Henry themselves to the hands of the tormentors; and so took their death both christianly and constantly, with such patience as might well A.D. testify the goodness of their cause, and quiet of their conscience. VIII. 1540. Differ ence between suffer for God's truth, and others that die serts. of Crom well at his death. Wherein is to be noted how mightily the Lord worketh with his grace and fortitude in the hearts of his servants, especially in such as causeless suffer, with a guiltless conscience, for religion's sake, above them that others who suffer otherwise for their deserts. For whereas they who suffer as malefactors, are commonly wont to go heavy and pensive to their death; so the others, with heavenly alacrity and cheerfulness, for their do abide whatsoever it pleaseth the Lord to lay upon them: example own de- whereof we have right well to note, not only in these three godly Cheerful martyrs above mentioned, but also in the lord Cromwell, who suffered patience but two days before, the same no less may appear; who, although he was brought to his death, attainted and condemned by the parliament, yet what a guiltless conscience he bare to his death, his christian patience well declared; who, first calling for his breakfast, and cheerfully eating the same, and, after that, passing out of his prison down the hill within the Tower, and meeting there by the way the lord Hungerford, going likewise to his execution (who, for other matter, here not to be spoken of, was there also imprisoned), and perceiving him to be all heavy and doleful, with cheerful counComfort- tenance and comfortable words, asking why he was so heavy, he willed words of him to pluck up his heart, and to be of good comfort; "for," said Cromwell he, "there is no cause for you to fear; for if you repent, and be Hunger heartily sorry for that you have done, there is for you mercy enough going to with the Lord, who, for Christ's sake, will forgive you; and therefore be not dismayed. And though the breakfast which we are going to, be sharp, yet, trusting to the mercy of the Lord, we shall have a joyful dinner." And so went they together to the place of execution, and took their death patiently, July 28th, 1540. able to lord ford, both their deaths. A NOTE OF THREE PAPISTS, POWEL, FETHERSTONE, AND ABEL, The same time and day, and in the same place, where and when these three above mentioned did suffer, three others also were executed, though not for the same cause, but rather the contrary, for denying the king's supremacy; whose names were Powel, Fetherstone, and Abel: which spectacle so happening upon one day, in two so contrary parts or factions, brought the people into a marvellous admiration and doubt of their religion, which part to follow and take; as might so well happen amongst ignorant and simple people, seeing two contrary parts so to suffer, the one for popery, the other against popery, both at one time. Insomuch that a certain stranger being there present the same time, and seeing three on the one side, and three on the other side to suffer, said in these words, "Deus bone! stranger, quomodo hic vivunt gentes? hic suspenduntur papistæ, illic comseeing buruntur antipapistæ. But to remove and take away all doubt pists and hereafter from posterity, whereby they shall the less marvel how this protest- so happened, here is to be understood how the cause thereof did rise The words of a both pa ants to suffer. and proceed; which happened by reason of a certain division and discord among the king's council, who were so divided among themselves in equal parts, that the one half seemed to hold with the one religion, the other half with the contrary; the names of whom, although it were not necessary to express, yet being compelled for the setting forth of the truth of the story, we have thought good here to annex, as the certainty thereof came to our hands. Henry VIII. A. D. 1540. cil divid Two toge This division and separation of the council amongst themselves, The councaused both these parts above mentioned, the one for one religion, ed in rethe other for another, to suffer together. For, as the one part of the ligion. council called for the execution of Barnes, Garret, and Jerome; so the other part, likewise, called for the execution of the law upon Powel, Fetherstone, and Abel; which six, being condemned and ther laid drawn to the place of execution, two upon a hurdle, one being a hurdle; papist, the other a protestant, thus, after a strange manner, were the one a brought into Smithfield, where all the said six together, for contrary the other doctrine, suffered death; three, by the fire, for the gospel; the other a protestthree, by hanging, drawing, and quartering, for popery. upon the papist, martyrs. Alan Cope, in his worshipful Dialogues, making mention of these Traitors three aforesaid, Powel, Fetherstone, and Abel, amongst others who may died in king Henry's days in the like popish quarrel, that is, for the like treason against their prince (being in all to the number of twentyfour), extolleth them not only in words, but with miracles also, up to the height of heaven, among the crowned martyrs and saints of God. To the which Cope, because in this haste of story I have no leisure at this present to give attendance, I shall wait attendance (the Lord Neither willing) another time, to join in this issue with him more at leisure. good marIn the meantime, it shall suffice at this present to recite the names God, nor only of those twenty-four rebels, whom he, of his popish devotion, so good subdignified with the pretensed title of martyrs: the names of thirteen the king. of which monkish rebels be these here following:' John Houghton, John Rochester, John Traverse, William Horne, Besides these there were other nine Carthusian monks who died in the prison of Newgate; to which number if you add Master More and the bishop of Rochester, the 'summa totalis' cometh to twenty (1) Dialogi Sex' (Antw. 1566), pp. 993-995. Reginald is said to be ordinis Brigitani.'-ED. tyrs to jects to Henry four, whom the said Cope unjustly crowned for martyrs. But of these more shall be said (the Lord willing) hereafter. VIII. A. D. 1541. turbance land after the six articles. Thus, having discoursed the order of the six articles, with other Great dis- matter likewise following in the next parliament, concerning the conin Eng demnation of the lord Cromwell, of Dr. Barnes, and his fellows, let us now (proceeding further in this history) consider what great disturbance and vexations ensued after the setting forth of the said articles, through the whole realm of England, especially among the godly sort wherein first were to be mentioned the straight and severe commissions sent forth by the king's authority, to the bishops, chancellors, officials, justices, mayors, and bailiffs in every shire, and other commissioners by name in the same commissions expressed; and, amongst others, especially to Edmund Bonner bishop of London, to the mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen of the same, to inquire diligently after all heretical books, and to burn them. Also to inquire after all such persons whatsoever, culpable or suspected of such felonies, heresies, contempts, or transgressions, or speaking any words contrary to the aforesaid act, set forth, of the six articles. The tenor of the said commissions being sufficiently expressed in ancient records, and in the bishops' registers, and also partly touched before,' therefore, for tediousness I here omit only showing forth the commission directed to Edmund Bonner bishop of London, to take the oath of the mayor of London, and of others, for the execution of the commission aforesaid; the tenor whereof here followeth: The Commission for taking the Oath of the Mayor of London and Henry the Eighth, by the grace of God, king of England and of France, defender of the faith, lord of Ireland, and in earth supreme head of the church of England, unto the reverend father in Christ Edmund Bonner, bishop of London, and to his wellbeloved the bishop's chancellor, health. Know ye that we have given you, jointly and severally, power and authority to receive the oaths of William Roche, mayor of London; John Allen, knight; Ralph Warren, knight; Richard Gresham, knight; Roger Cholmley, knight, serjeant-atlaw; John Gresham; Michael Dormer, archdeacon of London, the bishop's commissary and official; Robert Chidley, Guy Crayford, Edward Hall, Robert Broke, and John Morgan, and every of them, our commissioners for heresies, and other offences done within our city of London and diocese of the same, according to the tenor of a certain schedule hereunto annexed. And therefore we command you that you receive the oaths aforesaid; and when you have received them, to certify us into our chancery, under your seals, returning this our writ. Teste me ipso at Westminster the twenty-ninth of January, in the thirtysecond year of our reign. What the oath was of these commissioners whereunto they were bound, read before. A NOTE HOW BONNER SAT IN THE GUILDHALL IN COMMISSION OF MEKINS. Upon this commission given unto Edmund Bonner, he, coming to the Guildhall, with other commissioners, to sit upon the statute (1) Read before page 262. |