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Spicer, Coberley, and Maundrel burned.

a mason, WILLIAM COBERLEY, a tailor, and JOHN MAUNDREL, a husbandman, three followers of the truth in humble life, were burned at Salisbury. John Maundrel had ong been a follower of Christ; his delight was in the law of God, and in his law he meditated day and night. He always carried a Testament with him, although he could not read himself; when he came into company with those who were better learned, his book was produced; and, having a good memory, there were few passages which he could not repeat. He was compelled to do penance in Devizes, in the days of Henry the eighth, and at the commencement of Mary's reign he left his home for some time. At length Maundrel felt desirous to return; and, finding his neighbours joining in a Romish procession, he exhorted them to forsake idols, and turn to the living God. The vicar ascended the pulpit and began to pray for the souls in purgatory; upon which Maundrel and two others affirmed that purgatory was the pope's pinfold (or pound.) They were of course apprehended, and carried before the bishop of Salisbury, who repeatedly examined them, usually in private. Their answers were to the point, although being illiterate men they expressed themselves in a homely manner. Being questioned as to their opinion respecting the veneration of images, Maundrel replied, that "wooden images were good to roast a shoulder of mutton, but evil in the church, seeing they were the occasion of idolatry.”* They were burned in one fire, between Wilton and Salisbury. The wind drove the flame from Coberley. his body was scorched, and his left arm drawn and taken from him by the violence of the fire, the flesh being burned away to the white bone, he stooped over the chain, and with his right hand knocked upon his breast softly, while the blood issued from his mouth; presently, when all thought he was dead, he rose upright again," and so expired.

"After

On the 23d of April, six men of Essex were burned in Smithfield; these were, ROBERT DRAKES, a minister, WILLIAM TYMNS, a curate, THOMAS SPURGE, and ROBERT

* Probably in allusion to Isaiah xliv. 19. "He burneth part thereof in the fire; he roasteth flesh, and is satisfied: and the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it." Purgatory was called the pope's pinfold, because it was a device of the church of Rome, and the pope claimed the power of delivering souls from it.

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Image Worship.

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his brother, JOHN CAVEL, and GEORGE AMBROSE, all four employed in the woollen manufacture; their chief offence was absenting themselves from the Romish service. Tymns had preached in the woods, near Hockley, and was apprehended by justice Tyrrel, a bitter persecutor, to whom the woods belonged, and who expressed much anger that they should be defiled by the sermons of the gospellers. While examining his prisoner, the justice said, "When I see the blessed rood, it maketh me think of God."*

To

A leading modern author among Romanists, speaking of the veneration for images and pictures commended by his church, says, "That they help to instruct the ignorant; and hopes, that if such things are seen in his oratory or study, he shall not be accounted an idolater, as 'his faith and devotion stand in need of such memorials.'' He adds, I am but too apt to forget what my Saviour has done and suffered for me; but. the sight of his representation often brings this to my memory, and affects my best sentiments." (See End of Religious Controversy, p. 259.)

Blanco White has related the manner in which these representations are introduced in Spain. Let it be remembered, that he describes what he has himself seen. When the reader has perused the following description of some of the things which are thus venerated, surely he cannot but reflect what sort of "faith and devotion" that must be, which can be assisted by such memorials: Mr. White says:

"The representation of the Deity in the form of a child very common in Spain. The number of little figures, about a foot high, called Nino Dios, (Child God,) or Nino Jesus, (Child Jesus,) is nearly equal to that of nuns in most convents. The nuns dress them in all the variety of the national costume, such as clergymen, canons in their robes, doctors of divinity in their hoods, physicians in their wigs and gold-headed canes, &c. &c. The Nino Jesus is often seen in private houses; and in some parts of Spain, where contraband trade is the main occupation of the people, it is seen in the dress of a smuggler, with a brace of pistols at his girdle, and a blunderbuss leaning on his arm!"

The Gazette des Tribunaux, (a French paper,) of the 18th February, 1827, contains a decree passed by the court royal of Bourges, on the following occasion: M. Gobin, a merchant of Sancerre, was employed in shooting partridges, when some of his shot struck a statue of the virgin Mary, which had been erected by a private individual. The tribunal of Sancerre condemned the sportsman for this crime, to six month's imprisonment and a fine of 600 francs, conformably to the law relating to sacrilege. The court royal of Bourges, on appeal, annulled this judgment, on account of defective proof, and the irreproachable character of M. Gobin; but the preface to its decree is as follows: "This crime is one of those which ought to be regarded with the greatest horror in a country where, the only true religion, the Catholic, is the religion of the state; that the profanation of the image of the mother of our divine Saviour ought to be punished with the greatest severity," &c. Such is modern popery where it has power, even in a country which cannot be considered one of the most bigoted.

230

Examination of Tymns.

In

this common argument of the Romanists Tymns replied, "Sir, if an idol that is made with men's hands, makes you remember God, how much more ought the creatures of God, as man, being his workmanship, or the trees that' bring forth fruit, make you remember God." Tyrrel burst out into a rage; and calling him a traitorly knave sent him to the Romish bishops. He was examined before Bourne and Bonner. As Fox expresses it, both the bishops waxed weary of him, for he “ troubled them" six or seven hours. He was also carried before Gardiner, who seeing him in a homely garb, the dress in which he was taken being a layman's coat, and common hose of undyed wool," Ye are decked like a deacon," said the proud prelate, ironically. My lord," replied Tymns, my vesture doth not much vary from that of a deacon, but methinketh your apparel varies as much from that of an apostle." He was sent back to Bonner; and after an imprisonment of some months, and repeated examinations, was condemned. While in confinement, he wrote to one of his flock. this letter he says, "I go on Friday next to the bishop of London's coalhouse, where it will be hard for any of my friends to speak with me. Howbeit I shall not tarry there, but shortly after be carried up after my dear brethren and sisters, which are gone before me, to heaven in a fiery chariot. Therefore, I now take my leave, till we meet in heaven, and do you follow after." This letter ended with his name and these words, written in his own blood, "Continue in prayer-ask in faith, and obtain your desire." In another letter he thus sums up what is elsewhere called 'the rabblement of Romish ceremonies;' "It is no new thing to see the true members of Christ handled as in our days they be, as it is not unknown to you how they are cruelly treated, and blasphemed, without any reasonable cause. They must be taken for heretics, which follow not their traditions. And they then may as well call Christ a heretic, for he never allowed (authorized) their dirty ceremonies. He never went a procession with a cope, cross, or candlestick; He never censed an image, nor sang Latin service; He never sat in confession; He never preached of purgatory, nor of the pope's pardons; He never honoured saints or prayed for the dead; He never said mass, matins, nor evensong; He never commanded to fast on Friday or vigil, Lent nor Advent; He never hallowed church

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Hullier burned at Cambridge.

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nor chalice, ashes nor palms, candles nor bells; He never made holy water nor holy bread, with such like. But such dumb ceremonies, not having the express command of God, he calleth the leaven of the pharisees and damnable hypocrisy; admonishing his disciples to beware of them. He curseth all those that add to his word such beggarly shadows, wiping their names clean out of the book of life. St. Paul saith, they have no portion with Christ, which wrap themselves again with such bondage." The companions of Tymns were examined in the usual manner, and also suffered with constancy.

On the 1st of April, JOHN HARPOLE and JOAN BEACH were burned at Rochester. Their examination appears to have been short; they were accused of denying the real presence, and soon condemned.

On the 2nd of April, JOHN HULLIER, curate of Lynn, was burned at Cambridge. He had been brought up at Eton, and afterwards studied at Cambridge. The Romanists at Lynn accused him to Thirleby, bishop of Ely, upon which he was imprisoned, examined, and condemned. When Hullier was brought to the stake on Maunday Thursday, he intreated the people to pray for him; upon which one of the by-standers said, "The Lord strengthen thee." An officer bade the man hold his tongue, or he should repent of it. While they were taking off a part of the martyr's clothes, he again intreated the people to pray for him, and called upon them to bear witness that he died in the right faith, and that he would seal it with his blood; assuring them that he died in a just cause, and for the testimony of the truth, and that there was no rock to build upon except Jesus Christ, under whose banner he fought, and whose soldier he was. A priest named Boys, one of the proctors of the university, called to the mayor to silence him. Hullier submitted to be bound to the stake, and the fire was kindled; but at first it was so ill managed that the flames only reached his back. His friends, seeing this, performed the only kindness in their power, by caus ing the officers to light another part of the pile. A number of books were then thrown into the fire; Hullier caught one of them; it was king Edward's communion service; and he continued to read the beautiful passages of scripture contained therein, as long as he was able to see. When the flames and smoke had such power that his eyes

failed, he pressed the book to his heart, and continued to pray earnestly. Many of the by-standers openly prayed for him, which enraged the papists, who said he ought not to be prayed for; for that he being a damned man, it could profit him nothing. At last, when he was thought to be dead, his voice was heard to exclaim, "Lord Jesus,

receive my spirit!"

When the pile was consumed, and the flames had died away, the remains of the martyr presented a singular spectacle, and showed the peaceful manner in which he had departed. His skeleton remained entire in an upright position, chained to the stake. The crowd prevented his bones from being buried on the spot, as was usual; they eagerly seized his remains, and divided them among themselves-not to be worshipped as popish relics, but to be preserved as sad memorials of popish cruelty.

Our limits prevent the insertion of his beautiful letters to the Christian congregation; but one extract may be given:-"Let us consider the thing well, and determine with ourselves which way we ought to take, and not to take the common broad way which seemeth here most pleasant, and that the most part of the people take. Surely I judge it to be better to go to school to our master Christ, and to be under his rod, although it seem sharp and grievous, for a time, that at length we may be inheritors with him of everlasting joy, rather than to keep company with the devil's scholars, the adulterous generation, in his school that is full of pleasure for awhile, and at the end to be paid with the wages of continual burning in the most horrible lake which burneth evermore with fire and brimstone. What shall then these vain goods and temporal pleasures avail? Who shall then help when we say incessantly Wo! wo! alas! and well away for unmeasureable pain, grief, and sorrow? Oh! let us therefore take heed betimes, and rather be content to take pains in this world, for a time, that we may please God. Our Saviour Christ, the true teacher, saith, "Every branch that bringeth not forth fruit in me, my Father will take away.' (John xv.)—Oh, how much better it is to go this narrow way with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time!"

In Essex, the persecution continued to rage with undiminished fury. Six martyrs were burned at Colchester, on