at their hands but they answered him That this was no time for pitty and favour but if he would sweare by the Popes Bull and abjure his Faith in that case they would shew him favor and grant him his life But he with a great and couragious resolution answered God forbid and defend that I for love of this temporall life should deny my Lord Iesus Christ who with his precious bloud upon the wood of the Crosse did at so deare a rate redéeme me and after that I have so long time through his grace fréely and publikely confessed him should now hazard the losse of eternall life to which I was elected before the foundation of the World I say God forbid Upon this spéech he was in most barbarous and savage manner murthered by them The very same evening was the gate of the palace burnt to the ground by those rebels who the next morning entred into the same raging with fury and tooke the Governour prisoner with his young sonne spoyling and ransacking wives and maidens and carrying away all they could lay hands on The Governour of the Palace was carried away prisoner to the house of the foresaid Dort Francesco and at last after he had long time béen tugged to and fro hee was miserably slaine with a shot Iohn Antonio Mazano endeavouring to make resistance against those rebels and his wife defending him was with her selfe and two young children miserably killed Another called Iohn Antonio Schlosser a Gardonese having made long resistance and killed one of the rebels was at the last taken and tyed to a trée and so shot to death To be short these villaines had no regard of any person neither young nor old nor weake nor strong but all of all sorts were either shot unto death or cut in pieces or in one manner or other destroyed and the number of those persons in estimation who in Tyrane received the crown of martyrdome for the profession of the Gospell was about sixty Of those who by the grace of God although with great danger escaped through the horrid and vaste Alpes into Retia and other parts were only thrée persons that is Doctor Iacobo Albertino Iacobo Nevio de Coyra and Egidio Venosta who left behind them wealth wives children and whatsoever goods they had The Ladies who were not slain were constrained to change their Religion and at this day goe to masse saving the wife of the said Lazarone and her daughters and her niece being the wife of the said Egidio who by the assistance of Almighty God continued in safety And there also the eighth of August the said Ladies were released who retired themselves into Retia viz. the wife of this Lazarone and her two daughters leaving behind them in the Valtoline one daughter and two yong sonnes who cannot obtaine leave to depart the countrey CHAP. 2. ¶ The massacre of Teglie wherein were murthered about sixty persons THese wicked traitors having in this manner committed the foresaid execrable massacre in Tyrane suddenly the strangers and the outlawes of the mountaines apparrelled in red cassockes and well mounted on horsebacke marched in the morning to Tel at the houre when the Sermon was and ran like ravening Wolves to the Volta Church being guided by two Friers Azzo and Carolo Besta by Antonio Besta their cousin germane The Protestants who were in the Church observing the evill intention of those villains arose suddenly from their seats and endevored to shut the Church doore and to barricadoe the place with the benches They without laboured with all their power to enter the Church but not being able so spéedily to do it some of them climed up unto the windowes and discharged their muskets among the people without respect of any person and killed very many of them At last they forced the doore entred and slew all they found saving a few who promised to go to masse Some of the men and ladies with their children fled into the belfrey to save themselves but they set fire to the place most miserably burnt all that were within Amongst those who were slaine in the Church the chiefest of note was the reverend Lord Iohn Piere Dante of Rozu of the higher Engadin a minister of the Protestant Church of Tell a man rarely endued with learning and the feare of God and in those respects honoured even of his enemies themselves who after he had with lively reasons exhorted that afflicted Church of his constantly to persevere unto death in the knowne and confessed truth to the honor of his Saviour even so long as the brevity of the time would permit him was to the griefe of very many miserably shot to death being of the age of 42 yeares Amongst these was one Iosui Gattia Doctor of the law Lievtenant to the Podesta of Tell and principall Iustice an honourable Gentleman and of excellent vertues about 43 yeares of age together with Daniel Gugelberge Gaudenzo Guizziardi a Gentleman of like worth and honour Cousin germane to the father of the forenamed Azzo Besta of the age of sixty foure yeares Margaritta his daughter of the age of fourtéene yeares or thereabouts was wounded with a musket shot in the head going about to bow her selfe by giving a last kisse to her deare father who was yéelding up the ghost Antonio the sonne of Scipion Besta a Gentleman very rich and of excellent parts although hee was the néere kinsman of Azzo Besta was shot to death and died in the arms of his wife being of the age of thirty seven Ascanio Gatti an Apothecary of Tell being seven and twenty yeres of age George his brother eightéen yeres old Ionata Piatti sixty five yeares old Maximilian Piatti foure and twenty yeares Vincenzo Frigerio Notary and Procurator of Tell age 39. Marssilio Piatti age 38. Filiberto his brother age 19. Virginio Piatti age 28. Lorenzo Piatti of Boaltie age 23. slaine with a musket shot at the window of the stéeple Philippo Nova likewise of Boaltie age 45. Bartolomeo his brother age 42. Petro Marcioninno Master of the school of Tell age 35. Thomas de Boruno age 64. together with his son Claudio Gatti a Notary age 43. Andrea Tempino a Gardonese age 41. Anna Gala di Zozio of the upper Agnadma wife of Bartolomeo Nova a Romane Catholike age 42. Benedetto Cattaneo age 17. Giouanni Pietio and Iohn Martin Cattaneo his sons Lucius Federicke age 60. Andruno Morello age 50. Iosepho his brother age 35. Alberto Marcumni 45. Federico Valentino of Zernezo of Agnadma the lower dwelling at Gura of the hundred of Chiure age 64. Ioanni Menghino of Posvavo dwelling in Gura 40 yeares of age In the Stéeple of the Church were burnt these which follow Horatio Gatti some of the abovesaid Iosue Gatti age 6. Doctor Lelio Paravicino of Berbenno a Physitian of great worth and excellently practised in his profession dwelling in Tell age 43. Azzo Guizziardi nephew of the above named Gaudenzo a young courteous gentleman and of rare
hope age 22 Friderico Guizziardi age 34. Horatio Paravicino sonne of Francisco age 6. Margareta Marlianica wife of Raphael Nova a Doctor of the Law a Gentleman of great worth age 43. Madalena her daughter wife of Daniel Gatti age 18. Anshelino Gatti Chancellor of the State of Tell age 67 Giovan Pauli Piatti son of Ionata age 48. Claudia Piatti daughter of Massimiliano age 7. Violante late wife of Theodore Gatti age 64. Giovanninna widow of Vincentio Nova age 34. Pietro Regenzano Chancellor of the above named Podesta of Tell age 46. Iosue Meda age 50. Martua of Borum age 53. Madalena Girardona wife of Claudio Gatti age 33. Augusto Gatti son of Abraham age 22. Abroad without the Church and Stéeple were slaine Vincentio Gatti brother of Anthelmo age 73. Andrea his sonne age 32. who was murthered in the stréet called Lagone Claudio Gatti sonne of Theodoro Ionatan Medasonne of Iosue Daniel Lazeroto Vincentio Cattaneo and Giovan Pietro Regenzano who comming from Morbegno from the garrison were slaine in a certaine place called Buffetto age 18. or thereabouts Thomazo Reaenzano brother of Giovan Pietro age 38. Melchior Marcionino wounded in the head but after five daies being found in his bed was solicited with great promises to renounce his Religion but he with great earnestnesse and resolution refusing was murthered in his bed age 65. Giovanni Antonio Federici Doctor of Law in Sonico in Valeamenica age 38. was very néer to be murthered in prison from whence at the instance of Antonio Piatti Curate of Tell he was set frée In this place it is worth the noting that Giovan Abondio Nova sonne of Doctor Raffaele a very learned young man albeit out of humane infirmity to save his life he had promised in the Church of Tell to goe to masse yet in short time recovering himselfe and acknowledging his oversight with much griefe and repentance for his fault he with all spéed departed from Tell towards Sondres supposing that he should be safely protected by his deare kinsman Nudar Marliemion but being required by the souldiers who kept the passage of Trisiria to deny his Religion for refusing the same he was slaine in the way being 22 yeares of age This young man is a singular example for them who fall méerly through infirmity and danger of death not in other respect but yet after their fall through the grace of God and the crowing voice of the word doe returne to repentance confessing their fault and with unfained sorrow of heart bewailing the same which even befel the blessed Apostle Peter himselfe CHAP. 3. The massacre following committed at Sondres in the mountaine of Sondrium and Malenk wherein were left dead above 140 persons THese wicked and savage wretches having in this manner executed and finished this their impious and execrable enterprise at Tyrane and Tell assembled themselves in the middest of the Valley of Sondres where the principall and chiefe Iustice of the Country made his residence having before placed secure guards upon every passage of the countrey about They came principally by the conduct of Giovani Guizziardi Prospero Swadino and Guilio Pozalis being all thrée of Ponte with an entire company of souldiers from Ponte Chiur and some few from Porti who the very same Sunday marched to the gate of Albosagia in which place they found Lorenco Paribello a doctor Giovan Iacomo and Floratio his sons with another company of souldiers attending the comming of the abovesaid Iohn Guizziardi with his company This businesse was fréely divulged all abroad in Sondres by the Romane Catholikes themselves that these banished came towards Sondres to execute the same designe which they before had practised at Tyrane and Tell who offered their ayd to the chiefe Iustice to defend him against the invasion protesting that they would no more endure any such villanous attempts Wherfore they took armes under pretence and shew of defence beating up the drummes ane ringing the bells for the alarme by which meanes not only great multitudes assembled in armes out of the countries adjoyning but also with one purpose and consent to doe mischiefe and to execute their malitious intentions against the protestants who suspected nothing lesse In the meane time the protestants trusting to the great promises which the Papists made them mixed themselves amongst them These persons concealing their mischievous intent killed at times sometimes one sometimes another of the Protestants in such manner as although divers of them were slaine yet they did not understand the secret of the practise Some of them endeavouring to flée towards the valley of Malenco which lies against Poschiaro Agnedma and Pregalia were murthered by certaine villaines of Ponchiero a place about Sondres and amongst other Gentle women were wounded and run through in many parts Frances Marliamio Giovanni Andrea Chissa and others particularly Doctor Bartholomed Paravicino Doctor of the Law in Berbenno called the Fatt who was cruelly murthered being of age 53 yeares The day after was slaine in the morning Nitholo Marlianco sonne of Fellosâ—o a man singularly affected to the publique good and to the advancement of the Gospell Hee was shot by his cousin germane Emilio Luvizaro méeting him in the stréet the said Marlianco going in the company of Lucio Orschletta of Zornezo Agnadina the lower to visit the court of guard in the quarrevoy of Sondres age 46. At this time it was delivered for certaine that the day before was murthered Cesar the sonne of Prospero Paravicino and of Hortensia Marteninga Countesse of Barco a Gentleman of most rare abilities travelling about his businesse towards Tresiar age 50. Besides Prospero his son was slaine of age 27. also Battista Girrardo with his sonne George and many others by which meanes these protestants were so scattered and left destitute of any head for their conduct that they could not possibly unite themselves to make defence against their enemies Onely the Chancellor Giovan Andrea Migardino calling to remembrance the matters contained in the abovesaid processes the same sabbath day the ninth of Iuly with his brother Gregory and others of the Church of Sondres withdrew themselves to the number of eightéene together with certaine Ladies and their young children into their owne house which is adjoyning to the Palace and there they fortified themselves with resolution to defend themselves even to the death séeing that in the stréet wherein they dwelt none durst come out of the doores nor enter into the Church which stood over against them Neverthelesse the enemy resolved to set upon the house with a thousand armed men threatening also the Magistrate to kill him in case any of them should take any harm by those who were retired into the house Whereupon the Magistrate commanded them in the house to depart who being well armed tooke their way on the sudden by Sondres towards the bridge where for a time they fortified themselves then returning again they drew unto them certain others and marched towards the Church of the Mountaine of
CHAP. II. Shewing How the Faithfull ought to be are persecutions patiently FOrasmuch as afflictions are thus necessary and inevitable to beleevers that whether they will or no they must passe this strait way they ought to bethinke them how to make hard things easie And herein to follow the dealing of the Physitian with his patient who intending to give him some bitter Potion or Pill is wont to sweeten the one with Syrrup and to wrap up the other in gold lest he should abhor to take in or swallow downe either the one or the other Even so are we by committing to memory some elect and choice sentences of holy Scriptures concerning the Crosse to cover over the same therewith that it may not appeare so dreadfull unto us as we apprehend it to be For that which causeth us to fly and feare persecution is a prejudicate opinion we have conceived in our mindes that some deadly poison lurks under it And therefore wee shun so much as to taste a little sup thereof in regard we imagine it to be the only bitter drug in the world Now that which makes us fall into and breeds in us this error is because as therein so almost in all things else we are led rather by sense than by the word by which wee ought to ballance and regulate all our perswasions and resolutions For could we beleeve what the Prophets and Apostles inspired of God have preached and written for the use of posterity as touching persecutions wee would not onely have them in a more honourable esteeme but thankfully and patiently beare them To which end let us endeavour firmly to imprint in our minds these and the like sentences Saint Paul tels us that if we be reproached for the name of Christ we may think our selves happy for the spirit of glory and of God saith he resteth upon you And 1 Pet. 4. 14. Rom. 5. 3. Saint Paul speaking of himselfe and his associates saith thus And not onely so but we glory in tribulation also knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience c. And in another place God forbid that I should glory save in the crosse of our Gal. 6. 14. Lord Iesus Christ These places with sundry others to the same purpose doe sufficiently manifest how much the true Christian ought to thinke himselfe honored of God when it pleaseth him to call such an one forth to suffer for his name in the defence of his Truth What other thing else I pray you was the cause of Saint Pauls glorying and that 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. Hos 13. 14. glory in an higher degree which Christ hath ordained for us by his death with which glory he is now invironed in the kingdome of his father What else is it which is promised to the Elect as a recompence of their faith in Gods promises and all their loyall Isa 24. 16. services but glory to the righteous What is the principall glory which we attribute to the Martyrs Is it not in regard of their invincible patience and constancy of faith by which they overcame the world and their owne flesh which is not to be esteemed a small or meane victory If Alexander obtained so great renowne by conquering Darius and Scipio for discomfiting Hannibal c. who slew but a few mortall men like themselves how much are wee in comparison of them to admire their valour who have not onely warred against men but against their threats gibbets fires yea against death it selfe and in the end triumphed over it We worthily magnifie the prowesse of Sampson and Shaâ—gar the one for Iudg. 15. 15. Chap. 3. 31. killing a thousand men with the jaw-bone of an asse the other for killing six hundred men with an Oxe goad Yet did the force of the Martyrs farre excell theirs who with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God were mabled to overcome the devill with Eph. 6. 17. all his retinue Tertullian tels us That there is no better Order of Knighthood nor chaines of greater In his Epistle to the martyrs of his time price than those to which the Martyrs of Iesus Christ are fastened nor richer bracelets than the manacles wherewith their hands are bound In the Ecclesiasticall history it is It was Babilas Bishop of Autioch in the yeare 250. Ex Chrysoft li. contra Gentiles reported of a good Bishop who by the Emperor Decius being cast into a filthy stinking prison or hole for the name of Christ with as many yrons as he could beare intreated his friends who somtime came to visit him that after his death they would bury with him the signes and tokens of his valour meaning his bolts and fetters which were put upon his legs and hands teaching us That when we see it is the will of God to impose them upon us and thereby to dub us Knights of his Order we should esteem our selves no lesse honored than if a King by way of gratifying a valiant champion for some great services done for him should reward the same with some of his owne precious jewels and then no lesse to brave it out in these our Ornaments than a woman when she sees her selfe decked with all costly array from top to toe If that which Cicero writes be true That no vertue gives to man greater Iustre than In his book of Offices Magnanimity we may thence safely conclude That none ought in this kinde to be preferred before a Christian Martyr who neither loves desires or admires ought save that which is honest and praiseworthy nor gathers any riches to himselfe but what he knows to be lasting and hopes to possesse for ever in the Kingdome of Heaven and therefore sleighting either mens favours or displeasures as those that are high borne contemne the one when they seem to smile and are not much daunted with the frowns of the other knowing right well that all things under the Sun are but vanity and subject to change with their ages and seasons We read in the Ecclesiasticall story of one Phanutius Bishop of Thebaides who under the tyranny of Maximinus having one of his eyes put out never presented himselfe before Constantine the Great but that good Emperour embracing of him would kisse that eye which being lost wee know how unseemly it causeth that part to be But thus the Emperour would shew That nothing ought to be in higher esteeme with us than the crosse of Christ and the markes thereof when we beare or weare them on any part of our bodies If the good and holy life oâ—a Christian be so much set by of us then must the death of such a one be much more glorious when for the name of Christ hee takes the same joyfully Who could be more deare in the eye of God the Father than his Son Iesus Christ Mat. 3. 17. Yet gave he him to suffer death for our sins and by suffering the same according to the will and appointment
hapned in a city of Suitzerland among the papists An. 1559. He expresseth neither the Consuls name nor the city the thing being sufficiently knowne to the inhabitants thereabouts This Consul being a rich and potent man intending to build a brave and magnificent house sent far and neere for the rarest and most exquisite workemen he could heare tell of Amongst the rest he sent to the city of Trent so much renounced among Papists in regard of the last Councell the Pope had there for an excellent carber and master Builder called Iohn a man very religious and a lover of the Truth for which cause the said Iohn refused at the first to goe thither alledging for himselfe that he was of a contrary religion to that which the Consull professed and therefore could not safely inhabit among such as would observe his contempt of the Masse and their other ceremonies The Consull promised him safety in respect of his person and that he should be forced to nothing against his conscience Upon this his promise Iohn came and wrought a long time with the consull but when he came to demand his wages they entred into some termes of discontent In the end at the command of this Consull Iohn was committed to prison and by the same Consull accused for a sleighter of the Romish religion yea to have spoken unreverently thereof wherefore he was condemned to be beheaded As they led him to execution he went towards it with undaunted courage and died very constantly protesting in the presence of all the Spectators that he most gladly layd downe this life present for the maintenance of that religion whereof he had made profession beleeving undoubtedly that it was the Truth but added that the consull who was the author of his death should himselfe die within three daies and appeare before Gods judgement seat to render an account of his sentence Which came to passe according as this pious man foretold for the Consull being then in the prime of his youth and of an healthfull disposition of body from that day began to be assailed first with an exceeding heate and then with an extraordinary cold and thus was he smitten with a new kinde of sicknesse so as within three dayes he followed him of whom he had bin both the most unjust accuser and judge ¶ The speech of a poore Porter called Chevillon whipped for the Truth and after confined to the Gallies BEing whipped thorow the stréets of Romans he said to him that lashed him Lay on my friend lay it on and spare not chastise this flesh which hath so often rebelled against his God thinking himselfe happy that he suffered in so good a quarrell ¶ The miserable end of one called Aubespine a Counsellor of Grenolle and a persecutor AFter these bloody persecutions this Aubespine fell in love with a gentlewoman and therein gave such way to his passion that he forsooke his calling casting off all care of his owne welfare to follow her whithersoever she went But she disregarding him he tooke it so to heart that he neglected his owne person by reason whereof swarming full of lice he could by no meanes be rid of them for they increased upon him and came out at all the parts of his body as they are seen to issue out of a dead carkasse It was not long before his death but feeling himselfe smitten with Gods hand he began to despaire of his mercy and to shorten his dayes he concluded to famish himselfe in the meane while the lice gathered so thick about his throat as if they would strangle him Some beholding this so lamentable a spectacle being much mooved therewith in commiserating his estate agréed to make him eat whether he would or no forcing him to take some broth or a Cullis which he resisting with all his might they bound his armes gagging his mouth with a sticke to kéepe it open whilest they put somewhat thereinto Being thus gagged he died like an inraged beast with the abundance of lice which crept towards his throat And thus it was spoken even Gag them said he for it wee suffer them to speake they will doe more harme at their death than in their life which practise was not onely liked but executed by some of the Romish Religion that looke what torment he had devised for the ministers of Valence sending them gagged to their execution he was by the just judgment of God punished after a sort in the same kind Iohn Ponce of Leon a Gentleman of Seuill in in Spaine AMong those that with a firme faith sealed the truth of the Gospel with their bloud in the Spanish inquisition at Sevill the foure and twentieth of September 1559. Don Iohn Ponce of Leon the sonne of Roderic Ponce of Leon Count of Baylen may of good right deserve to be placed in the first ranke For besides the noble race from whench he sprang the Lord had indued him with singular vertues well beséeming so worthy and Christian a Gentleman Those who were of his familiar acquaintance and did well observe his conversation gave this testimony of his sincerity that his like was not knowne in Spaine of a long time in that a man of his estate was so forward to exercise his charity towards such in whom he saw but any good inclination to religion yea his yearely revenues which were also great were not onely imployed that way but he séemed to excéede the chiefest of his ranke in yéelding his helpe and aide towards the reliefe of the poore All which the world taking knowledge of attributed as it is woont that which procéeded from his so Christian bounty rather unto wastfulnesse and prodigality The Inquisitors of Sevill envying the swéete savour of such a life and conversation as he led before them flowing from an inward taste of true Religion spared him no more than those of meaner condition For having gotten him into their hands they left no meanes unassayed but used the utmost of their devices to weaken his faith The truth is that at the first this noble personage was much perplexed but at the last the Lord fortified him so with his grace that he was set in the first rounde of the guilty Concerning his sentence howsoever this holy tribunall mixed the same with many untruths to bleare the eyes of the ignorant withall yet may it easily be collected out of the tenor of his sentence what he confessed and professed For in the said sentence were read his articles for which he was principally condemned to the fire namely That hée abhorred the Idolatry which is committed in adoring the Sacrament calling it a breaden god Also that when he met it as it was carried through the stréets either in solemnity or to some sicke body he passed into another stréet going apace before it that he might give no reverence unto it That comming often into the Cathedrall Church where masse was said he turned his back towards the Priest because he would not sée
and contempt but also the Constable Marlorate◠used disgracefully as he went to be executed loaded him with a thousand disgraces and outrages as also a son of his called Nombron slain soone after in the battell of Dreur Besides Villebon gave him a switch with a wand not without reproachfull spéeches also But he notwithstanding bare all indignities very méekly and patiently When he was come to the place where hée His behaviour at his death should suffer he made an excellent spéech according as the time there permitted him exhorting Gruchet and Cotton who were to suffer with him to stand fast in the faith unto the end which they also did And yet the rage of the people not being herewith satisfied a soldier with his sword strooke at Marlorats leg being already dead Upon which insolencies God within a while after executed his just vengeance for the Captaine Strange judgements of God befalling such as had an hand in persecuting of him who surprised Marlorat was slaine within the space of thrée wéekes by one of the basest soldiers in all the band And as concerning his Judges two of them dyed soone after strangely namely one of them to wit the President by a fluxe of blood which they could by no meanes stanch the other which was a Counsellor making water at his fundament with such stinch that none could endure to come nigh him As for Villebon he escaped at no better rate for the sixtéenth day of February the Marshall of Vieille Ville comming to Rovan to take order about the affaires of Diepe having invited him to dinner among other talke betwéene them sitting together after they had dined the Marshall lamenting the miserable estate of that City exhorted Villebon to use some meanes for the redresse of such disorders being the Kings Lieutenant there Which words Villebon tooke very harshly saying That if any would dare to taxe him for not carrying himselfe as he ought in his place he would againe tell him to his face he lyed Which words with often repetitions he used after such a manner as the Marshall being therewith very much urged was forced for saving of his honour to draw his sword wherewith he let drive with such violence at Villebon that if he had not received the blow with his hand he had cleft his head downe to his téeth So Villebon escaped at that time with the losse of his hand wherewith he had dishonorably smitten Marlorat at the place of execution Which hand he caused to be buried with greater solemnity than himselfe could attain unto afterwards A relation of such troubles and persecutions as happened to those of the Religion in the City of Caen and other Cities of France as hereafter follow in the yeare 1562. Caen. SUch and so long continued the troubles in the City of Rovan that many were driven to escape for their lives into this City of Caen for albeit the King had commanded that the pillaging and sacking of Rovan should not last above twenty foure houres the seditious there continued it above twenty foure wéekes and albeit they were forbidden to carry any goods out of that City yet the Merchants of Paris of Amiens Beauvais and others besides ceased not to load carts by land and vessels by water which some of them notwithstanding enjoyed not long for such as were the receivers of these spoiles were spoiled thereof by théeves which met them upon the way Valougnes THe body of Coqueville being stripped naked was dragged by the murtherers of this town being in low Normandy up and down his house with all derision into a chamber of his where the exhortations were wont to be made and there spurning the dead body with their féet they bad him now pray to his God and preach if hee could yea the Priests who were then present stuck not with the points of their halbards to stuffe the mouths and wounds of the dead with the leaves of bibles saying to the poore dead corpses Preach the truth of your God and call upon him now to help you Thalouse A Trumpeier and the common Cryer in the Citty called Nicholas Bosche being commanded by the seditious to say Ave Maria answered with a stedfast countenance Ah the blessed Virgin where is she that I might salute her Then looking about him this way and that way he sayd I see she is not here she is in heaven and thither will I goe to find her and so being brought to the place of execution he dyed constantly Gaillac THe murthers which were committed in this place were cruell and horrible insomuch as some were forced to goe up to the top of an high and great rocke whereon the Abbey of Saint Michael was built having underneath it the river of Tar very déep into which they were throwne downe headlong méeting in the passage with another rocke on which some were burst and dashed all to pieces and if any fell into the river escaping with life he was knocked downe immediately by the murtherers who attended waiting in boats upon such occasions Among the rest Peter Domo the servant of an Apothecary requested he might have leave to cast himselfe from a place higher than that from which others were throwne downe on condition that if God should in the fall preserve him from being hurt he might then escape with life He was carried up upon the top of the Abbey where having made his prayers unto God fetching his leap he flew so right forth that missing the rocke he fell safely into the river whence endeavouring to swin out hee also was knocked down notwithstanding their promise made to him as touching the contrary Souraize A Poore woman called Castille Roques being a widow aged about sixty yeares being in her poore Cottage in the City of Souraize was set upon by Captaine Durre having at his command thrée hundred men Hée caused this widow to be fast bound with cords with another fastened about her necke all night The next day having halfe strangled her by haling her here and there be asked her how oft she had plaied the whore with those of her religion to whom she boldly answered That in their Christian méeting no such villanies were committed Durre fretting and fuming at this her answer tooke her by both the chéekes forcing her head against a wall with such violence and so often therewithall that he had almost beaten out her braines and then willed her to give him seven hundred pieces of gold which he sayd she had hidden to which she replying told him she was a poore woman and had onely a French penny he chasing thereat 〈◊〉 drew her againe by the necke with the cord and then applyed rosted egges even as they came hot out of the fire under her arme-holes so as they were much blistered therewith and afterwards in derision bad her cry to her father which is in heaven She answered I will not cry aloud for thee and yet hee can heare me well enough and
not yet satisfied But going from house to house with their associats Anno 1569. where they thought to find any Huguenots they brake open the doores then cruelly murthered whomsoever they met sparing neither sex nor age The pretence was this Report was raised there that a treason of the Huguenots was discovered who had conspired to kill the King his Mother his brethren having already killed fifteene of the guard Carts were laden with dead bodies of yong maidens women men and children which were discharged into the river covered in a maner all over with the slain and dyed red with their bloud which also streamed down the stréets from sudry parts thereof whereat the Courtezans laughed their fill saying That the warres were now ended and that hereafter they should live in peace c. But it would take up too much time to recite all the lamentable passages of this so sad and tuefull a tragedy ¶ This with some others which follow belonging to this History because they could not bee omitted are here under inserted TO begin then with Monsieur Pierre de la Place President of the Court of Requests whose story we will relate somewhat at large because his singular piety requires the same On Sunday morning about six of the clock one called Captaine Michael harquebusier of the king came into his lodging into which he had the more easie accesse for divers private respects This Captaine being armed having a harquebuse This was a token by which the murtherers were distinguished form others on his shoulder apâ—stoll at his girdle and his handkerchiefe tyed about his left arme presenting himself before the said De la Place the first words he spake were that the Duke of Guise had slaine the Admirall by the Kings appointment with many Huguenots besides and because the rest of them of what quality soever were destinated to death he was come to his lodging to exempt him from the common destruction onely he desired to have a sight of that gold and silver which was in the house The Lord de la Place somwhat amased at the audacious malapartnesse of the man who in the midst of ten or twelve persons which were there present in the roome durst presume to utter such language askt him if he knew where he was or whether he thought there was a King or no To this the Captaine blaspheming answered that he willed him to goe with him to know the kings pleasure The said Lord de la Place hearing this fearing also some danger to be towards by sedition in the City slipped forth at a backe doore behind his lodging purposing to get into a neighbors house In the meane while most of his servants vanished out of sight and this Captaine having stored himselfe with a thousand crowns was intreated by the Lady Marets daughter to the said Lord to convey her father with the Lord Marets her husband into the house of some Romane Catholike which he consented to doe and also performed it After this de la Place being refused at thrée severall houses was constrained to retire backe againe into his own where he found his wife very pensive and grieved beyond measure fearing lest this Captaine in the end would cast her sonne in law and daughter into the river as also for the imminent danger wherein her deare husband and all his family were But the said Lord de la Place being strengthened by the spirit of God with incredible constancy in the inner man sharply rebuked her and afterwards mildely demonstrated unto her that we must receive these and the like afflictions from the hand of God and so having discoursed a while upon the promises of God comforted her Then he commanded such servants and maids as remained in the house to be called togeher who being come into his Chamber according to his custome on the Lords dayes he made a forme of exhortation to his family then went to prayer and began to read a Chapter out of the booke of Iob with the exposition or sermon of Master Iohn Calvin upon it So having spoken somewhat of Gods mercy and justice which as a good and wise father useth to exercise his elect with sundry chastisements lest they should bée intangled here below with the things of this World he shewed how néedfull afflictions were for Christians and that it was beyond the power of Satan or men to hurt or wrong them unlesse the Lord of his good pleasure gave them leave What néed have we then said he to dread their authority which at the most can but prevaile over our bodies Then he went to prayer againe preparing himselfe and his whole family rather to endure all sorts of torments yea death it selfe than to speake or doe ought that might tend to the dishonour of God Having finished his prayer word was brought him that Senecay the Provost Marihall with many archers were at the doore of his lodging commanding the same to be opened in the Kings name saying that he came to secure the person of the Lord de la Place and to preserve his house from being pillaged by the common sort The Lord de la Place having intelligence of this spéech commanded the doore to be opened to him who entring in declared the great slaughter that was made upon the Huguenots every where in the city by the Kings command adding this withall in Latine that he would not suffer one to live Qui mingat ad Parietem Yet have I expresse charge from his Majesty saith he to sée that you shall sustaine no wrong but only conduct you to the Louvre because the King is desirous to be informed touching many things about the affairs of those of the Religion which he hath now in hand and therfore willed him to make himself ready to goe to his Majesty The Lord de la Place answered That he alwaies thought himselfe happy before he left this life to gaine any opportunity by which hée might render an account to his Majesty of his behaviour and actions But in regard such horrible Massacres were every where committed it was impossible for him to passe to the Louvre without the certaine danger of his person praying him to assure his Majesty of his willingnesse to come the whilest leaving in his lodging as many Archers as hee thought fitting untill the fury of theâ— people was somewhat pacified The Provost agréed to his request and left with him one of his Lieutenants called Toute Voye with some foure of his archers Not long after comes into his lodging Prestdent Charron then provost of the merchants with whom conferring a little in secret going his way he left with the foure archers which were there before foure more of the city archers The whole night following was spent in stopping up and fortifying of all passages from entring the house with logs and provision of Flint-stones damming up the windowes so as if séemed by this so exact and diligent a defence the
while after he was overtaken by the hand of God with such a flux of bléeding at his nose as could not be restrained nor diverted by any of the remedies that were then used It was an hideous sight to sée him still bowing his head over a basonfull of bloud which without ceasing issued out of his nose and mouth This bloudy wretch then who breathed forth Vincent dies drenched in his owne bloud nothing but bloud in the time of his health nor could have his eyes satisfied with séeing the bloud of innocents poured out was forced whilest he lived to sée himselfe drenched in his own bloud even untill his last gaspe Another of them thirsting after bloud as much Another of this wretched crew swelled so long that he burst in sunder God meets with the Governor himself at length as any of the rest was taken with such a swelling in all the parts of his body that there was scarcely to be discerned in him the forme of a man and so continued swelling more and more till at the length he burst in sunder The Governour himselfe who was the chiefe actor in this massacre about two yeares after gathering all the forces he could to besiege Genses with an intention to doe wonders there presenting himselfe ready for the purpose was chosen to goe in the ranke of five and twenty or thirty brave Gentlemen and he onely shot with an harquebuse dyed The rest by and by retiring came off safe without doing any further exploit Thus we have taken a view of the extreme afflictions and oppressions of the reformed Churches in many parts of France wherein within a Thirty thousand massacred within a few weeks in the Cities of France few wéeks well nigh thirty thousand were put to death Now in the yeare 1573 many places whither the faithfull were fled for refuge were assayled by open warre namely in the first place that of Sancerre the History whereof you have here in a short view presented before you in that which followeth A relation of the extreme famine which happened in the City of Sancerre in France being besieged with five hundred horsmen and about five thousand footmen the ninth of Ianuary 1573. with their deliverance The Siour of Chastre was then Generall of the Kings army BEing saith the story compassed about with irreconcileable enemies from about the beginning of Aprill the want of victuals having caused them to gather together all the asses and mules they had in the City they were eaten up in lesse than a moneth Then they came to horses cats rats moules mice and dogges After these were spent they fell to eat oxe and cow-hides sheep-skins parchment old shooes bullockes and horsehoofes hornes of lanthornes ropes and horse harnesse leather girdles c. In the end of Iune the third part of the besieged had not bread to eat Such as could get hemp séed ground it or stamped it in mortars and made bread of it the like they did with all sorts of herbes mingling the same with branne if they had it There they eat meale of chaffe nut-shels and of slate excrements of horses and men yea the offall which lay in the stréets was not spared The nine and twentieth of Iuly a poore man and his wife were executed for having eaten the head braines and entrailes of a young childe about thrée yeares old which died of hunger having made ready the other parts to eat at another meale An old woman lodging in their house eating a part of this mournefull dyet dyed in prison within a few houres after her imprisonment They were found guilty of other offences but this aggravated the same the more All children under twelve yeares of age dyed It was lamentable to heare the pittifull voices uttered by poore parents for the misery wherein their eyes beheld their languishing and dying infants To which purpose you may take notice here of a memorable accident A boy of ten yeares old being ready to yéeld up the ghost séeing his father and mother wéeping over him whose aâ—nes and legges when they handled felt as if they had béen dryed stickes said unto them wherefore wéepe ye thus in séeing me famished to death Mother saith he I aske you no bread I know you have none but séeing it is Gods will I must die this death let us bee thankfull for it Did not the holy man Lazarus dye of famine Have I not read it in my Bible In uttering these with the like spéeches he yéelded up the ghost the thirtieth day of Iuly That all the people died not of famine in the end of this moneth it was by reason of certain horses which were reserved for service if néed should be and six kine which were left to give milk for the sustenance of young infants These beasts were killed and their flesh sold for the reliefe of such as were living with a little corne which by stealth some brought into the City so that a pound of wheat was sold for halfe a crowne There died by fight in Sancerre but eighty four persons but of the famine more than five hundred Many souldiers getting forth as they could out of the City flying from the famine chose rather to dye by the sword of the enemy whereof some were slaine others imprisoned and the rest put to death by the executioner But when all helpe of man failed the King having sworne that he would make them eat up God sent these good men in due season from a farre countrey to preserve this distressed city thom utter ruine one another the King of Kings delivered them by his wonderfull providence For at this instant the embassadors from Poland came into France to accept the duke of Anjou for their king at whose intreaty which could not well be dented poore Sancerre more than halfe famished was now set at liberty by raising the siege who otherwise were determined to leave their bones there rather than to yéeld themselves into their enemies hands in regard they had oft threatened them with a generall massacre Whereas now by the Kings appointment they were permitted to passe out of the City armed if any would tarry that they should Anno 1574. not be molested having liberty granted them to dispose of their affaires as they pleased with promise of conserving the honour and chastities as well of virgins as women c. Now let us come to the City of Rochel which Of this siege Marshall Mon Luc said that it was great long and sightly but though well assailed yet better defended being at this instant strongly besieged by the forces of France both by sea and land with about forty or fifty thousand men was yet in the end also delivered though not without many hot conflicts by the immediate hand of God namely thus The Embassadors of Poland arriving in France the seventéenth day of Iune atruce was made on the sudden articles of peace drawne and sent to the King who consented
such particular acclamations the whole army in every quarter did so deboutly at certaine times sing in her hearing in very tunable manner divers Psalmes put into forme of prayers in praise to Almighty God no waies to be misliked that she greatly commended them Anno 1588. and with very earnest spéech thanked God with them This that I write you may be sure I doe not with any comfort but to give you these manifest arguments that neither this Qéene doth discontent her people nor her people doe shew any discontent in any thing they be commanded to doe for her service as heretofore hath béen imagined The same day wherein the last fight was the Duke of Parma after his vowes offered to the Lady of Halla came somewhat late to Dunkerk and was received with some opprobrious words of the Spaniards as if in favour of Quéene Elizabeth he had slipped the fairest opportunity that could be to doe the service He to make some satisfaction punished the purveiours that had not made provision of beere bread and victuals which was not yet ready nor imbarked secretly smiting at the insolency of the Spaniards when he heard them glorying that what way soever they came upon England they would have an undoubted victory that the English were not able to endure the sight them Bernardinus Mendoza did indéed by Bookes in France sing a foolish and lying triumphant For which a Papist sticks not to taxe him writing upon this subject to Mendcza The Spaniards dismaied flâ—e away for feare song before the victory The English Admirall appointed Seimor and the Hollanders to watch upon the coast of Flanders that the Duke of Parma should not come out himselfe followed the Spaniards upon their backes untill they were past Edenborough frith The Spaniards séeing all hopes faile and finding no other help for themselves but by flight fled amaine and never made stay And so this great Navy being thrée yeares preparing with great cost was within a moneth overthrown and after And all their preparations blasted the English receiving small losse viz. not one hundred men in all nor one ship but that of Cockes many were killed being chased away of English there were not one hundred lost nor one ship lost saving that of Cocks was driven about all Britaine by Scotland Orcades Ireland tossed and shaken with tempests and much lessened and came home without glory Whereupon some money was coined with a Navy fléeing away at full saile and this inscription Venit Vidit Fugit Other were coined with the ships fired the navy confounded in honour of the Quéene inscribed Dux foemina facti As they fled it is certain that many of their ships were cast away upon the shores of Scotland and Ireland More then seven hundred soldiers and Mariners were cast up upon the Scottish shors who at the Duke of Parma his intercession with the Scots King the Quéene of England consenting were after a yâ—are sent into Flanders But they that were cast up upon the Irish shore by tempests came to more miserable fortunes for some were killed by the wilde Irish others by the Deputies command for he fearing that they might joyne themselves to the wild Irish Bingham the Governor of Connach being once or twice commanded to slay them having yeÌ„elded but refusing to doe it Fowle the under Marshall was sent and killed them which cruelty the Quéen much condemned whereupon the rest being afraid sick and hungry with their torne ships committed themselves to the sea and many were drowned Quéene Elizabeth came in publike thankesgiving to Pauls Church in a Chariot drawne Queen Elizabeth giveth thankes to God for so unexpected a deliverance with two horses her Nobles accompanying her with a very gallant traine through the stréets of London which were hung with blew cloth the companies standing on both sides were in their liveries the Banners that were taken from the enemies were spred shée heard the Sermon anpublique thankes were rendred unto God with great joy This publique joy was augmented when sir Robert Sidney returning out of Scotland brought from the King assurance of his noble minde and affection to the Quéene and to religion which as in sincerity he had established so he purposed to maintaine with all his power Sir Robert Sidney was sent to him when the Spanish fléet was comming to congratulate and to give him thankes for his propense affection towards the maintenance of the common cause and to declare how ready she would be to help him if the Spaniards should land in Scotland and that he might recall to memory with what strange ambition the Spaniard had gaped for all Britaine urging the Pope to excommunicate him to the end that he might be thrust from the Kingdome of Scotland and from the succession in England and to give him notice of threatning of Mendoza and the Popes Nuncio who threatned his ruine if they could worke it and therefore warned him to take especiall héed to the Scottish Papists The King pleasantly answered That he looked for no other benefit from the Spaniard then that which Polyphemus promised to Vlysses to devoure him last after all his Fellowes were devoured ¶ To close up this whole relation heare what The odore Beza writes in certaine gratulatory Verses written in Latine and sent unto her Majesty the effect of which Verses is this in English WIth Navy huge the Spaniard proud The English seas had spread And all to set the English Crowne Upon the Spanish head And would you gladly understand The cause of all this rout Ambition first did lay the plot And lucre brought them out How well this pride thus puffed up A puffe did overthrow And swelling wave such swelling wights How well did overflow How well that Worrier of mankinde That Spanish cruell Wolfe Was tost and tumbled up and downe Within the Ocean gulfe And you for whom both all the windes And all the waters fight O noble Queene of all the world The only true delight Goe forward still to rule for God Ambition laid aside Goe forward still for Christ his Flocke In bounty to provide That thou maist England governe long Long England thee enjoy As well a love unto the good As to the bad annoy From Geneva besieged by the Duke of Savoy the twelfth day of August Anno 1589. Your Majesties most humble Orator Theodore Beza ¶ The death of the Duke of Guise and Henry Anno 1598. the third King of France IT was not long after that the Duke of Guise who was slain by the Lord Lougna at the kings Chamber doore and King Henry the third were taken away he being the last of the house of Vallois and dying without any lawfull heires of his body begotten The manner of whose death was thus A Frier of the Order of Saint Dominicke called Iames Clement pretended hee had matters of great consequence to impart to the King who being admitted into his presence upon his knées presented the King with
that place There were divers other good Christians honest men and fearing God both of rich of meane estate of Sondres from the mountain of Sondres and from the valley and communalty of Malenco that were in greater numbers cruelly murthered who in regard they were ready to seale the truth with their bloud our desire was for this reason that mention should be made of them And these were the reverend Gentlemen Marco Antonio Alba of Casale of Mont ferrato Pastor of the Church of Malenco a man full of zeale of the age of sixty thrée yeares Iohn Ptedro Mingardino Anastasia his sister Lorenzo Hicke slain above the bridge of Sondres and throwne downe into the water Andrea his son who had his nose cut off and his chéekes even to the furthest part thereof that they might afterwards put him to the more cruell death Andrea the son of Peter called Luther néere to the butchery of Sondres Iohn Oswaldo a carpenter of di Cyra néer to the palace of Sondres Daniel Newbecher néer to the floud of Sondres whereinto hee was cast being halfe dead before Iohn Lorence néere unto the Church at the mount of Sondres Gaudenzino di Mossini Iohn in Bonginono Battista and Andrea his sons Iohn Antonio son in law of Vicenzo Bruno Steffano Pagano of Poschiavo Antonio son in law of Vicenzo Bruno Stephano Pagano of Poschiavo Antonio Samadeno Paolo and Iacobo Demonegoni Andrea son of Pietro Ducheno Domenico his brother Pietro his son Nicolo Feacaiolo somtime Deacon of Sondres Eugenio Chiesa Giovanni Chiesa Barnardo his sonne Radolpho his brother dwelling in Malenco had promised to goe to masse for which cause his life was given him but because hee had furnished with victuals Signior Alessio and his company when they passed the mountaines he was shot to death Iohn Vientius Andreone Cani was he wed into many pieces of age 84. Zacharia Ventura of Bresdiano a poore lame dumb begger yet made he a signe with his finger how small accompt hee made of the masse Moreover Iohn Patara a member of the Church of Sondres being discovered to be one of the Religion was on the sudden shot with a musket in the backe and so died Many hid themselves in holes and caves and in woods out of which they durst not come but by night onely to get some food and that with great feare and terrour of the watching enemy others for want of convenient food to eat and others that fed onely upon roots leaves and grasse made an end of their lives and many were murthered in divers places who had no buriall at all so as many carkases were to be séene in groves and woods in the mountaines and in waters in many places CHAP. 4. ¶ The massacre of Berbenno wherein were slaine about eleven persons IN what manner also businesses passed in the noble Countrey of Berbenno it doth likewise plainly appeare for in that place also the rebels played their part of killing and spoyling the professors of the Gospell For after they had executed their cruelties and outrages as hath bin delivered before in Tyrane Bruse Tell Sondres in the mountaine of Sondres Malenco and other places they also received speciall commandement as may appeare by a letter written to them by Iohn Guizziardi of the twelfth of Iuly of the present yeare that they should with all their power and courage murther strangle massacre and in summe should use all diligence without favour or mercy to destroy all Lutheranes wheresoever by vertue of which commission they have not for their parts omitted any manner of outrage and villany against the Protestants And first there were presently murthered certaine persons of good ranke and quality and that with great cruelty against faith and promise given them The which was with so much the more rage and fury put in execution for that those Catholique Romans themselves who upon the first proposition refusing to give their consents on the sudden to those murders were without respect or favour on the sudden murdered themselves as happened to Bartolomeo Porret to and other Romane Catholikes The Protestants that were massacred were these that follow Theophilus de Piscatory of Ognano in Romagna who had dwelt in Berbenno twenty yeares past was slaine in a place above Berbenno called Luscione the tenth of Iuly of the age of sixty five yeares Anna di Cassavia of Pregaglia wife of the abovesaid Theophilus was before murdered at a house called the Chanons of Berbenno the day abovesaid aged fifty yeares Concordia Crotta of Tyrane the wife of Giovan Gugelman of the territory of Zuriz who had dwelt in Berbenno as many yeares was massacred in the place and on the day abovenained being of the age of forty thrée Aurelio the son of Nicolas Paravicino going from Berbenno to Sondres was slaine in the plaine of Castione the eightéenth of Iuly aged fifty seven Bartolomeo the son of David Paravicino was wounded to death in the head with the shot of a Musket who quite against the hope and expectation of the Chirurgions lived five daies after and then dyed being eightéen yeares of age Dttavio Paravicino of Capelli an honourable Gentleman was together with two others underwritten Iohn Battista and Horatio Paravicino detained as prisoners in the Chanons of Berbenno from the eleventh unto the sixe and twentieth day of Iuly on which day they were requested and accompanied to Sondres by the commandement of Robustello who pretended with all kindnesse and courtesie to entertaine them causing them to drinke and to be accompanied even unto Sassella But there by order of the said Robustello they were murdred who replyed being demanded why he did so That they must never kéepe faith with heretiques This Ottavio was thirty eight yeares of age Iohn Battista Paravicino of Capelli a Gentleman also of great honour who was kept prisoner as aforesaid and conducted to Sondres in his returne unto Sassella there with Ottavio was slaine béeing of the age of foure and thirty yeares Horatio brother of the said Iohn Battista was wholly and in all things his faithfull companion and in like manner rendred his life the day abovesaid being thirty two yeares of age Anna de Beveri of Gineura wife of the above-named Ottavio a Gentlewoman of an honourable estimation being desirous for the safety of her life to follow a company of Grison souldiers amongst whom was a cousin of hers and other kinsman of hers not being able to travell by reason of the sharpnesse and steepnesse of the way being a gentlewoman grave and tender was shot in the backe with a Musket and left for dead the third of August being forty yeares of age Theosina Paravicina of Capelli mother of the abovesaid Iohn Battista and Horatio a Gentlewoman of great worth was slaine in her owne house being of the age of fifty five yeares Adamo Scarumveio of Tyrane was at the time of the barbarous massacre of Tyrane in the garrison of Morbenno from whence notwithstanding he escaped and came to