A Cloud of Witnesses, Part D
D.
Daigerfield.
Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 759.William Daigerfield and Ioan his Wife (who then gave suck to her tenth child) being imprisoned in several Prisons, Bishop Brooks sent for the man, and told him, that his Wife had recanted, and so perswaded him to recant, and so sent him to his Wife with a Form of Recantation with him, which when his Wife saw, her heart clave in sunder, and she cried out, Alas! Husband, thus long we have continued one, and hath Satan so far perva…led with you, as to cause you to break the Vow, which you made to God in Baptisme? Hereupon he bewailed his promise, and beg'd of God that he might not live so long as to call evil good, and good evil, light darkness, or darkness light. And accordingly it came to pass.
Damlip.
Fox, Vol. 2. pag. 564.Mr. Adam Damlip, when he had been almost two years in the Marshalsey, considering how he could not employ his talent there to God's Glory, as he desired (though he had many Favours in Prison) resolved to write to the Bishop of Winchester, earnestl… to desire that he might come to his Tryal; for (said he) I know the worst, I can but lose my present life, which I had rather do, then here to remain, and not to be suffered to use my talent to God's Glory.
When he understood by the Keeper, that his suffering was near, he was notwithstanding very merry, and did eat his meat as well as ever he did in all his life, insomuch that some at the Board said unto him, they wondred how he could eat his meat so chearfully, knowing he was so near his death; Ah Masters (said he) Do you think that I have been so long God's Prisoner in the Marshalsey, and have not yet learned to die? Yes, yes, and I doubt not but God will strengthen me therein.
When he was told that his four Quarters should be hanged at four parts of Calice, and his Head upon the Lanthern-gate, Then shall I not need (said he) to provide for my Burial.
Delos.
Alas (said Iames Delos to the Monks that called him proud Heretick) here I get nothing but shame,Ward, pag. 151. I expect indeed preferment hereafter.
Denley.
Mr. I…hn Denl…y being entreated by Bishop Bonner to recant,Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 388. said, God save me from your Counsel.
In the Fire, with the burning flame about him, he sung a Psalm, and having his face hurt with a Fagot hurled at him, he left singing for a while, and clapt his hands in his bleeding face, and afterwards put his hands abroad, and sung again till he died.
Clarks first Volume of Lives, p. 12.Dionysius.
Dionysius Areopagita (who seeing the gener… Eclipse of the Sun at Christ's death, said to one… Either the God of Nature now suffers, or the frame of the World shall be dissolved; and to another, God unknown in the flesh doth suffer.
When he was apprehended by Sisinius the Praefect, and sharply reproved for preaching against the worship of their Gods, and required to confess his errour, said, That they were no gods, whom they worshipped, but Idols, the works of mens hands, and that it was through meer ignorance, folly, and idolatry, that they adored them; adding, that there was but one true God, as he had preached.
After he was grievously tormented, he was brought before Sisinius the second time, who sentenced him to be beheaded forthwith. Dyonisius told him, he worshipped such Gods as would perish like D…ng upon the Earth; but as for my self (said he) come life, come death, I will worship none but the God of Heaven and Earth.
He pray'd thus at his death. O Lord God Almighty, thou onelyonly-begotten Son, and Holy Spirit; O Sacred Trinity, which art without beginning, and in whom is no division, Receive the soul of thy Servant in peace, who is put to death for thy Cause and Gospel.
He used to say, That he desired these two things of God (1) That he might know the Truth himself, and (2) That he might preach it, as he ought, to others.
Driver.
Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 886.Alice Driver in her first Examination, hav…ng got her Adversaries to acknowledge, that a Sacrament is a sign, and that it was Christ's Body, his Disciples did eat the night before he was crucified; Seeing it is (said she) a sign, it cannot be the thing signified; and how could it be Christ's Body, that was crucified, seeing his Disciples had eaten him up over night, except he had two Bodies.
At the end of her second Examination,Pag. 887. She said; Have you no more to say? God be honoured. You be not able to resist the Spirit of God in me a poor Woman. I was an honest poor man's Daughter, never brought up in the University, as you have been, but I have driven the Plough before my Father many a time (I thank God) yet notwithstanding in the defence of God's Truth, and in the Cause of my Mr. Christ, by his Grace I will set my foot against the foot of any of you all, in the maintenance and defence of the same; and if I had a thousand lives, they should go for payment thereof.
When she was tied to the Stake,Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 888. and the iron Chain put about her neck, O (said she) here is a goodly Neckerchief, blessed be God for it.
Drowry.
Thomas Drowry (the blind Boy,Fox. Vol. 3. pag. 703. to whom Bishop Hooper, as he was going to the Stake, after he had examined him, said; Ah poor Boy, God hath taken from thee thy outward sight, but he hath given thee another sight much more precious: He that endued thy soul with the eye of Knowledge and Faith.) Shortly after Bishop Hooper's Martyrdome, was cast into Prison. Afterwards the Chancellor of Glocester asking him, who taught him that Heresie, that Christ's Body was not really present in the Sacrament of the Altar, he said, You, Mr. Chancellor, when in yonder Pulpit you taught us that the Sacrament was to be received spiritually by Faith, and not carnally and really, as the Pap… teach. But (said the Chancellor) Do thou as I ha… done, and thou shalt live as I do, and escape bu…ing. Though you (said Drowry) can so easily d…pense with your Conscience, and mock God a… the World, yet will not I do so. Then said t… Chancellor, I will condemn thee; God's Will b… fulfilled (said Drowry.)