Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
made their escape, twenty-two were committed to Newgate, who continued in prison seven
weeks. Previous to their examination, they were informed by the keeper, Alexander, that
nothing more was requisite to procure their discharge, than to hear Mass. Easy as this
condition may seem, these martyrs valued their purity of conscience more than loss of life or
property; hence, thirteen were burnt, seven in Smithfield, and six at Brentford; two died in
prison, and the other seven were providentially preserved. The names of the seven who
suffered were, H. Pond, R. Estland, R. Southain, M. Ricarby, J. Floyd, J. Holiday, and Roger
Holland. They were sent to Newgate, June 16, 1558, and executed on the twenty-seventh.
This Roger Holland, a merchant-tailor of London, was first an apprentice with one Master
Kemption, at the Black Boy in Watling Street, giving himself to dancing, fencing, gaming,
banqueting, and wanton company. He had received for his master certain money, to the sum
of thirty pounds; and lost every groat at dice. Therefore he purposed to convey himself away
beyond the seas, either into France or into Flanders.
With this resolution, he called early in the morning on a discreet servant in the house,
named Elizabeth, who professed the Gospel, and lived a life that did honor to her profession.
To her he revealed the loss his folly had occasioned, regretted that he had not followed her
advice, and begged her to give his master a note of hand from him acknowledging the debt,
which he would repay if ever it were in his power; he also entreated his disgraceful conduct
might be kept secret, lest it would bring the gray hairs to his father with sorrow to a premature
grave.
The maid, with a generosity and Christian principle rarely surpassed, conscious that his
imprudence might be his ruin, brought him the thirty pounds, which was part of a sum of
money recently left her by legacy. "Here," said she, "is the sum requisite: you shall take the
money, and I will keep the note; but expressly on this condition, that you abandon all lewd
and vicious company; that you neither swear nor talk immodestly, and game no more; for,
should I learn that you do, I will immediately show this note to your master. I also require,
that you shall promise me to attend the daily lecture at Allhallows, and the sermon at St. Paul's
every Sunday; that you cast away all your books of popery, and in their place substitute the
Testament and the Book of Service, and that you read the Scriptures with reverence and fear,
calling upon God for his grace to direct you in his truth. Pray also fervently to God, to pardon
your former offences, and not to remember the sins of your youth, and would you obtain his
favour ever dread to break his laws or offend his majesty. So shall God have you in His
keeping, and grant you your heart's desire." We must honor the memory of this excellent
domestic, whose pious endeavors were equally directed to benefit the thoughtless youth in
this life and that which is to come. God did not suffer the wish of this excellent domestic to
be thrown upon a barren soil; within half a year after the licentious Holland became a zealous
professor of the Gospel, and was an instrument of conversion to his father and others whom
he visited in Lancashire, to their spiritual comfort and reformation from popery.
His father, pleased with his change of conduct, gave him forty pounds to commence
business with in London.
Then Roger repaired to London again, and came to the maid that lent him the money to
pay his master withal, and said unto her, "Elizabeth, here is thy money I borrowed of thee;
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