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.

¶Thomas Sprat of Kent, Tanner

VNto these afore rehearsed examples of Gods blessed prouidence towardes his seruauntes,* 1.1 may also be ad∣ded the happy deliueraunce of Thomas Sprat and Willi∣am Porrege his companion, now Minister. Whose story briefly to course ouer, is this.

This Thomas Sprat had bene seruaunt sometimes to one M. Brent a Iustice,* 1.2 and a heauy persecutour, and therefore forsaking his Mayster for religious sake, he wēt to Calice, from whence he vsed often with the sayd Willi∣am Porrege for theyr necessary affayres, to haue a recourse into England.

It so happened about the fourthe yeare of Queene Maryes raygne, that they landing vppon a tyme of Do∣uer, and taking theyr iourny together toward Sandwich sodenly vppon the way within three myles of Douer, met with the foresayd M. Brent, the two Blachendens, and o¦ther Gentlemen moe, with theyr seruaunts, to the num∣ber of x. or xii. horses.* 1.3 Of the which two Blachendens, be∣ing both haters and enemies of Gods worde and people, the one had perfect knowledge of William Porrege, the o∣ther had not seene him, but onely hadde heard of his name before.

Thus they being in the way where this Iustice wyth his mates shuld meete them directly in the face, Thomas Sprat first espying M. Brent, was sore dismayde, saying to hys companion: yonder is M. Brent. William Porrege God haue haue mercy vpon vs. Well quoth the other, se∣ing now there is no remedy, let vs go in our waye. And so thinking to passe by them,* 1.4 they kept themselues aloufe, as it were a score off from them, Thomas Sprat also sha∣dowing his face with his cloke.

Notwithstanding, one of M. Brentes seruauntes ad∣uising him better then his mayster did: yonder, sayd he to his Mayster, is Thomas Sprat. At whiche wordes they all rayned theyr horses, and called for Thomas Sprat to come to them. They cal you, sayd William Porrege. Now here is no remedy but we are takē: and so perswaded him to go to them being called, for that there was no escaping from so many horsemen in those playnes and downes, where was no wood neare them by a myle, nor hedge ney¦ther, but onely one, which was a byrdbolt shot off.

* 1.5All this notwithstanding, Sprat stayed and woulde not go. Then they called agayne, sitting still on horseback. Ah sirra, quoth the Iustice? why come ye not hether? And still his companion moued him to go, seyng there was no other shift to flee away. Nay, sayd Sprat, I will not goe to them, and therwithall tooke hys legges, running to the hedge that was next him. They seeyng that, sette spurres to their horse, thinking by and by to haue hym, and that it was vnpossible for him to escape their hands, as it was in deede,* 1.6 they beyng on horse backe and he on foote, had not y^e Lorde myraculously deliuered his seely seruant frō the gaping mouth of the Lyon ready to deuour him.

For as God would, so it fell out that hee had got ouer the hedge, skrawling through the bushes, when as they were euen at his heeles, striking at him with theyr swords out of the Blachendens crying cruelly: cut off one of hys legges.

Thus Sprat had scarsely recouered the hedge from hys enemies, when one of M. Brentes seruaunts,* 1.7 which had bene fellow sometymes in house with him, followed him in hys bootes: and certayne rode vp at one side of the hedge, and certayne at the other, to meete him at the vp∣per end.

Now while they were following the chase after Tho¦mas Sprat, onely one remayned with William Porrege (who was one of the Blachendens, not he whiche knewe him, but the other) who began to question with hym: not asking what was hys name (as God would (for then hee had bene knowne and taken: but from whence hee came and how he came into Sprats company, and whether he went: Unto whome he aunswered and sayd: from Calyce and that Sprat came ouer with him in the passage boate, and they two were goyng to Sandwich, and so wythout any more questions he let him depart.

Anone as he kept along the hedge, one of the horsemen which rode after Sprat, returning backe,* 1.8 and meeting w^t the sayd W. Porrege, demaunded the very same questions as the other had done, to whome he made also the like an∣swere as afore, and so departed, taking an other contrary way from the meeting of the other horsman. And thus W. Porrege escaped.

Now concerning Thomas Sprat, he being pursued on the one side by horsemen,* 1.9 on the other side by his own fellow, who followed after hym in his bootes, crying: you were as good to tarry, for we will haue you, we will haue you: yet notwithstanding he still kept on his course till at length he came to a steepe downe hil at y^e hedge end, downe the which hil he ran from them, for they could not ride downe the hill, but must fetch a great compasse about and so this Thomas Sprat ran almost a mile, and as god would got a Wood.* 1.10

By that tyme he came to the Wood, they were euen at hys heeles: but the night drew on, and it began to rayne and so the malice of these persecutors was at an ende, the Lord working for his seruauntes, whose name be praised for euer and euer, Amen.

Not long after this, one of the two Blanchendens a∣foresayd, which so cruelly sought the destruction of other, was cruelly murdered by hys owne seruauntes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The story of Thomas Sprat & William Por∣rege.
• * 1.2

  M. Brent Iustice in Kent, a perse∣cutour.
• * 1.3

  The two Bla∣chendens in Kent, persecu∣tours.
• * 1.4

  Thomas Sprat almost taken in the way by the Iustice.
• * 1.5

  Thomas Sprat called of the Iustice but would not come.
• * 1.6

  God alwayes stronger then the deuill.
• * 1.7

  Thomas Sprat got∣teth ouer the hedge from his persecuto••••.
• * 1.8

  William Porrege escapeth.
• * 1.9

  The Lord disposing the way of his ser∣uauntes.
• * 1.10

  Thomas Sprat deli∣uered by Gods helpe from his ad∣uersaryes.