An epitaphe declaryng the lyfe and end of D. Edmund Boner &c. T. Bro. the younger.

✚ An Epitaphe declaryng the lyfe and end of D. Edmund Boner &c. LO now the lingering hope is past , that late the Papistes had : Their braggyng brests which boild in hate , their hartes with care haue clad . They looked long for wished tyme , of Antichristes returne : When they in wonted wise might spoyle , and heapes of Martyrs burne . But sée the prouidence of God , their malice to asswage : He hath bereft these Papistes proud , the piller of their rage . Their whip , their sword , their fire brand , of wrath their chefest stay : The spoyler of the Christian flocke , of whom he made a praye . For bloudy burnyng Boner now , hath made exchaunge of lyfe : That whilesome was the murtherer , of infant , man , and wife . Yet sometyme be a ●auorer , and did professe the troth : Defiyng Pope and Popishnes , fiue tymes with solemne oth : And letted not for to accuse , and note of haynous crime : Such as were slacke to do the lyke , duryng Lord Cromwels tyme . A learned Epistle eke he wrat , in prayse and in defence : Of Byshop Gardiners worke the booke , of true obedience . Wherin he doth accuse the Pope , his Churche and Romish rable : Of haynous crimes right horrible , and deedes detestable . As tyranny , vsurpyng state , reprochefull vnto God : Of England eke a very spoyle , to Christ his flocke a rod . He names the Pope a gréedy wolfe , he ioyes in his decay : Hopyng the truth long troden downe , at length should beare the sway . He prayseth much the noble Prince , and calles K. Henry vertuous : That in suppressyng Popish power , he is so studious . Wherby most playnly may appeare , how Boner had a tast : Of Christ and of his Gospell pure , tho he them scorned at last . In Denmarke eke Ambassadour , he published with spéede : The booke and Epistle named before , as worthy workes in déede . Then sent Ambassador to Fraunce , from Henry puisaunt Kyng : He furthered with frée consent , the English Bibles Printyng . And caused diuers of the same , it semed of godly zeale : For to be plast within Paules Church , Christes truth for to reueale . He causde fiue hundred Testamentes , be Printed , this I know : And those as precious iewels did , vpon his frendes bestow . But as a wauering weather cocke , Lord Cromwell beyng dead : Forsaking Christ and all his lawes , to papistry he fled . And of a Paule became a Saule , a Herode thirsting blood : As on young Mekins well was sene , his cruell killing moode . For when one quest had cleard the boy , and iudgd him giltles quite : He causd another Quest be cald , and him condemnd by might . Thus draue he forth kyng Henries dayes , but when his noble sonne : In fathers place to regall throne , by due desent was come . Then cald to count for his offence , as iustice thought it fit : In humble wise before the Lordes , himselfe he did submit . But afterward most stubburnly , with great contempt and scorne : He did deny his former facte , as one , ere then forsworne , For which offence in prison cast , where he with wealth was fedde : Without regard of God or prince , a peruerst lyfe he ledde . But when in brothers sacred seate , God would Quéene Mary place : This wilfull man from prison cald , by her especiall grace , Abusing much the lenitie , and mercy of the Quéene : Such bloody broyles began to brue , as earst was neuer séene . And lyke a roaring Lion he , of Plutoes poysoned band : Made hauocke of the saintes of God , his Christ he did withstand . He trode his gospell vnder foote , as much as in him lay : With tormoyle great , and torments huge , the Church he did affray . And pitie none would he alow , no mercy might him moue : His broyling brest enflamed so , with popish fathers loue . With coales and candle light also , of some the bandes he brent : Of some the haire , from of their face , with cruell clawes he rent . Some men he beate vpon the face , but some , most like a beast : He scourgd with whips & rods ( O wretch ) that dede , all men detest . And breathing forth his tiranny , consumde with fire and flame : The olde , the yong , the riche , the poore , the halt , the blinde , and lame . ●hat should I say , my hart it rues , the peoples teares recorde : The wayled woes for saintes so slayne , which is to be abhorde . But all this might not moue his mynde , for witte gaue place to will : Both grace and reason fled him fro , his hart was hardened still . But when God of his prouidence , our famous Quéene did sende : To stay the rage of tiranny , and wastfull wreakes to ende . The mercy of Elizabeth , tho it doth farre exceede : Could not reclaime his cureles hart , which errors still did féede . But that he vsde vnreuerently , with scoffes in mocking wise : Her graces high Commissioners , both worthy , graue , and wise . So when the people prayd for him , reprochefull wordes he gaue : Most vile , not christianlike , as one that had a soule to saue . The second tyme to prison brought , where he his lyfe did leaue : Where learned men persuaded him , vnto the truth to cleaue , And flie the fancies of the fonde , wherwith he was abusde : Unwilling still to heare them speake , good Councell he refusde . So that vntill his dying houre , he shewed no perfect signe : Of a repentaunt hart or mynde , that would from sinne decline . But as he liude a lothed lyfe , vnconstant , vile , and vayne : Forsaking faith and natures kynde , which God hath in disdayne . His glory aye the peoples griefe , the poore mans payne his pride : ( A wofull flocke where such a wolfe , appointed was for guide ) Euen so his ende was dolefull to , wherin did well appeare : On him the iudgement iust of God , right wonderfull to heare . For dead his face as blacke as coale , and monstruous withall : His grisly looke so terrible , as might a man appall . Was to the good a very glasse , wherin they all may learne : To shunne , the way that Boner went , and better path deserne . Yet tho in lyfe he would not graunt , Christes mercy for to craue : He wild his wretched Corps with pompe , brought should be to the graue . Unto the Church whereas sometyme , a Prelate plast was he : Euen there his solemne obsiquies , and funerals to be . But sith it was so farre vnméete , a place for him more fitt : Within the Churchyard of S. George , he hath a homely pitt . And sith he loued not the light , but did the same despise : At midnight was he buryed there , from vewe of peoples eyes . Wherfore ye Papistes all beware , forsake this Romish whore : And feare the Iudgementes of the Lord , which will you els deuoure . Recant ye all your heresies , and leaue your peruerse way : Wherin you walkt so stubburnely , so long and many a day . Loue God , obey your soueraine , and pray for her estate : Renounce ye all your Maummetry , least ye repent to late . T. Bro. the younger . ¶ Finis .