The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 28
The Life and Death of Rowland Tailor, who dyed Anno Christi 1555.
ROwland Tailor was Doctor in both the Laws, and Rector of Hadley in Suffolke, where Master Thomas Bilney had formerly been a Preacher of the Word, and in which place there were few either men or women that were not well learned in the holy Scriptures; many having often read over the whole Bible, and could say a great part of Paul's Epistles by heart. Here this Doctor Tailor Preached constantly on Sabbaths, Holy-dayes, and at other times when he could get the People together. His life also, and conversation was very exemplary, and full of holinesse: he was meek and humble, yet would stoutly rebuke sin in the greatest: to the poore, blinde, lame, sick, bed-rid, or that had many children, he was a father, causing the Parishioners to make good provision for them, besides what of his owne bounty he gave them: he brought up his children in the fear of God, and good learning. In the begining of Queen Maries reign, two Popish persons suborned a Priest to come and say Masse in his Church; he being at his study, and hearing the Bell to toul, went to Church, and finding this Priest guarded with drawn swords, in his Popish robes, ready to begin the Masse, he said unto him, Thou Divell, who made thee so bold to enter into this Church, to prophane and defile it with this abominable Idolatrie; I command thee thou Popish Wolfe in the name of God to avoid hence, and not to presume thus to poyson Christs flock: but the …tanders by, forcing Doctor Tailor out of the Church, the Priest went on with his Masse: and shortly after, the Bishop being informed hereof, sent his letters Missive for Doctor Tailor; whereupon his friends earnestly entreated him to flye, telling him that he could neither expect justice nor favour, but imprisonment and cruell death: to whom he answered, I know my Cause to be so good and righteous, and the Truth so strong upo… my side, that I will by Gods grace appeare before them, and to their beards resist their false doings; for I beleeve that I shall never be able to doe God so good service as now, and that I shall never have so glorions a calling, nor so great merciemercy of God profered me as I have now; wherefore pray for me, and I doubt not but God will give me strength, and his holy spirit that all my adversaries shal be ashamed of their doings: and so preparing himselfe, he went to London, and presented himselfe to Stephen Gardiner, Lord Chancellor of England; who railed upon him, asked him if he knew him not, &c. to whom he answered, Yea, I know you, and all your greatnesse, yet you are but a mortall man: and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks, why feare you not God the Lord of us all, &c. But after other discourse, he sent him to the Kings Bench, commanding his Keeper to keep him strictly. In Prison he spent his time in prayer, reading the Scriptures, Preaching to the prisoners, and to others that resorted to him: he was diverse times examined of his Faith, and witnessed a good Confession before his adversaries, for which at last he was condemned to dye: when his sentence was read, he told them that God, the righteous Judge, would require his blood at their hands, and that the proudest of them all should repent their receiving againe of Antichrist, and their tyranny against the flocke of Christ.
He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd, and all the way as he went, he was very merrie as one that went to a banquet, or Bridall. In his journey the Sheriff of Essex perswaded him much to return to the Popish Religion, &c. to whom at last he answered, I well perceive now that I have been deceived my s…lfe, and shall deceive many in Hadley of their expectation: when the Sheriff desired him to explain his meaning, hoping that he would recant, he said; I am a man of a very great carkasse, which I had hoped should have been buried in Hadley-Churchyard, but I see I am deceived, & there are a great number of worms there, which should have had jollie feeding upon this carryon, but now both I and they shall be deceived of our expectation: when he came within two miles of Hadley he desired to alight, and being downe he leap't, and fet a frisk, or two, saying God be praised I am now almost at home, and have not past a mile or two, and I am even at my fathers house: at Hadley towns-end a poore man with five children met him, crying, O dear father, and good shepheard, God help and succour thee, as thou hast many a time succou…'d me, and my poore children: The streets were full of people weeping, and bewailing their losse; to whom he said, I have preached to you Gods Word and Truth, and am come to seal it with my blood: He gave all his money to the poore, for whom he was wont thus to provide formerly: once a fortnight at least he used to call upon Sir Henry Doil, and other rich Clothiers to goe with him to the Alms houses to see what the poore lacked in meat, d…ink, apparell, bedding, and other necessaries: withall …xhorting, comforting, and rebuking as he saw occasion. Comming to the pl…ce of execution he was not suffered to speak to the people, who much lamented his death, yet he was very chearfull, saying Thanks be to God, I am even at home, and when he had prayed, and made himselfe ready, he went to the stake and kissed it: the fire being kindled, he held up his hands, called upon God, saying, Mercifull father of heaven, for Iesus Christ my Saviours sake receive my soul into thy hands, and so stood still without moving, till one with an halberd strook out his brains.
Among the many Champions of the Lord,
Who with their blood to Truth did beare record,
And feared not in furious flames to fry,
That they Christs Gospels light might magnifie,
Was pious precious Doctor Tailor stout;
Who did the fight of Faith to th'death fight out.
A very learned, painfull Pastor grave;
Who to his Flock full testimony gave
Of his great wisdome… charity and love,
And all Soul saving graces from above:
Who for opposing Romes impiety,
Being apprehended and condemn…d to dye,
He kist his Stake, being bound to it in chaines;
Burning a Popish wretch beat out his braines.
And thus this blessed Martyr chéerfully,
Went to his heavenly home triumphantly.