as now we may cry out with saint Paul O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory She was often admonished by him to make confession of her sinnes before God shewing that bodily diseases tended to the dissolution of nature and that death was the wages of sinne declaring Rom 6. 23. moreover that by this her chastisement she might discerne what she had deserved if God should now enter into iudgement with her not onely in regard of the fall of our first Parents in which guilt Rom. 5. 12. she was enwrapped as well as others but also by her owne personall sinnes séeing the best of men or women in the world are in themselves but poore miserable and wretched offendors yea if the Lord should punish us according to our demerits we could expect nothing at his hands but eternall death and condemnation At these words she began with her hands and eies lifted up to heaven to acknowledge that her Psal 19. â— sinnes which she had committed against the Lord were innumerable and therefore more then she was able to reckon up But yet she hoped that God for Christs sake in whom she put her whole affiance would be mercifull unto her From the later clause of her spéech the Minister tooke occasion to declare at large upon what ground she was to expect the fruit of this mercy of God in Christ séeing the whole have no need Mar. 2. 17. of Phisitian but they that are sicke and therfore Christ saith in that place Hee came not to call the righteous but sinners unto repentance And that he is ready to fill the hungry with good things Luke 1. 53. whereas in the meane while he sends the rich empty away Of all which said he you ought so much the rather to be perswaded in your conscience by how much the more the holy spirit witnesseth to your spirit that you are the childe of God Crying in you Abba Father For what is Rom. 8. 15. What faith is faith else but a firme trust and assurance of the good will of God manifested towards us in his blessed sonne Now the Minister fearing he might some way offend her by his overlong discourse held his peace the rather because the Physitians thought that a long continued spéech might bee hurtfull unto her but she on the contrary earnestly requested him not to forbeare speaking unto her about these matters of life and eternall salvation adding that she wow felt the want of it in regard that since her comming to Paris shee had béen somewhat remisse in hearing such exhortations out of the word of God And therefore I am now the more glad saith she to receive comfort out of it in this my so great extremity The Minister then endeavoured to set before her the happinesse of heaven and what those joyes Psal 16. 11. were which the faithfull there possesse in the presence of God which when the scriptures intend to discover unto us they onely tell us that the eie 1 Cor. 259. hath not seene nor hath the eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what these things are which God hath prepared for them that love him To which purpose he used this simllitude as if a King minding greatly to honor Simile some noble persome noble personage should bring him to his court and there shew him his state and attendance his Treasures with all his most precious Iewels even so saith he will the Lord one day reveale to all his elect and faithfull people his magniâ—cence and glory with all the treasures of his Kingdome after he hath gathered them home to himselfe decking and adorning them with light incorruption and immortality This happiness therefore being so great her highnesse he said ought to be the lesse carefull about the leaving of this transitory life seeing that for an earthly kingdome which she was now to forgoe she should inherit an heavenly and for temporall good things which vanish and come to nothing in the using she should for even enjoy those that were eterenall and everlasting For her faith being now firmely setled upon our Lord Iesus Christ she might be suffered to obtaine eternall salvation by him on which words he tooke occasion to direct his speech in more particualar manner unto her saying Madame doe you verily beleeve that Iesus Christ come into the world to save you and doe you expect the full forgivenesse of all your sinnes by the shedding of his bloud for you To which she readily answered she did believing that he was her only Saviour and Mediator looking for salvation from none other knowing that he hath abundantly satisfied for the sinnes of the whole world and therefore was assured that God for his sake according to his gracious promises in him would have mercy upon her Thus you have in part the goodly speeches which passed from this religious Lady in the beginning of her sicknesse all which was within the space of three or foure daies Howsoever before that and since also she ceased not to continue the same her fruitfull and comfortable communications now and then sending forth most affectionate slighings to God as a testimony of that hope and desire Anno 1567. she had in enjoying his presence often uttering these words O my God in thy good time deliver me from this body of death and from the miseries of this present life that I may no more offend thee and that I may attain to that felicity which thou in thy Word hast promised me Neither did she manifest her pious affection by these her words onely but therewithall shewed a joyfull and resolute countenance as the vehemency of her sicknesse could beare which gave sufficient proofe to all that beheld her that the feare of death could not drive her from the stedfastnesse of her Faith When she had finished these her consolatory spéeches they usually went to prayer intreating the Lord that he would arme her with constant patience and have mercy upon her Which praier it shall not be altogether impertinent to insert in this place serving as a forme of praier upon the like occasion ¶ The Prayer O Lord our God we confesse hee before thy Divine Majesty that wee are altogether unworthy of thy infinite mercies by reason of our manifold iniquities and that we are so farre off from deserving to be heard of thée in our requests that we are rather worthie thou shouldest reject both our persons and our sutes but séeing it hath pleased thée to make us a gracious promise of hearing and granting our requests we humbly beséech thee fréely to forgive all our offences and to cover them under the obedience and righteousnesse of thy deare Sonne that through him our selves and poore services may be well pleasing before thee For Lord we acknowledge that all our afflictions are measured out unto us by thine hand who art a most just Iudge in regard we have every way provoked
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
men were assembled Bishops and Cardinalls swaying the same Schob I have read of some Councels where the Spirit of God was not present Marquesse Would you not now willingly returne into the bosome of the holy Romane Church Schob I will cleave to whatsoever God shall teach me out of his holy word And thus for this time they parted On the seven and twentieth of March Schoblant received sentence of death whereat he was nothing terrified but began to sing the song of Simeon and the fortieth Psalme The night following he wrote his last farewell to his brethren and excuseth Ioris for not being condemned with him although they were both presented at the same time before the Iudges I pray you deare friends be not offended saith he that Ioris my fellow prisoner is not offered a sacrifice with me It is not I assure you for denying his Saviour But let us meditate on that which the Lord said to S. Peter If I will Iohn 21. that he tarry till I come what is that to thée follow thou me This I apply to my selfe at this time for which I render humble and hearty thanks to God who hath counted me worthy not only to confesse the Lord Iesus with my mouth but also to seale the same confession with my blood I new brethren bid you farewell waiting with a joyfull heart the call and cry of my husband who now invites me to come unto him Out of prison the same right before the day wherein I must be offered up a sacrifice Written with mine owne hand Schoblant the Sonne of Barthel THe next day he entreated the Iaylour with a great deale of earnestnesse that he would not suffer the Fryers and Monks to come into trouble him for said he such kinde of people can do me no good séeing the Lord hath already sealed up the assurance of my salvation in my heart by his holy Spirit I am now going to my spouse putting off this earthly mantle to enter into the relestiall glory where I shall be fréed from all superstitions And then he added farther would to God I might be last that these Tyrants should put ot death and that their thirst after blood might be so quenched with mine that the poore Church of God from henceforth might enjoy her rest and quiet Having sung the fortieth Psalme with his fellow prisoner concluding the same with saying the Lords prayer they kissed one another and commended one another unto God with many teares After which the executioner came in and when he had bound him he led him away In going out of the prison he said farewell Ioris I goe before thée follow thou me Ioris answered so will I brother I will follow thée In his passage towards the place of execution he forgot not his brethren but manifested his love to them by such signes as he could Being tyed to the stake he was burned alive calling upon the name of the Lord in the yeare 1568. the tenth day of Iuly ¶ Iohn Hues finished his course in Prison ¶ Here followeth a Letter written by Ioris Coomans out of Prison to the Church of God in Antwerpe BRethren I write unto you being left alone whereas we were thrée in number Iohn Hues is now dead in the Lord. I did my best to comfort him whilest he breathed So as now I am alone and yet not altogether alone séeing the god of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is with me He is Gen. 15. 1â— my excéeding great reward and will not faile to reward me as soone as I shall have law downs this earthly Tabernacle pray unto God that he will strengthen me to the end for from hours to houre I expect the dissolution of this house of Clay Not long after Ioris was examined by the Magistrates who questioning with him of his faith he answered frély thereto proving what he said by the holy Scriptures The Marquesse asked him if he were resolves to die for the faith he professed Yes saith Ioris I will not only venture to give my body but my soule also for the â—tion of it Marquesse How came you to understand the Scripture séeing you have not the Latine Tongue Ioris Call in hither you Doctors and I will let them sée that I have learning sufficient to confute them You greatly admire them but Christ gives thankes to his heavenly Father for hiding his secrets Mat. 11 25. from the wise and prudent and revealing them to babes Marq. I hithero spared you in hope to sée you recant but you grow still worse and worse Ioris Sir during the time of my imprisonment I have shed many a salt teare and by the grace of God I am become much more resolute and better But to fashion my selfe according to your appetite I have no stomack at all no although you burne me as you have done my brother Scoblant Marq. And I can tell you that it will cost you but little better cheape Ioris I am ready if it be to morrow Then said one of the standers by Sir he hath neither wife childe nor goods to lose and that makes him so willing to die Ioris Be it that I have none of all these yet must I suffer death for conscience sake But what care you for that I would you could be silent and be thinke yourselves well what you doe you shall answer these your doings at the last day where you must all appeare and then there will be no respect of persons Marq. If you use this kinde of language I will commit you to the hole where you shall be fed only with bread and water and that I thinke will tame your tongue Therefore be quiet and sing me no more of these Psalmes Ioris Well sir I may well restraine my outward voice but neither you nor all the World besides shall ever be able to let me from praising God in my heart nor shall you sit as Lords over my conscience Marq. We have heard you preach but too long Then he said Iaylor take him and cast him into the hole Then was he put among théeves as a Lamb among so many Wolves Thus this constant witnesse of Christ remained firm scorning both their threats and torments till they had burned him as they did Scoblant August 14. the yeare 1568. ¶ Giles Annik Iohn Annik his son and Lovis Meulen Martyrs 1568. Persecution grew still hot in Flanders GIles Annik with Iohn Annik his son were driven from Renay in Flanders and retired unto Emden in East Friesland But by reason of their so sudden departure they could not take their wives with them and therfore returned thither again in the yeare 1568. to convey theÌ„ thence The tyranny of the Duke of Alva and his Spaniards was then in the height by reason whereof they durst not enter the towne openly but take up their lodging in the evening at an honest mans house called Lovis Meulin Now it was this night in which the enemies had foreappointed to
conscience As touching his carriage and behaviour if it pleased him he said to make enquiry thereof among the Merchants of Ast they could all resolve him as touching his honest dealing who also hee knew would witnesse with him that hee had wronged none in all that time hee had conversed among them And inasmuch as he was a Merchant traffiquing in and about his lawfull calling he ought to be dismissed and to be no further molested For if it were lawfull for Iewes and Turkes to trade in Faires and Markets and to use commerce throughout Piemont that favor ought much more to be permitted unto him who was a Christian And as touching the matter of Religion whereabout he was accused he medled not at all therewith for his owne particular but had questions propounded to him concerning the same by others in which regard leave was granted him to answer and to yéeld a reason of his faith in any place to any whomsoever they were that should aske what he thought of the same yea liberty was granted even by his Excellency to those of the Valleyes of Vandoyes to answer any man to a question demanded provided that hee procéeded not to teach and instruct others The Bishop regarded none of these allegations but commanded he should be put into prison The next day the Bishops Secretary came to visite Copin testifying how much good will hee bore him advising him as a friend that if he acknowledged not his fault he was in great danger of his life Copin answered that his life was in the hands Psal 89. 47 48. of God and that he would never séeke to save it to the prejudice of Gods glory also that he had not above two or thrée turnes to fetch here in this world before he arrived in heaven and therefore prayed God so to assist him by his grace that hee might never leave the strait way which leadeth thereto A few dayes after hee was examined by a Monke who was an Inquisitor in the presence of the Bishop who vexed him a long while with his sugred discourse and by faire words endeavoured to draw him to abjure his Religion But Copin resisted him still by the holy Scriptures shewing that if he should now be ashamed of Christ Mat. 8. 38. and deny him Christ might justly be ashamed of him and utterly deny him before his heavenly father The Monke finished his dispute with this dogged farewell Away thou cursed Lutherane thou shalt goe to all the Devils in hell and when thou commest to be tormented amongst those uncleane spirits then wilt thou remember these holy admonitions which wee have tendred unto thee for the saving of thy soule but thou haddest rather goe to hell than to reconcile thy selfe to thy holy Mother the Church It is not long since said Copin that I was reconciled to the true Church After many violent assaults they gave way for his wife to come unto him and with her one of his sons promising them to set him at liberty to goe home with them if hee would make amends for his fault committed by acknowledging the same They gave his son and wife leave to this purpose to stay supper with him in prison during which time he used many exhorâ—ations tending to patience albeit the wife should depart to her house without an husband or the child without his father for be you well assured said her that God will be a better husband and a father unto you than ever I was or can be For his owne part he said he was not bound to love wife or children more then Christ besides they had cause to rejoyce and to think him happy that God would honor him so farre as to beare witnesse to his truth with the losse of his life and hoped hee said that God would be so favorable to him as to support him under any torments he was to endure for his glories sake In conclusion hee commended his sonne and one daughter to his wives care which God had given them in the married estate charging her againe and againe to sée them brought up vertuously and in the feare of God He charged his sonne to obey his mother so should he be made partaker of the promised blessing He intreated them both to pray for him that God would fortifie him against all temptations And thus having blessed his son and taken leave of his wife they were conducted out of the prison and he shut up as hee was before The woman and her son were dissolved into teares sighing and crying out that it would have moved the stoniest heart to compassion but this holy man not contenting himselfe with that hee had said to them by word of mouth writ unto his wife this Letter ensuing the originall whereof she hath exhibited to us written and signed with the hand of the said Copin the inscription thus following ¶ To my wel-beloved wife Susanna Copin from the Tower of Lucerna DEare yoke-fellow I received much consolation by your comming to this place and by so much the more as it was beyond my expectation and I suppose you also were not a little comforted that you had such an opportunity offered you as to sup with me the last night being Saturday the fiftéenth of September 1601. I know not well what they aymed at in permitting you so to doe But God ordereth all these things But as farre as I can ghesse it shall be the last time that ever we shall sup together in this life and therefore pray to God that hee will not cease to be a comfort unto you Trust you still in him for hee hath promised never to leave nor forsake those that put their trust in him God hath endued you with wisedome governe your owne family in such sort that our children Samuel and Martha may be obedient unto you whom in the name and authority of God I command that they obey you for so the blessing of Almighty God shall light upon them Deare wife be not over pensive for mee for Anno 1605. if God hath ordained me now to attaine unto the end of my race and that I must render into the hands of the Almighty my soule which so long time he hath lent me my hope is that of his holy and divine mercy he will receive it into his Kingdome for his owne beloved Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord through whom I beléeve that my sinnes are forgiven for the onely merit of his holy death and passion Also my praier is that he will assist me by the power of his holy spirit unto my last breath Be fervent in praier and in all other parts of Gods worship and service for this is the way to true blessednesse Take no care about sending any thing unto me for these thrée wéeks and then I pray you send me some money if you thinke good to give the Iaylor and somewhat more for mine owne necessaries if it please God I live so long Also I pray you call
Sondres In which place being gathered together with the Pastor they made their prayers to God and afterwards to the number of thréescore and thirtéene persons in all they passed the valley of Malenco which was beset by the enemy on two sides but those that kept those places were by the providence of God so astonished that they fled away and the protestants although they were pursued to the tops of the hils did miraculously escape with safety The enemy that is to say the proper Inhabitants of the valley with their ringleaders Iames Robustello Azzo Besta Iohn Guizziardi Lorenzo Paribello and others entred into the Palace they deprived the Magistrate of his office that is to say Giovanni Andrea Traersio of Scants of the upper Agnadua Captaine and Governour of the Valtoline who with his family had retired himselfe into the house of Paul Clamar untill Wednesday the eleventh of Iuly on which day under protestation to secure them they were conducted to Malenco where in the Village of Chissa against their faith given they were mads prisoners and detained for eight daies following They who by the commandement of the said captaine found themselves to bee made prisoners were delivered putting in their roome certaine of the Religion They immediately changed the Calender and gave for a prey the goods of the Protestants by which occasion great multitudes of persons assembled from all the parts of the Valtoline to rob and spoile and by reason of the swéetnesse which they found in pillaging the goods they met with in divers noble houses excellently well furnished grew an intolerable heate and outrage to spoile insomuch as brother robbed brother and the néerest of kindred pursued and robbed one another and followed one another to the death The peasants hoping by meanes hereof to be exempted from paying their yearely rents ranne with all fury and madnes about the woods bushes and mountaines searching after the poore Protestants who were scattered by feare whom they murthered as they found them with extreme cruelty Amongst these were these Gentlemen of greatest worth and resolution Doctor Bartolomeo Paravicino of Sondres from whom they tooke about two thousand crownes Doctor Nicolas his brother whose brother Doctor Lelio had before béen slaine in the Church of Tell Petronio Paravicino Doctor and Giovan Battista Mallerio of Antwerpe in the Low-Countries a man endued with excellent rare qualities of mind and body for he was both a good Philosopher and a learned Divine and very fit to instruct youth he was surprised in the house of Morone and when they had stoned him to death they cut off his head ripped his belly and tooke out his entrailes His Children Giovan Andrea and Catharine were carried to Millane Annaidi Lita wife of Anthony Grotti of Chio in the territory of Vincentine of an honorable and antient house was come out of Italy but some few yeares before for the liberty of her conscience This Anna was first by them exhorted with faire words to change her Religion but she constantly persevering therein was admonished that she would at the least have a care of her young infant which she held in her armes being about two months old otherwise shee would make reckoning that in the twinkling of an eie both she and her babe should die but she with a bold and undaunted courage answered That she had not A holy resolution departed out of Italy her native Countrey neither had she forsaken all the estate she had to renounce at last that faith which had béen inspired unto her by the Lord Iesus Christ yea that she would rather suffer if it were possible a thousand deaths And how saith she should I have regard in this case of my infant since God our heaâ—enly Father spared not his onely Sonne my Lord Iesus but delivered him up to death for the love of me and of all sinners Then giving them the child she said behold the childe the Lord God who hath care of the birds of the aire will much more be able to save this poore creature although by you it were abandoned and left in those wilde mountaines So unlacing her gowne shee opened Behold here the power of faith her breast and said Here is the body which you have power to kill but my soule on which you have no power to lay hand that I commend to my God and presently she was slain and afterwards cut in pieces being thirty five yeares old The infant because it was a lovely and a swéet babe to looke on was suffered to live God restraining the cruelty of those butchers and was delivevered to a popish woman to nurse up And here is to be observed that this blessed Martyr imitated the commendable example of her deare brother Giovanni Antonio who for the profession of the truth Gods Word and Gospell can never be bound in theâ— hearâ— of Gods elect of the Gospell having continued in the said Chio and endured a grievous imprisonment two yeres together was at last condemned to the Galley where he died within two moneths after When he was bound in chains being carried from Chio he said You may indéed bind my person but the word of God shall never the more be bound in the hearts of the elect that it doe not shew manifestly it selfe and bring forth fruit c. According to this most Christian example Iohn Stéeven Moron and Rodulfo Rivello being both of them of the Valley of Sondres did not onely in their proper persons seal with their bloud the truth of the Gospell but moreover exhorted their children Iohn Andrea and Iohn Antonio the one of them being fiftéene yeares of age the other ten that they should doe the like following the honourable example of the seven brethren in the Machabées and of their mother who chose rather to dye than to obey the King and to transgresse the Law of the Lord. And yet by reason of the money and jewels found in the houses and chests of the Protestants the eagernesse and fury of each of those miscreants increased daily more and more insomuch as that there were neither noble nor ignoble nor Lady no neither man woman young nor old of what condition soever who were not ransacked and spoiled some twise and others oft times thrise over Some honourable matrons had their rings pulled off their fingers insomuch as they would cut off their hands and fingers if they would not presently draw them off Some women were by force dragged up to the tops of high and craggy mountaines and threatened to be throwne downe headlong with their children unlesse they would goe to masse And although Lucretia the wife of Antonio Lavizaro and Katherina wife of Giulio Merlianico being moved and terrified with the horror of death had consented to change their Religion yet were they murthered for all that without any pitty at all The same befell to D. Io. Battista Salici of Soglio in the Pregaglia for although that his life was promised him
Lord so as she was nothing altered in her colour after shee was dead leaving to the Valencians the truth of this sentence Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the martyrdome Psal 116. 15. of his Saints and to the Iudges and her hangmen the Iesuites a perpetuall corrasive to their consciences ¶ An English man burned at Rome IN the yeare 1595. about the end of May there was executed a young man at Rome about the age of five and twenty yeares who went into the Church of Magdalen where beholding their behaviour being pricked forward with religious zeale and constant resolution not being able to endure the sight of those horrible impieties which were there committed amongst them As the Bishop was setting forward to goe on procession this young man directed his way towards the Church porch and as the procession began to passe forward he waited till the Bishop came that bare the Host and in his going forth stepped to the pixe plucking it out of his hands threw it to the ground saying aloud ye wretched Idolaters doe ye fall downe to a morsell of bread The people presently fell fell upon the young man yet without touching his person notwithstanding the great stirre they made he was from thence sent to prison to the Capitoll Complaint being made thereof to Pope Clement the eighth touching all that which had happened He presently ordained that he which had done it should be burned the same day for an example and terrour to all his companions But some of the Popes Cardinals being then at hand advised that he should be detained rather a while in prison to be examined by all exquisite tortures to make him confesse his fellowes and who had set him on Having kept him eight daies in prison nothing could be drawne from him but this speech Such was the will of God When they saw they could not prevaile his inditement was framed and his sentence registred namely that he was to passe from the Capitoll naked unto his middle and to weare on his head the forme of a Devill or Dragon his breeches painted all over with flames of fire and thus being bound in a cart to be burned alive being first carried in this manner about the City The Patient understanding how he was to be handled lifting up his eies implored helpe from the Almighty and séeing how he was derided of all continued in his devotion and prayers He could not refraine from uttering somewhat against the life of the Cardinals and their associates who hearing it began to be in a rage and that he might no longer bewray their wickednesse they caused a great gagge to be forced into his mouth which vexed him more then all the rest when he testified saying How shall I call upon my God But he patiently submitted himselfe to endure all their cruelties In this plight he was brought to Magdalens where he had cast downe the Idoll and there one of the hangmen cut off his hand before the doore at which the patient being not much moved his hand being set on a pole in the cart the two tormentors made him féele the force of the fire taking each of them a great torch in his hand flaming with which they scortched and burned his flesh through all the city of Rome At length they arrived at the place called Campio de Pior by which time the young man was brought into a pittifull case being scortched all over his body all blistered and bloudy having nothing whole but his head which he now and then lifted up Being taken downe out of the cart and séeing the post whereunto he was to be fastened with thrée chaines of yron he went of himselfe to the post and falling on his knées kissed the chaines with which he was there to be bound till the sacrifice should be ended But before the fire was put to him he was urged by Friers and Priests to worship an Idoll which they presented there before him From which turning away his face he shewed unto them his constant resolution to the contrary holding on his Christian course unto the end which he truly testified for as soone as the flames of fire seised on him bowing his head hee quietly yéelded up his soule into the hands of God ¶ The death and martyrdome of an old man of Millan who was burned at Rome THe same yeare they burned an old man who for a long time had lyen in the Inquisitors cares He dyed with great constancy and resolution Before his death he was exhorted and importuned by the Monks to kisse a crucifix He séeing their impudency said If ye take not this Idoll out of my sight you will constraine me to spit upon it which when they heard he was sent away to the fire and consumed to ashes ¶ The troubles and persecution of Bartholomew Copin a godly and religious martyr of Christ IN the yeare 1601. Bartholomew Copin of the valley of Luserne resorted unto a place called Ast in Piemont with certaine merchandise purposing to vent the same at a Faire there which was to be kept the day following It so fell out that sitting at supper in the evening with sundry other Merchants one amongst the rest began to use some spéech about the diversitios of Religions and there withall spake somethin◠tending to the disgrace of those of the valleyes of Angrougne and the neighbour villages Copin hearing such spéeches cast forth against his Brethren as he little expected from men of that sort and also against their Religion all which tended to the dishonour of God hee feared lest it should be offensively taken if he should not make some reply unto those blasphemies which he heard with his eares and so answer him who held such a discourse against the religion which himselfe professed He who reproved Copin asked Are you one of Vandois He answered yes I am And Anno 1601. what said the other beléeve you not that God is in the Host No said Copin Oh said the other sée how false your Religion is My religion said Copin is no lesse true then God is God and as certaine as I am sure to die The next day Copin was called before the Bishop of Ast who told him that report had béen made to him of some offensive spéeches which hee had used the night past in his lodging and therefore it behoved him now to acknowledge his fault if he meant to obtaine pardon for the same otherwise he must looke to be chastised according to his demerits Copin answered he had uttered nothing but that which he was first provided to speake nor had he said ought but what he was resolved to maintain to the hazard of his life He affirmed that God had bestowed upon him some worldly goods as also a wife and children but that he was not so glued in his affection to any of them but he could bee Luke 9 23. content to forgoe them all rather than the peace of a good