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."

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.

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.

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.
March.		 C
✠
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 10s. 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.
September 2     When William Allen, at Walsingham,
For truth was tried in fiery flame;
3 When Roger Cooe, that good old man!
Did lose his life, for Christes name;
When these, with others, were put to death:
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
September 6     When Bradbridge, Streter, and Burwarde,
6 Tuttie, and George Painter of Hyde,
Unto their duty, had good regard;
Wherefore in one fire, they were fried:
When these, at Canterbury, took their death;
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
September     When John Lesse, prisoner in Newgate,
10 By sickness turned to earth and clay;
When wicked men, with ire and hate,
13 Burnt Thomas Heywarde, and Goreway;
13 When Tingle, in Newgate, took his death:
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
September 14     When Richard Smith in Lollards' Tower;
15 Androwes and Kyng, by sickness, died;
In fair fields they had their bower,
Where earth and clay doth still abide:
When they, in this wise, did die the death;
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
September 19     When Glover, and Cornelius
Were fiercely brent at Coventry;
4 When Wolsey and Pigot, for Christ Jesus
At Ely, felt like cruelty.
19 When the poor bewept Master Glover's death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
October     When learnèd Ridley, and Latimer,
16 Without regard, were swiftly slain;
When furious foes could not confer
But with revenge and mortal pain.
When these two Fathers were put to death:
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
October 13     When worthy Web, and George Roper,
In Elias' car to heaven were sent;
13 Also when Gregory Painter,
The same straight path and voyage went;
When they, at Canterbury, took their death;
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
December 7     When godly Gore in prison died,
14 And Wiseman in the Lollards' Tower:
18 When Master Philpot, truly tried,
Ended his life with peace and power;
When he kissèd the chain, at his death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
1556.
January 27     When Thomas Whitwell, and Bartlet Greene,
27 Annis Foster, Joan Lasheforde, and Broune,
27 Tutsun, and Winter; these Seven were seen,
In Smithfield, beat their enemies down;
Even Flesh and Devil, World and Death:
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
January 31     When John Lowmas and Ann Albright,
31 Joan Soale, Joan Painter, and Annis Snod,
In fire, with flesh and blood did fight;
When tongues of tyrants laid on lode;
When these, at once, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
February     When two women in Ipswich town,
19 Joyfully did the fire embrace;
When they sang out with cheerful sound,
Their fixèd foes for to deface;
When Norwich no-body put them to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
March 12     When constant Cranmer lost his life
And held his hand into the fire;
When streams of tears for him were rife,
And yet did miss their just desire:
When Popish power put him to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
March 24     When Spencer and two brethren more,
Were put to death at Salisbury;
Ashes to earth did right restore,
They being then joyful and merry:
When these, with violence, were burnt to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
April 2     When Hulliarde, a Pastor pure,
At Cambridge, did this life despise;
2 When Hartpooles death, they did procure
To make his flesh a sacrifice;
When Joan Beche, widow, was done to death:
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
April 10     When William Timmes, Ambrose, and Drake,
10 Spurge, Spurge, and Cavell duly died,
Confessing that, for Christes sake,
They were content thus to be tried:
10 When[2]London little-grace put them to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
April 28     When lowly Lister, Nicoll, and Mase,
28 John Hammon, Spencer, and Yren also,
At Colchester, in the Postern Place,
Joyfully to their death did go;
5 When two, at Gloucester, were put to death:
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
May     When Margaret Eliot, being a maid,
13 After condemning, in prison died;
15 When lame Lavarocke, the fire assayed,
15 And blind Aprice with him was tried:
When these two impotents were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
May 16     When Katherine Hut did spend her blood
16 With two maids, Elizabeth and Joan;
When they embraced both reed and wood,
Trusting in Christ His death alone:
When men unnatural drew these to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
May 21     When two men and a sister dear,
At Beccles were consumed to dust;
31 When William Sleche, constant and clear,
In prison died, with hope and trust;
When these, our brethren, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
June 6     When John Oswold, and Thomas Reede,
6 Harland, Milwright, and Evington;
With blazing brands their blood did bleed
As their brethren before had done.
When tyranny drave these to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
June 20     When Whod the Pastor, with Thomas Milles
At Lewes, lost this mortal gain;
Compassed with spears, and bloody bills,
Unto the stake for to be slain:
23 When William Adheral did die the death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
June 27     When Ja[c]kson, Holywel, and Wye,
27 Bowier, Lawrence, and Addlington;
27 When Roth, Searles, Lion, and Hurst did die;
27 With whom, two women to death were done:
When Dorifall, with them, was put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
June 27     When Thomas Parret, prisoner,
30 And Martin Hunte died in the King's Bench;
When the young man at Leicester,
And Clement died, with filthy stench;
25 When Careless, so took his death:
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
July 16     When Askue, Palmer, and John Gwin
Were brent with force, at Newbury;
Lamenting only for their sins,
And in the LORD were full merry:
When tyrants merciless, put these to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
July 18     When John Forman, and mother Tree,
At[3]Grenstede, cruelly were slain;
18 When Thomas Dungate, to make up three,
With them did pass from woe and pain:
When these, with others, were put to death;
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
August 20     When the weaver at Bristow died,
And, at Derby, a wedded wife;
When these with fiery flames were fried,
For Christes cause, losing their life;
When many others were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
September 24     When Ravensdale and two brethren more,
To earthly ashes were consumed;
25 A godly glover would not adore
Their filthy idol; whereat they fumed;
When he, at Bristol, was put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
September 26     When John Horne, with a woman wise,
At Newton, under hedge were killed,
Stretching their hands with lifted eyes,
And so their years, in earth fulfilled;
When these, with violence, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
September     When Dunston, Clarke, and Potkin's wife,
William Foster, and Archer also,
In Canterbury, did lose their life
By famishment; as the talk do go.
When these, alas, thus took their death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
October     When three, within one castle died,
And in the fields were layed to rest.
When at Northampton, a man was tried
Whether GOD or Mammon he loved best.
When these, by tyranny, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
1557.
January 2     When Thomas Finall and his man,
2 Foster and three good members more,
Were purgèd with their fiery fan
At Canterbury, with torments sore.
When they with cheerfulness took their death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
January     When two at Ashford, with cruelty,
For Christes cause, to death were brent;
2 When, not long after, two, at Wye,
Suffered for Christ His Testament:
When wily wolves put these to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
April 2     When Stanly's wife, and Annis Hyde,
Sturtle, Ramsey, and John Lothesby
Were content, torments to abide,
And took the same right patiently;
When these, in Smithfield, were done to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
May 2     When William Morant and Steven Gratwick
Refused, with falsehood to be beguiled,
And for the same, were burnèd quick,
With fury, in Saint George's Field;
When these, with others were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
June 16     When Joan Bradbridge, and a blind maid,
16 Appelby, Allen, and both their wives;
16 When Manning's wife was not afraid,
But all these Seven did lose their lives.
When these, at Maidstone, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
June 19     When John Fiscoke, Perdue, and White;
19 Barbara, widow; and Benden's wife;
19 With these, Wilson's wife did firmly fight,
And for their faith, all lost their life;
When these, at Canterbury, died the death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
June 22     When William Mainarde, his maid and man;
22 Margery Mories, and her son;
22 Denis, Burges, Stevens, and Wo[o]dman;
22 Glove's wife, and Ashdon's, to death were done;
When one fire, at Lewes, brought to them death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
July     When Ambrose died in Maidstone Gaol,
And so set free from tyrant's hands;
2 When Simon Milner they did assail,
2 Having him, and a woman in bands;
When these, at Norwich, were done to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
July 2     When ten, at Colchester, in one day,
Were fried with fire, of tyrants stout;
Not once permitted truth to say,
But were compassed with bills about:
When these, with others, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
July 2     When George Egles, at Chelmsford town,
Was hangèd, drawn, and quarterèd;
His quarters carried up and down,
And on a pole they set his head.
When wrestèd law put him to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
July 5     When Thurston's wife, at Chichester,
5 And Bourner's wife, with her also;
20 When two women at Rochester,
20 With father Frier were sent from woe:
23 When one, at Norwich, did die the death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
August 10     When Joyce Bowes, at Lichfield died,
Continuing constant in the fire;
When fixèd faith was truly tried,
Having her just and long desire.
When she, with others were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
August 17     When Richard Rooth and Ralph Glaiton,
17 With James Auscoo and his wife
Were brent with force at Islington,
Ending this short and sinful life;
When they with cheerfulness, did take their death;
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
October 18     When Sparrow, Gibson, and Hollingday,
In Smithfield, did the stake embrace;
When fire converted flesh to clay,
They being joyful of such grace:
When lawless liberty put them to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
December 22     When John Roughe, a Minister meek,
22 And Margaret Mering, with courage died:
Because Christ only they did seek,
With fire of force, they must be fried;
When these, in Smithfield, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
1558.
March 28     When that John Dewneshe and Hugh Foxe,
In Smithfield, cruel death sustained,
As fixèd foes to Romish rocks;
28 And Cuthbert Symson also slain.
When these did worthily receive their death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
March     When Dale deceased in Bury gaol,
According to GOD's ordinance;
When widow Thurston they did assail;
And brought Ann Bonger to Death's Dance;
When these, at Colchester, were done to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
April 9     When William Nicoll, in Ha[ve]rfor[d]west,
Was trièd with their fiery fire:
20 When Symon fought against the best,
20 With Glover, and Thomas Carman;
When these, at Norwich, did die the death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
May 26     When William Harris, and Richard Day;
26 And Christian George with them was brent:
Holding their enemies at a bay
Till life was lost, and breath all spent;
When these, at Colchester, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
June 27     When Southan, Launder, and Ricarbie;
27 Hollyday, Hollande, Ponde, and Flood,
With cheerful look and constant cry,
27 For Christes cause, did spend their blood:
When these in Smithfield were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
June     When Thomas Tyler passed this place;
And Matthew Withers also died.
Though suit were much, yet little grace
Among the Rulers could be spied:
In prison, patiently, they took their death,
    We wishing for Elizabeth.
July 10     When Richard Yeman, Minister,
At Norwich, did his life forsake;
19 When Master Benbrike, at Winchester,
A lively sacrifice did make.
When these, with others, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
July 14     When William Peckes, Cotton, and Wreight,
The Popish power did sore invade;
To Burning School, they were sent straight,
14 And with them went, constant John Slade:
When these, at Brainford, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
November 4     When Alexander Geche was brent,
4 And with him Elizabeth Launson;
When they with joy, did both consent
To do as their brethren had done;
When these, at Ipswich, were put to death,
    We wished for Elizabeth.
November 5     When John Davy, and eke his brother,
5 With Philip Humfrey kissed the cross;
When they did comfort one another
Against all fear, and worldy loss;
When these, at Bury, were put to death,
    We wished for our Elizabeth.
November.     When, last of all (to take their leave!),
[11] At Canterbury, they did some consume,
Who constantly to Christ did cleave;
Therefore were fried with fiery fume:
But, six days after these were put to death,
    GOD sent us our Elizabeth!
    Our wished wealth hath brought us peace.
Our joy is full; our hope obtained;
The blazing brands of fire do cease,
The slaying sword also restrained.
The simple sheep, preserved from death
    By our good Queen, Elizabeth.
    As Hope hath here obtained her prey,
By GOD'S good will and Providence;
So Trust doth truly look for stay,
Through His heavenly influence,
That great Goliath shall be put to death
    By our good Queen, Elizabeth.
    That GOD's true Word shall placèd be,
The hungry souls, for to sustain;
That Perfect Love and Unity
Shall be set in their seat again:
That no more good men shall be put to death;
    Seeing GOD hath sent Elizabeth.
    Pray we, therefore, both night and day,
For Her Highness, as we be bound.
O LORD, preserve this Branch of Bay!
(And all her foes, with force confound)
Here, long to live! and, after death,
    Receive our Queen, Elizabeth!
Amen.

Apoc. 6. How long tarriest thou, O LORD, holy and true! to judge, and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth.

FINIS.