church; while his wife, on her knees, beg- they must have been acquitted, as the trial ged that God would vindicate his innocence, would have been conducted according to the and avenge the injuries so wrongfully in-principles of common law. But this she had flicted on him. no intention to do; her design was to gratify Foster and Clarke next exhibited a charge the clergy, by causing all those who opposed of heresy against Dr. Taylor, to the chan- their sentiments, to be put to death in the cellor Gardiner, who sent a messenger, com- most barbarous manner. manding Dr. Taylor to appear before him, in order to answer to the charge.

Dr. Taylor answered the chancellor with a becoming, firmness: he told him, that he When Dr. Taylor's friends heard of this, was the persecutor of God's people, and that they were much grieved, and fearing what he, himself, had adhered to our Savior and would be the result, as justice was not to be his word: he put bishop Gardiner in mind expected from the furious bigots then in of the oath he had taken in the beginning power, advised him to go abroad to save his of king Edward's reign, to maintain the life. But this he would by no means comply Protestant religion, and oppose the papal with; saying that it was more honorable to supremacy; but Gardiner answered that the suffer for the cause of God, than to flee from oath had been extorted, so that he was not the wrath of wicked men. “God,” said he, obliged to abide by it. "will either protect me from sufferings, or he will enable me to bear them." He added, "That he knew his dying for the truth would be of more service to the cause of Christ, than his flying away from the malice of his persecutors."

It is certain, that every oath extorted by the threatening of punishment, can have no moral force; and the man who has been weak enough to swear, may recede from the obligatory part as soon as he has an opportunity. But this was not the case with GardiWhen his friends saw that nothing could ner; had he refused the oath, all the punishprevail upon him, they took leave of him ment inflicted upon him would have been with tears; after which he set out for Lon- the loss of his bishopric. And surely he who don, accompanied by a servant, named John pays the least regard to the sacred Name inHull, who had been a considerable time in voked to witness his sincerity, will not choose his family. This faithful servant advised him to enjoy a temporal subsistence at the exto make his escape, but to no purpose; for pense of a guilty conscience. Taylor said, that the good shepherd should Dr. Taylor explained to the bishop the never leave his sheep, till he was torn from nature of an oath, and told him, that as he them by force. In the same heavenly man-had not been forced to take one contrary to ner he exhorted John to be constant in the the dictates of conscience, so he was either profession of Christianity, and not to return prejudiced in what he did, or, what was still to popery. He said, that worldly wisdom worse, he trifled with a sacred obligation: was apt to take too deep a root in our hearts, that no man whatever could dispense with and that it was, therefore, our duty to do all an oath, unless he knew it was his duty to we could to triumph over the world, the flesh, do so, in consequence of its having been imand the devil; to be consistent in our attach- posed on him by violence. ment to the truth; to keep in view the glo- Gardiner, who was self-convicted, turned rious eternity provided for the faithful; to the subject to the disputed points concerning despise earthly enjoyments, while we strive the real presence, and some other things in to render ourselves worthy of heaven; to popery. fear God more than men; to believe that he With respect to the real presence in the will sweeten all our sufferings, by the influ- sacrament, Dr. Taylor told him, that it had ences of his holy spirit; to think nothing too no foundation in scripture, but had been first hard to endure, in order to obtain a blessed taught about the tenth century. He quoted immortality; and, with a Christian courage, the book of Bertram, which was written to trample on death, and triumph over the grave.

about that time, wherein the real presence was denied, and transubstantiation considWhen Dr. Taylor was brought before the ered as no better than a novel doctrine. He chancellor Gardiner, that prelate reviled him made it appear, that Christ only commanded in the most shocking manner, calling him a his followers to keep the feast of the eucharist, traitor and a heretic; all which our pious in remembrance of his last supper with them. martyr patiently submitted to. In the opin- That as Christ broke bread, and drank wine ion of Gardiner he might have been a here- with his disciples in a friendly manner, betic, but, according to law, he could not have fore he was dragged to prison, to judgment, been a traitor; for the statute of high trea- and to execution, consequently his followers son, and the statute of heresy, enforced dif- should observe it as a feast of unity to the ferent punishments; for treason the offend- end of the world.

ing party was to be hanged and quartered; Such were the sentiments of this pious for heresy he was to be burned alive. Had man, concerning a very disputed point. He queen Mary proceeded against this man, and was clear in his conceptions concerning the many others, on the statute of high treason, scripture account of the last supper, for all

the primitive fathers have taught us to con-wise from the primitive writers, that the sider it in the same light. When Christ clergy were not prohibited from it. As he said, "This is my body," he could only mean was a learned civilian and canonist, he proved the atonement that was to be made for sin, from the Justinian institutions, that all oaths and surely that could not be the bread he of celibacy were then condemned, and that took in his hand. The body of Christ, joined the priests were exhorted to marry. Nay, to his human soul, and both united to the di- so strict was the emperor in this particular, vine nature, are now in a state of glory in that if a man made over a legacy to his heaven; and how then can the priest turn a wife, on condition of her not marrying again, morsel of bread into the body of our Divine the will was to be void. Redeemer? The bare thought puts common He added further, that it was contained in sense to the blush. It is full of absurdity, the pandects, that if a man had a female and can only impose on the grossest credulity, slave, and made her free on condition she for the purpose of increasing the influence should never marry, the condition should not of artful and designing priests. be binding, and she might marry, nor should

Dr. Taylor, after being interrogated by her former master be permitted to reclaim the chancellor for a considerable time, was her. It was the more proper to quote the ⚫ at length committed to prison; for bigotry pandects, because they were written in the knows no feeling; persecution no resting- sixth century, and although many abuses place. had then crept into the church, yet celibacy While he was in prison, he spent the was not in the number. greatest part of his time in prayer, in read- The next time he was brought before the ing the sacred scriptures, and in exhorting chancellor, was in company with Mr. Saunthe poor prisoners, confined with him, to a ders, whose martyrdom we have already desense of their duty. This was the more ne- scribed, and Mr. Bradford. Dr. Taylor was cessary, as the people at that time were ex- charged with heresy by the chancellor, and tremely ignorant; light indeed was begin- the other bishops who were present. He ening to break in upon them, but they knew knowledged that he abhorred all the popis. not how to walk. The prison in which Dr. doctrines of the church of Rome; that the Taylor was confined, was that commonly pope was Antichrist; that to deny the called the King's Bench, and there he met clergy the privilege of marriage was the with that holy and pious man Mr. Bradford, doctrine of devils; that there were but tw whose affinity in religious sentiments con- sacraments in the New Testament; that the tributed to mitigate his sufferings. If two mass was idolatry, the body of Christ being virtuous or pious persons are of the same in heaven; and last of all, that he wou opinion, and under the same circumstances, abide by these sentiments to the last, bein. they generally sympathize with each other. convinced that they were consistent wit This was the case with Dr. Taylor and Mr. the doctrines laid down by Christ and l Bradford; for no sooner did they meet each apostles. other in prison, than they blessed God who had brought them together, to suffer for the truth of the gospel.

One may easily imagine what would t the consequences of such a free and op declaration. The papists could not bear t hear their favorite notions thus called question, and even condemned as idolatry.

After Dr. Taylor had lain a considerable time in prison, he was cited to appear at Bow church, in Cheapside, to answer to the The chancellor therefore pronounced se dean of the arches concerning his marriage. tence on him, and he was taken to a pr When he was brought before this officer, in Southwark, called the Clink, where t he defended marriage in such a masterly remained till night, and then was sent to i. manner, that the dean would not venture to Compter in the Poultry. Here he remain pronounce a divorce, but only deprived him seven days; when on the 4th of Febru of his benefice. He was then remanded to 1555, Bonner, bishop of London, with othe prison, and kept there above a year and a came to the said Compter to degrade h half; when he and several others were bringing with them the popish habits.* brought to be again examined before the chancellor.

The last part of the ceremony of degry tion is for the bishop to strike the person graded on the breast; but Bonner's err lain advised him not to strike Dr. Tay

Gardiner asked him whether he adhered to the form of religion, as established by king Edward VI.? Whether he approved of the English book of common prayer! Superstition had risen to such a jäich Whether he was married? and many other questions. To all these Dr. Taylor gave clear and satisfactory answers, justifying his conduct; but these were not sufficient, seeing his death was resolved on.

Concerning marriage, Dr. Taylor proved, not only from the sacred scriptures, but like

reign of Henry I. that the clergy were exempted corporeal punishments; but his grandson Henry in the constitutions of Clarendon, ordained, that ta should suffer the same punishments as the lazy therefore the clergy, that it might not be su priest suffered death, always degraded him ', shadow of exemption, when they had lost the execution; thus by a pitiful quibble maintainen: stance.

for he would surely strike again. "Yes, when God shall bless thee, love and cherish that I will, by St. Peter," said the doctor, the poor people, and count that thy chief "for the cause is Christ's, and I should not riches is to be rich in alms: and when thy be a good soldier if I did not fight my mas-mother is far advanced in years, forsake her ter's battles." not, but provide for her according to thy

The bishop therefore contented himself abilities, and see that she want for nothing. with pronouncing a curse upon Dr. Taylor; And God will bless thee, and give thee long to which the doctor answered, "You may life upon earth, and prosperity; for which curse as long as you please, but I am confi- now, upon my knees, I pray through the dent God will support me: I have the wit- merits of Jesus Christ. ness of a good conscience, that I am standing in defence of the truth; whereas you dare not say that you are doing so: but I will pray for you.”

Then turning to his wife, he said, "My dear wife, continue stedfast in the faith, fear, and love of God. Keep yourself undefiled by popish idolatries and superstition. I have When he was brought up to his chamber, been unto you a faithful yokefellow; and so he told Mr. Bradford that he had made the have you been unto me; for the which I bishop of London afraid; "for," said he, pray God to reward you, and doubt not, my "his chaplain advised him not to strike me, dear, but God will reward you. Now the lest I should strike him again, which I made time is come that I shall be taken from you, him believe I would, although I never in- and you discharged of the wedlock bond totended to do so." wards me: therefore I will give you my

To strike an enemy is strictly forbidden counsel, what I think most expedient for you. in the gospel; but even had Dr. Taylor been You are yet a child-bearing woman, and, so unguarded as to strike the bishop, it could therefore, it will be most convenient for you only have been imputed to the ignorance to marry; for, doubtless, you will not of yourwhich at that time prevailed, even over the self be able to support our dear children, nor minds of pious men. be out of trouble, till you be married. There

The night after he was degraded, his wife, fore, as soon as Providence shall point out with his son Thomas, came to see him; and some pious, honest man, who you think will such was the good-nature of the keeper, support the poor children, be sure to marry that he permitted them to go into his apart-him, and live in the fear of God; but by all ment, and sup with him. Thus Dr. Taylor means avoid idolatry and superstition." found a great difference between the keeper Having said these words, he fell down of the bishop's prison, and the keeper of the and prayed for his family; and then he gave Compter. The bishop's keepers were ever his wife an English prayer book, as set forth cruel, blasphemous, and tyrannical, like their master; but the keepers of the royal prisons, for the most part, showed as much favor as could be granted, to those whom they had in custody. John Hull, the servant, came with the wife and son of Dr. Taylor; and at their first coming in, they all kneeled down and prayed.

by king Edward VI.; and to his son Thomas he gave a Latin book, containing a collection of sentiments from the writings of the primitive fathers, relating to the courage and constancy of the ancient martyrs.

The reader who attends to the conduct of this dying martyr, will find that there is something in true religion far superior to deAfter supper, the doctor walked two or ception. In the primitive times it was comthree times across the room, blessing God mon for the martyrs, previous to their sufferthat he had singled him out to bear witness ings, to converse with their friends, and also to the truth, as it is in Jesus; that he had to write epistles to the churches at a disbeen thought worthy to suffer for his name's tance. Some of those epistles are still exsake; and then turning to his son, he said, tant, and we know that they were frequent"My dear son, God Almighty bless you, and ly read in the churches afterwards: but no give you his holy spirit, to be a true servant eloquence can exceed that of Dr. Taylor, in of Christ; to hear his word, and constantly taking leave of his wife and son. How to stand by the truth all thy life long; and, sweetly do his expressions flow from the my son, see that thou fear God always; flee heart! What a manly dignity under his suffrom all sin and wicked living; be virtuous; ferings does he display! What resignation attend closely to thy book, and pray to God to the will of God, and what a firm reliance sincerely. In all things that are lawful, see on divine Providence! Here, indeed, grace that thou be obedient to thy mother; love triumphed over human nature, and the soul ner and serve her; be ruled and directed by showed its native splendor, although confined her now in thy youth, and follow her good within a mortal body.

counsel in all things. Beware of lewd com- The next morning, the 5th of February, pany, of young men that fear not God, but so early as two o'clock, the sheriff of Lonindulge their vain appetites and lusts. Fly don, attended by his officers, came to the from whoredom, and abhor all filthy living; Compter, and took Dr. Taylor to the Woolremembering that I, thy father, am to die in pack, near Aldgate. His wife, having sonie defence of holy marriage. Another day, suspicion that he was to be taken out that

morning, waited all night in the church of When they arrived at Brentwood, they St. Botolph, near Aldgate, having with her made a close hood for Dr. Taylor, having a poor orphan girl, whom the doctor had two holes for his eyes, and one for his mouth brought up from infancy, and one of her own to breathe at. They did this, that no man children. When the sheriff and his company should know him or speak to him; which came opposite the church, the orphan girl practice was frequently used in such cases. cried out, "O, my dear father; mother, mo- The evidence of their own consciences conther, here is my father led out." Then Mrs. vinced them that they were leading innocent Taylor cried out, "Rowland! Rowland! people to the slaughter. Guilt creates fear, where art thou?" for the morning was ex and thus does Satan reward his vassals. tremely dark. To this Dr. Taylor answered, All the way Dr. Taylor was as joyful as "Here I am, but I am confined." The sher- if he had been going to take possession of an iff's officers wanted to hurry him away; estate; and, indeed, how could it be otherbut the sheriff, who had more humanity, or-wise? He knew he was suffering for the dered them to let him speak with his wife. faith, and that the truth was able to support She then came to him, when, taking his him; and he anticipated a glorious reward wife and daughter, with the orphan girl, by from Him for whose cause he suffered. the hands, he kneeled down, and prayed At Chelmsford they were met by the sherwith them; which when the sheriff, and the iff of Suffolk, who was to take him into that other persons present saw, they shed tears. county to be executed. While they were Prayers being over, he rose up, and taking at supper, the sheriff of Essex labored earnhis wife by the hand, bid her have good estly with him to return to the popish recomfort, for he had a clear conscience.ligion. He told him, "that as he was a man "God," said he, "will provide a father for of universal learning, so his death would be my children, but let them be stedfast in the a great loss to the nation." The sheriff, faith." To which his wife answered, "God whatever his own opinions were, said a great be with you, my dear Rowland, and I will, deal to Dr. Taylor, and falling before him on with his grace, meet you at Hadleigh.". his knees, with the tears running down his He was then put into a chamber, with cheeks, earnestly begged of him to recant four of the yeomen of the guard, and the his opinions, and be reconciled to the church; sheriff's officers. As soon as he entered the promising that he, and all his friends, would chamber, he knelt down, and gave himself procure his pardon.

wholly to prayer. There the sheriff, seeing Dr. Taylor then took the cup in his hand, Mrs. Taylor, told her that she must not and looking to the company, particularly to speak to her husband; but that she might the sheriff of Essex, said, "I heartily thank go to his house, and he would provide for you for your good-will; I have hearkened to her, so that she should not want for any your words, and minded well your counsels; thing. To this she answered, that "she and, to be plain with you, I do perceive that would rather go to her mother's house," I have been deceived myself, and am likely and two officers were sent to conduct her to deceive a great many in Hadleigh of their thither. expectations.' At these words the whole This part of the sheriff's conduct doubt company clapped their hands with joy: less arose from principles of humanity; for "God bless you," said the sheriff of Essex, what man can see a wife and children weep-"keep to that, it is the most comfortable ing over a father and husband, condemned word we have heard from you. Why should to a cruel death, for a disputable offence, you cast away yourself? Play a wise man's without shedding a tear of compassion? part, and then I am certain you will find Dr. Taylor remained at the Woolpack till favor." Upon this Dr. Taylor replied, "I eleven in the forenoon, when the sheriff of am, as you see, a man of a very large body, Essex came to receive him, and they pre- which I thought should have lain in Hadpared to set out on horseback. As they leigh church-yard, and there are a great came out of the gate of the inn, John Hull, number of worms there who would have had his old servant, whom we have mentioned the feasting, which no doubt they wished for before, was there waiting, having with him many a day; but I know I am deceived," Dr. Taylor's son Thomas; John lifted up the said he, "and the worms are so too, for my boy that he might see his father, and then body is to be burned to ashes, and they will set him on the horse before him. Dr. Tay- lose their feast." lor, taking off his hat, said, "Good people, this is my own son, begotten in lawful wed lock, and I bless God for lawful matrimony." He then lifted up his eyes towards heaven, and prayed for his son; laid his hat upon the boy's head, and blessed him. After this, he delivered him to John Hull, whom he shook by the hand, and said, "Thou hast been the faithfulest servant éver man had."

When the sheriff and his companions heard him say this, they were amazed at his constancy; for the nearer his sufferings approached, the more he was strengthened to endure them. In this he imitated our blessed Redeemer, who, when he felt his father's wrath beginning to be inflicted upon him, sweated, as it were, great drops of blood; but when led forth, and nailed to the cross.

he looked round with complacency, and con- praying in the most devout manner, till one. vinced the spectators, that the glory of God of the officers, more humane than the rest, shone through his human nature. knocked out his brains with a halberd; which put an end to his misery.

Such has been the case of the martyrs in all ages and nations. Human nature might, We have in this case an instance of popish at first, shudder, and shrink back at the superstition, in some respects more violent thought of the sufferings they were exposed than any we have yet taken notice of. Dr. to; but their constancy increased as the fiery Taylor was not only a pious man, but he had, trial-drew near. been, for his knowledge of the canon and When the procession arrived at Aldham civil laws, long esteemed as the glory of Common, where Dr. Taylor was to be burnt, Cambridge. He had, from his distinguished he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and thanked abilities and learning, confuted the chancelGod that the last struggle was come, and he lor in his arguments concerning the mar hoped he should be enabled to go through riage of the clergy; and, indeed, in all other with it. respects, he was so well acquainted with the He tore the hood from his face, that he ancient fathers, that he was, with great promight be seen by the numerous spectators, priety, called "The Walking Library." But many of whom had formerly been his parish- no mercy can be shown, where religious ranioners. He then began to speak to the peo- cor takes place. There is something in such ple who were praying for him; but the offi- persecutions that shuts up the bowels of comcers thrust sticks into his mouth, and threat- passion, even towards the nearest relations. ened to cut his tongue out, unless he would Civil persecutors may occasionally relax into promise to keep silence at the place of exe- compassion; but those who persecute from cution. erroneous notions of religion, are strangers When he had prayed he kissed the stake, to every humane sensation; and pant for the and got into a barrel partly filled with pitch, blood of those who differ from them, " even which was placed for that purpose. Fire as the hart doth for the water-brooks" being set to the pitch, Dr. Taylor continued

SECTION IV.

Martyrdoms of numerous Persons in various parts of England.

THOMAS TOMKINS.

who was so affected, that he requested the bishop to forbear, saying, he had sufficiently punished the prisoner.

THE first person we have to mention on the bloody list contained in this section, was A few days after this, Mr. Tomkins was named Thomas Tomkins, a weaver, who brought before the bishop, at his consistory lived, with great reputation, in the parish of court at St. Paul's, to whom he delivered St. Leonard, Shoreditch. Being accused of the following articles of confession in wriheresy, he was summoned before that mer- ting, sealed up, and signed with his own ciless persecutor bishop Bonner, who confined him, with many others, in the dungeons of his palace at Fulham.

hand:

"I, Thomas Tomkins, of the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, in the diocese of During his imprisonment, he was treated London, having confessed, and declared by the bishop in a manner not only unbe- openly, heretofore to Edmund Bonner, bishcoming a prelate, but a man: he several op of London, mine ordinary, that my belief times beat him with peculiar cruelty, and hath been many years past, and is at this tore the greatest part of his beard from his present, that the body of our Savior Jesus face, for no other reason but his refusing his Christ is not truly, and in very deed, in the assent to the doctrine of transubstantiation. sacrament of the altar, but only in heaven; Another instance of this cruel bishop's in- and so in heaven, that it cannot now indeed Lumanity to Mr. Tomkins, was exhibited be really and truly in the sacrament of the before several gentlemen who came to visit altar:

him. The bishop, finding him inflexible, took "And moreover, having likewise confessed old of him by the wrist, and held his hand and declared to my said ordinary openly wer the flame of a wax candle, in order, if many times, that although the church, called possible, to make him deviate from those un- the Catholic church, hath allowed, and doth rrupted truths of the gospel he had so allow the mass and sacrifice made and done Arongly preserved. This, punishment Mr. therein, as a wholesome, profitable, and godly Tomkins submitted to with great fortitude, thing; yet my belief hath been many years the veins burst, and water issuing from past, and is at this present, that the said he hand, flew into the face of a bystander, mass is full of superstition, plain idolatry,