¶The Congregation in London.
* 1.1NO lesse maruellous was the preseruation of the con∣gregation in London, which from the first beginning of Queene Mary, to the latter end thereof, continued not∣withstynding whatsoeuer the malice, deuise, searching and inquisition of men, or streitnes of lawes could work to the contrary. Such was the mercifull hand of the Lord, accor∣ding to his accustomed goodnes, euer working with hys people. Of this great bountifull goodnes of the Lord, ma∣ny and great examples appered in the congregation whi∣che now I speake of. How oft, and in what great daūgers did he deliuer them?
* 1.2First at the Blacke Friers, when they should haue re∣sorted to Syr Thomas Cardens house, priuy watch was layd for them, but yet through the Lordes vigilant proui∣dence the mischiefe was preuented, and they deliuered.
Agayne howe narrowly did they escape about Algate, where spies were layd for them,* 1.3 & had not Thomas Sim∣son the Deacō espied them, and bid them disperse thēselues away, they had bene taken. For within two houres the Constable comming to the house after they were gone, de∣maunded of the wife what company had bene there. To whom she to excuse the matter, made aunswere agayne: saying that halfe a dosen good fellowes had bene there at breakefast, as they went a maying.
An other time also about the great conduit, they pas∣sing there through a very strayt Alley, into a Cloth wor∣kers loft, were espied, and the Sheriffes sent for but before they came, they hauing priuy knowledge thereof immedi∣atly shifted away out of the Alley,* 1.4 Iohn Auales standing alone in the Mercers Chappell staring at them.
An other like escape they made in a ship at Billinsgate belonging to a certayne good man of Ley, where in the o∣pen sight of the people they were congregated together, & yet through Gods mighty power escaped.
Betwixt Ratcliffe and Redriffe, in a ship, called Iesus Ship, twise or thrise they assembled hauing there closely,* 1.5 after theyr accustomed maner, both Sermon, prayer & cō∣munion, and yet through the protection of the Lorde they returned, although not vnspied, yet vntaken.
Moreouer in a Coopers house in Pudding Lane, so neare they were to perill and daungers, that Iohn A∣uales comming into the house where they were,* 1.6 talked with the good man of the house, and after he had asked a question or two, departed, God so working that either he had no knowledge of them, or no power to apprehend them.
But they neuer escaped more hardly, thē once in Tha∣mes street in the night time,* 1.7 where the house being besette with enemies, yet as the Lord would, they were deliuered by the meanes of a Mariner, who being at that present in the same cōpany, and seing no other way to auoyd, pluckt of his slops, and swam to the next boate, and so rowed the company ouer, vsing his shooes in steed of owres, & so the ieopardy was dispatched.
I haue heard of one who being sent to thē to take their names, and to espy theyr doinges, yet in being amongest them was conuerted and cryed them all mercy.
What should I speak of the extreame and present daū∣ger whiche that Godly companye was in at the taking of maister Rough theyr minister,* 1.8 and Cutbert Simson their Deacon, had not the Lords prouidence geuen knowledge before to maister Rough in his sleepe that Cutbert should leaue behinde him at home the booke of all theyr names, which he was wont to cary about him? whereof mention is made before. pag, 2034.
In this Church or congregation were sometyme xl. sometymes an hundred, sometimes two hundred, some∣tymes mo, and sometymes lesse. About the latter tyme of Queene Mary, it greatly increased. From the first begin∣nyng, which was about the first entry of Queen Maries reigne, they had diuers ministers, first M. Scamler, then Thom. Fowle, after him M. Rough,* 1.9 then M. Augustine Bernher, and last M. Bentham. Concerning the deliue∣rance of which M. Bentham (beyng now B. of Couentry and Lichfield) Gods mighty prouidence most notably is to be considered. For how is it possible by mans estimati∣on, for the sayd M. Bentham to haue escaped, had not the present power of the Lord, passing all mens expectation, bene prest and redy to helpe his seruaunt in such a straite. The story and case is this.
At what tyme the vij. last burned in Smithfield,* 1.10 men∣tioned in this booke before, pag. 2039. were condemned & brought to the stake to suffer, came downe in the name of the king and Queene a proclamation, beyng twise pro∣nounced openly to the people, first at Newgate,* 1.11 then at the stake where they should suffer, straightly charging and commanding, that no man should either pray for them, or speake to them, or once say God helpe them.
It was appointed before of the godly there standyng together, which was a great multitude, that so soone as the prisoners should be brought, they should goe to them to embrace and to comfort them, and so they did. For as the sayd Martyrs were comming toward the place in the peoples sighte, beyng brought with bils & glaues (as the custome is) the godly multitude and Congregation with a generall sway made toward the prisoners, in such ma∣ner, that the byllmē and the other officers beyng all thrust backe, could nothyng do, nor any thing come nigh.* 1.12 So the godly people meetyng and embracing, and kissing them, brought them in their armes (which might as easily haue conueied them cleane away) vnto the place where they should suffer.
This done, and the people geuing place to the Offi∣cers, the proclamation with a loud voyce was read to the people, containyng (as is before sayd) in the K. & Queens name, that no man should pray for them, or once speake a word vnto them. &c. Maister Bentham, the minister then of the congregation, not sparyng for that,* 1.13 but as zeale and Christian charitie mooued hym, and seeyng the fire set to them, turnyng his eyes to the people, cried and sayd: We