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.

The Substance of the last Examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Bonner, with his Condemnation in the Consistory.

The second day of July I was with my Brethren brought into the Consistory, and mine Articles read before the Mayor and the She∣riffs, with all the Assistants, unto which I answered as follow∣eth.

Bonner,

By my faith, my Lord Mayor, I have shewed him as much fa∣vour as any man living might do, but I perceive all is lost, both in him and all his Company.

Smith,

At this word, which he coupled with an Oath, came I in, and said, my Lord, it is written you must not Sware.

Bonner,

Ah, Master Controler, are you come, Lo, my Lord Mayor, this is Master Speaker, pointing, to my Brother Tankerfield; and this is Master Controler, pointing to me, and then began to read my Articles.

Smith,

I require you, my Lord, in Gods behalf unto whom pre∣taineth your Sword and Justice, that I may here before your pre∣sence answer to these Objections that are laid against me, and if any thing can be proved Heresie that I have said, I will recant before this Auditory.

Mayor,

Why Smith thou canst not deny but this thou saydest.

Smith,

Yes, I deny that which he hath written, because he hath both added to, and diminished from the same; but what I have spoken I will never deny.

Mayor,

Why, thou speakest against the blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

Smith,

I denied it to be any Sacrament, and I do stand here to make proof thereof, and if my Lord here, or any of his Doctors, be able to prove either the name or usage of the same, I will recant mine error.

Then spake my Brother Tankerfield, and defended the probatio∣n

of things which they called Heresie, unto which the Bishop an∣swered.

Bonner,

By my troth, Master Speaker, you shall Preach at a Stake.

Smith,

Well sworn, my Lord, you keep a good Watch.

Bonner,

VVell, Master Controler, I am no Saint.

Smith,

No, nor yet good Bishop; for a Bishop, saith St. Paul, should be faultless, and a dedicate Vessel unto God; and are you not ashamed to sit in Judgment, and be a Blasphemer, condemning Inno∣cents?

Bonner,

VVell, Master Controler, you are faultless.

* 1.1 Smith speaking to the Mayor, said, I require you in Gods name, that I may have Justice; we are here this day a great many Inno∣cents, that are wrongfully Accused of Heresie, and I require you, if you will not seem to be partial, let me have no more favour at your hands, then the Apostle had at the hands of Fest•• and Agrippa, who being Heathens, and Infidells, gave him leave not only to speak for himself, but also heard the probation of his Cause; this require I at your hands, who being a Christian Judge, I hope will not deny me that right which the Heathen have suffered; if ye do, then shall all this Audience, and the Heathen speak shame of your fact; for a City, saith our Saviour, that is builded on a hill cannot be hid; if they therefore have the Truth, let it come to light; for all that well do come to the Light, and they that do evil hate the Light.

Then the Mayor hanging down his head said nothing; but the Bishop told him he should preach at a Stake, and so the Sheriff cryed with the Bishop, Away with him.

Thus came he before them four times, desiring Justice, but could have none, and at length his Friends requiring, with ou•• voice, the same, but could not have it, they had Sentence; and then being carried out, were brought in again, and had it every men seve∣rally given.

But before the Bishop gave Sentence on Richard Smith, he told him in derision of his Brother Tankerfield, a Tale between a Gentle∣man and his Cook.

To which he answered, you fill the Peoples Ears with Fantasies, and foolish Tales, and make a laughing matter at Blood; but if you were a true Bishop, you should leave these railing Sentences, and speak the Words of God.

Bonner,

Well, I have offered to that naughty fellow, Master Speaker, your Companion the Cook, that my Chancellor should here instruct him, but he hath here with great disdain forsaken it. How sayst thou, wilt thou have him instruct thee, and lead thee in the right way?

Smith,

If your Chancellor shall do me any good, and take any pains, as you say, let him take mine Articles in his hands that you have objected against me, and either prove one of them Heresie, or any thing that you do to be good, and if he be able so to do, I stand here with all my heart to hear him; if not, I have no need, I praise

God, of his Sermon; for I come to answer for my life, and not to hear a Sermon.

Then began the Sentence in Dei Nomine.

To which Smith answered, that he began in a wrong name, re∣quiring of him, where he learned in Scriptures to give sentence of death against any man for his Conscience sake.

To the which he made no answer, but went forward to the end; and immediately cryed, Away with him.

Then Smith turned to the Mayor and Sheriffs, and said, Is it not e∣nough for you, that ye have left the strait way of the Lord, but that, you must condemn Christ causless.

Bonner,

Well, Master Controller, now you cannot say but I have offer∣ed you fair to have Instruction; and now I prithee call me bloody Bishop, and say I seek thy Blood.

Smith,

Well, although neither I, nor any of this Congregation, do report the truth of your fact, yet shall these Stones cry it out, ra∣ther then it shall be hidden.

Bonner,

Away with him, away with him. Woodrofe, Away with him, take him away.

Smith,

Well, good Friends, ye have seen and heard the great wrong that we have received this day, and ye are all Records, that we have desired the probation of our cause by Gods Book, and it hath not been granted, but we are condemned, and our cause not heard; nevertheless, my Lord Mayor, forasmuch as here you have exercised Gods Sword c••••sless, and will not hear the right of the poor, I com∣mit my cause to Almighty God, that shall judge all men according unto right, before whom we shall both stand without Authority, and there will I stand in the right to your great confusion except your repent, which the Lord grant you to do, if it be his will; and then was I, with the rest of my Brethren, carried away to Newgate.

Thus, gentle Reader, as neer as I can, I have set out the Truth of my Examination, and the verity of mine unjust condemnation for the Truth, desiring God that it may not be laid to the ch••rge of thee, O England, requiring your hearty prayers unto God for his Grace and Spirit of boldness, with hope even shortly to set to my Seal at Uxbridge, the eighth of August, by Gods Grace, pray that it may be to his honour, my Salvation, and your Consolation, I pray you Dagloriam Deo, Robert Smith.

Thus, Reader, thou hast a full Relation of the Christian fortitude and valour of this faithful Martyr, who so valiantly and manfully stood in the defence of his Masters cause; and as thou seest him here boldly stand in Examination before the Bishop, and Doctors; so was he no less comfortable also in the Prison among his Fellows, who be∣ing tog••••••••r Prisoners in Newgate, did daily pray and exhort one

another, and his care was not only for those in the ••ame Prison with him, but for other Prisoners, to whom he sent several good Epistles of love and Exhortation; and many were converted by him from the Iniquity of the times, some of which Epistles are as fol∣loweth.

O Ye that Love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing that is Evil.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Note the said Robert Smith be∣ing charg∣ed ••alsly in the said Ar∣ticles turn∣ing to the Mayor, said.