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.

*A Letter of M. Robert Glouer, to the Maior of Couentry and his brethren.

I Beseech you to vnderstand, that it is not vnknowen as well to the Keeper of the Gaole, as to the inhabitants about me where I dwell, that I am a man subiect to very great sicknesse, and haue bene by the space of seuen yeares and more, so that it is not like that I shall be remooued without perill and danger of lyfe. And because I was here committed to Warde by your appoyntment, I would gladly here aunswer to such thyngs as should bee layed to my charge. If I may obtayne this of you, I haue cause thank∣fully to reknowledge your indifferencie: if otherwyse, I praye God it be not layd to your charge at the great day, where euery man shall haue iust iudgement without respect of person.

Your prisoner in the Lord, alwayes myndefull of you in my poore prayer. Rob. Glouer.

But I receiued no answer of my letters to nor fro, I coniectured, that when the B. and the Chancellor had seen thē, it mooued thē the rather to haue me away, beyng more desirous (as I suppose) to haue had me dispatched priuily in prison, then to come openly to my answer. The maner of entreating and vsing me at my first commyng to pri∣son, did partly declare the same.

Certayne Sergeaunts and Constables of Couentry, beyng appointed to haue the conueying of vs to Lichfield to be deliuered there to one Iephcot the Chancellors man sent from Couētry with vs for the same purpose, we were commaunded to horsebacke about xj. or xij. of the clocke on Friday, beyng market day, that we might be the more ga∣sed and wondered at: and to kindle the peoples heartes more agaynst vs, they did proclayme a letter cōcernyng a proclamation made for calling in & disanullyng of all such bookes as truely expound and interprete the Scriptures. We came to Lichfield about 4. of the clocke at night, & had leaue to repose our selues for our Supper tyme. We inned at the signe of the Swanne, where wee were entertayned friendly and gently.

After supper Iephcot repaired to vs, whome we in∣treated that vpon sureties we myght rest our selues that nyght, beyng vnprouided of any thyng to help our selues withall in the prison at that present. He was content at the first (as he semed) but afterwards, whether it was by per∣swasion, or rather (as it seemed to me) he did but of polli∣cie put of the tyme till he had gathered a multitude to stare and wonder vpō vs, and also that we should prouide no∣thyng to ease our selues withall: he reuoked his promise, and so by consent we were had to the prison, the multitude wonderyng at vs. I willed Iephcot before, to execute his office with mercy, tellyng him that they should haue iudge¦mēt without mercy, that shewed no mercy. And this mer∣cy I found at his hand.

He put me into a prison the same night, where I con∣tinued vntill I was condemned, a place next to the dun∣geon, narow of rowmes, strong of building, and very cold with small light, and there allowed he me a būdle of straw in stead of my bed, w^tout chaire, forme, or any other thyng els to ease my self withal. God of his mercy gaue me great patience through praier that night, so that if it had ben his pleasure, I could haue bene contented to haue ended my lyfe. But Iephcot & one Persey the bishops man, which afterwardes was my continuall keeper for the most part, came to me in the morning, to whō I said, this is a great extremitie, God send vs patience, and no more.

Then they were content that I should haue a bed of myne owne procurement. But I was allowed no helpe, neither night nor day, nor company of any man, notwith∣standyng my great sickenesse, nor yet paper, pen, nor inke, or bookes, sauyng my new Testament in Latine, & a prai∣er booke which I priuily stole in.

Within two days after, M. Chancellor and one Tem∣sey a Prebendary there, came to me into my prison. Mai∣ster Chauncellour exhorted me to conforme my self to my Lord and to the Church. He wished to my soule no more hurt then to hys owne: belyke because I had layd to hys charge at Couentry, the seekyng of my bloud vniustly and wrongfully.

Now thus the second tyme I answered M. Chancel∣lor to his exhortatiō, that I refused not to be ruled by that church that was content to bee ordered and gouerned by the word of God.

Chaun.

He asked me how I knew the worde of God, but by the Church?

Glouer.

The church sheweth which is the word of God, therefore the Church is aboue the word of God. This is no good reason in learnyng, sayd I to M. Chauncellour. For it is lyke vnto this: Iohn shewed the people who was Christ: Ergo, Iohn was aboue Christ. Or els, I haue a man that knoweth not the kyng, and I tell hym who is the kyng: am I therfore aboue the kyng?

M. Chauncellour sayd, he came not to reason with me and so departed. So remayned I without any further cō∣ference of any man by the space of viij. dayes, and till the Bishops commyng: In the which tyme I gaue my selfe continually to prayer, and meditation of the merciful pro∣mises of God, made vnto all without exception of person, that call vpon the name of his deare sonne Iesus Christ. I found in my selfe daily amendment of health of body, in∣crease of peace in conscience, and many consolations from God by the helpe of his holy spirit, and sometymes, as it were a taste and glimmeryng of the lyfe to come: all for his onely sonne Iesus Christes sake: to hym be all praise for euer and euer.

The enemy ceased not many tymes, sundry wayes to assault me, oftentymes obiectyng to my conscience myne owne vnworthines, through the greatnesse of the benefite to be counted among the number of them that should suf∣fer

for Christ, for his Gospels sake. Against him I replied with the worde of God in this sorte. What were all those whom GOD had chosen from the beginnyng, to be his witnesses, and cary his name before the world? were they not men as Paule and Barnabas sayd, Similiter obnoxij peccato, as well subiect to wickednes, sinne, imperfectiōs, as other men be? Euen such were Noe, Abraham, Da∣uid and all the rest. Quis prior dedit illi, as Paul saith, Who gaue first vnto him? And also speakyng to euery man: What hast thou that thou receiuedst not? Likewise Iohn: All haue receiued of his fulnesse: they were no bringers of any good∣nes to God, but altogether receyuers. They choose not GOD first, but he choose them. They loued not God first, but hee loued them first. Yea, hee both loued and chose them when they were his enemies, full of sinne and corruption, and voyd of all goodnes. Est Dominus omnium, diues in omnes & super omnes inuocantes eum. He is and wil be still the same God, as rich in mercy, as mighty, as able, as ready, as willyng to forgeue sinnes without respect of person, to the worlds end, of all them that call vpon hym. Propè est Dominus omnibus inuocantibus eum: God is nere, he is at hand, he is with all, with all (I say) and refuseth none, excepteth none that faithfully in true repentance call vpon hym, in what houre, what place, or what tyme so euer it bee. It is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man, to burthen God (as it were) with hys promise, and of duetie to clayme and chalenge hys ayde, helpe, and assi∣staunce in all our perils, daungers, and distresse, callyng vpon hym, not in the confidence of our owne godlynesse, but in the trust of his promises made in Christ, in whom, and by whome, and for whose sake, whosoeuer boldly ap∣procheth to the mercy seate of the Father, is sure to receiue whatsoeuer is expedient or necessary eyther for bodye or soule, in more ample wyse and large manner, then hee can well wish, or dare desire. His worde can not lye: Call vp∣pon me in the day of trouble, and I will heare thee, & thou shalt prayse me.

I aunswered the enemy also on this maner: I am a sinner, and therefore not woorthy to bee a witnesse of this truth. What then? Must I deny his worde because I am not woorthy to professe it? What bring I to passe in so do∣yng, but adde sinne to sinne? What is greater sinne then to deny the truth of Christes Gospell? as Christ himself bea∣reth witnesse: Hee that is ashamed of me or of my wordes, of hym I will be also ashamed before my father and all his aungels. I might also by like reason forbeare to do any of gods cō∣mandements.

When I am prouoked to pray, the enemy may say vn∣to me, I am not worthy to pray, therfore I shall not pray: & so in lyke maner of all the commandements: I shall not forbeare swearing, stealing, murthering, because I am not worthy to do any commaundement of God. These be the delusions of the Deuill, and Sathans suggestions, which must be ouercome by continuance of prayer, and with the word of God applied accordyng to the measure of euery mans gift, agaynst all assaults of the Deuill.

At the bishops first comming to Lichfield after myne imprisonment, I was called into a by chamber next to my prison, to my Lord. Before whom when I came and saw none but his officers, chaplains & seruants, except it were an old priest, I was partly amazed and lifted vp my heart to God for his mercifull helpe and assistance.

My Lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment. I gaue hym no aunswer touchyng that question. He proce∣ded to perswade me to be a member of hys Church, which had continued so many yeares. As for our church (as hee called it) it was not knowen, he sayd, but lately in kyng Edwards tyme.

I professe my selfe to be a member of that church (said I) that is builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles & Prophets, Iesus Christ beyng the head corner stone: and so alledged the place of S. Paule to the Ephes. And this Church hath bene from the beginnyng (said I) though it beare no glorious shew before the world, beyng euer, for the most part vnder the Crosse and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted. My Lord on the other side, con∣tended that they were the Church.

Glouer.

So cryed all the Clergy agaynst the Prophets of Ierusalem, saying: Templum Domini, templum Domini, The Church, the Church, &c.

Bish.

And always when I was about to speake any thing my Lord cried, hold thy peace: I commaund thee by the vertue of obedience, to hold thy peace, callyng me a proud arrogant heretike.

Glouer.

I willed my Lord to burthen me with some spe∣cialties, & then to conuince me with some Scriptures and good learnyng.

Then my L. began to mooue certaine questions. I re∣fused to aunswer him in corners, requiryng that I myght make my answer openly. He sayd I should aunswer hym there. I stood with hym vpon that poynt vntill he said I should to prison agayne, and there haue neither meate nor drinke till I had answered hym.

Then I lifted vp my hart to God, that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word.

Bish.

The first question was this: how many sacraments Christ instituted to be vsed in the church?

Glo.

The Sacrament of Baptisme sayd I, and the Sacra∣ment that he instituted at his last Supper.

Bish.

No more sayd he?

Glo.

To all those that declare a true and vnfayned repen∣taunce, a sure hope, trust, and confidence in the death of Christ, to such ministers (I grant) that they haue authori∣tie to pronounce by the power of Gods word, the remissi∣on of sinnes.

Here interruptyng me, he would needes beare me in hand that I called this a sacrament. I would not greatly contend with hym in that poynt, because that matter was of no great waight or importāce: although he in so doing, did me wrong, for I called it not a Sacrament.

Hee asked me further whether I allowed theyr con∣fession.

I sayd no.

Bish.

Then he would know my mynd what I thought of the presence of Christes body in the Sacrament.

Glouer.

I aunswered that their Masse was neither sacri∣fice nor Sacrament, because (sayd I) you haue takē away the true institution, which when you restore agayne, I will tell you my iudgement concernyng Christes body in the Sacrament.

And thus much did this worthy Martyr of God leaue behynd hym by his owne hand in writyng concerning the maner of hys vsing and entreatyng in pryson, and also of hys conflictes had with the Bishop and hys Chauncellor. Moe examinations he had (no doubt) with the Byshop in the publike Consistory, when he was brought forth to be condemned, which also he would haue left vnto vs, if either length of lyfe, or laysure of tyme, or haste of executi∣on had permitted hym to finish that he intended: but by reason of the writ of his burnyng beyng come down from London, lacke of tyme neither did serue hym so to do, nei∣ther yet could I get the Records of hys last examinations wheresoeuer they are become.

Onely this which I could learne by relation of one Austen Bernher a Minister, and a familiar friend of hys, concernyng the goyng to his death, I can report, that the sayd blessed seruant of the Lord, M. Rob. Glouer, after he was condemned by the Bishop, and was now at a poynt to be deliuered out of this world, it so happened, that two or three dayes before, his hart beyng lumpish and desolate of all spirituall consolation, felt in hymselfe no aptnes nor willingnes, but rather a heauines and dulnesse of spirite, full of much discomfort to beare that bitter crosse of Mar∣tyrdome ready now to be layd vpon hym.

Wherupon he fearing in himself, lest the Lord had vt∣terly withdrawne his woonted fauor from him, made hys mone to this Austen his frend aboue remembred, signifi∣eng vnto hym, how earnestly he had prayed day and night vnto the Lord, and yet could receiue no motion nor sense of any comfort from hym.

Unto whom the sayd Austen answering agayne, wil∣led and desired him paciently to waite the Lords pleasure and how so euer his present feling was, yet seing his cause was iust and true, he exhorted hym constantly to sticke to the same, & to play the man, nothyng misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him, and satisfie his de∣sire with plenty of consolation, whereof (he sayd) he was right certayne and sure, & therfore desired hym when so e∣uer any such feeling of Gods heauenly mercies should be∣gin to touch his hart, that then he would shew some signi∣fication thereof, wherby he might witnesse with hym the same, and so departed from hym.

The next day when the tyme came of his martyrdome, as hee was goyng to the place, and was now come to the sight of the stake, although all the night before praying for strength and courage he could feele none, sodainly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and hea∣uenly ioyes, y^t he cryed out clapping his hands to Austen, & saying in these words, Austen, he is come, he is come, &c. & that with such ioy and alacritie, as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly daunger, to libertie of life, then as one passing out of the world by a∣ny paines of death. Such was the change of the meruailous workyng of the Lordes hand vpon that good man.

Notes

• 〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• Robert Glouer and his fellow prisoners remo∣ued from Co∣uentry to Lich∣field in the face of the open market.
• Iephcot, the Chauncellours seruaunt.
• Papistes keepe no promise.
• Iephcot & Per∣sey cruell and straite agaynst M. Glouer.
• Talke betweene M. Glouer, and the Chancellor in prison.
• The Church ge∣ueth witnes which be the true bookes and writings of the Apostles: as also the olde Sinagogue of the Iewes doth witnes which be the true bookes of the holy Prophetes: yet it followeth not thereby that the Iewes haue autho∣rity ouer the Scrip∣ture.
• The comforts & sweete feelinges of M. Glouer in prison.
• M. Glouer as∣saulted by the enemy in prison concerning vn∣worthynes. Actes. 24. Rom. 11. Rom. 4. Iohn. 2. Gods election bound to no worthines or person. Rom. 10.
• Psalme. 145.
• It is no arrogā∣cye to presume vpon Gods pro∣mise.
• Psalm. 50.
• Robert Glouer replyeth against the tentation of the enemy in that he is a sin∣ner.
• M. Glouer brought agayne before the Bi∣shop.

  Reasoning be∣twene M. Glo∣uer and the By∣shop.
• The true Church is alwayes builded vp on the doctrine of the Apostles: which though it appeare not alwaies alyke in outward ••••ght, the faulte is in the tyme, not in the Church. Tymes do alter, and with the tymes the out∣ward face of the Church may alter sometymes appea∣ring more, some∣tymes lesse, some∣tymes very little, sometymes nothing at all, according as the persecution is. Neuertheles, the truth of the church abydeth alwayes one. Neyther doth it goe by number of mē but by soundnes of truth. Many a∣greeing in one may make an vnitye: but the veritye of the word maketh the Church whe∣ther it be in few or in many.
• The first question.
• Power by Gods word in the mini∣stery to re∣mit sinnes. 2. questio••▪
• 3. question.
• Robert Glouer de∣stitute fo•••• tyme of the Lords com∣fort.
• The Lord for a tyme may with∣draw his comfortes, but at lēgth he visiteth his seruant••.
• R. Glouer receaueth agayne cō∣fort of the Lord.