Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright, Volume 2 · Book 12 · Account 6
The ſeuere puniſhment of God vponupon the perſecutors of his people.
OF Gardiner mention hath béene made before. Morgan B. of S. Dauids, who cōdemned B. Farrar, was ſo ſtriken by God, that his meat would not go downe, but riſe and pick vp againe, ſometimes at his mouth, ſometime blow out of his noſe, moſt horribly to behold: & ſo cōtinued till he died.
Iuſtice Morgan that ſat vponupon the death of the L. Iane, not long after fel mad, and ſo died, euer hauing in his mouth Lady Iane, Lady Iane, &c. D. Dunning died before Q. Mary fitting in his chaire, he was the bloody Chauncellor of Norwich. Likewiſe ſuddaine death fell vponupon Berry Commiſſarie of Norwich, who fell downe ſuddainly to the ground, gaue an heauy grone, and neuer ſtirred after. B. Thorneton Suffragan of Douer, looking vponupon his men, playing at the boules, fell downe in a palſey, & willed to remember God: yea (ſaid he) and my Lord of Canturbury too. Another Suffragan that ſuccéeded him, brake his necke downe a paire of ſtaires in the Cardinals chamber at Gréenewich, after hée had receiued the Cardinals bleſſing.
One Grundwood of Hitcham, who was procured by William Fenning to witnes ſalſly againſt a godly man, one Cooper of Watſame, that he ſhould wiſh if God would not, that the Diuell would take away Quéene Mary: as hée was in his labour ſtaking vp a gulphe of corne, ſuddainly his bowels fell out, and ſo he died. The Parſon of Crondall in Kent, hauing receiued the Popes bleſſing from Cardinall Poole, ſhrunke downe in the pulpet, and was found dead. D. Geffery Chancellor of Saliſbury, hauing appoynted the day before his death, to call 90. perſons before him to examination, was preuented by Gods hand, and ſo died.
Maſter Woodroof, who was cruell againſt M. Rogers, was ſtricken the one halfe of his body, that he lay benummed, and ſo continued ſeuen or eight yéeres, till he died: and ſcarſe eſcaped any of them, but the hand of God ſtrangely was vponupon them all before their death,Popiſh prelates die thicke together about the death of Queene Mary. that had defiled themſelues with the blood of Gods children. Eſpecially it is to be noted, how many of the popiſh prelates died not long before Quéene Mary, or not longer after.
Before her died Coates B. of Wincheſter, Parfew B. of Harford, Glinne B. of Bangor, Brookes B. of Gloceſter, King B. of Thame, Peto elect of Salſbury, Day B. of Chicheſter, Holyman B. of Briſtow.
After her Cardinall Poole the next day, of ſome Italian Phiſicke, as ſome did ſuſpect, then I. Chriſtophorſen B. of Chicheſter, White B. of Wincheſter, Hopton B. of Norwich, Morgan B. of S. Dauids, Rafe Bayne B. of Liechfield and Couentrie, Owine Oglethorpe B. of Carlill, Cutbert Tonſtall, who was no bloudy perſecutor B. of Durham, Thomas Raynolds elect of Hereford, after his depriuation died in pryſon: Doctor Weſton Deane of Weſtminſter, after Deane of Windſore, chiefe diſputer againſt Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer. Maiſter Slythurſt maiſter of trinitie Colledge in Oxford, who died in the Tower: Seth Holland Deane of Worceſter, and Warden of Alſoule colledge in Oxforde, William Copinger monke of Weſtminſter fell mad and died in the Tower, Doct. Steward Deane of Wincheſter.
Such of the Popiſh Cleargie as eſcaped death, and were committed to priſon were theſe: In the Tower, Nicholas Heath Archb. of Yorke, and Lord Chancellor, Th. Thurleby B. of Ely, Th. Watſon B. of Lincolne, Gilbert Bourne B. of Bath & Welles, Rich. Pates B. of Worceſter, Troublefield B. of Exceter, Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Weſtminſter, Iohn Baxall Deane of Windſor & Peterborow, Godwel B. of S. Aſſe, and Maurice elect of Bangor ran away. In the Marſhalſea, Edmond Boner, Tho. Wood, B. elect.
In the Fléete, Cuthbert Scot Biſhop of Cheſter, whence he eſcaped to Louain, and there died. Henrie Cole Deane of Paules, Iohn Harpesfield Archdeacon of London, and Deane of Norwich, Nicholas Harpesfield Archd. of Canterbury, Anthonie Dracot Archd. of Huntington, William Chadſey Archdeacon of Middleſex.
Anno 1572. Iohn Whiteman, Iohn Whiteman a notable martyr.Shoemaker of Rye in Suſſex, a married man of 23. yéeres. It being ſeruice time at Oſtend in Flanders, went to the Church, and at the time of the heaue offering, ſtept to the ſacrificer, and tooke from ouer his head his Idoll, ſaying theſe wordes in the Duitch tongue. Is this your God? And ſo breaking it, caſt it down vnderunder his féete, and trode thereon. Forthwith he was taken, and on Tueſday after had ſentence giuen againſt him: firſt to hauehave his hand cut off, and his body ſcorched to death, and after to be hanged vp. Which ſentence he tooke ſo patiently, and the execution thereof with ſuch willingnes, that ſo ſoon as he was out of the priſon to be carried to execution, he made ſuch haſte, and as it were a ranne to the place of execution, that he drew the hangman after him.
There was prepared for his execution, a poſt with ſpars from the top therof, aſlope down to the ground, in maner of a tent: to the end, that he ſhould be ſcorched to death, and not burned. When he was come to the place, the hangman commanded him to lay down his right hand vponupon a block, which he immediatly with an hatchet ſmote of the goodman ſtil cō tinuing patient & conſtant. Then the hangman ſtept behind him, & bids him put out his tongue: which he forthwith did as far as he could out of his head, through the which he thruſt a long inſtrument like a packnéedle, and ſo let it ſticke. So being ſtript into his ſhirt; he was put into the tent, & made faſt with two chaines, and fire put round about him, which broiled him & ſcorched him al black: and when he was dead, he was carried to be hanged vponupon a Gibbet beſides ye towne.
Anno 1558. the laſt day of March was appointed a day of conference, betwixt 9. prieſts, and 9. proteſtants, concerning matters of religion.
A conference for matters of religion.The names of the Papiſtes were theſe: Wincheſter, Lichfield, Cheſter, Carlile, Lincoln, Cole, Harpesfield, Longdale, Chadſey. The names of the Proteſtants, Story B. of Chicheſter, Cox, Whitehead, Grindall, Horne, Sands, Beſt, Elmer, Iewell.
Three propoſitions to diſpute of.The matter they ſhould diſpute of, was comprehended in theſe propoſitions. 1 It is againſt the word of God, & the cuſtome of the ancient Church, to vſe a tongue vnknown to ye people, in common praier, & adminiſtratiō of ye ſacramēts.
2 EueryEvery Church hath authority to appoint, take away, and change ceremonies, and Eccleſiaſtical rites, ſo the ſame be to edification.
3 It cannot be proued by the word of God, that there is in the maſſe offered vp a ſacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead.
It was decréed, according to the deſire of the papiſts, that it ſhould be in writing on both partes (for auoiding of much altercation of words) and each of them ſhould deliuer their writings to other, to conſider what were improued therein, and to declare the ſame againe in writing ſome other conuenient day. This was agréed on of both parts. The Lords alſo of the parlement made means to her maieſty, that ye parties of this conference might reade their aſſertions in ye Engliſh tongue, and that in the preſence of the nobility, and others of the parlement houſe, for the better ſatiſfaction, and the better enabling of their owne iudgements, to treate and conclude of ſuch lawes as might depend therevpon.
This was thought very reaſonable, and agréed vponupon: the day being appointed ye laſt of March, & the place Weſtminſter church. Notwithſtanding this former order appointed, & cōſented vntounto on both parts. The aſſēbly being now made, ye B. of Wincheſter, & his collegues, alleadging that they had miſtaken that their aſſertions and reaſons ſhould be writtē, & ſo only recited out of a booke, ſaid that their booke was not then ready written, but they were ready to argue & diſpute,The Papiſts flee from the agreement. and therefore they would for that time, repeate in ſpéech that which they had to ſay to the firſt probation.
This varying of theirs from the firſt order was permitted, without any great refuſing, becauſe they excuſed themſelues with miſtaking the order, and agréed again that they would not faile, but put it in writing according to the former order, and deliuer it to the other part.
So the B. of Wincheſter. & his Colleagues appointed D. Cole, Deane of Paules to be ye vtterer of their mindes. Who partly by ſpéech only, and partly by reading authorities written, & at certaine times informed by his colleagues what to ſay, made a declaration of their meanings, and their reaſons to their firſt propoſitions. Which being ended, they were aſked by the priuy Counſaile, if any of them had any more to ſay? and they ſaide no. So the other were licenſed to ſhew their mindes: which they did according to their firſt order, exhibiting all that which they ment to propound, in a booke written: which (after prayer made moſt humbly to God, for the endewing of them with his holy ſpirit, & a proteſtation alſo to ſtand to the doctrine of the Catholike church builded vponupon the Scriptures, and the doctrine of the Prophets & Apoſtles) was diſtinctly read by one Robert Horne batcheler of Diuinitie, after B. of Wincheſter. Which whē he had doone with ſome likelihood (it ſéemed) that the ſame was much allowable to the audience, certayne of the B. began (contrary to their former anſwere) to ſay that they now had much to ſay to this matter. So it was ordered, & agréed vponupon on both parts in full audience, that vponupon munday following, the Biſhops ſhould bring their minds, and reaſons in writing to the ſecond aſſertion, and the laſt alſo (if they could) and firſt reade the ſame. And that done, the other part ſhould bring likewiſe theirs to the ſame: & being read, each of them ſhould deliuer to other the ſame writings: and in the meane time the Biſhoppes ſhould put in writing, not onelyonly that which Doctor Cole had that day vttered, but all ſuch other matters as they any otherwiſe coulde thinke of for the ſame. And aſſoone as they might poſſible, to ſend the ſame booke touching that firſt aſſertion to the other part, and they ſhould receiue of thē the writing which Maſter Horne had read there that day. And vponupon Munday it ſhould be agréed, what day they ſhould exhibite their anſwers touching the firſt propoſition. This both parties aſſented vntounto, and ſo the aſſemblie was quietly diſmiſſed.
On Munday, the aſſemblie being mette by the Lordes of the Counſell, and other of the Nobilitie, &c. the Popiſh Biſhops brake againe their order agréed vponupon,Papiſts break order againe. and refuſed to deale in the ſecond Queſtion, according as it was agréed vponupon, but would néedes reade that which they had written of the firſt propoſition.
Moreouer they refuſed to beginne, but would hauehave the other part to beginne firſt, and beyng glad to auoyd altogether the cauſe for which they were aſſembled, began to cauill with Maiſter Horne of what Church hée was of & his fellowes: my Lord Kéeper perceiuing their digreſſiō from ye purpoſe, admoniſhed them thereof. In the end they would not be brought to begin. So ye aſſembly was faine to breake vp, nothing being doone: for which their wilfulneſſe and contempt,Wilfulnes & contempt in the popiſh biſhops. the Biſhops of Wincheſter & Lincolne were committed to the Tower, & the reſt, ſauing the Abbot of Weſtminſter (who was willing to begin) ſtood bound to make dayly their appearance before the Counſaile, and not to depart the citie of London & Weſtminſter, vntil further order were taken with them for their diſobedience & contempt.
About the time that the B. aforeſaid were committed to the Tower, Boner was committed to the Marſhalſea.
In this Parlement, Doctor Storie vaunted himſelfe opē lie of his crueltie in Quéene Maries daies (as indéed he was one of the cruelleſt) lamenting that he had not laide to the roote, (as his intent was) but rather ſhrubbed off the twigs,Storie vaunteth of his crueltie. ſaying: he was once at the burning of an heretike (for ſo hée tearmed the Martirs) at Vxbridge, where he toſt a fagot at his face, as he was ſinging Pſalmes, and ſet a whinbuſh of thornes vnderunder his féete, a little to prick him. With many other wordes to like effect.
In this Parlement the Pope loſt his ſupremacie,Popes Supremacie repealed: The Goſpell aduaunced. and the bloudie Actes of Q. Marie were repealed, the Goſpel aduā ced, and the olde Biſhops depoſed for refuſing to ſubſcribe to the Quéenes lawfull Title.
In whoſe roomes and places, ſuccéeded, firſt to Cardinall Poole, D. Mathew Parker, Archbiſhop of Canterburie: In the place of Heath, ſuccéeded Doctor Yong: In the ſtead of Boner, Edmund Grindall was Biſhoppe of London:Popiſh Biſhops diſplaced and Proteſtāts placed. For Hopton, Thurlebie, Tonſtall, Pates, Chriſtopherſon, Peto, Coates, Morgan, Feaſie, White, Oglethorpe, &c. were placed, D. Parkhurſt in Norwich, D. Cox in Ely, Iewel in Saliſburie, Pilkenton in Dureſme, D. Sandes in Worceſter, M. Downam in Weſtcheſter, Bentame in Couētrée & Lichfield, Dauid in Saint Dauids, Allie in Exceter, Horne in Wincheſter, Scorie in Hereford, Beſt in Carlil, Bullingham in Lincolne, Scambler in Peterborow, Bartlette in Bath, Gheſt in Rocheſter, Bailie in Chicheſter, &c.
About the monethmonth of Iune, anno 1581. one Richard Atkins, and engliſhmā, borne in Hartfordſhire, came to Rome, and hauing found the Engliſh Colledge, knocked at ye dore, and after other ſpéech, declareth vntounto his Countreimen, that he came louingly to rebuke the great diſorder of their liues, and to let the proud Pope vnderſtande, that he offendeth the heauenlie Maieſtie, committing Idolatrie, &c.
When they heard theſe wordes, one Hugh Gryffon, a welchman, cauſed him to be put into the Inquiſition. From whence (vponupon what condition it is not knowen) within few dayes he was ſet at libertie againe. And one day going in the ſtréete, he met a Prieſt carrying the Sacrament: which offending his conſcience to ſée the people ſo worſhip it, hée caught at it, to hauehave throwen it downe: but miſſing of his purpoſe, & being iudged by the people to hauehave caught at the holineſſe, which (they ſay, commeth from the Sacrament) of méere deuotion, he was let paſſe.
R. Atkins ouerthroweth the Chalice at Rome.Within fewe dayes after he came to S. Peters Church, where the Prieſt was at the Eleuation: and ſhewing no reuerence, ſtepped among the people to the Altar, and threwe downe the Chalice with the wine, ſtriuing alſo to hauehave pulled the Cake out of the Prieſtes handes.
For this fact he was caried to priſon, and being condemned, within a while after was ſet vponupon an Aſſe without any Saddle, he being from the middle vpwarde naked: and all the way as he went to execution, foure did nothing els but thruſt at his naked bodie with burning Torches. Whereat he neuer moued, nor ſhrunke any iote, but with a chéerefull countenance laboured to perſwade the people: oft bending his bodie to méete the Torches as they were thruſt at him, & would take them in his owne hand, & hold them ſtil burning vponupon his bodie: whereat the people wondred not a litle.
Thus he continued almoſt the ſpace of halfe a mile, till he came before S. Peters, where the place of execution was.
When he came to the place of execution, they had made a deuiſe to burne him by péecemeale. Which he ſuffered with ſuch conſtancie and chéerefulneſſe, that when they offered him a croſſe, he put it away with his hand: ſaying, they were euill men to trouble him with ſuch paltrie, when hée was preparing him ſelfe to God, whom he beheld in maieſtie and merciemercy readie to receiue him into his eternall reſt. They ſéeing him in that conſtant mind, left him, & commended him to the deuil, whom they ſaid he ſerued, thinking he had béene poſſeſſed. This is faithfully aduouched by I. Yong, that thē ſerued M.D. Morton at Rome: who ſeing his martirdome, when he came home to his houſe, in preſence of M. Smith his ſonne, Maiſter Creede, and Iohn Yong his man, ſpake as followeth: Surely this fellow was marueylous obſtinate, hée nothing regarded the good counſell which was giuen vntounto him, nor ſhrancke all the way, when the torches were thruſt at his naked body: beſide in the place of execution hée did not faint, nor crye one iote in the fire, albeit they tormented him very cruelly, and burned him by degrées, yet all this he did but ſmile at. Doubtles, but that the worde of God cannot bée but true, elſe wée might iudge this fellow to be of God: for who could hauehave ſuffered ſo much paine as he did. But truely I beléeue the Diuell was in him.
Anno 1572. 1572. The Admiral of France.the two and twentieth day of Auguſt, the Admirall of Fraunce comming from the Counſell table, by the way was ſtrikē with a piſtol charged with 3. pellets in both his armes: and at a Watchwoorde giuen, was afterward ſlaine foorthright: and murtherers appointed the whole cittie through to maſacre the poore Proteſtants, men, women, old, & yoong, to the number of 10000. in thrée daies:The maſacre of Paris. although the rage endured longer. In which number was ſlaine Petrus Ramus, Petrus Ramus.the reſtorer of all liberall artes, eſpecially the greateſt M. of Logike, and the perfecteſt practiſer of the ſame, that euer liued before him.
Alſo Lambinus, Plateanus, Lomenus, Chapeſius with others ſuffered this barbarous, and more then beaſtly crueltie: which did not containe it ſelf onelyonly within Paris walles, but extended it ſelfe to other partes of Fraunce, eſpecially to Orleans, Tholouſe & Roane. In which cities it is almoſt incredible what crueltie was ſhewed in numbers deſtroied: ſo that within the ſpace of one monethmonth 30000. 30000. martyrs in Frāce.of religious and chriſtian Proteſtants are numbred to be ſlaine.
This murther did ſo reioyce the Pope, that he with his Cardinals went a proceſſion with their gunſhot, and ſang Te Deum: and in honor of that act, commaunded a Iubelie with great indulgence.
Likewiſe in France the 18. of the ſame monethmonth the king commaunded proceſſions, bonfires, and ringings, ſingings, & giuing thankes to God for ſo worthy a victory, vponupon S. Bartholomewes day againſt the innocent proteſtants.
The ſame yéere about the 4. of Decēber, he began to lay ſiege to RochellRochell beſieged. a towne belonging to ye Proteſtants, which endured 7 moneths. In which when the poore began to lacke corne & victuall, there was ſent to them eueryevery day in the riuer (by the hand of the Lord) a great multitude of fiſh,Gods prouidence. called Surdons, which the poore people did vſe in ſtéede of bread, Which fiſh the ſame day that the ſiege brake vp (about the 10. of Iune) departed, and came no more.
At this ſiege were ſlaine of the kings captains 132. of the which the chiefeſt was, Duke D'Aumale. In the end an agréement pacificatory was concluded, containing 25. articles: (in which alſo were contained certain other cities proteſtants. Which the 10. of Iune Anno 1572. was ſolemnly proclaimed at Rochel.
The yéere following, died ye cardinall of Louā, a peſtilēt Achitophel againſt the children of God, & Charles of France the 9. the bloodieſt Tyrant that euer the earth bare, the 25. of May, being fiue and twentie yéeres of age. His diſeaſe was ſuch, that his blood guſhing out by diuers partes of his body, he toſſing in his bedde, and caſting out many horrible blaſphemies, lying vponupon pillowes with his héeles vpward, and head downwarde, voyded ſo much bloud at his mouth, that in fewe houres after he died.The Tyrant dieth.
FINIS.