Ecclesiastical history epitomized containing a faithful account of ye birth life & doctrine, crucifixion & ascension of ye holy Iesus : with the lives of ye apostles evangelists & primitive fathers & other famous men in ye Christian Church both antient & modern who have couragiously confessed & suffered glorious martyrdomes & persecutions under several tyrannical governours both heathenish and Romish : faithfully continued to ye reformation and since deduced to this present age / carefully collected by J.S. ... ; in two parts.

The Life of JOHN FRITH.

JOhn Frith was born at Westrum in Kent, being brought up by his Parents to Learning, he so profited, that he soon became excellently skilled in the Latin and Greek Tongues, and then going to Cambridge, he met with William Tindal, of whom he learned many things conducing to saving Knowledge; but by publishing his Opinion, he fell into the displeasure of Cardinal Woolsey, who not∣withstanding his favouring him before, caused him with several others to be put into a dark Prison or Cave, where salt-Fish was wont to be kept, the smell of which so annoyed them, that some of them dyed; but in a short time after, Frith making friends to the Cardinal, he was set at Liberty, and to avoid the Storm that then threatned the Profes∣sors of the Gospel, he went beyond Sea, where stay∣ing two years, he again returned to England, when coming to Reading, he was taken up as a Vagabond, and there imprisoned and put in the Stocks till such time as he sent for the School-Master of the Town, who finding him to be a man of great Learning, procured his Inlargement.

A while after, Sir Thomas Moore being Lord Chancellor, and hearing of his return, offered a large sum of money to any one that could appre∣hend him, upon which a Taylor, one of his former Acquaintance, betrayed him, under pretence of concealing him in his House, when being appre∣hended he was committed Prisoner to the Tower,

where he was often visited by Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, and Sir Thomas Moor, who perswaded him to recant his Opinions, but he absolutely re∣fused, plainly shewing them, that what he held or had preached, was according to the word of God; he also disputed with Sir Thomas Moor, both by Writing, and Word of Mouth, using such convin∣cing Arguments, that he so far wrought upon Archbishop Cranmer, that he afterwards confessed that he took his first Light of Reformation from Mr. Frith.

A while after at the Instigation of one of the King's Chaplains, set on by Gardiner, he was ordered to be heard before the Archbishop and the Lord Cromwel, who very unwillingly undertook the charge, as being both favourers of the Reformed Religion; but at last by the King's strict Order, the Commissioners sat at Craydon, whither Mr. Frith was brought by one of the Bishop's Gentlemen, and his Porter, who by the way counselled him to run away from them, and they would willingly suffer it, but he refused, saying, That if they went away and left him alone, he would come to Craydon himself, and appear before the Bishop. So on they went, and he the next Morning was brought before the Com∣missioners, where he so well defended his Opinions by Proofs out of the Scriptures and Fathers, that all that heard him admired his quick Apprehension, and so well he quoted Saint Augustin to his purpose, that Dr. Heath whispering to the Archbishop, told him, that his Allegations out of Saint Augustin could not be denied; yet was he after all delivered to Stoksly, Bishop of London, who calling him be∣fore him into his Consistory, without any regard to the Scriptures, Saint Augustin, or any other of

the Fathers, condemned him, and committed him to the Sheriffs of London; to be burnt as an Here∣tick.

When he came into Smithfield, the place appoint∣ed for his Martyrdom, he with an undaunted cou∣rage went to the Stake, where he was no sooner fastned, but the fire was kindled, in which he con∣tinued till the last with such Constancy and Pati∣ence, that many were converted by his Death, and began to pray to God to receive his Soul; but Dr. Cook forbid them, saying, They ought to pray for him no more than they would for a Dog, which uncharita∣ble expression made many blame him.

He suffered Martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel, Anno Christi 1531. he wrote many Learn∣ed Treatises, most of which were burnt during the Reigns of King Henry the Eighth, and Queen Mary, and some of them were saved by Miracle, as I may say, for on Midsummer Eve, Anno 1626. a Cod-fish being brought into Cambridge Market, when it came to be cut up, these following Writings of John Frith were found in its belly, wrapped up in Canvas, which were afterwards Printed to the rejoycing of all good Christians, viz.

A Preparation for Death. A Preparation to the Cross. The Treasure of Knowledge: A Mirror to know your self. A Brief Instruction to teach one willingly to dye, and not to fear Death.

Now had any such thing hap'ned relating to the Papists, the Party that wrote them had not only been canonized, but the Miracle been trumpeted through∣out Christendom.