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.

Here followeth an Account of such who suffered Tryals and Imprisonments for their Profession of the Truth, and who in all likelihood had also been burnt for the same, had not God, through his Mercy and Provi∣dence preserved them by the Death of the Queen.

At this time divers there were in many places of the Realm Im∣prisoned, whereof some were but newly taken, and not Examined, some begun to be Examined, but were not condemned, several were Examined and condemned, but no Writ being sent down escaped; o∣thers were condemned, and the Writ sent down for there burning, but the Bishop, Chancellor, and Queen happning to die together, about one time, they were Marvelously preserved, amongst whom was one John Hunt, and Richard white, both Imprisoned at Salisbury, and other places,* 1.1 where they lay above two years, and were often trou∣bled by Priests and Bishops; Richard White being brought before Capon Bishop of Salisbury, and Brookes Bishop of Gloucester, and a great num∣ber of other Priests; Bishop Brookes said, Is this the Prisoner? and said, Friend, wherefore comest thou hither?

VVhite,

I trust to know the cause, for the Law saith, in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses, things must stand.

Dr. Capon.

Did not I Examine thee of thy faith?

VVhite,

No, you did not Examine me, but commanded me to the Lollards Tower, and that no man shoeld speak with me, and now I do require mine Accuser; say what I have said, and I will answer you.

Then the Chancellor said, Thou shalt corfess thy Faith ere then depart, and my Lord of Gloucester shall Examine thee.

VVhite,

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God to Salvation to all that believe; and St. Peter saith, If any man do ask thee a reason of the hope that is in thee, make him a direct answer, and that with meekness: And being referred to the Bishop to Examine him, he said, Will you take the pains to wet your Coat in my blood? Be not Guilty thereof, I warn you, and that before hand.

Brookes,

I will do nothing contrary to our Law, declare thy faith (said he) concerning the Sacrament of the Altar.

VVhite,

What is a Sacrament? I find not that word Sacrament in the Scriptures.

Much discourse they had concerning the Sacrament of the Altar, which for brevities sake is omitted; and at last the Bishop cryed, A∣way with him to the Lollards Tower, and dispatch him as soon as you can; this was the Substance of his Examination.

The occasion of his and his Companions long detainment in Pri∣son, and not Executed, was the moderation of the Under-Sheriff, who when he had received the Writ to burn them, said, I will not be guilty of these mens blood, and immediately burnt the Writing; within few dayes after, the said John Hunt and Richard White, being in a low

and dark Dungeon, in an Evening fell upon their knees to prayer, but could not utter words for weeping and tenderness of Heart, and so continued a great while in tears, the next morning news was brought them that the Chancellor their great Enemy was dead, who died a∣bout the same time that they were in such a weeping frame; how∣ever, they there continued in Prison till the coming in of Queen Elizabeth, and then were set at Liberty.

At this time also was delivered by the Providence of God, one John Fetty, a poor Taylor of Clarkenwel, whom his Wife complained of to the Priest of the Parish, for that he would not go to Mass, and be partaker of their Idolatry, notwithstanding this unkind fact of his Wife, yet did he cherish her and provide well for her, but notwith∣standing his gentle dealing with her, and that she had recovered her health, having been ill, did again accuse him, whereupon he was apprehended, and by one of the Queens Commissioners sent to the Lollards Tower, where he was put into the painful Stocks, and had a dish of Water set by him with a Stone put in it, after he had layn there about two weeks hanging in the Stocks, sometimes by one Leg and one Arm, and sometimes by the other, and sometimes by both; it happened that one of his Children, a Boy of the Age of about eight or nine Years came to the Bishops House, to see if he could see his Fa∣ther, at his coming thither, one of the Bishops Chaplains asked him, What he lackt? The Child answered, that he came to see his Father; the Chaplain said, VVho is your Father? The Boy pointing towards Lollards Tower, told him, that his Father was in Prison there. VVhy, said the Priest, thy Father is an Heretick: No, said the Boy, my Fa∣ther is no Heretick; but you are an Heretick, for you have Balaams mark.

With that the Priest took him by the hand and led him into the Bi∣shops House, and there stript him naked amongst them, and in a most shameful manner, without all pity, Whipt and Scourg'd this poor Child, till he was all in a gore blood, and then caused Cluney the Keep∣er to carry him in his Shirt to his Father in Prison, the blood running down by his heels.

The poor man seeing his Child, cryed out for sorrow, Alas, Will, who has done this to thee, the Boy answered, As I was seeking to come to see you, a Priest with Balaams mark, took me into the Bishops House, and there I was so used. Cluney the Keeper heering this, pul∣led the Boy out of his Fathers hands, and carried him back again to the Bishops House, where they kept him three dayes, at the three dayes end, the Childs Father was brought before Bonner, and com∣ing into the Bishops Chamber, he said, God be here, and Peace.

Then said Bonner, That is neither God speed, nor Good morrow.

Then said Fetty, if you kick against this peace, this is not the place that I seek for, and espying a Crucifix lying in the Window, he asked the Bishop, whether Christ was handled so cruely as he was there pictured?

Yea, That he was said the Bishop.

Fetty, Even so cruelly do you handle such as come before you; for you are unto Gods people as Caiphas was unto Christ.

Then said the Bishop thou art a vile Herotick, and I will burn thee, or else I will spend all that I have to my Gown.

Nay, said Fetty, you were better give your Gown to some poor body, that he may pray for you. But notwithstanding this talk the Bishop considering what danger the Child was in, by reason of their cruel whipping, and cruelty used towards him, let the father and him both go at Liberty, but within fourteen dayes after the Child dyed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This Exam∣nation was on the 26th of April, 1557.