66 VIII. Blithe, or Dr. Blind. the matter went between the doctor and Anthony, he tarried not Henry long with him, but came down again, saying, "he would no more of his doctrine." "Do you call him Dr. Blithe ?" quoth Anthony. A. D. He may be called Dr. Blind for his learning, as far as I see." And 1543. soon after the other two came down also. Then Anthony, seeing Dr. much people in the prison, began to say the Lord's Prayer, whereof rather he made a marvellous godly declaration, wherein he continued till the officers came to fetch them away, and so made an end. And taking their leave of Marbeck (their prison-fellow), they praised God for his deliverance, wishing to him the increase of godliness and virtue; and, last of all, besought him heartily to help them with his prayer unto God, to make them strong in their afflictions: and so, kissing him one after another, they departed. soners led death. Now, as the prisoners passed through the people in the streets, The prithey desired all the faithful people to pray for them, and to stand toward fast in the truth of the gospel, and not to be moved at their afflic- their tions, for it was the happiest thing that ever came to them. And ever as Dr. Blithe and Arch (who rode on each side the prisoners) would persuade them to turn to their mother, holy church," Away, would Anthony cry, "away with your Romish doctrine, and all your trumpery, for we will no more of it!" When Filmer was come to his brother's door, he stayed and called for his brother; but he could not be seen, for Dr. London had kept him out of sight that same day, for the nonce. The And when he had called for him three or four times, and saw he came not, he said, " And will he not come? Then God forgive him and make him a good man." And so going forth they came to the place of execution, where Anthony Peerson, with a cheerful counte- words of nance, embraced the post in his arms, and kissing it, said, "Now Peerson welcome mine own sweet wife! for this day shall thou and I be stake. married together in the love and peace of God." at the words of And being all three bound to the post, a certain young man of The Filmer's acquaintance brought him a pot of drink, asking if he would Filmer. drink. "Yea," quoth Filmer, "I thank you. And now my brother," quoth he, " I shall desire you, in the name of the living Lord, to stand fast in the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which you have received." And so, taking the pot at his hand, he asked his brother Anthony, if he would drink. "Yea, brother Filmer," quoth he, "I pledge you in the Lord." derous pists. And when he had drunk, he gave the pot to Anthony, and The slanAnthony likewise gave it to Testwood. Of this drinking, their mouth of adversaries made a jesting-stock, reporting abroad that they were all the padrunk, and wist not what they said; when they were none otherwise drunk than as the apostles were, when the people said they were full of new wine, as their deeds declared: for, when Anthony and Testwood had both drunk, and given the pot from them, Filmer rejoicing Filmer's in the Lord, said, "Be merry, my brethren, and lift up your co hearts unto God; for after this sharp breakfast, I trust we shall words to have a good dinner in the kingdom of Christ our Lord and Re- lows. deemer." At the which words Testwood, lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven, desired the Lord above to receive his spirit; and Anthony Peerson, pulling the straw unto him, laid a good deal comfort his fel Henry thereof upon the top of his head, saying, "This is God's hat; now VIII. am I dressed like a true soldier of Christ, by whose merits only I A. D. trust this day to enter into his joy." And so yielded they up their 1543. souls to the Father of heaven, in the faith of his dear Son, Jesus Christ, with such humility and steadfastness, that many who saw their death of patient suffering, confessed that they could have found in their hearts (at that present) to have died with them. The constant these martyrs. Bennet, a lawyer, HOW ALL THE ADVERSARIES' CONSPIRACIES WERE KNOWN. Ye have heard before of one Robert Bennet, how he was at the first sick of the apprehended with the other four persons aforesaid, and committed to the bishop of London's prison; and about the time he should have gone to Windsor, he fell sick of the pestilence, by means whereof he remained still in prison. pestilence, Bennet and Simons panions, This Bennet and Simons (ye shall understand) were the greatest familiars and company keepers that were in all Windsor, and never joint com- lightly swerved the one from the other, saving in matters of religion, wherein they could never agree. For Bennet, the one lawyer, was religion. an earnest gospeller, and Simons, the other lawyer, a cankered papist; but in all other worldly matters they cleaved together like burrs. but contrary in Robert the bi shop of This Bennet had spoken certain words against their little round sent up by god, for which he was as far in as the best, and had suffered death with the others if he had gone to Windsor when they went. And Salisbury now that the matter was all done and finished, it was determined by and by the bishop of Salisbury, that Robert Ockam, on the Monday after Gardiner the men were burned, should go to the bishop of Winchester, with the whole process done at the sessions the Thursday before. others, to with letters. Then Simons, at Bennet's wife's request, procured the bishop of Salisbury's favourable letter to the bishop of Winchester, for Bennet's deliverance, which letter Bennet's wife (forasmuch as her own man was not at home who should have gone with the letter) desired Robert Ockam to deliver to the bishop, and to bring her word again; who said he would. So forth went Ockam toward the bishop of Winchester, with his budget full of writings, to declare and open all things unto him, that were done at Windsor sessions. But all their wicked intents, as God would have it, were soon cut off, and their doings disclosed. For one of the queen's men, named Fulk, who had lain at Windsor all the time of the business, and had got knowledge what a number were privily indicted, and of Ockam's good men going to the bishop of Winchester, gat to the court before Ockam, and told sir Thomas Cardine and others of the privy chamber, how the privy all the matter stood. Whereupon Ockam was laid for, and had by indicted the back as soon as he came to the court, and so kept from the bishops. bishop. Many and cer tain of chamber by the On the next morrow, very early, Bennet's wife sent her man to the court after Ockam, to see how he sped with her husband's letter. And when he came there, he found sir Thomas Cardine, walking with Ockam up and down the green, before the court gate; whereat he marvelled, to see Ockam with him so early, mistrusting the matter: |