Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
Foster, an attorney, and Clark, a tradesman, out of blind zeal, resolved that Mass should be
celebrated, in all its superstitious forms, in the parish church of Hadley, on Monday before
Easter. This Dr. Taylor, entering the church, strictly forbade; but Clark forced the Doctor out
of the church, celebrated Mass, and immediately informed the lord-chancellor, bishop of
Winchester of his behavior, who summoned him to appear, and answer the complaints that
were alleged against him.
The doctor upon the receipt of the summons, cheerfully prepared to obey the same; and
rejected the advice of his friends to fly beyond sea. When Gardiner saw Dr. Taylor, he,
according to his common custom, reviled him. Dr. Taylor heard his abuse patiently, and when
the bishop said, "How darest thou look me in the face! knowest thou not who I am?" Dr.
Taylor replied, "You are Dr. Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, and lord-chancellor,
and yet but a mortal man. But if I should be afraid of your lordly looks, why fear ye not God,
the Lord of us all? With what countenance will you appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
and answer to your oath made first unto King Henry VIII, and afterward unto King Edward
VI, his son?"
A long conversation ensued, in which Dr. Taylor was so piously collected and severe
upon his antagonist, that he exclaimed:
"Thou art a blasphemous heretic! Thou indeed blasphemist the blessed Sacrament, (here
he put off his cap) and speakest against the holy Mass, which is made a sacrifice for the quick
and the dead." The bishop afterward committed him into the king's bench.
When Dr. Taylor came there, he found the virtuous and vigilant preacher of God's Word,
Mr. Bradford; who equally thanked God that He had provided him with such a comfortable
fellow-prisoner; and they both together praised God, and continued in prayer, reading and
exhorting one another.
After Dr. Taylor had lain some time in prison, he was cited to appear in the arches of Bowchurch.
Dr. Taylor being condemned, was committed to the Clink, and the keepers were charged
to treat him roughly; at night he was removed to the Poultry Compter.
When Dr. Taylor had lain in the Compter about a week on the fourth of February, Bonner
came to degrade him, bringing with him such ornaments as appertained to the massing
mummery; but the Doctor refused these trappings until they were forced upon him.
The night after he was degraded his wife came with John Hull, his servant, and his son
Thomas, and were by the gentleness of the keepers permitted to sup with him. After supper,
walking up and down, he gave God thanks for His grace, that had given him strength to abide
by His holy Word. With tears they prayed together, and kissed one another. Unto his son
Thomas he gave a Latin book, containing the notable sayings of the old martyrs, and in the
end of that he wrote his testament:
"I say to my wife, and to my children, The Lord gave you unto me, and the Lord hath
202