N20568:4856
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.
AFTER one quarter of a year and somewhat more, •a•ington the warden and his wife, fell out with […] for the wicked mass: and thereupon the warden refor•• to the bis••• […] Winchester, and obtained to put me into the wards where I have continued a long time, having nothing appointed to me for my bed, but a little p•d of straw and a rotten covering, with a tick and a few f••thers therein, the chamber being vile and stinking, until by God's means good people sent me bedding to lie on. On one side of which prison, is the sink and filth of the house, and on the other the town ditch, so that the stench of the house hath infected me with sundry diseases.
AFTER one quarter of a year and somewhat more, •a•ington the warden and his wife, fell out with 〈…〉 for the wick•d mass: and thereupon the warden refor•• to the bis••• 〈…〉 Winchester, and obtained to put me into the wards where I have continued a long time, having nothing appointed to me for my bed, but a little p•d of straw and a rotten covering, with a tick and a few f••thers therein, the chamber being vile and stinking, until by God's means good people sent me bedding to lie on. On one side of which prison, is the sink and filth of the house, and on the other the town ditch, so that the stench of the house hath infected me with sundry diseases.
DURING which time I have been sick, and the doors, bars, hasp•, and chains being all closed, and made fast upon me, I have mourned, called and cried for help; but the warden when he hath known me many times ready to die, and when the poor men of the wards have called to help me, hath commanded the doors to be kept fast, and charged that none of his men should come at me, saying, Let him alone, it were a good riddance of him. And, amongst many other times, he did thus October 18, 1553▪ as many can witness.
DURING wh•ch time I have been sick, and the doors, bars, hasp•, and chains being all closed, and made fast upon me, I have mourned, called and cried for help; but the warden when he hath known me many times ready to die, and when the poor men of the wards have called to help me, hath commanded the doors to be kept fast, and charged that none of his men should come at me, saying, Let him alone, it were a good riddance of him. And, amongst many other times, he did thus October 18, 1553▪ as many can witness.
I paid always like a baron to the said warden, as well in fees, as for my board, which was twenty shillings a weak, besides my man's table, until I was wrongfully deprived of my bishoprics, and since that time, I have paid him as the best gentlemen doth in his house; yet hath he used me worse, and more vilely, than the veriest slave that ever came to the hall commons, (common side of the prison).
THE said warden hath also imprisoned my man, William Downton, and stripped him out of his clothes to search for letters, and could find none, but only a little remembrance of good people's names, that gave me their aims to relieve me in prison; and to undo them also, the warden ⟨p. 457⟩delivered the same bill unto the said Stephen Gardiner, God's enemy and mine.
I have suffered imprisonment almost eighteen months, my goods, my livings, friends, and comfort taken from me; the queen owing me, by just account, fourscore pounds or more. She hath put me in prison, and giveth nothing to keep me, neither is there suffered any one to come at me, whereby I might have relief. I am with a wicked man and woman, so that I see no remedy (saving God's help, but I shall be cast away in prison before I come to judgment. But I commit my just cause to God, whose will be done, whether it be by life or death,
THE twenty-second of January, 1555▪ Babington, the warden of the Fleet, was commanded to bring Mr. Hooper before the bishop of Winchester, with other bishops and commissioners at the said Winchester's house, at St. Mary Every's: where the bishop of Winchester, in the name of himself and the rest, moved Mr. Hooper earnestly to forsake the evil and corrupt doctrine (as he termed it) preached in the days of king Edward the sixth, and to return to the unity of the catholic church, and to acknowledge the pope's holiness to be head of the same church, according to the determination of the whole parliament, promising, that as he himself, with other his brethren, had received the pope's blessing, and the queen's mercy; even so mercy was ready to be showed to him and others, if he would arise with them, and condescend to the pope's holiness.
THE twenty-second of January, 1555▪ Babington, the warden of the Fleet, was commanded to bring Mr. Hooper before the bishop of Winchester, with other bishops and commissioners at the said Winchester's house, at St. Mary Overy's: where the bishop of Winchester, in the name of himself and the rest, moved Mr. Hooper earnestly to forsake the evil and corrupt doctrine (as he termed it) preached in the days of king Edward the sixth, and to return to the unity of the catholic church, and to acknowledge the pope's holiness to be head of the same church, according to the determination of the whole parliament, promising, that as he himself, with other his brethren, had received the pope's blessing, and the queen's mercy; even so mercy was ready to be shewed to him and others, if he would arise with them, and condescend to the pope's holiness.
BISHOP HOOPER answered, That forasmuch as the pope taught doctrines altogether contrary to those of Christ, he was not worthy to be accounted as a member of his church, much less to be head thereof; wherefore he would in no wise condescend to any such usurped jurisdiction, neither esteemed he the church, whereof they call him head, to be the catholic church of Christ: for the church only heareth the voice of her spouse Christ, and flieth strangers. Howbeit (saith he) if in any point to me unknown, I have offended the queen's majesty, I shall most humbly submit myself to her mercy, if mercy may be had with safety of conscience, and without the displeasure of God.
ANSWER was made, that the queen would show no mercy to the pope's enemies. Whereupon Babington was commanded to carry him to the Fleet again: who did so, and shifted him from his former chamber into another, near to the warden's own chamber, where he remained six days: and in the mean time his former chamber was searched by Dr. Martin and others, for writings and books, which Dr. Hooper was thought to have wrote, but none was found.
ANSWER was made, that the queen would shew no mercy to the pope's enemies. Whereupon Babington was commanded to carry him to the Fleet again: who did so, and shifted him from his former chamber into another, near to the warden's own chamber, where he remained six days: and in the mean time his former chamber was searched by Dr. Martin and others, for writings and books, which Dr. Hooper was thought to have wrote, but none was found.
JANUARY 28th, the bishop of Winchester, and other commissioners sat in judgment at St. Mary Every's, where bishop Hooper appeared before them in the afternoon, and there, after much reasoning and disputation, he was commanded aside, till the Rev. Mr. Rogers (who was then come) had been likewise examined. Examinations being ended, the two sheriffs of London were commanded, about four o'clock, to carry them to the Compter in Southwark, there to remain till to-morrow at nine o'clock, to see whether they would relent and come home again to the catholic church. So bishop Hooper went before, with one of the sheriffs, and Mr. Rogers came after with the other; and being out of the church door, Dr. Hooper looked back, and stayed a little till Mr. Rogers drew near, unto whom he said, Come brother Rogers, must we two take this matter first in hand, and begin to fry these faggots? Yes, sir, said Mr. Rogers, by God's grace. Doubt not, said Dr. Hooper, but God will give strength. So going forwards, there was such a press of people in the streets, who rejoiced at their constancy, that they had much ado to pass.
JANUARY 28th, the bishop of Winchester, and other commissioners sat in judgment at St. Mary Overy's, where bishop Hooper appeared before them in the afternoon, and there, after much reasoning and disputation, he was commanded aside, till the Rev. Mr. Rogers (who was then come) had been likewise examined. Examinations being ended, the two sheriffs of London were commanded, about four o'clock, to carry them to the Compter in Southwark, there to remain till to-morrow at nine o'clock, to see whether they would relent and come home again to the catholic church. So bishop Hooper went before, with one of the sheriffs, and Mr. Rogers came after with the other; and being out of the church door, Dr. Hooper looked back, and stayed a little till Mr. Rogers drew near, unto whom he said, Come brother Rogers, must we two take this matter first in hand, and begin to fry these faggots? Yes, sir, said Mr. Rogers, by God's grace. Doubt not, said Dr. Hooper, but God will give strength. So going forwards, there was such a press of people in the streets, who rejoiced at their constancy, that they had much ado to pass.
BY the way, the sheriff said to the bishop, I wonder you was so hasty and quick with my lord chancellor, and did use no more patience: he answered, Mr. Sheriff, I was nothing at all impatient, although I was earnest in my master's cause, and it standeth me so in hand, for it goeth upon life and death, not the life and death of this world only, but also of the ⟨p. 458⟩world to come. Then they were committed to the keeper of the Compter, and appointed to separate chambers, with command that they should not be suffered to speak one with another, neither any other permitted to come to them that night.
UPON the next day following, January 29, at the hour appointed, they were brought again by the sheriffs before the said bishop and commissioners in the church, where they were the day before. And after long and earnest talk, when they perceived bishop Hooper would by no means condescend unto them, they condemned him to be degraded, and read unto him his condemnation. That done, the Rev. Mr. Rogers was brought before them, and treated in like manner; and both were delivered to the secular power, the two sheriffs of London, who were ordered to carry them to the Clink, a prison not far from the bishop of Winchester's house, and there to remain till night.
WHEN it was dark, bishop Hooper was led by one of the sheriffs, with many bills and weapons, through the bishop of Winchester's house, and over London-bridge, through the city to Newgate, and by the way some of the sergeants were sent before, to put out the costermongers' candles, who used to sit with lights in the streets: either fearing, that the people would have made some attempt to have taken him away from them by force, if they had seen him go to that prison; or else, being burdened with an evil conscience, they thought darkness to be a most fit season for such a business.
WHEN it was dark, bishop Hooper was led by one of the sheriffs, with many bills and weapons, through the bishop of Winchester's house, and over London-bridge, through the city to Newgate, and by the way some of the serjeants were sent before, to put out the costermongers' candles, who used to sit with lights in the streets: either fearing, that the people would have made some attempt to have taken him away from them by force, if they had seen him go to that prison; or else, being burdened with an evil conscience, they thought darkness to be a most fit season for such a business.
BUT notwithstanding this device, the people having some foreknowledge of his coming, many of them came forth to their doors with lights, and saluted him, praising God for his constancy in the true doctrine which he had taught them, and desiring God to strengthen him in the same to the end. The bishop required the people to make their earnest prayers to God for him, and so went through Cheapside to the place appointed, and was delivered as close prisoner to the keeper of Newgate, where he remained six days, nobody being permitted to come to him, or talk with him, saving his keepers, and such as should be appointed thereto.
DURING this time, Bonner, bishop of London, and others at his appointment, as Fecknam, Chedsey, Harpsfield, &c. resorted several times unto him, to try if, by any means, they could persuade him to relent, and become a member of their antichristian church. All the ways they could devise, they attempted. For, besides the disputations and allegations of testimonies of the scriptures, and of ancient writers wrested to a wrong sense, according to their accustomed manner; they used also all outward gentleness and significations of friendship, with many great promises of worldly wealth; not omitting also most grievous threatenings, if with gentleness they could not prevail; but they found him always the same man, steadfast and immovable. When they perceived that they could by no means reclaim him to their purpose, with such persuasions and offers as they used for his conversion, then went they by false rumours and reports of recantations (for it is well known that they and their servants did first spread it abroad) to bring him, and the doctrine of Christ which he professed, in discredit with the people. Which being thus spread abroad, and believed by some of the weaker sort, by reason of the often resort of the bishop of London and others, it increased more, and at last came to bishop Hooper's ears, who was greatly grieved thereat, that the people should give credit to such false rumours, having so simple a ground; as may appear by the following letter, which he wrote upon that occasion.
DURING this time, Bonner, bishop of London, and others at his appointment, as Fecknam, Chedsey, Harpsfield, &c. resorted several times unto him, to try if, by any means, they could persuade him to relent, and become a member of their antichristian church. All the ways they could devise, they attempted. For, besides the disputations and allegations of testimonies of the scriptures, and of ancient writers wrested to a wrong sense, according to their accustomed manner; they used also all outward gentleness and significations of friendship, with many great promises of worldly wealth; not omitting also most grievous threatenings, if with gentleness they could not prevail; but they found him always the same man, stedfast and immoveable. When they perceived that they could by no means reclaim him to their purpose, with such persuasions and offers as they used for his conversion, then went they by false rumours and reports of recantations (for it is well known that they and their servants did first spread it abroad) to bring him, and the doctrine of Christ which he professed, in discredit with the people. Which being thus spread abroad, and believed by some of the weaker sort, by reason of the often resort of the bishop of London and others, it increased more, and at last came to bishop Hooper's ears, who was greatly grieved thereat, that the people should give credit to such false rumours, having so simple a ground; as may appear by the following letter, which he wrote upon that occasion.
