THE Godly Bishop HOOPER being brought vnto the place where he should suffer , seeing a Pardon lying vpon a stoole to be tendered vnto him if he would recant , cryed to them that stood by , If you loue my soule , away with it : If you loue my soule , away with it .

A blind Boye being suffered to come vnto him ( after much entreaty ) to conferre with him : Mr. HOOPER hearing his talke , the water stood in his eyes : Ah poore Boy sayd he , GOD hath taken from thee the sight of thy bodilie eyes , for what cause he best knoweth : but hee hath giuen thee another sight much more pretious ; for he hath endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith . GOD giue thee grace that thou loose not that sight : for them should'st thou be blind both in body and Soule .

The day before his Martyrdome , he spent the most of the day in prayer , vnlesse any were licenced to speake with him , amongst the which Sr. Anthony Kingston was one : who being brought into his Chamber found him at prayer , and at the first view of him , burst foorth into teares . Mr. HOOPER at the first blush knew him not . Then sayd Sr ANTHONY why my Lord , know you not me , an old friend of yours , Anthony Kingston ?

Yes Mr. Kingston I know you well sayd Mr. HOOPER and I am glad to see you in good health , & doe praise GOD for it .

KINGSTON , But I am sorie to see you in this case : for as I vnderstand , you are come hither to die : But alas consider that life is sweet , and death is bitter . Therefore seeing life may be had , desire to liue : for life hereafter may do good .

HOOPER . Indeed it is very true M. Kingston I am come hither to die , and to end this life heere ; because I will not gainesay the former truth I haue heeretofore taught in this Diocesse amongst you : and I thanke you for your friendly counsaile , though not so friendly as I could haue wished it . Life indeed is sweet , and death is bitter ; but alas consider that the death to come is more bitter , and the life to come more sweet . Therefore for the desire & loue I haue to the one , & the feare and terror I haue of th' other , I do not so much regard this death , nor esteeme this life : but haue setled my selfe through the strength of Gods Spirit , patiently to passe through the torments and extremities of the fire now prepared for me ; rather then to deny Gods word and truth .

The night before he suffred , his desire was to go to bed that night betimes , saiing , that he had many things to thinke on : and so did at 5 of the clock , and slept one sleepe soundly , and bestowed the rest of the night after in prayer . Being got vp in the morning , hee desired that none should come vnto him , that hee might bee solitary till the hower of his death .

WOrthie Bishoppe RIDLEY going to his burning at Oxford , looking backe , espyed Mr. LATIMER coming after : to whome he sayd , Oh be ye there ? yea sayd Father LATIMER , haue after as fast as I can . Bejng come to the stake , he ranne to Mr. LATIMER , jmbraced him and kissed him , and as they that stood neere reported ) comforted him , saying : Bee of good comfort Brother ; for GOD will either asswage the furie of the fire , or else strengthen vs to abide it .

Being at the stake , he held vp both his hands to Heaven , and sayd : Oh heauenly Father , I giue thee most heartie thankes , that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee euen vnto death .

A Fagot being brought which was kindled with fire and laid downe at M. RIDLEYS feet , Father LATIMER spake on this manner to him : Be of good comfort M. RIDLEY , and playe the man : wee shall by Gods grace light such a Candle this day in ENGLAND , as I trust shall neuer be put out .

By reason the fire was ill made , M. RIDLEY continued long in his torments , in so much as he often cryed , I cannot burne , I cannot burne : for Christs sake let the fire come to mee : Lord haue mercie vpon mee : let the fire come to me , I cannot burne .

WIlliam Tims being convented before Bonner & Winchester : Tims said the Bishops ; thou hast a good fresh spirit , it were well if thou had'st learning to thy spirit : Yea my Lords sayd TIMS , and it were well also that as you bee Learned men ; so yee had a good Spirit to your learning .

REuerend LATIMER writes thus to Bishop RIDLEY , Lo Sir , I haue blotted your papers and play'd the foole egregiously : but so I thought it better , then not to fulfill your request at this time . Pardon me , and pray for me : pray for me , pray for me I say . For I am sometimes so scarefull that I could creepe into a mouse hole : Sometimes God doth visit me againe with his Comforts . So he is comming and going , comming and going ; to teach me to know mine owne infirmitie , that I might thanke him who is worthy , least I should rob him of his glorie , as many doe , and almost all the world , fare yee well .

RIDLEY writes thus in a Letter to Bradford , wee looke euery day to be called on : I weene I am the weakest many waies of our company : and yet I thanke our Lord God and heauenly Father through Christ , that since I heard of our deere Brother ROGERS departing , and his stout Confession of Christ and his truth euen vnto death , mine heart blessed be God reioyced so in it , that since that time ( I say ) I never felt any lumpishnesse nor heauinesse of heart , as I grant I haue felt sometimes before : O good Brother Bradford blessed bee God for thee , and blessed be the time that euer I knew thee .

MR. SAVNDERS at the time of his first examination before STEVEN GARDINER , reporto his bed-fellow that lay with him the night following , that in the time of his examination , he was so wonderfully comforted , that not onely in his spirit , but also in body hee receiued a certaine tast of that holy Communion of Saints ; whilst a most pleasant refreshing issued from euery part and member of his body vnto the seat of the heart , and from thence did ebbe and flow to & fro vnto all the parts againe .

In a Letter to his Wife : faine would this flesh make strange of that which the spirit doth imbrace . Oh Lord how loth is this loytring sluggard to passe foorth into Gods path ? It fancieth forsooth much feare of fraybugs ? and were it not for the force of Faith , which pulleth it forwards by the raines of Gods most sweet promise ; and hope which pricketh on behind ; great aduenture there would be of fainting by the way . But blessed & euerlastingly blessed be that heauenly Father of ours , who in his Christ our sufficient Sauiour , hath vouchsafed to shine in our hearts by the light of his knowledge in the face of Iesus Christ .

His Wife comming to visit him in prison , was forbidden to enter the prison ; by reason whereof the keeper tooke the little babe shee had in her armes and caried him to his Father . LAVRENCE SAVNDERS seeing him reioyced greatly , saying , that hee esteemed more of such a boy , then if 2000 pound should be giuen him . And to the standers by which praysed the goodlinesse of the child , he sayd , what man fearing God , would not loose this life presently , rather then by preserving it heere , hee should adiudge this boy to be a bastard , and his wife an Whore , and him-sefe an Whoremonger , yea were there no other cause why a man of my estate should loose his life , yet who would not giue it to avouch this child to be legitimate , and his mariage to be lawfull and holy .

Beeing come to the stake where hee was burned , hee fell prostrate to the ground and prayed : And rysing vppe againe , hee tooke the stake in his armes to which he should be chained , and kissed it , saying , Welcome the Crosse of Christ : Welcome euerlasting life .

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 .

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 .

ONE KERBY beeing councelled by M. WINKFIELD to pittie himselfe , and to take no more vppon him then hee should bee able to performe : the fire saith hee is hot , the terrour is great , the paine wil be 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 hands of God , who will suffer no more to bee layd vppon vs then hee will giue strength to beare .

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 them 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 th' 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 shal be 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 sentences for the joy & confort 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 friends the night before he suffred , they found him eating an Alebrew with such a cherefull heart and quiet minde , as made them wonder thereat , sayjng , they were not a little glad to 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 .

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

WILLIAM HVNTER apprentice of 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 continue 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 .

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 .

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 condemned ( 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 confortable & 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 .

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 whicht 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 commonly 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 . Then 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 than 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 .

THe conflicts whieh 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 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 , considering 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 .