N20568:5266
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.
HAVING respectively answered and subscribed that they were not substantially, but figuratively, the body and blood of Christ in that holy ordinance, they were severely reprimanded by the court, admonished to recant their heretical opinions, and for that time dismissed.
A few days after they were again examined concerning the same tenet, when they made the like declaration as before; in consequence of which the bishop addressed himself to the two laymen, and with an affected concern for their spiritual and temporal interests, warmly exhorted them to reject their heresies, and not expose themselves to death here, and damnation hereafter, by obstinately persisting in disobedience to the holy see: but these plain and honest christians were too well grounded in the doctrines of Christ's pure gospel, to be moved from their adherence to the true faith. They, therefore, told the bishop, that they could not recant consistently with the dictates of their consciences, nor would they abjure the opinions to which they had subscribed.
AFTER this bishop Bonner entered into argument with the Rev. Mr. Lawrence alone, and having demanded of what order he was, he answered, that he was admitted to the priest's orders eighteen years past, that he was some time a black friar, and that he was betrothed to a maid, whom he intended to mar•y.
THE bishop then asked him his opinion of the corporal presence in the sacrament: to which he replied, that it was an institution of our blessed Lord, in commemoration of his death and sufferings; and that those were grea••y deceived, who believed that his body was verily prese•• in the same, saying, that he had long before ascended into heaven, and was placed at the right hand of the glorious majesty of the Father.
MR. LAWRENCE was, for the present, dismissed; but a few days after he, with Pygot and Knight, was again summoned before the bishop, who, with his usual hypocrisy, exhorted them to recant, embrace the Roman catholic faith, and not be the wilful cause of their own destruction. But no arguments could induce them to recede in a single point; all of them declaring, they would abide by their opinions, because they were founded on the word of God; whereas the other was merely of human invention.
FROM this frank declaration, bishop Bonner proceeded to pass sentence on them as irreclaimable heretics; and then degraded Mr. Lawrence with the usual ceremonies. After which, they were all three delivered to the sheriff, who conducted them to Newgate, where they remained with joy together, until they were carried down into Essex, and there the 28th day of March, the said William Pygot was burned at Braintree, and Stephen Knight at Maiden, who at the stake, kneeling ⟨p. 504⟩upon the ground, said this prayer which here followeth.
O Lord Jesus Christ, for whose love I leave willingly this life, and desire rather the bitter death of thy cross, with the loss of all earthly things, than to abide the blasphemy of thy most holy name, or to obey men in breaking thy holy commandment: thou seest, O Lord, that where I might live in worldly wealth to worship a false God, and honour thine enemy, I choose rather the torment of the body, and the loss of this life, and have counted all things but vile, dust, and dung, that I might win thee; which death is dearer unto me, than thousands of gold and silver. Such love, O Lord, hast thou laid up in my breast, that I hunger for thee, as the wounded deer desireth the soil. Send thy holy comforter, O Lord, to aid, comfort, and strengthen this weak peace of earth, which is empty of all strength of itself. Thou rememberest, O Lord, that I am but dust, and able to do nothing that is good; therefore, O Lord, as of thine accustomed goodness and love thou hast invited me to this banquet, and accounted me worthy to drink of thine own cup amongst thine elect; even so give me strength, O Lord, against this raging element, which as to my sight it is most irksome and terrible, so to my mind it may at thy commandment (as an obedient servant) be sweet and pleasant, that through the strength of thy Holy Spirit, I may pass through the rage of this fire into thy bosom, according to thy promise, and for this mortal receive an immortal, and for this corruptible put on incorruption: accept this burnt sacrifice and offering, O Lord, not for the sacrifice, but for thy dear Son's sake my Saviour, for whose testimony I offer this free-will offering with all my heart and with all my soul. O heavenly Father, forgive me my sins, as I forgive all the world. O sweet Son of God my Saviour, spread thy wings over me. O blessed and Holy Ghost, through whose merciful inspiration I am come hither, conduct me into everlasting life. Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, for whose love I leave willingly this life, and desire rather the bitter death of thy cross, with the loss of all earthly things, than to abide the blasphemy of thy most holy name, or to obey men in breaking thy holy commandment: thou seest, O Lord, that where I might live in worldly wealth to worship a false God, and honour thine enemy, I chuse rather the torment of the body, and the loss of this life, and have counted all things but vile, dust, and dung, that I might win thee; which death is dearer unto me, than thousands of gold and silver. Such love, O Lord, hast thou laid up in my breast, that I hunger for thee, as the wounded deer desireth the soyl. Send thy holy comforter, O Lord, to aid, comfort, and strengthen this weak peace of earth, which is empty of all strength of itself. Thou rememberest, O Lord, that I am but dust, and able to do nothing that is good; therefore, O Lord, as of thine accustomed goodness and love thou hast invited me to this banquet, and accounted me worthy to drink of thine own cup amongst thine elect; even so give me strength, O Lord, against this raging element, which as to my sight it is most irksome and terrible, so to my mind it may at thy commandment (as an obedient servant) be sweet and pleasant, that through the strength of thy Holy Spirit, I may pass through the rage of this fire into thy bosom, according to thy promise, and for this mortal receive an immortal, and for this corruptible put on incorruption: accept this burnt sacrifice and offering, O Lord, not for the sacrifice, but for thy dear Son's sake my Saviour, for whose testimony I offer this free-will offering with all my heart and with all my soul. O heavenly Father, forgive me my sins, as I forgive all the world. O sweet Son of God my Saviour, spread thy wings over me. O blessed and Holy Ghost, through whose merciful inspiration I am come hither, conduct me into everlasting life. Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Amen.
THE next day, being the 29th of March, the said John Lawrence was brought to Colchester, and there being not able to go, (for his legs were much worn with heavy irons in prison, and also his body weakened with low keeping) was taken to the fire in a chair, and so sitting, was in his constant faith consumed with fire.
WHEN he was burning, the young children came about the fire, and cried, as well as young children could speak, saying, Lord, strengthen thy servant. and keep thy promise: which thing, as it is rare, so it is no small manifestation of the glory of God, which wrought this in the hearts of these little ones; nor yet a little commendation to their parents, who from their youth brought them up in the knowledge of God and his truth.
MR. HIGBED and Mr. CAUSTON, two gentlemen in the county of Essex, the one at Hornden on the Hill, the other of the parish of Thundurst, being zealous and religious in the true service of God; as they could not dissemble with the Lord, nor flatter with the world, so in time of blind superstition and wretched idolatry, they […] not long lie hid and obscure in such a number of malignant adversaries, accusers, and servants of this world; but at length they were perceived, and discovered to Edmund Bonner, bishop of London, by whose command they were committed to the officers of Colchester, to be safely kept, and with them also a servant of Thomas Causton, who was nothing inferior to his master in true piety.
MR. HIGBED and Mr. CAUSTON, two gentlemen in the county of Essex, the one at Hornden on the Hill, the other of the parish of Thundurst, being zealous and religious in the true service of God; as they could not dissemble with the Lord, nor flatter with the world, so in time of blind superstition and wretched idolatry, they 〈…〉 not long lie hid and obscure in such a number of malignant adversaries, accusers, and servants of this world; but at length they were perceived, and discovered to Edmund Bonner, bishop of London, by whose command they were committed to the officers of Colchester, to be safely kept, and with them also a servant of Thomas Causton, who was nothing inferior to his master in true piety.
BISHOP BONNER perceiving these two gentlemen to be of good estate, and of great estimation in that country, lest any tumult should thereby arise, came thither himself, accompanied with Mr. Fe•knam and several others, thinking to reclaim them to his religion: so that great labour and diligence was taken therein, as well by terrors and threatenings, as by large promises and flatterings, and all fair means, to reduce them again to the unity (as they termed it) of the mother church.
IN fine, when nothing could prevail to make them to assent to their doings, at length they came to this point, that they required certain respite to consult with themselves what was best to do. Which time of deliberation being expired, and they remaining still constant and immovable in their professed doctrine, and setting out also their confession in writing, the bishop seeing no good to be done in tarrying any longer there, departed thence, ⟨p. 505⟩and carried them both with him to London, and with them certain other prisoners also, who about the same time were apprehended in those parts.
IN fine, when nothing could prevail to make them to assent to their doings, at length they came to this point, that they required certain respite to consult with themselves what was best to do. Which time of deliberation being expired, and they remaining still constant and immoveable in their professed doctrine, and setting out also their confession in writing, the bishop seeing no good to be done in tarrying any longer there, departed thence, ⟨p. 505⟩and carried them both with him to London, and with them certain other prisoners also, who about the same time were apprehended in those parts.
AT length, when no persuasions would serve, they were brought forth to open examination at the consistory in St. Paul's, February 17, 1555, where they were demanded as well by the said bishop, as also by the bishop of Bath and others, whether they would recant their errors and perverse doctrine, as they termed it, and so come to the unity of the popish church. But on their refusing so to do, the bishop assigned them to appear again the next day, being the 18th of February.
ON which day, among many other things there said and passed, he read unto them several certain articles, and gave them respite until the next day to answer unto the same, and so committed them again to prison. The copy of which articles here followeth.
