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Untitled Article
of Christ ' s Church , moving ratter auto sedition than unto pure religion , unto heresy than unto things godly . "
Among these reputed heretics was , probably , Humphrey Middleton , whom I mentioned at the beginning of this letter . His story will form an interesting
conclusion to this period of English Protestant persecution , and is the last of my obligations to the Commentarii of Fox » After describing the intercourse between Rogers
and his friend , quoted ( p . 365 . ) the historian , adds the following passage , according to Mr , Peirce ' s translation . As it is short I shall subjoin the original * " Much such another instance
is reported concerning one Humphrey Middleton r ( who was afterward * burnt in Queen Mary ' s days ) that when he , with some
others , had been kept prisoners , in the last year of King Edward , by the archbishop , and had been dreadfully teazed by him , and the rest in commission with him , and
were hqw just upon being condemned in open court , he said to him 5 € . Well , reverend Sir , pass what sentence you think fit upon ya ; but that you may not say you was not forewarned , I testify that your own turn will be next . ' And
accordingly , it came to pass ; for a little while after , King Edward died . upon which they were set at liberty , and the bishops cast into prison . *—^ eirce ' s Vindic . ( P . 35 . ) Nee absimUe quiddam de Hunfrido Midefc&no , gut postea sub Mama txustus est nattratur , out
c » m alii * qmbmdam concaptivis , <*** n * vtgifr Bdouardi ultima , im < m > G&pe —vetentue & CafUuapumsi r gravic& qt ** ab $ < kmtonam * 4 i $ fui
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sitoribus exagita £ us » in publtco ju dido jam condtvinandi quum e $ sen £ f dixisse fertur : age , inquit , 6 revJ . € rende ^ staluas in nos lice bit in pr&sentia * quod libet . Id autem
ne dicas tibi nan prasdietum , de * nuncio tuas dehinc vices fore prox * imas . Nee fefellit eventus . Pau * cos enim post dies consequta regis Edauardi mors , ipsis quidem i carcere demis&ionem , episcopis verd vincula ac earceres conciliavit *
( Com , p . 202 . ) Mr . Peirce evidently supposes that Cranmer and his associate Commissioners were prevented only by the sudden extinction of their power , from procuring the death of Middleton and his fellow
prisoners ^ had probably been now , for three years , suffering under ecclesiastical persecution . Nor is the supposition unfounded . There is no trace , during this reign , of
any alternative , in the case of heresy , but recantation or the stake ; exactly after the manner of Pagan persecution , which enjoined incense on the established altar , or to the lions . Thus drove !
on these misguided Reformers , while their influence was rapidly declining with the decaying health of Edward . English Protestants
persecution may be not unaptly compared to the devil of the Reve * lalton , who is described as having great wratk , because he knowetM thai he hath but a short time .
Edward died , July 6 th , 1553 r in his sixteenth year . Considering how the ignorant spirit of his age , might have tempted him to stan * a longer reign with a large effusion
of Christian blood , we may suitably apply to his shorty but 6 Xn > enaplary life , the language of art eastern sage * " He pleased Go A aod was beloved of him- so that
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Sketch of English Protestant Persecution . —Letter V * 443
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1812, page 443, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1750/page/35/
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