Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 8 – Part 11
The constant suffering of Higbed and Causon.
THese two were descended of worshipfull stocke in Essex, which of all Shires was most fruitfull of Martyrs; the one called Thomas Higbed of Horneden Hill; the other Thomas Causon of Thunderst, they were both in flourishing estate in riches, and much more flourishing in godlines.
They were diuers times examined before Bonner, and defended the truth valiantly, and he and his fellowes did much labour to make them to recant, but could not preuaile: The substance of all their Arguments appeareth in a Confession that they wrote with their owne hands, which was read in the Court of Paules, before the Mayor and Sheriffes, and all the people, not without great sure, before it could be licenced to be read.
First we beleeue and professe in Baptisme to forsake the Diuel & all his works, and all the vanities of the world, and the lusts of the ….
2 We beleeue the Articles of our Faith, and that wee are bound to walke in Gods Commandements all the daies of our life.
3 We beléeue the Lords Prayer containeth all things necessarie for soule and body, and that we are thereby taught onelyonly to pray to our heauenly Father, and is no Saint nor Angell.
4 We beléeue there is a Catholick Church, euen the Communion of Saints, builded vponupon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Christ being the head corner stone: for which Church Christ gaue himselfe to make it a glorious congregation without fault in his sight.
5 This Church of it selfe is sinfull, and must needs say Father forgiue vsus our sinnes, but through Christ and his merits she is fréely forgiuen.
6 Hee is our onelyonly Mediator as Saint Paul saith, there is one God, and one Mediatour betwixt God and Man Iesus Christ: Therefore no other Mediatour.
7 We beléeue this Church is, and hath béen persecuted according to the promise of Christ: as they hauehave persecuted mee, so shall they persecute you, for the Disciple is not aboue his Master. And Paul saith it is not giuen to you onelyonly to beleeue in Christ, but also to suffer for his sake: for all which will liue godly must suffer persecution.
8 The true Church teacheth the Word of God truely, not adding thereto, nor taking there-from; and Ministers the Sacraments according to the Primitiue Church, and it suffreth all men to reade the Scriptures: as Christ saith: Search the Scriptures: And when Paul preached, the audience searched the Scriptures; whether hee preached truely: Dauid teacheth to pray with vnderstanding: Saint Paul saith, when the people vnderstand not what is said, how can they say Amen at giuing of thankes: And Saint Paul saith, true Faith commeth by hearing the word.
9 The Church of Christ teacheth God ought to bee worshipped according to his word, and not after the Doctrine of men: as Christ teacheth vsus, likewise Christ saith, you shall forsake Father and Mother and follow me, whereby we learne if our elders, teach otherwise then God commanded in that point we must forsake them.
10 The Supper of our Lord ought not to be altered, because Christ the wisedome of the Father did institute it: For it is written, cursed is he that changeth my ordinances, or taketh any thing from them.
This Supper is sorely abused, it is giuen in one kinde, where Christ gaue it in both: it is made a priuate Masse, where Christ made it a Communion: He gaue it to all his Apostles in the name of the whole Church, & not to one alone: Christ ordained it for a remembrance of his euerlasting sacrifice vponupon the Crosse once for all; and not againe to bee a dayly sacrifice both for them that are aliue, and them that are dead: And Saint Paul saith, where there is no remission of sinnes, there is no more sacrifice for sinne: and in that it is worshipped, where as nothing is to be worshipped that is made with hands: and in that it is giuen in an vnknowne tongue whereby the people are ignor…nt of the right vse thereof: besides this it is hanged vp and shut in a Boxe, many times so long that wormes breedeth in it, and so it putrifieth, they that abuse it bring vp the slander thereof and not we.
12 Concerning Christs words, This is my body, the minde of Christ must bee searched out by other Scriptures: for the Apostle saith no Scripture hath any priuate interpretation, and the Scriptures are full of such figuratiue speeches: as the Cup is the New Testament, the Rocke is Christ: whosoeuer (saith Christ) receiueth a Child in my Name receiueth me; which sentence must not be vnderstood after the Letter, as the Capernaites did which taught that Christs body should hauehave been eaten with their teeth; when he spake of the eating thereof, to whom Christ said, the Spirit quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing, for my words are spirit and life: so we see Christs words must be vnderstood spiritually, and not literally: hee that commeth to this worthy supper must not prepare his iaw but his heart: neither tooth nor belly, but beleeue, saith Saint Augustine, and thou hast eaten it: so wee must bring with vsus a Spirituall hunger, and examine our selues whether our Conscience doe testifie that we doe truely beleeue in Christ according to the Scriptures, whereof if we be truely certified, beeing new borne from our old conuersation, in heart, minde, will and deed, then may we boldly with this mariage garment of Faith come to the feast.
And that there is no change but bread still remaineth, Christ saith, Doe this in remembrance of me: And Saint Paul, As often as you shall eate this bread and drinke this Cup, you shall remember the Lords death vntill hee come: heere is no change but bread still: And Christ saith, except I goe to my Father the Comforter cannot come: And Saint Peter saith, heauen shall keep him vntill the last day: in that he is God he is eueryevery where, but in that hee is Man hee cannot be but in one place, as his body was not in all places at once when hee was heere: Hee was not in the graue when the women sought him as the Angell said: neither was hee at Bethania when Lazarus died by Christs owne words: and thus we conclude that the Christ is in the holy Supper sacramentally and spiritually, in all them that worthily receiue it: and corporally in heauen both God and Man.
When they would not turn from the truth by no p…rswasions the sentence was read against them: In the reading whereof Higbed said, you speake blasphemie against Christs Passion, and goe about to trap vsus with your subtilties and snares; and though my Father, Mother, and other my kindred doe beleeu…, you say yet they were deceiu…d in so beleeuing: And whereas you say Cranmer and others in the said Articles were hereticks, I wish I were such an hereticke as they were and be. Then the Bishop asked him whether hee would turne from his …rrour: To whom he said, would yee would recant, for I am in the truth and you in errour.
Then they were deliuered vntounto the Sheriffe and sent to Newgate, where they remained not so much in afflictions, as in consolations: Fourteene daies after they were carried to Essex: And Thomas Higbed burned at Hornden on th… Hill: and Thomas Causon at Rayly, where they died most constantly.
The Martyrdome of VVILLIAM HVNTER.
THe said Hunter was at all times brought before the Bishop of London, with the aforesaid Thomas Tomkins, and had the same Articles, Reasons and perswasions obiected as the said Thomas Tomkins had and they made both the same answeres, sauing that Boner vsed these words onelyonly to Hunter: Will you abiure and returne to the Catholick Church: He answered, I will stand to that which I hauehave said: And further he said it is false Doctrine & beliefe, to beleeue that Christs true body is in the Sacrament, which is onelyonly in heauen, and that his friendes and kindred were deceiued if they otherwise beleeued, I will continue in the truth that is taught me as long as I liue, …or if I doe otherwise I shall perish both body and soule, and I had rather my body perish, then my soule. Wherevpon hee was condemned, and after carried to Burnt-wood, where hee suffered most ioifully. He was a very yong man, borne of good parents, of whom he was not onelyonly instructed to godlines, but confirmed vntounto death, a rare example to be had in admiration of all parents, where the naturall affection of parents were ouercome with godlines, w…o like the holy mother in the Machabees, incouraged their sonne as much as they could to goe through valiantly, reioicing with wonderfull gladnes, and either of them dranke vntounto him, confirming him in the Lord, I cannot tell whether I should praise the vertue of the Sonne or of the Parents.
William Pygot, Steuen Knight, and Iohn Lawrence.
AT the same time that Tomkins and Hunter were examined as before these three likewise were examined before Boner; the same reasons, Articles and perswasions that were vsed to them, were vsed vntounto these also, and they made all answeres al…ke: and when by neither flatterie nor threatning they could bee brought from the truth, they were cond…mned, and were carried into Essex to bee burned: William Pigot burned at Braintree.
Steuen Knight was burned at Mauld…n, who at the stake kneeled downe and said this prayer: O Lord Iesu, for whose louelove I …eaue this life, and desire bitt…r death, with the losse of all earthly things, …ather then to abide the blasphemie of thy name, or to obay men breaking thy Commandements, where I might liue in wealth to worship a false God, I chose rather the torment of this body, and hauehave counted all things but dung that I migh… winns thee: which death i… dearer to me then thousands of Gold and Siluer: such louelove hast thou laide vp in my brests that I hu…ger for thee▪ As the wounded Deare des…reth the soy…, s…nd …hy holy comforter, to ayde, comfort, and strengthen me… a weake peece of earth, empty of all strength of it selfe, of thy great louelove thou …ast bidden me to this banquet, accounted mee worth… to drinke of … owne cup, amongst thine ele…t…giuegive me strength against this …hine elem…nt which is most irkesome to my sight, that it may be swéet and pleasant to my minde, that I may passe through this fire into thy …oso…e according vntounto thy p…omi…e: accept this sacrifice, for thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ his sake, for whose Testimony I offer it with all my heart; forgiue me my sinnes as I forgiue the world: sweet Sauiour spread thy wings ouer me: O holy Ghost by whose inspiration I am come hither, conduct me to euerlasting life: Lord into to thine hands …commend my spirit, Amen.
Iohn Lawrence was brought to Colchester, and not b…eing able to goe, for his legges were so sore worne with his Irons in prison, and his body so weakened with euill keeping, hee was faine to be brought vntounto the fire in a chayre: At his burning the yong children came about the fire, and cryed Lord strengthen thy seruant, and keep thy promise: which manifesteth Gods glory, which writ this in the hearts of these little ones, and their parents are to bee commended, that brought them vp from their youth, in the feare and knowledge of God.
Gods Iudgement vponupon the Parson of Arundell.
VPonUpon Shroue-Sunday the Parson of Arundell besides Canterbury, declared vntounto the people all such Articles as were set forth by the authority of the pope, and commandement of the Bishops of this Realme, and when he had done he thanked God that euer he had liued to see that day, and straightway he fell sudde… ly out of the pulpit, and neuer spake after.