This is the type of thing that bugs the daylights out of me as an editor when trying to run something like this down. I'm still not sure where "it is but a winking" came from as I've not found anything earlier than two sermons by Calamy of 1643/44. There seems to be possible conflation of the martydom's under bloody Mary, Bradford and Leafe and Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper, and the earlier Persian martyrs Ananias and Pusices (what date was that exactly?). It seems the editor of Brooks works and Precious Remedies in vol. 1 in the 19th century is the one that tied the saying back to the martydoms of Ananias and Pusices, unless I can get a look at the 1676 edition, the last edition Brooks could have overseen which was treated as the base text along with the first and second editions. Note Trapp does tie this to Cooper and Miller but his adding of the "it is but winking" appears to be his further editorial since that is not in the four editions of Foxe online at
https://www.johnfoxe.org. Also note his comment which suggests probably how this happend as in general the martyrs had sayings; though I have not found anyone using the phrase winking. I need a list of the sayings of the early Martyrs to consult. I suspect Calamy is not being original in the possibly whimsical translaton of Ananias' words, if that is indeed the ultimate referent, and there would be I guess some common martyrology or shorter history or some wide use before him. I need to get to EEBO to look at some blocked works that come up on TCP and check the Brooks.
Any way, if anyone gets an idea on how this may have come about, here is what I have starting with my source I'm trying to footnote and explain this.
Carstares, 1683. “(as a holy martyr said to his fellow-sufferer in the fire with him, “It is but winking, and our pain and sorrow is all over”)”
Edmund Calamy, The noble-mans patterne of true and reall thankfulnesse presented in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable House of Lords, at their late solemne day of Thanksgiving, June 15, 1643. 1643.
It is but winking with our eyes (as the Martyr said) and we are presently in Hea∣ven.
Englands antidote against the plague of civill warre presented in a sermon before the Honourable House of Commons on their late extraordinary solemn fast, October 22, 1644. 1652
It is but winking (as the Martyr said) and thou shalt be in heaven presently.
John Trapp subsequently uses this several times in his commentaries at
Trapp, Gospels, 1647 Commentaries 1656.
A commentary or exposition upon the four Evangelists, and the Acts of the Apostles. 1647.
It is but winking (as that Martyr said) and thou shalt be in hea∣ven presently. / ...
Psalm 66:12, “It is but winking, said that martyr at the stake, and we shall be in heaven immediately.”
Matthew 26:42, “It is but winking (as that martyr said), and thou shall be in heaven presently.”
Romans 14:8 “It is but winking (as that martyr said), and thou shalt be in heaven presently.”
Eccl. 4:10. As Elizabeth Cowper, the martyr, in Queen Mary’s days had, who, being condemned, and at the stake with Simon Miller, when the fire came unto her she a little shrank thereat, crying once,
Ah! When Simon heard the same, he put his hand behind him toward her, and willed her to be strong and of good cheer; for, ‘Good sister,’ said he, ‘we shall soon have a joyful and sweet supper. It is but winking a little, and you are in heaven.’
1 Peter 1:3. “And many of the holy martyrs went as willingly to die as ever they did to dine; they called it their wedding day. They knew it was but winking only, and they should be in heaven immediately; hence their invincible courage at the hour of death.”
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies, 1652; 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] 1653. Works, vol. 1, p. 74.
‘It is but winking, and thou shalt be in heaven presently,’ said the martyr. Marginal note: Though the cross be bitter, yet it is but short; a little storm, as one said of Julian's persecution, and an eternal calm follows. The editor of the works drops this footnote and apparently inserts a reference to the martyrs Ananias and Pusices, although the 1676 edition needs consulting to verify this as this is the edition along with the first and second used and the change of the note may date to that 8[SUP]th[/SUP] edition.
Paulisper O senex, oculos claude, nam statim lumen Dei videbis.—Sozomen, book 2 chapter 11. “Shut thine eyes a little, old man, and immediately thou shalt see the light of God!"
William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, part 3 (1662; 1821), 224.
It is but winking (said a holy martyr to his fellow-sufferer, in the fire with him) and our pain and sorrow is all over.
Martyrdom of Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper.
Fox’s Martyr’s 1583 edition. “When the sayd mayster Myller heard the same, he put hys hande behinde him toward her [Elizabeth Cooper], and willed her to bee stronge, and of good chere. for good sister (sayd he) we shal haue a ioyful and a sweete supper.”
Foxe’s Martyr’s 1570 edition. “When the sayd Simon
Miller heard the same, he put hys hand behinde him towarde her [Elizabeth Cooper], and willed her to be strong, and of good chere: For good sister (sayd he) we shal haue a ioyfull and a sweete supper.”
Fox’s Martyr’s 1576 edition. “When the sayd Simon
Miller heard the same, hee put his hand behynde him toward her, and willed her to bee strong, and of good cheare: For good sister (sayd he) we shall haue a ioyfull and a sweete supper.”
Foxe’s Martyr’s 1583 edition. “When the sayd Simon
Miller hearde the same, he put his hand behinde him towarde her, and willed her to bee strong, and of good cheare: For good sister (said he) we shall haue a ioyfull and a sweete supper.”
Martydom of John Bradford and Simon Leaf.
1563; 1570; 1576; 1583. Be of good comfort brother: for we shall haue a mery supper with the Lord this night.