Transcript: A declaration of the death of Iohn Lewes

 

TRANSCRIPT:

A declaration of the death of John Lewes,
a most detestable and obstinate Hereticke, burned at
Norwich, the xviii, daye of September. 1583. About three of the clocke in the afternoone.

To the tune, of John Carelesse.

Math. x. vers 33.
He that denieth me before men, I will denie him
before my Father which is in Heaven.

Jo[h]n. 17. 3.
This is eternall life, that they know thee to be
the very only true God, and him whome thou
hast sent, Jesus Christ.

John. 3. 18.
He that beleeveth in him shall not be condem-
ned: but hee that beleeveth not, is condemned
already, because hee beleeveth not in the name
of the only begotten sonne of God.

SHall silence shrowde such sinne,
as Sathan seemes to showe:
Even in his impes, in these our dayes
that all men might it knowe.

No, no, it cannot be,
but such as love the Lorde
With heart and voyce, will him confesse,
and to his word accord.

And do not as this Devill did,
though shape of man he bare:
Denying Christ, did silence keepe
at death, devoyde of care.

Yet did this wretch, most wickedly
John Lewes, who to name
Full bouldly speake, and brutishly
Gods glorie to defame.

In presence of those Persons, which
were learned wise and grave,
That wisht in heart with weeping teares
repentance he would crave.

But he dispising reverence
to Prince or any state:
Not them regardes, but used tearmes,
as ech had beene his mate.

For he did thou each wight, the which,
with him had any talke:
Thus did his tong most devilisly
with defamie still walke.

But when that no perswasion might
procure him to relent,
Then Judgement did by Justice right,
unto his death consent.

That he should burned be to death,
this Justice did awarde:
Now marke what after did insue,
and therto have regarde.

The time then of his death being come
which was the eighteene daye
Of September, in eightie three,
this wretch wrought his decaye,

For, when he to the place was brought
where he his life should ende:
He forced was a time to stay,
a Sermon to perpende.

The which was preached by the Deane
of Norwich, in such wise,
Which well might moove ech sinful soule
from seat of sinne to rise.

He, like a tender Father did
geve documents most pure,
(Unto this wretch) as to his childe,
from ill him to procure.

But all in vaine, this varlet vylde
his doctrin did detest:
For, when he spake of Christ Gods Son
he made therat a jest.

And smilingly his face wold turne
from Preachers, present there
Which argued that he never stood
of God or man in feare.

When that the Sermon drew to ende,
then did the Deane desire
Him, that he would fall on his knees,
and Gods mercie require.

But still he stood as any stone,
not liftyng hand or eye,
Unto the Heavens, which shewd his hart
to God was nothing nie.

The Shryfe then, strikes him on the brest,
wishing him to returne:
Yea Gentlewomen, two or three,
before he went to burne

Would seeme to pull him on his knees,
his sinnes for to confesse,
But he full stoutly stood therein,
not meaning nothing lesse.

From preaching place unto the stake,
they straight did him convaye
Where preachers two or three him wyld,
unto the Lorde to praye.

And Christ our Saviour to confesse
both God and man to be:
That soule and body, by true faith
in him, might be set free.

From Sathan, who had him in houlde,
but he not this regarde,
As countinance his, did shew full plaine
for why, no worde was harde.

That he did speake: but like a dogge,
did end his dayes with shame:
Not bending, knee, hand, hart, or tong,
to glorifie Gods name.

For though that divers Preachers than
both Godly, grave and wise
Did hope (in heart) to win this man,
yet all would not suffise.

For, not one worde, that they could get
what so they did or sayde:
Till one that was right earnest set,
by these wordes him assayde.

If that thou doest not Jesus Christ
Gods onely Sonne confesse,
Both God and Man, and hope in him
for thy salvation: doubtlesse,

As sure as now thou shalt be burnt
before us here at Stake:
So sure in Hell thou shalt be burnt,
in that infernall lake.

Quoth he, thou liest, and no more words
at all, this Caytife sayd:
Nor no repentant signe would show,
which made us all dismayde.

And when the fire did compasse him,
about on every side,
The people lookt, he then would speake
and therfore lowde they cryed.

Now call on christ, to save thy soule:
now, trust in Christ his death:
But all in vaine, no wordes he spake,
but thus yeeldes up his breath.

Oh wofull state, oh daunger deepe
that he was drowned in:
Oh graunt us God, for Christ his sake,
we fall not in such sinne.

And we that thinke, wee stand in faith
so firme, Lorde let it be,
To thee, thy Sonne, and holy Ghoste,
one God in Persons three.

FINIS.
Th. Gilbart.
Ave morta non fa mele.

Rom. 14. 9.
For Christ therfore dyed and rose againe and
revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead
and the quicke.

2. Corin. 5. 21.
For he hath made him to be sinne (for us) which
knewe no sinne: that wee should be made the
righteousnes of God, in him.

Coloss. 1. 15. 16.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the
first begotten of every creature. For by him
were all things created which are in Heaven and
Earth, thinges visible and invisible, etc.

Imprinted at London, by Richard Jones, dwelling neere Holburne Bridge October. 8.