The spirit of the martyrs revived in a brief compendious collection of the most remarkable passages and living testimonies of the true church, seed of God, and faithful martyrs in all ages: contained in several ecclesiastical histories & chronological accounts of the succession of the true church from the creation, the times of the fathers, patriarchs, prophets, Christ and the Apostles.

Now follows the Persecution of the Waldenses in Angrogne, Lu∣cerne, Perouse and Piedmont, and other places, from the year 1555, to 1561.

Though these people by long persecution were driven from place to place, and in all places afflicted, yet they were not utterly de∣stroyed, nor would never yield to the superstitions of the Popish Religion but abstained from their Idolatry; they had many Books of the New Testament translated into their own Language; they lived in great simplicity, and with the sweat of their brows, they were quiet and peaceable among their Neighbours abstaining from Oaths, Games, Dancing and filthy Songs. The said People at Angrogne having drawn up a confession of their faith, it was by learned men at the Kings Court condemned as Heretical; wherefore the King requi∣red them to give Obedience to the Church of Rome on pain of loss of goods and life; and to give their Answer in three days; but upon some of the German Princes interceeding with the French King on their behalf, desiring him to show some pity to these Churches, they were not molested for three years; only one of their Ministers that travelled from place to place was apprehended, and suffered Martyrdom, to wit, Jeffery Varnigle: but the Pope envying this Liberty obtained through the Moderation of the German Princes, who intreated on their behalf. The Pope stirs up the Duke of Savay against them (who in his own nature was rather inclined to let them live in quietness) telling him, that he ought to banish the Waldenses, for that they were a rebellious People against the holy Mother the Church; these Instigations caused great Persecutions on these poor People; for soon after several of them were burnt, many fled and their Houses were ransakt, some were taken and sent to the Gallies; and Procla∣mation was put out, That none should go to their Assemblies on pain of death. In the midst of this Suffering they thought the best way to put a stop, was to send to the Duke a Declaration of their Religion, and wherefore they suffered, which they did, withal declaring, that if by the Word of God it could be proved, that they were in Error, they should not be obstinate, but be reformed, &c. after this the Per∣secution seemed somewhat to abate for a time; but in the month called June following, it was first proposed to them. To put away their Ministers that were Strangers; which they refusing to do, it was then commanded of them, in the Dukes name, That they should banish from them all their Ministers that were Strangers: and a New Proclamation was put out, and Persecution began afresh, and many of the said People were slain, and many imprisoned and cruelly handled the Monks being very active in this Persecution; in one place causing two Women to carry Faggots to the Fire where their Mini∣ster was burnt, and to speak these words to him, viz. Take this thou wicked Heretick in recompence of the Naughty Doctrine thou hast taught us; to whom he said, Ah! Good Women, I have taught you well, but you have learned ill. Great was the Havock and Ruin they made upon

these poor Peoples Estates and Bodies in this Persecution; and not long after an Army was raised to destroy the Waldoys, which they hearing, their Ministers met with the cheif Rulers, to advise what in such an Extremity they were best to do, upon due consideration they concluded not to defend themselves by force of Armes, but to flee to the Mountains, and carry their goods with them; others of their Ministers hearing of the resolution that they at Angrogne and Lucern had made, thought it strange that they might not defend themselves against their Enemies violence in so just a cause, know∣ing that it was the Pope and his Ministers who were the cause of their Troubles; and some stood in their own defence, and made great Slaughters upon their Enemies at times; and when they persued their enemies, they often retired to avoid shedding Blood, meaning only to defend themselves, and held their Adversaries so titely to it that they were at last brought to make a Peace upon Articles and condi∣tions so that the Persecution was stopt and the Pride, Malice and Rage of their Adversaries was abated.

Thus having given an Account in brief of the troubles and Per∣secutions sustained by the faithful Martyrs in Forrei•• parts, it remains to give a further Relation of such as suffered in this Nation of England in this Kings Reign.

After that the light of the Gospel began to Shine and encrease be∣yond Sea, the Beams of it began to spread and grow more here in Eng∣land, and a great stir and alteration followed in the hearts of many, so that coloured Hypocrisie and painted Holiness began to be spied more and more, by such as in any measure tasted of the Truth, and some there were that could distinguish Christ from Anti-christ; a∣mongst whom was one Simon Fish of Grayes-Inn, who wrote a sharp Book against the Corruption of the Clergy, Entituled, The Suppli∣cation of Beggers, which Book was wrot beyond Sea,* 1.1 he being fled thither for fear of Cardinal Woolsey, who had taken distaste against him; in this Book was shewed what a great Oppression the Priests and Clergy were to the Nation, for that they had got into their hands more then a third part of the Realm, besides their Tythes of all the enerease of Corn, Hay, &c. The Book being read to the King, after a pause, he said, If a man should pull down an old stone wall, and begin at the lower part, the upper part thereof might chance to fall on his head, and took the Book and put it in his Desk, and seemed to be pleased at it, for he encouraged Simon Fish his Wife to send for her Husband to come before him; but how much so ever he liked it, he would make no show of it openly; for that Book and others being thrown about London, the Cardinal acquainted the King therewith and bid him beware of them; and the Cardinal and Bishop of London consulted how they might stop the mischief that might acrew by that and other Books being so spread about; where∣upon they agreed that, the Bishop of London should send forth a Pro∣clamation to call in the New Testament, Translated into English; The Supplication of Beggers; The Revelation of Anti-christ by Martin Luther; and other Books in English. This was one way they took, by which

they thought-to have suppressed the growth of those they accoun∣ted Hereticks; but not thinking that sufficient, obtained a Procla∣mation from the King to suppress the Sectaries, Hereticks and Lol∣lards, and for abolishing divers of their Books in English; the Bi∣shops having that now they would have, there was no dilligence wanting on their parts for the putting the same in execution; whereupon ensued a grievous Persecution and Slaughter of the Faithfull.

* 1.2 The first that went to wrack was Thomas Bilney, who after his Examination and Condemnation by Doctor Pells Chan••llor, he was committed to the Lay Power, viz. to the Sheriffs of the City of Norwich; a day before his Execution some Friends being with him and comforting him, that though he was to go through the Fire, the Lord would refresh him in it: At this he put his finger in the Candle (as he used to do divers times) saying, I know the fire is hot, and my body shall be wasted by it, and it is a pain for the time, but he would often reherse this Scripture for his comfort, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, and called thee by my name, thou art mine own; When thou goest through the water, I will be with thee; when th••s walkest in the Fire, it shall not burn thee, and the Flame shall not kindle upon thee, for I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel: Going to Execution, he said, The Marriner for a while meets with a troubled Sea, and is tossed with the Waves, but he is in hopes when he comes to the Haven he shall be at quiet; I doubt not (though I feel storms) but by Gods Grace I shall attain to the Haven; and be∣ing brought to the Stake, he very Patiently endured the Fire till doath.

* 1.3 The next that suffered was Richard Bayfield, who receiving the truth in a measure, and reading the Testament in English, and a book cal∣led, The wicked Mamman, &c. He was cast into Prison, and there sore whipped with a Gag in his mouth, and then stocked, and there continued in Prison three quarters of a year, and then was set at Liberty, but soon after was taken again, and put in the C••le-house, where he was tyed by the neck, middle and legs, standing upright by the walls; this punishment was inflicted on him to make him con∣fess who bought his books, but he accused none, but stood to his Religion, and told them he would Dispute for his Faith; at his Tryal he was accused of divers things, but the chief were, for bringing Books over from beyond Sea, and spreading them here in England; on the twentieth day of November. 1532. being had into the Quire of Pauls Cathedral, the Bishop of London, with other Pre∣lates being there ready to pass sentence on him, and being de∣livered to the Sheriffs of London, to carry him to Newgate, and from thence to the place of Execution, but first the Sheriffs were com∣manded to have him into the Vestry, and to bring him forth again in Anti-christs apparel, to be degraded, having been a Monk; where the Bishop took his Crosier Staff, and smote him on the Brest that he threw him down backwards, and brake his head, and he swound∣ed, but coming to himself again, he thanked God that he was

delivered from this Malignant Church of Anti-christ; and being led to Newgate, after one hours respite, he was had to the Fire and burnt.

* 1.4 John Tewksberry Leather-seller of London, he was converted by the reading of the Testament in English, and the Book called, The wicked Mammon, in the moneth called April, in the year 1529. he was brought before the Bishop of London in the open Consistory, where he disputed with the Bishops and the Prelates concerning his Faith, and was very expect and prompt in his answers to them; be∣ing indued with heavenly Wisdom, that they were not able to resist him; insomuch that the Bishops were ashamed, that a Leather-seller should so confound them; he affirmed in his Doctrine, that there was no Purgatory after this life, but that the Souls of the faithful departing this life rest with Christ, that prayers ought not to be made to Saints, there being no other Advocate but Christ alone; for which and other Prin∣ciples he was condemned to die by the Bishop of London, and by him dilivered to the Sheriffs of London, and by them burnt in Smithfield.

* 1.5 Edward Freese Painter, for painting upon clothes in an Inn certain Sentences of Scripture, was noted to be a Heretick, and was appre∣hended, and brought to London and from thence had to the Bishops House at Fulham, where he was imprisoned with several other, men and their wives, and there fed with Manchets, part of which was made with Sawdust, and there kept so strait in Prison, that their Re∣lations were not Suffered to come at them; the Painters Wife being very desireous to see her Husband, and pressing to go into the Prison, notwithstanding she was big with Child, the Bishops Porter kickt her on the Belly so that her Child died immediately, and she died soon after.

After that the Prisoners were all put in the Stocks for a long time, and after they were let loose, some had Horse-locks put on their Legs, and some other Irons, the Painter would ever and anon be writing on the Walls with Chalk or Coal, which so provoked his Adversaries, that they Manackled his wrists so long, till the Flesh of his Arms was grown higher then the Irons, from that Prison he was brought to the Lollards Tower, where they kept him there dayes without Meat, and used him so heard, that he lost his understanding and sence; so that when he was brought before the Consistory at Pauls he could say nothing, but look upon the People like a wild man; and if they askt him a Question he could say nothing, but my Lord is a good man, my Lord is a good man; and in this unsensible condition he continued to his dying day.

Valentine Freese, Brother of the said Edward Freese, and the said Valentine's wife were both burned at one Stake in York, for the Testi∣mony of Jesus Christ.

* 1.6 James Bainham, Son to a Knight, in Glo••cestershire, the said James was a man of a virtuous disposition, and a Godly Conversation, much addicted to Prayer and Reading of the Scriptures, a great maintainer of the Godly, a visiter of the Prisoners, liberal and merci∣ful,

delighting in doing equity and Justice to the Poor, very dilli∣gent in giving counsel to all Widdows, Fatherless and A••••ucted, without Money or Reward, being a man bred in Knowledge in the Law; this Bainham for his Religion was apprehended by the instiga∣tion of Thomas Moor Chancellor of England, who kept him Prisoner in his own house, and there whipt him at a Tree in his Garden, which he called, The Tree of Troth, from thence he sent him to the Tower to be Racked, being himself present to see it effectually done, till in a manner he had lamed him, to make him confess where his Books lay, and because his wife denyed them to be at his House, she was sent to the Fleet, and their goods were Confiscated; these Tor∣tures making him confess nothing, the Chanceller sent him to the Bishop of London in the year 1531 who examined him upon certain Interrogatories concerning his Religion; asked, Whether he be∣lieved there was any Purgatory of Souls hence departed; to which he answered, If we walk in the Light even as he is in the Light, we have Society together with him, and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son hath clensed us from all Sin; if we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves, and the Truth in not is us; if we confess our Sins he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our Sins, and will purge us from all our Imqui••••es. Several other things they objected against him, and often had him to and again before them, threatening him with the danger that would ensue if he did not abjure his Religion; whereupon, he being overtaken with fear, he consented unto them; after he had abjured, the Chancellor fined him twenty pound to the King, and enj••yned him Pennance, which was to go before the Cross in profession at Pauls, and to stand before the Preacher during the Sermon at Pauls Cross, with a Fagger upon his Shoulder, and then to return with the Sumner to Prison again; but, soon after he was discharged of his Imprisonment, and before he had been at Liberty a month, he be∣wailed his Fact and Abjuration, and was never quie•• in his Mind and Conscience until before a Congregation of the People of God, who in those dayes met in a Ware-house in ••ow-Lan••, he ut∣tered his Condemnation of the Fact, asking God and that Assembly forgiveness, and the next Sunday (so called) afterwards went to a place, called St. Austins, and stood up in a Pew with a Testament in English in his Hand, and with Tears declared to the People that he had denied God, and desired the People to forgive him, and to beware of his weakness, and rather to choose to die then to do as he did, for he would not for all the World to feel again such a Hell as he had done, to this purpose he also wrote to the Bishop, whereupon he was shortly after apprehended, and committed to the Tower of London, from thence he was removed to the Bishops Coale-house, where he lay two weeks in the Stocks with Irons upon his Legs, then he was carried to the Chancellors, and there Chained to a post two nights, from thence he was had to Fullham, where he was cruely handled, for the space of a week; from thence he was commit∣ted to the Tower, where he lay a fortnight, and there scourged with Whips to make him revoke his Opinions; from thence he

was carried to Barkin, and from thence to Che••sey, and there was condemned, and from thence was conveyed to Newgate, and by the Sheriffs of London had into Smithfield, and there burnt to death, the last day of April about three of the Clock in the afternoon.

* 1.7 In the year 1532. Robert King, Nicholas March, Rober•• Gardner, all of Dedham, and Robert Debnam of Esthergholt, being burdened in their Consciences to see the honour and power of the Almighty Li∣ving God to be blasphemed by Peoples adoring an Idol, called, The Roode of Dover Court, to which many People did greatly resort, igno∣rantly believing a common rumour blown abroad, that no man had power to shut the Steeple house door where that Idol stood; where∣upon, the aforesaid four men were moved by the Spirit of God to travel out of Dedham, in a frosty Moonshiney Night ten Miles, to the place where this Idol stood, and took the filthy Idol from his Shrine, and carried it a quarter of a Mile, and there struck Fire, and set it on Fire, for which fact three of them were indicted as Fellons, and were hanged in Chains about half a year after, and it is record∣ed, that at their death, through the working of the Spirit of God, they bore such a living Testimony, that the People were more edified in the Truth, then they had been by all the Sermons they had heard preacht before.

The fourth man, viz. Robert Gardener, had suffered the same death, but that he fled away, and that way escaped their Hands.

The same year there was many more Images cast down and destroy∣ed, in many places,

* 1.8 John Frith a godly young man, and one of great parts and wit, and of a ready capacity, and a great Scholler in the outward Litte∣ra••ure, coming acquainted with William Tindal, through his Instructi∣ons he first received into his heart the Seed of the Gospel and sincere Godlin••ss.

The said John Frith accompanying himself with divers young men of grave Judgment and sharp wits, who conferring together upon the abuses of Religion, which at that time were crept into the Church, were therefore accused of Heresie to Cardinal Woolsey, and cast into a Prison within a deep Cave, under a Colledge in Oxford, where they used to lay their Salt-fish, the stink of which so infected their bodies, that three of them died in a little space, the fourth was John Frith, who was shortly after discharged out of Prison, and travelled beyond-Sea, and after two years returning into England, and being at Reading, it happened that he was taken as a Vagabond, and was put in the Stocks, and there kept so long till he was almost pined with hunger, and would not discover who he was, but desiring to speak with the School-master of the Town, to whom he spoke Latine, the School-master perceiving that he was a Scholler, and a young man of excel∣lent parts, obtained of the Magistrates that he might be set at Liberty, which he enjoyed not long, being so persued by Sr. Thomas Moor Chancellor, who persecuted him both by Sea and Land, promising great reward to any that could bring news or tydings of him; soon after he was apprehended and committed to the Tower of London,

where he had many conflicts with the Bishops, but especially in wri∣ting with the Chancellor, and afterwards was carried to Lambeth, be∣fore the Bishop of Canterbury, and from thence to Croyden, before the Bishop of Winchester, and last of all he was brought before the Bishops in a common Assembly at London, the whole matter of his Examina∣tion before them was comprehended in two special Articles (that is to say) of Purgatory, and of the substance of the Sacrament, to which he answered very fully and wisely, and in great moderation and up∣rightness, but no Reason would prevail against the force and cruelty of his Adversaries: The twentieth day of the moneth called June 1533. he was brought before several Bishops at Pauls, who seeing that by no means, they could perswade him to Recant, the Bishop of London condemned him to be burnt, and past Sentence against him to that effect.

* 1.9 About this time one John Chapman, Andrew Hewet and John Tibauld, being men Zealous for Religion and Piety, were informed against, and by the Bishop of London's Chancellor and others were apprehend∣ed and carried to the Bishops House; Andrew Hewet was sent to the Lollard Tower, and Chapman and Tibauld kept asunder in the Bishops House till the next day that he came from Fulham, who then examined them not liking their Confession, Chapman he committed to the Stocks, with this threat, that he should tell another Tale, or else he should sit there till his Heels did drop from his Arse; Tibauld he shut up in a close Chamber, but afterwards delivered him out of Prison upon this Injunction, that he should not come within seven Miles of his own House; Chapman after five weeks imprisonment, three weeks whereof he set in the Stocks, by Suit made to the Chancellor on his behalf, after many threatnings was discharged out of Prison; Andrew Hewet being brought before the Bishops, and asked, what he thought concerning the Sacrament, answered, even as Frith doth, at which the Bishops smiled, and one of them said, why Frith is an Heretick, and is condemned to be burnt, and except thou revoke thy Opinion, thou shalt be burnt with him; truly, said he, I am contented there∣with; whereupon he was sent to the Prison to Frith, and on the fourth day of the month called July he was carried to Smithfield with Frith, and there burned.

* 1.10 Thomas Bennet School-master in Exeter, a man of a godly con∣versation, and a favourer of such as suffered for their zeal to the true Religion, after he had lived in a retired condition six years, could no longer contain but he must bear a Testimony against the Idolatry of those times, though his blood were shed for the same, the beginning of his troubles was, he wrote a Paper, and set it up∣on one of the Steeple-House-doors of the City, in which was writ∣ten, The Pope is Anti-christ, and we ought to Worship God only, and no Saints; which Paper being seen, great search and inquiry was made what Heretick should set it up, but seeing they could not find the Au∣thorout at that present, they agreed, that the sentence of a Curse should be pronounced against him that did it; the manner of which Curse was as followeth.

The Priest being in the Pulpit clothed in white, and the Monks and Friars standing about him, the Cross was held up with Candles fixed to the same, then said the Priest; By the Authority of God the Fa∣ther Almighty, and of the blessed Virgin Mary of Saint Peter and Paul, and of the holy Saints, we Excommunicate, we utterly Curse and Bann, commit and deliver to the Devil of Hell him or her, whatsoever he or she be, that have in spite of God,* 1.11 and of Saint Peter whose Church this is, in Spite of all holy Saints, and in Spite of our most holy Father the Pope, Gods Viccar here in Earth, and in Spite of the reverend Father in God John our Diocesian, and the Worshipfull Cannons, Masters Priests and Clarks which serve God daily in this Cathedral Church, fixed up with wax such Cursed and Heretical Bills, full of Blasphemy, upon the Doors of th••s, and other holy Churches within this City, Excommunicate be h•• she or they plaenally, and delivered over to the Devil as perpetual Malefactors and Schismaticks, accursed they be, and given Body and Soul to the Devil, Cursed be they he or she, in Cities and Towns, in Fields and Wayes, in Houses and out of Houses, and all other places, standing, lying, or rising, walking, running, waking, sleeping, eating, drinking, and whatsoever thing they do besides; we seperate them him or her from the Threshold, and from all the good Prayers of the Church from the participation of the holy Mass, from all Sacraments, Chappels and Altars, from Holy Bread, and Holy wa∣ter, from all the Merrits of Gods Priests and religious men, and from all their Cloisters, from all their Pardons, Priviledges Grants and Immunities which all the holy Fathers Popes of Rome have granted to them; and we give them over utterly to the power of the Devil, and let us quench their Souls if they be dead this night in the pains of Hell-fire, as this Candle is now quenched, and put out: (and with that he put out one of the Candles) and let us pray to God, if they be alive, that their ey's may be put out, as this Candle light is; (so he put out another Candle) let us pray to God, and to our Lady, and to Saint Peter and Paul and all holy Saints, that all the Sences of their bodies may fail them, and that they may have no feeling, as now the Light of this Candle is gone, (and so he put out the third Candle) except they he or she come openly now, and confess their Blasphemy and by repentance (as in them shall lie) make satisfaction unto God, our Lady, Saint Peter, and the Worshipfull Company of this Cathedrall Church.

Thomas Bennet being not able to digest these Fopperies, writ other Bills, and caused them to be set up upon the Gates of the Grave yard, but the person that set them up being taken in the action, Thomas Bennet was thereby discovered, and being apprehended, confest they were his Bills, and that he could do it again to discover the Abomi∣nable Blasphemy of their Anti-christ the Pope, and to let people see that he is the B••ar come out of the Wood, which destroyeth and throweth down the Hedges of Gods Church. Whereupon he was committed to Prison, and the next day was had to the Bishop, who committed him to Prison again, where he was kept in the Stocks with strong Irons, with as much favour as a Dog should find, then his Hou••e was Searched for Books, and his wife shamefully abused, which she bore with patience, being contented to bare the Cross with

her Husband, and to fare hardly with him, and eat Course meat and drink: A gray Fryar possessing Thomas Bennet with the many dangers that he was lyable to fall into in that condition, Thomas re∣plyed, my life is not dear to me, I had rather by death (which I know is not far off) depart this Life then to partake of your detest∣able Idolatries and Superstitions, or be subject to Anti-christ your Pope.

During the time of his imprisonment the hate of the people through ignorance was great against him, notwithstanding they could never move his patience; during his imprisonment, his wife provided Sustenance for him, when she Lamented he Comforted her, and gave her many good and godly Exhortations, and desired her not to move him to comply with his Adversaries. After the Clergy saw they could by no means cause him to recant, they Con∣demned him to be burnt, and delivered him to the Sheriff of Devon∣shire to see him Executed; the mild man rejoycing to see his end approach so near, as the Sheep before the Shearer yielded himself with all humbleness to abide and suffer the Cross of Persecution; be∣ing brought to his Execution in a place called Livery Dole, without Exeter, he gravely and soberly spake to the people to seek the honour of God, and the knowledg of him, and to leave the devices and immaginations of mens inventions, and saying, Oh Lord receive my spirit, patiently endured the Cruelty of the Fire untill his life was ended.

Thus the Reader hath an Account of such as sustained death for Christs Cause through the rigorous Proclamation aforesaid, set out in the name of the King, but indeed procured by the Bishops, and by them so strictly Executed, that no good man could peep out with his head never so little, but he was caught by the back, and either brought to the fire or else forced to abjure their Religion, a great number of which are particularly mentioned in Foxe's Acts and Monuments, which for Brevity sake are here omitted.

Thomas Phillip being one of them that was prosecuted, and being asked by the Bishop, whether he would abjure or not, he said, except ye shew me cause wherefore I should abjure, I will not say, yea or nay to it, but will stand to my appeal, then the Bishop read openly the Bill of Excommunication against him, charging all men to have no company, or any thing to do with him; after this Excommunication what became of him, whether he was burnt, or died in the Tower, no mention is made in the Register, I mention him because a Letter that was found in his Pocket, and the sub∣stance of one Tracy's Will, are worth the taking notice of, which are as followeth.

A Letter directed to Thomas Phillip in the name of the Brethren, and given him by the way going to the Tower, is as followeth,

The favour of him that is able to keep you, that you fall not, and to confess your name in the Kingdom of Glory, and to give you

strength by his Spirit to confess him, before all his Adversaries, be with you ever Amen.

The Brethren think that there be divers false Brethren craftily crept in among them to seek out their freedom in the Lord, that they may accuse them to the Lords Adversaries, as they suppose they have done you; wherefore, if it be so that the Spirit of God move you thereunto, they as Councellers desire you above all things, to be stedfast in the Lords Truth, without fear, for he shall and will be your help, according to his promise, so that they shall not dimi∣nish the least hair of your head without his will, unto the which will submit your self, and rejoyce; for the Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptation, and how to reserve the Un∣just, unto the day of Judgment to be punisht; and therefore cast all your care on him, for he careth for you; and in that you suffer as a Christian man, be not ashamed, but rather glorifie God on that behalf, looking upon Christ the Author and Finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before him, abode the Cross and dispised the shame; nevertheless, though we suffer the wrong after the example of our Master Christ, yet we are not bound to suffer the wrong cause, for Christ himself suffered it not, but reproved him that smote him wrongfully, likewise Paul, Acts 23. saith, we must not suffer the wrong, but boldly reprove them that sit as Righteous Judges, and act contrary to Righteousness; therefore according both to God and mans Law, you are not bound to make answer to any cause till your Accusers came before you, which if you require, and thereon do stick, the false Brethren shall be known to the great comfort of those who now stand in doubt who they may trust, and also it shall be a means that they shall not craftily by Questions take you in Snares, and Acts 20. its written, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man that he should perish, before he that is accused have his Accuser before him, and have License to answer for himself, as pertaining to the Crime whereof he is accused; and also Christ said, that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses all things shall stand; wherefore seeing that in Accusations such Witnesses should be, you may with a good Conscience require it; and thus the God of Grace settle, strengthen and establish you, that to him may be the glory and praise for ever.

This is the Substance of the Letter; now follows the Substance of Tracy's Will.

William Tracy of Taddington in the County of Gloucester in his Will declared amongst other things, that touching the burying of his bo∣dy it availed him not whatsoever was done thereto when he was dead, for, said he, Funeral pomps are rather for the Solace of them that live, then the wealth and comfort of them that are dead: Which Will be∣ing brought by his Son, his Executor, to the Bishop of Canterbury to be proved, the Bishop shew'd it to the Convocation, who past a Sentence that a Commission should be sent to Doctor Parker, Chancellor of the

Diocess of worcester, to take up Tracy's dead body, and to burn him as an Heretick for making such a Will, which accordingly was Executed, notwithstanding he had been buryed almost two years before.

About this time the House of Commons assembled in Parliament put up a Supplication by way of Complaint to the King against the Clergy, this Complaint the King seemed at first not to take much notice of, yet afterwards coming to have a clear understanding of the abuses and enormities of the Clergy, especially of the corrupt Authority of the See of Rome, provided certain Acts against the same, and wholly excluded the Popes Authority out of his Realm; but thinking the work not sufficiently done, as long as Abbies and Priories kept their Station, which were as it were his Fortresses and Pillars, there was not long after means found to have them suppressed; for aspersions being laid upon them, of Adulteries and Murders, they by Act of Parliament at least near four hundred of them were sup∣pressed, and all their Lands and Goods conferred upon the King, and afterwards all the rest, and all Colledges, Chanteries, and Hospi∣tals; also the same Parliament enacted, that Bishops should pay no more Annals or Money for their Bulls to the Pope, and that no Person should appeal for any Cause out of this Realm to the Court of Rome, and an Act was made, that the King should be the Supream head of the Church of England, &c.

But although the Popes Wings were thus cut, and his Power and Authority in England abrogated by Act of Parliament, as before is mentioned, yet the Bishops here went on persecuting such as they accounted Sectaries and Hereticks; but before I give an account of such as further suffered here in England for Religion, it falls in order to give an Account of the Sufferings of William Tindal beyond Sea.

This William Tindal was burnt near Wales,* 2.1 and being a man Zealous for Reformation and Religion, and considering, that if the Scripture were turned into the vulgar Speech it might much conduce to ••he propagating thereof; and finding his purpose could not be well effected here in England by reason of the strictness of the Bishops and Chancellor, he travelled into Germany, and there he first translated the New Testament, and then the Old, and writ several other Books against the irreligious Practice of the Prelates, which Books being published and sent over into England, it cannot be spoken what a door of Light they opened to the whole English Nation, who before were many years shut up in darkness.

But though the spreading of these Books wrought much good to the upright, and such as had in any measure a desire to advance the Truth, yet the envious and persecuting Spirit of the Bishops was also much more stirred up thereby, seeking by all means how to stop them from being spread, lest their Hypocrisie and works of Darkness should he discerned, wherefore they made great stir and search, as Herod did at the birth of Christ, and sought out by what means they might hinder the travels of this Tindal, and of his Printing and Pub∣lishing the said Books, and set persons to search and examine at

Antwerp how things stook with Tindal, which when the Bishops and Chancellors in England understood how things were, they sent over one Henry Phillips to betray him into the hands of the Empe∣rors Procurator General at Brussells, the said Procurator, through the treachery of Phillips, seized upon all Tindalls Books, and apprehend∣ed him and sent him Prisoner to Filford Castle, eighteen English Miles from Antwerp, being brought to his Tryal, they offered him to have Councel to plead for him, he refused, saying, he would answer for himself; after much reasoning and Dispute, he was Condemned by virtue of the Emperors Decree made in the Assembly at Aus∣brough, and upon the same was brought to the place of Execution at Filford, Anna 1536. being ryed to the Stake, he cryed with a fervent zeal, and a loud voice, Lord open the King of Englands eyes, and so was burnt to death.

When the King had taken the title of Supremacy from the Bishop of Rome, and Stated the same to himself, he perceived by the Wis∣dom and advice of Thomas Cromwell, one of his Privy Councel, that the corrupt State of the Church had need of Reformation in many things.

This Cromwell was through the goodness of God raised up to be a friend and a favourer of those that profest the Gospel, who though but a Smiths Son, born at Putney, for the pregnancy of his wit, he was first entertained by Cardinal Woolsey, and by him em∣ployed in many great Affairs; the Cardinal falling, the King took him unto his Service, and finding his great Abillities, advanced him for his worth to great places of Honour and Trust, through whose perswasions several Injunctions were put out by the King for Refor∣mation in Religion; and he was the great Instrument in overthrow∣ing Abbies, Monasteries and Friaries, which were a little before by Act of Parliament given into the Kings hands: Whereupon, not only their Houses were rased, but their Possessions were divided amongst the Nobility, insomuch that all Friars, Monks, Cannons, Nuns, and other such Sects, were so rooted out of this Land from the Foundation, that there seemed to be no room left for such Weeds to grow here any more.

But as this Thomas Cromwell was raised up for good, and being so greatly in favour with the King, used all means he could to perswade him to reform the enormities in the Church; on the other hand, Satan raised up his Instrument, which was Stephen Gardner, Bishop of Winchester, who used all wilds and subtill means he could to per∣swade the King against the same, casting upon the Professors of Truth the name of Hereticks, Sectaries, Anabaptists, and Sacra∣mentaries, and so far prevailed with the King, that by the Kings Authority certain Injunctions were published prohibiting the pub∣lishing any Books in English, written by the Sectaries and Sacramen∣taries, under the pain of the forfeiture of all their goods and Chat∣tels, and their Bodies to be Imprisoned during the Kings pleasure: And further, this Stephen Gardner instigated the King, not only a∣gainst the Queen (who was a favourer of Religion and Reformation)

but also against this Thomas Lord Cromwell, who no doubt had brought the encrease of true Religion, according to his understand∣ing, to more prefection, had not this Gardner, and other Malignant Opposers thereof set themselves against it, to hinder the prosperi∣ty thereof: but now through the said Gardners evill advise, the King, who before had raised the said Thomas Cromwell for his worth and integrity, now for his pleasure took him off, and suffered him to be Beheaded: After his death Religion, and the Reformation more and more decayed, whereby the Reader may see how variable the State of things stood in reference to Religion at this time, and with what difficulty any thing of Light and Truth came forth, how often things changed, even as the King was ruled and gave ear; sometimes it went a little forward, and then backward again, accord∣ing as the persons prevailed that were about the King.

And now the King being led through Gardners suggestions, began to withdraw shewing any favour to the Reformation in Religion, concluding so to do was most for his safety both at home and abroad, having so much displeased the Pope, and other Popish Princes, in what he had already done; and though he had rejected the Popes Authority, he would declare himself nevertheless to be a good Catho∣lick Son of the Mother Church, and a withstander of new Heresies; and then calling a new Parliament, and Convocation of Prelates, there was six Articles decreed concerning Religion, which was after∣wards commonly called a whip with six Srings, it was pretended for the Unity of the Church, but what Unity followed, the groaning hearts of many that suffered death by the same, both in this Kings time, and in Queen Maries time, may declare.

The Six Articles of the Bishops Condemning all to be burnt as Hereticks that should hold,

• First, That the Body of Christ was not really present in the Sacra∣ment after Consecration.
• Secondly, That the Sacrament might not truely be administred un∣der one Kind.
• Thirdly, That Priests entred into holy Orders might Marry.
• Fourthly, That Vows of Chastity entred into, upon mature deli∣beration, were not to be kept.
• Fifthly, That private Masses were not to be used.
• Sixthly, That Auricular Confession was not to be used in the Church.

Before these Articles were published, Bishop Gardener having ob∣tained his desire with the King, he and the rest of the Prelates began again fresh to persecute the Protestants, & the first they stretched forth their Hands against was John Lambert a Norfolk man, and one zealous for the Spreading of the Truth, according to the Manifestation of it then broke forth; and to that end was conversant with Tindal and Frith at Antweep, until by the Instigation of Sr. Thomas Moor he was

apprehended and brought to London, where he was first brought to Examination at Lambeth, and then at the Bishops House at Oxford, before Worham Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and others, where fourty five Articles were objected against him, to all which he answered in writing very fully, and wisely, both according to the Scriptures and Reason; the Articles, and his Answers may be read at large in Foxe's Acts and Monuments.

The Bishop of Canterbury shortly after dying, whereby Lambort for that time was delivered out of Prison; and coming to London it was not long before he fell into trouble again; for having a private Con∣ference with one Doctor Tayler, what past between them in their dispute in private grew at last a publick and common talk, which coming to the Arch-bishops Ear, he sent for Lambort, and forced him to defend his Cause openly; in that Disputation Lambort appealed to the King from the Bishops.

Upon this appeal Bishop Gardener goes to the King, and privately possesses him, that now he had an opportunity to quiet the minds of the people who were offended with him for abolishing the Bishop of Rome's Authority, and subverting of Monasteries and Abbies, &c. he might now remedy these troubles, if he would manifestly appear in this matter against Lambort, and shew himself stoutly to resist the Hereticks; the King immediately received this wicked Counsel of the Bishop, and forth with sent out a general Commission, command∣ing all the Bishops and Nobles of the Land, to come with all speed to London to assist the King against Hereticks; these preparations be∣ing made, a day was set, upon which Lambort should appear be∣fore the King, and the rest assembled with him, to be Tryed and Judged.

The day being come, the King ascended his Throne, clothed all in white, he lookt upon the Prisoner with a sterne Countenance, as if his mind was full of Indignation, and then called forth the Bishop of Chichester, and commanded him to declare to the People the Causes of that Assembly, the Substance of the Bishops Speech tended to this, That the King would have none to conceive, that whereas the Au∣thority and Name of the Bishop of Rome being utterly abolished, he would also extinguish all Religion, or give Liberty to Hereticks to trouble the Churches of England without punishment; the Bishop having ended his Speech, the chief thing that the King prest Lambort to declare, was, what Opinion he held touching the Sacrament of the Altar; to which he answered fully, and the Dispute held chiefly con∣cerning that point for some hours until the King and Bishops, enra∣ged against him, forced him to silence at last.

The King being minded to end the Dispute, said to Lambort, What sayest thou after all these Labours and Reasons of these learned Men? Art thou yet satisfied? Wilt thou live or die; thou hast yet free choice?

Lambort answered, I yield and submit my self wholly unto the will of your Majesty.

Then said the King, commit thy self unto the hands of God, and not unto mine.

Lambort, I commend my Soul unto the hands of God, but my Body I wholly yield and Submit unto your clemency.

Then said the King, if you do commit your self unto my Judg∣ment, you must die, for I will not be a patron to Hereticks, and so caused the Sentence of Death to be read against him: Shortly a••••er he was had to Smithfield, and there burnt; in the midst of the Flames he cryed unto the people in these words, None but Christ, none bu•• Christ; and so ended his life.

The aforesaid six Articles being consented unto, and concluded by the King and Parliament, the Bishops caused further to be enacted, that whosoever denyed Transubstantiation; or whosoever should be Alders, Comforters, Counsellors, Consentors, and A bettors therein, should be adjudged Hereticks; That every such Offender should have and suffer Judgment, Execution and pain of death by way of burning, without any Abjuration, benefit of the Clergy, or Sanctuary, and should forfeit to the King all their Land, and Tenements, Goods and Chattels, as in Cases of high Treason: And for all such as did preach, teach, uphold, maintain or defend any thing contrary to the five last Articles should be adjudged as Fellons, and lose both life and goods, as in the Case of Fellony.

When these Articles were in debate in the Parliament house, Doctor Cranmer, in favour to the Professors of the Truth, earnestly disputed in defence of the Truth against them; but notwithstanding all his opposition, the Act was past.

By reason of these fix Articles a great Number were apprehended in London and other Places, so that all the prisons in London were too little to hold them, and many were imprisoned in Halls.

Amongst whem was one John Porter of London,* 2.2 who for reading to people in a Bible, was sent for by Bonner, and sharply reproved, Porter answered, he trusted he had no way offended contrary to the Law thereby; Bonner charged him for making expositions upon the Text, and for gathering Multitudes about him, this Porter denyed; yet did Bonner send him to Newgate, where he was miserably Loaden with Irons, both hands and legs, with a great Collor of Iron about his neck, whereby he was fastned to the Wall in the Dungeon; after a while he sent for a Kinsman of his, who by bribing the Keeper, ob∣tained, that he was put amongst Thieves and Murtherers; but Porter hearing and seeing their Wickedness, exhorted them to amendment of life, giving them good instructions; for this he was complained of, and carried down into the lowest Dungeon; where he was so cruelly oppressed with Bolts and Irons, that within few daies after he was found dead.

In the year 1544. One Robert Testwood living at Windsor, being a favourer of the Lutherans,* 2.3 and seeing People licking and kissing a white Alablaster Image that stood behind the high Altar, at which his Zeal was so stirred, that with a Key that he had in his hand he

struck off the Images nose; saying, see good People what it is, it cannot help it self; how then would you have it help you: The noise hereof being spred abroad, one Simonds a Lawyer took up the Nose, and said, one day it should be a dear Nose to Testwood.

And further, upon a day whereon every one was to carry a Relick in procession, Testwood, amongst others, had Beckets Rochet pro∣ferred him, but he pusht it from him, saying if they gave it him he would wipe his Tayle with it.

These doings so offended the Clergy, that they said he was a Here∣tick, and would roast a Fagot one day for this geer, but notwithstanding their Threats he lived in quiet till the death of the Lord Cromwell, and till Winchester had insinuated into the affections of the King, and wholly ruled; at which time Testwood being sick in bed, was fetched out and cast into Prison, together with one Anthony Person, John Mar∣beck and Henry Filmer, and after a while they were all brought forth to Judgment be fore Doctor Capon ••i••••op of Salsbury and others: Test∣woods Indictment was, for that when the Priest lifted up the Sacra∣ment, he said, what wilt thou lift it up so high? what yet higher? take heed that thou let him not fall: As also, that at such times, when the Sacrament was lifted up, he used to look down on his Book, or another way, that he might not see the Sacrament; whereupon, he said, Whereon did he look that marked me so well: Marry, quoth the Kings Attorney, he could not be better Occupied, then to mark such Hereticks. The Prisoners being Condemned, they spent the greatest part of the night (before their Execution) in prayer, that the Lord would strengthen them and enable them with stedfast Faith, and power, to go through their Exercise.

About this time there rose a great Persecution in Callice in France, which was then under Englands power,* 2.4 there was at one time twelve persons Imprisoned for their Religion, but the Lord Cromwell (so cal∣led hearing of it, wrote immediately to the Commissioners in Callice, in the Kings Name, requiring, that the Hereticks, with their Ac∣cusers, should be sent over into England; forthwith, the Commissio∣ners loading them with Chains, sent them over; as soon as Cromwell heard they were arrived, he sent for them to his House, and smi∣ling upon them, said, Go your ways to the Fleet, and Submit your selves Prisoners there, and be of good cheer; for if God give me life, you shall shortly go home with as much honesty, as ye came with shame. But it pleased God that shortly after this Cromwell was beheaded; so that the poor men then had no hope but in the Providence of their Heavenly Father, who comforted them in their deep Troubles, that as their Afflictions abounded, their joyes and consolations abound∣ed much more; for when all hope was past, the Lord Audley Chan∣cellor of England, sent for them; and without any further ex∣amination discharged them of their Imprisonment.

In the year 1541. The King sent out a Commission for apprehending of such as offended against the six Articles, and when the Commissio∣ners sat•• at Mercers-Chapple, being such as were chosen on purpose, they enquired not only for such as offended against the six Articles,

but of such as came seldom to Church (as its called) and received not the holy Bread and Water; so that they indicted above five hundred persons, most of which had either died in Prison, or been burnt in Smithfield, but that the King (being informed by the Lord Audley, that they were indicted of malice) granted them his Pardon.

* 2.5 About the same time one Richard Meekins, a boy of fifteen years old, was accused for spaking some words against the Sacrament of the Altar, and when the first Jury would not find the indictment against him, they were soundly ratled by the Bishop of London, and another Jury impannelled that found it, and so the poor Boy was burnt in Smithfield.

* 2.6 By reason of the diligent preaching of Adam Damplip and one William Smith at Callice, the Devil raised up his Instruments to Per∣secute them, and others their Hearers, and Letters were wrote over to the Council in England, suggesting, that by the means of Damplip, they were infected with horrible Heresies and Errors, Persons accused were Thomas Brooke, Ralph Hare, James Cock, and James Barber, who were sent for over and committed to Prison at VVestminster, afterwards they were brought before the Bishops; grievous Let∣ters were written against them from Callice by their Adversaries, so that if God had not preserved them, they had all certainly Pe∣rished.

One of these, viz. Ralph Hare, though so unlearned, that he could scarce read, yet was very zealous, and so holy and inofensive in his life, that none of his Adversaries could accuse him of evil; he was charged for speaking against Auricular Confession, holy Bread, holy Wa∣ter, as also for that he would not Swear, nor use any Pastime, but used to be in a Corner by himself, looking on his Book, when others were at Liberty. Thus being charged, he said to the Commissioners, I take God to Witness, I would not willingly maintain any Error or Heresie; wherefore I beseech you, let my Accusers come before me face to face; for if they charge me with that I have spoken, I will not deny it; and if it be Truth I will stand to it, if an Error, I will with all my heart forsake it; I mean, if it be against Gods holy Word; for, the Lord is my Witness, I daily pray to God that I may know the Truth, and shun Errors, and I hope God will preserve me from them. The Bishop of Winchester said, I perceive now thou art a naughty Fellow: Alas, said Hare what evil have I spoken? Bishop re∣plyed, Marry Sir, you said, the Lord, the Lord, and that is Symbolum Hereticorum; what is that said Hare? Thou art naught, thou art naught, said the Bishop, and further said, I pity thee, for I think thou art a good simple man and meanst well enough if thou hadst not bad bad School-masters, and then Thomas Brook was called for; who was charged with sediti∣on, and that he had contributed towards maintaining Adam Damplip, and that he should say, that what the Priest held up at Mass was not

the Body of Christ; Brook denyed the charge, and after some debate was for that present dismissed,

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anno 1525.
• * 1.2

  Thomas Bil∣••ey Martyr.
• * 1.3

  Richard Bayfield Martyr.
• * 1.4

  John Tew∣kesberry Martyr.
• * 1.5

  Edward Freese Mar∣tyr.
• * 1.6

  James Bain∣ham Mar∣tyr.
• * 1.7

  Three men executed for pulling down an I∣dol and burnin it.
• * 1.8

  John Frith Martyr.
• * 1.9

  John Chap∣man A. He∣wit J. Ti∣bauld Mar∣tyrs.
• * 1.10

  Thomas Bennet Mar∣tyr.
• * 1.11

  The Popes Curse by Bell Book and Candle.
• * 2.1

  William Tindal Marryr.
• * 2.2

  John Porter died in Pri∣son.
• * 2.3

  Robert Test∣wood Mar∣tyr.
• * 2.4

  Persecution in Callice.
• * 2.5

  Richard Meekins Martyr, be∣in•• a Boy of fifteen years old.
• * 2.6

  Persecuted at Callice.