The History of the Reformation of the Church of England Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1843 edition. Excerpt: ...But since nothing was ever shewed under his hand, it was clear there was no truth in these reports, which were spread about to take away the honour of martyrdom from the new doctrines. It is true, he had never inquired into all the other tenets of the church of Rome, and so did not differ from them about the presence of Christ in the sacrament and some other things. But when men The falsedurst speak freely, there were several persons that.hichV witnessed the constancy and sincerity of Bilney in "pr these his last conflicts; and, among the rest, Matthew r. Parker, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, was an eye-witness of his sufferings, which from his relation were published afterwards: he took his death patiently and constantly, and in the little time that was allowed him to live after his sentence, he was observed to be cheerful; and the poor victuals that were brought him, bread and ale, he eat up heartily; of which when one took notice, he said, he must keep up that ruinous cottage till it fell; and often repeated that passage in Isaiah, " When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt;" and, putting his finger in the flame of the candle, he told those about him, that he well knew what a pain burning was, but that it should only consume the stubble of his body, and that his soul should be purged by it. When the day of execution came, being the 10th Th.mtii-of November, as he was led out, he said to one that arffoisf. exhorted him to be patient and constant, that as the mariners endured the tossing of the waves, hoping to arrive at their desired port; so, though he was now entering into a storm, yet he hoped he should soon arrive at the haven; and desired their prayers. When he came to the stake, he...