séeing himself disappointed this way of his purpose continuing still in his impudency said to the people be ye not offended good people in hearing this Heretique sing of God They cryed againe to him Hold thy peace thou Balaamite here is no body offended Many sung with a soft voice with the Martyr and some againe sung aloud without faining There were more than foure hundred which encouraged him to continue to the end as he had well begun Then he said unto them Brethren I fight under the Standard and in the quarrell of my great Lord and Captaine Christ Having ended the psalme he made his prayer to God upon his knées Then rising up and being about to enter into his lodge made with an heape of fagots he said to the people I am now going to be sacrificed follow you me when God of his goodnesse shall call you to it When he was gone in the Fryer put him in minde againe that yet there was time to repent but he as one little minding what this deceiver said commended his spirit into the hands of God Hee that reached him forth his hand stood in the midst of the Sergeants and not far off from the Tormentor still encouraging the Patient and yet none laid hold on him they were stricken with such astonishment partly with the Martyrs courage and partly with their owne shame in putting to death an innocent The Executioner not being his craftsmaster strangled and burnt him most cruelly so as the people were heard to bewaile the manner of it whilest the Martyr yéelded up the ghost the said fourth day of Novenber Anno 1560. His body was consumed to ashes which were buried in the Market place of Honscot ¶ Here it shall not be amisse to insert a godly prayer which a like notorious wretch before his conversion made at his death after he was converted and suffered for the same cause His name was Lieuin Blekere by his Trade a Painter who dwelt in a little village in the Low Countries called Pamelle Anno 1566. O Heavenly Father I give thée thankes that thou hast pulled me out of darknesse and hast revealed the light of thy Gospell unto me for else I had perished everlastingly O father thou diddest ordaine me to be one of thy Witnesses even from my mothers wombe yea before the foundation of the world was laid Now therefore Lord let this sacrifice be acceptable unto thée receive me thy poore servant into thy grace and favour and pardon the sin of my persecutors To one that stood by he said Brother fight the good fight of faith with me and pray for me so long as you sée life to be in me And while he was yet speaking the tormentor strangled him The dead body being a little scortched with the fire was taken thence and hanged on a gibbet by Pamelle whence he was taken downe in the night and buried ¶ Iohn de Boschane drowned in a tub in prison the twenty eighth day of February in the City of Antwerpe Anno 1561. THe evening before he suffered many of the faithfull expected what should be done unto him But the Magistrates of the towne fearing an uprore knowing that he was a man frée of spéech and beloved of the people tooke counsell to drowne him secretly in the prison which could not be executed without murther and cruell torment For the tub in which he should be drowned being neither large nor déep enough the Martyr himselfe being tall of stature and the executioner having provided so little water that he could not possibly be drowned therein therefore he was constrained for the shortning of this so cruell a torment to wound him in the body with divers A sure way to make an end of him stabs of a dagger which were to be séen theron after he was dead Thus finished this Boschane Martyr his life being twenty six yeares of age in the City of Antwerpe in the yeare of our Lord 1560. ¶ The story of one Iohn de Buisons who was beheaded in the prison as Iohn the Baptist was in the night THis holy servant of Christ having valiantly stood to the profession of the Gospell was soone after condemned to die Now fearing lest any tumult or sedition should be raised in the City of Antwerp he was beheaded in the prison about one or two of the clocke in the night to the glory of God and the confusion of his adversaries Anno 1561. ¶ Simon Harme Martyr who had sentence of death pronounced two severall times upon him in the City of Lisle in Flanders THis Simon was accused to have uttered some spéeches long since agaâ—nst the Church of Rome Witnesses béeing produced against him in the towne-house the Magistrate condemned him to be beheaded Now according to their custome in that place his hat being taken from him after sentence pronounced he was returned backe againe to prison expecting the houre of his execution Then were sent unto him certaine friers to confesse or rather to vexe and torment him But this godly man being throughly fenced with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God made them know to their shame that they were greatly mistaken for the Friers returning backe to those who had imployed them in this businesse reported that this Simon was a most notorious heretique which the Magistrates of the Citie hearing caused him by and by to be called The Martyr had his hat sent him which was taken from him to judgement sending him his hat againe which they tooke from him in token that they had revoked the sentence first pronounced to enter a new processe against him Thus got Simon some leasure the better to dispose of his affaires also to comfort and counsell his friends by Letters not weighing the torments of death which he was to endnre Thrée dayes before he suffered sentence was pronounced touching another kind of death namely to be burned and his body to be consumed to ashes Which kind of Martyrdome did manifest to all the people of the sayd City the admirable power of the Lord by how much more the paines were excéeding great beholding how this his servant swéetly gave up the ghost in peace in the midst of the fiery flames ¶ A note of one Iohn Martin who bragged he would cut off a Ministers nose THe Church of God increasing so farre in the Valleyes of Angrongne in France that they were faine to build a Church wherein to preach the Word publikely in regard of concourse of people resorting thither it happened that the forenamed Iohn Martin boasting every where that he would cut off the ministers nose of Angrongne was soone after set upon by a mad wolfe who did indéed eat his nose from his face A remarkable judgement of God dying mad thereof himselfe and yet it was never observed that this Wolfe had ever hurt any before Which terrible judgement was so manifest that it was noysed among all the neighbour Villages thereabouts An. 1561. ¶
execution a great multitude were assembled into the Market place to be hold the behaviour of these goodly men who as they were led to death protested That the cause why they dyed was only for bearing witnesse to the truth of the Gospell which words they uttered with such courage that the officers who invironed them round about strove to damp the same by a great noise which they made lest their voice should be understood Whilest the executioner fastened them to the stake there was on an instant such an hurlyburly amongst the people that with one voice they cryed Kill kill rushing There were they in great feare where no feare was for as saith the Psalmist God is in the generation of the righteous Psal 14. 5. one in upon another By and by the shops and doores of houses were shut up The hangman let fall all his preparations leaving the two patients standing at the stake The Margrave being on horseback could by no meanes get away being compassed in on each side The Officers trembling for feare threw downe their halberds The spy who attended there to hearken not knowing where to bestow himselfe forsook his horse and ran into a Church for feare And though one told him that a cutpurse had caused all this adoe he would not be drawn to beléeve him but said I know we are but dead men it is not the Théefe but the seditious people who now begin to work their revenge Thus God confounded these bloodthirsty shewing how he could have brought all their preparations to nothing if it had pleased him As soon as this hubbub was quieted the servant of the executioner ran and strangled the two Martyrs who had now a good space béen fastened to the stake still calling upon the name of the Lord. The fire being afterward kindled the bodies were consumed to ashes the 19. of Ianuary 1559. A Recantation fathered upon a Martyr called Cornelius Hallewin which he never consented to and how he tooke the same in the yeare 1559. THe father of this Cornelius solliciting the Margraue his wife who as it was thought was Godmother to Cornelius to get his sonne out of prison It was so agréed among them that a libell should be framed vnder the name of Cornelius wherein he should now acknowledge his error be confessed to a Priest would also receiue his Maker and come againe into the state of grace as a good childe of his holy mother the Church And further should say That Sermons were of no worth because they were not made upon holy ground Also requiring that if hée had failed in ought else the same should be attributed Anno 1559. to his young yeares and therefore craued pardon Howbeit the said Cornelius wrote letters daily in the meane while to the brethren shewing forth an admirable constancy in defending the faith gladding the hearts of many who gaue God thankes for the graces of his good Spirit wherewith he had indued him The Minister of the Flemish Church hearing of this Libell by the meanes of some friends got a Copy thereof and hauing read it considering how the tenor thereof tended to a great scandall made the Elders and Deacons of the Church acquainted therewith who were not a little grieued for the infirmity of their weake brother Whereupon the Minister wrote a sharpe letter vnto him willing him to turne and repent him of his backe sliding by making a true Confession thereof before the councel When Cornelius had receiued this letter read it he was so vexed perplexed in his spirit that he knew not how to demean himselfe so as all the godly his Prison fellowes had much adoe to stay and comfort him The blood gushed out of his nose hée spread abroad his armes and made pitifull outcries What to deny the truth said he God forbid Oh that the faithfull should conceiue so hardly of me Good God thou knowest that I am guiltlesse nor haue I this way offended Then the residue of the brethren aduised him to get a sight of his inditement which if it contained no such thing then to send it to the Church and so manifest to them his innocency touching that whereof he was accused besides making a plaine confession of his faith to impart the same to the Councell there withall to shew how he was abused by the Margraue and his Parents which he accordingly did The said Cornelius being condemned to die the Margraue offered him so much more fauour as to die a more easie kinde of death if he would but giue eare to the priests whom he had brought with him into the prison Cornelius replied no Sir God forbid I should do such a thing doe ye with my body what ye will As they bound him Herman Ianssen who both suffered together Herman willed the Margraue to take héed what he did for saith he this will not goe for paiment in Gods sight in bereauing vs thus of our liues I wish you to repent therefore before it be too late you cannot long continue this tyrannous course for the Lord will shortly auenge it The Margraue commanded they should haue a crosse or crucifixe put into their hands promising Cornelius that if he would so doe he should only be beheaded and not burned but they both reiected the Crosse saying They would not give the least signe that might be of betraying the truth and that it was all one to them what death they put them to so they dyed in and for the Lord. The punishment they said could last but for a while but the glory to come was eternall Then were they led towards the Market place and Herman reioycing in the Lord sung the hundred and thirtieth Psalme Cornelius followed him and gaue the people godly exhortations Being come to the place of execution the sword was laid there ready to behead them if they would take the Crosse into their hands and admit the Friers into their company But because they would not yéeld one whit vnto them wood was made ready to burne them Then Cornelius fell on his knées praying God to forgiue his enemies who had sinned through ignorance After which they were put into a little lodge made of fagots and strangled at the stake But whilest this was a doing there fell out such a tumult amongst the people that they were not a little afraid of an vprore the hangman be caught hold of his sword to defend himselfe thinking they would kill him first but the businesse was as suddenly quieted as raised The fire being kindled flamed forth vpon the bodies of these holy Martyrs The Margraue thought according to the vsuall course to haue quenched the fire that so conueying the bodies away halfe burnt they might be laid upon the whéeles nigh vnto the city in the accustomed places where they were to lie as spectacles to be gazed on But the peoples wrath being stirred crossed him in his purpose so as his Serieants and Halberdiers leauing him he stood as
A mischiefe mercifully prevented by the meanes of prayer and calling upon the name of God A Certaine President being come into the city of Pigneroll sent for one of Saint Iohns very neere unto Angrongne who at that time dwelt there asking him if he had not caused a childe of his to be baptised at Angrongne and why he had done so The poore silly man answered hee had done it because Baptisme was there administred according to Christs institution The President hearing him say so in great fury commanded him in the kings name upon paine of being burned to get it rebaptised The Father of the child besought him that he would permit him to pray unto God before he gave him his answer Which being done in the Hall before all the company he further intreated him under his hand and Seale to cause it to be set downe how he could discharge him of committing so great a sinne and that if he would take the guilt thereof upon himselfe and his then he would answer him The president hearing how he came about him was so confounded in himselfe for a while that hee could not speake But by and by he bad take away the Villaine and so he was never called before him againe ¶ Papists committed their children to Protestants to bee preserved from being deflowred AMong other things saith my Author this is to be observed that during these troubles in the Valleyes of Angrongne from the yeare 1555 vnto the yeare 1561. The Papists which dwelt in the Country conveyed their daughters away into the Mountaines and committed the custody of them to these poore persecuted Christians of Vandois for feare lest their chastities should be violated by the common souldiers according as they had béene threatned by them who were given over to all villainy and cruelty ¶ An assemble of the faithfull descried nigh to Antwerpe was by the enemies of the Gospel put to flight of which three being apprehended two escaped and one named Barthelemi de Hoy was executed Anno 1561. THe third day of the moneth of August in the yeare 1561 when great triumphs were usually made in the city of Antwerpe about the plays and prizes of Rhetorike as they call them to the sight and hearing whereof there commonly came great multitudes from many places those of the Religion being willing to take all opportunities to méete together in the feare of God whilest others were busted in séeing and beholding those vanities a great number withdrew themselves out of the City and entered into a wood nigh unto Marksem that there they might heare the word of God preached with lively voice by the preachers thereof The Dorsart of Marklem being advertised thereof resorted thither with his Officers being conducted to the place by certaine poore youths being Nete-heards whom he promised to apparell if they could bring him to any place of the wood where the assembly was Whilest himselfe staying without with two or three other on horsebacke sent the rest of his Officers with the boyes into the wood At the appearing of these wolves the poore shéepe of Christ began to be affrighted and to flie The Ministers and others séeing this disorder admonished the assembly not to stir shewing how great inconveniences would follow upon such an inconsiderate flight The persecutors were not above five or six but the persecuted were about foure or five hundred persons so as without any great difficulty they might have had the better hand of them The principall aime which the Officers had was to apprehend the Minister For having caught one of the assembly thinking hee had beene the man they cryed one to another Hold the Priest fast striking him with their Pistols and staves and so brought him out of the wood The Dorsart perceiving that this was not the Minister kept him notwithstanding as his prey and left not pursuing this scattered flock untill night After this hée tooke two others in the Lordship of Akeram Thus having apprehended these three prisoners and withall having taken up many cloakes hats vailes foreparts and other accoutâ—ents which the poore dispersed had lost and let fall these they tooke away as a spoyle and returned to Markesem This Dorsart layd hold on two others by the way whom he supposed to be of that number one of which was Barthelemi de Hoye a Joyner of the age of twenty foure yeares These five were committed to prison one from another some at Marksem and others at Damme Soone after the first thrée which had béene taken in the Iurisdiction of Akerem had the meanes to escape without any danger or detriment by the assistance of their friends Barthelemi onely remained in the custody of the Dorsart before whom he endured many baâ—ings through the Parson of that place being set on by him Besides many others who daily by way of scorne questioned with him asking Why such a young man as he could not Carnall reasons used by carnal people content himselfe with their religion and glorious Church adorned with silver gold and precious stones in which there was such melodious musick both of voices and instruments but must néedes joyne himselfe to that Church which was hated despised and exposed to all inconveniences whatsoever But Barthelemi overcame all these temptations by the grace and power of the Almighty manifesting it to all that that which is greatly estéemed amongst men is altogether an abhomination Luk. 16. 45. in the sight of God Having then often justified the cause of God and reproved the Roman Church of false doctrine knowne by the fruits thereof viz. the hatefull lives of the priests c. he was after a few daies brought out of Prison and at last beheaded the nine and twentieth of August betwéene foure and five of the Clocke in the morning Ann. 1561. ¶ A relation touching the Massacre at Vassy in the countrey of Champaigne in France THe Duke of Guise being arrived at Ioinville asked of such as he was familiar withall whether those of Vassy used to have sermons preached constantly by their minister It was answered they had and that they encreased daily more and more At the hearing of which report falling into a grievous chase upon Saturday the last of February 1562. that he might the more covertly execute his conceived wrath against the religious sort in Vassy he departed from Ioinville accompanied with the Cardinall of Guise his brother and those of their traine and lodged in the village of Dammartin the frée which is distant from Ioinville about two French miles and a halfe The next day being Sunday which was the first of March after he had heard Masse very early in the morning being attended with about two hundred men armed with harquebuses Pistols and Coutelaxes he left Dammartin passing along to Vassy As he went by the Village of Bronzevall which is distant from Vassy but a small quarter of a mile the bell after the usuall manner rang to the Sermon The Duke hearing it asked such as
King of Navarre that then was DUring the siege of Rovan Anthony of Bourbon King of Navarre being forsaken of his faithfull friends and servants for conniving with the campe of Trium-Zirat was shot into the right shoulder with an Harquebuse the fiftéenth day of October whereof he dyed the seventéenth following Not many houres before his death with teares in his eyes he asked pardon of God making a confession of his faith according to the forme then used amongst those of the Religion And yet but eight daies before through ill counsel and the solicitation of the Bishop of Mande one of them that betrayed him he was confessed in the eare of the officiall of Rovan communicated after the popish manner protesting that if he might be cured of his wound he would cause the gospell to be prenched throughout all the Kingdome of France Hée was a Prince endowed with many good gifts of God naturally of a gentle disposition and yet a valarous and couragious warriour but so addicted to follow his pleasures and delights that to enjoy them he easily abandoned the care of his more weighty affaires and so was subject to no small inconvenience namely to be ill served and obeyed in the meane while neglecting the services of such as had béen his loyall and affectionate subjects An imperfection which hath cost France a million of mens lives with immunerable ruines besides an end whereof is not suddenly to be expected The death and Martyrdome of Augustine Marlorat one of the Ministers of the reformed Church in Rovan as also of three other personages who suffered with him at the same time Anno 1562. AMongst the garboyles which by the seditious were moved at Rovan Captaine Saint Estevo seized upon the bodies of Augustine Marlorat of Du-Bosck Sieur de Mandreville Cruchet Sieur de Soquence and Noel Cotton Mandreville perceiving this Captaine to be no well willer of theirs yet promised him a thousand Crownes if he would save his life and the life of Marlorat one of their Ministers which he having promised to doe by and by he shewed him the place whereinto Marlorat was retired namely â—ower into which himselfe his wife and children were put with some others Thus being hath brought together the doore was presently fast shut upon them The seven and twentieth of October the Constable accompanied with the Duke of Guise comming to view the place desired to sée Marlorat to whom he said you are he who have seduced the people To which he replyed That if he had seduced them it was God that had béene the doer of it rather than he for said he I have preached nothing unto them but his Divine truth The Constable told him that he was a seditious person and the cause of the ruine of that City To which he answered As for that imputation I refer my selfe to all that have heard me preach bée they Papists or Protestants whether I ever medled with matters of politike State or no but contrariwise have according to my ability labored to instruct them out of the holy Scriptures The Constable with an oath replyed That he and his abettors plotted together to make the Prince of Conde King the 〈◊〉 Duke of Normandy and Antelot Duke of Britaine To which Marlorat answering and testifying the innocency of those noble personages gat onely this for his labour the Constable told him confirming it with a solemne oath that within a few dayes hée should sée whether his God could deliver him out of his hands or no and to departed in great 〈◊〉 Not long 〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 to wit Marlorat Mandreville Sâ—quence and Coâ—on and other chiefe men of the Church were brought into the pallace But the names of the foure above specified were onely taken and forthwith their inditement drawne whence presently succéeded the sentence at the instance of Bigot Advocate for the King which sentence here followeth The Court having béen informed by the Interrogatories and confessions of the seditious in the city of Rovan and other parts of the countrey namely by M. Io. du Bosc of Mandreville President of the court of Requests in Rovan Vincent Gruchet Seignior of Sequence an antient Counsellor in the said City Noel Cotton seignior of Barthonville the Kings Notary and Secretary and Counsellor also of the said City with Augustine Marlorat Preacher and Minister in the said City Monke and Priest having a wife being all prisoners in the Consciergery The name of a spacious prison of the said Court conclusions against them being taken by the Kings Atturney generall all and every thing and circumstance considered the court hath and doth declare the foure persons aforesaid guilty and convicted of high treason in every particular for the punishment and satisfaction whereof the court hath adjudged and doth adjudge the said Bosc to be drawne naked onely a shirt upon him on a sled or hurdle into the old market place and there to be beheaded upon the scaffold of the city which done his head to be set upon a pole and placed upon the bridge of the said City and his body divided into foure parts to be set upon foure gibbets for a spectacle to the beholders And as touching Gruchet and Cotton it is decréed that they shall also be drawne in like manner upon a sled before the towne house of the City there to be hanged upon a gibbet and afterwards their heads being separated from their bodies to be affixed and set up upon the bridge of the said City and afterwards to be carried to the gibbet And as touching the said Morlorat the Court testifies that he is attainted and guilty of béeing one of the authors of the great assemblies which have béen the cause of rebellion and Civill wars And therefore as a punishment to satisfie the law for these crimes the Court hath condemned and doth condemne the said Marlorat otherwise called Pasquier to be drawne upon a sled and to be hanged upon a gibbet before our Ladies Church in Rovan this done his head to be striken off from his body and set upon a pole upon a bridge of the said City All their goods and heritages to be conâ—ate to the Kings use c. And underneath it was written ¶ This present sentence was pronounced and executed in the presence of the Lords and Commissaries Alexander Moyss Morterule and Sirend Messengers the last of October Anno 1562. MAndraville at his death shewed a wonderfull The death of Mandravill constancy expecting the stroke without being bound calling earnestly upon God speaking in the just defence of the reformed Churches in the faith of which doctrine he protested he was now prest to yéeld up his soule into the hands of God AS touching Augustine Marlorat a man excellently learned and of an unblameable life who had the testimony even of the Papists themselves that in his sermons he never uttered ought that tended to sedition or rebellion they were not content to sée him drawne upon a hurdle with shame
when his will is he will also deliver mee out of thy hands being more afflicted with the blasphemies which this varlet uttered then with all the torments which she endured on her body He having bemauled her shinnes with the pattents shée wore upon her féet shée told him his cruelty farre excéeded that of the Turkes and Infidels Whereupon he calling her a Huguenot whore told her That these were but the beginnings of her sorrowes so as if she did not disclose unto him her seven hundred pieces of gold hée would draw her chéeks and breasts with Lard and then fasten her to a forme and burne her quicke and after mount her up to the highest stéeple in the City and cast her thence downe headlong Well said she though my body fall never so low that shall not let my soule from being carried up into heaven This Captaine being herewith more inflamed with ire than before séeing that none of these cruelties could shake the faith and constancy of this poore woman he said unto her eat this Sugar taking loame or mortar from off the wall causing her to open her mouth with his dagger and to swallow it downe But not contenting himselfe herewith the villaine forced her to drink a glasse of Vrine which himselfe had made in her presence and then threw the glasse with what remained therein in her face Lastly he caused her to passe along through the troups of souldiers with intention to have had her slaine among them yet compassion moving them to spare her he brought her into his lodging where this inraged Wolfe by strange cruelties would have caused her to lose her life had not some of the inhabitants by giving him ten crownes redéemed her and so conveyed her to her owne house where within a short time after she finished her dayes One buried alive PEter Roch servant to the Lievtenant of Dignes being met withall in the countrey was buried alive they constrained him to dig his owne grave himselfe and so try whether it were large enough or no unto which he was compelled by Bartholomew Chause-grosse and his complices Provence Two women crowned with thornes THe wife of Andrew Renaud being brought through Saint Martins of Castillon was stripped stark naked and resisting such as would have violated her chastity she was whipped outragiously Anno 1566. then wounded with swords crowned with thornes then cast into the river and lastly shot to death with harquebuses Iannenta Calvin of the place of Cella being of the age of eighty yeres brought into the city of Brignole with a crowne of thornes platted upon her head being whipped till the bloud came excéedingly was first stoned and then burned alive Mascon THe Murtherers in this city having seised upon the body of Bonnet Bor in Mascon one of the most noble houses of the same a man of great learning and of an unblameable life who in other places had served in the Ministry twenty yeares having béen ransommed thrée severall times was carried along with a thousand scoffes and frâ—nps smitten with fists through the corners of the stréets with crying That whosoever would heare this devout and holy man preach should come to the slaughterhouse Whither having brought him they buffeted and mocked him two full houres Hée onely requested before hée died that they would permit him to make his prayers to God Whereupon cutting off the one halfe of his nose and one of his eares they said Now pray as long as thou wilt and then wee will send thee to all the Devils Then he knéeled down and lifting up his eies to Heaven prayed with such fervency of spirit that hée caused some of his murtherers to sigh within themselves Then directing his spéech to him who had cut off his nose he said Friend I am here ready to suffer what thou hast yet further to inflict upon me But this I intreat of thee and thy companions to bethinke you well of the outrages committed by you against this poore city for know there is a God before whose Tribunall you must give an account of these your cruelties At these words the bloud issued so fast out at his nose that it hindred him from procéeding on in that hée was about to have said A Captaine passing by cryed to the souldiers Send this wretched man to the Devill Which one of them hearing tooke him by the hand and brought him to the brimme of the river Saone somewhat above the slaughter house pretending to wash and cleanse him from the bloud wherwith his visage was besmeared conducting him to a boat for this purpose into which he was no sooner entred but he there presently turned him over into the river wherein he striving for life and crying to God for mercy these tyrants battered him with stones till he sunke under the water and so died Sée here in part saith the Historiographer the lamentable estate of the poore churches of France during the first troubles which ended with the end of the Duke of Guise the principall actor therein who was slaine at the siege of Orleance not without the immediate hand of God in the yeare 156â— by a poore gentleman whose name was Iohn Poltrot a man very desperate but of small stature and therefore commonly called the little Spaniard who shooting the Duke into the shoulder with a pistoll as he was riding to his tent in an evening uaon a little negge was for the same fact adiudged to be drawne in pieces by foure horses his head to be cut off and his torne body to be burnt to ashes ¶ A very comfortable Letter written by Wouter Oom Prisoner and Martyr in the City of Antwerpe and full of consolation against the feare of persecution directed to a Brother and Sister of his Grace and peace from God the Father and from his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen WElbeloved brother and sister whom I love dearely for the truths sake and for your faith in Christ Iesus These are to certifie you that I am in bodily health and enjoy the comfort or a good conscience I praise my Lord God therefore who is able to increase the same more and more by the powerfull operation of his holy spirit Whosoever they be that will forsake this present evill world and become followers of their Captain Christ must make account to méet with many persecutions and afflictions for Christ hath told us aforehand that we should be hated persecuted Mat. 10. 12. and banished out of the world for his names sake And this they will doe saith he because they have neither knowne the father nor Iohn 16. 3. me But be not afraid saith he for I have overcome the world Saint Paul also witnesseth the 2 Tim. 3. 12. same thing saying all that will live godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution And again to you it is given for Iesus Christ not onely to beléeve in him but also to suffer for his sake And Phil. 1. 24. Mat. 5. 11 12.
doth not our Lord Iesus Christ say blessed are you when men persecute you and speake all manner of evill falsly against you for my name sake Rejoice therefore and be glad for great is your reward in heaven Now whereto serveth all this my beloved but to bring us into a conformity with our Lord and Master Iesus Christ For Christ hath suffered for us saith the Apostle saint Peter 1 Pet. 2. 21. leaving us an example that we should walke in his steps who also endured the crosse and despised Heb. 12 2. the shame for the obtaining of that joy which was set before him and became poore to make us rich 2 Cor. 8. 9. By him also are we brought by faith into that Rom. 5 2. state of grace wherein we stand rejoycing in the hope of the glory of God knowing that tribulation worketh patience c. Wherefore deare brother and sister be not afrayd of the fiery tryall which is now sent amongst us to prove us For what Father loving his childe doth not correct it Heb. 12. Even so doth the Lord chastise those whom he loveth for if we should be without correction wherof all true Christians are partakers then were we bastards and not sons And therefore Salomon saith my sonne despise not the chastening of the Prov. 3. 11 12. Lord neither faint when thou are corrected of him for whom the Lord loveth the same he correcteth even as a Father the sonne in whom he delighteth Feare not then to follow the footsteps of Christ for he is the head and we are his members Even as Christ then hath obtained full joy glory by suffering of anguishes and sorrowes so we also according to his example must through Acts 14 21. many tribulations enter into the heavenly places even into the new Ierusalem Let us then say Phil. 1. 21. with saint Paul Christ unto me is in life and in death advantage Let us cry out with him O Rom. 7 24. wretched creatures that we are who shall deliver us from this body of death Sée here how the faithfull have desired to be with Christ for with Abraham they had an eye to that holy City Anno 1562. which hath foundations whose builder and maker Heb. 11. 10. is God Let vs then my beloved chéerefully and willingly follow the Lord possessing our soules by patience For it is a good thing as saith the Prophet Ieremiah both to hope and quietly to Lam. 3. 26. waite for the salvation of the Lord and good also it is for a man to beare the yoke in his youth for such the Lord will comfort in the end and restore unto them the joy of his salvation Loe here deare brother and sister what consolations our God hath treasured up for us in his holy word for us I say whose desire it is to feare the Lord and to trust in his grace and mercy For Psal 37. 39. the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord hée is their strength in the time of trouble Wherfore q giving all diligence let us adde to faith vertue 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8. and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse love for if these things be in us and abound they will cause us neither to be idle nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ The which God our Father grant us for his Sonnes sake our Lord Amen Out of my hole December the eleventh 1562. Wouter Oom prisoner for the truth Now because ye may see that this Letter was not without its happy effect hearken to the relation of the History following THere was one Iohn Wolfe of the City of Audenard who because he could no longer inhabite there without either the danger of his life or wounding of his conscience his wife being great with childe and as yet but weake in the knowledge of the Gospell he was forced for these respects to joyne himselfe to the assembly of the Church in Antwerpe where thinking himselfe in safety a neighbour of his owing him ill will accused him to the Margrave about the baptising of his childe Whereupon being then committed and examined where and in whose presence his childe was baptized he without staggering answered that he had it baptised according to the institution of Christ by a Minister set apart to that Office The Margrave not content with this answer often pressed him with sundry threats of the torture to accuse such as he knew But the sharpest combat he endured was from his owne flesh counselling him during his imprisonment for the safegard of his life to dissemble and halt betwéen two opinions The cause was from the inward affection he bore towards his wife and childe being yet but young and of singular beauty in regard whereof many of the congregation expected no other but that he would sinke under this tryall But in the middest of these assaults hée was heard with prayers and sighes to cry mightily to God to bée delivered from this temptation Which prayers of his were heard in due season even then Whither wee ought to fly in time of temptation when in the judgement of man he was supposed to be overcome thereof meanes was made of bringing to his hands consolatory letters as also the said Wouter Dom then prisoner with him comforted him not a little by his letters Whereby in the end he continued so strong in the Lord as also constant in the confession of the truth that in conclusion he received the sentence of death with the aforesaid Wouter After which his wife came unto him and they were permitted to talke together bursting out each of them into such abundance of teares that it would have moved the most stony heart that ever was At parting with a bitter cry hée commended her to Gods mighty protection and his childe to be trained up in the true Religion Soone after hée was drowned in the tub or fat of the prison and the next day hanged upon one of the Gibbets néer unto the City ¶ A relation of the troubles and martyrdome of Christian Quekere Iaques Dionssart and Iean de Salomez of Steenwerk in Flanders To whom God gave such ability to answer their enemies demands as if they had come from persons much more learned Which shewes that God measures out to all the gifts and graces of his holy Spirit according to his good will and pleasure WHilest the persecution continued at this time in sundry places of Flanders under Philip King of Spaine and that many fled into England under the protection of Quéene Elizabeth these thrée above mentioned were of the same number who joyned themselves to the Dutch Church in London having given publique testimony of their faith before all the Congregation In which place they continuod not long but they were constrained upon some speciall occasions to
at Gand tooke him thence bound him girding and straining him strangely with cords and would néeds have him burned As he was led thither they abused him shamefully with mockes thrusting him forward and striking him cruelly The Captaine of the band gave him a blow over the face with his Gantlet which much disfigured him Finally these tyrants handled him worse then any dog only because his patient and constant carriage of himselfe tormented and enraged them Being come to the place they thrust him into his little Cabbin piled up with fagots and wood and then set fire unto him where he was heard distinctly and plainly to use these words albeit they had gagged him Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Thus this faithfull witnesse of Ieuss Christ dyed quiently and constantly in the Lord April the fourth Anno 1568. ¶ Among these sad relations a little to quicken and refresh the spirit of the reader I will here insert a Letter full of consolations written out of prison to the faithfull by one William Touart Merchant who had his dwelling in the City of Lisle in Flanders THis honourable personage being come to the age of eighty yeares or thereabouts used his house for the space of fourtéene or fiftéene yeares as a Church wherein the assembly in the City of Lisle commonly met Being chased and banished thence in the yeare 1561. he withdrew himself for a while to Tournay whence he was constrained to flie and to goe to Amiens and Moundedier Cities of Picardy that there he might enjoy the pure preaching of the Gospell Afterward returning into his owne countrey he came to reside in the City of Antwerpe where after he had continued many yeares he was at length imprisoned and condenmed to be burned with two others who suffered for the same cause But it pleased God so to dispose of him that he dyed another kinde of death to shew that his chosen servants have to triumph over the same some one way and some another For being plunged into a cisterne or tub full of water he was drowned in prison and then they carried his body out of the City to a place called Berken where the dead bodies of the condemned are laid upon the whéels or crutch Among many letters which he wrote during the time of his imprisonment my author hath selected out this one which here followeth DE are brethren and sisters in Iesus Christ I most humbly thank my good God that he hath so fortified and comforted me by his grace that I féele my selfe more cheared by lying in this darke prison then if I were walking in the open stréets or fields I say this I féele according to the spirit for as touching the flesh what doth it apprehend here but stinking vapors and smoke Wherefore my beloved if it so fall out that you be apprehended for the name of Iesus Christ feare not the prison nor those that have power to kill the body for having done that they can goe no further Be yée not afraid then séeing it is the reward which our good Captaine Iesus Christ hath promised to all his faithfull soldiers and servants He who turnes his backe in this conflict goes by the losse but whosoever fights manfully obtaines in the end the crowne not a crowne of gold but of glory immortall We here lay downe Rev. 2. 10. a fading life filled with griefes and troubles to change the some for a life everlasting we put off the ragges of this mortall flesh to be clothed with robes immortall we forsake a loathsome life for joy and felicity eternall ought any gaine or exchange to be compared with this O swéet and happy Martyrdome how dost thou dignifie and enrich us in despite of the world devill and our owne flesh And which of us now can complaine séeing our Soveraigne Lord and Master hath Anno 1569. so expressely foretold it to all his followers will any man come after me saith he Let him then Mat. 16 24. take up his crosse and follow me Let us beare Oh let us then beare the crosse chéerefully and with ioyfulnesse that we may be received in the presence of his heavenly Father for it is not only Phil. 1 21. 1 Tim. 2. 12. given us to beleeve in Christ but also to suffer for his sake and if we suffer with him then wée shall also raigne with him Oh that wée could admire his bounty who no sooner imployes us in his worke but hath the wages ready in his hand wherewith to recompence Iohn 16. 20. Heb 12. 1. us Your sorrow saith he shall be turned into joy Let us then cast off every weight that presseth downe and whatsoever else that stands in our way to heaven-ward be if father mother Mat. 19 29. Mat. 13 45 46. brother sisters husband childe yea and our own life also Let us with the wise Merchant man sell all that with him we may purchase that pretious pearle How happy doe I estéeme them who are called to suffer and leave their life for confessing the name of Iesus Christ For the eternall Son of God will confesse their names before his heavenly Mar. 10. 23. Luke 12. 8. Father and his holy Angels They shall be clad with white robes and shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of Heaven filled with gladnesse in the presence of the Lambe They shal eat of the fruit of the trée of life which is in the midst of the Rev. 27. Paradise of God Let us fixe the eyes of our minds upon these so great pretious promises of Iesus Christ which he hath made to all those which persevere in well doing unto the end O how happy shall wée be when we are delivered from these bodies of death to live for ever with our God Let us continually pray then with the Disciples Lord increase Luke 15. 7. our faith O deare brethren remember mée alwayes in your prayers who am bound here in the Heb. 13. 3. bonds of Antichrist Remember those also who are in bonds as if you were bound with them pray Pet. 4. 5 I say without ceasing for our adversary the Devill is alwayes compassing us about with his fetches to cause our hearts to faint And you are not ignorant what a potent enemy our owne flesh Gal. 5. 17. Phil. 1. 6. is unto us But I confidently beléeve that our good God who hath begun this good worke in me will perfect the same even unto the day of Christ Fare ye well It was strange to see what spectacles of dead bodies saline by the bloudy Inquisition were to be gazed on in a manner in every place especially in the Cities of Tournay and of the Valencians in regard of the multitudes of beléevers both of men and women who had long languished in sundry prisons in great misery and necessities Now that we may not forget what fell out in the beginning of this yeare 1569. thus it happened In the City
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 off his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being 〈◊〉 up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—nels throughout the stréets he was at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where they 〈◊〉 him by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some 〈◊〉 were well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 body of the Admirall â—he which they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that doe she 〈◊〉 what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they could nver find it out but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—o as they were â—aine to 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and hung that up in stead of the body it self rather than none at all ¶ Here as in fittest place is briefly related the sentence which the Court of Parliament in Paris denounced against Gasper Coligne Admirall of France after hee was massacred as you have formerly heard viz. 1 FIrst That for his conspiracy practised against the King and the State in the yeare 1572 the said Court hath condemned him of high treason 2 That his memory shall bee utterly rased out 3 If his body or any figure thereof shall bee taken that the same shall be first drawne upon a hurdle to the place called Le Grene and there hanged upon a Gibbet by the Executioner 4 After which a Gibbet shall be set up at Mountfaucon and he there to be hanged up in the most eminent place thereof 5 His annes and armor to be drawne at an horse taile through the stréets of the said City of Paris and other Cities where they should bée found and there by the Minister of Iustice to be broken and battered in pieces in signe of his perpetuall ignominy 6 All his goods and possessions to be forfeited to the Kings use 7 All his children to be pronounced ignoble as also held unworthy and uncapable of any honor or dignities whatsoever 8 His house and castle of Chastillon upon the Loin with the base Court and all appurtenances thereunto appertaining to be defaced and demolished to the ground 9 Then in the said place this sentence shall be set up engraven in brasse 10 Lastly that on the foure and twentieth of August 1572 generall processions be made throgh the City of Paris by way of thanksgiving to God for this punishment inflicted upon the conspirator Pronounced and executed in Paris the seven and twentieth and nine and twentieth of October Anno 1572. Signe Malon At Rome solemn masses were sung and thanks Great joy at Rome for these sorrowfull events rendred to God for the good successe which the Roman Catholiques had obsained in massacring the Huguenots At night in token of joy and gladned were made many great bonfires in sundry places And as the report went the Cardinal of Lorraine gave a thousand Crownes to him that brought this desired newes unto him Touching whose death I will here insert that which I finde written of it The Cardinall of Lorraine a principall pillar A note touching the maner of the Cardinall of Lorrains Death in the house of Guise a crafty and cruell persecutor of the reformed churches soone after the raigne of Henry the third brother of Charles the ninth in the yeare 1574 died at Avignon frantique at the houre of whose death there hapned such a horrible tempest in the aire that all stood amased at it The people observing how it fell out in one of the chiefe Cities where Popery bare the sway thought it the more remarkable not sticking to say that this wise worldling who had enriched himselfe beyond measure by execcrable practises received now in the prime of his youth and in the top of his hopes the just reward of all his wicked procéedings it being not possible that a soul so replenished with iniquity could depart quietly But those of the Religion added That in this his so sudden departure shined the wonderfull providence of God in that one of the Popes great supporters comming to Avignon with a purpose to arme the King of France and Polonia against the Christian assemblies out of a vaine confidence thinking that at his onely word and threat the Prince would be perswaded to overthrow all it should fall out so contrary to his expectation that the master builder and upholder of violent and bloudy counsels must now in the middest of his triumphs come to so fearefull and miserable an end That he who bent all his wits to crosse the counsell and wisedome of God should at an instant in this City be smitten with frensie To give warning to all that there is no wisedome or counsell against the Lord who blasteth the ripest wits when they dare to oppose him there with But now to returne againe to the matter where wée left The same day that the Admirall was hurt the King advised the King of Navarre his brother in law to lodge in his chamber with ten or twelve of his trustiest servants to protect him from the designes of the Duke of Guise whom he called an unhappy boy The Admirall as it séemeth somewhat before his death made his will in which he gave the king counsell that he should not give his brethren over great portions The Quéen Mother hearing this and reading the same to the Duke of Alencon the Kings brother Now you sée saith she the heart of your friend the Admirall whom you so much loved and respected The Duke answered I know not how much he loved me but I well perceive by this how much he loved the King The English Embassador made almost the like The Admiral a loving and loyall servant to his Prince and Country answer when the said Quéene told him How the Admirall had advised the King not to trust the English too farre Indéed Madam saith he hereby it appeared that though he bare but little good will to the English yet he manifested himselfe a loyall servant to the Crowne of France The Sieur de Brion Governour of the little Brion governour to the Prince of Condes son massacred Marquesse Conde sonne to the late Prince of Conde hearing these stirres taking his little master even in his shirt thinking to convey him somewhere out of the way met these murtherers who plucking from him the said yong prince massacred the old man in his presence whilest the Prince with teares intreated them to spare his Governour But they died his white haires in his owne bloud and then barbarously dragged him through the mire This Sunday morning all that were popishly Ten thousand massacred within three dates in the City of Paris c. affected tooke liberty to kill and spoyle if being credibly reported That the number of the slaine that day and two other daies following in the City of Paris and in the Suburbs did amount to above ten thousand counting Lords Gentlemen Presidents Counsellors Advocates Lawyers Schollers Physitians Merchants Tradesmen Women Maids and Children The stréets were covered with dead bodies the river was died with bloud the gates and entrance into the Kings palace painted with the same colour but the bloud-thirsty were
was adventured to goe downe and opened the same to these tygers who presently stabbed her husband in his bed The midwife séeing them bent to murther the woman also now ready to lie downe instantly intreated them to tarry at least so long till the infant which would be the 20. Childe that God had given her was borne Having contested some while with them they tooke this poore woman halfe dead with feare and thrust her into the sundament with a dagger to the very hilts She finding her selfe mortally wounded and yet desirous to bring forth A barbarous cruelty her fruit fled into a corne-loft whither they pursued her giving her another stabbe into the belly with a dagger and then cast her out of a window next to the stréete upon which fall the childe came forth of her body the head formost gaping or yawning to the great astonishment and confusion of the Papists who were constrained often with detestation to acknowledge and confesse the cruelties of their butchers ¶ Behold here another ONE of the Massacrers having snatched up a Whatiron heart would not have been moved to compassion herewith little childe in his armes the poore baâ—â— began to play with his beard and to smile upon him but in stead of being moved to compassion therewith this barbarous wretch wounded it with his dagger and so cast it all on a gore blood into the river so as it was a good while ere it could recover the own colour againe To procéed on further and fully to relate all the tragicall acts committed in this Massacre at Paris to set downe the thundrings of Guns and Pistols the lamentable voices and outcries of the slaine the roarings and horrible blasphemies belched forth by these Massacrers and devils incarnate were enough to cause the Paper whereon they should be described either to blush or wéepe Not to stay the Reader therefore any longer in this having many things of the like nature to present unto thy view we will passe from the dolorous City of Paris to other cities in France and set before thee as in a glasse a company of horrible and rufull spectacles ¶ Massacres committed upon those of the Religion at Meaux in Brie LEt us begin then with those of Meaux in Brie which is not above a daies journey from Paris The poore Protestants in this City were destinated There was a roulâ— drawne where the massacre should begin continus and end to drinke of this cup of Martyrdome after their brethren and sisters in the aforesaid City of Paris Therefore on the same Sunday the foure and twentieth of August about foure of the clocke in the afternoon a post was sent to Meaux with letters accompanied with a seditious fellow called le Froid Being come thither the Packet was presented to Monsleur Lovis Cosset the This Cosset was then branded for notorious villanies and a misshapenfellow Kings Atturney there Upon the receit whereof this Atturny hasted hither and thither in his own person to advertise such cut-throats as had had their hands in the pillaging and robbing those of the religion in the first second and third troubles with command that they should be ready to come forth of their houses armed at the stroke of seven of the clock and then cause the gates instantly to be shut The time prefixed being come which was about supper time the gates were shut and then they began to execute their cruelties in sundry parts of the City Thus was that night passed not without uprores and strange events On the next day which was Munday about thrée of the clocke in the morning these good Catholikes began to pillage the houses of the Protestants of the best things they had which continued till eight of the clocke their trading liked them so well But the principall of all the spotles were conveyed into the Court and house of this noble Atturney Cosset yet these were only the beginnings of sorrows For after robbing and spotling they fell to shut them up in prisons which being filled the massacrers having Cosset for their Captaine who usually carried in each hand a Pistoll ready to discharge went into the said prison on Tuesday the six and twentieth of August about five or six of the clock at night with swords daggers and butchers knives Nigh to this prison there was a great Court enclosed on every side with walls and a very strong Gate In a corner whereof is a large paire of winding staires containing five and twenty or thirty steppes by which they goe up to the Iudgement Hall to the Seat of Iustice Into this Court were the murderers assembled which done Cosset went up into his seat Then they had a scroule or bill containing the names of the prisoners there imprisoned who were called over one by one to the number of two hundred and upwards as some of the murderers themselves have since reported when as they impudently made their brags of these their horrible impieties and injustices Then the Atturney laughing began to call for the first man named in the bill who being brought forth and séeing naked swords before him falling downe and craving forgivenesse of his sins at the hands of God was suddenly butchered by five or sixe One Quintin Croyer an Eiver of the reformed Church being called forth and séeing many of his companions massacred before his eyes knéeled downe praying God to pardon thesée murderers at which prayer they fell a laughing and not being able with their daggers to pierce a Ierkin of double Busse which he ware and which they were loth to spoile for it was a good booty they cut asunder the points and then gave him five or six ftabs with a dagger into his body and so this good man wounded to death calling upon God rendered up his spirit into the hands of him that gave it Faron Haren a man zealously asserted to religion who had béen Sheriffe of the City in the first troubles having by his endeavours chased the Masse out of Meaux for a time was mortally hated of these seditious Papists and therefore they were not contented simply to kill him but first cut off his nose eares and secret parts then giving him many small thrusts into divers parts of the body they constrained him to and fro among them as if he had gone thorow the pikes But being weakened and not able any longer to hold out in regard of the blood that issued from all the parts of his body he fell with his face to the ground and instantly calling upon the name of the Lord received infinite gashes and wounds after he was dead By this time it grew late therefore these blood-suckers having almost wearied themselves in worrying these poore lambes and shéep of Christ deferred the execution of the rest till after supper as well to take some breathing and refection as also to murther the residue with the greater alacrity For in as much as the blood of the slaine shined yet
into his hands Having made a short prayer he willingly presented his body to the murtherer who shot him in with his pistoll and so he died by and by Not long after the King sent Puygaillard who drowned nine or ten and amongst other the wife of this Minister de la Riviere above named who expressed a singular constancy of faith even to her last breath This Minister and Martyr formerly mentioned sirnamed Launay was the eldest son of Sieur de Launay a man excéeding rich and wealthy but an obstinate Papist When as the old man observed how his son was inclined to be a professor of the Gospell he threatened to dismherit him unlesse he would abjure promising on the contrary to bestow great matters upon him and to marry him honorably if he would be ruled by him All which his son refusing his fathers love began to be turned into hatred insomuch that the young man was forced to fly to Paris where in time he was called to bee a Minister of the first reformed Church planted in that City under the raigne of King Henry the second from which reformed Church other Churches in divers Cities in France fetched their light ¶ Persecution at Rovan WHen the Massacrers began to play their parts in this City they counselled those of the religion to get themselves into the prisons as into places of greatest security from the fury and rage of the people But such as followed this advice were there even ready to be devoured as poore Shéep by these gréedy wolves at their pleasure Those who were murthered in the city in a few Six thousand massacred in few dayes at the city of Rovan dayes some in their houses and others in the prisons amounted to six thousand besides more than fifty women upon whom they exercised no lesse cruelty than upon men Their names for brevities sake are here omitted The dead bodies being piled together were conveyed in tumbrils out of City and throwne by heaps one upon another into great pits digged for that purpose Their garments being washed in the river from their bloud by certaine poore women were afterwards distributed here and there to the poore by the Papists that they might séeme with their unjust cruelty to mingle some workes of justice and charity ¶ A Note touching the shamefull revolt of a Minister called Du Rosier with the event of it WIthin a mile of Paris there is a place where those of the Religion which dwelt thereabouts were wont to assemble to heare Sermons and to participate of the Sacraments Over this flocke was Huges Sureau called Du Rosier placed as overseer Being in times past Minister at Orleance he was discharged from thence as one of a contentious spirit and given to affect novelties In processe of time he came to be established the Minister of this foresaid Church nigh unto Paris Hearing newes of the Massacre hée fled with the rest for company Being apprehended he began to waver perswading many prisoners to revol◠as he had done which caused him afterwards if his repentance was sound to utter these words in a booke which I have wherein hée bittérly lamented his wofull fall The murtherers saith he by their cruell hands murthered mens bodies whilst their souls escaped safe but I by my perswasions have béen a killer of soules in turning them from the truth which before they professed The Iudge who had him in bonds sent letters presently to Paris to give notice of his apprehension as also of some apparent signes which gave him hope of the Ministers conversion The King by and by sent for him who being brought into his presence subscribed instantly to an abjuration with detestation of the Huguenots profession before the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde maintained the Romish Religion consented therto with the Sorbonists at that time there present against whom a few yeares before he had learnedly defended the truth In this abjuration he endeavoured to confute many articles which were maintained by Calvin and Beza against the Romish Religion In these disputes this Minister being of a prompt wit and having ability to expresse himselfe well handled the matter so cunningly that the King of Navarre the Princesse his sister and the Princesse of Conde so far yéelded that within five or six dayes after they went to masse and received absolution of the Cardinall of Bourbon The points about which this Roster disputed were these First concerning the markes of the Church Secondly of the Trinity of Persons Thirdly of the Incarnation of Iesus Christ Fourthly of Christs descent into hell Fifthly of originall sinne Sixthly of the providence of God Seventhly of predestination and reprobation Eightly of mans frée will Ninthly of Iustification Tenthly of succession Eleventhly of intercession of Saints Twelfthly of the sacrifice of the masse and lastly of Transubstantiation The Sorbonists caused this confession to be printed to which the Ministers of the reformed Religion would not vouchsafe an answer knowing that hée who made it did it contrary to his own conscience adding nothing thereto which had not béen confuted a thousand times All this upon his repentance he afterwards revoked as is to be séene by his booke printed here in London in the French tongue in the yere 1573 which confession of his contrary to his abjuration I have in my custody Now touching the Prince of Conde the King propounded to him thrée things either to goe to masse to die or else perpetuall prison and therefore to bethink himselfe well which of the thrée he liked best The Prince answered as it is reported That by Gods grace he would never chuse the first as for the two later he referred himselfe to the Kings pleasure ¶ A massacre at Tholouse in France ON Sunday which was the eight day after the massacre of Paris about eight of the clocke in the morning the chiefe of the Papists received advertisement of that which had passed with letters directing them what they were to doe Then a Councell was called at the breaking up whereof the great gates of the City were shut only the wickets left open at which there was set such to watch as they thought fitting Soone after it was noysed through all the City that the Lords and Gentlemen of the Religion were massacred at Paris Which the Protestants at Tholouse nothing being gone forth about five of the clocke in the morning to heare the Sermon at Castanet some thought it fit not to returne but to resort to some other place others resolved to goe backe againe that they might take order about their affaires These being ill advised were suffered to enter in peaceably leaving their swords and daggers at the gate At evening souldiers were placed Anno 1527. here there but in regard many Counsellors of the Religion were abroad that they might the better entrap them the next day the gates were not so carefully looked unto but who would might come in and goe out at their leisure without
a Letter which he drew out of one sléeve which whilst the King attentively read the Frier pulled forth a poysoned knife out of his other sléeve wherewith he stabbed the King into the lower part of his belly The King féeling himselfe hurt therewith snaching it out of the wound strucke the same into the Friers eye who hasting to get away the King crying out His Lords and Gentlemen perceiving what the Frier had done slew him presently with rapiers and swords The King before hee died having raigned fourtéene yeares and seven moneths called for the King of Navarre all the Princes Lords and Noblemen that were in his campe and declared that the King of Navarre was the true lawfull heire to the Crowne of France willing them all to acknowledge him for their King and that notice should likewise be given throughout all his camp and Kingdome also Thus the soveraigne Iudge of the world made The raigne of Henry the fourth over the kingdome of France way for the entrance of Henry the fourth to have dominion over the Kingdome of France Now howsoever from the yeare 1589. to this present yeare 1598. the Churches of Christ have séene marvellous changes and how the league for a time made many furious onsets yet it pleased God so to moderate things that the faithfull were preserved from being persecuted yea they obtained of their Prince many priviledges and favors For the King in the first yeres of his raigne continuing in the profession of the true Religion wherein he had béen bred and brought up did manfully resist both these of the league and the Spaniards the great God of battels blessing the right and just wars undertaken by this Prince to the confusion of all his enemies till he fell to side with Popery though the affairs of his Kingdome gained but little thereby ¶ A Note touching the Popes Bull. THe Leaguers séeing what prosperous successe God gave King Henry the fourth in his wars undertaken against them fearing that in the end all would yéeld unto him they procured a new excommunication from Rome against him and all his faithfull subjects causing the same to bee published at Pontâ—e I'Arch in Normandy by Marcellus Laudriaâ—us a malapert Iesuite The king being advertised thereof commanded his Court of Parliament holden at Cane to proceed against Pope Gregory the fourtéenth who sent it and his Nuncio that brought it as against Tyrants conspirators with Rebels perturbers of the state sowers of seditions and the common and notorious enemies of God and all goodnesse Then taking the Popes Bull he caused it to be fastened to a Gibbet at Tours by the common hangman of the towne and there to be consumed to ashes to the great rejoycing of all the beholders ¶ The History of one Margaret Pierrone who chose rather to be burned her selfe than willingly to burne her Bible Anno 1593. THere was one Margaret Pierrone borne in a village of Cambray called Sansay who with her husband retired into the City of the Valencians Now because she could not endure the bad qualities of a maid servant of hers shee was by her said maid accused to the new sect-Masters sirnamed the Iesuites for that shee had not béen in many yeares at the masse as also for kéeping in her house a Bible in reading whereof was her whole delight They acquainting the Magistrate herewith she was by and by apprehended some friends sent her an inckling thereof before hand once or twice that shée should get her some where out of the way but the errand was not done God having a purpose that she should beare â—vitnes of his truth to fill up the number of those that were to die for the name of Iesus Being in prison the Iudges calling her before them said Margaret are you not willing to returne home unto your house and there live with your husband and children Yes saith she if it may stand with the good will of God They added further that they had so wrought with their Fathers the Iesuites that in doing a small matter she might be set at liberty If saith she it be not a thing contrary to Gods glory and mine owne salvation you shall heare what I will say No such thing Margaret said they for a scaffold shall be erected in the chiefe place of the City upon which you are to present your self and there to crave pardon for your offending the Law then a fire being kindled you must cast your bible therein to bee consumed without speaking any word at all I pray you my masters tell me saith shee Is my Bible a good booke or no Yes we confesse it is said they If you allow it to be good said the woman why would you have me cast it into the fire Only said they to give the Iesuits content Imagine it to be but paper that you burne and then all is well enough doe so much for saving your life and we will meddle no more with you you may buy you another when you will They spent about two houres in perswading her hereunto shewing how she might doe a lesse evill that a greater good might come of it By the help of God saith shee I will never consent to doe it What would the people say when they sée me burne my Bible will they not exclaime and say yonder is a wretched woman indéed that will burne the Bible wherein are contained all the Articles of our Christian faith I will burne my body sure before that I will burne my Bible Then séeing she would in no sort conforme her selfe either to the will of the Iesuites or to theirs they caused her to be committed close prisoner and to be fed only with bread and water none to be permitted so much as to speake unto her thinking by this hard usage to overcome her but all was to no purpose Being thus long shut up and no newes heard of her one way or other every one imagned that they had put her to death privily Her Iudges were wiâ—â—ing to have saved her life sending often a Doctor unte her called N. of Vivendyne to turne her from her resolution Anno 1593. but he found it too hard a taske for him to effect often confessing to them that sent him that he found no cause at all in her why they should put her to death But on Wednesday the two and twentieth of Ianuary 1593. shee was condemned to be brought upon a stage set up in the Market place before the towne-house there to sée her books burnt then her selfe to be strangled at a post and her body dragged to the dunghill without the City Shee comming to the place and ascending the Scaffold distinctly pronounced the Lords Prayer Then seeing her books burned in her presence she uttered these words with an audible voice you burne there the word of God which your selves have acknowledged to be good and holy Having againe repeated the Lords Prayer she was strangled and died peaceably in the
Iames the Quéen the Prince and all the royall branches with the nobility clergy and commons of this realme assembled together at this present in Parliament by popish treachery appointed as shéep to the slaughter and that in most barbarous and savage maner no age yéelding example of the like cruelty intended towards the Lords annointed and his people Can this thy goodnesse O Lord be forgotten worthy to be written in a pillar of Marble that we may ever remember to praise thée for the same as the fact is worthy a lasting monument that all posterify may learn to detest it From this unnaturall conspiracy not our merit but thy mercy not our foresight but thy providence hath delivered us not our love to thée but thy love to thine annointed servant and thy poore Church with whom thou hast promised to be present to the end of the world And therefore not unto us not unto us Lord but to thy name be ascribed all honor and glory in all Churches of the saints throughout all generations for thou Lord hast discovered the snares of death Thou hast broken them and we are delivered Be thou still our mighty protector and scatter our cruell enemies which delight in blood infatuate their counsell and roote out that Babilonish and Antichristian sect which say with Ierusalem Downe with it downe with it even to the ground And to that end strengthen the hands of our gracious King the Nobles and Magistrates of the land with judgement and iustice to cut off these workers of iniquity whose religion is rebellion whose faith is faction whose practise is murthering of soules and bodies and for oof them out of the confines and limits of this kingdome that they may never prevatle against us and triumph in the ruine of thy Church and give us grace by true and serious repentance to avert these and the like judgements from us This Lord we earnestly crave at thy mercifull hands together with the continuance of thy powerfull protection over our dread Soveraign the whole Church and these Realms and the spéedy confusion of our implacable enemies and that for thy deare Sons sake our only Mediatour and Advocate Amen ¶ Franco di Franco an Italian made away in secret in the City of Vilne IN the yeare 1611. on the day which the papists call the feast of God a young man of six and twenty yeares old being miraculously called unto the knowledge of the Gospel was by certain Italians led through a Church where masse was to be sung and being urged to shew how he liked it began to refuse their Idolatry with great zeale admonishing the people there present not to suffer themselves to be so seduced by the pompous splendor of such vaine superstitions Telling them That that God which the Priest held up was no God as those seducers made them beleeve but a méere Idoll séeing it was not able to remove it selfe from one place to another unlesse it were borne Iesus Christ the Son of God â—ir Saviour is to be sought saith he at the right hand of God the Father Almighty This yong man was forth with compassed about with an innumerable company of people who buffeting him often on the face and spurning him with their féete haled him thence into the common Gadle of the City After many daies the Bishop with sundry other Lords calling him before them asked him if the heretiques had not perswaded him to use such words as he had spoken also whether he had not a resolution to kill the Quéene or her son the King or the Bishop of Vilne The prisoner wisely and resolutely answered That no man had set him aworke to doe it but only the zeale he had of Gods glory his conscience provoking him thereto holding it impossible for him any longer so suffer that men should attribute that honour to a dead Idoll which is only due to Iesus Christ his Saviour As touching their other demand his answere was that Christian Religion teacheth us not to murther men as Papists have hitâ—erto done in France England in the Low-Countries and elsewhere as histories doe daily shew The prisoner also admonished the Biship of Vilne to forsake all Idolatry to preach Gods truth and verity and cease to be witch the poore people with humane inventions moreover this faithfull witnesse did with much vehemency and constancy maintaine the truth of God that the Bishop of Vilne droâ—e out of his Hall his servants and such as came in there to heare him But he â—oot little by it for as they went here and there in the City they thid it abroad how in all their lives they never heard man speake with that courage and boldnesse of divine things to so good purpose as this young man had done Not long after he was againe brought before the same Iudges and questioned as before but in stead of yéelding he â—ardened his face against the impudency of his adversaries They purposing to quaile this magnaâ—unity caused him to féele the forture When he had suffered the utmost of their cruelty he was so far off from abjuring the truth that on the contrary his confession discovered in him a greater resolution then ever before being desirous and shewing himselfe ready prest to receive the Crowne of Martyrdome To be short the last of Iune 1611. which was the same day twelve-month 1610. where in the City of Vilne being the capitall City of the great Duchesse of Lithuany at eight of the clock in the morning there happened as terrible a fire as hath béen heard of at the houre in which the said Bishops and a great company of Iesuâ—â—es there going on procession the fire was so vehement that within the space of seven houres it deboured â—â—re thousand 〈◊〉 hundred and 〈◊〉 houses which tell out as the Iesuites supposed because they spared the Hereâ—â—ues there Where upon the 〈◊〉 of Christ was cruelly butchered there by the enemies of the Gospell not in a publike place â—or by day though he instantly requested the same at the 〈◊〉 of his Iudges but privatly in the night hi apeare walled about nigh to the Governours house Before they put him to death he was â—ruelly torâ—â—ned and then bound by the executioner to a post where they drew out his tongue under his chinne which done cutting off Anno 1595 his head his body being divided into foure quarters was carried the next day through the City upon so many poles ¶ An history of three Englishmen put to death at Rome THrée English men méeting together entered into a conference concerning the state of the Church at that time complaining that the zeale of Gods glory was wonderfully cooled among men yea and that even those of the religion were growne but too worldly wise that satan by little was sowing the séeds of Atheisme every where by rocking men asléep in the cradle of security whereupon having in humble manner commended themselves into the hands of God they determined to take their voyage