the Sermon he went to the Preacher and repeated the contents of his whole Sermon to him and then betaking himself to the searching of the Scriptures and conferring with learned men in a short space he had attained to a great measure of knowledge in the Word of life which the Minister observing and withal finding him of a fervent spirit he directed and exhorted him to circumspection in his carriage more and more instructing him in the knowledge of the Gospel which he so greedily received as one that could never be satisfied This made him give over seeking after temporal treasure and instead thereof he bought good books by reading of which and conference with the Minister he much improved his knowledge in all the chief Articles of Religion Then did he write letters to his countrey-men at Antwerp wherein he first gave thanks to God for revealing his truth to him then did he bewaile the grosse ignorance of his countrey-men beseeching God to open their eyes to understand the word of salvation and so promised shortly to returne to them to conferre with them about the grace of God which he had received and lastly he declared his purpose of going into Spaine to acquaint his parents and friends with that wholesome Doctrine which God had communicated to him Then wrote he other letters also to the Emperour Charles the fifth opening to him the miserable state of Christs Church desiring him to tender the good thereof especially to reforme the grosse corruptions of the Church of Spaine he wrote also a Catechisme and some other Treatises in the Spanish tongue The Merchants at Antwerp having received his Letters sent for him pretending much good will but secretly practising his destruction For against his coming they suborned some Friers who so soon as he was alighted from his horse seized upon him rifled his books and carrying him into a Merchants house examined him But he mightily confuting them they bound him hand and foot calling him Lutheran they also burnt his books before his face threatning to burn him likewise Then was he sent Prisoner to a Tower six miles from Antwerp and cast into a deep dungeon where he endured much misery for eight moneths at the end whereof the Merchants supposing that he would be better advised for the time to come released him Then did he go to Lovain where he had much conference with Driander who advised him to continue in his calling of a Merchant wherein he might have many opportunities of doing good and for Religion that he should do nothing for favour of men whereby the glory of God should be diminished He advised him also to take heed of inconsiderate zeal lest he should do as some who going beyond the bounds of their vocation thinking to do good and to edifie they destroy and do harme For said he it is God that takes care of his Church and will raise up faithful Ministers for the same neither doth he approve such as rashly intrude themselves into that function without any calling thereto This advice Francis willingly hearkned unto promising to follow the same Not long after going to Ratisbone where the Emperial Diet was held having opportunity he boldly stept to the Emperour beseeching him to deliver his countrey and subjects of Spaine from false Religion and to restore them to the sincerity of Christs doctrine protesting that the Protestants of Germany were in the truth and that the Religion of Spaine was greatly dissonant to the Word of God c. The Emperour all this while heard him gently promising him to consider of the matter and so to do therein as he trusted should be for the best Francis being encouraged with this answer went again to the Emperour a second and third time and still received a quiet answer as before yet not satisfied herewith he went a fourth time but was repulsed by some Spaniards about the Emperour who were so incensed against him that immediately they would have thrown him headlong into the river Danubius if the Emperour had not restrained them willing that he should be judged by the Lawes of the Empire Then was he cast into prison till the Emperours voyage into Africk at which time he with some other Captives was carried into Spaine and there delivered unto the Inquisitors who cast him into a dark prison under ground He was oft examined loaden with many reproaches and contumelies yet ever remained firme and unmovable so that at last they condemned him to be burnt for an heretick As he was led to the place of execution they put upon him a Miter of paper painted all over with ugly Devils as he passed by a woodden crosse they required him to worship it to which he answered that the manner of Christians was not to worship wood Being laid upon the pile of wood when he first felt the fire he lifted up his head towards heaven whereupon the Inquisitors thinking that he would recant caused him to be taken down but when they found his constancy they threw him on again where he slept in the Lord. Then did the Inquisitors proclaime that he was damned and that none should pray for him and that they were hereticks whosoever doubted of his damnation There was also dwelling at Saint Lucaâ— in Spaine one Rochus a skilful graver of images but the Lord pleasing to enlighten him with the saving knowledge of his truth he gave over making of idolatrous images and imployed himself in making of seals only he kept standing on his stall an image of the Virgin Mary artificially graven for a signe of his occupation An Inquisitor passing by and liking the image asked the price of it Rochus set him a price but was not willing to sell it the Inquisitor bade him half so much the other answered that he could not afford it so and that he had rather break it than sell it yea said the Inquisitor let me see that if thou darest with that Rochus with a Chisel cut off the nose of the image whereupon the Inquisitor presently commanded him to prison and within three dayes he was condemned to be burnt At the place of execution he poured out his fervent prayers to Almighty God and so made a blessed end Anno 1545. Divers other godly persons being by the Inquisitors cast into loathsome dungeons ended their lives there Anno 1550. At Validolid the Inquisitors brought forth thirty prisoners together of high and low estate as also the Coffin of a certain noble woman with her picture lying upon it she being dead long before to eceive judgement and sentence for the solemnities whereof they had erected three great stages the first for the Kings sister the Lady Jane and his eldest sonne Prince Philip with other States The second for the Fathers Inquisitors And the third for the Prisoners Multitudes of people being assembled together these dear servants of Jesus Christ clothed with Sambito's a yellow cloth hanging
Lords body but the people making a tumult carried him out of the Church in a croud and he had not gone far before he was apprehended by an Officer and carried to prison Then came divers Friars to reason with him and he stood to the trial of the Scriptures only which they refused During his imprisonment he wrote a consolatory letter to his wife exhorting her to bring up his children in the fear of God Being condemned he was commanded not to speak to the people being bound to the stake he prayed for his enemies and was first strangled and then burnt The same year there was at Dornick one Bertrand who to enjoy the freedome of his conscience went to Wesell but being desirous to draw his wife and children thither he went thrice to Dornick to perswade her to go with him yet could he by no means prevail with her Then did he set his house in order desiring her to pray that God would establish him in the work that he went about and on Christmas day he went to the great Church at Dornick and the Priest being at Masse when he was about to elevate the Host Bertrand took the cake out of his hand and trampled it under his feet saying that he did it to shew the glory of that god that they worshipped or rather what little power he had labouring to perswade them that the cake was not their Saviour At first the people stood amazed but presently they raised such a tumult that Bertrand hardly escaped with life The Governour hearing of it was exceedingly enraged and sent for Bertrand into the Castle asking him whether he was sorry for his fact and whether he would do it if it were to do again Bertrand answered That he would and if he had a hundred lives to lose he would lose them all in that quarrel Then was he thrice put to the rack and tormented cruelly to draw from him who were his setters on yet could they get nothing from him Then was he condemned and drawn from the Castle to the Market-place with a Ball of iron in his mouth There he was set upon a stage and had his right hand wherewith he did the fact crushed between two hot irons with sharp edges till the form of his hand was quite changed Then did they bring other red hot irons for his right foot which they used as they had done his hand which he with marvellous patience and constancy underwent putting out his foot of his own accord to them Then taking the ball of Iron out of his mouth they cut out his tongue notwithstanding which he continually called and cryed unto God which caused them to thrust in the ball of iron again Then was he let down in an iron chaine upon the fire and pulled up again and so they continued pulling up and letting him down till he was burnt to ashes which ashes they threw into the river From Locrane in Helvetia the Ministers were banished but were entertained by the Tigurines Two other good men born in Dornick went into divers reformâ—d Churches where they increased much in knowledge and godlinesse and at last resolved to return to Dornick to do what good they could in their own Country and it so fell out that on a day when many good people were gone to a wood to hear the Word of God preached to them by a Minister of Jesus Christ their Adversaries having intelligence of it followed them thither and took about thirty of them amongst whom were these two men who fell to singing of Psalms supposing that they should be presently burned but afterwards they were condemned to be beheaded and so they comfortably ended their lives Also divers godly men and women suffered Martyrdome at Valence amongst whom was James Faber an old man who when they argued with him about his religion said Though I cannot satisfie you by reasoning yet I can constantly abide and suffer for the truth of the Gospel Also one Godfride being condemned at Dornick for an Heretick Nay said he Not an Heretick but an unprofitable servant of Jesus Christ. When the Hangman would have strangled him to ease his pain in burning he refused saying that he would abide the sentence of death which was passed upon him Besides these there were both in the upper and lower Germany many others secretly made away some drowned some bured quick some murthered in prison c. A godly Minister was also poisoned by a Priest at Erford for preaching the truth of Christ Besides many others In the city of Lile the Gospel was secretly preached for three years together sometimes in houses then in woods fields and Caves of the earth not without hazard of their dearest lives if they had been discovered yet did not dangers cool the zeal of Gods people but what was preached was accordingly practised amongst them works of mercy and charity were their exercise not only towards those of the houshold of faith but towards those which were without also so as many by means hereof were drawn and brought to the knovvledge of Christ. This so enraged Satan and his instruments that Anno 1556 the time being come wherein God had given them power to try and exercise the faith of his people they neglected not to shew their cruelty upon them and for that end one night about ten of the clock the Provost of the City with his armed Sergeants made search to see if they could find any met together but by Gods Providence there was no meeting of Gods People at that time then went they to the house of one Robert Oguire which was a little Church for all in it both small and great were familiarly instructed in the knowledge and fear of God Being violently entred into the house seeking up and down for their prey they found certain books which they took away with them but Baudizon the son of Robert whom they principally sought after was not then at home being gone abroad to confer of the word with some of the brethren Before the Provost was departed Baudizon came home and knocked at the door Martin his younger brother who watched for his coming bade him presently to be gone but he thinking that he had mistaken him for some other continued knocking saying It is I open the door Then came the Sergeants and opened the door and laying hold on him said Ah Sir you are well met and with that the Provost arrested him in the Emperours name withall causing the Father Mother and two sons to be bound and so carried them away towards the prison As they went through the streets Baudizon said aloud Oh Lord assist us by thy grace not only to be prisoners for thy names sake but to confess thy holy truth in all purity before men so far as to seal the same with our blood for the edification of thy poor Church they were all
most of the Ministers were turned out of their places so that they durst not preach nor pray but in private And a certaine Noble man having apprehended six of the Brethren cast them into prison and when they were brought forth to be burnt they went chearfully to the fire and when the chief officer taking affection to one of them offered him his life if he would recant his error profering him withall to give him a years time to consider of it he pawsed a while but by and by answered It is too much by such a delay to lose my Brethrens company and so going along with them they were burned together Shortly after the Chancellor that had procured the passing of the Edict against the Brethren as he returned from the Parliament visiting a certaine Noble man by the way he with great pleasure reported to him what was agreed upon against the brethren The Noble man having a servant by that was much edicted to the discipline of the Brethren asked him how he liked it the servant answered that all were not agreed The Chancellor suspecting some new conspiracy asked him who durst oppose the States of the Kingdom c the servant said In heaven there is one who if he were not present at your counsels you have consulted in vain The Chancellor replied Thou knave thou shalt finde that as well as the rest And rising up in fury immediately a Carbuncle rose upon his foot which turned to a disease called Ignis sacer whereof he died miserably Another of the great sticklers in this businesse returning homewards as he was a lighting out of his Chariot to make water he struck his member on a sharp nail that was in the boot whereby he drew out his entrails with him and not long after he gave up the ghost Also D· Augustine who by slanderous libels had endeavoured to stirre up the King against the Brethren died suddenly as he was at supper Another Noble man of these persecutors as he was hunting his horse threw him and his arrow ran into his thigh and came out at his loins whereby he died a most paineful death Many others of them felt the like judgements of God so that it grew into a proverbe amongst them If you be weary of your life attempt something against the Piccards and you shall not escape a year to an end About this time God stirred up in Germany undaunted Luther the thunderbolt against the Pope which occasioned many of the Calixtines to resolve to embrace the purer Doctrine of the Gospel and to seek for the Ordination of their Ministers from Wittenberg rather then from Rome But amongst these there was one Zahere an Apostate who to ingratiate himselfe with the King and Pope would enforce the Pastors and Citizens of Prague to subscribe to sundry Articles or else they must be proscribed And first of all six Pastors were banished then sixty five of the chiefest Citizens Then to colour greater cruelty a rumour was spread abroad of a conspiracy made by the Brethren against the Calixtines and to extort a confession hereof three Citizens were brought to the rack who rather chose to suffer all torments then falsly to accuse the innocent Yet divers were persecuted Amongst others a Cutler that had found an Orthodox Book about the Sacraments was whipped openly in the market-place and banished Another was branded in the forehead a third was thrust into prison and there murthered Then in the Assembly of Estates it was decreed that the Mandate of the King should be put in execution against the Piccards Whereupon a new persecution was raised against the Brethren their Churches being shut up and their Exercises forbidden Anno 1526. A godly and learned man together with his Hostesse with whom he lodged a widow of sixty years old were both burnt in the fire for Picardism together with the books that were found about them Another godly woman being brought before the Magistrate made a hold profession of her faith and then being required to prepare her garments to be burnt in she answered They are ready leade me away when you please The Crier declaring openly that she had blaâ—phâ—med she with a loud voice denied it saying It is false I am condemned because I deny the Reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament give no credit to these Priests they are dissembling Hypâ—crites Adulterers Sodomites Epicures c. Being commanded to pray to the Crucifix she turned her back to it and lifting up her eyes to heaven she said There is our God thither we must look and so chearfully mounting the pile she was burned Anno Christi 1527. The year after two German tradesmen were caught at Prague accused by the Monks of Lutheranism and condemned to be burnt As they went to execution such gracious words proceeded out of their mouths as drew tears from the spectators eyes When they came to the pile they exceedingly encouraged one another onâ— of them saying Since our Lord Christ hath suffered such grievous things for us let us chearfully suffer for him and rejoyce that we have found so much favour with him that we are counted worthy to die for the Law of God The other said I in the day of my marriage found not so much inward joy as I do now When fire was put to them with a loud voice they said Lord Jesus thou in thy sufferings prayedst for thine enemies therefore we also do the like Forgive the King the men of Prague and the Clergy for they know not what they do and their hands are full of bloud and so they slept in the Lord. But one of their chief persecutors who wished that all the Piccards were hanged beheaded or burnt by his own hands had all these befall himself by Gods just judgement For being much in debt he hanged himself and when his friends had privately buried him the common people hearing of it digged up his carcasse and cast it away which by the Magistrates command was ordered to be burnt but when the woodstack was consumed and the carcasse only scorched his head was stricken off Zahera the Apostate when under colour of an Inquisition against the Piccards he raised up civil commotions was by the King banished where he died miserably The like befell another of those cruel persecutors Anno 1535. Ferdinand the first succeeding in the Kingdom the Popish party cunningly stirred up the Calixtines to persecute the Brethren Whereupon they suffering many grievous things sent a petition together with a confession of their Faith to Ferdinand at Vienna subscribed by twelve Barons and thirty three Knights complaining how unjustly they were accused by their enemies and that the Priests ordinarily cried out that the Piccards might be slain without controul and that a lesse sin was thereby committed than if one killed a dog Ferdinand returned answer that he had not leisure to consider of their Papers yet promised
the Cathedral which he refused because of a great fit of sicknesse which had made him very weak but he was forced to undertake it though he was so weak a creature that sometimes he was fain to be carried to Church and by reason of his faintnesse was necessitated once or twice in a Sermon to drink a draught of wine to refresh himself About this time there was one Scobario a man famous for life and learning chosen by the Magistrates of the City to the Government of the Colledge of Children who out of his zeal to promote the Gospel converted his Stipend to the erecting of a Divinity-lecture in the Cathedral Church and Constantine having recovered his health was chosen to read it who performed it excellently well beginning with the Proverbs Ecclesiastes and the Canticles which having passed through very learnedly he began upon the book of Job and proceeded to expound more than half of it But some evil spirit envying the Progresse of the Gospel in that City under a pretence of fervent zeal caused him to forsake this course and encombred him so many ways that he was never clear of those troubles to his dying day For not long after he was brought before the Inquisitors and had many things laid to his charge yet by his quick and ready answers he easily avoided them and they could not by any means bring him to make an open Protestation of his faith by which all their hope was to circumvent him and so he might have escaped had not God by a special Providence compelled him as it were briefly and plainly to confesse his faith The occasion was this There was one Isabel Martin apprehended in whose house Constantine had hid some special books for fear of the Inquisitors This womans goods being sequestred her son conveyed divers chests of her best goods away to another place This coming to the Inquisitors ears by means of an unfaithful servant they sent their Officer immediately to demand those Chests The womans sonne supposing that the Officer came for Constantines books said unto him I know what you come for and therefore if you will promise me upon your honest word to depart quietly I will bring you to them the Officer supposing that he meant the Chests promised him so to do Then did he carry him into a secret place and plucking forth a stone or two in the wall shewed him Constantines Jewels of paper indeed but farre more precious than gold or pearle the Officer astonished to finde that which he looked not for told him that he came for no such thing but for certain Chests of his mothers goods which he had purloined from the Sequestrators and that notwithstanding his promise he must carry both him and his books to the Inquisitors Thus came Constantines writings into the Inquisitors hands out of which they quickly found matter enough against him Then did they send for him before them and demanded if he knew his own hand he shifted it off at the first but afterwards perceiving that it was the Will of God that he should bear witnesse to the truth he confessed it to be his own writing protesting openly that all things therein contained were full of truth and sincerity Therefore said he trouble your selves no further in seeking Witnesses against me seeing you have so plain and apert a Confession of my judgment and faith but deal with me as you shall please Then was he cast into prison and kept there two whole years where partly by occasion of his corrupt dyet but chiefly of grief to see such havock made of the poor Church of Christ which himself and his brethren had with so great pains and care planted and watered he began first to be crazy and then not being able to endure the extream heat of the Sunne which made his prison like an hot house he was forced to strip himself to his very shirt wherein he lay day and night by occasion whereof he fell into the bloody flux and within fifteen days died in the stinking prison rendring up his soul to Christ for promoting of whose glory he had oft times manfully adventured it He never indeed felt those cruel torments which the Inquisitors used to inflict upon others but it was not because they regarded such a man of eminency as he was but because they intended to delay his punishment by keeping him long in prison not expecting that he should so suddenly have been taken out of their hands Yet did these Imps of Satan spread abroad a report that before his death upon the Rack he had confessed to them who were his disciples and this they did to make men come in and accuse themselves upon hope to finde the more favour with the Inquisitors They reported also that he opened one of his veins with a broken glasse whereof he died that so he might avoid the shame and punishment of his heresies And against the day of their solemn triumph his corps was taken out of his grave and set in a Pulpit with one hand resting on the Desk and holding up the other just as he used to do when he preached Then they passed sentence upon him and so afterwards caused him to be burned Thus we have seen in some few examples the rage of these bloody Inquisitors against the poor Saints and Servants of Jesus Christ whereof a great number were cruelly murthered in a few years space in that one City of Sivil whereby we may partly guesse how great numbers have suffered in all other places since the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ brake forth untill this day under their cruel and bloody tyranny Collected out of a book called The Discovery of the Spanish Inquisition c. First written in Latin by Reynold Gonsalvius Montanus and afterwards translated into English The Persecution of Nicholas Burton Englishman by the Inquisitors in Spain Anno 1560. THis Burton was a Citizen of London who being about his merchandise at Cadiz in Spain there came to his lodging one of the Familiars desiring to take lading to London in the ship which Burton had fraited and this he did that he might learn where his goods were Presently after came a Serjeant who apprehended Burâ—ton and carried him away to the Inquisitors who though they could charge him with nothing spoken or written against them since he came to Spain yet they sent him to the filthy common prison where he remained in irons fourteen dayes amongst Thieves In which time he so instructed the poor Prisoners in the Word of God that in short space he had well reclaimed many of those ignorant and superstitious souls which being known to the Inquisitors they presently removed him laden with irons from thence to Sivil and put him into the more cruel prison in the Castle of Triana where the Inquisitors proceeded against him after their accustomed cruel manner by racking c. Neither could he
thousand villanies women and maids were ravished in the open market-place and streets some were beaten and hailed to Masse children were re-baptized others married again houses were pillaged and plundred Some that fled into the field died with hunger and cold Many men women and children were massacred and drowned infants were dashed against the walls and some others were hanged The Executioners running into divers places committed a world of mischief and divers Priests amongst them slew some of the Protestants with their own hands At Troys Bibles and Divinity-books were rent and torn in pieces They of the Religion were murthered and their houses sacked Eighteen men were hanged women were dragged through the streets and cast into the river and Infants were pulled from their Mothers breasts and re-baptized At Bar the Popish enemies entring the Town committed such cruelties as never were seen especially against women and little children Some of their breasts they cut open pulled out their hearts and gnawed them with their teeth rejoycing that they had tasted of an Huguenots heart A young Counsellor they hanged at the request of his own father with most horrible blasphemies they ravished women and girls Mounsieur de St. Esteen with his two brothers were cruelly stabbed by their own Cousin germane their wives were spoiled of all they had and led away prisoners The Pesants in some places committed infinine murthers and mischiefs against those of the Religion Monsieur de Vigney with his wife and servants they massacred in his own house which afterward they pillaged and spoiled In Crant the Pesants entring the Town murthered many one young child together with his father they burnt In Sens one hundred Protestants were cruelly murthered and their naked bodies thrown into the River one hundred houses were plundered the Church where they preached was defaced At Auxerre one Cosson was barbarously massacred a faire young Gentlewoman was stabbed and cast into the River many other outrages and robberies were committed At Nevers the Ministers were cast into prison whereof one perished miserably there Another miraculously escaped Children were re-baptized marriages reiterated and many houses plundred The Popish party entring Chastillon left no kind of cruelty un-exercised neither upon Women nor Children old nor young yea not sparing the women with childe that were ready to be delivered At Guyen they used all the cruelty that possibly could be invented and some Italians in hatred of the Religion cut an infant in two pieces and eat his liver At Montargis there lived the Lady Rene Dutchesse Dowager of Ferrara and daughter to King Lewis the twelfth The Duke of Guise sent thither one Malicorn a Knight of the Order who entring the Town murthered some of the Religion and committed other outrages Then he proceeded so far as to threaten the Lady to batter her Castle with Canon-shot if she would not deliver up those of the Religion which were with her To whom the Princesse bravely answered I charge you look what you enterprize for no man in the Realm can command me but the King only and if you proceed to your battery I will stand in the breach to try whether you dare kill the daughter of a King neither do I want means or power to be revenged on your boldnesse even to the infants of your rebellious race This stout answer made Malicorne to pull in his hornes and depart At Monlius Monsieur de Montare used all extremity against the Protestants and without any form of Law he hanged up two Artificers drave others out and plundred their houses and murthered many At Mans two hundred persons were put to death men women and children the houses of the Protestants were pillaged such as were fled were executed by their pictures their goods confiscated and their children made uncapable of their offices and estates yea of inheriting their Lands Some they beheaded Others they hung up Others they massacred and being half dead threw them into the River Above one hundred and twenty men women and children were murthered in the neighbouring Villages One Captain threw above fifty persons into his fishpond to feed his Pikes and above as many more were thrown into Ditches One godly man a Weaver had his throat cut and his moutastuffed with leaves of a New Testament which they found bouth him At Anger 's they murthered a godly Minister cast many into prison robbed the houses of others and slew such as they found therein In a Merchants house finding many books of the holy Scriptures they openly burnt them in the middle of the Town One fair guilt Bible they hung upon an Halberd and carried it in Procession saying Behold truth hanged the truth of the Huguenots the truth of all the Divels Behold the mighty God behold the everlasting God will speak and when they came to the Bridge they threw it into the River crying louder Behold the truth of all the Divels drowned Above eighty other persons were executed An aged Gentlewoman of the age of seventy years was beaten to death with their pistols then drawn through the dirty streets and thrown into the River terming her the mother of the Divel that preached to the Huguonets A Counsellors wife that lay bed-rid was murthered women and maids were ravished Two young maids were ravished before their Fathers face who was forced to look on the while All that were but suspected to be of the Religion were massacred and their houses pillaged A valiant Captain contrary to their faith given to him they broke upon a Crosse and so they left him hanging in great misery till he died Anno 1562. a Decree was made by the Parliament of Paris commanding all Catholicks presently to rise in Armes to sound the Bells in every place to destroy all those of the Religion without respect of quality sex or age to spoyle their Houses and utterly to root them out This encouraged all sorts of rascals to rise up in Armes forsaking their Vocations and to march against the Protestants In Ligueul they hanged up some put out the Ministers eyes and then burnt him in a small fire In other places they committed infinite villanies One young man they flayed alive The Village of Aze they burnt down and massacred thirty persons therein A godly Minister was drowned called John de Tour at seventy five years old At Tours one hundred and forty were murdered and cast into the River divers others were drowned sparing neither man woman nor child The President being suspected to favour them of the Religion was beaten with staves stript to his shirt hanged up by one foot his head in the water up to the breast and whilst he was yet living they ript up his belly pluck't out his guts and threw them into the River and sticking his heart upon the point of a Lance they carried it about saying It was the heart of
to the slaughter as well by reason of its being very much frequented and grown famous as also because of the Synod there usually celebrated as likewise a famous University and Printing-house and books frequently published to the world When therefore in the year 1655. the Swedish Army out of Pomerania drew near to the borders of Poland and the Nobility were summoned to Arms according to the custome of the Countrey it came to passe that the Papists brake forth into many furious expressions crying out That the Hereticks had invited the Enemy and therefore they were first of all to be put to the sword and extirpated which reports though most falsly scattered abroad for the searcher of the heart and the reins knoweth that we never so much as dreamt of it yet they easily found credit among the sworn Enemies of the Gospel who sought nothing more than our ruine Hereupon they who first consulted to agree with the Swedish Army being terrified by its power concluded about the surrender of all Great Poland into the Kings protection and namely the Royal Cities of Posen Calissen Meserick c. to which also Lesna was expressely added In a little time after they endeavoured to cast off the Swedish Yoke and turned their Arms not against the Swedes but first against our Evangelical Professors as conspiring with the Swedes upon the account of Religion and none of them scrupled to take revenge upon them They first of all set upon those of Lesna with resolution of putting all to the sword and destroying that Heretical City by fire and they had effected both unlesse God had by sending some persons before who by signifying the coming of the Enemy and with what intent they came had possest the Citizens with a Panick fear so that leaving all their Estates they every man fled and thus within the space of one hour a most populous City abounding with all manner of wealth was left without Inhabitants who in a miserable condition wandered then into the neighbouring Woods and Marishes into Silesia But the Polish Nobility with their Army entring the City did what they pleased slaying a number of decrepit old people and sick persons that were not able to save themselves by flight then the City it self was first plundred and afterwards so destroyed by fire for three dayes together that no part of it remained beside rubbish and ashes In what manner they would have handled the Citizens especially their Pastors they shewed by their heroick actions performed in other places by the most savage slaughtering of divers Ministers of the Church and other faithful Members of Christ of both Sexes for of all that they laid hold on they gave not one man quarter but very cruelly put them to death with most exquisite tortures They endeavoured to force Master Samuel Cardus Pastor of the Church of Czuertzinen to renounce his Religion after they had taken him and miserably handled him with all manner of cruelty but he stoutly resisting they first put out his Eyes and led him about for a spectacle then they pulled off his Fingers-ends with pincers but he not yet condescending to their mad Fury they found out a new kinde of torment poured molten Lead into his mouth and at length while he was yet half alive they clapt his Neck between folding Doors and violently pulling them together severed his Head from his Body They took John Jacobides Pastor of the Church of Dembnick and Alexander Wartens his Colleague and another that was in company with them as they passed through the Toun of LUBIN and hurrying them up and down for divers hours and grievously handling them after the manner of Tyrants then last of all cutting their Throats with a Razor threw them headlong while they were yet breathing into a great pit which had been before-hand prepared for their Martyrs and stifled them by casting down Dung and Dirt upon them They a great while pursued Andrew Oxlitius a young man designed for the Ministery whom after long seeking they at last found in the open field and in the end having taken him they cut off his Head with a Sithe chopping it into smal pieces and the dead carcase also they slasht in a barbarous manner The same fate befell Adam Milta a Citizen of Lesna but they more grievously handled an old man of above seventy whose name was Simon Priten and many others whose names it were too tedious to relate Of that barbarous execution which they did upon the weaker Sex there were besides other examples horrid Trophies of Cruelty erected in the said City of Lesna a pious Matron there who was the mother of three children not being able quick enough to leave the City and being slain in the open street they cut off her hands feet cutting off her childrens heads they laid two of them at her breasts and the third by her side In like manner another woman having her hands and feet cut off and her tongue cut out being inclosed and bound in a Sack lived the space of two dayes making most miserable lamentation Grief forbids us to adde more for they behaved themselves so furiously towards us that there remains not an example of any one man saved of all those that happened to fall into their hands It is notoriously known how that fury of theirs tyrannized also over the dead some they dragg'd out of their graves and cut in pieces as at Zichlin others they exposed naked for a publick Spectacle as at Lesna of which outragious action we had an example even in the dead body of the most Serene Landgrave of Hassia which was drawn out of the grave who was heretofore slain in a most barbarous and tyrannical manner at Koscian but buried by our Friends at Lesna The like was acted also upon the Body of the most Noble Arciszevius heretofore the valiant Admiral of the Hollanders in Brazile which was likewise dragg'd out of the grave and being stript of the grave-clothes was found after the firing of Lesna There are divers other examples which the Christian Reader may finde in the Book Entituled Lesnae Excidium faithfully written and lately set forth in print but they are such examples onely as are commonly known for who is able to relate all things in particular as burning men alive drowning others with stones tied about their necks c. Now Lesna being destroyed the fury of the Enemy proceeded to the persecutions of others they in a short time utterly demolished all our Congegations not onely driving away the Pastors but also either burning or leaving most of the Temples desolate as at Karmin Dembnick Skochy Czriuczin c yea and the Auditories themselves were either slain as in the Town of Skochy where there was a very flourishing Church of the Bohemian Exiles Sixty persons both men and women were cruelly put to death or else they were scattered abroad so that there remained not one place wherein the Worship of God may be celebrated Lo
which I pray thee to amend with thy pen before thou readest the Book ERRATA in the general MARTYROLOGIE PAge 29 line 14 read him for them l 40 r India for Indian p 36 l 25 r whom for who p 37 l. 17. put in cease to l 21 put in to p 45 l 6 r were for was l 14 r Decree for degree p 62 l 22 r adorning for adoreing p 67 l 4 r this for his l 5 r com for cow l 8 r they for the. p 79 l 16 r that for the p 81 l 29 r stake for stalk p 84 l 41 r also for all p 94 l 28 r Torturers for tortures l 36 r Courtiers for Countries p 106 l ult put in whosoever p 114 l 37 r they for the. p 115 l 10 r was for were l 15 r Prince for Princes p 117 l 17 r which for with l 23 r belief for relief p 118 l 3 r edified for edifying p 120 l 1 r they for the p. p 121 l 25 put in whereupon p 122 l 26 r enjoyned for enjoyed p 128 l 41 r slaying for staying p 132 l 31 r children for child p 133 l 17 r receiving for receive p 135 l 32 r sixty for sixtly p 137 l 39 r opened for opening p 147 l 34 put out was p 149 l 7 r retaining for restraining p. 151 l 16 r their for they p 152 l 11 r represented for presented p 153 l 37 r approach for reproach p 154 l 1 r die for are l 31 r Bertrand for Bâ—trand p 156 l 1 r Bosnia for Bosina l 7 r when for where p. 158 l 41 r root for rout p 159 l ult r delivered for discovered p 160 l 15 r Maundy for munday p 161 l 29 r upon for of Cities for City p 163 l 5 r buried for burnt l 14 r they for the. l 29 r two for second p 164 l 1 r Catholick for Cathe p 186 l 42 r they for the. p 189 l 2 r breast for breasts l 8 r was for were p 193 l 8 r hoary for heavy p 198 l 7 put out should p 202 l 9 r were for was p 139 l 15 r this for his l 17 r for never no man r no man ever p 271 l 41 put in free p 279 l 8 put in one l 28 r sent for set p 297 l 16 r zeal for seal p 303 l 24 put in her p 304 l 13 put in took p 308 l 7 r girls for gilts l 11 r burnt for burn l 16 r goodly for godly l 30 r macerating for macecrating p 309 l 28 put in of p 334 l 3 r mouth for mouta p 351 l ult r Parisians for Persians p 375 l 18 put in brought p 378 l 9 put out and so p 383 l 21 r short for shot p 387 l 35 r leave for have p 404 l 12 r whom for where p 468 l 6 for Infections r Infractions Other literal faults are easily amended Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae Act. 14.22 1 Thes. 1.4 Lam. 3.33 34 Isa. 10.12 1 Pet. 4.17 Micha 7.9 1 Tim. 3.12 Heb. 12.7 Luk. 23.31 Praemonitus praemunitus Gen. 3.5 Gen. 4.8 Abel Noah Gen. 6.11 Gen. 9.22 Lot Isaac Jacob. Joseph Thâ— Israelites in Egypt Moses Moses and Aaron Israel in the time of the Judges Jsrael in Saul's time David 1 King 14.25 26. Judah under the Kings Asa persecutes a Prophet Michaiah Gods judgement on Persecutors Elijah Elisha Zechariah 2 Chron. 28.8 Isaiah Jer. 24.1 c. Jeremiah The 3 Children Daniel Mordecai Israel after the Captivity Nehe. 2.19 and â— 2 3 8. Nehemiah The Jews persecuted by Bagoses Prayer in times of danger Apostates Antiochus entred Jerusalem Antiochus robs the Temple Forbideth the daily sacrifice His Cruelty Christian courage The Scriptures burnt Matthias his zeal A noble Resolution Zeal The Jews murthered refusing to fight on the Sabbath day Matthias his sickness His counsel to his sons His death Apollonius slain Judas encouraged his souldiers Seron slain Antiochus his â—rpel command Fasting and prayer before the battel His exhortation to his Army A wonderfull vâ—ctory Gorgias flies Thanksgiving Prayer Lysias beaten The Temple cleansed The service of God restored The Edomites overcome The Ammonites overcome Simons victories in Galile Judas taketh Bozra Overcometh Timothy Timothy again overcome Ephron destroyed Thanksgiving for victory A miracle of mercy Vain-glory punished The Idumaeans overcome Antiochus his horrible death Gods judgemente on Persecatorâ— Antiochus Eupaâ—tor Bethsura besieged Eleazer slew and is slain by an Elephent Bethsura surrendred The Temple besieged A speciall providence Perfidiousness A just judgement Antiochus slain by Demetrius The wickednes of Apostates Bacchides sent against Judas Perjury Perfidiousness Alcimus his subtilty and cruelty Nicanor sent against Judas His subtility Judas in danger Judas forced to retreat Nicanors blasphemy A terrible battel Nicanor slain A just judgement Judas sends to the Romans A league between the Jews and Romans Bacchides sent â—gainst Judas twenty thousand Judas his resolution A terrible battel Judas slain Antiochus his cruel Edict Constancy Subtilty Courage Eleazer cruelly beaten His admirable patience His zeal His prayer at death Antiochus his subtilty The seven brethrens courage Maccabeus his torments His resolute speech His Martyrdom His speech at death Abers torments Or Leopard Hâ—s speech at death Machir brought forth His courage His torments His speech at death Judas his courage His torments His speech at death Achas his courage His torments His speech at death Areth his courage His torments His speech at death Jacob brought forth Antiochus his subtilty His mother encourageth him His noble courage His torments * Lord. His last words Salamona's zeal Her speech to her Children Her torments and death See more of this before Mat. 2.2 5 16. Gods Judgement on Persecutors Herods miserable death John Baptist beheâ—ded Mat. 14.10 Gods Judgements on Herod for it Caius Caligula Act. 4.1 17. The Apostles beaten Steven stoned Paul persecuted Act. 12.1 2. A Persecutor converted James beheaded Peter escapeth death Gods Judgement on Herod Paul and Barnabas persecuted Paul stoned Paul and Silas whipt Paul and Silas again persecuted Act. 17.5 13 14. Sosthenes beaten Paul in danger Acts 24.27 Pauls Martyrdom The Martyrdom of James His constancy in prayer Andrews martyrdom Philips Martyrdom Bartholemew Thomas Matthew Simon Zel. Judas Matthias Mark Nicanor Quinquennium Neronis Nero sets Rome on fire The Circus burnt down Nero charged it upon the Christians Raiseth the first Persecution Several kinds of torments Beastly cruelty Tertullians speech Peter and Paul martyred Domitians character He destroyes Davids seed St. John put into boiling oyl Banished into Patmos An excellent story â—f a young man Simâ—on crucified Flavia banished A cruel death Christians slandered Charged with Sedition and Rebellion and the causers of all publick Calamities Christianos ad Leones The Oath ex officio Variety of torments Burial denied them Protasius Gervasius Timothy and Dionysius martyred Trajans persecution Pliny writes in the Christians behalf
all that know him that he is earnestly bent to take away the differences and advance the reconcilement of Protestants within themselves and that he makes no difference between Lutherans as they are called and Calvinists but makes use of both alike according to their abilities as he findes them fitted for employment to forreign affairs for within the Kingdom of Sweden no forreigners and none but Lutherans are to be admitted to the civil charges of trust others are employed in military charges both there and elsewhere according to their deserts But presently after the Elector of Brandenburg was by subtile artifices withdrawn from the King of Sweden and joyned with the Emperour and the King of Poland against him the King of Denmark was prevailed with to break his late-made League and the States of the United Provinces have joyned with the Dane against him and God having taken away his great friend Oliver Lord Protector he hath conflicted with many and great difficulties and yet hitherto God hath upholden him from sinking under them What the issue will be time must discover FINIS A Table of all the principal Things contained in this General MARTYROLOGIE A ANabaptists wickedness Pag. 281 Anger implacable 355 Apostacy dangerous 43 50 53 82 171 183 202 205 210 264 324 349 Apostates wickedness 6 15 177 B BIbles sacred Scriptures burnt 7 62 204 210 283 332 333 334 388 Bibles in French first printed 118 Blasphemy 16 44 72 84 86 172 186 189 190 209 290 295 310 334 336 337 338 339 348 384 388 C CHarity of Christians 70 92 96 103 285 286 293 303 320 323 367 369 Chastity eminent 52 Children martyred 44 48 51 72 73 91 99 110 346 391 Children encouraged by their parents to sufferings 23 24 75 88 95 98 315 Christ preferred above all 132 269 283 350 359 Christians slandred as the Authors and causes of mischief 31 34 37 41 46 56 63 80 87 98 105 112 115 136 174 177 179 325 Christians murthered in Churches 65 93 329 360 Christians reproached 82 241 Comfort at death 177 193 196 266 270 279 282 289 320 Conscience evil 92 Constancy of Gods children 18 39 42 44 53 63 73 76 78 81 92 94 95 117 132 147 171 188 204 209 254 264 266 269 270 272 277 288 301 304 305 341 361 364 415 Conversions strange 47 48 58 179 268 279 286 287 289.299.303 329 364 Courage and Constancy of Gods children 7 9 18 20 21 22 23 51 52 57 63 66 67 71 73 77 83 85 86 98 99 103 118 142 189 191 192 256 259 269 288 290 291 292 293 295 299 302 317 319 321 323 326 360 362 370 389 400 406 429 Cruelty of heathens to Gods people 7 9 31 52 65 69 71 76 77 83 84. Cruelty of Heriticks to them 87 89 91 93 94 95 96 97. Cruelty of Papists to them 103 105 108 110 111 113 115 125 126 134 135 137 143 146 153 171 173 183 184 188 201 203 206 207 208 209 240 241 242 272 279 282 286 288 292 297 298 305 308 309 c. 323 325 328 330 332 c. 344 361 380 c. 414 c. 421 c. 451. D Devils subtilty 59 Dissimulation 199 252 341 342 343 345 402 416. E Edicts good 145 Edicts and Lawes cruel 49 62 70 97 106 137 155 160 164 173 175 179 198 199 319 335 362 397 405 413. Envie 94 Examples prevalent 98 F Faith of Gods children 77.78 190 193 266 304 331 336 338 361 False witnesses 282 Famines terrible 69 157 159 298 352 355 356. Fasting and Prayer 122 Fidelity 193 Flattery 73 249 Flight in time of persecution 51 Flight refused 287 300 317 H Hereticks profane 90 100 Hereticks proud 97 Heretickes subtile 96 97 Hereticks impudent 98 Heroical acts 274 292 Humane frailty 41 51 63 66 120 134 249 267 273 296 319 327 366 Humility 275 Husbands malice against his wife 40 Hypocrisie 68 70 248 316 350 I Idolatry gross 276 Idolatry reformed 282 Jewes murthered refusing to fight on the sabbath 8 Ignorance 256 285 365 Jmage of Apollo broken with lightning 85 Ingratitude 36 184 281 348 Inquisition begun 118 236. Joy unspeakable 44 193 â—67 Joy in tribulation 128 190 209 270 294 296 302 336 366. Judgments of God 16.116 154 157. L Life refused 266 Love of Christians 54.115 M Meekness of Christians 287 Ministers Mâ—rtyred 53.56 80 88 172 187 280 284 285 286 290 293 298 310 311 329 336 340 346 350 351 352 Ministers sheltred in times of Persecution 198 Miracles Miracles of mercy 13 23 32 41 49 51 63 83 87 121 279 282 285 288 320 322 324 337 343.395 N Nobility true 72 O Ordination of Ministers 174 P Patience of Gods children in sufferings 19 40 50 66 191 203 271 274 292 296 323 338 349 373 Perfidiousness 15.243 See Popish perfidiousness Persecution spreads the Gospel 104 156 164 174 178 328. Persecutors plagued by God 13 26 28 48 53 54 59 67 69 70 84 89 100 112 116 125 138 139 168 175 176 177 210 211 257 277 283 284 297 305 321 326 328 330 354 355 364 389 392 393 394 433 Persecutors converted 27.64.322 Plagues terrible 54.69.158 Popish malice 103.104.106.115.119 120.173.175.178.179.208.235.251 279.284.289.300.320.326.329 367.399 Popish Prrfidiousnesse 122.124.125 131.145.149.150.151.159.183 201.233.264.290.298.299.316 335.338.339.340.362.378.380 390.393 Popish subtilty 113.114.122.124 128.140.147.151.170.172.174 180. c. 199.203.206.207.233 237.239.290.296.306.331.351 364.405 c. 432 Popish uncleanness 113.138.139.144 207.336.376.378.391.392 Prayer in times of danger â—5 10.11 126.129.130.287 Prayer powerfull and prevalent 44. â—9 123.191.294.370 Predictions and Prophesies 195.265.324.368.370.371.372.375 Pride 62.92.148 Profanness 93 118.121.123.135.139.17â—.207 Providences special 14.40.52.54.58.61.78.85.88.91.92.93.96.114.116.118.120.123.124.125.126.128.129 130.134.145.167.178.179.184.202.251.255.259.261.264.265.266.269.277.286.289.292.299.303 307.316.317.325.326.328.330.331 332 338.347.351.352.354.360.361.367.369.404.432.433 Prudence of Chrisâ—ians 119.326.401 R REcovery after falls 43.53.79.202.249.251 256.264.267.273 296.320.328 Riches are snares 50 S Scismaticks plagued by God 90 Scismaticks bloody 86 Scismaticks profane 90 Scismaticks subtile 86 Scisme comes from pride 54 172 Scriptures see Bible Sectaries dangerous 48 Sin the forerunner of persecution 56.61.100.180.341 Son dutifull and loving 346 Southsayers wickedness 49 55 79 80 Speeches excellent 293.295 300.304.317.322 327.334.352.362 Stories excellent 33.78.88.95.125.322 353 Subtilty of the Churches enemies 16.18.20.23.82.84.87 Success no sign of a good cause 189.278 Sympathy 95 Synods 173 T TEntations resisted 77.79.94.95.99.132 176 187 190 .203.265.268.270.271.272.284.291.293.300.322.327.336.361.365 Thanksgiving for mercies 129.154 Thanksgiving for sufferings 266 300 Trechery rewarded 45.323.359 360 V Visions 53.56 W WAldenses their opinions 103 Wife loving to her husband 171 Wisdom of Christians 84 see prudence Witnesses false plagued by God 47 Womens courage 356.360 Z ZEal 8.19.41.45.46.50.51.53.58 63 76.79.86.107.116.117.131 133.135 â—51 258.268.275.289.290.291.295.299.300.304.315.319.321.324.345.363 FINIS This Book being printed most of it by the printed Copy I looked not over the Proofes and so through the carelesness of the Correctors and Compositors many faults have escaped