University of Virginia Library

SECT. V. The Persecution of the English Church after the rising of Martin Luther.

The Christian world appear'd not very clear
Until the fifteen hundred eighteenth year,
Wherein God pleased to unbosome night,

Anno 1518.

The Art of Printing being brought to light;
Which furnished the Church with useful books,
And made them to discerne Religions looks
From superstition, (as in a mirrour;)
Substantial Truth, from counterfeited errour.
God also rais'd up sundry men of parts;
Who by their learning and ingenious Arts,
Most strenuously opposed Barbarism,
Truths Sunshine breaking from the clouds of Schism.
Picus, and Franciscus Mirandula,
Laurentius Valla, Francis Petrarcha,
Erasmus, Doctor Collet, Wesalinus
Rhenanus Grocinus, and Revelinus, &c.
Were in Gods vineyard faithful labourers;
Then Martin Luther, and his followers,
By Gods appointment came into this nation,
To work his Church t'a fuller Reformation.

Anno 1519.

Six persons suff'red death at Coventry,
Onely for teaching of their family
The Lords pray'r, ten commandments, and the creed,
I'th' English tongue. Severity indeed!

Anno 1523.

One Thomas Harding on an Easter day,
When others worship'd Idols, went to pray
Within a silent grove; where apprehended,
Condemn'd, and burnt, his soul to heaven ascended.
At London one John Raimond was abjur'd;

Anno 1528.

Who fifteen hundred Testaments procur'd
Of Antwerp Print, and brought five hundred over
Into this Isle, the darkness to discover.
One Sigar Nicholson was hung up by

Anno 1529.

The privy members: and the reason why,
Was this: in Cambridge he (a Stationer)
Kep'd in his house some works, that Luther's were.
One Thomas Hitten, a Divine in Kent,

Anno 1530.

After a tedious imprisonment,
Was over to the sec'lar power turn'd,
And by them in the Town of Maidstone burn'd.
Cardinal Woolsy persecuted sore

Anno 1531.

Bilny, Lome, Garret, Barnes, and many more.
One Richard Bayfield, was from Lollards tower

Anno 1532.

Deliver'd over to the sec'lar power,
And after bound at stake; when with the flame
His left arm burned was, he rubb'd the same
With his right hand so hard, that down it fell:
He pray'd until he went in heaven to dwell.
Edward Freese, Johnstone, Wylie, Father Bates,
All shut up with their wives in Fulham grates,
During their hard imprisonment, were fed,
O misery indeed! with saw-dust bread.
After a tedious lying in the stocks,
Thay let them go, but clog'd their legs with locks.
James Bainham, when half burned at the stake,
To this effect unto the Papists spake:
Behold, ye look for miracles; and here
A miracle indeed, doth now appear:
For I am as insensible of pain,
As if I on a bed of down were lain;
All's one to me, both equally do please:
O tis a Rosy bed, a bed of ease!

A. 1530.

An Idol nam'd The Rood of Dover Court,
Was burnt, and some in chains were hanged for't.
Now suffer'd Andrew Hewet, and John Frith.
One Thomas Bennet, who was cursed with
Bell, Book, and Candle, fastned to the stake,
And fir'd a comfortable end did make.
The Papists to their power the truth supprest,
And Persecuted those that it profest:
But God was pleas'd deliverance to bring
To his afflicted Saints; for now the King
Divorc'd the Lady Katharine of Spain,
And took to wife Lady Anne Bullen. Vain
Were all the Popes projects; none in this nation
Might now enforced be to abjuration.
Eliz'beth Barton, th' holy maid of Kent,
A Nun both subdolous and fraudulent,
By the strange alt'ring of her countenance
Gull'd silly people, lying in a trance
(As Quakers do) and then, as if sh' had been
Inspir'd by God, would in reproof of sin
Speak much, and raile against the Gospels light,
Calling it Heresy; her ranc'ous spight
She vented to the King and Queens dishonour.
By Satan back'd, she also took upon her
T'advance Rome's Doctrine, praising constitutions
Idol'try, Pilgrimages, Absolutions, &c.

Anno 1533.

But Doctor Cranmer, with the Lord Cromwel,
And Mr. Latimer, did wisely smell

Anno 1534.

Out all the knavery; so that the Nun
And her associates hang'd, their dayes were don.

Anno 1536.

Though England did the Popish pow'r disown,
Yet Popery still hover'd up and down:
And William Tindal was betraid, arrain'd,
Condemn'd and burned for the Truth maintain'd.
Anne Bullen also, that Religious Queen,
(Who now about three yeers had married been)
By false reports and sinister suggestions,
Had lost the Kings affection; he questions
Her dearest love; which he intends to smother,
By marrying himself unto another.
Queen Anne was to the Tower carried;
And, e're three weeks were over, lost her head.
The Vertuous Lady, standing up erect
Upon the Scaffold, spake to this effect:
Good Christian people, if you wonder why
I am come hither, know, it is to die;
Having already heard my sentence strict:
Nor lies it in my pow'r to contradict.
I come not hither for this end, to clear
My self, nor tell who my accusers are:
I pray God save the King his life maintain,
And make you flourish in his happy reign, &c.
And if among you, there be any shall
Presume to question my untimely fall;
Anne Bullen begs, Anne Bullen does implore,
That they would judge the right, and judge no more.
Thus, thus vain world, I take my leave of you:
Dear Christian friends, I bid you all adieu:
I pray be fellow-feelers of my case,
And put up prayers to the Throne of grace
In my behalf. Oh Lord in mercy shine
Upon me, take my soul, for it is thine:
Sweet Jesu, it is thine. This oft she sed
On her bent knees, until she lost her head.
The King, (no longer time then three dayes tarried,
But) to the Lady Jane Seymor was married.
About this time, (which God to pass did bring)
Lord Cromwel grew in favour with the King:
By whose advise, and sage deliberation,
The Church was brought unto a reformation.

Anno 1538.

The Kings injunctions all abroad made known,
Idol'trous Images were overthrown:
Our Ladies at Walsingham, Worcester,
Ipswich, and Thomas Becket's image, were
Cast down; with others, which had long deceiv'd
The silly people, who indeed believ'd
They liv'd; for they (by secret Engines found)
Could open, shut their eyes, and roll them round.
The same year (as Lord Cromwel, did advise)
Abbeys were ruin'd and Monasteries.
A little after, for opposing Rome,
Mr. John Lambert suff'red Martyrdome.
Packington Collins, Leiton, Puttedew,
Peck, Doctor Barnes, Garret, and Heirom too,
Two eminent Divines, the Lord Cromwel,
Great Essex Earl, all for the truths sake fell.
Yea all the prisons, within London walls
Were fill'd, and many were enclos'd in Halls,
By vertue of an Act for prohibition
Of truth, and countenancing superstition.

Anno 1541.

John Porter, unto New-gate Dungeon sent
For reading in the Bible; underwent
Hard usage: bolts and Iron chains did check
The freedom of his legs, his hands, and neck:
At last, into the lowest dungeon cast,
Not many dayes expir'd, he breath'd his last.
At Lincoln Bishop Longland took away
James Morton, Thomas Bernard, in one day.
One Mr. Barber, who the truth deny'd,
With sorrow wore away until he dy'd.
One Testwood, Person, Filmore, tost and turn'd

Anno 1544.

Under afflictions hand, at last were burn'd
Neer Windsore Castle: with a cheerful face,
Anthony Person did the stake embrace,
Kissing it, said, Welcom mine own sweet Bride,
For this blest day shalt thou and I be ty'd
As man and wife together, in the love
And Matrimonial peace of God above,
Of God above; I long for to be there, &c.
When all of them unto the stake bound were,
Said Filmer then, My bretheren rejoyce
In God, unto him make a joyful noise:
For after this sharp breakfast, we a boon
Dinner shall have with Christ in heaven at noon.
Testwood with hands and eyes to heaven up heav'd,
Desir'd God that his spir't might be receiv'd.
Person (said thus) tricking with straw his head,
This is Gods hat, now I am dress'd indeed,
Like a true souldier of Christ, by whom
This day into his joy I trust to come.
And so they suffer'd with such constancy,
That many with them could afford to die.
The Lord Lisle, Thomas Brooks, James Cook, Ralph Hare,
James Barber, Mr. Smith, John Butler, bare
The cross of Christ. Said Rockwood, Bad's my state
I can't repent, All too late, all too late.
The under-Marshal fell upon the floor,
I'th' Councel-room, and never spake word more.
One Richard Mekins, that had scarce out-worn
The fifteenth year, they did in Smithfield burn.

Anno 1541.

Two labouring men, there was at Callice Martyr'd;
And Mr. Damslip was hang'd, drawn and quarter'd.
Button, was persecuted; Mr. Dod
Resign'd up in the flame his soul to God.
One Mr. Saxie, to his end was brought,

Anno 1546.

By Gardiner's appointment, as 'twas thought.
Kerby at Ipswich, Roger Clarke at Bury
Fry'd Faggots, to appease their foemens fury.
Anne Askew being tost from post to pillar,
And cruelly misus'd, an evil-willer
Led her into a dungeon; where he rack'd
Her body till her very bowels crack'd:
Nay, when her bones and joynts were pluck'd asunder,
She praised God and pray'd; (to all a wonder)
Then the Lord Chanc'ller sent her word that burn'd
She should be, if she chang'd not: she return'd
An answer back, that she would rather die,
Then once recant, and her true faith deny.
To New-gate being sent, she penned there
Her faith's confession, ending with this prayer:
O Lord, the hairs which on my head do grow,
Are not so num'rous as my foes, I know:
Yet Lord, take not thy grace and comfort from me;
So shall they not with flatt'ring words o'recome me:
Do thou fight for me; so my soul shall fear
No danger, for on thee I cast my care.
With all the mischief that they can invent
They fall upon me, and have even spent
Me thy poor creature. Sweet Lord let me slight
My foes, for thou alone art my delight.
And Lord, I pray thee, when thy wrath begins
To burn them, quench it: O forgive their sins:
Lord open thou their hearts, restore the blind,
That they may please thee; give them grace to minde
The things that do belong unto their peace
In this their day, lest when they would, they cease.
Let not the fancies vain of sinful men
Destain thy truth: Amen, O Lord, Amen.
She brought to Smithfield in a chair, was bound
To th' stake, and with the flames besieged round.
So slep'd she in the Lord, and in Gods eyes

Anno 1546.

Became an acceptable sacrifice.
At that time Nicholas Belerrian,
A Shropshire Min'ster; and a Gentleman,
John Lacels, servant to the King; with one
John Adams Tailour, burning undergon.
The same year, Bishop Gardiner did bring
Malicious accusations to the King
Against Queen Kath'rin Parre (supposing all
The boughs would wither, if the stock did fall)
In that she gave her minde (which was unfit)
To read and meditate on Sacred Writ.
And Chaplains kept seditions to rear,
None b'ing deny'd the priviledge to hear:
As also, that her heart was fully bent
To spurn against the present government:
Her life was dangerous: nor could he rest,
That nourish'd such a Viper in his brest.
The Kings love turn'd to hate; and now the Queen
Must die the death: but Prov'dence stept between;
The plot's found out; she wisely did behave her:
The King receiv'd her to his wonted favour.
Now also Sir George Blake condemned was,
For casting out some words against the Mass.
A pardon's granted him; after which thing,
He being in the presence of the King;
The King said to him, Ah my Pig, (for so
He us'd to call him:) yea, said he, I know,
Had not your Majesty been more enclin'd
To save my life, (such was your Royal minde)
Then were your Bishops to reak out their teen;
Your Pig, I'm sure, e're this had rosted been.
Streight after, Winchester, and his complices
(Sworn foes to Vertues, and fast friends to Vices)
Set forth in the Kings name, a Proclamation
That all the English Bibles in the Nation,
And other Books which yielded any light
Unto the truth, should be abolish'd quite.
This done, said they, So, now the Gospels lain
So low that it shall never rise again;
And for the greater terrour, strict inquest
They made for those that verity profest:
Of many pricked down the names; of whom,
They some expelled, and imprison'd some:
So that these varlots did in no wise doubt
The bringing of their wicked ends about.
But God, who careth for his truth, and those
That countenanc'd the same, dispers'd their foes:
Amidst their vain projects the King was dead,
And with him all their hopes were buried.