1583 Edition | Book 1 | Page 55 
Close(d. 1543) [Fines]
Priest of Windsor; popular preacher; burnt with Filmer and Testwood
Anthony Pearson often preached in Windsor, where his sermons were very popular with the people, but not with the conservative clerics, especially William Symonds and John London. 1570, p. 1389; 1576, p. 1185; 1583, p. 1213.
Symonds and London kept notes of Pearson's sermons. They included the names of all those who frequented the sermons. They reported all of these to Stephen Gardiner. 1570, p. 1389; 1576, p. 1185; 1583, pp. 1213-14.
Henry Filmer, Anthony Pearson and John Marbeck were taken to Windsor and put into prison there. Robert Testwood was brought out of his house on crutches and put with them. 1570, p. 1395; 1576, p. 1190; 1583, p. 1218.
Filmer, Pearson, Marbeck and Testwood were put on trial at Windsor and all were found guilty by the jury. 1570, p. 1397; 1576, p. 1191; 1583, p. 1219.
Filmer, Pearson and Testwood were burnt together at the same stake. 1570, p. 1397; 1576, p. 1192; 1583, p. 1220.
Pearson preached repentance and was burnt. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Close(fl. C5-6) [ODNB]
Wrote an account of the defeat of the Britons by the Anglo-Saxons
Gildas was denounced as a false prophet. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Gildas was one of the sources used by William the Conqueror to compile a book of canons and ordinances to govern the clergy. 1570, p. 1302; 1576, p. 1114; 1583, p. 1139.
Close(1503 - 1533) [ODNB; Hillerbrand]
Theologian and early martyr
BA Cambridge 1525; called by Wolsey to Cardinal College, Oxford
Imprisoned, fled abroad; returned 1531; arrested, placed in the Tower. Burnt at Smithfield
John Frith was converted at Cambridge by William Tyndale. 1563, p. 497; 1570, p. 1174; 1576, p. 1004; 1583, p. 1031.
Frith was one of the scholars imprisoned at Cardinal College for attending an illegal assembly. 1563, p. 441; 1570, p. 1133; 1576, p. 970; 1583, p. 997.
He and others were released on Wolsey's orders. When he heard of the examination and bearing of faggots of Dalaber and Garrard, he fled overseas. He returned two years later, was arrested at Reading as a vagabond and put in the stocks. He asked to see the schoolmaster there, Leonard Cox, who helped to free him.1570, p. 1174; 1576, p. 1004; 1583, p. 1032.
[Back to Top]John Frith translated Patrick Hamilton's 'Places' into English and wrote a preface to it. 1570, p. 1109; 1576, p. 948; 1583, p. 975.
John Frith wrote an answer to Sir Thomas More's book on purgatory. 1570, p. 1157; 1576, p. 990; 1583, p. 1017.
Frith preached repentance and had his books burned. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
William Tyndale met John Frith in Germany and became determined to translate the scriptures into English. 1570, p. 1226; 1576, p. 1049; 1583, p. 1076.
While abroad, Richard Bayfield met William Tyndale and John Frith and sold their books in France and in England. 1563, p. 484; 1570, p. 1161; 1576, p. 993; 1583, p. 1021.
Lambert translated works from Latin and Greek to English and then went abroad to join William Tyndale and John Frith. 1563, p. 527; 1570, p. 1255; 1576, p. 1075; 1583, p. 1101.
Frith wrote against Sir Thomas More to a friend, who innocently showed the letter to William Holt. Holt then took the letter to More. 1563, p. 498; 1570, p. 1175; 1576, p. 1005; 1583, p. 1032.
Frith was taken first to the archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth, then to the bishop of Winchester at Croydon, and then to London to plead his case before the assembled bishops. He was imprisoned in the Tower. From there he wrote to his friends, describing his examination before John Stokesley, Stephen Gardiner and John Longland. 1563, pp. 501-03; 1570, pp. 1176-78; 1576, pp. 1006-08; 1583, pp. 1034-35.
[Back to Top]Frith refused to retract his articles and was condemned. John Stokesley pronounced sentence and turned him over to the mayor and sheriffs of London. He was taken to Smithfield and burnt. 1563, p. 504; 1570, p. 1178; 1576, p. 1008; 1583, p. 1036.
Frith was one of the authors whose books were banned by the proclamation of 1546. 1563, p. 676; 1570, p. 1427; 1576, p. 1216; 1583, p. 1246.
Close(d. 1384) [ODNB]
Theologian, philosopher, religious reformer; studied at Oxford; master of Balliol by December 1360-61; promoted to college's benefice of Fillingham, Lincolnshire 1361-68; returned to Oxford for study: DTh 1372/73. Rector of Lutterworth, Leicestershire (1374-84)
John Wyclif's career. 1570, pp. 524-28; 1576; pp. 421-24, 1583; pp. 424-28.
The pope condemned Wyclif. 1563, pp. 89-95; 1570, pp. 529-34; 1576; pp. 425-26, 1583; pp. 430-34.
Wyclif and Urban VI. 1563, pp. 98-101; 1570, pp. 545-48; 1576; pp. 440-42, 1583; pp. 445-47.
Wyclif and the Council of Constance. 1563, pp. 103-30; 1570, pp. 548-53; 1576; pp. 443-46, 1583; pp. 448-64.
Wyclif preached repentance but was disregarded. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Wyclif was one of the authors whose books were banned by the proclamation of 1546. 1563, p. 676; 1570, p. 1427; 1576, p. 1216; 1583, p. 1246.
Thomas Patmore reported that a well sprang up where Wyclif's bones were burned. 1570, p. 1187; 1576, p. 1016; 1583, p. 1044.
Close(c. 1495 - 1540) [ODNB]
Religious reformer; martyr of King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Augustinian friar; scholar of Cambridge and Louvain; prior of Augustinians, Cambridge; B.D. Cambridge 1522-23 ; BTh 1523
Arrested in 1526, abjured. Escaped to Wittenberg and became a good friend of Martin Luther; returned in 1531-32 and 1534; became royal chaplain in 1535
Robert Barnes went from Louvain to Cambridge. He became prior and master of the house of the Augustinians. 1563, p. 589; 1570, p. 1363; 1576, p. 1163; 1583, p. 1192.
Barnes was converted at Cambridge by Thomas Bilney, Thomas Arthur and others. 1563, p. 482.
Barnes preached his first sermon after his conversion at St Edward's church, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and was immediately accused of heresy by two fellows of King's Hall. His supporters met frequently at the White Horse tavern. 1563, p. 601; 1570, p. 1364; 1576, p. 1164; 1583, p. 1192.
Barnes was supported at Cambridge by William Paget and Gardiner. 1563, p. 509; 1570, p. 1198; 1576, p. 1026; 1583, p. 1054.
Robert Barnes often visited Bury Abbey to see his friend Edmund Rougham, who had been his fellow student at Louvain. While there, Barnes, Lawrence Maxwell and John Stacy converted Richard Bayfield. Bayfield was imprisoned in the abbey, whipped and stocked. Barnes and Edmund Rougham eventually secured his release, and he went with Barnes to Cambridge. 1563, p. 484; 1570, p. 1161; 1576, p. 993; 1583, p. 1021.
[Back to Top]Barnes preached repentance and had his books burned. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Barnes was arrested and taken to London, where he was examined by Cardinal Wolsey. At the urging of Stephen Gardiner and Edward Fox, he abjured. 1563, pp. 601-02; 1570, pp. 1364-65; 1576, pp. 1164-65; 1583, pp. 1192-93.
Thomas Wolsey charged Barnes with heresy and made him bear a faggot. 1570, p. 1129; 1576, p. 967; 1583, p. 993.
Barnes performed his penance with four Stilliard men. He was then imprisoned in the Fleet for half a year. Afterwards he was committed to the Augustinian house in London as a free prisoner. Further complaints to the cardinal resulted in an order that Barnes be sent to Northampton to be burnt. 1563, p. 602; 1570, p. 1365; 1576, p. 1164; 1583, p. 1193.
[Back to Top]In Northampton Barnes left a suicide note and a pile of clothes on the river-bank and fled to London, from whence he escaped to Antwerp. 1563, p. 602; 1570, p. 1365; 1576, p. 1164; 1583, p. 1193.
From Antwerp Barnes went to Germany and found favour with Luther, Melancthon, Bugenhagen, Justus Jonas, Hegendorph, Aepinus, the duke of Saxony and the king of Denmark. 1563, p. 603; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1165; 1583, p. 1194.
The king of Denmark sent Barnes as ambassador to Henry VIII with a delegation from Luebeck. Barnes flourished during the time that Anne Boleyn was queen. 1563, p. 603; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1165; 1583, p. 1194.
John Lambert attended a sermon preached by John Taylor at St Peter's in London in 1538. Lambert put ten articles to him questioning transubstantiation. Taylor conferred with Robert Barnes, who persuaded Taylor to put the matter to Archbishop Cranmer. Cranmer called Lambert into open court, where he was made to defend his cause. 1563, pp. 532-33; 1570, pp. 1280-81; 1576, p. 1095; 1583, p. 1121.
[Back to Top]Barnes and William Barlow informed Thomas Cromwell of the arrest of Thomas Frebarne for obtaining pork in Lent for his pregnant wife and asked him to send for the mayor. 1570, p. 1354; 1576, p. 1156; 1583, p. 1185.
Robert Barnes was sent on an embassy to the duke of Cleves by Henry VIII to help negotiate his marriage with Anne of Cleves. 1563, p. 603; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1165; 1583, p. 1194.
After the fall of Cromwell and Stephen Gardiner's return from France, Barnes and other preachers were arrested. He was examined, and he, Garrard and Jerome were appointed to preach sermons. Gardiner was present at Barnes' sermon, and Barnes was sent for and imprisoned in the Tower. 1563, p. 603; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1165; 1583, p. 1194.
[Back to Top]Stephen Gardiner complained to the king about the sermon of Robert Barnes preached during Lent at Paul's Cross. He disputed with Barnes, and Richard Coxe and Thomas Robinson acted as arbiters. 1570, p. 1371; 1576, p. 1169; 1583, p. 1198.
King Henry commanded that Robert Barnes, Thomas Garrard and William Jerome recant the doctrine they had been preaching. 1570, p. 1371; 1576, p. 1170; 1583, p. 1198.
Barnes first recanted in his sermon and then continued the sermon contrary to his recantation. 1570, p. 1371; 1576, p. 1170; 1583, p. 1198.
Barnes, Garrard and Jerome were committed to the Tower. They were brought together to Smithfield and burnt. 1563, pp. 611-12; 1570, pp. 1371-72; 1576, p. 1170-71; 1583, p. 1199-1200.
Barnes was one of the authors whose books were banned by the proclamation of 1546. 1563, p. 676; 1570, p. 1427; 1576, p. 1216; 1583, p. 1246.
Close(c. 1495 - 1531) [Fines; ODNB]
Proctor of Cambridge; evangelical reformer; martyr burnt at Norwich
While at Cambridge, Bilney converted to a reformed religion and convinced others there, including Thomas Arthur and Hugh Latimer. Bilney and Arthur left the university, going about teaching and preaching. Cardinal Wolsey had them imprisoned in 1527. 1563, pp. 461, 481; 1570, pp. 1134-35; 1576, p. 972; 1583, p. 998.
[Back to Top]John Lambert was converted at Cambridge by Thomas Bilney. 1563, pp. 482, 527; 1570, p. 1255; 1576, p. 1075; 1583, p. 1101.
Bilney was well acquainted with Thomas Benet. 1570, p. 1180; 1576, p. 1009; 1583, p. 1037.
Bilney preached repentance and had his books burned. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Thomas Wolsey, William Warham, Cuthbert Tunstall, John Fisher, Nicholas West, John Veysey, John Longland, John Clerk and Henry Standish took part in the examination of Thomas Bilney and Thomas Arthur in 1527-28. 1563, pp. 461-78; 1570, pp. 1134-46; 1576, pp. 971-81; 1583, pp. 998-1008.
Thomas Bilney wrote five letters to Tunstall. 1563, pp. 465-73; 1570, pp. 1140-47; 1576, pp. 977-81; 1583, pp. 1003-08.
Thomas Bilney and John Brusyerd entered into a dialogue on images in Ipswich around the time of Bilney's examination. 1563, pp. 474-79; 1570, pp. 1138-40; 1576, pp. 975-76; 1583, pp. 1001-03.
Bilney initially refused to recant and asked to introduce witnesses; this request was refused by the bishop of London because it was too late in the proceedings. Bilney was given two nights to consult with his friends, and they persuaded him to abjure. 1563, p. 479; 1570, p. 1140; 1576, p. 977; 1583, p. 1003.
[Back to Top]Thomas Wolsey forced Thomas Arthur, Thomas Bilney, Geoffrey Lome and Thomas Garrard to abjure for speaking against the authority of the pope. 1570, p. 1129; 1576, p. 967; 1583, p. 994.
Bilney was sentenced to bear a faggot at Paul's Cross and to imprisonment at the pleasure of Cardinal Wolsey. 1563, p. 479; 1570, p. 1140; 1576, p. 977; 1583, p. 1003.
For two years Bilney repented of his abjuration. He moved to Norfolk and preached openly. He was arrested when he gave books to an anchoress he had converted in Norwich. Richard Nix obtained a writ for his burning. 1570, p. 1146; 1576, p. 981; 1583, p. 1008.
Lawrence Staple was charged in London in 1531 for, among other things, receiving four copies of Tyndale's New Testament from Bilney. 1570, p. 1187; 1576, p. 1015; 1583, p. 1043.
Edmund Peerson presented a list of charges against Richard Bayfield in 1531, especially concerning Bayfield's praise for Thomas Arthur and Thomas Bilney. 1570, p. 1191; 1576, p. 1020; 1583, p. 1048.
Bilney was arrested by the sheriff, Thomas Necton, his good friend. He was examined and condemned by Thomas Pelles. The night before his burning, his friends found him cheerful and enjoying his dinner. He put his finger into the candle flame several times to test the heat. He was burnt the next day at Lollards' Pit in Norwich. 1563, pp. 482-83; 1570, pp. 1150-51; 1576, pp. 984-85; 1583, p. 1012.
[Back to Top]Michael Lobley was charged in London in 1531 for, among other things, saying that Bilney was a good man. 1570, p. 1189; 1576, p. 1017; 1583, p. 1046.
Close(1498 - 1540) [ODNB; Fines]
of Lincolnshire; clergyman and protestant reformer
BA Oxford 1518; MA 1524, BTh by 1535; chancellor to Latimer and Cranmer
Burnt as a heretic
Garrard preached repentance and had his books burned. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Thomas Garrard took prohibited books to Oxford and was sought for the same offence in London. 1563, p. 604; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1166; 1583, p. 1194.
Garrard was arrested and taken into custody. He undid the lock and went to see Anthony Dalaber, who gave him his cloak to disguise his escape. 1563, p. 605; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1166; 1583, p. 1194.
After Garrard had escaped, he was apprehended by Cole and returned to the university. He was examined by Cottisford, Hygdon and London, condemned as a heretic and made to bear a faggot with Anthony Dalaber. They were then imprisoned. 1563, p. 609; 1570, p. 1369; 1576, p. 1168; 1583, p. 1197.
When John Frith heard of the examination and bearing of faggots of Dalaber and Garrard, he fled overseas. 1570, p. 1174; 1576, p. 1004; 1583, p. 1032.
Thomas Wolsey forced Thomas Arthur, Thomas Bilney, Geoffrey Lome and Thomas Garrard to abjure for speaking against the authority of the pope. 1570, p. 1129; 1576, p. 967; 1583, p. 994.
Thomas Garrard had been curate of All Hallows in Honey Lane. He abjured before the bishops of London, Lincoln and Bath and Wells.1563, pp. 419, 480-81.
Richard Champion and Thomas Garrard were sent to Calais to preach. 1563, p. 658; 1570, p. 1401; 1576, p. 1195; 1583, p. 1224.
King Henry commanded that Robert Barnes, Thomas Garrard and William Jerome recant the doctrine they had been preaching. 1570, p. 1371; 1576, p. 1170; 1583, p. 1198.
Garrard first recanted in his sermon and then continued the sermon contrary to his recantation. 1570, p. 1371; 1576, p. 1170; 1583, p. 1198.
Barnes, Garrard and Jerome were committed to the Tower. They were brought together to Smithfield and burnt. 1563, pp. 611-12; 1570, pp. 1371-72; 1576, p. 1170-71; 1583, p. 1199-1200.
Garrard was burnt at Smithfield with Robert Barnes and William Jerome. 1563, p. 610; 1570, p. 1370; 1576, p. 1168; 1583, p. 1197.
Close(c. 1494 - 1536) [ODNB]
Translator of the bible and religious reformer; martyr
BA Oxford 1512; MA 1515; read theology
Strangled and burnt at Vilvorde Castle
John Frith was converted at Cambridge by William Tyndale. 1563, p. 497; 1570, p. 1174; 1576, p. 1004; 1583, p. 1031.
Foxe erroneously includes Tyndale in a list of scholars imprisoned at Cardinal College, Oxford. Tyndale was in Germany at this time. [ODNB sub John Frith] 1563, p. 441; 1570, p. 1133; 1576, p. 970; 1583, p. 997.
William Tyndale was schoolmaster to Sir John Walsh's children. Sir John and his wife joined in discussing religion with a variety of senior clergy and with Tyndale. After Tyndale gave his master and mistress a copy his translation of Erasmus's Enchiridion militis Christiani, they invited the clergy less frequently. 1563, p. 518; 1570, p. 1225; 1576, p. 1048; 1583, p. 1075.
[Back to Top]Tyndale was examined on a charge of heresy by the bishop's chancellor. He returned to his master, but was troubled by the priests in the area and left for London. He tried to enter the service of Tunstall, the bishop of London, but was unsuccessful. Eventually, with the aid of Humphrey Monmouth and others, he left the country. 1563, p. 518; 1570, pp. 1225-26; 1576, p. 1049; 1583, pp. 1075-76.
[Back to Top]Humphrey Monmouth had heard Tyndale preach two or three sermons at St Dunstan-in-the-West. 1570, p. 1133; 1576, p. 970; 1583, p. 997.
Tyndale preached repentance and had his books burned. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Humphrey Monmouth was accused of helping William Tyndale and William Roy to get to the continent to join Martin Luther. Tyndale had wished to become chaplain to the bishop of London, but was turned down. Tyndale had lodged with Monmouth for about six months. 1570, p. 1133; 1576, p. 970; 1583, p. 997.
[Back to Top]Tyndale went into Saxony and met Luther. 1570, p. 1226; 1576, p. 1050; 1583, p. 1076.
While in Germany, Tyndale met John Frith and became determined to translate the scriptures into English. Copies of these and other books he had written were sent to England. 1570, p. 1226; 1576, pp. 1049-50; 1583, p. 1076.
While abroad, Richard Bayfield met William Tyndale and John Frith and sold their books in France and in England. 1563, p. 484; 1570, p. 1161; 1576, p. 993; 1583, p. 1021.
Simon Fish, sought by Cardinal Wolsey, was forced to go overseas to join Tyndale. While there, he wrote his book, Supplication for the Beggars. 1563, p. 448; 1570, pp. 1152-53; 1576, pp. 986-87; 1583, p. 1014.
Tyndale left Germany and went to Antwerp. As he was travelling to Hamburg, all his books and notes, including his translation of the book of Deuteronomy, were lost in a shipwreck. Miles Coverdale then helped him translate all of the first five books of the Old Testament in Hamburg. 1570, p. 1227; 1576, p. 1050; 1583, p. 1077.
[Back to Top]John Tyndale, William's brother, was charged in 1530 in London with having sent his brother five marks and having received and kept letters from him. 1570, p. 1185; 1576, p. 1014; 1583, p. 1041.
Lambert translated works from Latin and Greek to English and then went abroad to join William Tyndale and John Frith. 1563, p. 527; 1570, p. 1255; 1576, p. 1075; 1583, p. 1101.
Augustine Packington favoured William Tyndale, but pretended otherwise to Cuthbert Tunstall, bishop of London, then in Antwerp. He offered to procure all the unsold copies of Tyndale's New Testament held by the merchants in the city if Tunstall would provide the money to buy them. Packington then paid Tyndale for the books, and Tyndale immediately had them reprinted. 1563, p. 443; 1570, pp. 1158-59; 1576, p. 991; 1583, p. 1019.
[Back to Top]William Tyndale mentioned the martyr Thomas Hitten in his Apology against Sir Thomas More and in The Practice of Prelates. 1563, p. 1134; 1570, p. 971; 1576, p. ; 1583, pp. 997-98.
Both Sir Thomas More and William Tyndale related the story of how Humphrey of Lancaster proved the miracle of the blind man regaining his sight at St Albans to be fraudulant. 1563, p. 883.
William Tyndale was one of those Sir Thomas More in his The Supplication of Purgatory said the souls in purgatory railed against. 1570, p. 1156; 1576, p. 990; 1583, p. 1017.
Tyndale and Miles Coverdale translated the 'Matthew Bible'. Because Tyndale was arrested before it was completed, it was published under the name of Thomas Matthews. 1570, p. 1363; 1576, p. 1163; 1583, p. 1191.
Tyndale returned to Antwerp and lodged at a house of English merchants kept by Thomas Poyntz. He became acquainted with Henry Philips and obtained for him a place in the same house, befriended him and showed him his books. 1563, p. 515; 1570, p. 1227; 1576, p. 1050; 1583, p. 1077.
While Thomas Poyntes was away, Thomas Philips set a trap for Tyndale. He arranged for imperial officers to be ready in an alley when he tricked Tyndale into leaving the house. Tyndale was captured and imprisoned. 1563, p. 515; 1570, p. 1227; 1576, p. 1050; 1583, p. 1077.
Tyndale was strangled and then burnt at Villevorde. 1563, p. 519; 1570, p. 1229; 1576, p. 1052; 1583, p. 1079.
Tyndale wrote letters to John Frith in the Tower in London. 1563, pp. 520-22; 1570, pp. 1231-32; 1576, pp. 1053-55; 1583, pp. 1080-82.
Tyndale was one of the authors whose books were banned by the proclamation of 1546. 1563, p. 676; 1570, p. 1427; 1576, p. 1216; 1583, p. 1246.
and persecuting the faith and name of Christ their Lord.
Moreouer, in much like sort and condition, if leisure of tyme, or haste of matter, would suffer me a little to digresse vnto more lower tymes, and to come more nere home, the like examples I could also inferre of this our countrey of England, concerning the terrible plagues of God against the churlish and vnthankfull refusing or abusing the benefite of his truth. First, we read how that God stirred vp Gildas to preach to the old Britains,MarginaliaBrittaines. Gildas. and to exhort thē vnto repentance and amendment of life, and afore to warne thē of plagues to come, if they repented not. What auayled it? Gildas was laughed to scorne and taken for a false prophet, and a malicious preacher. the Britains with lusty courages, whorish faces, and vnrepentant hartes, went forth to sinne, and to offend the Lord their God. What followed? God sent in their enemies on euery side, & destroied them, and gaue the land to other nations. Not many yeres past, God seing idolatry, superstition, hipocrisie, and wicked liuing vsed in this Realme, raysed vp that godly learned man Iohn Wickliffe, to preach vnto our fathers repentance, and to exhort them to amend their liues, to forsake their Papistry & Idolatry, their hypocrisy, superstition, and to walke in the feare of God. His exhortations were not regarded. He with his Sermons was despised. His bookes and he himself after his death were burnt,MarginaliaWicliefe and hys bookes condemned and brent for an hereticke after hys death.what followed? they slue their right king, and set vp three wrong kings on a rowe, vnder whom all the noble bloud was slaine vp, & halfe the commons thereto, what in Fraunce, & with their own sword in fighting among themselues for the crowne, and the Cities and townes decayed, and the land brought halfe to a wildernes, in respect of that it was before. O extreme plagues of Gods vengeance. Since that tyme euen of late yeares, God once againe hauing pitie of this realm of England, raised vp his prophets, namely, William Tindall, Thomas Bilney, Iohn Frith, Doctor Barnes, Ierome Garret, Anthonie Person, with diuers other, which both with their writings and sermons earnestly laboured to call vs vnto repentaunce, that by this meanes the fierce wrath of God might be turned away from vs. But how were they intreated? how were their painfull labours regarded? they themselues were condemned and burnt as heretikes, and their bookes condemned and burnt as heretical. The time shall come saith Christ, that whosoeuer killeth you, will thinke that he doth God hie good seruice.MarginaliaIohn. 16.Whether any thing since that tyme hath so chaunced this Realme worthy the name of a plague, let the godly wise iudge. If God hath deferred his punishment, or forgeuē vs these our wicked deedes, as I trust he hath, let vs not therfore be proud and hie minded, but most humbly thanke him for his tender mercies, and beware of the like vngodly enterprises hereafter. Neither is it here any neede to speake of these our lower and latter tymes, which haue ben in king Henry and king Edwards dayes,MarginaliaGods benefites toward England.seeing the memory thereof is yet fresh, and cannot be forgotten. But let this passe, of this I am sure, that God yet once againe is come on visitation to this church of England, yea and that more louingly & beneficially then euer he did afore. For in this his visitation he hath redressed many abuses, and cleansed his church of much vngodlines and superstition, and made it a glorious Church, if it be compared to the olde forme and state. And now how gratefull receiuers we be, with what hart, study and reuerence we embrace that which he hath giuen, that I referre either to thē that see our fruits, or to the sequele, which peraduenture will declare.MarginaliaA caueat for England.But this by the way of digression. Now to regresse againe to the state of the first former tymes. It remaineth, that as I haue set foorth the iustice of God vpon these Romain persecutors: so now we declare their persecutions raised vp against the people and seruauntes of Christ, within the space of 300. yeares after Christ. Which persecutions in number commonly are coūted to be tenne, besides the persecutions first mooued by the Iewes in Hierusalem and other places against the Apostles. In the which, first S. Steuen the Deacon was put to death,MarginaliaS. Steuen the first ringleader of all Christes Martyrs.with diuers others moe, in the same rage of tyme either slaine, or cast into prisō. At the doing wherof, Saule the same tyme playd the doughtie Pharisie, beyng not yet cōuerted to the fayth of Christ, wherof the history is playne in the Actes of the Apostles set forth at large by S. Luke.
[Back to Top]After the Martyrdome of this blessed Steuen, suffered next Iames the holy Apostle of Christ, and brother of Iohn.MarginaliaS. Iames the Apostle, brother of Iohn Martyred. Of which Iames, mention is made in the Actes of the Apostles the xij chap.MarginaliaAct. 12.Where is declared, how that not long after the stoning of Stephen, king Herode stretched forth his hand, to take and afflict certaine of the cōgregation: among whome Iames was one, whom he slew with the sword, &c. Of this Iames, Eusebius also inferreth mention, alleaging Clement, thus writing a memorablestory of him. Thus Iames (saith Clement) when hee was brought to the tribunall seat, he that brought him (& was the cause of his trouble) seeing him to be condemned, and that he should suffer death: as he went to the execution, he being mooued therewith in hart and conscience, confessed himselfe also of his owne accord to be a Christian.MarginaliaHist. Eccle. lib. 2. cap. 9. Ex clemente Septima Hypolyposeon.And so were they both led foorth together, where in the way he desired of Iames to forgiue him that he had done. After that Iames had a little paused with him vpon the matter, turning to him Peace (sayth he) be to thee brother, and kissed him, and both were beheaded together, an. 36.MarginaliaA notable conuersion of a wicked accuser, and after a martyr.
[Back to Top]Dorotheus in his booke named Synopsis testifieth, that Nicanor one of the vij Deacons, with 2000. other, which beleued in Christ, suffred also the same day, when as Steuen did suffer.MarginaliaNicanor one of the seuen Deacons. with 2000. other martyred.
The saith Dorotheus witnesseth also of Simon, an other of the Deacons, Bishop afterward of Bostrum in Arabie, there to be burned. Parmenias also an other of the Deacons suffred.MarginaliaEx Dorotheo in Synops. Symon a Deacon martyred.
Thomas preached to the Parthians, Medes, and Persians: Also to the Germains, Hiraconis, Bactris, & Magis. He suffred in Calamina a Citie of Iudea, being slaine with a dart.MarginaliaS. Thomas the Apostle suffered.
Simon Zelotes preached at Mauritania, and in the Countrey of Affrike. And in Britania hee was lykewise crucified.MarginaliaSymon Zelotes crucified.
Iudas brother of Iames, called also Thaddeus, and Lebeus, preached to the Edessens, and to all Mesopotamia. He was slayne vnder Augarus. king of the Edessens in Berito.MarginaliaThaddeus the Apostle slayne.
Simon called Cananeus, which was brother to Iude aboue mentioned, and to Iames the younger, which all were the sonnes of Mary Cleopha, and of Alpheus, was Bishop of Hierusalem after Iames, and was crucified in a Citie of Egypt in the tyme of Traianus Emperour, as Dorotheus recordeth. But Abdias writeth, that hee with his brother Iude, were both slayne by a tumult of the people in Suanyr a citie of Parsidis.MarginaliaSimon Cananeus crucified.
[Back to Top]Marke the Euangelist, and first Bishop of Alexandria, preached the Gospell in Egypt, and there drawen with ropes vnto the fire, was burned, and afterward buried in a place called there Bucolus, vnder the raigne of Traianus Emperour.MarginaliaMarke the Euangelist burned.
Bartholomeus is sayd also to preach to the Indians, and to haue conuerted the Gospell of S. Mathew into their tonge, where he continued a great space doing many miracles. At last in Albania a citie of greater Armenia, after diuers persecutions, he was beaten doune with staues, then crucified, and after being excoriate, he was at length beheaded. Ioan. De Monte Regali.MarginaliaBattholomew the Apostle. crucified and beheaded. Ex Ioan. de Monte Regali.
[Back to Top]Of Andrew the Apostle and brother to Peter, thus writeth Ierome in his booke De catalogo scriptorum Eccles. Andrew the brother of Peter (in the tyme and raigne of Vespasianus, as our aunceters haue reported) did preach in the 80. yeare of our Lord Iesu Christ to the Scithians, Sogdians, to the Saxons, and in a Citie which is called Augustia, where the Ethiopians do now inhabite. He was buried in Patris a citie of Achaia, being crucified of Egeas the gouernour of the Edessians: hitherto writeth Ierome.MarginaliaAndrew the Apostle crucified for the Gospel. Ex Hieronimo in Catologo scrip. Eccles.Athough in the number of yeares he semeth a little to misse, for Vespasianus reached not to the yere 80. after Christ. But Bernard in his second Sermon, and S. Cyprian in his booke De duplici Martyrio,MarginaliaEx Cypriano. lib. De duplici Martyrio Ex Barnardo serm 2. de Sanct. Andras.doe make mention of the confession and Martyrdome of this blessed Apostle, wherof partly out of these, partly out of other credible writers we haue collected after this maner: that when as Andrew being conuersant in a Citie of Achaia called Patris, through his diligent preaching had brought many to the faith of Christ: Egeas the gouernour knowing this, resorted thither to the intēt he might constraine as many as did beleeue Christ to bee God, by the whole consent of the Senate, to doe sacrifice vnto the Idols, and so geue diuine honor vnto them. Andrew thinking good at the beginning to resist the wicked counsaile, and the doings of Egeas, went vnto him, saying in this effect vnto him:MarginaliaThe words of Andrew to the Coūsell.that it behooued him which was Iudge of men, first to know his Iudge which dwelleth in heauen, and then to worship him being knowen, and so in worshipping the true God, to reuoke his mynd from false Gods and blynd Idols. These wordes spake Andrew to the Consul.
[Back to Top]But he greatly therwith discontented, demaunded of him whether he was the same Andrew that did ouerthrow the Temple of þe gods, and perswaded men of that superstitious sect, which the Romaines of late had commaunded to be abolished and reiected.MarginaliaThe feruencie of Andrew agaynst Idolatry.Andrew did plainely affirme that the Princes of the Romains did not vnderstand the truth, & that the sonne of God comming from heauen
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