N20568:14747
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
A Little before (gentle reader) mention was made of ten that suffered martyrdom at Colchester; at which time there were also two other women, one called Margaret Thurston, and the other Agnes Bongeor, that should have suffered with them, and were likewise condemned at the same time and place, for the l•ke cause with the other ten before mentioned, and answered also in ⟨p. 491⟩their examinations to the same effect as the other did. But the one, namely Margaret Thurston, the morning she should suffer with those that went from the castle, was for that time deferred. What the cause was, the Testimony of Joan Cook shall declare unto us. Which Joan Cook, now the wife of John Spark, being then in the castle of Colchester for religion, did demand of this Margaret Thurston, whose husband died in prison, being imprisoned for religion, wherefore the said Margaret, being a condemned woman, should be reserved when the others suffered in the castle Baily? She answered, That it was not for any fear of death; but being prepared, as the rest were that suffered the same day, she was taken with a great shivering and trembling of the flesh: whereupon, forsaking the company, she went aside to pray; and whilst she was a praying, she thought she was lifted up by a mighty […] that came round about her. Even at that instant came in the goaler and company with him, and whilst she turned herself to fetch her psalter, […] •ook the other prisoners and left her alone. Shortly after she was moved out of the castle, and put into the town-prison, where she continued until Friday seven-night after her company were bun••. Th•• day, not two hours before her death, she was brought to the castle again, where she declared thus much to the aforesaid Joan Cook.
A Little before (gentle reader) mention was made of ten that suffered martyrdom at Colchester; at which time there were also two other women, one called Margaret Thurston, and the other Agnes Bongeor, that should have suffered with them, and were likewise condemned at the same time and place, for the l•ke cause with the other ten before mentioned, and answered also in ⟨p. 491⟩their examinations to the same effect as the other did. But the one, namely Margaret Thurston, the morning she should suffer with those that went from the castle, was for that time deferred. What the cause was, the Testimony of Joan Cook shall declare unto us. Which Joan Cook, now the wife of John Spark, being then in the castle of Colchester for religon, did demand of this Margaret Thurston, whose husband died in prison, being imprisoned for religion, wherefore the said Margaret, being a condemned woman, should be reserved when the others suffered in the castle Baily? She answered, That it was not for any fear of death; but being prepared, as the rest were that suffered the same day, she was taken with a great shivering and trembling of the flesh: whereupon, forsaking the company, she went aside to pray; and whilst she was a praying, she thought she was lifted up by a mighty 〈…〉 that came round about her. Even at that instan• came in the goaler and company with him, and whilst she turned herself to fetch her psalter, 〈…〉 •ook the other prisoners and left her alone. Sh•rtly after she was moved out of the castle, and put into the town-prison, where she continued until Friday seven-night after her company were bun••. Th•• day, not two hours before her death, she was brought to the castle again, where she declared thus much to the aforesaid Joan Cook.
THE other named Agnes Bongeor, who should have suffered in like manner with the six that went out of Mote-Hall, was also kept back at that time, but not in like sort, because her name was wrong written within the writ.
THE other named Agnes Bongeor, who should have suffered in like maner with the six that went out of Mote-Hall, was also kept back at that time, but not in like sort, because her name was wrong written within the writ.
THE same morning the second of August, that the said six in Mote-Hall were called out to go to their martyrdom, Agnes Bongeor was also called with them, by the name of Agnes Bower. Wherefore the bailiffs, understanding her to be wrong named within the writ, commanded the said Agnes Bongeor to prison again, as you have heard in the letter before-mentioned, and so that day sent her from Mote-Hall to the castle, where she remained till her death.
BUT when she saw herself separated from her fellow prisoners in such a manner, oh! what piteous complaints that good woman made; how bitterly she wept, what strange thoughts came into her mind, how naked and desolate she esteemed herself, and to what a plunge of despair and care her poor soul was brought, it was both sad and moving to behold; and all because she went not with them to give up her life for the cause of Christ; for of all things in the world, life was the least thing that she expected. For the morning, on which she was kept back from burning, she had put on a smock that she had prepared only for that purpose. And also having a child, a little young infant suckling on her, whom she kept with her tenderly all the time she was in prison, that day likewise did she send away to another nurse, and prepared herself presently to give herself for the testimony of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. So little did she look for life, and so greatly did God's gifts work in her above nature, that death seemed much better welcome than life. But this took not effect at that time as she thought it would, and therefore (as I said) she was greatly troubled.
BUT when she saw herself separated from her fellow prisoners in such a mannner, oh! what piteous complaints that good woman made; how bitterly she wept, what strange thoughts came into her mind, how naked and desolate she esteemed herself, and to what a plunge of despair and care her poor soul was brought, it was both sad and moving to behold; and all because she went not with them to give up her life for the cause of Christ; for of all things in the world, life was the least thing that she expected. For the morning, on which she was kept back from burning, she had put on a smock that she had prepared only for that purpose. And also having a child, a little young infant suckling on her, whom she kept with her tenderly all the time she was in prison, that day likewise did she send away to another nurse, and prepared herself presently to give herself for the testimony of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. So little did she look for life, and so greatly did God's gifts work in her above nature, that death seemed much better welcome than life. But this took not effect at that time as she thought it would, and therefore (as I said) she was greatly troubled.
[…] in this great perplexity of mind, a friend of her's came to her, and required to know whether Abraham's obedience was accepted before God, for that he did sacrifice his son Isaac, or in that he would have offered him? Unto which she answered thus.
〈…〉 in this great perplexity of mind, a friend of her's came to her, and required to know whether Abraham's obedience was accepted before God, for that he did sacrifice his son Isaac, or in that he would have offered him? Unto which she answered thus.
I know, said she, that Abraham's will before God was allowed for the deed, in that he would have done it, if the angel of the Lord had not stayed him: but I (said she) am unhappy, the Lord thinketh me not worthy of this dignity, and therefore Abraham's case and mine is not alike.
WHY then, said her friend, would you not willingly have gone with your company, if God should so have suffered it?
YES, said she, that I would with all my heart, and because I did not, it is now my chief and greatest grief.
THEN, said her friend, my dear sister, I pray thee consider Abraham and thyself well, and thou shalt see thou dost nothing differ with him in will at all.
ALAS, said she, there is a far greater matter in ⟨p. 492⟩Abraham than in me; for Abraham was tried with the offering of his own child, but so am not I; and therefore our cases are not alike.
GOOD sister, said her friend, weigh the matter but indifferently. Abraham, I grant, would have offered his son: and have not you done the like in your little sucking babe? But consider further than this, my good sister (said he), where Abraham was commanded but to offer his son, you are heavy and grieved because you offer not yourself, which goeth somewhat more near you than Abraham's obedience did; and therefore before God, assuredly, is no less accepted and allowed in his holy presence; which further the preparing of your shroud also doth argue full well, &c. After which talk between them she began a little to stay herself, and gave her whole exercise to reading and prayer, wherein she found a great deal of comfort.
DURING the time that these aforesaid good women were prisoners, one in the castle, and the other in Mote-Hall, God by a secret means called the said Margaret Thurston unto his truth again; who having her eves opened by the working of his Spirit, did greatly sorrow and lament her backsliding before, and promised faithfully to the Lord in hope of his mercies, never more while she lived to do like again, but that she would constantly stand to the confession of the same, against all the adversaries of the cross of Christ. After which promise made, came in a short time a writ from London for the burning of them, which was accordingly executed the 17th day of September, in the year aforesaid.
DURING the time that these aforesaid good women were prisoners, one in the castle, and the other in Mote-Hall, God by a secret means called the said Margaret Thurston unto his truth again; who having her eves opned by the working of his Spirit, did greatly sorrow and lament her backsliding before, and promised faithfully to the Lord in hope of his mercies, never more while she lived to do like again, but that she would constantly stand to the confession of the same, against all the adversaries of the cross of Christ. After which promise made, came in a short time a writ from London for the burning of them, which was accordingly executed the 17th day of September, in the year aforesaid.
NOW when these aforesaid women were brought to the place at Colchester, where they should suffer, they fell down upon their knees, and made their humble prayers to God, which being done, they rose and went to the stake joyfully, and were immediately chained thereto, and after the fire had encompassed them about, they with great joy and glorious triumph gave up their souls, spirits, and lives, into the hands of the Lord, under whose government and protection, for Christ's sake, we beseech him to grant us his holy defence and help for evermore, Amen.
NOW when these aforesaid women were brought to the place at Colchester, where they should suffer, they fell down upon their knees, and made their humble prayers to God, which being done, they rose and went to the stake joyfully, and were immediately chained thereto, and after the fire had incompassed them about, they with great joy and glorious triumph gave up their souls, spirits, and lives, into the hands of the Lord, under whose government and protection, for Christ's sake, we beseech him to grant us his holy defence and help for evermore, Amen.
