A Looking Glass for Persecutors, Part 5
Examples of Gods Judgments upon Popish Persecutors in England, and Scotland.
99. Sir Thomas Moor, and Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, who were great Persecutors of the Protestants in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, were themselves not long after condemned for Treason, and beheaded.
100. Philips, who betrayed Mr. Tindal to the Emperors Secretary, fell into a grievous Disease, and was caten up of Lice.
101. Pavier, The Town-clerk of London, a cruel Enemy to the true Professors of the Gospel, swore a great Oath, that if he thought the King would set forth the Scriptures in English, rather than he would live to see it, he would cut his own Throat. But he brake Promise (saith the Author) for instead thereof he hanged himself.
Foxford, Chancellour to Stokesley, Bishop of London, a bloody Persecutor, and the common Butcher of Gods Saints, dyed suddenly, sitting in his Chair, his Belly breaking, and his Guts falling out before him.
102. Rockwood, who was a great stirrer up of the Persecution against Gods people in Calis, suddenly fell sick, staring, raging, and crying out, All to late: For I have maliciously sought the Death of many godly Persons, and that against mine own Conscience: and therefore all to late; All to late: and thus he continued unto his end.
103. The under Marshal also, who at the same time was a Persecutor, fell down dead in the Council Chamber, and never spake word after.
104. Adam Damlip, a godly Preacher in Calis, was falsly accused of Treason, for which he was condemned, and executed; and when he would have purged himself, Sir Ralph Ellerker would not suffer him to speak, but commanded him to be carried away to execution, saying, That he would not depart till he saw the Traitors heart out: But shortly after, in a skirmish against the French, this Ellerker was slain, and after they had stripped him naked, they cut off his Privy Members, and pulled out his Heart, which they did not to any other of the slain.
105. Dr. Story, a Bloody Persecutor in Queen Marys Days, when Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown, could not forbear to curse her dayly in his Grace at Board; for which trayterous practice he was deservedly hanged.
106. John Twiford, a furious Papist, that used to set up Stakes for them that were burnt in Smithfield, dyed, rotting above ground, so that none could endure to come near unto him by reason of his horrible stink.
107. William Gardiner, an English Merchant, being present in Lisbon at the marriage of the King of Portugal's Son with the King of Spain's Daughter, and seeing the abominable Idolatry then used in the presence of the King; and of all the States there assembled, he stepped to the Cardinal, who was celebrating of Mass, and plucked the Cake out of his hand, and trampled it under his Feet, and overthrew the Chalice: For which, by most exquisite torments in a horrible manner they put him to death by degrees, and then burned him, a Spark of whose Fire, was driven by the wind a great way into one of the Kings Ships lying in the Haven, and quite consumed it: and within half a year after the new married Prince dyed; and the year after the King himself dyed also.
108. Cardinal Woolsey, after much opposition against the Light of the Gospel which brake forth in his time, and much cruelty used against the Professors of it, fell into disgrace with King Henry the Eighth, who sent for him up out of Yorkshire, and in his journey (suspecting the issue) he took such a strong Purge, as his rotten Body not being able to bear, he dyed at the Abby of Lecester. His dead Body was as black as Pitch, and so heavy that six men could scarcely bear it, and it stank so intollerably that they were fain to hasten the Burial of it in the Night, at which time there was such an hiddeous Tempest, as blew out all the Torches, and the Storm was accomponied with such a stink, that they were glad to throw him into his Grave, and so to leave him.
109. Judge Morgan who passed Sentence of Condemnation upon the incomparable Lady Jane Dudley, shortly after ran mad, and in his raving fits, cryed out continually to have the Lady Jane taken away from him, and so he continued till he dyed.
110. Morgan, Bishop of S. Davids in Wales, who condemned the Blessed Martyr Mr. Ferrar, and unjustly usurped his Bishoprick, not long after was stricken by God in a most strange manner. For his food would not go down, but pick up again, sometimes at his Mouth, sometimes blown out at his Nose, most horrible to behold: and thus he continued a Spectacle of Gods displeasure, till he dyed.
111. Mr. Leyson also who was Sheriff at the burning of Mr. Ferrar, having fetched away his Cattle, and put them into his own Grounds, diverse of them would never eat any meat, but continued bellowing and roaring till they dyed.
112. Dr. Duning, Chancellour of Norwich, who was a Bloody Persecutor in the Reign of Queen Mary, was stricken suddenly as he sate in his Chair, and dyed.
113. Berry, Commissary of Norfolk, another Bloody Persecutor, as he was walking with one of his Concubines, fell down suddenly with a heavy groan, and never stirr'd after.
114. A persecuting Suffragan of Dover, having been with Cardinal Pool for his Blessing, coming out of the Cardinal's Chamber, fell down the stairs, and brake his Neck.
115. Bishop Thornton, another cruel Persecutor, as he was looking upon his men at Bowls upon a Sahbath-Day, fell suddenly into a Palsie, and being carried to his Bed, and willed to remember the Lord: yea, (said he) So I do: and my Lord Cardinal too: and so he dyed.
116. Dr. Jeffery, Chancellour of Salisbury; a wretched Persecutor, who had appointed to call before him ninety godly Persons, and to examine them by Inquisition, the Day before, as he was looking upon his Buildings, fell down suddenly and dyed.
117. Thomas Blaver, a Privy Counsellor to the King of Scots, was a great Persecutor of the Faithful in that Land: But being by God struck with sickness, he fell into Despair, crying out That he was damned, and a Cast-away: That he was damned without remedy. In which miserable condition he dyed without any sign of true repentance.
118. Henry, Arch-Bishop of Mentz, a godly, and religious man, was accused as being guilty of Heresie to the Pope, who sent two of his Cardinals to examine the matter: and they most unjustly deposed him, and cast him out of his place, whereupon he said unto them: If I should from your unjust Sentence appeal unto the Pope, 'tis like I should find no redress from him; wherefore I appeal to the Lord Jesus Christ, that just and righteous Judge of all the world, and cite you to answer me before his Judgment Seat, for this unjust act of yours. To which they scoffingly answered, Go you first, we will follow after. Not long after this, the good Arch-Bishop dyed, which, when the Cardinals heard of, they said jestingly one to another: Behold, he is now gone before, and we must follow after according to our Promise. And indeed shortly after they both dyed upon one day. The one, sitting upon a Jakes voided out his Entrails: The other, gnawing his own Fingers, and having made himself deformed with devouring himself; he dyed miserably.
119. About the year 1507. there was at Chipping Sadbury a godly woman convented before the Chancellour [Dr. Whittington] by whom she was condemned to be burnt. And against the day of her Execution, multitudes of people flocked to the Town, and among the rest, Dr. Whittington came to see her burnt. At the same time there was a Butcher in another part of the Town that was killing a Bull: But the Butcher, somewhat missing his blow, the Bull broke loose just as the people were coming from seeing the Execution of the Martyr: The people, seeing the Bull coming, divided themselves, and made a lane for him to pass through, the Bull went through, without hurting, man, woman, or child, till he came to the place where the Chancellour was, against whom he ran very furiously, and with his Horns, hitting him on the Belly, ran through it, and tearing out his Guts with his Horns, trailed them about the Streets, to the great astonishment of all that beheld it.
120. At the burning of Alexander Goug, and Alice Driver, Martyrs, there was one Bate, a Barber, that was a very busie man about burning them: but presently after Gods severe Judgment fell upon him, so that within three or four weeks after, he dyed in much misery.
121. In the Reign of Queen Mary, one of the Sheriffs of London, called Mr. Woodrose, used Mr. Bradford very churlishly at the time of his Execution, as he had dealt with Mr. Rogers before. He used also to laugh, and make himself sport at the sufferings of these innocent persons, and used to beat away the people who were desirous to shake them by the hand before their Death: but the Lord (who usually punisheth such bloody Persecutors) shortly after struck him with lameness upon one side, that he could never after turn him in his Bed. He had also a Dog-like Appetite, that could never be satisfied with Food: and in this misery he continued by the space of eight years, even till he dyed.
122. Adam Foster of Mendlesham in Suffolk, was apprehended by one Thomas Mouse, and George Rivet for not coming to Mass, and by them was carried before Sir John Tyrel, who sent him to the Bishop of Norwich. But it pleased God that Mouse, was immediately after stricken with a grievous disease, whereof he shortly after dyed: And Rivet (not warned thereby, but) persevering in his persecuting ways, had a great swelling that rose in his Legs, which grievously vexed, and tormented him; and at last, falling into a fearful Disease, he dyed miserably, and in so impatient a manner, as terrified all that heard thereof.
123. George Eagles, Martyr, who was hanged at Chelmesford in Fssex, was cut down before he was dead, and sadly mangled by one William Swallow, Bayliff of Chelmesford: His Body being opened, they pulled out his heart, and quartered him, and set up his Quarters in several places. But shortly after, Gods terrible Judgments fell upon this Swallow, so that his Hair fell from his Head, his Eyes were so closed that he could scarce see, the Nails fell off from his Fingers and Toes, and a Leprosie over-spread his whole Body, and his Estate so melted away that he fell into Beggary, and dyed in much misery.
124, William Seaman, Thomas Carman, and Thomas Hudson were apprehended in Norfolk: Their Persecutor was Sir John Tyrel, who commanded his Servants to search for Seaman: One of their names was Robert Baldwin, a Neighbour to Seaman, and one in whom he put much confidence. Yet this treacherous person (to gratifie his Mr.) searched Seamans house in the Night, and finding him at home, carried him Prisoner to his Master. As they went in the way a strange Light fell from Heaven betwixt them: After which, this Baldwin, though then in the Flower of his Age, never enjoyed good day, but pined away till he dyed.
125. Mr. William Brown, Minister of Little-Stanham in Suffolk, for preaching boldly, and faithfully against the Mass, was persecuted by on Robert Bloomsield, Constable there. But the terrible hand of God fell upon him, both by Sickness, and Consumption of his Estate, so that, being rich before, he became poor. His Wife also, and his Son dyed of pining Sickness. And though he thought to repair his Estate, by marrying a rich Widdow, yet God still blowed upon it. His Body also was full of Botches and Sores, and being thus afflicted in Body, and impoverished in his Estate, he dyed in misery.
126. There was in Lancashire, one Justice Leland, who was a great Persecutor of the godly in those parts: He one day as he was sitting in his Chair, and discoursing with his friends, fell down suddenly and dyed, never so much as once stirring after.
127. Ralph Lardin, the Betrayer of George Eagles aforementioned, was himself arraigned, condemned, and hanged. As he stood at the Bar, he said publickly, This is justly faln upon me for betraying the Blood of that just and holy man, George Eagles, who, through my means was condemned, and I sold his life for a little money.
128. Mr. Swingfield, a Deputy in Thames-Street, hearing that Mrs. Angel, a Midwife, and a gracious woman, was at a Gentlewomans Labour in Crooked-Lane, taking three others with him, he beset the House, and apprehended her, and carried her unto some of Bishop Bonner's Officers, who put her into Lollards Tower. This Mrs. Angel was great with child, and by reason of the fright, and a fall which she caught at her apprehension, she fell into Labour the next day, and was delivered in Prison, having no woman with her, to help her in her extremity. But within ten weeks after, Deputy Swingfield, and all the other three that came with him to assist him, all of them dyed.
129. There was one Burton, the Bayliff of Crowland in Lincolnshire, who in King Edward the Sixth's time, was a seemingly zealous Protestant: But when Queen Mary came to the Crown, he soon turned Papist, and endeavoured to stir up his Neighbours to introduce the Mass. They, not being forward in it, the Sabbath following this Burton went to the Church, and when the Curate was beginning to read the English Service, Burton went to him, saying, Sirrah, will you not say Mass? Buckle your self to it, you Knave, or by Gods Blood, I will sheath my Dagger in your Shoulders. The poor Curate, being affrighted herewith, betook himself to read Mass: But shortly after, as this Burton, with one of his Neighbours, rode together upon the Fenbank, a Crow, (with her usual Note) flew over his head, and voiding her Excrements, it fell on his Nose, and ran down upon his Beard, and stank so horribly as set him a vomiting in a most violent manner: whereupon, hasting home, he betook himself to his Bed, but could eat nothing: And the Stink, and vomiting still continuing, with fearful Oaths and Execrations, he cursed the Crow for thus poisoning of him; and so continued in extreme torments till he dyed.
130. There was one James Abbes burnt at Bury for Religion: As he went to the Stake, some poor people met him, begging his Alms, and because he had no money to give them, he plucked of his Apparel, to his very shirt, and distributed it among them, exhorting them to be strong in the Lord: and (as faithful followers of Jesus Chlist) to stand stedfast in the truth of the Gospel, which, (said he) with Gods assistance, I will now, in your sight, seal with my Blood. Whilest he was thus exhorting them, there came one of the Sheriffs men, who, hearing what he said, cryed out to the people most blasphemously, saying, Good People, believe him not, for 'tis Heresie that he speaketh. And as Abbes continued his godly Exhortations, so this wicked wretch belched out his blasphemous Exclamations, till they came to the Stake. As soon as the Fire was kindled. Gods fearful vengeance fell upon this wicked wretch; who, immediately, in all the peoples sight, fell distracted, wherewith (a little before) he had charged this Blessed Servant of Jesus Christ: And in a furious manner, pulling off his cloaths, he said, Thus did James Abbes, the true Servant of God, who is saved, but I am damn'd. And so he ran about the Town, still crying out, James Abbes was a good man, and is saved, but I am damn'd, Hereupon his Master caused him to be bound, clothed, and kept in a dark room, but as soon as the company was departed he tore off his cloths, still raging, and crying out, James Abbes was the true Servant of God, and is saved, but I am damned: And thus he continued till he dyed.
131. One Dale, a Promoter and Persecutor in Queen Marys days, was eaten up by Lice, and dyed miserably.
Alexander, the Keeper of Newgate, a merciless Enemy to those that lay there for Religion, and who used to go to Bishop Bonner, and his Officers, crying out, Rid my Prison: Rid my Prison: I am too much pestered with these Hereticks: By Gods just Judgment he fell into a grievous Disease: His Body was so much swoln that he was more like a Monster than a man, and his Entrails so rotted that none could endure the stink of him. And his Son James, to whom he left a great Estate, soon consumed it, saying in a jeering manner, ill gotten, ill spent. At last, as he went through Newgate-Market, he fell down suddenly and dyed.
132. Also John Peter, Alexander's Son in Law, was an horrible Blasphemer, and used upon every occasion to say, If it be not so, I pray God, I may rot before I dye. He was also very cruel to the poor Servants of God in Prison. And God paid him home in his own coin: For according to his Imprecation, his Body rottted away by piece-meal till he dyed.
133. One Lever of Brightwel in Barkshire,, jeeringly said, That he saw that illfavoured Knave. Latimer, when he was burned at Oxford: and that he had Teeth like an Horse: But the Lord suffered not this profane scoff to go unpunished. For about that very same Hour wherein Lever spake those words, his Son hanged himself.
134. All ages have cause to admire, and adore the Exemplary Judgments of God poured out upon Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, in Queen Marys days; who upon the day wherein Reverend Latimer, and Learned Ridley were to be burnt at Oxford, (though some great Peers came to dine with him that day, yet) would not sit down to dinner, till one of his Servants about four a Clock in the Afternoon, coming Post from Oxford, brought word that Execution was done upon them. Then did he hast to Dinner, and was very merry, but ere he had eaten many bits, a sudden stroke of Gods hand fell upon him, so that he was carried immediately to his Bed, in which he continued for fifteen days in intollerable anguish and torments, rotting above ground, during all which time he could void nothing that he received, neither by Stool, nor Urine, his Tongue also hung out of his mouth swoln, and black, and so he languished and pined away in great anguish and misery.
135. King James the Fifth of Scotland, by the instigation of the Popish Clergy, was a great Persecutor of the Truth that then brake forth in that Kingdom: and for that end he gave Commission to Sir James Hamilton, natural Brother to the Earl of Arran, who was his Treasurer, to call, and convent all that were suspected of Heresie, and to inflict upon them the punishment, which, after tryal, they should be found to deserve: In Execution of which Commissiion he was most fierce and cruel, not sparing some that were of his near Kindred. But when he was in his greatest heighth, and made it his work to suppress the Gospel, one of his own Friends, whom he pursued upon the account of Religion, accused him of Treason, and notwithstanding the mediation of the Popish Clergy for him, as their greatest Patron, he was arraigned, condemned, executed, and quartered in the streets of Edenburg.
This King James also was heard to say, that none of that way should expect any favour at his hands, nay, nor his own Sons if they should be found guilty. But shortly after, War breaking forth with England, he found his Nobility averse to those Incursions which he intended to make into England, which much vexed him. These thoughts, and some fearful Visions which he had by Night, terrified him exceedingly. For at Linlithgow, on a night as he slept, it seemed to him that Thomas Scot, Justice Clerk, came unto him, with a company of Devils, crying, Wo worth the day that ever I knew thee, or thy Service: For serving thee against God and his Servants, I am now adjudged to Hell torments. Hereupon awaking, he called for Lights, and told his Servants what he had heard and seen. The next morrow, by the light of day, news was brought him of the death of the said Justice Clerk, which fell out just at the same time when the King had this Vision, and almost in the same manner: For he dyed in great horror, often reiterating those words, By the righteous Judgment of God, I am condemned. And this manner of his death, answering so exactly to the Kings Dream made it the more terrible.
The King also had another Dream in the same place a few nights after, which did more affright him. Whilest he lay sleeping, he thought that Sir James Hamilton aforesaid, came unto him with a naked Sword in his Hand, and therewith cut off both his Arms; threatening to return within a short time, and to deprive him of his life. With this he awaked, and as he lay musing what this Dream should import, news was brought him of the death of his two Sons, James, and Arthur, the one dying at S. Andrews, the other at Strivling, at one and the very same hour. The next year, which was 1542. being overwhelmed with grief, he dyed at Falkland in the two and thirtieth year of his Age. A little before he dyed, word was brought him that his Queen was delivered of a Daughter; whereupon he brake forth into a Passion, saying: It came with a Lass, (meaning the Crown) and will go with a Lass. Fie upon it.
136. One Friar Campbell in Scotland did bitterly rail upon that man of God, Mr. Patrick Hamilton whilest he was burning at S. Andrews: to whom Mr. Hamilton said with much earnestness: Thou wicked man, thou knowest the contrary, and hast sometime made a Profession of the truth: I appeal thee to answer it before the Judgment Seat of Christ: A few days after Campbel fell sick, and in great horror of Conscience dyed distracted.
137. Anno 1568. There was in Breda one Peter Coulogue, a godly man, who, by his Popish Adversaries was cast into Prison, and his Maid-servant daily carried him his Food, confirming and comforting him out of the word of God as well as she was able; for which they imprisoned her also. Not long after Peter was put to the torment of the Rack, which he endured patiently. After him the Maid was fetch'd to be racked, whereupon, she said; My Masters, wherefrre will ye put me to this torture, seeing I have no way offended you? If it be for my Faith-sake, ye need not torment me: For, as I was never ashamed to make a Confession thereof, no more will I now be at this present before you; but will if you please freely shew you my mind therein. Yet for all this they would have her to the Rack: whereupon she again said, If I must needs suffer this pain, pray you give me leave to call upon my God first. This they assented to; and whilest she was fervently pouring out her Soul unto God by Prayer, one of the Commissioners was surprised with such fear and terror that he fell into a swoon, out of which he could never be recovered, by which means the poor Maid escaped racking.
138. In the Reign of King Henry the Second of France, there was a godly Tailor condemned to be burnt for Religion, and some about the King would needs perswade him to be present, and to see the Execution himself: And God gave the Tailor such strength and conrage in the fire as astonished the King to behold it: And the poor Tailor, having espied the King in a window where he sate, fixed his Eyes so stedfastly upon him, as they were never off, and the King was thereby constrained to leave the window, and to retire into his Chamber, and was so affected therewith, that he confessed the shadow of the Taylor followed him whither soever he went, and for many Nights after he was so terrified with the Apparitions of the Taylor, that he protested with an Oath, that he would never hear, nor see any more of those Lutherans burned.
139. In the late Rebellion, and Persecution of Ireland, John Nicholson, and Anne his wife were received into the Protection of one Fitz-Patrick, who would have perswaded them to change their Religion and to go to Mass: But they professed that before they would do that, they would dye upon the Swords point. Then he laboured to prevail with the woman to burn her Bible, but she said, that before she would do it, she would dye the death: whereupon the Sabbath morning following, they were both of them cruelly murthered: But he that acted that villany, was so tormented in Conscience: and dogged with their Apparitions, that he pined away and dyed.
140. In the late Irish Massacre, wherein the bloody Papists spared none of what Age, Sex, or quality soever; O! how visibly did the Judgments of God follow them? And for that savage Blood-shed, gave them Blood to drink in great measure: For Mac-Guir Mac-Mahun, and Sir Philem Oneal, being taken Prisoners, were publickly executed. Most of the rest were consumed by the Sword, either in their own Countrey, or in Foreign parts, and their spirits were generally so debased, and their courage emasculated, that a few English, or Scottish Soldiers would chase multitudes of them; and Gods Judgments did so eminently follow them, that within a few years most of that cruel Generation were rooted out.