A Cloud of Witnesses, Part L · Section 5 – Section 10
Lavoy.
Fox, Vol. 2. p. 129, 130.Mr. Aymond de Lavoy, a French Minister, having intelligence that some were sent to apprehend him; and being willed by his Friends to flie, and shift for himself, he said, That he had rather never to have been born, then so to do. It is the office of a good Shepherd, not to flie in time of peril, but rather to abide the danger, lest the Flock be scattered; or else, least in so doing, he should leave some scruple in their minds, Thus to think, That he had fed them with dreams and fables, contrary to the Word of God. Wherefore beseeching them to move him no more therein, he told them; That he feared not to yield up both body and soul in the quarrel of that Truth which he had taught, saying with St. Paul, I am ready not onelyonly to be bound for the testimony of Christ in the City of Bourdeaux, but to die also.
When his Hearers flew upon the Sumner to deliver their Preacher out of his hands, he desired them not to stop his Martyrdome, seeing it was the Will of God that he should suffer for him, he would not (said he) resist.
Whilst he was in Prison, he bewailed exceedingly his former life, though there was no man that could charge him outwardly with any crime.
One of the Presidents coming to him, and shaking him by his beard, bid him tell what fellows he had of his Religion. None (said he) but such as know and do the Will of God my Father, whether they be Nobles, Merchants, Husbandmen, or of whatsoever degree they be.
In his torments in Prison he comforted himself thus; This body once must die, but the Spirit shall live. The Kingdome of God abideth for ever.
In the time of his tormenting, being but of a weak body, he swounded: afterward coming to himself again, he said; O Lord, Lord, why hast thou forsaken me? The President answering, Nay wicked Lutheran, thou hast forsaken God; Alas! (said he) why do ye thus torment me? O Lord, I beseech thee, forgive them, they know not what they do.
All their tortures could not force him to confess one mans name; but he said unto them, I thought to have found more mercy with men; Wherefore I pray God I may find mercy with him.
To the Friers that came to confess him after his condemnation, he said; Depart, I will confess my sins to the Lord. Do ye not see how I am troubled enough with men? will ye yet trouble me more? others have had my body, will ye also take from me my soul? away from me.
At last he took a certain Carmelite, bidding the rest to depart, whom after much talk he did convert to the Truth.
Such trust have I (said he to the Judge) in my God, that the same day when I shall die, I shall enter into Paradise.
Pag. 131.The Church (said he) is a Greek word, signifying as much as Congregation or Assembly. And so I say, Whensoever the Faithfull do congregate together to the honour of God, and amplifying of Christian Religion, the Holy Ghost is verily with them. By this it should follow (said the Judge) that there be many Churches. It is no absurd thing (said he) to say there be many Churches or Congregations among the Christians;Gal. 1. and so speaketh St. Paul, To all the Churches which are in Galatia.
When the Judges left him, looking on him as a damned Creature, he said with St. Paul, Who shall separate me from the love of God, shall the sword, hunger, or nakedness; No, nothing shall pluck me from him.
As he was carried to the place of Execution, he sang Psal. 114. and preaching still as he went, one of the Souldiers bidding the Carter therefore to drive apace,Iohn 8. he said unto him, He that is of God heareth the Word of God.
Many being offended, that passing by an image of the Virgin Mary, he would not pray unto her; lifted up his voice to God, praying, That he would not suffer him at any time to invocate any other but him alone.
At his Execution he said, O Lord, Make haste to help me, tarry not, do not despise the work of thy hands: and you my Brethren, that be Students, I exhort you to learn the Gospel; for the Word of God abideth for ever. Labour to know the Will of God, and fear not them that kill the body, but have no power upon your souls. My flesh repugneth marvellously against the Spirit, but shortly I shall cast it away. I beseech you pray for me. O Lord my God, into thy hands I commend my soul.
Laurence.
I find three of this name recorded in the Book of Martyrs.
First,Fox. Vol. 1. pag. 92. Laurence the Deacon, when Xistus his Pastour was martyred under the Emperour Valerianus, was grieved that the Son should be secluded from the Father, that he should not suffer with him. Seeing him led alone as a Sheep to the slaughter, he cried out to him: O Dear Father, whither goest thou without the company of thy dear Son? whither hastenest thou, O Reverend Pastour, without thy Deacon? never wast thou wont to offer sacrifice without thy Minister? What crime is there in me, that offendeth thy fatherhood? Deniest thou unto him the fellowship of thy blood, to whom thou hast committed the distribution of the Lords blood? —
He having after three dayes respit promised the merciless Tyrant to declare where the Churches treasure lay,Pag. 93. caused a good company of poor Christians to be congregated, and when the day of his answer was come, and he was strictly charged to staud to his promise; he stretching out his arms over the poor, said; These are the precious treasure of the Church, these are the treasure indeed, in whom the faith of Christ reigneth, in whom Iesus Christ hath his mansion-place: What more precious jewels can Christ have, then those in whom he hath promised to dwell. It is written, I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink; I was harbourless, and ye lodged me. Look what ye have done to the least of these, the same have ye done to me. —
No tongue is able to expre…s the Tyrant's fury and madness hereupon. Kindle the fire of wood (saith he) make no spare. Hath this Villain deluded the Emperour? Away with him; away with him, whip him, buffet him, brain him, Jesteth the Traitor with the Emperour? roast him, boyl him, toss him, turn him on pain of our high Displeasure, do every one his office O ye Tormentors.
When he was on the fiery Gridiron, which was as a soft Bed of Down to him, he spake thus unto the Tyrant;
This side is now roasted enough,
Turn up O Tyrant great,
Essay whether roasted or raw
Thou think the better meat.
Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 200.Secondly, Iohn Laurence, who was burnt at Colchester, March 29. An. 1555.
He being not able to go, being lamed with Irons in Prison, was born to the fire in a Chair, and whilst he sate in the fire, the young children came about the fire, and cried as well as they could, Lord strengthen thy Servant, and keep thy promise; Lord strengthen thy Servant, and keep thy promise.
Thirdly, Henry Laurence, who was burnt at Canterbury, about the later end of August, the same year.
Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 393.He being required to put his hand to his Answers, wrote, Ye are all of Antichrist, and him ye fol; probably he would have written, And him ye follow, had not he been hindred.
Lawson.
Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 916.Elizabeth Lawson, continuing almost three years in Prison, in which time her own Son, and many others were burnt, said often; Good Lord, what is the cause that I may not yet come to thee with thy children? Well, good Lord, thy blessed Will be done, and not mine.
This good old Woman, about the age of sixty, before she went to Prison, had the Falling-sickness; but she told a friend of hers, That after she was apprehended, she never had it more.
Leafe.
Bonner pressing Iohn Leafe, Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 306.an Apprentice of London, to recant, he said, No; but I will die in that Doctrine that Mr. Rogers, Hooper, Cardmaker, &c. died for. — My Lord, you call mine Opinion Heresie, it is the true Light of the Word of God, and I profess I will never forsake my well-grounded Opinion, whilst I have breath in my body.
When two Bills were sent to him in the Counter in Breadstreet, the one containing a Recantation, the other his Confessions, to see which of them he would sign; when that which contained his Confessions was read (for he could neither read nor write) in stead of a Pen he took a Pin, and so pricking his hand, sprinkled the blood upon the said Bill, willing the Reader thereof to shew the Bishop, that he had sealed the same Bill with his blood already.
Lewes.
Mrs. Ioyce Lewes was converted by Mr. Iohn Glover, Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 838.who after she was in some trouble, willed her in any case not to meddle with that matter in respect of vain-glory, or to get her self a Name, shewing to her the great danger she was like to cast her self into, if she should meddle in Gods matter otherwise then Christ doth teach.
When the Bishop reasoned with her, she told him; I find not these things in Gods Word, which you urge and magnifie as things most needfull for mens Salvation. If these things were in the same Word of God commanded, I would with all my heart receive, esteem, and believe them. The Bishop answering, If thou wilt believe no more then is in the Scriptures, concerning matters of Religion, thou art in a damnable case; she was amazed, and being moved by the Spirit of God, told him, That his words were ungodly and wicked.
Pag. 839.When news was brought of the coming down of the Writ, de comburendo, &c. she sent for several Christians to consult with them how she might behave her self, that her death might be more glorious to the Name of God, comfortable to his people, and most discomfortable to the enemies of God. As for death (said she) I do not greatly pass, when I behold the amiable Countenance of Christ, my Dear Saviour, the ugly face of death doth not greatly trouble me.
Two Priests sending her word, that they were come to hear her Confession; she sent them word again, That she had made her Confession to Christ her Saviour, at whose hands she was sure to have forgiveness of her sins. As concerning the Cause, for the which she should die, she had no cause to confess that, but rather to give unto God most humble praise, that he did make her worthy to suffer death for his Word.
And as concerning that Absolution, That they were able to give unto her, by Authority from the Pope, she did defie the same, even from the bottom of her heart.
About three of the Clock in the morning, before her Execution, Satan questioned with her, How she could tell that she was chosen to eternal life, and that Christ died for her! I grant that he died, but that he died for thee, How canst thou tell? But Satan was soon put to flight, and she comforted in Christ, by arguing her Election, and Christ dying for her in particular from her Vocation, and the holy Spirit working in her heart love and desire towards God to please him, and to be justified by him through Christ, &c.
When the Sheriff about eight of the Clock that morning came into her Chamber, and told her bluntly, That she had but one hour to live, she was somewhat abashed; but being told by a friend, that she had great cause to praise God, that he will so speedily take her out of this world, &c. She said, Mr. Sheriff, your message is welcome to me, and I thank my God, that he will make me worthy to adventure my life in his quarrel.
In her Prayer, as she was going to the Stake, she desired God most instantly to abolish the idolatrous Mass, and to deliver this Realm from Popery. To which most of the People said Amen, yea the Sheriff himself.
Lucius.
He said to Urbicius a corrupt Judge,Ward, pag. 139. threatning death; I thank you with all my heart, that free me and release me from wicked Governours, and send me to my good and loving Father.