An Alphabetical Martyrology, Part S 1
S S
SAnctus, being under the fourth Persecution grievously tormented; and by the Tormentors asked, What he was, answered nothing, but said he was a Christian: And notwithstanding his being scorched by hot plates in the tenderest parts of the Body, so that his Body lost the shape of a Man; yet he never shrank: and declared, That nothing was terrible or ought to be feared where the love of God is, and nothing grievous wherein the glory of Christ is manifested. And when he was again punished, though his Body was so misfigured before his second punishment, yet now was it reduced to its first shape of a Man, and suppled in all its contracted parts. Soon after he was again tormented, and set in an hot Iron-chair; nor yet would he confess any thing but that he was a Christian: And after this, being made a sad spectacle to the People, he was beheaded. Vol. 1. p. 60.61, 62.
Souldiers, being put to their choice by the Marshal of the Camp by Diocletian's order under the tenth Persecution, whether they would sacrifice to Idols at the Emperours command, or lay aside their Offices and Weapons: They unanimously answered, They were ready not only to lay down their Weapons, but their Lives also if by the Emperour's tyranny required, rather than they would obey the wicked Decrees of him. Vol. 1. p. 101.
Simeon Archbishop of Seleucia, being by Sapores King of Persia, under the tenth Persecution, called and examined, confessed himself to be a Christan: And being demanded, Why he kneeled not before the King as he used to do, he said, That before he observed what the custom of the Realm did require of him; but now it is not lawful, for I come to stand in defence of our Religion and Doctrine. He was beheaded. Vol. 1. pag. 125, 126. See Usthazares in the latter part of this Book.
Henry Sutphen Monk, an associate of Luthers 1524. converted Breme, and being sent for after two years time to Deithmar to preach amongst those great Idolaters, he at last went, designing only to lay the foundation of a Reformation, and so to return to Breme, to satisfie the importunity of his Friends. He being at Breme, the Monks and Friars conspire against him, and consult his destruction; accordingly they sent Minatory Letters to the Inhabitants at Deithmar, and also to their Parish Priest, who had received him: But Sutphen's ananswer was, That being called by them to preach the Gospel, he would do it; and if it pleased God he should lose his Life at Deithmar; there was as near a way to Heaven as in any other place: for he doubted not at all that once he must suffer for the Gospels sake. Upon this courage he preached divers times, and Popish Priests were sent to supplant him, and to trap him in his Sermons; many of whom were converted by them, and did declare them to be agreeable to the word of God. After this many ways were used to destroy him; and at last the Franciscan Friars conspired with some Presidents of the Country to kill him, before the Inhabitants of the Town of Deithmar should know of it, or before his cause were try'd, not permitting him to speak to them for himself, lest (as they said) he should perswade them to be Hereticks: Whereupon the Presidents assembled 500 Husbandmen, to whom (when met together) they imparted the business; who detesting it would not do it, but would have returned home; but were forced to obedience by the threats of their Governour; who to fit them for the work, gave them three Barrels of Hamborough Beer, and then about midnight they came to Deithmar to the Priest's, and first wofully abused him, and then trained Sutphen out of bed naked, and tying his hands behind him, forced him on so fast that his feet were much wounded by the Ice; whereof he complaining and desiring a Horse, they said he should go on foot whether he would or no: And in the morning after much misery by him suffered, without any examination they condemned him to be burnt; and accordingly they bound him hands, neck and feet, and brought him to the fire, which was not oftner kindled than it went out, nor could they make the wood burn. As he passed by to the fire, a Woman, seeing the sad usage of him, wept bitterly: to whom he did reply, Weep not, I pray, for me. And at the fire, being condemned, he said; I have done no such thing as they accuse me of: And holding up his hands, he said; O Lord, forgive them, for they offend ignorantly, not knowing what they do. In the mean time, a certain Woman offer'd to suffer 1000 stripes, and to give them much Money, so they would but keep him in Prison till he had pleaded his cause; but they were the more enraged, and threw down and trod upon the Woman. And seeing the fire would not burn Sutphen, they smote him with their hands, and prick'd and struck him with divers weapons, and then bound him to a Ladder by the neck to strangle him, so strait and hard that the blood gushed out of his nose and mouth; the doer of it treading upon his breast the while, not permitting him to prate or pray; and being tyed to a Ladder, one Iohn Holmes ran to him, and struck him with a Mace till he was dead. Vol. 1. pag. 102, 103, 104, 105, 106.
Mr. Peter Spengler of Schalt, in the Countrey of Brisgois 1525. a vigilant Preacher and a peaceable good Man, often reconciling differences with great prudence, and much lamenting the corruptness of Principles and Practises of the Popish Monks, and especially their Vow of single Life and its consequents, which moved him to marry; for which crime chiefly he was afterwards apprehended, and condemned to die: And being led to Execution, he answer'd all Persons gently, but desir'd the Monks to let him alone, who troubled him with their babling about Confession, when he was striving in his Spirit against the horror of death, and making his prayer to God, to whom he said also that he had confessed his sins to God, not doubting but he had received absolution and forgiveness of them. And I, said he, shall be an acceptable sacrifice to my Saviour Jesus Christ; for I have done no such things whereof I am condemned, which might displease my God, who in this behalf hath given me a good and quiet Conscience: Saying also, he being very lean, It is all one, for I must shortly have forsaken my Skin, which scarce cleaves to my bones: I know I am a mortal and corruptible worm; I have oft desired my last day, and have made my request that I might be delivered out of this mortal Body to be joyned with my Saviour Jesus Christ. I have deserved through my sins my Cross, and my Saviour hath born the Cross; and for my part I will not glory in any other thing but in the Cross of Christ. Presently he was cast into the River; he strugling a while in it, the water was red with blood, which the People looked to be a miraculous sign to shew that innocent blood was that day shed. This was done at Enshesheim 1525. Vol. 2. p. 111, 112.
Wolfgangus Schuch, a German, at St. Hyppolite 1525. a Town in Lotharing; a Reverend and godly Pastor, there preached he Justification through Christ by Faith. He was apprehended willingly, offering himself to Tryal by Scripture, rather than to see the Town of St. Hyppolite be exposed to the danger threatn'd to it by Anthony Duke of Lorrain for his sake; and being apprehended, he was imprisoned in sad misery a year, where disputing with divers Friars he confounded them all by Scripture. At last he was condemned to be burnt; at which Sentence he sang, and being at the place of Execution, he sang the 51. Psalm till smoke and fire choak'd him. Vol. 2. pag. 112.
George Scherler, a German Preacher near Saltzburg, was taken and imprisoned and condemned to be burnt alive; but at last it was granted he should be first beheaded. He going to his death, said, That ye may know that I die a true Christian, I will give you a manifest sign: Which he did by God's power; for after his head was off his body, falling on his belly, and so lying a good while, it easily turn'd it self on the back, and crossed the right foot over the left, and the right hand over the left; at which sight the Spectators marvelled, and the Magigistrates burned not but buried the Body amongst the Christians; and many were hereby brought to believe the Gospel. Vol. 2. p. 117.
Peter Serre, was burned 1553. in France; who having his tongue cut out stood so quiet looking up to Heaven at the time of his burning, as though he had felt no pain, bringing such admiration to the People, that one of the Parliament of France that condemned him, said, That way was not best to bring Lutherans to the fire, for that would do more hurt than good. Vol. 2. p. 143.
Mrs. Smith near Coventry, condemned and burnt for having the Lord's Prayer in English, April 4. 1519. Vol. 2. p. 225.
Hellen Stirk, a Scottish Woman, seeing her Husband go to the Stake 1543. for Christ's cause, and being her self condemned, did desire to suffer with her Husband; but when it was not permitted, she went to him and exhorted him to perseverance, and with a kiss parted, saying; Husband, rejoyce, for we have lived many a joyful day together; but this day in which we must die together ought to be most joyful unto us both, because we must have joy for ever; therefore I will not bid you good night, for we shall suddenly meet with joy in the Kingdom of Heaven. And after that, she parting with her sucking Child from her breast, recommended her self to God and the Child to Nurse, and so was drowned. Vol. 2. pag. 615, 616.
Laurence Saunders, brought up at Eaton, and then at King's Colledge in Cambridge three years; then by his Mother, having a great Estate, was bound Apprentice in London to a Merchant, Sir William Chester; but he not liking his Apprentiship, his Master gave him his Indentures, perceiving his inclinations to Study; and being himself a good Man, he wrote Letters to his Mother and Friends (who were great Persons) about it: whereby he went again to King's Colledge, and after several years was a Minister in Leicestershire, and then in London till Queen Mary's dayes, when he had two Livings, not being permitted to lay down either of them by reason of the troubles; and as well as he could he Preached at both, though at length at London he going to Preach was disswaded for fear of danger, but he would not cease: and Preaching, he did (as he often had) speak against Popish Tenets, for which he was examined by Bishop Bonner, and Gardiner; and at last imprisoned, he prayed much; and in all spiritual assaults, he prayed and found present relief; and he said, while Bishop Gardiner examined him, he found a great consolation in spirit, and also in body he received a certain taste of the Communion of Saints, whilst a pleasant refreshing issued from all parts of his body to his heart, and thence did ebb and flow to and fro. He in a Letter to Bishop Gardiner, proved Popery a Whoreish and ravening Religion, robbing God of his honour and worship in truth; and also our Consciences of peace and true comfort. He disswaded his Wife and Friends from sueing for his liberty: He, in his Letters, spoke much of his own experience through God's grace, of Christ's sweetness; and how loath his Flesh was to go forward in God's Path, and also his hopes with the godly to be shortly singing Halelujah in Heaven; and as he saluted those to whom he wrote with grace and mercy and peace, and assured them of his Prayers for them, so also he generally begg'd their Prayers, ending his Letters with pray, pray, pray; and after 15 months imprisonment he was condemned, who said, My dear Lord Iesus Christ hath begun to me a more bitter Cup than mine can be, and shall not I pledge my most sweet Saviour? yes I hope. As he went to Stake he oft fell down and prayed; and at the Stake he took it in his arms and kissed it, saying, Welcome the Cross of Christ, welcome everlasting life; and so being fastned, was burned with green Wood to make his torments greater; yet he stood quietly, and slept sweetly in the fire. Vol. 3. p. 132. to 136.
Robert Smith burnt, 1555. at Uxbridge, August; who being at the Stake, comforted the people, willing them to think well of his Cause, and not doubt but that his Body dying in that quarrel should rise again to life: And I doubt not, said he, but God will shew some Token thereof: At length, being near half burnt, and cluster'd together on a lump like a black Coal; all Men thinking him to be dead, he suddenly rose upright, lifting up his stumps of his Arms, claping them together as a Token of rejoicing; and then bending down again he dyed. In a Letter to his Wife, he writes thus,
If ye will meet with me again,
Forsake not Christ for any pain.
Vol. 3. p. 410, 411.
He wrote this Exhortation to his Children.
Give ear my Children to my words,
whom God hath dearly bought;
Lay up my Law within your heart,
and print it in your thought:
For I, your Father, have foreseen
the frail and filthy way,
Which flesh and blood would follow fain,
even to their own decay;
For all and every living Beast
their Crib do know full well;
But Adam's Heirs above the rest
are ready to rebell:
And all the Creatures on the Earth
full well can keep their way,
But Man, above all other Beasts,
is apt to go astray;
For Earth and Ashes is his strength,
his glory, and his Reign;
And unto Ashes, at the length,
he shall return again:
For Flesh doth flourish like the Flower,
and grow up like a Grass;
And is consumed in an hour,
as it is brought to pass,
In me the Image of your years,
your treasure, and your trust;
Whom ye do see, before your Face,
dissolved into Dust:
For as you see your Father's Flesh
converted into Clay,
Even so shall ye, my Children dear,
consume and wear away.
The Sun and Moon, and eke the Stars,
that serve the day and night;
The Earth, and every earthly thing,
shall be consumed quite;
And all the worship that is wrought,
that have been heard or seen,
Shall clean consume and come to nought,
as it had never been:
Therefore that ye may follow me,
your Father and your Friend;
And enter into that same life
which never shall have end.
I leave you here a little Book
for you to look upon,
That ye may see your Father's face
when I am dead and gone;
Who for the hope of heavenly things,
while he did here remain,
Gave over all his golden years
in Prison and in pain;
Where I, among mine Iron bonds
enclosed in the dark,
Not many dayes before my death,
did dedicate this work
To you, mine Heirs of earthly things
which I have left behind,
That ye may read and understand,
and keep it in your mind;
That as you have been Heirs of that
which once shall wear away,
Even so ye may possess the part
which never shall decay;
In following of your Father's Foot,
in truth, and eke in love;
That ye may also be his Heirs
for evermore above:
And in example to your Youth,
to whom I wish all good;
I preach you here a perfect faith,
and seal it with my blood:
Have God alwayes before your eyes
in all your whole intents,
Commit not sin in any wise,
keep his Commandements;
Abhor that arrant Whore of Rome,
and all her blasphemies;
And drink not of her Decretals,
nor yet of her Decrees:
Give honour to your Mother dear,
remember well her pain;
And recompense her in her age
in like with love again:
Be alwayes aiding at her hand,
and let her not decay;
Remember well your Father's fall,
that should have been her stay.
Give of your Portion to the Poor,
as riches do arise;
And from the needy naked Soul
turn not away your Eyes:
For he that will not hear the cry
of such as stand in need,
Shall cry himself, and not be heard,
when he would hope to speed.
If God hath given great increase,
and blessed well your store;
Remember ye are put in trust
to minister the more.
Beware of foul and filthy lust,
let whoredom have no place;
Keep clean your Vessels in the Lord,
that he may you embrace:
Ye are the Temples of the Lord,
for ye are dearly bought;
And they who do defile the same
shall surely come to nought.
Possess not pride in any case,
build not your Nests too high;
But have alwayes before your face
that you were born to dye.
Defraud not him that hired is
your labour to sustain,
But give him alwayes, out of hand,
his Penny for his pain:
And as ye would that other Men
against you should proceed,
Do ye the same again to them
when they do stand in need:
And part your Portion with the Poor,
in Money, and in Meat;
And feed the fainted feeble Soul
with that which ye should eat;
That when your members shall lack meat,
And cloathing to your back,
Ye may the better think on them
That now do live and lack:
Ask counsel also at the wise,
Give ear unto the end;
Refuse not ye the sweet rebuke
Of him that is your Friend.
Be thankful alwayes to the Lord
With prayer and with praise;
Desire you him in all your deeds,
Ever to direct your wayes,
And sin not like the swinish sort,
Whose bellies being fed,
Consume their years upon the Earth
From belly unto bed.
Seek first, I say, the Living God,
Set him alwayes before,
And then be sure he will bless
Your Basket and your store:
And thus if you direct your dayes
According to this Book,
Then shall they say that see your wayes
How like me you do look:
And when you have so perfectly
Upon your fingers ends,
Possessed all within this Book,
Then give it to your Friends;
And I beseech the Living God
Replenish you with Grace,
That I may have you in the Heavens,
And see you face to face:
And though the Sword hath cut me off,
Contrary to my kind,
That I could not enjoy your love
According to my mind;
Yet I do hope that when the heavens
Shall vanish like a scrowl,
I shall receive your perfect shape
In Body and in Soul.
And that I may enjoy your love,
And ye enjoy the Land;
I do beseech the Living God
To hold you in his hand.
Farewel, my Children, from the World
Where ye must yet remain.
The Lord of Hosts be your defence
Till we do meet again.
Farewel my Love and loving Wife,
My Children, and my Friends,
I hope to God to have you all
When all things have their ends:
And if you do abide in God
As ye have now begun,
Your course, I warrant, shall be short
Ye have not far to run.
God grant you so to end your years
As he shall think it best,
That ye may enter into Heaven
Where I do hope to rest. Vol. 3. p. 405, 406.
Robert Samuel, a Suffolk Minister, was imprisoned by Dr. Hopton Bishop of Norwich, and kept sadly, being chained bolt upright, so that he stood on tip-toes day and night, and was kept without meat and drink, save only three mouthfuls of bread and three spoonfuls of water a day: And at last being to be burned he said to his Friends, That when he was imprisoned and almost pin'd away 2 or 3 dayes together, he fell into a slumber, and one clad in white seem'd to stand by him, and comforting him, said; Samuel, Samuel, be of good chear, and take a good heart to thee, for after this day thou shalt never hunger nor thirst more. Which thing was effected, for from that time to his sufferings, he felt neither hunger nor thirst; and it is said that his Body when it was in the fire, shone as bright and white as new try'd Silver. Vol. 3. p. 414, 415.
Iohn Spicer, burnt at Salisbury, March 24. 1556. with 2 others: At the Stake said, This is the joyfullest day that ever I saw. Vol. 3. p. 680.
Agnes Stanley, burned at Smithfield with four more April 12. 1557. she being by Bishop Bonner threatned with death if she would not recant, said; I had rather every hair of my head were burned, if it were never so much worth, than that I should forsake my Faith and Opinion, which is the true Faith. Vol. 3. p. 788.
Thomas Spurdance, one of Queen Mary's Servants, being apprehended for the Gospel, and examined at Norwich by the Bishop, who bad him submit to the Queen's Laws, he said; You must know, My Lord, that I have a Soul as well as a Body; my Soul is none of the Queen's, but my Body and Goods are the Queen's: And I must give God my Soul, and all that belongs to it. That is, I must do the Laws and Commandments of God, and may not do Commandments contrary to them for losing of my Soul, but muct rather obey God than Man; if I save my life I shall lose it, and if for Christ's sake I lose it, I shall find it in Everlasting Life: And was burned at Bury in November 1557. Vol. 3. pag. 855.
William Sparrow of London, burnt in November 18. 1557. who being examined said, That that which the Papists called Heresie was true and godly, and if every hair of his head was a Man (he said) he would burn them, rather than go from the Truth. Vol. 3. p. 857.
Cuthbert Simpson, a Minister in London, was wrakt often in one day to discover his Confederates, but he would not; and at last was burnt. He writing to his Wife, perswades her to constancy, pleading God's promises to help us; and that nothing shall befal us but what is profitable to us, either a correction of our sins, tryal of our Faith, to set forth his Glory, or for all together. Vol. 3. p. 866, 867.
Archambant Scraphom, martyred 1557. in Flanders, for speaking that the Pope was the Antichrist St. Paul described: And being willed to subscribe his Saying, reply'd, Yea, yea, I am ready to sign it with my Blood, rather than with Ink. When he looked on his hands, he used to say, O flesh! you must suffer and be burned to ashes, till the last day. Additions to Vol. 3. concerning the Massacre of France, p. 6.