fire casting them into the same and burning them God fridi Annales Also after his taking of the said Castle he caused a Frier to preach to the people and to exhort them to acknowledge the Pope and Church of Rome but they not staying till he had done cried out We will not forsake our faith you labour but in vain for neither life nor death shall make us abandon our beliefe Then did the Earl and Legate cause a great fire to be made and cast into it a hundred and fourscore men and women who went in with joy giving God thanks for that he was pleased so to honour them as to die for his Names sake They also told Earl Simon that he would one day pay dear for his cruelties All that saw their valour and constancy were much amazed at it Then did the Earl besiege the Castle of Termes which also at last was taken for want of water yet they within the Castle when they perceived that they could hold out no longer one night quit the place and passed away undiscovered The Castle de la Vaur was also besieged in which there were many godly people Thither came many Pilgrims to the Legate from all Countries and amongst others six thousand Germanes of whose coming the Earl of Foix hearing he laid an ambush for them overthrew and slew them all not one escaping but an Earl that carried the news to Earl Simon After six moneths siege the Castle of Vaur was taken by assault where all the souldiers were put to the sword save eighty Gentlemen whom Earl Simon caused to be hanged and the Lord Aimeri on a gibbet higher then all the rest the Lady his sister was called Girauda was cast into a ditch and there covered with stones And for the rest of the people a very great fire was made and they were put to their choise whether they would forsake their opinions or perish by the flames There were scarce any of them found that would doe the first but exhorting one another they went into the kindled fire of their own accord saith Altisiodore but more probably they were forced into the same where joyfully they resigned up their spirits unto God Some say that they were about foure hundred persons that thus perished by fire After the return of the Earl Remund from the Pope the Legate still fought to entrap him but the Earl would not come againe within his reach Then did the Legate send the Bishop of Tholouse to him who pretended a great deal of love and friendship to the Earl and by his subtilty at last prevailed with him to profer his strong Castle of Narbonnes to them to lodge in as they passed that way but as soon as the Legate and his company were entred they seised upon it and put into it a garison which was a continuall vexation to all his subjects Then did the Legate resolve upon the utter extirpation of Earl Remund and all his house as the head of the Albingenses but presently after this Legate dying Earl Simon was frustrated of this hope About this time the English who now possessed Guienne which bordereth upon the Earldom of Tholouse began to help the Albingenses being stirred up thereto by Reinard Lollard a godly and learned man who by his powerfull preaching converted many to the truth and defended the faith of the Albingenses for which they were so eagerly pursued and constantly suffered Martyrdom And this they did the rather not only for their neighbour-hoods sake or for that Simon Earl of Lecester was a rebell and traitour to their King but because this Remund Earl of Tholouse whom they so cruelly whipped and other wise abused and had now also excommunicated was brother in law to King John For his former wife was Joane sometimes Queene of Sicilie which Joane was Kâ—ng Johns sister and bare to the Earl of Tholouse Remund who succeeded his father both in the Earldome and in his troubles John le Maier much commendeth this Lollard saying that he foretold many things by Divine Revelation which saith he came to passe in my time and therefore he putteth him into the rank of holy prophets And for his learning it is evident by his comment upon the Revelation where he setteth forth many things that are spoken of the Roman Antichrist This worthy man was afterwards apprehended in Germany and being delivered to the secular power was burnt at Collen Anno 1211. A new Legate called Theodosius was appointed to succeed who excommunicated Earl Remund and the Bishop of Tholouse thereupon sent the Earl word that he must depart out of the City for that he could not say Masse whilest an excommunicated person was in the City The Earl returned this answer being netled at his insolency that he the Bishop should presently depart out of his Territories and that upon pain of his life accordingly the Bishop departed and took with him the Canons of the Cathedrall Church with the Crosse Banner and Host and all of them barefooted in Procession Coming thus to the Legates Army they were received as persecuted Martyrs with the teares of the Pilgrims and generall applause of all Then the Legate thought that he had sufficiâ—nt cause to prosecute Earl Remund as a relapsed and impenitent man but first he sought by craft to get him into his power and with his fair flatering letters he at last drew him once again to Arles The Earl had requested the King of Arragon to meet him there When they were both come the Legate commanded them upon the pain of his high indignation that they should not depart but with his leave Whilest they were there the Earl was privately shewed by a friend The Articles of the Legate to which he would enforce him to subscrib which were these 1. That the Earl of Tholouse should presently dismiss and cashiere all his men at Armes not restraining one 2. That he shall be obedient and subject to the Church and repaire all the costs and damages which the Church hath been at 3. That in his lands no man should eat of more then two sorts of flesh 4. That he shall expell out of his territories all the Hereticks and their allies 5. That he shall deliver into the hands of the Legate and of Earl Simon all those persons that shall be named unto him 6. That no man in his lands whether noble or ignoble shall were any costly apparell but black course clokes 7. That All his Castles of defence shall be razed to the ground 8. That no Gentlemen of his shall live in any City or Castle but in country houses or villages only 9. That he shall not levie in his land any taxes or tolls but such as in old time were accustomed 10. That every Master of a family shall pay yearly four Tholousian pence to the Legate 11. That when Earl Simon shall passe through his countries he shall beare their charges 12. That after
a contrary Engine Their only want was of victuals because it being the seventh year the Land had not been tilled whereupon divers of them fled away secretly so that very few remained for the defence of the Temple But behold the good providence of God! just then came tidings to Antiochus that Philip coming out of Persia intended to make himself Lord and Master of the country Antiochus concluded to give over the siege and to march against Philip but first he sent an Herauld to Judas promising them peace and liberty to live according to their Religion which conditions Judas accepting of took an oath from the King for performance and so surrendred up the Temple Whereupon Antiochus entred the same and seeing it so impregnable a plâ—ce contrary to his oah he commanded his Army to levell the wall that environed it and then he returned to Antioch leading away with him Onias surnamed Mâ—nalaus the High-Priest whom by the counsell of Lysias he put to death because he had advised his father to enforce the Jews to forsake their Religion A just reward for so wicked a fact Antiochus finding that Philip had already conquered much of his country went straite against him fought with him and slew him Presently after Demetrius the son of Seleucus took possession of Tripolis in Syria and setting the Diadem upon his own head he leavied an Army and invaded the Kingdom of Antiochus The people generally submitted themselves to him and laying hold of Antiochus and Lysias they brought them both to Demetrius who caused them to be slain To this new King divers Jews banished for their impiety together with Alcimus their High-Priest resorted aâ—cusing their Nation and in particular Judas and his brethren for killing their friends and banishing such as were friends to Demetrius Demetrius was much moved with these reports and therefore he sent a greate Army under Bacchides a valiant and experienced Captain with commission to kill Judas and his confederates Bacchides with his Army marched into Judea sending an Herauld to Judas and his brethren pretending peace when he intended to surprize them by subtilty and treachery But Judas seeing that he came with so great an Army found out his drift and would not trust him yet many of the people were deceived with his Proclamation of peace and therefore submitted to live under his government first having received an oath from him that neither they nor any of their followers should be endamaged but when they had committed themselves to him he falsified his oath and slew sixty of them Then removing his Army from Jerusalem he came to the village of Bethzeth where apprehending many of the Jews he slew them all and commanded the rest in the country to obey Alcimus with whom he left a part of his Army and so returned to Antioch unto demetrius Alcimus by his feigned and familiar deportment drew many more of the wicked Jews to joyn with him and then he went with his Army thorow the country and slew all that took part with Judas Judas perceiving that hereby many upright men and such as feared God were slain he also with his Army went thorow the Land and slew all the Apostates that were of Alcimus his faction Whereupon Alcimus repaired to Demetrius and made greivous complaints against Judas who fearing that if Judas prospered it would be prejudiciall to his estate he sent Nicanor to make warre against him and having furnished him with a sufficient Army he commanded him that he should not spare any one of that Nation Nicanor coming to Jerusalem offered no act of hostility endeavouring to entrap Judas by subtilty sending him a peaceable message wherein he protested that he would do him no injury and that he came only to express the good affections of Demetrius to the Nation of the Jews Judas and his brethren being deceived with this glozing message entertained him and his Army Nicanor then saluted Judas but whilest he was conferring with him he gave a sign to his souldiers to lay hands on him but Judas discovering the treason brake from him and escaped to his Army Then did Nicanor resolve to make open war upon him and bad him battel near to a Burrough called Capar-salama where he obtained the victory and constrained Judas to retreat into the Fortress at Jerusalem there did Nicanor besiege him for a while and then retired at which time certain of the Priests and Elders met him and having done their reverence they shewed him those sacrifices which they intended to offer to God for the Kings prosperity but he blaspheming threatned them that if they did not deliver Judas into his hands he would destroy the Temple at his return Hereupon the Priests wept abundantly praying unto God to defend the Temple together with those which called on his Name therein from the outrage of their enemies Nicanor coming neer to Bethoron received a greate supply of souldiers out of Syria Judas also was about thirty furlongs distant from him not having above a thousand men yet he exhorted them not to fear the multitude of their enemies but to set couragiously upon them expecting help from God and so encountering with Nicanor there was a very doubtfull conflict yet Judas had the upper hand and slew a great number of the enemies Nicanor himselfe also fighting valiantly was slain whereupon his Army fled but Judas speedily pursuing made a great slaughter and by sound of trumpet giving notice to the neighbouring places the inhabitants thereof betook themselves to their weapons and meeting those that fled they slew them so that no one escaped from this battel though they were at least nine thousand men Then ensued a little peace to the Jews Shortly after Alcimus the High-priest intending to beat down an old wall of the Sanctuary was suddenly striken by God became speechless and fell to the ground and having endured many grievous torments for many dayes he died miserably Then did the people by a generall consent give his place to Judas who hearing of the great power and victories of the Romans sent two of his intimate friends to Rome to intreate the Romans to be their Allies and Confederates and to write to Demetrius to give over his wars against the Jews The Embassadors coming to Rome were intertained by the Senate and friendship concluded betwixt them upon these conditions That none under the Romans should war against the Jews nor furnish their enemies with Victuals Ships or Silver That if any enemies should assail the Jevvs the Romans should succour them to the uttermost of their povver that if any made vvar upon the Romans the Jevvs should succour them that if the Jevvs vvould add or diminish any thing from this Association it should be done vvith the common advice of the Romans and that vvhat should so be ordained should remain irrevocable Nicanors death and the discomfiture of his
his performances of these things he shall go into the Holy land to fight against the Turke and never return againe into his owne country but by the leave of the Pope or his Legate Remund having read over these Articles shewed them to the King who advised him presently to mount on horseback least seising upon him they might the better become masters of all his estate which accordingly he did The Legate was much troubled that he had thus lost his prey and despairing to do any more by subtilty he resolved to set upon him by force and thereupon he besieged the Castle of Montferrand where Baldwin the brother of the Earl of Tholouse was governour Baldwin at least pretending inability to defend the place yielded it up and abjuring his opinions turned Papist The Earl of Tholouse seeing himselfe thus betrayed by his brother lamented exceedingly but a greater mischiefe soone after befell him For the Legate and Earl Simon wonne from him by their subtilty the King of Arragon his only prop under God and that by this meanes they agreed that the King of Arragons daughter should be married to Earl Simon 's eldest son in consideration whereof the King of Arragon invested Simon in the Earldom of Beziers and now they intend jointly to besieg Tholouse For which end the Bishop of Tholouse was sent to levy souldiers in France and at his returne hasted to Tholouse which Earl Remund hearing of sallyed out of the City with five hundred horse and some foot marching to the bridg which goeth over the river of Garenne not far from Tholouse hoping either to gaine it or to breake it down but being overpowered by multitude he was forced to make a retreat and the enemie pursued him to the very gates of Tholouse But Earl Remund seeing their insolency sallyed out againe with a greater strength and charged them so gallantly that he beat them back to the bridge which being but narrow he slew almost all of them there and took prisoner amongst them Aimery the son of Earl Simon Earl Simon hearing of this loss hasted with all his army to the City and gave a furious assault to it but the ditches were soone filled with the dead bodies of the enemie beaten from their scaling laddars and the Earl himselfe was beaten from his horse In the middest of this assault came the Earl of Campeigne soon enough to be well beaten for his welcome Earl Simon finding such stout resistance from the Citizens caused his Pilgrimes to spoil the Orchards Gardens and Vineyards about the city which being perceived the President of Argeves issued out of the City suddenly and slew a number of the Pilgrims and on another part the Earl of Foix slew as many as he could meet with The Earl of Bar seeing the disorder of the Popish Army cried out a Bar a Bar but the Citizens of Tholouse charged him so bravely that being discomfited he was faigne to fly amongst the rest After this victory Earl Remund returning to Tholouse caused publike and solemne thanks to be returned unto God for the same Earl Simon after this lead his Army into the country of the Earl of Foix who was now sick where he took some townes also the Legat with another part of the army went to Roquemaur and in his way took the Tower of Cassas and caused above an hundred men that were found therein most cruelly to be burned alive and levelled the Tower to the earth Earl Remund being much afflicted for the loss and alienation of his ancient friend the King of Arragon studied how he might regaine him and for that end propounded a match betweene his only son and heire and the King of Arragons daughter which motion the King readily imbraced and so their amity was againe revived Not long after the King of Arragon sent a letter of defiance to Earl Simon who sent the same all over Christendom to stir up Pilgrims to assist him for the destruction of the King who as he said was now become the Captaine of the Albingenses and in the meane time the Popes Legate raising an army in France went speedily into the Earldome of Foix and took some Towns putting all to the sword without distinction of sex or age and taking also St. Anthonies he caused thirty of the principall men to be hanged in cold blood after he had granted them their lives Anno Christi 1213. Peter King of Arragon with a great army of Arragonois and Tholousians besieged Muret a strong Towne scituated upon the river Garronne near unto Tholouse There was in his Army the Earls of Tholouse Comminges and of Foix but the night following the Popish Bishops sent two Friers to him desiring him to take pitty on the Church and not to undertake the defence of the Hereticks but they laboured in vaine for the King would not desert them whereupon they prepared the next day to give him battle and whilest Simon Montfort was encouraging his souldiers the Bishop of Tholouse carryed a crucifix in his hand whereupon the Captains a lighting adored it with and humble kiss Then the Bishop of Comminges getting upon an high place took the crosse in his hand and blessed the Army with it promising forgivenesse of all sins to all that dyed in that quarrell Hereupon Simon divided his army into three Battalia's in the name of the Trinity and so joyning battle they fought very gallantly on both sides till at length the King of Arragon was slaine and so God who doth not alwayes prosper the best cause gave the victory to the Popelings and they were slaine in the fight and pursute about two millions of the Albingenses as their enemies reported The Albingenses attributed this loss to Gods judgement upon the humane confidence of the King who trusted too much in his great numbers and was feasting whilest his enemies were plotting After this victory the Popes agents sent abroad their letters into divers countries for a new supply of Pilgrims utterly to root out the Hereticks With this victory Earl Simon was so puffed up that he summoned the Earls of Tholouse Foix and Comminges and the Prince of Bearn to deliver to him the keyes of those Cities and Castles which they possessed They returned no answer but each of them betooke himself to his own Territories to provide the best they could for their affairs Earl Remund retired to Mâ—ntalbon writing to them at Tholoâ—se that understanding that the Bishop of Arras was coming with a great Army of Pilgrims against them and that he was altogether disabled to defend their City he had advised them therefore that they should make the best terms they could for themselves with Earl Simon yet desired them to reserve their hearts for him till God should give him meanes to free them from those miseries In the interim the Earls of Foix Comminges and the Prince of Bearn did what they could to infest the enemies Armies Upon the former advice the Citizens
commending his soul to Christ his head was cut off and set on the Tower The next was the Lord Harant a man that had gained much experience by his travels in Asia Africa and Europe his crime was that he had taken an oath to be true to Frederick and durst not violate it As he was going to suffer he called the Minister to him and told him that he much feared his wives inconstancy in Religion and therefore desired him to exhort her to constancy and not to suffer her self to be drawn from her Religion by any allurements assuring her that it is the infallible way to salvation Then to exhort her to use more clemency to his subjects rather easing then over-charging them with burthens Lastly to require her to have a care of his children and to bring them up in the pure Religion c. Being called to execution he said I have travelled through many Countries through many barbarous Nations escaped many perils by sea and land and now suffer innocently in my own Countrey and by them for whose sake I and my forefathers have spent our Estates and Lives Father forgive them Then he said In thee O Lord have I hoped let me not be confounded On the Scaffold he said Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit In the O Lord have I trusted from my youth I am confident that I shall be accepted by that ignominious death of my Saviour and falling upon his knees he said To thee O Lord I commend my spirit for thou O God just and true hast redeemed me and so he received the fatall stroke with the sword The next was Casper Kaplitz a Knight of eighty six years old When the Minister came to him after his condemnation he said See me a miserable old man who have often intreated my God that he would have mercy upon me and take me out of this miserable life but have not obtained it for God hath reserved me to be a spectacle to the world and a sacrifice to himselfe Gods will be done My death indeed is disgracefull in the eyes of men but glorious in the sight of God for God will account that death precious in his sight which I suffer for his glory and truth And when it was told him that he might have his life if he would ask pardon he answered That he would ask pardon of him against whom he had committed many sins all his life but he never offended the Prince and therefore would not give occasion to suspect that he had committed some crime for which he had deserved death c. God forbid therefore said he that I should be separated from this holy company of Martyrs As he was going to the Scaffold being feeble with age he said Oh my God strengthen me lest I fall down and become matter of scorn to the enemies Being crooked with age and hanging down his head the executioner could not well come at his neck whereupon the Minister said to him My noble Lord as you haâ—e commended your soul to Christ so now offer up your heavy head chearfully to God and lift up your selâ—e towards heaven Then lifting up his head as well as he could he said Lord Jesus into thy hand I commend my spirit and so is head was cut off The next was Procopius Dorzecki who after his condemnation said to the Minister I haâ—e had a great contention all night with old Adam so that it made me sweat againe but thanks be to my God by whom my soul hath overcome all tentations saying further O Almighty God strengthen thy servant that I may not be made a derision to mine enemies by any fear of death and as thou waâ—â— wont to encourage thy holy Martyrs so I â—trongly beleeâ—e thou wilt comfort me When he was called forth to execution he said Thanks be to my God who doth now call me to himselfe to him I have lived and for him I will die for my Saviour hath therefore died and risen again that he might be Lord both of the living and the dead I know that my soul shall liâ—e and my body shall be raised like to his glorious body Upon the Scaffold he said to the Imperiâ—ll judges Tell Caesar that we are now under his â—udgement buâ— he shall undergoe a more grievous yet just judgement of God And seeing a gold Medal hanging about his neck wherein was ingraven the Coronation of Frederick he delivered it to one that stood by saying I require â—hee that when my dear King Frederick shall recover the Throne of this Kingdom thou deliver him this and tell him that for his sake I wore it till my death and that now I lay down my life willingly for God and my King and so presently after he lost his head The next was the L. Frederick de Bile who suffered death likewise patiently and piously The next was the L. Hen. Otto a man of great judgment who having received the sentence of condemnâ—tion said O Caesar do you indeed establish your Throne by our bloud but what account will you make to God of it in the day of judgement c. kill my body dispâ—â—se my members whither you please yet dâ— I beleeâ—e â—hat my Saviour will gather them together againe and clothe 〈…〉 so that with thâ—sâ— eyes I shall see hâ—m with these ears I shall hear him with â—his toâ—gue I shall praise him and rejoyce with this heart fâ—reâ—er Afterwards when the Minister came to him amongst other 〈◊〉 he saiâ— I was â—roubled but now I feel a wonderfull refreshing in mâ— heart adding with his hands lift up to heaven I give thee thanks O most mercifull Saviour who hast beâ—n pleased to fill me with so much 〈◊〉 now I fear death no longer I will die with joy As he was going to the â—caâ—fold he said to the Ministâ—r I am sure that Christ Jesus will meet my soul with his Angels that he may bring it to an everlasting marriage where I shall drink of a new cup a cup of joy for ever This death I know shall not separate me from him Upon the Scaffold lifting up his eyes to heaven he said Behold I see the Heavens open pointing with his hand to the place where others also observed a certain brightnesse which dazled their eyes after he had prayed silently he said Into thy hands O Lord God I commend my spirit have pitty on me through Jesus Christ and receive me that I may see thy glory and so he received the stroak of the sword The next was Dionysius Zervius formerly a Papist but being told of the promises made to the people of God concerning the pardon of sins and assurance of salvation to those that believe in Christ he struck his breast and with tears in his eyes cried out This is my faith and in this I die I rest in the grace of Christ and I
he said Why do you create unprofitable labour to your selves and trouble to us Then said they one to another they are hard rocks and will not suffer themselves to be removed to whom he answered You saâ— true Christ is an hard rock and we are firmly fixed on him Afterwards he said to his fellow-Martyrs I understand that I must be hanged but whether by the neck middle or feet I know not nor caâ—e not this only is my grief that my bloud may not be mingled with yours that we might be made one sacrifice to God When he was called forth to execution he was besprinckled with the tears of his friends to whom he said Play the men brethren and refrain fron weeping I go before but it is but a short time and we shall meet in the heavenly glory When he was upon the ladder he said I have plotted no Treason committed no murder I have done nothing worthy of death but I die because I have been faithfull to the Gospel and my country O God pardon my enemies for they know not what they do but thou O Christ have pity on me for I commit my soul unto thee and so he slept in the Lord. The next was Simeon Sussickey who when he saw the Jesuites comming he said to his companions These birds of prey are flying hither but they shall not feed on these carcasses but return hungry For God hath promised to perserve his own as the apple of his eye and therefore he will not suffer us to be seduced The last night he had a great conflict with the flesh because the Scripture saith Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree but when the Minister told him that that curse was taken away by the death of Christ he was well satisfied He went to his death praying and singing and being hanged next to Kutnaur which was his son in law after he was dead he turned towards him and so near that their mouths touched each other so that their enemies said These were such obstinate Rebels that they cease not to plot after death The next was Nathaneel Wodnianskey who when the Jesuites sollicited him to Apostacy he said to them You take away our lives under pretence of Rebellion and not content with that you seek to destroy our souls Glut your selues with sight of our bloud and be satisfied with that but we shall leave a sting in your consciences Afterwards his own son saying to him My Father if hope of life should be proffered you upon condition of Apostacy I pray you be mindefull of keeping your faith to Christ He answered It is very acceptable to me my son to be exhorted to constancy by you but what makes you to suspect me I rather advise and exhort you to follow your fathers steps and to exhort your brethren sisters and children to that constancy whereof I shall leave you an example and so he patiently ended his life upon the Gallows The next was Wenceslaus Gisbitzky to whom were given great hopes of life but the Minister fearing Satans stratagems advised him to take heed of security and to prepare himself for the encounter of death Upon the Scaffold seeing his hopes frustrate he fell on his knees and said We are prostrate before thee O eternal Father do not forsake us have pity on us through Jesus Christ We would say more but we are not able to expresse it Into thy hands doe we commend our souls perfect that which thou hast begun to work in us Render to us our inheritance that we may sing Holy Holy Holy c. and so in the midst of his prayers he ended his life There was also one Martin Fruin an eminent Citizen of Pâ—ague who being taken in his own house was scoffed at by the souldiers beaten with their fists and afterward cruelly tortured and so burnt in the privy parts that for six moneths he was troubled with most grievous pain he was shut up in prison from all company and at last was found dead in the Castle ditch under the Tower Presently after the execution of these holy Martyrs all their goods were confiscated as also of those that were driven into banishment Then was a Proclamation published wherein a generall pardon of all crimes was offered to all the Inhabitants of the Kingdom only their goods were confiscated either in whole or in part which must be brought into his Majesties Treasury to pay his debts which were contracted by this necessary war besides which they were to make a confession of their faults in a form prescribed before Cardinall Lichtenstein who was Caesars Viceroy and if any did not appear he should lose this favour Hence it was that the enemies publikely boasted that none were punished but such as were convicted by their own confession Then by Edict all were forbidden to diminish or waste their goods by selling them or conveying them over to others and if any man should send away his goods to another place all should be lost and whosoever received such goods should pay so much of his own to the Emperour Yet the merry Judges turned all this to a jest saying to divers that pleaded their innocency from having any hand in bringing in Frederick That though they had not actuall sins yet they were infected with the Original sin of heresie and wealth and therefore could not be exempted from punishment Then did they proceed to take from the Protestants all their Castles Towns and Villages whereby they were deprived of their livelihoods and driven into strange places Some were forced to cast themselves upon their Popish friends others to become servants to their own destroyers Afterwards all their personall Estates were sequestred scarce leaving so much as a garment for them wherewith to cover their nakedness And lest any man should should have money at use they commanded all to bring in all their bonds upon pain of losing all their debts if they concealed the least And when any considerable sum was brought in the Kings Treasurers were at hand who protesting that the Emperour had need of it to defray his charges of war took it away giving to the party a note that so much was due to him from the Emperour which yet was never repaied And thus the Protestants being commanded to depart the Kingdom the Popish party divided their confiscated goods and lands amongst themselves and as it lay commodious for any of them they added this or that Village Town Castle or Lordship to their own but the greatest part fell to strangers shares Spaniards Italians or Germans which were Commanders in the Imperiall Army instead of their pay If any widows or Orphans had lands or goods not taken away their popish neighbours would either circumvent them by craft or weary them out by quartering souldiers upon them and so enforced them to sell them their lands at what prices themselves listed