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.

Persecutions in the Reign of Queen Mary, beginning Anno 1553.

After the Death of Edward the fixth, Queen Mary succeeded; and after the was setled in her Throne, a Sinod was assembled for con∣sulting about matters of Religion, and the point, especially of the real Presence in the Sacrament, after a long Disputation, where Rea∣son and Scriptures were not so much weighed as Voices numbred, the Papal side, as having most voices, carried it, and thereupon was that Religion again restored, and the Mass commanded again in all Churches (so called) to be celebrated after the ant•••••• m••••••.

And shortly after, Cardinal Poole, and English man, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fed

to Rome for Succour in the former time,* 1.1 was sent for over again to England by the Queen, who was no sooner come, but the Attaindor upon Record against him, was by Act of Parliament taken off, and he restored; and a few days after, coming to the Parliament, before the Queen, and both Houses assembled; after the Bishop of VVinchester, who was Chancellor, had made a short speech to them, signifying the presence of the Cardinal, and that he was sent from the Pope, as his Legate, for their good and benefit: Then the Cardinal stood up, and made a long Oration to them, thanking them for resto∣ring him, whereby he was made a Member of their Society: Then Exhorting them to return into the Bossom of the Church, for which end he was come, not to Condemn, but to Reconcile; not to compell, but to call and require; and for their first work of Reconcilement, requiring them to repeal and abrogate all such Laws as had former∣ly been made in derogation of the Catholick Religion.

After which Speech, the Parliament going together, drew up a Supplication, which within two dayes after, they presented to the King and Queen, wherein they shewed themselves to be very penitent for their former Errors, and humbly desired them to inter∣ceed for them to the Cardinal and the See Apostolick, that they might be pardoned of all they had done amiss, and be received into the Bossom of the Church, being themselves most ready to abrogate all Laws prejudicial to the See of Rome.

This Supplication being delivered to the Cardinal, he then gave them Absolution in these words, We, (by the Apostolick Authority, given unto us by the most holy Lord Pope Julius the third, Christs Vicegerent on Earth) do absolve, and deliver you, and every of you, with the whole Realm and Dominions thereof from all Heresie and Schism, and from all Judgments, Censures and Pains, for that cause incurred; and also we do restore you again to the unity of our Mother the holy Church. The report hereof coming to Rome, was cause that a solemn Procession was made for Joy of the Conversion of England to the Church of Rome.

And now all Bishops which had been deprived in the time of Edward the sixth, were restored to their Bishopricks, and the new removed, and all that would not turn and forsake their Religion were turned out of their Livings; and Stephen Gardner and Bonner became again to be had in favour, and were restored to their former places, and several old Laws were again revived by Act of Parliament for the tryal of Heresie and Commissions, and Inquisitors were sent abroad into all parts of the Realm; whereupon many were appre∣hended and brought to London, and there Imprisoned, and afterwards most of them burnt to death, or else through cruel usage died in Prison, and were buryed in Dunghils in the Fields, to the Number of near three Hundred Persons, Men and Women, in the short Reign of this Queen.

And now Bonner being re-invested into his Bishoprick, he sends forth Injunctions, that six in every Parish (upon their Oaths) should present before him such as would not conform; and soon after, about threescore Inhabitants of the City of London were apprehen∣ded

and imprisoned, for dispersing and selling certain Books, sent over into England out of Germany, and other Countries.

About this time, the people going a Procession in Smithfield, and the Priest being under the Canopy with the Box,* 1.2 according to the usual Custom, one John Street, a Joyner in Coleman-Street, going by in haste about his business, by chance went under the Canopy by the Priest, at which the Priest was so surprized, and overcome with fear, that he let the Pix fall down; the people being amazed, pre∣sently apprehended the poor man, and committed he was to the Compter; and the Priest accused him to the Council, as if he came to slay him; from the Compter, he was removed to Newgate, where he was cast into the Dungeon, and there chained to a Post, and so miserably used till he lost his Sences, and then they sent him to Bedlam.

* 1.3 These were but in the beginnings of Bonners Cruelty in this Queens time; the next thing he did was, he put out a Mandate to the Curates within his Diocess, requiring them to abrogate and blot out all Scrip∣ture Texts wrot upon the Walls in Churches (so called) in Edward the sixths time; which he said was opening a Window to all Vice; and further, commanded that comely Roods should be again set up in all Churches.

The same Injunction for setting up Roods was published in other Diocesses at this time; for at Cockram in Lancashire, the Parishoners and Wardens had agreed with a Carver to make them a Rood, and to set it up in that they called their Church, at a certain prise, which the Carver did; but the Rood being made of an ugly grim Counte∣nance, they disliked it, and refused to pay the Work-man that made it; whereupon by Warrant he brought them before the Mayor of Lancaster, who was a favourer of the Protestants, and a man against Images; when they came before the Mayor, he askt them, Why they did not pay the man according to their Agreement? they reply∣ed, they did not like the grimness of its Vissage; saying, they had a man formerly with a hansome Face, and they would have had such another now; well, said the Mayor, though you like not the Rood, the Poor-mans Labour has been never the less, and its pity he shold loose; but I tell you what you shall do, pay him the Money you promised him; and if it will not serve you for a God, you may make a Devil of it, at which they laughed, and so de∣parted.

About this time, about thirty Men and Women were taken at a Religious Assembly, in Bow-yard in Cheapside, and were Committed to Prison; their Preacher, one Rose, was had before the Bishop of VVinchester, S. Gardner, and by him Committed to the Tower.

* 1.4 Shortly after, Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, three Bishops, were sent to the Tower, and from thence Conveyed to Oxford; there to Dispute with Oxford and Cambridge men in points of Religion, but especially of the Eucharist; the Oxford men were Cole, Chadsey, Pye, Harpsfield, Smith, and Weston Prolocutor; the Cambridge men were, Young, Seaton, Watson, Fecknam, Atkinson, and Sedgwick; the

matter was so carried by these twelve men, that it went against the Prisoners; and after the Disputation was ended, the Prisoners were brought again upon the Stage, and demanded, whether they would persist in their Opinion or recant? They affirming they would persist, they were all three adjudged Hereticks, and Con∣demned to the Fire, but their Execution was not till a year or two after.

* 1.5 In the mean time we have an account of John Rogers, who was the first Martyr in this Queens time, who was burnt in London, after a long and fore suffering by Imprisonment. Soon after him was burnt Lawrence Saunders,* 1.6 who was by order kept straitly in Prison, and none suffered to speak with him, not so much as his Wife suffered to visit him; in his Examination the Chancellor threatning him that he should not live many dayes. Saunders said, Welcom shall the Will of God be, either Life or Death, for I have learned to die; but I Exhort you to beware of shedding Innocent blood, Truly it will Cry. As the Officers were leading him away from his Examination, he exhorted the People to Repentance, warn∣ing them to defie Anti-christ, Sin, Death, and the Devil, that they might receive blessing and favour from the Lord; being Condemned, he was carried down to Coventry to be burnt, where he was put into the common Goal, where he slept little, but spent the Night in Prayer, and instructing others, and the next day was burnt; during the time of his Imprisonment, he wrote several good Epistles, to comfort and strengthen such as were under the like Suffering with him: I shall only insert the Substance of one to his Wife, by which may be perceived the seriousness and Zeal that was stirred up in him against his Adversaries, forbidding his Wife to seek any way for his delivery.

Lawrence Saunders his Letter to his Wife.

Grace, Mercy and Peace in Christ our Lord, entirely beloved Wife, even as unto mine own Soul and Body, so do I daily in my Prayer wish unto you, daily remembring you: And I do not doubt, dear Wife, but that both I and you, as we be written in the Book of Life, so we shall together enjoy the same Everlastingly, through the Grace and Mercy of God, our dear Father, in his Son Christ; and for this present life, let•• us wholy appoint our selves to the Will of our God, to glorifie him either by Life or by Death; the Lord make us worthy to Honour him either way, as pleaseth him. I am cheerful, I thank God in Christ, in whom, and through whom I know I shall be able to fight a good fight, and finish a good Course, and then re∣ceive the Crown which is laid up in Store for me, and all the true Souldiers of Christ; wherefore, Wife, let us in the Name of our God, fight to overcome the Flesh, the Devil, and the World; what Weapons are used in this fight, look in the sixth Chap. of the Ephesians; and pray &c. I would that you make no suit for me in any wise; thank you know whom, for her most sweet and comfortable putting

me in remembrance of my Journey, whither I am passing, I have too few such Friends to further me in that Journey, which is in∣deed the greatest friendship; the blessing of God be with you all, Amen.

A Prisoner in the Lord Lawrence Saunders.

* 2.1 Shortly after were burnt for Religion, John Hooper, and one Rowland Taylor, the one at Gloucester, and the other at Hadley: The time of Rowland Taylor's Execution drawing nigh, his Wife and Son coming to see him, and one John H••••••, that had been his Servant; after he had supt, he turned to his Son, saying, Thomas, my dear Son, God Almighty bless thee, see that thou fear God always, and flee from Sin, and wicked living; be vertuous, and apply thy self to thy Book; and in any wise see thou be obedient to thy Mother, love her, serve her, & be ruled by her in thy Youth, and follow her good Coun∣sel in all things: Beware of Lewd Company of Young men that fear not God but follow their lewd lusts; flee from Whoredom, and hate all filthy living; and when thy Mother is old, forsake her not, but provide for her to thy power, and see that she lack nothing; then will God bless thee, and give thee long Life upon Earth, and Prosperity. To his Wife, he said, my dear Wife, continue sted∣fast in the fear and Love of God; keep your self undefiled from Po∣posh Idolatries and Superstitions; I have been unto you a faithful Yoke-fellow, and so have you been to me, for which I doubt not, dear Wife, but God will reward you: Now the time is come that I shall be taken from you; The Lord gave you unto me, and the Lord will take me from you, Blessed be the Name of the Lord; I believe they are blessed which die in the Lord; The Lord is my Light, and my Salva∣tion, whom then shall I fear; God is he that justifieth, who is he that can condemn: In thee O Lord I have trusted, let we never be confounded: On the next day by two of the Clock in the Morning, he was taken out of the Compter by Officers, and had to Chelmsford, and there was he delivered to the Sheriff of Suffolk, who was commanded to see him burnt.

* 2.2 About this time One St. James Hailes, on of the Justices of the Common-Pleas, at an Assizes in Kent, giving charge upon the Sta∣tutes of Henry the Eighth, and Edward the Sixth, in derogation of the primacy of Rome; when he was before the Chancellor in Westminster Hall, being there among other Judges to take his Oath, the Chan∣cellor said:

Chancellor,

I am informed you have Indicted certain Priests in Kent for saying Mass.

Hailes,

I Indicted none, but certain Indictments of that Nature were brought before me at the Assizes in Kent, and I did according to Law therein, and according to Conscience; and if it were to do again I could do no less then I did.

Chancellor,

Your Conscience is known well enough.

Hailes,

You may do well to search your own Conscience; for mine is bet∣ter known to my self then to you.

This and other talk at that time so displeased the Bishop, that not many dayes after this discourse in Westminster Hall, Judge Hailes, was by the Commandment of the Bishop, committed to the Kings Bench, where he remained some time, and then was com∣mitted to the Compter in Bred-Street, and from thence carried to the Fleet; being in the Fleet, some endeavoured to perswade him to Compliance; how far he yielded to those Perswasions and Assaults of the Enemy, it was not known; but shortly after he fell into a great horrour and terrour in his Conscience, and in the anguish of his Spirit stabbed himself with his Pen-Knife, and so thought to end his misery, but through providence he was disappointed of destroying himself at that time: But this Action being noised abroad, as it was occasion of great sorrow and trouble to many that had a great Esteem of him, being reputed so worthy a Judge, and so just a man, so it also opened the Mouth of his Adversary, the Bishop, who openly in the Star-Chamber blasphemed against such as profest the Truth, calling the Doctrine of the Gospel, the Doctrine of Desperation. But it was not long before the Judge was set at Liberty, but he had not been long at home, (but his trouble encreasing upon him) he watch an apportunity, and drowned himself in a shallow Water neer his House.

Now, Stephen Gardner, Bishop of Winchester, having got the Law and outward Sword on his Side, he thought to Rule as he pleased; and having taken off (either by Imprisonment or Death) most of the principal Preachers, of those he counted Sectaries, he concluded the rest would be thereby terrified, and kept under; but his Expecta∣tions herein were frustrated.

For within a few Weeks after the Apprehension and Execution of the aforesaid persons,* 2.3 there were six more raised up to testifie against the Popish Idolatry then established by a Law; their names were William Piggot, a Butcher, Stephen Knight, a Barber, Thomas Tom∣kins, a Weaver, Thomas Hawkes, John Lawrence, and William Hunter; these Persons being brought before B. Gardner, he was so concerned to see his former devices so little effect the end he intended, that he refu∣sed to Act any more against them; but being wholy discouraged, turned them over to Bonner Bishop of London, who Prosecuted all that were brought before him to the utmost of his power, not sparing to act his cruelty, as from time to time he had an opportunity, to the uttermost.

* 2.4 Upon the 8th day of the Moneth called February 1555. The a∣foresaid six persons were brought before B••nner, at the Consistory at Pauls, where nhe next day he past Sentence of Death upon them, shewing himself a rash and cruel Judge, to pass Sentence so sud∣dainly upon so many Innocent mens Lives; but he gave them a little time before they were put to death, which was till the Mo∣neth following.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Q. Mary.
• * 1.2

  John Street persecuted.
• * 1.3

  Roods Commad∣ed to be a∣gain set up in the places called Churches.
• * 1.4

  Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer ap∣prehended.
• * 1.5

  John Rogers Martyr.
• * 1.6

  Lawrence Saunders Martyr
• * 2.1

  John Hoo∣per and Rowland Taylor Martyr.
• * 2.2

  The suffer∣ing of Hailes.
• * 2.3

  The appre∣hending of Thomas Tomkins and five others.
• * 2.4

  They were all condem∣ned by B••n∣nor.