Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 62 – Part 63
Thomas Whittle Priest, Bartelet Greene Gentleman, Iohn Tudson and Thomas Went Artificers, Thomas Browne, Isabell Foster wife, Ioane Warren, alias Lashford, Maid.
THe Papists hauing this last years, murdred the learned and princi…all members of Christs Church,…556. whereof there were now very few, which either were not consumed with fire, or compelled to flie their Countrey, they continued this yeare likewise no lesse cruelty towards the inferior sort of people; whereof these seuen were burned in Smithfield the 27. day of Ianuary at one fire, and they were condemned all in one day vponupon one manner of Articles: the speciall points were for denying the Sacrament of the Altar, and the Masse.
This Thomas Whittle was the Priest that Philpot maketh mention of, where you may sée how he recanted, and then became desperate, and could not be at quiet in conscience, vntill he had gotten to sée the Bill againe which he had subscribed and torne off his name; wherefore Boner buffeted him, and plucked off a peece of his beard, but after he had torne it he was in great peace of conscience, and stood out manfully for the faith, and sealed to the truth with his martyrdome. In an Epistle of his, he calleth the Bishops and Priests the sworne Souldiours of Sathan, the arch-enemies in whom so liuely appeare the very visage and shape of Sathan, that a man may well affirme them to be Diuels incarnate, as I by experience do speak; wherefore who so shall for conscience matterscome into their hands, had neede of the wilinesse of the Serpen…e saue his head, and to take heed how hee, consenteth to their wicked writings: sore did they assault me, and craftily tempt mee to their wicked wayes.
Bartlet Greene was borne in the Parish of Bassinghall in London, being a Student in Oxford at the first he was an vtter enemy to the truth, vntill God of his mercy opened his eyes by comming vntounto the Lectures of Peter Martire, Reader of the Uniuersity Lecture in the said Uniuersity, wherof when he had once tasted, it came vntounto him as the Fountaine of liuing Water, so that he neuer thirsted any more, but had a Well springing vntounto eternall life; and though he were called by his Friends from the Uniuersity vntounto the Temple in London, to study the Common Lawes, yet bee continued in his earnest study and profession of the Gospell. He writing a Letter vntounto one Goodman, who was fledde beyond the Sea for Religion, containing a report of certaine Articles of questions which were cast abroad in London, and an answere to a Letter that Goodman wrote vntounto him, in which he required to hauehave the certainty whether the Quéene were dead, as it was reported beyond-sea. Whereupon Greene answered, that she was not dead. The bearer of this letter, and many other letters from others, was apprehended by the way, and the letters brought to the Councell.
These words, The Queene is not yet dead, seemed heynous to some of the Councell: yea, they would hauehave made treason of them if they could by Law; but when they could not make it treason, they examined him vponupon poynts of Religion; and after they had long detained him in prison, as well in the Lower, as elsewhere, they sent him at last to Bonner, to be dealt withall according to the Ecclesiasticall Lawes: And being presented to Bonner, his Arch-deacon and diuers others sitting at the Table with him, who demanded of him the cause of his imprisoning; which when he had shewed him, he asked him if he had not since written, or spoken against the naturall presence in the Sacrament. Then he desired to be charged according to the order of the Law to heare his accusers. Then Doctor Chadsey was sent for, who reported that before him, M. Mosly, and the Lieuetenant of the Tower, hee spake against the reall presence, and the Sacrifice of the Masse, and affirmed our Church to be the Church of Antichrist, which he confessed, and said he would continue therein, and maintaine it. Then M. Wel…h arose, and desired to talke with mee alone: and hauing taken mee into another Chamber, he said he was sorry for my troubles, and would be glad to see me at liberty: and he maruailed that I, being a yong man, should stand against all the learned men of the Realme, against the determination of the Catholique Church from Christs time. I promise you, quoth he, I hauehave read all Peter Martyrs, and Cranmers, and all the rest of their Bookes, and hauehave conferred them with the contrary, as Roffensis, and the Bishop of Winchester, and the rest, and could not perceiue but that there was one continuall truth, which from the beginning had beene maintained; and those that any time seuered from this vnity, were answered and answered againe. This was the summe of his talke, which lacked neither wit nor eloquence.
I answered, I am yong, and lacke both wit and learning, but God is not bound to time, wit, or knowledge; but rather chuseth the weake things of the world to confound the strong: neither can men appoint bounds to Gods mercy: For he saith, I will hauehave compassion on whom I will: Hee hath no respect of persons, whether old or yong, rich or poore, wise or foolish, Fisher or Basketmaker, God giueth knowledge of his truth through his free grace, to whom he listeth, Iames. 1. And I beleeue Christ hath his vniuersall Church, his Spouse, scattered through many Realmes, where hee list: the Spirit inspireth where it will, he is no more adicted to any one place, then to the person and quality of any one man of this Church. I know I am a member trusting to bee saued by the faith that is taught therein: But how this Church is knowne, is the end of all Controuersies; the true markes of this Church, is the true preaching of his Word, & ministring of his Sacraments: these markes were sealed by the Apostles, and confirmed by the ancient Fathers, vntill the wickednesse of Men and the Diuell, these markes were sore worne, and almost taken away, but God hath …enued the Print, that his Church may bee knowne in many places: I would all that were of contrary opinion, would seeke the knowledge of the truth with prayer and teares, as I hauehave done. Now I am brought before a many of Bishops, and learned men to be made a foole and laughing stocke; but I weigh it not a rush. For God knoweth that my whole study is to please him, and I care not for mans pleasure or displeasure.
Then we fell againe in long talke of the Church, wherin his learning and wit was much more then mine▪ and being diuerse times examined by the Bishop and others, standing stiffe in his opinion, and neither by flattery nor fear, could be wonne from the truth, hee was condemned, and burned, as before.
Hee beeing in Prison in New-gate, hauing perswaded many of the common goale to repentance and faith; hee, the day before he was executed, wrote to diuers Gentlemen of the Innes of Court, of his acquaintance in commendation of the true spirituall louelove of Gods children, how that it is the chiefe fruite of the spirit, where it is the onelyonly line that tieth Christs members to him, and one to another: and that neither prison, nor distance of place, nor time, can breake this louelove, nor death it selfe: For Faith and Hope hauehave finished their course when we are come to heauen; but our louelove to Gods children doth remaine there they in heauen louelove vsus, & pray for vsus; and we louelove them. Now for this louelove sake he chargeth ye said Gentlemen his acquaintance, by all menes to séek the deliuerance of these prisoners that he had conuerted, & to helpe them with necessaries.
Thomas Browne was borne in the Parish of Histon, in the Diocesse of Ely, and after dwelt in the Parish of S. Brides in Fléetstréet, & was brought to Bonner by the Constable, and was condemned, as before.
Iohn Tudson was borne in Ipswich, in the County of Suffolke, and after hee was prentice at London in the Parish of S. Buttolph, and was sent by Story to Bonner, and was condemned as before.
Iohn Went, borne at Langham in Essex, a Shere-man; he was likewise sent by Story to Bonner, and condemned, as before.
Isabell Foster was wife to one Iohn Foster, a Cutler, of the Parish of S. Brides in Fléetstréet, she was sent to Bonner for not comming to Church, and condemned, as aforesaid.
Ioane Lashford, Alias Warne: there is mention before of Elizabeth Warne, with Iohn Warne her husband, were apprehended at a Communion in Bow-Church-yard, and both were burned for the same: and now the daughter followed the Parents in the same Martyrdome. Doctor Story procured their death, and after their deaths he was charged with forty pounds that he owed them: she confessed and protested there was no reall presence of Christs body and blood in … Sacrament of the▪ Altar, and that auricular confession and absolution, after the popish sort, was not necessary, nor the Masse good, or according to the scriptures, and saith, that these & all other supertiuous Sacraments, ceremonies, and diuine seruice now vsed in this realme of England, was most vile, & contrary to Christs words and institutions, so that they neither were at the beginning, nor shall be at the latter end. The Bishop exhorting her to returne to the holy mother Church, she said boldly to him againe: If you will leaue your abhomination, so I will returne, and otherwise I will not. These seuen were all burned together in one fire as aforesaid.
Iohn Lomas, Anne Albright, Ioane Catmer, Agnes Snoth, Ioane Sole.
IOhn Lomas of the parish of Tenderden in Kent, 1556.was cited to appeare at Canterbury, being examined vponupon diuers Articles, he answered still that he beléeued as it was contained in Gods Booke; and being examined whether hee beléeued the body of Christ to be in the Sacrament of the Altar really vnderunder y• formes of bread and wine after consecration: hee answered that hee beléeued no realty of Christs body in the Sacrament, neither vnderunder foorme nor trestle: wherefore he was condemned the 18 day of Ianuary.
Agnes Snoth, Maid, of the parish of Smarden in Kent, was likewise examined before the Pharisaical Iudges; and for denying auricular confession, and for saying none could receiue y• Sacrament of the Altar, as now it is vsed, without danger of damnation; and for denying penance to be a Sacrament, & for saying the popish absolution was not cōsonant to Gods word, she was likewise condemned,
Anne Albright, alias Champnes, being examined, denied to bee confessed of a Priest, saying, you Priests are the children of perdition, and can doe no good by your confession; and told the Iudge and his assistants, that they were subuerters of Christs truth; and she said, the Sacrament of the Altar was a naughty and a…ominable Idoll, wherefore she was likewise condemned.
Ioane Sole of Horton in Kent, was condemned of the same Pharises & Priests for not allowing Auricular confession, and for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament.
Ioane Cormer of the parish of Hithe in Kent, the fifth and last of these heauenly Martyrs, shee denyed Auricular confession; she said, the Sacrament of the altar was now made a very Idoll, shee was likewise coudemned: these fiue were bu… ned at two stakes in one fire together at Canterbury the 31. of Ianuary.