directly against the ecclesiastical laws then in being, under the reign of the late queen Mary, but in all things submitted themselves obediently to the laws then in force: and yet the cruelty of the said dean and his accomplices, in perpetrating such murder as aforesaid, raged so far, that whereas, whilst the said persons did consume with violent fire, the said Perotine being burned, did give birth to a goodly man-child, which by the officers was taken up and handled, and afterwards in a most despiteful manner thrown into the fire, and there also, with the holy mother, most cruelly burned. In tender consideration whereof, and forasmuch as this inhuman murder was not in due order of any law, or in any manner according to justice, but of mere malicious hatred, as the true copy of the whole proceedings in this matter, by the said dean and his accomplices, here ready to be shewed to your honours, will make very plain and manifest: It may, therefore, please your good and gracious lordships, of the zeal that you bear to justice, and for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, to have due consideration in justice of such horrible murder, so cruelly committed as aforesaid, according to the right demerit there. of. And that it may please your honourable lordships to order and decree also, that all the goods of all the said parties, by pretence aforesaid wrongfully taken as confiscate, may be delivered to your said poor petitioner, to whom of right they do belong. And your honours' said supplicant will daily pray to God for your long preservation, to his glory, and your everlasting health."

This supplication being presented to the queen's honourable commissioners, in the year 1562, such order was taken, that the matter being returned again to Guernsey, to be further examined, the dean was committed to prison, and dispossessed of all his livings. So that in conclusion, both he, and all other partakers of that inhuman murder, whether of conscience, or for fear of the law, were driven not long after to acknowledge their trespass, and to submit themselves to the Queen's pardon. This submission is still on the rolls, and for which submission they received the pardon of the queen for the

horrid act.

Three Martyrs burned at Greenstead, in Sussex.

Near about the same time that these three women with the infant were burned at Guernsey, there suffered three others likewise at Greenstead, in Sussex, two men and one woman, on the 18th of July, 1556; their names were Thomas Dungate, John Foreman, and Mistress Tree, who for righteousness sake submitted themselves to death and torment of the fire, patiently abiding what the furious rage of man could say or work against them.

The burning of Thomas Moor, in Leicester.

As the rage of this persecution spared neither man, woman nor child, wife nor maiden, lame, blind, nor cripple; as there was no difference either of age or sex considered, so neither was there any condition or quality respected; but whoever he were, that held not to the pope and the sacrament of the altar, were he learned or unlearned, wise, or unwise, all went to the fire, as may appear by this simple and innocent creature, named Thomas Moor, a servant in the town of Leicester, about the age of twenty-four, who for speaking certain words, that his Maker was in heaven, and not in the pix, was apprehended. Being brought before his ordinary, he was asked, whether he did not believe his Maker to be there, pointing to the high altar. Which he denied.

Then asked the bishop, "How then," said he, " dost thou believe?"

The young man answered again; teach him."

"as his creed did

not.'

.

" I answered, and said to him, yea, that I do.' "Whereby?' quoth he. "Hereby,' said I. 'Our Saviour Christ saith, Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they that testify of me.' "This is a wise proof,' answered he. "Is it so ?' said I,What say you then to these What man is be words that the prophet David said?' that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord with them that fear him; and he will shew them has covenant.' Psalm xxv. 12, 13, 14.

that

"Cook. I pray thee tell me, who is the head of the Church?'

"I answered, and said, Christ is the head.' "But who is head in earth?'

"I said, 'Christ hath members here in earth.' "Who are they?' said he.

" I replied, they, that are ruled by the word of God' "You are a good fellow,' said he.

66 6

I am that I am,' answered I. "Then he said to my keeper, Have him to pris

again.'

"I am contented with that,' said I; and so m parted."

The Martydom of Joan Waste, a blind women. On the first day of August, 1556, there suffered like

wise at the town of Derby a certain poor honest godly woman, being blind from her birth, and unmarried, about the age of twenty-two, named Joan Waste, of the parish of Alhallows. Of them that sat upon this innocent woman's blood, the chiefest was Ralph Baine, bishop of the diocese, Doctor Draicot, his chancellor, with others. After the bishop and Doctor Draicot had caused Joan Waste to be apprehended in the town of Derby, suspecting her to be guilty of certain heresies, she was privily examined, as well in prison as out of prison. After that, being brought to public examination before the bishop; was burnt in Derby.

This Joan Waste was the daughter of one William Waste, an honest poor man; she was born blind, and continued with her father and mother, during their lives. After whose death she lived with Roger Waste, her brother, and in the time of King Edward VI., of blessed memory, daily went to the church to hear divine service read in the vulgar tongue. And thus by hearing homilies and sermons, she became well affected to the religion then taught. So at length having by her labour gotten and saved so much money as would buy her a New Testament, she caused one to be provided for her. though she was of herself unlearned, and by reason of her blindness unable to read, yet for the great desire she had to understand, and have imprinted in her memory the sayings of the holy scriptures contained in the New Testament, she acquainted herself chiefly with one John Hurt, then prisoner in the common hall of Derby for debts.

And

John Hurt being a sober grave man, of the age of threescore and ten years, by her earnest entreaty, and being prisoner, and many times idle and without company, did for his exercise daily read to her some chapter of the New Testament. And if at any time he were otherwise occupied or prevented through sickness, she would repair to one John Pemerton clerk of the parish church of All-Saints in Derby, or to some other person who could read, and sometimes she would give a penny or two to such persons as would not freely read to her, appointing to them beforehand how many chapters of the New Testament they should read, or how often they should repeat one chapter for a price.

By which she so profited, that she was able not only to recite many chapters of the New Testament without book, but also could aptly reprove, by various places of scripture, as well sin, as such abuses in religion, as were then too much in use in many persons.

Not long after, through the death of blessed King Edward, followed the woeful ruin of religion, in the reign of queen Mary his sister. In which alteration, notwithstanding the general backsliding of the greater part c the whole realm into the old papism again, yet this poor blind woman continued in a constant conscience, being zealous in that she had learned, and also refusing to communicate in religion with those who taught contrary doctrine to that she had learned in King Edward's time. For which she was called before the bishop and Doctor Draicot, who objected against her the usual articles.

She answered, that she believed so much as the holy scriptures taught her, and according to what she had heard preached, by many learned men. Of whom some suffered imprisonment, and some suffered death for the same doctrine, and she asked of them, if they would do so for their doctrine: which if they would not, she desired them for God's sake not to trouble her, being a blind, poor, and unlearned woman, saying, that by God's assistance she was ready to yield up her life in that faith.

And yet notwithstanding, being pressed by the bishop and Doctor Draicot, with many arguments of Christ's omnipotency, and many times being threatened with grievous imprisonments, torments, and death; the poor woman, desirous to prolong her life, offered to the bishop that if he would, before that company, take it upon his conscience, that that doctrine which he would have her to believe concerning the sacrament was true, and that he would at the dreadful day of judgment answer for her therein, she would then further answer them. The bishop answered, "he would." Draicot his chancellor, hearing that, said,

But Doctor

66

My lord,

you know not what you do, you may in no case answer for an heretic." And immediately he asked the poor woman whether she would recant or not, and said she should answer for herself.

The poor woman perceiving this, answered again, that if they refused to take on their conscience that it was true they would have her to believe, she would answer no further, but desired them to do their pleasure; and so after certain persuasions, they pronounced sentence against her, and delivered her to the bailiffs of Derby. Who, after they had kept her about a month or five weeks, at length there came unto them a writ De hæretico comburendo; by virtue whereof they were appointed by the bishop to bring her to the parish church of All Saints at a day appointed, where Doctor Draicot should make a sermon.

When the day and time was come that this innocent martyr should suffer, first comes to the church, Doctor Draicot, accompanied with several gentlemen.-This done, and all things now in readiness, at last the poor blind servant of God was brought and set before the pulpit, where the doctor having commenced his sermon, and there inveighing against many matters, which he called heresies, declared to the people that that woman was condemned for denying the sacrament of the altar to be the very body and blood of Christ really and substantially, and was thereby cut off from the body of the catholic church; and said, that she was not only blind of her bodily eyes, but also blind in the eyes of her soul. And he said, that as her body should be presently consumed with material fire, so her soul should be burned in hell with everlasting fire, as soon as it shall be separated from the body, and there remain world without end, and said, it was not lawful for the people to pray for her and so with many terrible threats he made an end of his sermon, and commanded the bailiffs and those gentlemen to see her executed. And the sermon thus ended, the blessed servant of God was carried away from the church, to a place called the Windmill-pit, near the town, and holding Roger Waste her brother by the hand, she prepared herself, and desired the people to pray with her, and said such prayers as she had learned, and cried upon Christ to have mercy upon her, as long as life served. In the mean season, Doctor Draicot went to his inn, and there laid him down and slept, during all the time of her execution.

:

About the beginning of the next month, which was September, a certain godly, and devout person, and zealous of the Lord's glory, born in Wiltshire, named Edward Sharp, of the age of forty years or thereabouts, was condemned at Bristol, to martyrdom, where he constantly and manfully persisting in the just cause of Christ's gospel, for disliking and renouncing the ordinances of the Romish church, was tried as pure gold, and made a lively sacrifice in the fire in whose death, as in the death of all his other saints, the Lord be glorified and thanked for his great grace of constancy, to whom be praise for ever, Amen.

:

Next after the martyrdom of Edward Sharp, followed four, who suffered at Mayfield, in Sussex, on the 24th day of Sept., A.D. 1556. Which four, being at the place where they were to suffer, after they had made their prayer, and were at the stake ready to abide the force of the fire, they constantly and joyfully yielded their lives for the testimony of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, unto whom be praise for ever and ever, Amen.

The day after the martyrdom of these at Mayfield, a young man was put to death, for the like testimony of Jesus Christ, at Bristol, where he yielding himself to the torments of the fire, gave up his life into the hands of the Lord, with such joyful constancy and triumph, as all the church of Christ have just cause to praise God for him.

In the same month, were two more godly martyrs consumed by fire at Wotton Underhedge in Glocestershire, who died very gloriously in a constant faith, to the terror

1

of the wicked, and comfort of the godly. So gloriously did the Lord work in them, that death to them was life, and life with an evil conscience was death.

An affecting Account of the unmerciful handling of William Dangerfield, and Joan his Wife, who with their young infant of fourteen days old, were taken out of their House, and laid in the common gaol amongst thieves and murderers.

When I had written the history of the Guernsey women, with the young infant burned with them, and also had passed the burning of the poor blind woman Joan Waste at Derby, I well hoped I should have found no more such histories of unmerciful cruelty shewed upon weak women, with their children and young infants: but now coming to the persecution of Glocestershire, about the parts of Bristol, I find another story of such unmercifulness shewed against another woman as far from all charity and humanity, as has been in any other history yet rehearsed.

In the parish of Wotton Underhedge, not far from Bristol, was dwelling one William Dangerfield, a right honest and godly poor man, who by Joan Dangerfield his wife had nine children, and she was then lying in childbed of the tenth. This William, after he had been abroad from his house a certain time, for fear of persecution, hearing that his wife was brought to bed, repaired home to visit her, and to see his children, she being now delivered four days before.

The return of this man was no sooner known to some of his unkind and uncharitable neighbours, but they, incensed with the spirit of papistry, beset the house, and took William Dangerfield, and carried him to prison, and at length he was brought to the bishop, called Brooks, in whose cruel handling he remained so long, till his legs almost were fretted off with irons.

After the apprehension of the husband, the wife likewise was taken, with her young child, being but fourteen days old, and carried into the common gaol, and there placed amongst thieves and murderers, where both she and her poor innocent found so small charity amongst the papists, that she never could come to any fire, but was driven to warm the clothes that she put about the child, in her bosom.

While they were thus confined in separate prisons, the husband and the wife, the bishop begins to practise not with the woman first, as the serpent did with Eve, but with the man, craftily deceiving his simplicity with fair glosing words, falsely persuading him that his wife had recanted, and asking him, wherefore he should stand more in his own conceit, than she, and so subtlely drew out a form of recantation, wherewith he deceived the simple soul. After he had once said that he would consent, although he had not yet recanted, they suffered him to go to his wife, where she lay in the common gaol.

Then they with melting hearts opening their minds one to another, when he saw his wife not released, and perceiving that he had not done well, he declared to her the whole matter, how falsely he was circumvented by the subtle flatterings of the bishop, that certainly she had recanted, and thus deceiving me, (said he) brought this to me, and so plucked out of his bosom the copy of the recantation. The wife hearing what her husband had Jone, was sorely grieved, and exclaimed, "Alas! thus long have we continued one, and hath Satan so prevailed, to cause you to break your first vow made to Christ in baptism?" And so parted William and Joan his wife, with what hearts the Lord knoweth. Then he began not a little to bewail his promise made to the bishop, and to make his prayer to Almighty God, desiring him that he might not live so long as to call evil good, and good evil; or light darkness, and darkness light; and so he departed home towards his house: where, by the way homeward, as it is affirmed, he took his death, and shortly after departed, according to his prayer, after he had endured in prison twelve weeks.

After this, Joan his wife continued still in prison with her tender infant, till at last she was brought before the

| bishop to be examined. What her answers were, is not known. However they pleased not the bishop, as appeared by his increased anger against the poor woman, and by her long continuance in the prison, together with her tender babe, which also remained with her in the gaol, a partaker of her martyrdom, so long as her milk would serve to give it suck, till at length the child being starved for cold and famine, was sent away when it was past all remedy, and so shortly after died: and not long after the mother also followed. Besides, the old woman, the mother of the husband, of the age of eighty years and upward, who being left in the house after their apprehension, for lack of comfort there perished also.

And thus have you in one history the death of four together; first of the old woman, then of the husband, after that of the innocent child, and lastly of the mother. What became of the other nine children, I am not perfectly sure.

In the month of October following, was burned at the town of Northampton, a shoemaker, a true witness and disciple of the Lord, who according to the grace of God given unto him, adhered firmly to the sound doc trine and preaching of God's word, and renounced the false religion of the Romish see.

After whom, not long after in the same month of Ortober, died also in the castle of Chichester, three goa confessors, being there in bonds for the like cause of Christ's gospel, who also should have suffered the like martyrdom, had not their natural death, or rather the cruel handling of the papists, made them away before, and afterwards buried them in the fields.

1556, was burnt a person called Hooke, a true witness I read moreover that in this present year, to wit, A.D.

of the Lord's truth at Chester.

An Account of five Persons famished in Canterbury Castle.

As among all the bishops, Bonner, bishop of London, principally excelled in persecuting the poor members and saints of Christ; so, of all archdeacons, Nichos Harpsfield, archdeacon of Canterbury, was the sorest. and of least compassion, (only Dunning of Norwich escepted) by whose unmerciful nature, very many we put to death in the diocese of Canterbury, not only the time of Queen Mary, but some also in the blessed beginning of this our most renowned Queen Elizabeth, as by the grace of Christ hereafter shall appear.

Of those that suffered in Queen Mary's time within the diocese of Canterbury, some are recited already, with the order and form set down of such articles as then were most commonly administered to them.

Now to proceed in order of time where we left, next follows the month of November.

In the beginning of it, there were together in the castle of Canterbury, fifteen godly and innocent martyrs, of which number not one escaped with life, but either were burned, or else famished in prison. Of which t sorts, which is the easier death, God knoweth, it is hard to judge. Notwithstanding, the truth is, that of thest fifteen, ten were burned and suffered in the fire, of when in the next book more shall follow hereafter. The other five were famished most unmercifully in prison.

The Persecution in the Diocese of Lichfield. The months of September, November, and December. as they were troublesome to other places, and especially to the diocese of Canterbury, by reason of the arch deacon; so likewise they brought no little business in the country to Lichfield and Coventry, by a cruel bishop there, called Ralph Baine, and a more cruel chanceller named Doctor Draicot, through the fierce inquisition of whom great stir was among the people, being called to examination of their faith, and many caused to bear fagots. Who, although they were not put to the torment of death, yet because it may appear what a number there is in the countries of England abroad, who in ther

And first amongst them that were detected and enjoined to the popish penance, that is, to bear a fagot, candle, and beads about in procession, were Agnes Foreman, detected, examined, and by witness convicted, and bore a fagot on the 12th of September. Likewise eight others for seldom coming to the church, for giving no reverence at the elevation of the sacrament, but looking upon his book, &c. Besides them, there were eleven priests deprived of their livings for the like

causes:

Nicholas Cartwright, doctor; Richard Juridan, priest; Edmund Crokel, priest; Thomas Whitehead, priest; William Taylor, priest; Anselme Sele, priest: Richard Slavy, priest, married; Edward Hawkes, priest, married; Robert Aston, priest, deprived; Henry Tecka, priest, deprived; Robert Massey, priest, married and deprived.

Besides these there were others, to the number of thirty-three, who were detected, accused and examined, although they bore no fagot, but were dismissed.

These persons, with many more following in the next year, although they subscribed and recanted, through fear of death; yet I here recite them, that by them it might appear, what a number there were, not only in the county of Lichfield, but also in other parts, in heart set against the pope's proceedings, if fear rather than conscience had not compelled them to the contrary.

The Conclusion of this Eleventh Book.

And thus, christian reader, have you the whole persecution of the year 1556, and the fourth of Queen Mary's reign, with the names and causes of all who suffered martyrdom within the compass of the year; the number of all slain and martyred in divers places of England this year, came to above eighty-four persons, of whom many were wives, widows, and maidens; besides those who otherwise by secret practice were made away or driven out of goods and houses, or out of the realm, or else within the realm were put to penance, and induced by forcible violence to recant; save only that I have omitted the account of Sir John Cheeke, knight, and

thiness of which man deserveth much to be said of him; but his fall should rather be covered in silence and oblivion. We shall only note a word or two of a few things which principally appertain to the present history.

First, Master Cheeke being in Germany, out of all danger of persecution, with many more of his own countrymen and acquaintance, was not only in safety, but also esteemed among the Germans, and also well placed in the city of Strasburg. Where, if he had remained, rather giving place to time, than to presume upon adventures, peradventure it had been better with him. But what fatal instigation wrought in his mind I know not. In the end so it fell, that he would needs take his journey with Sir Peter Carew, from High Germany unto Brussels. Having, as it is said, King Philip's safe conduct to pass and repass; he came to Brussels to see the Queen's ambassadors: and having brought the Lord Paget on his way towards England, in returning, between Brussels and Antwerp he was taken with Sir Peter Carew by the provost marshal, spoiled of their horses; and put into a cart, their legs, arms, and bodies tied with halters to the body of the cart, and blindfolded. They were then conveyed to a ship and put under the hatches, and so brought to the Tower of London.

Thus the good man being entrapped, and now in the hands of his enemies had but one of these two ways to take, either to change his religion, or to change his life, other remedy with those papists there was none. Neither could his conscience excuse him, nor truth defend him, nor learning help him.

Although Master Fecknam, whether influenced by the queen, or for his own friendship towards his old acquaintance, took upon him the defence and commendation of Master Cheeke, speaking in his behalf: yet no mercy could be had with the queen, but he must needs recant, and so he did.

Then after his recantation, he was, through the crafty handling of the papists, allured first to die in company with them, at length drawn unawares to sit in the council when the poor martyrs were brought be fore Bonner and other bishops to be condemned; the remorse he felt so mightily wrought in his heart, tha not long after he left this mortal life. Whose fall, although it was full of infirmity, yet his rising again by repentance was great, and his end comfortable, the Lord be praised.

Cardinal Poole's Visitation in Cambridge, with the condemning, taking up, and burning the Bones and Books of Bucer and Paulus Phagius, 9th January, 1557. CARDINAL POOLE, three years after his return to England, having somewhat withdrawn his mind from other affairs of the realm, and having in all points established the Remish religion, began to have an eye to the university of Cambridge, which place, among others, specially seemed to have need of reformation, according to his views. To perform the change, there were chosen Cuthbert Scot, not long before consecrated bishop of Chester; Nicholas Ormanet, an Italian, arch-priest of the people of Bodolon, in the diocese of Vernon, professed in both the laws, and bearing the name of the pope's datary; Thomas Watson, bishop elect of Lincoln; John Christopherson, bishop elect of Chichester; and Henry Cole, provost of the college of Eton. There was good cause why the matter was especially committed to these persons. For Ormanet was a man of much estimation with Julius III., at that time bishop of Rome, and was appointed to come to England with Cardinal Poole, because without his knowledge (as in whom he put his chief trust and confidence) the bishop would have nothing done that was of any importance.

These persons, thus appointed, (while the visitors were preparing themselves for their journey,) sent their letters with the cardinal's citation before to Dr. Andrew Pern, vice-chancellor of Cambridge, commanding him to warn all the graduates of the university, in their name, to be in readiness against the 11th day of January, 1557, betwixt eight and ten of the clock, in the church of St. Mary the Virgin: requiring him especially to be there himself, and also to set forward all the rest, to whose charge it belonged, that they should search out all statutes, books, privileges, and monuments appertaining to the university, or to any of the colleges, or finally, to any of themselves, and to present them before them at the day appointed, and every man to appear there personally: for they would not fail, but be there at the same time, to lay before them such things as should seem necessary to this charge of reforming the university.

This citation of the cardinal, being brought to Cambridge by Master Bullock, was first exhibited in the convocation house of regents, and there openly read by the

orator of the university, on the 11th of December 155€. After this, on the 24th of December, the vice-chancellor, with the heads of the houses, meeting together in the schools, it was there concluded, that the visitors' charges should be borne by the university and colleges, and, also, that no master of any college should suffer any of the fellows, scholars, or ministers, to leave the town, but to return before the visitation.

On Friday, the 8th of January, the queen's commis sioners sat together in the hall, and read the commission. Then were all the high-constables called to bring in their precepts, and sworn. Also two persons of every parish of ten or twelve hundreds, were sworn to enquire of heresy, Lollardy, conspiracy, seditious words, tales, and rumours against the king and queen: also, for heretical and seditious books; for negligences and misdemeanours in the church; for observation of ceremonies; for orna ments, and stock of the church.

We said that the cardinal thought the university to have need of reformation. The reason why he thought so, was either because it had cast off the yoke of the bishop of Rome, and adhered to the wholesome doctrine of the gospel; or else, that both for the late schism, not yet worn out of memory, and for the doctrine of Martin Bucer, who not long before openly in the university interpreted the holy scriptures, they saw many so cor rupted and spotted with this infection, that (even as when fire is spread in a town) unless a speedy remedy is sp plied, it is not possible to quench it for many days after.

This took place in the year 1556. To the intent, therefore, to make a salve for this sore, the inquisitors, of whom we spoke before, came to Cambridge on the 9th of January, 1557. And as they were yet in their journey, and far from the town, several of the masters and presi dents of the colleges met them, and brought them courteously, first into the town, and afterwards to their lodgings,

This day, as it was toward evening ere they came, and the sun was going down, nothing else was done. The next day was spent in recreation after their journey. Nevertheless, that it should not escape altogether with out doing something, they interdicted two churches, namely, St. Mary's, where Bucer, and St. Michael's, where Paul Phagius lay buried.

These two men were dead a good while before; Paul Phagius had scarcely shewed the proof of his wisdom and