N20568:8907
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.
NOW in comparing the torments of all martyrs with his pains, I pray you, what pains, punishment, and flames would he not willingly have suffered, to have had some small ease and refreshment? Being under such intolerable agonies of mind, that he could have no enjoyment of his food, yet was he compelled to eat against his appetit•, on purpose to defer the time of his damnation as long as he could, thinking with himself, that he must needs be thrown into hell, as soon as the breath went out of his body. However, he thought Christ pitied his case, and was sorry for him; yet he could not (as he imagined) help, because of the verity of his word, which said, "It i• impossible for those who were once enlightened," &c.
AND this I mention not to open his wound and expose his misfortunes, but to encourage all good men by his example to glorify the Son of God, who suffereth none to be tempted above his strength, but so tempereth and seasoneth the asperity of evils, that what seemeth to us intolerable, he doth not alleviate that we may bear it, but also turneth i• more to our advantage than we can imagine▪ which manifestly appeared in this good servant of God, and in no man more. And although (as we have said) he suffered many years these sharp temptations and strong buffetings of Satan; yet the Lord, who graciously preserved him all the while, did not only rid him out of all discomfort, but also framed him thereby to such mortification of life, as the like probably hath not been seen, in such sort as he being like one placed in heaven already, and dead to this world, both in word and meditation led a life altogether celestial, abhorring in his mind all profane doings. Neither was his talk any thing different from the fruits of his life, never throwing out an idle, vile, or vain word. The most part of his lands he distributed to the use of his brethren, and committed the rest to the guiding of his servants and officers whereby he might the more quietly give up himself his godly study, as to a continual Sabbath rest. This was about the latter end of king Henry's reign, and continued in the time of king Edward VI.
AFTER this, in the persecuting days of queen Mary, as soon as the bishop of Coventry heard of his fame, and of his being so ardent and zealous in the gospel of Christ, he immediately wrote a letter to the mayor and officers of Coventry, ⟨p. 771⟩to apprehend him as soon as possible. But by the good providence of God, it happened otherwise: for God disposeth all things after his own secret pleasure, who seeing his old trusty servant so many years with so extreme and many torments broken and dried up, would in no wise heap too many sorrows upon one poor silly wretch: neither would he commit him to the flames of fire, who had been already baked and scorched with the sharp fires of inward affliction, and had sustained so many burning darts and conflicts of Satan so many years▪ God therefore, of his divine providence, thinking it too much that one man should be so overcharged with so many plagues and torments, did graciously provide, that Robert his brother being both stronger in body, and also better furnished with helps of learning to answer the adversaries, (being a Master of Arts in Cambridge) should sustain that conflict, and even so it came to pass.
FOR as soon as the mayor of Coventry had received the bishop's letters for the apprehending of Mr. John Glover, he forthwith sent private notice to the said John to convey himself away: who with his brother William was not so soon departed out of his house, but that yet, in the sight of the sheriff and others, the searchers came and rushed in to take him, according to the bishop's order.
BUT when the person they sought for could not be found, one of the officers going into an upper chamber, found there Robert the other brother lying on his bed, who had been long sick; and was by him immediately brought before the sheriff. Which sheriff, notwithstanding, favouring Robert, and his cause, would indeed fain have dismissed him, and wrought what means he could, saying, that he was not the man for whom they were sent: yet, nevertheless, being terrified with the threats of the officer, contending with him to have him detained till the bishop's coming, he was constrain-to carry him against his will, and so laid him fast till the bishop came. And thus much by way of preamble, concerning the worthy remembrance of Mr. John Glover.
NOW to enter upon the matter which principally we have in •and, that is, to consider the s•ory and martyrdom of Mr. Robert Glover; as the whole narration was sent in a letter of his own writing to his wife, concerning the manner of his being handled; therefore it seemeth best, for the more credit of the matter, to exhibit his own letter, the contents of which are as follow.
THE peace of conscience which passeth all understanding, the sweet consolation, comfort, strength, and boldness of the Holy Ghost, be continually increased in your heart, through a fervent, earnest, and steadfast faith in our most dear and only Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen. I thank you heartily, most loving wife, for your letters sent to me in my imprisonment. I read them with tears more than once or twice; with tears, I say, for joy and gladness, that God had wrought in you so merciful a work; first, an unfeigned repentance; secondly, an humble and hearty reconciliation; thirdly, a voluntary submission and obedience to the will of God in all things. Which when I read in your letters, and judged them to proceed from the bottom of your heart, I could not but be thankful to God, rejoicing with tears for you, and these his great mercies poured upon you. THESE your letters, and the hearing of your most godly proceedings and constant doings from time to time, much relieved and comforted me at all times, and shall be a goodly testimony with you at the great day, against many worldly and dainty dames, who set more by their own pleasure and pelf in this world, than by God's glory, little regarding. as it appeareth, the everlasting health of their own souls or others. My prayer shall be whilst I am in this world, that God, which of his great mercy hath begun his good work in you, will finish it to the glory of his name; and by the mighty power and inspiration of his Holy Spirit, so strengthen, establish, and confirm you in all his ways to the end, that we may together show forth his praises in the world to come, to our unspeakable consolation everlastingly, Amen. ⟨p. 772⟩So long as God shall lend you continuance in this miserable world, above all things give yourself continually to prayer, lifting up, as St. Paul saith, clean or pure hands without anger, wrath, or doubting, forgiving (as he saith also) if you have any thing against any man▪ as Christ forgiveth us. And that we may be the better willing to forgive, it is good often to call to remembrance the multitude and greatness of our sins, which Christ daily and hourly pardoneth and forgiveth us; and then we shall, as St. Peter affirmeth, be ready to cover and hide the offences of our brethren, be they ever so many.
THE peace of conscience which passeth all understanding, the sweet consolation, comfort, strength, and boldness of the Holy Ghost, be continually increased in your heart, through a fervent, earnest, and stedfast faith in our most dear and only Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen. I thank you heartily, most loving wife, for your letters sent to me in my imprisonment. I read them with tears more than once or twice; with tears, I say, for joy and gladness, that God had wrought in you so merciful a work; first, an unfeigned repentance; secondly, an humble and hearty reconciliation; thirdly, a voluntary submission and obedience to the will of God in all things. Which when I read in your letters, and judged them to proceed from the bottom of your heart, I could not but be thankful to God, rejoicing with tears for you, and these his great mercies poured upon you. THESE your letters, and the hearing of your most godly proceedings and constant doings from time to time, much relieved and comforted me at all times, and shall be a goodly testimony with you at the great day, against many worldly and dainty dames, who set more by their own pleasure and pelf in this world, than by God's glory, little regarding. as it appeareth, the everlasting health of their own souls or others. My prayer shall be whilst I am in this world, that God, which of his great mercy hath begun his good work in you, will finish it to the glory of his name; and by the mighty power and inspiration of his Holy Spirit, so strengthen, establish, and confirm you in all his ways to the end, that we may together shew forth his praises in the world to come, to our unspeakable consolation everlastingly, Amen.
And because God's word teacheth us, not only the true manner of praying, but also what we ought to do, or not to do in the whole discourse and practice of this life, what pleaseth or displeaseth God, and that, as Christ saith, "The word of God that he hath spoken, shall judge in the last day:" let your prayer be to this end especially, That God of his great mercy would open and reveal more and more daily to your heart, the true sense, knowledge, and understanding of his most holy word, and give you grace in your living, to express the fruits thereof. AND forasmuch as it is, as the Holy Ghost calleth it, the word of affliction, that is, it is seldom without hatred, persecution, peril, danger of loss of life and goods, and whatsoever seemeth pleasant in this world, as experience teacheth you in this time: call upon God continually for his assistance always, as Christ teacheth, casting your accounts what it is like to cost you, endeavouring yourself, through the help of the Holy Ghost, by continuance in prayer, to lay foundation so sure, that no storm or tempest shall be able to overthrow or cast it down; remembering always (as Christ saith) Lot's wife; that is, to beware of looking back to that thing that displeaseth God. And because nothing displeaseth God so much as idolatry, that is, false worshipping of God, otherwise than his word commandeth; look not back (I say) nor turn your face to their idolatrous and blasphemous mass, manifestly against the word, practice, and example of Christ; as it is most manifest to all that have any taste of the true understanding of God's word, that there remaineth nothing in the church of England at this present, profitable or edifying to the church and congregation of the Lord, all things being done in an unknown tongue, contrary to the express commandment of the Ho•• Ghost. THEY object that they be the church, and therefore they must be believed. My answer was, The church of God knoweth and acknowledgeth no other head but Jesus Christ the Son of God, whom ye have refused, and chosen the man of sin, the son of perdition, enemy to Christ, the devil's deputy and lieutenant, the pope. Christ's church heareth, teacheth, and is ruled by his word, he saith, "my sheep hear my voice. If you abide in me, and my word in you, you may be my disciples." Their church repelleth God's words, and forceth all men to follow their traditions.
And because God's word teacheth us, not only the true manner of praying, but also what we ought to do, or not to do in the whole discourse and practice of this life, what pleaseth or displeaseth God, and that, as Christ saith, "The word of God that he hath spoken, shall judge in the last day:" let your prayer be to this end especially, That God of his great mercy would open and reveal more and more daily to your heart, the true sense, knowledge, and understanding of his most holy word, and give you grace in your living, to express the fruits thereof. AND forasmuch as it is, as the Holy Ghost calleth it, the word of affliction, that is, it is seldom without hatred, persecution, peril, danger of loss of life and goods, and whatsoever seemeth pleasant in this world, as experience teacheth you in this time: call upon God continually for his assistance always, as Christ teacheth, casting your accounts what it is like to cost you, endeavouring yourself, through the help of the Holy Ghost, by continuance in prayer, to lay foundation so sure, that no storm or tempest shall be able to overthrow or cast it down; remembering always (as Christ saith) Lot's wife; that is, to beware of looking back to that thing that displeaeth God. And because nothing displeaseth God so much as idolatry, that is, false worshipping of God, otherwise than his word commandeth; look not back (I say) nor turn your face to their idolatrous and blasphemous mass, manifestly against the word, practice, and example of Christ; as it is most manifest to all that have any taste of the true understanding of God's word, that there remaineth nothing in the church of England at this present, profitable or edifying to the church and congregation of the Lord, all things being done in an unknown tongue, contrary to the express commandment of the Ho Ghost. THEY object that they be the church, and therfore they must be believed. My answer was, The church of God knoweth and acknowledgeth no other head but Jesus Christ the Son of God, whom ye have refused, and chosen the man of sin, the son of perdition, enemy to Christ, the devil's deputy and lieutenant, the pope. Christ's church heareth, teacheth, and is ruled by his word, he saith, "my sheep hear my voice. If you abide in me, and my word in you, you may be my disciples." Their church repelleth God's words, and forceth all men to follow their traditions.
CHRIST'S church dare not add or diminish, […] or change his blessed testament▪ but they be […] afraid to take away all that Christ instituted, and go a whoring (as the scripture saith) with their own inventions: to glory and rejoice in the works of their own hands. THE church of Christ is, hath been, and shall be in all ages under the cross, persecuted, molest•••• and afflicted, the world ever hating them, beca••• they be not of the world. But these persecute, murder, slay, and kill such as profess the true doctrine of Christ, be they in learning, living, conversation, and other virtues ever so excellent. CHRIST and his church reserved the trial of their doctrine to the word of God, and gave the people leave to judge thereof by the same word, "Search the scriptures." But this church taketh away from the people, and suffereth neither learned nor unlearned to examine or prove their doctrine by the word of God. THE true church of God laboureth by all means to resist and withstand the lusts, desires, and motions of the world, the flesh, and the devil: thes• for the most part give themselves to all voluptuousness, and secretly commit such things, which (as St. Paul saith) it is shame to speak of. ⟨p. 773⟩BY these and such like manifest probations, they declare themselves to be none of the church of Christ, but rather of the synagogue of Satan. It shall be good for you oftentimes to confer and compare their proceedings and doings with the practice of those whom the word of God doth teach to have been true members of the church of God, and it shall work in you both knowledge, erudition, and boldness, to withstand with suffering their doings. I likened them therefore to Nimrod, whom the scripture calleth a mighty hunter, or a stout champion, telling them, that what they could not have by the word, they would have by the sword, and be the church whether men will or no; and called them with good conscience, as Christ called their forefathers, the children of the devil; and as their father the devil is a liar and a murderer, so their kingdom and church (as they call it) standeth by lying and murdering. HAVE no fellowship with them therefore, my dear wife, nor with their doctrine and traditions, le•t you be partaker of their sins, for whom is reserved a heavy damnation, without speedy repentance.
Beware of such as shall advertise you to bear with the world for a season as they do. There is no dallying with God's matters: "It is a fearful thing (as St. Paul saith) to fall into the hands of the living God." Remember the prophet Elijah. "Why halt ye on both sides?" Remember what Christ saith, "He that putteth his hands to the plough, and looketh back, is not worthy of me." And seeing God hath hitherto allowed you as a good soldier in the fore front, play not the coward, neither draw back to the rearward. St. John numbereth among them that shall dwell in the fiery lake, such as be fearful in God's cause. Set always before your eyes the examples of such as have behaved themselves boldly in God's cause, as Stephen, Peter, Paul, Daniel, the three children, the widow's sons, and in your days Anne Askew, Laurence Saunders, John Bradford, with many other faithful witnesses of Christ. "Be afraid in nothing (saith St. Paul) of the adversaries of Christ's doctrine, which is to them the sign of perdition, but to you of eternal salvation." Christ commandeth the same, saying, "Fear them not." Let us not follow the example of him which asketh time first to take leave of his friends. If we so do, we shall find few of them that will encourage us to go forward in our business, please it God ever so much. We do not read that James and John, Andrew and Simon, when they were called, put off the time till they had known their fathers or friends pleasure. But the scripture saith, "They forsook all, and by and by followed Christ." Christ likened the kingdom of God to a precious pearl, which whosoever findeth, selleth all that he hath to buy it. Yea, whosoever hath but a little taste or glimmering how precious a treasure the kingdom of heaven is, will gladly forego both life and goods for the obtaining of it. But the most part now-a-days are like Aesop's cock, which when he had found a precious stone, wished rather to have found a barley corn. So ignorant are they how precious a jewel the word of God is, that they choose rather the things of this world, which being compared to it, are less in value than a barley-corn. IF I would have given place to worldly reasons, these might have moved me: first, the leaving of you and my children;
Beware of such as shall advertise you to bear with the world for a season as they do. There is no dallying with God's matters: "It is a fearful thing (as St. Paul saith) to fall into the hands of the living God." Remember the prophet Elias. "Why halt ye on both sides?" Remember what Christ saith, "He that putteth his hands to the plough, and looketh back, is not worthy of me." And seeing God hath hitherto allowed you as a good soldier in the fore front, play not the coward, neither draw back to the rearward. St. John numbereth among them that shall dwell in the fiery lake, such as be fearful in God's cause. Set always before your eyes the examples of such as have behaved themselves boldly in God's cause, as Stephen, Peter, Paul, Daniel, the three children, the widow's sons, and in your days Anne Askew, Laurence Saunders, John Bradford, with many other faithful witnesses of Christ. "Be afraid in nothing (saith St. Paul) of the adversaries of Christ's doctrine, which is to them the sign of perdition, but to you of eternal salvation." Christ commandeth the same, saying, "Fear them not." Let us not follow the example of him which asketh time first to take leave of his friends. If we so do, we shall find few of them that will encourage us to go forward in our business, please it God ever so much. We do not read that James and John, Andrew and Simon, when they were called, put off the time till they had known their fathers or friends pleasure. But the scripture saith, "They forsook all, and by and by followed Christ." Christ likened the kingdom of God to a precious pearl, which whosoever findeth, selleth all that he hath to buy it. Yea, whosoever hath but a little taste or glimmering how precious a treasure the kingdom of heaven is, will gladly forego both life and goods for the obtaining of it. But the most part now-a-days are like Esop's cock, which when he had found a precious stone, wished rather to have found a barley corn. So ignorant are they how precious a jewel the word of God is, that they chuse rather the things of this world, which being compared to it, are less in value than a barley-corn. IF I would have given place to worldly reasons, these might have moved me: first, the leaving of you and my children;
the consideration of the state of my children, being yet tender of age, and young, apt and inclinable to virtue and learning, and so having the more need of my assistance, being not altogether destitute of gifts to help them withal; possessions above the common sort of men; because I was never called to be a preacher or minister; and (because of my sickness) fear of death in imprisonment before I should come to answer, and so my death to be unprofitable. BUT these and such like, I thank my heavenly Father, (who of his infinite mercy inspired me with his Holy Spirit, for his Son's sake, my only Saviour and Redeemer) prevailed not in me: but when I had by the wonderful permission of God fallen into their hands, at the first sight of the sheriff, nature a little abashed; yet before I came to the prison, by the working of God, and through his goodness, fear departed. I said to the sheriff at his coming to me, What matter have you, Mr. Sheriff, to charge me withal? He answered, You shall know when you come before the masters; and so taking me with him, I expected to be carried before the masters, and to have heard what they could have burdened me withal; but, contrary to my expectation, I was committed forthwith to the gaol, not ⟨p. 774⟩being called to my answer, little justice being showed therein. But the less justice a man findeth at their hands, the more consolation in conscience shall he find from God; for whosoever is of the world, the world will love him. AFTER I […] into prison, and had reposed myself there a […] ▪ I wept for joy and gladness, my belly-full, musi•• much of the great mercies of God, and (as it were) saying to myself after this sort: O Lord, who am I, on whom thou shouldst bestow this thy great mercy, to be numbered among the saints that suffer for the gospel's sake? And so beholding and considering on the one side my imperfection, unableness, sinful misery, and unworthiness, and on the other side the greatness of God's mercy, to be called to so high promotion, I was, as it were amazed and overcome for a whil• with joy and gladness, concluding thus with myself in my heart; O Lord, thou showest power in weakness, wisdom in foolishness, mercy in sinfulness; who shall hinder thee to choose where and whom thou wilt?
the consideration of the state of my children, being yet tender of age, and young, apt and inclinable to virtue and learning, and so having the more need of my assistance, being not altogether destitute of gifts to help them withal; possessions above the common sort of men; because I was never called to be a preacher or minister; and (because of my sickness) fear of death in imprisonment before I should come to answer, and so my death to be unprofitable. BUT these and such like, I thank my heavenly Father, (who of his infinite mercy inspired me with his Holy Spirit, for his Son's sake, my only Saviour and Redeemer) prevailed not in me: but when I had by the wonderful permission of God fallen into their hands, at the first sight of the sheriff, nature a little abashed; yet before I came to the prison, by the working of God, and through his goodness, fear departed. I said to the sheriff at his coming to me, What matter have you, Mr. Sheriff, to charge me withal? He answered, You shall know when you come before the masters; and so taking me with him, I expected to be carried before the masters, and to have heard what they could have burdened me withal; but, contrary to my expectation, I was committed forthwith to the gaol, not
As I have zealously loved the confession of thy word, so I ever thought myself to be most unworthy to be partaker of the affliction for the fame. NOT long after Mr. W. Brasbridge, Mr. C. Phinehas, and Mr. Hopkins, came unto me, persuading with me to be dismissed upon bonds. To whom my answer was (to my remembrance) after this sort: forasmuch as the masters have imprisoned me, having nothing to burden me withal; if I should enter into bonds, I should in so doing accuse myself; and seeing they have no matter to lay to my charge, they may as well let me pass without bonds as with them. SECONDLY, If I shall enter bonds, covenant and promise to appear, I shall do nothing but excuse, colour, and cloak their wickedness, and endanger myself nevertheless, being bound by my promise to appear. They used many worldly persuasions to me to avoid the present peril, and also how to avoid the forfeiture if I brake my promise. I said unto them, I had cast up my penny-worth by God's help. They undertook also to make the bond easy. AND when they were somewhat importunate, I said to Mr. Hopkins, That liberty of conscience was a precious thing; and took, as it were a […] ▪ lifting up my heart to God earnestly for his aid and help, that I might do the thing that might […] him. And so when they had let their suit fall, my heart (methought) was wonderfully comforted Mr. Dudley communed with me in like manner▪ whom I answered in effect as I did before. AFTERWARDS debating the matter with myself▪ these considerations came into my head; I have from time to time with good conscience (God! take to record) moved all such as I had conference withal to be no dalliers in God's matters, but to show themselves, after so great a light and knowledge, hearty, earnest, constant, and stable in so manifest a truth, and not to give place one jot contrary to the same. Now thought I, if I shall withdraw myself, and make any shifts to pull my own neck out of the collar, I shall give great offence […] my weak brethren in Christ, and advantage to the enemies to slander God's word. It will be said▪ He hath encouraged others to be earnest and fervent, to fear no worldly perils or dangers, but he himself will give no such example.
As I have zealously loved the confession of thy word, so I ever thought myself to be most unworthy to be partaker of the affliction for the fame. NOT long after Mr. W. Brasbridge, Mr. C. Phineas, and Mr. Hopkins, came unto me, persuading with me to be dismissed upon bonds. To whom my answer was (to my remembrance) after this sort: forasmuch as the masters have imprisoned me, having nothing to burden me withal; if I should enter into bonds, I should in so doing accuse myself; and seeing they have no matter to lay to my charge, they may as well let me pass without bonds as with them. SECONDLY, If I shall enter bonds, covenant and promise to appear, I shall do nothing but excuse, colour, and cloak their wickedness, and endanger myself nevertheless, being bound by my promise to appear. They used many worldly persuasions to me to avoid the present peril, and also how to avoid the forfeiture if I brake my promise. I said unto them, I had cast up my penny-worth by God's help. They undertook also to make the bond easy. AND when they were somewhat importunate, I said to Mr. Hopkins, That liberty of conscience was a precious thing; and took, as it were a lifting up my heart to God earnestly for his aid and help, that I might do the thing that might him. And so when they had let their suit fall, my heart (methought) was wonderfully comforted Mr. Dudley communed with me in like manner whom I answered in effect as I did before. AFTERWARDS debating the matter with myself these considerations came into my head; I have from time to time with good conscience (God! take to record) moved all such as I had conference withal to be no dalliers in God's matters, but to shew themselves, after so great a light and knowledge, hearty, earnest, constant, and stable in so manifest a truth, and not to give place one jot contrary to the same. Now thought I, if I shall withdraw myself, and make any shifts to pull my own neck out of the collar, I shall give great offence my weak brethren in Christ, and advantage to the enemies to slander God's word. It will be said He hath encouraged others to be earnest and fervent, to fear no worldly perils or dangers, but he himself will give no such example.
WHEREFORE I thought it my bounden duty, both to God and man, being (as it were) by the great goodness of God marvellously called and appointed hereunto, to set aside all fear, perils and dangers, all worldly respects and considerations, and like as I had heretofore, according to the measure of my small gift within the compass of my vocation and calling, from the bottom of my heart unfeignedly moved, exhorted, and persuaded all that profess God's word, manfully to persist in the defence of the same, not with sword and violence, but with suffering and loss of life, rather than to defile themselves again with the whorish abomination of the Romish Antichrist; so the hour being come, with my fact and example to ratify, confirm, and protest the same to the hearts of all true believers: and to this end, by the mighty assistance of God's Holy Spirit, I resolved myself with much peace of conscience, willingly to sustain whatsoever the Romish Antichrist should do against me, and the rather, because I understood the bishop'• coming to be at hand, and considered that poor men's consciences would be then ⟨p. 775⟩sharply assaulted. So I remained prisoner in Coventry for the space of ten or eleven days, being never called to answer my masters, contrary to the laws of the realm, they having neither statute, law, proclamation, letter, warrant, nor commandment for my apprehension. They would have laid all the matter upon the sumner; who being examined, denied it before their faces, as one of my friends told me, saying, that he had no commandment concerning me, but for my elder brother. God lay not their extreme doings against me to their charge at the great day. THE second day after the bishop's coming to Coventry, Mr. Warren came to the Guildhall, and ordered the chief jailer to carry me to the bishop. I laid to Mr. Warren's charge the cruel seeking of my death; and when he would have excused himself, I told him he could not wipe his hands so; he was as guilty of my blood before God, as though he had murdered me with his own hands. AND so he departed from me, saying, I needed not to fear if I would be of his belief. God open his eyes if it be his will, and give him grace to believe this, which he and all of his inclination shall find (I fear) too true for their parts;
WHERE•ORE I thought it my bounden duty, both to God and man, being (as it were) by the great goodness of God marvellously called and appointed hereunto, to set aside all fear, perils and dangers, all worldly respects and considerations, and like as I had heretofore, according to the measure of my small gift within the compass of my vocation and calling, from the bottom of my heart unfeignedly moved, exhorted, and persuaded all that profess God's word, manfully to persist in the defence of the same, not with sword and violence, but with suffering and loss of life, rather than to defile themselves again with the whorish abomination of the Romish Antichrist; so the hour being come, with my fact and example to ratify, confirm, and protest the same to the hearts of all true believers: and to this end, by the mighty assistance of God's Holy Spirit, I resolved myslf with much peace of conscience, willingly to sustain whatsoever the Romish Antichrist should do against me, and the rather, because I understood the bishop' coming to be at hand, and considered that poor men's consciences would be then
that is, that all they which cruelly, maliciously and spitefully persecute, molest, and afflict the members of Christ for their conscience sake, and for the true testimony of Christ's word, and cause them most unjustly to be slain and murdered, without speedy repentance shall dwell with the devil and his angels in the fierce lake everlastingly, where they shall wish and desire, cry and call, but in vain (as their right companion did) to be refreshed by them whom in this world they contemned, despised, disdained, as slaves, misers, and wretches. WHEN I came before the bishop in Mr. Denton's house, he began with this protestation, That he was my bishop for lack of a better, and willed me to submit myself. I said to him, I am not come to accuse myself, what have you to lay to my charge? HE asked me, whether I was learned? I answered, smally learned. MR. CHANCELLOR standing by, said, I was a master of arts. THEN my lord laid to my charge my not coming to the church. HERE I might have dallied with him, and put him to his proofs, forasmuch as I had not been in his diocese for a long season, neither was any of the citizens able to prove any such matter against me. Notwithstanding, I answered him through God's merciful help, that I neither had, nor would come to their church, as long as their mass was used there, to save (if I had them) five hundred lives. I desired him to show me one jot or title in the scriptures for the proof and defence of the mass. HE answered, he came to teach, and not to be taught. I was content (I told him) to learn of him, so far as he was able to teach me by the word of God. Bishop. Who shall judge the word? Glover. Christ was willing that the people should judge his doctrine by searching the scriptures, and so was Paul; methinks you should claim no further privilege nor pre-eminence than they had. THUS spake Robert Glover, offering him further, that he was content that the primitive church next to the apostle's time, should judge between the bishop and him. But the bishop refused that. Then he said, he was his bishop, and therefore he must believe him. Glover. If you will be believed because you are a bishop, why find you fault with the people that believed bishop Latimer, bishop Ridley, and bishop Hooper, and the residue of them that were bishops? Bishop. Because they were heretics. Glover.
that is, that all they which cruelly, maliciously and spitefully persecute, molest, and afflict the members of Christ for their conscience sake, and for the true testimony of Christ's word, and cause them most unjustly to be slain and murdered, without speedy repentance shall dwell with the devil and his angels in the fierce lake everlastingly, where they shall wish and desire, cry and call, but in vain (as their right companion did) to be refreshed by them whom in this world they contemned, despised, disdained, as slaves, misers, and wretches. WHEN I came before the bishop in Mr. Denton's house, he began with this protestation, That he was my bishop for lack of a better, and willed me to submit myself. I said to him, I am not come to accuse myself, what have you to lay to my charge? HE asked me, whether I was learned? I answered, smally learned. MR. CHANCELLOR standing by, said, I was a master of arts. THEN my lord laid to my charge my not coming to the church. HERE I might have dallied with him, and put him to his proofs, forasmuch as I had not been in his diocese for a long season, neither was any of the citizens able to prove any such matter against me. Notwithstanding, I answered him through God's merciful help, that I neither had, nor would come to their church, as long as their mass was used there, to save (if I had them) five hundred lives. I desired him to shew me one jot or title in the scriptures for the proof and defence of the mass. HE answered, he came to teach, and not to be taught. I was content (I told him) to learn of him, so far as he was able to teach me by the word of God. Bishop. Who shall judge the word? Glover. Christ was willing that the people should judge his doctrine by searching the scriptures, and so was Paul; methinks you should claim no further privilege nor pre-eminence than they had. THUS spake Robert Glover, offering him further, that he was content that the primitive church next to the apostle's time, should judge between the bishop and him. But the bishop refused that. Then he said, he was his bishop, and therefore he must believe him. Glover. If you will be believed because you are a bishop, why find you fault with the people that believed bishop Latimer, bishop Ridley, and bishop Hooper, and the residue of them that were bishops? Bishop. Because they were heretics. Glover.
And may not you err as well as they▪ I expected my lord to use some learned argume••• ⟨p. 776⟩to persuade me, but instead of that, he oppressed me only with his authority. He said, I dissented from the church, and asked me where my church was before king Edward's time? I desired him to show me where their church was in Elijah's time, and what outward show it had in Christ's time. Bishop. Elijah's complaint was only of the ten tribes that fell from David's house, whom he called heretics. Glover. You be not able to show any prophets that the other two tribes had at that same time. MY lord making no answer to that, Mr. Rogers, one of the masters of the city, cometh in the mean season, taking upon him as though he would answer to the text. But my lord forthwith commanded me to be committed to some tower, if they had any besides the common jail, saying, He would at the end of the visitation of his diocese, weed out such wolves. Mr. Rogers willed him to content himself for that night, till they had taken further order for me. Even where it pleaseth you, said I to my lord, I am content; and so I was returned at that time to the common jail again from whence I came. ON the Friday morning, being the next day, I had warning by one of the prisoners to prepare myself to ride with my fellow-prisoners the same day to Litchfield, there to be bestowed at the bishop's pleasure. Which tidings at first somewhat discouraged me, fearing lest I should by means of my great sickness, through hard usage, (which I expected) have died in prison before I should come to answer: but immediately with God's words, I rebuked this infidelity in myself, and by the same corrected mine own distrust in the following manner. What make I of God? Is not his power as great in Litchfield as in Coventry? Was he not with Habakkuk, Daniel, Neshach, and Jeremiah, in their most dangerous imprisonments? He knoweth what things we have need of. He hath numbered all the hairs of our head. The sparrow falleth not to the ground, without our heavenly Father's will; much more will he care for us if we be not faithless, whom he hath made worthy to be witnesses of his truth.
And may not you err as well as they▪ I expected my lord to use some learned argume••• ⟨p. 776⟩
