heaven, he praied to himselfe. By and by he that was appointed to make the fire, came to him, and did afke him forgivenesse. Of whome he asked, why he should forgive him, saying: that he knew never any offence he had committed against him. "Oh sir" (said the man) "I am appointed to make the fire." "Therein" (said M. Hooper) "thou doest nothing offend me: God forgive thee thy sinnes, and doe thine office, I pray thee." Then the Reedes were cast up, and he received two bundles of them in his owne hands, imbraced them, kissed them, and put under either arme one of them, and shewed with his hand, how the rest should be bestowed, and pointed to the place where any did lacke.

Anon, commandement was given that the fire should be set to, and so it was. But because there were put to no fewer greene fagots then two horses could carry upon their backs, it kindled not by and by, and was a prety while also before it took the reeds upon the fagots. At length it burned about him, but the winde having full strength in that place (it was also a lowring and cold morning) it blew the flame from him, so that he was in a manner no more but touched by the fire.

Within a space after, a fewe drie fagots were brought, and a new fire kindled with fagots, (for there were no more reeds:) and that burned at the neather parts, but had small power above, because of the winde, saving that it did burne his haire, and scorch his skinne a little. In the time of which fire even as at the first flame, saying mildely and not very loude (but as one without paines :) Jesus the sonne of David have mercy upon me, and receive my soule." After the second fire was spent, he did wipe both his eyes with his hands, and beholding the people, he said with an indiffe

rent

rent loude voice: "For Gods love (good people) let me have more fire." And all this while his neather parts did burne: for the fagots were so fewe, that the flame did not burne strongly at his upper parts.

The third fire was kindled within a while after, which was more extreame than the other two: and then the bladders of gunpowder brake, which did him small good, they were so placed, and the winde had such power. In the which fire he praied with somewhat a loude voice: "Lord Jesu have mercy upon me: Lord Jesu have mercy upon me: Lord Jesus receive my spirit." And these were the last words he was heard to utter. But when he was blacke in the mouth, and his tongue swolne, that he could not speake, yet his lippes went till they were shrunke to the gummes: and he knocked his breast with his hands, until one of his armes fell off, and then knocked still with the other, what time the fat, water, and bloud dropped out at his fingers ends, untill by renewing of the fire, his strength was gone, and his hand did cleave fast in knocking to the yron upon his brest. So immediatly bowing forwards, he yeelded up his spirit.

Thus was he three quarters of an houre or more in the fire. Even as a Lambe, patiently he aboad the extreamitie therof, neither mooved forwards, backwards, or to any side: but having his neather parts burned, and his bowels fallen out, hee died as quietly as a childe in his bed: and he now reigneth as a blessed Martyr, in the joyes of heaven prepared for the faithfull in Christ, before the foundations of the world: for whose constancie all Christians are bound to praise God.

Our weapons are Faith, Hope, Charity, Righteousnesse, Truth, Patience, Prayer unto God; and our Sworde wherewith we smite our enemies, we beate, and batter, and beare downe all falshoode, is the Worde of God. With these weapons under the banner of the Crosse of Christe we do fight, ever having our eye upon our grand Master, Duke and Captain Christ. And then we reckon ourselves to triumph, and to win the crowne of everlasting blisse, when induring in this battaile, without any shrinking or yeelding to the enemies, after the example of our grand Captaine Christ our Master, after the example of his holy Prophets, Apostles and Martyrs, when, I say, we are slain in our mortal bodies of our enemies, and are most cruelly, and without all mercy murthered. BISHOP RIDLEY.