Robert Glouer Gen.

MR. GLOVER a day
or twoo before hee
should bee burnt, felt his
heart so lumpish and heavy,
that hee found in himselfe
no aptnes nor willingnesse
to die, but rather a
dulnesse of Spirit full of
much discomfort to beare
the bitter Crosse of Martyrdome
ready now to bee
layd vppon him: Wherevpon,
fearing in himselfe
least the Lord had vtterly
withdrawen his wonted favour
from him; he made
his moane to one AVGVSTINE
BERNHERE his
deere friend, signifying vnto
him how earnestly hee
had praied vnto the Lord,
and yet could receiue no
motion nor sence of any
comfort from him.
To whome the sayd Austen
answering, desired him
patie~tly to waite the Lords
leisure, howsoeuer his present
feeling was; and to
play the man, nothing
doubting but the Lord in
due season would satisfie
his desire with plentie of
Consolation, whereof hee
sayd hee was right certaine
and sure: and therefore desired
him whensoeuer any
feeling of GODS heavenly
mercies should begin to
touch his heart, that hee
would giue him some signe
thereof.
The next day when the
time of his Martyrdome
was come, and as hee was
going to the stake & come
to the sight of it, albeit all
the night before prayjng
for comfort and courage,
hee felt no answere of his
praier: sodainely he was
so mightily replenished
with the comfort of Gods
holy Spirit and heavenly
joies, that hee cried out
clapping his hands to Austen
sayjng these words, hee
is come Austen, hee is come,
hee is come: and that with
such joy and alacritie as
one seeming rather to bee
risen from some deadly
danger to liberty of life,
then as one passing out of
this world by any paines of

C

death.

M. Iohn Lambart.

IOHN LAMBART having
his nether parts
consumed with fire, lifting
vp such hands as hee had,
and his fingers ends flaming
with fire, cryed to the
people, None but Christ,
None but Christ.

Adam Damplip.

THis good man beejng
advertised by his
keeper that his execution
drew neere, was never seen
to quaile, but was as merrie,
and eate his supper
that night as chearefully
as ever hee did in all his
life; at which his keeper
and the rest of the prisoners
wondring, asked him
how hee could take such
newes so chearefully: Ah
my Maisters sayth he, doe yee
thinke I haue beene thus long
Gods prisoner in the Marshalsey,
and haue not yet learned
to die? Yes, yes, I doubt
not but God will strengthen
me therein.

Kerby Martyr.

ONE KERBY beeing
councelled by M.
WINKFIELD to pittie
himselfe, and to take no
more vppon him then hee

C2

should bee able to performe:
the fire saith hee
is hot, the terrour is great,
the paine wilbe extreame,
and life is sweet. To whom
KERBY answered, M.
WINKFIELD be at my burning,
and you shall say, there
standeth a Christian Souldier
in the fire. For I know that
Fire, and Water, Sword, and
all other things are in the ha~ds
of God, who will suffer no more
to bee layd vppon vs then hee
will giue strength to beare.

Thomas Bilney.

MR. THOMAS BILNEY
beeing put in
mind, that though the fire
which he should suffer the
next day should be of great
heat vnto his body, yet
the comfort of Gods spirit
should coole it to his euerlasting
comfort and refreshing:
At those words
putting his finger towards
the flame of the candle the~
burning before them as
also hee diuers times did
and feeling the heat thereof,
O sayd hee I feele by experience
and haue knowne it long
by Philosophy, that fire by gods
ordinance is naturally hot, but
yet I am perswaded by Gods
holy word, and by the experience
of some spoken of in the
same, that in the flame they
felt no heat, and in the fire they
felt no consumption: And I
constantly beleeue; that howsoeuer
the stubble of this my body

C3

shalbe wasted by it, yet my
Soule and Spirit shall be purged
thereby. A paine for the
time: after which notwithstanding
followeth vnspeakeable
Ioy. And then entreated
notably vpon the first and
second verses of the 43
Chap. of Isaias, which sente~ces
for the joy & co~fort
some of his friends tooke
in them, caused them to be
faire written out; the comfort
whereof they left not
to their dyjng day. The
sayd BILNEY beeing visited
by certain of his frie~ds
the night before he suffred,
they found him eating an
Alebrew with such a cherefull
heart and quiet minde,
as made them wonder
thereat, saying, they were
not a little glad so see him
at that time so cheerefully
to refresh himselfe. To
whome hee made this answere,
Oh sayd he, I follow the
example of the Husbandmen
in the Countrie, who hauing a
ruinous house to dwell in, doe
yet bestow cost as long as they
remaine in it, to vphold the
same: And so do I now with
this ruinous house of my body;
refreshing the same as you see,
with these good creatures of
God.

Iames Baynam.

THis BAYNAM as hee
stood at the stake in
the midst of the flaming
fire, which fire had halfe

C4

consumed his armes and
his legges, hee was heard
to speake these words, O
yee Papists. Behold yee looke
for Miracles, and heere yee
may see a Miracle: for in this
fire I feele no more paine then
if I were in a bed of down; but it
is to me as sweet as a bed of
Roses.

Henry Voes.

THe like speach I finde
of a young man burnt
at Bruxels, who when the
fire was kindled at his feet,
sayd, me thinks you strew Roses
vnder my feete.

Hugh Laverocke.

THis Laverocke a lame
Creple, & IOHN APPRICE
a blind man, being
chained both of them to
the stake; Laverock
casting away his Crutch,
and comforting his fellow
Martyr, sayd, Be of good
comfort my brother, for my L.
of London is our good Phisition,
Hee will shortly cure vs
both: thee of thy blindnes,
and me of my lamenesse.

William Hunter.

WILLIAM HVNTER
appre~tice of

C5

the age of 19 yeares standing
at the stake, sayd, Son
of God shine vppon me: and
jmediately the Son in the
Element shone out of a
darke cloud for it was a
glomie day so full in his
face, that hee was constrained
to turne his face an other
way. The sayd WILLIAM
HVNTER beeing
brought downe from London
to be burnt: remained
by the way two dayes at
Burntwood, whether his Father
and Mother came to
comfort him, who heartely
desired of GOD that hee
might co~tinue in the good
way hee had begun, vnto
the end; and his mother
sayd vnto him, that shee was
glad shee was euer so happy as
to beare such a Sonne who
could find in his heart to loose
his life for Christs sake. Then
said WILLIAM to his mother:
For my little paine which
I shall suffer which is also but
for a moment, Christ hath promised
me Mother saith he
a Crowne of life. And may
not you bee glad of that Mother?
With that his Mother
kneeled downe on her
knees, sayjng, I pray GOD
strengthen thee my Sonne vnto
the end. And I thinke
thee as well bestowed as any
Child that euer I bare. At
which words M. HIGBED
one that was then to suffer
for the same cause tooke
her in his armes, sayjng, I
rejoyce much to see you
in this mind, and you haue
good cause so to doe.

Robert Samuel.

MR. ROBERT SAMVEL
Minister, was
kept in streight prison by
the Bishops Chancellor of
NORWICH: Wherein
hee was chained boult vpright
to a great post, in
such sort, that standing only
on tip-toe, hee was faine
to stay vp the whole poyse
of his body thereby. And
to make amends, they added
a far greater torment,
keeping him without meat
and drinke, whereby hee
was miserablie vexed with
hunger and thirst, saving
that hee had allowed him
every day 2 or 3 mouthfuls
of bread and 3 spoonfuls
of water, rather to reserue
him to further torment,
then to preserue his
life. O the worthy constancy
of the Martyr! O pitilesse
hearts of the Papists,
worthy to be complained
of before god & nature!
O the wonderfull strength
of Christ in his Martyrs!
How oft-times would hee
haue drunke his owne
water, but his body was so
dryed vp with long emptines,
that hee was not able
to make water, no not so
much as one drop.
Now after he had beene
thus long famished with
hunger see a strange thing
that happened to him, of
which himselfe was the reporter
he fell as it were into
a slumber, at which time
one clad all in white, seemed
to stand before him:
which ministred comfort
vnto him, by these words,
Samuell, Samuell be of good
cheare, and take a good heart
vnto thee: for after this day,
thou shalt never hunger nor
thirst: Which thing came
even to passe accordingly:
for speedily after hee was
burned, and from the time
till hee should suffer he felt
neither hunger nor thirst.

Cut. Simpson, Deacon.

CVtbert Sympsons patience
was thus commended
by Bishop Boner:
ye see saith BONER what a
personable man this is: &
touching his patience, I
say vnto you, that if hee
were not an Hereticke, I
would affirme that he were
a man of the greatest patience
that ever yet came before
me. For I tell you, hee
hath been thrice racked in
one day. Also in my house
hee hath felt some sorrow,
and yet I never saw his patience
broken.
The day before he was co~de~ned
being in the stockes
in the Bish: colehouse Cloney
his keeper came in with
the keyes about 9 of the
clocke at night after his vsuall
manner, to view his
prison, and to see whether
all were present: who when
he spied the sayd Cutbert
to be there, departed again,
locking the dores after
him.
Within 2 houres after at
a 11 of the clocke towards
midnight whether awake
or in a slumber I cannot
say hee heard one comming
in, first opening the
outward doore, then the second;
and after the third
doore, and so looking in
to the said CVTBERT, having
no Candle nor Linke
that hee could see, but giving
a brightnes and light
most co~fortable & joyfull
to his heart, saying, Ha,
vnto him; and departed away
againe. Who it was
hee could not tell. But this
hee declared 4 or 5 times
with his owne mouth to
one M. AVSTEN, to his
wife, & THOMAS SAMPSON,
besides many others
in Newgate, a little before
his death. At the sight
whereof hee received such
a joyfull comfort, that hee
also expressed no little joy
and solace in telling of it.

Iohn Rough.

MR. IOHN ROVGH
Minister, having
bin at the burning of one
AVSTO in Smithfield, returning
homeward mette
M. FARRAR a Marchant
of Halifax, who asked where
hee had beene? I haue bin saith he where I would not
for one of mine eyes but I
had bin. Where haue you
been sayd M. FARRAR?
Forsooth saith hee, I haue
been to learne the way. And
so told him the whole matter
of the burning of AVSTO,
where shortly after
hee was burned himselfe.

D. Rowland Taylor.

MR. Doctor TAYLOR
beeing come
to Chelmesford in the way
towards his Martyrdome,
was receiued there of the
Sheriffe of SVFFOLKE to
conduct him to HADLEY
to be burnt. At supper the
Sheriffe of EssEX labored
him with might and
maine to haue him returne
to the vnitie of the Catholique
Romish Church, affirming
that that which he
spake proceeded of a good
heart & good will towards
him, and therevpon drank
to him: The Yeomen of
the Guard also sayd, vpon
that condition M. Doctor
we all drink to you. When
they had all dranke, and
the Cup was come to him,
hee stayed a while as one
studyjng what answere hee
might giue. At length he
spake thus to them, M.
Sheriffe, and my Maisters
all, I heartely thanke you
of your good will. I haue
given eare to your words.
And to be plaine with you
I doe perceiue that I haue
bin deceiued my selfe, and
am like to deceiue a great
many at HADLEY of their
expectation. At which
speach they all reioyced,
yea good M. Doctor sayd
the Sheriffe, jt is the comfortablest
word you spake
yet. Why should yee cast
away your selfe in vaine,
play a wise mans part, and
I dare warrant you, you
shall haue favour. And
then they began to pray
him to explaine his meaning
further vnto them.
Then sayd Doctor Taylor,
I will tell you how I am
deceiued my selfe, and how
I thinke I shall deceiue a
great many. I am as you see
a man that hath a great Carkasse,
which
I though should
haue beene buried in Hadley
Church-yard, had I dyed in
my bed as I well hoped I should
haue done: but therein I see I
was deceiued: And there are
a great many of Wormes in
HADLEY Church-yard that
should haue had iolly feeding
vppon this Carkasse, which
they haue long looked for. But
now I know wee bee deceiued,
both I and they: for this Carkasse
must be burnt to ashes,
and so shall they loose their bait
and feeding which they expected.
The same Morning in
which he was called vp by
the Sheriffe to goe to his
burning about 3 of the
clocke in the morning, being
sodainely awaked out
of his sound sleepe, he sate
vp in his bed and putting
on his Shirt, hee had these
words; speaking somewhat
thicke after his accustomed
manner, Ah horson
theeues, ah horson theeues,
robbe God of his honor, robbe
God of his honor.
Beeing risen and tyjng
his points, he cast his arms
about a balke which was in
the chamber between M.
BRADFORDS bed and his,
and clasping his hands about
it; o M. BRADFORD
sayd he, what a great swing
should I giue, if I were hanged?
Beejng come within 2
miles of HADLEY, he desired
to light off his horse
to make water: Which
done, hee lept and fecht a
friske or twaine as men co~monly
do in daunsing, why
M. Doctor sayd the Sheriffe,
how doe ye now? well
I thanke God M. Sheriffe
sayd he, never better, for
now I know I am almost at
home, I lacke but 2 stiles to go
ouer and I am euen at my Fathers
house. But M. Sheriffe,
shall wee not goe
through HADLEY? Yes,
you shall sayd the Sheriffe.
The~ said he, O God I thanke
thee that I shall yet once ere I
dye see my flocke, whom thou
Lord knowest I haue most
deerely loued, & truly taught.
Good Lord blesse them, and
keepe the~ stedfast in thy truth.
At the time of his degrading
by Bishop Boner,
bejng furnished fully with
all his attire according to
their ridiculous custome,
hee set his hands by his
side walking vp and down,
and sayd: How say ye now
my Lord, am I not a goodly
foole? How say ye my maisters?
If I were now in Cheap,
should I not haue boyes enough
to laugh at these apish toyes,
and toying trumperies? when
all his trinkets were taken
from him, hee sayd, good
Lord deliver me from you:
and gojng from them vp
to his chamber, hee sayd,
good Lord deliuer me from
you, good Lord deliuer mee
from you.

Iohn Leafe.

THis IOHN LEAFE aprentise
to one HVMPHREY
GAWDY tallow
Chandler, who was burned
with M. Iohn Bradford,
had 2 bils sent him
into the Counter in breadstreet
after his judgement,
the one containing a recantation,
the other his confession:
to know to which
of them hee would subscribe.
Hearing first the
bill of his recantation read
vnto him, because hee
could nether write nor read
himselfe that hee refused:
and when hee heard the other
read vnto him, which

D

hee liked well off, in stead of
a pen, he tooke a pinne, and so
pricking his hand, sprinkled the
blood vppon the sayd bill, willing
the reader thereof to shew
the Bishop, that hee had sealed
the same with his blood already.

Richard Woodman.

THe conflicts which
Richard Woodman had
with the feare of death, recorded
in his owne words,
as followeth.
Then 3 daies after, my
Lord Chamberlain sent 3
of his men to take mee,
whose names were Deane,
Ieffrey, and Frauncis, I being
at plough with my
folkes, right in the way as
they were comming to my
house, least mistrusting
them of all other, came vnto
them and asked them
how they did. And they
said they arrested me in the
King and Queenes name,
and that I must goe with
them to my Lord Chamberlaine
their Maister.
Which words made my
flesh to tremble and quake
in regard the thing was sodaine.
But I answered
them, that I would goe with
them. Yet I desired them
to go with me to my house
that I might break my fast,
and put on some other
geare: And they sayd I
should. Then I remembred
my selfe, saying in my

D2

heart, why am I thus afrayd?
They can lay none euill to my
charge, If they kill me for well
dooing, I may thinke my selfe
happy. I remembred how I
was contented gladly to dye
before, in that quarrell, and so
haue continued euer since, and
should I now feare to die? God
forbid I should, for then were
all my labour in vaine. So by
and by I was perswaded I
praise God, co~sidering it was
but the frailtie of my flesh
which was loth to forgoe
my wife, children, & goods:
for I saw nothing but present
death before mine
eies. And as soone as I was
perswaded in mine heart to
die, I regarded nothing in this
world, but was as merrie, glad,
and ioyfull I praise God as euer
I was. This battaile lasted
but a quarter of an houre, but
it was sharper for the time then
death I dare say.

M. Glouer.

ROBERT GLOVER
had a contrarie effect
in his troubles, as his owne
words testifye. After I
came into prison sayth hee
and had reposed my selfe a
while, I wept for joy and
gladnes my bellyfull, musing
much of the great
mercies of GOD, and as it
were, saying thus vnto my
selfe, O Lord who am I, on
whome thou should'st bestow
thus thy great mercie, to bee
numbred among thy Saints,

D3

which suffer for thy Gospell
sake? And so beholding on
the one side my jmperfection,
vnablenes, sinnefull
miserie, and vnworthines;
and on the other side the
greatnes of Gods mercie,
to be called to so high promotion,
I was as it were amazed
and overcome for a
while with joy and gladnes,
concluding thus with my
selfe in mine heart, O Lord
thou shewest power in weakenes,
wisedome in foolishnes,
Mercie in sinfulnesse: who
shall let thee to choose where
and whom thou wilt? As I
haue euer zealously loued the
profession of thy word, so haue
I euer thought myselfe vnworthie
to bee partaker of the afflictions
of the same.
The same ROBERT
GLOVER, at an other time
was much discouraged by
Satan, not to persevere in
his suffring, suggesting to
him his vnworthines to
suffer for Christ and his
Gospell, but these his suggestions
were thus repelled
by him.
What were all those whome
GOD in former time chose
to be his witnesses? were they
not men subiect to sinne and
imperfection as other men bee?
All wee sayth Iohn haue receiued
of his fulnes. They were
no bringers of any goodnes to
GOD: they were altogether
receiuers. They chose not
GOD first, but hee chose
them. They loued not GOD
first, but hee loued them, yea,

D4

when they were enemies to
him, and full of sinne. Hee is
and wilbe the same God still.
As rich in mercie, as mighty,
as ready, as willing to forgiue
sinnes now without respect of
persons, as hee was then; and
so wilbe to the worlds end, to all
that call vppon him. It is no
arrogancie, nor presumption in
any man to burthen God with
his promise, chalenging his ayd
and assistance in all perils and
daungers; Calling vpon him
in the name of Christ, for whose
sake, whosoeuer commeth to
the Father, is sure to receiue
more then hee can wish or desire.
I also answered the enemie
on this manner: I am
a sinner, and therefore vnworthy
to be a Martyr. What
then? must I deny GODS
word, because I am a sinner;
and not worthy to professe it?
What bring I to passe in so dooing,
but adding sinne to sinne?
What is a greater sinne, then to
deny the truth of Christs Gospell?
I might also by the like
reason, forbeare to doe any of
GODS commaundements,
when I am prouoked to pray,
the enemie may say vnto mee,
thou art not worthy to pray,
and therefore I shall not pray.
I shall not forbeare to steale,
&c. because I am not worthy
to do any of GODS commaundements.
These be delusio~s
of the Deuill, which must
be ouercome by continuance of
prayer, and with the word of
GOD applied according to
the measure of euery mans gift.

D5

George Wise-heart.

THis WISE-HEART
a Scottishman rightly
so called in regard of that
true wisedome of the spirit
wherewith his heart was filled,
beejng come to the
place of execution, the
hangman came vnto him
vppon his knees, craving
forgiuenesse of him. To
whome he answered, come
hether to me: when hee was
come nie him, hee kissed
his cheeke, and sayd, loe here
is a signe that I forgiue thee;
my heart doe thine office. And
by and by hee was put vpon the
Gibbet and martyred.

Walter Mill.

WALTER MILL a
Scottish Minister
beejng disturbed in his
praier in the time of his examination,
having ended
the same, sayd; wee ought
more to obay GOD then
Men. I serue one more
mightie, even the omnipotent
Lord. And where ye
call me Sr. Walter, they vsually
call mee WALTER,
and not Sr. WALTER. I
haue beene one of the Popes
Knights too long.
Beejng threatned with
the sentence of death: I
know I must die once saith
he, and therefore as Christ
said to Iudas, Quod facis,
fac citius. Ye shall know, that
I will not recant the truth; for
I am Corne, I am no Chaffe:
I will not be blowne away with
the wind, nor burst with the
flaile: I will abide both.

Patrick Hamleton.

MR. Patrick Hamleton
beejng in the fire,
was heard by certaine faithfull
men of credit then aliue,
there to cite and appeale
the black frier campbell
that accused him, to appeare
before the high GOD as
generall Iudge of all men, to
answere to the innocency of his
death, and whether his accusation
were iust or no, between
that and a certaine day of the
next moneth which hee there
named. Moreouer, by the
same witnesse it is testified, that
the sayd Fryer dyed immediately
before the same day came,
without remorse of conscience
that hee had persecuted the
poore Innocent.