Kings Court To whom the lad answered You shall not get me from the fellowship of these holy men who bred me up with whom I lived in the fear of God and with whom I desire to die and with whom I trust I shall obtain the glory to come And so being all put into the ship they were burned together After the death of Hunrick Gundabund succeeded in the Kingdom who continuing in the steps of his cruel predecessors afflicted the Christians grievously by sundry kinds of persecution during the space of twelve years at the end whereof he died and Thrasamund succeeded him a man that excelled all his Predecessors in magnanimity and courage His manner was by perswasions flatteries promises and rewards to seek to draw the Christians to his Arrian Heresie but they which would not be prevailed with hereby he no way punished or molested them In his time there were great Wars between the Moors and Vandals the Moors had one Cabaon for their General who commanded all his souldiers to use abstinence in their diet and to abstain from women and from all Injury and wrong-doing The women he enclosed within trenches by themselves commanding that under pain of death no man should have access to them Then did he send forth a certain company of Moors commanding them privately to follow the Camp oâ— the Vandals and that wheresoever the Vandals profaned any Church of the Christians presently after their departure they should follow and purge the same For saith he if the Christians God be a good God then will he assist them that are devoted to him and punish the Blasphemers These men in counterfeit base attire followed the Vandals Camp and whereas the Vandals where ever they came took up the Christians Churches for their Horses and Beasts of burthen carrying themselves very insolently against God and his House beating and abusing the Ministers and Church-Officers making them to attend upon them as their slaves After their departure the Moors on the contrary cleansed the Churches carried out the dung kneeled down to and reverenced the Ministers and distributed money to the poor and thus they did continually Then did Cabaon prepare to give his enemies battel and whereas the Vandals were all Horse-men and very well mounted their Horses were so afrighted at the sight of the Moors Camels that they were presently put into disorder and the Moors with darts and arrows did so pelt them that they put them to flight and slew many of them whereupon Thrasamund shortly after died of grief Then did Ilderick the son of Hunrick succeed in the Kingdom who was equally mild and gentle both to the Vandals and Christians and one that kept very fair correspondence with the Emperour Justinian But Gilimer a cunning and ambitious man deposed him and usurped the Kingdom to himself Whereupon Justinian sent against him that brave and gallant General Billisarius who overcame him in several battels took him prisoner freed the Christians from persecution and subverted the Empire of the Vandals in Africk after they had reigned there for the space of ninety years wherein for the most part they had been cruel persecutors of the true Church of God Salvian who was Bishop of Masilia and lived at the same season complaineth that before these brutish Vandals came into Africk the Church of God there was much degenerated from its ancient purity and the power of Godliness was much decaid insomuch as they which lived exactly according to the Rule of Gods Word were hissed at as they went in the streets as if they had been monsters Whereupon saith he the passage of the Vandals into Africk was not to be imputed to Gods rigour but to the Africans wickedness c. Collected out of a Book written by Victor Bishop of Utica who lived at the same time and was himself a Sufferer under this persecution Here place the fifth Figure THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH UNDER THE PAPACY CHAP. XXI The Persecutions of the Waldenses which began Anno Christi 1160. WHen the darkness of Popery had overspread the Christian world so that Kings and Princes imploied their Authority to establish the Romish Idolatry appointing to slaughter such as denied Transubstantiation Adoration of the Host bowing the knees before it c. this occasioned many Christians to detest this superstition as unknown to the Apostles and primitive Church And first of all God raised up Berengarius presently after the year one thousand who boldly and faithfully preached the Truth and against the Romish Errors continuing his Ministry till about the time that William the Conqueror came into England whereupon the Gospellers were called Berengarians till about the year 110. At which time common notice being taken of their separation from the Church of Rome and their disagreeing from so many of their Tenents they were branded with the odious name of Hereticks And twenty years after when they were grown into a very great multitude they had one Peter Bruis for their most famous Preacher who taught long and publickly at Tholouse under the protection and favour of a noble Earl called Hildephonsus whereupon in those parts they were called Petro-Brusians For Peter Bruis Anno Christi 1120. published their Tenents in a book called Anti-Christ wherein he declared both the ground of their Doctrine and the causes of their separation from the Romish Church Twenty years after this they were grown into a mighty multitude about Anno Christi 1140. whereupon the Popes of Rome now began to lay about them for their Extirpation For which end he stirred up his most learned followers to write against them and warned Princes to take heed of them and to banish them out of their Territories Anno Christi 1147. they had Henry of Tholouse for their most eminent Preacher whereupon they began to be called Henericians and because they were well red in the Scriptures especially in the Epistles of St. Paul whom by way of eminency they called the Apostle alleadging Texts out of him nnd would admit of no Testimonies for the proof of Religion but only out of Scripture they were called Apostolicks And shortly after God raised up Peter Valdo a Citizen of Lions in France who shewed himself most couragious in opposing the Popish inventions withal taxing divers other innovations which were crept into the Church of Rome and he was the more eagerly hearkened unto because he was in high esteem for his Learning and Piety and his liberality to the poor for besides the nourishing of their bodies he did also feed their souls by exhorting them to seek Jesus Christ and salvation by him The Arch-Bishop of Lions being informed that Valdo used thus to instruct the people boldly taxing the vice luxury and pride of the Pope and his Clergy forbad him the same upon pain of Excommunication and proceeded against him as an Heretick Valdo replied that he could not be silent in a cause of so great importance
And if they did these things to the green tree what shall be done to the dry And behold the wonderfull wisdom of God herein who by these afflictions separates the sinne that hates from the son that he loves and keeps him by these thorns from breaking over into Satans pleasant pastures that would fat him indeed but to the slaughter In an Appendix to this Book I have added the Lives of sundry of our Modern Divines which I conceive not to be heterogeniall to the rest of the Work for though they were not Martyrs yet may they well be stiled Confessors in regard of the great Persecution and Sufferings which most of them met withall whilest they lived here And if any ask the reason why I have added no more It is because my intelligence comes in so slowely and if such as are able will take the pains to inform me I shall if God spares life adde more to the end of the next impression of my Lives of the Fathers and modern Divines I hope that these my weak and poor endeavours will not prove ungratefull nor be judged unseasonable considering the times wherein we live For if the same sins abound amongst us in these daies which have been the forerunners of persecutions formerly we have cause to fear the worst and to prepare for it Forewarnd forearmed The reading of this History will manifest what wonderfull constancy and patience the Saints have shewed in their greatest sufferings what hath been the power of Almighty God in their support and what miserable ends many of their Persecutors have come to My hearty desire is That by reading of this Book God may have the glory and thy soul the comfort and I shall be well appaied for my pains Who am Thine in the Lord SA CLARKE From my study in Thridneedle-street Octob. 10. 1659. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas Dugard A. M. Rector Barfordiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tho. Dugard To the Reverend the Author of the Book CALLED A Generall Martyrologie c. WHat yet more Books what spirit now inspires Your Pen to write of Torments Warres and Fires What Will that Pen that drew to th' Life before Change stile draw Death and speak of Life no more What blustering Boreas rais'd these stormy Windes Which blew down Churches shook the steddiest Mindes Sure Hell 's broke loose and Devils in the flesh Are come out thence to try their wits afresh Who ever heard Troy's story with his ears And could restrain his eies from shedding tears I quake to hear what Saints in former daies Ne're shook to feel so they might win the Baies They conquer'd all Their patient disposition O're came both Pope and Spanish Inquisition They conquer'd Kings and won the Crown at last Prest towards the Prize forgetting what was past The Story 's sad 't is true yet the Authors skill Hath made that pleasant which in 't self is ill Away long-winded Volumes Times disease This Author doth our phansies better please Large Books are endlesse but 't is his design T' enclose great Volumes in his single Line Eli. Awn To the Reverend Mr. Sa. Clarke ON HIS MARTYROLOGIE OH Welcome home Divine Drake welcome home First girdle of the World of Martyrdome Who seeks for more can no new thing descry Y' have left no room for new discovery These Maps and Charts you bring nay every letter Makes you the worlds great Patron it your Debtor To call 't a Map doth but a Part imply 'T is the whole Globe of Martyrologie Each Picture is a Map each Figure breaths A little hist'ry of the Martyrs deaths Pisgah's too farre to see the Holy-Land Stand here on Calvary and view 't at hand Let others brag at large whose fancy 't is To say A SAINT by a Periphrasis Who doth this Book of yours with theirs confer Findes Saint and Martyr in one Character Though some there be that differ from the rest In judgement and account short-writting best Those I am sure will praise you when they eye Your skill in Tachyhagiography Th' are many words make Volumes do but look And you shall see 't is matter makes a Book All Volumes of this Subject here are set As 't were contracted in an Alphabet In characters for brevity 't is good That Vowels be by Cons'nants understood The least is best if no essentiall be Wanting to make 't a perfect Entitie Man 's but the World Epitomiz'd but this Compendium of Saints and Martyrs is It s commendation is it self 't is best Though 't were without this my Probatum est J. C. A Table of the Names of all those Martyrs that are mentioned in this book A ABel Pag. 1 Aber 21 Achaz 22 Achilleus 36 J. Addis 385 Aegidio 257 Agathonica 39 Agapetus 48 Agatha 51 Agathon 52 Agnes 77 Agricol◠75 Aimeri 147 Alcibiades 44 Alexander 36 49 Algerius 270 Aloisius 271 Ammonarion 51 Andas 81 Anthimus 64 Andoclus 47 Andrew 29 G.J. Annick 303 Anthea 36 Apollonia 51 Apollonius 45 Areth 22 Arias 254 Arnald 263 Antemìus 83 Armand 422 Asclepiades 47 Asyrius 59 Athanasia 75 Athanasius 85 Attalus 41 A. Audebert 320 Austin 290 B BAbilas Pag. 49 J. Baker 261 Barbara 78 Barlaam 75 Bartholomew 75 301 Baudison 293 Isa. Beard 390 de Beck 317 Benjamin 81 Bergerius 322 M. Bertino 422 Bertrand 292 D. Berto 361 Betkin 305 Biblides 42 de Bile 193 Blandina 41 Blondel 320 J. de Boisons 268 B. Bor 340 J. de Boscane 301 F. de Bossu 350 Bovellus 271 A. du Bourg 328 F. Bribard 318 P. Bruly 289 S. Brunes 317 W. Burgate 261 W. Burges ib. N. Burton 260 C CAcalla 235 Calepodius 48 Ja. Calvin 338 Campbel 351 A. Canus 316 de Cadurco 316 G. Carpenter 283 Carpus 39 Jo. Castellane 316 Cecilia 47 Cheremon 51 P. Chapot 319 Charlin 135 Chober 195 J. Clarke 315 Claudius 317 321 N. Clivet
Conversion to the true faith and so with admirable patience she suffered Martyrdom Shortly after Basilides being required to give an oath in the behalf of his fellow-souldiers he denied the same plainly affirming that he vvas a Christian and therefore he could not swear by the Idols c. They vvhich heard him thought that he jested at first but when he had constantly affirmed it they had him before the Judge vvho committed him to vvard the Christians vvondring at it vvent to him and enquiring the cause of his Conversion he told them that Potamiena had prayed for him and so he savv a Crovvn put upon his head adding that it should not be long before he received it and accordingly the next day he was beheaded As many suffered death in this persecution so others there were who through Gods providence suffered great torments and yet escaped vvith life of whom there vvas one Alexander vvho for his constant confession and torments suffered vvas afterwards made Bishop of Jerusalem Also Narcissus against vvhom three vvicked persons conspired to accuse him binding their accusations vvith oaths and curses one vvishing to be destroyed vvith fire if it vvere not true another to be consumed vvith a grievous disease the other to lose both his eyes Narcissus being unable to vvith-stand so vvicked an accusation retired himself into a desert In the mean time Gods vengeance follovved these perjured Wretches for the first by a small spark of fire vvas himself vvith all his family and goods burned the second vvas taken vvith a grievous sickness vvhich tormented him from the top to the toe whereof he died the third being vvarned by these Judgements confessed his fault but by reason of his abundant sorrovv and vveeping he lost both his eyes Narcissus being hereby cleared from their false accusation returned home and vvas received into his Congregation again Also one Andoclus vvas sent by Polycarp into France vvho because he spread there the Doctrine of Christ vvas apprehended by the command of Severus and first beaten vvith staves and bats and aftervvards beheaded Asclepiades also aftervvards Bishop of Antioch suffered much in this Persecution Then did Irenaeus and many others vvith him suffer Martyrdom and shortly after Tertullian also Perpetua and Felicitas tvvo godly vvomen vvith Revocatus their brother and Satyrus vvere throvvn to the vvild beasts and devoured by them Saturninus vvas beheaded Secundulus cast into prison where he died all these suffered Martyrdom at Carthage Also Zepherinus and after him Urbanus both Bishops of Rome vvere martyred in this Persecution This Urbanus by preaching and holiness of life converted many heathens unto Christ amongst vvhom vvere Tiburtius and Valerianus tvvo noble men of Rome vvho both suffered Martyrdom Also Cecilia a Virgin vvho vvas espoused to Valerian vvas apprehended carried to the Idols to offer sacrifice vvhich she refusing to do should have been carried to the Judge to receive the sentence of condemnation but the Serjeants and Officers beholding her excellent beauty and prudent behaviour began vvith many persvvasions to solicit her to favour her self c. but she so replied vvith wisedom and godly exhortations that by the grace of Almighty God their hearts began to relent and at length to yield to that Religion which before they persecuted which she perceiving desired leave to go home and sending for Urbanus the Bishop to her house he so grounded and established them in the faith of Christ that about four hundred persons believed and were baptized amongst whom was Gordianus a noble man Afterwards this blessed Martyr was brought before the Judge by whom she was condemned then she was enclosed in an hot bath for twenty four hours yet remaining alive she was there beheaded At Preneste in Italy was one Agapetus of fifteen years old apprehended and because he refused to sacrifice to Idols he was first scourged with whips then hanged up by the feet and had scalding water poured on him then he was cast to the wild beasts but because they would not hurt him he was lastly beheaded Antiochus that executed these torments on him suddenly fell down from his judicial seat crying out that all his bowels burned within him and so he died miserably Calepodius a Minister of Christ in Rome was first dragged thorow the streets and after cast into Tyber Pamachius a Senator of Rome with his wife and Children and other men and women to the number of forty two vvere all beheaded in one day together with another noble man all whose heads vvere hung up over the gates of the City to deter others from the profession of Christianity Also Martina a Christian Virgin having suffered many other bitter torments vvas at last slain vvith the sword CHAP. XII The sixth Primitive Persecution which began Anno Christi 237. THe Emperor Maximinus raised the sixth persecution against the Christians especially against the Teachers and Leaders of the Church thinking that if these Captains were removed out of the way he should the easilier prevail against the rest In the time of this Persecution Origen vvrote his book De Martyrio vvhich being lost the names of most that suffered Martyrdom in those times are buried in oblivion yet were they very many Amongst whom Urbanus Bishop of Rome and Philippus one of his Ministers were banished into Sardinia where they both died About this time one Natalius that had formerly suffered great persecution for the cause of Christ was seduced by Asclepiodotus and Theodorus two Sectaries to be the Bishop of their Sect promising to pay him a hundred and fifty crowns of silver every moneth and so he joined himself to them but the Lord in mercy not intending to lose him that had suffered so much for his sake admonished him by a vision to adjoin himself to the true Church again which the good man for the present blinded with lucre and honour did not regard as he ought to have done The night after he was scourged by Angels whereupon in the morning purting on Sack-cloth with much weeping and lamentation he went to the Christian Congregation praying them for the tender mercies of Christ that he might be received into their Communion again which request was accordingly granted unto him Hippolitus was drawn thorow the fields with wild horses till he died Many others were martyred and buried by sixty in a pit CHAP. XIII The seventh Primitive Persecution which began Anno Christi 250. DEcius the Emperor raised this seventh terrible persecution against the Christians which was first occasioned by reason of the treasures of the Emperor which were committed to Fabian the Bishop of Rome who thereupon by the command of Decius was put to death and moreover his Proclamations were sent into all quarters that all which professed the name of Christ should be slain In the time of this Persecution Origen suffered many and great torments for
and where as some were allured to deny the truth that they might be eased of taxes and quarterings of souldiers this was not performed whereupon they complained that promise was broken with them but the Jesuits answered them that they had no cause to complain for they had provided for their souls and therefore they ought cheerfully to help the King by contributions and quarterings of souldiers and that Hereticks must be dealt with as mad men and children from whom â—f you desire to get a knife you must shew them something else though you never intend to give it them Thus the Kingdom being emptied of gold and silver counterfeit and adulterate money was coined in great abundance that so the common people might rejoyce in their plenty but in the mean time the souldiers would recâ—ive none but good money Gold and silver also was raised to ten times the price of it and on a sudden the Emperour diminished the value making every piece of money to be worth but the tenth part whereby the Bohemians were more impoverished suddenly then if they had lain under the burden of an Army ten years Then was it ordered that the creditor should lose all the money that he had lent in the time of the rebellion as they called it And thus they were first impoverished after which the enemies insulted over them by infamous books insolent pictures and proud words Then did they send abroad their Commissioners of Reformation who in every Town and Village endeavored to bring Protestantism into disgrace and highly to magnifie and set abroad their owne cause The most eminent men for honour and estates are invited to Apostasie the inferiour sort are either fooled by their examples or compelled by threâ—tnings Then was there an High-Court of reformers set up from which there was no appeal In the next place the souldiers exercised barbarous Tyranny against the Ministers of Jesus Christ. One aged minister lying sick in his bed they shot him to death as he lay The next day they robbed and murthered another Another as he was preaching to his people they came into the Church and shot him to death Another Nobleman and a Minister hearing of souldiers that were coming that way conveighed themselves away into a place of safety the souldiers when they came caught a Schoolmaster and binding him in cords examined him where the Lord of that place and the Minister were and where they had hid their treasure he professed that he knew neither the one nor the other whereupon they beat him first with their fists then with cudgels then stripping him naked they so extreamly singed him with fire that at last he promised to bring them where the treasure was shewing them a ditch full of stones which for greediness of gold they emptied but finding nothing they beat him afresh and when he professed that he knew of no treasure though through pain he had said so much they cudgelled him and with clods beat him into the ditch and buried him under the stones Presently after they lighted on another godly Minister whom they so miserably tortured that he â—ied within five daies shamefully abusing his daughters also whom they led away with them Another godly Minister for a moneth together they excruciated with new invented mockeries they spit in his face buffeted him with their fists exposed him to be beaten by every vile rascall They with a knotâ—y cord twisten about his forehead with a stick so strained his head that his very eyes were ready to start out Then they let loose a wilde horse upon him which yet leaped quite over him and did him no harm at last with much adoe he redeemed himself with five hundred Florences Another Pastor they lighted on and because he had a better estate then the former they tormented him more sometimes covering him over with hot burning coals sometimes with Ice till they had forced him to pay a thousand five hundred Florences for his ransome though shortly after through extremity of the pain he died Another Minister they fetched from his house and miserably tortured him by twisting a cord about his head then tied they his hands behinde him and his legs with a small cord intending the next morning to torture him with fire but in the night time as he was earnest at his prayers repeating those words In thee O Lord is my trust he perceived his hands and feet miraculously to be loosned Whereupon getting up he went to the gate where were three Watchmen one of them standing with his hand on his sword yet he passed by them undiscovered When he came to the Town-gate he was known by the Souldier that stood Sentinell but he being a Bohemian was overcome by entreaty and let him passe over the bridge whereby he escaped Another Minister together with his wife they cruelly burnt Another was hanged upon a crosse-beam and making a fire under him they broiled him to death Another they cut into small peeces Another Minister they sought for but he being escaped they took a young man in his house laid him on his back filled his mouth with gunpowder which setting fire to they miserably tore his jaws in pieces and then killed him When some souldiers came to the house of another he entertained them courteously and made good provision for them but when they knew he was a Minister they first beat him cruelly then killed him stripped and plundered his house they also burnt his Library and would not suffer his body to be buried for seven weeks during their abode there Another aged Minister and his wife were so sorely burned by a souldier that demanded money of them that presently after they died Another was hung up by the privy members being seventy years old and his own books burnt under him and at last was shot through and slain Another was first assessed at seven hundred florences then had his house plundred and lastly himself was murthered Another they caught and wounded cutting his neck half through but being afterwards carried by some friends to a Chirurgion he lived about two years but in much pain and torment Another being above seventy years old they carried into the market-place where laying him upon a fire they burnt him to death Another was beaten so that he died three daies after The Jesuites laid wait for one Pescinus a man eminent for learning and piety at last they suborned an Apostate to betray him who discovering him as he rode in a Coach with a Nobleman fourty horsemen came suddenly and took him away but by the importunity of some Noblemen he was ransomed for four thousand Florences and ended his life in banishment Another being bound to a Tree was made a mark for the Musquetiers to shoot at and though they did not hit him yet by reason of the affrightment he died within three daies Another being met by a
imprisoned and whipt Some godly persons being met together with a Minister in a private Chappel two Colonels with some troops came upon them encompassed the Church rusht in with their drawn swords took the Minister from the Communion-table stript off his cloaths and sent him away to prison then they cast the bread upon the earth poured out the wine and trampled upon it Then they fell upon the people stripping men and women naked it being fâ—â—st and snow so that many of them died some were wounded others so affrighted that they fell into diseases Modestly forbids to tell how they used the women even in the Church Then came out an Edict that whosever refused to turn Papist whether men or women young or old bond or free their names should be returned to the Council of State who would give instructions what should be done with their persons and estates Marriage Buriall and Baptism were forbidden to the Protestants and if any did it privately they were imprisoned and not dismissed without Apostasie or a great fine Then was all trading inhibited or means of getting their living and at last buying of food so that the poor people being oppressed with hunger and want were either forced to fly or to Apostatize The countrymen they fetched out of their houses yea out of their beds by troopes of souldiers driving them like beasts before them in the sharpest cold and filled the common prisons towers cellers stables yea and hogsties with them where they were killed with hunger cold and thirst A godly Chirurgion with others was cast into a place full of snakes Another company was thrust into a stable and all the windows stopt up that the were almost stifled for want of breath In some places they shut them up in privies that they might be poisoned with the stink In some places they mad holes and knockt them full of iron spikes wherein those that were shut could neither sit nor stand but bending and crooked It was not possible that any man could endure this posture above two or three hours their sinews in the mean time trembling and their members quivering and their hearts ready to faint with anguish so that some were forced to promise to turn Catholiks others that refused were brought back to torture Then the devised a prison upon the water very narow and not above a cubit and an half in length wherein the prisoner could by no meanes lay himself at length and if he turned himself unawares he must fall into the water Another design was first to assault men of greatest authority to make them an example to the rest In the town of Minion the Commissioner demanded of the people a positive answer whether they would turn Catholicks And one of them in the name of the rest saying that conscience neither would nor could be forced he was presently laid upon the ground and beaten and still denying to turn Catholick when he could hardly speak he was torn in pieces The rest affrighted at this terrible spectacle promised obedience if time were given them In another place the Senator refusing to turn Apostates the cheifest of them was made to ride the wooden horse in the market-place for six hours space though he was very ancient so that he was lame and half dead when he was taken off When any desired to die raâ—her then to forsake their Religion it was answered that the Emperour did not thirst after their bloud but rather after the welfare of their souls To others they said Oh you affect the glory of Martyrdom but you are base knaves and are unworthy to have any thing to glory in There were many who would have died in the maintenance of their Christian faith but there were none that would inflict death upon them for these cruel Tyrants brought up in the devils school would not kill the body but the soul and therefore they sought by lingring and continual punishments to bring them first to stagger and then to deny the truth When any man desired to be convinced by Scripture they answered with scoffs and jears accusing the Scripture of imperfection of obscurity of ambiguity saying that it was the Fountain of Heresie the Sanctuary of Hereticks and that Laymen had nothing to do with it They called the Bible Wiblia which in the Bohemian language signifies vomit They took away all Orthodox books from the people that thereby they might be the more easily led into error In some places they shut up the people in the Church and forced them to receive in one kinde and if they would not fall down to the Host they used to beat their legs with clubs till they fell down Some they imprisoned and racked severall times to force them to auricular confession Of others they set open their mouths with gags and thrust the Host down their throates In other places they forced the people not only to abjure the Cup but to throw it down and to spit upon it and tread it under â—oot If any to avoid this Tyranny fled into the woods and secret places hunger drave them out again whereby they became a prey to their adversaries if they went to neighbouring places some or other would betray them Edicts also were published forbidding all to entertain such as fled upon pain of forfeiting a hundred pieces of silver for every nights entertainment Yet these miserable people could not go out of the Kingdom not being acquainted with any other language besides they were told that ere long the like tragedy should be acted every where Four men of Kossenberg continuing constant after long imprisonment they were first exposed to cold for five weeks together in the depth of winter Then for nine daies they were pined with hunger they having only a small portion of bread that kept life and soul together and drinking their own urine and when they were threatned harder usage if they turned not they answered We willingly imbrace all afflictions of famin hanging burning or any thing rather then we would sin against God Thereupon only twice a week there was given them a mouthfull of bread and a draught of water Then were they parted asunder one thrust into the sink of the prison another into a furnace and none permited to visit them and when nothing would prevail they set a fine upon them and banished them Others were kept in prisons and bonds till they died One was kept in a filthy prison till his feet rotted off and yet he passed away the time with singing of Psalms as if he injoyed all manner of deligths Another man being tired out with imprisonement promised to turn Catholick and was released but presently as himself wrote afterwards God chastened him for this his fault holding his conscience captive for an whole year together so that he could have no hope in Gods mercy Yet he recalled to minde former sinners who upon their