Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 32 – Account 37
A note of Iohn Hullier Minister and Martyr burned at Cambridge.
COncerning the story of Iohn Hullier, Martyr, partly mentioned before pag. 1864. for the more ful declaratiō of the death and martirdome of that good man,… this to the story of Iohn H…lier …artyr. pag … …ory of Iohn Hul… with …. Iohn Hul… first … in the … Colledge. … Linne …. because the story is but rawly and imperfectly touched before for the more perfetting thereof, I thought thereunto to adde that which since hath come to my hand, as foloweth.
First Iohn Hullier was brought vp at Eaton colledge and after, according to the foūdation of that house, for that he was ripe for the vniuersitye, he was elected scholer in ye kinges colledge where also not tarying full the 3. yeares of probation, before he was felow of the Colledge, he after a litle season was one of the x. Conductes in the kinges colledge, which was an. 1539. Then at length in processe of time, he came to be Curate of Babrame 3. miles from Cā bridge, and so went afterward to Linne: where he hauing diuers conflictes with the papistes, was from thence caried to Ely, to D. Thuriby then bishop there: who after diuers examinations, sent him to Cambridge Castle, where he remayned but a while.
From thence he was conueyed to the town prison cō monly called the Tolboth, lying there almost a quarter of a yere, while at lēgth he was cited to appeare at great S. Maries on Palmsonday euē, before diuers Doctors, both Diuines & Lawyers, amongest whō was chiefest Doctor Shaxton, also Doct. Young, D. Sedgewike, Doct. Scot, Mitch, and others. Where after examination had, for that he would not recant, he was first condemned, the sentence being read by D. Fuller.
Then consequētly he was disgraded after their popish maner with scraping crowne and handes. When they had disgraded him,H…llier disgraded. he sayd cherefully: this is the ioyfullest day that euer I saw, and I thank ye all, that ye hauehave deliuered and lightened me of all this paltry.
In the meane time whilest it was doyng, one standing by, asked Hullier what book he had in his hand. Who aunswered a testamēt. Wherat this man in a rage tooke it and threw it violently frō him.Brasey Mayor of Cambridge. Thē was he geuen ouer to the secular powers, Brasey being Maior, who carying him to prison, agayne, took from him all his bookes, writinges, & papers.
On Maundy Thursday comming to the stake, he exhorted the people to pray for him, & after holding his peace and praying to himselfe, one spake to him saying,Brisley Sergeant, persecutor. the Lord strenthē thee. Wherat a Sergeant named Brisley, stayed & bad him hold his toung or els he should repent it.
Neuerthelesse Hullier answered and sayd (either thus or very like the effect was all one) frende I truste that as God hath hitherto begon, so also he will strengthen me,Hulliars stedfast trust in God. & finish his work vpō me. I am bidden to a Maundy, whether I trust to goe, & there to be shortly. God hath layd the foundation, and I by his ayd will end it.
Then goyng to a stoole (prepared for hym to sit on) to hauehave his hosen plucked of, he desired the people to pray for him agayne, and also to beare witnesse that he dyed in the right faith, and that he would seale it with his bloud certifying them that he dyed in a iust cause, and for the testimony of the verity and truth,Hullier preparing himselfe to the stake. & that there was no other rocke but Iesus Christ to builde vponupon, vnderunder whose banner he fought, and whose souldiour he was: and yet speaking, he turned himselfe about towards the East, and exhorted the people there likewise.
Now it chaunced on a bancke to stande three Archpapistes George Boyes, Henry Barley, & Gray,Three notorious Papistes in Trinitye Colledge. all three of Trinity Colledge. This Boyes was one of the Proctors of the Uniuersity that yeare. To whome Mayster Graye spake, saying: heare ye not maister Proctor, what blasphemy this felow vttereth? surely it is euil done to suffer him.
At whose words, this Boyes spake with a loud voice: M. Maior, what meane ye? if ye suffer him thus to talke at liberty, I tell ye the Counsell shall heare of it,Boyes Proctour of Cambridge. and we take you not to be the Queenes frend. He is a pernitious person, and may do more harme then ye wote of. Wherat simple Hullier as meeke as a Lambe, taking the matter very patiently, made no answere, but made him ready vttering his prayer. Which done, he went meekely himselfe to the stake, and with chaines being bound, was beset with reed & wood, stāding in a pitchbarrell, & the fire being set to,The Martyrdome of Iohn Hullier. not marking the winde, it blew the flame to his backe. Thē he feeling it, began earnestly to call vponupon God. Neuertheles his frendes perceiuing the fire to be ill kindled, caused the Sergeantes to turne it and fire it in that place where the winde might blow it to his face.
That done, there was a cōpany of bookes which were cast into the fire, and by chaunce a Communion booke fell betwene his handes, who receyuing it ioyfully, opened it,Bookes burned with Hullier. & read so long as the force of the flame & smoke caused him that he could see no more: and then he fell agayne to prayer holding his handes vp to heauen, & the booke betwixte his armes next his hart, thanking God for sending him it: and at that time the day being a very fayre day & a whote, yet the winde was somewhat vp, and it caused the fier to be the fiercer,The last wordes of Iohn Hullier at his death. and when al the people thought he bad bene dead, he sodenly vttered these wordes: Lord Iesu receaue my spirit, dying very meekely
The place where he was burned is called Iesus grene, not farre from Iesus Colledge. Seager gaue him certeine gunpouder, but little to ye purpose: for he was dead before it took fire. All the people praied for him, and many a teare was shed for him. Which the Papistes seing, cried, he was not to be prayed for, & being but a dāned man,Papists of Cambridge forbid the people to pray for Hullier. it could profit him nothing: neuertheles they cōtinued praying. Wherat the Papistes fell in such a rage that they manaced them with terrible threatninges to ward. His flesh beyng cōsumed, his bones stood vpright euē as if they had bene aliue. Of the people some took as they could get of him, as pieces of bones. One had his hart…, the which was distributed so farre as it would go: one took the scalpe and looked for the toung, but it was consumed except the very roote.
One roūded him in the eare and desired him to be constaunt to the end, at which he spake nothing, but shewed a ioyful countenaunce, and so continued both constaunt and ioyfull to the end.
A Note of Thomas Rede.
THo. Rede who was burned at Lewes, as it appeareth aboue pag. 1807. before he was in prison,Referre this to Thomas Rede, Martyr. pag. 1807. determined wt himselfe to go to church. The night following, he sawe in a vision, a company of talle young men in white, very pleasant to behold: to whō he would hauehave ioyned himself, but it would not be.Anno 1557. August.
Then he looked on himselfe and he was full of spottes, & therewith waked & tooke hold and stood to the truth: god be thanked therefore, and so constantly was burned wyth his felowes, as is aboue specified. pag. 2095.
¶Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper burnt at Norwich.
Iuly. 13. Simon Miller a Marchant, Martyr.IN the MonethMonth of Iulye nexte ensued the Martyrdome of Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper. This Simon dwelling then in the Towne of Linne, a Godly and zealous man in the knowledge of the Lord and of his trueth, detesting and abhorring the contrary enforced Religiō thē set forth, came from Linne to Norwich, where he standing in the prease and hearing of the people, comming out the same time from their popish seruice ended in the Churche,The wordes of Simon Miller to the people. The cause why Simon Miller was taken. began to aske them comming out of the Church, where he might go to hauehave the communiō. At which wordes diuers much maruelling to heare & see his boldnes, one that was an euill disposed Papist, hearing ye same, said: yt if he would needs go to a communion, he would go bring him thither where he should be sped of his purpose. Wherupō shortly after hee was brought to the Chauncellour of Norwiche (whose name was Dunning:) who after a few wordes & small talk passed with this examinate, committed him to Warde.
In the meane while as he was in examination, he had in his shoo his confession written in a certein paper,Simon Miller examined before Doctour Dunning. Simon Millers confession espyed in his shoe. wherof a peece appearing aboue his shoo, was spyed and taken out. The Chauncellour asking if he would stand to the cō fession of the same fayth therin conteined, he constantly affirmed the same. Wherupō as is sayd, he was committed. Thus the sayd Simon being in the Bishops house vnderunder custody of the keper there called M. Felow, how it happened it is not certayne, whether by gentlenesse of the keper (who was somewhat gentle that wayes) or by leaue geuē of the Bishop: or els whether he had cōdescended of a purpose to theyr articles,Simon Miller dismissed to his house at Linne. Simon Miller returneth agayn to his confession & is condemned. he was dismissed and went home to his house at Linne. Where hee continued a certayne space, while he had disposed and set there all things in order.
That done, he returned againe to the bishops house to his prison and keeper, till the time at length he cōstantly abiding in his professed purpose, & defence of Gods trueth, was by the sayd byshop and his Chauncellour cōdemned and committed to the fire about the xiij. day of Iuly.
¶Elizabeth Cooper Martyr.
WIth this Simon Miller also was burnt one Elizabeth Cooper (as is aforesayde) a Pewterers Wife,Elizabeth Cooper, Martyr. dwelling in Saynt Andrewes parish in Norwich, where she had before recanted, and beyng vnquyet for the same, and greatlye troubled inwardlye, at the last came into the sayd Saynt Andrewes Church, the people beyng at theyr popish seruice, and there standing in the same, sayde she reuoked her recantation before made in that place, and was hartely sorye that euer she did it,Elizabeth Cooper reuoketh her recantation in the open Church. willing the people not to bee deceiued, neither to take her doynges before for an example. &c. These or suche like woordes shee spake in the Church.
Then cryed one Bacon of the sayd Parish, laying hys armes abroade, saying: Mayster Shiriffe, will you suffer this? and repeating the same, vrged hym to goe from the church to her house, at whose knocking she came downe, & was taken and sent to prison.
The Shrieffe agaynst his will enforced to lay handes vponupon Elizabeth Cooper.This Shiriffe (named M. Thomas Sutterton) & she had bene seruauntes together before in one house, & for the frendship he bare vntounto her, & the more for the gospels sake he was very loth to do it, but that he was inforced by those other persons (before specified) much against his owne cō science, which he now earnestly repenteth.
This good woman being condemned, and at the stake with Simon Miller to be burnt, when the fire came vntounto her, she a little shronke thereat, with a voyce crying once, ha. When the sayd Simon Miller hearde the same, he put his hand behinde him towarde her, and willed her to bee strong, and of good cheare: For good sister (said he) we shall hauehave a ioyfull and a sweete supper. Whereat she beyng, as it seemed thereby strengthened, stoode as still and as quiet as one moste glad to finish that good worke whiche before most happely shee had begonne.Elizabeth Coo… strengthned … the stake by Simon Miller. So in fine she ended her life with her companion ioyfully, committing her soule into the handes of almighty God.
¶The Martyrdome of x. faythfull and blessed Martyrs, fiue men and fiue women, burnt at Colchester, fiue in the forenoone, and fiue in the afternoone, for the testimony and witnesse of Christ Iesus and his glorious Gospell.
AS it is no n…w thing in those whom we call Prelates and Priestes of the Churche,August. 2. The Martyrdome of 10. godly Martyrs, 5. men and 5. women, at Colchester. to be raysers vp of persecution agaynst Christ and his poore flocke: so is it much to be maruelled or rather lamented, that noble persons, and mē of honor, and worship, would be made such Ministers to serue the affections of these tyrauntes, as commonly, as well in all ye sorowful dayes of the late Queene Mary, as namely in this present story is to be marked.
And first thou remembrest (gentle Reader) how mention was made a litle before pag. 1863. of xxij. which were sent vp prisoners together from Colchester to London by the Earle of Oxforde, the Lord Darcy, Maister Tyrrell of Saynt Osithes, and other Commissioners & Iustices. &c. The which xxij. (as is aforesayd) through a gentle submission put vntounto them, were afterward released & deliuered.
In the number of these foresayd xxij. was one William Mount of Muchbently in Essex, husbandman,W. Mount, Alice his wyfe, Rose Allin her daughter. with Alice his wife, and Kose Allin mayd, the daughter of the said Alice Mount: whiche comming home agayne to their house at Muchbently aforesayde, refrayned themselues from the vnsauery seruice of the Popish Churche, and frequēted the company of good men and women which gaue themselues diligently to reading, inuocating, & calling vponupon the name of God through Christ: wherby they so fretted the wicked Priest of the towne called Syr Thomas Tye,Thomas Tye Priest, a wicked Promoter. & other like vntounto him, that casting theyr heades together, they made a pestilent Supplication to the Lord Darcy, in the name of the whole Parish, the tenour whereof hereafter foloweth.
¶The maner of a Supplication to the Lord Darcy, and by him deliuered to Syr Iohn Kingstone Priest and Commissary.
PLeaseth it your honorable Lordship to be aduertised yt we confesse,A supplication of the persecutors to the L. Darcy. whilest your good Lordship laye here in the country, the people were stayed in good order, to our great comfort: but since your Lordshippes departure, they hauehave made digression from good order in some places, & namely in the Parish of Muchbentley, by reason of three seditious persons, William Mount and his wife, & Rose her daughter, who by theyr colourable submission (as it doth appere) were dismist and sent nowne from the Bishop of London, and since theyr comming home thei hauehave not onelyonly in their owne persons shewed manifest signes and tokens of disobedience, in not comming to the Churche, nor yet obseruing other good orders: but also most maliciously and seditiously hauehave seduced many from comming to the Church, and frō obeying all other good orders, mocking also those that frequent the Church, and calling thē Church Owles, and blasphemouslye calling the blessed Sacrament of the aultar a blind God, with diuers such like blasphemies. In consideration whereof, may it please your honour (for the louelove of God, and for the tender zeale your good Lorshippe beareth to Iustice, and common peace and quietnes of the king and Queenes Maiesties louing subiectes) to award out your warrant for the sayd William Mount, his wife, & Rose her daughter, that they being attached & brought before your good Lordshippe, we trust the rest will feare to offend (their ring leaders of sedition being apprehēded) to the quietnes of theyr obedient subiectes.
Your dayly Orators the Parishioners of Muchbentley, Thomas Tye Priest, Iohn Carter, Cruell persecutors.Thomas Candeler, Iohn Barker, Richarde Mere, Iohn Paynter, William Harrys, Iohn Richard, with other.
This being done, the said sir Thomas Tye bethought with himselfe where the persecuted did resorte.Thomas Tye a false brother, & a bloudy persecutor. For in the beginning of Queene Maries reign, for a xij. monethmonth and more, he came not to the Church, but frequented the cōpanye of Godlye men and women, which absteined from the same, and as they thought, he laboured to keepe a good cō science, but the sequele shewed him to be a false brother.
Now (as I said) he partly knowing ye places of refuge for honest mē, did further enquire of other about ye same, & being therof sufficiently (as he thought) instructed to hys purpose, immediatly about ye time the supplication aboue specified was exhibited to ye sayd L. Darcy, wrote secretly a letter to Boner B. of Londō, wherin he maketh his accoūt how he had bestowed his time, & cōplayned of diuers honest mē, among the which was the sayd W. Mount & hys company. The tenour of which letter herafter foloweth.