had their refuge to their wonted place of saint Iames Confesse your faults one to another Iames 5. 16. Answer The Apostle would have us to confesse our faults to such as we have wronged by word or déed Also God enjoynes us to reconcile ourselves one with another by such a confession Mat. 6. 12. Mat. 16. 19. if we would obtaine pardon of him Then they alledged that place of saint Mathew That whatsoever they bound on earth was bound in heaven Answer Christ speakes there of Ecclesiasticall discipline which ought to bée observed amongst Christians by admonitions and then by applying the censures according to the doctrine of the Gospell that so obstinate sinners may be cast out of the Church But all the world may sée that you know not what this true discipline of Christ meaneth nor what a right Ministry is in your Churches Quest At least you acknowledge Extreme unction Extreme unction to bée a Sacrament séeing Saint Iames speaks so cléerly of it Answer The anointing that Saint Iames Iames 5. 14. Marke 〈◊〉 13. speakes of is nothing like to your anointings For that was a miraculous anointing for healing of the body and that whilst the gift of healing was usuall in the Church But you anoint such as lye drawing on and doe it for the salvation of their soules It is néedfull I grant to send for the Minister to comfort the sicke and to pray with them and for them but not to besmeare and grease them Quest Well what say you to Confirmation Confirmation is not that a Sacrament Answer In all the Scripture said Iames do I not finde such a thing as your confirmation as you now use it and therefore I know not what it is Here they caused the Register to write Non credit Then came they to the order of priesthood and asked if that were not a Sacrament Answer No no more than the rest I am not 1 Pet. 2. 9. ignorant that S. Peter cals the faithfull a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people nor yet where Saint Iohn saith that Christ hath made us Kings and Priests but what is all this to your Bishops and Priests Rev. 1. 6. Quest What thinkest thou of the Pope Answer I thinke him to be the same that Daniel and Saint Paul foretold he should be For he Anno 1560. shewes himselfe such a one as they have described him to be comming with false signes and lying 2 Thess 2. 9 10. wonders sitting in the Temple of God and exalting himselfe above all that is called God forbidding marriage which God hath ordained and 1 Tim. 4 3. meat which God hath commanded to be received with giving of thankes Question What say you then unto Purgatory Purgatory 1 Iohn 17. Answer We acknowledge none other Purgatory but the blood of Christ which only cleanseth us from all our sinnes Quest Doe not the Saints pray for us and ought we not to pray to them Answer God alone is to be worshipped and Prayer to Saints prayed unto Whilest the Saints were on earth they would not endure to be adored Acts 10. 25 26. Which they then would rather have permitted being clothed with corruption and with naturall desires of being honoured then now when they have put off all carnall and humane affections The Angels themselves would not accept of Divine worship Revelat. 19. 10. and 22. 9. They had many other disputes which Iames could not write for want of paper as he intimated to them of the Church The fourtéenth of August they were examined the third time by Peter Titleman Dean of Renay Inquisitor generall of Flanders whose cruelties and extortions were exercised upon all the faithfull in all the persecutions and deaths which they suffered in the said Countrey This morning was brought before him Iane Solomez of whom he diligently enquired of these of the City of Stéenewerke where she was borne but especially if she knew one Charles Vanderkaw a man renowned among the faithfull there She answered she knew him but he was now dead After he had asked her name he questioned with her especially about the Sacraments yea somewhat concerning the Lords Supper holding her in these discourses about two houres before him To Iames Diensart he propounded no questions but came about him with these flattering spéeches My son you are yong and in the prime of your youth Therefore the Magistrate of this City is very desirous you should be withdrawne from holding this new doctrine that so you might be brought againe into the right way but as I understand you so persist therein that there is no removing of you Iames answered that it could not be called a new doctrine which was built upon the Prophets and Apostles To whom the Inquisitor replyed That Martin Luther was the first that broached it Answer And what say you then to so many learned men which lived before him as Io. Wickliffe Iohn Hus c. and some after him as Calvin Iohn Alasco Martin Micron and others in England France and Friesland And though neither you nor I knew them God knowes them as well as he did the seven thousand of the godly 1 Kin. 19. 28. whom Elias in his dayes was ignorant of The Inquisitor persisting in his old song pressed him with the succession of his Prelates and Bishops Iames put him in minde of another marke of the true Church namely that it was alwaies under persecution and thence inferred that himselfe was a true member thereof The Inquisitor said we are now persecuted in England for now they begin to imprison some of our Priests there Answer It is true that Boner late Bishop of London was committed to prison but not for his good déeds The rest of them have their liberty Now this Inquisitor among other matters willing him to shew what service was due to the Virgine Mary said Is it not written Honour 1 Pet. 2. 17. all men And what honour owe we then to the mother of our Lord Iesus Christ You give her said Iames a goodly honour in bowing the knée before an Image of wood or stone praying thereto as to your God You may be ashamed of such abhominable practises and blasphemies Much other reasonings they had which the said Iames for lacke of paper and leisure could not commit to writing The same day in the afternoon Christian Luckere who was put into prison apart was also presented before this inquisitor and examined upon many Articles In all his answers he shewed much courage and when the other went about to prove that Iesus Christ was corporally present in the Sacraments Christian used sixe or seven strong reasons to the contrary drawne out of the holy Scriptures That it could by no meanes be granted being repugnant to the truth The adversaries perceiving the constancy of these thrée prisoners sought by all meanes to vexe and weaken them First they severed them one from another
finding kinder entertainment among strangers than in their owne countrey We had perished said he if we had not perished So may we say That did not our naturall life perish here by persecutions we had never been saved in the kingdome of heaven Run we then my brethren with patience the race that is set before us let us not be ashamed with Simon the Cyrenian to carry the reprochfull Crosse of Christ and seeing we must die once let us desire rather to die gloriously for righteousnesse sake than ignominiously by shunning it If Princes had rather die in a breach than in their bed and to lose their life in the field than an eye at tilt or tourney let us imitate them in this our spiritual conflict-earnestly intreating the Lord if it be his blessed will that we may fight and die valiantly in the defence of his Truth and for the honour of his sonne If worldly minded men can and will suffer many hard adventures some for their honour others for their profits and pleasures though but vaine and temporary with what longing should we aspire to that certaine and eternall happinesse rest and glory wherewith all those shall be crowned who fight manfully and constantly for the cause of Christ But the world and worldings smile at this wisedome counting it foolishnesse the flesh also joyning therewith thinks all we have said to be either idle phantasies or meere paradoxes and no marvell for both of them being from the earth can savour nothing but what is earthly as Christ saith Betweene the judgement of the Church and that of the World there is a broad difference when the question is of determining what is true honour profit or pleasure whence it is that in a manner the one scornes that which the other admires and adores So as they never consent in approving or condemning with one voice that which is questioned for the belly hath no eares If therefore we meane to be ruled aright either in the matter of faith or outward manners let us not bee guided therein either by the worlds judgement or yet that of the flesh for the world is poreblinde and the belly as we have said hath no eares Ponder we then these things that so wee may be prepared to obey the will of God let us not wilfully râ—sh into dangers onely if God shall call us forth to suffer purposing thereby to conforme us to our Head and so to accompany that great cloud of witnesses through the narrow way that leads to his kingdome yeeld wee our neckes to beare the sweet and easie yoke of Christ Be it that Satan and his confederates doe persecute the Church of Christ yet hath she an assured hiding place The faithfull may be imprisoned but in the meane while they leave the world in a worse prison viz. shut up under the wrath of God They may be in bonds yet is not that so bad as to lie bound in the bonds of iniquity they are oft shut up in darke and unsavoury places but how can darknesse be grievous to them who are the children of light especially when God shines upon them with the light of his countenance Stinking holes and odious smels cannot so offend and annoy them but that the sweet savour of a good conscience purified by faith surmounts all They may be put into dungeons in the world yet being chosen of God out of the world they have their conversation in heaven Be it that they lose a few commodities here it is but as if they forsook counters to receive gold things terrestriall for celestiall A Christian may suffer but he cannot die he may lose his life but hee cannot lose Christ when he leaves the world he goes to God Wherefore let us then put on the whole armour of God and as good souldiers of Eph. 6. 11. 2 Tim. 23. Rev. 2. 10 Iesus Christ enure our selves to endure hardnesse So shall it come to passe that continuing faithfull in this spirituall Warfare unto the death we shall at length receive the crowne of eternall life THE HISTORY OF FOVRE MARTYRS BVRNT AT LILE IN FLANDERS IN THE YEARE 1556. WHOSE NAMES ARE ROBERT OGVIER AND HIS WIFE BAVDICON AND MARTIN their two Sonnes THe example which is set before us in this so godly a Family may well serve for an entrance to the Continuation of the History of forrein Martyrs in that weâ— may thence learne what those true ornaments are wherewith both parents and their children ought to bee decked and adorned namely with such a light shining forth from the sound knowledge of the Gospell as whereby the Church of God may be edified and confirmed in seeing them to hold the profession of their faith coustantly even unto the death THe City of LILE may Anno 1556. well bee placed in the first ranke of those Cities of Merchandise in the Low-countrey of Flanders Artols and Haynault upon which the Lord hath multiplâ—ed his blessings not so much of worldly good things as of his spirituall graces yea in so abundent measure that even under the tyraumy of Antichrist in the Countries aforenamed few places can be named where the Gospell in that time was more fréely published and preached or with greater zeale received than there For for thrée yeares together the Gospell was secretly taught among them sometime in houses then in woods in fields and in caves of the earth not without the haâ—arding of their dearest life if they had béen discovered yet could not these apparent dangers under such tyranny coole or abate the burning zeale which almost consumed the heart of this people hungring and thirsting after the spirituall food of their soules What was among them preached was accordingly practised workes of mercy and charity were there exercised not onely towards those of the houshold of Faith but even towards them which were without so as many by means hereof were drawn and brought on to the knowledge of Christ They ordained in their assembly certaine Deacons to receive the almes which were given men fearing God being well approved of who went wéekely from house to house to collect the abnes of such as they knew to be faithful admonishing every one how to carry themselves themselves in their vocations and of their duty in contributing towards the reliefe of the poore Saints And thus each one according to his place endevoured to expresse and manifest his faith by the fruits thereof namely good works In a very short space of time the Lord by the Ministry of his Word though preached in secret erected here a flourishing Church so as the Congregation consisted of a competent number of men women and children not onely of the city but out of foure or five Willages besides bordering nigh unto it who came also with an eager appetite to be instructed In the meane while you may conceive that satan and his adherents ceased not to storm and rage hereat not being able long to endure these their holy méetings but
when the time was now come that God had given them power to prove and try his Church they foreflowed not to exercise their cruelty upon if which long before they had plotted and contrived Upon Saturday then the sixth of March Ann. 1556. betwéene nine and ten of the Clocke in the night the Provost of the City with his Sergeants armed themselves to make search if they could finde any met together â—t houses but as then there was no assembly Therfore they came to the house of one whose name was Robert Oguier which was a little Church for all both great and small men-servants and maâ—ds were familiarly instruded thers in the knowledge of God as the issue well manifested Being violently entred into the said house and séeking here and there for their prey they found certaine bookes which they carried away But he whom they principally aimed at was not then in the house viz. Baudicon the sonne of the said Robert Oâ—â—uler who at that time was gone abroad to commune and talke of the word of God with some of the brethren as he oft used to do Returning home he knocked at the dore Martin his younger brother watching his conunting bad him be gone willing him not to come in But Baâ—dicon thinking his brother mistooke him for some other said it is I open the dore with that the sergeants approching nigh unto it opened the same and causing him to enter in said Ah Sir you are well met to whom he answered I thank you my friends you also are welcome hither Then said the Provost I arrest you all in the Emperors name and with that commanded each of them to be bound to wit the husband his wife with their two sons leaving their two daughters to looke to the house Now as they conveied them along through the stréets Baudicon with a voice somewhat extended which might easily be heard The prayer which Baudicon made as he was led to prison at that time of the night said O Lord assist us by thy grace not onely to be prisoners for thy name sake but to confesse thy holy truth in all purity before men so farre as to seale the same with our blouds for the edification of thy poore Church Thus were they brought into severall prisons where they were severally handled yet ceased they not to praise and blesse the Lord with one consent within a few daies after the prisoners were presented before the Magistrates of the City and examined as touching their course of life who directed their spéech first to Robert Oguier in these words It is told us that you never come to masse yea and also dissuade others from comming thereto wee are further informed that you maintain conventicles in your house causing erroneous doctrines to be preached there contrary to the ordinance of our holy Mother the Church whereby you have transgressed the lawes of the Imperiall Maiesty Robert Oguier answered whereas first of all you lay to my charge that I goe not to Masse I refuse so to do indéed because the death and pretious bloud of the sonne of God and his sacrifice is utterly abolished there and troden under foot For Christ by one sacrifice hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified The Apostle saith by Heb. 10. 14. one offering For do we read in all the scriptures that either the Prophets Christ or any of his Apostles ever said masse for they knew not what it meant Christ indéed instituted the holy Supper in which all Christian people doe communicate together but they sacrificed not If you please to read the Bible over you shall never finde the Masse once mentioned therein And therefore it is the méer invention of men You know then what Christ saith In vain do they worship me Mat. 15. 9. teaching for doctrines the commandements of men If either my selfe or any of mine had béene at Masse which is ordained by the commandement of men Christ would have told us we had worshipped him in vaine As for the second accusation I cannot nor will deny but there have met together in my house honest people fearing God I assure you not with intention to wrong or harme any but rather for the advancement of Gods glory and the good of many I knew indéed that the Emperor had forbidden it but what then I knew also that Christ in his Gospell had commanded it Where two or Mat. 18. 20. three saith he are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Thus you sée I could not well obey the Emperour but I must disobey Christ In this case then I choose rather to obey my God then man One of the Magistrates demanded what they did when they met together To which Baudicon the eldest son of Robert Oguier answered if it please you my Masters to give mée leave I will open the businesse at large unto you The Sheriffes séeing his promptnes looking one upon another said well let us heare it then Baudicon lifting up his eies to heaven began thus when we méet together in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ to heare the word of God we first of all prostrate upon our knées before God and in the humility of our Spirits doe make a confession of our sinnes before his divine Maiestie Then we pray that the word of God may be rightly divided and purely preached wee also pray for our Soveraigne Lord the Emperour and for all his honourable Counsellors that the Common-wealth may be peaceably governed to the glory of God yea we forget not you whom we acknowledge our superiors intreating our good God for you and for this whole City that you may maintaine it in all tranquility Thus I have summarily related unto you what we do thinke you now whether wée have offended so highly in this matter of our assemblies Moreover if you will not be offended to heare the tenour of the prayers we make there I am ready to recite the same unto you One of the Magistrates gave him a signe by which hée might understand that they desired to heare it Baudicon then knéeling downe before them prayed with such fervency of affection that the like ardency of zeale never appeared in him in so admirable a maner as at that time Insomuch that the Magistrates were forced to burst forth into tears beholding what a gratious Spirit the yong man was endued withall Then standing up hée said now your Masterships may take a scantling by this how wée are imployed in our méetings Whilst they were thus examined ech of them made an open confession of the faith which they held After this being returned againe into prison they not long after were put to the torture to make them confesse who they were that frequenteÌ„d their house but they would discover none unlesse such as were well knowne to the Iudges or else were at that time absent About foure or five daies after they were convented againe before their Iudges namely the
had we feared the same we had never exposed our bodies to this so shamefull and painfull a kinde of death Then he often reiterated these short breathings O God Father everlasting accept the sacrifice of our bodies for thy well beloved Sonne Iesus Christs sake One of the Friers cried Heretike thou liest he is none of thy father the Devill is thy father And thus during these conflicts he bent his eyes to heaven and speaking to his father said Behold for I sée the heavens open and millions of Angels ready prest to receive us rejoycing to sée us thus witnessing the truth in the view of the World Father let us be glad and rejoyce for the joyes of heaven are set open unto us Then said one of the Fryers I sée hell open and millions of Devils present to carry you thither But the Lord who never forsakes any that put their trustin him stirred up the heart and opened the mouth of a poore man who stood among the multitude beholding this spectacle who being moved with compassion cryed aloud Be of good comfort Baudicon stand thou to it thou 〈◊〉 in a good quarrell I am on thy side after which words he departed thence and a way being made for him saved himselfe from danger Fire was forthwith put to the straw and wood which burnt beneath whilest they not shrinking for the paines spake one to another Baudicon often repeating this in his fathers eares Faint not father nor be afraid Yet a very little while and wee shall enter into the heavenly mansions In the end the fire growing hot upon them the last words they were heard to pronounce were Iesus Christ thou Sonne of God into thy hands we commend our spirits And thus these two slept swéetly in the Lord. Within eight dayes after Iane the mother and Martin her sonne were executed in the same City of Lile but of this more hereafter Iane the wife of Robert Oguier and Martin her sonne Martyrs THe wife here followes her husband and accompanies her sonne her conversion is admirable for being severed from him the Friers having seduced her laboured with her to turne her some also out of the right way but he understanding thereof recovers his mother againe and so they both gaue their lives for the truth to the great confusion of their enemies But before we come to describe their happy ends we will as briefely as may be note by the way the great conflicts of spirit which both of them sustained There were sent unto them many of the popish rabble to turne them from their faith Now that this their devillish enterprise might the rather be effected they sundred one of them from the other so as by the politique deuice of a Monke the poore woman began to waver and let goe her first faith At this their enemies rejoyced not a little whilest the poore little flocke of Christ hearing such sad newes were in continuall perplexity but the Lord left them not in this mournfull condition For on a day one of the Monkes resorted to her in the prison counselling her to win her sonne Martin and to draw him from his errors which she promised to doe But when he was come to his Mother and perceiued that she was not onely fallen but also quite turned out of the right way he began with teares to bewayle her miserable estate O Mother saith he what have you done Have you denyed him who hath redéemed you Alas what evill hath he done you that you should requite him with this so great an iniury and dishonour Now I am plunged into that woe which I have most feared Ah good God that I should live to sée this which pierceth me to the very heart His Mother hearing these his pittifull complaints and séeing the teares which her sonne shed for her began againe to renue her strength in the Lord and with teares cryed out O Father of mercies be mercifull unto me miserable sinner and cover my transgression under the righteousnesse of thy blessed Sonne Lord enable me with strength from above to stand to my first confession and make me to abide stedfast therein even unto my last breath It was not long after this her change but the same instruments of Satan who had seduced her came in supposing to finde her in the same minde wherein they left her whom she no sooner espied but with detestation said Avoyd Satan get thee behinde me for henceforth thou hast neither part nor portion in me I will by the help of God stand to my first confession And if I may not signe it with Inke I will seale it with my blood And so from that time this fraile vessell who for a while relented after her recovery grew stronger and stronger The Iudges séeing their constancy delayed not to dispatch them out of the way condemning them to be burned alive and their bodies being reduced to ashes the same to be scattered and dispersed in the aire The mother and the sonne having heard their sentence read in the way as they were going backe againe to prison said now blessed be our God who causeth us thus to triumph over our enemies This is the wished houre our gladsome day is come Let us not then said Martin forget to be thankefull for the honour he doth us in thus conforming us unto the Image of his Sonne Let us remember those who have traced this path before us for this is the high way to the Kingdome of heaven Let us then good Mother goe on boldly out of the Campe with the Son Heb. 13. 13. of God bearing his reproach with all his holy Martyrs for so we shall finde passage into the glorious Kingdome of the everliving God Some of the company hearing but not being able to brooke these words said we sée now thou heretique that thou art wholly possessed body and soule with a divell as was thy father and brother who are both in Hell Martin said Sirs as for your railings and cursings our God will this day turne them into blessings in the sight of himselfe and of all his holy Angels A certaine temporizer said to Martin thou silly See here the sundry â—ights of Satan youth thou sayest thou knowest not what thou art too well conceited of thy selfe and of thy cause Séest thou not all this people here about thée what thinkest thou of them they beléeve not as thou doest and yet I doubt not but they shall be saved But you imagine to doe that which will never come to passe though you pretend never so much that you are in the faith and have the Scriptures for you The good woman hearing this answered Sir Christ Iesus our Lord saith that it is the wide gate and broad way which leades to destruction Mat. 7. 12. and therefore many gooe in thereat but the gate saith he is narrow that leades to life and few How we may know we are in the right way there be that finde it Doe ye
then doubt whether we are in the straight way or no when ye behold our sufferings would you have a better signe then this to know whether we are in the right way or no Compare our Doctrine with that of your Priests and Monkes we for our parts are determined to have but one Christ and him crucified we onely embrace the Scriptures of the old and new Testament Are we deceived in beléeving that which the holy Prophets and Apostles have taught One of the Fryers turning towards Martin said youngman be well advised for thy father and thy brother have acknowledged the seven Sacraments of the Church together with us and thou poore silly youth hast heard some wicked Heretique who hath deluded thée thinkest thou thy selfe wiser then so many learned Doctors as have lived in so many ages Martin answered I pray you Sir doth not Christ our Lord tell us that his Father hath hid the secrets of his Kingdome from the wise and prudent and revealed them to Mat. 11. 25. Iob 5. 13. babes And doth not the Lord oftentimes catch the wise in their owne craftinesse And whereas you say my Father and Brother have confessed seven Sacraments I well perceive by this that I ought not to give credit to ought you say knowye not that the Devill is the father of lies and all liers Is it not sufficient that I acknowledge so many Sacraments as God himselfe hath instituted and ordained to wit Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord Then came there into the prison two men of great authority in the City of Lisle the one called Mounsieur Barras the other Beaufremes who promised Martin great matters if he would recant and returne to the Roman Church Beaufremes among other spéeches said thus unto him Young man I have compassion on thy tender yéeres if thou wilt be ruled by us I will 100 〈◊〉 amount to two hundred crownes but this faithfull Martyr of Christ was not like Iudas who for love of money sold his Master promise thée thou shalt not die this shamefull death moreover I will give thée one hundred pounds sterling Martin gave him this answere Sir you present before me many temporall commodities but alas doe you thinke me so simple as to forsake an eternall Kingdome for enioying of a short transitory life No sir it is too late to speake to me now of worldly commodities but of those spirituall which God hath prepared for me today in his Kingdome nor doe I purpose to hearken after any other onely I pray you let me crave one houres respite to give my selfe to prayer and calling upon the Name of my God for you know now it is eight daies since my father departed this world and hitherto I have scarce enioyed an hours rest That which I have had hath rather béen to slumber in then have any quiet sléepe having continually had eight or nine persons invironing me about and talking unto me After these great men were forced to goe even as they came Martin declared the effect of this his combat to certaine Brethren who were there detained with him in prison saying moreover Let us lift up our heads Brethren the brunt is over this I hope is their last assault forget not I pray you the holy doctrine of the Gospell nor those good lessons which you have learned from our Brother Guy It is very likely hee meanes Guy de Brez a godly Minister of whom you shall read more God willing hereafter Manifest it now to all that you have received them not only into your eares but also into your hearts follow me we leade you the way feare not God will never leave nor forsake you farewell Brethren said he and so departed from them Soone after Martin and his mother were bound and brought to the place of their Martyrdome His mother having ascended the scaffold cryed to Martin Come up Come up my sonne And as he was speaking to the people she said Speake out Martin saith she that it may appeare to all that we die not Heretiques Martin would have made a confession of his faith but could not be suffered His mother being bound to the stake spake in the hearing of the Spectators We are Christians and that which we now suffer is not for murther or theft but because we will beléeve no more than that which the Word of God teacheth us Both reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the same The fire being kindled the vehemency thereof did nothing coole or abate the fervency of their zeale but they continued constant in the faith and with lifting up their hands to heaven in an holy accord said Lord Iesus into thy hands we The happy death of the mother and her sonne commend our spirits And thus they blessedly slept in the Lord. These were the fruits which these holy assemblies in the City of Lisle brought forth None néed to enquire whether the rest were suffered to live in peace for what other spectacles were to be espied in the high waies and fields but poore fugitives flying hither and thither for safegard of their lives So great was the cruelty which was then and there exercised among them and yet when all is done God will be glorified in his Saints and children ¶ Iohn Rebec Martyr burned at Aniers in France the 24 of Aprill 1556. THis Robert had his tongue cut out because he A Martyrs tongue cut out for refusing to call upon the virgin Mary would not pronounce Iesus Maria to joyne them both in one prayer for being urged thereunto with great threats he boldly answered that if his tongue should but offer to utter those words at their bidding himselfe would bite it asunder with his téeth ¶ Bartholomew Hector Martyr was burned according to the sentence of the parliament of Turin in Piedmont in the yeer 1556. Iune the 19. BEing called before Authority to be examined ' The Martyr would not answer the Adversary till he had first craved assistance from God he would answer them to nothing before he had made his prayer to God Whereupon falling downe there on his knées he besought him to open his mouth and to direct his spéech onely to utter that which might tend to his honor and glory and to the edification of his Church Afterwards when he was bound to the stake gunpowder and brimstone was brought to be placed about him he lifing up his eyes to heaven and saying Lord how sweet and welcome is this to me ¶ Charles Covincke or le Roy de Gand once Anno 1557. a Friar Carmelite at Gand in Flanders was apprehended and executed at Bruges in the same Countrey Anno 1557. Aprill 27. BEing perswaded by his brother to returne Charles would none of his popish habit which he had once rejected againe to his Order and take upon him his fryers habit he made him this direct answer what néeds that saith he now I have cast off that popish wéed I
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
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
was in his body And thus yée have heard the godly life and blessed end of this constant martyr ¶ Martin Bayart Claude du Flot with Io. Dantricourt borne in the Countrey of Artois and Noel Tournemine of Hering neere Seclin Martyrs 1566. YOu may easily discerne by the former Histories that the cruelties exercised against the Faithfull in Flanders nothing diminished the increasing of them for the innocent bloud thus shed was a meanes to bring many ignorant soules to the knowledge of the Truth These foure above named dwelling in the City of Lisle walked in the feare of the Lord with zeale according to knowledge as the event well manifested There was a Iesuit in the said City who had a servant that was cousin to one of the Martyrs with whom they laboured not without some perill first to shew him the odiousnesse of that sect and then to instruct him in the doctrine of the Gospell To which purpose they lent him a booke containing good instructions drawne out of the holy Scriptures The silly fellow not considering the hurt that might follow shewed it soone after to his Master The false Prophet by and by knew that this booke was not forged upon his anvile and therefore diligently enquired of his man where he had it Now that he might with the more expedition attaine his desire he gave him a piece of seven stivers telling him he should do well to bring him to the knowledge of them from whom he had received it which was not hard to doe in regard they all foure wrought upon their Trade which was to dresse sayes in an honest widowes house who professed the same Religion with them The Iesuite comming to the knowledge hereof failed not according to their guise to reveale it to the Magistrate Now lest he might be suspected to be the betrayer of them the Fox withdrew himselfe the same time out of the City whilst on a saturday morning about two of the clocke these foure were apprehended and imprisoned by the Magistrate It fell out the same day that certain writings were set up upon the Towne-house against the horrible tyranny of the Spanish Inquisition which was then intended to be brought in and executed throughout the Low-Countries which no doubt was the meanes wherby the Magistrates were the rather incensed against the prisoners But forasmuch as they were not found guilty of having any hand in this businesse they were onely examined about matters concerning their Faith To which they answered with such Anno 1566. courage and constancy without varying or wavering that the Iailour wondred how they could answer the Iudges so directly and pertinently as it were with one consent being notwithstanding severed one from another in the prison The second of March 1566. they were condemned for heretiques by the Provost of the City to which they replyed that if they were Heretiques then Gods word must néeds be heresie which could not be and therefore they fréely protested before all that they were Christians and held nothing but that which was agréeable to the word of God They were asked if they would submit themselves to the will of the Magistrates They answered they would submit themselves to the will of God Then was sentence of death forthwith pronounced upon them which was that they should be burned alive before the Towne-house When they were brought out of Prison to be executed Noels father came and embraced him and kissing him said Art thou led my son in this sort unto death This is nothing Father said hée for now am I going to life And howsoever Noel wept in going up to the Scaffold séeing his father so dissolved into teares yet recovering himselfe and being armed with new courage he cryed O yée Priests if we would have gone to your Masse we néeded not to have béen here but Iesus Christ never commanded nor instituted any such thing The Priests standing at the foot of the scaffold laboured to make the people beéeve they were Heretiques and that their faith was the faith of devills because they rejected the Sacraments But to that one of them answered that their Faith was nothing like to that of devills and as touching the Sacraments they held so many as Christ ordained Then said Martin suffer us to die in peace for we are in the right way and are going to Iesus Christ hinder us not in this our journey with these and the like spéeches the Priests mouthes were stopped not daring to come up upon the Scaffold as they were wont to doe Iohn Dauticourt comming up recited the articles of the Créed adding somewhat by way of exposition upon every Article Those who knew him before his imprisonment marvelled to heare him speake so judiciously The executioner thinking to please his Masters offered to gag him but the patient promised to hold his peace Yet being straitly fastened to the stake by the necke he said to the people O my friends were it for speaking wickedly that they commanded me to be silent it were somewhat but I cannot be permitted to speake unto you the word of God and with a loud voice said Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or anguish O Lord we are delivered to death for thy sake and are appointed as sheepe for the slaughter But let us be of good cheere my brethren for wee shall be more than conquerours through him that loved us The other thrée on their parts cryed and said Mat. 7. 14. This this is the way that leads to life this is the strait way by which we must enter thereinto as Christ our Lord hath taught us Noel likewise said Enter you my brethren and whilest I am alive pray for me for after death prayers prevaile not When all of them were fastened to their stakes and covered with fagots with fire ready to set thereto they began with one voice to sing the first part of the seven and twentieth Psalme and after that the song of Simeon to the end after which the fire began to be kindled in the middest whereof they were heard to cry ten or twelve times to the Lord especially Iohn and Noel with loud voices calling and saying Lord receive us this day unto mercy and unto thy kingdome And thus ceasing to cry any more they yéelded up their soules into the hands of God This constancy of theirs procéeding from the worke of Gods Spirit was not without singular fruit for the inlarging of the Church for many being touched therewith went home thence as if they had gone from a powerfull sermon ¶ Francis D' Alost in Flanders Martyr in the yeare 1566. THis yong man being by his trade a Cutler during the time of his ignorance frequented the Court much and tooke great delight in the vanity of this world which gat him much respect of many but chiefly among those of the Romish Religion namely Priests and Monkes who willingly conversed with him taking much contentment in his carriage and course
of life But as soone as God of his goodnesse by the meanes of his word had revealed unto him his son Iesus Christ he by and by altered and changed his former conversation for having before lived in great dissolutenesse he now sharply reproved such as he knew to follow sinfull wayes yea he often taxed the Priests as well for their scandalous living as for their false doctrine wherewith they abused the people but principally for making them to fall downe to such a god as could not defend nor kéep himselfe from Rats and Nice and which is worse to offer it up for the sins of the quick and the dead For these with other such like spéeches those who erewhiles loved him began now to turne their love into hatred insomuch as he was faine to flie from them yea and out of the Countrey also being banished thence threatning him that if he were taken there againe he should be put to death not as an heretike but as one having offended the penall Lawes But not long after the Lord wrought such an alteration not only in the Politicall but in the Ecclesiasticall state also that not the Lawes concerning heresie alone were disanulled but frée liberty was granted to the Faithfull of the Low-countries to returne home into their houses againe and to have the exercises of Religion publikely and openly Among these Francis returned at that time unto the City in which he was borne But this fréedome so suddenly granted lasted not long For the devill not enduring the light so to shine out stirred up Imps afresh to oppresse the godly Francis then apprehending the danger was minded one morning to depart out of the City but God had another worke for him to doe For as he was passing along he was apprehended in the stréete by one of the City who with the Bailiffe met him The Bailiffe would faine have baulked him as if he had not séene him but said the other here he is hold him fast so they took him Being conducted to prison among other spéeches he said now yée have taken me you thinke to deprive me of life and so have your will of me purposing my great dammage and hurt but you are deceived for it is all one as if you tooke Counters from me to fill my hand with a great summe of gold In prison he had many disputes with Priests and Cloister-men But the Iailour of all other dealt harshly with him who could not endure to heare him speake of God But if at any time he heard him sing Psalmes and spirituall Songs he would rage like a Bedlam Once being very drunke he set open the prison doores and sitting on a bench he called to Francis saying come out thou naughty and wicked heretique I will now sée if thy God can deliver thée out of my hands Francis said as the case stands it might easily be effected If I were minded to escape away now as I was heretofore I could easily doe it but I will not for God hath called me to suffer and not to flie away and therefore I will not resist but rather obey his will The drunkard hearing him speake with such mildnes and moderation and séeing that he would not come forth being provoked thereto by him in his fury he tooke up his stoole on which he sat and laid at him therewith so as he had felled him to the ground if the servant had not stepped betwéene who tooke it out of his Masters hands by force yet was the poore prisoner very sorely hurt and lay long in the Chirurgions hands before his head could bée healed But to make him amends this cruell jaylour dieted him so strictly both for meate and drinke that hée had died with hunger had not God inclined the heart of his servant now and then to relieve him by conveying meate to him in secret After the Lord had thus by sundry trials prooved the patience and constancy of this his good servant the Magistrates of the City of Alost consulted how to put him to death having oft called the Executioner to this their consultation but they could not agrée in the manner how to effect it Some were of opinion it were best to have him put to death secretly in the prison others advised to execute him openly lest they should incurre the blot of being murderers In the end waxing more hardy having long detained him in bonds they called him forth into judgment and pronounced sentence upon him which was that because he had done contrary to the Kings Lawes in returning againe to the City from which he was banished he had therefore deserved to die séeing also hée held certaine opinions directly opposite to the Church of Rome Francis hearing his sentence read without any shew of distemper said Now seeing you are so thirsty after bloud I willingly yeeld it into your hands and my soule into the hands of my mercifull Lord God Almighty Francis said they we command you to hold your peace for if you will not wée will take order to bridle your tongue Hée then promised them to obey their command As hée went to suffer hée used that spéech of the Apostle saint Peter I must now shortly put off this my earthly tabernacle which 2 Pet. 1. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 14. the love of Christ Iesus my Lord constraines me to doe Being come into the market place where he was to be offered up a sacrifice he knéeled downe and having ended his prayer he sayed to the executioner doe now what you are commandded the will of God bée done and so presenting himselfe chéerefully to the stroke of death he was beheaded the first of May in the yéere 1566. his body being afterwards exposed to the foules of the aire for a prey ¶ Iohn Tuscaen of Andenard in Flaunders Martyr Iune the eighth Anno 1566. Behold here how God meant to awaken the men of this time out of their brutish security as it were with a thunder clap from heaven THis young man a maker of Tapistry about the age of two and twenty yéeres the son of one called Simeon Tuscaen dwelling in the suburbs of Andenard was trained up from his youth in all godly nurtrature He hearing news that things went more aukly to passe in Bruxels then hée could have wished determined in himselfe to make it knowne by the effect that the adoring of a breaden God which the Roman Church so much worshipped was nothing else but an abhominable and execrable sacriledge Having cast to and fro in his minde and thoughts the weightinesse of the busines he was to undertake at length hée determined to demonstrate the same more fully and apparently in a publike assembly which was the thirtieth day of May in the said yeare 1566. which after the custome of the Romanists is called the feast of God or Corpus Christi day Now by reason that two Cities of Andenard and Pamelle are joyned as it were in one there were two Temples dedicated there not to
cruell persecutions in his owne Land would not permit him to continue his Office of teaching there The Duke of Bovillon obtaining him drew him to his city of Sedan where he also continued a while in publishing the glad tidings of salvation untill the Church of Antwerpe began in the moneth of August 1576 to call him to be their Pastor But he could not obtaine leave of those of Sedan to depart from among them without a great deale of difficulty because they evidently foresaw by the beginning of persecutions in the Low-countries into what a Sea of troublous tempests bée should bée cast and yet perceiving how the heart of this holy man longed to be gone to yéeld his assistance to those of his own nation at length they consented to let him goe with them that requested to have his helpe Now having stayed but a while there the brethren determined to send him to his ancient Church of the Valencians who received him with no little joy in regard the Lord had formerly ordayned him to erect a Church there peculiarly To come now to Peregrine de la Grange hée Peregrin de la Grange was borne in Chute nigh to Saint Marcellin in Daulphine In the moneth of Iune in the yeare 1565 he was sent from the Schooles of Geneva at the request and instance of the Valencians to serve in the ministery among them Such was His meeke disposition won him much respect his méeke and milde disposition that it won him much love and respect and made his ministery to be so much the more acceptable in the eyes of all men After the demolishing of Images in the City of the Valencians two Churches were imployed by those of the reformed Religion for the use of prayer preaching the word and administration of the Sacraments Now the detaining of these Churches the one of them being used by a stranger◠namely by the said la Grange who was none of King Philips Subjects being also against the Decrée of Margaretn then Regent of the Low-Countries gave occasion to Noicurin as then principall Bayliffe of Hainault and Valence not onely to frustrate and break all accords with the said Valencians but moreover to afflict and besiege them extremely During which siege because the supper of the Lord was administred in both the said Churches it did so much the more enkindle the rage of the enemy against them so as when the city was taken La Grange was the more cruelly used as you shall reade when wee come to speake of his death The same adversaries who encountred Guy de Brez his companion assailed him also but he overcame them by the helpe of Gods holy Spirit who gave them both such power as their enemies were not able to resist They were imprisoned the eleventh of Aprill and on Saturday the last of May the Provost of the bands came into the prison about thrée of the clocke in the morning to give these two prisoners warning to prepare themselves for death for they were to die at sixe or therabouts Whereupon both of them began highly to magnifie God for his goodnesse and gave the Provost thankes for the good newes which he had brought them Assoon as they were up and ready Master Guy entred into the fore Court bidding the rest of the Prisoners good morrow and then testifying to them his joy spake after this manner Brethren I am this day to die for the doctrine of the Gospell and now blessed be God I joy and rejoyce therein I had not thought that God would ever have done me this honour I feele my selfe replenished with joy more and more from minute to minute my God addeth new courage unto me and my heart leapes for joy within me Then exhorting the prisoners to be of good chéer he told them it was no hard matter to die and so by way of acclamation alledged that place out of the Apocalips O how happy are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Hée further besought the prisoners to stand fast in the doctrine of the sonne of God which he had taught them avowing it to bée the undoubted truth which was mainteined * Which disputes were formerly omited in regard that in a manner they were the same with those of Peregrin do la Grange by him before the Bishop of Arres and many others Beware you do nothing said he against a good conscience for I foresée that the enemies of the Gospell will execute the utmost of their rage against us thinking thereby to weaken our faith that so they might turne you from the truth and so causing you to doe such things as should bring dishonor to the cause for which you are in bonds Take heed therefore ye shrinke not for if yée doe you shall certainely féele such an hell in your consciences as will never cease to vex and torment you O my brethren how good a thing is it to nourish a good conscience One of the prisoners asking him whether hée had finished a certaine work which he had begun he answered No For now I must cease to labour because I am passing along towards the heavenly rest the time of my departing is at hand I goe to reape that in heaven which I have sowne on earth I have fought a good fight I am at the point of finishing up my course from henceforth the Crowne of Glory is layd up for me which the Lord the righteous Iudge shal give unto me Me thinks said he with a joyfull and smiling countenance that my spirit hath obtained wings to soare aloft into heaven being invited this day to the mariage Supper of the Lambe As he was speaking the Provost came in with bands into the Court and putting off his hat saluted him Master Guy bad him welcome and gave him thanks againe for his good newes The Provost replied It grieveth me much that things should be carried thus To which Guy joyfully answered I accept of you as of my good Friend I love you with all mine heart Then taking his leave of the prisoners he went into the little hall of the prison Soone after Peregrine de la Grange entred into the same Court who as he carried himselfe comfortably during all the time of his imprisonment so then after his accustomed manner he hegan with an amiable countenance to chéere the prisoners with bidding them good morrow and then said thus unto them I am this day to die for the Truth and then the heavenly Inheritance is prepared for mee my name is written in the Phil. 4. 3. Rom. 11. 29. Booke of life never to be blotted out because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance He protested also That for his part he never taught ought there but the pure Word of God as for the doctrine of the Papists it led soules he said to perdition and destruction and thence took occasion to exhort the prisoners to separate themselves
saile as they say and to apply himselfe to the time being brought hereinto by the advice of some namely that he should faine a giving of his consent to what the Magistrate required of him by meanes whereof hée might escape their hands But about the tenth of September comming againe to himselfe and But soone after recovers himselfe espying whereunto this determination tended hée protested before all that he would stand in the confession he had made from the first of April last past Wherefore on the ninth of August hée was brought againe before the same Iudges where he openly confirmed the same His Iudges said that he should either be drowned or burned alive Then on the thirtéenth of Ianuary 1566. according to the Venetian account which according to our was 1567. on Tuesday morning being come before the Tribunall sentence was pronounced upon him that hée should be drowned as an Heretique To which he gave them this answer I am no heretique but the servant of Iesus Christ At which words the popes legate commanded him to hold his peace telling him that he lied The next day in the morning which was the last of Ianuary he was brought into Saint Peters Chappell where he was degraded because he had béen a Priest and the night following he was conducted unto the Sea and there drowned in the place appointed who died prayising and blessing God with invincible constancy ¶ A relation of such things as fell out under the government of the Duke of Alva and of many men put to death 1567. THe afflictions of the protestants in the Low-Countries were multiplied this yeare under the dominion of Ferdinando of Toledo Duke of Alva It is well knowne that the Spaniards using all their endeavours to rule over this Countrey at their pleasures had no better opportunity to accomplish their design then to establish among them their inquisition thereby to dominéere over the goods honors and lives of every one The Nobles Citizens and Commons did what they could to oppose the same to which purpose they had instantly besought the King to afford them his royall presence that hearing once their complaints his Majesty might take some order for matters of so great importance alledging to this end the example of the Emperour Charles his Father who upon a businesse fame inferiour to this adventured himselfe with much diligence to passe through the enemies country who were but a while before reconciled onele to stay some mutinies begun in the City of Gand. These things had so moved his Majesty that he made them a promise by letters of his comming But his intention was broken off by such as were the upholders of the inquisition that so they might with the more facility attaine the end of their desires In stead of their King then they had sent unto them the Duke of Alva who at his entrance found the prisons replenished with Gentlemen other personages of note whom the Dutches of Parma had left in bonds after her death Long di dthey languish in this captivity whilst the Duke of Alva by faire promises dissembled a kind of méeke and gentle carriage of minde towards them giving them some hope of a generall pardon procéeding from the Kings clemency that thus he might catch the lords and governors â—he more cunningly into his nets whereof the Lord Lemorall Earle of Egmond Prince of Gand Governor of Flanders and Artois and others of quality gave but too lamentable experience who being fed with vaine hopes were at length inhumanely put to death The sixéene Provinces also subjecting themselves To wit Brabant Lambourg Luxembourg Guelderland Flanders Artois Haynaut Holland â—ealand Namur â—utphein Friseland Malines Vtrecht Overâ—seiz and Graningu◠〈◊〉 Le Conseil de sang under this new government lost their antient liberties and priviledges which evidently appeared by the exploits done from the yere 1557. hitherto by a new counsell of twelve elected and setled there by the Duke the principall of which were Vergas and Delrio the Fathers of the inquisition which Councell was commonly called the Councell of bloud ¶ The death of two Barons of Battembourg the one called Gysorecht and the other Thierri brethren with certaine other Gentlemen executed the same day at Bruxells 1568. AMong many Gentleman and Captains who were apprehended after the discomâ—ture of the Assembly in Holland whom the Dutches of Parma had imprisoned in the castle of Villford the two brothers of Battembourg a most antient Barony scituated upon Mense about two miles off from Nieumegne did manifest above others how much they had profited by being instructed in the Church of Geneva The elder of them was Gysbrecht and the other Dietrich or Thierri who from the flower of their youth had constantly professed and confessed the pure Doctrine of the Gospell On Tuesday the first of Iune Anno 1568. the Duke of Alva began to declare to the world his fained méeknesse putting to death the same day these two breathren besides the Lords Heter Dandelet Philip Wingle c. They were first brought into Provost Spellans house néere the horse faire in the City of Bruxels compassed about with a strong guard and many drummes beating that none might heare what were their last spéeches As they went to their death Battembourg the elder séemed to be somewhat pensive whereas Dietrich his brother was very chéerefull comforting the other with his gracious words saying Ah brother is not this the day we have so much desired Be not sorrowfull now for it is the highest honor that can befall us here to suffer for the Doctrine of the Sonne of God It may be for the love you beare me you grieve to sée me dye first I am content that you should drinke of that cup before me in regard you are the elder if not all is one séeing we are going to our God Gysbrecht by and by replied Thinke not deare Brother that the joy of the holy Ghost is taken from me now I am drawing nigh to the Lord being ready to dye for his holy name Then ascending the scaffold after he had made his fervent prayers to God the Executioner taking off his head he slept happily swéetly in the Lord. His brother following him next with such alacrity as much astonished the spectators He desired as some say to sée his brother and when he had espied his head he cried I shall by and by be with thee my brother So after he had ended his prayer he was by a quicke dispatch united unto him Those who testifie these things report That the other Gentleman had so much favour as to bée buried but these two brethren were made a spectacle being hanged up the cause was for that in the very same morning they suffered as also before they directly set themselves against the Idolatries which were proposed unto them The Saturday after the fifth of Iune the Earles of Eagmond and Horne were beheaded and there made a publique gazing flock Of which two the
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
not yet satisfied But going from house to house with their associats Anno 1569. where they thought to find any Huguenots they brake open the doores then cruelly murthered whomsoever they met sparing neither sex nor age The pretence was this Report was raised there that a treason of the Huguenots was discovered who had conspired to kill the King his Mother his brethren having already killed fifteene of the guard Carts were laden with dead bodies of yong maidens women men and children which were discharged into the river covered in a maner all over with the slain and dyed red with their bloud which also streamed down the stréets from sudry parts thereof whereat the Courtezans laughed their fill saying That the warres were now ended and that hereafter they should live in peace c. But it would take up too much time to recite all the lamentable passages of this so sad and tuefull a tragedy ¶ This with some others which follow belonging to this History because they could not bee omitted are here under inserted TO begin then with Monsieur Pierre de la Place President of the Court of Requests whose story we will relate somewhat at large because his singular piety requires the same On Sunday morning about six of the clock one called Captaine Michael harquebusier of the king came into his lodging into which he had the more easie accesse for divers private respects This Captaine being armed having a harquebuse This was a token by which the murtherers were distinguished form others on his shoulder apâ—stoll at his girdle and his handkerchiefe tyed about his left arme presenting himself before the said De la Place the first words he spake were that the Duke of Guise had slaine the Admirall by the Kings appointment with many Huguenots besides and because the rest of them of what quality soever were destinated to death he was come to his lodging to exempt him from the common destruction onely he desired to have a sight of that gold and silver which was in the house The Lord de la Place somwhat amased at the audacious malapartnesse of the man who in the midst of ten or twelve persons which were there present in the roome durst presume to utter such language askt him if he knew where he was or whether he thought there was a King or no To this the Captaine blaspheming answered that he willed him to goe with him to know the kings pleasure The said Lord de la Place hearing this fearing also some danger to be towards by sedition in the City slipped forth at a backe doore behind his lodging purposing to get into a neighbors house In the meane while most of his servants vanished out of sight and this Captaine having stored himselfe with a thousand crowns was intreated by the Lady Marets daughter to the said Lord to convey her father with the Lord Marets her husband into the house of some Romane Catholike which he consented to doe and also performed it After this de la Place being refused at thrée severall houses was constrained to retire backe againe into his own where he found his wife very pensive and grieved beyond measure fearing lest this Captaine in the end would cast her sonne in law and daughter into the river as also for the imminent danger wherein her deare husband and all his family were But the said Lord de la Place being strengthened by the spirit of God with incredible constancy in the inner man sharply rebuked her and afterwards mildely demonstrated unto her that we must receive these and the like afflictions from the hand of God and so having discoursed a while upon the promises of God comforted her Then he commanded such servants and maids as remained in the house to be called togeher who being come into his Chamber according to his custome on the Lords dayes he made a forme of exhortation to his family then went to prayer and began to read a Chapter out of the booke of Iob with the exposition or sermon of Master Iohn Calvin upon it So having spoken somewhat of Gods mercy and justice which as a good and wise father useth to exercise his elect with sundry chastisements lest they should bée intangled here below with the things of this World he shewed how néedfull afflictions were for Christians and that it was beyond the power of Satan or men to hurt or wrong them unlesse the Lord of his good pleasure gave them leave What néed have we then said he to dread their authority which at the most can but prevaile over our bodies Then he went to prayer againe preparing himselfe and his whole family rather to endure all sorts of torments yea death it selfe than to speake or doe ought that might tend to the dishonour of God Having finished his prayer word was brought him that Senecay the Provost Marihall with many archers were at the doore of his lodging commanding the same to be opened in the Kings name saying that he came to secure the person of the Lord de la Place and to preserve his house from being pillaged by the common sort The Lord de la Place having intelligence of this spéech commanded the doore to be opened to him who entring in declared the great slaughter that was made upon the Huguenots every where in the city by the Kings command adding this withall in Latine that he would not suffer one to live Qui mingat ad Parietem Yet have I expresse charge from his Majesty saith he to sée that you shall sustaine no wrong but only conduct you to the Louvre because the King is desirous to be informed touching many things about the affairs of those of the Religion which he hath now in hand and therfore willed him to make himself ready to goe to his Majesty The Lord de la Place answered That he alwaies thought himselfe happy before he left this life to gaine any opportunity by which hée might render an account to his Majesty of his behaviour and actions But in regard such horrible Massacres were every where committed it was impossible for him to passe to the Louvre without the certaine danger of his person praying him to assure his Majesty of his willingnesse to come the whilest leaving in his lodging as many Archers as hee thought fitting untill the fury of theâ— people was somewhat pacified The Provost agréed to his request and left with him one of his Lieutenants called Toute Voye with some foure of his archers Not long after comes into his lodging Prestdent Charron then provost of the merchants with whom conferring a little in secret going his way he left with the foure archers which were there before foure more of the city archers The whole night following was spent in stopping up and fortifying of all passages from entring the house with logs and provision of Flint-stones damming up the windowes so as if séemed by this so exact and diligent a defence the
archers were left in the house to frée the said de la Place and all his family from the common calamity till Senecay returning the next day after two of the clocke in the afternoone declared that hee had expresse charge from the King to bring him to his Majesty without delay Hee replyed as before that it was dangerous as yet to passe through the City in regard that even the same morning there was an house pillaged next to his Seneca on the contrary insisted saying it was Anno 1572. the common spéech of these Huguenotes to protest that they were the Kings most loyall and obedient subjects and servants but when they were to manifest their obedience to his commands then they came off but slowly séeming rather much to abhor and detest it And whereas he pretended danger Seneca answered that he should have a Captain of Paris who was well known to the people to accompany him As SenecacoÌ„tinued this speech the Captaine of Paris surnamed Pazon a principall actor in this sedition entred the chamber of the said Lord of Place offering his service to conduct him through the city to the King which Dela Place would by no means yeeld unto telling Seneca that he was one of the most cruell bloudy minded men that was in all the City and therefore séeing he must néeds goe to the King he intreated that the said Seneca would be his guard To whom Seneca answered that having now other affaires to looke unto he could not conduct him above fifty paces Then his wife though otherwise a very gracious and good Lady out of that entire love which she bare to her husband prostrated her self at the féet of the said Seneca beseeching and intreating him to accompany her husband to the King But the said De la place who never shewed any signe of a dejected spirit came to his wife tooke her up from the ground rebuked her and told her that it is not the arme of flesh that we must stoupe unto but unto God onely Then turning himselfe about he perceived in his sonnes hat a white crosse which through infirmity he had placed there thinking thereby to save himselfe for which his father sharply chid him commanding him to plucke that marke of sedition thence telling him that we must now submit our selves to beare the true crosse of Christ namely those afflictions and tribulations which it shall please our good God to lay upon us as sure pledges of that eternall happinesse which he hath treasured up for all his elect servants Thus séeing himselfe pressed by the said Seneca to goe with him to the De la Place addresseth himselfe to go to the King King resolving upon death which hee saw he could not avoid he tooke his cloake embracing his wife earnestly wishing her above all things to have the feare of God and his honor in precious estéeme and then went on his way boldly Comming into the stréet where the glasse-house is over against Cocks stréet certain murtherers who attended there for his comming with their daggers in a readinesse killed him about thrée of the clocke He is first murthered â— then thrown into the river in the afternoon as an innocent lambe in the midst of ten or twelve of Senecas Archers who led him into that butchery and then pillaged and embezeled away what they found in his lodging for the space of five or six daies together His body whose soule was now received into heaven being carried into a stable and covering his face over with dung the next day they threw him into the river Peter Ramus the Kings professor in Logicke Peter Ramus massacred and afterwards disgracefully handled a man renowned among the learned was not forgotten He had many enemies among other one called Iames Carpenter who sent the murtherers to the Colledge of Priests where the said Ramus was hidden But being discovered hée offered a good summe of money to save his life yet was he massacred and cast downe out of an high Chamber window to the ground so as his bowels issuing out of the stones were afterwards trailed through the stréets the carkasse was whipped by certaine schollers being set on by their tutors to the great disgrace of good letters which Ramus professed I doe here saith the Historian forbeare to write what cruelties were exercised in this foresaid City of Paris on Sunday Munday Tuesday and the daies following because in such confusions those that survived had little leasure to think upon the murthers committed in their presence to observe every particular I content my selfe therefore to say in a word that no man living in Paris taking notice what was done there this Saint Bartholomewes day c. but will averre that there was never séen heard nor read of such perfidious â—â—sloyalties strange ravishments more then brâ—â—â—â—â—ruelties audacious robberies execrable blasâ—â—â—â—â—es as those that were committed in these few â—â—â—es wherein it was safe for one to be any thing rather then an honest man ¶ Of a young man who preferred his Mothers safety in these broyls before his own A Young man about the age of two and thirty yeares a sincere Christian and excellently well learned above many of his age and time going early abroad this Sunday morning upon some speciall occasion returning home and perceiving what a strange rumor there was concerning the death of the Admirall throughout the City of Parts he out of his singular and childelike affection to his Mother hastened to her with all possible spéed informing her what had happened and so wrought for her without delay not regarding his owne safety that he secured her in a place as you would say fitted for the purpose After which himselfe being found alone shut up in his study at prayer to which exercise he had long before devoted himselfe The furious Massacrers on that part of the City asked him if hée would obey the King he answered yes but I must also obey God Then they began presently with battle axes and staves to load him with blowes on the head that he received his owne bloud into his hands and then making an end of him they threw him into the river ¶ Two Ministers massacred TWo Ministers appertaining to the King of Navarre the one called More the other Desgoris fell also into the hand of these murtherers who killing them cast them into the water I cannot learne saith the historiographer by report that any moe Ministers were slaine at this time then these two At the writing hereof many were living who laboured in the worke of the Lord in the Church of Paris and were also miraculously preserved ¶ Aninhumane Cruelty PHilip le Doux a great Ieweller at his returne home from Guybray saire being gone to bed his wife at that time had the midwife attending upon her being ready to be delivered shée hearing these furies below bouncing at the doore commanding it to bée opened to them in the Kings name as till as she
Confederates who was to call them forth as he saw their names set downe in the scroule and thus as they came forth they massacred them Ludot one of the prisoners being called forth as his turne came presented himselfe before them with a chéerefull countenance calling upon the name of the Lord. Now as he was to receive the stroke of death from these desperate blood-spillers he prayed them to forbeare him a little till he had put off his doublet being oiletted which he was wont to put on when any tumult grew in the City and having himselfe unlaced it presenting his naked breast unto them he received the blow and Anno 1569. fell downe dead But poore Meurs escaped not so good cheape for his turne being come he was no sooner in their sight but one of them let drive at him with the point of his Halbert redoubling the same oft to have killed him yet could not The poore man séeing himselfe thus dealt withall by the Caitiffe and no end made tooke hold with his hands on the point of the halbert and himselfe pointing him to the seat of the heart cryed to the murderer with a stedfast voice Here souldier here right at the heart right at the heart and so finished this life Howsoever in this massacre these two formerly mentioned are for brevities sake only named yet by that which immediatly followes you may perceive they were not a few who suffered in this tragedy The Massacre saith my Author being ended the murtherers made a great pit on the back side of the Chappell of the prison whereinto they cast the bodies one upon another some of them yet breathing So as one called Maufere lying in the midst of them was espied to raise up himselfe above his fellow Martyrs in this pit upon whom they forthwith throwing earth as was reported stifled him being but halfe dead But because the order which the Bailiffe set downe was not observed namely the making of a trench in the prison to receive the blood which was shed it ran in such abundance out at the prison doore and thence through a channell into a river nigh thereto that it was turned into the colour of blood Which some of the Papists themselves taking notice of being ignorant of the fact were so terrified therewith that they ran along the stréet crying and pointing at every one they met withall to behold this horrible and lamentable a spectacle Whereupon many hasting to the prison by this occasion could conjecture no other but that the prisoners had slaine one another This was presently noised through the City insomuch as some went to informe the lieutenant and bailiffe thereof But what it was as if they had run to the Wolves to tell them the Shéepe were devoured Whilest this so savage a cruelty was committed in the prison one Bartholmew Carlet a Cooper prisoner there for debt who of all the troupe of murtherers in Troys was one of the principall having in the former troubles exercised most notorious cruelties against those of the Religion was called in by these massacrers to be one of their associates who executed his part in so bloody a manner that as himselfe afterwards often acknowledged he with his owne hands slaughtered thirty of these poore innocents So far was he growne past shame or common honesty But this his fact was so pleasing to certaine of the Popish Religion at Troys that for a recompence thereof they payed his debt and set him frée out of prison which was done as the report went by making a collection for him in certaine Parishes The next day after which was the fifth of September this worshipfull Bailiffe of Troys that he might apply the plaister when the parties were dead causes the Kings Letters which he had received the thirtieth of the moneth of August before going to be published in all the corners of the City with sound of Trumpet The Bailiffe as we have béen credibly informed was present in person at the publication and as the Notary read the contents thereof to him he pronounced the same jéeringly and not with a full and audible voice as matters of such consequence ought to be read ¶ Of the massacre at Orleance IT now remaines that we procéed unto the City of Orleance and to take notice whether the papists there were lesse cruell than those of Paris But saith the Historian when I call to mind what hath béen the report of those that were present at that time in Orleance it causeth the haire to stand upright on my head Yet for as much as it is convenient that posterities to come may be acquainted with the fury of these monsters in nature we will commit that to writing whereof we have credibly béen informed On Saturday the thrée and twentieth of August Letters were sent from the King to Orleance unto Sieur de la Renic President of Diion to prevent all disorders murthers c. With command that he should advertise the Citizens how the Admirall was hurt as also to assure those of the religion that ere long such justice should be executed on the actors as all France should take warning thereby not to enterprise the like This was carefully performed by the said Sieur de la Renic the same day who caused those of the best rank of both religions to be present at the publishing of the Kings minde The faithfull thinking themselves secure were quiet and on the Sabbath day assembled in the place appointed for their méeting to the number of 300. persons men women and children But on the same day towards night came a new order to the Iustices Maior and Sheriffes of the said City by which they were injoyned to be up in armes and to gather to them what strength they could with expresse charge to make havock of those of the Religion To this purpose the Captaines of twelve companies were appointed to be the leaders to the rest divided into eight and forty squadrons ¶ The cruell massacre of Dechampeaux a worthy Counsellor in the City of Orleance by a wretched Villaine his neighbour ONe of these blood-suckers called Texier came with a small troupe to a Counsellors house of Orleance whose name was Dechampeaux Lord of Bonilli bidding himselfe and his company to supper with him Dechampeaux bid them all kindly welcome making them good chéere being ignorant of that which had hapned at Paris But supper being ended and all of them being risen from the table Texier bad him deliver his purse Dechampeaux laughing thereat thinking that he had béen but in jest this cruell and unthankfull guest with blasphemous oathes told in few words what had hapned in the City of Paris and what preparation there was among the Romane Catholiques of Orleance to cut off and root out the Protestants there Dechampeaux séeing there was no time now to contest with him gave mony to this théefe who to requite the curtesie and good entertainment he had had embrued his honds in the blood of
to them and returned answer in forme of an Edict granting to those of Rochell Montauban Nismes and others which stood upon their defence liberty for the exercises of Religion the rest to live peaceably in their houses and therein to minister the sacrament of â—aptisme and marriage as they had wont to doe so as their assemblies excéeded not the number of ten besides the parents He restored to the Rochellers and others their rites and priviledges letting fall all the decrées given out against them approving of their defensive war giving them leave according to their ancient custome to retaine in their Cities Towers and Fortresses men and munition yea to receive in Governours among them provided that they were such as they had no cause to suspect or except against By vertue of this Edict upon the tenth day of Iuly about ten of the clocke in the forenoone the Sieur of Biron entred into the City at the gate called de Coigne with an Herauld of armes and foure of the Kings Trumpetters at which houre peace was proclaimed in the most eminent places thereof accompanied with the Lieutenant of the City and with the Lord of Villiers After which dining at the Maiors house he soone after retyred being conducted along till he came without the City The same day many small Vessels laden with Biskets Corne Meale Fish and other provision Acertaine Gentleman Nephew to Puygaillard Governour of Angiers bragging that he had beene one who murthered the Admirall shewing a short sword which he had used in that slaughter threatenâ—d the like to the Rochellers but God cut him short also at the siege of Sancerre entred into the Haven At this siege the Duke D' Amaule lost his life with Cosseins who had broken into the Admirals Lodging and began the massacre at Paris besides many great Lords Gentlemen Captaines Lieutenants and Antients to the number of thréescore the greater part of which having their hands embrued in those other bloody massacres being come thither received their reward namely either present death or wounds so incurable that they escaped not with life One thing ought not here to be passed over in silence to wit the provision of victuals which God furnished this besieged people withall when all other provisions began to faile them namely an infinite number of small fishes never séene before in that haven which every day yéelded themselves to the mercy of the necessitons inhabitants But as soone as the Edict was published and the Rochellers set at liberty by the arriving of the Polish Embassadors these sea fishes withdrew themselves ¶ Although this relation following touching another siege of this City of Rochel sutes nothing at all with the order of time happening as it did in the yeare 1628. yet forasmuch as it seemes to have some affinity with the terrible famine where with both the City of Sancerre and it were afflicted let not the reader be offended for placing the same here somewhat out of place being a thing so worthy of note ¶ An extract of a Letter written on board the Saint George his Majesties Ship in Saint Georges Island THere dyed in this siege of Rochel the thirtieth of October 1628 sixtéen thousand persons the rest enduring a world of miseries most of all their food being hides leather and old gloves other provisions being very scarse were at an excessive rate viz. A Bushell of wheate xx li. A pound of bread xx s. A quarter of Mutton vi li. od mony A pound of Butter xxx s. An Egge viii s. An ounce of Sugar ii s. vi d. A dryed fish xx s. A pinte of Wine xx s. A pound of grapes iii. s. A pinte of Milke xxx s. Also it is reported that through the famine yong maids of fourtéen or sixtéen yeares of age did looke like old women of an hundred yeares old The famine was such that the poore people would cut off the buttocks of the dead as they lay in the Church yard unburied All the English that came out looked like Anatomies They lived two moneths with nothing but Cow hides and Goats skins boiled the dogs cats mice and frogs being all spent And this with a world of other miseries did they suffer in hope of being reléeved by others Thus much I thought good to let you understand ¶ A description of the manner of the death of Charles the ninth King of France IN the yeare 1574. Charles the ninth King of France in the time of whose raigne these forenamed execrable massacres were executed fell sicke which sicknesse seised upon him before his brother the Duke of Aniou tooke his voyage into Poland from which during the winter season he obtained some recovery But that which then séemed to lie hidden brake forth again afresh in the Spring so as this Prince after he had languished thrée whole moneths viz. February March and April drew his Physitians to a consultation about the state of his body who in the end concluded to purge and let him blood But these remedies tooke not such an effect as the King and they expected for he still wasted and consumed away being in the flower of his age to the wonder of many Some guessed he had taken a surfet either in eating or drinking others that hee was enchanted The thirtieth of May he dyed in the presence of his mother and of the Cardinals of Bourbon and Ferrare c. He was borne on the twenty seventh day of Iune 1550. He began his raigne the first of December 1560. and so reigned as that it gives to posterity iust cause both of admiration and detestation Thus this Prince lived not forty yeares fully compleat Now if any desire to be further Anno 1588 satisfied as touching the manner of his death I referre them to that which Master Iohn Fox hath written thereof not many lines before the conclusion of this booke commonly called the booke of Martyrs A note touching a Bull of Pope Sixtus the fifth wherein the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde were declared Heretiques c. with the censure thereof by the Parliament of Paris IN September 1585. Pope Sixtus the fifth by a Bull sent from Rome condemned the king of Navarre and the Prince of Conde for Heretikes excommunicated them degrading them and their successors from their dignities especially laying claime to the Crowne of France absolving their subjects from their oath of alleigiance and exposing their Countries for a prey to them that could first subdue them The Court of Parliament of Paris made a notable remonstrance to the King concerning these Buls in the which they sought to maintain the priviledges of the Gallicane Church Among other things these words that follow are very remarkable The Court thinks that these Buls are set forth in a stile altogether of a new stamp and so contrary to the modesty of former Popes that they can in no sort discerne therein the spirit of a successor of the Apostles And therefore as the