MarginaliaAn. 1555. February.art an heretike. That shal be knowen, quoth Rogers, at the day of iudgement. Well, quoth M. Woodrofe, I will neuer pray for thee. But I will pray for you, quoth M. Rogers, and so was brought the same day, which was monday the 4. of February, by the shirifes toward Smithfield, saying the Psalme Miserere,  

by the way, all the people wonderfully reioycing at hys constancy, with great prayses and thankes to God for the same:   and there in þ^e presence of M. Rochester Comptroler of the Queenes houshold, sir Rychard Southwell, both the shiriffes, and a wonderfull number of people he was burned into ashes, washing his handis in the flame as he was in burning. MarginaliaM. Rogers refuseth hys pardon.A litle before hys burning at the stake his pardon was brought if he would haue recanted, but he vtterly refused it. He was the first Protomartyr of all that blesed company that suffered in Queene Maryes time, that gaue the first aduenture vpon the fire. His wife and children being xj. in number. x. able to go, and one sucking on her brest, met hym by the way as hee went towardes Smithfield: this sorowfull sight of his own flesh and bloud could nothing moue him, but that he constauntly & cherefully tooke hys death with wonderfull pacience, in the defence & quarrell of Christes Gospell.  

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MarginaliaFebruary. 8.  

MarginaliaThe story of Laurence Saunders, Martyr.AFter that Queene Mary by publick proclamatiō in the first yeare of her raigne, had inhybited the sincere preaching of Gods holy word, as is before declared, dyuers godly Ministers of the word which had the cure and charge of soules committed to them, did notwithstanding accordinge to their bounden duety, feede their flocke faythfully, not as Preachers authorized by publick authoritye (as the godlye order of the Realme was in the happy dayes of blessed king Edward) but as the priuate pastors of particular flocks: among whom Laurence Saunders was one, a mā of worshipfull parentage. His bringing vp was in learning from his youth in places meete for that purpose, as namely in þ^e schoole of Eaton.MarginaliaScholers are taken out of Eton Colledge into the kinges Colledge in Cambridge.From whence (according to the manner there vsed) he was chosen to go to the Kinges Colledge in Cambridge, where he contynued scholler of the Colledge three wholl yeares and there profited in knowledge, & learning very much for that time: shortly after that, he dyd forsake the Vniuersitie, and wēt to hys Parents: vpon whose aduise he minded to become a marchant, for that his mother was a Gentlewoman of good estimation, being lefte a widdow, and hauing a good portion for him amonge hys other brethrē, she thought to set hym vp welthely, and so he comming vp to London, MarginaliaM. Saunders first bound Prentise wyth M. Chester.was bound Prentise with a Marchant named Syr Willyam Chester (who afterward chaūced to bee sheriffe of London the same yeare that Saūders was burned at Couentree). Thus by the minde of hys frendes Laurence should nedes haue bene a marchante, but almighty God which hath his secret working in all thinges, saw better for his seruant, as it fell out in the end, for although that Saunders was bound by faste indenture to play the Marchant, yet the Lord so wrought inwardly in his harte, that he could finde no lyking in that vocation: so that whē hys other fellowes were busily occupied about that kind of trade, he would secretly withdraw himselfe into some priuy corner, & there fall into his solitary lamentations as one not liking with that kynd and trade of life.

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It happened that his master, being a good man, and hearing hys Prentise thus in his secret prayers inwardely to mourne by hym selfe, called vnto hym, to know what the cause was of that his solitarines & lamentation: who then perceyuing his minde nothing to fantasie that kind of lyfe, (for so Saunders declared vnto him) and perceauinge also hys wholl purpose to be bent to the study of hys booke and spirituall contemplation, lyke a good mā directed his letters incontinently vnto his frendes, and geuing him his Indenture, so set hym free.MarginaliaM. Saunders appointed to the trade of Marchandise, could not away with that kinde of life.And thus Laurence Saūders being rauyshed with the loue of learning, and especially wyth the reading of Gods word, taryed not long tyme in the traffick of marchandise, but shortly returned to Cambridge agayne to hys study.MarginaliaM. Saunders from marchandise returneth to his study. Where he began to couple to the knowledge of the Latin, the study of the Greek tongue, wherein he profited in small tyme very much: Therwith also he ioyned the studye of the Hebrue. Then gaue hee him selfe wholly to the study of the holy scripture, to furnishe hym selfe to the office of a Preacher.

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In studye he was dilygent and painfull, in godly life he declared the fruits of a wel exercised conscience, he prayed oftē and with great feruour, and in his prayers as also at other times, hee had hys part of spirituall exercyses, which hys harty sighing to God declared. In which whē any specyall assaulte dyd come, by prayer he felte present reliefe: then wos his company marueylous comfortable. For

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as hys exercises were speciall teachynges, so in the ende they proued singular consolations: wherein he became so experte, that wythin short space hee was able to comfort other which were in any affliction, by the consolation wherwyth the Lord dyd comfort hym. Thus continued he in the Vniuersitie, tyll he proceeded Maister of Arte, and a long a space after.

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In the begynnyng of K. Edwardes raygne, when Gods true Religion was begon to be restored, after licence obteyned, he begā to preach, and was so well liked of them which then had authoritie, that MarginaliaM. Saunders reader in the Colledge of Fothringa.they appointed hym to read a Diuinitie lecture in the Colledge at Fothringa. Where by doctrine and life he edified the godly, drew many ignoraunt to Gods true knowledge, and stopped the mouth of the aduersaryes. He maryed about that tyme, & in the maryed estate led a lyfe vnblameable before all men. The colledge of Fothringa beyng dissolued, MarginaliaSaunders after reader at Lichfield.he was placed to be reader in the Minster at Lichefield: where he so behaued hymselfe in teachyng & lyuing, that the very aduersaries dyd geue hym a full report as well of learnyng as of much godlynes. After a certaine space he departed frō Lichfield to a benefice in Leicester shyre, called Churchlangtō, wherupō he keeping residence, taught diligently, and kept a liberall house. From thence he was orderly called to take a benefice in the Citie of London, named Alhallowes in Breadstreete. Then mynded he to geue ouer his Cure in the countrey: and therfore after he had taken possession of hys benefice in Londō- he departed from London into the countrey, clearely to discharge hymselfe thereof. And euen at that tyme beganne the broyle about the clayme that Queene Mary made to the crowne, by reason wherof he coulde not accomplish hys purpose.

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MarginaliaThe constāt purpose of M. Saunders.In thys trouble, and euen among the begynners of it (such I meane as were for the Queene) he preached at Northampton, nothing medlyng with the estate,  

but boldly vttered his consciēce agaynst Popishe doctrine and Antichrists dānable errours, which were like to spryng vp agayne in England as a iust plague for the litle loue which þ^e English nation did beare to þ^e blessed word of God, which had bene so plentifully offred vnto thē. The Queenes men which were there and heard him, were highly displeased w^t him for his Sermon, & for it kept hym among them as prysoner. But partly for loue of his brethren and frends, which were chiefe doers for þ^e queene among them,   partly because there was no lawe broken by his preachinge, they dismissed hym. He seeing the dreadfull dayes at hand, inflamed wyth the fire of godly zeale, preached wyth diligence at both those benefices, as tyme could serue him, seeing he could resigne neyther of them now, but into the hand of a Papist.

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Thus passed he to and fro in preachyng, vntil that proclamation was put forth, of which mention is made in the begynning. At which tyme he was at hys benefice in the countrey, where he (notwithstandyng the proclamation aforesayd) taught diligently Gods truth, confirmyng þ^e people therin, and armyng them agaynst false doctrine, vntyll he was not onely commaunded to cease, but also with force resisted, so that he coulde not proceede there in preachynge. Some of hys frendes perceiuing such fearefull manassings, counseled hym to flie out of the realme, MarginaliaM. Saunders refuseth to flye the Realme.which he refused to do. But seeing he was with violence kept from doing good in that place, he returned towardes London, to vysite the flocke, of which he had there the charge.

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On Saterday, the 14. of October, as he was comming nigh to the Citie of London, Syr Iohn Mordant a Coūsellour to Queene Mary, did ouertake hym and asked him whether he went. I haue (sayd Saunders) a cure in London, and now I go to instruct my people accordyng to my dutie. If you wyll follow my counsel, quoth M. Mordant, let them alone, and come not at them. To thys Saunders aunswered: how shall I then be discharged before God, if any be sicke & desire consolation, if any want good counsel & neede instruction, or if any should slippe into errour and receaue false doctrine? Did not you, quoth Mordant preach such a day, and named the day, in Breadstreete in Londō? Yes verely, sayd Saūders, that same is my cure. MarginaliaM. Mordāt disswadeth Laurence Saunders from preaching.I heard you my selfe, quoth M. Mordant: and will you preach now there agayne? If it please you sayd Saunders, to morow you may heare me agayne in that same place, where I will confirme by the authoritie of Gods word, all that I sayde then, and whatsoeuer before that tyme I taught them.

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I would counsell you (quoth the other) not to preach. If you can, and wyll forbyd me by lawfull authoritie, then must I obey, sayd Saunders. Nay, quoth he, I wyll not forbyd you, but I doe geue you counsel. And thus entred they both the Citie, and departed ech from either. M. Mordant of an vncharitable mind, wēt to geue warning to Boner byshop of Londō, that Saunders would preach in his Cure the next day. Saūders resorted to his lodging, wyth

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