dropping away of others, her enemies; whereby, by little and little,
her jeopardy decreased, fear diminished, hope of more comfort began
to appear, as out of a dark cloud; and though as yet Her Grace had no
full assurance of perfect safety, yet more gentle entertainment daily
did grow unto her, till the same day, which took away the said Queen
MARY, brought in the same her foresaid sister, Lady ELIZABETH in to
the right of the Crown of England. Who, after so long restrainment,
so great dangers escaped, such blusterous storms overblown, so many
injuries digested and wrongs sustained: the mighty protection of our
merciful GOD, to our no little safeguard, hath exalted and erected, out
of thrall, to liberty; out of danger, to peace and rule; from dread, to
dignity; from misery, to majesty; from mourning, to ruling; briefly, of
a prisoner, hath made her a Prince; and hath placed her in her royal
throne, being placed and proclaimed Queen with as many glad hearts of
her subjects, as ever was any King or Queen in this realm before, or
ever shall be (I think) hereafter.
In whose advancement, and this her princely governance, it cannot
sufficiently be expressed what felicity and blessed happiness this
realm hath received, in receiving her at the LORD's almighty and
gracious hand. For as there have been divers Kings and Rulers over
this realm, and I have read of some; yet could I never find in English
Chronicles, the like that may be written of this our noble and worthy
Queen, whose coming in was not only so calm, so joyful, so peaceable,
without shedding of any blood; but also her reigning hitherto (reign
now four years and more) hath been so quiet, that yet (the LORD have
all the glory!) to this present day, her Sword is a virgin, spotted and
polluted with no drop of blood.
In speaking whereof, I take not upon me the part of the Moral, or of
the Divine Philosopher, to Judge of things done; but only keep me
within the compass of an Historiographer, declaring what hath been
before; and comparing things done, with things now present, the like
whereof, as I said, is not to be found lightly in Chronicles before.
And this, as I speak truly, so would I to be taken without flattery; to
be left to our posterity, _ad sempiternam clementiæ illius memoriam_.
In commendation of which her clemency, I might also here add, how
mildly Her Grace, after she was advanced to her Kingdom, did forgive
the said Sir HENRY BEDINGFIELD; suffering him, without molestation, to
enjoy goods, life, lands, and liberty. But I let this pass.
* * * * *
Thus hast thou, gentle Reader! simply but truly described unto thee,
the time, first, of the sorrowful adversity of this our most Sovereign
Queen that now is; also, the miraculous preserving her in so many
straights and distresses: which I thought here briefly to notify,
the rather for that the wondrous works of the LORD ought not to be
suppressed; and that also Her Majesty, and we her poor subjects
likewise, having thereby a present matter always before our eyes, be
admonished how much we are bound to His Divine majesty, and also to
render thanks to Him condignly for the same.
¶ A compendious Register in
metre, containing the names and patient
sufferings of the members of Jesus Christ, and the
tormented, and cruelly burned within England;
since the death of our famous King, of immortal
memory, +EDWARD+ the Sixth, to the entrance
and beginning of the reign of our Sovereign
and dearest Lady +ELIZABETH+, of
England, France, and Ireland, Queen;
Defender of the Faith; to whose Highness
truly and properly appertaineth, next
and immediately under GOD, the
supreme power and authority
of the Churches
of
England and
Ireland.
So be it.
[Illustration]
_Anno. 1559._
_Apocalypse 7._
_And one of the angels_ (saith Saint
JOHN) _spake, saying unto me, "What_
_are they, which are arrayed in long white_
_garments; and whence come they?" (before_
_the people, before sealed by the angel). And_
_I said unto him, "Lord, thou wottest!"_
_And he said unto me, "These are they_
_which came out of great tribulation; and_
_washed their garments, and made_
_them white in the blood of the_
_Lamb. Therefore are they in_
_the presence of the Throne of_
_GOD, and serve Him, day and_
_night, in His Temple:_
_and He that sitteth_
_in the Throne_
_will_
_dwell among_
_them."_
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
To the Right Honourable
Lord Parr, Marquis of Northampton;
Thomas Price, your Lordship's daily Orator,
wisheth continual increase of grace,
concord, and consolation in Him
that is, was, and is to come,
even the First and
the Last.
Amen.
It may please your goodness, Honourable Lord! to receive in good part,
the little labour of my pen: which, albeit the rudeness and quantity
thereof procureth not to be dedicate[d] to so honourable a Personage;
yet the matter itself is of such worthiness, as duly deserveth to be
graven in gold. But who goeth about so finely to depict with APELLES's
instrument, this said _Register_, thinking to exceed the rest? Not I!
poor wretch! because I am assured that such a worthy work as thereof
may be written, cannot, neither shall pass untouched among so many
godly learned. But were it, that no man hereafter should, in more ample
and learned manner, set forth the same; yet should my presumption (if
I so meant) be turned to reproach: for this I believe, that they be in
such sort registered in the Book of the Living, as passeth either pen,
ink, or memory to declare.
This my simplicity and too bold attempt might move your Honour to
conjecture in me much rudeness, or, at the least, might persuade me
so to think: but that experience hath showed me the humility and
gentleness of your long tried patience; the certain knowledge whereof
hath pricked me forward in this my pretence. And being thereunto
requested of a faithful brother and friend; I have, with more industry
than learning, GOD knoweth! finished the same.
Which being, as I thought, brought to good end; I desired, according
to the accustomed manner, to dedicate the same unto such [an] one, as
would not contemn so simple a gift. And calling you to mind, Right
Honourable Lord! I knew none more meet. First, because your knowledge
in CHRIST teacheth you the same godly and virtuous life; which not only
your Lordship, but all other Honourable, &c., ought to ensue. Secondly,
because these late years, you have had good experience of the troubles
and miseries of the faithful, which have patiently embraced in their
arms, the comfortable, although painful, cross of CHRIST; which, in so
great a number, is commonly not so plenteous as commendable. But what
stand I praising this patience in them (which yet deserveth the same)?
seeing the mighty GOD and His CHRIST hath prepared, from everlasting,
for such, a glorious, rich and incomprehensible Crown of Felicity and
continual comforts.
This my short and simple work, I commend and dedicate unto your
Lordship! craving pardon at your hands, for this my too homely and rude
enterprise: considering that albeit golden fruit were offered in pewter
and by the hands of a simple man; yet is the fruit notwithstanding
still precious, and neither abased by the pewter, nor the giver.
Even so, Honourable Lord! though the verses be simple, and the giver
unworthy: yet the fruit or matter is precious, comfortable and good.
The order to attain to the perfect understanding of my mind, in setting
forth the same with figures and letters, shall largely appear in this
book: which I have not only done to make plain unto your Honour, the
year, month, and day; but also, to all others that hereafter shall read
it. For that I do pretend [_design_], if GOD and favour will permit it,
to use the same as common to the profit of all: for which cause, I have
also placed a Preface to the Reader.
But that it may please your Honour, in respect of the premises, to
extend your favourable assistance to the manifest setting forth of this
short and simple work, to the glory of the great and mighty GOD, and
to the comfort of Christians: I, as unworthy and too bold a suitor,
most humbly craveth your Lordship's aid and supportation in the same;
especially to bear [with] the rudeness of my unlearned style, which,
alas, I lament.
But now ceasing to trouble your Lordship any longer, this shall be my
continual prayer for you.
_The wisdom of GOD direct your Honour!_
_The mercy of GOD give you spiritual power!_
_The HOLY GHOST guide and comfort_
_you, with all fulness of_
_consolation in_
_CHRIST JESUS_!
_Amen._
Your Lordship's daily orator,
THOMAS BRICE.
[Illustration]
#To the Gentle Reader,#
#mercy and peace!#
May it please thee, gentle Reader, to take in good worth this short
and simple _Register_, containing the names of divers, although not
all, both men, women, and virgins, &c., who, for the profession of
CHRIST their Captain, have been most miserably afflicted, tormented,
and [im]prisoned; and, in fine, either died by some occasion in prison,
or else erected [_gone to heaven_] in the charret [_fiery chariot_]
of ELIAS, since the 4th day of February, 1555, to the 17th day of
November, 1558, wherein (according to the determination of our most
merciful Father) our long wished for and most noble Queen, ELIZABETH,
was placed Governess and Queen, by general Proclamation; to the great
comfort of all true English hearts.
This I commit to thy friendly acceptation and favourable scanning,
gentle Reader, and albeit, I doubt not but some, of godly zeal, both
wise and learned, will not neglect, hereafter, to set forth so worthy
a work, namely, of the martyrdom and patient sufferings of CHRIST's
elect Members; and also of the tyrannical tragedies of the unmerciful
Ministers of SATAN: yet, at the request of a dear friend, to whom love
and Nature hath linked me, I could not, without ingratitude, deny his
lawful desire, attempting the same; also, rather because it might be
manifest to the eyes of the world, and also put the learned, of godly
zeal, in memory more amply to enlarge; and, at their good discretion,
to set forth the same. Pardon my rudeness, therefore, I beseech thee!
considering that will in the unable is to be esteemed. Look not upon
the baseness of the metre! the true number whereof cannot easily be
observed in such a gathering of names: but, with lifted eyes of the
mind, meditate upon the omnipotent power of GOD! which hath given
and wrought such constancy in His children, in these our days, that
even in fiery flambes [_flames_] and terrible torments, they have not
ceased to invocate and extol the name of their Creator, Redeemer, and
Comforter, according to the saying of the cxlviii. _Psalm_, "Young
men and maidens, old men and children" have set forth His worthy and
excellent praise. So that the same just and righteous GOD, who, for our
sins, corrected us, and gave us over into the hands of the most bloody
and viperous generation, to be eaten like bread: hath now, of His mercy
alone, "exalted the horn of His people." Therefore all His saints shall
praise Him.
Farewell!
T. B.
[Illustration]
#The manner how to understand the#
#letters and figures.#
[A specimen of a Stanza of the _Register_ as originally given
by BRICE, will help the reader to understand the unnecessarily
complicated form in which he put it; and also the following
Instructions, which were omitted in subsequent impressions.
Three stanzas occupy each page of the original edition. They are
printed like this.
+---+------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| 63| 1558. | C |
| | March. |[+]|
+---+------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| | | |
| | | |
| 28| When that JOHN DEWNESHE and HUGH FOXE, | |
| |In Smithfield, cruel death sustained, | |
| |As fixed foes to Romish rocks; | |
| 28|And CUTHBERT SYMSON also slain. | |
| |When these did worthily receive their death, | |
| | We wished for our ELIZABETH. | |
| | | |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------+---+
| | | 7 |
+---+ +---+
A comparison of this Stanza, with its fellow at page 167, will show
our method of reproducing this text.]
* * * * *
_In primus_, the figures, which are always four in number, are placed
in the middle of the two strykes [_strokes, or rules_], which go
between the verses, within two short strikes; signify the year wherein
those persons were slain under them contained.
And where you see a little cross, [+], on the outside of the outmost
line, it signifieth the changing of the year [_i.e., on the 25th
March_], as from 1554 to 1555; and in such manner.
The letters which stand in the little square place, on the right side
of the book, signified the month wherein they died; and for the plainer
understanding thereof I have used twelve letters, for the twelve
months: that is, A, for January; B, for February; C, for March; D, for
April; E, for May; F, for June; G, for July; H, for August; I, for
September; K, for October; L, for November; M, for December.
But where one letter standeth in the little square place; and another
is placed under it between the two lines before the verse be ended; it
signified the changing of the month: so that the person or persons,
where against the letter so changed doth stand, was put to death in
that month which that letter doth signify.
And whereas, in the third Verse [_or Stanza, p_. 154], and nowhere
else, there standeth figures on the right side, between the two lines;
that giveth to understand that HUNTER, HIGBYE, PICKET, and KNIGHT,
which are placed in one line, were burnt at three sundry days.
The figures which standeth in the little square place, on the left
side of the book, is but the sum of the Verses. But those which stand
between the two lines on the left side of the book, signified the day
of the month, wherein that person or persons died, where against those
figures stand.
The figures, which stand without both the lines, on the top of the
right side, signifieth the folio or number of the sides; but the
figures which stand underneath the nether strike, between the two
lines, is the number of persons murdered on that side [_i.e., of the
page_].
This is done, gentle Reader! that thou shouldest understand the year,
month, and day wherein every person died; according to the knowledge
that I have learned.
Also, in some places, where you shall see a name or names stand
without figures; that signifieth the certain day to be unknown. Some,
therefore, perchance, will judge much rashness in me to write with
ignorance; to whom, with reverence, I answer, that as I received
the names registered and gathered by a good gentleman: even so, at
a friend's desire, I have put them in metre, in this little book,
thinking that, by pleasantness of reading, and easiness [_cheapness_]
of price, they might be the more largely blown and known.
For my desire is that all men should participate [in] this my travail:
and were the author and inditing half so worthy as the matter; then
would I most earnestly wish and desire that it might be conveyed and
delivered to the Queen's Majesty's own hands. Wherein Her Grace might
see, what unmerciful Ministers had charge over the poor sheep; who,
wolfishly, at their wills, devoured the same: and, also, what ruin
and decay of Her Grace's subjects (that might have been), they have
brought to pass. Therein might Her Grace see, as in a glass, how that
bloodthirsty generation, neither spared hore [_hoary_] headed and
ancient age, which all men ought to honour; neither youth, nor middle
age; neither wife, nor widow; young man, nor tender virgin. But like
the unnatural eggs of ASTYAGES that tyrant, destroy, and spill the
blood of all: besides stocking [_putting in the stocks_], racking
[_putting on the rack_], and whipping of the younger sort; whom shame
would not suffer to kill, as some are well enough known, and I am not
altogether ignorant [of].
Should such tyrannical tragedies be kept one hour, from the hands of
so noble and virtuous a Governess? whose princely and natural heart,
I doubt not, should have occasion thereby to be, in both kinds, both
heavy and joyful: heavy, for the innocent blood spilt; but joyful for
the praises of her GOD, and that our GOD shall be honoured thereby,
while the world doth endure. I doubt whether [_doubt not but_] Her
Grace, inwardly wrapt up with PAUL and JOHN in divine science, will
brast [_burst_] out and say, "O happy LATIMER! CRANMER! HOOPER! ROGERS!
FARRER! TAYLOR! SAUNDERS! PHILPOT! CARDMAKER! BRADFORD! &c.; you
members of CHRIST! you faithful Fathers and preaching Pastors! you,
that have not defiled yourselves with abomination, but have washed
your garments white in the blood of the Lamb! you, that in fiery
torments, with STEPHEN, have called upon the name of your Redeemer,
and so finished you lives! you that are now clothed in white garments
of innocency, with crowns of consolation, and palms of victory in your
hands, following the Lamb withersoever He goeth!" Or else, in anguish
of soul, sighingly to say, "O thou tyrannous and unmerciful world! thou
monstrous and unnatural generation! what devil inflamed thy mind such
malicious mischief? to torment and shed the blood of such innocent
livers, perfect preachers and worthy counsellors, learned ministers,
diligent divines, perfect personages, and faithful shepherds. They
were constant Confessors before, but thou (with the Roman Emperor)
thoughtest to prevent the determination of GOD, in making them Martyrs,
to be the sooner with their CHRIST, whom they so much talked of. O
cruel NEROS! that could kill, through malice, such worthy men, as have
often preached to our dear father [_HENRY VIII_.] and brother [_EDWARD
VI_.] the everlasting gospel of GOD. Could neither honourable age,
innocent single life, chaste matrimony, inviolate virginity, nor yet
pity move you to cease shedding of blood! Alas, too much unnaturalness!"
Whether the sight of this simple book, I say, should bring to her
Grace's natural heart, the passions of heaviness or joy, I doubt: but I
think rather both.
Therefore, would to God! it were worthy to enter into the hands of so
noble and natural a Princess and Queen; whom the LORD, of His eternal
and foreseeing determination, hath now placed in this royal dignity:
to the redress of such unnatural and bloody facts, as in this book are
contained.
But forasmuch as some imperfection is, and may easily be in this
Gathering; I commend it to thy goodness, gentle Reader! beseeching
thee, not to be precise in perusing the day; for it may, that, either
through my negligence, or [that of] some other writing [_manuscript_]
before me, we may miss so narrow a mark.
Such as it is, I commend
unto thee! only, judge
well!
The Book to the Reader.
_Peruse with patience, I thee pray!_
_My simple style, and metre base._
_The works of GOD, with wisdom weigh!_
_The force of Love, the strength of Grace._
_Love causèd GOD, His grace to give,_
_To such as should for Him be slain._
_Grace wrought in them, while they did live,_
_For love, to love their CHRIST again._
_Now Grace is of such strength and might,_
_That nothing may the same withstand._
_Grace putteth death and hell to flight,_
_And guides us to the Living Land._
_The force of Love also is such,_
_That fear and pain it doth expel;_
_Love thinketh nothing over much;_
_Love doth all earthly things excel._
_Thus Love and Grace of GOD began_
_To work in them, to do His will:_
_These virtues' force wrought Love in man,_
_That fear was past, their blood to spill._
+_FINIS._+
The Register of the Martyrs.
[Never before did such doggerel verse carry so fearful a story as
this. It is thought to have been useful to JOHN FOX, when at work
on his _Actes and Monumentes &c._, 1563.
The following entries in the _Stationers' Registers_ show
that there were two simultaneous editions of this work, both
surreptitiously produced in 1559.
RYCHARD ADAMS [_see p._ 172] for pryntinge _The Regester of all
them that ware burned_ without lycense was fined at vs. [=
£2 10_s. now_]. OWYN ROGERS for printinge without lycense _The
Regester of all them that were burned_ was fyned at xxd.]
[_Transcript &c._, 1. _p._ 101, _Ed. 1875_.]
1555.
FEBRUARY When raging reign of tyrants stout,
Causeless, did cruelly conspire
To rend and root the Simple out,
With furious force of sword and fire;
When man and wife were put to death:
We wished for our Queen ELIZABETH.
FEBRUARY 4 When ROGERS ruefully was brent;
8 When SAUNDERS did the like sustain;
When faithful FARRAR forth was sent
His life to lose, with grievous pain;
22 When constant HOOPER died the death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
FEBRUARY 9 When ROWLAND TAYLOR, that Divine,
At Hadley, left this loathsome light;
24 When simple LAWRENCE, they did pine,
22 With HUNTER, HIGBY, PIGOT, and KNIGHT;
23 When CAUSUN, constantly, died the death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
MARCH 5 When TOMKINS, tyranny did abide,
Having his hand, with torchlight brent;
7 When LAWRENCE, WHITE, and DIGGELL died,
With earnest zeal and good intent;
14 When WILLIAM FLOWER was put to death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
APRIL 2 When AWCOCKE, in Newgate prisoner,
His latter end, with joy, did make;
11 When JOHN WARREN and CARDMAKER,
Kissed each other at the stake;
24 When MARCH, the Minister, was put to death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
JUNE When WILLIAM COWLEY, for offence,
4 Was forthwith hanged at Charing Cross;
Buried; then burned, of fond pretence;
Thus carion carcass they did toss:
When such insipients put men to death,
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
JUNE 10 When worthy WATTES, with constant cry,
Continued in the flaming fire;
11 When SIMSON, HAWKES, and JOHN ARDLIE
Did taste the tyrant's raging ire;
11 When CHAMBERLAINE was put to death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
JUNE 12 When blessed BUTTER and OSMANDE,
With force of fire, to death were brent;
12 When SHITTERDUN, sir FRANKE, and BLANDE,
12 And HUMFREY MIDDLETON of Kent;
1 When MINGE, in Maidstone, took his death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
JULY When BRADFORD, beautified with bliss,
1 With young JOHN LEAST, in Smithfield, died;
When they, like brethren, both did kiss,
And in the fire were truly tried;
When tears were shed for BRADFORD's death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
JULY 12 When DIRICK HARMAN lost his life;
12 When LAUNDER, in their fume, they fried;
12 When they sent EVERSON from strife,
With moody minds, and puffèd pride;
12 When WADE, at Dartford, died the death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
JULY 21 When RICHARD HOOKE, limbless and lame,
At Chichester, did bear the cross;
22 When humble HALL, for CHRISTes name,
Ensued the same, with worldly loss;
23 When JOAN POLLEY was burnt to death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
JULY 23 When WILLIAM AILEWARDE, at Reading,
In prison died of sickness sore;
23 When ABBES, which feigned a recanting
Did wofully weep, and deplore;
23 When he, at Bury, was done to death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
AUGUST 23 When DENLY died, at Uxbridge town,
With constant care to CHRISTES cause;
23 When WARREN's widow yielded down
Her flesh and blood, for holy laws;
When she, at Stratford, died the death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
AUGUST 23 When LAURENCE, COLLIER, COKER, and STERE,
At Canterbury, were causeless slain,
23 With HOPPER and WRIGHTE; Six in one fire,
Converted flesh to earth again;
24 When ROGER CORRIAR was done to death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
AUGUST 26 When TANKERFIELDE, at St. Albans,
26 And WILLIAM BAMFORD, spent his blood;
When harmful hearts, as hard as stones,
30 Burnt ROBERT SMITH and STEPHEN HARWO[O]D;
29 When PATRICK PATTINGHAM died the death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
AUGUST 31 When JOHN NEWMAN, and THOMAS FUSSE,
At Ware, and Walden, made their end;
30 When WILLIAM HAILES, for CHRIST JESUS,
With breath and blood did still contend;
31 When he, at Barnet, was put to death:
We wished for our ELIZABETH.
AUGUST 31 When SAMUELL did firmly fight,
Till flesh and blood, to ashes went;
3 When constant COB, with faith upright,
At Thetford, cruelly was brent:
When these with joy did take their death;
We wished for our ELIZABETH.