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.
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Math. x. vers 33.
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He that denieth me before men, I will denie him
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before my Father which is in Heaven.
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Jo[h]n. 17. 3.
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This is eternall life, that they know thee to be
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the very only true God, and him whome thou
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hast sent, Jesus Christ.
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John. 3. 18.
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He that beleeveth in him shall not be condem-
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ned: but hee that beleeveth not, is condemned
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already, because hee beleeveth not in the name
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of the only begotten sonne of God.
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SHall silence shrowde such sinne,
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as Sathan seemes to showe:
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Even in his impes, in these our dayes
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that all men might it knowe.
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No, no, it cannot be,
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but such as love the Lorde
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With heart and voyce, will him confesse,
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and to his word accord.
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And do not as this Devill did,
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though shape of man he bare:
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Denying Christ, did silence keepe
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at death, devoyde of care.
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Yet did this wretch, most wickedly
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John Lewes, who to name
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Full bouldly speake, and brutishly
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Gods glorie to defame.
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In presence of those Persons, which
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were learned wise and grave,
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That wisht in heart with weeping teares
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repentance he would crave.
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But he dispising reverence
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to Prince or any state:
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Not them regardes, but used tearmes,
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as ech had beene his mate.
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For he did thou each wight, the which,
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with him had any talke:
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Thus did his tong most devilisly
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with defamie still walke.
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But when that no perswasion might
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procure him to relent,
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Then Judgement did by Justice right,
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unto his death consent.
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That he should burned be to death,
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this Justice did awarde:
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Now marke what after did insue,
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and therto have regarde.
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The time then of his death being come
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which was the eighteene daye
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Of September, in eightie three,
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this wretch wrought his decaye,
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For, when he to the place was brought
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where he his life should ende:
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He forced was a time to stay,
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a Sermon to perpende.
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The which was preached by the Deane
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of Norwich, in such wise,
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Which well might moove ech sinful soule
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from seat of sinne to rise.
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He, like a tender Father did
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geve documents most pure,
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(Unto this wretch) as to his childe,
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from ill him to procure.
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But all in vaine, this varlet vylde
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his doctrin did detest:
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For, when he spake of Christ Gods Son
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he made therat a jest.
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And smilingly his face wold turne
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from Preachers, present there
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Which argued that he never stood
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of God or man in feare.
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When that the Sermon drew to ende,
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then did the Deane desire
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Him, that he would fall on his knees,
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and Gods mercie require.
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But still he stood as any stone,
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not liftyng hand or eye,
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Unto the Heavens, which shewd his hart
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to God was nothing nie.
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The Shryfe then, strikes him on the brest,
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wishing him to returne:
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Yea Gentlewomen, two or three,
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before he went to burne
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Would seeme to pull him on his knees,
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his sinnes for to confesse,
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But he full stoutly stood therein,
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not meaning nothing lesse.
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From preaching place unto the stake,
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they straight did him convaye
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Where preachers two or three him wyld,
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unto the Lorde to praye.
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And Christ our Saviour to confesse
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both God and man to be:
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That soule and body, by true faith
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in him, might be set free.
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From Sathan, who had him in houlde,
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but he not this regarde,
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As countinance his, did shew full plaine
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for why, no worde was harde.
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That he did speake: but like a dogge,
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did end his dayes with shame:
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Not bending, knee, hand, hart, or tong,
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to glorifie Gods name.
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For though that divers Preachers than
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both Godly, grave and wise
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Did hope (in heart) to win this man,
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yet all would not suffise.
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For, not one worde, that they could get
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what so they did or sayde:
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Till one that was right earnest set,
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by these wordes him assayde.
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If that thou doest not Jesus Christ
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Gods onely Sonne confesse,
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Both God and Man, and hope in him
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for thy salvation: doubtlesse,
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As sure as now thou shalt be burnt
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before us here at Stake:
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So sure in Hell thou shalt be burnt,
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in that infernall lake.
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Quoth he, thou liest, and no more words
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at all, this Caytife sayd:
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Nor no repentant signe would show,
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which made us all dismayde.
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And when the fire did compasse him,
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about on every side,
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The people lookt, he then would speake
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and therfore lowde they cryed.
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Now call on christ, to save thy soule:
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now, trust in Christ his death:
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But all in vaine, no wordes he spake,
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but thus yeeldes up his breath.
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Oh wofull state, oh daunger deepe
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that he was drowned in:
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Oh graunt us God, for Christ his sake,
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we fall not in such sinne.
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And we that thinke, wee stand in faith
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so firme, Lorde let it be,
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To thee, thy Sonne, and holy Ghoste,
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one God in Persons three.
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