¶ A pithy NOTE to Papists all and some that joy in felton's Martyrdom. Desiring them to read this and to judge & not in spite at simple truth to grudge.  
Set forth by one that knew his life, and was with him at the hour of his death, which was the viii. of August. Anno. 1570, at the West end of Paul's Church over against the Bishop's gate, where he set up the Bul.  
IMPRINTED AT LONDON at the long Shop adjoining unto Saint Mildred's Church in the Pultrie the xxiii. of August by John Allde.   

LOng levity abused, at length doth lend deserved hire:  
when mercy over moved with vice gins kindle justice ire.  
¶ As now may well discerned be Unto the smart of such  
As heaped by unfruitful hope and pity proved to much.  
¶ But so it is when follies flood makes wisdom low at ebb:  
And where for hearty love such do wind up foul Treason's web.  
¶ As Felton fond hath surely felt for fault of treason high:  
So all will vouch whose hartis (with God and Prince) are not awry  
¶ And as the Nortons twain did taste of late for like offence:  
Whom justcie paid by portion just a righteous recompense.  
¶ Yet Felton past, when wilful deed of his was well descried:  
For why? he never blush for shame, nor much the same denied,  
¶ The Bull bewitch this calvish brain And Pius his dear god:  
Made him to bold for his behoof, to taste of such a rod.  
¶ He durst presume good Catholic, t'erect up foreign power:  
And Subjects faithful hartis now well by flattery to devour.  
¶ As though at once all England would have shrunk at Pius curse:  
And that the Child at stranger's beck would leave his painful nurse.  
¶ Theblessing of the Pope he thought would sure have take such place:  
That English men with Cap and knee would strait the same embrace.  
¶ What meant be else to fix the Bull on Bishop's Palace gate:  
But that he thought by sums return to mend his own estate.  
¶ But English men God have the praise wish rather his curse still:  
Then with his blessing to receive both soul and bodies ill.  
¶ God's curse doth light where he doth bless as Malachi doth rel:  
As Felton and and the rest have tried which served the Pope full well.  
¶ But Papists say they are most blest for dying in his cause:  
Because he will their souls redéem from hell and Satan's claws.  
¶ And Felton chée fly they commend For his courageous mind:  
Which unto Pope and holy Church didshew himself so kind,  
¶ Wherefore a blessed Martyr they do rightly him confess:  
Which moves me most for virtues sake to prove him nothing less.  
¶ For every kind of death doth not deserve a Martyr's name:  
But many sundry deaths do bring the dyers endless shame  
¶ All thieves and Murderers that die all Felons cast by law:  
All Traitors and all Heretics which GOD nor man do 〈◊〉.  
¶ Are not by death of theirs in count of Martyrs which do die:  
Though Papists brag that he is one but give them leave to lie.  
¶ The death doth not the Martyr make but sure the righteous cause: When tyrants force, the righteous heart to violate God's laws.  
¶ When Infidels deprave the truth and Christians it maintain:  
In giving of their bloods for it, they win the Martyr's gain.  
¶ Ignatius won the noble crown of martyrdom y though  
Cassianus and Laurence they did win the same also.  
¶ Saint Stephen and Saint Peter they won Martyrs gain by right:  
So did Maturus and the rest that suffered for the light.  
¶ whose lives by truth were sound led whose ends did show no less:  
whose manners were upright, whose faith did perfect love express.  
¶ But felton's life did show in fine he did no Martyrs fact:  
For exitus acta probat the exit tries the act.  
¶ A roisting shifting Prodigal so he his time did spend:  
Which sought of every one to have that able was to lend.  
¶ The Psalmist in his Psalms doth paint out Felton very plain:  
The wicked man borrows (saith he) and payeth not again.  
¶ Of modesty in manners he was seen to be full scant:  
And of Religious mind no doubt he had a daily want,  
¶ As for devoutness in his days yea, after his own sort:  
He never moild his spirits with prayer, his heart was set on sport.  
¶ A Papists heart he had not sure for Papists are devout:  
Although their zeal do knowledge lack in that they go about.  
¶ For he ne zeal ne knowledge had, but drove to spend the time:  
He passed not with what kind of men nor of what kind of crime.  
¶ So he by flattering might obtain to live by other's sweat:  
Ne Lands he had ne hands did seek to get the bread he eat.  
¶ But here & there with Thrasoes brood the simple to deride:  
But chief a scoffer of God's word as often he was tried.  
¶ A Plesemen right which served the time though fed with Romish hope:  
And now behold the Saint he served hath blest him with a Rope.  
¶ A fool bewitched he was of some who watched the falling Skies.  
And looked for Larks but purpose missed his flesh must feed the Flies.  
¶ An irreligious Traitor was this Felton, trust me true:  
A fit resembler in our time of Eleazar the Iew.  
¶ Companion with Ichocanan nay Schimions equal mate:  
Which sought Iherusalem to spoils by their dissentious bate.  
¶ And as for any sign that was in him of godly fear:  
His most licentious life did show his heart came never there.  
¶ That his very end whereas he saw it would not be:  
But that he must as Traitor rank go scale the Gallow tree.  
¶ Then fear of death 'gan prick his flesh which wicked men doth touch:  
When their sleause, their conscsence pricks and burdens them comuch.  
¶ As Caïn and judas over afraid with God's eternal ire:  
Yet some will say that Felton did God's mercy then desire.  
¶ In deed in Popish sort he showed himself then to telent:  
But who can say he showed such faith as made him right repent?  
¶ Of wandering faith he showed sun taffe as Papists use to hold:  
That Christ their saviour is in part, but faith was not (be bold)  
¶ In him that made him then to say Christ is my saviour:  
Ne that he trusted only sure salvation by his power.  
¶ Ne called he back his sclandero ' words, he spoke against God's truth:  
Ne did gainsay his traitorous blast before both age and youth.  
¶ Which he had spoke aghast our Queen before in judgement hall:  
But only for this fact here done, her mercy I do call.  
¶ (said he) for this offence of mine here done that she forgive:  
But from the rest against her power and Throne he did not mean.  
¶ He had before denied her grace our lawful Queen to be:  
And of her Supreme power (he said) she aught not have it she.  
¶ O traitorous heart, o Martyr vile, such Martyrs now a days:  
Would fain be made to mortar thin to stop the hollow ways.  
¶ He never once relented this not once before his death:  
But as malicious Traitor, he on Gallows gave his breath.  
¶ Whereas he said in midst Guild Hall, before the judgement seat:  
That they might well his body take, but more they could not get.  
¶ For why? his soul he had commit unto his hollow hope:  
To jesus Christ? to him think ye? nay to his dad the Pope.  
¶ O Traitor bold to Christ God o proud blasphemou●●ung:  
That ever popish ignorance should rest in old or young.  
¶ when Christ hath shed his dearest blood when Christ's heart was rend:  
When Christ hath paid the price for us his Father to content.  
¶ Shall we once dare alas to say, when other name is none:  
But jesus Christ to save our souls by his dear death alone?  
¶ That Pius Pope our souls can save which can not save himself:  
But yield his power to mortal death o blinded Romish elf.  
¶ Was Paul for us once crucified? was Mary, Mark or john?  
Not, not, it was our jesus Christ to whom be praise alone.  
¶ But Papists make of him lest count, which took the greatest pain:  
And all their trust is still in them that give the smallest gain.  
¶ If Felton had those woordis denied, though even at the last end:  
I would have said and many more, he had been Christ's friend.  
¶ His death was nothing Martyr like, he died a Papist blind:  
An Enemy to Christ and Queen, a Monster out of kinds.  
¶ A new start by Herostratus, to get himself a name:  
Though that his deed and end shallbe aye to his endless shame.  
¶ For as the fame of Godly men shall overlive the grave:  
So Fame doth yield to wicked men the right that they should have.  
¶ So long as Guild Hall doth remain, there shall remain like wise:  
A memory of felton's facts, before all people's eyes.  
¶ john Felton Traitor which denied the Queen our supreme head:  
john Felton Traitor which advanced the Pope his Bull of lead.  
¶ john Felton Traitor which did seek a foreign power to place:  
Against our Queen Elizabeth, high Treason to her grace.  
¶ john Felton Traitor which so railed against the judges grave:  
john Felton Traitor, which denied his judgement for to have.  
¶ Yea if that men do want to read the Livelles that are writ:  
The paving stones will witness bear his Treason to requited.  
¶ His blasphemies. his raging spite, his brainless wilful talk,  
Dame Fame with Echo shall refound in every cave to walk.  
¶ john Felton Papist here was reigned, that Traitorous rebelméer:  
That faithless man, that Hypocrite received judgement here.  
¶ So long as Newgate stands in sight, his memory shall last:  
And witness bear what blasphemies out of his mouth he cast.  
¶ When learned men & Preachers grave be stowed their learned pain:  
To win his Soul to jesus Christ how he did them disdain.  
¶ How obstinately he did rest in his unskilful mind:  
That none could him persuade to see he was so wilful blind.  
¶ That shall the Stones of Newgate tell, if Papists would deny:  
And how he did advance the Pope which made him sense so high.  
¶ Refusing council of God's Book none could persuade his heart:  
In any point to trust the truth whereby he should convert.  
¶ The stairs there in morn can tell how Preachers did exhort:  
That he would change his foolish mind 〈◊〉 Christ the strongest Fort.  
¶ But still he said, I am right well persuaded sure I:  
And as I am persuaded, so I mean in that to die.  
¶ In Christ if his persuasion were no doubt there was no shame:  
But that unto the Church of GOD he might have cold the same.  
¶ For (Cord creditur) saith Paul with heart to think makes just:  
But (Over fit) Confession is salvation sure to trust.  
¶ But his Confession there did tell, what faith was in his mind:  
Anto his saviour jesus Christ truly but small to find  
But to the Pope that horned beast his heart was fixed full sure:  
And it to leave while life did last none could him once procure.  
¶ The Draile whereon he lay fast bound in midst old bailie street:  
Shall tell that Preachers words for aye which then there did him meet.  
¶ O Felton (said he) now relent now doth approach the time:  
When it wild to late for qrée for too repent thy crime.  
¶ Now yield to Christ, trust in his blood ●e●y the Pope and all:  
Defy his Bulls and Pardons vile, which have begun thy thrall.  
¶ GOD yet doth offer thee his grace, Christ jesus spreads his arms:  
Yet to receive thy soul to grace and to prevent thy harms.  
¶ But he as graceless héeld on still in latin Prayers tho:  
And gave no ear unto the man that did exhort him so.  
¶ At last the Preacher said again, o Felton yet forsake  
Thy errors blind, by jesus Christ a perfect end to make.  
¶ As though (said he) most stoutly then, ye would the People blaze:  
And make them think I died not well this said he without maze.  
¶ So may they think (quoth he again) except thou do repent:  
Because against both Christ & Queen, thy Treason thou hast bend.  
¶ O judge me not (quoth Felton then) I'll judge (quod th'other) thee:  
For Christ hath taught me by the fruteꝭ always to judge the Tree.  
¶ While thou art here I judge thy deed but GOD shall judge thee aye:  
And if thou do not now repent, Hell fire shallbe thy pay.  
¶ All this benignity of GOD, this Felton did despise:  
And gave no ear till as he saw the Gallows with his eyes.  
¶ Which Gallow tréein Paul's Church yard shall tell the endless shame:  
Of Felton there for Treason hanged to peril of his name.  
¶ And eke the Ground shall witness bear how Conscience his was urged:  
By Preachers, which by truth did hope his heart then to have purged.  
¶ But GOD (I think) had them shut up the bowels of his grace:  
To him, whose stubborn heart before refused truth to embrace.  
¶ For Miserere on his knees all trembling he did say:  
But softly to himself that few could hear what he did pray.  
¶ Belike he thought as Papists do, the Latin to excel:  
And so he thought his prayer said therein to be full well.  
¶ For he did never once desire God's people to assist  
Him in his prayers he then made, but did even as he list.  
¶ Much les then to repent his fall and turn to GOD by grace:  
On Ladder he 'gan spoke aloud, maintaining of his case.  
¶ And purged his heart of Treason quite that ever it was clear:  
Which when the worthy Sheriff heard, he said that all might hear.  
¶ Felton, a more malicious feat of Treason never was:  
Then thou a Traitor rank hast wrought and falsely brought to pass.  
¶ Then was he hanged up a while, in what a case GOD knows:  
Such as have judgement in the act, I leave the end to those.  
¶ Cut down he was and lived again, but after spoke not much:  
For why? the Executioner served him but a Traitors touch.  
¶ So no good sign in life or death of any Christian mind:  
But as he lived (I say) he died a paruerst Papist blind.  
¶ But this may make the Papists joy, that they had one so stout:  
For their Relgion and their love, to pass such torments out:  
¶ But let them stay, Religion was no cause why he so died:  
But sure because the English laws a Traitor rank him fried.  
¶ He would have made Religion his plea when he was brought  
To his examination, but that prevailed him naught.  
¶ For his Religion hey had not to deal with him at all:  
But for high Treason he was judged, in midst of the GuiIde Hall.  
¶ And when he saw Religious excuse could not his torment stay:  
But that he must by force of Law to Traitor's death obey.  
¶ Such Spirit him led as in him was most wilfully to stand  
Against God's truth which now is preached throughout this Britain Land.  
¶ So, so mtime GOD for sinners sakes doth give the Devil power:  
To hold men's minds in error fast, that he should them devour.  
¶ And Satan is so false himself that he can soon infect  
All such with vile Hypocrisy whom GOD will so reject.  
¶ But sure I think if Treason has not brought him to his death:  
Religion never was so dear to him as t'end his breath.  
¶ For never yet was heard or seen for such Religion's sake:  
That any only have been brought to die at Block or Stake.  
¶ Full many of that godless sect have been attainted sure:  
And have for Treason suffered smarts as Law doth right procure.  
¶ And have in judgement and in death as destitute of grace:  
Continewd as this Felton did which makes me rue his case.  
¶ For sure his bodies death I naught at all did then lament:  
But death of body and of souls doth make my heart relent.  
¶ Beware ye papists all take heed I read you yet beware:  
And cast all Popery from your hearts take heed of hellish roar.  
¶ And if you will not, yet be true to GOD and our good Queen:  
I pray to GOD that all your ends as Felton's may be seen.  
¶ And GOD save Queen Elizabeth from Papists will and power:  
That sharpened sword by Gospels force may all her Foes devour.  
Amen.  
qd T. Knel. juni.