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
will never resume it againe Christ hath now set me frée I will be no longer of the Order of the slaves of Satan One of the Magistrates of Bruges conferring with him promised to procure his deliverance if he would yéeld but a little and if his fryers coate displeased him he would get him a dispensatton from the Pope to forbeare the wearing of it and provide him a Canonship Sir said Charles I give you many thankes for your good will and these your kinde offers would to God I could accept of them without offending his Maiesty you offer me a Canonship that I might live quietly and in security but know you sir That rest is That is not worthy the name of rest which is procured with offence of conscience A judgement of God upon a persecutor no true rest and quietnsse which is obtained against the peace of a good conscience A few dayes after his execution one of them who had his hand déepest in procuring his cruell death died himselfe in such terror and horror of conscience that it gave sufficient testimony to those of Brugoes that they had put to death an Innocent and that God was highly offended with those that had persecuted him ¶ Philibert Hamelin of Tournay Minister and Martyr was there executed in the yeere 1557. WHilest he remained prisoner some of his friends dealt with him to breake prison and offered him meanes tending thereto But he on the contrary having resolved to give his life for so just a quarrell as he maintained refused saying I esteeme it altogether unbeseeming for a Preachers must be no breakers of prisons man that is called to preach Gods Word to others to run away and breake prison for fear of danger but rather to maintaine the Truth taught even in the midst of the flaming fire After sentence of death was passed upon him by the court whereby he knew he had not long to live yet did he eat his dinner with the rest of the prisoners as joyfully as though he had béen in no A good conscience is a continuall feast danger speaking unto them of the happinesse of eternall life comforting all that sate at table with him in the Consciergery That none might hear what he said at the place of execution the trumpets were caused to be sounded continually yet might it be séene both by his gestures and chéerefulnesse of his countenance that they could not let him from speaking to God ¶ Archambant Seraphon Martyr in the yeere 1557. BEing demanded what he thought of the Pope and his authority he answered I think verily A practise of the Papists that same is he of whom Saint Paul speakes in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians Chapter the second Which words he being willed to signe with his hand Yea yea sir said he I am now ready to signe it with my blood rather than with Inke Hee reports in a Letter written to his wife The Martyrs ready to scale the truth with their blood A Iaylor of a Lyon became a Lamb. and friends that whereas this Iaylor was wont to carry himselfe as sternly towards him as a Lyon roaring alwaies in such wise upon him that all the prisoners were amased at it the Lord had now so mollified his heart that he became as méek as a Lambe declaring how he would come and visite him himselfe in his prison and as well as he was able comforted him saying Take no care God will assist you nor shall it be so ill with you as you thinke for For what doe your enemies say Alas he is but a silly pedler who passing along this way broached his opinions to none that also which he holds concerning the same he keepes to himselfe therefore be of good cheere Sir said he I praise God I am of good comfort being ready to receive whatsoever it shall please him to appoint If life life if death death be it One thing I had like to have omitted concerning him which yet is worth the noting namely this This Archambant in a letter to his wife puts An exhortation to get the Psalmes without booke his brethren in minde to learn Davids Psalms My brethren saith he I exhort you in the Name of God that you would learne yea learne the Psalmes without booke whilest you have time and leasure for when you shall be cast into dark prisons I say when God shall call you to suffer for his sake you shall then have no booke with you whether of a small or great Print to sée what part succeeds another which I now utter to my great griefe and shame for if I should tell you I lacked forewarning long agoe you can beare witnesse to the contrary Nor doe I know now what to doe but even to humble my selfe before the Lord crying unto him Mercy mercy Lord have mercy upon me Blessed and happy are they who are carefull to get knowledge and faith as oyle into their vessels before the Bridegroome come When he looked on his hands he was wont to say ô flesh thou must suffer and be turned into ashes untill the last day Ieffery Vergale Martyr in the yeare 1557. He was burned at Turin the last of December STanding upon a stoole at the stake the executioner according to the custome prayed him to forgive him his death Ieffery answered him I not onely forgive thee but those also who first imprisoned me at Burges yea those that brought me to this City and have condemned me to this death Be not afraid doe thine office my death shall not be unprofitable The death of the Martys is not without fruit Nicolas Ieuville Martyr in the yeere 1557. who with two others mentioned hereafter were burned in the place called Mawbert without Paris in France THis godly Martyr being condenmed to be burned alive and his tongue to be cut out the Tormentor being there present offered to put the halter about his necke but he repulsed him twice appealing from the Sentence But because he was pressed upon to receive it the third time and thinking his appeale would not take place he took it saying Praysed be God for I am now counted worthy to be one of the heavenly Order Two innocents condemned to suffer death the one of them being called Henry the Taylor THis Henry reioyced at the hearing of the These two were burnt at Antwerpe The Martyrs willingly give their necks to the blocke but left the punishment to their persecutors sentence read saying This is the day we have long expected and therefore give our selves willingly to die but as for the punishment my masters that we leave to you yet we pray that God would pardon you this injustice At which spéeches the Magistrates turned away their faces not willing to heare it but Adrian who was the other Martyr told them boldly That God would require the blood of the iust at their hands whom they daily put to death The next day being appointed for their
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
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
by little and little are so strained with certain sticks that they eate into the flesh yea pierce to the bare bone Then they lay a linnen cloth on his face to hinder his breathing at the nosthrils whilest they poure water into his mouth which is distilled from above by this cloth to a certaine quantity as it séemes good to his Iudge not by drops but streaming downe to cause the said cloth to goe downe into his throat The poore patient the whilst lies in these torments as one in a manner dead not being able either to stir or breathe Now when this wet cloth is pulled out of the depth of his throate to make him to answer unto their demands If you should behold how blood and water comes out together you would imagine they had plucked the very bowels out of his belly in which wofull plight he is held as long as they thinke good even untill with horrible threats and torments he be returned back again to prison If they please to procéed further in adding moe torments within a moneth or two after the said cruelties are renewed either in more terrible or moderate manner to some once to others to the sixt time There is yet another torment which is peculiar to this holy seat of the Inquisitors They cause a great fire of hot burning coales to be brought which they apply nigh unto the soles of his féet whom they intend to torment which are first thorowly anointed with grease or suet that the heat of the fire may pierce more déeply Thus much be said as touching these torments used by those cruell tormentors of the bloody Inquisition of Spaine upon the bodies of poore Christians ¶ A note of Francis Oliver Chancellor of France THis Chancellor who in the former persecutions not behaving himselfe according to a good conscience being in times past so far enlightned as to make profession of the truth was Gods judgement upon an Apostate visited with a mortall disease in which sicknesse he was observed to cast forth hideous sighs without ceasing In which perplexity the Cardinall of Lorraine came to visit him standing aloofe off from him To whom the Chancellor uttered these words Ah Cardinall thou wilt damne us all It is also reported that he much and often bewailed the death of Anne du Burg of whom mention was made heretofore And thus living a while in this miserable condition he ended his dayes ¶ A Papist defined by Iaques de Lo. HAving called the vowes of papists papisticall vowes he was asked what a papist was He is a Papist said De Lo who squares his actions and conversation according to the Popes lawes Anno 1560. Being pressed by the papists to confesse whom he knew of the reformed religion he would name none but such as had suffered and withall further added I entreat you my Brethren in the name Note his admirable constancy of God that you conceive no sinister opinion as touching me in this behalfe for I am resolved by the help of my God without whose assistance I can doe nothing and with which I can doe all things to suffer my flesh rather to be rent in pieces then to reveale any whose persons might thereby be endangered ¶ The notable conversion of a notorious evill liver by name Iohn Herwin of Houtkerk in Flanders Martyr who by degrees was so far brrught into Christs Fold that hee was called forth to beare witnesse of the Truth from which he was once as farre remote as the heavens are from the earth in the yeare 1560. THis Iohn Herwin born in Géestercoorne c. in the West side of Flanders was of a dissolute life such as souldiers for the most part are of but God having a purpose to shew forth in him the admirable worke of conversion to draw him to Christ put it into his heart to leave his owne countrey and come to the City of London Béeing arrived there about Easter the Lord going on with his worke brought him by his providence into a Brewhouse being a Brewer by his calling where he met with a master and fellow servants fearing God a thing seldome séen in men of that Profession séeing ordinarily they are excessive drinkers His master caused him oft to resort to the Dutch Church in the said city of London where by ordinary hearing of the Word preached he began first to taste and after to increase more and more in the saving knowledge of Christ Newes comming over that warres were likely to be in Flanders caused him to leave England and to returne againe into his owne countrey He came thither at the same time that thrée other martyrs were there apprehended but he was not taken with them The Bailiffe of Furne when he saw he could not méet with him understanding that he was at Honscot advertised the Bailiffe of the said place that he might take him at his sisters house As soone as he heard thereof he delayed no time but in the night time came with his Sergeants apprehēded him Now leading him to prison the bailiffe Anno 1559. méeting certaine drunkards in the stréets said they say Wee have many Gospellers in Houscot but it little appeares by these disorders Iohn Herwin hearing him say so and not willing to balke it replyed Is drunkennesse a sin Master Bayliffe Then sayd the Bayliffe What of that Herwin made this conclusion Why then commit you not these fellowes to prison séeing it is your office to punish vice and to protect such as feare God The Bayliffe was mute yet for all that Herwin was faine to take up his lodging in prison where hee behaved himselfe so vertuously that every one admired it But because hée was not called forth before the Magistrates of Houscot so soone as hée desired and expected hée grew heauy and sad asking of some whom he knew well if they could tell why they so delayed the matter For his heart was fixed with an holy zeale to confesse Iesus Christ before his judges Many feared him much who knew what hée had béen in times past hée being as yet but a Novice and a new commer on in the profession of the Gospell in which case men for the most part have but some glimmering of the light and are unsetled in their judgements At length hée was brought before the sheriffes of the towne who commanded a Priest to dispute with him At the first Encounter he asked Herwin how long it was since hée was confessed also what hée thought of confession asking him sundry other triviall questions to which Herwin answered no lesse modestly then Christianly in so much as they who were of sound judgement easily discerned how hée was not the man hée had béen in times past but that his prison had béen to him a good schoole where hd had well conned his lesson The Priest demanded further whether he beléeved there were seven sacraments or no The bayliffe helping the Priest said what 's that to the purpose whether
was in his body And thus yée have heard the godly life and blessed end of this constant martyr ¶ Martin Bayart Claude du Flot with Io. Dantricourt borne in the Countrey of Artois and Noel Tournemine of Hering neere Seclin Martyrs 1566. YOu may easily discerne by the former Histories that the cruelties exercised against the Faithfull in Flanders nothing diminished the increasing of them for the innocent bloud thus shed was a meanes to bring many ignorant soules to the knowledge of the Truth These foure above named dwelling in the City of Lisle walked in the feare of the Lord with zeale according to knowledge as the event well manifested There was a Iesuit in the said City who had a servant that was cousin to one of the Martyrs with whom they laboured not without some perill first to shew him the odiousnesse of that sect and then to instruct him in the doctrine of the Gospell To which purpose they lent him a booke containing good instructions drawne out of the holy Scriptures The silly fellow not considering the hurt that might follow shewed it soone after to his Master The false Prophet by and by knew that this booke was not forged upon his anvile and therefore diligently enquired of his man where he had it Now that he might with the more expedition attaine his desire he gave him a piece of seven stivers telling him he should do well to bring him to the knowledge of them from whom he had received it which was not hard to doe in regard they all foure wrought upon their Trade which was to dresse sayes in an honest widowes house who professed the same Religion with them The Iesuite comming to the knowledge hereof failed not according to their guise to reveale it to the Magistrate Now lest he might be suspected to be the betrayer of them the Fox withdrew himselfe the same time out of the City whilst on a saturday morning about two of the clocke these foure were apprehended and imprisoned by the Magistrate It fell out the same day that certain writings were set up upon the Towne-house against the horrible tyranny of the Spanish Inquisition which was then intended to be brought in and executed throughout the Low-Countries which no doubt was the meanes wherby the Magistrates were the rather incensed against the prisoners But forasmuch as they were not found guilty of having any hand in this businesse they were onely examined about matters concerning their Faith To which they answered with such Anno 1566. courage and constancy without varying or wavering that the Iailour wondred how they could answer the Iudges so directly and pertinently as it were with one consent being notwithstanding severed one from another in the prison The second of March 1566. they were condemned for heretiques by the Provost of the City to which they replyed that if they were Heretiques then Gods word must néeds be heresie which could not be and therefore they fréely protested before all that they were Christians and held nothing but that which was agréeable to the word of God They were asked if they would submit themselves to the will of the Magistrates They answered they would submit themselves to the will of God Then was sentence of death forthwith pronounced upon them which was that they should be burned alive before the Towne-house When they were brought out of Prison to be executed Noels father came and embraced him and kissing him said Art thou led my son in this sort unto death This is nothing Father said hée for now am I going to life And howsoever Noel wept in going up to the Scaffold séeing his father so dissolved into teares yet recovering himselfe and being armed with new courage he cryed O yée Priests if we would have gone to your Masse we néeded not to have béen here but Iesus Christ never commanded nor instituted any such thing The Priests standing at the foot of the scaffold laboured to make the people beéeve they were Heretiques and that their faith was the faith of devills because they rejected the Sacraments But to that one of them answered that their Faith was nothing like to that of devills and as touching the Sacraments they held so many as Christ ordained Then said Martin suffer us to die in peace for we are in the right way and are going to Iesus Christ hinder us not in this our journey with these and the like spéeches the Priests mouthes were stopped not daring to come up upon the Scaffold as they were wont to doe Iohn Dauticourt comming up recited the articles of the Créed adding somewhat by way of exposition upon every Article Those who knew him before his imprisonment marvelled to heare him speake so judiciously The executioner thinking to please his Masters offered to gag him but the patient promised to hold his peace Yet being straitly fastened to the stake by the necke he said to the people O my friends were it for speaking wickedly that they commanded me to be silent it were somewhat but I cannot be permitted to speake unto you the word of God and with a loud voice said Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or anguish O Lord we are delivered to death for thy sake and are appointed as sheepe for the slaughter But let us be of good cheere my brethren for wee shall be more than conquerours through him that loved us The other thrée on their parts cryed and said Mat. 7. 14. This this is the way that leads to life this is the strait way by which we must enter thereinto as Christ our Lord hath taught us Noel likewise said Enter you my brethren and whilest I am alive pray for me for after death prayers prevaile not When all of them were fastened to their stakes and covered with fagots with fire ready to set thereto they began with one voice to sing the first part of the seven and twentieth Psalme and after that the song of Simeon to the end after which the fire began to be kindled in the middest whereof they were heard to cry ten or twelve times to the Lord especially Iohn and Noel with loud voices calling and saying Lord receive us this day unto mercy and unto thy kingdome And thus ceasing to cry any more they yéelded up their soules into the hands of God This constancy of theirs procéeding from the worke of Gods Spirit was not without singular fruit for the inlarging of the Church for many being touched therewith went home thence as if they had gone from a powerfull sermon ¶ Francis D' Alost in Flanders Martyr in the yeare 1566. THis yong man being by his trade a Cutler during the time of his ignorance frequented the Court much and tooke great delight in the vanity of this world which gat him much respect of many but chiefly among those of the Romish Religion namely Priests and Monkes who willingly conversed with him taking much contentment in his carriage and course
men were assembled Bishops and Cardinalls swaying the same Schob I have read of some Councels where the Spirit of God was not present Marquesse Would you not now willingly returne into the bosome of the holy Romane Church Schob I will cleave to whatsoever God shall teach me out of his holy word And thus for this time they parted On the seven and twentieth of March Schoblant received sentence of death whereat he was nothing terrified but began to sing the song of Simeon and the fortieth Psalme The night following he wrote his last farewell to his brethren and excuseth Ioris for not being condemned with him although they were both presented at the same time before the Iudges I pray you deare friends be not offended saith he that Ioris my fellow prisoner is not offered a sacrifice with me It is not I assure you for denying his Saviour But let us meditate on that which the Lord said to S. Peter If I will Iohn 21. that he tarry till I come what is that to thée follow thou me This I apply to my selfe at this time for which I render humble and hearty thanks to God who hath counted me worthy not only to confesse the Lord Iesus with my mouth but also to seale the same confession with my blood I new brethren bid you farewell waiting with a joyfull heart the call and cry of my husband who now invites me to come unto him Out of prison the same right before the day wherein I must be offered up a sacrifice Written with mine owne hand Schoblant the Sonne of Barthel THe next day he entreated the Iaylour with a great deale of earnestnesse that he would not suffer the Fryers and Monks to come into trouble him for said he such kinde of people can do me no good séeing the Lord hath already sealed up the assurance of my salvation in my heart by his holy Spirit I am now going to my spouse putting off this earthly mantle to enter into the relestiall glory where I shall be fréed from all superstitions And then he added farther would to God I might be last that these Tyrants should put ot death and that their thirst after blood might be so quenched with mine that the poore Church of God from henceforth might enjoy her rest and quiet Having sung the fortieth Psalme with his fellow prisoner concluding the same with saying the Lords prayer they kissed one another and commended one another unto God with many teares After which the executioner came in and when he had bound him he led him away In going out of the prison he said farewell Ioris I goe before thée follow thou me Ioris answered so will I brother I will follow thée In his passage towards the place of execution he forgot not his brethren but manifested his love to them by such signes as he could Being tyed to the stake he was burned alive calling upon the name of the Lord in the yeare 1568. the tenth day of Iuly ¶ Iohn Hues finished his course in Prison ¶ Here followeth a Letter written by Ioris Coomans out of Prison to the Church of God in Antwerpe BRethren I write unto you being left alone whereas we were thrée in number Iohn Hues is now dead in the Lord. I did my best to comfort him whilest he breathed So as now I am alone and yet not altogether alone séeing the god of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is with me He is Gen. 15. 1â— my excéeding great reward and will not faile to reward me as soone as I shall have law downs this earthly Tabernacle pray unto God that he will strengthen me to the end for from hours to houre I expect the dissolution of this house of Clay Not long after Ioris was examined by the Magistrates who questioning with him of his faith he answered frély thereto proving what he said by the holy Scriptures The Marquesse asked him if he were resolves to die for the faith he professed Yes saith Ioris I will not only venture to give my body but my soule also for the â—tion of it Marquesse How came you to understand the Scripture séeing you have not the Latine Tongue Ioris Call in hither you Doctors and I will let them sée that I have learning sufficient to confute them You greatly admire them but Christ gives thankes to his heavenly Father for hiding his secrets Mat. 11 25. from the wise and prudent and revealing them to babes Marq. I hithero spared you in hope to sée you recant but you grow still worse and worse Ioris Sir during the time of my imprisonment I have shed many a salt teare and by the grace of God I am become much more resolute and better But to fashion my selfe according to your appetite I have no stomack at all no although you burne me as you have done my brother Scoblant Marq. And I can tell you that it will cost you but little better cheape Ioris I am ready if it be to morrow Then said one of the standers by Sir he hath neither wife childe nor goods to lose and that makes him so willing to die Ioris Be it that I have none of all these yet must I suffer death for conscience sake But what care you for that I would you could be silent and be thinke yourselves well what you doe you shall answer these your doings at the last day where you must all appeare and then there will be no respect of persons Marq. If you use this kinde of language I will commit you to the hole where you shall be fed only with bread and water and that I thinke will tame your tongue Therefore be quiet and sing me no more of these Psalmes Ioris Well sir I may well restraine my outward voice but neither you nor all the World besides shall ever be able to let me from praising God in my heart nor shall you sit as Lords over my conscience Marq. We have heard you preach but too long Then he said Iaylor take him and cast him into the hole Then was he put among théeves as a Lamb among so many Wolves Thus this constant witnesse of Christ remained firm scorning both their threats and torments till they had burned him as they did Scoblant August 14. the yeare 1568. ¶ Giles Annik Iohn Annik his son and Lovis Meulen Martyrs 1568. Persecution grew still hot in Flanders GIles Annik with Iohn Annik his son were driven from Renay in Flanders and retired unto Emden in East Friesland But by reason of their so sudden departure they could not take their wives with them and therfore returned thither again in the yeare 1568. to convey theÌ„ thence The tyranny of the Duke of Alva and his Spaniards was then in the height by reason whereof they durst not enter the towne openly but take up their lodging in the evening at an honest mans house called Lovis Meulin Now it was this night in which the enemies had foreappointed to
fell sick of a continuall Fever and kept her bed which procéeded as it was given out from the griefe she had in her lights wherein by long continuance was bred an imposthume she being also distempered with the heat of the season and her extraordinary journeyes This burning Fever grew so strong upon her that within five daies after she died to the great griefe of the better sort but to the joy of the secret counsell The malady indéed was in her braine which was not searched in which the Quéen Mother had an hand though she séemed much to mourne for the affliction of her good friend Now forasmuch as in the time of her sicknesse she manifested with what spirit she was guided we will here set downe the true narration of her behaviour both in the same her sicknesse and also at her death Perceiving in her selfe by the strength of the disease howsoever others sleighted it that shée could not long continue she made her selfe ready to receive from the hand of God that which he had appointed concerning her and to that end requested she might have such nigh about her as might comfort her in this case out of the word of God as also to pray with her and for her according to that which Saint Iames saith Is any sicke among you Iohn 5. 14 16. Let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over such a one knowing that the fervent praier of righteous man availeth much with God Thus according to her desire a Minister resorting unto her shewed out of the Scriptures that Christians ought in all things to submit themselves to the will of God as to the Father of spirits Heb. 1◠that they might live And albeit the rigor of his chastisements doth somtimes séem to our flesh as if they were sent to none other end but for our ruine and destruction yet ought we to consider that because he is just he can do nothing but justily and being a father he cannot but therein séeke the welfare of his afflicted children To which she replyed I take all this saith she as sent from the hand of God my most mercifull Father nor have I during this extremity feared to die much lesse murmured against him for inflicting the same upon me knowing that what soever he doth he doth the same so as all in the end shall turne to my everlasting good The Minister continuing in his spéech added That the causes of sicknesses and diseases must be sought beyond the course of physiyke which alwayes lookes to the corruption of the humours or to the more noble parts of the body any way distempered for howsoever it was not amisse to have respect to these things as to second causes yet ought we to ascend higher namely to the first even to God himself who disposeth of all his creatures as it pleaseth him He it is That make the Deut. 32. 39. wound and heales that kils and makes alive And therefore to him we ought to direct our prayers for comfort in all our griefes and sufferings and in the end for full deliverance séeing it is no hard matter with him to restore health unto us if his good pleasure be such To this she answered that she depended wholly upon Gods providence knowing that all things are wisely disposed by him and therefore be sought him to furnish her with all such graces as he saw to be necessary for her salvation As for this life said she I am in a manner we aned from the love of it in regard of the afflictions which have followed me from my youth hitherto but especially because I cannot live without daily offending my good God with whom I desire to be with all my heart The Minister told her that long life how ful of troubles soever it were was notwithstanding to be esteemed among the blessings of God seeing Deut. 5. 16. his promise implyes so much and not onely so but because our life may many wayes serve to his glory and is both an honor and a pledge of his favor even as it is to him whom his prince imploys long in his service having had experience of his fidelity for many yeares together In which respect she was earnestly requested to pray that if it were the will of God to imploy her yet longer in his Anno 1566. service for the further inlargement of his Gospell that he would grant unto her such recovery of health and good disposition of body that with renued strength shée might bee encouraged to finish her course much more nobly than heretofore Whereupon she protested that in regard of her owne particular her life was not dear unto her séeing so long as she lived in this fraile flesh she was still prone and apt to sinne against God onely she said her care was somewhat for her Children which God had given her in respect they should be so soone deprived of her now in their young yeares yet not doubting said she but although it should please God to take me from them that himselfe will be a Father and a protector over them as he hath béen to me in my greatest afflictions and therefore I commit them wholly to his government and fatherly care these were her very words The Minister said that he blessed God to sée in her Majesty this assurance of faith and so to cast her care upon the providence of God praying her still to persevere therein which would sufficiently seale unto her truth of her faith And thus said he did the Patriarkes in times pasT commit the care of their posterity over into the hands of Gen. 24 1. Gen. 27. 48. 15. 49. God as may appeare by Abraham Isaac and Iacob touching their severall blessings But yet is was very requisite as he said that she should make choise of such who for their sincerity both in life and doctrine might continue to water in these young Princely plants the séeds of piety which had béen sowne in them by her so great paine and industry séeing it was to bée hoped that the example of her faith and constancy in the service of God which she had set before them would serve as a perpetuall inducement to imitate her so noble vertues Now whereas she had againe declared that death was not terrible unto her because it was the way by which we passe hence to our eternall rest The Minister told her that Christians had little cause to feare death in regard they should Because by death we passe to life Iohn 8. 51 52. Iohn 11. 26. Iohn 11. 13 14. Acts 7. 60. 1 Cor. 15. 55. not die at all according to Christs words in the Gospell of Iohn he that liveth and beléeveth in me shall never die For death to speake properly is no death to them but a sleep being often so called in the Scriptures and therefore Christ for their sakes hath overcome and triumphed over it in his owne person So
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
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
neverthelesse he was brought into the market place of the said Campello pinioned with a cord and miserably slain with two musketiers being of the age of 72. after he had bin robbed of his gold and silver whereof great store was found in his house according to the common and too much practised rule of the Roman Catholikes Haereticis non est servanda â—ides Dominico Berto an aged man of 67 yeres was set upon an Asse his face turned to the taile which he held in his hand in stead of a bridle and in his other hand a booke whom in this manner they carried through Sondres saying Alessio Alessio c. they cut off his cares his nose his chéekes boring holes in divers parts of his body with a strange and unheard of barbarousnesse untill they had quite killed him but he for the love of Christ his Savior with great and incredible courage cheerfulnesse endured all those varieties of torments and martyrdome And by this it may be gathered what they would have don with Seignior Alessio a faithfull Pastor of the Church of Sondres if he had falne into the hands of these raging beasts But he by the great mercy of God was preserved with his wife and children in the company of seignior Georgio Ienatro Minister of Berbenno and Charles Salice son of Cavaliere Hercole of happy memory and others not without great travell danger and difficulties among the craggy and dangerous mountains whereon they travelled it so pleasing the gracious God by the vertue of his spirit graciously to assist him although he was in the midst of his persecutors Anthony de Prati of the hils was with many words exhorted to abjure his Religion but he constantly persevered and with a generous courage replyed in these words My soule shall be taken up into Abrahams bosome and after my death my enemies shall see the Angell of God hard by mee c. and accordingly an Angell appeared over his body in a white garment being beheld of the by-standers who of their owne accord have publikely confessed the same Theophilo Mossino received into his body a shot with a musket but before he was dead a gag was put in his mouth which being filled with gunpouder fire was given to it and in that manner he passed miserably out of this life Giovanni his son was slain with seven wounds Seignior Salvetto being delivered out of prison was instantly exhorted to embrace the catholike Romane Religion But notwithstanding he constantly persisted although he was both young in yeares and a lover of worldly vanities and having received a shot of a musket was carried by a ladder out of the Palace to the ground from whence he raised himselfe and besought them to finish the worke they had to doe about his body that he might render his soule to his Creator being 28 yeares of age Io. Battista Mingardino having received many wounds and being stripped of his garments and left naked in the woods nevertheles after this so evill intreaty hee returned to his house and although the Priests of Sondres did with all diligence possible exhort him to change his Religion promising him in case he would doe so mountaines of gold neverthelesse hee constantly persevered in the truth of the Gospell even to the end Christina Ambria the wife of Vincenzo Bruno of Prada Mudalena Merli of Montagna and Iohn Garato of Fruxagiola were thrown downe headlong into the river Adda from divers bridges of Boffetto S. Petro and others and so drowned because they had refused to embrace the Catholike Romane Religion and that with so manly and constant a resolution as did worke an admiraration in the persecutors themselves In this meane time notwithstanding the reverend Seignior Bartholomew Marlianico received the crowne of Martyrdome who sometimes had preached at Sondres a true servant of God and for his life and manners unreprovable Others had their mouths slit up to the eares others received other flashes in the face others were in other manner most cruelly mangled to the death Battista of Grilio called of the Bajacca an aged man of seventy five yeares being found in the house of the heires of Seignior Conte Vlisse Martinengo of most happy memory being set upon by those murthering cattifes leaped out of a window and passed the river Maleto and having gotten to his house and shifted his clothes he was assailed again taken prisoner and carried to the Palace put often to the strapado and lastly was in such sort sliced and hewne with a sword that he had nothing left him but the armes which were fastened to the cord Paulo Baretta of Chio in the County of Vicence a virgin of the age of seventy five yeares of an honourable noble and antient family who twenty seven yeares came before to Sondres to embrace the Gospell was by these villanies caried through Sondres with all disgrace shame and scorne having a Myter of paper put upon her head her face besmeared with diâ—â— and many buffets given in her chéekes and in many other fashions abused Being required to call upon the holy Virgin Mary and the Saints and to place her trusting in them she smiling did with great readinesse answer them My trust and my salvation is in my onely Savior Iesus Christ and in him onely will I rest And it is also true That I acknowledge the Virgin Mary for the most holy Virgin above all others which ever was or ever will be who was a Virgin before the birth a virgin in the birth and after birth and so shall remain Who although she be favoured and beloved of God above all women in the world to be made the Mother of my Lord Iesus the Savior of the world nevertheles because she is not able to know our necessities as not being omnipotent for otherwise she would be God himselfe and besides hath had néed of the merits of her son it was not lawfull for her to call upon any other then the eternall God who knoweth all things and upon no creature of any quality whatsoever c. In this sort she endured the scornes and outrages with an incredible constancy and chéerfulnesse saying continually I do willingly endure as becommeth mee to doe desiring no better usage since the very same hath béen done to my Lord and Savior Iesus and to his Apostles and to thousands of the holy martyrs Lastly she was carried away to be sent to Millaine but she rather then that should be desired earnestly that she might be killed séeing she was resolved to die in the faith of the Lord Iesus both there and at Millaine but she could not obtaine the favour to be killed there but was carried along as hath héen said On Wednesday being the eightéenth of Iuly was found in the plaine of Saint Gregory in the Valtoline in the high way the dead body of an old woman which by the conjecture of some was the body of this woman Paulo who in conclusion had béen murthered by the assasinate in