A Cloud of Witnesses, Part E
E.
Edward.
Fox, Vol. 2. pag. 653.King Edward the Sixth (our English I…sias) being prest by Archbishop Cranmer, and Bishop Ruley to permit the Lady M…ry to have Mass in he… House; after he had argued notably against i…bid them be content, for he would spend his life and all he had, rather then to agree to, and gra… that he knew certainly to be against the Truth and then fell a weeping, insomuch that the Bishop wept as fast as he; and the Archbishop tol… Mr. Cheek, his Scholar had more Divinity in hi… little finger, then all they had in all their Bodies.
Elizabeth.
Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 945.The Lady Elizabeth (afterward Queen of England) when she came out of the Barge at Traytor… Stairs, going into the Tower, said, Here landed as true a Subject, being a Prisoner, as ever lande… at these Stairs. And before thee, O God, I speak it having no other Friends but thee alone.
Her Gentleman-Usher weeping, she demande… of him what he meant so uncomfortably to use her, seeing she took him to be her Comfort, and not to dismay her, especially for that she knew her Truth to be such, that no man should have cause to weep for her.
When the Doors of the Prison were locked and bolted upon her, she called for her Book, desiring God, not to suffer her to build her foundation upon the Sands, but upon the Rock, w…ereby all blasts of blustering weather should have no power against her.
When she was locked up close in Prison, at first she was much daunted, but afterwards she brake forth into this Speech; The skill of a Pilot is unknown, but in a Tempest; the valour of a Captain is unseen, but in a Battel; and the worth of a Christian doth not appear, but in time of Tryal and Temptation. Mr. Burrough's Mos. Self-denial, pag. 31.
Upon Gardeners and other Counsellors strict Examination of her, she said, My Lords, you do sift me very narrowly, but well I am assured, you shall not do more to me then God hath appointed, and so God forgive you all.
Some telling her, that they were perswaded God would not suffer Sir Henry B…n…field to make her away privately; Well, said she, God grant it be so; for thou, O God, canst mollifie all such tyrannous hearts, and disappoint all such cruel purposes; and I beseech thee to hear thy Creature, which am thy Servant, and at thy Command, trusting by thy Grace ever so to remain.
As she passed over the Water to Richmond, going towards Windsor, in their Journey to Woodstock, she espied certain of her old Servants standing on the other side, very desirous to see her, and sent one of her men standing by unto them; Go to them (said she) and say these words from me, Tanquam ovis, i. e. just like a sheep to the slaughter.
At her departing from Woodstock she wrote these Verses with her Diamond in a Gla… Window.
Much suspected by me,
Nothing proved can be,
Q…oth Elizabeth Prisoner.
Clarks second Volume of Lives.When a Popish Priest press'd her hard to declare her Opinion of Christs Presence in the Sacrament, she truly and warily answered him thus;
Twas the Word that spake it,
He took the Bread and brake it,
And what the Word did m…ke it,
That I believe, and take it.
Esch.
Fox, Vol. 2. p. 101, 102.Iohn Esch and Henry Voes burnt at …ruxels 152:… being asked what they believed, they said, The Books of the Old and New Testmant. And being asked whether they believed the Decrees of the Councils, and the Fathers, they said, Such a… agreed to the Scriptures they believed; and being asked whether it were any deadly sin to transgress the Decrees of the Bishop of Rom…, they said, That it is to be attributed onelyonly to the Precep… of God, to bind the Conscience of man, or to lose it.
Being condemned, they gave thanks to God their Heavenly Father, which had delivered them through his great Goodness from that false and abominable Priesthood (they having been Augustine Friers) and made them Priests of his Holy Order, receiving them unto him as a Sacrifice of … sweet Odour.
The greatest Errour that they were accused of, was that men ought to trust onelyonly in God, forasmuch as men were lyars, and deceitful in all their words and deeds; and therefore there ought no trust or asfiance to be put in them.
The day of their Execution (said they) the day we have long desired.
One of them, feeing that the fire was kind led at his feet, said, Methinks you do strow Roses under my feet.
Eulalia.
The Virgin Eulalia (of Emerita in Portugal) having secretly got out of her Fathers house (where she was kept close for fear,Fox, Vol. 1. pag. 120. least she should offer her self to Martyrdome) went couragiously unto the Tribunal, or Judgement-seat, and in the midst of them all, cried out, Would you know what I am? Behold! I am one of the Christians, an enemy to your Divelish Sacrifices, I spurn your Idols under my feet, I confess God omnipotent with my heart and mouth. — Go to thou Hangman, burn, cut, mangle thou these earthly Members; it is an easie matter to break a brittle substance, but the inward mind thou shalt not hurt for any thing thou canst do.
The Judge endeavouring to perswade her to recant, saying, Behold! what pleasures thou mayest enjoy by the Honourable House thou camest of; What! wilt thou kill thy self, so young a flower, (she being not much above twelve years of age) and so near those Honourable Marriages and great Dowries thou mayest enjoy? Eulalia did not answer him, but being in a great fury, spit in the Tyrants face, threw down the Idols, and spurnt abroad with her feet …he heap of Incense prepared for the Censers. — When one joint was pulled from another, she said, Behold, O Lord, I will no… forget thee; what a pleasure is it for them, … Christ, that remember thy triumphant Victorie… to attain unto these high dignities.