Providence His delivery His death At Amiens Bibles burnt At Abbevilly At Meaux Abominable villanies At Troys Bibles burnt At Bar. Popish cruelty At Crant At Sens. At Auxerre At Nevers At Chastillon At Guyen At Montargis A brave answer of the Lady Rene. At Monlius At Mans. At Anger 's Bibles burnt Horrible blasphemies Popish perfidiousnesse A bloody Edict In Ligueul John de Tour. At Tours Barbarous cruelties Popish subtilty The Mother and her daughter drowned Glee Vincit veritâ—â— Joy in tribulation Tentation resisted Faith Her Martyrdome Ponteou de Mer Impudence Marliorat hanged At Valougnes Monsieur Valougnes Popish profaneness and blasphemy At Vire At Agen. At Reime At Blâ—is Blasphemy A miracle In Guillac Horrid cruelties Peter Domo Popish perfidiousnesse In Souraize Prodigious villanies Blasphemy Faith and patience Faith A special Providence Peter Roch buried quick Two crowned with thorns Janetta Calvin At Mont de Marson In Tholouse Horrible cruelties Popish perfidiousness Carcasson Popish lies At Limox Abominable villany At Nonnay Blasphemy Barbarous cruelties At Foix. At Aurange Horrible cruelties Perfidiousness At Grenoble At Cisterno At Beaune At Mascon Bonnet Bor a godly Minister Barbarous cruelty Courage and constancy His martyrdome See this more fully in the life of the Admiral at the end of this book Divellish dissimulation Sin the forerunner of persecution The Queen of Navar dieth Dissimulation The K. of Navar married The Admiral shot Dissimulation Good counsel neglected Deep dissimulation The Massacre suspected The Kings Commission shewed for it The Massacre begins Of Merlins miraculous escape see in my book of Examples The Admiral slain His head imbalmed and sent to the Pope Popish cruelty Ten thousand slain in Paris Popish lies The river died red with blood Prince of Conde's zeal and courage Divellish dissimulation Above thirty thousand massacred in three moneths The Lord de la Place hâ—s holy zeal The Lord de la Place murthered Peter Ramus murthered A dutiful and loving son Two Ministers murthered Hellish cruelty An Infant murthered At Meaux Two hundred Protestants murthered At Troys Gods Providence Prodigious wickednesse and cruelty Courage and constancy of Gods people The Massacre at Orleance A Noble Counsellor Monstrous ingratitude Blasphemy A Doctor of the Law An Apothecary A Cook The reward of Apostates The patience of the Saints Gods providence Popish malice and cruelty Three hundred and fifty murthered Francis de Bossu and his two sons The father encourageth his sons to die Prodigious cruelty Their grease is sold. The murtherers absolved At Angiers Hypocrisie A Minister murthered A godly Minister pistolled And his wife murthered At Roan six thousand murthered At Tholouse Popish subtilty And cruelty Three hundred murthered At Bourdeaux A special Providence A bloody Jesuite The Lord of Obiers murthered and a Minister An holy speech Gods providence Gods care of his people A special Providence A terrible Famine Two executed for eating part of their own daughter A remarkable story A wicked oath An admirable Providence Gods judgement on a bloody Persecutor A famine An extraordinary Providence Rochel delivered Gods judgements on Persecutors Gods judgement on the Duke of Aâ—jou see in my book of Examples The Kings sicknesse and death Anger implacable Rochel besieged Anno 1628 A terible famine Margaret Pierrone Tentation She chooses to be burnt rather than to burne her Bible Popish treachery Cruelty A Noble Gentleman murthered Christ preferred before all Protestants murthered at Church At Sondres Popish treachery A special Providence A noble Lady Courage and constancy Faith A special Providence Horrible cruelties Dominico Berto Barbarous cruelty A special providence Theophilus Messino Constancy Tentation resisted Prodigious cruelties A noble Virgin An excellent speech A wicked Edict Popish perfidiousnesse Courage and constancy Patrick Hamilton Zeale Popish subtilty His condemnation Constancy His Martyrdome Gods judgement on a persecutor David Straton Norman Gourlay Stratons conversion His prayer Tentation resisted Thomas Forret Grosse ignorance His martyrdom Jerome Russel Alexander Kennedy Humane infirmity Joy in tribulation Their condemnation and martyrdome Popish cruelty John Rogers His Character His charity A special providence Popisâ— malice A Prophesie He goeth into the West He is opposed by the Bishop The power of the Word His Prohesie accomplished His second coming to Dundee Charity He is in danger of being murthered Gods Providence He preserves the murtherer He goes to Montrosse Meditation Popish malice A Prophesie His fervent Prayer in the night A Prophesie He comes to Leith Faith and Courage Hiâ— departvre from Leith Popish malice A Prophesie He goes to Haddington John Knox See his liâ—e in my first part A Prophesie His apprehension by Bothwell Bothwels promise He is carried to Edenburgh Bothwel falsifies his promise He is carried to St. Andrews His accusation His patience His Prayer Popish subtilty He administreth the Sacrament The Cardinals feare His Prayer at death His exhortation to the People He prayes for his Persecutors A Prophesie The Cardinals pride and carnal confidence The Castle surprized Popish uncleannesse The Cardinal slain Adam Wallace His accusation The Ministers work His Martyrdome Henry Forrest Popish perfidiousnesse His Martyrdome Walter Mill. Popish uncleanness His speech at death His Martyrdome Popish malice Popish lyes The malice against the English Popish malice and cruelty Popish perfidiousnesse Prodigious cruelties Many starved and stripâ— Horrible murthers Popish perfidiousness An Irish Monster Multitudes drowned Popish treachery A just reward Prodigious cruelties They deny them liberty to pray Some buried alive Some were hung upon tenter-hooks Blasphemy Many had their bellies ript Children had their brains dashed out Many burned Some perish by famine Unnatural cruelties Children kill English children Some boiled in Cauldrons Some had their eyes pulled out Prodigious cruelties Bibles burnt Blasphemies Aposttaes murthered Constancy and Courage Gods judgements on Persecutors Popish perfidousnesse Many knocked on the head A boy murthered by his Master Berbarous cruelty and impudence Many drowned They made candles of their grease Prodigious cruelties Popish uncleannesse Their cruelty to the cattel Henry Cowel Constancy Robert Ecklin A childs constancy Childrens beastly cruelty Popish uncleannesse Monstrous câ—ueâ—ty to a boy Many burnt One hundred and fifty thousand murtheâ—red in Ulster Gods judgements on persecutors Boys and women murderers Souldiers hanged Constancy Popish perfidiousnesse Gods judgements on Persecutors Some worried with dogs The Munster Remonstrance Gods judgements on Persecutors Apparitions at Portendown Bâ—idge A Miracle An Edict in favour of the Protestants A cruel Edict The Elector Palatine intercedes for them They are cruelâ—y dealt with Gods Providence for them King of France intercede for them Popish malice Gods mercy The Duke favours them Satans malicâ— Popish subtilty prevented Courage and Constancy They are favoured but again molested They are encouraged Their prudence Satans policy Dissembling Hypocrites They are confuted Popish policy Persecution renewed Gods Providence Gods mercy The massacre of Paris A special providence The Dukes letter to draw them to Popery Their answer A cruel Edict Popish subtâ—â—ty Courage and constancy They are banished Popish subtilty They are forced to flie They are forced to flie Popish subtilty Popish subtilty Humane frailty Repentance Reason why they persecuted the Protestants A bloody Order Popish cruelty They go into banishment Constancy Popish cruelty Popish dissimulation Popish injustice Popish subtilty Popish cruelty The Protestants defend themselves Popish subtilty Barbarous cruelty Women tipt up Base cruelty Horrid cruelty Courage and Constancy Popish subtilty and perfidiousnesse A special Providence Gods Judgements on persecutors Many Irish slaine A special Providence His Charactea A special Providence
nihilo tamen meliorem se Christianis praebens Christi nomen prae se ferens Christum mentiebatur Miletius Bishop of Antioch he banished to Armenia Eusebius Bishop of Samosata to Thrace Pelagius Bishop of Laodicea to Arabia He was exceedingly filled with wrath against the Bishops assembled in the Counsel of Lampsacum because they adhered to the Nicene faith In Constantinople he banished all the Orthodox In Edissa he commanded them all to be slain as they were assembled together in the Church The Lieutenant that had received this charge from him being more mercifull then his Master gave private notice to the Christians that they should not assemble at that time but they neither regarding his advice nor fearing his threats flocked to the Church in great companies and whilst the Lieutenant with many armed souldiers hasted thitherward to fulfill the Emperors command a woman leading a child in her hand all in haste brake the ranks and thrust into the armed troops the Lieutenant being moved therewith called the woman before him saying Thou fond and unfortunate woman whither runnest thou so rashly Thither said she whither others hasten Hast thou not heard said he that the Lieutenant will slay as many as he finds there I heard it said she and therefore I make the more haste to the place But whether said he leadest thou this child That he also said she may be accounted in the number of Martyrs Hereupon the Lieutenant returned back to the Emperor and told him that all the Christians from the highest to the lowest prepared themselves to die in the defence of their faith and withal he shewed him what a rash thing it was to murder so great a multitude c. and so with his reasons perswaded the Emperour that he appeased his wrath and prevented the mischief at that time In Constantinople the Arrians favoured by the Emperor crowed insolently over the Christians they scourged reviled imprisoned amerced and laid upon them all the intollerable burthens they could devise Hereupon eighty godly Ministers in the name of all the rest addressed themselves to the Emperour complaning of the out-rages that were done to them craving some relief But this cruel Tyrant commanded Modestus the General of his Army to embark them all in a ship as if he would have sent them into banishment but secretly he gave direction to the Marriners to set the ship on fire and to retire themselves into a boat and so these holy Martyrs glorified the Name of Christ by patient suffering of a double death burning and drowning In all the Eastern parts he tormented many with sundry sorts of grievous torments put many to death drowned many in the sea and in rivers About this time he consulted with Necromancers to know who should succeed him in the Empire The devil answered ambiguously that his name should begin with Th. Whereupon he put to death as many as were called Theodorus Theodotus Theadosius or Theodulus Athanasius being dead at Alexandria there succeeded him a godly and holy man named Peter but the Emperour presently sent souldiers which clapt him in prison and the rest of the Ministers were banished some to one place some to another After this he sent forth an Edict for the persecuting of all the Orthodox in Egypt Whereupon many were stript of their raiment scourged fettered in prisons crushed in pieces with stones beheaded driven into deserts where they wandred in sheeps-skins and goats-skins destitute of aid and succour Many hid themselves in mountains in dens caves and hollow rocks Terentins and Trajan two worthy Captains used some liberty in admonishing the Emperour to abstain from persecuting of the innocent but the Lord was minded to destroy him and therefore he could receive no wholesome admonition For many of the Goths whom he entertained as souldiers to assist him against his enemies turned against himself so that he fled and was overtaken in a village which the Goths set on fire whereby he died miserably leaving none to succeed him and his name a curse and execration to all ages Collected out of Magd. Hist. Socrates and Theod. The Persecution by the Donatists ABout the year of our Lord 410. there sprang up in Africk the Donatists and Circumcellions who first made a great Schism in the Church and afterwards raised up a great persecution against the Orthodox concerning which St Austine complains in sundry places And in his 50. Epistle to Earl Boniface he thus writes of it In hoc labore multi Catholici maxime Episcopi Clerici horrenda dura perpessi sunt quae commemorare longum eâ—t c. In this disturbance the Orthodox especially the Bishops and Ministers suffered hard and horrible things the particulars whereof are long to recite for some of them had their eies put out Some Bishops had their hands and tongues cut off and some were slain out-right To speak nothing of the cruel slaughter of others that were sound and sincere of the plundering of their houses of the out-ragious burning not only of their private habitations but of their Churches also yea so vile and violent were they that they sticked not to burn the sacred Scriptures Optatus in his second book tells us that when Julian the Apostate came to the Empire the Donatists preferred a petition to him wherein they desired leave to return to their places in Africk from whence formerly they had been banished Julian knowing what furious and turbulent spirits they were of and how prejudicial their Return would be to the Catholick Church easily assented to their petition and so they returned full fraught with malice and revenge and presently imployed all their abilities partly by subtilty to seduce the common people partly by violence to oppress the Orthodox Bishops and Ministers of whom some they thrust out of their Churches others they slew Some of their chief Bishops taking armed souldiers with them went to the Castle of Lemella where finding the Church shut against them they commanded their attendance to get upon it to uncover the roof and so having broken into it they set upon some Deacons whom they found there wounded some and slew two of them outright In all places where they came they profaned all holy things The Sacramentall bread they threw to their dogs but behold the just judgement of God against these profane schismaticks those very dogs shortly after running mad fell upon their own Masters and tore them in pieces Virgins they defloured and wives they defiled So usual a thing it is for those which adulterate the holy truths of God to be given over to corporal uncleanness These furious persons dispersed themselves all over Africk and would not suffer the Orthodox to preach the truth against their Errors By their violent assaults thieveries rapines burnings and murthers they destroyed many and afrighted all c. CHAP. XX. The Persecution of the Church in Africk by
and Tailleret The lesser part went towards Villars the people seeing their enemies approaching called upon God with fervent prayer then set upon their enemies slew some hurt others and the rest fled The other company going towards Tailleret they of that place were but few in number yet making their prayers to God and commending their cause to him they set valiantly upon their enemies during which bickering they of Villars encouraged by their late success came to help their friends and set so lustily upon their enemies that they put them to flight but in the pursuit of them they fell into an ambush and were environed by their enemies yet through Gods mercy they all escaped without the losse of one man on the enemies side there were so many slain that they were laid together by whole Cart-loads Another party of the enemies going to spoil a rich mans house some of his neighbours not being above seventy set upon them put them to flight took away their Drum and recovered their booty from them Then did the Lord of Trinity send to them telling them how much the Duke and his Dutchesse favoured them and promised himselfe to mediate for them that they might live in peace But whilest by these pretences he sought to make them secure he sent part of his Army to get the hill of Tailleret and another part had already gotten the way that led to the meddow of Tour whereby the Angrognians might have been easily enclosed but they perceiving it immediatly sent some to encounter with their enemies who gat the victory pursued them to their camp and slew very many of them without the losse of one man The Lord of Trinity cunningly excused this attempt and sent to them to draw up a supplication to the Duke which was accordingly done wherein they promised to render all honour and reverence unto God according to his Word and all due obedience to the Duk c. But in the mean time Trinity grievously vexed them of Tailleret upon pretence that they had not presented themselves to treat of this agreement taking their arms from them and causing them to ask pardon on their knees But presently after news was brought them that the enemies had gotten to the top of the mountaine and had taken all the passages whereat they were sore amazed and ran with all speed to defend their wives and children some they saved but the most of their goods were already in the enemies hands who at this time did them much mischiefe Yet after this the Lord of Trinity sent word again to them that were fled that if they would return he would receive them to mercy The poor people most of them trusting to his promise returned but the next morning the enemies came to apprehend them and their Ministers besetting the place on every side Then they that were swift of foot escaped all the rest were taken yet God miraculously delivered them for an old man that could not run so fast as the other was espied by a souldier who ran with a naked sword to have slain him the old man seeing the iminent danger caught him by the legs overthrew him and drew him by the heels down the hill the souldier cryed Help help this villain will kill me hereupon his fellows ran to his rescue but in the mean time the old man escaped and the rest seeing what the old man had done though they had lost their weapons yet took heart of grass and with stones and slings drave away their enemies and thereby they all escaped The next day the souldiers went again to Tailleret robbing spoiling and carrying away all that they could find but most of the people were retired towards Villars Then did the souldiers range all about and took divers prisoners whom they used cruelly and one souldier bit off one of their ears saying I will carry the flesh of this wicked Heretick with me into my Country They found also two women the mother and the daughter in a cave whom they wounded to death and in another cave an old man of an hundred years old with his grand-daughter of eighteen years old that fed him the man they slew the maid they would have ravished who flying from them tumbled down the mountains and died About the same time there was one John Martin that made his boasts every where that if he could meet with the Minister of Angrogne he would slit his nose but shortly after a wolf met him and setting upon him bit off his nose whereupon he ran mad and died miserably A certain souldier promised the Lord of Trinity to bring to him the Minister of Tailleret and accordingly never ceased till he found him but as he was pursuing of him some out of the mountains rescued the Minister and slew the souldier with stones These souldiers were so extream abusive to women that many Papists that lived by sent their daughters into the mountains to the Waldenses to preserve their chastity Then did the Lord of Trinity promise that if they would pay him eight thousand Crowns he would with-draw his Army and be gone They being desirous of Peace sold their Cattel to raise the money but when he had received it he continued his Army there still Then did the Lord of Trinity require them to send away their Ministers till the matter were determined before the Duke or else by his Army he would force them to it whereupon by mutual consent they agreed that the Ministers should with-draw for the present till the Army was retired which was not done without great sighs and lamentations and tears At that time there fell an extraordinary snow so that the people with great difficulty were fain to make way for their Ministers to pass But the Army hearing that the Ministers were gathered together they sent out a company of harquebushers to apprehend them who came but one hour too late to have taken them Then did they search every cave house and chest to seek them whereby they robbed the poor people of all their best things Then did they beset the Ministers house of Angrogne to whom the Lord of Trinity had promised safety but it pleased God that he escaped the souldiers pursued him into the mountains but could not overtake him whereupon they plundred his house burnt his books and writings and so returned The next morning command was given to the Rulers of Angrogne within twenty four hours to deliver up their Minister or else Angrogne should be put to fire and sword They answered that they knew not where he was for the souldiers had driven him over the mountains Then did the souldiers burn houses break the mils spoil the people and do all the mischief they could and so departed The Lord of Trinity left Garisons in the Fortresses and caused the poor Waldenses to maintain them who not content with their wages pillaged and robbed all about them and
neither young nor old Other souldiers that ransacked the houses found many poor persons who had hid themselves in secret places whom they flew upon crying Kill kill the souldiers without the Town killed all they could meet with so that above a thousand men women and children were slain in this place Many persons which were escaped into the mountains sent by some that had most interest in Miniers to desire him to give them leave to go whither the Lord should please to leade them with their wives and children though they had nothing but the shirts on their backs to whom he answered thaâ— he knew what he had to do he would send them to dwell in hell amongst the devils Then did he send part of his Army unto Costa which they overcame and committed there great slaughter Many of the inhabitants fled into an Orchard where the souldiers ravished many women and maidens and having kept them there a day and a night they used them so beastly that the women with childe and younger maidens died presently after Many of these Merindolians hid themselves in rocks and dark caves where some were famished others were choaked with fire and smoak set to their caves mouths Many more were the outrages and cruelties which this wicked Opede committed but the Lord found him out at last striking him with a strang kinde of bleeding at the lower parts neither was he able to void any urine so that by degrees his guts rotted within him No remedy could be found for this terrible disease worms bred in his bowels which continually gnawed him Then did he send to Arles for a famous Chyrurgion who cured him of his difficulty to make water after which desiring all to depart the room the chyrurgion in private exhorted him to repent of his former cruelty and bloud-shed telling him that this his strange bleeding was Gods just hand upon him for shedding so much innocent bloud But these words pierced the impure conscience of this wicked wretch and more troubled him then the torments of his disease so that he cryed out to lay hands on the Chirurgion as an Heretick Whereupon he conveyed himself away and returned to Arles Yet not long after he was sent for again and great promises were made for his security But when he came back he found Miniers past cure raging and casting out most horrible blasphemous words feeling a fire within him which burnt him from the navel upwards which was accompanied with extream stink of his lower parts and so he ended his wretched life In the beginning of this Persecution there was one John de Româ— a Monk who gat a Commission to examine those whom he suspected to be Hereticks whereupon he afflicted the faithfull with all kindes of cruelty Amongst other horrible torments that he used this was one he filled boots with boiling grease and put them upon their legs tying them backwards over a form and their legs hanging down over a soft fire Thus he tormented very many and in the end most cruelly put them to death Francis the French King being informed of the hellish cruelty of this wicked Monk sent to his Parliament at Provence that they should apprehend and condemn him but he being informed of it fled to Avignion where he hoped to enjoy all that wealth which so mercilesly and unjustly he had extorted from the poor Christians But shortly after he was robbed of all that he had by his own servants and then he fell sick of a most horrible and strange disease unknown to the Physitians He was intollerably tormented with pains all over his body so that no means could give him ease for one minute of an hour neither was their any man that could tarry near him no not of his nearest friends so great was the stink that came from him Then was he removed to an Hospital but the stink and infection so encreased that no man durst come near him no nor he himself was able to abide the horrible stink of his own body full of ulcers and sores and smarwing with vermine and so rotten that the flesh fell from the bones by piece-meal In these torments he often cried out in great rage O who will deliver me VVho will kill and rid me out of these intollerable paines which I know I suffer for the oppressions which I did to the poor men Oft-times he himself endeavoured to destroy himself but he had not the power In this horrible anguish and fearful despair he miserably ended his accursed life When he was dead no man would come near to bury him till at last a young novice caught hold of his stinking carcase with an iron hook and so dragged him into an hole that was made for him In the time of this Persecution the Bishop of Aix with some other Bishops and their courtizans walking along the streets of Avignion saw a man selling baudy Images and Pictures with filthy rimes and ballades annexed to them All these goodly Pictures the Bishops bought up When they had gon a little further there was a Book-seller that had set to sale certain Bibles in French which the Prelates were greatly moved at saying to him Dar'st thou be so bold as to sell such merchandise in this Town The Book-seller replied Is not the holy Bible as good as these goodly Pictures that you have bought for these gentle-women Then said the Bishop of Aix I renounce my part in Paradise if this fellow be not a Lutheran take him away to prison Then did his attendants cry out A Lutheran a Lutheran To the fire with him to the fire with him and one gave him a blow with his fist another pulled him by the hair another by the beard so that the poor man was all imbrued in bloud before he came to prison The next day he was brought before the Judge where by the instigation of the Bishops he was condemned to be burned the same day and so was carried to the fire with two Bibles about his neck one before and another behinde where he made a most Christian end The Waldenses were dispersed also into several other Countries as Bohemia Austria Germany Flanders England Poland Italy Spain Dalmatia Croatia Sclavonia Grecia Philadelphia Livonia Sarmatia Bulgaria c. In all which places at one time or other they suffered persecutions concerning which there is not much left upon Record and something will be spoken again of it in other places of this book and therefore this may suffice for the present CHAP. XXIV The Persecution of the Albingenses THese were the same with the Waldenses differing only in name from their habitation in the Country of Albi. Divers of Waldo's disciples going into this Country and amongst them one Arnold from whom they were called Arnoldists laboured with so good successe that in a short time there was scarce any found that would go to Masse Pope Alexander the third was much moved to anger when he saw
over other Churches sought to obtrude his superstitions upon the Bohemians also but especially he commanded that all their sacred service should be in the Latine tongue and that they should not have the cup in the Sacrament the Bohemians sent two Ministers and four others to Rome Anno 977. to the Pope desiring to be eased of these grievances and at last obtained their request Yet afterwards they were againe inhibited the use of their own language in holy services whereupon Urateslaus Duke of Bohemia who shortly after for his valiant service to the Roman Empire was created King sent Embassadors to Rome requesting a confirmation of the Liberties formerly granted to them but the Pope Hildebrand absolutely refused it Anno 1197. Pope Celestine sent a Cardinall into Bohemia to inhibit Ministers marriage and to divorce such as were married but the Bishop and Ministers almost stoned him to death Also when afterwards the cup was taken away in the Sacrament there were many that opposed that sacriledg and amongst the rest John Melicius of a noble family and fervent spirit much honoured for his rare learning and holinesse of life in his ministry he earnestly exhorted his auditors to a frequent communicating in both kindes at last he was much moved in spirit to go to Rome and there to testifie that the great Antichrist was come and did then reign He prayed unto God with fasting and teares desiring that unlesse these thoughts came from Gods Spirit he might be delivered from them but when yet he could finde no inward quiet he went to Rome and wrote upon the Cardinals doors Antichrist is come and sitteth in the Church He also in his conferences with many asserted the same For this the Pope imprisoned him and excommunicated both him and his auditors Mr. Mathias of Prague also was a zealous defender of the Communion in both kindes Anno 1375. He with some other learned men went to King Charles that then raigned requested him to call a Oecumenicall Counsel for the reformation of the Church Charles sending to the Pope about it he was so incensed at the message that he commanded the King to punish those rash and Hereticall men Whereupon Mathias was banished the Kingdom and then was the use of the Sacrament in both kindes prohibited through all Bohemia so that the godly could not administer and receive it but in private houses in woods and caves and yet neither so but with the hazard of their lives for they were set upon in the high-waies plundred beaten and drowned in rivers so that at last they were necessitated to go together in companies and armed and this continued to the daies of John Husse Concerning the persecution of John Husse and Jerome of Prague See in my first part their lives But when these holy men of God were so unjustly burned at Constance the adversaries were not satisfied with their bloud but took further counsell for the destruction of the whole Nation for when fifty eight of the chief Nobles of Bohemia in the name of all the Commons Anno 1416. had sent Letters from Prague to the Council complaining that their Pastor an innocent and holy man and faithful teacher of the truth was unjustly condemned the Council instead of answering them wrote their Letters to some violent Papists who were in authority to assist their Legate in oppressing the Hereticks Thus the Bohemians were incited more and more to mutuall contentions the Priests daily from the Pulpits divulged their excomunications and execrations against the Hussites and to stir up the greater hatred against them they used lying signs for putting dirt about the wicks of their Tapers when the flame had burned the wax to the dirt the Taper went out Then cried they out That God by miracles declared his hatred of those wicked Hereticks who were unworthy to enjoy the light and thereupon they persecuted them all manner of waies and they used such violence as raised a tumult at Prague Anno 1419. wherein the enraged multitude threw twelve Senators of Prague with the Maior out of the windows of the Senate-house who fell upon the points of spears After this the Pope publikely excommunicated the Bohemians at Florence exciting the Emperour Kings Princes Dukes c. to take up Arms against them entreating them by the wounds of Christ and their own salvation unanimously to fall upon them utterly to extirpate that cursed generation promising universal remission of sins to the most wicked person if he did but kill one Bohemian Hereupon great wars were raised against them but it pleased God still to give them the victory under that brave Captain Zisca Whereof see more in my second Part in Zisca's Life Yet still as the Popish party prevailed at any time they exercised all manner of cruelty upon the poor servants of Christ insomuch that at Cuttenburg where were deep mettall-mines Anno 1420. they threw into one of them a thousand and seven hundred persons and into another a thousand thirty eight and into a third a thousand three hundred thirty four persons Also a Merchant of Prague coming to Preslaw in Silesia the Emperour and Popes Legate being their was in his Inne drawn into discourse where pleading for Husse and the Sacrament in both kindes he was cast into prison the next day a Student of Prague was cast into the same prison The Merchant exceedingly encouraged him saying Oh my Brother What an honour is it that we are called thus to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Let us undergo the trouble with cheerfullnesse the fight is but short the reward is eternall Let us remember the Lord what a cruel death he under went for us and with what guiltlesse bloud we are redeemed and what torments the Martyrs have patiently endured c. But when they were brought to execution and the ropes by which the horses were to drag them through the streets were fastened to their feet the Student affrighted with the terrors of death and allured by the fair promises of the Legate recanted But the Merchant like an unshaken rock told them that their hopes of any recantation from him were but vain I am ready to die saith he for the Gospell of the Lord Jesus And so being drawne slowly through the streets he was brought to the place of execution and there burnt Anno 2420. Pichel the chief Magistrate of the City of Litomeritia having taken twenty four of the chief Citizens and amongst them his son in law put them in an high Tower and at last he brought them out half dead with hunger and cold and adjudged them to be drowned When they came to the river Albis their wives children and friends greatly mourning the Majors own daughter came wringing her hands and falling at her fathers feet beseeched him to save her husbands life but he harder then a rock bad her give over saying What can you not have a worthier husband
most of the Ministers were turned out of their places so that they durst not preach nor pray but in private And a certaine Noble man having apprehended six of the Brethren cast them into prison and when they were brought forth to be burnt they went chearfully to the fire and when the chief officer taking affection to one of them offered him his life if he would recant his error profering him withall to give him a years time to consider of it he pawsed a while but by and by answered It is too much by such a delay to lose my Brethrens company and so going along with them they were burned together Shortly after the Chancellor that had procured the passing of the Edict against the Brethren as he returned from the Parliament visiting a certaine Noble man by the way he with great pleasure reported to him what was agreed upon against the brethren The Noble man having a servant by that was much edicted to the discipline of the Brethren asked him how he liked it the servant answered that all were not agreed The Chancellor suspecting some new conspiracy asked him who durst oppose the States of the Kingdom c the servant said In heaven there is one who if he were not present at your counsels you have consulted in vain The Chancellor replied Thou knave thou shalt finde that as well as the rest And rising up in fury immediately a Carbuncle rose upon his foot which turned to a disease called Ignis sacer whereof he died miserably Another of the great sticklers in this businesse returning homewards as he was a lighting out of his Chariot to make water he struck his member on a sharp nail that was in the boot whereby he drew out his entrails with him and not long after he gave up the ghost Also D· Augustine who by slanderous libels had endeavoured to stirre up the King against the Brethren died suddenly as he was at supper Another Noble man of these persecutors as he was hunting his horse threw him and his arrow ran into his thigh and came out at his loins whereby he died a most paineful death Many others of them felt the like judgements of God so that it grew into a proverbe amongst them If you be weary of your life attempt something against the Piccards and you shall not escape a year to an end About this time God stirred up in Germany undaunted Luther the thunderbolt against the Pope which occasioned many of the Calixtines to resolve to embrace the purer Doctrine of the Gospel and to seek for the Ordination of their Ministers from Wittenberg rather then from Rome But amongst these there was one Zahere an Apostate who to ingratiate himselfe with the King and Pope would enforce the Pastors and Citizens of Prague to subscribe to sundry Articles or else they must be proscribed And first of all six Pastors were banished then sixty five of the chiefest Citizens Then to colour greater cruelty a rumour was spread abroad of a conspiracy made by the Brethren against the Calixtines and to extort a confession hereof three Citizens were brought to the rack who rather chose to suffer all torments then falsly to accuse the innocent Yet divers were persecuted Amongst others a Cutler that had found an Orthodox Book about the Sacraments was whipped openly in the market-place and banished Another was branded in the forehead a third was thrust into prison and there murthered Then in the Assembly of Estates it was decreed that the Mandate of the King should be put in execution against the Piccards Whereupon a new persecution was raised against the Brethren their Churches being shut up and their Exercises forbidden Anno 1526. A godly and learned man together with his Hostesse with whom he lodged a widow of sixty years old were both burnt in the fire for Picardism together with the books that were found about them Another godly woman being brought before the Magistrate made a hold profession of her faith and then being required to prepare her garments to be burnt in she answered They are ready leade me away when you please The Crier declaring openly that she had blaâ—phâ—med she with a loud voice denied it saying It is false I am condemned because I deny the Reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament give no credit to these Priests they are dissembling Hypâ—crites Adulterers Sodomites Epicures c. Being commanded to pray to the Crucifix she turned her back to it and lifting up her eyes to heaven she said There is our God thither we must look and so chearfully mounting the pile she was burned Anno Christi 1527. The year after two German tradesmen were caught at Prague accused by the Monks of Lutheranism and condemned to be burnt As they went to execution such gracious words proceeded out of their mouths as drew tears from the spectators eyes When they came to the pile they exceedingly encouraged one another onâ— of them saying Since our Lord Christ hath suffered such grievous things for us let us chearfully suffer for him and rejoyce that we have found so much favour with him that we are counted worthy to die for the Law of God The other said I in the day of my marriage found not so much inward joy as I do now When fire was put to them with a loud voice they said Lord Jesus thou in thy sufferings prayedst for thine enemies therefore we also do the like Forgive the King the men of Prague and the Clergy for they know not what they do and their hands are full of bloud and so they slept in the Lord. But one of their chief persecutors who wished that all the Piccards were hanged beheaded or burnt by his own hands had all these befall himself by Gods just judgement For being much in debt he hanged himself and when his friends had privately buried him the common people hearing of it digged up his carcasse and cast it away which by the Magistrates command was ordered to be burnt but when the woodstack was consumed and the carcasse only scorched his head was stricken off Zahera the Apostate when under colour of an Inquisition against the Piccards he raised up civil commotions was by the King banished where he died miserably The like befell another of those cruel persecutors Anno 1535. Ferdinand the first succeeding in the Kingdom the Popish party cunningly stirred up the Calixtines to persecute the Brethren Whereupon they suffering many grievous things sent a petition together with a confession of their Faith to Ferdinand at Vienna subscribed by twelve Barons and thirty three Knights complaining how unjustly they were accused by their enemies and that the Priests ordinarily cried out that the Piccards might be slain without controul and that a lesse sin was thereby committed than if one killed a dog Ferdinand returned answer that he had not leisure to consider of their Papers yet promised
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
trust in my God that he will graciously accept my contrite spirit When upon the Scaffold the Jesuites exhorted him he listned not to them but turned from the Crucifix and falling down on his knees he prayed softly Then looking up towards heaven he cried They can take away the body but they cannot take away the soul O Lord Jesus I commend that unto thee and so he ended his life being fifty six years old The next was an aged man about seventy years old that had been long lame his crime was that he had assisted Frederick with his counsel and wealth at the time of his death he said O Lord Jesus who being innocent didst undergo death grant that I may die the death of the righteous and receive my soul into thy hands The next was the Lord of Rugenia a man of excellent parts and full of zeal for God when he was iudged to die he said that it was more welcome to him then if the Emperour had given him life and restored him to his estate with addition of more afterwards he said to the Minister God is our witnesse that we fought for nothing but the Liberty of Religion and in that we are overcome and condemned to die we acknowledge and finde that God will not have his truth defended by our swords but by our bloud c. When he saw divers called out before him he said What is the matter my God thou knowest that I resign my self wholly unto thee Ah do not despise thy servant but make haste to take me away and when the Sheriff came for him he rejoyced and said Praised be my God that I shall now be taken out of the world that I may be with Christ and so he went to meet him On the Scaffold he comforted himself with that promise Father I will that where I am my servants may also be to behold that glory which thou gavest me Therefore said he I make haste to die that I may be with Christ and see his glory and so he suffered Martyrdom couragiously The next was Valentine Cockan of about sixty years old During his imprisonment he was full of heavenly discourse and at the Scaffold he said Grant me O God to passe through this valley of death that I may presently see thee for thou knowest my God that I have loved thy word bring me O God through the paths of life that I may see fulnesse of joy in thy presence and kneeling down he said into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit and so holily ended his life The next was Toby Steffick a man of a composed temper and sincere in Religion he spent most of the time of his imprisonment in silent sighs and tears Before his Execution he said I have received many good things of the Lord all my life long shall I not therefore receive this cup of affliction I imbrace the will of God who by this ignominious death makes me conformable to his son and by a narrow way brings me to his heavenly Kingdom I praise God who hath joyned me undeservedly to these excellent men that I might receive with them the crown of martyrdom When he was called to die he said My Saviour being about to die said Father not as I will but as thou wilt thy will be done Shall I therefore who am but a worm yea dust and a shadow contradict his will far be it from me yea I come willingly my God only have mercy on me and cleanse me from my sins that no spot or rinckle may appear in me but that I may appear pure in thy sight and so he lifted up himself full of sighs yet full of hope and as he was praying he rendered up his spirit unto God Then was Jessenius a Doctor of Phisick called forth a man famous for piety and learning all over Europe Having hard his sentence he said You use us too cruelly and disgracefully but know that our heads shall be buried which you ignominiously expose for a spectacle which afterwards came to passe Anno 1631. when the King of Sweden with his Army took prague and caused the Martyrs heads to be taken from the Tower and solemnly and honourably buried When the Hangman required his tongue to cut it off he willingly put it out and falling upon his knees as he was praying his head was cut off his body quartered and set upon four stakes The next was Christopher Chober who much encouraged his fellow-Martyrs and then cited the words of Ignatius I am Gods corn and shall be ground with the teeth of wilde beasts So we saith he are Gods corn sown in the field of the Church and that we may be for our Masters use we are now to be torn by beasts but be of good chear the Church is founded in bloud and hath ever encreased by bloud God is able to raise up a thousand worshippers of himself out of every drop of our bloud for though truth now suffers violence yet Christ reigns and no man shall throw him from his Throne Being called to execution he said I come in the name of my God neither am I ashamed to suffer these things for his glory for I know whom I have beleeved I have fought the good fight of faith and finished my course c. then praying into thy hands Lord I commend my spirit he received the Crown of Martyrdom John Shultis was next who on the Scaffold said Why art thou so sad O my soul Hope thou in God for thou shalt yet praise him c. The righteous seem to die in the eyes of fools but indeed they go to their rest Lord Jesus thou hast promised that whoso comes to thee thou willt not cast off Behold I now come look on me pity me pardon my sins and receive my soul to thy self then kneeling down he said Come come Lord Jesus and doe not tarry and so he was he headed The next was Maximillian Hostialick a learned and pious man after his condemnation he was sadder then the rest and being asked by the Minister the reason of it he said The sins of my youth doe now come into my minde for though I know that nothing remains to condemn them which are in Christ Jesus yet I know that God exerciseth justice as well as mercy towards his own Being called to death he said Look upon me O Lord my God and lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death and lest mine enemies say We have prevailed Afterward repeating the words of Simeon Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation he was beheaded The next was John Kutnaur who when the Jesuites began to speak to them said Pray you trouble not our consciences we are sufficiently furnished against the fear of death we need none of your help and when they would have proceeded
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
their sentence which is pronounced upon such as are to be burned they use this abominable hypocrisie They bequeath him to the secular power with this humble request to them to shew the Prisoner as much favour as may be and neither to break any bone nor pierce the skin of his body This shews their great impudence that having already given sentence on him to be burned they yet should pretend such mercy and clemency towards him whom all along themselves have used with such extream cruelty They use also this trick further that in reading the crimes for which he is condemned they do not only misreport such things as he confessed upon his examination but they devilishly father upon him such things as he never spake or thought of in all his life and this they do to disgrace him and to make him and his opinions more abhorred of all men and to encrease their own estimation and credit as being necessary officers to rid the world of such pestilent persons and all this while the Prisoners tongue hath a cleft piece of wood upon it to his intolerable pain and grief that he cannot answer for himself nor gainsay that they charge him with All these things being finished the Magistrate takes them into his hand and conveys them presently to the place of execution with divers instruments of Satan about them calling and crying to them to forsake the truth and when they cannot prevail after the Prisoner is tied to the stake they break his neck in a trice and then they report amongst the common people that they recanted their heresies at the last houre and so came home to the Church of Rome and therefore they felt no pain in the fire at all which made them take it so patiently Such as are not condemned to die are carried back to prison and the next day brought out to be whipt after which some of them are sent to the Gallies others kept in prison all their life time but all have this special charge given them that they never speak of any thing that they have heard seen or felt during their imprisonment in the Inquisition for if the contrary be ever proved against them and that they utter any of their secrets they shall be taken for persons relapsed and be punished with greatest severity their judgement being death without Redemption and hereby they keep in all their Knavery and Tyranny close and secret to themselves And if any of them be released because their faults were but small they are yet so careful lest their cruelty should come to light that they inhibit them the company or conference with any other than such as they shall appoint and allow them neither will they suffer them to write to any friend except they first have the perusing of their letters Sometimes also after they have imprisoned men in such a miserable state for a year or two and can extort nothing out of them by their torments nor prove any thing against them by witnesse so that they must necessarily dismisse them they then call them into the Court and begin to flatter them and tell them what a good opinion they have of them and that they are resolved to send them home for the which fatherly favour extended towards them in saving their lives goods they are to account themselves much beholding to their Lordships c. And so at last they dismisse him with special charge of silence and when he is gone they have special Spies abroad to see how he takes the matter and if they find that he complains of his punishments or discloses their secrets they presently commence a new suit against him On a time the Inquisitors at Sivill apprehended a noble Lady the cause was for that a Sister of hers a very vertuous Virgin who was afterwards burned for Religion had confessed in the extremity of her torments that she had sometimes had conference with this her sister about matters of Religion This Lady when she was first apprehended was gone with child about six months in respect whereof they did not shut her up so close at first nor deal so severely with her as they did with others But within foure dayes after she was brought to bed they took the child from her and the seventh day â—fter they shut her up in close prison and used her in all things as they did other Prisoners the only worldly comfort that she had in her misery was that they lodged her with a vertuous maiden that was her fellow-Prisoner for a time but afterwards burned at the stake This maid whilst they were together was carried to the rack and so sore strained and torn thereon that she was almost pulled in pieces then was she brought back and thrown upon a bed of flags that served them both to lie on the good Lady was not able to help her yet shewed singular tokens of love and compassion towards her The maid was scarce recovered when the Lady was carried out to be served with the same sauce and was so terribly tormented in the trough that by reason of the strait straining of the strings piercing to the very bones of her armes thighs and shins she was brought back half dead to her prison the blood gushing out of her mouth abundantly which shewed that something was broken within her but after eight dayes the Lord delivered her from these cruel Tygers by taking her mercifully to himself Upon one of their dayes of triumph there was brought out one John Pontio of a noble Family a zealous Professor of the truth and one of an holy and blamelesse life and well learned he was eminent also in works of charity in which he had spent a great part of his estate Being apprehended for the Profession of the Gospel he was cast into Prison where he manfully maintained the truth in the midst of all their cruel dealings with him At last they cast into prison to him one of their flyes who by his subtilty and craft so wrought upon him that he drew from him a promise to yield obedience to the Romish Church But though God suffered him to fall a while to shew him his frailty yet afterwards in much mercy he raised him up again with double strength to that which he had before and before his execution he manfully defended the truth against a subtil Friar The things which he was condemned for were these That he should say that from his heart he abhorred the idolatry which was committed in worshipping the Host That he removed his houshold from place to place that he might shun coming to the Masse That the Justification of a Christian resteth only in the merits of Jesus Christ apprehended by faith c. That there was no Purgatory That the Popes pardons were of no value c. And for my self saith he I am not only willing but desirous to die and ready to suffer any
punishment for the truth which I have professed I esteem not of this world nor the treasures of it more than for my necessary uses and the rest to bestow in the propagation and maintenance of the Gospel And I beseech God daily upon my knees for my wife and children that they may all continue in this quarrel even to the death And when he came to his execution he patiently and comfortably slept in the Lord. At the same time there was also brought forth one John Gonsalvo formerly a Priest but by his diligent study of the Scripture it pleased God to reveal his truth to him so that he became a zealous Preacher of it labouring in all his Sermons to beat into mens minds the true way and means of our Justification to consist in Christ alone and in stedfast faith in him for which he was apprehended and cast into prison where he endured all their cruely with a Christian courage At last with two of his Sisters he was condemned His mother and one of his brothers were also imprisoned with him for the truth and executed shortly after When he with his sisters went out at the Castle gate having his tongue at liberty he began to sing the 106. Psalm before all the People who had oft heard him make many godly Sermons He also condemned all hypocrites as the worst sort of People Whereupon they stocked his tongue Upon the stage he never changed countenance nor was at all daunted When they all came to the stake they had their tongues loosed and were commanded to say their Creed which they did chearfully when they came to those words The holy Catholick Church They were commanded to adde Of Rome but that they all refused whereupon their necks were broken in a trice and then 't was noised abroad that they had added those words and died confessing the Church of Rome to be the true Catholick Church There was in Sivil a private Congregation of Gods people most of which the Inquisitors consumed in the fire as they could discover any of them amongst others that were apprehended they took four women famous above the rest for their holy and godly conversation but especially the youngest of them who was not above one and twenty years old who by her diligent and frequent reading of the Scriptures and by conference with godly and learned men had attained to a very great measure of knowledge so that whilst she was in Prison she non-plus'd and put to shame many of those Friars that came to seduce her Another of these women was a grave Matron whose house was a School of vertue and a place where the Saints used to meet serve God day and night but the time being come wherein they were ripe for God they together with other of their neighbours were apprehended and cast into prison where they were kept in dark dungeons and forced to endure all the cruel and extream torments which are before mentioned At last they were condemned and brought forth to the scaffold amongst other Prisoners The young maid especially came with a merry and cheerful countenance as it were triumphing over the Inquisitors and having her tongue at liberty she began to sing Psalms to God whereupon the Inquisitors caused her tongue to be nipped by setting a Barnacle upon it After sentence read they were carried to the place of execution where with much constancy and courage they ended their lives Yet the Inquisitors not satisfied herewith caused the house of the Matron where the Church used to meet to be pulled down and the ground to be laid waste and a pillar to be erected upon it with an inscription shewing the cause There was also apprehended another worthy member of the same Congregation called Ferdinando he was of a fervent spirit and very zealous in doing good A young man but for integrity of life very famous He had spent eight years in educating of youth and had endeavoured to sow the seeds of Piety in the hearts of his Scholars as much as lay in him to do in a time of so great persecution and tyranny being at the last apprehended for a Lutheran he was cast into prison and terribly tormented upon the Jeobit and in the Trough whereby he was so shaken in every joynt that when he was taken down he was not able to move any part of his body yet did those cruel tormentors draw him by the heels into his prison as if he had been a dead dog But notwithstanding all his torments he answered the Inquisitors very stoutly and would not yield to them one jot During his imprisonment God used him as an instrument to recal and confirme a Monk who had been cast into prison for confessing the Gospel openly But by means of the Inquisitors flatteries and fair promises he had somewhat relented Gods Providence so ordering it that Ferdinando was cast into the same prison and finding the Monk wavering he rebuked him sharply and afterwards having drawn him to a sight of and sorrow for his sinne he at last strengthned him in the promises of free grace and mercy Hereupon the Monk desired a day of hearing where before the Inquisitors he solemnly renounced his recantation desiring that his former confession might stand whereupon the sentence of death passed against them both after which the Inquisitors asked Ferdinando whether he would revoke his former heresies to which he answered That he had professed nothing but what was agreeable to the pure and perfect Word of God and ought to be the profession of every Christian man and therefore he would stick to it to the death Then did they clap a Barnacle upon his tongue and so they were burned together There was also one Juliano called The little because he was of a small and weak body who going into Germany was there conversant with divers learned and godly men by which means he attained to the knowledge of the truth and became a zealous Professor of it and earnestly longing after the salvation of his Countreymen he undertook a very dangerous work which was to convey two great dry Fat 's full of Bibles printed in Spanish into his own Countrey In this attempt he had much cause of fear the Inquisitors had so stopped every Port and kept such strict watch to prevent the coming in of all such commodities but through Gods mighty protection he brought his burden safely thither and which was almost miraculous he conveyed them safe into Sivil notwithstanding the busie searchers and catch-poles that watched in every corner These Bibles being dispersed were most joyfully and thankfully received and through Gods blessing wrought wonderfully amongst Gods people to ripen them against the time of harvest But at last the matter broke out by the means of a false brother who going to the Inquisitors played the Judas and betrayed the whole Church to them So that there
execution he said to the people See here how this wicked world rewards the poor servants of Jesus Christ whilst I was a drunkard a player at Cards and Dice living in all dissolutenesse and ungodly behaviour I was never in danger of these bonds yea I was then counted a good fellow and at that time Who but I But no sooner began I through Gods grace to seek after a godly life but presently the world made war upon me and became mine enemy c. yet this discourageth me not for the servant is not better than his Lord seeing they persecuted him no question but they will persecute us At the place of execution one gave him his hand and comforted him then began he to sing the 30. Psalm whereupon a Friar interrupted him saying Oh John turn there is yet time and space the Martyr disregarding his words turned his back upon him and some of the company said to the Friar Turn thou thou hypocrite and so Herwin quietly finished his Psalm many joyning with him in singing of it then said the Friar Be not offended good people to hear this Heretick to sing of God The people answered Hold thy peace thou Balaamite here is no body offended There were present at least four hundred that encouraged the Martyr to continue to the end as he had well begun To whom he answered Brethren I fight under the Standard and in the quarrel of my great Lord and Captain Jesus Christ. Then he prayed and so went into his Cabin made with fagots saying to the people I am now going to be sacrificed Follow you me when God of his goodnesse shall call you to it and so he was first strangled and then burnt to ashes Anno 1561. There was apprehended in Antwerp one John de Boscane who for his constancy in Religion was condemned to death But the Magistrate fearing an uproare if he should put him to death publickly knowing that he was a man free of speech and beloved of the people he resolved for this cause secretly to drown him in the prison and for this end a tub with water was provided and an Executioner sent to drown him but the water was so shallow and the Martyr so tall that he could not possibly be drowned therein whereupon the Executioner gave him many wounds and stabs with a dagger and so this holy Martyr ended his life About the same time another servant of Jesus Christ having made a bold Profession of his faith was in the same City sentenced to death and because they duâ—st not execute him publickly they privately sent and beheaded him in prison his name was John de Buisons The godly in this City of Antwerp being desirous to take all opportunities to meet together in the fear of God on a day when the Popish party was met to behold great triumphs they withdrew themselves out of the City and went into a Wood where their Minister preached the Word of God to them The Drosart of Marksem being advertised hereof took his officers and went thitherward by the way he met with some poor boyes that were cowherds to whom he promised new cloaths if if they would bring him to the place in the Wood where their assembly was which they undertaking he sent some of his officers along with them into the Wood who coming to the place like wolves the sheep of Christ began to flie the Minister seeing their fear admonished them not to stir The Persecutors were not above five or six and the persecuted four or five hundred so that they might easily have resisted them but they would not The officers chiefly aimed to apprehend the Minister and having caught one of the Assembly they thought him to be the man crying one to another Hold the Priest fast striking him with their Pistols and staves and so carried him to the Drosart they caught also two or three more which afterwards made an escape the man only that remained with the Drosart whose name was Bartholomew was often set upon to be turned aside from his holy Profession Why say they cannot such a young man as thou art content thy self with our Religion and glorious Church adorned with gold silver precious stones in which there is such melodious musick both of voices and instruments but thou must needs joyn thy self to that Church that is hated despised and exposed to all manner of contempt Bartholomew overcame all these tentations by the power of the Almighty saying That which is greatly esteemed amongst men is altogether abominable in the sight of God Then was he condemned and beheaded by which death he glorified God Anno 1568. There were apprehended in Antwerp one Scoblant John de Hues and Joris Coomans who being cast into prison were very oyful confessing that nothing befell them but by Gods divine Providence as they acknowledge in a letter which they wrote to the brethren wherein they thus write Seeing it is the will of God that we should suffer for his name and in the quarrel of his Gospel we certifie you dear brethren that we are joyful and however the flesh continually rebels against the spirit counselling ever and anon according to the advice of the old Serpent yet we are well assured that Christ who hath bruised will still bruise the Serpents head and not leave us comfortlesse we are indeed sometimes pricked in the heele yet we are not discouraged but keep our faith close to the promises of God c. Be not therefore dismayed for our bands and imprisonment for it is the good Will of God towards us and therefore we pray that he will give us grace to persevere constantly unto the end Shortly after Scoblant was brought to his trial where he made a good confession of his faith and so was condemned Returning to prison he earnestly requested the Jailor that he would not suffer the Friars to come and trouble him for said he they can do me no good seeing the Lord hath already sealed up the assurance of my salvation in my heart by his holy Spirit I am now going to my Spouse and putting off this earthly mantle to enter into his celestial glory where I shall be freed from all superstitions Would to God that I might be the last that these tyrants should put to death and that their thirst might be so quenched with my blood that the poor Church of Christ might henceforth enjoy rest and quiet When he was to go forth to execution he sung the fourtieth Psalme with his fellow prisoners then said the Lords Prayer and so kissing each other they commended one another unto God with many teares Being tied to the stake he was burned alive calling upon the name of the Lord. John Hues died in prison whereupon Joris wrote thus to his friends Brethren I am now left alone whereas we were three in number John Hues is now dead in the Lord and yet I am
against him against whom he made many exceptions but they would not be admitted Nine moneths he remained in prison suffering great misery much bewailing his former course of life though yet it had been such as none could charge him with any crime Then the Judges proceeded to his condemnation and he had greater fetters put upon him he was also examined with torments which he endured two or three hours though but of a weakly body comforting himself thus This body must once die but the spirit shall live the Kingdome of God abideth for ever During his torments he swowned and when he came to himself again he said O Lord Lord why hast thou forsaken me Nay said the President wicked Lutheran Thou hast forsaken God Aymund replied Alas good Masters why do you thus miserably torment me O Lord I beseech thee forgive them for they know not what they do See said the President this Caitiffe how he prayeth for us Shortly after he was condemned and when the Friars came to confesse him he bade them depart from him for he would confesse his sins to the Lord. He went to the place of execution with much joy exhorting the people all the way at the place of execution they tumbled him out of the Cart and when he was upon the stage he said O Lord make haste to help me tarry not despise not the work of thy hands and seeing some Scholars he said to them My brethren I exhort you to study and learn the Gospel for the Word of God abideth for ever Labour to know the Will of God and fear not them that kill the body but have no power over your souls Afterwards he said My flesh doth wonderfully resist the spirit but presently I shall cast it away At the stake he often repeated Oh Lord my God into thy hands I commend my soul and so he was first strangled by the hangman and then burned Francis Bribard Secretary to the Cardinal of Bellay being convicted for adhering to the truth had first his tongue cut out and then was burnt Anno 1544. About the same time William Husson an Apothecary came from Bloys to Roan and in the Palace where the Counsel sate he scattered sundry books concerning Christian doctrine and against mens traditions and presently taking horse rode away The books being found the Counsel made diligent search for the Author and at last heard that probably this Husson had scattered them there whereupon Posts were sent out every way to apprehend him and by some of them he was taken riding towards Deep and brought back to Roan who being examined professed his faith boldly and that he had scattered those books and that he was going to Deep to do the like there For this he was condemned to be burnt alive and as he was carried to execution because he refused to worship an Image his tongue was cut out afterwards his hands and feet beeing bound behind him he was pulled up with a Pully and so let down into the fire in which he with a chearful countenance held up his head and fixed his eyes upon heaven till he yielded up his spirit unto God Anno 1545. James Cobard a Schoolmaster in the City of Saint Michael declared and proved that the Masse neither profited the quick nor dead c. for which he was burned Also at Melda fourteen godly persons were cast into prison where they were cruelly racked to make them confesse their fellows which they stoutly refused to do and at last were condemned to the fire seven of them had their tongues cut out and so all of them were burned together their wives being compelled to stand by to see their torments many others were scourged and banished Anno 1546. There was one Peter Chapot who having been a while at Geneva out of a zeal to do good to the Church of Christ carried divers Bibles into France and dispersed them amongst the faithful at last he was apprehended and carried to Paris there he readily rendred an account of his faith exhorting the Judges to do their office uprightly Three Doctors of Sorbone were appointed to dispute with him but he made them all to go away ashamed then was he condemned to be burnt At the stake one of the Doctors pressed him sorely to pray to our Lady which he refused crying only O Jesus Sonne of David have mercy on me The Doctor bade him say only Jesus Maria and he should not be burnt alive but he for a while refused yet at last through his importunity he said Jesus Maria but presently checking himself he said Oh God what have I done pardon me O Lord for against thee only have I sinned and so he was presently strangled and then burned but upon the complaint of the Doctor the Court made a Decree that all which were to be burned unlesse they recanted at the stake should have their tongues cut out which was diligently afterwards observed There was living at Meaux a lame Creeple to whom God was pleased to reveal his truth and after a time he was apprehended and examined at which time he confessed more than they desired to hear Then did they ask him whether he would stand to that which he had said To whom he answered and I ask you again Dare you be so bold as to deny that which is so plain and evident in the holy Scriptures being advised to take care of his life he said to the Judges for Gods sake take care of your own lives and souls and consider how much innocent blood you spill daily in fighting against Jesus Christ and his Gospel At last he was carried to Paris where he endured many sorts of torments and lastly was burned At Fera one Stephen Polliot was apprehended carried to Paris and there cast into a foul and dark dungeon where he lay long in bonds and fetters At last he was brought forth and condemned to have his tongue cut out and to be burned with his sachel of books hanging about his neck which was accordingly executed Anno 1547. There was one John English condemned by the Court of Paris for confessing the truths of God and so sent to Sens in Burgundy where he was burned Also Michael Michelote being apprehended for professing the Gospel was put to his choise either to recant and be beheaded or to persevere and be burned he answered that he trusted that he which had given him grace not to deny the truth would also give him patience to abide the fire and so he was burned Another being betrayed by false brethren was burned at Bar in Burgundy Five men and two women were condemned to the fire at Langres for adhering to the truth one of the women being the youngest was reserved to be burned at last and in the mean time she much encouraged them all saying This day we shall be married to the Lord Jesus
on his knees craved pardon refusing to run against him the King being eagerly set on commanded him upon his Allegiance to run and put the spear into his hands Montgomery thus enforced addressed himself to the course and the King and he meeting together brake their spears and the Kings Heâ—met falling down at the same instant one of the splinters of Montgomeries spear entred just into his right eye and so pierced his head that the brains were perished which wound despising all means of cure killed him within a eleven dayes whereby his hope of seeing Du Bourg burned was frustrated and thereupon Du Bourg his execution was deferred for six moneths longer at the end whereof he having constantly persevered in the confession of his faith was first degraded and the next day carried out to execution The Judges appointed six or seven hundred Horse and Foot well armed to guard him he was first hanged and then his body was burnt to ashes Presently after divers others were burnt in Paris and in many other places for their Religion many also were massacred as they passed along the streets for not doing reverence to the images which were then newly set up in the corner of every street such also as refused to contribute money to buy wax candles to burn before them it cost them their lives Notwithstanding which cruelties those of the Religion increased daily both in zeal and number in all parts of the Realm This much incensed the Duke de Guise in his Government of Dauphine whereupon he sent Mangiron a cruel man and great enemy to the Protestants with charge wholly to root them out This Mangiron first played his part very subtilly but at last he fell upon Valence lacking the houses of the Protestants as if he had taken the Town by assault and the more to strengthen him in his mischief he had many Troops of Horse and some Lanciers sent him Truchon also President of Grenoble cast sixty of the chiefest of the Protestants into prison at Valence whilst Mangiron pillaged those of Montelimart to whom he had promised and sworn to do no wrong Truchon caused two Ministers at Valence to be hehaded and three of the principal Citizens to be hanged the rest he punished with great fines whippings and banishments At Roan he hanged two men whipt one and afterwards sent him to the Gallies Anno 1559. In Provence a godly Gentleman was traiterously massacred for his profession of Religion Those of the Religion seeing themselves destitute of all humane aid resolved in all their dangers instead of seeking to man for help to pray to God to hear his Word to continue in true obedience unto it living in great love and concord one with another whereby abundance of Papists were so edified that by whole Troopes they left the Masse and made open profession of the Protestant Religion Anno 1561. There happened a great mutiny in the City of Paris raised by some Priests which rang a Bell while those of the Religion were hearing a Sermon from which proceeded wounds murthers and imprisonments foure of the Protestants were hanged to please the people and the rest paid a fine CHAP. XXXIV The Persecution in the time of the Civil Wars ANNO 1562. The Duke de Guise passing towards Paris and coming near to Vassy understanding that the Bell rang to a Sermon which was to be preached in a Barn in which place there were assembled about twelve hundred men women and children he presently went vvith all his Troops to the barn and entring into it they cryed out Death of God kill kill these Huguenots then did some of them shoot at those vvhich vvere in the Galleries others cut in pieces such as they met with Some had their heads cleft in twain others had their Armes and hands cut off so that the Walls and Galleries of the Barne were died with the blood of the slain The Duke with his sword drawn stood amongst them charging his men to kill without sparing especially the young men Some of these godly persons getting upon the roof hid themselves there but at length some of this bloody crew spying them shot at them with long pieces whereby many of them were slain falling down from the roof like Pigeons Then they fell to murthering of them all without distinction the poor Saints of God made no resistance only praying unto God and every one running to save himself as it pleased God to direct him many men and women were slain others being sore wounded escaped which died shortly after the poor mans box was taken and emptied The Minister in the beginning of the Massacre ceased not to preach still till one discharged his Peece against the Pulpit Then falling upon his knees he intreated the Lord to have mercy upon him and upon his poor persecuted flock and so coming down from the Pulpit attempted to escape but by the way he received divers wounds whereupon finding himself as he thought mortally hurt he cryed Lord into thy hand I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth yet before he was slain some took him and carried him before the Duke Who said to him who made thee so bold thus to seduce the People Sir said the Minister I am no seducer but have faithfully preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them Then did the Duke curse and swear saying Death of God doth the Gospel teach sedition and calling the Provost he said Take this Varlet and hang him upon a Gibbet Then was the Minister delivered to two Pages who basely abused him The popish women also threw dirt at him and could scarce be restrained from tearing him to pieces He was kept close Prisoner none being suffered to bring him necessaries and he was oft threatned to be sown up in a sack and drowned yet at last through Gods mercy he was released at the earnest request of the Prince of Portion The pulpit was broken down the slain stript stark naked and so the Duke departed with his bloody Troops sounding his trumpets as if he had obtained a great victory When he came to Paris he with the Constable and Marshal of Saint Andrews seized upon the King defaced and overthrew the places where they of the Religion used to assemble which so encouraged the Popish party that in every place they so abused those of the Religion as the most cruel Barbarians would have been ashamed to do the like This caused a Civil War wherein the Duke of Guise having taken Roan sacked it for three dayes space and executed many of the Citizens Not long after he went to Orleance boasting that within twenty four houres he would win the Town and neither spare man woman nor child in it and that he would so destroy the Town that the memory of it should be extinct for ever But mans purposes and God disposes for the same night there was
given to her and after her death the Chirurgions were not suffered to open her head where the mischief lay whereby it was the better concealed The Admiral was again advertised of his danger but he resting upon the testimony of a good conscience and the providence of God misinterpreted those advices as if they proceeded from men desirous of new troubles Many Lords and Gentlemen of the Religion accompanied the King of Navar and the Prince of Conde to Paris The King of France the better to delude the Protestants spake openly that he gave not his sister to the King of Navar only but as it were to the whole Church of the Protestants to joyn with them in an indissoluble union and as a tie to their peace and safety August 17. Anno 1572. The King of Navar and the Lady Margaret were married by the Cardinal of Bourborn upon a scaffold in the sight of all the people and that day was spent in banquets dances and masks with a strange mixture of Protestants and Papists together but in the mean time the Queen mother with her Privadoes as also the Duke of Anjou with the Guises consulted about killing the Admiral and dividing the Protestants Five dayes after as the Admiral came from the Court accompanied with about fifteen Gentlemen reading a petition as he went one shot at him with a Caliver the bullet taking away his right fore-finger hurt him in the left arm he that shot had a Spanish Jennet at the back-door of his lodging upon which he immediately mounted and escaped The door being burst open it was found that the Caliver left behind was brought to the house the day before by one Chally steward of the Kings house and a great dealer for the Duke of Guise the Admiral being conveyed to his lodging shewed most admirable piety patience and constancy The King complained of the mischief swearing and promising to execute such justice upon the offendor that the Admiral and all his friends should thinke themselves well satisfied He caused also all the gates of Paris to be shut swearing and blaspheming that he would not that they which had done the fact should escape he also appointed many Lords and Gentlemen of the Protestants to lodge in the Admirals quarter the better as he pretended to secure themselves against any danger After noon the King went to visit the Admiral and there with many Oaths and protestations assured him of his love to him care over him and them of the Religion and that he would severely punish the Authors of his present hurt Presently after the Vidame of Chartres John de Ferriers advised the King of Navar the Prince of Conde the Admiral and other chief Lords of the religion presently to depart out of Paris assuring them that that blow was but the beginning of the Tragedy which was soon to ensue but they trusting to the Kings word rested secure That day also the King wrote to the Ambassadors of forrein Princes and to the Governours of all his Provinces how much he was offended at the Admirals hurt how severely he would punish it yea he desired that all the world might know how much he was offended at it and the Queen-mother wrote the like In the mean time the Dukes of Anjou and Guise employed some to go from house to house to take the names of all the Protestants and to return the Catalogue to them so that presently after they of the Religion began to discover that some bloody intentions were hatching against the Admiral and his friend For the King set a guard of fifty Harquebushires at the Admirals gate Great store of Armes were carried into the Loure and about evening all the people were in Armes The chief of the Protestants hereupon assembled again in the Admirals lodging where the Vidame of Chartres advised as before that they should essay presently to carry the Admiral out of Paris and that the rest should presently dislodge yet all the rest refused this counsel resolving to relie upon the Kings word who had promised them Justice In the evening some Protestant Gentlemen proffered to watch with the Admiral but he would not suffer them At night the Duke of Guise sent for the Captain of the Switzers shewing him his Commission to kill the Admiral and all his partakers exhorting him and his men to be couragious in shedding of blood At midnight the Provost Sheriffs and Captains of every Ward had the same shewed them with assurance that through the whole Realm the like should be done to all the Protestants and that the watchword for the general Massacre should be the tolling of the Bell in the Palace to be rung at the break of day and the Badge of the Executioners should be a white Handkerchif tied on their armes and a white Crosse in their hats The Duke of Guise and his Associates were to begin at the Admirals lodging Some of the Protestants being awakened with the noise in the streets of men running up and down in armes and with torches gat up to enquire what was the matter but presently the Bell rung and the Duke of Guise with his cutthroats hasted to and knocked at the Admirals gates he that opened them was presently stabbed The Admiral hearing the noise gat out of bed and joyned with his Minister Master Merlin in fervent prayer commending his soul into the hands of God Then said he It is long since I disposed my self to die save you your selves if it be possible for you cannot save my life I commit my soul into the hands and mercy of God Then did Merlin his Minister and the rest get up to the top of the house and crept out of windows into the gutters to hide themselves yet most of them were slain in the next house Then seven or eight men brake into the Admirals chamber and one of them went to him with his naked sword offering him the point to whom he said Young man thou oughtest to respect any age and infirmity yet shalt thou not shorten my life with that he thrust him into the body and all the rest laid at him so that he fell to the ground where he lay gasping The Duke of Guise below called to them to throw his body out at window which they did his face being all bloody the Duke of Guise wiped it and looking on it said Now I know him it is he and so kicked him on the face with his foot whom all the murtherers in France feared so much when he was alive Then went he out into the streets crying Courage my fellows we have here made a good beginning let us now fall upon the rest the King commands it it is his expresse pleasure he commands it The Admirals head was sent to the King and queen-mother and by them sent to the Pope and Cardinal of Lorrain as a grateful present The Pope when he heard the newes set
and these being all spent and no bread left in the City such as could get Linseed or any other seed ground it or beat it in a morter and made bread thereof as also of herbs mixed with bran if they could get it This being spent they eate bread made of straw-meal powder of nutshels yea of slates suet old ointments and other old grease served to make pottage and with it also they fried the excrements of horses and men which they did eate yea the filth in the streetes was not spared In this extremity a poor labourer and his wife were taken and executed for eating the head intrals and brains of their daughter of three years old that died of famine they had dressed also the rest of her body to eat at other times and that which aggravated their fault was that it was proved that that day there was given to them a little pottage made with herbs and wine which might have satisfied them in that necessity Such as went forth of the walls to seek relief were either slaine by the enemy or lived upon sprigs of vines black-berries red snailes and herbs Amongst other sad and lamentable spectacles one was of a labourer and his wife found dead amongst the Vines and two of their children crying by them the lesser being but sixe weekes old which a charitable Widow took home to her house and sustained Many dyed in this famine some in their houses others fell down in the streets and gave up the ghost most of the children under twelve yeares old died Lamentable it was to heare the poor fathers and mothers mourning and weeping to see their misery and yet they could not relieve them Neverthelesse most of them did wonderfully encourage themselves with the assurance of the grace of God whereof there is this notable example A boy of five years old languishing divers weeks ran along the streets till nature failing him he fell down in the presence of his father and mother who wept and lamented over him and feeling upon his armes and legs they were as dry as a stick whereupon the child said Why do you thus weep to see me die of hunger I ask you no bread mother for I know you have none but seeing it is the Will of God that I should die in this sort I must take it thankfully Had not the holy man Lazarus hunger Have not I read it in my Bible and saying so he yielded up his spirit unto God That which preserved all from being famished was this There were yet sixe Kine kept to give milke for some infants and certaine horses of service which were reserved for an extremity These were killed and their flesh sold to comfort those that lived Also some little corne was brought into the Towne by stealth which was sold for two shillings sixe pence a pound The war killed but eighty four persons but the famine killed above five hundred besides those which were brought so low that they hardly recovered During these miseries divers souldiers and some townsmen gat out chusing rather to die by the sword of the Enemy than by famine of whom some were slain others imprisoned and executed So all hope of being saved in mans judgement failed to those of Sancerre for the King had sworne that he would make them devoure each other But mans misery is Gods opportunity The King of Kings found out a strange meanes to deliver his people that put their trust in him Just at this time by the sollicitations of the Bishop of Valence the Polonians had chosen the Duke of Anjou brother to the French King King of Poland and Ambassadors were come to fetch him into that Countrey who hearing of this siege sollicited the Bishop of Valence to perform the Promise which he had sworn to them in the name of his Master viz. to fet at liberty all the Towns of France that were molested for Religion by this means the poor Sancerreans halfe dead for hunger were delivered at the request of these good men who came from a farre Countrey to be their deliverers though their enemies had oft-times threatned them with a general Massacre They were suffered to depart with their armes and goods and such as would stay not to be questioned for any thing past they had a promise also that the honour of women and maids should be preserved and such Ministers and others as had fled thither for safety had Pasports given them and they were suffered peaceably to depart The Siege of Rochel Anno 1573. ABout the beginning of the same year Rochel was also besieged The Townsmen often sallied out and there were very hot skirmishes betwixt them and the besiegers in one of which there came a young Gentleman who with horrible blasphemy boasted that he was one of the Admirals murtherers shewing his Courtelace which he said he brought from that conflict with it threatning to slash the Rochellers yet when it came to trial his heart failed and he ran away but one of the City souldiers pursuing him slew him stript him and left his naked body in the field the dogs tearing his face before next morning In one moneths space the enemy discharged above thirteene thousand Cannon shot against the Rochellers and made many assaults wherein they still went away with the worst Then came the Duke of Anjou to the Army to be the General The siege having continued some moneths the Rochellers began to want victuals which famine after awhile much encreased upon them but behold the admirable Providence of God! when all other Provision failed them there came an infinite number of small fishes never before seene in that Haven as it were yielding themselves to the mercy of the poor People which gathered them every day so long as the siege lasted but presently after the publishing of the Edict for peace they went away and were never seen afterwards During this siege came the Ambassadors from Poland to fetch their new King by whose means a truce was granted to the Rochellers and lastly Articles of peace were agreed upon whereby the Army was withdrawn and Rochel enjoyed her Priviledges Yet this is further very remarkable that all the chief persons that were imployed in the Massacre of Paris and other places were drawn forth to this siege by God there to receive the reward of all their impieties some of them being slain and others receiving there those wounds whereof they shortly after died Amongst whom were the Duke de Aumale and Cosseins Marshal of the Field that first entred the Admirals lodging three Masters of the Camp divers great Lords and Gentlemen above sixty Captains as many Lieutenants and Ensignes and above twenty thousand common souldies Anno 1574. King Charles himself that was at least the countenancer of all these horrible Massacres being in the prime of his youth about twenty four years old fell sick of a languishing disease his Physicians let him blood and
respect they bore both to his person and Mediation And withall Master Morland was requested to go to Turin where by the Dukes Order he was entertained with all outward demonstrations of Civility and respect imaginable during his abode there Master Morland after a while pressed for his dispatch and had it and so according to the Lord Protectors Order he went to Geneva There was Collected in England and Wales towards the relief of these poor souls the full summe of thirty eight thousand ninety seven pounds seven shillings and three pence the greatest part whereof was at several times transmitted to them and what remained being about nine thousands pounds was put out to Interest that so both the Principal and the Improvement might be disposed of for their best advantage and further to shew what effects the Lord Protectors intercession had I finde that presently after the King of Sweden the King of Denmark the States of the United Provinces the Prince Elector Palatine the Elector of Brandenberg the Duke of Wittenberg and many other Protestant Princes and States did either by their Letters to the Duke of Savoy or otherwise declare their deep resentment of the bloody Massacre especially the Lantgrave of Hessen wrote most zealously in their behalf They had also many Consolatory Letters written to them from sundry particular Churches viz. From Franckfort Zurick Hanaw Flushing Middleburgh c. and large Contributions according to their respective abilities Divers Commissioners also were sent from England and Holland to joyne with those of the Evangelical Cantons for the procuring a well-grounded peace for those poor people but before they came the Switzer Ambassador had concluded a Treaty with the French Ambassador and betwixt them they had hudled up a Peace the woful effects whereof these poor people were quickly sensible of and to this day they labour under heavy burdens laid upon their shoulders by their Popish Taskmasters they forbid them all manner of traffique for their sustenance they rob them of their goods and estates they drive them from their ancient habitations and force them to sell their Birth-right for a messe of Pottage They banish their Ministers that the Shepherds being gone they may the more easily devour them they ravish their young women and maidens they murther the innocent as they passe along the high-wayes upon their occasions they continually mock and revile them and threaten another Massacre sevenfold more bloody than the former Through the malice and subtilty of their Popish adversaries their Valleys are no other than a Dungeon to which the Fort of La Torre serves as a door whereby at their pleasure they may let in a Troop of murtherers utterly to destroy and extirpate those innocent people and notwithstanding all those large supplies that have been sent them from England and other States yet so great are the necessities of those poor hungry creatures and so grievous are the oppressions of their Popish adversaries who lie in wait to bereave them of whatsoever is given them that some of them are yet ready ever and anon to eate their own flesh for want of bread their miseries are more sad and grievous than can be expressed they are dying even whilst they live When that which was collected for them is once spent they must inevitably perish unlesse the Lord in whose hand are the hearts of Princes shall incline the heart of their Prince to pity these his poor harmlesse and faithful Subjects who are so farre from thoughts of Rebellion that could they but enjoy the freedom of their Consciences in peace they would be the first that would be ready to sacrifice their lives for the good and safety of his Royal Highnesse How long Lord Holy just and true c. Rev. 6.10 If any desire to see a fuller account of these things together with the Letters and Transactions about them they may finde them fully and faithfully set down by Master Samuel Morland in his History of the Evangelical Churches in the Valleys of Piemont Here place the Eleventh Figure CHAP. XLVII A brief Description of Piemont and the Valleys thereof PIemont is so called because it is situated à pede montium or at the feet of the Alps which separate Italy from France It 's but a little spot of earth yet very pleasant and of incredible fruitfulnesse It 's bounded on the East with Millan Montferrat and the Common-wealth of Genoa on the South is the Mediterranean Sea On the West and North part it hath the Alps for a Bulwark by which it is separated on the VVest side from Provence and Dauphine and on the North from Savoy and the Countrey of Valley It 's almost all covered with high mountains and watred with four great Rivers viz. Po Tanaro Stura and Dora besides which there are about twenty eight Rivers more great and small which render it exceeding fruitful in Cattel Wine Corne Hay Nuts and many other fruits in great abundance The principal Valleys are on the North part those two Aosta and Susa on the South side Stura and some others and in the midland Lucerna Angrogni◠Roccapiatta Pramol Perosa and Saint Martino The Valley of 〈…〉 been and still is a part of Dauphine as farre as La Capella which is situated at the lower end thereof and divides it from Perosa which was the ordinary passage of the French Armies into Italy These Valleys especially that of Angrognia Pramol and Saint Martino are strongly fortified by nature by reason of their many difficult passages through Rocks and mountains as if from the beginning it had been designed by the all-wise God to be as a Cabinet wherein he would keep some rare Jewel Those Valleys of Piemont which have been for some hundreds of years inhabited by the Waldenses are Lucerna Perosa and Saint Martino Lucerna contains fifteen miles in length the highest Communalties thereof viz. Bobio Villaro and La Torre are for the greatest part mountains but Lucerna Saint Giovanni Fenile Campiglione and Garcigliana though they have both on the North and South side a little of the mountains yet they extend themselves into a very fair Plaine Angrognia is but a little Valley on the North side of Lucerna as also Rorata and Vallon which are on the South side of Lucerna wholly within the mountains So is also Roccapiatta and Pramol which are enclosed between the Valleys of Lucerna and Perosa The Communalty of La Torre took its name from an high Tower which stood upon a little hill near Bourg But Francis the first King of France considering how prejudicial it might be to the affairs and interest of France and the safety of Pignorole he caused it to be demolished But the Duke of Savoy rebuilt it Anno 1652. which afterward served as a slaughter-house of many poor innocent souls Bricheras which is joyned to the Valley of Lucerna is on the East of Angrognia and Saint Giovanni and on the South of Roccapiatta almost all in the
Villa Secca comprehends three little Communalties viz. Maneglia Machel and Salsa All are in a mountainous place but exceeding fruitful in Corne Pasture c. except only in the highest parts thereof The Church of Prali is situated in the uppermost part of the Valley of Saint Martino and contains two Communalties viz. Prali and Rodoret bounded on the South with the Alps and the Valley of Lucerna On the West by the Valley Queyras in Dauphine and on the North by the Valley of Pragela Here is nothing but Hay and Grasse Generally in all these Churches except on the tops of the mountains there are plenty of Fruits especially of Chestnuts and in some places there are vast spaces of Ground yielding almost nothing else as in the little Hills of Bubiana and all along the Valley of Lucerna and in the South parts of the Valley of Perosa So that the Inhabitants in those places dry and clense great quantities of them part whereof they keep for their own use and the rest they sell or exchange for Corne and that quantity for quantity with the Inhabitants of the Plaine it being a great part of their food in Piemont They also dry these Nuts in an Oven or on a Kilne and make thereof an excellent sort of Bisquet which they first string as they do their Beades and so hang them up in a moist place the better to preserve them These they frequently make use of instead of Maqueroons and such sweetmeats Of the late Persecution of the Church of Christ in Poland Anno Christi 1656. THe All-wise and holy God whose wayes of Providence are alwayes righteous though often secret and unsearchable hath made it the constant lot and portion of his people in this world to follow his Sonne in bearing his Crosse and suffering persecutions For they that are borne after the flesh do alwayes persecute them that are borne after the spirit But scarcely have any sort of the Churches enemies more clearly followed the pernicious way of Caine herein than hath that Antichristian faction of Rome that Mother of Harlots and Abominations whose garments are died red with the blood of Saints which they have alwayes cruelly shed and made themselves drunk with And amongst those chosen and faithful witnesses the Lord seemeth very signally to have raised up those Christians who though dispersed in divers Countreys have been commonly known by the name of Waldenses who for some Centuries of years have lived amongst their enemies as Lambs amongst Wolves to bear their testimonies to the Truths of Christ against the Apostasies and Blasphemies of Rome for which they have been killed all the day long and accounted as sheep for the slaughter One part of this little flock and remnant which the Lord hath left reserved are scattered partly in the Valleys of Piemont of whose Tragical sufferings you have had a faithful account in the precedent Chapter the other part of this poor but precious remnant have been dispersed in the Kingdomes of Bohemia and Poland whose sufferings together with the Lords signal Providences about them are now to be spoken of as they have been related to the Lord Protector O.C. and the State here by two godly persons delegated by those persecuted Churches which are now the sad Monuments of their enemies rage and of the Lords sparing mercy These sometime flourishing Churches were by degrees worne out by the constant underminings and open outrages of the Antichristian party being first driven out of Bohemia into Poland and then after their taking root and spreading in Poland into a numerous company they were forced out of their chiefest Cities there and at last by the Jesuited and enraged Popish Army were persecuted in their few hiding places with fire and sword Their Ministers were tortured to death by most exquisite and unheard of Barbarisme by cutting out of the tongues of some pulling out the eyes and cruelly mangling the bodies of others Yet did not their rage and brutish cruelty reach only to the Ministers but to private persons also yea even to women and to young children whose heads they cut off and laid them at their dead mothers breasts Nay their rage brake out not only against the living not one of whom they spared that fell into their hands but also against the dead plucking the bodies of Honorable persons and others out of their graves tearing them to pieces and exposing them to publick scorne But the chiefest eye-sore and object of their fury was the City of Lesna which after plundering and murthering of all whom they found therein they burned to ashes and laid it in the rubbish Only the Lord in mercy having alarm'd the City by the report of their enemies approach the greatest part of the Inhabitants being three famous Churches saved themselves by flight and are now wandring up and down in Silesia the Marquisate of Brandenburg Lusatia and Hungary poor destitute afflicted and naked the relation whereof you have in this ensuing Narrative written in Latin by some of themselves and called Lesnae Excidium The History of the destruction of Lesna faithfully related LEsna a City of great Poland almost thirty years ago began to be famous both far and near but now being suddenly and utterly razed hath nothing left beside the name and fame thereof For the fuller discovery of this businesse from the beginning we must briefly relate the Original and progresse of this town When above seven hundred years ago Mieczislaus then Duke of Poland took to wife the daughter of Boleslaus Duke of Bohemia and together with her received the Christian Faith it happened that among those of the Bohemian Nobility that accompanied him there was one Peter de Bernstein whom because he was a person endowed with many vertues Mieczislaus was willing to detain him in Poland and to that end bestowed upon him rich possessions the chief whereof was a Village called Lezsyna i. e. a grove of hasle-trees upon the very confines of the lower Silesia being situate twelve miles from Wratislavia five from Glogaw and ten from Posnania From this place therefore of his residence Peter de Bernstein taking the rise of his denomination according to the custome of the Nation he and all his posterity were called Lezscynii and were afterwards admitted to all sorts of Dignities in the Realm so that of this family there were never wanting some or other that were Captains Governours of Castles Palatines Marshals Chancellours Bishops or Archbishops even to this day and besides this for their noble management of affairs in several Embassyes to the Roman Emperour they were adorned with the title of Earles of the Empire which they still enjoy But Leszcyna it self begun by little and little to change its name and by contraction was called Lessna and their neighbour Germans called it Lissa This Village something above one hundred of years ago had the dignity and title of a market town granted to it by the famous King Sigismund and tradesmen were invited