Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

¶A prayer and confession of W. Flower.

OH eternall God, most mighty and mercifull father, who hast sent downe thy sonne vpon the earth,* 1.1 to saue me & all man∣kynd, who ascended vp into heauen agayne, and left hys bloud here vpon the earth behynd hym, for the redemption of our sins, haue mercy vpon me, haue mercy vppon me, for thy deare sonne our sauiour Iesus Christes sake, in whom I confesse onely to bee all saluation and iustification, and that there is none other mean, nor way▪ nor holynes, in which, or by which any man can be sa∣ued in this world. This is my fayth, which I beseech all men here to beare witnesse of.

Then he sayd the Lords prayer, and so made an end.

Then M. Cholmley came to him, willyng hym to re∣cant his heresie,* 1.2 whereby he might do good to the people, or els he would be damned.

Flower answered as followeth. Sir, I beseech you for Gods sake be contented: for that I haue sayd, I haue said, and I haue bene of this fayth from the beginnyng: and I trust to the liuyng God hee will geue me his holy spi∣rite to continue to the ende. Then he desired all the world to forgeue hym whome he had offended, as he forgaue all the world.

This done, first his hand beyng held vp agaynst the stake, was stroken of, his left hand beyng stayed behynde hym. At the which striking of his hand, certaine that were present beholders of the matter, and purposely obseruyng the same, credibly enformed vs, that he in no part of hys body did once shrinke at the strikyng therof, but once a lit∣tle he stirred his shoulders.

And thus fire was set vnto hym, who burning therein cried with a loud voyce: Oh the sonne of God haue mercye vpon me, Oh the sonne of God receyue my soule, three tymes, and so his spech beyng taken from hym, he spake no more, liftyng vp notwithstandyng his stumpe with hys other arme, as long as he could.

And thus endured this constant witnes and faythfull seruaunt of God, the extremitie of the fire, beyng therein cruelly handled, by reason that to his burning little wood was brought, so that for lacke of fagots there not suffici∣ent to burne hym, they were fayne to strike hym downe into the fire. Where he lying along (which was dolefull to behold) vpon the ground, hys nether part was consu∣med in the fire, whilest hys vpper part was cleane with∣out the fire, hys tongue in all mens sight still moouyng in hys mouth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Flowers prayer.
• * 1.2

  Talke betweene W. Flower and M. Cholmely.