An Alphabetical Martyrology, Part H 1
H H
JOHN Husse, a Bohemian, was burned 1415. about Iuly, by the Council of Constance; where he often desired to be heard, to clear himself of the errours they impeached him of, and could not. Then he requesting their proving by Scripture any errour he held, they would not; but, because he held Wicklif's Doctrine they degraded him, and left him to the Secular Power, to Sigismund King of the Romans; by whom he was condemned, and burned, and all this cruelty against a safe Conduct, sealed by the Emperour, and promised by the Council. When he was to be burned he prayed often, and especially for his Enemies; and after the kindling of the Fire he sang aloud, Iesus Christ, the Son of the living God, have mercy upon me. Vol. 1. p. 821, 822.
Richard Hunn burned in Smithfield, December 20. 1514. sixteen days after he was privately Murdered by the Papists. Vol. 2. p. 19.
Mr. Hierom was condemned in King Henry the 8th's time, 1541. by Bishop Gardner, Bishop of Winchester; and at the Stake he confessed his Faith, and exhorted all Persons to Duties to God and Man, considering what Price Christ paid for us; and exciting them to bear their Cross with Christ, considering his Example of Patience under sufferings; and at last prayed them to pray for him, that he, Barns, and Garret, who were all three together burnt, might have their Souls, leaving these wretched Bodies, constantly depart in the true Faith of Christ; and so, committing his Soul to Christ, he dyed. These three, which at this Fire were burnt together, took each other by the hand; and kissing each other, quietly, and peaceably, offered themselves to the tormentors hands; and took their deaths Christianly, and patiently. Vol. 2. p. 528, 529.
Mr. Iohn Hooper, Student in Oxford, flying, in King Henry the 8th's time, beyond Sea, because of Persecution for the six Articles; was at Zurick acquainted with Mr. Bullinger, and Married a Burgonian Woman: But, in King Edward the 6th's days, he returned, and did promise his Friends they should hear from him: Though, saith he, the last News of me I shall not be able to write; for there, saith he, where I shall take most pains, there shall you hear of me to be burnt to Ashes: Which Prophesie came to effect: He preached at London often twice a day, but alwayes once a day: He was, in his Sermons, earnest; in his Tongue, eloquent; in Scriptures, perfect; in pains, indefatigable; he was spare of dyet, sparest of words, and sparest of time. He was, by King Edward the 6th, made Bishop of Glocester and Worcester; in both which Diocesses he preached at, and visited them: and, at Worcester, his manner was every day to have a certain number of poor Beggars of the Town Dine in his Pallace with whole and wholsome Meat, four at a Mess; whom he examined, or caused to be examined, in the Lords Prayer, Creed, and Ten Commandments, before himself sate down to Dinner. He was with one Iohn Rogers the two first that were condemned in Queen Mary's days: To which Rogers Bishop Hooper said, Brother Rogers, Must we two begin first to fry these Faggots? fear not but God will give us strength. He suffered amongst his People, at Glocester; where Sir Anthony Kingston, his old Friend, did desire him to accept of life, and not dye; saying, life is sweet, and death bitter: To whom Bishop Hooper answered, True, but eternal death is more bitter, and eternal life most sweet; in respect of which, I value not this life. Vol. 3. p. 145, 146, 147. He was after that perswaded much, but he said, Death to me for Christ's sake is welcome. At the fire a Box was set on a Stool before him with the Queens Pardon (as it was said) if he would turn; but he cryed, If ye love my Sonl away with it, if ye love my Soul away with it: He was prohibited to speak to the people, and permitted only to pray: he begged of the Sheriffs for a speedy fire to dispatch him; but when he was to be burnt, what through the wetness of the wood and greatness of the frude, three fires one after another were made before he was consumed; in the first fire he prayed mildly, as one without pain, Lord Iesus thou Son of David have mercy on me, and receive my Soul. After the second fire was spent he wiped both Eyes, and looking on the people, beg'd for Gods sake more fire: And in the third fire he cryed out, Lord Iesus receive my Spirit, Lord Iesus have mercy on me; and so spoke no more, continuing motion of his lips, till they shrank to his gums; and beating his breast with his hands till one arm fell off, and the other by fat, water, and blood, stuck to the Iron, by which he was fastned to the Stake; and so he dyed. Vol. 3. p. 156.
In a Letter he wrote out of Prison to divers Friends, he undervalues the worldly joyes and troubles, in comparison of Hells misery, or Heavens glory; and exhorts them to constancy, thus: It was an easie thing to hold with God and Christ, whilst the Prince and World held with him; but now the World hateth him, it is the true tryal who be his: Let us not run when it is most time to fight; none shall be Crowned, but them that fight manfully: Beware of beholding the Worlds felicity, or misery, too much; whose love, or fear, draweth from God: Think the felicity of the World good, but yet no otherwise than stands with Gods favour: It is to be kept, yet so as we lose not God; of adversity, judge the same: Imprisonment is painful, yet liberty, on evil terms, worse: I must be alone, and solitary; yet that is better, and to have God with us, than to enjoy the company of the wicked: Loss of goods is great, but loss of Gods favour greater: I shall dye by the hands of cruel Men; but he is blessed that loseth a life full of misery, and findeth a life full of eternal ioyes: Neither felicity, or misery, in the World, can be great, if compared with joys, or pains, in the World to come. Vol. 3. p. 156, 157.
In another Letter he exhorts the godly to meet often, and pray and confer together of their ignorance, before their knowledge of God; and their state, by their knowledge of God in his Word; and to compare their Popish Principles with Gods Word, being careful to do all things for three ends; Gods glory, the Churches edification, and their Souls profit. p. 158, 159.
In another Letter, exhorting to patience under the Cross, he saith, That our Enemies cruelty hath no further power than God permits, and what comes to us by the will of our heavenly Father, can be no harm, but felicity to us. We, as Men, suffer these evils; but as Christians we overcome them, nor can they separate betwen Gods love and us; they can but last our short life, and then must give way to our partaking of eternal joyes. Vol. 3. p. 161. Nothing can hurt us that is taken from us for Gods Cause, nor can any thing do us good that is kept against Gods Commandment; let us surrender goods and life to his will, and then it matters not whether we keep or lose it. Vol. 3. p. 163.
William Hunter, an Apprence to one Thomas Taylor, a Silk-weaver in London, fled at nineteen years old for Religion's sake, to Burntwood, to his Fathers House; and being at Burntwood, in the Church, found a Bible, and did read in it, till a Sumner came in and threatned him for it, telling him he was an Heretick and deserved death; and called one Thomas Wood Vicar of Southwel (being then in the Town) to him, who said to Hunter, He ought not to read, and that he was an Heretick; and threatned him much. To whom Hunter said, I would you and I were now fast tyed to a Stake, to prove whether you, or I, would stand strongest to our Faith; I dare set my Foot to yours, even to death. Yet being thus threatned, whilst the Vicar went to inform, he fled into the Country; but his Father was sent for, and forced to go and seek him, and to bring him into his Enemies hands: who, much against his natural affection and will, rode two or three days into the Country to seek him. And his Son, meeting him, did conjecture the cause of his Fathers Journey; and said, he would return with him and save him harmless, whatever came of it: and as soon as he came home he was laid in the Stocks, and had before one Justice Brown; who soon sent him to Bishop Bonner, who a while flattered the young Man; but at last, seeing he would not recant, threatned to make him sure enough: To whom William said, You can do no more than God will permit you, I will never recant while I live, God willing: Then was he imprisoned for three quarters of a year, and allowed but a Halfpenny a day, and at length condemned: To whom, after condemnation, Bonner said, If he would turn he would make him Freeman of the City, and give him forty Pound to set up with; or else would make him Steward of his House: To wom William Hunter said, I thank you for your offers, yet if you cannot perswade my Conscience by Scripture, I cannot find in my heart to turn from God for the love of the World; for I count all things but dung and loss, in respect of the love of Christ. When he came to Burntwood to be burnt, his Parents came to him, and desired of God heartily that he might continue to the end in that good way he had begun; and his Mother said, she was glad she was so happy to bear such a Child that could find in his heart to lose his life for Christ's sake: To whom William Hunter said, For my little pain which I shall suffer, which is but short, Christ hath promised me a Crown of joy; may you not be glad of that Mother? Who answered, yea, I think thee as well bestowed as any Child I ever did bear; and prayed to God to strengthen him to the end. He was burnt March 26. 1555. As he went to the Stake he met his Father, who said to him, God be with thee my Son William: and he answered, God be with you my good Father; be of good comfort, for I hope we shall meet again when we shall be merry. And, taking up a Faggot, he kneeled down and prayed, and read the 51. Psalm, and then went to the Stake, standing upright, begging the people to pray for him and to dispatch him quickly: He still had his pardon offered, if he would recant; but he refused. At his request for the peoples Prayers, one Justice Brown said, he would pray no more for him, than for a Dog. To whom William Hunter said, You now have, Sir, what you sought for; I pray God it be not laid to your charge, howbeit I forgive you. And soon after he prayed, Son of God, shine on me; and immediately the Sun in the Element shone out of a dark Cloud so full in his Face, that he was forced to turn away his head; whereat the people mused, because it was so dark a day a little time before. Then William Hunter took and embraced a Faggot in his Arms, and when the Fire was kindled, he lift up his hands to Heaven, and said, Lord, Lord, Lord, receive my spirit, and so dyed. Vol. 3. p. 191, to 194.
Thomas Hawks, an Essex Gentleman, being threatned by Bishop Bonner if he would not recant, said always, Ye shall do no more than God will give you leave; and at last at his condemnation being urged to recant, he said, No, had I an hundred bodies I would suffer them all to be torn in pieces, rather than recant. As he went to Execution, Iune 10. 1555. being desired by his Friends that he would shew them some sign in the flames, if he could, whereby they might know more certainly, whether the pain of the burning was so great that a man might not therein keep his mind quiet; which he promised to do, and that if the pain was tolerable he would lift up his hands towards Heaven before he gave up the Ghost: And being at Stake, he mildly and patiently addressed himself to the fire, and after he had been in the fire, his fingers burnt and gone, and skin so drawn together, that all men thought he had been dead, he suddenly reached up his hands burning of a light fire over his head, to the living God, and with great rejoicing as seemed struck or clapped them three times together, and then sinking down into the fire he gave up his spirit. He wrote to his Wife and Children to fear and serve God, and to continue fervent in Prayer, for then God would provide for them better than he was able to do ever; yea, saith he, God will cause all men that fear him to pity you, to help you, to succour you in all your necessities; so that if any would do you wrong, he will be avenged on him. Vol. 3. p. 265.
Iohn Hullier, Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge, was burnt for the Gospel; who being degraded said chearfully, This is the joyfullest day that ever I saw, and I thank you all that ye have delivered me from all this paltry. He was burned on Iesus Green in Cambridge; he said he dyed in the right Faith, and desired the people to take notice that he dyed in a just cause, and for the testimony of the Truth: And feeling the fire, he called earnestly on God; and many Books being burnt with him, he gat one which was cast into the fire, and fell into his arms, and was a Communion-Book, which he did read in till the flame and smoke hindred him from seeing: And then laying the Book next his heart he prayed again: And when all the people thought he had been dead, he suddenly said, Lord Iesus receive my Spirit, dying very meekly: And after his flesh was burnt his bones stood upright, as if he had been alive. Vol. 3. p. 827, 828.
Thomas Hudson, a Glover, of Ailsham in Norfolk, an ignorant person till he learned the English Tongue, about one or two years before the Reign of Queen Mary; and then he detested the Mass and Popish Idolatry, and became a zealous Protestant, reading, praying, singing Psalms; and being sought for, he prayed, if it was Gods will, he might suffer persecution for the Gospel of Christ: and when Persons came to apprehend him, he said, Welcome Friends, welcome; you are they that shall lead me to life in Christ: and so he went with them. And being by Bishop Hopton (then Bishop of Norwich) his Commissary Berry, asked to recant, he said, God forbid, I had rather dye many deaths, than do so. Then was he sent to Norwich to the Bishop, and went as merrily as ever he was; and was burned with two more, May 19. 1555. And being bound with them to the Stake by a Chain, he not feeling the joyes of Christ, came from under the Chain, being troubled in mind, and fell down and prayed earnestly to God, who hearing him, and restoring to him comfort, he arose and went to the Stake again, saying, Now I am strong, and pass not what Men can do unto me. Vol. 3. p. 869, 870.
Roger Holland, Son to a Lancashire Gentleman, and Apprentice to a Merchant-Taylor in London, a zealous Man; to whom this Roger was a great trouble, being a debauched Lad, and a great Papist, yet did he trust him with his Accounts; but it hapned one night that Roger lost thirty pound at Dice, and not being able to pay it, resolved next morning to go to France, or Flanders; but acquainted his Fellow-servant, a Maid, whose name was Elizabeth, a Woman of great Christian profession and practice; to whom he gave a Bill to give his Master for the thirty pound, that his Master might not acquaint his Friends with it; and that if ever he was worth it, he would pay it to his Master: and so he going to leave the House, the Maid, having Money by her, brought him thirty pound, and gave him; saying, I will take the Bill my self, and conceal the thing from your Friends, and my Master; and you may have this thirty pound to pay my Master, on condition that you will throw away your Popish Books and read the Bible, and attend all Christian Lectures; nor more swear, curse, drink, whore, nor play: But if you do those things again, and I know of it, I will then tell my Master of the business. But in half a years space Roger was so reformed, and so zealous a Protestant, that he was admired by his Associates: And going into Lancashire to his Friends, he was, by his Books he carried, and by his discourse, instrumental, that his Father and his Friends began to try the truth of God, and to hate Popery. And at his return to London his Father gave him fifty pound to set up with; and then he paid the Maid Elizabeth her thirty pound, and soon after Married her; and they lived heavenly together, till he was apprehended for the Gospels sake, and by Bishop Bonner persecuted; to whom he openly told the impurity of their Principles, the corrupt tendency of their confessions from his own Practice, who cared not what sin he used to commit so long as he was a Papist, since the Popish Priest would, for Money, absolve him. And when he was condemned, he told Bishop Bonner, That his cruelty should be but short, nor after that day should he burn any more: which came so to pass. At the Stake, he said, Lord, I humbly thank thy Majesty that thou hast called me from the state of death to the light of thy heavenly Word, and now into the fellowship of Saints, that I may sing and say, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts; Lord, into thy hands I commend my Spirit: Lord, bless these thy People, and save them from Idolatry: And so praising God he dyed in the flames, with two more, in Smithfield, Iuly 27. 1558. Vol. 3. p. 874. to 878.
Bartholomew Hector, burnt at Turin in Piedmont, Iune 19. 1556. being bound to the Stake, and Gunpowder and Brimstone placed about him, he lifted up his Eyes to Heaven, and said, Lord, how sweet and welcome are these to me? Addition to Vol. 3. concerning Massacres in France, p. 5.
Philibert Hamelin, a Minister in Tournay, being perswaded to fly, said, No, I esteem it altogether unbeseeming for a Man called to preach the Gospel to others to run away for fear of danger, but rather to maintain its truth even in the midst of the flaming Fire: And he was executed 1557. at Tournay. Additions to Vol. 3. of Massacres of France. p. 5.
Iohn Herwin, a Souldier of Flanders, of very dissolute prophane life; but coming over to England was, by means of a Beer-brewer in London (with whom he was a Servant) converted, and became a zealous Protestant, and a pious liver. And afterwards, returning to Flanders, he was apprehended for the Gospel, and imprisoned; which he took patiently, and chearfully: and in Prison he sang Psalms, and testified his inward joy by a Letter to the Brethren, whom he exhorted to persevere constant in the Faith. After sentence of death he blessed God for that honour to dye for Christ; and being led out to execution, he said, See how the wicked World rewards the poor Servants of Christ. Whilst I gave my self to Drinking, Carding, Dicing, and such like Vices; I was let alone, and accounted a Good-fellow; and who but I? And no sooner began I to look after a godly life, but the World wars on me, imprisons me, persecutes me, and will put me to death. At the Stake he sang the 30. Psalm; and said to the people, I am now going to be sacrificed, follow ye me, when God of his goodness shall call you to it. He was burned at Honscot, November 4. 1560. Additions to the 3. Vol. concerning Massacre in France and Flanders. p. 18.