Now apparelled in his wedding garments, when the hour was come, and he passed to his death, in the way his poor wife and children stood weeping, and making lamentation: which so pierced his heart, that he let fall tears from his eyes: but soon after, as though he had misliked his infirmity, began to be angry with himself: insomuch that striking his breast with his hand, he used these words: Ah flesh, stayest thou me so? wouldest thou fain prevail?1 Well, I tell thee, do what thou canst, thou shalt not by Gods grace have the victory. By this time he came to the stake, and going towards it, he fell down upon his knees and kissed the ground: and in rising again, the earth a little sticking on his face, he said these words: Earth unto earth and dust unto dust: thou art my mother, and to thee shall I return. Then went he cheerfully, and very joyfully to the stake, and set his back close thereunto: and when he had stood there a while, he cast his eye upon the Reporter of this History, calling him unto him, and said, I feel a great fighting betwixt the Flesh and the Spirit: and the Flesh would very fain have his swing, and therefore I pray you when you seem any thing tempted, hold your finger up to me, and I trust I shall remember my self. After the Smith had made him fast to the Stake, according as he had required him, being afraid of his ⟨p. 144⟩infirmity, and the Officers began to lay wood to him with straw and reed,) he himself as far as he could reach, would catched the same, and very cheerfully disposed it about his body. When all things were ready, then stepped up a Priest, addressing himself to speak, and to pervert the people. Which when Rawlins 2perceived, he beckoned with his hand to the people, and said: come hither good people, and hear not a false prophet preach. And then said unto the preacher: oh thou naughty hypocrite, dost thou presume to prove thy false doctrine by Scripture? Look in the text what followeth: did not Christ say, do this in remembrance of me: after which words the Priest being amazed, held his peace. Then some that stood by, cried: put too fire, put to fire: which being put to, he bathed his hands so long in the flame, till the sinews shrunk, and the fat dropped away: and once he did as it were wipe his face with one of them.
Now apparelled in his wedding garments, when ye houre was come, and he passed to his death, in the way his poore wife and children stood wéeping, and making lamentation: which so pearced his heart, that hee let fall teares from his eyes: but soone after, as though he had misliked his infirmitie, beganne to be angry with himselfe: insomuch that striking his brest with his hande, hée vsed these wordes: Ah flesh, stayest thou me so? wouldest thou faine preuaile?1 Well, I tell thée, do what thou canst, thou shalt not by Gods grace haue the victorie. By this time hée came to the stake, and going towards it, he fell down vpon his knées and kissed the ground: and in rising againe, the earth a little sticking on his face, he saide these words: Earth vnto earth and dust vnto dust: thou art my mother, and to thée shall I returne. Then went he cherefully, and very ioyfully to the stake, and set his backe close thereunto: and when hée had stoode there a while, he cast his eye vpon the Reporter of this History, calling him vnto him, and sayde, I féele a great fighting betwixt the Fleshe and the Spirit: and the Fleshe woulde very fayne haue his swinge, and therefore I pray you when you séeme any thing tempted, holde your finger vp to me, and I trust I shall remember my selfe. After the Smith had made him fast to the Stake, according as hée had required him, being afrayde of his ⟨p. 144⟩infirmitie, and the Officers began to laie wood to him with strawe and réede,) hée himselfe as farre as hée could reach, would catcht the same, and very chéerefully disposed it about his bodie. When all thinges were readie, then stept vp a Priest, addressing himselfe to speake, and to peruert the people. Which when Rawlins 2perceiued, hée beckened with his hand to the people, and said: come hither good people, and heare not a false prophet preach. And then said vnto the preacher: oh thou naughtie hypocrite, doost thou presume to prooue thy false doctrine by Scripture? Looke in the text what followeth: did not Christ say, doo this in remembrance of mée: after which wordes the Priest beyng amazed, held his peace. Then some that stood by, cried: put too fire, put to fire: which being put to, he bathed his handes so long in the flame, till the sinewes shrunke, and the fatte dropped away: and once he did as it were wipe his face with one of them.
- 1Rawlins a worthy martyr.
- 2Rawlins.
