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 Examination of John Jackson before Doctor Cook.

When first I came before him,* 1.1 he railed, and called me He∣retick.

Jackson, I said, I am no Heretick.

Cook,

M. Read told me, that thou wast the rankest Heretick of all them in the Kings-Bench.

Jackson,

I said I knew him not.

Cook,

No, quoth he, yes, he examined thee at the Kings-Bench.

Jackson,

He examined five other, but not me.

Cook,

what sayst thou to the blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

Jackson,

It is a diffuse question to ask me at the first Dash, you pro∣mising to deliver me.

Cook,

What a Heretick is this?

Jackson,

It is easier to call a man a Heretick then to prove him one.

Cook,

What Church art thou of?

Jackson,

What Church, quoth I, I am of the same Church that is builded on the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ being the head Corner-stone.

Cook,

Thou art an Heretick.

Jackson,

How can that be, seeing that I am of that Church? I am sure you will not say that the Prophets and Apostles were He∣reticks.

Cook,

No, but what sayest thou to the blessed Sacrament of the Altar?

Jackson,

I find it not written.

Cook,

No: Keeper, away with him.

But I had some further discourse with him, and then he called again to the Keeper to have me to Prison.

Jackson,

I am contented with that and so we parted, and I answer∣ed no further, in this matter, because I thought he should not have my blood, in a Corner; but I hope in the living God, that when the time shall come before the Congregation, I shall shake their build∣ing in another manner of fashion; for they build but upon Sand, and their Walls be daubed with untempered Morter, and therefore they cannot stand long: Therefore, good Brothers and Sisters, be of good cheer, for I trust in my God, I and my other Prison-fellows shall go joyfully before you, Praising God most heartily, that we are counted worthy to be Witnesses of his Truth.

John Jackson.

The next that suffered was one Joan Wast a poor Blind Maid about twenty two years of Age.* 1.2

This poor Woman had such an esteem of the Scriptures, that though she was blind, and had little Money, she saved so much Money together as would buy her a New-Testament (which in those dayes was but scarce) and she would give Money to some at their spare time to read to her, whereby she became perfect in the Scrip∣ture, so that she retained several Chapters in her memory, and in King Edwards time she was zealous for the Religion then established, and when he died, she could not but continue constant in her Consci∣ence, and refused to back-slide with the Multitude to Popery, but retained her Zeal until she was apprehended, and being Examined was Condemned, and was led from the place where she was con∣demned to a place called the Windmill-pit, near to the Town of Der∣by, and holding her Brother Roger Wast by the hand; she desired the People to pray for her, and called upon Christ to have mercy upon her, and so with patience suffered Martyrdom.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Exami∣nation of Jo. Jakson.
• * 1.2

  Joan Wast Martyr.