afflicted what evil have we done If we be called to dispute Why are we spoiled of all we have Why are we slandred Why are we forced to remain here amongst the dung-hills afflicted with hunger and nakedness far from our Churches and houses Herewith the Tyrant was so enraged that he commanded his horsemen to ride over them whereby many of them were sore bruised and wounded especially the aged and weak men Then did he command them to meet him at the Temple of Memory and when they came thither they had this writing delivered to them Our Lord King Hunrick lamenting your obstinacy in refusing to obey his will and to embrace his Religion yet intends to deal graciously with you and if you will take this oath he will send you back to your Churches and houses Then they all said with one consent We are all Christians and Bishops and hold the Apostolical and only true faith and thereupon they made a brief confession of their faith But the Kings Commissioners urged them without any further delay to take the oath contained in that paper Whereupon they answered Do you think us bruit beasts that we should so easily swear to a writing wherein we know not what is contained Then was the Oath read unto them which was this You shall swear that after the death of the Lord our King his son Hilderick shall succeed him in the Kingdom and that none of you shall send letters beyond the seas If you take this oath he will restore you to your Churches They that were plain-meaning men amongst them were willing to take it but others that saw further into the subtilty of it refused it Then were those which would take it commanded to separate themselves from the other which being done a Notary presently took their names and of what Cities they were he did the like also by the Refusers and so both parties were committed to ward and shortly after the King sent them word first to those that would have taken the oath Because that you contrary to the rule of the Gospel which saith Thou shalt not swear at all would have sworn The Kings Will is that you shall never see your Churches more but shall be banished into the wilderness and never perform any Ministerial office again and there you shall till the ground But to the Refusers of the oath he said because you desire not the reign of our Lords son you shall therefore be immediately sent away to the Isle of Corse there to hew timber for the ships He also sent abroad through all Africk his cruel tormentors So that no place no house remained free from lamentation screeching and out-cryes They spared neither age nor sex but only such as yielded to their will Some they cudgelled with staves some they hung up others they burned Women and especially gentlewomen they openly tortured stark naked without all shame Amongst whom was Dionysia whom when they saw bolder and more beautifull then the rest they first commanded her to be stript naked and made ready for the cudgels who spake boldly to them saying I am assured of the love of my God vâ—x me how you will only my woman-hood disclose you not But they with greater rage set her naked upon an high place for a publick spectacle Then did they whip her till the streams of blood flowed all over her body Whereupon she boldly said Ye Ministers of Satan that which you do for my reproach is to me an honour And beholding her only son that was young and tender and seemed fearfull of torments checking him with a motherly Authority she so encouraged him that he became much more constant then before To whom in the midst of his terrible torments she said Remember O my child that we were baptized in the name of the holy Trinity Let us not lose the garment of our salvation least it be said Cast them into outer darkness where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth For that pain is to be dreaded that never endeth and that life to be desired that alwayes lasteth The youth was so encouraged hereby that he persevered patient in all his sufferings till in the midst of his torments he gave up the Ghost Many by her exhortations and example were gained to God and animated in their sufferings Not long after Cyrillas the Arrian Bishop at Carthage stirred up the Tyrant against the Christians telling him that he could never expect to enjoy his Kingdom in peace so long as he suffered any of them to live Hereupon he sent for seven eminent Christians from Capsa to Carthage whom he first assaulted with flattery and large promises of honour riches c. if so be they would imbrace his faith But these servants of Christ rejected all those profers crying out One Lord one faith one Baptism saying also Do with our bodies what you please torment them at your will it s better for us to suffer these momentary pains then to endure everlasting torments Hereupon they were sent to prison loaded with great iron chains and thrust into a stinking Dungeon But God stirred up the hearts of many godly persons by great bribes to the Jayler to procure daily access to them and by their exhortations they were so corroborated in the faith that they much desired to suffer the like things for Christ with these men and would willingly have laid down their necks to the Persecutors swords The Tyrant hearing of it was exceedingly enraged caused them to be kept closer loaden with more chains and to be put to great torments Then did he cause a ship to be filled with combustible matter commanding that these holy Martyrs should be put into it and fast bound in the same and fire to be set to the ship in the sea that they might be burned to death When they were brought out of the prison the multitude of Gods people accompanied them to the ship who as innocent Lambs were led to be sacrificed looking upon their weighty irons as rare Jewels and Ornaments With chearfulness and alacrity they went towards the place of execution as if they had gone to a banket singing with one voice unto the Lord as they went along the street saying This is our desired day more festival then any feâ—â—ivity Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation when for the faith of our Lord God we endure death that we may not loose the garment of obtained faith The people also with one voice cried Fear not O servants of God neither dread the threats of your enemies Die for Christ who died for us that he might redeem us with the price of his saving blood Amongst these was a pretty boy to whom a subtil Seducer said Why hastest thou my pretty boy unto death let them go they are mad Take my counsel and thou shalt not only have life but great advancement in the
of Tholouse sent some Deputies to Earl Simon to profer him the keyes of their City whom he received honourably and presently wrote to Lewis son of King Philip that the City of Tholouse was offered to him but his desire was that he should come and have the honour of taking it The Prince went thither immediately and had Tholouse delivered to him Yet the Legate resolved that the pillage of it should be given to his Pilgrims and the City dismantled which was presently executed though contrary to the promise made to the Citizens that no wrong should be done to the City Then came there a new Legate of the Popes called Bonaventure with those that had taken on them the Crosse. Viz. the Earle of Saint Paul the Earle of Savoy the Earle of Alenzon the vicount of Melun Mathew de Montmorency and other great Lords The Legate seeing so many Pilgrims feared least Prince Lewis should take upon him to dispose of divers places held by the Albingenses to the prejudice of the Church Whereupon he presently sent to all those places Absolution and protection so that when the Prince came against them they shewed that they were under the protection of the Church Yea the Legate told the Prince that since he had taken upon him the Crosse he was to be subject to his commands because he presented the person of the Pope whose Pardons saith he you come to obtaine by obeying the Church and not by commanding as the son of a King The Prince dissembled his displeasure at this audaciousnesse and the poore Albingenses were so oppressed by new Armies of Pilgrims that they sunk under the burthen of it The Prince when his fourty daies service were expired retired himself being much discontented to see so much tyranny exercised against the Albingenses Then did Earl Simon besieg the Castle of Foix but having lain ten dayes before it he found to his cost that the place was not to be won by him For where as Earl Simons brother quartered at varilles the Earl of Foix dislodged him and slew him with his launce putting to flight all his men News hereof being brought to Earl Simon he swore that he would drive the Earl of Foix behinde the Pyrenaean Mountaines but presently he had intelligence that a great Army of the Arrogonois and Catalunians were come into the Earldom of Beziers threatning to be revenged on him for the death of their good King where upon he levied his siege in hast and marched thitherwards But the Earle of Foix who knew the passages better then he lay in ambush for him in a place fit for his turne and suddenly setting upon his Pilgrims slew a great number of them only Earl Simon with a few others escaped and went to Carcasson but before he came thither the Arrogonois were gone else might they easily have discomfited him yet shortly after they returned again and Earle Simon was foundly beaten by them so that he was forced to shut himself up in Carcasson till he had a new supply of Pilgrims Shortly after came Remund the son of Earl Remund out of England where he had been bred under his uncle King John with an Army and quickly made himself Master of the City of Beaucaire and almost famished them that held the Castle so that they yeelded it up to depart with their baggage There Earl Simon lost a hundred Gentlemen that he had laid in ambush neer unto the City whom young Remund in a sally cut in pieces Anno 1214. The Legate called a Councel at Montpelier for renuing of the Army of the Church and to confirm the authority of Earle Simon where they declared him to be Prince of all the Countries conquered from the Albingenses which title was confirmed to him by the Pope also Who stiled him the active and dexterous soldier of Jesus Christ and the invincible defender of the Catholick Faith But whilest Earl Simon was in the Council receiving this his new honour a great rumour was heard in the City and a messenger brought word that the people hearing that Earl Simon was there betook themselves to their Arms purposing to kill him whereupon he stole away by the walls of the City on foot without any company and so escaped so that in one houre he saw himself honoured as a God and flying disguised hiding himself like a base scoundrell for feare of the rascall multitude Anno Christi 1215. Their was a Councill held by the Pope at Lateran where they gave the Inquisitors such power against the Gospellers that poor people were every where horribly tortured that were but suspected for Heresie and as Tritemius saith Frier Conradus of Marpurg the Popes Inquisitor if he but suspected any as guilty of Heresie vsed to trie them by the judgment of red hot irons and such as were burned by the irons he delivered as Hereticks to the secular power to be burned in the flames whereupon most of those that were accused were by him condemned to be burnt few escaping the hot irons In so much as Noble Ignoble Clerks Monks Nuns Burgesses Citizens and countrymen were under the name of Heresie by too headlong a sentence of the Inquisitor on the same day where on they were accused cast into the cruell flames no refuge of appeale or defence doing them any good By the same Lateran Councill Earle Simon had the forementioned lands of the Albingenses confirmed to him and thereupon he hastened to the King of France to receive investiture and as he went saith the Monk of Sernay in every City and towne the Popish Clergy and people met him crying Blessed is he that commeth to us in the name of the Lord and every man thought himself happy that could but touch the hem of his garment When he had recived his Investiture from the King of France being attended with an hundred Bishops that had preached the Crosse in their Diocess and with an exceding great Army of Pilgrims he hasted to make himself Lord of all those countries which the Pope had given him So that all men trembled at his reproach and with this great Army of Pilgrims he took in divers places using great cruelty putting men women and children to the sword Then was he marching to Tholouse purposing to pillage and raze it to the ground But by the way his wife sent him word that he must speedily come to her relief being besieged in the Castle of Narbonnes by the Earl of Tholouse but by this time many of his Pilgrims were returned into France Yet Earl Simon hasted to the relief of his wife and being come before Tholouse the people by their frequent sallies made that place too hot for his abode The Legate perceiving that he was much astonished at it said unto him Fear nothing we shall quickly recover the City and then we will destroy all the inhabitants and if any of our Pilgrims are in the fight they
shall as Martyrs immediately passe to Paradise hereupon one of Earl Simons great Captains said Monsieur Cardinall you talke with great assurance but if the Earl believe you it will be little for his profit for you and other Prelates have been the causers of all this evil and will be of more if he believe you Then was it resolved that the City should be besieged on the side of Gascon but the Citizens made such a blunt salley that they put their enemies to flight and presently the Earl of Foix coming with new supplies fell upon Earl Simon chased him to the river Garonne where many of his Pilgrims were drowned and the Earle with his horse fell into the river and hardly escaped The Earl Remund caused publick thanksgiving to God for this happy victory Earl Simon being in great perplexity a Bishop bid him be of good comfort for that the Cardinal had sent messengers throughout the world to raise him succours and so he was inforced to wait with much impatiency the coming of these new supplies Anno 1218. There came to him a hundred thousand Pilgrims and he was resolved that they should earn their pardons knowing that at the end of fourty daies they would vanish Whereupon the next morning they were ordered to give a generall assault to Tholouse But Earl Remund perceiving in the night that they were very secure because of their great multitude he sallied out upon them and that with so good successe that ere morning all the field was covered with their dead bodies and the Earl with his men being weary with killing returned into the City to give thanks unto God for his assistance Then did Earl Simon enter into the Castle of Narbonnes to see if he could discerne any way to enter into the City but finding none it much troubled him whereupon two Lords gave him Counsell to come to some honourable agreement yet the Cardinal Betrand told him that there was no need for him so to do To whom one of them answered Monsieur Cardinal pray you where finde you that you should take from Earl Remund and his son that which belongs unto them If I had known as much as I know now I had never taken upon me this business After nine moneths siege the Citizens of Tholouse made another sally killing as many of the crossed souldiers as they encountered with and Earl Simon coming in to the reliefe of his men had his horse shot in the head with an arrow which caused him to run away with him which one of the Albingenses seeing with his Cross-bow he shot him thorow the thigh Simon perceiving that he lost much bloud was labouring to get out of the presse but just at that present a woman discharging an engine from the walls of Tholouse a stone parted his head from his shoulders and thus by Gods just judgement he that had been the deflourer and murtherer of many women was himselfe slaine by a woman Upon his death the Legate and all the Bishops fled never staying till they came to Carcasson the Pilgrims disbanded and returned to their homes and Earl Remund caused a publick Thanksgiving to be returned to Almighty God for this so signall a deliverance Afterwatds at the instigation of the Pope Prince Lewis of France went and besieged Tholouse but finding the business too hot for him he returned without doing any thing of note yet in this iourney he tooke the towne of Miromand wherein he cruelly put to the sword men women and children to the number of five thousand Upon his returne the Legat Bertrand being weary of these warres wrote to Pope Honorius the 3. desiring to be recalled because of his age yet with all he signified a necessity of continuing these warrs Otherwise saith he not only the lands of the Albingenses wil be lost but the Church of Rome itself will be ruined the Doctrin of the Albingenses shaking the authority of the Popes themselves And saith he this war hath cost us very deare for within less then fifteene years there hath dyed above three hundred thousand Crossed soldiers and therefore all wil be lost except these Hereticks be utterly destroyed This occasioned the Pope to send a new Legat Conradus Bishop of Portua Also he granted to all Crossed soldiers that fought against the Albingenses the same in dulgences as to those that went to fight against the Saracens in the Holy land Moreover he tooke King Philip of France into his protection and made peace betwixt him and young King Henry the third of England so that Philip wholly bent himself to roote out the Gospellers Anno Christi 1220. Earl Guido of Monfort son and heire to Earl Simon went against the Albingenses but was soone after slaine by the E. of Sant Giles as he besieged a Castle in Tholouse Then did his brother Almerick besieg the same Castle and swore that he would never depart from it till he had taken it But after a while his hoped-for aides failing him he was faigne to leave the siege and depart After whose departure the Albingenses recovered many places Anno Christi 1221. the young Emperor Frederick by the instigation of the Pope published a cruell and bloody Edict against the Gospellers with in his Dominions where in he damned them with perpetuall ignominy and declared them publick enemies Commanding their goods to be confiscated without redemption and their sons to be disinherited As also that all of them that were apprehended by the Inquisitors or others should be kept in Prison till they were killed with an abomminable death The like punishment he commanded to be inflicted on all such as should aide or assist them Also he tooke away all benefit of appeale from such as were receivers or favourers of them And further he commanded that their houses and the houses of such as should receive defend or favour them either where they have taught or where they have laid on hands should be plucked downe and never more repaired Also the same yeare some of these Albingenses going into Bosina and Dalmatia drew many of the people to imbrace their faith whereupon the Bishop of Collen was sent thither by Pope Honorius as his Legate and required to force them to returne to the Catholick faith as they called it either by perswasion or by the arms of the Crossed souldiers but where neither prevailed he being a weary of the work left it to the Frier predicants to see if by arguments they could convince and convert them Columminus the King assisting them and saith mine Author when they had got footing they burnt with fires those that were obstinate in their Heresies and purged the Churches which were defiled by them Leander de viris illust ordinis praedicatorum Anno Christi 1223. Bartholmew the Bishop of the Albingenses of Tholouse ordeined a Bishop for Bulgary Croatia and Dalmatia where their faith spread so fast that Bishops themselves were drawn
to be of their opinion whereupon Conradius Bishop of Portua the Popes Legate wrote to the Arch-Bishop of Roan and his Suffragan Bishops to meet with others Bishops at a Councill to be held at Sens against the said Bartholmew who saith the Legate in his letters stiles himself servant of the servants of God and runs about Creating Bishops and endeavoring perfidiously to gather Churches Mathew Paris Anno Christi 1226. saith the same Author the Crosse was preached all over France by Romanus the Popes Legate against the Albingenses where in he commanded all that were able to beare arms to signe them selves with the signe of the Crosse against the Earl of Tholouse and his people and at his preaching a great multitude of Prelates and Lay men tooke upon them the signe of the Crosse yet more for fear of the King of France and for favour of the Legate then induced by the justness of the cause But the King of France being signed with the Crosse would not take upon him the expedition unlesse the Pope would forbid the King of England under paine of excommunication to move war against him for any land that he possessed at that present either iustly or unjustly which accordingly the Pope did and our King Henry the third upon receipt of the Popes letters assembled his Nobles to consult with them what he should do upon this inhibition at which time their was present one Mr William Perepund skilfull in Astronomy who constantly affirmed before the King That if the King of France took upon him this expedition he should either never returne alive or else should meet with as greate confusion as might be both of his person estate and followers The King of France having thus settled his affaires at home he together with the Legate appointed a Peremptory day for the Crossed-souldiers to come to a rendevous with their horses and Arms at Lyons from which at the time appointed he began his expidition with an huge Army which was accounted Invincible whom the Legate followed with Arch-Bishops Bishops c. In the Army there were reckoned to be fifty thousand Knights and men at Arms on horsback besides an innumerable company of footmen and then did the Legate publickly excommunicate the Earl of Tholouse putting all his favourers and lands under Interdict The King thus marching with his glittering Arms and terrible Army on Whitson-Eve came to Avignion the first City in Tholouse purposing to destroy the whole land of the Earl from one end to the other and utterly to root out the Inhabitants thereof yet very cunningly the King and the Legate sent to the Citizens only desiring passage through the City that they might follow their iourney the neerest way The Citizens consulting together returned answer That they suspected fraud neither would they admit them into the City where upon the King in a great rage swore that he would not depart thence till he had taken the City The Citizens valiantly defended themselves so that the sieg lasted long and the Earl of Tholouse being a skilfull warrior before the comming of the French Army had withdrawne all kind of victualls together with the women children and cattell into places of safety Hereupon the Kings Army fell into great wants so that multitudes perished by famine Their horses and beasts also were starved for the Earl had caused all the meddowes to be plowed up in the whole country so that they had no fodder but what was brought out of France And their wants daily increasing many Legions went out of the Kings Camp to seek for food and fodder but the Earl of Tholouse with a flying Army many times lay in ambush for them and cut off multitudes of them They also that lay in the siege before the City were miserably wasted by darts and stones shot in ingines from the walls by the Citizens valiantly defending themselves and a generall famine overspread all but it raged most amongst the poorer sort who had neither food nor money Also out of the dead carkasses of men and beasts their bred certaine great and blackflies which comming into there tents by swarms with an horible humming infected their meat and drink and when they were not able to drive them from their cupps and dishes many of the Pilgrims perished suddenly by their meanes But the King and Legate were especially troubled and confounded to think what reproach it would be to them and to the Church of Rome that so gallant and numerous an Army should vndertake such an expedition and be able to effect nothing Then the chiefe Princes and Captains being weary of the long siege amongst so many deaths sollicit that a generall storme might be given to the City hoping by their multitudes to oppresse the Citizens which being resolved upon such a great multitude of Armed men thronged upon the bridge that goes over the river of Rhodanus that the bridge breaking under them three thousand of them were drowned in that swift river Presently after as the French were one day at dinner the Citizens discovering there carlesness suddenly sallied forth violently setting upon them suddenly slew Twenty thousand of them with out any losse to themselves and so retired and the King of France commanded the dead bodies to be throwne into the River affording them no other buriall Then did he also remove his sieg to afarther distance and to prevent the like attempts caused a great ditch to be cast up between the City and his camp and the Legate with his Prelates not knowing how otherwise to reveng themselves Anathematized the Earl of Tholouse and all the subjects But whom they cursed the Lord blessed For shortly after he sent a very great plague into the French campe so that king Lewis to escape the same retired himself into the neighbouring Abbey of Monpensier where he resolved to remain till the City should be taken unto whom came Henry Earl of Compaigne desiring to be dismissed having now sereved his fourty daies but the King denyed his request To whom the Earl said that having performead what was injoyned he neither might nor would be staid any longer The King being very angry hereat swore that if he departed he would wast his whole land with fire and sword yet the Earl according to his former resolution went his waies and shortly after the Lord struck the King with sickness whereof he dyed The Legate and great Captaines concealed his death for a month together and in the interim sent messengers laboring to draw the Citizens to a composition and Commissioners being sent to the Camp the Legate perswaded them to resigne up their City to him upon promise that they should injoy their lives estates and liberties in a better manner then they had formerly but they answered that they would not live under the power of the Frenchmen whose pride and insolency they had often tryed After along Parlee the Legate desired that himself and the
suspected to be of their Religion should be excluded from office bearing that all houses should be pulled downe wherein any of them should be found that all their goods and inheritances should be confiiscated That the like should be done to all that should aid or abett them or that should hinder or not assist the Inquisitors in the execution of their office That whosoever should be suspected of their Heresie should have an oath given him to keep the peace and the Catholike Faith That the houses of such as should be detected of Heresie after their death should be pulled downe That whosoever should refuse to weare the Cross should have his goods seized on c. The same year the Inquisitors were informed that in the territories of Brixia there had lately lived one Guido de Lacha who was much honoured for his austerity and integrity of life but that he dyed out of the communion of the Church of Rome having been infected with Heresie whereupon they ordered his bones to be digged up and burned The Earl of Foix and Comminges and the Prince of Bearne yet remained to be conquered and the Popes Legate thought that the Earl of Tholouse was the fittest person to deale with them whereupon he caused him to write to them to perswade them to embrace the Catholike Faith c. But the Earl of Foix returned answer That he could not forsake his faith in such a time wherein men might think that he did it rather out of feare then from any good grounds and that it was fitter for them to convince him of the truth of their way then to allure him by promises or force him thereto by Armes And that if they brought that world of Pilgrims against him which they threatned he trusted in God that he should make them know the Justice of his cause and repent of the rashnesse of their vow But the Earls subjects fearing that their Lord being aged and without wife and children should leave them to the mercy of the first Conqueror intreated him to come to a composition with the Legat whereupon he began to treat and at last yielded up diverse Castles into the hands of the King of France upon promise that he would rule with justice and equity Anno Christi 1234. the opinions of the Albingenses were much spread abroad in the parts of Spaiâ—â— and other adjacent countries and they had Bishops among them who boldly preached against the Romish errors and especially against Transubstantiation whereupon a Croisado was preached against them and a very great Army of Pilgrims being assembled together were by Pope Gregory sent against them who slew them all with their Bishops seized of their City and plundered them whereby saith Mathew Paris they returned rich and joyfully into their own countries Also about the same time another Army of these Pilgrims went against others of them on the borders of Germany who retiring into a Fenny place for there security were their all slaine But the same yeare the Lord raised up Trancavel the natural son of the Earl of Beziers deceased who was encouraged and assisted by a number of valiant Captaines as Oliver de Fumes Bertrand Hugon de Serrelong Bertrand de villenense Jordaine de Satiat who told him that they would assist him to revenge the outrages done to his father who was deprived of his land betrayed imprisoned and poisoned whereupon he resolved to recover by the sword what was so unjustly taken from him and before the enemies had notice of his designe he took in diverse strong Castles so that the Popes Legate and Bishop of Tholouse were much astonished to see these men stand up for the Albingenses whom they supposed to have been utterly suppressed Then did the Popes agents cause the cross to be preached and the Bishop of Narbonne animated the people of his Diocess to go against them and to make an end of the poor remainder of the Albingenses An army being raised the Popes Legate led it to Tholouse and when the Citizens appeared upon their ramparts he told them that he was come thither for their preservation They thanked him but withall told him that if he did not instantly retire himselfe they would give him the chase And presently came Trancavell who so bravely and valiantly set upon the Legates Troops that he quickly overthrew them and chased them to the very gates of Carcasson and the Legate had much adoe to save himselfe but that which most angered the Legate was that Trancavell found intertainement in some part of Carcasson so that the Pilgrims durst hardly peep out of the City gates and when he heard of any more Pilgrims comming to the Legate he used to meet them to lay Ambushes for them so that usually overthrowing them their designes were marred This man kept the field till the year 1242. and still prevailed against all the crossed souldiers that came against him whereupon Ameline the Popes Legate wrote to the Pope that if he caused not the cross to be preached in many parts of Europe the Church was like to sustain much damage by this enemy For saith he he is more cruell and subtile then any before him But a little before the Bishop of Tholouse was informed of a certain Matron who having her children brethren and friends about her was dying an Heretick whereupon he ran to her and found it even so by the confession of the woman her selfe who desired to die in the faith of the Albingenses and doubted not to be saved then did the Bishop condemne her and delivered her to the secular power who presently carried her forth in the bed wherein she lay sick and burned her Anno Christi 1235. Earl Remund getting from Paris returned into his owne country and forbad the Citizens of Tholouse to company with the Friers predicant and shortly after expelled them the City And the Monastery of Narbonne belonging to the same order of Friers was pulled down by the Albingenses And in June following Pope Gregory the ninth made new Inquisitors against the Albingenses in Arragon and France Anno Christi 1236. King Lewis of France wrote to the Pope that Earl Remund had violated the Covenants which he had made with the Church and had cast the Bishops Clergy and Friers out of Tholouse and brought Hereticks into their roomes whereupon he desired that he might be reduced into order c. And indeed by the power of the Pope and King he was forced to recall the Popish Clergy and to banish the Albingenses and to take upon him the signe of the Cross for the aid of the Holy land by way of Penance for his former deeds The same year many imbracing the faith of the Albingenses be-beyond the Alps Inquisitors were sent against them especially one Frier Robert who caused many of both sexes to be apprehended and when they continued constant in the true faith and would not renounce the same in
Then turning to the people he said Christian brethren and sisters I beseech you be not offended at the Word of God for the torments which you see prepared for me but I exhort you that ye love the Word of God for your salvation and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort I pray you also shew my brethren and sisters which have often heard me that they cease not to learne the Word of God which I taught them according to the measure of grace given to me for no persecution or trouble in this world whatsoever and shew them that the doctrine was no old wives fables but the truth of God for if I had taught mens doctrine I had had greater thanks from men but for the Word of Gods sake I now suffer not sorrowfully but with a glad heart and minde For this cause I was sent that I should suffer this fire for Christs sake behold my face you shall not see me change my countenance I feare not the fire and if persecution come to you for the Words sake I pray you fear not them that can kill the body and have no power to hurt the soul c. Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech thee father of heaven forgive them that have of ignorance or of an evil mind forged lies of me I forgive them with all my heart I beseech Christ to forgive them that have condemned me this day ignorantly Then turning to the people again he said I beseech you brethren exhort your Prelates to learn the Word of God that they may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good or else there shall shortly come upon them the wrath of God which they shall not eschew Then the Executioner upon his knees said Sir I pray you forgive me for I am not the cause of your death and he calling him to him kissed his cheeks saying Lo here is a token that I forgive thee My heart do thine office and so he was tied to the stake and the fire kindled The Captain of the Castle coming near him bade him be of good courage and to beg for him the pardon of his sin to whom Master Wischard said This fire torments my body but no whit abates my spirits then looking towards the Cardinal he said He who in such state from that high place feeds his eyes with my torments within few dayes shall be hanged out at the same window to be seen with as much ignominie as he now leans there with pride and so his breath being stopped he was consumed by the fire This Prophesie was fulfilled when after the Cardinal was slain the Provost raising the Town came to the Castle gates crying What have you done with my Lord Cardinal Where is my Lord Cardinal To whom they within answered Return to your houses for he hath received his reward and will trouble the world no more But they still cryed We will never depart till we see him Then did the Leslies hang him out at that window to shew that he was dead and so the people departed But God left not the death of this holy man long unrevenged for the people did generally cry out of the cruelty used against him especially John Lesley brother to the Earle of Rothes and Norman Lesley his Cousin fell foul upon the Cardinal for it but he thought himself strong enough for all Scotland saying Tush a fig for the fools and a button for the bragging of Hereticks Is not the Lord Governour mine witnesse his eldest sonne for a pledge at my table Have I not the Queen at my devotion Is not France my friend why should I fear any danger yet he had laid a designe to cut off such as he feared and hated which was discovered after his death by letters and memorials found about him He kept himself for his greater security in his Castle and on a Friday night there came to the Town of Saint Andrews Norman Lesley William Kircaldy John Leslley and some others and on the Saturday morning they met together not far from the Castle waiting till the gate was opened and the draw-bridge let down for the receiving in some lime and sand to repair some decays about the Castle which being done Kircaldy with six more went to the Porter falling into discourse with him till the Leslies came also with some other company the Porter seeing them would have drawn up the Bridge but he was prevented and whilst he endeavoured to keep them out at the gate his head was broken and the Keys taken from him The Cardinal was asleep in bed for all night he had for his bedfellow Mistris Mary Ogleby who was a little before gone from him out at the Postern gate and therefore the Cardinal was gone to his rest There were about one hundred workmen in the Castle which seeing what was done cried out but without hurt they were turned out at the wicket gate Then VVilliam Kircaldy went to secure the Postern lest the Cardinal should make an escape that way The rest going to the Gentlemens chambers who were above fifty without hurting them they turned them all out at the gate They which undertook this enterprise were but eighteen men The Cardinal being awaked with the noise asked out at the window what was the matter Answer was made that Norman Lesley had taken his Castle Then did he attempt to have escaped by the Posterne but finding that to be kept he returned to his chamber and with the help of his Chamberlain fell to barrica-doing up the door with chests and such things Then came up John Lesley and bids open the door The Cardinal asked who was there He answered John Lesley The Cardinal said I will have Norman for he is my friend Content your self said the other with those that are here and so they fell to breaking open the door in the mean time the Cardinal hid a box of gold under some coales in a secret corner Then he said to them Will ye save my life John Lesley answered It may be that we will Nay said the Cardinal sweare unto me by Gods wounds that you will and then I will open the door then said John that which was said is unsaid and so he called for fire to burn down the door whereupon the door was opened and the Cardinal sate him down in his chair crying I am a Priest I am a Priest ye will not slay me Then John Lesley and another struck him once or twice But Master James Melvin a man that had been very familiar with Wischard and of a modest and gentle nature perceiving them both to be in choler plucked them back saying This work and judgement of God although it be secret ought to be done with great gravity And so presenting him the point of his sword he said Repent thee of thy former wicked life but especially
many great Provinces to shake off his Antichristan yoak and therefore he condemned them for Hereticks in the Councel of Lateran Yet did they so multiply that Anno 1200. they possessed many and great Cities yea they had many great Lords that took part with them as Earl Remund of Tholouse Remund Earl of Foix the Vicount of Bezieres c. Pope Innocent the third pretended a great desire to reclaime them by preaching and conference and thereupon there was a famous Disputation at Montreall wherein the Popish Doctors were shamefully baffled by Arnold But the Popes pollicy was thus to rock them asleep whilest he raised Armies against them to destroy them The pretended occasion whereof was this There was one Frier Peter that was slain in the dominions of the Earl of Tholouse whereupon the Pope sent preachers abroad through all Europe to assemble men together to take vengeance on the Hereticks for the innocent bloud of Friar Peter slain amongst them promising Paradise to all that would come to this warre and bear arms for fourty daies This he called the holy warre and gave the same Pardons and Indulgences to those that came to this war as to those which went into the Holy land against the Saracens Then did he thunder against Earl Remund charging all Arch-bishops and Bishops through their Diocesse to pronounce him accursed and excommunicated and that with the sound of a Bell and extinction of Candles every Sabbath and festivall day for murthering of a good servant of God He also absolved all his subjects from their oaths of allegiance to him commanding every good Catholike to pursue his person and to take and possesse his land c. He also wrote to all Christian Princes to stirre them up to get this pardon rather by fighting against these Albingenses then by going against the Turks Earl Remund hearing of all these preparations against him sent to the Pope humbly beseeching him not to condemn him before he was heard assuring him that he was no way guilty of the death of Frier Peter but that he was slain by a Gentleman who immediatly fled out of his Country otherwise he would have severely punished him for it But all was in vain for presently came Armies of crossed souldiers to pour down their vengeance on him and his lands Amongst these were many noble men and Ecclesiasticall persons Arch-bishops Bishops Abbots c. to all which the Pope promised Paradise but gave them not a peny The Earl of Tholouse perceived that he must either prepare for defence or submit the latter he thought the safer and therefore he went presently to the Popes Legate at Valance to whom he began to say that he thought it strange that so many armed men should be brought against him who used no other arms for his defence but his own innocency And that concerning the death of the Frier they should first have enquired the truth of the fact before they thus moved heaven and earth against him yea if he had been guilty yet there was an ordinary course of justice to be used against him and not to wreak their anger on his innocent Subjects and therefore Sir said he since I come voluntarily to you armed only with the testimony of a good conscience what further use is there of these armed Pilgrims pray you therefore counteâ—mand these souldiers before they go to make any further spoil in my territories for my own person may serve for a sufficient pledge c. The Legate answered that he had done well in coming to him yet could he not send back the souldiers except he would put seven of his best castles into his hands which should serve for a hostage Now did the Earl when it was too late see his own folly in putting himself into the Legates hands and thereby making himself a prisoner but there was no remedy now he must take Laws from him that had him in his power and therefore be told him that both his person and possessions were at his disposall beseeching him that his Subjects might receive no more damage by the Souldiers The Legate presently sent to put Garisons in those seven Castles commanding all the Consuls of every City presently to appear before him and when they were come he told them that Earl Remund had delivered up his Castles to the Pope and therefore they were to take notice of it that so they might acknowledge themselves lawfull Subjects to his Holinesse in case the Earl should falsifie his Oath to the Pope The Consuls were much astonished thus to see their Lord devested of all his possessions but that which most afflicted them was to see him led to S. Giles to be reconciled to the Church where the Legate commanded the Earl to strip himself stark naked all but his linnen drawers then did he put a cord about his neck whereby he led him nine times about the grave of Frier Peter scourging him with rods all the while The Earl demanded satisfaction for so sharp a penance seeing he was not guilty of the fact the Legate answered that he must submit if he would be reconciled to the Pope yea he must be thus scourged before the Earls Barons Marquesses Prelates and all the people he made him also to swear to be obedient all his life to the Pope and Church of Rome and to make irreconcileable warre against the Albingenses c Then did the Legate make him General of the crossed Souldiers for the seige of Beziers The Earl knew not what to do For to conduct an Army to fight against the Albingenses was to sin against his conscience and if he should fly away it would furnisâ— them with new matter of persecution against him and his subjects In this extremity he stayed in the Army a few daies and then went towards Rome to reconcile himself to the Pope Then did the Army come before the City of Beziers and provided all manner of Engines for battery reared up ladders for a general Escalado this the Earl of Beziers beholding and judging it impossible to defend the City he went out and cast himself down at the Legates feet beseeching him not to punish the innocent with the nocent which must needs be if the Town were taken by storm he told him that there were in the City great numbers of good Catholicks which would be subject to the same ruine with the Albingenses he desired him also to commiserate him now in his minority that was a most obedient servant to the Pope and had been brought up in the Romish Church in which he would live and die The Legate told him that all his excuses prevailed nothing and that he must do as he may The Earl returned into the City assembled the people and told them that he could obtain no mercy from the Legat except all the Albingenses would come and abjure their religion and promise to live according to the Laws of the Church of Rome The Popish party
a gentleman telling him that he might do a piece of service whereby he might not only merit heaven but gain a great reward here which was by going to the Earl of Bezires endeavouring to put him into great fears and then to perswade him to have recourse to the Legates mercy and withall that he should perswade him with great Oaths and Execrations whereof he could absolve him at his pleasure to come with him to the Legate with assurance that he should be dismissed safe and sound This Gentleman plaied his part so well that he brought the young Earl with him The Legate presently told him that he was now his prisoner till Carcasson was taken and till his Subjects had better learned their duty the Earl astonished hereat cried out that he was betraied and that faith was violated with him c. but this nothing prevailed for he was presently committed to the guard and custody of the Duke of Burgonne The inhabitants of Carcasson understanding this brake forth into tears and were so astonished that they now thought of nothing but how by flight to escape the danger but that seemed impossible being environed with such an Army at last one told them that he heard some old men say that there was a certain vault under ground great and large which went to the Castle of Cameret three leagues off Then were all the Citizens imploied to search for this vault and having at last found it they began their flight in the evening with their wives and children carrying with them only some victuals for a few daies This departure was accompanied with much sorrow thus to leave all their worldly enjoyments The next morning they came to the Castle and from thence dispersed themselves some to Arragon others to Catalonia others to Tholouse whether it pleased God to conduct them In the morning the Pilgrims were strangely astonished hearing no noise nor seeing any man stirring in the City yet they approached the wals with much fear lest it should be but a stratagem to endanger them but finding no opposition they mounted the wals crying out that the Albingenses were fled and thus was the City with all the spoils taken and the Earl of Beziers committed to prison in one of the strongest Towers of Carcasson Then did the Legate call all the Prelates and great Lords of his Army together telling them that though it was requisite that there should be alwaies a Legate in the Army yet it was likewise necessary that there should be a secular General wise and valiant to command in all their affairs c. This charge was first proffered to the Duke of Burgonne then to the Earl of Ennevers and to the Earl of S. Paul but they all refused it Lastly it was proffered to Earl Simon of Montfort who after some excuses accepted of it The Earl being made general settled himself at Carcasson with four thousand Pilgrims all the remainders of that huge Army After this Earl Remund of Tholouse went to the French King for his Letters of commendation to the Pope to be by him fully cleared from the death of Frier Peter and the Pope thereupon received him courteously gave him full remission and absolution and thereby declared him sufficiently justified Shortly after the Earl of Beziers died in prison and Earl Simon was put into possession of his lands whereupon all that bordered upon him began to fear him for that he gave it out that the Spring following he would have a great Army of Pilgrims wherewith he would chastise those that had not acknowledged his authority given him by the Church Upon this occasion Castris sent unto him the keys of their City the Castle of Pinies yielded to him and so did all round about Carcasson But the King of Arragon secretly encouraged the Gentlemen of the Vicounty of Beziers telling them that his Pilgrims would be uncertain and would not stay long with him and that if in the mean time they would but keep themselves in their Garisons when he was weak by the departure of his Pilgrims they might then set upon him and reduce him to reason These messages gave such encouragement to the Gentry that the Earl Simon being gone to Montpelliar they took arms to shake off his yoak besieging some of his souldiers in a Tower near to Carcasson the Earl hearing of it presently returned to succor them but the Tower was taken before he came which affront brought him into some contempt Then Captain Boucard belonging to Earl Simon attempted to surprise the strong Castle of Cabeâ—et making his approach thereto as secretly as he could Captain Roger commanding therein for Earl Remund was come forth with eighty horse to forrage Boucard on the sudden charged him but Roger doubled the charge in so furious a manner that he overcame Boucards party and brought him prisoner into that Castle that he came to surprise Gerad of Pepios took part with the Albingenses so that the warre grew hot but all the men that Earl Simon took he caused a great fire to be made and cast them into it neither did his men escape scot-free when they fell into their enemies hands The City of Carcasson was hereupon stricken with great fear having little hope to defend themselves but by flight being environed on all sides by their enemies About this time Earl Simon wrote to all the Prelates through Europe that if in the Spring following they did not send him good store of Pilgrims he could hold out no longer against his enemies having since the last departure of his Pilgrims lost above fourty Towns and Castles And whilest that he waited for these new succours he surprised the Castle of Beron where he pulled out the eyes of above a hundred Albingenses and cut off their noses leaving only one with one eye to guide the rest to Cabaret Anno 1210. Earl Simon being shut up in Carcasson for want of souldiers heard that his wife was comming from France with many Pilgrims whereupon he went out to meet her These Pilgrims he imployed against the Castle of Menerbe which at last was yielded up to him for want of water This Castle was defended by Remund Lord of Termes and was scituated in Narbonne one argument which Earl Simon used to stirre up his crossed souldiers to fight manfully against it was For that saith he there hath been no Masse sung in it since the yeare 1180. which is now thirty years Upon the surrender of the Castle they laboured to draw this noble Lord to recant his religion and turne Papist but finding him immovable they shut him up in a straight prison where shortly after he died they also took his wife sister and daughter who was a maid and other Noble women with whom they laboured to withdraw them from the truth both by flattery and frowns by faire speeches and cruell threats but when they saw that nothing would prevaile they made an huge
fire casting them into the same and burning them God fridi Annales Also after his taking of the said Castle he caused a Frier to preach to the people and to exhort them to acknowledge the Pope and Church of Rome but they not staying till he had done cried out We will not forsake our faith you labour but in vain for neither life nor death shall make us abandon our beliefe Then did the Earl and Legate cause a great fire to be made and cast into it a hundred and fourscore men and women who went in with joy giving God thanks for that he was pleased so to honour them as to die for his Names sake They also told Earl Simon that he would one day pay dear for his cruelties All that saw their valour and constancy were much amazed at it Then did the Earl besiege the Castle of Termes which also at last was taken for want of water yet they within the Castle when they perceived that they could hold out no longer one night quit the place and passed away undiscovered The Castle de la Vaur was also besieged in which there were many godly people Thither came many Pilgrims to the Legate from all Countries and amongst others six thousand Germanes of whose coming the Earl of Foix hearing he laid an ambush for them overthrew and slew them all not one escaping but an Earl that carried the news to Earl Simon After six moneths siege the Castle of Vaur was taken by assault where all the souldiers were put to the sword save eighty Gentlemen whom Earl Simon caused to be hanged and the Lord Aimeri on a gibbet higher then all the rest the Lady his sister was called Girauda was cast into a ditch and there covered with stones And for the rest of the people a very great fire was made and they were put to their choise whether they would forsake their opinions or perish by the flames There were scarce any of them found that would doe the first but exhorting one another they went into the kindled fire of their own accord saith Altisiodore but more probably they were forced into the same where joyfully they resigned up their spirits unto God Some say that they were about foure hundred persons that thus perished by fire After the return of the Earl Remund from the Pope the Legate still fought to entrap him but the Earl would not come againe within his reach Then did the Legate send the Bishop of Tholouse to him who pretended a great deal of love and friendship to the Earl and by his subtilty at last prevailed with him to profer his strong Castle of Narbonnes to them to lodge in as they passed that way but as soon as the Legate and his company were entred they seised upon it and put into it a garison which was a continuall vexation to all his subjects Then did the Legate resolve upon the utter extirpation of Earl Remund and all his house as the head of the Albingenses but presently after this Legate dying Earl Simon was frustrated of this hope About this time the English who now possessed Guienne which bordereth upon the Earldom of Tholouse began to help the Albingenses being stirred up thereto by Reinard Lollard a godly and learned man who by his powerfull preaching converted many to the truth and defended the faith of the Albingenses for which they were so eagerly pursued and constantly suffered Martyrdom And this they did the rather not only for their neighbour-hoods sake or for that Simon Earl of Lecester was a rebell and traitour to their King but because this Remund Earl of Tholouse whom they so cruelly whipped and other wise abused and had now also excommunicated was brother in law to King John For his former wife was Joane sometimes Queene of Sicilie which Joane was Kâ—ng Johns sister and bare to the Earl of Tholouse Remund who succeeded his father both in the Earldome and in his troubles John le Maier much commendeth this Lollard saying that he foretold many things by Divine Revelation which saith he came to passe in my time and therefore he putteth him into the rank of holy prophets And for his learning it is evident by his comment upon the Revelation where he setteth forth many things that are spoken of the Roman Antichrist This worthy man was afterwards apprehended in Germany and being delivered to the secular power was burnt at Collen Anno 1211. A new Legate called Theodosius was appointed to succeed who excommunicated Earl Remund and the Bishop of Tholouse thereupon sent the Earl word that he must depart out of the City for that he could not say Masse whilest an excommunicated person was in the City The Earl returned this answer being netled at his insolency that he the Bishop should presently depart out of his Territories and that upon pain of his life accordingly the Bishop departed and took with him the Canons of the Cathedrall Church with the Crosse Banner and Host and all of them barefooted in Procession Coming thus to the Legates Army they were received as persecuted Martyrs with the teares of the Pilgrims and generall applause of all Then the Legate thought that he had sufficiâ—nt cause to prosecute Earl Remund as a relapsed and impenitent man but first he sought by craft to get him into his power and with his fair flatering letters he at last drew him once again to Arles The Earl had requested the King of Arragon to meet him there When they were both come the Legate commanded them upon the pain of his high indignation that they should not depart but with his leave Whilest they were there the Earl was privately shewed by a friend The Articles of the Legate to which he would enforce him to subscrib which were these 1. That the Earl of Tholouse should presently dismiss and cashiere all his men at Armes not restraining one 2. That he shall be obedient and subject to the Church and repaire all the costs and damages which the Church hath been at 3. That in his lands no man should eat of more then two sorts of flesh 4. That he shall expell out of his territories all the Hereticks and their allies 5. That he shall deliver into the hands of the Legate and of Earl Simon all those persons that shall be named unto him 6. That no man in his lands whether noble or ignoble shall were any costly apparell but black course clokes 7. That All his Castles of defence shall be razed to the ground 8. That no Gentlemen of his shall live in any City or Castle but in country houses or villages only 9. That he shall not levie in his land any taxes or tolls but such as in old time were accustomed 10. That every Master of a family shall pay yearly four Tholousian pence to the Legate 11. That when Earl Simon shall passe through his countries he shall beare their charges 12. That after
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
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
was neither town nor City in all the Countrey wherein some were not banished beheaded or condemned to perpetual imprisonment neither was there any respect either of age or sex But especially at Gaunt many of the chief men were burned for Religion Also at the Emperours going to Bruxels there was a terrible persecution and slaughter made of Gods People in Brabant Artois c. so that two hundred men and women were apprehended at one time whereof some were drowned some buried quick some privily made away others sent to perpetual prison yea so many others were put to death that the hands of the hangman were tired with slaying of men Anno 1545. There was one Martin at Gaunt a Fishmonger who lived very dissolutely to his old age but it pleased God by a Sermon that he heard to bring him to the knowledge of the truth and to repentance for his former sins whereupon he left Gaunt and sought out the company of godly Christians who used much reading of the Scriptures by whom he was further instructed and grounded in the truth Then after three moneths he returned to the City again where he visited the Captives in prison comforted them in persecution and confirmed them in the truth which were led to the fire The Friars seeing this though formerly he had been very bountiful to them yet now they conspired against him whereby he was laid in bands and by sharp and cruel torments they would have enforced him to recant but not prevailing he was condemned and his goods confiscated as he stood at the stake a Friar said to him Martin except thou dost turn thou shalt go from this temporal to everlasting fire to whom he answered It is not for you to judge me and so he quietly slept in the Lord. The next day after two other men were burned and a woman buried alive for the same cause who joyfully and cheerfully suffered Martyrdome At Delden two Virgins of a noble stock who frequently and diligently attended Sermons being apprehended and examined couragiously confessed and maintained the truth whereupon they were condemned and the younger was first burned In the fire she prayed so ardently for her enemies that the Judges greatly marvelled at it Then did they exhort the elder that if she would not recant yet at least that she would petition to have her punishment changed into beheading instead of burning whereupon she answered that she held no errour of which she had cause to repent but the truth which was consonant to the Scriptures in which she trusted to persevere unto the end And for the kind of her punishment she feared not the fire but would rather follow the example of her dear sister and so being put into the fire she quietly slept in the Lord. But this was marvellous that after their death the bodies of them both remained white and unhurt by the fire whereupon some Christians privily in the night buried them Anno Christi 1545. There was in Mechlin one Andrew Thiessen who had three sonnes and a daughter whom he carefully brought up in the knowledge of the truth after which he went into England and there died Two of his sonnes went into Germany to study there and after a time returned home again instructing their mother brother and sister in the right knowledge of Christ which being taken notice of they were all carried before the Magistrate and exhorted to returne to the Church of Rome again The younger brother and sister being not so throughly grounded in the truth by reason of their yeares yielded something and so were sent home again the mother who remained constant was adjudged to perpetual imprisonment the two elder brethren defended the truth stoutly against the Friars Disputation not prevailing they proceeded to torments endeavouring to know of them who was their Master and what fellows they had they answered that their Master was Christ who bare his Crosse before them and for fellows they had innumerable dispersed in all places At last they were condemned to the fire and at the place of execution they began to exhort the people whereupon bals were put into their mouths which through vehemency in desiring to speak they thrust out again intreating them for the Lords sake that they might have leave to speak and so singing with a loud voice they were fastened to the stake where they prayed for their Persecutors exhorted one another and endured the fire patiently One of them feeling the violence of the flame said O what a small pain is this compared with the glory to come and so committing their spirits into the hands of God they finished their race Anno 1545. There was a great persecution in Dornick and amongst others there was one Adrian Tailor and his Wife apprehended and upon their examination the man being somewhat timorous relented something and so was beheaded but the woman being more constant was put into an iron grate and so buried alive There was also one Master Peter Bruly about the same time sometimes a Preacher in Strasburg but now at the request of the faithful in Dornick a diligent Preacher there He used to preach in houses the door standing open the Magistrate hearing of it laid wait for him shutting up the City gates and searching three days for him but the brethren in the night time let him down in a basket over the wall and when he was down one of them leaning over the wall to bid him farewel unawares threw down a loose stone which falling upon his leg brake it in pieces He complaining of his hurt the watchmen heard him and apprehended him Then did he give thanks to Almighty God who by that providence staid him there to bear witnesse to his truth whilst he was in prison he ceased not to instruct and confirm all them that came to him in the Word of grace after four moneths imprisonment he was condemned to be burnt and his ashes to be cast into the river The Friars took care that he should have but a small fire that his pain might be the more increased yet he constantly and chearfully suffered Martyrdom God made the Ministry of this good man very powerful to many amongst others there was one Peter Mioce who had lived long in all manner of wickedness and licenciousness but being through Gods grace converted he excelled all the rest of the brethren in zeale and holinesse at last he was apprehended and being asked whether he was one of Peter Brulies disciples he said that he was and that he had received much benefit by his Doctrine withall professing that his doctrine was consonant to the holy Scriptures whereupon he was let down into a deep dungeon full of Toads and other vermine Afterwards he was brought forth before the Senate who had provided some Friars to convert him To whom he said When I lived an ungodly life in all manner of
vice and wickedness you never said word to me but now for savouring and favouring the Word of God you seek my blood Then did they examine him about sundry Articles of Religion to which whilst he was making a full answer they cut him off bidding him answer in two words Yea or No Whereupon he said If you will not give me leave to answer fully to things of such importance send me again to my dungeon amongst the Toads and Frogs who will not interrupt me whilst I talk with my Lord my God Shortly after he was condemned to be burned and having a bag of powder hung about his neck when the fire came to it it gave a crack whereupon the Friars told the People that the Divel came out of him and carried away his soul to hell A tyrannous Prince in Germany apprehended a godly Minister and for his constancy in the truth put out both his eyes and kept him a long time in prison afflicting him with divers kinds of torments Then did he cause him to be degraded shaving the skin off his head and rubbing it with salt till the blood ran down his shoulders and paring off the ends of his fingers so that four days after he patiently yielded up the Ghost Not long after there was a godly Minister in Antwerp called Christopher Fabri that was betrayed by a woman who pretended a great zeal to Religion and was cast into prison where he lay for a long time and endured much misery at last he was brought forth and condemned to be burnt alive And when the Margrave brought him forth to execution the people having first sung Psalmes fell to casting of stones against the Executioner so as the poor Prisoner being bound and fire set to him the Margrave durst stay no longer but ran away and so did the executioner but before he fled by the command of the Margrave he took a hammer and beat out Fabrie's brains and stabbed him into the back with a dagger so that the people running to save him from the fire found him dead after which by the command of the Margrave he had a great stone tied about his neck and was thrown into the river Anno 1549. One Nicholas and Barbara his wife and one Austin and Marrian his wife Germans by birth went to Geneva where they lived for a space then returning through Germany they intended to go into England but having passed through Dornick they were discovered to the Lieutenant thereof who speedily pursuing them overtook them yet at that time God delivered Austin out of their hands but Nicholas and the two women were apprehended and carried back by the souldiers Coming to an Inne by the way at table Nicholas gave thanks whereat the wicked Captain swearing grievously said Let us see thou lewd Heretick if thy God can deliver thee out of my hand Nicholas replyed Hath Christ ever offended you that by your blasphemous swearing you thus tear him in pieces Pray you if you have any thing against Christ rather wreak your anger upon this poor body of mine and let the Lord alone Then did he bind them hands and feet and carried them to Burges and cast them into the dungeon Divers Friers coming to them Nicholas in disputing with them so confounded them that they went away ashamed saying that he had a divel crying To the fire with the Lutherane Afterwards the Magistrate sought to pump out of Nicholas what acquaintance he had in that City but not prevailing with him he went to his wife and by flattering speeches and fair promises he wrought so upon her weaknesse that he gat out all that she knew whereupon ensued a great persecution Shortly after Nicholas was condemned to be burned at the hearing of which sentence he blessed the Lord who had counted him worthy to be a witnesse in the cause of his dear and wel-beloved Son Jesus Christ At the place of execution hew a commanded not to speak to the People for if he did he should have a woodden ball thrust into his mouth yet as he was binding to the stake forgetting the command he cryed out O Charles Charles how long shall thy heart be hardned With that one of the Souldiers gave him a great blow Then he said Ah miserable People who are not worthy that the Word should be preached to you The Friars crying out that he had a Divel he answered them in the words of David Depart from me all ye wicked for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping and so commending his spirit into the hands of God he ended his life in the midst of the flames Marrian was condemned to be buried quick and when some earth was thrown upon her the hangman stamped upon her with his feet till she died Afterwards Austin that had before escaped was apprehended and being examined though by nature he was a very timorous and weak man yet did he stand to the defence of the truth valiantly and answered his adversaries very boldly Being condemned to be burnt as he was going to execution a Gentleman drank to him in a cup of wine exhorting him to pity himself at least not to destroy his soule Austin thanked him saying What care I have of my soule you may see by this in that I had rather give my body to be burned then to sin against my conscience Being tyed to the stake and fire set to him he heartily prayed to the Lord and so patiently departed Anno 1551. The Emperour Chales the fifth having obtruded the Interim upon Germany many godly Ministers were persecuted and driven from their places for opposing the same as may be seen in my first part of Lives The city of Magdenburg also for refusing it had an army sent against it which besieged it for a whole year together whereby many of the godly Citizens lost their lives and others endured great miseries But at last Gods providence so ordering of it warre arose betwixt the Emperour and the King of France whereupon peace was granted unto Magdenburg upon good terms and the inhabitants enjoyed their former Religion quietly Anno 1555. There was one Hostius born at Gaunt who for some time was a member of the French Church here in London in King Edwards days but in the beginning of Queen Maries reign he went vvith his family to Norden in Frizeland and aftervvards having some businesse to Gaunt he went thither where he instructed many of his friends in the truth and hearing that a Friar used to preach good doctrine he went to hear him but the Friar that day defended transubstantiation which so grieved him that he could scarce refrain from speaking till the Sermon was ended When the Friar was come down from the Pulpit he charged him for preaching false doctrine perswading the people by the Scripture that the bread was but the Sacrament of the
cast into several prisons yet remained chearfull praising God for accounting them worthy to suffer for his truth and after a few dayes they were all brought forth before the Magistrates who speaking to Robert Oguire said We hear that you never come to Masse That you disswade others from it That you keep Conventicles in your house where erroneous doctrine is preached c. Robert answered I indeed refuse to go to Mass because the death and precious blood of Christ is utterly abolished there and troden under foot c. And I cannot deny but there have met together in my house honest people fearing God Not with intention to harm any I assure you but for the advancement of Gods glory and the good of many c. Then one demanded what they did when they met together To which Baudizon ansvvered When vve meet together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to hear the Word of God vve first falling on our knees before God in the humility of our spirits do make confession of our sins before his Divine Majesty then we pray that the Word of God may be rightly divided and purely preached then we pray for our Soveraign Lord the Emperour that the Common-wealth may be peaceably governed to the glory of God yea we forget not you whom we acknowledge our Superiours intreating our good God that you may maintain this City in tranquillity c. Thus you hear what we do in our Assemblies and if you will not be offended to hear the summe of our prayers I am ready to recite the same unto you One of the Magistrates wished him to go on whereupon kneeling down he prayed before them all with such fervency of affection and ardency of zeal that it forced the Magistrates to break forth into tears Baudizon rising up said Your Masterships may hereby take a scantling how we are imployed in our meetings Being further examined every one of them made an open Confession of his faith and so were returned to prison again And not long after they were tortured upon the Rack to make them confesse who they were that met at their house but they would discover none but such as they knew were at that time out of their reach Four or five dayes after the men were again convented before the Magistrates who asked them if they would submit themselves to the will of the Magistrates Robert and Baudizon said they would but Martin the younger sonne said he would not submit thereto but would accompany his Mother and so he was sent back to prison and the Father with his eldest son were presently adjudged to be burnt alive Sentence being pronounced one of the Judges said This day shall you go to dwell with all the Divels in hell fire Then were they returned to prison praising God and by their patience and constancy conquerred the rage and fury of their enemies In prison there came some Friars to them telling them that the hour was come wherein they must finish their dayes They answered Blessed be the Lord our God who now delivering our bodies out of this vile prison will receive our souls into his glorious and heavenly Kingdom Then said one of the Friars Father Robert thou art an old man I intreat thee in this thy last hour think of saving thy soule and if thou wilt give ear to me I le warrant thee thou shalt do well Robert answered Poor man how darest thou assume that to thy self which belongs to God alone and so rob him of his honour c. Another wishing him to pity his soul he said Dost thou not see what pity I have on it when for the name of Christ I am willing to give my body to the fire hoping to day to be with him in Paradise c. Then said a Friar Out Dog thou art not worthy the name of a Christian thou and thy sonne are resolved to damne your soules with all the Divels in hell Then would they have severed the Father from his son which Baudizon perceiving said Pray you let my Father alone he is an old man hinder him not from receiving the Crown of Martyrdome Another Friar said Away Varlet thou art the cause of thy Fathers perdition Whilst Baudizon was stripping and fitting himself to be sacrificed some of the Friars had fastned a Crucifix in the old mans hands perswading him that it would please the People and that for all that he might lift up his heart to God c. But so soon as Baudizon saw it he said Alasse Father what do you now will you play the Idolater at your last hour and so pulling the Idol out of his hand he threw it away At the place of execution they were set upon a Scaffold and Baudizon desired leave to make a Confession of his faith answer was made that he might confess himself to a Friar if he would which he refusing was readily haled to the stake where he began to sing the 16. Psalm then said a Friar Do you not hear what wicked errors these Hereticks sing to beguile the people withall Baudizon hearing him replyed Thou simple Idiot callest thou the Psalms of David errours but no marvel for thus are ye wont to blaspheme against the Spirit of God Then seeing them about to chain his Father to the stake he said to him Be of good courage Father the worst will be past by and by Then did he often breath forth Oh God Father everlasting accept the sacrifice of our bodies for thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ his sake A Friar cryed Out Heretick thou liest God is none of thy Father the Divel is thy Father Baudizon fixing his eys upon heaven said to his Father Behold I see the heavens open and millions of Angels ready to receive us and rejoycing to see us thus bearing witness to the truth in the view of the world Father let us rejoyce and be glad for the joys of heaven are opened to us Then said a Friar I see Hell open and millions of Divels are ready to carry you thither A poor man in the croud cryed out Be of good comfort Baudizon stand to it thou fightest in a good quarrel I am on thy side which words so soon as he had spoken he departed and so hastened himself from danger The fire being kindled Baudizon oft said to his Father Yet a very little while and we shall enter into the heavenly mansions the fire encreasing the last words which they spake were Jesus Christ thou Sonne of God into thy hands we commend our spirits and so they sweetly slept in the Lord. After the death of these worthy champions of Christ many of the Popish rabble were sent if possible to seduce the Mother and son remaining in prison and coming to them the first subtilty they used was to separate them asunder then they set upon the woman as the weaker vessel and so wrought upon her
that she began to waver and let go her first faith this the adversaries much rejoyced in and the poor flock of Christ in that place hearing of it were as much afflicted with the news but God left them not in this mournful condition long For a Monk one day going to her perswaded her to draw her sonne Martin to the same recantation with her self which she promised to do but when they came together Martin perceiving the grievous Apostacy of his Mother bewailed it with many tears saying to her Oh Mother what have you done have you denied him that redeemed you Alas what injury hath he done you that you should requite him with so great an injury and dishonour Now am I plunged into that woe which I most feared Ah good God that I should live to see this which pierceth me to the very heart His mother hearing his pittiful complaints and seeing him drowned in tears for her sake began again to renew her strength in the Lord and with tears cryed out Oh Father of mercies be merciful to me miserable sinner and cover my transgression under the righteousnesse of thy blessed Son Lord enable me with strength from above to stand to my first confession and make me to abide stedfast therein even to my last breath Presently in came the seducers hoping to finde her in the same minde that they left her but she no sooner saw them but cryed Avoid Satan get thee behind me for henceforth thou hast nether part nor portion in me I will by the help of God stand to my first Confession and if I may not sign it with ink I will seal it with my blood and so after this time through Gods gracious assistance she grew stronger and stronger Then were they both condemned to be burnt alive and their ashes to be sprinkled in the aire When the sentence was passed as they returned to prison they said Now blessed be God who causeth us thus to triumph over our enemies This is the wished hour our gladsome day is come let us not therefore forget to be thankfull for that honour that God doth us in thus conforming us to the image of his Sonne Let us remember those that have troden this path before us for this is the high-way to the Kingdom of heaven c. Hereupon some of the Friars being ready to burst for anger said unto Martin that was most valiant We see now Heretick that thou art wholly possest body and soul with a Divel as were thy father and brother who are now in hell Martin answered As for your railings and cursings God will this day turn them into blessings in the sight of himself and all his holy Angels When they came into prison there came to them two persons of great quality of whom one of them said to Martin Young man I have compassion on thee if thou wilt be ruled by me and return to the Church of Rome thou shalt not only be freed from this shameful death but I will also give thee an hundred pounds Martin presently replyed Sir you present before me many temporal commodities But alas do you think me so simple as to forsake an eternal Kingdome for the enjoyment of a short temporal life No Sir it s now too late to speak to me of worldly commodities I will hearken to no other speech but of those spiritual commodities which I shall enjoy this day in Gods Kingdome c. Soon after Martin and his mother were carried to the place of their Martyrdome and being bound to the stake the woman said We are Christians and that which we now suffer is not for murther nor theft but because we will believe no more than the Word of God teacheth us The fire being kindled the heat of it did nothing abate the fervency of their seal but they continued crying Lord Jesus into thy hands we commend our spirits and so they blessedly slept in the Lord. A Friar at Gaunt called Charles Coninck being through Gods mercy converted to the truth left his Friars weed and joyned himself to the brethren for which he was apprehended and remaining constant was condemned then came a special friend perswading him to recant and he would procure him a Cannonship To whom Charles answered Sir I thank you for your good will and kind offer but I cannot accept them without offending God and that rest is no true rest and quietnesse which is obtained against the peace of a good conscience Shortly after his death one of his adversaries which had the greatest hand in procuring of it fell into grievous terrour and horrour of conscience whereof within a few dayes he died The Persecution of the Duke de Alva in the Netherlands WHen the light of the Gospel was much spread abroad in the Netherlands King Philip of Spaine sent the Duke de Alva with a great Army to root out the Professors of it who exercised unparalell'd cruelty against all sorts of persons both of the Nobility and Commons permitting his souldiers to ravish honest Matrons and Virgins many times causing their husbands and Parents to stand by and behold it This Duke on a time boasted at his own table that he had been diligent to root out heresie for that beside those which he had slain in war in the space of six years he had put into the hands of the common hangman above eighteen thousand persons His sonne also Don Frederick being sent by him to Zutphen was re-received by the Bourgers without any opposition yet was he no sooner entred but he fell to murther hang and drown a number of the inhabitants with infinite cruelties shewed upon wives and virgins yea not sparing the very infants From thence marching to Naerden in Holland the inhabitants made an agreement with him and he entred the town peaceably but never did Turks or Scythians or the most barbarous and inhumane Nations in the world commit more abominable cruelties than Don Frederick did in this town for when the Bourgers had given the best entertainment that they could to him and his souldiers he caused it to be proclaimed that they should all assemble themselves together in the Chappel of the Hospital where they should be made acquainted with such Laws according to which they should hereafter govern themselves but when these poor people were thus assembled he commanded his souldiers to murther them all without sparing any one the men were massacred the women were first ravished and then murthered most cruelly the children and infants had their throats cut and in some houses they tied the inhabitants to posts and then set fire on the houses and burnt them alive so that in the whole town neither man wife maid nor child old nor young were spared and then the town was wholly razed to the ground without pity or mercy After this Don Frederick besieged Harlem which held out against him for a long time
marched to another coming just at the time when the Protestants were at Church hearing a Sermon They were guided to the place by two Friers the Protestants seeing them coming shut the Church doors barricadoing them up with benches these villaines laboured to break open the door but when they could not readily do it they clambred up into the windows through which they shot with their musquets at the people whereby they wounded and killed many The Minister beiâ—g a man rarely endued with learning and piety according to the shortnesse of time exhorted them with lively reasons to persevere in the truth notwithstanding all the danger but in the mean time these barbarous Papists had forced open the door where they fell to murthering of all without respect of quality sex or age Some Lords and Gentlemen were here slaine the Minister was shot to death divers Ladies and children gate into the Belfree to save themselves but these hell-hounds set fire to the place and miserably burnt them all These savage wretches having thus glutted themselves with innocent blood in this place they marched to Sondresse The Papists in that place hearing of their coming went to the Justice protesting that they would guard him from danger and that they would not suffer such villanies to be committed amongst them Then did they beat their Drums ring their Bells and arme themselves under pretence of securing the Protestants who trusting to their promises mixed themselves amongst them to stand for their own defence These Popelings concealing their mischievous intent killed now one then another as if it had been by accident so that though divers of them were slain yet they found not out the mystery of the practice yet some both men and Gentlewomen sought to escape but all passages being shut up they were met with and cruelly murthered Then did they more openly discover their malice killing the Protestants where ever they met them hereupon some eighteen of the Protestants together with some Ladies and young children gat together and the men being well armed they marched close together repulsing their enemies and at last came to a Church in the mountain of Sondresse unto which place a Minister and some others in all about seventy three men were gathered together and after their prayers made unto God they passed the Valley of Malaneo which was beset by the enemy on two sides but such as kept the passages were by Gods special providence so astonished that they fled away and the Protestants though they were pursued to the tops of the mountains yet did miraculously escape with safety Then did the Pesants joyne with these villaines to rob and plunder the houses of the Protestants and amongst them divers Noblemens houses richly furnished with great abundance They ran up and down also through fields woods and mountains searching every bush for the Protestants and as they found any of them they presently murthered them There was an honorable Lady that not long before came out of Italy to enjoy her liberty of conscience whom they exhorted to change her Religion which she refusing they advised her that yet at least she would do it out of a care of her young infant which she held in her armes which otherwise together with her self should presently be slain But she with an undaunted courage answered I have not departed out of Italy my native countrey nor forsaken all the estate that I had there to renounce now the faith which I had wrought in me by the Lord Jesus Christ yea I will rather suffer if it were possible a thousand deaths And how shall I have regard in this case to my infant since God my heavenly Father spared not his own Sonne my Lord Jesus Christ but delivered him up to death for his love to me and such sinners as I am and so giving her childe to one she said Behold my child the Lord God who hath care of the birds of the aire is much more able to save this poore creature although by you it should be left to these wild mountains Then unlacing her gown she opened her breast saying Here is the body which you have power to kill but my soul on which you have no power to lay your hands that I commend to my God and so she was presently slain and hewed in pieces The infant being a lovely and sweet Child they spared and delivered it to a Popish Nurse to be brought up These miscreants finding such sweetnesse by the plunder of the Protestants they spared none plundering their houses twice or thrice over Some noble Matrons had their rings pul'd off their fingers and if they refused presently to draw them off they would cut off either their hands or fingers from them Some women with their children were dragged to the tops of high Mountains and threatned to be thrown down headlong with their children if they would not promise to go to Masse and though one amongst them was found that through terrour promised them to do it yet did they throw her down with the rest without all pity One Dominico Berto of sixteen years old they set upon an Asse with his face to the tayle and the tayle in his hands for the bridle and thus with many jears they led him to the Market-place then they cut off his nose ears and cheeks then burned many holes in several parts of his body with hot irons continuing these torments till in that barbarous manner they had killed him Yet through the wonderful goodnesse of God some Ministers with their wives and children by great travel dangers and difficulties amongst the craggy and high mountains were delivered out of the hands of these bloody persecutors Theophilus Messino was shot with a Musket but being not slain they set open his mouth with a gag filled it with gunpowder and giving fire to it tore his head miserably his son was slain with many wounds Another being wounded and stripped naked was carried out and thrown into the woods yet afterwards he gat up and went home to his own house where he had mountains of gold profered him if he would turn Papist yet through Gods mercy he continued faithful to the death A young Gentleman too much addicted to the vanities of the world being earnestly sollicited to forsake the Protestant Religion stoutly refused whereupon they shot him with a Musket and having layn a while and then raising himself up he besought them to dispatch him that he might render his soul to his Creator Divers men and women were thrown down from Bridges into the river Adda and drowned for their constancy in the truth Some had their mouthes sâ—iâ— up to their ears others had the flesh cut from their faces others were slashed in other parts of their body till they dyed and others were often put to the strappado and then hewen in pieces A noble Virgin that was come to Sondres for
afterwards she recovered so much strength as to get upon her knees and as she was praying to God the bloody enemy dispatched her Giovanni Salvagiot as he was returning from Bagnol after the peace was concluded as he passed by a Chappel because he put not off his hat and made obeysance thereto was murthered and his body left unburied Giovanni Gayo and divers other men women and children hid themselves in a Cave where for a time they continued in safety but at last were discovered by some of these Bloodhounds whereupon they fell upon their knees and begged their lives of them most of the murtherers having been their neighbours and familiar acquaintance and such as had pretended great friendship to them But the mercy of these men proved extreme cruelty For the kindest salute they could afford their old acquaintance was with Swords Musquets and Pistols which the poor people perceiving and not desiring to behold the lamentable misery each of other they kneeled down in a Ring and thrust their heads into Ferne and such like stuffe as they had prepared to lie upon in which posture they were all miserably shot to death and their dead bodies afterwards horribly mangled and cut in pieces Jacob Barral and his wife having been taken prisoners by the Earle of Saint Secondo were three or four dayes after carried forth and having first cut off the womans breasts they shot them to death Antony Guiguo went to Periero with a purpose to change his Religion but it pleased God so to touch his heart that he repented of the resolution and sought to make an escape But as he was flying some Troops of the Marquesse of Galeas caught him and used him most cruelly because he would not yield to go to Masse and as they carried him prisoner towards Praly passing by a Precipice the poor man to avoid his tormentors leaped down from the Rock and so was dashed in pieces Very many others there were which might here have been inserted whereof some were drowned some burnt some slaine with the sword some shot to death some starved some smothered in the Snow some pined some killed with staves some cut in pieces but I am weary with reckoning up their names and I suppose the Reader also is tired with these cruelties yet are their names written in red letters in the Kalender of Heaven though their Popish adversaries would have them written in the dust and whosoever desires to see more may finde a larger Catalogue in Master Moorlands History of the Peresecutions in the Valleys of Piemont CHAP. XLV A true Narrative of the War in the Valleys of Piemont between the Popish and Protestant party upon the occasion of the Massacre IN the former Chapter you have a faithful Narration of what cruelties were exercised against the Reformed party in the Valleys of Piemont from the first arrival of the Marquesse of Pianessa's forces at St. Giovanni which was April 17. 1655. to the 21. of the same by which time they had made such havock of the poor people that there was now onely the little Communalty of Roras which was left entire and untouched But that they also might in all things be made like unto their suffering brethren of the other Churches and that it might appear that the destruction was designed to be universal the Earle of Christophle upon that very day being April 21. sent three hundred Souldiers secretly by the way of Villaro to surprize them of Roras and to put them all to the sword This party being got upon a little hill called Rumer belonging to Roras it pleased God that they were met with by some Souldiers belonging to Captaine Joshua Gianavel whom God raised up at that time as a choice Instrument for the preservation of the poor scattered remnant of his people These Souldiers being but seven or eight of them yet having been beforehand placed in ambuscado at a convenient Post to prevent the inrode of the enemy they fired upon them and plyed them so hard that many of them were killed upon the place and the rest supposing by the great number of bullets that flew about their eares that the men in Ambuscado were sixe times more in number than indeed they were they fled back in great disorder and confusion which the others perceiving they fell upon their Rear and chased them at least three quarters of a League amongst the Rocks and Woods doing notable execution upon them in their flight The Members of this little Church of Roras to take away all occasions of exceptions presented their complaints to the Marquesse of Pianessa who that he might have the better opportunity to deceive and surprize them answered that those of his Souldiers that went to Roras were but Thieves Robbers and Out-lawes that herein had wholly disobeyed his Orders adding that they had done him a singular favour in driving them out of their Countrey and that he would take a course to prevent their being disturbed for the future and hereupon he published an Order whereby he straightly charged his Souldiers not to give them any further causes of complaints nor to molest them in any kind hereafter Yet perfidiously the very next day he sent a party of five hundred chosen men to put his first bloody designe in execution As these men were passing over a little hill of Roras they were so saluted by eleven Musqueteers of the Protestants and six men with slings under the conduct of Captaine Gianavel who had divided them into three Squadrons that the enemy was soone put to flight and this poor handful of despicable men pursued them for an whole League slaying a very great number of them without the losse or hurt of any one of themseves which shews the admirable Providence of God in preserving and prospering those that fight his battels The Marquesse of Pianessa though he had failed this second yet was resolved to make a third attempt and still to deceive them he made new promises and protestations that no injury in the world should be offered them and that in regard of the Intercession of the Earle of Christophle their Lord and Patron he would protect and defend them yet the very morrow after he sent a party of seven hundred men who first seized upon and secured all the passes that none might escape their bloody hands and then most barbarously burnt and destroyed whatsoever they met with thorow all the Communalty of Roras Hereupon seventeen housekeepers whose hearts God had marvelously strengthened and encouraged for their poor Brethrens preservation seeing what they must expect and that nothing but death and destruction waited for them unlesse some admirable providence prevented it as also calling to mind those signal deliverances which God had vouchsafed to his ancient people of the Jewes in their greatest straits they unanimously resolved to cast themselves with their lives and estates into the hands of the same God resting upon his gracious promises and freely
hither out of the neighbouring Silesia and so the use of the German tongue was brought in together with them As for Religion it was reformed in Lesna about the same time by the most illustrious Count Andrew Palatine of Bernstien according to the rites of the Bohemian Confession which it hath retained to this day and became as it were the Metropolis of the Churches of that Confession throughout all the greater Poland And when after the year 1620. a very sharp persecution was raised against the Professors of the Gospel in Bohemia and not long after the Ministers and Nobility were banished they were fain to seek refuge in Poland whom that most pious Noble man the Lord Raphael de Lesna Palatine of Belse received under his protection appointing Lesna Wlodava Baranovia for their places of refuge But for as much as the greater part did seat themselves at Lesna because of the neernesse thereof and not long after a far greater company flocked thither out of Silesia for there also the butchery of souls grew wonderful fierce in the years 1628. and 1629. it came to passe that Lesna by the addition of many streets grew into a large City having three market places four Churches a large School above twenty streets one thousand six hundred houses two thousand freemen of the City and abundance of other company There was built also a very fair Church for the service of God according to the rites of the Augustane Confession which had over it three Pastors learned men and a School for the mother tongue with some Schoolmasters beside the Free-schoole which had a learned man of the forementioned Confession appointed over it by the title of Prorector The Citizens also having ordered themselves according to the best policy they could there were found out handsome wayes for a publick revenue that made no noise and were little felt and without any mans dammage or burden so that they were able for some years to maintaine workmen for the compassing of the City about with a Bulwark and Trench and for the building of gates with walls and faire turrets And lastly there was built a very fair Court-house in the middle of the market-place of the old City there was scarce the like in all great Poland except at Posnania In a word Civility trading merchandize for all things were here bought and sold and Religion did so flourish here that this City did not come behinde any City in Poland for its admirable pleasantnesse All this was matter of joy not only to those pious Christians that were scattered out of several places for the Gospels sake and here gathered together under the protection of God but to others also that came hither from all parts as strangers but it galled the enemies of the Gospel extremely so that it made them leave no designe unassayed for the overthrow of this City of refuge for the godly At the first Annis 1628 1629. they made use of several accusations and slanders to King Sigismund the third suggesting to him that it was a confluence of all sorts of men that were enemies and traytors to his Majesty that it was good to nip them in the bud c. But through the prudence of that great Senator the Lord of the place whose wisdome went beyond their envy and who knew well enough how to counter-work all malicious projects of that kinde all those their battering-rams were at that time used in vain But Anno 1653. after that the Swedes were broken by the Emperours army in Germany and were driven out of Silesia new plots were hatched at Glogaw to send out one or two of the Emperours regiments who should suddenly invade Lesna sack the town and put the inhabitants to the sword or at least scatter them But it pleased God so to order it that this plot was discovered by some of themselves two days before the appointed time and so vanished into smoak though the smoak of their devices did not yet cease to rise For after the death of the most illustrious Prince Palatine of Belse when his estate was divided amongst his sons and heirs and the County of Lesna fell to the illustrious Lord Boguslaus his third son then newly returned from travelling the Plotters were not wanting so to lie in wait to insnare this candidate of great wisdome and vertue that after they had wearied him for some years with the promises of honours unto which there was no door of entrance but by entertaining the Roman-Catholick Religion at last they enticed him to professe Popery But however they heaped many honours upon him procuring him some Captainships afterwards the Generalship of great Poland and lastly the Arch-treasurership of the Realme yet could they not procure his hatred of the Professors of the Gospel and the dissipation of his subjects which was the thing they hoped for but he still preserved intire to his Lesna those priviledges both Civil and Religious which his father of blessed memory had promised offered or confirmed to them They attempted therefore this other device The Bishop of Posnania ventured to redemand the old Parish-Church because it was of ancient foundation and pretended that it might not any longer be left to the use of Hereticks The Lord Treasurer answered that his Grandfather Andrew Palatine of Brenstien had built another Church for the Catholicks whose number was very small in the town scarce ever above three or four Citizens to exercise their Religion in and endowed it with revenues to that purpose that the greater number of Citizens might enjoy the greater Church But all was in vain though he doubled the maintenance of the Roman Parish-priest for Anno 1652. they brought the Lord Count before the tribunal of the Realme where the cause must needs go against him the very same persons being accusers witnesses and Judges yet he obtained that this Church should not suddenly be taken away from his Subjects the inhabitants of old Lesna until they had built themselves a new one This building they presently set about with the help of forrein Churches according as they were in a capacity to help things being every where in confusion But when the adversaries saw that it went on apace and that this was like to be bigger than the other for so great now was the multitude of Citizens of this Confession that the old Church was not able to contain them they began again to mutter and threaten that this might not be endured that the Hereticks should have a bigger Church than the Catholicks that they did but build this also for the Catholicks c. At length the irruption of the Swedes into Poland Anno 1655. gave them the long wished for occasion of oppressing and rooting out not only the Lesnians but also all the Professors of the Gospel or as they were wont to be called the Dissenters from the Roman Religion throughout Poland For although the Papists themselves had transacted with the Swedes at their coming out of
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