Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 12 · Part 29 – Part 32
Willam Seaman, Thomas Carman, and Thomas Hudson.
WIlliam Seaman was a husbandman dwelling in Mendlesam in the County of Suffolk: he was taken the ninteenth of May, by one Robert Balden his neighbour, whom he greatly trusted: as they were leading him by night to Sir Iohn Tyrill, there fell a light out of the Element betwixt them, and parted them: albeit this Balden was then in his best age, yet after that time …e neuer enioyed good day, but pined away euen vntounto death: Sir Iohn Tyril as…ed him why hee would not goe vntounto Masse, and receiue and worship the Sacrament: He said it was an Idol, and therefore would not receiue it: Whervpon he was sent to the Bishop of Norwich, who condemned him: He had a wife, and three children, who because shee would not goe vntounto Masse, all her corne and goods were taken away from her, by Christopher Cole, being Lord of the towne of Mendlesham.
Thomas Carman was apprehended for pledging Richard Crashford at his burning: he was brought before the Bishop of Norwich, and answered no lesse in his maisters quarrell th…n th' other, and he had the like reward.
Thomas Hudson was of Aylesham in Norffolke a Glouer: hee bore so good will vntounto the Gospell, that in the daies of King Edward the sixt, that when hée was thirty yeareo old, he learned to reade, wherein he so greatly profited, that in Queene Maries raigne auoiding all their beggerly ceremonies of superstition, he absented himselfe, and trauelled from place vntounto place, and returning home vntounto his owne house to comfort his Wife and Children: When hee perceiued that his continuance there would be very dangerous, hee and his wife deuised to make him a place in his Faggots to hide himselfe in, where hee remained all the day, reading and praying, for halfe a yeare. In the meane time came thither one Berry Uicar of the Towne, and inquired of his Wife for him: Shee said shee …new not where hee was: Then hee threatned to burne her: because shee would not bewray her husband: After this, Hudson waxed eueryevery day more zealous then other, and the people often resorted vntounto him to heare his Sermons: at last hee walked abroad for certaine daies into the towne, crying out against the Masse, and all their trumpery: at the length one Iohn Crouch, his next neighbour, went with speed to the Constables to certifie them that hee was at home, who went about to catch him in the breake of the day. Wh…n Hudson saw them, hee said now mine houre is come: welcome friends: you bee they that shall leade mee vntounto life euerlasting, I thanke GOD therefore, and the Lord inable mee for his mercy sake; Then they ledde him vntounto Berry their Uicar, being Commissar…e as before, who asked him where hee kept his Church, foure yeares before: Hee answered, wheresoeuer hee was there was the Church: Then hee asked him whether hee beleeued in the Sacrament of the Altar: He answered that was but wormes meate, my beliefe is in Christ crucified: Then he asked him whether hee did not beléeue that the Masse taketh away sinnes.
Hudson.
It is a patched monster, and a disguised puppit, more longer a peecing then euer was Salomons Temple: Then Berry seemed as a mad man, and said, wel I will write vntounto my Lord, and thou shalt be handled according vntounto thy deserts.
Oh Sir said Hudson, there is no Lord but God, though there bee many Lords and Gods: With that Berry thrust him back with his hand, and bound Richard Clifford to the good behauiour for saying, I pray bee good vntounto the poore man: Then the said Berry writ vntounto the Bishop, and sent Hudson bound like a Theefe vntounto him, who went thither with ioy, and singing, as merry as euer hee was, where he was condemned: These thrée were burned without the Bishops ga…e in Norwich, in a place called Lolords pit: aftor they had made their prayers they went vntounto the stake, and standing with their chaines about them. Iohn Hudson being troubled in minde, went from them, and prayed his fellowes, exhorted him in the bowels of Christ to be of good chéere. At last the Lord, according vntounto his old mercies. sent him comfort, and then rose …e with great ioy, as a man new changed from death vntounto life: and said now, I thanke God, I am strong, and passe not what man can doe vntounto mee: at the length they all suffered most ioyfully together, to the terrour of the wicked, the comfort of Gods children, and the magnifying of the Lords Name.
After this Berry caused two hundred of the towne of Cylesham to creepe to the crosse at Penticost, besides other punishments which they suffered.
This Betry vponupon a time strooke a poore man of his parish with the swingell of a …laile, for speaking words that hee presently dyed: And after hee méeting one Alice Oxes, going into his Hall (hee as before moued) he smote her with his fist, and the next day shee was found dead in his Chamber: to write how many Concubines and whoores hee had none would beleeue but such as knew him where be dwelt: He was rich, of great authoritie, a great swearer, altogether giuen vntounto women, and persecuting the Gospell, and compelling men vntounto Idolatry, he troubled sundry good men, burned all good books that he could get, and deuorced many men and women for religion.
When hee heard Queene Mary was dead, and the glory of his triumph quailed: On a Sunday hee made a great Feast, and had one of his Concubines there, with whom he was in his Chamber from dinner vntill euening song: then hee went to the Church, and after euening song in going from Church homeward, hee fell downe dead, made an heauy grone, and neuer stirred, and those that had his riches so consumed with them, that they be poorer now, then when they had his goods: which iudgement the Lord executed in the eyes of all men.
At that time D…nning the cruell Chancellor of Norwich died in Lincolneshire, as sodainely as the said Berry died.
Ioane Seaman, Mother of the said William Seaman.
SHe was threescore and six yeares old: She was persecuted from her house by the said Sir Iohn Tyrill, because she would not goe vntounto the Masse, nor receiue against her conscience: sometimes shee was glad to lye in the bushes, Groues, and Fields: but her husband beeing fourescore yeares old, and falling sick, she returned vntounto her house, to shew her duety vntounto her husband, vntill hee dyed: then she fell sicke, and died: and one Maister Simonds the Commissary commanded straightly that she should not be bur…ed in any Christian buriall: Wherevpon her friends were faine to bury her vnderunder a mote side.
Mother Benet.
THis old woman likewise was persecuted from Whetherset by the aforesaid Mendlesam, because she would not goe vntounto the Masse, and other beggerly ceremonies, and returning home secretly vntounto her house, shee dyed most ioifully: but Sir Iohn Tyrill, and the said Maister Simonds Commissionary, would not let her be buried in the Church-yard, but her graue was made by the high-way side: Her husband would say vntounto her, that if shee had been sparing, they might hauehave been worth a hundred markes more then they were: She would answere, O man be content, I cannot barrell my Butter, and keepe my Cheese in the Chamber, to waite a great price, and let the poore want, and so displease God; but let vsus be rich in good workes, so shall we please God, and hauehave all good things giuen vsus.
William Harris, Richard Day, and Christian George.
THe twenty sixe day of May these were burned at Colchester in Essex, when they were brought vntounto the stake, and had ioyfully and feruently made their prayers, the fire was set vntounto them, in the midst of the fire they triumphantly praised God.
The same Christian Eagles Husband had another Wise named Anne, which likewise suffered for the truth, with the aforesaid thirteene at Strat…ord the Bow: after he married another Wife, and they both were laid in prison for the truth, where they remained vntill the death of Queene Marie, and were deliuered by Queene Elizabeth.