the Beast and the Kings and Princes of Christendom established the Authority of the Pope and Church of Râ—mâ— appointing to slaughter and destruction such as denied the horrid Blasphemies and Errors maintained by them it occasioned many good Christians to detest their Superstitions as unknown to the Apâ—stles and the Primitive Church And the first we reâ—d of was one Berengarius who boldly and faithfully published the True Religion contained in the Scripture and discovered the falseness of the Romish He lived about the time of William the Conqueror his coming into England about which time his Followers being taken notice of as dissenting from many of the Common received Opinions of those times they were branded with all the odious Name of Hereticks About Twenty years after this one Peter Bruis was a famous Preacher among them who taught them publickly a long time at Tholouse in Savoy in a short time after they were grown to so great a multitude that the Popes of Rome were resolved if possible by any means to extirpate and destroy them to which end they at first incited several of the most Learned of their Party to write against them and warned divers Princes to have a care of them and to banish them out of their Territories The first then that flung away the Spiritual Keys and began valiantly to brandish the bloody Sword of Persecution against them was Pope Alexander the Third who began therewith to hack hew and murther the poor Waldenses so named from Peter Waldo or Waldo of Lyons in France who appeared very couragious in opposing the many Corruptions of the Romish Church as Holy Oyl Consecrated Images Popes Indulgences Candles Merits Auricular Confession the Supremacy of the Pope False Miracles Purgatory Praying for the Dead Prayers to Saints extream Unction and many other Fopperies of the Popish Communion This Persecution of Waldo and his Followers who were encreased to a very great number began in France in the Year 1060. Waldo being compell'd to fly into the Mountains of France among the Savage Inhabitants to whom he taught his Doctrine others fled into Picardy from whence they were called Picards several into Flanders and Alsatia and thereby for the safety of their Lives they spread their Doctrine into all places King Philip of France being incited by the Ecclesiasticks raised Arms against them and destroyed Three Hundred Gentlemens Houses and likewise several Walled Towns And those that fled into Flanders escaped little better for they were pursued and many of them for their Religion put to Death And the Bishops of Mayence and Strasburgh raised great persecutions against those which fled thither there being Five and Thirty Citizens of Mayence burned in one Fire and Eighteen in another who suffered Death with very great constancy and at Strasburgh at the instance of the Bishop Fourscore were likewise burnt for professing the same Truth and yet by the exhortations constancy and patience of these Martyrs there were such multitudes who entertained their Doctrines that in a few Years after in the County of Passau and in Bohemia there were above Fourscore thousand persons that made profession of the same Faith Some of them likewise fled into England for shelter but were more barbarously and cruelly put to death at Oxford by the Papists there than ever any Christians were before that time for matters of Religion and Three years after Pope Alexander the Third made a Decree in the Council of Tours in France that these Gospellers and all their Favourers should be Excommunicated and that none of them should buy or sell according as it was foretold in Revelat. 13.17 At Colen in Germany Four Men and Two young Women were discovered hid in a Barn and the Papists not being able to disswade them from the Truth The Men were all tyed to the Stake to be burnt but the Râ—manists pretending to pity the young Women perswaded them to recant but they perceiving their design got out of the hands of those that held them and voluntarily leapt into the Fire where they were burned with thâ—m about this time a Proclamation was published in Aragon whereby it was made Treason to relieve these poor Christians or to suffer them to live in that Country and liberty was given to all people to abuse them at pleasure without being punished for the same But these people still encreasing the Pope was resolved to suppress them by all means possible and therefore about the Year 1201. he set up the Bloody Inquisition which with its Racks Tortures Fire and all manner of Cruelty hath destroyed an innumerable company of Good and Holy Men. And in the same Year a noble Knight called Emandus and one of the Waldenses was burnt at Paris and the persecution still continuing the people of Dat phine flying from their barbarous Enemies sheltred themselves in â—he Caves upon the Mountains but their cruel Adversaries having notice thereof pursued and destroyed many of them and the rest fled higher into the Mountains which were all covered with Snow together with their Wives and Children the Mothers carrying some in their Arms and others in Cradles and the Night coming on and having no means to make a Fire for their tender Infants they were so benummed with cold that in the morning above Fourscore of them were found dead in their Cracles and most of their Mothers died likewise Many also were burnt in the same Country of Dauphin and the Fire of Persecution raged through the whole Land so that there was scarce a Town or City in Pâ—edmont but many were put to death therein and at Turin one of them had his Bowels taken out of his Bâ—lly and put into a Bason and was afterward cruelly Martyred One Gerrard being at the Stake to be burnt requested the Hangman to give him Two or Three Stones which he at first refused thinking he would have thrown them at some body but afterwards did and Gerrard taking them up into his hands said When I shall have eaten up these Stones then shall you see an end of our Religion for which you now put me to death and then throwing them on the Ground he chearfully died These Countries being so hot with the Fire of Persecution many of these poor People fled into Calabria where they began to plant build Towns as Saint Xist La Gard and divers others where they continued till the year 1560. at which time they were most grievously persecuted by Pope Pius the Fourth and were forced to leave their Houses and Habitations and to fly into the Woods for the saving of their Lives but being there pursued by order from the Vice-Roy of Naples most of them were cruelly and barbarously murdered by the Souldiers and some flying into fortified places were so straitly besieged that they died with Famine And at the same time one Charlin was rackt in so horrible a manner that his Guts came out of his Belly Another was tormented upon the Rack Eight hours together to force him
in France to follow the Example of Paris and to destroy and kill all the Protestants which were amongst them and yet at the same time the King writes other Letters wherein he laid the fault of the murder of the Admiral and the rest upon the Duke of Guise As soon as this Command was published and that the Kings Letters came the Papists fell with all imaginable fury upon all the Protestants at Meaux Troys Orleans and other places murthering them without any manner of pity and Compassion And among the rest Monsieur De la Place President of the Court of Requests being in his house a Captain came to him and told him that the Duke of Guise had killed thâ— Admiral by the Kings appointment and many other Hugonots but however he was willing to secure him but desired to see his Gold The Lord De la Place câ—â—â—rving his Impudence asked him whether hâ— thought there were a King or no the Captain bâ—aspheming bid him go to know the Kings pleasure The Lord De la Place thinking there was danger near went from him to secure himself and the Captain thereupon plundered his House The poor Gentleman seeking shelter in three Houses for his life was denied and was at last forced to return home again where finding his wife very sorrowful he rebuked her and discourst with her of the Promises of God telling her That through many Tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God and then calling his Family together he made an Exhortation to them went to prayer and then read a Chapter in Job with Calvins Exposition and then praying again he resolved by Gods assistance to suffer all kind of Torments rather than to fly for it Presently after the Provost of the Merchants comes to his House with many Archers and an Order to bring him to the King and would not admit of any Excuse whereupon the Lord supposed what would happen and therefore embracing his Wife he desired her never to forsake the truth of God And so going toward the Palace some Murtherers waited for him and immediately stab'd him with their Daggers so that he fell down dâ—ad and then stripping him cast his Body into the River After this there followed the like Cruclties and Murders upon the Protestants in the Cities of Lyons Tholouse Burdeauâ— Angiers where the Protestants were most barbarously killed destroyed as likewise in most other Cities and Towns so that in a few Months there were murdered above threescore Thousand Protestants in France for no other Crime but only for being Protestants Yet in the midst of these dangers it pleased God to provide some places of refuge for them as Rochel Montalbon Wismes Saucerre Privus c. whither many Protestants fled from other places In the year 1573. the Town of Saucerre was besieged by the Lord of Chastre who with his Cannon played incessâ—ntly upon the place so that the Stones Pavements and Splinters of Timber flew about continually and yet it pleased God that only one young Woman was slain thereby though sometimes the Coats Breeches and Hats of the Inhabitants were shot thorough The Siege being long there was great scarcity insomuch that the People were forced to eat Horses Asses and Mules which lasted a Month afterwards they cat all the Dogs Cats Rats Mice and Moles that they could get and then they were forced to eat Parchments Horses and Beasts-Hoofs Horns Lanthorns Hasters Girdles of Leather Herbs wild Roots and Furniture for Horses this being all spent and no bread in the City they made bread of Linseed Herbs mixt with Bran Straw Meal Powder of Nut-shells yea Slates Sewet old Ointments and other Grease served to make Pottage and therewith they likewise fryed the Excrements of Horses and Men which they eat yea the very filth in the Streets was not spared During this Extremity a labourer and his wife were put to death for cating the Head Intrails and Brains of their own Child a Girl of three years old who died with Famine having likewise dressed the rest of her body to eat at other times Those that went out of the City Walls were forced to live upon the Spriggs of Vines Black-berries Snails and Herbs and many of them were killed by the Enemy And among other lamentable Spectacles a poor man and his Wife were found dead among the Vines and two of their Children crying by them the youngest being not above Six weeks old whom a Charitable Widow took home and relieved c. Many died of this terrible Famine in their Houses and others fell down dead in the Sâ—reeâ—â— Most of the Children under Twelve years old died and most lamentable it was to see their poor Fathers and Mothers lamenting their misery and yet could not relieve them yet most of them did wondâ—rfully encourage themseâ—veâ— in Gods help and assistance as may appear by this strange Example A Boy about five years old being famisht for Hunger running along the Streets fell down for dead in the presence of his Father and Mother who wept over him and felt his Arms and Legs which were as dry as a Stick To whom the Child said Why do you weep to see me die of hunger I ask you no Bread Mother for I know you have none but since it is Gods will that I should die in this manner I must take it thankfully Had not the Hâ—ly man Lazarus Hunger have I not read it in my Bible and saying thus he yielded up his Spirit And that which preserved the rest from perishing was because there were six Cows kept alive to give Milk to some few Intants and some Horses of service reserved for extremity were killed and their flesh sold and some little Corn was brought into the Town by stealth which was sold for half a Crown a pound There died by the War but Eighty four Persons but the Famine destroyed Five Hundred and the rest were brought so low that they hardly recovered Divers voluntarily went out of the Town chusing rather death than such misery whereof some were slain and others Imprisoned and Executed And now when all humane help failed the King having sworn He would make them eat one another and the Papists threatning to Massacre them all it pleased God strangely to deliver these poor Protestants For Ambassadors coming from Poland to fetch the Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother thither whom they had chosen for their King They having notice of this terrible siege obtained by their Sollicitations that all the Towns in France which were molested for Religion should have their Liberty by which means the poor Saucerreans half dead with hunger obtained their freedom and were quietly suffered to depart with their Arms and Goods and those that would stay not to be questioned for what was past About the same time the Town of Rochel was likewise besieged the Townsmen often sallying out and divers hot skirmishes past among the rest a young Gentleman boasted with horrible blasphemies that he was one of
the horrible Murderers of the Admiral shewing his Sword which he said he brought from that exploit to slash the Rochellers but upon Tryal his heart failed him and he ran away and one of the Rochellers pursuing him slew him stript him and left his body in the Field and before next morning the dogs had torn his Face In one Months space the Papists discharged above Thirteen Thousand Shot against the Town and made many assaults but always came off with loss The Siege continued two Months and the Famine much increased upon them but by Divine Providence when all other Provision failed them there came a multitude of small Fishes into the Haven which were never seen there before and was a very great relief to them who continued during the siege but presently after the publishing the Edict of Peace they went away and were never seen more A while after the Rochellers were likewise freed from the siege by means of the Poland Ambassdors and enjoyed their former Priviledges It is very remarkable that most of those Persons which were employed in the Massacre of Paris and other Places were killed at this siege for there were slain before this Town three Masters de Camp divers Lords and Gentlemen above Threescore Captains as many Lieutenants and Ensigns and above Twenty Thousand Common Souldiers The next year after the King himself who was at least the Countenancer of all these horrible Massacres being in the prime of his Youth not above Twenty five years old fell sick of a languishing disease his Physicians let him blood and purged him to no purpose for he consumed away so strangely as astonished many He long strugled against his disease but at last betook himself to his Bed for about fourteen days before his death and was sore tormented with a great effusion of blood which issued from all parts of his body and one time to the terror of those about him he rouled himself in his own blood A while before he died he desired his Mother to pursue his Enemies to the utmost repeating the same with great cagerness and saying Madam I pray you heartily to do it and so expired May 30. 1574. And it was observed that the rest of the Chief Agents were strangely cut off The Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother afterwards King Henry the Third was stabbed by a Jacobine Monk in the same Chamber where he sate in Council for contriving the late Tragedies The Duke of Guize was murdered in the Kings own Chamber Five and Forty Persons waiting with Swords and Daggers to do it The Queen Mother broke her heart and died the first of January after And in short it hath been observed by a good Author that since the year of our Lord 1560 of a Thousand Murderers that remained unpunished by men there was not ten who escaped the Divine hand of God but came to deserved and wretched Ends suitable to their bloody and wicked Lives At a Town called Sansay in France in the year 1593 one Margaret Pieron was by her maid accused to the Jesuits for not going to Mass and for keeping a Bible in her house who complaining thereof to the Judges they sent for her and said Margaret are you not willing to return home to your house and there enjoy your Husband and Children Yes said she if it may stand with the good will of God Then said they If thou wilt do but a small matter thou shalt be set at Liberty If said she it be not contrary to Gods glory and my own Salvation you shall hear what I will say to it No such thing said they for all that we require is but this That a Scaffold being set up in the chief part of the Town you shall there crave pardon for offending the Law and a fire being made you shall burn your Bible in it without speaking a word I pray you my Masters said she tell me is my Bible a good Book or no Yes said they we confess it is only to please the Jesuits we would have thee throw it in the Fire Imagine it to be but Paper and then you may burn it and you may buy another at any time and thereby you may secure your Life They spent two Hours in perswading her that she might commit a less Evil to do a greater good But she couragiously answered them That by the help of God she would never do it Will not the People say said she This is a wretched Woman indeed that burns the Bible wherein all the Articles of Christian Religion are contained I will certainly burn my Body rather thaâ— I will burn my Bible Upon this shâ—wâ—s committed to Prison and fed only with bâ—ead and water and her Friends forbid to come to her but continuing stedfast in the Truth she was thereupon condemned to be set upon a Sâ—â—ffold to have the Bible burnt before her Face her self to be strangled and her body to be dragged through the Streets to a Dunghil which Sentence she willingly and cheerfully underwent In the year 1628. The City of Rochel was again besieged with a great Army by the French King whereby the Inhabitants were in such extremity for want of Victuals that they â—at Horses Dogs Cats Rats and Mice â—nd after that the poor Protestant's lived two Months upon Cow-hides and Goat skins boylâ—d They likewise eat old Gloves and whatâ—ever was made of Leather yea the poor peoâ—le cut off the buttocks of the dead and eat â—hem young Maids of Fourteen or Sixteen â—ears old looked like old Women of an â—undred years old a Bushel of Wheat was sold â—r Twenty Pound a Pound of Bread Twenty â—hillings a Quarter of Mutton above six â—ound An Egg eight shillings An Ounce of â—ugar Half a Crown a dryed Fish Twenty â—illings a Pint of Milk Thirty Shillings After a while the City was taken and some English that were therein when they came aboard looked like Anatomies or dead Bodies And since that to this very day the Protestants have suffered very great hardships and Persecutions in France by having their Churches palled down by Fires and Imprisonments and Banishments by being excluded from all Offices and Imployments of Trust or Profit and by all manner of discouragements whatsoever and that only upon the Account of their Religion and all this contrary to Oaths Protestations Edicts and Proclamations which have been solemnly made and granted to them for the free Exercise of the Protestant Religion The Persecutions of the Protestants in Italy Spain Portugal and the Low-Countries With an Account of the Original Progress and Cruel Torments of the Spanish Inquisition LET us next proceed to look into Italy which being under the Inspection of the Pope it may well be supposed not to harbour many Protestants at least such as dare openly appear to be such by reason of the Inquiâ—tim which was first Instituâ—â—d against the Moors and Jews in Spain but is now 〈…〉 the discovery and Tormentâ—◠〈…〉 Christians yet notwithstanding 〈…〉
Hangman whether the rest of his Instruments of Torment are ready who to affright the Prisoner answers they are but he hath not brought them with him they then bid him bring them to morrow and so turning to the poor wretch which lyes in miserable pain the Inquisitors cry How now Sirrah how do you like this well consider of it against to morrow â—r else you die for what you have felt is but a flea biting to what remains behind Then the Gaoler plays the Bone-setter as well as he can three days after brings him to the Rack again when his joynts are most sore and sometimes they have another Torment with the Trough where the Person is laid with his feet higher than his head bound hand and foot in the Trough and then laying a thick Cloath over his Mouth and Nostrils they pour water thereupon with a long stream which falling from on High drives the Cloath down his Throat with miserable Torture and pain and being drawn out again from the bottom of his Throat it draws forth blood with it and seems as if it tore out his bowels They have another Torment with Fire which is no whit inferior to the former and that is by holding the Prisoners Feet over a pan of burning Charcoal and that the Fire may have the more force they baste their Feet with Lard and Bacon If after all these and divers other cruel Tortures they continue constant they are then condemned to death Then he is clothed in a Sambernetto or long Garment painted over with ugly Devils he hath on his head a high Crown'd Hat whereon a man is painted burning in the Fire with many Devils about him plying him with Fire and Faggot upon his Tongue a piece of cleft Wood is put to hinder his speaking a Cord about his neck and his hands fast tyed hehind him All things being finished they are delivered by the Inquisitors into the hands of the Magistrate who presently conveys him to Execution where several Fryars swarm about him earnestly perswading him to deny the Truth and when they cannot prevail upon him he is tyed to the Stake and in an Instant the Hangman breaks his neck without being perceived and then they report among the Common People that he recanted at his last hour and returned to the Church of Rome and therefore he felt no pain in the Fire but took his death so patiently without any motion or crying out And though by the Terrors of the Inquisition the Professors of the Gospel in Spain have been but few they having been so wickedly industrious as to crush all appearances of Truth in the bud yet in the year 1545. several Protestants at St. Lucar Valedolia Sevil and other places in Spain suffered death no less than thirty being martyred at one time and five years after divers more likewise were put to death as one Francis Romanes a Merchant De Cacalla a man of Excellent Learning and one Rochus a skilful Graver of Images who turned Protestants and died for the same also one John Pontio Gonsalvo a Priest Juliano Leon Arias Losada a Physician together with a Lady and several Women and Virgins who were burnt at several times in divers places and twenty others besides who were burnt in one Fire after they had endured all the horrid torments of the Rack the Pully the Trough the Barnacle the Twisting Cord and the rest of the barbarous Tortures and Inventions of the cursed Inquisition Nay divers English-men being betrayed by the Insinuation of wicked Informers were likewise burnt in Spain as Nicholas Burton Merchant of London was burnt at Sevil and another English-man with him and not long after two more named John Baker and William Burgate and about the same time William Burgess Master of an English Ship was burnt there likewise and one William Hooker a youth of about sixteen years old was stoned to death for the bold profession of the Truth As Portugal is but a little Kingdom and the power of the Pope and his Clergy very considerable there as well as in Spain they have wonderfully supprest the power of the Truth with their Tortures yet some have there likewise suffered for the Gospel and among others William Garaner an English-man whom they put to death with most eâ—quisite Tortures at Lisbon in the year 1552. for taking the Host out of a Cardinals hand and stamping it under his Feet He boldly asserting to the King himself That he did it out of Conscience as not being able to endure to see the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper irreverently used to so great Idolatry and although all manner of cruelty was used toward him yet he died with extraordinary Constancy singing Psalms in the Flames to the very last moment of his life The Rage and Fury of Papists in the Low-Countreys or Netherlands was no less than in other places For the Inquisition being introduced there it was accompanied with all manner of cruelty At Antwerp one Nicholas an holy good man was bound up in a Sack and drown'd In Holland a Learned Preacher called Pistorius was burnt being carryed to the Stake with a Fools Coat on his back Wendelmuta a Widow likewise suffered death with much Constancy Several Ministers were beheaded among the rest one George Scherter who after his head had been cut off for some time and his body lying on his belly he turning himself on his back and crossing his right foot over the left and his right hand over the left continued so to the great admiration of the Spectators and the Conversion of many Several were drowned others were made away in Prisons others shut up in dark and noisom places and none suffered to come at them being fed only with Bread and Water till they were famished At Lorain several were martyred some by Fire others Beheaded There was a very great Persecution all over Flanders about the year 1544. so that there was hardly a Town or City in all the Countrey wherein some were not banished beheaded or condemned to perpetual Imprisonment neither was there any respect either to Age or Sex but especially at Gaunt many of the chief Persons were burned for being Protestants and several others in Brabant and Artois insomuch that Two hundred Men and Women were cruelly destroyed at one time some of them being drowned some burned alive and some privately murdered so that the Hangman began to be tyred and wearied out with such continual Executions At the Town of Mecklin Dornick and Delden several were put to death and among the rest two Noble Virgins who were Sisters and likewise a Mother and her three Sons who all died owning the Gospel and zealously exclaiming against the Cruelty and Idolatry of the Papists And about the same time they miserably tormented one Bertrand for trampling the Host under his Feet whom they thrice put to the Rack and because he would not recant in the Manket-place of Dornick they put a Ball of Iron into his mouth
of men and to the Breasts of Women At Nants they hung up several Women and Maids by the feet stark naked and others by the armpits exposing them to publick view which is certainly the most exquisite suffering to the modesty of the fair Sex and which toucheth the most tender part of their Soul They bound Mothers that gave suck to posts and let their little Infants lye languishing in their sight without being suffered to suckle them for many days and all this while left the poor babes crying moaning and gasping for life and even dying for hunger and thirst thereby to vanquish the constancy of their tender-hearted Mother Swearing they would never permit them to give suck till they promised to renounce the profession of the Gospel Children of four or five years old were kept from Meaâ— and Drink till they were ready to famish and were then brought to their Parents by the Dragoons who swore bloudily That except they would recant they must prepare themselves to see their Children languish and die in their presence If it happen that any by their patience and courage stand out the Souldiers go and acquaint their Commanders That they have done all they could but without success who in a barbarous and surly tone answer them You must return upon them and do worse than you have done the King commands it Either they must turn or I must burst and perish in the attempt These are the pleasant flowry paths whereby Papists allure Protestants to return to the Bosom of their Church Thirty two Companys of Foot with an Intendant and the two Bishops of Agen and Periguex entred the City of Bergerack and sending for two hundred of the principal Citizens before them told them That the Kings express will and pleasure was they should all go to Mass and that in case of disobedience they had order to compel them to it To which the Citizens unanimously answered That if they were so resolved they had nothing else to do but to prepare themselves to receive the punishment they should inflict Whereupon thirty two Troops more of Horse and Foot marched into the Town who were all quartered upon the Protestants with express command not to spare any thing they had and to exercise all manner of violence upon them till they had extorted a promise of conformity to their wills These Wolves thus incouraged flew instantly upon these Innocent sheep rending and worrying them in such a manner as the relation thereof cannot but strike horror and amazement Whole Companys were ordered to quarter upon one Citizen and and when their Money was gone they sold their Horsehold-stuff for little or nothing They bound and fettered Father Mother Wife and Children four Souldiers standing continually at the door to hinder any from succouring them keeping them in this condition five or six days together without Meat Drink or Sleep On one hand the Child cryes with the languishing tone of one ready to die Ah my Father Ah my Mother What shall I do I must die I can endure no longer The Wife on the other hand cryes Alas my Heart fails me I faint I die Whilst their cruel Tormentors are so far from being touched with compassion that from thence they take occasion to torment them afresh and to renew their tortures affrighting them with their Hellish Threats accompanied with execrable Oaths and Curses crying Dog Bougre what wilt thou not be converted wilt thou not be obedient Dog Bougre thou must be converted we are sent on purpose to convert thee And the Clergy who are witnesses of all these Cruelties with which they feast their eyes and who hear all their infamous and abominable speeches which ought to cover them with horror and confusion yet only make it a matter of sport and laughter A young woman was brought before the Council in order to oblige her to abjure the Truth which she boldly and manfully refusing was remanded back to Prison where they shaved her head and singed the hair from other parts and stripping her stark naked led her through the Streets of the City where many a blow was given her and Stones flung at her After this they set her up to the neck in a Tub full of Water where when she had been a while they took her out and put upon her a Shift dipped in Wine which as it dryed and Stuck to her sore and bruised body they snatcht off again and then had another ready dipt in Wine to clap upon her this they repeated six several times and when by this inhumane usage her body was grown very raw and tender they demanded of her Whether she did not now find her self disposed to imbrace the Catholick Faith As they term their Religion But she being strengthned by the Spirit love of him for whose names sake she suffered all these extremities undauntedly answered That she had before declared her resolution to them which she would never alter and that though they had her body in their power yet she was resolved never to yield her Soul to them but keep it pure and undefiled for her heavenly Lover as knowing that a little while would put an end to all her sufferings and give a beginning to her enjoyment of eternal bliss Which words further inraging them and despairing of making her a Convert they fastened her to a Gibbet by the feet stark naked with her head downward and there let her hang in that ignominious posture till she gave up the Ghost There was an old man in the City who having been long kept Prisoner in a deep dungeon for the Protestant Profession where his companions were darkness and horror and filthy creeping things was brought at length before the Judges with Vermine and Snails crawling upon his mouldred garment who seeing him in that loathsom condition said to him How now old man does not not your heart begin to relent and are not you willing to abjure your Heresy To which he answered As for Heresy I profess none but if by that word you mean my Religion you may assine yourselves that as I have thus long lived so I hope am resolved by the grace of God to dye in it With which reply they being incensed grew rougher with him Dost thou not see said they that the worms are ready to devour thee Well since thou art so resolved we will send thee back again to the loathsom place from whence thou camest that they may dispatch thee and consume thy obdurate heart To which he replyed in the words of holy patient Job I know that after worms have eaten this body that in my flesh I shall see God And having so said he was remanded back to his Jail where he still continues if death hath not put a period to his miseries Some Dragoons quartered with a Person whom they could not pervert who upon a time being well filled with Wine broke their Glasses at every health they drank and covered the floor with the
fortified themselves the best they could to prevent the entry of French Troops yet afterward the Duke published an Order that if they would voluntarily depart they should carry away what goods they pleased but without fire-arms But the Waldenses having had such woful experience of Popish Treachery and being satisfied that this Edict was nothing but a snare to intangle them resolved not to accept of it and sent the Switzer Ambassadors by whose mediation this Edict was procured their Resolutions in the matter who used all imaginable diligence to procure them more certain and advantagious conditions but were told That as long as the Waldenses were in Arms they could agree to nothing and the Protestants being perswaded that they would not disarm them but that they might the easier destroy them without trouble or resistance would by no means yield to it but resolved to defend themselves if they came to attack them The Duke of Savoy came into his Camp some days after the Edict to strike terror into the Waldenses by his presence and joining his Troops with those of France he resolved to attack the Protestants and April 22. 1686 was the day appointed The French Army commanded by Cativat Governour of Casal marched two hours before day by torch light to ingage them but found suchs stout resistance that they lost above 500 of their men with several Officers of Note the Waldenses having only two men killed but at length the force of the Enemy was so much increased that the Protestants not being able to make resistance yielded to lay down their arms and depart the Countrey according to the Edict since no time was prefixt but the French heated with their loss massacred them without distinction of Age or Sex putting all to the Sword that fell into their hands without respect to Women or Children yea old and sick people had the same treatment In another part of the Countrey the Duke himself having burnt all the houses in his way came to storm a Fort of the Waldenses who received him so warmly with their Muskets and Stones that they killed the Enemy 300 men and lost only five but being at length over-powered with number and hearing the French were coming to assist the Duke they treated with Don Gabriel the Dukes Uncle who promised positively on his part and their own that they should be absolutely pardoned if they would yield themselves to his elemency But the Waldenses making some difficulty to confide in this promise Don Gabriel sent them a note written with his own hand in the name of the Duke to this effect Lay down your arms immediately and submit your selves to his Royal Highnesses clemency in so doing assure your selves that he will pardon you and that your Persons and those of your Wives and Children shall not be touched Notwithstanding which assurance when the Waldenses laid down their Arms relying on this promise yet all that yielded were made Prisoners and carried to the City of Lucerne under pretence of being led to make their submissions to the Duke And a multitude of others who yielded upon the like deceitful promises had their lives taken away and above twelve Thousand taken Prisoners After this manner the light of the Gospel hath been extinguished in a Countrey where it hath shone so bright for so many ages the perfidiousness and treachery of the Inquisitors having triumpht over the true Faith to the extirpation thereof But for discovering what Spirit their Persecutors were of we will conclude with a few instances of the horrid outrages and Cruelties they have committed on these occasions The French Souldiers entring the Valley of St. Martin massacred many old Men Women and little Children and ravished the young Women and Maidens whom they afterward constrained to march stark naked at the head of their Army to serve for Guides yea they were so monstrously diabolical as to satiate their infamous lusts on the bodies of those they had slain They would have defloured Margaret Marande not fourteen years old and because her Parents made some opposition they inhumanely butchered them Two others they slew for refusing to comply with their Villany They put an old man into an house and burnt him in it Four Women and three Children were murthered in a Cave where they had hid themselves An ancient woman of fourscore they tumbled down a Rock for not going fast enough A great number of Women and Virgins striving to secure themselves in the Woods were dispatcht with Muskets The ways were strewed with the dead bodies of little Children cut to pieces and naked Women Massacred with Swords In the valley of St. Martin six men twenty Women and some Children surrendred themselves to the enemy upon promise of safety but the men were instantly shot to death in the presence of their Wives Some they tyed to horses tails dragged them along till they expired They hung up a blind old woman before her own house Some Souldiers having used their utmost endeavours to flea Daniel Pelâ—ne alive and not being able to pull the Skin off his Shoulders laid him on the ground with a great Stone upon his Belly where he gave up the Ghost Margaret Sabrajote being stript stark naked was run through with a dagger in several parts of her body yet before they cut her throat these Ruffians mortified her little daughter about seven months old before her face and dashed her head against the Rocks till her brains flew out A Virgin of Body was tyed stark naked Cross a Mule with her Nudities exposed to publick view and in this condition led through the Streets of Lucerne The Souldiers having found a Woman named Jaimonate in a hole in a rock on the Mountain of Carbonieres brought her to their Colonel a Savoyard who demanded how long she had been there and wherewith she sustained her self who answered she had been there eight days and that she nourished her self with a little milk of a she Goat which she took along with her At length they would force her to discover others who were hid but she protesting she knew nothing of them they put Matches to her Fingers and tyed her Feet to her Head backward and in this posture threw her down a Rock but as she stopped in falling they threw Stones and Brickbats at her till her Bowels dropt out of her Belly To pass over an inunite number of examples of barbarity of the like nature I shall close with the death of the worthy Leidet which equally deserves pity and admiration He was Minister of Prabe and had hid himself some time among the Rocks but being taken was brought to the Palace of Lucerne where the Duke of Savey then was and being carried to the Tower was put into the Stocks not being able to lye down and fed with Bread and Water They oft threatned him with death unless he would turn Catholick who replyed That though he well knew they could not put him to death with Justice since he
Martyrs in Flames OR POPERY In its true Colours DISPLAYED Being a brief Relation of the Horrid Cruelties and Persecutions of the POPE and Church of ROME for many hundred years past to this present Age inflicted upon Protestants in Piedmont Bohemia Germany Poland Lithuania France Italy Spain Portugal Holland Scotland Ireland and England With an Abstract of the Cruel Persecutions lately Exercised upon the Prorestants in France and Savoy in the year 1686 and 1687. Together with a short Account of Gods Judgments upon Popish Persecutors Published for a Warning to all Protestants shewing what they must expect from that bloody Generation of Antichristians By R. B. LONDON Printed for Nath. 〈…〉 at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 〈…〉 3. TO THE Protestant Reader THE Imminent Dangers that we have so lately escaped from the cursed Principles and Practices of the Romish Faction who if they had not been prevented by an amazing Providence designed to involve the Three Nations into Popish Idolatry and French Slavery calls aloud upon us for the utmost praise and thankfulness to that Almighty Hand that has begun to deliver us and to beseech him to perfect the same and doth likewise oblige every man to be upon his Guard and to forewarn all Protestants of the danger of the return of that medly of Nonsence Blasphemy and Superstition There being very little difference between the Popish Religion if it deserves that name and none at all since Treasons Murders Rapes Burnings Perjuries and all the horrid Cruelties Hell it self can invent are so far from being counted Sins or Crimes by that Synagogue of Satan that they are oft reckoned Meritorious and a man shall deserve Heaven for committing them There being no Sin unpardonable but that which they falsly call Heresie or the True Worship of God according to the Scriptures â—or this they would have turnâ—d our Land into Blood Slaughter and Confusion For this they would have overthrown our â—eligion enslaved our Souls or else have burnt our Bodies to ashes as they did our Ancestors It is difficult to make a Draught of this bloudy Beast of Rome it would be a horrid sight to draw him in his full proportion yet take a short view of him so as to tremble at the thoughts of what-others have suffered and we might have felt had not the Divine Goodness discovered their black Designs and we hope will still prevent their damnable Enterprizes against us His Eyes are like Flames that have consumed the Bodies of many Thousand Marâ—yrs His Mouth is like Hell gaping for his prey Blood gushes out of his Jaws like Rivers His bloudy Tusks are the Racks and tormenting Engines wherewith he grinds the Bones of Gods Saints His Tail is armed with the stings of Scorpions wherewith he lashes Sâ—ates and Kingdoms From his Throat belch forth Curses and Excommunications denouncing Judgment Hell and Destruction upon all that oppose him It is this Monster of Persecution and Cruclty that the cursed Instruments and Vassals of Rome endeavour to advance in all places where they have power and opâ—â—â—unity and by this you may judge of thâ—â—â— Religion and Principles By these 〈…〉 at the Trâ—â—â—nd what Spirit they 〈◊〉 of and the 〈…〉 of this liâ—â—◠〈…〉 is 〈…〉 a brief Accâ—â—â—â—t of the Mâ—â—chiess and 〈…〉 perpetâ—â—â—d by that Man of Sin 〈…〉 his Agents upon the Sâ—rvants of God 〈◊〉 since he appeared in the World the like whereof were never Acted by Heathens Turks or Infidels neither is a large Volume able to contain the tenth part of their Horrid Massacres and Hellish Tortures To conclude Let this be a Looking-Glass to my honest Countreymen who have neither money nor time for perusing greater Histories and let us all strive to heal all kind of Divisions and Disagreements between the True Followers of the Doctrines of the Blessed Jesus and as one man let us by all justifiable and lawful Methods in our several places and stations oppose this Armed Beast of Persecution and Tyranny that we may have cause to bless the Lord of Heaven and Earth and to praise him in the Congregation who hath caused our Enemies to fall into the Pit which they had digged for these Three Kingdoms Introduction ABout Five Hundred Years after the Death of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ one Phocas who had Murdered his Master Mauritius Emperor of Constantinople and his Children first Advanced the Bishops of Rome to be Universal Bishops and Heads of the Church at which time they were endowed with these large Possessions and Donations which they call St. Peter's Patrimony and which they falsly assert to be the Gift of Constantine the Great After this the Church of Rome growing Great Mighty Rich and Proud at once lost its Humility and Purity of Religion and assumed Politick and Tyrannical Principles which caused her Defiled Hands to lay aside the Sword of the Spirit and to make use of the Temporal Sword which she used to the Deposing and Murthering of divers Kings Princes and Emrors I. For after they had once tasted the Sweetness of Wealth Ease and Prosperity the Popes began to swell in Pride and Pomp and the more they Flourished in this World the more the Holy Spirit of God forsook them so that in a short time those Bishops who were Poor Mean Indigent Persecuted and wanting all things began to Triumph over Princes to tread upon the Necks of Emperors and to bring the Heads of Kings under their Usurped Authority They were carryed upon Mens Shoulders in all manner of Magnificence as if the Earth were not good enough to bear them they were honoured as Gods on Earth and Soveraign Princes Dukes and Lords c. went bare headed before them And not only so but through their Pride and Ambition they grew so great Apostates from Christians that of being Persecuted they became Persecutors of others and at last were so great Enemies to God and Religion that the Pope may now be justly Reckoned and Accounted the Antichrist or Man of Sin so long before spoken of by St. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2. II. This Pride and Insolency of the Pope and his Clergy appeared in several Instances which might be given of it but out of the Multitude we shall only collect some few to shew what Slavery and Bondage both Princes and People were formerly subject to under this Antichristian Yoke About the Year 1158. Frederick Emperor of Germany Marching into Italy the Pope hearing of it went with his Clergy to meet him as soon as the Emperor saw the Pope he Allighted from his Horse to receive him and held the Popes Stirrup while he Alighted also but it seems he mistook the Left Stirrup instead of the Right at which the Pope seemed to be very much offended which the Emperor observing he smilingly told the Pope That he desired to be excused since he was not accustomed to hold Stirrups with which acknowledgment the Pope seemed to be satisfiâ—d After this there happened some difference
Papists These horrid and inhumane practices macle the rest of the Protestants fly to their Arms in the natural defence of themselves and their Families against the rage and fury of these Lions Tygers and Bears in the shapes of men But those that were so brisk at Massacring and Murdering such as did not resist them were meer Cowards at fighting and the Protestants prevail'd against them with small numbers and defended themselves against their Cruelty But at last by the Mediation of the Switzers Hollanders and other Protestant-Princes and especially the English who contributed above Thirty Thousand Pound to the Relief of their Wants and Miseries the breach was made up but yet so made that the poor remaining Protestants live under the Tyranny of their Popish Task-masters being forbid all manner of Traffick wronged of their Estates and Goods their Ministers Banished their Virgins Ravished the Women affronted the Men beaten and abused and the Valleys are become like Dungeons in which they are kept as Slaves and secured by strong Forts and Garrisons of Papists so that they are even dying whilst they live and have cause to cry out How long O Lord holy and true dâ—st thou not judge and avenge our blood c. Rev. 6.10 The Persecution of the Protestants in Bohemia Germany Poland and Lithuania THe Persecutions of the Papists against the Bohemians began very early even about 977 years after the death of our blessed Saviour Pope Hildebrand otherwise called Hell-brand was the first that fell upon them and afterwards Pope Celestine and Persecution continued upon them for many years and John Huss and Jerom of Prague were burnt in defence of the Gospel at Constance notwithstanding they had the Publick Faith of the Empire of Germany given them for their security At a Town called Cuttenburgh there are many deep Metal Mines into one of which in the year 1420. the Papists threw one thousand and seven hundred persons at one time for their Religion into another one thousand thirty eight and into a third a thousand three hundred and thirty four persons In the year 1421. one Pichel a chief Magistrate of the City Litomeritia having taken twenty four of the chieâ— Citizens and among them his Son-in law put them in an high Tower 〈◊〉 being there almost famished they were at â—ast brought out and condemned to be drowned their Wives Children and Friends following them to execution with cryer and tears yea the Magistrates own Daughter came with prayers and tears to her Father beseeching him to spare her Husband but he like a hard-hearted wretch only said Cannot you have a better Husband than this To whom seeing his cruelty she answered You shall never marry me to any but this And so going along with them when she saw her Husband thrown into the River she leapt in after him and imbracing him endeavoured to save his life but being unable to do it they both perished together and the next day she was found with him fast in her Arms and they were both buried in one Grave A while after a Minister four men and four Boys were all burnt together in one fire at Prague because they received the Sacrament in both kinds and indeed many and almost innumerable were the murthers torments and inhumane barbarities committed both publickly and privately on these poor Christians About the year 1523. Martin Luther began to shine as a great light in Germany and his Doctrine soon overspread Bohemia and all the parts adjoyning which so enraged the Pope and his Clergy that they continually raised very violent persecutions against them wherein multitudes of good Christians lost their lives by means of Ferdinand the First and Charles the Fift Emperours of Germany There were no less than two hundred Ministers banished out of Bohemia at one time and the Lord of Schanow because he was a Lutheran was accused of a Conspiracy and laid upon the Rack but he couragiously cut out his own Tongue and being demanded the reason of it he wrote That it was lest the torments of the Rack should make him speak falsly against himself or others In the year 1617. Ferdinand the Second was obtruded upon the Bohemians who joining with the Papists raised up a very terrible Persecution against the Protestants which was the cause of the Electing of Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine to be King of Bohemta upon which there followed those cruel Wars and troubles in that Country wherein many godly Ministers and other pious holy and good men suffered such barbarities and inhumanities from the Popish Souldiers that the Ears of a Christian cannot hear nor his Tongue relate them without the greatest abhorrency and indignation for some of them were stoned to death others hanged upon a Beam and with a soft fire made under them were roasted to death others were cut piece-meal One Minister they laid on his back and ramming his mouth full of Gunpowder set fire to it and blew his head all to pieces Another they hanged up by the Privy Members being seventy years old and burnt his own Books under him and at last shot him to death after he had endured all manner of torment and pain In the year 1621. all the Ministers were banished out of the Kingdom of Bohemia and all the Provinces thereunto belonging never more to return and it was made death to harbour or conceal any of them About the same time twenty one Ministers were banished from Cuttenburgh A Popish Captain caused a Ministers hand first to be stricken off and then his head his bowels to be taken out and wrapt in his shirt and his four quarters to be set upon four Stakes and his head on another At the same time likewise fifty of the Nobility were condemned some to death some to banishment and others to perpetual imprisonment twenty seven were executed who all died with great constancy of mind and fervency of spirit sealing the Protestant Cause with their blood the heads and right hands of some of charge for carrying on the work and thus he began with the Sword that he might end with the Faggot The Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave of Hessen stood up for the Protestants and were taken Prisoners in the year 1547. And where-ever the Papists got the better all sorts of cruelties murders racks tortures fire and faggot followed upon the Protestants so that all Germany was as it were in a flame and combustion at once all places being in a lamentable condition some flying and others suffering death on every side for their Conscience and Religion At a Town called Meldorp they took a godly Minister named Sutphen out of his Bed and forced him to go many miles on foot in Frost and Snow upon the Ice bare-footed and bare-legg'd beating cutting and flashing him and pricking him forward with their Halberts and at last they barbarously roasted him to death Many were drowned at Vienna and put to several sorts of death Ladies and Gentlewomen were yokt together like
of admirable wisdom and understanding who when the King came one time into his Parliament at Paris made a bold speech before him wherein he gave thanks to Almighty God for moving the Kings Heart to be prefent at such a weighty matter as that of Religion which it seems was then to be debated humbly intreating him to consider well thereof it being the Cause of Christ himself which of good Right ought to be maintained by Princes but the King was so far from bearkening to him that being in raged he commanded him to be committed to Prison and protested to him in these very words These Eyes of mine shall see thee burnt And a while after he was condemned to die In the mean time great Triumphs were preparing for the Marriage of the Kings Sister Daughter the day being come he spent all the morning in Examining matters against Du Bourg and some others charged with the same Doctrines intending to glut his Eyes with their Execution and then went to Dinner After Dinner the King ran at Tilt near the Prison where Du Bourg was and brake many Spears against the Count Montgomery and others and all thinking he had done enough desired him to give over with praise But the King being inflamed with their Commendations would needs run another course with Count Montgomery who upon his knees begg'd his Majesty pardon but the King being resolved commanded him to do it upon his Allegiance Montgomery being compel'd addrest himself to it and the King and he meeting broke their Spears and the Kings Helmet falling down at the same Instant one of the Splinters of Montgomeries Spear entred just into his right eye and so pierced his head that his brains were perished which wound being incurable he died thereof within Eleven days after whereby his great hopes of seeing the Death of Du Bourg were frustrated And the Execution of Du Bourg was deferr'd for six Months longer all which time persevering constantly in the truth he was first degraded and then accompanied with six or seven hundred Horse and Foot well arm'd he was guarded to Execution being first hang'd and then burnt to Ashes At Amiens in France all the Bibles Testaments and â—salm Books were burnt the Ministers Pulpit and several Men and Women At Abbeville they slew the Lord of Harcourt and dragg'd some along the Streets with their their faces in the Kennel At Meux above Four hundred Religious Citizens were slain the Women and Maids were openly ravished in the Streets and Market-places Men Women and Children were Massacred the very Popish Priests themselves slaying divers with their own hands At a place called Bar the same if not worse Villanies were committed for the Papists pull'd out the hearts of these poor Protestants and most barbarously gnawed them with their Teeth rejoycing that they tasted of an Hugâ—nots heart At another place seven Hundred Protestants were inhumanely massacred and their naked Bodies thrown into the River Their Houses and Church being likewise plundered and Burnt At Angies they murthered a Godly Minister and many others and finding a Fair Bible gilt they hung it upon an Halbert and carried it in procession blasphemously crying Behold Truth hang'd the Truth of the Hugonots The Truth of all the Devils behold the Mighty God behold the Everlasting God will speak and when they came to the Bridge they threw it into the River crying louder Behold the Truth of all the Devils drown'd At Tours an hundred and forty were murdered and cast into the River and neither Man Woman nor Child spared nay the President of the City being only suspected to be a Favourer of the Protestants was first beaten with Staves then stript to his shirt hang'd up by one Foot his Head in the Water up to the Breast and whilst he was yet alive they ript up his Belly pluckt out his Guts threw them into the River and sticking his heart on a Lance they carried it about saying This is the Heart of the President of the Hugonots A Poor Woman whose Husband was a while before drown'd having a young Infant sucking at her Breasts and a beautiful Daughter of about sixteen years old in her hand these bloody Villains drove them to a River and taking the Daughter aside some of the Rascals endeavoured to seduce her to Popery and one of them who was finer than the rest promised to marry her so that the poor Maid began to doubt which her Mother who was just going to be thrown into the River perceiving she earnestly exhorted her Daughter to persist in the Truth whereupon the Daughter cryed out I will live and die with my Mother whom I know to beâ—d Virtuous Woman and as for your Threats and Promises I regard them not do with me what you please Before the Mother was quite drowned the Daughter was likewise thrown in who making toward her Mother they mutually embraced each other and so yielded up their Souls into the hands of God In the same City of Tours there was a very Religious Woman who being brought before the Captain she there gave an Account of her Faith which she confirmed by Scripture insomuch that the Fryers who discoursed with her could not return any answer but only told her That she was in a damnable condition It seems so indeed said she being in your hands And being then committed to prison she declared her mind freely and comforted the other Protestant Prisoners she was afterward condemn'd to be hang'd and the Rope being put about her neck she kneeled down praising and magnifying the name of God in shewing her so much mercy as by that death to deliver her out of this wretched world and that she was so far honoured as to die for the Truth and to wear Gods Livery as she reckoned the halter to be she then brake her fast with the rest of the Company and exhorted them to be of good courage and to trust in the free mercy of God to the end As she went to Execution one of her kindred brought her own little Children to see her and perswaded her to recant and save her life to provide for these Innocent Babes This was a very great Temptation and wrought so upon her Motherly affection as drew plenty of Tears from her Eyes But a while after resuming her former Courage and Constancy she said I love my Children dearly yet neither for love to them nor for any thing else in this World will I renounce my God or his Truth God will be a Father to these my Children and will provide better for them than I could have done and therefore to his providence and protection I commend and leave them After which she went cheerfully to the place of Execution and having there prayed to and praised God she quietly resigned up her Spirit to him A while after the City of Roan was besieged and two of the Forts taken wherein they put all the Protestants to the Sword and the Queen Mother being at
and drown them some Wives were forced to help to hang their Husbands in one Town they caused a young Man to murther his own Father and then hanged him up in another place they forced a Woman to kill her Husband and then caused her Son to kill his Mother and then immediately hanged her Son and their cursed malice was thereby shewn that they might as much as in them lay destroy Soul and Body together Yea so detestable was their Cruelty that they taught Irish Children to kill English Children and two Boys boasted that they had at several times murthered and drowned thirty six English Women and Children The Irish Women followed this Army of Murtherers and provoked the Men to Cruelty crying out Kill them all spare neither Man Woman nor Child and many of them stoned the English Women and their Children to Death and cryed Slay them all the English are fit meat for Dogs and their Children are Bastards Yea so Implacable was their malice that one of them was very angry with her Husband because he did not bring the Grease of a Fat Gentlewoman whom they had slain for them to makes Candles of which was commonly practised by them in other places Yea they boasted that the day was their own and that ere long they would not leave one Protestant Rogue living but would utterly destroy every one that had but a drop of English Blood in him yea they vowed they would not leave one English beast alive nor any of their breed Alas who can comprehend the Sighs the Groans the trembling and astonishment of these poor Innocent Souls to sind themselves so suddenly surprized and that without remedy What Schrieks Cries and bitter Lamentations were there of Husbands Wives Children Servants and Friends howling and weeping finding themselves without all hope of deliverance from their present woful Miseries and Calamities For by these and all manner of Cruelties and Barbarities which Hell it self could invent the Irish and English Papists murdered and destroyed in a few Months near Three Hundred Thousand Protestants as it is commonly computed without any manner of provocation but only because they were Protestants whose deaths the Divine Vengeance in a short time after recompensed upon several of the Murtherers many thousands perishing by the Sword and the plague that followed it and the rest without doubt unless they heartily repent will receive the reward of their wickedness The Cruelties Plots and Treasons of the Papists against the Protestants in England AFter having briefly Epitomized the bloody Cruelties and slaughters of this Monster of Rome and his Vassals throughout Europe let us now return home and see if our own Countrey has escaped betterthan our Neighbours Englishmen are generally accounted to be of a merciful nature and pitiful disposition apt to be touched with the miseries of others are not in their own natures bloody barbarous or Cruel what then may be the cause of those dreadful marks of Rage and Fury that have been seen among us How has this Fair Island been made an Accldama a Field of Skulls and Martyrs bones All this we shall sind proceeds from corrupt principles of Religion I doubt not says a worthy Divine but Papists are made like other men Nature hath not generally given them such Savage and Cruel Dispositions but their Religion hath made them so I am loth to say it and yet I am confident it is true that many Papists would have been excellent Persons and very good men if their Religion had not hindred them if the Doctrines and Principles of their Church had not spoiled their natural Disposition Good God! that any thing that is called Religion should so presently strip men of all Humanity and transform the mild and gentle Race of Mankind into Wolves and Tigers It is Popery that alters the Nature of Englishmen and makes them act like Turks Infidels or Barbarians its principles infect the Blood and invenom the Soul instead of being Meek and humble it makes them Proud and Arrogant instead of performing the Commands of Christ it makes men obey the Pope though never so contrary to Religion If our Blessed Saviour says Hurt no man pray for your Persecutors submit to Magistrates and Governours The Pope and his Doctrines say Kill every man that is not of your Religion Curse those that disobey your Commands Kill Stab or depose your Kings or Governours This is the Doctrine and these are the Principles and Commands of the Romish Church It is some hundreds of years since this Bloody Beast of persecution began to shew his Fangs and armed Claws in this Kingdom and it was almost as soon perceived and testified against by some good men in those times For in the Year one Thousand Two Hundred John of Salisbury declared against the Corruptions and Superstitions of the Romish Church and plainly discovered the oppression of the burden of the Pope and his Ravenous Clergy and after him John Grostead Bishop of Lincoln wrote to the Pope and admonished him for which he had like to have lost his life yet the Pope did only hitherto shew his Teeth and could not take his full swing in Blood and Murther which he afterward attained to But since the Papists impertinently urge against us the Newness of our Religion and that it was not known before Martin Luthers days we shall produce much more early Testimonies against the Errors and Abuses in the Romish Churchâ— For we find in the Year 884. John Patrick Erigena a Britan who was ordained the first Reader in Oxford by King Alfred was afterward Condemned and Martyred by the Pope for writing a Book concerning the Sacrament And in the year 960. many Ministers and Divines wore the Mark of the Beast in their faces being by the Popes order Branded in the Faces with hot Irons for Dissenting in many things about the Mass Purgatory Monkery and the like and for saying that Rome was Babylon and that Cloisters were the Nurses of Sodomy In the year 1126. one Arnold an Englishman and a Preacher of the Gospel was Butchered at Oxford for Preaching against the Pride of the Prelates and the wicked lives of the Priests In the Year 1160 the poor Persecuted Waldenses came hither for succour but instead thereof they were Persecuted Condemned Burnt Whipt and Stigmatiz'd for their Religion both at Oxford and other places After which almost in every Year it pleased God to raise up several learned and worthy men to testify against the Horrid Corruptions of Rome both by Speaking Writing and Disputing against them As in the Year 1170. Gualo and Gilbert Foliot Doctors of Divinity and after them Silvester Gerald Alexander a Divine Gualter Maxes Arch-Deacon of Oxford Sebald Archbishop of York William Stringham Doctor of Divinity Roger Bacon Fellow of Merton Colledge a divine and Mathematican John Scotus the Great Scotch-man and about the same time Doctor John Wickliff Jeoffery Chaucer William Wickham Bishop of Winchester and many other Learned men All these gave
ample Testimonies by their publick Writings against the many Corruptions evil Doctrines and Superstitious Worship of the Romish Church with the hazard of their Lives Honours Liberties Estates and Fortunes so that many were persecuted and some were burnt in the Reign of King Henry the second 1174. and in the Year 1380. Utred Bolton and John Ashwerly endured Persecution and a while after John Ashton Walter Bruce John Pateskul and Doctor Crump were persecuted and William Sawtree a Divine of Oxford was martyred and William Swinderly was Burnt in Smithfield In the Year 1407. William Thorp was Burnt and Laurence Redman and six others grievously persecuted In the Year 1417 the Lord Cobham was Burnt in S. Giles's Fields John Purey and Will. White and Richard White were burnt Peter Clark a Divine of Oxford for maintaining publickly the Doctrine of Wickliff was forced to flye but was taken beyond Sea his Tongue cut out then hanged and afterwards burnt Roger Ovely was hanged and Quartered In the Year 1447. Humfrey Duke of Glocester was murdered by the Papists for being a favourer of Wickliff and other Preachers of the Truth and divers others were many ways persecuted for the sake of Religion before the rising of Luther God having in all Ages raised up some to Testifie to the Truth and to maintain the purity of the Gospel And besides these Divines Learned and great men there were several other good men of a meaner quality who openly owned the Truth and suffered for the same and as the number of the professors grew greater who now began to be called Lollards so Persecution grew hotter and the Rage and Malice of the Papists increased In the Reign of King Henry the fifth 1413. Sir Roger Acton John Brown John Beverly and Thirty six more were all put to Death in St. Giles's Fields and John Claydon and Richard Turning Benedict Ulman and several others were burnt and many Imprisoned In the Reign of King Henry the sixth William Tailor one of Wickliffs followers was burnt in Smithfield Henry Web and Henry Florence were Curelly whipt and about an hundred and twenty Men and Women suffered persecution many of them were burnt William White was Martyr'd and at the same time two were burnt at Colchester Richard Hâ—veden a Citizen of London was Martyr'd for the same cause near the Town and several more severely whipt and terribly handled Thomas Baily and Richard Wiche both Ministers were burnt one in Smithfield and the other on Tower-hill In the Reign of Edward the fourth John Goose was Burnt and in Henry the sevenths Reign one Jean Boughton of Fourscore years old was burnt in Norfolk another person was Burnt in Smithfield several were likewise â—igmatized and many did penance William Tilsworth was Burnt in the Town of Amasham where they forced his own Daughter to set fire to Faggots that were to burn her Father and two Years after Thomas Bernard and John Melton and one Roberts were burnt in the same County of Buckingham Thomas Chace after many Cruel Usages and Hardships was murthered in Prison Thomas Norrice was burnt at Norwich and Lawrence Guest at Salisbury and a Woman at Chipping-Sadbury with several other persons in the Reign of King Henry the seventh In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth the Flames increased very much and abundance Suffered in every place In the Year 1511. William Sweetinâ— and John Brewster were burnt in Smithfield the same year William Carder Robert Harrison and Agnes Grebel were burnt they forcing the Husband and Daughter of the Woman to come in as Witnesses against her After this one Mr. Style with his Book of the Revelations and twenty five more were Burnt five other Persons were accused for reading an Heretical Book which contained many damnable Opinions and what should this Book be but only the Evangelists in English In the Year 1514. Richard Hun was murdered in the Lollards Tower and afterwards burnt John Brown John Stileman and Thomas Man were burnt in Smithfield Robert Cousin was burnt at Buckingham Christopher Shoemaker at Newberry Richard and Robert Bartlet and John Scrivener were likewise burnt and the Children of John Scrivener were forced to set fire to their Father for it was usual with them to compel Children to accuse their Parents and Parents their Children Husbands their Wives and Wives their Husbands Intimate Friends Brothers and Sisters to accuse one another and many Hundreds were likewise forced to recant and abjure against their Conscienecs or else be Burnt There were two things about this time that very much increased the Professors of the Gospel in England One was the appearance of Martin Luther in the World who boldly owned the Truth and loudly Declaimed against the corruptions of the Romish Church another thing was the Art of Printing which now began to be common whereby the True Religion was the more easily promulgated and Dispersed through every Countrey and in all Languages This allarum'd the Pope and his Debauched Clergy who were afraid to have their wicked Doctrines and Practices discovered to the people and thereupon they began to rage and bestir themselves raising Persecution and making Destruction and Slaughter in all places throughout the Kingdom against the Lutherans as they were now called In the Year 1519. several Protestants were apprehended at Coventry and imprisoned in filthy and nasty Dungeons six of whom were afterwards burnt Robert Silkeb and Thomas Harding were burnt shortly after One Sigal Nicholson a Stationer at Cambridge was hung up by the Privy-members for having Luthers Books in his house several likewise abjâ—â—ed and the Body of William Tracy Esq in Glocester-shire because he had left nothing for Masses for his Soul was taken out of the Grave and Burnt two Years after his Death Richard Brafield a Monk of Bury after he had been whipt and most cruelly handled in Prison and Gagged Beaten and bound and Degraded after a very shameful manner was burnt with much Cruelty in London continuing half an Hour alive in the Flames for want of Wood and when his left arm was burnt he rubbed it with his right hand and it fell down in the Fire he continued in Prayer without moving to the last moment several were imprisoned and fed with bread made of Saw-dust some were set in the stocks with Horse-leaches on their Legs â—â—d their hands so mangled with Irons that the Flesh grew higher than the Irons and with Iron Collars about their Necks nay many were racked till they were lamed John Tewsbury James Bainham Valentine Sheaf and his Wife John Bent and one Trapnel were all Burnt about the same time three were hanged in Chains for burning the Image or Rood of Dover Court John Frith Andrew Honor Thomas Benet William Tindal John Lambert William Leiton and Collins a Lawyer were burnt and Robert Packington Murdered Doctor Barns Thomas Garret William Hieron were burnt in Smithfield John Potter was murthered it Prison Robert Testwood Anthony Parker and Henry Filmer were burnt at Windsor About five
hundred persons in and about London either died in prison or were burnt in Smithfield In the Year 1541. Damlip Dod Saxy were Slain One Henry at Colchester Kerby and Clark at Ipswich and Bury were burnt In the Year 1546. Mistriss Ann Askew one of the Ladies belonging to Queen Katherine Parr because she would not confess any other Ladies was put upon the Rack and the Lord Chancellor himself being more Cruel he acted then the Executioner ordered her to be racked to the utmost she was afterward Burnt in Smithfield and at the same time and place were likewise Burnt Nicholas Belerrian a Minister iâ— Shropshire John Adams a Tailor and John Lacels a Gentleman belonging to King Henry the Eighth these beholding the Invincible Constancy and Patience of Mistriss Askew were thereby much incouraged in their Sufferings About the same time Sir John Blage of the Kings Privy Chamber was falsly accused to have spoken against the Mass upon which he was condemned to be burnt in Smithfield whereupon the Earl of Bedford begged his pardon of the King who Commanded it to be drawn immediately After his release Sir George coming to the King Ah my Pig said he for so he usually called him Yea said Blage if your Majesty had not been better to me than your Bishops were your Pig had been roasted before this time Presently after Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and his Confederates set forth a Cruel Proclamation in the Kings Name for abolishing the Scriptures and all other English Books that discovered the Truth to the people and having obtained this they very much rejoyced therein hoping that they had now for ever suppressed the Gospel so that it should never rise again and to strike the greater terror into mens minds they made a diligent search after the Professors of the Truth of whom they took the names of some drove away others and hereby doubted not but to attain their ends But it pleased God that in the midst of these subtil Contrivances for the destruction of his Gospel and Servants to take away King Henry the Eighth within four Months after the Proclamation and thereby all their hopes and projects were utterly disappointed King Henry the Eighth being dead his only Son Prince Edward our English Josiah ascended the Throne under whom the Protestant Religion was established and Popery and Superstition abolished for he caused all Images to be demolished and as Idolatrous to be taken out of all Churches within his Dominions the Learned mâ—n of his time he encouraged and commanded them to open and expound the Scriptures 〈◊〉 abolished the Mass and ordered the Service to be read in the English Tongue and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be administred in both kinds to the People But it pleased God in a short time to take him to himself for in the Seventh Year of his Reign and the Seventeenth Year of his Age he was taken with a lingring sickness during which time a Marriage was concluded between the Lord Guilford Dudley eldest Son to the Duke of Northumberland and the Lady Jane the Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk whose mother being then alive was Daughter to Mary King Henry the Eighths second Sister The Marriage being finisht and the King every day more sick than other so that he seemed past Recovery the Duke of Northumberland being ambitious to advance his Family perswaded the King that the Church and the True Religion would be in great danger if he did not choose a pious Successer and that it was the part of a good Prince to set aside all other respects when the Glory of God and the good of his Subjects were concerned The King partly for his great desire to have the Protestant Religion confirmed and partly for the intire love which he bore to his Cousin the Lady Jane signed Letters Patents under the Broad Seal to appoint the Lady Jane to succeed him in the Kingdom although her Title were excluded by the Lady Mary who was always a zealous Papist and the Lady Elizabeth This was afterwards confirmed by the Nobility and Chief Lawyers of the Kingdom and was subscribed to by all the Kings Council the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London who upon the Death of King Edward which happened in a short time after proclaimed the Lady Jane Queen in London and Westminster The Lady Mary being in Hartfordshire and hearing of it presently sent to the Lords of the Council commanding and requiring them to Proclaim her Queen which if they refused to do she threatned to recover her Right by force of Arms. The Lords returned answer That the Lady Jane was invested and possessed of the Crown by just Right and Title both by the Ancient Laws of the Land and by Letters Patents signed and sealed by the late King before his death and therefore they declared they would adhere to her and to none other requesting the Lady Mary that she would not upon any pretence endeavour to disturb the peace of the Kingdom promising her that if she would carry her self as a dutiful Subject they would be ready to do her any service The Lady Mary having received this answer withdrew further from the City and the Council being sensible of her stout and unquiet disposition they raised an Army which was commanded by the Duke of Northumberland The Lady Mary went into Suffolk and Norfolk gathering such aid of the Commons as she could and kept her self in Framingham Castle to whom the Suffolk men first resorted who being always forward in promoting the Gospel promised her their aid and assistance provided she would make no alteration of the Protestant Religion as it was established by her Brother King Edward To this she readily agreed and confirmed it with such Vows and Protestations that none could suspect her whereupon they joined with her and thus by the help of the Protestants she vanquished the Duke of Northumberland and his Army and was settled in the Kingdom but she soon forgot her promises for these very Suffolk men observing that Popery would be re-established they Petitioned to her to perform her word to them at which she was extreamly displeased and told them Forasmuch as you who are Members desire to rule your Head you shall one day find that Members must obey not seek to rule Yea one of the chief of these men Mr. Dob by name she caused for the Terror of others to be set in the Pillory several times and divers others that presented Supplications to her not to set up Popery she caused to be sent to prison Queen Mary being setled in the Kingdom the Lady Jane her Father the Duke of Northumberland and her Husband the Lord Guilford Dudley were soon after Beheaded and the Queen soon discovered her disaffection to the Protestant Religion by displacing all the Orthodox Bishops as Poinet Ridley Scorie Hooper Coverdale and by releasing out of the Tower Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester whom she made Lord Chancellor of England◠〈◊〉 Bonner who was
And this is a brief Abstract of this bloody and Hellish Popish Plot abundance of other particulars being omitted whereby it appears that this Horrid Plot is hardly to be parallel'd in any History considering that without any provocation so many Thousand Protestants were designed for slaughter destruction and Murder only to advance and promote the Holy Catholick Religion as they falsly call that Chaos of Blasphemy and Cruelty Presently after this Remarkable discovery happened the murther of that worthy Magistrate Sir Edmundbury Godfry who as is before related having taken the Depositions of Doctor Oats which was no more than any Justice of Peace by Virtue of his Office was bound to do yet it so inraged the Conspirators that they resolved to cut him off to deter as may be supposed all other Magistrates from intermedling with any Aâ—â—aiâ—s relating to the Plot. But it pleased God that the Crafty were taken in their own snare and they Mortally wounded their own cause for this bloody Enterprize allarum'd the whole Kingdom and left no doubt whether there were a Plot or no. It is not certainly discovered how many there were in all who conspired his Death but those that are known are Father Kelly and Father Girald two Irish Priests Robert Green Cushion-man to the Queens Chappel Laurenet Hill Servant to Dr. Godden Treasurer of the Chappel Henry Berry who was Porter of Somersethouse and Mr. Miles Prance a Goldsmith in Covent-Garden these were actually present at the Murther two others should have been there but were not that is Father Lewson a Priest and one Philip Vernatti who are since fled There were another Party to 〈◊〉 done it but did not namely Pritchard Le Fair Welch Keins all Jesuits and Mr. William Bedlow Of those that effected the Villany 't is Judged that Vernatti and some other Popish Priests undertooâ— it and that they drew 〈◊〉 Green Hill and Berry first and afterwards engaged Mr. Prance telling him That Sir Edmundbury was a bitter Persecutor of Catholicks and a particular Enemy to her Majesties Servants whereof Mr. Prance reckoned himself one And that he had lately examined People against them and had got Depositions to fix base Crimes and Scandals on their Religion and that the Catholicks would be ruined unless â—he were taken â—ff and therefore it was necessary for the Glory of God and good of the Church that it should be effected and that there should be a good reward given them for it And when Mr. Prance scrupled it the two Priests Girald and Kelly told him It was no sin but a work of Charity and so far from being a Murther that it was a Meritorious work and be ought to assist in i. Having thus resolved of his Death they consulted several times how to effect it but at last upon Saturday October 12. 1678. Hill went to Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's house in the Morning but what he said to him is not known and then taking his leave went to Girald and Green and staid with them hard by waiting Sir Edmundburies going forth which was about Ten or Eleven a Clock they dogged him up and down all day till about seven a Clock in the Evening and then Green came to Prances house and told him that they had set him but did not name where only near St. Clements and that Prance must hasten down to the Water-Gate at Somerset house where he should find Kelly and â—erry which he did and they three waited there till about Nine a Clock at night then Hill came in haste and told them he was coming and that they must pretend a Quarrel and he would fetch him in Kelly and Berry began a seeming Quarrel and just as Sir Edmundbury Godfre was passing by the Gate Hill who was acquainted with â—im steps out in a great deal of haste and intreated him For Gods sake to come in for there were two men a Quarelling and he was afraid there would be blood shed He refuseth at first but the other being importunate he consented and Hill entred the Gate first after him Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and Girald and Green followed just behind As soon as they were in Prance watched at the Water-Gate that no body came that way Berry was to secure the Stairs and passâ—ge by the Chappel but first he and Kelly who pretended to Quarrel stood at the end of the rail by the Queens Stables and as Sir Edmundbury went down toward them Green suddenly threw a twisted Handkerchief or Cravat about his neck and presently all four pull'd him down and throtled him so as he could make no noise then they threw him behind the Rail and gave him many Violent punches on the breast with their Knees and Green with all his force wrung his Neck almost round Having commited this Horrid Murther they removed the body into Dr Goddins Lodgings and on Monday to another Room on Tuesday from thence to another but on Wednesday night about twelve a Clock they carried his body towards Hamstead about two miles out of Town and laid it at a place called Primrose-Hill Girald having run Sir Eamundbury's own Sword through him and left it in and the Scabbard and Gloves they laid at a small distance from him that it might be supposed he had murthered himself The death of this worthy Gentleman caused great Consternation among the People and his Majesty was graciously pleased to publish a Proâ—lâ—mation promising 500. l. to the Discoverer And a while after Mr. William Bedlow came in and gave some Account of the Murder and likewise of the Ploâ— in General and upon the 21 of December being in the Lobby of the House of Commons he there saw Mr. Prarce whom he knew to be concerned they two having Viewed Sir â—dmundbury's dead body together at Somerset-house and charging Mr. Prance with the Murther he was thereupon committed to Newgate and a while after confessed the whole matter as is before related Whereupon Green Hill and Berry were seized and upon full Evidence condemned and executed Kelly and Girald fled there were likewise several Traitors Tryed and Executed for the Horrid Plot that is Edward Coleman William Ireland Thomas Pickering John Grove Thomas Whitebread William Harcourt John Fenwick John Gaven Anthony Turner and Richard Langhorn The Papists being still disappointed in their cursed contrivances yet resolved not wholly to desist but endeavoured to stifle the Evidence by promising them great rewards and encouragements not to discover the whole of what they knew or to deny what they had deposed and upon this account Mr. Redding tampered with Mr. Bedlow Mris. Price and Mr. Tasborough endeavoured to corrupt Mr. Dugdale Osburn and Lane designed to invalidate the Evidence of Dr. Oats But these ill practices being discovered some of the persons concerned were Fined and Imprisoned and others set in the Pillory after which the Papists had several other Contrivances to throw off the Plot from their own party but all will not do for certainly he cannot pretend to be a