hundred persons in and about London either died in prison or were burnt in Smithfield In the Year 1541. Damlip Dod Saxy were Slain One Henry at Colchester Kerby and Clark at Ipswich and Bury were burnt In the Year 1546. Mistriss Ann Askew one of the Ladies belonging to Queen Katherine Parr because she would not confess any other Ladies was put upon the Rack and the Lord Chancellor himself being more Cruel he acted then the Executioner ordered her to be racked to the utmost she was afterward Burnt in Smithfield and at the same time and place were likewise Burnt Nicholas Belerrian a Minister iâ— Shropshire John Adams a Tailor and John Lacels a Gentleman belonging to King Henry the Eighth these beholding the Invincible Constancy and Patience of Mistriss Askew were thereby much incouraged in their Sufferings About the same time Sir John Blage of the Kings Privy Chamber was falsly accused to have spoken against the Mass upon which he was condemned to be burnt in Smithfield whereupon the Earl of Bedford begged his pardon of the King who Commanded it to be drawn immediately After his release Sir George coming to the King Ah my Pig said he for so he usually called him Yea said Blage if your Majesty had not been better to me than your Bishops were your Pig had been roasted before this time Presently after Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and his Confederates set forth a Cruel Proclamation in the Kings Name for abolishing the Scriptures and all other English Books that discovered the Truth to the people and having obtained this they very much rejoyced therein hoping that they had now for ever suppressed the Gospel so that it should never rise again and to strike the greater terror into mens minds they made a diligent search after the Professors of the Truth of whom they took the names of some drove away others and hereby doubted not but to attain their ends But it pleased God that in the midst of these subtil Contrivances for the destruction of his Gospel and Servants to take away King Henry the Eighth within four Months after the Proclamation and thereby all their hopes and projects were utterly disappointed King Henry the Eighth being dead his only Son Prince Edward our English Josiah ascended the Throne under whom the Protestant Religion was established and Popery and Superstition abolished for he caused all Images to be demolished and as Idolatrous to be taken out of all Churches within his Dominions the Learned mâ—n of his time he encouraged and commanded them to open and expound the Scriptures 〈◊〉 abolished the Mass and ordered the Service to be read in the English Tongue and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be administred in both kinds to the People But it pleased God in a short time to take him to himself for in the Seventh Year of his Reign and the Seventeenth Year of his Age he was taken with a lingring sickness during which time a Marriage was concluded between the Lord Guilford Dudley eldest Son to the Duke of Northumberland and the Lady Jane the Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk whose mother being then alive was Daughter to Mary King Henry the Eighths second Sister The Marriage being finisht and the King every day more sick than other so that he seemed past Recovery the Duke of Northumberland being ambitious to advance his Family perswaded the King that the Church and the True Religion would be in great danger if he did not choose a pious Successer and that it was the part of a good Prince to set aside all other respects when the Glory of God and the good of his Subjects were concerned The King partly for his great desire to have the Protestant Religion confirmed and partly for the intire love which he bore to his Cousin the Lady Jane signed Letters Patents under the Broad Seal to appoint the Lady Jane to succeed him in the Kingdom although her Title were excluded by the Lady Mary who was always a zealous Papist and the Lady Elizabeth This was afterwards confirmed by the Nobility and Chief Lawyers of the Kingdom and was subscribed to by all the Kings Council the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London who upon the Death of King Edward which happened in a short time after proclaimed the Lady Jane Queen in London and Westminster The Lady Mary being in Hartfordshire and hearing of it presently sent to the Lords of the Council commanding and requiring them to Proclaim her Queen which if they refused to do she threatned to recover her Right by force of Arms. The Lords returned answer That the Lady Jane was invested and possessed of the Crown by just Right and Title both by the Ancient Laws of the Land and by Letters Patents signed and sealed by the late King before his death and therefore they declared they would adhere to her and to none other requesting the Lady Mary that she would not upon any pretence endeavour to disturb the peace of the Kingdom promising her that if she would carry her self as a dutiful Subject they would be ready to do her any service The Lady Mary having received this answer withdrew further from the City and the Council being sensible of her stout and unquiet disposition they raised an Army which was commanded by the Duke of Northumberland The Lady Mary went into Suffolk and Norfolk gathering such aid of the Commons as she could and kept her self in Framingham Castle to whom the Suffolk men first resorted who being always forward in promoting the Gospel promised her their aid and assistance provided she would make no alteration of the Protestant Religion as it was established by her Brother King Edward To this she readily agreed and confirmed it with such Vows and Protestations that none could suspect her whereupon they joined with her and thus by the help of the Protestants she vanquished the Duke of Northumberland and his Army and was settled in the Kingdom but she soon forgot her promises for these very Suffolk men observing that Popery would be re-established they Petitioned to her to perform her word to them at which she was extreamly displeased and told them Forasmuch as you who are Members desire to rule your Head you shall one day find that Members must obey not seek to rule Yea one of the chief of these men Mr. Dob by name she caused for the Terror of others to be set in the Pillory several times and divers others that presented Supplications to her not to set up Popery she caused to be sent to prison Queen Mary being setled in the Kingdom the Lady Jane her Father the Duke of Northumberland and her Husband the Lord Guilford Dudley were soon after Beheaded and the Queen soon discovered her disaffection to the Protestant Religion by displacing all the Orthodox Bishops as Poinet Ridley Scorie Hooper Coverdale and by releasing out of the Tower Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester whom she made Lord Chancellor of England◠〈◊〉 Bonner who was
between the Pope and the Emperor whereupon the Pope cursed him and sends his Letters out against him to all the Princes of Christendom declaring that he was an accursed person and ought to be avoided and cast out of all Christian company He likewise stirred up his Subjects in Rebellion against him The Emperor then marched to Rome to chastise his Pride but the Popefled to Venice and the Venetians being required to send him to Frede ich refused it whereupon the Emperor sent his Son Otho against him with Men and Ships very well furnished but withal charged him by no means to attempt any thing against the Venetians till he himself came But the young man being full of heat and desire of glory ventured to ingage the Enemy and was by them overthrown and himself taken Prisoner Upon this misfortune the compassionate Father to release his Son from captivity and misery was forced to submit to whatever Conditions of Peace the Pope should demand whereby it was at last agreed that the Emperour should come into S. Marks Church at Venice and there kneeling down at the Popes feet he should receive Absolution and Forgiveness This the Emperour persormed and the proud Pope setting his foot upon the Emperours Neck said that verse in the Psalm Thou shalt tread upon Lions and Adders the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou trample under foot which the Pope applied to the Emperour but the Emperour answered Not to thee but to Peter this power is given The Pope replied Both to me and to Peter The Emperour fearing further quarrels durst say no more but was absolved and his Son was restored to his liberty III. Not long after this that is in the time of that famous King Henry the Second one Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury was by his extraordinary pride and insolâ—nce the occasion of very great disturbance to the King and Kingdom for the King câ—lling his Nobles and the Clergy together desired that some Clergy-men might be called to answer for some Villanies by them committed for it was proved that several persons had been murdered by their means This Thomas Besket would not consent unto without a Clause of seeing this Order which very much displeased the King but by the perswasion of his Brethren Becket afterward consented yet being incouraged by the Pope he again fell off and repented of what he had done which the more inraged the King against him This quarrel continued many years and the King was so tormented by this proud Prelate that he once passionately cryed out Will no body a venge me of this Becket These words were spoken in the Hearing of some Gentlemen who thereupon guessing at the Kings mind four of them presently went to Canterbury and finding the Archbishop in the Cathedral there they fell upon him and kill'd him upon the Stairs of the Altar every one striking him over the head with his Sword and then made their escape This Murder was charged upon the King by the Popes Legate and though the King swore that he was neither aiding nor consenting to his death yet he was forced to kiss the Legates Knee and submit to such Penance as he should appoint him one part whereof was that he should absolutely submit to the Pope in all spiritual matters And it is likewise recorded that King Henry coming out of France went to Canterbury and as soon as he was in sight of Thomas Beckets Church he got off his Horse and pulling off his Shoes and Stockins he went barefoot to Beckets Tomb the ways being so sharp and stony that his Feet bled as he passed along and when he came there every Monk in the Cloister whipt the Kings Back with a Rod which shews saith the Historian what slavery Kings and Princes were at that time brought into by the Popes Clergy The same year the City of Canterbury was almost burnt down and Beckets Church was utterly consumed This Becket was afterward Cannized for a Saint but a Popish Historian saith of him That he was worthy of death and damnation for being so obstainate against Gods Minister his King IV. King John the Son of Henry the Second was likewise made sensible of the danger of offending the Pope for in the year 1205 the King being incensed against the Clergy who possessed great Benefices and yet neglected their Charge he endeavoured to rectifie this and some other great miscarriages about Electing Bishops and several other things But the Pope fearing he would intrench upon his Privileges and Gain stirred Heaven and Earth against him Excommunicating and cursing him giving his Kingdom to the French King and stirring up his own Nobility and people against him so that the King being compassed about with Enemies on every side was forced to submit to the Pope promising to do whatever he should command him Nay the King took his Crown off his head and kneeling upon his knees in the midst of all his Lords and Barons he gave it to Pandulphus the Popes Legate saying Here I resign up the Crown of the Realm of England to the hands of Pope Innocent the Third and lay my self wholâ—â—y at his mercy and appointment Pandulphus took the Crown from King John and kept it five days and the King giving then all his Kingdoms to the Pope to be held in Farm from him and his Heirs for evermore his Crown was restered again King John engaging to pay seven hundred Marks a year for England and three hundred for Ireland half of it at Easter and half at Michaelmas as Rent for the sald Kingdoms This King John was afterward poysoned by a Monk which was judged such a Meritorious Act that the Murderer bad a Mass appointed to be said for his Soul for ever after by his Follow-Monks V Pope Celestine the Third standing upon the Sâ—irs of St. Peters Church in Rome he there received an Oath of Henry the Sixth Emperor of Germary and then had him into the Church and Anointed him and sitting in his Pontifical Chair held the Crown of Gold between his Feet and the Emperor bowing down his Head to the Popes Feet received the Crown the Empress likewise was Crowned in the same manrer The Crown being thus put on the Pope immediately kickt it off the Emperor's Head with his Foot to the ground declaring thereby that if he pleased he could depose him again Then the Cardinals took up the Crown and again put it on his Head VI. Nay to such a height did the Popes at last arrive that they governed all things Emperors and Princes have been forced to kneel and kâ—ss their Toes nay they asserted that all Kings were Slaves and in subjection to them And that all must be judged by the Pope but he by no man The Persecutions Committed by the Papists upon the Waldenses and Albingenses and other Protestants in Piedmont Savoy and the Valtoline from the Year 1160. to the Year 1656. WHen by the just Judgment of the Almighty All the world wondred after
him on the Face with his Foot whom all the Murtherers of France feared so much when he was alive Then the Duke and his bloody Train went into the Streets crying Arm Arm we have had good success and a happy beginning Let us now proceed to the rest for it is the Kings Command which words he repeated often This is the Kings Commandment this is his Will this is his express pleasure therefore courage my Fellows Then the great Bell of the Pallace which was the bloody token of the General Alarm began to ring out aloud and presently a Report was spread That the Protestants had conspired against the King Queen and Court and were just going to Execute their Design After this the Admirals head was cut off and sent to the King and Queen Mother and being by them preserved with Spices it was sent to the Pope and the Cardinal of Lorrain at Rome as a very grateful present The Pope when he first heard the News of the Massacre appointed a day of Publick Thanksgiving to God where Te Deum was sung for joy in the Church of St. Lewis He likewise Published a Bull of Pardons and extraordinary Indulgences to such as should pray for the Heavenly assistance to the King and Kingdom of France for rooting out of Hereticks The Râ—scally Rabble cut off the Hands and Privy Members of the Admiral dragging his mangled body besmeâ—â—ed with blood and filth through the Sâ—reets three days together and then hanged it by the Feet upon the Gallows All the Attendants of the King of Navarr and Prince of Conde which lay in the Kings Pallace were murdered and likewise all the Lords and Gentlemen about the Admiral 's Lodgings and among the rest his Son Teligny and then through all the City and Suburbs were the poor Protestants Massacred with all manner of Cruelties Nothing was then to be heard but the Terrible noise of Horses and Arms Guns and Pistols mingled with the doleful sad and woful Screeches and miserable complaints of Men Women and Children Rich and Poor crying for mercy to these bloody Hell-hounds howling and lamenting at their miserable Condition to be thus wretchedly murdered for they knew not what And all this intermâ—xt with the groans of the dying and the merciless shouts of the Cruel Murtherers continually crying Kill kill for the King commands it that it seemed as if Heaven and Earth had met together or as if the Heavens had rent with Thunder So that in that night and the Two next days there was slain in Paris above Ten Thousand Persons of both Sexes and all Ranks and Ages the bloody Papists not sparing the Children in the Cradle nor the Infants in their Mothers wombs insomuch that the Streets Market-place and Rivers were dyed with Blood and the Murtherers boasted that they had in a few days put an end to that Quarrel that neither Pen Paper Decrees of Justice nor open War could accomplish in Twelve years This horrid Mâ—ssacre was committed on St. Bartholomews day being the 24 of August 1571. which was the Sabbath day and is made samous for ever by the Effusion of so much precious Innocent blood as no Age nor time can parallel for there were at this time in Paris Threescore Thousand men with Pistols Poinards Swords Knives and such other Bloody Instruments who ran up and down swearing and blaspheming the Sacred Majesty of God cruelly massacring all they met So that the Streets were covered with mangled Bodies and the Gates and Doots defiled with blood the Lords and Gentlemen were Inhumanely murdered some in their Beds others on the top of their Houses and in all other places where they were found and such a multitude of dead Bodies were thrown into the River Sein that the water was dyed Red with their Blood In the Heilish Assembly wherein this bloody Massacre was concluded on it was debated whether the King of Navarr and Prince of Conde should not be destroyed with the rest the Duke of Guise pâ—euded for it but others were against it and argued how abomiâ—able it would be to destroy two young Princâ—s of 〈◊〉 blood in the Flower of their Age and one of them in the imbraces of his young Bride and the Kings own Sister and therefore it was concluded That they should be threatued violâ—â—tly with death and all manner of Torments if they would not turn Papists And thereupon the King commanded them to be brought into his presence and told them That now he had cut off all the Instruments of the late Civil Wars which he hoped would prevent future troubles for by his Command the Admiral was slain and all the rest of the Hereticks and that the like should be Executed in all other places throughout the Kingdom and that if they would now save their Lives they must turn Catholicks for he was resolved to have but one Religion in his Kingdom The King of Navarr and the Prince of Conde humbly beseeched his Majesty to Remember his Oaths Promises and solemn Vows and Protestations that they should have the free Exercise of their Religion and withal told the King That he might do as he pleased with their Bodies and Estates but their unspotted Souls were in the hands of God and that they were resolved to remain stedfast in their Religion though with the loss of their lives which answer so inraged the King that he called the Prince of Conde Rebel and the Son of a Rebellious Person horribly threatning him That if within three days he did not obey his Command he should die for it and then with a furious Countenance left them with these three Terrible Words Death Mass or the Bastile Many Gentlemen that were attendants upon them as likewise their Schoolmasters and Tutors were thrust out of the Chamber among the Murtherers that is among the Kings Guard of Switzers who stood in two Ranks with their Swords drawn ready for Blood and Cruelty These Gentlemen crying out of the Kings Oaths Promises and Fidelity were yet by the Kings Command and in his own Sight unmercifully hewen and cut in peices In this Butcherly Massacre at Paris there were above four Thousand Houses robbed and plundered and above Five Hundred Barons Knights and Gentlemen who were chief Officers in the War with abundance of Noble young Gentlemen Ladies and Gentlewomen Inhumanely murthered who little expected such a bloody Fate for they came from all parts to rejoyce in honour of the marriage of the King of Navarr and instead of Jollity and pleasures they here met with an untimely death from Bloody and Cowardly Papists who murther like Devils but dare not fight like men The King and his Considents searing that this Massacte would not end the Quarrel but rather stir up the Protestants in other places to stand upon their own defence He therefore sends Messengers by Post to all parts of the Kingdom often shifting Horses for more speed with express Commands to the Governours of all other Towns and Cities
in France to follow the Example of Paris and to destroy and kill all the Protestants which were amongst them and yet at the same time the King writes other Letters wherein he laid the fault of the murder of the Admiral and the rest upon the Duke of Guise As soon as this Command was published and that the Kings Letters came the Papists fell with all imaginable fury upon all the Protestants at Meaux Troys Orleans and other places murthering them without any manner of pity and Compassion And among the rest Monsieur De la Place President of the Court of Requests being in his house a Captain came to him and told him that the Duke of Guise had killed thâ— Admiral by the Kings appointment and many other Hugonots but however he was willing to secure him but desired to see his Gold The Lord De la Place câ—â—â—rving his Impudence asked him whether hâ— thought there were a King or no the Captain bâ—aspheming bid him go to know the Kings pleasure The Lord De la Place thinking there was danger near went from him to secure himself and the Captain thereupon plundered his House The poor Gentleman seeking shelter in three Houses for his life was denied and was at last forced to return home again where finding his wife very sorrowful he rebuked her and discourst with her of the Promises of God telling her That through many Tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God and then calling his Family together he made an Exhortation to them went to prayer and then read a Chapter in Job with Calvins Exposition and then praying again he resolved by Gods assistance to suffer all kind of Torments rather than to fly for it Presently after the Provost of the Merchants comes to his House with many Archers and an Order to bring him to the King and would not admit of any Excuse whereupon the Lord supposed what would happen and therefore embracing his Wife he desired her never to forsake the truth of God And so going toward the Palace some Murtherers waited for him and immediately stab'd him with their Daggers so that he fell down dâ—ad and then stripping him cast his Body into the River After this there followed the like Cruclties and Murders upon the Protestants in the Cities of Lyons Tholouse Burdeauâ— Angiers where the Protestants were most barbarously killed destroyed as likewise in most other Cities and Towns so that in a few Months there were murdered above threescore Thousand Protestants in France for no other Crime but only for being Protestants Yet in the midst of these dangers it pleased God to provide some places of refuge for them as Rochel Montalbon Wismes Saucerre Privus c. whither many Protestants fled from other places In the year 1573. the Town of Saucerre was besieged by the Lord of Chastre who with his Cannon played incessâ—ntly upon the place so that the Stones Pavements and Splinters of Timber flew about continually and yet it pleased God that only one young Woman was slain thereby though sometimes the Coats Breeches and Hats of the Inhabitants were shot thorough The Siege being long there was great scarcity insomuch that the People were forced to eat Horses Asses and Mules which lasted a Month afterwards they cat all the Dogs Cats Rats Mice and Moles that they could get and then they were forced to eat Parchments Horses and Beasts-Hoofs Horns Lanthorns Hasters Girdles of Leather Herbs wild Roots and Furniture for Horses this being all spent and no bread in the City they made bread of Linseed Herbs mixt with Bran Straw Meal Powder of Nut-shells yea Slates Sewet old Ointments and other Grease served to make Pottage and therewith they likewise fryed the Excrements of Horses and Men which they eat yea the very filth in the Streets was not spared During this Extremity a labourer and his wife were put to death for cating the Head Intrails and Brains of their own Child a Girl of three years old who died with Famine having likewise dressed the rest of her body to eat at other times Those that went out of the City Walls were forced to live upon the Spriggs of Vines Black-berries Snails and Herbs and many of them were killed by the Enemy And among other lamentable Spectacles a poor man and his Wife were found dead among the Vines and two of their Children crying by them the youngest being not above Six weeks old whom a Charitable Widow took home and relieved c. Many died of this terrible Famine in their Houses and others fell down dead in the Sâ—reeâ—â— Most of the Children under Twelve years old died and most lamentable it was to see their poor Fathers and Mothers lamenting their misery and yet could not relieve them yet most of them did wondâ—rfully encourage themseâ—veâ— in Gods help and assistance as may appear by this strange Example A Boy about five years old being famisht for Hunger running along the Streets fell down for dead in the presence of his Father and Mother who wept over him and felt his Arms and Legs which were as dry as a Stick To whom the Child said Why do you weep to see me die of hunger I ask you no Bread Mother for I know you have none but since it is Gods will that I should die in this manner I must take it thankfully Had not the Hâ—ly man Lazarus Hunger have I not read it in my Bible and saying thus he yielded up his Spirit And that which preserved the rest from perishing was because there were six Cows kept alive to give Milk to some few Intants and some Horses of service reserved for extremity were killed and their flesh sold and some little Corn was brought into the Town by stealth which was sold for half a Crown a pound There died by the War but Eighty four Persons but the Famine destroyed Five Hundred and the rest were brought so low that they hardly recovered Divers voluntarily went out of the Town chusing rather death than such misery whereof some were slain and others Imprisoned and Executed And now when all humane help failed the King having sworn He would make them eat one another and the Papists threatning to Massacre them all it pleased God strangely to deliver these poor Protestants For Ambassadors coming from Poland to fetch the Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother thither whom they had chosen for their King They having notice of this terrible siege obtained by their Sollicitations that all the Towns in France which were molested for Religion should have their Liberty by which means the poor Saucerreans half dead with hunger obtained their freedom and were quietly suffered to depart with their Arms and Goods and those that would stay not to be questioned for what was past About the same time the Town of Rochel was likewise besieged the Townsmen often sallying out and divers hot skirmishes past among the rest a young Gentleman boasted with horrible blasphemies that he was one of
the horrible Murderers of the Admiral shewing his Sword which he said he brought from that exploit to slash the Rochellers but upon Tryal his heart failed him and he ran away and one of the Rochellers pursuing him slew him stript him and left his body in the Field and before next morning the dogs had torn his Face In one Months space the Papists discharged above Thirteen Thousand Shot against the Town and made many assaults but always came off with loss The Siege continued two Months and the Famine much increased upon them but by Divine Providence when all other Provision failed them there came a multitude of small Fishes into the Haven which were never seen there before and was a very great relief to them who continued during the siege but presently after the publishing the Edict of Peace they went away and were never seen more A while after the Rochellers were likewise freed from the siege by means of the Poland Ambassdors and enjoyed their former Priviledges It is very remarkable that most of those Persons which were employed in the Massacre of Paris and other Places were killed at this siege for there were slain before this Town three Masters de Camp divers Lords and Gentlemen above Threescore Captains as many Lieutenants and Ensigns and above Twenty Thousand Common Souldiers The next year after the King himself who was at least the Countenancer of all these horrible Massacres being in the prime of his Youth not above Twenty five years old fell sick of a languishing disease his Physicians let him blood and purged him to no purpose for he consumed away so strangely as astonished many He long strugled against his disease but at last betook himself to his Bed for about fourteen days before his death and was sore tormented with a great effusion of blood which issued from all parts of his body and one time to the terror of those about him he rouled himself in his own blood A while before he died he desired his Mother to pursue his Enemies to the utmost repeating the same with great cagerness and saying Madam I pray you heartily to do it and so expired May 30. 1574. And it was observed that the rest of the Chief Agents were strangely cut off The Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother afterwards King Henry the Third was stabbed by a Jacobine Monk in the same Chamber where he sate in Council for contriving the late Tragedies The Duke of Guize was murdered in the Kings own Chamber Five and Forty Persons waiting with Swords and Daggers to do it The Queen Mother broke her heart and died the first of January after And in short it hath been observed by a good Author that since the year of our Lord 1560 of a Thousand Murderers that remained unpunished by men there was not ten who escaped the Divine hand of God but came to deserved and wretched Ends suitable to their bloody and wicked Lives At a Town called Sansay in France in the year 1593 one Margaret Pieron was by her maid accused to the Jesuits for not going to Mass and for keeping a Bible in her house who complaining thereof to the Judges they sent for her and said Margaret are you not willing to return home to your house and there enjoy your Husband and Children Yes said she if it may stand with the good will of God Then said they If thou wilt do but a small matter thou shalt be set at Liberty If said she it be not contrary to Gods glory and my own Salvation you shall hear what I will say to it No such thing said they for all that we require is but this That a Scaffold being set up in the chief part of the Town you shall there crave pardon for offending the Law and a fire being made you shall burn your Bible in it without speaking a word I pray you my Masters said she tell me is my Bible a good Book or no Yes said they we confess it is only to please the Jesuits we would have thee throw it in the Fire Imagine it to be but Paper and then you may burn it and you may buy another at any time and thereby you may secure your Life They spent two Hours in perswading her that she might commit a less Evil to do a greater good But she couragiously answered them That by the help of God she would never do it Will not the People say said she This is a wretched Woman indeed that burns the Bible wherein all the Articles of Christian Religion are contained I will certainly burn my Body rather thaâ— I will burn my Bible Upon this shâ—wâ—s committed to Prison and fed only with bâ—ead and water and her Friends forbid to come to her but continuing stedfast in the Truth she was thereupon condemned to be set upon a Sâ—â—ffold to have the Bible burnt before her Face her self to be strangled and her body to be dragged through the Streets to a Dunghil 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 they â—at Horses Dogs Cats Rats and Mice â—nd after that the poor Protestant's lived two Months upon Cow-hides and Goat skins boylâ—d They likewise eat old Gloves and whatâ—ever was made of Leather yea the poor peoâ—le cut off the buttocks of the dead and eat â—hem young Maids of Fourteen or Sixteen â—ears old looked like old Women of an â—undred years old a Bushel of Wheat was sold â—r Twenty Pound a Pound of Bread Twenty â—hillings a Quarter of Mutton above six â—ound An Egg eight shillings An Ounce of â—ugar Half a Crown a dryed Fish Twenty â—illings 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 palled down by Fires and Imprisonments and Banishments by being excluded from all Offices 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 Oaths Protestations Edicts and Proclamations which have been solemnly made and granted to them for the free Exercise of the Protestant Religion The Persecutions of the Protestants in Italy Spain Portugal and the Low-Countries With an Account of the Original Progress and Cruel Torments of the Spanish Inquisition 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 Inquiâ—tim which was first Instituâ—â—d against the Moors and Jews in Spain but is now 〈…〉 the discovery and Tormentâ—◠〈…〉 Christians yet notwithstanding 〈…〉
to keep him from speaking and then crushed his right hand between two flat red hot frons 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 waste 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 than Eighteen thousand Persons And to compleat this sad Catastrophe we may also remember that William of Nassaw Prince of Orange 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 Burgundian who standing behind the Pillar in a Room shot the Prince dead as he past by The Persecutions of the Papists upon the Protestants in Scotland and Ireland AS most Kingdoms in Europe felt the rage and fury of Romish Cruelty and Persecution so Scotland though in the frozen north was not insensible thereof For in the Year 1572. Mr. Patrick Hamilton of an Ancient and Honourable Family and called Abbot of Fern left Scotland and went into Germany where conversing with Luther and Melancthon he greatly increased in godly knowledge and learning and returning home he publickly Preached concerning Faith and good works and against the Superstitions and Idolatry of the Papists This so enraged James Beaton Arch bishop of St. Andrews that in the absence of the King Mr. Hamilton was seized upon by the Bishops Officers and carried to the Castle and the next day he was brought forth to Judgment and Condenmed to be Burnt for the Testimony of God The Articles charged against him were about Pilgrimages Purgatory Praying to Saints and for the Dead After Dinner the Fire was prepared which some thought was only to terrifie him but it pleased God to strengthen him against the fear of Death and so he was tied to the Stake giving his Garments to his Servant and saying thus to him These will not profit in the Fire they will profit thee After this thou canst receive no benefit by me except the Example of my Death which I pray thee to remember for though it be bitter to the Flesh and fearful before men yet it is the entrarce into eternal Life which none shall possess who deny Jesus Christ before this wicked Generation And the Fire being kindled he cried with a loud voice Lord Jesus receive my Spirit how long shall Darkness overwhelm this Realm and how long wilt thou suffer the Tyranny of these men A Fryar troubling him by crying out Turn thou Heretick call upon our Lady say Salve Regina c. he replyed Depart from me and trouble me not thou Messenger of Satan and speaking to one Campbel the chief among them he said Wicked man thou knowest the Contrary and hast confessed the contrary to me I appeal thee before the Tribunal Seat of Jesus Christ after which words he resigned up his Spirit to God and within a few days after the Fryar died in a Frenzy and Desperation The Archbishop of St. Andrews likewise called before him two Gentlemen David Straton and Mr. Normand Gomlay Mr. Straton being accused for Heresy was much troubled at it and thereupon frequented the company of Religious men and hearing that Text read He that denieth me before men or is ashamed of me in this wicked Generation I will deny him before my Father and his Holy Angels he stedfastly lift up his eyes and hands to Heaven and burst forth into these words O Lord I have been wicked and justly mayest thou withdraw thy Grace fâ—â—â—â— me but Lord for thy Mercy sake let me never deny thy Truth for fear of Death or Corporal pain Being afterwards together with Mr. Norman brought to Judgment in Holy Rood-House where the King himself was present they were both condemned to the fire and in the afternoon were first Hanged and then Burnt which they chearfully suffered There was likewise one Dean Thomas Foret who used to Preach to his Parishioners every Lords day out of the Epistles and Gospels as they came in order for which being complained of to the Bishop of Dunkeldon he reproved him for it telling him that it was too much to preach every Sunday since the People might think they ought to do so likewise and says the Bishop Is it not enough for you when you find a good Epistle and Gospel to set forth and preach the Liberty of Holy Church and let the rest alone Dean Thomas replyed That he had read them all over and knew no bad ones among them But said he when your Lordship shews me any such I will pass them by The Bishop anwered I thank God I never knew what the Old and New Testament was but go your ways and â—â—pent of these fancies ere it be too late The Dean answered My cause is good and just 〈◊〉 the presence of God and therefore 〈…〉 〈…〉 but he 〈…〉 Cardinal Beton by whom he was condemned and Burned for an Heretick The Year after Jerom Russel and Alexander Kennedy who was not above eighteen years old â—ere brought before the Archbishop and his Associates who railed upon them and called â—hem Hereticks Jerom Russel replyed This your hour and power of darkness now sit ye as judges and we are wrongfully accused but the day will come wherein our Innocency will appear â—nd ye shall see your own blindness to your everlasting confusion go forward and fulfil the measure of your Iniquity A while after they were sentenced to die and as they went to Execution Jerom comforted Kennedy saying Brother fear not greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World the pain we are to suffer is short and shall be light but our joy and consolation shall never have an end let us therefore strive to enter into our Master and Saviours Joy by the same straight way which he hath taken before us Death cannot hurt us for it is destroyed by him for whose sake we now suffer And in this manner past reason they joyfully gave up their Souls unto God in the Flaming Fire In the year 1543. Cardinal Beton coming to Edenburgh caused several Religious persons to be brought before him and when he could prove nothing else against them
He caused four men to be hanged upon suspicion that they had eaten a Goose upon a Friday And a Woman with a Child sucking at her breast was drown'd for refusing to pray to the Virgin Mary Many others were likewise Banished and Imprisoned for the Gospel and among the rest John Rogers a learned and godly Minister whom he caused to be murthered in Prison and then thrown over the Wall giving it out that by attempting to make his escape he broke his neck In the year 1546. Mr. George Wisheart a famous Minister was sent for to appear before Cardinal Beton and the other Bishops at St. Andrews where a Priest was ordered to curse him who called him Renegade Traitor Thief c. However Mr. Wisheart gave them an account of his Faith and Doctrine but they not being able to answer him immediately condemned him to be Burnt and presently a Fire was prepared over against the Castle and Velvet Cushions were laid in the Castle-windows for the Cardinal and the rest of the Prelates to see him suffer and for fear he should be rescued by his friends all the Castle Guns were mounted against the place of his Execution by the Cardinals order then with a Rope about his Neck and a Chain about his middle he was fastned to the Stake and having earnestly prayed and exhorted the People and forgiven his enemies and persecutors he said thus I Beseech you Brethren Exhort your Prelates to learn the Word of God that they may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good or else there shall come upon them the Wrath of God which they shall not eschew Then the Hangman upon his knees said Sir I pray forgive me for I am not the cause of your Death Mr. Wisheart called him to him and kissing his Cheek said Lo here is a token that I forgive thee My heart do thine Office and so he was tyed to the Stake and the fire kindled The Captain of the Castle came to him and bid him be of good Courage to whom Mr. Wisheart said This fire Torments my Body but no whit abates my Spirits then looking towards the Cardinal he said He who in such State from that high place feeds his eyes with my Torments within few days shall be hanged out at the same Window with as much shame and ignominy as he there leans with Pride then his Breath being stopt with the Flames he gave up the Ghost This Prophecy was fulfilled in a short time after for the people being generally discontented at the Cruelty used against Mr. Wisheart several persons conspired against him and killed him in the Castle and the Provost raising the Town came to the Castle Gates crying What have you done with my Lord Cardinal where is he To whom they answered from within Return to your Houses for he hath received his reward and will trouble the World no more But they cryed We will never depart till we see him Then was he hanged out at that very window to satisfie them he was dead and so the people departed Shortly after one Adam Wallace was Burned likewise and Henry Forest suffered the same Cruel Death upon Account of Heresie One Walter Will was accused for Heresie and being bid to recant he said I am Corn and not Chaff I will not recant the Truth and being thereupon condemned to the Fire and all things made ready to that purpose they commanded him to go to the Stake No said he by the Laws of God I am forbidden to lay hands on my my self therefore do you put me in the Fire and you shall see my resolution Having then made his Prayer unto God he spake thus to the people Although I have been a Great Sinner yet it is not for that but for Gods Truth contained in his Word of the Old and New Testament that I now suffer and God out of his abundant Mercy doth honour me so far as to make me among other of his Servants to seal his Truth with my Blood Dear Friends as you would escape Eternal Death be no more seduced with the Lies of Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors c. but trust only in God After he had thus spoke he was tyed to the Stake and the Fire being kindled he quietly slept in the Lord and was the last person that died for the Protestant Religion in Scotland In the year of our Lord 1641. there brake forth a most horrid and Bloody Rebellion and Massacre of the Irish Papists committed on the English in Ireland a Nation famous for the Birth of divers worthy persons therein but none more renowned than that Excellent Learned and Religious Person James Usher late Ld. Archbishop of Armagh and Lord Primate of Ireland who amongst many other extraordinary Gifts and Graces which it pleased the Almighty to bestow upon him was wonderfully endued with a Spirit of Prophecy from which among many other things he foretold this bloody Rebellion forty years before it came to pass in a Sermon which he preached at Dublin in the Year 1601. where from Ezekiel 4.6 discoursing concerning the Prophets bearing the Iniquity of Judah forty days the Lord therein appointing a day for a Year he made this direct application in relation to the Connivance at Popery at that time From this Year says he will I reckon the sin of Ireland that those whom you now embrace shall be your Ruin and you shall bear your Iniquity which Prediction proved exactly true for from that time 1601. to the year 1641. was just forty years in which it is notoriously known that the Rebellion and destruction of Ireland happened and which was acted by those Popish Priests Jesuits and other Papists which were then connived at For the Jesuits Priests and Friars were the chief Instigators to this horrid Massacre by continually incensing and stirring up the Popish Gentry and Commonalty to shew the utmost of their Zeal therein and this without any provocation given by the English for it was observed that they had all the Liberty they could reasonably desire and that there was not any reason for such Cruel Proceedings against the English but only for that damnable and unpardonable sin of being Protestants And the Popish Clergy the more to engage the deluded Papists to murther them every where loudly declaimed That they were Hereticks and not fit to be suffered any longer amongst them that it was no more sin to kill one of them than to kill a Dog and that it was a mortal and unpardonable sin to relieve or protect any of them And when their business was so fixt that they did not fear any miscarriage the success of this Great Design was recommended in their Publick Prayers as tending very much to the advancement of the Catholick cause and they likewise maliciously represented to the People the severe proceedings against the Papists in England All things being in a readiness they proceeded to the Execution of this Damnable Contrivance but their proceeding therein was various some
was never in arms yet he was prepared for death esteeming himself most happy to sâ—ffer for the name of Jesus Christ At length the Monks and Friers found out Judges though many refused to be concerned who were willing enough to condemn him to death The day he was executed his Sentence was pronounced in the presence of many Monks which he received with a Christian resignation without any emotion fear or trouble in his countenance The Monks would not leave him though he oft desired them but accompanied him to the Scaffold where he made an excellent Prayer and died so edifying a Death that they themselves were forced to avouch he died like a Saint In fine all the Heathenish and Popish Barbarities of former Ages were revived and acted over again upon these blessed Martyrs that it is scarce possible to believe those who bear the name of Christians should be so inhumane whereby above Eight Thousand Persons have expired and a multitude more even all the Protestant Inhabitants of those once flourishing Valleys of Piedmont driven into banishment though kindly received by the Switzers and those of Genevâ— who with Christian compassion treated them with all manner of kindess and tenderness Let us all who have been so lately delivered from the like treatment which was designed for us never forget so wonderful a Salvation but be truly thankful to God and our most gracious King and Queen whom the Almighty hath been pleased to make the glorious Instruments of our redemption from Popery and Slavery To which let all good Protestants and Englishmen say Amen Gods Judgments upon Popish Persecutors discovered in some eminent Examples 1. FRom the First plantation of the Christian Religion in this Nation under King Lucius there was never any King or Queen of England in whose Reign so much Christian blood was spilt as in four years space during the Reign of Queen Mary But as she was prodigal of the Lives of the best of her Subjects and a Persecutor of the Gospel so it pleased God to follow her with Plagues and Judgments all her life for nothing prospered which she took in hand of which we shall give some few Instances The fairest and greatest Ship she had called the Great Harry was burnt by Lightning from Heaven the Christian World at that time not affording such another Then she would needs marry Philip King of Spain thereby Subjecting England to Strangers yet with her utmost endeavour she could never set the English Crown on his head Then did she attempt the Restitution of Abby Lands and had all the assistance that the Pope could give her therein yet she was utterly crost also in that Design Then she lost Calice in France which had been in the possesion of the English during the Reign of eleven Kings that is from the Reign of King Edward the third with which loss she was so afflicted that she told some of her Courtiers If they opened her body when she was dead they would find Calice written in her heart She was reported to be with Child but it came to nothing Her beloved Husband left her in whom she placed her greatest felicity and content So that now she could neither enjoy him nor marry another About the same time the Land was grievously afflicted with horrible Tempests Famines Plagues mortal Diseases and burning Agues so that between October and December there died seven Aldermen in London that had been Lord Mayors and the mortality was so great that much Corn was lost in the Fields for want of men to gather it whereby great scarcity ensued and many poor people lived upon Accorns And lastly she was struck with a lingring and pining sickness whereof she died having only reigned Five years and Five monthâ— a shorter time than any of the Kings of England enjoyed since the Conquest Richard the Third only excepted 2. In the next place let us consider Gods Judgments upon some other Instruments of Cruelty and among the rest Stephen Gardiner who was a most Cruel Persecutor of the Protestants In King Heary the Eighths time he was a great stickler for the divorce from the Lally Katherine of Spain and was therefore made Bishop of Winchester In King Edward the sixths time he seemed a Friend to the Gospel and preached it up but in Queen Mary's days he was the greatest and most inveterate enemy against it and the professor thereof and continued so to his dying day For the same day that Bishop Ridley and Bishop Latimer were burnt at Oxford the old Duke of Norfolk came to dine with Gardiner The Bishop deferred his Dinner till about four a Clock in the Afternoon at which time came one of his Servants posting to tell him that fire was put to these Servants of God which when he was certified of he came out rejoyeing to the Duke and said Now let us go to dinner The Table was presently set and the Bishop began to eat merrily but as soon as he had earen a few bits he was on a sudden struck very sick and being carried from the Table to Bed he there continued in such intolerable Anguish and Torment that he could void nothing either by Stool or Urine His Tongue was black and swoln so big that his mouth could not contain it and his body violently Inflamed In this sad condition he lay fifteen days and then ended his miserable life In the beginning of his sickness Dr. Day Bishop of Chichester coming to see him began to speak to him about the merciful Promises of God and free Justification by the blood of Christ To whom he answered What my Lord will you open that gap now then farewell all together Open this window to the People and farewell all together And being by another Person put in mine of St. Peters denying his Master and that he ought not to despair He answered I have denied Christ with Peter but I never repented with Peter 3. Bloody Bonner though he died in his bed yet lay under the Spiritual Judgment of Impenitency and as he had been a Persecutor of the Light and a Child of Darkness so in darkness and at midnight his Carkass was tumbled into the Earth And as himself had been a Murderer so was he laid among Thieves and Murderers a place by Gods Judgment fitly appointed for him 4. Dr. Whittington Chancellor having condemned a Godly Religious woman to be Burnt at Chipping Sadbury a multitude of People came to see her Suffer and among the rest Whittington himself At the same time there was a Butcher in another place of the Town killing a Bull who was fast bound with a Rope ready to be knockt on the head the Butcher missing his stroke the Bull broke loose just as the people were coming from the Execution of this Holy Martyr the people seeing him coming severed themselves and made a Lane for him the Bull passed through them without hurting man woman or child till he came to the place where Whittington was against