N20568:8018
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.
He descended into hell, the third day he rose again from death, and was conversant at certain times with his disciples for the space of forty days after he rose from death. Then in the sight of all his disciples he ascended into heaven: and as his disciples stood looking upward, and beholding him how he went into heaven, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said; "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into ⟨p. 739⟩heaven? This Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come even as ye have seen him go into heaven."
ST. PETER also saith, that the heavens must receive him, until the time that all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of the prophets, since the world began, be restored again, which is the latter day, when he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I do believe in the Holy Ghost, which is the Spirit of God proceeding from the Father and the Son, which Holy Spirit is one God with them. I believe that there is an holy church, which is the company of the faithful and elect people of God, dispersed abroad throughout the whole world; which holy church or congregation doth not look for Christ here, nor Christ there, neither in the desert, nor in the secret places whereof Christ warneth us, but as St. Paul saith, in heaven, where he fitteth on the right hand of the Father; they set their affections on things that are above, and not on things that are on earth. And their life is hid with Christ in God: and when Christ who is their life, shall show himself, then shall they also appear with him in glory. I believe that there is a communion of saints, even the fellowship of the faithful people which are dispersed abroad throughout the whole world, and are of one mind: they follow Christ their head, they love one another, as Christ loved them, and are knit together in one, even in Christ; which church or congregation hath the forgiveness of sins through Christ, and shall enter without spot before the face of God into his glory. For as Christ being their head hath entered pure and clean, so they entering by him, shall be like him in glory. And I am certain and sure, that all they which do die, shall rise again and receive their bodies. In them shall they see Christ come in his glory to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall appear and give a reckoning of their doings: he shall separate the good from the bad; he shall say to them which are his elect, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning:" but to the others that have always resisted his will, he shall say, "Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels."
ST. PETER also saith, that the heavens must receive him, until the time that all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of the prophets, since the world began, be restored again, which is the latter day, when he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I do believe in the Holy Ghost, which is the Spirit of God proceeding from the Father and the Son, which Holy Spirit is one God with them. I believe that there is an holy church, which is the company of the faithful and elect people of God, dispersed abroad throughout the whole world; which holy church or congregation doth not look for Christ here, nor Christ there, neither in the desert, nor in the secret places whereof Christ warneth us, but as St. Paul saith, in heaven, where he fitteth on the right hand of the Father; they set their affections on things that are above, and not on things that are on earth. And their life is hid with Christ in God: and when Christ who is their life, shall shew himself, then shall they also appear with him in glory. I believe that there is a communion of saints, even the fellowship of the faithful people which are dispersed abroad throughout the whole world, and are of one mind: they follow Christ their head, they love one anorher, as Christ loved them, and are knit together in one, even in Christ; which church or congregation hath the forgiveness of sins through Christ, and shall enter without spot before the face of God into his glory. For as Christ being their head hath entered pure and clean, so they entering by him, shall be like him in glory. And I am certain and sure, that all they which do die, shall rise again and receive their bodies. In them shall they see Christ come in his glory to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall appear and give a reckoning of their doings: he shall separate the good from the bad; he shall say to them which are his elect, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning:" but to the others that have always resisted his will, he shall say, "Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels."
THUS have I briefly declared my faith, which were no faith at all if I doubted of it. This faith therefore I desire God to increase in me. Praise God for his gifts.
THUS have I briefly declared my faith, which were no faith at all if I doubted of it. This faith therefore I desiere God to increase in me. Praise God for his gifts.
AND thus have you the martyrdom, with the confession of the blessed man, and witness of the Lord's truth, who for that gave his life, as is before declared.
LIKEWISE Richard Hook, about the same time, and for the same matter, gave his life at Chichester.
MENTION was made a little before the story of Mr. Bland, and Nicholas Sheterden, of certain other Kentish-men, who being the same time with them called forth and examined by Thornton, bishop of Dover, Dr. Harpsfield, Richard Faucet, and Robert Collins: yet notwithstanding because the condemnation and execution of them was deferred a little longer, till the latter end of the month of August; coming therefore now to the time of suffering, we will briefly touch some part of their examinations and answers as we find them in the registers. The names of these were W. Coker, W. Hopper, H. Laurence, R. Collier, Richard Wright, and William Stir. What the articles objected to Mr. Bland and them were, you heard before. To which articles they severally answered for themselves in effect as followeth.
MENTION was made a little before the story of Mr. Bland, and Nicholas Sheterden, of certain other Kentish-men, who being the same time with them called forth and examined by Thornton, bishop of Dover, Dr. Harpsfield, Richard Faucet, and Robert Collins: yet notwithstanding because the condemnation and execution of them was deferred a little longer, till the latter end of the month of August; coming therefore now to the time of suffering, we will briefly touch some part of their examinations and answers as we find them in the registers. The names of these were W. Coker, W. Hopper, H. Laurence, R. Colliar, Richard Wright, and William Stere. What the articles objected to Mr. Bland and them were, you heard before. To which articles they severally answered for themselves in effect as followeth.
FIRST William Coker said, he would answer no otherwise than he had already answered; and being offered to have a longer respite of six days more, he refused to take it; and so upon the same, sentence of condemnation was read against him, the 11th of July.
FIRST William Coker said, he would answer no otherwise than he had already answered; and being offered to have a longer respite of six days more, he refused to take it; and so upon the same, sentence of condemnation was read against him, the 11th of Iuly.
WILLIAM HOPPER first seemed to grant to the faith and determination of the Roman church, but calling himself better to mind, constantly stuck to ⟨p. 740⟩the truth, and was condemned the next week after, the 16th of July.
HENRY LAURENCE, examined the said 16th of July, and partly deferred to the 2d of August, answered to the articles objected against him; first denying auricular confession, and that he neither had, nor would receive the sacrament, because, saith he, the order of the holy scriptures is changed in the order of the sacrament.
MOREOVER, the said Laurence was charged for not putting off his cap, when the suffragan made mention of the sacrament, and did no reverence to the same: the said Laurence answered in these words, What? you shall not need to put off your cap: for it is not so holy that you need to put off your cap thereunto.
FURTHER, being opposed concerning the verity of the sacrament given to Christ's disciples, he affirmed that even as Christ gave his very body to his disciples, and confessed it to be the same; so likewise Christ himself said, he was a door, &c. adding moreover, that as he had said before, so he saith still, that the sacrament of the altar is an idol, and no remembrance of Christ's passion, and contrary he knoweth not. At last being required to subscribe his answers, he wrote these words under the bill of their examinations, "You are all of Antichrist and him you fol—and here his hand was hindered from writing any further: belike he would have written out [follow], &c. And so upon the same, sentence was given against him the 2d of August.
RICHARD COLLIER, of Ashford above-mentioned, having the 16th of August to appear, examined of the sacrament of the popish altar, answered and said, that he did not believe, that after the consecration there is the real and substantial body of Christ, but only bread and wine, and that it is most abominable, most detestable, and most wicked to believe otherwise, &c. Upon this, sentence was read against him, and he condemned the 16th of August. After his condemnation he sung a psalm. Wherefore the priests and their officers railed at him, saying he was out of his wits.
RICHARD COLLIAR, of Ashford above-mentioned, having the 16th of August to appear, examined of the sacrament of the popish altar, answered and said, that he did not believe, that after the consecration there is the real and substantial body of Christ, but only bread and wine, and that it is most abominable, most detestable, and most wicked to believe otherwise, &c. Upon this, sentence was read against him, and he condemned the 16th of August. After his condemnation he sung a psalm. Wherefore the priests and their officers railed at him, saying he was out of his wits.
RICHARD WRIGHT, the same place and day above-mentioned, appearing, and being required by the judge what he believed of the real presence in the sacrament, answered again, that as touching the sacrament of the altar and the mass, he was ashamed to speak of it, or to name it, and that he allowed it not, as it was used in the church. Against whom the sentence was also read the day and place aforesaid.
WILLIAM STIR, of the aforesaid parish of Ashford, likewise detected and accused, was brought to appear the said 16th day of August, where he in the chapter-house of Canterbury, being required to answer to the positions laid unto him by the judge, made answer again, That he should command his dog, and not him: and further declared, that Dick of Dover had no authority to sit against him in judgment; and asked, where was his authority? who then showed him certain bulls and writings from Rome, as he said. William Stir denying that to be of sufficient force, the said Dic• also said, he had authority from the queen. Th•• the martyr alleging that the archbishop of C•• terbury, (who was then in prison) was his dioces••, urged him to show his authority from the archbishop, or else he denied his authority to be sufficient. And as touching the sacrament of the altar, he found i• not, he said, in the scripture, and therefore he would not answer thereunto.
WILLIAM STERE, of the aforesaid parish of Ashford, likewise detected and accused, was brought to appear the said 16th day of August, where he in the chapter-house of Canterbury, being required to answer to the positions laid unto him by the judge, made answer again, That he should command his dog, and not him: and further declared, that Dick of Dover had no authority to sit against him in judgment; and asked, where was his authority? who then shewed him certain bulls and writings from Rome, as he said. William Stere denying that to be of sufficient force, the said Dic• also said, he had authority from the queen. Th•• the martyr alledging that the archbishop of C•• terbury, (who was then in prison) was his dioces••, urged him to shew his authority from the archbishop, or else he denied his authority to be sufficient. And as touching the sacrament of the altar, he found i• not, he said, in the scripture, and therefore he would not answer thereunto.
AND moreover, the judge speaking of the sacrament of the altar with reverence, and putting off his cap, William Stir told him that he needed not to reverence that matter so highly. And thus (saying to the judge, that he was a bloody man, &c.) th• sentence was pronounced against him; and after the sentence was read, he said, that the sacrament of the altar was the most blasphemous idol that ever was, &c.
AND moreover, the judge speaking of the sacrament of the altar with reverence, and putting off his cap, William Stere told him that he needed not to reverence that matter so highly. And thus (saying to the judge, that he was a bloody man, &c.) th• sentence was pronounced against him; and after the sentence was read, he said, that the sacrament of the altar was the most blasphemous idol that ev•r was, &c.
