28. LAWRENCE SAUNDERS.

MR. SAUNDERS was first designed for the mercantile business; but being fond of learning and possessed of a great desire to do good, he changed his purpose, and was educated at Cambridge for the ministry. At the time of Mary's accession he held a benefice in London. Without intermeddling in the affairs of state, he continued boldly to preach against the Popish heresies. On the 15th of October, 1554, as he was about entering his church, he was arrested, on the charge of treason, by an officer of the bishop of London. Mr. Saunders, perfectly conscious that he had nothing to hope from the bloody Bonner, when desired to write what he believed upon the doctrine of transubstantiation, immediately did so, boldly saying at the same time: "My lord, you seek my blood, and you shall have it; I pray God that you may be so baptized with it, that you may ever after loathe blood-sucking, and become a better man." The bishop was so enraged that he exclaimed, "Carry away this frenzied fool to prison." Being thus remanded to prison, he was kept in rigorous confinement for one year and three months. He was then examined and condemned. After which he was carried to Coventry to be burnt.

When they had arrived at Coventry, a poor shoemaker, who used to serve him with shoes, came to him, and said, "O my good master, God strengthen and comfort you!" "Good shoemaker," Mr. Saunders replied, "I desire thee to pray for me, for I am the most unfit man for this high office, that ever was appointed to it; but my gracious God and dear Father is able to make me strong enough." The next day, being the Sth of February, 1555, he was led to the place of execution.

in the park, without the city; he went in an old gown and a shirt, bare-footed, and oftentimes fell flat on the ground, and prayed. When he was come nigh to the place, the officer appointed to see the execution done, said to Mr. Saunders, that he was one of them who marred the Queen's realm, but if he would recant, there was pardon for him. "Not I," replied the holy martyr, "but such as you have injured the realm. The blessed Gospel of Christ is what I hold; that do I believe, that have I taught, and that will I never revoke!" Mr. Saunders then slowly moved towards the fire, sank to the earth, and prayed; he then rose up, embraced the stake, and frequently said, "Welcome, thou cross of Christ! Welcome, everlasting life!" Fire was then put to the fagots; and he was overwhelmed by the dreadful flames, and sweetly slept in the Lord Jesus.

29. JOHN HOOPER, BISHOP OF WORCESTER AND
GLOUCESTER.

THIS learned divine, eloquent preacher, and heroic martyr, was educated at Oxford, and was early moved by a fervent love of the Holy Scriptures, and an insatiable desire to know and understand them. He was equally ardent in his vindication of the true Gospel. Being molested at home, he sought refuge abroad, and prosecuted his studies in the higher parts of Germany. Upon the accession of Edward VI., when the way to the Reformation was more perfectly opened, Hooper returned from his exile, and boldly preached the doctrines of the Gospel in London.

In his sermons, according to his accustomed manner, he corrected sin, and sharply inveighed against the iniquity of the world, and the corrupt abuses of the Church. The people in great flocks and companies daily came to

hear his voice, as the most melodious sound and tune of Orpheus's harp, insomuch that oftentimes, when he was preaching, the church would be so full that none could enter farther than the doors thereof. In his doctrine, he was earnest, in tongue eloquent, in the Scriptures perfect, in pains indefatigable, in his life exemplary.

Having preached before the king's majesty, he was soon after made bishop of Gloucester. In that office he continued two years, and after that he was made bishop of Worcester.

He was too notable a mark to escape the notice of the blood-thirsty Bonner. The first charge laid against him was indebtedness to the queen. He suffered eighteen months' confinement in the Fleet; and afterwards was degraded and condemned to death. Gloucester being fixed upon as the place of his martyrdom, he rejoiced very much, giving thanks to God that he might be permitted among the people over whom he was pastor, to confirm with his death the truth which he had preached unto them. About eight o'clock, on February 9th, 1555, he was led forth to execution in the presence of many thousand people who had assembled."

All the way being straitly charged not to speak, and beholding the people, who mourned bitterly for him, he would sometimes lift up his eyes towards heaven, and look very cheerfully upon such as he knew: and he was never known, during the time of his being among them, to look with so cheerful and ruddy a countenance as he did at that time. When he came to the place appointed where he should die, he smilingly beheld the stake and preparation made for him, which was near unto the great elm-tree over against the college of priests, where he used to preach.

Now, after he had entered into prayer, a box was brought and laid before him upon a stool, with his pardon from the Queen, if he would turn.

At the sight

whereof he cried, "If you love my soul, away with it." The box being taken away, Lord Chandois said, "Seeing there is no remedy, dispatch him quickly." Prayer being done, bishop Hooper prepared himself for the stake, and taking off his host's gown, he delivered it to the sheriffs, requiring them to see it restored unto the owner, and put off the rest of his apparel, unto a doublet and hose, wherein he wished to have been burned, but the sheriffs overruled it, and his doublet, hose, and waistcoat, were taken off.

Desiring the people to say the Lord's prayer with him, and to pray for him, (who performed it with tears, during the time of his pains,) he went up to the stake: when he was at it, he looked upon the multitude,-of whom he might well be seen, for he was both tall, and stood also upon a high stool,—and beheld round about him, that at every corner there was nothing to be seen but weeping and sorrowing people. Then, lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven, he prayed in silence. The reeds were next cast up, and he received two bundles, placing one under each arm, and showed with his hand how the others should be bestowed, and pointed to the place where any were wanting.

Command was now given that the fire should be kindled. But because there were not more green fagots than two horses could carry, it kindled not speedily, and was a pretty while also before it took the reeds upon the fagots. At length it burned about him, but the wind having full strength in that place, and being a lowering cold morning, it blew the flame from him, so that he was in a manner little more than touched by the fire.

Within a space after, a few dry fagots were brought, and a new fire kindled with fagots, for there were no more reeds, and those burned at the nether parts, but had small power above, because of the wind, saving that it burnt his hair, and scorched his skin a little. In the

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time of which fire, even as at the first flame, he prayed, saying mildly, and not very loud, but as one without pain, "O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me, and receive my soul!" After the second fire was spent, he wiped both his eyes with his hands, and beholding the people, he said with an indifferent loud voice, “I or God's love, good people, let me have more fire!" and all this while his nether parts did burn; but the fagots were so few, that the flames only singed his upper parts.

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The third fire was kindled within a while after, which was more extreme than the other two: and then the bladders of gunpowder brake, which did him little good, they were so placed, and the wind had such power. In this fire he prayed with a loud voice, "Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me! Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" And these were the last words he was heard to utter. But when he was black in the mouth, and his tongue swollen that he could not speak, yet his lips went till they were shrunk to the gums: and he knocked his breast with his hands until one of his arms fell off, and then knocked still with the other, while the fat, water, and blood, dropped out at his fingers' ends, until, by renewing of the fire, his strength was gone, and his hand clave fast in knocking to the iron upon his breast. Then immediately bowing forwards, he yielded up his spirit.

30. DR. ROWLAND TAYLOR.

DR. ROWLAND TAYLOR, vicar of Hadley in Suffolk, was a man of eminent learning, and had been admitted to the degree of doctor of the civil and canon law.

His attachment to the pure and uncorrupted principles of Christianity recommended him to the favour and friendship of Dr. Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, with whom he lived a considerable time, till