hurt, and wounded in our consciences, and driven to many miseries, and by the malicious attempts of wicked men suffer great wrongs and injuries, slanders, loss of goods, and bodily vexations. We think not good, by any unlawful stir or commotion to seek remedy; but intend, by God's grace, to obey her majesty in all things not against God and his holy word. But unto such ungodly commandments as are against God, we answer with the apostlesGod must be obeyed rather than man. If persecution shall ensue, which some threaten us with, we desire our heavenly Father, according to his promise, to look from heaven, to hear our cry, to judge between us and our adversaries, and to give us faith, strength and patience to continue faithful unto the end, and to shorten these evil days, for his chosen's sake; and so we faithfully believe he will.

Notwithstanding, we trust the queen's gracious and merciful heart will not suffer such tyranny to be done against her poor, innocent, faithful and obedient subjects, that daily pray unto God for her; who have no remedy in this world, but to sue unto her highness, our most gracious and benign sovereign; whom we pray and beseech, for the dear blood of Christ, to pity our lamentable case and hurt of conscience, and to call back all such commandments as are against God's honour, as the good kings Darius, Ahasuerus, Trajan, Theodosius, and divers others have done, and permit the holy word of God and true religion-set forth by our most holy and innocent king Edward, a very saint of God, to be restored again unto our churches, to be frequented amongst us. So shall we grow and increase in the knowledge of God and of Christ, in true repentance and amendment of life; so shall we exhibit true obedience to our lawful magistrates, and all superiors ordained of God; so shall love and charity, of late through this commandment so decayed, be again restored, the honour of her regal estate the more confirmed and established, and godliness and virtuous life among her loving subjects increased and maintained.

ness,

"And we most heartily pray you the right honourable commissioners-to be means unto the queen's highand to her honourable council, that this our humble suit may be favourably tendered, and graciously heard and granted. And we shall not cease day and night to pray unto the heavenly Father long to preserve her grace and all other magistrates in his fear and love, and in prosperous peace and wealth, with long life and honour, Amen.

"Your poor suppliants, the lovers of Christ's true religion, in Norfolk and Suffolk."

An Account of John Harpole and Joan Beach. Joan Beach, widow, of Tunbridge, and John Harpole, of Rochester, were examined by Maurice, bishop of the diocese, who condemned them both together to death, by one form of sentence. And thus these two christian martyrs joined in one confession, being condemned by the bishop, suffered together at one fire, in the town of Rochester, where they ended their lives about the first day of April.

Next after these followed the martyrdom of John Hullier, minister, who first being brought up in the school of Eton, was afterwards scholar, and, in the king's college at Cambridge suffered under Doctor Thirleby, bishop of Ely, and his chancellor, for the sincere setting out of the light of God's gracious gospel revealed in these our days. In whose behalf this is to be lamented, that among so many fresh wits and stirring pens in that university, so little is left as to the process of his judgment and order of his suffering, who so innocently gave his life in such a cause among the midst of them. By certain letters which he himself left behind, it appears that he was zealous and earnest in the doctrine of truth, which every true christian man ought to embrace. His martyrdom was about the 2d of April.

The Martyrdom of six godly Professors of Christ at Colchester.

Not long after the death of Robert Drakes, William Tyms, and the other Essex martyrs, executed in Smithfield,

as before mentioned, followed the martyrdom, at one fire in Colchester, of six other blessed martyrs, namely:

Christopher Lyster, husbandman; John Mace, apothecary; John Spencer, weaver; Simon Joyne, sawyer; Richard Nichols, weaver; and John Hamond, tanner.

With these six was also joined another, whose name was Roger Grasbroke, but he afterwards submitted himself. Of these above named, the bishop, because he now waxed weary, made a very quick dispatch: he caused them to be brought to his house at Fulham: where in the open church, there were administered to them the same articles that were propounded to others. To which they made their several answers, agreeing altogether in one truth, namely, that they believed that the church of Rome is no part of Christ's catholic church; and that they believed, that in the true catholic church of Christ there are but two sacraments; that is to say, the sacrament of baptism, and the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ; confessing that they were baptised in the faith and belief of the catholic church, and that their godfathers and godmothers had so professed and promised for them; and that they always were, and yet did continue in the faith and profession wherein they were baptised; and that they neither swerved nor went away from the catholic faith of Christ. Howbeit they confessd, that they had disliked, and earnestly spoken against the sacrifice of the mass, and against the sacra ment of the altar, affirming that they would not come to hear or be partakers of it, because they believed that they were set forth and used contrary to God's word and glory. And moreover, that they had spoken against the usurped authority of the bishop of Rome, as an oppressor of Christ's church and gospel, and that he ought not to have any authority in England, and that they never refused, nor then did refuse to be reconciled to the unity of Christ's catholic church: but they said they had, and then did, and so ever would hereafter utterly refuse to come to the church of Rome, or to acknowledge its authority, for putting down the book of God, the Bible, and setting up the Babylonish mass, with all other of antichrist's merchandize.

These answers being made by them, the bishop dismissed them till the afternoon. At which time, standing most firmly to their christian profession, they were by various ways and means tried if they would revoke their professed faith, and return to the unity of antichrist's church. Which when they refused, the bishop pronounced the sentence of condemnation against them, committing them to the temporal power. On the receipt of the king and queen's writ, accordingly, they were sent to Colchester, where, on the 28th of April, most cheerfully they ended their lives to the glory of God's holy name, and the great encouragement of others.

An Account of Hugh Laverock, an old man, and Joku Apprice, a blind man, Martyrs.

In treating of this part of the history, I know not whether more to marvel at the great and unsearchable mercies of God, with whom there is no respect of persons, for he chooseth as well the poor, lame, and blind, as the rich, mighty, and healthful, to set forth his glory, or else to note the unreasonable, or rather unnatural doing of these unmerciful papists, (I mean Bishop Bonner and his accom plices) in whom there was so little favour or mercy to all conditions of men, that they spared neither impotent age, nor lame nor blind, as will appear by the following poor creatures, whose names were Hugh Laverock, of the parish of Barking, painter, aged 68, a lame cripple: and John Apprice, a blind man.

These two poor and simple creatures being accused by some neighbour of theirs to the bishop, were sent for by their officer; and so being delivered into the hands of the bishop, were on the 1st day of May examined in his palace at London: where he first propounded and objected against them nine articles, similar to those administered to Bartlet Green and many others, to which they answered

with all christian faithfulness.

Upon this they were again sent to prison, and beside other times, on the 9th of the month, in the consistory

of St. Paul's were again publicly produced, and there laboured with to recant their opinions against the sacrament of the altar.

Hugh Laverock said; "I will stand to mine answers, and to what I have confessed; and I cannot find in the scriptures, that the priests should lift up over their head a cake of bread."

The bishop then turned to John Apprice, and asked what he would say.

He answered; "Your doctrine that you set forth and teach, is so agreeable with the world, and embraced by the world, that it cannot be agreeable with the scriptures of God. And you are not of the catholic church; for you make laws to kill men, and make the queen your hangman."

At which words the bishop, somewhat irritated, and therefore very loath to delay their condemnation any longer, commanded that they should be brought after him to Fulham, and there in the afternoon, after his solemn manner, in the open church, he pronounced the sentence of condemnation against them, and so delivering them into the hands of the temporal officer, thought to rid himself of them, but could not so satisfy his conscience before the judgment of God, from the guiltiness of innocent blood.

The poor men, being now in the temporal officer's hands, were not suffered to remain long there, and therefore on the 15th of May, very early in the morning, they were carried from Newgate in a cart, to Stratford-le-Bow, and most quietly in the fire yielding up their souls into God's hands, praising him, through a lively faith in Jesus Christ, whom to the end they most constantly confessed.

At their death, Hugh Laverock, after he was chained, cast away his crutch, and comforting John Apprice his fellow-martyr, said unto him; "Be of good comfort, my brother; for my lord of London is our good physician. He will heal us both shortly; thee of thy blindness, and me of my lameness." And so patiently these two good saints of God patiently suffered together.

Thre: Women burned in Smithfield.

The next day after the martyrdom of this lame and blind man, were brought to the fire three women, with whom also was joined another, who being of the same opinion and constancy with them, was likewise partaker of the same condemnation. Their names were: Katharine Hut, widow; Joan Horns, maiden; Elizabeth Tackvell, maiden; and Margaret Ellis, maiden.

When Bishop Bonner entered into an examination of these four women, he objected the like articles to them as he had used to administer, and are before expressed; to which the women likewise agreeing in the same unity of spirit and doctrine, accorded in their answers, much agreeing to the others before them, viz. They answered, that matrimony, and baptism, and the Lord's Supper were sacraments ordained in the church: but whether the others specified in this were sacraments (as they heard them called) ordained by God or not, they could not tell. And they said, that they were baptised by their godfathers and godmothers, which godfathers and godmothers did not then know so much; but what their godfathers and godmothers then promised in their names they could not tell. They further answered and confessed, that as to the mass, they knew no goodness in it; and as to the sacrament of the altar, they believed that Christ's natural body is in heaven, and not in the sacrament of the altar, and as concerning the see of Rome, they acknowleged no such supremacy in that see, neither have they any thing to do with it. And they all refused to be reconciled or united to the church of Rome, or any other church, contrary to that in which they now stood, and did profess. They answered likewise, that neither the service in Latin, mass, matins, and evensong, nor the sacraments were used and administered according to God's word: And furthermore, that the mass is an idol, neither is the true body and blood of Christ in the sacrament of the altar, as they make men believe.

After their answers were received, they were produced again about the 13th of April, and at length brought to

their final judgment; where Katharine Hut, standing before the bishop, boldly and constantly maintained that which she had said before, neither yielding to his fair promises, nor overthrown with his terror. Who being required to speak her mind of the sacrament, and to return to the fellowship of the church of Rome, openly protested, saying, "I deny it to be God, because it is a dumb God, and made with men's hands." Wherein this good and faithful martyr of Christ firmly persisting, so received her sentence, being condemned of Bonner to the fire; which she with great constancy sustained by the grace and strength of the Lord, and did abide for the cause and love of Christ.

Joan Horns, brought likewise to her judgment and condemnation, with like firmness and christian fortitude declared herself a true martyr and follower of Christ's testament, giving no place to the adversary; but being charged that she did not believe the sacrament of Christ's body and blood to be Christ himself, of which sacrament, contrary to the nature of a sacrament, the adversaries are wont to make an idol-service; to this she protested openly her mind, saying-" If you can make your God to shed blood, or to shew any condition of a true lively body, then will I believe you. And in the way which you call heresy, I trust to serve my Lord God," &c.

And as to the Romish see, she said, My lord (speaking to Bonner) I forsake all her abominations, and from them good Lord deliver us." From this, her stable and constant assertion, when the bishop was too weak to remove her, and too ignorant to convince her, he passed sentence upon her. And so this holy virgin and martyr was committed to the secular power, and was offered up with her fellows, a burnt-sacrifice to the Lord.

As to Margaret Ellis, she likewise persevering in her confession, and resisting the false errors and heresies of the papists, was by Bonner adjudged and condemned; but before the time of her burning arrived, she died in Newgate, and thus departed and slept in the Lord.

The same strength in the grace of the Lord appeared in the other maiden Elizabeth Tackvell, whose heart and mind the Lord had so confirmed in his truth, so armed with patience, that as her adversaries could by no sufficient knowledge of scripture convince her, so by no forcible attempts could they remove her confession. Whereupon she standing to the death, being in like sort condemned, gave her life willingly and mildly for the confirmation and sealing of the sincere truth of God's word.

These three innocent and godly women, thus falsely and wrongfully condemned for the just cause of God's gospel, were conveyed to Smithfield on the 16th of May, and there cruelly bound to the stake, giving their bodies to the tormentors, but their spirits they recommended to God. For whose glory they were willing and ready to suffer whatever the cruel hands of their enemies should work against them, dying more joyfully in the flaming fire, than some of them that burned them did in their beds. Such a Lord is God, glorious and wonderful in all his saints.

An Account of Thomas Drowry and Thomas Croker.

You heard a little before of two men, the one blind and the other lame, who suffered about the 15th of May. And here is not to be forgotten another as godly a couple, who suffered the like martyrdom for the same cause of religion at Gloucester; of which two, the one was a blind boy, named Thomas Drowry, mentioned before in the history of bishop Hooper, whom the said virtuous bishop confirmed then in the Lord, and in the doctrine

of his word.

With him also was burned another in the same place; and at the same fire in Gloucester, about the fifth of May, whose name was Thomas Croker, bricklayer.

Concerning the blind boy, how long he was in prison, I am not certain. At his examination and final condemnation, he was brought before Doctor Williams, then chancellor of Gloucester, sitting judicially with the register in the consistory. Where the chancellor

saying in effect as follows:

"Dost thou not believe, that after the words of consecration spoken by the priest, there remaineth the very real body of Christ in the sacrament of the altar?" Thomas." No, I do not."

of Christ, and no other substance of bread and wine to be in the sacrament of the altar. That they believed it to be idolatry to worship Christ in the sacrament of the altar. That they took bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's passion. That they would not follow the cross in procession, nor be confessed to a priest. That

Thomas." Even in yonder place, (pointing with his hand, and turning towards the pulpit, standing upon the north side of the church.)

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Chancellor." When did I teach thee so ?"" Thomas." When you preached there" (naming the day) a sermon to all men as well as to me, upon the sacrament. You said the sacrament was to be received spiritually by faith, and not carnally and really, as the papists have heretofore taught."

Chancellor.-"Then do as I have done, and thou shalt live as I live, and escape burning."

Thomas." Though you can so easily dispense with yourself, and mock with God, the world, and your conscience, yet will I not do so."

Chancellor." Then God have mercy upon thee; for I will read the condemnation sentence against thee." Thomas." God's will be fulfilled."

The register being herewith somewhat moved, stood up, and said to the chancellor :

"Fie, for shame, man; will you read the sentence against him, and condemn yourself? Away, away, and substitute some other to give sentence and judgment."

Chancellor." No, register, I will obey the law, and give sentence myself, according to mine office."

And so he read the sentence condemnatory against the boy, delivering him over to the secular power. Who on the fifth day of May, brought the blind boy to the place of execution at Gloucester, together with one Thomas Croker a bricklayer, condemned also for the like testimony of the truth. Who both together, in one fire, most constantly and joyfully yielded their souls into

the hands of the Lord Jesus.

Three Persons burnt at Beccles.

After the death of those above mentioned, three men were burnt at Beccles in Suffolk, in one fire, about the 21st May, namely, Thomas Spicer, John Denny, and Edmund Poole.

Thomas Spicer was a single man, of the age of nineteen years, dwelling in Winston in Suffolk.

The occasion of his being taken was, that he would not go to the popish church to hear mass, and receive their idol at the command of Sir John Tyrrel, who sent both him and the other two to a dungeon, till they were all three together brought before the chancellor of Norwich, and the register at the town of Beccles.

And there the chancellor, after endeavouring all he could to turn them from the truth, and could by no means prevail, minding to give sentence, he burst out into tears, entreating them to remember themselves, and to turn again to the holy mother church, for that they were deceived and out of the truth, and that they should not wilfully cast away themselves: with such like words.

Now as he was thus exhorting them, and seemed very loath to read the sentence, the register sitting by, being weary of tarrying, called upon the chancellor in haste to rid them out of the way, and to make an end. At which words the chancellor read the condemnation over them with tears, and delivered them to the secular power. The articles objected were, that they believed not the pope of Rome to be the supreme head immediately under Christ in earth of the universal catholic church. That they believed not holy bread and holy water, ashes, palms, and all other like ceremonies used in the church, to be good and laudable for stirring up the people to devotion. That they believed not, after the words of

to do good or evil. For this doctrine, these three were condemned, and committed to the secular power. And the next day they were all burnt together in the town of Beccles.

While these good men were at the stake, and had prayed, they said their belief; and when they came to the catholic church," Sir John Silliard spake to them; "That is well said, sirs, I am glad to hear you say you do believe in the catholic church. That is the best word I have heard of you yet."

To which Edmund Poole answered, that "though they believe in the catholic church, yet do they not believe in the popish church, which is no part of Christ's catholic church, and therefore no part of their belief.”

When they arose from prayer, they all went joyfully to the stake, and being bound, and the fire burning about them, they praised God in such an audible voice, that it was wonderful to all those who stood by and heard them.

The Persecution in Suffolk.

By the procurement of Sir John Tyrrel, and others of his colleagues, there were persecuted and driven out of the town of Winston in Suffolk, thirteen persons, and out of Mendlesham twenty-one persons, in this same year: the charge against them was that they believed the holy word of God to be sufficient to their salvation, and denied the pope's usurped authority, and held all that church of antichrist to be Christ's adversaries. And they refused the abused sacraments, defied the mass, and all popish service and ceremonies, saying, they robbed God of his honour, and Christ of his death and glory. They held. too, that the ministers of the church by God's word might lawfully marry. And that they held the queen to be as chief head, and wicked rulers to be a great plague sent by God on account of sin. They denied man's freewill, and held that the pope's church did err, and many others with them, in that point, rebuking their false confidence in works, and their false trust in man's righteous

ness.

The Death of William Sleech.

On the last day of May, 1556, William Sleech being in prison for the doctrine of the Lord's gospel, and the confession of his truth, died in the King's Bench, and was buried at the back of the prison, for the Romish spiritualty thought him not worthy to come within their holy church-yards, in any christian burial.

Four Men Condemned at Lewes.

In the following June, four martyrs suffered together at Lewes namely, Thomas Harland, John Oswald, Thomas Avington, and Thomas Read.

To Thomas Harland I find it objected in the bishop of London's registers, for not coming to church. He answered, "That after the mass was restored, he never had will to hear the same, because," said he, "it was in Latin, which he did not understand."

John Oswald, refused to answer any thing, until his accusers should be brought face to face before him; and said, "That fire and fagots could not make him afraid: but as the good preachers, who were in King Edward's time, had suffered and gone before, so was he ready to

the same month, for resisting the erroneous and heretical doctrine of the pretended catholic church of Rome.

In which month also, William Adherall, minister, imprisoned in the King's Bench, there died and was buried in the back of the prison. Also John Clement, wheelwright, who dying in the prison was buried in the same way, on the 25th day of June.

The next day, we read of a young man, a merchant's servant, who suffered cruel persecution of the papists, and was burnt at Leicester, on the 26th day of June.

Not long after the death of this servant, there were burned in one fire at Stratford-le-Bow, near London, eleven men and two women, whose dwellings were in sundry places in Essex.

To whom, on the 6th of June, Doctor Darbyshire, Bonner's chancellor, ministered the usual articles, to which they made their answers, in simplicity and in a good conscience.

When these thirteen persons were condemned, and the day appointed when they should suffer, which was the 27th of June, 1556, they were carried from Newgate to Stratford-le-Bow, and there separated into two several chambers. Afterwards, the sheriff came to one part, and told them that the other had recanted, and their lives therefore should be saved, exhorting them to do the like, and not to cast away themselves. They answered, That their faith was not built on man, but on Christ crucified. Then the sheriff, perceiving no good to be done with them, went to the other part, and said the same to them, that they whom he had been with before, had recanted, and should therefore not suffer death, counselling them to do the like, and not wilfully to kill themselves, but to act the part of wise men, &c. They answered as their brethren had done before, that their faith was not built on man, but on Christ and his word, &c. When he saw it availed not to persuade (for they were, God be praised, firmly grounded on the rock Jesus Christ) he then led them to the place where they should suffer, and being all there together, they earnestly prayed unto God, and joyfully went to the stake, and embraced it very heartily.

The eleven men were tied to three stkes, but the two women were loose in the midst, without any stake, and so they were all burnt in one fire, with such love to each other, and constancy in our Saviour Christ, that it made all the lookers on to marvel. The Lord grant us the like grace in the like need, according to the good pleasure of his will! Amen.

In the company of these thirteen, were three more condemned to die; who answered to the articles that were propounded to the thirteen, in effect as they did. And being thus in the hands of the secular power, Cardinal Poole sent his dispensation for their lives, by means of which they then escaped.

The Sunday after these sixteen were condemned, Fecknam, dean of St. Paul's, preached at St. Paul's Cross, where he declared, that they had as many opinions as they were persons. At hearing this sermon they drew up their faith in writing, and signed their names, and directed it to their friends and the faithful congregation, as follows:

"Unto all our dearly beloved friends, and the holy congregation of Jesus Christ, even so many as love God, grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. So be it. "Be it manifest to all by whom this our certificate shall be seen, that where upon Saturday, being the thirteenth day of June, at Fulham, before the bishop of London, sixteen of us, whose names hereunder are subscribed, were condemned to die for the most pure and sincere truth of Christ's truth; which most godly truth hath been from the beginning by the wicked adversaries thereof continually defaced, and is, by the devil and his agents, even at this present likewise daily slandered. Upon this occasion, dearly beloved brethren, we are moved, yea, constrained, in the ears of all men to manifest our belief, and also briefly the articles whereof we

are condemned, for the avoiding of false reports and slanderous tongues, which might happen, by the most ungodly and uncharitable sermon lately preached at St. Paul's Cross, on the fourteenth of the said month, being Sunday, by Master Fecknam, now dean of the same church; where he, in that most worthy audience, defamed us to be in sixteen sundry opinions, which were a thing prejudicial to all christian truth; and for a testimonial thereof, this hereunder written shall answer our cause, and therefore we pray you that are of God to judge.

"First, we believe we were baptised in the faith of Christ's church, and incorporate unto him, and made members of his church; in which faith we continue. And although we have erred for a certain time, yet the root of faith was preserved in us by the Holy Ghost, who hath reduced us into a full certainty of the same, and we do persist, and will, by God's assistance, to the end. Now mark, that although the minister were of the malignant church, yet his wickedness did not hurt us, for he baptised us in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

"There was both the word and the element, and our godfathers and godmothers renouncing for us the devil and all his works, and confessing the articles of the christian faith for us, and also witnesses that we are baptised, not in the faith of the church of Rome, but in the faith of Christ's church.

"There are but two sacraments in Christ's church, that is, the sacrament of baptism, and the Lord's supper. For in these are contained the faith of Christ's church; that is, the two testaments, the law and the gospel. The effect of the law is repentance, and the effect of the gospel remission of sins.

2. We believe that there is a visible church wherein the word of God is preached, and the holy sacraments truly administered, visible to the wicked world, although it be not credited, and by the death of saints confirmed, as it was in the time of Elijah the prophet, as well as

now.

"3. The see of Rome is the see of antichrist, the congregation of the wicked, &c., whereof the pope is head under the devil.

"4. The mass is not only a profanation of the Lord's supper, but also a blasphemous idol.

5. God is neither spiritually nor corporeally in the sacrament of the altar, and there remains no substance in the same, but only the substance of bread and wine.

"For these the articles of our belief, we being condemned to die, do willingly offer our corruptible bodies to be dissolved in the fire, all with one voice assenting and consenting thereto, and in no point dissenting or disagreeing from any of our former articles.

"Apparent also let it be and known, that being examined of the former articles before the bloody bishop, the said day and time, we affirmed to believe all that he or they would approve by the scripture. But he said that he would not stand to prove it with heretics, but said they themselves were the holy church, and that we ought to believe them, or else to be cut off like withered branches.

In the diocese of Lichfield, about the 14th of June, in the same year, John Colstock who was lately come from London, and now dwelling at Wellington, though he suffered no martyrdom, yet sustained some trouble, being attached and examined by the bishop, especially for two points; in holding against the reality of Christ in the sacrament, and against auricular confession to be made to the priest. For which being compelled to recant, he was enjoined, in the church of St. Cedde, to bear a fagot before the cross, bare-headed, having in the one hand a taper, and in the other a pair of beads, &c.