also apprehended for religion into the temple of St. Mary at Rome either to revoke or to be burned There sate on them six Cardinals in high seats beside the Judge before whom preached a dominick-Frier which cruelly inveying against the poor prisoners incensed the Cardinalls with all the vehemency he might to their condemnation the poor man stood holding a burning Taper in their hands of whom some for fear of death revolted But this Doctor Mollius with a weaver of Perusium remained constant Then Mollius began an earnest sermon in the Italian tongue wherein he confirmed the articles of faith by the sacred Scriptures declaring also that the Pope was not the successor of Peter but Antichrist and his sectaries do figure the whore of Babylon Moreover he cited them up to the tribunal seat of Christ and they being replenished with anger condemned him with the weaver to the fire and commanded them to be had away So were they carried incontinent to the camp or field called Florianum where they remained chearfull and constant first the weaver was hanged Mollius then willing the hangman to execute his office likewise upon him began to exhort the people to beware of idolatry and to have no other Saviour but Christ alone for he only is the Mediator between God and man and so also he was hanged commending his soul to God and afterward laid in the fire and burned The people having diverse judgments upon him some said he died an heretick some said he was a good man Furthermore in the same citie of Rome and about the same time in the Monastery of St. Augustine were found two monks in their Celles with their tongues and heads cut off only for rebuking the immoderat and outragious excesse of the Cardinals Such was the cruelty then of the malignant adversaries In Pope Pius the fourth his time was hot persecution in all the territories of the church of Rome against them which were suspected for Lutherans whereupon insued great trouble and persecution in the Kingdom of Naples in such cruel sort that many Noble Men with their wives and others are reported there to bee slain in Calabria beyond Naples in Italy likewise the same time suffered a great number of Christs welbeloved Saints both old and young put together in one house to the number of 88. persons all which one after another were taken out of the house and so being laid upon the Butchers stall like the sheep in the shambless with one bloody knife were all killed in order a spectacle most tragicall for all posterity to remember and almost incredible to believe beside also a great number condemned Now to return again to the Isse of Brittain to England and Scotland and to take a view of the affairs of the Churches there And first to begin with England In the reign of King Henry the eight at Coventree there were seven apprehended and burnt for the gospell of Christ to wit Mistresse Smith widow Robert Hatchers a Shoemaker Wrigsham a glover Lansdale a Hosier Archer a shoemaker Hawkings a shoemaker Thomas band shoemaker The principal cause of the apprehension and burning of these persons was for teaching their children and family the Lords prayer and ten commandments in English the children were sent for to the Gray-friers in Coventree before the Warden of the said Friers called Frier-Stafford who straitly examining them of their beliefe and what Heresie their Fathers had taught them charged them upon pain of suffering such death as their Fathers should in no wayes to medle any more with the Lords prayer the Creed and the ten Commandments in English Thomas Harding dwelling at Cheâ—ham in the County of Euchingham with Alice his Wife was first abjured by Wiâ—â—am Smith Bishop of Lincoln with diverse others moe which the same time were taken and compelled some to beat Faggots some were burned in the check with hotirons some condemned to perpetual prison some threstinto Monasteries and spoyled clean of all their goods some compelled to make pilgrimage to the great Block otherwise called our Lady in Lincoln some to one part some to another Harding for reading upon English booâ—s waa condemned for relâ—pse to be burned to ashes and was burnt being of the age of threescore years Many simple people in the Diosie of Lincoln were vexed afflicted and persecuted for then Religion the Son was compelled to testifie against the Father the Father against the son the wife against the Husband and the husband against the wife the sister against the brother A Brief Discourse concerning the story and Life of Thomas Volsey laâ—e Cardinal of York wherein is to be seen and noted the express Image of the proud vain glorious Church of Rome how fare it differeth from the true Church of Jesus Christ. THis Cardinall Volsey and the Popes Legat of Rome was so puft up in pride that he thought himself equal with the King And when hee had said Masse he made Dukes and Earies to serve him of Wine with a say taken and to hold the basen at the Lavatories Furthermore as he was Ambassadour sent to the Emperor at Eruxels he had over with him the great Seal of England and was served with his Servitours kneeling on their knees and many Noble men of England waiting upon him to the great admiration of all the Germans that beheld it such was his monstruous pomp and pride That glorious Cardinal in his tragicall doings did exceed so far all measure of a good subject that he became more like a Prince then a priest for although the King bare the sword he bare the strok making in a manner the whole Realm to bend at his beck and to dance after his pipe Such practises and fetches he had that when he had well stored his own Coffers first he fetched the greatest part of the Kings Treasure out of the Realm in twelve great barrels full of gold and silver to serve the Popes wars And as his avaritious mind was never satisfied in getting so his restlesse head was so busie rufling in publick matters that he never ceased before he had set both England France Flanders Spain and Italy together by the ears for his pride and avarice he was hated of all men At what time Pope Clement was taken prisoner Cardinal Volsey wrote tot he Emperor to make him Pope but when he returned an answer wherein he was not pleased he waxed furious mad and sought all means to displease the Emperor writeing very sharply unto him many minacing letters that if he would not make him Pope he would make such a ruffling between christian Princes as was not this hundreth years before to make the Emperor repent year though it should cost the whole Realm of England Whereupon the Emperor answering biddeth him look well about him lest through his doings and atempts he might bring the matter in that case that it should cost him the Realm of England indeed The King finding himself deluded by Cardinal Campegius and Cardinal
compearing after some examination he is sent to prison where he is cruelly handled with chains and bolts of Iron put upon him and being hardly intertained he is keeped in prison the space of an year in end he is forced to abjure and recant and consent unto the death of Master John Hus that hee was justly and truely condemned and put to death by them He what for fear of death and hoping thereby to escape out of their hands according to their will and pleasure and according to the tenour which was exhibited unto him did make abjuration and that in the Cathedral Church and open Session the draught thereof penned to him bee the Papists may be seen in the Book of Martyrs After his abjuration he returns to prison where he is not so straitly chained and bound as he was before notwithstanding he is keeped every day with Souldiers and armed men he is brought again before the Counsell where his enemies laid against him of new an hundred and seven Articles to the intent he should not escape the snare of death which they provided and led before him unto the which Articles most subtilly objected against him he denyed that he held or maintained any such Articles as were either hurtfull or false and affirmed that these witnesses had deposed them against him falsly and slanderously as his most cruell and mortall enemies he revoked his former recantation that he had wickedly consented and agreed to the sentence and judgement of the condemnation of Wickliff and Hus and that he had most shamefully lied in approving and allowing the said sentence neither was he ashamed to confesse that he lied yea he did also revock and recant his confession approbation and protestation which he had made upon their condemnation affirming that he never at any time had read any errors or heresie in the Books and Treatises of the said Wickliff and Hus c. The Counsell condemns him as an Heritick and drowned in all kind of Heresies Excommunicat and accursed leaving him unto the Arbitrement and Judgement of the Secular Judge to receive just and due punishment according to the quality of so great an oftence After he is condemned of the Counsell he told them that his death would leave a remorse in their consciences and a nail in their hearts and said he Et cito vos omnes ut respondeatis mihi coram altissimo justissimo judice post centam annos that is And here I cite you to answer unto me before the most high and just Judge within an hundred years as also when the sentence was given out against him a great and long Miter of Paper was brought unto him Painted about with red Devils the which when he beheld and saw throwing away his Hood upon the ground amongst the Prelates he took the Miter and put it upon his head saying Our Lord Jesus Christ when as he should suffer death for the most wretched sinner did wear a Crown of Thorns upon his head and I for his sake in stead of that Crown will willingly wear this Miter and Cap Afterward he was laid hold of by the Secular power and brought forth to execution When he was going out of the Church with a chearfull countenance and loud voice lifting his eyes up to Heaven he began to sing Credo in unum Deum as it is accustomed to be sung in the Church Afterward as he passed along he did sing some Canticles of the Church After he came to the place of Execution where Master John Hus had before suffered death innocently kneeling down he made a certain devour prayer while he was thus praying the tormenters took him up and lifting him up from the ground spoiled him of all his garments and left him naked and afterwards girded him about the Loyns with a Linnen Cloath and bound him fast with cords and chaines of Iron to the picture of John Hus. which was made fast unto the earth and so standing upon the ground when as they began to lay the Wood about him he sang Salve festa dies and when the Hymn was ended he sang again with a loud voice Credo in unum Deum unto the end That being ended he said unto the people in the Germane Tongue in effect as followeth Dearly beloved children even as I have now sung so do I believe and none otherwise And this Creed is my whole faith notwithstanding I die for this cause because I would not consent and agree to the Counsell and with them affirm and hold that Master John Hus was by them holily and justly condemned for I did know well enough that he was a true Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ After that he was compassed with the Wood up to the crown of the head they cast all his garments upon the Wood also and with a Firebrand they set it on fire the which being once fired he began to sing with a loud voice In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meam When that was ended and that he began vehemently to burn he said in the vulgar Bohemian Tongue O Lord God Father Almighty have mercy upon me and be mercifull unto mine offences for thou knowest how sincerely I have loved thy truth Then his voice by the vehemency of the fire was choaked and stopped that it was no longer heard but he moved continually his mouth and lips as though he had still prayed or spoken within himself As he was burning in the sire they brought his bedding his straw-bed his Boots his Hood and all other things he had in the Prison and burned them all to ashes in the same fire The which ashes after that the fire was out they did diligently gather together and carry them in a Cart and cast them into the River of Râ—ine which ran hard by the City The Bohemians understanding what was done at Constance against their Doctors and being greatly grieved thereat directed their Letters to this Barbarous Counsell of Popish murderers compleaning of their cruel and unjust dealing against Master John Hus being a just good and catholick man c. Also that they have apprehended imprisoned and condemned and even now peradventure like as ye did to Master John Hus ye have most cruelly murthered the worshipfull man Master Jerome of Prage a man abounding in eloquence Master of the seven liberall Arts and a famous Philosopher not being convict but only at the sinister and false accusations of his and our accusers and betrayers as the Letter in it self at more length bears The Nobles and Gentlemen of Bohem and Moratia are cited up to the Counsell and to suppresse the Bohemians from making any stir did make Lawes and Articles to the number of 14. whereby to bridle them And first that the King of Bohemia shall be sworn to give obdience and to defend the Liberties of the Church of Rome 2. That all Ministers Doctors and Priests shall be sworn to abjure the Doctrine of Wickliff and Hus c. The
and pilgrimages are nothing worth and avail not to purchase heaven c. All these and many moe were forced to recant and put to penance We are not here to let passe the fearfull and miserable end of Pope Alexander who before was called Roderick Borgia that fell out at this time in the year 1502. who made a covenant with the Devill that he might attain to the Popedome and being inquisitive how long he should raigne It was told him that hee should raign the space of eleven and eight which was an ambiguous answer for the Pope promised to himself the tyme of nineteen years in his Popal dignity but Satans meaning was but eleven years and eight moneths the time being expyred and his death drawing near on a certain day as he made ready an exceeding great banquet for certain rich Senators and Cardinals and had recommended to his son Valentine that hee should give Wine to drink unto one of the said Cardinals wherein there was poyson put It came to passe that he that had the charge to deliver the Wine unwitting he gave unto the Pope of that flagon wherein the poyson was who being of great age was taken with a languishment and grievous paine he had by the space of eleven years and ceretain moneths excessively oppressed Italy and troubled the world Being then detained in his Bed as John Baleus saith he commanded one of his men called Madena which amongst all them of his Court and House was his most faithfull and familiar to go into his Gard rob or Wadrop and to bring him a certain little Book inriched with Gold and precious stones which was in an armory which hee specified but this little Book contained all manners and kinds of illusions and inchantments of Necromancies whereby the old man thought to inform himself to be certified of the close and end of his life The servant obeying the commandement of the Pope his Master and going unto the place specified And after hee had opened the door he was ready to have entered into the Chamber he saw a certain person sit in the Popes Chaire who was altogether like unto his Master at whose sight being supprised with an horrible fear and astonishment and as it were half dead without taking the book ran back again toward Alexander unto whom he rehearsed what he had seen namely that in his Wardrop he found such a Pope as himself set in a Chaire Alexander after he had understood the thing and seeing his servant exceedingly afraid suffered him to rest a while after he did so much perswade him that he returned unto the said Wardrop to see if again hee could find the said Pope The servant then being entred found in the said chamber him whom before hee had seen and that more is being asked by him that sate there what cause brought him into that place and what businesse hee had there he being taken with a sore trembling and as it were out of breath answered he came to take a certain garment for the Pope All which words the Devill being then in the chaire making an horrible noise said what Pope I am the Pope But after that these things were reported unto Alexander his evill began to encrease and death aproach A short day after a man apparalled like a carrier or Lackie came and fiercly knocked at the Chamber door wherein the Pope was deteined sick saying the must needs speak with him The door being opened and he admitted partly with the Pope all others drew aside and the Pope and hee spake together as two use to do in secret causes yet men may see a great and marvelous strife and debate betwixt them two and that the Pope was not content for he said unto him how goes this My tearm is not accomplished thou knowest that thy promise was 19. years whereof I have brued but eleven and eight months Unto which words the Lucky hardly answered yee understand not well the speach but are with it abused for I said not nineteen years as ye imagined but I said yee should remain Pope eleven years and eight moneths the which are come and passed and therefore ye must needs die But although the Pope was very active to require and to pray instantly that he would have regard to his life and to the tearm that he had granted him in his Popedome yet it was as to speak to a deaf man and to plead in vain for all his allegations remonstrations exceptions and requests profited nothing so that they which were in the chamber and heard this marvelous debate and difference might judge that Sathan was more expert in the Art of Arithmetick then the Pope was and they might easily conclude that Alexander erred in his account Finally to close up the matter even as Sathan went and departed from the place in like manner also with great cryes sighs and fearful sobs the Popes soul as it were following his steps dislodged and miserably departed from his Body This miserably and ungodly died this Pope Alexander leaving to his Son his Seigniory altogether wasted and ruinous and to the Italians their common-wealth all confused perverted and wasted to the end hee might be a publick example to all ages how things evil gotten melt away and are wickedly and unluckily spent This Pope had with his said Son a daughter called Lucretia with whom both he and his Son lay as Potantus and Samazarias have left written Now to come to the Persecutions that were in King Henry the eight his Raign During the time and Raign of King Henry the eight there was great alteration of things as well to the civile State of the Realm as especially to the State Ecclesiasticall and matters of the Church appertaining for at last by him was exiled and abolished out of the Realm the usurped power of the Bishop of Rome idolatry and superstition some what supprest Images and pilgrimages defaced Abbeyes and Monasteries pulled down Sects of Religion rooted out Scriptures reduced to the knowledge of the vulgar tougue and the estate of the Church and Religion redressed There was at this time a fierce contention which long before had troubled the Church and now this present year 1509. was renewed afresh between two certain orders of begging Friers to wit the Dominick Friers and the Franciscans about the Conception of the Virgin Mary the Mother of Christ The Franciscans or Gray-fries held that the Virigin Mary prevented by the grace of the Holy Ghost was so sanctified that she was never subject one moment in her conception to Original sin As for the Dominicks which were commonly called Black-friers or Preaching Friers held that he Virgin Mary was conceived as all other Children of Adam be so that this priviledge only belongeth to Christ to be conceived without Original sin not withstanding the said blessed Virgin was sanctified in her Mothers womb and purged from the Original sin so as John Baptist Jeremiah or any other priviledged person This frivolous Question kindling
and gendering between these two Sects of Friers brust out in such a flame of parts and sides taking that it occupyed the heads and wits Schooles and Universities almost through the whole Church some holding one part with Scotius some the other part with Thomas Aquinas but in end Pope Sixtus decided the Question and sent forth his Bull for the Conception of the Virgin to be without Original sin Having made mention of this Pope Sixtus the fourth It shall not be amisse to she what manner of Pope he was he builded up in Rome a Stews of both kinds getting thereby no small Revenues and Rents unto the Church of Rome This Pope among other his Acts reduced the Year of Iubile from the fifty unto the twenty five He also instituted the Feast of the Conception and the presentation of Mary and of Anna her Mother and Joseph Also he Canonized Bonaventur and Sir Frances for Saints By this Sixtus also Beads were brought in and institute to make our Ladies Psalter through the occasion of one Alanus and his order whom Baptista maketh mention of in this Verse hi filo insertis numerant sua murmura baccis that is these men putting their Beads upon a string number their Prayers This Sixtus the Pope made two and thirty Cardinals in his time of whom Patrus Ruerius was the first who for that he was Cardinal which was but two years spent in luxurious riot wasted and consumed two hundred thousand Florens and was left 6000. in debt And what vile abominations this Pope permitted to this Cardinal and his Family to be done is unworthy to be named Wesellus Gromugensis in a certain Treatise of his de indiligentiis Papalibuâ— does declare The Pope Sixtus was a Monster rather of Nature then a Prelat of the Church After this Sixtus came Innocentius the eight as rude and as far from all learning as his Predecessors was before him Amongst the noble facts of this Pope this was one that in the Town of Polus and Equicolos he caused eight men and six women with the Lord of the place to be apprehended and taken and judged for Hereticks because they said that none of them was the Vicar of Christ which came after Peter but they only which follow the poverty of Christ Also he condemned of Heresie George the King of Bohemia and deprived him of his dignity and also of his Kingdom and procured his whole Stock to be utterly rejected and put down giving his Kingdom to Mathias King of Pononia Many godly persons both men and women were persecuted for their Religion in the Diocess of London by Fitz James and after him Tunstal Bishops of London cruel persecuters of Christs Church Amongst others the chiefest objection against Joan Baker was that she would not only her self not reverence the Crucifix but had also perswaded a friend of hers lying at the point of death not to put any trust or confidence in the Crucifix but in God which is in Heaven who only worketh all miracles that be done and not the dead Images that be but stocks and stones and therefore she was sory that ever she had gone so often on pilgrimage to St. Saviour and other Idols Also that she did hold opinion that the Pope had no power to give Pardons and that the Lady Young her Mother who was not long before that time burned died a true Martyr of God and therefore she wished of God that she her self might do no worse then the said Lady Young her Mother had done Unto William Pottier besides diverse other false and slanderous Articles it was alledged that he should affirm that there was six Gods the first three was the Holy Trinity the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost the fourth was a Priests Concubine being keeped in his Chamber the fifth was the Devil and the sixth the thing that a man setteth his mind most upon The first part of his Articles he utterly denyed confessing most firmly and truely the blessed Trinity to be only one God in one Unity of Deitie as to the other three he answered that a Priest delighting in his Concubine made her as his God likewise a wicked person persisting in his sin without repentance and made the Devil his God And lastly he granted that he once hearing of certain men which by the singing and chattering of Birds would seek to know what things were to come either to themselves or others and that these men esteemed their Birds as Gods and otherwise he spake not Some were accused and challenged for speaking against Pilgrimages praying unto Saints that they denyed the carnall and corporall presence of Chtists Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Altar And many were charged to have spoken against Pilgrimages and to have read and used certain English Books repugnant to the faith of the Romish Church and the four Evangelists Wickliff Wicket a Book of the Ten Commandements of Almighty God the Revelation of St. John the Epistles of Paul and James with other like which these holy ones could never abide and good cause why for as darknesse could never agree with light no more can ignorance the maintainer of that Kingdome with the true knowledge of Christ and his Gospell John Houshold was charged to have called them Antichrists and Whoremongers and the Pope himself a strong strumpet and a common bawde unto the world who with his pardons had drowned in blindnesse all Christian Realms and that for money Moreover about the same time were certain articles objected against John Hig alias Noke alias Johnson by the Bishops vicar Generall amongst which were these first that he had affirmed that is was as lawful for a temporall man to have two Wives at once as for a Priest to have two benefites Also that he had in his custody a book of the four Evangelists in English and did often read therein and that he did favour the Doctrines and oppinions of Martin Luther openly pronouncing that Luther had more learning in his little finger then all the Doctors of England in their whole Bodies and that all the Priests in the church were blind and had led the people the wrong way Likewise It was alledged against him that he had denyed Purgatory and had said that while he were alive he would do as much for himself as he could for after his death he thought prayer and almes deeds would little help him these and such like matters were they wherewiâ—h these poor and simple men and women were chiefly charged and as haynous Hereticks excommunicated imprisoned and at last condemned to recant and some of them in utter shame and reproach besides the ordinary bearing of Faggots before the crosse in procession or else at a Sermon were enjoyned for pennance as they tearmed it as well to appear once every year before their ordinary as also to wear the sign of a Pagot painted upon their sleeves other part of their outward garment and that during all their lives or
spread in further Realms and Countries the one part called of Luther Lutherians the other having the name of Sacramentaries Notwithstanding in this one unity of opinion both the Lutherians and Sacramentaries do accord and agree that the Bread and Wine there present is not transubstantiat unto the Body and Blood of Christ as said but is a true Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ Many conflicts he had with the Pope his Cardinals and Clergy and notwithstanding their furie and rage and plots against him and the great power of his adversaries the Emperor and the King of Spain and other Potentats yet they could not prevail against him God keeping and defending him that they could not bereave him of his life but died peaceably in his own country where he was born teaching and preaching Christ the space of 29 years Many dangers he escaped especially these two which are not to be passed by wherein appears the great providence of God toward him First when a certain Jew by his enemies was appointed to come to destroy him by poyson yet was it so the will of God that Luther had warning thereof before and the face of the Jew sent to him by picture whereby he knew him and avoided the perill Another time as he was sitting in a certain place upon his stool a great stone there was in the Voult over his head where he did sit which being stayed miraculously so long as he was sitting assoon as hee was up immediatly fell upon the place where hee sate able to have crushed him all in pieces if it had light upon him And what should I speak of his prayers which were so ardent unto Christ that as Melancton writes they which stood under his window where he stood praying might see his tears falling and dropping down Again with such power he prayed that he as himself confesseth had obtained of the Lord that so long as he lived the Pope should not prevail in his country After his death said he let them pray who could Again it is reported of him that a young man about Wittemberge who being kept bare and needy by his Father was tempted by way of Sorcery to bargain with the Devill or a familiar as they call him to yeeld himself body and soul into the Devils power upon condition to have his wish satisfied with money so that upon the same an Obligation was made by the young man written with his own blood and given to the Devill Upon the sudain wealth and alteration of this young man the matter first being noted began afterward more and more to be suspsuspected and at length after long and great admiration was brought unto Martin Luther to be examined the young man whether for shame or fear long denyed to confesse and would bee known of nothing yet God so wrought being stronger then the Devil that he uttered unto Luther the whole substance of the case as well touching the money as the Obligation Luther understanding the matter and pittying the lamentable estate of the man willed the whole congregation to pray and he himself ceased not with his prayer to labour so that the Devill was compelled at the last to throw in his Obligation at the window and bade him take it again unto him And as he was mighty in his prayers so in his â—â—â—mons God gave him such a grace that when like preached they which heard him thought every one his own temptations severally to bee noted and touched Whereof when signification was given unto him by his friends and he demanded how that could bee my own manifold temptation said he and experiences are the causes thereof For Luther from his tender years was much broken and exercised with severall conflicts for he confessed that he was afflicted and vexed with all kind of temptations saving only one which was with covetousnesse With this vice he was never said he in all his life to be troubled nor once tempted Pope Leo the tenth of that name bare an irreconciliable heatred unto the Gospel of the Kingdom of God which he persecuted in the person of Luther and many others for as one day the Cardinal Bembo uttered before him a certain thing drawn from the Gospel he answered him mocking It hath ever sufficiently been known what profit that sable of Jesus hath brought us and our company O execrable blasphemy Luther died in the year of our Lord 1546. being 63. years of age The Prayer of Luther at his death was this My Heavenly Father eternall and merciful God thou bath manif sted unto me thy dâ—ar Son our Lord â—esus Christ I have taught him I have known him I love him as my life my health and my redemption whom the wicked have persecuted maligned and with injury afflicted draw my soul to thee After this he said as ensueth thrise I commend my spirit into thy hands thou hast redeemed me O God of truth God so loved the World that he gave his only Son that all these that believe in him should have life everlasting Joh. 3. The Martyres of GERMANY MAny after the death of Luther were troubled for their Religion some tost from place to place same exiled out of the Land for fear some cauâ—ed to abjure some driven to Caves in Woods some racked with torment and some pursued to death with fagot and fire And because we cannot name all that were persecuted and put to death for their Religion we shall name some few of the choisest And first there were two young men burnt at Bruxlies the one named Henry Voes being of the age of twenty four years and the other Iohn Esh which before had been of the order of the Augustine Friers for that they would not retreat and deny their Doctrine of the Gospel which the Papists call Lutheranisme As they were led to the place of Execution they went joyfully and merrily making continually protestations that they died for the glory of God and the Doctrine of the Gospel believing and following the holy Church of the Son of God saying also that it was the day which they had long desired After they were come to the place where they should be burned and were dispoyled of their garments they tarried a great space in their shirts and joyfully embraced the Stake that they should be bound to patiently and joyfully enduring whatsoever was done unto them praising God with Te Deum laudamus and singing Psalms and rehearsing the Creed in testimony of their death One of them seeing that fire was kindled at his feet said me thinks ye do straw Rose under my feet finally the smoak and the flame mounting up to their face choaked them The next year after the burning of these two young men before rehearsed was Henry Sutphen put to death by the conspiracy of the Monks and Friers without all order of judgement or just condemnation about the City of Diethmar in the borders of Germany in the year 1524. they resolved to take him by
WALDENSES Or WALDOYES THe Waldenses otherwise called Pauperes de Lugduno have their beginning of one Petrus Waldus Citizen of Lyons their first teacher and instructer by violence oâ— persecution being driven out of Lyons were dispersed abroad in diverse Countreys of whom some fled to Massilia some to Germany Livonia Bohemia Calabâ—ia and Apulia diverse strayed to the Countreys of France especially about Province and Piemont of whom came these Merindolians above mentioned they which were of the Countrey of Tolousa of the place where they frequented werâ— câ—lled Albii or Albigenses Against the which Albigenses Friers Dominicus was a great doer labouring and Preaching against them ten years together and caused many of them to be burned And albeit great was their Persecution in all parts where they were scattered yet could they never be utterly destroyed nor yet compelled to yeeld to the superstitious and false Religion of the Church of Rome but ever abstained from their corruption and Idolatry as much as was possible and gave themselves to the word of God as a Rule both truly to serve him and to direct their lives accordingly It happened that John Martin of Briqueras a mile from Angrogne which vaunted every where that he would slit the Ministers nose of Angrogne Was assaulted by a Wolf which bit off his nose so that he died thereof mad This was commonly known to all the Town thereabout this was the just hand of God upon this Persecutior As the President of St. Julian comming to Angrogne to vex the people there by the way he enquired for one dwelling at St. Johns near to Angrogne and examined him whether he had not baptized his child at Angrogne and wherefore he had so done The poor simple mans answered that he had baptized his child at Angrogne because baptisme was there ministred according to the institution of Châ—ist Then the President in a great rage commanded him in the Kings name to baptize his child again or else he should be burnt And here we see how the Papists play the Anabaptists The poor man desired the President that he might be suffered to make his prayer to God before he should make answer thereunto which after he had done in the Hall before all the company there present he required the President that he would writ and signe it wiâ—h his own hand that he would discharge him before God of the danger of that offence if he should baptize his child again and that he would take the perrill upon him and his The President hearing this was so confounded that he spake not one word a good while after Then said he in a great fury away thou villan out of my sight and after that he never was called again any more Barbarous was the cruelty that the enemies of the Gospel did to a good Minister of St. German in the valley of Perouse they sent a company of Ruffians by night who brought him out of his house and after sore impriâ—onment they put him to a cruel death for they rosted him by a small fire and when half his body was burnt he confessed and called upon the Lord Jesus with a loud voice In all these parts at this time was great Persecution great robbery and spoyling of mens goods and lives In their cruel outrages against those innocent people of the Waldoyes this is not to be passed by A certain old man about threescore years of age whose name was Odut Gemet being apprehendit of them suffered a strange and cruel death for when they had bound him they took all kind of beasts which live in horse dung called in French Escarborz and put them unto his navel covering them with a Dish the which within a short space pierced into his belly and killed him In that fight between the lord of Trinity the Angronguians there were burned about 1000 houses of Angrogne And here is not to be forgotten that they often times set fire upon the two Temples of Angrogne where the word of God was preached but they could never burn them A notable miracle of God in keeping the temples of the Gospel from burning So did they also to the Ministers house which notwithstanding remained whole the houses round about being all consumed with fire That day none of Angrogne was slain or hurt saving only one that was hurt in his thigh There were in all Angrongne but two that were enemies to the word of God which that same day were slain by the souldiers not in the coÌ„bat but for their riches they had about them as they were running away The one of them was a very covetous wretch and had great store of gold and silver and would spend nothing either to help himself or succour others no not his poor parents All this was spoiled by the souldiers with a hundreth or two hundreth Crowns besides which he had about him Besides these two there was not one of Angrogne slain that day In the overthâ—ow of the Lord of Trinity his Army by the Walloyes the rest that retired cryed out with a loud voice God fighteth for them and we do them wrong The next day one of the principall Captains of the Army surrendred his charge to the Lord of Trinity saying unto him that he would never fight against this people any more upon that he departed It is a marvelous thing and worthy of perpetuall memory that in that combat there were but two or the Waldoyes flain and two hurt through the whole country of Piemont every man said God fighteth for them One of the Captains confessed that he had been at many fierce assaults and combats and sundry battels foughten but yet he never saw souldiers so faâ—nt-hearted and amazed yea the souldiers themselves told him they were astonished that they could not strike Moreover they said that this people never shot but they hurt and killed some of the Souldiers Some other said that the Ministers by their prayers conjured and bewitched them that they could not fight and indeed wondrous is it and marvelous are the judgements of God that notwithstand so many combats and conflicts so great assaults and adventures so much and so terrible shot continually made against this poor people yet all in a manner came to no effect so mightily Gods holy power wrought for his people In end after many battels and conflicts there is agreement made up and agreed upon between the Lord of Raconis on the part of the Duke of Savoy his Highnesse their Master and them of the valleys of Piemont called Waldoyes through the mediation of the Dutchesse The first Article is a promise of forbearing armour against his Highnesse 2. That it shal be lawfull for them of Angrongron and the rest of the valleyes to have their congregations sermons and others ministers of their Religion in places accustomed 3. The goods already â—eased as forefault shal be restored to all the inhabitants of the said valeyes all their franchizes freedoms and priviledges shall
Prince of Spain and Mary Queen of England were married together by the Bishop of Winchester in the presence of a great number of Noblemen of both the Realms in the year of God 1554. Cardinal Pool is sent legate to the King and Queen to reconcile England to their mother Church Rome the Parliament suâ—mit themselves to the Pope his authority is restored which was matter of great joy to Rome Great was the bloody murthering of Gods Saints in the time of Queen Mary And first to begin with Master John Rogers he is condemned of the Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor for two articles first for that he affirmed the Romish Catholick Church to be the Church of Antichrist and that he denied the reality of their Sacrament he cursed him to be disgraded and condâ—mned and put into the hands of the Lâ—itie and so he gave him over into the Shireffs hand which were much better then his 2. That in the Sacrament of the Altar there is not substantially nor really the natural body and blood of Christ After that this John Rodgers had been long and straitly imprisoned by the space of an year and an half at New-gate amongst Theeves often examined and very uncharitably entreated and at length unjustly and most cruelly by wicked Winchester condemned Such was the Bishop of Winchester and Boner Bishop of London their charity that he could not obtain of them that favour as to talk a little with his wife before his burning for his wife and children being eleven in number ten able to go and on sucking on her breast met him by the way as he went towards Smithfield this sorrowfull sight of his own flesh blood could nothing move him but that he constantly and chearfully took his death with wonderful patience in the defence and quarrel of Christs Gospel As he was going to Smithfield he said the Psalm Miserere by the was all the people wonderfully rejoycing at his constancy with great praises and thanks to God for the same A littâ—e before his burning at the stake his pardon was brought if he would have recanted but he utterly refused it so he was burned into ashes washing his hands in the flamme as he was in burning he was the first Protomartyr of all that blessed company that suffered in Queen Maries time that got the first adventure upon the fire he was viccar of St. Pulchers and Reader of Pauls in London After that Mâ—ster Rodgers had broken the yce here under Queen Mary there suffered in like sort an Archbishop four Bishops twenty one Divines eight Gentlemen eighty four Artificers one hundred Husband-men Servants and Labourers twenty six Wives twenty Widows nine Virgins two boyes and two Infants with many moe yea it is recorded that in lesse then four years they sacrificed the lives of eight hundred innocents here to their Idols in Queen Maries daies We shall take a view of them that are most memorable Lawrence Sanders Preacher a man of worshipfull Parentage was burned for the defence of the Gospel at Coventree being led to the place of Execution he went in an old Gown and a Shirt bare-footed and oftentimes fell flat on the ground and prayed When he came to the fire he fell to the ground and prayed he rose up again and took the Stake to which he should be chained in his arms and kissed it saying welcome the Crosse of Christ welcome everlasting life and being fastned to the Stake and fire put to him full sweetly he sleeped in the Lord. Mr. John Hooper Bishop of Worchester and Glocester was burnt for the defence of the Gospel at Glocester he was a worthy Bishop endued with these qualities that St. Paul requires in a Bishop he was condemned at London and degraded by Bishop Winchester and others and sent to Glocester to be burnt As he went to the fire he was led between two Sheriffs as it were a Lamb to the place of slaughter in a Gown of his Hosts his Hat upon his head and a staff in his hand to stay himself withall for the grief of the Sciatica which he had taken in prison caused him sometimes to halt All the way he was straitly charged not to speak the people mourned bitterly for him After he was entred into his prayer a Box was brought and laid before him upon a Stool with his pardon or at the least wise it was fained to be his pardon from the Queen if he would he at the sight thereof cryed if ye love my soul away with it if ye love my soul away with it the Box being taken away the Lord Shandois said seeing there is no remedy dispatch him quickly Mr. Hooper said God my Lord I trust your Lady will give me leave to make an end of my prayers Then said the Lord Shandois to Sir Edmund Bridges take heed that he do nothing else but pray if he do tell me and I shall quickly dispatch him so he prayed in these words following Lord said he I am hell but thou art heaven I am swill and a stink of sin but thou art a gracious God and a merciful Redeemer have mercy therefore upon me most miserable and wretched offender after thy great mercie and according to thy inestimable goodnesse Thou that art ascended into heaven receive me hell to be partaker of thy joyes where thou sittest in equall glory with tâ—y Father for well knowest thou Lord whereof I am come hither to sâ—ffer and why the wicked do â—â—â—secute this thy poor servant not for my sins and â—â—â—sgressions committed against thee but because I will not allow their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood and to the denyall of the knowledge of thy truth wherewith it did please thee by thy holy Spirit to instruct me the which with as much diligence as a poor wretch might being thereto called I have set forth to thy glory And well seest thou my Lord and God what terrible pains and cruel torments be prepared for thy creature such Lord as without thy strength none is able to bear or patiently to passe but all things that are impossible with man are possible with thee Therefore strengthen me of thy goodnesse that in the fire I break-not the rules of patience or else aswage the terrour of the pains as shall seem most to thy glory After he had done he was put to the fire and he abode three quarters of an hour in the fire for it was slow in burnning and thrise it was kindled before he was consumed In the midst of the fire he prayed with a loud voice Lord Jesus have mercy upon me Lord Jesus have mercy upon me Lord Jesus receive my spirit and these were the last words that he was heard to utter But when he was black in the mouth and his tongue swollen that he could not speak yet his lips went til they were shrunk to the Gams and he knocked his breast with his hands untill one of his arms fell off and then knocked
chief thing objected against her as against all the rest was touching the real and corporall presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar many other matters was objected against them as for not comming to the church for speaking against the masse for dispising their Ceremonies and new found Sacraments with diverse other fond and trifling toyes not worthy any mentioning This woman being exhorted to recant she said do what ye will for if Christ was in an errour then am I in an errour upon which answer shee was adjudged and condemned as an Heretick and so delivered unto the secular power to be by them put to death and so she was burnt George Tankerfield a little before his execution prayed his Host to let him have a good fire in his Chamber he had so and then he sitting on a Form before the fire put off his shoos and hose and stretched out his leg to the flame and when it had touched his foot he quickly withdrew his leg shewing how the flesh did perswade him one way and the Spirit another way The Spirit said be not afraid for this is nothing in respect of fire eternall The flesh said leave not the company of thy friends acquaintance which love and will not let thee lack nothing The Spirit said the company of Jesus Christ and his glorious presence doth exceed all fleshly friends The flesh said do not shorten thy time for thou mayest live if thou wilt much longer The Spirit said this life is nothing unto the life in Heaven which lasteth for ever c. And when he came to the place of execution after he ended his prayer he arose and with a joyfull faith he said that although he had a sharp dinner yet he hoped to have a joyfull supper in Heaven While the Fagots were set about him there came a Priest unto him and perswaded him to believe â—n the Sacrament of the Altar and he should be saved But George Tankerfield cryed out vehemently and said I defy the Whore of Babylon I I defy the Whore of Babylon fy on that abominable Idol good people do not believe him Then the Major of the Town commanded to set fire to the Heretick and said if he had but one load of Fagots in the whole world he would give them to burn him There was an certain Knight by and went unto Tankerfield and took him by the hand and said good brother be strong in Christ this he spoke softly and Tankerfield said O Sir I thank you I am so I thank God so he was put to the fire and burnt Robâ—rt Samuel a very godly and right faithfull Pâ—eacher of Gods Word in King Edward his dayes was now apprehended and cast into prison and miserably handled under the Bishop of Norwich Doctor Hopâ—on an unmercifull Prelat he so far exceeded the bounds of piety and compassion in tormenting their poor brethren as this Bishop did in such sort that many of them he perverted and brought quite from the truth and some from their wits also he is keeped in strict prison where he was chained bolt upright to a great poast in such sort that standing only on the tiptoe he was fain to stay up the whole poise or weight of his body thereby and to this they added a far more grievous to ment keeping him without meat and drink whereby he was unmercifully vexed through hunger and thrist saving that he had every day allowed two or three mouthfuls of bread and three spoonfuls of water to the end rather that he might be reserved to further torment then that they would preserve his life O worthy constancy of the Martyr O pitilesse hearts of Papists worthy to be complained of and to be accursed before God and nature O the wonderfull strength of Christ in his members whose stomack though it had been made of Adament stone would not have relented and these intollerable vexations and extream pains above nature how often times would he have drunken his own water but his body was so dried up with his long emptinesse that he was not able to make one drop of water At the last when he was brought forth to be burned which was but a trifle in comparison of these pains that he had passed certain there were that heard hâ—m what strange things had hapened unto him during the time of his imprisonment to wit that after he had been famished or pined with hunger two or three dayes together he then fell into a sleep as it were one half in a slumber at which time one cloathed all in white seemed to stand before him which ministred comfort unto him by these words Samuel Samuel be of good cheer and take a good heart unto thee for after this day shalt thou never either be hungry or thirsty which thing came even to passe accordingly for sppedily after he was burned and from that time that he should suffer he feit neither hunger nor thrist And thus declared he to the ends as he said that all men might behold the wonderfull works of God Many more like matters concerning the great comfort he had of Christ in his afflictions he could utter he said besides this but shamefastnesse and modesty would not suffer him to utter it The report goeth among some that were there present and saw him burnt that his body in burning did shine as light and white as new tryed silver in the eyes of them that stood by After the suffering of Robert Samuel was burned William Allen in Walfinghame a labouring man he being brought before the Bishop and asked the cause why he was imprisoned answered that he was put in prison because he would not follow the Crosse saying that he would never go in procession Then being willed by the Bishop to return again to the Catholick Church he answered that he would turn to the Catholick Church but not to the Romish Church and said that if he saw the King and Queen and all other follow the Crosse or kneel down to the Cross he would not for the which sentence of condemnation was given against him and he burned who declared such constancy at his martyrdom and had such credit with the justices by reason of his upright and well tryed conversation amongst them that be was suffered to go untved to his suffering and there being fastned with a Chain stood quietly without shrinking untill he died There were five worthy Martyrs burned at Canterbury in one fire because they denied that Christ was corporally and bodily in the Sacrament Master Robert Glover at Coventree being apprehended for suspiâ—ion of Heresie and imprisoned was burnt for the testimony of the truth There was one Austen Bernher a Minister and a familiar friend of his testified this of him After he was condemned by the Bishop and was now at the point to be delivered out of this world It so happened that two or three dayes before his heart being lumpish and desolate of all
spiritual consolation felt in himself no apâ—nesse nor willingness but rather a heaviness and dulnesse of spirit finding much discomfort to bear the bitter crosse of martyrdome ready now to be laid upon him and here we see that Gods Saints may be destitute for a time of the Lords comfort Unto whom the said Austen answering again willed and desired him patiently to wait the Lords pleasure and how soever his present feeling was yet seeing his cause was just and true he exhorted him constantly to stick to the same and to play the man nothing misdoubting but the Lord in his good time could visite him and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation whereof he faid he was right certain and sure and therefore desired him whenâ—oever any such feeling of Gods heavenly mercies should begin to touch his heart that then he would shew some signification thereof whereby he might witnesse with him the same and so departed from him The next day when the time came of his martyrdome as he was going to the place and was now come to the sight of the Stake although all the night before praying for strength and courage hee could feel none suddenly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heavenly joyes that he cried out clapping his hands to Austen and saying in these words Austen he is come he is come and that with such joy and alacrity as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life then as one passing out of the world by any pains of death And so he was put to the fire and burnt for the testimony of the truth Denton being afrayed of burning said to Wolsey that he cannot burn but he that could not burn in the cause of Christ was afterward burned against his will when Christ had given peace to his Church for his house was set on fire and while he went in to save his goods he lost his life with two other that were in the same house Not much unlike to this was also the example of Mr. West Chaplain to B. Ridley who refusing to die in Christs cause with his masters said masse against his conscience and soon afterward died The Death and Martyrdome of Bishop Ridley and Bishop Latimer MAster Ridley Bishop of London and Latimer Bishop sometimes of Worcester men of memorable leaning and incomparable ornaments and gifts of grace joyned with no lesse commendable sincerity of life as all the Realm can witnesse sufficiently were burnt at Oxford for the testimony of the truth This B. Ridley was descended of a stock right worshipfull he was born in Northumberland-shire After he past his course at Cambrige made Doctor of Divinity he went to Paris and after his return was made Chaplain to King Henry the eight and promoted afterward by him to the Bishoprick of Worcester and so from thence translated to the Seâ— and Bishoprick of London in King Edwards days now in Queen Maries time they were laid hands upon and committed to prison and accused as Hereticks Great was the conference and godly talk that was between them while they were in prison Mr. Ridley wrote many letters from the prison as a letter from him and his prison-fellows unto Mr. Braidford and his prison-fellows in the Kings bench at Southwark and to many others And besides these letters of his diverse other tracttations were written by him partly out of prison and partly in prison As for Mr. Latimer that famous Preacher and worthy Martyr of Christ and his Gospel he was a long time a zealous and superstitious Papist and in this blind zeal he was a very enemy to the professors of Christs Gospel as both his Oration made when he proceeded Batchelor of Divinity against Philip Melancton and also his other works did plainly declare but he through the goodness of God was converted by Mr. Bilney unto the truth so that whereas before he was an enemy and almost a persecuter of Christ he was now a zealous seeker after him howbeit as Satan never sleepeth when he seeth his kingdom begin to decay so likewise now seing that this worthy member of Christ would be a shrowd shaker thereof he raised up his impious Impes to molest and trouble him He wrote also many letters from the prison Touching the memorable acts and doings of this worthy man amongst many other this is not to be neglected what a bold enterprise he attempted in sending to King Henry a present the manner whereof was this There was then and yet remaineth still an old custome received from the old Romans that upon new years day being the first day of January every Bishop with some handsome new years gift should gratifie the King and so they did some with gold some with silver some with a purse full of money some with one thing and some with another but Mr. Latimer being Bishop of Worcester then amongst the rest presented a new Testament for his new years gift with a napkin having this poesie about it Fornicatores adulteros judicabit Dominus Now in Queen Mariâ—s time after their long imprisonment they are brought forth to their finall examination and execution are degraded and condemned as Hereticks and delivered to the Secular power to be put to death When they came to the fire they brought a Eagot kindled with fire and laid the same down at Doctor Ridleys feet to whom Mr. Latimer spake in this manner be of good comfort Mr. Ridley and play the man we shall this day light such a Candle by Gods grace in England as I trust shall never be put out And here we see the Church to be lightened by the Martyrdome of Saints And so the fire being given to them when Doctor Ridley saw the fire flaming up toward him he cried with a wondeâ—ful loud voice In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum Domine sujcipe spiritum meum and after repeated this latter part often in English Lord Lord receive my spiâ—it Mr. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side Oh Father of Heaven receive my soul who receiving the flame as it were embracing of it After as he had stroaled his face with his hands as it were bathed them a little in the fire he soon died as it appeared with very little pain or none Bâ—t Mr. Ridley by reason of the evill making of the fire unto him he was long in burning he câ—ied to let the fire come to him for his nether paâ—ts were burnt before the fire touched his upper parts yet for all this to ment he forgot not to call upon God still it moved hundreds to tears in beholding this horrible sight for I think there was none that had not clean exiled all humanity and mercy which would not have lamented to behold the fury of the fire so to rage upon their bodies Thus thir two godly and learned men ended their lives for the cause of Christ and testimony of his truth The death and end of
to spare these men then to put them to death whereat the idiot Doctors offended said what will ye do my Lord Will ye condemn all that my Lord Cardinall and the other Bishops and we have done If ye so do ye shew your self enemy to the Church and us and so we will repute you be ye assured At which words the faithlesse man afraid adjudged the innocents to die according to the desire of the wicked and so they were burnt constantly triumphing over death and Satan in the midst of the fire The King at this time was ruled wholly by the Cardinal and made a solomn vow that none should be spared that was suspect of heresie yea although it were his own son which put many into fear The fearfull vision which the King had by night much terrified him that he withdrew his mind wholly from the extremities on which the Clergy had set him The King died in the year of the Lord 1542. being overwhelmed with grief and passion for the losse of his Army received at Solway by the Englishes he departed this life at Falkland in the 32. year of his age some few dayes before he died he had advertisement that his Queen was deliveaed of a daughter at Linlithow at which time it is said he brust forth in passion saying it came with a Laste meaning the Crown and will go with a Lasse fie upon it after which he was not heard to utter many words The Earle of Arran Lord Hammilton was chosen Regent and Governour of the Realm At this time there was a certain act of Parliament made giving priviledge to all men of the Realm of Scotland to read the Scripture in their Mother tongue and language secluding neverthelesse all reasoning conference convocation of people to hear the Scriptures read or expouned Which liberty of private reading being granted by publick proclamation lacked not his own fruite so that in sundry parts of Scotland thereby were opened the eyes of the elect of God to see the truth and to abhor the Papistical abominations Now there was certain in St. Johnstoun that were apprehended and accused for transgressing the act of Parliament before expressed and then conference and assemblies in hearing and expounding the Scripture against the Tenor of the said act All these were condemned and judged to death as Robert Lamb William Anderson James Hunter and his wife Helen Stirk and others and that by an assise by violating as was alledged the act of Parliament in reasoning and conferring upon the Scripture for eating flesh upon the dayes forbidden for dishonouring of images c. There was great intercession made by the Town in the mean season for the life of these persons aforenamed to the Governour who of himself was willing to have done that they might have been delivered But the Governour was so subject to the appetite of the cruel Priests that he could not do that which he would yea they menaced to assist his enemies and to depose him except he assisted their cruelty the men were hanged and the women drowned Robert Lamb prophesied of the ruine and plague that came upon David Beton the Cardinal thereafter The Martyrdome of Mr George Wisher This Mr. George was a brother of the house of Pittarrow in Merns a great knowledge c. He made his chief resort in the Towns of Dundie and Montrose where hee taught publickly with great profite and applause He is discharged from preaching at Dundie he goeth to the West where the Archbishop of Glasgow seeketh to apprehend him In end he is apprehended and put to his tâ—yall and condemned to be burnt as an heretick As he came forth of the Castle gate there met him certain beggars asking his almes for Gods sake To whom he answered I want my hands wherewith I should give you almes but the mercifull Lord of his benignity and aboundance of grace that feedeth all men vouchafe to give you necessaries both unto your bodies and souls then afterward met with him two false fiends I should say Friers saying Mr. George pray to our Lady that she may be Mediatrix for on to her Son to whom he answered meekly cease tempt me not my brethren After this he was led to the fire with a rope about his neck and a chain of iron about his midle After his prayer made to God and his exhortation to the people the hangman that was his tormentor â—ate down upon his knees and said sir I pray you forgive me for I am not gullty of your death to whom he answered come hither to me when that he was come to him he kissed his cheek and said Lo here is a token that I forgive thee my heart do thy office and by and by he was put upon the Gibbet and hanged and there burnt to powder At his execution he prophecies of the Cardinals death he who from you higher place beholdeth us with such pride shal within few dayes lye in the same as ignominiously as now he is seen proudly to rest himself The Cardinals death is conspired by Normond Lesly brother to the Earle of Rothesse John Lesly his Unckle William Kirkaldy of Grange Peter Carmichel of Fyfe and James Melvill one of the house of Carnbie they met at St. Andrews and entered into the Cardinals chamber and killed him in his chamber The people of the town crying for a sight of the Cardinals corpes was brought to the very same place where he sat be holding Mr. George Wishart his execution many then did call to mind the Martyr his last words were thereby confirmed in the opinion they had of his piety and holinesse After this David Betoun succeeded John Hammilton Archbishop of St. Andrews who to the intent that he would in no wayes appear inferiour to his predecessor in augmenting the number of the holy martyrs of God in the next year following called a certain poor man to judgement whose name was Adam Wallace he was accused for teaching saying and teaching of abominable heresies which are particularly laâ—d to his charge as first thou hast said and taught that the bread and wine on the Altar after words of consecration are not the body and blood of Christ He turned to the L. Governor who was there present with a number of Noblemen and of the Câ—ergy saying I said never nor taught nothing but that I found in this book and writ having there a Bible at his belt in French Dutch and English which is the word of God and if ye will be content that the Lord God and his word be judge to me and this his holy writ here it is and where I have said wrong I shall take what punishment ye shal put to me for I never said nothing concerning this that I am accused of but that which I find in this write c. They gave forth sentence and condemned him by the Laws and so left him to the hands of the secular power in the hands of S. J. Campbâ—l Justice Deputy who
crueli Turks have murthered and of whom are to be seen in Histories Heaps of souldiours slâ—in of men and women cut in pieces of children sticked upon Poles and staiks whom these detestable Turks most spytfully and that in the sight of their Parents use to gore to death some they drog at their horse tails and famish to death some they tare in pieces tying their arms and legs to four hors s other some they make Marâ—â—s to shoot at upon some they try their swords how deep they can cut and slash the aged and feeble they tread under their horse Women wi h child they spare not but â—ip their bodies and cast the Infants into the fire or otherwise destroy them Whether the Christians yeeld to them or yeeld not all is a matter As in their promises their is no truth so in their victories there is no sense of manhood or mercy in them but they make havock of all So the Citizens of Croia after they had yeelded were all promised their lives were all destroyed that horribly In M sia after the King had given himself to the Turks hand having promise of life Mahomet the Turk slew him with his own hands The Princes of Rasia had both their eyes put out with Bâ—sâ—ns red hot set before them Theodosia otherwise called Capha was also surrendred the Turke having the like assurance of life and safty and yet contrare to the league the citizins were put to the sword an slain At the winning and yeelding of Lesbos what a number of young men and children were put upon sharp stakes and poles and so thrust throw At the winning of the City of Buda what tyrranny was shewed and exercised against the poor Christians which had yeeled themselves and against the two Dukes Christopher Bissâ—rer and Joannes Tranbunger contrary to the promise and hand writing of the Turk is to be seen in the story of Malchior Soiterns de bello pannonico The like aâ—so is to be read in the story of Pernardus de Brydenbach who writing of the talking of Hydrantum a City in Apulia testifieth of the miserable slaughter of the young men that were there slain of old men trodden under horse feet of matrons and virgins ravished of women with child cut and rent in pieces of the Priests in the Churches slain and of the Archbishop of that City who being an aged man and holding the Crosse in his hands was cut asunder with a wooden Saw c. The same Bernardus also writing of the overthrow of Nigro-Pontus otherwise called Chalcides describeth the like terrible slaughter which was their exercised where the Turk after his promise given before to the contrary most cruelly caused all the youth of Italy to be pricked upon sharp stakes some to be dashed against the hard stones other some to be cut asunder in the midst and other more with other kinds of torments to be put to death insomuch that all the streets and ways of Chalcidâ—s did flow with the blood of them which were there slain In which History the foresaid Writer recordeth one memorable example of maidenly chastity worthy of all Christians to be noted and commended The story is told of the Pretors daughter of that City who being the only daughter of her father and noted to be of an exceeding singular beauty was saved out of the slaughter and brought to Mahomet the Turk to be his Concubine But she denying to consent to his Turkish appetite and filthinesse was commanded forthwith to be slain and murthered and so died she a Martyr keeping both here faith and her body undefiled unto Christ her Spouse The like cruelty also was shewed upon them that keeped the Castle and afterwards yeelding themselves upon hope of the Turks promise were slain every one What should I speak of the miserable slaughter of Methone and the Citizens thereof dwelling in Peloponesus who seeing no other remedy but needs to come into the Turks hands set the Barn on fire wherein they were gathered together men women and Children some women also with childe voluntarily cast themselves into the sea rather then they would sustain the Turks captivity Miserable it is to behold long to recite incredible to believe all the cruell attempts and horrible slaughters wrought by these miscreants against the Christians through all places almost of the world both in Asia and Africa but especially in Europe c. At the siege of Vienna were all the Christian captives were brought before the whole Army and slain and diverse drawn in pieces with horses but especially at the winning of Constantinople above-mentioned also at Croia and Methone what beastly cruelty was shed it is unspeakable for as in Constantinople Mahomet the drunken Turk never rose from dinner but he caused every day for his disport 300. Christian captives of the Nobles of that City to be slain before his face So in Methone after that his Captain Omares had sent unto him at Constantinople five hundred prisoners of the Christians the cruell tyrant commanded them all to be cut and divided asunder by the midle and so being slain to be thrown out into the fields Leonicus Chalcondyla writing of the same story addeth moreover a prodigious narration if it be true of a brute Ox who being in the fields and seeing the carcasses of the dead bodies so cut in two made there a loud noise after the lowing of his kind and nature and afterwards coming to the quarters of the dead bodies lying in the field first took up tâ—e one half and then coming again took up likewise the other half and so as he could joyned them both together Which being espyed of them which saw the doing of the brute Ox and marvelling thereat word being brought thereof to Mahomet he commanded the quarteâ—s again to be brought where they were before to prove whether the beast will come again who failed not as the Author recordâ—th but in like sort as before taking the fragments of the dead Coâ—ps laid them again together It followeth more in the Author how that Mahomet being astonied at the strange wonder of the Ox commanded the quarters of the Christian mens body to be interred and the Ox to be brought to his house and much made of Some said it to be the body f a Venâ—ian some affirmed that he was an Illyrian but whatsoever he was certain it is that the Turk himsâ—lf was much more bestiall then was the brute Ox which being a beast shewed more sense of humanity to a dead man then one man did to another What Christian heart will noâ— pity the incredible slaughter done by the Turks in Euboia where Fabâ—r testifieth that innumerable people sticked and goâ—ed upon stakes diverse were thrust through with a hot iorn children and infants yet not wained f om the mother were bâ—shed against the stones and many cut asunder in the midst But never did countrey taste and feel more the better and deadly tyranny of the Turks
then did Rasia called Mysia Inferior and now Servia where the Prince of the same Countrey being sent for under fair pretence of words and promises to come and speak with the Turk after he was come of his own gentlenesse thinking no harme was apprehended and wretchedly and falsly put to death and his skin slain off his brother and sister brought to Constantinople for a triumph and all the Nobles of his Countrey as Faber addeth had their eyes put out c. Briefly to conclude by the vehement and furious rage of those cursed catiffs It may seem that Satan the old Dragon for the great hatred he beareth to Christ hath stirred them up to be the Butchers of all Christian people inflaming their beastly hearts with such malice and cruelty against the name and Religion of Christ that they degenerating from the nature of men to devils neither by reason will be ruled nor by any blood or slaughter satisfied And now to speak a little of the miserable estate of the Christian captives under the Turk And here First is to be noted that the Turk never commeth into Europe to war against the Christians but there followeth after his Army a great number of brokers or Merchants such as buy men and children to sell again bringing with them long chains in hope of great cheats In the which chains they lock them by fifty and sixty together such as remain undestroyed with the sword whom they buy of the spoils of them that rob and spoil the Christian countries which is lawfull for any of the Turks Army to do so that the tent of their spoyl or prey whatsoever it be be reserved to the head Turk that is to the great Mr. Chief Of such as remain for Tith if they be aged of whom very few be reserved alive because little profit cometh of that age they be sold to the use of husbandry or keeping of beasts If they be young men or women they be sent to certain places there to be instructed in their language and Arts as shall be most profitable for their advantage and such are called in their tongue Sarai and the first care of the Turk is this to make them to deny the Christian Religion and to be circumcised and after that they are appointed every one as he seemeth most apt either to the learning of their Laws or else to learn the fates of the war the first Rudiments of war is to handle the bow first beginning with a weak Bow and so as they grow in strength coming to a stronger Bow and if they misse the Mark they are sharply beaten and their allowance is two pence or three pence a day till they come to take Wages to serve in War Some are brought up for the purpose to be placed in the number of the wicked Janziarics that is the ordour of the Turks Champion which is the most abominable condition of all other And if any of the foresaid young men or children shall appear to excel in any beauty him they so cut that on part of that which nature giveth to man remaineth to be seen in all his body whereby while the freshnesse of age continueth he is compelled to serve their abominable abomination and when age commeth then they serve instead of Eunuchs to wait upon Matrons or keep horses or mules or else to be secullians as drudges in their Kitchens Such as be young Maidens and beautiful are deputed for Concubins They which be of mean beauty serve for Matrons for their drudgry work in their houses and chambers or else are put to spinning and such other Labours but so that it is not lawful for them either to pâ—ofâ—sse their Christian Religion or ever to hope for any libertie And thus much for them that fall to the Turk by Tith The otherâ— which are bought and sold among private subjects first allured with fair words and promises to take circumcision which if they will do they are more favourable entreated but all hope is taken from them of returning again into their own country which if they attempt the pain thereof is burning And if such coming at length to liberty will marry they may but then their children remain bound to the Lord for him to sâ—ll at his pleasure and therefore such as are wsse among them marry They which refuse to be circumcised are miserably handled c. When they are brought to the Market to be sold the buyer if he be disposed plucking off their garments vieweth all the bones and joynts of the body and if he like them he giveth his pirce and carrieth them away into miserable servitude either to tilling of their ground or to pâ—stor their Câ—ttel or some other strange kind of misery incredible to speak of so much that certain of such Christian captives yoked together like Horse and Oxen draw in the plough The maid-servants likewise are keeped in perpetuall toyl and work in close places where they neither come in sight of any man neither be they peâ—mitted to have any talk with their fellow servants c. Such as are committed to keep beasts ly abroad day and night in the wild fields without house and harbour and so changing their Pâ—sture go from mountain to mountain of whom also bâ—side the office of keeping the beasts other handy-labour is exacted at â—pare houres such as pleaseth their masters to put them unto And such is the lamentable afflictions of our christian brethren under the cruell tyranny and captivity of the Turks pâ—ssing all other captivities that ever have been to Gods people either under Pharaoh in Egypt or under Nebuâ—hadnâ—zzar in Babylon or under Antioâ—hus in the time of the Machabees We are to pitty the lamentable slâ—very that christians are in under the baâ—barous Turks and to pray for their delivery and to be thankfull to God for our liberty and freedome FINIS
The furniture of his Books cost him 70â—0 Florents a little before his death his mind was to give all away and to take a Towl and Preach but the Lord would not permit him With two Popes that is with Pope Innocent and Alexander the sixt he had much vexation Under the Raign of Fredericus the third Emperor of Germany was one Iohn a Pastor or a Neat herd which was a keeper of Cattel him the Bishop of Herbipolis condemned and burnt for an Heretick because he taught and held that the life of the Clergy was ignominious and abominable before God But to proceed in the Persecutions of the Godly in England in King Henry the seventh his Raign In the Diocesse of Lincoln in Buckinghame-shire William Smith being Bishop of the same Diocesse one William Tylesworth was burned in Amershame his only Daughter being a married Woman a Godly and a Faithfull Woman was compelled with her own hands to set fire to her dear father and at the same time her husband did penance at her fathers burning and bare a Fagot as did also many moe At the burning of this William Tylsworth were sixty and above that were put to bear Fagots for their Penance of whom diverse were injoyned to bear and wear Fagots at Lincoln for the space of seven years some at one time some at another c. In which number was also Robert Barlet a rich man who for his Possessions sake was put out of his Farm and Goods and was condemned to be kept in the Monasterie of Ashange were he did wear on his right Sleeve a square piece of Cloath the space of seven years together About the same time also of the burning of Wilâ—iam Tylesworth was one Father Roberts burned at Buckinghame he was a Miller and dwelt at Missenden and at his burning there were about twenty persons that were compelled to bear Faggots and to do such pennance as the wicked Pharisees did compell them After that by the space of two or three years was burned at Amersham Thomas Bernard a husband man and James Mordan a labourer and they two was burned both at one fire Also there were thirty burned on the right Cheek at the same time and bare Faggots the cause was that they would table against Superstition and Idolatrie and were desireous to hear and read the holy Scriptures The manner of their burning on the cheek was this their necks was tyed fast to a Poast or Stay with Towels and their hands holden that they might not stir and so the Iron being hot was put to their cheeks and thus bare they the Prints and Marks of the Lord Jesus about them At this time also in the dayes of King Henry the seventh was one Laurence Ghest which was burned in Salisbury for the matter of the Sacrament he was of a comely and tall Personage he was kept in Prison the space of two years This Laurence had a Wife and seven Children wherefore they thinking to expugne and perswade his mind by stirring his fatherly affection toward his Children when the time came which they appointed for his burning as he was at the Stake they brought before him his Wife and his foresaid seven Children at the sight whereof although Nature is commonly bent to work in other yet in him Religion overcoming Nature made his constancy to remain unmoveable in such sort as when his Wife began to exhort and desire him to favour himself he again desired her to be content and not to be a block in his way for he was in a good course running towards the mark of his Salvation and so fire being put to him he finished his life renouncing not only Wife and Children but also himself to follow Christ As he was in burning one of the Bishops men threw a fire-brand at his face whereat the brother of Laurence standing by ran at him with his Dagger and would have slain him had he not been otherwise stayed It is recorded likewise in the raign of this King Henry the seventh when the people was returning from the burning of a faithfull woman at Cheaping Sadbery for alledged Heresie by Doctor Whitington the Bishops Chancelour who was present at the execution as hee returned with the rest there happened that a Bull escaping from the Butcher into the street he passed through the throng of the people every one drawing aside and shifting for himself and touching neither man nor childe till hee came where the Chancelour was against whom the Bull as pricked with a sudden vehemency ran upon him with his horns and taking him upon the paunch gorred him throw and throw and so killed him immediatly carrying his guts and trailing them with his horns all the streets over to the great admiration and wonder of all them that saw it Here we see a plain miracle of Gods mighty power and judgement both in the punishing of this wretched Chancellour and also in admonishing all other like persecutors by his example to fear the Lord and to abstain from the like cruelty Besides these before mentioned many moe in this King Henry the seventh his raign were persecuted for their Religion specially in the diocesse of Coventree and Lich-field among whom we shall name these few First John Blomston was openly and publickly infamed accused reported and apeached that he was a very Heretick because he had preached taught holden and affirmed that the power attributed to St. Peter in the Church oâ— God by one Saviour Jesus Christ immediatly did not flitte or passe from him to remain with his Successors Item that there was as much vertue in an Herb as in the Image of the Virgine Mary Item that prayer and Alms avail not the dead for incontinent after death he goeth either to Heaven or hell whereupon hee concludeth there is no Purgatory c. Richard Heghame in the same City of Coventree was accused to be a very Heretick because that hee did hold that a Christian man being at the point of death should renounce all his own works good and ill and submit him to the mercy of God Item It was fondnesse to worship the images of our Lady of Tower in the forsaid City or of other Saints for they are but stocks and stones Item that if the image of our Lady of Tower were put into the fire it would make a good fire Item that it were better to deal money unto the poor folks than to offer to the Image of Christ and other Saints which are but dead stocks and stones John Smith was accused to be a very Heretick because he did hold every man is bound to know the Lords Prayer and the Creed in English if he might for these false Priests Thomas Butler was likewise accused to bee a very Heretick because he did hold that there were but two wayes that is to say to heaven and to hell Item that there was no Purgatory for every man immediatly after death passeth either to heaven or hell Item that prayers