The Register of the Martyrs.

[Never before did such doggerel verse carry so fearful a story as this. It is thought to have been useful to John Fox, when at work on his Actes and Monumentes &c., 1563.

The following entries in the Stationers' Registers show that there were two simultaneous editions of this work, both surreptitiously produced in 1559.

Rychard Adams [see p. 172] for pryntinge The Regester of all them that ware burned without lycense was fined at vs. [= £2 10s. now]. Owyn Rogers for printinge without lycense The Regester of all them that were burned was fyned at xxd.]

[Transcript &c., 1. p. 101, Ed. 1875.]

1555
February

When raging reign of tyrants stout,
Causeless, did cruelly conspire
To rend and root the Simple out,
With furious force of sword and fire;
When man and wife were put to death:
We wished for our Queen Elizabeth.
February4 When Rogers ruefully was brent;
8When Saunders did the like sustain;
When faithful Farrar forth was sent
His life to lose, with grievous pain;
22When constant Hooper died the death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
February 9 When Rowland Taylor, that Divine,
At Hadley, left this loathsome light;
24When simple Lawrence, they did pine,
22With Hunter, Higby, Pigot, and Knight;
23When Causun, constantly, died the death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
March5 When Tomkins, tyranny did abide,
Having his hand, with torchlight brent;
7When Lawrence, White, and Diggell died,
With earnest zeal and good intent;
14When William Flower was put to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
April2 When Awcocke, in Newgate prisoner,
His latter end, with joy, did make;
11When John Warren and Cardmaker,
Kissed each other at the stake;
24When March, the Minister, was put to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June When William Cowley, for offence,
4Was forthwith hanged at Charing Cross;
Buried; then burned, of fond pretence;
Thus carion carcass they did toss:
When such insipients put men to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June10 When worthy Wattes, with constant cry,
Continued in the flaming fire;
11When Simson, Hawkes, and John Ardlie
Did taste the tyrant's raging ire;
11When Chamberlaine was put to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June12 When blessed Butter and Osmande,
With force of fire, to death were brent;
12When Shitterdun, sir Franke, and Blande,
12And Humfrey Middleton of Kent;
1When Minge, in Maidstone, took his death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July When Bradford, beautified with bliss,
1With young John Least, in Smithfield, died;
When they, like brethren, both did kiss,
And in the fire were truly tried;
When tears were shed for Bradford's death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July 12 When Dirick Harman lost his life;
12 When Launder, in their fume, they fried;
12When they sent Everson from strife,
With moody minds, and puffèd pride;
12When Wade, at Dartford, died the death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July 21 When Richard Hooke, limbless and lame,
At Chichester, did bear the cross;
22When humble Hall, for Christes name,
Ensued the same, with worldly loss;
23When Joan Polley was burnt to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July23 When William Ailewarde, at Reading,
In prison died of sickness sore;
23When Abbes, which feigned a recanting
Did wofully weep, and deplore;
23When he, at Bury, was done to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
August23 When Denly died, at Uxbridge town,
With constant care to Christes cause;
23When Warren's widow yielded down
Her flesh and blood, for holy laws;
When she, at Stratford, died the death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
August23 When Laurence, Collier, Coker, and Stere,
At Canterbury, were causeless slain,
23With Hopper and Wrighte; Six in one fire,
Converted flesh to earth again;
24When Roger Corriar was done to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
August26 When Tankerfielde, at St. Albans,
26And William Bamford, spent his blood;
When harmful hearts, as hard as stones,
30Burnt Robert Smith and Stephen Harwo[o]d;
29When Patrick Pattingham died the death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
August31 When John Newman, and Thomas Fusse,
At Ware, and Walden, made their end;
30When William Hailes, for Christ Jesus,
With breath and blood did still contend;
31When he, at Barnet, was put to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
August31 When Samuell did firmly fight,
Till flesh and blood, to ashes went;
3When constant Cob, with faith upright,
At Thetford, cruelly was brent:
When these with joy did take their death;
We wished for our Elizabeth.
September2 When William Allen, at Walsingham,
For truth was tried in fiery flame;
3When Roger Cooe, that good old man!
Did lose his life, for Christes name;
When these, with others, were put to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
September6 When Bradbridge, Streter, and Burwarde,
6Tuttie, and George Painter of Hyde,
Unto their duty, had good regard;
Wherefore in one fire, they were fried:
When these, at Canterbury, took their death;
We wished for our Elizabeth.
September When John Lesse, prisoner in Newgate,
10By sickness turned to earth and clay;
When wicked men, with ire and hate,
13Burnt Thomas Heywarde, and Goreway;
13When Tingle, in Newgate, took his death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
September14 When Richard Smith in Lollards' Tower;
15Androwes and Kyng, by sickness, died;
In fair fields they had their bower,
Where earth and clay doth still abide:
When they, in this wise, did die the death;
We wished for our Elizabeth.
September19 When Glover, and Cornelius
Were fiercely brent at Coventry;
4When Wolsey and Pigot, for Christ Jesus
At Ely, felt like cruelty.
19When the poor bewept Master Glover's death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
October When learnèd Ridley, and Latimer,
16Without regard, were swiftly slain;
When furious foes could not confer
But with revenge and mortal pain.
When these two Fathers were put to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
October13 When worthy Web, and George Roper,
In Elias' car to heaven were sent;
13Also when Gregory Painter,
The same straight path and voyage went;
When they, at Canterbury, took their death;
We wished for our Elizabeth.
December7 When godly Gore in prison died,
14And Wiseman in the Lollards' Tower:
18When Master Philpot, truly tried,
Ended his life with peace and power;
When he kissèd the chain, at his death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
1556.
January27 When Thomas Whitwell, and Bartlet Greene,
27Annis Foster, Joan Lasheforde, and Broune,
27Tutsun, and Winter; these Seven were seen,
In Smithfield, beat their enemies down;
Even Flesh and Devil, World and Death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
January31 When John Lowmas and Ann Albright,
31Joan Soale, Joan Painter, and Annis Snod,
In fire, with flesh and blood did fight;
When tongues of tyrants laid on lode;
When these, at once, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
February When two women in Ipswich town,
19Joyfully did the fire embrace;
When they sang out with cheerful sound,
Their fixèd foes for to deface;
When Norwich no-body put them to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
March12 When constant Cranmer lost his life
And held his hand into the fire;
When streams of tears for him were rife,
And yet did miss their just desire:
When Popish power put him to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
March24 When Spencer and two brethren more,
Were put to death at Salisbury;
Ashes to earth did right restore,
They being then joyful and merry:
When these, with violence, were burnt to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
April2 When Hulliarde, a Pastor pure,
At Cambridge, did this life despise;
2When Hartpooles death, they did procure
To make his flesh a sacrifice;
When Joan Beche, widow, was done to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
April10 When William Timmes, Ambrose, and Drake,
10Spurge, Spurge, and Cavell duly died,
Confessing that, for Christes sake,
They were content thus to be tried:
10When[2]London little-grace put them to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
April28 When lowly Lister, Nicoll, and Mase,
28John Hammon, Spencer, and Yren also,
At Colchester, in the Postern Place,
Joyfully to their death did go;
5When two, at Gloucester, were put to death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
May When Margaret Eliot, being a maid,
13After condemning, in prison died;
15When lame Lavarocke, the fire assayed,
15And blind Aprice with him was tried:
When these two impotents were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
May16 When Katherine Hut did spend her blood
16With two maids, Elizabeth and Joan;
When they embraced both reed and wood,
Trusting in Christ His death alone:
When men unnatural drew these to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
May21 When two men and a sister dear,
At Beccles were consumed to dust;
31When William Sleche, constant and clear,
In prison died, with hope and trust;
When these, our brethren, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June6 When John Oswold, and Thomas Reede,
6Harland, Milwright, and Evington;
With blazing brands their blood did bleed
As their brethren before had done.
When tyranny drave these to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June20 When Whod the Pastor, with Thomas Milles
At Lewes, lost this mortal gain;
Compassed with spears, and bloody bills,
Unto the stake for to be slain:
23When William Adheral did die the death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June27 When Ja[c]kson, Holywel, and Wye,
27Bowier, Lawrence, and Addlington;
27When Roth, Searles, Lion, and Hurst did die;
27With whom, two women to death were done:
When Dorifall, with them, was put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June27 When Thomas Parret, prisoner,
30And Martin Hunte died in the King's Bench;
When the young man at Leicester,
And Clement died, with filthy stench;
25When Careless, so took his death:
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July16 When Askue, Palmer, and John Gwin
Were brent with force, at Newbury;
Lamenting only for their sins,
And in the LORD were full merry:
When tyrants merciless, put these to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July18 When John Forman, and mother Tree,
At[3]Grenstede, cruelly were slain;
18When Thomas Dungate, to make up three,
With them did pass from woe and pain:
When these, with others, were put to death;
We wished for our Elizabeth.
August20 When the weaver at Bristow died,
And, at Derby, a wedded wife;
When these with fiery flames were fried,
For Christes cause, losing their life;
When many others were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
September24 When Ravensdale and two brethren more,
To earthly ashes were consumed;
25A godly glover would not adore
Their filthy idol; whereat they fumed;
When he, at Bristol, was put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
September26 When John Horne, with a woman wise,
At Newton, under hedge were killed,
Stretching their hands with lifted eyes,
And so their years, in earth fulfilled;
When these, with violence, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
September When Dunston, Clarke, and Potkin's wife,
William Foster, and Archer also,
In Canterbury, did lose their life
By famishment; as the talk do go.
When these, alas, thus took their death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
October When three, within one castle died,
And in the fields were layed to rest.
When at Northampton, a man was tried
Whether GOD or Mammon he loved best.
When these, by tyranny, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
1557.
January2 When Thomas Finall and his man,
2Foster and three good members more,
Were purgèd with their fiery fan
At Canterbury, with torments sore.
When they with cheerfulness took their death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
January When two at Ashford, with cruelty,
For Christes cause, to death were brent;
2When, not long after, two, at Wye,
Suffered for Christ His Testament:
When wily wolves put these to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
April2 When Stanly's wife, and Annis Hyde,
Sturtle, Ramsey, and John Lothesby
Were content, torments to abide,
And took the same right patiently;
When these, in Smithfield, were done to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
May2 When William Morant and Steven Gratwick
Refused, with falsehood to be beguiled,
And for the same, were burnèd quick,
With fury, in Saint George's Field;
When these, with others were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June16 When Joan Bradbridge, and a blind maid,
16Appelby, Allen, and both their wives;
16When Manning's wife was not afraid,
But all these Seven did lose their lives.
When these, at Maidstone, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June19 When John Fiscoke, Perdue, and White;
19Barbara, widow; and Benden's wife;
19With these, Wilson's wife did firmly fight,
And for their faith, all lost their life;
When these, at Canterbury, died the death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June22 When William Mainarde, his maid and man;
22Margery Mories, and her son;
22Denis, Burges, Stevens, and Wo[o]dman;
22Glove's wife, and Ashdon's, to death were done;
When one fire, at Lewes, brought to them death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July When Ambrose died in Maidstone Gaol,
And so set free from tyrant's hands;
2When Simon Milner they did assail,
2Having him, and a woman in bands;
When these, at Norwich, were done to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July2 When ten, at Colchester, in one day,
Were fried with fire, of tyrants stout;
Not once permitted truth to say,
But were compassed with bills about:
When these, with others, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July2 When George Egles, at Chelmsford town,
Was hangèd, drawn, and quarterèd;
His quarters carried up and down,
And on a pole they set his head.
When wrestèd law put him to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July5 When Thurston's wife, at Chichester,
5And Bourner's wife, with her also;
20When two women at Rochester,
20With father Frier were sent from woe:
23When one, at Norwich, did die the death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
August10 When Joyce Bowes, at Lichfield died,
Continuing constant in the fire;
When fixèd faith was truly tried,
Having her just and long desire.
When she, with others were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
August17 When Richard Rooth and Ralph Glaiton,
17With James Auscoo and his wife
Were brent with force at Islington,
Ending this short and sinful life;
When they with cheerfulness, did take their death;
We wished for our Elizabeth.
October18 When Sparrow, Gibson, and Hollingday,
In Smithfield, did the stake embrace;
When fire converted flesh to clay,
They being joyful of such grace:
When lawless liberty put them to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
December22 When John Roughe, a Minister meek,
22And Margaret Mering, with courage died:
Because Christ only they did seek,
With fire of force, they must be fried;
When these, in Smithfield, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
1558.
March28 When that John Dewneshe and Hugh Foxe,
In Smithfield, cruel death sustained,
As fixèd foes to Romish rocks;
28And Cuthbert Symson also slain.
When these did worthily receive their death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
March When Dale deceased in Bury gaol,
According to GOD's ordinance;
When widow Thurston they did assail;
And brought Ann Bonger to Death's Dance;
When these, at Colchester, were done to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
April9 When William Nicoll, in Ha[ve]rfor[d]west,
Was trièd with their fiery fire:
20When Symon fought against the best,
20With Glover, and Thomas Carman;
When these, at Norwich, did die the death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
May26 When William Harris, and Richard Day;
26And Christian George with them was brent:
Holding their enemies at a bay
Till life was lost, and breath all spent;
When these, at Colchester, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June27 When Southan, Launder, and Ricarbie;
27Hollyday, Hollande, Ponde, and Flood,
With cheerful look and constant cry,
27For Christes cause, did spend their blood:
When these in Smithfield were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
June When Thomas Tyler passed this place;
And Matthew Withers also died.
Though suit were much, yet little grace
Among the Rulers could be spied:
In prison, patiently, they took their death,
We wishing for Elizabeth.
July10 When Richard Yeman, Minister,
At Norwich, did his life forsake;
19When Master Benbrike, at Winchester,
A lively sacrifice did make.
When these, with others, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
July14 When William Peckes, Cotton, and Wreight,
The Popish power did sore invade;
To Burning School, they were sent straight,
14And with them went, constant John Slade:
When these, at Brainford, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
November4 When Alexander Geche was brent,
4And with him Elizabeth Launson;
When they with joy, did both consent
To do as their brethren had done;
When these, at Ipswich, were put to death,
We wished for Elizabeth.
November5 When John Davy, and eke his brother,
5With Philip Humfrey kissed the cross;
When they did comfort one another
Against all fear, and worldy loss;
When these, at Bury, were put to death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
November. When, last of all (to take their leave!),
[11] At Canterbury, they did some consume,
Who constantly to Christ did cleave;
Therefore were fried with fiery fume:
But, six days after these were put to death,
GOD sent us our Elizabeth!
Our wished wealth hath brought us peace.
Our joy is full; our hope obtained;
The blazing brands of fire do cease,
The slaying sword also restrained.
The simple sheep, preserved from death
By our good Queen, Elizabeth.
As Hope hath here obtained her prey,
By GOD'S good will and Providence;
So Trust doth truly look for stay,
Through His heavenly influence,
That great Goliath shall be put to death
By our good Queen, Elizabeth.
That GOD's true Word shall placèd be,
The hungry souls, for to sustain;
That Perfect Love and Unity
Shall be set in their seat again:
That no more good men shall be put to death;
Seeing GOD hath sent Elizabeth.
Pray we, therefore, both night and day,
For Her Highness, as we be bound.
O LORD, preserve this Branch of Bay!
(And all her foes, with force confound)
Here, long to live! and, after death,
Receive our Queen, Elizabeth!
Amen.

Apoc. 6. How long tarriest thou, O LORD, holy and true! to judge, and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth.

FINIS.

The wishes of the Wise,
Which long to be at rest;
To GOD, with lifted eyes,
They call to be redressed.

When shall this time of travail cease
Which we, with woe sustain?
When shall the days of rest and peace,
Return to us again?

When shall the mind be movèd right
To leave this lusting life?
When shall our motions and delight
Be free from wrath and strife?

When shall the time of woful tears
Be movèd unto mirth?
When shall the aged, with grey hairs,
Rejoice at children's birth?

When shall Jerusalem rejoice
In Him, that is their King?
And Sion's hill, with cheerful voice,
Sing psalms with triumphing?

When shall the walls erected be,
That foes, with fury, 'fray?
When shall that perfect Olive Tree,
Give odour like the Bay?

When shall the Vineyard be restored,
That beastly boars devour?
When shall the people, late abhorred,
Receive a quiet hour?

When shall the SPIRIT more fervent be,
In us that want good will?
When shall Thy mercies set us free
From wickedness and ill?

When shall the serpents, that surmise
To poison Thine Elect,
Be bound to better exercise,
Or utterly reject?

When shall the blood revengèd be,
Which on the earth is shed?
When shall sin and iniquity
Be cast into the bed?

When shall that Man of Sin appear
To be, even as he is?
When shall thy babes and children dear
Receive eternal bliss?

When shall that painted Whore of Rome
Be cast unto the ground?
When shall her children have their doom,
Which virtue would confound?

When shall Thy Spouse, and Turtle Dove
Be free from bitter blast?
When shall Thy grace, our sins remove,
With pardon at the last?

When shall this life translatèd be,
From fortune's fickle fall?
When shall True Faith and Equity
Remain in general?

When shall Contention and Debate,
For ever slack and cease?
When shall the days of evil date,
Be turnèd unto peace?

When shall True Dealing rule the rost
With those that buy and sell;
And Single Mind, in every coast,
Among us bide and dwell?

When shall our minds wholly convert
From wealth, and worldly gain?
When shall the movings of our heart
From wickedness refrain?

When shall this flesh return to dust,
From whence the same did spring?
When shall the trial of our trust
Appearing with triumphing?

When shall the Trump blow out his blast,
And thy dear babes revive?
When shall the Whore be headlong cast,
That sought us to deprive?

When shall Thy Christ, our King, appear
With power and renown?
When shall Thy saints, that suffer here,
Receive their promised crown?

When shall the faithful, firmly stand?
Before Thy face to dwell;
When shall Thy foes, at Thy left hand,
Be cast into the hell?

Apoca. 22.

Come, LORD JESU!

T. B.

¶ Imprinted at London, by John Kingston for Richard Adams.