N20568:7256
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being…
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.
Volume 1 › Book 2 › Chapter 10 › The Behaviour of Mr. BRADFORD and JOHN LEAF at their MARTYRDOM.
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.
FIRST, when they came to the stake in Smithfield to be burned, Mr. Bradford lying prostrate on one side the stake, and the young man John Leaf on the other side, they lay flat on their faces, praying to themselves the space of a minute. Then one of the sheriffs said to Mr. Bradford, Arise, and make an end; for the press of the people is great.
AT that word they stood up, and Mr. Bradford took a faggot in his hand and kissed it, and likewise the stake. And when he had so done, he desired of the sheriffs, that his servant might have his raiment. For (said he) I have nothing else to give him: and besides that, he is a poor man. And the sheriff said he should have it. Then Mr. Bradford immediately took off his raiment, and went to the stake: and holding up his hands, and casting his eyes towards heaven, he said thus, "O England, England, repent of thy sins; beware of idolatry: beware of Antichrist; take heed they do not deceive you." And as he was speaking these words, the sheriff ordered his hands to be tied if he would not be quiet. O matter Sheriff, said he, I am quiet; God forgive you this, Master Sheriff. And one of the officers who was to make the fire, hearing Mr. Bradford so speaking to the sheriff, said, If you have no better learning than this, you are but a fool, and you had best hold your peace. To which Mr. Bradford gave no answer; but asked all the world forgiveness, and forgave all the world, and desired the people to pray for him: then he turned his head to the young man that suffered with him, and said, Be of good comfort, brother; for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night: and then embracing the reeds, he said thus, "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to eternal salvation, and few there be that find it."
AND thus they both ended this mortal life, like two lambs, without any alteration of their countenances, being void of all fear, hoping to obtain the prize that they had long run for; to which I beseech Almighty God happily to conduct us, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.