Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] 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.

¶The story and death of George Eagles, other∣wise termed Trudgeouer, a most paynefull tra∣uayler in Christes Gospell, who for the same Gospell most cruelly was martyred by the cruell papistes.

AMong other Martirs of singular vertue and constan∣cie,* 1.1 one George Eagles deserueth not the least admy∣ration, but is so much the more to be commended, for that he hauing little learning or none, most manfully serued & fought vnder the banner of Christes Churche. For often∣times the will and pleasure of God is to beautifie & adorn his kingdome w^t the weake & simple instruments of this world: such as in the old Testament Amos was, who w^t many other of obscure and vnknowne names, were called from the heardes and soldes to the honour of Prophetes: as likewise we read of the Apostles that were called from fishermens craft, and put into churches. Wherefore thys George Eagles is not to be neglected for his base occupa∣tion, whome Christ called thence to set foorth and declare abroad his Gospell. Rather we ought to glorifie GOD the more thereby in his holinesse, whiche in so blinde a time inspired him with the gift of preaching, and constan∣cie of suffering: who after a certayne time hee had vsed the occupation of a Taylor, being eloquent and of good vtte∣raunce, gaue and applyed himselfe to the profite of christes Church.

Which man, as before in those moste bright and cleare dayes of king Edw. the 6. he had not vnfruitfully shewed and preached the power & force of y^e Lorde: so afterward in the tempestious time and fall of the churche (at what tyme the confessours of Christ and hys Gospell were turmoy∣led, diuers of thē murthered, parte banished, & other some constrained for feare not to shew their heades) he expressed and vttered his manly stomacke. For he wandring abroad into diuers and farre Countryes,* 1.2 where he could finde a∣ny of his brethren, he did there moste earnestly encourage & comfort them, not tarying in this town, and sometyme abidyng in that certayn mōthes together, as occasion ser∣ued, lodgyng sometyme in the Countrey & sometime for feare liuing in fieldes & woods, who for his immoderate & vnreasonable goyng abroad, was called Trudgeouer. Oftentimes he did lye abroad in the night without couert spending the most part thereof in deuout and earnest pray¦er.

His dyet was so aboue measure spare and sclender, that for the space of three yeares, he vsed for the moste parte, to drinke nothing but very water, whereunto he was com∣pelled through necessitie of the time of persecution: & after whē he perceaued that his body by Gods prouidence pro∣ued well enough with this dyet, he thought best to inure himselfe therwithall agaynst all necessities.

Now when he had profited Christes Churche in thys sort, by going about and preaching the Gospell a yeare or two, and especially in Colchester and the quarters thera∣bout, that priuie enemy which enuieth alwayes the sal∣uation and blessed estate of the good, lurketh & layeth wait by all meanes possible for hym, so that there were diuers espies sent out, who had in commaundement, where soeuer they found him, to bring him eyther quicke or dead.

But when this their attempt could not preuayle, but al was in vayne (the sayd Eagles with his brethren keping in close, and hiding themselues in out and darke places, as in barnes, thickets, holes, and priuy closets) hys aduer¦saries wēt about an other way to compasse this theyr en∣terprise of taking him. For in the Queenes name a gree∣uous Edicte was proclaymed throughout foure Shyres Essex, Suffolke, Kent, and Northfolke, promising y^e party that tooke him, twenty pound for his paynes: doubtles a worthy hyre to entice any Iew to treachery. For being in∣flamed with greedy desire of the mony, deuised and inuē∣ted al waies and reasons they could possible to be enriched with the hurt and destruction of this sely man.

At length it came to passe, that this George being seene by chaunce at Colchester vpō Mary Magdalens day, at which tyme they kept a Fayre in the Towne, should haue foorthw^t ben deliuered to hys aduersaries, if he perceiuing the same (as God would haue it) had not conueyed hym∣selfe away as fast as he could, a great multitude pursuing after, and seeking dilligently for him. Who first hid hym∣selfe in a Groue, and then from thence he stole into a corne field there by, and so laye secretly couched from the vyo∣lence of his enemies, in so muche as they were all, sauyng one, past hope of taking him, and therefore readye to de∣part their way.

This one hauing more subtilly and wicked craft in his head then the rest, woulde not depart thence with his fel∣lowes, but climed vp into a high tree, there to view & espy if he might see Eagles any where stir or moue. The poore man thinking al sure enough, by reason that hee heard no noyse abroad, rose vp vpon his knees, and lifting vpp his hands, prayed vnto God.* 1.3 And whether it were for y^t hys head was aboue the corne, or because his voice was heard the lurker perceiuing hys desired pray that hee hunted af∣ter, forthwith came downe, and sodaynly laying hands on him, brought him as prisoner to Colchester. Notwithstan¦ding the gredy and Iudas knaue which had so much pro∣mised him, was faine to be contented with a very smal re∣ward, and glad to take that too, least he shoulde haue had nothing at all.

This George, not without great lamentation of dy∣uers good men: and great lacke vnto the Church of God (of whiche to his power hee was a worthye instrument) was committed to prison there, and from thence wythin 4. dayes after conueyed to Chelmsford, where he abode all that night in deuout prayer, and would not sleepe, neither would eat or drinke, but bread and water. The next day he was caryed to London to the Bishop or the Counsayle, and there remayned a certayne time, & then was brought downe to Chelmsford to the Sessions, and there was in∣dited and accused of treason, because hee had assembled cō∣panyes together, contrary to the lawes and statutes of the Realme in that case prouided. For so it was ordayned a li∣tle before, to auoyd sedition, that if men shoulde flocke se∣cretly together, aboue the number of six, they shoulde be attached of treason: which strayte lawe was the casting a∣way of the good Duke of Somerset before mentioned.

And albeit it was well known that poore Eagles did neuer any thing seditiously against y^e Queene, yet to cloke an honest matter withall, and to cause hym to be the more hated of the people, they turned religion into a ciuill of∣fence and crime, and though he defended his cause stoutly and boldly, making a full declaration of his religion or fayth before the Iudges: yet could he not bryng to passe by any meanes, but that hee must neeedes be indicted (as is sayd) of treason, whose inditement did runne muche after this fashion.

George Eagles, thou art indicted by y^e name of George Eagles, otherwise Trudgeouer the worlde, for that thou didst such a day make thy prayer, that God shoulde turne Queene Maryes hart, or els take her away.* 1.4

He denyed that he prayed that God should take her a∣way, but he confessed that he prayed that God would turn her hart in his prayer. Well, notwithstanding he was con∣demned for a traytor, although the meaning thereof was for Religion.

This thing done, he was caryed to the new Inne, cal∣led the signe of the Crowne in Chelmsforde, by the beastly Bayliffes, which some of them were they that before dyd the best to take him, and being in the Inne, one Richard Potto the elder,* 1.5 an Inholder, dwelling at the signe of the Cocke in the same towne, did muche trouble him in per∣swading him to cōfesse he had offended the Queene in his prayer which he was condemned for, and to aske her for∣geuenes.

To whome he sayd hee had not offended her Grace in that behalfe. So in processe of time he was layd vppon a Sled with an Hurdle on it, and drawne to the place of ex∣ecution being fast bounde, hauing in his hand a Psalme booke, of the whiche he read very deuoutly all the way w^t a loud voyce till he came there: and being on the Ladder, this foresayd Potto did much trouble him w^t the matter a∣foresayd, when he would haue vttered other thinges, tyll such time as the Sheriffe commaunded Potto to hold his peace and trouble him no more.

So he made his confession and stood very constant stil then he was turned of the ladder. With him were cast cer∣tayn theeues also, and y^e next day when they wer brought out to be executed with him, there happened a thing that did much set forth and declare the innocency and godlines of this man. For being ledde betweene two theeues to the place where he should suffer, when as hee exhorted bothe them & all other, to stand steadfastly to the truth, one of these turned the counsel he gaue, into a iesting matter, and made but a floute of it.

Why should we doubt to obtayne heauen, sayth he, for as much as this holy man shal go before vs, as captayne and leader vnto vs in the way. We shall flee thether strayt as soone as he hath once made vs the entry.

In this, George Eagles and that other did greatly re¦proue him, who on y^e other side gaue good heed to Georges exhortation, earnestly be wayling his owne wickednes, & calling to Christ for mercy. But the more that the first was bid to be still and to leaue off his scoffing, the more per∣uerse did he continue in hys foolishnes and his wicked be¦hauiour. At length he came to the Gallowes, where they shoulde bee hanged, but George was caryed to an other place there by to suffer. Betweene the two it was y^e god∣lyers chaunce to go the foremost, who beyng vpon y^e lad∣der, after he had exhorted the people to beware and take heede to thēselues, how they did transgresse y^e commaun∣dementes of God, and then hadde committed his soule in to Gods handes, he ended his life after a godly and quyet maner.

The mockers turn commeth next, which would haue sayd likewise somewhat, but his tongue did so fumble and falter in his head,* 1.6 that hee was not able to speake a word. Fayne would he haue vttered his mind, but he coulde not bring it out. Then did the vnder Sheriffe bid him say the Lordes prayer, which he coulde not say neyther, but stut∣teringly, as a man would saye, one word to day, and an o∣ther to morowe. Then one did begin to say it, and so bad him say after.

Such as were there and saw it, were very much asto∣nyed: especially those that did beholde the iust punishment of God, agaynst him that had mocked so earnest a matter. George Eagles in the meane tyme, after hee had hanged a small time, hauing a great check with the halter, immedi∣ately one of the Bayliffes cut the halter a sunder, & hee fell to the ground being still aliue, although much amased w^t the checke he had of the ladder.

* 1.7The one William Swallow of Chelmsford a Bayliffe did draw him to the Sledde, y^t he was drawn thether on, and layd his necke thereon, and with a Cleauer, such as is occupyed in many mens kitchins, and blunt, did hackle off his head, and sometime hit his necke, and sometyme his chinne, and did fowly māgle him, and so opened him. Notwithstanding this blessed Martyr of Christe abode steadfast and constant in the very midst of his tormentes, till such time as this tormentor William Swallowe dyd plucke the hart out of his body. The bodye being deuided in foure partes, and his bowels burnt, was brought to y^e foresayd Swallowes dore, and there layd vppon the fishe stalles before his dore, till they had made ready a horse to cary his quarters, one to Colchester, and the reste to Har∣wich, Chelmsford and S. Rouses.

His head was set vpp at Chelmsforde on the Market Crosse on a long pole,* 1.8 and there stoode till the winde dyd blowe it downe, and lying certayne dayes in the streete tumbled about, one caused it to be buryed in the Church∣yarde in the night. Also a wonderfull work of God was it that he shewed on this wicked Bayliffe Swallow, who within short space after this was so punished, that all the heare went welnere of his head, hys eyes were as it were closed vp and could scant see, the nayles of his fingers and toes went cleane off. He was in such case of his bodye, as though he had bene a leper,* 1.9 and now in his last age almost a very begger, and his wife which he a little after maried God hath punished with the falling sickenes, or a disease like vnto that: which may be a warning or glasse for al mē and women to look in, that be enemies to Gods true ser∣uauntes.* 1.10

No lesse token of his marueilous iudgement did God shewe vppon the foresayde Richard Potto, whiche did so much trouble this George Eagles in the Inne, and at the place of execution, as is aboue specified. He liued til the be¦ginning of Queene Elizabethes raygne, al which time he little ioyed, & on a time being in a great chaufe wyth two or three of his neighbors in his own house, feeling himself not well, he said to one of hys seruantes: Goe with me in to the chamber & when hee came there, he fell downe on a low bed, as heauy as it had bene lead, & laye there fomyng at the mouth, & coulde neuer speake after, neyther yet vn∣derstand what was sayd to him, as by al meanes was tri∣ed by his neighbors with signes to him made, but laye as senceles as it had bene a very dumb beast, and within three or foure dayes dyed. God graunt that this token sente of God, with many moe like, may bee a warning to vs euer hereafter, while we shall liue vnto the worlds end.

Besides this, God hathe wonderfully shewed hys worke. For at a time when they layd great wayte for thys George Eagles: so that it was thought that it was vnpos¦sible but that he should be taken being so beset, his frends did put him in a Prentice apparill, that is to say, watche•• hose, as their maner is, and an old cloke, and set him on a packe of woll, as though he had ridden to carry woll to y^e spinners, so he rode amongst the midst of his aduersaries and escaped them al for that time. An other troubler of the sayd George Eagles was also Iustice Browne, who en∣ioyed not his cruelty many yeares after. &c.

Also when hee was at the Sessions at Chelmsforde, there was a rumor raysed that hee had accused diuers ho∣nest men that dyd keepe him in theyr houses, and was con¦uersaunt with him, and all to discredite him, which rumor was very false and vtterly vntrue. Witnes one Reynold, with diuers other dwelling in Chelmsford.

Notes

• * 1.1

  George Eagles Martyred.
• * 1.2

  The paynefull trauell of George Eagles.
• * 1.3

  Quo non mortalia pectora cogis, auri sac••a fames. Virg. Aene∣id. 1.
• * 1.4

  George Ea••gles indit••∣ment.
• * 1.5

  Richard Potto In∣••older at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cocke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chelms∣••••rd.
• * 1.6

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.7

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 iust punishment 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 persecu∣••••••.
• * 1.9

  W Swallowes wyfe punished with the fal∣ling sicknes.
• * 1.10

  Gods iudgemēt vpon Richard Potto an other persecutor of George Eagles.