"The church of Christ is, hath been, and shall be in all ages, under the cross, persecuted, molested, and afflicted, the world ever hating them, because they are not of the world. But these persecute, murder, slay, and kill such as profess the true doctrine of Christ, be they in learning, living, conversation, and other virtues, never so excellent.

"Christ and his church reserved the trial of their doctrine to the word of God, and gave the people leave to judge thereof by the same word, Search the scriptures; but this church takes away the word from the people, and suffers neither learned nor unlearned to examine or prove their doctrine by the word of God.

The true church of God labours by all means to resist and withstand the lusts, desires, and motions of the world, the flesh, and the devil: these, for the most part, give themselves to all voluptuousness, and secretly commit such things, as St. Paul says, it is a shame to speak of them.

"By these, and such like manifest proofs, they declare themselves to be none of the church of Christ, but rather of the synagogue of Satan. It shall be good for you oftentimes to confer and compare their proceedings and doings with the practice of those whom the word of God doth teach to have been true members of the church of God, and it shall work in you both knowledge, erudition, and boldness to withstand with suffering their doings. I likened them, therefore, to Nimrod, whom the scripture calleth a mighty hunter, or a stout champion; telling them that that which they could not have by the word, they would have by the sword, and be the church whether men will or not, and I called them with good conscience, as Christ called their forefathers, the children of the devil; and as their father the devil is a liar and a murderer, so their kingdom and church (as they call it) stands by lying and murdering.

"Have no fellowship with them, therefore, my dear wife, nor with their doctrines and traditions, lest you be partakers of their sins, for whom is reserved a heavy damnation, without speedy repentance. Beware of such as shall advertise you something to bear with the world, as they do, for a season. There is no dallying with God's matters. It is a fearful thing,' as St. Paul says, to fall into the hands of the living God.' Remember the words of the prophet Elijah, Why halt ye between two opinions? Also what Christ says, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.' And seeing God hath hitherto allowed you as a good soldier in the foreward, play not the coward, neither draw back to the rearward. St. John numbers among them that shall dwell in the fiery lake, such as be fearful' in God's cause. Set before your eyes always the examples of such as have behaved themselves boldly in God's cause, as Daniel, the three children, the widow's sons, St. Stephen, St. Peter, St. Paul, and in your days, Ann Askew, Lawrence Sanders, John Bradford, with many other faithful witnesses of Christ. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries : which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.' (Philipp. i. 28.) Christ commanded the same, saying, Fear them not.' Let us not follow the example of him who asked time first to take leave of his friends. If we do so, we shall find few of them that will encourage us to go forward in our business, please it God never so much. We read not that St. James and St. John, St. Andrew and St. Simon, when they were called, put off the time till they had known their fathers, and friends' pleasure. But the scripture saith, They forsook all, and followed Christ.' Christ likened the kingdom of God to a precious pearl, the which whosoever findeth, selleth all that he hath to buy it. Yea, whosover hath but a little taste or glimmering how precious a treasure the kingdom of heaven is, will gladly forego both life and goods for the obtaining of it. But the most part, now-a-days, are like to Esop's cock, which when he had found a precious stone, wished rather to have found a barley-corn. So ignorant are they how precious a jewel the word of

God is, that they choose rather the things of this world, which being compared to it, are less in value than a barley-corn.

66

If I would have given place to worldly reasons, these might have moved me: first, the foregoing of you and my children; the consideration of the state of my children, being yet of tender age, apt and inclinable to virtue and learning, and so having the more need of my assistance, being not altogether destitute of gifts to help them; possessions above the common sort of men; be cause I was never called to be a preacher or minister; and, because of my sickness, fear of death in imprisonment before I should come to my answer, and so my death to be unprofitable.

"But these, and such like, I thank my heavenly Father (which of his infinite mercy inspired me with his Holy Spirit, for his Son's sake my only Saviour and Redeemer) prevailed not in me: but when I had, by the wonderful permission of God, fallen into their hands, at the first sight of the sheriff, nature a little abashed, yet before I came to the prison, by the working of God, and through his goodness, fear departed. I said to the sheriff, at his coming to me, 'What matter have you, master sheriff, to charge me with?' He answered. You shall know when you come before the masters;' and so taking me with him, I looked to have been brought before the masters, and to have heard what they could have burdened me with: but contrary to my expectation, I was committed forthwith to the gaol, not being called to my answer, little justice being shewed therein. But the less justice a man finds at their hands, the more consolation in conscience shall he find from God; for whosoever is of the world, the world will love him.

"After I came into prison, and had reposed myself there a while, I wept for joy and gladness, musing much of the great mercies of God, and (as it were) saying to myself after this sort; O Lord, who am I, on whom thou shouldest bestow this thy great mercy, to be num bered among the saints that suffer for the gospel sake? And so beholding and considering on the one side my imperfection, unableness, sinful misery, and unworthi ness, and on the other side the greatness of God's mercy, to be called to so high promotion, I was, as it were, amazed and overcome for a while with joy and gladness, concluding thus with myself in my heart: O Lord, thos shewest power in weakness, wisdom in foolishness, mercy in sinfulness; who shall hinder thee to choose where and whom thou wilt? As I have zealously loved the confession of thy word, so I ever thought myself to be most unworthy to be partaker of the affliction for the

same.

"Not long after came unto me, W. Brasbridge, C. Phineas, and N. Hopkins, endeavouring to prevail with me to be dismissed upon bonds. To whom my answer was (to my remembrance) after this sort: Forasmuch as the masters have imprisoned me, having nothing to bur den me with, if I should enter into bonds, I should in so doing accuse myself; and seeing they have no matter to lay to my charge, they may as well let me pass without bonds as with bonds.

"Secondly, if I shall enter bonds, covenant, and promise to appear, I shall do nothing but excuse, colour, and cloak their wickedness, and endanger myself nevertheless, being bound by my promise to appear. They alleged many worldly persuasions to me to avoid the present peril, and also how to avoid the forfeiture, if I brake promise. I said unto them I had cast up my pennyworth by God's help. They undertook also to make the bond easy.

"And when they were somewhat importunate, I said to Hopkins, that liberty of conscience was a precious thing, and took, as it were, a pause, lifting up my heart to God earnestly for his aid and help, that I might do the thing that might please him. And so when they had let their suit fall, my heart, methought, was wonderfully comforted. Master Dudley communed with me in like manner; whom I answered in effect as I did before.

"Afterwards debating the matter with myself, these

considerations came into my head; I have from time to time, with good conscience (I take God to record) moved all such as I had conference with to be no dalliers in God's matters, but to shew themselves, after so great a light and knowledge, hearty, earnest, constant, and stable in so manifest a truth, and not to give place one jot contrary to the same. Now, thought I, if I shall withdraw myself, and make any shifts to pull my own neck out of the collar, I shall give great offence to my weak brethren in Christ, and advantage to the enemies to slander God's word. It will be said, he hath been a great emboldener of others to be earnest and fervent, to fear no worldly perils or dangers, but he himself will give no such example.

"Wherefore I thought it my bounden duty, both to God and man, being, as it were, by the great goodness of God, marvellously called and appointed hereunto, to set aside all fear, perils, and dangers, all worldly respects and considerations, and like as I had heretofore, according to the measure of my small gift within the compass of my vocation and calling, from the bottom of my heart unfeignedly moved, exhorted and persuaded all that professed God's word, manfully to persist in the defence of the same, not with sword and violence, but with suffering and loss of life, rather than to defile themselves again with the whorish abomination of the Romish antichrist; so the hour being come, with my act and example to ratify, confirm, and protest the same to the hearts of all true believers: and to this end, by the mighty assistance of God's Holy Spirit, I resolved myself, with much peace of conscience, willingly to sustain whatever the Romish antichrist should do against me, and the rather because I understood the bishop's coming to be at hand, and considered that poor men's consciences should be then sharply assaulted. So I remained a prisoner in Coventry for the space of ten or eleven days, being never called to my answer of the masters, contrary to the laws of the realms, they having neither statute, law, proclamation, letter, warrant, nor commandment for my apprehension. They would have laid all the matter upon the summoner: who being examined, denied it before their faces, as one of my friends told me, saying, that he had no commandment concerning me, but for my elder brother. God lay not their extreme doings against me to their charge at the great day! "The second day after the bishop's coming to Coventry, Master Warren came to the Guildhall, and commanded the chief gaoler to carry me to the bishop. I laid to Master Warren's charge the cruel seeking of my death; and when he would have excused himself, I told him he could not wipe his hands so; he was as guilty of my blood before God, as though he had murdered me with his own hands.

"And so he departed from me, saying, I needed not to fear if I would be of his belief. God open his eyes, if it be his will, and give him grace to believe this, which he, and all of his inclination, shall find, I fear, too true for their parts; that is, that all they who cruelly, maliciously, and spitefully persecute, molest, and afflict the members of Christ for their conscience sake, and for the true testimony of Christ's word, and cause them most unjustly to be slain and murdered, without speedy repentance, shall dwell with the devil and his angels in the fierce lake everlastingly, where they shall wish and desire, cry and call, but in vain (as their right companion the rich man did) to be refreshed of them, whom in this world they contemned, despised, disdained, as slaves, misers, and wretches.

"When I came before the bishop, in one Denton's house, he began with this protestation, that he was my bishop for lack of a better, and willed me to submit myself.

"I said to him, I am not come to accuse myself; what have you to lay to my charge?'

“He asked me whether I was learned? I answered, 'Smally learned.'

"Master chancellor standing by, said, I was a master

of arts.

"Herc I might have dallied with him, and put him to his proofs, forasmuch as I had not been for a long season in his diocese, neither were any of the citizens able to prove any such matter against me. Notwithstanding I answered him, through God's merciful help, that I neither had nor would come at their church as long as their mass was used there, to save, if I had them, five hundred lives. I desired him to shew me one jot or tittle in the scriptures for the proof and defence of the mass. "He answered, he came to teach, and not to be taught.

J

"I was content, I told him, to learn of him, so far as he was able to teach me by the word of God. "Bishop. Who shall judge the word?' "Glover. Christ was content that the people should judge his doctrine by searching the scriptures, and so was St. Paul; methinks you should claim no further privilege nor pre-eminence than they had.'"

[Thus spake Robert Glover, offering him further, that he was content that the primitive church, next to the apostles' time, should judge betwixt the bishop and him; but he refused also to be judged by that. Then he said he was his bishop, and therefore he must believe him.]

"Glover. If you say black is white, my lord, must I also say as you say; and believe the same, because you say it is so?'

"The chancellor here said I was arrogant, because I would not give place to my bishop.

"Glover. If you will be believed because you are a bishop, why find you fault with the people that believed Latimer, Ridley, Hooper, and the residue of them that were bishops?'

Bishop.- - Because they were heretics.'

"Glover. And may not you err, as well as they?' "I looked for learning at my lord's hand to persuade me, and he oppressed me only with his authority. He said I dissented from the church, and asked me where my church was before King Edward VI's time?

"I desired him to shew me where their church was in Elijah's time, and what outward shew it had in Christ's time.

My lord making no answer to that, Master Rogers, one of the masters of the city, comes in, taking upon him as though he would answer the text. But my lord forthwith commanded me to be committed to some tower, if they had any besides the common gaol, saying. he would at the end of his visitation of his diocese, weed out such wolves. Master Rogers desired him to content himself for that night, till they had taken further order for me. Even where it pleases you, I said to my lord, I am content; and so I was returned at that time to the common gaol again from whence I came.

"On the Friday morning, being the next day after, I had warning by one of the prisoners to prepare myself to ride with my fellow-prisoners the same day to Lichfield, there to be bestowed at the bishop's pleasure. Which tidings at the first something discouraged me, fearing lest I should by the means of my great sickness, through extreme handling (which I looked for) have died in the prison before I should come to my answer; but I rebuked immediately with God's word this infidelity in myself, and by the same corrected mine own mistrust and fantasy after this manner :- What make I of God? Is not his power as great in Lichfield as in Coventry? Does not his promise extend as well to Lichfield as to Coventry? Was he not with Habakkuk, Daniel, Micah, and Jeremiah, in their most dangerous imprisonments? He knoweth what things we have need of. He hath numbered all the hairs of our head. The sparrow falleth not on the ground, without our heavenly Father's will; much more will he care for us if we be not faithless, whom he hath made worthy to be witnesses of his truth. So long as we put our trust in him, we shall never be destitute of his help, neither in

prison, neither in sickness, nor in health, neither in life, nor in death, neither before kings, nor before bishops, nor the devil himself, much less one of his ministers, shall be able to prevail against us.' With such-like meditations I waxed cheerful, of good consolation and comfort: so that hearing one say that they could not provide horses enough for us, I said, 'Let them carry us in a dung-cart for lack of horses, if they please, I am well content for my part.'

"Certain sergeants and constables of Coventry, being appointed to convey us to Lichfield, to be delivered there to one Jephcot the chancellor's man, we were commanded to mount on horseback about eleven or twelve o'clock on Friday, being market-day, that we might be the more gazed and wondered at: and to kindle the people's hearts more against us, they proclaimed a letter concerning a proclamation made for calling in, and disanulling of all such books as truly expound and interpret the scriptures. We came to Lichfield about four o'clock, and had leave to repose ourselves till our supper-time. We stopped at the sign of the Swan, where we were entertained in a friendly manner.

"Jephcot put me into a prison that night, where I continued till I was condemned, in a place next to the dungeon, in a narrow strong building, and very cold, with little light, and being allowed only a bundle of straw, instead of a bed, without chair, form, or convenience. God of his mercy gave me great patience through prayer that night, so that if it had been his pleasure, I could have been contented to have ended my life: But Jephcot, and one Percy, the bishop's man, who afterwards was my continual keeper for the most part, came to me in the morning, to whom I said, 'This is a great extremity; God send us patience;' and no more.

"Then they were content that I should have a bed of my own procuring. But I was allowed no help neither night nor day, nor company of any man, notwithstanding my great sickness; nor yet paper, pen, nor ink, nor books, saving my New Testament in Latin, and a prayer-book which I privately procured.

"Within two days after, Master Chancellor, and one Temsey, a prebendary there, came to me in my prison. Master Chancellor exhorted me to conform myself to my lord and the church. He wished to my soul no more hurt than to his own, perhaps because I had laid to his charge at Coventry the seeking of my blood unjustly and wrongfully.

"A second time I answered Master Chancellor to his exhortation, that I refused not to be ruled by that church that was content to be ordered and governed by the word of God.

"He asked me how I knew the word of God, but by the church.

"Glover. The church shews which is the word of God; therefore the church is above the word of God.'

This is no good reason in learning,' said I to Master Chancellor. For it is like unto this; John shewed the people who was Christ; therefore John was above Christ. Or else I have a man that knows not the king, and I tell him who was the king: am I therefore above the king?' "Master Chancellor said, he came not to reason with me, and so departed. Thus I remained without any further conference of any man for the space of eight and till the bishop's coming. All which time I gave myself continually to prayer and meditation of the merciful promises of God, made to all, without exception of person, that call upon the name of his dear Son Jesus Christ. I found daily amendment of health of body, increase of peace in conscience, and many consolations from God, by the help of his Holy Spirit, and sometimes as it were a taste and glimmering of the life to come; all for his only Son Jesus Christ's sake: to him be all praise

for ever and ever.

"The enemy ceased not many times sundry ways to assault me, often objecting to my conscience mine own unworthiness, through the greatness of the benefit to be counted among the number of them that should suffer for Christ, for his gospel's sake. Against him I replied with the word of God on this sort: What were all those whom God had chosen from the beginning, to be his

witnesses, and to carry his name before the world? Were they not men, as Paul and Barnabas said, as well subject to wickedness, sin, and imperfections, as other men? Even such were Noah, Abraham, David, and all the rest. As St. Paul saith Who gave first unto him?" And also speaking to every man,What hast thou that thou receivedst not?' Likewise John, All have received of his fulness,' they were no bringers of any goodness to God, but altogether receivers. They chose not God first, but he chose them. They loved not God first, but he loved them first. Yea, he both loved and chose them when they were his enemies, full of sin and corruption, and void of all goodness. He is and will be still the same God, as rich in mercy, as mighty, as able, as ready, as willing to forgive sins without respect of person, to the world's end, of all them that call upon him. God is near, he is at hand, he is with all,with all, I say, and refuseth none, excepteth none that faithfully in true repentance call upon him, in what hour, what place, or what time soever it be. It is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man, to burthen God, as it were, with his promise, and of duty to claim and challenge his aid, help, and assistance in all our perils, dangers, and distress, calling upon him not in the confidence of our own godliness, but in the trust of his promises made in Christ, in whom, and by whom, and for whose sake, whosoever boldly approaches to the mercy-seat of the Father, is sure to receive whatso ever is expedient or necessary, either for body or soul, in more ample, and large manner, than he can well wish, or dare desire. His word cannot lie: Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.'

"I answered the enemy also on this manner; I am sinner, and therefore unworthy to be a witness of this truth. What then? Must I deny his word, because I am not worthy to profess it? What bring I to pass in so doing, but add sin to sin? What is greater sin than to deny the truth of Christ's gospel? as Christ himself beareth witness, He that is ashamed of me or of my words, of him I will be also ashamed before my Father and all his angels.' I might also by like reason forbear to do any of God's commandments.

"When I am provoked to pray, the enemy may say to me, I am not worthy to pray, therefore I shall not pray: and so in like manner of all the commandments, shall I not forbear swearing, stealing, murdering, be cause I am not worthy to do any commandment of God. These be the delusions of the devil, and Satan's sugges tions, which must be overcome by continuance of prayer, and with the word of God applied, according to the mea sure of every man's gift, against all assaults of the devil.

"At the bishop's first coming to Lichfield, after mine imprisonment, I was called into a chamber next to my prison, to my lord. Before whom, when I came and saw none but his officers, chaplains, and servants, except it were an old priest, I was partly amazed, and lifted up my heart to God for his merciful help and assistance. "My lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment. gave him no answer touching that question. He proceeded to persuade me to be a member of his church. which had continued for so many years. As for our church,' as he called it, it was not known, but lately in king Edward's time.'

I

"I profess myself to be a member of that church.' said I, that is builded upon the foundation of the apos tles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the head cornerstone;' and so alleged the place of St. Paul to the Ephe sians. And this church hath been from the beginning," said I, though it bear no glorious show before the world, being ever, for the most part, under the cross and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted.' My lord on the other side, contended that they were the church.

"Glover. So cried all the clergy against the prophets of Jerusalem, saying,-The temple of the Lord!the temple of the Lord!'

"And always when I was about to speak any thing, my lord cried, Hold thy peace; I command thee by the virtue of obedience to hold thy peace,' calling me a proud arrogant heretic.

a

"I desired my lord to charge me with some specialties, and then to convince me with some scriptures and good learning.

"Then my lord began to move certain questions. I refused to answer him in corners, requiring that I might make my answer openly. He said I should answer him there. I stood with him upon that point until he said, I should be sent to prison again, and there have neither meat nor drink till I answered him.

"Then I lifted up my heart to God, that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word. "The first question was this, 'How many sacraments hath Christ instituted to be used in the church?" "Glover, "The sacrament of baptism, and the sacrament that he instituted at his last supper.'

"Bishop. No more?'

"Glover. To all those that declare a true and unfeigned repentance, a sure hope, trust, and confidence in the death of Christ, to such, I grant, ministers have authority to pronounce, by the power of God's word, the remission of sins.'

"Here interrupting me, he would needs bear me in hand that I called this a sacrament. I would not greatly contend with him in that point, because that matter was of no great weight or importance; although he in so doing did me wrong, for I called it not a sacra

And thus much did this worthy martyr of God leave behind him by his own hand in writing concerning his treatment in prison, and also his contentions with the bishop and his chancellor. More examinations he had, no doubt, with the bishop in the public consistory, when he was brought forth to be condemned, which also he would have left unto us, if the hurry of his execution had permitted him to finish what he intended; but by reason of the writ for his burning arriving from London, I could not obtain even the records of his last examinations, whereever they are.

Cornelius Bungey, Martyr.

In the same fire with Glover was burned also Cornelius Bungey, a capper of Coventry, and condemned by Radulph bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. The effect of the articles which were objected against him, was as follows:

1. It was articled against him, that these years past, in the city of Coventry and Lichfield, and other places about, he did hold, maintain, argue and teach, that the priest hath no power on earth to absolve any sinner from his sins.

2. That by baptism sins are not washed away, because he said that the washing of the flesh purges the flesh outwardly, and not the soul.

3. That there are in the church two sacraments, that is, baptism and the Lord's Supper.

4. That in the sacrament of the popish altar, there was not the real body and blood of Christ, but the substance of bread and wine there remaining still, because St. Paul calleth it bread and wine, &c.

5. That he within the compass of the said years and time, did hold, maintain, and defend, that the pope is not the head of the visible church here on earth, &c. 6. That he was of the diocese and jurisdiction of the bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, &c.

7. That the premises are true, manifest and notorious, and that upon the same there hath been and is a public voice and fame, as well in the places above rehearsed, as in other quarters also about, &c.

Upon these articles, Radulph, the bishop, read the

sentence, and so committed him, after the condemnation of Master Robert Glover, to the secular power.

Thus this Cornelius, falsely condemned by the bishop, suffered at the same stake with the christian martyr, Master Robert Glover, at Coventry, about the 20th of September.

Account of John Glover and William Glover.

Now that we have given the history of Master Robert Glover, something also may be said of his other two brothers, John and William Glover. Who although they were not called to finish their course by martyrdom in the fire, as the other did; yet for their constant profession of God's gospel to the end, they were exempted after their death, and cast out of the same church, as the other was; I therefore thought them not unworthy to be associated in history, who in one cause and the same profession were not divided.

And first concerning John Glover, the eldest brother, what agonies he sustained by the ghostly enemy, has been before described: what his bodily enemies wrought against him, remains to be declared.

After the martyrdom of Robert Glover, John Glover, seeing his brother apprehended for him, had little joy of his life for the sorrow of heart wherewith he was oppressed, and would gladly have put himself in his brother's stead, if friends had not otherwise persuaded him, shewing that in so doing he might entangle himself, but would do his brother no good. He endured great care and vexation, yet notwithstanding persevered, till at length, about the latter end of the reign of Queen Mary, there was a new search made for him.

The sheriffs, with their under officers and servants, being sent to seek John Glover, came into his house where he and his wife were. It chanced, as he was in the chamber by himself, the officers bursting into the house, and searching other rooms, came to the chamberdoor, where he, holding the latch softly with his hand, perceived and heard the officers bustling about the door, amongst whom one of the officers, having the string in his hand, was ready to draw and pluck at the door.

In the meantime another coming by (whose voice he heard and knew) bade them come away, saying they had been there before. Upon which they went to search other corners of the house, where they found Agnes Glover, his wife, who being taken to Lichfield, and there examined before the bishop, at length, after much ado, was constrained to give place to their tyranny: John Glover in the meantime, partly for care of his wife, partly through cold taken in the woods where he lay hid, had an ague, and not long after gave up his life, which the cruel papists so long had sought for.

Thus by the protection of Almighty God, John Glover was delivered and defended from the hand of his persecuting enemies during all the time of his life. Now what befel after his death both to him and William his brother, is not unworthy to be remembered. After he was dead, and buried in the church-yard without priest or clerk, Doctor Dracot, then chancellor, six weeks after, sent for the parson of the town, and demanded how it chanced that he was there buried. The parson answered that he was then sick, and knew not of it. Then the chancellor commanded the parson to go home, and to cause the body of John Glover to be taken up, and to be cast over the wall into the highway. The parson again answered, that he had been six weeks in the earth, and so smelled, that none was able to abide the stench of him. "Well," said Doctor Dracot, "then take this bill, and pronounce him in the pulpit a damned soul, and a twelve-month after take up his bones (for then the flesh will be consumed) and cast them over the wall, that carts and horses may tread upon them, and then I will come and hallow again that place in the churchyard where he was buried."

Similar usage was practised also by these children of the mother church, upon the body of Willliam, the third brother; whom, after it had pleased Almighty God about the same season to call out of this vale of misery, the good disposed people of the town of Wem, in Shropshire, where he died, brought the body into the parish