to the number of nine or thereabouts with their daughters these Murtherers hearing of it ranne violently in among them thinking to have found a Minister preaching to them but when they saw how they were mistaken they dragged them out by the haire of the head into the middest of the stréet where loading them with abundance of stripes they cast them into the river in which calamity God endued them with such strength and skill being unbound that endeavouring to swimme at length they arrived at an Isle where being seised upon againe by certaine Ferrimen they were stripped naked and then throwne againe into the River and thinking yet to save themselves they were in the end knocked downe by the seditious in the suburbs of Vienna ¶ A pitifull and tragicall spectacle A Certaine poore woman of Tours whose husband they had not long before drowned having an Infant about sixe or seven wéekes old sucking at her breasts and holding by the hand a daughter of hers very beautifull to looke upon of the age of 15. or 16. yeares was by many insolencies haled to the river side where having made her prayer upon her knées the childe sucking at her breast she shifted it there in the sun and after laid it upon the grasse then knéeling downe againe commended it to God Meane while this hellish-rable used many words to turne the yong maiden from her religion some using sore threats others making her many faire promises One of the soldiers being a braver gallant than the rest promised her marriage so as the poore wench stood in a mammering not knowing what to doe Her Mother séeing her wavering earnestly exhorted her to persist in the truth her self being at that instant ready to be plunged into the water The daughter beholding such an outrage crying out used these words all which was afterwards testified by those who were consenting to this murther being also converted themselves by such a rare example of constancy I will said she live and die with my mother whom I know to be a vertuous woman as for your threates and promises I regard them not do with me as you please The Mother was not yet dead when these mercilesse wretches threw in the daughter after her who making towards her Mother and they both embracing each other yéelded up their soules into the hands of God The poore Infant was taken up by a soldier who having kept it a day and a night from the breast laid it the next day in a Church porch whence being taken up and given to a nurse to kéep it would never take the breast after but within two daies it dyed ¶ An history containing the singular constancy of a Christian Woman together with her gracious Answers to her adversaries IN the same City of Tours the death of an honest Matron called Glée is very remarkable This woman having much profited in the knowledge of Gods word was presented before Chavigny before whom she gave a reason of her faith confirmed by testimonies of scripture with such constancy in the presence of certaine Fryers and Priests that in the end they gave her no other answer but this that she was in a damnable estate It séemes so indéed said shée being now in your hands but I have a God that will neither leave nor forsake me for all that Thou hast said they renounced the Faith It is true said she I have renounced your faith which I am able to shew is rejected and accursed of God and therefore deserves not so much as to be called Faith Upon this they committed her to prison where she was againe sollicited to recant to which purpose they sent certaine women unto her into the prison but all in vaine for on the contrary she spake her minde fréely and comforted the prisoners which were in the same prison with her for religion Anno 1562. Now it happened one morning as shee was about to take some bodily refreshing newes was brought her that shee was condemned to be hanged with thrée men also Which newes she received with such joy and rejoicing that the officer had no sooner ended his message but forthwith she knéeling on her knées began to praise and magnifie the name of God in that he had shewed her so much mercy as to deliver her by such a kinde of death out of the troubles of this wretched world as also for that it pleased the Lord to honor her so far as to die for his truth and to weare his livery meaning the halter which the hangman had now put about her necke Then sitting downe at table to breake her fast with the rest of the company giving thanks to God shée exhorted them to be of good courage and to trust unto the end in his frée and only mercy Lastly having sent her children some such small trifles as shée then had about her shée called for a cleane linnen Wastecote making her selfe ready as if shée had béen going to a wedding Being conducted thus with the rest of the prisoners about two of the clocke in the afternoone and passing by Saint Martins Church she was commanded to receive a torch into her hand and to acknowledge shée had offended God and the King Away away said she with it I have neither offended God nor the King according to your meaning nor in respect of the cause for which I suffer I am I confesse a sinnefull woman but I need no such light for helping me to aske forgivenesse of God for my sins past or present use such things your selves who sit and walke in the darknesse of ignorance and error Then one of her kinsfolkes met her in the way and presented unto her view her little children praying her to have compassion on them séeing that by renouncing her religion she might yet preserve her life and sée them provided for Upon this méeting her motherly affection caused her to shed plenty of teares but by and by taking unto her new courage I must needs tell you said she that I love my children dearly but yet neither for love I bear to them or any thing else in this world will I renounce the truth or my God who is and will be a Father unto them to provide better for them than I could have done and therefore to his providence and protection I commend and leave them and so passed on chéerfully without being any further daunted Drawing nigh to the place of execution she called upon God without ceasing lifting her hands up to Heaven Now the men which came with her being ready to suffer when shée saw them about to die silent and not to call on God she exhorted them thereto and began aloud to rehearse the confession of sinnes which begins thus Lord God Almighty and everlasting Father c. and so continuing forth the ordinary prayers reciting also the Lords prayer and the Articles of the Créed shée with much peace and joy in the holy Ghost finished her life ¶ A Note touching the
as now we may cry out with saint Paul O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory She was often admonished by him to make confession of her sinnes before God shewing that bodily diseases tended to the dissolution of nature and that death was the wages of sinne declaring Rom 6. 23. moreover that by this her chastisement she might discerne what she had deserved if God should now enter into iudgement with her not onely in regard of the fall of our first Parents in which guilt Rom. 5. 12. she was enwrapped as well as others but also by her owne personall sinnes séeing the best of men or women in the world are in themselves but poore miserable and wretched offendors yea if the Lord should punish us according to our demerits we could expect nothing at his hands but eternall death and condemnation At these words she began with her hands and eies lifted up to heaven to acknowledge that her Psal 19. â— sinnes which she had committed against the Lord were innumerable and therefore more then she was able to reckon up But yet she hoped that God for Christs sake in whom she put her whole affiance would be mercifull unto her From the later clause of her spéech the Minister tooke occasion to declare at large upon what ground she was to expect the fruit of this mercy of God in Christ séeing the whole have no need Mar. 2. 17. of Phisitian but they that are sicke and therfore Christ saith in that place Hee came not to call the righteous but sinners unto repentance And that he is ready to fill the hungry with good things Luke 1. 53. whereas in the meane while he sends the rich empty away Of all which said he you ought so much the rather to be perswaded in your conscience by how much the more the holy spirit witnesseth to your spirit that you are the childe of God Crying in you Abba Father For what is Rom. 8. 15. What faith is faith else but a firme trust and assurance of the good will of God manifested towards us in his blessed sonne Now the Minister fearing he might some way offend her by his overlong discourse held his peace the rather because the Physitians thought that a long continued spéech might bee hurtfull unto her but she on the contrary earnestly requested him not to forbeare speaking unto her about these matters of life and eternall salvation adding that she wow felt the want of it in regard that since her comming to Paris shee had béen somewhat remisse in hearing such exhortations out of the word of God And therefore I am now the more glad saith she to receive comfort out of it in this my so great extremity The Minister then endeavoured to set before her the happinesse of heaven and what those joyes Psal 16. 11. were which the faithfull there possesse in the presence of God which when the scriptures intend to discover unto us they onely tell us that the eie 1 Cor. 259. hath not seene nor hath the eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what these things are which God hath prepared for them that love him To which purpose he used this simllitude as if a King minding greatly to honor Simile some noble persome noble personage should bring him to his court and there shew him his state and attendance his Treasures with all his most precious Iewels even so saith he will the Lord one day reveale to all his elect and faithfull people his magniâ—cence and glory with all the treasures of his Kingdome after he hath gathered them home to himselfe decking and adorning them with light incorruption and immortality This happiness therefore being so great her highnesse he said ought to be the lesse carefull about the leaving of this transitory life seeing that for an earthly kingdome which she was now to forgoe she should inherit an heavenly and for temporall good things which vanish and come to nothing in the using she should for even enjoy those that were eterenall and everlasting For her faith being now firmely setled upon our Lord Iesus Christ she might be suffered to obtaine eternall salvation by him on which words he tooke occasion to direct his speech in more particualar manner unto her saying Madame doe you verily beleeve that Iesus Christ come into the world to save you and doe you expect the full forgivenesse of all your sinnes by the shedding of his bloud for you To which she readily answered she did believing that he was her only Saviour and Mediator looking for salvation from none other knowing that he hath abundantly satisfied for the sinnes of the whole world and therefore was assured that God for his sake according to his gracious promises in him would have mercy upon her Thus you have in part the goodly speeches which passed from this religious Lady in the beginning of her sicknesse all which was within the space of three or foure daies Howsoever before that and since also she ceased not to continue the same her fruitfull and comfortable communications now and then sending forth most affectionate slighings to God as a testimony of that hope and desire Anno 1567. she had in enjoying his presence often uttering these words O my God in thy good time deliver me from this body of death and from the miseries of this present life that I may no more offend thee and that I may attain to that felicity which thou in thy Word hast promised me Neither did she manifest her pious affection by these her words onely but therewithall shewed a joyfull and resolute countenance as the vehemency of her sicknesse could beare which gave sufficient proofe to all that beheld her that the feare of death could not drive her from the stedfastnesse of her Faith When she had finished these her consolatory spéeches they usually went to prayer intreating the Lord that he would arme her with constant patience and have mercy upon her Which praier it shall not be altogether impertinent to insert in this place serving as a forme of praier upon the like occasion ¶ The Prayer O Lord our God we confesse hee before thy Divine Majesty that wee are altogether unworthy of thy infinite mercies by reason of our manifold iniquities and that we are so farre off from deserving to be heard of thée in our requests that we are rather worthie thou shouldest reject both our persons and our sutes but séeing it hath pleased thée to make us a gracious promise of hearing and granting our requests we humbly beséech thee fréely to forgive all our offences and to cover them under the obedience and righteousnesse of thy deare Sonne that through him our selves and poore services may be well pleasing before thee For Lord we acknowledge that all our afflictions are measured out unto us by thine hand who art a most just Iudge in regard we have every way provoked
therefore asked again what they thought of the Masse they answered that they would stand to their first confession It was replyed That the Court would rest satisfied with that answer if so be they would now only go to Masse But with one voice they affirmed that they would never yéeld to come there where God was so dishonoured The Court to make it appeare that no advantage should be taken against them for this their answer gave them leave severally to shew their reasons This pleased the prisoners well and therefore they spared not to paint forth the Masse in its lively colours that all might perceive there was cause sufficient why they should detest it First one of them by way of opposition shewed The Masse deciphered in its colours how contrary the Masse was to the Lords supper The second declared it was blasphemy to affirme that there was any other propitiatory sacrifice for sinnes then the blood of Christ The third avouched that if the article of Transubstantiation whereon the Masse depends were allowed Christ his deity and his humanity should be abolished and therefore it must be flat idolatry to worship Almighty God in a corruptible péece of paste The fourth told them that the fruits of the Sacramant could not be received where the Word was not joyned with the signe where one of the signes were withheld or where there was no Communion Thus was the Masse anatomised with the abhominations thereof with all boldnesse so as some of the Iudges were constrained to averre openly that there was a great abuse in it indéed being a manifest wrong done to the institution of Christ as also that the Laity were there deprived of the Cup and the Bread only given the whole being performed in a language which the poore people understood not It was beyond the expectation of all men that so frée a confession would have passed for currant in that place in which whosoever came before them formerly and made the like was condemned to die But now the Truth so prevailed that against all hope and ordinary procéedings in times past yea contrary to the mindes of those which were Gods chiefest enemies the order was this That howsoever sentence of death had béen pronounced against thrée others of this company by the inferiour judges yet these foure should have their lives saved provided that they departed the countrey Foure witnesses of the truth gently entreated by their Iudges within fiftéene daies Which exception though it favoured of some injustice yet was it nothing in comparison of the former cruelties and this banishment turned rather for a benefit to them than an hurt for by this meanes they had liberty to go to such places where God was purely served ¶ The story of Peter Chevet Martyr BEing asked whether he durst affirme that he He was in outward appearance a silly poore man a vinedresser of the age of 60. years and upwards had the spirit of God Yea said he for I am one of Gods children and therefore have the spirit of God given unto me as the earnest of my adoption It is to be feared said some that you will bring your selfe in danger of the law and so be burned Truly said he I doe not thinke to escape better cheape and though you scortch and rost me alive yet will I never renounce Iesus Christ Is it not written He that shall confesse me before men him will I confesse before my Father which is in Mat. 10. 32. heaven c Being asked whether he desired not to be absolved confessed and to receive pardon having stood excommunicate now thrée yeares he answered I confesse my faults every day to my God but where is that goodly absolver that will take upon him to pardon me The Officiall answering said That is even I. Now poore man said Peter it is a question whether thou canst save thy selfe and wilt thou take upon thée then to save others The Officiall finding himselfe galled with this answer threatned him with longer imprisonment Alas alas saith he though I should rot in prison yet shall you still finde me the same man Being come to the place where he was to suffer the Executioner would not take the paines to Hee could say the new Testament by heart was so prompt therein in all his answers that the people who heard him said if hee were suffered to speake hee would convert all the City of Paris helpe him from off the cart but tumbled him downe with his head forward Notwithstanding all this and other cruelties he manfully overcame the same with invincible constancy And when they pulled off his cloathes he was heard to say intelligibly How happy how happy ô how happy am I with his eyes still lifted up to heaven He was burned in the place called Maubert nigh to the city of Paris the 11. of March 1559. ¶ A notable speech uttered by Anne du Burg Counsellor for the King in Parliament in the moneth of Iune An. 1559. AMong the rest there was a Counsellor called Anne du Burg◠a man of singular understanding and knowledge bred and nursed up in the bosome of the Church of Christ This man having rendred thankes to God for mooving the Kings heart to be present at the decision of so waighty a cause as that of religion is and having exhorted him well to consider thereof being the cause of Christ himselfe which of good right ought to be maintained by Princes spake boldly therto as God gave him utterance It is not saith he a matter of small consequence to condemne such as in the middest of the fiery flames call upon the name of Iesus Christ This I doe but note here by the way because the consequence is touched before by Master Iohn Foxe where he mentions the terrible end of such as were persecutors of the truth Only one thing more touching the said Anne du Burg I could not here omit and it is this A certaine woman being prisoner for the same cause right over against him had a little window in her chamber which opened towards that where In the History of the martyrs mention is made of one Peter Arundeau whose cōstancy was so admirable in suffering the extremity of death that it was the meanes to imbolden this worthy counsellor Anne Du Burg with others to suffer for the cause of the Gospell Master du Burg lay from whence either by words or signes when she was not otherwise letted she encouraged him to persevere constantly in the truth by whom he was so comforted that the same du Burg being importuned by some of his friends to recant used these words nay I trow not said he for a woman hath taught me my lesson how I ought to carry my selfe in this businesse to which God hath called me féeling in himselfe as it séemed the force and power of the godly admonitions of this poore woman Whose godly zeale was such as that her story may not as
I thinke be well omitted but fully set downe as I finde it recorded in the volume of the French Martyrs Her name was Margaret Rich who suffered the ninetéenth of August in the place called Maubert not far from the City of Paris in France Christian women saith the Historian behold here the courage and zeale of this Margaret your sister who is set before you for a patterne to unitate she encouraged both great and small who at that same time were prisoners with her Margaret Rich was born in Paris the Wife of Anthony Ricant Bookseller dwelling in Paris in the place called the Mount of Saint Hillary at the signe of the great Quaile This woman was as vertuously disposed as could be shée had gotten some small insight into the mystery of iniquity by meanes of her husband who yet suffered her to observe the superstitions of Popery without urging her any further for he was a man indifferent in the matter of Gods service but yet her conscience gave her that knowing her course to be evill it was not sufficient to forsake that unlesse shée did cleave to the contrary good which leads to life and salvation namely to serve God according to his Word Vnderstanding then that there were godly méetings of good Christians which assembled together in the City shée found the meanes to come in amongst them and profited so well thereby that she resolved in her self never to goe again to the Masse but to die rather At length being hardly used by her husband because of this her sudden change hée threatned her so far as to carry her himselfe to the Masse the next day which was Easter-Sunday rather than that shée should not goe After shée had endured much from this man who would have her to play the dissembler shée to preserve her selfe therefrom being also afraid of her husbands fury upon Easter day withdrew her selfe to a friends house of hers thinking it safer to displease her husband than God to whom shée had dedicated her selfe This day being past because shée would not over-long absent her selfe from her owne home shée determined to returne back againe to him whom God had bound and conjoyned her with though shée could not but foresée the great evills and inconveniences which would follow thereupon in regard of her said husbands crooked disposition Shée came no sooner home but shée was discovered by the Curate of Saint Hillary committed prisoner brought into the Consciergery They asked her where she had kept her Easter she without faining told them she absented herself from home that she might abide a while with some of her loving friends lest shée should be urged to prophane the supper of the Lord as others usually did and therefore had kept the same according to Gods ordinance in the assembly of faithfull devout christians Being asked whether indéed shée had béen present at those secret méetings shée answered yea and estéemed her selfe happy that ever shée came among them And thus being questioned by the Counsell with other prisoners about the Masse purgatory auricular confession and such other points shée fréely told them what shée had learned concerning the same out of Gods word so as the fifth of May she was ordered to be sent to the Bishop or his officiall to sée if by any meanes she might be reclaimed But the officiall prevailing nothing with her because she persisted constant in the profession of the truth he pronounced sentence against her declaring her to be a pertinacious and obstinate heretique yea such a one as was to be redelivered over to the secular power and thence to be sent back to the Consciergery Being brought back into the Court certaine Doctors and others were sent to reason with her yet her faith for all that staggered not but remained victorious notwithstanding all their batteries laid against it Then by the sentence of the Court shée was condemned to be carried in a dung cart to the place called Maubert a gagge to be put into her mouth and there to be burned and consumed to ashes But before she should suffer death she was sentenced to be put to the extraordinary torture to make her confesse whom she knew and was conversant withall and to name the house where shée received the Communion yet did this woman undergo all these her afflictions with incredible joy singing Psalmes and praising God continually she was never séen to shrinke at her imprisonment she daily exhorted the women who were prisoners with her comforted them Such of the Martyrs as went from the Consciergery to suffer death passed by the chamber where shée lay yet was she not disheartened to sée them in the hands of their executioners but cryed to them exhorting them to rejoyce and with patience to beare the reproach of Christ But to returne to the manner of her death after sentence shée was led to the Chappell as the manner is yet shée ceased not all the way to exhort the people and to sing Psalmes till she was put into a Dung-cart to be conveyed to the place of execution The renowne of her constancy was so famous from the beginning of her troubles that no small multitude of people were gathered together in the stréets for the desire they had to behold her God so appointing that the great and more than ordinary graces of his spirit which were in this woman might be manifested before so great a confluence of spectators and eye-witnesses She passed on then as it were triumphing through the middest of this assembly not shewing any signe of the feare of death but with a fresh colour and chéerefull countenance passed on with her eyes lifted up to heaven nor did her gagge so disfigure her but that she shewed an amiable aspect upon all that viewed her So as even the rude and obstinate multitude admired her saying one to another Doe you not sée how this heretike smiles and laughes Comming to the place of her martyrdome they told her if shée would relent shée should be strangled She answered That her resolution was so rightly founded upon the word of God that shée never meant to change And to let them sée that death terrified her not shée began to disrobe her selfe without troubling the hangman at all Being hoised up in the ayre they asked her againe if shée would not accept of the grace which the court offered her to be strangled She gave them a signe that shée would not Then was the fire kindled and so shée yéelded up her soul into the hands of God How one that was naturally deafe helped himselfe IT is recorded of Iohn Beffroy a Lock-smith dwelling in Paris that he had a long time behaved He was exceedingly maligned of his neighbours for his piety but especially because he had a little infant of his baptized secretly then for working upon a light holyday which was the cause of his apprehension death himselfe very religiously never denying his house for Christian méetings what danger
doth not our Lord Iesus Christ say blessed are you when men persecute you and speake all manner of evill falsly against you for my name sake Rejoice therefore and be glad for great is your reward in heaven Now whereto serveth all this my beloved but to bring us into a conformity with our Lord and Master Iesus Christ For Christ hath suffered for us saith the Apostle saint Peter 1 Pet. 2. 21. leaving us an example that we should walke in his steps who also endured the crosse and despised Heb. 12 2. the shame for the obtaining of that joy which was set before him and became poore to make us rich 2 Cor. 8. 9. By him also are we brought by faith into that Rom. 5 2. state of grace wherein we stand rejoycing in the hope of the glory of God knowing that tribulation worketh patience c. Wherefore deare brother and sister be not afrayd of the fiery tryall which is now sent amongst us to prove us For what Father loving his childe doth not correct it Heb. 12. Even so doth the Lord chastise those whom he loveth for if we should be without correction wherof all true Christians are partakers then were we bastards and not sons And therefore Salomon saith my sonne despise not the chastening of the Prov. 3. 11 12. Lord neither faint when thou are corrected of him for whom the Lord loveth the same he correcteth even as a Father the sonne in whom he delighteth Feare not then to follow the footsteps of Christ for he is the head and we are his members Even as Christ then hath obtained full joy glory by suffering of anguishes and sorrowes so we also according to his example must through Acts 14 21. many tribulations enter into the heavenly places even into the new Ierusalem Let us then say Phil. 1. 21. with saint Paul Christ unto me is in life and in death advantage Let us cry out with him O Rom. 7 24. wretched creatures that we are who shall deliver us from this body of death Sée here how the faithfull have desired to be with Christ for with Abraham they had an eye to that holy City Anno 1562. which hath foundations whose builder and maker Heb. 11. 10. is God Let vs then my beloved chéerefully and willingly follow the Lord possessing our soules by patience For it is a good thing as saith the Prophet Ieremiah both to hope and quietly to Lam. 3. 26. waite for the salvation of the Lord and good also it is for a man to beare the yoke in his youth for such the Lord will comfort in the end and restore unto them the joy of his salvation Loe here deare brother and sister what consolations our God hath treasured up for us in his holy word for us I say whose desire it is to feare the Lord and to trust in his grace and mercy For Psal 37. 39. the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord hée is their strength in the time of trouble Wherfore q giving all diligence let us adde to faith vertue 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8. and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse love for if these things be in us and abound they will cause us neither to be idle nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ The which God our Father grant us for his Sonnes sake our Lord Amen Out of my hole December the eleventh 1562. Wouter Oom prisoner for the truth Now because ye may see that this Letter was not without its happy effect hearken to the relation of the History following THere was one Iohn Wolfe of the City of Audenard who because he could no longer inhabite there without either the danger of his life or wounding of his conscience his wife being great with childe and as yet but weake in the knowledge of the Gospell he was forced for these respects to joyne himselfe to the assembly of the Church in Antwerpe where thinking himselfe in safety a neighbour of his owing him ill will accused him to the Margrave about the baptising of his childe Whereupon being then committed and examined where and in whose presence his childe was baptized he without staggering answered that he had it baptised according to the institution of Christ by a Minister set apart to that Office The Margrave not content with this answer often pressed him with sundry threats of the torture to accuse such as he knew But the sharpest combat he endured was from his owne flesh counselling him during his imprisonment for the safegard of his life to dissemble and halt betwéen two opinions The cause was from the inward affection he bore towards his wife and childe being yet but young and of singular beauty in regard whereof many of the congregation expected no other but that he would sinke under this tryall But in the middest of these assaults hée was heard with prayers and sighes to cry mightily to God to bée delivered from this temptation Which prayers of his were heard in due season even then Whither wee ought to fly in time of temptation when in the judgement of man he was supposed to be overcome thereof meanes was made of bringing to his hands consolatory letters as also the said Wouter Dom then prisoner with him comforted him not a little by his letters Whereby in the end he continued so strong in the Lord as also constant in the confession of the truth that in conclusion he received the sentence of death with the aforesaid Wouter After which his wife came unto him and they were permitted to talke together bursting out each of them into such abundance of teares that it would have moved the most stony heart that ever was At parting with a bitter cry hée commended her to Gods mighty protection and his childe to be trained up in the true Religion Soone after hée was drowned in the tub or fat of the prison and the next day hanged upon one of the Gibbets néer unto the City ¶ A relation of the troubles and martyrdome of Christian Quekere Iaques Dionssart and Iean de Salomez of Steenwerk in Flanders To whom God gave such ability to answer their enemies demands as if they had come from persons much more learned Which shewes that God measures out to all the gifts and graces of his holy Spirit according to his good will and pleasure WHilest the persecution continued at this time in sundry places of Flanders under Philip King of Spaine and that many fled into England under the protection of Quéene Elizabeth these thrée above mentioned were of the same number who joyned themselves to the Dutch Church in London having given publique testimony of their faith before all the Congregation In which place they continuod not long but they were constrained upon some speciall occasions to
make a secret search in the towne for such as professed the Gospell knowing nothing of these two who were but now come thither So passing by this house and séeing the light of a candle in it they imagined to méet with their prey there wherefore forcing the doore open they tooke these two prisoners together with their host God having appointed them to be the witnesses of Christ So after they had béen detained in bands they were all thrée condemned by the Magistrates to death as heretiques Giles was the first that they brought to the place of execution and when she Priests offered to put their Idoll into his hands he refused it whereat his adversaries being moved caused him to be gagged that the people might not heare him speake ought to their edification Then was he burned dying constantly and blessedly in the Lord. Forthwith the Sergeants were sent to fetch his son out of prison who being endued with a singular fortitude and constancy called to him one whose name was Iohn Camber being the first man that laid hold on him at his apprehension saying I forgive thée my death then preparing himselfe to die in the Lord the hangman cut off his head Likewise Lovis Meulen who having lodged these strangers according to the rule of the Apostle was executed by the sword which death he willingly endured for the name of Christ in the yeare 1568. ¶ Louyes de Kiken-Poost Martyr 1568. THis woman was the widow of one Huges Moybert borne in Renay about the age of sixty yeares one that truly feared God The Magistrate of Renay imprisoned her in the yeare 1568. because two yeares before she with her children had consented that a Minister should preach in an outhouse on the backside of her dwelling she was also very charitable in reléeving the poore every way shewing forth the fruits of a true saving Faith Having béen kept in prison seven moneths she was condemned to die the nine and twentieth of Iuly After her condemnation the Curate of Saint Martins came into the prison purposing to have heard her confession But the woman spake unto him with such a divine grace and with a spirit so replenished with zeale that the teares trickled downe his chéekes and going his way he said I came to comfort you but I have néed rather to be comforted of you Then being brought by the Sergeants to the place of execution she was beheaded unto which she yéelded her selfe with much boldnesse and joy of heart July the ninth A strange accident fell out upon the death of this woman for a cousin of hers being with child and ready to lie downe at the same time when this Martyr was going to be executed hearing the sound of the Bell which usually toules when any are to suffer she fell into a trembling and remained so thrée wéekes beyong her reckoning her fruit stirring to and fro in her wombe as if a Weaver had moved his shuttle from one end of his Web to another the neck of it bowing downe as if it had béen broken with some blow By which it appeared that these cruell tyrants were the cause of this poore innocents death The woman viewing this strange sight sent for the foresaid Curate who being come in and beholding this spectacle suddenly swounded and was never well after to his dying day ¶ Notes touching Christopher Gauderin Martyr and others THis Christopher was bred up under the Abbot of 〈◊〉 who dying the said Christopher addicted himselfe to the making of Linnen Cloth which he quickly grew â—pert in But having béen trained up in a bad schoole as soone as the Sunday was come he spent and consumed all his wéekes earnings Now by reason of a friend of his that wrought with him called Louys Stallens God brought him into the right way For the said Louis would often tell him that hée The fruit of good counsell ought rather to distribute of his gettings to the Poore than to spend them so wastfully for if he continued so God would surely call him to an account for it These and the like exhortations so wrought upon this spendthrift that he began to alter and change his course so as in stead of frequenting Tavernes he became a diligent hearer of Sermons and also gave himselfe much to the study of the holy Scriptures insomuch that not long after he was called by the Church to the Office of a Deacon the which he discharged carefully and faithfully Having occasion to go to a place called Audenaud in the moneth March 1567. to make distribution of certaine almes to the poore there hée was arrested and sent prisoner to the Castle by the Bailiffe who had formerly séene him in the said Abbats house The Bailiffe asked him how he came now to turne heretique for you learned not this said he of your Master the Abbat Nay Sir said Christopher I am no heretique but a right beléeving Christian which he taught mée not indéed but rather other vile qualities the which I am ashamed now to rehearse In prison he had many disputes touching matters of faith which he so defended and maintained by the Word of God that he put his adversaries to slience Some objecting against him his youth being about the age of thirty yeares he would tell them that mans life consisted but of two dayes viz. the day of his birth and the day of his death and therefore he must néeds die once for my part therefore said he I am now willing by death to passe into eternall life Perceiving in the evening that he was certainly to die the next day the striking off of his bolts being a signe thereof he ceased not to poure out his soule to God in prayer untill ten of the clock doing the like in the morning very early His prayer being ended he put on a cleane shirt and washed himselfe saying to his fellow Prisoners Brethren I am now going to be married I hope before noone to drinke of the wine of the kingdome of heaven When he came downe he found thrée prisoners who were prepared to suffer with him namely Io. Liebert William Spiere and a woman called Iannekin Bearts These foure exhorted one another and encouraged each other to suffer death constantly Which done a Fryer forthwith presented himselfe before them comming as he said to convert them But Christopher said unto him Away from us thou seducer of soules for we have nothing to doe with thée Whereupon he by and by departed Then came in the hangman who as he was busie about them to put into every one of their mouthes a gag they bad one another farewell Iohn Liebert said What shall we not have liberty in this our last houre to praise God with our voice tongue Christopher answered Brother let not this discourage A confident speech us for the greater wrong our enemies thinke to doe unto us the more assistance we shall finde from God and so never ceased to comfort them till himselfe was
of Valence were executed seven and fifty persons whereof the greater part were Burgesses of the City only because they clave to the true faith of Iesus Christ This slaughter was distributed into thrée severall dayes Ten were beheaded on Munday the foure and twentieth day of Ianuary twenty on Tuesday following and the other twenty the day after that ane so the seven in their order after the rest not without much astonishment and lamentations of the poore people with the remainder of the Burgesses of that City ¶ A notable cruelty executed upon a good woman called Perrette Curtet in the yere 1569. AS she was travelling from Orleance to a place called Moutagris where she intended to méet her husband called Master Authony Chaâ—ornter des Meringes who had escaped the fury of his enemies she being in her Inne at supper two or thrée desperate villaines knocked at the dore and comming in asked of the said Curtet Art thou not Meringes wife shée answered yes Then rapping forth execrable blasphemies they said thou art she whom we looke for This done they stripped her into her smocke tooke away her montes and rings from her and brought her to the river side where after great blasphemies they said confesse thée The woman answered Séeing I must die give me leave to call upon God first They deriding her said Prap then let us heare what kind of prayer thou wilt make She having in her prayers commended her soule to God one of them sware Gods death is this all wilt thou say nothing else Then said one of them to another Let us cast her into the river which they agréed to doe some taking her by the head and others by the héels and so throwing her in heaped great pieces of yce upon her to cause her to sink and then went their way But understanding that the poore woman had got upon a great flake of yce to save her selfe thereon Peter Gouge returned who was one of the murtherers and had betrayed her into the hands of the rest notwithstanding her husband had covenanted with him to convey her to him in safety this Gouge I say finding her there gave her a deaths wound the which had never come to light had not the said Gouge confessed the same being imprisoned by the Duchesse of Ferrare for that very fact yet escaped he unpunished contrary to the law of Provosts albeit hée was sent to the Provost Marshall of Montagris to that end and was set at liberty for the hatred which these bare against the Doctrine of the Gospell whereof the said des Meringes was a Minister Now the dead body floating to and fro upon the water rested no where untill it came over against the lodging where the said des Meringes lay as if it had there demanded erecution of justice upon the offenders where being known and conveyed thence was buryed by some of the assembly who yet remained in the City ¶ Another cruelty committed in Orleance about the same time A Woman in the City of Orleance was constrained by the murtherers who broke in upon her husband in the night to stand and hold the candle to them whilest they murshered him ¶ Of the comming of the Queene of Navarre to the City of Paris in France with the manner of her sickenesse and death there BEfore I come to noâ—â—tion the bloudy Messacres of France especially that of Paris anno 1572. which made way to all the rest I cannot Anno 1572. omit to place here as an entrance thereunto the history of that noble and vertuous Lady Iane de Albert Quéene of Navarre because it containes much matter worthy of due observation This good Queene before she could be drawn to come to Paris to solemnise the mariage of her son the Prince of Navarre with the sister of Charles the ninth then King of France received letters upon letters from the said King to accompany the Prince her son in that solemnity now wheras she cast some doubts touching her sonnes mariage with one of another religion the King assured her that all things should be so wrought as should give her good satisfaction and content promising that he would get a dispensation from the Pope Pope Pius whilest he lived could by no means endure to heare of or give his coâ—senâ— to this mariage but he died then way was made for this mariage to bee concluded to that end But when the Quéen understood that the King was minded to have this marriage solenmized at Paris she would by no means heare of it for I will not said she put any confidence in that so mutinous a people being the sworne enemies both of my selfe and mind Still the King persisted in his sute for the obtaining of the same at her hands Also having intelligence by some of his agents that the quéen of Navarre began a little to waver he sollicited her yet once againe to come assuring her that all things should be caried in such peaceable sort that she should have no cause to complaine At length the Quéene came from Rochell to Bloyes in the moneth of March 1572. with great attendance where it is incredible to thinke what welcome she had on all sides especially from the King his brethren c. who yet when all was done could say to his Mother Now Madam have I not quit my selfe well Let me alone and I will bring them all into the net In Aprill following were the Articles concluded concerning the mariage of the Prince of Navarre with the Kings sister In the beginning of May the King wooes the Quéene of Navarre again to come to Paris for preparing of things fitting for this mariage which she accordingly yéelded unto and parting from Bloyes on the sixth of the said moneth came to Paris on the fifteenth of the same After which she went from place to place in the City into sundry houses and shops to finde out such things as might tend to the adorning of the day of so great a solemnity The queÌ„ene mother could by no means brooke this good Quéene and therefore not finding with what colour she could dispatch her with the rest and yet fearing the height of her spirit if shée should survive as also that she could not then so worke upon the flexibility of the Prince her sonne as she intended she consulted with one Rene whose practise it was to impoyson things who by such meanes adventured to poyson the Prince of Conde by the sent of a poysoned apple which upon some suspition was first tryed upon a dog and it had almost cost the Princes chirurgion his life by smelling too nigh thereto This Rene selling to the Quéen of Navarre his perfumed drugs found the way how to poyson her therewith although others thought the contrary But the said Rene was heard afterwards to make his brags that hée had the like in store for two or thrée more who suspected no such matter On Wednesday the fourth of Iune the Quéen
his host and neighbour a man A cruell and unthankfull guest of as good and upright a carriage as was in all the City and afterwards himselfe with his troupe pillaged the whole house The six and twentieth day of August following the massacrers began the execution about the ramparts after such a strange manner as hée that had but a sparke of humanity left in him out of compassion would be moved to abhorre and detest Anno 1572 it In these quarters there inhabited many of the Religion All the night long was heard nothing but shooting off of Guns and Pistols forceing open of doores and windows fearefull outcryes of the massacred both of men women and little children trampling of horses and rumbling of carts hurrying of dead bodies to and fro the stréete sâ—rarming with unwonted exclamations of those of the common sort with horrible blasphemies of the murderers laughing their fill at their furious exploits Some crying kill them So all must goe to wrâ—ck all and then take the spoile others spoile not but kill all On Wednesday the massacre began more fiercely and so continued to the end of the wéeke These were miserable comforters not sparing to breake these and the like jests upon the poore massacred Where is now your God What is become of all your prayers and Psalmes now Let your God whom you called upon save you if he can Yea some of them who in times past had béen professors of the same Religion whilest they were massacring the poore innocents durst sing unto them in scorne the beginning of the thrée and fortieth psalm Which in the French méeter runs Revenge moy pren le quarrelle de moy Iudge me O God and plead my cause Others striking them said sing now Miserecorde aupaure vicieux Have mercy on me O God which language they used to this poore people in Paris and elsewhere But these execrable outrages no way daunted the courage of the faithfull from dying stedfast in the faith Touching the multitude of the slaine the murtherers did not sticke to vaunt that in this City they caused more than twelve thousand men to perish Also an hundred and fifty women with a great number of Children of nine yeare old and upward But as some of themselves have since reported there were eightéen thousand murdered besides women and children The manner of their death was first to sheet them with Pistols then to strip them of their clothes and either drowning or else burying the dead bodies in pits namely such as dwelt about the wals They were armed also with knives and ponyards in like manner with Iaveling and partizans wherewith they murdered these poore méeke and harmlesse creatures On Tuesday at night certaine of this bloody crue came and knocked at the doore of one that was a Doctor of the Civill Law called Taillebous who opening a Casement and understanding that they had somewhat to say to him came downe immediatly and opened the same unto them At the first gréeting they told him he The fâ—rce of servent prayer must die Whereupon he fell to prayer and that with such constancy and affection that the massacrers being astonished and by a secret celestiall power restratned contented themselves onely with taking his purse in which there were fiftéen Crownes and so left him offering him no more violence The day following certaine Schollers resorting to his lodging requested of him that they might sée his Library into which having brought them one asked this booke of him and another another the which he willingly gave them At length they told him they were not as yet satisfied their purpose being to kill him He prostrating himselfe upon the ground and having ended his prayer willed them to kill him there But they forced him out of his owne house whence he went on with an undaunted courage till in the way he lighted on the body of a certain Shoomaker newly wounded lying gasping for breath At which sight starting back as one somewhat appaled he prayed them to kill him there yet they would not but constrained him to passe on forward Being come to the Schooles of the Civill Law at least said he let me die before this place where I have taught so long But they furiously repulsing him more than before made him goe further with them where at lenâ—th they knocked him downe A rich Burgesse of the City called Nicholas Bougars Sieur de Nove a man of singular worth and highly estéemed of all was at that time deadly sick Some of the murtherers came into his Chamber with a purpose to kill him but séeing him in that case spared him yet finding there Noel Chaperon an Apothecary who brought him Physick they cut off one of his armes then drew him into the open place where they made an end of him The next day there came one to the lodging of him that was sick who was wont heretofore to visit him Nowas he was entring in he met the mother of the sick party at the doore going unto Masse and comming up into the Chamber he stabbed the said sick man with a dagger in many places and so killed a dying man Then with all silâ—nce as if he had done no such act wiping his dagger he went down the staires again and méeting one at the doore who came to visit him that was sick this fellow saluting him passed along by him without any change either in his behaviour or countenance A Cooke having hid himself thrée whole daies was inforced for hunger to come forth for lack of meat But whilest he went about to escape one death he fell into the talents of these Lions who devoured him and that forthwith Francis Stample a rich Mâ—rchant was threatened to have his throat cut presently if he gave not the murderers money but having none about him being taken by them out of his house calling for pen and inke he wrote a letter to his wife willing her forthwith to send him his ransome he had no sooner sealed the letter but the murderers deprired him thereof and his life together laughing at that they had done And though they got from his widdow a round sumâ—ne of money yet could she not obtaine at their hands the body of her dead husband But to fill up the measure of the popelings cruelty that those of the religion might taste thereof to the utmost the Papists were not content to be massacrers themselves but constrained such of the Protestants as through feare had revolted to play the murderers also Thus placing these wicked revolters into the forefront of their companies and arming them with weapons fit for the purpose they pressed them to march on before and to give the first onset crying to them Smile them smite them are they not of your brethren and holy sisters And if they refused to doe as they were commanded their turnes were like to be next ¶ The Massacres committed at Bourges and la Chanite are the rather passedover
Sondres In which place being gathered together with the Pastor they made their prayers to God and afterwards to the number of thréescore and thirtéene persons in all they passed the valley of Malenco which was beset by the enemy on two sides but those that kept those places were by the providence of God so astonished that they fled away and the protestants although they were pursued to the tops of the hils did miraculously escape with safety The enemy that is to say the proper Inhabitants of the valley with their ringleaders Iames Robustello Azzo Besta Iohn Guizziardi Lorenzo Paribello and others entred into the Palace they deprived the Magistrate of his office that is to say Giovanni Andrea Traersio of Scants of the upper Agnadua Captaine and Governour of the Valtoline who with his family had retired himselfe into the house of Paul Clamar untill Wednesday the eleventh of Iuly on which day under protestation to secure them they were conducted to Malenco where in the Village of Chissa against their faith given they were mads prisoners and detained for eight daies following They who by the commandement of the said captaine found themselves to bee made prisoners were delivered putting in their roome certaine of the Religion They immediately changed the Calender and gave for a prey the goods of the Protestants by which occasion great multitudes of persons assembled from all the parts of the Valtoline to rob and spoile and by reason of the swéetnesse which they found in pillaging the goods they met with in divers noble houses excellently well furnished grew an intolerable heate and outrage to spoile insomuch as brother robbed brother and the néerest of kindred pursued and robbed one another and followed one another to the death The peasants hoping by meanes hereof to be exempted from paying their yearely rents ranne with all fury and madnes about the woods bushes and mountaines searching after the poore Protestants who were scattered by feare whom they murthered as they found them with extreme cruelty Amongst these were these Gentlemen of greatest worth and resolution Doctor Bartolomeo Paravicino of Sondres from whom they tooke about two thousand crownes Doctor Nicolas his brother whose brother Doctor Lelio had before béen slaine in the Church of Tell Petronio Paravicino Doctor and Giovan Battista Mallerio of Antwerpe in the Low-Countries a man endued with excellent rare qualities of mind and body for he was both a good Philosopher and a learned Divine and very fit to instruct youth he was surprised in the house of Morone and when they had stoned him to death they cut off his head ripped his belly and tooke out his entrailes His Children Giovan Andrea and Catharine were carried to Millane Annaidi Lita wife of Anthony Grotti of Chio in the territory of Vincentine of an honorable and antient house was come out of Italy but some few yeares before for the liberty of her conscience This Anna was first by them exhorted with faire words to change her Religion but she constantly persevering therein was admonished that she would at the least have a care of her young infant which she held in her armes being about two months old otherwise shee would make reckoning that in the twinkling of an eie both she and her babe should die but she with a bold and undaunted courage answered That she had not A holy resolution departed out of Italy her native Countrey neither had she forsaken all the estate she had to renounce at last that faith which had béen inspired unto her by the Lord Iesus Christ yea that she would rather suffer if it were possible a thousand deaths And how saith she should I have regard in this case of my infant since God our heaâ—enly Father spared not his onely Sonne my Lord Iesus but delivered him up to death for the love of me and of all sinners Then giving them the child she said behold the childe the Lord God who hath care of the birds of the aire will much more be able to save this poore creature although by you it were abandoned and left in those wilde mountaines So unlacing her gowne shee opened Behold here the power of faith her breast and said Here is the body which you have power to kill but my soule on which you have no power to lay hand that I commend to my God and presently she was slain and afterwards cut in pieces being thirty five yeares old The infant because it was a lovely and a swéet babe to looke on was suffered to live God restraining the cruelty of those butchers and was delivevered to a popish woman to nurse up And here is to be observed that this blessed Martyr imitated the commendable example of her deare brother Giovanni Antonio who for the profession of the truth Gods Word and Gospell can never be bound in theâ— hearâ— of Gods elect of the Gospell having continued in the said Chio and endured a grievous imprisonment two yeres together was at last condemned to the Galley where he died within two moneths after When he was bound in chains being carried from Chio he said You may indéed bind my person but the word of God shall never the more be bound in the hearts of the elect that it doe not shew manifestly it selfe and bring forth fruit c. According to this most Christian example Iohn Stéeven Moron and Rodulfo Rivello being both of them of the Valley of Sondres did not onely in their proper persons seal with their bloud the truth of the Gospell but moreover exhorted their children Iohn Andrea and Iohn Antonio the one of them being fiftéene yeares of age the other ten that they should doe the like following the honourable example of the seven brethren in the Machabées and of their mother who chose rather to dye than to obey the King and to transgresse the Law of the Lord. And yet by reason of the money and jewels found in the houses and chests of the Protestants the eagernesse and fury of each of those miscreants increased daily more and more insomuch as that there were neither noble nor ignoble nor Lady no neither man woman young nor old of what condition soever who were not ransacked and spoiled some twise and others oft times thrise over Some honourable matrons had their rings pulled off their fingers insomuch as they would cut off their hands and fingers if they would not presently draw them off Some women were by force dragged up to the tops of high and craggy mountaines and threatened to be throwne downe headlong with their children unlesse they would goe to masse And although Lucretia the wife of Antonio Lavizaro and Katherina wife of Giulio Merlianico being moved and terrified with the horror of death had consented to change their Religion yet were they murthered for all that without any pitty at all The same befell to D. Io. Battista Salici of Soglio in the Pregaglia for although that his life was promised him