The Protestant School-Master CONTAINING Plain and Easie Directions for spelling and Reading English with all necessary Rules for the True Reading of the English Tongue TOGETHER WITH A Brief and True Account of the Bloody Persecutions Massacres Plots Treasons and most inhumane Tortures committed by the Papists upon Protestants for near six hundred years past to this very time in all Countries where they have usurped Authority to exercise their Cruelties That is The Persecutions of the Protestants in Piedmont Bohemia Germany Poland Lithuania France Italy Spain Portugal The Low Countries Scotland Ireland and England With a Description of the Variety of their Tortures curiously Engraven upon Copper Plates And several other useful Particulars By Edw. Clark B. D. LONDON Printed by T. B. And are to be sold by John How at the Rose and Crown in Sweetings Alley near the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1680. The Protestant School-Master CONTAINING Plain and Easie Directions for spelling and Reading English with all necessary Rules for the True Reading of the English Tongue TOGETHER WITH A Brief and True Account of the Bloody Persecutions Massacres Plots Treasons and most inhumane Tortures committed by the Papists upon Protestants for near 600 Years past to this very time in all Countries where they have usurped Authority to exercise their Cruelties That is The Persecutions of the Protestants in Piedmont Bohemia Germany Poland Lithuania France Italy Spain Portugal The Low Countries Scotland Ireland and England With a Description of the Variety of their Tortures curiously Engraven upon Copper Plates And several other useful Particulars By Edw. Clark B. D. LONDON Printed by T. B. And are to be sold by Enoch Prossor at the Rose and Crown in Sweetings Alley near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1680. TO THE Protestant Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of ENGLAND SINCE we may Daily observe That the Romish Foxes both Jesuits Priests and Layity do lay out the utmost of their strength and Policy to introduce their cursed Principles and Practices into this Kingdom it concerns every Man to be upon his Guard and to endeavour as much as possible to secure and forewarn all Protestants of the danger of the return of that medly of Non-sence Blasphemy and Slavery And young Persons especially ought to be truly informed thereof since the design of these Sons of Belial is to debauch the Youth of this Nation and therefore upon all occasions you shall hear them vilifying all Religion and abusing the Holy Scriptures there being none fitter to be Roman Catholicks as they non-sensically call themselves than Atheists because they find little or no difference between the Popish Religion if it deserves that Name and none at all since Treasons Rebellions Murders Rapes Burnings and all manner of the most Horrid Cruelties Hell it self can invent are so far from being Crimes or Sins that they are many times counted meritorious and a Man shall deserve Heaven for committing them according to the Doctrine of that Church there being no sin unpardonable but that which they falsly call Heresie or the true Worship of God according to the Scriptures and for this it is that they would have murdered our Gracious Sovereign turned our Land into Blood Slaughter and Confusion For this they would have overthrown our Religion enslaved our Consciences or else have burnt our Bodies to Ashes as they did our Ancestors It is difficult to give a draught of this bloody Beast of Rome it would be a horrid sight to draw him in his full proportion yet take a short view of him so as to tremble at the thoughts of what others have suffered and what he yet hopes to inflict upon us if Divine Providence prevent him not though no doubt but the Almighty will save and deliver us out of his Hands His Eyes are Flames that have consumed the Bodies of many Thousand Martyrs His Mouth is like Hell gaping for his Prey Blood gushes out of his Jaws like Rivers his bloody Tuskes are the Racks and tormenting Engines wherewith he grinds the Bones of Gods Saints His Tail is Armed with the stings of Scorpions wherewith he lashes Kings and Kingdoms from his Throat he belches forth Curses and Excommunications and denounces Judgments and Death upon all that oppose him It is this Monster of Persecution and Cruelty that the Slaves of Rome endeavour to advance in all places where they have Power and Authority and by this you may Judge of their Principles and Religion by these evil Fruits you may Judge of the Tree and what Spirit they are of their hopes are very great and their confidence mighty but we trust Heaven will blast their designs and overthrow their Machinations and yet save his People So that we may have cause to bless the Lord of Heaven and Earth and to praise him in the Congregation Let us therefore have no disagreement among Protestants but let us as one Man by all justifiable and lawful methods in our several Places and Stations oppose this armed Beast of Persecution And let us instruct our Youth both in their Principles and Practices that so they may avoid and fly from them as from that which will certainly ruine Soul Body and Estate for ever This is the design of this little Book which will give a brief Account of the Mischiefs and Villanies committed by that Man of sin upon the Servants of God ever since he appeared in the World the like of which were never acted by Heathens Turks or Infidels and since they make so ill use of Pictures upon many accounts I have endeavoured to draw in Picture some short strokes of the variety of their Tortures practised upon Protestants a Volume not being able to contain the whole of their Horrid Massacres and Inhumane torments Here are likewise Rules for teaching young people to read English so that this may serve instead of any other Book of this kind and youth may at the same time reap both profit and Delight and thereby learn in time to read their Bible that Great Enemy to the Popish Church and which they formerly have and would again burn as well as our Bodies if it were in their power Therefore let us Conclude in the words of the Royal Psalmist Psalm 5. Destroy thou the wicked and mischievous Persecutors O God let them fall by their own Councils Cast them out in the multitude of their Transgressions for they have rebelled against thee but let all those who put their Trust in thee rejoyce let them ever shout for Joy because thou defendest them let them also that love thy Name be Joyful in thee For thou O Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a Shield Amen So Prays he who is an hearty Well-wisher to the Protestant Religion Edw. Clark The Alphabet of several sorts of Letters Roman small Letters a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s s t u v w x y z Italick small Letters a b c
Cacalla a man of Excellent Learning and one Rochus a skilful Graver of Images who turned Protestants and died for the same also one John Pontio Gónsalvo a Priest Juliano Leon Arias Losada a Physician Together with a Lady and several VVomen and Virgins who were burnt at several times in divers places and Twenty others besides who were burnt in one Fire after they had endured all the horrid torments of the Rack the Pully the Trough the Barnacle the Twisting Cord and the rest of the barbarous Tortures and Inventions of the cursed Inquisition Nay divers English men being betrayed by the Insinuation of wicked Informers were likewise burnt in Spain as Nicholas Burton Merchant of London was burnt at Sevil and another English man with him and not long after two more named John Baker and Villiam Burgate and about the same time William Burges Master of an English Ship was burnt there likewise and one William Hooker a youth of about sixteen years old was stoned to death for the bold profession of the Truth As Portugal is but a little Kingdom and the power of the Pope and his Clergy very considerable there as well as in Spain they have wonderfully supprest the power of the Truth with their Tortures yet some have their likewise suffered for the Gospel and among others William Gardner an English man whom they put to death with most exquisite Tortures at Lisbon in the year 1552 for taking the Host out of a Cardinals Hand and stamping it under his Feet He boldly asserting to the King himself That he did it out of Conscience as not being able to endure to see the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper irreverently used to so great Idolatry and although all manner of cruelty was used toward him yet he dyed with extraordinary Constancy singing Psalms in the Flames to the very last moment of his life The Rage and Fury of Papists in the Low-Countreys or Netherlands was no less then in other places For the Inquisition being introduced there it was accompanied with all manner of cruelty At Antwerp one Nicholas an Holy good man was bound up in a Sack and drown'd In Holland a Learned Preacher called Pistorius was burnt being carryed to the stake with a Fools Coat on his back Wendel muta a Widow likewise suffered death with much Constancy Several Ministers were beheaded among the rest one George Scherter who after his head had been cut off for some time and his body lying on his Belly he turning himself on his Back and crossing his Right Foot over the left and his right hand over the left continued so to the great admiration of the Spectators and the Conversion of many Several were drowned others were made away in Prisons others shut up in dark and noisom places and none suffered to come at them being fed only with Bread and Water till they were famished At Lorain several were Martyred some by Fire others beheaded There was a very great Persecution all over Flanders about the year 1544 so that there was hardly a Town or City in all the Countrey wherein some were not banished beheaded or condemned to perpetual Imprisonment neither was there any respect either to Age or Sex but especially at Gaunt many of the chief Persons were burned for being Protestants and several others in Brabant and Artois insomuch that Two Hundred Men and VVomen were cruelly destroyed at one time some of them being drowned some burned alive and some privately murdered so that the Hangman began to be tyred and wearied out with such continual Executions At the Town of Mecklin Dornick and Delden several were put to death and among the rest two Noble Virgins who were Sisters and likewise a Mother and her three Sons who all dyed owning the Gospel and zealously exclaiming against the Cruelty and Idolatry of the Papists And about the same time they miserably tormented one Bertrand for trampling the Host under his Feet whom they thrice put to the Rack and because he would not recant in the Market place of Dornick they put a Ball of Iron into his Mouth to keep him from speaking and then crushed his Right hand between two flat Red hot Irons till the form of it was changed and then did the like by his Foot which he endured with admirable patience then tying him round the wast by a Pully and making a Fire underneath they hoisted him up and down till he was burnt to Ashes which they cast into the River There were several Martyred at Valence and Lisle and one of the Judges pronouncing sentence against these good People said This Day you shall go to dwell with all the Devils in Hell Fire But the greatest Instrument of the Devil in those Countreys was the Duke of Alva who was sent by the King of Spain to Root the Protestants out of the Low-Countreys This Duke boasted one time at his own Table That he had been diligent to root out Heresie for besides those he had slain in the Wars He had put into the hands of the Common Hangman to be Executed within the space of six years no less then Eighteen Thousand Persons And to complete this sad Catastrophe we may also remember that William of Nastaw Prince of Orang was shot by a Villain called Joanville who was encouraged by a Jacobine Fryar to do it the Rascal was thrust through with an Halbert and the Fryar was hang'd But this wound not proving mortal they hired one Gerard a Burgundion who standing behind the Pillar in a Room shot the Prince dead as he past by PSALM 105. WE nothing can of merit claim Not for our sakes thy aid afford But for the Honour of thy Name Thy Mercy and unfailing Word Why should th' insulting Heathen cry Where 's now the God they vainly Praise Our Lord inthron'd above the Sky All underneath at pleasure swayes Their Gods but Gold and Silver be Made by a frail Artificer For they have eyes that cannot see Dumb Mouths and Ears that cannot hear Fools on their Altars Incense throw Who nothing smell their feet are bound Nor have they Power to move or go Their throats give Passage to no sound Their hands can neither give nor take Unapt to punish or defend As senseless they who Idols make Or to their carved Statues bend Your hopes in God O Israel place He is your help and strong defence Be he you Priests of Aarons Race The Object of your Confidence In him all you that fear him Trust He shall protect you in destress The Lord is of his Promise Just And will his Faithfull Servants Bless He in the Heaven of Heavens resides And over all his Creatures reigns Among the Sons of men divides The Earth and all that Earth contains Who sleep within the Vaults of Death No Offerings to his Altars bring O Praise his Name while we have Breath And loudly Halelu-jah sing Mr. Wischard burnt A 1000 drown in a River Candles made of Mens fatt Irish Children Kill
fear'd an Hour 2. But let Confusion seize on those Who would destroy to Shame expose Be suddain in their overthrows 3. Let those with Infamy return Dejected and unpitied Mourn Who would thy Gospel overturn 4. Who love thy name with Joy Invest Let them in Shades of safety Feast And ever say The Lord be Blest 5. But we are poor and full of need Hast Lord deliver us with Speed Our strength our help from thee proceed Jeremiah Chap. 10. HEar the word of the Lord which speaketh to you O House of Israel Thus saith the Lord Learn not the way of the Heathen and be not dismayed at the Signs of Heaven for the Heathens are dismayed at them For the Customs of the people are vain for one Cutteth a Tree out of the Forest the work of the hands of the Workman with the Axe They deck it with Silver and with Gold they fasten it with Nails and with Hammers that it move not They are upright as the Palm Tree but speak not they must needs be born because they cannot go be not afraid of them for they cannot do evil neither also is it in them to do good For as much as there is none like to thee O Lord Thou art great and thy name is great in Might who would not fear thee O King of Nations for to thee doth it appertain for as much as among all the Wise Men of the Nations and in all the Kingdoms there is none like unto thee But they are altogether Brutish and Foolish the Stock is a Doctrine of Vanities Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish and Gold from Vphaz the work of the Workman and of the hands of the Founder Blew and Purple is their Cloathing they are all the work of Cunning Men. But the Lord is the True God he is the Living God and an Everlasting King at his Wrath the Earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation Jeremiah Chap. 10. Ver. 11. THus shall ye say un-to them The Gods that have not made the Hea-vens and the Earth even they shall pe-rish from the Earth and from un-der these Hea-vens He hath made the Earth by his Pow-er he hath E-sta-blish-ed the World by his Wise-dom and hath stretch-ed out the Hea-vens by his dis-cre-ti-on When he ut-te-reth his Voice there is a Mul-ti-tude of Wa-ters in the Hea-vens and he cau-seth the Va-pours to As-cend from the ends of the Earth he mak-eth Light-nings with Rain and bring-eth forth the Winds out of his Trea-sures E-ve-ry Man is Bru-tish in his Know-ledge e-ve-ry Found-er is Con-found-ed by the Gra-ven I-mage for his Mol-ten I-mage is fals-hood and there is no Breath in them They are Va-ni-ty and the Work of er-rors in the time of their Vi-si-ta-ti-on they shall Pe-rish Those helpless Gods Ador'd in popish Lands Are Gold and Silver wrought by Humane Hands Blind eyes have they Deaf Ears still silent Tongues They draw no Breath from their Unactive Lungs Who make them are like to them such are those Who in these Senseless Stocks their hopes Repose O praise the Lord you who from Israel Spring His praises O you Sons of Aaron Sing You of the house of Levi praise his Name All you who God Adore his praise proclaim From Sion praise God only Good and Great Who in Jerusalem hath fixt his Seat I. Kings 18.21 ANd E-li-jah came un-to all the Peo-ple and sayd How long halt ye be-tween two O-pi-ni-ons 2. If the Lord be God fol-low him but if Ba-al then fol-low him and the Peo-ple an-swer-ed him not a Word Then said E-li-jah un-to the Peo-ple I e-ven I on-ly re-main a Pro-phet of the Lord but Ba-al's Pro-phets are four Hun-dred and Fif-ty Men. Let them there-fore give us two Bul-locks and let them chuse one Bul-lock for them-selves and cut it in pie-ces and lay it on Wood and put no Fire un-der and call ye on the Name of your Gods and I will call on the Name of the Lord and the God that an-swe-reth by Fire let him be God and all the Peo-ple an-swer-ed and said It is well spo-ken And E-li-jah said un-to the Pro-phets of Ba-al Chuse you one Bul-lock for your selves and dress it first for ye are ma-ny and call up-on the Name of your Gods but put no Fire un-der And they took the Bul-lock which was gi-ven them and they dres-sed it and cal-led on the Name of Ba-al from Mor-ning un-til Noon say-ing O Ba-al hear us but there was no Voice nor any that answered and they leapt up-on the Al-tar which was made And it came to pass that at Noon E-li-jah Mock-ed them and said Cry a-loud for he is a God ei-ther he is talk-ing or he is per-su-ing or he is in ajour-ney or per-ad-ven-ture he sleep-eth and must be a-wa-ked And they cry-ed a-loud and cut them-selves af-ter their man-ner with Knives and Lan-ces till the Blood Gush-ed out up-on them And it came to pass when Mid-day was past and they Pro-phe-sy-ed un-till the time of the Of-fering of the E-ve-ning Sa-cri-fice that there was nei-ther Voice nor a-ny to an-swer nor a-ny that re-gard-ed 1 Kings 18.30 ANd Elijah said unto all the People come neer unto me and all the People came neer unto him and he repaired the Altar of the Lord that was broken down and Elijah took Twelve Stones according to the Number of the Sons of Jacob unto whom the Word of the Lord came saying Israel shall be thy Name And with the Stones he Built an Altar in the Name of the Lord and he made a Trench about the Altar as great as would contain two Measures of Seed and he put the Wood in order and cut the Bullock into Pieces and laid him on the Wood and said Fill four Barrels with Water and pour it on the burnt Sacrifice and the Wood. And he said do it the second time and they did it the second time and he said Do it the third time and they did it the third time And the Water ran round the Altar and he filled the Trench also with Water And it came to pass at the time of the Offering of the Evening Sacrifice that Elijah the Prophet came near and said Lord God of Abraham Isaac and of Israel let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel and that I am thy Servant and that I have done all these things at thy Word Hear me O Lord hear me that this People may know thou art the Lord God and that thou hast turned their heart back again Then the Fire of the Lord fell and Consumed the burnt Sacrifice and the Wood and the Stones and the Dust and licked up the Water that was in the Trench And when all the People saw it they fell on their Faces and they said The Lord he is the God the Lord he is the God And Elijah said unto them Take the Prophets of Ba-al let not one of them escape and they took them
and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and Slew them there PSALM 79. O God the Heathen are come into thine Inheritance thy holy Temple have they Defiled they have laid Jerusalem in heaps The dead Bodies of thy Servants have they given to be Meat unto the Fowls of the Heaven the Flesh of thy Saints unto the Beasts of the Earth Their Bloud have they shed like Water round about Jerusalem and there was none to Bury them We are become a Reproach to our Neighbours a Scorn and Derision to them that are round about us How long O Lord wilt thou be angry forever Shall thy Iealousy burn like Fire Pour out thy VVrath on the Heathen that have not known thee and on the Kingdoms that have not called on thy Name For they have devoured Jacob and laid wast his Dwelling place O Remember not against us former Iniquities let thy tender Mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low Help us O Lord our Salvation for the Glory of thy Name and deliver us and purge away our Sins for thy Names sake Wherefore should the Heathen say where is their God Let him be known among the Heathens in our sight by the Revenging the Bloud of thy Servants which is shed Let the Sighing of the Prisoners come before thee according to the greatness of thy Power preserve thou those that are appointed to Dye And render unto our Neighbours Seven-fold into their Bosom their Reproach wherewith they have Reproached thee O Lord. So we thy People and Sheep of thy Pasture will give thee Thanks for ever we will shew forth thy Praise to all Generations 11 Kings 10.18 And Je-hu ga-the-red all the Peo-ple to-ge-ther and said unto them A-hab Ser-ved Ba-al but a lit-tle but Je-hu shall serve him much Now there-fore call un-to me all the Pro-phets of Ba-al all his Ser-vants and all his Priests let none be want-ing for I have a great Sa-cri-fice to do un-to Ba-al who-so-e-ver shall be want-ing he shall not Live But Je-hu did it in Sub-ti-li-ty to the in-tent that he might De-stroy the Wor-ship-pers of Ba-al And Je-hu said Pro-claim a So-lemn As-sem-bly for Ba-al and they pro-claim-ed it and Je-hu sent through all Is-ra-el and all the Wor-ship-pers of Ba-al came so that there was not a man left that came not and they came in-to the House of Ba-al and the House of Ba-al was full from one end to a-no-ther And Je-hu said un-to him that was o-ver the Vest-ry bring forth Vest-ments for all the Wor-ship-pers of Ba-al and he brought them forth Vest-ments And Je-hu went and Je-ho-na-dab the Son of Re-chab in-to the House of Ba-al and said un-to the Wor-ship-pers of Ba-al Search and look that there be here with you none of the Ser-vants of the Lord but the Worshippers of Ba-al on-ly And when they went in to offer Sa-cri-fi-ces and burnt Of-fe-rings Je-hu ap-point-ed Four-score Men with-out and said If a-ny of the Men whom I have brought in-to your hands es-cape he that let-teth him go his Life shall be for the Life of him And it came to pass as soon as he had made an end of Of-fe-ring the Burnt-Of-fe-ring That Je-hu said un-to the Guard and to the Cap-tains Go in and Slay them let none come forth and they Smote them with the Edge of the Sword and the Guard and the Cap-tains cast them out and went to the Ci-ty of the House of Ba-al and they brought forth the I-ma-ges out of the House of Ba-al and Burnt them And they brake down the I-mage of Ba-al and brake down the House of Ba-al and made it a Draught House un-to this Day Thus Je-hu de-stroy-ed Ba-al out of Is-ra-el Jehu Crown'd King Jehu the King must fall To Ahabs God Jehu must Worship Baal The God Divided people must go call Baals Sacred priests Jehu must Worship Baal None must be left behind they must come all Jehu must burn a Sacrifice to Baal The priests come puffing in both Great and Small Must wait on Jehu and must Worship Baal Baal's house is fill'd and crowded to the Wall With people that are come to Worship Baal What must there now be done what Odours shall Perfume Baals Nostrills Even the Priests of Baal Baal's holy Temple 's now become a Stall Of priestly flesh of fleshly priests to Baal How would our Gospel flourish if that all Princes like Jehu would but Worship Baal St. Matthew Chap. 10. Ver. 16. BEhold I send you forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves be ye therefore Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves But beware of Men for they will deliver you up to the Councils and they will Scourge you in their Synagogues And ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake for a Testimony against them and the Gentiles but when they deliver you up take no thought how or what you shall speak for it shall be given you in that same Hour what you shall speak For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you And the brother shall deliver up the brother to Death and the Father the Children and the Children shall rise up against their Parents and cause them to be put to death And ye shall be Hated of all Men for my Names sake but he that endureth to the end shall be Saved But when they Persecute you in this City Flee ye into another for verily I say unto you ye shall not have gone over the Cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come The Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord. And fear not them that can Kill the Body but are not able to Kill the soul but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell Whosoever therefore shall Confess me before Men him will I also Confess before my Father which is in Heaven But whosoever shall deny me before Men him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven Think not that I am come to send Peace on Earth I came not to send Peace but a Sword For I am come to set a Man at Variance against his Father and the Daughter against her Mother and the Daughter in Law against her Mother in Law And a Mans Foes shall be they of his own Household He that Loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me and he that loveth Son and Daughter more then me is not worthy of me And he that taketh not his Cross and followeth me is not worthy of me He that findeth his Life shall lose it and he that loseth his Life for my sake shall find it St. Luke 3.23 AND Je-sus him-self be-gan to be a-bout Thir-ty Years of Age be-ing as was sup-po-sed the Son of Jo-seph which was the Son of He-li which was the Son of Mat-that which was the Son of Le-vi which was the Son of Mel-chi which was the Son of Jan-na which was the
and profess the Christian Religion and have no Communion with Rome than there are Papists 4. It is the prerogative of Jesus Christ alone to be Head of his Church for as there is one Faith and one Lord Jesus Christ so there is but one body which is his Church united to him as her head Eph. 4.3 4. Psalm 2.6 Quest What are some of those Errors brought in by the Pope and his Clergy which occasioned the Protestants departure from their Communion Answ There were several Errors and Extravagancies Introduced both in Doctrine and Discipline one of their Doctrines was that of Purgatory which they affirm is a place next door to Hell where the Torments are as extream as those of Hell it self but not eternal in this place they say the Souls of the Faithful are purged some for a hundred some for five hundred or a Thousand years till they are delivered by the Prayers Masses Popes Pardons but especially by the Money of their Friends or Relations Quest What say the Protestants to this Answ They say it is Blasphemy to believe that Men are purged from sins in this place since the bloud of Christ is the only purgatory for our Sins Besides there is no ground in Scripture for any such belief St. Luke 16.23 In Hell he lift up his Eyes being in Torment c. St. Matt. 28.12 They shall sit down with Abraham c. in the Kingdom of Heaven but the other shall be cast into utter Darkness where shall be Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth Mark 26.16 He that believeth shall be Saved and he that believeth not shall be Damned Quest What other Errors do they maintain Answ The Doctrine of Transubstantiation for they say that in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Jesus Christ is corporally present and that there is a change of the Substance of the bread and wine into the natural body and blood of Christ Quest What answer the Protestants Answ That this Doctrine is contrary to many plain Testimonies of Scripture it overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament and hath given occasion to very gross Idolatry and great Superstition and besides it contains a multitude of absurdities and contradictions For 1. Then must our blessed Saviour hold himself in his own hands yea devour and eat up himself and yet still sit whole and entire at the Table with his Disciples 2. The body of Jesus Christ must be in a Thousand places at the same time 3. His whole body must be in the mouth of every Communicant at once 4. His whole body must be less in quantity than the least Limb of his body 5. His body must at the same time be broken and unbroken and must at the same time ascend and descend and lastly must be subject to putrefaction and many other Absurdities And therefore those words This is my Body are to be understood that this doth signify and represent my body and upon the same account Christ is called a Rock a Door a Vine and yet none can be so sensless to think that Jesus Christ was turned into any of these Quest VVhat other Errors are they charged with Ans That the Scripture ought not to be set forth in the Common Tongue but that it is dangerous for the people to read the Bible lest they fall into Heresie Qu. What do the Protestants answer to this Answ That the true Reason of this is because if they suffer the People to read the Scripture it would make them abhor the Popish Religion as being absolutely contrary thereunto For the Scriptures exhort all to be diligent Readers thereof and our Saviour saith vvhat say the Prophets and Apostles concerning this Search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 Seek ye the Book of the Lord and read Isa 34.16 They were more noble in that they searched the Scriptures dayly Acts 17.11 They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them Luke 16.29 Let the word of God dwell richly in you Col. 3.16 Take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Eph. 6.17 From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 Except you utter Words easy to be understood how shall it be known what is spoken 1 Cor. 14.9 16. Qu. What other erroneous Doctrines do the Papists hold Answ The praying to Angels to the Virgin Mary and the Apostles and Saints departed Quest VVhat say the Protestants to it Answ They say That the Papists by praying in that manner do give to the Angels and Saints departed the highest religious Worship and Adoration that is possible and so are guilty of fearful Idolatry and that we ought to go to God in the mediation of Christ alone neither have we any ground to believe that the Saints in Heaven know our particular Persons wants necessities or desires and the Scripture seems contrary to all this Call upon me in the day of trouble Psal 50.15 Say Our Father which art in Heaven Luke 11.2 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only Mat. 4.10 Let no man beguile you into a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels Col. 2.18 There is one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Through him we have access unto the Father Eph. 2.18 Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Col. 3.17 VVhatsoever you shall ask in my name I will do it John 14 3. Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel know us not Is 63.13 Thou sendest man away his Sons come to Honour and he knows it not they are brought low but he perceives it not Job 14.21 St. John fell down to worship before the Feet of the Angel then saith he see thou do it not for I am thy Fellow Servant worship God Rev. 22.8 9. Cornelius fell down at St. Peter 's feet and worshipped him and Peter said stand up I my self am also a man Act. 10.25 Quest Do not the Papists affirm that we ought to pray for the dead Answ Yes but the Protestants answer They that dye in the Lord need not our prayers and they that dye in their sins can have no benefit by them and that the reason why the Popish Priests uphold this Error is because they get so much money by it Lastly we have no Command from God no promise to be heard no Example in Scripture for praying for the dead or praying to Saints Read 2 Sam. 12.21 Now the Child is dead why should I fast and pray Blessed are they that dye in the Lord Rev. 14.13 Qu. Do the Papists hold that all that dye without Baptism are undoubtedly damned and shut out of Heaven Answ Yes But Protestants say that is false for then 1. The Penitent Thief could not be saved contrary to that of St. Luke 23.43 2. A multitude of Infants must be damned for the neglect of their Parents which is a cruel and uncharitable censure contrary to Gen. 17.7 1 Cor. 7.14 Rom. 4.11 Mat. 19.14 Quest Is water the only visible
which Sentence she willingly and cheerfully underwent In the year 1628. The City of Rochel was again besieged with a great Army by the French King whereby the Inhabitants were in such extremity for want of Victuals that rhey eat Horses Dogs Cats Rats and Mice and after that the poor Protestants lived Two Months upon Cow-hides and Goat-skins boyled They likewise eat old Gloves and whatsoever was made of Leather yea the poor people cut off the buttocks of the dead and eat them young Maids of Fourteen or Sixteen years old looked like old Women of an Hundred years old a Bushel of Wheat was sold for Twenty Pound a Pound of Bread Twenty Shillings a Quarter of Mutton above six Pound An Egg eight shillings An Ounce of Sugar Half a Crown a dryed Fish Twenty Shillings a Pint of Milk Thirty Shillings After a while the City was taken and some English that were therein when they came aboard looked like Anatomies or dead Bodies And since that to this very day the Protestants have suffered very great hardships and Persecutions in France by having their Churches pulled down by Fires and Imprisonments and Banishments by being excluded from all Officer and Imployments of Trust or Profit and by all manner of discouragements whatsoever and that only upon the Account of their Religion and all this contrary to Oat hs Protestations Edicts and Proclamations which have been solemnly made and granted to them for the free Exercise of the Protestant Religion Psalm 68. LEt God arise let his Enemies be scattered let them also that hate him flee before him As smoak is driven away so drive them away as wax melteth before the Fire so let the wicked perish at the presence of the Lord. But let the righteous be glad let them rejoyce before God yea let them exceedingly rejoyce Sing unto God sing praises to his Name extoll him that rideth upon the Heavens by his Name J A H and rejoyce before him A Father of the Fatherless and a Judge of the Widow is God in his Holy Habitation God setteth the solitary in Families he bringeth out those that are bound with chains but the Rebellious dwell in a dry Land To him that rideth upon the Heaven of Heavens which were of old lo he doth send out his Voice and that a mighty Voice Ascribe the strength unto God his Excellency is over Israel and his strength is in the Clouds O God thou art terrible out of the holy places the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his People blessed be God Psalm 94. GReat God of Hosts revenge our wrong On those who are in Mischief strong Upon thy Foes Inflict our woes For Vengeance doth to thee belong Judge of the world prevent The Proud and Insolent How long shall they the just oppress And Triumph in their Wickedness How long supplant Ah! how long Vaunt And Glory in their dire success Thy Saints they kill and break And Insult o're the weak They Strangers and poor Widows kill And Blood of wretched Orphans spill And say can he Or hear or see Doth God regard what 's good or ill Brute Beasts without a mind O Fools in knowledge blind Shall not the Almighty see and hear Who form'd the Eye and fram'd the Ear VVho Nations slew Not punish you For he all knows to him appear Dark Councils secret Fires Vain hopes and vast desires One burnt for throwing down the Chest P Orange murdered Rack't the Inquisition Tortur'd in the Inquisition 80 had their Throats Cut Some beheaded Some stond to Death Others thrown upon Pikes The Cruelties of the Papists in Italy Spain Portugal and the Low-Countreys LEt us next proceed to look into Italy which being under the Inspection of the Pope it may well be supposed not to harbour many Protestants at least such as dare openly appear to be such by reason of the Inquisition which was first Instituted against the Moors and Jews in Spain but is now only used for the discovery and Tormenting of good Christians yet not withstanding all this there have been divers who have owned the Gospel even in the City of Rome it self and several other places in Italy For in the time of Pope Adrian the Fourth who was an Englishman one Arnald of Brixia came to Rome and preached publickly and boldly against the Corruptions of the Romi h Church and found great favour among the Senators and People insomuch that when the Pope commanded them to drive Arnal out of the City for an Heretick they resisted his command and defended Arnald upon which the Popo thundred out an Excommuncation against the whole City of Rome so that upon the importunity of the Clergy they were forced to send him away but he was entertained by the Lords of Campania who were subject to the Emperour of Germany with whom he remained and preached the Gospel to them The Emperour coming afterwards into Italy to be Crowned the Pope desired him to deliver up Arnald into his hands whereupon the Emperour seized upon one of the Lords of Campania which so terrified the other that he delivered up Arnald who being sent to the Pope he used him most cruelly and then ordered him first to be hanged and then burnt as an Arch Heretick His Chief Heresies were That he preached against the Pride and Covetousness of the Monks and Clergy that he inveighed against the Errors in the Sacrament that he expounded the Scriptures c. In the year 1546. there was one Eucenas or Driander a Spaniard born who being bred up in Rome yet came at last to the knowledge of the Truth and having discovered his dislike of the false Doctrine of Popery he was betrayed by his own Countreymen and Acquaintance and being brought before the Cardinals he was committed close Prisoner and was afterwards brought forth to declare his Judgment where he gave a Notable Testimony to the Truth upon which when he refused to recant the same he was condemned to be burnt and suffered Martyrdom with great patience and constancy In the year 1550 One Faninus of Ferrara in Italy being by the Grace of God and reading of good books converted to the Gospel and began to Instruct others privately therein but this coming to the ears of some of the Popes Blood-hounds they seized him and committed him to Prison where by the earnest Importunities of his VVife Children and Friends he was perswaded to deny the Truth and was thereupon released out of Prison He had not been long at liberty but he was extreamly troubled in mind for preferring the Love of his Relations and Friends before the service of Jesus Christ neither could he by ny means be free from these Tortures till he had fully resolved to venture his Life for the Gospel Being thus inflamed with holy Zeal he went about the Countrey teaching and Instructing the People wherever he came VVhereupon he apprehended and cast into Prison and was condemned to be burnt but he told his Judges That his