the either his divorce with the Lady Kathren Dâ—wager of Spain came into qâ—estion which being many wayes by the space of two or three years amongst the Canonists Civilians and other learned men diversly disputed and debated at what time Cardinal Campeius and Cardinal Volsey being in commission from the Pope to hear and determine that great cause in controversity between the King and the Queen his pretended wife dalied and delayed all the Summer time hearing the said cause in controversie debated and the little minding to pâ—oceed to sentence giving took occasion to finish their commission and not further to determine therein So on a night two Doctors of the kings side and Doctor Cranmer being lodged in one house and as they were at supper they conferred with Doctor Cranmer concerning the Kings cause and asking his judgement he answered that in his opinion they made more adoe in prosecuting she law ecclesiasticall then needed It were better I suppose quoth Doctor Cranmer that the question whether a man may many his brothers wife or no were decided and discurssâ—d by the Divines and by the authority of the word of God whereby the conscience of the Prince may be better satisfied and qâ—ieted then thus from year to year by frustretory delayes to prolong the einâ— leaving the very trâ—th of the matter unâ—oulted o it by the wâ—rd of God and this may be done as well in England in the Universities here as at Rome or else where in any foâ—raign nation When Doctor Cranmer had thus endâ—d his Tale the other two well liked of his devise The King hearing of this advise of â—ranmers caused in all haste to send for him I perceive said the King I peâ—ceive that that man hath the Sow by the right ear And if I had known of this devise two years ago it had been in my way a great peece of money and had also red me out of much disquietnesse he comes to the King and after conference between the King and him he layes a charge upon him to search the Scripture in the cause of his divorce and to write his mind therein so he went about the businesse and incontinent wrote his mind concerning the Kings question adding to the same besides the authority of the Scriptures of General Counsels and of ancient writers also his opinion which was this that the Bishop of Rome had no such authority as whereby he might dispense with the word of God and the Scriptue When Doctor Cranmer had made this book and committed it to the King the King said to him will ye abide by this that yee have here written before the B. of Rome that will I do by Gods grace quoth Doctor Cranmer if your Majesty do send me thither Marie quoth the King I will send you even to him in a sure Ambassage And this by means of Doctor Cranmers handling of this matter with the King not only certain learned men were sent abroad to the most part of the Universities in Christendom to dispute the question but also the same being by commission disputed by the Divines in both the Universities in Cambrige and Oxford It was there concluded that no such Matrimony was by the word of God lawfull Whereupon a solemn Ambassage was then prepared and sent to the Bishop of Rome wherein went the Earle of Wiltshire Doctor Cranmer and other Doctors And when the time came that they should come before the Bishop of Rome to declare the cause of their Ambassage the Bishop sitting on high in his cloath of state and in his rich apparâ—el with his Sandals one his feet offering as it were his foot to be kissed of the Ambassadours the Earie of Wiltshire disdaining thereat stood still and made no countenance thereunto so that all the rest keeped them from that idolatry howbeit one thing is not here to be omitted as a Prognosticat of our separation from the seat of Rome which then chanced by a Spaniel of the Earle of Wiltshire for he having there a great Spaniel which came out of England with him stood directly between the Earle and the Bishop of Rome when the said Bishop had advanced forth his foot to be kissed now whether the Spaniel perceived the Bishop foot of another matter than it ought to be and so taking it to be some kind of repast or whether it was the will of God to shew some token by the Dog unto the Bishop of his inoâ—dinate pride that his foot were moâ—e meet to be bitten of dogs then kissed of Christian men the Spaniel I say when the Bishop extended his foot to be kissed no man regarding the fame straight waies as though he had been of purpose appointed thereunto went directly to the Popes foot and not only kissed the same unmannerly but as some plainly reported and affirmed took fast with his mouth the great toe of the Pope so that in hast he pulled in his glorious feet from the Spaniel whereat one man smileing in their sleeves what they thought God knoweth But in fine the Pontificall B. after that sought no more at that present for kissing his feet but without any ceremony gave ear to the Ambassadors what they had to say Who entring there before the Bishop offered on the Kings behalf to be defended that no man Jure Divino could or ought to Marrie his Brothers wife and that the Bishop of Rome by no means ought to dispense to the contrary Diverse promises were made and sundry dayes appointed wherein the question should have been disputed and when one part was ready to answer no man there appeared to dispute in that behalf So in the end the B. making to our Ambassadors good countenance and gratifying Doctor Cranmer with the office of the penitentiariship dismissed them undisputed withal the Ambassadors retuâ—ned but Cranmer went forward in his Ambassage to the Emperor and there to answer such learned men of the Emperors Counsell as would or could say any thing to the contrary part c. At this time B. Warhame then Archbishop of Canterbury departed this transitoâ—y life whereby that dignity then being in the gift and diâ—position of the King was given unto Cranmer as worthy for his travel of such a promotion He proved a notable B. being indued with all these qualities that the Apostle requires in a Bishop He had many enemies in King Henries time but the King held him up In Queen Maries time he is put to great trouble for his Religion he is imprisoned and keeped long in prison and brought out to his examination and tryall sundrie times he is degraded from his office and condemned The Doctors and Divines of Oxford busied themselves all that ever they could about Mr. Cranmer to have him recant assaying by all crafty practices and allurements they might devise to bring their purpose to passe he at last overcome with their perswasions whether through their importunity or by his own imbecillity or of what mind I cannot tell the recantation
A BREVIARY OF THE LATER PERSECUTIONS Of the Professors of the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS under the Romish and Antichristian Prelats through Christendome from the time of John VVickliff in the year of God 1371. to the Raign of Queen Elizabeth of England and the reformation of Religion in Scotland And of the cruell Persecutions of the Christians under the Turkish Emperors with some memorable occurrences that fell out in these times through diverse Realmes Countreys Collected out of the Ecclesisticall History and Book of Martyrs By Mr. Robert Young Luke 9 23. And he said unto them all if any man will come after me let him deny himself take up his crosse daily follow me Vers 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake the same shal save it Verse 25. For what advantageth it a man if he gain the whole World and destroy himself or lose himself Verse 26. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shalt the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy Angels GLASGOW Printed by ROBERT SANDERS Printer to the City and are to be Sold at his Shop 1674. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER Rome is not now as it was in the Primitive times it was then the seat of the true service and worship of God where the Word or God was truly and purely preached professed and maintained but now Rome is full of errors superstition and idolatry of all iniquitie and wickednesse full of vile abominations Petrark Mantuan and many others call Rome the Shop of all wickedness Babylon Sodom the School of errors the Church of heresies an harlot with a shameless face Mantuan thus noteth the vice there used Pudor in villas si non patiantur easdem Et villae vomicas Roma est jam tota lupanar that is go shame to the Villages if they be yet as free from the same filth or now all Rome is nought save boâ—therlie And Pasquil confirmeth the same when one having bâ—en at Rome at his departure taketh his leave thus Roma vale vidi satis est vidisse revertar Cum leno aut mertrix scurra cynedus ero That is Rome farewell I have seen and now I am glutâ—ed wi h the fight I will return when I am baud gester catamit All things are now saleable at Rome saith Mantuan Venalia nobis Templa Sacerdotes Altaria Sacra Coranae Ignis Thura Preces Coelum est venale deusque Temples Priests Altars rites I tell not tale Crowns Sacrifices Heaven and God are set to sale and the souls of men Tecelius the Popes pardon-monger perswaded the people in Germany that whosoever would give ten shillings should at his pleasure deliver one soul out of the pains of Purgatory and assoon as the money rang in the Basen that soul was set at liberty but if it were one jot lesse then ten shillings it would profite them nothing This gainfull gulâ—eâ—â—e Luther cryed down with all his might and so marred the Market and therefore it is said by onâ— very well Vivere qui sanctè cupitis discedite Roma Omnia cum liceant non licet essepium that is ye that desire to live holy depart from Rome for when all things are lawfull it is not lawfull to be holy And as Rome is not now as it was of old so neither are the Bishops of Rome such men as were in the primitive times they were then Preachers of the Gospel of Christ Jesus maintainers and defenders of it and gave their lives to Martyrdome for the cause of Christ and his Gospel so that there were 25. of them that died Martyrs in order one after another But now the Bishops of Rome â—re become Tyrants and cruel persecuters of the Saints of God and Professors of the Gospel of Christ Jesus with fire and sword as we may see in the Martyrdome of John Hus and Jerome of Prage and thousands â—â—oe And as this insuing Treatise doth declare they are men of wicked and vicious lives given to unlawfull Arts and Sciences as to Necromancy There were eighteen Popes Necromancers one succeeding another they are lifted up in intollerable pride and claim and take to themselves high and arrogant titles as universall Bishops Princes of Priests supream head of the Universall Church and Vicars of Christ here one earth which must not be judged of any having all knowledge of Scriptures and all Laws contained within the Chest of their breasts chief Magistrates of the world they exalt themselves above Kings Princes and Emperours causing some of them to ly under their feet some to hold their stirrop some to lead their horse by the bridle some to kisse their feet placing and displacing Emperors Kings Dukes and Earles whom and when they pleased Was it not a presumptuous thing in Gregorius the seventh to cause the Emperor Henry the fourth to stand at his gate three dayes and three nights bare-foot and bare-legged with his wife and childe in the deep of Winter both frost and snow entreating for his absolution and after did Excommunicate him again so that he was twise Excommunicate in his dayes And did not I Paschalis after Gregorie set up the son of the said Henricus against his father in war to possesse the Empire and to put down his father and so he did And did not I Gregorius set up Robert Wysard and make him King of Sicilia and Duke of Capua Did not I Pope Alexander bring under Henry the second King of England for the death of Thomas Becket and cause him to go bare foot to his Tomb at Caunterbury with bleeding feet Did not I Innocentius the third cause King John to kneel down at the feet of Pandolphus my Legat and offer up his Crown to his hands and to kisse the feet of Stephen Langtoun Bishop of Canterburie and besides merced him in a thousand Meâ—ks be year Did not I Alexander bring the valiant Emperor Frederick the first to Venice by reason of his son Otho there taken prisoner and there in St. Marks Church made him fall down flat upon the ground while I set my feet upon his neck saying that verse of the Psalm Super aspidem Basiliscum ambulubis c. Did not I Adrianus Pope an Englishman born controle and correct the forsaid Frederick the Emperor for holding the left stirrop of my horse when he should have holden the right and afterward did I not Excommunicate him and curse him for that he was so sâ—wcy to set up his own name in writing before mine Did not I Pope Celestine Crown Henry the fifth Emperour with my foot and with my foot spurned the Crown from his head again in St. Peters Church to make him know that the Popes of Rome have power both to Crown Emperors and to dispose them again And briefly sayes the Pope who is able to comprehend the greatnesse of my power
the Revelation in these words And I saw an Angel descending from Heaven having a key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chain in his hand and he took the Dragon the old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years and put him into the bottomlesse dungeon and shut him up and signed him with his seal that he should no more seduce the Gentiles till a thousand years were expired and after that he must be loosed again for a little space of time c. The thousand years being now expired Satan let loose he begins again to persecute the Church of God and the professors of the truth in the person of Wickliff in the year of our Lord 1371. in the dayes of Edward the third King of England This Wickliff was an English-man and a Professor of Divinity in Oxford a man of great spirit and of great learning he came to such a degree or erudition that he was thought the most excellent amongst all the Theologians at that time he perceiving the true Doctrine of Christs Gospel to be aduldeâ—at and defiled with so many filthy inventions of Bishops Sects of Monks and dark errors and after long debating and deliberating with himself with many secret sighs and bewalings in his mind the generall ignorance of the whole world could no longer sâ—ffer or abide the same he at the last determined with himself to help and remedy such things as he saw to be wide and out of the way and so he began as from a deep night to draw out the truth of the Doctrine of the Son of God with the purity of the Doctrine which hee taught he also lively touched the abuses of the Popedome in so much that the Locusts that is to say the Monks and begging Friers listed themselves up against him to persecute him with all the rable of the Popish Clergie but the Lord gave him for a Protector King Edward the third the Duke of Lancaster the Kings son and Lord Henery Peircy the Marshaâ—l of England for all the time of King Edwards raign he had great liberty of his profession and that the King carried a speciall favour and good-will to him appears in this that he sent him with his Ambassadour over into the parts of Italy to treat with the Popes Legats concerning affairs betwixt the King and the Pope with full commission This King Edward was a good man and hath this commendation that he was Orphanis quasi Pater afflictis compations miseris condolâ—ns oppressis relevaâ—s cunctis indigentibus impendens auxilia opportuna that is to the Orphans he was a Father competient to the afflicted mourning with the miserable releiving the oppressed and to all them that wanted a helper in the time of need c. Pope Gregory being informed of Wickliffs Doctrine that was pred abroad through the land He wrot to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to the Bishop of London to cause apprehend the said John Wickliffe and to cast him into prison and that the King and Nobles of England should be admonished not to give any trust to the said John VVickliffe or to his Doctrine in any wayes As also he wrote unto King Edward or rather unto King Richard who succeeded King Edward to persecute this VVickliff but God shortned the rage and fury of this cruel Prelate against him for that in the same year or in the beginning of the next year following the forsaid Pope Gergory the eleventh turn'd up his heels and died Yet the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London did vex trouble him and held sundry meetings of the Clergy against him to condemne him and his Doctrine And here is not to be past over the great miracle of Gods Divine admonition or warning for when as the Archbishop and Suffraganes with the other Doctors and Lawiers with a great company of babling Friers and Religious persons were gathered together to consult as touching John VVickliffs books and that whole sect When as I say they were gathered together at the Gray-friers in London to begin their businesse upon St. Dunstanes day after dinner about two in the cloak the very hour and instant that they should go forward with their businesse a wonderfull and terrible earthquake fell throughout all England whereupon diverse of the Suffraganes being feard by the strange and wonderfull demonstration doubting what it should mean thought it good to leave off from their determinat purpose But the Archbishop as the chief Captain of that Army more rash and bold then wise interpreting the change which had happened clean contrary to another meaning and purpose did confirm and strengthen hearts and minds which are almost danted with fear stoutly to proceed and to go forward in their attempted enterprise who then discoursing VVickliffs Articles not according to the sacred Cannons of the Holy Scripture but unto their own private affections and traditions pronounced and gave sentence that some of them were simply and plainly Hereticall other some false erroneous other irreligious some seditious and not consonant to the Church of Rome John VVickliff a long time after this returning again either from his banishment being banished by King Richard or from some other place where he was secretly keeped repaired to his Parish at Lutterworth where hee was Parson and there quyetly departing this mortall Life sleept in peace in the Lord 1384. Here is to be noted in this Man as in diverse others whom the Lord so long preserved in such rages of so many enemies from all their hands even to his old age This VVickliff had written diverse and sundry works the which in the year of our Lord 1410. were burnt at Oxford And not only in England but in Bohemia Likewise the Books of the said VVickliff were set on fire by the Archbishop of Prage who made diligent inquisiition for the same and burned them The numbers of the Volumes which he is said to have burned most excellently written and richly adorned with bosses of Gold and coverings as Aeneas Silvius writes were about the number of two hundred Great was the testimony given out by the Vniversity of Oxford touching the commendation of the great Learning and good Life of John VVickliff as also great was the testimony and commendation of Master John Hus concerning John VVickliff who affirmed that he was no Heretick and yet the Counsel of Constance condemned him for an Heretick and caused his Body and Bones to bee raised and burnt 41. years after his Death and took his Ashes and threw into the River thinking thereby utterly to extinguish and abolish both the Name and Doctrine of VVickliff for ever for though they digged up his Body and burnt his Bones and drowned his Ashes yet the Word of God and truth of his Doctrine with the fruit and successe thereof they could not burn which yet to this day for the most part of his Articles do remain After the Death of Pope Gregory
night and burn him before the people should know it as he came to his defence to answer They with a confused multitude of people came unto him in the night and drew him naked out of his bed bound his hands hard behind him and carried him away then he being marvellous weary and faint required to be set on horse-back for his feet were all cut and hurt with the yce because he was led all night barefoot when they heard him say so they mocked and laughed at him saying must we hire an horse for an Heretick he shall go on foot whither he will or not and after a world of indignities mockings striking and bustetting him he was burnt without any judgement his cause not being heard In the mean time a certain Woman as he passed by offered her self to suffer a thousand stripes and to give much money so that they would pacifie the matter and keep him in the prison untill that he might plead his matter before the whole convocation of the countrey people When they heard these words they waxed more mad and threw the Woman down under feet and trod upon her and beat the said Henry unmercifully the fire as often as it was kindled would not burn notwithstanding they satisfied their minds upon him striking and pricking him with all kind of Weapons the said Henry standing in the mean time in his shirt before all the rude people at the last they having gotten a great Ladder bound him hard thereunto and cast him into the fire And when he began to pray and to repeat his Creed one strake him upon the face with his fist saying thou shall first be burnt and afterward pray and prat as much as thou wilt Then another treading upon his breast bound his neck so hard to a step of the Ladder that the blood gushed out of his mouth and nose This was done to strangle him withall for they saw that for all his sore wounds he would not die After that with their weapons they had killed him they rosted him upon the coals for the Wood as often as it was set on fire would not burn out And thus this godly Preacher finished his Martyrdome and many moe godly Preachers were burnt About the same time many other godly Persons and such as feared God for the testimony of the Gospell were thrown into the River of Rhene and into toher Rivers were their Bodies afterward were found and taken up In the same year of God 1524. the Town of Mihtemherge in Germany was taken and ransacted and diverse of the inhabitants there slain and many impriâ—oned for mantaining and keeping with them Carolastadius to be their preacher The lamentable Martyrdom of John Clerk of Melden in France Melden is a Citie of France ten miles distant from Paris where John Clark was first apprehended and taken for setting up upon the Church door against the Popes pardon lately sent thither from Rome in which Bill hee named the Pope to be Antichrist for the which his punishment was this that three severall dayes hee should bee whipped and afterwards have a mark imprinted in his forehead as a note of infamy his mother being a Christian Woman although her Husband were an adversary when she beheld her son thus pitionsly scourged and ignominously deformed in the face constantly and boldly did encourage her son crying with a loud voice blessed be Christ and welcome be these prints and marks thereafter leaving the Town he came to Merz in Lotharing where he remained a certain space applying his Vocation being a Wool-carder in his Occupation whereas he the day before that the people of that City should go out to the Saburbs to worship certain blind Idols thereby after an old use and custome amongst them received being inflamed with the zeal of God went out of the City to the place where the Images were and brake them all down in pieces tryall being taken who should be the doer thereof this man was suspected and examined upon the same at first confesseth the fact rendering also the cause which moved him so to do he was condemned and led to the place of Execution where he sustained extream torments for first his hand was cut off from his right arm then his nose with sharp Pinsons was violently plucked from his face after that both his armes and his papes were likewise pluckt and drawn out with the same Instrument To all them that stood looking upon it was an horrour to behold and dolefull sighs of his pains Again to behold his patience or rather the grace of God giving him the gift to suffer it was a wonder Thus quietly and constantly he endured in his torments pronouncing or in a manner singing the Verses of the 115. Psa Simulachra corum sunt argentum aurm c Their Images be silver and gold the work only of mans hands c. The residue of his life that remained in his rent body was committed to the fire and therewith consumed A certain godly Priest in Suevia being commanded to come and give good counsell to sixteen Countreymen that should be beheaded afterward was bid himself to kneel down to have his head cut off no cause nor condemnation further being laid against him but only of meer hatred against the Gospel After that George Sherter had instructed the people in knowledge or the Gospel in Rastar ten miles distant from Saltzburg was accused of his adversaries and put in prison where he wrot a Confession of his Faith he was condemned to be burned alive but means was made that first his head should be cut off and his body afterward be cast into the fire going toward his death he said crying aloud that ye may know said he that I die a true Christian I will give you a manifest sign and so he did by the power of the Lord for when his head was taken off from his shoulders the body falling upon his belly so continued the space while one might well eat an Egge after that it softly turned it self upon the back and crossed the right foot over the left and the right hand over the left at the sight whereof they which saw it were in a great marvell The Magistraces which before had appointed to have burned the body after the beholding seeing this miraâ—â— would not burn it but buried it with other Christian mens bodies and many by the same example were moved to believe the Gospel Thus God is able to manifest the truth of his Gospel in the midst of persecution who is to be blessed for ever Amen Giles of â—rasels as he was brought to the place of burning where he saw agreat heap or Wood pyled he required the greater part to be taken away and be given to the poor a little said he would suffice him Also seeing a poor man coming by as he went that lacked shooes he gave his shooes unto him better said he so to do then to have his shooes burnt and the poor to
Prince of Navar. To this pretended Marriage it was divised that all the chiesest Protestants or France should be invited and meet in Paris being met and conveened that same night of the Marriage Souldiours were appointed in diverse places of the City to be ready at a watch-word to break in into the Protestants houses at which watch-word given they brust out to the slaughter of the Protestants first beginning with the Admirall who was slain in his bed and thrown out at a window into the street where his head being first striken off and embalmed with Spices to be sent to the Pope At this time there was slain in three dayes above ten thousand Men and Women old and young of all sorts and conditions yea and slew all the Protestants they knew or could find within the city Gates inclosed So great was the rage of the Heathenish persecution that not only the Protestants but also certain whom they thought indifferent Papists they put to the sword in steed of Protestants In the number of them that were slâ—â—n of the more learned sort was Petrus Ramus Lumbinus and others And not only within the Walls of Paris was this uproar contained but extended further into other Cities and quarters of the Realm especially Lyons Orleance Tholous and Roan In which Cities it is almost incredible nor scarlely ever heard of in any Nation what cruelty was shewed what numbers of good Mâ—n were destroyed in so much that within the space of one month thretty thousand at least of Religious Protestants are numbred to be slain Furthermore here is to bee noted that when the Pope first heard of this bloody stir he with his Caâ—dinals made such joy at Rome with their procession with their Gun-shot and singing Te Deum that in honour of that lawful festival Act a Iubile was commanded by the Pope with great indulgence and much Solemnity whereby thou hast here to discern and judge with what spirit and charity these Catholicks are moved to maintain their Religion withall which otherwise would fall to the ground without all hope of recovery Likewise in France no lesse rejoycing there was the King commanding publick processions through the whole City to be made with Bone-fires Ringing and singing where the King himself with the Queen his Mother and his whole Court resorting together to the Caurch gave thanks and laud to God for that so worthy victory archieved upon St. Bartholomews Day against the Protestants whom they thought to be utterly overthrown and vanqâ—ished in all the Realm for ever And in very deed to mans thinking might appear no lesse after such a destruction of the Protestants having lost so many worthy and noble Captains-as then were cut off whereupon many for fear revoking their Religion returned to the Pope diverse fled out of the Realm such as would not turn kept themselves secret durst not be known or seen so that it was past all hope of man that the Gospel should ever have any more place in France but such is the admirable working of the Lord where mans help and hope most faileth there he sheweth his strength and helpeth as here is to be seen and noted by stirring up Rochel to stand to the defence or their Religion against the Kings power by whose example certain Cities hearing thereof took no little courage to do the like as Mountaban and others who being confederat together exhorted one another to be circumspect and take good heed of the false dissembling practises not to be trusted of the mercilesse Papists intending nothing but blood and destruction Rochel standing to the defence of their lives and consciences and to adventure the worst whereupon began great siege and battery to be laid against Rochell both by sea and land which was Anno 1572. The whole power of France is set against Rochel Thus the whole power of France being gathered against one power town had not the mighty hand of the Lord stood on their side it had been impossible for them to escape Daring the time of this siege which lasted about seven months what skirmishes and conflicts were on both sides it would require a long tractation In all which assaults ever the Popes Catholicks had the worst Concerning the first assault thus I find written that within the space of 26. dayes were charged against the walls and houses of Rochel to the number or thretty thousand shot of iron Bullets and globes where by a great breach was made for the adversary to invade the city but such was the courage of them within not men only but also of Women Matrons and maids with spites fire and such other weapons that came to hand that the adversary was driven back with no smal slaughter of their Souldiours Likewise in the second assault 2000. great field pieces were laid against the Town whereupon the adversary attempted the next day to invade the Town but through the industry of the Souldiers and citizens and also of women and maids the invaders were forced at length to flee away faster then they came No better successe had all the assaults that followed Mâ—ny were the tokens of Gods gracious dealings with them during the time of the siege and amongst the rest this was very memorable at Rochel whereas the poorer sort began to lack corn and victual there was sent to them every day in the River by the hand of the Lord no doubt a great multitude of fish called Surdones which the poor people did use in stead of bread Which fish the same day as the siege brake up departed and came no more testified by them which were present there in Rochel all the time The King in end being weary of those chargeable wars there was a peace agreed and concluded between the King and the Protestants of Rochel in which were included other Cities of the Protestants granting to them benefite of peace and liberty of Religion The next year following died Charels the 9. the French King and the Cardinal of Lorain brother to Guise The King died of the age of 25. years and the manner of his death is to be noted The constant report To goeth that his blood guishing out by diverse parts of his body he tossing in his bed and casting out many horrible blaâ—phemies laid upon pillows with his heals upward and head downward voyded so much blood at his mouth that in few hours he dyed Which story if it be true as is recorded and restified may be an spectale and example to all persecuting Kings and Princes polluted with the blood of Christian Martyrs The cruel Persecution and Bloody Boutchery of the MERINDOLIANS FOllows the Tragicall Persecution and horrible murther of the faithfull flock of Christ inhabiting in Merindol in the Countrey of Province in France this people of a long continuance and custome had refused the Bishop of Rome his Authority and observed ever a more perfect kind of Doctrine then others delivered them from the Father to the Son ever since the year of
the Procurator-Fiscall or the Popes great Collector first beginning with Doctor Cacalla this Doctor Cacalla was a Frier of Austines Order a Priest of the Town of Valedollid and Preacher sometimes to the Emperor Chrales the fifth a man well accounted of for his learning who for that he was thought to be as the Standard-bearer to the Gospellers whom they called Lutherians and Preacher and Doctor unto them therefore he being first called for whose sentence was to be degraded and presently burned and all his goods couns cat to the profit and advancement of the Justice Sentence was given out against the rest some put to pennance whereof there were some Noble Personages some to be condemned to perpetuall Prison and the most part to be burnt After the sentence pronounced they which were condemned to be burned with the Coffin of the dead Lady and her Pâ—cture upon the same were committed to the Secular Magistrate and their Executioners which were commanded to do their endeavour then were they all incontinent taken and every one set upon an Asse their faces turned backward and led with agreat Garison of armed Souldiers unto the place of punishment which was without the Gate of the Town called Del Campo And thus these faithfull Christians for the verity and pure World of God were led to death as sheep to the shambles who not only most Christianly did comfort one another but also did so exhort all them there present that all men marvelled greatly both to hear their singular constancy and to see their quiet and peaceable end There dwelt in Valadolid a Knight well qualified who in the Inquisition had two daughters which constantly perservering in the true Religion that they had learned of the good Doctor Cacalla and others Martyrs of Jesus Christ were condemned to be burned The father being a most rank Papist besought the Inquisitors to permit them for their better information to be carried to his house which thing the inquisitors in regard of the great credit they reposed in him granted And brought thâ—s to his house the father endeavoured to divert them from their constant resolution but seeing he could not convince them but it was in vain for the Lord as in Luk. 21.15 he had promised gave them utterance and wisdome which the new Pharisees Priests and Friers were not able to resist or gainsay The father seeing then that his endeavour not availed went humself to his Grove cut down Wood and caused it to be drawn to Valadolid he himself kindled the fire and so they were both burned Now to come to speak of the Martyrs that suffered for the Testimony of the Gospel in Italy The ITALIAN Martyrs GAleacius Trecius of the City called Laus Pompeia in Italy a Gentle-man of a good Calling and wealthy in wordly substance and very beneficiall to the poor he was apprehended and brought to the Bishops Palace where he was kept in bands having under him but only a Pad of Straw although his Wife sent unto him a good Feather-bed with Sheets to ly in yet the Bishops Chaplains and Officers keeped it from him dividing the prey among themselves When the time came that he should be examined he was thrise brought before the Commissioners where he rendred Reasons and Causes of his Faith answering to their Interrogatories with such evidence of Scriptures and constancy of mind that he was an admiration to them that heard him Albeit not long after through the importonat perswasions of his Kins-folks and friends and other cold Gospellers laying many considerations before his eyes he was brought at length to assent to certain points of the Popes Doctrine but yet the mercy of God which began with him so left him not but brought him again to such Repentance and bewailing of his fact that he became afterward according to the example of Peter and St. â—yprian and others more valiant in defence of Christs quarrel neither did he ever desire any thing more then occasion to be offered again by confession that he had lost before by deniall affirming that he never felt more joy of heart then at the time of his Examinations where he stood thrise to the constant confession of the Truth and contrary that he never tasted more sorrow in all his life then when he slipt afterward from the same by dissimulation declaring moreover to his brethren that death was much more sweet unto him with Testimony of the verity then life with the least deniall of Truth and loss of a good conscience Again Galeacius returned again to the defence of his former Doctrine with much more boldnesse of spirit confessing Christ as he did before and detested Images affirming and proving that God only is to be worshipped and that in spirit and verity Also to be no moe Mediators but Christ alone and that he only and sufficiently by his sufferings hath taken away the sins of the whole world and that all they which depart hence in his faith are ascertained of the everlasting life they which do not are under everlasting damnation with such other like matter which was repugnant utterly to the Popes proceedings His adversaries perceiving that he in no case could be revoked caused him to be committed to the Secular Judge to be burned Thus Galeazius early in the morning being brought out of Prison to the Market-place there was left standing bound by the Stake till noon as a gazing-stock for all men to look upon In the which mean time many came about him exhorting him to recant but nothing could stir the setled mind of this valiant Martyr and so he was brought to the fire and burned Touching the story of this blessed Martyr this by the way is to be given for a Memorandum that a little before this Galeazius should be burned there was a controversie between the Major of the City and the Bishops Clergy for the expenses of the Wood that should go to his burning he hearing thereof sent word to both the parties to agree for he himself of his own goods would see the cost of that matter discharged Another note moreover is here to be added that while Galeazius was in captivity certain of the Papists perceiving that Galeazius had great goods and possessins practised with his wife under colour to release her husband that she should lay out a sum of money to be sent to the wife of the chief Lord of Millain called Ferrarius Gonzaga to the end that she should intreat both with her husband and with the Senat for Galeazius life which money when they had thus jugled into their hands Galeazius notwithstanding was burned and so was the silly woman robbed and defeated both of her husband and also of her money Doctor Mollius a Gray-frier for the teaching and profession of the Gospel of Christ Jesus was four times imprisoned and as oft delivered out of prison all the time hee remained constant in the defence of Christs gospel at last was brought with certain other men which were
chief thing objected against her as against all the rest was touching the real and corporall presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar many other matters was objected against them as for not comming to the church for speaking against the masse for dispising their Ceremonies and new found Sacraments with diverse other fond and trifling toyes not worthy any mentioning This woman being exhorted to recant she said do what ye will for if Christ was in an errour then am I in an errour upon which answer shee was adjudged and condemned as an Heretick and so delivered unto the secular power to be by them put to death and so she was burnt George Tankerfield a little before his execution prayed his Host to let him have a good fire in his Chamber he had so and then he sitting on a Form before the fire put off his shoos and hose and stretched out his leg to the flame and when it had touched his foot he quickly withdrew his leg shewing how the flesh did perswade him one way and the Spirit another way The Spirit said be not afraid for this is nothing in respect of fire eternall The flesh said leave not the company of thy friends acquaintance which love and will not let thee lack nothing The Spirit said the company of Jesus Christ and his glorious presence doth exceed all fleshly friends The flesh said do not shorten thy time for thou mayest live if thou wilt much longer The Spirit said this life is nothing unto the life in Heaven which lasteth for ever c. And when he came to the place of execution after he ended his prayer he arose and with a joyfull faith he said that although he had a sharp dinner yet he hoped to have a joyfull supper in Heaven While the Fagots were set about him there came a Priest unto him and perswaded him to believe â—n the Sacrament of the Altar and he should be saved But George Tankerfield cryed out vehemently and said I defy the Whore of Babylon I I defy the Whore of Babylon fy on that abominable Idol good people do not believe him Then the Major of the Town commanded to set fire to the Heretick and said if he had but one load of Fagots in the whole world he would give them to burn him There was an certain Knight by and went unto Tankerfield and took him by the hand and said good brother be strong in Christ this he spoke softly and Tankerfield said O Sir I thank you I am so I thank God so he was put to the fire and burnt Robâ—rt Samuel a very godly and right faithfull Pâ—eacher of Gods Word in King Edward his dayes was now apprehended and cast into prison and miserably handled under the Bishop of Norwich Doctor Hopâ—on an unmercifull Prelat he so far exceeded the bounds of piety and compassion in tormenting their poor brethren as this Bishop did in such sort that many of them he perverted and brought quite from the truth and some from their wits also he is keeped in strict prison where he was chained bolt upright to a great poast in such sort that standing only on the tiptoe he was fain to stay up the whole poise or weight of his body thereby and to this they added a far more grievous to ment keeping him without meat and drink whereby he was unmercifully vexed through hunger and thrist saving that he had every day allowed two or three mouthfuls of bread and three spoonfuls of water to the end rather that he might be reserved to further torment then that they would preserve his life O worthy constancy of the Martyr O pitilesse hearts of Papists worthy to be complained of and to be accursed before God and nature O the wonderfull strength of Christ in his members whose stomack though it had been made of Adament stone would not have relented and these intollerable vexations and extream pains above nature how often times would he have drunken his own water but his body was so dried up with his long emptinesse that he was not able to make one drop of water At the last when he was brought forth to be burned which was but a trifle in comparison of these pains that he had passed certain there were that heard hâ—m what strange things had hapened unto him during the time of his imprisonment to wit that after he had been famished or pined with hunger two or three dayes together he then fell into a sleep as it were one half in a slumber at which time one cloathed all in white seemed to stand before him which ministred comfort unto him by these words Samuel Samuel be of good cheer and take a good heart unto thee for after this day shalt thou never either be hungry or thirsty which thing came even to passe accordingly for sppedily after he was burned and from that time that he should suffer he feit neither hunger nor thrist And thus declared he to the ends as he said that all men might behold the wonderfull works of God Many more like matters concerning the great comfort he had of Christ in his afflictions he could utter he said besides this but shamefastnesse and modesty would not suffer him to utter it The report goeth among some that were there present and saw him burnt that his body in burning did shine as light and white as new tryed silver in the eyes of them that stood by After the suffering of Robert Samuel was burned William Allen in Walfinghame a labouring man he being brought before the Bishop and asked the cause why he was imprisoned answered that he was put in prison because he would not follow the Crosse saying that he would never go in procession Then being willed by the Bishop to return again to the Catholick Church he answered that he would turn to the Catholick Church but not to the Romish Church and said that if he saw the King and Queen and all other follow the Crosse or kneel down to the Cross he would not for the which sentence of condemnation was given against him and he burned who declared such constancy at his martyrdom and had such credit with the justices by reason of his upright and well tryed conversation amongst them that be was suffered to go untved to his suffering and there being fastned with a Chain stood quietly without shrinking untill he died There were five worthy Martyrs burned at Canterbury in one fire because they denied that Christ was corporally and bodily in the Sacrament Master Robert Glover at Coventree being apprehended for suspiâ—ion of Heresie and imprisoned was burnt for the testimony of the truth There was one Austen Bernher a Minister and a familiar friend of his testified this of him After he was condemned by the Bishop and was now at the point to be delivered out of this world It so happened that two or three dayes before his heart being lumpish and desolate of all
place of Execution hee put off his gown and gave it with his bonnet coat and other apparrell to his servant saying this stuffe will not help in the fire yet will do thee some good I have no more to leave thee but the example of my death which I pray thee keep in mind for albeit the same be bitter and painfull in mens judgement yet is it the entrance to everlasting life which none can inherite that denieth Christ before this congregation At his death the Friers vexed him bidding him convert pray to our Lady and say salve Regina but none was more troublesome then Fier Alexander Campbell whom he often besought to depart and not to vex him but when he would not cease he said wicked man thou knowest I am not an heretick and that it is the truth of God for which I now suffer so much thou diddest confesse unto me in privat and thereupon I appeal thee to answer before the Judgement seat of Christ his body was quickly conâ—umed for the fire was vehement but the patience and constancy he shewed in his dying stirred up such compassion in the beholders as many of them doubted not to say that he suffered an innocent and was indeed a true Martyr of Christ This opinion was further confirmed by the death of the Fâ—â—er and that manner of it for within a year and lâ—sse he fell into a frensie and died as one despeâ—at numbers were brought to the knowledge of â—he truth by his suffering This Mr. Patrick Hammiltoun suffered martyrdomâ— in the year of God 1527 Under Jimes Beton Archbishop of St. Andrews â—â—d Chancelâ—o r of the Kingdom After the deâ—â—h of Mr. Patrick Hammilton his Brother german James Hammilton oâ— Levingston was accused likewise but the King did cause convey him secretly out of the way Also Kathren Hammilton his sister was accused and being questioned upon works she answered that none was saved by his works Then John Spence spake to her of the works of congruo and condigno to which she answered work here work there what kind of working is all this no works can save me but Christs At this the king being present laughed and after conveyed her away secretly One Henry Forrest a Monk of the order of Benet and Cellet as they spoke then was also accused of Heresie but without sufficient proof Then he was sent to Walter Ange whom Buchanan in his Satyr against the gray Friers called Langius to be confessed Langius having asked him by way of confession what he thought of Patrick Hammilton he answered that he was a good man and that his articles were to be mantained Lang discovers this simple mans confession and this confession being taken for a sufficient proof the poor man was condemned to be burnt and so he was immediatly after they degraded him according to their custome As they were leading him to the execution place he complained of the Frier who had betrayed him and said let no man trust the false Friers after me They were despisers rof God and deceivers of men they burnt him at the north style of the Abbey Church in Sr. Andrews that the hereticks of Angus might see the fire Mr. Normend Gourley and David Straton were brought to tryal and condemned the one for denying Purgatory and that the Pope should have no jurisdiction within Scotland the other was charged with the same points and further was accused for maintaining the Tithes were not due to Church-men which point he denied confessig that the tithes of â—ome fish which his servants had taken at sea being too rigourously exacted hee said that if they would have the tithes of the fishes they should go and receive them where the stock was taken that he gave order to his servants to cast every tent fish they took into the sea because he saw nothing but rigour would content the Church these two were burnt at one stake as hereticks between Leith and Edinburgh to the intent the inhabitants of Fife seeing the fire might bee stricken with the more terrour and fear not to fall into the like After the death of the foresaid Martyrs under James Betoun Archbishop of St. Andrews consultation was taken by the Bishops to proceed and to burn moe hereticks for then men began liberally to speak of religion A merry Gentle-man named John Lindsay familiar to B. James Betoun standing by when consultation was had said my Lord if ye burn any more except ye follow my counsell ye will utterly destroy your selves if ye will burn them let them be burnt in hollow Cellars for the smoak of Mr. Patrick Hammilton hath infected as many as it blew upon Thus it pleased God that they should be taunted in their own face At this time when Normond Gourlay and David Straton were put to tryal and condemned were summouned Sir William Kird Adam Dayes Henry Kernes John Stewart of Leith with diverse others such as Mr. William Johnstoun Advocat Mr. Henry Henderson School-master of Edinburgh of whom some compeared in the Abby Kirk of Halyrudhouse and so abjured and publickly burnt their Bills the burning of the Bill was a sign of recantation others compeared not and therefore was exiled About this time Mr. George Buchanan for some byting verses against the Franciscans was commanded to prison but he escaping by a window of the Chamber where hee was detained prisoner whilest the Keepers were fast asleep fled into France thus there passed few dayes wherein some one or other was not called into question for Religion but the more hote the persecution was the favourers of the truth did every day the more increase The Archbishop James Betoun committed the charge of the Church affairs to his Nephew the Cardinal who succeded in his place for he was sickly himself and not seen often abroad In his time lived Mr. John Major Hector Boeth Gilbert Crab and William Gregory men of good learning and worthy to be remembred Hector Boethius was Principall of the Colledge of Aberdene a great Philosopher and much commended by Erasmus for his Eloquence and felicitie of ingenie Buchanan who could well discern of learned men speaking in a certain place of him saith quod non solum artium liberalium cognitione supraquam illa ferchant tempora insignis erat sed etiam humanitate comitate singulari praeditus that he was not only learned in the liberall Sciences above the condition of these times but also of an exceeding courteous and humane inclination yet is he traduced by some of the English Writers for a fabulous and partiall Historian But they who like to peruse his History will perceive that is spoken out of passion and malice and not upon just cause Mr. John Mair wrote also the History of Scotland and wrote upon the four Evangelists Sir John Borthwick Knight commonly called Captain Borthwick who being accused of heresie as the Papists call it and cited therefore and not appearing and escaping into other Countreys was condemned for the same being
our Lord 1200. for this cause they were often accused and complained of to the King as contemners and despisers of the Magistrats and Rebels they were oftentimes persecuted and many put to death for their Profession in end the Court or Parliament at Province gave out a cruell sentence against Merindol and condemned all the Inhabitants to be burned both Men and Women sparing none no not the little Children and Infants the Town to be razed and their Houses to be beaten down to the ground also their trees to be cut down as well Olive-trees as all other and nothing to be left to the intent it should never be inhabited again but remain as a Desert or Wildernesse The violence and execution of this cruell and bloody sentence was for a time restrained and the rage of the adversaries repressed till Minerius a bloody persecuter and the Kings Lievtenant of Province forged a most impudent lye against these innocent Christians giving the King to understand that they of Merindol and all the Countrey near about to the number of twelve or fifteen thousand were in the field in Armour with their Ensigne displayed intending to take the Town of Mansfield and make it one of the Cantons of the Switzers and to stay this enterprise he said it was necessary to execute the Arrest manumilitari and by this means he obtained the Kings Letters Patents though the help of the Cardinall of Tournon commanding the sentence to be executed against the Meridolians notwithstanding the King had before revoked the said sentence and given strait commandement that it should no wayes be executed After this he gathered all the Kings Army which was then in Province ready to go against the Englishmen and took up all besides that were able to bear Armour in the Chief Towns of Province and joyned them with the Army which the Popes Lâ—gat had Levied for that purpose in Avinion and all Countries of Venice and imployed the same to the destruction of Merindol Cabriers and other Towns and Villages to the number of 22. giving Commission to his Souldiers to spoyl ransack burn and destroy all together and to kill Man Woman and child without all mercy sparing none no otherwise then the Infidels and cruel Turks have dealt with the Christians So Merindol without any resistance was taken ransacked burnt razed and laid even with the ground and killed all both young and old whom they found in the Town When he had destroyed Merindol he laid siege to Catriers and battered it with his Ordinance but when he could not win it by force he with the Lord of the Town and Powling his chief Captain perswaded with the Inhabitants to open their Gates solemnly promising that if they would so do they would lay down their Armour and also that their cause should be heard in Judgement with all equity and justice and no violence or injury should be shewed against them Upon this they opened their Gates and let in Minerius with his Captains and all his Armie but the Tyrant when he was once entred falsified his promise and raged like a Beast for first of all he picked out about thirty men causing them be bound and carried into a Meadow near to the Town and there to be miserably cut and hewn in pieces by his Souldiers then because he would not leave no kind of cruelty unattempted he also exerciâ—ed outrage and fury upon the poor silly women and caused fourty of them to be taken of whom diverse were great with child and put them into a Barn full of Straw and Hay and caused it to be set on fire at four corners And when the silly women running to the great Window where the Hay is wont to be cast into the Barn would have leaped out they were keeped in with Pikes and Halberds then there was a Souldier which moved with pity at the crying out and lamentation of the Women opened a door to let them out but as they were comming out the Tyrant caused them to be slain and cut in pieces opening their bellies that the children fell out whom they trod under their feet with many other cruel and barbarous acts against the poor innocents This done this Tyrant more cruel then ever was Herod commanded one of his Captains with a Band of Ruffians to go into the Church where was a great number of Women Children and young Infants to kill all whom he found there which the Captaine at the first refused to do saying that were a cruelty unused among men of War Whereat Minerius being displeased charged him upon pain of Rebellion and disobedience to the King to do as he had commanded him The Captain fearing what might ensue entreth with his men and destroyed them all sparing neither young nor old We are not here to passe by the fearfull Jugement of God that fell upon Minerius the cruel Persecuter of thir innocents being stricken with a strange kind of bleeding at the lower parts in manner of a bloody Flux and not being able to avoid any Vrine thus by little and little his Guts within him rotred and when no Remedy could be found for this terrible disease and his Intrals now began to be eaten of Worms a certain famous Chirurgeon named La Motte which dwelt at Arles a man no lesse Godly then expert in his Science was called for who after he had cured him of this difficulty of making Water and therefore was in great estimation with him before he would proceed further to search the other parts of his putrified body and to search out the inward cause of his Maladie he desired that they which were present in the Chamber with Minerius would depart a little aside Which being done he began to exhort Minerius with earnest words saying how the time now required that he should ask forgivenesse of God by Christ for his enormous crimes and cruelty in shedding so much innocent blood and declared the same to be the cause of this so strange profusion of blood comming from him These words being heard so pierced the impure conscience of this miserable wretch that he was therewith more troubled then with the agony of his disease in so much that he cryed out to lay hands upon the Chirurgeon as an Heretick La Motte hearing this eftsoones convyed himself out of sight and returned again to Arles notwithstanding it was not long but he was sent for again being intreated by his friends and promised most firmly that his comming should be without any perill or danger and so with much adoe he returned again to Minerius raging and cast out most horrible and blasphemous words and feeling a fire which burnt him from the Navel upward with extream stinck of the lower parts finished his wretched life whereby we have notoriously to understand that God through his mighty arm at length confoundeth such persecuters of his innocent and faithfull servants and bringeth them to nought to whom be praise and glory for ever The Persecutions of the