A01115:1788
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the Church: written by that Reverend Father, Master John Fox: and now abridged by Timothy Bright, Doctor of Physic, for such as either through want of leisure, or ability have not the use of so necessary an historyAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church: written by that Reuerend Father, Maister Iohn Fox: and now abridged by Timothe Bright, Doctour of Phisicke, for such as either through want of leysure, or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history
London: printed by I. Windet, 1589
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
After this the Friday following at night, which was before the day of execution, he bare himself very cheerfully among his friends, to their great comfort. The Saturday next following, he was brought forth to execution without the city gate, called Bishops gate, in a low valley, called the Lollards pit, under Saint Leonards hill, accompanied with Doctor Warner his old acquaintance, parson of Winterton. Going to execution, he was comforted secretly by one of his acquaintance, that willed him to stand sure and constant: to whom he answered, that whatsoever storms he passed in this venture, yet shortly after said he, my ship shall be in haven: and desired him to help him with his prayer. Before his going to the stake, he confessed his faith, and after that, went to it, and prayed: which done, he stood upon the ledge of the stake made for him, to the end he might be the better seen, and the chain was cast about him: and standing thereon, Doctor Warner came to him to bid him farewell: which spake but few words for weeping: upon whom Thomas Bilney did gently smile,1 and inclined his body to speak with him a few words of thanks, and the last were these: O Master doctor feed your flock, Feed your flock: that when the Lord cometh, he may find you so doing: and farewell good master Doctor, and pray for me. While he stood thus upon the ledge of the stake, certain Friars, Doctors & Priors, being present at his examination & degradation, prayed him to clear them to the people, least they should withdraw their alms from them: which he did according to their request. Then by reason of the great wind, the fire thrice departed, and had recourse before it could be sharp enough to consume him. ⟨p. 15⟩In the which (till he gave up the Ghost) he knocked his breast, sometime crying, Jesus, sometime Credo, and so gave witness to the truth, and slept in the Lord.
After this the Friday following at night, which was before the daie of execution, he bare himselfe very chéerefully among his friendes, to their greate comfort. The Saterday next following, he was brought forth to execution without the cittie gate, called Bishops gate, in a lowe valley, called the Lollards pit, vnder Saint Leonards hill, accompanied with Doctor Warner his old acquaintaunce, parson of Winterton. Goyng to execution, he was comforted secréetly by one of his acquaintaunce, that willed him to stande sure and constant: to whome he aunswered, that whatsoeuer stormes he passed in this venture, yet shortly after saied he, my ship shall be in hauen: and desired him to helpe him with his prayer. Before his going to the stake, he confessed his faith, and after that, went to it, and praied: which doone, he stoode vpon the ledge of the stake made for him, to the end he might be the better séene, and the chaine was cast aboute him: and standing thereon, Doctor Warner came to him to bid him farewell: whiche spake but fewe woordes for wéeping: vpon whom Thomas Bilney did gently smile,