A Golden Chain

Again, in the days of Q. Mary,¹ as James Abbes was led by the Sheriff to execution, diverse poor people stood in the way and asked their alms: he then not having any money to give them, did put off all his apparel save his shirt, and gave it unto them, to some one thing, to some another: in the giving whereof he exhorted them to be strong in the Lord, and to stand steadfast in the trueth of the gospel. While he was was thus instructing the people, a servant of the Sheriffs going by, cried out aloud, and blasphemously said: Believe him not good people, he is an heretic, and a mad man out of his wit: believe him not, for it is heresy that he sayeth. And as the other continued in his godly admonitions, so did this wicked wretch blow forth his blasphemous exclamations, until they came unto the stake where he should suffer. But immediately after this martyr was bound to the stake and fire put to him, such was the fearful stroke of Gods justice upon this blasphemous railer, that he was there presently in the sight of all the people stricken with a frenzy, wherewith he had before railingly charged that good martyr of God: who in his furious rage & madness, casting off his shoes and the rest of his clothes, cried out unto the people, & said, thus did James Abs the true servant of God, who is saved, but I am damned: and thus ran he about the town of Bury, still crying, that James Abbes was a good man and saved, but I am damned.

Againe, in the daies of Q. Marie,¹ as Iames Abbes was led by the Sheriffe to execution, diuerse poore people stoode in the waie and asked their almes: hee then not hauing any money to giue them, did put off all his apparell saue his shirt, and gaue it vnto them, to some one thing, to some another: in the giuing whereof he exhorted them to be strong in the Lord, and to stand steadfast in the trueth of the gospell. While he was was thus instructing the people, a seruant of the Shiriffes going by, cried out aloude, and blasphemously said: Beleeue him not good people, he is an hereticke, and a mad man out of his witte: beleeue him not, for it is heresie that he saieth. And as the other continued in his godly admonitions, so did this wicked wretch blow forth his blasphemous exclamations, vntill they came vnto the stake where he should suffer. But immediatly after this martyr was bound to the stake and fire put to him, such was the fearefull stroke of Gods iustice vpon this blasphemous railer, that he was there presently in the sight of all the people stricken with a frensie, wherewith he had before railingly charged that good martyr of God: who in his furious rage & madnes, casting off his shooes and the rest of his cloaths, cried out vnto the people, & said, thus did Iames Abs the true seruant of God, who is saued, but I am damned: and thus ran he about the towne of Burie, still crying, that Iames Abbes was a good man and saued, but I am damned.