The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Laurence Saunders
The Life of Laurence Saunders, who dyed Ano Christi 1555.
LAurence Saunders was borne of worshipfull parents,His birth and Education. brought up in learning at Eaton School, and from thence chosen to King's College in Cambridg, where he continued three years, and profited in learning very much; Then by hi… mother▪ (who was very rich) he was bound to a Marchant in London, called Sir William Chester.
But Almighty God who hath his secret workings in all things,He is bound an Apprentice. provided better imployment for his servant: for he no way liked that cours of life: so that when his other fellows were busily imployed about their worldly affaires, he would secretly withdraw himself into some privat corner, and there fall into his solitary lamentations. And it fell out that his Master (being a good man) one day heard him in his secret prayers bewayling his condition, whereupon questioning with him, he found that he did not fansie that kind of life; but that his mind was wholly bent to his book, and spirituall contemplations: upon this occasion his Master acquainting his friends with it, gave him back his Indentures, and released him from his service:He is released. And Laurence Saunders being ravished with the love of learning, especially with reading Gods Word,His return to Cambridg. shortly after returned to Cambridg, where also he studied Greek and Hebrew, but especially the holy Scriptures, to fit himself for the work of the Ministry:Frequent in prayer. He was frequent, and very fervent in prayer, and when assaulted by temptations, he still found much support, and comfort in prayer, whereby he gained such experience, that he became a great comforter of others with the same consolations which himself had found from God.He commenceth Master of Arts. He Commenced Master of Arts and stayed long after in the Universitie.
In the beginning of King Edward's Reign he began to preach (being first Ordained a Minister) and that with such generall approbation,He is Ordained Minister. that he was chosen to read a Divinity Lecture at Fotheringaie, where by his Doctrine and life he edified many,The success of his Ministry. and drew many ignorant persons to God, and stopped the mouths of the adversaries. About this time hee married a wife:He ma…ieth a wife. and from thence was removed to the Minster of Liechfield, where also he, by his life and Doctrine, gat a good report even from his adversaries for his learning and godlines.His remove to Li…hfield. From thence he was removed to Church Langton in Leicestershire, where he taught diligently, and kept a bountifull house,Then into Lecestershire. and from thence to Alhollows in Breadstreet-London; Then to London.and after his admission there, he went back into the Countrey to resigne his Benefice, which fell out when Queen Mary raised stirs to get the Crown, by reason whereof hee could not accomplish his purpose.Queen Ma…ies coming in. In his journey he preach'd at Northampton, not medling with the state, but boldly delivering his conscience against Popish Doctrine,His zeal▪ and errors; which (said he) are like to spring up again, as a just plague for the litle love which England hath born to the true Word of God, so plentifully offered to them. Some of the Queens men which were there,He is taken prisoner. and heard him, were highly displeased with him for his Sermon, and for it kept him prisoner amongst them for a time: but partly out of respect to his brethren and friends which were chief sticklers for the Queen; and partly because there was no Law broken by his preaching, they at length dismissed him.
And he seeing the dreadfull day approaching,His faithfulnes. inflamed with godly zeall, preached faithfully at both his Benefices, not having opportunitie to resign either, but into the hands of Papists: And, notwithstanding the Proclamation to the contrary,Preacher's pattern. he taught diligently the Truth, at his Countrie place where he then was, confirming the people, and arming them against fals-doctrine, till he was not onelyonly commanded to cease, but by force was resisted. Some counselled him to flie out of the Kingdom, which he refused; and being hindred there from preaching, he travelled toward London, to visit his flock in that place. But coming near London, Master Mordant, one of the Queen's Councill, overtook him, asking him whither he went? I have (said Mr Saunders) a Pastorall charge in London, A faithful Pastor.whither I am going to instruct my people according to the truth. If you wil follow my counsel (quoth Mordant) let them alone, and come not at them: But said Mr Saunders, how then shall I be discharged before God? If any be sick, and desire consolation: or if any want good counsell, and want instruction, or if any should slip into error, and receive false Doctrine. Then did Mordant ask him if he did not preach such a time in Breadstreet? Hee said, Yea: And will you, said Mordant, His courage & constancy.preach so againe? Yes, said he, to morrow you may heare me there, where I will confirme by God's Word, all that I then preached. I would counsell you (said the other) to forbeare. Saunders said, if you will forbid me by lawfull Authority, I must then forbear: Nay, said Mordant, Popish malice.I will not forbid you, and so they parted. Mordant went presently to Bishop Bonner, and informed him of Master Saunders his purpose to preach the next day: which accordingly he did: and at his lodging being somewhat troubled in his thoughts, a friend of his asked him how he did? Truly said he, I am in prison, till I be in prison.
The Text which he preached upon in the forenoon was 2 Cor. 11. 2. I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ: But I feare least by any meanes as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. In the afternoon he prepared himself to preach againe, but Bonner sent an Officer for him, who carried him to the Bishop, where he found Mordant. The Bishop charged him with Treason for breaking the Queen's Proclamation; and with Heresy and Sedition, for his Sermon; An Heretick he would prove him to be; because he taught that the administration of the Sacraments, and all orders of the Church were most pure, which came neerest to the order of the primitive Church: for (said Bonner) the Church was then in her infancy, and could not abide that perfection,Bonner ign… …ance. which afterwards it grew to by Ceremonies. M. Saunders answered out of St. Augustine, that Ceremonies were given to the infirme, and weak▪ and that therefore it was a signe of the great perfection of the Primitive Church that it had few Ceremonies, whereas the Popish Church had many, and those partly blasphemous, partly unsavory, and unprofitable. After much other discourse the Bishop required him to write his judgment about Transubstantiation,His courage. which he did, saying, You seek my blood, and you shall have it: I pray God you may be so baptized in it, that you may hereafter loath blood-sucking, and become a better man. Then Bonner sent him to Gardiner, where he waited foure houres, in the Bishops absence, in a roome, where the Bishops Chaplaine, and many of his servants were merrily playing at Tables: At last came the Bishop from the Court, and after he had dispatched many Sutors,His conference with Gardiner being informed of Master Saunders, and his cause, he sent for him in: Master Saunders kneeling at the end of the Table: Gardiner said to him▪ How happened it that notwithstanding the Queens Proclamation you dared to preach?
Saunders. Seing the perilous time now at hand, I did but according to my duty exhort my flock to persevere and stand stedfast in the Doctrine that they had learned; I also remembred those words of the Apostle; That its better to obey God then man; and what I did, I was moved thereto by my conscience.
Gardiner. A goodly conscience surely. This your conscience could make our Queen a Bastard: would it not?
Saunders. We declare no such matter: But for that let them care whose writings are yet abroad to testify the same, not without the great shame, and reproach of the author. This he said, because Gardiner to curry favor with King Henry the eighth, had published a book, wherin he had openly declared Queene Mary to be a Bastard, And so going forward, he said; We onelyonly professe, and teach the sincerity, and purity of Gods Word; which albeit it be now forbidden us to publish with our mouths, yet I doubt not but it shall be sealed with our blood. The Bishop being vexed at this free speech said. Carry away this frensie foole to prison; Holy charity.To whom he said, I thanke God that at last he hath given me a place of rest, where I may pray for your conversion. Hee continued in prison one year, and three months.Comfort in affliction. In a letter to his wife he thus writes; I am merry, and I trust I shall be merry, maugre the teeth of all the Divels in hells Riches I have none to endow you with, but that treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry consciences (whereof I thanke my Christ, The best Legacy.I doe feel part) that I bequeath unto you, and to the rest of my beloved in Christ, His zeal.&c. He was so zealous in the defence of the truth that he forbad his wife to sue for his delivery, and when other of his friends had by suit almost obtained it, he so discouraged them that they ceased from following their suit. Being at last brought againe to examination, and life being promised if he would recant; he answered. I love my life and liberty, if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my own conscience: A good conscience better then life.but by God's grace I will abide the most extretremity that man can do against mee, rather then do any thing against my conscience: and when Gardiner threatned him with death, he said Welcome be it, whatsoever the will of the Lord be, A brave speecheither life or death: and I tell you truly, I have learned to dye: But I exhort you to beware of shedding innocent blood: Truly it will cry aloud against you. Being excommunicated, degraded and condemned, he was sent to Coventry to be burned. When he came near the place of execution,His Martyrd…e. he went cheerfully to the stake, kissing it, and saying, Welcome the Cross of Christ, Popish crueltyWelcome everlasting life. The fire by his cruell enemies was made of green wood, and other smothering matter,His admirable patience. which would not burne, whereby he was put to grievous torments; but the grace, and plentifull consolation of Christ, which never forsakes his servants, gave him admirable strength and patience, so that in all, he stood quietly, and at last sweetly slept in the Lord. During his imprisonment he wrote many excellent Letters, and after his condemnation in a Letter to his wife, and friends, he thus writes.His Letter to his Wife. Oh what worthy thanks can be given to our gracious God for his unmeasurable mercies plentifully, … upon us: And I, most unworthy wretch, cannot but bewail my great ingratitude towards so gracious a God, and loving Father? I beseech you all, as for my other many sins, so especially for my sin of unthankfulness, crave pardon for me is your earnest prayers. To number Gods mercies in particular, were to number the drops of water in the Sea, the sands on the sh…re, or the stars in Heaven. O my dear Wife and Friends, rejoyce with me, I say rejoyce with thanksgiving, for this my present promotion, in that I am made worthy to magnifie my God, not onelyonly in my life by my slow mouth, and uncircumcised lips, bearing witness to his truth, but also by my blood to seal the same to the glory of my God, and confirming of his true Church: I profess to you that as yet the comfort of my sweet Christ doth drive from me the fear of death. But if my dear Husband Christ doe for my tryall leave me a little to my selfe, Alas I know in what case I shall then be: but if he doe, yet I know that he will not be long, nor far absent from me, though he stand behind the wall, yet he will peep in at a cr…vise. He is a tender-hearted Joseph, though he speak roughly to his brethren, and threaten bondage to his best beloved Benjamin▪ yet can be not containe himself from weeping upon us, and with us, with falling on our necks, and sweetly kissing us. Such, such a brother is our Christ unto all his, wherefore hasten to goe unto him, as Jacob did with his sons and family, leaving their Countrey and Acquaintance. Yea this our Joseph hath obtained for us, that Pharaoh the Infidel, shall provide us Chariots whereby with ease we may be carried to him. Our very adversaries do help us to our everlasting blisse, by their speedy dispatch, blessed be our God. Fear not bugbears which lye in the way; fear rather the everlasting fire, &c. My dear Wife, and fellow Heirs of the everlasting Kingdom, always remember the Lord; Rejoyce in hope, be patient in tribulation, continue instant in prayer, and pray for us appointed for the slaughter, that we may be unto our heavenly Father a fat offering, and an acceptable sacrifice, &c. Farowel all in Christ, in hope to be joyned with you in everlasting joy; Amen, Amen, Amen. Pray, Pray.
Doctor Pendleton, Doctor Pendleton a turncoat.and this Mr▪ Saunders meeting together in the beginning of Queen Maries reign, and speaking of the Persecution that was like to ensue, about which Master Saunders shewed much weaknes,Proud presumption, and many fears; Pendleton said to him, What man? there is much more cause for me to fear, than for you, forasmuch as I have a bigge and fat body, yet will I see the utmost drop of this grease of mine molten away, and the last gobbet of this flesh of mins consumed to ashes, before I will forsake Iesus Christ, and his Truth which I have professed: Yet not long after, upon trial, poor, feeble, saint-hearted Saunders, by the power and goodness of God, sealed the Truth with his blood:… whereas proud Pendleton played the Apostate, and turned Papist.