The Persecutions in the Reign of Edward the sixth.
Henry the Eighth being dead, Edward the sixth succeeded him at the Age of nine years; he was a Youth of a meek nature and dispo∣sition, much inclined to Clemency and Mercy, yea, so much, that when one Joan Butcher being condemned to be burnt for Heresie, all the Council could not move him to set his hand, saying to Cranmer, what, will you send her quick to the Devil in her Error? Doctor Cranmer perswaded him, with much ado at last to put his hand, to whom he said, He would lay all the charge thereof upon Cranmer as before the Lord.
But though this King was of so mild a Nature, and a Person incli∣ning to love Religion from a Child, being very Zealous for a further Reformation in the Church, abolishing the Mass, &c. and a Protector being appointed during his Nonage, which was his uncle the Duke of Somerset, a man also very Zealous for Reformation, and an Encou∣rager of such as profest the Gospel; but in the midst of these meek and gentle times, on the other hand, the P••pish party having a great power in the Kingdom used all the Means and Endeavours to stir up Persecu∣tion, and to hinder that good they found the King and his Uncle in∣clinable to, yet the most of this Kings Reign, which was but short, the Sword was taken out of their hands, so that they had not power to shed much Blood all his Reign; yet some there were that suffered for Religion, viz. Joan of Kent, an English woman, and one George a Dutch∣man, and one Thom••s Dobb, who was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Mass, and committed to Prison, where he died.