Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 113 – Account 119
¶Thomas Sprat of Kent, Tanner
VNtoUnto these afore rehearsed examples of Gods blessed prouidence towardes his seruauntes,The story of Thomas Sprat & William Porrege. may also be added the happy deliueraunce of Thomas Sprat and William Porrege his companion, now Minister. Whose story briefly to course ouer, is this.
This Thomas Sprat had bene seruaunt sometimes to one M. Brent a Iustice,M. Brent Iustice in Kent, a persecutour. and a heauy persecutour, and therefore forsaking his Mayster for religious sake, he wēt to Calice, from whence he vsed often with the sayd William Porrege for theyr necessary affayres, to hauehave a recourse into England.
It so happened about the fourthe yeare of Queene Maryes raygne, that they landing vppon a tyme of Douer, and taking theyr iourny together toward Sandwich sodenly vppon the way within three myles of Douer, met with the foresayd M. Brent, the two Blachendens, and other Gentlemen moe, with theyr seruaunts, to the number of x. or xii. horses.The two Blachendens in Kent, persecutours. Of the which two Blachendens, being both haters and enemies of Gods worde and people, the one had perfect knowledge of William Porrege, the other had not seene him, but onelyonly hadde heard of his name before.
Thus they being in the way where this Iustice wyth his mates shuld meete them directly in the face, Thomas Sprat first espying M. Brent, was sore dismayde, saying to hys companion: yonder is M. Brent. William Porrege God hauehave hauehave mercy vponupon vsus. Well quoth the other, seing now there is no remedy, let vsus go in our waye. And so thinking to passe by them,Thomas Sprat almost taken in the way by the Iustice. they kept themselues aloufe, as it were a score off from them, Thomas Sprat also shadowing his face with his cloke.
Notwithstanding, one of M. Brentes seruauntes aduising him better then his mayster did: yonder, sayd he to his Mayster, is Thomas Sprat. At whiche wordes they all rayned theyr horses, and called for Thomas Sprat to come to them. They cal you, sayd William Porrege. Now here is no remedy but we are takē: and so perswaded him to go to them being called, for that there was no escaping from so many horsemen in those playnes and downes, where was no wood neare them by a myle, nor hedge neyther, but onelyonly one, which was a byrdbolt shot off.
Thomas Sprat called of the Iustice but would not come.All this notwithstanding, Sprat stayed and woulde not go. Then they called agayne, sitting still on horseback. Ah sirra, quoth the Iustice? why come ye not hether? And still his companion moued him to go, seyng there was no other shift to flee away. Nay, sayd Sprat, I will not goe to them, and therwithall tooke hys legges, running to the hedge that was next him. They seeyng that, sette spurres to their horse, thinking by and by to hauehave hym, and that it was vnpossible for him to escape their hands, as it was in deede,God alwayes stronger then the deuill. they beyng on horse backe and he on foote, had not ye Lorde myraculously deliuered his seely seruant frō the gaping mouth of the Lyon ready to deuour him.
For as God would, so it fell out that hee had got ouer the hedge, skrawling through the bushes, when as they were euen at his heeles, striking at him with theyr swords out of the Blachendens crying cruelly: cut off one of hys legges.
Thus Sprat had scarsely recouered the hedge from hys enemies, when one of M. Brentes seruaunts,Thomas Sprat gotteth ouer the hedge from his persecuto…. which had bene fellow sometymes in house with him, followed him in hys bootes: and certayne rode vp at one side of the hedge, and certayne at the other, to meete him at the vpper end.
Now while they were following the chase after Thomas Sprat, onelyonly one remayned with William Porrege (who was one of the Blachendens, not he whiche knewe him, but the other) who began to question with hym: not asking what was hys name (as God would (for then hee had bene knowne and taken: but from whence hee came and how he came into Sprats company, and whether he went: Unto whome he aunswered and sayd: from Calyce and that Sprat came ouer with him in the passage boate, and they two were goyng to Sandwich, and so wythout any more questions he let him depart.
Anone as he kept along the hedge, one of the horsemen which rode after Sprat, returning backe,William Porrege escapeth. and meeting wt the sayd W. Porrege, demaunded the very same questions as the other had done, to whome he made also the like answere as afore, and so departed, taking an other contrary way from the meeting of the other horsman. And thus W. Porrege escaped.
Now concerning Thomas Sprat, he being pursued on the one side by horsemen,The Lord disposing the way of his seruauntes. on the other side by his own fellow, who followed after hym in his bootes, crying: you were as good to tarry, for we will hauehave you, we will hauehave you: yet notwithstanding he still kept on his course till at length he came to a steepe downe hil at ye hedge end, downe the which hil he ran from them, for they could not ride downe the hill, but must fetch a great compasse about and so this Thomas Sprat ran almost a mile, and as god would got a Wood.Thomas Sprat deliuered by Gods helpe from his aduersaryes.
By that tyme he came to the Wood, they were euen at hys heeles: but the night drew on, and it began to rayne and so the malice of these persecutors was at an ende, the Lord working for his seruauntes, whose name be praised for euer and euer, Amen.
Not long after this, one of the two Blanchendens aforesayd, which so cruelly sought the destruction of other, was cruelly murdered by hys owne seruauntes.
¶Iohn Cornet.
HEre might also be recited the hard aduētures and sufferinges of Iohn Cornet,The troubles of Iohn Cornet, & how he was deliuered. and at lengthe his deliueraunce by Gods good working, out of the same.
Who being a prentise with a minstrell at Colchester, was sent by hys mayster about the 2. yeare of Queene Maryes raygne, to a wedding in a towne thereby called Roughhedge, where hee being requested by a companye there of good men, the Constables also of the parish being present thereat, so sing some songes of the scripture, chanced to sing a song called Newes out of London, whiche tended agaynst the Masse, and agaynst the Queenes misproceedinges.
Whereupon the next day he was accused by the Parson of Roughhedge called Yackesley, and so committed,Yackesley Parson of Roughhedge, persecutour. The mother agaynst her own sonne. first to the Constable, where both his mayster gaue hym ouer and hys mother forsooke and cursed him. From thence hee was sent to the next Iustice, named M. Cānall: and then to the Earle of Oxford, where he was first put in yrons & chaynes, and after that so manacled that the bloude spurt out of hys fingers endes, because he woulde not confesse ye names of them which allured hym to sing.
And marueile it was that the cruell Papistes were so contended, that they sent him not also to Bishop Boner,Cornet whipped out of the towne, and so banished. to suffer the extremitie of the fire. But Gods gracious prouidence disposed otherwise for hys seruaunt. For after hee was manacled, the Earle cōmaunded hym to be brought agayne to the towne of Roughhedge, & there to be whipped till the bloud followed, and to be banished the towne for euer: and so hee was, during all the time of Queene Mary.
¶Thomas Bryce.
IF our story should proceede so wide and so large, as dyd the exceeding mercy of Gods prouidence in helpyng hys seruauntes out of wretchednes and thraldome of those bloudy dayes, our treatise, I thinke,Thomas Bryce preserued. would extende to an endlesse processe.
For what good man or woman was there almost in all this tyme of Queene Mary, who eyther in carying a good conscience out of the land, or tarying within ye realm could well escape the Papistes handes, but by some notable experience of the Lordes mightye power and helpyng hand working for him? What shoulde I here speake of the myraculous deliueraunce of Thomas Bryce, who beyng in the house of Iohn Seale,God blynded the eyes of them which …ught for Thomas Bryce, that they could not see him. in the parish of Horting, and the Bayliffe with other neighbours comming in, sent by Sir Iohn Baker to search and apprehend hym, & knowing perfectly both hys stature and colour of his garments yet had no power to see or know him standing before their faces. So mightely the Lorde did blinde their eyes, that they asking for him, and looking vponupon him, yet notwithstanding he quietly tooke vpp his bagge of books, and so departed out of the house, wythout anye hand layd vponupon him.
Also an other time, about the 2. yeare of Queene Mary,An other … of Thomas … and his brother. the sayde Thomas Bryce, with Iohn Bryce his elder brother, comming then from Wesell, meeting together at their fathers house, as they iornyed towardes London to geue warning there to one Springfield, whiche els was like to bee taken vnawares by his enemies wayting for him vponupon Gaddes hill, fell in company with a promoter, which dogged them and followed them again to Graues…ad, into the towne, and layed the house for them where they were, and all the waies as they should go to the water side: so that it had not bene possible for them to hauehave auoyded the present daunger of those persecutors, had not the Lordes prouident care otherwise disposed for hys seruauntes through the Hostler of the Inne,Thomas & Iohn Bryce … by Gods good … and …. couertly to conuey them by a secret passage: whereby they tooke Barge a mile out of the towne, and so in the ende both the liues of them, and also of Springfield was preserued, through the Lordes gracious protection.
¶Gertrude Crockhey.
The trouble and deliueraunce of Gertrude Crokchay.GErtrude Crokehey dwelling at S. Katherines by the Towne of London, and being then in her husbandes house, it happened, in the yeare 1556. that the Popes childish S. Nicholas went about the parish. Whiche shee vnderstanding, shut her dore agaynst him, not suffering him to enter into her house.
Then Doct. Mallet hearing thereof, and being then Mayster of the sayd S. Katherines, the next daye came to her wyth twenty at hys tayle,This Doct. Mallet is now Deane o… Lincolne. thinking belike to fray her, and asked why shee woulde not the night before let in S. Nicolas and receaue hys blessing. &c. To whom she aunswered thus. Syr I knowe no S. Nicholas (sayd she) that came hether. Yes quoth Mallet, here was one that represented S. Nicolas.
In deede sir (sayd she) here was one yt was my neighbours childe, but not S. Nicolas: for S. Nicholas is in heauen. I was afrayde of them that came with him to hauehave had my purse cut by them: for I hauehave hearde of men robbed by S. Nicolas clerkes. &c. So Mallet perceiuyng that nothing could be gotten at her handes, went his way as he came, and she for that time so escaped.
Then in the yeare 1557. a little before Whitsontide, it happened that the sayde Gertrude aunswered for a childe that was baptised of one Thomas Saunders,An other trouble of the sayde Gertrude in Dutchland. whyche childe was christened secretly in a house after the order of ye seruice booke in king Edwardes time, and that beyng shortly knowne to her enemies, she was sought for. Whiche vnderstanding nothing therof, went beyond the Sea into Gilderland, to see certayne landes that should come to her children in the right of her first husband, who was a straunger borne, & being there about a quarter of a yeare at the lengthe comming homeward by Andwarpe, shee chaunced to meete with one Iohn Iohnson a Ducth manne alias Iohn de Uilla of Andwerpe shipper who seeing her there, went of malice to the Margraue, and accused her to be an Anabaptist: whereby shee was taken and caryed to prison. The cause why this naughty manne did thus, was for that he claymed of M. Crokhay her husband a peece of mony whiche was not his due, for a ship yt Mayster Crokhay bought of him, and for that hee coulde not get it, he wrought this displeasure. Well, she being in prison, lay there a fortnight. In the whiche time she sawe some that were prisoners there,Cruelty in …aunder … secretly agaynst the Christians. who priuily were drowned in Renish wine fattes, and after secretly put in sackes and cast into the Riuer. Now she, good woman, thinking to be so serued, tooke thereby such feare that it brought the begynning of her sickenesse, of the whiche at length she dyed.
Then at the last was she called before the Margraue and charged with Anabaptistry: whiche shee there vtterly denyed, and detested the error, declaring before hym in Dutch her fayth boldly, wythout any feare. So the Margraue hearyng the same, in the end beyng well pleased wt her profession, at ye sute of some of her frends,Gertrude returneth into England. deliuered her out of prison, but tooke away her booke, and so shee came ouer into England agayne.
¶William Mauldon.
I Lightly passe ouer here the tedious afflictions of William Mauldon,A story of William Mauldon. how in the daungerous time of the 6. articles, before the burning of Anne Askew, hee was scourged being young, of his father, for professing and confessing of true Religion:W. Mauldon, accused and scourged for true religion. and afterward being examined in auricular confession by the Priest, hys bookes were searched for, and so at length hee was presented vp by ye same Priest in a letter written to the Byshop. Which letter, had it not bene burned by an other Priest to whose handes it came (as the Lord would hauehave it) it had vndoubtedly cost hym his life.
This one thinge in the sayde William Mauldon is to bee noted, that being younge, in those dayes of kinge Henry, when the masse moste florished, the aultars wyth the sacrament therof being in their moste high veneration yt to mans reason it might seeme vnpossible that the glory and opinion of that Sacramente and Sacramentalles, so highly worshipped, and so deepely rooted in the hartes of so many, could by any meanes possible so soone decay and vanish to naught: yet notwithstanding hee being then so young, vnderunder the age of xvii. yeares, by the spirite (no doubt) of prophesie, declared then vntounto his parentes, that they should see it shortly euen come to passe,The Prophesis of M. Mauldon in K. Henryes tyme, for the fall of Masse and Sacrament of the Aultar. that both the Sacrament of the altar and the altars themselues, with al such plantations which the heauenly father did not plant, should be plucked vp by the rootes: and euen so within the space of very fewe yeares the euent thereof followed accordingly: the Lorde therefore bee praysed for his moste gratious reformation.
¶Robert Horneby.
I Let passe lykewise the daungerous escape of Robert Horneby,Robert Horneby through Gods working preserued. seruaunt sometyme and groome of the Chamber to Ladye Elizabeth, shee being then in trouble in Queene Maryes dayes: who being willed to come to Masse, refused so to doe, and therefore comming afterward from Woodstocke to Hampton Courte, was called before the Counsayle, & by them committed to the Marshalsey, and not vnlyke to hauehave susteyned further daunger, had not the Lordes goodnes better prouided for him, who at length by Doctour Martyn was deliuered.
¶Mistres Sandes.
THe lyke also may be testified and recorded of Mistres Sandes, nowe wyfe to Syr Morice Bartlet,Mistres Sandes, now Lady Bartlet, preserued from persecution. then Gentlewooman wayter to the sayde Ladye Elizabeth being in the Tower. Which Mistres Sandes denyed in lyke maner to come to Masse, and therefore beside the heauye displeasure of her father was not onelyonly displaced from her roume, and put out of the house, but also was in greate ieopardye of further tryall. But the Lorde who disposeth for eueryevery one as he seeth beste, wroughte her way out of her enemyes handes by flying ouer the Seas, where shee continued amongest other banished exiles in the Cittye of Geneua & of Basil, till the death of Queene Marye.