene pope . yeares and a halfe . the fovrth booke containing other . yeares , from william the conquerour , to the time of iohn wickliffe . william the conquerour was the base 〈◊〉 of robert duke of normandy , nephew to ki●g edward after the 〈◊〉 said uictory against harald , he was receiuer king ouer england , and was crowned vpon christmas day . the yeare before his comming was a great blasing starre the space of seauen daies , he made the englishmen pay for euery twentie acres of land . ● . yearely wherefore many rebelled , but he conquered them : many of his lords departed into scotland , wherefore hee kept them that ●aried the straiter . hee gaue the nomaines the chiefest possessions of the land , hee changed all the temporall lawes of the realme , and set straite lawes vpon the spiritualtie . hee builded foure strong castles , two at yorke , one at nottingham , and another at lincolne . in the . yeare of his raigne , harald and canutus , sonnes of swanus king of denmarke , came into the north contry , but , after much spoyle , king william chased them to their ships , and he was so displeased with the inhabitants for fauouring them , that he destroyed the land from yorke to du●ham , so that nine yeares after the prouince lay waste and vnman●red . in the . yeare of his raigne malcoline king of the scots , entred into northumberland and destroyed the contry , and slew men , women , and children ; but within two yeares king william made such warre with the scots , that hee forced malcome , their king to doe him homage . in the same . yeare of this king , there was holden a councell of the clergie at winchester , at which was present two cardinals from the pope , and the king was there present : diuerse bishops , abbots , and priors , by the meanes of the king , were depriued , without any euident cause , that the normaines might bee proferred vnto the rule of the church , as his knights were to the rule of the temporalty . o●● thomas , a normaine , was preferred vnto the archbishoprick , of yorke , and one lanfranckus an italian , was made archbishop of canterbury , betwixt them grew a contention , about giuing and taking the othe of obedience ; but the king appeased it , and the bishop of yorke , builded the minster of yorke , and gaue possessions thereto . but when these two archbishops came to rome for their pale , the contreuersie renewed betwixt them for the primacie , the pope not disposed to decide the matter , sent them home to haue their matter determined ; so the mat●er came before the king and clergie at windsor , the archbishop of canterbury said ; since the time that austin conuerted this land to christianitie , and was made archbishop of canterbury , and primate of all england , by pop● gregory , the primacie hath succéeded there euer since , and being yorke tooks the christian faith from thence , it was reason it should bee subiect thereto . the bishop of yorke answered , that the britaines , the fi●st possessors of this kingdome , which indured from brutus to cadwalader , . year●s , vnder an hundred and two kings , and they receiued the christian faith in the yeare of christ . in the time of lucius their king , elutherius being pope , who sent thither fagamus and damianus preachers , who ordained in the realme . bishops with two archbishopes , theonus archbishop of london , and theodosius archbishop of yorke , so it continued . yeares ▪ vntill the saxons ( being infidels ) subdued the realme , and diuided it into seauen kingdome , and so it continued vntill gregory sent hither . austin to conuert the realme , who was after made archbishop of canterbury ; and it was gregories purpose to reduce the new church of the saxons to the order that was in the old time amongst the britaines , vnder the two metropolitaines of london and yorke : yet hée gaue austen this prerogatiue during his life time , to haue the iurisdiction aboue all the bishops and priests in england ; but after his dec●ase london and yorke to ouersée the charge , and he willed no distinction of honour to be betwixt london and yorke , but that he that had béene longest bishop of the place should be preferred . upon this it was decréed that yorke should be subiect to canterbury , and that wheresoeuer canterbury would hold a councell , yorke , with his bishops , should come thither , and be obedient to his decrées ; and when canterbury should decease , yorke should come to duer to consecrate the new archbishop : but if yorke decease , his successor should resort to canterbury , and where the bishop of canterbury should appoint , to receiue his consecration , swearing obedience . in the yeare of king williams reigne , another counsell was holden at london , w●ere was decreed that the bishop of yorke should sit on the right hand of canterbury , and london on the left and in his absence winchester ; and that bishops should translate the seas from v●●lages to cities ; that monks should haue nothing propper , and if any so had , he dying vnconf●ssed , should not be buried in the churchyard ; that no clarke or monke should be retained in another di●cesse without letters testimoniall ; that none should speake in the councell without leaue , but bishops and abbots ; that none should buy or sell any ●ffice in the church ; that neither bishop , abbot , nor any of the clergie should be at the iudgement of any mans death or dismembring . at this time diuerse good bishops displaced monkes , and restored maried priests againe , the bishop of winchester placed aboue . canons in stead of monkes for his part , but this godly enterprise was stopped by lanfranke the archbishop of canterbury ; he plucked downe the old church of canterbury and builded vp the new . after the death of the pope hildebrand succéeded , who was surnamed gregory the . he was a sorcerer , and the principal cause of all the per●urbation that hath beene since in the church , for before he wrought his feats , setting vp and displacing what bishops he listed , setting them against emperours , and destroying matrimony vnder colour of chasti●ie ; the chuch was in some order , and popes quietly ruled vnder christian emperours , and were defended by them . he first , contemning the authoritie of the emperor , thrust in himselfe to be pope , vanting himselfe to haue both the ecclesiasticall , and the temporall sword , committed to him of christ , and full power to binde and loose what he lifted , he challenged all the dominion both of the east and west church ; he set at light kings and emperours , who raigned but at his godamercie ; bishops and prelates as his vnderlings he kept in awe , suspending , cursing , and chopping off their heads . he ●●irred vp warres , releasing othes , fidelitie , and due allegiance of subiects to their princes . to this scope tended chiefly all his practises , to abolish the mariage of priests , and to translate the authoritie emperiall vnto the clergy , as appeared before in the councell of later●n ; for though he was not then pope in name , yet was he pope indéed , and ruled the pope as he listed . in a councell which he held at rome , he enacted that no priest hereafter should mary , that those that were maried should be diuorced , and that none hereafter should be admitted priest , but should sweare perpetuall chastitie . the clergie of france resisted this decree , and said it was repugnant to the word of god , that the pope should take from priests that which god and nature had giuen them ; and against the doctrine of saint paul ; i haue no commaundement of god touching virginitie , and he that cannot liue continent , let him mary . and that it was against the canons of the apostles , and the nicen councell : and that thereby would be opened a pernicious window to vncleanesse , and fornication , and conclud●d , they had rather giue vp their benefices then forsake their lawful wiues against the word of christ. likewise , the priests of germany were as stout against the pope : but at last , this gréedinesse of liuings , in weake priests , made them to yéeld vp their godly libertie to wicked tyranny . he preached , in a great assembly , that the emperour should die before saint peters day next , and should be so deiected , that he should not be able to gather together aboue sixe knights , and that if this prophesie were not fulfilled , they should plucke him from the altar , and he would be no more pope . and when he had gone about diuerse waies to murder the emperour , and yet god preserued him beyond the appointed time , them subtily he turned his tale , and said , he ment of the soule of the king. about the time hildebrand was made pope , there was great warres betwixt otho duke of saxony and the emperour , which was a fit occasion for the pope to worke his seats . first , he excommunicated all that receiued spirituall liuings of lay-men , and all the giuers thereof , which he called symony , whereupon he sent legats to the emperour , to appeare before him at the councell of lateran . the emperour appeared not : whereupon hee threatned him excommunication , and to depriue him of his crowne , if he would not renounce the heresie of symony , which was , giuing of spituall liuings . wherefore centius , a romaine captaine , caught the pope , and shut him vp into a tower ; the next day the citizens plucked downe the tower , and deliuered the pope , and cut off the noses of the men of centius , but he escaped to the emperour . the emperour , being moued with this arrogancie , called a councell at wormes , where all the bishops of germany deposed hildebrand . the pope , in his councell of lateran , excommunicated and depriued as many as tooke the emperours part , and excommunicated the emperour , depriued him of his empire , and all his subiects of their oath of alleagiance . as soone as he rose out of his papal seat , to excommunicate the emperour , the seat being but new , and of strong tymber , suddenly shiuered and rent vs pieces . the princes of almany all concluded to forsake henry , and choose another emperour , except he would submit himselfe , and obtaine the popes pardon . the emperour , with his wife and young sonne , all hauing forsaken him , laying apart his regall ornaments , in sharpe winter , came bare foo●●d to the gate of canossus , where fasting from morning to night , humbly he desired to be absolued , and to come in and speake with the pope , thus he continued and could not be let in , in thrée daies : the fourth day , being brought to the pope , he surrendred his crowne and princely ornaments vnto him , desiring he might be forgiuen , and he would neuer doe against him againe . he told him , he would not absolue him , but vpon condition he should doe such penance as hee should enioyne him , and appeare at the councell when he should send for him , and answere there all obiections laid against him ▪ and stand to his pleasure whether hee should haue his kingdome restored , or loose it ; and should doe nothing as a king , vntill the cause were tryed : and , vpon his oath , for performance hereof , he was absolued . for all this the pope sent to france , for their consents , that rodulphus should be emperor . then there was sent to rodulphus b●ing duke or sw●●ia a crowne from the pope , with this verie , petra dedit petro , petrus diadema rodulpho . then he gaue in commaundement to the archbishop of ments , and of cullen , to elect rodulphus emperour , and annoint him king , and defend him with all their strength . whilst this conspiracie was in hand , the emperour was absent , and the popes ambassadors with him , and , vnknowne to him , rodulphus was elected emperour : the bishop of stasbrough 〈◊〉 henry the emperour thereof , who seeing the saxons so bent against him , marched forward with his souldiers to defend his right , but first sent to rome , requiring the pope to excommunicate rodulphus . but he minding nothing lesse , sent word that he would not condemne any person without hearing the cause : so , vnder colour of lawe , disapp●inted henry ; who being forsaken on euery side , with his men attempted battell with rodulphus : there was great slaughter on both sides , but no victory , so yet both chal●nged the empire . then they both sent to rome for the popes determination , to whether of them the empire appertained : the pope willed them to breake vp their a●mies , promising shortly to call a councell , where this matter should be disputed ; but before the messengers returned , they had another conflict , but no victory so both being wearied in warre , ( the romish beast being the cause therof ) and the pope perceiuing these warres would be to the great calamitie , not onely of germany , but to other nations , deuised another way to helpe rodulphus ; sent a commission to the archbishop of treuers , and others , giuing them in charge to call a councell to sit at almany to determine ●he right , promising what they determined , he by the au●horitie of god omnipotent , and of saint peter and of sant paul would ratifie the same : but henry the emperour would not permit a councell to be had in germany , except they would first depriue rodulphus . the legat● perceiuing that was against the popes drift returned . the pope hearing his purpose disappointed ; drue another excommunication against henry the emperour , hereauing him of his kingdome , sending them through all places , thinking thereby to further rodulphus part , biginning his excommunication with these words blessed saint peter , prince of the apostles , and thou paul also , teacher of the gentiles , giue eare vnto me a little , i beseech you , and gently heare me &c. i take this matter in hand that my brethren ( whose saluation i seeke ) may the more obey me , and knowe that i trust vpon your defence ( next to christ and his mother ) and thereby resist the wicked , and am ready to helpe the faithfull . i entred this seat against my will with teares , thinking my selfe vnworthy to occupy so high a throne , i chose not you , but you chose me , and ●ayd this great burden vpon our shoulders . then reciting the whole matter of the story before , concludeth therefore ; ● trusting in the iudgement and mercie of god , and in the supportation of the blessed uirgin , and bold vpon your authoritie ( meaning s. peter & s. paul ) do lay the sentence of curse vpon henry & his adherents . and againe . i take his regall gouernment from him ▪ discharging all christian men of their oathes to him , and forbidding them hereafter to obey him in any thing , but to take rodulphus for their king , &c. therefore ▪ o blessed princes of the apostles , confirme this your authoritie that all may know as you haue power to binde and loose in heauen , you haue also power on earth , to giue and take away empires , kingdomes principa●ities , and whatsoeuer belongeth to mortall men on earth . for if you haue power to iudg● of matters of god , how much more of prophane things ; and if you can iudge the angels which rule proud princes , how much more the princes . let all kings and princes , by this example , know your power , that they may feare to contemne the commaundement of the holy church . exercis● quickly this iudgement vpon henry , that all may see him fall from his kingdom , not by chance , but by your onely worke : notwithstanding , this i would craue of you , that he being brought to repentance , through your intercession , yet in the day of iudgement may finde grace with the lord. pope hildebrand further deposed the archbishop of rauenna for taking his part . commaunding all priests not to obey him , and sent another with full authoritie thither . upon this henry and rodulphus tryed the matter with sword , with much bloud : whereas henry , with gods fauour against the iudgement of hildebrand , had the victory , rodulphus greatly wounded , was carried to herbipolis , where he commanding the bishops ▪ and doers of this conspiracie to be brought to him , and lifting vp his right hand , which was deadly wounded said ; this hand gaue the oath to henry my prince , and hath so often fought against him by your in●●igation but in vaine ▪ goe and performe you oath and alegiance to him your king , for i must go to my fathers , and so dyed . henry , after his enemy subdued , and warres ceased in germany , remembring the iniuries of hildebrand , by whom he was twise excommunicated , expulsed from his kingdome , and making sute thrée daies in sharpe winter , and could finde no fauour , and by him his enemy was incited and ayded against him , assembled a councell of . bishops at brixienc● , where hee purged himselfe , and accused hildebrand of diuerse c●imes : to be an vsurper , periured , a nigroma●cer , a sorcerer , a sower of discord ; and that his father had set in diuerse popes in rome by his assignement , without other election , and now this bishop , contrary to his oath , thrust in himselfe , without the will and knowledge of him , being their king and magistrate . for in the time of henry the third , his father , this hildebrand and others , had tooke a corporall oath , that during the life of him , and this henry his sonne , now king , they should no● presume themselues norsuffer any other to aspire to the papall seat , without the approbation of the said emperours . wherefore , the aforesaid councell , with one agréement , condemned this gregory that he should be deposed . ¶ the sentence of the councell of brixia against hildebrand . because it in knowne this bishop , not elected of god , but intruded himselfe by f●aud and money , subue●ted ecclesiasticall order , disturbed the gouernment of the empire , ●●nacing death of bodie and soule vnto our peaceable king , set vp a per●ured king , making discor●s amongst friends and brethren , diuorcements amongst the maried : ( for he tooke away the marriage of priests , as henricus mutius witnesseth ) therfore we heere in the name of god congregated , doe procéede in canonicall iudgement against hildebrand , a man most wicked , preaching sacriledge and burning , maintaining periurie , and murders , calling in question the catholike faith of the body and blo●d of christ , following of diuinations and dreames , a manifest nigromancer , a sorcerer , infected with a pith●nical spirit . we adiudge him to be deposed , and expelled , and vnlesse he depart vpon the hearing hereof , to be pe●pstually condem●●d . this be●ing sent to rome , they elected guibertus archbishop of rauenna , which was deposed by hildebrand as aforesaid , in his place , and named him clement the . and because hildebrand would not giue ouer his hold , the emperour with an army came to rome to depose him : and hildebrand sending to the countesse mathilda , before mentioned , required her , in remission of all her sinnes , to withstand the emperour , and so she did ; but the emperour besieged the citie all the lent , and after easter got it , and comming into the temple of saint peter , placed clement in his papacie hildebrand ●●ed into ad●ans tower , where being besieged , he sent for robert guischardus a normaine , who with his army , when the emperour was gone , burst in at one of the gates of the c●●y , spoyled it , and deliuered hildebrand , and caried him to campania , where not long after he dyed in exile . in the meane time , whilst the emperour was at rome , the abbot of cluniake , and the people of rome , exhorted hildebrand to crowne henry emperour at lateran , and they would ●ause the emp●rour to depart with his arm● to whom he answered , he would , so the emperour would submit himselfe , aske pardon , amend , and promise obedience . the emperour not agréeing to the conditions , departed , and tooke the new pope with him . the emperour was wont to pray in the temple of saint mary , hildebrand knowing by spies the place where he was wont to pray hired one to cary vp stones to the roofe of the church , to let them fall vpon his head when he was at prayers ; the hireling , ●aying his stones in order , fell downe and was slaine . the romaines vnderstanding the truth , drew him thrée dayes , by the legs , through the streets for example ; but the emperour , of his méekenesse commaunded him to b● buried . hildebrand , being a dying , bewailed his faults , and sent a cardinall to the emperour to desire him forgiuenesse , and to pardon the emperour and all his par●akers , quicke and dead , of the danger of excommunication . from this pope sprang all mischéefe , pride , pompe , and tyranny , which since raigned in his successors ; hence was the subiection of temporall regiment to the spirituall , and the suppression of priests mariages : héere came in the authoritie of both swords to the spiritualty , so that the magistrates could doe nothing in giuing of bishoprickes , benefices ; in calling of counceis , in correcting the excesses of the clergie , but the pope must doe all . nor no bishop , nor passor , in his owne parish , could excommunicate , or vse any 〈◊〉 discipline , against his flocke , but it was onely the popes prerogatiue . in him was the first example of persecuting empe●ours and kings with rebellion and excommunication ; then victor the third was made pope , who likewise shewed himselfe staut against the emperours ; but god gaue the shrewde cowe short hornes : some say hee was poysoned in his chalice , and raigned but one yeare and a halfe . notwithstanding the popes followed still the steps of hildebrand , as the kings of israell ieroboam : in the time of this victor began the order of monkes of the charterhouse . next him v●banus the . was pope , which confirmed the acts of hildebrand , and gaue new decrees against henry the emperour , and against clement the pope , hee held two councels , one at plac●●tia , the other called synodus claromontana , wherein he caused all christian princes ●o warre against the sa●●cens , for recouering ierusalem : whereupon . were appointed for the same businesse , by the said vrbanus . the king of galacia , with the whole di●ces of saint iames , was excommunicated for the prisoning of a certaine bishop . about this time the king of england fauoured not much the sea of rome , for their pride and exactions , and would not suffer his subiects to giue to rome , saying ; the followed not pet●rs steps that h●nted for rewards , nor had peters power , which had not his holinesse . the order of cisteri●ns was first est●blished in burgundia , by the same vrbanus the seauen canonical houres were first instituted in the church ▪ by him , the order of the cartus●an m●nkes was confirmed . hee decreed no bishop to be made , but vnder the name of some place , he decreed that ma●●ens and houres of the ●ay should euery day be said , and that the masse of our lady should bee said euery saturday , and the clergy that had wiues , should be depriued of their order , and that it was lawfull for subiects to breake the oath of alegiance with such princes as were excommunicated , and that it was not lawfull for a man and his wife , both together ▪ to christen a childe , with many moe matters . after him followed pascalis the . he putting on a purple uesture and a tyre on his head , was brought vpon a white palfrey , into lateran , where a scepter was giuen him , and a girdle about him , which hauing seauen keyes , with seauen seales , to token the seauen powers by the seauen graces of the holy ghost of binding , loosing , shutting openning , sealing , resigning and iudging , which the emperour henry the . hearing of , thought to come to italy to salute the new pope , but vnderstanding the popes minde against him , changed his purpose . this pascalis d●posed all such abbo●s , and bishops , as the emperour had set vp ; and banished many that striued , at that time , for the papacie , and made an armie against clement , whom the emperour made pope , as aforesaid , and being put to flight , not long after d●●d . about the same time , the bishop of fluence began to teach and preach of antichrist then to bée borne , as sabeli●us 〈◊〉 . pascalis put to silence the said bishoppe , and condemned his bo●kes , by a councell , which hée assembled at tre●as . maried priests , in this councell , were condemned for nicholaitans . all lay-men , that gaue spirituall dignities , were condemned of symony . the statu●e of priests tythes was renewed , counting the selling thereof sinne against the holy ghost . hée renewed the excommunication of hildebrand against henry the emperour , caused cer●aine bishoppes to depriue him of his crowne , and to place his sonn● henry the . in his fathers roome ; these bishops required of the emperour his diademe ▪ p●●ple , ●ing , and other ornaments of his crowne : when the emperour would know the reason , they aleadged , the popes pleasure , and for selling spirituall liuings : but these bishops being demaunded of him , could not deny but hee tooke nothing of them , they being preferred by him : well , said hée , you requi●e mée well , and admonishing them of their oath and alegiance , as hee sate in his throne , they pl●cke away all his cu●periall ornaments . the good emperour , being destitute , said , videat deus & iudicat . thus leauing him , they confirmed the kingdome to his sonne , and caused him to driue his father out , who with nine persons , did ●●y to the dukedome of li●burg , the duke bearing of it , made after him , the emperour hauing before put him from his kingdome , being afraid of death , cra●ed pardon of him , and not reuengement , the duke pittying his estate , remitted his displeasure , and receiued him to his castle , and collecting men of warre , brought him to colin . his sonne hearing thereof , besieged the city , but hee escaped by night to leodium , thither all they that had compassion and consiant hearts resorted to him , so hee was able to pitch a field against his enemies , and so did , hee desired his friendes , if they that had the victory , they would spare his sonne , in that sight the father had the victory , and the sonne was chased , but in another battell the sonne had the victory , and the father was taken , who being vtterly dispossessed , was faine to craue of the bishop of spire , whom he had done much for , to haue a pr●bendry in the church , to serue in our ladies quire , who swore by our lady hee should haue none . thus hee came to leodium , and there , for sorro ● dyed , after he had raigned . ●eares . pope pascalis caused his body to be taken our of the graue , and to remaine at spite 's fiue yeares without buriall . about this time anselmus bishop of canterbury , which brought in the conception of our ●ady to bee hal●wed ; accused king henry the first of england , to pascal●s for making certaine bishops by his owne election ; the kings proctor , in his behalfe , signif●●d to the people , that the king , for the value of his kingdome , would not forgoe his right , in setting in bishop ▪ and pr●lates . the pope answered . before ●od , i for the price of my head , will not permit it vnto him . the archbishop returning home , being the popes legate , was turned out of his bishopricke , and goods . henry the . emperour , after his fathers death , raigned twentie yeares , being at rome , could not be crowned , except he would relinquish his clayme of making popes , or any other bishops : there was such a stirre made by the pope , that if the emperour had not defended himselfe with his owne handes , hée had béene slaine . but the emperour hauing the victory , tooke pope pascalis , led him out of the city , made him agree to cr●wne him , and to allow him his prerogatiue of election of popes , and other bishops ; and being crowned , returned with the pope to rome . but as soone as the emperour returned to germany , the pope called a syno●e , ●euoking his agréement , and exc●mmunicated the emperour , as he had done his father . the emperour 〈◊〉 a● it , marched to rome , and put the pope to flight , and placed another in his 〈◊〉 . the germaine bishops , with all they might , stirred the saxons against the●r caesar , it gr●we at length to a pitched field . the emperour , seeing no end of his conflicts , was faine to forgoe his priu●ledge of the popes election , and other things belonging to the church , and churchmen . in the time of pascalis , li●ed barnardus , of whom sprung the barnardine monkes . the emperour had no issue , his wife was mathildas , daughter of king henry the fi●st of england , which was gods iust iudgement for deposing his father . pascalis being dead , pope gelasius was chosen by the cardinals , without the emperour ; and the emperour made another pope , gregorius the . which made pope gelasius 〈◊〉 into france , and there dyed . the cardinales choose calixus the . pope , without the emperour ; who before hee came to his seat in r●me , sent his legate to excommunicate the emperour , and droue gregorius , the emperours pope , out of rome . the emperour fearing the vaine thunderbolts of the popes curse , perswad●d by his princes and f●iends , resigned his ●y●le , pertaining to the 〈◊〉 of the pope , and the inuestiture of bishops . this being set vy in writing , in the church of lateran , in tryumph of the emperour thus sub●ued . then the pope made out , and tooke his fellow pope gregorius , set him on a camell , his face backward , holding the tayle for a bridle , brought him thro●gh the streetes of rome , and sho●● him , and thrust him into a monastery . ●ée established the decrée of the papall sea against the emperour , and brought in the foure ember-fasts , called ember ●aies . he ordained the order of monkes , called praemonstratenses . it was 〈◊〉 by him to be iudged adultery for any person to put away his liuing or bishoprick●●uring his life , according to saint paul ; the wife is bound vnto the husband as long as he liueth . by a generall councell at rhemes , he decréed , all clergy men should put away their wiues , or be depriued of their liuings , wherupon an english writer made these verse● : o bone calixte , nunc omnis clerus odit te . quondam presbyteri poterant vxoribus vti , hoc destruisti , post quam tu papa fuisti . pope honorius the ● . succeeded him , he sent one iohn cremensis cardinall , legat into england , and scotland , in colour of redresse , but to fsill his purse , as all other did after him in those dayes ; afte● he had well refreshed himselfe in bishops and abbots houses , he assembled the whole clergy , inquired of priests wiues , and made a sta●tute they should haue no women in their houses , vnlesse i●●h kindred as were not to be ●usp●cted , and the offend●r of this act , to forfaite all his spirituall promotion , and that no kindred should mary vntill the seauenth generation ; and r●fling within houres at night , was taken in the same vice he was so strict against , to no little shame of the clergie . at this time the emperour henry the . dyed without issue , the emperiall crowne came to lotharius duke of saxon. not long after deceased henry the first , king of england . in this honorius his time , came a priest to rome , called arnulphus , who preached vehemently against the pride , auarice , and incontinencie of the clergie , and exhorted them to follow christ. he was well respected of the citizens , but the cardinals and clergy hated him , and made him away in the night by drowing him . sabelicus and platina say , they hanged him . his martyrdom ( he said ) was reuealed to him by an angel in the desert , and said vnto them . i know you will kill me priuily , and no maruell ; for if saint peter were héere , and rebuked your vices that exceed , you would serue him so , and said with a loud voice ; i am not afraid to suffer for the truth , but god will be reuenged , you play the blinde guides , and leade the people to hell. in the second booke of councels , printed at colen , either this arnulphus or about his time , one complaineth of the number of holly daies , and the increase of vice thereby ▪ whoores , say they , vantage more in one holy day , then in fiftie other dayes : and of the curious singing in cathedrall churches , wherein much time is spent that might better be be●towed in other sciences , and learning . and of the multitude of begging fryers , and other professed men and women , the cause of idlenesse , and vncomely life ; of promotion of euill prelates , and their negligence in reprouing vice . of the wantonnesse of their seruants , and their excesse in apparell : of the excessiue gaines of the prelates and their officers for their seales : giuing them , they care not for what , so they get money . that prelates bée too slacke in looking to non residents . of giuing benifices , not for godlinesse and learning , but for fauour , friendship , or hope of gaine , of which commeth the great ignorance in the church . how prelates wast the church goods in superfluitie on kinsfolkes , or worse wayes , and not on the poore . how , by negligence , the bookes of the olde co●ncels , and o● the new , are not to be found , which should be kept in all cathedral churches . the negligence of pre●ates , and their voluptuousnesse , by example of storks , whose nature is , if one leau● his mate , and ioyne with another , all the rest fly on him , and plucke his feathers off : so , and much more , should prelates d●e to their fellowes , that defile so many ▪ and stinke in the whole church . and as e●dras , in purging israel from strange women , began with the priests , so now the purgation ought to begin with them , as it is written in ezechi●ll : begin with my sarctuary . &c. againe , if the whole realme of france was interdicted , because phillip the king , had but one concubine , which was not his lawfull wife . and the king of portugall , sequestred from his dominion , and thought by the clergie insufficient to rule . what shall be said to prelates which abuse mens wiues , uirgings , nunnes , and are insufficient to take charge of soules . about this ti●●e the order of the knights of the rhodes , called iohannits , and the order of the te●●lers rose vp . after honorius succéeded pope innocentius the . at euery mutation of new popes , came new troubles , sometime two popes , sometimes thrée together . the romaines elected another pope , called anacletus , betwixt whom was great conflicts . the duke of sicile taking with anacletus , vntill lotharius the emperour droue anacletus 〈◊〉 of italy . this pope decréed that whose strucke a shauen priest , should be excommunicated , and not absolued but onely by the pope . steuen king of england , reserued to himselfe the authoritie of bestowing spirituall liuings , and of inuesting prelates . at which time lodouicus the emperoue would haue done the like , had not bernardus giue in him contrary councell . at this time came in the manner of cursing with booke , bell , and candle , in a councell of london , holden by william bishop of winchester , vnder pope celestinus , successor of innocentius . after lotharius succeeded in the emperiall crowne , conradus nephew of henry the fift , he raigned . yeares . there was diuerse popes in his dayes , as celestinus the . lucius the . e●genius the . at which times the romaines endeauored to recouer the old manner of chusing con●uls , and senators ; but the popes , being in their ruffe , would not abide it ▪ which caused much ciuill warre ; insomuch that pope lucius sent 〈◊〉 the emperour for ayde , who thought to haue dest●oyed them in the senate : but they were ware o● it , and were all in aray , the pope being in the fight was well pelted with stones and blowes , that he liued not long after . eugenius cursed the romaines for that matter with excommunication , which when he saw would not serue , came vpon them with his host , and compelled them to abolish their consuls ▪ and to take such presidents as the pope should assigne . then followed anastatius the . after him adrianus the . an english man , called breakespeare , belonging once to saint albons , he likewise kept great slur●e with the citizens of rome , to abolish consuls , with cursing and warres vntill he had brought them vnder . in the meane time fredericus , called barbarossa , succeeded conradus in the empire , marched to italy to subdue rebels ; the pope and his clergie met him to haue ayde against their enemies , the emperour lighted to receiue him , and held his left stirrop where he should the right , the pope displeased , he smiling , excused himselfe as not vsed to hold stirrops , and that it was not of duetie : the next day the emperour sent for him , receiued him , and held his right stirrop , and all was well . when they came in the pope told the emperour that his predecessors left some token of beneuolence for crowning of them ; as carolus magnus subdued the lumbards , otho the bexingarians , lotharius the normans ; therefore required him to restore the country of ap●lia to the church of rome . he and his princes seeing he could not otherwaies ●e crowned , promised to doe it , and the next day was crowned . whilst the emperour was prouiding for apulia , the pope excommunicated william duke thereof , and sent emanuell emperour of constantinople , incensing him to warre against the said duke . th● duke hearing it , sent vnto the pope for peace , promising to restore what hee would , which the pope , by the councell of the cardinals , would not grant . the duke put emanuell the emperour to flight , and besieged the c●tie bene●entum , where the pope and cardinals were looking for victory , that they were glad to intreat for the peace they refused , the duke onely granted not to inuade the possessions of rome , and the p●pe made him king of both sicils . the pope was so troubled with the senators and consuls of rome , that when his curses would not auaile , he was faine to remoue from rome to ariminium . the emperour , considering the wrongs the pope had done to his predecessors required of the bishops of germany homage and oath of alegiance , commaunding if the popes legats came thither without sending for , they should not be receiued , charging his subiects not to appeale to rome , and prefixed his name in his letters before the popes name . whereupon the pope wrote to him , that god promiseth long life to th●m that honoured their parents , and death to them that cursed them : and the word of truth saith ▪ he that exal●eth himselfe shall be brought lowe . he maruelled not a little that he shewed not the reuerence he ought to blessed saint peter ▪ and the holy church of rome 〈◊〉 preferre your name before ours , wherein your incurre the note of insolencie , or rather arrogancie . how kéepe you the oath of fidelitie to saint peter and vs , séeing you require homage and alegiance of them that be gods , and all the sonnes of the high god , and presume to ioyne their holy hands with yours ; and exclude from your churches and cities our cardinals , legates from our side ; amend , amend : ●hile you go● about to obtaine the things you haue not , i feare mée , your honour will loose the things which you haue . the emperour wrote againe , that iustice giueth to euery one his , wée derogate not from our parents , as we haue receiued our emperiall crowne of them , we render their due and ●●ue honour to them againe : and forasmuch as duety of all sorts of men is to be sought out , did not constantine restore peace to the church , and of his liberall benig●ity , & other princes , gaue whatsoeuer regality or patrimony the sea of your papacie hath , as is to be found in the chronicles ? of them that be gods by adoption , and hold lordships , why may not wée require homage and sworne alegiance , when he that is you● master and ours paid ●oule and tribute for himselfe and saint peter to caesar , giuing you example to doe the like , and therefore saith , learne of mee , for i am humble and meeke . ●herefore ▪ either render our lordships , or if they b● too sweete to you , giue god his due , and caesa● his due . we shut out the cardinals because we see them no preachers but prowlers , not repayrers of peace , bat rakers for money ; not pillars , b●t pollers of church . when we see them such as the church requireth them to be , then they shall find vs ready to receiue them with stipends and all necessaries . by your inferring such questions , not conducing to religion ▪ you incurre no little blemish of your humility , which is keeper of all vertues ; let your fatherhood beware , least in mouing such questions , as seeme vnseemly for you to doe , you giue on offence to such as ●●pend on your word , and giue eare to your mouth as an euening shoure . we cannot 〈◊〉 fell you of that we heare , seeing now the detestable beast of pride doth cr●epe into th● seat of peter , prouiding alwaies as much as we may for the peace of the church . upon this , the pope sent a bull against the emp●●our , excommunicating him conspired with the duke of apulia , and sought all waies to i●fest him , and set all men against him , especially the clergie . the pope wrote to the bishops of germany , that the empire of rome was translated from the greekes to the almaines , so that the king of almaine could not be called emperour ▪ before he were crowned by the pope . before his consecration he was a king , after an emperour : he hath the name of king by the princes election , the name of emperour , augustus , and caesar , by our consecration , ergo , by vs he raigneth emperour . pope zacharias promoted carolus to the name of emperour , after that ▪ all the kings of almaine were called emperours , and aduocates to the sea apostolike . so that apu●ia , conquered by him , was subiect to the pope ; which apuli● , with the citi● of rom● , is ours , and not the emperours . our seat is at rome , the emperours at aquis ●n ardenna , which is a wood in france . whatsoeuer the emperour hath , he hath of vs : wee may translate it to the grees againe , as zacharias did to the almaines , it lyeth in our power to giue it whom we will being set vp of god aboue gentiles and na●ions , to destroy , plucke vp , build and plant . when this emperour predericus came first to rome , the pope shewed him a picture of lotharius the second emperour , with verses , shewing how he first sware to the citie , after was made the popes man , and so receiued the crowne of him . fredericus di●●red that the picture might be abolish●d , least hereafter it cause discention . the pope seeing the emperour loth to be subiect to his sea , deuised all craftie waies to bring him vnder . first , taking occasion by the imprisonment of the bishop of laodicia , sent vnto him diuerse sharpe letters , and not so sharpe as prou● and disdainefull , wherein the salutation was , salutat vos beatissimus pater noster papa , & vniuersitas cardinalium , ille vt pater , hii vt fratres , meaning he should vnderstand himselfe to be subiect to the pope , no lesse then the cardinals ; where reciting , what many and great benefits , and fulnesse of honour , he had receiued of him . the emperor with his princes , perceiuing whereat the pope , by his legats , shot , could not ●●ree such a proud message , so that much contention fell betwixt the legat● and princes , of whom then , said the legats doth caesar receiue his empery , if not of the pope ? with which woords the princes were so offended , that they would haue v●ed violence , if the emperour had not stayed them , and commaunded the legats away straight , charging them not to turne by the way to any person , but straight to depart home . and to certifie the whole empire of the matter , he directed letters to this effect . first , he greatly sorroweth that the roote and foundation of dissentions , and euill , should rise from the holy church , imprinted with the seale of loue and peare of christ , where with wee feare ( except god preuent it ) the whole body of the church will be polluted , and the vnitie broken betweene the spirituall and temporall regiment . then he sheweth them the manner of the proud legacie as aforesaid , and touching his straight sending them home , without tarying , or going out of the way , was , because there was letters found about them to the churches of germany , to spoyle the altars of our churches , to cary away the iewels thereof , to fley the lym●es and plats of the golded crosses thereof , &c. this letters of caesar fretted the pope , who wrote againe to the bishops of germany , accusing the emperour , willing them to worke against him what they could . they answered him againe with all obedience , yet excusing the emperour , and blaming him rather , exhor●ing him hencefoorth to temper his letter and legacies with more modestie , which councell he followed , seeing he could preuaile no other way . in his time liued gracianus , compiler of the popes decrées . petrus lumbardus , pet●us comester , auicenna , abbas ioachimus , and the order of hermits rose by william duke of aquitania , and afterward a fryer . this hadrianus walking with his cardinals to a place called auignon , was choked with a fly ▪ getting into his thr●at , when he had raigned . yeares and odde monethes , he would say in his latter time , there is no more miserable life then to be a pope , and come to it by bloud , which is not to succéed peter , but romulus , who to raigne alone , slewe his brother . though he was bad , his successor was worse , pope alexander the . the emperour , with nine cardinals , set vp another pope , victor the . betwixt whom there was great and long discord . the emperour being required therefo , sent for them both to heare their cause , and iudge the matter . victor came , but alexander ●isdainfully refused to appeare . whereupon the emperour , with full consent of his bishops and clergíe about him , ratified the 〈◊〉 ●lection of victor , and so brought him into the citie to be receiued and placed . alexander flying into france , accursed them bath , as maan to be cast out of all christian 〈◊〉 sending letters there of into all christiandome ; and with money and flattery , not the greatest part of the citie to sauour him , and to set vy such consuls for his purpose : 〈◊〉 returned from france to rome , and was receiued with much sauour , through the helpe of phillip the french king . the emperour hearing thereof , came with great power to italy , where he destroyed great cities , and came to rome , required the citizens that the cause betwixt the 〈◊〉 popes might be decided , and hee that had the bestright ▪ to be taken for pope , and then he would restore to them that which he had taken . alexander , doubting his part , and the wils of the citizens , hauing ships prepared , fet●hed a course about to uenis . the emperour required the uenetians to send him , but they would not : wherefore fredericus sent thither his sonn● otho , with men and ships well appointed , charging him to attempt nothing before his comming : notwithstanding he ioyned with the uenetians in battell , and was ouercome , taken , and brought into the citie . the farther to redeeme his sonne , was compelled to submit himselfe to the hope and intreat peace . to the emperour comming to uenis at s. markes church , where the pope was , there to take his absolution , was hid to knéels downe at the popes féete , the proud pope set his foote vpon the emperours neck , and said . super aspidem & basilicum ambulabis , & concultabis leonem et draconem . ●e an●i●●red ; non tibi , sed petro. the pope againe . et mihi , & petro. the emperour fearing more quarreling , held his peace , and peace was made betwixt them . first , that hée should receiue alexander for true pope ; then , that he should restore to the church of rome all that he tooke from it , thus he obtained his sonne . alexander was pope ● . yeares , he kept sondry councels at ●urd and lat●ran , wh●re he confirmed the proceedings of hildebrand , and other his predecessors . in this time spung vp the doctrine of the waldenses , which was of one waldus a chiefe senator of lion● in france . the aforesaid gratianus , master of decrees , and petrus lumbardus , at this time did much maintaine proud prelacie ; after whom followed two , as euill or worse ▪ franciscus and dominicus , maintaining as much blinde hypocrisie . i● pleased god to raise vp the waldenses against their doctrine of pride and hypocrisie . thus we neuer see any great corrup●i●n in the churc● , but s●me sparke of the true ligh● of the gospell by gods prouidence , doth remaine , howsoeuer their aduersari●● 〈◊〉 them , yet by the iudiciall ●●aying their articles , thou shalt finde that they maintained nothing else , but the same doctrine wh●●h we now defend ; yet i suppose the papist did gather th●m , and wrest them otherwi●e then they were ment , as they did them of wiclife and h●s . it chanced that certaine of the chiefe of the citie of lions went a walking , with the aforesaid waldus , of whome came the waldenses was one , one of them f●ll downe suddainly dead , the sight whereof smo●e this waldus with a ●eepe and inward repentance , with a carefull study to reforme his life . first ▪ he began to giue large almes to the needy . secondly , to instruct his family and himselfe , with the knowledge of gods word . thirdly , to exhort all that resorted to him to rep●ntance and v●r●uous life , by his almes , and diligent teaching , more resorted to him dayly , to whom he gaue certaine rudiments of the scripture . the bishops and prelates seeing him so meddle with scripture , and to haue such a resort about him , though it were but in his owne house , moued with great malice against him , threatned to excommunicate him , if he did not leaue so to doe . he neglecting the threatnings of the wicked , said ; god must be obeyed more then man , and was the more diligent to set forth the doctrine of christ against the errours of antichrist . when they saw their excommunication dispised , they ceased not with prison , with sword , and banishment to prosecute , till they had driuen the said waldus and all his fauourers out of the city . here followeth their articles they held . that the holy scripture is to be beleeued , in matters pertaining to saluation , and no man besides . all things , contained in holy scripture , necessary to saluation , and nothing to bee admitted in religion , but what onely is commaunded in the word of god. to be but one onely mediator , other saints to be made in no wise mediators , to be inuocated . that there is no purgatory , but all men either by christ are iustified , or without christ , condemned ; besides these two neither thre nor foure places . that all masses , sunge for the deads , are wicked and to be abrogated . all mens traditions to be reiected , at least , not to be reputed necessary to saluation : therefore singing , and superflueus chaunting in the chaun●ell to be left ▪ constrai●ied and prefixed ●aste bound to dayes and times , differences of meats , varieties of ●egres and orders of priests , fryers , monkes , nunnes , super●luous holy dayes so many bene dictions , and hallowing of creatures , vowes , pilgrimages , with all the rablement of ceremonies brought in by men to be abolished . the supremacie of the pope , vsurping aboue all churches , and especially aboue all polliti●ue realmes and gouernments : or for him to occupie and vsurpe the iurisdiction of both swords to be denyed , neither that any other degree is to be receiued in the church , but only priests ▪ deacons , and bishops . the communion of both kinds to be necessary to all people , according to the institution of christ. i ●●●m the church of rome to be the very babilon spoken of in the reuelation , and the pope to be the fountaine of all error , and the very antichrist . they reiect the popes pardons and indulgences . the mariage of pri●sts and ecclesiasticall persons to be godly and necessary in the church . such as heare the word of god , and haue a good faith , to bee ●he right church of christ , and to this church the key●s of the church to be giuen , to driue away wolues , and to institute true pastors to preach the word , and institute the sacraments , these were their principall articles . being exiled , they dispersed in diuerse places of whom many remained long after in bohemia . e●eas syluius in the bohemian histories , writeth that these articles they held . the bishop of rome to be equall with other bishops , no difference of degrées amongst priests , no priest to bee reputed for the dignitie of his order , but for the worthynesse of his life . no purgatory , as before , in vaine to pray for the dead , a thing onely ●ound out for the lu●●ee of priests . the image of god ( as of the trinitie ) and of saints to be abolished . the hallowing of ●●ater , and palmes , a ridic●e . the religious of begging friers to be found out by the diuell , that priests sho●l● not incro●h riches , but bee content with their tythes , and mens deuotions . the preaching of the word to be frée to all men , called thereunto . no deadly sinne to be tollerated , for what respect soeuer of greater commodity to ensue thereby . confirmation of bishops , with oyle , and extreame v●●tion , none o● the sacraments . auricul●r confession , but a toy . baptisme to bee ministred onely with pure water , without mixture of holy oyle . the maiestie of god not to bee restrained more within temples , monast●ries or chappels , then any where els . priests apparell , ornaments of altars , uestments , corporaces chalices , patenes , and other church-plate , to serue in no steed . it maketh no matter in what place the priest consecrateth the sacrament , and that it is sufficient to vse only the sacramental words , without other superstitious ceremonies . prayers to saints vaine , they not able to helpe . in saying , and singing the houres and mattens of the day , the time lost . a man ought to cease from his labour , no day but sunday . the feasts of saints to be reiected ▪ coacted feasts haue no merite . the truth o● these articles be the lesse to be doubted , being set out by a popes pen. they being accused slaunderously by one doctor augustine , vnto the bohemian king , gaue vp their confession , with an apology of their faith. they held thomas aquinas author of purgatory . concerning the supper of the lord , their faith was , it was to be eaten , and not to be shewed , and worshipped . that it was for a memorial and not for a sacrifice , to serue for the present , not to be reserued ; to be receiued at the table , not to be caried out of doores , according to the vse of the primitiue church , when they vsed to communicate sitting : this they proued by cronicles , ● and by origen vpon the third of moses . doctor austin asked them , whether it were not the same christ in the sacrament which is in heauen , else how can it be said , there is but one faith , and one christ ; then , why he should not bee worshipped in the sacrament as well as in heauen . they answered to this effect ; that the same christ that is in heauen is in the sacrament , but after diuerse manners , in heauen he is corporally , locally , with the full proportion and quantitie of the same body wherewith hee ascended , and to be séene in the sacrament , he is but sacramentally to be remembred , not to bee séene ; our bodies receiue the signe , our spirit the thing signified . they asked him againe , whether christ was not aswell in them that receiue the sacrament , as in the sacrament before it was receiued , and why it should not be worshipped as well in the brest of the receiuer , as before it is receiued , seeing ●e is in a more perfect manner in ●an then in the sacrament , in it he is but for a time , not for the sacrament s●ke , but f●r mans sake . in man he is for his owne sake , not for a time but for euer , as it is written , qu● manducat hunc panem , viuat in aeternum . then they asked whether he was there wholly god and man , which if hee grant it , it is contrary to nature and faith , that any creature should be changed into the creator . if he say , it is changed into his body and soule , and not into the godhead , then h●e separates the natures of christ , if hee say into the body alone , and not the soule , then hée separateth the natures of the true manhoode , and so cannot be the same christ that was betrayed for vs , so to what part soeuer he should answere he could not defend transubstantiation without great inconueni●●ce of all sides . it appeareth in a certaine libell of inquisition that vpon their kne●s with great reuerence they vsed to pray , euery morning , and euery euening , and that they vsed to say grace before meate and after : and after meate to edifie one another with some instruction . they were so diligent and painefull in teaching that reynerius an old inquisitor against them writeth , that one of them to bring another vnto the faith , in the night , and in winter swamme ouer the riuer ibis to come to him , to teach him , and they were so perfect in the scripture , that he heard an vnlettered man that could say the booke of iob word by word without booke , with others which had the new testament perfectly by hart . hee writeth moreouer , that none durst stop them for the number of their fauourers : saying , i haue often béen at their examination , and there were numbred forty churches of their opinions , in s●much that in one parish of camma●h were ten open schooles of them , and when he had spoken what he could against them , he is driuen to confesse that they both liue iustly before men , and beléeue all things wel● of god , and hold all the articles contained in the creede ; onely they blaspheme the church of rome and hate it . touching the●r persecution , which commonly followeth true preaching , they being scattered from lions , that the sound of their doctrine might gee abroad ●n the world ; some went as it is said into bohemia , many into other prouinces of france ; some into lombardy and other places , but these could not be suffered to liue at rest , as may appeare by the consultations made by the lawyers & bishops of france against them , writ aboue three hundred yeares agone , remaining yet in writing ▪ whereby it appeareth there were a great many in france . besides there was a counsell kept in tol●se about . yeares agone ▪ and all against these waldenses , they also were condemned in another counsell at rome before that . what persecutions they had in france by three archbishops , appeareth by their writings : who is such a stranger , that knoweth not the condemnation of the waldenses , done so many yeeres agone , so famous , so publique , followed vpon with so great labour , expences and trauell ; and sealed with so many of their deaths ; so solemnely being condemned , and openly punished , wher● by we may know persecution to be no new thing in the church of christ , when antichrist three hundred yéeres agone did rage against the waldenses . but there was neuer more trouble then was against them of late , in the yeare ● . in france by the french king , which followeth in this booke , when we come to the yeare wherein it was done , where it shall be set forth more at large . in which persecution is declared , that in one towne cabria by miuerias were slayne eight hundred persons at once , not respecting women , children , nor any age : and forty women , most of them great with child , were thrust into a barne , the windowes kept with pikes were fired and consumed : besides in a caue not farre from mussin , were fiue and twenty persons fired and destroyed the same time ; the same tyrant at merindolum , seeing all the rest were fled away , finding one yong man , caused him to be tyed to an oliue tree , and destroyed with torments most cruel : the foresaid reynerius speaketh of a glouer , one of them in the towne of cheron , that in his time was brought to execution . there is an old monument of processes , wherein appeareth . brought to examination in pomarina , marchia , and places there ab●ut , in the yeere . thus much of the original doctrine , and lamentable persecutions of the waldenses , who as it is said began about the time of pope alexander . now for as much as thomas becket happened in this popes time , let vs somewhat story of him . the history of thomas becket arch-bishop of canterbury . king henry the second k. of england conuenting his nobles & clarks required to haue punishment of certain misorders of the clergy , but the archbishop thomas becket would not agrée therevnto : the king came to this point to know whether he & the rest of the clergy would consent to the customes set forth in henry the fift his time , he with the rest of the bishops , vpon consultation held , they would consent with this exception , saluo ordine suo , so all other bishops being particularly demanded , except christopher , who séeing the king angry , said , for saluo ordine suo , he would bona fide , the king told them hee was not well content with that exception which was captious and deceitfull , hauing some venome lurking vnder , therefore required an absolute grant : they answered , they would not binde themselues in no other manner , at which the king and all the nobilitie were not a little mooued : the king , when he could get no other answer , departed with gret anger , not saluting the bishops : chester was greatly rebuked of his fellowes for changing the exception ; the next day the king took from the archbishop all such mannors and honors as he had giuen him before being lord chancellor ; not long after vnknowne to the bishops he sayled into normandie ; not long after the bishop of london followed after him to craue his fauour , and gaue him counsell to ioyne some of the bishops with him , least if all were against him , hee might the sooner be ouerthrowne : thus by his meanes the greatest number of the bishops were reconciled vnto the king , onely the archbishop with a few other remained in their stoutnes : when the king saw no feare or threats could turne him , he assaid him with gentlenesse but it would not serue , though many nobles laboured to exhort him to relent vnto the king : likewise the arch-bishop of yorke , with diuers other clergie men , bishoppes and abbots , especially chester did the same : besides his owne house dayly called vpon him , no man could perswade him ; at length vnderstanding what danger might happen by the kings displeasure , not onely to himselfe but to all the clergy , and considering the old kindnesse and loue of the king towards him in times past , was content to giue ouer vnto the kings request , came to the king at oxford , and reconciled himselfe : wherevpon the king receiued him with a more ch●erefull countenance , saying , hee would haue his ordinances confirmed in open sight of his bishops , and all his nobles ; after this the king beeing at clarem doune , called all his peeres and prelates before him , requiring to haue that performed which hee had promised in consenting to the obseruing his grandfathers ordinances and proceedings ; the archbishop drew back , and would not that hee would before , yet with great teares , intreaties , and perswasions of bishops and of two templers , that desired him on their knees , with teares , and with threatenings of imprisonment , and other dangers hee did agree onely , with a clause of exception , bona fide , and he and all the bishops set too their hands and seales . alanus recordeth that the archbishop in his voyage to winchester greatly repented that he had done , so that he kept himself from al company , lamenting with teares and fasting , and afflicting himselfe , did suspend himselfe from all diuine seruice , and would not be comforted before he had sent to the pope , and were assoiled of him , the pope in his letters not only assoiled him from his trespas , but with words of great consolation , incouraged him to be stout in the quarrell he tooke in hand . upon this , becket took no small heart & consolation : the king hearing of him , & how he denied to set his seal to those sanctions , which he condiscended too before , took no little displesure against him , threatned him of banishment & death , called him to reckoning , and burdned him with paiments : the archb ▪ thought to make an escape out of y ● realme , attempting to take the sea , with two or thrée priuily . amongst other the kings ordinances . this was one , that none of the prelasie or nobility without the kings license , or his iustices , should depart the realme . so becket twice attempted the sea to fly to rome , but the weather serued not , which being known and noysed abroad , the kings officers came to seaze vpon his goods to the kings behalfe , but finding becket at home and returned , they did not procéede on their purpose , becket séeing this , went to the court , the king taunted him gestingly , as though one realm could not hold them both , but shewed him no great fauour . the arch-bishop of york did labour to renew peace and loue betwixt the king and him , but the king would not be reconciled , except the other would subscribe vnto his lawes , which becket would not graunt to , but by vertue of his apostolike authority , gaue censure vpon these lawes of the king , condemning some , and approuing some as catholike . the pope sent the arch-bishop of rotomage to the king , to ma●e peace betwixt the king and canterbury : the king was content , so the pope would ratifie his ordinances , which could not be obtained at the popes hands . the king sent to the pope to obtaine of him , that the same authority of the apostolike legacie might be conferred vnto another after his appointment , which was the arch-bishop of yorke , but the pope denied ; but he was content , so the king would be legate himselfe , at which the king was angry , and sent to the pope againe , according to the old practice of popish prelacy to play on both sides : priuily he conspireth with one , and openly dissembleth with the other , he granteth the legate should be remoued , and the archbishop of york placed in the office , and writ to becket that he should take no harm thereby , for the kings ambassadors had promised him , and did offer to sweare vnto him , that the letters which they obtained , should not be deliuered vnto the archbishop of yorke , without the popes consent therein : assure your selfe it is not , nor neuer shall be our will nor purpose to subdue you or your church vnto any , saue only the bishop of rome ; therefore if you sée the king will deliuer the said letters , giue vs knowledg , & we will cléerely exempt by our authority apostolical , both your person , your church , and your citty committed vnto you from all iurisdiction of any legacy . upon these letters and such other , becket took all his stoutnesse against the king. the king after he had receiued his letters from the pope , was more strong in his purposed procéedings against the archbishop , and procéeded to punish the offences of cleargy men , and there was aboue . found that had committed homicide and murder , beside other offenders : he adiudged them first to be depriued , and then committed to the seculer power . this séemed to becket to derogate from liberty of holy church , that seculer power should giue iudgement vpon the crimes of ecclesiasticall persons , they picke this law out of anacletus and euaristus , who deduce this constitution from the apostles , that all ecclesiasticall persons , shall bee frée from seculer iurisdiction . the king daily incensed more & more against becket , cited him to appeare at a certaine day and place , where at the time all the péeres , nobles , with the clergy were assembled by the kings proclamation , where great fault was found with becket because he did not appear but by deputy . whervpon by the publike sentence both of the nobles and bishops , all his moueables were adiudged to be confiscate to the king : the stuborne archbishop answered , he was primate & spirituall father , not onely of all other in the realme , but of the king himselfe , and that it was not conuenient the children should iudge the father , and the the flock the pastor : but especially complaineth of his fellow bishops which should haue tooke their metropolitans part ; the next day the king laide an action against him for the iniury done to his marshall , and required the archbishop to repay him . markes which he lent him when he was chancellor : he answered it was giuen him , but could bring no probation therof : whervpon the king required him to put in an assurance for the paiment : wherevpon . persons of their own accord st●pped in and were bound for it , else the archbishop had béen in a great strait : the third day he was charged with other monies due vnto the king , by reason of many bishopricks , & abbaricks which he had kept long vacant in his hands , & he & al the bishops being shut into a roome together by the kings appointment , they did all take counsell what was best for the archb. to doe in this case , they all aduised him to yeeld to the kings lawes , or else he would be in danger and the rest of the clergy , or else to resigne his arch-byshoppricke , and then no doubt the king would haue compassion on him , if not , they saw no other way but he would loose his life , and then what good would his byshoppricke doe him : to this effect was their consultation . becket checked them with rebukefull words , you goe about to cherish your owne cowardlinesse with a shaddow of sufferance , and with dissembling softnesse to choke the liberty of the church : who hath thus bewitched you o vnsatiable bishops ! is not god able to help the state of the church without the sinfull dissimulation of the teachers thereof ? when should the gouernors thereof put themselues in danger for the church , but in the distresse thereof , i thinke it no greater merit for the ancient byshops to found the church with their blood , then for vs to effude our blood for the liberties of the same , and i thinke it not safe for you to swarue from the example which you haue receiued from your holy elders . then the arch-bishop sent for two earles , to whom the archbishop said : touching the matters betwixt the king & vs , we haue conferred , we would craue respite vntill the morrow , then we will be ready to giue our answere vnto the king : two bishops were sent to the king with this message , which the king granted , the conuocation beeing dissolued , the most part of the bishops separated themselues from the arch-bishop ▪ for feare of the kings displeasure : he being thus forsaken , sent for the poore , lame , and halt , to furnish his house , saying by them he might sooner obtaine his victory , then by them which had slipt from him ; the said day appointed was sunday , therefore nothing done , the next day he was sicke of the gout , he could not come , it was thought hee fained , the earle of deuon : and the earle of leicester were sent to him , to try the truth of the matter , and to cite him to appeare at the court , the bishops came to perswade him to submission to the will of the king , of all his goods and arch-bishoppricke , if peraduenture his indignation might swage by that meanes ▪ else periury would be laid to his charge for breaking his oath made to obserue the kings ordinance , he answered it was dolorous that the world was against him , yet it gréeueth me most , that sons of mine owne mother be pricks and thornes against me , but i charge you bee not present personally in iudgement against me , and that you shall not so doe i appeale to the church of rome , the refuge of all such as bée oppressed , and if any seculer men lay hand on me , as it is rumord they will , i straitly charge you , that you exercise your ecclesiasticall censure vpon them , as it becommeth for your father and arch-bishop , & whatsoeuer happen , i will neuer cowardly shrinke , nor vily forsake my flocke : then he addressed himselfe to his masse of s. steuen with all solemnity , with his metropolitan pall , which was not vsed but vpon holydaies : the masse beginning with sederunt principes , & aduersum me loquebantur . the bishop of london accused him that it was done by art magick , and in contempt of the king , then the archbishop went to the court , and to make him more sure , he priuily taketh the sacrament within : as hee was entring into the doore of the kings chamber , he taketh the crosse with the crosse-staffe from the crosse-bearer , and carried it himselfe : one of the other bishoppes would haue borne the crosse , saying it was not comly for him , the bishop of london told him , if the king met him so , he would draw his sword at him ; he answered , the kings sword strikes carnally , but mine spiritually striketh himselfe downe to hell . the king complained to the nobles and bishops , that he shewed himselfe as a traytor , all gaue witnesse thereto , affirming him alwaies , to be a vain and proud man , so altogether with one cry , called him traytor , and being he had receiued such great benefits , preferments and honours of the king , and thus requite it , was well worthy to be handled as a periured traytor : the bishop of excester desired him to haue compassion of himselfe , and of them , else they were all like to perish , for there commeth a precept from the king for your apprehending and suffering as an open rebell , and whosoeuer shall take your part , and the bishoppes of salisbury and norwich are to bee had to the place of execution , for their resisting , and making intercession for you . hee answered , auoyd hence from mee , for thou sauorest not the thinges of god. upon great consultation , the bishoppes agreed , that they would appeale the arch-bishop to the sea of rome vpon periury , and that they would oblige themselues to the king , with a sure promise to doe their dil●gence in deposing of him , so the king would promise their safety ; it being so finished , two bishops were sent to him in stead of them all , which said , once you were our archbishop , and we bound to your obedience ; but now , being you once sware fidelitie to the king , and doe resist him , neglecting his lawes , appertaining to his ter●rne honour : wherefore we héere pronounce you periured , neither be we bound to giue obedience to you , but putting our selues and all ours in the popes protection , doe appeale you vp to his presence , and assignd him his time to appeare : the archbishop answered he heard him well enough , and sendeth to rome in all hast , signifying to the pope the whole matter , to whom the pope writeth againe : wee are not a little disquieted in our spirits for your sake being our most déere brother , remember that the apostles departed away reioycing from the face of the councell , receiue consolation that w● may reioice with you in the lord , who hath preserued you in this distresse to the corroboration of the catholick verity , and god through his punishment of afflic●ions hath wiped away the blot of your offences , that they might not be called to account in the day of iudgement : bee not greeued that you are appealed to the apostolike sea , which to vs is gratefull and accepted , draw not you backe spare not to follow the appeale , for the authoritie of the church of rome tendreth your constancie , our diligence shall bee to preserue the right and preheminence of your church to you , as one working for the church , a constant and valiant champion , i thought good especially to premonish you , neither for aduersitie nor whatsoeuer happens renounce not the right and dignitie of your church . the archbishop sitting with his crosse in his hand as before was not abashed at al that was : the king sent for him presently to render account for thirty thousand markes , and fruits and reuenewes of the realme in the time when he was chancellor ; he answered , the king knew how often hee had made reckonings of those things , and that henry his sonne and heyre , with all the barrons , and the lord chiefe iustice of england told him was frée and quit to god and holy church from all receipts , computations on the kings behalfe , and so taking his discharge entred into his office , for other accounts he would make none : when his answere was brought to the king , he required the barons to doe their office , who adiudged him to be apprehended and laid in prison : the king sent the earl of cornwall and deuonshire , and the earle of leicester to shew him his iudgement ; to whom he said , heare my sonne and good earle , how much the soule is more precious then the body , so much ought you to obey me rather then your terrene king , no law doth permit the child to condemne their father : wherefore to auoide all your iudgements before you all i appeale to the sea apostolicke , and as for you my fellow bishops , which rather obey man then god , you also i call and claime to the iudgement of the pope , and i doe depart from you as from the enemies of the catholick church , and of the authoritie of the apostolicke sea : whilst they returned this answere to the king , the archbishop passed through the throng and tooke horse , holding the bridle in one hand , and his crosse in the other ; the courtiers followed , saying , tarrie traytor and héere thy iudgement ; the vtmost gate being locked , one of his seruants found a bunch of keyes & trying them found the right and opened the gate , he went to the house of the cannons where hee did lie ▪ and calling to him the poore where they could be found , after supper he caused a bed to be made him betwixt two altars ; but whilst the king was at supper , he changed his garments , and named himselfe derman , and made an escape to the sea , and taking ship sayled into flanders , and thence iournied vnto france ; the king sent the bishop of london , and the earle of arundell vnto the king of france , to require him not to receiue the archbishop , nor retaine him in his dominion , and that he would be a meanes to the pope not to shew any familiaritie vnto him , but the french king , contrarie to the kings letters and request , not only harboured and cherished him , but writ to the pope , intreating him vpon all loues , as euer he would haue his fauour to tender the cause of the archbishop becket . the king sent another ambassage to pope alexander , by the archbishop of york , the bishops of london , winchester , chichester , exeter , with other doctors and clarkes : with the earle of arundel , with certaine moe lords and barrons , they were friendly accepted at the popes court , the next day following the pope sitting in the consistorie with his cardinals , when the ambassadours were called for the hearing of beckets matter , and the bishops euery one in order had made his oration , the pope did not accept some of their spéeches , and disdained some : wherefore the earle of arundell disdained in this manner , spake : though i am vnlettered , and cannot vnderstand what these bishops haue said , neither can vtter my minde in that tongue which they haue done , yet i must declare the cause of my sending as well as i may , which was not to contend with or iniury any man , especially in presence of such a one at whose beck all the world doth stoope , but our legacie is to present , in the presence of the whole church of rome , the deuotion and loue of our king , which hee euer had and still hath towards you , and that it might the better appeare to your excellencie , hee hath appointed for the furniture of this legacy his greatest and cheefest subiects of such worthines and parentage , that if hee could haue found greater in his realme hee would haue sent them , for the reuerence of your person and holy church of rome : i might adde more , which your sainctitude hath already proued , the harty fidelity of our king towards you , who at the entrance to his kingdome , submitted himselfe , and all his , wholly to your will and pleasure , and wee beleeue there is none more faithfull in christ then he , nor more deuout to god , nor more moderate in kéeping the vnity of peace : neither doe i deny touching the archbishop of canterbury , a man not vnfurnished with gifts in his calling , being both sage and discréete , sauing that hee seemeth to some more quick and sharpe then needeth , if this blot had not beene , the king and he had not discented : then both the temporaltie and spiritualty might haue flourished one with the other in much peace , vnder so worthy a prince , and so vertuous a pastor , therefore our message and supplication to your vigilant prudence , is that through your fauour and wisedome the neck of this discention may be broken , and reformation of vnitie and loue by some good meanes may be sought . but the pope would not condiscend to their sute , which was to haue two legates sent from his popish side into england , to examine and take vp the controuersie betweene the king , and the archbishop , but because becket was absent hee willed them to tarry his comming vp : for hee being absent hee would in no case procéede against him , but they alledged there time appointed to be ended , and hauing other lets they could not waite for the comming of becket , and so returned back , there cause frustrated , without the popes blessing to the king. within foure dayes after , becket commeth to the popes court , offered the pope a scroule of the custome and ordinances of the king : the pope condemned and cursed the most part of them , and blamed becket for so much yeelding to them at the beginning : yet because he was repentant , hee was content to assoile him for the same , and the rather because he had suffered so great troubles for the liberties of the church : the next day , the pope and his cardinals beeing assembled in his secret chamber , becket made an oration to them to this effect : he confessed with griefe the cause of these perturbations was because hee entred into the sould of christ , not by the doore of christ , because the king made him bishop , not the pope , and if i had resigned it to the king againe at his commandement , i had left a dangegerous example vnto the catholique church : therfore now recognising my ingresse not to be canonicall , and my abilitie not sufficient for such a charge : therfore i render into your fatherly hands the archbishoprick heere of canturbury , and putting his ring from his finger offered it to the pope , and desired a bishop to be prouided for the church of canturbury , and so with teares ended . this done hee was bid stand a part , after consultation they concluded , being he had ventred his goods , dignity , and authoritie , and his life , for the liberties of the church , if he should now be depriued at the kings pleasure it would be an exampl● to others hereafter none to resist his prince in like case , and so weaken the catholick church , and derogate the popes authoritie , and his cause being maintained it would bee a president to others to doe the like , so hee receiued his pastora●l office at the popes hand againe with commendation and much fauour , and ●he pope sent him vnto the abbey of pontiuiacke in france , with a monkes habit , where he was two yeares ; thence he remoued to senon , where he was fiue yeares ; so he was in exile seuen yeares . the king beeing certified by his ambassadors that the pope inclined more to becket , then vnto him , was wrathfull , and sayling into normandie sent ouer certaine iniunctions against the pope and the arch-bishop to this effect . whosoeuer brought any interdict or curse from the pope or becket , so bee apprehended and executed as a traytor . that no clarke , monke , or conuert of any other countrey , without the iustice and kings letters , to passe ouer or returne into the realme , otherwise to be imprisoned . none to appeale to the arch-bishop or bring any transcript from them . no decrée from them to stand in force or be receiued in england vpon paine of imprisonment . if any person shall keep the sentence of their interdict , they shall bee exiled with all their kindred , and take none of their goods with them , and be bound without speciall licence not to resort where the arch-bishop was . all the possessions and goods of such as fauoured the pope or arch bishop to be confiscate for the king. all such of the clergy as were out of the realme to bee warned in euery sheere within three monethes to repayre home , or else their rents and goods to ●eturne to the king. that the peter pence shall be no more paid vnto the apostolick sea , but to be reserued vnto the kings coffers . the arch-bishop writ to a friend of his to write to him with speed what was done touching the kings decrees , heere set out , which are these : that all hauens be diligently kept , that no interdict or curse be brought in , if the bringer bee a religious man , his feet to be cut off ; if a priest to loose his pr●uy members ; if a lay-man to bee hanged ; if a leper to be burned ; if a bishop will depart for feare of the popes interdict , let him haue nothing with him but his staffe , and that a●l schollers and students beyond the seas sha●l repaire home or loose their benefices , and if they remaine still to loose the libertie of all returning : if any priest for the popes interdict wil refuse to sing , to loose his priuy members : in summe al such priests as shew themselues rebels to the king , to bee depriued of their benefices . further it was proclaimed that all of the kindred of thomas becket should bee exiled with their goods with them , and sent to him , which was no little vexation to him to behold . moreouer , the king writ to the abbot of pontiuiack , where he lay , not to retaine him in his house , or else he would driue out of his realme all the monkes of his order : wherevpon hee remoued , by the french kings appointment , to senon as aforesaid , and found of him fiue yeares . in the meane time messengers went daily from the king to the pope , and from the pope to the king ; and betwixt the archbishop and others , where i finde onely rehearsals of matters , which are declared sufficiently in the history , whereof if the reader be desirous to see , let him resort to the booke at large . after these letters sent too and fro in the . yéere of henry the second , the king misdoubting that the archbishop would procéed in excommunication against his own person , made his appeale to the presence of the pope , requiring to haue certaine legates sent from rome from the popes side , to take vp the matter betwixt the archbishop and him ; requiring also that they might be absolued , that were interdicted : wherevpon two cardinals sent from the pope , with letters from the pope came into normandie , where they appointed the bishop to meete before the king , but the arch-bishop delayed his comming , vntill eight daies after , neither would come any further then grisorsium , where the two cardinals , and the archbishop with other bishops conuenting together , had a treatie of reconciliation , which came to no conclusion . the two cardinals writ to the pope to this effect : comming to england we found the controuersie more vehement then we would , for the king and the greater part about him said the arch-bishop stirred vp the french king against him ▪ and made the earle of flanders his open aduersarie : and after the king had receiued your letters , and brought forth other letters , diuers and altering from them receiued of vs , be was moued with no little indignation ; saying , that since wee came from you , the archbishop receiued of you other co●trarie letters , wherby he was exempted from our iudgement : moreouer , the king and the bishops there did affirme , that the complaint that was made vnto you of the ancient customes of his progenitors , for the most pa●t was false ; affirming farther to vs , that if there were any customes and lawes in his time that seemed pr●iudiciall to the statutes of the church , he would willingly reuoke and disanull the same : therefore we & other bishops and abbots of the land , hearing the king so reasonable , laboured by al meanes that the king should not breake from vs , but incline to vs , and to haue the matter brought before vs , betwixt him and the archbishop . wherevpon we sent our owne chaplains with letters to him , appointing him the time and place , where safely hee might meete with vs , yet he made his dilatories till eight dayes after , which ●tirred the kings heart more then is to be thought : thus when hee refused to meete vs in the borders of the king , though we offered him safe comming : we to satisfie his minde condescended to meete him at a place which hee appointed within the land of the french king , we exhorted him humbly to submit himselfe vnto his soueraigne and king , who had heaped him with such benefits and dignities : after aduise with his couns●ll , hee said he would submit himselfe to the king sauing the honour of god , the libertie of the church , the honestie of my person , the possessions of churches , and the iustice of him and all his in all things : wee asked him whether h● would submit himselfe to vs , as the king and the bishops were content to doe : he said he had a commandement from you not to answere before he and all his were restored to all their possessions , then he would proceed in the matter as hee should receiue commandement from the sea apostolick , whereof wee made relation to the king , yet keeping back a great part , which we had heard and séene : which when the king and nobles vnderstood , the king said he was so much the more cleere , for that the archbishop would not stand to iudgement : after much heauinesse and lamentation of the king , bishops , and abbots , they required of vs whether wee had any power to proceed against him , and perceiuing wee had none , least the archbishop should worke any disquietnes to any of the noble personages of the realme agreed together with one assent to make their appellation to your audience , prefixing accordingly the terme of their appeale . the archbishop saying , he stood onely for the peace of the church , one of the cardinals offered him , if he would relinquish his bishoppricke , the king should relinquish his customes . he answered , he could not renounce his church , sauing the honour of the church and his person , but it standeth vpon the soules health , and honor of the king to renounce his customes . after the cardinals were gone , the french king séeing the king of england disquieted , and s●●icitous of peace , pretending to set agréement betwixt them , the king and the arch-bishop , both were content to stand to his arbiterment . the archbishop prostrating himselfe at the féete of the king of england , said he would commit the whole matter to his owne arbiterment , saluo honore dei , the king was highly there-with displeased , rebuking him of pride and stubbornenesse , and charged him with sundry and great benefits bestowed on him , and hee a person vnkind and forgetfull . and speaking to the french king there present said , whatsoeuer displeaseth this man hee saith it is contrary to the honour of god , and by this meanes will vindicate to himselfe that which is his owne and mine too , there haue bin kings of england of greater and lesse puissance then i am , & there haue haue béen archb. of canterbury both great & holy men , what the best of them haue done to my predecessors before me , let him doe the same to me and i am content : the standers by with one voice cried , the king hath debased himselfe enough to the bishop , the french king said what my lord will you be better then those holy men , will you be greater then peter , you haue peace and quietnes put in your hands if you will take it : he answered , my predecessors euery one in his time did pluck vp , and correct something in his time , though not all things , for then there would bee no cause of this fire of temptation to try vs : though some haue béen slack , we are not to follow their examples , we rebuke peter for denying christ , but we commend him for resisting nero , hee could not in his conscience consent vnto him ; he did not dissemble , wherby he lost his life : by such oppressions the church hath alwaies growne , our forefathers suffered , because they would not dissemble the honour of christ , shall i ▪ to haue the fauour of one man , suffer the honour of christ to be supprest : the noble men standing by , noted him of arrogancy , and wilfulnes : and one openly protested , that séeing he refused the request of both kingdomes , hee was worthy of the help of neither : as england had reiected him , so france should not entertaine him . one of the archbishops chapleins writeth that the french king prostrated himselfe at the féet of the archb. repented he had giuen him such councell in a case pertaining to the honour of god , & desired to be assoiled , and that henry sent to the king to desire him not to support his enemy within his realme : the french king vtterly denied the kings request , and tooke part rather with the archbishop . the king of england returned from normandy into england & in the . yéere of his reigne kept his court of parliament at westminster , & by assent both of the clergy & temporalty , caused his sonne henry to be crowned king : the coronation was done by the archbishop of yorke , other bishops assisting becket : not beeing called tooke no little displeasure ; and so did the french king , hearing that margaret his daughter was not like wise crowned with her husband : wherevpon hee came with a great armie to normandie , but the king sent his sonne to him which intreated peace , promising that his sonne should be crowned againe , and his daughter crowned with him . becket sent to the pope , complaining of foure bishops , especially the archbishop of york , who durst be so bold in his absence , without his licence to crowne the king , being a matter peculiar to his iurisdiction , at whose instance the pope excommunicated the bishop of london : the other thrée with the archbishop hee suspended : they resorted to the king , declaring how miserable there case stood , for fulfilling his commandement , the king was highly moued . the king of france with his clergy and courtiers slacked no occasion to incite the pope to excommunicate the king of england , also thinking to haue some aduantage against the realme , neither was the king ignorant of this , which made him the readier to agree . the pope sent two legats with full commission , either to driue the k. to be reconciled , or to be excommunicated : the king seeing himselfe in great straites , which he could not auoid , and by the mediation of the king of france , and other great prelates and princes of the king , was content to be reconciled with the archb. whom he receiued into his realme , and granted him free returne to his church . but he would not grant him his lands vntill he came into england , and did see how he would agrée with his subiects , he was ioifully receiued of his church , albeit he was not very welcome vnto the yong king : so that comming to london to the king , he was returned back to canterbury and bid to keepe his house , hee excommunicated one robert de brocke on christmas day , for cutting off the taile of one of his horses the day before , hee would not absolue the foresaid foure bishops without cau●els and exceptions , who went to normandie to the king , and complained of the miserable state & vncourteous handling , which made him conceiue such displeasure towards becket , that hee lamented oft to them about him , that none would reuenge him of his enemy : vpon occasion of which words , . addressed thēselues in great heat of hast , within . daies after , the said christmas day they came to canterbury , they pressed at length into the palace , where the arch-b . was sitting with his company about him : they said they brought him a commandement from the king , bad him chuse whether he would receiue it openly , or secretly , the company being commanded away , and he alone , they told him the king commanded him to repaire to the king his sonne to doe his duety , and sweare fidelitie for your baronage , and to amend those things you haue committed against him , in denying to be sworne to him : he perceiued their intent , and called for his company , and they commanded him in the kings name that he should absolue the . bishops : he answered , he did not excommunicate them , but the pope , if that were their griefe they should resort to him ; séeing you thus stand against the coronation of our new king , it séemeth you aspire to take his crowne from him , and to bee king your selfe : he said nay , if he had thrée crownes he would set them all vpon him , except his father there is none whose honour i now tender and loue , and touching the sequestring of the bishops , there was nothing done without the assent of the king , for i complaine to him what iniury my church had by their crowning the ●ing , hee gaue me leaue to seeke my remedy at the popes hand , they said what doest thou ma●e the king a traytor and bewrayer of his own sonne , when he commanded them to cr●wne him , and then gaue thee leaue to suspend them for so doing ; and they said , thinkest thou we the kings subiects wil suffer this , thou hast spoken enough against thine own head : the achbishop said , since my comming ouer , ●e hath suffered many iniuries and rebukes conc●rning my selfe my men , cattell , wines , and other goods : yet the king writ to his sonne i should liue in safety and peace , and now you come hether to threaten me ; they answered , if you haue any ●niury , the law is open , and ●e said he sought for remedy at the kings hands as long as hee could be suffered to speake with him , but now i am stopped and can find no redresse , nor can haue the benefit of law or reason , such law as an arch-bishop may haue i will realme : then they denounced he had spoken words to the ieopardie of his head , so they depart , charging the monkes in the kings name to keep him forth●comming : the arch-bishop would not fly for the king nor any man : the names of the foure souldiers were , first , renold berison : secondly , hugh morteuill : thirdly , william thracy : fourthly , richard britto : who going to harnesse themselues , returned the same day , but the hall doore being shut , they went to a back doore , and broke vp a window : the monkes had gotten the arch-bishop into the church , and caused his crosse to be borne before him , and procéeded into the quiere , the haruest men following came to the church doore , the monkes would haue shut the doore , but as the story saith the bishop would not suffer them : so they came into the church , and the bishop méeting them on the stayres was slaine , euery man striking him with his sw●rd in the head , who fied into the north , and at length were pardoned of the pope by the kings meanes , and went to ierusalem . newbergensis an ancient chronographer condemneth the doings of becket . cesarius a monke in his eighth booke of dialogues . yeares after the death of becket , writeth that it was a question amongst the masters of paris , whether thomas becket were saued , or damned . but it is certaine this antheme collected and primered in his praise is blasphemous . tu per thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit , fac nos christe scandere quo thomas asendit . wherein is a double lye , first that hee dyed for christ ; secondly , that his bond should purchase heauen , which none of the apostles durst challenge , for then christ died in vaine . after his death the king fearing the popes curse , which the french king helped forwards what he could , the king sent his excuse vnto the pope which he would not heare . and after second messengers which some of the cardinals receiued , shewing them that the pope vsed to curse & assoile on good-friday , which was néer at hand , and it was noised that the king , bishops & realme , should be interdicted : and herevpon the kings messengers were put into prison , some of the cardinals shewed the pope that the kings messengers had power to sweare that the king should obey his penance which was taken both for the king & the archb. of yorke , so that in the said day , the pope only cursed the déed , doers , consenters , ayders & harbourers of them : the deed-doer● had in penance to goe in linnen clothes barefoote , in fasting & prayer , to ierusalem , who by this hard penance are said to die in few yéeres after . two cardinals were sent to inquire who were consenters to his death , the king , being not certaine wherefore their comming was , with a great power entred into ireland , giuing charge that no bringer of any briefe should come into the realme , or passe out without speciall license , and an assurance to bring nothing preiudiciall to the realme : the king in short time subdued the whole land of ireland , which was gouerned by fiue kings , of whom foure submitted themselues ; only the fift , the king tonacta , denied to be subdued , kéeping himselfe in woods and marshes . in this time the two cardinals were come to normandy : the next yéere in october , the king went to them , & made his purgation touching the death of becke● , taking his othe he was neuer aiding nor consenting , but onely spake rigorous words against him ; wherefore for penance hee was sworne to send so much money to the holy land , & should find two hundred knights for the defence thereof , and should set forth by christmas following his own person to fight for thrée yéeres , exc●pt the pope should dispence with him : and that if he went into spaine , & fought with the sarrac●ns , as long as he was there he might prolong his iourney to ierusalem . itē , that he should not hinder or cause to be hindred any appellatio●s made to r●me . item , that he nor his sonne should dissent from pope alexander , nor his catholick successors . item , that the goods and possessions taken from the church of canterbury should be restored . item , that the foresaid decrées established against the church should be extinct , and repealed , besides other secret fastings and almes inioyned him . all these conditions the king and his son agreed vnto , debasing himselfe with humilitie and submission before them whereof the cardinals tooke no little glory , vsing this vers● of the psalme : qui respicit terram , & facit eam tremere : qui tangit montes & fumigant . the returning from normandie , by reason the scots had made a road into england , by the way , as soon as he came to the fight of beckets church he lighted & went barefoote to his toombe , whose steps were found bloudy by the roughn●sse of the stones , and receiued a whip , with a rod , of euery monke of the cloister , whereby thou maist see the lamentable superstition and ignorance of those dayes , and the slauery that kings and princes were brought too vnder the popes clergy , the same yeere almost the whole citie of canturbury was consumed with fire , and the said minster church cleane burnt . the next yeare in a conuocation of bishops , abbots , and other of the clergie at westminster , there was great discention betwixt the two arch-bishops , whether yorke must beare his crosse in the dioces of canterbury , and whether the bishopricks of lincoln , chichester , worcester , and hereford , were of the sea of york . wherefore the one appealed the other vnto the presence of the pope . how much better had it beene if the supremacie had remained in the king , whereby much trauell , and great wastfull expences had bin saued , and there cause mor● indifferently , and more spéedily decided . diuers of glocester in the dioces of york were excommunicated by the archb. of canterbury , because being summoned they refused to appeare : a cardinall by the kings procurement was sent from rome to make peace : by the meanes of the king it was agreed that canterbury should release his claime to glocester , and absolue the clarks thereof , & the bearing the crosse and other matters was referred to the other bishops , and a league of truce for fiue yeares betwixt them . the next yeare henry the second denided the realme into six parts , & ordained thrée iustices of assise on euery part : to the first norfolk , suffolk , cambridge shire , huntingdon-shire , buckingham-shire , essex , hereford-shire : to the second lincoln-shire , nottingham-shire , derby-shire , stamford-shire , warwick-shire , northampton-shire , leicester-shire : thirdly , kent , surry , south-hampton-shire , sussex , berk-shire , oxford-shire : fourthly , heriford-shire , glocester-shire , worcester-shire , salop-shire : fiftly , wilt-shire , dorcester-shire , sommerset-shire , de●●n-shire , cornwall : euerwick-shire , richmond-shire , lancaster , copland , westm●r-land , northumberland , cumberland . in this yéere the archbishop of canterbury made thrée arch-deacons , where there was but one , and the k. granted the pope , that no clarke should be called before a temporall iudge , except for his offence in the forrest or his lay-fée that he holdeth , and that no bishopricke or abbey should remaine but one yeere in the kings hands without great cause , this yeare there was great controuersie betwixt the archbishop of canterbury , and the abbot of s. austen , he being elect , whether the bishop should come to his house to consecrate him , or he to come to the metropolitan church of canterbury to be consecrated : the ●bbot appealed to the audience of the pope , and went thither with a fat purse , procured letters to the bishop of worcester to command the arch-bishop to consecrat him in his monastery , because it did properly belong to the iurisdiction of rome , & should do so likewise to his successors without exception of obedience , & if the ●rchb . refuse to doe it , then he should doe it : the archb. vnderstanding it , & loth to yéeld , vsed policy , he watched a time when the abbot was frō home , came to the monastery , with all things appointed for the busines , called for the abbat to be consecrated : the abbot not being at home , he fained himself not a little grée●ed : wherevpon the abbot was disappointed , faine to fill his purse a new , & make a new course to rome to the pope of whom he receiued his consecration . this yéere a cardinal was sent into england , ( as few yéeres there was not one sent to get m●ny , he was to make peace betwixt the archbishops of york & canterbury , who kept a councel at westminster , to which all the chiefe of the clergy resorted with great confluence ; yorke thinking to preuent canterbury , came first and placed himselfe on the right hand of the cardinall : canterbury seeing the first place taken , refused to take the second : yorke alledged the old decree of gregory by whom this order was taken betwixt these two metropolitans , that he that should be first in election , should haue the preheminence in dignity , and goe before the other . from words they went to blowes , canterbury hauing more seruants was to strong for yorke , plucked him from the right hand of the cardinall , treading on him with their feet that it was well hee escaped aliue : his robes were all rent from his back , this noble romane cardinall which should haue ended the strife committed himselfe to flight : the next day yorke shewed his rochet to the cardinall to testifie his wrong , and appealed , and cited the archbishop of canterbury , and certaine of his men to the pope . the kingdome of england in the henry this second his time , extended so farre as hath not béen seene : the king of scots , with all the lords spirituall and temporal , did him homage for them and their successors : ireland , england , normandie , aquitane , gaunt &c. unto the mountaine of pireni , in the vtmost parts of the ocean in the brittish sea : protector of france , and offered to bée king of ierusalem , by the patriarke and master of the hospitall there , which he refused , alledging his great charge at home , and it might be his sonnes would rebell in his absence . the fame of his wisedome , manhood , riches , was so renowned through all quarters that messengers came from the emperor of rome , and from the emperour of constantinople , and from many great kings , dukes , and other great men to determine questions of strife , and aske councell of him : he raigned thirty fiue yéeres , and hauing great warres , yet neuer set tribute or taxe vpon his subiects , nor first fruits , nor appropriations of benefits vpon the clergy ; yet his treasure beeing weighed by king richard his sonne after his death , weighed . pounds , besides iewels and houshold-stuffe , of which . pounds came by the death of robert arch-bishop of yorke , for hee had procured a bull of the pope , that if any priest dyed without testament , he should haue all his goods . his sonne henry , whom he ioyned with him in his kingdome , and at his coronation serued him as a steward , and set the first dish at the table , renouncing the name of king , the archbishop of yorke sitting at the right hand of the young king , he told him , he might greatly reioyce , being no king had such an officer as he had , the young king disdaining his words , said ; my father is not dishonored , for i am a king and a quéenes sonne , and so is not he . he tooke armes with the french king against his father , and persecuted him , but after hee had raigned a few yeares , died in his youth by the iust iudgement of god. after his death , his sonne richard , called cor-de-lyon , rebelled against his father , and iohn his youngest sonne did not degenerate from his brothers steps , the said richard brought his father to such distresse of body and minde , that for thought he fell into an ague , and within fou●e daies dyed , richard méeting his corps , beginning to wéepe , the bloud burst out of the kings nose at the comming of his sonne , giuing a monstration that he was author of his death . his children , after his death , worthily rewarded for their vnnaturalnesse , lost all they had beyond the sea which their father had gotten . alexander pope decréed , that no arch-bishop should receiue the pall , vnless● hée first sware obedience to the pope . these be the words in engl●sh of the giuing of the pall. to the honour of almighty god , and of blessed mary the uirgin , and of blessed s. peter , and s. paul , and of our lord pope , and of the holy church of rome , and of the church committed to your charge : we giue you the pall taken from the body of saint peter , as a fulnesse of the pontificall office , which you may weare within your own church , vpon certain daies expressed in the priuiledge● of the said church , granted by the sea apostolike . this pall ought to bee asked with great instance , and within thrée moneths , without which pall he is not arch-bishop , but may be deposed . the same pall must be burned with him when hee dyeth , and when it is giuen , some priuiledge must be giuen with it , or the old renewed , the arch bishops pay swéetly for it . euery bishop must sweare to be obedient to saint peter , the apostolike church of rome , and to the pope , to doe nothing whereby either of them , or any member of them may be impaired , nor helpe , counsell , or consent vnto any so doing , not to vtter their councell any way sent to them , to any body to their hurt , to reta●ne and maintaine the papacy and the regalities of s. peter against all men , honorably to intreat the popes legats going and comming , and helpe them in all necessities , to be ready to come to a sinod being called , without any lawfull let , to visite the pallace of the apostles euery third yeare , by himselfe , or a messenger , except otherwise licensed by the pope , not to sell , giue , or lease out any the possessions of his church without the popes license , so god helpe him and the holy ghost . by this oath , the byshop could do nothing but what the pope would in generall councels , which was the corruption of them . besides this , it was decreed in the said councell of rome , by . byshops , by pope alexander , that none should haue spirituall promotion , except he were of full age and borne in wedlocke : that no parish-church should be voyd aboue sixe moneths ; that none within orders should meddle with temporal businesses ; that priests shall haue but one benefice ; that bishops be charged to find the priest a liuing vntill he be promoted . that open usurers shall not communicate at easter , nor be buried within the church yard . that nothing shall be taken for ministring sacraments , or burying . item , that euery cathedrall church should haue a maister to teach children fréely , without taking any thing for the same . in this councell the vow of chastity was laid vpon priests , thomas becket and bernard were canonized for saints . in this yeare richard , the eldest sonne of henry the second , succeeded his father , at which time clement sat pope , succéeding gregory , who died a little before for sorrow , for losse of the holy crosse by the popes meanes . he and fredericke the emperor , and phillip the french king , went with their armies to palestina , atchieuing the recouery of the holy land. richard in this iourney gat cyprus , acon , ptolemayda , surrah . for preparation for this iourney hee sold lordships , castles , offices , liberties , priuiledges , byshopprickes , &c. he said he would sell london , if he could finde one able to buy it : many bishops purchased to their bishopprickes diuers lordships . the bishop of winch●ster purchased werregraue , & meues . the bishop of duresme , hadberge , with all their appurtenances for . markes , and purchased the whole prouince of the king for his owne , and himselfe to be made earle of the same . in this kings daies there fell a great dissention in the church of yorke , betwixt the arch-bishop of yorke , and the deane , because euening song was begunne before the arch-bishoppe came , his grace comming into the quire , was angry , because they tarryed not for him , and commaunded the quire to stay : the dean● and treasurer willed them to fing on , the quire left and recanted , and begun againe . the treasurer not to take the foyle , caused the lights to be put out , so the euening song ceased , for the popish euening song is blind , without light , though the sunne shine neuer so bright : his grace suspended the whole church from diuine seruice vntill the parties had made him amends . the next day being ascention day , the deane and treasurer would make no sar●sfaction , the people would haue fallen vpon them if his grace had not let them . the deane was faine to flye to his house , and the treasurour to saint williams tombe for succour : the byshop excommunicated them , and the church was suspended from seruice that day . thus much of the heroicall c●mbat betwixt these ecclesiasticall persons . king richard , in his iourney aforesaid , talked with abbot ioachim of his uisions and prophesies , especially of antichrist : hee expounded vnto him the place in the reu●lation . there be seuen kings , fiue are fallen , one is now , another not yet com , he said they were seuen persecutors of the church : herod , nero , domitianus , maxentius , mahomet , turka , the last , which is not yet come , was antichrist , which is already borne at rome , and should bee there exalted into the apostolike sea , as the apostle faith ; he is an aduersary , and exhalteth himselfe aboue all that is called god , then the wicked man shall bee reuealed , and the lord shall consume him with the breath of his mouth , and destroy him with the brightnesse of his comming : why said the king , i thought antichrist should haue béene borne in anti●ch , or babylon , and of the tribe of dan , and ruled in ierusalem thrée yeares and a halfe , and disputed against enoch and elias , and put them to death , and then died himselfe , and that sixty daies of repentance should be giuen to them that were seduced by his preaching . when king richard went his iourney , he committed the custody of his realme principally to the byshop of duresme , and the bishop of ely , and to two lay men : the two byshops fell at variance for superiority , at length this order was taken by the king , that duresme should haue v●der his custody from humber is the scottish seas . ely was ordained chancellor , hauing vnder his gouernment from the said stood of humber , all the south parts besides : but ely beeing more ambitious , so practised with the king and his ambassadors , sending his letters to the pope , obtained the authority legatiue vpon the whole realm of england , and became so ambitious and proud , that all the realme cryed out of him , he beeing intollerable vnto the cleargy and layty . he assembled a generall councell at london , in colour for religion , but it was for his owne pompe and oppression of the clergy and layty , wonderfully oppressing the commons . hee vsed ●o ride with & thousand horses : noble-mens sonnes were glad to be his slaues . he married his cosens neeces and kinswomen ( i will not say his daughters ) vnto the best barons and earles , yet his grand-father was a poore plowman , and his father a cow-heard ; and hauing thus tyrannously abused his office , fearing examination , fled with a few of his trusty seruants to douer castle , to haue stolne beyond sea : and comming in a womans apparell with a pe●ce of cloth vnder his arme , and a mete rod in his hand , being taken vpon susp●tion , his kercheefe plucked off , his balaams marke or shauen crowne appeared : the people wondred , rai●ed and spit on him , and drew him , some by the armes , some by the legges ouer the sea sands , vntill they brought him to a darke seller with shame enough to be kept , till the councell ●ent for him to the tower of london , where he was ●xamined , depriued , and banished the realme : after restored by king richard , and sent to rome , but died by the way . as king richard returned from the holy land , driuen by di●●resse of weather about the parts of austria , he was taken in synaca by hubald , duke of the same countrey , and sold to the emperour for . marke : the emperour writ of the matter to the king of france , that hee might reioyce with 〈◊〉 : at len●th king richard was ransomed for . crownes , and as he was comming into england , besieging a castle in pictauia , tooke his deadly wound , and being sick , amongst others , fulco archbishop of roane came to him , who said to the king : o mighty king thou hast thrée daughters very vicious , prouide good husbands for them , least thou incurre great damage , and th● vtter ruine : the king called him lying , and mocking hypocrite ; saying all the world knoweth i haue no daughters ; he answerd yes if it p●ease your grace , i meane greedy couetousn●sse , mischieuous pride , filthy ●uxury : againe i say , o king , beware of them and get them marriages : wherevpon the king calling his lords and barrons , ●●●laring the matter to them , and said ; wherefore heere before you all , i giue my daughter swelling pride vnto the proud templers to wife ; and my daughter gréedie auaric● vnto the couetous and cistertian monkes ; and last of all t●y filthy daughter luxury , to the ryotous prelates of the church , whom i thinke v●ry meete for them . the king not long after departed without issue , and iohn his brother raigned after him : the arch-bishop putting his crowne vpon his head , swearing him to de●end the church and his good lawes and destroy the euill , and except he thought in his minde to doe this , he charged him not to presume to take vpon him this dignitie : on iohn baptist day next after , he went to normandy , where he was royal●y receiued , and a truce made betwixt him and the french king : and the earle of flanders , and all the lords of france that were in league with king richard , cam● to him , and were sworne vnto him . not long after the french king made arthur knight , and tooke homage of him for normandy , brittaine , and all his possessions beyond the sea , and promised him help against king iohn : after the french king , and king iohn with their nobles spake together an houre : the french king asked him much land for himselfe , and king arthur , wh●ch he would not g●ant , but departed in w●ath . the same yeere a legate came into france , and commanded the king vpon paine of interdiction to deliuer one peter out of prison , which was elected to a bishoprick , who was deliuered , the same legate came into england , and commanded king iohn vpon paine of interdiction to deliuer the arch-bishop whom hee had kept in prison two yeares , which the king denied vntill he had payed him six thousand markes , because hee had tooke him in harnesse in a field against him , and he swore him hee should neuer beare harnesse against a christian man. this time king iohn & his wife were diuorced , because they were in the third degrée of kindred , and after by the councell of the french king , was married vnto the daughter of the earle of anguilla , and then arthur of brittan did homage for brittaine , and other his possessions to king iohn . this time was strife betwixt the king and the archbishop of yorke , because he would not suffer the sheriffe to do such affaires as he had to d ee in his dioces for the king , and excommunicated the sheriffe , and would not go with the king into normandy , to make the marriage betwixt the french kinges sonne and his néece . the king of france required king iohn to depart with all his landes in normandy and pictauia , &c. vnto arthur his nephew , else hee would warre against him , which he denying , the next day the french king , with arthur , set vpon certaine of his towns and castles in normandy , but he was so repulsed of the english , who followed so néere , and so inforced vpon them , that they took arthur and many other prisoners , and left none to beare tydings home . this arthur was the sonne of geffery , the elder brother of king iohn : geffery was the third son of henry the second , and iohn was his fift son. arthur being taken , was brought to the king home , he exhorted him with many gentle words , to leaue th● king of france and incline to his uncl● , hee stoutly required the kingdome of england , with all things thereunto belonging , to bee restored to him as lawfull heire of the crowne : whereupon he was committed to the tower of roane , wher● he finished his life . no story agréeth certainly how , whether by leaping into the ditch or no. the next yeare king iohn lost all his possessions in normandy , by the force of the french king. this yeare grew great dissention about chusing the archbishop of canterbury , the younger sort of the monkes there , at midnight , and before the old arch-bishop was buried , and without the kings assent , elected one renald , sending h●m to the pope , charging him vpon his oath to be secret , but he reuealed the matter , whereby the rest of the monkes sent priuily to rome , and sent to the king for h●s ass●nt to chuse an archbishop : the king granted their petition , desiring them to shew ●auour to iohn gray , bishop of norwich , which they did , and elected him , and the king sent to rome at his owne charge , to haue this election ratified : ●he suffragans of canterbury sent likewise to rome , to haue both those elections frustrated , because their assents were not to them . the next yeare the pope d●cided the matter betwi●t the monkes and suffrigans , pronouncing with the monks , charging the suffragans and bishop to meddle no more with that election . the next yeare the pope decided the controuersie betwixt the younger monkes and the elder monkes , and condemned both their elections , comma●nding them to chuse steuen langton , cardinall of saint chrisogone for their arch-bishop ; they said they durst not for feare of the king , and that it was preiudiciall to their liberties . he in a fury said , we will you to know , that we haue full power ouer the church of canterbury , and are not wont to tarry the consent of princes ; therefore wee comma●nd you , vnder pa●ne of the great curse , that you c●use him . whereupon they all assented , sauing he whom the king had sent for the arch bishop of norwich . upon this the king conceiued great displeasure against the monkes of canterbury , wherefore he banished . of them out of the land. the king sent letters to the pope , sharply expostulating with him , for re●u●ing the bishop of norwich , and setting vp one stephen langton ( vnknowne to him , and brought vp in the kingdome of france amongst his enemies ) archbishop of canterbury : and that the monkes without his consent , presumed to promote him , and meruailed that the pope did not reuolue with himselfe , how necessary his fauour had euer béene to them . what great reuenues had procéeded hence , thether , the like whereof hath not béene receiued out of any country on this side the alpes , and that he would stand for his liberties vnto death , nor would not bee so shaken from the election of the bishop of norwich , which he séeth so commodious to him , and that if his request were not heard , he would prouide by seas that there should be no more such g●dding to rome , to export the riches of his land thither , whereby he is lesse abled against his enemies , and that he had sufficient prelats of his owne , and hath no néede of any from abroad . pope innocentius writ to him againe . whereas wée haue written gently to you , conc●rning the matter of canterbury , you haue written to vs after a threatning sort ; and where wée , aboue our duetie , haue giuen to you , you have not giuen to vs ou● duetie , which you are bound to doe , and though your sauour ( as you say ) be necessary for vs , yet consider , ours is not a little opor●une vnto you ; and whereas wee haue not shew●d the like honour to any prince , as to you , you haue so much derogated to our honour , as no prince besides hath presumed to doe . where you say , the archbishop is vnknowne to you , and brought vp amongst year enemies . then be sheweth how learned ●e was , how he was prebend at paris , and of an ho●●st stocke , borne an englishman , and knowne to the king being he wrote to him thrée times before ; and saith , that at the monkes request he sent his letters once or twise to the king for his assent , although was not the manner of the sea apostolike , who hath the fulnesse of the power of the church of canterbury , to waite for princes consents in such elections : therefore , according to the canons of the fathers , w● did pro●ide that the said church should be no longer 〈◊〉 of her pastor : therefore , being this election hath so orderly proceeded vpon a person so meete for the same , w●e will not for any mans pleasure , nor may without danger of ●ame and conscience deferre the consummation thereof . and my sonne , seeing we ha●e respected your honour more then our duetie is , study to honour vs so much as ●u●tie requireth , that you may deserue fauour at gods hands and ours , and least doing contrary , you bring you selfe into such a pe●ke of t●oubles , that you cannot ri● your selfe againe , for it will fall out , he will haue the better to whom euery knée doth bowe , whose turne i serue in the earth : therefore obey not them that desire vnquietnesse , that they might f●sh the better in a troubled water . it will not be for your saftie and glory to resist god and the church , in whose quarrell the blessed and glorious martyre , bishop thomas hath lately shed his bloud ; especially seeing your father , and brother being kings of england , did giue ouer those thrée wicked customes into the hands of the sea aposto●●ke : but if you will yéeld your selfe humbly into our hands , we will looke that you and yours shall be sufficiently prouided for . thus haue you the glorious letter of the proud pope , i beséech you marke it well . not long after proceeded a commaundement to certaine bishops , requiring them by the authoritie apostolicall , that if the king would not receiue the prior of canterbury , and his monkes , then they should interdict him through his realme . whereupon the foure bishops , of london . el● , winchester , and herford , shewed the king thereof , but the king refused the same , and would not grant their request , wherupon they pronounced the said in●erdiction throughout england and wales , and the church doores were shut vp , with keyes , and other fastnings . then the king tooke all the possessions of the foure bishops into his hands , and apointed certaine to keepe the liuings of the clergie throughout the realme . the bishops cursed all that kept , or medled with church-goods , against the wils of the owners . then they went to the bishop of canterbury , and shewed him all the matter , he promised , he would shortly come to canterbury himselfe , or send some which should doe as much as himselfe . 〈◊〉 came to the king , that the bishops had beene beyond-sea , with the archbishop and were returned . he sent to them bishops , earles , and abbots , to shew that the king would receiue the archbishop steuen , and the prior , and all the monkes of canterbury , promising on his behalfe , that he should neuer take any thing of the church-goods , but would make amends for them taken , and the church should haue all her franchices , as amply as in king edwards time the confessor . this agreement was concluded , and ingrossed in a payre of indentures , the saide foure bishops set their hands to one part , the other part was caried to the king , which he liked well , but he would not make restitution of the church-goods . the foure bishops would not agree to put out that article , then the king sent for the archbishop to come to him and speake with him at canterbury , and for his safe conduct to come and goe at his will , sent thrée iustices to be pledges for him : whereupon the archbishoppe came to canterbury , and the king came to ch●●ham , and sent his treasurer to him to put out the clause of restitution , which he denyed to doe , or any word of the same . then the king caused to be procl●imed throughout the realme , that th●se that had any church-liuings , and went beyond-sea , should returne at a certaine day , or loose the●● liuings for euer . and that all sheriffes should inquire if any church-man , from that day forward , receiued any commaundement from the pope , to apprehend him and bring him before him : and that they should take into their hands , vnto his vse all the church lands , that were giuen by the archbishop steuen , or the priors of canterbury , from the time of the election of the said archbishop , and that all the woods of the archbishop , should be cut downe ▪ and solde . thou the pope sent ouer two legats , which resorted to the king at northampton , where he held his parliament , and saluted him , they said , they came from the pope , to reforme the peace of holy church , and we admonish you , in the popes behalfe , that you make full restitution of the goods that you haue rauished of holy church , and of the land , and that you receiue stephen archbishop , into his dignity , and the prior of canterbury , and his monkes , and yeeld againe to the archbishop , all his lands and rents ; and sir , yet moreouer , that you shall make such restitution to them , as the church shall thinke good . the king answered , he would gladly grant their request touching the prior and monkes of canterbury , but touching the archbishop , let him giue vp the archbishopricke , and i will giue him some other bishopricke ; vpon this condition i will admit him , otherwise not . then one of them said , holy church was neuer wont to disgrade archbishop , without reasonable cause , but to correct princes , that were disobedient to her . what now , ( quoth the king ) threaten you me ? they said , you haue told vs what is in your heart , now we will tell you what is in the popes will. he hath wholly interdicted and accursed you , for your wrongs to holy church , and the clergy , and we doe accurse all those that shall common with you hereafter , and we assoyle all earles , barons , knights , and others from their homage , fealty , and seruice they should doe to you ; and to confirme this , we giue power to the bishops of winchester and norwich ; and the same power ouer scotland , we giue vnto the bishops of rochester and salisbury ; and in wales , wee giue the same power to the bishops of saint dauid , landaffe , and saint assaph . and we send throughout all christendome , to all bishops , to accurse all that helpe and comfort you in any néede . and we a●●oyle all your aduersaries , and command them to warr● with you , and with all that are enemies to the church : then the king answered ; what may you doe more ? they said , we say to you in verbo dei , that no heire of yours , after this day , may be crowned . then the king sware , if hee had knowne their newes , hee would haue kept them out this tweluemonth . upon this occasion pope inocent commanded ageine , in paine of his great curse , that none should obey king iohn , nor kéepe company with him , to eate , drinke , common , or councell with him , or his seruants to doe him any seruice , at bed , boord , hall , or stable . but , the greater part that sled from him by this meanes , of diuerse and sundry diseases , that yeare , died . betwixt england and france , that yeare , fell great amitie , but false , to the bitter betraying of england . further , the pope with his cardinals , gaue sentence definitiue , that king iohn should be deposed from his regal seat , and promised phillip the french king full remission of all his 〈◊〉 , and cleare possession of the realme of england , vnto him and his heirs , if he did either kill him , or expel him . moreouer , he wrote vnto other nations , that they should take vpon them the badge of the crosse , and reuenge him of the manifold iniuries done to the vniuersall church , by the cursed tu●ke , and pagan , king iohn . the next yeare , the french king , manned with the bishops , monkes , prelates , and priests , and their seruants , began his att●mpt , in hope of the crowne of england , but the english nauie tooke . of the french kings ships , loaden with wheat , wine , meate , flesh . armour , and other necessaties for warre , and burnt . within the hauen , and tooke the spoyle of them . the priests of england prouided them a false prophet , one peter wake●ield , they noysed daily amonst the commons , that christ had twise appeared to him , in shape of a childe betwixt the priests hands , once at yorke , and againe at pomfret , and breathed , saying : peace , peace , peace , and that he was rapt in spirit , and hee saw the ●oyes of heauen and sorrowes of hell. he prophecied of king iohn , that he should raigne no longer then ●scention day , within the yeare of our lord . being asked the question , he could not tell whether he should be slaine , expelled , or of himselfe giue ouer the crowne : but he was sure , he nor none of his stocke should raigne , that day once fi●●shed . the king laughed thereat , when he sawe himselfe out of dange● . he prated thereof at large so , that they which l●ned the king , apprehended him , and put him in prison , the king not knowing therof : the fame hereof went through the whole realme , and the more , becau●e he was imprisoned . when the prophesied ascention day was came , king iohn commaun●ed his regal tent to be spred abroad in the open field ▪ and passed the day with his noble councel , and men of honour , in the greatest solemnity that euer hee did before . when that day was passed withall , his enemies turned it to an al●goricall vnderstanding , and said , he is no king , for the pope raigneth , and not he ▪ yet raigned he stil , and his sonne after him , to proue the prophet alyer . and because this false prophet had troubled the realme , peruerted the people , raised the commons against the king , and was caried ouer the sea by the prelates , and gaue incouragement to the french king to inuade the land , the king commaunded the false prophet should be hanged , and his sonne , least any more should rise of his race . at length , the king seeing himselfe so compassed with enemies , and treasons , and great danger that was like to follow , especially fearing the french king ▪ was inforced to submit himselfe to that execrable monster , and antichrist of rome , conuerting his land into the patrimony of saint peter , as many other had done before him : for hee was sure , though not without shame , being vnder his protection , no forraine potentate was able to subdue him . king iohn made a letter obligatory to the pope , in this manner ; whereas wee haue grieuously offended god , and our mother church of rome , and our body and realme is not a sufficient satisfaction to him that humbled himselfe on the crosie for vs , through councell of the noble earles and barons , we freely grant vnto god and the apostles saint peter and saint paul , and to our mother church of rome , and to our holy father pope inocent the third , and all the popes that come after him , all the realme , and patronage of the churches of england and ireland , with all the appurtenances , for the remission of our sinnes , and the helpe of our kinsfolkes soules , and of all christian soules ; so that henceforth we will hold as farmer to her mother church , doing fealtie to the pope , and his successors . wee will doe homage to the popes legate ▪ as it were in the popes presence ; paying ●or all manner of custome which we sho●ld doe for the said realmes yearely . markes of siluer , sauing to vs and our heires , our iustices and our franchises , and other realties that appertaine to our crowne . and for the assurance hereof , we binde our successors and heires , that if any of our heires shall goe against these things , and being warned , will not an end , he shall then loose the foresaid realmes for euermore . but before the relea●ment of the interdiction , the king was compelled to giue ouer his crowne and scepter to the antichrist of rome for fiue dayes , and to receiue it at another cardinals hands . then all that had their hearts wounded for obeying their liege king , came and were absolued of their owne bishops , but the spirituall men were compelled to séeke their absolution of the pope . some of the clergie were not pleased that the king should be absolued , vntill the king had payed all which any of the clergie should demaund , and complained of the popes legate , that he was too partiall for the king , in the matter of restitution , and because he went , with the kings officers , to the cathedrall churches , abbyes , priories , and other churches vacant , and appointed two iucumbants , to euery place , one for the king , and the other for the parties , and commonly compelled the election to passe vpon him whom the king nominated . the archbishop called a councell at oxford , some would not tary , séeing the confysion thereof , others reuiled the king most spi●efully , behinde his backe , saying ; he ought to bée taken for no gouernour of theirs , that it grew to a grieuous tumult , and most grieuous commotion . in this years pope inocent held the councell at rome , called lateran ; it was pretended to be for the r●formation of the church uniuersall , and to haue the holy land recouered from the turtes : but it was because the doctrine of the truth , which they call here●●● , begin to 〈◊〉 very high , by reason whereof the emp●rour otho , and many other priestes and their countries were excommunicated . in this councell he established by publique deerce , that the pope should haue the correction of all christian princes , and that no emperour should bee admitted , except he were s●orne to him , and crowned of him . item , that whosoever spake eu●il of the pope , should be punished in hell , with eternall damnation . item , transubstantiation was first inuented , brought in , and a pix ord●ined to couer the bread , and bell to be rung b●fore it , when it went abroad ; and the masse to bée made equall with christs gospell . item , the act was established and ratified , of compelling priests to abiure lawfull m●●iage . marke how the priests and their adherents were plagued for handling king iohn so , stephen lancton , archbishop of canterbury , in this councell was excommunicated of pope inocent , with all th●se bishops , pre●lates , priests , barons , and commons , which had béene of councell with him in the former rebellion ; and when the archbishop had 〈◊〉 instant sute to be absolued , the pope answered ; i sweare by saint peter , thou shal● not so soone obtaine thy absolution : for thou hast hurt the king of england , and iniured ●uch the church of rome . he was also suspended from church , saying masse , or exercising other ecclesiasticall office , because he would not execute the popes curse vpon the said rebellious barons , and cursed all the other rebels with b●ll , book● , and candle , and they appealed to the generall councell . in the same yeare , many were summoned to rome , because they would not consent to the kings deposing , and submitting to the pope . thus the whole realme was miserably deuided into two factious , some lords , and gentlemen , a great number followed the king , and loued his doings . others fled to the french king , desiring of him his eldest sonne lodowicke , and they would elect him their king , and that he would send with him a mightie armie , to subdue the king : but as certaine lords and barons were chusing lodowicke for their king , the pope sent a cardinall to stop their rash and cruell attempts , charging the french king , vpon his alegiance , with all possible power , to ●auour , and de●end king iohn of england , his feoda●y , or tenant . tho french king answered . the realme of england was neuer yet part of peters patrimony , neither now is , nor euer should be . no prince may pledge , or giue away his kingdome , without the lawfull consent of his barons : if the pope shall se● vp such a president , he shall , at his pleasure , bring all christian princes , and their kingdomes to naught , though he be my aduersary , i much lament that he ●●th brought the noble ground , and quéene of prouinces , vnder miserable 〈◊〉 . the chiefe of his lords standing by , cryed by the bloud of god , in whome we hope to be saued , we will sticke in this article to the loosing of our heads , that no king may put his ●and vnder tribute , and make his nobilitie captiue seruants . lodowicke 〈◊〉 that his purposed iourney might not vs let , for the barons haue elected mee , and i will not loose my right , but fight for it to death , and i haue fri●ndes there : to which the king answered not , belike doubting somewhat , because he saw all 〈◊〉 of the priests , that they might liue licentiously in wealth , frée from the kings yoake . the same time a such treasons and conspiracies were wrought by clergie men , that the king knew not where to finde trustie friends . at length he went to douer , looking for ayde from other quarters , to whom resorted a wonderful number of men from flanders , 〈◊〉 , holland , and many other parts . it was reported the pope writ to them to a●de him . first , b●cause he submitted his kingdome to his protection , and he had taken vpon him the 〈◊〉 of the white crosse , to winne againe ierusalem . thirdly because he had gotten by him , england , and ireland , and was like to loose both . upon the a●●●nciation day of our lady , hee ●ooke vpon him his voyag● again●●●he turkes , to recouer ierusalem . he told his seruants 〈◊〉 did prospe●● with him since he submitted himselfs and his kingdomes to the church of rome . in this yeere , one simon langton was chosen 〈◊〉 of yorke , but he was deposed by the pope , because he was brothe● to stephen ●rchbishop of 〈◊〉 , w●●m the pope hated , hauing brought him vp of naught , and ●ound him so 〈◊〉 , and he places the bishop of 〈◊〉 in his ●oome . the 〈◊〉 night the pope renewed his curse vpon the king of france his 〈◊〉 , for vsurping vpon king iohn , and against the said simon langton , and geruas hobruge , for prouoking him to the same , with won●erfull 〈◊〉 , cousing , the ●els to ring , ca●les to be ●●ghted , and doores opened , the 〈…〉 to be red , committing them wholy to the deu●l , and communded the ●ishops and 〈◊〉 to poblish it through the whole realme , to the ●errour of all subiects . the 〈◊〉 simon , and geruais der●●●d him and appealed vnto the 〈◊〉 all councell , for lodowicke and themselues . the magestrates , and citizens of london did likewise 〈…〉 at the popes commandements , and kept company with the excommunicated , at ●able and church , in contempt of the pope , and 〈◊〉 . lodowicke , at 〈◊〉 taking himselfe , king , made simon langton hig● chancellour , and geruais hobruge , his chiefe preache● : vy whose daily preaching , the bar●●● , and citizens bring excommunicated , caused all the church doores to be opened , and 〈◊〉 sung , and lodowicke was sit for them in all paints . about this time cardinall pandulphus was made bishop of norwich , for gathering peter 〈◊〉 , an old ●illage of the pope , & other great labours ●one by him for the pope . about this time one uicont of meinn , a 〈◊〉 man , which came ouer with lodowicke , felll ●●cke , and called to him certaine english baron● , and said ; i pittie the destruction that is comming towards you and your realm● . prince lodowicke hath sworne a great oath , and sixtéene of his earles and nob●es are of 〈◊〉 with him , that if he obtaine the crowne of england , he will ●anish and depriue of their lands and goods , all that h● now findeth to goe against their leach king , and are traytors to him ; vpon my faith , n●w lying at gods mercie , i was one that was 〈◊〉 to the same : and with teares , he said , take héede in time , your king for a 〈◊〉 hath kept you vnder , but if lodowicke preuaile , he will put you from all , hee had them kéepe his counce●l , and so he dyed . this trobled the barons , and seeing withall 〈◊〉 prince lodowicke obtained by warres , he gaue to french men in spite of them , saying they were but traytors . they at length concluded to submit themselues , 〈…〉 neuer drunke before : i trust this wassell shall make all england glad , and dranke a great draught thereof , the king pledged him : the munke went away , and 〈◊〉 bu●st out , and hee dyed , and had euer after thrée monkes to sing continually masse for his soule , confirmed by their generall chapter . i would you would see how religiously they bestow : heir confessions , absolutions , and masses . king iohn feeling himselfe not well , asked for symon the monke , they answered ▪ he was dead ; then the tooke his chariot , and departed , and dyed within three dayes . he admonished that his sonne henry would learne by his example , to be gen●le and leuing to his natiue people . he being imbalmed , his bowels were bur●●ed in crompton abbey , his soldiers ●olded his corps triumphantly in armour , and honourably buried him in the cathedrall church or worcester , hauing raigned . yeares , . moneth● , and odde daies . after whose death the princes , lords , barons , and strangers , that were on the kings part , with the councell of the legate gualdo , proclaimed henry his sonne king , and at gloster , with the earle there , they annointed and crowned him king , b● the legate gualdo , assisted with the bishops of winchester , and bath , and called him henry the third . the pope sent with all spéede , that they should mightily stand ●ith the young king , being but ten yeares old , and defend england with arm●ur , and his thundring curses against lodowicke . hée confirmed his legat gualdo , and committed to his discretion all that appertained to his office , none to appeale from him . hee compelled the prelates to bée sworne to the young king , and punished them which refused , th● bishop of winchester laid a heauie talke vpon his beneficed men , to helpe the king in his warres . gualdo left not one beneficed man vnpunished , that had taken part with the french king. in this yeare , gualdo was sent for home to rome ▪ for by this time he had welfa●oredly vnladen the purses of the clergie men , and returned with all his bags well stuffed , leauing cardinall pandulfe behind him , to supply his baliwicke the bishop of lincolne , not long before , paid . markes for recouery of his office , and an hundred markes to the legate , for his goodwill ; so were other holy prelates and priests taught by his example . inocentius pope , condemned almeri●us , a worthy bishop , for an hereticke , for teaching , and holding against images : also he condemned the doctrine of ioachim abbas , as before , for heresie . he brought in first the paying of priuie ty●hes , and the receiuing once at easter , and the reseruation of the sacrament , and the going before it with a bell and a light . he stirred vp otho against phillip the emperour , because he was elected without his will , whereupon followed much slaughter in germany ; and against otho , which he had made emperour , he set vp fredericke king of ci●le , and caused the archbishop of mayence to excommunicate him ▪ and depose him of his empire : for which cause , the princes of germany did inuade his bishopricke , and burned his possession : all was because otho held certaine cities , townes , and c●stles , which the pope said belonged to him . in his time came the order of blacke friers , called the preaching fryers ; it began of one dominicke a spaniard , who after he had preached ten yeares against the albigenses , and others that held against the pope , comming to lateran , desired to haue his order of preaching fryers confirmed , which the pope refused , vntill hee dreamt that the church of lateran was readie to fall , vntill dominicke came and propped it vp with his sholders , and so preserued it . the pope waking , called dominicke to him , and gr●nted his request . dominicks mother being great with child , dreame● she had a wolfe in her wombe , which had a burning tor●ch in his mouth , the which dreame , the preachers of that order aduance to their glory . in his time came vp the order of the minorits , of one frances an italian , hee left off shooes , had but one cote of vile cloth , and an hempen cord about his middle , and so apparelled his disciples , teaching them to fulfill the perfection of the gospell , walke in pouertie , and holy simplicitie ; this rule was confirmed by pope innocent . many nobles , and others , in rome , builded manflons for him and his disciples , he was likewise str●●t to his flesh , leauing clothes ▪ in winter , he 〈◊〉 himselfe in ice and snow , he called pouerty his lady , he kept nothing ouer night , he was so desirous of martyrdome , that he went to siria to the solda● , who receiued him honourably : it is written that christ and his saints marked him with fiue wounds . these franciscans , or begging f●●ers , though they haue but one rule , they haue many orders , there by . seueral sorts of friers and nunnes , which the reader , if he be disposed , may see in the booke at l●rge , with their names , fol . hildegardis a nunne a prophetesse , liued in the yeare . she reprehendeth grieuously the abhominations of the l●ues of the spiritual papists , the contempt of their office , and destruction of gods children with these words ; now is the law neglected amongst the spirituall , which negl●ct to preach , and to doe good things . the masters and prelates , sleepe and negl●ct iustice. the church appeared to her in the shape of a 〈◊〉 , her face 〈◊〉 with dirt , and her 〈◊〉 rent , complaining that the priests did not shine ouer the people neither in doctrine , not example ; but contrary , did driue the innocent lambe from them , that eccles●asticall order grew worse and worse , and priests destroyed the law of god , and did not teach it ; and proph●●eth to them gods heauie wrath and punishments . she prophesieth likewise of the reformation of religion , and saith , it shall be most godly , saying ; then shall the crowne of the apostolicall honour bee deuided , because there shall be found no religion amongst them , and the name of that dignity shall bée despised , and they shall s●t ouer them other men , and other archbishops , and the apostolicall order shall haue scarce rome , and a ●ew other countries thereabout , vnder his crown● ; and this shall be done partly be war●es , and partly by a common consent of spirituall and seculer persons , then iustice shall florish , and men shall honestly apply themselues to the auncient custo●es and disciplines of the ancient . she prophes●eth likewise of fryers ; there shall rise a sencelesse , proud , greedy people , without faith , and subtile , which shall eate the s●●nes of the people , pretending in order of certaine deuout persons , vnder the dissimuled cloake of beggers , pr●ferring themselues before others in fayned deuotion , in puffed vp knowledge , and preten●ed holinesse , walking without 〈◊〉 , and the ●ea●e of god , finding out many new mischiefes , strong and sturdy . of wise men , and christes faithfull that order shall bee accursed ; they shall cease from labour , and studie for quietnesse , rather taking on them the order of flatterers then beggers , they shall study altogether how to resist the preachers of the trueth , and kill them with the mightie . the deuill shall roote foure vices in them , flattery , enui● , hypocrisie , and backbiting : that by flattery , they may ha●e bou●tifull gifts ; that by hypocricie they may please men , and by back●iting , dispraise others , and extoll themselues , for the praise of men , and s●ducing of the simple . and in example of martyres , hauing no deuotion , shall preach instantly . they shall speake euill of princes , and withdraw the sacraments from pastors , rere●uing the almes of the poore , weake , and néedy ; and conueying themselues into a multitude of people , being familier with women , teaching them how to deceiue their husbands , and friends , and conuey away their goods by stealth , and giue it them , and say that they w●uld pray for them ; so that they couer other m●ns faults curiously , and forg●t their owne vtterly . they shall take away things fr●m pirates , théeues , church-pillers , from usurers , hereticks , and apostates , adulterers , lecherous women , b●ud● , from the mightie , p●riured marchants , false iudges , soldiers , tyrants , princee liuing against the law ; and they shall follow the deuill , and swéetnesse of sinne , de●icatenesse of life and 〈◊〉 to their eternall damnation , all men shall sée this , yet shall they daily become more indurate and wicked . but when their iniquities , and seducings shall bee tryed , men shall cease to giue them , then shall they go● about hungry , and looking downe to the earth like madde dogges , and shrinking in their neckes , like turtles , that they may bée filled with bread , then shall the people say , wo● vnto you wretches , children of sorrow , the world seduced you , the deuill snared your mo●ths , your flesh slippery your heart without taste , your minds wandring , your eyes delighted in vanitie , and madnesse , your p●nches desire sweete dishes , your feete swift to mischiefe ; consider how you were accounted 〈◊〉 and zealous , poore rich men , and simple stout men ; but you were deuout slatterers , false betrayers , peruerse backe ●i●ers , holy hypocrites , peruert●rs of the truth , too much strickt and precise , proud , shamelesse , and vnstable doctors , delicate mar●yres , professors for lucre sake , meeke slanderers , religious couetous , lowly proud , godly hard men , pleas●nt lyers , peaceable persecu●ors , oppressors of the simple , inuenters of euill sects , vnmercifull louers of the world , sellers of pardons , spoylers of benefices , vnprofitable makers of prayers , seditious conspirers , dronken whisperers , desirous of honour , curious in mens faults , the extortioners of the world , vnsatiable preachers , pleasers of men , seducers of women , so we●s of discord . moses well prophesied of them in his canticle ; a people without councell and wisdome , would god they were wise and vnderstood , and foresaw the latter ends to come , you builded aloft , and when you could build no higher you fell downe . like simon magus whom the lord repressed , and strooke with a mightie plagne , so you likewise haue fallen through your deceiueable wickednesse , lies , 〈◊〉 , the people shall say to them , away teachers of peruersitie , subuerters of verity , brethren of the shunamite , father of hereticall pra●i●●e , false apostles , you séeme to follow the life of the apostles , but follow not their steps one ●ot , you children of iniquitie , we will none of your trades and waies , for presumptuous pride hath deceiued you , and insatiable concupiscence subuerted your erronious heart , and when you coueted to climbe vp higher and higher , then , by the iust iudgement of god , you haue fallen downe to euerlasting shame . about the same time that the franciscans , and dominicke fryers began , sprang vp the cro●bearers , or crouche● fryers , by pope innocent the . who raised an army , signed with the crosse on their brest , to 〈◊〉 against the albenses , whom the pope and his sect account hereticks . about the parts of tholous , i finde in some records , that the opinion of them was sound enough , professing against the wanton wealth , pride ▪ and tyranny of the prelates , denying the popes authoritie to haue ground in scriptures , neither could they away with the ceremonies or traditions , as images , pardons , purgatory , calling them blasphemous occupyings ; many of them were slaine at times , and burned by the pope , and symon ecclesiasticus , with other moe . after king iohn , as aforesaid , had submitted himselfe , and his whole realme vnder tribute to the pope it is incredible how the insatiable a●arice of the romaines did oppresse the commons , and all estates of the realme , especially the churchmen , who , what for the pope , for the legats , for the holy land , and other subtill deuises to get away their money , were brought to such slauery and penury , that whereas the king durst not , or could not remedy their exclamations , they were almost driuen by for●e to remedy their owne wrongs , that they writ to the bishops , and other ec●les●asticall gouernours , that they had rather die then be thus confounded of the romans , that it was not vnknowne to them , how they had deposed men , and giuen away the b●nefices after their owne lust , and how they haue thundred excommunications against you , if you place any , in any spirituall liuing , in any of your dioces within the realme , vntill f●ue romaines in euery dioces , and in euery cathedrall , such as the pope shall name , be prouided for , to the valew of . lib. yearely ; and what other grieuances they doe inflict to the layty , and nobles . wherefore , w● considering the rigorous austeritie of the ●omanists , which take vpon them to iudg● and condemne vs , and lay on vs intoll●rable burdens : therefore vpon a full aduise had amonst vs , we haue though good rather to resist then to bee subict to their intollerable oppre●sions , and greater slau●ry to be looked for hereafter . therefore we straitly command you , as your friends , that you doe not intermeddle , or take part with them , let●ing you vnderstand for trueth , that in case you shall bee found culpable herein , not onely your ●oods and possessions shall bee in danger of burning , but a●●o your bodies , shall incurre the same perill as shall the said romish oppr●ssors . in the raigne of henry the third , who succeeded king iohn , and raigned . yeares , cardinall otho was sent to the king with letters to him and other places for exactions of money : the letters were to require for the pope two prebends in euery cathedrall church , a portion of euery abbot , and of euery couent , as much as belonged to one monke : their good being equally deuided , because the church of rome of greatly slandered , that none could proceede there in any cause without great guifts and expences , whereof the pouertie of the church is the cause ; therefore it is sit , that you as naturall children should helpe and succour your mother , for if wee should not receiue of you and other good men , we should lacke , which were a great dishonour to our dignity . the king answered , hee could doe nothing , because it concerned the commons , and he ass●mbled a councell , hee was answered , they could conclude nothing , because the arch-byshoppe , the king , and other whom it concer●ed were not there . the next yeare the same cardinall came againe into england , and summoned all the cl●argy to another councell , to be held in the cathedrall church of s. paule in london , for redressing of diuers and sundry matters concerning benifices religion , and other abuses of the church : putting them in feare and hope , some to lose , and some to obtaine spirituall promotions at his handes . diuers pre●ious rewards were offered him , in pal●ries , in rich plate , and iewels , in costly and sumptuous garments richly furred , in coyne and uictuall , &c. the bishop of winchester sent him fifty fat oxen , and hundred coome of pure wheat , eight tun of chosen w●ne , likewise other bishops offered to the cardinals boxe after their ability . the cardinall commaunded , at the west end of saint paules church , a high solemne throne of great state to bee prepared , rising vp with a glorious scaffold : before the cardinall begunne his sermon , there happened a great discord betwixt the arch-byshops of canterbury and yorke , about sitting on the right hand of the glorious cardinall : the cardinall shewed them a bull of the pope , in the middest of which was pictured the crosse , and paule pictured on the right side of the crosse , and peter on the left : saying , yet there is no contention betwixt these two , yet saint peter for the prerogatiue of his keyes , and for the preheminence of his apostle-ship , and cathedrall dignitie , séemeth most worthy to be placed on the right side , and from that time foorth , the arch-byshop of canterbury hath enioyed the dignity and pr●heminence of the ●ight hand . the cardinall , sitting like a god in the middest betwixt them , made his sermon vpon these words ; in the middest of the seate , and round about , were foure beasts , full of eyes behind and before . he compared them about him to the foure beasts , declaring how they ought to haue eyes before and behind ; that is , they must be carefull and prouident , as well in disposing secular thinges , as wise and circumspect in spirituall matters , contriuing , and ioyning wiselie thinges past with thinges to come . and this was the greatest effect of his clearkely sermon . then he gaue forth sundry constitutions and statutes , for ordering of churches , dedicating temples , for seauen sacraments , for giuing orders , farming benefices , collations , and resignations , priests apparell , and single life , for eating of flesh in religious houses , for arch-deacons , byshops , proctors , &c. the king dreading the commons , willed him to repaire home to rome , but he could not so be rid of him , but hee renued his commission , and still applyed himselfe to his haruest , gleaning and raking what hee could , writing his letters to euery byshop or arch-deacon , for procurations to beare his charges , and withall , to be spéedily collected and sent to him . prouided , that the summe collected , should not excéede aboue foure markes of a liuing , and where small liuings were two liuings to ioyne , and if any contradicted or gaine-sayed him , to excommunicate them . and they sent forth preachers and fryers in all places , to perswade men to fight against the common enemy the turke , whom when they haue bound with a vow , and signed with the crosse , then they send their bulles to release them for money , and the bishops and arch-deacons to proclaime it . the pope was not ashamed to require the fift part of euery ecclesiasticall liuing , and further , hee promised and gaue to the romanes , for helping him in warrs against fredericke the emperour , which had married king iohns daughter : the gift of all the spirituall liuings in england , belonging to the religious houses , and therevpon sent expresse commandement to the archbishop of canterbury , and other foure ▪ bishops ioined with him that they should prouide spirituall liuings , for three hundred romanes , in the best benefites in england , at the next voidance , so that the said bishoppes should bee suspended in the meane time from all collation of benefice : the arch-bishop séeing their vnreasonable oppressions being not able to endure it , went into france . and further one petrus rubeus , was sent from the pope , to goe from bishop , to bishop , abbot and abbot , telling them such a bishop , such an abbot hath giuen thus much vnto the popes holines , trusting you also will not be behinde , in a matter that so much concernes the good of the church , by which cunning subtiltie he gathered together into the treasurie of the church such a masse of money as is almost incredible to beleeue . at length the bishoppes , abbots , and arch-deacons came to the king , whose father they had so obstinately resisted and repugned ; lamentably complaining of their extreame miseries , of the vnmeasurable exactions of the pope , so all the prelates were called together , and vppon talking together made many exceptions aga●nst the same : the legate and his followe hearing these allegations , seeing their owne vtter confus●on , were the lesse importunate . not long after this followed a generall councell at lyons , in the kingdom● of france , called by pope innocentius : in the which councell the english nation did exhibite sundry articles of all their greeuances , and that the italians did succeed one another in the benefices , whose language they could not vnderstand , and that there was no preaching in their churches , nor no almes giuen to the poore , and that there came fresh letters from the pope , commanding the prelates to finde at their proper costs and charge for a whole yeare , some ten armed souldiers , some more , some lesse , to be ready at the popes commandement , when , or where be should appoint . after these terrible greeuances and enormities , the states of england consulting together , directed their letters to the pope for reformation : first the abbots and priors , then the bishoppes and suffragans , after the nobles and barons , and last of all the king , but all was neuer the better . not long after the pope sent for new tallage and exactions , which when it came to the kings eare hee vehemently disturbed writ seuerally to euery bishop , in manner following . that whereas wee haue heeretofore written to you , once , twice , thrice , both by our priuy seale , and our letters patents , that you should leuy for the pope no exactions , either vpon the clergy , or laitie , yet you vilepending our commandement , and contrarie to our prouision made in our last councell at london , haue proceeded in collecting the said your taxes and tallages wherevpon wee greatly maruell and are mooued : wherefore we straitly will and command you , that you doe so no more , as you will enioy our ●auour and your possessions ; and if you haue made any such collection or gathering , that you suffer it not to be transported out of the realme , but kéepe it vntill the returne of the ambassadours , and that you make this our inhibition common to your arch-deacons and officials . at length the ambassadors came home , bringing word that the pope was greatly displeased with the realme , saying ; rex anglorum qui iam recalcitrat & frederiscat suum habet consilium , ego vero & meum habeo , quod & sequar , &c. and that they were halfe counted schismatickes , for speaking in the kinges behalfe , and could no more be heard , the king being insenfed heere-with , sent out proclamations through all the realme , that none should consent to any taxe of money for the pope : he hearing of it , in cruell rage sent to the prelats , vppon paine of interdiction to prouide the saide summes of money by the feast of assumption , the king for feare of the pope , durst not stand to the liberties of the church . moreouer , the gulfe of the romish auarice waxt so immeasurable , that he shamed not , vpon his curse , to aske the third part of church goods , and the yearely fruit of all vacant benefices . otho comming to oxford , lying in the house of osney , was receiued with great honour , the schollers presenting him honourable dishes and rewards dinner being done , they came to welcome him ; comming to the gate , the porter an italian asked what they would haue , and holding the doore halfe open , with contumelious tearmes , thrust them out , they with force thrust open the gate , and came in , the romaines within fell to alarum by the eares together , some of the schollers going ●or weapons , the maister cooke cast scalding liquor , wherein meat was sodden , in the face of a poore scholler , an irish-man , which waighted for almes : another scholler a welsh-man séeing it , shot the cooke thorough with an arrow , and killed him : whereupon was a great clamour , the cardinall hearing the tumult , like a valiant romaine , ranne vp into the stéeple , and locked himselfe 〈◊〉 vntill midnight . the schollers sought all corners for the legate , crying out ; where is that usurer , that sym●niacks , that proylar and extortioner of our liuings and monies ? who peruerteth the king , and subuerteth the kingdome , enriching himselfe with our spoyles : the cardinall heard all this and held his peace , and conuayed himselfe by night vnto the king , and the king sent to oxford a garison of armed men to deliuer the romaines which were hid , for feare of the schollers . one odo a lawyer , and thirty of the schollers were apprehended and carried to wallingford castle , and thence in charts to london , and by much intreaty of the bishops , were brought bare-footed to the legats doore , where they pardoned , and the uniuersity released of interdiction . the state of germany , and of the emperour friderick the second , was then as much or more pittifull then that of england , who were so persecuted by pope innocentius , honorius , gregorius , celestinus , innocentius the fourth , infamed with excommunications , and did commonly warre against them in open fielde , and all with english mens money : first they made him emperour against otho , whom they depriued , then for clayming his right in apulia and sicilia they accursed him , when they had warred against him , they sent him to fight against the turkes , who recouered ierusalem , nazareth , and ioppe , from the souldane . whilst hee was occupied in these warres , these vnholy fathers inuaded his lands and possessions at home , subduing apulia vnder his owne possession , and inhibiting his souldiours to goe ouer to him , and when the emperour sent to the pope and other christian princes his letters gratulatory , declaring what god wrought by him against the turkes , the pope stayd the messengers , kept the letters close , and caused it to be noysed abroad that the emperour was dead , and the said pope gregorie the ninth wrote to the souldane , that he should not render the holy land into the emperours handes . the emperour hearing this stirre of the pope , tooke truce with the souldane for tenne yeares , and repayreth home , and driueth the popes army out of apulia , and recouered all the pope had gotten from him before : the pope laid his cursse vpon the emperour , for making truce with the souldane , and conspired with the tuscanes and lombards against him : the emperor , at the instigations of the princes , glad to compose with the tyrant ▪ was faine to ransome the absolution of the pope for ten hundred thousand ounces of gold , and yet hee sent to the princes of germany , charging them to admit none of the emperors stocke to be king of the romaines , and stirred vp the citties of italy against him . the emperor vnderstanding his politick and subtile traynes , marched into italy , where he put downe the rebels , and recouered againe the citties belonging to the empire . wherefore a new excommunication was laid vpon him , and all his subiects released of obedience and loyalty , and much indulgences and eternall life promised to them that would fight against him . after gregorie , succéeded celestinus the fourth , who raigned not long . after him , succéeded innocentius the fourth , who following the steps of his predecessors , called a generall councell at lyons , as is before mentioned , where standing vp , he cited the emperour : his legate required lawfull time for him to come , which hee would not graunt , but in his fury denounced him accursed , and depriued him of his imperiall dignity , charging him with periury and sacriledge , writing libels of defamation to all kings . the emperour made purgation of these ●landers , charging the pope , not with fained , but true and most hainous crimes , of slander , falshood , perdition , periury , rebellion , hypocrisie , and prooueth him by his letters , to be very antichrist . hee wrote to the french king , that hee much marueiled that the prudence and wisedome of the french-men , did not more quicke then others sée the popes subtilty and couetousnesse , purposing to subdue all realmes as he hath done england , and doth presumptuously achieue to subdue the maiesty of the imperiall crowne . this emperor departed to apulia , and there dyed , being poysoned , as some thinke , by meanes of the pope . in the time of this innocent , dyed one robert grosted , byshop of lincolne , a famous learned man , as that time serued , whose sermons to this day are extant , in the quéenes library at westminster . there is one speciall sermon written to innocent . cestrensis writeth , that he was greeued for the exactions of the pope in england , and would not admit of the popes nephew to be canon of his church . writing to the pope , that hee could not admit such into his church , which did neither know themselues , nor their charges : hee was therefore called to rome and excommunicated , who appealing from the pope to iesus christ , shortly after departed . two yeares after the said pope being asleepe , one apparelled bishoplike , appeared vnto him , and striking him with his staffe , saide ; surge miser & veni in iudicium , the next day after , the popes bed was found bloody , and he dead . after henry the third , succeeded his sonne edward the first , who raigned thirty fiue yeares , edward the second his sonne succeeded him , who raigned twentie yeares , he was deposed , and being in prison , was striken in with a hot spit . after whom , succeeded edward the third , in whose raigne calis was first wonne , and after the french king taken prisoner , and brought into england , and ransomed for . florens . at which time happened the great conflict betwixt the townes-men of oxford and the uniuersitie , whereof a remembrance remaineth to this day . in whose raigne two friers minorites were burned in auignion , and in his raigne was maister iohn wiclife reader of diuinity in oxford . the fift part of the ecclesiasticall history containing the actes of martyrs . although the holy ghost raised vp many before wickliffe , to vanquish the great errors which daily did preuaile in the world , as berengarius , bruno of aniow ▪ oklens the second , valden : marsilius , of pado● : iohn of gandauo : okchammus , with diuers others of that schoole , yet because they were not very famous nor notable , we will begin at wickliffe , at whose time the furious fire of persecution seemed to take his originall . in those great and troubelous times , and horrible darknes of ignorance , what time there séemed in a manner to bee no one so little sparke of pure doctrine remaining , this foresaid wickliffe , by gods prouidence , sprang vp , throgh whom the lord would first waken , and raise vp againe the world , which was ouermuch drowned , in the déepe streames of humane traditions , when hee had long time professed diuinitie in oxford , and perceiuing the true doctrine of christs gospel to bee adulterate with so many filthy inuentions of bishops , sects of monkes , and dark errors : first , he began to touch the sacrament of the body and bloud of christ , in which he tooke much paines , protesting in open schoole that it was his purpose to call back the church from her idolatry in this point , but this sore could not bee touched , without the great griefe of the whole world : first the whole glut of m●nkes and fryers were mad with him , fighting for their altars , panches and bellies : after them the priests ; after them the bishops took the matter in hand ; at last when there power seemed not sufficient to withstand the truth , which then was breaking out , they ran wholl● to the thunder-bolts of the bishop of rome , against them all : this valiant wickliffe happely maintained the cause of the sacrament , prouing it by scriptures , and the ancient doetors : hee refused the doctors since the thousand yeares after christ , saying , that after these yeares satan was loosed , and the life of man hath been most subiect to errors , and that the simple and plaine truth doth appeare and consist in the scriptures , when all humane traditions must be referred : he proued most stoutly , in the sacrament , the substance with bread , the accident not to be present . as long as king edward the third liued , he was well enough defended by him against all there woluish cruelty , yet in the last yeare of his raigne , hee was taken by the bishop of canterbury , at the instigation of the pope , and put to silence in presence of the duke of lancaster , and the lord henry piercy , yet after by the fauour of certaine noble-men he kept not long silence , but king edward being dead , pope gregory neuer ceased to moue king richards minde , by his letters , bishops and bulles , to persecute wickliffe , and his adherents : by this meanes the examination of wickliffe being at hand before the bishops of canterbury and london , a certaine noble man called lewis clifford , comming in amongst the bishops , commanded them that they should not proceede , with any defin●tiue sentence against wickliffe , wherewith they were so amazed , and their combes so cut , that they had not a word in their mouthes to answere : and when the bishops and wickliffe were come together in the archbishops chappell at lambeth , the citizens and common people of london by force brake in vpon them , and disturbing the session , were not afraid to intreat in the cause of wickliffe , by which meanes he escaped , after hee had made a short protestation , to be a true christian , and to professe and defend the law of christ as long as hee breathed , and if hee should erre hee would aske god forgiuenes , and submit himselfe to the correction of our holy mother the church , and that hee wou●d set forth in writing , the articles hee was now accused for , the which to death hee would defend , which all christians , especially the pope and all priests ●ught to defend : for vnderstand the conclusions after the sence of the scriptures , and holy doctors , and i am ready to expound them if they seeme contrarie to the faith . the first conclusion of iohn wickliffe , exhibited in the conuocation of certaine bishops at lambeth . that none but christ was ordained , and not peter and all his off-spring politiquely to rule ouer the world for euer ; for in the cor. . then shall the end come when he shall deliuer vp his kingdome to god his father , when hee shall haue made voide all princely dominion : it seemeth probable that they defraud her of her reward , and vniustly defer to take vengeance vpon the body of the diuell which he hath deserued . the substance of the second was that by no power any writing was to be canonized , contemning the scripture , this was spoke to one that commended mans writing , and contemned the scripture . that euery man in grace iustifying , hath not onely right to all things , but aboue all the good things of god , as appeareth by the . of mathew , verily hee shall make him ruler ouer all his goods : and in the eight to the romans , god spared not his sonne , but gaue him for vs , how then did hee not giue vs all things with him : this allureth vs to loue god , that hath chosen vs to so many great and true riches . none can giue any temporall dominion or gift , but as the minister of god ; the apostle saith iesus christ was a minister , let not his uicar then which should be a seruant of seruants be ashamed to vse the ministerie of the church , for his pride of seculer dominion , with his worldly stile , seemeth blasphemie , and the aduancement of antichrist : especially , where they repute the scriptures as cockle , and the determination of all controuersies of scripture in themselues . as sure as god is : the temporall lords may lawfully and meritoriously take away the riches from the church , when they doe offend : yet i say , that it is not lawfull to doe it by the authoritie of the church , and for lacke of some spirituall gouernour , and in case when the ecclesiasticall minister , being strayed from the catholique faith , is to be corected and punished . the uicar of christ is not able by his buls , of himselfe , not by the consent of his colledge , to make a man the more able , or disable a man , that ought to procéed of god , but he onely in the name of god , to notifie to the church whom god hath enabled , else he is as presumptuous as lucifer , for in the . cor. . all our sufficiency commeth of god. a man cannot he excommunicated to his hurt , except hee be first excommunicated of himselfe , as chrysostome saith , none can be hurt except sinne hurt him ▪ which takes away gods helpe and ayde , as in esay . your sinnes haue seperated betwixt god and you . that none ought to be ex●ommunicated but in gods cause , and wee ought to forgiue all priuate iniuries : math. . if thy brother offend thee , forgiue him , euen to . times . times . an excommunication doth not binde , except pronounced against the aduersarie of gods law : for if god iustifie , who can condemne ? there is no power giuen by the example of christ , or his apostles , to excommunicate any for denying of temporalties : in the ninth of luke , christ rebuketh his disciples , when they would haue fire come downe from heauen to excommunicate them that would not entertaine them ; you know not ( said he ) what spirit you are of . the disciples of christ haue no power to exact , by any ciuill authoritie , temporalties by censures , vntil churches were indued with possessions : christs disciples , what need so●uer they had , they did onely exhort men to willing almes . it is not possible , by the absolute power of god , that the pope , or any christian , can binde or loose at their pleasure , by what meanes so●uer , yet may they exact temporall things by ecclesiasticall censures incidentally , if case be that it appertaine to the reuengement of their god. he that doth pretend to haue such power , is the man spoken of in the . thess. . that sitteth in the temple of god , and sheweth himselfe as though he were god. all the power that christs uicar hath , is then only lawfull in effect , so long as it is ruled by the good will of christ , the head of the church . that euery priest , duely ordered by the law of grace , hath power to minister the sacraments , and to absolue any man , confessing his fault , and being penitent for the same : whereby it appeareth , that the power is ali●e to all christian priests : as hugo in his . booke of sacraments declareth . that the k. ma● take away the temporalties of the clergie , abusing the same habitually , in cases by law limited , according to the . thess. . we declared vnto you , that they that would not worke , should not eate . the ●ndowment of churches are giuen conditionally , that god should be honoured thereby , and the church edified ; with condicion , if it be left vndo●e in any point , the title of the gift is lost : the lord ▪ which gaue the gift , ought to correct and amend the fault , and not to b● stopped from the execution of iustice ●or any excommunication . and yet god forbid , that by these words occasion should be giuen to the lords temporall to take away the goods of fortune from the church . an ecclesiasticall minister , & also the pope , may be rebuked of his subiects , either of the clergie or laitie : gal. . peter was rebuked by paul : for the church is aboue the bishop ; and to say , he ought not ●o be rebuked , but only of god , what offence soeuer he commit , he should be aboue the church , the spouse of christ. these be the effect of the conclusions of wickliffe at that time , which either being not read , or vnderstood , they granted him free libertie to depart . soone af●er died pope gregorie ; which was happ●e to wickliffe : for presently after fell a great dissention betwixt the romish and french pope ; which continued . yeares , with great ●orrow & destruction of men on both parts : and about . yeares after there fell a great dissention in england betwixt the comm●ns & nobilitie ; in which trouble , sudburie , archbishop of canterburie , was taken by the rude people & beheaded : to whom william cou●tnay succéeded ; who was no lesse diligent to root out hereticks then his predecessor . notwithstanding , wickliffes sect daily encreased , and gr●w to greater strength , vntill one william barton , uicechancelor of oxford , calling together . monasticall doctors , and . other ▪ with the rest of his affinitie , putting the common seale of the uniuersitie vnto certaine writings , set forth an edict , threatning euerie man , vnder ●rieuous penaltie , not to assemble themselues with any of wickliffes fauorers , and threatned to wickliffe greater excommunication , & imprisonment , and all his fauorers , vnlesse after three daies canonicall admonition , they doe repent and amend : wickliffe appealed to the king ; but the duke of lancaster forbad him to begin such matters , but rather submit himselfe to the censure of his ordinarie : whereby wickliffe being in the midst of the waues , was inforced again to make confession of his doctrine ; wherein he answered , with intricate words , and a gentler kind of phrase , whereby he either persuaded or deluded his enemies . william archbishop of canterbury held a conuocation at london ; where wickliffe was commanded to be : when as they were gathered together at the gray-friers in london , to consult about wickliffes bookes , & the whole sect , a wonderfull earthquake fell : diuers doubting , thought good to leaue off their purpose ; but the archbishop interpreting the chance to another meaning , strengthned their hearts to proceed : who discoursing wickliffes articles , not according to the scriptures , but to their priuate affections , they condemned some articles of heresie , and others of error . these of heresie . the substance of bread and wine remaineth in the sacrament after consecration . the accidents remaine not without the subiect after consecration . christ is not truely and really , in his proper corporall person , in the sacrament . that a bishop or priest , in deadly sinne , doth not order , consecrate , or baptize . that outward confession is needl●sse , if one be inwardly truely penitent . that it is not found in the gospell , that christ ordained masse . if the pope be a reprobate and a member of the diuell , he hath no power giuen him ouer the faithfull , except by the emperour . that none is to be receiued for pope since vrban the sixt , but to liue as the greekes , euery man vnder his owne law. these as erroneous . that no prelate ought to excommunicate any , except he knew him first to be excommunicated of god. he that doth so excommunicate , is an hereticke , and excommunicated . he that excommunicateth any of the clergie which appealed to the councell , is a traytor to the king and realme . all that leaue off preaching or hearing the word for feare of excommunication , are excommunicated , and at the day of iudgement shall be counted as traytors to god. that it is lawfull for any man , deacon , or priest , to preach without licence of the pope , or any his catholikes : that one is no prelate , so long as he is in deadly sinne . temporall lords may take away goods from church-men , if they offend . the tenths are pure almes , the parishioner , for the offence of the curate , may bestow them vpon others . that spirituall prayers applyed particularly to any , profit them no more then generall prayers profit others in the same case . that one is more vnapt and vnable to kéepe the commandements of god , by entring into any priuate religion . that those that haue instituted priuate religions , or haue ind●wed them with possessions , or the begging fryers , that haue no possessions , haue grieuously offended . that those of priuate religions are not of the christian religion . that fryers are bound to get their liuings by labour , and not by begging . that he is accursed that giueth almes to begging fryers . when these articles were condemned , it was commanded , that the condemnation should bee published through the whole vniuersitie , the chancellor hindred as much as hee could , and when there must needs be sermons made he committed the preaching to the fauourers of wickliffe , of which repington was one : who said in his sermon , hee that commends the pope or bishops aboue temporall lords , doe against the scripture , and that maister wickliffe was a true catholick doctor : that hee taught no otherwise of the sacrament of the altar then according to the intent of the uniuersall church , & his opinion therof most true ; and concluded he would kéep silence touching the sacrament , vntill god had better ●nlightned the clergy . the archbishop hearing hereof sent for the commissary , and the proctors of the uniuersitie , and one maister brightwell , and accused them as fauourers of wickliffe , and forced them to confesse his articles hereticall and erroneous : the commissarie fell on his knees and desired pardon , which was granted vpon condition he should make inquirie , and put to silence all that he found fauouring wickliffe , harford , repington , ashton , and bedman : and that hee should publish in the head church of the uniuersitie the condemnation of wickliffes conclus●ons : and that hee should put all his adherents he found to purgation , or cause them to abiure : he answered he durst not doe it for death : what said the bishop , is oxford a nestler of heresies that the catholick truth cannot be published ? oxford was the first uniuersitie that maintained the truth that is now spread farr● and néere : the next day the bishop shewed the matter to the kings councell , who sent commandement with all diligence , to execute the arch-bishops iniunction . one henry crompe a cistertian monke , which after was accused of heresie , now was suspended by the said commissarie , for calling the heretickes lolards : he complained to the archbishop , who sent for the commissarie and proctors in the kings and councels name , where he receiued a new commandement to punish the wickliffes : then philip repington , and nickolas harford , beeing priuily warned by the uice-chancellor : they fled to the duke of lancaster , but they were apprehended and sent by him to the archbishop : wickliffe was exiled , and after returned againe to his parish of lutterworth where he died : the prouidence of god is to be noted in this man and many other whom the lord pr●serued in such rages of enemies from all their hands vntilll his old age , whom the lord will keepe nothing can hurt . all his bookes were condemned and forbidden to be read by the councell of constance , and by the d●crée thereof forty yéeres after his death , by the commandement of the bishop , his bones were digged vp and burned , & the ashes powred into the riuer : he had written diuers works , which in the yéere . were burned at oxford : the abbot of shrewsbury being commissary , & sent to ouersée the matter , his bookes were likewise burned in boheme by the archb ▪ of prage , he burned . of his books , richly adorned with bosses of gold , and rich couerings . in the yeare . he wrot an epistle to pope vrban the sixt , that the gospell of christ was the whole body of the law , and that christ was very god , and very man : and that the pope christs uicar was bound most of all other vnto the gospel , for the greatnes of christs disciples consisteth not in worldly honour , but in néere ●ollowing the life and manners of christ ▪ christ was a most poore man , casting off all worldly rule and honour , therefore none ought to follow the pope , nor other holy man , but as they follow christ : for peter and the sonnes of zebedy in desiring worldly honours offended , and therein they are not to be followed , therefore the pope ought to leaue his temporall dominion to the seculer power , and therevnto exhort his whole clergy . there was none so great enemies to him as the clergy , yet he had many good frends both of the meaner sort & the nobility : amongst whom these men are numbred : iohn clenton , lewis clifford , richard sturius , thomas latimer , william neuil , iohn mountegew , who plucked downe all the images in his church : the earle of salesbury when hee died refused the sacrament of the altar , and confession : and one iohn of northampton mayor of london , who vsed such seuere punishment against the fornicators and adulterers that they were ashamed of their offences , & others afeard to offend : the lord cobham , who confessed he neuer hated sinne with his heart , before he was instructed by wickliffe : all these were noble men , and there was no want of the meaner sort of such as did with all their diligence defend his doctrine , especially oxford men , who were most shamefully forced to recantation , and most cruelly iudged to the fire . one iohn ashton maister of arte , beeing examined , confessed that the bread by the sacramentall words was the very same body of christ in number , which was borne of the u●rgin mary : yet because hee did not answere simply , according to the tradition of rome , as touching the subiect and accident of transmuting the substance of the bread , he was committed to the secular powers , and cast into prison where he died : many other notable clarkes , some were burned , some died in prison , but all were afflicted : as william swinderby , iohn puruey , henry crompe , richard white , william thorpe , raynold peacock , bishop of saint asaph , and after of chichester , lawrence redman , dauid sawtry , iohn ashwarbie uicar of s. maries in oxford , william iames , thomas brightwell , vvilliam hawlam , raffe gre●hurst , iohn scut , philip noris , which being excommunicated by the pope , appealed to a generall councell . peter paine , who flying from oxford into bohemia , stoutly contended against the sophisters about both ●indes of the sacrament , and was one of the fourteene that was sent to the councell of basil , and disputed three daies touching the ciuill dominion of the clergy : also the lord cobham : thus much touching the adherents of wickliffe . the uice-chancellor of oxford , with the whole congregation of the maisters , made a publike testimonie of the learning and good life of iohn wickliffe , that his conditions throughout his whole life were sincere and commendable , whose honest manners and conditions , profoundnes of learning , and most redol●nt renowne and fame , we desire the more earnestly to be notified to all the faithfull , for that wee vnderstand his maturitie and ripenes of conuersation , his diligent labours to tend to the praise of god , the help and safegard of others , and the profit of the church , there was neuer note or spot of suspition raised of him , in answering , reading , preaching , and determining : he behaued himselfe laudably , and as a stout and valiant champion of the faith , vanquishing by the force of scripture , all such who by wilfu●l beggery blasphemed christs religion , neither was he con●ict of heresie or burned by our prelates after his buriall : god forbid our prelates should condemne a man of such honesty , for an heretick , who amongst all the rest of our uniuersitie had written in logick , philosophy , diuinity , morality , and the speculatiue arte without p●are : in witnes whereof we seale this testimonial with our common seale . october . iohn hus hauing read ouer wickliffes bookes , concludeth by many infallible presumptions and reasons that hee was no heretick , but in the number of the saued , and that it was a foolish consequent , because the number of prelates and clergy in england , france , and boheme doe count him for an heretick , that therefore he is one : like is the reason for burning of his bookes , for in the first chapter of the booke of machabees , they burned the bookes of the lord , and tore them , and whosoeuer was found to haue or vse them was put to death by the kings commandement : if this argued the wickednes of the bookes , then the law of god was wicked : so likewise of the burning of s. gregories bookes and of diuers other good men , it followeth not because the scribes and pharisies condemned christ as an heretick , that therefore he was one , so iohn chrysostome was twice condemned an hereticke by the bishops and clergy . besides the articles afore , there were other articles gathered out of his bookes , which his malicious aduersaries peruersly collecting , and maliciously expounding , did exhibit to the councell of constance . they sinne in simony that be hired by temporal liuings to pray for others . the prayer of the reprobate preuaileth for no man. hallowing of churches , confirmation of children , the sacrament of orders bee reserued to the pope , and bishops onely for temporall lucre . graduation and doctor-ships in uniuersities and colledges as they bee vsed conduce nothing to the church . the excommunication of the pope and his prelates is not to be feared , because it is the censure of antichrist . such as founded monasteries offend , and all such as enter into them be members of the diuell . a deacon or priest may teach gods word without the authority of the apostolike sea. they that enter into monasticall order or religion , are vnable to keep gods commandements , or to come to heauen except they returne . the church of rome is the synagogue of satan , neither is the pope the immediate vicar of christ , nor of the apostles . the decretals of the popes be apocripha , and seduce from the faith of christ , and the clergy that study them be fooles . it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the church of rome to be supreme ●ead ouer all churches . it is but folly to beleeue the popes pardons . all othes made for any contract or ciuill bargaine betwixt man and man bée vnlawfull . benedick , francis , dominick , bernard , and al other that haue béen patrons of priuat religions , except they haue repented , with such as entred into the same , be in damnable state , and from the pope vnto the lowest nouis they are all hereticks . thus you haue the whole summe of wickliffes articles , albeit not as hee vttered them , but as his froward aduersaries collected them out of his writings , if some of them séeme hard or strange , thinke it rather to be imputed to their euill will , then to his good meaning , as it might appeare if his bookes had now been extant : but this is certaine howsoeuer his articles were taken of the euill disposed , with all good men he was highly fauoured and had in such estimation for his profound knowledge , and great learning , that all forren nations were moued with his authoritie ; especially the bohemians had him insuch reuerence , that iohn hus , the greatest doer in the uniuersitie of prage , tooke profit of his doctrine , and openly defended his articles . wickliffes doctrine came into bohemia , by reason of a student of bohemia that was at oxford being of noble stock : who returning to prage , carried certaine bookes of wickliffes with him , de realibus vniuersalibus , de ciuili iure , et diuino , de ecclesia , de questionibus var●●s contra clerum &c. a noble man of prage builded a church called bethelem , giuing lands to it , and finding two preachers euery day to preach to the people , of the which iohn hus was one , hee beeing familiar with the yong man , reading and perusing these bookes , tooke such pleasure and fruit thereby , that he defended and commended them in schooles and sermons , commending him for a good man , wishing when he died to be there placed where his soule was . we think it worth labour to shew certaine prophesies , whereby so many pers●cutions were figured : and first the aforesaid abbot ioachim , told king richard , as hée went to ierusalem , that the last of the seuen kings spoken of in the reuelation was antichrist , and that at that present hee should be bred at rome , and be exalted into the apostolick sea , according to the apostle , hee is exalted aboue all that is called god : hee was in the yeare . and in the prophesie of hildegardis , afore mentioned , she saith in the yeare . the doctrine of the apostles , and iustice which god appointed to spirituall christians , beganne to war flack , and doubtfull , but this womanly time shall not so long continue as it hath done . bishop fluensius , doubted not openly to preach , that antichrist was borne in his daies . bi●h . gerardus , in the yeare of our lord . in his book of the preseruation of gods seruants , doth coniecture antichrist to be at hand , by the rarity of prophesie , and the gift of curing . hierome sauanorol . yeares before prophesied , that italy shall be plagued by the scourge of god for the manifold sinnes thereof , amongst the princes as well ecclesiasticall as secular , and when the cities of rome and florence are ouerthrowne , then shall the church bee renewed , which shall happen very shortly , and the turkes , and the mauritanians shall bee conuerted vnto the knowledge of christ , and that one should passe the alpes like vnto cyrus , and hee shall subuert all italy . i thinke it lacketh not his prophesie , which happened in the yeare of our lord . that throughout all germany there was scene vpon mens garments , crosses , crownes of thornes , similitude of nailes , and drops of bloud f●ll from heauen , and oftentimes they fell within the houses , insomuch that many women wore the same long time vpon their railes . one iohn a franciscane fryer , in the yeare of our lord . fore-shewed that the ecclesiasticall order , should suffer much through the ambitious auarice , and pride of the pope : wherevpon pope clement the sixt , cast him in the prison . one manfredus a dominick frier , fore-shewed that antichrist should rise vp in his time , after the yeare of our lord . and should fully rage ouer the godly , and that there should be persecution in the church , and hee said that the cloyster monkes did falsifie the doctrine of christ , that the sacrifice of the altar was not profitable to the quick nor dead , and that there was no knowledge i● the consolations of the pope , but onely of mens workes : at last frederick king of cicill sent him to the pope , where he died vpon the sea by the way . peter , iohn aquine a franciscane frier , prophecied that in the later daies the law of liberty should appeare : pope clement . pronounced him an hereticke after his death , and caused his bones to be digged vp and burned . there was so many christian martyrs , in all parts of the world , whereof a great number were c●mpassed in with craft and deceit : some were poisoned , others tormented with torments , many oppressed with priuate and vnknowne deaths , others dyed in prison , some by famine , some by other meanes were openly and priuately destroyed , that it is scarsely possible to attaine to the knowledge of a small number of them : or if i happen to attaine to the knowledge of the names of them , yet i can not finde out the manner of the execution of them , and their causes , no one man is able to doe it , but by the example of some of them , you may ●asily iudge what hath happened to all : for the cruelty of bishops haue been alike against them , and the forme of their iudgements all one : the reason of their condemnation agreeing , and the order and kinde of their death . it was fiue hundred yeeres since satan was set at libertie : this story were wonderfully to be enlarged , if all that were put to death by the primates of the church should be recited : for in narbone . chose rather to suffer the fire , then giue any credit to decretals : and in the yeare . at paris were foure and twenty put to death , and in the yeare after , foure hundred burned , and fourescore beheaded : the prince armericus hanged , and the lady of castele stoned to death . at erphurd begardus was burned , . and a deacon burned at oxford a●d in the county of cambray , diuers more were burned by the dominicans . the pope commendeth a king in boetius , that for one that the pope had slaine , he had slaine foure hundred , cutting away the genitals : there were many burned in france . not long before wickliffe , eckhardus a dominick fryer , was condemned at hedelberge : i passe ouer the aluenses , that were burned in k. iohns time , and i passe ouer the hermite that disputed in paules church , that the sacrament then vsed was not ordained by christ : of this number were two gray-friers that were burned at london . certaine conclusions were put vp vnto the parliament house : first , when the church of england began first to dote in temporalties , according to her mother in law the church of rome , and churches were appropriated , faith , hope and charitie began to vanish away , because pride with her genealogy of mortall and deadly sinne , did challenge the title of truth . our priesthood that tooke originall from rome , is not that which christ ordained to his disciples , because it is done by signes and pontificiall ceremonies , and benedictions of no effect , hauing no ground in scripture , neither see wee the holy ghost giuen by any such ceremonies , it is a dolorous mockery , to sée bishops play with the holy ghost , by giuing of crownes when they giue orders , in steed of white hearts , the marke of antechrist , brought in to clo●e their idlenes . the law of chastitie , inioined vnto priests , which was to the preiudice of women , induceth sodomy into the church , by reason the delicate fare of the clergy will haue a naturall purgation or worse , and the secret proofe of them is they doe delight in women , the primate religions must be disanulled , the originall of that sinne . the fained m●racles of the sacrament of bread , induceth almost all to idolatry , because they thinke the body , which is neuer out of heauen , is included in the little bread which they shew the people : the feast of corpus christi and the seruice thereof , inuented by thomas aquinas , fained and full of false myracles , for hee would haue made a myracle of an hens egge : these lies openly preached , turne to the approbry of him that is alwaies true . the orcismes or blessings ouer the wine , bread , water , oyle , salt , incence , the altar stone about the church walles , ouer the uestment , chalice , myter , crosse , and pilgrim-staues , are the practices of negromancers , for by it the creatures are honored to be of more vertue then by nature they are , and we sée no change in any creature exercised , except it be by false faith , which is the principall point of diuellish art : if the coniuring of holy water were true , it would bee an excellent medicine for all kinde of sicknesses and sores , the contrarie whereof dayly experience teacheth . one man to be a king and a priest , a prelate and a temporall iudge maketh the kingdome out of order : the temporaltie and spiritualtie are two parts of the church , to be called amphradite , or ambidextri are good names for such men of double states : we shew this to the parliament , that it bee enacted , that the clergy should onely occupy themselues with their owne charge , and not meddle with others charge . prayers made for the soules of the dead , is a false foundation of almes , wherin all the almes houses in england are falsely founded , meritorious prayers ought to proceed of charitie , but the gift is the cause of their prayers which is simony : againe , a prayer made for one in hell is vnpleasant to god , and it is most like the founders of such almes houses , for their wicked indowings are most of them passed the broad way : euery prayer of effect proceedeth of charitie , and comprehendeth generally all such as god would haue saued , these strong priests are able to labour and serue the realme : let them not be retained in idlenes , for it hath been proued in a booke to the king , that a hundred almes-houses are sufficient for the whole realme . pilgrimages , prayers , and offerings to blind crosses or roods , and dea●e images are ido●atry and farre from almes : though these be forbidden , yet they are thought bookes of error to the common people : and the common image of the trinitie is especially abhominable : but god commands almes to be giuen to the poore , and not to idols : the seruice of the crosse celebrated twice euery yeare , is full of idolatry : for if the nailes and the speare ought so profoundly to be honored , then were iudas his lips a maruellous good relike , if one could get them . thou pilgrime when thou offerest vnto the bones of saints , whether doest thou relieue their soules being in ioy . auricular confession , and the fained power of absolution , setteth vp the priest of priests , and giueth them opportunitie of other secret talkes , lords and ladies doe witnes that for feare of their confessors , they dare not speake the truth , and in time of confession is opportunity ministred to play the bawdes , and make other secret conuentions to deadly sinne : they say they are commissaries from god , to iudge and discerne all sinnes , to pardon what they please , that they haue the k●yes of hell and heauen , that they can excommunicate , blesse and curse , binde and lose at their pleasure : for twelue pence they will sell the kingdome of heauen , by writing and clause of warrants , sealed with the common seale , the pope hath fained that he is the treasurer of the whole church , hauing the treasure of the passion of christ in his kéeping , with the merits of all saints in heauen , whereby hee giueth fained pardons a poena et culpa , and whereby he can deliuer all captiues being in purgatory at his pleasure , and make them not to come there . the vow of chastitie made by women , imperfect by nature , bringeth in horrible vices , the murdering of children borne before their time , and before they are christned , the destruction of their natures by medicines , accompanying amongst themselues , and with beasts , and any creature without life , commeth to such vnséemlinesse , that they are punished with hell torments , wee would that widdowes and maides which take the mantle and ring were married . john bale , a man indued with great knowledge and vnderstanding was condemned to death by robert triuillian chiefe iustice , . albeit he was chiefe iustice he suffered the like punishment , and was hanged at tyburne , being iustly requited for the bloud which he had shed . one iohn puruay was accused of heresie at oxford : walden writeth hee was the library of lollards , and glos●r vpon wickliffe ; hee with harford , a doctor of diuinitie were gre●uously tormented in the prison of saltwood , and made to recant at paules crosse , by arundel archbishop of canterbury , and one and twenty yéers after , taken and imprisoned againe by chichely , archbishop of canterbury : these be his articles he recanted . there can be no accident without the subiect in the sacrament after consecration ; but there remaineth the same substance visible bread , and the same wine as before the consecration ; as when a pagan is baptized , spiritually hee is a member of christ : yet he hath his nature and substance as before . auricular confession , is a whispering , destroying the liberty of the gospel newly deuised by the pope and clergy , to intangle the conscience in sinne , and the soule in hell . he that is holy and predestinated to eternall life , though he be a lay man , is a priest before god. wicked prelates haue neither the keyes of hell nor heauen , though the pope interdict the realme , he could not hurt but profit vs , for thereby wee should be dismissed the seruice of his church , and his lawes . if any make a vow to keep perpetuall chastitie , or any other thing that god hath appointed him too , no prelate can compell him to keep it . hee that hath taken the office of priesthood , though hee haue no charge of soules committed to him , they may and ought to preach the gospel freely , else he is a théefe , excommunicated of god , and the holy church . that pope innocent the fourth and six hundred bishops , and a thousand prelates and the rest , that ordained transubstantiati●n , auricular confession , and other such lawes were fooles , heretickes , blasphemers , and seducers of the people : and we ought not to beleeue them nor their successors , nor obey their lawes , except they be grounded on the scripture , or some reason that cannot be impugned . about the same time richard wiche hauing preached the gospel , the bishop of durham made him recant these articles . images are not to be worshipped . god of his ordinarie power cannot make an image bleed . that we should not confesse to a wicked priest. euery lay-man is bound to know the gospel , and to preach it priuately or openly if he hau● habilitie . a lay-man ought to pray in his own tongue which he vnderstands , such prayer is most accepted . euery priest according to his capacity is bound to know the whole scripture , and by his office to preach it . pilgrimages to ierusalem or rome are vaine , what you may haue there , you may haue at home , and baptisme may as well bee had hee●e as in other places . men or women in iourneying ought to haue their communication vpon the scripture . no priest ought to beg any thing : almes is to be giuen to the lame , feeble , and sicke ▪ or they that haue been spoiled . the cross● is not to be worshipped . euery place is as fit for prayer as another . ●hey doe against the law that burne men . in the same yéere one william santrey , who , ●nflamed with true religion , required in the parliament that he might be heard , for the commoditie of the whole realme : but the matter being before smelt of the bishoppes , they obtained that the matter should be put to their hearings and iudgements , by whom hee was at last attached of heresie , condemned for seuen articles , disgraded and burned by the commandement of the king. thirteene yeares after the death of wickliffe , henry the fourth then raigning : king richard was deposed and put into the tower , and there died : a parliament was holden , in which it was decreed that the fauourers of wickliffe should be apprehended ▪ who then were called lollards : and if they did perseuere to bee deliuered to the bishop of the diocesse , and from him committed to the correction of the secular magistrate : this brought a certaine priest vnto punishment that yeare , who was burned in smithfield in presence of a great number : i take it was swinderby , who as aforesaid was forced to recant by the bishop of lincolne . héere followeth the examination of maister william thorpe , written with his owne hand ; hee sheweth first the reasons why he wrot it : first at the earnest request of diuers friends , and that hee had a desire of himselfe so to doe , that profit might come thereby , for the truth hath this condition , where euer it is impugned it hath a swéet sauour , and the more enemies addresse themselues to oppresse it , the sweeter smell commeth thereof , and will not passe away like smoke , but rest in some cleane soule that thirsteth thereafter : thirdly , that the good by shewing it one to an other , may strengthen one another , and shewing it to some enemy of the truth , hee may be astonied and conuerted . his examination before arvndel , archbishop of canterbury , and chancellor , in his closet , with but three with him . bishop . william this twenty yeeres and more , thou hast trauelled 〈◊〉 about the north , and other countreyes to poison all the land with ●hy vntrue preaching , but by gods help thou art in my ward , and i will let thee to inuenome the shéepe of my prouince : but as saint paul saith , as much as in vs is wee will haue peace with all men , if thou wilt faithfully sware to submit thy selfe to my correction and ordinance , i will be gracious vnto thée . thorp . after he had made a confession of his faith in the trinitie , and in the sonne of god , reciting the whole substance of the gospel , from the conception of christ vntill the holy ghost was sent , he beléeued the catholike church was all that euer were , are , or shal be , that endeuour to know & kéep gods commandements , fearing to offend him , and louing to please him , hoping stedfastly in his mercy , continuing in charity , gladly suffering persecutions by the example of christ and his apostles : all these haue their names written in the booke of life . the gathering together of these that be aliue , is the church fighting against the fi●nd , the prosperity of the world and the fleshly lus●s : and i wil submit my selfe only to the rule and gouernance of them , whom after my knowledge i may perceiue , by the hauing and vsing of the foresaid vertues , to be members of the holy church . these articles and all other that i ought to beléeue by the word of god , i verily beléeue in my soule , and i beleeue that the word of god is sufficient to saluation : if i haue erred that i submit my selfe to be ●econciled , and i beleeue the authorities of saints and doctors as farre as they may be approued by the word of god , and no further , for any earthly power or dignity . sir , i pray shall i lay my hand on the booke to sweare by it ; yea , said he , wherefore else ? sir , i say a booke is a thing coupled together of diuers creatures , and gods and mans law is against swearing by any creature , but i will sweare vnto you as i ought by gods law , but for charity , tell me wherein i shall submit my selfe , and wherein you will correct m● ? bishop ▪ i will that you swear to forsake all the opinions of the sect of lollards , which i shall rehearse after you haue sworne , and that you will neither priuily nor openly teach none of them , nor fauour none of that opinion , but withstand them , and them that will not yéeld , make knowne to the byshop of the diocesse , and that thou preach no more vntill i do know that thy hart and mouth accord . thorp . if i consent vnto you , here●n i should be euery bishops spy , sommoner of al england ; yea , i should deceiue many persons , and be y ● cause of their death bodily and ghostly , for many of them that stand now in the truth , and are in the way of saluation , would rather chuse to forsake the way of truth , then to be scorned , slandered , and punished , as byshops and their ministers now vse to d ee : and i finde not in the scripture that this office you would now enfeoff me with , accordeth to any priest or christian ; therefore to do thus , were to me a full noyous band , for many trust so mickle in me , that i would not doe it to saue my life , and they might well account me a traytor to god and man , and that i had fa●sly and cowardly forsaken the truth , and slandered shamefully the word of god , if i doe thus for feare of bondcheefe and mischeefe in this life , i deeme in my conscience , i were worthy to bee cursed of god and all his saints , from which keepe me and all christians almighty god. bishop . thy heart is full hard indurate , as the hart of pharaoh , the diuell hath blinded thy wits , that thou hast no grace to know the truth , nor the measure of mercy that i haue pro●●ered thee : but i say to thee lewd lossell , eyther quickly consent to me , or by saint thomas ▪ thou shalt be disgraded , and follow thy fellow ●o smithfield . thorp . i thought with my selfe god did me great grace , if of his mercy he would bring me to such an end , and my heart was not afraid of his menasing , but i considered in him , that he was not sorrowfull that he had burned william santry wrongfully , and that he thi●steth to shed more innocent blood , and i was fast mooued to hold him to be no priest of god , and mine inward man was departed from him to haue no feare of him , and i was right heauy that there was no audience of seculer men by : and i prayed the lord to comfort me against them , that were against the sothfastnesse , and i purposed to speake no more then my neede behooued . all the while i prayed god for his grace , to speake with a méeke and easie spirit , and that i might haue authorities of scriptures , or open reason for my words , and his clearks said , why muse you , do as my lord commands you . byshop . hast thou not yet bethought thee , whether thou wilt doe as i haue said ? thorp . my parents spent mickle mony about my learning to make me a priest , but i had no will to be a priest , wherefore they were right heauy to mee , that i thought to leaue thē ; at length i desired that i might go to such as were named wise , and of vertuous conuersa●ion , to haue the●● councell , so i communed with such , till i perceiued their honest and charitable workes , to passe their fame ; wherefore 〈◊〉 , by the example of the doctrine of them , after my cunning and power , i haue exercised me to know perfectly gods law , hauing a desire to liue thereafter , and that others exercised themselues faithfully there abouts . then he sheweth the reasons aforesaid , and what would follow , if he should forsake , so suddenly , the learning that he had exercised this . winters , according to the example of some , whose name i wil now recite , and according to the present doing of phillip rampington , now bishop of lincolne , by gods grace , i will learne by them to fly such slander as th●y haue defiled themselues with , and as much as is in them , they haue enuenomed all the church of god , by their flaunderous reuoking at paules crosse , and how now phillip rampington pursueth christs people , which will not be vnpunished of god. bishop . these were fooles , and heretickes , when they were counted wise of thée , and s●ch lose●s , but now they are wise , though ye deeme them vnwise . thorpe . i thinke they are wise concerning this world , i did thinke by their former doings , that they had earnest of the wisdome of god , and deserued ●●ckie grace of him , to haue saued themselues and many others , if they had continued faithfull , and in their bu●●e f●●itfull sowing of gods word : but woe worth false couetousnesse , euill councell , and t●ranny , by which they , and many be led blindly to an euill end . bishop . which are those holy and wise men , of whom thou hast taken thine information ? thorpe . sir , master iohn wicliffe , holden of ●ull many the greatest clarke then liuing ●us●ing rul● an● innocent in his liuing great men communed oft with him ▪ they so loued his learning , that they wrote it , and b●s●ly inforced themselues to ●ollow it ; and his learning is yet holden most agréeable to the learning of christ and his apostles , and master iohn ayston taught and wrote accordingly , and vsed himselfe right perfectly to his liues end . and sometimes phillip rampington ▪ nichols herford , dauid gotray of pak●ing , and iohn puruay , and many other , which were holden right wise and prodent , taught and writ busily his foresaid learning : with al● these men i was right homely , and communed with them , but of all other , i ●hose to ●ollow wicliffe himselfe , as the most wise and godly man that i heard of , or know . some of these i heart them whilst they sate in christs chaire , but after the workes they now doe , i will not doe , by gods ●elpe , for they faine would hide and contrary the trueth , which before they taught plainly and truely , and some of them haue confessed they doe it because they are constrained by paine , to leaue the truth ; so they blaspheame god rather then suffer a little , though christ shed his heart bloud for vs. bishop . that which thou callest truth , is slander to holy church , and though wicliffe were a great clerke , and a perfect liuer yet holy church hath damned many of his doctrines , and well worthy ; but phillip rampington bishop of lincolne , wil not hold the learning that he taught , nor no bishop pursueth more sharpely them that hold thy way then he doth . thorpe . many wonder at him ▪ and speake him mickle shame , and hold him a cursed e●nemie of the trueth . bishop . then the bishop read a certificate that the bailiffes of shrewesbury sent to him vnder their seale the third sunday after eas●er , . william thorpe preaching in saint chaddes church , in his sermon , said , that the sacrament , after con●ecration , was materiall bread , and that images should not be worshipped , and that men should not goe on pilgrimages , that priests haue no title to tythes , and that it is not lawfull to sweare . then he said , is this wholsome learning to be amongst the people ? thorpe . i am sory , and ashamed of them , i neuer taught such doctrine . bishop . i will beléeue those worshipfull men before thée , thou hast troubled them , and they pray mee , that if thou suffer for thy heresies , that thou most be executed there , that such other ●o●els , for feare , may be reconciled , and they that stand in faith of holy church more stablished , by my thirft , this feruent requ●st shall b● thought on . thorpe . i thanke god , for all this , i was not afraid , but my heart reioyced , and still doth ; for i then thought , and yet thinke , that grace shall come to all the church of god herethorow , and i said , i doubt not but i can proue that they which are fained to bee out of holy church at shrewsbury , and other places , are in true faith of holy church , for they dread to offend god , and loue to please him , i● true and faithfull keeping his commaundements ; and they that are said to be in faith of holy church there , and in other places , are proud , e●●ious , co●etous , lechero●s , and foule in words and deeds , and know not , nor will know the right faith of holy church , their customable swearing , and shamefull workes witnesse it . and sir , where you say , i haue troubled the communaltie with preaching , it is not to be wondred at of wise men , seeing all the communaltie of ierusalem was troubled at christ , & all the synagogue of nazaret moued against him , that they led him to a mountaine , and would haue cast him downe headlong . bishop . thou , and such l●s●ls ▪ presume to preach without licence of any bishop . thorpe . it is euery priests duetie to preach busily , freely , and truely the word of god , and they should take the order of priesthood chiefly to make gods word kn●wne to the people , and approuing the truth of the word by his vertuous workes and for this purpose chiefly bishops and prelates should take their prelacie , and for this cause bishops should giue their orders , and should accept none to be priest ▪ except he were well disposed , and well learned to preach . wherefore , by the example and doctrine of christ , and his apostles , and prophets , wée are bound vnder full great paine so to doe . bishop . le●●de losell , why makest thou mée such vaine reasons , asketh not saint paul , how should priests preach , except they be sent ? and i sent thée not to preach . and saith not sai●t paul , subiects ought to obey their soueraignes , and not only the good and vertuous , but tyrants and vicious . thorpe . none of you will grant vs any such licence , but we must oblige vs to you● by vnlawfull othes , not to passe the bonds you will limmit vs , and we dar● not so oblige our selues . wherefore , though we haue no such licenses , we dare not leaue the ●ffice of preaching , for so mu●h as we haue taken vpon vs the office of priesthood , trusting god will bo our sufficient letters and witnesse , if we occupie vs faithfully to d●e our office iustly ; yea , the hearers shall be our letters , for the truth , where it is s●wne , cannot be vnwitnessed , as saint paul saith ; wee neede no letters of commendations , a● some doe , which preach for couetousnesse , and mens praisings . touching obedience to superiours , good superiours with sound doctrine and holy couersation , to them wée must willingly and gladly obey , consenting to their charitable biddings , and working after their fruitfull workes , of these saint paul speaketh ; bee mindfull of your soueraignes , that speake to you in the word of god , and follow the faith of them , whose conuersation you know to be vertuous . these soueraignes make feruent prayers , that they , and their subiects may liue in the feare and loue of god , and liue so vertuously , that they that will liue well may take example by them : but subiects ought not to obey tyrants , whose biddings and workes are vicious , that they ought to be hated and left . but if they menace oppressions and punishings , saint peter biddeth the seruants of such tyrants , to , obey meekely , suffering patiently their malicious cruelty : but hée councelleth not any seruant or subiect , to obey any lord , prince , or soueraigne in any thing not pleasing to god. bishop . if a soueraigne bid a subiect doe the thing that is vicious , the soueraigne is to blame , but the subiect deserueth méede of god , for obedience pleaseth god more then sacrifice . thorpe . samuel told saul that god was more pleased with the obedience of his commandement then with sacrifices , but dauid , s. paul , and s. gregory accordeth therto , that they that doe euil are not only worthy condemnation , but they that consent thereto . bishop . all these a●●agings are nothing else bu● proud presumptions , for hereby yo● inforce you are iust , and ought not to ●bey the prelates , and of your owne authoriti● you will preach and doe what you list . thorpe . presenteth not euery priest the office of the apostles , and disciples 〈◊〉 christ ▪ he said yea , the tenth of mathew , and the last of mathew witnesseth , christ sent his apostles to preach . and in the tenth of luke , he sent his . disciples to preach in euery place that christ was come to . and saint gregory saith , he that taketh vppon him the office of priesthoode , taketh on him the office of preaching , and that the priest stirreth god to great wrath , whose mouth is not heard to preach , and ezekiel saith ; the priest that preacheth not busily to the people , shall bee partaker of their damnation , that perish by their default . and though the people bee saued by other means , yet if the priest preach not , he is a man●●●per , b●cause they hold from the people the word of god , the life of their soules . saint isidore saith ; priests shall be damned for the wickednesse of the people , if they teach not the ignorant , and blame not the sinners . christ saith ; he came into the world to beare witnesse of the trueth . lincolne saith ; that priest that preacheth not the word of god , though he haue no other default , hee is antichrist , and satan , a night theefe , and a day theefe , a slayer of soules , and an angell of light turned into darkenesse . therefore , i count my 〈◊〉 in damnable ●ase , if i , for feare , neglect preaching ; and so i doe them that willingly neglect preaching , and so i doe them that haue purpose or will to let any priest of this businesse . bishop . lo● sirs , this is the businesse of this losell , and such other , to pi●ke sharpe sentences out of the scripture , and doctors , to maintaine their 〈◊〉 . thou desirest the psalter i tooke from thée , but thou shalt ne●er ha●e it , nor none other booke , vntill i know thy heart and tongue ac●ord to be gouerned by holy church . thorpe . my will is , and euer shall be , to be gouerned by holy church . and hée asked me what holy church was ; christ and his saints are holy church , though euery one in charitie be the church , yet it hath two parts , the first part hath ouercome wretchednesse , and raigneth in ioy with christ , the other is in earth fighting day and night against the temptations of the feind , forsaking the glory of the world , and the ●usts of the flesh , and which onely are the pilgrimes of christ , wandring towards heauen by stedfast faith , grounded hope , and perfect charitie ; these will not be let from their purpose by any doctors discording from the scripture , nor by the flouds of tribulations , nor the winde of pri●e , or menasing of any creature : for they are fast grounded vppon the stone christ , hearing his word , louing and practising it with all their wits . bishop . 〈◊〉 you not how he is indurate , and trauelled with the deuill , occupying himselfe busily to aledge sentences to maintaine his heresie ? thus he would doe all ●ay , if wee would suffer him . one of his clerk●s ●id the bishop appose him vpon the the points of the certificate from shrewsbury . and he said ; was it true that is certified thou diddest preach touching the sacrament . thorpe . as i stoode in the pulpit preaching , there toled a sacring bell , and much people went from me , and i said ; good men , you were better stand still , and heare gods word , for the vertue of the sacrament stondeth much morein the beliefe thereof , that ye ought to haue in the soule , then in the outward sight thereof . bishop . resteth there in the host materiall bread after consecration ? thorpe . saint paul was a great doctor , and he called it bread that he brake , and in the canon of the masse , after consecration , it is called holy bread , and euery priest after he hath receiued the sacrament , saith ▪ that thing that wee haue taken with our ●●●thea , we pray god we may take with a pure minde . and saint augustine saith . that which is seene is bread , but that mens faith asketh to bee informed of , is very christs body . fulgentius saith , it is an error to say christ is very man , and not god , and that hee is very god , and not man ; so is it to say the sacrament is but a substance . bishop . i command thée answere me shortly . thorpe . i vnderstand it all one , to grant that there dwelleth substance of bread , and that christs body is accident without subiect ; your asking passeth my vndersta●ding , i dare not deny it , nor grant it , i commit this terme accidens cum subiecto , to those clerkes which delight in subtile sophistry , they determine often so difficult matters , and w●nder so in them , from argument to argument , with pro & contra , vntill they vnderstand not themselues , but the shame that proud sophisters haue to yeelde to 〈◊〉 , before men maketh them oft fooles , and to bée shamefully concluded before god. bishop . i will not oblige thee to the arguments of clerkes , since thou art vnable thereto , but i purpose to haue thee obey the determination of holy church . thorpe . by open euidence , and plaine witnesse , . yeares after christ , this determination which i rehearse was accepted of holy church , as sufficient to saluation , but that which was brought in since the deuill was loosed by thomas aquinas , calling the sacrament an accident without subiect , i vtterly deny to make this fryers sentence , or any such my beliefe , d ee with mee god what hee will. bishop . well , well , thou shalt say otherwise before i leaue thee . thou preachest that images ought not to be worshipped . thorpe . not so , for all c●eatures are the images of gods glory , and a man is made after gods image , and they are worshipfull in their ●●nde ; but the 〈◊〉 or painting of images , though it be in high dignitie with man , and for a calender to lewde men , that nether will nor can be learned to know god in his word , nor by his creatures , nor wonderfull workes ; yet this imaginarie ought not to be worshipped . bishop . but a crucifixe ought to be worshipped , for the passion of christ is painted therein , and brought to our remembrance thereby , so of the image of the trinitie , and of the uirgine mary , and of the saints : as when men receiue the kings , or their lords seale , whe●ein is their pictures or armes , in worshippe of them they put off their cappes to these letters , and since in images we may know many things of god and his saints , shall we not worship their images ? thorpe . these worldly vsages of temporall lords may be done , but this is no similitude to worshippe images , since moses , salomon , ba●uch , and others in the bible forbid plainly the worshipping of such images . bishop . lewde ●osell , there was no likenesse of the trinitie in the old law , but since christ became man , it is lawfull to haue images to shew his manhood , though great clarkes hold it an error to paint the trinitie , i say it is well done , for it mo●eth deuotion , so doe other images of saints . beyond sea are the best painters , and this is their manner , before they make an image , they shréeue themselues to a priest as if they should d●e , and take penance , and make a vowe of fasting , prayer , or pilgrimage , praying the priest to pray for them , that they may haue grace to make a fayr● and deuout image . thorpe . i doubt not if the painters truely vnderstood the sciptures they would repent themselues of their sinfull and vaine arte of painting idols , and the priests that 〈◊〉 them penance , and prayed for them , sinned more then the painters , for they comfort them in that which they are vnder paine of the great curs● of god they ought to forbid , for 〈◊〉 , if the word of god were truely preached , and ministers liued thereafter ▪ there would be no neede of these images ▪ bishop . i hold thee a vi●ie●s and cursed priest , for thou , and such others goe about to destroy all priests and images of holy church . lozell , were it a faire thing to come into a church , and see neuer an image . thorpe . they that come to church to pray , their inward wits may be the more feruent in that their outward wits bee closed from outward seeing . christ blessd them that sawe him not and beleeued , it sufficeth to know god in his word without images . bishop . is it not a stirring thing to behold an image ? thorpe . being euery person of the trinitie is eternall , and you say it was not lawful to picture it before christ , and in that there were many prophets . mar●●res , and professors before christ , why was it not then as lawfull to make images , to moue men to deuotion as now it is ? bishop . the synagogue of the iewes had not authoritie to approue things , as the church now hath . thorpe . saint gregory was of great dignitie , as the cannon lawe witnesseth ▪ hee greatly commended a bishoppe for forbidding images to bee worshipped . bishop . ungratio●s losell , thou sauorest truth no more then a houn● , since at the roode at the north dore at london , and at our lady at walsingham , and many other places in england , are many great and praisable miracles ●one . thorpe . i am certaine there is no such miracle done of god ▪ that any image should be worshipped , therefore i say as i haue often preached ; none should t●ust there were any vertue in them , nor vowe to them , nor seeke to them , nor 〈◊〉 , bowe , pray , o●●er , kisse , or incense them . the brasen serpent was 〈◊〉 by gods biddi●g , ●et the good king ezekiah , because it was incensed so , worth●●y destroyed it , and it is to bee dread , that for the vnfaithfulnesse of ●en , the f●●●d 〈◊〉 power to 〈◊〉 the miracles that now are done in such places : wherefore s●eing the god of 〈◊〉 is the most vnknowne and wonderfull spirit , what image may he be painted 〈◊〉 ? bishop . as holy church suffereth images to ●ee painted , and shewed , it suffiseth to th●m that are members of holy church , but thou art 〈◊〉 member cut off from holy church , thou fauourest not the ordinances thereof . thou speakest against pilgrimage , and that pilgrimages to canterbury , ●euerley , carlington , walsingham , are accursed , and f●●lish spending their goods in wast . thorpe . there bée true trauellers , trauell all their life , with all their endeauour to please god , that they may attaine to the heauenly kingdome : but i say now as i said at shrewsbury , i haue preached often in other places , and will doe as long as i liue god willing ; they that trauell their bodies , and spend their money to s●eke , or visite the bones of images of this saint , or that , such pilgrimage is neither , praiseable , or thankefull to god , nor to any saint of god ; since such pilgrimages , almost all ▪ despise god , and his commaundements , and vppon saints they waste blamefully gods goods , in such vaine pilgrimages , sometimes vpon vitious hostices , which they should doe workes of mercie withall vpon the poore and néedie , they offer their go●ds to rich priests , which haue more then they n●ede , many of them borrow other mens goods , and neuer pay them , and sometimes they steale them . and they haue with them singers , that can sing wanton songs , and some will haue bag-pipes , so that euery towne where they come , with their noyse of singing , piping , ●angling of canterbury bels , and the barking of dogs , they make more noyse then if the king came thither , with all his clarions and minstrels , and if they bee a moneth in pilgrimage , they will bee halfe a yeare after , wranglers , tale-bearers , and lyers . bishop . lewde losell , thou seest not farre enough into this matter , it is fit they haue such musicke with them , that when one goeth barefoote , burteth his foote against a stone , and maketh it bleede , it is well done that his fellow sing a song , or play on a bagge pipe , to driue away with mirth the hurt of his fellowe , and with such solace their trauell and wearin●sse , is lightly , and merrily brought forth , dauids last psalme teacheth mee to haue diuerse ●nstruments of musicke . thorpe . by the sentence of ●iuerse doctors , that musicke that dauid , and other saints of the old lawe spake of , ought not to be interpreted li●terally , but gostly , for saint paul saith , all such thing● befell to them in figure , therefore i vnderstand that the letter of this psalme , and other psalmes and sentences doth slay them that take them now literally . this sence i vnderstand christ approueth , pu●ting out the minstrels , ere he would quicken the damzell . bishop . lewd losell , is it not lawfull so haue organes in the church , to worship god withall ? thorpe . yea , by mans ordinance , but a good sermon to the peoples vnderstanding , were much more pleasant to god. bishoppe . organs , and delectable songs , quicken mens wits more then a sermon . thorpe . worldly men delight in sencible solace ▪ but the faithfull louers of christ delight to heare gods word , and vnderstand it tru●ly , and saint ierome saith ; no body may ioy with this world , and raigne with christ. bishop . what thinke you this 〈◊〉 will speake , whereas hee hath no dreade , being bee speaketh thus in my presence ? well ▪ well , by god , you shall bee ordained for . thou saidest priests had no tittle to tythes . thorpe . one would know of me whether priests , by the word of god , may curse one for not paying of tythes , christ and his apostles tooke no tythes , nor commanded none so to doe . saint paul saith , the lord hath ordained , that they that preach the gospell , should liue of the gospell . and if priests were now in measurable number , and liued vertuously , add ta●gh● busily and truely gods word , without tythes , 〈◊〉 , and other du●ies , the people would giue them suffici●nt liuings . one of his clarkes said , how can that be , sluc● by the law , priests can scarcely constraine the people to giue them their liuing ? bishop . thou sayest it is not lawfull in any case . thorpe . i neuer taught in that wise , i haue preached in many places , that it is not lawfull to sweare by any creature , and that none ought to swrare in any case , if without an oath he may excuse himselfe to them that haue authoritie so take an oath , but as he cannot otherwise excu●e himselfe , he ought onely to sweare by god , taking him only that is true to witnesse truth . and there were many other arguments ▪ wherein was no great mat●er worth abridging , if the reader be disposed , hee may see the booke at large . after hee had denied to sweare obedience vnto the bishop , except in those things that were according to the word of god , the archbishoppe bade the constable haue him away in ha●●e . bishop . i was led foorth , and brought to a ●oule and vnhonest prison , where i was neuer before ; when they were gone , and had shut the doore , i busied my selfe to thin●● on god , and thanke him of his goodnesse , and i was greatly comforted , that i was deliuered for a time , from the sight , hearing and presence , and scorning ▪ and menasing of mine enemies , but much more i reioyced in the lord , that of his grace he kept 〈◊〉 , that without heauinesse , and anguish of conscience , i passed away from them . now o god , to the praising of th● blessed name , make vs one together by authority of thy word to be knit and made one in truth , faith , and stedfast hope in perfect charitie amen . ¶ another treatise of the said william thorpe . christ , in saint matthew , likeneth them that heare his word , and kéepe it , to a wise man that buildeth his house vppon a stone , this house is mans soule , in which christ desireth to dw●ll , if it bee stablished in christes liuing and teaching , adorned with his faire uertues , and chiefly charitie , without ●edling of any ●rrour , vppon none other ground ; none may make any building , or house , but vpon the teaching and liuing of christ , as saint paule teacheth to the corinthians , and to comfort these , saint paul writeth to the people of ephesus . now ye are not strangers , guests , nor comelings , but citizens , and of the houshold of god , builded vpon the foundation of the apostles and prophets ; in which foundation , euery building that is builded , it increas●th to a holy temple . this is the stable stone christ , fast holding together two wals , for through him , ●he father is pitious , and mercifully ioyned , and made one together to mankinde , and through dread so offend god , and feruent loue to please him , men bee inseparably made one to god , ●nd ●●●ended surely vnder his protection . this stone christ was figured by the square stones of the temple : for wheresoeuer a square stone is laid , it abideth stedf●st ▪ so christ , and euery faithfull member of his church , by example of him , abideth ●●ably in true faith , and in all heauenly vertues , in all aduersities , that they suffer in this valley of ●eares . when these ●quared stones were laid in the wals and pillars of gods temple , no noyse or stroke of the workemen was heard , this ●lence signifieth christ , and his faithfull members , which haue béene , are , and euer shall bee meeke and patient in euery aduers●tie , and no sound of grudgi●g perceiued in them . this stone , and ground of all vertues , proud beggers reproued , christ suffered it most méekely in his owne person ▪ to giue example of méekenesse to his faithfull followers . this world is now so full of proud beggers , called priests , but are farre from such as christ approueth priests . ● for from the highest to the lowest , they doe all to please the world and the flesh , since i had discretion , all the popes , cardinals , bishoppes , and all the contagious flocke of the priest-hoode haue increased damnably , 〈◊〉 sinne to sinne , ●●oud hereticks , couetous symoners , desouled adulterers , abusing the sacram●ntes , especially the sacrament of the altar , the highest priests occupie vnlawfully temporall lordships , for fauour and gaine they sell benefices to vnworthy and vnable persons . their somn●rs sell sinne , suffering men and women so lye in diuerse vices . the priestes sell the sacramentes full deare to the people , and thus the priest-hoode is blowne vp into pride , and vaine-glory of their dignitie , that they disdaine to follow christ in meekenesse , holinesse , and busie preaching of his worde , and to take their liuing at the peoples hands , as pure almes , and if they preach not , to labour for their liuing . and they inforce , that all holy scripture should bee expounded according to their manners . therefore all kings and rulers , that knowe the trueth of this testimony of priesthoode , and will not inforce themselues to withstand these enemies , and traitors of christ and his church , all these striue with antichrist against iesus , and they shall beare the indignation of god almightie , without end , if in conuenient time they amend them not and repent , doing due mourning and sorrow . for through the presumptuousnesse and negligence of the prelates , wicked men are wrongfully named hermits , and haue leaue to defraude the poore , and liue by their false winnings , and begging , in sloth , and other vices , and the copper nosed prelates , are suffered to liue in pride and hypocrisie , and to defile themselues bodily and ghostly . also by the sufferance of these prelates , there bee vaine brotherhoodes and priesthoodes , full of pride , they are cause of much dissention , and exercise themselues in eating , and drinking vnmeasurably , and out of time , and they are of one cloathing , and holde together , and in all vnlawfull doings they are partners , medlers , and councellers . also , prelates admit pardoners , and strange beggers , with flatterings to beguile the people , against true beliefe , and to increase diuerse vices in them : and thus the viciousnesse of prelates haue beene , are , and shall bée cause of warres within this realme and without , and cause of pestilence of men , and murren of beastes , and barrennesse of earth , and all other mischiefes , vntill the lords and commons able them with grace , accordring to gods will , to redresse this foresaid priesthood , vnto the innocent ●eaching , and liuing of christ and his apostles . therefore , all that know the viciousnesse that now raigneth cursedly in these priestes , and in their learning , let them pray for the health of his church , and abstaine from these indurate enemies of christ and his people , and from all their sacraments , which are fleshly and false . saint ciprian , and other great doctors witnesse , that not onely vitious priests , but they which fauour and consent to them shall perish with them , as they perished that consented to dathan and abiram , for nothing were more confusion to them , then refusing their sacraments , which are most vnlawfull , and none needs to ●eace to dye without taking any sacrament of these , christs enemies , since christ himselfe will not faile to minister all healthfull sacramentes , to all them that are in true faith , hope , and charitie . but some madde fooles , to eschewe slaunders , will bee shrieued once a years of their propper priest , though they knowe him defouled with slaunderous vices , no doubt , these are culpable of great sinne , since saint paule witnesseth , that , not onely they that doe euill are worthy of damnation , but they that consent to euill doers . and the vicious priestes despise and cast from them heauenly wisdome that is giuen of the holy ghost . therefore the lord throweth such dispisers from him , so that they doe no priesthoode vnto ●im . therefore they that tooke , or consent that any other should take any sacrament of any s●ch priest sinneth against the trinitie , and are vnable to any sacrament of health . and that this sentence is ●rue , and in the hope of the remission of all my sins , trusting stedfastly in the mercie of god. i off●● to him my soule , and to proue that this is true , i suffer méekely , and gladly , my wr●tched body to be tormented , to his praise , and the edification of the church . and i , wretched cai●●●e , shall now , through the spirituall grace of god , make him a pleasant sacrifice , with my most sinfull body , i beseech all that reade , or heare this my testament , that they i●deauour by all meanes , to vnderstand truely , and kéepe faithfully the commaundements of god ▪ and to pray deuoutly to ●he blessed trinitie , that i may haue gr●ce and wisdome from aboue , to ende my life for his cause , in a true and liu●ly faith , stedfast hope , and perfect charitie . a handicrafts man dyed constantly in the opinion that it was not the body of christ really which was sacramentally v●ed in the church . hee was ca●yed to the place of execution , and included in ● pipe , or tunne . the prince , the eldest sonne of king henry was present , hee endeauoured to saue him , p●rswading him from his opinions , adding often threatnings , which might haue daunted any mans stomacke ; but this valliant champion of christ , negl●cting the princes faire words , ●ather determined to suffer any torments ▪ then so great idolatry . beeing inclosed in the pipe , hee was torment●d by the raging of the f●re , and miserably roaring in the middest thereof , the prince , beeing moued , came to him againe , commaunded the f●re to bee taken away , comforted him , and promised him life , and a yearely styp●nd during his life , if ●ee would consent to his councell . but beeing more inflamed with the spirit of god , th●n with any earthly desire , hee continued vnmoueably in his former minde . the prince commaunded him to bee put in againe , and that after , hee should looke for no grace . so this lay-man pers●uered inuincible vnto the end , not without a great and cruell battell , but with so much the more tryumph and victorie . as soone as king henry the fift was crowned , at the same time the lord cobham was cast into the towre , the bishoppes and prelates came to the king , complaining that they , and the whole clergie were despised , and their censur●s and sacraments not regarded , and all iending to vtter ruine and decay , and all by suffering of heretickes , which holde assemblyes in secret places , a●d corners ; which if it were any longer suffered , would ouerthrowe the common-wealth . whereupon the king held a parliament at lecester , and made an act , that they that held wicliffes opinion , were heretickes , and traytors , and to bee hanged and burned . the bishops , beeing armed herewith , exercised wonderfull crueltie against many guiltlesse men , amongst which ( besides the lord cobham , whose story is deferred ) was sir roger acton knight , iohn browne gentleman , and iohn beuerley a preacher , who were condemned by the lawe aforesaid , and crowned with the double martyrdome of hanging and burning , at saint gyles i● the field . at that time there was . together , all of noble , and gentle blo●ds , condemmed by the bishops for heretickes , whom this cruell lawe draue vnto the 〈◊〉 . also one iohn claydon a currier , and richard turmine a baker , were burned in smithfield . i passe ouer such , whom iohn mayor in his sixth booke reporteth to be condemned for heretickes , in the yeare . amo●st which , such as were found most constant were burned . about the same time a fryer minor , an english-man , being ambassador of pope benedict . vnto scotland , if he had not escaped by flight had beene burned , for certaine herisies that were laid against him . about this time was a sermon written , whether by wickliffe or thorpe , or any other , it is vncertaine , it is mentioned to be in the yeare . christ likeneth the kingdome of heauen to a housholder , that went in the morning to hyre worke-men into his uineyard ; so did he about the third houre , the sixt houre , and the ninth , and the eluenth , and as he found men standing idle , hee said to them ; why stand you beere vn-occupyed , goe into my vineyard , and that which is duty i shall giue you , and when the day was ended , he called his steward , and bad him giue euery man a penny . this housholder is christ , head of the church on earth , which calleth in diuers ages ; as in the time of nature he called by inspiration abell , enoch , noah , abraham , and diuers others . in the time of the olde law , moses , dauid , esau , ieremy , with the prophets : in the time of grace , the apostles , martyrs , confessors , and uirgines , some in youth , some in middle age , some in the latter dayes : it is to labour in his uineyard , which is his church , as there be diuers officers in trimming of the maternall uine , no lesse néedfull in the church be these thrée officers , priest-hood , knight-hood , and laborers . the priests must cut away the branches of sinne with the sword of gods word : the knights must maintaine gods word : the teachers thereof , and the land from wrongs and enemies : the labourers must by their sore sweat , get sustenance for themselues and others , if priests want , the people for want of gods word all will grow wilde in vices , and dye ghostly , and were not men to rule people , théeues and enemies would so increase , that none could liue in peace , and were it not for labourers , priests and knights must be artificers , plough-men , and heard-men , or else die for want of sustenance : as the great clarke auicenna saith , euery vnreasonable beast , if he haue that which belongs to nature , can liue of himselfe alone . but if there were but one man in the world , if he had all the goods in the world , yet for default he would dye , or his life worse then if he were not , because that which is prepared for mans sustenance must be altered , or else it accordeth not with him ; therefore he saith , it is very needfull to haue men of diuers trades and callings . this should be a great cause that euery calling should loue , and not hate one another , and this i dare say , that they which doe not diligently labour in some one necessary calling or other , when the day of reckoning shall come , which is the end of this life , as he liued without trauell , so shall hee want the reward of the penny , the endlesse ioyes of heauen , and be cast into hell. wherefore , if thou be a labouring man , doe it truelie ; if thou be a seruant , be subiect , & feare to displease thy maister for christs sake ; if thou be a marchant , deceiue not thy brother in chaffering ; if a king , defend the poore and needy ; if a iudge , goe not to the right hand for fauour , nor to the left for hate . if thou be a priest , instruct the ignorant , praise the obedient , and reprooue the disobedient to god , for in the end of the world you shall euery one haue a reward , a good or a bad , then christ wil say to euery of these three states , come giue a reckoning of thy bayliwicke : first , priests that haue cure of soules shall bee called , and they shall answer for themselues and others : the second is , temporall lords shall answere for themselues and others : the third baily shall account but for himselfe , or at least , haue lesse charge then the other , and euery one shall answere three questions : how entrest thou ? how rulest thou ? how liuest thou ? to the priest , how entrest thou ? by truth or symony , god or the deuill , for that thou wouldst labour in thy calling , or for that thou wouldst bee richly arrayed ? answere in thy conscience to thine offence now , or thou shalt ere it be long answere to god ? and i aske the question , why men set their children to schoole , whether for their worldly aduancement , or to make them the better to know god and serue him ? they set them to the law , not to be ministers of iustice , to defend the poore , but because it is a meanes to make them great men ; therefore there bee so f●w to learne the word of god to be preachers , because there is no gaines therein . chrysostome saith , parents care for the bodies of their children● , but not for their soules ; they desire their welfare in this world , but they passe not what they shall suffer in another ; they will sore bewaile the hurt of their bodies , but they reckon not much of the health of their soules , they are moued for their pouerty , but not for their sin : hereby they shew , that they begot the bodies , but not their soules . to returne to priests , there is now great abhominations in the church ; priests come into christs fold , not at his calling , but to make themselues rich , which is cause of many errors . in the booke of mourning the prophet saith , the enemy hath put his hand to all things he would , for he hath seene a lawlesse people in the sanctuary , of which thou saidst they should not enter , the enemy is sathan , for in what plenty is pride , enuy , wrath , and couetousnesse ; and wherefore , but because such are entred into the temple , which cannot kéepe the law of god themselues , nor teach others : and osea saith to them , because thou hast put away the knowledge of gods will , i haue put thee away from vsing priest-hood to me . the second question , how hast thou ruled gods flock committed to thy cure , for the good of the sheep , or for hire , as a father , or a wolfe ; whom hast thou turned from their cursed liuing by thy preaching and good example ? whom hast thou taught the law of god ? he that is ignorant , the fatherlesse , children and thy flocke shall greeuously accuse thee , that thou hast liued by their labour , and done nothing therefore , but let them go astray . s. barnard saith , priests be in place of saints , and they doe wickedly , not being content with necessary wages , but ouer-plus : that the needy should liue by , they wast in houses of pride and lechery ; beware , thou shalt giue an account to the last farthing , thinkest thou that thou shalt not be disalowed for nourishing young men , idly taught , as in a schoole to blaspheme god in all euill liuing : for féeding of fat palfries , of hounds , and of haukes , and of lecherous women . heare what is said of such , they lead their daies in vanity and wealth , and in a moment go downe to hell . the third question , what light hast thou shewed , and what myrror hast thou béen vnto the people in thy liuing ? it is wonder to sée how the life of priests is changed , they be cloathed like lords , they speake as dishonestly as any ribold or harlet : no marchant more couetous for gaine , they ride like princes , and all is of poore mens goods , they be blinded with to much shining of riches , they make houses as bigge as churches , superfluously abounding with all things , they paint their chambers with pictures , and cloath their images with silkes of diuers colours , but the poore for want of cloathing , and with an empty womb , cryeth at their doores ; and oftentimes the poore be robbed to cloath stockes and siones : thou occupiest the place of peter and the apostles , no otherwise then iudas and simon magus , as a candle newly quenched that stinketh ouer the house , in stead of light , and as smoake that blinds ones eyes in stead of fire ; they shall haue an hard iudgement , because they haue misentred , and harder , because they haue misruled , and the hardest , because they haue cursedlie liued . the second that shall make account for himselfe and others , is kings , and other temporall rulers ; hast thou entred thine office to profit the people , to destroy sinne , and further the truth , or for worship and riches ? some desire such estate to be rich , a●d to oppresse such as they hate , and to take bribes , for sparing to punish sinne , and make themselues partners of other sinnes , and for bribes worke all things . many in high office , thinke they are of higher kind of nature then others , not knowing they are poore mens brethren , and seruants for the good of the common-wealth , and that their glory is vanity . of whom the prophet osea saith , they haue raigned , but not by me ; so was roboam when he answered the people , my little finger is bigger then my fathers rib-bone , my father greeued you somewhat , but i will adde more , which made the people rebell , and the kingdome neuer came wholy together again ; wherefore it is good for rulers to take sober councell , to eschew eare-rounders , and to haue an eye of loue vnto the commons , for be they neuer so high , they shall come before an higher iudge to giue a reckoning . the second question , how hast thou ruled ? hast thou not beene the harder to the poore for his pouerty , nor fauored the rich for his riches ? what abuse is now amongst officers , if a rich man plead with a poore , euery officer is ready to further the rich man , and the poore man shall haue so many delaies , that though his right be neuer so good , for default of spending , hee shall be constrained to let his cause fall . and i haue heard say of them that haue proued both courts , that the court that is called most spirituall , is most cursed ; therefore it is truly said , a guift out of the bosome subuerts right iudgement , but the words of christ be to be feared , as you iudge you shall be iudged . the third question , how hast thou liued ? thou that punishest other for sinne , must not sinne thy selfe , else thou condemnest thy selfe in doing the thing thou damnest in others , and when any standeth before him in iudgement , hee must take héede before what iudge hee must stand himselfe : but it is to be feared , that it fareth with some , as with the two false priests that would haue put susanna to death , because sh●e would not consent to their lechery , and of the most worthy to bee hanged , damne the lesse worthy . socrates being demaunded why hee laughed , saide , because i sée great théeues lead a little theese to hanging : who is the greater theefe , he that taketh house and land from one , and his heires , or he that stealeth a sheepe . the third bayly , is euery christian that shall reckon to god for the goods he hath had of him ; first , how haue you entred heere to your goods , if by extortion , stealth , vsury , or deceit ; woe shall it be to you at this dreadfull day , as s. augustine saith , if hee shall be in hell that hath not giuen of his goods well gotten , what shall become of him that stealeth others goods : desire of honour , and feare of pouerty be the causes that ma●e men liue by the rape of other mens goods ; the vengeance of this couetousnes is discribed by the pot in the sixt of zachary , wherein sat a woman named impiety , into which the angell threw a waight of lead : and two women like spirits with winges , carryed it betwixt heauen and earth , vnto the land of sinear ; as a pot with a wide mouth , so couetousnesse gapeth for riches and honour , and as liquor in a pot profiteth not the pot , but them that draw it out , so worldly goods profit not the getters , but others that comes after , as owles see better by night then by day , so the couetous are blinde in heauenly matters , and quicke-eyed in earthly matters . the lead is obstinacy , the woman is called impietie , because piety is lost by auarice : the pot is couered with lead , which stoppeth in impiety , to shew that couetousnesse hardeneth the heart , that impiety cannot goe out by repentance , the two woemen that bare the pot , are pride and lust of the flesh : which in scripture are called the two daughters of the water , each crying , bring , bring . the first winge is pride of spirituall guifts : the second wing pride of temporall guifts : the winges of the second woman , be gluttony and sloth . doctor gregorie speaking of gluttony , when the belly is filled , the prickes of lecherie are stirred . and of sloath doctor augustine saith , lot was a good man whilst he was in businesse in sodome , when hee was idle in drunkennesse he lay with his daughters . saint augustine saith , rauening fishes when they are full be satisfied , but onely couetous men cannot bee satisfied , he is not affraid of god , nor ashamed of men , he spareth not father nor mother , brother or friend , oppresseth the widdow and motherlesse children , hee maketh frée men bond , hee bringeth forth false witnesse , and occupyeth dead mens goods . what madnesse is this , to looselife and grace , to win damnation , and to loose heauen to win go●d : and innocentius saith , how many hath couetousnesse deceiued for balacks rewards . balaam would haue cursed gods people , notwithstanding his asse reproued him , couetousnes made achan steale the accursed things to the destruction of him and his house : gehesie was stricken with leprosie for selling a mans health that came by the grace of god : iudas for couetousnes sold christ , and after hanged himselfe ; couetousne● was the cause of the lying and sudden death of ananias and saphira . if a rich man haue a whole streete , or a great field , and a poore man haue an acre of land , or but one house neere , eyther by intreaty , or pursuing , hee neuer ceas●th vntill he hath gotten the poore mans house and land , as achab and iezabell s●●w naball for his uineyard . saint ambrose saith to the rich , how long will you scratch out your couetousnes , will you dwell alone , and haue no poore dwell with you : why put you out your kinde , and challenge the earth which nature hath made common to poore and rich : nature bringeth forth all men poore , naked , and needy of meate and drinke , without riches or gay clothes , and the earth taketh vs naked againe , and closeth none of our riches : he that maketh difference betwixt poore and rich , when they haue lien a little in the graue , looke vpon them who was poore , and who was rich , and thou shalt se● no difference in their bones , except there be more clothes rotten with the rich then the poore , which is a hurt to the liuing , and no good to the dead : of such extortioners it is written , they reape other mens fields ▪ and they pluck away the grapes of the vine of the oppressed , they pluck away their clothes and leaue them naked : and in that the aforesaid pot was lift vp betwixt heauen and earth , sheweth that couetousnesse hath no charitie to god , or man , and they carry the pot to the land of synear , that is , the land of stench or hell. héere wee should aske how thou hast gouerned thy wife , thy children and seruants , whether thou hast brought them vp in gods lawes , and continued them therin according to thy power , otherwise thou shalt giue an account , and to auoide these hard accounts , i councell euery one to trust in the mercy of god , through christs demerites with a liuely faith , and repenting heart of thine iniquities , and amend , else who shall graunt thee pardon and release of thy accounts . now we will consider , who shall call vs to this reckoning , before whom , and what punishment to the wicked , and what reward to the faithfull : there bee two iudgements , one at separation of body and soule , which is the particular doome : and the second at the generall resurrection that is vniuersall ; to the first we shall be called one after another , to the second we shal come altogether in the twinckling of an eye : we are called to the first by thrée summons ; sicknes , age , death : the first warneth , the second threatneth , the third taketh ; some are slayne without sicknes or age , and the most part without age , and there is a sicknes that makes the body fe●ble , and a sicknes of the soule which is generall to all men , and the continuance therof is cause of corruption : if a man cast all worldly things out of his minde , yet can he scantly thinke onely of god a pater-noster while : o god , what a sicknes is this to the sonnes of adam , of this sicknes spake s. paul , i see another law of my members , rebelling against the law of my spirit ; as a man looking on the sunne cannot long indure , yet the fault is not in the sunne for it is most cleere , but in the féeblenes of mans eyes : so since adam was put out of paradice , all his off-spring haue been thus sick● : the second sicknes is of the body , as hunger thirst , cold , heat , sorrow , wearinesse , and many others : as iob saith . a man borne of a woman is full of many miseries , and is but for a little time : there be other sicknesses that happen to some as feuers , dropsie , blindnes , and such like , as it is said of the israelites , if thou keep not the comman dements of god i shall increase the sorrows and sicknesses of thy seed , but god sendeth such sicknesses sometimes to good men , and tribulations for two causes : first to know that it is of god , and to increase in méekenes : of this saith saint paul , least my great reuelations should extoll me in pride , to mee is giuen the pricke of the flesh : i three times prayed god it should goe from me , he answered , my grace is sufficient ; for my power is manifested in weaknes ; the diuell asking iob to be tempted , was heard , and not the apostle asking his temptation to be remooued ▪ he heard the damned , and heard not him that should bee saued : also god sendeth sometime his saints to giue vs sinners example of patience , being we haue deserued much more : as toby came from the charitable worke of burying the dead swallowes were suffered to dung in his eyes being asleepe , and make him blind it is written , that it was for an example of patience to them that should come after , and though he euer feared god he was not agreeued with god , but feared him still , and thanked him alwaies , and the sicknesses of wicked men be for two causes : first that they should leaue their sinnes and loue god ; we see often men in sicknesses know god , that neuer would turne to him whilst they were whole : also god sendeth sicknes and troubles often to the wicked , to make others afraid to folow their sinnes , as antiochus wormes crauled out of his body whilst he was aliue , and his friends were weary of his stinke , yea he might not abide his owne stinke : then he said it is rightfull to be subiect to the lord , & for mortall man not to hold himselfe equall with god : the story saith , hee asked mercy of god , and could none haue , and vowed to doe more good to the temple and iewes then he had done harme , and to become a iew an● goe ouer all the land preaching gods law ; yet because it cam● not out of true repentance springing of faith , but of his odious paine , hee obtained not fauour : by this men should see what it is to be disobedient to god : also sicknes sheweth that the patient is mortall , and that hee must die though hee may now scape . the second somner is age , hee will not leaue thee vntill hee haue brought thee to death : yet many , though they see all their members decayed with age , take no heed ; but if he see a little mirth forgetteth the somner hath him by the sleeue , and what a reckoning he must make , which if he answere not well , he forfeiteth body and soule to damnation : a doctor saith , this is the greatest abuse of the world ; the reason is because these three , idle youth , vnhonest speech , and wicked déed , which if they grow with a man from his childhood to his old age , they make a three-fold cord to binde the old man in custome of sinne : wherefore esay saith , breake the cordes of sinne . the third somner is death , his condition is come , hee , first or last spareth neither poore nor rich : saint augustine saith , wee ought feare death , for in what estate it findeth one , it bringeth him to iudgement : therefore the wise man saith to his sonne , thinke on the last day , and thou shalt neuer sinne . we shall likewise be called with three messengers vnto the last iudgement : the first the sicknes of the world , the second his age and feeblenes , the third his end : as decay of naturall heate , and increase of vnnaturall heate , is the sicknes of the body : so decay of the loue of god , and our neighbour , and increase of vnnaturall lusts is the sicknes of the world , christ saith this is a signe of the end of the world that wickednes shall wax plenteous , and charitie wax cold : know well saith saint paul , in the last daies shall be perilous times , men louers of themselues , couetous , proud , vnobedient to parents , without affection , &c. when thou seest suchmen , know the first somner warneth the world that the day of reckoning draweth neere . the second somner the age of the world , the day of the end of the world was hid from the apostles , and from christs manhood as to shew it vs : yet by authorities of scriptures we may show that that day of wrath draweth neere , least any say as that foule belly seruer , i will say to my soule , eate , drinke and be merry , thou hast much goods laid vp for many yeares . if paul said . yeares past , we be those to whom the ends of the world is come , much more we may say the same , and chrisostome saith , when thou seest the sunne so low that the vallies be darke , thou knowest night is néere : much more when it is so low that the hils be darke , so if thou seest darknes of sinne haue mastery of seculer men , it is a token the end of the world is nigh : but when thou seest the darknes of sinne hath gotten the vpper hand of priests , that should be as hilles amongst the communaltie in perfect liuing , who doubteth but that the world is at an end : and abbas ioakim saith from the yeare . all times be to be suspected : and ildiger in her prophesies saith , as the seuenth day the world was full made , and god rested from his worke : so in seuen thousand yeares the number of them that shall be saued shall be fulfilled , and then shall the saints wholly rest in body and soule : and now it is from the creation six thousand and six hundred yeares . the disciples asked christ three questions ; the first of the destruction of ierusalem , the second of his comming to iudgement , the third of the end of the world : to the first he said , when the romans besiege the citie , soone after it shall bee destroyed , to the second and the third he gaue many tokens , as that there should bee warres , pestilence , and earthquakes : lastly , when wee shall see the abomination of holinesse standing in the sanctuarie , then who so readeth let him vnderstand : this abomination as doctors say shall bee in the great antichrists dayes . dayes : and a doctor saith that a day must be taken for a yeere by authoritie of scriptures , and by reason : and it is thought to this clarke , that antichrist shall more appeare , in the yeare of christ . then any time before , and there lacketh but twelue yéeres of the fulfilling thereof . in the opening of the seuen seales is declared the state of the church , from christ to the end of the world : the foure first seales from christ to antichrist ; the first seale the state of the church in christs and his apostles time : the voice of the lyon is christs voice , the white horse his disciples , the whitenesse sheweth their righteousnes , by their bow their true preaching , pricking repentance into mens hearts , they went to iewry ouercomming them to leaue the trust they had in the old law , and to trust onely in christ : they went out winning the payenims from idolatry to christ : the calfe in the second seale which is a beast , was vsed to be sacrificed , betokeneth the state of the church in the time of martyrs , and that is tokened by the red horse : this began at cursed nero , and indured vnto constantine the great that indowed the church : in this time many shed their blo●d for the testimonie of gods word , and of two and twenty bishops , vntill siluester the first , i read but of foure but they were martyrs : and in the time of dioclesian the emperour , the persecution was so great , that in thirty daies were slaine . in diuers countreys for the gospell . the opening of the third seale , telleth the state of the church in the time of heretickes , by the black-horse is figured false vnderstanding of the scripture : then cried the third beast which is a man , for it was needfull to preach christs incarnation and passion against heretickes , that tooke those points amisse : the fourth seale t●lleth the state of the church in the time of hypocrites , that by outward signes of repentance onely blind the people : the pale colour of the horse signifieth their hypocrisie , the rider was death , to signifie they slay ghostly , that teach any other way but christ , and hell followeth them ▪ for hell receiueth those that deceiue men : in that time it was needfull that the fourth beast the eagle which flyeth highest of all birds , to make his cry , to raise vp the gospel , least mens traditions ouergrow it , by the information of these hypocrites : the fift seale sheweth the state of them that shall follow , and the desire the followers of gods law shall haue to bee deliuered from this woe . the sixt seale tell●th the state of the church in antichrists limmes ; the angels that stood in the foure corners of the earth , to hold the foure windes from blowing are the diuels ministers : the foure windes are the foure gospels , they shall let the preaching thereof , and the breath of the holy ghost to fall vpon men : after this commeth the mysterie of the seuen seales , that antichrist is come in his owne person , whom iesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth , hee and his seruants shall show their vttermost persecution against christ and his subiects . i said in my second principle , that it was to be knowne before what iudge wee must reckon : the iudge is god himselfe that seeth all our deeds and thoughts , and euery mans deeds , and the secrets of their hearts shall be opened to all the world : as saint iohn saith , the dead men , great and small , stood about the throne , and bookes were opened , and the booke of life was opened , and the dead were iudged according to their deed written in that booke : this booke is mens consciences , that now are closed , but then shall be open to all men : the booke of life is christs gospel , which is now hid from the damned , through their owne malice : in the first book is written all that is done , in the second all that should be done : therefore look in the booke of the conscience whilest thou art heere , if thou findest any thing contrarie to christs example and doctrine , scrape it out with the knife of repentance , and write it better . i said it were good to know what reward the good shall haue , and what reward the wicked shall haue : it is written , christ shall come with the same body that was crucified , all that shall be saued shall cleaue to him , and be rauished , meeting him in the ayre , they that shall be damned lying vpon the earth . then christ shall aske account of deeds of mercy , reproouing false christians for leauing them vndone , rehearsing the paines that his true seruants haue suffered : then the wicked with the diuell shall goe into euerlasting fire , and the righteous into ●uerlasting life : then that which is written shall be fulfilled . woe wo , to them that dwel on the earth ; wo to the paynim that worshipped idols , and other creatures ; woe to the iew that trusted too much in the old law , and despised christ ; woe to the false christian that knew the will of god , and did it not , and hath not contemplated his mercies and waies , and been thankefull for his benefits , and hast made thy hart a house of swine , & a den of theeues , by vncleane thoughts and delights : thou hast shut god out of thy heart , and hee shall shut thée out of heauen , thou hast harboured the fiend , and thou shalt euer dwell with him in hell , thou shouldest haue sung holy , holy , holy lord : but thou shalt cry woe , woe , woe to mee : but they that bee saued shall ioy in god , ioy all amongst themselues , and one of an others saluation : how happie bee they that their trauels bee finished , and brought to so gracious an end : especially , that they haue escapt the paines : o how happie are they for the endlesse blisse which they haue in the sight of god. in this yeare began the councell of constance , called by sigismond the emperour , and pope iohn the . for pacifying a schisme betwixt three popes , all striuing for the pope-dome , which continued nine and thirty yeares : the italians set vp this iohn , the frenchmen set vp gregory , the spaniard set vp benedict , and euery nation defended his pope , to the great disturbance of christian nations : this councell indured foure yéeres , wherein all matters were decided most by foure nations : the english , germans , french , and italians , out of euery nation was a president : there names were , iohn the patriarch of antioch for france , anthony archbishop of rigen for italy , nicholas archbishop of genes●ensis for germanie , and richard bishop of bathe for england : the aforesaid pope iohn , resigned his pope-dome , for which the emperour thanked him , and kissed his féete : but after he repented himselfe , 〈◊〉 being disguised fled , but was taken by the emperour and put in prison : this pope was deposed , by the decree of the councell ; more then fortie most hainous crimes prooued against him ; as for hiring a physition to poison alexander his predecessor , and that he was an heretick , a symoniack , a lier , an hypocrite , a murderer , an inchanter , a dice-player , an adulterer , a sodomite , and many others : he held a councell at rome about foure yeares before , and euer when they assembled there was a huge owle in the place , or somewhat else in the shape of an owle , which did alwaies looke so earnestly vpon the pope , which made him still breake vp the sessions , and at length to dissolue the councell : some said it was the spirit of god in the shape of an owle , indeed there spirit is better figured in the shape of an owle then of a doue . the councell said the way to reforme the church was to begin a minoritis : the emperour said , non a minoritis , sed a maioritis , there was fiue and forty sessions in this councell : there was three seuerall popes deposed in this councell . in the eighth session was the condemnation of iohn wickliffe , and his fiue and fortie articles , & of his memory and bones to be burned , as it is before recited : and in the thirtéenth session was decréed that no priest vnder paine of excommunication shall communicate vnto the people vnder both kindes of bread and wine : in the fifteenth sessions silence was commanded vnder paine of the great curse , and that none should make any noise of hand , foote , or voice : and then the condemnation of iohn hus was read . in the seuenteenth session , the emperour tooke vpon him a iourney to the king of arragon , to intreat with pope benedictus about the resignation of the papacy , and an excommunication was denounced against al that should goe about to hinder the emperours iourney , and that the councell should euery sunday make prayers and processions for him , and an hundred daies of pardon giuen to them that would be present at the said prayers and processions , and that all prelates should then weare their pontificalibus : granting besides to euery priest that said one masse for the same an hundred daies pardon , and to all other that once a day should say one pater-noster , and one aue-mary for the safety of the emperour forty dayes pardon . in the nineteenth session , ierome of prage was accused of heresie , cast into prison , and forced to abiure . in the two and twentieth session , letters were made and set vpon all church doores , admonishing duke frederick , to restore george bishop of austridge such lands , kents and reuenues as hee detayned , vnder paine of interdiction , suspention , and excommunication . in the one and twentith session , the bishop of londy made a sermon , which being ended , ierome of prage , which had abiured , stood vpon a bench ; replying against his sermon , preaching sundry things : wherevpon the said ierome was condemned and deliuered to the seculer power to be burned . in the seuentéenth and eighteenth sessions , there was great proces giuen out against duke frederick , accusing him for sacriledge , and excommunicating him : for not obaying the admonition of the councell , concerning the vsurpation of the possessions of the bishop of austridge as aforesaid . in the one and thirtieth session , letters were directed to a certaine earle in italy , for laying violent hands vpon the bishop of asce , and imprisoning him , commanding him to set him at liberty , vnder paine of interdiction and excommunication : and an other decree was set forth for the restoring of the liberties of the church of baron . in the nine and thirtith session , it was ordered that euery pope should sweare to beleeue and hold the catholick faith , after the traditions of the apostles , generall councels , and holy fathers , namely of the eight generall counsels , ephisme , calcedone , two of nice , and foure of constantinople : also the councels of lateran , lyons , and ui●nna ; to obserue , preach and defend him to death : and by all meanes to prosecute the right of the sacraments , canonically deliuered to the catholick church , and writing his oath , he should offer it before witnesses vpon some altar . on saint martins euen a new pope was chosen , therefore they called him martin , and hee was brought to the emperour and councell , into the church of constance , and there authorized for pope : and was brought thence most honorably with sumptuous procession , vnto the monasterie of saint augustine , to bee crowned : the emperour on foote leading his horse on the right hand , and the marquesse of brandenburge , prince elector , leading his horse on the left hand . when this councell should be ended , the pope sent a cardinall with proclamation to dismisse the councell , and to giue euery man leaue to depart , and to shew the popes indulgence , which he had granted to all and euery person present , at : that councell that they should haue full absolution during his life , so that hee procured his absolution in writing within two monethes : also an other iudulgence was granted of plenarie remission of sinnes at the houre of death , and was not onely for their maisters , but for their houshould : vpon condition that from notification thereof , they should fast euery friday one whole yeare , for the absolution of their life time : and for their absolution at the houre of death , to fast the same friday one other yeere , if they had no lawfull impediment , and after the second yeere they should fast to their liues end euery friday , or else doe some other good worke . there were at this councell three hundred forty and six arch-bishops and bishops : fiue hundred threescore and foure abbots and doctors ; sixteene thousand seculer princes , dukes , earles , knights , esquires : foure hundred and fifty common women : six hundred barbers : three hundred and twenty minstrels , cookes , and iesters : there was . forrenners at that councell from easter to whitsontide ; the chiefe thing to be noted in this councell was , that the popes authority is vnder the councell . the history of iohn hvs . iohn hus being a preacher at prage , in the temple of bethelem , those rather to teach the gospell of christ , then the humane traditions of bishops ; their sprung vp certaine which accused him as an heretick to the bishop of rome : the pope committed the matter to the cardinall of columna , who appointed a day hee should appeare at rome : the king and nobilitie of boheme , sent to the pope to acquit him from his appearance , and if they suspected the kingdome to be infected with any heresie , they should send an ambassadour to correct the heresie , and the king would beare the charge , and likewise assist the legate with all his authoritie , to punish such as shall bee sound with erronoous doctrine : and iohn hus sent his meete procurators vnto the court of rome , and with firme and strong reasons did prooue his innocencie , but when the cardinall would admit no defence , his procurators appealed to the pope ; notwithstanding the cardinall excommunicated him as an obstinate heretick , because he came not at his day , and the matter was referred to two other cardinals , who after they had delayed the matter a yeere and a halfe , confirmed the iudgement of the first cardinall , and some of his procurators were committed , and grecuously punished for being so earnest for him . but the generall councell being assembled as aforesaid : the emperour sent certaine of his gentlemen to bring iohn hus bacheler of diuinitie vnto the councell , to purge himselfe of the blame which was laid against him , and granted him a safe conduct , that hee might come freely to constance , and returne home without fraud or interruption : he seeing so many faire promises , and his safe conduct , sent vnto the emperour that he would come vnto the councell : but before he went hee caused certaine writings to bee set vpon the gates of the cathedrall churches , parish churches , cloister and abbies , signifying hee would go● to the councell , and that if any that haue suspition of his doctrine , that hee should declare it before the lord conrade , or the bishop of prage : or if hee had rather at the generall councell , for there he would render an account of his faith before them all : the bishop of nazareth , the inquisitor for heresie , made his certificate vnder his hand and seale , with a testimoniall vnto maister iohn hus , that hee had oftentimes beene before him , and had conferred with him , and yet could neuer finde any heresie in him : and so did the bishop of prage , set vp letters in euery citie as he passed to constance , that hee was going to the councell to descud his fa●th , and if any could lay any thing to him as touching his faith let him come thither : many resorted vnto him all the way as hee went , and hee was gently ●●reate● , especially of the citizans , and burgesses , and sometimes of the curates : and if there were noise of his comming , the streets were euer full to see him : in norrenberge many curats came to him , desiring talk with him secretly , hee said he had rather shew his opinion openly before all men : so after dinner vntill night he spake before the priests and senators , and citizens , that all had him in great reuerence , saue one doctor which was a charter-house monke , who impraued all that h●● had said : then after he was come to constance , master clum , and m. latzembodge , which came with him went to the pope , and certified him iohn hus was come to constance , & that he had the emperors safe conduct , desiring him to grant him libertie likewise to remaine there without trouble , which the pope promised hee would : in the meane time maister pallets , iohn hus his great aduersarie was come to constance , but his companion zuoyma , husses other aduersarie died of an impostume by the way : then this pallets associated himselfe with one causis a boh●mian , which afore-time had vndertooke to finde a mine of gold for the king : and hauing receiued much money of the king towards the businesse , seeing his hope of making gold to faile , runne away to rome with the kings money : these two drew certaine articles out of the writings of hus , against him , and tooke great paines to shew these articles to the cardinals , bishops and monkes : and shewing that hee had done many other things against the holy constitutions of the pope and church : whereby they made iohn hus to bee apprehended the six and twentith day he came to constance : and the cardinals sent the bishops of augusta , and trent with the burgesse of constance , and a knight to iohn hus his lodging , to report they were sent by the pope and the cardinals , to certifie him hee should render some knowledge of his doctrine before them , as hee had often desired , and they were ready to heare him : hee answered , hee desired openly to defend his doctrine , but not priuately : notwithstanding , i will goe to them , and if they handle mee cruelly , i trust in the lord iesus that he will comfort mee , that i shall desire rather to die for his glory , the● deny his verity , which i haue learned in his holy scriptures : and iohn hus tooke his horse and went to the popes court , when he had saluted the cardinals , they said to him , wee haue heard many reports of you , which if they be true are not to bee suffered , that you haue faught many errors , contrarie to the doctrine of the true church , and that you haue sowed your errors through all bohemia by a long time : to whom hee answered , i rather tho●se to die then to bee found culpable of one errour : therefore i came to the councell to receiue correction , if any can prooue any errours in me : the cardinals said they were pleased with his answere , and departed , leauing iohn hus , with maister clum , vnder the guard of armed men , and they suborned a franciscane frier , a subtill malicious hypocrite , to question with him : who said reuerend master , i a simple rude idyot am come to you to learne , for i haue heard that you haue taught many things contrarie to the catholicke faith : i desire you for the loue that you haue to the truth and to all good men , that you would teach mee some certainty : first it is said you maintaine that there remaineth but naturall bread in the sacrament after consecration , which hee denied : then the frier asked him what manner of vnion is betwixt the man-hood and god-hood of christ : then hus said , you say you are simple , but you are double and crafty , in that you haue propounded so difficult a question : yet i will shew you my minde , which when he had done , the frier thanked him , and departed : after the popes garison told him that this frier was counted the subtillest diuine in lombardy : then pallets and causis his aduersaries made earnest meanes to the cardinals that hee should not bee set at liberty : and hauing fauour of the iudges , mocked the said hus ; saying , now wee will hold you well-enough , you shall not depart vntill you haue paid the vttermost farthing : at night the prouost of the romane court told maister clum he might depart , but they had otherwise prouided for maister hus : maister clum went to the pope , declaring all that was done , beseeching him to remember the promise which hee had made : the pope answered , it was done without his consent , and told maister clum apart , why doe you impute this to mee ; you know that i my selfe am in the hands of these cardinals and bishops , so hee returned very pensiue , and complained openly and priuately of the popes wrong , but it profited not . then hus was led to prison and kept there eight daies , from thence he was carried to an other prison belonging to the abbey , where by reason of the sti●●e of the place hee fell sicke , and was so weake that they despaired of his life . in the middest of his sicknes they put vp these articles to pope iohn , the . and to the principals of the councell , desiring that iohn hus might bee condemned . that hee taught that the sacrament ought to bee ministred in both kindes , and so his disciples did now vse it , and that materiall bread remaineth in the sacrament after consecration . a minister in mortall sinne cannot minister the sacrament , and that other men besides priests may minister the sacraments . hee both not admit that the church signifieth the pope , cardinals , archbishops , and the clergy vnderneath them : but saith this signification was tooke from the schoolemen ; and that the church ought to haue no temporall possessions : and that the temporall lords may take them away without any offence : and saith also that constantine , and other seculer princes haue erred by endowing churches and monasteries . that all priests are of like power , and that the reseruations of the popes casualties : the ordering of bishops , and consecrating of priestes , were inuented onely for couetousnes . when the pope , cardinals , and rest of the priests are in sinne , as is possible enough , then the church being in sinne hath no power of the keyes : hee beeing excommunicated contemneth it , and saith masse notwithstanding . hee maketh ministers himselfe , and putteth them into churches without the ordinarie of the dioces , or other ecclesiasticall iurisdiction , and teacheth it to be lawfully done . that one being ordained a priest or deacon , cannot be kept back from the office or preaching : therefore he would neuer be let from preaching by the apostolick sea , nor the arch-bishop . moreouer , when there was questions moued in the uniuersitie of prage , vpon the . articles of iohn wickliffe , and the diuines of boheme concluded euery one of them articles , either to be hereticall , seditious , and erroneous : he held that none of them were hereticall , seditious , or erroneous , as after hee did dispute & teach in the common schooles of prage : notwithstanding they were condemned in england , and by the whole church . because i finde these articles and many others answered by iohn hus in writing , which hereafter followe , and which were read in the councell , i omit his answeres in the councell , because what with the outragiousnes of the councell against him , so many interrupting him at euery word , and some mocking , and making mouthes at him , that it was impossible for him to make a perfect answere to any thing : i likewise omit for breuitie , the many supplications that the nobles of boheme made for his baile and libertie , and what surety they offered : if thou bee disposed to see these circumstances , and with what great labour they obtained that he should answere openly , and how cruelly he was vsed in prison ; i referre thee to the booke at large . the answeres of iohn hvs , written with his own hand . i iohn hus , vnworthy minister of iesus christ , master of art , and bacheler of diuinitie , doe confesse i writ a booke intituled , of the church : in reproofe whereof there are diuers articles drawne out of the said treatise , deliuered vnto me . the first article : there is but one holy vniuersall church , which is the vniuersall company of all the predestinate . answere . i confesse this proposition is mine , and confirmed by the saying of saint augustine , vpon s. iohn . saint paul was neuer a member of the diuell , though he did many things like the malignant church : nor saint peter , though he horribly sinned in periury , and denying his master . answere . it was by gods permission , that they might more stedfastly rise againe and be confirmed : i answere according to s. augustine , that it is expedient that the elect should offend : there be two separations from the church ; the elect are diuided from the church , but not to perdition : the second is to perdition , by the which certaine heretieks are through there deadly sinne diuided from the church . no member of the church doth at any time fall away from the body , because the charitie of predestination , which is the bond of the same , doth neuer fall : answere this is proued by . cor. . rom. . all things turne to good to them that loue god : also i am certaine that neither death nor life can seperate vs from the loue of god , &c. the pr●destinate although he be not in the state of grace , according to present iustice : yet he is alwaies a member of the church . answere . i declared in my booke that there be diuers manners of being in the church : there be some in the church according to a mishapen faith , and some according to predestination , which are now in sinne , but shall returne to grace . no degree of dignitie , nor election of man , nor any sensible signe can make a man a member of the church . answere . i say predestination maketh vs members of the church , and prepareth for vs grace heere , and glory in the world to come ; and not degree of dignitie , nor the election of a man , nor sensible signe : for iudas , though christ elected him an apostle , and gaue him temporall graces , and that he was so reputed of men , yet was he a woolfe in a sheeps-skin , as saint augustine saith . a reprobate man is neuer no member of the church . answere . it is in my booke with sufficient long probation of the psalme . and the . ephes. and by saint bernards saying ; the church of christ is more plainely his body , then the body that was crucified : the church is the flower of the lord in which is corne and chaffe : the elect and reprobate . iudas was no true disciple of christ : answere . this i confesse , s. augustine in his booke of penance where he expounds . iohn . they came out from vs , but were not of vs : christ knew from the beginning who should beleeue , and him that should betray him : and said , none commeth to mee except it be giuen him of my father , from that time many departed from him , though they were called by the gospell , they were no true disciples , because they did not continue in the word of christ , as it is said , if you remaine in my word you bee my disciples : it is euident , that iudas could not be the disciple of christ , by meanes of his couetousnes : for christ saith , except a man forsake that hee hath , he cannot be my disciple : therefore because iudas was a theefe iohn . and a diuell , iohn . it is euident that iudas was no true but a fained disciple . saint augustine vpon saint iohn , that christs sheepe heare his voice , saith , what manner of hearers were his sheepe ; iudas heard him but was a woolfe , yet he followed the shepheard , but being clothed in a sheep-skin he laid waite for the shepheard . the predestinate whether they bee in the state of grace , or no , according to there present iustice , is the same church which hath neither wrinkle nor spot , but is holy and vndefiled , which christ calleth his owne . answer . in the fift to the ephesians , christ so loued his church that he offered himselfe for it . i pray you then , is there any faithfull man that doubteth that the church doth not signifie all the elect : the glorious spouse of christ , holy and without spot : this is an article of faith which we ought firmely to beleeue . peter neuer was , nor is the vniuersall head of the church . answere . all men agree , that peter receiued of christ , which is the rock of the church , humility , stedfastnesse , and blessednes : when christ said vpon this rock i will build my church , he did not meane that he would build euery militant church vpon peter , but vpon christ which is the rock : from whom peter receiued his faith , for he is the head and foundation of euery church , and not peter . if he that is called the uicar of christ , follow christ in his life , then he is his true uicar ; otherwise he is the messenger of antichrist , the enemy of peter and christ , and the uicar of iudas : answere . for this cause saint bernard in his fourth booke did write vnto pope e●genius , thou delightest to walke in great pride , being gorgeously arrayed , what fruit doth the flooke receiue by thee ▪ if i durst say it these be rather the pastures of the diuels then of sheepe : saint peter , and saint paul did not so , thou séemest to succéede constantine , and not peter . it followeth in my booke , if thy life be contrary to peters , or giuen to auarice , then he is the uicar of iudas , which loued the reward of iniquity , and sold the lord : as soone as they reade the same , the rulers of the councell looked one vpon another , and making mockes and moes , nodded their heads at him . priests that vse symony , and liue desolutely , haue an vntrue opinion of seuen sacraments , as bastards and not children , not knowing the o●●ice of the keyes of censures , neither of the rights of cerimonies and seruice of the church , nor of worship of relikes , nor of orders of the church , nor of indulgences and pardons . answere . it is in this manner in my booke , the authoritie is abused by such as sell orders , and get riches by symony , making markets of holy sacraments , liuing voluptuously , desolutely , a filthy villanous kind of life . they pollute the ecclesiasticall estate , and though they professe they know god , they deny him indéede , and beléeue not in him , but as vnbeléeuing bastards hold a contrary opinion , as aforesaid , to whom malachy in his first chapter saith , vnto you priests be it spoken , which despise my name . the papall dignity hath his originall from the emperors of rome . answer . this is proued by the . distinction , for constantine granted this priuiledge to the byshop of rome , and others after confirmed the same ; that as augustus is counted the most high king aboue all others , so the bishop of rome shall be called the principall father aboue other bishops : then a cardinall said in constantines time , there was a generall councell at nice , in which the highest place in the church was giuen to the byshop of rome , why did you not then say it tooke his dignity rather from the councell ? no man with reason , without reuelation can affirme , that hee or any other is head of any particular church . answere . i confesse it , but it followeth , that he ought to hope through his good liuing , that he is a member of the spouse of christ. no man ought to beleeue that the pope is head of any church . answere ▪ confesse it , for the church was deceiued by agnes , a woman pope , as it app●areth by saint augustine , and it so being deceiued , christian faith should bee depraued . the popes power , as uicar , is nothing worth , if he liue not according to christ , and follow the manners of peter . iohn hus confessed this , and said before the councell , i vnderstand , the power of such a pope as doth not represent the manners of christ , is void . the pope is most holy , not because he supplieth the place of peter , but because he hath great reuenues , my words be mutilated . thus it is written , he is not holie because he is uicar of peter , nor for his great possessions , but if he follow christ in humilit● , patience , labour , and perfect loue . the cardinals are not the true successors of the apostles , if they liue not after the fashion of the apostles , keeping the ordinances of christ. answere . i confesse it , for if they enter not in at the doore which is christ , they be theeues and robbers . an hereticke ought not to be committed to the secular power to be put to death , it is sufficient that he suffer the ecclesiasticall censure . answer . these are my words , that they might be ashamed of their false iudgement , for christ would not condemne such to bodily death : the first point appeareth in the . of luke : the second , by the woman taken in adultery , and in the . chapter of mathew , if thy brother haue offended thee , &c. therefore an hereticke ought first to be instructed with christian loue , by reasons drawne out of holy scriptures , as saint augustine and others haue done , disputing against heretickes ; but if for all this they will not leaue their errors , they ought to suffer corporall punishments . the iudges had read in iohn husses booke , where hee greeuously inueyed against them which deliuered an heretike vnto the secular power , not being conuicted of heresie , and compared them vnto the high-priests , scribes , and pharises , which told pilate it was not lawfull for them to put any man to death , and deliuered christ vnto him , but christ told pilate they were greater murderers then he which deliuered him vnto him , then the cardinals and bishops made a great noyse , saying ; who are they that thou dost asimule vnto the pharisies ? and he said , all that deliuer any that is innocent vnto the ciuill sword . the nobles of the world ought to compell the ministers of the church to kéepe the commaundements of christ. answere . these be my words , the militant church consisteth of these parts ; ministers of the church , which should kéepe purely the ordinances of christ ; and the nobles of the world , which should compell them to keepe his commaundements , and of the common people seruing to both parties . the ecclesiasticall obedience , as the priests and monkes haue deuised , it hath no authority in the scripture . answer . i confesse it , there be three obediences , the spirituall , secular , and ecclesiasticall : the spirituall , which is onely according to the ordinances of god ▪ in which christ and his apostles liued , and all christians ought to liue in : the secular obedience , is due according to ciuill ordinance : the ecclesiasticall obedience is such as the priests haue inuented , without any expresse authority of scripture . he that is excommunicate of the pope , and apealeth vnto christ , the curses of the pope cannot annoy him . answere . i acknowledge not this , but i did make complaint in my booke , that they had done mee , and such as fauoured mee , great wrong , and they would not heare me in the popes court : and after the death of one pope , i apealed to his successors , and it profited not , and to apeals to the councell , it were to long ; therfore at la●● i apealed to the head of the church christ iesus . then said a cardinall , wilt thou presume aboue saint paul , who apealed to the emperor , and not to iesus , and they mocked him : the tenor of his apeale , was nothing but an earnest prayer to christ , to be his refuge and helpe when all kel●es fayled , and that he did appeale before god , for his greefe , from the wicked sentence and excommunication determined by the by●●ops , scribes , and pharisies , as iohn chrysostome did twice from the councel of the bishops ; and andrew bishop of prage , and robert bishop of lincolne , apealed vnto christ , who is not defiled with cruelty , nor corrupted with gifts , nor deceiued by false witnesses . a vitious man liueth naughtily , and a vertuous man liueth godly . answere . my words are these : all humane workes are deuided into two parts , they be either vertuous or vit●aus ; therefore if a man bee vertuous , that he doth , he doth vertuously , and if a man be naught , that which he doth is naught : for as vice infecteth all the deeds of the subiect , so vertue quickens all the doings of the vertuous , whi●h is proued by many places in the scriptures . the minister of christ liuing according to his lawes and hauing knowledge of the scriptures , and an earnest desire to edifie the people , ought to preach , notwithstanding the excommunication of the pope : and such a minister ought not to obay any forbidding of him to preach . i answer . we ought rather to obay god th●n man , for a minister to preach , and a rich man to giue almes , are duties commaunded of god : and if the pope or any other commaund a minister not to preach , and a rich man not to giue almes , they ought not to obay him . i cal that an vniust excommunication , which is giuen contrary to gods law , for such a one a preacher ought not to leaue preaching , nor feare damnation : then they obi●cted that he had said that such excommunications were blessings : euen so say i now againe as the prophet saith , they shall curse , but thou o lord shalt blesse . euery man admitted to the ministry , hath thereby authority to preach , and ought so to do● , notwithstanding the excommunication or forbidding of the pope , or any other . answere . i doe confesse this , and that no christian ought to doubt , but he that is sufficientlie instructed in learning , to instruct the ignorant , and to tell the vnruly of their sinnes , then for to do any other worke of mercy . ecclesiastical censures , are antichristian , such as the cleargy hath inuented for their owne preferment , to defend their malice , and multiply their couetousnesse : it is not thus in my booke , but i confesse it in substance . there ought to be no interdictment vnto the people . answer . for christ the high bishop , neither for the iniury done vnto iohn baptist , nor for any other iniurie did make any interdictment . i complained that for one mans fault , a whole land shall be interdicted , and all the good cease to praise god , but christ notwithstanding , iohn baptist was imprisoned , then whom there was no greater amongst the children of men , did not giue any curse , no not when herod beheaded him , neither when himselfe was spoyled , beaten , and blasphemed ; he did not curse , but praied for them , and taught his disciples to do the same : and peter exhorteth to follow christ. who when he was cursed , cursed not againe . and s. paul saith in the . to the romanes , blesse them that persecute you . these are the articles which are alleadged out of his booke of the church . seauen articles gathered out of his booke against stephen pallets . the first article , if the pope , bishop , or prelate , be in deadly sinne , he is then no pope , bishop , or prelate . answere . i grant thereunto , and i send you to saint augustine , ierome , chrysostome , gregory , cyprian , and barnard , who say moreouer , that he that is in deadly sinne , is no christian ; how much lesse , pope , bishop , or prelate , of whom it is said in the eight of amos , they haue ruled but not through me ; they became princes , and i knew them not : but i graunt , a wicked pope , bishop , or priest , is an vnworthy minister of the sacrament , by whom god doth baptise , consecrate , or otherwise worke , to the profit of his church . god saith by samuell to saul , because thou hast cast off my word , i haue cast thee off from being a king , much more a pope sinning . the grace of predestination , is the bond whereby the body of the church and euery member thereof are firmely knit vnto the head. answere . this article is mine , and it is proued out of the eight to the romanes , who shall separate vs from the loue of christ : and the tenth of iohn , my sheepe heare my voyce , i know them , and giue them eternall life , they shall not perish , nor any shall take them out of my hands . this is the knot of the body of the church , and the spirituall head , vnderstandding the church of the predestinated . if the pope be a reprobate , then as iudas , he is a deuill , a théefe , and the son of perdition , and not the head of the militant church , nor member thereof . i answer , if he were a member of the church , then should he be a member of christ , and then he should cleaue vnto christ by grace of predestination and present iustice , and should be one spirit with god , as in the . cor. . know you not that our bodies are the members of christ. that an euill pope or prelate is no pastor . answer . the text of my booke , is , if he be euill , he is a hireling : of whom christ saith , he is no shepheard , nor the sheepe his , he seeth a wolfe and forsaketh his sheepe , so doth euery reprobate , therefore no true pastor . the pope is not , nor ought not by his office , to be called most holy . i answere , when as the king , according to s. augustines mind , representeth the deity of christ , and the priest representeth only his humanity ; therefore the king of romaines by reason of his office , ought rather to be called most holy . these thinges are more at large discided in my booke ( saith iohn hus ) but i can finde no foundation , whereby i should call the pope most holy , when it is only spoken of christ. if the pope liue contrary to christ , though he be lawfully chosen according to humane election , yet he commeth in another way then by christ. answere . the text is thus , if the pope liue contrary to christ , in pride and auarice , doth he not then come in another way , then by the lowly and méeke doore of christ. iudas was lawfully chosen by christ , yet bee came in another way : and as christ saith in the sixt of iohn , was a theese , a deuill , and the sonne of perdition , and whosoeuer doth enter into a bishopprick or any other place , not with intent to labour in the church , but to liue voluptuously and richly , and to aduance himselfe with all kind of pride , he commeth in another way , and not by christ , and is a théefe . the condemnation of the forty fiue articles of wickliffe , made by the doctors , as wicked and vnreasonable , and the cause by them alleadged is fained and vntrue . answere . so it is , to say that euery one of them is hereticall , erronious , and offensiue : then he said to cardinall cambray ? o maister doctor where is your proofe ! then the cardinall said : iohn hus , thou diddest say thou wouldst defend none of iohn wickliffes errors ? i will not if they be errors , but in my conscience , i could not consent to the condemnation , being i saw no scripture against them . there remaineth sixe articles of the thirty nine , out of a booke wrote against stanislavs de zuoyma . the first article : a minister is not the successour of christ by his humane election , be it neuer so rightly done , but in that he doth more aboundantly worke to the profit of the church , hee hath thereby more aboundant power giuen him of god. answere . it standeth in the hands of wicked electors to chuse a woman into ecclesiasticall office , as it appeareth by the election of agnes , which was called iohn , who occupied the popes place and dignity two yeares and more , and they may chuse a théefe , a murderer , a deuill , and an antichrist , or such a one as god alloweth not of : so whatsoeuer the election is , we ought to giue credit to the works of him that is chosen ; therefore christ saith in the tenth of iohn , giue credite vnto workes . the pope being a reprobate , is not head of the church . answere . i would know of the doctor how this is contrary to faith ? did not christ dispute against the faith , when he demanded of the scribes and pharisies . math. . you off-spring of vipers , how can you speak good things when your selues are wicked . i demand of the scribes , if the pope be a reprobate , and the stock of uipers , how is he head of the holy church ? for it is more possible that a reprobate may speake good things , being he may be in the state of grace according to present iustice , then to ●e the head of the holy church : in the fift of iohn christ saith , how can you beleeue which seeke glory amongst your selues , and seeketh not the glory that commeth of god : and i demand how the pope can be head of the church which is a reprobate , and receiueth the glory of the world , and séeketh not for the glory that commeth of god , for it is more possible he should beléeue so doing , then be head of the church . there is no apparance that there ought to be one head in the spiritualty to rule the church . answere . i grant it , christ sitteth at the right hand of god , doth necessarily rule the militant church as head , and there is no sparke of apparance , that there should be one head in the spiritualty ▪ ruling the church that should alwaies be conuersant with it , except some infidell would heretically affirme , that the militant church should haue here a permanent and continuall citty , and not to seek after that which is to come : and it is euident in my booke , how vnconsequent a similitude it is for a reprobate pope to be head of the militant church , and a reprobate king to be he●d of a kingdome . christ would better rule his church by his true apostles , dispierced throughout the world , without such a monstrous head . i answere , albeit that doctor doth say , that the body of the church is often without a head ; yet we verily beleeue that christ is the head of euery church , ruling it without lacke or default , powring on it motion and sence , euen vnto the latter day : then they said , behold now hee prophesieth ? but iohn hus said , the church in the time of the apostles , was fa● better gouerned then now it is . peter was no vniuersall shepheard of the shéep of christ , much lesse is the bishop of rome . answer . it appeareth by the words of christ , that he did not limit vnto peter for his iurisdiction the whole world , no not one only pronince , nor to any other of the apostles : some walked through many regions , some fewer ; as paule trauailed more then all the rest , and did co●uert more to the faith of christ. wherefore , it is lawfull for any apostle or uicar to conuert and confirme as much people , and as many prouinces as they are able . the apostles and faithfull priests of the lord , haue stoutly ruled the church in all thinges necessary to saluation , before the office of the pope was brought into the church , and would doe so to the end of the world . then they cryed out againe , behold the prophet . certaine other articles which were brought vnto iohn hvs in prison . the first article , paul , according to present iustice , was a blasphemer , and none of the church , and withall in grace , according to predestination of eternall life . answer . this proposition is not in the booke , but thus : as paul was both a blasphemer according to present iustice , and also a faithfull child of our holy mother the church according to predestination ; so iscariot was both in grace according to present iustice , and withall , was neuer of our holy mother the church , because he lacked predestination of life euerlasting . christ doth more loue a predestinate ban being sinfull , then any reprobate , in what grace soeuer he be . answere . the reason is , because the predestinate shall haue perpetuall blessednesse , and the reprobate eternall fire ; therefore god infinitely loueth them both as his creatures , and much more because he giueth them greater graces , to wit ; euerlasting life , which is far more excellent then onely grace , according to present iustice ; and the predestinated cannot fall from grace , for they haue a certaine redicall grace rooted in them , although they be depriued of the aboundance of grace for the time . all the sinfull according to present iustice are vnfaithfull , swaruing from the true catholike faith , for none can commit deadly sinne , but in the point he swarueth from the faith . answer . i acknowledge it to be my sentence : for if they did beléeue the punishment that shall be laid vpon sinners , and had faith of the diuine vnderstanding , &c. then they would not so offend . this is verified by the prophet esay , thy fellows are misbeleeuers , and fellowes of theeues , they loue bribes , and are followers of rewards , so he calleth them infidels for their offences : also in the first of titus , they confesse they know god , but in workes they deny him . iohn . math. . and the . receiue the holy ghost , whatsoeuer you shall binde in earth , shall be bound in heauen , &c. many for lack of vnderstanding , shal be terrified by the priests and be deceiued , presuming vpon their power and authority . answer . i allow this sentence , it is not possible for a priest to binde and lose , except that binding and losing be in heauen : but many are made afraid , thinking whether they be iust or vniust , the priests may at their pleasures bind them , and the ignorant priests presume to haue such power , saying ; they haue such power to absolue euery man confessing himselfe , of what sinne soeuer it be , though many sins are forbidden thē . and an hypocrite may confesse himselfe , that is not contrite for his sin , whereof proofe is often found , & is euident , because the letter killeth , but the spirit quickneth . the binding and losing of god is plainely the cheefe and principall . answere . this is verie euident , for it were a blasphemous presumption , that a man may forgiue an offence to god , hee not allowing the same : for it is necessarie , that god doe first forgiue , before his uicar can doe the same ▪ and no article of our faith ought to be more common and knowne to vs then this , and whosoeuer granteth this authority to the pope , graunteth he is without sin , and that he is god , the fact of the pope proueth this same : for alwaies in his absolutions , h● presupposeth contrition and confession , but vnto true absolution there is required ; first , contrition ; secondly , the purpose to sin no more ; thirdly , true confession ; fourthly , stedfast hope of forgiuenes : the first appeareth by ezechiel , if the wicked repent : the second in the . and . of iohn , sinne no more : the third by luke , shew your selues to the priests : the fourth , christ saith , my son beleeue , and thy sins shall be forgiuen . the priests heap vp out of the scriptures , such things as serue the belly , but such as pertaine to the imitation of christ , they reiect as impertinent to saluation . answere . this saint augustine prooueth in his seuenteenth homily , the haruest is great , but there are few haruest-folke ; and speaking that , which i cannot without gréefe , though there be many that would heare good things , there lacks such as should declare the same vnto them . the world is full of priests , yet there are few worke-men in the haruest of the lord : we would be willingly priests , but we do not the office of priest-hood ; we are fallen into outward affaires , and take vpon vs an office for honor , and hire another to ease our labour ; we leaue preaching , we are called bishops to our paine ; we retaine the name of honour , but not the vertue ; we daily call for our stipend , but care not for our flocke ; wee gape after earthly things and glory , and leaue the cause of god vndone ; we take vpon vs the place of holinesse , and are wholy wrapped in cares and troubles . and s. barnard saith in his . sermon vpon the canonicals , all are friends , and all enemies , all kinsfolkes , and all aduersaries , all of an houshold , and no peace-makers , they are the ministers of christ , and serue antichrist ; they goe honorably , honoured with the goods of the church , and yet they do no honor . the power of the pope , which doth not follow christ , is not to be feared . answere . subiects are bound willingly to obay their good rulers , and those which are wicked : yet if the pope do abuse his power , it is not to be feared as by bondage : so his cardinals as i suppose , did not feare gregory the . before he was deposed , when as they resisted him ; saying , he did abuse his power . a wicked pope is not the successor of peter , but of iudas . answere . if the pope be humble , neglecting the honors and luker of the world : if he be a shepheard , taking his name of féeding his shéepe , if as christ commandeth , he feed the shéep with the word and good example , then is he the uicar of christ , but if he walke contrary , because there is no society betwixt christ and beliall : and christ saith , he that is not with me , is against me . how is he the uicar of christ , and not rather the uicar of antichrist ? christ called peter , sathanas , when he contraried him but in one word , why should not any other then being more contrary to christ , be called sathanas , and antichrist . the pope is the same beast , of whom it is spoken in the reuelation , power is giuen him to make warre vpon the saints . it is lawfull to preach notwithstanding the popes inhibition . answere . the article is euident , because the apostles did preach contrary to the commaundement of the bishop . and s. hialry did the like , contrary to a pope that was an arian : and cardinals , contrary to the commaundement of pope gregory the . sent throughout all realmes such as should preach against him . if the popes commaundement be not agréeable to the word of god , it is not to be obayed . answer . s. isidore saith , he that ruleth and commaunds any thing contrary , or besides the word of god , he is honored as a false witnes , and a church-robber ; therefore we are bound to obay no prelate , but in case he commaunds the commaundements of christ. and saint augustine speaking of the chaire of moses , saith ; they teach in the chaire of moses the law of god , therefore god teacheth by them : but if they will teach you any of their owne inuentions , heare them not , neyther doe as they commaund you ; let therefore my aduersaries and slanderers learne , that there be not onely twelue councels in the gospell , but as many councels as there be commaundements of god binding vs thereunto , vnder the paine of deadly sinne . it is lawfull for the cleargy and layty , to iudge by their iurisdiction of all thinges pertaining to saluation , and of the workes of prelates . answere . subiects ought first to examine themselues . . cor. . secondly , to examine all thinges which appertaine to their saluation : for a spirituall man iudgeth all thinges ; therefore i say a lay man ought to iudge and examine the workes of his prelate , and to bewar● of false prophets , and they ought to examine their workes , that if they be good , they may reioyce in god , and if they be euill , be sory for them , but not to do the like , least they be damned with them , according to the saying : if the blind lead the blind , they shall both fall into the ditch . god doth suspend euery wicked prelate from his ministry whilst hee is in actuall sinne , because then he sinneth in whatsoeuer he doth . answere . . cor . paul suspendeth all such as are in any greeuous crime , from the eating of the ●odie of the lord , and the drinking of his blood ; and so consequently suspen●●th all sinfull prelats from the ministration of the sacrament : and god doth suspend the wicked from the declaration of his righteousnesse . psal. . to suspend , is to prohibite the ministry of any other good thing for the offence sake : or as the new law terms it , to interdict or forbid . the cleargy , for their owne preferment and exhaltation , doth vndermine the lay people , and multiply their owne couetousnesse , cloaketh their malice ▪ and prepareth a way for antichrist . the answere which is made to the . article in pri●on , sufficeth for this : the first part he proueth by the example of peter de luna , which named himselfe benedict , and of angelus coriarius , who named himselfe gregory the twelth : & of iohn the . and by the . and . of ezechiell , and out of gregory , who saith , what shall become of the flocke when the shepheards are become wolues ? the second part is proued by ierome & gregory . homily , and by barnard vpon the canonicals : the third is proued by experience , for who defendeth the wickednes of any scisme , but only the cleargy , alledging scriptures , & bringing reasons therefore . they excuse symony , couetousnes in heaping together many benifices , luxuriousnes and fornication , how many now say it is no deadly sin , alleadging the saying of genesis , increase and multiply : heereby also the fourth part is verified , for barnard vpon the canonicals , saith , wicked priests prepare the way for antichrist . iohn hus openly teacheth , that these articles are true . answer . some of these i did publish , and some mine enemies fained ; now adding , then diminishing ; now falsly imputing the whole proposition vnto me , which the commissaries did confesse before me , whom i desired that they might be punished for the false faining of those articles . all the foresaid conclusions be false , erronious , and seditious , and weaken the power of the church , inuented contrary to the scriptures and the church . answer . if there be any such , i am ready most humbly to reuoke and recant the same . they obiected against him to change the treatise that hee wrote against pallets , and stanislaus de zuoyma . answer . i desired for gods sake , that it might be openly read in the audience of the councell , and that i would submit my selfe to th● iudgement of the whole councell . iohn hus preached he should go to constance , & if he should be forced to recant that which he had taught , he neuer purposed to do it with his mind , because what he had taught was pure doctrine of christ. answer . this article is full of lies , god saith to the inuenter thereof , all the day long thou hast imagined wickednes , and with thy tongue as with a sharp razor thou hast wrought deceit : thou hast delighted to talke of wickednes rather then of iustice. i wrote an epistle , & left it to be read vnto the people , that they should pray for me , & perseuer stedfastly in the doctrine of christ , knowing certainly that i neuer taught any such errors as mine enemies ascribe vnto me , and if i should be ouercome with false wilnesses , they should not be troubled , but continue stedfastly in the truth . first the councell condemned all his bookes to be burned , and condemned al his articles to be hereticall and himselfe to be an heretick , & when the sentence was ended , knéeling down on his knées he said , lord iesu christ forgiue mine enemies , by whom thou knowest i am falsly accused , and that they haue vsed false witnesse and slanders against me , forgiue them for thy great mercy sake : and the chiefe of the priests derided his prayer . seauen bishops which were appointed to disgrade him , commanded him to put on his priestly garments , when he put on his white vesture hee remembred the albe that herod put on christ to mocke him withall , and in all other thinges comforted hee himselfe by the example of christ : when hee had put on his vestures , the bishops exhorted him to change his mind , and prouide for his honor and safegard , and according to the manner of the ceremony , going to the top of the scaffold , hee spake to the people in this sort . these lords and bishops exhort me , that i should confesse before you all that i haue erred , if it were a thing that might be done without the slander of any man , they might easilie peraduenture perswade me , but i am in the sight of my lord my god , without whose great ignominy , and the grudging of mine owne conscience , i cannot doe that which they require . i neuer taught the thing that they haue falfely alleadged against me ; with what countenance should i behold the heauens ? with what face should i looke vpon them whom i haue taught , whereof there is a great number : if those things which they haue hitherto knowne most certaine , should now be made vncertaine by mee , should i by this example astonish so many consciences , indued with so certaine knowledge of the gospell of christ armed against all assaults of the deuill , i will neuer commit such offence , more to esteeme this vile carkase appointed to death , then their health and saluation . and being commaunded to come downe , one of the bishoppes tooke away the chalice from him , saying ; o cursed iudas ! why hast thou forsaken the way of peace , and councelled with the iewes ? we take from thée this chalice of saluation ? he answered , i trust in my lord iesus , for whose sake i suffer these things , that he will not take away his chalice of red●mption , but haue a stedfast hope this day i shall drinke thereof in his kingdome : then each of the byshoppes tooke away a vestiment , and gaue him a curse ; he answered , he willingly imbrased their curses for the name of christ. when they should raze off his shauing , they could not agree with what instrument they should doe it , then hee turning to the emperour , said ; i maruaile being they are of like cruelty , they agree not in their kinde of crueltie : at length they agreed , to cut off the skinne of the crowne of his head with a paire of sheares : then they saide ; now hath the church taken away all her ornaments , then they made a crowne of paper , a cubit deepe , in which were painted three vgly deuils , and this tytle set ouer , heresiarcha ; hee said , christ for my sake ware a crowne of thornes , why should not ● weare this light crowne for his sake , be it neuer so ignominious ? i will doe it willinglie , the byshoppes when they had put it on , said : now wee commit you to the deuill ; but hee said , lord iesus , into thy hands i commit my spirit which thou hast redeemed : then they deliuered him to the emperour , who caused one to receiue him , and deliuer him to b●e burned . when he saw his bookes burned before his face , he smiled , he exhorted all that were by , that he died not for heresie , but for the hatred of his aduersaries : almost all the cittie followed him in armour . in his prayers he often repeated ; into thy hands i commit my spirit , the standers by said , what this man hath done we know not , but hée prayeth very deuoutly and godly . a priest sitting on horsebacke in a greene gowne , draw no about with red silke , said he ought not to be heard , because he is an heretick : as he prayed his crown fell off , one of the souldiours said , let vs put it on againe , that it may be burned with his maisters . when he rose from prayers , he said , lord iesus assist me , that with a constant mind i may beare this cruelty , and ignominious death whereunto i am condemned for preaching thy most holy gospell : when he was fastned to the stake , being turned to the east , certaine cryed , he ought not to looke towards the east , because he is an hereticke , so hee was turned to the west , then the emperours master of his horses , exhorted him to repent of his errors , and be mindfull of his safegard ; he answered he preached no errors : the principall end of my doctrine was to teach all men repentance , and remission of sinnes , according to christs gospell and exposition of holy doctors , therefore with a cheerefull courage i am ready to suffer death : when the fire was kindled he began to sing with a loud voice , iesu christ the sonne of the euerliuing god haue mercy on me , and when hee had said it thrice , the fire smothered him , they made a new fire and burned the part of his body , they cut the head into small gobbits that it might the sooner be consumed : his heart being found amongst his bowels , when they had well beaten it with staues , they pricked it vpon a sharpe prick , and rosted it in another fire till it was consumed : they tooke the ashes and cast into the riuer rheyne that there might bee no dust of that man left vpon earth : but they could neuer abolish his memory out of the hearts of the godly . maister ierome of prage greeuously lamenting the false repro●h of the glorious kingdome of boheme , and the manifold iniuries of iohn hus , of his owne accord came to constance : and seeing iohn hus was denyed to be heard , and that hee himselfe was laide waite for , he departed a mile off that night , and writ vnto the king of hungary and the councell earnestly , for safe conduct to come and goe , and hee would answere before the councell to euery one that could lay any thing against him : the said king denied him safe conduct : the lords of boheme moued the deputies of the foure nations of the councell therein , who answered , they would giue him a safe conduct to come , but not to depart : hee hearing hereof writ certaine intimations , and caused them to be set vpon the gates of the citie , and of the churches and monast●ries , and of the houses of the cardinals , and other nobles & prelates to this effect : to the most noble prince sygismond , by gods grace king of romanes , and hungary alwaies augustus &c. ierome of prage , master of art of the uniuersities of paris , collein , heidelberg , and prage , doe notifie to all men i am ready to come to constance , openly to declare to the whole councell , the purity of my true faith : wherefore if there be any slanderers , which will obiect any error or heresie , let them come openly before me in the presence of the councell , and i will be ready to answere for mine owne innocencie , and declare the sinceritie of my true faith ▪ and if i shall be found culpable to suffer such punishment as shall be méet : wherefore i desire a safe conduct , that all the world may know , that if i haue any violence or imprisonment offered me , this generall councell doth not proceeds according to equitie : or if they put me back from this profound iustice , beeing com● hither freely of mine owne accord ; the which thing i suppose to be far banished from so sacred a councell of wise men , when yet he could not obtaine a safe conduct , the nobles and knights , specially of boheme , gaue him their letters , patents vnder their seales , witnessing the premisses : with the which letters , the said maister ierome returning to bohem , but by the conspiracie of his enemies , he was taken in the dukedome of horrissaw , and sent again by the duke to the councell : the chéefe priests , scribes and pharisies , vnderstanding thereof assembled and sent for him , and they led him in chaines , making a great noise , one going a great way before , leading him by the same chaine , with which chaine they kept him bound in the cloister : when he was before them , the whole rabble rising vp alledged sundry accusations & testimonies against him , with a great noise and tumult : when they held their peace the chancellor of paris said ; ierome when thou wast at paris tho● thoughtest thy selfe an angell by thine owne eloquence , alledging in the schooles many erroneous conclusions , and consequences : answere . i put them philosophically , teach mee that any of them be erroneous and i will amend them . then said the maister of the uniuersitie of colleyn : when thou wast at colleyn thou didst propound many erroneous matters : then he said , shew mee one errour : he said i remember them not now , but they shall bee obiected against thee : then said the maister of the uniuersitie of heidelberge , when thou wast with vs , thou didst propound many erroneous matters , and compared the trinity to water , snow , and ice ; that which i taught there , i will teach heere , and teach me that they be erroneous and i will recant : then certaine cried out let him be burned : he answered , if my death doe delight you let it be so : the archbishop of rygen sent some of his seruants which led away maister ierome , bé●ing fast bound in chaines both by the hands and neck , and when it was night they carried him into a ●ower of the citie , tying him to a great block , his féet in the stocks , his hands being made fast vpon them : the block was so high he could not sit thereon , but his head must hang downward : thus he lay two daies & two nights reléeued only with bread and water , & one m. peter hearing thereof , got leaue to giue him meat : hanging thus by the héels . daies he fell sore sick euen to death , he lay in that prison a yéere lacking but seuen daies : after they had put iohn hus to death , they threatned him with death , and what with feare of death , and hope of deliuery , they made him recant , yet they sent him to prison againe , but not so straitly chained as before : but when his aduersaries plainly perceiued that he did not recant of pure mind , but to the intent to scape there hands : and also certaine friers of prage put vp new accusations against him , & certain cardinals , being appointed to heare his answer , he refused to answere in prison , desiring open audience : they thinking hee would renew his recantations granted him open audience : at which time hee answered all their arguments profoundly ▪ & subtilly disputing of many matters , at last he much praised the blessednes of iohn hus : affirming that he knew him from his youth vpward , & that he was neither fornicator , drunkard , or any vicious person , but a chast & sober man , and a iust true preacher of the gospel , and whatsoeuer thing maister iohn hus had holden or written against the enormities , pomp , and disorder of the prelates , he would defend vnto the death : and added that all his sinnes did not so much gnaw and trouble his conscience , as that sinne which hee committed in that pestiferous seat which in his recantation he had spoken against that man , and his doctrine : concluding that he vtterly reuoked and denied that wicked recantation , and that he did it throgh weaknes of heart , and feare of death : when hee had spoken these and many other things touching the praise of iohn wickliffe , and iohn hus , then was he caried again vnto prison , and greeuously fettered by the hands , armes , and feete , with great chaines and fetters of iron : and when he was brought againe to his iudgement , they exhorted him againe to recant : he answered , i take god to my witnes i hold all the articles of the catholick faith , but i shall be condemned , because i will not consent vnto the condemnation of those most holy & blessed men aforesaid , whom you haue most wickedly condemned , for certaine articles abhorring your abominable life : then hee confessed his beliefe , and vttered many things profoundly , and eloquently , that all that were present could not sufficiently commend his great eloquence , and profound learning , and by no meanes could they perswade him to recant : he said further you will condemne mee vniustly and wickedly : but i after my death will leaue a remorce in your consciences , and a naile in your hearts , and i cite you all to answere mee b●fore the most high and iust iudge within a hundred yeeres : when sentence was giuen they brought vnto him a great long miter of paper , painted about with red diuels : then hee throwing away his hood , he put the miter on his head ; saying , christ when he suffered death for mee wore a crowne of thornes , and i for his sake will willingly weare this miter : when he was led to execution with a loud voice he sung , credo in vnum deum : after he sung other canticles of the church : hee was tyed to a stake like the picture of iohn hus : whilst hée was praying the tormenters tooke him vp , and lifted him vp from the ground , stript him naked , and girded him about the lomes with a linnen cloth : and so bound him to the image : when they beganne to lay the wood to him hee sung , salue festa dies , then they cast his garments on the woode , and set them on fire , and when hee was fired hee sung , in manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum , when hee vehemently burn●d hee said , lord haue mercie vppon mee , for thou knowest how sincerely i haue loued thy truth : after hee was dead they burned his bedding , bootes , hood , and all things he had in prison , after they gathered his ashes , and cast them into the riuer . thus endeth the tragicall historie of iohn hus , and ierome of prage faithfully collected by a bohemian , being a present beholder of the same : iohn hus beeing a minister at bethelem , had a vision by night , that he had pictured in his church of bethelem , pictures of christ and his apostles : and the pope and his cardinals came and defaced them , and that a while after other painters renued the said pictures , much more fairer then before : and that there was so many painters that they gloried against the pope and his cardinals , bidding them put them out if they could , which with all their power they were not able to doe : this vision he thus expoundeth , applying the pictures to the preaching of christ and his apostles , which though the pope and cardinals should extinguish in him , yet the time would come that doctrine should be renued by other preachers , so plentiously that the pope with all his power should not be able to preuaile against it : wherevnto the prophesie of the said hus , a little before his death , and printed in the bohemian come called moneta hu●sa , hauing this superscription , centum reuolutis annis deo respondebitis & mihi , this was anno . if wee count from this yeare vnto the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and sixtéene : in which yéere martine luther first began to write against the pope , wee shall finde the number of an hundred yéeres fully complete . when as the newes of the barbarous cruelty exercised against iohn hus , and ierome of prage , was reported in boheme : their disciples assembled , and celebrated a memoriall of their deaths , decréeing it to be holden yéerely , and after they obtained certaine churches of the king to preach and minister the sacraments in : then they suppressed diuers monasteries , and pharasaicall and idolatrous temples , driuing the vicious priests and monkes out of them , or compelling them to a better order , whereby their number augmented vnder the conduct of one nicholas a noble man , and comming againe to the king for more churches , the king told nicholas thou hast begun a web to put me out of my kingdome , and i will make a rope of it wherewith i will hang thée : wherevpon nicholas departed , and the king went to a new castle which he had builded , and sent ambassadours vnto the emperour his brother for ayde . the protestants being assembled at prage , the king sent his chamberlain with thrée hundred horsemen to run vpon them , but he was faine to fly for fears of his life : at this newes the king and all about him were amazed ; but his cup-bearer said , i knew these things would thus come to passe , the king in a rage caught him & threw him downe , and would haue slaine him with his dagger : but béeing let with much ad●e he pardoned him , immediately the king fell sick of a palsie , and within eightéene daies died : when he had marked the names of them which hée would haue put to death , & before the princes which he had sent to for ayde were come , when he had raigned . yeares , and was . yéere old . immediatly after whose death , a noble man named zischa , minding to reuenge the iniuries of iohn hus , and ierome of prage , gathered a number of men of warre , and subuerted the monasteries and idolatrous temples , breaking in péeces the images , driuing away the priests and monkes , which hée said were kept vp in their cloisters like swine in their fat sties a fatting : his army increased to fortie thousand men : hée went to pelzina where hee knew hée had many friends of his faction , and tooke the towne and fortified it strongly , and some of his company tooke the castle of uissegard : then the quéene sent letters to the emperour sygismond , and other nobles , requiring ayde : in the meane time the quéene raised an armie with the treasure of the king which could not preuaile against them . then the protestants sent letters throughout the whole realme , that they should not let the emperour enter , who was an enemy to boheme , had bound the ancient citie of the prutenians vnto order by pledges , put the marques of brandenburge from the bohemian crowne , and not onely suffred but procured iohn hus , and ierome of prage to be burned , and with all his endeuour doth impugne the doctrine which they taught : zisca was twise assaulted of his enemies , but was alway victor : after he went to ausca , a towne , out of which the papists had cast many protestants , he tooke the towne and set it on fire : the chéefe papists fled to the castle lytius , but he took the castle , and put them all to sword saue one : then he chose a place by a riuer which was fenced by nature , this place he compassed in with walles , and commanded euery man to build them houses , and named it thaber , and his companions thabarites , as if they had seene the transfiguration of christ in the mount : the way to it by land was scarse thirty foot broad , for it is almost an iland , they had no horsemen vntill the emperour sent nicholas , maister of the mintes , with a thousand horsemen , to withstand the thaborites , vpon whome zisca came in the night , and tooke away all his horses and armour . in this time one picardus comming out of the low countries into boheme , by inchantments got credit with the people , and allured a number of men and women vnto him , whom hee commanded to goe naked , calling them adamits , and possessing a certaine iland , he called himselfe the sonne of god : they had no respect of marriage , yet it was against the law for any man to know a woman without the leaue of adam : but when any desired a woman , hee must leade her in his hand to him , and say , i am inflamed to this woman , and he answereth goe and multiply and replenish the earth , he affirmed that they and their posteritie were free and all other bondmen : on a time forty of this sect came out of the iland an● slew two thousand husbandmen , whom they called the children of the diuell : zisca hearing hereof and detesting their abominable doings let his army against them , and subdued the iland , and slew them all sauing two , of whom hee might vnderstand the superstition of the people . in the meane time the emperour with a great armie entered boheme , and got cencho , with large gifts and promises , to render vp vnto him the castle of prage , and there placed himselfe to anoy the towne : the cittizens of prage sent for zisca , who speeded thether with his thaborites , and receiued the citie vnder his gouernance , the castle was so strong it could not be conquered , but by famine , therefore they stopped all the passages , that no victuals should bee carried in : but the emperour opened the passages by force , and gaue them in the castle all things necessarie , and besieged the citie , and was crowned in the metropolitane house in the castle . zisca planted a strong garrison vpon a high hill , neere the towne of prage , with whom the emperours host skermishing , hauing gotten the top of the hill , were driuen back into a corner : some were slaine , and some falling headlong from the hill were destroyed : wherevpon the emperour raised his siege , and zisca and his company returned to taber : they of prage strongly besieged the castle , then they were compelled to eate horse-flesh , and except the emperour did ayde them by such a day they promised to yeeld it vp : the emperour was present before the day : but entering into a strait vnder the castle , was sodenly set vpon by the souldiers of prage , had a great ouerthrow , and so leauing his purpose vndone returned back againe , and the castle was deliuered vnto them . zisca subuerted and burned fiue monasteries in pel●●na , and pitched himselfe at the monastery of saint clare : thither came the emperour with his army : but when zisca brought his armie against him , hee fled ; and shortly after left boheme : then zisca wonne commitauia a famous citie , and burnt all the priests therein : and hauing but one eye in the siege of raby hee lost that eye and was blind , yet still he tooke the charge of his army . after the garisons of prage went to uarona , where was a great garison of the emperours , and tooke it by force , and tooke many other townes and holds . after the emperour and the princes electors appointed a day when they and their armie should inuade the west part of boheme : and the emperour with an other host would enter the east part , and many princes and bishops came to his ayde : when the emperour was entred boheme , zisca although he was blind set vpon him , and he being afraid and many of his nobles slaine f●ed : zisca pursuing the emperour a dayes iourney , got great riches and spoile : the emperour passing by a bridge ouer a riuer , one piso which had brought fiftéene thousand horsemen out of hungary to these warres passing ouer the ice , which brake and deuo●red a great number : zisca hauing obtained this victory would not suffer any idol to be in the churches , nor priests to minister in copes and vestures : the consuls of prage being agreeued at this , called iohn premonstrensis , & nine others , which were principals of this faction into the councell house , as though they would confer , and slew them , but the blood of them seemed to be washed through the sinkes and channels : wherefore the councell house was ouerthrowne , and eleuen of the principall authors thereof slaine , and diuers houses spoiled . about the same time the castle purgell , wherein the emperour had a garison , whether many papists with their wiues and children were fled , was through negligence burned . when the emperour perceiued that all things came to passe according to zisca his minde , and that the state of boheme depended on him , he sought meanes to g●t zisca into his fauour , promising him the gouernment of the whole kingdome , and great yearely reuenues , if he would proclaime him king , and cause the citties to be sworne vnto him : wherevpon zisca going to the emperour died by the way . the epitaph of iohn zisca . iohn zisca not inferiour to any emperour or captaine in warlike policy , a seuere punisher of the pride & auarice of the clergy , and a defender of my country lie heere : that with appius claudius in councell , and marcus furius camillus by valiantnes did for the romans , i being blind haue done for the bohemians : eleuen times in ioined battell i went victor out of the field : i worthily defended the cause of the miserable against the delicate , fat , and gluttonous priests , and for that cause receiued help of god : notwithstanding my bones lye heere in this hollowed place in despite of the pope . pope martin perceiuing the gospell to increase more and more , sent a cardinall into germany to moue them to warre against the bohemians : wherevnto the emperor assisted : there were three armies : in the first were the dukes of saxony , the second was vnder the conduct of the marques of brandenburge , the third was led by the archbishop of treuers . they entred boheme , and set vpon a towne which the protestants the night before had woon from the papists : the protestans hearing thereof gathered an army and came towards them : they fled leauing behinde them their warlike engi●es , with a great prey : they followed them , and destroyed many citties , and returning back againe , they had great summes of money sent them that they should not destroy the countries of bamberge , and norenberge , whereby the host of the bohemians was greatly enriched . after this newes the emperour gathered a new ayde , and pope martin sent an other cardinall to germany to stirre them to make warre against the bohemians : so there was a new expedition decreed . many bishops allowing a great ayd● thereto : the number of the horsem●n was forty thousand , but the footmen were not full so many . a cardinall entred into boheme with this huge army , destroying many of the protestant townes , killing men , women and children , sparing none : the protestants hearing thereof gathered their host , besieged a towne and woon it : so that there fell such a suddaine feare amongst the papistes throughout the whole campe , that they ran away : the cardinall marueiling thereat , went to the captaines , exhorting them to order the batta●l●s , and couragiously to abide their enemies , saying ; they fought for the religion of christ , and saluation of soules , notwithstanding , they did all fly , and the cardinall with them ; the protestants couragiously pursued them , and had a great prey and spoyle of them . the emperour going to rome to bee ●rowned emperour , wrote letters to the nobles of boheme , how he was borne a bohemian , & that he was not more affected vnto any nation then his owne , and that he went to rome for no other cause but to be crowned : the which honour should be also to the bohemians , whose renowne hath béene alwaies his care , and that through his indeuour the councell of basill is begunne , exhorting all such as were destrous to be heard touching religion , that they should come thither , and that they should not maintaine any quarrell against the holy mother the church , and that the councell would louingly and gently heare their reasons , and that they should indeuour themselues to agrée with the synode touching religion , and to reserue a peaceable kingdome for him against his returne , neither should the bohemians thinke to refuse his empire , whose brother , father , and unckle had raigned ouer them . the councell of basill also wrote their letters to the bohemians , to send their ambassadours to shew a reason of their faith , promising safe conduct to goe and come , and free liberty to speaks what they would . whereupon an ambassage of thrée hundred horses was sent to basill : the chéefe were william cosca a valiant knight , and procopius , sir-named magnus , for his manifold victories , iohn rochezana , preacher of prage , nicholas galicus , preacher of the thaborits , and one peter , an english-man , of an excellent prompt wit : all the stréets were full as they came to see them , and maruelling at their strange kind of apparrell , stout couragious countenances , saying ; it was not vntrue that was reported of them . these ambassadours were gently receiued : the next day cardinall iulianus sent for them to the councell-house , and made a gentle , long , and eloquent oration vnto them , exhorting them to vnity and peace , saying , the church was the spouse of christ , the mother of the faithfull , and hath the keyes of binding and los●ng , and is white and faire without spot or wrinckle , and cannot erre in necessary points of saluation : and that he which contemneth her , is prophane , an eth●icke , and publican , and that the church cannot bee better represented then by the councell , and that they should giue no lesse credit to the councell , then to the gospell , by whose authority the scriptures themselues are receiued and allowed , and that the bohemians , which call themselues the children of the church , ought to heare their mother , which is neuer vnmindfull of her children ; and how that of late they haue liued apart from their mother , but that was no new or strange thing : for there haue beene many in times past haue forsaken their mother , and yet seeking saluation haue returned againe . all without the arke in noahs floud perished , the lords passeouer is to be eaten in one house , there is no saluation out of the church ; she is the garden and famous fountaine of water , whereof whosoeuer shall drinke , shall not thirst euerlastingly . that the bohemians haue done as they ought , in that they haue sought the fountaines of this water at the councell , and now at length giuen eare to their mother : now ought hatred to cease , armor be laid aside , and warre reiected ; the fathers would louingly heare them in their owne cause , requiring them that they would willingly receiue the councels of the sacred synod , whereunto all faithfull christians ought to consent and agree , if they will be partakers of eternall life . this oration was commended of the fathers . the bohemians answered : they had neither contemned the church nor councels , and that they are come to manifest their innocency before the whole church , and required open audience , where the laity may bee present , their request was graunted them : and being demanded in what points they did differ from the church of rome , they propounded foure articles . first , all such as would be saued , ought of necessity to receiue communion vnder both kinds of bread and wine . all ciuill rule and dominion to be forbidden to the cleargy by the law of god. that the preaching of the word of god is free for all men and in all places . open crimes are in no wise to bee suffered for the auoiding of greater euill . one affirmed hee heard sundry things of the bohemians offensiue to chrstian eares : one of them was , that they should preach that the inuention of begging friers was diabolicall . then procopius said , it is not vntrue : for if neither moses , nor the partriarcks before him , nor after him the prophets , nor in the new lawe christ nor his apostles , did institute the orders of begging friers , who doubteth but the diuels inuented them , and that they are the worke of darknesse , all the councell derided him , and cardinall iulianus laboured to prooue that not onely the decrees of the patriarcks , prophets , christ and his apostles : but also the decrees which the church should ordaine to be the workes of god ; yet the order of begging fryers may seeme to be taken out of some part of the gospell : the bohemians chose foure ministers to dispute for them , and the councell chose foure , the disputation continued fifty daies , many things were alledged on both parts , which we will discourse more at large when we come to the councell of basill . the history of the most valiant and worthy martyr of christ , s r iohn old-castle , knight , lord cobham . after the true seruant of christ iohn wickliffe six and twenty yeares most valiantly had battelled with the great antichrist of europe , and his disguised hosts of annointed hypocrites , to restore the church againe to the puritie of the gospell , and was departed hence in christ anno . he left a number of godly disciples , against whom thomas archbishop of canterbury was as fierce as euer pharaoh , antiochus , herod , and cayphas , and hauing called a councell about the matter , they concluded it was not possible for them to make whole christs coate , without seame ( meaning thereby their patched popish synagoue ) vnlesse certaine great men were wrought out of the way which were chiefe maintainers of the disciples of wickliffe : amongst whom the lord cobham was complained of for a mighty maintainer of suspected preachers in london , rochester , hereford , that he not onely sent them thither , but maintained them with force and armes , and that hee beleeued otherwise of the sacrament of the altar , of penance , of pilgrimages , of image worshipping , and of ecclesiasticall power then the church of rome taught , and it was concluded that proces should goe against him , but first they would know the kings minde : wherevpon the archbishop with his bishops , and a great part of the clergy went to the king , and gréeuously complained against the lord cobham : the king desired them , in respect of his noble stock , they should fauorably deale with him , and that if it were possible they should reduce him to the vnity of the church without rigour , and promised he would seriously common the matter with him . anon the king sent for the lord cobham , and secretly admonished him to submit himselfe to his mother the holy church : he answered , i am ready to obey to you most worthy prince , for i know you an appointed minister of god , but touching the pope and spiritualtie , i owe them neither sute nor seruice , for i knowe by the scripture he is great antichrist , the sonne of perdition , the aduersary of god , the abhomination standing in the holy place : when the king heard this he would talk no more with him , and when the archbishop resorted to him againe , he gau● him full authoritie to cite him , examine him and punish him : then the arch-bishop sent his chiefe somner to his house with citation , when he came thither he durst not enter his gates without licence , but returned without doing his message : then the archbishop got one iohn butler , doore k●eper of the kings priuy chamber , to go with his somner , who went to the lord cobham , shewing him it was the kings pleasure that he should obey the said citation : he answered , that in no case he would consent to those most diuelish practises of the priests : after hee sent another citation to bee hanged vpon the cathedrall church doore of rochester , and because hee appeared not , excommunicated him : and when he heard that he derided his proceedings , hee threatned the seculer power with curses and interdictions if they did not assist him , against that seditious apostata , scismatick , and heretick , troubler of a publike peace , enemy of the realme , and aduersarie of holy church : then he writ a christian profession of his faith , and signed & sealed it : wherin he answered foure of the chiefest article● that the archbishop laid against him : then he took a copy thereof and went to the king , it agréed in all points with the apostles créede : and moreouer that christ is the onely head of the church , and that all that haue béen , or shall be saued , are members of his holy church , & that it is seuered into thrée estates : priesthood , knight-hood , and commons : and that it is gods will that one should ayde and not destroy the other : the priests , secluded from all worldlinesse , should conforme their liues vnto the example of christ and his apostles , euermore occupied in teaching and preaching the scriptures purely ; in giuing wholesome councell of good liuing vnto the other two degrees of men , more modest also , more louing and lowly in spirit should they be then any other sort of people : in knight-hood are all they that beare sword by law of office : these should defend gods lawes , so that the gospel were purely taught , reforming their liues according to the same , and secluding all false preachers , they ought rather to hazard their liues then suffer wicked decrees to blemish the word of god , and let the frée passage thereof , whereof heresies and scismes sprung : for they spring of nothing else , as i suppose : which constitutions craftily creepe in by hypocriticall lies for aduantage : they ought also to preserue gods people from oppressors , tyrants & théeues : and to sée the clergy supported so long as they teach purely , and pray rightly , and minister the sacraments fréely : and if they doe otherwise they are bound by the law of god to compell them to change their doing , & to sée all things performed according to gods ordinances . the last is the common people , whose dueties is to beare a good mind and true obedience to their kings ciuil gouernors and priests , their office is iustly occupied in their calling ; whether it be marchandise , handicraft , or husbandry . and i beleeue that the sacraments of the church are necessary to all beléeuers : so that they bee truely ministred according to christs institution : i beleeue in the sacrament of the altar to be contain●d christs body vnder the formes of bread & wine : and i beléeue the law of god to be most true & perfect , and that they that follow it not in faith and works , one time or other , cannot be saued : whereas he that séeketh it in faith , learneth it and delighteth in it , and performeth it in loue , shall tast felicitie euerlasting . finally , that god wil aske no other obedience then to his law , and if any prelate require more , or any other kinde of obedience ; hee contemneth christ ; exalteth himselfe aboue god , and becommeth an open antichrist , all these premisses i beléeue particularly : and generally all that god hath left in holy scripture , desiring my most worthy king , that this my confession may be examined by the most godly and learned of the realme , and if it be found agréeing to the verity , then let it be allowed and i holden for a true christian : and if it be proued otherwise , let it bee condemned ; prouided that i be taught a better beliefe by the word of god , and i shall most reuerently obey therevnto . this being offered to the king , he would not receiue it , but commanded it to bee deliuered vnto them that should be his iudges , then hee desired that . knights & esquires might be suffred to come vpon his purgation , which he knew would cleere him of al heresies . moreouer , he offred himself , according to the law of armes , to fight with an● mā liuing in the quarrel of his faith , the k. & councel excepted , or y ● he wold suffer any maner of correction that should after the law of god be ministred to him : notwithstanding , the king suffred him to be summoned in his priuy chamber , then hee said hee had appealed to the pope , and shewed his appeale ready written : the king said he should not pursue his appeale , but tarrie in hold vntill the pope allowed his apeale , and then whether he would or no the archbishop should be his iudge . and because he would not be sworn to submit himselfe to the church , and take what penance that the archbishop would enioyne him , he was arrested at the kings commandement and led to the tower : then he caused the foresaid confession to be written in manner of an indenture , that at his answere hee might giue one copie to the archbishop , and keepe the other himselfe ; which he did doe when hee was shortly after called before the archbishop . the bishops of winchester and london said moreouer touching the sacrament of penance , we must forsake our sinnes and doe penance with true contrition to god , and confesse them to christ , and haue satisfaction in him , else can wee haue no saluation . images pertaine nothing to christian beléefe , but were permitted to be kalenders to lay-men , to bring to minde the passion of christ , and martyrdome and good liuing of saints . he that worshippeth them , hop●th in helpe of them , or preferreth one aboue another , committeth idolatrie : and i beleeue that euery man liuing is a pilgrime , either towards blisse or paine ; and he that will not kéepe the commandement of god , though he goe to all quarters of the world in pilgrimage , he shall be damned , and the faithfull shall bee saued in christ though they neuer goe in pilgrimage , as men vse now-a-dayes to canterburie , walsingham , compostell and rome , or any other place . then the archbishop said , we denie not but that there are many good and catholike things herein , but you are appointed this day to answer other matters . whether doe you beleeue that there is materiall bread in the sacrament after consecration , and whether a christian be necessarily bound to confesse his sinnes to a priest ? the lord cobham said , he would answer no otherwise then he had in his writing . he said , take héed ; for if you will not answer directly by our law ▪ we may openly proclaime you an hereticke : notwithstanding , what question any of the bishops asked him , he would make no other answer , but bade them resort to his bill , he would stand to it vnto death . the archbishop sayd , the holy church of rome followed the sayings of saint augustine , hierome , ambrose , and of other holy doctors that haue determined in these matters , which all christian men ought to beleeue and follow . then he said , i will beléeue all that the church , which christ instituted , decréed , or what god hath willed vs to beléeue or do : but that the pope and his clergie haue power to determine such matters as stand not with gods word , i will not affirme . then the archbishop said hee would send him articles , and bade him aduise himselfe to answere them by monday . the latter examination of the lord cobham . archb. you are excommunicated : the last time you were before me i gently profered to haue assoyled you if you would haue asked it , and yet i doe the same if you will humbly desire it , in manner as holy church hath ordained . cobh. i will not , for i neuer trespassed against you : and god saith in the second of malachy , maledicam benidictionibus vestris : and knéeling down , he said , i s●ri●ue my selfe before you all : in my youth i offended thée , my lord , in pride , wrath gluttonie couetousnesse and lecherie : i haue hurt many in mine anger , and done many horrible sinnes : good lord , i aske thee mercie ; and therewith weepingly stood vp , and said aloude . lo good people ; for breaking gods lawes they neuer cursed me , but for their owne lawes they most cruelly handle me and others . archb. then he examined him of his christian beleefe . cobham . i beléeue all the lawes of god , and all is true that is contained in the holy scriptures : finally , i beleeue all that god would i should beleeue . archb. he asked an answere of the bill he had sent him , especially how hee beleeued touching the sacrament of the altar . cobham . with the bill i haue nothing to doe : but this is my beleefe touching the sacrament , that christ sitting at his last supper with his disciples , the night before his death , he tooke bread , blessed it , and brake it , and gaue it to his disciples , and said , take and eate it , this is my bodie that shall bee betrayed for you ; doe this in remembrance of me , &c. archb. then he asked if it were bread after the consecration . cobh. i beleeue it is christs very bodie in the forme of bread . then said a doctor , if the sacramentall words be vttered , there remaineth no bread , but it is the onely bodie of christ. then he said to one master whithead ; you said once to me that the sacred host was not chrsts bodie . i proued there was his bodie , though seculars and friers could not therein agree , but held one against another in that opinion . then said many together with great noise , we say all it is gods bodie . ●nd diuers with great anger asked him if it were bread after the consecration . then he looking earnestly vpon the archbishop , he said : sir , i beleeue surely that it is christs bodie in forme of bread . do not you do so ? archb. yes marrie doe i. and the doctors asked him if it were only christs bodie after consecration , and no bread . cob. it is both christs bodie and bread , as christ on earth was both god and man , and the inuisible godhead was hidden in the manhood , as one of your owne doctors eutiches saith . as the selfe same sacraments doe passe by the operation of the holy ghost into a diuine nature , and notwithstanding keepe the propertie still of their former nature : so that principall mysterie declareth to remaine one true and perfit christ. then they smiled one vpon another , that the people might iudge him taken in an heresie : and diuers said with a great bragge , it is a foule heresie . archb. what bread is it ? and the doctors inquired of him whether it were materiall , or not . cob. the scripture maketh no mention of materiall bread , therefore my faith hath nothing to doe therewith : but i say and beleeue , that it is christs bodie and bread . christ saith in the sixt of iohn , i am the liuing bread , and not the dead bread . then all with one voyce said , it is an heresie . and one of the bishops said , it is an error manifest to say it is bread after the sacramentall wordes once spoken , but christs bodie onely . he said i am sure s. paul was as wise and more learned then you be and in . cor. . calleth it bread and not christs bodie , but a meanes whereby we receiue christs bodie . they said ; paul must bee otherwise expounded : for it is an heresie to say it is bread after the consecration . hee asked how they could make that good ? they answered , it is against the determination of holy church . archb. wee sent you a writing concerning the faith of this blessed sacrament , cleerely determined by the church of rome our mother , and by the holy doctors . cobh. i know none holier then christ and his apostles , and that determination is none of theirs : for it standeth not with the scriptures but is cleane contrary . it hath beene the churches but since shee receiued the great poyson of worldly possessions , and not before . then they asked him if hee beleeued not the determination of the church . hee answered no : for it is no god. in is but thrice ment●oned in the creed , in god the father , and in god the sonne , and in god the holy ghost : the birth , death , buriall , resurrection and ascension hath none in for beleefe , but in him . neither hath the church the sacraments , the forgiuenesse of sinnes , or resurrection , or eternall life any other in then in the holy ghost . then one of the lawyers said , but what is your beleefe concerning holy church ? i beleeue the scriptures bee true , all that is grounded vpon them i beleeue , and i know it is gods pleasure i should so doe : but your lordly lawes and idle determinations i doe not beleeue ; for you are none of christs church , as your déeds shew , but very antichrists , obstinately set against his law and will : your lawes are nothing for christs glorie , but for your owne vaine-glorie and abhominable couetousnesse . they said in great ●ume this was an exceeding heres●e not to beleeue the determination of holy church . archb. then he asked him what he thought holy church . cobh. holy church is the number of them which shall be saued , of whom christ is head . archb. can you tell who is of this church ? cobh. yea truely can i. then a prior said , it is doubt to you who is thereof : for christ said noli iudicare ; if you must not iudge your neighbors , much lesse your superiors . he answered , christ saith in the same chapter , as the ill tree is knowne by his ill fruits , so a false prophet by his workes . and he saith in iohn , beleeue the outward doings . and againe in iohn , iustum iudicium iudicate : when wee know the thing is true we may iudge . and dauid saith , recte iudicate filii hominum . as for your superioritie ; were you of christ you would be meeke ministers , and not proud superiours . then doctor walden said , you make no differences of iudgements : so swift iudges alwaies are the learned schollars of wickliffe . he answered , your iudgements are preposterous , as the prophet esay saith , yee iudge ill good , and good ill : therefore your wayes are not gods wayes , nor gods wayes your wayes . afore that vertuous man wickliffe , whom you disdaine , i will say before god and man ; before i knew the despised doctrine of his , i neuer abstained f●om sinne , but since i trust i haue done otherwise : so much grace could i neuer finde in all your glorious instructions . doctor walden answered , it were not well with mee if so many learned and vertuous men , teaching the scriptures , and the examples of the fathers so plenteous , if i had no grace to amend vntill i heard the diuell preach . hierome , saith , hee which séeketh such suspected masters , shall not finde the mid-day , but the mid-day diuell . he answered , the pharises your fathers ascribed christs miracles to belzebub , and his doctrine to the diuell ; and you , their naturall children , haue still the same iudgement of his faithfull followers : they that reproue your vicious liuing must needs be hereticks , and when you cannot proue it by scriptures , then your doctors must proue it . then said he to them all , to iudge you we néede goe no further then your acts : where finde you in gods law that you should thus sit in iudgement , and sentence euery man to death as you doe here daily ? you haue no ground in scripture but in annas and cayphas , which sat thus vpon christ , and vppon his apostles after his ascention : you learned it not of peter and iohn . a lawyer said , yes sir , christ iudged iudas . hee answered , no ; christ iudged him not , hee iudged himselfe : christ said indéed vnto him , woe vnto him for that couetous act of his , as he doth yet still to many of you ; for since the venom was shed in the church , you neuer followed christ , neither were perfit in his law . archb. what meane you by that venom ? cobh. your possessions and lordships : for there cried an angell in the ayre , as your owne chronicles mention , wo , wo , wo , this day is venome shed into the church . before that time almost all the bishops were martyrs , and few since ; but since that time one hath put down another , one hath poysoned another , one hath cursed another , and one hath slaine another , and done much more mischiefes , as all the chronicles ●elleth : and if all men consider this well , christ was meeke and mercifull , the pope is proude and a tyrant ; christ was poore and forgaue , the pope rich and a malitious man-slayer ; rome is the neast of antichrist , and out of that neast proceedeth all the disciples , of whom prelats , priests , and monks are the bodie , and these pill● friers are the taile which couereth his most filthie part . then a prior sayed , alack●●r , that is vncharitably spoken . he answered , it is not only my saying , but the propet esayes ; hee that preacheth lies is the tayle . as your friers and monks be like pharises , deuided in outward apparell and visages : so yee make deuision amongst the people . thus you , with such others , are the naturall members of antichrist . then hee said vnto them all ; woe vnto you scribes and pharises hypocrits , you shut the kingdome of heauen from others , and enter not your selues , nor suffer any other to enter : you stoppe vp the wayes with your traditions , therefore are you the houshold of antichrist . you will not let gods veritie to haue passage , fearing to haue your wickednesse reproued by such vaine flatterers as vphold your mischiefes : you suffer the common people most miserably to bee seduced . archb. by our lady sir , there shall none such preach in my diocesse as make diuision amongst the poore commons . cobh. both christ and his apostles were accused of sedition making , yet were they most peaceable men . both daniel and christ prophesie that such a troublous time shall come as hath not beene been before : this is partly fulfilled in your dayes and doings ; for many haue you slaine , and more will you slay if god fulfill not his promise : if hee shorten not your dayes scarcely should any flesh bee saued . moreouer , though priests and deacons , for peaching gods word , and ministring the sacraments , with prouision for the poore , bee grounded in gods law , yet your other sects haue no ground thereof . then a doctor of the law plucked out of his bosome a writing , wherein was foure articles , and examined him ●her●on : the first was touching the sacrament of the altar , which he answered as before : the second , whether a man is bound to con●esse himselfe to a priest ; hee answered , a diseased or wounded man had neede haue a true and wise chirurgion , knowing the ground and danger of the same : therefore it is most necessarie to be first shréeuen to god , which only knoweth our diseases , and can helpe vs. the lawes of god are to be required of a priest which is godly learned : but if he be an idiot or vicious , that is my curate , i ought rather to flie from him then seeke him , for i might sooner get ill then good of him . the third was touching the authoritie of the pope : hee answered , he that most followed peter is next him in succession ; but your lordly order esteemeth little the lowly behauiour of peter , nor the humble manners of them that succeeded him vntill siluester , which for the most part were martyrs : you let their good conditions goe , and hurt not your selfe therewith . ●ll knowe it , and yet you boast of peter . then said one of the doctors , then what say you of the pope ? hee answered , he and you together make an antichrist : he is the great head , you bishops , priests , prelats , and monks are the bodie , and the begging friers the tayle , for they couer the filthinesse of you both with their subtile sophistrie . neuer will i obey vntill i se● you with peter follow christ in conuersation . the fourth was touching pilgrimage to images : hee answered , i owe them no seruice by the commaundement of god , therefore i will not seeke them for your couetousnesse . you were best sweepe them faire from cobwebs and dust , or lay them vp safe for catching hurt , or burie them in the ground , as you doe other aged people which are gods images . it is a wonder that saints beeing dead should bee so couetous , néedie , and beggers , which in their life time hated couetousnesse and begging . i would all the world knew it , with your shroeues and idols , your fained absolutions and pardons , you draw vnto you the wealth and chiefe pleasures of all christian realmes . then a frier said , will you not worshippe the crosse , as saint paule saith . god forbid i should reioyce in anie thing but in the crosse of christ. then did hee spread his a●●es abroad , and said , this is a very crosse , and much better then your wodden crosse ▪ beeing it was created of god himselfe , yet will not i seeke to haue it worshipped . then said the bishoppe of london , yet wot you not how hee died vpon a materiall crosse ? hee answered yea ; and i wot also that our saluation came not vnto vs by the materiall crosse , but alone and onely by him which dyed thereupon , and well wote i● that saint paul reioyced in none other crosse , but in christs passion and death onely , and in his owne suffering like persecution with him for his veritie . then another said , will you then doe no honour vnto the holy crosse ? yes , it he were mine i would lay him by , least he tooke harme , and were robbed of his goods , as he is now adayes . bishop . sir iohn , you haue spoken many wonderfull words , to th● slaunderous rebuke of the whole spiritualty , giuing a great ill example to the common sort heere , to haue vs in the more disdaine , and 〈◊〉 spent mu●● time in vaine , as farre as i can sée : well , wée must be now at this short point with you , you must either submit your selfe to the ordinance of holy church , or else throw your selfe into most déepe daunger , sée to it in time , a●one ●lse it will be too late . cobham . i know not to what purpose i shall submit my selfe ▪ much more haue you offended me , then i euer offended you , in thus troubling mee before this company . and because hee would not submit himselfe the archbishop read ●he definitiue sentence . cobh. though you iudge my body , which is but a wretched thing , yet , i am sure , you can doe n● harme to my soule , no more than sathan could doe to the soule of iob. and touching my articles before rehearse● , i wil stand to them vnto death . then ●e tur●●● himselfe vnto the people , casting his hands abroad , saying with a lowde voice ; good people , beware of these men , else they wil beguile you , and lead you headlong to hel with themselues . then he fell on his k●ées before them all and prayed for his enemies , ho●ding vp his hands , saying ; lord , for thy mercie sake forgiue my pursuers , if it bee thy blessed will. th●● he was lead againe vnto the tower. after , the lord cobham escaped out of the tower by night , and ●●ed to wales , where he continued more than foure yeares after . in this yeare , thomas arundell archbishop of canterbury died , who had béene a heauie troubler of christs saints in his time , he was so stricken in his tongue , that neither he could swallow , nor speake , for a certaine space before his death ; this was thought of many , to happen vnto him , for that he so bound the word of god , that it should not he preached in his dayes , such was the death of steuen gardner . these may be terrible spectacles for such as occupie their tongue and braines to stop the course of gods word : but his tyranny dyed not with him , but succeeded with his office , in henry chichley , and in more of the spitefull spiritualty . they confederated with the lord powis , a great gouernour in wales , féeding him with large gifts , and promises , an● being 〈◊〉 with iudas , vnder pretence of amitie ▪ tooke the lord cobham , and sent him to london , where he was imprisoned in the tower againe , and after , they condemned him againe of heresie and treason , according to the aforesaid act of parliament . hee rendred thankes to god that he had appointed him to suffer for his name . at his execution , hé● was laide vpon an hurdle , as a traytor , and drawne into saint giles field , where●s they had set vp a new paire of gallowes . when he was taken from the hurdle , he fell deuoutly vpon his knees , desiring god to forgiue his enemies , then stood vp , and exhorted the multitude in most godly manner , to follow the lawes of god , written in the scripture , and to b●ware of such preachers that are contrary to christ in their conuersations , with many other speciall councels ; then was he hanged by the middle in chaines , and so consumed aliue in the fire , praising the name of god so long as his life lasted , and ●o commended his soule to god , and departed m●st christianlike in the sixt yeare of the raigne of henry the fifth . the people shewed great dolour , but the priest blasphemed and accursed him , requiring the people not to pray for him but to iudge him damned in hell , because he departed not in the obedience of the pope . ¶ the councell of basell . the councell of basell began , which was most troublesome , and endured longer then any other councell , almost . yeares , wherein was concluded , as in the councell of constance , that the generall councell was aboue the pope . unto this councell came the emperour sygismund . pope martin dyed after he had summoned this councell , and eugenius the . succéeded pope , who would haue drawne the councell vnto bonony from basell , pretending the gréekes would come to the councell , and be vnited to the west church , and that they would not passe the alp●s . and he cited the fathers of the councell vnto bonony , and they cited him againe to bee at the councell , or his emb●ssadours : whereupon sprung a doubtfull question amongst the deuines some held the pope an hereticke , because hee had contemned the commaundement of the church ; others ▪ that hee was an heret●cke and relaps , and vpon long arguments , contentions , and fallings out , and when by no meanes ●e would allow the councell of basell , hee was d●priued by the councell , and amedeus duke of sau●y chosen pope . ¶ the rest of the story of the bohemians . the story of the bohemians , being in this treatise before set forth , vntill it was agreed that the bohemians chose foure ministers to dispute vpon the foure articles , and the councell chose foure to dispute against them , at the day appointed , rochezantus , one of the foure ministers chosen by the bohemians , propounded the first article , touching the communion to be ministred in both kindes , and desputed thereof three dayes in the forenoones . then venceslaus disputed vpon the second article touching the punishment of sinne , two dayes ; after whom vlda●icus propounded and disputed vpon the third article two dayes , touching the free preaching of the word of god last of all , peter paine an englishman , disputed three daies vpon the fourth article , touching ciuill dominion of the clergie , and after , gaue copies of their di●putations vnto the councell , with heartie thankes that they were ●eard . the three last somewhat inueyed against the councell , commending iohn hus , and iohn wickliffe , for their doctrine . one ragusio answered the first point , and 〈◊〉 puted eight dayes thereon . egidius carlerius answered the second point , by the space of foure dayes . one henricus answered the third article three daies . one iohn pollomarius answered the fourth articles , three daies ▪ the bohemians stil stood to their articles . at length the councel and the bohemians were agreed , and receiuing the communion in both kinds was permitted vnto the bohemians , and articles drawne vnder the hands and seales of the councel of one part , and the bohemians on the other , concerning the other articles . after all this , the bohemians put vp these petitions following vnto the councell . first , for the extirpation of diuerse discentions , which will follow , amongst our people , vpon the 〈◊〉 of the communion , that you would grant an vniforme order of communion vnto all men vnder both kinds vnto our bishops , hauing charge of soules , and to their uicars , and flocks : for this done by your benefite , the whole kingdome shall bee comforted without measure , and established in brotherly loue , whereby an vniforme obedience shall bee perpetually attributed to holy church . that to auoid the doubtfulnesse of many , which suppose that the councell doth suffer the said communion vnder both kinds vnto vs , but for a time , as neither profitable nor wholsome , we desire that you would confirme and continue it by th● buls of your letters . wee beseech you for the finall defence , and obse●uation of all things compounded , and for the good order in the spiritualties , you would prouide for vs a good and lawfull pastor ▪ which shall seeme to vs most meete for our kingdome . wee desire you , for the worthy 〈◊〉 of our realme , that you will direct letters of the sacred councell , declaring to all princes seculer and spirituall , cities and communalties ▪ according to the compositions . wee desire you ▪ that in the discussing of the matter of the communion vnder both kinds , that you will proceede no otherwise then according to the lawe of god , the order of christ and his apostles , the generall councell and minds of holy doctors , truely grounded vpon the lawe of god. we● d●sire , that for the great affection of our people , you will giue vs the libertie to communicate to ●oung children the sacrame●t of the supper ; for if thi● vse of communicating be taken away , which our kingdome , being godly mooued by the wr●tings of most great and holy doctors , and brought in by examples , hath receiued as catholicke , and exercised now a long time , it would rise vp to an intollerable offence amongst the people , and their mindes would bée grieuously v●xed and troubled . wee require you , that you would permit , at least , the gospels , epistles , and crede , to bee read in the church , in our vulger tongue , to moue the people to deuotion , for it hath beene so vsed of olde time in the church , and in our 〈◊〉 . wee desire , that prebends , and collacions of certaine benefices o● cathedral 〈◊〉 churches , may bee annexed and incorporated vnto the uniuersitie of prage , that it may be increased and pre●erred . wee r●quire ▪ that with all●are and studie , you will watch and séeke for that long desired , and most necessarie reformation of the church , and christian religion , and effectually labour f●r the rooting out of all publike e●ils , as well in the head as in the members , as you haue often promised , in our kingdome in the compositio●s , and as our fourth article , touching the auoiding all publicke euils , doth exact and require . in this councell was ordained the feast of the conce●tion of our lady , and the feast of the uisitation of our lady . in this councell there was diligent ca●e about reformation of the church , that through euery church apt and méete ministers might bee app●inted , which may shine in vertue and knowledge , to the glory of christ , and the healthfull edifying of the christian people , whereunto the multitude of expectatiue gifts haue béene a great impediment ; hereby often times , vnméete ministers are appointed for the churches , and they giue occasion to desire anothers death , and many contentions are mo●ed a●ongst the seruants of god , and the ambition and gréedie desire of pluralities maintained , and the substance of kingdomes consumed , poore men suffer vexations , by running to rome ▪ they are often by the way robbed , murdered , afflicted with diuerse plagues , and hauing spent their pa●rimony , left them by their parents , are constrained ●o liue in extreame pouertie . many craue benefices which haue no iust title , and get the same , and such as haue most craft and subtiltie to deceiue , and greatest substa●●● to contend in the lawe , doo great wrongs : the eccle●●asticall order is confounded , whiles euery mans iudgement is not preserued ; and the pope , by chalenging and taking vpon him too much , the office of superiours is drowned from more waightie and fruitfull matters , and intends not to the guiding and correction of the inferiours , as publicke vtilitie requireth , all which things bring a great confusion vnto the clergie , to the great preiudice of gods true worship , and the publike saluation . the sixt section of this ecclesiasticall historie . this storie following , and that before confuteth the vaine opinion of some , that this religion now vsed , hath risen but twentie or thirtie yeares since , and manifesteth that it hath béene spred in england this . yeares , and often sparkled before that time , although it flamed not so as it hath done within this . yeares and more , w●o although they were not so strongly armed in their cause , as of late yeares , yet were they warriours in christs church , and although they gaue back for tyranny , yet iudge the best , and referre the cause to god , who euealeth all things according to his determinate will and time , there hath bin no realme more fertile for marters then england . oxford was as a continuall spr●ng of christian knowledge whence , as out of the troiane horse , hath come so many inuincible wit●esses of the truth , amongst whom william taylor , master of 〈◊〉 , hath not deserued the least praise , being a fauorer of wickliffe ▪ who because he had written cer●ain things against the inuocation of saints , and many other matters , after he had recanted nine articles , returned vnto th● right way , and with a maruellous constancie , 〈◊〉 bu●●t in smithfield the of march. iohn florence , a turner of shelton , in the di●cesse of norwich , was attached because he held and taught that the pope and cardinals haue no power to const●tute lawes , that nor day is to be kept holiday , but sunday . that there ought to be no fast , but of the qua●uor temporum . that images are not to be worshipped ▪ not lights to be set before them . not 〈◊〉 goe on pilgrimage , nor offe● for the dead , or with women that are purified . that curates should not claime tithes by any exaction , and that they should be diuided amongst the poore . that such as sweare by their life , or power , except they repent , shall be dam●●d . he was brought before the chauncellour , and forced to abiure , and was sworne not to hold or teach any thing contrary to the determination of the church of rome , nor to helpe or ayde any that should so doe . he was inioyned for penan●● thr●● sund●ies solemne procession in the cathedral church of norwich , to be whipped before all the people , and three other sundaies about his parish church of shelton , bare f●●ted , & bare necked , his bodie being couered with a canu●s shirt , and canu●s briches , carying in his hand a taper of a pound waight , & so was dismissed . richard belward of erisam , in the diocesse of norwich , was accused for holding , and teaching , that ecclesiasticall minist●re and ordinaries , haue no power to excommunicate ; and though the bishop excommunicate any , god doth absol●e them . and that he held the opinion of sir iohn oldcastle . and that such as goe on pilgrimage , offering to images , are excommunicated , because they ought to giue to the poore which are aliue , and not to the dead . and that the curates sell god on easter day , when they receiue offerings , before they minister the sacraments . and that hee councelled ●●uerse women that they should not offer for the dead , nor with women that were puri●●●● ▪ and for that he called his neighbours fooles for not learning his sect , and that they of 〈◊〉 sect were able to confute all others , and that we ought not to pray vnto the saints 〈◊〉 heauen , but onely to god , and that he kéept schooles of lolardie in dichingham , 〈◊〉 that a parchment maker bringeth him bookes from london , containing 〈◊〉 doctrine . the bishop of norwich si●ting in iudgement vpon him , he denied his articles , and was purged by 〈◊〉 of his neighbours , swearing that he would not teach or defend any thin● contrary to the church of rome , and the aforesaid parchment-maker was likewise accused vpon the aforesaid artic●es who d●nyed them , and was likewise purged by his neighb●urs , and sword in like manner . also sir hugh pie chaplen of l●dney was likewi●e accused before the said bishop of norwich , for holding that the people ought not to goe on pilgrimage , and that people ought not to giue almes to images , but to the poore that the image of the crosse , & other images are not to be worshiped , and that he had cast the crosse of brome hold into the fire to be burnt , which he tooke from one of ludney , which he denied , & purged himselfe by three laymen , and three priests & was sworne , as before . in this yeare , henry the fift sent a most cruell commission vnto iohn exeter , and iacolet germaine , kéeper of the castle of colchester , for the apprehending of sir william white priest , and thomas chaplin of setling in northfolke ; and william northamton priest , and all other suspected of lolardy , and to commit them to prison , by vertue of which commi●●ion , sixe persons were attached in bu●gay of norwich , whose names were so defaced through antiquitie , that there remained but three names in the worne booke to be red , to wit , iohn teaderton in kent , bartholomew monke of ensham in norfolke , corneleader ▪ a ma●ie● man ; these three were in the custodie of the duke of norfolke , in the castle of fremingham . we finde also in the diocesse of norfolke , and suffolke , specially in the townes of bechels , ersham , and ludney within the space of three or foure yeares , . men and women , which sustained great vexation for the profession of christs faith , whose names are recited in the booke at large ; the articles that were generally obiected against them , were ; that auriculer confession is not to bee made vnto a priest , but vnto god , because no priest hath no power to absolue a sinner . that no priest can make the body of christ in the sacrament , and that material bread remaineth after consecation . that euery true christian man is a priest to god. that none is bound , vnder paine of damnation , to lent , or other dayes prohibited . that the pope is antichrist , and his prelates antichrists disciples ; and that the pope hath no power to binde and lose on earth ; and that it is lawfull to doe any worke , except sinne , vpon the holy daies . that priests may haue wiues lawfully . that the communications of the prelates are not to be regarded . that it is not lawfull to sweare in priuate causes . that men ought no goe on pilgrimage , nor giue honour vnto images of the crosse , of our lady , or other saints . that holy water hath no more vertue then other water . that the death of thomas becket was neither holy nor meritorious . that relickes , as dead mens bones , ought not to be worshipped , or digged out of graues , or set vp in shrines ▪ that prayers made in all places are acceptable to god. that men ought not to pray to any saints , but onely to god. that bels , and ringing in the church were ordained to fill the priests purses . that it is no sinne to withstand the ecclesiasticall precepts . that the catholicke church is only the congregation of the elect ; they did so agree in vniforme faith , that whatsoeuer one did hold , all did maintaine . william white , being a follower of iohn wickliffe , yet laboured continually , vnto the glory of his spoute christ , by reading , writing , and preaching . the principall points of his doctrine were these which he was forced to recant at canterbury . that men should seeke for forgiuenesse of sins only at gods hands , that the wicked liuing of the pope , and his holinesse , is nothing else but a diuelish estate , and heauie yoke of antichrist : therfore an enemy to christs truth , that men ought not to worship images or other idolatrous paintings , nor the holy men which are deade . that the romish church is the figtree that christ cursed , because it brought forth no fruit of the true belief . that such as weare coules , or are annointed , and shorne , are the lance-knights , and soldiers of lucifer , and that all of them , because their lamps are not burning , shal be shut out when the lord christ shall come : after his said recantation he was much more stronger in christ , and confessed his errour and offence , and busying himselfe in preaching and conuerting the people to the doctrine of christ in norfolke , he was apprehended by vertue of the kings letters aforesaid , and brought before the bishop of norwich , by whom hee was contemned of . articles and burned the said yeare in norwich , who was of so deuout and holy life that all the people had him in great reuerence . one margery wright confessed , if any saints were to be prayd vnto , she would rather pray vnto him then any other , when he was come to the stake , thinking to open his mouth to exhort the people , one of the bishops seruants strooke him in the mouth . thus he receiued the crowne of marterdome , to the grife of all good men in norfolke ; his wife following his steps , by ●er teaching , confirmed many in the trueth . wherefore shee suffered much trouble and punishment that yeare . by the saide bishoppe the same yeare also was burned father abraham of ●olchester , and iohn waddon priest , for the like article . amongst them that were arrested , and caused to abiure ; in this yeare ▪ as aforesaid ▪ was thomas pie , and iohn mendham of aldbor●ough , who being conuicted vpon diuerse articles before mentioned , were ioyned penance sixe whippings about the 〈◊〉 church of alborrough , before a solemne procession , sixe seuerall sundaies ; and three whippings three seueral market daies about the market place of 〈…〉 heads , necks , legs , and feete bare ▪ their bodies onely couered with their 〈◊〉 and breeches , either of them carying a taper in his hand , of a pound waigh● , which t●pe , the last sunday after the penance 〈◊〉 , they should deuoutly offe● vnto the high altar of the church of alborrough , at the time of the ●ffe●tory of the high masse ; and that going about the market pl●ce aforesaid , they shal make foure stays ▪ euery one to receiue deuoutly thrée whips , and if they would not obey this monition , they were to be cited to appeare before the bishop , to shew cause why they should not bee excommunicated , and to receiue such punishment as iustice shall prouide in that behalfe , this was their 〈…〉 of penance , howbeit some were often more cruelly handled , and after banished out of the dioces : and others were more stra●ly vsed by l●ng imprisonment , whereof we will briefly rehearse one or two for example . iohn beuerley , alias bat●ile , a labourer , hauing lye● long in irons , and hauing nothing proued against him , the commissary made him sweare , that euery yeare after he would confesse is slune , once a yeare vnto his curate , and receiue the sacrament at easter , and for his penance , the friday , and saturday next following , hee should fast br●ad and water , and vpon the saturday be whipped from the bishops palace 〈◊〉 norwich , about all the streets , and the market place , hauing in his hand a waxe candle of two pence , to offer to the image of the trinitie , after he had done his penance ; and because he had eaten flesh on easter day and was not shriuen in lent , nor receiued on easter day , the iudge inioyned him he should fast tuesday . wednesday , and friday , in whitsun weeke , hauing but one meale a day of fish and other white meates , and depart out of the dioces , and neuer come there againe . iohn skilley of flixton miller , was forced to abiure , for holding the articles aforesaid , and for receiuing certaine godly men into his house , had a most sharpe penance ▪ seauen yeares imprisonment in the monastery of langly . and to fast with bread & water , euery friday , and to appeare euery wednesday in the beginning of lent , and euery munday , and thursday for two yeares after the seauen yeares , before the bishop , his successor , and commissary in the cathedrall church of norwich , together with other penit●ntiaries , to doe open penance for his offence , diuerse others the same yeare were forced to abiuration and penance . in this next yeare , in the same register , were sixteene , or seauenteene , that were examined , and did penance likewise , amongst whom was iohn baker , otherwise called vsher tunstall , who for hauing a booke with the pater noster , aue , and creede in english , and for other articles of fasting , confession , and inuocation , was constrained to abiure , and doe such penance as others did before him . another was margerie ba●kster , wife of willam backster , against whom , one ioane cliffe and was compelled by the bishop to depose . first , that she bad her take héede of swearing , else a bee would sting her tongue , and venime her soule : and that she rebuked her for saying pater nosters to the cruci●ixe , and aue maries to our lady ; saying , you will doe ill in 〈◊〉 , or praying to such images , and that god will giue no more reward for such prayers , then a ●endle , put vnder the foote , will giue light in the night , saying , that lewde wrights of stockes hewe such crosses and images , and lewde painters gleere them with coloures , and opened her armes , and tolde her , this is the true crosse of christ : and that she said , if euery sacrament were god and the very bodie of christ , then . priests and more , doe euery day make a . such gods , and eate them , and voide them out of their hinder parts , filthily stinking vnder euery hedge , where you may finde many such gods. it shall neuer be my god , it was falsly and deceitfully ordained by the priests , to induce simple people to idolatry . for it is onely materiall bread . and that thomas of canterbury , whom the people cal● saint thomas , was a false traytor , and damned in hell. and that the pope , cardinals , archbishops , bishops , and especially the bishop of norwich , and others that support heresies , and idolatries , shall shortly haue the same , or worse mischiefe so fall vpon them , then that cursed man thomas of canterbury had , for they cursedly dec●iae the people with false m●mmetries , to extort money to maintaine their pride , riot , and idlenesse , and haue slaine the true preachers or go●● lawe . and that she said , that none was bound to fast in lent , or other daies appointed . and that it was lawfull to eate flesh , and other meates vpon the said dayes that pope s●luester made the lent. and that william white was a good man , and falsly condemned , and at his execution , when he would haue exhorted the people , a deuill , one of bishop caiphas his seruants , stroc●e him on the lips , that he could not declare the will of god. and that shee taught her not to goe to pilgrimage , to the lady of walsingham , or any other saint or place . and that she desired this deponent , and her maid , to come in the night to her chamber , to heare her husband reade the lawe of christ vnto them . and that she saide , that the people did worship deuils which fell from heauen with lucifer , and entred into the image which stand in the churches , so that the people which worship images ●ommit idolatry . and that holy bread and water are but trifles . and they are excommunicated that first ordained bels , and that the saturday after aswednesday , shee had a pot séething ouer the fire , with a piece of baken and otmeale seething in it . others also were sworne , which confirmed the former depositions , but wee finds no mention in regester what became of her . diuerse good men , this yeare were accused by the deposition of one william wright , their names appeare in the booke at large . and the said william wright deposed that it is read in the prophecies amongst the lollards , that their sect shall bee , in manner , destroyed , yet at the length it shall preuaile , and haue the victory against all her enemies . iohn burrell , seruant to thomas moone of ludney , in the dioces of norwich , was apprehended , and it was obiected against him , besides the articles before mentioned , that hee held that the catholicke church , is the seules of euery good christian. that lent , and other fasting-dayes , were ordained of the priests , and not of god : and that men may eate flesh , or fish indifferently vpon those dayes : that pilgrimage ought not to be made , but to the poore . that it is not lawfull to sweare , but in c●se of of life and death . that masses , and prayers for the soules of the dead are vaine , and that the deade are either in heauen , or hell , for there is no purg●tory , but this world . he was forced to 〈◊〉 and suffer like punishment as before . thomas moone of lud●ey was apprehended , and the articles aforesaid laid against him , especially that he had receiued , comforted , and supported diuerse , vpon which hee being con●●ct , was forced to abiure , and receiue like penance . robert grigges , of martham was brought before the bishop for the articles aforesaid , especial●y for affirming that the sacrament of confirmation by the bishop did auaile nothing to saluation , that it was no sinne to withstand the ordinances of the church of rome , that holy bread and water were but trifles , and that they were the worse for the con●urations and characters made ouer them , he was forced to abiure and suffer penance as aforesaid . iohn finch of colchester , was taken in ipswich , and brought before the bishop , and being conuicted of the aforesaid articles , was inioyned penance three whippings three seuerall sundaies in solemne procession about the cathedrall church of norwich , and thrée whippings about the market place , thrée principall market daies ; his head , necke , and ●eete bare , his bodie couered onely with a short shirt , with a taper of waxe of a pound waight in his hands , which the next sunday after his penance , he● should offer vnto the triuitie , and euery ashwednesday , and munday , and thursday three yeare after , hée should appeare before the ordinary , in the cathedral church , to doe open penance amongst other penitontiar●es . about the same time , shortly after the coronation of king henry the sixt , one richard houeden a wool winder , and citizen of london , was crowned with martyrdome , whenby no perswasions he could be drawne from the opinions of wickliffe , as fabian writeth , he burned hard by the tower of london . nicholas , canon of eye , was brought before the bishop of norwich , and many witnesses being sworne against him , they appointed one to speake for them all . first , that on easter day , all the parish going of procession , he went the contrary way , deciding them , and méeting them . hée confessed it , and ●houg●t he did well therein . and that he should say ; if the sacrament of the alter be very god , and very man , then god may be put in a small roome , as when it is in the pri●sts mouth . and why may not wee 〈…〉 as well vpon f●●daies and other prohibited dayes , as the priests eate the flesh and bloud of our lord euery day . to which he answered , hee thought hee had spoken well therein . item , that on corpus christi day , at the eleuation of high masse , when all kneeled downe , and held vp their hands , and did reuerence to the sacrament , he went behind a piller , turned his face from the altar , and mocked them . he affirmed , he thought he did well in so doing . item , when his moth●r would lift vp his right hand to crosse himselfe from the 〈◊〉 and assaults of the deuill , hee mocked her . this , hee thought , it was well done . item vpon all-ballend day , at the eleuation of the masse , when many lighted torches , 〈◊〉 them vp to the altar , and knéeled downe there , in honour of the sacrament , hee standing behinde the priest with a fozeh , turned his backe to the priest , and would 〈◊〉 no ●euerence . he said , he did well therein . item , that he said , he doubted whether in the sacrament of the altar were the very body of christ or no. this article he confessed to be true . item , that he beleeued that a man ought not to confesse his sinnes to a priest. this article he also confessed . after , he was conuicted , and enioyned for penance three whippings about the cloyster of the cathedrall church of norwich , before a solemne procession , barefooted and bare headed , as the aforesaid ponitentiaries , and to be kept in prison vntill the bishop came into the dioces , least he should enuenoms the flocke . thus you haue the troubles , which in the aforesaid foure yeares , hapned in norfolke and suffolke , hauing shewed certaine notable examples , sufficient to declare the rest , for their opinions , neither their penance did differ , otherwise then by these examples may bee seene . thomas bagley priest , uicar of malden , being a valiant disciple , and adherent of wickliffe , was condemned by the bishops of heresie , at london , about the middest of lent , and was disgeaded , and burned in smithf●eld . the same years was paul craws a bohemian , taken at saint andrewes , by the bishop , and deliuered to the seculer power , to be burned , for holding contrary opinions touching the sacrament of the altar , the worshipping of saints , auriculer confession , with other of wickliffes opinions . thomas rhedon a frenchman , a carmelits frier , which take their name of mount carmelus , came with the uenitian embassadors into italy , trusting that hee should finde there some , by whose good life hee might bée edified , but the successe of the matter did frustrate his hope , for hee found nothing but hypocritie , and golde and siluer in stead of heauenly gifts ; pompe and pride raigned in place of godlinesse , in stéed of learning and studie , flo●h●ulnesse and superstition , and for apostlolike simplicity tyranny and hautinesse ; they did so passe all measure and patiencs , that hee could by no meanes refraine his tongue , in so great corruption of the church , and by continual preaching , got great enuie and hatred . the rulers began to consult together , by what meanes they might circumuent this mans life , for it is a continuall custome amongst the prelates , that if any man displease them , and speake any thing which is hurtfull so their lucre , by and by they frame articles of some heresie against him , ouerwhelme him with suspition , seeke to intangle him with questions , and so condemne him , and destroy him . this is their godl●nesse and peaceable order : they gathered these articles against him . that the church lacketh reformation : that it shall be punished , and reformed : that 〈◊〉 , iewes , turkes , and moores shall be conuerted vnto christ in the latter daies : and that abhominations are vsed at rome : that the vniust excommunication of the pope is not to be feared , and those which doe not obserue the same , doe not sinne : eugenius was pope , then this good man thomas rheden was taken and brought before him , and from thence to prison , and after sundry greeuous torments was brought before the iudges , and was condemned to be burned foure yeares after he came to rome . in this yeare the maruellous inuention of printing was first found out , by one iohn guttenbergh in strawsborrow , and afterwards by him made perfect in ments , our dayes declare how profitable this hath beene vnto all the world : if wee consider that thereby ignorance is vtterly banished , the truth declared , and the pope and antichrist vtterly subuerted , which could neuer haue been , if this most worthy science had not been found out , for before bookes were so scarce , and at such excesse price , that few could thereby attaine to knowledge : heerein the prophesie of the sybils is fulfilled , that flaxe and lime should ouerthrow antichrist . reynold peacock , bishop of chichester , was for his godlinesse and profession of the gospell afflicted and tormented , and made to recant , and after put to death in prison : he was brought before thomas archbishop of canterbury at lambeth , in which conuocation the duke of buckingham was present : whereas besides many other articles , the presence of bread in the sacrament was laid vnto pecock ; insomuch that the sacrament , the knot of amitie , ordained by christ , to the great comfort of the church , through the enuy of sathan , it turned into a matter of most greeuous discord , that no matter hath continued so many yeares more pernitious to mans saluation : hee declared many things worthy of a good diuine : they laboured for their dignitie and gaine , and so much the more earnestly , because they had gotten an aduersarie , whose authoritie the higher it was in the church , i● would bring the greater ruine of their tyranny and estimation among the people . first , the matter was attempted by priuate coloquies ; after by a terrible iudgement , threatning present death , with threatning exhortations , mingled with flattering promises , granting him further time to consult , that the delay of death might make his life the sweeter : they gaue him hope of his life and dignitie if hee would recant , till at length his minde began to quaile : by and by a recantation was made by the bishoppes , the effect whereof followeth . which when he declared vnto the people , hee did so pronounce that hee was carried againe to prison , from whence hee could not bee deliuered but by death : the articles that were mentioned in the recantation to bee recanted were , that first it is not necessarie to beleeue that christ after his death descended into hell , that it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue in the catholicke church , nor to beleeue the communion of saints , neither the body materiall in the sacrament : and that the vniuersall church may e●re in matters pertaining vnto faith ; and that it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the generall councell . wee shewed before in the latter end of the councell of basil , how eugenius was deposed , and foelix duke of sauoy elected pope . wherevpon arose great discords . eugenius sent his orators into germany , to perswade them to infringe the councell of basil , and the dolphin of france , set on by the said eugenius , led an armie of fiue and twenty thousand men into alsatia , and laide siege vnto basil to disturbe the councell , hauing there a great conflict with the germaines with great slaughter , whereby the councell could not bee kept any longer in germany , but in france through the pragmaticall sanction of the french king after eugenius brought to passe by the emperour , and his orators of which aeneas siluius was one , that they were content to giue ouer the councell of basil. frederick of austridge not beeing yet emperour , but labouring for the empire , brought to passe that foelix , which was chosen pope in the councell of basil , was content to resigne his papacie vnto nicholas the eight , successor to eugenius , of the which nicholas , the said frederick was confirmed emperour at rome , and there crowned in the yeere one thousand foure hundred fifty and one . this pope , to gather great summes of mony , appointed a iubile in the yeare of our lord . there resorted great number of people to rome , more then at any time before were seene there . at which time , as there were a great sort of people going to mount uaticane , to behold the image of our sauiour , which they had there to shew to pilgrims , a mule of the cardinals of saint marke comming that way , the people for multitude being not able to voyde the way , one or two falling vpon the mule , there was such a throng , that two hundred men and thrée horses were strangled vpon the bridge , and many fell ouer into the water and were drowued : wherefore the pope caused the small houses to bee plucked downe , to make the bridge broader . in the yeare . constantinople was taken by the turkes . in the yeare one thousand foure hundred fifty fiue , when the death of pope nicholas was published , the germaines bewayling their miserable estate , perswaded the emperour that he should be no longer vnder the popes obedience , except they first obtained certaine thinges touching the charter of apeales , shewing that they were in worse case then eyther the french-men or italians , and as it were their seruants , and especially of the italians : that they alone had not the vse of their lawes , and that the french nation had not made their sute in vaine vnto their king , against the exactions of the popes , by whom they were defended , which also prouided decrées for the liberty of his people : the emperour promised , hee would prouide for them , no lesse then the king of fraunce had done for the french-men . but aeneas siluius brake off the matter , saying ; though there bee variance amongst princes in waighty matters , yet peace may be made againe : but betweene the prince and the common people , there is alwaies mortall hatred , and because he should be successour vnto the pope ; hee concluded , he thought it better to accord to the pope , then to follow their desires , whose minds are led with couetousnesse , rather then by reason : and the emperour chose him ambassadour to pope calixtus , to sweare vnto him in his name , and to promise the absolute obedience of all germany . thus twice fridericke of austrich contemned and derided the germaines , frustrating them of their natiue ordinances , and brought them into subiection vnder the pope , which was the cause that seauen yeares before his death , he caused his sonne maximillian to bee crowned king of the romaines , least after his death the empire should be transported vnto another familie , as it afterwards came to passe . whereupon germany being in this miserable pouerty , and greeuous subiection of the popes tyranny and polling , with teares and sighes lamenting their estate , continued so almost vnto luthers time , as those histories hereafter doe testifie . the ambassadour of the arch-bishop of maydenburge , henry token , writeth , that in the councell of basill , the arch-bishop of lyons did declare , that in pope martines time , there came out of fraunce to the court of rome , nine millions of gold , which was gathered by the byshops and prelats , besides the poore clergy , which daily without number runne vnto the court of rome , carrying with them all their whole substance . the arch-byshoppe of turonne said , also at basill , that three millions of gold in his time came to rome in foureteene yeares of the prelates , besides the poore cleargy , which daily runne to that court. let the man which feareth god , iudge what a deuouring gulfe this is , a million containeth ten hundred thousand . sir roger ounley followed the lord cobham , and sir roger acton being a knight of like nobility and order , and pertaker of the like cause : a man endewed with like valiantnesse and godlinesse , whom we reade in certaine annals to be hanged for the truth , . although there haue beene many women which haue followed their spouse christ by torments , banishment , and death ; yet the first that commeth to our handes , is elinor cobham , a woman , nothing degenerating from her stocke , kindred and name , albeit wee can finde no other thing of her but for suspition of heresie , that is to say , for the loue and desire of the truth , she was by the papists banished into the i●e of man , whom a fewe yeares after there followed a woman , who for her constancy and vertue was greatly to be praised , being mother of the lady yong , she perseuered vnto the fire with a stout and manly courage , for the profession of the gospel , and was burned . hieronimus sauonarola , being singularly well learned , and a monke in italy preached sore against the euill life of the spiritualtie , especially of his owne order , saying they were the springs of all mischiefes , and by the help of certaine learned men , began to seeke reformation in his owne order . the pope fearing him , being in great reputation amongst all men , least hee should diminish his authoritie , hee ordained his uicar to reforme this matter . but the said hierome withstood him alwaies : wherefore hee was accursed , yet he left not off preaching , but threatned italy , with the indignation of god , and prophesied that the land should bee ouerthrowne , for the pride and wickednesse of the people , and for the vntruth and hypocrisie of the clergy , which came to passe when king charles came to rome , and besieged pope alexander that hee was forced to make composition with him . because the said hierome would not leaue preaching , hee was commanded to appeare before the pope to giue account of his new learning , but hee went not . then was hee againe forbidden to preach , and his learning condemned as false and seditions , whereby he left off preaching : but when the people ●ore hungred for gods word , and were instant vpon him that hee would preach againe , hee beganne againe to preach in florence ; many exhorted him to the contrarie , but he regarded it not but went forward freely . when the pope and his shauellings heard thereof they were greatly inflamed against him , and cursed him as an obstinate heretick : yet hee proceeded in teaching the people , saying men ought not to regard such curses which is against the true doctrine and the common prophets ; for by preaching wée should be learned and amended , christs kingdome inlarged and the kingdome of the diuell ouerthrowne . he desired to teach no other thing then the pure word of god , often protesting , that all men should certifie him if they heard him teach any thing contrary therunto : for in his conscience he knew nothing which he had taught but the pure word of god. what his doctrine was , may easily be iudged by his books he wrote . after that he was taken , with two friers with him which fauoured his learning , named dominick and siluester , and carried to prison , where he wrote a godly meditation vpon the most comfortable one and fiftieth psalme ; wherein hée excellently described the strife betwixt the flesh and spirit . the popes legats came to florence , and called forth these thrée good men , threatning them maruellously , but they continued still constant . then they gathered articles against them , whereuppon they were condemned , and were first hanged vp openly in the market-place , after burned to ashes , and the ashes cast into the riuer of ar●e . this man foreshewed of the destruction of florence , rome , and the reuenues of the church , and that the turks and moores in the latter day should be conuerted to christ , and that one like vnto cyrus should passe the alpes into italy , and vtterly destroy it . philip norice an irishman , professor at oxford , though he was not burned , yet he was long time troubled with the religious rout . thomas norice for the profession of the gospell was by the bishop condemned and burned in norwich . elizabeth sampson was conuented in the consistorie of london for saying our lady of wildesdon was a burnt arst else and stock ; and if she could helpe men and women which goe to her on pilgrimage , she would not haue suffered her tayle to be burnt : and why would she or the lady crome that puppet , be worshipped ? it were better to giue almes to the poore then to goe on pilgrimage , and that she called the image of s. sauiour , sin sauiour with kite lips , and that she said she could make as good bread as that which the priest occupied , and that it was not the body of christ , for that christ could not be both in heauen and earth at one time : wherefore she was compelled to abiure . one thomas , a priest of norwich , was burned in the village of eckels . when he was in prison , by perswasions , he was led away from his former opinions , wherfore for pennance he went to be burned vpon sharp hurdles made of thornes . ioane baker of s. margets in new fish-stréete in london , for saying to the parish priest of bow , that the crucifixe was not to be worshipped , and that she was sorry she had gone so many times on pilgrimage to s. sauiour and others , being they were but mammots and false gods , and that she could heare a better sermon at home then at pauls crosse ; and that she said , the lady yong died a martire , and that sampsons wife was punished for saying the truth , and that the pope hath no power to forgiue sinnes , she was constrained to abiure . one thomas bingy , an old reuerend man , was burned at norwich , because hee had not receiued the sacrament in . yeares , and abhorred the popish kind of administration thereof . one pope , a weauer in eye , an old man , about the quarrell of the sacrament , was martired . about the same time , one peake was burned at ipswich , because he gaue one of the sacrament cakes vnto a dog , the dog was burned in the fire with him , wherat he laughed , saying ; they did the dog great wrong , because he was not abiured : for it was the manner , that those which they called heretickes , might bee saued if they would recant . complaints of the germaines to maximillian the emperour , against the popes oppression . first , the popes think themselues not bound to obserue the buls and priuiledges granted by their predecessors , but will dispence with , and rebuke the same at the instance of euery vile person . that the election of prelats is oft put backe , and the election of presidentship of mony-places obtained with great cost : as the church of spire and hasels , whose bull for the election of their president , is made frustrate in the life of him that granted it . that the greatest ecclesiasticall dignities , are reserued for cardinals and notaries . that expectatiue aduousons are graunted without number , so that much money is laid out for such aduousons , and in going to law for them : whereupon is this prouerbe ; he that will haue an aduouson at rome , must haue . or . péeces of gold for the obtaining thereof , that he need no● to prosecute law. that yearely reuenues are exacted without mercy , for new offices and new seruants : that the rule of churches , are giuen at rome to them that are more fit to féeds mules : that new indulgences are graunted with reuocation of the old , to scrape mony together . that tenths are exacted , by pretence of making warre against the turke and no expedition followeth thereon ; and that the causes which might bee determined in germany , are carried vnto the court of rome . that it is intollerable to the germaines to pay so great a●mats for the confirmation of the byshops and arch-bishops , where the arch-bishop of ments was wont to pay but . florens for his confirmation , it was after augmented to . florens , then to . florens , and at last to . florens : and in one popes time , this was seauen times paid out of the arch-bishopprick of ments , that the arch-bishop hath beene faine to borrow it of marchants , and to pay them againe , forced to exact a subsidy vpon his poore husbandmen , so that our people are brought to extreame pouerty , and mooued to rebellion to seeke their libertie , greeuously murmuring against the cleargy . iames , arch-byshop of ments said at his death , he was sorry for nothing , as for that his poore subiects should after his death be forced againe to pay a greeuous exaction for the pall : therefore let the pope , as a godly father , deale more fauourably with his children the germaines , least men follow the example of the bohemians , and swarue from him , especially let him be more fauorable vnto the bishops , that die so soone one after another : whereof there be fiftie bishoppricks , besides many abbots in germany that are confirmed at rome , otherwise germany will want treasure and munition of warre against their enemies , and to preserue peace , and minister iustice to euerie man , and banish away murderers and theeues , and repaire churches and monasteries and hospitals , and other necessaries . there were besides these . grieuances , complained vpon to the popes legats , in the raign of the emperor charles the fift , out of which we haue but touched certaine which we thought to be most effectuall . first , that many things are commaunded and forbidden by mens constitutions , contrary to the commandement of god , as innumerable lets of matrimony , and the vse of meats forbidden , which are created for mans vse , & are indifferently to be receiued with thanks-giuing : by which constitutions , men are brought into bondage , vntill by money they obtaine dispensations , so that money maketh that lawfull to the rich , which is prohibited to the poore , by which snares of mens lawes , great summes of money are gathered out of germany , and it bréeds priuate offences of the poore , when they see themselues intangled in these snares , onely because they haue not the thornes of the gospell , for so christ often calleth riches . that those that haue receiued ecclesiasticall orders , being free from the punishment of secular magistrates , doe presume in sinning , and are maintained therein by the principall estates of the cleargy . they attempt the chastity of matrons and uirgins , and by gifts and flattering , they bring to passe , and by their secret confessions , that many , which otherwise would liue honest , haue beene ouercome and moued to sinne : and often they keepe wiues from their husbands , and daughters from their fathers , threatning them with fire and sword that require them . they offend liuewise daily , in robbery , murders , accusing of innocents , burning , rapine , theft and counterfeiting coyne ; besides many other mischiefes , and the bishops cannot openly punish them , except hee disgrade them ; and they are bound by their charters , that they dare not punnish them ; therefore necessity and iustice doth require , that the said priuiledges of the cleargy should bee abrogated , and that they should haue the same iudgement as the layty for such offences . that christians are excommunicated for vaine and prophane causes , for desire of filthy luker , whereby the weake in faith are burdened , and brought to dispaire , where a man ought to be excommunicated only for heresie . that there are so many holydaies , that husbandmen haue scarce time to gather the fruits of the earth , which were brought forth with so great trauell : and vpon these holidaies innumerable offences are committed . if any fight or shed blood in any hollowed place , it is interdicted , and cannot haue any more seruice done in it , vntill all the cittizens , with great pompe and expences , haue caused it to be now consecrated , which charge redound vpon the laity , and none but the suffragans can baptize bels , who do affirme , that bels so baptized , will driue away euill spirits and t●mpests . whereupon many godfathers are appointed : and such as bee rich , at the baptising , hold the bell-rope , the suffragan speaking for them , and they all answere , and name the bell , it hauing a new garment vpon it : then they goe to sumptuous banquets , to which the gossips are bidden , the suffragan and his chaplaines are sumptuously fed , and yet he must haue a reward , that in small uillages . florens are often spent about such christenings . the officialls of the arch-bishops for the most part are vnlearned men and of euill conditions , taking thought for nothing but money , where they ought to correct the offences of the laity , they burthen them with most grieuous offences , and spoyle and robbe them of their goods . when causes belonging to the temporall court are handled in the spirituall court , the eclesiasti●all iudges will by no meanes be intreated to remit them to their ordinary iurisdiction , but if the temporall court ho●d any pley which belongeth to the spirituall court , the iudge shall be excommunicated , they say they may take prophane matters into their hands if the ciuill magistrate bee negligent in executing iustice , but contrariwise they will not suffer that the like order shall be kept with them by the ciuill magistrate if they be negligent , and for their vnsatiable desire of money , they suffer and mainetaine vsury , and they take yearely pensions to suffer the cleargy vnlawfully to dwell with their concubines and beget children by them , this none can deny except hee will make himselfe as blinde as a mole , and if a man and his wife bee long one from another by reason of warre or otherwise , the officialls for money will suffer them to commit adultery , calling it suffera●ce ; not without great offence and contempt of matrimony . the cannons cathedrall and other colleagiall churches , which haue power to chuse their superiour and bishop they will choose none except he sweare and bee bound by déed insealed , that in no matter neuer so greiuous he shall be against them , and not to punish any of them if he do offend . the bishops and officials in some places doe not only suffer priests to haue concubines , so they pay for them , but compell chast priests ( which liue without concubines ) to pay tribute for concubines , affirming the bishop to be worthy of such money , whereby it is lawfull for them either to kéepe concubines or no. these and many other articles were offered vp to the emperour , in the next assembly of the princes and states at wormes , the archbishops and other states of the clergy , but hitherto they haue not begunne to amend any thing . after nicholas the fift succéeded pope calixtus the third , hee ordayned at noone and euening the bell to tole the aues to helpe the souldiers that fought against the turkes , and for that purpose ordayned the feast of the transfiguration of christ , solemnizing it with like pardons and indulgences as corpus christi day , and contrary to the councels of constance and basell , hee decreed none should appeale from the pope to the councell , and he canonized for saints s. edmond of canterbury , with diuers others : after him succeeded pius secundus , which was aeneas siluius wh●ch wrote the two bookes aforesaid of the councell of basill , at that time he was a man of indifferent iudgment , from which beeing pope hee swarned , seeking by all meanes to abollish the bookes which before he had written . the prouerbs of this pius . the diuine nature of god may rather be comprehended by faith then by disputation . christian faith is to bée considered not by what reason it is prooued but from whom it procéedeth . a couetous man cannot be satisfied with mony , nor a learned man with knowledge . learning ought to be to a poore man as siluer , to noble-men as gold . and to princes in steed of precious stones . an artificiall oration moueth fooles but not wise men . sutors in the law be as birds , the court is the bayt , the iudges the nets , and the lawyers the fowlers . men are to be giuen to dignities , and not dignities to men . the office of a bishop is heauy , but it is blessed to him that doth well beare it . a bishop without learning may be likened to an asse . an euill phisition , destroyeth bodies , but an vnlearned priest destroyeth soules . marriage was taken from priests not without great reason , but with much greater reason , it ought to be restored againe . he dissolued certaine nunnes of the orders of saint bridget , and saint clare , bidding them depart out that they should burne no more , nor couer a harlot vnder the vesture of religion . the epistle of hulderick is abridged in this booke before : therefore omitted now . after this pius secundus , succeeded pope paulus secundus , who was wholly set vpon his belly and ambition , voide of all learning , and a hater of all learned men : because his daughter was reproched , for that shee was gotten in fornication hes went about to reforme the lawe of the single life of priests , had not death preuented him . after him succeeded sixtus the fourth , which builded in rome stewes of both kindes , and thereby got great reuenues and rents vnto the church of rome : he reduced the yeare of iubile from fifty , to fiue and twenty yeares : hee instituted the feasts of the conception , and of the presentation of mary , and of anna her mother and of ioseph ; he canonized bonauenture , and saint francis for saints ; he brought in beades and made our ladies psalter , through alanus and his order : he made two and thirty cardinals in his time . petrus ruerius was the first , who in two yeares spent in luxurious ryot . floreines , and was left six thousand in debt : this pope licenced the whole family of the cardinals to play the sod●mites the three hot monethes ; iune , iuly , and august . after him succéeded innocentius the eight , as rude & vnlearned as his predecessor : at polus he caused eight men , and six women , with the lord of the place , to be condemned for hereticks , because they said since peter none was true uicar of christ , but they onely which followed the pouerty of christ. hee condemned of heresie george the king of boheme , and depriued him , made his whole stocke to be reiected , and gaue his kingdome to mathias king of panonia . pope alexander the sixt succéeded him : hee receiued two thousand florens for poisoning gemen the turkes brother at rome . hee sent for help of the turkes against the french king : he was vngratefull to the cardinals that chose him : he commanded marcinellus one of them to haue his hands and tongue cut off , for speaking against his vices . after sitting with his cardinals , and the rich se●ators of rome at dinner ; his man vnawares bringing a wrong bottle vnto him he with his cardinals about him were poisoned : in his time the angel which stood on the top of the popes church was beaten down with thunder ; which thing seemed to declare the ruine of the pope-dome . pius the third succéeded pope : after him iulius the second , passing all other in iniquitie , as he was going to warre , he cast the keyes of s. peter into the riuer tybris , saying , being the keyes of peter would not serue him to his purpose , he would take himselfe to the sword of paul. by this iulius , partly with warre , partly with cursings , in seuen yeares . christians were destroyed : he got many citties out of princes hands by bloudshed : when he was made pope , he tooke an oath to haue a councel within two yeares ; but breaking his oath , he was occupied in warres : whervpon nine of his cardinals departed from him , and appointed a councell at p●sa , they alledged the cause , for that the pope was forsworne , and that they had diuers other crimes to accuse him of , purposing to remooue him from his seate , which hee had obtained through bribes and ambition . iulius commanded vnder great paine that none obeyed them ; the next yéere he called a councell . the french king seeing the pope take part with the uenetians against him , called a councell at thurin , in which councell they agréed , that the pope ought not to war against any prince without cause : and that it was lawfull for the king to defend himselfe against him , and that vniust excommunications were not to bée feared . after the king sent to the pope the decrées of the councell , who accursed the french king , with all his kingdome : and the next yeare after this warlike pope dyed . the lamentable handling of richard hvn , who was priuily murdered in lolards tower in london . hvn had a child died in his house , the curate claiming the bearing-shéet for a mortuar● , hun answered ; the infant had no property therein , whereupon he was cited to the spirituall court ; he sued the curate in a premunire , and then the priests of mallice accused him of heresie , and brought him to lolards tower , where he was found dead , hanging by the necke in a girdle of silke . the bishop of london called richard fitziames and doctor horsey , his chancelor said ●e hanged himselfe ; and the temporalty said he was murdered : the coronor summoned a iury , and viewed the body , and many times they were with the kings councell , and heard their opinions , but in the mean season the bishop burnt the dead carkase in smithfield , to the abhomination of the people : but after the matter had bee●e heard by the kings iudges , and after by the kings councell , the king being present ; at las● doctor horsey the chancelor , and one charles the bel-ringer of pauls , an● ioseph the bishops somner , were indicted of murder , and the said charles being in the tower of london , of his owne frée will said ; that maister chancelor deuised and wrote with his own hand all the heresies that were laid to huns charge , and that when richard hunne was slaine , iohn bell-ringer bare vp a waxe candle , and i went next to him and maister chancelor came vp last , and hunne was lying in his bed : and maister chancelor said , lay hands on the theefe , and so all we murdered him , and i put the girdle about his necke , and iohn bell-ringer and i did heaue him vp , and maister chancelor pulled the girdle ouer the staple , and so hun was hanged . the said charles , told iulian little his maid , he killed him by putting a wyer vp into his nose . before that time the chanceller commaunded to be put vpon huns necke a great coller of iron , with a great chaine , which is to heauy for any man or beast to weare , and long to endure . and before huns death , the chanceller came into the lolards tower , and kneeled downe before hunne , holding vp his hands and asked him forgiuenesse ▪ of all he had done and must doe to him . and on the sonday before the night in which he was destroyed , he caused the penitentiary of paules to go to hun and say a gospell , and make for him holy water , and holy bread , and giue him , which was done . the bishop did all he could by word or writing to the king and cardinals , and the councell ▪ to smother the matter , affirming that he hanged himselfe , and that the iury was forsworne , and that the said charles spoke that which he had done as before , by reason of durance of imprisonment : and that if the king and councel should fauour this matter , he should not be able to goe abroad for heretickes ; and by the meanes of him , and the spiritualty , and money , the chancelor caused the kinges atturney to confesse on his arraignement , him not to be guilty : so he escaped to excester , and for shame neuer durst after come to london . the historie of doctor vvesalianvs . this wesalia was complained vpon to piorherus archbishop of mentz , by the thomists , which is an order holding of thomas de aquino . the bishop made him answer , he should giue vp all his workes and writings which he had made and preached . this being done , they deuided them amongst themselues , that euery man might finde out what errours and heresies they could . his articles and opinions were these : that all men be saued fréely and through méere grace by faith in christ iesus : frée-will to be nothing ; only that we should beléeue the word of god , and not the glosse of any man or fathers : that the word of god is to be expounded by the collation of one place with another : that prelats haue no authoritie to make lawes or expound the scriptures , by any peculiar right more then another : that mens traditions , as fastings , feasts , long prayers , pilgrimations , and such like are to be reiected . extream vnction and confirmation to be reproued , confession and satisfaction to be reprehended : the primacy of the pope he also affirmed to be nothing . upon which articles this wesalia by a generall assembly was condemned , and his books to be burned . he bring required of the councell , what he thought of the uicar of christ in earth ? he said he beléeued that christ left no such uicar in earth : for ascending into heauen hee said , behold i am with you &c. by which wordes hee declared that he would substitute vnder him no uicar in earth : for a uicar signifieth one who in the absence of the principall hath to doe the workes of the principall . and being asked his opinion of indulgences and pardons : he said he beleeued that the treasure-boxe of the merits of saints could not be distributed of the pope to others , because their treasure is not left here on earth : for it is written in the reuelation , their works follow them ; and that their merits could not be applied to other men , for the satisfaction of their paine due to them : and he called indulgences and pardons pias fraudes fidelium . and being asked the question , he said , he thought that hallowing of altars , chalics , uestments , war candles , palmes , hearbes , holy water , and other diuine things , made them haue no spirituall power in them to driue away any diuells , and that holy water had no more efficacie then other water , concerning remission of veniniall sinnes and driuing away diuels , and other effects which the schoole doctors attribute vnto it . after these articles were condemned by the inquisitor and his assistants , hee said , as you doe with me , if christ himselfe were here he might be condemned as an hereticke : but within thrée or foure dayes , with much perswasions , he was content to condiscend vnto them , and submit himselfe to their holy mother church . doctor veselvs . this veselus and the foresaid vesalianus were great friends : and when vesalianus was condemned , this veselus thought that the inquisitor would also examine him . he was so worthy a man , that the people called him luxmundi . he reprehended the papists doctrines of the diuision of repentance , and purgatorie , and workes of supererogation , and pardons , and indulgences , and disputed against them at rome and at paris ; so that many of the popes court perswaded by him , began to speake more freely and more boldly against these matters then himselfe did : hee disallowed the abuses of the masses , prayers for the dead , and the supremacie of the pope , and that no such supreme head ouer all others ought to bee in the world : and that the pope hath no authoritie to command , but so farre as truth goeth with him , and that hee ought not to preuaile by commanding , but by teaching that the pope and the prelates proceeding against christes doctrine , are plaine antichristes . hee said those priestes that had vowed not to marrie , and were not able to bee chaste might breake there vow . hee said that their forefathers before albert and thomas did resist the popes indulgences , and called them idolatry , fraude and errour : in his booke de subditis & superioribus ; he disputeth against the pope , and his prelates : affirming , except their faith be sound , they are not to bee obayed , and that the pope may erre , and men ought to resist him therein , that superfluous riches in the clergy doe not profit but hurt . that the pope doth wickedly distribute the rents of the church , and the church itselfe to vnworthy ministers by symony for hir own profit : whereby it appeareth hee careth not for god nor the church : that the precepts of the pope and pr●lates binde no farther then the precepts of physitions , that is so farre as they bee holsome , and stand with the truth of the word ; that the pope can command nothing vnder paine of deadly sinne , but what god commandeth : the kingdome of heauen , is rather shut then opened by the popes keyes , as the pharisies did : that the hearers ought to discerne and iudge the doctrine of the prelates , and not to receiue all things they say without due examination . hee prophesied to iohn ostendorpius , well my childe thou shalt liue to that day , that the doctrine of these new and contentious diuines of thomas and bonaventvre , with other of that sort , shall bee vtterly reiected from true christian diuines : and hee often disputed of the righteousnesse of faith , and why saint paul did so often inculcate that men be iustified by faith and not by workes , that all men were deceiued who attributed to traditions any opinion of gods worship , or that they could not in any wise be violated or broken . martin lvther . thus proceeding in our storie ( by the ayde of christ ) we approach vnto the time of martin luther ; at what time it pleased god by his great mercie to reforme the desolate ruines of religion by the industrie of this luther , sent & set vp by the mightie spirit of christ , to abolish the abuses and pride of antichrist , which so long had abused the simple flocke of christ. many prophesies went before of this time , as of the aforesaid prophesie of iohn hus and ierome of prage , that a hundred yeares come and gone they should giue account to god and him . this prophesie was in the yeare one thousand foure hundred and fifteene ; so to this time one thousand fiue hundred and sixteene was iust an hundred yeares . philip melancton maketh mention of a monke about fiftis years before this time , named iohn hilton , in thuring , who was cast into prison for speaking against certaine abuses of the place and order where he liued : and being weake and feeble , hee desired the warden of the couent to respect his wofull case ; he rebuked him for that which he had spoken : he said he had spoken nothing preiudiciall to their monkerie or religion , but there shall come one in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and sixteene , which shall vtterly subuert all monkerie , and they should neuer be able to resist him . the angell falling from the high pinicle of the popes church into the riuer tybris in the yeare . might well portend the ruine of the pope . and the strange sight in germany as before in the yeare . of the crosses seene vpon mens garments , and figures of c●ownes of thornes , and of nailes , and of drops of bloud fell from heauen , that many daies after the women carried them vpon their garments , might declare the like . likewise the other dreame of iohn husse as before : how that some abolished the images of christ in his church of bethelem : but next day new painters painted the same , and more images of christ , and fairer , and the painters with the multitude of the people said , now let the bishoppes and priests put out these images if they can , whereby much people reioiced , and i arising vp felt my selfe to laugh : he interpreted the painting of christs picture , his preaching of christ which should be destroyed , and the other painters new preachers , whose doctrines the bishops and priests should not bee able to resist . by these and such like prophesies it was euident , that the time of restoring the church was not farre , as also the hearts of the people , which at that time were inflamed so with hatred against the pompe and pride of rome , and there contempt and derision beganne to arise on euery side , for there de●estable doings were not so secret , but they were seene and abhorred . wherevpon grew many prouerbes of derision : as , what is this to see the world round about , for that these shauelling priests none may rout . it is a saying in italy , as soone as a priest receiueth r●sure the diuell entereth into him . it is a saying in germany , the neerer rome the further from god : and that all euill beginneth in nomine domine , alluding vnto the popes bulles : and when bulles come from rome binde well pour purses . he that goeth once to rome séeth a wicked man : hee that goeth twice knoweth him , he that goeth thrice bringeth him home with him . the court of rome neuer regardeth the sheepe without the wooll . once were wooden chalices , and golden priests : now we haue golden chalices and wooden priests . once christians had blind churches , & light hearts : now they haue light churches , and blind hearts . many are worshipped for saints in heauen , whose soules bee burning in hell. it was a saying in france foure hundred ye●res before this time , that satan was let loose at rome to destroy the whole church . thomas becke● writ to the cardinals , that it was a common prouerb , that there is no right in rome . by these and such like innumerable sayings it doth appeare what iudgements the people had in those dayes of the romish clergy , which was of god as a secret prophesie , that religion should bee restored shortly , as it came to passe in this yeare one thousand fiue hundred and sixteene : in which yeare doctor martine lvther first beganne to write : before whom picus mirandola , and laurentius valla , and last of all erasmus roterodamus had somewhat broken the way before , and had shaken the monkes houses , but lvther gaue the stroke , and plucked downe the foundation , all by opening one veine long hid before , wherein lyeth the touchstone of all truth and doctrine : as the onely origine of our saluation , which is our free iustification by our faith only in christ : the laborious trauels and constant preachings of this worthy man : because they are at large in the history of iohn sleydan , i neede not to stand thereon . luther was borne in isleben in saxony , hee was a student in the uniuersitie of magd●burge and erford : where veselus was an old man , as before is mentioned : of whom it seemeth to bee that luther speaketh of an old man there , of whom hee learned many things touching faith , and hee thus expressed vnto him the article of remission of sinnes : wee may now generally beleeue onely , that sinnes are , and haue been remitted to some , as the diuels beléeue they were remitted to peter , or dauid , but that gods expresse commandement is , that euery man should beléeue particularly his sinnes are forgiuen : and this is confirmed by saint bernard , in his sermon vpon the annunciation , adde that thou beléeuest thy sinnes are forgiuen thée ; this is the testimonie that the holy ghost giueth thee in thy heart : and this is that the apostle saith , a man is freely iustified by faith : by whose words luther said hee was strengthned , and at last by prayer and reading he perceiued that doctrine more euidently . after hee began to expound the epistle to the romanes and the psalmes , so diuinely that hee seemed to all the faithfull and learned a shining light , which beganne to cleere after the long cloudy sky ; hee shewed the difference betwixt the lawe and the gospell : hee confounded the errour that then raigned in the schooles and sermons , teaching that men merite remission of sinnes by their proper workes , and were iust before god by outward discipline , as th● pharisies taught . but luther expressely shewed that sinnes are freely remitted for the loue of the sonne of god , and that wee ought faithfully to embrace this bountifull gift : his life was likewise correspondent to his profession , whereby it appeared his words were not lip-labour , but proceeded from the heart , whereby many notable personages consented with him in his opinions : at this time luther altered nothing in the ceremonies , but taught this onely doctrine as the principall of all others ; to wit , the doctrine of repentance , of remission of sinnes , of faith of true comfort in time of aduersitie , euery man receiued good taste of this sweet doctrine . a dominick frier named tecell , caused the popes indulgences to be carried and sold about the coontre● . luther beeing moued with the blasphemous sermons of this shamelesse frier , set vp certaine positi●ns against indulgences openly vpon the temples : this frier hoping to obtaine the popes blessing , assembled certaine monkes , and sophisticall diuines , and commaunded them to write something against luther , and in his sermons , he taught that luther was an heretick , and worthy to bee burned , and he burned luthers positions , and the sermon he writ against indulgences : this forced luther to intreat more amply of things and to maintaine the truth . frederick duke of saxony , in the presence of the emperor , besought erasmus , his opinion , if luther had erred , he answered his opinions were good , but he desired he would moderate his stile . now luther , the plainer to expresse the doctrine of repentance , of remission of sinnes , of faith and of indulgences , hee added also these matters ; the difference of diuine and humane lawes ; the doctrine of the vse of the lords supper , of baptisme and vowes ; touching the question of the popes power , eckius was the author thereof , to the intent to inflame the wrath of the pope and princes against luther . upon this the supper of the lord was published to be vsed in both kindes : priuate masse was omitted , and the monasteries abandoned , but this alteration was by carolastadius in the absence of luther . he held in contempt the seditious doctors of that time , as monetarius and the anabaptists , but especially the hor●ed bishops of rome , who arrogantly affirmed that saint peter had not onely the charge to teach the gospell , but to gouerne common-weales . in the yeare of our lord one thousand fiue hundred and one and twenty , luther entred into wormes being sent for by the emperour charles the fift king of spaine , and arch-duke of austrich , who in the first yeare of his empire made an assembly of princes in his regall citie . and whereas luther had published three yéeres before , certaine new propositions to be disputed on at wittenberge , against the tyrannie of the pope , which were torne in péeces and burned by the papistes . wherevpon , they began to tend to vprore , and yet luther maintained openly his cause against the clergy : wherevpon by the solicitation of the romaine legates , lvther was sent for by the herauld of armes , with letters of safe conduct by the emperour and princes : wherevpon hee came as before and was visited of many earles , barons , knights , gentlemen , priests and the comminaltie , who frequented his lodging vntill night . he came contrarie to the expectation of many , and of his aduersaries ; for they thought he would not come , because his bookes a few dayes before were condemned by publique proclamations , and many perswaded him not to submit himselfe to any danger : who answerd , since i am sent for , i am resolued to enter into worms , in the name of our lord iesus christ , though i knew there were so many diuels to resist me , as there be tiles to couer the houses in wormes . the fourth or fift day after he came to wormes , he was enioyned at foure of the clock in the afternoone , to appeare before the emperor , dukes , and other estates of the empire , to vnderstand the cause he was sent for . and standing before them , he was commanded silence vntill he was interrogated . then was asked him , whether those books were his which were written in his name , a great company of them lying before them ? and if they were thine , whether thou wilt recant , and reuoke them , and all that is contained in them , or rather meanest to stand to that which is written in them ? then luthers aduocate desired that the titles of the books might be read , which was done . luther answered , hée could not but acknowledge those bookes to be his , and that he would neuer recant any clause thereof : and for the iustifying of them he desired some time to consider , because there be questions of faith , and the saluation of the soule , wherein it were dangerous , and a rash thing to pronounce any thing without good aduisement . after they had consulted , the officiall said , though thou doest not deserue to haue opportunity giuen thée to determine , yet the emperour of his méere clemencie g●anteth thée one day : to morrow at this time thou shalt render before him ; conditionally , thou do not exhibit thine opinion in writing , but pronounce the same with liuely voyce . at which time , when he was appointed to answer , he answered to this effect ; all my books are not of one sort : there be some in which i haue so simplie and euangelically intreated of the religion of faith and honest conuersation , that my very enemies are compelled to confesse they be profitable , and worthy to be read of all christians ; and the popes bull iudgeth certaine of my books inculpable : if i should reuoke these , i should condemne that truth which friends and foes confesse . there is another sort of my books , which containe inuectiues against the pope and doctrine of the papists , as against those which haue corrupted all christendom bodily and spiritually , with their pestiferous doctrine , and pernicious examples : for i cannot dissemble this , when the vniuersall experience and common complaint of all beare witnesse , that the consciences of all faithfull men haue béen most miserably intrapped , vexed , and most cruelly tormented by the popes lawes , and doctrine of men : and further , their substance deuoured , specially in this famous countrey of germanie . if then i should reuoke these , i can doe none other but augment force to their tyrannie , and not only open windowes but wide gates to such an infernall impietie , the which will extend more wide and with more libertie then yet she durst , and by the testimonie of this my retractation , their insolent and malitious kingdome shall be made most licentious , and lesse subiect to punishment , if i luther should do this by the authoritie of your most excellent maiestie . the third sort of my books i haue written against priuat persons , such as with tooth and nayle labor to protect the romish tyrannie , and deface true religion , which i haue taught and professed ; i confesse , against these i haue been more violent then my profession required : if i should recant these , it would come to passe that tyranny and impietie shall raigne , s●pported by my meanes . ● neuerthelesse , as christ when he was examined of his doctrine before annas , and hauing receiued a buffet of the minister , said , if i haue spoken ill , beare witnesse of the euill . if christ , which was assured he could not erre , refused not to haue testimony giuen against his doctrine , how much more i that cannot but erre , ought earnestly to intreat , if any will beare witnesse against my doctrine : and if any can by scripture conuince me of error , i will reuoke any manner of error , and be the first that shall consume my books with fire . i conceiue no greater delectation in any thing then when i behold dissentions stirred vp for the word of god ; for such is the course of the gospell , as christ saith , i came not to send peace vpon the earth but a sword : i came to set a man at variance against his father . and we must thinke our god is terrible in his councels against his aduersaries , lest the condemning of the word of god turne to a huge sea of euils , lest the empire of this yong and bounteous prince charles bee lamentably and miserably begun . i could amplifie this with authorities of scripture , and pharo , the king of babylon , and the kings of israell , who then most obscured the bright sunne of their glorie , and procured their owne ruine , when they attempted to pacifie their realmes in this manner . then the emperours ambassador checked luther , saying , he had not answered to any purpose , and that he ought not to call in question things long time agoe defined by generall councels : therefore they required whether he would reuoke or no. then he answered , if i be not conuicted by testimonies of scriptures and probable reasons ( for i beléeue not the pope nor his generall councels ) i will not nor may not reuoke any thing : for it is vngodly to doe against my conscience . then the embassador replied ; if all such as impugne that which was decréed by the church and councels may once get this aduantage , to be conuinced by the scriptures , we shall haue nothing established in christ●ndom . luther answered , the councells oft gainsaid themselues , and that he was able to proue that councels haue erred : and night approaching , the lords arose ; and after luther had taken his leaue of the emperor , diuers spaniards scorned and scoffed at him , hollowing and whopping after him a long time . after , there were bills set vp against luther , and others with him : but this was subtilly done of his enemies , as it was thought , that there might be occasion offered to infringe the safe conduct giuen him , the which the romane embassador with all diligence indeuoured to bring to passe . when he was sent for to the archbishop of triers , they protested vnto him they sent not for him for disputation , but beningly and brotherly to exhort him : and they said , though the councels had erred , yet their authoritie was not thereby abased , neither was it lawfull for euery man to impugne their opinions , and that decrées , traditions of men , and ceremonies were established to represse vices according to the qualities of times , and that the church could not be destitute of them . the trée is knowne by his fruits . these lawes haue much profited . and they alleadged that luthers books would breed great tumult and incredible troubles , and that he abused the common sort , with his booke of christian liberty , incouraging them to shake off their yoake , and to confirme in them a disobedience , and that now the world was at another stay then when the beleeuers were all of one minde . and albeit he had written many good things , and doubtlesse with a good spirit , yet now the diuell hath attempted by wily meanes that all his works for euermore should be condemned : and by these last workes , it is easie to know the tree by the fruit , not by the blossomes , often repeating in his oration that this admonition was giuen of singular good will and great clem●ncie : in the shutting vp of his oration he added menasings , that if he would abide in his purposed intent , the emperour would exterminate him his empire . luther answered to this effect , that the councell of constance had erred in condemning this article of iohn hus , that the church of christ is the communion of the predestinat , and that we ought rather to obey god then man. there is an offence of faith , and an offence of charitie : the slander of charity consisteth in manners and life , the offence of faith and doctrine consisteth in the word of god ; and they commit this offence which make not christ the corner stone . and if christs sheepe were fed with the pure pasture of the gospell , and the faith of christ sincerely preached , and if there were good eclesiasticall magistrates who duely executed their office , wee should not néede to charge the church with mens traditions . and that hee knew and taught , that wee ought to obay the higher powers , how peru●rsly soeuer they liued , so that they inforce vs not to deny the word of god. then they admonished him to submit himselfe to the emperour and the empires iudgment , hee answered hee was well content , so that this were done with authority of the word of god , and that he would not giue place except they taught sound doctrine by the word of god , and that st. augustine writeth , hee had learned to giue honor onely to the canonicall bookes of the scripture , and touching other doctors , though they excell in holin●sse , and learning hee would not credit them vnlesse they pronouced truth , and st. paule saith , proue all things , follow that which is good , and againe , if an angell teach otherwise let him bee accursed , finally , hee meekely besought them not to vrge his conscience , captiued in the bands of the word of god , to deny that excellent word . after the arch-bishop sent for luther to his chamber , and tould him for the most part that at all times holy scriptures haue ingendred errors , and went about to ouerthrow this proposition that the catholike church is the communion of saints , presuming of cockle to make wheate , and of bodily excrements to compact members ; martin luther and one ierome schu●ffe his companion reproued their follies . hee was oftentimes assayled to reforme the censure of his bookes vnto the emperour and empire , or to the generall councell , which he was content to doe , so they would iudge them according to the word of god , otherwise not , aleaging the words of the prophet , trust you not in princes , nor in the children of men wherein is no health , also , cursed be hee that trusteth in men : and when newes came hee should returne home , hee sayd , euen as it hath pleased god so it is come to passe , the name of the lord be blessed , and sayd , hee thanked the emperour and princes that they had giuen him gracious audience and graunted him safe conduct to come and returne , and said hee desired in his heart they were reformed according to the sacred word of god , and sayd , hee was content to suffer any thing in himselfe for the emperour , but only the word of god he would constantly confesse vnto the latter end : about a yeare after this , luther dyed , when hee had liued almost thrée score and thrée yeares , and had béene doctor thrée and thirty yeares , hee sayd at his death , o heauenly , eternall and mercifull father , thou hast manifested in mee thy deare sonne christ , i haue taught and knowne him . i loue him as my life , health , and redemption , whom the wicked persecuted , maligned , and iniured , drawe my soule to thée , and sa●d thrise , i commend my spirit into thy hands , thou hast redéemed me , god so loued the world , that hee gaue his onely sonne that all that beleeue in him should haue eternall life , and so he dyed , whose death was much lamented : in the yeare . the aforesaid french king receaued from pope leo a iubile , and pardons to be sould , and so in england vnder the pretence of warre against the turke , they perswaded the people , that whosoeuer would giue tenne shillings should deliuer his soule from the paine of purgatory , but if it lacked any thing of tenne shillings it would profit them nothing : at that time martin luther was in germany , who vehemently inueyed against these indulgences , aga●nst whom iohn eckius put forth himselfe , they disputed before the people , at last eyther of their arguments were sent to paris to bee iudged by the sorbonists , the iudgment was long protracted : in the meane time pope leo condemned luther for heresie and excommunicated him , he appealed to the next councell . pope leo commanded luthers bookes to bee burned openly , luther also burned the popes decrees and decretalls in the uniuersity of wittenberge . in the yeere . the pope hauing crea●ed one and thirty cardinalls , thunder , and lightening so strake the church where the cardinalls were created that it stroke the little child iesus out of the lappe of his mother , and the keyes out of st. peters hands , being images in the church of rome . in the yeare . newes was brought to pope leo at supper , that the frenchmen were driuen out of italy , hee reioycing said god hath giuen me thrée things , i returned from banishment with glory to florence , i haue deserued to bee called apostolike , and thereby i haue driuen the frenchmen out of italy , as soone as he had spoken hee was stricken with a suddaine feuer and dyed shortly after . what godly man hath there euer beene for this fiue hundred yeares , either vertuously disposed or excellently learned , which hath not disproued the misordered and corrupt examples of the sea and bishop of rome from time to time vntill the comming of luther , yet none euer could preuaile before the comming of this man , the cause to bee supposed is this , other men spake but against the pompe , pride , whoredome , and auarice of the pope , luther went further with him , charged him with his doctrine , not picking at the rine , but plucking vp the roote , charging him with plaine heresie , as resisting against the blood of christ , for whereas the gospell leadeth vs to bee iustified onely by the worthinesse of christ and his bloud , the pope teacheth vs to séeke our saluation by mans merits , and deseruings by workes , whereupon rose all the religious sects , some professing one thing , some another , euery man seeking his owne righteousnes ▪ but luther opened the eyes of many which before were drowned in darkenesse , to behold that glorious benefit , of the great liberty & frée iustification set vp in christ iesus , but the more glorious this benefit appeared to the world , the greater persecution followed the same , and where the elect tooke most comfort of saluation , the aduersaries tooke most vexation , according as christ sayd , i came not to send peace but a sword , therefore so great persecutions in all the world followed after luther , but in no place more then in england as shall be declared . in the yeare . one cardinall campeius was sent as ambassador into england , to gather money for warre against the turke , the cardinall of yorke caused him to send to rome that hee might be ioyned in legacie with him , and sent him red cloth for his seruants , that he might come mo●e gloriously ; at euery towne hee was receiued with procession , accompanied with lords and gentlemen : at black heath the duke of northfolke , with a number of prelates , knights , and gentlemen met him richly appareled , and in the way hee was brought into a tent of cloth of gould , where b● put on his cardinalls robes and tooke his mule towards london , this cardinall had eyght mules laden , the cardinall of yorke , thinking them not sufficient for his state , sent him twelue mules more w t empty coffers couered with red , the next day these twelue mules were led through the citty as though they had beene laden with treasure and other necessaries , to the great admiration of all men , but passing through cheapeside , the people pressing to behold them , one of the mules broke his coller and ranne vppon the other mules , and they running together , ouerthrew diuers of their burthens , and so there shewed the cardinalls treasure , with great laughter and scorne o● many , and the boyes and girles gathered vp peeces of meate and bread and rosted egges , horse showes and old store of such baggage , crying out , behold here is my lord cardinalls treasure , and the mulers greatly ashamed , gathered vp their treasure as well as they could and went forward , then hee was brought to the cardinall of yorke , and then to the king , this cardinall of yorke , at all times at dinner and supper was serued with his seruitoures kneeling , and many noble men of england wayted vppon him , such was his monstrous pride . such as were forced to abiure in king , henry the eyght his raigne , after the first begining of luther , because there is a great many , and nothing but their bare name ricited , i referre thee to the booke at large . ihon coines alias laueland was detected for contemning the sacrament of the altar , and because he receaued not at easter , who after died at st. martins . robert ward shoomaker of st. brids parish in fleetstreet detected by thrée wittnesses for holding opinions against the sacrament of the altar died in the counter of ●redstreet . mathew ward , marchant-venturer , committed to the counter in breadstreet , for that he being priest , was married , and kept company with his wife , and because he was a sacramentary , and despised auriculer confession , and priuate masses , and defended the communion to bee ministred to the lay people in both kinds , and maintaining that priests ought to haue wiues . herman peterson , and iames gossen , taylers , duch-men , were committed to the counter in breadstréete , because the said iames was not confessed in lent , nor receiued at easter , which he said came by the counsell of the said herman , which councelled him rather to giue thrée or foure pence to the poore then to be shrieuen . thomas lancaster , imprisoned in the counter in the poultry , for bringing in prohibited bookes . iohn wilcocke , a scottish frier , committed to the fléete , for preaching against confession and holy-water , against praying to saints , and against purgatory ; that priests might haue wiues , and that the people ought not to pray for soules departed . also , iohn goodale was prisoner there . nicholas south , committed to newgate , for not being shrieuen in lent , nor receiued at easter . there was apprehended for heresie in couentry , robert hatchets , shomaker , one wrigsham , a glouer ; one lansd●ll , a hosier , with thrée others : and one mistris smith , a widdow , because they taught their children and families the lords praier , the beleefe , and the ten commandements in english ; they were imprisoned , some in places vnder-ground , some in chambers , and other places : after they were sent to blackstocke abbey , where they were imprisoned whilst they were there ; their children were sent for before one stafford , warden of the gray-fryers in couentry , who examined them of their beleefe , and what errors their fathers had taught them , charging them vpon paine of death , which their fathers should suffer , that they no waies meddle with the pater-noster , creede , and ten commandements in english , which is heresie . after their fathers were brought againe to couentry , where foure yeares before they had borne faggots in the church and market . the bishops and doctors , they and the said gentlewoman before them , who told them they should weare fagg●ts portraied in their cloaths , to signifie they were hereticks . robert hatchets answered , we desire no more but the lords prayer , ten commandements , and creed , in english , which i am sure euery christian ought to haue . wherupon they were iudged all to be burned , except the gentlewoman , who was pardoned : and because it was euening , and her sight dim , the somner offered to go home with her ; as he led her , he heard somewhat rattle in her sleene , and taking it from her , and looking vpon it , he found it was the lords prayer , the creed , and ten commaundements in english ; so he brought her backe againe to the bishop , where she was presently condemned , and burned with the sixe before . there was another in couentry , called robert silkes , which escaped from taking , and two yeares after was taken in kent , and sent to couentry and burned . then the sheriffes went to their houses , and tooke all their goods and chattels to their owne vse , leauing their wiues and children nothing to liue by . henry voz and iohn escy , two yong austen fryers , were disgraded , because they would not deny the doctrin of the gospel , called lutheranisme , & they thanked god for deliuering them from that abhominable priesthood , and making them priests of his holy order , and that he had receiued them as a sacrifice of a sweet odor . the greatest error they were accused of , was , that men ought only to trust in god , because mē are lyers . they went ioyfully to the place of execution , protesting they died for the glory of god , and the gospell , beleeuing in the sonne of god , saying ; this is the day we long desired , being in their shirts , they ioyfully imbrased the stake , praysing god , singing psalmes , and making testimony of their faith. a doctor seeing their iolity , bid them take heed so foolishly to glorifie themselues : they answered , god forbid we should glory in any thing but the crosse of christ : another councelled them to haue god before their eies ; they answered , we trust we carry him truly in our hearts . when the fire was kindled at their feete , one of them said ; me thinkes you strew roses at my feete ▪ henry being demaunded whether luther had seduc●d him ? yea said he , as christ seduced his apostles . he said also , that it was contrary to gods law , that the cleargy should be exempt from the iurisdiction of the christian magistrate , and that byshops haue no power but only to preach the word of god. they were burned at bruxels , after their death their monastery was dissolued at antwerp . their president was called iacobus lutherianus , he was forced to recant , but his mind renewed by the holy ghost , and he fled to luther . a scholler borne at abbevile , in king lewis his pallace , tooke away the host from the priest at masse and brake it in peeces , and trode it vnder his feete . he was burned in the swine-market , the peeces of the host and the pauement whereon it was trodden , were gath●red and laid vp amongst the treasures of the pallace . after adrianus the sixt , who succeeded iulius , came pope clement . whose life is in one verse described ; bellorum hic fomes , cunctorum lerna malorum , he was poisoned with diuers of his cardinals & familiars with the smoak of torches . in his time wro●e nicholas michiauellus , who proueth ; that through y ● ambition of popes procéedeth almost all euils & wars amongst christian men , and that before the yeare . in all politick affaires , the bishop of rome euer obayed the emperors and kings , & that the cardinals , in the first beginning of them , were nothing but popish priests : but after they inuaded the temporall and spirituall iurisdiction , vsurping aboue kings and emperors . by thrée manner of waies the romain bishops did créep vp , by excommunications , by indulgences , and force of armes . in this yeare the turk wrote to the maister of the rhodes , to deliuer vp the isle as followeth . solimanus tsaccus , king of kings , and lord of lords , most mighty emperor of constantinople and trapezuntis , &c. unto the reuerend father philip vilerius liladamus , great maister of the rhodes , to his knights and the communalty there : the pitty of my afflicted people , and your extreame iniuries , moue me . i command your speedy surrender of your ile of rhodes , you may obtaine our grace to depart with your riches : or if you will remaine in our dominion , your liberty shall not be diminished , either in religion , or paying of tribute : if you be wise , preferre peace before cruell war : if you be ouercome , looke for extreame cruelty , from which neither your force , forraigne ayde , nor your wals shall defend you . i sweare , by god , the maker of heauen and garth , by the foure histo●●ographers of the euangelicall histories , by the . prophets that came from heauen , and by our mighty god mahomet , aboue all others to be worshipped , and the spirits of my father and grand-father , and by this my sacred , royall , and imperiall head , from our palace at constantinople . the very same yeare the island of rhodes was lost , and yéele●d to the turke , to the great hindrance of all christendome . henry sudphen , was desired of the cittizens of breame , to come thither to preach : when they had heard him , they hyred him to bee their preacher : when the religious rout vnderstood thereof , they desired of the senate that such an heretike might be banished the towne , which preached against the catholike church . the senate sent for the head men of the parish , and shewed them the complaint of the religious men . they answered ; they knew no other but that hee was a learned honest preacher : yet if they can proue that he taught any thing contrary to the word of god , they will be ready with them to persecute him , otherwise wee will not suffer him of malice to be driuen away . the senate certified the religio●s of this answer , then they certified the byshop thereof , who sent two of his councel to breame for the preacher : they receiued this answere of the senators ; that being he was hyred of the church-wardens , and was not conuicted of heresie , they could not obtaine of the cittizens that he should be carried away . wherefore they desired the byshop , that he would send his learned men to dispute with him , and if he were conuinced he should be punished , else he● should not depart . after when newes came that he preached more and more haynous ma●ter against the religious . then they admonished the cittizens of br●ame , into what ieoperdy their common-wealth might fall by their preachers preaching , contrary to the decrées of the pope and emperour . further , they said , the preacher was the prisoner of the lady margaret , and got letters of her to require her prisoner , but all would not serue . then the byshop decreed a prouinciall councell to be holden at bream● , which was accustomed to be at bucksted , whereunto this henry was called , but the cittizens detained him at home : then henry gathered a summe of his doctrine into a few articles , and sent it with his letters vnto the arch●bishop , offering if he were conuicted of any error by the word of god , he would bee readi● to recant . but shortly after the religious set vpon the church-porch the bull of pope leo the tenth , and the decrée of the emperour , made at wormes , notwithstanding , he procéeded daily in preaching the gospell . the papists sent their chaplaines to euery sermon , to trap him in his wordes , whereby many of them were conuerted , and the greater part of those that were sent , did openly witnesse his doctrine was gods truth , against which no man could contend , and such as in all their liues they had not heard , and that they must beléeue the same , if they would be saued . at last this henry was sent for by letters , by the parishoners of m●ldrophe , to preach the gospell to them , and deliuer them out of the bo●dage of antichrist , and because he had preached two yeare at breame , and that there were men sufficiently instructed in the gospell to build further : and that the papists there , were for the most part vanquished , and that their folly was knowne euen to women and children , and that diedmar liued without a pastor in the midst of wolues , he could not with a safe conscience deny their requests . when he came thither he was ioyfully rec●iued of the parish-priest , and others : the papists hearing hereof , before he had preached , stormed and fumed , especiallie the prior of the black monastery , who went to the officiall , to take councell what was to be done , least they lose their kingdome , they tooke councell to withstand the beginning , that he might not haue leaue to preach , least their crafts and wickednesses being laid open , it were folly after to resist , remembring what happened at breame . the next day early in the morning , the prior , with the chancelor , went to the forty eight presidents , being vnlearned men , and perswaded them what a seditious fellow was come from breame ▪ and there-withall , if they would put him to death , what fauour they should haue of the byshop of breame , whereupon they decréed he should be put to death . further , they had letters from the forty eight presidents vnto the parish-priest , commaunding him vnder great paine , that he● should send away the said henry without preaching . the priest maruelled at their meddling in such matters , being it belonged not to them , but the parish-priest onely to receiue and put out a preacher : and shewing this to henry , hee said he was sure hee must dye for the gospell , and it was as neare to heauen to dye there , as in another place : and being he was sent for , and was sure it would be gratefull to the people , he resolued to preach : and after the sermon , the whole congregation be wayled , called together the priors , deliuered them the letter from the presidents , and that they should be fined a thousand gildrons , if they suffered him to preach . they were moued , because it was against the custome of their country as aforesaid : yet they concluded to keepe henry for their preacher , and defend him . in the after noone hee preached againe , the next day the cittizens sent ambassadours to the presidents , offering to answer all causes for their preacher , and they declared what godly sermons he had preached , and the parish-priest wrote to excuse himselfe , that henry neuer intended sedition , but to preach the word truly , and offered himselfe ready to answere for the saide henry whensoeuer he should be called : most earnestli● desiring not to credit the monkes , which being blinde with hatred and auarice , would suppresse the truth . after he preached three forenoones and afternoones , and taught cleerelie iustification to bee onely by faith in christ , and not by workes , they all reioyced , and desired god that he would send such a preacher to continue amongst them . finally , this prior and others determined to take this henry by night , and burn him before the people should know it . all the presidents and others that were in this conspiracy , assembled in the parish of the new church , in the councelors house . they assembled aboue . men of the country , the husband-men would haue gone backe againe when they kn●w the matter , but the presidents compelled them to stay , and to incourage them gaue them thrée barrels of hamborow beare : at midnight they came in armour , the monkes prepared them torches , they burst into the parish priests house , they tooke away all things , they fell vpon the parish priest , crying , kill the théefe ; they pulled him by the haire of the head out into the dirt ; then they runne vpon henry , drew him naked out of his bed , bound his hands hard behind him , and drew him to and fro so vnmercifully , that a cruell persecutor of the word cryed , let him alone . when they had led him almost all night barefooted vpon the ice , he desired a horse , because ●e was weary , and his féete sore cut , they laughed and mocked , saying ; must we hire an horse for an hereticke . when they brought him to the fire to be burned , a woman offered her selfe to suffer . stripes , and to giue them much money , so they would kéepe him in prison vntill he might plead his matter before the whole conuocation of the country : then they were more mad , threw downe the woman , trod her vnder féet , and beat henry vnmercifully ; one strucke him behind the head with a dagger , another struck him with a mace , othersome thrust him in the backe and raines , as often as he began to to speake : the chancelor cryed , go to boldly , good fellowes , truly god is pres●nt with vs. a franciscan fryer came to confesse him , to whom henry said ; what iniury did i euer do● you brother ? the fryer said ; neuer none , then hee saide , what should i confesse vnto you , that you can forgiue me ? when the fire still was kindled , it would not burne , yet they satisfied their minds on him , striking and pricking him with all kind of weapons : then they gat a lather and bound him to it , and cast him into the fire . when hee beganne to pray , and repeate his creede , one strucke him with his fist , saying ; thou shalt first be burned , after prate while thou wilt : another trode on his breast , and bound his neck so hard to the ladder , that the blood gushed out of his mouth , and the ladder being propped vp with a holbert , and slipping aside , the holbert runne through him : then one strucke him with a mace on the breast vntill he was dead , then they consumed the body in the fire . maister iohn castellane , doctor of diuinity , hauing truly preached the word of god at metz in loraine , and many other townes , and returning from th●nce , was taken prisoner by the cardinall of loraines men : whereupon they of metz tooke certaine of the cardinals subiects prisoners , at length , by meanes from the pope and otherwise , they were discharged , but iohn castellane was kept still prisoner , and most cruelly handled , but hee perseuered very constant in the saide doctrine : so they proceeded to the disgrading and cond●mning of him . euery ignorant man may see the horrible blindnesse of these vnshamefull beasts , by their hor●ible blasphemies and brutish subtilty , which they vse in their processe against the children of god : the preamble whereof followeth in effect . for as much as thou art accused before the inquisitor , for maintaining false and erronious doctrine , and of thine owne good will hast confessed it : remembring also , the lamenta●le admon●●ions and charitable exhortations which wee made vnto thee in the towne of metz , which you , like the serpent aspis haue refused to heare , and considering thy answeres to our intergatories , in the which by diabolicall art thou hast hid and kept backe the truth , and followed the example of caine , in denying to conf●sse thy mischeeuous offence , and considering the great number of witnesses and worthy men that deposed against thee , before the reuerend man , doctor sauin , inquisitor , and hauing communicated our purpose vnto diuers most excellent maisters and doctors , which haue subscribed therevnto . whereby it appeareth , y ● thou iohn castellane hast oftentimes in diuers places openly taught many erroneous propositions full of the heresies of luther , against the catholike faith , the verity of the gospell , and the holy apostolike seate , & so accursedly looked back and turned thy face , that thou art found to be a lyer before almighty god : therefore according to the common law , such as through the sharpe darts of their venemous tongue doe peruert the scriptures , and goe about with all their power to peruert and corrupt the soules of the faithfull , should bee corrected with most cruell vengeance , to feare others to attempt the like , and that all may reioice in christian concord , all take example of goodnes : therefore hauing god onely before our eyes , and surely considering what measure wee doe mete vnto others , god will measure the like to vs againe : wee therefore pronounce sentence definitiue , and iudge thée excommunicate with the great excommunication , and to be culpable of treason against the diuine maiestie , and a mortall enemy of the catholicke church , and verity of the gospell , and to be a manifest heretick and follower of the execrable cruelty of martin luther , a stirrer vp of old heresies all already condemned , and so they disgraded him , and deliuered him to the seculer iudge . this done , the bishop , after a certaine manner , intreated the seculer iudge for him for the loue of god , and the contemplation of the gifts of pietie and mercie , for the respect of our prayers , that you will not doe any thing that shall be hurtfull vnto this miserable man , or tending to his death , or maiming of his body : then the seculer iudge condemned him to be burned quick , which he suffered most constantly , that not onely many ignorant people were thereby drawne to the knowledge of the verity , but a number , which had some taste thereof , were greatly confirmed . iohn oecolampadius reporteth , how a prince murdered a good pastor for preaching of the gospell , pretending hee was in a commotion : hee sent a c●uell gentleman with a number of men to hang this priest : they came to the priestes house and saluted him : the priest made them a great banquet , and bad them eate and drinke chéerefully : after dinner the gentleman told his followers they must hang the priest : they said , god forbid we should doe such a crime to hang one that hath intreated vs so gently , his good chéere not yet disgested in vs : the priest desired them rather to carry him to prison to there prince , and propounded vnto him the gentlenes that he had alwaies vsed to the gentlemen of the countrey in spending his goods to entertaine them , and aduertised him of the eternall to●ments which would follow an euill conscience , protesting he had faithfully taught the gospell , and the cause hee had the ill will of some , was for sharpely and openly reprouing the horrible vices of the gentlemen : the gentleman told him he should gaine nothing by preaching in such sort , for the prince had commaunded him to hang him , whose fauour hee would not loose , to saue his life , so they put him to death . oecolampadius reporteth of another godly priest that when he came to the true vnderstanding of the gospell : o god , said he , who would haue thought it that so many learned and holy men , haue wandred out of the right way , and haue so long time béen wrapped in errors , or that the holy scriptures had been defiled with such horrible abuses , for hee neuer vnderstood before that the gospell was the vertty of god , because it containeth much matter touching the crosse , persecution , & ignomy : after this good pastor began to preach the gospell there , but many which repined , that the gospell should be freely preached , caused him in the night to be taken by certaine souldiours , which bound him hand & foot , and set him vpon a horse , and led him vp & down by a great rope before his wife and children , & were not moued with their grieuous sighes and teares : after they had kept him long in prison , & that he had indured most terrible torments , as well by his priuy members , as other parts , they iudged him to deth , hauing no other cause against him , but that he had maried a wife : when the fryers troubled him about confession , he said he had already confessed his sins vnto the lord iesus , nothing doubting but that hee had receiued absolution of his sins ; and i said he shall this day be an acceptable sacrifice vnto my sauior iesus christ : for i haue done nothing for which i am condemned displeasing to god , which giueth me a a quiet conscience , and let them which thirst after bl●ud , consider that they offend him , who truely iudgeth the harts of men , who saith vengeance is mine and i will punish : i desire to die , i doe not much shorten my time , for i am so leane that my skin is scarce able to couer my bones , and i reioice in nothing but the crosse of christ iesus . some could not abide these exhortations , and made signes to the hangman to cast him into the riuer : after he was cast downe the riuer was red , which was a token that innocent bloud was shed : they that were present were greatly amazed therat , and returned home pensiue . an other history by oecolampadius : an honest man , when hee had wrongfully suffered most intollerable torments , for being in a commotion , and was condemned . a frier being brought vnto him , when he was taken out of the dungeon , and see the frier , hée cryed with a loude voice ; o miserable wretch that i am : now am i betrayed my last houre is at hand : the dreame which i dreamed this night will come to passe . the frier plucking out a woodden crosse , said poore man confesse thy sinnes in mine eare , and after thou hast receiued absolution at mine hands , doubt not but this day thou shalt goo stra●te to the kingdome of heauen : who answered , thou wicked frier get thée away from me , for i haue long bewailed my sinnes before the face of christ , who hath forgiuen me , i haue no need of thy absolution , which thou thy selfe doest not vnderstand . thou shouldest long since haue amended thy wicked and h●pocriticall life : i know what thou art , thou playest the ape with mee , thou hast a subtle heart which hath deceiued much people : if thou hast any comfort out of the gospell let mee haue it : if not , get thée away with thy portas : whereat the frier was confused : the hangman wiser then the frier , bid him reade him something of the passion : whereat he would take great pleasure . the foolish frier had no other consolation but to hold the crucifix of wood , before him , saying b●hold thy sauiour which died for thée ; looke on him and thou shalt bee comforted . hee answered , get thee from mee thou naughty person , this is not my sauiour ; my sauiour dwelleth in heauen , in whom i trust that he will not deliuer my soule to eternall death : the frier crossed himselfe and departed . the bishop of constance caused iohn howghly a priest to bee burned at merspurge , for that he would not allow the popes doctrine in all points . iohn frederick , heyre to the prince , and elector of saxony , was contracted by writings to the lady katherine , the emperours sister : but when religion was altered in saxony , they swarued from their couenants , and the empe●ror● ambassador said , there was no promise to be kept with hereticks . in this yeare , beeing the seuentéenth yeere of king henry the eight his raigne , there was great commotion in suffolke , and norfolke , by reason the cardinall had sent commission in the kings name that euery man should pay the sixt part of his goods : but it was appeased by the dukes of norfolke and suffolke , and the paiment released by the king. this yeare the cardinall tooke vpon him as the kings chiefe councellor : hee reformed the house and made new officers in the house of the duke of richmond . also hee established a councell , and established another h●ushold for the lady mary , then being princes of the realme . hee made the king beléeue hee need take no paines : insomuch that the charge of all things was committed vnto him : he gaue the king the lease of the mannor of hampton court : and the king licenced him to lye in his mannor of richmond , which k. henry . loued so well , whereat some grudged , saying , sée a butchers dogge lye in the mannor of richmond : his pride was so high he regarded no man , and was hated of all men . hee came to paules the eleuenth of ianuary , a number of bishops , abbots , and doctors attended him : there hee sate in his cloth of estate of rich cloth of gold , and frier barnes for heresie , and two marchants for eating flesh on friday , bare faggots before him . and this day the bishop of rochester preached in the reproofe of martine luther , and in the honour of the pope and his cardinals , insomuch that hee forgot the gospell he preached vpon : his sermon was much commended of the cardinals and bishops . this yeare the new testament was first translated into english , and brought into this realme , by william tindall . this yéere the good lodouicus king of hungary , pursued by the turk , was faine to take the marsh , where with his horse falling into a bogge was swallowed vp and ●rowned , his body afterwards found , was royally buried in uienna . george carpenter of emering was burned in monuchen of bauaria , for maintaining of these foure articles . first , that he did not beleeue that priests could forgiue sinnes ; neither that a man could call god out of heauen , neither that god was in the bread that the priests hang vpon the altar : fourthly , that the element of water in baptisme , doth not giue grace : then one asked him whether he feared not his iudgement , neither loued his wife and children , and if he would recant he should returne to them , and be pardoned . wherevnto hee answered , my wife and children are so dearely beloued vnto mee , that they cannot be bought from mee for all the duke of bauaria his riches : but for the loue of my lord god , i will willingly forsake them : as hee was going to execution , one bid him beleeue the sacrament of the altar , and not to beleeue it to be onely a signe . hee answered , hee beleeued the sacrament to bee a signe of the body of christ offered for vs : then he said why doest thou so little esteeme baptisme , beeing christ was baptized : hee answered not the baptisme of christ , but his suffering , was our saluation : him this day will i confesse before the world : hee is my sauiour in him i will beléeue : then one bid him put his trust in god , and say if i erre , truely i repent : to whom hée answered , god suffreth me not to erre : then one bid him not to hazard the matter , but to choose some christian brother not to confesse thy self vnto , but take councell off : he said it would be too long : then one said , our father : he answered , truely thou art our father , and no other , this day i trust to be with thée . the other said , hallowed be thy name : he answered , my god how little is thy name hallowed in this world : then he said , thy kingdome come : he said let thy kingdome come this day vnto me , that i may come to the kingdome : the other said : thy will be done in earth as in heauen : he said for this cause , o father i am now héere that thy will may be finished , and not mine : then the other said , giue vs this day our dayly bread : he said th' onely liuing bread iesus christ shall be my food : the other said , and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs : he answered , with a willing minde doe i forgiue all men , friends & aduersaries : the other said , leade vs not into temptation , but deliuer vs from euill : he answered o my lord without doubt then shalt thou deliuer me , for i haue laid my hope onley on thee . then one said doest thou think it necessary after death to pray for thée or say masse for thée : he said so long as the soule is in my body pray for me that god would giue me grace & patience , with all humility to suffer death with a true faith : but when my soule is from my body i haue no néed of your prayers : he was desired of certaine to shew some signe of beliefe when he was in the fire : hee answered , so long as i can speake , i will call vpon iesus ; i haue neuer séene the like constancie of a man , his countenance neuer changed colour : he went chéerefully to the fire and said this day will i confesse my god before the whole world : when he was in the fire , he stil ●ryed iesus , iesus ; and so ioyfully yéelded vp his spirit . leonard keyser of bauaria was burned for the gospel , h● being a student 〈◊〉 wittenberge ; was sent for by his brothren , if euer hee would sée his father 〈◊〉 he should come with spéed : and as he was comming , by the commandement of the bishop of passaw , he was taken by his mother and brethren : his articles were first that faith iustifieth : secondly , that works are the fruits of faith : thirdly , that the masse is no sacrifice or oblation : that confession , satisfaction , the vow of chastitie , purgatory , difference of dayes : for affirming onely two sacrifices , and inuocation of saints : hee maintained three kindes of conf●ssion ; the first of faith , which is alwaies necessary : the second of charitie , which serueth when any one doth offend his neighbour , hee ought to reconcile himselfe againe . mat. . the third is to aske councell of the ancient ministers of the church : sentence beeing giuen against him , he was disgraded , he was rounded and shauen , & clothed in a short gowne , a round cap set vpon his head all cut and iagged , and so deliuered to the seculer power ; as hee was led to burning , hee said , o lord iesu remaine with me , sustaine and help me , and giue me force and power : in the fire he cryed o lord iesu , i am thine , haue mercy vpon me and saue mee ; this was the blessed end of that good man. in this yéere the senate & people of berne , which are most of power amongst the switzers , assigned a disputation within the citie , and called vnto the same the bishops of constans , basil ▪ sed●ne , and lozanna , warning them to come themselues , and bring their diuines , or else lose their possessions : they appointed that the scriptures of the old and new testament should onely bee of authoritie , granting safe conduct to all that would come thether , that there should bee no chiding , that euery one should speak his minde freely , and in such sort that it might be written , and whatsoeuer should be there agreed vpon , should be ratified , and obserued throughout all their dominions ; there were ten articles to be disputed vpon as followeth . the true church wherof christ is head , proceedeth of gods word , perseuereth in the same , and heareth no other man voice . the same church maketh lawes without gods word , therefore we are not bound to mens traditions , but in as much as they be consonant to gods word ▪ that christ only hath made satisfaction for the whole world , to say there is ●ny other way to saluation , or meanes to put away sinnes , is to deny christ. that it cannot be proued by scriptures that the body and bloud of christ is really and corporally receiued in the sacrament . the masse , wherein christ is presented & offred vnto his father for the quick and the dead , is against the scriptures , & a cont●mely to the sacrifice of christ. that onely christ is to be called vpon as mediator to god for vs. that in the scriptures there is no place after life wherein soules should b● purged : wherefore prayers , ceremonies , yearely dyrges and obits , which are bestowed vpon the dead ; also lampes , tapers , and such other things profit nothing . that no images should be set vp to bee worshipped ●p the scriptures , and therefore they are to be taken downe in churches . that matrimony is prohibit●d to no kind● of men by the worde : but euery whoremonger is by the word sequestred from the communion of the church . that single life vnchast & filthy is most vnséemely for priesthood . the bishops would not come but sent their diuines : then the disputation was begun by swinglius , oecolampadius , bucer , capito , blaurer , and diuers others defended the conclusions . amongst others , conrado treger an austine fryer of great fame impugned them : who at last when hee sought for help besides the scriptures the masters of the disputations would not suffer him so to doe : wherefore hee departed out of the place , the disputations ended , the foresaid conclusions were approued , by the common consent of the most part , and were ratified & obserued in ber●e , and proclaimed by the magistrate in sundry places thereabouts : and masses , altars , and images abolished in all places , and immediately after was the like reformation at constance , and after at geneua . pope clem : . in this yéere conspired with the uenetians , & raised a great army , and proclaimed war against the emperor about the possession of italy : the emp●●ror sent his army to millaine , & tooke the city & castle ; marching towards rome , took it & spoiled it , & besieged pope clement , with his cardinals in mount adrian , and took the pope , who could not be ransomed vnder . floreines : this pope bare great hatred against the family of the columni , because it was imperiall , and threatned the cardinall thereof to take away his cardinals hat , who answered , if he so did , he would put on a helmet to ouerthrow the popes triple crowne . our cardinall of england hearing of the captiuitie of his father the pope , stirred vp the king all he might fight with the emperour , and defend the faith , and he should receiue a great reward of god. the king answered he was sorie for it : but where you would haue me defend the faith ; i assure you this warre is not for th● faith , but for temporall possessions : i and my people can by no meanes rescue him ; but if any treasure may helpe him , take that which seemeth to you conuenient . then the cardinall made out of the kings treasure twelue score thousand pounds , which he carried ouer the sea with him : then the cardinall sent his commission to all bishops , commanding fastings and solemne processions to be had , wherein they did sing the letany after this sort : sancta maria ora pro clemente papa : sancte petre , ora pro clemente papa &c. the cardinall passing the seas , went out of callice with the bishop of london , the lord sandes the kings chamberlaine , the earle of derby , sir henry gilford , sir thomas moore , with many other knights and esquires , to the number of one thousand and two hundred horses , hauing in his carriage foure score wagons , and threescore mules and sumpter horses : he bestowed great summes of money in hyring souldiers , and furnishing out the french kings armie , and appointed certain english captains , in the k. of englands name to go against the emperor to rescue the pope : hee caused clarentius king at armes , to ioyne with the french herald , openly to defie the emperor ; wherupon ensued great troubles in england , spain , the low countries of flanders , brabant , and zeland : all which his priuie policies and treasons , were shortly after known to the king. in this yeare a iew in constantinople was baptized and became christian , which thing vehemently exasperated the turks against him : and fearing it should be some detriment to their mahumeticall law , they sought to kill him , which they did , and cast his dead carkasse into the stréets , commanding that none should burie it . wherin the glorie of christ appeared : for the dead corps lying there nine daies , was as fresh coloured , without corruption or smell , as if it had bin aliue ; whereat the turks being astonished , took it vp and buried it . the cardinall hauing defied the emperour , as before , and made him displeased with the king of england , he further whispered in the kings eare , that the emperour had euill intreated and imprisoned the kings embassadours in spaine : by which meanes the emperours embassadour in england was imprisoned , and his goods seised , vntill letters came to the contrarie , and then he was set at libertie . when the embassadour complained vnto the cardinall , hee layed all the fault vpon clarentius , and that clarentius had defied the emperour without the kings knowledge , by the request of the herald of france , and that at his returne he should lose his head at callice . clarentius hearing hereof , came priuily into england , and was brought vnto the king before the cardinall knew it , to whom he shewed the cardinalls commission , and their gentle intreatie . when the king heard hereof , and had mused a while , he said , o lord iesus , hee that i trusted most told me all these things contrary : well clarentius , i will be no more so light of credence . and from thence the king neuer put any more trust in the cardinall . some write that the cardinall did beare the emperour such malice , because when the pope was imprisoned , as before , the cardinall wrote vnto the emperour to make him pope ; and he sent him an answere that pleased him not : whereupon he writ menacing letters vnto him , that if he would not make him pope , hee would make such a rufling betwixt christian , princes as was not this hundred yéers before , to make the emperour repent , yea , though it cost the whole realme of england : the emperour returned him answere , bidding him looke well vnto it , lest through his doings it should cost him the realme of england indeede . thus king henry came to the title of defender of the faith. when luther had vtterd the abomination of the pope and his clergie , and diuers books were com into england . our cardinall to find a remedie for it , sent to rome for this title of defender of the faith. after , the uicar of croydon preached , that the k. would not lose it for all london and twenty miles about it . when this glorious title was come from rom● , the cardinall brought it to the king at gréenwich : and although the king had read it , yet in the morning were all the lords and gentlemen sent for that could be , to come and receiue it with honor . in the morning the cardinall went thorough the backside to the frier obseruants , and som went round about , and met him from rome : part met him halfe way , and some at court gate ; and the king met him in the hall , and brought him into a great chamber , where was a seat prepared on high for the king and cardinall . whilst the bull was read with all pompe , wise men laughed : then the king went into his chapp●ll to heare masse , the cardinall being inuested to sing masse : the earle of essex brought the bason of water , the duke of suffolke gaue the asasy , the duke of northfolk held the towell , and so he pr●ceeded to masse . when masse was done , the bull was againe published , the trumpets blew , the shawmes and sackbuts played in honor of the kings new stile ; and in the midst of dinner the heralds proclaymed his new stile : this was ended with great solemnity . not vnlike to this was the receiuing of the cardinals hat , when one had brought it to him to westminster vnder his cloak : he clothed the messenger in rich aray , and sent him back to douer , appointed the bishop of canterbury to méet him , besides an other company of lords and gentlemen : when it came to w●stminster , it was set vpon a cubbord with tapers about it : the greatest duke in the land must curtsi● thereto , and to him empty seat . and thus much touching cardinall wolsey . he founded a certaine new colledge in oxford ; for furniture whereof he gathered together all the best learned hee could heare of ; amongst whom were clerke , tindall , frith , and tauerner , who after were found to be hereticks ( as they call them ) and were cast into a prison of the colledge where salt fish lay , through the stinke whereof they being infected , the said clerke , being singular in learning , died . one simon grineus hearing a sermon of faber bishop of uienna , after the sermon he followed faber , and declared vnto him that of good zeale he had somewhat to say to him , and said , he was very sorie that a man of such learning should confirme such ●●n●●●elious errours , which might be refuted by manifest scripture . polycarpus vsed to stop his eares when he heard any monst●●us errours , how then do you think he would haue heard you reason what the mouse did eate when she gnaweth the consecrated host ? who would not bewayle the blindnesse and ignorance of the church ? then faber asked his name : he tolde him his name was grineus ; and he fained he was sent for by the king , and had no leisure now to reason vpon this matter , and shewed that he was desirous of his acquaintance , and intreated him , both for his owne matter and the common-welth , he would come the next day vnto him . he willingly promised him . when he was returned to supper , a stranger , an old man of great grauitie told him , the sergeants would by and by come vnto the lodging , sent by he king , to carrie grineus to prison , whom faber had accused vnto the king , exhorting grineus straight way to depart the town without delay , and so departed . th●n we tooke grineus and carried him vnto the riuer rhyne , and conueyed him ouer in a boat , and returned . in the meane time the sergeants were at the lodging , wherefore we iudged that this cruell purpos● was frustrate by gods prouision ; therefo●e let vs giue thanks to god , which giueth his angels to be our kéepers , and with quiet minds fulfill the office of our vocation . p●trus flistedius , and adolphus clarbachus , singular diuines , for differing from the papists touching the supper of the lord , with diuers other of the popes traditions and ceremonies , by the archbishop and senate were burned in cullen : this was by reason som diuines had preached that the punishment & death of such as these were , would pacifie the wrath of god , which at this time plagued germany ; for the sweating sicknes did then mortally rage and raigne throughout all germany . in this yeare solymanus the turkish emperour passed th●rough hungarie , with an armie of fourtéene thousand fighting men , and came into austrich , where he exercised extreame crueltie ; some he bereft of sight , some he rent and mangled in pieces , cutting off their noses , eares , handes , armes and priuie members , deflouring uirgins , cutting off womens paps , openings their wombes with childe and burning the yong babes : then he besieged uienna , and assayed to vndermine it , and the wals being ou●rthrowne , he assaulted it desperatly ; and seeing the souldiers within desend the breach valiantly a month , he brake vp the siege , and returned with great dishonor . the emperour came to strawsborough , and commanded the protestants to be present at masse which they refused to do : and he called the prince elector of saxony to beare the sword before him at the masse ; and the diuines resolued , because he was sent for , to beare the sword and not to heare masse : therefore hee might there present himselfe . there was an assembly holden , and diuers decrées made against the protestants ; and faber and eckius forged confutations against them , with diuers other troubles . at this time the new testament was newly translated , and imprinted by william tindall ; wherewith the bishoppe of london was grieued , and deuised how he might destroy it . the bishop being at antwarp , and desirous to bring this purpose to passe , communed how he would buy the new testaments . one packington , which was a fauourer of tindall , but made the bishop otherwise beleeue , said , my lord , i can doe more in this matter then most merchants : for i know them that haue bought them of tindall , and for money i will assure you to haue euery booke of them that is printed and vnsolde . hee ●ade him get them , and hee would pay for them : for he intended to burne euery booke of them at paules crosse. hee hereupon declared the matter to william tindall : so the bishop had all the bookes . after this tindall corrected the same againe , and had them the second time newly reprinted ; so they came abundantly into england . the bishop sent for packington to know the reason thereof : he said he bought all that were there , and these were new printed . one george constantine was apprehended by sir thomas moore l. chancelor of england for heresie . my lord asked him who it was that maintained tindall ioy , and a great many more of you ? i know they cannot liue without helpe ; and thou being one haddest thy part thereof : i pray tell me who helpeth them thus ▪ my lord , quoth constantine , i will tell you truly : it is the bishop of london ; for he hash bestowed amongst vs a great deale of money vpon new testaments to burne them , which hath bin , and yet is , our only succour . by my troth , quoth moore , i think the same : i told the bishop so much before . the townes of zurick and berne being at contention with the townes of the cantons , stopped all the straits that there could no victuals passe vnto them ; wherefore they prouided a power to come against them of berne and zurick , and fought a great conflict with them : in which fight swinglius , being minister of zurick , was slain , and after his dead corps taken by his enemies and burned : when his body was burned to ashes , his heart was found in the midst of the fire whole , which could not be without the great miracle of god. the like happened after to thomas cranmer archbishop of canterbury . in this yeare the king held a parliament at westminster : diuers articles were put vp against the clergie touching their excesses and extortions , and there was prouided for pluralties and non-residents , and for buying and selling of pardons . this so displeased the clergie , that they called the commons hereticks and schismaticks : and the lords put a book of articles against the cardinall , that he procured the legat without the kings consent , whereby he took away the right of all bishops , that in all writings to rome and other princes he wrote ego & rex meus , that he standered the church of england to be brought into a reprobate sense , sending to rome to be legat , to reforme the church , and carried the great seale with him to flanders , and that without the kings consent he sent commission to conclude a league betwéen the king and the duke of florence , and that hauing the french pocks , he presumed to come and to breathe on the king , and that hee had caused the cardinalls hat to be put on the kings coyne , that he had sent innumerable substance to rome to obtaine his dignities , to the great impouerishment of the realme , with many other things . the princely possessions and great pride of the clergie in those dayes , did not only farre excéede the measure of subiects , but surmounted the estates of kings and princes . in henry the fourth his dayes the temporalties in the possessions of the clergie of england amounted to three hundred twentie two thousand marks by the yeare . and it appeareth by a libell giuen to henry the eight , compiled by one master fish , that the cleargie had gotten into their hands more then the third part of the lande of the realme , and the goodliest lordships , mannors and territories are theirs , besides the tenth part of corne and all things else , and seruants wages : and they looke so narrowly to their tythes , that they will haue the tenth egge , or else the good wife getteth no rights at easter , and shall be taken as an her●ticke ; beside what they get by their foure offering dayes , prouing of wills , priuie tythes , offerings to pilgrimages , and at their first masses ; euery one that is buried must pay somewhat for masses and dirges to be sung for them , else they will accuse their frinds and executors for hereticks . what money get they for mortuaries , by hearing confessions ? and yet will keepe no councell ; by hallowing of churches . altars , superaltars , chappels and bels , by cursing men and absoluing them againe for money . what a multitude of money gather the pardoners in a yeare , by cyting men to the court and releasing them for money , and what abundance the begging friers get yearly . there be two and fifty thousand parish churches in england , and euery house in the realme payeth a pennie a quarter to euery of the fiue s●rts of begging friers , which is twenty pence yearely for euery house in england . and the number of the clergie , reckoned with men , women , and children of the laie●ie , are but one of foure hundred ; and their substance draweth nigh to the halfe of the whole substance of the realme ; and they doe nothing therewith but exempt themselues from the obedience of your grace , and translate all power to themselues , and that your subiects may rebell against yon , and be vnder them , as they did vnto your noble predecessor king iohn : they then interdicted the realme ; wherefore your realme hath stood tributarie , not to any temporall prince , but to a cruell diuellish bloud-sucker , drunken in the bloud of the saints and martyrs euer since : and what doe they more ? nothing but apply themselues to haue to doe with euery mans wife , daughter , or mayde : that cuckoldrie and baudry should raigne amongst your subiects , that no man should know his child : and that their bastards should inherite euery mans possessions , they haue made an hundred thousand idle whoores in your realme , which would haue gotten their liuing honestly , had not their superfluous riches inticed them to vncleanenesse and idlenesse : they catch the p●cks , or be burnt , or the leprosie , and beare it vnto another ; yea some one of them shall boast amongst his fellowes that he hath had to do with an hundred women . when they haue intised mens wiues vnto them , they spend away their husbands goods , and make the women runne away from their husbands ; and runne away themselues with the wife and goods , bringing man and wife , and children to idlenesse , theft , and beggerie . who is able to number the broad bottomlesse ocean full of euils , that this sinfull generation may lawfully and vnpunished , bring vpon vs ? who is shee that will worke for three pence a day , when she may haue at least twentie pence a day to fleepe an houre with a frier , monke , or priest ? and who will labour for foure pence a day , that may haue at least twelue pence a day to be bawde to one of these ? what a sort are there that marrie priests lemans but to cloake the priests incontinencie , and that they may liue of priests for their labour ? and who is he , though he be grieued neuer so sore for the death of his ancestor , rauishment of his wife or his daughter , robberie , trespasse , maime , debt or any other offence , dare lay it to their charge by any way of action ? if he do , then by and by he is accused of heresie , and except he beare a faggot they will excommunicate him , and then all his actions be dashed . notwithstanding , the statute to mortmayne , they doe daily get into their hands more lands : the kingdome of the bloud-suckers is like to preuaile aboue your kingdome ; for to them is giuen daily out of you kingdome , and that which is once giuen them , neuer commeth from them againe . what kingdome can indure , that ●uer giueth and receiueth nothing again ? all their colour for their gathering these things into their hands , is , that they pray for vs , to deliuer our soules out of purgatorie : without whose prayers , and especially the popes pardon , we could neuer be deliuered thence : but the truth is , there is no purgatorie , but it is a thing inuented by the couetousnesse of the spiritualtie . and if there were a purgatorie , if the pope can deliuer them there with money , he can deliuer them without ; and if hee can deliuer one , he can deliuer all , and so destroy purgatorie , and then is he a cruell tyrant , without all charitie , if he keepe them in prison and paine vntill men will giue him money . they will not let the new testament goe abroad in the mother tongue , lest their cloaked hypocrisie , and that their cruelty , vncleanenesse , and vnmercifulnesse be seeue , and that they seeke not christs honour but their own , that remission of sins are not giuen for the popes pardon , but for christ by true faith in him . and except your maiestie suffer their hypocrisie to be disclosed , the people will think you take away their liberty from them , to buy their soules out of purgatorie by giuing to the spiritualtie , as their predecessors haue done : therefore let their hypocrisie be vttered , and that shall be more speedfull in this matter , then all the lawes that possibly can be made . the author of this booke was fled to tindall , where he wrote this booke for feare of the cardinall : when the king had read this , he caused his wife to send for him home , he was brought to the king , and after he had communed with him , and was afraid to goe home , the king deliuered him his signet for a token , to deli●er to the cardinall , that he should not trouble him . the cardinall answered ; though this discharged him , yet he had no discharge for his wife , and sent for her , and had troubled her , if her●daughter had not béene sicke of the plague , of which sicknesse , the said fish within halfe a yeare after dyed , and she marryed one baynham , which after was martyred , as followeth in this story . to preuent the spreading abroad of this libell , there was a prohibition sent out ●y the bishop of london , for calling in this the new testament , and diuers other books translated into english : the names whereof , because they are many , i omit , and leaue you to the booke at large . king henry , about the twentith yeare of his raigne , made an oration vnto his commons , that though it had pleased god to send him a faire daughter of a noble woman , and of him begotten to our great comfort and ioy : yet it hath beene told vs by diuers great clarks , that neither she is our lawfull daughter , nor her mother our lawfull wife , but that we liue together abhominably in open adultery : and when our ambassadors were last in fraunce , motion was made that the duke of orleans should marry our said daughter : one of the chiefe councellors said , it were well done to know whether she be his lawfull daughter or no ; because hee begat her on his brothers wife , which is directly against gods law : thinke you my lords , that these words touch not my body and soule , and that it doth not daily and hourely trouble my conscience : i doubt not but euery one of you would seek remedy when the perill of your soule , and losse of your inheritance is laid vnto you . for this cause i haue asked councell of the greatest clarkes in christe●dome : and for this cause i haue sent for this legate , as a man indifferent to know the truth , and settle my conscience ; and if the queene be adiudged by the lawe to bee my lawfull wife , it would be the most acceptable thing in my life , both to cleere my conscience and for the good qualities which i know to bee in her , besides her noble parentage , as almost this twenty yéeres i haue tried , so that if i went to mary againe , & the mariage lawfull , i would choose her before all women , & if the marriage proue vnlawfull , i shall sorrow the departing from so good a lady , and louing a companion ▪ but much more lament that i haue so long liued in adultery , and haue no true heyre of my body to inherit this realme : therefore i require you to make our minde knowne to our subiects that they may pray for vs. the quéene hearing thereof , answered , it was a great maruell that they would make question of this now , after they had béene married twenty yeares , and no question in the meane time , and that all the learned at the time of the marriage did conclude it was lawfull , and that both their fathers , being so wise did not foresee it , if there had béene any such doubt , and the king my father sent to rome , and with great costs obtained a dispensation , that i beeing one brothers wife procar●ally knowne , might without scruple of conscience marry with the other brother lawfully , which licence vnder lead i haue yet to shewe , but i may thanke you my lord cardinall onely for this trouble , this is of malice , because i haue won●red at your high pride , and abhorred your voluptuous liuing , and little regarded your t●ranny , and for the malice you beare to my nephew the emperour because he would not make you pope by force : and the quéene appealed to the pope . the king to try out the matter sent first to the pope , then to most part of al● uniuers●ties , first the pope sent his two legats , wolsey and campeius to hear● and decide the case , they cited the king and quéene personally to appeare , or else by proctors ; at the day , the legats with their crosses , axes and pillers were set , the king was ready to heare the determination , requiring to haue an end , notwithstanding from month to month , they detracted the matter vntill august , the king not taking it well to bee so vsed , sent the dukes of northfolke and suffolke vnto the legats , requiring them to hasten an end and to deferre no longer , it is the manner of rome , about the beginning of august , during the dogge dayes , to haue a solemne vacation , in which neither schooles bee vsed , nor any terme kept . cardinall campeius pretending the order of rome , whereof he was a member , answered , hee neither could nor would goe against the ordinance thereof , and before october he would procéed no further in the cause : t●e dukes séeing their pretended excuses , and that by no wayes they would be intreated , burst out in open defiance , the duke of suffolke clapping his hands on the table , sware by the masse ▪ there neuer came legate or cardinall from rome to doe good in england , so in anger they departed from the cardinall : the king for quietnesse was content to tarry● vntill october , but before october came , campeius was called home by letters fr●m the pope , so the matter was left vndiscussed , the king seeing himselfe thus deluded , sent againe to pope clement , desiring to h●ue an answere of the cause , the pop● would take a pause , and after send him word . twelue uniuersities agreed in one consent , that the mariage was vnlawfull , and repugnant to the word of god , and that no man is able to dispence with it , but nothing was heard of from rome , wherefore the king assembling his parliament sent the lord chancellour with twelue of the vpper house , to noti●●e the determinations of the colleages as afore said , vnto the lower house : and the same year● the king sent out a proclamation for the abollishing of the pope and establishing of the kings supremacy , and hee brake off with the cardinall and caused him to be attainted in premu●ire , and to bee apprehended , and the clergy maintaining th● power legatiue of the cardinall , incurred the like premunire , wherefore the spirituall lords were called by processe into the kings bench to answere , but befor● the day of appearence they submitted themselues to the king , offered him an hundred thousand pounds to pardon them by act of parliament , and offered him the title of supreme head of the church of england , which they would neuer confesse be●ore , whereby the pope , by the prou●dence of god , lost his whole iuris●iction an● supremacy in england . patricke hamelton a scottish man , hee was of the kings bloud and family , beei●● of the most ancient and noble stocke and name in scotland , was of the uniuersity of marpurge in germany , he openly procéeding so intreated and iudged of matters of the church , with such praise as passed the expectation of his age , that he made the common people and learned to admire him : francis lambert in his preface d●●icatory maketh mention of him , then he tooke a companion with him , and ret●●ned home to scotland , he was not able to suffer the filthinesse and blindnesse of the countrey , he was accused of heresie , and after disputed constantty with the cardinall and his band : he confessed christ to be his onely aduocate , excluding the merits of saints , acknowledged frée ●ustification by the merits of christ , and denied purgatory : at last he was condemned , and the same day after dinner burned : the king being but a child by the testimonie of his bloud , hee left the verity o● of god , fixed in the hearts of many . william tindal in his apology against moore maketh mention of thomas hitten , a preacher at maidstone in kent , whom the bishops of canterbury and rochester kept long in prison , and tormented him with diuers torments , yet he continued constant , and at the las● they burned him at maidestone , for the constant testimony o● iesus christ , and of his frée grace and saluation . thomas bil●ey of the uniuer●itie of cambridge , a man of excellent constancy . cambridge taking roote in him , after long barrennes did begin to flourish . he conuerted many of his fellowes to the gospell : amongst whom was thomas arthur , and maister hugh latimer , who was crosse-kéeper of cambridge , bringing it on procession daies : at last he forsooke the uniuersitie , and went to diuers places preaching , associated with arthur : the authoritie of cardinall woolsey was then great , but his pride ●reater , which declared the vanity of his life , and of the liues of the bishops and clergy . bilney with others , maruelling at the incredible insolency of the clergy , which they could no longer suffer , they began to preach against this dignity , and against the pope . then the cardinall which did not greatly feare any power of kings , but onelie feared the gospell of christ to be preached , least it should detect their hypocrisie and deceits . whereupon he caused the said bilney and arthur to bee cast into prison , then they were brought before the cardinall and ● number of bishops into the charter-house of westminster : then the cardinall required of them , wherefore they had taught the people the opinions of luther , which are condemned , and whether he had not once made an oath , not to preach or defend any of luthers opinions , but to impugne the same . he said , he had made such an oath , but not lawfullie : after hee was sworne to make true answere , and not to reueale his examinations . it was laid against him that he preached , though preachers bee restrained now adaies : yet he had warranty by the word of god , where he said ; goe i●to all the world and preach the gospell . by which authority , euery man that hath the gift may preach , and the pope nor any other can make any law to the contrary , which he confessed . that he said , when crosses were set vp against walls in london , that men should not pisse there : when there were but few men did reuerence them , but when in euerie corner there was a crosse , of necessitie men pissed vppon the crosses : so that when there were but few lawes in the church , then men were afraid to offend them : after ward they made many lawes , whereof some are pecuniall , as they call them , and them they doe obserue ; those that are not pecuniall they call palea , and regard them not . to this or the like effect , he confessed he spake . if i should suffer persecution for the gospell , yet there are seuen thousand more that would preach the gospell as i doe now : therefore good people thinke not much if these tyrants put a man to death for preaching the gospell . this article he confessed . that euery christian man is a priest so offer vp sacrifice of prayer : and if they murmured against priesthood , they murmured against themselues : and that we should not pray to saints nor worship images . that he should preach at cambridge : that a bachelor of diuinity , or any other knowing the gospell , should be let from preaching by no man : and if any bishop did accurse them for so doing , their curses should returne to themselues . all these hee confessed . master luther did recant , and submit himselfe vnto the punishment and iudgement of the church : but these interrogatories were ministred vnto master bilney ; whether hee beléeued the assertions of luther impugned by the bishop of rochester were detestable : whether generall councells and constitutions where or ought to be obserued of all men euen for conscience , whether the popes keyes were no● profitable , or against gods word , whether the catholik● church may erre , or whether it may bee demonstrated or poynted out , or else whether it is a spirituall church knowne to god , whether images of saints ought to bee worshipped of all true christian● , whether a man may beléeue that there is not yet any iudgement giuen vppon the sou●es departed , whether a man may beléeue that our lady remained not alwayes a uirgine ? whether holy dayes and fasting dayes may without 〈◊〉 bee broken by any priuate man ? whether we are bound to be obedient to bishoppes and kings as vnto parents ? whether the church doo godly , in praying to saints ? whether all true christians bee priests , and haue the keyes of binding and loosing ? whether faith may bee without workes and charity ? whether it is more agreable vnto faith , that the people should pray in their owne tongue , or in a learned and vnknowne tongue ? whether children should be taught the lords prayer without the salutation of the uirgine ? whether beades be to be denied or no ? whether scriptures ought to bee translated into english or no ? whether organs and all maner of songs ought to bee in the churches ? whether a bishoppe haue any temporall power ? whether it bee a godly constitution that no man should preach in an others dioces without lycence of the bishop ? whether vowes of priuate men commeth of the spirit of god ? whether we should pray for the dead , or that there is a purgatory ? whether morall philosophy helpe the vnderstanding of the scriptures ? whether the popes pardons are to be ●eiected ? whether there may bee any morall ver●ues without the grac● of christ ? whether saluation and damnation come of necessity and nothing to bee in our owne wills ? whether images ought to be taken out of the churches ? whether preachers should exhort men to pilgrimage or to the worshipping of reliques ? hee in a maner confesseth them all . hee answereth that he did beléeue the assertions of luther , and that men were not bound to beléeue councells and constitutions , and st. augustine in his tim● marnailed , that we could liue in safety amongst so many snares of constitutions , when adam and eue could not obserue one . fourthly he sayd that the catholike church cannot erre in fayth , for it is the whole congregation of the elect knowne onely to god , otherwise no man could be assured of his owne or anothers saluation , for it is written , no man knoweth whether ●e be worthy of hatred or loue ▪ yet i may truely say of the generall councell , congregated by the holy ghost : behold here the catholike church , denominating the whole by the most worthy part : and hee affirmed by the scriptures , that the faithfull haue the i●dgment of their soules as soone as they die , and are in heauen , and that we are bound to obay magistrates as parents , and that the people should haue the lords prayer and the créed in their owne tongue , that their denotion might bee furthered by their vnderstanding of it , and might be more expert in their faith : i hau● heard many say , they neuer heard any speake of their resurrection , and by the knowledge thereof became more ready to goodnes , and fearefull to doe euill , and he would wish that the scripture were in our owne tong●e , for st. paule sath , hee would rather haue fiue words in a tongue that is knowne &c. that the church may be edified , and ch●isostome bad his hearers looke vpon bookes , that they may the better remember that which they had heard , and bead translated the gospell of st. iohn into english , and where it is obiected , it is daungerous for heres●e , hee said good pastors might easily helpe the matter by adding the interpretation of the hard places in the margent : touching pardons , he said it were better that they should bee restrain●d , then any longer to be vsed as they haue béene to the iniury of christs passion . further these things were deposed against him , that he should preach at ipswich , christ is our meadiator betwixt vs and the father , why then should wee séeke to any saint for remedy , and to make petition to saints is great iniury and blasphemie to christ : and that man is so imperfect of himselfe , that hee cannot merit by his owne deedes , that it was great iniury vnto our sauiour christ , to teach that to b● buried in saint francis coull , should remit foure parts of penance : what is then left to christ which taketh away the sinnes of the world : this i will iustifie to bee great blasphemie . and that it was great folly to go● in pilgrimage , and that preachers in times past haue been antichrists , and now it hath pleased god somewhat to shew their errors ; and that the myracles done in walsingham , canterbury , and ipswich were done by the diuell by the sufferance of god , to blind the people : and that the pope hath not the keyes that peter had , except hee follow peter in liuing , and that it was deposed against him , that hee was twice pulled out of the pulpit by the fryers in the dioces of norwich : and that hee ●xhorted the people to put away their gods of siluer and gold , and leaue offering vnto them , because it hath often béen knowne , that those things offered , haue after been giuen to whoores of the stewes : and that iewes and sarazens would haue bec●me christians long agoe , had it not bin for the idolatry of the christians , in offering candles , wax and mony to stockes and stones . in a dialogue betwixt him and fryer iohn brusierd , hee proueth thrée points : firs● , that there is but one mediator of god and men , which is christ : then our lady , s. peter , and other saints be no mediators ; and whatsoeuer wee aske the father in christs name we shall haue , and god saith not in any other name : therfore let vs aske in his name , least at the day of iudgement it be said to vs , hetherto haue you asked nothing in my name . to which the fry●r answered : i would maister bilney that you would search the first origen of the rogation daies , which were ordained by pope gregory , with fastings , prayers , and holy processions against the pestilence , by the infe●tion of the ayre , in which time of procession an image like our lady , painted by s. luke , went before them : about which image angels did sing regina coeli letare : to the which the pope ioined , ora pro nobis domine , &c. therefore beeing the angels did honour the image of the uirgine : and pope gregory with all the clergy did pray to her : it appeareth mani●estly we ought to pray to saints , that they may say like for vs , which the disciples said in the gospell , serue them , and send them away , because they cry after vs. secondly , he proueth the pope to be antichrist , in that he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called god. for the pope imposeth but a small punishment vpon them that break any of the ●en commandements ; but he that shall violate the popes constitutions , he is guilty of death . what is this but the pope to sit and to raigne in the temple of god , that is , mans conscience as god , and the popish miracles are not of god , but illusions of satan ; who as the script●res witnes , haue been loosed this fiue hundred yeares ; as it is written , that satan should bee loosed after a thousand yeares ; and they are illusions , because they make them put th●ir faith in our lady and oth●r saints , and not in god alone . the third is , that no saint , though his suffering were neuer so great , and his life most pure , deserued any thing for vs with god , as you may sée by the answer of the wise uirgins , vnto the foolish uirgins , when they craued oyle of them : no say they , least peraduenture we haue not sufficient for our selues and you , get you rather to them that sell , and buy , where be then the merits of saints , whereby they may deserue for themselues and others . after he was brought againe before the bishops at the charter-house afore said ; where he was admonished to abiure and recant : who answered , he would stand to his conscience : but being many times sent for and perswaded , he did abiure : but god not willing to loose such a worthy instrument of his church raised him againe after his fall , as h●re followeth to be seene . these articles were obiected against geffrey lon , for which he was abiured . first for hauing and dispersing abroad bookes of luther , for affirming and beleeuing that faith onely iustifieth , and that men be not bo●nd to obserue the constitutions of the church ; that we should pray onely to god , not to saints : that pilgrimages are not profitable to mans soule : that we should not offer nor set vp lights to images : that no man is bound to keep the fasts of the church : that popes pardons profit not a man : and thomas garnet master of art. curat of all hallowes in hony lane , for hauing and distributing luthers bookes , and them of that sect : for affirming faith onely iustifieth : that pardons profit neither the dead nor liuing : that the constitutions of the church binde vs not : for calling bishops pharisies : that fasting daies are not to bee obserued : that euery man that is able may preach the word and no law to the contrarie : for thes● and such like he was abiured before cutbert bishop of london . but the aforesaid bilney , notwithstanding his recantation : hee abated not any part of his desire & study to preach , but was the more vehement against the bishops corrupt life : but whilst he was occupied in that godly enterprise , to allure all men to saluation , thomas moore , and richard nickes , the blind bishop of norwich , who was as blind in body as soule , they laid hands on him , and condemned him of heresie , and iudged him to the fire ; because he had preached since his abiuration , and because he taught saints should not be worshipped , nor called vpon as mediators . he would many times proue the paine of the fire by holding his finger neere the candle : but the night before he suffered martyrdome hee held his finger so long that he burnt off the first ioynt . hee was burned in lollards yit in norwich , with great ioy falling downe before the stake , and rising kist it , & bound himselfe with the chaine , confessing his faith , and animating the people to stand fast in the truth of gods word , and to suffer for it . sir thomas moore beeing chancellor of england ; when those , should burne bilney , required of him a letter of his hand , whereby they might ●ee discharged after his death : he said goe too fellowes burne him first , then come to me after for a bill of my hand . the story of the valiant martyr maister bayfield . this bayfield was a monk of bury , and for his religion he was 〈◊〉 in the prison of his house , and whipped with a gagge in his mouth , and then ●●ocked and continued in the same torments thrée quarters of a yeere ; and then hee was committed to doctor barnes to go● to cambridge with him : when he had been the●e a whole yeare , he tasted good learning so well that he neuer returned vnto his abbey againe , but went to london to maxwell and stacy , & they kept him secret a while , and conuayed him beyond sea. doctor barnes being in the fléete for gods word ; this bayfield mightily prospered in the knowledge of god , and was veneficiall to maister tindall , and frith , for he brought substance with him , and sould their works for them . and at last comming to london to m. smithes house in ●●cklers bury , he was betrayed and dogged to his book-●inders house in marke lane , & there taken & carried vnto lolards tower , & from thence taken & carried to the cole-house ; because one patmore parson of much-haddam in essex , then liuing in lolards tower , was confirmed in the doctrine of christ by him ; there hee was tyed by the neck , middle and legges , standing vp●ight by the walles , diuers times manacled to accuse others that had bought his bookes , but he accused none , but stood in his faith vnto the end : he was in the consistory of paules put to his tryall , whether he would abiure or no : he said he would dispute for his faith , and so did to their great shame . stokesley being their iudge with others , hee was condemned for bringing ouer and selling hereticall bookes , and because before time he was accused to the bishop of london for affirming certaine articles contrarie to the church : and especially that all land should be giuen to god , and not to saints or creatures ; and that euery priest might preach the word of god , by the authoritie of the gospell , and néed not to runne to the pope or cardinals for licence ; and that hee ab●ured , and hath since preached the like doctrines : when they asked him what he had to say , why he should not haue his iudgement ; hee said with a vehement spirit to the bishop of london , your liuing of the spiritualty is so euill , that you be hereticks , and you maintaine euill liuing , and let that true liuing may not be knowne : and that their liuing , neither their beleefe , is according to christs gospell : then the bishop read the sentence against him , and disgraded him ▪ hee knéeling vpon the highest step of the altar in paules ; he tooke the crosie● staffe , and smote him on the brest , that he threw him downe backwards and brake his head , and he sounded : and when he came to himselfe againe , he thanked god that he was deliuered from the malignant church of antichrist , and that he was come into the true church , and that he trusted anon to bee in heauen with iesus christ , and the triumphant church for euer : then he was led againe to newgate , & continued there in prayer an houre , and thence went to the fire ioifully , and was thrée quarters of an houre aliue in the fire , and when the left arm was burned , he rubbed it with his right hand , & it fell from his body , and he continued in prayer to the end without mouing . the history of m r iohn tewxbury cittizen and lether-dresser of london . in all points of religion , and the point of iustification , he disputed most openly in the bishops chappell , with such prompt and expert answers that tunstall and all his learned men were ashamed : this disputation continued a senight , then he was sent to my l. chancellor , sir thomas moore to chelsey , and there he lay in the porters lodge , hand , foote , and head in the stockes six daies . then he was carried to iesus tree in the garden , where he was whipped , and also twisted in his browes , with small ropes , that the bloud start out of his eyes , and yet would accuse no man. then he was racked in the tower , and there promised to retant at paules crosse. after he came to s. austens with a new testament in his hand , and stood vp before the people in a pew , and declared openly with teares that he had denied god , and prayed the people to forgiue him , and to beware of his weaknesse not to doe as he had done : for if i should not turne againe to this truth , hauing the new testament in his hand , he said , this booke gods word would damne mee body and soule , and he prayed euery body to doe as hee had done : for hee would not feele such a hell againe as he had done not for all the worlds good : and immediately hee was carried to the bishop of london ; and after he was burned in smithfield , and died a glorious martyr . in his disputations , the bishop proposed these articles out of the booke called the booke of the wicked mammon : and hee affirmed them . tewxbery , a man should doe good works for the loue of god onely , and for no hope of reward higher or lower in heauen , for if he should it were presumption , & being asked whether faith only iustifieth : he said if he should desire heauen by works hee were greatly to blame , for workes followe faith , and christ redéemed vs by his death : the diuell holdeth our hearts so hard that it is impossible for vs to consent to gods law : and that the law of god suffereth no merits , nor any man to bee iustified in the sight of god : and that the law of god commandeth things impossible ; and as the good tree bringeth forth good fruit : so there is no law to him that beleeueth and is iustified by faith , and all good workes must be done without respect of any profit thereby , for they deserue no reward of god , and that the diuel is not east out by the merits of fasting and prayer . item , we cannot loue god , except we sée first his loue and kindnes to vs : whilst we are vnder the law , wee sée nothing but ●inne and damnation , and the wrath of god , and cannot but hate him as a tyrant , and flée from him as cain , and that wée are damned by nature as a toade , and a serpent are so by nature . item , loue in christ putteth no difference betwixt one man and another . item , the sects of saints francis , saint dominick & others be damnable : then the bishop asked him whether he would renounce these heresies , and he prayed the bishop to reforme himselfe : then the bishop gaue him respite , and when hee came before him againe . first , he affirmed that christ & all his merits were his , and that he was knit to him so inseperably that he could not be damned , except christ were damned . he that séeketh by his almes more then to be mercifull , and to succor his brother● and neighbours need he is blind , and seeth not christs bloud , so god is honoured on all sides in that we count him righteous in all his lawes , and to worship him otherwise is idolatry : he concluded to them all , he found no fault throughout all the booke , but it is all good , and hath giuen him great light of conscience . the next sessions he was intised to recant ▪ but shortly after he was moued by the example of one that was burned in smithfield , and after did constantly abide in the testimonie of the truth , and suffered in smithfield . lastly for these articles he was condemned . that faith onely iustifieth which lacketh not charitie . that christ is a sufficient mediator for vs , therefore no prayer to be● made to saints . that christ is our sufficient purgatory ; and that there is no purgatory after this life . that the soules of the faithfull departing this life rest with christ. that a priest receiuing orders , receiueth more grace , if his faith be increased , or else not . lastly , hee beléeueth that the bloud and flesh of christ is not in the sacrament : wherevpon he was condemned and burnt as aforesaid . iohn randall . this iohn randall was of christs colledge in cambridge , and for the loue that he had to the scriptures , and sincere religion , hee was suspected and hated ; the yong man being studious and about one & twenty yéeres old was long lacking of his companions , and through the stench of his corps , his study door● being broken vp , he was found hanged with his owne girdle within the study , in such maner , that he had his face looking vpon the bible , and his finger pointing to a place of scripture : whereas predestination was intreated of , surely this matter lacked no singular policie , of some old naughty man , that it should seeme for feare of pred●stination , he was driuen to despaire , that it might keep their yong men from the study of the scriptures as a thing most perilous . in this yeare an old man in the county of buckingham , for eating of bacon in lent , was condemned to the fire and burned . edward frese . edward frese , a painter , was hired to paint certaine cloaths for the new inne in colchester , and in the vpper boarder of the cloaths , he wrote certaine sentences of the scripture : then some of the towne which had seene his worke , apprehended him , and brought him to london to the bishop , where he was cruelly imprisoned , with others of essex . one iohnson and his wife , and one willy , his wife , and his son , and one father bate of rowshedge , & they were fed with fine manchet , made of saw-dust , or the most part therof : the said frese being at the bishops at fullam , his wife being desirous to see him , came to the gate being big with childe , the porter kicked her on the belly , that on the same she died , and the childe died immediatly : after for writing against the wall , his hands were manacled , that the flesh of his armes were higher then the irons : and they kept him thrée daies without meat , when he should come to his answer , he could say nothing , but looked on the people like a wilde man , and if they asked him any question , he could say nothing , but my lord is a good man : an● when they had spent his body and wits , they sent him to bearsie-abby , but hee would not tarry there , but he neuer came to his wits againe , vntill his death : and his brother valentine frese was burned for the testimony of christ in yorke . also the wife of the aforesaid father bate , made a supplication to the king , and deliuered it vnto him , who appointed her to go to one m. seliard , of him she gat a letter to the bishop , she hoped some good should come to her husband , but some of her friends would néeds sée the contents of her letter , which was to this effect : look what you can gather against father bate , send me word , that i may certifie the kinges maiesty : but shortly after he gat out of prison in a darke night , and was caught no more . in this yeare fryer roy was burned in portugale , what his doctrine was , may easily be gathered by his testimony that he left here in england . the history of maister iames baynham , a lawyer . this maister baynham was accused to sir thomas moore , chancelor , & arested with a sergeant at armes , and carried out of the middle temple to his house at chelsey , & when he saw he could not preuaile with him , he whipped him at a trée in his garden , then racked him at the tower before himselfe , vntill they had almost lamed him , because he would not accuse gentlemen of the temple , nor tel where his bookes lay , and because his wife denied they were at his house , she was sent to the fléet , and his goods confiscate . when they had often vsed him vpon the tortures , then he sent him to the bishop of london , who cast him into lolards tower , vntill he had bin diuers times before him examined , and they were not able to resist him . he was both mighty in scriptures and arguments , that he was able to confound them with their owne arguments : so he condemned him , and the bishop sent one doctor symons to peruert him , and waite vpon him to the stake , & after much communication betweene the doctor & him , he prayed the sheriffes to deliuer him from satan , for he was content to confirme his faith with his blood . at the stake he lay down flat and prayed , then rising vp , he imbraced the stake : then he said , good people , i am come hither , accused and condemned for an hereticke : these be the articles i dye for . i say it is lawfull for euery man or woman to haue gods booke in their mother tongue . that the pope is antichrist , that he knoweth no other keyes of heau●n gate , but the preaching of the word , and that the●e is no other purgatory , then the purgatory of christs blood , and that the soules of the faithfull imediatly go to heauen , & r●st with christ for euermore . that thomas becket was no saint , but a traytor , and a shedder of innocent blood : th●n one m. pauey answered , thou liest thou heretick , thou deniest the blessed sacrament of the altar : he answered ; i do not deny the sacrament as it was instituted of christ , and vsed of his apostles , but i deny transubstantiation , and your idolatry to the bread , and that christ , god , and man should dwell in a piece of bread ; but that he is in heauen , sitting at the right hand of god : but it is an idoll as you vse it in the abhominable masse , making it a sacrifice propitiatory to the quicke and the dead , and robbing the church of one kind : then pauey bid , burne him hereticke : then he said , god forgiue thee , and shew thee more mercy then thou shewest me , and god forgiue sir thomas moore : and prayed the people to pray for him , and so praying died . the next weeke after , m. pauey went vp into a galery , where he had a roode before him and prayed , and bitterly wept , and his maid finding him so doing , he ●ad her take a rusty sword and make it cleane , and not trouble him , and immediatly hee tyed vp a rope and hung himselfe . there was an idoll named the rood of douer-court , many resort●d vnto it , for it was blowne abroad , that the power of it was so great , that none could shut th● church●doore where it stood , whereupon soure men came ten miles thither , and took the idoll from the shri●e , and a quarter of a 〈◊〉 from the place fired him , who burned so bright , that he lighted them homeward one mile . after , three of them were indicted of fellony , and hanged in chaines ; one at douer court , called n●cholas m●●sh , robert king in dedham , robert debnam , at cottaway : which three persons a● their death , did more edifie the people in godly learning , then all the sermons preached there a long time before : the fourth escaped : the same yeare many images were cast downe . the martirdome of iohn frith . when cardinall wolsey prepared to build a colledge in oxford , which now is called christs church , whence he was sent for to the king , being accused of certaine crimes : in the way by immoderate purgations he killed himselfe , and so left a most glorious péece of worke ; part but begun , part halfe ended , and but a smal part fully finished . he appointed to that colledge all such as were found to excell in any kind of learning : amongst whom this iohn frith was one , and william tindall , and tauernar of bostone , and iohn clark , and many others . these were accused of heresie by the cardinall , and impri●oned in a déep caue in t●e same colledge , where they were all infected through the stinke of fish : and iohn clarke , wi●h other good men , whose names are not kn●wne , died ; but frith escaped , and departed out of england for foure yeares , and returning home , sir thomas moore promised great rewards to them that could take him , and laid all the hauens for him . at length he was taken at reading for a uacabound , and being put in the stockes , hee sent for the schoolemaister , and began in the lattine tongue to bewaile his captiuity , the schoole-maister being ouercome with his eloquen●e , tooke pitty on him , and loue● his excellent wit : then they fell to the gréeke tongue , wherewith he so inflamed the loue of the schoole-maister , that he went to the magistrates and got him to be set at liberty without punishment : but after he was trayterously taken and sent to the tower , where he had many conflicts with the bishops , but especially in writing with sir thomas moore , who wrote against certaine writings of frithes , against the sacrament of the altar , which came to sir thomas moores hands , and frith hauing gotten a coppy of it , wrote against it . cranmer , archbishop , in his apology against the bishop of winchester , séemeth to haue collecte● friths reasons aboundantly . what articles were obiected vnto him , appeareth by a breefe commentary , written and sent to his friends out of prison , as followeth . first , the whole matter of the examination was two articles , to wit ; purgatory , and the substance of the sacrament . touching purgatory , they asked whether i beleeued that there was any place to purg● the spots of the dead after this life : i denied there was any , because the nature of man consisteth but of two parts , the body and mind : one christ purgeth in this world by laying afflictions vpon vs , and death the reward of sinne is laid vpon it , but our soules are purged with the word of god , which we drinke in through faith , to the saluation both of body and soule : if you will shew a third part of man , i will grant you a third place , which you call purgatory , otherwise i must deny vnto you the bishops shop of purgatory . secondly , it was required of me , whether the very body of christ were in the sacrament of the altar . i answered , it is both christs body & ours , for as of many corns is made one loafe , so we being diuers , are but one body in christ , therein it signifieth our body : so of the wine that is made of many clusters , one liquor . but the same bread againe , in that that it is broken , signifieth the body of christ , declaring his body to be broken and put to death for our redemption ; and in that it is distributed the fruit of his passion is signified : the communication whereof equally redounds to all christians . and againe , when it is receiued to be eaten , it is the signification of the bodie of christ , admonishing vs , that our inward man is refr●shed by the merits of christ , euen as the bread is receiued with our mouth , to the outward nourishment of the body . then said they , dost thou beléeue the very body of christ to be contained in th● sacrament really , without trope or figure ? he answered ; no surely , i doe not so thinke , and when by no meanes he could be perswaded to recant , hee was condemned to be burned . when he was tyed to the stake in smithfield , there it dot● significantly appeare with what constancy he suffered : he willingly embraced the fag●●ts & fire , the wind blowing away the fire to his fellow that was tyed at his back and b●rned with him , made his death the longer , but god gaue him such strength and patience , that as though he had felt no paine in that long torment : he séemed rather to reioyce for his fellow , then to be carefull for himselfe . the examination of andrevv hevvet , that was burned with iohn frith . he was a prentice in watling-stréete , to a taylor , when he was asked what he thought touching the sacrament of the last supper : he answered , euen as iohn frith doth : then one of the bishops said , dost thou not beléeue that it is really the body of christ , borne of the uirgin mary ? he said , that i do not beléeue why said the bishop ; he said christ commanded me not to giue rash credit to them which say , behold here is christ , and there is christ , for many false prophets shall rise vp , saith the lord. then stokly , bishop of london , said , frith is condemned for an heretick , and except thou reuoke thine opinion , thou shalt be burned with him : he said , he was content . the bishop vsed many perswasi●ns to alure him to recant , but could not , wherefore he was burned with frith as before . when they were at the stake , one doctor coke admonished all the people , that they should in no wise pray for them no more then they would for a dog , whereat frith smiling , desired the lord to forgiue him , and so departed . about this time high latimer was inhi●ited by the bishop of london to preach in his dioces , and yet after he preached in the precin●t of the fryers augustines of london . the lady anne of bullen , although she was not yet married to king henry , yet she was in great fauour , and daily she inclined the kings mind more & more against the papists , so that the same yeare the king and certaine of his lords came into the parliament house , and he complained of the cleargy , that they were but halfe his subiects , yea and scarse our subiects : for their oath to the pope at their consecration , is cleane contrary to that which they make to vs : and he deliu●r●d to the parliament the coppies of both their oaths . these oaths being thus receiued and ●pened to the people , were the occasion that the pope lost al his iurisdiction in england shortly after . the matter falling out more and more against the pope , sir thomas moore , a great maintainer of the pope , was driuen to resigne his chancelorship , ● deliuer vp the great seale into the kings hands . after whom , succéeded sir thomas audley , kéeper of the great seale , a great fauorer of christs religion . lady anne of bullen . within short time after , the king married the lady anne bullen , mother to quéene elizabeth , who was the secret ayder and comforter of al the professors of the gospell , and her almes shewed her life was accordingly , which was a hundred gownes wéekly , and other apparell yearely before she was married , both to men & women , she also gaue much priuate almes to the widdowes and poore ho●sholders continually , vntill she was apprehended . and she euer gaue thrée or foure pounds at a time to them , to buy them kine , and sent her sub-almner about to the townes where she lay , that the parisheners should make a b●ll of all the poore housholders in th●ir parish : and some parishes receiued . . or . pounds to buy kine withall : also , she maintained many l●arned men in cambridge , so did the earle of wiltshir● her father , and the lord roch her broth●r , and she brought them in fauour with ●ing henry . she caried alwaies about her a little purse , out of which she was wont daily to scatter abroad some almes to the needy , thinking no day well spent wherein none had fared the better for her . she kept her maids , and such as were about her , imployed in making shirts and smocks for the poore , but the lady dowager beeing deuorced , made the pope to curse the king , and interdict the realme : in the meane time queene anne bein● great with child , in the next yeare following was crowned with high solemnity at westminster , and not long after brought to ●ed at greenewich , of the faire lady , elizabeth : the lord maior of london and his brethren , with forty cheefe cittizens , were commanded to be present , with all the nobles and gentlemen : the kings palace , and all the wals to the fryers were hanged with arras , ●●d the friers church . the font war of siluer , and stood in the midst of the church , thrée steps high , which was couered with fine linnen , and diuers gentlemen with aprones and towels about their necks , gaue attendance about it : ouer the font hung a faire canopy of crimson sattin , fringed with gold. the holy maid of kent . certaine monkes put into the heads of many of the kings subiects , that they had r●uelation of god and his saints , that he was highly displeased with king henry , for the diuorcement of the lady katherine , and surmised that god had reuealed vnto a nun , called elizabeth barton , whom they called the holy maid of kent , that if the king did diuorce her , he should not be king of this realme one month after , and not one day nor houre in gods fauour . she would shew marueilous alteration of her visage and body , as if she had béene wrapt in a trance , and inspired of god. she spoke against sinne , and reprooued the gospell , which she called heresies , and spoke diuers things to the reproach of the king and quéene , and to the establishing of idolatry , pilgrimage , and derogation of gods glory . the archbishop ▪ the lord cromwell , and maister hugh latimer , with great labour found out her naughtinesse , and condemned her and put her to death , with certaine of her councell . vvilliam tracy esquire . a little before this time william tracy of todington in gloster-shire made his will , that he would haue no funerall pomp at his burying , nor masse ; and said that he trusted in god only , and hoped by him to be saued , and not by any saint . his executor brought the will to the bishop of canterbury that then was , to proue it ; which he shewed to the conuocation , and they iudged him to be taken vp and burned as an heretick , and sent a commisson to doctor parker chancelor of worcester , to execute their sentence , who accomplished the same . the king hearing thereof , sent for the chancelor , who laid the fault on the bishop ; yet it cost him three hundred pount er● he could haue a pardon . the storie of twenty foure burned at paris . in this year● were diuers writings set vp in paris , vpon the porches and gates , against the masse and other papisticall superstitions , whereupon many were apprehended and cast into prison : but twenty foure were executed in seuerall places of the citie of paris . the bearer of the popes curse and interdictment against king henrie and the realme , durst not come into the realme with it , but set it vp in dunkerk in flanders : the king hearing thereof , took great displeasure against the said princesse dowager , and so stomacked the matter , that the next yeare he called a parliament , and caused it to be prouided by sufficient acts , that the pope should be vtterly abol●sht , and himselfe to be establisht supreme head of the church : at which thing sir thomas moore & the bishop of rochester grudged , and would not consent vnto it , but openly resisted the same ; wherefore they were condemned of treason , and headed at tower-hill . likewise three charter-monks were hanged , drawne and quartred at tyburne , for speaking trayterous words against the kings maiestie . this yere the king set forth a proclamation for the abolishing of the vsurped power and iurisdiction of the bishop of rome , wherein is declared , that not onely the secular men granted him this iurisdiction , but all the spiritualty in the conuocation house , vnder their seales ; wherin also he signified , that he had addressed letters vn-the bishops of the diocesse , straitly commanding them that forthwith the sincere word of god should be preached euery sonday and holy-day vnto the people , and our stile and iurisdiction of supreme head appertayning onely to our crowne and dignity royall to be publisht , and that the popes vsurped name should be put out of all prayers , masses , or other books , except it be to his reproach . the life and storie of m. william tindall . first , he was schoolemaster to one master welch , and for translating certain religious books into english , and for arguing with a certain priest that often vsed to his masters house , and confounding diuers points of their religion by the word of god , he was pursued & glad to go out of the realme into germany , and there translated the bible into english , & compiled diuers other books , & s●nt them into england ; wherby the dore and light vnto the scriptures was daily more and more opened , which before was many years closed in darknesse : from thence he went to a●twarp , and had his abiding there , and was lodged about a yeare in the house of one thomas poynets an english man , which kept a house of english merchants : then came thither one henry philips , hauing a seruant waiting on him . m. tindall became acquainted with him , and had great confidence in him , and had him often to dinner and supper with him , and got him a lodging in m. poynets house . at length philips w●nt to the high court of bruxelles to betray m. tindall and procured to bring from thence with him the procurator generall , with oth●r officers , which was not done with small charges , from whom soeuer it came . after , philips returning , would haue m. tindall ▪ to dine with him : then hee desired m. tindall to lend him fortie shillings , which he did : he told philips he could not di●e with him , for he was bid forth to dinner , and he should goe with him . and going forth to d●nner , philips hauing appointed the officers in the way , he gaue them a signe that this was he they should apprehend : then they took him and brought him to the procurator generall ▪ who sent him to the cas●le of filford , and the procurator generall went to poynets house , and sent away all that was there of m. tindals . the said poynets and certain merchants went ouer into england , and got letters from the co●ncell for m. tindals deliuery ; vpon the deliuery wherof to the councel of bruxelles , m. tindall should haue bin deliuered vnto him : which when philips vnderstood , he accused poynets ●o be an heretick , and a receiuer of such , & caused him to be apprehended & kept . or . wéeks in prison ; but he escaped by night and got into england : but m. tindall was condemned ; and the same morning as he was had to the fire ▪ he deliuered a letter to the chiefe kéeper of the castle , which the kéeper himselfe brought to poynets house , who compared him to be fellow to the apostles being in prison , both for his conuersation and conuerting and preaching to the peo●le . m. tindall hearing by certaine merchants what wonderfull feats a iugler did , he desired th●m that he might be present also at supper to see him play his parts : accordingly the supper was appointed , and the merchants , with tindall , were there present . the iugler being desired to vtt●r his cunning , sh●wed all that he could do , but all was in vaine : at last , with his labour , sweating and toyle , he saw nothing would go forward , he confessed there was some man present at supper which dis●urbed his doings . for his letters that he wrote , i refer thée to the book at large if thou dispose to sée them . the lord cromwell , keeper of the kings priuie seale , uicegerent of all the kings iurisdiction eccl●siasticall , sent out certa●n iniunc●ions by the k●ngs authorit● , for the preaching th● word of god , for the b●tter publishing of the kings suprema●●● , against idols , & 〈◊〉 on pilgrimage ▪ & trus●ing in saints , and to abrogate diuers holy-daies ▪ and for reformation to be had in diuers oth●r ecclesiastical matters . in the begi●●g of this year the most noble and worthy lady queen anne of bullen , after she had liued q●●●ne three ●ears , was cast into the tower , together with her brother the lord rochford , and diuers others which shortly after were executed . the words of the queene at the time of her death . good christian people , i ame come hither to die ; i am iudged therto by the law , therefore i will not speake against it : i pray god preserue the king , for there was neuer a gentler prince , and to me he was euer a good soueraigne : and i r●quire euery one to iudge the best of my cause ; so ● take my leaue of the world , and of you all , desiring you to pra●●or me . then she kneeled down , and said , into thy hands i commend my soule , iesus receiue my soule , diuers times , vntill her head was striken off . fiue burned in scotland . seauen years after patrick hamelton aforesaid , there were fiue burned in edenborough the chief citie in scotland ; two were dominican friers , one priest , one cannon , and one gentleman , adiudged by the archbishop of s. andrewes , petrus chappe●anus , and the franciscan friers , whose labour is neuer wanting in such matters . the murther of robert packington . hee was a rich mercer dwelling in cheap side , and was one of the ●urgesses of the parliament for the citie of london , and had spoken against the couetousnesse and cruelty of the clergie ; wherefore he was had in contempt with them , therfore one doctor vincent deane of paules hired a stranger for sixtie crownes to kill him , which he did in this manner : this packington vsed by foure of the clocke euery morning , to go to a church neare cheap-side ; and in a mistie morning t●e hyred stranger shot him and killed him with a gunne as he crossed the street . this could not be knowne vntill the death of the deane : then he repented the fact at his death , and confessed it to his ghostly father . in this yeare the kings maiestie by his uicegerent the l. cromwell sent out againe certaine iniunctions vnto the spiritualty , for the reformation of religion , for the maintenance of reading the bible in english , and for taking downe of images , with such other like . the history of iohn lambert , alias nicolson . being beyond sea by reason of the persecution here , he returned , hoping the time had bin amended , by the means of quéen anne and cromwell , and the abolishing of the pope ; he became a schoolemaster : and being present at a sermon preached by doctor taylor , one that was a bishop in k. edwards time , and died in the tower in queen maries time , after the sermon hee vttered diuers arguments to the preachers , and desired to be resolued : taylor alledged businesse , and desired him to write his minde , which he did . the first was vpon , the cup is the new testament : and if these words doe not change neither the cup nor the wine into the new testament , by like reason the words spoken of the bread , should not turn it corporally into the body of christ. the second , it is not agreeable to a naturall body to be in ●wo or more places ot one time : therfore christ hauing a naturall bodie , cannot be in heauen on the right hand of his father , and in the sacrament . thirdly , a naturall body cannot be without his forme and conditions , as he cannot be without substance : i● the sacrament there is no forme and condition of the body of christ , no , not any appearance of flesh , therefore there is no transubstantiated body of his in the sa●rament : and on the contrary , the forme and condition that you see in the sacrament pertaineth to bread , which cannot be there without the subiect , therefore of necessity we must confesse bread to be there . taylor put vp the writing to thomas cranmer archbishop of canterbury ; so hee was forced to defend his cause openly in the court : the archbishop had not yet sanored the doctrine of the sacrament , which he afterward was an earnest teacher of lambert was faine to appeale from the bishop to the king. steuen gardiner bishop of winchester , as he was most cruell , so hee was most subtile , gaping to get occasion to hinder the gospell . hee priuily admonished the king , what great hatred he had gotten of al men for abolishing the bishop of romes authoritie , and for subuerting the monasteries , and for the di●orcement of queene katharine : and now the time serued , if he would take it , to remedie all these matters , and pacifie their minds that be offended ; if on this man lambert he would manifest how st●utly he would resist hereticks , whereby he shall discharge himselfe of all suspicion of being a fauourer of new sects ; whereupon the king appointed a day for argument before him : when the time was come , the bishop argued the foresaid points against lambert , which he answered most effectually ; but the king and the bishops would not suffer him to conclude his arguments . when the king minded to breake vp his counterfeit disputation , he said to lambert , what sayest thou now to the reasons and instructions of these learned men ? art thou satisfied ? wilt thou liue or die , thou hast yet free choyse ? lambert answered , i submit my selfe to the will of your maiestie : the king said submit thy selfe to the handes of god , not to mine ; then said lambert , i commit my soule to the handes of god , but my body i submit to your clemencie . then said the king , if you commit your selfe to my clemencie you must die : for i will not be a patr●n vn●o hereticks . then he bade cromwell reade the sentence of condemnation against h●m ; which he did , though he was the chiefe friend of the gospellers : this was by the po●icie of cranmer , that if cromwell should haue refused to do it , he might incurre the like danger . and in the sentence was contained a decrée , that the same should be set vpon the church porches , and be read foure times euery yeare in euery church throughout the realm● , whereby the worshipping of the bread should be the more fixed in the hearts of the people . the answers of iohn lambert to diuers articles administred to him . vvhere you aske me of frée-will , whether a man haue frée-will that he may deserue ioy or paine : we deserue nothing by doing the commandements of god , as it appeareth by the parable of the master , which when his seruant is come from worke will make him waite on him vntill he hath eaten , and after giue him leaue to eate , and yet thanketh him not , because he hath done but his duetie : so should you say you are vnprofitable seruants when you haue done that which you were bound to doe ; therefore when we haue done well , we should not magnifie our owne free-will , but his grace by which we did it . and though ●race be promised in many places to the kéepers of gods precepts , yet such reward shall neu●r be attained of vs , but by the grace and benefit of him which worketh all things in all creatures . we should not doe works for loue of reward , nor for dread of paine , but because they doe please god : and if we only ayme at the contenting of his pleasure , reward vndoubtedly would insue good déeds , as heat inseparably followeth fire . thus wee should serue god for loue , as children , and not for reward and dread as seruants . we haue no frée-will nor abilitie of our selues to doe the will of god , but as esay saith , we are subiect and thrald vnto sinne : and paule saith , by the grace of god we are set at libertie . touching eare● co●●ession ; it was not ordained of god b●t of man : in the booke called historia tripa●tita , you shall find how it was first instituted , and after vndone againe , because of a huge vil●anie committed by a minister vpon a woman , through con●ession . and touching their power to forgiue sinnes ; i say onely christ looseth a sinner which is contrite , by his promise , and the priest can but declare the promise : neither doth the declaring of the promise by the priest benefit any one , vn●esse he be loosed from his sinne , by credence in the promise ministred . and chrysostome in his booke , in opere imperfecto , affirmeth that the keyes of heauen are the doctrine of the word of god. ministers doe binde and loose after a sort , as christ told paule , thou shalt open their eyes that they may be conuerted from darknes vnto light . here paule is said to open the eyes of mens hear●s , yet to speake properly , it is god that doth it : therefore dauid prayeth ▪ reuela oculos meos : and it is said of iohn baptist , that he should turn the harts of the fathers vnto the children , and the vnbeleeuers vnto the wisdom of the wise , although to turne mens hearts only belongeth to god ; but so we vse to speake metonomi●● . touching inioyning of penance ; i know none that men need to admit , neither ought you to ini●yne any , except casting away the old vice , and taking the new vertue , which euery ●rue penitent intendeth , or ought to intend . touching the question , whether grace be giuen only by the sacraments ; god sendeth his grace where it pleaseth him , either with them or without them , and when he pleaseth : and many lewd persons receiue the sacraments that are destitute of grace , to their confusion ; yet in due receit of the sacraments god giueth grace . where you aske , whether all things necessary to saluation are in scripture ; s. chrysostome saith he would haue a true preacher of gods law not to swerue therefrom , neither on the right hand nor the left : for hee that should thereunto adde or withdraw , should enterprise to be wiser then god. and saint cyprian in his epistle ad cicilium fratrem , teacheth how we ought to heare christ only , not regarding traditions of men , like as he doth in diuers other places . and this agreeth well with scripture , which is called the word of saluation , the administration of righteousnesse , the word of truth , the rodde of direction , our spirituall food , the spirituall sword that we ought to fight withall against all temptations and assaults of our glostly enemies , the seed of god , the kingdome of heauen , the keyes of the same , the power of god , the light of the world , the law of god , his wisedome and testament : euery one of which wordes will giue sufficient matter of argument , that following the same doctrine only shal haue sufficient safe-conduct to come vnto the inheritance promised , though no other way or mea●s were ann●xed vnto the same . in the hundred and eightéene psalme , dauid saith , the word of god is true and his way verity ; euery man is vanity and lying : and christ saith , euery one that heareth my words and doth them , is like one that buildeth his house vpon a sure foundation ; and that there is none other foundation by s. paule : and he would haue vs follow one doctrine of christ to a vnitie of faith , that we may bee perfect men ; not carried about with euery winde of doctrine , brought vp by the slights and wilines of men that ●tudie to deceiue vs. touching the question , that there are many things to be beléeued vpon paine of saluation , that are not in the scripture : i say lawes ordained for the ciuill regiment of the body , and all other lawes , so they be not hurtfull to faith or charitie , but help to the same , we ought to keep them not onely for feare of punishment , but for conscience sake , although such ordinance be not expressely in the scripture ; but i say there is nothing that is not expressely in the scriptures , that is to bee beleeued vpon necessitie of saluation . touching your question of purgatory , and whether soules departed be there in torment and purged : i say there is a purgatory in this world , which is the fire of tribulations , through which all christians shall passe , as s. paul saith : all that liue godly in christ shall suffer persecution : in this purgatory i doe reckon my selfe now to stand , god send me well to perseuere vnto his honour . other purgatory doe i know none , neither can any be proued by any place of scripture : and s. august : de ebrietate , saith , let no man deceiue himselfe ; for there be two places , the third is not knowne : he that with christ hath not deserued to raigne , shall perish with the diuell , and in his booke de vanitate seculi , he saith , know you that when the soule is departed from the body , it is incontinent for the good deeds put into paradice , and else throwne headlong into the dungeon of hell for the sinnes ; and to this all scripture agreeth . touching your question , whether martirs , apostles , and confessors departed , ought to be honored and prayed vnto . saint augustine in his booke de vera religione , would haue that we should worship no men departed , be they neuer so good and holy , no nor yet an angell , nor to honour them , but onely in imitating their good liuing as they followed god , not building churches to them ; no , the angels would not haue vs builde churches to them , but would with them we should honour the maker of all things . they refuse all honour , sauing honor charitatis , which loue wee should expresse , in helping the poore and helplesse : and the scripture teacheth , that there is but one mediator , and we are exhorted in all places of scripture to call vpon god in néed , but in no place to call vpon any saint . touching your demaund , whether oblations and pilgrimages , may deuoutlie and meritoriously be done vnto the sepulchers and reliques of saints . moses when he died , would be buried where no man should know which was his graue : & it was , because the iewes , which were prone to new fangled worshipping , should not fall into idolatr● , worshipping him as god , for the great and many miracles that were wrought by him when he was aliue . it is no point of my beleefe , to thinke that oblations & pilgrimages at saints graues and reliques , are meritorious workes , neither is there any deuotion at all in doing of them . touching fasting daies and time i say they are good for diuers respects , but it is no deadly sinne to breake them , for they are but the traditions of men . touching your question whether images ought not to be in the churches for a remembrance of christ , and his saints . i know no images made with hands that ought to be worshipped ; for the psalme saith , confusion be vnto all such as worship carued images and glory in pictures . and s. augustine in his book de vera religione , let vs not be bound to worship the workes of men , for the workemen are more excellent then the things that they make ; whom notwithstanding we ought not to worship : and if christs doctrine were so opened , that people might vnderstand it , as prelates chiefely ought to doe by teaching , we should haue no need of images , for nothing is so effectuall to excite the remembrance of disciples , as the liuely voice of good teachers . touching your demands , whether men forbidden to preach as suspected of heresi● ought to cease from preaching , christ and his apostles were counted heretickes , and the apostles were forbidden oftentimes of the high priest and others to preach any more , and were imprisoned and scourged for it , yet they would not leaue preaching , but told them to their faces they must obey god which bad them preach , rather then men which forbad them ; yea , the angel deliuering them out of prison , bad them go preach againe . this is for our instruction , doubt not , for such practice is shewed in all ages , so you may sée when men bée wrongfully infamed of heresie , and so prohibited by bishops to preach the word of god : they ought not to stop for any mans commandement . touching your question of hauing the bible in english , in england . in my opinion , i say it was not well done to inhibit it : and worse , that the bishops haue not sithence amended it if they could , that the people might haue it to vse vertuously . and i will adde one reason , the scripture is the food and sustinance of mans soule , as it appeareth by many places of the scripture , as other meate is the foode of the body : then if he be an vnkind father that kéepeth away the bodily meate the space of a wéeke or a month from his children , it should seeme that our bishops be no gentle pastors or fathers , that kéep away the food of mens souls from them , both months , yeares , and ages , especially when others offer the same . touching you question , whether faith onely iustifieth . i answer with s. augustine , good works make not a man iustified , or right wise : but a man once iustified , doth good works . these articles being directed to the archbishop of canterburie , which was not cranmer but doctor warham : whereby it may be gathered , that this godly learned man was long before he disputed before the king , or was condemned to death : vpon the day that was appointed for him to suffer , this holy martyre of god was brought out of prison vnto the house of the lord cromwell , and carried into his inward chamber , where it is reported cromwell asked him forgiuenesse for what he had done . and being admonished of his houre of death , he was greatly comforted ; and comming into the hall , he saluted the gentlemen and sate down to breakfast , shewing no manner of sadnes or feare ; after breakfast he was carried to the place of execution , where he should offer himselfe a sacrifice of sweet sauour vnto the lord , who is blessed in his saints for euer and euer . amen . the storie of one collins . one collins a gentleman was burnt at london , for that being besides his wits , by chance he came into a church where a priest was saying masse , and was come to the holding vp and shewing the sacrament , collins in like manner took vp a little dogge , holding it ouer his head , shewing him vnto the people ; wherefore hee was condemned and burned , and the dogge with him . leyton and pvttedve . leyton was a monke of aye in suffolke , and was burned at norwich , for speaking against a certaine idoll , which they of aye were wont to carry about in processions , and for affirming both kindes in the sacrament : and puttedue comming into a church merily taunted the priest , that after he had drunke vp all the wine alone , he blessed the hungry people with the empty chalice : wherefore hee was condemned and burned . cowbridge . this cowbridge came of a good stocke , his auncestors euen from wickliffes time hetherto , had been alwaies fauourers of the gospell , and addicted to the setting sorth thereof in english : hee was borne in colchester ; his father was head bayly thereof ; hee was burned at oxenford , for affirming that euery poore priest , being neuer so poore and needy , being of a good con●ersation , hath as great power and authoritie in the church of god , and ministration of the sacraments as the pope or any other bishops : they almoststerued him whilst hee was in prison in bocardo : and a little before his examination they promised him meate , if at his execution he would say such things as they would minister vnto him , which he promised to do : whereupon he was well cherished , and recouered some part of his sense . when he was come to execution , contrary to their expectation , often times calling vpon the name of the lord iesu● , with great quietnesse and méeknesse he yéelded his spirit into the han●s of the lord. this yeare one peter a germaine , and another with him , constantly indured death by the fire at colchester , for the lords supper . fryer forrest hanged for papistry . he was an obseruant fryer , and had secretly in confessi●ns declared to certaine of the kings subiects in confessions : that the king was not supreame head of the church , and being examined how he could say the king was not supreme head , being sworne to the contrary : he answered ; he took his oath with his outward man , and his inward man neuer consented thereto : he was further accused of diuers damnable articles & conuicted , after he was hanged in smithf●eld aliue in chaines , by the arme-holes and middle , and fire made vnder him , and so he was consumed to death . there was a scaffold prepared for the priuy cauncell and the nobles to sit on , to graunt him pardon if he repented : there was also a pulpit , where m●ster hugh latimer bishop of worcester declared his errours , and con●uted them by scripture , with many exhortations to repent ; but he would neither heare nor speak . a little before the execution , a great image was brought out of wales to the gallows , which was called daruell gatheren , whom the welch-men much worshipped , and had a prophesie amongst them , that this image should set a whole forest on fire ; which took effect : for he set this forest on fire , & consumed him to nothing . when the frier saw the fire comming vnto him , he took hold on the ladder , and would not let it goe , but died so vnpatiently as neuer did any that put his trust in god. certaine iniunctions giuen out in the thirtieth yeare of king henries raigne . against printing and bringing from beyond sea any books , and offering to sell them without acquainting the king , or some of his councell first , vpon paine of forfeyting their goods and chattels , and their bodies to be imprisoned at the kings pleasure . that there shall none argue about the sacrament of the altar , vpon paine of death and loosing their goods , except it be the learned in diuinity , in their schooles and appoy●ted places for such matters . and that holy bread , holy water , and procession , creeping to the crosse , setting vp of lights before the corpus christi , bearing of candles on candlemas day , puri●●cation of women deliuered with childe , off●ring of chrisomes , kéeping of the foure offering dayes , paying their tithes , these to be obserued vntill the king doe abrogate any of them . married priests to be counted laymen , and loose their spirituall promotion . that all cleargy men , should diligently in their cures , preach , and teach the people the glory of god , and the truth of his word , declaring the difference betwixt the things that god commands , and the rightes and ceremonies then vsed , least the people thereby grow into further superstition . and that thomas becket was a tray●or and not a saint , & his images to be plucked downe in euery place , and his holy dayes not to bee kept , and that the anthiphens , collects and prayers to him be not read , but raced out of the bookes . launcelot , iohn a painter , gyles germaine . iohn painter and gyles germaine were accused of heresie , and whilst they were 〈◊〉 examination at london before the bishoppe and other iudges , by chance there came one of the kings guarde one launcelot , a tall man and of as goodly a mind , hee standing by , séemed by his gesture to fauour the cause and the poore men , whereuppon he was appr●hended , examined , and condemned with them , and the next day at ●●ue of the clocke in the morning was burned in st. giles in the fields . sir iohn bortrucke , a scotish knight , his confutation , of certaine arcicles vpon which hee was condemned by the cardinall and most of the nobles and chiefe of scotland . first touching the popes supremacy , these holy ones magnisse their lord as common the●ues pre●erre their captaines , calling them euery where most honest men , for it is euident that none in the whole world is giuen to more ryot , no● séeketh more gréedily to all kind of delicates and wantonnesse , and aboundeth with al vices : as treason , murther , rapine , and all kind of such euills as he. and where they affirme him to bee christ uicar on earth , it shall appeare , that he cannot exercise more power then other bishops : for whereas they say peter had power ouer the apost●es , and consequently ouer the whole church , the which power succéeds to the bishop of rome , but by the scriptures wee may easily sée how 〈◊〉 they lie in the councell : in the . of the acts peter heard them speake thei● minds , receaued their iudgment , and followed their decree , is this to haue pow●r ouer others , and in his first epistle , writting to the bishops and pas●ors : he saith , ● beséech the bishops and pastors which are amongst you , for so much as i my selfe 〈◊〉 also a bishop and witnesse of the afflitions of christ & partaker of the glory which shall be reuealed , that they diligently feed the flocke committed vnto them : why then doe they challenge the authority of s. peter which he neuer acknowledged in himselfe ? i doubt not but it peter were here he would rebuke their madnes , as moses did iosua which was so zealous towards him . and in the eight of the acts he is commanded by his fellowes , to goe with iohn to samaria , he refused not so to doe : and being the apostles send him , they declare that they doe not ●ount him as their superiour ; and by his obedience he confesseth a fellowship with them , but no emperour ouer them . but the epistle to the galathians putteth vs sufficiently out of all doubt , whereas s. paul proueth himselfe to bee equall with him , and how when peter did not faithfully execute his office , hee was by him rebuked , and not obedient to his correction , all doth euidently proue , that there was equality betwixt paul & peter , and also that he had no mor● power euer the residue of the apostles then ouer him , the which paul doth purposely intreat of , least any should prefer peter or iohn before him : wherefore i cann●t acknowledge peter head of the apostles , nor the pope ouer other bishops , but i acknowledge christ the onely head of the church ; and i say with s. gregory , that whosoeuer calleth himselfe an vniuersall bishop , he is the fore-rider of antichrist . and whereas they alledge the high priesthood of the old law , i say the right of that high priesthood is onely transported vnto christ , for this priest-hood doth not onely consist in learning but in the propitiation and mercy of god , which christ hath fulfilled by his death , & in the intercession by the which he doth now intreat for vs vnto his father . whereas they alledge out of the . chapter of mathew , thou art peter , and vpon this rock , &c. if they do thinke that this was particularly spoken vnto peter , s. cyprian and s. augustine shall sufficiently answer them , that christ did it not to preferre one man aboue the residue , but that he might set forth the vnity of the church , hee saith : if this were spoken onely vnto peter , the church hath not the keyes , and if the church haue them , then peter when he receiued the keyes did figurate the whole church . touching their arguments , that these words were spoken to none but peter , this will easily be dissolued , if we know why christ gaue this name peter to him , whose name was simon , hauing respect onely to the constant profession which hee made of christ , as god changed the name of abraham from abram , which tooke the name of the multitude , which should come forth of his seede : so peter took his name of the constant confession of christ , which indeede is the true rocks vpon which the church is builded , and not peter , no otherwise then abraham was not the multitude himselfe , whereof he tooke his name : and the church if it had béene builded vpon peter , should haue béene builded but vpon a weake foundation , who was ouercome with the words of a litle wench , so constantly to deny christ , so any man may vnderstand how these romish builders doe wrest the scriptures to their pleasures . and when they alledge out of the . chapter of s. iohn , feed my sheep , it is a childish argument , for to feed shéep , is not to beare dominion ouer the whole church : and peter exhorts all byshops , to feed their flocks ; therefore there was no authority giuen vnto peter more then to others , or that peter did equally communicate the authority which he had receiued vnto others , and did not reserue it to himselfe , to be transported to the bishops of rome . touching pardons or indulgences : they say , that the merits of chirst , and of the saints , apostles and martyrs , which they impudently affirme to haue merited more at gods hands , then was néedfull for themselues , and there did so much superabound , that might redound vnto the helpe of others : and they affirme , that their blood was mixed with the blood of christ , and the treasure of the church was compounded of them both , for the remission of sinnes , and that the kéeping of this treasure is wholy committed to the pope , and in his power consisteth the dispensation thereof , and that he himselfe may bestow these treasures , and giue power to others so to do . hereupon riseth the pleanary indulgences and pardons , granted by the pope , for as many yeares as he will by cardinals for . daies , they haue such power , and bishops but for forty daies , and no body but satan taught this doctrin , who would vtterly extinguish the merits of christ , which he knoweth to be the only remedy of saluation . christ in the . of luke saith ; when you haue done all that you are cōmanded , count your selues but improfitable seruants . and the . of esay . all the merits of mans righteousnesse is compared to menstruous cloth : by the scripture the corruption of our nature is so manifest , that in our most perfect workes there lacketh not imperfection . the parable of the ten uirgines in the twentie fiue of mathew , putteth this out of all controuersie , where the wise virgins said , they had not sufficient oyle for themselues and others . this they ground vpon the epistle of s. paul to the collossians , i fulfill the afflictions of christ which were wanting in my flesh , for his body which is the church : but paul referreth to those afflictions wherewith the members are and shall be afflicted , so long as they liue in this world , euen as christ was afflicted : and wheras s. iames addeth this word , for the church : he doth not meane for the redemption of it , but for the edifying of the same , as in the . to timothy , he saith ; he suffereth for the elect sake , for by his constancy and stedfastnes in troubles , he sheweth he contemneth this life , in hope of a better life : whereby he doth confirme and establish the faith of the church for great fruit , by the afflictions and martirdome of the faithfull , ariseth to the glory of god , in that they subscribe and beare witnesse vnto the truth by their blood , and being the popes pardons are nothing else then such as he faineth , he is a manifest deceiuer , and a simonist in selling such marchandise as can in no place help . touching the marriage of priests , it is against the word of god , & against iustice to forbid priests to marry in the . to the hebrewes , the band of marriage is vndefiled and honorable amongst all men : and in the . cor. . chap. for auoiding of whoredome , let euery men haue his owne wife : and in that they say , this is meant of others , and not of ministers : that is disproued by the . tim. . chapt. bishops and deacons ought to be the husbands of one wife . and what can be more spoken against them herein , then in the fourth chapter of the said epistle ; in the latter daies shall come deceiuers , and wicked spirits , which shall forbid to marry ; they excuse themselues , that this was fulfilled in the hereticks cald tatians , which did condemne matrimony , but we do onely forbid church-men to marry , but this , notwithstanding this prophesie of the holy ghost , redoundeth vpon them . they interpret s. pauls saying , that a bishop shall haue but one wife : that a bishop ought not to bee chosen that hath married the second wife ; but this interpretation appeareth to be false : in that he presently declareth what manner of women bishops wiues ought to be . s. paul reckoneth matrimony amongst the principall vertues of a priest , and these men call it in the canons , the poluting of the fl●sh : god instituted matrimony , christ sanctified it with his presence , and the turning water into wine , and would haue it the image of his loue to the church . they aleadge the leuiticall priests , which as often as they came to minister , were bound to be apart from their wiues , & being our sacraments be more excellent then theirs , and daily vsed , it would be very vncomely that they should be handled by married men . the priests of the old law were forbidden all outward vncleannesse of the fl●sh when they ministred , to signifie the holines of christ whom they did prefigure , but our holines cons●steth of the inward cleannesse of the spirit : and s. paul is witnesse , that the apostles did both keep their wiues , & carry them about with them . touching that he should say that the scottish nation and their cleargy be altogether blinded , no man will deny that people to be blind that neither heare christ nor his apostles , such is the people of scotland , in that they cal the pope supreme head of the church , whith belongeth onely to christ , and contrary to the word , they forbid priests to marry in the tenth of iohn , christ is the doore , they affirme they must enter by the uirgine mary and s. peter , christ would haue vs worship him in spirit and truth : the scots build temples and chappels for idols , in which they commit fornication : in the tenth to the hebrews , christ , by one sacrifice , hath made those perfect for euer which are sanctified : and to this effect christ said on the crosse , it is finished , shewing that by his death all sacrifices for sinne ended ; yet the scottish church-men daily offer christ for sins , both of them aliue , and them that be dead : god commaundeth not to worship any grauen images , the scots fall flat to them , and offer them : incense . paul teacheth , that christ is our wisdome , righteousnes , satisfaction , and redemption : the scots prefer the traditions of men before the law of god , they stablish righteousnes in their own works , and sanctification in holy water , and other outward things , and redemption in péeces of lead , which they buy of their great antichrist . touching the possessions temporall , and iurisdiction in temporalities , in the . chapter of numbers , god said to aaron , thou shalt haue no portion amongst thē , i am thy portion and heritage , thou and the leuits shall haue all the tithes of israell for their ministry ; but what heritage is pr●uided for them i doe not say but they may possesse , but all temporall iurisdiction should be taken from them : when twice there rose a contention , which of christs disciples should be greatest : he told them they should not haue dominion one ouer another , like the kings of the nations , & christ in the . of luke , answered him that desired him to deuide his brothers inheritance vnto him , who made me a iudge . and in the . of iohn , he refused to giue iudgement vpon the adulteresse : whereby it appeareth , christ reiected the office of a iudge , as a thing not agréeable to his office . when moses tooke vpon him the ciuill gouernment and the priest-hood , he was commaunded to resigne the priest-hood to aaron , for it was against nature one man should suffice both charges , and as long as the face of the true church did continue , no priest did vsurpe the right of the sword . s. ambrose saith , emperors rather desired the office of priest-hood , then priests any empire , then sumptuous palaces belonged to emperors , and churches to priests . and s. barnard saith , peter could not giue that which he had not , but he gaue to his successors that which he had , carefulnesse ouer the congregation , for this cause the kingdom of heauen is giuen vnto you , why do you inuade other mens bounds ? they were ignorant of all iudgement that did fat with their possessions these belly-beasts , all they which do indow such filthy sinkes with their reuenues , they follow the steps of iezabell , for what do they daily but bleat and bow before their images , burning incense , aud falling flat before the altars , as the prophets of baall did , and if daniell and elias were hereticks , when they would destroy the priests of baall , so am i : we do but desire , that their riches wickedly bestowed vpon them , might be taken from them , but elias was more rigorous , for he cast the prophets of baall into the brooke kidron . the pope cannot make lawes according to his owne mind and will , and say they are spirituall , and pertaine to the soule , and are necessary to eternall life : for the word of god giueth them no such authority , in the . of iosua , thou shalt not swarue from my law to the right hand , nor to the left : and in the . of deuteronomy , thou shalt neither adde to , nor take from my commaundements : therefore in the second of malachy ; the priest shall maintaine wisdome , and the law shal they require at his hands . and where he speaketh of hearing them , he putteth this condition , that they answere according to the law of the lord , then these are couenant-breakers , that binde the consciences of men with new lawes : and in the . of ezekiell , thou shalt heare the word out of my mouth , and declare it vnto my people , so he could not speake any thing of himselfe , and god by ieremie , calleth it chaffe , whatsoeuer doth not procéede from himselfe : the prophets speake nothing but the words of god , therefore they so often vsed these wordes ; the word of the lord , the burden of the lord , the vision of the lord , thus saith the lord : the apostles must not teach their owne deuises , but that which god commaunded them . paul in the second to the collosians , denieth he hath any dominion ouer their faith , though their apostle . and in the ●●nth to the romains , faith commeth by hearing the word of god , and not by hearing the dreames of the pope : & christ himselfe saith for our example , my doctrin is not mine , but his that sent me ; to teach ministers what to do : the power of the church is not such , that it may teach new doctrines , frame new articles of faith , and new lawes , but is subiect to the word of the lord included in the same . they defended their constitutions by these reasons , if it were lawfull to the apostles to make a decree besides the commaundement of christ , that the people should abstain frō things offered to idols & blood , it is lawful for their successors as oft as néede requireth to do the same : but the apostles made no new decree , but to warne them how to rule themselues amongst their brethren , least they should abuse their liberty to the offence of others : and contrary , peter in the same councel pronounceth god to be tempted , if any yoake be laid vpon the necke of the disciples : and s. iames saith , the gentiles that are conuerted vnto god , are not to be troubled with externe decrées , and outward elements . and by the . of mathew , the scribes and pharises sit in moses chaire , whatsoeuer they command to obserue , keep ; but do not after their doings . christ taught his disciples , that he saw nothing in the doing of the scribes and pharises to be followed , yet they should not refuse to do those things which they did teach by the word , but not what they taught of their owne head . being accused for hauing the new testament , and other books of heresie , he called them blasphemers and romish swine , and their stomacks rankered , and tongues most venomous , which durst note the new testament of heresie , as they were the greatest murderers that murdered christ , so these men filled the measure of all other heretickes and blasphemies : how shall these serpents and s●●cke of uipers escape the iudgement of eternall fire . and being accused that he was so obstinate , that none of his friends could perswade him : he said he knew not why he should call them friends , which so greatly laboured to conuert him , nor will more estéeme of them then of the madianits , which called the children of israell to do sacrifices to their idols . then they condemned him for an hereticke , and his goods to be forfeited , and because they could not appr●hend him , they made a picture of him and burned it , & cursed euery one that should shew any intertainment , fauour , or helpe towards him , and their goods likewise to be confiscated . the sixe articles agreed vpon in the parliament-house . the blessed sacrament of the altar , by the efficacy of christs words being spoken by the priest , is present really vnder the forme of bread and wine , the naturall body and blood of christ , conceiued of the uirgine mary , and that there remaineth no substance of bread and wine , but onely the substance of christ , god , and man. secondly , that the communion in both kinds are not necessary , ad salutem vnto all persons : and it is to be beléeued , that in the flesh , vnder forme of bread , is the very blood ; and with the blood , vnder forme of wine , is the very flesh , aswell apart as both together . that priests after orders , may not marry by the law of god. that vowes of chastity or widdowhood , by man or woman made to god , aduisedly ought to bee obserued by the law of god , and that it exempteth them from other liberties of christian people which without that they might enioy . that it is méete that priuate masses be continued , as whereby good people ordering themselues accordingly , doe receiue both godly and goodly consolations and benefits , and it is agréeable to gods law. that auriculer confession is necessary to be retained and vsed in the church of god. then they caused it to be enacted , that if any the kings subiects , after the . of iuly next comming , by word , writing , or any otherwise , preach , argue , or h●ld any opinion against the reall presence as aforesaid , or against the sacrament vnder one kind as aforesaid : they and their assistants to be condemned for hereticks , and to be burned without any abiuration , and clergy of sanctuary to be allowed them , and all their goods and lands forfeited vnto the king , as in case of high treaso : the like offence against any of the other articles to be fellony . the history of thomas cromvvell , earle of essex . thomas cromwell became the most secret and deare councelor vnto the king , after he was made earle of essex : he alone through the singular dext●ritie of his wit and councell brought to passe that which no prince or king throughout all europe , dare or can bring to passe : for whereas brittany was most superstitious of all nations : he brake off and repressed all the poli●ies and malice of the fr●ers , mon●es and religions , and subuerted there houses throughout all the realme ; and brought the arch-bishops , and bishops ; yea cranmer and the bishop of winchester to an order , though he were the kings chiefe councelor , preuenting th●ir enterprises and complaints , specially in those things which tended to the decay of good men , which fauoured the gospell , vnto whom cromwell was euer a shield against the pestiferous enterprises of winchester , betwéen● whom there was continuall emulation both being great with the king ; one much feared , th' other beloued ; but winchester séemed such a man to be borne onely for the destruction of the good , and cromwell by thy diuine prouidence appointed a help to preserue many , it were to tedious to declare how many good men through this mans help haue béen reléeued ; whereof a great n●mber beeing depriued of their patron by his fall perished , and many yet aliue which are witnes of these things : iehu , the sharpe punisher of superstitious idolatry was not much vnlike this man. for this purpose this man seemed to be raised vp of god , to subuert the dens of sloth and idlenes , where if they had remained , the pope could not be excluded out of england ; for there was an incredible number of monasteri●s in england : there riches and possessions were so great , that they vpbraided euen vnto kings and no●les beggery : and there houses were no lesse sumptuous , which for the most part were plucked down to the ground , and their reuenues and substance the king partly conuerted vnto his own coffers , and partly distributed amongst his nobilitie ; but many repr●hend the subuersion of these abbies & say they might haue béen conuerted to other good vses which indéed would haue béen good and godly , if in this kingdome there should bee continually a succession of good princes : but if it should happen to be a king of a contrarie religion , it would haue been otherwise , as we may see by the example of quéene mary : if the monasteries had been left standing vntill her superstitious daies , they should haue been restored againe , and filled with monkes and fryers . for if the goods and possessions of the religious , being in the hands of the dukes and nobility , could scarce withstand the quéenes power , how should the meaner sort haue retained them . wherefore no doubt gods great prouidence did f●resée these things in this man : wherevpon as often as he sent any man to suppresse any monastery , hee would charge them that they should subuert their houses from there foundation . when the pope was abolish●d out of england , and that there was diuers tumults about religion , and it séemed good to the king to appoint a conuo●ation to which cromwell came , and found all the bishop● attending his comming , and all did obeysance vnto him , as to their uicar generall ; and he saluted them euery one in their degrée , and sate downe in the highest place . then cromwell in the name of the king , spake words to this effect . the king thankes you ●o : your diligence , the cause why he hath willed you to assemble , is that you should estab●sh certaine controuersies touching the state of faith , and christian religion , which are now in controuersi● , not onely in this realme : but also amongst all other nations of the world , for he willeth not that there should be any publike change in this realme of religion , except by the consent of you and the whole parliament , wherein you may easily perceiue his profound wisedom & great leue towards you : wherfore he desireth you in christs name , that leauing blindnes , contentions ▪ you would discusse those things amongst you which pertaine to religion ; and the church hauing onely respect vnto the scriptures , neither will he any longer suffer the scriptures to be wrested by any one of you ; neither to be oppressed with the popes decrées , or authoritie of the doctors or councels ; neither will he allow any doctrine grounded onely vpon antiquitie and custome , hauing no other foundation in scriptures , such as you call vnwritten verities , you owe this duety chiefely to christ ; and next of necessitie vnto the church , and yet you shall not be vnrewarded at the kings hands if he perceíue you do your duty as you ought in establishing concord in the church : the which to bring to passe the onely methode is to discusse all things according to the canons of gods word : wherevnto the kings maiestie doth exhort you , and hartily desire you : the bishops gaue thankes vnto the king for his zeale vnto the church , and his exhortation worthy so christian a prince . then bonner bishop of london , the most earnest champion for the pope , defended the vnwritten verities , and maintained the seuen sacraments of the church , and others resisted him : touching whose arguments because there is no great matter in them , i refer thee to the booke at large , where also thou maist sée the number of idols in england , to which in great deuotion they vse to goe on pilgrimage vnto . at length he was apprehended and committed to the tower , and then hee was attainted by parliament for heresie , for supporting barnes and clarke hereticks and many others ; and by his authoritie and letters rescued them , and deliuered them out of prison , and for evulgating a great number of bookes , containing heresie : and caused bookes to be translated into english , comprising matter against the sacrament of the altar , & for commending the bookes after , and that he should speake words against the king , which they would neuer suffer him to answere vnto , which were not likely to be true , in that the king so shortly after his death , wished to haue his cromwell aliue againe ; by reason of which act of parliament , the noble lord cromwell was oppressed with his enemies , and condemned in the tower : he was beheaded vpon tower hill , where he patiently suffered the stroke of the axe by a butcherly miser , which very vngodlily performed the office . the history of thomas barnes , thomas garard , and william hierome diuines . when as cromwell was dead , gardiner bishop of winchester , being at liberty to exercise his cruelty , it is to be wondred what troubles hee raised , and least he should loose his occupation by delayes : hee first assaults robert barnes , thomas gerrard , and william hierome , whom hee caused to be put to execution two daies after cromwell ; and first of barnes doctor of diuinitie . there was sent downe a sergeant at armes to cambridge , who arres●●d doctor barnes in the conuocation house : and they determined to make priuy search for luthers bookes , and all the germaines workes , but they that were suspected had word therof , and the bookes were conuayed away before they came , and he was brought to cardinall wolsey in westminster : at last he spake with the cardinall in his chaire of state , knéeling on his knees : then said the cardinall , what maister doctor ▪ had you not scope sufficient in the scriptures to teach the people : but my golden showes , my pollaxes , my pillars , my golden cushions , my crossee did so much offend you , that you made vs ridiculum caput amongst the people , we were iollily that day laughed to scorne : uerily , it was a sermon more fitter to be preached on a stage , then in a pulpit : at last you said , i wore a paire of red gloues , i should say bloudy gloues , that i should not bee cold in the middest of my ceremonies : hee answered , hee spake nothing but the truth , according to the scriptures , and the old doctors : then hee deliuered the cardinall six shéetes of paper to coroborate his saying : he receiuing them said , we perceiue you intend to stand to your articles , and shew your learning : yea said barnes , by gods grace , and your lordships fauour : he answered , such as you beare vs and the catholick church , little fauour : whether doe you thinke it more necessary that i should haue this royalty , because i represent the kings person in all high courts of this realme to the terror of all rebellions , treasons , & all the wicked members of this common-wealth , or to be as simple as you would haue vs to sell these things , and giu● them to the poore , which shortly would pisse it against the walles , and pull his maiestie from his dignitie : he answered , i think it necessarie to be sold and giuen to the poore , for it is not comely for your calling , and the king is not maintained by your pompe , and pollaxes , but by god , which saith per me reges regnant : then the cardinall said to doctor gardiner , and maister fox , loe maister doctors , heere is the learned and wise man that you told me of : then they knéeled and desired his grace to be good vnto them , for hee would be reformable : then said he for your sakes , and the uniuersitie , wee will be good vnto him : maister doctor●dost thou not know that i am legatus de latere , and that i am able to dispence with all matter in this realme as much as the pope may : hee answered , i know it : then hee bad him be ruled by him and i will doe all things for thy honesty , and the honesty of the vniuersitie : hee thanked him , and said , he would stick to the scriptures according to his little talent : then the cardinall told him he should haue his learning tried , and haue the law , and commanded him to the tower : but gardiner and fox , became his sureties : after he was twice brought before the bishops , and the abbot of westminster , in the chapter-house at westminster : then he was put to haue the councell of gardiner , and fox , and they perswaded him rather to abiure the● burne , & that he might doe more in time to come , and with other perswasions , mighty in the sight of reason and foolish flesh : wherevpon he abiured , and bore a faggot : the bishop of rochester preaching at the abiuration of him and others , stood vp and declared vnto the people , how many daies of forgiuenes of sinnes they had for beeing at that sermon ; yet he continued halfe a yéere after in prison , and then he was committed to be frée prisoner in the augustine friers in london : when these caterpillers and bloudy beasts had vndermined him , they complained on him again to my lord cardinall : then he was deliuered to the friers of northampton to bee burned : then maister horne heard that a writ should come shortly to burne him ; then hée councelled him to faine himselfe desperate , and writ a letter to the cardinall , signifying that he would drowne himselfe , and to leaue his clothes there , and another letter to the mayor of the towne to search for him in the water , because he had a letter written in parchment , wrapt in wax about his neck , for the cardinal which would teach all men to beware of him : vpon this they were seuen daies a searching for him , but he went to london in a poore mans apparell , and thence to anwerpe to luther , and there answered all the bishops of the realme , and made a booke called acta romanorum pontificum , and another booke with a supplication to king henry : when it was told the cardinall he was drowned he said , perit memoria eius cum sonitu , but this lighted vpon himselfe , for shortly after he poyso-himselfe . in the beginning of the raigne of quéene anne , he and others came againe into england , and continued a faithfull preacher in the citie of london , and in her graces time well entertained and promoted ; and after sent by king henry the eight , ambassador to the duke of cleaue , for the marriage of the lady anne of cleaue , betwéene the king and her ; and was well accepted vntill gardiner came out of france : but then neither religion nor the queene prospered , nor cromwell , nor the preachers : then followed alteration in marriage vntill hee had grafted the marriage into another stocke , by the ●ccasion whereof hee began his bloudy worke . soone after doctor barnes , and his brethren , were carried to the king to hampton court to be examined : but the king seeking meanes of his safety , bad him goe home with gardiner , and confer with him : they not agréeing ▪ gardiner sought opportunitie to dispatch barnes , and the rest , as he had done by the que●ne the lady anne of cleue , and the lord cromwell : and he appointed them three to preach thrée sermons at the spittle , which were baites to minister iust occasion of their condemnations : a hen they were sent for to hampton court , and from thence carried vnto the tower , and came not thence but to their deathes . then the protestants went beyond sea , priests were diuorced from there wiues , certaine bishops deposed , and other good men denied christ , and bore faggots : then they were put to d●ath without iudgement ; a papist and a protestant were laid vpon one hurdle and drawn to smithfield : this was winchesters deuise to colour his tyrany : then barnes hid the sheriffe beare him witnes he died christianly , and charitably , and prayed them all to pray for him , and if the dead may pray for the quick we will pray for you , so they forgaue their enemies , and kissed one another , and stood hand in hand at the stake vntill the ●●re came , and so rested in christ. the same day one powell , fetherstone , and abel , were hanged , drawne , and quartered in the same place , for denying the kings supremacie , and maintaining the kings marriage with the lady katherine dowager : the reason was because as one halfe of the councell being papists called vpon barnes , garet , and hierome , to be executed : so the other part of the councell called vpon these thrée papists to be executed . in this yéers a boy , one richard mekins , but fiftéene yeares old was burned in smithfield , for speaking somewhat against the sacrament of the altar . in like manner richard spencer priest , leauing his papistry , married a wife , and got his liuing by day-labour ; hee was burnt in salisbury , because hee was thought to hold opinion against the sacrament , and one andrew hewet , was burned with him . about this time cardinall poole , brother to the lord mountegew , was attainted of high treason , and fled to rome , where he was made cardinall of saint mary cosmoden , where he remained vntill quéene maries time . stokely , bish●p of london , and tunstone , bishop of duresme writ to him , to perswade him to abandon the supremacy of the pope , and to conforme himselfe to the religion of his king , which letter thou maist reade in the booke at large , which sufficiently proueth the pope not to be supreme head of the church , but because this doctrine is as sufficiently proued in other places , i omit to abridge it . in this yeere the king by the aduice of his councell , sent forth a decree for the setting vp the bible in the great volume in euery parish church in england . this yeare iohn porter a taylor , a lusty yong man , was by bonner bishop of london cast into newgate , for reading in the bible in paules church , where he was miserably famished to death . about this time iohn longland , bishop of lincolne , burned two vpon one day : one thomas barnard , and the other iames morton , the one for teaching the lords prayer in engl●sh , and the other for kéeping the epistle of saint iames in english. in this yeare the kings maiestie vnderstanding that all idolatry , and vain● pilgrimages were not vtterly abolished within these dominions : directed his letters vnto the archbishop of canterbury , for the spéedy amendment of the same . anthony pierson priest , robert testwood singing man , henrie finmore taylor , and iohn marbeck singing man , were burned at vvindsor . these articles were obiected against pierson , that he had said , euen as christ once hanged betweene two theeues , so when he is holden vp betwixt the priests handes , he hangs betwixt two theeues , except the priest sincerely preach gods word . that he preached that christ should not be eaten as he did hang vpon the cross● with his flesh torne , and the bloud running about their mouthes , but he was to be eaten this day , that we might also feed on him to morrow , and next day , and continually , and that he was of more power after his resurrection then he was before . that christ sitting amongst his disciples , commended the scriptures vnto them when he said , this is that bread , this is that body of christ ; so when hee brake bread and bade them deuide it amongst them , and eate it , for it was his bodie , and likewise the cup , saying , this is my bloud ; hee signified to vs that wee should receiue the scriptures , and distribute them vnto the people . it was obiected against finmore , that he had said that the sacrament of the altar was but a similitude , and that if it were god he had eaten twenty gods in his life . he condemned testwood for iesting with the priest when he lifted vp the host , saying , ho , take héed that he fall not . that marbeck with his owne hands had writ notes out of certaine authors , which were repugnant to the masse and sacrament of the altar : and that he said , the masse was impure and defiled with much vngodlinesse , and it spoyleth god of his honour ; and that the eleuation of the sacrament represents the calues of ieroboam , and is worse idolatrie then those were , and that therein christ was counted a mocking-stock . there was a fift man named bennet , vnto whose charge it was laid that hée should say , the daily masses vsed in the church were superfluous , and that it were sufficient the seuenth day were kept holy . bennet and marbeck were pardoned by the king ; the other thrée stoutly suffered martyrdom . we will passe ouer the priest which was hanged in the porters lodge of gardener bishop of winchester , and one henrie his seruant burnt at colchester , and one kerby a taylor , burnt at london , because we haue no certainty of the time . doctor london prebend of windsor , and one william simonds , which were the accusers of the foresaid fiue of windsor : they went about to trouble foure gentlemen of the kings priuie chamber , that they forced thē to plead their cause in open court : they declared to the king what danger they were in , wherupon they themselues were called in question ; being conuicted of manifest periurie , they were adiudged to weare papers , signifying their periuries , in the open market of windsor : then they were cast in prison at london , where the said doctor london died . about this time was one rogers , a lay-man of northfolk , burned by the duke of northfolke , for the true affirmation of the sacrament : halfe a yeare after the duke lost his eldest sonne , and himselfe was committed to prison , who then acknowledging his errour , became more méeke to such kind of men . iohn athee was indicted for saying , he would not beleeue that which the knaue priest made and longs wife sold ; meaning the host. and when it was told him god could make it flesh and bloud , he said , he might put into it a chicks legge . this yeare iohn heywood was attached for treason , for denying the kings supremacy , but he recanted , and confessed to the people , that the pope had no more authority then other bishops , and that the king was supreame head by the law of god. the destruction of merindall and cabriers . in the yeare . as is aforesaid , god raised vp one waldo , a rich merchant of lyons in france , which hauing attained perfect knowledge by the word of god , discouered the naughtines of the ecclesiastical ministers , many ioyned themselues vnto them , which were called waldenses , and being by persecution dispersed into di●ers countries , there were two towns remaining of their religion in france , to wit ; merindall and gabriers . certaine of the cheefe of merindall , were commanded to appeare at the parliament of prouence , they would haue retained aduocates to answere for them , who told them , it was not lawfull for them to giue councell to them , because they were but lutherans , but one told them secretly ; that they should not appeare before the said court , except they were fully determined to be burned by a little fire made of chaffe , without any further iudgement : for the court had already determined the matter against them ; whereupon , and because they had séene many good men serued so , hauing no other cause of condemnation , but that they were reported to be lutherans , for these causes they did not appeare at the day appointed : wherevpon , the parliament gaue out an arrest , whereby not onely they of merindal , that were appointed to appeare , were condemned to be burned , as attainted of heresie and high treason , and their goods confiscate vnto the king , but also all the inhabitants of merindall , wherein was fourescore houses to be burned , men , women , and children , & the towne to be rased , and the trées cut vp . paces round about . a little after there was a great banquet at ayx , at which was the president cassane , and many counsellors and nobles , and the archbishop of arles , and the bishop of ai● , with their ladies and gentlewomen : one that was the bishop of aixis concubine , said , my lord president will you not execute the arrest that is giuen out against the lutherans of merindall ? and she recited the manner of it , forgetting nothing the lord alenson said ; gentlewoman , you haue learned this of them that would haue it so , or else it was giuen out by a parliament of women . then the l. of senas said it is true , & you do not well to call the parliament a parliament of women , he answered , he did not beléeue it , for it is a thing that the & ●ueliest tyrants of the world , would iudge most inhumane & detestable , & many of merindal which séem to me to be very honest men : thē the gentl●woman lifting vp her eyes with a great chafe , said , o that it pleased god that all lutherans had hornes growing on their foreheads . then said my lord bewieu , i would all priests harlots chattered like pies : she said , my l. you ought not to sp●ak against our holy mother the church ; for there was neuer any dogge that bar●ed against the crosse , but he waxed mad : the bishop of aix laughed and clapt her on the back , saying , by my holy orders my minion , you haue don me great pleasure , remember me the lesson she hath taught you . the lord answered , i will not learn of her , nor of thée , neither honesty nor honour ; for the most part of the bishops and priests are adulterers , deceiuers , theeues , seducers : i should not speake against the holy church , but i speake against a flocke of wolues , dogges , and abominable swine . then said the archbishop , my l. you must giue account of these words in time and place : he answered , i would it were now ; for i wil be bound to proue more naughtines in priests then i haue spoken . when christ called the priests deceiuing hypocrits , blinde seducers , and robbers , did he them any wrong ? they answered no , for the most part of them were so . then said my lord bewieu , euen so is it with the bishops and priests ; for they are such kinde of men and worse . then he said , a●ant thou herodias , thou vnshamefac't and dishonest harlot , is it thy part to speak in this cōpany ? thou shouldst not desire the innocent bloud to be shed , then she sayd , if i were a man i would offer you combat , to proue that i desire not to shed innocent bloud , do you call the bloud of these wicked men of merendoll innocent bloud ? i do desire and offer with my who●e power , that such as they should bee destroyed , from the greatest to the least : and to sée the beginning of this worke i haue not beene wanting to imploy all my credit and frien●● ▪ and doe not spare neither body nor goods to make the vtter ruine and destruction of them , and to deface their memory from amongst men , i had rather méet ten di●els then one lutheran . after the bishops and clergy met againe to consult about the executing of the sayd arest , and they had a banket at the bishops house of ruda : to this banket the ●ayrest and best ladies of a●inion were inuited to solace these good prelates : after they had dined , danced , and vsed their pastime , they walked vntill supper , and as they passed the stréets leading euery one a gentlewoman vpon his arme , they saw a man that sould dishonest images to stirre vp the people to whoredome and knauery , and all these pictures the bishops bought , which were as many as a mule could carry : a little further a booke-binder had set out bibles of lattin and french to se●l , then the bishops sayd , who hath made thée so hardy to set forth these marchandise to sell ? dost not thou know these bookes are forbid ? the booke binder answered , is not the holy bible as good as these goodly pictures ? the bishop of air sayd , i renownce my part of paradice if he bee not a lutheran , let him bee tryed what hee is : then the book-binder was caried into prison , and a company of ruffins cryed , a lutheran to the fire with him , and owne strucke him with his fist , another pulled him by the beard , so that hee was al imbrued with bloud , the morrow hee was brought before the bishops , hee iustified the selling of the bibles , and said ; there was no nation but had the byble in their owne language ; will you forbid and hide that which christ hath commaunded to bee published ? did not christ giue power to his apostles , to speake all manner of tongues to the end that his gospell might be taught to euery creature in euery language ? and why doe you forbid this booke , a●d buy such prophane painting ? what cruelty is this , to take the nourishment from poore soules , but you shall gi●e account heereof , which call sweete sower , and sower sweete : you bee rather the priests of bacchus and venus , then pastors of the church : then he was condemned to be burned the same day , and to haue two bybles hang , one before , and another behind , to signifi● the cause of his death . the byshoppes twice raised an army at their owne charges , to execute the aforesaid arrest , but their enterprises were let by one meanes or other : and the king hearing the confession of this faith of merindole , and finding that it did agree in all points to the word of god , gaue them their pardon : some of the byshoppes resort to them to get them to recant , but they prooued their religion so agreeable to the word , that many doctors were conuerted to their opinions , and confessed they neuer learned so much in all their time , as by hearing them : their children were so well taught , and they questioned and answered one another so diuinely ; that the doctor● confessed , they had not heard arguments , so well answered in the diuinity schooles . yet notwithstanding in this yeare , the twelfth of aprill , iohn miners , president of the councell of aygues , called the senate and read the kings letters ▪ which the cardinall had obtained for that purpose , and commaunded them to execute the sentence : now euery where hee had mustred men for the english warres , but he vsed them for this purpose , and tooke vp more souldiours out of euery towne , and they had ayde sent them out of the popes dominions . first they set vpon the uillage about merindoll , and destroyed and burned them , the merindolins seeing their cruelty , left their houses and fled into the woods , carrying their children vpon their shoulders and armes : then it was showed vnto them , that miners came with all his whole power to destroy them : then the men went away and left the women and children , with som to looke to them , hoping they would shew mercie to them ; whom when the souldiers found , they abstained from slaughter : but when they had spoyled them of their money and victuals , they lead them away . their purpose was to handle them more shamefully , but that they were let with a captaine of horse-men ; so they left the women and droue away the booty : there were fiue hundred women . miners burned merindoll ; and finding there but one yong man , he ●aused him to be tyed to a tree , and shot in with dagges : then he went to cabriers , and perswaded the townsmen to open the gates , promising they should haue no hurt ; but when they were let in , they slew both man , woman , and childe . miners shut fortie women into a ●arne of straw , set it on fire and kept them in till they were all burned . the number slaine within the towne and without , were eight hundred : the infants that escaped their furie were baptized againe of their enemies . then they took the town of costa and serued it so , and many maids and women being lead into a garden of the castle they rauished them all : and when they had kept them a day and a night , they handled them so beastly , that the mayds and them with child died shortly after . in the meane time the merindoles and diuers others that wandred in the woods and mountains , were either sent to the gallies or were slaine . many also died for hunger : fiue and twenty hid themselues vnder a rocke , and they smothered and burned them ; so that no kinde of cruelty was omitted : notwithstanding diuers which had escaped came to geneua and other places neere . the persecution in callice , with the martyrdome of george bucket , alias adam damlip . this adam damlip had bin a great papist , and chaplaine to the bishop of rochester : he iournyed to rome , thinking to haue found all godly and sincere religion , where he found , as he confessed , such blasphemy of god , contempt of christs true religion , loosenesse of life , and abomination and filthinesse , that he abhorred to tarrie there any longer , although he was greatly requested by cardinall poole , to continue there to reade three lectures euery weeke in his house , offering him great entertainment , which he refused ; and returning home , the cardinall gaue him a french crowne . and wayting at callice for passage into england , william steuens and thomas lancaster desired him to reade there two or three dayes , and got him license of the lord lisle the kings deputie of the towne , and the license of iohn butler the commissary . when he had preached three or foure times he was wel liked , so that they hyred him to preach there ; and twenty dayes or more , euery morning at seuen of the clocke , he preached learnedly and plainely the truth of the blessed sacrament of christs body and bloud , mightily inueighing against all papistrie , but especially against transubstantiation & the propitiatorie sacrifice of the masse , declaring how popish himselfe was , and how by the detestable wickednesse that he did see vniuersally in rome , he was returned and become an enemie to all papistre . he came at last to speake against the pageant or picture set forth of the resurrection , in saint nicholas his church , that it was meere idolatrie and illusion of the french-men before callice was english. then there came a commission to the lord deputy , the commissary , and others , to search whether there were three hosts lying vpon a marble stone besprinkled with bloud , as was put in writing vnder a bull and pardon ; and that if they found it not so , that immediatly it should be pulled downe , and so it was ; for they breaking vp a stone in the corner of the tombe , in stead of three hosts found souldred in the crosse of marble lying vnder the sepulchre , three plaine counters , which they had pointed like vnto hosts : and aboue that was the tippe of a sheeps tayle , which damlip shewed to the people the next day , which was sonday , out of the pulpit . and after they were sent by the lord deputie to the king. then the prior of the white friers , and one of the lord lisle his chaplains , contradicted his sermons , and caused him to be sent for to cranmer and steuen gardiner , and others , before whome hee did so constantly defend the doctrine which he had taught , that cranmer being yet but a lutheran , maruelled excéedingly at it , and said , that the scripture knew no such terme of transubstantiation . then the other bishops threatned him , to whom he promised , the next day to deliuer them all in writing which he had formerly preached in callice . in the meane time he had secret intimation giuen him by cranmer , that if hee appeared the next day , he should be sure to be committed : whereupon he sent them his faith with the arguments thereupon in writing , and he went aside into the west countrey . then the king was certified that there were many diuersities of opinions in calice , tending to the danger thereof : whereupon doctor champion and m. garnet , who after was burned , were sent ouer to preach to them , where he preached the same true doctrine which adam damlip had done . after them , one william smith , curate of our ladies parish in callice , preaching earnestly inuaying against papistry and wilfull ignorance , exhorting them to imbrace the word , and not to contemne it , least gods wrath fall vpon them , which followeth the contempt of his holy word . at length the said lord lisle , which was bastard to king edward the fourth , which maintained damlip as before , by the intising of his wicked wife , the lady honora , she being thereunto prouoked by sir thomas palmer , and iohn rockwood ▪ esquire : these , with seauen others , wrote very haynous letters vnto the king and councell , against diuers of the towne of calice . whereupon , diuers of them were often punished in callice , and many of them sent for ouer into england , and were ●orely imprisoned and punished , and had not escaped the fire , but by the kings pardon . the aforesaid adam damlip taught schoole about some two yeares in the west country , after he was apprehended and brought vnto stephen gardiner , who committed him to the marshalsie , where he continued two yeares : and for his honest behauiour hee was beloued of the whole house , and especially of the kéeper , and he did much amongst the common sort of the prisoners in reprouing vice : then being resolued rather to loose his life , then not to suffer his talent to be vsed to gods glory by being detained in prison . wherevpon he sent an epistle to gardiner : and then by the bishops commandement hee was had to callice , where first hee layed vnto his charge heresie ; but because all such offences before such a day were pardoned by an act of parliament : then for the receiuing of the aforesaid french crowne of cardinall poole , as you heard before he was condemned of treason in callice , cruelly put to death , beeing hanged , drawne and quartered : at his death sir raph ellerker knight marshall there would not suffer him to declare his faith or cause he died for , but bad the executioner dispatch the knaue : and said , he would not away before he saw the traytors heart out : but shortly after in a skirmish with the frenchmen at bullen he was slaine , and his enemies cut off his members , and cut the heart out of his body and so left him a terrible example of the iustice of god , vpon all bloudy persecutors . the said lord lisley with the others as before vniustly charging them of callice with sedition and heresie , were all shortly after either greatly out of the kings fauour , and committed vnto prison , or else by desperate deathes died . i will recite but rockwood the chiefe stirrer of the afflictions aforesaid , who at the last breath staring and raging cryed he was damned ; and being bid to aske god mercie , he cried out , all too late , for i haue sought malitiously the deaths of a number of the towne , which in my heart i thought to be honest men : which words he vsed when thirteene were carried in irons into england ; when one told him he neuer saw men of such honesty so sharply corrected , and taking it so ioyfully ▪ rockwood then leaping , scoffingly said , all too late : and the vnder marshall suddenly fell downe in the councell chamber , and neuer spake . a labouring man hauing heard damplip , said , hee would neuer beleeue that priests could make the lords bodie at their pleasure : whereupon hee was condemned by one haruy a commissary , who said he was an heretick , and should die a vile death . the poore man answered , he was no heretick , but in the faith of christ , and said , whereas thou sayest i shall die a vile death , thou shalt die a viler death shortly ; and so it came to passe : for within halfe a yeare the said haruy was hanged , drawne , and quartred in callice for treason . dodde alias scot . hee was taken in callice , with certaine germane bookes about him , and being examined thereupon , and standing constantly to the truth , hee was condemned and burned there . vvilliam bvtton . hee being a souldier of callice , merrily asked a papist , whether one that were suddenly taken might not occupie one of the popes pardons in stead of a broken paper : and another question , whether the world might better want dogs then popish priests , and answered it , that if there were no dogs , we could make no more , but if there lacked ignorant priests , we might soone make too many of them . there came a black frier to callice with the popes pardons , who for . pence would deliuer a soule out of purgatorie ; this button asked him , if the pope could deliuer soules out of purgatorie : the frier said , there is no doubt of that : then he said , why doth he not of charity deliuer all the s●ules thereout ? for which cau●e he was accused vnto the commissary , who chafing , called him heretick : then said button , if the pope can deliuer soules out of purgatorie , and will not of chariti● doe it , then would god the king would make me pope , for surely i would deliuer all out without money . whereupon the commissary made him beare a billet , and procured his wages , which was sixe pence a day , to be taken from him : then he went vnto the king , and declared the whole matter , who after gaue him eight pence a day . in nouember , after the king had subdued the scots , and ioyning with the emperour , had inuaded france , and had got the towne of bullen , he summoned a parliament , in which was granted him , besides subsidies of money , all colledges , chanteries , free chappels , hospitals , fraternities , guilds and perpetuities of stipendary priests to be disposed at his will and pleasure . they being thus giuen to him by act of parliament in december , the next lent doctor crome preached in the mercers chappell : amongst other reasons to induce the people from the vaine reasons of purgatorie , he said , it trentalls and masses could auaile the soules in purgatorie , then did not the parliament well in giuing away monasteries , colledges , and chanteries , which serued principally to that purpose : but if the parliament did well , as no man could denie , then it is plaine that such chanteries and priuate masses confer nothing to relieue them in purgatorie . this dilemma was insoluble , but at easter next they brought him in question for it , and so handled him , that they made him to recant , or else they would haue dissolued him and his argument in the fire . anne askew . after she had bin many times examined , and she had answered so wisely , that though she had affirmed the truth of the sacrament , yet none could touch her for her arguments by the law . then she wrote her minde of the sacament , as followeth : i perceiu● , deare friends in the lord , that you are not yet perswaded of the truth in the lords supper , because christ sayth , take , eate , this is my bodie : but he giuing the bread as an outward signe to be receiued with the mouth , hee meant in perfect beléefe they should receiue his body which should die for the people ; and to thinke his death the onely saluation of their soules . the ●read and wine were left vs for a sacramentall communion of the benefite of his death ; and that we should be thankefull for the grace of redemption . and in the closing thereof he sayth , this doe in remembrance of me so often as you eate and drinke ; or else we should haue béene forgetfull of that we ought to haue in daily remembrance , and also been vnthankefull : therefore we ought to pray to god for the true meaning of the holy ghost touching this communion ; for the letter slayeth , and the spirit giueth life . in the sixth of iohn all is applied vnto ●aith : and in . cor. . the things which are seene are temporall , but the things which are not seene are euerlasting : and in the third of the hebrewes , christ ruleth ouer his house , whose house we are , if we hold fast the confidence and reioycing of hope vnto the end : and the dead temple is not his house , wherefore to day if you will heare his voice , harden not your hearts . her confession in newgate . christ took the bread , saying to his disciples , take , eate , this is my body which shall be broken for you , meaning his body the bread , but a signe and sacrament : and so he said , he would break downe the temple , and in three dayes build it vp againe , signifying his body by the temple , although there be many that cannot perceiue the true meaning thereof ; for the vayle that moses put euer his face before the children of israell remayneth to this day : but when god shall take it away , then shall these blinde men see . for it is plainly expressed in the historie of bell ; o king , saith daniell , be not deceiued , for god will be worshipped in nothing that is made with hands of men . o what stiffe-necked people are these , that will alwayes resist the holy ghost , as their fathers haue done . truth is layde in prison , luk. . the law is turned to wormwood , amos . and there can no right iudgement goe forth , esay . her condemnation . they said i was an heretick , and condemned by the law , if i would stand to my opinion ; i said , touching my faith i said and wrote to the councell , i would not deny because i knew it true : then they would knowe whether i would denie the sacrament of christs bodie and bloud ; i answered yea : for the same sonne of god that was borne of the blessed uirgin mary , is now glorious in the heauens , and will come againe at the last day as he went vp : and that which you call your god is a peece of bread , and for more proofe thereof , let it lie in a boxe but thrée monthes and it will be mouldy and turne to nothing that is good , therefore i am perswaded it is no god. then they willed me to haue a priest and then i smiled , then they asked mee if it were not good , i sayd i would confesse my faults vnto god , for i was sure hee would heare me with fauour , and so we were condemned by the quest . this was my beléefe which i wrote to the councell , that the sacramentall bread was left vs to bee receaued with thanksegiuing in the remembrance of his death , the onely remedy of our so●les recouery , and thereby we also receaue the whole benefit of his passion , then they would needs know whether the bread in the boxe were god or no , i sayd god is a spirit and will bee worshipped in spirit and truth , then they sayd , will you plainely deny christ to bee in the sacrament ? i answered i beléeue the eternall sonne of god , not to dwell there , in witnes whereof i recited againe the history of bell and the . and . of the acts and the of mathew concluding i neither wish death nor feare it , god haue the praise thereof with thankes , then she wr●te to the lord chancelour and the king but it preuayled not . after she was sent from newgate to the tower , then maister rich and one of the councell charged me vppon mine obedience , to shew vnto them if i knew any of my sect , i answered i knew none , they asked me of my lady suffolke , my lady sussex , my lady hereford , my lady denny , and my lady fitzrallins . i sayd if i should pronounce any thing against them i am not able to proue it , they said the king was informed i could name if i would a great number of my sect , i sayd the king was as well deceaued in that behalfe as dissembled with in other matters . then they commanded mee to shewe how i was maintayned in the counter , and who willed me to stick to mine opinion , i sayd there was none did strengthen me therein , and i was maintayned in the counter by the meanes of my mayde , for she made mone vnto the prentises , and they by her did send mee money , but who they were i know not . then they sayd diuers gentlewomen gaue me money , but i know not their names , then they said many ladies sent me money , i answered , there was a man in a blew cote deliuered me ten shillings and said my lady of hereford sent it me , and another in a uiolet cote gaue me eyght shillings , and sayd my lady denny sent it mee , but i am not sure who sent it me , then they said there were of the councell which did maintaine mee , and i said no. then they put mee vpon the racke and kept me there a long time , because i would not confesse any gentlewomen or ladies on my opinion , and because i did not cry , my lord chancelor and sir iohn baker tooke paines to racke me with their owne hands vntill i was nie dead . then the liefetennant caused mee to be loosed from the racke and incontinently i swounded , and they recouered me againe : after i sat two houres reasoning with my lord chanc●llor vppon the bare floure , where with flattering words hee perswaded me to leaue my opinions , but god gaue mee grace to perseuere and will doe i hope , then i was brought to bed with as painefull bones as euer pacient iob : then my lord chancellor sent me word if i would leaue mine opinions , i should lacke nothing , if i would not i should to newgate and be burned : i sent him word againe i would die rather then breake my faith , she was borne of such a kindred , that she might haue liued in great prosperity , if she would rather haue followed the world then christ : at the day of her execution she was brought into smithfield in a chaire , because she could not goe on her feete by meanes of her torments , she was tyed by the middle with a chai●e that held vp her body , then doctor shaxton began his sermon : anne askew hearing and answering againe vnto him , where hee sayd well , she confirmed the same , where hee iaid amisse , she said , hee speaketh without booke . there was at the same time three burned with her : one nicholas belemy a priest of shropshire , iohn adams a taylor , and iohn lacels , gentleman of the court and kings houshold . wrisley lord chancellor , the old duke of norfolke , the earle of bedford , and the lord mayor : wrisle sent anne askew the kings pardon , if shee would recant : she said the came not thither to deny her lord , and master ; then were the letters likewise offered vnto the others , who in like maner followed the constancie of the woman : wherevpon the mayor commanded the fire to bee put vnto them . sir george blage of the priuy chamber was imprisoned , condemned , and should haue been burned , but that the king pardoned him : for saying the masse auail●th neither quick nor the dead , being asked what then it was good for , he said belike to keep a horse from stumbling . the troubles of katherine parre , henry the eight his last wife , for the gospel , by the meanes of gardiner and others . a yéere after the king came from bullen , he was informed that the quéens katherine parre , was much giuen to the reading and study of ●he scriptures ; and that shee had retained diuers godly learned preachers to instruct her therein , with whom shee vsed priuately to conferre , and in the afternoones one of them made collation to her : her ladies and gentlewomen and others disposed to heare , in which sermons they oftentimes touched the abuses in the church , and often shee would debate with the king touching religion , and perswade him as hee had to the glory of god , and his eternall fame b●gunne a godly worke in ban●shing that monstrous idoll of rome , so hee would purge his church from the dregges thereof , wherein was yet great superstition : and though the king in the later end grew opp●nionate , and would not bee taught nor contended withall by argument yet towards her he refrained his accustomed manner , for neuer handmaide sought more to please her mistresse , then she to please his humour ; and she was of such singular beauty , fau●ur , and comely personage , wherein the king was greatly delighted : but gardiner bishop of winchester , wrisley lord chancelor , and others of the kings priuy chamber , practised her death , that they might the better stop the passage of the gospell : and hauing taken away the patronesse of the professors of the truth , they might inuade the remainder with fire and sword , but they du●st not speake to the king touching her , because they saw the king loued her so well . at length the king was ●●cke of a sore legge , which made him very froward , and the queene being with him did not faile to vse all occasions to moo●● him zeal●usly to proceed in the reformation of the church : the king shewed some tokens of mislike , and broke off the matter , and knit vp the arguments with gentle words , and after pl●asant talke she tooke her leaue : the bishop of winchester beeing there ; the king immediately vpon her departure vsed these words ; it is a good hearing when women become such clarks , and much to my comfort to come in mine old age to be taught by my wife . then the bishop shewed a mislike that the queene would so much forget her selfe to stand in argument with his maiestie , whose iudgement and di●initie hee extolled to his face aboue princes of that and other ages , and of doctors professed in diuinitie , and that it wss vnseemely for any of his subiects to argue with him so malapertly , and that it was gréeuous to all his councelors and seruants to heare the same : inferring how perilous it hath euer been for a prince to suffer such insolent words of a subiect , who as they are bold against their soueraignes words , so they want not will but strength to ouerthwart them in deeds . then the religion by the queene so stiffely maintained , did dissolue the politick gouern●ment , and made the peoples opinions so odious , and perillous vnto the princes estate , that they da●e aff●●me that the greatest subiect in the land , defendeth those arguments which they doe : yet he said he would not , neither durst without good warranty from his maiestie , speake his knowledge in the queenes cause , though many apparant reasons made for him : and such as his duety and zeale to his maies●ies preseruation would not licence him to conceale , though the vttering thereof through her , and her faction , might be his d●struction and theres which tendred his maiesties safety , without his maiestie would be his protector , which if hee would doe , hee with others of his faithfull councelors , could disclose such treasons , cloked with heresies , that his maiestie should cas●ly perceiue , how perilous a matter it is to cherish a serpent within his owne bosome , and he crept so farre into the king at that time , that he and his fellowes filled the kings mistrustfull minde , with such feares , that the king gaue them warrant to consult together , about drawing of articles against the queene , wherein her life might be touched . then they thought it best at first to begin with such ladies as she most esteemed , and wer● priuy to all her doing , as the lady harbert , after countesse of pembro●ke the queenes sister ; and the lady iane , and the lady tirwit , all of her priuy chamber : and to accuse them vpon six articles , and to search there closets and coffers , that they might finde somewhat to charge the queene , and that being found , the que●ne should bee taken and carried in a barge by night to the tower : of which aduice the king was made priuy by gardiner , and the lord chancelor , to which they had the kings cons●nt , and the time and place appointed . this purpose was so finely handled , that it grew within few daies of the time appointed , and the poore qu●ene suspected nothing , but after her accustomed manner visited the king , still●●● deale with him touching religion as before : after the king brake the whole practise to one doctor wendy , one of his physitions , telling him that hee would no longer bee troubled with such a doctresse as shee was , but charged him vpon his life , not to vtter it to any . but it came to passe that the bill of articles drawne against the queene , and subscribed with the kings owne hand , falling from the b●some of one of the councell was found of some godly person , and brought to the queene ; who seeing it , fell into a great agony and melancholy . the king hearing what perill of life she was in , sent his phisition vnto her ; and the said doctor wendy perceiuing the matter by her words , brake with her touching the said articles , deuised against her , and gaue her warning of that mischiefe which hanged ouer her head : beséeching her to be secret , and to conforme her selfe to the kings minde , and no doubt she should finde him gracious : after the king came to her himselfe , vnto whom after she had vttered her griefe , how it was for feare his maiestie had forsaken her , hee so refreshed her with comfortable words , that she began to recouer . then shee commanded her ladies to conuay away her bookes which were against the law , and then she went to the king : he courteously welcomed her , and entred into talke of religion , séeming desirous to be resolued of the queene of certaine doubts . the queene perceiuing to what purpose this his talke tended , your maiestie doth well know ( quoth shee ) and i am not ignorant of what great weaknesse by our first creation is allotted to vs women , to bee subiect vnto man as our head : from which head all our direction must proceed , and as god made man after his own image , that being indued with more speciall gifts of perfection , might bee stirred to meditate heauenly things , and obay his commandements , so he made woman of man , of whom , and by whom , she is to bee commanded and gouerned , whose womanly weaknesse ought to bee tolerated and ayded , that by his wisedome such things as be lacking in her might be supplied : therefore your maiestie being so excellent in ornaments of wisedome , and i so much inferiour in all respects of nature : why doth your maiestie in such defuse causes of religion require my iudgement , which when i haue vttered & said , what i can , yet i must and will referre my iudgement in this and all causes to your maiesties wisedome , as my onely anker , supreme head , and the gouernor heere in earth next vnto god. not so by saint mary said the king , you are become a doctor late to instruct vs. shee answered , your maiestie hath much mistaken mee , who haue euer thought it preposterous for the woman to instruct her husband , but rather to learn of him ; and where i haue beene bold to hold talke with your maiestie , wherein there hath seemed some difference in opinion , i haue not done it to maintaine opinion , but to minister talke that your maiestie might with lesse griefe passe the paine of your infirmitie , being attentiue to your talke , and that i might receiue some profit by your maiesties learned discourse : wherein i haue not missed any part of my desire , alwaies referring my selfe in such matters to your maiestie . ●hen said the king ▪ tendeth your argument to no worse end , then wee are now as perfect friends as euere we were , and he imbraced her , and kissed her ; saying it did him more good to heare these words , then if he had heard newes of a hundred thousand pound fallen to him . on the day that was appointed for the aforesaid tragedy : the king went into his garden , whether the queene being sent for came , onely the three ladies aboue named waiting on her ; with whom the king was as pleasant as euer hee was in his life : in the middest of his mirth the houre appointed being come , the lord chancelor commeth into the garden , with forty of the kings guard at his he●les , with purpose to take the queene with the three ladies to the the tower , whom the king sternely beholding , called him to him , who on his knees whispered to the king : the king cal'd him knaue , arrant knaue , and beastly foole , and commanded him to auant out of his presence ; which words the quéene heard , though they were low spoken : then he departed with his traine , the whole mould of his deuice broken . the queene seeing the king so cha●ed , spoke for the lord chancellor : ah poore soule quoth hee , thou little knowest how euill hee deserueth this grace at thy hands , he hath been towards thee sweet heart an arrant knaue , and so let him goe . if king henry had liued , hee and the french king had been at this point , within halfe a yeere after to haue changed the masse in both their realmes into a communion , as wee now vse it , and also vtterly to haue extirped the popes vsurped power ; out of both their realmes : and they ment to exhort the emperour to doe the like in flanders , and his other countreyes , or else to breake off from him : and herein quoth the archbishop cranmer , the king willed mee to pen a forme thereof to be sent to the french king , but that it was letten by the death of king henry . when the bishops had brought anne askevv and her fellow martyrs to death , being now in their triumph , as the pharisies were when they had killed christ : they deuised how to euer read the truth for euer : wherevpon they made a strait proc●amation authorised by the kings 〈◊〉 for abolishing of the scripture , and all other english bookes which mi●ht g●●e light to the setting forth of gods word , and the grace of the gospell , which thou maist see in the booke at large , which no doubt had done much hurt in the church amongst the godly , in bringing them to danger , or keeping 〈◊〉 in blindnes , had not the shortnes of the kings daies stopped the malignant purposes of the pr●lat●s , causing the king to leaue that to the people by his death , which by his life he would not grant , for within foure monethes after the proclamation , he deceased the eight and thirty yeare of his raigne . the history touching the persecutions in scotland : deane , thomas forret . this deane , thomas forret , preached euery sunday in his parish vpon the epistle and gospell , which was nouel●y in scotland to see any preach but the black fri●r , or the gray . wherefore the friers enuied him , and accused him to the bishop of donkelden as an heretick , which shewed the mysteries of the scripture vnto the vulgar people , to make the clergy detestable : the bishop sending for him said : my ioy , deane thomas , i leue you well , ● am informed you preach the epistle and gospel euery sunday , and that you take not the cow for mortuarie , nor the vpper cloth for crisome of your parishioners , which is very preiudiciall to the church men : my ioy deane thomas , take your cow and your vpper cloth , and preach not euery sunday , for in so doing , you will make the people thinke we should preach likewise : but when you finde a good epistle or a good gospell that setteth forth the l●bertie of the church , preach that and let the rest be . thomas answered , my parishioners pay me my dueti●s willingly , and w●e agree well : and where your lordship saith it is too much ●o preach euery sonday , i thinke it too little : and also would wish that your lordship would doe the like : nay , nay , we are not ordained to preach m. forret : and where your lordship speaketh of a good and an euill epistle , i could neuer finde none but good . then spake my lord , i thanke god i neuer knew what the old & new testament ment : ( wherevpon , grew a prouerb , you are like the bishop of dunkelden , that kn●w neither new nor old law ) therefore said the bishop , i will know nothing but my portous , and my pontificall : if you forgoe not these fantasies you shall repent it . thomas said , my cause is iust before god , and i passe not what followeth thereon . after he was summoned by the cardinall of saint andrewes , and the said bishop of dunkelden , and with him were summoned frier iohn kellow , frier beuarage , duncane simson priest : robert foster , a gentleman , with thrée or foure other men of striueling , who at thei● day of apparance were condemned to death without any place of recantation , because they were chiefe hereticks , and teachers of heresies : and because many of them were at the marriage of the priest of twybody , and eate flesh in lent at their bridall , and they were all together burn●d vpon the castle hill of edenbrough , where they comforted one another merueilously . the persecution of certaine in the towne of perth . there was an act of parliament in the gouernment of the earle of arrai , giuing priuilege to reade the scriptures in their mother tongue , but secluding al conference thereof , wherby y ● eyes of the elect of god , were opened to sée the tru●h , and abhorre papisticall abhominations , at which time fryer spencer preached , that prayers made to saints were necessary , and without it no hope of saluation : then robert lambe , a burges of perth , accused him op●nl● in the church of erronious doctrine , and adiured him in gods name to vtter the truth , whereupon trouble and tumul● of people arose , so that the said robert with great danger of his life escaped , euen the women addressed themselues to great cruelty against him . shortly after the cardinall and the earle of argile sat about the matter , before these persons were brought ; robert lambe , william anderson , iames hunter , iames rauelson , iames fouleson , and hellen sirke his wife , and the next day were condemned to death by an assize , for violating the foresaid act of parliment by conferring together of the scripture , and for that the said robert lambe , william anderson , and iames raueleson , hanged the image of saint francis in a cord , nayling rammes hornes to his head , and a cowes rump to his ta●le , and for eating a goose of alhollow eue : and iames hunter for kéeping company with th●m : he●len sirke , for saying mary merited not by workes to be the mother of christ , and to be preferred before other women , but gods free mercy ●xalted her to that estate : iohn raueleson for setting vp in his house a triple crowne of saint peter , which the cardina●l tooke to be done in mockage of his card●nals ha● . at the place of execution robert lambe exhorted the people to feare god , and to leaue the leauen of papisticall abhominations , and prophesied of the ruine of the cardinall , which after came to passe : and comforting one another , that they should sup together in the kingdome of heauen . the woman desired to die with her husband , but was not suffered , then she kissed him , saying ; we haue liued together ioyfull daies , but this day is most ioyful , because we must haue ioy for euer . i will not bid you god night , for we shall all this night méete with ioy in heauen . the condemnation of george vvishard gentleman , and his articles before the cardinall of scotland , and others . touching preaching when he was forbidden , hee answered ; i haue read in the acts of the apostles , that it is not lawfull to desist from preaching the gospell for menaces of men , therefore it is written , wee must rather obey god then men , and i beléeue that the lord will turne your cursings of mee vnto blessings : and as in the second of malachy ; i will curse your blessings , & bless● your cursings . he affirmed the mouing of the body outward of the priest at masse , without the inward mouing of the heart , is but the playing of an ape , and not the seruing of god , who must be honored in spirit and verity . that auriculer confession hath no promise of the euangell , and therefore it cannot be a sacrament , but there are many testimonies of confession made to god. as none will make marchandise with one of a strange language , except that he doe vnderstand the promise made by the stranger : so i would that we vnderstood what wee promise in the name of the infant to god in baptisme : then saide one bleiter a chaplaine ; the● hast the deuill and spirit of errour : then said a child , the deuill cannot speake such words as he doth . the lawfull vse of the sacraments is most acceptable vnto god , but the great abuse is very detestable vnto him : i once met with a iew as i was sayling on the sea , i inquired of him what was the cause of his pertinacy , that he did not beléeue the true messias was come , being that he saw the prophesies of him fulfilled , and the prophesies and the scepter of iuda was likewise tak●n away : he answered me ; when the messias commeth , he shall restore all things , and he shall not abrogate the law giuen vnto our fore-fathers as yee doe : for we sée the poore almost ready to perish for hunger amongst you , and you pitty them not , and amongst vs iewes , though we are poore , there are no beggars found . and it is forbidden by the law , to faine an image of any thing in heauen or earth , but onely to honour god , but your churches are full of idols , and ye adore a péece of bread baked vpon the ashes , and that it is your god , then the bishops shooke their heads , and spitted on the earth . he reproued coniurings and exorcismes of holy water , and said that they were contrary to gods word . saint peter saith , god hath made vs kings and priests : and againe , hee hath made vs a kinglie priest-hood ; therefore i affirme , that any man cunning in the word of god , and the faith of christ , he hath power from god , by the word of god to binde and lose : and a man that is not conuersant in gods word , nor constant in faith , what estate or order soeuer he be of , hath no power to binde or lose , being he wanteth the word of god , the instrument to binde and lose with . touching fréewill , he said ; as many as firmely beléeue in christ , haue liberty , as in the . of iohn , if the sonne make you free , then verily shall you be free , but as many as beleeue not in christ , are bond seruants of sinne , he that sinneth is bond to sinne . touching praying to saints , he said ; it is certaine in scripture , that we should worship and honour one god , but for honouring of saints it is doubtfull , whether they heare our inuocation made to them ; therefore i exhort all men , that they would leaue the vnsure way , and follow that way which our maister christ taught vs : he is our onely mediator , and maketh intercession for vs ; hee is the doore , he that entreth not in by this doore , but climbeth in another way , is a theefe and a murderer ; he is the verity and life , he that goeth out of this way , is fallen into the mire . touching purgatory , he neuer found any place of scripture appliable therto : then he said to maister iohn lander his accuser , if you haue any testimony of scripture , by which you can proue such a place , shew it before this auditory : but he had not a word to say for himselfe . touching the uowes of the religious , he said ; some be gelded by nature , and some are gelded of men , and some are chast for the kingdome of christ : these are blessed , but as many as haue not the guift of chastity ▪ neither haue ouercome the lusts of the flesh for the gospell , and yet vow chastity , you haue experience ( though i hold my peace ) to what inconuenience they haue vowed themselues , whereat they were angry , thinking better to haue ten concubines then one wife . touching generall councels , hee said he would beléeue them no further the● they agréed with the word of god : then one iohn graysend bad iohn landers hast to reade the rest of the articles , and not to ●arry for his answere , for wée may not abide them ( quoth he ) no more , then the deuill may abide the signe of the crosse. then the cardinall and bishops pronounced their sentence ▪ definitiue against him , and as he went to execution , two fryers said to him ; pray to our lady , that she may be a mediatrix for you to her sonne : to whom he said , tempt me not my brethren : when he came to the fire , he said thrice vpon his knées , o thou father of heauen i commend my spirit into thy hands , o thou swéet sauior of the world , haue mercy on me . then he said , i beséech you christian brethren and sisters be not offended in the word of god , for the torments you sée prepared for me , but loue the word , and suffer for it , it being your saluation and euerlasting comfort , and pray them that haue heard me , that they leaue not off the word of god , which i taught them for no persecutions : for my doctrine was no wiues fables , after the constitutions of men . if i had taught mens doctrine , i had gotten great thankes , but i suffer this for teaching the gospell , and i doe it gladly : consider my visage , you shall not sée me change my colour for feare of this grim fire , and so i pray you for to do , if any persecution come vnto you for the words sake : some haue said of me , that i taught that the soule of man should sléepe vntill the day of iudgem●nt , but i know surely my soule shall sup with my sauiour christ this night within this sixe houres . i beséech you exhort your prelats to the learning of the word of god , that they may bee ashamed to doe euill , and learne to doe good , and if they will not conuert from their wicked errors , the wrath of god shall hastily come vpon them : then the hang-man asked him foregiuenesse , and he kissed him and said ; my heart doe thine office , i forgiue thee , then he was hanged by the middle and neck , and burned : the people pitiously mourned for his great torments . within two months after the martirdome of this blessed man , george wisehard , dauid beaton , the blooddy archbishop and cardinall of scotland , was by the iust iudgement of god ●laine by one lech , and other gentlemen , who suddenly brake into his castle vpon him , and murdred him in his bed , crying out , alasse slay me not , i am a priest : and so like a butcher he liued and eyed , and he lay seauen months vnburied , and at last like a carion was buried in a dunghill . adam wallace in scotland . in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred forty nine , iohn hamelton was made archbishop of s. andrews and cardinall , not inferior to his predecessor in cruelty : in the next yeare he condemned adam wallace , and one feane , for these articles following . that the bread and wine on the altar , are not the body and blood of iesus christ after consecration . that the masse hath no ground in the word of god , and is very idolatry and abhominable in the sight of god. that the god which they worship , is but bread sowen of corne , growing out of the earth , baked of mens hands , and nothing else : then hee was asked whether he would recant ; he said he had answered nothing but that which agréed with the word of god , so god iudge him and his conscience , wherein hee would abide vnto death , and if you condeme mee for holding gods word , my innocent blood shall bee required at your handes , then they gaue forth sentence against him : the night after he spent in singing and lauding god , hauing learned the psalter of dauid without booke , being besides the fire , he lifted by his eies thrée or foure times , and said to the people ; let it not offend you that i suffer death for the truth , for the disciple is not aboue his maister : then he said ; they will not let me speake , so the ●ire was lighted , and he departed to god constantly . a schisme in scotland for the pater-noster . one richard marshall preached at s. andrewes , that the pater-noster should be said only to god , and not to saints : the fryers had great indignation , that their old doctrine should be repugned , and stirred vp toittis a gray-fryer to preach against it , who preached the lords prayer might be offered to saints , b●cause euery petition therein appertained to them , as wee call an old man father , much more may we call saints our father , and because they are in heau●n , we may say our father which art in heauen , and because they are holie , we may make their names holie , and say hallowed be thy name ; and because the kingdome of heauen is theirs by possession , wee may say to euery one of them thy kingdome come ; and because their will is gods will , we may say , thy will be done to any of them : but he confessed , saints had no power to giue vs our daily bread , but that they should pray to god to giue it vnto vs , and so he glosed the rest to the end : and he affirmed , that pauls napkin and peters shaddow , did miracle● , and eliseus cloake deuided the waters , attributing nothing to the power of god. upon this there was a dangerous schisme in scotland ; some affirming one thing , and some another : whereupon rose this prouerb ; to whom say you your pater-noster , and the people called the fryer , fryer pater-noster , so that for very shame he left the towne . at length there was a disputation about it at the uniuersitie : the popish doctors affirmed , it should be said to god formaliter , and to saints materialiter ; others vltime & non vltime , others , that it should be said to god principaliter , and to saints minus principaliter : others , that it should bee said to god primarily , and to saints secundarily ; others , to god it should be capiendo strictè ; and to god capiendo largè : by which subtile sophistry , the people were more doubtfull then before . the doctors said , because christ , who made the pater-noster , neuer came into britta●ne ▪ and so vnderstood not the english tongue ; therefore the doctors concluded it should be said in latine . vvalter mill . amongst the rest of the martirs of scotland the constancy of walter mill , is not to be passed in silence , out of whose ashes sprang thousands of his opinion ▪ who chose rather to dye , then to bee any longer ouer-trodden with the cru●●l , beastly , and ignorant byshops , abbots , monkes , and fryers : and scone after his martyrdome , the congregation began to debate true religion against the papists . he climbing vp into a pulpet to be examined before the bishops , they séeing him so weake , partly by age , and partly trauell , and euill intreatment , that hee could not climbe vp without helpe : they thought they should not haue heard him , but when he spake he made the church sound with great stoutnesse , that the christions reioyced , and the aduersaries were ashamed : at first hee knéeling , praying long , and was commaunded to rise and answere his articles , calling him sir walter mill , he said , he ought to obay god more then men , and where you call me sir walter , call me walter ; for i haue bin ouer long one of the popes knights . oliphant . what think you of priests marriage ? mille. i hold it a blessed band : for christ made it free to all men , but you abhorre it , and take other mens wiues and daughters : you vow chastitie and breake it . paule hade rather marrie then burne : the which i haue done , for god neuer forbade marriage to any estate or degrée . oliph . thou sayest there is not seuen sacraments . mille. giue me the lords supper and baptisme , and take you the rest : and if there be seuen , why omit you one of them , to wit marriage , and giue your selues to whoredeme ? oliph . thou art against the blessed sacrament of the altar . mill. if a king bid many to a feast , and when they sit downe to eate , he turn his back to them and eate vp all himselfe , doth he not mock them ? euen so do you mock the people , eating and drinking the sacrament , and giuing them none : the sacrament of god is not to be taken carnally but spiritually , and stands in faith onely . your masse is wrong , for christ was once offered vpon the crosse for mans trespasse , and will neuer be offered againe . oliph . thou deniest the office of a bishop . mill. i affirme , those which you call bishops doe not the workes of bishops , but liue after their sensuall pleasures , and take no care for the flocke , nor yet regard the word of god , but desire to be honoured and called lords . oliph . thou speakest against pilgrimages . mill. i say it is not commaunded in scripture , and that there is no greater whoredom in no places then at your pilgrimages , except in common brothell-houses . oliph . thou preachest priuatly in houses , and openly in fields . mill. yea man , and in the sea also , sayling in a ship . oliph . if thou wilt not recant i will pronounce sentence . mill. you shall know that i will not recant : for i am corne and not chaffe , i will not be blowne away with the winde , nor burst with the flaile , but i will abide both . when sentence was pronounced , and he to be deliuered to the temporall iudge , his constancie so moued the hearts of many , that the prouost of the towne patricke learmond , though he were steward of the bishops regalitie , refused to bee his temporall iudge : and the bishops chamberlaine being therewith charged , would not take vpon him so vngodly an office : the bishops seruants could get neuer a cord in the whole towne for money to tye him to the stake withall , nor a tarre barrell to burne him when he came to the stake . he said to oliphant , put me vp with thy hands , and take part in putting me to death , for by gods law i am forbidden to lay hands on my selfe . then he put him vp with his hands ; and he ascended gladly , saying , introibo ad altare dei , and desired he might speake to the people , which was denied him , they saying he had spoken too much already . then some of the yong men committed the burners , and the bishops their masters to the diuell , and bade him speake what he pleased . then after he had prayed , standing vpon the coales , said , i die onely for the defence of the faith of christ , for the which the faithfull martyrs haue offered themselues gladly before , being assured after the death of their bodies of eternall felicitie . and i praise god he hath called me of his mercie , amongst the rest of his seruants , to seale vp his truth with my life ; therefore as you will escape eternall death , be not seduced with the lies of priests , monks , friers , and the rest of that sect , but depend onely vpon the death of iesus christ and his mercie , that you may in the time to come be deliuered from condemnation . all the while the multitude greatly mourned , perceiuing his mighty patience , constancie and boldnesse ; whereby their hearts were so much enkindled and inflamed , that he was the last martyr that died in scotland euer after for religion . after this by gods iust iudgement , in the same place where walter mill was burned , the images of the great church of the abbey , which passed in number and costlines , were burned in time of reformation . heere followeth in the booke of martyrs the names of diuers which were omitted by him in king henrie the eighth his time , and an instrument of the popes definitiue sentence against henrie the eighth for his diuorse with katharine dowager , and the instrument of the bull of pope leo against martin luther , and his answer to it ; in which for breuitie sake i leaue thee to the booke at large if thou be disposed to see them , and also the last will and testament of king henry , and the manner of his death . a storie of certain friers in france in the citie of orleance in the yeare . the mayors wife of the citie prouided in her will that she should be buried without any pompe or solemnitie : for the bell did vse to warne euery one to pray for the dead corps ; and when it is carried forth all or the most part of the begging friers goe before it with torches and tapers , and the more pompe is vsed , the greater is the concourse of people ; but this woman would none of this gears , the which buriall of hers , her husband performed according as she required in her will. then one colman and steuen arras doctors of diuinitie : and the first a coniurer , set a young man , which was a nouice , ouer the uault of the church , and when they came according to their vse to mattins at mid-night , he made a wonderfull noyse and shrieking : then this colman went to crossing and coniuring , but the other aboue would not speake ; and being charged to make a signe whether he were a dumbe spirit or no , hee ratled and made a great noyse againe . then they tolde some of the chiefest of the citie what a heauie chance had happened , and intreated them to come to their seruice at night . when they were there , and the seruice begunne , he aloft made a great noyse : being demaunded what he would , he made signes he could not speake : then he was commaunded to answere intergatories by signes , and when any question was asked he strook vpon the table so that he might be heard : then he was demaunded whether he was any that were buried there ; then they reckoned vp diuers , and at last the mayors wife : here he made a signe that he was the spirit of that woman ; then he was asked whether he was damned for couetousnesse , pride , lecherie , or not doing workes of charitie , or else for lutheranisme ; then by striking twise or thrise vpon the table gaue them to vnderstand that luthers heresie was the cause of her damnation : and being asked whether the bodie buried in holy ground should be digged vp and carried ●hence , he made signes it should be so : then the friers desired the citizens to set their handes to a writing , testifying that which they had séene , but for feare of the mayor , they refused to subscribe : then the friers took the pixe , with the host , and the lords body , and all the reliques of saints , and carried them to another place , and there they said their masses : then the officiall came thither , and would faine haue seene the spirit coniured , and one should go into the vault and sée if any spirit appeared : but he could not get them to disturb the spirit any more . ● then the mayor informed the king of the whole matter , and the king sent certaine to know whether it were so , or no : then they put the d●ers thereof into seuerall prisons , and examined them apart , and a great while they would confesse nothing : at length , the iudges promising the nouice that he should haue no harme , nor come no more into the fryers hands , he declared to them the whole matter in order : wherupon they were committed to orleance to prison . and it was certainly reported , that the king would haue plucked down the house : but euen at the same time chanced a persecution against the lutherans , and they feared the punishment of these men should haue bin a reproch vnto the order , and a cause of much reioycing to the lutherans . these were francis●an fryers . a storie of certaine monks of sueuia . gvnrame , a noble baron , in the yeare . builded an abbey in sueuia , called salmesuille , of cistercian monks . amongst many benefactors to the said house , the earles of montfort had bestowed vpon that monasterie many new liberties and priuiledges , vpon condition , that they should receiue with frée hospitalitie any stranger , horse-man or foot-man , for one night : but this hospitalitie did not long continue , through a subtile deuise of one of the monks , who would counterfeit the diuell , ratling and raging in chaynes at the lodgings where the strangers should lie : and so continued this a long space . at length , an earle of the house of montfort was lodged at the monasterie : when the earle was at his rest , in the night the monke , after his wonted manner , began to play the diuell , roring , thundering , spitting of fire , and making a noyse : the earle hearing thereof , tooke a good heart , and taking his sword , slew the monk. and thus the diuell of the abbey was coniured , which stopped the guests from comming to the house . who lift to see more and worse pranks of friers and monks , played in their houses & cloysters , let them resort to the epistle of erasmus , and he shall find ynough to infect the aire . iohn brovvne , a blessed martyr , burned at ashford in the second yeare of henrie the eighth , anno . the said iohn browne passing to graues-end in a barge , a priest began to swell and stomack that he should sit so neere him , at length said , doest thou know who i am , thou fittest so neere me and vpon my clothes ? no sir , said the other . i tell you , said he , i am a priest. what sir , are you a parson or uicar , or some ladies chaplain ? no , said he , i sing for a soule . i pray you , said the other , where find you the soule when you go to masse ? i cannot tel , said he . i pray where do you leaue it when you haue done masse ? i know not ; said the priest. how then , said the other , can you saue the soule ? i perceiue thou art an heretick , said the priest. within three daies after , by vertue of a warrant ●rom the archbishop , with a baylife and two of the bishops men , they came suddenly into the house of the said browne , as he was carrying a dish of meat to his guests ( for his wife was that day churched ) they layd hands on him , and carried him to canterburie , where they kept him fortie dayes : in which time he was so pitifully entreated by warram the archbishop , and fisher bishop of rochester , that he was set bare-footed vpon hote burning coales , to make him denie his faith ; which he bare patiently , and continued in maintaining the lords quarrell vnremoueable : then he was sent to ashford , where he dwelt , the next day to be burned : where he was set in the stocks all night ; his wife sate all the while by him , to whom he declared the whole tragedie of his handling : how they burned his ●e●t to the bones , that he could not set them to the ground , to make him denie his lord here : which if i should haue done , he would denie me hereafter ; therefore good wife , continue as thou hast begun , and bring vp thy children in the feare of god : where the next day he was burned . this iohn browne bare a faggot seuen yeares before this , whose sonn● , named richard browne ▪ for the like cause of religion , was imprisoned at canterburie in the later time of queene marie , and should haue beene burned , with two more : but the next day after queene marie died , and they escaped by the proclamation of queen● elizabeth . the ninth booke , contayning the acts and things done in the raigne of king edvvard the sixt . after the death of henrie the eight , succeeded king edward the sixt , his sonne , being of the age of nine yeares . touching his commendations , i leaue you to the booke at large : who , because he was so young and tender , was committed to sixtéene gouernours , amongst whome , especially the lord edward semer , duke of somerset , his vncle , was assigned as protector of him and the commonwealth : a man of noble vertues , especially for his fauour to gods 〈◊〉 ; thro●gh the industrie of whom , that monstrous hydra with sixe heads , the 〈◊〉 articles , which deuoured so many , were abolished ; whereby the proceedings of gardner began to decay : who storming thereat , wrote to the lord protector in the cause thereof . he restored the scriptures to the mother tongue , and extinguished masses , and by little and little greater things followed in the reformation of churches : such as fled for the danger of the truth , were againe receiued to their countrey , the most part of bishops were changed , dumbe pr●lates were compelled to giue place to such as would preach , and learned men were sent for out of other countries , as peter martyr , martin bucer , & paulus phagius , the first of whom taught at oxford , and the other two at cambridge , with great commendations . bonner , bishop of london , was committed to the marshalsie , and for his contempt and misdemeanor deposed : gardener , bishop of winchester , with tunstall bishop of durham , were cast into the tower for their disobedience . in this time of king edward , vnder this noble protecto● , this one commendation is proper vnto them , that amongst all the popish ●ort ; of whom , some priuily st●le out of the realme , manie were craftie dissemblers , some open aduersaries ● yet there was not one that lost his life during the whole time of the raigne of this king , for any matter of religion , papist or protestant , except lone of kentan english woman , and one george a dutchman , who died for certaine articles not necessarie to be rehearsed . thomas dobbe . this man , in the beginning of king edwards raigne , comming from s. iohns colledge in cambridge to london , as he passed through paules church , there was a priest at masse at the south side of the church : being at the eleuation , this yong man , repleate with godly zeale , pittying the ignorance and idolatry of the people , in honouring that which the priest lifted vp , he exhorted the people not to honour that visible bread as god , which was neither god nor ordained of god to be honoured ; wherefore he was apprehended by the mayor , and accused to the bishop of canterburie , and was committed to the counter in bread-stréete , where shortly falling sicke , he died ; whose pardon was obtained of the lord protector , if he had liued . iohn hvnne . in the first yeare of the kings raig●e one master lewnax of wresell and his wife , sent this iohn hunne their seruant , vnto the bishop of canterbury for denying the flesh and bloud of christ to be really in the sacrament of the altar , and saying he would neuer vaile his hatte to it if he should be burned for it : and that if he should heare masse he should be damned . but because i finde nothing done therein , i leaue it . when this godly yong prince was peaceably established in his kingdome , and had a godly , wise , and zealous councell about him , especially the duke of sommerset , he earnestly desired the aduancement of the true honour of god , and planting of sincere religion , and the s●ppressing of all idolatry , superstition , and hypocrisie throughout his dominions : following the good example of the good king iosias , and being he found most of his lawes repugnant to his zealous enterprise : he by the aduice of his wise and honorable councell , of his own regall authoritie , did prosecute his godly purpose , vntill by consent of the whole estate of parliament he might establish , a more free and vniforme order , and those certaine wi●e , learned , and discreet personages for commissioners , generally to visit all the bishopricks of this realme , to vnderstand and redresse the abuses of the same : and diuided them into seuerall companies , and assigned them seuerall diocesses to be visited , appointing to euery company , one or two godly preachers which should preach to the people at euery sessions , the true doctrine of the gospell of christ , and exhort them to all loue and obedience of the same : and earnestly dehort them from their old superstition , and wonted idolatry : and that they might the more orderly be directed in this their commission , there were deliuered vnto them certaine iniunctions , and ecclestasticall orders drawne out by the kings learned councell , the which they should both inquire of , and also command in his maiesties behalfe , to be thenceforth obserued of euery person to whom they did seuerally appertaine within their seuerall circuits : the which iniunctions if thou beest disposed for to reade , i leaue thee for breuitie to the booke at large . now during the time the commissioners were in their circuits , about diligent execution of their godly and zealous orders of the king and councell , de●iring a further reformation , as well in ecclesiasticall as in ciuill gouernment , appointed a parliament to be summoned on the fourth of nouember , in the first yeare of his raigne , which continued vntill the twenty foure day of december then next following . whereby he caused to be enacted , that all acts of parliaments and statutes , touching , menci●ning , or any wise concerning religion , or opinions , to wit ; the statute of the first yeare of richard the second , and the statute made in the second yeare of the raign of henry the fift , and the statute mad● in the fiftéenth yeare of the raigne of henry the eight , concerning the punishments and reformation of hereticks and lolards : and the sixe articles made in the thirty one yeare of henry the eight , and the statute made in the thirty thrée year of henry the eight , against the bookes of the old and new testament in english , and the printing and vttering of english or bookes writings , and preaching the scriptures , an another statute in the . yeare of henry the eyght touching the qualification of the stat●te of sixe articles , and a●l and euery other act or acts of parliament concerning doctrine or matters of religion , should from thenceforth bee repealed and of none effect , by occasion whereof all his godly subiects abiding within the realme had free liber●y to professe the gospell , and those beyond sea wer not onely licensed to ret●rne home but incouraged bouldly and faithfully to trauell in their calling , so that god was much glorified and the people edified . and in this parliament it was enacted , that the sacrament should be ministred in both kinde , and letters missiue were sent fr●m the councell to the bishops of the realme , concerning the communion to bee ministred in both kinds , and from bishop to bishop , as thou maist sée in the booke at large . another parliament was assembled in the second yeare of his raigne , beginning vppon the foorth day of nouember . continuing vntill the . day of march , wherein a booke in english intituled the booke of common prayer and administration of the sacraments and other rightes and ceremonies of the church , after the vse of the church of england , was concluded vppon by the clergy , which his highnesse receauing with great comfort , did exhibi●● it vnto the lords and commons of the parliament , who for the honour of god and great quietnesse which by the grace of god should ensue vppon that one vniforme right and order in such common prayer , rites and externe ceremonies to bee vsed throughout england , wales , calice and the marches of the same , authorise● the sayd booke by act of parliament , and set great penalty vpon them that wo●ld bee disobe●ient thereto , as is to be seene in the booke at large . a●so the mariage of priests was authorized by the sayd parliament by these procéedings , and the iniunctions , which thou maiest see in the book at large : thou maiest well perceaue the great zeale of the king and the lord protector , in reformation of t●ue religion , and also the lingring slacknesse on the other side of others , especially of the bishops and old popish curats , by whose cloked contempt and wilfull winking , the booke of common prayers was long after the publishing thereof very irreuerently vsed throughout many places of this realme , which when the king by diuers complaintes vnderstood , hee wrote spéedily to all the bishope of the realme for the spéedy redresse thereof : and because bonner was one of the backwardest , hee was peremtor●ly admonished vnder paine of depriuation to preach the next sunday three weekes after the date there of at paules crosse , none but such doctrine as was appoynted him in the said iniuntion , and should preach the same doctrines euery quarter of a yeare yearely , ●f sicknesse or some reasonable cause did not let . secondly , you your selfe in person , shall from henceforth celebrate the communion at the high altar in paules euery such dayes as your predecessors were wont to sing masse . the popish priests grudging and mourning to see their old pop●sh church of rome to decay , ceased not by all subtile and sinister meanes ; first vnder gods name and the kings , and vnder colour of religion , to perswade the people to rebellion . this first burst out in cornwell and deuonshire , of whom the chiefe gentlemen captaines were humfrey arundell esquire , iames rosogan , iohn rosogan , iohn walkock , iohn payne , thomas vnderhill , iohn soleman , and william segar . there were e●ght priests gouernours of the campes and principall stirrers , beside●● multitude of other popish priests , there was ten thousand stout traytors in this rebellion . commotions likewise beganne to broyle in oxford-shire , yorke-shire , and especially in northfolke and suffolke , these aforesaid hearing thereof , tooke courage , hoping they should well ●aue forti●ied the same quarrell : their intent was to inuade the citty of exeter , and twise they burned the gates thereof , but gayned thing but shotte , beeing put from exeter , they fell on spoyling and robbing , where or howsoeuer they might catche , then laying their heads together , they consulted of certaine articles to be sent vp to the king as followeth . first they would haue that their curats should minister the sacrament of baptisme , at all times of néede as well in the weeke dayes as on the holydayes , and their children confirmed of the bishop whensoeuer wee resort to him . secondly because they did constantly beléeue that in the sacrament , after consecration there is the very body and blood of christ , and no substance of bread and wine remaineth : therefore we will haue the masse celebrated as in times past , without any man communicating with the priests , because many presuming vnworth●●y to receiue the same , put no difference betwixt the lords body and other bread , and wée will haue the consecrated body of our lord reserued in our churches . thirdly wée will haue holy bread and holy water , in remembrance of christs body and blood . fourthly we will that our priests shall sing and say with an audible voyce , gods seruice in the quire of the parish churches , and not to haue it set forth as a christmas play . fiftly because priests be men dedicated to god to celebrate the blessed sacraments and preaching of gods word , wee will that they shall li●e chast without marriage . sixtly we will the sixe articles shall stand in force . to which articles the king did particularly answer and set forth reasons against them in writing , and shewed that he would spend his life and all that hee had to maintaine the godly reformation which was begun , yet hee offred them pardon if they would desist from the deceitfull counsell of the séekers of dissention who sought for nothing els but to vnd●e them , their wiues and children : and if they would not be moued to repentance with his fatherly kindnes shewed vnto them , hee would procéed against them as against the heathen with force and armes . a●d because they would not accept mercy , sir iohn russell knight , lord priuy seale , was sent by the king and councell against them , and next to him were ioyned sir william harbert , sir iohn paulet , sir hugh paulet sir thomas speck with the lord gray and others . thus the lord priuy seale accompanied with the lord gray aduancing his power against the rebells , yet by gods prouidence they gaue them the repulse , who recouering themselues againe , encountred the second time the lord priuy seale , but by gods helpe they with their whole cause of false religion were vtterly vanquished , the popish rebells not onely lost the field , but a great part of them lost their liues lying slaine the compasse of two miles ; diuers were taken as humphry arundell , berry , thomas vnderhill , iohn soleman , william seger , and two priests tempson and barret , and two mayors henry bray and henry lee with diuers mo , all which afterward were executed . these rebells to make their part more sure by the presence of their consecrated god , brought with them vnto the battaile the pixe vnder his canopy riding and in a cart , neither was there lacking masses , crosses , banners , candlestickes , with holy-bread and holy-water plenty to defend them from diuells , and all enemies which could not saue them from their enemies : but both the consecrated god and all the trumpery about him was taken in the cart , lea●ing a lesson of better experience how to put their confidence in such vaine idolls . like vnto this was the field of musclebrough fought in scotland the yeare before this when the scots incamping thēselues against the lord protector & the kings power sent into scotland , they likwise brought into the field the gods of their altars , with masses , crosses , banners , and all their popish stuffe , hauing great affiance therein , to haue a great day against the english army , as to mans indgement might seeme not vnlike . the number of the scots armie farre excéeded ours : but the arme of the lord so turned the vi●tory , that the scots in the end with all their masses and trinkets were put to the wors● , of whom were slaine betweene thirtéene and fourtéene thousands , and not passing a hundred english men : the cause of this warre was because the scots had promised king henry the eight , that the yong scottish quee●e should marry with king edward , which promise they afterward brake and payed therefore : and this victory was the same day and houre , when the images were burned openly in london . there was the like commotion in oxford , and buckingham , but that was soon appeased by the lord gray , of whom two hundred were taken , and twelue of them ringleaders deliuered to him ; where of certaine were executed . in norfolk & the parts thereabouts the marquesse of northampton , was sent to represse the rebellion , who was appointed to kéep the field and passages , to stop them from victuals , whereby they might the sooner be brought to acknowledge their fault , and séeke pardon , who pined himselfe within the citie of norwich , but the rebels pressed vpon the citie , and at length obtained it , yet there was but a hundred on both sides slaine , and the lord shefield , then the earle of warwick was sent against them , by whom the confused rabble was ouerthrown , to the number of foure thousand , and both the kets , chiefe stirrers of that commotion ▪ were put to death , and one of them hanged in chains . in this yeare likewise the like commotion began at semer in the north-riding of yorke shire , and continued in the east-riding of the same , and there ended . the principall doers thereof were william ombler , thomas dale , with one steuenson . they intended to stirre in two places at one instant , seuen miles from the other , and at the first rush to destroy such gentlemen and men of substance as fauoured the kings proceedings , and to set the beacons on fire to bring the people together : and hauing the ignorant people assembled , then to poure out their poyson , beginning with such as they thought were pinched with pouerty , and vnwilling to labour , therefore the more readie to follow the spoyle of rich mens goods , blowing in their eares that gods seruice was now quite laide aside , and new inuentions , neither good nor godly , put in their stead , feeding them with faire promises , to reduce into the church againe their olde ignorance and abominable idolatrie . putting this practise in execution , they took one m. white , and one clopton , and one sauage a marchant of yorke , and one bery , and cruelly murdred them , and took● away all that was about them : then they ranged from towne to town and inlarged their ●and , leauing in no towne any men aboue the age of . yeares , vntill they had gathered about . then came the king● pardon to them , which ombler con●umelio●sly refused , and perswaded others so to d●e , and some excepted thereof ; but shortly after , ombler as he was riding from towne to towne , to charge all the constables and inhabitants in the kings namo , to resort to humumby , hee was taken and imprisoned at ●orke . after him , thomas dale and henry barton , iohn dale , robert wright , william peacocke , wetherell , and edmund buttry , busie stirrers in this sedition , as they trauelled from place to place to draw people vnto their faction , were likewise apprehended and committed to ward , and after executed at yorke . the king of france bearing of the insurrections of the kings subiects in diuers places , supposing to take the time , he made inuasion against the iles of iersey and gernesey , and thought to haue surprised the kings ships in the said iles , with his shipp●s and gallies , but he was so hotly saluted with the kings ships in the iland , that the french-men lost at least a thousand men , and their shippes and gallies were so spoyled , as they were forced to returne home , and not able to come out againe : and they brought into one towne in one vessell , at least sixty gentlemen to be burned , and the king gaue out a speciall inhibition , that none should speake of the successe of that iourney , so the arme of god mercifully fought for king edward his seruant , to defend and deliuer him from so many hard dangers , all in one yeare , which is worthy of all posterity to be noted . the examination of bonner . the king sent forth his commission vnder his broad seale , to the byshop of canterbury , and the bishoppe of rochester , and other trusty personages and councelors , appointing and authorising them , to examinine the bishoppe of london , and to procéed against him according to law and iustice , either to suspention , excommunication , committing to prison , or depriuation , if the qualitie of the offence so required . at bonners first entring into the place , within the arch-bishops house at lambeth ( where the arch-bishop and the other commissioners sat ) to be examined : hée kept his hat on his head , making as though he saw them not , vntill one bad him reuerence the commissioners , then laughingly he said ; what my lords are you there , by my troth i saw you not : no said the archbishop you would not sée ; well ( quoth he ) you sent for me , haue you any thing to say to me ; yea , said the commissioners , we haue authority to call you to account for your sermon you made lately at pauls crosse , because you did not preach to the people the articles you were commanded to preach vpon . then said bonner ; in good faith my lord , i would one thing were had in me●ereuerence then it is , what is that said the archbishop , the blessed masse ( quoth he ) you haue written well of the sacrament , i maruell you doe no more honour it : the arch-bishoppe said ; if you thinke i haue wrote well of it , it is because you vnderstand it not . bonner said , i thinke i vnderstand it better then you that wrote it : the archbishop replyed , he would easily make a childe of ten yeares old vnderstand therein as much as you . and when they had called forth maister latimer , and iohn hooper , preachers , to propound such matter as they had to say against him , he hearing them speake , fell to scorning and taunting them , calling one goose , and the other woodcocke , and denying their accusation to be true . whereupon the arch-byshop asked him whether hee would credit the people there present , and because many of them that were there , were at his sermon . the arch-bishoppe stood vp and read the article of the kinges authority during his young age , saying vnto them ; how say you my maisters , did my lord of london preach this article , they answered , no , no : then bonner deridingly said ; will you beléeue this fond people . then was shewed forth a ●ill of complaint , exhibited vnto the king by the said maister latimer and iohn hooper , which was read ; then bonner prayed that the bill of complaint should be deliuered vnto him , which when he had pervsed , he said ; it was so generall , as hee could not directly answere vnto it : the arch-bishop said , the speciall cause was , because he had transgressed the kinges commaundement , in not setting forth in his last sermon at paules crosse , the kinges hignesse royall power in his minority : and for the proofe thereof , hee called maister latimer and iohn hooper , to whom bonner saide ; as for this merchant latimer , i haue wincked at his euill doings a great while , but i haue ●ore to say to him héereafter : but as touching this merchant hooper , i haue not séene him before , howbeit i haue heard much of his naughtie preaching ; then he said , ah my lord , now i sée the cause of my trouble is not for the matter you pretend , but because i did preach in my late sermon the true presence of the most blessed body and blood of our sauiour iesus christ , to bée in the sacrament of the altar : and as for these my accusers , they are notorious euill persons , and notable hereticks and seducers , especially touching the sacrament of the altar , and most of all this hooper : for whereas i preached , that after consecration of the sacrament , there is the selfe same body and blood of christ in substance , that was hanged vpon the crosse : hee in the afternoone hauing a great rabblement with him of his damnable sect , did preach to the people erroniouslie against it , and vntruely expounded my wordes : for whereas i said the same substance that was hanged vpon the crosse , hee like an asse , ( as he is an asse indéede ) turned the word that , into as , saying ; that i said , as it hanged vpon the crosse : then the arch-bishoppe demaunded of him , whether christ were in the sacrament , face , nose , mouth , eyes , armes , and lips , with other lineaments of the bodie ; whereat bonner shooke his head , and said ; i am right sorry to heare your grace to speake those words which you haue done . hee appeared seauen times before the said commissioners , and euer vsed verie vnreuerent , vncomely , and frowar● words and behauiours towards the commissioners and others , and hee still shifted off the matter by subtile dilatories , and friuolous cauiling about the law , and with facing and rayling vpon the denouncers , that hee thought to countenance out the matter before the people . but to conclude , for all his subtile , craftie , cautels , and tergiuersations , hée was iustlie imprisoned , and in the end most lawfullie depriued . the first trouble of the lord protector , was presentlie after the depriuation of bishop bonner , but shortly after hee was deliuered out of the same by the mighty working of god , the tractation whereof shall bee delayed , vntill the time of his second trouble , which was two yeares after . the vulgar people hearing of the apprehension of the lord protector , they began to brute abroad , that now they should haue their latine seruice , the holy bread and holy water , and their other ceremonies againe : wherefore straite commaundement was sent to the bishops of the dioces , to warne the parsons , uicars , curats , and church-wardens of euerie parish , to deliuer vp all antiphoners , missalls , grayles , processionals , manualls , legends , pyes , portuasies , iournals , and ordinals , and all other bookes of seruice : the hauing whereof , might be any let vnto the seruice that now is set forth in english , commaunding all such persons as should be found disobedient in this matter , to be committed to ward . and because many refused to pay towardes the finding of bread and wine for the communion , whereby the communion in many places was omitted : the byshops had charge for the redresse héereof , and to punish such as refused so to doe . in this yeare letters were sent for the taking downe of altars in churches , and setting vp a table in the steed thereof , vnto nicholas ridley , who being byshop of rochester before , was made bishop of london in bonners place . the storie of stephen gardner , bishop of winchester . vvhereas the kinges maiestie made a generall visitation , as before is said , and appointed certaine iniunctions to be generally obserued , they were obediently receiued , and reuerently executed of all men of all sorts , sauing onely of the bishop of winchester , who by conference with others , by open protestations and letters also , shewed such a wilfull disobedience therein as might haue bred much trouble : wherefore he was sent for before the councell , before whom he denied to receiue the said articles , and so misused himselfe before them ▪ that he was sent to the fléete : but vpon promise of conformity , hee was set at liberty againe , then he set forth such matters as bred more contention in that shire , then in all the realme againe , and he caused all his seruants to bée secretly armed and harnised , to withstand such as he thought to haue béene sent by the councell into those parts , and when preachers were sent into that countrey by the councell to preach the word of god , the bishop to disappoint and disgrace them , and to hinder his maiesties procéedings , did occupy the pulpit himselfe , and in his sermons would warne the people of such new preachers , and to imbrace no other doctrine then that which he had taught them . wherefore being sent for againe before the councell , yet in the end vpon his second promise of conformity , they left him at libertie , willing him to remaine at his house at london , yet he began afresh to ruffle and meddle in matters that touched the kings maiesty . whereupon being once againe admonished , be promised againe conformity , and that he would declare his conscience to be well satisfied with the kings procéedings , to the satisfaction and good quiet of others ; but at the day appointed he did speake of certaine matters contrary to expresse commaundement of the king : and in the articles whereu●to he had agreed before , hee vsed such a manner of vtterance , as was v●ry like there presently to haue stirred a great tumult , and in great matters touching the pollicy of the realme , hee so handled them , that he shewed himselfe a very seditious man , and that in the presence of his maiestie , the lords of the councel● , and of such an audience , as the like thereof hath not béene séene : whereupon he was committed to the tower , and after iustly depriued for his obstinaey therein . hee wrote a letter vnto maister vaghan , in defence and prayse of images , which the lord protector answered very learnedly , as thou mayst sée in the booke at large . he wrote another epistle , wherein hee first rayled and findeth fault with the paraphrase of erasmus , which he calleth a booke of abhomination : secondlie , hée sheweth , that he can in no case away with the homily of saluation ▪ set out by the archbishop of canterbury , which article marue●lously vexeth his spirit . his third purpose whereunto his letters cheefely draw , is to insinuate the lord protector , that no alteration should bee made of religion , during the time of the kings minority , but to let all thinges stand as king henrie had left them . the iudgement of doctor redman on his death-bed , touching certaine points of religion . the sea of rome in this last daies , is a sinke of all euill . purgatory , as the schoolemen vsed it , was vngodly , and there was no such kind kind of purgatory as they phantasied . that the offering vp of the sacrament in masses and treutals for the sins of the dead , is vngodly . that the wicked are not partakers of the body of christ , but receiue the outward sacrament only . that the sacrament ought not to be carried about in procession , for it is taught what is the vse of it by these words , take , eate and drink , doe this in remembrance of mee . that nothing which is séen in the sacrament , or perceiued with any outward sense , is to be worshipped . that we receiue not christs body corporally , that is to say , grossely like other meats , and like as the capernayts did vnderstand it . that we receiue christs body so spiritually , that neuerthelesse truly . touching transubstantiation , there is not in any of the olde doctors any good ground and sure proofe thereof , or any mention of it , as farre as euer he could perceiue ; neither that he doth sée what could be answered to the obiections made against it . being asked of master wilkes what that was which was lifted vp betwixt the priests hands , he answered , that he thought that christ could be neither lifted vp nor downe . that priests may by the law of god marrie wiues . that as only faith doth iustifie , so that doth signifie a true , a liuely , and a faith resting in christ , and imbracing christ : and this is true , godly , sweet and comfortable doctrine , so that it be so taught that the people take non● occasion of carnall libertie . that workes had their reward and crown , but they did not deserue eternall life and the kingdome of god , no not the workes of grace ; for euerlasting life is the gift of god. the historie of vvilliam gardner an englishman , who constantly suffered in portingall for the truth . hee was borne at bristow , and gaue himselfe vnto the trade of merchandise , he was sent into spaine by master paget , being sixe and twenty yeares old , the ship arriued by chance at lishborne the chiefe citie of portugall , he tarrying there about merchandise , became a profitable seruant to his master and others , yet he reserued his religion in that popish countrey : there were also besides him diuers good men in the same citie , neither lacked he good books nor the conference of good and honest men , to whom he would often bewaile his weakenesse , that he was not sufficiently touched with the hatred of his sinnes , nor inflamed with the loue of godlinesse . there was a solemne marriage celebrated betwéen two princes , the sonne of the king of 〈◊〉 , and the daughter of the king of spain , to which marriage there was great resort of nobles , and there lacked no bishops with miters , nor cardinals with hats , to set out this royall wedding . william gardner was there when they went forward to the celebrating of the masse , for that alone did serue for all purposes : the cardinall did execute it with much singing and organ-playing : the people stood with great deu●tion and silence , praying , looking , knéeling , and knocking , their minds fully bent vpon the external sacrament , which did grieuously prick and mo●e this young man , to sée so many noble personages and others so seduced with this idolatri● , that if the prease of people had not hindered him he would that day haue done some notable thing in the kings presence : he came home and made vp all his accounts of that was due to him , and that which was owing to others , that no man could aske any thing of him , he fell to prayer and meditation of the scriptures : the sunday came againe to be celebrated with like pompe and solemnitie : the said william was early present , and stoode as neere the altar as he could : when the king with all his nobles were come the masse began , which was solemnized by a cardinall , when hee began to ●osse the host too and fro round about the chalice , making certaine circles , the said william gardiner not able to suffer any longer , hee ran to the cardinall in the presence of the king , nobles , and citizens , with the one hand hee snatched away the cake and tr●de it vnder his féet , and with the other hand ouerthrew the chalice : wherevpon rose great tumult , and one wounded him with a dagger in the soulder : the king commanded to saue him , whereby they abstained from murdering him . when he was brought before the king : he demanded what country man he was , and how hee durst worke such a contumacie against his maiestie , and the sacraments of the church : hee answered hee was an english man , by birth and religion , and am come hither for traffick of marchandize , and when i saw in this famous assembly so great idolatry committed , my conscience neither ought nor could any longer suffer , but must needs doe that you haue séene me doe , which was not done for any contumacy of your maiestie , but of purpose , as before god i do confesse to séek the saluation of this people : then vnderstanding that king edward had restored religion in england , and thinking he had beene set on by some others : they would know who set him on ; he answered he was not mooued thereto by any man , but by his owne conscience , but that hee owed this seruice first vnto god , and secondly vnto their saluation , and they ought to impute the act onely to themselues , which so vnreuerently vsed the holy supper of the lord vnto so great idolatry , to the perill of their owne soules , except they repented . he was like to faint with the aboundance of blood that ranne out of his wound , and surgeons were sent to cure it , then all english-men were committed vnto prison , and one pendigrace , because that he was his bed-fellow , was gree●ously tormented and examined , and scarse deliuered after two yeares imprisonment . then they caused a linnen cloath to bee sowed round like a ball , which they violently put downe his throat to the bottome of his belly , tyed with a small string which they held in their handes ; and when it was downe they pulled it vp againe with violence , so plucking it too and fro through the meat pipe . when all torments and tormentors were wearied , they asked him if he did not repent his wicked deed , he answered , if it were to doe againe he thought he should doe it , but he was sorie it was in the presence of the king : the fault ought to be ascribed to the king and not to him , in that he hauing power would not prohibit so great idolatrie vsed amongst his people . three dayes after they brought him to execution : when they had vsed all kind of torments against him , then they cut off his right hand , which he tooke vp with his left and kissed it ; then they cut off his other hand , which he , kneeling downe , kissed , and so he was carried to the place of execution , where was an engine , from the which a great rope comming downe by a pullie , was fastened about this christian , which first pulled him vp : then there was a great pile of wood set on fire beneath him into the which he was by little and little let downe , not with the whole body , but so that his feet only felt the fire : then he was hoysed vp and so let downe againe ; in the which torment he continued with a constant spirit , and the more terribly he burned the more vehemently he prayed . when his feet were burned the tormentors asked him whether he did not yet repent , and exhorted him to call vpon our ladie and other saints ; he answered he had done nothing whereof he did repent , and needed not our ladies nor saints help , and what torments soeuer they vsed : hee remained alwaies one , desiring them to leaue off such vanities and follies , for when christ ceased to bee our aduocate , then he would pray our lady to be his aduocate : and when they sought to stop his prayers , he said iudge mee o lord , and reuenge my cause against the vnmercifull people , before he had ended the psalme , pulling him vp & downe in the fire for the more torment , the rope was burned , hee fell into the middest of the fire , where he changed his temporall paines , for eternall quietnes : thus god by this message did prouoke the portugales to the sincere knowledge . but this cruelty was not vnreuenged , for with a sparke from the fire of his burning , one of the kings shippes was burned , and the kings sonne that was married died halfe a yeere after , and the next yeare the king himselfe dyed . the clergy appointed a solemne fast certaine daies for penance to purge that fact : there be some yet as i haue heard diuers report , out of whose remembrance this constant martyr can neuer be pulled , and is so fresh yet amongst them as if it were but lately done , his death as fruitfull seede hath taken such fruit in some that it is yet a linely , and diligent preaching vnto some against superstition and idolatry vsed in their churches . the tragicall history of the worthy duke of sommerset . king edward had three vnckles by his mothers side : edward , thomas & henry semer : edward was made protector of the realme , and thomas was made high admirall of the same , so long as they were ioined together in amitie , they preserued themselues , and the king , and the common-wealth : sir thomas semer high admirall , married queene katherine , late wife of king henry , as you haue heard ; betwixt the said queene , and the dutchesse of somerset , there fell great displeasure : and therevpon in the behalfe of their wiues grudge began betweene the brethren , after it was laid vnto the lord admirals charge , that hee purposed to destroy the yong king● and trans●ate the crowne vnto himselfe , and for the same he was attainted and condemned , and did suffer at tower hill the twentith of march , one thousand fiue hundred forty and nine , many reported that the duchesse of sommerset had wrought his death : whereby it came to passe , whether by gods iust iudgement or no , in october after , that there was great consultation amongst the lords , in the house of maister yorke , and at baynards castle , and in the lord mayor of londons house , against the lord protector , remaining then with the king at hampton court : the king with his councell hearing thereof , first secretary peter with the kings message was sent vnto them , whom the lords retained still with them , making no answer : wherevpon the lord protector writ vnto them , that the king was informed of your assembly : wherefore we sent maister secretary peter vnto you : his maiestie , and wee of his councell héere doe not a little maruell , that you stay héere ●he said m. peter , and haue not answered his maiesty , and we are sory to sée your doings bent with violence to bring the king and vs to these extremities : which if you will take no other way , we intend with violence to defend with death , and to put it in gods hand , who giueth victory as it pleaseth him : as touching priuate matters ●o auoide the effusion of christian bloud , and to preserue the kings maiesties person , his realme and subiects , you shall finde vs agréeable to any reasonable conditions that you will require , for wee esteem● the kings wealth , and tranquilitie of the realme , more then other worldly things , yea then our life ; praying them to send their determinate answere by maister peter , or some other . notwithstanding this letter , the lords persisted still in their purpose , and took aduice to kéep themselues in the citie of london , as strong as they might , and willed the mayor and aldermen to prouide a substantiall watch by night , and by day , for the safegard of the citie and gates . then they demanded fiue hundred men to ayde them to fetch the lord protector out of windsor from the king : and they published a proclamation against the said protector to this effect . first that the protector by his euill gouernment was the cause of all the sedition , that of late happened within the realme : and of the losses of the kings ordinance in france : and that it appeared by the building of his sumptuous houses in the time of the kings warre , that he sought his owne glory : that he esteemed nothing the graue counsell , of the councellors , that he had sowed diuisions betwéen the nobles , gentlemen , and commons . that the nobles assembled themselues only to cause the protector to haue liued within limits , & to haue put such order for the surety of the king as was fit . that the protector slandered the councell vnto the king : and that hee was a great traytor , and therefore the lords defired the citie & commons to ayde them to take him from the king. then the king sent a letter vnto the mayor and citizens , commanding them to ayde him with a thousand men out of their citie , well armed , and to send them with all speed vnto the castle of windsor . these contrary commandements comming both at one instant vnto the mayor & citizens of london : it séemed very doubtfull to them which way to take : at the last stepped vp a citizen george studlaw , and said . i remember in the time of henry the third ; the barons as the lords doe now , demanded ayde of the mayor and citizens of london , and the citie ayded them against the king , and it came to an open battell , and the lords preuailed against the king , and took the king and his son prisoners , and vpon certaine conditions , the king & his son were restored againe , and the king openly granted his pardon to the lords and citizens , & it was ratified by act of parliament , but it was neuer forgotten during the kings life : the liberties of the citie were taken away , and strangers appointed to be our gouernors , and the citizens giuen away body and goods , and from one persecution vnto another were most miserably afflicted , such it is to enter into the wrath of a prince : for salomon saith , the wrath of a prince is death : therefore i would councell the lords with vs , to make sute to the king , that he would please to heare the complaints that may be iustly proued against the l. protector , and i doubt not but this matter will be pacified , and that the king , nor yet the lords haue cause to seeke for further ayde , neither we to offend any of them both . then the lords sent sir philip hobby , with their letter of credence vnto the king , beséeching him to giue credit to that which he should say : who so handled the matter , that the lord protector was commanded from the kings presence : and shortly committed to warde in the castle of windsor : the same day the lords of the councell resorted vnto the king , and the next day they brought the lord protector vnto the tower. shortly after the lords resorted vnto the tower , and there charged the lord protector with sundry articles ; the effect of them is contained in the proclamation aforesaid : and although these purposes of man intended the spilling of his life ; and the lord so ordered the matter by the meanes of the kings so laboring for his vnkle , that in short while he was let out of the tower , and continued at liberty two yeares and two daies . after he was againe apprehended & committed againe to the tower , after hee was brought to westminister hall to be arraigned , and there was charged with felony & treason : he put himselfe to be tried by his péeres , who discharged him of treason , but they accounted him guilty of felony , for purposing the death of the duke of northumberland and others , and was returned vnto the tower againe . when he was brought to his execution vpon tower hill , he came with the same gesture which he vsed , changing neither voice nor countenance , and knéeling down he commended himselfe to god , and his prayers ended , he turned toward the people , as it were with a certaine fatherly loue to children , and said : dearely beloued friends , i am brought hether to suffer death , albeit i neuer offended against the king in word nor deed : and haue alwaies béene as faithfull as any man vnto this realme : but because i am by law condemned to die , to testifie my obedience which i owe vnto the lawes , i am come hither to suffer death : wherefore i thanke god that he hath giuen me this time of repentance , who might so suddenly haue béen taken with death that i could not haue acknowledged god , nor my selfe . i would something put you in minde of the christian religion , which so long as i was in authoritie i did alwaies diligently set forth , and i reioice therein , sith now the state of christian religion commeth most neere to the order of the primatiue church , which i esteeme as a great benefit of god to me , and vnto you : most heartily exhorting you all , that you will most thankefully imbrace it , & set out the same in your liuing , which if you do not , no doubt great calamitie will follow . upon these words there was heard a terrible noise , as it had beene of some great tempest from aboue , as if a great deale of gun-powder , being inclosed in an armory , hauing caught fire , had violently broke out : or as if a great company of horsemen had been running together vpon them , whereby the people were so amazed , that they ranne away ; s●me into ditches and puddles , and some into the houses ; others with their halberts fell vnto the ground : crying out , iesus saue vs , iesus saue vs : and those which tarried in their places knew not where they were : it happened heere euen as when the officers of the high priests came to take christ : they runne back and fell to the ground , in so great slaughter of dukes within this few yeares , there were neuer so many weeping eyes at one time , and the people seeing sir anthony browne ride to the scaffold : they coniectured that the king had sent his unkle pardon , therefore with great reioycing they cast vp their caps , and cryed out pardon , pardon , is come , god saue the king . thus the good duke , although he was destitute of mans help , yet hee saw before his departure in what great loue and fauour he was with all men . then said the duke , dearely beloued friends , there is no such matter as you vainely beleeue : therefore i pray you be contented with my death which i most willingly suffer ; let vs ioine in prayer for the king , vnto whom i haue alwaies shewed my selfe a faithfull subiect , and haue béen most diligent to seeke the commoditie of the whole realme ; at which words all the people cryed out and said , it was most true : and praying for the king and councell , and exhorting the people to obedience , forgiuing all his enemies , and desiring forgiuenes of them which he● had offended , and praying them to beare witnes , he died in the faith of christ. then he knéeled downe and prayed , and rising againe without any trouble of minde , he tooke them all on the scaffold by the hand , and bid them all farewell : when he lay vpon the block he called thrice on the name of iesus , saying , lord iesus saue me : and as the name of iesu was repeating the third time , in a moment , he was bereft both of head and life . the lady mary . the king & his councell had much trauell by letters and messengers , to reduce the lady mary to obedient con●ormitie of religion : yet she would not be reclaimed from her owne singuler opinion , fixed vpon custome , to giue any indifferent hearing vnto the word and voice of verity , the which set will of the said lady mary , the yong king , and also his father king henry , right well perceiuing they were both much displeased against her , insomuch that not only her brother did sequester her in his will , but also her owne father considering her inclination , did conceiue such a hate against her , that for a great space he did seclude her from the title of princesse , yea , and seemed so greatly incensed against her , that he was fully purposed to haue procéeded further with her , as it is reported , had not the intercession of thomas cranmer the archbishop reconciled the king againe to fauour and pardon his owne daughter . and about the eighth of september . doctor ridley bishop of london , went to visit the lady mary , and was gently entertained of sir thomas wharton , and other her officers . about eleuen of the clocke the lady mary came forth of her chamber of presence : then the bishop saluted her grace , and said he was come to doe his dutie vnto her grace ; she thanked him , and for a quarter of an houre talked with him pleasantly , and said , she knew him when he was chaplain to her father , and remembred a sermon that he made before her father , at the lady clintons marriage , and so dismissed him to dine with her officers . after dinner the bishop being called , resorted againe vnto her grace : then said the bishop , madam , i come not only to doe my duety to sée your grace , but also to offer my selfe to preach before you on sonday next , if it please you to heare me : she said , i pray make the answere your selfe , for you know the answere well enough : but if i must make answere , this shall be your answere , the doore of the church shall be open for you if you come , but neither i nor none of mine shall heare you . the bishop said , madam , i trust you will not refuse gods word . she answered , i cannot tell what you call gods word ; that is not gods word now that was gods word in my fathers dayes . the bishop said , gods word is one in all times , but it hath beene better vnderstood and practised in some ages then in others . she said , you durst not for your eares haue auouched that for gods word in my fathers dayes that now you doe : as for your new books , i thanke god for it , i neuer read none of them , nor neuer will doe . after many bitter words against the forme of religion then established , and against the gouernment of the realme , and the lawes made in the young yeares of her brother , which she said she was not bound to obey vntill her brother came to perfect age , and then affirmed she would obey them . then she asked him whether he were one of the priuie councell ; he answered no : you might well enough , quoth she , as the councell goeth now-a-dayes : so she concluded , that she thanked him for his gentlenesse to come and see her , but for your offering to preach before me , i thank you neuer a whit . then was the bishop brought by sir thomas wharton vnto the place where he dined , who desired him to drinke : after he had drunke he looked very sadly , and brake out in these words , surely i haue done amisse , in that i haue drunke in that place where gods word hath beene offered and refused , whereas indeed if i had beene mindfull of my duety , i ought not to haue stayed , but to haue departed immediatly , and to haue shaken off the dust of my feete for a testimony against this house . touching the disputations of peter martyr , martin bucer , and paulus phagius , because they are only touching the sacrament , which is so often handled in this book , for breuitie i referre thee to the book at large . the decease of king edward . about a yeare and a halfe after the death of the duke of sommerset , king edward died , entring into the seuenteenth yeare of his age , and in the seuenth yeare of his raigne . as the time approached that it pleased almighty god to call this yong king from vs , which was on the sixth day of iuly , about thrée houres before his death his eyes being closed , speaking to himselfe , and thinking none had heard him , he made this prayer as ●olloweth . lord god deliuer me from this miserable and wretched life , and take me amongst thy chosen , howbeit not my will but thy will be done , for i commit my spirit vnto thee . o lord thou knowest how happie it were for me to be with thée , yet for thy chosens sake send me life and health , that i may truly serue thes . o my lord god , blesse thy people and saue thine inheritance : o lord saue thy chosen people of england : o my god defend this realme from papistrie , and maintain thy true religion , that i and my people may prayse thy holy name , for thy sonne iesu christs sake . then he turned his face , and séeing who was by him , he said vnto them , are you so nigh ? i thought you had been● further off : then smilingly he said ; i was praying to god. the last words he spake were these : i am faint , lord haue mercie vpon me , and take my spirit . and thus he yeelded vp the gh●st , leauing a wofull kingdome behinde vnto his sister . the tenth book , wherein is contained the most memorable things done in the raigne of queene mary . king edward by his testament did appoint lady iane , daughter of the duke of suffolk , whose mother was mary , second sister of king henry , who was first wife to the french king , and after to the said duke , to succeed him in his kingdome ; all the councell and chief nobilitie , the mayor of london , and all the iudges and chiefe lawyers , sauing iudg hales , subscribed therto , who stood for q. mary . the matter thus concluded , king edward died when he was sixteene yeares of age ; then the said iane was proclaymed queene at london , and other cities : she was about the age of king edward ; in learning and wit she might be compared with the uniuersitie men which haue taken many degrees of the schooles . then queen mary wrote to the councel that they should proclaime her quéen , and she would pardon them for that which was done : they answered her , that by the diuorse betwixt king henry and her mother , she was made illegitimate and vnheritable to the crowne . then she speeded her selfe farre from the citie , hoping vpon the commons , whereupon the councell sent forth the duke of northumberland , with other lords and gentlemen with an armie , the guard assisting the duke . mary withdrew her selfe into northfolke and suffolke , where she knew the duke was hated ; and there gathering such aide of the commons as she might , kept her selfe in fremingham castle , to whom suffolk-men resorted , and promised her their aide if she would not alter the religion which her brother had established , to which she agreed , with such promises as no man could haue misdoubted her : and thus being guarded with the power of the gospellers , she vanquished the duke and all that came against her . but after , the suffolk-men making supplication vnto her grace for performance of her promise , she answerd , you shall one day well perceiue that members must obey their head , and not looke to rule the same : and one dobbe a gentleman for aduertising her of her promise by humble request , was three times set in the pillorie , to be a gasing-stock to all men ; others deliuered her books and supplications out of the scripture , to exhort her to continue the doctrine then established , who were sent to prison . the councell at london , vnderstanding that the ladie marie increased in puisance , and the peoples hearts mightily bent vnto her , they turned their song , and proclaymed for quéen , the lady mary , eldest daughter of k. henry the eight , and appointed by parliament to succeed king edward , dying without issue : the duke of northumberland with some of his sonnes , were left destitute at cambridge , as also the earle of huntingdon , who were arrested and brought to the tower as traytors . then the quéen came to the tower , where the lady iane and the lord gilford her husband were imprisoned fiue months , but the duke within a moneth was beheaded , with sir iohn gates and sir thomas palmer : the papists promised the duke pardon if he would openly recant vpon the scaffold , which in hope of pardon he did , and yet he was beheaded ; whose recantation the papists published not a little , reioycing at his conuersion : but sir thomas palmer confessed his faith in the gospell , and was sorie that he had not liued more gospell-like . steuen gardner was released out of the tower , and made bishop of winchester and lord chancellor , and poynets displaced ; and bonner restored to his bishoprick againe , and ridley displaced ; and day made bishop of chichester , and storie put out ; and heath made bishop of worcester , and hooper committed to the fleet ; and vesie to exeter , and couerdale put out . doctor ridley bishop of london had preached against quéen mary in queene ianes time : shortly after the sermon queen mary was proclaymed ; then he went to the queen to salute her , who dispoyled him of his dignities , and sent him to the tower vpon a halting horse . then queen mary directed forth an inhibition by proclamation , that no man should preach or reade openly in churches the word of god. one bourne , who after was bishop of ●ath , preached at paules crosse so much in the praise of bonner being there present , and in dispraise of king edward , that his words sounded euill to the hearers , which caused them to murmur and stirre , insomuch that the maror and others feared an vprore : one hurled a dagger at the preacher , who for feare pulled in his head . master bradford stood forth and appeased the people , and after he and rogers conducted the preacher safe into the grammer-schoole , but shortly after they were both rewarded with burning . the next sonday the preacher at the crosse was guarded with the queenes guard ; then men withdrew themselues from the sermon , and the mayor took order that the ancients of al companies should be present , lest the preacher should be discouraged with his small auditorie . cranmer archbishop of canterburie , assisted with peter martyr and a few others , offered to defend the doctrine of the booke of common prayer by the scriptures and doctors ; but whilst they hoped to come to disputation , the archbishop and others were impris●ned , but peter martyr was suffered to return from whence he came . the first day of october the queen was crowned , and the tenth day a parliament began , where taylor bishop of lincolne , & harley bishop of herford after they saw the masse begin , not abiding the sight thereof , withdrew themselues from the company , wherefore taylor was commanded to attend , but shortly after died , and harley because he was married was ex●●nded from the parlament and his bishoprick . then all statuts in k. hen. the eight , and k. edwards time , which were against papistrie were repealed . sir iames hales iustice of the common pleas , notwithstanding he had ventured his life for quéen mary in not subscribing to king edwards will , as before ; for giuing charge vpon the statuts against papistrie , at the assises , he was committed to diuers prisons , and so terrified , that he wounded himselfe , and meant to haue killed himselfe with a knife , and after was contented to say as they willed him ; whereupon he was discharged , but he neuer rested vntill he had drowned himselfe . then , according to the quéens commandement , there begun a disputation in the conuocation house about the sacrament , which continued six dayes , wherein doctor weston was the chiefe on the popes side , who behaued himselfe outragiously in checking and ●aunting : the matter of the disputation was onely of the sacrament , and the reasons no other then shall and haue beene set forth in this book , wherefore for breuitie i omit them . in conclusion , the quéen to take vp the matter , sent her commandement to bonner to dissolue the conuocation , and such as disputed on the contrary part were driuen some to flie , some to denie , and some to die , though in most mens iudgements that heard the disputation , they had the vpper hand . in which parliament also communication was moued of the quéens marriage , which was very euill taken of the people , and of many of the nobilitie , who for this and for religion , conspiring amongst themselues , made a rebellion , wherof sir thomas wyat was chiefe . news comming to london of this stirre in kent , the quéen caused wyat and the duke of suffolke , who was fled to warwickshire and leister-shire , there to gather a power , and the two carewes of deuonshire , to be proclaymed traytors ; and thomas duke of northfolke was sent into kent against wyat , but about rochester bridge the duke was forsaken of all his men , and returned to london . the earle of huntington was sent post to apprehend the duke of suffolke , who entring the citie of couentrie before the duke disappointed him , and one vnderwood his man betrayed and bewrayed him , so that he was brought to the tower of london . in time sir peter carew hearing what was done , fled into france , but the other were taken : and the quéen hearing of wyats comming towards london , she came into the citie to guild-hall , where she made a vehement oration against wyat , and to incourage them to stand with her . two dayes after the lord cobham was committed vnto the tower ; and wyat comming to southwark , being he could not enter that way into london , he went with his armie by kingstone , and came through the stréets to ludgate , but returning he was resisted at temple-barre , and there yeelded himselfe to sir clement parson , and was brought to the court : the residue of his armie were taken , and a hundred killed ; for sir george harper and almost halfe his men ranne away from him at kingstone bridge , and they which were taken were had to prison , and many of them hanged , and he himselfe executed at tower-hill and quartered : his head was set vpon hay hill , and after stolne away , but there was great search made for the same . then the lady iane was beheaded , two dayes before whose death fecknam was sent to her by the quéen to reduce her to papistrie . the communication betwixt the lady iane and fecknam . feck . madam , i lament your heauie case , but i doubt not but you beare it constantly . iane. i litle lament my owne case , but rather account it a token of gods fauor vnto me , more then euer he shewed to me before , being a thing profitable for my soules health . feck . i am com from the quéen and councel to instruct you in the faith , though i trust i need not trauell ouer much in the performance thereof . iane. i heartily thanke the queene that she is not vnmindfull of her humble subiect , and i hope you will doe your dutie according to the message that you were sent on . feck . what is then required of a christian ? iane. that he should beleeue in god the father , sonne , and holy ghost , three persons , and one god. feck . what is there nothing else to bee required of a christian , but to beleeue . iane. yes , we must also loue him with all our heart , soule , and mined , and our neighbour as our selfe . feck . why then faith instifieth not . iane. yes verily , faith as saint paul saith , onely iustifyeth . feck . why saint paul saith , if i haue all faith , without loue it is nothing . iane. true it is , for how can i loue him whom i trust not : or how can i trust him whom i loue not : faith and loue goeth both together : yet loue is comprehended in faith. feck . how shall we loue our neighbour ? iane. to feede the hungry , cloth the naked , and giue drinke to the thirsty , and to doe to him as we would doe to our selues . feck . why then it is necessary to saluation to doe good workes , and not sufficient onely to beleeue . iane i deny that : and affirme faith onely saueth , but it is meet for a christian to follow christ in good workes : yet we may not say that they profit to saluation : for when we haue done all that we can , we are vnprofitable seruants : and faith onely in christ● bloud saueth vs. feck . how many sacraments are there ? iane. two : the one of baptisme , the other of the lords supper . feck . no , there are seauen , but what are signified by your two sacraments ? iane. by baptisme i am washed with water , and regenerated by the spi●t , and the washing is a token i am gods childe . the lords supper offered vnto me , is a sure seale , that by the blood of christ i am made partaker of the euerlasting kingdome . feck . do you not receiue the very body and blood of christ ? iane. i neither receiued flesh nor blood , but bread and wine ; which putteth me in remembrance , that for my sins his body was broken , and his blood shed , and with it i receiue the benefit of his passion . feck . doth not christ say plainly , this is my body . iane. so he saith , i am the vine and the doore ; and saint paul saith , hee calleth things that are not , as though they were : god forbid i should say i eate the body and blood of christ , for then i should pluck away my redemption , else there were two christs : for if his disciples eate his body , it was not broken vpon the crosse , and if it were broken vpon the cr●sse , his disciples did not eate it , except he had two bodies . feck . could not christ as possibley make his body to be eaten and broken , as to bee borne of a woman without man , and as to walke on the sea and doe other miracles . iane. if god would haue done a miracle at supper he could , but he then minded no miracle , but to suffer for sinne . was not christ at the table and aliue when he said so , and suffered not vntill the next day & he took bread , brake bread , gaue bread , and they eate bread , and all this while he was aliue with them , or else they were deceiued . feck . you ground your faith on them that say and vnsay , and not vpon the church . iane. i ground my faith on gods word and not on the church , for the faith of the church must be tryed by gods word , and not gods word by the church : shall i beléeue the church that taketh from me the halfe of the lords supper , and s●e deny the lay-men part of their saluation , and i say that is not the spouse of christ , but the spouse of diuell , hee will adde plagues to that church , and will take from it their part out of the booke of life : doe they learne that of paule when bee ministred to the corinthians in both kinds . feck , that was done to avoyde an heresie . iane. shall the church alter gods will for a good intent , how did king saule . then feckham tooke his leaue , and sayd he was sorry for her , and sayd hee was sure they two should neuer méete . iane , that is true , if god turne not your heart you are in an ill case , i pray god send you his spirit , hee bath giuen you a great gift of vtterance if it please him to open your eyes . she wrote a letter to her father to comfort him , and to shew how ioyfull shee was to die , and she wrote another letter to one master harding , who was late chaplaine to her father , and fell from the truth of gods word , and rebuked him , that hee put his hand to the plow● and looked backe , and lost the comfortable promises that christ maketh to them that forsake themsel●es to follow him , thou did●st séeme to bee a liuely member of christ , but now an impe of the diuell , once tho beautifull temple of god , now the filthy kennell of sathan , once the vnspotten spouse of christ , now the vnshamefast param●●●re of antichrist , once my faithfull brother , now an apostata , once a floute christian souldier , now a cowardly run-away : thou séede of sathan and not of iuda , the diuell , the world , and desire of life , hath made thée of a christian an infidell , thou hast taught others to be stro●g , and thy selfe dost shamefully shrinke , thou hast taught others not to t●cale , and thy selfe hast committed most haynous sacriledge , and robbest christ of his right members and of thine own body and soule , thou chosest rather to liue miserably with shame in the world , then to die gloriously to ●aygne with christ , in wh●m in death is life , how darest thou refuse the true god , and worship the inuention of man , the goulden calfe , the whore of babilon , the romish religion , the ab●ominable idoll , the most wicked masse , wilt thou teare againe the pretio●s body of our sauiour with thy fleshly teeth , and she exhorted him that the ●ft falling of th●se heauenly showers might pearce his stony heart , and the two edged word of gods word seare asunder the sinnewes of wordly respects that thou mayst once againe forsake thy selfe and imbrace christ. the night before she suffered , the sent a new testament to her sister katherin , and wrote a letter to her in the end thereof , that though it were not outwardly trimmed with gould , yet inwardly it was more worth then precious stones . it was the last will that christ bequeathed to vs wretches , it will b●ing you to eternall life ▪ teach you to liue , and learne you to die : you shall gaine more by it , then by the possession of your wofull fathers lands : thinke not that your yong year●s will lengthen your life , for soone , if god call , goeth the yong , as the old , deny the world , despise the diuel and the flesh , reioice in christ as i do , i exhort you that you neuer swarue from the christian faith , neither for hope of life nor feare of death , if you deny christ , hee will deny you and shorten your dayes , put your whole trust in god : she made a prayer full of faith , which thou mayest sée in the booke at large . when she cam● vpon the scaffold , she protested her innocency in the cause shee was to die for , and prayed them to beare her witnesse that she dyed a true christian woman , and that she looked to bee saued by no meanes , but by the mercy of god in christ , and my negligence of the word of god , and louing of the world brought this punishment vpon me , and i thanke god that hee hath giuen me a time of repentance , then she prayed them whilest she was aliue to assist her with their prayers : then she sayd the one and fifti●h psalme in deuout maner , then she made her selfe ready , and gaue her things to her maides , and caused a handkerchife to be tyed about her face : the hang-man asked her forgiuenesse , and shee forgaue him most willingly , and prayed him to dispatch her quickly : then she laid her head vpon the blocke , and said , into thy hands i commend my spirit , and so finished her life . with her also was beheaded the lord gilford her husband . iudge morgan , who gaue the sentence of condemnation against her , shortly after fell madde , and continually cried to haue the lady iane taken from him , and so ended his life . not long after her death was the duke of suffolke , her father , beheaded at the tower-hill : about which time also were condemned many gentlemen and yeomen , whereof some were executed at london , and some in the countrey , and thomas gray brother to the said duke was executed . the foure and twentieth of februarie bonner sent a commission to al pastors and curats of his diocesse , to take the names of all such as would not come the lent following to auricular confession , and to the receiuing at easter . the fourth of march following the queene sent certaine articles to bonner to ●e speedily put in execution : that the canons in king henries time should be vsed in england , that none exact any oath of any ecelesiasticall person touching the supremacie , that none , defamed with heresie , he admitted to ecclesiastical benefice or office , that bishops and other officers diligently trauell about for repressing of heresies , vnlawfull books and ballads , and that schoole-masters and preachers teach no euil doctrine ; that they depriue all married priests , except they renounce their wiues : but if they returne to their wiues to bee diuorced both from wife and benefice : that for want of priests the parishi●ners goe to the next parish to seruice or one curate serue diuers places : that processions in latine bee vsed after the old order : for the obseruing of holy daies , and fasting daies , that the ceremonies of the church be restored , that ministers which were ordered in king edwards time should be new ordered : that the parishioners bee compelled to come to their seuerall churches : that schoolmaisters be examined and if they be suspected , to place catholick men in their roome , and that they instruct the children to answer the priest at masse . shee sent likewise a commandement to the lord mayor of london , with the foresaid articles to bee carefull with all his power for the performance thereof . then the queene sent forth a proclamation , that the strangers which in king edwards time were receiued into england for religion , should 〈◊〉 driuen out of the realme . wherevpon peter martyr , ioannes alasco , vnckle to the king of poland , and many others , were banished , and many english men also fled into germany ▪ and were scattered in diuers places , where by gods pro●idence they were sustained , and entertained with great fauour , to the number of eight hundred persons . the twenty fiue of march , the lord courtney and lady elizabeth were susspected to consent to wiats conspiracy : and therevpon apprehended and commit●to the tower. this was a politicke practice of steuen gardiner , which alwaies was an enemy to lady elizabeth , wyat at his deat● protested to the people , that the lord courtney and lady elizabeth were cleare from all suspition of commo●ion , but doctor weston cryed to the people , beleeue him not , ●or hee confessed otherwise before vnto the co●●cell . the same day it was told in the parliament house , that wiat desired the lord courtney to confesse the truth , as he had done before . one cut a prentice of london , was sent for by gardiner vnto the star-chamber , for that he should say that wiat was constrained by the councell to a●cuse the lady elizabeth and the lord courtney , to be consenters to his ris●ng . when the mayor brought him thither , gardiner beganne to declare how miraculously god had brought the queene to the crowne : the whole realme in a manner beeing against her , and it was that shee might reduce this realme , ouerwhelmed with heresies to the catholike faith : and where she l●ued the lady elizabeth tenderly , and deliuered the lord courtney out of prison , yet they conspired trayterously against her with wyat , as he confessed ; yet there are some in london which reported that wyat was constrayned by the councell to accuse them , yet you , my lord mayor , haue not seene the same punished . the partie is here , said the mayor ▪ gardner said , punish him according to his deserts , and take heed to your charge : the citie of london is a whirle-poole of euill rumors . the londoners not fauouring the queens proceedings to their displeasure , summoned a parlament at oxford , because they would be forward in the queens businesse , but after it was holden at westminster , where her marriage with king philip was agreed vpon . bonner being uicegerent of the conuocation , in his oration said that priests were like the uirgin mary ; as she by fiue words conceaued christ , so the priest by fiue words loth make the very body of christ : and as immediatly vpon the consent of mary christ was all whole in her womb , so immediatly after the consecration the bread is transubstantiated into the very body of christ ; and as the uirgin layed christ in the ●anger , so the priest lifteth vp the body of christ , and carryeth it ; and as mary was sanctified before she conceiued , so the priest is ordained & anointed before he doe consecrate ; for a lay-man though he be neuer so holy , and do speak the same words , yet he cannot consecrate : therefore the dignitie of priests passeth the dignity of angels , for no angell can make the body of christ , whereby the least priest can doe more then the greatest angell : therefore priests are to bee ●onoured before kings and princes , and nobles : for a priest is higher then a king , happier then an angell , and maker of his creator . the effect of the communication between doctor ridley , and secretary bourne , and others at the lieutenants table at the tower. feckham . who so doth not beleeue that which scripture doth affirme is an ●eretick : as in the sacrament of the altar : mathew , marke , luke and paul affirme there to bee christs body , and none denieth it : therefore to hold the contrarie is heres●e . ridley , whereas is a multitude of affirmations in scripture , and where is one affirmation , all is one in scripture , that which is spoken by one of the euangelists is as true , as that which is spoken by al : for it is not in scripture as in witnesse of men , where the number is credited more then one , and where you speake of so many , affirming without negation of any , if you take their words and leaue their meaning , they affirme , that you take . feck . what circumstances can you shew , that should moue to thinke of any other sense , then as the words plainely say . rid. by the next sentence ; doe this in remembrance of me : and you may as well say , the bread is turned into christs mysticall body , as that it is turned into his naturall body , for paule speaking of the mysticail body saith : many are one bread and one body , because they are partakers of one bread. feck . this is conf●rmed by antiquity , vnity , and vniuersality , for none before beringarius did euer doubt of this : then said master secretary , these be great matters , what say you to that ? feck . as for unity , i doe beléeue it , if it be with veritie , and as for antiquity at the first , christs faith was truely taught by christ and his apostles , and by many good men which did succeed next them , and touching the sacrament i am perswaded these old writers , before the vsurping of the sea of rome doe all agree , if they bee well vnderstood in this truth , as for vniuersalitie if may haue two meanings , one that from the beginning in all ages hath beene allowed , or it may be vnderstood for the multitude of our age , or of any other singular age . maister secretarie : what authors haue you of the sacrament to make a figure . ridley . tertullian saith , this is my body , that is to say a figure of my body : and gelasius saith the substance of bread remaineth : and origen saith , that which is sanctified as touching the matter passeth away in the draught : and i maruell fecnam will alledge melancton , for we agree there is in the sacrament but one materiall substance : and he saith there are two . maister secretarie : you say truth , but we reade that in the old time the sacrament was so reuerenced : that the catecumeni and many more were forbidd●n to be present . rid. truth sir , there were some called audients , some penitents , some catechumeni , and some euergumeni , which were commanded to depart . maister sectetarie : how then can you make but a figure of the sacrament as the lord of canterburies booke doth . rid. me thinkes it is not charitably done to beare the people in hand that any man doth so lightly esteeme the sacrament , as to make it but a figure , which that booke doth deny , as appeareth by that booke most plainely : and as for mee i say whosoeuer receiueth the sacrament , receiueth with it life or death : as s. augustine saith , manduca vitam , bibe vitam . maister pope . i doe beleeue the reall body of christ is in the sacrament , and i pray god i may euer so beleeue ; and how can it bring life or death , if christs body be not there . rid. when you heare gods word truely preached ; if you doe beléeue you receiue life : and if you beléeue not , it bringeth vnto you death , yet christs body is not carnall in euery preachers mouth . pope . how answere you this : which shall be giuen for you , was the figure of christs body giuen for you . rid. no sir ; but the very body it selfe whereof the sacrament is a figure . tertullians exposition maketh it plaine : for hee saith the body is a figure of the bodie , now put too which shall be giuen for you , and it agreeth excéeding well . maister secretary : you know well that origen and tertullian were not catholick , but erred . rid. there is none of the doctors but are thought to haue erred in some things , but i neuer heard that tertullian , or origen , were thought to haue erred in the sacrament . feck . forty yeares agone all were of one opinion of this matter . rid. forty yeares agoe all held that the pope was supreme head of the vniuersall church . maister secretarie : that was but a positiue law. rid. it is in the decrees that the pope challengeth his supremacie not by any councell , nor any way else , but by christs own words ; saying to peter , thou art peter : and in another place thou art cephas , that is the head : and his decree is that we must be obedient to the bishop of rome , vpon necessity of saluation . thomas cranmer archb. of canterbury , ridley bishop of london , and hugh latimer bishop of vvorster , were sent to oxford , to dispute with the diuines of oxford and cambridge . there was thrée questions , first , whether the naturall body of christ be really in the sacrament after consecration : secondly , whether any other substanc● doth remaine after consecration then the substance of the body and bloud of christ : thirdly , wh●ther in the masse there be a sacrifice propitiatorie for the sinnes of the quick & the dead . thirty thrée commissioners being set in the quire of s. maries church in oxford before the altar , cranmer archb. was brought to them with a number of bill-men . when he had read ouer the articles , he said they were all false and against gods holy word . then was doctor ridley brought in , who hearing the articles read , answered they were all false , and that they sprang out of a bitter root . then came in latimer : when he had denied the articles , he said he had read ouer the new testament seuen times , and yet could not find the mais● in it , nor the mary-bones nor sinewes of the same . all their arguments were of nothing but the reall presence in the sacrament , which point is already sufficiently argued in many places of this book , and will 〈◊〉 more hereafter . if thou desire to sée the disputations , resort to the book at large ; for the commissioners were so clamorous that they could not be suffered to speak , as it appeareth by the report of bishop ridley . bishop ridley his report . neuer did i see a thing done more vainly and contumeliously then the disputations with me in the schooles in oxford : i thought it had not been possible to haue béen found amongst men of learning and knowledge , any so brazen faced and shamelesse , so disorderly and vainely to behaue themselues , more like to stage-players then diuines . the sorbonicall clamours , which in times past i haue séene in paris , when poperie most raigned , might be thought modestie in respect of them , yea , and the chiefest did as it were blow the trumpe vnto the rest , to rayle , rore , rage and crie out , whereby it appeareth they neuer sought for the veritie but for their owne glorie and bragging victorie . much time appointed for disputations , was vainly consumed in opprobrious checks , taunts , hissings , and clapping of hands . whensoeuer i would make an end of my probations , they would euer crie out blasphemies , blasphemies . i neuer heard or read the like , but by demetrius the siluer-smith , and them of his occupation , crying but against paule , great is diana of the ephesians : and except it be a disputation of the arrians against the orthodoxes , where it is said that such as the presidents of the disputations were , such were the rest , all were in a hurly-burly ; and the arrians cast out such great slanders , that nothing could quietly be heard ; and he concludes , thus ended this glorious disputation of the sacrificers , doctors , and masters , which fought manfully for their god and goods , their faith and felicitie , countrey and kitchin , and for their beautie and bellie , with triumphant applauses and fauour of the whole uniuersitie . after seuerall disputations with euery one of them , the commissioners sate in saint maries church , and doctor weston , vsed particular perswasions with euery one of them , and would not suffer them to answere but pe●emptorily to say whether they would subscribe or no : hee told the bishop of canterbury , hee was ouercome in arguments , which he said was false , for hee was not suffered to oppose as he would , nor answere as he would , vnlesse hee would haue brauled with them , all denying to subscribe : then sentence was read ouer them , that they were no members of the church , and therefore condemned for hereticks . then the archbishop cranmer answered , from this your sentence i appeale to the iust iudgement of god , trusting to be present with him in heauen , for whose presence in the altar i am thus condemned . bishop ridley answered , though i be not of your company , yet my name is written in another place , whither this sentence will send mee sooner then wee should by nature haue come . bishop latimer . i thanke god most heartily that hee hath prolonged my life to this end , that i may in this case glorifie god by that kinde of death . after they were all three called to behold a solemne procession , wherein doctor weston carried the sacrament , and foure doctors carried the canapie ouer him . in the last yeere one thousand fiue hundred forty and three , it is shewed how the duke of northumberland was apprehended by the guard , and brought to london by the earle of arundell and others , these were committed to the tower with the duke , the earle of vvarwick , the earle of huntington , lord ambrose , and lord henry dudley , lord hastings , who was deliuered the same night : sir iohn gates , sir henry gates , sir andrew dudley , sir thomas palmer , and doctor sands chancelor of cambridge , many were committed to diuers prisons about the same time . about this time maister bradford , maister beacon , and maister veron were committed vnto the tower , and maister sampson was sought for , and because he could not be found the bishop of winchester fumed . about this time doctor weston preached at paules crosse , he willed the people to pray for the soules departed , that be neither in heauen nor hell , but in a place not yet sufficiently purged to come to heauen , that they may be releeued by your deuout prayers : he named the lords table an oyster boord : hee said the catechisme lately set forth was abominable heresie , and likeneth the setters forth of the same to iulianus apostata , and the booke to the booke of iulianus apostata , wherein christ and pilate were the speakers , which sermon was learnedly confuted in writing by maister couerdall . about this time a priest of canterbury said masse on the one day , and the next day he came into the pulpit , and desired all the people to forgiue him , for he said hee had betrayed christ , but not as iudas , as peter , and made a long sermon against the masse . in february one thousand fiue hundred fifty and foure , before the comming of king philip , vpon the fifteenth day , about nine of the clock in the forenoone , there was séene two sunnes both shining at once : and that time was also seene a raine-bow turned contrary , and a great deale higher then it was wont . about this time at saint pancrase in cheape , the crucifixe with the pixe were taken out of the sepulchre before the priest rose to the resurrection : so that when he put his hand into the sepulchre , & said very deuoutly surrexit non est hic , he found his words true , for he was not there indéede , wherevpon being dismaide , and debating amongst themselues whom they thought likest to doe it : they layed it to one marsh , which a little before had beene put from that parsonage because he was married , but when they could not proue it , being brought before the mayor , they burdened him to haue kept company with his wife since they were diuorced : he answered that the queene had done him wrong to take from him both his liuing , and his wife : wherevpon he and his wife were committed seuerall counters . about this time there was a cat hanged vpon a gallow●s at the crosse in cheape , apparelled like a priest , ready to say masse with a shauen crowne : her two fore-feete were tyed ouer her head , with a round paper like a wafer cake put betweene them , where on rose great euill will against the citie of london : the quéene and the bishops were very angry , and there was a proclamation in the afternoone , that whosoeuer could bring forth the party that hanged vp the cat should haue twenty nobles , which after was increased to twenty markes , but none would ●ar●e it , the occasion of this was , because the bishop of winchester had preached before the queene for the straite execution of wyats souldiours : wherevpon there was twenty gibbets and gallowes set vp , in and about the streets of london , which there remained for the terrour of others from the . of february , vntill the fourth of iune , and at the comming of king philip were taken downe . one maister walter mantell , one of them which rose with wyat , being prisoner in the tower , the quéene sent vnto him doctor bourne , to conuert him : he answered bourne that he beleeued in the holy catholick church of christ , grounded vpon the prophets and apostles , but he tooke exception to the antichristian popish church : and hee said , hee thought the masse not fit , both for the occasion of idolatry , and also the cléere 〈◊〉 of christs institution : and said it was not a propitiatory sacrifice for sinne : for the death of christ was onely that sacrifice , and certaine collects therein are blasphemous . then said the doctor , see how vaine-glory toucheth you ; then i found fault it was not a communion : yes said he one priest saying masse heere , and another there , and the third in an other place is a communion : then he desired god to receiue him to his mercy , that he might die vndefiled in his truth , at vtter defiance with all papisticall and antichristian doctrine : and to defend all his chosen , from the tyrany of the pope and antichrist and from his subtilties : at his first casting off the gallowes the rope broke , then they would haue had him re●ant , and receiued the sacrament of the altar , and then he should haue the queenes pardon : but master mantell , like a worthy gentleman , refused their serpentine councell , and chose rather to die then to liue for dishonouring of god. maister bradford , maister sanders , and diuers other good preachers hearing that they should be brought vnto a disputation at cambridge , sent a declaration out of prison , to the effect as followeth ; that they did not purpose to dispute otherwise then by writing , except it be before the queenes highnes & her councell , and before the parliament houses , because we shall dispute against the things which already they haue determined , whereby it appeareth they seeke not the derity ▪ but our destruction , and their glory ; otherwise they would haue called vs to shew our consciences before their lawes were so made : and againe the censors and iudges are manifest enemies of the truth , before whom pearles are not to be cast by the commandement of christ , and by his example : and because some of vs haue been in prison eight or nine monethes , where we haue had no bookes , paper , nor inke , and because we shall bee stopped of our arguments , as the bishops were at oxford : and because the notaries that shal write our arguments shal be such as either doe not , or dare not fauour the truth , therefore must write to please them , or else they will put to , or take from , at their pleasure , as it appeared at oxford : yea if any man was seene there to write , he was sent for and his writings taken from him . if they will write , we will answere by writing , and proue by the word of god and most ancient fathers , this our faith & euery péece thereof , and we are ready to seale it with our liues : first we confesse & belé●ue all the canonicall bookes of the old te●●ament and the new , to bee truth written by the spirit , and to bee the iudge of all controuersies of religion : and we beléeue the catholike church is the spouse and beloued wife of christ , and to imbrace the doctrine of these bookes in all matters of religion , and therefore to bee heard accordingly , and those that will not heare her , are heretickes and schismaticks , according to the saying : he that will not heare the church , let him be an hereticke ; and wee beléeue the symbols of the créede of the apostles , and of the councels of nice , constantinople , ephesus , chalcedon , and of toletum , before the foure hundred fifty foure yeare , and the symbols of athanasius , ireneus , tertullian , and of damasus , which was in the yeare thrée hundred seauenty sixe . we beléeue that iustification commeth onely from the mercy of god through christ , and it is had of none of discretion but by faith : which faith is a certaine perswasion wrought by the holy ghost , and as it lightneth the mind , so it suppleth the heart , to submit it selfe to the will of god. by this we disalow papisticall doctrines of free will , of workes of supererogation , of merits , of the necessity of auriculer confession and satisfaction : and we beléeue , that the exterior seruice of god , ought to be according to the word , in such a tongue as may be most to edifie and not in latine , where the people vnderstand not the same : and we beléeue , that god onely by iesus christ , is to bee prayed vnto , and we disalow inuocation to sa●nts departed ; and we beléeue , as a man departeth this life , he is either blessed , or damned for euer ; by reason whereof we affirme purgatory , masses of scala caeli , trentals , and such suffrages as the popish church doth obtrude , as necessary , to be the doctrine of antichrist . and wee beleeue two sacraments of christ , baptisme and the lordes supper , and that they ought to be ministred according to the institution of christ , and that they bée no longer sacraments then they were in vse , and vsed to the end for which they were instituted , and the mutilation of the one kind from the lords supper , from the lay people , is antichristian ; and so is the transubstantiation ; and so is the adoration of the sacrament , and the reseruation and carrying about of the ●ame , and so is the doctrine of the masse , it to be a propitiatory sacrifice for the quick and dead , or a worke that pleaseth god : and so of the inhibition of marriage in any state as vnlawfull ; we doubt not but we shall be able to proue all these our verities by gods word , and the church which hath followed gods word and spirit : and we hartily desire all men to be obedient with vs vnto all that bee in authority , and not to cease to pray to god for them , that he would gouerne them with his spirit of wisedome , and not to consent in any kind of rebellion against the quéens highnesse , but where they cannot obey , but they must disobey god , there to suffer with all patience the pleasures of the higher powers , as we are ready to do , rather then we will consent to any doctrine contrary to this which we heere confesse , wee shall be iustly conuinced thereof . the lord indue vs with his spirit of truth , and grace of perseuerance . upon the twentith day of iuly , the prince of spaine landed at southampton : he was the first that landed , and presently he drew his sword , and carryed it naked in his hand a prettie way , the mayor of the towne met him , and deliuered him the keyes , which he receiued in his right hand , and put his sword into his left , then met him the earle of arundell , and lord williams , and brought him to his lodging . the twenty fiue day , he and quéene mary were married at winchester , by the bishop there , then they came to windsor , and from thence to southwarke , and from thence through the citty of london to white-hall : by the way , many pageants and glorious sights were made . upon the cunduit in gracious-stréet , was painted king henry the eight ●n harnesse , with a sword in one hand , and in the other hand a booke ▪ whereon was written verbum dei , deliuering the booke to his sonne edward painted by him : whereupon the bishoppe of winchester sent for the painter , and called him ●naue , ranke traytor and villaine , for painting a booke in king henries hand , and writing verbum dei thereon , he should rather to haue put the booke in quéene maries hand , that was there also pictured , for that she had reformed the church and religion . against this time bonner in his royalty , and all his prebendaries about him , the doores of pauls being shut , a new roode being laid vpon the pauem●●ts , they sung diuers prayers by the roode , then they annointed it with oyle in diuers places : after they crept vnto it and kissed it , after they wayed it vppe into his accustomed place , and the while the whole quire sang te d●um , and then the bels rang for ioy . from white-hall they went to richmond , then all the lords had leaue to depart , and there remained no english lord at the court , but the bishop of winchester , from thence to hampton-court , where the hall doore was continually kept shut , that no man might enter , vnlesse his arrand were first knowne , which séemed strange to english-men . upon the fourth day of nouember , ●●ue priests did pe●●ance at paules crosse , which were content to put away their wiues , and take vpon them againe to minister : euery one of them had a taper in his hand , and a rod , wherewith the preacher did disple them . the twenty seauen day of nouember , cardinall poole being but a littl● before come into the realme , came to the parliament-house , the king and quéene sitting vnder the cloath of estate , and the cardinall sitting on the right hand . the cardinall made a long oration , shewing first how this realme had euer béene forward to receiue religion : first in the time of the brittaines , and then in the time of the saxons , and that the meanes came from rome , in the faith of which church we haue euer since continued ; and shewed what deuotion this iland hath had to rome , that king offa and adulphus thought their obedience to the sea not sufficient , but in their owne persons went to the place where they receiued so great grace . and when carolus magnus founded paris , hee sent into england for alcui●us , which first brought learning to that uniuersity . i will not rehearse the benefits this realme hath receiued from rome , nor the miseries this realm hath suffered by swaruing from that unity , so all countries that haue refused the unity of the catholike faith , hath had the like plagues , as asia , and the empire of gréece , by swar●ing from rome , are brought into the subiection of the turke : and germany by swaruing from this vnity , are afflicted with diuers sects and factions : then hee pra●●ed the king for his greatnésse and riches , and the quéen , as one in whose hart god had preserued the catholike truth , when all light of the truth séemed vtterly to be extinct , whom god had most miraculously brought vnto the crowne , being a helplesse uirgin , naked and vnarmed , had the victory of all pollicies and armed powers , prepared to destroy her , and god hath appointed her to raigne ouer you , for the restitution of true religion , and exterpation of errors and sects . god hath deuided his power vnto two parts heare in earth , that is ; into th● imperiall and ecclesiasticall power , the seculer princes and ministers of god to execute vengeance vpon transgressors , and to preserue well doers , which is represented in these two most excellent princes , the king and quéene . the other power , is the power of the keyes , which belongeth by prerogatiu● to the sea apostlike of rome , from which sea i am deputed legate , hauing the keyes committed to my hands , i confesse i haue the keyes not as mine owne keyes , but as the keyes of him that sent mee , but certaine impediments in you to receiue it must be taken away before my commission can take place . i came to reconcile , and not to condemne , and not to compell , but to call againe : my commission is of grace and clemency , to all such as will receiue it : touching the matter● past , they shall be as things cast into the sea of forgetfulnesse . the meanes wherby you shall receiue this benefit , is by reuoking the lawes , wherby you haue disseuered yourselues from the vnity of christs church , therefore you , as prouident men for the weale of your soules and bodies , pouder what is to be done in this waightie cause . the next day the three estates sitting in the parlament-house , all on their knees exhibited a supplication to their highnesses , the king and queene , that their humble sute , by their graces intercession and meane ▪ might be exhibited vnto the cardinall , declaring themselues sorie and repentant for the schisme committed in this realme against the apostolike sea , promising , in token of their repentance , to be readie vnto the vttermost of their power , to doe their endeauour for the repealing of the said lawes : and we desire that your maiesties will so set forth this our humble sute , that we may obtayne from the sea apostolike , by the sayd most reuerend father , as well particular as vniuersall absolution , and that we may be receiued into the bosome of christs church , so that this whole realme may in perfect obedience vnto the sea apostolike serue god and your maiesties , to the furtherance of his honour and glorie . the king and queene deliuered it vnto the cardinall , who perceauing the effect thereof to answere his expectation , hee receiued it most gladly : and after he had thanked almighty god for the prosperous successe of his comming from rome , by the popes authoritie he gaue them full absolution : then they went to the chappell & sung te deum with great ioy of the reconciliation : the report of this was sent to rome with great speed , as well by the king and cardinals letters , which thou maist see in the booke of martyrs : wherevpon the pope caused processions to bee made with great ioy for the conuersion of england , and praising the cardinals deligence , and the deuotion of the king and queene , on christmas euen by his bulles hee set forth , a generall pardon to all such as did truely reioyce for the same . the sonday following the second of december , gardiner bishop of winchester and lord chancellor preached at paules crosse : upon the third to the romans : it is time that we should awake out of sleepe , for our saluation is neerer then when we beleeued : first he shewed how the saying of saint paul was verified vpon the gentils , which had long time slept in ignorance : therefore to stir vp their dulnes he desired them to wake out of sleepe : then hee compared our time to theirs . as the sacraments of christ did declare christ to come , our sacraments declare that he is come : now that hee is come the iewes sacrifices bee done away , a●d ours only remaine , they had him as a signe , but we haue his very body in our sacrament : wherefore it is time that we now also awake who haue slept & rather dreamed this twenty yeares , as shall bee declared by the properties of sléepe or dreame . as we going to sléepe , separate our selues from company , so we haue separated our selues from the sea of rome , no realme in christendome like vs , and as shepheards dreame sometimes of killing , mayning , or drowning , and sometimes of beastlinesse , so we haue not onely dreamed of beastlinesse , but also done it : and as in sléepe , all ones senses is stopped , that hee cannot see , not smell , nor heare ; so the ceremonies of the church being to mooue our senses , are taken away , whereby our senses are stopped : and further , when a man would sleepe , he wil put out the candle , least it wake him . so lately , all such writers as did hold with the apostolike sea , are forbidden to be read , and images , which were lay mens books , were cast downe and burned . wee haue beene this twenty yeares without a head , for when king henry first tooke vpon him the head of the church , it was then no church at all . after whom king edward could not be head , but was onely a shaddow of a head : and in our queenes time we had no head , for she alone could not be head , and her two arch-bishoppes were both conuicted of one crime , and deposed in henry the eights time , when the tumult was in the north , the king would haue giuen the supremasie againe to the pope , but the houre was not then come , least it had beene said he did it for feare . after master kneuet and i were sent ambassadors to the emperor , to be a means to reconcile the king to the pope , but the time was not come , for it might be said it was done for policy : the matter was likewise moued in the beginning of king edwards raigne , hut the time was not yet come ; for it might haue been said , the king was bought & sold in his infancy , neither was the houre come in the beginning of the queens raign , for it would haue bin said it was done in weaknes , and if it had been done when the king first came , it might haue been said it had beene done by violence , but now , hora est , when nothing can be obiected , but that it is the prouidence of god. now pope iulius the hath sent vnto vs this most reuerend father the cardinall , not to reuenge iniuries done , but to giue his benediction to those which defamed and persc●uted him . and that they may be the meeter to receiue it , let vs acknowledge our selues of●enders against his holinesse , i doe not exclude my selfe of the number : i will wéepe with them that wéepe , and reioyce with them that reioyce . the king and quéenes maiesties haue restored the pope to his supremacy , and the thrée estates of parliament haue also submitted themselues to his holinesse , and his successors for euer , therefore let vs no longer stay . and as s. paul saith to the corinthians , he was their father , so may the pope say , he is ●ur father ; for we receiued our doctrine first from rome , therefore he may challenge vs as his owne ; he hath preuented vs before we sought him , he hath sent one of our brethren to speake vnto vs , not as vnto strangers : and now let vs awake , which so long haue slept , and in our sléep don so much naughtinesse against the sacraments , and pulling downe the altars , which thing luther would not do , but reproued them which did . in his prayer , he prayed for the pope and cardinals , and for the soules departed , liuing in paines of purgatory . upon newyeares day at night , thirty men and women , and one maister rose a minister , were taken in a house in bow church-yard at the communion , and committed to prison , and maister rose was examined before cranmer , and committed vnto the tower. néere lancaster in lankishire , at cockram , the church-wardens and parishoners made bargaine with one for the framing of their roode , who made them one , and set it vp in their church , but they misliked his workemanship ; and refused to pay him : the matter was brought before the mayor of doucaster ▪ th●y shewed the mayor , that the rood they had before was a welfauoured man , and he promised to make vs such another , but this is the worst fauored thing that euer was séene , gaping and grinning that none of our children dare looke on him and come néere him : the mayor concluded the poore man must bee paid , for if it will not serue for a god , put a paire of hornes on his head , and it will make an excellent deuill : this the parish tooke well a worth , and the poore man had his money . on new-yeares day at night , was a great stirre betwixt the spaniards and english men , the occasion was about two whores , which were in the cloyster of westminster with a sort of spaniards , whilst some played the knaue with them , others kept the entry of the cloyster with dags in harnesse , they discharged their dags at the deanes men that came into the cloyster , and hurt some of them , at length almost the whole towne was vp , by reason of a spanish fryer which got into the church and rung alarum , so that many were afraid . at was publikely noysed , that quée●e mary was with childe , there were diuers prayers made in euery church , and processions for her deliuerance with a man child , and that it should be beautifull , comly , and wise : and there was an act of parlament made , that if the quéene should die in the infancy of the child , that the king should haue the gouernment of it and the realme , vntill it came of full age : ●●uers were punished , for saying the quéene was not with child . about whitsontide the time was thought to be nigh , and mid-wiues , rockers , and nurses , with tradle , and all were prepared in readinesse , and a rumor was blowne in london of the prosperous deliuerance of the queene , so that the bells were rung , bon-fires and processions made , not only in the citie , but in most parts of the realme ▪ and in antwarp guns were shot off in english ships , and the marriners were rewarded with an hundred pistols by the quéen of hungary . the parson of s. anns within aidersgate , and diuers other preachers took vpon them to describe how faire and beautifull the childe was : at length the people were certified the contrary , that the quéen was not deliuered , nor in hope to haue any childe . the two and twentieth of ianuary all the preachers in prison were called before gardnor , at his house in s. mary-oueries : after communication , they were asked whether they would conuert and enioy the quéens pardon , or stand to that which they had taught : they answered they would stand to that which they had taught : then they were committed to a straighter prison then before , with charge that none should speak with them . iames george the same time died in prison , and was buried in the fields . upon the fiue and twentieth of ianuary , on the day of the conuersion of s paul , there was a generall and solemne procession through london , to giue god thanks for their conuersion to the catholike church , wherein were foure score and ten crosses , and a hundred and sixtie priests and clerks , who had euery one copes on , singing lustily : there followed eight bishops , and last of all bonner carrying the pixe vnder a canopie , and there was the mayor , aldermen , and all the liuerie of euery occupation , and the king and the cardinall came to paules chu●ch the same day , and after returned to westminster : at the steps going vp to the quire all the gentlemen that were set of late at liberty out of the tower , kneeled before the king , and offered vnto him themselues and their seruices : after the procession there was commanded bon-fires to be made at night . the eleventh booke , wherein is discoursed the bloudy murdering of gods saints . the martyrdom of iohn rogers . the fourth of februarie suffered m. iohn rogers . his examination before the lord chancellor , and the rest of the councell , the two and twentieth of ianuary . lord chan. wilt thou returne to the catholike church ▪ and vnite and knit thy selfe with vs , as all the parlament house hath don ? rog. i neuer did nor will discent from the catholike church . l. chan. but i speak of receiuing the pope to be supreme head . rog. i know none ▪ other head of the catholike church but christ ; neither will i acknowledge the bishop of rome to haue any more authoritie then any other bishop hath either by the word of god or the doctrine of the church foure hundred yeares after christ. l. chan. if christ be the only head , why diddest thou acknowledge k. henry supreame head of the church ? rog. i neuer granted him supremacie in spirituall things , as forgiuenesse of s●nnes , and giuing of holy ghost , and to be a iudge aboue the word of god. l. chan. there is no inconuenience to haue christ supreme head and the bishop of rome also . i was ready to haue answered , that there could not bee two heads of one church : but he said , make vs a direct answere , whether thou wilt be one of this catholike church , or no. rog. i do not beleeue that your selues doe thinke in your hearts that he is supreme head in forgiuing of sinnes , &c. being this twenty yeares you haue preached , and some of you haue written to the contrary . l. chan. tush , that parlament constrained men by cruelty to abolish the primasie of the pope . rog. then you doe wrong , by cruelty to perswade mens consciences : if that cruelty did not perswade your consciences , how would you haue your cruelties to perswade our consciences ? l. chan. they were driuen by force to consent to that act , wheras in this parlament it was vniformally receiued . rog. it goeth not by the more or lesser part which condiscended vnto it , but by the wiser , truer , and godlier part : then he interrupted me , and bade me answere him , for we haue more to speake with then with you ; for there were ten persons more . then he asked me whether i would enter into the church with the whole realme : i said i would see it proued the church : then i vndertook , if i might haue pen and ink , proue the contrary ; but he said that should not be permitted , and told me i should be sure neuer to haue the quéens mercie , if i would not acknowledge the pope supreme head of the church , and said , paule forbiddeth me to contend with hereticks . l. chan. do●● thou not say in the créed , i beleeue in the catholike church ? rog. i find not the bishop of rome there : it signifieth the consent of all true teaching churches of all ages . and the church of rome cannot be one of them , which teacheth so many doctrines against gods word ; can that church that doth so be the head of the catholike church ? when he would haue me proue wherein the pope taught against the word . i said , to speake with strange tongues is against the scripture . l. chan. thou canst proue nothing by the scripture : it is dead , it must haue a liuely expositor , for all hereticks haue alleaged scriptures . rog. the scripture is aliue : all hereticks haue alleaged scripture , but they were ouercome by it . then he bade away with me to prison : then i stood vp , for i had kneeled all the while . then sir richard southwell said , i know well thou wilt not burne in this geare . i said i trusted in god yes . when they touched me with marriage being a priest : i said the true catholik church did euer allow marriage to priests . his second examination . l. chan. tell me , wilt thou returne to the catholike church 〈…〉 all the realme , and receiue mercy ? rog. before i could not tell what this mercie meant , but now 〈…〉 it is a mercy of the antichristian church of rome , which i vtterly refuse : and your rising from error which you speak of , is a very falling into error . i can proue the doctri●e which i preach by the scriptures , and the fathers that liued vntill foure hundred years after christ : he answered , i was a priuate man , and was not to be heard , nor to be permitted to proue whether the whole realme had done right or wrong , when the parlament had concluded a thing : i answered , no lawes of man must rule the word of god , but they all must be iudged therby , and obey therto ; and neither my conscience nor any christian mans conscience could be satisfied with such lawes as did disagree from that word . then i was asked of the reall presence in the sacrament : i said i could not vnderstand really and substantially , but corporally , and corporally christ is only in heauen , a●d cannot be corporally in the sacrament also . when definitiue sentence was read against him , the lord chancellor sayd . i was in the great curse ; what a vengable dangerous matter it were to eate and drink with vs accursed , or to giue vs any thing : for they that so did should be partakers of the same great curse . well my lord , quoth i , i neuer willingly taught false doctrine , and therefore haue a good conscience before god and men , and i shall be found a true member of the catholike church of christ , and euerlastingly saued : you néed not excommunicate me from your church , the lord be thanked i haue not been in ●t this twentie yeares : now you haue done what you can ▪ i am sure you and i shall appeare before christ , and then i shall be as good a man as you . then i earnestly desired my wife might com to me whilst i liued : for we haue ten children , and ● would counsaile her what is best for her to do , which he would not grant , saying that she was none of my wife . then i haue tried all your charity , said i : you make your selfe highly displeased with marriage of priests , but you maintaine open whoredome ; in wales euery 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 papistrie shortly in england , and the dispersed english flock of christ shall be brought againe into their former estate , or better then in k. edwards time , and the bloudy babylonicall bishop , and the whole crown-shorn company brought to vtter shame and destruction : for god wil not suffer their abominable lying and false doctrine , bloud-thirst , whordom , idlenes and poysoned stomacks which they beare towards poore and miserable christians : some of them shall haue their iudgement in this world , and they that doe escape in this world , shall not escape in the world to come euerlasting damnation : this shall be your sauce , o yee wicked papists , make merry as long as you may ; and hee exhorted the faithfull to be carefull 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 reioyced 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 quéen maries time that gaue first aduenture vpon the fire . the martyrdom of laurence sanders . hee was parson of all-hallowes in breadstr●et , and being minded to giue ouer another church which he had in leicester-shire , called churchlangton : about that time came the broile about the clayme that q. mary made to the crown ; by reason whereof he could not accomplish his purpose . in this trouble he preached at northampton , & boldly vttered his consci●nce against popish doctrine , and antichrists damnable errors , which were like to spring vp again in england , as a iust plage for the litle l●ue which the english nation did bear to gods word , which had béene so plentifully offered vnto them : the quéens men which were there & heard , were highly displeased with him for his sermon , and kept him amongst them as a prisoner , but for the loue of his brethren and friends , which were chée●e do●rs for the quéene , and because there yet was no law against him , they dismissed him . he being inflamed with the fire of godly zeale , preached with diligence at both his benifices , as time could serue him , vntill the proclamation was put forth as aforesaid : at which time he was at his benefice in the countrey , where contrarie to the proclamation , he ●aught diligently gods truth , confirming the people therein , and arming them against false doctrine , vntill he was commaunded to cease , and with force re●●sted ▪ then he returned towards london , to visite the flock which he had there in charge : and as he was comming nigh to the citty , sir iohn mordant , a counceller to queene mary , ouertooke him , and asked him whether hee went : i haue , said sanders , a cure in london , and i go to instruct my people according to my duty . if you will fo●low my councell ( quoth maister mordant ) let them alone , and come not at them , sanders answered : how shall i then bee 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 heare me againe in the same place to morrow , where i will affirme by the authority of gods word all that i then said , and whatsoeuer i haue formerly taught them . i would counsaile you not to preach , sayd he . if you can or will forbidde me by law i must obey . nay , quoth he , i will not forbid you , but giue you counsaile , and so they departed . mordant tolde bonner that saunders would preach in his cure the next sonday . one that was about saunders perceiuing by him that he was troubled , asked him how he did : indeede , sayd he , i am in prison vntill i be in prison , meaning he was vnquiet vntill he had preached , and then hee should be in quiet though he were put in prison . the next day he preached vpon the second to the corinthians , and the eleuenth chapter . i haue coupled you a pure virgin to christ , but i feare as the serpent beguiled eue ; so your wills should be corrupted from the singlenesse which you had toward christ iesus . he reioyced in the summe of that true doctrine whereby wee are coupled so christ , and saued by free iustification by his bloud : he compared the papisticall doctrine to the serpents deceauing ; and left they should be deceiued by it , he made a comparison betwixt the voyce of christ and the popish serpent , wherein he shewed the difference betwixt the seruice set forth by king edward in the english t●ng , and the popish seruice then vsed in the latine tong . and that the first was good , because it was according to the word of god , & the order of the primate church . the other is euill , because though some good latine words be in it , yet was it but as it were a little hony and milke with a great deale of poison to drinke vp all . in the afternoone he being ready to preach againe to the bishop ▪ where was sir iohn mordant . boner ●aid vnto his charge the breaking of the proclamation , and also heresie : but his charitie was content to let alone the treason . but hee would proue him an heretick , and all such as taught the administration of the sacraments , and the order of the primitiue church are most pure that come neerest 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 bee furnished with ceremonies , sanders answered : saint augustine saith ceremonies were at first ordained for the weake infirmitie of man , therefore it was a token of the more perfection of the primatiue church , that it had ●ew ceremonies , and a token of the 〈◊〉 of the church papisticall , because it had so many ceremonies , 〈◊〉 blasphemous , some vnsauourie , and some vnpro●●table . then the bishop bade him write what he beléeued of transubstantiation , which he did , saying , my lord , you séeke my bloud and you shall haue it : i pray god you may be baptized in it , that you may after loath bloud-sucking , and become a better man : this writing the bishop kept to cut his throate with . then the bishop sent him to the lord chancellor , who kneeling before him , the lord chancellor said , how happeneth it that you haue preached contrary to the quéens proclamation ? saunders answered , as he was admonished by ezechiel , because he saw perrilous times at hand , he exhorted his parishioners to perseuer in those things which they had learned , for by the example of the apostles we must obey god before man : we doe only professe the sinceritie of the word , which although it be now forbidden vs to preach with our mouthes , yet our bloud hereafter shall manifest the same . the bishop said , carrie away this frensie foole to prison . saunders answered hee thanked god he had giuen him a place of rest , where he might pray for the bishops conuersion . saunders tolde one that lay with him in prison , that in the time of his examination he was wonderfully comforted , and receaued a taste of the communion of saints : a pleasant refreshing did issue from euery part of his bodie to his heart , and from thence into all parts againe . he continued in prison a yeare and three moneths , 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 vpon his opinion against the sacrament , with his hand in writing vnto bonner , as before is related . then he was carried vnto couentrie , and one night he was put into the common gaole amongst other prisoners , where he slept little , but spent the night in prayer and instruction of others : the next day he was ledde to execution into the parke without the citie , going in olde gowne 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 realme with heresie , wherefore thou hast deserued death , yet if thou wilt reuoke thine heresies the quéen hath pardoned thée . then answered saunders , it is not i nor my fellow preachers that haue hurt the realme ▪ but it is your-selfe and such as you are which alter gods word , for i hold no heresies , bnt the doctrine of god and christ vnto euerlasting life ; and so full swéetly he slept in the lord. he wrote many godly letters to diuines during the time of his imprisonment , which thou mayest sée in the booke at large . the martyrdome of iohn 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 louingly entertained at basill and at zurick of master bullinger his singular friend , where he married his wife , which was a burgundian ; and in the raign of king edward he repaired home , amongst many other english exiles : who being come to london , vsed to preach twise , or at least once euery sonday : and at his sermons the church would be so full that none could enter further into the doores thereof : hee was in tongue eloquent , in scriptures perfect , in paines indefatigable : after hee was called to preach before the king , and soone after made bishop of gloster : in that office he continued two yeares , and behaued himselfe so well , that his very enemies , except it were for good doings , and sharpe correcting of sinne , could find no fault with him : and after that he was made bishop of worcester , hee sustained much vexation about his inuesting , because he would not weare the priestly vestures . in his bishops palace in euery corner there was fauour of honest conuersation and reading of the scriptures , there was no courtly roysting or idlenes , no pompe at all , no dishonest word nor swearing ; euery day he had to dinner a certaine number of poore folke of the citie by course , and before dinner they were examined by him or his deputies of the lords prayer , the articles of their faith , and ten commandements . in queene maries time hee was one of the first that was sent for to london by a purseuant : the bishop of winchester receiued him very approbriously rayling and rating him , accused him of religion , and committed him to the fleete . the next yeare hee was sent for before the bishop of winchester , of london , of durham , of landaffe , and of chichester ; where after hee had suffered many checkes , taunts and mockes , that he could not be suffered to make any answere : because hee said hee would not goe from his wife , and that hee beleeued not the corporall presence in the sacrament , he was depriued of his bishopricks . by his committance he was to haue the liberty of the fleete , and when hee had payed fiue pound for his liberty ▪ the warden complained to gardiner and made him to bee committed close prisoner a quarter of a yeare , then hee had libertie to come to dinner and supper , and presently to returne to his chamber without speaking to his friends : the warden , and his wife , would euer bee picking quarrels with him , and after one quarter of the yeare fell out with him about the masse : then the warden obtained of gardiner that he should bee put into the wardes , where hee continued a long time , hauing nothing to lye on but a rotten couering with few fethers in it : on the oneside was the stinke and filth of the house , on the other side , the stinking towne ditch , so that the stinke infected him with diuers diseases , and beeing very sicke hee cried for help : but the warden , when he hath knowne me ready to dye , and poore men haue called to help him , he hath commaunded the doore to bee 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 depriued , he paid him twenty shillings a wéeke for his table , and since as the best gentleman , and yet vsed worse then the veriest slaue : he imprisoned and stripped his man , to finde letters , but could finde none , but a remembrance of their names that gaue him almes , and to vndoe them , he deliuered the bill vnto stephen gardiner , there hee continued almost eightéen● monthes . the twentith of ianuary he was brought to gardiners house , at saint mary-oueries , where the bishop of winchester with other bishops , moued m hooper earnestly , to forsake his euill and corrupt doctrine , preached in king edwards daies , and to returne to the vnity of the catholike church , and to acknowledge the popes holines the supreame head thereof , according to the determination of the whole parliament , promising that as he himselfe and other his brethren , had receiued the popes blessing , and queene maries mercy , euen so mercy was ready to be shewed to him , and others , if hee would arise with them , and condiscend to the popes ho●●nes . maister hooper answered , for so much as the pope taught doctrine contrary to christs doctrine , he is no member of christs church , much lesse the head thereof , therefore he could not condiscend to any such vsurped iurisdiction , neither doth he esteeme that church to bee the catholike church of christ , for the true church heareth onely the voyce of christ her spouse , and flyeth the voyce of strangers . i desire the queenes mercy , if mercy may bee had with safety of conscience , and without displeasure of god : answere was made , that the queene would shew no mercy to the popes enemies , then hee was sent to the fleet againe for sixe dayes : then he was brought againe 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 sixe dayes . bonner and others resorted thither to him diuers times , to perswade 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 reioyce that he should there confirme his doctrine that hee had instructed so many in , with his bloud . 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 liue ; hereafter you may doe good : who answered , though death be bitter and life sweet , yet death to come is more bitter , and life to come more sweete ; therefore for the desire and loue i haue to the one , and the terror of the other , i doe not so much regard this death or esteeme this life , but haue setled my selfe by the strength of gods spirit rather to suffer any torments then to denie the truth of gods word , desiring you and others to pray for me . he answered , well my lord i perceiue there is no remedie : i thanke god that euer 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 blinde boy got leaue to speake with master hooper : the boy a little before had beene imprisoned at gloster for confessing the truth . after master hooper had examined him of his faith , he said vnto him , ah poore boy ▪ god hath taken from thee thy outward sight , but hee hath giuen thee another sight much more precious : for he hath endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith . when he was burned he was not suffered to speake to the people . hee wrote many godly letters to diuers whilest he was in prison , which thou mayest see in the booke at large . doctor rowland taylor . the towne of hadley was instructed by thomas bilney so well , that you might haue found there many , as well men as women , that had often read ouer the bible , and could say a great part of saint paules epistles by heart , and giue a godly learned sentence in any matter of controuersie , and there children and seruants were trained vp in the knowledge of gods word , that the towne seemed rather to bee an uniuersitie , then a towne of clothing . in this towne the said rowland taylor was parson : hee most faithfully indeuoured himselfe to fulfill his charge : no sunday nor holiday passed , nor other time that hee could get the people together , but hee preached to them the word of god ; there was none so rich but hee would tell him his fault , with such earnest and graue rebukes as best became a good pastor : hee was ready to doe good to all men readily forgiuing his enemies . h●e was a father to the poore . thus this good shepheard continued all the time of king edward . in the beginning of q. maries raigne he retained in his church the seruice which was vsed in king edwards time ▪ and faithfully preached against popish corruptions , which had infected the whole countrey round about . one foster and one clerke hyred one iohn au●rth parson of aldam , a popish idolator and a whoremonger , to set vp masse againe at hadly , and builded him an altar : in the night their altar was beaten downe , and they builded it againe and watched it ; then 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 diuell , who made thee so bolde to profane this church of christ with abominable idolatrie ? to whom foster said , thou traytor , why dost thou disturbe the queenes proceedings ? he answered , i am no traytor , but the sheepheard that christ hath appointed to feede this flocke . i commaund thee thou popish wolfe in the name of the god of heauen , that th●u auoyde hence , and presume not to poyson christs flocke with thy popish idolatrie . then foster with his armed men tooke taylor , and violently carried him whether he would or no out of the church , and thrust his wife out after him , because shee knee●led downe and made humble supplication vnto god , to bee reuenged of one of them , and then they shut the doore , 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 gardiner , hee sent for taylor , and though his friends and acquaintance perswaded him by all meanes possible they could to the contrarie : yet hee was resolued to goe to the bishop , and to his beard to tell him hee doth naught . i am old , though i suffer god will raise vp teachers for his people : i shall n●uer doe god so good seruice as now i may , what christian would not gladly die against the pope and his adherents , for i know the papacy is the kingdome of antichrist , and leauing one richard yeoman a godly priest in his cure , which after was burned at norwich , he tooke his iourney with one iohn hull his seruant . there was in the towne of hadley one alcocke , who after richard yeoman was driuen away vsed dayly to reade a chapter out of the bible , and to say the english letany in hadley church , they sent him vp to london , and there he died being in prison in newgate . when gardiner saw doctor taylor , according to his custome , hee called him knaue , traytor , hereticke , with many villanous reproches . my lord , quoth he , i am neither traytor nor hereticke , but a true subiect and faithfull christian : my lord , you are but a mortall man , i trow , if i should be affraid of your lordly looks . why feare you not god ? how dare you look any christian man in the face , séeing you haue forsaken the truth , denyed christ and his word , contrary to your owne oath and writing ? with what countenance will you appeare before the iudgement seat of christ , to answere your oaths to henrie the eight , and edward the sixt . gardiner answered , that was herods oath , vnlawfull , and therefore worthy to bee broken , i haue done well in breaking it , and i thanke god i am come home vnto our mother the catholike church , and the pope hath dispenced with me , and so i would thou shouldst do . taylor , should i approue those lies , errors , superstitions , and idolatries , that the pope and his company this day approued : nay , god forbid , let the pope returne to christ and his word , and leaue idolatry , and then will we turne to him , the pope nor no man else can assoyle you of that oath ▪ i sée , quoth gardiner , thou art a very knauish foole . taylor said , leaue your reyling my lord , it is not séemely for you . that art a married man quoth the bishop . taylor said , i thanke god that i am , and i haue nine children , and i thanke god for the ordaining of matrimonie , that wee should not liue in adu●tery . gardiner , thou wouldst not suffer masse in hadley . taylor . i am parson of hadly , and it is against law and reason , that any should infect my flocke with popish idolatrous masse . then said the bishop , thou art a blasphemous heretick , to blaspheme the blessed sacraments , and put off his cap , and against the masse , which is a sacrifice for the quick and the dead . taylor . christ dyed for our redemption , which is a sufficient propitiatory sacrifice vnto saluation for al beléeuers , and no priest can any more offer him , and we néed no other propitiatory sacrifice ; therefore the fathers called the communion eucharistia , which signifieth thankes-giuing . then said the bishop , thou shalt confesse it a sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead , ere thou and i haue done , and commaunded him to bee sent to the kings bench. then taylor knéeled downe and saide ; good lord i thanke thee , and from the tyrannie of the pope , and all his detestable errors , idolatries , and abhominations , good lord deliuer vs , and god be praysed for king edward : so he was carried vnto the kings bench , where hee lay in prison almost two yeares . being in prison , he spent his time in prayer , preaching , and writing , with●in few daies after , were diuers 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 schoole● and churches , so that there was no greater comfort to christian harts , then to come to the prisons . now were placed in churches blind masse-m●ngers , with their lattine babling and apish ceremonies , who like cruell wolues , 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 . maister bradford , that deuout and vertuons preacher , who was a miracle or our time , was in the kings bench , taylor exhorted him to constant perseuerance vnto the end : maister bradford praised god he had such a comfortable prison-fellow . taylor told his friends that came to sée him , that god had graciouslie prouided for him , for to send him where he found such an angell of god to bée his comforter . after taylor had lyne in prison a while , hee was sent for and depriued , because he maintained priests marriage , and would not bee separated from his wife . and after a yeare and thrée quarters , when they had gotten the lawes 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 himselfe as followeth . first , my lord chancellor said , you amongst other , are sent for to enioy the king and queenes mercie , if you will rise againe with vs from the fall , which we ge●erallie haue receiued in this realme , from the which we are deliuered miraculousli● : if you will not , you shall haue iudgement . to this i answered , that so to rise , should bee the greatest fall that euer i could receiue , for i should fall from christ vnto anti-christ : i will not decline from the religion which was in king edwards dai●s , which is according to the word of god , as long as i liue . my lord chancellor asked me , whether i had read his ●ooke vpon the sacrament , i said i had read it : he asked mee how i liked it ; my lord said i , there are many things farre 〈◊〉 from gods truth in that booke ▪ then he cal'd me varlet ; i said that was as bad as foole , then he called me ignorant béelebrow . i said , my lord , you wrote a booke de vera obedientia , i would you had béen constant in that , for you neuer did declare a good conscience , as i heard of , but in that booke . how like you that said my lord , i wrote against priests mariage but y ● pleaseth not such as thou art . i answered their procéedings now against priests mariages , is against naturall law , ciuill law , canon law , generall councels , canons of the apostles , ancient doctors , and gods lawes . then because i would not turne , i was sent to prison againe . after doctor taylor , maister bradford , and maister sanders , were called to appeare before my lord chancellor , and other commissioners , where because they would not yéeld to papistry , they were condemned , and sentence was read against taylor . they reioyced that they were worthy to suffer for christe ▪ word and truth , and they stoutly said vnto the bishops , god the righteous iudge , will require our bloud at your handes , and the proudest of you all shall repont this receiuing againe of antichrist , and the tyranny you shew against christes flocke . so taylor was sent to the clinke , hee said vnto the people that flocked about to sée him as he was going ; god bée praised good people , i am come away from them vndefiled , and will cenfirme the truth with my ●●oud . and at night hee was carryed vnto the counter in the poultrey , where hee lay seauen nights . bonner came to the prison to him , to disgrade him , he said ; maister doctor , i would you would remember your selfe , and turne to your holy mother the church , and i will sue for your pardon . taylor answered , i would you and your fellowes would turne to christ , as for me , i will not turne to antichrist . then bonner had him put on the uestures to bee disgraded , but hee would not , when they were put vpon him , he put his handes by his side , and said ; how say you my lord , am not i a goodlie foole : how say you my maisters , it i were in cheape-side , should i not haue boyes enough to laugh at these apish toyes and toying trumperie ; and when the bishoppe should strike him vpon the breast with his crossier staffe : his chaplaines said ; strike him not my lord , for he will surely strike you againe , that i will said hee , for it is our sauiour christes cause , so the byshoppe laid his curs● oll him , but strucke him not . when he came to maister bradford , for they both lay in one chamber , hee told him laughinglie , how he had made the bishop affraid to strike him : that night his wife , his sonne thomas , and his man iohn hull , were suffered to sup with him , after supper , he thanked god , that hee had giuen him strength to abide by his holie word : then he said vnto his sonne ; my deare sonne , god giue thee his spirit , truly to serue christ , to learne his word , and to stand by it all thy life : my sonne , feare god , fly sinne , pray to him , and apply thy booke , and sée thou be obedient vnto thy mother , cherish the poore , and count that try chéefe riches , is to be rich in a●mes . then he said , my deare wife , be steadfast in the ●eare and loue of god , be not defiled with popish idolatries : wee haue béene faithfull yoke-fellowes together , the lord will reward you for your faithfulnesse towards me , i now must be taken from you ; and i would aduise you to marrie with some honest man that feareth god , he will prouide such a one for you , and he will bee a mercifull father to you , and your children , whom i pray bring vp in the feare of god and learning , and kéep them from romish idolatry , then with wéeping feares they prayed together , and kissed each other . the next day he was carried away towards hadley , to be burned there , diuers gentlemen and iustices came to him there , who laboured him to returne vnto the romish religion , shewed him his pardon and promised him great promotions , yea a bishoprick if he would , but all was vaine , for he had not builded his rocke vpon the sands , in perill of euery winde , but on the sure rocke christ. when hee went through hadley to execution , the stréetes being full , they cried out with lamentable voyces : ah good lord , there goeth our shepheard from vs , that hath so faithfully taught vs , so fatherly cared for vs , and so godly gouerned vs , what shall wee poore scattred lambes doe ? what shall become of this wicked world ? good lord comfort him : wherefore the people were fore rebuked , and doctor taylor euer said to the people ; i haue preached vnto you gods word and truth , and am come this day to seale it with my blood . comming against the almes-heuses , he cast to the poore people all the money which remained of that which good people had giuen vnto him in prison , for his liuing was taken away from him so soone as he was put in prison , so that hee was sustained during the time of his imprisonment , by the charitable almes 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 euen at home . they had clipped his head ill-fauoredly , like a fooles head , by bonners perswasions , when he was disgraded : when he came there , all the people said ; god saue thée good maister doctor taylor , iesus strengthen you , the holy ghost comfort you . when he would haue spoken vnto the people , one or other thrust a tipstaffe in his month : then he desired license of the sheriffe to speake , but he denied him , and had him remember his promise made vnto the councell . it was a common fame , that the councell sent for such as were condemned , and threatned them they would cut their tongues out , except they would promise them , at their deathes to kéepe silence , and not to speake vnto the people . when he was in his shirt , hee was set in a pitch barrell to bee burned , then he said with a loud voyce ; good people , i haue taught you nothing but gods word , and those lessons which i haue taken out of gods blessed booke , i am therefore come hither this day to seale it with my blood , then one homes , a yeoman of the gard , who had vsed him verie cruelly all the way , gaue him a great stroke on the head . the sheriffe called one richard doningham a butcher to set vp the faggots , but he would not , then he got others , and one of them called warwicke , cruellie cast a faggot at him and brake his face , that the blood ranne downe . doctor taylor said ; ah friend , i haue harme enough , what néedeth this ? when the fire was set to him , he said ; mercifull father of heauen , for iesus christs sake , receiue my soule into thy hands , and so stood still , without either crying or moouing , with his hands folded together , vntill one soyce strucke him vpon the head , that the braines fell out , and his corps fell into the fire and was burned . the foureteenth of february , the lord chanceller and the bishops , caused the image of thomas becket to be set vp ouer the mercers chappe●l doore in cheape-side in london , in the forme of a bishop , with miter and crosier : within two dayes after his two blessing fingers were broken away , and the next day his head was stricken off . whereupon many were suspected , and one maister barnes , mercer , being a professor of the truth , was charged therewith , and he and three of his seruants were committed to prison , and though it could not be proued against him , he was bound in a great summe , to builde it vp againe , now , and as often as it should be broken downe , and to watch and keepe the same . the next day after that it was set vp againe , 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 haue an hundred crownes , with thanks , but it was not knowne who did it . the vertuous and godly king christianus , king of denmarke , hearing of the captiuitie of miles couerdale , whom hee knew , by reason hee was in denmarke in king henry the eight his time , and lamenting his dangerous case , made intercession by letters to quéene mary , desiring the said miles couerdalo to be sent vnto him : after the king had written two letters , queene mary after long delay , made full answer to the king of denmarkes letters ; by which prouidence of god , miles couerdale was deliuered . robert farrar bishop of saint dauids in wales . this bishop , by the fauour of the lord protector , was first promoted vnto that dignity : he may well bee said twice mar●ired ; first , for diuers iniuries and mollestations which he suffered most vnworthily of his enemies , in king edwards time , after the fall of the duke of somerset , and of his martydome in queene maries time . his aduersaries in king edwards time , were ●ames constantine , his register , to whom he gaue the office by patent , and a doctor of the law , and canon of the cathedrall church of s. dauids , and a chanter of the same . they did exhibit to the kings councell certain articles , to the insent to blemish the bishops credit , and vtterly as they thought , and made their boasts to pull him from his bishopricke , and bring him in a premunire . the cheefe effect of their articles , which were fifty sixe , was , that he did not in his proce● that he made write the king supreame head of the church , and that he tollerated other superstitions and idolatries . after these wrangling articles were giuen vp , then the bishop was called to answere , the hearing whereof was committed vnto sir iohn mason , knight , and doctor wo●ton . then they had a commission into the country , where they examined sixscore and seauen witnesses , and during the time of the examination of these witnesses , the said bishop was stayed at london , because his aduersaries said , if the bishop should go into his dioces , he would let them of their proues . during which trouble king edward died , and in quéene maries time another named henry , was made bishop of s. dauids , who sent for the said robert farrar , and committed him to prison , and afterward declared vnto the saide robert the great clemency , that the king and quéenes highnesse pleasure was to bee offered vnto him , if he would submit himselfe vnto the lawes of this realme , and conforme himselfe vnto the vnity of the catholike church , and séeing the said robert made him no answere , he ministred vnto him these articles . first , whether he beleeue the marriage of priests to be lawfull by the lawe of god and holy church . secondly , whether hee beleeued 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 , vntill he saw a lawfull commission , so he was committed againe : then he was called againe 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 againe . the next day of appearance , the said bishop farrar craued time to answere , and at the time did answer . then the foresaid pretensed bishop , gaue him a writing of certaine articles to subscribe vnto : adding to the articles before , that the masse was a propitiatorie sacrifice for the quicke and the dead , and that the generall councels neuer erred , neither 〈◊〉 erre : that a man is not iustified by faith only , but by charity also ; and that the catholike church onely hath authoritie of interpreting of the scriptures , and to compound controuersies , and also to appoint such things as appertaine to publike discipline , and that the church is visible , as a citty vpon a hill knowne vnto all men , and not obscure and vnknowne , as the hereticks of our age doe teach . to these articles he refused to subscribe : affirming that they were inuented by man , and pertaine nothing to the catholick faith : then he assigned him a day to assigne them affirmatiuely , or negatiuely , which he would not do● , but appea●ed vnto the cardinall : notwithstanding they gaue sentence against him . when they had put the priestly vestures on him to disgrade him ; hee called them ragges and relicks 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 greeuous torment , but praised be god he suffered it patiently . the next moneth a godly man named rawlins white , was burned in cardiffe in wales . thomas tomkins . thomas tomkins of shordich in london weauer , was brought before boner , for all hitherto were condemned by steuen gardiner lord chancelor ; but hee being weary , put off the rest vnto boner , of whom this tomkins was the first ; who when by no meanes hee could bee driuen 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 feele in this flame what it is to be burned : then if thou be wise thou wilt change thy minde : then he commanded his right hand to be put into the fire , but he indured the burning ; yet was not bonet therewith contented , but neuer rested vntill he had consumed the whole body to ashes in smithfield . he was condemned vpon these points : first , that his beleefe ● , that the body of christ is not truely and verily in the sacrament of the altar , but onely in heauen , and so in heauen that it cannot be really in the sacrament : and although the church a● low the masse a wholesome and profitable sacrifice ; yet my beliefe is that the masse is full of superstition and idolatry , and vnprofitable for my soule : and the sacrament of baptisme ought to ●ee onely in the vulgar tongue , and without such ceremonies as are vsed in the latine church : and being exhorted to leaue his opinions : hee answered hee was brought vp in ignorance vntill now of late yeares , and now i know the truth , wherein i will continue vnto death : and he said my lord you would haue me forsake the truth , and fall into error and heresie : then hee was condemned and deliuered vnto the sheriffe ; who carried him to newgate , where hee remained most ioifull and constant , vntill hee was conuayed to smithfield , and there sealed vp his faith in the flaming fire . the constant suffering of higbed and causon . these two were descended of worshipfull stocke in essex , which of all shires was most fruitfull 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 godlines . they were diuers times examined before bonner , and defended the truth valiantly , and he and his fellowes did much labour to make them to recant , but could not preuaile : the substance of all their arguments appeareth in a confession that they wrote with their owne hands , which was read in the court of paules , before the mayor and sheriffes , and all the people , not without great sure , before it could be licenced to be read . first we beleeue and professe in baptisme to forsake the diuel & all his works , and all the vanities of the world , and the lusts of the 〈◊〉 . we beleeue the articles of our faith , and that wee are bound to walke in gods commandements all the daies of our life . we beléeue the lords prayer containeth all things necessarie for soule and body , and that we are thereby taught onely to pray to our heauenly father , and is no saint nor angell . we beléeue there is a catholick church , euen the communion of saints , builded vpon the foundation of the prophets and apostles , christ being the head corner stone : for which church christ gaue himselfe to make it a glorious congregation without fault in his sight . this church of it selfe is sinfull , and must needs say father forgiue vs our sinnes , but through christ and his merits she is fréely forgiuen . hee is our onely mediator as saint paul saith , there is one god , and one mediatour betwixt god and man iesus christ : therefore no other mediatour . we beléeue this church is , and hath béen persecuted according to the promise of christ : as they haue persecuted mee , so shall they persecute you , for the disciple is not aboue his master . and paul saith it is not giuen to you onely to beleeue in christ , but also to suffer for his sake : for all which will liue godly must suffer persecution . the true church teacheth the word of god truely , not adding thereto , nor taking there-from ; and ministers the sacraments according to the primitiue church , and it suffreth all men to reade the scriptures : as christ saith : search the scriptures : and when paul preached , the audience searched the scriptures ; whether hee preached truely : dauid teacheth to pray with vnderstanding : saint paul saith , when the people vnderstand not what is said , how can they say amen at giuing of thankes : and saint paul saith , true faith commeth by hearing the word . the church of christ teacheth god ought to bee worshipped according to his word , and not after the doctrine of men : as christ teacheth vs , likewise christ saith , you shall forsake father and mother and follow me , whereby we learne if our elders , teach otherwise then god commanded in that point we must forsake them . the supper of our lord ought not to be altered , because christ the wisedome of the father did institute it : for it is written , cursed is he that changeth my ordinances , or taketh any thing from them . this supper is sorely abused , it is giuen in one kinde , where christ gaue it in both : it is made a priuate masse , where christ made it a communion : he gaue it to all his apostles in the name of the whole church , & not to one alone : christ ordained it for a remembrance of his euerlasting sacrifice vpon the crosse once for all ; and not againe to bee a dayly sacrifice both for them that are aliue , and them that are dead : and saint paul saith , where there is no remission of sinnes , there is no more sacrifice for sinne : and in that it is worshipped , where as nothing is to be worshipped that is made with hands : and in that it is giuen in an vnknowne tongue whereby the people are ignor●nt of the right vse thereof : besides this it is hanged vp and shut in a boxe , many times so long that wormes breedeth in it , and so it putrifieth , they that abuse it bring vp the slander thereof and not we . concerning christs words , this is my body , the minde of christ must bee searched out by other scriptures : for the apostle saith no scripture hath any priuate interpretation , and the scriptures are full of such figuratiue speeches : as the cup is the new testament , the rocke is christ : whosoeuer ( saith christ ) receiueth a child in my name receiueth me ; which sentence must not be vnderstood after the letter , as the capernaites did which taught that christs body should haue 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 christs words must be vnderstood spiritually , and not literally : hee that commeth to this worthy supper must not prepare his iaw but his heart : neither tooth nor belly , but beleeue , saith saint augustine , and thou hast eaten it : so wee must bring with vs a spirituall hunger , and examine our selues whether our conscience doe testifie that we doe truely beleeue in christ according to the scriptures , whereof if we be truely certified , beeing new borne from our old conuersation , in heart , minde , will and deed , then may we boldly with this mariage garment of faith come to the feast . and that there is no change but bread still remaineth , christ saith , doe this in remembrance of me : and saint paul , as often as you shall eate this bread and drinke this cup , you shall remember the lords death vntill hee come : heere is no change but bread still : and christ saith , except i goe to my father the comforter cannot come : and saint peter saith , heauen shall keep him vntill the last day : in that he is god he is euery where , but in that hee is man hee cannot be but in one place , as his body was not in all places at once when hee was heere : hee was not in the graue when the women sought him as the angell said : neither was hee at bethania when lazarus died by christs owne words : and thus we conclude that the christ is in the holy supper sacramentally and spiritually , in all them that worthily receiue it : and corporally in heauen 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 speake blasphemie against christs passion , and goe about to trap vs with your subtilties and snares ; and though my father , mother , and other my kindred doe beleeu● , you say yet they were deceiu●d in so beleeuing : and whereas you say cranmer and others in the said articles were hereticks , i wish i were such an hereticke as they were and be . then the bishop asked him whether hee would turne from his ●rrour : to whom he said , would yee would recant , for i am in the truth and you in errour . then they were deliuered vnto the sheriffe and sent to newgate , where they remained not so much in afflictions , as in consolations : fourteene daies 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 martyrdome of vvilliam 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 perswasions obiected as the said thomas tomkins had and they made both the same answeres , sauing that boner vsed these words onely to hunter : will you abiure and returne to the catholick church : he answered , i will stand to that which i haue said : and further he said it is false doctrine & beliefe , to beleeue that christs true body is in the sacrament , which is onely in heauen , and that his friendes and kindred were deceiued if they otherwise beleeued , i will continue in the truth that is taught me as long as i liue , ●or if i doe otherwise i shall perish both body and soule , and i had rather my body perish , then my soule . wherevpon hee was condemned , and after carried to burnt-wood , where hee suffered most ioifully . he was a very yong man , borne of good parents , of whom he was not onely instructed to godlines , but confirmed vnto death , a rare example to be had in admiration of all parents , where the naturall affection of parents were ouercome with godlines , w●o like the holy mother in the machabees , incouraged their sonne as much as they could to goe through valiantly , reioicing with wonderfull gladnes , and either of them dranke vnto him , confirming him in the lord , i cannot tell whether i should praise the vertue of the sonne or of the parents . william pygot , steuen knight , and iohn 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 perswasions that were vsed to them , were vsed vnto these also , and they made all answeres al●ke : and when by neither flatterie nor threatning they could bee brought from the truth , they were cond●mned , and were carried into essex to bee burned : william pigot burned at braintree . steuen knight was burned at mauld●n , who at the stake kneeled downe and said this prayer : o lord iesu , for whose loue i ●eaue this life , and desire bitt●r death , with the losse of all earthly things , ●ather then to abide the blasphemie of thy name , or to obay men breaking thy commandements , where i might liue in wealth to worship a false god , i chose rather the torment of this body , and haue counted all things but dung that i migh● winns thee : which death i● dearer to me then thousands of gold and siluer : such loue hast thou laide vp in my brests that i hu●ger for thee ▪ as the wounded deare des●reth the soy●● , s●nd ●hy holy comforter , to ayde , comfort , and strengthen me● a weake peece of earth , empty of all strength of it selfe , of thy great loue thou ●ast bidden me to this banquet , accounted mee worth● to drinke of 〈◊〉 owne cup , amongst thine ele●t●giue me strength against this ●hine elem●nt which is most irkesome to my sight , that it may be swéet and pleasant to my minde , that i may passe through this fire into thy ●oso●e according vnto thy p●omi●e : accept this sacrifice , for thy deare sonne iesus christ his sake , for whose testimony i offer it with all my heart ; forgiue me my sinnes as i forgiue the world : sweet sauiour spread thy wings ouer me : o holy ghost by whose inspiration i am come hither , conduct me to euerlasting life : lord into to thine hands ●commend my spirit , amen . iohn lawrence was brought to colchester , and not b●eing able to goe , for his legges were so sore worne with his irons in prison , and his body so weakened with euill keeping , hee was faine to be brought vnto the fire in a chayre : at his burning the yong children came about the fire , and cryed lord strengthen thy seruant , and keep thy promise : which manifesteth gods glory , which writ this in the hearts of these little ones , and their parents are to bee commended , that brought them vp from their youth , in the feare and knowledge of god. gods iudgement vpon the parson of arundell . vpon shroue-sunday the parson of arundell besides canterbury , declared vnto the people all such articles as were set forth by the authority of the pope , and commandement of the bishops of this realme , and when he had done he thanked god that euer he had liued to see that day , and straightway he fell sudde●ly out of the pulpit , and neuer spake after . the historie of iudge hales . sir iames hales as before , tooke queene maries part , and would not subscribe to haue any other quéene , though all the rest had subscribed to edward the sixts will. he was an vpright and conscionable iudge . to these his gifts and qualities were linked sincere affection to the gospell of christ , shewing himselfe a true gospeller by word and deed . at the beginning of queene maries raigne , the masse not being restored by law , diuers priests presumed to say masse , and they were indited at the a●●ises before iudge hales , and he gaue order therein as the law required : wherefore when the terme came , he comming to doe his office , was sent for by gardner lord chancellor , to whom he iustified that he did it both by the iustice of the law , and of his conscience , wherein he was fully bent to stand in triall to the vtmost that can be obiected : and it therein i haue done any iniury , let me be iudged by the law ; for i will séeke or desire no better defence for my selfe , considering chiefly that it is my profession . ah sir , said the chancellor , you be very quicke and stoute in your answers , it seemeth that which you did was more of will , fauouring your opinion of religion against the seruice now vsed , then for any occasion of zeale of iustice , seeing her highnesse doth set it forth as yet , but withing all her subiects to imbrace it accordingly . my lord , quoth hales , i doe but shew my selfe as i am bound in loue to god and obedience to the quéenes maiestie , in whose cause willingly for iustice sake , i did of late , as your lordship knoweth , aduenture as much as i had : and as for my religion , i trust it is such as pleaseth god , wherein i am ready to aduenture both my life and substance , if i be called thereto ; and for lack of mine owne power and will , the lords will be fulfilled . shortly after he was committed vnto the kings bench , then he was committed to the counter in breadstréete , and from thence he was conuayed to the fléet , where he endured most constantly for the space of three weeks : and when thus in diuers 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 , vsed all kinde of perswasions whereby hee might draw him from the truth , which at length he brought to passe ; then next morning early the bishop of chichester came to him into the prison , to comfort him therein , and after iudge portman came to him : but as soone as he had yeelded to them he ●rew into such an extreame desperation by the worme of his conscience , that hee eat little meat that night . when supper was done he gate him straight to bedde , where he passed the night with much anxietie of mind : about six of the clocke in the morning he sent his man for a cup of béere ; his man was no sooner gone but with a pen-knife he wounded himselfe in diuers places , and would haue killed himselfe , but that his man méeting the butler at the chamber doore , returned presently into the chamber , and let his master from destroying himselfe . upon this cranmer straight-way took occasion to call the doctrine of the gospell openly in the star-chamber the doctrine of desperation . m. hales being within a while after deliuered , getteth himselfe home to his house , whether it was for feare that if he should againe professe the gospell he should be imprisoned againe and burned , and begger all his posterity , or if he should go to hearing of masses he should doe worse : hauing all things set in order a good while before that pertained vnto his testament , desperatly he cast himselfe into a shallow riuer , and was drowned in the yeare . iohn awcocke . this yeare the second of aprill , one iohn awcocke died in prison , who was buried in the fields , as the manner of the papists was , for they de●ied them christian buriall to such as died out of their antichristian church . pope ivlivs the third . this yeare , about the end of march died pope iulius the third , whose deeds to declare it were not so much tedious to the reader , as horrible to good eares . iohannes de casa was deane of this popes chamber , archbishop of beneuentanus and chiefe legat to the uenetians , who well declaring the fruit of that filthy sea , did not only play the filthy sodomite himselfe , but in italian meetre set forth the praise of that beastly iniquitie , and yet his booke ▪ was printed at uenice by one troyanus nauus , and the pope suffered this beastlines vnder his nose in his chamber , which could not abide the doctrine of christ. this pope delighted greatly in porke flesh and peacocks : by the aduice of his physitians , his steward ordered that he should set no porke flesh before him ; missing it ▪ where , said he , is my porke ? the steward answered , his physitian had forbidden any porke to be serued , the pope in a great rage , said , bring mee my porke in despite of god. another time he commaunded a peacocke at the table to be kept colde for his supper : when supper came , amongst hote peacocks he saw not his colde peacocke , the pope after his wonted manner , began horribly to blaspheme god : one of his cardinals said , let not your holinesse , i pray you , be moued in so small a matter . then said he , if god were so angry for one apple that he cast our parents out of paradice , why may not i , being his uicar , he angry for a peacocke , which is a greater matter ? this was he vnder whom popery was restored in england in quéene maries time ; and the affection that was borne vnto him heere may be séene by the dirgs , hearses , and funerals commaunded to bee had and celebrated in all churches by the quéene and her councell . at his death a woman séeing 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 hee could forgiue vs all our sinnes , i am sure he is cleane himselfe : by and by she was carried vnto the cage at london bridge , and bade to coole her selfe there . george marsh . this marsh was an earnest letter forth of true religion , to the defacement of antichrists doctrine , in the parish of deane , and elswhere in lancas●ire , and he most faithfully acknowledged the same in quéene maries time , whereupon he was apprehended and kept in straight prison within the bishoppe of chesters house foure moneths , not permitting him to haue comfort of his frinds , but the porter was charged to marke them that asked for him , and to take their names and deliuer 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 masse , nor that the lay people should receiue vnder one kinde : with which points the byshop went about to perswade him , but all was in vaine , then hee sent him to prison againe . afterward diuers were sent vnto him , to perswade him to submit himselfe vnto 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 , hee doth acknowledge one holy catholike and apostolike church , without which is no saluation : and this church is but one , because it hath and beléeueth in but one god , and him only worshippeth , and one christ , and in him only trusteth for saluation ; and it is ruled onely by one spirit , one word , and one faith : and that it is vniuersall , because it hath béene from the beginning of the world , and shall be vnto the end of the world ; hauing in it some of al nations , kindreds and languages , degrees , ●●ates , and conditions of men . this church is builded only vpon the foundation of the prophets and apostles , iesus christ being the head-corner-stone , and not on the romish lawes and decrees , the pope being not the supreame head , and that it was before any succession of bishops , general councels , or romish decrees , neither was bound to any time or place , ordinary succession , generall councels , or tradition of fathers ; neither had any supremacie ouer empires and kingdomes . but that it was a little 〈◊〉 flocke dispersed abroad as sheepe without a shepheard in the middest of wolues : or as a flocke of fatherlesse children , assisted , succoured , and defended onely by christ iesus their supreme head ; from all assaults , errours , troubles and persecutions , wherewith shee is euer compassed about . he proued by the floud of noah , the destruction of sodome : 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 bee brought to the chappell of the cathedrall church of chester , where the bishop with diuers 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 diuers places against the popes authority and catholick church of rome : the blessed masse , the sacrament of the altar , and many other articles . hee answered , that ●e neither heretically nor blasphemonsly spake against any of the said articles , but simply and ●●uely as occasion serued 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 haue perswaded them otherwise by the word of god , the bishop told him he ought not to dispute with hereticks . then he prayed the people to beare him witnesse , he held no other opinions then were by law most godly established , and publikely taught in king edwards time , wherein he would liue and die . as he came on the way towards the place of execution , some folke proffered him mo●ey and looked that he should haue had a little purse in his hand , as the manner of 〈◊〉 ▪ was at their going to execution , to gather money to giue to a priest to say trentalls of masses for them after their death ▪ whereby they might be saued : but marsh said he would not be troubled with money , and hade them giue it to the prisoners and poore people . when he came to the ●●re his pardon was offered him : he answered , being it tended to plucke him from god , he could not receiue it vpon that condition . they would not suffer him to speake to the people . he was somewhat long a dying by reason of the ●lacknes of the ●●re , which hee 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 cathedrall church , wherein he affirmed that george marsh was an hereticks , burned like an hereticke , and a fire-brand in hell : in short time after the iust iudgement of god appeared vpon the said bishop , through his adulterous behauiour 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 comming ouer the water to saint margarets church at westminster , where he seeing a priest at masse , being greatly offended in his conscience , hee wounded him on the head . whereupon hee was apprehended and layde in the gate-house at westminster ●and from thence beeing brought vnto bonner , and being examined , he said he came of purpose to doe it , and when hee saw the people to kneele downe and giue the honour of god vnto a piece of bread , hee could not possibly forbeare any longer , but drew forth his hanger and smote the priest : the witnesses proued , that he smote him on the head , arme , and hand , and that he bled aboundantly , and that hauing a calice full of consecrated hosts , the hosts were besprinkled with the bloud : the bishop offered that he should be pardoned , if he would recant his opinion of the sacrament , and returne to the holy church : he answered , doe what you will , i am at a point , for the heauens shall assoone fall , as i will forsake mine opinion . he was often called before the bishop , but when neither by flatteries nor threatning he would not 〈◊〉 ▪ he was condemned . at his burning he was most cruelly handled , his right hand was hold against ●he stake and strucken off , at which striking hee in no part of his body did once shrinke : to his burning little wood was brought , not sufficient to burne him , but they were faine to strike him downe into the fire . iohn cardmaker , alias taylour , and iohn warne vpholster of saint iohns in walbroke in london . these two were condemned by boner , for holding that there was no transubstantiation in the sacrament , and denying the carnall ▪ reall , and corporall presence of christ in the sacrament . this cardmaker was one of the prebendaries of the cathedrall church of welles : hee was apprehended and ●aken by the bishop of bathe , and committed prisoner vnto the fleete in london , the lawes of king edward being yet in force : but afterward when they had restored their old popish lawes by act of parliament , these two , namely , cardmaker and warne were brought to 〈◊〉 lord chancellor , who offered them the queenes pardon , if they would recant : wherevpon they made such an answere as the lord chancellor and his fellowes allowed them for catholicke , but it was but for a further aduantage , and that they might haue some forged example of a shrinking brother to lay in the 〈◊〉 of the rest which were to bee examined : and to all that after were examined : they commended cardmaker , and one barlow for sobernesse , discretion , and learning ; which barlow was , for all his good answers , led to the fleete , from whence being deliuered , did by exile constantly bear witnes to the truth of the gospell . cardmaker was conuayed to the counter in breadstreet : the papists hauing a certaine hope that cardmaker was become theirs , diuers of them conf●rred with him ; in the end he required them to put their reasons in writing , and then hee would answere them in writing , which was done , but they neuer came vnto our handes . when warne and he were brought together to smithfield to be burned , the sherife 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 haue recanted : but when they saw him put off his clothes , and go boldly to the stake and kisse it , and shake warn by the hand , and did him be of good comfort , they cried out for ioy , with so great a shoute as a greater hath not beene heard , saying , god be praised , the lord strengthen thée cardmaker , the lord receiue thy spirit ; thus they both through the fire passed into the ioyes of heauen . william tooly poulterer of london . hee was hanged for robbing a spaniard at s. iames , and in his prayer at the gallowes , which was neere charing-crosse , hee prayed god to deliuer vs from the tyrannie of rome and all the popes detestable enormities : to which all the people said amen . and being hanged and buried , the mitred priests tooke this grieuously : and after consultations what was best to be done , there was a mandate of bonner set vp at charing-crosse , on paules church doore , and at saint martins in the fieldes , for the citing of tooly , hanged a little before , to appear before the said bishop for heresie ; 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 vp , layde his dead body on the fire and burned it . thomas havkes . hee was sent to london to bonner for not suffering of his childe to be christened in three weekes : he tolde the bishop the reason was because their baptizing was against the word of god , there being in it so many things which haue 〈◊〉 inuented by men , as oyle , creame , salt , spittle , candle , and coniuring of water , &c. bonner . the catholike church hath taught it , and your fathers and the whole world haue béene conte●ted therewith : he answered , i haue nothing to doe what they haue done , what god commandeth me , to that stand i. one said i was too curious , for ye will haue nothing , said he , but your little pretty ▪ gods booke . i asked if it were not sufficient for our saluation . yes , said hee , but not for our instruction . i said god send me the saluation and you the instruction . bonner . would you be content to haue your childe christened after the order set forth in k. edwards time ? haukes . yes said i , that is my desire : then he said , you are a stubborn young man , i must take another course with you . i told him he was in the handes of god , and so am i. then the bishop would haue had me to euen●song with him . i tolde him i would not pray in that place nor in none such . one of his chaplaines said , let him goe , my lord , and he shall be no pertaker with vs in our prayers . i told them , i thought my selfe best when i was farthest from them . 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 haue his childe christened , nor will haue no ceremonies . harps . christ vsed ceremonies when he tooke clay and spittle and made the blinde man sée . haukes . christ vsed it not in baptisme : if you will needs haue it , put it to the vse that christ did . harps . admit your childe die vnchristned , you are in a heauie case , your childe being damned and you also , séeing you would not christen him when you might ; for he is borne in originall sinne . haukes . the deliuerance of sinne standeth in the faith of the parents : he asked me how i proued it ; paule in . cor. . saith , the vnbeleeuing man is sanctified by the beleeuing woman , and the vnbeleeuing woman by the beleeuing man , els were your children vncleane . harps . your great learned men at oxford , in whom you put your trust , will be against you . i said if they doe it by the scriptures i would beléeue them . bonner . recant , recant ; for christ saith , except you bee baptized you cannot be saued . haukes . i a●ked him whether christianity did stand in outward ceremonie ? he said , partly it doth . i said , s. pet saith , not the washing of water that purgeth the filth of the flesh , but a good conscience consenting vnto god , is acceptable to him . bonner . how say you to the masse sirra ? haukes . it is detestable , ab●minable , and profitable for nothing . then he said , what say you to the epistle and gospell ? i said it was good if it were well and rightly vsed . bonner . what say you to the consite●r ? haukes . it is abominable and detestable , and a blasphemie against god and his sonne , to call vpon any , to trust in any , or to pray to any , saue onely to christ iesus . bonner . to trust to any we bid you not , to pray to them wee bid you ; for you pray to god by them , as you cannot speake to the king and quéene but by the meanes of one of the priui● chamber . haukes . you say we must not trust in them ; and s. paule saith , how should i call on them in whom i trust not ? bonner . would you haue no body pray for you when you are dead ? i said , so long as we are aliue the prayers of the righteous are a●ailable ; but when we are dead they profit not ▪ for dauid faith , no man can deliuer his brother from death : and ezechiel ●aith , though noe , daniel , and iob dwelt amongst them , yet can they exceed no further then them selues . then he said to harpsfield , you sée this man hath no need of our lady , nor of any blessed saints . an old bishop that lost his liuing for ●arrying a wi●e , came to bonner with a gift , and he sent for me , and tolde him how that i had a childe and would not ha●e it christned . i said i de●ie not baptisme . then he said angerly , thou ●oole , thou cann●st not tell what thou wouldst haue . i said a bishop must be 〈…〉 not giuen to anger . thou iudgest me angrie , 〈◊〉 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 doe as your fathers haue done . bonner . no , no , he will haue nothing but scripture , he will haue no ceremonies in the church . but what say you to holy water ? haukes . i say to it as to the rest , no , said he , that is proued by the scripture , in the booke of kings , when elizeus threw salt into the water . i said the waters were corrupt , and by this he made them sweete and good ; so when our waters be corrupt , if you by putting in salt can make them sweet , cleere , and wholsom we wil the better beleeue your ceremonies . bonner . how say you to holy bread ? i asked , what scripture haue you for it ? he said christ sed fiue thousand men with fiue loa●es and three fishes . haukes . will you make that holy bread ? there christ dealt fish with his holy bread : then he said , looke how captions he is : and i said , christ did not this miracle because you should do the like , but to cause vs to credit and beléeue his word and doctrine . bonner . you will beleeue no doctrine but that which is wrought by miracles . i said no : for christ saith these tokens shall follow them that beleeue me , they shall speake new tongues and cast out diuels , and if they drinke poyson it shall not hurt them . then he asked with what new tongues we speake . haukes . when i knew not gods word i was a blasphemer and filth●e talker , but since i knew gods word , i haue giuen laude , praise , and thankes to god with the same tongue . then he said , how cast ye out diuels ? i said , whosoeuer doth credite and beleeue gods word shall cast out diuels . then he asked me if euer i dranke any deadly poyson . i said yea forsooth , i haue drunken of the pestilent traditions , and ceremonies of the bishop of rome . bonner . thou art an hereticks , and thou shalt be burned if thou continuest this opinion : you thinke we are affraid to put you to death , there is a brother-head of you , but i will breake it i warrant you . haukes . christ nor his apostles neuer killed any for their faith : he said , paule did excommunicate , i said , there is difference betwixt excommunicating and burning : he said , peter destroyed the man and his wife in the acts. i said , they lied against the holy ghost , which serued nothing for his purpose : then he saide , well , you graunt one . i said , if you will haue vs grant you to be of god , then shew mercy , for he requireth mercy : so he went to dinner . the next day fecknam talked with me . feck . are you hee that will not haue your child christned , but in english , and will haue no ceremonies . i said , i refuse not that which the scripture commandeth : he said , cer●monies are to be vsed by the scriptures , how say you to paules breaches . hauks . i haue read , that there went partlets and napkins from pauls body , is it that you meane ? he said , yes , what say you to those ceremonies : i say nothing to the ceremonies ; for the text saith , it was god that wrought , and not the ceremonies . feck . how say you to the woman that touched the hem of christ vesture , did not her disease depart by that ceremonie : i said there went vertue from christ as himselfe said : whether was it his vertue , or his besture that healed the woman : he said both , i said then is not christ true : for hee said , thy faith hath made thee whole . feck . how say you sirrha , christ tooke bread and brake it , and said , take , eate , this is my body : is it not so : i said i doe not vnderstand it so : then hee said christ is a lyer : i said , i thinke you will prooue him so : for euery word that christ spoke is not to bee vnderstood as hee spoke it : for hee said , i am a doore , a vine , a king , a way , &c. hee said hee spake this in parables . haukes . no forsooth , then christ would haue said , i am like vnto a doore , to a uine , to a king , to a way : he said these pla●es make nothing for you : but i perceiue you build vpon latimer , cranmer , and ridley : i said they be godly learned men . feck . wilt thou trust to such dolts , one of them hath written in his booke that the reall presence is in the sacrament ▪ ridley preached at paules crosse that the diuell beleeued better then you , for he beleeued christ is able to make of stones bread , and you will not beleeue christs body is in the sacrament , yet thou buildest thy faith vpon them . haukes . what they haue done i know not , but what they do i know : i build my faith vpon no man. if these and many more should recant , yet will i stand to that which i haue said , and then they departed . the next day doctor chadsey comming to the bishop , i was sent for into the garden . bonner . he thinketh there is no church but in england and germany . i said , and you thinke , there is no church but at rome . chad. how say you to the church of rome ? i said it is a church of a sort of vicious cardinals , priests ▪ monks , and friers , which i will neuer credit nor beleeue : then he said ▪ what say you to the pope ? haukes . from him and all his detestable enormities good lord deliuer vs : he said so we may say , from king henry the eighth and all his detestable enormities , good lord deliuer vs. bonner . he will not come into the chappell , he cannot abide the masse , nor the sacrament , nor any seruice but in english : then chadsey said , christ neuer spake english. haukes . neither spake he in lattine , but alwaies in such a tongue as they vnderstood . and saint paule saith , tongues profit nothing , if a pipe or a harpe make no certaine sound , who can prepare himselfe to battaile : so if wee heare a tongue that we vnderstand not , we receiue no profit . bonner . the catholike church ordred , that the latine seruice should serue thorow the whole world , that they might pray in one tongue , that there be no strife . i say , this did your councels of rome . chad. you are to blame to reprooue the councells through the whole world. haukes . saint paule reproueth them , saying ; if any preach any other doctrine then that which i haue taught , doe you hold him accursed : then he said , hath any preached to you any other doctrine . i said yes , since i came into this house , i haue beene taught praying to saints , and to our lady , and to trust in the masse , holy bread , and holy water , and in idols : he said they taught him not amisse in that : i said , cursed bee he that teacheth me so , and i will not credit him nor beléeue him . chad. what be those idols you are offended with ; i said the crosse of wood , siluer , copper , or gold , &c. boner . i say euery idoll is an image , but not euery image an idoll : if it be an image of a false god it is an idoll : but if an image be made of god himselfe it is no idoll but an image . haukes . lay your images of your true god , and of your false god together , and both your image and idoll haue hands and feele not , eyes and see not , feete and goe not , mouthes and speake not ; so there is no difference . chad. god forbid i should reioice in any thing but in the crosse of christ : i asked him whether he vnderstood paul : so he answered me not . boner . when can we haue a godlier remembrance when wee ride by the way then to see the crosse : i said if it were such profit , why did not christs disciples take it vp , and set it on a pole , and carry it in procession , with salua festa dies . chadsey said it was taken vp . haukes . you say elenor tooke it vp , and she sent a peece of it to a place of religion , where i was with the visiters at the dissolution , and we called for the peece of the crosse , which was so esteemed , and had robbed so many , and made them commit idolatry ; and it was but a peece of a lath couered ouer with copper , and double gilded , as it had béen cleane gold : then the bishop cryed fye on him , and hey left me : and chadsey said , it was pitty i should liue , and i said i had rather die , then liue in this case . the bishop after writ somewhat that hee should set his hand too , and there was in it , that i thomas lankes had talked with mine ordinarie , and with certaine good , godly and learned men : hee answered , hee would not grant them to bee good , godly , and learned men : after also hee told the bishop , as for your cursings , raylings , and blasphemings , i care not for them : for i know the mothes and wormes shall eate you , as they eate wooll or cloth , and at length with diuers others in the month of iune hee was condemned , and beeing carried into essex , at cophall , by martyrdome , he changed his life : his friends priuily desired him , that in the middest or the flame , he would shew some token that they might bee certaine whether the paine were so great that one cannot keepe his minde constant therein , which hee promised to doe , and if it were tolerable to hold vp his hands ouer his head , and when his breath was taken away , his skin drawne together , his fingers consumed in the fire , and all men looked that hee would giue vp the ghost , hee mindfull of his promise● made did lift vp his hands halfe burned , and burning with heate aboue his head to the liuing god , euen on a sodaine , and with great reioicing , striketh them three times together : by which thing , contrarie to all mens expectation béeing seene , there followed so great reioycing , and cry of the multitude , as though heauen and earth would haue come together , and presently he sunke downe , and gaue vp the ghost . thomas wats . he was of billerica in essex , beeing brought to the bishop of london ▪ hee put certaine articles to him : the effect of the answere whereof followeth . that he hath and doth beleeue that christs body is in heauen , and no where else : and that hee will neuer beleeue that christs body is in the sacrament , and that the masse is full of idolatry and abhomination , neuer instituted by christ , and that he neuer did nor doth beleeue that a priest can absolue him of his sinnes : but he beleeueth it is good to aske councell at the priests mouth : and he confessed that he said openly in the sessions , that all that is now vsed and done in the church is abhominable , hereticall , and scismaticall , and altogether naught . and he doth beleeue , that the pope is a mortall enemy to christ , & his church : and that hee prayeth as tooly did , that we may be deliuered from the tyrannie of the pope and all his enormities . and after he had been many times brought before boner , and his company , and the bishop perceiuing , neither his threatnings , nor flattering promises , nothing to preuaile : he condemned him , and after he was carried to chemes-ford , & there most patiently and constantly sealed his faith with his bloud , by most cruell fire . the morning before hee died , hee 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 giuen you to mee , so i giue you againe vnto the lord , whom i charge you to obay and feare , and beware that you turne not to this abhominable papistry , against the which i shalll ano●e by gods grace giue my bloud . let not the murthering of gods saints be any cause for you to relent : but take occasion thereby to be stronger in the lords quarrell , and i doubt not but hee will bee a mercifull father vnto you , and then i kissed them all , and was carried vnto the fire . when he came to the stake hee kissed it , and then hee said so my lord rich , beware , beware , for you doe against your conscience herein , and without you repent , the lord will reuenge it , for you are the cause of my death . thomas osmond , fuller , william bamford , alias butler , nicholas chamberlain , iohn ardley , and iohn simpson . these were sent out of essex vnto boner , to be examined , they had the same articles ministred vnto them , and agreed all in the same answeres in substance , that thomas wats next aforesaid made , and when by no meanes they could be perswaded from their constancie , being many times sent for , they were at last condemned , and burned in seuerall places in essex , chamberlain at colchester , thomas osmond at maning-tree , william bramford at harwidge . iohn ardley told boner , my lord neither you nor any of your religion is of the catholick church , for you are of a false faith , and shall bee deceiued at length , beare as good a face as you can , you will kill the innocent bloud , and you haue killed many , and ▪ o● gee about to kill more , if euery hayre 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 paules round about the consistory : the bishop being angry with their bold answeres , cryed alowd , haue him away , haue him away : wh●n the people in the church heard these words , thinking the prisoners had their iudgements , they seuered themselues 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 eares : the bishop with the rest of the court ranne away to the doore that goeth into the bishops house , but the rest being lighter footed then the bishop , recouered the doore first , and thro●ging hastily to get in , kept the bishop out : and cried saue my lord , saue my lord : whereby they gaue the standers by good matter to laugh at , whereby th●se were a little while stopped of 〈◊〉 iudgement : but not long after they were called to the fire : iohn simpson suffered at rochford , and iohn ardley at rayby . iohn bradford . he was borne at manchester in lan●aster : on the . day of august , in the first yeare of qu●ene mary : master bourne , bishop of bathe , made a beastly sermon at paules crosse to set vp 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 intreated bradford being with him , to speake and appease the people , when hee came into the place of the preacher , all the people cryed bradford , bradford , god saue thee bradford : and after they heard his godly exhortation they left off their raging . bourne thought himselfe not yet sure of his life , vntill hee was safely housed , th●ugh the sheriffe and mayor were ready to help him . wherefore hee desired bradford not to depart from him vntill hee was in safety , and ●radford went at his backe shaddowing him with his gowne : amongst whom one g●ntleman said : ah bradford , bradford , thou sauest him that will helpe to burne thee : i giue thee his life for if it were not for thee , i would runne him through with my sword , within three dares after bradford was sent for to the tower , and there the councell 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 vnto the counter in the poultry , whilst hee remained in these two prisons he preached twice a day continually almost two yeares . after he was brought with bishop farrax as a●oresaid , before the lord chancellor , and the queenes commissioners : after the lord chancellor had laid vnto his charge the aforesaid sedition at paules , and boner had bore witnes against him , and bradford had shewed his innocency , and affirmed that notwithstanding boners seeing and saying , yet the truth i haue told , as at the day of iudgement wi●l appeare , in the meane time because i cannot be beleeued , i am ready to suffer what god will licence you to doe to me . chan. to leaue this matter , wilt thou returne againe , and doe as wee haue done , and thou shalt receiue the queenes mercy and pardon . brad. my lord , i desire mercy with gods mercy , but mercy with gods wrath god keepe me from : well said he , if thou wilt not receiue mercy offred vnto thée , know for a truth , that the queene is minded to make a purgation of all such as thou art . bradford answered , i would be glad of the queenes mercy , to liue as a subiect without a clogge of conscience , otherwise the lords mercy is better to me then life , and i commit my life into his hands that will keep it , that none can take it away without his pleasure : there are twelue houres in the day as long as they last no man shall haue power thereon ; therefore his good will be done : life in his displeasure is worse then death , and death in his true fauour is true life . and after he had béen thrée times called before the lord chancellor , at all which times there was no arguments of diuinitie but about transubstantiation : for denying whereof , and affirming that the wicked doe not receiue christ , though they receiue 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 diuers others at other times : the summe of his doctrine herein followeth . reasons against transubstantiation , gathered by iohn bradford . 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 vntill the councell of laterane , about the yeare one thousand two hundred and fifteene , vnder innocent . before it was free to beleeue it , or not beleeue it : ergo , the doctrine of transubstantiation is false . that the words of christs supper be figuratiue : the circumstances of the scripture : the proportion of the sacraments : the sentences of all holy fathers : for a thousand yeares after christ doe all teach : it followeth there is no transubstantiation , the scriptures doe witnes that the lord gaue bread to his disciples , and called it his body : he took bread in his hands : hee gaue thankes ouer bread , he brake bread , and gaue bread to his disciples : as ireneus , tertullian , origene , cyprian , epiphanius , augustine , and all the fathers of antiquitie doe affirme : but in asmuch as the substance of bread and wine is another manner of thing : then the substance of the body and bloud of christ , it is plaine there is no transubstantiation . the bread is no more transubstantiated then the wine : christ calleth that the fruit of the uine , saying , i will drinke no more of the fruit of the vine : therefore by christes wordes it was not bloud but wine : therefore it followeth there is no transubstantiation : chrysostom vpon mathew and cyprian , doe confirme this reason . the bread is called as well christs mysticall body , as his naturall body : for the same spirit that saith the bread is my body ; saith also , wee being many are one body , but it is not the mysticall body by transubstantiation , no more is it his naturall body by transubstantiation . the words ouer the cup are not so effectuall as to transubstantiate it int● the new testament : therfore the words spoken ouer the bread , are not so mighty to make transubstantiation . the doctrine of transubstantiation doth not agree with the apostolick and mother churches , which receiued there doctrine of the apostles , who receiued it of christ , and christ of god : as of gréece , of corinthus , of philippos , collosia , thessalonica , ephesus , which neuer 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 errour of transubstantiation , and reproueth them of sacriledge , which diuide the mysterie , and keep the cup from the lay people : therefore the doctrine of transubstantiation agreeth not with the truth . communication betwixt the archbishop of yorke , and the bishop of chichester , with bradford in prison . york . how know you the word of god but by the church ? brad. the church is a meane to bring a man to the more spéedy knowledge of the scriptures , as the woman of samaria was a meane that the samarita●s knew christ : but when as they had heard him speake , they said now wee know that he is christ , not because of thy words , but because we our selues haue heard him : so after we come to the hearing and reading of the scriptures , shewed vnto vs by the church : we beleeue them , and know them as christs sheepe , not because the church saith they be the scriptures , but because they be so , wee being assured thereof by the spirit which wrote and spake them . yorke . in the apostles time the word was not written . brad. true , if you meane it for some bookes of the new testament : but for the old testament , peter telleth vs it is a more sure word of prophesie , not that it is so simply , but in respect of the apostles , which being aliue and compassed with infirmities : by reason whereof men might perchance haue found fault with their preaching , they attributed vnto the prophets more firmenes , as wherewith no fault could be ●●und : albeit in verity no lesse obedience and faith ought to be giuen vnto the one , then the other ; both proceeding of one spirit of truth . york . ireneus and others doe magnifie much , and alledge the c●urch , and not the scriptures against the heretickes . brad. they had to doe with such-hereticks as did deny the scriptures , and y●t did magnifie the apostles : so that they were inforced to vse the authoritie of those churches wherein the apostles had taught , and which did still retaine the same doctrine : then the alledging of the church cannot be principally vsed against me , which am so farre from denying the scriptures , that i appeale vnto them vtterly as to the onely iudge . yorke . a pretty matter that you will take vpon to iudge the church : where hath your church been hitherto ? for the church of christ is catholick and visible , hitherto . brad. i doe not iudge the church when i discerne it from the congregation , which is not the church , and i neuer denied the church to b● catholick , and vi●●ble ; although at some times it is more visible then at other times . chichest . where was your church forty yeares agone , which allowed your doctrine : i said i would tell him , if he would tell mee , where the church was in helias his time , when helias said , he was left alone : he said , that is no answere . brad. if you had the same eyes wherewith a man might haue espied the church , then you would not say it was no answer : the fault why the church is not s●●ne of you , is not because the church is not visible , but because your eyes are not cléere ●●ough to sée it . chich. you are much deceiued in making this collation betwixt the church then and now : yorke said , it was very well spoken , for christ said , i will build my church , and not , i do , or haue built it . brad. peter teacheth me to make this collation , saying : as amongst the people there were false prophets , which were most in estimation before christs comming , so shall there be false teachers amongst the people after christs comming , and verie many shall follow them : and as for your future tense , you wil not conclude christs church not to haue béene before , but rather that there is no builder in the church but by christ onely , in that he saith ; i will build my church , for paul and apollo be but waterers . york . he taketh vpon him to iudge the church , a man shall neuer come to certainty that doth so . brad. i speake simply that which i thinke , and desire reasons to answere my obiections : assuredly you did well to depart from the romish church , but you haue done wickedly to coupple your selues to it againe , for you can neuer proue it , which you call the mother church , to be christs church . chichest . you were but a childe then , i was but a young man , come from the uniuersitie , and went with the world , but it was alwaies against my conscience . brad. i thinke you haue done euill , for ye are come , and haue brought others to that wicked man which sitteth in the temple of god , which is the church , for it cannot be vnderstood of mahomer , or any out of the church , but of such as beare rule in the church . yorke . sée how you build your faith vpon the most obscure places of the scripture to deceiue your selfe , as though you were in the church which are not . brad. well my lord , though i might by truth iudge you and others , yet will not i vtterly exclude you out of the church , but i am not out of the communion of the church , for it consisteth in faith. york . loe , how you make your church inuisible , for you would haue the communion of it to consist in faith. brad. to haue communion of the church , néedeth not visiblenesie of it , for communion consisteth in faith , and not in exterior ceremonies , as appeareth by paul , which would haue one faith : and by ireneus to victor , saying ; disagréeing of fasting should not breake the agréeing of faith. chichest . that place hath often wounded my conscience , because we disseuered our selues from the sea of rome . brad. god forgiue you , for you haue done euill to bring england thither againe . yorke . he read a paper of common places , how many things held saint augustine in the church , consent of people and nations authority , confirmed with miracles , nourished with hope , increased with charity , established with antiquity : the succession of priests from peters seat , to this present bishop : lastlie , the verie name of a catholique doth hold me in . paint me but your church thus . brad. this maketh as much for me as for you , but all this , if they had béene so firme as you would make them , might haue béene alledged against christ and his ●postles , for there was the law , and the ceremonies , consented on by the whole people , confirmed with miracles , antiquity , and continuall succession of bishops from aaron . cich . you make to much of the state of the church before chrs●s comming . brad. therein i do but as peter teacheth , and paul very often ; you would gladly haue your church héere very glorious , and as a most pleasant lady , but as christ saith , so may the church say ; blessed are they that are not offended at me . yorke . you thinke none is of the church but such as suffer persecution . brad. paul saith , all that will liue godly in christ , must suffer persecution : sometime christs church hath rest heere , but commonly it is not so , especially towards the end her forme will be more vnséemly . york . where is your church that hath consent of people and nations , as s. augustine saith . brad. euen all people and nations that bee gods people , haue consented with me , and them in the doctrine of faith. yorke . saint augustine speaketh of succession from peters seat. brad. that seat then was nothing so much corrupt as it is now . york . well , you alwaies iudge the church . brad. no my lord , christs shéepe discerne christs voyce , but they iudge it not so : they discerne the church , but not iudge her , yet full well may wee iudge the romish church , for she obeyeth not christs voyce , and christs true church doth . he asked me wherein : i said , in latine seruice , and robbing the laity of christs cup in the sacrament , and many other things , in which it committeth most horrible sacriledge . yorke . latine seruice was appointed to be sung and had in the quire , where onely were those that vnderstood latine : the people sitting in the body of the church , praying their owne priuate prapers , and this may well be yet séene by making of the chancell and the quire , so that the people could not come in or heare them . brad. in chrysostomes time , and s. ieromes time , all the church did answere with a loud voyce , amen . whereby we may sée , that the prayers were made so , that the people both heard and vnderstood them . york . we léese our labour , you seeke to put away all things that are told you for your good , your church no man can know : i said , yes that you may : he said , i pray whereby . brad. chrysostome saith onely by the scriptures , and this he speaketh very oftentimes , as you know . york . that is or chrysostome , in opere imperfecto , which may bee doubted of the thing , which the church may be best knowne by , is succession of bishops . brad. lira well writeth vpon mathew , that ecclesia non consistit in homi●●bus ratione potestatis secularis , aut ecclesiasticae , sed in hominibus in quibus est notitia vera , & confessio fidei & veritatis . and hilarius writeth to auxentius , that the church is rather hid in caues , then eminent in chiefe seats : then after they had been there thrée houres , they were called away . iohn leafe burned with maister bradford . this iohn , was an apprentice with a chandler in christ-church in london , eighteene yeares old , borne in kirkley m●●eside , in the county of yorke , hee was examined before bonner : he said , that after the words of consecration in the sacrament of the altar , ouer the bread and wine , there was not the true and naturall body and blood of christ in substance : and as it is now vsed and beleeued in the realm of england , it is abhominable idolatry : and he beleeued , that after consecration , it remaineth bread and wine as it was before , and it is receiued in the remembrance of the death and passion of christ , and so spiritually in faith they receiue christs body and blood . and he affirmeth , that auriculer confession is not necessary to be made vnto a priest , and it is no point of soules health to beléeue that the priest hath any authority by the scriptures , to remit sins . and being asked if he had béene maister rogers his scholler , he graunted it so to be , and he did beléeue the doctrine of the said rogers , and the doctrine of byshop 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 moouing of him to vnitie of the church , he said , my lord , you call mine opinion heresie , it is the true light of the word of god , and hee would neuer forsake his well grounded opinion whilst breath was in his bodie : whereupon he was condemned . when these two came to the stake in smithfield to be burned , maister bradford lay prostrate on the one side of the stake , and the young man on the other , praying a space , vntill the sheriffes man bad maister bradford arise , then they both rose . maister bradford desired the sheriffe that his man might haue his apparell , which he granted him . when he was vnready , he said ; o england , england , repent thee of thy sinnes , beware of idolatry , beware of false antichrists , that they deceiue thée not . then the sheriffe bad tye his hands , if he would not be quiet : he said , i am quiet , god forgiue you this . one of the officers that made the fire said ; if you haue no more learning then that , you are but a foole , and were best to hold your peace : then maister bradford answered no more , but asked the world forgiuenesse , and forgaue all the world , and prayed the people to pray for him , and ●id the young man be of good comfort , for we shall haue a merry supper with the lord this night , then he imbraced the réeds and said : straight is the way , and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternall saluation , and few there be that finde it : in the booke at large thou maist sée many godly letters of his . this maister woodroffe , sheriffe , as he would not suffer maister bradford to speake , but bad his hands to be tyed : so , or worse , he serued maister rogers , and all that were burned , where the other sheriffe would weepe at their burning , he would laugh at it , and would restraine and beat the people , who were desirous to take them by the hand . in fine , the foresaid maister woodroffe , after the burning of maister bradford , as soone as he came home , was taken lame both arme and legge , so that after hee could neuer stirre out of his house , nor scarse mooue himselfe . william minge . the next day after bradfords death , william minge , priest , died in maidstone iayle , being in bonds for religion , and had suffered martyrdome if hee had liued , for he died in great constancy and boldnesse . iohn bland , iohn frankesh , nicholas scheterton , humphrey middleton . the twelfth of iune iohn bland , iohn frankesh , nicholas scheterton , and humphrey middleton , were all foure burned at canterbury together : frankesh and bland were ministers of the church there , and preachers of gods word . bland was twice or thrice cast into prison before for preaching the gospell , and was deliuered at the sute of his friends , and yet preached the gospell againe as soone as euer hee was deliuered . his friends would againe haue deliuered him , if he would haue promised to abstaine from preaching : hee stood in it so earnestlie , that he would admit no such condition , expressing the example of saint paul , who shall separate vs from the loue of christ , shall tribulation , or anguish , or hunger , or nakednes , or danger , or persecution , or the sword , &c. these were tumbled and tossed from prison to prison , from sessions to sessions , a yeare and almost a halfe , and at the last they were condemned for denying the reall 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 wisedome , that you may sée the crafty bewitching of satan , our mortall enemy , which doth not onely openly , but vnder colour of deuotion , deceiue them which kéepe not a diligent eie vpon him , but hauing confidence in mans traditions , & customes of the world , leauing the commandements of god and testament of christ , do grow more into superstition and hypocrisy , then into wisdome and true holinesse . sathan by his ministers , maketh many beléeue , that those things which they compel vs vnto for their bellies sake , haue many godly significations , although they bee most contrary to gods will : as the serpent in paradise said to eue ; hath god commanded you not to eat of the trée of knowledg , but you shall not die : so say our ministers , hath god commaunded you that you shall not make any image . tush say they , what harme can they doe , may we not remember god the better when we sée his image , for they are good bookes for lay-men , ( but indéed they are better for the priests , because they receiue the offerings ) and as true as the promise of the serpent was kept with eue ; so is the perswas●on of the priests found vnto vs : for as adam and eue did become like god in knowing of good and euill , so are we in remembring god by his images . for adams eyes were so opened , that he lost both innocency and righteousnesse , and became most miserable of all creatures ; so we , by remembring christ by images , haue forgotten his commandements , and counted his testament , confirmed with his blood , for starke madnesse or heresie . we haue so miserably remembred him , that of all people we are most blind , and this is because we wil presume to remember god by breaking of his law , there●ore except we repent , god will remember vs in his wrath : they will say , where went hee to schoole , is hee wiser then our great doctors , that haue studied all their life ? and they say it is good hay , although we our selues smell it musty , yet we must beléeue it is swéete , 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 vaine men are neuer without some shift , peraduenture they wil not be ashamed to say ; that christ comming on his fathers message , did forget halfe 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 vp-side-downe for lucre sake . some will say , why should we condemne our fathers that liued thus ? they did according to their knowledge , therefore we condemne them not , but let vs take héede they condemne not vs : for if they had heard the word and béene warned as wee are , it is to be thought they would haue more thankfully receiued it , then we ; yea , they were more faithfull in that which they knew , then now many are , therefore they shall condemne vs , if we do not embrace this grace now offered : our disobedience is greater then their ignorance , wherefore if we will méete our fathers in ioy , let vs not refuse the mercy offered more largely to vs then to them , god will not beare it at our hands , to turn● back being we are deliuered . remember lots wife . iames treuisam . hee was of the parish of saint margarets in lothburie : he was lame and kept his bedde , and could not rise out of it a long time ; one iohn smale his seruant read to him on the bible ; in the meane time berd the promoter came into the house , and went vp the staires , where he found foure persons besides treuisam and his wife , which he carried to the counter , where they remained a fortnight , and he brought a cart to the doore to haue the lame man to newgate , but that his neighbours intreated for him , and put in sureties for his appearance . one master farthing the parson came to him , and communicated with him , and they agréed well . then one toller méeting the priest , said , if you be agréed i will accuse you , for he denieth the sacrament of the altar : then the parson went to him againe , and then they could not agrée ; whereupon the parson told bonner , and hee 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 vp , and his sheet taken away , and he left naked vpon the ground , then the owner of the field buried him againe , and fortnight after the somner came to his graue , and summoned him to appeare at paules before his ordinary ; but what more was done , i haue no certainty of . nicholas hall a brick-layer , and christopher wayde of dartford . these were condemned by maurice bishop of rochester for denying the reall presence in the sacrament , and saying the masse was abominable , hall was burned at rochester , and wayde at dartford . margerie polley widdow . 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 absurditie of their masse , and was burned at tunbridge . derick caruer , iohn 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 twelue , being together at prayers , and saying the seruice 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 bloud of christ naturally , and that there is no sacrifice nor saluation to a christian in the masse , except it were said and vsed 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 goe to a good priest for counsaile , but the absolution and laying handes on a mans head by the priest , as it is now vsed , is not profitable , and that the faith and doctrine now taught is not agreeable to gods word , and that hooper , cardmaker , and others of their opinion which were late burned , were good christians , and did preach the doctrine of christ. iohn launder was coudemned by the said bonner for affirming that whosoeuer doth teach or vse any other sacraments then the lords supper and baptisme , or any other ceremonies , he beleeueth that they were not of the catholique church , but abhorreth them , and that he himselfe is a member of the true catholique church : he denied the reall presence in the sacrament , but he beleeueth that when he receiueth the materiall bread and wine it is in remembrance of christs death , and that he eates christs body and bloud by faith , and no otherwise , and that the masse is naught and abominable , and directeth against gods word , and that the gloria in excelsis , the creed , sanctum , pater noster , agnus and other parts of the masse be of themselues good , yet being vsed 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 authoritie to absolue sinnes . derick being asked whether he would recant : your doctrine , quoth he , is poyson and sorcerie : 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 beggerie , and poyson , and auricular confession is poyson and against gods word : so they were condemned and burned . derick was rich , but the ra●eners made such hauocke thereof , that his poore wife and children had little or none thereof : he was olde and past learning , yet when he was put into prison being ignorant of any letter in his booke , he could before his death reade perfectly . when he was burned they threw his booke into a barrell that he was burned in to be burned with him , but he threw it amongst the people , and the sherife commanded vpon paine of death , in the king and quéenes name to throw it into the fire againe : then he said , deare brethren and sisters , as many as beleeue in the father , the sonne , and holy ghost vnto euerlasting life , see you doe thereafter ; and you that beleeue in the pope or any of his lawes , you beleeue to your vtter destruction , for except the great mercy of god you shall burne in hell continually . the sherife said , if thou dost not beleeue in the pope thou art damned , therefore speake to thy god that he may deliuer thee now , or else to strike me downe to the example of this people ; but he said vnto him , the lord forgiue you that which you haue said . thomas iveson . this iueson was condemned by the said bonner for saying the sacrament of the altar is a very idoll , and detestable before god as it is now-a-dayes ministred , and that the masse is naught , and that auricular confession is not necessary , for that a priest cannot forgiue sinnes , that baptisme is a token of christ , as circumcision : he beléeueth his sinnes are not washed away therby , but only his body washed , and his sinnes washed only in christs bloud , and that there is but two sacraments , baptisme and the lords supper , which now are not rightly vsed in england , & that all the ceremonies now vsed in the church are superfluous and superstitio●s : and being earnestly labored withall to recant , said , he would not forsake his beléefe for all the goods in london . i doe appeale to gods mercie , and will be none of your church : and if there came an angell from heauen to teach me other doctrine then that which i haue now , i would not beleeue him , whereupon he was burned . iohn aleworth . hee died in prison at reading for the testimonie of the truth , whom the catholike prelats , as their vse is , did exclude out of catholike buriall . iames abbes . this abbes be●ng examined by the bishop of norwich , he relented at their naughty perswasions : now when he was dismissed , and should go from the bishop , he gaue him some money ; but after he was pittiously vexed in conscience , he went againe to the bishop and threw him his said money which he had receiued , and said , it repented him that euer he had consented to their wicked perswasions : then the bishop and his chaplains laboured a fresh to win him againe , but in vaine , and so he was burned at berry . iohn denley gentleman , iohn newman , patricke pachington . as edmund tyrell , a iustice of peace in essex , came from the burning of certaine godly martyrs , he me● with iohn denley and iohn newman , both of maidstone in kent , and vpon the sight of them ( as he bragged ) he suspected and searched them , and finding the confessions of their faith written about them , hee sent them to the quéens commissioners , who sent them to bonner : the effect of the writing followeth ; in the sacrament christs bodie is figuratiuely in the bread and wine , spiritually he is in them that worthily eate and drinke the bread and wine , but really , carnally , and corporally he is in heauen , from whence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead . then bonner ministred articles vnto them and vnto patrick pachington , who all answered alike , to this effect following . the catholike church is built vpon the foundation of the prophets and apostles , christ being the head corner stone : it is the congregation of the faithfull dispersed through the whole world ; and two or three gathered together in christs name are the members thereof . this church doeth preach gods holy word and minister the blessed sacraments truely : the church of england vsing the faith and religion which now is vsed is no member thereof , but is the church of a●tichrist , the bishop of rome being the head thereof ; for they haue altered the testament of god , and set vp a testament of their own deuising , ful of blasphemy and lies , christs testament being that we should haue all things done for the edifying of the church . the masse now vsed is most abominable idolatrie and intollerable blasphemie : christ ordained his sacraments to be eaten together in remembrance of his death vntill he● come , and not to bee worshipped and to make an idoll 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 vp your handes , knocking of the breast , putting off the cap , and making curtsie , with other superstition to the bread , but idolatrie ? you obiect you worship not the bread and wine , but the body of christ , borne of the uirgin vnder the forme of bread and wine : but that is a very lye , for christs body that was borne of the uirgin is in heauen . auricular confession is not good : if i haue offended god i must séeke to him for remission of sinnes by christ : if i haue offended my neighbour , i must reconcile my selfe to him againe : 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 fortie dayes , but vntill i openly in the congregation acknowledge my fault , and then the minister hath power by the word to preach to me remission of sinnes by christ. touching baptisme , iohn baptist vsed nothing but preaching the word and water , as appeareth by christs baptisme and others : the chamberlaine said to philip ▪ here is water , what letteth me to be baptized ? hee asked not for creame , nor oyle , nor spittle , nor coniured water , nor coniured waxe , 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 vnto it . bonner séeing their vnmoueable constancie , after all meanes they could were vsed , they were condemned , and denley was burned at uxbridge : he sang a psalm in the fire ; then cruell doctor storie commaunded one to hurle a faggot at him , which made him bléed on the face , whereat he left his singing and clapped his hand on his face : doctor storie said to him that flung the faggot , truly thou hast marred a good old song ; then denley put his hands abroad and sung againe . not long after him patrick pachingham was burned at uxbridge , and iohn newman was burned at saffron walden in essex . richard hooke . hee neere about the same time and for the same matter that those formerly spoken of died for●gaue his life at chichester . william coker , william hopper , henry lawrence , richard colliar , richard wright , william steer● . these being examined before the bishop of douer , and harpsfield the archdeacon of canterbury and others , henry lawrence denied auricular confession , and would not receiue 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 néed not reuerence the same , and he said the sacrament of the altar is an idoll , 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 iudge to answere , bade him command his dogges , and not him , and said dicke of douer , meaning the bishop , had no authoritie to set in iudgement against him , alledging that the bishop of canteburie that was in prison was his dioccesan , and hee said he found not the sacrament of the altar in the scripture , therefore he would not make any answer thereto . the iudge speaking of the sacrament put off his cap ; he said he needed not reuerence that so highly , saying withall that the sacrament of the altar was the most blasphemous idoll that euer was . the other also denied the sacrament , wherefore they were all condemned , and burned all in one fi●e at canterburie . elizabeth warne , george tankerfield , robert smith , steuen harwood , thomas fust , william hall , thomas leyes , george king , iohn wade , ioane leyshford . the prisons of london being replenished with gods saints , and still moe and moe comming in , wherefore these ten were sent for of bonner to be examined , and rid out of the way . the chéefe point he examined them of , was touching the corporall presence of christs body and blood in the sacrament , as the profitablest foundation for their catholike dignity . many other thinges were obiected against them , as not comming to church , for speaking against the masse , and for dispising their ceremonies and sacraments . elizabeth warne answered vnto them , i deny them all , and if christ was in an error , then am i in an errour , wherefore she was condemned . doctor story was of some alliance vnto her , who deliuered her once by his earnest sute , before hee was commissioner , but after he was commissioner , he caused her , iohn warne her husband , and her daughter , to be apprehended , neuer leauing them , vntill hee had brought them all to ashes . george tankerfield of london , cooke , borne in the cittie of yorke , he vtterly denied aur●culer confession , and transubstantiation , and affirmed that the masse was naught , and full of idolatry and abhomination : and affirmed that there were but two sacraments . he told the bishop he cared not for his diuinity , for you condemne all men , and proue nothing against them , and he said the church whereof the pope is supreme head , is not christs church ; and pointing to the bishop he said to the people beware of him , and such as he is , these be they which deceiue you : wherevpon he was condemned . robert smith beeing asked by boner when hee was confessed : hee answered , not since the time he had discretion : i am not commaunded of god to shew my sinnes to any of that sinfull number whom yee call priests : he was a painter , and hee told the bishop hee had vsed his vocation better then hee had vsed his bishoprick : hee said hee neuer vsed the sacrament , nor neuer would , because it hath not gods ordinance , but rather it is directed to mocke god : i count it a detestable idoll , and not god , but contrarie to god and truth : then the bishop said , hee should be burned : he answered , hee must not thinke thereby to quench the spirit of god , nor make your matter good for your sore is too well seene to bee healed so priuily with bloud , euen the children haue all your deeds in derision : so that though you patch vp one place with authoritie , yet it shall breake out in fortie 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 shew it vnto men of discretion . boner . doe you not confesse there is a catholick church on earth . smith . yes verily : and it is builded vpon the prophets a●d apostles christ iesus being the head corner stone , which church maintaineth the word , and bringeth the same for her authoritie , and without it doth nothing nor ought to doe , and i am fully assured i am a member of the same church . boner . if my brother doe offend , and will not be reconciled , i must bring him before the congregation , where may a man finde your church to bring his brother before the same . smith . in the acts of the apostles , when the tyranny of the bishops was so great against the church of iewry , they were faine to congregate in priuy places as they now doe : yet they were the church of god. boner . there church was knowne full well , for paul writ to the corinthians to haue the man excommunicated that had lien with his fathers wife . smith . as the church of corinth was manifest to god and paule , so is this church in england , else you could not persecute it as you do . i being conuayed into the garden , doctor dee , being one of the bishops chaplaines , came to me , and after much adoe about his god , i compelled him to say that it must needs enter into the belly and so fall out ●nto the draught : then hee said , what derogation was it to christ , when the iewes spit in his face ? and i answered , if the iewes his enemies did but spit in his face , and wee being his friends throw him in the draught , which of vs haue deserued the greater damnation ? doctor . then he would haue christs humanitie incomprehensible , bringing to serue his turne which way christ came amongst his disciples the doores being close shut . smith . i haue as much to proue that the doores opened at his comming as you haue to proue that he came thorow the doores : for god that opened the prison doores for his disciples , was able to doe the like for christ ; but that maketh not for your purpose , for they saw , heard , and felt him , and so cannot you do in your sacrament . then i was called for before bonner , and my lord mayor was with him , and my articles were read , then said bonner : bonner . my lord , they call me bloudie bonner , where i neuer sought any mans blood , i haue stayed him from the consistory this day , whither i might haue brought him iustlie : and heere before you i desire him to turne , and i will with all spéed dispatch him out of trouble . smith . why do you put on this visard before my lord mayor , to make him beléeue you séeke not my blood ? haue not you burned my brother tomkins hand most cruelly , and after burned his body , and the bodies of a number more of christs faithfull members . then he questioned with me about the sacrament , and i said , as the body is dead if the blood be gone , so their sacrament is a dead god , because they take away the blood of christ from his body , being the cup is taken from the layty : for if the br●ad be his body , the cup must bee his blood . then bonner rose , and my lord mayor desired me to saue my soule : i said , mine was saued by christ , desiring him to pittie his owne soule , and remember whose sword hee carried : so with many foule farewels , we were sent to new-gate againe , and boner gaue the keeper charge to lay me in limbo . the second examination . boner . thou saést there is no catholick church on earth : i said i haue answered you the contrarie , and it is written he said yea : but i must aske you this question . smith . must you begin with a lye , it seemeth you determine to end with the same : but no lyer shall enter into the kingdome of god : i haue con●essed a church of god , as well in earth as in heauen , and yet all one church , and one mans members , euen christ iesus . boner . well what saist thou by auricular confession . smith . it is needfull in christs church , but if it be needfull in your church . it is to pick folkes purses , and such pick●purse matters is the whole rabblemene of your ceremonies , for all is but money matters that you maintaine : he said thou maist be ashamed to say so : i said i speake by experience , for i haue heard & seene the fruits of confession , it hath béene a betrayer of kings secrets ▪ and others who b●ing glad to be discharged of their sinnes haue giuen to priests great summes of money to absolue them , and sing masses for their so●les health . boner . by the masse if the queene were of my minde , you should not talke before any man , but should be put in a s●ck , and a dog tyed vnto the sam● , you should be throwne into the water . smith . you and your predecessors haue sought by all meanes to kill christ secretly , as appeareth by master hunne , whom your predecessor caused to be thrust into the nose with ho●e burning needles , and then hanged him , and said he hanged himselfe : and another of your predecessors , when he could not ouercome an innocent man by scripture , he made him priuily to be snarled , and his flesh to be torne away with pincers , and told the people the rats had eaten him . bonner . then came in m. mordant , and then he said , how sayest thou smith to the seuen sacraments ? smith . i beleeue that in gods church there be but two sacraments , baptisme and the lords supper : as for your sacrament of the altar , and all your other sacraments , they may well serue your church , but gods church hath nothing to do with them . bonner . why , is gods order changed in baptisme ? smith . yes , in hallowing the water , in coniuring of the same in baptising children , with annointing and spitting in their monthes , mingled with salt , and with many other lewd ceremonies : then be said , by the masse i was the shamelest hereticke that euer he heard speake : i said well sworne my lord , you keepe a good watch . bonner . well m●ister controller , you catch me at my words , but i will watch thée as well i warrant you : then quoth mordant , i neuer heard the like in my life . i pray my lord marke well his answer for baptisme , he disaloweth therein holi● oyntment , salt , and other lawdable ceremonies . smith . it is a shamefull blasphemy against christ , to vse such mingle mangle in baptisme . boner . i beléeue if a child die without baptisme , he is damned . smith . you sha●l neuer be saued by that beléefe , i pray are we saued by water or by christ : he said , by both . i said then , the water died for our sinnes ? and must you say that the water hath life , and it being our seruant , and created for vs , it is our sauiour . this is a good doctrine , is it not . bonner . how vnderstand you these words , except a man bee borne of water and the spirit , and christ saith ; suffer little children to come vnto me , and if thou wilt not suffer them to be baptised according to the lawdabl● order , thou lettest to come vnto christ. smith . paul to the galathians , asheth whether they rec●iued the spirit by the deeds of the law , or by the preaching of fai●h , and concludeth that the holy ghost accompanieth preaching of faith , and with the word of faith entereth into the heart ; so if baptisme preach vnto me the washing in christs bloud , the holy ghost doth accompanie it : and christ saith suffer little children to come vnto me , and not vnto water ; then if you suffer them not to com to christ without the necessity of water , but condemne them if they die before baptisme , you condemne both the merits and the words of christ. bonner . thou makest the water of no●● effect , and then thou mayest put away water . smith . peter saith it is not the washing away of the filth of the flesh , but in that a good conscience consenteth vnto god : and onely water bringeth not the holy ghost , for simon receiued water , but would haue giuen money for the holy ghost , and iohn had the holy ghost in his mothers wombe before baptisme , and cornelius , paule the queen of candaces seruant , with many others , receiued the holy ghost before baptisme : and although your generation haue set at naught the word of god , and turned it vpside downe , yet must his church keepe the same order which he left them , which his church dareth not breake : and to iudge children da●●ed dying without baptisme is wicked . bonner . what say you to the sacrament of orders ? smith . you must call it the sacrament of misorders , for all orders are appointed of god , but your shauing , annointing , greasing , poling , and rounding , no such things are appointed in gods book : and my lord , if you had grace or intelligence , you would not so disfigure your selfe as you do . boner . what say you to holy bread , and holy water , the sacrament of annointing , and the rest of such ceremonies of the church . smith . they be bables for fooles to play withall , and not for gods children : then boner and mordant departed , then certaine doctors baited me halfe an houre : of whom i asked , where were all you in the daies of king edward , that you spake not that which you speake now ? they said , they were in england : i said , but then you had the faces of men , but now you haue put on lions faces ; you haue for euery time a visar : if another king edward should arise , you would then say , down with the pope , for he is antichrist , and so are all his angels , then i was all to reuil●d . doctor . you allow not auriculer confession ; i said , it is , because the word of god alloweth it not : he said , it is written , thou shalt not hide thy sinnes . i said , no more doe i when i confesse them to god : hee said , you cannot hide them from god ; therefore you must vnderstand , it is spoken to bee vttered vnto them that do not know them . smith . then must the priest confesse himselfe to me ▪ as i to him , for i know his faults no more then ●e knoweth mine : but if you confesse to a priest , and not to god , you shall haue the reward that iudas had : for hee confessed himselfe to the priest , and yet went and hanged himselfe , and those that acknowledge not there faults to god , are said to hide them . doctor . what did they that came to iohn baptist , i said that they confessed to god ; he said , and not to iohn : i said if it were vnto iohn , as you cannot proue , yet it was to god before iohn and the whole congregation : he said iohn was alone in the wildernes . smith . yet hee made many disciples , and many saduces , and pharisies came vnto his baptisme : therefore if they confessed themselues to iohn , it was vnto all the congregation , as paul confessed openly in his epistle to timothy , that hee was not worthy t● bee called an apostle , because hee had been a tyrant , but as for eare confession you neuer heard it allowed by the word of god : for as dauid saith , i will confesse my sinnes vnto the lord , so all his children doe and euer did : then they called mee dogge , and said i was damned : then i said you are dogges , because you will ●●ay your friends for offering vnto you all things . i may say with paul , i haue fought with beasts in the likenes of men , for i haue béene baited this two daies of my lord , and his great buls of basan , and in the hall i haue béene baited with the rest of his band . bonner . then he came and asked the doctors whether they had done him any good , and they said no. and i said , how can an euill tree bring forth good fruit : he said , wilt thou neither heare me nor them ? thou shalt bee burned in smithfield . smith . and you shall burne in hell if ye repent not , i perceiue you and your doctors will not come vnto me , and i am not determined to come to you : then with many rayling sentences i was sent away . the last examination . smith . then i with my brethren were brought into the consistory , before bonner , the lord mayor , and the sheriffes . bonner . by my faith my lord mayor , i haue shewed as much fauour as any man liuing might do : but i perceiue all is lost ●n him , and all his company . i said , my lord you must not sweare ; then he said , i was maister controller , and pointed to my brother tankerfield , and said , this is maister speaker . mayor . thou speakest against the blessed sacrament of the altar . smith . i deny it to be any sacrament , and i stand here to make probation of the same : if my lord or any of his doctors can proue the name or vsage of the same , i will recant then . then spake my brother tankerfield , and defended the probation which they call heresie . bonner . by my troth maister speaker , you shall preach at a stake : then i said , well sworne my lord , you kéepe a good watch ; he said , well maister controller i am no saint . smith . no my lord , nor yet a good bishop : a bishop saith saint paul , should be faultlesse , and a dedicate vessell to god : and are you not ashamed to sit in i●dgment , and be a blasphemer , condemning innocents . my lord mayor , i would require you in gods name , that i may haue iustice : we are heare to day a great many of innocents , wrongfullie accused of heresie . i require but the fauour that festus and agrippa , heathen men , shewed to the apostle , which gaue him leaue to speake for himselfe , and heard the probation of his cause : then the lord mayor hanging downe his head , said nothing . bonner . thou shalt preach at a stake , and so sheriffe woodroffe cried with the bishop , away with them . thus came i in foure tim●● before them , desiring iustice to be heard , but could haue none : at length , my friends required with on● voyce the same , and could not haue it , so we were condemned , because they all ten held the same opinions in effect . smith . when the sentence began to be read in dei nomine . i answered he began in a wrong name , for he could not finde in scriptures to giue sentence of death against any man for his conscience . he was burned at uxbridge , when hee was come to the stake , he mightily comforted the people , and told them ; he doubted not ●ut god will shew you some token that i die in a good cause : at length he being ●ell-nigh halfe burned all blacke with fire , clustered together in a lump like a black ●●le , all men thinking him dead , suddenly he arose vpright , lifting vp the stumpes of his armes , clapping them together , declaring a reioycing heart to them , and so di●d . he also wrote many godly letters , as you may sée in the booke more at la●ge . 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 iohn wade , sickned in prison and dyed , and were cast into the fields , and buried by night of the faithfull , when none durst doe it in the day . ioane lashford , the daughter of iohn warne , and elizabeth warne martyrs , was repréeued to a longer day : her martirdome was next yeare . 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 defence of his religion : at length , through straight handling in the prison in newgate , he died , and after the popish manner hee was cast into the fields , and in the night secretly buried by the faithfull . robert samuell . iustice foster of cobdocke in suffolke , a deadly hater of the professors of the truth , amongst many others that were also troubled by him , this robert samuell , a godly preacher in king edwards daies , was one : hee was minister of barford in suffolke , and beeing put from the ministry , as others were , he taught priuilie , and when that the order came vp , that priests should put away their wiues , and bee compelled to single life , samuell would not agrée thereto . maister foster sent out espials to apprehend him , and carry him to prison if hée were found to come vnto his wife : whereby he was taken , and put into ipswich iayle , from thence he was carried to norwich , where doctor hopton the bishop , and doctor donnings his chancellor , exercised great crueltie against him . they kept in him strait prison , where he was chained bolt vpright vnto a great post , that hee was ●aine to beare all his bodie on tip-toe , and kept him without meat and drinke , onelie he had euery day two or thrée mouthfuls of bread , and thrée spoonefuls of water . he would often haue drunken his owne water , but his bodie was so dried vp , that he was not able to make water . when he was brought forth to be burned , he reported , that after he had béen famished with hunger two or thrée daies together , he fell into a slumber , at which time one clad all in white , seemed to stand before him , which said ; samuell , samuell , be of good cheere , for after this day thou shalt neuer be hungry or thirstie , which was performed : for spéedily after he was burned , and from that time vntill he suffered he felt neither hunger nor thirst : and he said , he declared this , that all might sée the wonderfull workes of god. he said , he could vtter many such comforts , as he had of christ in his afflictions , which modesty would not suffer him to vtter . as he was going vnto the fire , a maid named rose notingham , took him about necke and kissed him , who being marked , the next day was sought for to bee had to prison , and burned , yet by gods goodnesse 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 samuell : the one was called anne potten , the other ioane trunchfield . the report of them which saw samuell burned , is , that his body in burning did ●hine as bright and white as new tryed siluer in the eies of them that stood by . in the booke at large thou maist sée a godly letter of his , and a godly confession of his faith. william allen. he was a labouring man , sometimes seruant to iohn houghton of somerset , he was burned at walsingham : he was imprisoned , for saying he would neuer follow the crosse on procession . the bishop bad him returne vnto the catholique church : he answered , he would turne vnto the catholike church , but not to the romish church ; and said , if he saw the king and quéene , and all other follow the crosse , and knéele downe to the crosse , he would not . roger coo. he was of melford in suffolke , a sheare-man , an aged father : after his sundry conflicts with his aduersaries , he was burned at yexford in suffolke , for denying the sacrament of the altar , and when the bishop said he must obey the king , whether his command agrée with the word of god or no. he answered : if sidrach , misaach , and abednago had done so , nabuchadnezzer had not confessed the liuing lord : and when the bishop said he had charge of his soule , he answered , if you go to the diuell for your sinnes , where shall i become . thomas cobbe . likewise thomas cobbe of hauehill , butcher , was burned by the said bishop of norwich , for denying the reall presence in the sacrament , and for saying he would be obedient to the king and quéenes commaundement , 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 douer , where they being examined , they did all affirme the sacrament of the altar to be an abhominable idoll , and george brodbridge said , he would not be confessed of a priest , because he could not forgiue his owne sinnes . and moreouer , as for holy bread and holy water , and the masse , i do ( quoth he ) vtterly defie them , therefore they were all fiue burned as heretickes at canterbury . thomas heyward , and iohn gorway . vve finde they were condemned and burned at lichfield , in the dioces of lichfield and couentry . robert glouer , and iohn glouer his brother , and william glouer another brother . iohn was the eldest brother , a gentleman of the towne of mancetor , he was endued with faire possessions and worldly goods , but much more enriched with heauenly grace : he with his two brethren not only embraced the light of the gospell , but most zealously professed the same . in king henries daies , this iohn fell into a dispaire of himselfe , vpon the occasion of these words in the . to the hebrewes , for it cannot be , that they which were once illuminated and haue tasted the heauenly gift &c. the bishop sending a warrant for this iohn , the mayor of couentry sent him a priuy watch-word , who with his brother william conuayed himselfe away , but the sheriffe found robert lying sicke in bed , and although the sheriffe would faine haue dismissed him , saying ; hee was not the man for whom they were sent , yet fearing the stout words of the officer , he put him in prison vntill the bishops comming . robert. being brought before the bishop of couentry , he asked me wherefore i wou●d not come to church , i said i would not come thither as long as masse was vsed in their churches , though i had . liues and might saue them all by going : and i asked if they could finde any thing in the scriptures , whereby they could defend the masse . bish. he asked who should be iudge of the holy word , i said christ. robert. he refused not to giue his doctri●e to be examined of the people , by searching of the scriptures , and so did paule , and if that would not suffice , i said i would stand to the iudgement of the primitiue church , which was next after the apostles time , and that should be iudge betwixt them ▪ he answered he was mine ordinary , and therefore it was my part to beléeue as hee did . i said , what if hée should sa●● black is white , or darknesse light . bish. thou art gone from the catholick church , where was thy church before king edwards daies ? i asked , where was the church in elias his time , and in christs time ? he said , elias only complained of the ten tribes . i said there was no prophet at that time in the other two tribes , then the bishop commanded me to be caried vnto a more strait prison , declaring that he would finde a meanes at his returne , to wéede such wolues out of the way . after the chancelor , a prebendary called tensea came to him , and exhorted him by all meanes possible to submit himselfe vnto the church . robert. i would gladly submit my selfe vnto the church , which submitteth it selfe to gods word : but how ( quoth he ) can you come to the knowledge of the word of god , but as you be led by the church . i answered , the church is not aboue the word of god , because it declareth it , no more then iohn baptist is aboue christ , by shewing christs comming vnto the people , or if you should tell one this is the king , and therefore you should say , you were aboue the king. bish. after he was sent for againe before the bishop , he perswaded him to bee a member of his church . robert. i told him i was a member of the true church that was founded vpon the apostles and prophets , the chéefe and principall piller beeing christ iesus . this church was from the beginning , and no maruell though according vnto the course of this world , it doth not shew forth the externall light , for it is afflicted with continuall crosses , that it hath no respite from feare and tirannicall vsage : the bishop contended that he was of the church ; so said i , the whole congregation once cryed against the prophets , the temple of the lord , the temple of the lord ; but when i said any thing for my selfe , the bishop commaunded me vpon my alleagiance to hold my tongue , calling me proud and arrogant hypocrite . after for denying that there were any more then two sacraments , and that the masse was neither sacrament nor sacrifice , because it differeth from the true institution of christ , and taketh it cleane 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 glouer was burned , cornelius bungey a capper of couentry ▪ who was condemned by the said bishop : first , for that he did maintaine that the priest had no power to absolue a sinner from his sinnes , and that there be but two sacraments : baptisme , and the lords supper : and that there was not the lords body and bloud 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 ely , and both in one fire at ely 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 himselfe in preaching the holsome doctrine of christ , that neuer child was so dearely beloued of his parents , as he was of his flocke : he preached euery holiday or sunday in some one place or other , to whom the people swarmed like bées . he did carefully instruct his family : hee gaue them euery one a new testament , and would giue them money to learne certaine principall chapters by hart , being maruellous carefull ouer them , that they might be a spectacle of vertue and honesty to others . he called mistris boner bishop boners mother , his mother , and when he was at his house at fulham , the dwelling there , he euer sent for her to meales , and placed her in a cha●●e at the tables end , and shee was neuer displaced of her seate , though the kings councell were there , but hee would tell them that this place of right and custome is for my mother boner : but he was well recompenced therfore by boner , who was the destruction of him and his . he was immediately after the comming of queene mary committed vnto prison and carried to oxford like a most heynous traytor and heretick with cranmer , and latimer , accompanied with a band of souldiers , as is before mentioned . the conference of ridley and latimer , vpon the obiection of antonian . antonian . all men maruell why you goe not to masse , which is a thing much esteemed of all men , and of the queene her selfe . ridley . because no man that layeth hand on the plough , and looketh back is fit for the kingdome of god. saint paul would not suffer titus to be circumcised , that the truth of the gospell might remaine with vs vncorrupt , and if i build againe the things which i destroyed , i am a trespasser : and another cause is least i should seeme to allow that which i know to bee contrarie to sound doctrine , and to be a stumbli●g stock to the weake , so w● should be to me by whom of●ence commeth : it were better wee were cast into the sea with a milstone about our neckes . anto. what is it in the masse that so offendeth you , that you will not heare nor see it : haue you not in times past said masse your selfe . rid. i am sory therfore , and i trust god hath forgiuen me , for i did it ignorantly , & these things in the masse are contrary to gods word and offend me . the strange tongue , the want of shewing the lords death , the sacrament is not communicated vnto all vnder both kinds : the sign is worshipped for the thing signified : christs passion is iniured , by affirming the masse to purge sinnes , and there are manifold superstitions , and trifling fondnes in the same . anto. it is a great crime to seperate from the communion or fellowship of the church and make a schisme : you hated the anabaptists , and impugned them : this was the errour of nouatus , and of the heretickes called ( catheri ) that they would not communicate with the church , rid. i take not the masse for the communion of the church , but for a popish deuice , whereby the institution for the remembrance of his death is eluded ▪ & the people of god deluded : the sect of the anabaptists , & the heresie of nouatus are to be condemned , they separat themselues from the communion without any ●ust cause , for they did not alledge that the sacraments were vnduely ministred , but alwaies reprouing something , either in the ministers , or in the communicants with them : for the which they abstained from the communion , as from an vnholy thing . lat. caluin saith , the name of peace is beautifull , and the opinion of vnitie is fayre : but saint paul when he requireth vnity he ●oynes strait with all , according to iesus christ , and no further piotrephes , now of late did much harpe vpon vnity , vnity , yea sir ( quoth i ) in verity , and not in popery . anto : admit there bee somewhat in the masse that might be amended : cyprian and augustine say , communion of sacraments doth not de●●le a man , but consent of deeds . rid. if it were a trifling ceremonie , or indifferent , for the continuance of common quietnes , i could be content to beare it : but the masse tendeth openly to the ouerthrow of christs institution , i ought by no meanes in word or deed consent thereto : that of the fathers , is ment of them that suppose they be defiled , if any secret vice be either in the ministers , or in the communicants with them , and is not ment of them which abhor superstition , and wicked traditions of men , and will not suffer them to be in steede of the gospell . lat. the mary bones of the masse are detestable , and by no meanes to be borne with all , it cannot be amended , but by abolishing it for euer , for if you take away ●blation , and adoration , which hang vpon consecration , and transubstantiation , the papists will not set a button by the masse , onely for the gaine that followeth therin , for if our english communion were a gainefull vnto them , as the masse , they would striue no more for the masse . anto : if you refuse to goe to masse , you forsake the church , for the masse is the sacrament of vnitie : without the arke there is no saluation , the church is the arke , and peters ship : augustine saith , he shall not haue god his father , which acknowledgeth not the church his mother : and he also saith , be thy life neuer so well spent out of the church , thou shalt not inherit the kingdome of heauen . ridley . the catholick church is the communion of saints , the citie of god , the spouse of christ , the body of christ , the pillar of truth , this church i honour in the lord , but the rule of this church , is the word of god : as many as walke according to this rule , peace bee vpon them and vpon israel that pertaineth to god : the guide of this church is the holy ghost : the marks of this church are these : the preaching of gods word , & due administration of the sacraments : charitie and obseruing of ecclesiasticall discipline , according to the word of god ; these are the heauenly ierusalem , which consisteth of those which are borne aboue : this is the mother of vs all , i will liue and die the child of this church , forth of this there is no saluation , it is onely knowne by the scriptures which is the true church : indeed the bread which we breake according to the institution of christ is the sacrament of the vnity of christs mysticall body , for we being many are one bread and one body , because we are partakers of one bread , but in the masse the lords institution is not obserued : for there we are not all partakers of one bread , but one deuoureth it all . lat : yea , what fellowship hath christ with antichrist ; it is not lawful to beare the yoke with papists ; seperat your selues from them , saith the lord , it is one thing to be the church indéed , and another thing to counterfet the church : not all that he couered with the title of the church are the church indéed : when s. paul saith , seperate your selues from them : he addeth , if any man follow other doctrine , he is puffed vp and knoweth nothing : for it is ignorance to know many things and not christ , but if thou knowest christ thou knowest enough , though thou know no more : therefore he would know nothing but christ and him crucified , as many as be papists and masse-mongers , may well bee said to know nothing ; for they know not christ , they take much away from the merite of christ. anto. that church which you describe is inuisible , but christs church is visible and knowne : for hee saith , tell it to the church , which is in vaine to goe to the church , if a man cannot tell which it is . rid. if we cannot see the true church , that is not the fault of the church , but either of our owne blindnes , or of satans darknes , but the word is a candle vnto vs , and a light vnto our steps to sh●w the true church . anto. the church of christ is vniuersall dispersed through the whole world , the great house of god good and euill mingled together : goates & shéepe , corne and chaffe ; it is the net which gathereth all kinde of fishes : it cannot erre , for christ iesvs hath promised it his good spirit , to leade it in all truth , and the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it , he will be with it to the end of the world : what it shall binde or lose in earth shall bee ratified in heauen , it is the truth : augustine saith , i beleeue the gospell , because the church biddeth me beleeue it : this church alloweth the masse , therefore it must be followed . ridi . the church is taken three manner of waies in the scripture : sometime for the whole multitude of the professors of christ , but as euery one is not a iew which is a iew outwardly : nor all that be of israel , are counted the seede : so euery one that is a christian outwardly is not so indeede : for hee that hath not the spirit of christ is none of his . the church that christ iesus is head of stands onely of liuing stones : christians in heart and truth , and not in worde onely : the multitude of the good are the true church , the multitude of the euill is the malignant church , and synagogue of satan : these be the three takings of the church : and though there be seldom mention in scriptures in this interpretation , y●t in the greatest assemblies of the world , this church hath borne the greatest swing . but ▪ if any will affirme , that vniuersalitie doth so appertaine vnto the church , that christs promises to the church must needes bee vnderstood of that ; where was that vniuersall church , in the times of the patriarks , and prophets : of noah , abraham , and moses , ( when they would haue stoned him ) of helias , of ieremy , in the times of christ , and the dispersion of the apostles in the time of arius when constantius was emperour , ●and felix bishop of rome succeeded lyberius , lyra vpon mathew saith , the church doth not stand in men by reason of their power and dignitie , whether it be ecclesiasticall or seculer , for princes and popes and other inferiours haue fallen away from god : therefore the church consisteth in those persons in whom is true knowledge , and confession of the faith , and truth : euill men are in the church in name , but not in deed . latimer . touching the vehement saying of saint augustine : i would not beleeue the gospel , but for the church . melancton vpon this saith , the church is not a iudge , but a witnes , there were some that lightly esteemed the iudgement of the church , and preaching , and reiected the outward word , and stucke onely to there inward reuelations : this droue saint augustine into that vehemencie , in which he seemeth to them that vnderstand not his meaning , to prefer the church before the gospel , and that it had authoritie ouer the same , but that godly man neuer thought so . anto : generall councels represent the vniuerfall church : and christ hath promised to be in the middest , where two or three be gathered together in his name : therefore much more where there is so great a multitude , but in generall councels masse hath been approued and vsed , therefore it is good . ridley . it is true , that where so many be gathered together in christs name , it is not credible , but two or three be gathered together in his name , but if there be an hundreth good , & two h●ndreth bad , being the decrees & ordinances goe according to most voices , what can the lesse number of voices preuaile : it is a common prouerbe , often the greater part ouercommeth the better : but it is impossible that any such councell of good men allowed such a masse as ours was of late , in a strange tongue , and stuffed with so many absurdities , errors , and superstitions : for as there is no agreement betwixt light and darknes , christ and beliall : so superstition and sincere religion , will-worship , and pure worship in spirit and truth , can neuer agree together . latimer . touching generall councels , i refer you to your owne experience in our parliaments , and conuocations : the most part in my time did bring forth the six articles , because then the king would so haue it : after the most part did repeale the same , because our good iosias would so haue it : the same articles now again the most part hath restored , because the queene will haue it ; after this sort most commonly are mens proceedings . anto. if in generall councels men should not folow most vo●ces , then should the church haue no certaine rule to determin waighty matters , but it is not to be beléeued that christ would leaue the church destitute of so necessary a help . rid. christ the most louing spouse of his espouse the church , did giue vnto it abundantly all things necessary to saluation , but so that the church should kéep her selfe within the obedience of his commandements , and not to séek any thing as necessary to saluation which he teacheth not : and for determination of all controuersies in religion , christ hath left vnto the church ▪ moses , and the prophets , which he willeth the church to aske councell of , and all the new testament , & that which is hard in moses and the prophets , is reuealed in them : so that wee haue no need to say , who shall clime vp to heauen , or who shall goe downe into the deepe to tell vs what is needfull to be done : christ hath done both , and commanded 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the word of faith ; and if we walke diligently therein , by his spirit we shall 〈…〉 out the truth ▪ and obtaine euerlasting life : as in esay . shall men-aske 〈…〉 of the dead for the liuing ? let them goe vnto the law & the testament : 〈…〉 christ ioh. . biddeth vs search the scriptures : and hierom saith , ignorance 〈…〉 scriptures is mother of errors vpon the . of mathew , and in another place he saith the knowledge of the scriptures is the food of euerlasting life , and we read not that christ in any place hath ●aid so great a burden vpon the members of his church that he hath commanded them to go vnto the vniuersal church : it is true that christ gaue vnto his church some apostles , and some prophets , some euangelists , some shepheards and teachers to the edifying of the saints , vntill we all come vnto the vnity of faith. but that all , out of all parts of the world , should méet together in councell , to define the articles of faith , it is not commanded of christ. lat. there is diuersitie betwixt things pertaining to god or faith , and politick and ciuill matters : for in the first we must stand only to the scriptures , which are able to make vs perfect vnto saluation : if by study and prayer we vnderstand them , and the most prudent men of the world are least apt to vnderstand them : but in ciuill matters being wee know not otherwise how to maintaine common peace and quiet , they doe ordaine that the most part shall take place . anto. it is perilous to attempt any new thing in the church , vnto which the example of the prophets , of christ , and of the apostles , are contrarie : for in their time all things were most corrupt , the people were miserably giuen to superstition , the priests despised the law of god , yet we neuer read that the prophets made any schismes , and christ haunted the temples and taught in them daily , peter and iohn went into the temple at the ninth houre of prayer , paule after the reading of the law desired to say some thing vnto the people : neyther christ nor his apostles did refuse to pray with others , to sacrifice or be partaker of moses law . ridley . the prophets , christ , nor the apostles did not communicate with the people in any kind of worshipping forbidden by the law , or repugmant to the word . saint aug●stine in his epistle ad ianuarium , speaking of the ceremonies of the iewes , he saith , they were burdens of the law which were deliuered by the word of god , and not by the presumptions of men ; but now the ceremonies are of men , and contrary to the word of god , and therefore not to be borne . in the story of tobias , when all other went to the golden calues of ieroboam to worship , hee alone went to the temple of the lord to worship in the third of kings the man of god threatned terrible plagues to the priest of bethell , and to the altar which ieroboam had made , which came to passe by king iosias . the prophets vehemently rebuked the people still for going a whoreing with their hill-altars : and this was the chiefe cause wherefore the false prophets ceased not to maligne the true prophets , therefore they beate them , and banished them . how otherwise can you vnderstand the saying of s. paul , what concord hath christ with beliall , the beleeuer with the infidel , & the temple of god with idols : for we are said to be gods temple because god dwelleth in vs : wherfore we are bidden to come out & seperat our selues from them , and to touch no vncleane thing , and god will receiue vs and be our father , and we shall be his sonnes and daughters . in the . of iudith , she would not defile her selfe with the meats of the wicked . the machabees died manfully in the defence of the law : s. augustine saith , if we praise the machabees for their stoutnesse for the law of moses , how much more ought we to suffer all things for our baptisme and the lords supper , which the masse vtterly abolisheth and corrupteth . anto. i perceiue you are so obstinatly wedded vnto your owne opinion , that no wholsome counsels can draw you to a better mind , therefore you must be handled by the lawes , and be either compelled thereto , or suffer the punishment of the law : he that refuseth to obey the lawes of the realme , is an enemy to his country . this is the readiest way to stir vp ciuill wars , it is better you should beare your owne ●●nne , then the common quiet to bee disturbed : how can you say you will bee the quéenes subiects , when you openly professe you will not kéepe her lawes . ridl . it is true , he that will not obey the gospell , must be forced thereto by the law , but this ought not to be against them which cannot bear superstitions , nor the ouerthrow of christs institutions , but detesteth such procéedings for the glorie of god , and they that loue their country in god , will rather obey god then man , & they that obey mans lawes against gods lawes , in pretence of the loue of their countrey , they make their countrey fight against god , in whom consisteth , the very stay of the countrey : such are the most deadly eeemies and traytors of their countrey , for they goe about to bring vpon the●r countrey a present ru●●e . sathan had euer this dart in readines to hurle against gods children , so accuse them of sodition that he may bring them in danger of the higher powers , so he hath vp his ministers alwayes charged the prophets : acab said to elias , thou art he that troubleth israel , and the false prophets complained to their princes of ieremy , that his wordes were seditious and not to be suffered ▪ the scribes and pharises accused christ as a seditious person , that spake against caesar , and at length ●ryed , if thou let him goe thou art not caesars friend : tertullian accused paule before felix , that he was a pestilent fellow and a stirrer of sedition . but these men were not so , but of false men falsly accused , onely because they openly reproued their guiles , superstitions and deceits . a man ought to obey his prince , but in the lord , and neuer against the law of the lord : for he that louingly obeyeth his prince against god , is a deceiuer of his prince , and helpeth him to worke his owne destruction : wee must giue vnto the prince that which is his , and vnto god that which is his . valentinianus the emperour chusing the bishop of millan , said , he set him in his seat for this cause , that if we doe offend we may submit our selues vnto him . polycarpus the most constant martyr , when he ●●ood before the chiefe ruler , was commaunded to blasph●me christ , and to sweare by the fortune of caesar ; we are taught ( quoth he ) to giue honour vnto princes , but such honour as is not contrary to gods religion . hvgh latimer . this constant martyr was the sonne of one hugh latimer of thirkesson , in the countie of leicester , a husbandman of wealthy and good estimation : he studying diuinitie in cambridge , at the first was zealous in the popish religion , and so scrupelous ( as hee himselfe confesseth ) that being a priest , and vsing to say masse , hee did so obserue the romish decrees , that he thought he had neuer mingled enough his massing wine with water , and hee was of the opinion that he should neuer be damned , if once he were a professed frier , with diuers such superstitious fantasies , and in his blind zeale hee was a very enemy vnto the professors of the truth , and when he tooke the degree of proceeding batcheler of diuinitie , he made his oration against philpot , melancton , & his works : then maister bilney , as before is said , perswaded him to forsake his former studie of the schoole doctors , and such fooleries , and to become a true scholler in true diuinitie : so that where before hee was an enemy , and almost a persecutor of the gospell of christ , hee was now an earnest seeker after christ iesus , and became both a publike preacher , and a priuate instructer of his brethren in the uniuersitie two yeares , but sathan neuer sleepeth when he seeth his kingdome decay : he raised his children to trouble him . latimer in his sermons before christmas gaue the people certaine cardes , out of the fift , sixt , and seuenth of mathew : wherevpon they might occupy the time , for the chiefe carde he limited the heart , as the principall thing they should serue god with , and thereby hee ouerthrew all hypocriticall , and externall ceremonies , to that end he wished the scriptures to bee read altogether in the english tongue , that the common people might thereby learne their dueties to god and their neighbours : hereby hee wrought in the hearers much fruit , to the ouerthrow of popish superstition , and setting vp of true religion . the sonday before christmas day , in his sermon he deliuered his cards as aforesaid , making the heart the chiefe carde , inuiting all men to serue 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 shew of mens traditions , of pardons , pilgrimages , ceremonies , vowes , deuotions , voluntarie workes , and works of supererogation , foundations , oblations , the popes supremacie : you may sée two sermons of his to this effect in the booke 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 , wherby to proue that it were not expedient that the scriptures should be in english , lest the vulgar people by the occasion thereof should be brought to leaue their vocation , or to runne into some inconuenience ; as the plowman , when he heares that , no man laying his hand vnto the plough and looking backe , is meete for the kingdome of heauen , might perhaps cease from his plough : likewise the baker , when he heareth that a little leauen corrupteth a whole lump of dough , may perchance leaue our bread vnleauened , and so our bodies shall be vnseasoned : and when the simple man heareth , if thine eye offend thee , pluck it out and cast it from thee , may make himselfe blinde , and so fill the world full of beggers . these , with other moe , he brought to the number of fiue : yet master latimer , notwithstanding all his aduersaries ( which were man● ) together with master bilney , continued in cambridge a certaine space : they vsed much to conferre and to walke together in the fields : the place of their conference was long time after called by the name of hereticks hill . these two did often visit the prisoners , relie●e the needy , and feed the hungry . there was a woman laide in prison for suspition of murdering her childe , she denying it , they searching into the matter found that her husband loued her not , and therefore sought to make her away . the matter was thus : her childe hauing bin sicke a whole yeare , died in haruest , then she went to haue her neighbours to helpe to burie it ▪ but all ware at haruest ; whereby she was inforced to prepare the child to buriall her selfe : her husband comming home accused her of murthering the childe . master latimer thinking in his conscience that she was not guiltie , 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 knéeled downe and opened the whole matter to the king , and begged her pardon , which the king graunted , and gaue it him when he went home . in the meane time the woman was brought a bedde in prison , and master latimer was god-father , but hee told her not of the pardon , but laboured to haue her confesse 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 iewes , and not for vs , and how women be as well in the fauour of god before purification as after . and when they had brought her into a good way , they shewed her the kings pardon , and let her goe . many moe like good matters were wrought by him , but the more his vertues and good doings began to be knowne , the more his aduersaries began to spurn against him . one doctor redman , of great authoritie in cambridge , séeing the boldnesse of master latimer , in setting abroad the gospell , he wrote to him earnestly , requiring him for charities sake not to stand so much in his owne conceit , nor to preferre his singular iudgement in matters of religion and controuersies , before so many learned men and the whole catholike church , hauing neither the word of god , nor the testimony of any authentike writer to make for you : consider you are but a man , therfore lying and vanity may quickly bleare your eyes , which doth somtime transforme it selfe into an angell of light : suffer not the church to take offence by the hardnes of your heart , let not the vnitie of christs coat without seame be torne asunder , trust not in your owne wisdome . to which he answered , it is enough for me that christs sheepe heare no mans voyce but christs : you haue no voyce of christ against me : for my part i haue a heart that is readie to hearken to any voyce of christs that you can bring me ; so fare you well , and trouble me not any more from the talking with the lord my god. at length m. latimer was called before the cardinall for heresie , by the procurement of his aduersaries , where he was content to subscribe to such articles as were propounded vnto him . after he was appointed for one of them that laboured for the kings supremacie , and remaining at court , he preached often in london : after , at the sute 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 countrey round about , but there also he could not escape without enemies . it so chanced that hee preaching vpon the uirgin marie , he proued that christ was her sauiour . certaine popish priests being therewith offended , drew articles against him concerning the matter of our ladie , of praying vnto saints , and of purgatorie : to which articles he answered in effect as followeth ; to reproue certaine priests and beneficed men which giue so much to our lady , as though she had not bin saued by christ , which is the sauiour of her and of all that be or shall be saued . i did reason that either she was a sinner or no sinner ; if a sinner , then she was deliuered from sinne by christ , or if she were no sinner she was preserued from sinne by him , so he was her sauiour which way soeuer you take it . images of saints are called saints : to pray to these saints is idolatrie . saints in heauen doe of charity pray for vs , but we are not commanded to pray to them , for christ only is a holy mediator for them and vs. the scurfe must be taken away from pilgrimage before it be good , to wit superstition , idolatrie , false faith , and trust in the image , debts must be paide , restitutions made , wife and children prouided for , duety to our poore neighbours discharged , and when it is at best , be●fore it be vowed it néed not be done , for god commandeth it not . i said the aue 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 sauior christ made , and bade vs say for a prayer , not adding that we should say ten or twenty aue mariaes with it . the torment of hell is not a materiall fire , no more then it is a materiall stinging of a worme or snake , but a metaphor signifying the paine , torment , anguish , griefe , miserie , sorrow , and heauines inexplicable and intollerable , whose nature and condition none can tell . that the soules that are not in hell , are in as great ioy as soules can be , and cannot be put from eternall ioy , and suffer no paine , of charitie they pray for vs , and haue no need that we should pray for them , and besides this there is no other purgatorie . i had rather be there then in the bishop of londons prison , though they call the fire thereof neuer so hote , 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 neuer found abbey , colledge , or chauntery for that purpose . prouision for purgatorie hath brought thousands to hell , debts haue not beene paide , nor lands and goods euill gotten restored , poore people are suffered to perish for want , and all to builde religious houses to deliuer out of purgatorie , and to pay for dirges , masses , and ringing of bells to carrie vs to hell withall ; who can purge pilgrimage from idolatrie , and purgatorie from robberie , but he shall be in suspition of heresie ? as for pilgrimage , you would wonder what iugling there is to get money withall , i dwell by the way , and you would admire how they come by flockes out of the west countrey to many images , but cheef●ly to the blood of hayles , and they beléeue verily it is the blood of christs body , shed vpon mount caluarie for our saluation , and that the sight of it doth certifie them out of doubt , that their sinnes are forgiuen , and they are in state of saluation . if you should common with them comming and going what faiths they haue , you would wonder , they cannot away with forgiuing their enemies , and reconciling themselues vnto their brethren , for the sight of that blood doth quite them for the time ; they that did violently and miraculously plucke the blood out of christs body , by whipping and wounding him , saw his blood , and yet were not thereby in cléere life . christ doth suffer the diuell to vse his craftie fashion for our probation : it were very little thanke to beléeue well , if nothing should mooue vs to beléeue superstitiously ; it was not in vaine , when christ had taught vs truly , that he had vs beware of false prophets . these points following his aduersaries preached , y ● christs 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 , whatsoeuer he doth , is well done : pater noster is to be said vnto saint peter : pater noster is but a beggerly prayer , aue maria is infinitly better , there must be twentie aue mariaes for one pater noster , aue maria was before pater noster , and shall bee after : it was not necessary that the scriptures should be written : christ saying , he that leaueth father or mother , praueth our pilgrimage , with many moe . many dangerous hazards he suffered amongst the popes friends and gods enemies , for the gospell sake . when there was a proclamation set forth for the calling in of the bible in english , and many other good bookes , he hazarded himselfe to write to king henry the eight to disswade him therefrom , which letter thou mayest see in the booke 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 yeares , instructing his diocesse according to a diligent pastor , but ( as before ) both in the uniuersitie , and at his benefiee he was tossed and turmoyled by the wicked , so in his bishopricke 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 certaine yeares , vntill the comming vp of the sixe articles , and altering of religion , so when he could not keepe his bishopricke with a good conscience , of his owne free will he resigned the same : at which time shaxton bishop of salesburie resigned also with him his bishopricke . these two remained a great space vnbishopped , keeping silence vntill the time of king edward . a little after latimer had renounced his bishopricke , hee was sore bruised with the fall of a tree , and comming to london for remedy , hee was troubled of the bishops , and at length was cast into the tower , where he continued prisoner vntill the raigne of king edward , then the golden mouth of this preacher , shut vp long before , was opened againe , and beginning a fresh to set forth his plough againe , and continued all the time of the said king , labouring in the lords haruest most fruitfully : hee preached for the most part twice euery sunday to no small shame of vnpreaching prelates , which occupied great rome , to doe little good : he did most euidently prophes●e of all these kinde of plagues which after ensued : so plainely that if england euer had a prophet , he might seeme to be one , and he did euer affirme , that the preaching of the gospel would cost him his life , and he was certainely perswaded 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 vnto him ( by the doing no doubt of winchester ) latimer had warning thereof six houres before the purseuant came , whereby he might haue ●scaped , but he prepared himselfe towards his iourney before the purse●ant came , who maruelled to sée him so prepared for his iourney , he told the purseuant , he was a welcome guest , and be it knowne vnto you and the whole world ; that i goe as willingly to london at this present , being called of my prince to giue a reckoning of my faith and doctrine , as euer i was to goe vnto 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 witnesse the same to the third , either to her comfort or discomfort eternally . when the purseuant had deliuered his letters , he departed , affirming that hee was not commaunded to tarry for him : whereby it appeared , they would not haue him appeare , but rather to haue fled out of the realme : they knew his constancy would deface them in popery , and confirme the godly in the truth . when he came through smithfield , he said merrily , smithfield bad long groned for him : after he had béene before the councell , hee 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 maist sée before , where they continued vntill this time in continual prayer , godly conference and writing . latimer sometimes continued so long knéeling at prayer , that hee was not able to arise without helpe : three thinges especially he prayed for in his prayers : first , as god hath appointed him to preach his word , so hee would giue him grace to stand to the same vntill his death : secondly , that god would restore his gospel vnto england againe once more : which once more hee inculcated oftentimes into the eares of the lord , as if he had spoken vnto him face to face : thirdly , hee prayed for the preseruation of queene elizabeth , then but lady elizabeth , whom with ●eares he still named , desiring god to make hee a comforter to this comfortles realme , the lord most graciously granted al these things which he requested . the twentith day of september , a commission was sent from the cardinall to the bishops of lincolne , glocester , and bristow , to examine doctor ridley , and maister latimer , vpon 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 reall presence of christ was in the sacrament : d. ridley first appeared before them ; when the commission was read , he standing bare-headed , assoon as he heard the cardinall named , and the popes holines : he put on his cap , the bishop of lincolne reprehended him for it , and told him if he would not of himselfe put off his cap another should doe it for him : he answered , that it was not done for any contumacy that he bare vnto their own persons , nor for any derogation of the cardinall in that he was borne of the bloud royall , & was indued with much le●rning & excellent vertues ●ut in that he is legate to the pope , ( and with that he put on his cap ) whose vsurped supremacie i vtterly renounce , which i will not onely denounce in words , but in gesture , be●auiour , and all my doings expresse the same : wherevpon by the commandement of the bishop of lincoln his cap was taken off : he appeared twice , and thus he did at both times , their answeres 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 subiects to the king and queene : to the first point they did confesse that in the sacrament , by spirit and grace , is the very body and bloud of christ , because that euery man receiuing bodily the bread and wine in the sacrament , spiritually receiue the body and bloud of christ , and thereby is partaker of the merits of his passion , but they denied the naturall body and bloud 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 christs 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 dignitie to exhibit christs body , for now it is an holy bread sanctified by gods word . the third question was , whether the masse were a liuely and propitiatorie sacrifice for them aliue , 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 vp christ againe for the sinnes of man ; neither is there any propitiation for our sins , but his crosse only . and because neither for feare nor flatterie they could be made to recant , at their second sitting they were condemned , disgraded , and deliuered to the secular power . upon the north-side of the towne of oxford , in the ditch , ouer against baliol colledge , the place of execution was appointed , doctor ridley came vnto the stake in a faire black gowne , such as he was wont to weare when he was bishop , with a tippet of sables about his neck ; m. latimer came in a poore frize frock , in one they might behold the honor they sometimes had , in the other the calamitie whereunto they were now descended : after doctor ridley had prayed , seeing the chéerfulnes of m. latimer he ran vnto him , imbraced him , and kissed him , saying , be of good heart brother , for god will either asswage the fury of the flame , or else strengthen vs to abide it . then doctor smith began his sermon vpon . co. . if i giue my body to the fire to be burned , and haue not charity , i shall gaine nothing thereby : wherein he alledged that neither the holinesse of the person , nor the manner of the death , but the goodnes of the cause made a martyr ; this he pr●ued by the example of iudas and many others , which then might be counted righteous because they desperatly sundred their liues from their bodies ( as he feared these men that stood before him would do ) and still he cried vnto the people to beware of them , for they were hereticks & died out of the church : at last he exhorted them to recant and come home again vnto the church , & saue their liues and soules , which else were condemned . they would haue answered him , but some ran to them & stopt their mouthes with their hands , & would not suffer them to speak . then doctor ridley said , heauenly father , i giue thée most hearty thanks that thou hast called me to be a professor of thée , euen vnto death : i beséech thée be mercifull to this realme of england , and deliuer the same from all her enemies . when the fire was kindled he cried , into thy hands i commit my spirit , lord receiue my spirit , crying often , lord , lord receiue my spirit : m. latimer crying as vehemently on the other side , o father of heauen receiue my soule . 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 nouember , the next moneth after the burning of ridley and latimer , in which moneth the quéen died : thrée 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 vp in oxford : his wit , capacity , and memory were excellent if they had bin well applied : he was high-minded , flattering his own conceit too much towards his superiours ; he was politick and pleasant , to his inferiors fierce ; against his equals stout and enuious if they any thing withstood him in iudgment : it was constantly reported that the nayles of his toes were crooked and sharp downward like the clawes 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 peruerting his princes , in bringing in the sixe articles , in murthering gods saints , and in defacing christs most true religion , but especially for that he had thought to haue murthered our noble and religious quéene elizabeth ; for hee was the cause of all her danger : and if it bee certaine which we haue heard that a writ came downe from certaine of the councell 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 quéen of the matter , and there by preuented achitophels bloudy deuices , as bonner , storie , thornton , harpsfield , downing , with others , were occupied in putting the branches to death ; so gardner bent his deuices in assaying the root , in casting such a plot to build vp his poperie , as he thought it should stand for euer : whether he died with his tongue swolne out of his mouth , as arundell bishop of canterburie did , or whether he stunke before he died , as cardinall wolsey did , who after he had vsed coniuration before , so after he had poysoned himselfe by the way ; at his buriall he was so heauie that they let him fall , and he gaue such a sauor that they could not abide him , with such a suddaine tempest about him , that all the torches went out , and could beare no light , or whether he died in dispaire , i referre all this vnto their reports , of whom i heard it . a great doer about winchester reported that the bishop of chichester comming vnto gardner , began to comfort him with gods promises , and with frée iustification in the bloud of christ : he said , what , my lord , will you open that gap now , then farewell altogether ? to me and such other you may speake it , but open this window to the people , and then farewell altogether . iohn web gentleman , george roper , and george parke . these were condemned by the bishop of douer , and harpsfield , for de●ying the reall presence in the sacrament of the altar , and were burned in one fire at canterburie , abiding most patiently their torments , and counting themselues blessed that they were worthy to suffer for the gospell . william wiseman and iames gore . this wiseman died in lollards tower , being there for religion : the holy catholike church cast him out into the fields , and commaunded that no man should burie him ▪ according as their deuout manner is to all that die in that sort , whom they account not worthy of buriall , but to be cast to dogges and birds , yet good men buried him in the night . iames gore being in the prison at colchester for the truth of gods word , died much about this time . iohn philpot . hee was sir peter philpots sonne in hampshire , brought vp in new colledge in oxford : going from oxford into italy , comming from uenice to padua he was in danger through a franciscan frier accompanying him in his iourney , who comming to padua accused him of heresie . in king edwards time he had diuers 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 quéen maries time he being one of the conuocation , with a few other sustained the cause of the gospell manfully against the aduersary part , as is before recited , wherefore he was called to account before gardner , and examined by him , and then hée was remoued to bonner and other commissioners , with whom he had diuers conflicts , as in his examinations hereafter following may appeare , when he had lien a yeere and a halfe in the marshalsey , being twice examined , but no point of religion handled : then hee was committed to the bishop of londons cole-house , where he found a married priest of essex named thomas whittle , this minister greatly lamented his owne infirmitie , for that through imprisonment hee was constrained by writing to yeelde to the bishop of london , and was set at liberty , and after felt such an hell in his conscience that hee could scarce refraine from destroying himselfe , and could not bee at quiet vntill he hauing got the bishops register to see his bill , hee tore it in peeces , and after he was as ioifull a man as any could be : when boner heard thereof be sent for him , and buffeted him , and plucked off a peece of his beard , but now he is ioyfull vnder the crosse . he was thirtéene or fourtéene times in priuate and publikely examined , his answeres that concerne any point of religion heere follow . the third examination . boner . you must be of the church for there is but one church . phil. i am sure i am in the church , & i know by the scriptures that there is but one doue , one spouse , one beloued congregation , out of the which there is no saluation : this church is builded vpon the word of god. bon. you are not in the same faith , in which you were baptized . phil. i was baptized into the faith of christ , which i now hold . bon. you were twenty yeares agone of another faith. phil. i was then of no faith , a wicked liuer , neither hote nor cold . bon. doe you not think we are of a true faith ? phil. i am sure gods word throughly , with the primitiue church , and all ancient writers doe agree with this faith that i am ●ff . bon. i maruell you are so merry in prison , singing and reioycing in your naughtines , you should rather lament . phil. the mirth we make is but singing of psalmes , as s. paul willeth vs to be merry in the lord , singing together in hymnes , and psalmes , wee are in a darke comfortles place , therefore it becommeth vs to be merry , as salomon saith , least sorrowfulnes eate vp our hearts : then i was carried to the cole-house : where i with my six fellowes rouse together in the straw as cheerefully we thank god as others doe in their doune beds . the fourth examination . worcest . before he beginneth to speak , it is best for him to call to god for grace to open his heart that he may conceaue the truth . phil. then i fell vpon my knees , and said , almighty god , the giuer of wisedom , i beséech thée of thine infinit goodnes in christ , to giue me , most vile sinner , the spirit of wisedome , to speake and make answer in thy cause , to the content of the hearers , and to my better vnderstanding , if i be deceiued in any thing . boner . may my lord of vvorcester , you did not well to exhort him to prayer , for they haue a singular pride heerein : they are heerein like certaine hereticks that pliny maketh mention off : they did ●ing dayly praises to god , before the dawning of the day . phil. god make me and you such hereticks , for they were right christians , with whom the tyrants of the world were offended for their well doing . col. where can you proue that the church of rome hath erred at any time : eusebius saith , the church was established at rome by peter , and paul , and peter was bishop there . yeares . phil. i know eusebius saith so , but if you compare him with saint paul to the galathians , it will appeare manifestly to the contrarie : he liued not past fiue and thirty yeares after he was called to be an apostle : and s. paul maketh mention of his abiding aboue eighteene yeares , and i am able to proue by eusebius and others , that the church of rome hath manifestly erred , because shee agreeth not with that which the primitiue church did vse according to the gospel in their time as they write , there need no other proofe , but compare the one with the other . bon. ought we to dispute with you of our faith : iustinian in the law hath a title , de fide catholica to the contrarie . phil. that is true , but our faith must not depend vpon the ciuill law : ambrose saith , not the law , but the gospell hath gathered the church together . worcest . you are to blame , you cannot be content to be of the church , which hath euer been of that faith full of antiquitie . phil. i haue been at rome , where i saw your lordship . worcest . i am sory you haue been there , for the wickednes which you saw there peraduenture causeth you to doe as you doe . phil. i am taught otherwise by the gospell , not altogether to refuse the minister for his euill liuing , so that hee bring forth doctrine according to gods word . worcest , doe you thinke the vniuersall church may be deceiued ? phil. saint paul prophesieth that there shall be an vniuersall falling away from the faith in the later times . col. that is not ment of faith but of th' empire , the greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so signifieth . phil. the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly a departing from the faith , and thereof commeth apostata , which signifieth one that departeth from the faith. worcest . i am sory you should be against the christian world . phil. the world commonly and such as be called christians ( for the multitude ) hated the truth and be enemies vnto the same . worcest . doe you thinke the vniuersall church hath erred , and you onely to be of the truth . phil. the church that you bee of was neuer vniuersall : for two parts of the world , asia , and africa , neuer consented to the supremacie of the bishop of rome , not to this day , neither follow his decrees . glo. yes in florentines councell they did agree . phil. it was so said by false report , after they were gone home , it was not so indeed , as the sequell of them all hitherto doth proue the contrary . glo. by whom will you bee iudged in matters of controuersie , which happen dayly . phil. by the word of god : for christ saith in s. iohn , the word that hee spoke shall be iudge in the latter day . glo. what if you take the word one way , and i another way , who shall bee iudge . phil. the doctors of the primitiue church . glo. what if you take the doctors in one sence , and i in another . phil. then let that be taken which most agreeth to gods word . worcest . it is wonder how he standeth with a few against a great number . phil. we haue almost as many as you : we haue asia , africa , germany , denmarke , and a great part of france , & dayly the number of the gospel doth increase , and a multitude doth dayly come out of france through persecution , that the cities of germany are scarce able to receiue them : therefore your lordship may be sure the word of god will one day take place , doe what you can to the contrarie . the fift examination . couen . doe you not beléeue your créed , i beléeue in the catholick church . phil. yes , but i cannot vnderstand rome to be the same , nor the like to it . s. asse . s. peter builded the catholick church at rome : and christ saith thou art peter , and vpon this rock i will build my church , and the succession of bishops can be proued in rome from time to time , as it can be of no other place so well , which is a manifest proofe of the catholick church , as diuers doctors do● write . phil. you cannot proue the rock , that christ would build his church on , to bee rome ; and though you can proue the succession of bishops , it is not sufficient to proue rome the catholick church , vnlesse you can proue the succession of peters faith ? where vpon the catholick church is builded to continue in his successors at rome : and at this present to remaine there . couen . what meaneth this word catholick ? phil. the catholick faith or catholick church is not that which is most vniuersall or of men receiued , wherby you d●e infer your faith to hang vpon the multitude , which is not so : we iudge ( saith s. augustine ) the catholick faith , of that which hath been , is , and shall be : so that if you can proue your catholick church and faith , hath been taught from the beginning , and is , and shall be , then may you count your selues catholicks , otherwise not : catholick in gréeke is compounded of ● which signifieth according and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a summe , or principle , or whole , so that catholick church or faith , is as much to say as the first , hole , sound , & chéefest faith . boner . doe you thinke the catholick church hath erred , vntill within these few yeares some haue swarued from the same . phil. i doe not thinke the catholick church hath erred : but i require you to proue the church of rome the catholick church . curtop . ireneus , who was within a hundred yeares after christ , came to victor bishop of rome , to aske his aduice about excommunication of certaine hereticks , which he would not haue done if hee had not taken him to bee supreme head , and couentry bad him marke this argument . phil. this fact of ireneus proueth no more for the supremacie then mine hath done , for i haue béen at rome as well as he , and could haue spoken with the pope and if i would : yet would there were none in england fauoured his supremacie more then i : and it is not like that ireneus , or the primatiue church so take him , for i can shew . generall councels after ireneus time : wherin he was neuer so taken in many hundred y●eres after christ : these be the councels ; the nicentine , ephesine , the first , & second : calcedone , constantinopolitane , carthagenense , auilence . couen . wherefore will you not admit the church of rome to be the catholick church . phil. because it followeth not , nor agréeth with the primitiue church , no more then an apple is like a nut : it were too long to name all the disagréements : i will name but two : the supremacie , and transubstantiation . curtop . although transubstantiation were decréed for an article of the faith , not aboue . yeares , yet it was alwaies beléeued . boner said , that was well said . phil. it is true , it was but lately planted by the bishop of rome , and you cannot shew any ancient writer that the primitiue church did beleeue any such thing , with that master curtop shrunke away . couen . can you disproue the church of rome , not to be the catholick church . phil. yes that i can , but i desire rather to heare you proue it : first it doth not agree with the primitiue church , neither in doctrine , nor in the vse of sacraments : and as you describe catholick to be vniuersall ; the church of rome was neuer vniuersall : for the world being diuided into three parts : asia , africa , europe : two parts asia , and africa , professing christ as well as wee , did neuer consent to the church of rome , and the most part of europe doth not agrée nor allow the church of rome : as germany , denmarke , the kingdome of pole , a great part of france , england , and zeland , which is a manifest probation that your church is not vniuerfall , doctor sauer . i am sory to sée you commune with so many learned men , and are no more conformable vnto them then you be . phil. i will be conformable vnto them that be conformable to christ & his word : i pray ( master doctor ) be not so conformable to please men more then god , contrarie to your learning for worldly estimation , you are led away from the truth for promotion sake as many doctors be now adaies . sauer . saint cyprian , ( an ancient writer ) doth allow the bishop of rome to be supreme head of the church . phil. i am sure he doth not , for he writing to cornelius bishop of rome , called him his companion and fellow bishop , and calleth him not pope nor any other vsurped termes , which are now ascribed vnto the bishop of rome . then they brought forth cyprian , and turned vnto the third epistle , where hee saith it goeth not well with the church , when the high priest is not obayed , which supplieth the steed of christ , after gods word , and the consent of the bishops , and the agreement of the people . sauer . how can you auoid this place which maketh so plaine for the bishop of rome his supremacie . phil. it maketh not so plaine : first heare you may see that he calleth cornelius his fellow bishop , as he doth also in other places , you do misconstrue that same to make the high priest onely for the bishop of rome , and otherwise then it was in his time : for there were by the nicen● councell foure patriaches appointed : the patriarke of ierusalem , and the patriarke of constantinople : the patriarke of alexandria , and the patriarke of rome : of which foure the patriarch of rome was lowest placed in the councell , and so continued many yeares for the time of seuen or eight generall conncels : therefore cyprian writeth vnto cornelius , patriarck of rome , because certaine hereticks , as the n●uatians which were excommunicated by him , went from his dioces ▪ to the patriarcks of rome , or of constantinople , and there were receiued in the communion of there congregation in derogation of good discipline , and maintaining of schismes : in that obedience is not giuen vnto the priest of god , being in christs steede , not meaning the patriarck of rome onely , but euery patriarck in his precinet , who had euery one of them a cathedrall church of learned priests , in hearing of whom by a conuocation of all his fellow bishops , with the consent of the people , all heresies were determined by the word of god , and this is the meaning of cyprian . sauer . i wonder you will stand so stedfast in your errour to your owne destruction . phil. i am sure we are in no errour , by the promise of christ to the faithfull , that he will giue them such a spirit of wisedome , that the aduersaries therof should be neuer able to resist , and by this wee know wee are of the truth , because neither by reasoning nor writing your synagogue of rome is able to answere one of the learned ministers of germany , who hath disclosed your counterset religion , which of all you is able to answere caluins institutions : then doctor story came in , to whom i said you haue done me great iniury , without law you haue imprisoned me more like a dog then a man , and you promised mee i should be iudged the next day after . story . i am come now to kéep my promise with you , was there euer such a fantasticall man as he is ; may he is no man but a beast : yea these hereticks bee worse then beasts , for they will take vpon them to be wiser then all men ; being very asseheads , not able to maintaine that which they stand in . phil. i am content to abide your rayling iudgement , god forgiue you : yet i am no heretick , neither you nor any other can proue that i hold any iot against the word of god. story . the word of god : whom wilt thou appoint to be a iudge of the word ? phil. the word it selfe . story . doe you not sée the ignorance of this beastly heretick , hee willeth the word to be iudge of the word , can the word speake . phil. christ saith in s. iohn , the word which i haue spoken , shall iudge in the last day : therefore much more it ought to iudge our doing now , and i am sure i haue my iudge on my side , which shall absolue and iustifie me in another world , howsoeuer you iudge me and other vnrighteously , sure i am in another world to iudge you . story . what , you purpose to be a stinking martyr , and to sit in iudgment with christ at the last day , to iudge the twelue tribes of israell . phil. yea , i doubt not thereof , i haue the promise of christ if i die for righteousnesse sake , which you haue begun to persecute in me . story . when the iudge in westminster hall giueth sentence , doth the word giue sentence , or the iudge , tell me . phil. ciuill men haue authority by the word of god , to be iudges of ciuill matters : but the word of god is not subiect to mans iudgement , but ought to iudge al the wisedome , thoughts , and doings of men ; therefore your comparison disproueth nothing which i haue said , nor answereth thereto . story . wilt thou not allow the interpretation of the church vpon the scripture . phil. yes , if it be according vnto the word of the true church . story . and not wee in possession of the church , and haue not our fore-fathers this many hundred yeares , taken this church for the catholike church , and if we had no other proofe , this were sufficient , for presumption of time , maketh a good title in law. phil. you doe well to alleadge prescription , for it is all that you haue to shew for your selues , but you must vnderstand , that presciption hath no place in matters appertaining vnto god , as i can shew you by the testimonie of many doctors . story . well sirs , you are like to go after your fathers , latimer and ridley , who had nothing to alledge for himselfe , but that he had learned his heresie of cranmer , where i came vnto him with a poore bacheler of art , & he trembled as though he had had the palsie , as these hereticks haue alwaies some token of feare , whereby a man may know them , as you may sée this mans eies to tremble in his head , but i dispatched them : and i tell thée , that there hath yet béen neuer a one burned , but i haue spoken with him , and béene a cause of his dispatch . phil. you haue the more to answer for , you shall féele it in another world , howsoeuer you do now triumph thereof . story . i will neuer be confessed thereof , i cannot tarry to speake with my lord , i pray one of you tell my lord , my comming is to signifie vnto him , that hee must put of hand rid this hereticke out of the way , and going he said vnto me ; i tel thée thou must thank no other man but me for this . phil. i thanke you with all my heart , and god forgiue you . story . what dost thou thanke me , if i had thée in my study halfe an houre , i thinke i should make you sing another song . phil. no , i stand vpon to sure a ground to be ouerthrowne by you now . the ninth examination . harps . my lord hath sent you s. augustine to looke vpon , i will read you an epistle where you may heare the celebration of the masse . phil. héere is nothing that maketh for the proofe of the masse : saint augustine meaneth of the celebration of the communion , and the true vse of the sacrament of the body and blood of christ , and not of your priuate masse , which you lately haue erected in the stead thereof , for this word ( masse ) hath bin an old terme attributed to the communion , euen from the primitiue church . i pray you tell me what missa doth signifie , i thinke many that say masse cannot tell , but then cousins and the masse-priests were dumbe . harps . you think it commeth of the hebrew word massah , as though none were séene in the hebrew but you . phil. i take the communion to be called missa , a mittendo , of such things as were sent by the rich to the reléefe of the poore , alwaies when the communion was celebrated : for this cause was it called missa , as learned men do witnes , at the which celebration of the masse , all that were present did communicate vnder both kinds , according to christs institution , as they did in s. augustines time : so being you cannot proue the masse vsed at that time as you now vse it , you can neuer proue it a sacrament by the name of the masse , which name was giuen to the communion . harps . what do you deny the masse to be a sacrament , it is a sacrifice which is more then a sacrament . phil. you can neuer make it a sacrifice , but first you must make it a sacrament , for of the sacrament you deduce your sacrifice . harps . doth not christ say , this is my body , and doth not the priest pronounce the same . phil. the pronuntiation of the words is not enough , except they be applied vnto the vse that christ appointed them : for though you speake the words of baptisme ouer the water , yet if there be none baptized , it is no baptisme . harps . that this is not like , for this is my body is an indicatiue proposition , shewing the worke of god in the substance of bread and wine . phil. it is not only an indicatiue proposition , but an imparatiue , or commaunding ; for he that said , this is my body , said also , take ye , eate ye ; and except it bée taken and eaten , the words ( this is my body ) can haue no verification . masse chapl. will you make the sacrament to stand in the receiuing , and that the receiuing maketh it a sacrament . phil. i say the common receiuing must néeds be concurrant with the true sacrament , without which it cannot be a sacrament , because christ hath made this a principle part of the sacrament , take ye , eat ye ; which you do not in your masse , wherefore it can be no sacrament , because it wanteth christs institution . cosins . wee forbid none to come to it , but as many as list may be partakers thereof with vs at masse , if they require it . phil. nay , you will minister but one kind vnto them , which is not after christs institution , & ye ought to exhort them that be present , to make a sacrifice of thanksgiuing for christs passion , and to bee partakers with you , and by preaching shew the lords death , which you do not . masse-priest . if the sacrament of the masse be no sacrament , vnlesse all doe receiue it , because christ saith , take ye , eate ye , then the sacrament of baptisme is no sacrament , where there is but one baptized , because christ said to his apostles , go preach the gospell to all creatures , baptizing all nations . phil. baptizing all nations , is meant of all sorts of nations , and to exclude none that beléeue , whether iew or gentile , not meaning all at once , for that were impossible ▪ and christ alone was baptized of iohn , and the eunuch baptized phillip , with many moe such like , but you haue no such example of the body and blood of christ : but s. paul commendeth to vs , to vse it in a communion and participation of many together , in the sixt to the corinthians , as oft as you come together to eate the lords supper , tarry one for another . and the minister speaketh to all in christs behalfe , to communicate with him , saying : take ye , eat ye , therfore all that be present & do not communicate , break gods commandements , & he is no iust minister that doth not distibute the sacrament as christ did , to al that are present , where gods word is transgressed , christ is not present , and therefore no sacrament . harps . will you haue it no sacrament except it be a communion . phil. gods words teacheth so : chrysostome vpon the epistle to the ephesians , saith , the oblation is in vaine where none doth communicate with the priest , therefore your masse , where none eateth thereof but the priest alone , is a vaine oblation , and a vaine standing at the altar . i pray tell me what the pronoune this , in the words , this is my body , doth demonstrate . harps . it doth demonstrate the substance of bread , which by the omnipotency of god , and the words of the priest , is turned into the substance of christs body . phil. why , then christs body receiueth daily a great increase of many . pieces of bread into his body , & his body is become that which it was not before : so you would make an alteration in christs glorified body , which is a wicked thing to do . harps . the substance of bread after the words spoken by the priest , is vanished away by the omnipotency of god. phil. this is another song , heere you may sée how contrary you are vnto your selues : your schoolemen hold , that the very substance of bread is really turned into the substance of christs body , and now of late you perceiue the inconuenience of that opinion : you imagine a new shift , and say the substance of bread is euacuated , contrary to that your church hath beléeued and taught , and all is to deface the sincere truth . harps . is not god omnipotent , and can he not doe as he hath said ? phil. but his omnipotency will not do contrary to his word and honour , it is not gods honour to include him bodily in a péece of bread , and of necessity tye him therto : and for to make a péece of bread god and man , which you sée before your face , doth putrifie after a time , god is as able to giue his body with the sacramentall bread , and it is contrary to the scripture , which calleth it bread many times after consecration , you take away the substantiall parts of the sacrament ; as take ye , eat ye , drinke ye all of this , doe this in remembrance of me : and place in their stéeds , heare ye , gase ye , knock ye , worship yee , offer ye , sacrifice ye , for the quick and the dead : is not this blasphemy to god and his sacraments , and contrary to the mind of all ancient writers , and contrary to the example of christ and his apostles ; and this is the substance of all his examinations and arguments . hee did often tell them they were blind guides of the blind , and as i am bound to tell you , you are very hypocrites , tyrannous●y persecuting the truth : your owne doctors and euidences you bring , be directly against you ; you must beare with me s●●ing i speake in christs cause , and because his glory is defaced , and his people cruelly and wrongfully slaine by you , because they will not consent to the dishonour of god , and to hypocrisie with you , if i told you not your fault , it should be required at my hands in the day of iudgement ; therefore know you ( ye hypocrites ) that it is the spirit of god that telleth you your sin : i passe not i thanke god of all your crueltie , god giue you grace to repent . being brought to new-gate after he was condemned , when alexander the kéeper came in ; ah said alexander , hast thou not done well to bring thy selfe hither : maister philpot said , i must be content , it is gods appointment , and i shall desire you to haue your gentle fauour , for you and i haue béene of old acquaintance : well said alexander , if you will recant i will shew you any pleasure that i can● nay said maister philpot , i will neuer recant that which i haue spoken , for it is most certaine truth , in witnesse whereof i will seale it with my blood : then h●s commaunded him to be set vpon the blocke , and as many irons put vpon his legs as he might beare . then the clarke told alexander , that maister philpot had giuen his man money ; alexander said to his man , what mony hath he giuen you● and he searched him , and tooke money from him : then said maister philpot , good m. alexander be so much my friend , that these irons may be taken off , he said , giue me my fées and i will take them off , if not thou shalt weare them still ; then said he , what is your fées ? he said foure pounds , ah said maister philpot , i haue not so much , if you will take twenty shillings i will send my man for it , or i will lay my gowne to gage , for the time is not long i am sure that i shall be with you : then alexander commaunded him to be had into limbo , and so he was ; then his man tooke an honest man with him , and went and shewed the sheriffe , one maister michaell , how maister philpot was handled in newgate , then the sheriffe tooke his ring from his finger , and deliuered it vnto the honest man which came with maister philpots man , and bad him commaund the kéeper , by that token , to take off his irons , and handle him more gently , and to giue his man againe that which he tooke from him : when they told their message to alexander , he saide , i perceiue maister sheriffe is a bearer with hereticks , to morrow i will shew it to his betters , yet he went to maister philpot at ten of the clocke and tooke off his irons , and gaue his man that which he tooke from him . he gaue god thanks when newes came he should be burned the next day : when the sheriffe called him to go● to execution , he came downe most ioyfullie ; when he came to smithfield the way was soule , so two of the officers tooke him vp and carried him vnto the stake : then he said merrily , what will you make me a pope , then he kissed the stake and said , shall i disdain to suffer at this stake , séeing my redéemer suffered vile death vpon the crosse for me , in the midst of the flames hee yéelded vp his soule vnto almighty god , and like a lamb gaue vp his breath . thomas whittle priest , bartelet greene gentleman , iohn tudson and thomas went artificers , thomas browne , isabell foster wife , ioane warren , alias lashford , maid . the papists hauing this last years , murdred the learned and princi●all members of christs church , whereof there were now very few , which either were not consumed with fire , or compelled to flie their countrey , they continued this yeare likewise no lesse cruelty towards the inferior sort of people ; whereof these seuen were burned in smithfield the . day of ianuary at one fire , and they were condemned all in one day vpon one manner of articles : the speciall points were for denying the sacrament of the altar , and the masse . this thomas whittle was the priest that philpot maketh mention of , where you may sée how he recanted , and then became desperate , and could not be at quiet in conscience , vntill he had gotten to sée the bill againe which he had subscribed and torne off his name ; wherefore boner buffeted him , and plucked off a peece of his beard , but after he had torne it he was in great peace of conscience , and stood out manfully for the faith , and sealed to the truth with his martyrdome . in an epistle of his , he calleth the bishops and priests the sworne souldiours of sathan , the arch-enemies in whom so liuely appeare the very visage and shape of sathan , that a man may well affirme them to be diuels incarnate , as i by experience do speak ; wherefore who so shall for conscience matterscome into their hands , had neede of the wilinesse of the serpen●●e saue his head , and to take heed how hee , consenteth to their wicked writings : sore did they assault me , and craftily tempt mee to their wicked wayes . bartlet greene was borne in the parish of bassinghall in london , being a student in oxford at the first he was an vtter enemy to the truth , vntill god of his mercy opened his eyes by comming vnto the lectures of peter martire , reader of the uniuersity lecture in the said uniuersity , wherof when he had once tasted , it came vnto him as the fountaine of liuing water , so that he neuer thirsted any more , but had a well springing vnto eternall life ; and though he were called by his friends from the uniuersity vnto the temple in london , to study the common lawes , yet bee continued in his earnest study and profession of the gospell . he writing a letter vnto one goodman , who was fledde beyond the sea for religion , containing a report of certaine articles of questions which were cast abroad in london , and an answere to a letter that goodman wrote vnto him , in which he required to haue the certainty whether the quéene were dead , as it was reported beyond-sea . whereupon greene answered , that she was not dead . the bearer of this letter , and many other letters from others , was apprehended by the way , and the letters brought to the councell . these words , the queene is not yet dead , seemed heynous to some of the councell : yea , they would haue made treason of them if they could by law ; but when they could not make it treason , they examined him vpon poynts of religion ; and after they had long detained him in prison , as well in the lower , as elsewhere , they sent him at last to bonner , to be dealt withall according to the ecclesiasticall lawes : and being presented to bonner , his arch-deacon and diuers others sitting at the table with him , who demanded of him the cause of his imprisoning ; which when he had shewed him , he asked him if he had not since written , or spoken against the naturall presence in the sacrament . then he desired to be charged according to the order of the law to heare his accusers . then doctor chadsey was sent for , who reported that before him , m. mosly , and the lieuetenant of the tower , hee spake against the reall presence , and the sacrifice of the masse , and affirmed our church to be the church of antichrist , which he confessed , and said he would continue therein , and maintaine it . then m. wel●h arose , and desired to talke with mee alone : and hauing taken mee into another chamber , he said he was sorry for my troubles , and would be glad to see me at liberty : and he maruailed that i , being a yong man , should stand against all the learned men of the realme , against the determination of the catholique church from christs time . i promise you , quoth he , i haue read all peter martyrs , and cranmers , and all the rest of their bookes , and haue conferred them with the contrary , as roffensis , and the bishop of winchester , and the rest , and could not perceiue but that there was one continuall truth , which from the beginning had beene maintained ; and those that any time seuered from this vnity , were answered and answered againe . this was the summe of his talke , which lacked neither wit nor eloquence . i answered , i am yong , and lacke both wit and learning , but god is not bound to time , wit , or knowledge ; but rather chuseth the weake things of the world to confound the strong : neither can men appoint bounds to gods mercy : for he saith , i will haue compassion on whom i will : hee hath no respect of persons , whether old or yong , rich or poore , wise or foolish , fisher or basket-maker , god giueth knowledge of his truth through his free grace , to whom he listeth , iames. . and i beleeue christ hath his vniuersall church , his spouse , scattered through many realmes , where hee list : the spirit inspireth where it will , he is no more adicted to any one place , then to the person and quality of any one man of this church . i know i am a member trusting to bee saued by the faith that is taught therein : but how this church is knowne , is the end of all controuersies ; the true markes of this church , is the true preaching of his word , & ministring of his sacraments : these markes were sealed by the apostles , and confirmed by the ancient fathers , vntill the wickednesse of men and the diuell , these markes were sore worne , and almost taken away , but god hath ●enued the print , that his church may bee knowne in many places : i would all that were of contrary opinion , would seeke the knowledge of the truth with prayer and teares , as i haue done . now i am brought before a many of bishops , and learned men to be made a foole and laughing stocke ; but i weigh it not a rush . for god knoweth that my whole study is to please him , and i care not for mans pleasure or displeasure . then we fell againe in long talke of the church , wherin his learning and wit was much more then mine ▪ and being diuerse times examined by the bishop and others , standing stiffe in his opinion , and neither by flattery nor fear , could be wonne from the truth , hee was condemned , and burned , as before . hee beeing in prison in new-gate , hauing perswaded many of the common goale to repentance and faith ; hee , the day before he was executed , wrote to diuers gentlemen of the innes of court , of his acquaintance in commendation of the true spirituall loue of gods children , how that it is the chiefe fruite of the spirit , where it is the onely line that tieth christs members to him , and one to another : and that neither prison , nor distance of place , nor time , can breake this loue , nor death it selfe : for faith and hope haue finished their course when we are come to heauen ; but our loue to gods children doth remaine there they in heauen loue vs , & pray for vs ; and we loue them . now for this loue sake he chargeth ye said gentlemen his acquaintance , by all menes to séek the deliuerance of these prisoners that he had conuerted , & to helpe them with necessaries . thomas browne was borne in the parish of histon , in the diocesse of ely , and after dwelt in the parish of s. brides in fléetstréet , & was brought to bonner by the constable , and was condemned , as before . iohn tudson was borne in ipswich , in the county of suffolke , and after hee was prentice at london in the parish of s. buttolph , and was sent by story to bonner , and was condemned as before . iohn went , borne at langham in essex , a shere-man ; he was likewise sent by story to bonner , and condemned , as before . isabell foster was wife to one iohn foster , a cutler , of the parish of s. brides in fléetstréet , she was sent to bonner for not comming to church , and condemned , as aforesaid . ioane lashford , alias warne : there is mention before of elizabeth warne , with iohn warne her husband , were apprehended at a communion in bow-church-yard , and both were burned for the same : and now the daughter followed the parents in the same martyrdome . doctor story procured their death , and after their deaths he was charged with forty pounds that he owed them : she confessed and protested there was no reall presence of christs body and blood in ● sacrament of the ▪ altar , and that auricular confession and absolution , after the popish sort , was not necessary , nor the masse good , or according to the scriptures , and saith , that these & all other supertiuous sacraments , ceremonies , and diuine seruice now vsed in this realme of england , was most vile , & contrary to christs words and institutions , so that they neither were at the beginning , nor shall be at the latter end . the bishop exhorting her to returne to the holy mother church , she said boldly to him againe : if you will leaue your abhomination , so i will returne , and otherwise i will not . these seuen were all burned together in one fire as aforesaid . iohn lomas , anne albright , ioane catmer , agnes snoth , ioane sole . iohn lomas of the parish of tenderden in kent , was cited to appeare at canterbury , being examined vpon diuers articles , he answered still that he beléeued as it was contained in gods booke ; and being examined whether hee beléeued the body of christ to be in the sacrament of the altar really vnder y ● formes of bread and wine after consecration : hee answered that hee beléeued no realty of christs body in the sacrament , neither vnder foorme nor trestle : wherefore he was condemned the day of ianuary . agnes snoth , maid , of the parish of smarden in kent , was likewise examined before the pharisaical iudges ; and for denying auricular confession , and for saying none could receiue y ● sacrament of the altar , as now it is vsed , without danger of damnation ; and for denying penance to be a sacrament , & for saying the popish absolution was not cōsonant to gods word , she was likewise condemned , anne albright , alias champnes , being examined , denied to bee confessed of a priest , saying , you priests are the children of perdition , and can doe no good by your confession ; and told the iudge and his assistants , that they were subuerters of christs truth ; and she said , the sacrament of the altar was a naughty and a●ominable idoll , wherefore she was likewise condemned . ioane sole of horton in kent , was condemned of the same pharises & priests for not allowing auricular confession , and for denying the reall presence in the sacrament . ioane cormer of the parish of hithe in kent , the fifth and last of these heauenly martyrs , shee denyed auricular confession ; she said , the sacrament of the altar was now made a very idoll , shee was likewise coudemned : these fiue were bu●ned at two stakes in one fire together at canterbury the . of ianuary . thomas cranmer archbishop of cauterbury . he was borne in nottingham shire , his fathers name was thomas cranmer his ancesters were worthy esquires , his mother was a gentle woman named agnes h●tfield , he was of cambridge in the time when good authors were neglected , and filthy barbarousnesse embraced in all schooles and vniuersities , onely the names and number of liberall arts did remaine , the arts themselues were cleane lost . logicke was gone into sophisticall trifles , phylosophy both morrall and naturall was miserably defaced with infinite questions and subtilties : the vse of tongues and eloquent learning , was either small or none at all : and diuinitie was so laden with articles and definitions , that it serued rather for the gaine of a few , then for the edification of many . so hée was constrained to spend a part of his youth vntill he was twentie yeares old , in the péeuish questions of duns and other masters of that sort , at length the tongs and other learning began a little to spring , and the books of erasmus began to be much estéemed , with a number of good authours besides , on which cranmer rubbed away his olde ruf●inesse as vppon a whetstone , then luther rose , the happy day of gods knowledge , who wakened mens minds to the cléere light of the truth . at thirtie yeares olde he gaue his mind wholly to discusse matters of religion on both parts , and hauing performed the same , he spent thrée yeares in the study of the scriptures , then he read the old writers , despising not the new , weighing all mens opinions with secret iudgment , he neu●r read any writers booke without pen and ink● , in all controuersies hee gathered euery authors sentence briefly : at . yeares olde hee procéeded doctor of diuinitie , he was chosen one of the that should decide y ● matter of kings henries diuorce , and by his arguments , learning , and meanes it was brought to passe , then he was sent to paris with diuers noble men and bishops , where he behaued himselfe in that case , that he was commended by the ambassadors to the king for his singular wisedome , grauitie , and learning , that he wonne such great credit that he was alone sent ambassador to the emperour to debate this businesse , but the emperour refused to determine the matter , but remitted the whole question to the popes court : after he was sent to rome ambassadour to the pope , where he behaued himselfe with ●o lesse diligence , that he compelled the popes chiefe diuines by arguments to grant the mariage to be against the law , but yet by the dispensation of the pope it might be made lawfull . warram archbishop of canterbury dying , he was sent for by king henrie and made archbishop of canterbury , then came in the question of the popes supremacy , and all the weight of the businesse was chiefly laid vpon cranmers shoulders ; he therefore alone receiued , answered , and confuted all the obiections of the papists , he proued that the popes lordship was not brought in by any authoritie of scriptures , but by ambitious tyranny , and that the chiefest power on earth , belonged to the emperor , to kings and potentates , to whom the pope , cardinals , bishops , priests , by gods commandement were no lesse subiect then other men , and therefore it were best by the consent of the king , and other estates , the ambitious lordship of the pope , being driuen out of england , should keepe it selfe within his owne italy , as a riuer is kept within his bankes , which was performed by act of parliament , then by little and little he reformed the church into a more wholesome discipline of christ , and laboured to banish the popes errours , heresies , and corruptions , and he obtained of the king , that certaine learned men should make a booke of ecclesiasticall institutions , which was called the bishops booke : then the abolishing of monasteries began to be talked of , the kings desire was , that all the abbey lands should come vnto his coffers , the archbishop and others would haue them imployed to other good vses , whereby the king being bent against cranmer , especially by the instigation of gardiner bishop of winchester , which sought all occasions to hinder the gospel , he set forth the . articles by full consent of parliament , which contained the summe of popish religion . what slaughter by the space of . yeares these articles made , is already declared : but after , he forgoing his anger with the archbishop : séeing he stood against him , in conscience , not in stubburnesse , he began to fauour him , and thought to haue taken away the . articles , and reformed other matters if he had liued ; but cranmer and the lord protector brought it to passe in king edwards dayes : his story how he was vsed in quéene maries reign is mentioned before , and his disputations at oxeford , and how he was condemned there and left in prison vntill this time . and because the sentence was voyde in law , because it was giuen by persons excommunicated , ( for they were not then absolued by the pope nor his authoritie receiued in the realme ) therefore there was a new commission sent from the pope for the conuiction of cranmer , latimer , and ridley , and the bishop of glocester was appointed the popes delegate , and after they had condemned latimer and ridley , as before is said . the said legate and his company being set in saint maries church apparelled in his pontificalibus as if the pope in person had bene there : the bishop of canterbury was brought before them , putting off his cappe he did obeysance to the king and quéenes proctors , then looking in the legats face , he put on his bonnet againe , making no obedience toward him , wherefore the bishop sayd vnto him , that it might beséeme him well , waying the authoritie which he did represent , to doe his duety to him : he answered , hee had sworne neuer to admit the pope into this realme , and therefore he would commit nothing by signe or token which might argue his consent to the re●eiuing of him , and that he did it not to any contempt of his person . then the legate made an eloquent oration , to put him in remembrance , that from a meane gentleman he was raised to bee a princes ambassadour , and further to be archbishop and primate of the realmealmost , yeares , and s● farre in trust with the king , that he made him president of his councel , and after left him in speciall trust for the gouernement of the young prince during his minoritie , such blessing god had giuen him whilest he continued in the catholicke faith . he exhorted , him on the other side , to consider how he was now fallen from his dignities and officices , and in high displeasure of the king and quéene , iudged to die for high treason ; and all these things to haue happened vnto him , only because he had seuered himself from the sea of rome , and was become a father of new deuised religion , and although your estate is so miserable , that the meanest in this assembly will not change his condition and calling with you : yet further he was like to fall by the iust iudgement of god into hell and euerlasting damnation , if he did not repent of his errours and schismes , whilest he had time of repentance , whereunto he exhorted him earnestly , repeating many places of christs mercies to them that repent , and shewed that to returne to the church was the o●ely way to saue both body and soule , and i doubt not but the king and quéene will perdon your condemnation of treason if you will returne vnto the church and forsake your opinions , which i desire you to do . then cranmer desired license to speake , which was gently granted him : first he made protestation that hee did not answere to him as to a lawfull iudge ; because he was deputed for the pope , but to giue a reason of his faith , which god hath commanded him to doe to euery one that shall demand a reason thereof . then he said , my lord you haue learnedly put me in remembrance of many things touching my selfe , which i will not answere : i acknowledge gods goodnesse vnto me , and thanke him as heartily for this estate that now i am in , as euer i did for the time of my prosperity , shewing that his greatest griefe was , to sée the popes iurisdiction restored to england againe : alas ! what hath the pope to do in england , whose lawes are so farre different from the lawes of this realme , that whosoeuer sweareth to both , must néedes incurre periury in the one ? and i am heartily sorry to thinke that her grace , the day before her coronation , tooke an oath to obserue the lawes of this realme ; and also tooke an oath to the bishop of rome , promising to maintaine that sea , which was impossible but shee must néeds be forsworne in the one . and as for the matter of heresie , wherewith you charge mee , i call god to witnesse i know none which i maintaine : but if it be heresie to deny the popes authority , and the religion which the sea of rome hath published vnto the world these latter yeares , then all the ancient fathers of the primitiue church , the apostles , and christ himselfe , taught heresie : and hee desired all them present to beare him witnesse , that he tooke the traditions and religion of the pope to bée most erronious , false , and against the doctrine of holy scriptures , which hee had often proued by preaching and writing ; and the pope to bee very antichrist , so often preached by the apostles and prophets , in whom most euidently doth concurre all the signes and tokens whereby hee was painted vnto the world to bee knowne by : for hee aduanceth himselfe aboue all emperours and kings of the world , whom he affirmeth to hold of him , and to be at his commandement : and the stories make mention of his intollerable pride and tyranny vsed to them , as no king would haue done to his subiects , nor a good maister to his seruants , setting his féet vpon emperours necks , and making others to hold his stirrops , and remoued others from their empires ; & hath not onely occupied the highest places in the world aboue kings , but hath presumed to fit in the seat of almighty god , which is the conscience of man , & to kéepe the possession thereof , he hath promised forgiuenesse of sins , he hath brought in gods of his own framing , and inuented a new religion full of lucre , quite contrary to the scriptures , only for maintaining of his kingdome , displacing christ from his glory , & holding his people in miserable seruitude of blindnesse , to the losse of a number of soules which god at the latter day shall exact at his hands ; boasting in his canons & decrées , that he can dispense against peter , paul , the old testament , & new : & that in his fulnesse of power he can do as much as god. if any man can be aduanced aboue him , let him be iudged antichrist . this enemy of god and our redemption is so euidently painted out in the scriptuers , with such manifest tokens which all sée clearely appeare in him , that except a man will shut his eyes and heart against the light , hee cannot but know him ; therefore i will neuer giue my consent to the receiuing of him into the church of england : and my lord sand you that be here , examine your own consciences , you are sworne against him , you are learned and can iudge the truth , i pray god you be not wilfully blind , i haue discharged my conscience to the world & i will write my mind to her grace , which letter you may sée in the book at large . storie and martine diuers times interrupted him , saying , he spake blasphemy , and would faine haue the bishop put him to silence , who notwithstanding suffered him to end his spéech . then they charged him that he was sworne vnto the pope when he was made archbishop ; but he denied it , and said : it appeareth that he did not , by the record of the countrey , which one of them confessed . many maruelled that in so perilous a time he had so sincerely proceeded , choosing rather to venture the losse of his life , and all his glorious pompe , then to do any thing that might spill his conscience . then they obiected , that he was married ; which he confessed : doctor martine said , his children were bond-men to the sea of canterbury . at which he smiled , saying : if a benificed priest had a concubine , and had bastards by her , they are not bond-men to the benifice , i trust you wil make my childrens cause no worse . then d. martine demanded of him who was the supreme head of the church ; he said , christ : martine said , you made k. henry supreme head of the church . he said , of the people of england , ecclesiasticall & temporal , and not of the church : for christ is the onely head of the church , and of the faith and religion of the same . the articles of religion , touching the sacrament , denying transubstantiation , the sacrifice of the masse , and the reall presence , he affirmed as he taught in his booke . then they cited him to appeare , daies after at rome , and then sent him to prison ; where thou maist sée their visored face of iustice , as though the court of rome would condemne no man before hee answered for himselfe : but the same time the pope sent letters executory vnto the king and queene to disgrade and depriue him , which was done before twenty dayes were done : and though he were kept in prison , at the end of the dayes hee was decreed contumax , and thereupon condemned . upon s. valentines day next after , the archbishop was disgraded , and condemned by bonner , & thurlby bishop of ely , who sometimes was cranmers chaplaine , and preferred by him : at which time bonner , which a long time had borne great malice towards him , and reioyced greatly see this day wherein he might triumph ouer him at his pleasure , made an oration to the people in this sort : this is the man who hath euer despised the popes holinesse , and now is to be iudged by him : this is the man that hath pulled downe so many churches , and now is come to be iudged in a church : this is the man that contemned y ● blessed sacrament of the altar , and now is come to be condemned before the said sacrament , hanging ouer the altar : this is the man , that like lucifer , sate in the place of christ , vpon an altar , to iudge others , and now is come before the altar to bee iudged himselfe . thus he continued halfe an houre heaping vp a number of lies together , beginning euery one with , this is the man , so lothsomly , that he made euery man weary . when they had disgraded him , they stript him of his gowne , & put vpon him a poore yeoman bedles gowne thrid-bare , and as ill-fauouredly made as could be , and a townsmans cap vpon his head , and so deliuered him to the secular power : in this filthie gowne he was carried vnto prison . the queene & bishops hauing kept the archbishop now almost three yeares in prison , seeing by no means they could preuaile with him all this while , to turn him from his religion , they suborned certaine men which should , by intreaty , and faire promises , or any other means , allure him to recantation : so the wily papists flocked about him , labouring to draw him from his former sentence to recantation , especially henry sidall , and frier iohn , a spaniard , they shewed him how acceptable it would be to the kings & queene , and how gainfull it would be both bodily & spiritually , they added that the councell & noble-men bare him good wil , promising him both his life & ancient dignity , saying the matter was but small , the setting of his hand to a few words ; but if hee refused , there was no hope of pardon : for the queene was purposed that shee would haue cranmer a catholique , or else no cranmer at all . by these and such like prouocations , they at last w●nne him to subscribe : it may bee supposed that it was for hope of life and better dayes to come : but it appeareth by a letter of his to a lawyer , that the most cause why hee desired his life to bee delayed , was , that hee might make an end of a booke against marcus antonius , a papist , which hee had begun ; but it is manifest that it was against his conscience : it pleased god that so great vertues in this man should not be without some blemish ; and that y ● falshood of the pop●sh generation by this meanes might be the more euident , and that we should haue the lesse confidence of our owne strength , presently this recantation was put in print and published , notwithstanding it was decréed that cranmer should be burned out of hand , and the quéene commanded a funerall sermon to be made for him by doctor cole ; and hauing his lesson giuen him , he went spéedily to oxford to play his part . the morning before hee should bee executed cole gaue him crownes to giue to y ● poore . the archbishop surmised whereabouts they went , after the spanish frier came vnto him with a paper of articles which cranmer should openly professe in his recantation before the people , desiring him to write his name vnto it : then he prayed him to write a copy of it , and kéepe it with him , which he did , & knowing wherunto their deuices tended , he put secretly into his bosome his prayer with his exhortation written in another paper . cranmer was brought from prison to s. maries church betwixt two friers , which mumbled certaine psalmes in the stréets as they went : when they came vnto the church they sung nunc dimittis : then they brought him to his standing , where they left him , there he stood all y ● sermon in a bare ragged gowne , & ill-fauouredly clothed with an old square cap , exposed to the contempt of all men . in this habite when he had stood a good while vpon the stage , he turned vnto a pillar , & knéeling & lifting vp his hands to heauen , he praied vnto god once or twice . after a while cole came & began his sermon , altogether to the disgrace of cranmer , shewing that he was the onely man that began this heresie & schisme from the catholique church , that he was the cause of the diuorce betwixt the quéenes father and mother : and that for these and other maine causes , the quéene and councell did thinke fit that he should be burned , although he had recanted . at the end of his sermon he brought many scriptures to comfort him , that such as die in gods faith , he will either abate y ● fury of y ● flame or else giue him strength to abide it , he glorified god much in his conuersi●n , because it appeared to be only his worke , shewing what great meanes was vsed to conuert him , but none could preuaile vntill god reclaimed him , saying ; whilst he flowed in riches & honor , he was vnworthy of death ; but lest he should carry with him no comfort , he promised , that immediatly after his death there should be dirges , masses , & funerals executed in all the churches in oxford for ●uccour of his soule . but cranmer , during the sermon , lifted vp his hands & eyes to heauen : the very shape of forrow was liuely expressed in him , more then twenty times : he shed aboundant teares from his fatherly face , but especially when he made his prayer before the people . after cole had done his sermon , he had cranmer performe his promise , to expresse your faith , that you may take away suspicion from men , that they may vnvnderstand you a catholique indéed . i wil do it said the archbishop with a good will : then he desired y ● people to pray for him , that god would forgiue him his sins : and one offence doth trouble me more then all the rest , whereof in processe of my talke you shall heare ; and after he had made a very pithy praier with y ● people , which you may sée in y ● book at large , then he said , euery man at the time of his death , desireth to giue some god exhortation vnto others : so i pray god at this my departing , i may speake somwhat whereby god may be glorified , & you edified . his first exhortation was , that we should not set our minds too much vpon this glozing world , but vpon god , & the world to come . his next exhortation was to obedience to y ● king & quéen● . his third exhortation was , that they should loue together like brothers & sisters . the fourth was , that rich men would weigh three sayings in y ● scripture : first christ saith , it is hard for a rich man to enter into y ● kingdome of heauen . secondly , s. iohn saith , he that hath this worlds goods , and shutteth his compassion vpon his needy brother , how can he say he loueth god. thirdly , saint iames biddeth them weepe and howle for the miseries that shall come vpon you , your clothes be moth-eaten , your gold and siluer cankred and rusty , and the rust shall witnesse against you , and consume you like fire : you hoord vp treasure of gods indignation against the last day . let them that be rich ponder well these thrée sentences : for if euer they had occasion to shew their charity , it is now , the poore beeing so many , and victuals so deere . now being i am come to the end of my life , whereupon hangeth my life past , and my life to come , either to liue with my maister christ for euer in ioy , or else for euer in paine with the diuell : therefore i will declare my faith vnto you without dissembling . i beleeue all the articles of the créede , and all the doctrine of christ , his apostles and prophets in the new and old testament ; and now i come vnto the great thing that so much troubled my conscience more then all that euer i did in all my life ; and that is in setting abroad a writing contrary to truth , which now i renounce , as written with my hand , contrary to my heart , for feare of death ; and that is all such billes and papers which i haue written or signed with my hand since my degradation ; and because my hand writ contrary to my heart , it shall be first burned . and as for the pope i refuse him , as christs enemy , and antichrist , with all his false doctrine . and as for the sacrament , i beléeue as i haue taught in my booke , and my booke shall stand at the last day , before the iudgement of god , when the papisticall doctrine shall be ashamed to shewe her face . it was a world to sée the doctors beguiled of so great a hope , i thinke there was neuer cruelty more notably deluded ; and when he began to speake more of the sacrament , and of the papacie , cole cried to stop the heretiques mouth : then the friers pulled him from his seate , and led him to the fire : then they cried to him ; what madnesse hath brought thee againe into this error , by which thou wilt draw innumerable soules with thee into hell . hee answered them not , but directed his talke vnto the people : but the spanish barker raged , and foamed almost out of his wits ; and he and the other spanish frier began to exhort him afresh , but all in vaine . when the fire began to burne neere him , he put his right hand into the flame , which he held so stedfastly , that it was burned before his body was touched , he abode the fire with such constancy , that he stood alwayes in one place without mouing of his members , with his eyes vpward , he off repeated his vnworthy right hand , saying , lord iesus receiue my spirit , and so gaue vp the ghost . agnes potten , and another woman . one was the wife of robert potten of ipswich in suffolke , the other the wife of michael trouchfield of the same towne shoemaker , they were burned at ipswich the . of february , for denying the sacrament of the altar : their constancy in burning was wonderfull , they earnestly exhorted the people to credit and lay hold vpon the word of god , and to dispise the institutions of the romish route , with all their superstitions and rotten religion . robert spicer , william coberley , maundrel . these three were burned at one stake in salisbury , what their confessions were , and by whom they were condemned it appeareth not . robert draks minister , william tims ioyner , richard spurge fuller , iohn cauell weauer , george ambrose fuller , and thomas spurge fuller . these sixe were burned at one fire in smithfield the foure and twentieth day of aprill : they were all of essex , and sent at diuers times by the lord rich to gardner , who sent them to prison , where they remained a yeare almost , and then they were sent to bonner , to whom they all denied the reall presence in the sacrament of the altar : after they were all sent for vnto the consistorie ; first tims was sent for , and exhorted to conformity : he answered , we haue béene brought hither this day for gods word , which we haue beene taught by the apostolike preachers in king edwards time , whom you haue murthered because they preached the truth , and they haue sealed their doctrine with their bloud , whom i will follow . then bonner perswaded them not to stand to the litterall sense of the scriptures , but to vse the interpretation of the fathers . then tims said , what haue you to maintaine the reall presence of christ in the sacrament , but only the bare letter ? we haue ( quoth bonner ) the catholike church : no , said he , the popish church of rome , for which you be periured , and the sea of rome is the sea of antichrist , therefore to that church i will neuer consent ; i confesse christ is present with his sacraments , but with your sacrament of the altar he is neither present corporally nor spiritually , for as you vse it , it is a detestable idoll . then the bishop séeing his constant boldnes , condemned him . then robert draks was called , and being exhorted to returne to the church of rome , he said , he vtterly defied it and all the workes thereof , euen as i defie the diuell and all his workes ; then was he likewise cond●mned . then thomas spurge was demaunded if he would returne to the catholike church : and then he called the rest , and vpon the like demands he receiued the like answers : so they had all their iudgements , and deliuered vnto the sherife , and after burned , as before . iohn hullier minister . hee was bur●ed at cambridge vpon the second day of aprill for the professing of christs gospell , vnder thurlby bishop of ely and his chancellor : only a pra●er and a letter of his are recorded ; his letter is to proue the romish church antichrist , and exhorteth from dissembling with god and the world , in comming to masse . christopher lister minister , iohn mace , iohn spencer , simon ioyne , richard nicoll , and iohn hamond . these six were burned together at colchester in essex , where the most part of them did inhabite : the eight and twentieth day of aprill : bonner now waxing wearie , made a very quicke dispatch with these ; for as soone as they were deliuered by the earle of oxford and other commissioners , vnto iohn kingstone the bishops register : bonner caused them to be brought vnto his house at fulham , where , in the open church he ministred vnto them articles , to which they answered alike , as followeth : that the church of rome is the malignant church , and no part of the cathotholike church , and that they beleeue not the doctrine thereof , and that they beléeue there be no mo but two sacraments in the church of christ , to wit , baptisme and the lords supper ; that they learned the truth of their profession by the doctrine set forth in king edwards time , and therein they would continue as long as they liued ; they refused to be partakers of the sacrament of the altar , because it was vsed contrary to gods word and glorie ; they said the popes authoritie was vsurped , and that he was an oppressor of christs church and gospell , and that he ought not to haue any authoritie in england , and that they vtterly abhorred the sea of rome , for putting downe the booke of god , and setting vp the babylonicall masse , with all the rest of antichrists merchandise ; and that after consecration there remaineth in the sacrament bread and wine as well as before ; and that the reall flesh and bloud of christ is not in it ; and that the masse is not propitiatorie , neither for the quick nor for the dead , but méere idolatry and abomination . and in the afternoone , when they would not recant , they were condemned and burned , as before . margaret ellice , hugh lauerock an old lame man and iohn apprice a blind man. she was of great bursteed in essex , and was sent to bonner by sir iohn mordant knight , and edmund tyrrell esquire : she died in newgate the thirtéenth of may , being condemned to be burned before . hugh lauerocke an old lame man , and iohn apprice a blinde man ; when they were examined , answered in effect as christopher lister , iohn mace , and others before mentioned had done : after they were brought to the consistori● , and being perswaded to recant their opinions of the sacrament , hugh lauerock said , i will stand to my answere , i cannot finde in the scriptures that the priests should lift vp ouer their heads a cake of bread : then bonner asked iohn apprice what he would say ; he answered , your doctrine that you set forth is so agreeable with the world , and imbraced , of the world , that it cannot be agreeable with the scriptures ; and ye are not of the catholike church , for ye make lawes to kill men , and make the queene your executioner , whereupon they were condemned and sent to stratford the bow , and there burned , the ●ifteenth of may : at their deaths hugh lauerock comforting iohn apprice , said , be of good comfort , my brother , for my lord of london is our good physitian , he will heale thée of thy blindnes , and me of my lamenesse . katharine hutte widdow , elizabeth tharnell , and ioane hornes . in the yeare . these were burned in smithfield , & were sent to bonner , with margaret ellice and the blinde and lame man , for denying the reall presence in the sacrament of the altar , and for calling the masse an idoll . katharine hutte being required to recant , and say her minde of the sacrament , said , i denie it to be a god , because it is a dumbe god , and made with mens handes . ione hornes said , if you can make your god to shedde bloud , or to shew any condition of a liuely body , then will i beleeue you : but it is bread , and that which you call heresie , i trust to serue my lord god in . and touching the romish sea , she said , i forsake all his abominations , and from them all good lord deliuer vs : they died more ioyfully in the fire then some that burned them did in their beds . iohn harpole and ioane beach widdow . these two were burned at rochester for their constant perseuering in christs truth , about the first of aprill . a blinde boy and another suffered martyrdome at glocester : one of them was the blinde boy which came vnto bishop hooper , whom the said vertuous bishop confirmed in the lord , and the doctrine of his word , as is before mentioned , whose examinations are not come vnto our hands . thomas spicer , iohn deny , and william pole. these were bro●ght before dunnings , chancellor of norwich , and minges his register : the chancellor perswaded what he could to bring them from the truth : and being he could not preuaile he burst out in teares , intreating them to turne againe vnto the holy mother church . as he was thus labouring them , and seemed vnwilling to giue iudgement , the register said , in what doe you make such ados ? they be at that point they will be , therefore reade sentence and dispatch the knaues ; whereupon he condemned them with teares , and the next day , being the one and twentieth of may , they were burned at beckles by sir iohn silliard high sherife , without any writ from my lord chancellor . as the fire burned about them , they praised god with such an audible voyce , that it was wonderfull to all those that stood by . one robert bacon , and enemie to the truth willed the tormentors to throw on ●aggots to stop the knaues breaths , but they confessed the truth , and gaue their liues for the testimony thereof very gloriously and ioyfully . thomas spicer was a labourer dwelling at wenson in su●●olke . the persecution of the townes of vvenson and mendleson in suffolke . at the commandement of sir iohn silliard high sherife , and sir iohn tyrrill knights , these , whose names follow , were persecuted out of the said towns . from wenson alice twayts & two of her seruants , humfrey smith and his wife , william kachpoole and his wife , iohn mauling and his wife , nicholas burlingham and his wife , and one rought and his wife . from mendleson simon harlstone and katharine his wife with fiue children , william whiting and katharine his wife , thomas dobson and his wife , thomas hubbard and his wife , iohn poncon , thomas woodward the elder , one rennolds wife , and a poore widdow , and one mother semons maide , besides those that were constrained against their consciences , by the help of iohn brodish the parish priest : the points of religion that they held , for which they were persecuted , were these ; they held the word of god to be sufficient doctrine vnto saluation . they denied the popes authority , & said their church was antichrist , and christs aduersary , they refused the abused sacraments , defied the masse , and all popish seruice and ceremonies , saying they robbed god of his honour , and christ of his death and glorie , and would not come to church , except it were to the defacing of that they did there . that ministers of gods church might lawfully marry . that the quéene was chiefe head , and wicked rulers were a great plagus of god sent for sinne . they denied mans frée-will , and the popes church did erre , and many other in that point with them , rebuking their false confidence to be iustified by works and mans righteousnesse : when they were rebuked for talking so freely , they would answere , they acknowledge , confesse and beleeue , and therefore they must speake : they acknowledged that tribulations were gods prouidences , and that his iudgements were right , to punish them and others for their sinnes , and that their troubles were of his faithfulnesse and mercy , and that one haire of their heads should not perish before the time , but all things should worke to the best to them that loue god , and that christ was their only life and righteousnesse , and that only by faith in him , and for his sake , all good things were freely giuen them , as also forgiuenesse of sinnes , and life euerlasting . many of these persecuted were of great substance , and had possessions of their owne . william slech died the thirtieth of may . being imprisoned for the doctrine of the gospell , and the profession of the truth , in the kings bench , and was buried in the back-side of the same prison , because the papists thought him not worthy to be laide in their pope-holy churchyards . thomas harland millwright , iohn osward , thomas reed , and thomas auington . t they were long prisoners in the kings bench for the confession of the truth , and were burned together at one fire the sixt of iune , in lewes in south-sex . thomas wood minister , and thomas miles were burned likewise at lewes in south-sex the twentieth of iune , for resisting the erroneous and hereticall doctrine of the papisticall and fal●●y pretended catholiks . william adherall minister , and iohn clement-wheele-wright ▪ these died in the kings bench the three and twentieth of iune , and were buried in the backside , being imprisoned for the profession of the truth . a merchants seruant the next day was burned at leicester for the like godlines , by the cruell persecution of the papists . about this time there were thirtéene burned in one fire at stratford the bow by london eleuen of them being men and two of them women , whose dwellings were in sundry places in 〈◊〉 , and whose names f●llow : henry adlington , lawrence parman , henry wye , william hallywell , thomas bowier george searle , edmond hurst , lion cawch , ralph iackson , iohn perifall , iohn roth , elizabeth peper , and agnes george their points of religion doth better appeare by a certificate vnder all their hands , which i haue here inserted , then by their examination which followeth . be it knowne vnto all to whom this our certificate shall be feene , that whereas vpon saturday the thirteenth of iune , sixteene of vs were condemned to dye , by the bishop of london , for the sincere truth of christs verity , which truth hath bin continually defaced from the beginning by the wicked aduersaries , as it is slandered now by the diuell and his imps , which constraineth vs to manifest our beleefe , and the articles , wherefore we were condemned for auoyding the slanders that might happen by occasion of the flanderous sermon lately preached at pauls crosse by doctor fecknam deane of paules , where he defamed vs to be of sixteene sundry opinions . we beleeue by baptisme we were made members of christs church , and although wee erred for a time , yet the roote of faith was preserued in vs by the holy ghost , which maketh vs certaine of the same , and we doe and will persist by gods assistance vnto the end : and though the minister were of the malignant church , yet he did not hurt vs , because he baptized vs in the name of the father , the sonne , and the holy ghost ; there was the word and the element ; godfathers , and godmothers , renouncing for vs the diuell and all his workes , and confessing the articles of the christian faith. there are but two sacraments , baptisme , and the lords supper , in these are contained the two testaments : the effect of the law is repentance , and the effect of the gospell is remission of sinnes . there is a visible church wherein the word of god is preached , and the sacraments truely ministred : uisible to the wicked world , although it bee not credited , and by death of saints confirmed : as in the time of elias as well as now . the sea of rome is the sea of antichrist : the congregation of the wicked , whereof the pope is head vnder the diuell . god is neither spiritually nor corporally in the sacrament of the altar , and there is no other substance but bread and wine . the masse is not onely a prophanation of the lords supper , but a most blasphemous idoll . we affirmed to beleeue all that the bishop or any could proue by scriptures : but he said he would not stand to proue it with hereticks , but said , they themselues were the holy church , and that we ought to beleeue them , or else to be cut off like withered branches . when they were brought to stratford the bow they were deuided into two parts , and put into two chambers : then the sherife came to the one part and tolde them that the other had recanted and were saued , and exhorted them to doe the like , and not cast away themselues : they answered , their faith was not builded on man , but christ crucified : when he could doe no good with them , he went to the other place , and told them their fellowes had recanted , and were saued , and counselled them to doe the like , and not willingly to kill themselues : vnto whom they answered as their fellowes had done . when he saw he could not preuaile , he lead them to the fire , they ioyfully kissed the stake : the eleauen men were tyed to foure stakes , and the two women loose in the middest , and so they were burned all in one fire , with such loue one to another , and constancy in our sauiour christ , that it was wonderfull . thomas free-man , william stannard , and william adames . these were also condemned to dye with the other at the same time , and béeing in the hands of the secular power , cardinall poole sent his dispensation for their liues , and by that meanes they were kept from mart●rdome . the fourteenth of iune iohn colstoke of wellington in liechfield dioces , for holding against the real presence and auricular confession , was compelled to recant and to beare a faggot before the crosse bare-headed , hauing in one hand a taper , and in the other a paire of beads . the seuentéenth of iune thomas barnes and ellice birth were accused that one wished to the other , in the beginning of queene maries raigne , his dagger in the belly of him that sung to the organs ●he denied not but he spake these words , and that he then thought the masse abominable ; and though he submitted himselfe hee was condemned to beare a faggot , with beads and his taper before the crosse . the seuen and twentieth of iune thomas paret , martin hunt , and iohn norrice died in the kings bench , and were buried in the back-side : they were imprisoned for the profession of the truth . robert bernard , adam foster and robert lawson . the . of iune hopton b of norwich called robert bernard heretick , because he said he would neuer be confessed of a priest : he answered , it gréeueth me not to be called hereticke at your hand ▪ for so your forefathers called the prophets and confessors long agoe : then the b : ●ad him follow him , and went and knéeled before the sacrament of the altar : and as he was at his prayers , he looked back and asked barnard why he did not as he did , he answered , i cannot tell why you should doe so , the bishop asked him , whom sée you yonder , pointing to the pixe hanging ouer the altar ? do you not see your maker there ? he said , no , i see nothing but a few cloaths hang together in a heape : then the bishop commaunded him to the iayle , and ●ad put irons enough vpon him . after one of the guard had him to a tauerne where many priests were , when they could not perswade him , they threatned h●m with whipping and stocking , and when they could peruert him by no meanes , then they carried him to the bishop , who immediatly condemned him : hee was a labourer , dwelling in f●an●den in suffolke . adam foster was a husbandman , dwelling in mendlesam in suffollke : hee was apprehended by thomas mouse , and george reuet constables , at the command●ment of sir iohn terill , because he would not heare masse : he was cast into aye dungeon , from whence he was sent to norwich , and condemned by the aforesaid bishop : mouse presently after fell sicke , and pined away to death : the ●ther came to the like end not long after . robert lawson a linnen weauer , was likewise apprehended at the commandement of sir iohn terill , and sent to aye dungeon , because hee would not come to church , nor receiue their popish idoll . when they were carried to their deathes , they most triumphantly ended their liues in the fixe . iohn careles of couentry weauer . about this time he died in the kings bench , hauing beene long imprisoned there , hee was examined before doctor martine , one of the masters of the chancerie , a iolly stirrer in those matters : in which examination i finde no matters of religion , but that he answereth a popish opinion of election , that wee are elected in respect of our good workes , and so long elected as we doe them , and no longer , but he beleeued that god of his infinite goodnesse ( through iesus christ ) did elect and appoint in him , before the foundation of the earth was laid , a church or congregation , which he doth continually guide and gouerne by his grace and holy spirit ; so that not one of them shall euer finally perish , and that god hath e●ernally predestinated me to eternall life in iesus christ. i am most certaine and likewise sure that his holy spirit ( wherewith i am sealed ) will so preserue me from all heresies and euill opinions , that i shall die in none at all : i doe beleeue that christ did effectually die for al those that repent , and beleeue , & for none other . at his first comming into prison , his conscience was ouer much oppressed with the consideration of his sinnes , vntill he had a comfortable letter of philpot , concerning the mercie of christ to them that repent : and although a sorrowfull spirit be a sacrifice acceptable to god , and the earnest pennie of election , yet the end of it must be comfort and ioy of the holy ghost in assurance of the remission of sinnes , therfore he ●iddeth him be carelesse , according to his name , in assurance of the remission of sinnes in christ. wherefore carles thanketh god heartily , and confesseth that philpots sweete exhortations had brought much glad tidings vnto his tyred soule , and that it was greatly refreshed with the sweet sauor of his precious nard . i will now according to your louing request cast away all care , & reioice with you , and pray god for you day & night , for now my foule is turned vnto her old rest again , & hath taken a swéet na● in christs lap , i haue cast my care vpon the lord , which will care for mee , and will be careles , according vnto my name : as soon as i had read your comfortable letter , my sorrowes vanished away , as smoke in the wind : i am sure the spirit of god was a●thor of it : good m. philpot thou art a principal pot indéed , filled with most precious liquor : oh pot most happy of the high potter ordained to honour , which doest containe such heauenly treasure in the earthen vessell : oh pot most happy , in whom christ hath turned water into wine , and that of the best , whereof the master of the feast hath fi●led my cup so full , that it hath made mee drunken in the ioy of the spirit : when martyrdome shall breake thee ( oh vessell of honour ) the fragrant sauour of the precious ointments will much reioyce the hea●y hearts of christs true members . iohn gwinne , askin , iulines palmer . the . of iuly these thrée godly and constant martyrs were burned at newbery in barkshire . iulines palmer had been student in magdalen colledge in oxford , and was schoolemaister of redding : all king edwards daies hee was an obstinate papist , abhorring all godly prayer and sincere preaching , and was abhorred and put out of the colledge for the same , yet after in quéene maries time , suffered a most cruel death at the papists hands . he was born in couentry , his father had sometimes béene mayor of the citty . when quéene mary came to her raign , he was receiued into the fellowship of the colledge again , but his mind was ●o far altered , that hee would not come to prayers for feare of suspition : but when he should kéepe his bowing measures at the confiteor , in turning vpward & downeward , and knocke his breast with idolatrous adoration , at the lifting vp of the sacrament , his heart rose against it , that hee would get him out of the church , wherefore he left the colledge and became schoolemaister in redding , and béeing vexed with the consideration of the cruelty that was then shewed to the christians , he made a testimony of his faith , and deliuered it to doctor geffery in his visitation , who reading the same put him in prison , and within a fortnight after burned him as before , where he yéelded vp as ioyfull a soule to god , as euer any did . katherine cauches mother and paratine and guillimiue her daughters . the said katherine was a widdow , they were of the isle of garnesey , the . of iuly they were there burned for her●ticks for professing the truth : paratiue being great with childe , and ready to bee brought a bed the wombe of the said paratine being bu●ned , there issued from her a goodly man child , which by the officer was taken vp , and after most spitefull manner throwne into the fire , and most cruelly burned with her seely mother . the cause was thi● ; a woman had stollen a cup and pawned it to this katherine for six pence , she perceiuing whose cup it was thought to haue carried it home : in the meane time the owner of the cup missed it , and charged ber with it that stole it , who confessed it and brought the owner of the cup to the widdow who deliuered him the cup : shortly after the bayliff●s hearing thereof , searched her house , they finding one platter which had no marke , and another that had the mark scraped out : whereupon they brought her and her two daughters to the iustices , who committed them vnto prison , and the bayliffs seized vpon all their goods , and when they could proue nothing against them , the bayliffs accused them of heresie and caused them to be committed againe ; and the bayliffs wrote to iaques amy deane of the i le aforesaid , to desire him to proceed against them in the cause of heresie : whereupon the said deane , assisted by the curats there , did make an inquirie of the said widdow and her daughters , and condemned them for hereticks , the widdow and her daughters neuer hearing therof , and deliuered it to the bayliffs and iurats , whereupon when the bayliffs did know that the said deane and curats had not examined the woman , they would not sit in iudgement that day , but ordained that the women should first be examined of their faith before the deane and curats : wherefore the women were presented before the said deane and curats who answered that they would obe● the ordinances of the king and queene , and the commandements of the church , notwithstanding they were condemned , and thereupon burned , and the bayliffs had all their goods , as before , but in the beginning of queene elizabeths raigne the gern●●y men , and one matthew cauches , brother to ●he said two sisters presented a supplication to the quéenes commissioners touching that matter , who sitting vpon the cause , found the matter probable , and commit●ed the deane to prison , and dispossessed him of all his liuings and possessions . thomas dungate , iohn forman , mother tree . the of iuly these gaue themselues to the fire for righteousnes sake , patiently abiding what the rage of man could say or doe against them : they were burned at grinsted in sussex . ioane wast was of the parish of alhallowes in darby , shee was condemned by radulph bane bishop of couentry and lichfield , his chancellor , and others , for that she did hold the sacrament of the popish altar to be but a representation of christs body and materiall bread and wine , and not his naturall body , vnlesse it were receiued , and that it ought not to be reserued from time to time ouer the altar , but immediatly to be receiued . she was burned at the aforesaid darby : when she suffered she made her prayer to the lord ies●s to assist and strengthen her , and being bound to the stake with flames about her , she suffered with ioy and triumph , as though she had rather béene going to a banket , then to yéeld vp her life . edward sharp was an aged man , borne in wilshire , he was condemned the . of september , where hee constantly and manfully persisted in the iust quarrell of christs gospell , for misliking & renouncing the ordinances of the romish church . he was tryed as pure gold , and made a liuely sacrifice in the fire . iohn hart , tho : rauensdale , and two whose names we haue not , the one a shomaker , the other a coriar . these foure were burned at mayfield in sussex the . of september , being at the place where they should suffer , after they had made their prayer , they constantly and ioyfully ended their liues , for the testimony of the glorious gospell of iesus christ. the next day , a yong man , a carpenter , whose name we know not , was burned for the testimony of christ at bristow : he died with much ioy , constancy , and triumph . thomas horne and a woman . the . of september th●se two godly martirs were consumed by the fire at watton underhedge in glocestershire , who died very gloriously in a constant faith , to the terror of the wicked , and comfort of the godly . a shoemaker was a true witnesse and disciple of the lord , he renounced the false coloured religion of the romish sea , wherein many a good man hath beene drowned : he was burned at northampton . thrée in the castle of cicester being in like bonds for the like cause of christs gospell , died in prison , and were buried in the fields , who had béene burned if the cruell handling of papists had not made them away before . john clarke , dunstone chittenden vncondemned , william foster of stone , allice potkins of staplehurst , iohn archer of cranbroke vveauer . the first of nouember these fiue were macerate and pined to death by famine in the castle of canterbury : they answered all to this effect , that they beleeue the articles of the creed , but they beleeue no more sacraments but two , that praiers to saints or soules in purgatory profit not , that faith only iustifieth ; they denied the popish ceremonies in the church : that it was as good to carry a dungfork as candles on candlemas day , and that it is as necessary to carry the gallowes about if ones father were hanged , as to cary the crosse ; that they could not come to church with a safe conscience . there was fifteene of them in prison , and it seemeth the bishops and priests had appointed to starue them al , had not a certificate of the manner of their cruell handling bin throwne out of the castle window , wherby their doings were made manifest : so the other ten were burned , as after appeareth . in the months of september , nouember , and december , there was a great persecution in couentry and lichfield : the cruell bishop radulph bane , and his cruell chancellor , doctor draycot , and nine priests , and a number of others were compelled to recant , and one hoke was burned at chester , as thou mayst see in the booke at large . the tvvelfth booke of the acts of the church . touching the processe and whole discourse , concerning the condemning , taking vp , and burning the bones and bookes of bucer , & paulus phagius , by the commaundement of cardinall poole , with all the rites and ceremonies therunto appertaining , with all the ridiculous procéeding of the commissioners whilst they were at cambridge : and also the oration of m. acworth , orator of the uniuersitie : at the restitution of martine bucer , and paulus phagius in quéene elizabeths time , and also the dispitefull handling and madnesse of the papists towards peter martires wife at oxford , taking her vp from her grau● at the commandement of cardinall poole , and after buried in a dunghil . concerning the processe of these things , i refer thee if thou béest disposed to sée them , to the booke at large . the . of ianuary the ten that remained of the aforesaid fiftéene , that were in prison in the castle of canterbury , whereof fiue of them were starued , the ●ther ten were burned , for the same points of religion in effect as the other fiue held as before is expressed ; the names of these ten follow . iohn philpot of tenderden , william waterer of bedingdy , stephen kempe of norgate , william hay of hith , thomas hudson of sellenge : mathew bradbridge of tenderden , thomas stephens of bedingham , nicholas finall of tenderden , vvilliam lowicke of cranbroke , vvilliam prowting of thorneham . the . of february a most bloody commission was giuen forth by king philip and quéene marie to prosecute the poore members of christ. whereupon twenty two were apprehended in essex , and brought vp to london at once to bonner , all of them tyed to a rope by two and two , and so lead in a rope through the stréetes to bonner . now the bishops and councell perceiuing the number , and fearing to put them to death , being so many together , least i some disturbance might rise vpon the same : they bad them make their submission and confession as they would themselues , that they might make a colour of recantation , wherupon they were discharged : for their names i referre thée to the booke at large . thomas loseby , henry ramsey , tho : thyrtell , margaret hyde , agnes stanley . the twelfth of aprill these were burned at one fire in smithfield , bonner framed now articles vnto them , and confessing these points of his articles , they were condemned . for speaking against the faith , religion , and ecclesiasticall seruice , especially concerning the masse and the seauen sacraments , saying they agréed not w●th gods word . for being perswaded that the english seruice in king edwards time , was godly and catholike . that they did not thinke themselues bound to come to church to heare the mattins , masse , and euening song . . that they did not thinke themselues bound to go a procession , nor to beare tapers and candles at candlemas , nor take ashes vpon ashwednesday , nor beare palmes vpon palme-sunday , nor to créepe to the crosse vpon daies accustomed , not to receiue and kisse the paxe at masse time , not to receiue holy water or holy bread , nor to except or allow the ceremonies and vsages of the church , as they are vsed in this realme . for thinking they were not bound to confesse their sinnes vnto a priest , nor to receiue absolution at his hand , nor to receiue the sacrament of the altar . for thinking prayers to saints , or prayers for the dead are not lawdable , profitable , not allowed by gods word , and that the soules departed goe straight waies to heauen or hell , so that there is no purgatory . for thinking all those that were burned in king henry the eights time , and in quéene maries time as heretickes , were no heretickes , but faithfull and good people : and for approuing their opinions , and mis●iking their condemnations . for thinking the sacrament of the altar to bee an idoll , and to reserue it to be honoured , to be idolatry : and likewise of the masse , and ●l●uation of the sacrament . after this , they were conuented againe before the bishop , in the con●●story , where these being asked what they had to say against iudgement , thomas los●by said , god giue me strength to stand against you and your 〈◊〉 : your law●s a de●ouring law , i perceiue there is no way with me but death , except i will beléeue in that idoll , the masse . thomas thirtle said , if you make me an heretick , then you make christ and al the twelue apostles hereticks : for i am in the true faith , and i will stand to it , for i know i shall haue eternall life . r●msey said , my opinion is the very truth , which i will not goe from : there are two churches , and we the martyrs of christ are the true church , and yee be not . margaret hide affirmed , shee was in that true faith , and would neuer forsake it . agnes stanly said , if euery haire of her head were neuer so much worth , i had rather they were reburned , then i will for sake my true faith . then they were put off vntill the afternoone , then as loseby his answere was reading , mention being made of the sacrament , boner put off his cap , and loseby put on his hat : and he said , i trust i haue the spirit of truth , which you detest , for the wisedome of god is foolishnesse vnto you , whereupon they had iudgement . margaret hide saide , my lord , i will not depart from my sayings till i be burned : and she said , ● would sée you my lord instruct mee with some part of gods word , and not to giue me instructions of holy bread , and holy water , for it is no part of scripture . agnes stanly answered , i am no ●ereticke no man that is wise will beléeue as you doe : i beleeue those that you haue burned bee true martyrs , i will not goe from my faith as long as i liue . thomas thirtle said , i will not beleeue your idolatrous waies , your masse in idolatry , i wil stick to my faith as long as i liue . henry ramsey said , your doctrine is naught , and not agreeable to gods word , and i will stand to my faith as long as i liue : so they were condemned and burned , as before . in may william norant , stephen gratwicke , and one king , were burned in s. georges field in southwarke . iohn bradbridge of stapleherst , walter apleby of maydstone , and petronell his wife , edmund allen of fritendid , and katherine his wife , ioane mannings of maydstone , elizabeth a blind maid . the . of iune these seauen faithfull martyrs of christ , were burned at maidstone : their answers were like in effect to the fiue that were famished to death in canterbury castle . the . of iune iohn fishcock , nicholas white , nicholas pardue , barbara finall widdow , bradbregs widdow , bendens wife , and wilsons wife , were burned at canterbury : their articles were as the others , they ioyfully vndressed themselues vnto the fire , and all of them ( like the communion of saints ) knéeled down and prayed , with such zeale , as the enemies of the crosse of christ could not but like it . ten they arose and went to the stake , where they yéelded their soules gloriously vnto the lord. richard woodman , george stephens , william maynard , alexander hosman his man , tomasine awood his maid , margery moris , iames moris hir sonne , denis burges , ashdownes wife , groues wife . these tenne blessed martyrs were burned at lewes in sussex the . of iune , without a writ from the lord chancelor . the first examination of richard woodman , before the bishop of chichester . chichester . i am sory for you , and so are all the worshipfull of our country , you haue béene of good estimation amongst the poore and rich ; wherefore looke well to your selfe , your wife and children , and bee ruled : thinke not your selfe wiser then all the realme . woodman . i will be willing to learne of euery man the truth , and i know i haue giuen no iust offence to rich nor poore , and god knoweth how deare i loue my wife and children in him : but my life , my wife and children are all in gods hands , and i haue them all , as i had them not , but regard the pleasing of god more then al other things . i thought good to appeale to you mine ordinary , for som goe about to shed my blood wrongfully , that if you can finde i hold any thing contrary to gods word i will be reformed ; and if my blood bee shed vnrighteouslie , that it may be required at your hands , because you haue taken vpon you to bee the phisition of soules of our country . story . thou art a peruerse fellow , thinkest thou that thou shalt be put to death vniustly ? that thy blood shall be required ? no , if he should condemne a hundred such hereticks , i haue helped to rid a good many of you , and will doe the best i can to rid thee . chich. i am your spirituall pastor , you must heare me and i will giue spirituall councell . wood. you say you will giue mee spirituall councell , are you sure you haue the spirit of god. chichest . no by saint mary , i dare not bee so bold to say , so i doubt of that . wood. then you be like the waues of the sea tossed with the winde , and vnstable in all your wayes , ( as saint iames saith ) and can looke for no good thing at the lords hands : you are neither hote nor cold : therefore god will spue you out . story . hee hath the diuell in him , hee is worse then the diuel , thus all heretickes boast themselues . wood. the iewes said to christ he had a diuell , and was mad , as you haue said to me : but the seruant is not aboue his master : god forbid i should learne of him that confesseth he hath not the spirit of god. chich. doe you beleeue you haue the spirit of god , it is more then paul or any of the apostles durst doe , which is great presumption . wood. i beleeue i haue the spirit , and boast not my selfe , but of the gift of god : as paul did in . cor. . he said he beleeued verily that hee had the spirit of god , no man can beleeue that iesus is the lord , but by the holy ghost : i beleeue christ is my redeemer , therefore i haue the holy ghost : and hee that hath not the spirit of christ is a cast-away and none of his , and wee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare , but we haue receiued the spirit of adoption which cryeth abba father : the same shirit testifieth with our spirits , that we are the sonnes of god : héere are proofes enough that paul was sure he had the spirit of god : and iohn saith , he that beleeueth in god , dwelleth in god , and god in him : so it is impossible to beleeue in god , except god dwell in vs , chich. he bade me dine with him , and at dinner he asked me whether priests may marry , and whether paul had a wife . wood. paul and barnabas were not married , but all the apostles else-were : for in the . cor. . paul saith , am i not an apostle , am i not free , haue i not seene christ : mine answere to them that aske me this : haue wee not power to eat and to drinke , or to leade about a sister to wife , as well as the other apostles , and the brethren of the lord , or haue not barnabas and i power thus to do : so this text proueth that paul and barnabas were not married , but paul declareth that the rest had wiues , and they had power likewise to haue wiues , but they found no neede thereof : but paul in the seuenth to the corinthians said , that hee that hath not power ouer his flesh may marry , for it is better to marry then to burne : wherefore to auoid fornication let euery one haue his vvife , and euery woman her husband : therefore bishoppes and priests may haue wiues , because they are men , rather then burne , and commit fornication : paul declareth to timothy , the first and niuth , that bishops and deacons should haue wiues . the second examination before the bishop of winchester and others . wine . last time you were with vs you were in an heresie , in saying iudas receiued bread , vnlesse you will tell what more then bread . wood. i say he receiued more then bread , for he receiued the diuell , because hee presumed to eate the sacrament without faith : as christ saith , after he eat the sop the diuell entred into him : hereby appeareth that the sacrament is not the body of christ , before it be receiued in faith. winc. what is thy faith in the sacrament ? wood. i beleeue when i receiue the body and bloud of christ , if it bee truely ministred according to christs institution ; if i come in faith , that christ was borne for me , and that he suffered death for the remission of my sinnes , and that i shall bee saued by his death , and eate the bread , and drinke the wine in remembrance of him : then i receiue whole christ , god and man , mystically by faith. the fat priest. what afoole thou art , canst not tell what mystically is . wood. god hath chosen such fooles as i am to confound such a wise thing as you are . winch. answere the sacrament of the altar , whether it bee not the body of christ before it be receiued , and whether it bee not the body of christ to whomsoeuer receiueth it ; tell me , or else i will excommunicate thée . wood. i will not answere you , you are not mine ordinarie : then chichester said , i am not consecrated : no said i ▪ yours bee all cow calues : meaning therby that hee had not his bull from rome : th●● they called me all to naught , and said i was madde . then i said , so festus said to paul when hee spake sober words and truth of the spirit of god as i doe : but you be your selues as you iudge mee , you will all goe to hell if you condemne me , if you haue not especiall grace to repent with sp●c● . winch. we goe about to saue thy soule if thou wilt be ruled . wood. no man can saue my soule , for christ hath saued it already , euen before the foundation of the world was laid . the fat priest. here is another heresie , thou canst not tell what thou saist , was the soule saued before it was . wood. i say the truth , looke in the first to the ephesians and there you shall find it , where s. paul saith , god hath chosen vs in christ before the foundation of the world , that we should be holy and without blame before him through loue , and thereto we were predestinated . the fat priest. s iames saith , faith without workes is dead , and we haue free-will to doe good workes . wood. i doe not disallow good workes , for a good faith cannot be without good workes , yet not of our selues , but it is the gift of god , as s. paul saith , it is god that worketh in vs both the will and the deed , euen of his good will. vvinch . make and ●nd , answere to me : my lord cardinall hath appointed the archdeacon of canterbury thine ordinary , he can appoint whom he will before the bishop is consecrated , and so they all affirmed . wood. i will beleeue neuer a one of you all , for you be turne coates & changelings , and wauering minded , neither hote nor cold , therefore god will spu● you out : for in king edwards time you taught the doctrine that was set sorth then , and now you teach the contrarie , which words made the most part of them quake . vvinch . he is the naughtiest varlet and heretick that euer i knew , i wil reade sentence against him , but i spared them not but spake freely , they that stood by rebuked me ; saying , you cannot tell whom you speake vnto . wood. they be but men i trow , i haue spoken to better men then they for anything i see , except they repent with speed : then i told the bishop of winchester if you condemne me , you will be condemned in hell , if you repent not , for i am not afraid to die for gods sake . winchest . for gods sake : nay for the diuels sake : neither was iudas afraid to die that hanged himselfe , as thou wilt kill thy selfe , because thou wilt not be ruled : how say you will you confesse that iudas receiued the body of christ vnworthily . vvood. if you can prooue in all the bible that any man euer eat the body of christ vnworthily , then i will be with you in all things . then a priest said s. paul saith , in the . of the first to the corinthians : he that eateth this bread & drinketh this cup vnworthily , eateth and drinketh his own damnation : because he maketh no difference of the lords body . wood. he saith not who so eateth this body vnworthily , nor drinketh this blood vnworthily : but he saith who so eateth this bread and drinketh this cup vnworthily , eateth and drinketh his o●ne damnation : because hee maketh no difference of the sacrament , which representeth the lords body , and other bread and drink : here good people you sée they are not able to proue their sayings true : wherefore i cannot beléeue them in any thing they do : then winchester read sentence of excommunication against me : when hee had done i would haue spoken , but they cried away with him . the third examination . chich. how say you to the sacrament of the altar : i said he ment the sacrament of the body and bloud of christ , and not of the altar of stone : he said ▪ yes that he did : how vnderstand you the altar otherwise ? wood. it is written in the . of mathew , wheresoeuer two or three be gathered together in christs name , he is in the middest of them : whatsoeuer they aske in earth , shall be granted in heauen : and in the . of mat. when thou commest vnto the altar and remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee , leaue thine offering , and be first reconciled to thy brother , and then offer thy gift . in these two places of scripture , i proue christ is the true altar , whereon euery one ought to offer his gifts : first christ being in the middest of them that are gathered together in his name , there is the altar : so we may be bold to offer our gifts , if we be in charitie , if we be not , we must leaue our gift , and be first reconciled vnto our brother : some will say , how shall i agrée with mine aduersary when he is not néere by . miles , may i not pray vntill i haue spoken with him : if thou presume to pray in the congregation , and thinke euill vnto any , thou askest vengeance vpon the selfe : therefore agrée with thine aduersarie , that is make thy life agréeable to gods word ; resolue in thy heart that thou aske god & the world forgiuenes , intending neuer to affend them more : all such may be hold to offer their gift . chichest . i neuer heard any vnderstand it so , no not luther that great hereticke , that was condemned by a generall councell and his picture burned . i will shew you the true vnderstanding of the altar and the offering : wee haue an altar said paul , that you may not eat off : meaning that no man might eat of that which was offered vpon the altar , but the priest : for in pauls time all the liuing that the priests had the people came and offered it vpon the altar : mony or other things , and when the people came to offer it , and remembred that they had any thing against there brother , then they left their offering vpon the altar , and went and were reconciled vnto their brother , and came againe , and offered their gift , and the priest had it : this is the true vnderstanding of it . vvood. that was the vse of the old law , christ was the end of it ; and though it were offered in pauls time that maketh not that it was well done , but he rebuked it , therefore you are deceiued . chich. who shall iudge betwixt vs in the matter : i said the word , as it is in the . of iohn : and s. peter saith , the scriptures haue no priuate interpretation , but one scripture must be vnderstood by another : then he said if you vnderstand it one way , & i another who shal be iudge : the true church of god is able to discusse all doubts : he said the church of god doth allow the sacrament of the altar . vvood. what doe you offer now vpon the altar ? chich. we offer vp the body of christ to pacific the wrath of god in the blessed sacrament , and there withall all put off their caps vnto the abhominable idoll . wood. s. paul saith in the tenth to the hebrewes , wee are sanctified by the offering of the body of christ vpon the crosse once for all : and euery priest is dayly ministring and offering one manner of sacrifice , which can neuer take away sins , and that it is the offering that you vse to offer as farre as i can see you be priests after the order of aaron , that offer vp sacrifice for their owne sinnes , and the sinnes of the people . chich. aarons sacrifice was with bloud , which signified the death of christ : but we are priests after the order of melchisedech , which offered bread to the king in remembrance , and signified the giuing of christs body in b●ead & wine at his last supper , which christ gaue vnto his disciples , and commanded to be vsed vnto the end of the world . vvood. me thinke you haue made the matter very plaine , that as christ was the end of the sacrifices , so he was the beginning of the sacraments , willing them to be vsed in remembrance of him vnto the end of the world . chich. the word saith , take , eate , this is my body : it is not the signe onely , but the thing it selfe : how say you it is not his body after the words be spoken by the priest. vvood. if you say the words ouer the water , if there be no child , is there true baptisme : he said there must be the water , the word , the child : then i said if the child be baptized , in the name of ●he father , the sonne . is it true baptisme : he said it must be baptized in the name of the father , the sonne , and the holy ghost : then i said there may be nothing added or diminished . chich. how say you , take , eate , this is my body , is not this christs body as soone as it is said . vvood. as the water , the word , and the child altogether make baptisme : so the bread , the wine , & the word , make the sacrament , & the eater eating it in true faith maketh it his body : so it is not christs body , but by the faithfull receiuer : for hee said , take , eat , this is my body : he calleth it not his body before before eating : and s. augustine saith , crede manducasti , beleeue and thou hast eaten : and s. iohn saith , he that beleeueth in god , dwelleth in god , and god in him : wherefore it is impossible to please god , and to eat his body without true faith. priest. if the faith of the receiuer maketh it his body , and not his word , what did iudas eat ? vvood. he eat the sacrament of christ , and the diuell with all . priest. he eate the body of christ vnworthily , as s. paul saith . wood. s. paul speaketh not of eating his body vnworthily , but of the sacrament vnworthily : for he saith , whosoeuer eateth of this bread , and drinketh of this cup vnworthily , eateth & drinketh his own damnation : because he maketh no difference of the lords body , and not because hee eateth the lords body : if iudas had eaten christs body he must needs be saued : for christ saith in the . of iohn , whosoeuer eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternal life . chich. do you not beleeue that after the words be spoken , that there remaineth neither bread nor wine , but the very body of christ really . wood. i haue told you my mind without dissimulation , & more you get not of me except you wil talk by the scriptures , then i wil proue it more plaine . or . waies . then they made a great laughing and said , this is an heretick indeed , it is time he were burned : then i said as you iudge me , you shall be iudged your selues , for i serue god truely with that which you call heresie , as you shall well know when you are in hell , and haue bloud to drinke , and shall say in paine , this was th● man we iested on , and whose talk we thought foolishnes , and his ●nd without honour : now we may sée how he is counted amongst the saints of god , and wee are punished ; these words shall you say being in hell if you repent not ▪ with speed , if you consent to the shedding of my bloud . pries●● you were at baxell a tweluemonth agone , and sent for the parson and talked with him in the church-yard , and would not goe into the church , for you said it was the idols temple . story came in pointing at me with his finger : i can say nothing to him but an heretick , i haue heard you talke this houre and a halfe , and can heare no reasonablenes in him . wood. as you iudge me you shall be iudged your selfe . story . what , be you a preaching ? you shall preach at a stake shortly with your fellowes . kéeper , carry him to the marshalsey againe , and let no body come to speake with him . the fourth examination before doctor langdal . langd . your childe was not christned in a fortnight or in thrée wéekes after it was borne ; and then the chifest of the parish were faine to fetch it out of your house against your will , which declareth that you allow not baptisme of children : and if the childe had died , it had beene damned ; because it was not christned : and you should haue beene damned , because you were the let thereof . wood. it was baptized as soone as it was borne , by the midwife ; and the cause i blamed my neighbour , was , because they fet my childe out of my house without my leaue , and did more to it then need was , the which was not well done . and where you said , if a childe die , and be not baptized , it is damned : be all damned that receiue not the outward signe of baptisme ? lang. yea that they be : for christ saith : and baptise them in the name of the father , the sonne , and the holy ghost . and he that beleeueth and is baptized , shall be saued . and he that beleeueth not , shall be damned . wood. then , by your saying , baptizing bringeth faith , and all that be baptized in the water , shall be saued . lang. yea , if they dye before they come to discretion , they shall be saued euery one of them : and all that be not baptized shall be damned . wood. you vnderstand not the scriptures but as farre as naturall reason can comprehend : the scriptures are plaine , that they which beleeue not , shall be damned : but it saith not in any place , that they that are not baptized , shall be damned . and where you say , faith commeth by the vse of the materiall water in baptisme , whether was iocab baptised before he had faith ? paul saith in the ninth to the romans , ere euer the children were borne , ere euer they had done good or bad , that the purpose of god , which is by election , might stand , not by reason workes , but by the grace of the caller , the elder shall serue the yonger : iacob haue i loued , and esau haue i hated . this proueth that faith is before baptisme : for circumcision was before baptisme : and saint peter fetcheth the proofe of baptisme from noes flood , saying : whilst the arke was a preparing wherein but eight persons were saued by water , like as baptisme now saueth vs ; not in washing away the filth of the flesh , but in that there is a good conscience consenting to good . but you said , if they be baptised with water , if they die before yeares of discretion , they be all saued : the which s. peter is cleane against , vnlesse you grant that children haue faith before they bee baptized ; but what consent of conscience haue infants ? you say they beléeue not before they bee baptized . lang. the children are baptized in the god-fathers and god-mothers faith ; and that is the good conscience that saint peter speaketh of , and the christning is the kéeping of the law that s. paul speaketh of , saying : neither is circumcision or vncircumcision any thing , but the keeping of the law is altogether ; like as circumcision was the keeping of the old law , so is baptisme the keeping of the new law. vvood. you confesse that neither circumcision nor vncircumcision auaileth not , which you haue coupled with baptisme , prouing that none of them preuaile , but the kéeping of the law , which law you say is kept by outward signes : which is nothing so ; for abraham beléeued god , and that was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse : and this was before he was circumcised , so the children beléeue before they be either circumcised or baptized , according to my first saying , iacob haue i loued , and esau haue i hated . this sheweth that iacob had faith in his mothers wombe . also iohn baptist was sanctified in his mothers wombe , therfore it was counted vnto him for righteousnesse : and i am sure , if they had died before they had either receiued circumcision or baptisme , concerning the outward déede , they had béene saued : for gods gifts and calling are such that hee cannot repent him of ; but by your saying he doth repent and change : for you say , kéeping of the outward law is all in all : and where you say they be baptised in the godfathers & godmothers faith , what if they be vnbeleeuers ? in what faith then is the childe baptized ? lang. if one amongst the thrée god-fathers & god-mothers that baptize the childe be not a beleeuer , you would count that there were bery few beleeuers : if you would haue none beléeuers but them that be of your mind , then were christs flocke a very little flocke . vvood. in the of luke christ saith , his flocke is a little flocke : and where you make a question of one amongst thrée , there is not one amongst three hundred as farre as i can sée , else there would not be so many which would séek their neighbours goods and liues . lang. if christs flocke bee such a little flocke , tell mee how many there bee of them . vvood. first , the prophet saith , follow not a multitude to do euill : for the most go the wrong way ; and christ saith , math. . the way is brode , and the gate wide that leadeth to destruction , and many there be that goe in thereat : and straight is the gate , and narrow the way that leadeth to life , and few there be that finde it . and in the of luke christ saith ; come you little flocke , it is your fathers will to giue you a kingdome . and in the of mark , and of mathew , christ saith ; the tree is kowne by his fruits , a good tree bringeth forth good fruits , and a bad tree bad fruits : and euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruits , shall be ●ewne downe , and cast into the fire : christ meaneth into hell , and your fruites declare you to be one of them . lang. it was time such a fellow as you were taken indéed : such a one is enough to trouble a whole countrey : you deny originall sin , and frée-will . wood. what frée-will hath a man to do good of himselfe ? lang. all men haue as much frée-will as adam had before his fall : for as by the meanes of adam all became sinners , so by the obedience of christ , all men became righteous , and were set as free as they were before their fall . wood. what an ouer-throw haue you giuen your selfe here in originall sinn● , and yet cannot sée it : for in prouing we haue free-will , you haue denyed originall sinne . for if we be set as free by the death of christ , as adam was before his fall , i am sure adam had no originall sinne before his fall . if wee bee so frée now as hee was then , i maruell why saint paul complained thrice to god to take away the sting of it , god making him answere , my grace is sufficient for thee . this proueth originall sinne , but not that it shall hurt gods elect , but that his grace is sufficient for his . but you say in one place it is not without baptisme , and in another place you put it away quite by the death of christ. and you haue spoken truer then you be aware of : for all that beleeue in christ are baptized in his blood ; and yet i say with dauid in the psalme , i was borne in sinne , and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me : but no such sinne as shall be imputed , because i am borne of god by faith , as saith saint iohn : therefore i am blessed , as saith the prophet , because the lord imputeth not my sinne : and not because i haue no sinne ; not of mine owne deseruing , but of his free mercy hee saueth vs. where is now your free-will ? if we haue free-will , our saluation commeth of our owne selues , and not of god , and his word . saint iames saith , euery good and perfect gift commeth from the father of light : of his owne will begat he vs. for the winde bloweth where it listeth , and wee heare the sound thereof , saith saint iohn , but wee cannot tell from whence it commeth , nor whither it goeth . euen so it is with euery one that is borne of god : for saint paul saith : it is god that worketh the will and the deede , euen of his good will ; therefore our owne will is nought at all , except it be to wickednesse . after these and other examinations , wherein there is no other materiall point of religion handled , he was called forth to his condemnation : and so was depriued of his life with the other nine aforesaid , which were taken but the same day , or the day before . ambrose . he died in maidstone goale , who else should haue beene burned for his conscience , in the truth , as the other were . simon miller , and elizabeth cooper . simon dwelt at linne , he came to norwich , where he standing in the prease , and hearing the people comming out of the church , the masse being ended , he asked them where he might go to haue the communion : they maruailed to heare his boldnesse ; and some said , if he would needes go to a communion , he would bring him where he should be sped of his purpose : whereupon hee was brought vnto dowing , chancellor of norwich ; who , after a little talke with him , committed him to prison . as he was examined , a p●ece of paper appeared aboue his shooe : it was spied , and taken out , and it was a confession of his faith . the chancellor asked him if he would stand to that confession of his faith : he constantly affirmed he would . the kéeper gaue him leaue to go to his house , whilst hee set all things in order : and then hee returned , and constantly abiding in his purpose , and defence of gods truth , he was by the bishop and his chancellor condemned and burned . with him was burned the said elizabeth , a pewterers wife dwelling in saint andrewes in norwich , where she had before recanted , and being troubled inwardly for the same , she came to saint andrewes church , whilst they were at their popish seruice , and said , shee reuoked her recantation before made in that place , and was heartily sorry that shee euer did it , willing the people not to bee deceiued , nor to take her doing before for any example . then master marsham , and one bacon of the said parish , cried , master shriefe , will you suffer this ? whereupon the shriefe came to her house , at whose knocking she came downe , and was taken , and sent to prison : shee was condemned and burned with the said simon miller . william bougeor , thomas● benold , robert purcas , agnes siluer-side , alias smith , widow , ellen ewring , elizabeth folkes maid , william munt , iohn iohnson , allice munt , rose allen , maid . william bougeor was of the parish of s. nicholas in colchester , he said the sacrament of the altar was bread , is bread , & so remaineth bread , and is not the holier , but the worse for the consecration . to this hee did stand , and against all the rest of their papisticall doctrine : and so had sentence read against them . thomas benold of colchester , tallow-chaundler , affirmed the like in effect , and so had sentence . william purchas of bocking in essex , fuller , said when hee receiued the sacrament , he receiued bread in an holy vse , that preacheth y ● remembrance that christ died for him : he stood in this , and against other their popish matters , a●d also had sentence . agnes siluer-side , alias smith , widdow , dwelling at colchester , said shee loued no consecration : for the bread and wine is the worse for it . she answered them with sound iudgement , and great boldnesse to all things they asked her , and was condemned . ellen ewring , the wife of iohn ewring of colchester , widdow , answered to the like effect as the other did , denying all the lawes , set forth by the pope , with her whole heart , she was condemned . elizabeth folkes , maid-seruant in colchester , being examined whether shee beleeued the presence of christs body in the sacrament substantially or no , answered , shee beleeued that it was a substantiall lye , and reall lye . they chafing , asked her againe , whether , after consecration , there remained not in the sacrament the body of christ : she answered , that before consecration , and after it is but bread , and the man the blesseth without gods word , is accursed and abhominable by the word . then they examined her of confession to a priest , of going to masse , and of the authority of the bishop of rome : she answered , shee would neither vse nor frequent any of them , but did abhorre them from the bottome of her heart , and such like trumpery : so shee was condemned , shee kneeled downe and praised god that euer shee was borne to sée that blessed day , that the lord would count her worthy to suffer for the testimony of christ : and lord forgiue ▪ them that haue done this , if it bee thy will : for they know not what they doe : and rising vp , shee exhorted them all to repentance , and bad the halting gospellers beware of blood , for that would crye for vengeance . william munt of muchbentley in essex , said that the sacrament of the altar was an abhominable idoll , and that he should displease god if he should obserue any part of the popish proceedings : and therefore , for feare of gods vengeance he dare not do it . he was years old ; he was examined of many things , but he stood to the truth , and was condemned . iohn iohnson of thorp in essex was condemned , who answered to the same effect as the other did . allice munt , the wife of the said william munt , yeares old , answered as her husband had done , and was condemned . rose allen , maid , the daughter , of●the said allice munt , m. edmond terrell , which came of the house of them terrels which murdered k. edward the fifth , and his brother ; when , with diuers others , hee was come into the house of william munt , to search his house , and to apprehend him and his wife . hee met with this rose allen going with a candle to fetch drinke for her mother , and willed her to giue her father and mother good counsel , she said , they haue a better councellour then i : for the holy ghost doth teach them , i hope , which i trust will not suffer them to erre . why , said hee , art thou still in this minde , thou naughty house-wife , it is time to looke to such heretickes . she said , with that which you call heresie , i worship my lord god. then ( quoth he ) i perceiue you will burne with the rest for company . she said , not for company , but for christs sake , if i be compelled . then he tooke the candle from her , and held her wrist , and the burning candle vnder her hand so long , vntill the sinewes cracked in sunder , saying often vnto her , thou young whoore , wilt thou not crie : she answered , she thanked god she had cause to reioyce , hee had more cause to wéepe then she : when her synowes brake , all in the house heard them , hée thrust her from him and said , ah strong whore , thou shamelesse beast , with such vile words ; then she said , haue you done what you will ? i ( said he ) if you thinke it be not well mend it : she said the lord giue you repentance if it be his will , and you thinke it good begin at the féete and burne vnto the head also , for he that set you no worke will pay you your wages one day . she being examined of auricular confession , of going to masse , and of the popish seuen sacraments : she answered that they stanke in the face of god , she said they were the members of antichrist , and should haue , if they repented , not the reward of antichrist . being asked what she could say of the sea of the bishop of rome , his sea ( quoth she ) is for crowes and kites , owles and rauens to swim in , such as you be ; for i by the grace of god will not swim in that sea while i liue , then she was condemned . these ten godly martyrs were burned at colchester , sire in the forenoone , and foure in the afternoone , when the fire was about them , they clapped their hands for ioy , & ioyfully ioyed in the fire , and thousands standing by , cryed generally all almost , the lord strengthen them , the lord comfort them , as was wonderfull to heare . iohn thurstone . he was taken in the house of william munt , with him he died in may in colchester castle , a constant confessor of iesus christ. thomas moore . he was a merchant dwelling in leicester about . yeares olde , for saying his maker was in heauen and not in the pixe , he was apprehended , the bishop said to him , what is yonder aboue the altar ? he said , i cannot tel what you would haue me to sée , i sée fine clothes with golden tassels , and other gay geare hanging about the pixe , what is within i cannot sée , why said the bishop , doest thou not beléeue christ to be there flesh and bone ? 〈◊〉 said he that i do not ; whereupon the ordinary condemned him , who suff●red a ioyfull and glorious martyrdome for testimony of righteousnesse in leicester . george eagles , alias trudge-ouer . he wandred abrode in diuers countries , where he could finde any of his brethren , did there more earnestly encourage and comfort them , now tarrying in this towne , and somtimes in that , certaine months as occasion serued ; sometimes for feare lying in fields and woods , who for his vnreasonable going abroade was called trudge-ouer , for thrée yeares he dranke nothing but water , and when hée perceiued that his body by gods prouidence prooued well enough therewith , hée thought best to inure himselfe therewithall , against all necessities : when he had profited the church of god by this going abroade a yeare or two , diuers spyes were sent out for him , who had in commandement to bring him quicke or dead , wheresoeuer they found him ; but when they could not take him , they sent out an edict in the quéenes name into foure shires , promising twenty pounds to him that should take him , at length he was séene at a faire in colchester , and being pursued , he hid himselfe in a wood , and from thence got into a corne field , when they could not finde him , they returned , but one got vpon the top of a trée , to spy if he could sée him stirre , the poore man thinking all sure , because he heard nothing , rose vpon his knées , the lurker perceiuing him , came downe and tooke him , and brought him to prison to colchester ; notwithstanding , the iudas-knaue which had so much promised him , was faine to take a little reward , this george within foure dayes after , was conuayed to chelmester where he was so cruelly handled , that he had but two pound of bread and a little water measured to him , to serue him a wéeke together : after a while hee was brought out and indicted of treason , because he had assembled companies together contrary to the lawes in that case prouided to auoyde sedition , that if aboue sixe should flocke together , they should be attached of treason , which straight law was the casting away of the good duke of sommerset . this george , was led to be hangd , drawne and quartered betwixt two théeues , the one of them did nothing but mocke him , and the more he was rebuked , the more he mocked him , but when he should die , he could not speake to vtter his mind , nor say his prayers , and one said the pater noster to him word by word as to a childe , which he could not answer but fumblingly , many did wonder at the iust iudgement of god vpon him for mocking the good martyr . he that apprehended the said george eagles , his name was ralph hardin dwelling in colchester , who in the yeare . was condemned at chelmsford to be hanged , and being at the barre , ●he told the iudge and a great multitude of people , this is most iustly fallen vpon me , for that i betrayed the innocent blood of a good and iust man george eagles , who was condemned here in the time of quéene marie through my procurement , who sold his blood for a little money . richard crashfield of wimondham . he suffered at norwich , whose examination before downings the chancellour , written by himselfe as followeth : chanc. do you beléeue this , that aftee the consecration there is the substance of christs body and blood in the sacrament . crash . i beléeue that christs body was broken for me vpon the crosse , and his blood shed for my redemption : wherefore the bread and wine is a perpetuall memory , the pledge of christ mercie , the ring or seale of his promise , and a perpetual memory for the faithfull vnto the end of the world : then he was commanded vnto prison , and the next day he was brought forth . chanc. cannot you find in your heart when you come to church , to knéele before the roode and pray . i answered no , alledging the commandements of god to the contrary : he said , haue you not read that god commanded the brazen serpent to be made ▪ i said , i haue read that god commanded it to be made , and likewise to be broken downe . doctor bridges . wherfore did god command the cherubins and seraphins to be made ? i said , i cannot tell , i would faine learne : he said , can you finde in your heart to fall downe before the roode the picture of christ ? i said , i feare the curse of god , is yonder roode the picture of christ ? it is written , god curseth the hands that made them , and the hands that made the tooles which carued them . chanc. when were you confessed to a priest. i said , i confesse my selfe dayly the eternall god , whom i most gréeuously offend , i take confession to a priest not be good but rather wicked : then he said , how say yo● by yonder singing and playing on the organs , is it not good and godly : i said , i can perceiue no godlines in it : he said , is it not written in the psalmes , that we shall praise god with hymnes and spirituall songs . i said , spirituall songs must be had , but yonder is of the flesh and of the spirit of errour , for to you it is pleasant and glorious , but vnto the lord it is bitter and odious : then he said , is it not written , my house is an house of prayer : i said yes , it is written also , that you made my house of prayer a den of theeues : then he said , haue we done so , then i was commanded to ward , and the next thursday sent for againe . chanc. are you a new man. i answered , i trust i am a new man borne of god : god giue you grace to be so , then he prayed doctor pore to talke with me . doctor . take eate this is my body : do you not beléeue it is christs body , what was it that christ gaue ? i said , christ tooke bread and gaue thanks , and gaue it , and they tooke bread and did eate bread , and s. paul saith , so oft as you shal eate of this bread , and drinke of this cup , you shall shew forth the lords death vntill he come , s. paul , doth not call it christs body . chanc. we will haue your minde more plainely , for we intend not to haue many words with you , : i said , my faith is grounded vpon christ the easter lambe , he hath offered his body a sacrifice to god the price of my redemption , by that onely sacrifice all the faithfull are sanctified , and he is our onely aduocate mediatour , and he hath made perfect our redemption , without any of your dadly oblations . doctor bridges : you take wel the litterall sence , but as christ offered his body vpon the crosse , which was a bloody sacrifice , and a visible sacrifice , so likewise we doe offer vp the selfe same body that was offered vpon the crosse , but not bloudy and visible , but inuisible vnto god , i said , then christs sacrifice was not perfected , but christ is true when all men be liers : then he saide , thou shalt not feare him that hath power to kill the body , but thou shalt feare him ( enterpreting him to meane the church ) which hath power to kill body and soule : christ said , we should feare him ( and not them ) the hath power to cast body and soule into hel , meaning god , and not the church , and if you will presume to offer christs body dayly , then your power is aboue christs power : then he was condemned , and with patience and constancie entred his blessed martyrdome , at whose burning one thomas carman was apprehended for words , praying with him , and pledging him at his burning . one frier and the sister of george eagles . these suffered the like martyrdome by the vnrighteous papists , whose tyranny the lord of his mercy abate and cut short , turning that wicked generation to abetter minde . they were burned at rochester . iohn cvrd . he was a shoomaker of sisam in northamptonshire , hée was imprisoned in northampton castle for denying the popish transubstantiation , for the which william bru●ter chancelour vnto the bishop of peterborrow did pronounce sentence of death against him : a popish priest standing by when he was to bee burned , one iohn rote vicar of s. giles in northampton , shewed him if he should recant he was authorised to giue him his pardon , he answered , he had his pardon by iesus christ. cicelie ormes . she suffered at norwich ; she was taken at the death of symon miller , and elizabeth cooper , for that she said she would pledge them of the same cup they dranke of , one master cobet of sprowson tooke her and sent her to the chancelour , he asked her what she said vnto the sacrament of christs body , and what is that the priest holdeth ouer his head , she answered , it was bread , and if you make it better , it is worse ; so she was sent to prison , after she was called and examined before the chancelour , and master bridges the chancelor offered her , if she would go to church & kéep her tongue , she should be at libertie , and beléeue as she would : but she tould him she would not consent to his wicked desire therein , and if shée should god would plague her : then he tolde her , he had shewed more fauour vnto her then euer he did vnto any , and when he could not preuaile , he condemned her ; she was borne in east derrham and was daugh●er vnto one thomas hawood tailor , she was taken a twelue-moonth before and recanted , but was neuer after quiet in conscience : she had gotten a letter written to be deliuered to y e chancelor , to let him know she repented her recantation , & would neuer do the like againe as long as she liued , but before she exhibited her bill , she was taken and imprisoned as before ; when she was at the stake she told the people , i would you should not report of me that i beléeue to be saued in that i offer my selfe here to death for the lord cause , but i beléeue onely to be saued by the death of christs passion , and this my death is and shall be a witnesse of my faith vnto you all , good people , as many of you as beléeue as i doe , pray for me : then she kissed the stake and sayd , welcome swéet crosse of christ ; aft●● the fire was kindled , she said , my soule doth magnifie the lord , and my spirit doth reioyce in god my sauiour : and so yéelded her life vnto the lord as quietly as if she had béene in a slumber , or as one féeling no paine , so wonderfully did the lord worke with her . mistresse ioyce lewis . she was the wife of thomas lewis of mancetter , in the beginning of quéene maries time she went to church and heard masse , vntill the burning of laurence saunders in couentry , then she inquired of such as she knew feared god , the cause of his death , and when she knew it was because he refused to receiue the masse , she began to be troubled in conscience , & she reforted to master iohn glouer , a very godly man , of whom mentioned is made before , and desired him to tell her the faults that were in the masse , who instructed her in the wayes of the lord , approuing vnto her , out of gods holy word , that the masse , with al other papistical inuentions , was odious in gods sight , so she began to hate the masse , & being compelled by her husband to come vnto church , ●when the holy water was cast , she turned her backe towards it : wherupon she was accused vnto the bishop , and a citation was s●nt for her and her husband , the sumner deliuered the citation to her husband , who willed him to take the citation away with him , or else he would make him eate it , and in the end he made the sumner eate the citation by setting a dagger vnto his brest , and then he caused him to drinke , and so sent him away , but after they were commanded to appeare before my lord , her husband desired my lord to be good vnto him : my lord was content to receiue his submission ▪ so that his wife would submit her selfe likewise , but she told the bishop that she had neyther offended god nor his lawes in refusing holy water : the bishop gaue her a moneths respite , binding her husband in a hundred pound to bring her to him at the moneths end . when the moneth was almost expired , her husband was aduertised by the said m. glouer and others , not to carry his wife to the bishop , but to séeke some way to saue her ; and if the worst should come , to be content to forfeit the band rather then to cast his wife into the fire : he answered , he would not forfeit any thing for her sake , but carried his wife vnto the bishop , who found her more stout then she was before : so she was sent to such a stinking prison , that a maid that was appointed to kéep her company did sound in the said prison . she was often examined , and euer found stout ; at length she was pronounced an heretick . when the bishop asked her , why she would not come vnto the masse , and receiue the sacraments and sacramentals of holy church : she answered , because she could not find them in gods word : he said , if thou wilt beléeue no more then is in the scriptures concerning matters of religion , thou art in a damnable case : she told my lord his words were vngodly and wicked . after her condemnation she continued a year in prison . wher● the writ came to burn her , she said ▪ as for the feare of death i do not greatly passe : when i behold the amiable countenance of christ my deare sauiour , the vgly face of death doth not greatly trouble me . in the which time she reasoned most comfortably out of gods word of election and reprobation : in the euening before she should die , two priests came to her to heare her confession ; for they would be sorie , they said , she should die without it . she sent them word she had made her confession vnto christ , at whose hands● she was sure to haue forgiuenes of her sins : for the cause for which she should die , she had no cause to repent , but rather to praise god that he made her worthy to suffer death for his word , and the absolution that they were able to giue her by the authority of the pope , she defied it . well , said the priests , to morrow her stoutnes will be tried . all the night she was wonderfull cheerefull and merry . about thrée of the clock in the morning , sathan began to stirre himselfe busily , questioning with her , how she could tell that she was chosen to eternall life , and that christ died for her : i grant he died , but that hee died for thée , how canst thou tell ? she being troubled with this suggestion , they that were about her counsailed her to follow the example of s. paule , to be faithfully perswaded that christ loued her , and gaue himselfe for her : for s. paule was perswaded that christ loued him ; and her calling , and true beléefe , and knowledge of gods word was a manifest token of gods loue towards her , and the operation of the spirit of god , in working in her a loue and a desire to please god : by these perswasions and the comfortable promises of christ brought out of the scripture , sathan was put to flight , and she comforted in christ. when she came to the stake , she prayed to god most instantly to abolish the vile masse ; at which prayer all the people said amen : then she tooke a cup of drinke that was brought vnto her , and drunk vnto all them that vnfainedly loued the gospell of christ , and wished for the abolishment of papistry : a great number of the women of the towne pledged her . when the fire was kindled about her , she neither strugled nor stirred : the papists had appointed some of theirs to raile vpon her , and reu●le her openly as she went to execution ; and whilst she was at the stake , amongst others there was an old priest which had writing tables , and noted the names of the women which drunke with her , and caused processe to be sent for them , but god defended them from the hands of the tyrants . ralph alerton , iames awstoo , margery awstoo and richard roth. on the . of september these foure were burned at i●●ington néere london . ralph alerton comming to his parish church of bently , and séeing the people sitting there idle , exhorted them that they would fall to prayer , and meditation of gods word , wherevnto they consented : after prayer , he read vnto them a chapter out of the new testament , and departed ; in which exercise he continued vntill candlemas : and then being informed that he might not doe so by law ( because he was no priest ) he left off and kept himself● close in his house vntill easter : after he was constrained to forsake his house , and liue in woods , and such places vntill he was apprehended after his examination , my lord darcy sent him vp vnto the councell , who sent him to boner ; who tempted him openly to recant at paules crosse , and set him at liberty , which after wrought such a terrour in his conscience : but the lord with his fauourable chastisement did raise him vp againe with peter , giuing him vnfained repentance , and a most constant boldnes to professe his name , and glorious gospell : wherefore at the procurement of thomas tye priest , hee was apprehended againe , and sent to boner , before whom he was diuers times examined , which examinations written with his owne hand in bloud for lack of inke , hereafter follow . his first examination . boner . ah sirra , how chanceth it , that you are come hether againe in this fashion ? rafe . forsooth , if your lordship remember , i set my hand vnto a writing ; the contents thereof as i remember was , that i did beléeue all things as the catholique church teacheth , in the which i did not disburse my mind , but shamefully dissembled , because i made no difference betwixt the true church ▪ & vntrue church . boner . which is the true church : doest thou call the heretiques church , the true church , or the catholiques church . rafe . i vtterly abhorre the hereticks church as abhominable before god , with all their enormities and heresies , the church catholique is it that i onely imbrace , whose doctrine is sincere , pure and true . boner . by s. augustine that is well said : then a priest said to my lord , you know not what church it is , which he calleth catholick : then hee said by saint mary he might a deceiued me : sirra , which is the catholick church ? rafe . that which hath receiued the wholesome sound spoken of by esay , dauid , malachy , & paul , with many others m●e , the which sound as it is written hath gone throughout all the earth in euery place , and to the end of the world . bon. yea thou saist true before god , for this is the sound that hath gone foorth throughout all christendome , and he that beléeueth not this church as s. cyprian saith doth erre : hee saith whosoeuer is out of the church , is like vnto them that are out of noahs ship , when the floud came vpon the whole world : for the church is not alone in germany , or here in england , in the time of the late schismes , as the hereticks doe affirme : for then were christ a lyar , for he promised the holy ghost should come vnto vs , and leade vs in all truth , and remaine with vs vnto the end of the world : so if we wil take christ for a true sayer , then the way that is taught in france , spaine , flanders , italy , denmarke , scotland , and all christendome ouer must needs be the true catholick church . ra●e . i spake of all the world , and not of all christendome onely , for the gospell hath been preached and persecuted in all nations : first in iury by the scribes and pharisies : and since by nero , dioclesian , and such like : and in our daies by your lordship knoweth whom : your church is no more catholick then was figured by cain , ieroboam , ahab , iezabel , nabuchadonosor , antiochus , herod , with ennumerable more the like : and daniel , and esdras prophesieth of these last daies , and that there shall come greeuous wolues to deuoure the flocke , is affirmed by christ and his apostles , boner . hee is the rankest hereticke that euer came before mee , by alhallowes thou shalt be burned , thou whor●on varlet and pricklouse , the prophecie is of you : what is the saying of esdras that you speake of ? rafe . he saith , the heate of a great multitude is kindled ouer you , and they shall take away certaine of you , and feed the idols with idols , and he that consenteth not to them shall be troden vnder foote , had in derision , and laughed to scorn , yea , they shall be like madde men , for they shall spare no man , they shall spoyle and wast such as ●eare the lord. bonner . esdras speaketh of you hereticks , declaring the hate that you beare to the catholicke church , making the simple people beleeue that all is idolatry that we doe , and so intice them away , vntill you haue ouercome them . rafe . nay , esdras declareth it more plaine , saying , they shall take away their goods , and put them out of their houses , and then shall it be knowne who are my chosen ; for they shall be tried as the siluer or golde in the fire : and it is come to passe as he hath said ; for who is not driuen from house and home , and his goods taken vp for other men that neuer sweat for them ? if he doe not obserue as you command and haue set forth , or else if he be taken he must denie the truth , as i did , in dissembling , or else he shall be sure to be tried , as esdras saith , whereby all the world may know you are the bloudie church , figured by caine the tyrant , and you are not able to auoyde it . bonner . he is an hereticke , let him be carried to london , and kept in little●ase vntill i come . rafe . and so i was vntill the next morning , and then i was brought before bonner , the deane of paules , the chancellor , and others . bonner . how say you sirra , will you goe to fulham with me , and there kneele downe at masse , shewing thy selfe outwardly that thou diddest it not vnwillingly but with a good will ? i said i will not say so . he said , away with him , away with him . after i was brought before the bishop , and three noble-men of the councell . bonner . how say you sirra , after consecration there remaineth no bread , but the very body of christ , god and man vnder the forme of bread ? rafe . where find you that my lord written . bonner . doth not christ say , this is my body ? wilt thou denie the words of christ , or was he a dissembler , speaking one thing and doing another . now i haue taken you . rafe . yea , you haue taken me , and will keepe me vntill you haue killed me : christ said , take you , eate you , this is my bodie ; and if you will ioyne the former words with the latter , then i will answer you . bonner . then thou must say it is his bodie ; for chirst saith it himselfe . rafe . he is true , and all men liers , yet i refuse to take the wordes of christ so phantastically , for then should i conspire with certaine hereticks call●d nestorians , for they denie that christ had a true naturall body , and so doe you , my lord , if you will affirme his body to be there as you say he is , then you must néeds aff●rme that it is a phantasticall body , therefore let the●e words goe before , take ye and eate yee , without which words the rest are not sufficient , but when the worthy receiuers doe take and eate , euen th●n is fulfi●led the wordes of our sauiour , to euery man that so receiueth . esay in his nine and fi●tieth chapter saith , he that refraineth himselfe from euill must be spoyled : and amos saith the like wordes , for the wise must be faine to hold their peace , so wicked a time it is , neuerthelesse , hee that can speake the truth and will not , must giue a straite account . a doctor . by my lords leaue you speake like a foole : you must not iudge the scriptures , but must stand to learne and not to teach , for the whole congregation hath decided the matter long agoe : then was i carryed away . rochest . were you a companion of george eagles , alias trudgeouer . i had him once and he was as drunke as an ape , and ●runk so of drinke that i could not abide him . rafe . i dare say it was either your selfe or some of your companie : for he did neither drinke wine , ale nor béere in a quarter of a yeare before that time . after , because he misliked the masse , calling vpon saints , and carrying the crosse on procession , with other their ceremonies , calling them idolatry , and for singing in 〈◊〉 against the sacrament of the altar , and other ordinances of the church , so lowd that the people abroad might heare them , and delight in them , and for saying that he beleeued nothing that was contained in the councell holde● vnder innocentius the third , and for affirming that those that were burned at colchester were saints in heauen . he was condemned , and he and the other thrée before mentioned were all burned as before . awstoo being in the bishops chappell at fulham , the bishop asked him if hee knew where he was ; he answered in an idoll temple : and he said he receiued the very body and bloud of christ by faith in the supper of the lord , but not in the sacrament of the altar : and his wife said , she beleeued that the religion then vsed in england was not according to gods word , but false and corrupted , and that they which did goe thereto did it more for feare of the law then otherwise ; and she said that she defied the masse with all her heart , and that she would not come into any church wherein was idols . as she was in the bishops prison , by his procurement there was sent a stoute champion , as appeareth , about twelue of the clock at night , who suddenly opened the doore , and with a knife drawne , fell vpon her to haue cut her throat ; but shee calling to god for helpe , he giuing a grunt , and fearing ( belike ) to commit so cruell a deede , departed without any more hurt doing : the next night they made a great rumbling like thunder ouer her head , to the intent to haue feared her out of her wits , but god be thanked they missed of their purpose . the aforesaid richard roth affirmed that there was not the very body and bloud of christ in the sacrament of the altar , as it was then vsed , but that it was a dead god , and that the masse was detestable and contrary to gods word and will , from the which faith he would not decline . he said to bonner , my lord , because the people should not sée your doings , you cause me and others to be brought to our examinations by night , being affraide belike to doe it by day : and being perswaded to recant and aske mercie of bonner ; no ( quoth roth ) i will not aske mercie of him that cannot giue it , whereupon he and the rest were condemned , as before , and most ioyfully ended their liues in the fire at islington , for the testimony of christ and his gospell . agnes bonger and margaret thurstone . these were condemned at the same time and in the same place that the tenne before mentioned were , which suffered martyrdome at colchester , and for the like cause , and answered also in their examinations the like in effect as the other did . when these good and godly women were brought vnto the place in colchester where they should suffer ; after they had falne downe vpon their knees , and made their most humble and hearty prayers vnto god , they went to the stake ioyfully , where with great ioy and glorious triumph , gaue vp their soules vnto the handes of the lord. iohn noyes of lexfield , in the county of suffolke , shoemaker . the twenty two of september , he was taken by the constables , and brought before maister thurstone , sir iohn tyrell , maister kene , iustices , and sir iohn silyerde , high sheriffe , who cast him into eye-dongeon : hee was carried from thence to norwich , and so came before the bishop , who condemned him , because he answered that he thought the naturall body of christ to bee onely in heauen , and not in the sacrament : as hee remained prisoner in the guild-hall of norwich , one nicholas fiske his brother in law came to him to comfort him , he asked if he did not feare death when the bishop condemned him : he said , hee thanked god , he feared not death no more at that time then when he was at libertie . when he was bound vnto the stake , he said , feare not them that ●ill the body , but feare him that can kill both bodie and soule , and cast it into euerlasting fire . when he saw his sister wéeping , he said , wéep● not for mee , but wéepe for your sinnes : when the faggots were set vnto him , he said ; blessed bee the time that euer i was borne to come vnto this , and kissed the faggot . then he said to the people , they say , that they can make god of a péece of bread , but beléeue them not : then said he , good people beare witnesse , that i doe beléeue to bee saued by the merits and passion of christ , and not by mine owne déedes , so the fire was kindled about him : then he said , lord haue mercy vpon me , christ haue mercy vpon me , sonne of dauid haue mercy vpon me . in the dioces of chichester , diuers were martyred for the testimony of righteousnesse in quéene maries raigne , in the number of whom were these : iohn forman of east-grinsted , iohn warner of berne , christian grouer of the arch-deaco●●y of lewis , thomas athoch priest , thomas auington of erdingly , denis burgs of burstéed , thomas rauensdale of ri● ▪ iohn milles of hellinglegh , nicholas holden of withiam , iohn hart of withiam , margery moris of hethfielde , anne try of east-grinstéed , iohn osward of woodmancote , thomas harland of woodmancote , iames moris of heathfield , thomas dowgate of east-grinstéed , iohn ashdon of retherfield . thomas spurdance queene maries seruant . he was examined before the chancellor of norwich , who asked him if hee had confessed his sinnes vnto a priest : i said , i had confessed my sinnes vnto god , who saith : whensoeuer a sinner repenteth , and is sorry for his sinnes , and asketh him forgiuenesse , willing no more so to doe , he will no more reckon his sin vnto him , and that is sufficient for me : i deny that i should shew my sinnes vnto the priest. chancel . haue you receiued the blessed sacrament of the altar at easter : he answered : i dare not meddle with it as you vse it , for the holy supper of the lord serueth for the christian congregation , and you are none of christs members , i dare not meddle with you , least i be like vnto you , for you teach lawes contrary to gods lawes : then he said ; doe you not beleeue , that after the sacrament is consecrated , it is the very same body that was borne of the uirgine mary , and i said no , that was a bloody sacrifice , and this is a dry sacrifice : and i said , is the masse a sacrifice ? a doctor answered , it is a sacrifice both for the quicke and the dead : i said it is no sacrifice , for s. paule saith , that christ made one sacrifice once for all , i beleeue in no other sacrifice . chancel . he is an hereticke , he den●●th the sacrament of the altar : i said , i beleeue , that if i c●me rightly and worthily as god hath commaunded me vnto the supper of the lord , i receiue him by faith , but the bread being receiued is not god , nor the bread that is yonder in the pixe is not god , god dwelleth not in temples made with hands , neither will be worshipped with the workes of mens hands ; therefore you do very euill to cause the people to kneele downe and worship the bread : for god did neuer bid you to hold it vp aboue your heads , neyther had the apostles such vse . chanc. write that article : then said i ; the seruant is not greater then the maister : your predec●ssors killed my maister christ ; the prophets and apostles , and holy vertuous men , and now you also kill the seruants of christ : so all the righteous blood that hath beene shed from righteous abell to this day , shall be required at your hands , then the chancellor bad haue me away . another examination before the bishop . bishop . sirre , dost thou not beleeue ▪ that the pope is supreme head of the catholike church : i said ▪ i do not beleeue that he is aboue the apostles , they disputing which of them should bee greatest when their m. christ was gone , christ answered their thou●hts , saying ; the kings of the earth beare dominion aboue others , but you shall not doe so , for he that is greatest amongst you , shall be seruant vnto you all . how is it then that the pope will climbe so high aboue his fellowes ? you cannot proue by the scripture● that he is head of the church . bishop . as the bell-wether is head of the sh●epe , so is the pope head of the chu●ch , and as the bees haue a master bee to ●ring them home to the hiue when they be abroad , so the pope is ordained by succession of peter to bring vs home againe vnto the ●rue church when we are gone astray : as thou good fellow , hast wandred long out of the way ●li●e a scattered sheepe , heare therefore the bell-wether , and now come home with vs vnto thy mother the church againe . i answered , all this is but naturall reason ; and no scripture : he said , you are stout and will not ●e answered , you shall bee compelled by law whether you will or no. spurdance . so your forefathers intreated christ and his apostles , they had a law , and by that law they put him vnto death : so you haue a law , which is tyranny , whereby you would inforce me to beleeue as you doe , but i trust the lord will assist mee against all your beggerly ceremonies , and make your foolishnesse knowne to the world o●e day . he told the bishop , he neuer vsed the ceremonies of the church since he was borne , at the last he interpreted it , since , hee was new borne , as christ said to nichodemus ; except you bee new borne you cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen : then a doctor said i was an anabaptist , for that was their opinion : i said , i was no anabaptist ▪ for they deny children to bee baptized , and so doe not i. bishop . why doe not you goe vnto the church and cer●monies : i said ; because they are contrary to gods word ; as you your selfe haue taught , but now you say it is go●d againe : and i thinke if there were a returne to morrow , you would say it were false againe which you hold now ; therefore i may well say , there is no truth in you : then he said , i was a stubborne fellow , an heretick , and a traytor . spurdance . there is no man i thanke god to accuse me iustly , that euer i was disobedient to any ciuill lawes , but i haue a soule and a bodie , and my soule is none of the queenes , but my body one goods are the queens , and i must giue god my soule , and all that belongeth vnto it , and in lawes contrarie to gods lawes , i must rather obey god then man : you cannot proue by the word of god , that you should not haue any grauen images in your churches , for lay-mens bookes , or to worship god by them , or that you should haue any ceremonies in the church as you haue . bish. it is a decent order to furnish the church , as when you goe to dinner , you haue a cloth vpon the table to furnish it , so at these ceremonies , a decent order amongst christians , and if you will not doe them , seeing they are the lawes of the realme you are an heretick , and disobedient , therefore confesse with vs that you haue been in errour , and come home . spurd . the spirituall lawes were neuer truelier set forth , then in my master king edwards daies , and i trust in god that i shall neuer forsake them whilest so i liue : he was sent to bury , where he remained in prison . iohn hallingsdale , william sparrow , richard gibson . these three were produced before bonner bishop of london : iohn halingsdale said , that neither in the time of king edward the sixt , nor at that present he did beleeue that in the sacrament is really the body and bloud of christ , and he would not receiue the same , because he did beleeue that the body of christ was onely in heauen : and he said that cranmer , latimer , ridley , hooper , and generally all that of late haue beene burned for hereticks , did preach truly the gospel , and vpon their preaching he grounded his faith , and he said that the saying of saint iohn in the eighteenth chapter of the reuelation , that the bloud of the prophets and saints and of all that were slaine vpon the earth was found in the babylonicall church , is vnderstood of the church whereof the pope is head : where upon hee was condemned . william sparrow was charged with a submission made the year before vnto the bishop : he said he was sorie that euer he made it , and it was the worst deed he euer did : and being charged that he went to the church and heard masse ; he confessed he did so , but it was with a troubled conscience . he tolde the bishop , that which you call truth i beleeue to be heresie : he confessed that since his submission he had preached against the sacrament of the altar , against auricular confession , and other sacraments , and he said , if euery haire of his head were a man , hee would burne them all rather then goe from the truth : and he said , that the ecclesiasticall lawes and the masse were naught and abhominable , whereupon hee was condemned . richard gibson was condemned for not comming vnto confession , and for not receiuing the sacraments of the popish masse , and for that he would not sweare to answere vnto their intergatories laid against him : when sentence was read against him , he boldly affirmed , that he was an enemy vnto them all in his minde , though hee had kept it secret for feare of the law , and hee said hee was blessed in that he was cursed of them : so these three were burned in smithfield , where they yeelded gloriously and ioyfully their soules into the hands of god. iohn rowth minister , and margaret mearing . in king edwards time he was a preacher at new-castle , barwicke , and carliel . in queene maries time he fled with his wife into friseland , and dwelled at norden , and liued by knitting of caps , h●se● , and such like things , but in october last he came ouer into england to buy yarne , and hearing of the secret societie of the congregation of gods children their assembled ▪ hee ioyned himselfe vnto them , and was elected their preacher , and hee taught and confirmed them in the truth of the gospell : but on the twelfth of december , hee with cuthbert simpson , and others were appr●hended at the sarisons head in islington : where the congregation had appointed to assemble themselues to pray , and heare gods word : they were brought before the councell , who sent rowgh to newgate , and writ to boner to examine him , and proceed according vnto the law , who vpon examination before bonner , confessed that he had spoken against the number of the sacraments , being perswaded that there were but two : baptisme and the lords supper : and that hee had taught that in the sacrament of the altar , ther is not really and substantially the body and bloud of christ , but that the substance of bread and wine remaineth without transubstantiation , and that hee thought confession to a priest necessarie if hee had offended the priest , but if the offence were vnto another , it was not necessarie , but the reconc●liation ought to bee made to the party so offended , hee denyed la●ine seruice , and allowed the seruice of king edwards time , and hee commended the opinion of thomas cranmer , nicholas ridley , and hugh latimer , and that they were godly learned men . he confessed he had béene famil●ar with diuers englishmen & women in frieseland , and agréed with them in opinion : as maister story , thomas yong , george roe , and others , to the number of . persons , which fl●d thither for religion , vsing the order set forth in king edwards time . he said that he had béene at rome about thirty daies , and he saw no good there , but much euill , amongst which he saw one great abhomination , to wit ; the pope being a man that should goe vpon the ground , to be carried vpon the shoul●ers of foure men , as though he had béene god and no man : also a cardinall to haue his harlot to ride openly behind him ; and thirdly , a popes bull that gaue expresse licence to haue and vse the stewes , and keepe open bawdery by the popes authority . and he confessed , that since his last comming vnto england , hee had in sundry places in london read prayers and seruice as is appointed in the book of communion , and had willed others to doe the like : and he affirmed , that hee being a priest might lawfully marry , and that his children which hee had by his wife were lawfull , and he vtterly detested the seruice then vsed , saying , that if he shold liue as long as methusala , he would neuer come vnto the church to heare the abhominable masse , and other seruice then vsed . whereupon he was disgraded and condemned : he was a meanes to saue docror watsons life then bishop of lincolne ▪ when he preached erroneous doctrine in the dayes of king edward the sixt ; and the said watson beeing with bonner at the examination of the said m. rowgh , to requite his good turne in sauing his life , said there , that he was a pernicious hereticke , who did more hurt in the north parts then an hundred besides of his opinion . m. rowgh further said , he had liued thirtie years , and yet had not bowed his knee vnto baall : and he affirmed that he had beene twice at rome , and there hee had seene that which he had many times heard of before , that the pope was the verie antichrist : for he saw him carried vpon mens shoulders , and the false named sacrament borne before him , yet was there more reuerence giuen vnto him then vnto it , which they accounted their god. then bonner rose vp , making as though ●e would ha●e torne his garments , saying , hast thou seene our holy father , and doest thou blaspheme him thus ? and flying vpon him hee plucked off a piece of his beard , and after made speedy hast to his death . he wrote this letter to confirme the brethren the same day that hee was condemned : the comfort of the holy ghost make you able to giue consolation to others in these dangerous dayes , when sathan is let loose to the triall of the chosen to sift the wheate from the chaffe , whosoeuer denyeth christ ▪ before men , hee will deny him before his father and the angels : and to saue the life corporall , is to lose the life eternall ; and he that will not suffer with christ , shall not raigne with christ : therefore i haue giuen ouer the flesh , with the fight of my soule , and the spirit hath the victory . the flesh ere it bee long , shall leaue off to sinne , the spirit shall raigne eternally : i haue chosen death to confirme the truth which i haue taught . what can i doe more , pray that i may continue vnto the end : i haue in all my assaults felt the present ayde of my god : bee not ashamed of christs gospell , nor of the bonds that i haue suffered for the same : the holy ones haue beene scaled with the same marke : it is no time for the losse of one man , for the campe to turne back ▪ vp with mens harts and blow downe the dawbed walles of heresies , let one take the banner , and another the trumpet , and i meane not to make corporall resistance , but pray and you shal haue elias his defence , and helizeus his company to fight for you , the cause is the lords : pray for me , and salute one an other with an holy kisse , the peace of god r●st with you all , amen . margery mearing said that the masse was abhominable in the sight of god and all christian people , and that it is the plaine c●p of fornication , and the whore o● babylon ; and shee beleeued that there was no such sacrament as the sacram●nt of the altar in the catholike church : and she said she vtterly abhorred the authoritie of the pope , with all the religion obserued in the same antichrists church , and that ●he neuer meant to come vnto the church during these idolatrous dayes . and being demaunded whether shee would stand to these answers ; i will ( quoth shee ) stand to them vnto the death , for the very angells in heauen doe laugh you to scorne , to se● your abomination that you vse in the church , wherupon shee was condemned . they were burned both together in smithfield , where they most ioyfully and willingly gaue their li●es for the profession of the gospell of christ. master rowgh had excommunicated this margerie mearing but the sonday before he was taken , yet hee being in prison in the gate-house at westminster , where none of his friends could come vnto him to visit him , she gother a basket and put a cleane shirt in it , and fayning her selfe to be his sister , got into the prison vnto him , and did him no small comfort : then shee went to one sergeants house , who betrayed master rowgh , and asked whet her iudas that betrayed christ dwelt not there : and she seeing cluny come vnto her house , she went home , and asked him whom he sought , he said for you , you must go with me : she said , she would go with him , the bishop cast her into prison ▪ and the wednesday after she was burned with master rowgh . cutbert simpson , hugh foxe , and iohn deuenish . simpson was deacon of the said godly congregation in london : he was faithfull and zealous vnto christ and his true flocke : the friday at night before m. rough the minister of the congregation was taken , he dreamed that he saw two of the gard leading cutbert simpson , & that he had a book about him , wherin was the names of all them which were of the congregation : so he told his wife and made her light a candle , and fell to reading , and falling asleepe again , he dreamed the like dreame . then he said to his wife , that his brother cutbert was gone , and as maister rough was ready to go to see maister cutbert , he came in with the booke , containing the names and accounts of the congregation : then m. rough told him his dreame , and bade him carrie the booke no more about him , so he left the booke with m. rowghs wife ; the next night m. rowgh dreamed that be himselfe was carried vnto the bishop , and that the bishop plucked off his beard and cast it into the fire , saying , now i may say i haue had a piece of an hereticke burned in my house , and so accordingly it came to passe , for shortly after they were both taken at the saracens head in islington , as before . here followeth the storie of his sufferings vpon the racke , and otherwise , for the congregations sake , as he wrote it with his own hand : i was called before the constable of the tower and the recorder of london ; they commanded me to tell them whom i willed to come to the english seruice , i answered i would declare nothing , whereupon i was set in a racke of iron three houres , then they asked if i would tell them , i answered as before : the sonday after they examined me againe , and i answered them as before : then they bound my two fore-fingers together , and put a small arrow betwixt them , and drew it thorow so fast that the bloud followed , and the arrow brake , then they racked mee twice , and so i was carried vnto my lodging againe . ten dayes after the lieutenant asked me if i would not confesse , i answered i had said as much as i wold : fiue wéeks after he sent me vnto the high priest , where i was greatly assaulted , at whose handes i receiued the popes curse for bearing witnesse of the resurrection . bonner in his consistorie gaue this testimony of cutbert sampson , ye , sée said he , what a personable man he is , and concerning his patience , i say vnto you , that if he were not an hereticke , he is a man of the greatest patience that euer came before me ; he hath béene thrice racked in one day in the tower , and in my house hee hath felt some sorrow , yet did i neuer see his patience broken . they all thrée answered bonner , that the church is grounded vpon the apostles and prophets , christ being the head corner stone , and in that church there is the true faith and religion of christ : that there is but two sacraments , baptisme and the lords supper ; they said that they haue and will speake against the sacrifice of the masse , the sacrament of the altar , and the authoritie of the sea of rome , and iohn deuenish said that the sacrament of the altar , as it is now vsed , is no sacrament at all . these thrée blessed witnesses of iesus christ , simpson , fox and deuenish , as they were all together apprehended at islington , so they suffered together in smithfield . william nicole . hee was an honest simple poore man , apprehended the ninth of aprill by the popes champions for speaking certaine words against the cruell kingdome of antichrist : he was butcherly burned and tormented at hereford west in wales , where he ended his life in a blessed estate , and gloriously gaue his soule into the handes of the lord. willam seaman , thomas carman , and thomas hudson . william seaman was a husbandman dwelling in mendlesam in the county of suffolk : he was taken the ninteenth of may , by one robert balden his neighbour , whom he greatly trusted : as they were leading him by night to sir iohn tyrill , there fell a light out of the element betwixt them , and parted them : albeit this balden was then in his best age , yet after that time ●e neuer enioyed good day , but pined away euen vnto death : sir iohn tyril as●ed him why hee would not goe vnto masse , and receiue and worship the sacrament : he said it was an idol , and therefore would not receiue it : whervpon he was sent to the bishop of norwich , who condemned him : he had a wife , and three children , who because shee would not goe vnto masse , all her corne and goods were taken away from her , by christopher cole , being lord of the towne of mendlesham . thomas carman was apprehended for pledging richard crashford at his burning : he was brought before the bishop of norwich , and answered no lesse in his maisters quarrell th●n th' other , and he had the like reward . thomas hudson was of aylesham in norffolke a glouer : hee bore so good will vnto the gospell , that in the daies of king edward the sixt , that when hée was thirty yeareo old , he learned to reade , wherein he so greatly profited , that in queene maries raigne auoiding all their beggerly ceremonies of superstition , he absented himselfe , and trauelled from place vnto place , and returning home vnto his owne house to comfort his wife and children : when hee perceiued that his continuance there would be very dangerous , hee and his wife deuised to make him a place in his faggots to hide himselfe in , where hee remained all the day , reading and praying , for halfe a yeare . in the meane time came thither one berry uicar of the towne , and inquired of his wife for him : shee said shee ●new not where hee was : then hee threatned to burne her : because shee would not bewray her husband : after this , hudson waxed euery day more zealous then other , and the people often resorted vnto him to heare his sermons : at last hee walked abroad for certaine daies into the towne , crying out against the masse , and all their trumpery : at the length one iohn crouch , his next neighbour , went with speed to the constables to certifie them that hee was at home , who went about to catch him in the breake of the day . wh●n hudson saw them , hee said now mine houre is come : welcome friends : you bee they that shall leade mee vnto life euerlasting , i thanke god therefore , and the lord inable mee for his mercy sake ; then they ledde him vnto berry their uicar , being commissar●e as before , who asked him where hee kept his church , foure yeares before : hee answered , wheresoeuer hee was there was the church : then hee asked him whether hee beleeued in the sacrament of the altar : he answered that was but wormes meate , my beliefe is in christ crucified : then he asked him whether hee did not beléeue that the masse taketh away sinnes . hudson . it is a patched monster , and a disguised puppit , more longer a peecing then euer was salomons temple : then berry seemed as a mad man , and said , wel i will write vnto my lord , and thou shalt be handled according vnto thy deserts . oh sir said hudson , there is no lord but god , though there bee many lords and gods : with that berry thrust him back with his hand , and bound richard clifford to the good behauiour for saying , i pray bee good vnto the poore man : then the said berry writ vnto the bishop , and sent hudson bound like a theefe vnto him , who went thither with ioy , and singing , as merry as euer hee was , where he was condemned : these thrée were burned without the bishops ga●e in norwich , in a place called lolords pit : aftor they had made their prayers they went vnto the stake , and standing with their chaines about them . iohn hudson being troubled in minde , went from them , and prayed his fellowes , exhorted him in the bowels of christ to be of good chéere . at last the lord , according vnto his old mercies . sent him comfort , and then rose ●e with great ioy , as a man new changed from death vnto life : and said now , i thanke god , i am strong , and passe not what man can doe vnto mee : at the length they all suffered most ioyfully together , to the terrour of the wicked , the comfort of gods children , and the magnifying of the lords name . after this berry caused two hundred of the towne of cylesham to creepe to the crosse at penticost , besides other punishments which they suffered . this betry vpon a time strooke a poore man of his parish with the swingell of a ●laile , for speaking words that hee presently dyed : and after hee méeting one alice oxes , going into his hall ( hee as before moued ) he smote her with his fist , and the next day shee was found dead in his chamber : to write how many concubines and whoores hee had none would beleeue but such as knew him where be dwelt : he was rich , of great authoritie , a great swearer , altogether giuen vnto women , and persecuting the gospell , and compelling men vnto idolatry , he troubled sundry good men , burned all good books that he could get , and deuorced many men and women for religion . when hee heard queene mary was dead , and the glory of his triumph quailed : on a sunday hee made a great feast , and had one of his concubines there , with whom he was in his chamber from dinner vntill euening song : then hee went to the church , and after euening song in going from church homeward , hee fell downe dead , made an heauy grone , and neuer stirred , and those that had his riches so consumed with them , that they be poorer now , then when they had his goods : which iudgement the lord executed in the eyes of all men . at that time d●nning the cruell chancellor of norwich died in lincolneshire , as sodainely as the said berry died . ioane seaman , mother of the said william seaman . she was threescore and six yeares old : she was persecuted from her house by the said sir iohn tyrill , because she would not goe vnto the masse , nor receiue against her conscience : sometimes shee was glad to lye in the bushes , groues , and fields : but her husband beeing fourescore yeares old , and falling sick , she returned vnto her house , to shew her duety vnto her husband , vntill hee dyed : then she fell sicke , and died : and one maister simonds the commissary commanded straightly that she should not be bur●ed in any christian buriall : wherevpon her friends were faine to bury her vnder a mote side . mother benet . this old woman likewise was persecuted from whetherset by the aforesaid mendlesam , because she would not goe vnto the masse , and other beggerly ceremonies , and returning home secretly vnto her house , shee dyed most ioifully : but sir iohn tyrill , and the said maister simonds commissionary , would not let her be buried in the church-yard , but her graue was made by the high-way side : her husband would say vnto her , that if shee had been sparing , they might haue been worth a hundred markes more then they were : she would answere , o man be content , i cannot barrell my butter , and keepe my cheese in the chamber , to waite a great price , and let the poore want , and so displease god ; but let vs be rich in good workes , so shall we please god , and haue all good things giuen vs. william harris , richard day , and christian george . the twenty sixe day of may these were burned at colchester in essex , when they were brought vnto the stake , and had ioyfully and feruently made their prayers , the fire was set vnto them , in the midst of the fire they triumphantly praised god. the same christian eagles husband had another wise named anne , which likewise suffered for the truth , with the aforesaid thirteene at strat●ord the bow : after he married another wife , and they both were laid in prison for the truth , where they remained vntill the death of queene marie , and were deliuered by queene elizabeth . henry pond , reynald estland , robert southam , mathew richarby , iohn floyd , iohn holiday , roger holand . the twenty seauen of iune , these with others , to the number of forty men and women , were assembled together in a field by islington at prayer , and meditating vpon the word of god : at length the constable of islington , with sixe or seauen others came vnto them , and bad them deliuer their bookes , and bad them stand and not depart : then they were carried vnto sir roger cholmeley , by the way all sauing two and twenty escaped , which were sent to newgate , where word was sent to them by alexander the kéeper , that if they would heare masse they should all bee deliuered : seauen of them escaped , though not without much trouble , and two , to wit ; mathew withers and thomas tyler died , the rest were burned , as before . they answered that they were not at church since lattine seruice was deuised , becau●e it was against the word of god , and that idolatry was committed in créeping to the crosse , and because the churches were furnished with idols , and because they beléeued the sacrament of the altar to be an idoll , and because the customes , rites , and ceremonies of the church then vsed , are not agréeable vnto gods word . they said , that they beléeued that no priest had power to remit si●s , and that those that knéele vnto the sacrament and worship it , commit idolatry . reynald estland refused to be sworne to answer , alleadging that to end a strife an oath is lawfull , but to begin a strife an oath is not lawfull : thus they standing vnto their answeres , and refusing to acknowledge the doctrine of the romish church , they were all together condemned . the aforesaid roger holand was a merchant taylor of london , he was sometime prentice vnto one maister kempton , at the blacke boy in watling-stréete : in his prentiship hee was a papist , and very licentious , and hauing plaid away thirty pounds of his maisters money , he purposed to haue conueyed himselfe beyond sea , but a religious maid in the house vnderstanding his minde , lent him thirty pounds to saue his credit , and made him premise her to refuse all leud and wilde company , and all swearing and ●iba●ory talke , and to leaue papistry , and to resort euery day vnto the lecture of alhollowes , and to the sermon of paules euery sunday , and to cast away all his papistry bookes , and to pray to god for remission of sinnes , and grace to feare and breake his lawes , and then shall god kéepe thée , and send thée they harts desire . halfe a yeare after god wrote such a changing in this man , that he was become an earnest professor of the truth , and detested all papistry and euill company : then he repayred vnto lancashire vnto his father , and brought diuers good bookes with him , and bestowed them vpon his friends , so that his father and others began to ●ast the gospell , and to detest the masse , idolatry , and superstition : and his father giuing him a stocke of money , he maried the aforesaid maid , called elizabeth , and hauing a childe by her in the first yeare of quéen mary , he caused maister rose to baptise his child in his house , and being ●one into the country to conuey away the child , that the papists should not haue it in their annointing hands : hee was bewrayed , and bonner caused his goods to be seased vpon , and vsed his wife most cruelly : after this he remained closely in the citty , vntill he was taken as before . when hee came before bonner , who was acquainted with his friends , and for his friends sake and his , he perswaded him what he could to papistry , and a kinsman of his standing by , said ; i thanke your good lordship , your honor meaneth good vnto my cozen , i pray god he haue grace to follow your councell . holand . sir , you craue of god you cannot tell what , i beseech god to open your eye● to sée the light of his word . then the bishop and others perswaded him to submit himselfe vnto my lord , before he were entred into the booke of contempt , holand . i neuer meant but to submit my selfe vnto the magistrate , as i learne of saint paul in the . to the romaines . chedsey . i sée you are not an anabaptist . holand . the papists and the anabaptists agrée in this point , not to submit themselues vnto any other prince or magistrate , then those that must first bee sworne to maintaine them and their doings . bonner . i perceiue you will not be rul'd by any good councell , for any thing that either i or your friends , or any other can say . holand . i may say vnto you my lord , as saint paul said vnto foelix , and to the iewes , it is not vnknowne vnto my maister , vnto whom i was prentise , that i was of your blind religion , vntill the latter end of king edwa●ds raigne , hauing that liberty vnder your auriculer confession , that i made no conscience to sinne , but trusted in the priests absolution , and hee for money did some pennance for me ; which after i had giuen , i cared no more what offence i had done , no more the priest cared after he had got my money , whether hee fasted with bread and water for me or no : so i accounted letchery , swearing , and other vices , no offtence of danger , as long as i could for my money haue them absolued , i so frailty obserued●y our rules of religion , that i would haue ashes vppon ashwednesday , though i had vsed neuer so much wickednesse at night , and albeit i could not of conscience eate flesh vpon friday , yet in swearing , drinking , or dicing all night long , i made no conscience at al. thus was i brought vp , and continued vntill now of late , that god of his grace by the light of his word called me vnto repentance of my former idolatry and wicked life : for in lanchishire their blindnesse and whoredome is much more , then may with chast eares be heard , yet these my friends , which are not cléere in these notable crinics , thinke the priest with his masses can saue them , though they blaspheme god , and kéepe contubines besides their wiues as long as they liue ; yea , i know some priests very deuout , yet they haue sixe or seuen children , by foure or fiue seuerall women . now m. doctor to your antiquity , vnity , and vniuersality ( for these , doctor chedsie alledged as notes of their religion . the antiquity of our church is not from pope nicholas and pope ioane , but from the time that god said vnto adam , that the seede of the woman should breake the serpents head , and so vnto faithfull noah , to abraham , isaack , and iacob , to whom it was promised , that their seed should multiply as the stars in the sky , and so vnto moses , daniell , and all the holy fathers that were from the beginning vnto the birth of christ , all that beleeued these promises were of the church , though the number of them were oft-times but small , as in elias his dayes , when he thought that there was none but he that had not bowed their knées vnto baal , when god had reserued seuen thousand that neuer bowed their knées vnto that idoll , as i trust there be seuen hundred thousand that haue not bowed their knees vnto that idoll your masse , and your god maozim , which you vphold with your bloudie crueltie , daily persecuting elias and the seruants of god , forcing them in their chambers and in the fields to pray vnto god that his word may be once againe preached amongst vs , and that he would shorten these idolatrous and bloudy dayes : moreouer , our church haue beene the apostles and euangelists , the martyrs and confessors of christ , that haue at all times beene persecuted for the true testimony of the word of god ; but for the vpholding of your church and religion , what antiquity can you shew ? yea the masse , that idoll and chiefe pillar of your religion , is not yet foure hundred yeares olde , and some of your masses are yonger , as that masse of s. thomas becket the traytor , wherein you pray that you may be saued by the bloud of s. thomas becket . the laiety is neuer the better for your la●ine seruice : he that vnderstands latine can vnderstand but few words ; the priests doe so champe them and chaw them , and poste so fast that they vuderstand not themselues : and the people when they should pray with the priest , they are set to their beades to pray to our ladies psalter , so craf●y is sathan to deuise these dreames which you defend , with faggot and fire to quench the light of the word of god , which as dauid saith , should be a lantorne vnto our feete , and wherein should a yong man direct his wayes but by the word of god , and yet you will hide it from vs in a tongue vnknowne : saint paul had rather haue fiue words spoken with vnderstanding , then ten thousand in an vnknowne tongue , yet you will haue your latine seruice , and praying in a strange tongue to be of such antiquitie . touching vniuersalitie : the greek church and a good part of christendome besides , neuer receiued your seruice in an vnknowne tongue : nor your transubstan●iation , nor your receiuing all alone , nor your purgatorie , nor images , the vnitie in your church is nothing else but treason , murther , poysoning , one another : idolatry , superstition , wickednes : what vnitie was in your church , when there was three popes at once . where was your head of vnity , when you had a woman pope . boner said , these they words are very blasphemous , and by the meanes of thy friends th●n hast been suffered to speake and art ouer malapert to teach any here , therefore keeper take him away : afterward , for that he said that the masse , transubstantiation , and the worshipping of the sac●●ment , is méere impiety and horrible idolatry , he was condemned : he prophessed before bonner and all the people that were there , that after this day in this place , shall there not bee any put to the tryall by the fire and faggot , and after that day there was neuer none that suffered in smithfield for the testimony of the gospell , god be thanked for it : these seauen were burned at smithfield . robert miles , stephen cotten , robert dynes , stephen white , iohn slade , william pickes or pikars . the foureteenth of iuly these sixe were taken at islington , with the other seauen as before , and were burned at brainford : the articles that were ministred vnto them were the same that were ministred vnto the other seauen , and their answers the same in effect as the others were . when they were brought vnto the stake they addressed themselues , and ioyfully went vnto the fire , and ye●lded their soules , bodies , and liues into the hands of the omnipot●nt lord. richard yeoman . hee was the curate of doctor taylor before mentioned : he was a godly and deuout old man , being of the age of thréescore and ten years , and had many years dwelt in hadlie ; with him doctor taylor left his cure at his departure , but as soone as m. newall had gotten the benefice be droue away good m. yeoman , as is before said , and set in a popish curate to maintaine the romish religion ; then wandred he long time from place to place , exhorting al men to stand faithfully vnto gods word , and to giue themselues vnto prayer , with patience to beare the crosse laid vpon them for their triall , and with boldnesse to confesse the truth before the aduersaries , and with vndoubted hope to wait for the crowne of eternall felicitie : and perceiuing his aduersaries to lie in wait for him , he got a pedlers packe , and trauelled from village to village , selling such things , and thereby got somewhat to sustaine himselfe , his wife and children . at last m. moyle a iustice of kent took him , and set him in the stocks a day and a night ; but when he had nothing against him , he discharged him , so he came vnto hadley , and tarried secretly a yeare with his wife and children , spending the time in prayer and reading the scriptures , and carding of wooll , which his wife did spin ; his wife also did begge bread and meat for her selfe and her children : thus the saints of god sustained hunger and miserie , whilest the prophets of baall lined in iollitie , and were costly pampered at iesabels table : at last parson newall perceiuing this , came with the officers in the night , and broke open fiue doors vpon yeoman , whom he found in bed with his wife and children : then he said he thought he should finde a knaue and a whore together , and he would haue pluckt off the clothes , but that yeoman held them fast , and bade his wife arise and put on her clothes : then he said , nay parson , no whoore , but a man and his wife , according to gods ordinance , and blessed be god , for lawfull matrimony , and i defie the pope and all his popery : then they led him vnto the cage , and set him in the stocks vntill it was day . there was then in the cage an old man , named iohn dale , who had sitten there thrée or foure dayes for saying vnto parson newall and his curat , miserable and blinde guids , will you euer be blinde leaders of the blinds , will you neuer amend , will you neuer sée the truth of gods word , will neither gods threats nor promises enter into your hearts , will not the bloud of martyrs nothing mollifie your stony stomacks ? o indurate , hard hearted , peruerse and crooked generation , o damnable sort , to whom nothing can do good . the said parson newall caused them both to be carried vnto bury gaole , being pinioned and bound like théeues , and their legges tyed vnder the horse bellies ; where they were ●yed in irons : and because they continually rebuked popery they were throwne into the lowest dungeon , where iohn dale died in prison , whose bodie was buried in the fields . he was a weauer by his occupation . then richard yeoman was remoued to norwich prison , where he was straitly kept : hée boldly professed himselfe to be of the faith and religion that was set forth by king edward the sixt , and from that he would in no wise vary . being required to submit himselfe to the holy father the pope , i defie him ( quoth he ) and all his detestable abominations ; i will in no wise haue to do with him , or with any thing that appertaineth vnto him . the chiefe articles obiected against him were his marriage and the masse sacrifies , wherfore when he continued stedfast in the profession of the truth : he was condemned , & not only burned , but cruelly tormented in the fire . iohn alcock . this iohn was a shereman , which came vnto the aforesaid hadley to seek worke : after doctor tayler was martyred , and richard yeoman was taken , he vsed to reade the seruice in english in the church of hadley , as is touched before : at the length , because he would not moue his cap , nor shew reuerence when parson newall went of procession : when newall was almost out of the church , he runne backe againe and caught him , and deliuered him vnto the constable , saying ; hee is an hereticke and a traytor , and dispised the quéenes proceedings . wherefore i commaund you in the quéenes name , to haue him vnto the stocks : when he was brought vnto the parson , he asked him ▪ fellow , what saist thou to the sacrament of the altar ? i say ( quoth he ) as ye vse the matter , you make it a shamefull idoll , and you are false idolatrous priests euery one of you : then the parson committed him to ward , and the next day rode vp to london , and caried the said alcocke with him ; and after he had long beene imprisoned in newgate , after many examinations and troubles , because he would not aske forgiuenesse of the pope , and be reconciled vnto the romish religion , he was cast into the lower dungeon , where he died : his body was buried in a dunghill . thomas benbridge . vpon the twenty nine of iuly he was apprehended for an aduersary of the romish religion , and was examined before doctor white , bishop of winchester , where he sustained sundry conflicts for the truth : the points of religion that he stood vpon were these : that baptisme is not administred at this present , as it was in the apostles time , because it is not in the english tongue , that in the sacrament is not the body and blood of christ ; that he knoweth not whether confirmation bee a sacrament or not , and whether the bishop giueth grace or not ; that sinnes bee not forgiuen by absolution pronounced of a priest , and that it is not necessary for a man to confesse all his sinnes vnto a priest : that he beleeued that the bishops bee not the successors of the apostles , for that they bee not called as they were , nor haue not that grace ; that it is not the pope but the deuill that is supreme head of the church which you speake of ; that he will not beleeue touching purgatorie as their church doth ; that matrimony is no sacrament , but a sacred order in signe of an holy thing ; that martine luther died a good christian , whose doctrine and life he did allow , for which he was condemned . he came vnto the stake very rich in apparell , when the fire was kindled , first it tooke away a peece of his beard , whereat he nothing shranke , then it tooke his legges , and his stockings being leather made the fire to pierce the sharper , and the intollerable heate made him cry i recent , and suddenly thrust the fire from him , and hauing two or three of his friends by , they helped to take the fire from him : and the sheriffe being sir richard pecksall , of his owne authority tooke him from the stake , and sent him to prison againe : wherefore the sheriffe was sent vnto the fleete , and his friends that helped him to prison . before he was taken from the stake , doctor seaton made him to subscribe to certaine articles touching the pope , the sacrament , and such other trash ; but being in prison , he wrote a letter vnto doctor seaton , and recanted those words that he spake at the stake vnto which he had subscribed : whereupon the same day seanight he was burned , where the vile tormentors did rather broile him , then burne him . iohn cooke sawyer , robert milles alias plumer , sheareman , alexander lane a vvheelewrite , iames ashly a bacheler . in august these were burned at s. edmundsbury by the bishop of norwich , and sir edward walgraue . sir edward said vnto cooke , why come you not to church ? cook. because the sacrament of the altar is an abhominable idol : and ( sai● he ) the vengeance of god will come vpon all them which do maintaine it . sir edward . o thou ranke traytor , if i had as good a commission to cut out thy ●ongue as to heare thee , thou shouldst be sure to haue it cut out : then hée commaunded the constable to haue him away , saying , hee was both a traytor and a rebell : then he ●sked robert milles why he would not goe vnto church . miles . because i will follow no false gods : then alexander lane was asked why he would not come to church , he said ; his conscience would not serue him so to doe . after the like manner they passed also with iames ashly ; so the next day they appeared and had their condemnations , and were burned as before . alexander gouch , and allice driuer . gouch was a weauer of shreaden co●erlits at woodbridge in suffolk , and burned at uxford : the woman was driuers wife of grosborough : one maister moone a iustice searching for them , they were compelled to hide them in a hay-ricke , but by gaging thereof with pickforks , at the last they found them , and sent them to mel●on iayle : from thence they were carryed to bury vnto the assizes , and being examined of their faith , they did boldly confesse christ crucified , defying the pope and all his papisticall trash . and driuers wife likened quéene mary vnto iezabell : whereupon sir clement higham chiefe iudge , adiudged her eares to be immediatly cut off , which was done , and shee ioyfully yéelded her selfe vnto the punishment , and thought her selfe happy that shee was counted worthy to suffer for christ : then they were sent again vnto melton iayle , where they were examined , as followeth : when driuers wife came before doctor spencer to be examined , shee smiled : then he said ; why woman dost thou laugh vs to scorne : shee said ; shee might well enough to sée what fooles you be . then he said , woman , what saist thou to the sacrament of the altar ? dost thou not beleeue that it is very flesh and bloud after the consecration . dri. i neuer heard nor read of any such sacrament in all the scripture : i will grant you a sacrament called the lords supper . i pray you tell me what a sacraments is ? spens . it is a signe : and doctor gascoyne confirmed the same , that it was a signe of an holy thing . dri. it is a signe indéede , and therefore it cannot be the thing signified also . gascoyne . doe you not beleeue the omnipotence of god ? shee answered ▪ yes , then said he ; christ said to his disciples , take , eate , this is my body , ergo it was his body , for he was able to performe that which hee spake , and god vseth not to lye . dry. was it not bread which he gaue them ? he said , no , it was his body ; then ( quoth she ) it was his body they did eate ouer night , what body was it then that was crucified the next day , when his disciples had eate him vp ouer night , except he had two bodies , as by your argument he had . such a doctor , such doctrine , be you not ashamed to teach the people that christ had two bodies . in the . of luke he tooke bread and brake it , and gaue it to his disciples , saying ; take , &c. do this in remembrance of me . cor. . doe this in remembrance of me , and as oft as you shall do it , you shall shew the lords death vntill he come . then gascoyne held his peace , and the chancellor commanded the iayler to take her away . dri. now you be not able to resist the truth , you command me to prison , the lord shall iudge our cause , vnto him i leaue it . i wis this geare will go for no paiment : the next day she came before them again , and their arguments were vnto the same effect , wherefore she was condemned , so went she to prison againe , as ioyfull as the bird of day , praysing and glorifying the name of god. alexander gouch was condemned , for that his beléefe was , that christ is ascended into heauen , and there remaineth , and that the sacrament was the remembrance of his death ; and for refusing the masse , and the pope to be supreame head of the church , they were both burned at ipswich : they ended their liues with earnest zeale , nothing fearing to speake their consciences , when they were commaunded the contrary . sir henry dowell sheriffe would not suffer them to make an end of their praiers : then gouch said , take héede m. sheriffe , if ye forbid prayers , the vegeance of god hangeth ouer your heads : when the iron chaine was put about allice driuers necke , o ( said she ) here is a goodly neckercher , blessed be god for it . diuers shooke them by the hands , the sheriffe bad lay hands on them , with that a great number ranne vnto the stake , he seeing that , let them all alone . one bate a barber was a busie deer against them , who being in a fréeze gown sold it , saying ; it stunk of hereticks , with other foule words , within thrée or foure weeks after , he died miserably in ipswich . phillip humphrey , iohn dauid , and henry dauid his brother . these were burned at bury , in the same moneth that quéene mary died , sir clement highama , bout a fortnight before the quéene died , did sue out a writ for the burning of these three godly and blessed martyrs , though the queene was then knowne to be past remedy of her sicknesse . good-wife prest . she was the wife of one prest , dwelling not far from launceston in erecester d●oces . she told the bishop , that she would rather die then worship that foule idoll , which with your masse you make a god. bishop . will you say that the sacrament of the altar is a foule idoll ? woman . yea , there was neuer such an idoll as your sacrament is made of your priests , and commanded to be worshipped of all men , where christ did command it to be eaten and drunken , in remembrance of his passion . bishop . dost thou not see that christ said ouer the bread , this is my body , and ouer the cup , this is my blood : she said , but hee meant not carnally , but sacramentally , if you will giue me leaue , i will declare the reason why i will not worship the sacrament . bishop . mary say on , i am sure it will be good geare . woman . i will demaund of you whether you can deny the créede , which saith , that christ perpetuallie sitteth at the right hand of his father , both bodie and soule , vntill he come againe , if it be so , he is not in the earth in a péece of bread : if he doe not dwell in temples made with handes , but in heauen , what shall we séeke him héere ? if he did offer vp his body once for all , why make you a new offering ? if with once offering hee made all perfect , why doe you with a false offering make all vnperfect ? if he be to be worshipped in spirit and truth , why doe you worshippe a péece of bread : if he be eaten and drunken in faith and truth : if his flesh be not profitable amongst vs , why doe you say , it is profitable both for body and soule : rather then i would doe as you doe , i will liue no longer . bish. i promise you , you are a holy protestant , a foolish woman , who wil wast his breath vpon thée , and such as thou art : but how chanceth it that you went from your husband , and run about the country like a fugitiue . woman . my husband and my children did persecute me , for when i would haue him to leaue idolatry , and worship god in heauen , hee would not heare me , but he with his children rebuked and troubled me : so i went from him , because i would be no partaker with him and his of that foule idoll the masse , god giue me grace to goe to the true church . bishop . what dost thou meane by the true church ? wom. not your popish church , full of idols and abhominations , but where three or foure are gathered together in the name of god : some perswaded the bishop that she was out of her wits , therefore they consulted that she should goe at large ; so the kéeper of the bishops prison had her home vnto his house , where she fell to spinning & carding , and did al o●her worke besides as his seruant , and went whether she list . diuers had a delight to talke with her , and euer she would talke of the sacrament of the altar , which of all things they could least abide . then diuers priests perswaded her to leaue her wicked opinion of the sacrament : but she answered , that it was nothing but bread and wine , & that they might be ashamed to say , that a péece of bread should be turned by a man into the naturall body of christ ; which bread doth sennew , and mice oftentimes do eate it , and it doth mould , and is burned , gods owne body will not be so handled or kept in prison or boxes : let it be your god , it shall not be mine , for my sauiour sitteth at the right hand of god , and doth pray for me , and to make it the very body of christ and to worship it , is foolish and deuillish deceit . then an old frier as●ed her what she said of the holy pope , i say ( quoth she ) he is antichrist , and the deuill , then they all laughed ; ●ay said she , you had more néed to weep then laugh , in that you are chaplaines vnto that wh●re of babylon : i defie him and all his falshood : you damne soules , when you teach the people to worship idolls , and to worship a false god of your owne making , of a peece of bread : and that the pope is gods uicar , and can forgiue sinnes , and that there is a purgatory , when gods sonne hath by his passion purged all , and say you make god and sacrifice him , when christs body was a sacrifice once for all : you teach the people to number their sinnes in your eares , and say they bee damned ●f they doe not confesse all , when god saith , who can number his sinnes ? you promise them trentalls and dirges , and masses for soules , and sell your prayers for money , and make them buy pardons , and trust in such foolish inu●ntions : you teach vs to pray vpon beads , and to pray vnto saints ; you make holy bread and holy water to fray deuils , and you do make a thousand moe abhominations , yet you say you came to saue my soule ; no , no , one hath saued me , farewell with your saluation . in saint peters church shee beheld a cunning duch-man how he made new noses , to certaine images which were disfigured in king edvvards time , what a mad man art thou ( said she ) to make new noses , which within a few daies shall all loose their heads : thou & thine images are acccursed : hee called her whore , nay said the thine images are whoores , and thou art a whoore-hunter : for god saith , you goe a whoring after strange gods : then she was clapped fast , and after had no liberty , and not long after she was condemned : then she said , i thanke god this day i haue found that which i haue long sought , and being then exhorted to recant : she said i will neuer lose eternall life , for this short life : i will not turne from my heauenly husband , to my earthly husband , from the fellowship of angels , to mortall children , god is my father , god is my mother , god is my sister , my brother , my kinsman , god is my friend , most faithfull : shee was burned at execester . iohn sharpe , thomas hall , thomas benion . these were burned in the towne of bristow , for saying that the sacrament of the altar was the greatest and most abhominable idol that euer was : and thomas benion denied fiue of their sacraments , and affirmed two : that is , the sacrament of the body and bloud of christ , and the sacrament of baptisme : they died godly , constantly and patiently . iohn corneford of wortham , christopher browne of maidstone , iohn herst of ashford , alice snoth , katherine knight , alias tinley . these were the last that suffered in quéen maries raigne : they were burned at canterbury , but six daies before the death of queene mary : the arch-deacon of canterbury being at london , and vnderstanding the danger of the quéene , made post-hast home to dispatch these . they were condemned for not beleeuing the body of christ to be in the sacrament of the altar , vnlesse it be receiued , and for confessing that an euill man doth not receiue christs body : and that it is idolatry to créepe to the crosse , and that we should not pray vnto our lady and other saints : when there sentence should be● read against them , iohn cornefield excommunicated the papists in these words as follow . in the name of our lord iesus christ , the son of the most mighty god , and by the power of his holy spirit , and of the authority of his holy cathothick and apostolick church : wee doe giue here into the hands of sathan to bee destroyed , the bodies of all those blasphemers and hereticks , that do● maintaine any error against his most holy word , or doe condemne his most holy truth for heresie , to the maint●nance of any false church , or fained religion , so that by this thy iust iudgement , o most mighty god , against thy aduersaries , thy true religion may be knowne , to thy great glory , and our comfort , and to the edifying of all our nation , good lord , so be it . this procéeded , as it seemed , from an inward faith , and harty zeale to gods truth , and it tooke such effect against the enemies , that within six daies queene mary died , and all tyranny with her . these godly martyrs , in their prayers which they made at their martyrdom , desired god that their bloud might be the last that should be shed , and so it was . katherine tinley , was the mother of one robert tinley , dwelling in maidestone . the story of nicholas burton , marchant of london dwelling in little s. bartholomew . the fift of nouember , he being in the citie of cadix , in the parts of a●do●azia in spaine about his marchandize , there came one of the inquisition vnto his lodging , who fained to h●ue a letter to deliuer vnto his hands , when he came vnto him , he inuented another lye ; and said that he would take lading vnto london in his ships , delaying the time vntill the alquisyell or sergeants of the inqui●ition might apprehend them , and seeking to know his ships that they might attache them , when they had arrested him , he boldly asked them what cause they had against him , and he would answere them : they carried him vnto a filthy common prison of the towne of cadix , where he remained in irons amongst theeues thirteene daies : all which time he instructed the poore prisoners in the word of god , that he had reclaimed sundry of them from superstitions to embrace the word of god , which being known they conuayed him thence vnto the citie of siuill , into a more cruell prison called triane , where the fathers of the inquisition proceeded against him secretly , that neuer after he could be suffered to speake or write vnto any of his nation : and the twentith day of december , they brought him with a great number of other prisoners into the citie of siuil , into a place where the inquisi●ion sate in iudgement : they put on him a canuas coat , wheron was painted in diuers parts the figure of a huge diuell tormenting a soule in fire , and on his head a long cap of the same worke : his tongue was forced out of his mouth , with a clouen sticke fastened vpon it , that he should not vtter his faith and conscience vnto the people : and so he was set with an other englishman of southampton , and diuers others condemned for religion , as well frenchmen , as spaniards , vpon a scaffold ouer against the inquisition , where they were condemned , and they most cruelly burned him for his most constant faith : hee shewed such a cheerefull countenance , patience and gladnes in the flames of fire , that the tormentors said , that the diuell had his soule , before he came vnto the fire : there suffer●d with him another englishman , and thirteene more ; one a nun , another a frier constant in the lord. iohn baker , and william burgate . they were both englishmen , and apprehended the second of nouember , at cales in spaine , and were burned at siuill . marke burges , and william hooker . they were both englishmen : burges was maister of a ship called the minion . he was burned at lysborne in portugall . hooker was about sixteene yeares old , and was stoned vnto death of certaine yong men in the citie of siuill for the confession of his faith. franciscus euzenas wrote to philip melancton , as followeth . in sant lucar in spaine dwelt a brabander , called rochus , a maker of images : hee liked not his science , because he maintained idolatry , yet he was ●aine to vse it for maintenance for excellent workmanship he was commended of all men . upon a time he had framed the image of our lady in wood , with singular dexteritie , setting it out to be sold : one of the inquisitors offered money for it : he answered , he had rather breake it , then to sell it at his price : hee bid him breake it if he dare . at which word he flung a toole at the image , and blemished the face thereof : by and by he was carried away vnto prison : may i not said he make and marre mine owne worke , as i thinke good : perhaps i did not well like the countenance of it , and therefore did intend to make it better vnto my minde : notwithstanding , within three daies he was carried vnto the stake and burned , because he was an heretick against the blessed lady . touching the treatise and names of them who by reason of persecution , we●● forced to forsake their houses and goods in the time of quéene mary . i haue omitted it , and the reader that is desirous to reade them , may repaire to the booke at large . likewise i haue omitted the treatise , concerning such as were scourged and whipped by the papists , in the true cause of christs gospell , because all the stories of them be elsewhere in the booke . likewise touching the story of such as by the prouidence of god , haue been preserued from danger in the time of persecution : i referre the reader to the booke at large . the acts that happened in the flourishing raigne of queene elizabeth . hauing by the power of almightie god truely displayed the cruell practises of queene maries raigne : now orderly comming to the flourishing and long wished for raigne of the most vertuous , and religious queene elizabeth , who can number the singular ornaments and noble graces , giuen of god vnto this so princely a lady , and puisant princesse : the mildnes of her nature , the clemencie of her royall estate , the peaceablenes of her raigne : who a uirgine so mildely ruled her subiects , kept all things in order , quieted forraine nations , recouered townes , inlarged her kingdome , nourisheth and reconcileth amitie , vniteth hearts , and loue with forraine enemies , helpeth neighbours , reformed religion , quenched persecution : shee was feared with loue , and loued with feare : how can we but giue vertue her commendations , which in all persons as plato saith , stirreth vp great loue , but especially in a prince ▪ and what cause haue all wee englishmen to render most ample thankes to the mercifulnes of god , who hath granted , conserued , and aduanced vnto the seate regall of this realme : so good godly and vertuous a queene : such a chosen instrument of his clemencie , through whom wee cannot deny , but that god hath made amends , and recompence now vnto england , for the cruell dayes that were before , for as then moderation had no place , but all was ruled by rigour : contrary now clemencie hath all the operation , as then was no end of butcherly killing : now is no b●ginning of spilling any drop of bloud : she came in like a mother , not like a st●pdame , like a lambe , not li●e a lyon. first i● begin with her princely birth be●ing borne at greenewich , ann● . of the victorious prince king henry the eight , and of the noble and most vertuous lady queene anne her mother ▪ she● was christened in the gray-friers church of greenewich , hauing vnto her godfather thomas cranmer archbishop of canterbury : after shee was committed vnto godly tutors , vnder whose institution , her grace did so greatly increase in vertue , and knowledge of learning , so that she vnderstood all tongues , and spake all languages : she was well learned in the liberall arts and sciences , and her noble brest was gernished , with all vertue , councell and wisedome , that none of her councell could goe beyond her maiestie : it is wonderfull in euery mans conscience , to behold in that age , that s●xe , in such state and fortune , in so great occasions , so many entisements , in all these to refaine so sober conuersation , so temperate condition , such mildnes of manners , such humblenesse of stomack , such clemencie in forgiuing , such trauelling in studie . tully saith , a good man in other places is no matter , but in asia to keepe a sober , and temperate life , that is indéed a matter praise worthy : but shee in th● middest of asia , did so much degenerate from all asia , as hath not lightly been in europa . her first schoolemaister , reported of her to a friend of his , that he learned euery day more of her , then she of him , which hee expounded thus : i teach her words ( quoth he ) and she teacheth me things : i teach her tongue to speake , and her modest and maidenly life teacheth me to doe , for i think she is the best disposed of any in europe , and an italian that was her teacher , said he found in her t●o qualities , which are neuer lightly y●ke-fellowes in one woman , which are a singular wit , and a maruellous meeke stomack . but none of her princely qualities are more worthy of commendations , th●● her christian patience , shewed in her afflictions , and her incredible clemencie declared towards her enemies : for though she was such a high princes , and a kings daughter and a queenes sis●er , and heyre apparant vnto the crowne , could she not escape without the ●rosse : yea her troubles were far aboue the condition of a kings daughter : for there was no more behinds to make a very iphigenia of her , but her offring vp vpon the altar of the scaffold , it was no small iniury that shee suffered in the lord protectors dayes by certaine venemous vipers : and after the death of king edward , the councell sought to defeate both her and her sister from the naturall inheritance and right of the crowne . and in the daies of queene mary , into what trouble of minde , and feare of death was she brought vnto . first with ●ands of ha●nished men to bee fetched vp as a great traytor , and clapped into the tower , and to bee t●ssed from thence from prison to prison , from post to piller : at length also she was prisoner i● her owne house , garded with a sort of cut-throates , which euer gaped for the spoil● of her . in the beginning of quéene maries raigne , the lady elizabeth , and the lord courtenay were charged with false suspition of sir thomas wiats rising , and the lady elizabeth being at her house at ashredge , quéene mary sent her two lords , and sir iohn williams , afterward lord tame , with their retinue and troupes of horsemen , to the number of two hundred and fifty , who found her sore sick in her bed and very feeble and weake of body : and at ten of the clock at night they rushed into her chamber without leaue : whereat her grace beeing not a little amazed , she said , my lords is your hast such that it might not haue pleased you to haue come to morrow in the morning : they answered , that they came from the queene for her , and that she must be at london the seuenth day of that month : she answered , that no creature was more glad then shee to come vnto her maiesty , and that she was sorry she was not able to goe with them ; they answered , that their commission was such , that we must needs bring you with v●●liue or dead . in conclusion , they willed her to prepare against the morning at nine of the clocke to goe with them , and on the next day morrow at the time prescribed , they had her forth as she was , very faint and féeble , and in such case , that she was ready to sound thrée or foure times betweene them . from ashridge all sicke in the litter , she came vnto redborne , where shee was garded all night : from thence to saint albons , to sir raphe rowlets house , where she tarri●d all night both feeble in body , and comfortlesse in minde : from thence shee came to maister dodds house at mimmes , where also they remained all night , and from thence to highgate , where she being very sicke , tarried all night and next day . during which time of her abode , there came many purseuants and messengers from the court vnto the lords , but about what i cannot tell : from thence shee was conuayed vnto the co●rt , where she was straitwaies shut vp , and kept as close prisoner a fortnight . the friday before palmesunday , the bishop of winchester with nineteene others of the priuy councell came vnto her grace , and b●rdened her with wiats conspiracy , which she v●terly deni●d : then they charged her with the busines made by sir peter carew , and the rest of the gentlemen of the west country , which also shee vtterly denied : then they told her that it was the queenes pleasure that shee should goe vnto the tower , vntill the mat●●r were further tryed : then shee desired them to bee a meane vnto the quee●e that shee would be gracious vnto her : declaring that sheee was innocent in all the matters wherein they had burdened her , and that shee was a true woman vnto to the queene , in thought , word , and deede : that shee might not be committed vnto so notorious and dolefull a place : the lords answered , that there was no remedy , for the queene was determined that she should goe vn●o the tower , wherewith the lords departed , with their hats hanging ouer their eyes , but about an houre after , foure of the aforesaid lords of the councell with the guard , who warding the next chamber vnto her , secluded all her gentlemen , yeomen , ladies , and gentlewomen , & one gentleman usher , thrée gentlewomen , and two groomes of her chamber , were appointed in their roomes by the quéene to giue attendance vpon her that none should haue accesse vnto her . at which time there was . of northen souldiers in white coats , watching abo●t the gardens all night , and two lords with their bands & companies watched in the hall : the next day two lords of the councell , certified her grace that forthwith she must goe vnto the tower : the barge being prepared for her , & the tyde now readie , which tarrieth for no body , but she got leaue of the earle of sussex , which was one of the two , to tarrie till day to write to the q. and he promised to deliuer it , contrary to the will of the other : the next day , being palm-sonday , about nine of the clock , she took her barge , with the said two lords , houering vpon the water an boure , because they could not shoot the bridge , & when they did shoot the bridge , the st●rn of the 〈◊〉 strook vpon the ground the fall was so bigge & the water so shallow : then her grace desired the lords that she might not land at the staires where al traytors & offendors vse to land , whi●h they would not grant ; then she protested that here steppeth as true a subiect as euer was towards the queens highnesse ; and before thee , o god , i speak it , hauing none other friends but only thee : when she came into the tower she rested her selfe vpon a colde stone , the lieutenant said , madam , you were best come out of the raine , for you sit vnwholsomly : she answered it was better to sit there then in a worse place , for god knoweth i know not whether you will bring me , then her gentleman usher wept , and she asked him what his meaning was in that be vsed her so vncomfortably ? so she went into the prison and the doores were locked and boulted vpon her : then she called to her gentleman for her booke , desiring god in no wise to suffer her to build her foundation vpon the sands , but vpon the rocke , whereby all blasts of blustering windes should not hurt her : the lords consulting about her straight keeping , the lord of sussex said , my lords , let vs take héed that we doe no more then our commission will warrant vs , whatsoeuer shall or may happen hereafter ; for shee was the king our masters daughter , whereunto they all agreed and departed . it would make a strange storie to recite what examinations and rackings of poore men there were to finde out that knife which should cut her throate : what gaping amongst the lords of the clergie , to see the day wherein they might wash their white rochets in her innocent bloud , but most especially steuen gardner bishop of winchester then lord chancellor , and then rul●r and gouernour of the rost , who within few dayes after came vnto her , with diuers of the councell , and very strictly examined her about a purpose that she had to remoue to her house at donnington castle , and likewise they examined sir iames acroft about the same matter : she answered , what is that to the purpose , my lords , but that i may go vnto mine owne houses at all times ? but my lords , you doe examine euery meane prisoner concerning mee , wherein you doe me excéeding great iniurie : i beseech you ioyne not me in this sort with any of these offendors . when they were departing sir iames acroft kn●eled downe , and said , hee was sorie to bee brought as a witnes against her grace , and that hee had beene meru●i●ously tossed and examined touching her highnes , but i take god to record before whom i stand in your honours sight , i know not any thing of that crime that you haue laide vnto my charge , and will take my death thereon if i be driuen to so strait a tryall . when her officers had prouided her diet , and brought it to the vtter gate of the tower , the common rascall souldiours receiued it . wherefore they complained vnto the lord chamberlain constable of the tower , and desired that her dyet might be brought in by them , which were apppointed therevnto : hee answered , i assure you for that she is a prisoner , shee shall be serued with the lieutenants men , as other ●he prisoners are : and they seeming to be offended at this answere : hee sware that if they did either frowne or shrug at him , he would set them where they should neither see sunne nor moone ; but after they obtained their request of the councell with much adoe : then he would haue had his seruants to haue serued with them , and he would haue had his meate rosted with her graces meat , & that his cooke should come thither to dresse it : her graces cooke would suffer no st●anger to come about her dyet , but her own sworne men , neither would they suffer any strangers to come into any other of their offices . when she had lien a month in close prison , and was ill at ease , she requested the lord chamberlaine and the lord shandoys to haue liberty to walk in some place : they said they durst not grau●t it , because they had commaundement to the contrary : but the next day the lord sandoys obtained of the councell , but with very much adoe , that she might walke in the queenes lodging , in the presence of the lord chamberlaine and the lord shandoys , the windows being shut , wherewith she contented her selfe , and thanked him . afterward she had libertie for to walke in a little garden , and the doores and gates being close shut : during which time there vsed a mans childe in the tower many times to bring her grace flowers , but certaine suspitious heads thinking to make some great matter thereof , called the childe , promising him figges and apples ▪ asked him when he was with the earle of deuonshire , he answered he would goe by and by thither : then they asked him when he was with the lady elizabeth , he answered euery day : then they asked him what the lord of deuonshire sent by him vnto her grace , he said ; i will go know what he will giue me to cary her . this is a crafty boy ( quoth the l. chamberlain ) i pray you ( quoth the boy ) giue me the figs you promised me : no ( quoth he ) thou shalt be whipped if thou come any more vnto the lady elizabeth , or the lord courney , and the childs father was commanded to suffer the boy to come no more vnto their chambers : the next day , as her grace walked in the garden , the child péeping in at a little hole , cryed vnto her , mistris , i can bring you no more flowers ; whereat she smiled , perceiuing how the matter went. the sixtéenth day of may she was remooued from the tower , where sir henrie benifield being appointed her iayler , did receiue her with a company of rake●s to guard her , besi●es the lord of darbies band : to whom the lord of tame was ioyned in commission : the first day they conducted her to richmond , where she was s●cl●ded from her seruants , and souldiers were appointed in their roomes to giue attendance vpon her person , whereby shee was in dispaire of her life , and desired her gentleman usher and the rest of his company , to pray for her . then the gen●leman usher desired the lord of tame , to tell him if there were any danger meant toward his mistris this night , saying ; certainely i and my fellowes will rather dye , then she should secretly miscarry : the lord of tame answered , rather then it should be so , i and my men are ready to die at her foote also . the next day shee was carried to windsor , and by the way she saw certaine of her men , then she bad one goe to them , and say these wordes ; tanquam ouis , she lay that night in the deane of windsors house : the next night shee was brought to maister dormers house , where many people presented vnto her gifts . wherefore sir henry troubled the poore people very sore for shewing their kindnes vnto her , calling them r●bels and traytors : as shee passed the villages the townes-men ▪ rang the bels for ioy : sir henry sent his souldiers , and put some of the ●●●gers into the stocks , and otherwise misused othersome the next night they came to the lord of tames house , where she was princely intreated of noble men , ladies , gentlemen and gentlewomen . sir henry told them that they could not tell what they did , and they were not able to answere their doings . the lord of tame said hee was well aduised of his dooings , and that her grace might or should be merry at his house . then sir henry ( whereas there was appointed for her grace , a chayre , two cushions , and a foote carpet very prince-like ) wherein presumptuo●s●y hee sate whilst his bootes were plucked off : wherefore the ladies and gentlewomen did laugh him to scorne : the next day she was brought to woodstock , where she was inclosed as in the tower , threescore souldiers euery day warding within the walles and without , and fortie euery night without the walles during the time of her imprisonment there , when she went into the garden to walke , shee had fiue or six lockes locked vpon her , betwixt her lodging , and her walkes . sir henry himselfe keeping the keyes : wherevpon shee called him her goaler : he desired her not to call him so , but her officer : from such officers , quoth she , good lord deliuer me . at the last , by earnes● suite she was permitted to write vnto the queene , so that sir henry did stand by whilest shee wrote ( which hee straightly obserued : ) when she was wearie he would carrie away the letters , and bring them againe when she called for them : he would haue been the messenger to cartie the letters , but she would not giue him leaue , but said one of her owne men should carry them : he said ●e ●rowed none of them durst be so ●olde : yes ( quoth shee ) i haue none so dishonest , but w●ll as willingly serue me n●w as before , but he would not permit her letters to be carried foure or fiue dayes after the writing therof , but in fine , he sent for her gentl●man , demanding whether he durst enterprise the carrying of the letters to the queen : he answered yes that he durst and would , whereupon sir henrie halfe against his stomack , gaue them him . doctor owen and doctor wendi●e were sent for by the queens grace , for that she was sickly , who ministred vnto her and let her bloud , tarrying with her . or . daies : they reported to the q. and councell of her graces behauior and humblenes towards the q. which her maiestie took very thankfully , but the bishops rep●ned , and told the quéen that they maruelled that she submitted not her selfe vnto her maiesties mercie . about this time her grace was requested by a secret friend to submit her selfe vnto the quéen , which would be to her great commoditie : she answered , she would not submit her selfe vnto them which she had not offended : if i haue offended , i craue no mercy but law : i would i were as cléere out of the perrill of mine e●emies , as i know my selfe out of the danger of the law . about this time there was great consulting amongst the bishops and gentlemen touching a marriage for her grace , which some of the spaniards wished to be , with some stranger that she might goe out of the realme with her portion : then a lord said , that the king should neuer haue quiet common-wealth in england , except her head were striken from her shoulders : the spaniards answered , god forbid that their king and master should consent to such a mischiefe . from that day the spaniards neuer left good perswasions vnto the king , that he should neuer obtaine the like honour as he should in deliuering the lady elizabeth out of prison , whereby at length she was happily released of the same . shortly after she was sent for to hampton court , sir henry benifield and his souldiers , with the lord of tame , and sir ralph chamberlaine guarding of her : the first night she came to ricot , the next to m. dormers , house and so to colbrook , where she lay at the george all night : as she came thither , thréescore of her gentlemen and yeomen met her , which had not séene her grace a long season before : but they were commanded in the quéens name to depart the towne , and shée was not suffred to speak with them : that night al her men were taken from her but her gentleman vsher , thrée gentlewomen , and two grooms , & one of her wardrop : the next day her grace entred hampton court , where she lay a fortnightere euer any had recourse vnto her ; at length came the lord william howard to ●er , who vsed her grace maruellous hanourably : she requested him to be a meane that shée might speak with some of the councell . not long after came to her gardner bishop of winchester , the lord arundel , the lord of shrewsbury , and secretary peter , who with great humility humbled themselues vnto her grace . my lords , quoth she , i am glad to sée you ; for me thinks i haue bin kept a great while from you desolatly alone , wherefore i would desire you to be a meane to the king and quéens maiesties , that i may be deliuered from prison , wherein i haue bin kept a long space . then gardner knéeled down , and requested her to submit her selfe to the quéen , and then he doubted not but her maiestie would be good vnto her : she answerd , rather then she would do so she would lie in prison all the dayes of her life , adding , that she craued no mercy but the law , if euer she did offend her maiesty in thought , word or déed ; and in yeelding i should confesse my selfe to be an offendor , which i neuer was towards her maiesty , by occasion wherof the king and quéen might euer hereafter conceiue an ill opinion , therefore it were better for me to lie in prison for the tr●th , then to be abroad and suspected of my prince . so they departed , promising to declare her message to the qué●n . the next day gardner came again vnto her grace , and knéeling down , declared that the quéen maruailed that she would so stoutly vse her selfe ▪ not confessing ●o haue offended , so that it should séeme the quéens maiesty wrongfully to haue imprisoned her grace : nay , quoth she , the quéen may punish me as it pleas●th her : nay , quoth gardner , her maiesty willed me to certifie you , that you must tell her another tale ere that you be at liberty : her grace answered , that she had as liue be in prison with honesty and truth , as to be abroad suspected of h●r maiesty : this i will stand vnto , for i will neuer bely my selfe . then he knéeled down , and said , then your grace hath aduantage of me and other the lords for your long imprisonment : i take god to record , quoth she , i séeke no vantage at your hands for your so dealing with me : then the other kneeled downe , and desired her grac● that all might be forgotten , and so they departed . a seuen-night after the queen● sent for her at ten of the clocke at night : then she desired her gentlemen and gentlewomen to pray for her , for that she co●ld not tell whether she should euer se● them againe . when she came vnto the que●ne she kneeled downe and desired god to preserue her maiestie , not in any wise doubting but that she should proue her selfe as true and faithfull a subiect towards her maiestie as euer did any , and therefore she desired her maiestie so to iudge of her , and said she should not ●nd other of her , whatsoeuer report had gone of her : the queen answered , you will not confesse your offence , b●t stand stoatly in your truth , i pray god it may so fall out . it it do not , quoth she , i desire no fauour nor pardon at your maiesties hands . wel ( said the queene ) you stiffely still perse●ere in the truth , belike you will not confesse but that you haue b●ene wrongfully punished . i must not say so ( if it please your grace ) to you ; why then , said the queene , belike you will vnto others : no , quoth she , i haue borne the burden , and must beare it : i humbly beseech your maiestie to haue a good opinion of me , and to thinke me to be your true subiect , not only hitherto , but as long as life lasteth , and so they parted with a few comfortable words in english , but what she said in spanish god knoweth . it is thought that king philip was there behinde a cloth , and not seene , and that he shewed himself● a very friend vnto that matter . thus her grace went vnto her lodging againe , a●d the seuen-night after she was released of sir henry benifield , and was set at libertie from imprisonment : she went into the countrey , and had appointed to goe with her . sir thomas pope one of the queens councellors , & m. gage one of her gentlemen ushers . and thus straightly was she looked vnto all the time of q. maries raigne . then there came vnto her house maister ierningham , and norris gentleman usher , quéene maries men , who tooke from her grace mistris ashly to the fléet ▪ and thrée other of her gentlewomen vnto the tower , which was no little trouble vnto her grace ; saying , that shee thought that they would fetch all away in the end : but god be praysed shortly after was fetched away gardiner , whereby the life of this so excellent a princesse , the wealth of all england was preserued : for the said wicked gardner had long laboured his wits , and bent all his deuises , to bring this our deere souera●gne out of the way , as by his words and doings did well appeare . after the death of this gardner , followed the death also and dropping away of other her enemies : whereby by little and little her i●opardy decreased , and more gentle entertainmant did daily grow vnto her , vntill in the moneth of nouember , the seauenteenth day . three yeares after the death of stephen gardner , followed the death of quéene mary , as is before declared , the same day queene elizabeth was proclaimed queene , with as many glad hearts of her subiects , as euer was any king or queene in this realme . the next day after the death of queene mary , cardinall poole died : and shortly after christopher bishop of chichester , and hopton bishop of norwich died , and doctor weston , which was the cheefe disputer against cranmer , ridley , and latimer . first , fell into displeasure with the cardinall , and other bishops , because he would not depart from his deanerie of westminster vnto the monks : being remoued from thence , he was made deane of windsor , where being apprehended in aduoutry , was by the sa●d cardinall put from all his spirituall liuings : wherefore he appealed vnto rome , and flying out of the realme he was taken by the way and clapt into the tower , where he remained vntill queene elizabeth was proclaimed , then being deliuered , he fell sick and died . the fifteenth day of ianuary queene elizabeth was crowned with triumphant and honourable entertainment of the citie of london , with such celebritie , pra●ers , wishes , welcommings , cryes , tender words , pageants , interl●des , decl●mations and verses set vp , as the like hath not been seene : arguing a wonderfull affection of louing hearts towards their soueraigne , and many letters gratulatory were sent vnto her maiestie , from sundry forraine places ▪ as from zuricke , geneua , basil , berne , wertenberge , argentine , franckfort , &c. it pleased the queens most excellent maiesty to haue a conuenient chosen number of the best learned of either part , to conferre together their opinions and reasons , and thereby to come to some good and charitable agreement : for the papists were appointed the bishops of winchester , lichfield , chester , carlile , lincolne , doctor cote , doctor harpsfield , doctor , langdall , and doctor chedsey . for the protestants were appointed the bishop of chichester , doctor coxe , m. whitehed , m. grindall ▪ m. horne , doctor sands , m. gest , m. aelmer , m. iuell , the matters which they should talk of follow : it is against the word of god , and the custome of the auncient church , to vse a tongue vnknowne to the people , in common-prayer , and the administration of the sacraments . euery church hath authority to appoint , take away , & change ceremonies , and ecclesiasticall rites , so the same be vnto edification . it cannot be proued by the word of god that there is in the masse offered by a sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead . it was resolued by the quéens maiesty , with the aduice aforesaid , that it should be in writing on both parts , and that the bishops should first declare their mindes touching the matters , with their reasons in writing ; and they on the other part should the same day declare their opinions in like manner , and each of them deliuer their writings vnto the other to consider what were to be improued therin , and the same also to declare in writing some other day : the parties of this conference were to put and reade their assertions in the english tongue , before the nobles and states of the realme , that thereupon in the court of parlament , consequently following , some lawes might be grounded . the first méeting was the last of march , in westminster church : the lords and others of the priuie councell were present , and a great part of the nobilitie : the bishop of winchester and his colleagues alleadged that they had mistake● that their reasons should be written , but they were readie to argue and dispute ; this séemed somwhat strange to the councell , yet it was permitted , so doctor cole deane of paules was appointed the vtterer of their mindes , who partly by spéech , and partly by reading authorities written , and somtimes was informed by his colleagues what to say , made a declaration of their meanings and reasons to the first proposition ; which being ended , they were asked by the councell if they had any more to say , and they said no : so the other part was licensed to shew their minde , which they exhibited in a booke written ; which after a prayer made most humbly vnto almighty god for the induing them with the holy spirit , and a protestation to stand to the doctrine of the catholike church , builded vpon the doctrines of the prophets and apostles : the effect of the protestation i● as here followeth . we referre the whole iudgement of the controuersie vnto the holy scriptures , and the catholike church of christ ▪ whose iudgement vnto vs ought to be most sacred ; notwithstanding by the catholike church we vnderstand not the romish church , whereunto our aduersaries attribute such reuerence , but that church which s. augustine and other fathers affirme ought to be sought in the holy scriptures , and which is gouerned and led by the spirit of christ. it is against the word of god , and the custom of the primitiue church , to vse a tongue vnknowne vnto the people in the common prayers , and in administration of the sacraments : by the word of god wemeane the written word of god , or canonicall scriptures ; and by the custome of the primitiue church , we meane the order most generally vsed in the church for fiue hundred years after christ , in which time liued iustine , ireneus , tertullian , cyprian , basill , chrysostome , hierome , ambrose , augustine , &c. this assertion hath two parts : first , that it is against the word of god ; and secondly , that it is against the vse of the primitiue church . the first is proued by saint paule in . cor. . where he intreateth of this matter , ex professo , purposely : and though some say that he there meaneth of preaching and not of prayer , it appeareth , by the exposition of the best writers , that he speaketh of prayer and thanksgiuing , and of all other publique actions which require any speach in the church : of prayer he saith , i will pray with my spirit , and with my vnderstanding : and of thanksgiuing he saith , thou giuest thanks wel , but the other is not edified , and how can the vnlearned say amen at thy giuing of thankes , when hee vnderstandeth not what thou sayest ? then he concludeth , that all things ought to be don to edification ; and he vseth the similitude of a trumpet , if it giue an vncertaine sound who can prepare to battell ? so if thou speake with vnknowne tongues , you speake in the ayre , that is , in vaine . in the old testament all things belonging vnto publike prayers , benedictions , thanksgiuings , and sacrifices were alwayes in their naturall tongue : if they did so in the shaddowes of the law , much more ought we to doe the like . s. augustin● in his fourth booke de doctrina christiana , and the tenth chapter , saith , if they , for whose cause we speake , vnderstand not our speaking , there is no cause why we should speake . the barbarous heathen of all nations and sorts of men euer made their prayers and sacrifices to their gods in their mother tongue , which sheweth that it is the very light and voyce of nature . touching the second part of the assertion , that it is against the custome of the primitiue church : it is a matter so cléere , that the deniall of it must néeds procéede either of great ignorance , or els of wilfull mallice . iustinus martyr , apol. . describeth the order of the primitiue church , saying , vpon the sonday , assemblies are made both of the citizens and countrey-men , where the writings of the apostles and prophets are read as much as may be : when the reader doth cease , the head minister maketh an exhortation to follow honest things , then we rise altogether , and offer prayers , then bread , wine , and water are brought forth , then the head minister offereth prayer and thanksgiuing as much as he can , and the people say amen . he liued about the yeare . this declareth plainly that the scriptures were read , and prayers and administration of the lords supper were done in a tongue vnderstood . both the lyturgies of basill in chrysostom declare that the people were appointed to answer to the prayer of the minister , sometime amen , somtime lord haue mercy vpon vs , somtime with thy spirit and truth we haue our hearts lifted vp vnto the lord , which they could not haue done if they had not vnderstood the long the prayers were said in . basilius epist. . saith , that their psalmes which they sing , being diuided into two parts , they sing by course together , one beginning the song , and the rest following . ambrose vpon the fourtéenth of the first to the corinthians , saith . this is that s. paule saith , because he that speaketh in an vnknowne tongue speaketh to god , for he knoweth all things , but men know not , therfore there is no profit of these things ; and further he saith , the vnlearned hearing that which hee vnderstandeth not , hee knoweth not the end of the prayer to say amen . and againe he saith , if an infidell or one vnlearned come in , if he heare in a language which he vnderstandeth god to be praised and christ to be worshipped , he seeth perfectly that the religion is true , nothing to be done colourably nor in darkenes as amongst the heathen , whose eies are blinded , they not perceiuing themselues to be deluded with diuers vanities , for all falshood speaketh darknes , and sheweth false things for true , therefore with vs nothing is done couertly , for if there be none that he can vnderstand he may say there is some deceit , because they are ashamed to open it : further , thus he concludeth , let all things be done to edifying : this thing ought chiefly to be labored for , that the vnlearned might profit , lest any part of the body should be darke through ignorance : and further he saith , he that speaketh in an vnknowne tongue , and hath no interpreter , let him pray secretly to god , which heareth all dumb things , for in the church he ought to speake that which may profit all men . and s. hierom vpon that place of paul , quomodo qui supplet locum idiotae , and vpon other places vseth the very same arguments that s. ambrose did ; and likewise chrysostome vpon . cor. . vseth the like arguments , and dionysius , cyprian and s. augustine agrée in the same , and iustinian the emperour , who liued . yeares after christ , made a constitution that all bishops and priests should celebrate their holy oblations and prayers , not speaking low , but with a loude voice , that the mindes of the hearers may be stirred vp with greater deuotion , for so saith the apostle in the first to the corinthians , saying , if we only blesse and giue thanks in the spirit , how doth he that occupieth the place of the vnlearned say amen ? thou verily giuest thanks well , but the other is not edified : and in his epistle to the romans he saith , with the heart a man beleeueth vnto righteousnes , and with the mouth confession is made vnto saluation . when this was ended , certaine of the bishops began to say contrary vnto their former answer , and that they had much more to say vnto this matter , whereupon it was agreed that vpon the monday following the bishoppes should bring their mindes in writing vnto the second assertion , and to the last also , if they could , and that they should first reade the same ; and that the other part likewise should bring theirs , and being read each of them shou●d deliuer to the other the same writings , and that in the meane time the bishops should put into writing all that doctor cole had that day vttered , and whatsoeuer they could more thinke of for the same , and that they should send it vnto the other partie , and receiue that which they had written . at which day the bishops were concluded to reade that which they had to say to the first question , and would not procéede then vnto the rest ; and after they ca●elled because they should reade their writings , first saying that if the aduersaries should end the talke , then should the veritie on our sides not be so well marked , for they should depart speaking last , with the reioycing triumph of the people , whereupon grew much contention betwixt the bishops and the councell , because they obserued not the order which they were agréed vpon the day before : when there could be nothing done for contention all that day , the lord ké●eper said , my lords , sith you refuse to reade the writing after the order taken , wee will breake vp and depart ; and for that you will not that we should heare you , you may perhaps shortly heare of vs. here you may perceiue what the papists be , if the sword be taken from them , how soone all their cunning lieth in the dust , or else why would they not abide the triall of writings , and stand vnto the order agréed vpon ? and because they gaue such an example of disorder , stubbornnesse and selfe●will as hath not bin séene in such an honourable assembly , whereby the godly and christian purpose of the quéens maiestie was made frustrate ; the bishops of winchester and lincolne were committed vnto the tower , and the rest were bound daily to make personall appearance before the councell , and not to depart the city vntil further order was taken for their comtempt , and bonner about the same time was committed vnto the marshalsie . about this time was a parliament holden at westminster , wherein a great many of the papists and protestants were imployed , the one to retaine still , the other to impugne the doctrine established in quéene maries time . amongst others , the words of doctor story , the stout champion of the pope in the parlament house , are worthy to be knowne of posterity . he said , whereas he was much complained of to haue beene a great setter forth of such religion , orders , and procéedings , as of quéen mary were set forth in this realme : he confessed it to be true , and protested that he therein had done nothing but what his conscience did leade him vnto , and his commission commanded him , and that he was no lesse readie now to doe the like , and more , if the quéens maiestie would authorize him therevnto : and hee said hee was sorie for nothing but that hee had done no more then hee had done , and that they had not beene more seuere in executing those lawes , wherein there was no default in him , but in them , whom hee both oft and earnestly exhorted vnto the same , beeing not a little greeued with them , for that they laboured onely vpon the yong and little springs and twigges , whereas they should haue striken at the roote , & cleane haue rooted it out : and he said that he was once at the burning of an herewigge at uxbridge , meaning maister denley , where he tossed a fagget at his face , as hee was singing of psalmes , and set a bush of thornes vnder his feete , and he named sir philip hobby , and another knight in kent , with such other of the richer and higher degree , whom his councell was to pluck at , wherein if they had followed my aduice they had done wisely . in this parliament through the goodnes of the lord the true cause of the gospel , had the vpper hand , the papists hope was frustrated , & their rage abated : the proceedings in k edwards time was reui●●d , and the bloudy statutes of q. mary repealed : the old bishops were deposed for refusing the othe , in renouncing the pope , and not subscribing vnto the queenes lawfull supremacy . in the place of cardinall poole , succeeded doctor mathew parker , archbishop of canterbury : in the place of heath , succeeded doctor yong ; insteed of boner , edmund grindall was bishop of london : for hopton , thurleby , tunstall , pates , christopherson , peto , coats , morgan , feasie , white , oglethorpe , were placed doctor iohn parkust in norwich : d. cox in ely : iuell , in salisbury : pilkinton , in duresme : d. sands , in worcester : benton , in couentry and lichfield : downam , in westchester : dauid in s. dauids ally in exeter : horne , in winchester : story , in lincolne : scamler , in peterborough : bartlet , in bathe : gest , in rochester : barlow , in chichester . the seuere punishment of god vpon persecutors and blasphemers . stephen gardiner , the arch persecutor , whom the lord tooke away in the middest of queene maries raigne : of whose poisoned life , and stinking end mention is made already : he said in his death-bed ; i haue denied my master with peter , but neuer repented with peter . bishop morgan , who condemned master farrar , bishop of saint dauids , and vsurped his roome : not long after he was striken in such a strange sort , that the meate he eat would not goe downe , but rise vp againe ; sometimes at his mouth : sometimes blow out of his nose most horrible to behold , and so continued vnto his death . also when doctor leyson the sheriffe had fet away the said bishops cattell , diuers of the cattell would neuer eate meat , but lay bellowing and roaring , and so dyed . one richard a priest of carmarthen , a little after the martyrdome of the said b. farrar , standing vpon the top of a stayre , in one maister downings house , iesting at the death of the said b. farrar , fell downe suddenly , and brake his neck . iustice ▪ morgan , after he had set vpon the death of the lady iane , fell mad , and so died , hauing euer in his mouth lady iane , lady iane. doctor dunning , the cruell chancellor of norwich , was striken wish sodaine death as he sate in his chayre . berry , the wicked comissary of norfolke , foure daies after queene maries death , made a feast , and had one of his concubines ; therein the afternoone comming from euensong , he fell downe by the way and neuer s●irre● . bishop thorneton , suffragan of douer , who was a most cruell tyrant : hee fell in a palsey , as he looked vpon his men playing at bowles , and so was had to bed , he was willed to remember god : yea so i doe said he , and my lord cardinall , and so he dyed . after him succeeded another bishop or suffragan , who was suffragan before vnto boner : he brake his neck downe a payre of staires in the cardinals chamber at greenewich , as he had receiued the cardinals blessing . the parson of crundall in kent , hauing receiued the popes pardon : hee exhorted the people to receiue remission of sinnes , as he had done : and hee said that he stood now , as cleere in conscience as when he was first borne , and cared not if he should die the same houre : in so saying he was suddenly striken in the pulpit , and leaning back he was found dead . not long after the death of queene mary , dyed doctor capon bishop of salisbury , and the cruell chancellor of salisbury : doctor geffrey about the same time in the middest of his buildings was suddenly taken with the mighty hand of god , and so ended his life : the day before he departed , hee had appointed to call before him . persons , to examine them by inquisition . cruell maister woodroofe sheriffe of london , which reioyced at the death of the saints of christ : a weeke after he was out of his office the one halfe of his body was striken by the hand of god , that hee was bedrid , and not able to moue himselfe , and so he continued seuen or eight yeares vntill he dyed . rafe sardine , that betrayed george eagles , was attached himselfe , arraigned and hanged . maister swingefield , an aldermans deputy in thames stréet , vnderstanding a midwife which absented her selfe from the church to bee at the labour of one mistris walter at crooked lane end : he apprehended her being great with child , and carried her vnto boner , who sent her vnto lolards tower : where for fe●re she was deliuered of a child , & could haue no woman to help her : after she had lien there fiue wéekes , she was deliuered vpon sureties . doctor story hearing thereof , charged her with felony , and sent her vnto newgate : shortly after the said master swingfield and three more that came to take her died . one burton a bayliffe of crowland in lincolneshire , who made shew to be a great friend of the gospel in king edwards time , but in quéene maries time he moued the parish to shew themselues the queenes friends , and set vp masse speedily , and he called on them still in the queenes name : and when hee saw his words were not regarded , he got him to church vpon a sunday morning , when the curate began to say seruice , according vnto king edwards time : he came to him and said : sirra , will you not say masse , buckle your selfe to masse you knaue , or by gods bloud i will sheath my dagger in your shoulders : the poore curate for feare setled himselfe vnto masse . but not long after , riding from home with one of his neighbours , as he returned home a crow flew ouer his head , singing after her wonted manner , knau● , knaue , and dunged vpon his nose , which ranne downe vpon his mouth & beard ; the poisoned sauour thereof so annoyed his stomack , that he neuer ceased vomiting vntill he came home , whereof within few daies he dyed , without any to●en of ●epentance . as iames abbes was a leading to be burned , poore people asking almes , hee pulled off all his apparell vnto his shirt , and gaue it amongst them , to some one thing , and to some another : and he exhorted them to stand stedfast in the truth of the gospel ▪ which hee ( with gods help ) would seale with his bloud in their sight : then a seruant of the sheriffes cryed out , beléeue him not good people , he is an heretick & a mad man , and it is heresie that he saith , and thus he did vntill hee came vnto the stake : but as soone as the fire was put vnto abbes , this blasphemer was striken with madnes , wherewith he had charged the good martyr , & he cast off his shooes & the rest of his clothes & cried out thus did abbes that true seruant of god , who is saued , but i am damned : thus hee ranne about the towne of berry , still crying iames abbes was a good man and saued , but i am damned : the sheriffe tyed him vp in a darke house , but he continued his old note , and being brought to his masters house in a cart , within halfe a yeere he died : and beeing ready to die , the parish priest came to him with the crucifix , and the host of the altar : but he cryed out of the priest , and defied all that baggage , saying that the priest , a●d such other as he was , were the cause of his damnation : and that iames abbes , was a good man and saued . clarke , an open enemie of the gospell , and all good pre●chers in king edwards dayes , hanged himselfe in the tower of london . the great and notable papist called troling smith , of late fell downe suddenly in the street , and died . dal● the promoter was eaten in his body with lice , and so died . cox a protestant in king edwards daies , and in quéene maries daies a papist and a promoter , being well when he went to bed , he was dead before morning . alexander the keeper of newgate , who to hasten the poore lambes vnto the slaughter , hee would goe to boner , story , and colmley , and others : crying out rid my prison , i am too much pestered with hereticks , and he dyed very miserably , being swollen and so rotten within , that no man could abide the smell of him : and iames his son being left very rich , in three yeares brought it to n●ght , and shortly after as he went in newgate market , he fell downe suddenly and died . iohn pether , sonne in law to this alexander , ad horrible blasphemer of god , and no lesse cruell vnto the prisoners , rotted away , and so died : who commonly when he affirmed any thing , he would say , if it be not true , i pray god i rot ere i die . iustice lelon , persecutor of ieffrey hurst , died suddenly . robert baulding , a● the taking of william seaman , was striken with lightning : wherevpon he pined away and died . beard the promoter , died wretchedly . robert blomfield ▪ persecutor of vvilliam browne , consumed away miserably . in k. henries time , iohn rockwood , who in his horrible end cried all to late , which were the words that he vsed in persecuting gods children at callice . the lady honer a persecutor , and george bradway , a false accuser , were both bereft of their wits . richard long a persecutor , drowned himselfe . sir rafe ellerker ▪ as he was desirous to see the heart taken out of adam damlip , he being slaine of the frenchmen : after they had mangled him , and cut off his priuy members , would not leaue him vntill they saw his heart cut out . doctor foxford , chancelor to bishop stokely , a cruell persecutor , died suddenly . pauier , or pauie , towne clarke of london , a bitter enemy vnto the gospel , hanged himselfe . doctor pendleton died miserably , and at his death he repented that euer he had yeelded to the doctrine of the papists . iohn fisher , bishop of rochest●● , and sir thomas moore ; after they had bro●ght iohn frith , bayfield , and bainham , and diuers others to death : shortly after , they themselues were made a publike spectacle of bloudy death at tower hil . these persecuting bishops died a little before quéene mary : coates , parfew , glune , brookes , king , peto , day , holiman . after quéene mary , immediately followed cardinall poole , and these persecuting bishops : iohn christopherson , hopton , morgan , iohn vvhite , rafe bayne , owen oglethorpe , cutbert tonstall , thomas raynolds : and about the same tim● died doctor vveston , maister slethurst , seth holland , vvilliam copinger , and doctor steward great persecutors the residue that remained of the persecuting clergy , and escaped the stroke of death , were depriued , and committed vnto prisons ; these bishops were committed vnto the tower : nicholas heath , archbishop of yorke , thomas thurlby , thomas watson , dauid poole , gilbert burne , richard pates , troublefield , and iohn fecknam abbot of wes●minster , and iohn boxell dean of windsor and peterborough , were committed with the said bishops vnto the tower. gouldwell , bishop of saint asse , a●d maurice elect of bangor , ranne away . boner , & thomas wood bishops , were committed to the marshalsey : cutbert scot , bishop of chester , was in the fleete : from whence he escaped to lo●ane , and there dyed . these were committed vnto the fleete : henry cole , deane of paules : iohn harpsfield , arch-deacon of london : nicholas harpsfield , arch-deacon of canterbury : anthony draycot , archdeacon of huntington : william chadsey , archdeacon of middlesex . one iohn apowell , mocke● one william maulden , as he was reading an english seruice booke in a winters euening , mocking him at euery word , with contrari● gaudes , and flouting words : wherefore the said william checked him ; saying , hee mocked not him , but god : as the said william was reading these words : lord haue mercy vpon vs : christ haue mercy vpon vs : the other with a start suddenly said , lord haue mercy vpon me : the said william asked him wherfore he was afrayd : he answered , when you reade lord haue mercy vpon vs : me thought the hayre of my head stood vpright with a great feare that came vpon me : the next day in the morning he fell mad , and after that hee lay day and night , and his tongue neuer ceased crying out of the diuell of hell , i would see the diuell of hell , there he is , there he goeth , and such like words : thus he lay six daies , that his maister and all the rest of the house was weary of the noise , and sent him to bedlam . at waltamstow six miles from london , certaine children were talking what god was , and one said he was a good old father : and a maide of twelue yéeres old , named denys benifield said what he is , an old doting foole : the next day she was suddenly striken by the hand of god , that all one side of her was black , and she speechlesse , and so she died the same night . some beeing in communication about cranmer , ridley and latimer , in an house of abingdon in barkeshire : one le●ar ● plowman , dwelling at brightwell said that he saw that euill fauoured knaue latimer , when hee was burned , and that he had téeth like a horse , at which time and houre , the son of the said leauer most wickedly hanged himselfe in shepton , a mile from abbington . thomas arundell , archbishop of canterbury gaue sentence against the lord cobham , and died himselfe before him , being s● striken in his tongue , that he could neither swallow nor speake , a good while before his death . when patrick hamelton was burned for the truth in scotland , in the fire hee cited and appealed frier campbell , that accused him to appeare before the high god , to answere whether his accusation was iust or not , betwixt that and a day of the next moneth , which he named : the said frier dyed immediatly before the day came . haruy a commissary which condemned a poore man in callice , was shortly after , hanged , drawne and quartered . vvilliam swallow , the cruell tormentor of george eagles , shortly after all the hayre of his head , and nayles of his fingers , and toes went off , and his eyes so closed , that he could scant see , and his wife was striken with the falling sicknes which she neuer had before . and richard potto , the other troubler of george eagles , was suddenly taken with sicknes , and falling vpon his bed , like a beast dyed , and neuer spake . richard denton a shrinker , whilst hee refused to bee burned in the lords quarrell , he was burned in his owne house with two moe . the wife of iohn fetty , which was the cause of the taking of her husband immediately fell mad . thomas mouse , & george reuet , two persecutors were strike● miserably with the mighty hand of god and so died , as is mentioned in the story of adam foster . in the same story is mention made of robert edgore , for being a popish clarke against his conscience , was bereft of his wits , and kept in chaines and bands many yerres after . iohn pankney , and one hanington , fellowes of new colledge in oxford , both stubborne papists , drowned themselues , with crucifixes about their neckes . christopher landesdale , a yeoman of the gard , dwelling in hackney in middlesex , he suffered a poore man to die in a ditch in his ground , for want of harbour and reléefe , hauing much out-hous●s to spare ; but shortly after hee being drunke , died himselfe in a ditch . in king edwards time there was a lusty young gentleman in cornwall , wh● riding in the company of twenty horsemen , began to sweare and blaspheme the na●e of god most horribly , one checking him for it , he bad him take thought for his winding shéete , and not for him : amend saith he , for death giueth no warning , gods wounds , said hee , care not thou for mee , raging still worse and worse in words : they rode ouer a great bridge , vppon which bridge this gentleman swearer spurred his horse in such sort , that hee sprang ouer the bridge with the man vpon his backe , and as he was falling he said ; horse and man and all to the deuill . henry smith , a student of the law in the middle temple , he was pe●uerted to popery by one gyfford , then hee went to louane , and there was more rooted therein , and brought from thence with him pardons , a crucifixe , with an agnus dei , which he vsed to weare about his necke , and he had images in his chamber to pray before , with diuers other popish trash . after this henry smith , with gyfford his companion , was returned from louane , he was a foule gyrer , and a scornefull scoffer of that religion which he had professed : at length he tyed his shirt , which he had torne for that purpose , about his priuy places , and with his girdle fastned vnto the bed-post , he strangled himselfe : the place where he had fastned the girdle was so low , that his hippes well neere touched the floure : his legs lying a crosse , and his armes spread abroad , hauing his agnus dei in a siluer tablet , with his other idolatrous trash in a window by him . he was buried in a lane called foskew lane. twyford was a busie doer in king henries daies by bonners appointment , to set vp stakes for the burning of poore martyres : when hee saw the stakes consume so fast , he said ; i will haue a stake , i trow , that shall hold , and so hee prouided a big trée , and set it vp in smithfield , the top being cut off , but ere the tree was consumed , god turned the state of religion , and he fel into a horrible disease , rotting aliue aboue the ground before he died . forraigne examples . hofmester the great arch-papist , and cheefe piller of the popes falling church , as he was going to ratisbone , to dispute against the protestants , he miserably died , horribly roaring and crying out . examples of what inconueniences commeth by popish desperate doctrine . in the uniuersity of louane was one guarlacus , after hee had stoutly main●●●ned the corrupt errors of popish doctrine , when he was sicke he cryed out how wickedly he had liued , and that he was not able to abide the iugdment of god , and casting forth words of miserable dispaire , he said ; his sins were greater then hee could be forgiuen . likewise arnoldus bomelius , a student of louan hee : framed himselfe after the rule of the vnsauory doctrine of papists , to stand in feare and doubt of iustification , and to worke saluation by merits , he began more and more to grow into doubtfull dispaire : at length , being ouercome with dispaire , not hauing in that popish doctrine wherewith to raise vp his soule , he going a walking with three other students ; he singled himselfe from them and stabbed himselfe , they séeing him shrinke , ranne vnto him , and found that he had stabbed himselfe with his dagger , then they tooke him and brought him into a house , and he espying one of his ●riends very busie about him , hauing a knife hanging at his girdle , he got out the knife and stabbed himselfe to the hart . iacobus latomus , a principall captaine of the uniuersity of louan , after hee had béene at bruxels , thinking to doe a great act against luther and his fellowes ▪ hee made such a foolish oration before the emperour , that hee was laughed to ●corne . after in a publike lecture at louan , hee vttered such words of desperation , and blasphemous impiety , that the diuines were faine to carry him away as he was rauing , and shut him into a chamber : from that time vnto his death , he had nothing in his month but that he was damned , and that there was no hope of saluation for him , because he had wittingly against his knowledge withstood the truth . ex epist. senarclaei . a dominick fryer of munster , as he was inueighing in the pulpet against the doctrine of the gospell , was stricken with a suddaine flash of lightning and so died . ex pantal. manlius in his b●●ke de dictis philip melancton , reporteth that a taylors ser●ant in lipsia , first receiued the sacrament in both kinds wlth the gospellers , and after by the papists perswasions , hee receiued it with them in one kinde , and afterward being admonished by his maister to goe againe vnto the communion of the gospellers , he stood a great while and made no answere , and at last crying out vppon a suddaine , hee cast himselfe out of a window and brake his n●cke . the same manlius maketh mention of a gentleman of authority , who hearing these words in psalme . our only hold and fortresse is our god : he said ; i will help to shoote against thy stay or fortresse , or else i will not liue : and within thrée daies he died without repentance . sadole●us the learned cardinall , died with great torments of conscience and desperation . the commendator of s. anthony , who sat as spirituall iudge ouer that godly learned man wolsgangus , burned in lotheringe in germany , fel suddenly dead shortly after he had condemed him . and the abbot clariocus his fellow , at a cracke of gunnes saddenly fell downe and died . dauid beaton ▪ archbishop of s. andrewes in scotland , shortly after the burning of m george wisard , he was wretchedly slaine in hi● owne castle , as you may sée in the discourse of this story . crescentius the popes legate , and uicegerent in the councell of trent ; he was sitting from morning vntill night writing letters vnto the pope : at his rising there appeared vnto him a mighty blacke dog , his eyes flaming li●e fire , and his eares hanging almost downe to the ground : the cardinall being amazed , called his seruants to bring in a candle and seeke for the dog , and when the dog could not be found , the cardinall was strucken with a conc●it , and fell into such a sicknesse , as all his phisitians could not cure , and so he dyed . by iohannes sleida●●s in his twelfth booke , he saith , his purpose was to recouer againe the whole authority and doctrine of the romish sea , and to set it vp for euer . the councell of trident was dissolued by the death of this cardinall . two adulterous bishops belonging vnto the said councell of trident , one haunting vnto an honest mans wife , was slaine with a boare-speare : the other bishop , whose haunt was to créepe through a window , was hanged in a ginne laid for him of purpose , and so couayed , that in the morning he was séene openly in the stréete hanging out of the window , to the wonderm●nt of all that passed by . ex protestatione conceonatorum germa . iohn eckius , the most vehement impugner of martine luther ; as his life was full of all vngodlinesse , vncleannes and blasphemy , so was his end miserable hard and pittifull : his last words were these ; in case the foure thousand guilders were ready , the matter were dispatched , dreaming belike of some cardinalship that he should haue bought . ex iohn carion . fol . iohn vaueler warfe , the next in office to magraue , he was of antwarpe : hee was a sore persecutor of christs flocke ; he had drowned diuers good men and women , for the which he was much commended of the bloody generation , being very rich , he gaue vp his office , intending to passe the rest of his life in pleasure , and comming vnto a banquet at antwarpe to be merry , being well laden with wine , he rode home in his wagon with his wife , a gentlewoman , and his foole , the horses stood still vpon a bridge , and would by no meanes goe foreward : then he in a drunken rage cryed out ; ride on in a thousand diuels name , by and by r●se a mighty whirlewind , and tossed the wagon ouer the bridge into the towne ditch , where he was drowned , and when he was taken vp his necke was broken : his wife was taken vp aliue , but died within thrée daies : the gentlewoman and the foole were saued . bartholomeus chassaneus , a great persecutor , died suddenly . minerius , the bloudy tormentor of christes saints , dyed with bleeding in his lower parts : the iudge that accompanied him in his persecution , as hee returned homeward was drowned , and thrée more of the said company killed one another . iohannes de roma that cruell monke , that deuised such hellish torments for the poore christians at augrowne : the lord paid him home againe with the like torments , who rotted to death , and could finde no euemie to kill him , nor friend to bury him , he could not abide his own stinking carrion , nor any man else that came neere him could abide his stench . the like persecutor was the lord of reuest , and after his furious persecution he was striken with the like horrible sicknes , and with such a fury and madnesse , that none durst come neere him , and so most wretchedly di●● : the like greeuous punishment happened vpon one iohn martine a persecutor , as appeareth in the history before . in the yeare . in the towne of gaunt in flanders , one vvilliam de vveuer was imprisoned for religion by the prouost of s. peters : in gaunt the prouost sent for one giles brackelman , the principall aduocate of the councel of flanders , and borough-master , and iudge of saint peters , with others of the rulers of the towne to sit in iudgement vpon him : as the said borough-master reasoned with the said vvilliam de vveauer vpon diuers articles of his faith : and being about to pronounce his condemnation , the borough-master was suddenly striken with a palsey , that his mouth was drawne almost vnto his eare , and so hee fell downe and died : the lords that stood by shadowed him , that the people should not see him , and commaunded the people to depart , yet they burned the said william de weauer within thrée houres after the same day . the fift of march . sir garret trieste knight , hee had promised the regent to bring downe the preaching ; wherefore the regent promised him to make him a graue , which is an earle : when he had brought with him to gaunt tidings of the death of the preachers ; he receiued from the regent a commission , to swear the lords and commons vnto the romish religion : and being at supper , he bad his wife call him an houre the sooner in the morning , for that he should haue much businesse to doe , to sweare the lords and people vnto the romish religion : but going to bed in good health , in the morning when he should be called , he was found dead : and as the lords of gaunt procéeded to giue the oath the next day , master martine de pester the secretary being appointed , and about to giue the oath ; as the first man should haue sworne , the said martin de pester was stricken of god with present death , and ●●uer spake againe . these examples were contained in a letter written vnto henry the second french king , which is in the booke more at large . the lord poucher archbishoppe of to●res , who sued for the court called chambre ardente , there to condemne the protestants to the fire , who after was stricken with a disease called the fire of god , which began at his lower parts , and so ascended vpward , that one member after another was cut off , and so he died miserably . castellanus hauing inriched himselfe by the gospell , and returning from pure doctrine vnto his old vomit againe , became a persecutor at orliance , but god strucke him with a sicknesse vnknowne vnto the phisitians , one halfe of his body burned as hot as fire , and the other halfe was as could as ice , and so most miserably crying , he dyed . du prat , was the first that opened vnto the parliament the knowledge of herisies , and gaue out commission to put the faithful vnto death : he died swearing , and horribly blaspheming god , and his stomacke was found pierced , and gnaune asunder with wormes . iohn ruse , councellor in the parliament , comming from the court , hauing made report of the processe against the poore innocents , was taken with a burning in the lower part of his belly , before hee could be brought home the fire inuaded all his secret parts , and so he died miserably . claude des asses , a councellor in the said court , the same day that he gaue his consent to burne the faithfull . after dinner he committed whoredome with one of his seruants , and in doing the act , he was stricken with a disease , that he died out of hand . peter liset chiefe president of the said court , and one of the authors of the said burning chamber , fell mad and was put from his office . iohn morin , after he had beene the death of many christians ▪ was striken with a disease in his legs , called the wolues , wherewith he lost the vse of them , and died out of his wits , denying and blaspheming god. iohn andrew , the booke-binder of the pallace , became a spy to find out protestants , died in madnesse . the inquisitor iohn de roma in prouence , his flesh fel from him by péece meal , and so stinking that no man might come neere him . iohn minerius of prouence , which was the death of a great number of men , women , and children at cabriers and merindoll , died with bléeding in the lower parts ; the fire hauing taken his belly , blaspheming and dispising of god. thus farre out of the letter . henry the second the french king notwithstanding the aforesaid examples might giue him sufficient warning , yet would he not surcea●e his cruell persecution against gods children : but being at the parliament house , which was kept at the fryer augustines in paris , because the pallace was a preparing ●or ●he marriages of his daughter and his sister : and hauing heard the opinion in religion of anne du bourg , an eloquent and learned councellor : he caused him and loys du faur another councellor , to bee committed prisoners vnto the count mongomery . the king said to the said anne du bourg ; these eyes of mine shal sée thee burned ; and a day was appointed for the hearing the cause , at which day the king employed all the morning in examining , as wel the presidents as councellors of the said parliament against the prisoners , and other their companions that were charged with the same doctrine : then they went to dinner , after dinner the king went to running at the tilt , and brake many staues as well as could be ; whereupon he was highly commended of the lookers ●n , and being inflamed with hearing his yraise , he would néedes runne with montgomery , who knéeled downe and asked pardon not to runne with him : the king commaunded him vpon his alleagiance to runne , and himselfe put his staffe into his hand , and as the king and he met the vizard of his helmet suddenly fell downe , whereby the king was stricken in one of his eyes , so that his braines perished , and it so ●estered , that no remedy could be found , so that the eleauenth day after hee dyed . he said he feared he was stricken for casting poore christians wrongfully in prison , but cardinall lorraine said , that it was the enemy that tempted him to think so : by this meanes the hall that was prepared for a place of ioy and gladnes , was now a place to keepe the dead corps , beeing hanged with mourning-cloath , and there was heard mourning for the space of forty daies . in the yeare . there were certaine gentlemen put to death at amboyse , for taking ●rmes against the house of guise . the last that was put to death , thrust his hands into the blood of the others which were beheaded , and lifting them vp vnto heauen , cryed with a loud voyce ; lord behold the blood of thy children , thou wilt in time and place reuenge it . not long after councellor oliue● , the condemner of them , through great remorce of conscience fell sicke , and shriked vpon a suddaine with an horrible cry , and said to the cardinall of lorraine : o cardinall , thou wilt make vs all to be damned ! and shortly after died . francis the second , succéeded his father henry the second in the kingdome of france : he , at the perswasion of the cardinall of lorraine and others , assembled the estates of the realme in orleance to maintaine the papall sea , to the ouerthrow of those that should liue after the gospell , but being sicke of a feauer thorow an impostume in his left care , he died . the emperor charles the fift , being an enemy and a great terror vnto the gospell , was cut off from doing any more hurt vnto the church . anno . but thrée months before the death of quéene mary , and ten months before the death of henry the second . not long after anne du bourgs death , the president minard , who was a sore persecutor , and the condemner of the said anne du bourg , as hée returned from the councell chamber vnto his owne house , was flaine with a dagge , and it was neuer knowne who did it . the king of nauarre , brother vnto the prince of condie , after a while maintained the gospell : hee was perswaded by the duke of guise and the cardinall of lorraine his brother , in hope to haue his lands restored againe which the king of spaine detained from him , to be ●entented to alter his religion , and to ioyne side with the papists : and being in campe with the duke of guise at the siedge of roane , he was shot in with a pellet , after which wound he did vehemently repent his back sliding from the gospel , promising earnestly vnto god , that if he might escape that hurt , hee would bring to passe that the gospell should be preached freely throughout al france : notwithstanding within fiue or six daies he dyed . and the duke of guise himselfe , the great arch-enemy of god and his gospell , with the whole triumuirat of france , that is ▪ three the greatest captaines of popery were cut off for doing any more hurt : the duke of guise before orleance ; the constable of france , before paris ; the marshall of saint andrew , before drewx . the abridgement of a christian dialogue , called pasqvine in a trance . the author of this treatise , was called caelius secundus curio , an italian , a zealous , godly , learned man , by whom , vnder the witty and pleasant inuention of pasquines going to heauen , purgatorie , and hell , the whole packe of the popes pedlary wares is laid open , that we may sée what stuffe it is . it was written in the time of pope paule the third , the cheefe substance whereof breefely followeth . superstition and hypocrisie are the diuels rhetorick , by which friers make the world beleeue so many falsehoods and toyes , for by nothing else can faith so easily be ouerthrowne . the apparell of the fryers was deuised of the deuill , that by these shéeps skins they might not séeme w●olues , but by the strangenesse thereof to make the simple people to thinke them holy . their monasteries are a true representation of the qualities of the world ; their raigneth nothing but passions in euery one to aduance themselues , and driue out others : their pictures of saints being gods of stone , very much differ from that which they were when they were vpon earth . the uirgin mary was not honored with so many chaines , bracelets , perfumes , gold , siluer , and wax , as she is now vpon the altar , with paintings on her face , and on her head crownes full of iewels . she is attired with costly and many sorts of garments , like a yong gyrle , they make her most couetous and niggardly , and to giue nothing to the poore , but to bestow all that is giuen her , ( which is aboundance ) vpon cardinals and hipocrites , to be bestowed vpon whores , dogs , and horses . the popish manner to get reuelations . first he must fast eight daies , then hee must bee confessed , during which time he must not medle with any flesh of male or female , then he must heare seauen masses of the holy ghost , and vpon a friday at midnight , when the moon is in the last degree of cancer , he must lay himselfe downe vpon a mat , which some fryer in a traunce hath slept vppon , and in such a fryers hood , and a stole on his necke foulded , with a crosse on his breast , and these wordes in principio erat verbum written in red letters , and he must perfume the place with holie perfume , hauing a lampe burning by him with holie oyle , then hee must make circles about the mat of redde earth and white : betwixt the circles must bee written these words , pater filius & spiritus sanctus , nox visionis , nox reuelationis , nox veritatis , with a crosse made betwixt euery word : then he must say a certaine charme which coniureth all spirits that are for reuelations to bee there and to tell the truth . the spirts must be called by hebrew names , because they vnderstand no other language . the name of the cheese spirit for reuelations , is herusatanaell , and when all this is done he must fall on sléepe , and that which hee desireth to know , shall be reuealed vnto him . calamichaell , and saint anthony of padua are spirits to be sought vnto for things stolne , who appeareth in the shape of the theefe : and s. helene mother of constantine , is to be sought vnto for loue matters , who if the loue be true , appeareth to the fasting fryer with faire damsels , at a table richly decked , and eateth with him : but if the loue be fained , the feareth him with weapons and fires , and changeth her selfe into a wilde boare , a lyon , and an asse , and cryeth ilfauoredly . this loue is not to be trusted . the franciscan fryers had gotten such estimation , that they were counted gods kinsmen : they onely had the handling of the gospell , they tooke out heere and there a peece , and mixt it with lies , false miracles and dreames of purgatory : they kept the people more in feare of their commaundements then of gods : that towne was counted vnhappy where one of their monasteries was not néere : men thought to weare their apparell , or of their colour , was good against the ague , and other diseases , and for one to be burned in their habit , was the right way to heauen . longolius was burned in their habit , and so was carpi a noble man , and rodulphus agricola , and diuers others : if thou consider their lawes with what burthens they haue laden mens shoulders , thou wilt sweare that the iews law is an hundred times more pleasant and easie then theirs . because the israelits forsook the trust in god , and made themselues a calfe to worship it , god laded them with ceremonies that none could beare : so now , because mans folly could not be content with christ onely , the diuine iudgement suffered them to fal into a sea of ceremonies and superstitions , that except christ had bin gracious to defend vs , and had receiued the truth , we should haue béene drowned therein . a gentlewoman of pulia hating her husband , made her selfe of the order of saint francis , and of the same order took a yong lusty fryer vnto her adopted sonne , who handled her in such sort , that he made her hart to faint , and her purse to shrinke , that shee was faine to leaue but halfe builded a monastery to saint f●auncis which was building : and this being complained of vnto the lordes of bonony , there was good laughing thereat , but she could haue no remedie at all . saint katharine ( as the papists affirme ) promised vnto him that would remember her passion , to deliuer him from lightning and thunder , and that saint barbara maketh souldiours to kill their enemies : many deuout souldiours haue her painted vpon many parts of their armour to defend them from gun-shot . saint ierome did so much ( but falsely ) extoll virginity , that hee made this conclusion : it is good for a man to be without a wife , therefore it is wicked to be maried vnto a wife , and that god promiseth heauen vnto uirgines . and origen mistooke himselfe when he gelded himselfe , that he might be chast for the kingdom of heauen . the sorbones or inquisitors of paris , said ; if they had s. paul in their hands , they would burne him . wheresoeuer a number of nunnes is , the fryers be of the one side , and the confessors be on the other side : the fryers teach them how to coniure the diuill into hell , and to fight with him , and to be in a trance ; and the confessors vnderstanding all that they doe , with their hands vpon their heads , and their displing roddes assayle them . the monkes can bring them vnder when they list . vastalla a widdow being very rich , ordained a sect of women and men , who must séeke to attaine vnto that purity that was in adam and eue before their fall : the means wherby they should attaine hereunto , was long prayers , much silence , continuall fastings , to be shréeuen euery day , and to receiue their maker euery . daies : there meanes to know their perfection is , as adam for shame grew from ●akednesse , to be more and more clothed ; to these must go ●●om being clothed , to be more & more naked , vntill they were not ashamed of their nakednes , whether they were man or woman ; then they put adam and eue to bed together , and if they touch not , nor think vpon the forbidden fruit , of which they must be straitly examined , then they are angels ; but if they do otherwise , as the virgin is for the most times sped , then are they cast out of paradice . s. camella , to shew that she was of high blood , said , that lewis king of france warring in italy , had to doe with her mother , and begat her . she had a religion of her owne making , she vsed to be accompanied with thrée women as superstitions as her selfe . they abide in no monastery , but in a priuate house , and frequent solitary and pleasant places ; her house is haunted with women , gentlemen , and lords , as vnto an oracle ; sometimes shee shutteth her selfe vp , to bee more familiar with angels to talke with them : vpon the friday she will not be séene nor speake with any , but contemplats the crosse and nayles of christ , and thereby obtained the print thereof in her hands and féete , which she kept couered : she hath beene seene to drop malinesie into the markes . an ambassador thought she had the pore , she loued well the franciscan fryers , she got much by contracting marriages , and by making medicines . in bernia a towne of switchers , certaine fryers did séeke to make the prints of christs wounds in a simple soules hands and feete : the newes whereof was brought to pope iuly the second , yet escaped they not vnpunished therefore , for foure of them that were priuy to this and other so great sacriledges , were burned aliue , before those of berna had the gospell , but they were euer e●emies vnto the knauish deuises and deceits of the fryers . a priest of placentia was accused vnto the pope , that he had a wife & children , the pope depriued him of his benifices , and he went to rome and shewed that she was another mans wife , and but his concubine , and neuer married vnto him nor could be , and though he was a vile adulterer , he was restored vnto his benifices againe . if any iew become a christian , the pope confiscates their goods according to a law of the iewes , else many iewes would become christians . s. anthony is the papists saint to pray vnto for fire , s. rock for the plague , s. bastion for the pestilence , s. apolinia for the tooth-ache , s. blase for the disease of throat . s. anthony and s. rocke were called martires , because they went from citty to citty to desire men to offer them by death , and could get none . saint christopherus . the christians in old time , pictured a christian in the forme of a great gyant , because he must be strong to beare christ and his truth before men : they feigned he carrieth men ouer the water : by water they mea●● our life , which we cannot come ouer to come vnto heauen , except we be taught by a christian the truth , they pictured him with a tree in his hand to stay vpon , by the which they meant faith , without which we should often fal : after hee vsed this tree it grew greene : to signifie that faith exercised with charity is liuely . his name was called christopherus , which signifieth bearing christ : hee was painted at the entrances of the churches . the papists haue conuerted it vnto a saint , and pray vnto it . saint george . likewise saint george that killed the dragon , to deliuer the kings daughter from that terrible beast which had destroyed all capadocia : by capadocia is ment the world : the dragon signifieth the diuell : the kings daughter the church : and saint george represents christ : of which fable the papists haue made a great saint and pray vnto it . the papists haue trantfsormed all the heathen gods of rome to be their gods onely by giuing them other names . pantheon in rome which was the house of all gods , is maria rotunda , the house of all saints : in the place of cibile , mother of gods ▪ is now placed to mary . the temple that was dedicated to pallas minerua a uirgine , is now dedicated minerua a uirgine . the temple of romulus and rheimes is now the temple of saint cosmus , and damian . the temple that was ef castor and pollux , is now of saint geruais and protheys , the heathens had lucian to heale their eyes : the papists in stead thereof haue saint lucy , and in steed of ceres god of corne , now is saint pancras : the heathens had mars , and pallas , gods of warre : in steed of them the papist haue saint george , and saint barbera : the heathen sea men saw castor and pollux at the end of a tempest : the papists in such case see saint erenius : as vesta virgines could not marry , so the nunnes may not marry , in the old time they washed to clense sinnes , and now they fillip holy water vpon their foreheads to clense sinnes : for the heathens , iuno feronia , they haue iuno lucina : for the heathens iuno saturnia , they haue iuno curies ; for the heathens lady of grace , and lady of myracles : the papists haue our lady , our lords mother , and our lady of people : the papists fill their churches with tables , containing vowes for the help that the saints haue done for them , as were in the old time , in the heathen churches , containing the myracles that their idols had done . calapine , saith , that cardinall is the selfe-same that carneuale ; neither the one nor the other doth attend to any other thing ; then to eate , drinke , sleepe , commit whooredome , banquet , and doe other wicked acts , so many that no tongue can expresse . in place of the foure gospels , the papists haue put the foure councels : nice , const●ntinople , ephesus , calcedon : then foure doctors : ambrose , augustine , ierome , gregory : and foure bookes , to wit , of decrees , of decretals , of sects , of clementines , and whosoeuer had a coule , or a shauen crowne , might write what they would and it should goe for gospel ; whereby the pope hath drawne all things to himselfe , and made himselfe aboue christ. they will haue bels , carued images , crosses , lights , wax , uessels , and garments to be ●o vs in steed of euangelists . saint peter was made pope after his death , which neuer was pope , nor neuer could be , nor yet was at any time at rome : so was saint ierome made a cardinall : saint iohn baptist , a patriarck : and saint dominick , and saint frances patriarcks long time after their deathes . they picture iohn baptist a terrible fellow , with a fayre sharpe sword in his hand , and all in armour , followed with a number of sea rouers called knights of the rhodes : they baptize no otherwise but by drowning men in the sea : they doe not make men repent of their sinnes as iohn baptist did , but they make them repent that euer they were borne , and driue them for necessitie to dwell in the wildernes : they weare crosses on their breasts , because they cannot beare them in their heart , and to shew them selues crucifyers of others : iohn dwelt in deserts , but they make deserts : iohn baptist liued in fasting and prayer , but these in pleasure like sardanapalas , when they had the isle of rhodes , they did that which turkes would not haue done : therefore they were driuen thence by gods iust iudgement : they marry not like iohn baptist , but they haue the more harl●ts . dominick , by the procurement of innocent the third : hee at tholosa quenched the heresie of the lutherans with maruellous speed : hee said hee must not dispute , but fell to the busines with fire and sword ; and for this cause he was made a saint a spaniard of the inquisition for heresies , accused certaine of the best spaniards for lutherans , and said he smelt them , because they gaue almes vnto the poore , and not vnto fryers : and because they left swearing , and blaspheming of god and his saints , and playing , whore-hunting , and other vices , applying themselues to things graue and profitable , and all day long reade in the scriptures . saint francis was required of his disciples to giue them a rule of liuing , and he gaue them the gospell : but his fryers haue set forth a booke of conformities , which is preferred before the gospel ; with the whith if thou compare the al●oran of mahomet , thou wilt say the alcoran is more holy , although in many things they agree : his fryers were bold to preach , that a frier once desired to knew in what place saint francis was , and therewith ran out of his wits , and was led about all parts of heauen and found him not : at last he came vnto the throne of diuinitie : where demanding for saint francis christ rose vp from his seate , on the right hand of the father , and opened his clothes vpon his brest , and s. francis came out of his side : then the fryer came to his wits againe , in the strife for the supremacie , constantinople said to him it belonged , because with him was the sea of the empire : ierusalem would haue it , because the high bishop christ had triumphed there : antioch would needs haue it alledging that peter the apostle there had kept his sea , and was neuer at rome , as it may appeare by the booke called quod petrus nunquam romae fuit : hee of rome , not regarding the saying of saint gregory , that he should be antichrist , that would be vniuersall ouer bishops , by deceits , gifts , and force , obtained to bee called the chiefe bishop , the greatest , the highest , vniuersall ; most blessed , most holy , and lawfull successor of peter and christ. the fryers of dominick and francis , d ee chiefely apply themselues to sorcery , and witchcraft , and thereby learne euill diuellish arts : a man may reade that siluester the second , one of them , got to be pope , by the help of the diuell , vpon condition that after his death he should be his : and in our dayes paul the third , called pope farnese , hath not left his like in astrology , and diuination : it is certainly said , that he beleeued that the soule was mortall : so did pope lewes , and cardinall chitty . a gentleman of uenice and his wife , were in doubt vpon a case of conscience : the woman confessed her selfe in the church of the chittines , and opened the matter , praying to bee resolued : the frier did it as well as hee could : and then hee opened the whole matter to cardinall chitty , as it is their old vse to doe : hee commanding him to bee secret , and finding the resolution of the case in the cannon law , the morrow the gentleman came vnto chitty , and opening the matter , hee commanded him to hold his peace , and tooke him by the hand , and put it into the booke , in the place which hee before had marked for that purpose : then he bad him tell his tale , & when he had ended , he said , look there where your hand is : the gentleman read there , and found that which he sought : then forthwith hee fell downe , and worshipped him , as it had been another christ which knew all secrets . pasquine saith , hee knoweth ten thousand such trickes by them . saint ioyce is patron of fruitfulnes of children , she hath a church in france : the flemings goe vnto her to haue children and speede of their purpose , for whilst they be on their voyage , she vseth the priests and friers , as instruments with their wiues . the pope in policie sends flattering courtiers to francis king of 〈◊〉 , to flatter him in all his actions , to remember him of that title of most chr●●●ian king , which his progenitors receiued of the pope , and that therefore hee sh●uld defend the dignitie of them that gaue him so goodly a title : and to exhort him , that he should not fa●le to persecute the lutherans , and that he should fail to dancing and banquetting , and to serue venus , and to hunting , rather then to sauour learning , as it seemed he would doe . in the popes policie it was decreed , that of all the chiefe houses in italie , or elsewhere , there should one euer be a cardinall , to keepe them in deuotion of the church of rome , which they began to forsake for the gospell , but aboue all things there should be six , or foure at the least , of the uenetians cardinals , because a ●umber of those senators be wittie , and of profound iudgement , least they should slip their heads from the pope . it was decreed by the pope concerning spaine , that the inquisitors should not be seuere with the marraines , who denyed the diuinitie of christ , but that they should be most cruell against the lutherans , who denie the diuinitie of the pope . they haue made peace with the turke , that they may the better maintaine warre against the gospell , and to keepe the christian princes in warres and businesse , that they may not seeke for a generall councell for reformation . there is not one man condemned by the uenetians , but he is adiudged by fortie iudges , and the offendor may alledge for himselfe the best he can , yet they suffer a legate onely to condemne whom he list for the gospell , and the person accused cannot come vnto his purgation . cardinall fernese made the liuely picture of his sister ouer his chamber dore ; shee was pope alexander borgias his concubine , and by her honourable meanes , shee made her said brother cardinall , and after to be made pope : her image goeth currant for the picture of our ladie , and the pictures of our ladie be made thereby . by the papists tradition , the soule for euerie deadly sinne is to abide seuen yeares in purgatorie : moses ordained many sacrifices for the sinnes of the liuing , but none for them in purgatorie ; he chideth for weeping for the dead : it is deuised onely to deceiue the people with trentals and quarentals , and other foolish inuentions , full of couetousnesse : the scripture biddeth vs remember the poore that be aliue , the papists bidde vs bring hither for the soules of your dead friends and parents , with crie miseremini : these priests and religious are the prophets sa●ke , neuer full ; and solomons horse-leaches , and the fire that neuer saith hoa : if thou shouldst giue them the world , they will not be satisfied . the places of scripture that they ground purgatorie vpon , are the fift of mathew : agree with thine aduersarie by the way , least thou be cast into prison , &c. and in the . of mathew ; hee that owed thee tenne thousand talents , was deliuered vnto prison , &c. and in the . of mathew ; the sinne against the holy ghost shall not be forgiuen in this world , nor in the world to come . and in the . cor. . stubble and trash , builded vpon christ , shall be tryed by fire . and . machab. . macabeus offered two thousand drammes of siluer for the dead , which bought beasts which were sacrificed . and reuelation . . those that follow the lambe are without spot , and no vncleane thing shall enter into heauen : therefore we must be purged with purgatorie before we can come there . thomas aquine confessed hee could not finde purgatorie in the scriptures , yet hee would haue it beleeued . the doctrine of purgatorie is the greatest blasphemie that is vnto christ. boniface the ● eight made a decree , that euery worldly creature should be subiect vnto the pope , vpon paine of damnation . pope alexander borgias lay with his naturall daughter lucrece , with whom also duke valentine , his brother , lay . the friers lay with the nunnes , and with lay-sisters , and taught them to murder yong babes , least they should be discouered ; or teacheth them how they shall not conceiue with child , or to destroy it in her body : some of them make women to poyson their husbands : some of them haue giuen meate to a whole household to make them to sleepe , that he might not be seene to goe to the good wife , and thereby hath killed them all : one faineth our ladie doth miracles , to get offerings ; another persecuteth the truth , because he would be a bishop : another false knaue , in confession , caused a woman to giuen him her money in keeping , and then denyed it . they sit toting in the bosome of simple yong maids which come vnto them to shrieue : others , in confessing the sicke , cause them to leaue their goods vnto the monasterie , and depriue their wiues and children . a can●n of ●urney after his death left a booke , wherein hee had noted the names and houses of two hundred women of the chiefest of that citie , whome he had enio●ed at his pleasure . a fryer in fris●land had put into the h●ads of foolish women this opinion , that they must giue vnto the church the tenth night , as they doe vnto their husband . a fryer , with a poysoned host , brought vnto his death henrie , the seuenth emperour of that name . thus much out of pasquine in a ●rance ; wherein , if thou be disposed , thou shalt find euery thing that i haue set downe , and much more : which , least i should be too tedious , i haue omitted . the trayterous practises of the papists against queene elizabeth , during her raigne , and of gods preseruations towards her . the most iust and apparant iudgements of god vpon persecuting papists , which haue shed the innocent bloud of poore protestants , hath beene declared : wherein not onely in other countries god hath manifested his indignation against them , but most especially in this realme , you haue seene the uiall of gods wrath powred vpon the most part of the persecutors in quéene maries time ; especially vpon the persecuting clergie , who all fell into the pit that they had digged for others . as for bonner , whose iudgement is not yet declared , hee dyed in prison , and was buried in a dunghill : and as for doctor story , as great a persecutor as bonner , you may reade of his iust iudgement in this historie following ; how he was drawne from the tower to tyburne , and there hanged and quartered for treason . tyburne was long time after called stories cappe . if wee doe but consider the vnhappinesse of q. maries raigne , together with the prosperous and long raigne of queene elizabeth , it is easie to see the louing countenance of god ●uer the protestants , and how god bendeth his browes against the papists : and as sure as god hath ouerthrowne them heere in this realme , beyond the expectation of any man , so certainely will the almightie god ●●nfound the whole pope-●ome at his time appointed ; how vnlikely soeuer it seemeth vnto the carnall-eyed papist , that will not see the prophesies of the spirit of god , which most plainely fore-shew the same . but now touching the historie of queene elizabeths raigne . in the yeare , pope pius the fift sent nicholas morton doctor of diuinitie , an englishman , into england , to admonish certaine noblemen that were papists , that queene elizabeth was an heretike , and therefore by law hath lost all dominion and power , and may freely be accounted as an heathen and publican , and that her subiects are not from henceforth bound to obey her lawes and commandements . whereupon presently the earles of northumberland and westmerland rebelled against the queene in the north : but the earle of suffex was sent into the north , being appointed the queenes lieutenant generall , who proclaymed them traytors : and he sent out to all such gentlemen as he knew to be her maiesties louing subiects ; which came vnto him with such a number , as he was able to make aboue . horsemen and footmen : and being accompanied with the earle of rutland , his lieutenant ; the lord hunsdon , generall of his horsemen ; william lord eure , leader of the footmen ; and sir raph sadler , treasurer ; sir george bowes was made marshall of the armie . when the armie was comming to durham , the rebels fled to exham ▪ the night before they came to exham , the rebels were gone to mawarth ; where they counselled with edward dacres concerning their owne weakenesse , being they were pursued of the earle of sussex , seuen thousand strong : and moreouer , the earle of warwicke , the lord clinton , lord admirall of england , and lord uicount herford , with an army of . ●ut of the south , being not farre behind them at browne-bridge . the next night the garles of northumberland and westmerland , with sundry principall gentlemen , fled vnto hatlew in scotland : the other rebels were shortly after taken by the earle of sussex , and . of the name of constables , and others , executed at durham ; amongst whom was an alderman of the towne , and a priest , called parson plomtree . then sir george bowes marshall executed many in euery market towne and other places betwixt new-castle and wetherby , six myles in length , and foure myles in breadth . and leonard dacre hauing raysed a great number of people , the lord hunsdon set vpon him , and slew manie of his people , and ●orc●d them to flye into scotland . symon digby , iohn fulthroppe esquire , robert peniman , and thomas bishop gent. were drawne from the castle of yorke to knaues●er● , and there hanged and quartered . then they went with all their power into scotland , and burnt , ouerthrew , and spoyled all the castles , townes , and uillages before them , aboue fi●tie strong castles and piles , and aboue three thousand townes and uillages , and they tooke many prisoners , and returned sa●ely . also a conspiracie was made by certaine gentlemen and other in the countie of norfolke , whose purpose was vpon midsummer day , at harlstone faire , with the sound of a trumpet to haue raysed a number , and then to proclayme their pretence . this matter was vttered by thomas kete vnto iohn kensey , who sent the said kete vnto the next instice , before whom he opened the whole matter ; whereupon drew drewrie apprehended iohn throgmorton , and many gentlemen of the citi● of norwich and the countrey of norfolke : at the next sessions ten of them were indited of treason , and iohn throgmorton , thomas brooke , and george dedman hanged , drawne , and quartered . doctor sanders de visibili monarchia , lib. . pag. . sayth , that the purposes and endeuours of these noblemen were to be praysed , which wanted not their certaine and happie successe ; for though they were not able to draw the soules of their brethren out of the pit of schisme , yet both they themselues nobly confessed the catholike faith , and many of them gaue their liues for their br●thren , which is the highest degree of charitie : the rest of them rescued themselues from the bondage both of schisme and sinne vnto the freedome wherewith christ hath made v● free . and in his booke of motiues he calleth these martyrs ; to wit , the earle of northumberland , doctor story , felton , the nortons , m. woodhouse , m. plumtree , and so many hundreds of the northerne men . the said nortons were thomas norton and christopher norton of yorkeshire , and they were hanged , beheaded , and quartered for treason , for the late rebellion in the north. the said felton was one iohn felton , which this yeare was drawne from newgate to paules churchyard , and hanged before the bishops pallace gate , cut downe aliue , bowelled , and quartered , for hanging a bull from the pope for the excommunicating of the queene , at the gate of the bishop of londons pallace . and the afore-mentioned doctor story was that cruell story that burned so manie in queene maries time : who the first of iune , this yeare . was drawne from the tower of london to tyburne , and there hanged and quartered . and in his seuenth booke , page . he sayth , the fulnesse of the apostolike power hath declared the said elizabeth an hereticke , and a fauourer of heretickes , and that such as adhere vnto her , haue incurred the sentence of anathema : and that she is depriued of her right of her kingdome , and of all her dominion , dignitie , and priuiledge , and that the nobles , people , and subiects of the realme , and all others that haue made oath vnto her ▪ are assoyled for euer from such oath , and all dutie of allegeance , fidelitie , and obedience , by the authoritie of the popes sentence , whereby he hath depriued her of her kingdome , and forbidden all the nobles , people , and subiects , and others aforesaid , that they be not so bold to obey her or her lawes , and whosoeuer doth otherwise , hee hath bound with like sentence of curse . and bristow in his sixt motiue , fol. . they miserably forget themselues , who feare not the excommunications of pius the fift , in whom christ himselfe hath spoken and excommunicated , with as great power as s. paul excommunicated : and christ hath done miracles by him , euen as s. paul did miracles . and in his . motiue he sayth : when the pope doth duly discharge vs from subiection , and the prince offender from dominion , he doth it with such griefe of heart , as if a man should cut off from his bodie , to saue the wholesome most principall , but rotten part thereof . and sanders , lib. . fol. . he calleth felton an honorable martyr ; for he was led with the loue and zeale of the catholike faith : when hee saw that the desperate health of his country could not be restored but by some most bitter medicine , would not suffer the sentence of the pope should be hidden from his countrymen : and there he calleth doctor story a noble martyr ▪ saying : when he was arraigned of high treason , for conspiring with certaine of antwarpe against the quéene , attempting to change the schismaticall religion , which now raigneth in england , vnto the catholike religion ; being brought vnto the barre , he onely pleaded vnto the iurisdiction of the court , denying that the english iudges had any power ouer him , being no subiect to the english queene , but rather to the king catholike ; and hee expounds his meaning to be , because hee very well knew , that the queene of england , by the declaratorie sentence of the pope , was for manifest heres●e depriued from all right of kingdome , and that therefore no magistrate created by her , or adhering vnto her , could be acknowledged by him , least himselfe also should be bound with the same curse . and further , there were many seminarie priests , which laboured by all persuasions that might be to iustifie the foresaid excommunication of pope pius , and to withdraw the quéenes subiects hearts from their true obedience : of whom , manie of them were taken and committed vnto prisons , as follow : edmund campion . edmund campion , was a chiefe champion for the pope : he was committed vnto the tower : he would neither deny nor confesse the quéenes supremacy nor iusti●●e , neither deny the power & iustice of the popes excōmunication , nor commend , nor discommend the doctrine of sanders & b●istow , as before : but answered so cunningly , that nothing could be made thereof : he was after disputed withall touching all points of religion , by the deame of paules , and the deane of windsor , and diuers other diuines , but because all their arguments and reason in this book before are moresuff● c●ently handled many times : i referre the reader vnto the booke of the report thereof . thomas forde , iohn shert , robert iohnson priests . these were executed at tyburne the . of may , because they were sent as instruments , for , and in the behalfe of the pope , in the aforesaid disloyall & tray●erous cause : they were drawne vpon hurdles from the tower vnto the place of execution : when they were come beyond saint giles in the field , there approched vnto the hurdle one of their fect , a priest as himselfe hath confessed , who said vnto the prisoners , o gentlemen , be ioyfull in the blond of iesus christ , for this is the ●ay of your triumph and ioy : and further he said vnto the prisoners , i pro●ounce a pardon vnto you : yea i pronounce a full remission and pardon vnto your soules : wherevpon he was apprehen●●d , and ▪ th● sheriffe asked him what he was , he answered , that he was the voice of a cryer in the wildernes , and that hee was sent to prepare the lords way : wh●revpon h● was carried to newgate : where he confessed himselfe a priest , and that he had long so dissembled , and that he would now doe so no more . when they were brought vnto the place of execution , thomas ford , was first brought vp into the cart : he said , he did acknowledge the queenes maiesties supremacie in all things temporall ▪ but as concerning ecclesiasticall causes , i deny her , that onely belongeth vnto the uicar of christ the pope : hee granted to nothing , but shewed himselfe an impious and obstinate traytor : he refused to pray in the english tongue , mumbling a few latine prayers , and desired those that were ex domo dei , to pray with him and so died . iohn shert , was brought from the ●urdle vnto the gallowes , as ford hanged there , he held vp his hands vnto him , and said , o swéet tom ! o happy tom ! o blessed tom ! then ford was cut downe , and brought vnto the place where hee should be quartered : then looking downe from the cart , vnto the dead body , hee knéeled down , & held vp his hands vnto it , saying againe : o blessed tom : o happy tom : thy swéet soule pray for me : o deere tom , thy blessed soule pray for mee . then the sheriffe had him aske the quéene forgiuenes , and he might receiue her princely mercy : he answered , what m. sheriffe shall i saue this fraile & vile carkasse , and damne mine own soule : no , no , i am a catholick , in that faith i was born , in that faith i will die & heare shal my bloud ●eale it : then said m. sheriffe , is this the fruits of your religion , to knéele vnto the dead body of thy fellow , & desire his soule to pray for thee : what can it profit or hinder thee , pray to god , & hee will help thee : he answered , this is the true catholick religion , and whosoeuer is not of it is damned : i desire his so●le to pray for mee : the most glorious uirgine mary pray for me ; and all the holy company in heauen to pray for mee : then the people cryed away with the traytor : then the sheriffe said : o sherte , forsake the whoore of rome , that wicked antichrist , with all his abhominable blasphemies and tr●acheries , and put thy whole confidence in iesus christ : then he said , o master sherife , you little remember the day when as i and you shall stand both at one barre , and i shall witnesse against you that you call that holy and blessed uicar of christ , whore of rome : then he said his prayers in latine ▪ and the cart was drawne away . robert iohnson likewise would not aske the quéen pardon , affirmed the pope to be the head of the catholike church , and would not say his prayers in english ; and when he had said them in latine he died . luke kirbie , william filbie , thomas cottom , and lawrence richardson . these were executed at tyburne : vpon the thirtéenth day of may they were brought from the tower of london vnto the place of execution : first , william filbie was brought vp into the cart , being asked whether he would acknowledge the quéen supreme head of the church of england ; no ( quoth he ) i will acknowledge no other head of the church then the pope onely . he prayed that god wold incline the quéens heart to be mercifull towards the catholikes , of which societi● he was one . they opening his bosome ●ound two crosses in it , which were holden vp and shewed vnto the people , and besides that , his crown was shauen ; so after a few latin prayers , the cart was drawne away . the next was luke kirbie : one charged him , that when he was at rome he deliuered him certaine silke pictures , which he said were hallowed by the pope ; and you told me what indulgences were allowed by th●m● one of them , which was a crucifix , you gaue mee , the other you willed mee to deliuer vnto your friends at reimes and in england , and you gaue me two iulios to goe into the citie to buy more , and when i had bought them , you tooke thrée or foure of the fairest from me , promising to get them hallowed at the next benediction , which he confessed to be true : he affirmed that the pope had power to depose any prince from his kingdome , if he fall by infidelitie . he would not repent and aske the quéene pardon though vpon that condition he might haue bin discharged : he would not pray in english : the preacher desired him to say a prayer after him , and if he could find any fault therein he should be resolued ; o ( quoth he ) you and i be not of one faith , therefore i should offend god if i should pray with you ; so saying his pater noster in latin , he ended his life . then lawrence richardson was brought vp to be executed : he confessed himselfe a catholike , and that he would beléeue in all things as the catholike church of rome did , and he allowed the only suprema●ie vnto the pope ; and after certain latin prayers said he died . then was cottom brought vp : he looking vpon the bodie of lawrence richardson , lift vp his eyes and hands , and said , o blessed lawrence pray for me , thy blessed soule lawrence pray for me . the preachers and people rebuked him , saying , that he ought to pray vnto none but god ; he answered , he was assured that lawrence will pray for him : he denied to repent and aske pardon of the quéen . when he had said his pater noster and an aue maria he ended his life . as before is declared the rebellions in england by the seducing of wicked spirits , so not long after followed an open rebellion in ireland : they tooke armes and came into the field against her maies●ie , and her lieutenants with their forces vnder banners displayed , inducing many simple people to follow them in their trayterous actions , being bent to haue deposed the quéens maiestie from her crowne , and to haue trayterously set into her place some other whom they liked , yet by gods power giuen vnto her maiesty they were quickly vanquished , some few of them suffered by order of the law , but the greate●t part vpon confession of their fa●lts were pardoned : some of the principall escaped into forreine countries . these notable traytors and rebels informed many kings princes , and states , especially the pope , from whom they all had first secretly their comfort to rebell , that the cause of the flying was for the religion of rome , and maintenance of the popes authoritie , whereas the most of them before they rebell●d , liued notoriously euill : out of england fled charles neuill earle of westmerland , who was vtterly wasted by loosenes of life , and how afterward his body was eaten with vlcers of lewd causes all his companions did see . out of ireland ran thomas stukely a defamed person thorough out all christendome : he fled out of england for p●racies , and out of ireland for treason : these two were the first ring-leaders to the rest of the rebells , the one for england , the other for ireland ; yet it liked the pope to fauour their treasons , and to animate them to continue their wicked purposes , to wit , to inuade queen elizabeths realme with forren forces : hee thundred out b●lls , excommunications ▪ & other publike writings , denouncing her not to be the queene of the realme , commanding her subiects , vnder paine of excommunication to depart from their alleagean●es , authorizing and prouoking all persons within both her realmes to rebell ; and vpon this vn●hristian warrant all those that were fled , and such as had forsaken their natiue countrey haue many yeares runne vp and downe from countrey to countrey to gather forces and money for forces , and to 〈◊〉 princes to make warre vpon their natiue countrey , some practising secretly to murther the quéene , and very many with publike infamous libels , full of poysoned lyes , did séeke to vphold that antichristian warrant of the popes buls . and for better furtherance of these intentions , they deuised to erect certaine schooles , which they called seminaries , to nourish persons disposed to sedition , that they might become séedmen , in the ●illag● of sedition , and to send them secretly into england , and ireland , vnder secret maskes , some of priesthood , some of other inferior orders of the meaner sort , being called seminaries ; and the ●ancor sort , ies●ites , bringing with them , hallowed wax , their agnus dei , many kind of beades , and such like , labouring secretly to perswade the people , to allow of the popes foresaid buls ▪ and of his absolute authoritie ouer all princes & countreyes : and if this trayterous and crafty course , had not by gods goodnes been espied , and stayed , there had followed horrible vprores in the realmes : for as many as should be perswaded to obey the popes warrant , must needs b●e secret traytors , & there should haue wanted nothing but power and opport●nitie to be open traytors : but god of his goo●nes discouered some of these seditious seedmen of rebellions : and when they could not be moued to repent of their trayterous determinations , they were iustly condemned , for adhering vnto the capitall enemy of her maiestie , and her crowne : the pope who hath not only been the cause of two rebellions already in england , and ireland : but in ireland did manifestly maintaine his owne people : captaines and souldiers vnder the banner of rome against her maiestie . and further those traytors prouoke newly other seditious persons secr●t●y to enter into the realme to reuiue the execution of the popes bulles , pretending when they are apprehended , that they came into the realme onely by the commaundement of their superiors the heads of the ie●uits , to whom they are bound by ooth against either king or country , and that their comming is to informe , and reforme mens conscience from errors , in some points of religion as they shall thinke meete : but it is manifestly prooued , that their labour is secretly to win al people , with whom they dare deale , so to allow the popes buls and authority , and be discharged of their allegeance , and to be well warranted to take armes against her maiesty when they shall bee thereunto called , and to be ready secretly to ioyne with any forraine force that can be procured to inuade the realme : whereof they giue great comfort of successe . and because most euident perils would follow , if these virmine were suffered to creepe by stealth into the realme , and spread their poyson therein , therefore doe they most iustly suf●er death as traitors . one of their compaine , doctor san●ders a lewd scholler and subiect of england , a fugitiue , a principall conspirator with the traytors and rebells at rome , was the popes legat and commander and treasorer for those warres aforesaid , passing into ireland , openly by writing he gloriously auowed the popes bull , as is before declared ; but god plagued him with a strange death , who wandring in the mon●ntaines in ireland without succour , died rauing in a frensie . the miserable earle of desmond being a principall doer in the rebellion in ireland , secretly wandring without succour , as a miserable beggar , was taken by one of the irishrie in his cabbin , and his head cut off from his body : an e●d due to such an arch-rebell . iames fitz morrice the first traytor in ireland ▪ next vnto stukeley , was slaine by an irish yong gentleman as he went to burne his fathers countrey . desmount brother vnto the earle a blondie faithlesse traytor and a notable murtherer of his familier friends , who likewise wandring to séeke some prey like a wel●e in the woods , he was taken and beheaded , as he had vsed others , being , as he thought , sufficiently armed with the popes bulls , and an agnus dei , and a notable ring hanging about his neck , sent from the popes ●●●ger . iohn someruile a furious yong man , of warwick shire : of late he was discouered and taken in his way , comming with a full intent to haue killed the quéen : he confessed his attempt , and that he was moued thereunto in his wicked spirit , by inticements of certaine seditious and trayterous persons his kinsemen and allies , and by often reading of sundry seditious vile bookes , lately published against the quéenes maiestie . william parry his treasons against queene elizabeth . hee had committed a great outrage against a gentlem●n , one m. hare of the inner temple , meaning to haue murdered him in his owne chamber , for which he was iustly conuicted ; wherefore he went beyond sea , and subiected himselfe vnto the pope , and vpon conference with certaine iesuits , he conceiued his detestable treason to kill the quéene , which he vowed himselfe by promise , letters , and vowes to performe it , and so returned vnto england in ianuary . and put in practise diuers times to execute his diuellish purpose . pretending that he had matter of great importance to reueale vnto the quéen , he obtained secret accesse vnto her maiestie , she hauing then but one councellor with her , who was so farre distant as he could not heare his spéech : he shewed her maiestie his procéedings with the ●esuits , and one thomas morgan a fugitiue at parris , who perswaded him to kill her maiestie , saying that his only intent of procéeding so farre with ●hem was but only to this end , to discouer the dangerous practises deuised and attempted against her maiestie , by her di●loyal subiects , and other malicious persons in forren parts ; but afterward it appeared most manifestly by his owne confession , and by his dealing with one edmund neuill esquire , that his intent in discouering the same in such sort as he did , was but to make the way the easier vnto his most diuellish purpose . the quéen suffred him diuers times to haue priuate conference with her , ●& offered him a most liberal pension , yet notwithstanding he did vehemently importunat the said neuill to be an associate vnto his wicked enterprise , as to an action lawfull and meritorious : but the almighty god that was protector of her maiesty , euen from her cradle , so wrought in neuils heart , as he was moued to reueale the same vnto her maiesty , whereupon the examination of the matter was committed vnto the earle of leicester , and sir christopher hatton ; vpon the examination whereof , when parrie saw the said neuill so to declare the truth , and so constantly affirme the same , he confessed all , saying : that comming vnto the chamber of thomas morgan aforesaid , one greatly beloued and trusted in the papists side ; he broke with me that i should vndertake to kill the quéen , i told him it would be easily done if it were lawfully done and warranted in the opinion of som learned deuines : then i was resolued by deuines , and i went so farre by letters and conferences in italie , that i could not goe backe , but promised faithfully to performe the enterprise , if his holinesse would allow it , and grant me remission of my sinnes : then i confessed my selfe vnto a iesuite , and tooke his aduice in the matter , who most louingly imbraced and commended me : then i wrote a letter vnto the pope to require of him absolution of my sinnes , in consideration of so great an enterprise vndertaken , without promise or reward : then i went vnto the popes nuntio , and read the letter vnto him , and inclosed and sealed it , he promised me to procure answer from the pope , and louingly imbraced me , wished me good spéede , and promised me that i should be remembred at the altar . then he said he comming to england , hee got accesse vnto the quéene , as before : then came letters into england vnto me from cardinall como , whereby i found the enterprise commended and allowed , and my selfe absolued in the popes name of all my sinnes , and willed to go forward in the name of god. that letter i shewed vnto some in court , who imparted it to the quéene , notwithstanding it confirmed my resolution to kill her , and made it cleere in my conscience that it was lawfull and meritorious . when i looked vpon her maiestie , and remembred her many excellencies , i was greatly troubled , yet i saw no remedie , for my vowes were in heauen , and my letters and promises in earth : after doctor collens book was sent me out of france , it redoubled my former conceits ; euery word in it was a warrant to a prepared minde : it taught that kings may he excommunicated , depriued , and violently handled : it proueth that all wars , ciuill or forren , vndertaken for religion , are honourable , whereupon hee was condemned of treason , and drawne vpon a hurdle from the tower vnto the pallace of westminster , where he was executed . francis throgmorton . his confession was to this effect : when i was at spaw in the countrey of liege , i entred into conference with one ienney a notorious traytor , touching the altering of the state of the realme here , and how the same might be attempted by forreign inuasion , and to the like effect i had sundry conferences with sir francis englefield in the low countries , who daily solicited the k. of spaine to inuade the realme , and i continued practising against her maiestie and the state by letters betw●ene sir francis englefield and my selfe , and i acquainted sir iohn throgmorton my father with my trayterous practises , who disswaded me from any further medling with these practises , but by my fathers aduice i made a catalogue of all the noblemen and gentlemen that were catholiks , and did discribe the hauens of this realme for landing of forces . he confessed that he was acquainted by his brother thomas throgmorton with a resolute determination for inuading of the realme , and that the duke of guise should be the principall executor of that inuasion , to the intent to prepare by force the quéens tolleration in religion for the catholiks ; and if her maiesty should refuse so to doe , to remoue her from her crowne and state , and that the duke of guise had prepared the forces , but there wanted money and assistance of the catholiques in england , to ioyne with forreigne forces : for money messengers were sent , both to rome and spaine , and the spanish ambassadour gaue out that the king his master would not only make some notable attempt against england , but would beare halfe the charge thereof ; and an especiall messenger was sent into england , vnder a counterfeit name from the confederats in france , to signifie here the plot and preparation that was there , whereupon i tooke vpon me to be a follower and meanes for the effecting thereof amongst the confederats in england , with the helpe of the spanish ambassador , knowing that he being a publique person might deale therein without perill , and that the duke of guise made speciall choice to land in sussex , about arundell , for the néere cut from fraunce , and for the assured persons to giue assistance , and i shewed the whole plot of the hauens for landing to the spanish ambassadour , who did incourage me therein : also there was sent ouer from the confederates beyond sea , into ●ussex , charles pager , vnder the name of mope , alias spring , and that the spanish ambassador was made priuie vnto his comming , and it was to view the hauens and countrey for landing such forreigne forces about arundell , and to conferre with certain principal persons for assistance , and he confessed that there was a deuice betwéene the spanish ambassador and him , how such principall recusants within the realme as were in commission for the peace in sundry countries , might vpon the bruit of landing the forreigne forces , vnder colour of defence of her maiestie , leuie m●n to ioyne vnto the forren forces ; whereupon he was iustly condemned . the earle of northumberland . hee had a hand in the rebellion in the north , as well as his brother , and behaued himselfe diligently in the managing of those treasons , yet the quéen was content to remit all , and accept him againe , both in honour and fauour , yet he after entred into a new plot for the inuading of the realme , and ouerthrow of the gouernment of religion , and to endanger her maiesties person , and put her from her kingdome , being a conspirator in throgmortons treasons : it was concluded by the pope that the state of christendome stood vpon the stoute assayling of england , and that it should be inuaded with twenty thousand men , at the charge of the pope and other princes , and that her maiestie should be deposed , and some english catholike elected king , and that many priests should come into the realme to win a number vnto the catholike faith to ioyne , if opportunity serued , either with forrain inuasion , or with tumults at home . the head preacher at narbon in prouence , told an english-man that england should be inuaded by a forrain king , and the popish religion restored , and that priests dispersed themselues in england for the better strengthening of the parties . one paine executed for treason , confessed that this realme could not continue in the state wherein it was , because the pope had a speciall care therof , and would in short time , eyther by forren princes , or by some other meanes , worke a change of things here . the duke of guise two yeares did solicite the pope and other princes , to supply him with forces to inuade this realme . there was found about a iesuite that was taken vpon the sea , a discourse that the earle of northumberland , and all the catholike lords and gentlemen in the north parts will assuredly ioyne with forren forces , and therein it is also affirmed that the priests , dispersed within the realme , can dispose of the catholikes of the realme , as they shall be ordered , and that the popes excommunication should be renued and pronounced against her maiesty , and all those which shall take her part , and that all such should be holden as traytors which did not ioyne with the army by a day . it was proued that the earle had conference with the foresaid charles pager , comming ouer about the practise and prosecuting of the said enterprise , and that the ●arle secretly receiued him into the gallery at petworth , where the earle conferred with him an houre , from whence paget was conueyed backe into the towne , where he lodged all night , and the next night he was conueyed secretly vnto a lodge in the ●arls park at pe●worth , where he was kept with all secrecie eight dayes , and the seruant which conueyed him was enioyned by the earle in no wise to discouer him , and charles paget returning from petworth , took shipping again to goe beyond sea. paget tolde william shelley of michelgroue in essex ▪ esquire , that forreigne princes would seeke reuenge against her maiestie , of wrongs by her done against them , and would take such opportunitie as might 〈◊〉 serue them , and that the duke of guise would be a dealer herein , and that the earle of northumberland would be an assistant vnto them , willing shelley whatsoeuer should happe● , to follow the earle of northumberland , and that the duke of guise had forces in readinesse for the altering of religion here in england , and that the catholikes would all ioyne for so good a purpose , for that it would be a meanes to reform religion : he said the stirre would be in the north parts ▪ because sussex was not conuenient in regard there was no safe landing there ▪ and that it was so 〈◊〉 lond●n , and that when any stirre should be the earle of northumberland would goe into the north parts , and when the earle perceiued that all this was come to light , he killed himselfe in the tower , with a pistoll charged with thrée bullets . anthony babington , with thirteene young gentlemen more . these conspired the death of quéene elizabeth : they swore they would set the pope in h●s former state in england , or else die the death , and they combined and confederated themselues by vow and oath , in a most horrible enterprise , by murther to take away the life of her maiesty , wherefore they were iustly condemned , and executed . the story of the spanish fleet , ann. . the said fléet was a preparing thrée or foure years , and being in full perfection came into our seas , with such mighty strength , as no nauy of england or christendom could abide their ●orce . and to make the intended conquest of this realme sure , to the same should also haue ioyned the mighty armie which the duke of parma had made ready in the low-countries , which army should land in this realme , and so both by sea & land this realme should be inuaded , and a speedy conquest made thereof , whereupon it was gathered that neither by sea nor by land there could be much resistance made , & that there would be a strong party in this realme of papists to ioine with the forrein forces ; but within eight or nine daies of the appearance of the popish so great a nauie vpon the coast of england , it was forced to flée from the coast of flanders neer callice , towards the vnknown parts of the cold north , and all their hope of an imagined conquest was quite ouerthrowne . it could procéed of no reason of man , nor of any earthl● power , but onely of god , that such a worke , so long time a framing , to be so suddenly ouerthrown . before this army of spaine was ready to come forth vnto the seas , there were sundry things printed , and sent into this realme , to not●fie vnto the people that the realme should be conquered , the quéene destroyed , and all the noble men & wealthy that did obey her , & would withstand the inuasion , should be with all their families ●ooted out , and their liuings bestowed vpon the conque●ors , and a new bull was published at rome by the pope , whereby the quéen was accursed , and pronounced to be depriued of her crowne , and the inuasion and conquest of the realme committed by the pope , to the king catholick , which was the king of spaine , to execute the sam with his armies , both by sea and land , and to take the crowne vnto himselfe , and there was a large explanation of this b●ll , written by cardinall allen , calling himselfe therein the cardinall of england , and a number of them were sent ouer ready printed into england , most bitterly written against the queene , and her father king henry the eight , and her nobi●itie and councell . in the fleet were aboundance of princes , marquesses , condez , and do●s , which came to haue possessed the roomes of all the noble men in england , and scotland . don brnardin mendoza , in an open assembly did say in a brauerie , that the young king of scots , whom hee called a boy , had deceived the king of spaine : but if the kings nauy might prosper against england : the king of scots should loose his crowne , when the brute was brought of the spanish fléet , and of the armie of the sea coast of flanders , with their shippings . charles lord howard , lord high admirall of england , who is of the most noble house of the duke of norffolke , had the charge of the greatest company of the quéenes ships : an other company were appointed to remaine with the lord henry seymer , second sonne to the duke of somerset , and brother to the earle of hertford : these continued in the narrow seas betwixt england and flanders , to attend the duke of parmas actions . a third company were armed in the west part of england towards spain , vnder the conduct of sir francis drake , but after it was vnderstood , that the great nauy of spaine was ready to come out of li●b●ne , my lord admirall was commaunded to saile with the greatest ships to the west parts of england to ioyn with drake , whom he made uice-admirall , and the lord thomas howard , second son vnto the duke of norffolke , and the lord sheffield , with a great number of knights , went with the lord admirall . when the popish army came vnto the coasts of england , it séemed so great , that the englishmen were astonied at the sight of them ; yet the lord admiral and drake hauing but fifty of the english ships out of the hauen of plimouth , they ●uriously pursued the whole nauy of spaine , being about . ships : so that with the continuall shot of the english one whole day , the whole nauy fled without returning : and after the english nauy being increased to an hundred ships , renued the fight with terrible great shot all the whole day , gaining alwaies the winde of the spanish nauy , and for nine daies together forced them to flye , and destroyed , su●ke , and tooke in thrée daies fight , diuers of the greatest shippes , out of which great numbers were brought to london , besides many that were killed and drowned , and many were brought vnto other parts of the realme ▪ to the great dissh●nour of spaine : in which fight the spaniards did neuer take nor sinke any english ship or boate , or breake any mast , or tooke any one man prisoner , so that some of the spaniards let not to say , that in all these ●ghts christ shewed himselfe a lutheran . the king of scots gaue straight commaundement vpon all his sea coasts that no spaniards should be sufferd to land in any part , b●t that the english might be relieued of any wants . the popish fleet was by tempest driuen beyond the is●es of ork●ay , in an vnaccustomed place , for the young gentlemen of spain , which had neuer felt storms and colde weather : about those northerne islands their marriners and souldiers died daily by multitudes , as by their bodies cast vpon the land , did appeare . and after twentie daies and more , hauing spent their time in miserie , then as they returned homeward the lord ordained the windes to be so violently contrarious , that the nauy was disse●ered vpon the high seas , west vpon ireland , and a great number of them driuen vpon sands , dangerous bayes , and rockes , all along vpon the north and west parts of ireland , in places distant aboue an hundred miles asunder : whereby we may see how god fauoured the iust cause of q. elizabeth , in shewing his anger against those proud boasting enemies of christs peace , and she and her realme professing the gospell of christ , are kept and de●ended : according to the psalme , vnder the shadow of his wings from the face of the wicked that sought to afflict her , and compasse her round about to take away her soule . iohn weldon , william hartley , and robert sutton . iohn weldon priest , was borne at tollerton in yorkshire : he was indicted of ●reason in middlesex ; first he took exception to the indictment that it was false , then to the iurie , that they were vnfit men to try him , because they were lay men , and vnto the whole bench as vnworthy to bee his iudges , because hee did know them to be resolued before hand to condemne all catholikes brought before them : he acknowledged himselfe to bee a priest , and therefore not triable by the common lawes . whereupon persisting in that hee would make no answere , and his treasons manifest , he was condemned to be hanged , drawne and quartered . william hartly priest was condemned for the same treasons that welden was : it was proued that he sent a letter to paris to seminary priests , importing the full resolution of the said hartly and some other of his confederats ( immediatly vppon the landing of the spaniards ) to haue surprised the tower of london , and to haue fired the citie : he affirmed , that if the pope doe depriue the quéene and discharge her subiects of their obedience , and send an armie to restore the roman religion in england , he would pray that the roman armie might preuaile in that case , and in that faith he would spend ten thousand millions of liues , if hee had them , whereupon hee was likewise condemned to bee hanged , drawne and quartered . robert sutton priest was indited for the same treasons : he said the quéen was supreme gouernour within her highnesse dominions , ouer all persons , but not ouer all causes : he was found guiltie ▪ and had his iudgement as the rest . it was proued that welden was sent ouer into the low-countries to kill the earle of leicester , who apprehended him , and sent him ouer into england ; to which he answered he had done nothing but as a catholike priest ought to doe by the direction of our most holy father the pope , being the head of the church , who onely hath authority ouer all persons , and in all causes ecclesiasticall , and in this roman religion . i will die . then he prayed all catholikes to pray for him , and so mumbling certaine latin prayers , he died . the other likewise died as obstinate traytors as himselfe . doctor lopez , stephano de ferrera de gama , manuell lewis tyuaco portugalls . doctor lopez was fauourably receiued into the quéens house a long time , as one of her physitians , the other two were portugalls lately receiued to the seruice of the king of spain , yet colourably resorting into this realme . lopez confessed that hee was of late yeares allured secretly to doe seruice vnto the king of spaine , and from one of his priuie councell he receiued a iewell of gold of good value , garnished with a large diamond and a large rubie , and afterward he assented to take away the qu●●ns life by poysoning , vpon reward promised him of fifty thousand crownes , for which purpose hee sent a messenger ouer to callice to confer with the count ●uents for this practise , and that after he sent an other messenger vnto ibarra , the king of spaines secretary , and to the said count fuentes , promising to poison the queene , if ●hee might haue the fifty thousand crownes that were offered deliuered vnto him : and he confessed the other two were his messengers : in the aforesaid messages , and conspired with him to execute the same : and they all confessed , that the stay that it was not done , proceeded much against their mindes , for want of the deliuerie of the said fifty thousand crownes , which was promised by a day : but the king of spaine finding fault that the messenger , which should carry the money , was too base a fellow to be trusted w●●h so much deferred the sending thereof : but after billes of exchange were deliuered by the count fuentes , for the money , by the direction of the king of spaine , at the very instant when it should haue been done , it pleased god of his goodnesse towards her maiestie , to suffer this conspiracie to be very happily di●couered by the diligence of one of the lords of her maiesties priuy councell : so all the thrée offenders were taken with their letters and writings , expressing their owne actions and councels , and the directions of the king of spaines councellors , and the other two confessed the like in effect , as lopez had done : wherevpon they were all three condemned for treason , and executed accordingly . manuel lewis , repented at his death , and prayed god that all those things that are atchieued by the king of spa●ne , against the quéenes maiestie , might take none effect , and that all the treasons which are wrought may bee discouered , & that god would prolong the life of the quéenes maiestie , as shee deserueth , and her faithfull subiects desire . edmund yorke , and richard williams . not long after lopez his treason , another like conspiracie was concluded at bruxells to murder the queene , whereof stephano ibarra , the king of spaines secretary ▪ procuring the s●me to bee done by the said yorke and williams , and others : and hugh owen an english rebell : a spanish pentioner , deliuered vnto the said yorke an assignation in writing , subscribed by the said secretarie ibarra his hand , for assurance of payment of forty thousand crownes to bee giuen vnto him from the king of spaine , if hee would kill the queene : or if hee would assist richard williams , or any other that should haue performed the same ; and the assignation was deliuered vnto holt a iesuit , an old english rebell , who produced the sacrament and kissed i● , and sware in the presence of yorke and other rebels , that he would surely pay the same money vnto him as soone as the fact should be committed : and vpon this matter were three seuerall consultations of englishmen , being rebels and fugitiues , and pentioners of the king of spaine . the names of the principall parties of the consultations , are , william stanley , the said holt a iesuit , thomas throgmorton , the said hugh owen , doctor gifford , doctor worthington , charls paget , one tipping , edward garret , and michaell moody , but b● gods good prouidence , the said yorke and williams were taken comming into england , and confessed the whole matter as aforesaid . holt said to yorke , many englishmen haue failed to perform this enterprise , but if it should not be performed by you , he would after imploy strangers in it . patricke cullen an irishman he was likewise a pentioner of the king of spaine , and a fencer : he was perswaded by william stanley , and one iaques who was his lieutenant , and one shirwood and the said holt to come secretly into england , and to kill her maiestie , and he assented thereunto , and had thirty pound of stanley & iaques towards his iourney , with offer of great reward ; and comming into england , he was taken , and by good proofes charged there with , he confessed the same in the manner as is before here expressed . richard hesketh . hee was a gentleman of lancashire , well acquainted with the lord strange ? he was sent into england by cardinall allen , william stanley , and thomas worthington to intice ferdinand , the lord strange , sonne and heire to the earle of darby , to take vpon himselfe the title to be heire vnto the crowne of england , and to shew him the opinion of the cardinall and many others , that he should take vppon him the title of king , with assurance of treasure and forreine forces , to maintaine the same , which the said hesketh did very diligently performe , with many reasons , as he was instructed , but the lord strange being at heskeths comming newly earle of darbie , by the death of his ▪ father , was so wise and dutifull , that he stayed hesketh , who vpon the earles report was apprehended , and confessed the whole matter , wheupon he was condemned , and shewed great repentance , and cursed his instructors , and was executed . sqvire . this uiper squire was likewise sent by the inticement of the aforesaid serpentine generation , beyond sea , to kill her maiestie : his plot was to so poyson the pummell of her saddle , that if she did lay her hand vpon it , her whole bodie should be therewith poysoned , but by the sure prouidence of god , which euer did preserue her , and ●oreshew vnto her ▪ all her dangers , to the preuention of them , this practise came to light before it was executed , and the said squire had the same most iust reward of his foresaid treason , as his predecessors in like plots had . the earle of essex conspiracie . lastly , i will conclude with the conspiracie of the late earle of essex : for although it is not to be doubted but that his heart , with many of his followers , was vpright vnto the quéene , yet notwithstanding hee had many papists in the plot with him , whose hearts he knew not , and by whom , if his practise had tooke effect , the queene should haue beene in as great trouble and danger as euer she was in her life ; but the lord of his accustomable wonderfull mercie , deliuered her maiestie from this danger likewise , who both by his holy spirit of comfort preserued her mind , still ioyfull without feare of her enemies , and also her royall person and her realme , by the safe custodie of his holy angels , from all wicked practises and treasons whatsoeuer , vntill her olde age , and vntill he at his time appointed called her maiestie vnto himselfe , out of her bedde in peace , from a blessed kingdome , wherin she had long raigned in great glory in this world , to raigne with his sonne iesus christ in the kingdome of vnspeakeable and eternall ioy and glorie in the world to come . by this storie of queen elizabeth , the papists that haue any eie-sight of true vnderstanding , may see by what wicked meanes the pope and their catholik church hath alwaies gotten and maintained their most vnlawfull supremacie ouer kings . and although they haue wonderfully preuailed against all superstitious emperours and kings , by such like excommunications ▪ warres , murthers , and treasons as he vsed against queene elizabeth , yet as god preserued her heart purely to s●icke to his sincere word , and to despise all the popes errors , superstitions , and trash , so god mercifully preserued her and her kingdome from all the popes treacherous practises foure and fortie yeares , fiue moneths , and odde dayes , with such glorie and peace as neuer christian king had more : her manifest protections of god were as apparant and as manifest as dauids ; and as he and salomon builded a most glorious materiall temple in despite of their enemies , most gloriously did she build vp the spirituall temple and spouse of christ , in despite of the papists and the pope , and all kings that tooke their part : her outward glorie and honour was ●quall w●th salomons , and she o●●matched him in that : neither her glorie in this world , nor any other means could withdraw her from her true zeale in setting for●h the pure word of god ; wherefore all honour and glorie be giuen vnto god by this realme of england and all his church world without end . amen . ovr most gratiovs king iame● . when the papists triumphing that their long ●xpected houre was come by gods taking away th● most blessed quéen● elizabeth , yet the lord of his great mercie brought their ioy to nought , by p●anting our deare soueraigne , iames , by his especiall grace , to succeede queene elizabeth in these realmes , one that is as zealous of the word of god as she , and one whom the lord hath beene as prouident ouer in all his wayes , as ouer her , and indued with the like ioy in the holy-ghost , in the assurance of gods prouidence in time of danger , wherefore no doubt but as the lord hath , so he will couer him and his realmes with the sh●dow of his wings from all papisticall treacheries , euen as he did queene elizabeth . this is worthie to be recorded vnto the perpetuall honour of his maiestie , that hee being h●ire apparant vnto qu●ene elizabeth , could neuer be inticed by any prince or papist , to oppose himselfe against her . when the rising was in the north , and the rebels were ●led into scotland , he tooke the quéens part , though it were to the great ruine of much of his kingdome : he made a proclamation in anno . that none of the ●pan●sh fléet should land vpon his coasts , but that the english should be relieued of any thing they néeded , and in the yeare . hee executed as traytors in scotland , diuers for conspiring with the king of spaine against england ▪ and before the comming out of the spanish fléet don barnardin mendoza in an open assembly did say in a 〈◊〉 that the young king of scots , whom hee called a boy , had deceiued the king of spaine , but if the kings nauie might prosper against england , the king of scots should lose his crowne , whereby it manifestly appeareth how true and faithfull his maiestie was ●u●r vnto the late quéene of famous memorie . touching gods wonderfull preseruations ouer his royall person ; who hath safely preserued him a king almost this eight and fortie yeares , in despite of all his enemies , forreigne and domesticall , and no doubt but he● had many , ye● it doth most manifestly appeare in some great and vnheard of dangers , out of which the lord hath most miraculously deliuered him , as from gowries treason and the gun-powder treason , and others . gowries conspiracie against his maiestie the fift of august , being tuesday anno dom. . ma●● . alexander ruthwen , second brother vnto the late earle gowrie , came to his maiestie as he was a hunting , and told him that it chaunced the night before , as he walked about the towne of s. iohnstone , hee met a base fellow vnknowne vnto him , and hauing suspition of him he narrowly looked to him , and examined him , and he said he found a great wide pot to be vnder his arme , full of coined gold in great quantity , whereupon he took him , no body knowing thereof , and bound him in a priuie darke house , and locked many doores vpon him , and said that he came in haste to aduertise his maiesty thereof according to his bounden duety , earnestly requesting his maiestie with all diligence and ●ecrecie to take order therwith before any know thereof , swearing that he had concealed it from all men , yea , from the earle his brother ; whereupon the king suspected that it had béene some forreigne golde , brought thither by some iesuits for practising papists to stirre vp some new sedition , as they had often 〈◊〉 before , and that the fellow that carried it was some seminary , so disguised for the more sure transporting thereof : and with many earnest perswasions he got the kings maiesty as soone as he had done hunting , to ride with him to the earle gowr●es house to dinner , with a very small number with him , and after dinner his maiesty being ready to rise from the table , and all his seruants in the hall at their dinner , m. alexander standing behinde his maiesties backe , pulled him softly , rounding in his maiesties eare , that it was time to goe , but that he would fain● haue been quit of the earle his brother , wishing the k. to send him out into the hall , to entertain his guests , whereupon the k. called for drink , and in a m●rrie and homely manner sayd to the ●arle , that although the earle had séene the fashion of entertainment in other countreyes , yet he would teach him the scottish fashion , séeing he was a scottish man : and therefore since he had forgotten to drink to his maiesty , or sit with his guests , and entertayne them , his maiesty would drink to him his own welcom , desiring him to take it forth and drink to the rest of the company , and in his maiesties name to make them welcome . whereupon as he went forth his maiesty rose from the table , and desired m. alexander to bring sir thomas erskine with him : who desiring the k. to goe forward with him , and promising that he should make any one or two follow him that he pleased to call for , desiring his maiesty to commaund publikely that none should follow him . thus the k. accompanied only with the said m. alexander , comes forth of the chamber , passe●h through the end of the hall , where the noblemen and his maiesties seruants were sitting at their dinner , vp a turnepeck , and through three or foure chambers , the sayd master alexander euer locking behinde him euery doore as he passed : and then with a more smiling countenance than hee had all the day before , euer saying he had him sure and safe en●ugh kept , vntill at the last , his maiesty passi●g thorow three or foure sundry houses , and all the doores locked behinde him , his maiesty entred into a little studie , where he saw standing with a very abased countenance , not a bond-man but a free man , with a dagger at his girdle : but his maiesty had no sooner entred into that little study , and master alexander with him , but master alexander locked to the study doore behinde him , and at that instant changing his countenance , putting his hat on his head , and drawing the dagger from that other mans gird●e , held the point of it to the kings breast , auowing now that the king be hoou●d to be in his will ▪ and vsed as hee list : swearing many bloody oths , that if the king cryed one word , or opened a window to look out , that the dagger should presently go to his heart : affirming , that he was sure , that now the kings conscience was burthened for murthering his father . his maie●●y wondring at so sodaine an alteration , & standing naked , without any kinde of armour but his hunting horne , which he had not g●●ten leysure to lay from him , betwixt these two traytors which had conspired his life : the said maister alexander standing ( as is said ) with a dagger in his hand , and his sword at his side , but the other trembling and quaking , rather like ●ne condemned , than an executioner of s●ch an enterprise . his maiesty begun then to ●ilate to the said m. alexander , how horrible a thing it was for him to meddle with his maiesties innocent blood , assuring him it would not be left vnreuenged , since god had giuen him children and good subiects , and if they neither , yet god would raise vp stocks and st●nes to punish so vile a deed . protesting before god , that he had no burthen in his conscience , for the execution of his father , both in respect that at ●he ti●e of his fathers execution , his maiesty was but a minor of age , and guided at that time by a faction , which ouer-ruled both his maiesty and the rest of the countrey , as also that whatsoeuer was done to his fath●r it was done by the ordinary course of law and iustice . appealing the saide master alexander vpon his conscience , how w●ll hee all times since had deserued at the hands of all his race , not onely hauing restored them to their lands and dignities , but also in now ishi●g and bringing vp of two or three of his sisters , as it were in his own bos●me , by a continuall attendance vpon his maiesties dearest bed-fellow in h●r ●riuie chamber . laying also before him the terrors of his conscience , especially that he made profession , according to his education , of the same religion which his maiesty had euer professed ; and namely his maiesty r●membred him of that holy man mast. robert rollocke , whose scholler he was , assuring him that one day the said master roberts soule would accuse him , that he had neuer learned of him to practise such vnnatural cruelty : his maiesty promising to him , on the word of a prince , that if hee would spare his life , an● suffer him to go out againe , he would neuer reueale to any one liuing what was betwixt them at that t●me , nor neuer suffer him to in●ur any harm or punishment for the same . but his maiesties feare was , that he could hope ●or no sparing at his hands , hauing such cruelty in his looks , and standing so irreuerently couered , with his ●at on : which forme of rigorous behauiour , could prognosticate nothing to his maiesty but present extremity . but at his maiesties perswasiue language , he appeared to be somewhat amazed , and vncouering his head againe ▪ swore and protested that his maiesties life should be safe , if he would behaue himselfe quietly , without making any noyse : and that he would only bring in the earl his brother to speak with his maiesty : whereupon his maiesty enquiring what the earle would doe with him , since ( if his maiesties life were safe according to promise ) they could gaine little in kéeping such a prisoner . his answere onely was , that he could tell his maiesty no more , but that his life should be safe , in case he behaued himselfe quietly , the rest , the earle his brother , whom he was going for , would tell his maiesty at his comming . with that , as he was going forth for hi● brother , as he affirmed , he turned him about to the other man ; saying these words vnto him , i make you here the kinges kéeper , tul i come backe againe , and see that you keepe him , vpon your owne perill : and therewithall said to his maiesty , you must content your selfe to haue this man now your keeper , vntill my comming backe . with these words he passeth forth ▪ locking the doore after him , leauing his maiesty with that man he found there before . of whom his maiesty then enquired , if he were appointed to be the murtherer of him at that time , and how farre he was vpon the ●o●nsel of that conspiracy , whose answer with a trembling and astonished voice and behauiour , was , that as the lord should ●●dge him , he was neuer made acquainted with that purpose , but that he was put in there perforce , & the doore lockt vpon him , a little space before his maiesties comming : as indeed all the time of the said m. alexanders menacing his maiestie , he was euer trembling , requesting him for gods sake , and with many other attestations , not to meddle with his maiesty , nor to doe him any harme . but because m. alexander had before his going forth , made the king sweare he should not cry , nor open any window , his maiesty commanded the said fellow to open the window on his right hand , which he readily did , so that although he was put in there to vse violence on the king , yet god so turned his hart , as he became a slaue to his prisoner . while his maiesty was in this dangerous estate , & none of his owne seruants nor ●raine knowing where he was , & as his maiesties train was arising in the hal from their dinner , the earl of gowry being present with them , one of the e. of gowries seruants comes hastily in , assuring the earle his maister , that his maiesty was horsed , & away through the insh , which the earle reporting to the noble men , and the rest of his maiesties traine that was there present , they all rushed out together at the gate in great hast : and some of his maiesties seruants enquiring of the porter when his maiesty went forth ? the porter affirmed , that the king was not yet gone forth ? wherevpon ●he earle looked very angerly vpon him , and said he was but a lyar : yet turning him to the duke , & to the earle of mar , said he should presently get them sure word where his maiesty was , and with that , ran through the close , and vp the staires . but his purpose indéed was , to speake with his brother , as appeared very well by the circumstance of time , his brother hauing at that same instant left the king in the little study , & ran downe the staires in great haste . immediatly after , the earle commeth back , ●unning againe to the gate , where the noblem●n and the rest , were standing in a maze , assuring them that the king was gone long since out at the back gate , and if they hasted them not the sooner , they would not ouertake him , and with that called for his horse , whereat they rusht all together out at the gate , and made toward the inshe , crying all for their horses : passing all ( as it was the prouidence of god ) vnder one of the windows of that study , wherein his maiesty was . to whom m. alexander very speedily returned , and at his in comming to his maiesty , casting his hands abroad in a desperate manner , said , he could not mend it , his maiestie behooued to die : and with that , offered a garter to bind his maiesties hands , with swearing , hee behooued to bee bound . his maiesty at that word of binding , said , he was borne a frée king , and should die a frée king. wherevpon he griping his maiesty by the wrest of the hand , to haue bound him , his maiesty releeued himself sodainly of his gripes : wherevpon as he put his right hand to his sword , his maiesty with his right hand seazed vpon both his hand and his sword , and with his left hand clasped him by the throat , like as he with the left hand claspt the king by the throat , with two or three of his fingers in his maiesties mo●th , to haue stayed him from crying . in this manner of wrestling his maiestie perforce drew him to the window , which he had caused the other man before to open vnto him , and vnder the which was passing by at the same time the kings traine , and the earle of gowry with them , as is said , and holding out the right side of his head and right elbow , cryed , that they were murthering him there in that treasonable forme : whose voice being instantly heard and knowne by the duke of lennox , the earl of mar , and the rest of his maiesties traine there : the said earle at gowry euer asking what it meant ? and neuer seeming any wayes to haue seene his maiesty , or heard his voice , they all rushed in at the gate together , the duke and the earl of marre running about to come to that passage his maiesty came in at . but the earle of gowry and his seruants made them for another way vp a quiet turnepeck , which was ●uer condemned before , and was onely then left open , ( as appeared ) for that purpose . and in this meane time , his maiesty , withstrugling and wrastling with the said m. alexander , had brought him perforce out of that study , the doore wherof , for hast , he had left open at his last in-comming , and his maiesty hauing gotten , ( with long strugling ) the said ▪ m. alexanders head vnder his arme , and himselfe on his knees , his master dro●e him back perforce hard to the doore of the some turne-pike , & as his maiesty was throwing his sword out of his hand , thinking to haue striken him therewith , and then to haue shot him ouer the stairs , the other fellow standing behind the kings back , & doing nothing but trembling all the time , sir io : ramsey , not knowing what way first to enter , after he had heard the kings cry , by chance findes that turn-peck doore open , & following it vp to the head , enters in into the chamber , & finds his maiesty and m. alexander strugling in that forme , as is before said : and after he had twise or thrise stricken m. alexander with his dagger , the other man withdrew himselfe , his maiesty still kéeping his gripes , & holding him close to him : immediatly thereafter he tooke the said m. alexander by the sholders , and shut him down the staire : who was no sooner shut out at the doore , but hee was met by sir thomas erskine and sir hew hereis , who there vpon the staire ended him : the said sir ●ho : erskine being cast behind the duke & the earl of mar that ran about the other way , by the occasion of his medling with the said late earle in the stréet , after the hearing of his maiesties , cry . for vpon the hearing therof ▪ he had clasped y ● earle of gowry by the gorget , & casting him vnder his féet , and wanting a dagger to haue striken him with , the said earles men rid the earle their maister out of h●s hands : wherby he was cast behind the rest , as is said : and missing the company , & hearing the said sir iohn ramseys voice vpon the turn-peck head , ran vp to the said chamber , & cryed vpon the said sir hew hereis & another seruant to follow him : where , méeting with the said m. alexander in the turn-peck , he ended him there , as is said the said m. alexander crying for his last words , alas i had not the weight of it . but no sooner could the said sir thomas , sir hew , and another seruant win into the chamber where his maiestie was , but that the said earl of gowry , before they could get the doore shut , followed them in at the back , hauing cast him directly to come vp that priuy passage , as is before said : who at his first entry , hauing a drawn sword in eue●y hand , and a stéele bonet on his head , accom●anied with seuen of his seruants , euery one of them hauing in like manner a drawne sword , cryed out with a great oath , that they should al die as traitors . all the which time his maiesty was still in his chamber , who séeing the earle of gowry come in with his swords in his hands , sought for m. alexanders sword which had fallen from him at his out shutting at the doore , hauing no sort of weapons of his own , as it is said ● but then was ●hut back by his own seruants that were there , into 〈◊〉 little study , and the doore shut vpon him : who hauing put his maiesty in safe●y , re-encountred the said earle and his seruants , his maiesties seruants being only in number ●●ure , to wit , sir hugh hereis , and sir iohn ramsey , & one wilson , a seruant of iames erskins , a brother of the said sir thomas , the said e. hauing . of his own seruants with him : yet it pleased god , after many strokes on all hands , to giue his maiesties seruants the victory , the said e. of gowry being striken dead with a stroke through y ● hart , which the said sir io : ramsey gaue him , without once crying vpō god , & the rest of his seruants dung ouer the staires with many hurts , as ●n like maner y ● said sir tho : erskin , 〈◊〉 hugh hereis , & sir iohn ramsey , were all thr●● very sore hurt and wou●ded . but al the time of this ●ight , the d. of l●nnox , the earl of mar , & the rest of his maie●ties traine , ●ere striking with great hammer● at the vtter doore , wh●rby his maiesty pa●●t vp to the chamber with the said m. alexander which also he had lockt in his by-comming with his maiesty to the chamber : but by reason of the strength of the said double doore , ●he whole wall being likewise of boords , and yéelding with the strokes● it did bide the● 〈◊〉 space of half an houre & more , before they could break it ● hau● entre●●e : who 〈…〉 with his maiesty , found ( beyond their expectation ) his maiesty deliuered from so imminent a perill , & the said late earle the principall conspirator lying dead at his maiesties ●éet . immediatly thereafter his maiesty knéeling down on his knées , in the middest of his own seruants , & they all kneeling round about him : his maiesty out of his own mouth thanked god of that miraculous deliuerance and victory , assuring himselfe , that god hath preserued him from so dispai●ed a peril , for the perfecting of some greater work behind , to his glory , and for procuring by him the weale of his people , y ● god had committed to his charge . in the first beginning of the kings maiesties raign ouer england , william watson , & william clarke seminary priests , and george brooke , brother vnto the lo : cobham , had most traiterously deuised a plot , whereby the kings person should haue b●en surprised , and the whole kingdome ouerthrowne , and they had entised to the imbracing their trayterous machinations : anthony copley gentleman : sir griffin markam knight , the lord cobham , ▪ the lord gray . sir walter rawleigh , and others : but before they had brought their conspiracies vnto ●ffect : the lord of his accust●med goodnes , and carefulnes ouer his maiestie made all their conspiracies apparant vnto the king and his councell , and about the middest of iuly , in the first yeare of his highnes raigne , proclamations were made out for the apprehension of them , whereby they were taken , and in nou●mber after they were all condemned of high treason : and the nine and twenty day of nouember , the two priests were executed : and sir dayes after george brooke was ●eheaded , and the ninth of december sir griffin markam , and the lord cobham , and the lord gray , after they had been seuerally brought vpon the scaffold , in the castle of winchester , and had made their confessions , and prepared themselues likewise seuerally to die , vpon the sudden , the kings warrant written with his own hand , was there deliuered vnto sir beniamin tichborne , high sheriffe of hampshire , commanding him to stay execution : these three and sir water rawleigh , were returned pri●oners vnto the tower , the fifteenth of december . the gunpowder treason . thomas pearcy , robert catesby , thomas winter & others in the last yeare of the raigne of q. elizabeth , by the in●●igation of certaine iesuites , practised with th● king of spain , to send a well ●urnished army vpon england , promising him great ayde to entertaine them at their arriuall at milford hauen , and to that purpose the king promised to 〈◊〉 them fif●y thousand pound for leuying of horse and foote , and preparation of munition in england to second them : but whilst this was in a manner concluded , q. elizabeth dyed , & the king of spaine vpon certaine knowledge that k. iames was established , dispatch●d his ambassadors and commissioners for england , ●or co●firmation of a lasting peace between them , yet neuerthelesse the said rob. catesby sent tho : winter againe to the king of spaine to resolicite their former proiect , but the king answered him , your old quéens is dead with whom i had wars , and you haue a new king with whom i haue euer bin in good peace and amity , and for continuance thereof , i haue sent my speciall commissioners , and vntill i sée what will become thereof , i will not hearken vnto any other course whatsoeuer . when winter returned , and made this knowne vnto catesby , pearcy and the rest , then they began to cast about what they might doe of themselues to aduance the romance catholick religion , but first they would see the euent of the first parliament , if that would mittigate any former lawes , and try what good the conclusion of peace with spaine would doe vnto them before they attempted any further : but when they perceiued that neither parliament , nor publike peace sorted in any part to their desire , and that the peace concluded was rather a more ready meanes for the law to procéed against them then otherwise , because the peace concerned onely the amitie of christian princes , for the generall good of christendome , without any particular or priuat respect : then catesby told the rest , he had a deuice in his head that should free them , and the rest of the english catholiques from their oppressions , and when he had found out ●it ministers for execution of his deuice , after they had taken oath and sacrament for secresie , hee told them hee had deuised the meane to vndermine and blow vp the parliament house , at the instant when the king , queene , prince , peeres , and commons were all assembled , which proiect they presently embraced , and forthwith pearcy hired certaine lodgings close to the parliament house : and then they appointed miners , who with great difficultie digged and vndermined a part of the wall , but after a while they vnderstood that the ua●t right vnder the parliament house was to bee let to hyre , then guydo fawkes went and hyred it : this fawkes was late a souldiour in flanders , and for this purpose was sent for , who by consent of the rest changed his nam● , and was called iohn iohnson maister pearcies man : after they had hyred the uaut ▪ the● secretly conuayed into it thirty and sir barrels of powder , and couered them all ouer with billets and faggots . ●bout ten daies before the parliam●nt should begin , an vnknowne party in the euening met a seruant of the lord mounteagles in the stre●t , and deliuered him a letter , charging him speedily to giue it vnto his lord , which he did : when his lord had read it , and obserued the dangerous c●ntents , with a speciall caueat , not to appeare the first day of parliament , he was amazed , and forthwith deliuered it to the earle of salisbury the kings principall secretary ▪ a chiefe counselor of estate : when the earle had iudiciously obserued the strange phrase and tenor thereof , with the terrible threats therein against the whole state , he acquainted the lord chamberlain therewith , and then they c●nioined vnto them the lord admirall , the earles of worcester and northampton , who instantly consulted what was fittest to be done , omitting neither time , diligence or industry , all which no●withstanding , they could not as yet finde out the depth of this mysterie , and were therefore much troubled in minde , b●cause the appointed day of parliament drew neare , which was tuesday the . of nouember : vpon the saturday before , the king being returned from hunting , the said lords acquainted his highnesse with what had past , and when his maiesty had well noted the strange contents of the letter , which purported the sodaine ruine of the state , the king said notwithstanding the small respect and slight regard which might bee giuen to libels scattered abroad yet th●s was more quicke and pithy then was vsuall in libels , and willed them to search in all places , as well not dayly frequented , as of vsuall repayre ▪ and concerning any forraine disturbance or inuasion , hee well kn●w the present force and preparation of all christian princes , and that whatsoeuer practise of trea●on was now in hand , it must be per●ormed in some vnsuspected place , and by some hom●-bred traytors : therevpon new search was made in all places about the court and the parliament house , but could not as yet finde any thing worthy their labours : all which ●earch●s were performed with such silence and discretion , as there rose no manner of suspition , eyther in court or city ▪ the lord chamberlaine , whose office it most concerned , neuer rested day nor night , and the night before the parliament , as sir thomas kneuet with others scowted about the parliament house , espied a fellow standing in a corner very suspitiou●ly , and asked him his name , what hee was , and what he did there so late , who answered very bluntly hi● name was iohn iohnson master pearcies man and keeper of his lodg●ings . sir ●homas kneuet continued still his search in all places thereabouts , and returning thither againe ▪ found him lingring there still , searched him , and found vnder his cloke a close lanthorne , and a burning candle in it : and about him other signes of suspition , that hee stood not there for any good : then the knight entered the ua●● , where they found the powder couered with billets and fagots as afore-said , and then the lord chamberlaine caused the traytor to be bound , and being now about three a clocke in the morning ●ee went vnto the king , and with exceeding gladnesse told his maiestie the treason was discouered and preuented , and the traytor in hold , the king desired to see fawkes , who when hee came before the king vs●d like trayterous and audacious speeches , as hee did at his first apprehension , affirming himselfe was the onely man to performe the treason , saying , it sore vexed him that the deed was not done , and for that time would not confesse any thing touching the rest of the conspirators , but that himselfe onely and alone was the contriuer and practiser of this treason . betweene fiue and six a clocke in the morning the councell gaue order to the lord mayor of london to looke to the city , and in very calme manner to set ciuill watch at the citie gates , signifying therewithall that there was a plot of treason discouered , and that the king would not goe to parliament that day : and the same day in th● afternoone , the manner of the treason was by proclamation made known vnto the people , for ioy wherof , there was that night as many bonsires in and about london as the stréetes could permit , and the people gaue humble and hearty thankes vnto almighty god for their king & countries right blessed escape . within thrée dayes after two other proclamations were made , signifying vnto the people who were the chiefe conspirators , with commandement to apprehend pearcy and catesby , & to take them aliue if it were possible , which said pearcy and catsby were gone to holbach in warwickshire to méet winter ▪ gaunt , and others : where vnder pretence of a great hunting ▪ they meant to raise the country , and surprise the lady elizabeth from the l. harington , whom they meant to proclaime queens , and in whose name they meant to enter into armes , being perswaded that the king , the prince , and duke of yorke were by that time blowne vp in the parliament house : but when they knew their treason was known and preuented , and saw the kings forces round about the house , so as they could not escape , pearcy and catesby very desperately issued forth , and fighting back to back were both slain with one musket shot . saturday the ninth of nouember the king went to parliament , where in the presence of the queene , the prince , the duke of yorke , the ambassadors of the king of spaine , and the arch-duke , and all the lords spirituall and temporall , and commons of the same , hee made a very solemne oration , manifesting the whole complot of this treason . the . of ianuary at westminster were arraigned , thomas winter , guydo fawkes , robert keyes and thomas bates for plotting to blow vp the parliament house , digging in the mine , taking oath and sacrament for secresie , &c. and robert winter , iohn graunt , ambrose rookewood , for being acquainted with the treason afterward , giuing their full consent thereunto , and taking oath and sacrament for secresie , and sir euer●●d digby for being made acquainted with the said treason , yeelding assent , and taking his corporall oath for secresie : all which inditements were prooued against them , and by themselues confessed , and therevpon had iudgement giuen them to bee drawne , hanged and quartered , their limbes to bee set vpon the citie gates , and their heads vpon the bridge : according to which sentence the thirtieth of ianuary , sir euerard digby , robert winter , iohn graunt and bates were executed at the west end of paules church , and the next day after the other foure were executed in the parliament yard , six of the eight , acknowledged their guiltinesse in this horrible treason , and dyed very penitently , but graunt and keyes did not so . out of these and many other destructions , the lord of his aboundant mercie hath deliuered his most faithfull seruant , and our dread soueraigne king iames : and still will preserue him according to his promise , so long as he putteth his trust in him : and it is not to be doubted , but god hauing giuen him the spirit of confidence in him , and also fortified and builded vp this his hope and trust by the experience of ennumerable preseruations of his person and stat●e and such ones as could be attributed to no meanes , but onely to gods handy workes : nay , i will conclude by the warrant of gods word , that it is impossible for the diuell by any temptation in the world to steale this heauenly treasure out of his royall heart , no more then he could steale it out of iob his heart : for although from them that haue not the true grace of god , that which they haue shall be taken from them : yet according to christs promise , which is truth it self , he that hath truly gods spirit , be it in neuer so little manner , more shall be giuen him , and that which he hath shall neuer be taken from him . and touching these blessed realmes of great brittaine and ireland , ouer which the lord hath appointed him supreme head next vnder his sonne iesus christ ouer all causes spirituall and temporall , being that he maintaineth and defendeth the very same doctrines , and no other , which christ , the apostles , and the pri●●itiue church taught : as the lord hath most wonderfully blessed and p●ospered them by the hands of queen elizabeth , and his maiestie , this many yéeres , so vndoubtedly his wings of most safe preseruation shall be still ouer this realme so long as no idolatry is in israel . i meane maintained by the lawes of the realme : for though there bee many idolatrous papists , yet the law is against them , and though there bee many sinnes and wickednesses in england , yet the lawes of the realme are most strict against them : therefore the realme is holy and righteous , because the lawes bee holy and righteous , and although there bee aboundance of wicked and abhominable people in this realme yet there bee as many both holy and righteous men and women as euer were in them : therefore certainely the lord will not destroy or plague this realme for their sakes that bee wicked and prophane i● them , but most surely still blesse and preserue them for their sakes that be righteous and holy therein , as hetherto hee hath done : wherefore vnto him bee all honour , praise , glory , power and dominion of all the inhabitants of this realme , and of all his church world without end . the last but not the least vse of these precedent stories is therein diligently to mark the vnspeakeable cruelty , tyranny , and most subtill and wicked practises of papists in many ages before queen mary , but then it was at the heigth and then papists shewed their hearts truely without dissimulation , and from them haue come all the treacherous practises against queene elizabeth , and all the treacherous practises against our dread soueraigne k. iames : onely gowries treason excepted , but they neuer deuised a more vngodly and inhumane tragedy , most abhominable to god , and odious in the iudgment of all men , as their most diuellish practise to blow vp the parliament house with gunpowder , to the destruction of his maiestie , his queene , and all his royal issue : with all the nobilitie , bishops , iudges , and chiefe of the commons of this realm , with many thousands besides , to the vtter vndoing of this most noble kingdome . their cruelty in spaine . likewise of this their cruelty which no tongue is able to expresse sufficient testimony would appeare by the most cruell murders vpon gods saints committed from time to time in innumerable abundance both vpon our country men , there own and others , by the most diuelish and cruell inquisito●s of the spaniards , but these serpents are become so wise and subtill that there is no certaine record to bée found in any writer of their doings therein , since the booke of martyrs , but for all their subtilty they cannot hide it from christ iesus , at the day of iudgement , the cruell practises of the papists in france . likewise there hel●ish cruelty hath been declared in no place in the world , so plainely as it hath been in france , by the innumerable massacres , and murders of gods saints , that they haue there committed . i will onely recite one massacre , and the death of their two last kings of france , for by these and other such like crueltyes alreadie declared out of the booke of martyrs , it is easily séene that they are the brothers of caine , and children of the deuill . in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seauenty two , the duke of guise by the aduice of the french king charles the ninth , came with a great company of souldiours at midnight into the stréetes of paris , to massacre the protestants : the marke of the executioners should be a hankerchéefe tyed about their armes with a white crosse in their hats , and the pallace bell ringing at the breake of the day , should giue the signall : they beganne by knocking at the admirals gate , who was a protestant , they stabbed him that came to open the gate , then they entred the admirals chamber : one thrust him through the body , and striketh him on the head ; another shot him thorough with a pistoll , another wounded him in the legs , and euery one of them giue him a blow : then the duke of guise commanded them to cast him to him out of the widdow , then the duke spurned him with his foote , and going into the stréete , said ; courage companions , we haue begunne happily , let vs procéede to the rest , the king commaunds it . one carried the admiralls head vnto the king , and queen his mother , who sent it imbalmed vnto the pope , and the cardinall of lorraine : for assurance of the death of their capitall enemy , one cut off his head , another his priuy members , and three daies they dragged his carkase with all indignity thorough the streetes , then they hanged it vppe by the feete . they murdered all his seruants and gentlemen in his quarter , with like fury they murdred all the other protestants throughout the citty and subburbs , of all ages , conditions , and sexes , men , women , and children , rich and poore . there was heard in paris a lamentable cry of people going vnto death , a pittifull complaint of such as cryed for mercy : the streete were strewed with carkases , the pauements , market place , and riuer , was died with blood : they destroyed that day aboue ten thousand of innocent protestants . henry the third . henrie the third king of france , of the house of valois , a milde and tractable prince : courteous , wittie , eloquent , and graue , but of easie accesse ; deuout , louing , learning , aduancing good wits , a bountifull rewarder of men of merit , a friend to peace , and a prince who deserued to be placed amongst the worthiest of that monarchy : was trayterously murdered by a deuillish monke on this manner . when as the suisses and lansquenets of sansie , and pontoise were by force reduced to the kings obedience : the duke of longuevill gathered an army of twenty thousand men and ioyned with them . whereupon the kings forces being about fortie thousand men , lodged about paris , and tooke saint cloud , and made the parisians ready to yeelde ; whereat the popish monkes and priests of that citty were so much displeased , that they vowed reuenge thereof . and one iames clement , a monke , an excrament of hell , a iacobine by profession , of the age of twenty two or twenty thrée years old , vowes to kill the tyrant , and to deliuer the citty besiedged . this damnable proiect he imparts to doctour bourg●ing , prior of his couent , to father commolet , and other iesuits , and to the heads of the league , to the cheefe of the sixeteene , and to the forty councellors at paris . all encourage him to doe this happy designe : they promise him abbaies and byshopprickes , and if hee chance to be made a martyr , no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the apostles . they caused the preachers to perswade the people to patience seauen or eight daies , for before the end of the weeke they should see a notable accident , which should set all the people at libertie . the priests of orleance , rouan and amiens , clatter out the like at the same time , and in the same termes . the first of august the monke goes out of paris towards saint cloud : vpon his departure , they take aboue two hundred of the cheefe cittizens and others prisoners , whom they knew to haue goods , friends , and credite with the kinges partie , as a precaution to redeeme that cursed murderer , in case he were taken before or after the deed . in his way hee was taken by the regiment of coublan , which was then in gard , telling them that hee went then vnto his maiestie , to let him vnderstand something which concerned his seruice . coublan caused him to be conducted by two souldionrs vnto the kinges quarter , which was at saint cloud , commaunding him that ( if happely the king were not there ) they should b●ing him to some one of the counsell : whom the monke giues to vnderstand , that the first president , and other of the kinges seruants had sent him , to aduertise him , that there is a good number of partisans at paris , who if it please his maiestie to giue them a day and houre , will keepe him a port open . and to purchase the more credit vnto his wordes , he shewes a certaine paper written in italian characters , the which hee said was a letter of credit from the first president , accompanied with a pasport from the garle of brienne , signed charles leuxemburge ; and faines that he had obtained it to goe out of paris vnd●r colour of going to orleance , and that he had many priuate instructions which he might not deliuer but to his maiesty alone . the king beeing aduertised by la guesle , the proctour generall , commaunds he should bee brought the next day , but hee is examined first by portaile . the next day , being come to the kings lodging , they were called by du iotall , the first gr●ome of his chamber . at the first la gues●e caused the iacobin to stay neere the doore , and taking his papers , hee presents them vnto his maiestie , who hauing read them , commaunds the iacobin should approach , whom he asked what hee would say , to whom hee answered ; that it was a secret thing . some distrust made la guesle to speake , beeing betwixt the king and him . speake aloud ( said hee , twice or thrice ) there is not any one héere but the king trusts . his maiestie seeing him make diff●cultie to speake , commands him againe to approach . the baron of bellegard , maister of the kinges horse , and la guesle ( who were alone in the chamber ) retired two or three paces . the king bends his eare , but instead of hearing what hee expected , this wretch drawes a knife out of his sleeue , made of purpose , thrusts his maiestie into the bottome of the bellie , and there leaues the knife in the wound . the king drawes it forth , and with some striuing and strugling of the monke , strikes him aboue the eye : many ranne in at this noyse , and in the heat of choller , killing this vile and cruell monster of men , preuented the true discouery and finding out of this enterprise , and the authors and actors thereof , worthy to be noted with a perpetuall blot of disloyalty and treason . the phisitions held that the wound was curable : and the same day the king did write of this attempt , and of his hope of recouery , to the gouernours of prouinces , to forraigne princes , and to his friends and confederats . but feeling that the king of kings had otherwise determined of his life , he did first comfort himselfe in foreséeing , that the last houres of his crosses , should bee the first of his felicities . then lamenting his good and faithfull seruants , who suruiuing should finde no respect with those , whose mindes had beene so abandoned to mischiefe , as neither the feare of god , nor the dignity of his person could disswade them from this horrible sacriledge . one thing ( said he ) doth comfort me , that i read in your faces , with the gréefe of your hearts , and the sorrow of your soules , a godly and commendable resolution , to contiu●e vnited , for the preseruation of that which remaines whole of my estate , and the reuenge which you owe vnto the memory of him , who hath loued you so déerely . i séeke not the last curiously , leauing the punishment of mine enemies vnto god. i haue learned in this schoole to forgiue them , as i doe with all my heart . but as i am cheefely bound to procure peace and rest vnto this realm , i coniure you all by that inuiolable faith which you owe vnto your country , that you continue firme and constant defenders of the common liberty , and that you neuer lay downe armes , vntill you haue purged the realme of the troubles of the publike quiet . thus and other such things hee spake , as the last pangs of death carried him within few houres vnto another world . by his death he extinguished the second parcel of the third race of capets , in the branch of valois , leauing the crown to the third royall branch of burbons : whervnto the order of the fundamentall law did lawfully call him . and thus you may see the damnable proiects and dissignes of these iesuiticall popish spirits , against the lord and his annointed . the death of henry the fourth . henry the fourth king of france , of the royall race of the burbons , who for his famous rescues and victories , and martiall exploits , had purchased vnto himself amongst his owne subiects , the sur-name of great , whose life and actions , future ages may reade with admiration , was likewise trayterously murdered by the disloyall and vngodly practises of the papists . a parliament being holden at paris , haning disanulled the buls of cardinall caietans legation , and other bulls come from rome the first of march , together with their procéedings , excommunications , and fulminations , made by marcellin landriano , tearming himselfe the popes nuntio : the said bulls , and all their procéedings an edicts being burnt in the market place , which contained a pardon of that most cruell paracide on henry the third lately murthered : the king was first therefore excommunicated by pope gregory the . of that name . afterward the iesuits vnderstanding that the king did purpose something against them , for the cruell murder committed on the person of the late king , and for other their exorbitant and deuillish practises daily intended and contriued , the deuill stirres vp another of his deerely beloued sonnes to murder his maiestie on this manner following . on friday , the day after the quéenes coronation , the king being aduertised of some omninous prediction , he went into his chamber and fell on his knees and prayed : and thus he did thrée times , in the end he went and walked in the gallery vntill dinner time . after dinner many noble-men came into his chamber , and began to tell some tales to put him out of his melancholly humor , and to make him laugh : hauing ●miled a little with the rest ( being by nature of a pleasant disposition ) in the end he said : we haue laughed enough for fryday , we may well weep on sunday . héereupon he sent to the arcenall at foure of the clocke ; whereupon , they say that the duke of uendosme told him that he had beene warned to beware of the foureteenth day ; yet making no account thereof , hee went downe into the court , whereas a man of a meane condition detained him a quarter of an houre , then hee went into his caroch , by the duke of espernon ( who sat● in the first place of the boote , vppon the kinges right hand ) montbazon , the marshall lauardin , la force , and praulin , being followed by two foote-men , and one of his guard on horsebacke , hauing commaunded mounsier de vitry , and the rest of his guard to stay behinde . being betwixt the draw-bridge and the poole , this miserable wretch , who watched his opportunity , drew néere vnto the caroch on the right side , thinking his maiesty had béene there ; but seeing he was on the left hand , and hearing them commaund the coachman to go on , he went the néerest way by the narrow lanes , and met with his maiesty in the stréet called ferroneire , neere vnto s. innocents church , wher staying to make way for a cart to passe , the king leaned downe on the one side towards mounsier esper●●on , pressing him to reade a letter without spectacles . the duke of montbazon turned towards them , and one of the footmen was busie tying vp his garter on the other side : so as this monster had opportunity to stab the king into the left pa● , but the wound was not great , whereupon crying out : o my god i am wounded , he gaue him m●anes to giue him a second blow which was mortal , the knife entring betweene the fift and sixt rib , it cut asunder the veine leading vnto the hart , and the wound was so déepe , as it entred into caua vena , the which was pierc●d , wherewith the king did presently spit blood , losing all apprehension and knowledge , for any thing they could perceiue . they had great diff●culty to saue the murderer from killing presently , yet in the end hee was conuaied to the house of retz . the king was carried backe vnto the louure , vpon the way they met with the dolphin , who went to take the ayre , but they caused him to returne , and be caried into the quéenes chamber . the king was laid vppon a couch in his cabinet , whereas presently after he gaue vp the ghoast . in that these papisticall and trayterous attempts , tooke effect vnto the murthering of these two french kings , when the lord of his infinite goodnesse still preserued quéene elizabeth , and our now dread soueraigne king iames from so many , and from more dangerous practises : it may certainly be concluded , that if they had no worse feared the papists then they did , and put their trust in god as wel as they , and had according to their example purely purged their realmes from papistry , the sure prouidence of god would haue beene as sure their castle , strong hold , and defence , as it was to them and their realmes at all times , and in all occasions and needs . now by the especiall grace of god , and the assistance of his blessed spirit , i haue sayled vnto my expected port , al laud and praise , and thanks therefore be giuen , vnto the father , the son , and holy ghost : and i most hartily beseech him , that this booke may beget in the readers a true dislike of all ceremonies , superstitions , and false doctrines of papistry , and to make them truely zealous of gods word and commandements . o lord conuert all papists that belong vnto thee , and hasten according to thy promises to gather all kings together to destroy the popedome : in the meane time , grant all kings , princes , and others grace , to beware of him , that he corrupt not the soules of them nor their subieces , nor hurt their persons or estates . and lastly , i beséech thee to gather together the number of thine elect , and hasten thy comming to iudgement , that thou ma●st take thy beloued spouse from the miseries of this world , vnto thy eternall glory prepared for her : com lord iesus come quickly . finis . an alphabeticall table , containing the principall matters , and all the martyrs that suffered for the truth , from the primitiue church to the end of queene mary . a agrippa cast into prison by tyberius . page andrew , peters brother crucified . anthia martyred . ant. pius edict in fauour of the christians . ibid attalus burned on an iron chaire . aurelius fauours the christians . affaires of the church of england and scotland , beginning with king lucius . austin with aboue forty preachers , sent into england . he goes in procession to canterbury . ibid. consecrated arch-bishoppe in france , by the commandement of gregory . he assembled the bishoppes , charging them to preach the word of god. ibid hee baptiseth . in the riuer swale on christmas day . his death . ibid. abbaies erected . alfride opprest by the danes : his misery : hee makes dunwolphus a swineheard , bi. of winchester : he is comforted by gods prouidence , and ouercomes the danes , causing them to be christned . adelstane crowned king at kingstone , forceth the brittaines to pay him tribute : sends his brother to sea in an old boate , builds monasteries for the release of his sins . anselme archbishop of canterbury , accuseth henry the first king of england , to the pope : he is turned out of his bishopricke and goods . anacletus pope . arnulphus a priest put to death , for preaching against the auarice and incontinency of the cleargy . adrian the fourth an englishman , pope . choakt with a fly . auarice of the popish prelats . amadeus duke of sauoy , chosen pope . abraham of colchester burned for maintaining the truth . alexander the sixt poysons the turkes brother for . florins . abiurations in henry the eight his time , referred to the booke at large . adulphus clarbachus burned , for maintaining the truth at colen . articles against cardinall wolsey . andrew hewit a prentise burned , for maintaining fr●ths opinions . anne of bullen , her charitable & good works . articles agreed vpon in parliament . abell hanged for the supremacy . anthony pierson burned at windsor . adam damlip , his persecution and martirdome at callis . anne askew , her confession , condemnation , persecution and martyrdome . . . adam wallace martired in scotland , for holding the masse to be idolatry . altars in churches puld downe . anne potten burned the next after samuel , for professing the truth . anthony burward of callice , for saying the sacrament of the altar was an idoll , burned at canterbury . alexander the keeper of newgate , his crueltie to m. philpot and his man. agnis south , about the sacrament of penance , condemned and burned . anne albright for denying the realty in the sacrament , condemned and burned . ibid. agnes potten burned at ipswich , adam foster husbandman , martyr . askin a constant martyr . alice potkins starued to death . agnes stamley burned . alexander horsman martyr . ambrose died in maidstone goale . agnes siluerside , alias smith , condemned . agnes banger martyred . anne try martyr . alexander lane martyr . alexander gouch martyred . ibid alice driuers a constant martyr . ibid. alice snoth burned at canterbury . . b bartholmew crucified and beheaded . b●zaes register of martyrs vnder decius . boniface the forerunner of antichrist . beda priest wrote . vollums . boniface an englishman , archbishop of mentz and martir . ibid. bohemians suppresse idolatrous temples . basill besiedged by the dolphi● of france . barnes a fryer beares fagots , for eating flesh on a fryday . bilney a great preacher of the truth , his articles , abiuration , and martyrdome afterwards . bayfield a monke of berry , a valiant martyr , his cruell vsage and martyrdome . baynham a lawyer whipt , rackt , and martyred for maintaining the truth . bartrucke a scottish knight , confutes certaine articles of the papists , for which he is condemned , and his picture burried . . . . byble at large set vp in euery church . bonners examination , his pride before the commissioners . his vnreuerent and forward words : his imprisonment and depriuation . b●ner compares priests to the virgin mary . bradfords declaration of the manner of disputaon he meant to hold . beckets image twice set vp at mercers chappell and throwne downe . bishoppe of chester , who condemned george marsh , burned with a harlot , dies therof . barlow for bearing witnesse of the truth , sent to the fleet. berd the promoter , his cruelty to iames treuisam , and other professors . bartlet greene gent. in trouble , for writing the queene is not yet dead , meaning queene mary , and afterwards for denying the sacrament of the altar , condemned & burnt . blind boy martyred at glocester , bloudy commission granted by king philip and queene mary , to prosecute the poore members of christ : whereupon . are brought before bonner out of essex . barbara final burned at canterbury . bradbregs widow burned at canterbury ibid bends wife burned at canterbury . ibid berry a priest and commissary , a persecutor of the faithfull , his suddaine and fearefull end . bate a barber , a persecutor of the faithfull , his suddaine death . c caligula caesar. commodus son to verus , emperor . contention between the east & west church , for the obseruation of easter day . ibid constantine the emperor borne in brittaine . his prayers to his souldiers . ibid. his immunity to the ministry , his prouision for liberall sciences . constantine with the helpe of three legions of souldiours out of brittany , obtains the peace of the vniuersall church . councell at sternhalt for the obseruation of easter . councell of constance . carolus magnus proclaimed emperor . cambridge erected by sigisbert . chester built . cloud halfe blood , halfe fire , seene in england . canutus succeeds siranus , and erects the monastery of s. edmonsbury . councell at vercellis . councell at mentz vnder pope leo . ibid. councell at latteran . ibid. councell at mantua against priests marriages . ibid. controuersie betweene canterbury and yorke for the primacy . calixtus the second pope . complaints of sundry abuses in the church . contention betweene the bishop of yorke and canterbury . conclusions put vp to the parliament . councell of constance for pacifying a schisme betwixt . popes , in which iohn the pope was deposed , & proued to be an hereticke , a murtherer , a sodomite , and many others : in the . session iohn wickliff and his forty articles were condemned . councell of basill send ambassadors to the bohemians , with their answers . councell of basil begun . contention between two popes . constantinople taken . clement the seuenth pope , his wicked life and death . collins for holding vp a little dogge when the priest was at masse , burned , and the dogge with him . cowbridge after he was almost starued , martyred at oxford . cardinall poole attainted of high treason , flyes to rome . commotions in oxfordshire , yorkshire , norfolke , and suffolke . commotions in oxford and buckingham , appeased by the lord grey . commotion in the north. ibid. cranmer archbishop of canterbury offers to defend the book of common-prayer . communication between doctor ridley and secretary bourne in the ●ower . cranmer archbishop of canterbury sent to oxford to dispute . cat apparelled like a priest , hanged at the crosse in cheapside . cardinal pools oration in the parlament-house christianus king of denmark his letters to q. mary for miles c●u●rdale . causon of thunderst in essex for maintayning the truth , burned at kayley . christopher wade burned at dartford for denying the reall presence in the sacrament . cornelius burgie burned . cranmer archbishop of canterbury his parentage and education hee is sent ambassador to the emperour , he is sent ambassadour to the pope , he seekes to banish popish errors , and to reforme the church , he is charged with heresie for denying the popes power , he is condemned and disgraded by bonner , bonners oration in disgrace of him he is allured to recant by fair promises and entreaty , his martyrdome , from fol. . to ● ▪ christopher li●●er burned . cisley ormes burned . cuthbert simpson martyr . christian george burned . christopher browne burned at canterbury . d. description of the primitiue and later times of the church . domitius caesar. d●cius tyrannie against christians . danes enter england , and burn the i le of sheppey in kent . danes take yorke . dunston abbot of glastenbury banished by e●● wine . danes arriue and do much spoile . danes suddenly slaine vpon s. brices day . danes begin to be christians . diuers popes at one time . dominicans or black fryers order instituted . diuorce of k. henry the eighth , and q. katharine . duke of norfolk committed . destruction of merindall , & cabriers in fr. ●od , alias scot burnt at callice . da●id beaton archb. and cardinal in scotland his miserable end , and buriall in a dunghill . duke of sommerset ▪ protector his history , proclamation against him , sent to the tower , discharged againe , committed to the tower again , arraigned at westminst . and condemned , beheaded at tower-hill , , , duke of northumberland beheaded . dagger throwne at the preacher at paules crosse . ibid. disputations in the conuocation house about the sacrament . duke of suffolk brought to the tower. ib. duke of suffolke beheaded at the tower-hill . derick caruer condemned . dunstone chittenden famished in the castle of canterbury . denis burges martyred at lewis . denis brigs martyred . dunning the cruell chancellors sudden death . e. evstachius a captain , with his wife & family martyred . england troubled only with the tenth persecution . ethelbert king of kent . edwine conuerted by paulinus , and christened at yorke . ethelwood conuerts the people of south-sax . empire translated from the grecians to the frenchmen . egbert sole king. ethelwolph bishop of winchester , succeedes k. by the popes dispensation , his superstition . ibib . edw. the elder subdues wales and scotland , and is alwaies victorious . edmund expels the danes , and is slaine at glassenbury . edwine crowned at kingstone . ibid. edward succeds edgar , and is murthered . egelred king. ibid. elphegus bishop of canterbury , put to ▪ death at grenwich . eldred driues out canutus . ibid. edmund , sirnamed ironside chosen king by the citizens of london and nobles . edricus kills edmund . ibid. edward the sonne of emma chosen king , and crowned at winchester . ibid elinor cobham banished into the isle of man. elizabeth sampson conuented for speaking against pilgrimages . ibid. elizabeth burton called the holy-maid of kent , a notable imposter put to death . edward the sixt king of england , restores the scriptures in the mother tongue . edward the sixt dies , his praier at his death . elizabeth warne martyr . edward sharpe like pure golde tried in the fire . edmund allen and katharine his wife martyrs . elizabeth a blinde maide martyr . ibid. elizabeth hooper burned . ellen euring denying the lawes set out by the pope , condemned . elizabeth falkes examined and condemned . ibid. f. fredericke the emperour ouerthrown by the venetians , and taken . franciscans order begun . fredericke the second emperour , persecuted by popes . foure and twenty burned in paris . fiue burned in scotland . fetherston for denying the supremacie , hanged . frier burned at rochest●r . g. godwin forswearing himselfe choked . gregory the eighth pope . grosthead bishop of lincolne . george carpenter burned . george constantine apprehended for heresie . gefferey lon for dispersing of luthers bookes forced to abiu●● . giles germa●e burned at s. giles in the fields . george blage knight imprisoned , and condemned for speaking against the masse , but pardoned . george wisard of scotland , his persecution and martyrdome . gardner bishop of winchester sent to the tower . gernsey and gersey inuaded by the french. gardner an englishman cruelly tormented at lisbon in portugall for maintayning of the truth . gibbets set vp for wiats souldiers . gardner bishop of winchester his sermon at paules crosse . gardner calls the preacher before him at saint mary-oueries . gods iudgement vpon the parson of arundell . george marsh cruelly vsed and burned . george tankerfield of london cook , condemned . george king died in prison . ibid. george catmer burned . george broadbridge burned at canterburie . gardner bishop of winchester , his historie and death . george soper burned at canterburie . george parke burned at canterbury . ibid. george ambrose fuller , burned in smithfield . george stephens martyred . george eagles , alias trudgeouer , hanged , drawn and quartered , betweene two theeues . george eagles sister burned . h. hieraclius cuts off the popes hands & feet . harold last king of the saxons . hildebrana pope , a sorcerer . honorious the second pope . he is taken with whores . ibid. henry the first king of england dies . ibid. henry the second his pennance , for the death of becket . he diuides the realme into sixe parts , and ordaines iustices of assizes . his great fame and large dominions . ibid. henry the sonne of henry the second , his disobedience and death . hildegris is a prophe●●sse . henry the third king of england . henry the fift crowned . hugh pie of ludney , for holding sundry opinions contrary to the church of rome , accused and purged before the bishoppe of norwitch . henry the fifts cruell commition for a●taching sundry suspected of lolardy . ibid. harman peterson committed to the counter for not being confessed in lent. henry voz burned at ●●uxels , for maintaining luthers opinions . henry sudphen of breame , his piety , persecution and martyrdome . . . henry the . entitled defender of the faith . his solemnity at the receiuing of the title of defender of the faith . ibid. henry finmore taylor , burnt at winsor . haruy a commissary , a persecutor , hanged , drawne and quartered . homes a yeoman of the guard , his cruel●ie to doctor taylor . higbed of horden , burnt at horden . humphry middleton martired at canterbury . henry laurence burnt at canterbury . hugh latimer bishoppe of worcester , his conference with antonian : his parentage , his godly sermuns , his charity to the poore and needy , accused of heresie , his subscription to certaine articles propounded vnto him , he is committed to the tower : his prayer for the lady elizabeth : his martyrdome at oxford , with bishoppe ridley : from folio . to . hugh lame rock an old lame man , burned at stratford the bow. hooke burned at chester . hugh fox burned in smithfield . henry pond burned in smithfield . i ierusalem destroyed by tytus & vespasian . iohn banished to bathmos . iudas thadeus slaine . ibid. iraeneus with many others martired . ignatius martyr . iue king of west saxons goes to rome . innocentius the second pope . iohn king of england . iohn claydon a currier burnt in smithfield . iohn hus his history : his articles put to him : his answer , his constant end , . . . ierome of prag● his hard vsage and marryrdome . . . iohn wadden priest burned . iohn wendham of alborough cruelly handled for maintayning the truth . ibid. iohn beuerley whipped for the truth . ibid. i●hn stelley of flixton forced to abiure . iohn burrell forced to abiure . ibid. iohn finch forced to doe penance . ibid. iubilee at rome . . . iulius the second pope exceedes all his predece●sors in iniquity . iohn coyns for contemning the sacrament of the altar , and not receuing at easter ; died at saint martins . iames gossen dutchman , committed for not receiuing at easter . iohn wi●cock a scotish frier committed for preaching against , holy water and purgatory , ibid. iohn esry burned . ibid. iohn athelane burned . iohn thewxbury burned in smithfield . iohn randall found in his study , hanged in his girdle . iohn frith martyred . ● iohn lambert martyred . . ▪ iohn painter burned . iniunctions set out in the . yeare of king henry the eight . ib●d . iohn porter a taylor famished to death . idolatry supp●essed . 〈◊〉 . iames morten burned . ibid. iohn marbeck condemned and pardoned by the king. iohn athee indited for speaking against the sacrament . ibid. iohn adams burnt . iohn lacels a gentleman , burnt , ibid. iohn browne burnt . . iohn hun troubled about the sacrament . ioh. alasco vncle to the k. of poland banisht . iests of a roode at cockram in lancashire iames george dies in prison , and is buried in the fields . iohn rogers , first martyre in q. maries daies . . ihon hooper his martyrdome . . ihon laurence burned at colchester . . iudge hales his history and death . . iulius the third pope , his wicked life and prophanenesse . . ihon awcoke died in prison . ibid. iohannes de casa a deane of the popes chamber , playes the sodomite and defends it . ibid. iohn cardmaker his martyrdome . . iohn warne burned . ibid. iohn hardley his martyrdome . . iohn simpson suffered at rochford for maintayning the truth . ibid. iohn bradford , his reasons against transubstantiation , and his martyrdome . , to . iohn lease a prentice , burned with maister bradford . iohn bland martyred . . iohn franbesh martyred . . iames treuisam persecuted , and after his death buried in more fields . iohn lanuder of godstone , martired for the truth . . iohn aleworth dyed in prison . . iames abbs burned at bury . ibid. iohn denley martired . ibid. iohn newman burned . . iohn wade dyed in prison and was buried in the fields . . iohn leishord martyr . ibid. iohn trunchfield martyr - . iames tutty of breachley burned . . iohn gorway martyred at lichfield . ibid. iohn glover persecuted . . iohn webbe burned at canterbury . iames gore died in prison at colchester . ibid iohn philpot accused of herisie after twice examination comitted to bonners cole house , his third examination before bonner : his fourth examination before the bishoppes : his ninth examination : he is condemned and brought to newgate , his patient and constant end : from folio ▪ to folio . iohn tucson burned in smithfield . isabell foster burned in smithfield ▪ ibid. iohn warne burned in smithfield ibid. iohn warne of tenterden in kent , about the sacrament of the altar , condemned . . ioane sole of harton about the sacrament of the altar and auriculer confession , condemned . ioane cotmer burnt at canterbury . ibid. iohn cauel burned in smithfield . . iohn huillier minister , burnt at cambridge . , iohn mace burned at colchester . iohn spencer burned at colchester . ibid. iohn hammon burned at colchester ibid. iohn ap rice a blind man , burned at stratford the bow. ibid. ioane hornes martyred . . iohn hartpoole burned at rochester . ibid. ioane bache widdow , burned at rochester . ibid. iohn osward martyred at lewis . . iohn clement wheelewright persecuted ibid. iohn colstocke of wellington , for denying the reall presence forced to recant . . iohn norres dies in the kings bench , and buried on the backside . ibid. iohn carelesse of couentry , after long imprisonment , and many examinations , dies in the kings bench . . iohn guyn a constant martyr . ibid iulines palmer a godly preacher in k. edwards dayes , martyred . ibid. iohn forman martired . ioane west burned . ibid. iohn hart martyred iohn clarke pined to death in the castle in canterbu●y . ibid. iohn archer of cranbrooke weauer , pined to death at canterbury ibid. iohn philpot of tenterden martyr . iohn bradbridge of staplehurst martir . ioane mannings of maidstone in kent , martyr , ibid. iohn fishcocke burnt at canterbury . ibid. iames morris martyred at lewis . ibid. iohn iohnson about the sacrament condemned . . iohn thurston a constant confessor of iesus christ dyed in colchester castle . iohn cures shoomaker of sisam in northamptonshi●e , burned . . iames a●stoo burned at islington . iohn ioyes of lezfield in suffolke martired . iohn forman martyr . ibid. iohn weauer martyr . ibid. iohn milles martyr . ibid iohn hart martyr ibid. iohn osward martyr . ibid. iohn ashdon martyr . ibid. iohn hallingsdale burned in smithfield . . iohn rowth minister , for affirming the pope to bee very antichrist , after many persecutions for the truth burned . ibid. iohn deuenish burned in smithfield . . ioane seaman persecuted for the truth of the gospell . iohn floyd martyr . iohn holyday martyr . ibid iohn slade burned at brainford . iohn vale died in prison , and buried in a dunghill . iohn alcocke cast into a dungeon , dies , and is buried in a dunghill . iohn cook sawier burned at s. edmunds burie . iames asley martyr . ibid. iohn dauid burned at bury . iohn sharpe burned at bristow . iohn cornford burned at canterbury . ibid. iohn herst burned at canterbury . ibid. iohn baker burned at siuill in spaine . k. knights of rhodes instituted . katharine par , henry the eighth his last wife , her troubles for the gospell . kathaerine knoches and her two daughters martyred for the truth . katharine hut widdow martyr . katharine knight , alias tinley , burned at canterbury . l. lvcan put to death . lawrence broiled . licinius ioyned with constantine , calls learning the vice of princes , hangs theodorus on a crosse . lucius his letters to elutherius bishop of rome . london burnt . lurdanes why so called . letters between the emperour and the pope . lewes the french kings sonne comes into england , and takes himselfe to be king. lodouicus king of hungary drowned in a bog . leyton for affirming both kindes in the sacrament burned at norwich . lancelot one of the guard burned . lady iane beheaded . latimer bishop of worcester sent to dispute at oxford . lawrence sanders parson of al-hallowes in breadstreet his examination & martyrdome . m. marke the euangelist burned . matthias stoned . ibid. mahomets beginning and lawes . monasteries erected . martin crowned pope : the emperor on foote , leading a horse on the right hand , and the marquesse of brandenburg on the left hand . margery bac●ster for disswading the people frō idolatry and superstition sore troubled . martin luther a stout champion of the church against the pope ; his history . matthew ward about the sacrament committed to the counter . . myracle of a iew christned in constantinople mekins a boy burned in smithfield . mustle borow field , where thirteen or fourteene thousand scots were slaine . mary queene of england . morgan a iudge troubled in conscience for sentencing the lady iane , fals mad and dies . marsh accused to haue taken the pixe and crucifixe out of the sepulcher , he and his wife committed to the counter . margery polley widdow , burned at tunbrigde . michael trunchfields wife burned in ipswich about the sacrament . mantrell burned at salisbury . ibid. margaret ellis condemned to bee burned , but died in newgate . martin hunt imprisoned in the kings bench for the truth dies , and is buried in the backeside . mother tree martyred . mathew bradbridge of tenderden , martyred . margaret hide burned in smithfield . margery awstoo burned at islington . margaret thurstone martyred at colchester . margery mearing for affirming the masse to be abhominable burned . mother bennet an ancient woman , persecuted for the truth . mathe● r●c●rby martyr . marke burges burned at lisbon in portugall . . n. nero caesar. nunneries erected . normans aduanced in church and common-wealth . nicholas canon pennanced and thrise whipped . nine millions of gold leuied in fraunce of the prelats in fourteen yeare . nicholas south committed to newgate for not being shriuen in lent. new testament translated into english by william tindall . nicholas chamberlaine burned at colchester . nichlas ha●● burned at rochester . nicholas finall of tenderden martyr . nicholas white burned at canterbury . nicholas pa●due burned at canterb. ibid. nicholas holden martyr . nicholas burton merchant of london , cruelly persecuted and burned at cadix in andalousia . o. oswald by praier vnto god ouercoms cadwallo . ostright rauisheth the wife of br●wer a nobleman , in reuenge wherof he cals in the danes otho the emperour puts out pope iohns eyes , and hangs cressentius the consull . old-castle : lord cob●am his historie . . the king secretly admonisheth him to submit himselfe to the holy church : his answere thereto : the archbishop sends his sum●er to him with a sit●tion : he is arrested and sent to the tower. . his later examination and answere to the archbishops questions , . . hee is led againe to the tower , and escapes into wales : he is condemned of heresie and treason , and drawne to s. giles in the fields , hanged by the middle & burned . o●colampadius testimony of diuers good men . oldman of buckingham burned for eating dacon in lent. ombler a rebell in the north refuseth the kings pardon , is afterward taken and executed at yorke . p. pil●t slew himselfe vnder tiberius . parmenias put to death . persecution , the first by domitius nero. ibid. persecution , the second by domitian . ibid. persecution , the third vnder trayanus . phocas bishop of pontus cast in a hote furnace . ibid. persecution the fourth vnder antonius verus . poly●arpus his constancie and death . ibid. persecution the fift vnder pertinax . parmachus with his wife and children put to death . persecution the sixt vnder maximinus . ibid. persecution the seuenth vnder decius . ibid. persecution the eighth . persecution the ninth vnder aurelian . persecution the tenth vnder dioclesian . paul●s church in london built by ethelbert k. of kent . phocas kils mauritius the emperor . popes work masteries against the greek emperors . paschalis pope dies . popes pall instituted . pope by his policy leuies a great summe of money in england . prophecies of the popes persecutions . pope martins death . pope eugenius the fourth . paule craws a bohemian , for holding wickliss opinions , deliuered to be burnt . printing , the ruine of the pope and antichrist , inuented in germany . philip norrice an irishman , sore troubled for the truth . pope a weauer in eye martyred about the sacrament . peake burned in ipswich for giuing a sacrament cake to a dog. ibid pius the second pope his prouerbes . paulus secundus pope , a hater of learning & learned men . petrus ruerrius in two years spent . fl●rins & , permitteth the cardinals to play the sodomits the three hote moneths . ibid. prodigies and prophecies , shewing the fall of antichrist . petrus flistedius burned at collen . packington , a fauourer of tindall , deceiues the bishop of london . patrick hamilton a scottish man , of the bloud royall , burned for the truth . pauy a persecutor hanged himselfe . puttedue for taunting a priest , condemned and burnt . peter a german burnt at colchester , about the lords supper . ibid. powell hanged for denying the kings supremaciy . persecution in callice . persecution in scotland . peter martyr banished for religion out of england . priest of canterbury saies masse one day , and the next preacheth against it . philip prince of spaine lands at southhampton : maried at winchester . priests doe penance at paules crosse. procession through london for their conuersion to the catholick religion . patrick packington martyred . persecution at wenson in suffolke : persecution at mendlesam suff●lke . ibid. persecution in couentry and lichfield . philip humphreys burned at berry . q qveene mary crowned q●arrels betweene the spaniards & english , about two whoores . queeene mary said to be with child . ibid. r ra●enna giuen to the popes by pipinus king of france . richard ceu●r de lyons rebellion against his father . richard the first king of england ▪ richard the second deposed . richard turmin a baker burned in smithfield . rebels ouerthrowne and executed . ridley made bishop of london . redman his iudgement rouching certain points of religion on his death-bed . ridley bishop of london visits the lady mary , and offers to preach before her which shee refuseth . his conference in the tower with secretarie bourne . , he is sent to oxford to dispute . his report of the vanity of the disputation at oxford . ibid. rose a minister , with thirtie men and women taken at communion in bow church-yard . rowland taylor doctor ▪ his disputtation with gardner , his cruell vsage and constant martyrdome . robert farrar bishop of ● dauids in wales , for re●using to subscribe to certaine popish articles , burned at ca●rnaruan . rawlins white burned in cardiff . richard hooke for the truth ended his life at chichester . richard collier burned at canterbury . ibid. richard wright burned at canterbury . ib●d . robert smith his examination and conference with bo●ner , and martyrdome , . to . robert samuel a godly preacher burned . roger coo burned at y●xford in suffolk . robert swater of hith burned at canterbury . ib. robert glouer gentleman burned at couentry robert picot painter , burned at ely. ridley bishop of london , his parentage : carried to oxford like a traytor : his conferenc●e with antonian : his protestation against the popes authoritie : his prayer at his martyrdom , from folio . to . robert spicer burned at salisbury . ● robert drakes burned in smithfield . richard spurge fuller , burned in smithfield for denying the reall presence . ibid. richard nicoll burned at colchester . robert bacon a persecutor , and an enemy to the truth . robert lawson linnen weauer , martyr . robert bernard martyred for the truth at aye . ibid. richard woodman his martyrdome . ralphe hardin , a persecuter of george eagles , hanged . richard crashfield , his examination and martyrdome . ibid. ralphe alberton his examination before bonner , and martyrdome at islington . richard roth burned at islington . ibid richard gibson burned in smithfield . richard day burned at colchester . raynald eastland martyr . ibid robert southam martyr . ibid roger holland marchant taylor , his conference with bonner : his prophesie of the ceasing of persecution and martyrdome . . . robert miles burned at brainford . richard yeoman persecuted and martyred . robert miles , alias palmer , burned at s. edmundsbury . s seneca put to death . stephen martyred . simon burned . ibid simon zelotes crucified . ibid simon the brother of iude s●aine . ibid. sulpitius and seruilia martyred . simproniss● with her seuen sonnes martyred . seuerus the emperor slaine at yorke . sands of the sea , as easie to bee numbered as the names of those that suffered vnder decius . six thousand , six hundred , and sixty christian souldiers martyred vnder mauritius . simon zelotes spread the gospell in britaine . sinode at aquisgrane . swanus spoile and cruelty . his sudden death . ibid. steuen langhton archbishop of canterbury . sau●noral●a a learned monk of florence burnt , and his ashes cast into the riuer . sixtus the fourth pope , builds stewes of both kinds in rome , reduceth the iubilee from to . years , institutes the feasts of our lady , canonizeth bonauenture & francis for saints . scholler of abbeuill burned for taking the host from the priest at masse . solimans letter to the great master of rhodes . ibid. senate of bearne assigne disputation , and propound their articles . soli●an the turkish emperour , enters into austria with a great army , and besiegeth vienna . schisme in holland about the pater-n●ster . stories of certaine friers of orleance in france storie of certaine monks of sueuia . sanders declaration for disputation . steuen knight his martyrdom , and his prayer at his death . steuen harwood burned at stratford for the truth . simon ioyne burned at colchester . shoemaker burned at northampton . steuen kemp of norgate martyred . simon miller condemned and burned . steuen cotton burned at brainford . steuen white burned at brainford . ibid. t. tiberius caesar willed christ might be adored as god. thomas slaine with a dart . thousands die for the faith . tribute called dane-gilt paid . thomas becket archbishop of canterbury his history contayning the contention between him and henry the second king of england , from folio . to . he is slain by . souldiers in the church at canterbury . thomas pye of albarogh inioyned six whippings sixe seuerall sundaies . thomas bagley priest burned in smithfield . thomas rheydon a french carmelite frier , condemned to be burned . thomas norrice burned at norwich . thomas a priest of norwich burned . thomas bingy burned at norwich . ibid. thomas becket his prouerbe . thomas lancaster for bringing in prohibited bookes , committed . thomas hittin burned in maidstone . thomas garnet curate of all-hallowes in hunnie lane for dispersing of luthers books , forced to abiure . thomas cromwell earle of essex his history and death . thomas barnes doctor of diuinitie , for preaching against the cardinall , burned . thomas gerrard martyr . ibid. thomas forret a scotish deane his troubles and martyrdome . thomas tunstone bishop of duresme cast into the tower. thomas dobs for inueighing against papistry , committed to prison , and there dies . ibid. thomas grey the dukes brother executed . two sunnes both shining at once . thomas hawkes for not christening his childe after the popish manner , apprehended , his conference with bonner , harpsfield fecknam and others , at copthall in essex , , , , , . thomas wats of billirrikies in essex his conference with the bishop about the sacrament , and martyrdom . thomas osmond for maintaining the truth , burned at maningtree . thomas iueson burned . thomas fust burned at ware. thomas leys died in prison for the truth . thomas cob of harehill butcher , burned . thomas heyward burned at lichfield . ib. thomas whittle troubled in conscience for yeelding to the bishop of london , gets his bill and teares it in pieces . thomas whittle priest , after conflicts with the papists , martyred . thomas went burned in smithfield . ibid. thomas browne burned in smithfield . ibid. thomas spurge burned in smithfield . thomas spicer burned at beckles . thomas harland burned at lewis . thomas reed burned at lewis . ibid thomas auington burned at lewis . ibid. thomas wood minister burned at lewis ibid. thomas miles burned at lewis . ibid. thirteene burned at stratford the bow. ibid. thomas free-man condemned , but saued by pooles dispensation . . thomas barnes condemned to beare a faggot . . thomas paret dyed in the kings bench , and burien in the back-side ibid. thomas dangate martyr at grinsteed in sussex . . thomas rauensdale martyr . . thomas horne and a woman consumed with the fier at watton-vnderhedge in glocestershire . ibid. three in the castle of chichester dyed in prison for the truth , and buried in the fields . ibid. thomas hudson of selling martyr . thomas steuens of bedingham , martyred for the truth . thomas loseb● burned . thomas thirtell martired . thomasine awood martyr . thomas perald martyr . tyrrell one of the race of those that murthered king edward the fift : his cruelty to the faithfull . ibid thomas moore for saying his maker was in heauen and not in the pix , burned at leicester . thomas carman for praying with crashfield and drinking with him when he was burned , apprehended . thomas athoch priest , martyr . thomas auington martyr . ibid. thomas rauensdale martyr . ibid. thomas spurdan examined before the bishop and chancellor of norwich sent to prison . ibid. thomas carman martyr . thomas hudson affirming the masse to bee a patcht monster , martired . ibid. thomas benbridge for maintayning the truth rather broyled then burned . thomas hall burned at bristow . thomts benion burned at bristow . ibid v vskatell driues the danes out of england . vicount of melun his counsell to the english. valentine freese burned at yorke . vsher tunstall for hauing the pater-noster and creed in english , forced to abiure . w vvinchester church founded . westminster abby begun by a citizen ibid. william conquerour enters the land . receiued for king , and crowned on christmas day : driues the danes out of the north : forceth malcolme king of scots to pay tribute , . waldenses their beginning and progresse . . the articles they held . . . wickliffe beginning to preach the gospell of christ , . his conclusions in a conuocation at lambeth , . his conclusions condemned of herisie and error by william archbishop of canter●●y , his bookes condemned by the councel of constance , his letter to pope vrban the sixt , ibid diuers of the nobilitie and vniuersitie fauour him . . . william santrey martyr william thorps examination before arundell archbishop of canterbury from follio . to . william taylor for fauouring wickliffs opinon● burned in smithfield . . william white , a follower of wickliffe forced to recant . william wright a persecutor . wolsey cardinall his graetnesse and pride . william tracy for affirming in his will that hee trusted onely in god , after his death was taken vp and burned . . william button his merry questions to papists . weston preached at paules crosse to pray for souls departed . walter mantell for constantly maintaining the truth hanged . warwick his cruelty to doctor taylor . william pygot burned at braintree . woman put in the cage for speaking against the pope . william flower alias branch martyred . william tooly poulterer hanged for robbing a spaniard his body oster buriall taken vp and deliuered to the seculer power to be burned for heresie . william bamford burned at harwich for the truth . wodroffe sherife of london , after his crueltie shewed to m. bradford , taken lame and so continued . william minge , a constant confessor , dyed in maidstone layle . ibid. william coker burned at canterbury . . william hooper burned at canterbury . ibid. william steere of ashford , for saying the sacrament of the altar was an abhominable idoll , burned at canterbury . ibid william andrew for defence of his religion died in newgate , and cast into the fields . william allen for refusing to follow the crosse in procession , burned at walsingham . william glouer persecuted for the truth . william wolsey burnt at ely. william wiseman dying in lollards tower , cast into the fields , but buried by good men . william times ioyner , burned in smithfield . william poole martyr . william sl●ch dyed in the marshalsey , and buri●●● in the backside of the prison . william adherall minister imprisoned . ibid. william saennard condemned , but saued by cardinall pools dispensation . william adams condemned , but saued by cardinall pools dispensation , ibid. william fo●ter of stone , starued to death in the castle of canterbury ▪ william waterer of bed●●gdy , martyred . william hay of hith martyred . ibid william lowick of cranbrook , martired . ibid. william prouting of thorneham , martyred . ibid. walter appleby of maidstone in kent , and petronell his wife martyred . wilsons wife burned at canterbury . ibid. william maynard martyred at lewis . ibid william purcas about the reall presence condemned . william munt for speaking against the sacrament , condemned . ibid. william sparrow burned in smithfield . william nichol cruelly tormented and burned for the truth , at hereford west in wales . william seaman martyr . william harris burned at colchester . william hooker stoned to death at siuill . z zisca gathereth an army to reuenge the death of iohn hus and ierom of prage . zwinglius minister of zurick slaine , and his body burned . . finis . faults escaped in the printing . pag. lin . errata . correctio . to reiect not to reiect thrusting thrusten fex felix sapres sapores in troy in troy . rheginus . put . rheginus put out the eyes barla barlaam grigotius gregorius they had . the fire had ethelbert ethelfride haarines agarens ethelbert ethelbald cluniensis cluniacensis binford bainford pracontium dracontium gregory the . gregory the . & eldred egelred , carolus cadolus f●gamus faganus iudicat indicet destruisti destruxisti within houres with whores henry the . henry the . he hath i haue haruest harnessed thy my to from excersised exorcised now not bishop thorp agnes n. did not christ did christ , canonicalls canticles the part the vpper part communications excōmunications wesalia wesalianus domine domini cru●ltie heresie without with bortruck borthwich emperor empire mayor : mayor were present . hellen sirke hellen stirke burned buried contumacy contumelie storie sc●ry for soone for as soone cranmer winchester doncaster lancaster primate primatiue arundell croudall cranmer gardiner elenor helena lankes hawkes cophall coxhall kirkley kirkby horsce h●orsley somerset somerton auilence aquiliense ninth third not haue haue rowth rough cylesham aylesham christian aegles . christian george cornefield cornford benton bentam story in lincolne scory in hereford rafe sardine rafe lardin george wisard george wichard bastion sebasti●● finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e tyberius caesar. pontius pilate . anno . agrippa . ca caesar caligula . . claudius nero. domitius nero. . peter and paul. the destruction of ierusalem . iames. symon magus . iohn . eusebius anno. . . ● . . . ● . . . notes for div a -e lib. de victoria . ex t●rtul . cōtra iudeos ex origen hom . . in ezech. the first comming of the danes . poli : li. . ca. . . . ● . . . . . . . . . notes for div a -e . . . . . . . . ● . . . . . . ● . . . . . notes for div a -e . . . . . . . . . . . ● ● . . , . . . . 〈…〉 . 〈…〉 . . waldenses . . thomas becket . . . . . . . . . . . . notes for div a -e . . . . . ose. . rom. . mat. . tim. . luke . cor. . mat. . reuel . . . . . . . . notes for div a -e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he● . . ●ree-will . in opere imperf . . . . . . . . notes for div a -e . . . . . . notes for div a -e . . . notes for div a -e . . . . . . . . . . ● . . . . . notes for div a -e iuly . august . . septb . . september . . september . . the history of france ▪ iohn serres , & edw : gimston . anno . iohn de serres in the french history . ed : grimston . an : christi . .