Marginalia1557. August.very water, wherunto he was cōpelled through necessitie of þ^e time of persecution: and after whē he perceaued that his body by Gods prouidence proued well inough with this diet, he thought best to inure himselfe therwithall against all necessities.

Now when he had profited Christes church in this sort by goyng about and preaching the gospell a yeare or two, and especially in Colchester and the quarters therabout, that priuy enemy which enuieth always the saluation and blessed estate of the good, lurketh and layeth waite by all meanes possible for him, so that there were diuers espies sent out, who had in commaundement wheresoeuer they found him, to bring him either quicke or dead.  

But when this theyr attempt could not preuaile, but all was in vaine (the said Eagles with his brethren keping in close, and hidyng themselues in out and darke places, as in barnes, thickets, holes, and priuy closets) his aduersaries went about another way to compasse this their enterprise of taking hym. For in þ^e quenes name a greuous edict was proclaimed through out 4. shires, Essex, Suffolke, Kent, and Norfolke,   promising the party that tooke hym twenty pounde for hys paynes: doubtles a worthy hyer to entice any Iew to trechery. For many being enflamed with greedy desire of the money, deuised and inuented all wayes and reasons they could possible to be enriched with the hurte and destruction of this sely man.

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At length it came to passe that this George beyng seene by chaunce at Colchester vpon Mary Magdalen day,  

at which tyme they kept a fayre in þ^e towne, should haue forthwith bene deliuered to his aduersaries, if he perceiuing the same (as God would haue it) had not conueyed himselfe away as fast as he coulde, a great multitude pursuing after, and seeking diligētly for him. Who first hid himselfe in a groue, and from thence he stale into a corne fielde there by, and so lay secretly couched from the violence of his enemies, in so muche as they were all, sauing one, past hope of taking him, and therfore ready to depart their way. This one hauyng more suttlety and wicked craft in his head thē the rest, would not depart thence with his fellowes, but clymed vp into a high tree, there to view and espy if he might see Eagles any where stirre or moue. The poore man thinking all sure enough by reason þ^t he heard no noise abroad, rose vp vpon his knees, & lifting vp his handes, prayed vnto God. And whether it were for that hys head was aboue the corne, or because his voyce was heard, the lurker perceiuyng hys desired pray that he hunted after, forthwith came downe, and sodainly laying handes on hym, brought hym as prisoner to Colchester.   MarginaliaQuo non mortalia pectora cogis, auri sacra fames. Virg. æneid. 1.Notwithstanding the greedy and Iudas knaue which had so much promised him, was fayne to be content with a very smal reward, and glad to take that to, least he should haue had nothyng at all. This George, not without great lamentation of diuers good mē, and great lacke vnto the church of God (of which to hys power he was a worthy instrument) was committed to prison there, and from thence within 4. dayes after conueyed to Chelmsford, where he abode all that night in deuoute prayer, and would not slepe, neither would eate or drinke but bread and water. The next day he was caried to London to the bishop or the counsel, and there remayned a certayne tyme, and thē was brought downe to Chelmsforde to the sessions, and there was indited and accused of treason because he had assembled companies together, contrary to the lawes & statutes of the realme in that case prouided. For so it was ordayned a little before to auoyde sedition, that if men should flocke secretly together aboue the number of 6. they should be attached of treason: which straite law was the castyng away of the good Duke of Somerset before mentioned.

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And albeit it was well knowne þ^t poore Eagles dyd neuer any thing sediciously against the Queene, yet to cloke an honest matter withall, and to cause him to be

the more hated of the people, they turned religion into a ciuill offence or crime. And though he defended hys cause stoutly and boldly, making a full declaration of his religion or fayth before the Iudges: yet coulde he not bring to passe by any meanes but that he must nedes be indited (as is sayd) of treason, whose enditement did runne much after this fashion.

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MarginaliaGeorge Eagles inditement.George Eagles, thou art indited by the name of George Eagles otherwise Trudge ouer the world, for that thou didst such a day make thy prayer, that God should turne Q. Maries hart or els take her away.

He denied that he prayed that God should take her away, but he confessed that he prayed that God would turne her hart in his prayer. Well, notwithstāding he was condemned for a traytor, although the meanyng therof was for religion.

This thyng done, he was caried to the newe Inne, called the signe of the crowne in Chelmesford by the beastly bayliffes, which some of thē where they that before did the best to take him, and beyng in the Inne, one MarginaliaRichard Potto Inholder at the Cocke in Chelmesford.Richard Potto the elder, an Inholder dwelling at the signe of the Cocke in the same towne, dyd much trouble him in perswading him to confesse he had offended the Queene in his prayer which he was condemned for, and to aske her forgeuenes. To whom he said, that he had not offended her grace in that behalfe. So in processe of tyme he was layd vppon a slede with an hurdell on it, and drawne to the place of execution beyng fast bound, hauing in his hand a Psalme booke, of the which he red very deuoutly all the way wyth a loude voyce till he came there: and beyng on the ladder this aforesaid Potto did much trouble him wyth the matter aforesaid, when he would haue vttered other thinges, till such tyme that þ^e Shrieffe cōmaunded Potto to hold his peace and trouble him no more. So he made his confession and stoode very constant still, then he was turned of the ladder. With him were cast certayne theeues also, and the next day when they were brought out to be executed with him, there happened a thing that did much set forth and declare the innocency and godlines of this man. For being ledde betwene two theeues to the place where he should suffer, when as he exhorted both them and all other to stand stedfastly to the truth, one of these turned the counsell he gaue into a iesting matter, and made but a floute of it.

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Why should we doubt to obtayne heauen, sayth he, forasmuch as this holy man shall goe before vs, as captaine and leader vnto vs in the way. We shall flie thether streight, as soone as he hath once made vs þ^e entry.

In this, George Eagles and that other did greatly reproue him, who on the other side gaue good heede to Georges exhortation, earnestly bewayling hys owne wickednes, and calling to Christ for his mercy. But þ^e more that the first was bidde to be still and to leaue of his scoffing, the more peruerse did he continue in hys foolishnes, & his wicked behauior. At lēgth they came to þ^e gallowes, where they should be hāged, but George was caried to an other place therby to suffer. Betwene the two, it was the godliers chaunce to go the formost, who beyng vpon the ladder, after he had exhorted the people to beware and take hede to themselues, how they did transgresse the commaundementes of God, and then had committed his soule into Gods handes, he ended his lyfe after a godly and quiet maner.

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MarginaliaAn example to be noted of a theefe, reiecting and deriding wholesome and godly preaching.The mockers turne commeth next, which would haue sayd likewise somewhat: but his tongue dyd so fumble and and falter in his head, that he was not able to speake a worde. Fayne would he haue vttered hys mynde, but he could not bring it out. Then did the Vndershriefe bidde him say the Lordes prayer, which he could not say neither, but stutteringly, and as a man would say, one worde to day and an other to morrow. Then did one begin to say it, and so bad him say after. Such as were there and saw it, were very much asto-

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