Grzymaltowsky with many of the Nobility to the same Gate and when the aforesaid Kolechen with another in his company had gone out to them and scarcely perswaded them that the City was forsaken and that there was no treachery they went in and when they were disposed into the next fair houses they were entertained with a noble supper which was prepared to sweeten them a little if it might be and had plenty of Wine out of Dlugosses Cellar who was a rich Senator At last when they were half Drunk they set upon Kolechen with threats and would have made him their Prisoner but that he escaped wonderfully out of their hands and saved himself by flight But they durst not stay all night in the City for fear the Swedes and Citizens should set upon them unawares out of some Ambuscado and so they returned to their own company and in the morning with many hundred Waggons they came back killing all they met and setting themselves to plunder the City Here then you might have seen strange examples of barbarous cruelty on the one side and blockish folly on the other For though no man made resistance yet like Mad Dogs they flew upon all that either came out or were drawn out of the holes wherein they had hid themselves Of some they pulled out their eyes Of some they cut off their Noses and Tongues Of others they cut off their Hands and Feet others they stabbed and slashed and so butchered them with innumerable wounds that it could not be known who they were And which was more they spared not his Highness Prince Frederick Landgrave of Hassia though dead whom they had slain half a year before at Costena and who was decently Embalmed by the Lessians and kept laid up in the Chappel of the New-Church upon a Scaffold till he might be transported to his own Country They first rifled his Coffin which was handsomely adorned taking away his silver and guilt keyes and all the silk that was about it then they set upon the Princes corps and took away his silk robe lined with Ermines and so left him once again naked and lying on the ground But after the burning of the City his body being found in the same place untouched by the fire he was cloathed again by the ancient Lesnians and put up in his Coffin and buried in a certain place where he is still honourably kept But that mad rabble shewed abundance of folly in this that whereas they might have made Lesna their nest the Swedes having Garrisoned themselves in the strongest places of the Province or at least might have gathered together the richest of the plunder for there was such abundance of victuals wares housholdstuff of all sorts and treasure that was brought hither from other places as to a place of safety that a thousand Waggons could scarce have carried it away in many dayes yet such was their over-eager desire of their destroying this hated City that the very same day yea before noon they set fire to the City and Suburbs in every street for the Waggons which they brought with them were not empty but loaded with Torches Pitch Straw and such other combustible matter and so cruelly destroyed that most pleasant City together with all that abundance of all sorts of things that was in it This fire lasted three whole dayes and there were those that took care that nothing should scape it for when the New-buildings of the New-churches did not easily take fire they brought Straw Pitch and dry wood and put under the roofs and the in-side of the steeples and so forced them to take fire And they came again upon the third day 1. May and whatsoever was left they set fire to again They burnt also the very Wind-mills whereof there were seventy about the City and a very pleasant Park of the Countesses which lay close by the Castle that every place might be filled with spectacles of cruelty and at length it might come to be said En cineres ubi Lesna fuit Where fairest Lesna stood of old Now nought but Ashes we behold The Citizens sadly beholding these flames some miles off ran thither next day by Troops whether out of a desire of quenching the fire if it were possible or else to save something out of the flames for most through fear had gone away empty handed but the Enemy came upon them and although they stoutly defended themselves and slew many of their Enemies yet many of themselves were slain and many others also on the dayes following when some Villages that belonged to the County of Lesna and were inhabited by professors of the Gospel were in like manner burnt down There perished in these flames many aged and sick people that could not get away besides such abundance of houses houshold-stuff of all sorts precious wares corn many thousand bushels whereof were brought hither libraries and other things that the loss would amount to many Tuns of gold and many thousands were thereby reduced to meer beggery But that which was saddest of all was that the Church of the faithful that was here gathered together out of divers places and Countryes to enjoy the pure worship of God was so utterly overthrown that it cannot but cry out with Sion of old when it was rased by the Babylonians Lament 1. and 3. O all ye that pass by behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger For he hath sent a fire into my bones and it prevaileth against me he hath made me a desolation so that I am not able to rise up my children are desolate because the Enemy prevailed Sion spreadeth forth her hands and there is none to comfort her I called for my lovers but they deceived me Mine Enemies chased me sore like a Bird without cause They have cut off my life in the Dungeon Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee Thou saidst Fear not It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not It must not be concealed what wonder hapned the first day of the burning of the City about evening at Czirna which is the first Town of Silesia next to Lesna about two miles distant Some of the Lesnians went out to look upon the sad smoke of their Country and as they were looking there fell from the clouds which carried the smoke over Silesia together with the soot a leaf of burnt paper which when they took up they found to be a leaf of the Bohemian Bible containing the 6 th and part of the 7 th chapters of Matthew where those words of Christ came first to sight With what measure ye meet it shall be measured to you again with many other of Christs exhortations to trust in the fatherly Providence of God This leaf was presented to the Lord of the place and a Lesnian Physitian who was there by chance that read and
upon him whereupon he resolved the same night to break into the enemies Army whilest they were thus divided Having therefore refreshed himself and Army leaving many fires in his Camp thereby to deceive the enemy he marched all night to seek them out Gorgias finding that the Jews had forsaken their Camp conceited that for fear they were fled into the mountains and therefore he resolved to search them out diligently But in the morning â—udas accompanied only with three thousand men and those but ill armed because of their poverty shewed himself to the enemies that were at Emmaus and having viewed their warlike discipline and mighty number and how well they were incamped he encouraged his followers to fight vâ—liantly telling them that God would deliver their enemies into their hands and thereupon causing his Trumpets to sound he rushed in upon his enemies with such fury and resolution as altogether affrighted and discouraged them and having slaine such as resisted he pursued the rest as farre as the plains of Idumaea c. In this fight â—bout three thousand of the enemies were slain yet would he not suffer his souldiers to take the spoil telling them that as yet they were to fight with Gorgias and his Army but so soon as they had through Gods mercy with the likâ— valâ—ur beaten them they might then securely enrich themselves by the prey of all their enemies Gorgias with his Army being upon an hill and discovering the flight of their friends and the Jews readinesse to give them battell were so affrighted that they also fled whereupon Judas with his men returned to gather the pillage and having found great store of gold silver scarlet and purple he returned to his dwelling with joy praising God for their happy success Lysias hearing of this overthrow was much enraged and presently assembled another army of neer sixthy thousand chosen foot and five thousand horsemen wherewith he went to invade Judaea and encamped in Bethsura Judas hearing of it came forth against him with ten thousand men and seeing the number of his enemies so farre to exceed his he earnestly cried unto God that it would please him to fight with and for him and then charged the vanguard of the enemy with so great force that he discomfited and slew about five thousand of them Lysias perceiving hereby the resolution of the Jews who would rather die then lose their liberty he returned with the rest of his Army unto Antioch where he continued and entertained many mercenaries to make a greater Army for the conquest of the Jews In the meane time Judas assembled the people and told them that having obtained so many victories through the mercy of God they ought now to go up to Jerusalem and purifie the Temple that was desolate and to offer unto God the sacrifices that were ordained by the Law Then going up with a great multitude of people he found the Temple desolate the gates burned and grass growing within the same grieving therefore at so sad a spectacle he began to weep and all the people that were with him and having chosen out some of his best souldiers he commanded them to force the garisons which were in the fortresses whilest himself purged the Temple Then he caused to be made a Table a Candlestick and Altar for incense all of gold he put up a rail also and set gates to the Temple and having thrown down the Altar of burnt-offerings that was profaned by Antiochus he built a new one of stones neither hewed nor hammered Then on the twenty fifth of Chasleu September were lights set in the Candlestick perfumes laid upon the Altar loaves set upon the Table and sacrifices offered upon the new Altar which was the same day three years wherein before the sacred service was changed into profane and hatefull impiety Then did Judas with his country-men celebrate a feast unto the Lord for eight daies praising God with Hymns and Psalms He enclosed the City also with a wall and built high Towers thereon in which he planted Garisons against the incursions of the enemies He fortified also the City of Betsura that it might serve as a Fort against the enemy But the nations round about them being greatly displeased with this prosperity of the Jews oppressed divers whom they surprised by ambushes and treachery whereupon Judas warred against them to hinder their incursions he slew many of the Idumaeans and brought away a great prey out of their country and shut up the sonnes of Baan their Prince who lay in waite for the Jews and after a siege he overcame them setting fire on their Towers and killing all the men that where therein After this he made warre upon the Ammonites who had a mighty Army under the conduct of Timotheus with these he fought and overcame them and took their City of Jazor and burned it leading their wives and children into captivity and so returned into Judaea But the neighbouring nations hearing of his departure assembled themselves together against the Jews in Galaad who retiring into the sort of Dathema sent to Judas requesting him to come and relieve them and whilest he was reading their Letters other messengers came out of Galile informing him that they were assaulted by the inhabitants of Ptolomais Tyre and Sidon and others there abouts Hereupon Judas commanded his brother Simon to take three thousand chosen men and with them to relieve those Jews that were assailed in Galile and himself with his brother Jonathan accompanied with eight thousand fighting men marched into Galaad leaving the rest of his forces under two other Captains whom he commanded to have a watchfull eye over Judaea yet not to joyn battell with any enemy till his returne Simeon in Galile fought against his enemies discomfited them pursued them to the gates of Ptolemais and slew about three thousand and having gathered their spoils he released many Jews that were prisoners restored their goods to them and so returned home But Judas having passed Jordan and marched three daies journey he met the Naâ—athians who told him that his brethren were besieged in their Castles and Cities and some of them were already brought into great exrteamity and penury Hereupon he first assailed the Inhabitants of Bosra tooke their City set it on fire and killed all the men that were able to beaâ— arms then marching all night he came early in the morning to the Castle where the Jews were besieged by Tymothies Army The enemies were just then raising their ladders to scale the walls and applying their engins for battery Then did he incourage his men to fight valiantly for their brethren that were in danger and causing his Trumpets to sound he distributed his forces into three battalions wherewith he assaulted the enemies but they hearing that it was Macâ—abaeus were struck with so great a fear that immediately they fled Judas with his men pursuing them slew about eight thousand
Army being reported to Demetrius he sent another Army under Bacchides vvho coming into Judaea and hearing that Judas vvas encamped at Bethzeth he marched against him vvith tvventy thousand footmen and tvvo thousand horsemen Judas had not in all above tvvo thousand men vvho seeing the multitude of Bacchides Army vvere afraid so that some forsaking the Camp fled avvay insomuch as there then remained vvith Judas but eight hundred men His enemies also pressed so upon him that he had no time to re-assemble his Forces yet he resolved to fight vvith those eight hundred men vvhom he exhorted to be of good courage and to fight valiantly but they answered That they were not able to make head against so great an Army and therefore they adviced him to retire and stand on his guard till he had gathered more Forces Judas replied God forbid that the Sun should see me turn my back upon the enemies though I die and spend my last blood in this battle yet will I never soil my former worthy actions by an ignominious flight And so having encouraged his souldiers he commanded them without apprehension of danger to bend themselves altogether against the enemy Bacchides drew out his Army arranged them in battle placing his horse-men in the wings his Archers and light-armed men in the front and then the Macedonian Phalanx and so causing his Trumpets to sound and his Souldiers to shout he charged his enemies Judas did the like and encountred Bacchides so that there was a most cruel conflict which continued till Sun-set Judas perceiving that Bacchides and the flower of his Army fought in the right wing he chose out the most resolute of his Souldiers and drew them towards that quarter and set upon them brake their squadron and thrusting into the midst of them he forced them to flie and pursued them as far as to the mount Aza but the left wing followed Judas and so enclosed him on the back part He seeing himself thus enclosed resolved with his followers to fight it out to the last He slew a great number of his enemies till at last he was so wearied that â—he fell to the ground and was there slain His souldiers seeing him dead betook themselves to flight Simon and Jonathan his brothers by intreaty recovered his body carried it to Modim where they interred it all the people weeping divers days for him and Jonathan his brother succeeded him in the Government CHAP. V. The Martyrdom of the Maccabees WHilst Antiochus Epiphanes was living he thrust out Onias the High-Priest from his Office and put into his room Jason his brother whereupon Jason promised to pay him yearly three thousand six hundred and sixty Talents of silver This wicked Jason presently forced all the people to forsake their Religion and to build Baths He hindered the defence and building of the Temple Hereat God was very wroth and stirred up Antiochus to go to Jerusalem where he was gallantly entertained by the Jews Then did he presently make an Edict That whosoever of the Jews refused to offer Sacrifice to the gods he should presently be broken to pieces on the wheel But those that were godly did little esteem that Edict Antiochus perceiving that the rigour of his Edict prevailed little and that many chose rather to die then to forsake their Religion he sitting in an eminent place and calling all the Jews together caused swines-flesh to be sacrificed on the Altar and to be offered to every Hebrew to eat Amongst the multitude thus assembled there was one Eleazer a Priest a man that feared God and one who was very aged of a reverend countenance and famous for his vertue To him Antiochus said Be advised by me holy old man to avoid those torments which are prepared for the obstinate preserve thy reverend age and contemn not the benefit of life take the sacrifice and eat of the swines-flesh for no wise man will credit the Jews opinion to refuse that meat which nature hath ordained for mans use as well as any other Why should this beast be more abominable then others c. Or suppose your Laws are to be observed yet will they excuse thee seeing thou sinnest not voluntarily but by compulsion To whom Eleazer answered We O Antiochus follow not vanity but the verity of Religion and fear of torments cannot make us embrace another but suppose that the Religion left us by our fore-fathers had no firm ground yet should not torments make me forsake it Do not esteem it a small matter to eat forbidden meat and to taste of that which is sacrificed to Idols for it is a profane thing to touch things that are prophane and we are taught by our Law to suffer with patience whatsoever for Gods cause is inflicted upon us c. And therefore I refuse this profane meat well knowing what I ought to eat as warranted by Gods Law which I have learned to obey c. and herein will I persist though with tyrannous hand thou pluck out mine eyes or with a sharp knife rip up my entrails Think not that because I am old my body is feeble If I must be sacrificed for Gods sake thou shalt find me as lusty and constant as a young man and most joyfull in torments Prepare an extraordinary fire or what else thou pleasest thou shalt find me more constant in the midst of all torments then I am now before they come c. The chaste and pure company of Fathers shall receive me into their number where I shall not fear O impious King thy threats c. Whilst Eleazer spake thus boldly the souldiers haled him to be tortured and stripping him naked they hanged him up and whipped him and whilst on either side he was thus beaten one cryed Obey the Kings pleasure and command But this worthy man was not overcome by torment but suffered as though he had been in a sleep and fixing his venerable eyes upon Heaven he knew in whom he believed and to whom he sacrificed his life and beholding the flesh on each side of his body rent and torn with stripes and the bloud issuing out abundantly he admired his own patience and thanked God the author of it At last finding his own frailty scarce able to endure such torments he fell upon his face which with stripes was all rent and torne still glorifying God as he did before Then a souldier to gratifie the King like a mad man did spurn and tread upon him to encrease his sufferings but Eleazer strong in body and minde like a Champion of the true God did never shrink at those pains but by patience overcame the cruelty of his tormentors so that his torturers admired that he should be able to bear them Then the Kinges Officers said How long wilt thou forbear to obey the King eat Swines flesh and free thy self from all that thou endurest Eleazer though hitherto he had been silent in all
be objected against her This petition the Emperour granted Her husband perceiving that he was frustrated of his expectation went and accused Ptolemaeus who was her instructer in the faith of Christ that he was a Christian. Ptolemaeus loving the truth and not thinking it good to hide his profession confessed it Therefore being brought before Vrbicius the Judge he was by him condemned to die Whereupon one Lucius a Christian standing by said to the Judge What reason I pray you or equity is this that this man who is neither Adulterer Fornicator Murtherer nor Felon nor guilty of any other crime should he condemned for his name and profession of Christianity These manner of Judgements O Urbicius are neither honourable for the Emperor nor for the estate of the Senate of Rome Then said Vrbicius Methinks thou also art a Christian which Lucius confessing the Judge without any further delay commanded him also to be had away to the place of Execution to whom he answered I thank you with all my heart that hereby you release me from most wicked governors and send me to my good and loving Father who is God of gods and King of Kings Also a third man coming to the Judge and using the like liberty of speech had the like sentence of death and was crowned with the same crown of Martyrdom Also one Concordus a Minister of the City of Spoleto because he refused to sacrifice to Jupiter and did spit in the face of the Idol after divers cruel torments sustained was beheaded with the sword Many others also suffered Martyrdom at the same time because they sharply reprehended Idolatry and refused at the Emperors command to offer sacrifice to Idols for which they were beheaded Many Christians also suffered in France the History of whom was written and set forth by their own Churches and directed to the brethren of Asia and Phrygia wherein they write that Satans Instruments were so maliciously active against them that they could not be safe any where neither in the Markets Shops nor their own Houses Yea they were forbidden to come into any publick places But God in Mercy took out of the Tyrants hands such as were weak amongst the Christians and sets up others as Pillars who are able to abide all sufferings and valiantly to withstand the enemy notwithstanding all the opprobrious punishments they could devise yea by their admirable patience they shewed that all the sufferings of this present time were not to be compared with the glory which they expected to be revealed in them First they suffered whatsoever the frantick multitude could inflict upon them by railings scourgings drawings and halings flinging of stones imprisonment c. Then were they led to the Market-place vvhere the Captain and other City-Officers commanded them to prison after they had made confessions of their faith publickly till the return of the chief Governor Who being come back he used all extremity that possibly he could against them At which time a noble young man called Vetius Epagathus being replenished with fervent zeal and love both to God and the brethren could not suffer the wicked Judgement which vvas given against the brethren Whereupon he desired the Governor to hear vvhat he had to say in their behalf in whom vvas no impiety found But the people cryed out against him and the Justice denied his lawfull request withal asking him vvhether he himself vvere not a Christian unto which vvith a loud and bold voice he answered I am a Christian And thus was he received into the fellowship of the Martyrs By this worthy example the rest of the brethren were more animated to suffer Martyrdom Yet some there were as yet weak and not so well prepared for sufferings of vvhom there vvere ten that fainted vvhich filled the rest vvith great heaviness Their example also caused such as vvere not yet apprehended to be less forward in adventuring themselves yet every day were some apprehended which were worthy to fill up the number of them which vvere fallen Against the Christians vvere their heathen servants examined and being threatned vvith extream torments they vvere enforced to confess against their Masters that at their meetings they kept the feasts of Thiestes and incest of Oedipus and many other such like crimes not fit to be named which things being bruted abroad every one began to exercise their cruelty against the people of God yea their familiar friends disdained and vvaxed mad against them Then vvas all manner of cruelty used against them especially against Sanctus Deacon of the Church of Viena and Maturus but a little before baptized but yet a worthy souldier of Christ. Also against Attalus and Blandina concerning whom vve vvere all afraid especially her Mistress lest through vveakness she should not stand to her profession but through Gods Grace she vvas so admirably replenished vvith strength and boldness that they vvhich had the tormenting of her by course from morning till night for very vveariness gave over and fell dovvn confessing that they could do no more against her marvelling that she yet lived having her body so torn and rent as it vvas professing that any one of those torments alone had been sufficient to bereave her of life But this blessed Virgin became stronger and stronger in her sufferings and as often as she spake these vvords I am a Christian and have not committed any evil she was vvonderfully comforted Sanctus also who in his torments had endured more pains then the nature of man vvas able to stand under when the wicked thought to have heard him utter some blasphemous vvords through the intollerableness of his pains abode notwithstanding so constant in mind that they could neither extort out of him vvhat Countryman he vvas where brought up what his name was vvhether a bond-man or a free but to every question he answered I am a Christian When therefore they had used all other kinds of torments they clapped plates of brass red hot to the tenderest parts of his body wherewith though he was grievouslly scorched yet shrunk he not for the matter yea though his body was all drawn together with the scorching fire so that he retained not the proper shape of a man yet did he draw comfort from Christ so as to rejoyce in these tribulations After a while they brought him again to new torments hoping thereby to enforce him to a recantation at which time his body was so sore and swoln that he could not suffer a man to touch him but contrary to their expectation his body in these latter torments was so suppled and restored that he recovered the former shape and use of his members so that these second torments through the Grace of Christ proved a soveraign medicine to him Satan also now thinking that he was sure of Biblides who was one of those that had denied Christ and hoping to prevail with her a
the times For when the Church had rest and ease he wrote strange things and cryed out of the abuses in Popery But in times of persecution he usually played the Hypocrite and laboured to draw others to do the same by which means he had a multitude of followers and amongst them the Lord of Valgrane and Maximilian de Saluces who set his name to Baronius to add luster to his writings against the Ministers reproaching them for that they would not give way to any dissimulation in their Disciples whereby they exposed them to great extremities This Lord had some learning and knowledge of the truth but to avoid the bearing of the Cross he thought it convenient to dissemble and condemned those who any way gain said the Papists Yet Monsieur Gelido Minister of Aceil opposed them both very learnedly in several letters that he wrote unto them So did Monsieur Truchi Minister of Dronier together with other Pastors of the Neighbouring places demonstrating both by Scripture Testimonies and by the Example of the Primitive Church that they had done nothing but what they ought to do and what every faithful Christian was bound to and consequently that the opinion of Baronius and his followers was pernicious to the Church in times of persecution The other instruments that Satan made use of to the prejudice of the Church were the Roman Clergy with their passionate Proselites who would faine have done to these godly Christians as their brethren in iniquity had done to their neighbours in the Dukedom of Savoy viz. Banish imprison kill and confiscate the goods of the Protestants But through Gods mercy they were hindred by the Kings Edicts confirming to those his Subjects of Saluces a peaceable habitation without being molested for their Conscience and religion or questioned for any thing they did in their private houses provided they abstained from the publick exercise of it by which means their Ministers had opportunitie of assembling in small Companies baptizing marrying comforting the sick and instructing every one in particular which provoked their adversaries to bend themselves chiefly against the Ministers thinking that if they could find out any meanes to extirpate them they should easily prevaile upon the common people having none to animate and instruct them Accordingly they published an Edict of Octob. 19. 1567. in the name of the Duke of Nevers Governour for the King on this side the mountains injoyning all of the religion there inhabiting or abiding that were not the Kings natural Subjects to depart together with their families within the space of three dayes and never to return thither to inhabit pass or otherwise to abide without a special safe conduct upon pain of life and confiscation of their goods Now the greatest part of the Ministers not being natural subjects to the King by this Edict were to quit the Marquisate oâ— to obtain a safe conduct or lastly to incur the penalty A safe conduct they could not obtain and yet they thought themselves bound in Conscience not to abandon their people wherefore continuing with their Congregations two of them were apprehended and imprisoned viz. Monsieur Francis Truchi and Monsieur Francis Soulf where they were detained four years four moneths and odd dayes the poor people being not able by any means to obtain their deliverance though they continually sollicited de Berague their Governour and others that had undertaken the management of these affairs yet the Lord was so pleased to restrain the power of their Enemies that they could not take away their lives yea by degrees they obtained for them a more spacious and convenient prison than that whereunto they were at first confined To procure their full deliverance the Churches of the Marquisate sent their supplications to the King by the aforesaid Minister Galatâ—e and another who set out July 27. 1571. and went as far as Rochel to implore the intercession of the Queen of Navar as also to intreat the assistance of divers others in several places and the great Patrons of the reformed religion disputed their case before the King and in the end obtained Letters under the Kings own hand for their enlargement Octob. 14. 1571. which was accordingly effected but it was four moneths after before it could be done When Sieur Galatee returned he was overjoyed as well for the prosperous successe of his negotiations as for the great hopes of a profound peace founded upon the smooth promises of his Majâ—sty and upon the alliance which he had made by the marriage of his sister to the King of Navar who professed the reformed religion But this joy lasted but from the moneth of May 1572. to the beginning of Septemb. at which time there arived the lamentable news of the massacre of many noble persons and multitudes of others who were most inhumanely murthered in divers places of France to the great astonishment of all the faithful in those parts About the same time there arived letters from the King to the Governour Birague by which he was required to have an eye that at the arival of the news of what happened at Paris they of the Religion should make no combustion remitting the rest of his pleasure to those instructions which he had sent him by the bearer the contents whereof were that he should put to death all the chief of the Protestants within his jurisdiction whose names he should find in the Roll that should be presented to him Birague having received this command together with the Roll aforementioned was much troubled and immediately called his Council together whom he acquainted with the Kings Orders whereupon some were of opinion that they should be immediately executed But others seeing the King in his late Patents not many moneths before had enlarged the Ministers that were imprisoned and had ordered that those of the reformed Religion should not be any wayes molested for their Conscience sake as also upon consideration that nothing had occurred since that time worthy such a change they therefore thought it sufficient to secure the persons of such as were enrolled and to defer execution for a while and in the mean time to inform the King that they were persons of Honour faithful to his Majesty living peaceably with their neighbours and inoffensive in their lives adding that in case his Majesty was resolved that they should be put to death there was yet time enough to execute his pleasure therein This advice Birague approved of and accordingly apprehended some but others escaped and concealed themselves and in the mean time he dispatched a Messenger to the King to inform him as abovesaid and to know his further pleasure This Messenger met another at Lions where the King had sent to Birague to advertise him that in case his former Order was not already executed he should desist from it and only have a special care that those of the Religion should make no insurrection nor have any publick exercises But they
to the slaughter as well by reason of its being very much frequented and grown famous as also because of the Synod there usually celebrated as likewise a famous University and Printing-house and books frequently published to the world When therefore in the year 1655. the Swedish Army out of Pomerania drew near to the borders of Poland and the Nobility were summoned to Arms according to the custome of the Countrey it came to passe that the Papists brake forth into many furious expressions crying out That the Hereticks had invited the Enemy and therefore they were first of all to be put to the sword and extirpated which reports though most falsly scattered abroad for the searcher of the heart and the reins knoweth that we never so much as dreamt of it yet they easily found credit among the sworn Enemies of the Gospel who sought nothing more than our ruine Hereupon they who first consulted to agree with the Swedish Army being terrified by its power concluded about the surrender of all Great Poland into the Kings protection and namely the Royal Cities of Posen Calissen Meserick c. to which also Lesna was expressely added In a little time after they endeavoured to cast off the Swedish Yoke and turned their Arms not against the Swedes but first against our Evangelical Professors as conspiring with the Swedes upon the account of Religion and none of them scrupled to take revenge upon them They first of all set upon those of Lesna with resolution of putting all to the sword and destroying that Heretical City by fire and they had effected both unlesse God had by sending some persons before who by signifying the coming of the Enemy and with what intent they came had possest the Citizens with a Panick fear so that leaving all their Estates they every man fled and thus within the space of one hour a most populous City abounding with all manner of wealth was left without Inhabitants who in a miserable condition wandered then into the neighbouring Woods and Marishes into Silesia But the Polish Nobility with their Army entring the City did what they pleased slaying a number of decrepit old people and sick persons that were not able to save themselves by flight then the City it self was first plundred and afterwards so destroyed by fire for three dayes together that no part of it remained beside rubbish and ashes In what manner they would have handled the Citizens especially their Pastors they shewed by their heroick actions performed in other places by the most savage slaughtering of divers Ministers of the Church and other faithful Members of Christ of both Sexes for of all that they laid hold on they gave not one man quarter but very cruelly put them to death with most exquisite tortures They endeavoured to force Master Samuel Cardus Pastor of the Church of Czuertzinen to renounce his Religion after they had taken him and miserably handled him with all manner of cruelty but he stoutly resisting they first put out his Eyes and led him about for a spectacle then they pulled off his Fingers-ends with pincers but he not yet condescending to their mad Fury they found out a new kinde of torment poured molten Lead into his mouth and at length while he was yet half alive they clapt his Neck between folding Doors and violently pulling them together severed his Head from his Body They took John Jacobides Pastor of the Church of Dembnick and Alexander Wartens his Colleague and another that was in company with them as they passed through the Toun of LUBIN and hurrying them up and down for divers hours and grievously handling them after the manner of Tyrants then last of all cutting their Throats with a Razor threw them headlong while they were yet breathing into a great pit which had been before-hand prepared for their Martyrs and stifled them by casting down Dung and Dirt upon them They a great while pursued Andrew Oxlitius a young man designed for the Ministery whom after long seeking they at last found in the open field and in the end having taken him they cut off his Head with a Sithe chopping it into smal pieces and the dead carcase also they slasht in a barbarous manner The same fate befell Adam Milta a Citizen of Lesna but they more grievously handled an old man of above seventy whose name was Simon Priten and many others whose names it were too tedious to relate Of that barbarous execution which they did upon the weaker Sex there were besides other examples horrid Trophies of Cruelty erected in the said City of Lesna a pious Matron there who was the mother of three children not being able quick enough to leave the City and being slain in the open street they cut off her hands feet cutting off her childrens heads they laid two of them at her breasts and the third by her side In like manner another woman having her hands and feet cut off and her tongue cut out being inclosed and bound in a Sack lived the space of two dayes making most miserable lamentation Grief forbids us to adde more for they behaved themselves so furiously towards us that there remains not an example of any one man saved of all those that happened to fall into their hands It is notoriously known how that fury of theirs tyrannized also over the dead some they dragg'd out of their graves and cut in pieces as at Zichlin others they exposed naked for a publick Spectacle as at Lesna of which outragious action we had an example even in the dead body of the most Serene Landgrave of Hassia which was drawn out of the grave who was heretofore slain in a most barbarous and tyrannical manner at Koscian but buried by our Friends at Lesna The like was acted also upon the Body of the most Noble Arciszevius heretofore the valiant Admiral of the Hollanders in Brazile which was likewise dragg'd out of the grave and being stript of the grave-clothes was found after the firing of Lesna There are divers other examples which the Christian Reader may finde in the Book Entituled Lesnae Excidium faithfully written and lately set forth in print but they are such examples onely as are commonly known for who is able to relate all things in particular as burning men alive drowning others with stones tied about their necks c. Now Lesna being destroyed the fury of the Enemy proceeded to the persecutions of others they in a short time utterly demolished all our Congegations not onely driving away the Pastors but also either burning or leaving most of the Temples desolate as at Karmin Dembnick Skochy Czriuczin c yea and the Auditories themselves were either slain as in the Town of Skochy where there was a very flourishing Church of the Bohemian Exiles Sixty persons both men and women were cruelly put to death or else they were scattered abroad so that there remained not one place wherein the Worship of God may be celebrated Lo
the King of Sweden his cousin for he is a younger brothers son of the house Palatine and the Landgrave of Hessen his Brother in Law did appear for him so farre that the Emperor and the Elector of Mentz fearing a new breach on his behalf did leave him unmolested Soon after the composure of this quarrel the Committee of Imperial Deputies met according to the appointment of the last Dyet at Ratisbon and they have continued at Franckford debating and disputing one with another concerning their respective rights in the several cases which remained undetermined This meeting of Deputies hath agitated matters in the years 1655 56 57. till these new affairs were come into consideration which the King of Sweden his war with Poland hath occasioned for from that time that he went into Poland and prospered there the Deputies although they did not dissolve their meeting yet did in a manner alter the course of their treating one with another as looking much upon the event of that war till the death of the late Emperour hath altered the Scene and a Dyet for the election of a new Emperour hath been called The King of Swedens war with Poland did alarm the Popish party in Germany and the house of Austria extremely and did terrifie the States of the Low-countreys lest if he should be master of the Baltick Sea their Trade should be thenceforward under his power with whom they had no friendly correspondence by reason of some reciprocally conceived injuries for which they could not trust him This moved those of Holland who are the chief traders in those Seas to stir up enemies against him and openly to appear for and correspond with Dantzick to oppose him and it is known to the Swedish that they have dealt underhand with the Muscovite with the Polish King with the Austrians and above-board with the King of Denmark to combine against him by which means after that he had conquered Poland his forces were distracted first to oppose the Muscovite in Livonia who besieged Riga and afterward to put himself in a defensive posture against the Austrians who came to the assistance of the King of Poland and lastly to retire from Poland into Germany to oppose the Danish forces who had invaded his Territories of Bremen Being come into Germany upon this design he did conquer from the King of Denmark the last Summer all Hostein and Jutland and although by these conquests he was able to live in his quarters in the Winter yet his enemies being round about him on all hands and he having neither money nor convenient places to recruit his Army it was expected that in the spring the Combination of his enemies who compassed him about would have swallowed him up but God was pleased to appear for him and direct him in a way to escape and overcome these difficulties For in January last he formed his design to assault the other Territories of the Danish King namely the Islands which lie between Germany and the Continent of Sweden and to that effect had prepared his men to march over into Fuenen either by a bridge of Ships if the Sea were not frozen so as to bear or over the Ice if it should be strong enough having then notice gotten that towards the latter end of January the Ice did bear he took of horse and foot not above six or seven thousand and therewith did march over the Sea into Funen where the Danish King had placed his chief forces to defend the place And although some dangetous and dreadfull accidents did befal him in that his march over the Sea yet he went on and fought the Danish forces more in number than he had with him which on firm land stood in a readinesse to receive him and beat them took the chief Commanders prisoners and the spoil of the Island which is one of the richest that belongs to that Kingdom Having made himself Master of that Island he went forward to the next Island over the Sea called Langland where he found a body of five hundred men to resist him but being charged they were instantly defeated so he went from thence to the next called Laland and from thence to Falster and from Falster to Zeland the frost still continuing to make a bridge for him in all these marches And from the time he came into Funen till he entred Zeland he spent onely five or six dayes In Zeland where the King of Denmark was at Coppenhagen M. Medows the publick Minister of the State sent from thence to reside with the King of Denmark came to him and desired him to admit the King of Denmark to a Treaty this he condescended unto and by the interposition of M. Medows and of the French Ambassadour for he would not admit the Hollands Ambassadour to be a Mediator the place was concluded about the twentieth of February after twelve dayes treaty The conditions are That he restore to the King of Denmark all what he had taken from him in Germany namely Holstein and Jutland and the Islands of Fuenen Langland Laland Falster and Zealand and in lieu thereof the King of Denmark quits unto him all his rights in the Provinces of Haland and Schonen and of Blieken which are the Continent of Sweden on the North side of the Sound and doth moreover surrender unto him the Island of Bornholm and the Lordships of Bahusen and of Drunthen in Norway which lie most convenient to cause the Trade of Sweden to flourish Some other conditions there are but lesse considerable The Peace being concluded and ratified by both Kings the King of Denmark feasted the King of Sweden for certaine dayes and at several times both Kings were together alone for the space of two or three hours at a time whereby it is conceived that they have contracted a nearer and stricter alliance together than the Publick Treatise can mention This being done the King of Sweden went into his own Countrey and hath convocated the States of his Kingdom at Gottenburg to dispose of his affairs with their advice and to take up further resolutions in time to come This unexpected and miraculous successe of the Swedish Kings enterprise hath disappointed all the Counsels and plots of his adversaries against him for which he is obliged to none but unto God alone and from hence his friends have just cause to gather that God hath raised him out of his straits and redoubled his strength to make further use of him towards the advancement of the common cause of Protestants in whose behalf he concluded the Peace at Munster and which he thinks himself in conscience and honour obliged to see maintained for the Protestant interest tanquam altera pars paciscens as in a letter of his to the Emperour he did expresse himself So that it seems the Protestant cause in Germany will finde in him a Protector of so much courage and resolution and conduct as any that could be expected or desired And it is known to