A Cloud of Witnesses, Part H · Section 9 – Section 13
Hankes.
Mr. Thomas Hankes being ask'd by Bonner why he suffered his Child to be unchristened so long?Fox, Vol. 3 pag. 256. answered, Because we be bound to do nothing contrary to the Word of God. Being told, that Baptism is commanded by the Word of God: His institution therein (said he) I do not deny; but all things invented and devised by man, &c. But will you (said Bonner) deny that which all the World and your Father have been contented withal? What my Father (said Hankes) and all the W…rld hath done I have nothing to do with, but what God hath commanded me to do, to that stand I. Pag. 257.Bonner telling him that Baget was converted to think well of their Baptism: I build my faith (said he) neither upon this man, nor upon you; but upon Christ, who is the founder and author of all mens faith.
Bonner threatning to take another course with him: Whatsoever ye do (said he) I am ready to suffer it; for I am in your hands to abide it.
Bonner telling him he would not have any Heresie talked in his House: Why (said he) is the Truth become Heresie? God hath commanded that we shou…d have none other talk in our House, in our Beds, at our Meat, and by the way, but all Truth.
Darbishire (Bonners Kinsman) telling him, he was too curious; for he would have nothing but his pretty Gods Book: he answered, And is it not sufficient for my salvation? Yes (said D.) for our salvation; but not for our instruction. God send me the salvation (said H.) and you the instruction.
Bonner threatning him again: You are (said he) in the hands of God, and so am I. — That which I have said, I will stand to it God willing, there is no way to remove it.
Bonner telling him that a Fagot would make him know and believe the Sacrament of the Altar: No, no (said he) a point for your Fagot. What God thinketh meet to be done, that shall ye do, and more ye shall not do.
Bonner telling him, That he was willing to teach him, but he was so stubborn, that he would not learn: Except ye learn me (said he) by the Word of God, I will never credit you, nor believe you.
Harpsfield telling him, If his Child died unchristened, he was damb'd and his Child both: Iudge you no farther (said he) then ye may by the Scritures. — How can your Child being an Infant (said Harpsfield) believe?Pag. 259. The deliverance of it (said Hankes) from sin standeth in the faith of his Parents: Saint Paul saying,1 Cor. 7. — Else were your Children unclean. To trust to any (said Bonner) we bid you not; but to pray to them, we bid you: They that list (said Hankes) receive your Doctrine. You teach me, that I should not believe, nor trust in any, but to call on them; and Saint Paul saith, How shall I call on him, on whom I believe not?
Bonner calling him fool: he said, A Bishop must be blameless, or faultless, sober, discreet, no chider, nor given to anger.
Mr. Hankes telling Bonner, That Christ saith, These tokens shall follow them that believe in me: Pag. 260. Mark 16They shall speak with new tongues, c…st out Devils; and if any drink deadly poyson, it shall not hurt them. Bonner ask'd him, With what new tongues do ye speak? Forsooth (said Hankes) where before I came to the knowledge of Gods Word, I was a foul Blasphemer and filthy talker. Since I came to the knowledge thereof, I have praised God with the s…me tongue, and is not this a new tongue? How do you (said Bonner) cast out Devils? Christ (said Hankes) did c…st them out by his Word; and he hath left the same Word, that whosoever doth credit, and believe it, shall c…st out Devils. Did you (said Bonner) ever drink deadly poyson? Yea forsooth thee I have (said Hankes) for I have drunk of the p…stilent Traditions and Ceremonies of the Bishop of Rome.
Bonner threatning that he should be burnt for an Heretick: Where prove ye (said Hankes) that Christ, or his Apostles did kill any man for his faith? Did not Paul (said B.) excommunicate? Yes, my Lord (said H.) but there is a great difference between excommunication, and burning. — If you will have us grant you to be of God, then shew mercy; for that God requireth.
An old Bishop perswading him to learn of his Elders to bear somewhat: I will bear with nothing (said he) that is contrary to the Word of God.
Pag. 261.Fecknam charging him for building his Faith on Latimer, …ranmer, Ridley, &c. I build my Faith (said he) upon no man, and that ye well know; for if those men, and as many more, as they be, should recant, and deny that they have said, or done, yet will I stand to it, and by this shall ye know that I build my Faith upon no man.
Chadsey asking him, What he said of the Bishop of Rome? From him (said he) and all his detestable enormities, good Lord deliver us.
Bonner saying, You speak of Idols, and you know not what they mean: God hath taught us what they be; (said Hankes) for whatsoever is made, graven, or devised by mans hand, contrary to Gods Word, the same is an Idol..
Pag. 262.Chadsey telling him, It was pity he should live: In this case (said he) I desire not to live, but rather to die. — I wou…d my part might be to morrow.
Bonner threatning to send him to Newgate: My Lord (said he) you can do me no better p…easure.
Pag. 263.Bonner telling the Keeper, His Prisoner would not go to the Sermon: Yes, my Lord (said he) I pray you let me go, and that that is good I will receive, and the rest I will leave behind me.
Bonner asking after his imprisonment, Whether he was the same man he was before? he answered, I am no Changeling, nor none will be.
Miles Huggard asking him, Where he proved that Infants were to be baptized? Go teach all Nations (said he) baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Sir, here is none excepted.
Bonner threatning him again:Pag. 264. Ye shall do no more (said he) then God shall give you leave. — As for your cursings, railings, and blasphemings, I care not for them; for I know the moths and worms shall eat you, as they eat cloth or wooll.—
His examination he writ himself, and subscribed it, T.H. Who desireth all faithful men, and Brethren, to pray unto God to strengthen me in his Truth unto the end. Pray, pray, pray, gentle Brethren, pray.
Bonner advising him at his publick examination to speak advisedly;Pag. 265▪ for he stood upon life and death: Well (said he) I will willingly receive what shall be put unto me. — My Lord, as you be my friend in causing these my sayings to be written; so do you cause them to be read, and yet I will never go from them.
Being exhorted to return again to the bosome of the Mother Church: No, my Lord, (said he) that will I not; for if I had an hundred bodies, I would suffer them all to be t…rn in pieces, rather then I will abjure, or reca…t.
Some of his Friends being not a little confirmen by his example, and discourses, yet being somewhat afraid of so sharp a punishment, desired him a little before his death, that in the midst of the flame he would shew some token, if he could, whereby they might be more certain, whether the pain of burning were so great,Pag. 266. that a man might not therein keep his mind quiet and patient▪ Whereupon it was agreed between them, that if the rage of the pain were tolerable, then he should lift up his hands above his head towards Heaven, before he gave up the ghost. Accordingly, when he had continued long in the fire, his speech taken away, his skin drawn together, his fingers consumed, so that all concluded he was dead; contrary to all expectation, he reached up his hands, burning on a light fire, over his head, to the living, God and with great rejoycing (as it seemed) clapped them three times together.
He was burned to ashes, Iune 10. 1555.
In his Letter to the Congregation. —
The holy Spirit conduct and lead you all in all your doings, that you may alwayes direct your deeds according to his holy Word, that when he shall appear to reward every man according to his works, ye may as obedient children, be found watching, ready to enter into his everlasting Kingdome, with your Lamps burning, and not be ashamed of this life, which God hath lent you, &c. All flesh (saith the Prophet) is gr…ss, and all his glory as the flower of the field, which for a season sheweth her beauty, and as soon as the Lord blowe…h upon it, it withereth away, and departeth. Here we are as Pilgrims and Strangers, following the footsteps of Moses, among many unspeakable dangers, &c. — in danger of that dreadful Dragon, and his sinful seed, to be tempted, devoured, and tormented, who ceaseth not behind every Bush to lay a ba…t, &c. casting abroad his Apples in all places, times, and seasons, to see if Adam will be allured and enticed to leave the living God, and his most holy commandment, &c. promising the world at will, to all that will fall down, and for a mess of pottage sell, and set at naught the everlasting Kingdome of Heaven. — Therefore I am bold in bonds (as entirely desiring your everlasting felicity) to warn you, and most heartily desire you to watch and pray. — On the high mountains doth not grow most plenty of grass, neither are the highest trees farthest from danger, but seldome sure, and alwayes shaken of every wind that bloweth. Such a deceitful thing (saith our Saviour) is honour and riches, that without grace, it choketh up the good seed sown, &c. It maketh a man think himself somewhat, that is nothing at all; for though for our honour we esteem our selves, and stand in our own light, yet when we shall stand before the living God, there shall be no respect of persons;Prov. 1. for riches helpeth not in the day of vengeance, nor can we make the Lord partial for money.
—Though the world rage, and blaspheme the Elect of God, ye know that it did so unto Christ, his Apostles, and to all that were in the Primitive Church, and shall be unto the worlds end. — I beseech you in the bowels of Christ my Lord Jesus, stick fast unto the Truth: let it never depart out of your hearts and conversations, &c.
Yours in him that liveth for ever.
In his Letter to his Wife, Pag. 267.after his Condemnation. —
I exhort you to love God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, &c. To lay sure hold on all his promises, that in all your troubles you may run strait to the great mercy of God, &c. And be sure that neither Devil, Flesh, nor Hell shall be able to hurt you. But if you will not keep his holy Precepts, and call for Gods help to walk in the same, but will leave them, and do as the wicked world does, then be sure to have your part with the wicked world in the burning lake. Beware of Idolatry, which most of all stinks in Gods Nostrils, and hath been of all good men detested from the beginning of the world, for the which what Kingdomes, &c. God hath punished with most terrible plagues, &c. to the utter subversion of them, is manifestly to be seen through the whole Bible; yea, for this he draadfully plagued his own people, &c. But how he hath preserved those that abhorred superstition and idolatry, &c. is also to be seen from the beginning, out of what great danger he hath delivered them; yea, when all hope of deliverance was past, as touching their expectation, &c. I exhort you also in the bowels of Christ, that you will exercise, and be stedfast in Prayer, the onelyonly mean to obtain of God whatsoever we desire, so it be askt in Faith. O what notable things do we read in Scripture, that have been obtained through fervent Prayer! — Whatsoever you desire of God in Prayer, ask it for Jesus Christ's sake, for whom and in whom God hath promised to give us all things necessary. Though what we ask come not by and by, continue still knocking, and he will at length open his treasures of mercy, &c. — Yet once again I warn you, that ye continue fervent in Prayer, &c.
Pag. 268.In his Letter to Mr. Throgmorton. —
Whereas the love of God hath moved you to require my Son to be brought up before your eyes, and the self same love hath also moved me to leave him in your hands as a Father in my absence, I shall require you in Gods behalf, according to your promise, that ye will see him brought up in the fear of the Lord, and instructed in the knowledge of his holy Word, that he may learn to leave the evil, and know the good, &c. And this I require you to fulfill, or cause to be fulfilled, as ye before the Living God will make answer for the same.—
Yours, and all mens in Christ Iesus.
Hector.
Bartholomew Hector, Fox, Vol. 2. pag. 155.being condemned, was threatned, that if he spake any thing to the People, his Tongue should be cut off; yet he did not forbear.
He pray'd for the Judges, That God would forgive them, and open their eyes.
He refused a Pardon, offered him at the Stake.
At his Death many wept, saying, Why doth this man die, who speaketh of nothing but of God?
When he was called before Authority to be examined,Fox, Vol. 3. cont. pag. 5. he would answer them to nothing before he had made his Prayer to God: Whereupon falling down upan his knees, he said, Lord, open my mouth, and direct my Speech to utter that onelyonly, that may tend to thy honour and glory, and the edification of thy Church.
When he was bound to the Stake, Gunpowder and Brimstone was brought to be placed about him; he lifting up his eyes to Heaven, said, Lord, how sweet and welcome is this to me?
Hernaudes.
Mr. Iulian Hernaudes, Fox, Vol. 3. cont. p. 14.(a Spanish Martyr) came from the Wrack, and the Tortures of the Inquisition inflicted on him, for bringing with him, and causing to be brought into Spain, many Books of the Holy Scriptures in Spanish) as from a Conquest, saying to his Fellow-prisoners as he past by them, These Hypocrites are gone away confounded, no less then wolves, that have been long hunted.
When he was brought forth to his Execution, he said to the rest, Courage, my valiant and constant Brethren, now is the hour come, in which as the true Champions of Iesus Christ, we must witness his Truth before men, and for a short tryal for his sake we shall triumph with him for ever and ever.
Herwyn.
Fox, Vol. 3. cont. p. 17.When Iohn Herwyn of Flanders, was led to Prison, the Bailiffe meeting certain Drunkards in the Street, and saying, They say we have many Gospellers in Houscot, but it little appears by these disorders: he replied, Mr. Bailiffe, is drunkenness a sin? What of that (said the Bailiffe) Why then (said Herwyn) commit you not these fellows to Prison, seeing it is your office to punish vice, and to protect such as fear God?
After he was in Prison, because he was not called forth before the Magistrates, assoon as he desired and expected, he grew heavy and sad, asking, Why they so delayed the matter? for his heart was fired with an holy zeal to confess Christ before his Judges.
When he was brought forth, he admonished his Judges to examine the Doctrine of the Roman Church by the true Touch-stone, which is the holy Scripture, that so they might discern how opposite and contrary the one is to the other. Consider also (said he) what the words of St. Peter import, where the affirms, That we ought to obey God rather then man, &c.
When he craved for Justice, either one way or another, they urged him to desist from his Opinion; but he answered, That his faith was not built on an Opinion, Psal. 14.but (said he) the Lord hath taught me to eschew evil, and do good.
Seest thou not (said they) how these opinions have troubled the world? and how many of the learneder sort do contradict them? So far is it off (said he) that the Doctrine of the Gospel should be the cause of troubles, debates and strifes, which raign in the world. These troubles indeed arise from the rage of men. And as for your learned men, it is impossible for humane wisedom to comprehend the Doctrine of God; for which cause Christ saith, Father I thank thee, that thou hast hid these secrets from the wise men of the world, and hast revealed them unto Babes.
When those two Malefactors that were coupled with him brake Prison and fled, he might have escaped, but fearing his flight might be imputed to the godly Christians in the City, he would not fly.
When he was advertised of his Sentence, He thanked God for advancing him to so high an honour as to be counted worthy to suffer for his Name.
As he passed forth from the Court, viewing the people, who waited to see him, he said, See here how this wicked world rewards the poor Servants of Christ. Whilst I gave my self to drunkenness, &c. I was never in danger of these bands (lifting up his hands which were bound) I was then counted a good fellow, and at that time, who but I? But no sooner began I by conversion to ask after a godly life, but the world made war upon me, and became my enemy, persecuting and imprisoning me, and now lest of all sending me to the place where I must pay my last debt. Mat. 10.24. Iohn 15.20.But the Servant is no better then his Lord; for seeing they persecuted him, no question they will persecute us.
At the Stake he said, Brethren, I fight under the Standard, and in the quarrel of my great Lord and Captain Christ. — I am now going to be crucified; follow you me, when God of his goodness shall call yo… to it.
He was burnt Nov. 4. An. 1560.
Hierome.
I find two of this Name.
Fox, Vol. 2. pag. 5…4.1. Mr. William Hierome, Vicar of Stepney near London.
Being accused for preaching against Magistrates, he affirmed (as before he had preached) That … Magistrate of himself could make any Law or Laws … bind the infe…i ur people, unless it were by the power and authority of his or their Princes to him or them given, but onelyonly the Prince. Adding, If the Prince make Laws consenting to Gods Laws, we are bound to obey them; and if he make Laws repugnant to the Laws of God, &c. yet we are bound not violently to resist, or grudge against him.
At the Stake he gave the following Exhortation to the people;Pag. 527. I say unto you, good Brethren, that God hath b…ught us all with no small price, neither with gold, nor silver, nor other such things of small value, but with his most precious blood. Be not unthankful therefore, but do what you can to keep his Commandments, Pag. 528.i. e: love your Brethren. — If God hath sent thee plenty, help thy neighbour that hath need, give him good counsel, if he lack. — Bear your Cross with Christ. — Let all Christians put no trust nor confidence in their works, but in the blood of Christ, to whom I commit my soul, beseeching you all to pray to God for me, and for my Brethren here present with us, &c.