to bestow in the Propagation and Maintenance of the Gospel and I beseech God daily upon my Knees for my Wife and Children that they may always continue in this quarrel even unto death and when he came to his Execution he patiently and comfortably slept in the Lord. At the same time there was also brought forth one John Gonsalvo formerly a Priest but by his diligent study of the Scripture it pleased God to reveal his truth to him so that he became a Zealous Preacher of it labouring in all his Sermons to beat into mens minds the truth and means of our Justification to consist in Christ alone and in stedfast Faith in him for which he was apprehended and cast into Prison where he endured all their cruelty with Christian Courage at last with two of his Sisters he was condemned his Mother also and one of his Brothers were imprisoned with him for the truth and executed shortly after when he with his Sisters went out at the Castle-Gate having his Tongue at liberty he began to sing the 106 Psalm before all the People who had often heard him make many godly Sermons he condemned all Hypocrites as the worst of People whereupon they stocked his tongue Upon the Stage he never changed Countenance nor was at all daunted when they all came to the Stake they had their Tongues loosed and were commanded to say their Creed which they did carefully when they came to those words the Holy Catholick Church they were commanded to add of Rome but that they all refused whereupon their Necks were broken in a trice and then 't was noised abroad that they added those words and died confessing the Church of Rome to be the true Catholick Church There was in Sivil a Private Congregation of Gods People most of which the Inquisitors consumed in the Fire as they could discover any of them amongst others that were apprehended they took four women famous above the rest for their Holy and Godly Conversation but especially the youngest of them who was not above one and twenty years old who by her diligent and frequent reading of the Scriptures and by conference with Godly and learned Men had attained to a very great measure of knowledge so that whilst she was in Prison she non-pluss'd and put to shame many of those Friers that came to seduce her Another of these Women was a Grave Matron whose House was a School of Virtue and a place where the Saints used to meet and serve God day and night But the time being come wherein they were ripe for God they together with other of their Neighbours were apprehended and cast into Prison where they were kept in dark Dungeons and forced to endure all the cruel and extream torments before mentioned at last they were condemned and brought forth to the Scaffold amongst other Prisoners The young Maid especially came with a merry and chearful Countenance as it were triumphing over the Inquisitors and having her tongue at liberty she began to sing Psalms to God whereupon the Inquisitors caused her tongue to be nipped by setting a Burnacle upon it after Sentence was read they were carried to the place of Execution where with much Constancy and Courage they ended their Lives yet the Inquisitors not satisfied herewith caused the House of the Matron where the Church used to meet to be pulled down and the ground to be laied wast and a Pillar to be erected upon it with an Inscription shewing the cause There was also apprehended another worthy Member of the same Congregation called Ferdinando he was of a Fervent Spirit and very zealous in doing good a young Man but for his integrity of Life very famous he had spent 8 years in educating of Youth and had endeavoured to sow the Seed of Piety in the hearts of his Scholars as much as lay in him to do in a time of so great Persecution and Tyranny being at last apprehended for a Lutheran he was cast into prison and terribly tormented upon the Gibbet and in the Trough whereby he was so shaken in every joint that when he was taken down he was not able to move any part of his Body yet did those cruel Tormentors drag him by the Heels into his prison as if he had been a dead Dog but notwithstanding all his torments he answered the Inquisitors very stoutly and would not yeild to them one jot During his Imprisonment God used him as an Instrument to recal and confirm a Monk who had been cast into Prison for confessing the Gospel openly But by means of the Inquisitors Flatteries and fair Promises he had somewhat relented Gods providence so ordering it that Ferdinando was cast into the same Prison and finding the Monk wavering he rebuked him sharply and afterwards having drawn him to a sight of and sorrow for his sin he at last strengthened him in the promise of Free Grace and Mercy Herereupon the Monk desired a day of hearing where before the Inquisitors he solemnly renounced his recantation desiring that his former Confession might stand whereupon a Sentence of Death passed upon them both after which the Inquisitors asked Ferdinando whether he would revolt from his former Heresies To which he answered that he had professed nothing but what was agreable to the pure and perfect word of God and ought to be professed of every Christian-Man and therefore he would stick to it to his death then they did clap a Barnacle upon his Tongue and so they were burned together There was also one Juliano called the little because he was of a small and weak Body who going into Germany was there conversant with divers learned and godly men by which means he attained to the knowledge of the truth and became a zealous Professor of it and earnestly longing after the salvation of his Country-Men he undertook a very dangerous work wihch was to convey two great dry Fat 's full of Bibles printed in Spanish into his own Country In the attempt he had much cause of fear the Inquisitors had so stopped every Port and kept such strict Watch to prevent the coming in of all such Commodities but through Gods mighty Protection he brought his burden safely thither and which was also miraculous he conveyed them safe into Sivil notwithstanding the busie Searchers and Catchpoles that watched in every corner these Bibles being dispersed were most joyfully and thankfully received and through Gods Blessing wrought wonderfully amongst Gods people to ripen them against the time of Harvest But at last the matter broke out by the means of a false Brother who going to the Inquisitors played the Judas and betrayed the whole Church to them so that there were taken at Sivil at one time eight hundred Christians whereof twenty of them were afterwards rosted at one fire Amongst these this Juliano was one of the first that was apprehended and sent
him c. and all to make him more careless of himself that they may undo him before he be aware But if the Party be a Stranger or one that is like to make an escape or that they hope to gain any thing by his confession they presently clap him up in Prison in which Prison great Numbers die either starved with hunger or by extremity of racking of them c. If any one that is accused chance to make an escape they have many devices to find and fetch him in again they have Store of Searchers to whom besides the common Signs they give his lively Picture whereby they may easily know him An Italian at Rome having wounded an Apparitor fled to Sevil the Familiars were sent to seek him and when they had found him though they had his Counterfeit yet by reason that he had altered his Habit they were doubtful whether it was he or no the rather because he had changed his Name whereupon they followed him only upon suspicion but one Day as he was walking and earnestly talking with some Gentlemen two of those Familiars suddenly called him by his old Name The Party earnest in talk and not minding it looked behind him and made answer whereupon they presently apprehended him clapt him in Irons for a long time then whipt him and condemned him to the Gallies during his Life So soon as any is arrested by the Familiars they take from him all the Keys of his Locks or Chests whatsoever and then they take an Inventory of all his goods leaving them to some man that will undertake to be accountable for them But in the Sequestring or rifling the Houses if they have any Gold Silver or Jewels these Familiars which are usually Bauds Theives Shifters and the vilest of People will be sure to filch some of it and the reason of this Sequestration is that if the Party be condemned the holy Inquisition may enjoy his whole Estate As soon as the Prisoner is entred within the first Gate of the Prison the Gaoler asketh him If he hath a Knife about him or Mony or Rings or Jewels and if a woman whether she hath Knives Rings Chains Bracelets or other Ornaments and all these the Gaoler strips them of as his Fee and this is done that the Poor Prisoners may have nothing to relieve themselves with during their Imprisonment They search them also to see whether they have any Writing or Book about them which likewise they take from them then they shut them up in a Cabin like to a Little-Ease where they have little Room for cleanliness and but little light Some are thus kept all alone for two or three Months some as long as they live others have company as the Lords Inquisitors please When the party hath been in prison a week or two the Gaoler perswades him to petition for a day of hearing telling him the sooner the better and that it will much further his Cause and bring it to some good effect c. whereas it were far beter for him to stay till he be called for for then he hath nothing to do but to answer their Objections But the poor Prisoner not knowing this Mystery is usually ruled by his Keeper intreating him to stand his Friend to procure him a day of hearing whose Suit is easily heard and the Prisoner is brought into the Consistory then the Inquisitors ask him What is his Request The Prisoner answereth That he would gladly have his Matter heard Then they labour by threatning him with worse usage if he conceal the Truth to cause him to confess the thing whereof he is accused and if they can but draw him to this they have their desires for usually they draw more from him than they could have proved against him Then they advise him to let him come from himself promising that if he acknowledge his faults he shall presently be released and sent home if yet he stands mute they then charge him to disburden his Conscience and in the mean time to return to his Prison till he hath better bethought himself and then he may sue for a new day of hearing and so they dismiss him And some days after they call for him again asking him whether he be yet determined to tell ought But whether he plead his Innocency or confess some little they still urge him to disburthen his Conscience and perswading him that they advise him for the best and in love and compassion to him but if he now refuse the Favour proffered he shall find them afterwards sharp Justices c. and so send him back again to prison The third time he is called for they use the like Subtilty to draw him to Confession telling him that if he refuse they must use extremity and do what they can by Law by which word they mean extream tormenting and mangling of him Then if the party confess any thing Nay say they we are not yet satisfied we have not all you can say you keep back something on purpose and so they remand him to prison Having thus excruciated him day by day if they can yet get nothing out of him they then require an Oath of him and hold a Crucifix or Cross before him whereby the poor Christian must at last needs shew himself for knowing that he ought to swear by God alone who hath reserved this Honour to himself he must refuse the Oath which if he do then they read a large Indictment against him wherein they lay to his Charge things that never any man accused him of and which it may be himself never thought of and this they do to amaze him and so to try if he will confess any of these misdemeanors or if they can trip him in his Answers and so catch him in their net Then they put him to answer to every Article particularly extempore without any time of deliberation then they give him Pen Ink and Paper requiring him to set down his Answer in Writing to see if they can find any difference betwixt his former Answer and this And if the party chance to confess ought then they enquire of whom he learned it and whether he hath spoken of it before others and who they are and hereby many are brought into trouble for whether they liked it or not they are sure to be questioned because they did not come and declare it to the Fathers Inquisitors Then pretending to shew him favour they appoint him an Advocate to blind the Peoples Eyes as if they proceeded according to the Rules of Justice but this Advocate dares not tell his Client any point of Law that may do him good for fear of angring the Inquisitors neither may he speak privately with his Client but either before an Inquisitor or a Notary Two or three days after the party hath had the Copy of his Accusation he is called into the Court where his Advocate is as if he intended to defend his
Cause but indeed he dares say nothing to the purpose for fear of angring the Inquisitors only he chears up his Client and bids him tell the Truth in any case as the only way to prevail in that Court and then is the Prisoner sent back again who hopes that now his Case will be heard and his Business dispatched whereas usually these good Fathers let him lie two or three or four years in prison without ever calling for him again And if through Loathsomness and Intolerableness of the Prison any sute to come to Hearing it may be with much ado he obtains it but usually that favour is denied them yet at length when they please they call for him to hear the Depositions of the Witnesses against him which yet is not done till the poor Prisoner by his grievous imprisonment is brought so low as that they think he will rather chuse Death than such a Life and therefore will be willing to tell all that so he may be rid out of his Misery then between rebuking and a gentle admonition they tell him that though he hath stood out so long yet at length they would have him wiser to confess the Truth but if he yet refuse to be his own Accuser then the Fiscal produceth the Depositions which are deliverd to the Prisoner but they are drawn up so intricately and ambiguously that he knows not what to make of them and this they do to conceal the Witnesses lest he should except against them and so to set him on guessing that so if he chance to reckon up any others to whom he spake any thing about any of those Matters they may thereby get more Grist to their Mill for they presently Outlaw such persons as Favourers of Hereticks for suffering an Heretick to sow such pestilent Seed amongst them without complaining thereof to the Inquisitors The Keeper of the Prison also is examined what he hath seen and observed of him in the Prison and his Testimony is as good as two Testimonies to take away the Prisoners Life They have also promoters to bring in Accusations who are admitted though Frantick Bedlams or the veriest Varlets that be and if in their Informations they chance to want words of weight the Inquisitors will help them out and prompt them word by word Then after three or four daies the Prisoner is called again to put in his Answer to the Depositions But in the Interim his Advocate never comes at him to assist or direct him but he is left to himself without any help save of God alone His answer being viewed he is remanded to Prison again with this Item that if he confess not the truth they will extort it out of him by extremity After two or three Months more he is called for once again and required to spake what he hath for himself or else they must draw to an end And if he still shrinks not but stands firm in his Justification they proceed to other Dealings in comparison of which all their former dealings are not only sufferable but seem reasonable and full of gentleness for their future Actions far exceed all Barbarousness the Devil himself being not able to go beyond them in their monstrous Cruelty and Tyranny for not long after the Prisoner is called in before the Inquisitors who tell him they have deeply considered his whole Case and found out that he doth not declare the whole truth and therefore they are resolved that he shall be racked that by force they may draw from him what by fair means he will not acknowledge and therefore they advise him rather to do it voluntarily and thereby to avoid the Pain and Peril that yet attends him yet whether he confess or not confess all is one to the Rack he must go Then is he lead into the place where the Rack standeth which is a deep and dark Dungeon under ground with many Doors to pass through ere a man come to it because the Shrieks and Cries of the tormented should not be heard Then the Inquisitors seat themselves upon a Scaffold hard by the Rack and the Torches being lighted the Executioner comes in all arrayed from Top to Toe in a Suit of Black Canvas his head is covered with a long Black Hood that covereth all his Face having only two Peepholes for his Eyes which sight doth more affright the poor Soul to see one in the likeness of a Devil to be his Tormentor The Lords being set in their Places they begin again to exhort him to speak the truth freely and voluntarily then with sharp words they command him to be stripped start naked yea though the modestest Maid the chastest Matron in the City whose grief in regard of the Rack is not so great as to be seen naked in the presence of such manner of Persons For these wicked Villains without any regard of Modesty will not by any Praiers of godly Matrons or chast Maidens forbear one jot of that Barbarous Impudence as if a shirt or smock could hinder the violence of the Rack from sufficiently tormenting them The Party being thus stripped the Inquisitors signifie to the Tormentor how they would have him or her ordered The first kind of Torment is the Gibbet or Pully but first one comes behind him and binds his Hands with a Cord eight or ten times about the Inquisitors calling upon him to strain each harder than other they cause also his Thumbs to be bound extream hard with a small Line and so both Hands and Thumbs are fastned to a Pully which hangs on the Gibbet then they put great and heavy Bolts on his Heels and hang upon those Bolts betwen his Feet certain weights of Iron and so hoise him or her up from the ground and while the poor Wretch hangs in this plight they begin to exhort him again to accuse himself and as many others as he knows of then they command him to be hoised up higher to the very Beam till his headtouch the Pullie having hung thus agood while they command him to be let down and twice so much weight to be fastned to his Heels and so hoised up again and one Inch higher if it may be then they command the Hangman to let him up and down that the weights of the Irons hanging at his Heels may rent every joint in his Body a funder with which Intolerable Pains if the party shreek or cry out they roar out a loud to him to confess the truth or else he shall come down with a Vengeance then they bid the Hangman suddenly to slip the Rope that he may fall down with a sway and in the midway to stop thus they give him the Strappado which being as soon done it rends all his Body out of joint Arms Shoulders Back Legs c. by reason of the sudden jerk and the weights hanging at his Heels If yet he remain constant they ad more weight to his Heels the third time and the poor Wretch already