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.

CHAP. IV.

The Just Judgments of God upon Persecutors in Queen Maryes Reign.

AFter the death of Queen Mary, the bloody work ceased, al∣though a stop there was before her Death in London, in some measure; for as Roger Holland had declared to Bonner, that the Lord would shorten their hands of cruelty; and as he foretold, there was not one burnt in Smithfield for Religion after him; for though the vehement zeal of this Queen was such, for the setting up of Popery in England, as if she intended to establish it forever; yet the secret hand of Providence had a regard to his suffering Seed, and put a period to her cruelty, and it is an evident token that the Religion she endeavou∣red to settle did not please God, although it pleased her, since we see the bad effects it brought forth; for had it been as godly as it was bloody, no doubt the success would have been better, and the strict Hand of Gods Judgments would not have been executed upon the bloody Persecutors of such as dissented, as evidently appears they were by the many Examples of divine Justice, shewed from time to time, and the unprosperous success of this Queen in all her affairs, are a full assurance the Lord disliked her effusion of so much blood in the matter of Religion; neither in all her undertaking had she any good success; for though she endeavoured to restore again the Monks, and Nuns, Abbyes, Fryars, &c. which were partly dissolved in her Fa∣thers time, yet she was frustrated in her designs, and how unprospe∣rous she was in her State affairs may be read at large in the Chronicle; for she lost Callice which had been won by the valour of Edward the Third, and marrying with Philip of Spain a Papist, by him she had no Issue, and though she promised to her self great felicity in him, but it proved otherwise; for he withdrew first his affection from her, and at last his company also; and thus the Almighty ordered things, but no Admonitions would take place with her, to cause her to

revoke her bloody Laws, nor to stop the Tyranny of these bloody Priests and Bishops, but the Servants of God were drawn by heaps as Sheep to the Slaughter, and so it continued till by death she was taken away, after she had reigned Five Years and Five Moneths.

And now I shall give a short Account of the severe punishment that God inflicted upon several Persecutors (of his People) from time to time in this Queens reign, which are not already inserted in this Book.

Doctor Dunning, Chancellor of Norwich, a bloody man, who con∣demned several Innocent persons,* 1.1 in the midst of his rage died sud∣dainly (as it is said) siting in his Chair.

* 1.2 The like Judgment fell upon Bishop Thornton, Suffragan of Dover, who after he had exercised great cruelty in Persecuting, at length up∣on a Sunday (so called) looking upon his men, playing at Bowls, fell suddainly in a Palsie, and being had to Bed, was put in mind to remember God; Yea, said he, so I do, and my Lord Cardinal too, and so died.

After he was dead, the Cardinal ordained another Bishop in his room, who being at Greenwich, after he had received the Cardinals blessing, going down a pair of Stairs from the Chamber, he fell down and broak his Neck: to these Examples also may be added, the terrible Judgment of God upon the Parson at Crundall in Kent, who having received the Popes Pardon from Cardinal Poole, coming home to his Parish, exhorted the People to receive the same, saying, That he now stood as clear in his Conscience as when he was first born, and mattered not if he died the same hour he spoke it; whereupon, being suddainly stricken by the Hand of God, and leaning a little on the one side, immediately shrunk down in the Pulpit, and so was found dead, not speaking one word more.

Not long before the death of Queen Mary, died Doctor Capon Bi∣shop of Salisbury, Persecutor, about the which time also followed the unprepared death of Doctor Jeffery, Chancellor of Salisbury, who not long before his death had caused above ninety persons to be sum∣moned to appear before him, to the end he might Examine them by Inquisition concerning their Religion, but by the Providence of God he was prevented from executing the evil, he intended against them, for in the midst of his buildings, he was suddainly taking away by the mighty Hand of God.

And now to come from Priests to Laymen where first an Account is given of one Woodrove,* 1.3 who was Sheriff of London, who rejoyced much at the death of the Innocent, and was very cruel in his Office, for when one Rogers was going in a Cart towards Smithfield to be burnt, and in the way his Children being brought to him, be∣cause the Car-man stopped his Cart, that he might speak to them, he caused the Car-mans head to be broke; but what happened? within a week after this Sheriff came out of his Office, he was sud∣dainly smote by the hand of God, the one half of his Body being

benumed, and lay Bedrid, and in this infirmity he continued seven or eight years till his dying day.

* 1.4 Alexander the keeper of Newgate, a cruel Enemy to those that lay there for Religion, died very miserably, being so swelled that he was more like a Monster then a man, and so rotten within, that no man could abide the smell of him; this cruel Wretch to hasten the poor Lambs to the Slaughter, would go to Bonner, Story, Cholmley, and others, Crying out, Rid my Prison, Rid my Prison, I am too much pestered with these Hereticks.

* 1.5 James, the Son of the said Alexander, having left unto him by his Father great Substance, within three years wasted all to nought, and when some marvelled how he spent those goods so fast; Oh, said he, Evil gotten, Evil spent; and shortly after, as he went to Newgate-market, he fell down suddenly and there wretchedly died.

* 1.6 John Peter, Son in law to this Alexander, an horrible Blasphemer of God, and no less cruel to the said Prisoners, he commonly when he would affim any thing, were it true or false, used to say, If it be not true, I pray God I rot ere I dye; accordingly he did rot away, and so died most miserably.

* 1.7 The next day after the death of Queen Mary died Cardinal Pool, of what disease, although it be uncertain to many, it was suspected that he took some Italian Physic••k that did him no good.

The sudden death of many more Persecutors might be mentioned who were cut off in this Queens time, and before; but by what is in∣certed may be seen that the Lord was against those persecuting Priests and Bishops.

A Relation of the end of Docter Story, a bloody Persecutor of Christs Members.

* 1.8 This Doctor Story was an Arch-Enemy to, and a bloody Persecu∣tor of Gods people, when Queen Mary dyed Queen Elizabeth staying the Sword of Persecution from raging any further, caused this Do∣cter Story to be apprehended, and committed to Prison, where after a little while being detained, he broke out of Prison, and fled beyond Sea where getting into favour, and growing familiar with the Duke de Alva in Antwerp, of whom he received a special Commission to search for English Books, and in this Authority he continued for a time, by which means he did much hurt, and brought many into trouble and perril of their lives, Raging in his persecuting blood-thirsty cruelty (but when the measure of Iniquity was full, the Lord proceeded against him in Judgment, and cut him off, which was after this manner.

Some in England being concerned to hear of his wicked behaviour towards Innocent people, sent over one Parker a Merchant to Antwerp, who had undertaken some means to convey Story into England; Par∣ker arriving at Antwerp, got some privately to inform Doctor Story that in such an English Ship he might find store of English Books; Story

hearing this, suspecting nothing, made haste towards the Ship as to a prey, and coming on board, said, he came to search for Heretical Books, and being between Decks they claped down the Hatches up∣on him, and hoysted up their Sayles, and brought him away into England; where, for saying, that he was a sworn Subject to the King of Spain, and no Subject to the Queen of England, he was condemned to be hanged, and accordingly was Executed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chancellor of Norwich
• * 1.2

  Bishop Thornton
• * 1.3

  Woodrove Sheriff of London
• * 1.4

  The Keeper of Newgate.
• * 1.5

  The Keeper of New∣gate Son.
• * 1.6

  His Son in Law.
• * 1.7

  Cardinal Pool.
• * 1.8

  Doctor Story.