N20568:8921
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.
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⟩
So long as we put our trust in him, we shall never be destitute of his he••, neither in prison, in sickness, nor in health, […] in life, nor in death, neither before kings, bishops, or the devil himself, much less one of his ministers, shall be able to prevail against us. With such meditations, I grew cheerful, of good consolation and comfort: so that hearing one say that they could not provide horses enough for us, I said, Let th••, carry us in a dung cart for lack of horses, if they please, I am willing for my part. NOTWITHSTANDING, at the request of my friends, I wrote to Mr. Mayor, and his brethren, […] requiring them that I might make answer here […] such things as should be laid to my charge: […] contents of which were to this purpose: "I beseech you to understand, that it is not •• known, as well to the keeper of the jail, as to the inhabitants about me where I dwell, that I […] man subject to very great sickness, and have been for the space of seven years and more, so that […] not like that I shall be removed without great […] and danger of life. And because I was •ere committed to ward by your appointment, I would gladly here answer to such things as should be laid to my charge. If I may obtain this of you, I […] cause thankfully to acknowledge your clemency▪ if otherwise, I pray God it be not laid to your charge at the great day, where every man shall have just judgment without respect of persons." BUT receiving no answers to my letters, I conjectured, that when the bishop and the chancellor had seen them, they moved them rather to have •e away, being more desirous (as I suppose) to have had me dispatched privily in prison, than to bring me openly to my answer; as did in some measure appear by the treatment I met with at my first coming to prison. CERTAIN sergeants and constables of Coventry being appointed to have the conveying of us to Litchfield, to be delivered there to one Jephcot, the chancellor's man, sent from Coventry with us for the same purpose, we were commanded to be on horseback about eleven or twelve o'clock on ⟨p. 777⟩Friday, being a market-day, that we might be the more gazed at: and to set the people's hearts more against us, they did proclaim a letter concerning a proclamation made for calling in, and disannulling of all such books as truly expound and interpret the scriptures.
We came to Litchfield about four o'clock▪ and had leave to repose ourselves for supper-time. We put up at the sign of the Swan, where we were entertained friendly and gently. AFTER supper Jephcot repaired to us, whom we entreated that upon former sureties we might rest ourselves that night, being unprovided of any thing to help ourselves withal in the prison at that present. He seemed willing at first, but afterwards (whether by persuasion, but I rather suppose out of policy, till he could gather a multitude to stare and gaze upon us, and also that we should provide nothing to ease ourselves withal) he revoked his promise, and so by consent we were carried to prison, in the sight of a great multitude of people. I desired Jephcot before to execute his office with mercy, telling him, that they should have judgment without mercy, that showed no mercy. And this mercy I found at his hand. HE put me into prison that same night, where I continued till I was condemned, in a place next the dungeon, where was small room, strong building, and very cold, with little light; and there he allowed me a bundle of straw instead of my bed, without chairs, form, or any thing else to ease myself withal. God of his mercy gave me great patience through prayer that night, so that if it had been his pleasure, I could have been con•ented to have ended my life: but Jephcot, and one Persey, the bishop's man, who afterwards was my continual keeper for the most part, came to me in the morning, to whom I said, This is a great extremity, God send us patience, and no more. THEN they were content that I should have a bed of my own procuring. But I was allowed no help, neither night nor day, nor company of any man, notwithstanding my great sickness; nor yet p•per, pen, ink, or books, except my New Testament in Latin, and a prayer-book which I privily stole in. WITHIN two days after, Mr. Chancellor and Mr. Temsey, a pre•endary there, came to me into my prison. Mr. Chancellor exhorted me to conform myself to my lord and to the church. He wished no more hurt to my soul than he did to his own; belike because I had laid to his charge at Coventry the seeking of my blood unjustly and wrongfully. Now thus the second time I answered Mr. Chancellor to his exhortation. That I refused not to be ruled by that church, that was content to be ordered and governed by the word of God. Chancellor..
How know you the word of God, but by the church? Glover. The church showeth which is the word of God, therefore the church is above the word of God: this is no good reason in learning, said I to Mr. Chancellor. For it is like unto this; John showed the people who was Christ: Ergo, John was above Christ. Or else I have a man that knoweth not the king, and I tell him who was the king, am I therefore above the king? MR. CHANCELLOR said, he came not to reason with me, and so departed. And I remained for the space of eight day; without any further conference with any man, until the bishop's coming: in which time I gave myself continually to prayer, and meditation of the merciful promises of God made unto all, without exception of person, that call upon the name of his dear Son Jesus Christ. I found in myself daily amendment of health of body, increase of peace in conscience, and many consolations from God, by the help of his Holy Spirit, and sometimes as it were a taste and glimmering of the life to come; all for his only Son Jesus Christ's sake: to him be all praise for ever and ever. THE enemy ceased not many times sundry ways to assault me, often objecting to my conscience mine own unworthiness, through the greatness of the benefit to be counted among the number of them that should suffer for Christ, for his gospel's sake Against him I replied with the word of God on this sort, What were all those whom God had chosen from the beginning to be his witnesses, and to ⟨p. 778⟩carry his name before the world? Were they not m•n, as Paul and Barnabas said, as well subject to wickedness, sin, and imperfections, as other men be? Even such were Noah, Abraham, David, and the rest, "who gave first unto him," as Paul saith. And also speaking to every man, "What hast thou that thou receivedst not?" Likewise John, "All have received of his fullness:" they were no bringers •f any goodness to God, but altogether receivers. They chose not God first, but he chose them. They loved not God first, but he loved them first. Yea, he both loved and chose them when they were his enemies, full of sin and corruption, and void of all goodness. He is, and will be still, the same God, as rich in mercy, as mighty, as able, as ready, as willing to forgive sins without respect of persons, to the world's end, of all them that call upon him. "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him:
How know you the word of God, but by the church? Glover. The church sheweth which is the word of God, therefore the church is above the word of God: this is no good reason in learning, said I to Mr. Chancellor. For it is like unto this; John shewed the people who was Christ: Ergo, John was above Christ. Or else I have a man that knoweth not the king, and I tell him who was the king, am I therefore above the king? MR. CHANCELLOR said, he came not to reason with me, and so departed. And I remained for the space of eight day; without any further conference with any man, until the bishop's coming: in which time I gave myself continually to prayer, and meditation of the merciful promises of God made unto all, without exception of person, that call upon the name of his dear Son Jesus Christ. I found in myself daily amendment of health of body, increase of peace in conscience, and many consolations from God, by the help of his Holy Spirit, and sometimes as it were a taste and glimmering of the life to come; all for his only Son Jesus Christ's sake: to him be all praise for ever and ever. THE enemy ceased not many times sundry ways to assault me, often objecting to my conscience mine own unworthiness, through the greatness of the benefit to be counted among the number of them that should suffer for Christ, for his gospel's sake Against him I replied with the word of God on this sort, What were all those whom God had chosen from the beginning to be his witnesses, and to
to all that call upon him in truth." God i• near, he is at hand, he is with all, with all I say, and refuseth none, excepteth none that faithfully in true repentance call upon him, in what hour, what place, or what time soever it be. It is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man, to burden God (as it were) with his promise, and of duty to claim and challenge his aid, help, and assistance in all our perils, dangers, and distress, calling upon him, not in the confidence of our own godliness, but in the trust of his promis•• made in Christ, in whom, and by whom, and for whose sake, whosoever boldly approacheth to the mercy-seat of the Father, is sure to receive whatsoever is expedient or necessary, either for body or soul, in a more bountiful manner, than he can well wish, or dare desire. His word cannot lie, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt praise me." I answered the enemy also on this manner; I am a sinner, and therefore unworthy to be a witness of this truth. What then? must I deny his word, because I am not worthy to profess it? What bring I to pass in so doing, but add sin to sin? What is greater sin than to deny the truth of Christ's gospel? As Christ himself beareth witness, "He that is ashamed of me or of my words, of him also will I be ashamed before my Father and all his angels." I might also for the like reason neglect obedience to any of God's commandments. WHEN I am provoked to pray, the enemy […] say to me, I am not worthy to pray, therefore I shall not pray: and so in like manner of all the commandments, I shall not forbear swearing, stealing, or murdering, because I am not worthy to keep any commandment of God These be the delusio•• of the devil, and Satan's suggestions, which must be overcome by continual prayer, and with the word of God applied according to the measure of every man's gift against all assaults of the devil. AT the bishop's first coming to Litchfield, after mine imprisonment, I was called into a bye chamber next to my prison, to my lord. Before whom when I came, and saw none but his officers, chaplains, and servants, except it were an old priest, I was partly amazed, and lifted up my heart to God for his merciful help and assistance. MY lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment; I gave him no answer touching that question.
to all that call upon him in truth." God i• near, he is at hand, he is with all, with all I say, and refuseth none, excepteth none that faithfully in true repentance call upon him, in what hour, what place, or what time soever it be. It is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man, to burthen God (as it were) with his promise, and of duty to claim and challenge his aid, help, and assistance in all our perils, dangers, and distress, calling upon him, not in the confidence of our own godliness, but in the trust of his promis made in Christ, in whom, and by whom, and for whose sake, whosoever boldly approacheth to the mercy-seat of the Father, is sure to receive whatsoever is expedient or necessary, either for body or soul, in a more bountiful manner, than he can well wish, or dare desire. His word cannot lie, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt praise me." I answered the enemy also on this manner; I am a sinner, and therefore unworthy to be a witness of this truth. What then? must I deny his word, because I am not worthy to profess it? What bring I to pass in so doing, but add sin to sin? What is greater sin than to deny the truth of Christ's gospel? As Christ himself beareth witness, "He that is ashamed of me or of my words, of him also will I be ashamed before my Father and all his angels." I might also for the like reason neglect obedience to any of God's commandments. WHEN I am provoked to pray, the enemy say to me, I am not worthy to pray, therefore I shall not pray: and so in like manner of all the commandments, I shall not forbear swearing, stealing, or murdering, because I am not worthy to keep any commandment of God These be the delusio of the devil, and Satan's suggestions, which must be overcome by continual prayer, and with the word of God applied according to the measure of every man's gift against all assaults of the devil. AT the bishop's first coming to Litchfield, after mine imprisonment, I was called into a bye chamber next to my prison, to my lord. Before whom when I came, and saw none but his officers, chaplains, and servants, except it were an old priest, I was partly amazed, and lifted up my heart to God for his merciful help and assistance. MY lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment; I gave him no answer touching that question.
He proceeded to persuade me to be a member of his church, which had continued so many years. As for your church (said he to me), it was not known but lately in Edward's time. I profess myself to be a member of that church (said I) that is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the head corner-stone; and so alleged the place of St. Paul to the Ephesians. And this church hath been from the beginning (said I), tho' it bear no glorious show before the world, being ever, for the most part, under the cross and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted; my lord contended on the other side, that they were the church. So cried all the clergy (said I) against the prophets of Jerusalem, saying, "The church of the Lord, the church of the Lord." And always when I was about to speak any thing, my lord cried, Hold thy peace, I command thee by the virtue of thy obedience to hold thy peace, calling me a proud arrogant heretic. ⟨p. 779⟩I desired my lord to lay something to my charge in particular, and then to convince me with some scriptures and good learning. THEN my lord began to move certain questions. I refused to answer him in corners, requiring that I might make my answer openly. He said I should answer him there. I stood with him upon that point till he said I should go to prison again, and there have neither meat nor drink till I had answered him. THEN I lifted up my heart to God, that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word. THE first question was this, How many sacraments hath Christ instituted to be used in the church? THE sacrament of baptism, said I, and the sacrament that he instituted at his last supper. No more, said he? THEN said I, To all those that declare a true and unfeigned repentance, a sure hope, trust and confidence in the death of Christ, to such, ministers (I grant) have authority to pronounce, by the authority of God's word, the remission of sins. HERE interrupting me, he would needs bear me in hand that I called this a sacrament. I would not greatly contend with him in that point, because the matter was of no great weight or importance; although he in so doing did me wrong, for I called it not a sacrament. HE asked me further, Whether I allowed their confession? I answered, No. THEN the bishop would know my mind what I thought of the presence of Christ's body in the sacrament.
He proceeded to persuade me to be a member of his church, which had continued so many years. As for your church (said he to me), it was not known but lately in Edward's time. I profess myself to be a member of that church (said I) that is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the head corner-stone; and so alledged the place of St. Paul to the Ephesians. And this church hath been from the beginning (said I), tho' it bear no glorious shew before the world, being ever, for the most part, under the cross and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted; my lord contended on the other side, that they were the church. So cried all the clergy (said I) against the prophets of Jerusalem, saying, "The church of the Lord, the church of the Lord." And always when I was about to speak any thing, my lord cried, Hold thy peace, I command thee by the virtue of thy obedience to hold thy peace, calling me a proud arrogant hereti.
I answered, That their mass was neither sacrifice nor sacrament, because (said I) you have taken away the true institution, which when you restore again, I will tell you my judgment concerning Christ's body in the sacrament.
AND thus much did this worthy martyr of God leave behind him in his own hand-writing, concerning the manner of his usage in prison, and also of his disputes with the bishop and his chancellor. More Examinations he had (no doubt) with the bishop in the public consistory, when he was brought forth to be condemned, which he would also have left unto us, if either length of life, or leisure of time, or haste of execution, had permitted him to finish what he intended; but by reason of the writ of his burning being come down from London, want of time did neither serve him so to do, neither yet could I get the records of his last examination, wheresoever they are.
ONLY this which I could learn by the relation of one Augustine Bernher, a minister, and a familiar friend of his concerning the going to his death, I can report; that the said Robert Glover, after he was condemned by the bishop, and was now at a point to be delivered out of this world, it so happened, that two or three days before, his heart being heavy, and desolate of all spiritual consolation, felt in himself no aptness or willingness, but rather a heaviness and dullness of spirit, full of much discomfort to bear the bitter cross of martyrdom ready to be laid upon him.
WHEREUPON fearing in himself left the Lord had utterly withdrawn his wonted favour from him, made his moan to this Augustine, his friend abovementioned, signifying unto him how earnestly he had prayed day and night unto the Lord, and yet could receive no motion nor sense of any comfort from him.
UNTO whom the said Augustine answering again, desired him patiently to wait the Lord's pleasure, and howsoever his present feeling was, yet seeing his cause was just and true, he exhorted him constantly to stick to the same, and to play the man, nothing misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him, and satisfy his desire with plenty of consolation; whereof (he said) he was right certain and sure; and therefore desired him, whensoever any such feeling of God's heavenly ⟨p. 780⟩mercies should begin to touch his heart, that then he should show some signification thereof, whereby he might witness with him the same, and so departed from him.
UNTO whom the said Augustine answering again, desired him patiently to wait the Lord's pleasure, and howsoever his present feeling was, yet seeing his cause was just and true, he exhorted him constantly to stick to the same, and to play the man, nothing misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him, and satisfy his desire with plenty of consolation; whereof (he said) he was right certain and sure; and therefore desired him, whensoever any such feeling of God's heavenly ⟨p. 780⟩mercies should begin to touch his heart, that then he should shew some signification thereof, whereby he might witness with him the same, and so departed from him.
THE next day, when the time came of his martyrdom, as he was going to the place, and was come within sight of the stake, (although all the night before praying for strength and courage he could feel none) suddenly he was so mightily replenished with God's holy comfort and heavenly joys, that he cried out, clapping his hands to Austin, and saying these words, "Austin, he is come, he is come," &c. and that with such joy and alacrity, as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly danger to liberty and life, than as one passing out of the world by any pains of death. Such was the change of the marvellous working of the Lord's hand upon that good man.
IN the same fire with Mr. Glover, Cornelius Bungey, of Coventry, was likewise burnt, who was condemned by the said bishop of Coventry and Litchfield. As concerning the articles which were objected to him, the effect thereof was this.
FIRST, It was objected against him, that these three years last, in the city of Coventry and Litchfield, and places thereabout, he did hold, maintain, argue, and teach, that the priest hath no power here to absolve any sinner from his sins.
So long as we put our trust in him, we shall never be destitute of his he••, neither in prison, in sickness, nor in health, 〈…〉 in life, nor in death, neither before kings, bishops, or the devil himself, much less one of his ministers, shall be able to prevail against us. With such meditations, I grew chearful, of good consolation and comfort: so that hearing one say that they could not provide horses enough for us, I said, Let th••, car•y us in a dung cart for lack of horses, if they please, I am willing for my part. NOTWITHSTANDING, at the request of my friends, I wrote to Mr. Mayor, and his brethren, 〈…〉 requiring them that I might make answer here 〈…〉 such things as should be laid to my charge: 〈…〉 contents of which were to this purpose: "I beseech you to understand, that it is not •• known, as well to the keeper of the jail, as to the inhabitants about me where I dwell, that I 〈…〉 man subject to very great sickness, and have been for the space of seven years and more, so that 〈…〉 not like that I shall be removed without great 〈…〉 and danger of life. And because I was •ere committed to ward by your appointment, I would gladly here answer to such things as should be laid to my charge. If I may obtain this of you, I 〈…〉 cause thankfully to acknowledge your clemency▪ if otherwise, I pray God it be not laid to your charge at the great day, where every man shall have just judgment without respect of persons." BUT receiving no answers to my letters, I conjectured, that when the bishop and the chancellor had seen them, they moved them rather to have •e away, being more desirous (as I suppose) to have had me dispatched privily in prison, than to bring me openly to my answer; as did in some measure appear by the treatment I met with at my first coming to prison. CERTAIN serjeants and constables of Coventry being appointed to have the conveying of us to Litchfield, to be delivered there to one Jephcot, the chancellor's man, sent from Coventry with us for the same purpose, we were commanded to be on horseback about eleven or twelve o'clock on ⟨p. 777⟩Friday, being a market-day, that we might be the more gazed at: and to set the people's hearts more against us, they did proclaim a letter concerning a proclamation made for calling in, and disannulling of all such books as truly expound and interpret the scriptures.
We came to Litchfield about four o'clock▪ and had leave to repose ourselves for supper-time. We put up at the sign of the Swan, where we were entertained friendly and gently. AFTER supper Jephcot repaired to us, whom we intreated that upon former su•eties we might rest ourselves that night, being unprovided of any thing to help ourselves withal in the prison at that present. He seemed willing at first, but afterwards (whether by persuasion, but I rather suppose out of policy, till he could gather a multitude to stare and gaze upon us, and also that we should provide nothing to ease ourselves withal) he revoked his promise, and so by consent we were carried to prison, in the sight of a great multitude of people. I desired Jephcot before to execute his office with mercy, telling him, that they should have judgment without mercy, that shewed no mercy. And this mercy I found at his hand. HE put me into prison that same night, where I continued till I was condemned, in a place next the dungeon, where was small room, strong building, and very cold, with little light; and there he allowed me a bundle of straw instead of my bed, without chairs, form, or any thing else to ease myself withal. God of his mercy gave me great patience through prayer that night, so that if it had been his pleasure, I could have been con•ented to have ended my life: but Jephcot, and one Persey, the bishop's man, who afterwards was my continual keeper for the most part, came to me in the morning, to whom I said, This is a great extremity, God send us patience, and no more. THEN they were content that I should have a bed of my own procuring. But I was allowed no help, neither night nor day, nor company of any man, notwithstanding my great sickness; nor yet p•per, pen, ink, or books, except my New Testament in Latin, and a prayer-book which I privily stole in. WITHIN two days after, Mr. Chancellor and Mr. Temsey, a pre•endary there, came to me into my prison. Mr. Chancellor exhorted me to conform myself to my lord and to the church. He wished no more hurt to my soul than he did to his own; belike because I had laid to his charge at Coventry the seeking of my blood unjustly and wrongfully. Now thus the second time I answered Mr. Chancellor to his exhortation. •That I refused not to be ruled by that church, that was content to be ordered and governed by the word of God. Chancellor..
