Marginalia1556. Iuly.deth it, we will impart, and communicate the same to the reader. In the meane season, we are credibly informed of this, that Syr Richard Abridges the same day after dynner was done, sent for him to his lodging, and there in the presence of diuers persons, yet alyue in Newbery, frendly exhorted him to reuoke his opinion, to spare his young yeares, witte, and learning. MarginaliaSyr Rich. Abridges gentle offer to Palmer.If thou wilt be conformable, and shew thy selfe corrigible, and repentaunt, in good faith (sayth he) I promise thee before this company, I will giue thee meate, drinke, and bookes, and x. ľ yearely as long as thou wilt dwell with me. And if thou wilt set thy mynd to Mariage, I will procure thee a wife, and a farme, and helpe to stuffe & fit thy farme for thee.

How sayest thou?

MarginaliaPalmer refuseth worldly offers to keepe his conscience.Palmer thanked hym very courteously, and made him further aunswere concernyng his Religion somewhat at large, but very modestly and reuerently, concludyng in the ende, that as he had already in two places renounced his lyuing for CHRISTES sake, so he would with Gods grace be ready to surrender and yeld vp his life also for the same, when God should send tyme.

When Syr Richard perceaued, that by no meanes he would relent: Well Palmer (sayth he) then I perceaue that one of vs twayne shall be damned. For we be of two faythes, and certaine I am, that there is but one faith that leadeth to life and saluation.

Palmer. O Syr, I hope that we both shall be saued.

Sir Richard. How may that be?

MarginaliaGod calleth at diuers houres.Palmer. Right well Syr: For as it pleased our mercifull God accordyng to the Gospels parable to call me at the third houre of the day, euen in my flowres, at the age of 24. yeares: euen so I trust he hath called & will call you at the eleuenth houre of this your old age, and giue you euerlasting lyfe for your portion.

Syr Richard. Sayest thou so? well Palmer well, I would I might haue thee but one moneth in my house, I doubt not, but I would cōuert thee, or thou shouldest conuert me.

Thē said M. Winchcome: Take pitie on thy golden yeares and pleasaunt flowres of lusty youth before it be to late.

Palmer. Syr, I long for those springing floures that shall neuer vade away.

Winchome. If thou be at that point, I haue done with thee.

Then was Palmer commaunded agayn to the blynd house, MarginaliaIohn Gwyn, Thomas Askine Martyrs condēned.but the other two seely men were led agayne the same after none to the consistorie, and there were condemned and deliuered to the secular power of the Sheriffe there present, MarginaliaSyr Rich. Rainsford Sheriffe.by name Syr Richard Rainsford.

It is reported also that Doct. Ieffrey offred Palmer a good lyuing if he would outwardly shew him selfe cōformable, kepyng his conscience to him selfe, or at lest declare that he doubted which was the truest doctrine. But we can not affirme it for a suretie.

MarginaliaPalmer required to set his hand to his articles.The next mornyng the xj. of Iuly, Palmer was required to suscribe to certayne Articles, whiche they had drawen out, touchyng the cause of his condemnation: iin the front wherof, were packt together many haynous termes, as horrible, heretical, damnable, deuilish, and execrable doctrine. To these Palmer refused to subscribe, affirmyng, that the doctrine which he professed was not such, but good and sound doctrine.

Ieffrey. Ye may see good people, what shiftes these heretickes seeke to escape burnyng, when they see Iustice ministred. But I tell thee this stile is agreable to the law. And therfore I can not alter it.

Palmer. Then can not I subscribe to it.

Ieffrey. Wilt thou thē craue mercy, if thou lyke not Iustice? and reuoke thy heresie?

Palmer. I forsake the Pope & his Popelinges, withall Popish heresie.

Ieffrey. Then subscribe to thyne aunswere.

Palmer. Alter the Epithetons, and I will subscribe.

Ieffrey. Subscribe and qualifie the matter with thine owne penne. MarginaliaPalmer subscribeth to hys articles.So he subscribed. MarginaliaThe Popishe sentence red agaynst Palmer.Wherupon Doct. Ieffrey proceded to read þ^e Popish sentēce of his cruel condemnation, wherupon he was deliuered to the charge of the secular power, and was burned the same day in the after noone about fiue of the clocke.

Within an houre before they went to the place of execution, Palmer in the presence of many people, comforted his felowes with these wordes: MarginaliaPalmer comforteth his two fellowe Martyrs going to their death.Brethren (sayth he) be of good chere in the Lord, and faint not. Remember the wordes of our Sauiour CHRIST, where he sayth: Happy are you, whē men reuile you, and persecute you for my sake. Reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen. Feare not thē that kill the body, & be not hable to touche the soule. God is faythfull, and will not suffer vs to be tempted farther then we shalbe hable to beare. We shall not ende our liues in the fire, but make a chaunge for a better lyfe. Yea for coales, we shall receaue pearles. For Gods spirite certifieth our spirite, that he hath euen now prepared for vs a sweete supper in heauen, for his sake which suffered first for vs.

With these and such lyke wordes, he did not onely comforte the hartes of his sely brethren, that were with him appoynted as sheepe to be slayne, but also wrested out plentyfull teares from the eyes of many that heard hym. MarginaliaPalmer, Gwyn, Askine, brought to the place of slaughter.And as they were singyng a Psalme, came the Sheriffe Syr William Raynsford, and the Constables of the Towne with a great company of harnesed and weaponed men to conduct them to the fire. Now when they were come to the place, where they should suffer, they fell all three to the ground, and Palmer with an audible voyce pronounced the xxxj. Psalme: but the other two made their prayers secretly to almightie God.

And as Palmer began to aryse, there came behynde hym two Popishe Priestes, exhortyng hym yet to recant and saue his soule. Palmer aunswered and sayd: MarginaliaThe words of Palmer to the popishe priestes.Away, away, tempt me no longer. Away I say from me, all ye that worke iniquitie. For the Lord hath heard the voyce of my teares. And so forthwith they put of their rayment, and went to the stake, and kyssed it. And when they were bounde to the post, Palmer sayd: Good people pray for vs, that we may perseuere to the end. And for CHRISTES sake beware of Popish teachers, for they deceiue you.

MarginaliaThe facte of a cruell tormentor.As he spake this a seruaunt of one of the Constables, threw a Fagot at his face, that the bloud gushed out in three places. MarginaliaThe Shrieffe brake the tormentors head.For the which fact the Sheriffe reuyled hym by the name of a cruell tormentor, and with his goyngstaffe brake his head, that the bloud lykewise fell about his shoulders. When the fire was kindled, and began to take hold vppon theyr bodyes: they lift theyr handes towardes heauen and quietly and cherefully, as though they had felt no smart, they cried: MarginaliaThe wordes of these Martyrs at their death.Lord IESV strengthen vs, Lord IESV assiste vs, Lord IESV receaue our soules. MarginaliaThe Martyrdome of these three godly Sainctes.And so they continued without any struglyng, holdyng vp their handes, and knockyng their hartes, and callyng vpon IESV, vntill they had ended their mortall lyues.

Among other thynges, there is also to be noted, MarginaliaA notable spectacle in the Martyrdome of Iulius Palmer.that after their three heades by force of the ragyng and deuouryng flames of fire, were fallen together in a plumpe or cluster, which was maruelous to behold, and they all iudged already to haue geuen vppe the ghost, sodenly Palmer as a man waked out of a sleepe, moued hys tounge and Iawes and was hard to pronounce IESV. So beyng resolued into ashes, he yelded to GOD as ioyfull a soule (confirmed with the sweete promises of CHRIST) as any one that euer was called beside, to suffer for his blessed name. God graunt vs all to bee moued with the lyke spirite, working in our hartes constantly to stand in defence and confession of Christes holy Gospell, to the end, Amen.