SOME HOSTILE
" TRUE REPORTS " OF THE MARTYRS
403
The end and execution of these two before mentioned. Upon the sixt day of this July, 1585, Maister Fidens, the usuall Minister accustomed to repaire to all condemned prisoners in Newgate, came thether in the morning about five of the clock to confer with the two prisoners before named, and perswaded them to prepare them toward death. But they seemed very obstinate , saying that they were sufficiently setled thereunto & therfore needed him not, and desired him that he would let them alone; neverthelesse he did not neglect his duety towards them, but willed them to beleve Christe Jesus , that they might die the servants of the Lord. And they answered him that they which did not beleve as they beleeved, were damned to the bottomles pit of hell fire ; neither could he get any better woordes of them but continued obstinate in their irreligious opinion . And between sixe and seaven of the Clocke the Carte was brought to Newgate by ye officers , which received them & convaied them towards Tibourn. But Maister Fidens, seeing their wilfulnes , went on foot after; & when the prisoners were at the Church walle of S. Andrewes in Holborn , the Minister of the church named M. Eaten came unto them & in Christian charitie perswaded them to think in what state they then stood, how wilfully they had dealt against ye Queens Majesties proceedings, & how greatly they had incurred her highnes displeasure towards them, wishing them to pray for her Majestie, to acknowledge their offence, & hartely be sorry for the same . But Awfeeld said, You doo not well to trouble us in these our Meditations . Nevertheless, he then seeing them so neere their death and in what state they stood, willed that the Cart should be staied, and so went up and conferred with them. But the Preeste seemed to stande in the defence of them both, saying they were even as good subjects as any there present. But Maister Eaten saide , If that bee so , wherfore were you condemned? Awfeeld answered, They say for fellony. Why, said the preacher, you knowe whether ye have trespassed in that sorte, ye or no. But he answered, they neither had offended her Majestie nor any way deserved that Death . Then he laide open their offence and the Princes Authoritie , and shewed how every subject ought to submit himselfe to the Authoritie of the higher powers, and repeated the minde of the fathers thereupon ; but in conclusion, whatsoever he did, the Preeste seemed to wil ye yonger man not to beleeve him ; wherat ye Minister said to the Preeste, Your offence is great in that you are giltie of the bloode of this man, meaning the yonger man, who was induced by him therunto. The Preeste notwithstanding said he would take it upon him if he should suffer torments in nine hells for the same . " Oh , said the Preacher, take heed what you doo ; for look, in what sorte you dye, in the same sorte shall you come to Judgement . And after
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One Heton, a preacher, who contended to be parson of St Andrew's , Holborn , being maintained by some of the parish, had been himself in trouble the previous year. See Strype, Annals III, i, 406.
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