FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS
CHAPTER XVI
Persecutions in England During the Reign of Queen Mary
The premature death of that celebrated young monarch, Edward
VI, occasioned the most extraordinary and wonderful occurrences,
which had ever existed from the times of our blessed Lord and
Savior's incarnation in human shape. This melancholy event became
speedily a subject of general regret. The succession to the
British throne was soon made a matter of contention; and the
scenes which ensued were a demonstration of the serious
affliction in which the kingdom was involved. As his loss to the
nation was more and more unfolded, the remembrance of his
government was more and more the basis of grateful recollection.
The very awful prospect, which was soon presented to the friends
of Edward's administration, under the direction of his
counsellors and servants, was a contemplation which the
reflecting mind was compelled to regard with most alarming
apprehensions. The rapid approaches which were made towards a
total reversion of the proceedings of the young king's reign,
denoted the advances which were thereby represented to an entire
resolution in the management of public affairs both in Church and
state.
Alarmed for the condition in which the kingdom was likely to
be involved by the king's death, an endeavor to prevent the
consequences, which were but too plainly foreseen, was productive
of the most serious and fatal effects. The king, in his long and
lingering affliction, was induced to make a will, by which he
bequeathed the English crown to Lady Jane, the daughter of the
duke of Suffolk, who had been married to Lord Guilford, the son
of the duke of Northumberland, and was the granddaughter of the
second sister of King Henry, by Charles, duke of Suffolk. By this
will, the succession of Mary and Elizabeth, his two sisters, was
entirely superseded, from an apprehension of the returning system
of popery; and the king's council, with the chief of the
nobility, the lord-mayor of the city of London, and almost all
the judges and the principal lawyers of the realm, subscribed
their names to this regulation, as a sanction to the measure.
Lord Chief Justice Hale, though a true Protestant and an upright
judge, alone declined to unite his name in favor of the Lady
Jane, because he had already signified his opinion that Mary was
entitled to assume the reins of government. Others objected to
Mary's being placed on the throne, on account of their fears that
she might marry a foreigner, and thereby bring the crown into
considerable danger. Her partiality to popery also left little
doubt on the minds of any, that she would be induced to revive
the dormant interests of the pope, and change the religion which
had been used both in the days of her father, King Henry, and in
those of her brother Edward: for in all his time she had
manifested the greatest stubbornness and inflexibility of temper,
as must be obvious from her letter to the lords of the council,
whereby she put in her claim to the crown, on her brother's
decease.
When this happened, the nobles, who had associated to prevent
Mary's succession, and had been instrumental in promoting, and,
perhaps, advising the measures of Edward, speedily proceeded to
proclaim Lady Jane Gray, to be queen of England, in the city of
London and various other populous cities of the realm. Though
young, she possessed talents of a very superior nature, and her
improvements under a most excellent tutor had given her many very
great advantages.
Her reign was of only five days' continuance, for Mary, having
succeeded by false promises in obtaining the crown, speedily
commenced the execution of her avowed intention of extirpating
and burning every Protestant. She was crowned at Westminster in
the usual form, and her elevation was the signal for the
commencement of the bloody persecution which followed.
Having obtained the sword of authority, she was not sparing in
its exercise. The supporters of Lady Jane Gray were destined to
feel its force. The duke of Northumberland was the first who
experienced her savage resentment. Within a month after his
confinement in the Tower, he was condemned, and brought to the
scaffold, to suffer as a traitor. From his varied crimes,
resulting out of a sordid and inordinate ambition, he died
unpitied and unlamented.
The changes, which followed with rapidity, unequivocally
declared that the queen was disaffected to the present state of
religion. Dr. Poynet was displaced to make room for Gardiner to
be bishop of Winchester, to whom she also gave the important
office of lord-chancellor. Dr. Ridley was dismissed from the see
of London, and Bonne introduced. J. Story was put out of the
bishopric of Chichester, to admit Dr. Day. J. Hooper was sent
prisoner to the Fleet, and Dr. Heath put into the see of
Worcestor. Miles Coverdale was also excluded from Exeter, and Dr.
Vesie placed in that diocese. Dr. Tonstall was also promoted to
the see of Durham. These things being marked and perceived, great
heaviness and discomfort grew more and more to all good men's
hearts; but to the wicked great rejoicing. They that could
dissemble took no great care how the matter went; but such, whose
consciences were joined with the truth, perceived already coals
to be kindled, which after should be the destruction of many a
true Christian.
The Words and Behavior of the Lady Jane upon the Scaffold
The next victim was the amiable Lady Jane Gray, who, by her
acceptance of the crown at the earnest solicitations of her
friends, incurred the implacable resentment of the bloody Mary.
When she first mounted the scaffold, she spoke to the specators
in this manner: "Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a
law I am condemned to the same. The fact against the queen's
highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me: but,
touching the procurement and desire thereof by me, or on my
behalf, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency before God, and
the face of you, good Christian people, this day:" and therewith
she wrung her hands, wherein she had her book. Then said she, "I
pray you all, good Christian people, to bear me witness, that I
die a good Christian woman, and that I do look to be saved by no
other mean, but only by the mercy of God in the blood of His only
Son Jesus Christ: and I confess that when I did know the Word of
God, I neglected the same, loved myself and the world, and
therefore this plague and punishment is happily and worthily
happened unto me for my sins; and yet I thank God, that of His
goodness He hath thus given me a time and a respite to repent.
And now, good people, while I am alive, I pray you assist me with
your prayers." And then, kneeling down, she turned to Feckenham,
saying, "Shall I say this Psalm?" and he said, "Yea." Then she
said the Psalm of Miserere mei Deus, in English, in a most devout
manner throughout to the end; and then she stood up, and gave her
maid, Mrs. Ellen, her gloves and handkerchief, and her book to
Mr. Bruges; and then she untied he gown, and the executioner
pressed upon her to help her off with it: but she, desiring him
to let her alone, turned towards her two gentlewomen, who helped
her off therewith, and also with her frowes, paaft, and
neckerchief, giving to her a fair handkerchief to put about her
eyes.
Then the executioner kneeled down, and asked her forgiveness,
whom she forgave most willingly. Then he desired her to stand
upon the straw, which doing, she saw the block. Then she said, "I
pray you, despatch me quickly." Then she kneeled down, saying,
"Will you take it off before I lay me down?" And the executioner
said, "No, madam." Then she tied a handkerchief about her eyes,
and feeling for the block, she said, "What shall I do? Where is
it? Where is it?" One of the standers-by guiding her therunto,
she laid her head upon the block, and then stretched forth her
body, and said, "Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit;" and
so finished her life, in the year of our Lord 1554, the twelfth
day of February, about the seventeenth year of her age.
Thus died Lady Jane; and on the same day Lord Guilford, her
husband, one of the duke of Northumberland's sons, was likewise
beheaded, two innocents in comparison with them that sat upon
them. For they were both very young, and ignorantly accepted that
which others had contrived, and by open proclamation consented to
take from others, and give to them.
Touching the condemnation of this pious lady, it is to be
noted that Judge Morgan, who gave sentence against her, soon
after he had condemned her, fell mad, and in his raving cried out
continually to have the Lady Jane taken away from him, and so he
ended his life.
On the twenty-first day of the same month, Henry, duke of
Suffolk, was beheaded on Tower-hill, the fourth day after his
condemnation: about which time many gentlemen and yeomen were
condemned, whereof some were executed at London, and some in the
country. In the number of whom was Lord Thomas Gray, brother to
the said duke, being apprehended not long after in North Wales,
and executed for the same. Sir Nicholas Throgmorton, also, very
narrowly escaped.
John Rogers, Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, and Reader of St.
Paul's, London
John Rogers was educated at Cambridge, and was afterward many
years chaplain to the merchant adventurers at Antwerp in Brabant.
Here he met with the celebrated martyr William Tyndale, and Miles
Coverdale, both voluntary exiles from their country for their
aversion to popish superstition and idolatry. They were the
instruments of his conversion; and he united with them in that
translation of the Bible into English, entitled "The Translation
of Thomas Matthew." From the Scriptures he knew that unlawful
vows may be lawfully broken; hence he married, and removed to
Wittenberg in Saxony, for the improvement of learning; and he
there learned the Dutch language, and received the charge of a
congregation, which he faithfully executed for many years. On
King Edward's accession, he left Saxony to promote the work of
reformation in England; and, after some time, Nicholas Ridley,
then bishop of London, gave him a prebend in St. Paul's
Cathedral, and the dean and chapter appointed him reader of the
divinity lesson there. Here he continued until Queen Mary's
succession to the throne, when the Gospel and true religion were
banished, and the Antichrist of Rome, with his superstition and
idolatry, introduced.
The circumstance of Mr. Rogers having preached at Paul's
cross, after Queen Mary arrived at the Tower, has been already
stated. He confirmed in his sermon the true doctrine taught in
King Edward's time, and exhorted the people to beware of the
pestilence of popery, idolatry, and superstition. For this he was
called to account, but so ably defended himself that, for that
time, he was dismissed. The proclamation of the queen, however,
to prohibit true preaching, gave his enemies a new handle against
him. Hence he was again summoned before the council, and
commanded to keep his house. He did so, though he might have
escaped; and though he perceived the state of the true religion
to be desperate. Heknew he could not want a living in Germany;
and he could not forget a wife and ten children, and to seek
means to succor them. But all these things were insufficient to
induce him to depart, and, when once called to answer in Christ's
cause, he stoutly defended it, and hazarded his life for that
purpose.
After long imprisonment in his own house, the restless Bonner,
bishop of London, caused him to be committed to Newgate, there to
be lodged among thieves and murderers.
After Mr. Rogers had been long and straitly imprisoned, and
lodged in Newgate among thieves, often examined, and very
uncharitably entreated, and at length unjustly and most cruelly
condemned by Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, the fourth
day of February, in the year of our Lord 1555, being Monday in
the morning, he was suddenly warned by the keeper of Newgate's
wife, to prepare himself for the fire; who, being then sound
asleep, could scarce be awaked. At length being raised and
awaked, and bid to make haste, then said he, "IKf it be so, I
need not tie my points." And so was had down, first to bishop
Bonner to be degraded: which being done, he craved of Bonner but
one petition; and Bonner asked what that should be. Mr. Rogers
replied that he might speak a few words with his wife before his
burning, but that could not be obtained of him.
When the time came that he should be brought out of Newgate to
Smithfield, the place of his execution, Mr. Woodroofe, one of the
sheriffs, first came to Mr. Rogers, and asked him if he would
revoke his abominable doctrine, and the evil opinion of the
Sacrament of the altar. Mr. Rogers answered, "That which I have
preached I will seal with my blood." Then Mr. Woodroofe said,
"Thou art an heretic." "That shall be known," quoth Mr. Rogers,
"at the Day of Judgment." "Well," said Mr. Woodroofe, "I will
never pray for thee." "But I will pray for you," said Mr. Rogers;
and so was brought the same day, the fourth of February, by the
sheriffs, towards Smithfield, saying the Psalm Miserere by the
way, all the people wonderfully rejoicing at his constancy; with
great praises and thanks to God for the same. And there in the
presence of Mr. Rochester, comptroller of the queen's household,
Sir Richard Southwell, both the sheriffs, and a great number of
people, he was burnt to ashes, washing his hands in the flame as
he was burning. A little before his burning, his pardon was
brought, if he would have recanted; but he utterly refused it. He
was the first martyr of all the blessed company that suffered in
Queen Mary's time that gave the first adventure upon the fire.
His wife and children, being eleven in number, ten able to go,
and one sucking at her breast, met him by the way, as he went
towards Smithfield. TGhis sorrowful sight of his own flesh and
blood could nothing move him, but that he constantly and
cheerfully took his death with wonderful patience, in the defence
and quarrel of the Gospel of Christ."
The Rev. Lawrence Saunders
Mr. Saunders, after passing some time in the school of Eaton,
was chosen to go to King's College in Cambridge, where he
continued three years, and profited in knowledge and learning
very much for that time. Shortly after he quitted the university,
and went to his parents, but soon returned to Cambridge again to
his study, where he began to add to the knowledge of the Latin,
the study of the Greek and Hebrew tongues, and gave himself up to
the study of the Holy Scriptures, the better to qualify himself
for the office of preacher.
In the beginning of King Edward's reign, when God's true
religion was introduced, after license obtained, he began to
preach, and was so well liked of them who then had authority that
they appointed him to read a divinity lecture in the College of
Forthringham. The College of Fothringham being dissolved he was
placed to be a reader in the minster at Litchfield. After a
certain space, he departed from Litchfield to a benefice in
Leicestershire, called Church-langton, where he held a residence,
taught diligently, and kept a liberal house. Thence he was
orderly called to take a benefice in the city of London, namely,
All-hallows in Bread-street. After this he preached at
Northhampton, nothing meddling with the state, but boldly
uttering his conscience against the popish doctrines which were
likely to spring up again in England, as a just plague for the
little love which the English nation then bore to the blessed
Word of God, which had been so plentifully offered unto them.
The queen's party who were there, and heard him, were highly
displeased with him for his sermon, and for it kept him among
them as a prisoner. But partly for love of his brethren and
friends, who were chief actors for the queen among them, and
partly because there was no law broken by hbis preaching, they
dismissed him.
Some of his friends, perceiving such fearful menacing,
counselled him to fly out of the realm, which he refused to do.
But seeing he was with violence kept from doing good in that
place, he returned towards London, to visit his flock.
In the afternoon of Sunday, October 15, 1554, as he was
reading in his church to exhort his people, the bishop of London
interrupted him, by sending an officer for him.
His treason and sedition the bishop's charity was content to
let slip until another time, but a heretic he meant to prove him,
and all those, he said, who taught and believed that the
administration of the Sacraments, and all orders of the Church,
are the most pure, which come the nearest to the order of the
primitive Church.
After much talk concerning this matter, the bishop desired him
to write what he believed of transubstantiation. Lawrence
Saunders did so, saying, "My Lord, you seek my blood, and you
shall have it: I pray God that you may be so baptized in it that
you may ever after loathe blood-sucking, and become a better
man." Upon being closely charged with contumacy, the severe
replies of Mr. Saunders to the bishop, (who had before, to get
the favor of Henry VIII written and set forth in print, a book of
true obedience, wherein he had openly declared Queen Mary to be a
bastard) so irritated him that he exclaimed, "Carry away this
frenzied fool to prison."
After this good and faithful martyr had been kept in prison
one year and a quarter, the bishops at length called him, as they
did his fellow-prisoners, openly to be examined before the
queen's council.
His examination being ended, the officers led him out of the
place, and stayed until the rest of his fellow-prisoners were
likewise examined, that they might lead them all together to
prison.
After his excommunication and delivery over to the secular
power, he was brought by the sheriff of London to the Compter, a
prison in his own parish of Bread-street, at which he rejoiced
greatly, both because he found there a fellow-prisoner, Mr.
Cardmaker, with whom he had much Christian and comfortable
discourse; and because out of prison, as before in his pulpit, he
might have an opportunity of preaching to his parishioners. On
the fourth of February, Bonner, bishop of London, came to the
prison to degrade him; the day following, in the morning the
sheriff of London delivered him to certain of the queen's guard,
who were appointed to carry him to the city of Coventry, there to
be burnt.
When they had arrived at Coventry, a poor shoemaker, who used
to serve him with shoes, came to him, and said, "O my good
master, God strengthen and comfort you." "Good shoemaker," Mr.
Saunders replied, "I desire thee to pray for me, for I am the
most unfit man for this high office, that ever was appointed to
it; but my gracious God and dear Father is able to make me strong
enough." The next day, being the eighth of February, 1555, he was
led to the place of execution, in the park, without the city. He
went in an old gown and a shirt, barefooted, and oftentimes fell
flat on the ground, and prayed. When he was come to nigh the
place, the officer, appointed to see the execution done, said to
Mr. Saunders that he was one of them who marred the queen's
realm, but if he would recant, there was pardon for him. "Not I,"
replied the holy martyr, "but such as you have injured the realm.
The blessed Gospel of Christ is what I hold; that do I believe,
that have I taught, and that will I never revoke!" Mr. Saunders
then slowly moved towards the fire, sank to the earth and prayed;
he then rose up, embraced the stake, and frequently said,
"Welcome, thou cross of Christ! welcome everlasting life!" Fire
was then put to the fagots, and, he was overwhelmed by the
dreadful flames, and sweetly slept in the Lord Jesus.
The History, Imprisonment, and Examination of Mr. John Hooper,
Bishop of Worcester and Gloucester
John Hooper, student and graduate in the University of Oxford,
was stirred with such fervent desire to the love and knowledge of
the Scriptures that he was compelled to move from thence, and was
retained in the house of Sir Thomas Arundel, as his steward,
until Sir Thomas had intelligence of his opinions and religion,
which he in no case did favor, though he exceedingly favored his
person and condition and wished to be his friend. Mr. Hooper now
prudently left Sir Thomas' house and arrived at Paris, but in a
short time returned to England, and was retained by Mr. Sentlow,
until the time that he was again molested and sought for, when he
passed through France to the higher parts of Germany; where,
commencing acquaintance with learned men, he was by them free and
lovingly entertained, both at Basel, and especially at Zurich, by
Mr. Bullinger, who was his singular friend; here also he married
his wife, who was a Burgonian, and applied very studiously to the
Hebrew tongue.
At length, when God saw it good to stay the bloody time of the
six articles, and to give us King Edward to reign over this
realm, with some peace and rest unto the Church, amongst many
other English exiles, who then repaired homeward, Mr. Hooper
also, moved in conscience, thought not to absent himself, but
seeing such a time and occasion, offered to help forward the
Lord's work, to the uttermost of his ability.
When Mr. Hooper had taken his farewell of Mr. Bullinger, and
his friends in Zurich, he repaired again to England in the reign
of King Edward VI, and coming to London, used continually to
preach, most times twice, or at least once a day.
In his sermons, according to his accustomed manner, he
corrected sin, and sharply inveighed against the iniquity of the
world and the corrupt abuses of the Church. The people in great
flocks and companies daily came to hear his voice, as the most
melodious sound and tune of Orpheus' harp, insomuch, that
oftentimes when he was preaching, the church would be so full
that none could enter farther than the doors thereof. In his
doctrine he was earnest, in tongue eloquent, in the Scriptures
perfect, in pains indefatigable, in his life exemplary.
Having preached before the king's majesty, he was soon after
made bishop of Gloucester. In that office he continued two years,
and behaved himself so well that his very enemies could find no
fault with him, and after that he was made bishop of Worcester.
Dr. Hooper executed the office of a most careful and vigilant
pastor, for the space of two years and more, as long as the state
of religion in King Edward's time was sound and flourishing.
After he had been cited to appear before Bonner and Dr. Heath,
he was led to the Council, accused falsely of owing the queen
money, and in the next year, 1554, he wrote an account of his
severe treatment during near eighteen months' confinement in the
Fleet, and after his third examination, January 28, 1555, at St.
Mary Overy's, he, with the Rev. Mr. Rogers, was conducted to the
Compter in Southwark, there to remain until the next day at nine
o'clock, to see whether they would recant. "Come, Brother
Rogers," said Dr. Hooper, "must we two take this matter first in
hand, and begin to fry in these fagots?" "Yes, Doctor," said Mr.
Rogers, "by God's grace." "Doubt not," said Dr. Hooper, "but God
will give us strength;" and the people so applauded their
constancy that they had much ado to pass.
January 29, Bishop Hooper was degraded and condemned, and the
Rev. Mr. Rogers was treated in like manner. At dark, Dr. Hooper
was led through the city to Newgate; notwithstanding this
secrecy, many people came forth to their doors with lights, and
saluted him, praising God for his constancy.
During the few days he was in Newgate, he was frequently
visited by Bonner and others, but without avail. As Christ was
tempted, so they tempted him, and then maliciously reported that
he had recanted. The place of his martyrdom being fixed at
Gloucester, he rejoiced very much, lifting up his eyes and hands
to heaven, and praising God that he saw it good to send him among
the people over whom he was pastor, there to confirm with his
death the truth which he had before taught them.
On February 7, he came to Gloucester, about five o'clock, and
lodged at one Ingram's house. After his first sleep, he continued
in prayer ujntil morning; and all the day, except a little time
at his meals, and when conversing such as the guard kindly
permitted to speak to him, he spent in prayer.
Sir Anthony Kingston, at one time Dr. Hooper's good friend,
was appointed by the queen's letters to attend at his execution.
As soon as he saw the bishop he burst into tears. WIth tender
entreaties he exhorted him to live. "True it is," said the
bishop, "that death is bitter, and life is sweet; but alas!
consider that the death to come is more bitter, and the life to
come is more sweet."
The same day a blind boy obtained leave to be brought into Dr.
Hooper's presence. The same boy, not long before, had suffered
imprisonment at Gloucester for confessing the truth. "Ah! poor
boy," said the bishop, "though God hath taken from thee thy
outward sight, for what reason He best knoweth, yet He hath
endued thy soul with the eye of knowledge and of faith. God give
thee grace continually to pray unto Him, that thou lose not that
sight, for then wouldst thou indeed be blind both in body and
soul."
When the mayor waited upon him preparatory to his execution,
he expressed his perfect obedience, and only requested that a
quick fire might terminate his torments. After he had got up in
the morning, he desired that no man should be suffered to come
into the chamber, that he might be solitary until the hour of
execution.
About eight o'clock, on February 9, 1555, he was led forth,
and many thousand persons were collected, as it was market-day.
All the way, being straitly charged not to speak, and beholding
the people, who mourned bitterly for him, he would sometimes lift
up his eyes towards heaven, and look very cheerfully upon such as
he knew: and he was never known, during the time of his being
among them, to look with so cheerful and ruddy a countenance as
he did at that time. When he came to the place appointed where he
should die, he smilingly beheld the stake and preparation made
for him, which was near unto the great elm tree over against the
college of priests, where he used to preach.
Now, after he had entered into prayer, a box was brought and
laid before him upon a stool, with his pardon from the queen, if
he would turn. At the sight whereof he cried, "If you love my
soul, away with it!" The box being taken away, Lord Chandois
said, "Seeing there is no remedy; despatch him quickly."
Command was now given that the fire should be kindled. But
because there were not more green fagots than two horses could
carry, it kindled not speedily, and was a pretty while also
before it took the reeds upon the fagots. At length it burned
about him, but the wind having full strength at that place, and
being a lowering cold morning, it blew the flame from him, so
that he was in a manner little more than touched by the fire.
Within a space after, a few dry fagots were brought, and a new
fire kindled with fagots, (for there were no more reeds) and
those burned at the nether parts, but had small power above,
because of the wind, saving that it burnt his hair and scorched
his skin a little. In the time of which fire, even as at the
first flame, he prayed, saying mildly, and not very loud, but as
one without pain, "O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me, and
receive my soul!" After the second fire was spent, he wiped both
his eyes with his hands, and beholding the people, he said with
an indifferent, loud voice, "For God's love, good people, let me
have more fire!" and all this while his nether parts did burn;
but the fagots were so few that the flame only singed his upper
parts.
The third fire was kindled within a while after, which was
more extreme than the other two. In this fire he prayed with a
loud voice, "Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me! Lord Jesus receive
my spirit!" And these were the last words he was heard to utter.
But when he was black in the mouth, and his tongue so swollen
that he could not speak, yet his lips went until they were shrunk
to the gums: and he knocked his breast with his hands until one
of his arms fell off, and then knocked still with the other,
while the fat, water, and blood dropped out at his fingers' ends,
until by renewing the fire, his strength was gone, and his hand
clave fast in knocking to the iron upon his breast. Then
immediately bowing forwards, he yielded up his spirit.
Thus was he three quarters of an hour or more in the fire.
Even as a lamb, patiently he abode the extremity thereof, neither
moving forwards, backwards, nor to any side; but he died as
quietly as a child in his bed. And he now reigneth, I doubt not,
as a blessed martyr in the joys of heaven, prepared for the
faithful in Christ before the foundations of the world; for whose
constancy all Christians are bound to praise God.
The Life and Conduct of Dr. Rowland Taylor of Hadley
Dr. Rowland Taylor, vicar of Hadley, in Suffolk, was a man of
eminent learning, and had been admitted to the degree of doctor
of the civil and canon law.
His attachment to the pure and uncorrupted principles of
Christianity recommended him to the favor and friendship of Dr.
Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, with whom he lived a
considerable time, until through his interest he obtained the
living at Hadley.
Not only was his word a preaching unto them, but all his life
and conversation was an example of unfeigned Christian life and
true holiness. He was void of all pride, humble and meek as any
child; so that none were so poor but they might boldly, as unto
their father, resort unto him; neither was his lowliness childish
or fearful, but, as occasion, time, and place required, he would
be stout in rebuking the sinful and evildoers; so that none was
so rich but he would tell them plainly his fault, with such
earnest and grave rebukes as became a good curate and pastor. He
was a man very mild, void of all rancor, grudge or evil will;
ready to do good to all men; readily forgiving his enemies; and
never sought to do evil to any.
To the poor that were blind, lame, sick, bedrid, or that had
many children, he was a very father, a careful patron, and
diligent provider, insomuch that he caused the parishioners to
make a general provision for them; and he himself (beside the
continual relief that they always found at his house) gave an
honest portion yearly to the common almsbox. His wife also was an
honest, discreet, and sober matron, and his children well
nurtured, brought up in the fear of God and good learning.
He was a good salt of the earth, savorly biting the corrupt
manners of evil men; a light in God's house, set upon a
candlestick for all good men to imitate and follow.
Thus continued this good shepherd among his flock, governing
and leadning them through the wilderness of this wicked world,
all the days of the most innocent and holy king of blessed
memory, Edward VI. But on his demise, and the succession of Queen
Mary to the throne, he escaped not the cloud that burst on so
many besdie; for two of his parishioners, Foster, an attorney,
and Clark, a tradesman, out of blind zeal, resolved that Mass
should be celebrated, in all its superstitious forms, in the
parish church of Hadley, on Monday before Easter. This Dr.
Taylor, entering the church, strictly forbade; but Clark forced
the Doctor out of the church, celebrated Mass, and immediately
informed the lord-chancellor, bishop of Winchester of his
behavior, who summoned him to appear, and answer the complaints
that were alleged against him.
The doctor upon the receipt of the summons, cheerfully
prepared to obey the same; and rejected the advice of his friends
to fly beyond sea. When Gardiner saw Dr. Taylor, he, according to
his common custom, reviled him. Dr. Taylor heard his abuse
patiently, and when the bishop said, "How darest thou look me in
the face! knowest thou not who I am?" Dr. Taylor replied, "You
are Dr. Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, and
lord-chancellor, and yet but a mortal man. But if I should be
afraid of your lordly looks, why fear ye not God, the Lord of us
all? With what countenance will you appear before the judgment
seat of Christ, and answer to your oath made first unto King
Henry VIII, and afterward unto King Edward VI, his son?"
A long conversation ensued, in which Dr. Taylor was so piously
collected and severe upon his antagonist, that he exclaimed:
"Thou art a blasphemous heretic! Thou indeed blasphemist the
blessed Sacrament, (here he put off his cap) and speakest against
the holy Mass, which is made a sacrifice for the quick and the
dead." The bishop afterward committed him into the king's bench.
When Dr. Taylor came there, he found the virtuous and vigilant
preacher of God's Word, Mr. Bradford; who equally thanked God
that He had provided him with such a comfortable fellow-prisoner;
and they both together praised God, and continued in prayer,
reading and exhorting one another.
After Dr. Taylor had lain some time in prison, he was cited to
appear in the arches of Bow-church.
Dr. Taylor being condemned, was committed to the Clink, and
the keepers were charged to treat him roughly; at night he was
removed to the Poultry Compter.
When Dr. Taylor had lain in the Compter about a week on the
fourth of February, Bonner came to degrade him, bringing with him
such ornaments as appertained to the massing mummery; but the
Doctor refused these trappings until they were forced upon him.
The night after he was degraded his wife came with John Hull,
his servant, and his son Thomas, and were by the gentleness of
the keepers permitted to sup with him.
After supper, walking up and down, he gave God thanks for His
grace, that had given him strength to abide by His holy Word.
With tears they prayed together, and kissed one another. Unto his
son Thomas he gave a Latin book, containing the notable sayings
of the old martyrs, and in the end of that he wrote his
testament:
"I say to my wife, and to my children, The Lord gave you unto
me, and the Lord hath taken me from you, and you from me: blessed
be the name of the Lord! I believe that they are blessed which
die in the Lord. God careth for sparrows, and for the hairs of
our heads. I have ever found Him more faithful and favorable,
than is any father or husband. Trust ye therefore in Him by the
means of our dear Savior Christ's merits: believe, love, fear,
and obey Him: pray to Him, for He hath promised to help. Count me
not dead, for I shall certainly live, and never die. I go before,
and you shall follow after, to our long home."
On the morrow the sheriff of London with his officers came to
the Compter by two o'clock in the morning, and brought forth Dr.
Taylor; and without any light led him to the Woolsack, an inn
without Aldgate. Dr. Taylor's wife, suspecting that her husband
should that night be carried away, watched all night in St.
Botolph's church-porch beside Aldgate, having her two children,
the one named Elizabeth, of thirteen years of age (whom, being
left without father or mother, Dr. Taylor had brought up of alms
from three years old), the other named Mary, Dr. Taylor's own
daughter.
Now, when the sheriff and his company came against St.
Botolph's church, Elizabeth cried, saying, "O my dear father!
mother, mother, here is my father led away." Then his wife cried,
"Rowland, Rowland, where art thou?"--for it was a very dark
morning, that the one could not well see the other. Dr. Taylor
answered, "Dear wife, I am here"; and stayed. The sheriff's men
would have led him forth, but the sheriff said, "Stay a little,
masters, I pray you; and let him speak to his wife"; and so they
stayed.
Then came she to him, and he took his daughter Mary in his
arms; and he, his wife, and Elizabeth kneeled down and said the
Lord's Prayer, at which sight the sheriff wept apace, and so did
divers others of the company. After they had prayed, he rose up
and kissed his wife, and shook her by the hand, and said,
"Farewell, my dear wife; be of good comfort, for I am quiet in my
conscience. God shall stir up a father for my children."
All the way Dr. Taylor was joyful and merry, as one that
ccounted himself going to a most pleasant banquet or bridal. He
spake many notable things to the sheriff and yeomen of the guard
that conducted him, and often moved them to weep, through his
much earnest calling upon them to repent, and to amend their evil
and wicked living. Oftentimes also he caused them to wonder and
rejoice, to see him so constant and steadfast, void of all fear,
joyful in heart, and glad to die.
When Dr. Taylor had arrived at Aldham Common, the place where
he should suffer, seeing a great multitude of people, he asked,
"What place is this, and what meaneth it that so much people are
gathered hither?" It was answered, "It is Aldham Common, the
place where you must suffer; and the people have come to look
upon you." Then he said, "Thanked be God, I am even at home"; and
he alighted from his horse and with both hands rent the hood from
his head.
His head had been notched and clipped like as a man would clip
a fool's; which cost the good bishop Bonner had bestowed upon
him. But when the people saw his reverend and ancient face, with
a long white beard, they burst out with weeping tears, and cried,
saying: "God save thee, good Dr. Taylor! Jesus Christ strengthen
thee, and help thee! the Holy Ghost comfort thee!" with such
other like good wishes.
When he had prayed, he went to the stake and kissed it, and
set himself into a pitch barrel, which they had put for him to
stand in, and stood with his back upright against the stake, with
his hands folded together, and his eyes towards heaven, and
continually prayed.
They then bound him with the chains, and having set up the
fagots, one Warwick cruelly cast a fagot at him, which struck him
on his head, and cut his face, sot hat the blood ran down. Then
said Dr. Taylor, "O friend, I have harm enough; what needed
that?"
Sir John Shelton standing by, as Dr. Taylor was speaking, and
saying the Psalm Miserere in English, struck him on the lips:
"You knave," he said, "speak Latin: I will make thee." At last
they kindled the fire; and Dr. Taylor holding up both his hands,
calling upon God, and said, "Merciful Father of heaven! for Jesus
Christ, my Savior's sake, receive my soul into Thy hands!" So he
stood still without either crying or moving, with his hands
folded together, until Soyce, with a halberd struck him on the
head until his brains fell out, and the corpse fell down into the
fire.
Thus rendered up this man of God his blessed soul into the
hands of his merciful Father, and to his most dear Savior Jesus
Christ, whom he most entirely loved, faithfully and earnestly
preached, obediently followed in living, and constantly glorified
in death.
Martyrdom of William Hunter
William Hunter had been trained to the doctrines of the
Reformation from his earliest youth, being descended from
religious parents, who carefully instructed him in the principles
of true religion.
Hunter, then nineteen years of age, refusing to receive the
communion at Mass, was threatened to be brought before the
bishop; to whom this valiant young martyr was conducted by a
constable.
Bonner caused William to be brought into a chamber, where he
began to reason with him, proimising him security and pardon if
he would recant. Nay, he would have been content if he would have
gone only to receive and to confession, but William would not do
so for all the world.
Upon this the bishop commanded his men to put William in the
stocks in his gate house, where he sat two days and nights, with
a crust of brown bread and a cup of water only, which he did not
touch.
At the two days' end, the bishop came to him, and finding him
steadfast in the faith, sent him to the convict prison, and
commanded the keeper to lay irons upon him as many as he could
bear. He continued in prison three quarters of a year, during
which time he had been before the bishop five times, besides the
time when he was condemned in the consistory in St. Paul's,
February 9, at which time his brother, Robert Hunter, was
present.
Then the bishop, calling William, asked him if he would
recant, and finding he was unchangeable, pronounced sentence upon
him, that he should go from that place to Newgate for a time, and
thence to Brentwood, there to be burned.
About a month afterward, William was sent down to Brentwood,
where he was to be executed. On coming to the stake, he knelt
down and read the Fifty-first Psalm, until he came to these
words, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a
contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." Steadfast in
refusing the queen's pardon, if he would become an apostate, at
length one Richard Ponde, a bailiff, came, and made the chain
fast about him.
William now cast his psalter into his brother's hand, who
said, "William, think on the holy passion of Christ, and be not
afraid of death." "Behold," answered William, "I am not afraid."
Then he lifted up his hands to heaven, and said, "Lord, Lord,
Lord, receive my spirit;" and casting down he head again into the
smothering smoke, he yielded up his life for the truth, sealing
it with his blood to the praise of God.
Dr. Robert Farrar
This worthy and learned prelate, the bishop of St. David's in
Wales, having in the former reign, as well as since the accession
of Mary, been remarkably zealous in promoting the reformed
doctrines, and exploding the rrors of popish idolatry, was
summoned, among others, before the persecuting bishop of
Winchester, and other commissioners set apart for the abominable
work of devastation and massacre.
His principal accusers and persecutors, on a charge of
praemunire in the reign of Edward VI were George Constantine
Walter, his servant; Thomas Young, chanter of the cathedral,
afterward bishop of Bangor, etc. Dr. Farrar ably replied to the
copies of information laid against him, consisting of fifty-six
articles. The whole process of this trial was long and tedious.
Delay succeeded delay, and after that Dr. Farrar had been long
unjustly detained in custody under sureties, in the reign of King
Edward, because he had been promoted by the duke of Somerset,
whence after his fall he found fewer friends to support him
against such as wanted his bishopric by the coming in of Queen
Mary, he was accused and examined not for any matter of
praemunire, but for his faith and doctrine; for which he was
called before the bishop of Winchester with Bishop Hooper, Mr.
Rogers, Mr. Bradford, Mr. Saunders, and others, February 4, 1555;
on which day he would also with them have been condemned, but his
condemnation was deferred, and he sent to prison again, where he
continued until February 14, and then was sent into Wales to
receive sentence. He was six times brought up before Henry
Morgan, bishop of St. David's, who demanded if he would abjure;
from which he zealously dissented, and appealed to Cardinal Pole;
notwithstanding which, the bishop, proceeding in his rage,
pronounced him a heretic excommunicate, and surrendered him to
the secular power.
Dr. Farrar, being condemned and degraded, was not long after
brought to the place of execution in the town of Carmathen, in
the market-place of which, on the south side of the market-cross,
March 30, 1555, being Saturday next before Passion Sunday, he
most constantly sustained the torments of the fire.
Concerning his constancy, it is said that one Richard Jones, a
knight's son, coming to Dr. Farrar a little before his death,
seemed to lament the painfulness of the death he had to suffer;
to whom the bishop answered that if he saw him once stir in the
pains of his burning, he might then give no credit to his
doctrine; and as he said, so did he maintain his promise,
patiently standing without emotion, until one Richard Gravell
with a staff struck him down.
Martyrdom of Rawlins White
Rawlins White was by his calling and occupation a fisherman,
living and continuing in the said trade for the space of twenty
years at least, in the town of Cardiff, where he bore a very good
name amongst his neighbors.
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Psalms 105:42 (KJV)