Foxe - The Book of Martyrs
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
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<strong>Foxe</strong>’s <strong>Book</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Martyrs</strong><br />
terms.<br />
After Dr. Sands had been nine weeks prisoner in the Marshalsea, by the mediation <strong>of</strong> Sir<br />
Thomas Holcr<strong>of</strong>t, knight marshal, he was set at liberty. Though Mr. Holcr<strong>of</strong>t had the queen's<br />
warrant, the bishop commanded him not to set Dr. Sands at liberty, until he had taken sureties<br />
<strong>of</strong> two gentlemen with him, each one bound in 500 pounds, that Dr. Sands should not depart<br />
out <strong>of</strong> the realm without license. Mr. Holcr<strong>of</strong>t immediately after met with two gentlemen <strong>of</strong><br />
the north, friends and cousins to Dr. Sands, who <strong>of</strong>fered to be bound for him.<br />
After dinner, the same day, Sir Thomas Holcr<strong>of</strong>t sent for Dr. Sands to his lodgings at<br />
Westminster, to communicate to him all he had done. Dr. Sands answered: "I give God thanks,<br />
who hath moved your heart to mind me so well, that I think myself most bound unto you. God<br />
shall requite you, nor shall I ever be found unthankful. But as you have dealt friendly with me,<br />
I will also deal plainly with you. I came a freeman into prison; I will not go forth a bondman.<br />
As I cannot benefit my friends, so will I not hurt them. And if I be set at liberty, I will not tarry<br />
six days in this realm, if I may get out. If therefore I may not get free forth, send me to the<br />
Marshalsea again, and there you shall be sure <strong>of</strong> me."<br />
This answer Mr. Holcr<strong>of</strong>t much disapproved <strong>of</strong>; but like a true friend he replied: "Seeing<br />
you cannot be altered, I will change my purpose, and yield unto you. Come <strong>of</strong> it what will, I<br />
will set you at liberty; and seeing you have a mind to go over sea, get you gone as quick as<br />
you can. One thing I require <strong>of</strong> you, that, while you are there, you write nothing to me hither,<br />
for this may undo me."<br />
Dr. Sands having taken an affectionate farewell <strong>of</strong> him and his other friends in bonds,<br />
departed. He went by Winchester house, and there took boat, and came to a friend's house in<br />
London, called William Banks, and tarried there one night. <strong>The</strong> next night he went to another<br />
friend's house, and there he heard that strict search was making for him, by Gardiner's express<br />
order.<br />
Dr. Sands now conveyed himself by night to one Mr. Berty's house, a stranger who was<br />
in the Marshalsea prison with him a while; he was a good Protestant and dwelt in Mark-lane.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re he was six days, and then removed to one <strong>of</strong> his acquaintances in Cornhill; he caused<br />
his man Quinton to provide two geldings for him, resolved on the morrow to ride into Essex,<br />
to Mr. Sands, his father-in-law, where his wife was, which, after a narrow escape, he effected.<br />
He had not been there two hours, before Mr. Sands was told that two <strong>of</strong> the guards would that<br />
night apprehend Dr. Sands.<br />
That night Dr. Sands was guided to an honest farmer's near the sea, where he tarried two<br />
days and two nights in a chamber without company. After that he removed to one James<br />
Mower's, a shipmaster, who dwelt at Milton-Shore, where he waited for a wind to Flanders.<br />
While he was there, James Mower brought to him forty or fifty mariners, to whom he gave<br />
an exhortation; they liked him so well that they promised to die rather than he should be<br />
apprehended.<br />
<strong>The</strong> sixth <strong>of</strong> May, Sunday, the wind served. In taking leave <strong>of</strong> his hostess, who had been<br />
married eight years without having a child, he gave her a fine handkerchief and an old royal<br />
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