Shall silence shroud such sin
As Satan seems to show
Even in his imps, in these our days
That all men might it know?

No, no, it cannot be;
But such as love the Lord,
With heart and voice, will him confess
And to his word accord.

And do not as this devil did,
Though shape of man he bare:
Denying Christ, did silence keep
At death, devoid of care.

Yet did this wretch, most wickedly
(John Lewes, who to name),
Full boldly speak, and brutishly
God's glory to defame,

In presence of those persons which
Were learned, wise, and grave,
That wished in heart, with weeping tears,
Repentance he would crave.

But he, despising reverence
To prince or any state,
Not them regards, but used terms
As each had been his mate.

For he did thou each wight the which
With him had any talk.
Thus did his tongue most devilishly
With defamy still walk.

But when that no persuasion might
Procure him to relent,
Then Judgment did, by Justice right,
Unto his death consent.

That he should burned be to death,
This Justice did award.
Now mark what after did ensue,
And thereto have regard.

The time then of his death being come—
Which was the eighteen day
Of September, in eighty-three—
This wretch wrought his decay.

For when he to the place was brought
Where he his life should end,
He forced was a time to stay,
A sermon to perpend.

The which was preached by the Dean
Of Norwich, in such wise,
Which well might move each sinful soul
From seat of sin to rise.

He, like a tender father, did
Give documents most pure
Unto this wretch as to his child,
From ill him to procure.

But all in vain, this varlet vild
His doctrine did detest;
For when he spake of Christ, God's Son,
He made thereat a jest.

And smilingly his face would turn
From preachers present there,
Which argued that he never stood
Of God or man in fear.

When that the sermon drew to end,
Then did the Dean desire
Him that he would fall on his knees
And God's mercy require.

But still he stood as any stone,
Not lifting hand or eye
Unto the heavens, which showed his heart
To God was nothing nigh.

The shrieve, then, strikes him on the breast,
Wishing him to return;
Yea, gentlewomen two or three,
Before he went to burn,

Would seem to pull him on his knees
His sins for to confess;
But he full stoutly stood therein,
Not meaning nothing less.

From preaching place unto the stake
They straight did him convey,
Where preachers two or three him willed
Unto the Lord to pray,

And Christ our Saviour to confess
Both God and man to be;
That soul and body, by true faith
In him, might be set free

From Satan, who had him in hold.
But he not this regard,
As countenance his did show full plain,
For why no word was hard

That he did speak; but like a dog
Did end his days with shame,
Not bending knee, hand, heart, or tongue,
To glorify God's name.

For though that divers preachers than,
Both godly, grave, and wise,
Did hope (in heart) to win this man,
Yet all would not suffice.

For not one word that they could get,
What so they did or said,
Till one that was right earnest set
By these words him assayed:

‘If that thou dost not Jesus Christ
God's only Son confess,
Both God and Man, and hope in him
For thy salvation doubtless,

‘As sure as now thou shalt be burnt
Before us here at stake,
So sure in hell thou shalt be burnt
In that infernal lake.’

Quoth he, ‘Thou liest’, and no more words
At all this caitiff said;
Nor no repentant sign would show,
Which made us all dismayed.

And when the fire did compass him
About on every side,
The people looked he then would speak,
And therefore loud they cried:

‘Now call on Christ to save thy soul;
Now trust in Christ his death.’
But all in vain; no words he spake,
But thus yields up his breath.

Oh woeful state, oh danger deep,
That he was drowned in!
Oh grant us, God, for Christ his sake,
We fall not in such sin.

And we that think we stand in faith
So firm, Lord let it be
To Thee, Thy Son, and Holy Ghost—
One God in Persons three.