CONTENTS MENU

Read the sections of this book as they become available:

Biographical Notice of the Author

Examination and Death of Lord Cobham

Examination of William Thorpe

Examinations of Anne Askewe

The Image of Both Churches

Index

WILLIAM TYNDALE: ON GODLY LOVE "For we love not God first, to compel him to love again; but he loved us first, and gave his Son for us, that we might see love and love again, saith St John in his first epistle" CLICK TO READ >>

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SERMONS APPOINTED TO BE READ IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH I QUOTE: "How necessary it is, that the Word of God, which is the only food of the soul, and that most excellent light that we must walk by, in this our most dangerous pilgrimage, should at all convenient times be preached unto the people" 1562 Preface

EXAMINATIONS OF ANNE ASKEWE

JOHN BALE TO THE CHRISTIAN READERS.

THE PREFACE OF HER FIRST EXAMINATION.

Among other most singular offices, diligent reader, which the Lord hath appointed to be done in the earnest spirit of Elias by the forerunners of his latter appearance, this is one very special to be noted: "They shall turn the hearts of their ancient elders into the children," Mal. iv.; and the unbelievers of their time to the wisdom of those righteous fathers, as did John Baptist afore his first coming, Luke i.: that is, (saith Bedas, ca. 68. de Temporum ratione,) the faith and fervent zeal of the prophets and apostles shall they plant in their hearts, which shall in those days live and be among men conversant, and then will break forth (saith he as a very true prophet) such horrible persecution, as will first of all take from the world those mighty Eliases by triumphant martyrdom, to the terrifying of other in the same faith, of whom some shall become through that occasion most glorious martyrs unto Christ also, and some very wicked apostates for feigning his lively doctrine: for by the said Bedas's testimony, in the beginning of the same chapter, two most certain signs shall we then have that the latter judgment-day is at hand; the return of Israel's remnant unto their Lord God, and the horrible persecution of Antichrist.

Confer with this treated scripture and former prophecy of that virtuous man Bedas the world's alteration now, with the terrible turmoilings of our time; and, as in a most clear mirror, ye shall well perceive them at this present to be in most quick working. And as concerning the Israelites or Jews, I have both seen and known of them in Germany most faithful Christian believers. Neither is it in the prophecy (Hosea iii.) that they should at that day be all converted, no more than they were at John Baptist's preaching, Luke i.; for, as Esay reporteth, "Though the posterity of Jacob be as the sea sand (innumerable), yet shall but a remnant of them convert them unto their Lord God." Esay x. "And though the Lord hath sifted that house of Israel (as bruised corn in a sieve) among all other nations," Amos ix.; yet shall not that remnant of theirs perish, but at that day be saved, through the only election of grace, Romans ix.

Now concerning the aforesaid forerunners, in this most wonderful change of the world before the latter end thereof, I think within this realm of England, besides other nations abroad, the spirit of Elias was not at all asleep in good William Tyndale, Robert Barnes, and such other more, whom Antichrist's violence hath sent hence in fire to heaven, as Elias went afore in the fiery chariot, 4 Regum ii. These turned the hearts of the fathers into the children, such time as they took from a great number of our nation, by their goodly preachings and writings, the corrupted belief of the pope and his wastrye workers (which were no fathers, but cruel robbers and destroyers, Joan, x.) reducing them again to the true faith of Abraham and Peter, Gen. xv. and Matt.

The sure belief in Christ's birth and passion, which Adam and Noe sucked out of the first promise of God, Jacob and Moses out of the second, David and the prophets out of the third, and so forth the apostles and fathers out of the other scriptures, so firmly planted they in the consciences of many, that no cruel kind of death could avert them from it; as

Illustration of the Martyrdom of Anne Askewe, John Lacels, John Adams, and Nicholas Belenian (Protestant Christian Martyrs). Burned alive at the stake in 1546ad, England. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Read Anne Askewe's Ballad Composed and Sung in Newgate Prison

we have for example their constant disciples, and now strange witnesses of Jesus Christ, John Lassels and Anne Askewe, with their other two companions, very glorious martyrs afore God, (what though they be not so afore the wrong-judging eyes of the world?) whom the bloody remnant of Antichrist put unto most cruel death at Smithfield, at London, in the year of our Lord M.D.XLVI. in July.

If they be only (as was John Baptist) "great afore the Lord" by the holy scriptures' allowance, which are strongly adorned with the graces of his Spirit, as faith, force, understanding, wisdom, patience, love, long-sufferance, and such-like; I dare boldly affirm these four mighty witnesses also to be the same, so well as the martyrs of the primitive or apostles' church. For so strongly had these those virtues as they, and so boldly objected their bodies to the death for the undefiled christian belief, against the malignant synagogue of Satan, as ever did they; for no tyranny admitting any create or corruptible substance for their eternal living God. If their blind babies, to prove them unlike, do object against me the miracles shewed at their deaths more than at these, as that unfaithful generation is ever desirous of wonders, Matt. xii.; I would but know of them, what miracles were shewed when John Baptist's head was cut off in the prison, Mark. vi.; and when James the apostle was beheaded at Hierusalem? Acto. xii. These two were excellent afore God: what though they were but miserable wretches, light fellows, seditious heretics, busy knaves, and lousy beggars in the sight of noble king Herod and his honourable council of prelates? For had not rochets and side-gowns been at hand, haply they had not so lightly died.

If they allege Stephen, to maintain their purpose, that he at his death beheld heaven open; I ask them again, what they were which see it more than his own person? Sure I am that their wicked predecessors there present see it not: for they stopped their ears when he told them thereof, Acts vii. If they yet bring forth the other histories of apostles and martyrs, I answer them, that all they are of no such authority, as these here afore. The pope's, indeed, were much fuller of miracles than ever were Christ's, as his self told us they should be so, Matt. xiv. Yet wrought friar Forest, John Fisher, and Thomas More, no miracles: what though now many be registered in their lives and legends by the friars of France, Italy, and Spain? Besides that, John Cochleus hath written of them, ad Paulum Pontificem, ad Regem Henricum, and also in their defence against doctor Sampson. With that Erasmus did also ad Huttenum. P. M. ad Gasparam Agrippam, Albertus Pighius, Rivius, Fichardus, and a great sort more. And as for the holy maid of Kent with doctor Booking, though they wrought great wonders by their life, yet appeared none at their deaths. Of his own chosen martyrs Christ looketh for none other miracle but that only they persevere faithful to the end, Matt, x., and never deny his verity afore men, Luke xii. For that worthy victory of the sinful world standeth in the invincibleness of faith, and not in miracles and wonders, as those wavering wits suppose, 1 John v.

Right wonderfully will this appear in the two conflicts ...

more to come ...