The booke of martyrs· VVherein are set downe the names of such martyrs as suffered persecution, and laid downe theire lives for witnesse-bearing unto the Gospell of Christ Jesus; drawne downe from the primitive Church, to these later times, especially respecting such as have suffered in this land under the tyranny of Antichrist, in opposition to popish errours.

A Briefe CATALOGVE of such Martyrs as suffered persecution , and laid downe their lives for witnesse-bearing unto the Gospel of Christ Iesus ; drawne downe from the Primitive Church , to these later times , especially respecting such as have suffered in this Land under the tyranny of Antichrist in opposition to Popish Errors .

I Sing their deaths who dying made death yeeld , By Scriptures sword , & faiths vnbatterd shield , Whom Satan , men , or monsters could not tame , Nor force them to deny their Saviours Name . Evangelists , that did the Gospel write , Apostles and brave Martyrs , that did fight Gainst death and hell , and all the power of sin , And boldly di'd eternall life to win . Iohn Baptist by King Herod lost his head , Who to the world repentance published , Our blest Redeemer in his love did follow , And conquered death mans sinful soule to hallow , He was the death of death , and he did quell The sting and power of Satan , sin , and hell , And vnder his great standard , valiantly , A number numberlesse have dar'd to dye . Through bondage , famine , slavery , sword and fire Through all divised torments they aspire Victoriously to gaine th' imortall Crowne , Of never ending honour and renowne . Saint Steven was the third that lost his breath , And ( for his Masters sake ) was ston'd to death : And after him in Scripture may be read , Th' Apostle Iames was brain'd and butchered . Saint Marke th' Evangelist in fire did burne , And Bartholmew was flead , yet would not turnes Saint Andrew like a valiant champion di'd , And ( willing ) on a crosse was crucifi'd Mathias , Philip , Peter , and Saint Paul , Ston'd , crucifi'd , beheaded , Martyrs all . Th' Apostles of their lives , no reckoning make , And think them wel spent for their Saviors sake The Tyrant Emperours , in number ten , ( Most cruell , barbarous , and inhumane men ) More Christians by their bloody meanes did slay Then for a yeere five thousand to each day . And many Romish Bishops in those daies , Were Martyr'd to their high Creators prayse ; And though each day so many thousands bleed , Yet doubly more and more they daily breed . As Camomile growes better being trod , So death and tortures drawes more unto God . Or as the Vine that 's cut and prun'd beares more In one yeere , than it did in three before : This bloody persecution did out-weare After Christs death the first 300. yeares : Thus did the Primitive Church first indure , Being Catholike , Apostolike , and pure : Then over all the world was truely knowne , That Romish Bishops claimed but their owne In their owne Dioces to be chiefe Pastor . And not to be the worlds great Lord and Master . And now our Britains glory will I sing , From Lucius raigne , the worlds first Christian King Vnto these daies of happy peacefull state , A Catalogue of Martyrs I 'll relate : First Vrsulae , and eleven thousand with her , All Virgins , for Christs faith did die together . Then Hengist with the Saxons hither came , Who many kill'd with sword and furious flame . Besides eleven hundred Monkes were kill'd . At Bangor Abby all their bloods were spill'd . And when the Saxons race to end was run , The Danes came in ; and all the Kingdome won . Before whose swords did many thousands fall , Which on the name of Iesus Christ did call . Then William Conqueror with a multitude . Vnto the Normans yoake this Land subdu'd , The Pope then caus'd all Priests to leave their wives , To lead foule Sodomitick single lives . Then afterward in second Henries raigne , Was sawcie Saint Thomas Becket slaine ; A Popish Saint and Martyr made , because He di'd a traytor to his Soveraignes Lawes . King Henry and King Richard dead and gone , Their brother Iohn ( by right ) ascends the throne , Whom all his life the Pope of Rome did vex , And with oppressions all the Realme perplex ; With candle , booke , and bell , he curst and blest , And Bulls and Legates did the King molest ; Vntill such time he on his knees fell downe , And to the Pope surrendred up his Crowne . At last , because he durst the Pope withstand , He di'd impoysoned by a Friers hand . When thus by treason they had kil'd King Iohn , Then the third Henry Englands Crowne put on : Then England bought the Romish doctrine deare , It cost her threescore thousand marks a yeare . For Agnus Dei , pardons , Peter pence , For which the Pope had all this coine from hence : King Henry died , then Edward tooke the sway , His sonne and grandchilde , England did obey , The first of them call'd Long shankes , conquests won , Lost by Carnarvan his unhappy son , Who by his Queene was in a dungeon cast , Till ( being murder'd ) sadly breath'd his last . Edward the third , a brave victorious King , Did Frenchmens pride into subjection bring . Richard the second next to Raigne began , Who lost more then his royall Grandsire wan . Then 'gan Iohn Wiekliffe boldly to begin To preach 'gainst Antichrist , that man of sin ; Who many troubles stoutly did abide , Yet ( spight the Pope ) he naturally di'd ; And being dead , from out his grave was turn'd , And had his martyr'd bones to ashes burn'd ; Which ashes they did cast into a brooke , Because he had the Romish faith forsooke . Yet whilst the second Richard here surviv'd , No Martyrs were by fire of life depriv'd . Henry the fourth was in the Throne invested , In whose raigne many were too much molested . And William Sautre first his life did give Through flames of fire , who now in heav'n doth live . The next Iohn Badby in the furious flame , And William Thorp , but wan immortall fame . Then the fifth Henry , a victorious Prince , The Realme of France did conquer and convince . The good Lord Cobham then ( Oldcastle nam'd ) By Popish Priests an Hereticke was proclaim'd , Was hang'd and burn'd by the unlawfull doome , Of Satans servants , slaves to hell and Rome . And leaving some unnam'd , Iohn Browne Esquire , Iohn Beverly a Preacher di'd in fire . Besides a number from the Lollards tower , Racks , tortures , halters , and the flame devoure . Iohn Hus a glorious Martyr of the Lord , Was in Bohemia burned for Gods Word . And reverend Ierom did to Constance come , From Prage , and stoutly sufferd martyrdome . In Smithfield one Iohn Claidon sufferd death , And with him Richard Turming lost his breath , At this time sixteene godly folkes in Kent , The Antichristian vassalls did torment . Then death cut off the fifth King Henries raigne , The Crowne the sixth King Henry did obtaine . And William Taylor a true zealous Priest , Did passe through fire unto his Saviour Christ . Good Richard Hoveden , with him William White , Each unto God ( through fire ) did yeeld his sprite , Duke Humphrey ( though no Martyr ) kild in 's bed , And Richard Wych a Priest was burned dead . Then Saint-like good King Henry was depos'd , By the fourth Edward in the Tower inclos'd : Then Edward fled , and Henry once againe , By Warwicks power the Kingdome did obtaine . Thus did the various state of humane things , Make Kings of Captive , and of Captives Kings : Vntill at last King Edward turned backe , Brought Henries royalty to finall wracke : In whose raigne Iohn Goose ( as the story saith ) Was the first Martyr , burned for Christs Faith . King Henry in the Tower was stab'd to death , And Edward yeeldeth up his life and breath , His sonne young Edward , of that name the fift , Whom the third Richard from his life did lift . Who by foule murders , blood , and tyranny , Vsurp'd the throne of Englands Monarchy ; Till valiant Henry of that name the seven , Kill'd him , and made uneven England even : Then first Ioan Broughton , & a man call'd Babrane By Faith ( thorow fire ) went to old father Abram . An old man was in Swithfield burn'd , because Hee did resist against the Roman Lawes . One Ierom hang'd and burned on the Gallowes , In Florence , with two other of his fellowes : And William Tilsworth , Thomas Bernard , and Iames Morton , cause they did the Pope withstand Burned all , and Father Rogers , and old Reine , Did die by fire , a better life to gaine . One Thomas Novice , and one Thomas Chase , Di'd constant Martyrs by the heavenly grace . A woman and a man call'd Laurence Guest , By death gain'd everlasting life and rest : Besides a number past mens reckoning up , For Iesus sake dranke of afflictions cup. Some carried faggots through a world of mocke Some rackt , some pin'd , some fetred in the stocks : Some naked strip'd and scourged with a lash , For their rejecting of the Romish trash . Some branded in the cheeke did alwaies beare The badge and marke of their Redeemer deare . Thus the insulting tyrannizing Pope , With cursings , fagot , fire , and sword and rope . Did force the soules , and consciences of men , To run despairing to damnations den . And they that valiantly his power withstood , Did seale their resolution with their blood . Before his triple , treble , trouble Crowne , ( In adoration ) Emperours must fall downe , Were they as high as any Caesar borne , To kisse his feet they must not hold it scorne . Henry the sixth the Emperour did fall downe , Whom with his feet Pope Celestine did crowne . Henry the fourth his Empresse and young son , All three to Rome did barefoote goe and run : And three daies so , these three did all attend His holinesse , a godlesse eare to lend , Which afterward was granted on condition , That he should give his crowne up in submission , Pandulphus the Popes Legat , with a frowne , Did make King Iohn of England yeeld his crown . King Henry of that name the second , hee Kneeld downe , and kist the Romish Legats knee . The Emperour when Pope Adrian was to ride , Did hold his stirrop on the meere wrong side , For which his Holinesse in angry sort , Disdainfully did checke the Emp'rour for 't . When as the Pope doth ride in Cope of gold , Kings ( like to foot-men ) must his bridle hold : In pomp he must be borne upon mens shoulders , With glorious shew , amazing the beholders . Whilst Kings and Princes must before him goe , To usher him in his vaine-glorious showe : This being true , as no man can deny , Those that will not be blind may plainly spy , That their insulting proud commanding Priest , Is absolute and onely Anti-Christ ; H'exalts himselfe 'bove all that 's called God , Vpon the Emperours necke he proudly trod : He is th' abomination ( void of grace ) That mounts himselfe into the holy place : He makes the Princes of the earth drinke up , And quaffe the poyson of the cursed cup , Who being drunken with the dregs of sin , They have his sworne and forsworne vassals bin , Bewitched with his soule inchanting charmes , Gainst one another they have rose in Armes ; By forraigne and domesticke bloody broiles , Whilst he hath fild his coffers with their spoiles : His double dealing too too plaine appeares , In setting Christian Princes by the eares , Whilst he into his avaritious hands , Hath seiz'd their persons , moveables , and lands : And as the Christian kings themselves made weak , The Turke into their Kingdomes 'gan to break ; And thus the Turk and Pope ioin'd with the devil , Have beene the authors of all Christian evil .

The second BOOKE . WHen the 7th Henry in his grave was laid , And the 8th Henry Englands Scepter swaid , Romes bloody persecution raged more In England , than in ten Kings raignes before : And therefore Reader , in this little Booke , For every Martyrs name thou must not looke : But men of chiefest note , respect and fame , That died in England , onely those I name . And first the Papists tyranny began , In murthering Richard Hun , a zealous man , For being kept in prison by their power , They closely hang'd him in the Lollards Tower . And then they all in generall decreed , Reporting Hun himselfe had done the deed . And sixteene daies just after this was done , They burn'd the foresaid corps of Richard Hun. Then to the number of full thirty five , The furious flames did all of life deprive ; In severall places of this wofull Land , Because they did the Pope of Rome withstand . At which time Thomas Bilney did beginne , To preach and teach 'gainst Antichristian sinne ; Where in Saint Georges Church in Ipswich town The Papists from the Pulpit pluckt him downe And as in dolefull prison he did lie , He put his finger into the flames to trie ; He prov'd , & God did give him strength to beare His death , to live with his Redeemer deare . The next of note was one Iohn Frub , a man Of learning great , a Martyrs fame he wan . Then learned Luther , and grave Zwinglius , With Calvin , Beza , Oecolampadius , All glorious , gracious reverend lamps of light , Were instruments to clear bleard Englands sight . In Flanders William Tindall for Gods Word , Was sacrific'd to glorifie the Lord . Iohn Lambert valiantly his death did take , And burn'd in Smithfield for his Saviours sake . About this time , that honourable man , Lord Cromwell , life , and timelesse death began ; He like an earth-quake made the Abbies fall . The Fryeries and the Nunneries all . This famous noble , worthy Essex Earle , This Iem , this Iewell , this most Orient Pearle , Was for his truth from all he had discarded . And with his heads losse , all his Faith rewarded , The next of worthy note by fire that dide , Was good * * Daughter of Sir 〈◊〉 Ayscough , Knight Anne Ayscough , who did strong abide , Racks , torturs , & the cruel raging flame , To magnifie her high Creators name . Then'gan the kings eies to be opened quite Inlightned by the everlasting light . He banisht superstitious idle fables , And packt the Papists hence with all their bables . Then Bonner , Gardner , brethren both in evill , Factors and actors , blood-hounds for the Devill , Their burning fame to infamy soone faded , They godlesse , gracelesse , were disgrac'd , degraded . The King then having this good worke begun , He died , and left the Kingdome to his son . Then raign'd young Edward , that sweete princely child . By whom all Popery was cleane exil'd . But he too good to live 'mongst wicked men , Th' Almighty tooke him hence to heaven agen : No sooner Edward was laid in his Tombe , But England was the slaughter-house of Rome . Gardner and Bonner were from prison turn'd , Aud whom they pleas'd were either sav'd or burn'd , Queene Mary imitating lezabel , Advanc'd againe the Ministers of hell : Then tyranny began to tyrannize , Tortures and torments then they did devise ; Then Master Rogers with a faith most fervent , Was burn'd , and di'd ( in Smithfield ) Gods true servant . Next unto him did Laeurence Sanders die , By fire ( for Iesus sake ) at Covenerie ; He did imbrace , and kindly kisse the stake , To gaine heav'ns glory , did the world forsake . Good Bishop Hooper was at Gloster burn'd , Cause he against the Romish doctrine spurn'd ; And Doctor Tayler a true zealous man , At Hadley burned , eternall glory wan . Then Bishop Farrer next his life did spend In fire , to gaine the life shall never end . Next William Flower , first did lose his hand , Then burn'd , because he did the Pope withstand In Essex , Thomas Hawkes , with faith victorious Did die with fire to gaine a life most glorious . Master John Bradford ( for his Saviours sake ) In Smithfield burn'd , a godly end did make . Two reverend Bishops , Father Latimer , And Ridley , each of them a heavenly star , Liv'd in Gods feare , and in his favour di'd ; At Oxford burn'd , and now are glorifi'd . John Philpot gladly did the fire imbrace , And died , and lives in his Redeemers grace . Then that grave Father , and religious man , Arch-bishop Cranmers troubles hot began , His pomp , his state , his glory , and his pride , Was to know Iesus , and him crucifide : He liv'd a godly Preacher of Gods Word , And dy'd a glorious Martyr of the Lord . Iohn Careles in close prison carefully , Did change his cares for joyes eternally . But this small volume cannot well containe , One quarter of the Saints in England slane . In Henries raigne and Maries , ( cruell Queene ) Eight thousand people there hath slaughterd bin Some by the sword , some hang'd , some burnt in fire Some starv'd to death in prison all expire : Twelve thousand and seven hundred more beside Much persecution trouble did abide , Some rackt , some whipt , some tortur'd , some in stocks , Some doing pennance with a world of mocks ; Some with an Iron in the faces burn'd , Some out of all their goods to beggry turn'd . Some bar-foot , baring faggots on their shoulders Were made a wondring stocke to the beholders : All this and more , much more they did endure , Because they would not yeeld to live impure : But now to speake the law lesse cause wherefore , And why these people troubled were so sore , Because they would not make their plaints and mones To senslesse images , dead stocks & stones , Because they said the sacramentall bread , Is not the Lord which shall judge quick & dead . Because they not beleev'd a Purgatory , And held the Popes decrees an Idle story . Because they would not creepe unto the crosse , And change Gods sacred Word for human drosse Because they held the Masse an Idoll soule . At once which pickt the purse and damn'd the soule Because they knew the Pope and all his crue , Hell-hounds whom heaven ( in rage ) on earth did spue . And in a word , they thus were over-trod , Because they truly serv'd the living God . This was the maine and onely cause of all , Because they would not offer unto Baal . The Popes outragious and contagious actor , Was Bishop Benner , hells most truly factor : Romes hang-man , & the firebrand of this Realme , That with a flood of blood did overwhelme , The true beleevers of Gods holy truth , He butchered , not regarding age or youth . With him was joyn'd a man almost as il , Who tooke delight Gods servants blood to spil ; Call'd Steven Gardner , Englands Chanceller , And Bishop of the See of Winchester : These two did strive each other to excell , Who should doe greatest service unto hell ; Vntill at last God heard his servants cry , And each of them did die immediatly . Thus when Iehovah heard the just complaints , Of his beloved , poore , afflicted Saints ; Then this too cruell Pope defending Queen , ( The bloodiest Princesse that this land hath seen ) She did decease , and persecution ceast , And tired wofull England purchast rest . Queene Mary being dead , her welcome death Reviv'd our joyes in blest Elizabeth , Innumerable were her woes and cares , Abundant were the subtill wyles and snares , Which Satan and his Ministers oft laid , To rave the life of that most harmelesse maid . She was accus'd , abus'd , revil'd , miscal'd ; She was from prison unto prison hal'd : Long in the Tower she was close prisoner shut , Her loving servants all away were put : From thence to Windsor , thence to Woodstock sent , Closely mewd up from all the worlds content : But God whose mercies ever did defend her , Did in her greatest sorrowes comfort send her . He did behold her from his Throne most high , And kept her as the apple of his eye , Let Hell and Hell-hounds still attempt to spill , Yet the Almighty guards his servants still . And he at last did ease her sorrowes mone , And rais'd her to her lawfull awfull throne ; This royall Debora , this princely Dame , Whole life made all the world admire the same . As Iudith in Bethulia's same was spread , For cutting off great Holophernes head : So our Eliza stoutly did beginne , Vntopping and beheading Romish sinne , Shee purg'd the Land of Papistry agen , She liv'd belov'd of God , admir'd of men : She made the Antichristian Kingdome quake , She made the mighty power of Spaine to shake : As farre as Sunne or Moone disperst their raies , So far and further went her matchlesse praise . She was at home , abroad , in every part , Load-starre and Load-stone to each eye and heart Supported onely by Gods powerfull hand , She foure and forty yeeres did rule this Land , And when she left this royall princely seat , She chang'd earths greatnes to be heavenly great . Thus did this westerne worlds great wonder die , She fell from height to be advanc'd more hie . Terrestriall Kings and Kingdomes all must fade . Then blest is she that is immortall made . Her death fill'd wofull England full of feares , The Papists long'd for change with itching eares . For her decease was all their onely hope , To raise againe the doctrine of the Pope . But he whose power is all omnipotent , Did their unhappy hopelesse hopes prevent . Succession lawfully did leave the Crowne , Vnto a prince whose vertue and renowne , And learning doth out-strip all Kings as far , As doth the Sunne obscure a little star . What man ( that is but man ) could baffle more Romes seven headen purple whore , How wisely hath he Bellarmine confuted , And how divinely hath he oft disputed . How zealously he doth Gods faith defend , How often on Gods word he doth attend . How clement , pious , and how gracious good , Is he , as fits the greatnesse of his blood . Wert not for him , how would the Muses doe ? He is their patterne , and their patron too . He is th' Appollo , from whose radiant beames , The Quintessence of Poetry out-streames . And from the splendor of his piercing raies , A world of worthy Writers wins the baies . Yet all the worthy vertues so transparent , And so well knowne in him , to be inherent , Cannot perswade Papists leave their strife , With cursed treasons to attempt his life : For when their disputations help'd them not , They would dispute in a damn'd powder-plot . In which the Romish went beyond the Divell , For hell could not invent a plot so evill . But he that plac'd him on his royall throne , ( The God of Iacobs , Iudahs holy one ) That God ( for Iesus sake ) I doe beseech , ( With humble heart , and with unfaigned speech ) That he and his , may Britaines Scepter sway ; Till time , the world , and all things passe away .

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