A cloud of witnesses, or, The sufferers mirrour made up of the swanlike-songs, and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors to the sixteenth century, in their treatises, speeches, letters, prayers, &c. in their prisons, or exiles, at the bar, or stake, &c. / collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of Eusebius, Fox, Fuller, Petrie, Scotland, and Mr. Samuel Ward's Life of faith in death, &c. and alphabetically disposed by T.M. ...

Glee.

When the Friers told Madam La Glee, that she was in a damnable estate: It seems so indeed (said she) being now in your hands; but I have a God that will never leave me, nor forsake me, for all that. Thou hast (said they) renounced the Faith. It is true (said she) I have renounced your faith, which I am able to shew is rejected, and accursed of God, and therefore deserves not so much as to be called Faith.

When news was brought her, that she was con∣demned to be hang'd, she fell down upon her knees, and blessed God, for that it pleased him to shew her so much mercy as to deliver her by such a kind of death, out of the troubles of this wretched world, and to honour her so far, as to call her to

d••e for his Truth, and to wear his Livery (meaning the Haltar, which the Hangman had put about her neck) Then sitting down at Table to break her fast with the three other condemned Servants of Christ, giving thanks to God, she exhorted them to be of good courage, and to trust unto the end in his free and onely mercy. She then called for a clean linen Wastcoat, making her self ready, as if she had been going to a Wedding, Mr. Ward tells us, that s••e put on her Bracelets; for I go (said she) unto my Husband.

Being commanded (as she was led to execution) to take a Torch into her hand, and to acknowledge she had offended God and the King: Away, away, (said she) with it. I have neither offended God, nor the King, according to your meaning, nor in respect of the cause, for which I suffer. I am I confess a sinful woman, but I need no such light, for helping me to ask forgiveness of God for my sins past, or present. Use such things your selves, who sit and walk in the darkness of ignorance and errour.

Then one of her Kinsfolks met her in the way, & presented to her view her little children, pray∣ing her to have compassion on them. I must needs tell you (said she) that I love my children dearly; but yet neither for the love I bear to them, or any thing else in this world, will I renounce the Truth, or my God, who is and will be a Father unto them, to provide better for them, then I should have done, and therefore to his providence and prote∣ction I commend and leave them.

When she saw the three men about to die silent, and not to call on God, she exhorted them thereto, and gave them an example.

Notes

• Fox, Vol. 3. Cont. p. 24.
• Pag: 25.
• Ward, pag. 151.