A67927:4825
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
Palmer. I forsake the Pope & his Popelings, withal Popish heresy.
Palmer. I forsake the Pope & his Popelings, withall Popish heresie.
Jeffrey. Then subscribe to the Articles.
Ieffrey. Then subscribe to the Articles.
Palmer. Alter the Epithetons, and I will subscribe.
Jeffrey. Subscribe and qualify the matter with thine own pen. So he subscribed. Whereupon D. Jeffrey proceeded to read the Popish sentence of his cruel condemnation, and so was he delivered to the charge of the secular power,1 & was burned the same day in the after noon, about five of the clock.
Ieffrey. Subscribe and qualifie the matter with thine own pen. So he subscribed. Whereupon D. Ieffrey proceded to read the Popish sentence of his cruell condemnation, and so was he deliuered to the charge of the secular power,1 & was burned the same day in the after noone, about fiue of the clocke.
Within one hour before they went to the place of execution▪ 1Palmer in the presence of many people, comforted his fellows with these words. Brethren (saith he) be of good •here in the Lord and faint not. Remember the words of our Saviour Christ, where he saith: Happy are you when men revile you and persecute you for righteousness sake. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven. Fear not them that kill the body, and be not able to touch the soul. God is faithful, and will not suffer us to be tempted further, then we shall be able to bear it. We shall not end our lives in the •ire, but make a change for a better life. Yea for coals, we shall receive pearls. For Gods holy spirit certifieth our spirit, that he hath even now prepared for us a sweet supper in heaven for his sake which suffered first for us.
Within one houre before they went to the place of execution▪ 1Palmer in the presence of many people, comforted his fellowes with these wordes. Brethren (sayth he) be of good •here in the Lord and faint not. Remember ye words of our Sauiour Christ, where he sayth: Happy are you whē men reuile you and persecute you for righteousnesse sake. Reioyce and be glad, for great is your reward in heauen. Feare not them that kill the body, and be not able to touch the soule. God is faythfull, and will not suffer vs to be tempted further, then we shall be able to beare it. Wee shall not ende our lyues in the •ire, but make a change for a better lyfe. Yea for coales, we shall receiue pearles. For Gods holy spirite certifieth our spirit, that he hath euen now prepared for vs a sweet supper in heauen for his sake which suffered first for vs.
With these and such like words, he did not only comfort the hearts of his silly brethren that were with him appointed as sheep to be slain, but also wrested out plentiful tears from the eyes of many that heard him. And as they were singing a Psalm,1 came the sheriff Sir Richard Abridges, and the Bailiffs of the Town, with a great company of harnessed and weaponed men to conduct them to the fire. When they were come to the place where they should suffer, they fell all three to the ground, and Palmer with an audible voice pronounced the xxxj. Psalm, but the other two made their prayers secretly to almighty God.
With these and such lyke wordes, he did not only comfort the hartes of his sillie brethren that were with hym appoynted as sheepe to be slaine, but also wrested out plē tifull teares from the eyes of many that heard him. And as they were singyng a Psalme,1 came the shiriffe Sir Richard Abridges, and the Bailiffes of the Towne, wyth a great company of harnessed and weaponed men to conduct them to the fire. When they were come to the place where they should suffer, they fell all three to the ground, and Palmer with an audible voyce pronounced the xxxj. Psalme, but the other two made their prayers secretly to almighty God.
1And as Palmer began to arise, there came behind him two popish priests, exhorting him yet to recant and save his soul. Palmer answered and said: Away, away, tempt me no longer. Away I say from me all ye that work iniquity, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my tears. And so forthwith they put of their raiment, and went to the stake and kissed it. And when they were bound to the post, Palmer said: Good people pray for us, that we may persevere to the end. And for Christs sake, beware of Popish teachers, for they deceive you.
1And as Palmer began to arise, there came behind him two popish priests, exhortyng him yet to recant and saue his soule. Palmer answered and sayd: Away, away, tempt me no longer. Away I say from me all ye that worke iniquitie, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my teares. And so forthwith they put of their raiment, and went to ye stake and kissed it. And when they were bound to the post, Palmer sayd: Good people pray for vs, that we may perseuer to the ende. And for Christes sake, beware of Popish teachers, for they deceiue you.
As he spake this, a servant of one of the Bailiffs, threw a fagot at his face, that the blood gushed out in divers places. For the which fact, the Sheriff reviled him, calling him cruel tormentor, and with his walking staff brake his head,1 that the blood likewise ran about his ears. When the fire was kindled and began to take hold upon their bodies, they lift their hands towards heaven, and quietly and cheerfully as though they had felt no smart, they cried: Lord Jesus strength us, Lord Jesus assist us, Lord Jesus receive our souls. And so they continued without any [figure] struggling, holding up their hands, and knocking their hearts, and calling upon Jesus until they had ended their mortal lives.
As he spake this, a seruant of one of the Bailifs, threw a fagot at his face, that the bloud gushed out in diuers places. For the which fact, the Shiriffe reuiled hym, callyng hym cruell tormentor, and with hys walkyng staffe brake hys hed,1 that the bloud likewyse ran about his eares. Whē the fire was kindled and began to take holde vppon their bodies, they lift their hands towards heauen, and quietly and cheerefully as though they had felt no smart, they cried: Lord Iesu strength vs, Lord Iesu assist vs, Lord Iesu receiue our soules. And so they continued without any [figure] struglyng, holdyng vp their handes, and knockyng their hartes, and calling vpon Iesu vntill they had ended their mortall lyues.
Among other things this is also to be noted,1 that after their three heads by force of the raging and devouring flames of fire were fallen together in a plump or cluster, which was marvellous to be hold, and that they all were judged already to have given up the ghost, suddenly Palmer, as a man waked out of sleep, moved his tongue and jaws, and was heard to pronounce this word Jesus. So being resolved into ashes, he yielded to God as joyful a soul (confirmed with the sweet promises of Christ) as any one that ever was called beside to suffer for his blessed name. God grant us all to be moved with the like spirit, working in our hearts constantly to stand in defence and confession of Christs holy Gospel, to the end, Amen.
Among other thyngs this is also to be noted,1 that after their three heds by force of the ragyng and deuouryng flames of fire were fallen together in a plumpe or cluster, which was meruailous to be hold, and that they all were iudged already to haue geuen vp the ghost, sodainly Palmer, as a man waked out of sleep, mooued his tongue and iawes, and was heard to pronounce this word Iesu. So beyng resolued into ashes, he yelded to God as ioyfull a soule (confirmed with the sweete promises of Christ) as any one that euer was called beside to suffer for his blessed name. God graunt vs all to be mooued with the lyke spirite, workyng in our hartes constantly to stand in defence and confession of Christes holy Gospell, to the ende, Amen.
Palmerus flammas Christi pro dogmate passus,1
Impositum pondus, ceu bona palma tulit.
Non retrocessit, sed contra audentior ivit,
Non retrocessit, sed contra audentior iuit,
Illaesam retinens, fortis in igne sidem.
Propterea in coelum nunc Palmifer iste receptus,
Justiciae Palmam non percuntis habet.
Iusticiae Palmam non percuntis habet.
