A New Martyrology, Introduction 1 – Martyrology
THE INTRODUCTION.
NOthing can be plainer to any man that is but moderately vers'd in History, than that upon any Turn of Affairs, whoever has won or lost, or whatever Party is uppermost, the great Enemy of Mankind has some way or other advanced his own Interest, and got some plausible Argument for Atheism or Profaneness. And the reason of it is evident, for those who are in the Highest Stations, by a weakness incident to most, we might perhaps say, all of Mankind, are apt immediately to conclude themselves the Beloved of Heaven, and that Providence favours only them, as it did the Jews, to the neglect, if not detriment of the rest of the World. But no sooner is the Wheel turn'd; and either by the inscrutable Providence of God, or the Wickedness of Men, or their own Male-administration of Affairs, those who are uppermost thrown out of the Helm, to make room for the next set of Governours; when those who ascend, take the same Notions with their Predecessors; while such as are gotten under, with all whom Interest, or Guilt, or Prejudice more closely united to the former Administration, grow discontented and uneasie; and if their Designs and Expectations are more and more frustrated, morose and melancholy; The more devout among 'em will be sure to call whoever Suffer in opposition to the established Government, Heroes and Martyrs; and be ever prophesying of some sudden turn, and visible appearance of Heaven to confound their Enemies. But the profane or hypocritical Party, which we may without breach of Charity suppose very large on all sides, very naturally run into the other extream: They'll fly out into frets and passions; and because God does not think fit to govern the World according to their Minds, impotently pronounce, That there is no God at all, That Religion's a meer Cheat, and Heaven and Hell but Priest-craft and Fable.
But notwithstanding the difference in opinion, and all sides arrogating as much as possible to themselves, there are yet hardly any Men to be found so senslesly sceptical, as to deny the differences of Right and Wrong, Good and Evil. That it hugely alters the Case to consider, whether opposition has been made against a lawful, or unlawful Power; whether the means be legal or no, or the Reasons sufficient to countervail all the mischiefs that may arise from such undertakings: Whether such as do it have any right, or concern to warrant their Actions; whether for or against, in defence or opposition to the Laws of Nature and Nations: VVhether those that suffer, meet with their misfortunes in the discharge of their Duty, or opposing others in theirs. Or if the Quarrel be Religion; VVhether that Religion on which it is grounded, be a false or a true one. And 'tis from the Examination of such particulars as these whence 'twill appear, whether they are Patriots or Rebels, stubborn Enthusiasts, or holy Martyrs.
Now as oft as the iniquity of the Times encourages Vice, and depresses▪ Vertue; Raises those who are consent to be Slaves themselves, so they may but make others so, and trample on others, while they are kick'd themselves; while it industriously opposes the very sparks of Ingenuity and Liberty, and takes off as fast as possible, either by Clandestine Plots, or open Cruelty, whoever dare be any braver, or better, or honester than their Neighbo…rs; while Providence all the while seems to nod, and sit an unconcerned Spectator of the Ravage that's made in the VVorld; then there's no little danger, lest even those who are truly, though weakly religious and virtuous, should yet be hurried away in the stream of sour and melancholy Thoughts; be tempted to think with the Royal Prophet, that all things were carried caeco impetu, that they have cleansed their Heart in vain; and be almost ready with him, to condemn the Generation of the righteous.
'Tis a question whether ever any Age in the VVorld gave more advantage and colour for these kind of Thoughts than this last, wherein we have had the sad experience of Debauchery and Villany rampant and triumphant, and to all appearance, most prosperous and happy; wherein 'twas much more dangerous either to be distinguishingly vertuous, or to forsake Villany, than to continue in one, and laugh at t'other; when so many of the Flower of our Nobility and Gentry, either lost their Lives or Estates, or Liberties, or Country; whilst a Crew of Parasites triumphed and fluttered in their Ruins. To see a Russel die meanly and ignobly in the Flower of his Age; an Essex or a Godfrey sacrified to the insatiable ambition and revenge of their Enemies, who yet not content with their Lives, would like the Italian, stab on after Death; and tho' they could not reach their Souls, endeavour to damn their Memories. These, and too many other such melancholy Instances would be ready to make a short-sighted Man exclaim with Hercules in the Tragoedian, That Vertue is but an empty Name, or at least could only serve to make its Owners more sensibly unhappy.
But altho' such Examples might a little work on a weaker Vertue; that which is more confirmed and solid can more easily resist it. 'Tis not impatient nor uneasie, but still beli…ves that Heaven is awake, that the Iron Hands of Justice will at length overtake the Offenders, and by their destruction vindicate the Honour and Innocence of those whom they have ruin'd. It considers any Riddles in Providence as a curious piece of Opticks, which, if judged of either before 'tis finished, or by pi…ce-meal, here an Eye, and there another distorted Feature, appears not only unpleasing, but really dreadful; which yet if viewed when 'tis compleat, and taking all the Features together, makes a Figure sufficiently regular and lovely.
VVho almost could have imagined, without some such Reflections as these, that those brave Men we have seen for some years past pick'd out, and cut off one after another with as much Scandal and Obloquy as cou'd be thrown upon 'em by the ungenerous Malice of their Enemies; when the very attempt to clear their Reputation has been made almost Capital, and involved those who had courage enough to attempt it in little less mischief than what they themselves endured: That over these Phoenixes should rise again, and flourish in their Ashes! That so many great Pens should already have done some of 'em Justice, and the VVorld as much to all the rest! And with how much more Joy, if'twere possible, would those Heroes have received their Crowns, could they have foreseen their Deaths wou'd have tended so far to work up the Nation to such a just resentment, as wou'd at last have so great an Influence, as we …d it had, on our late glorious Deliverance.
But since we have yet no form'd History of all those who have suffer'd under the Cruelty and Injustice, not to use so harsh a word as Tyranny, of late years; since such a design may be of no little use, both to show what our former Discords have cost us, and to vindicate the memories of the Sufferers, as well from the malice of their Enemies, as hasty kindn…ss of their Friends: and besides, to leave Posterity so many great Examples of those who preferr'd their Liberty and Religion before all else that was dear in the VVorld; and because they could not live Free, dy'd so. For such Reasons as these this VVork is undertaken, which, if it deserves the acceptance of the Reader, no doubt will find it; there being few good Books written which have not been favourably received in the VVorld.
If any be so weak to object, that the Subjects of this History are ill match'd, some of 'em being of one Communion, and some of another: It might be enough to send 'em to Fox's Martyrology for an Answer (tho' some few years since 'tis granted this Objection wou'd have look'd more dreadful) wh…re they may find Hooper and Ridley differing in their Opinions, but yet agreeing at the Stake, and accordingly ranged by that great Man in the same noble Army.
The Kindness and Gratitude of the Courts of England and Rome made no distinction between 'em; nay, not so much as to eat either of them last, but as occasion served, took one or t'other. Fas est ab hoste—and since they made no difference in their Deaths, altho' they endeavour'd it as much as possible in their Lives; since there's no doubt there's none betwixt 'em now, but they all agree in Heaven: I see no Reason why any Party should envy the other that Glory, which for suffering in the same Cause, they … deserve.
There has been formerly some Discourse about Town of a weak or malicious Design a-foot, to publish an History of Persecutions, and charge it on one particular Party of Protestants▪ But as such a thing wou'd be most pernicious to the Common Cause, so God knows, if it should go round, it would be endless. This design is quite contrary, as 'its hoped its effects will be. 'Tis to lay the Fault where it ought to be, and make those Friends, who have been too long impos'd upon, almost to each others Ruine.
Others may be offended with the Title of Martyrs and Martyrdom, which so often occurs in the following Papers; both because some of those concerned were accused for Plots against the Government, and others were in actual Arms. But 'tis possible for a Person at the same time to be a Church and State Martyr. Naboth's accusation was for speaking blasphemous VVords against God and the King. The Apostles of our Saviour▪ and the Christians afterwards, were accused as those who turned the VVorld▪ upside down, and Enemies of the Empire. These Answers, 'tis own'd, may be accommodated to any Party, being general things; but in the Body of the Discourse we hope to fix 'em, and to prove in particular of the Persons mention'd, that they deserv'd that great Name, both on account of the Cause, and their dying so unjustly, many ways, from …he Perjury of their Accusers, or the Inequality of their Judges, or corruption of Juries; and that really because they would not yield themselves, but made a vigorous opposition against Popery and Slavery. For the VVestern Martyrs, we intend a distinct account of 'em at the beginning of those Transactions.
One thing more …at may choak such as have a mind to quarrel, is the … faults, and in some, or at least one Instance, vicious habits, and ill Life of those whom we give that high Character. But if little Failures if Heats and Weaknesses were any valuable Objection against the Worth or Honesty of a Person, 'twould be impossible to make any tolerable defence even for many of those great Men, who were the happy Instruments of our Reformation: Tho it may seen an excuse dull and common, yet there's none who does not find it nec…ssary on his own account; That allowances are to be made for the best of Men. Cranmer and the rest of our Reformers, as the Learned Dr. Burnet observes in his Letter to Mr. Thevenot: Tho' we piously believe 'em Saints and Martyrs, yet never pretended to be infallible: They were Men, and so were these, tho' they suffer'd for the same Causes, and almost in the same manner. For such as liv'd ill, if there is more than one instance, this certainly will be sufficient, that they dy'd well, and gave all the tokens of a hearty repentance for their not having liv'd up to so good a Profession.
Let us then do 'em Justice now they are dead, who so nobly defended the Cause of our holy Religion while they were living, and at last so freely and joyfully at their Death, seal'd it with their dearest Blood. If in any accounts met with here, some Persons shou'd find some particular Words or Phrases not so usual with 'em, let 'em not be so weak or unjust to condemn them as Cant or Nonsense. What reason is there why every Man should not express himself in that way which likes him best, and with which he has been more acquainted? And what matters it, if I'm discours'd to in Yorkshire, or London Dialect, so I talk with an honest Man, and our Sentiments agree, tho' our words may a little differ? Especially, when as before was remark'd, all of 'em suffer'd for the same Caus… ▪ and with this considerable Circumstance, that the first, and some of the last Victims of Popish Cruelty, were entirely agreeable in their Judgments, as to the manners and merits of their Death. Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, who begins the Rubrick, having notoriously declared, some days before his Death, That he believed in his Conscience he should be the first Martyr: And some of those who went last to Glory, as will appear below, mentioning this as one of their greatest Comforts, that they should, in after Ages, be enrolled among the rest of the Protestant Martyrs.
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To make the Book Pleasant as well as Profitable, there are inserted some Poems and Elegies made by an ingenious Person, who was particularly acquainted with many of those who are the Subjects of 'em.
An Emblem of our late Martyrs.
Sr. Ed: Bury Godfrey
I. DUKE of Monmouth:
The Earle of Argile
Arth: Earle of Essex:
Wm. Ld. Russell.
Collonell Sydney.
Alderman Cornish
Mr. wm Hewling.
Mr. Wm. Ienkins.
The Lady Lisle:
Mrs. Gaunt.
Sr. Tho: Armstrong
These all dyed in Faith
Heb: 11.13