the olde vnto the young namely men of holy Church breken his hest and few Bishoppes pursuen hem therfore The 15. Article is this that I shoulde haue taught to true men of Christ that on no maner they should worship the Image of him that was done on the crosse or the Image of the blessed mayd his mother or of other Sayntes into honor and worship of the same ordeinet in the minde of them And oft sithes the worshipper of such Image he has reprouet saying and strongly affirming that Church men sinnen and done Idolatry This conclusion haue I not sayd in these termes But this I say with protestation that God commaūdes in his law in diuers places Exod. 20. Leuit. 19. 26. Deut. 5. 7. Tobiae 1. Baruc. 6.2 ad Corin. 10. Esay 45. Iere. 2.6.8 10.22 vltimo Sapient 13. 14. 15. Mac. 5. Threnorum 4. postremo that men should not worshippē grauen Images that ben werkes of mens handes And also he bids that mē should not make to hem grauen Images in likenesse of the thinges that bene in heauen to that end to worshippen hem sethen neither God ne Christ by his manhood gaue neuer commaundement to make thes Images ne expresse counsell ne his Apostles in all his law ne to worship such that bene made But wel I wote that by mens owne relation that haue misbeleuet in hem that many mē sinnen in manmetry worshipping such dead Images Notforthy to tho men bene Images good to whom they bene but kalēdars and through the sight of hem they knowen the better and worshippen oft God and his Saints And to such mē they done harme that settē her hope and trust in hem or done any worship to hem agaynst Gods law his hest Vnde ait Gregorius in Registro libro 10. in Epistola ad Serenum Episcopum Si quis imagines facere voluerit minimè prohibe adorare omnino prohibe Sed hoc solicitè fraternitas tua admoneat vt ex visione rei gestae ardorem compunctionis percipiant vt in adoratione totius trinitatis prosternantur These conclusions poyntes and articles that I haue vnder protestation in this booke affirmed I will stand by hem and maintayne hem with the grace of almighty god to the time that the cōtrary be prouet dewly by Gods law And this protestation I make for my fayth and my beliefe as I did the beginning that whensoeuer this worshipfull or any other Christē man shewes me verayly by gods law the contrary of this I will holy forsake hem and take me to the veray trouth and better vnderstanding of wiser men redy to be amended by the law of Iesu Christ and be a true Christen man faythfull sonne of holy church And of these I beseech you all bere witnes where ye commen Subsequenter vero quia fide dignorum relatione recepimus quod idem Gulielmus Swinderby latitabat quo minus posset in propria person a citari ipsum Gulielmum vijs modis per Edictum publicum ad instar albi praetoris in Ecclesia nostra cathedrali Herfordensi parochialibus ecclesijs de Kington Croste Whitney nostrae diocesis vbi idem Gulielmus solebat commorari citari fecimus prout quemadmodum in modo citatorio continetur cuius tenor sequitur in haec verba ¶ The Citation IOhn by Gods permission Byshop of Hereford to his deare sons our Deane of Leamster to the persons of Croft Almaly and Whitney and also to the Vicars of Kingston Iardersley Wiggemore and Monmouth Clifford and of S. Iohns aultar in our cathedrall Church of Hereford and to the rest of the Deanes Parsons Vicars Chapleines parish Priestes and to other whosoeuer in any place are appoynted through our city and dioces of Hereford sendeth greeting grace and benediction We bid and commaund charging you straitly in the vertue of holy obedience that you cite or cause to be cited peremptorily and vnder the payne of excommunication William Swinderby pretending himselfe to be a Priest That he appeare before vs or our Commissaryes the 20. day of this present moneth of Iuly at North Lodebury within our dioces which the continuance of the dayes following in other places also to be assigned vnto him if it be expedient till such thinges as haue bene and shall be layde agaynst him be fully discussed to aunswere more at large to certayne positions and articles touching the Catholicke fayth and the holy mother Churches determination that haue bene exhibited and ministred vnto the sayd William And to see and heare also many thinges that haue openly in indgement before vs and a great number of faythfull Christians by him bene euen in writing confessed to be condemned as hereticall false schismaticall and erroneous And to see and heare positions and Articles denied by the sayd William to be proued by faythfull witnesses and other lawfull trials against the sayd William And to receiue for his false hereticall erroneous and schismaticall doctrine that iustice shall appoynt or els to shew causes why the premisses shoulde not bee done And if the sayd William lieth priuely or els cannot be so cited in his proper person we will that in your Churches when most people shall then come together to diuine seruice you opēly with a loud voyce and that may be vnderstanded cause the said William peremptorely to be cited vnto the premisses certifying the same William that whether he shall appeare the day and place appointed or no we notwithstanding will proceed vnto the premisses agaynst the sayd William according to the canonicall decrees by forme of law in the absence or contumacy of the sayde William notwitstanding We will moreouer if the sayd William shall appeare at the sayd day and place as is aforesayde before vs frendly heare him and honestly and fauorably as farre as we may with Gods leaue deale with him graunting free licence to come and to go for his naturall liberty without any hurt either in body or goods And see that you fully certify vs of the thinges that you or any of you shall do about the execution of this our commaundement and that by your letters patentes signed with your seale autenticall geuing also faythsully to the sayde William or to his lawfull Proctor if he require it a copye of this our present commaundement Geuen at our house of Whitburne vnder our seale the fift day of the moneth of Iuly in the yeare of our Lord. 1391. ¶ The act of the first day On Thursday the xx of Iuly in that yeare of the Lord aforesaid We in the parish church of North Lidebury afore sayd about 6 of the clocke sitting in iudgement after that it was reported vnto vs how the foresayd Williā was personally taken and lawfully cited Caused the sayd William then and there openly in iudgement to be called out to do heare and receiue such thinges wherto he was afore cited to do otherwise
in them from argument to argument with pro contra till that they wot not where they are vnderstand not theÌ„selues But the shame that these proude Sophisters haue to yelde them to men and before men maketh theÌ„ oft fooles and to be concluded shamefully before God ¶ And the archb said to me I purpose not to oblige thee to the subtle arguments of clerks since thou art vnable therto but I purpose to make thee obey to the determination of holy Church ☞ And I sayd sir by open euidence and great witnesse a M. yeare after the incarnation of Christ the determination which I haue here before you rehearsed was accept of holy Church as sufficient to the saluation of all them that would beleue it faythfully and work thereafter charitably But Sir the determination of this matter whiche was brought in since the fiend was loosed by Frier Thomas agayne specially calling the most worshipfull SacrameÌ„t of Christes owne body an accident without subiect whiche terme since I know not that Gods lawe approueth it in this matter I dare not grauÌ„t but vtterly I deny to make this Friers sentence or any such other my beliefe do with me God what thou wilt ¶ And the Archb. sayd to me Wel wel thou shalt say otherwise or that I leaue thee But what sayest thou to this second point that is recorded agaynst thee by worthy men of Shrewsbury saying that thou preachedst there that Images ought not to be worshipped in any wise ☞ And I sayd Syr I preached neuer thus nor through gods grace I wil not any time consent to think nor to say thus neyther priuily nor apertly For lo the Lord witnesseth by Moses that the thinges which he made were right good and so then they were and yet they are shal be good and worshipfull in theyr kind And therfore to the end that God made them to they are al praisable and worshipful specially man that was made after the image likenesse of God is full worshipfull in hys kinde yea this holy image that is man God worshippeth And herefore euery man should worship other in kinde and also for heauenly vertues that meÌ„ vse charitably And also I say wood tin gold siluer or any other matter that images are made of al these creatures are worshipful in their kinde and to the end that God made them for But the caruing casting payntyng of an imagery made within mans haÌ„d albeit that this doyng be accept of man of highest state and dignitie ordayned of them to be a Calender to lend men that neyther can nor will be learned to know God in hys word neyther by his creatures nor by hys wonderfull diuers workings Yet this imagery ought not to be worshipped in fourme nor in the likenes of mans craft Neuerthelesse that euery matter the paynters paynt with since it is Gods creature ought to be worshipped in the kinde and to the ende that God made and ordayned it to serue man ¶ Then the Archbishop sayd to me I graunt well that no body ought to doe worship to any suche images for themselues But a crucifixe ought to be worshipped for the passion of Christ that is paynted therein and so brought there through to mans mind and thus the images of the blessed Trinitie and of the Virgine Mary Christes mother and other images of sayntes ought to be worshipped For loe earthly kinges and Lordes which vse to send theyr letters ensealed with their armes or with theyr priuy signet to them that are with them are worshipped of these men For when these men receiue theyr Lordes letters in whiche they see and know the willes and biddinges of the Lords in worship of theyr Lordes they doe off theyr caps to these letters Why not them since in Images made wyth mans hande we may read and knowe many diuers thinges of GOD and of hys Sayntes shall we not worship their images ☞ And I sayd within my foresaid protestation I say that these worldly vsages of temporal lawes that ye speak now of may be done in case without sinne But this is no similitude to worshippe Images made by mans hande since that Moyses Dauid Solomon Baruch and other saints in the Bible forbid so playnely the worshipping of suche Images ¶ Then the archbishop sayd to me Leud losell in the olde law before that Christ tooke mankinde was no likenes of any person of the trinitie neither shewed to man nor known of man But nowe since Christ became man it is lefull to haue Images to shew hys manhoode Yea though many men which are right great Clerkes other also held it an errour to paynt the Trinitie I say it is well done to make and to paynt the Trinitie in images For it is great moouing of deuotion to men to haue and to behold the Trinitie and other images of saints carued cast paynted For beyond the sea are the best paynters that euer I saw And sirs I tell you this is their maner and it is a good maner WheÌ„ that an Image maker shall carue cast in molde or paint any Images he shall go to a Priest shriue him as clean as if he should then dye and take penance and make some certayne vowe of fasting or of praying or pilgrimages doing praying the Priest specially to pray for him that he may haue grace to make a fayre and a deuout Image ☞ And I sayd Sir I doubt not if these paynters that ye speake of or any other painters vnderstoode truly the text of Moyses of Dauid of yâ— wise man of Baruch and of other saints and doctors These painters should be moued to shrine theÌ„ to God with ful inward sorowe of hart taking vpon them to do right sharpe penaÌ„ce for the sinful vaine craâ—t of painting caruing or casting they had vsed Promising God faithfully neuer to do so after knowledging openly before al men their reprouable learning And also sir these priests that shrine as you do say painters enioine theÌ„ to do penance pray for their speede promisyng to theÌ„ helpe of their prayers for to be curious in their sinful crafts sinne herein more greuously then the painters For these priests do comfort and geue them counsail to do that thing which of great pain yea vnder yâ— pain of gods curse they should vtterly forbid them For certes sir if the wonderful working of God the holy liuing teachyng of Christ and of his Apostles and Prophetes were made knowen to the people by holy liuing true and busy reaching of priests these thinges sir were sufficient bookes and Kalenders to know God by his Saynts without any images made with mans hand But certes the vicious liuing of priests and their couetousnes are chiefe cause of this errour and all other viciousnes that raygneth amoÌ„g the people ¶ Then the Archbish. sayd vnto me I hold thee a vicious Priest and a curst
his mynd molested his vnderstanding did not fayle him as it is the maner of men to do but out of the aboundance of his hart his mouth did speake And feruent charitie did appeare in his words as kindled sparcles He said O crosse most welcome and long looked for with a willing mynde ioyfully and desirously I come to thee beyng the Scholer of him which did hang on thee Because I haue bene alwayes thy louer and haue coueted to embrace thee So beyng crucified he yelded vp the Ghost and fell on sleepe the day before the Calendes of December Mathew otherwise named Leui first of a Publicane made an Apostle wrote his gospell to the Iewes in the Hebrue tongue as recordeth Eusebius lib. 3.24.39 lib 5. cap. 8. cap. 10. Also Iraeneus lib 3. cap. 1. Item Hieronymus in Catalogo script Ecclesiast concerning the doings and decreementes of this blessed Apostle and Euangelist diuers things bee recorded by Iulius Africanus vnder the pretensed name of Abdias Also of Vincentius Perionius and others but in such sort as by the contents may greatly be suspected the matter not to lacke some craftie forgerie for the more establishment of latter decretals and Romish doctrine as touching merites consecration of Nunnes the superstitious prescription of Lent fast not onely in abstainyng from all fleshmeates but also from all matrimoniall copulatiō betwene man and wife during the said tyme of holy Lent Item the straight prohibition not to taste any bodily sustenance before the receiuing of the Lordes supper In ordaining of Masse and that no Nunne must marry after the vowe of her profession with such other like Ioan de Monte Regali testifieth of Mathias that after he had preached to the Iewes at length he was stoned beheaded Some other record that he died in Ethiopia Philippus the holy Apostle after he had much laboured among the barbarous nations in preaching the worde of saluation to them at length he suffered as the other Apostles did in Hierapolis a citie of Phrygia being there crucified and stoned to death where also he was buried his daughters also with him Isido * Of Iames the brother of the Lord thus we read in the story of Clement and Egesippus AFter that Festus had sent the Apostle Paul vnto Rome after his appellatiō made at Caesaria that the Iewes by the meanes thereof had lost their hope of performing their malicious vow against him conceiued they fel vpon Iames the brother of our Lord who was bishop at Ierusalem against whom they being bent with like malice brought him forth before them and required him to denye before all the people the faith of Christ. But he otherwise then they all looked for freely and with a greater constancie before all the multitude confessed Iesus to be the sonne of God our Sauiour and our Lord. Wherupon they not being able to abide the testimonie of this man any longer because he was thought to be the iustest among all for the highnes of deuine wisedome and godlinesse which in liuing he declared they killed him finding the more opportunitie to accomplish their mischiefe because the kingdom the same tyme was vacant For Festus being dead in Iewrie the administration of that prouince was destitute of a ruler and a deputie But after what maner Iames was killed the words of Clement do declare which writeth that he was cast doune from the pinacle of the temple and being smitten with the instrument of a Fuller was slain but Egesippus which liued in the tyme next after the Apostles describeth this cause diligently in his fift Commentarie after this maner as followeth Iames the brother of our Lord tooke in hand to gouern the Church after the Apostles beyng counted of all men from the tyme of our Lord to be a iust and perfect man Many and diuers other Iameses there were beside him but this was borne holy from his mothers wombe he dronke no wine nor any strong drinke neither did he cate any liuing creature the rasor neuer came vpon his head he was not annointed with oyle neither did he vse bathe to him onely was it lawfull to enter into the holy place neyther was he clothed with woollen cloth but with silke and he onely entred into the temple falling vpon his knees asking remission for the people so that his knees by ofte kneling lost the sence of feeling being benumined hardened like the knees of a Camell He was for worshipping God and crauing forgiuenes for the people called iust for the exceliencie of his iust life named Oblias which if you do interprete it is the sauegard and iustice of the people as the Prophets declare of him therefore when as many of the heretikes which were among the people asked him what maner of dore Iesus should be he aunswered that he was the Sauiour Wherof some do beleue him to be Iesus Christ but the aforesaid heretikes neither beleue the resurrection neither that any shall come which shal render vnto euery man according to his workes but as many as beleue they beleued for Iames cause When as many therefore of the Princes did beleue there was a tumult made of the Scribes Iewes and Phariseis saying it is daungerous least that all the people do looke for this Iesus as for Christ therfore they gathered themselues togither sayd vnto Iames We beseech thee restrain the people for they beleue in Iesus as though he were Christ. We pray thee perswade them all which come vnto the feast of the Passeouer of Iesus for we are all obedient vnto thee and all the people do testifie of thee that thou art iust neither that thou doest accept the person of any man therefore perswade the people that they be not deceiued in Iesus and all the people and we will obey thee therfore stand vpon the piller of the temple that thou mayest be seene from aboue and that thy wordes may be perceiued of all the people for to this passeouer all the tribes do come with all the countrey And thus the forenamed Scribes and Phariseis did set Iames vpon the battlements of the Church and they cried vnto him and sayd thou iust man whom all we ought to obey because this people is led after Iesus which is crucified tell what is the dore of Iesus crucified and he aunswered with a great voyce what do you aske me of Iesus the sonne of man seeyng that he sitteth on the right hand of God in heauen and shall come in the cloudes of the skie But whō many were persuaded of this they glorified God vpon the witnes of Iames and sayd Osanna in the highest to the sonne of Dauid Then the Scribes and the Phariseis sayd among themselues we haue done euill that we haue caused such a testimony of Iesus But let vs go vp and let vs take him that they being compelled with feare may deny that faith And they cried out saying O O this iust man also is seduced and
decretall epistles inough is sayd before more may bee considered of the discrete Reader Marianus Scotus Sabellicus Nauclerus other late story writers doe hold as is aforesayd that he dyed a Martyr in the dayes of Alexander Seuerus after he had gouerned that seat 4. yeares as Damasus and Platina do witnes as Marianus sayth eight yeares The same Damasus and Platina do testifie of him that he by his preaching and holines of life cōuerted diuers Ethnikes to the fayth Among whom were Tiburtius and Valerianus the husband of Cecilia which both being noble men of Rome remained constant in the fayth vnto the end and Martyrdome Of this Cecilia thus it is is written in the Martyrologe by Ado that Cecilie the virgin after she had brought Valerian her husband espoused and Tiburtius his brother to the knowledge and fayth of Christ and with her exhortations had made them constant vnto Martyrdome after the suffryng of them she was also apprehended by Almachius the ruler and brought to the Idols to do sacrifice which thing when she abhorred to do she should be presented before the iudge to haue the condēnation of death In the meane time the Sergeants and officers which were about her beholdyng her comely beautie and the prudent behauior in her conuersation began with many persuasions of wordes to sollicite her mynd to fauour her selfe and that so excellent beautie and not to cast her selfe away c. But she agayne so replied to them with reasons godly exhortations that by the grace of almighty God their hartes began to kindle and at length to yeld to that Religion which before they did persecute Which thing she perceauing desired of the iudge Almachius a litle respite Which beyng graunted she sendeth for Vrbanus the Bishop home to her house to stablish and ground them in the fayth of Christ. And so were they with diuers other at the same tyme Baptised both men women to the number as the story sayth of 400. persons among whome was one Gordianus a noble man This done this blessed Martyr was brought before the iudge where she was condemned then after was brought to the house of the Iudge where she was enclosed in a whote bath but she remayning there a whole day night without any hurt as in a cold place was brought out again and cōmaundement giuen that in the bath she should be beheaded The executor is said to haue foure strokes at her necke yet her head beyng cut off she as the story geueth liued three days after And so died this holy Virgine martyr whose body in the night season Vrbanus the bishop tooke and buried among the other Bishops Ado the compiler of this Martyrologe addeth that this was done in the tyme of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus But that cannot be for so much as Vrbanus by all histories was long after those Emperors and liued in the dayes of this Alexander as is aboue declared Antoninus Bergomēsis Equilinus with such other writers set forth this history with many strāge miracles wrought by the said Cecilia in conuerting her husband Valerianus and his brother in shewyng them the Angell which was the keeper of her virginitie and of the Angell putting on crowns vpon their heads But as touching these miracles as I do not dispute whether they be true or fabulous so because they haue no ground vpon any ancient or graue authors but taken out of certain new Legends I do therfore referre them thether from whence they came Under the same Alexander diuers other there be whom Bergomensis mentioned to haue suffred martyrdom as one Agapitus of the age of xv yeares who beyng apprehended and condemned at Preneste in Italy because he would not sacrifice to Idoles was assayled with sundry tormentes first with whips scourged then hanged vp by the feete after hauing hote water poured vpon him at last cast to the wild beasts with all which torments when he could not be hurt finally with sword was beheaded The executor of these punishments as by Henricus Erford may be gathered was one Antiochus who in the executing of the foresayd torments sodenly fell downe from his iudiciall seate crying out that al his inward bowels burned within him and so gaue vp the breath Henr. de Erfordia Lib. 6. cap. 29. Also with the same Agapitus is numbred Calepodius a minister of Rome whose body first was drawen through the citie of Rome after cast into Tiber. Bergo ibidem Then followeth Pammachius a Senatour of Rome with his wife and children and other both men and women to the number of xlii Item an other noble Senator of Rome named Simplicius all which together in one day had their heads smitten off and their heads after hanged vp in diuers gates of the Citie for a terrour of other that none should professe the name of Christ. Beside these suffred also Quiritius a noble man of Rome who with his mother Iulia and a great number moe were put likewise to death Also Tiberius and Valerianus Citizens of Rome and brethren suffered as Bergomensis sayth the same tyme who first being bruised and broken with bats after were beheaded Also Vincentius Bergomensis and Erfordiensis make mētion of Martina a Christian virgine which after diuers bitter punishments beyng constant in her fayth suffered in like maner by the sword Albeit as touching the tyme of these forenamed Martyrs as I find them not in elder writers so do I suppose them to suffer vnder Maximinus or Decius rather then vnder Alexander * The sixt Persecution AFter the death of Alexander the Emperour who with his mother Mammea as is said was murdred in Germany folowed Maximinus chosen by the will of the souldiours rather then by the authority of the Senate about the yeare of our Lord 237. who for the hatred hee had to the house of Alexander as Eusebius recordeth raysed vp the vi persecution against the Christians especially against the teachers and leaders of the Church thinking thereby the sooner to vanquish the rest if the captains of them were remooued out of the way Whereby I suppose rather the Martyrdome of Vrbanus the bishop and of the rest aboue specified to haue happened vnder the tiranny of this Maximinus then vnder Alexander In the tyme of this persecution Origene wrote his booke De Martyrio which booke if it were extant would geue vs some knowledge I doubt not of such as in this persecution did suffer which now lye in silence vnknowne And no doubt but a great number they were moe should haue bene had not the prouidēt mercy of God shortened his dayes brideled his tiranny for he raigned but three yeares After whom succeeded Gordianus an 240. a man no lesse studious for the vtilitie of the commō wealth as mild and gentle to the christians This Gordian after he had gouerned with much peace and tranquilitie the Monarchie of Rome the space of vj. yeares was slayne of
in this persecution by the names of Martyrs within the space of 30. days 17. thousand persons beside an other great number and multitude that were condemned to the mettall mines and quaries with like crueltie At Alexandria with Peter the Bishop of whom I haue made mention before were slayne with axes 300. aboue as Sabellicus declareth Gereon was beheaded at Colonia Agrippina with 300. of his fellowes as saith Henricus de Erfordia Mauritius the Captaine of Christian religion with his fellowes 6666. Victor in the citie of Troy now called Xanthus with his fellowes 360. were slayne as sayth Otto Phrinsigensis Lib. 2. cap 45. Reginus reciteth the names of many other Martyrs to the number of 120. And for as much as mention here hath bene made of Mauritius and Victor the perticular description of the same history I thought here to insert taken out of Ado other story writers as insueth Mauritius came out of Syria into Fraunce and Italy beyng Captaine of the bande of the Theban souldiours to the number of 6660. beyng sent for of Maximianus to goe agaynst the rebellious Bangandes but rather as it should seeme by the treason of the â—irant which thought he might better in these quarters vse his tiranny vpon the Christians then in the East part These Thebans with Mauritius the Captaine after that they had entred into Rome who were there of Marcellus the blessed bishop confirmed in the fayth promising by othe that they would rather be slayne of their enemies then forsake that faith which they had receaued who followed the Emperours hoste through the Alpes euen into Fraunce At that tyme the Caesarians were incamped not farre from the towne called Ottodor where Maximianus offred sacrifice to his deuils and called all the souldiours both of the East and West to the same straightly charging them by the aultars of his Gods that they would fight against those rebels the Bangandes and persecute the christian enemies of the Emperors Gods which his commaundement was shewed to the Thebanes hoste which were also incamped about the riuer of Rode and in a place that was named Agawne but to Ottodor they wold in no wise come for that euery man did certainly appointe and perswade with themselues rather in that place to dye then either to sacrifice to the gods or beare armour against the Christians Which thing in deede very stoutly and valiantly they affirmed vpon their othe befor taken to Maximianus when he sent for them Wherwith the tyrant beyng wrathfull and all mooued commaunded euery tenth man of that whole band to be put to the sworde whereto striuingly and with great reioysing they committed theyr neckes To which notable thing and great force of fayth Mauritius himselfe was a great incourager who by by with a most graue Oration exhorted animated his souldiours both to fortitude coÌ„stancie Which beyng again called of the Emperor answered in this wise saying We are O Emperour your souldiours but yet also to speake freely the seruants of god We owe to thee seruice of war to him innoceÌ„cie of thee we receaue for our trauell wages of hym the beginning of lyfe But in this we may in no wayes obey thee O Emperour to deny God our author and Lord and not onely ours but your Lord likewise will ye nill ye If we be not so extreemely enforced that we offend him doubtles as we haue hitherto before we will yet obey you but otherwise we will rather obey hym then you We offer here our handes agaynst any other enemies but to defile our handes with the bloud of innocentes that we may not doe These right hands of ours haue skill to fight agaynst the wicked and true enemies but to spoyle and murder the godly and Citizens they haue no skill at all We haue in remembraunce how we tooke armour in hand for the defence of the Citizens and not agaynst them We fought alwayes for iustice sake pietie and for the health of innocentes These haue bene alwayes the rewardes of our perils and trauell We haue fought in the quarrell of fayth whiche in no wife we can keepe to you if we doe not shewe the same to our God We first sware vpon the Sacramentes of our God then afterward to the king and doe you thinke the second will aduaile vs if we breake the first By vs you would plague the Christians to doe which feate we are onely commaunded by you We are here ready to confesse God the author of all thinges and beleue in hys sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. We see before our eyes our fellowes and partakers of our labours and trauailes to be put to the sword and we sprinkled with their bloud of which our most blessed companions and brethreÌ„ their end and death we haue not bewayled nor mourned but rather haue bene glad and haue reioyced thereat for that they haue bene counted worthy to suffer for the Lord their God The extreeme necessitie of death cannot moue vs agaynst your maiesty neyther yet any despiratioÌ„ O Emperour which is wont in ventrous affayres to do much shal 〈◊〉 vs agaynst you Behold here we cast downe our weapons and resist not for that we had rather to be killed then kill and guiltles to dye then gilty to liue What soeuer more ye will commauÌ„d appoynt and inioyne vs we are here ready to suffer yea both fire sword and whatsoeuer other tormentes We confesse our selues to be Christians we cannot persecute Christians nor will do sacrifice to your deuilish Idols With which their aunswer the kyng beyng altogether incensed and mooued commaunded the second tyme the tenth man of them that were left to be in like case murdered That crueltie also beyng accomplished at length wheÌ„ the christian souldiours would in no wise condescend vnto his mynde he set vpon them with his whole host both footemen and also horsemen and charged them to kil them all Who with all force set vpon them they making no resistance but throwyng downe their armour yelded theyr lyues to the persecutors and offered to them theyr naked bodies Victor at the same tyme was not of that bande nor yet then any souldiour but one beyng an old souldior and dismissed for his age At which tyme he comming sodainly vpon them as they were haketting and making mery with the spoyles of the holy Martyrs was bidden to sit downe with them and first asking the cause of that their so great reioysing and vnderstanding the truth therof detested the guestes and refused to eate with them And then being demaunded of them whether happily he were a Christian or no openly confessed and denied not but that he was â— christian and euer would be And therupon they rushing vpoÌ„ him killed him and made him partner of the like Martyrdome and honour Beda in his history writeth that this persecution beyng vnder Dioclesian endured vnto the seuenth yere of Constantinus and Euseb Lib 8. cap. 6 sayth that is lasted vntill the
diligence and deuotioÌ„ to induce all men to an vniforme life so that they which seemed to dissent from the Romaine custome by a straunge maner of liuing shoulde exhibite to the immortall Gods their due and proper worshipp but the wilfull and obstinate minde of diuers so much and so coÌ„tinually resisted the same that by no lawfull meanes they might be reuoked from their purpose neither made afraid by any terror or punishment Because therefore it so came to passe that by this meanes many put themselues in perill and ieoperdy The maiestie of our soueraigne Lordes the Emperours according to their noble pietie considering that it was far from the meaning of their princely maiesties that suche thinges should be whereby so many men and muche people should be destroyd gaue me in charge that with diligence I shoulde write vnto you that if any of the Christians from henceforth fortune to be taken in the exercise of their religion that in no wise you molest the same neither for that cause you doe iudge any man worthy of punishment for that in all this time it hath euidentlye appeared that by no meanes they might be allured from such wilfulnesse It is therefore requisite that your wisdome write vnto the Questors Captaynes and Constables of euery City and village that they may know it not to be lawfull for them or any of them to do contrary to the prescript of this commaundement neither that they presume to attempt the same Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 1. The gouernours therefore of euery prouince supposing this to be the determinate pleasure and not fayned of the Emperour did first aduertise thereof the rusticall Pagan multitude After that they released and set at libertye all suche prisoners as were condempned to the mettall mines to perpetuall imprisonmeÌ„t for their fayth thinking therby where in deed they were deceiued that the doing thereof would well please the Emperor This therfore seemed to them as vnlooked for and as light to trauellers in a darcke night They gather themselues together in euery City they call their Synodes and counsels much maruell at the sodden chaunge and alteration The Infidels themselues extoll the onely and true God of the christians The Christians receiue agayne all their former libertie and such as fell away before in the tyme of persecution repent themselues and after penaunce done they returned agayne to the congregation Nowe the Christians reioyced in euery Citty praying God with hymnes and Psalmes Eusebius ibidem This was a maruailous sodaine alteration of the Church from a most vnhappy state into a better but scarce suffered Maximinus the Tyraunt the same vj. monethes vnuiolated to continue For whatsoeeuer seemed to make for the subuersion of the same peace yet scarcely hatched that did he onely meditate And first of all he tooke from the Christians all libertie and leaue for them to assemble and congregate in churchyardes vnder a certayne coulour After that he sent certayne Miscreants vnto the Athenians to sollicite them agaynst the Christians and to prouoke them to aske of him as a recompence and great reward that he would not suffer any Christian to inhabite in their countrey and amongest them was one Theotechnus a most wicked miscreant an inchaunter and a most deadly enemy agaynst the Christians He first made the way whereby the Christians were put out of credite and accused to the Emperour to which fraud also he erected a certayne Idoll of Iupiter to be worshipped of the inchaunters and coniurers and mingled the same worship with ceremonies full of deceiueable witchcraâ—t Lastly he caused the same Idoll to geue this sound out of hys mouth That is Iupiter commaundeth the christians to be banished out of the Citie and suburbes of the same as enemies vnto him And the same sentence did the rest of the gouernors of the prouinces publish against the Christians and thus at length persecution began to kindle against them Maximinus appoynted and instituted high priestes and bishops in euery citie to offer sacrifice vnto Idoles inueigled all those that were in great offices vnder him that they should not onely cease to pleasure them to do for them but also that they should with new deuised accusatioÌ„s agaynst theÌ„ at their pleasure put as many to death as by any meanes they might They also did counterfet certaine practises of Pilate against our sauiour Christ full of blasphemie and sent the same into all the Empire of Maximinus by their letters commaunding that the same shoulde be published and set vp in euery citie and suburbes of the same and that they should be deliuered to the scholemaisters to cause their scholers to learne by roate the same After that one named Praefectus castrorum whome the Romaines do call captaine allured certaine light womeÌ„ partly by feare and partly by punishment dwelling at Damascus in Phenicia and taken out of the court wherein they were accused that they shoulde openly say in wryting that they were once Christians and that they knewe what wicked lasciuious actes the Christians were wont to execute amongst themselues vpon the sondaies what other things they thought good to make more of their own head to the slander of the Christians The capitaine sheweth vnto the emperour theer words as though it had bene so in deede and the Emperour by and by commanded the same to be published throughout euery city Furthermore they did hange vp in the midst of euery Citie which was neuer done before the Emperours edicts against the Christians grauen in tables of brasse And the children in the scholes with great noise and clapping of handes did euery day resound the contumelious blasphemies of Pilate vnto Iesus what other things so euer were deuised of the magistrates after most despitefull maner Euseb. lib. 8 cap. 3.4.5.6.7 And this is the copie of the edict which Maximinus caused to be fastened to pillers fraught with all arrogant and insolent hate against God and Christ. The weake and imbecil rebellion of mans minde all obscuritie and blindnesse of ignorance set aparte which hetherto hath wrapped the mindes of impious and miserable men in the pernitious darkenesse of ignoraunce is now at the length able to discerne that the same is gouerned as also corroborated by the prouidence of the immortall gods the louers of vertue which thing how acceptable it is to vs howe pleasant and gratefull and howe much proofe the same hath declared of your wel disposed willing minds is incredible to be tolde Although this was not vnknown before with what diligence and deuotion yee serued the immortall Gods whose wonderfull and constant faith is not knowen by bare and naked wordes but by your worthy notable deeds Wherefore worthely is your Citie called the habitation and seate of the immortall Gods and by many examples it appeareth that the same flourisheth and prospereth by the presence of the celestiall Gods For beholde your Citie
not regarding your priuate businesses nor esteeming that which shoulde haue bene for the speciall commoditie thereof when it perceaued that cursed vanitie to begin againe to creepe and as a fire negligently quenched when the dead brandes thereof began to kindle and make a great flame by and by without delay ye hauing recourse vnto our pietie as vnto the Metropolitan of all diuine worship and Religion craued remedie and helpe which wholesome minde for your pieties sake it is most manifest that the gods haue indued you with Therefore hee euen that most mightie Iupiter I say which preserueth your most famous Citie to that intent he might deliuer and make free your countrey Gods your wiues and children your housholde Gods and houses from all detestable corruption hath inspired you with this wholesome and willing minde shewing declaring howe worthy notable and healthfull a thing it is to worship to sacrifice to the immortall Gods For who is so void of reason vnderstanding that knoweth not that this thing happeneth vnto vs by the carefull studie of the goodnes of our gods that the grounde denieth not to geue her timely increase nor maketh frustrate the husband mans hope nor that wicked warre dare shew her face vpon the earth nor that the corruption of the aire is nowe cause of pestilence neither that the sea swelleth with immoderate windes neither that sodaine stormes are cause of hurtfull tempestes To conclude that the ground which is as the nurce and mother of all things is not swallowed vp of her deepe chappes and gapings by terrible earthquake neither that the hils made leuell with the earth are not with gaping cliftes deuoured all which euils and greater then these before this time to haue happened euery mā knoweth And all these mischiefes came vpō vs for the pernitious errours sake of the extreeme follie of those wicked men the Christanis when filthinesse it selfe as I may call it so occupied their mindes and ouerranne the worlde Let them beholde the fieldes nowe all about full of corne and ouerflowen as it were with eares of corne Let them vewe the pleasant medowes clothed with flowers and moistned with showers from heauen and also the pleasant and temperate weather Therefore let all men reioyce that by your pietie sacrifices worshipping the maiestie of the most stearne God of battell Mars is appeased that therfore we enioy pleasant firme peace And how many so euer haue left that blind errour and straying of the Christians vnfainedly and be of a better minde let them specially reioyce as men deliuered out of a sodaine great tempest and from a greeuous disease and haue afterward obtained a delectable and pleasant life For doubtlesse if they had remained in that execrable vanitie farre of had they bene chased from your Citie suburbs of the same according to your desire that your Citie by that meanes according to your commēdable diligence clensed from all impuritie and impietie may offer sacrifices according to the meaning of the same with due reuerence of the immortall Gods And that you may perceiue in how good part your supplication yea vnasked and desired we are most willing and ready to further your honest endeuours and graunt vnto you for your deuotion whatsoeuer you aske of our magnificence And that thys thing may be accomplished forthwith aske and haue And thys thing with all speede indeuour you to obtaine which shall bee a perpetuall testimony of pietie exhibited of your Citie to the immortall Gods and shal be a president to your children and posteritie and withall you shall obtaine of vs for this your willing desire of reformation condygne and worthy rewardes Eusebius Lib 9. cap. 7. Thus came it to passe that at the length persecutiō was as great as euer it was and the magistrates of euery prouince were very disdainefull against the Christians which cōdemned some to death and some to exile Among whom they condemned three christians at Emisa in Phenicia with whom Siluanus the bishop a very old man being 40. yeres in the ecclesiasticall function was condemned to death At Nicomedia Lucianus the elder of Antioche brought thether after he had exhibited to the emperour his Apologie concerning the doctrin of the Christians was cast in pryson and after put to death In Amasea a City of Capadocia Bringes the lieftenaunt of Maximinus had at that time the executing of that persecution At Alexandria Petrus a most worthy byshop was beheaded with whome manye other Egiptian byshops also died Euseb. Lib. 9. cap. 7. Nicepho Lib. 7. cap. 44. Quirinus the Byshop Scescanius hauing a hanmyll tyed about hys necke was throwne headlong from the bridge into the flood and there a long while fleeted aboue the water and when hee opened his mouth to speake to the lookers on that they shoulde not be dismaied with that his punishmēt was with much a do drowned Chron. Euseb. At Rome dyed Marcellus the bishop as sayeth Platina also Timotheus the elder with many other bishops Priests were martyred To cōclud many in sundry places euery where were martyred whose name the booke intituled Fasciculus temporum declareth as Victorianus Symphorianus Castorius with his wife Castulus Cesarius Mennas Nobilis Dorotheus Gorgonius Petrus and other innumerable martirs Erasmus Bonifacius Iuliana Cosmas Damianus Basilinus with seuen others Dorothea Theophilus Theodosia Vitalis Agricola Acha Philemon Hireneus Ianuarius Festus Desiderius Gregorius Spoletanus Agapes Chionia Hirenea Theodora and 270. other Martyrs Florianus Primus and Felicianus Vitus and Modestus Crescentia Albinus Rogatianus Donatianus Pancratius Catharina Margareta Lucia the virgin and Antheus the king with many thousād martirs mo Simplicius Faustinus Beatrix Panthaleon Georgius Iustus Leocandia Anthonia and other mo to an infinite number suffered martirdome in this persecution whose names God hath written in the booke of life Also Felix Victor with his parents Lucia the widow Gemenianus with 79 others Sabinus Anastasia Chrisogonus Felix and Audactus Adrianus Nathalia Eugenia Agnes also when she was but 13. yeare old was martyred Euseb. in his 8. booke and 15. chap. rehearseth these kinds of torments and punishmēts that is to say Fire wilde beastes the sword crucifyinges the bottome of the sea the cutting and burning of mēbers the thrusting out of eyes dismembring of the whole body hūger imprisonment whatsoeuer other cruelty the Magistrates coulde deuise All which notwithstanding the godly ones rather then that they woulde doe sacrifice as they were bid māfully endured Neither were the womē any thing at al behind thē For they beyng intised to the filthy vse of their bodies rather suffered banishmēt or willingly killed themselues Neither yet could the Christians liue safely in the wildernes but were fetched euē frō thēce to death and tormentes in so much that this was a more greeuous persecution vnder Maximianus the tyraunt then was the former cruell persecution vnder Maximianus the Prince Euseb. Lib. 9.
Christ. FOrsomuch as euery man both by the law of nature and also by Gods law is commaunded to doe that vnto an other man which he woulde haue done vnto himselfe and is forbidden to do that thing vnto an other which he would not haue done vnto himselfe as our Sauiour sayth all things whatsoeuer you wyll that men should do vnto you the same doe you vnto thē for this is the law and the Prophetes yea the lawe is fulfilled in this one poynt thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy self We therfore God being our author hauing respect as much as in vs lieth vnto the said law of God the loue of our neighbor before did send our letters vnto Constaunce for our dearelye beloued frende of good memorye Mayster Iohn Husse Bacheler of Diuinitye and Preacher of the Gospell Whome of late in the Councell of Constaunce wee knowe not with what spirite beeing ledde you haue condemned as an obstinate hereticke neither hauing confessed any thing neither being lawfully conuict as were expediét hauing no errours or heresies declared or layde agaynst him but onely at the sinister false and importune accusations suggestiōs and instigations of his mortall enemies and the traytours of our kingdome and Marquesdome of Morauia And being thus vnmercifully condemned you haue slayne him with most shamefull and cruell death to the perpetuall shame and infamy of our most christian kingdome of Boheme and the famous Marquesdome of Morauia as we haue written vnto Constance vnto the most noble Prince and Lord the Lord Sigismund king of Romaynes and of Hungary the Heyre and Successor of our kingdom the which was also read and published in your congregations whiche wee will here also haue enrolled and haue burned him as it is reported in the reproch and contempt of vs. Wherfore we haue thought good euen now to direct our letters patentes to your reuerences nowe present in the behalfe of Maister Iohn Hus openly professing and protesting both wyth hart and mouth that he the sayd Mayster Iohn Hus was a iust good and Catholicke man and a long season worthely commended and allowed in our kingdome for his life and conuersation He also preached and taught vs and our subiectes the law of the Gospell and of the holy Prophets and the bookes of the olde and new Testament according to the exposition of the holy Doctors approued by the church left many Monumēts in writing most constantly detesting and abhorring all errors and and heresy continually admonishing both vs and all faithfull christians to do the like diligently exhorting all men as muche as in him lay by hys words writings and trauel vnto quietnesse and concord so that vsing all the diligence that we might we neuer heard or coulde vnderstand that Mayster Iohn Hus had preached taught or by any meanes affirmed any error or heresy in his Sermons or that by any maner of meanes he had offended vs or our subiectes either by word of deed but that he alwayes led a quiet and a godly life in Christ exhorting all men diligently both by his word and workes as much as he might to obserue and keepe the law of the Gospel and the institutiōs of the holy fathers after the preaching of our holy mother the church to the edifying of mens soules Neither did these premisses which you had so perpetrated to the reproch both of vs and our kingdom and Marquesdom suffice content you but that also without all mercy and piety you haue apprehended imprisoned and condemned and euen now peraduenture like as you did Mayster Iohn Hus you haue most cruelly murdered the worshipfull man Mayster Ierome of Prage a man abounding in eloquence Mayster of the seuen liberall artes and a famous Philosopher not being seene heard examined neither conuict but onely at the sinister and false accusation of hys and our accusers and betrayers Furthermore it is come to our knowledge and vnderstanding which we do not without great griefe rehearse as we may also euidently gather by your writings how that certayne detractors odible both to God and men priuy enuyers and betrayers haue wickedly and greuously albeit falsly and trayterously accused vs our kingdome and Marquesdome aforsayde before you in your councell that in the sayde kingdome of Boheme and Marquescome of Morauia diuers errors are sprong vp which haue greuously and manifoldely infected both our hartes and also the hartes of many faythfull men in so much that without a speedy stop or stay of correction the sayd kingdome and Marquesdome together with the faythfull Christians therein should incurre an irrecuperable losse and ruine of theyr soules These cruell and pernitious iniuries which are layd vnto vs and to our sayd kingdome and Marquesdome albeit most falsly slaunderously howe may we suffer for so muche as through the grace of God when in a maner all other kingdomes of the world haue oftentimes wauered making Schismes and Antipapes our most Christian kingdome of Boheme and most noble Marquesdome of Morauia since the time they did receiue the Catholicke fayth of our Lord Iesus Christ as a most perfecte quadrant haue alwayes without reproofe stucke vnto the Church of Rome and haue sincerely done theyr true obedience Also with how greate costes and charges and great trauell with what worship and due reuerence they haue reuerenced the holy mother the church and her pastors by theyr princes and faythfully subiects it is more manifest then the day light vnto the whole world and your selues if you will confesse the truth can witnes the same also Wherfore that we according to the mind of the Apostle may procure honest and good thinges not onely before God but before men also and least by neglecting the famous renowne of the kingdom and Marquesdom we be foūd cruel towards our neighbours hauing a stedfast hope a pure and sincere conscience and intent and a certayne true fayth in Christ Iesu our Lord by the tenour of these we signify and declare vnto your fatherhoods to all faythfull Christians openly professing both with hart and mouth that whatsoeuer man of what estate preheminence dignity condition degree or religion so euer he be which hath sayd or affirmed eyther doth say or affirme that in the sayd kingdome of Boheme and Marquesdome of Morauia heresyes haue sprong vp which haue infected vs and other faythfull Christians as is aforesayd the onely person of our most noble prince and Lord Sigismund king of Romaynes and of Hungary c. our Lord and heire successor being set apart whom we trust and beleue not to be guilty in the premisses all and euery such man as is aforesaid doth lye fasly vpon his head as a wicked and naughty traytour betrayer of the sayd kingdome and Marquesdome and most traiterous vnto vs most pernitious hereticke the sonne of all malice and wickednesse yea and of the deuill himselfe who is a lyar and the father of all lyes Notwithstanding we for
a yeare before hys burning the said William Tailour appeared again in the conuocation before the Archbishop being brought by the Bishop of Worcester being complained of to haue taught at Bristow these Articles folowing First that whosoeuer hangeth any scripture about his necke taketh away the honor due onely to God geueth it to the Deuill Secondly that no humaine persone is to be worshipped but onely God is to be adored Thirdly that the Saints are not to be worshipped nor inuocated Upon these Articles the sayde William Tailour being examined denied that he did preache or hold them in way of defending them but only did commune and talke vpon the same especially vpon the second and third article only in way of reasoning and for argument sake And to iustify his opiniō to be true in that which he did hold he brought out of his bosome a paper or libell wrytten wherein were contained certaine Articles wyth the testimonies of the Doctours alleaged and exhibited the same vnto the archbishop Who then being bidde to stande aside the Archbyshop consulting together with the byshops and other prelates what was to be done in the matter deliuered the wrytinges vnto M. Iohn Castle and Iohn Rikinghale the two vicechauncelors of Oxforde and Cambridge and to Iohn Langdon monke of Canterbury Who aduising with themselues and with other deuines about the Articles and allegations on the monday following presented the sayde Articles of William Tailour to the Archbishop and Prelates as erroneous and hereticall Wherevppon William Tailour being called before them in conclusion was contented to reuoke the same and for hys penaunce was by them condemned to perpetuall prison Notwithstanding through fauour they were contented that he should be released from his carceral indurance in case hee woulde putte in sufficient surety in the kinges Chancerye and sweare that he shall neuer holde or fauour any such opinions hereafter And thus the sayde William Tailor apoynted to appeare the next Wednesday at Lambeth before the Archbishoppe to take his absolution from his long excommunication during the time from Thomas Arundell appeared againe before him where he laying a side his Arunlousa that is his cloke his cap and stripped vnto hys doublet kneeled at the feete of the Archbyshop Who then standing vp and hauing a rodde in hys hande began the Psalme Misere c. hys chaplaines aunswering the second verse After that was sayde the Collect Deus cui proprium c. with certaine other prayers And so taking an oth of him the Archbishop committed him to the custodie of the Byshop of Worcester to whome power and authority was permitted to release him vpon the conditions aforesaide And thus was William Tailour for that time absolued being enioyned notwythstanding to appeare at the next conuocation whēsoeuer it shuld be before the said Archbishop or his successour that should follow him In the meane time while William Tailour was thus in the custody of the Bishop of Worcester there passed certaine wrytings betweene hym and one Thomas Smith priest at Bristowe in the which wrytings William Tailour replied against the sayd Thomas concerning the question of worshipping Saints Upon the occasion of which reply being brought to the hands of the byshop of Worcester William Tailour began a newe to be troubled was broughte againe before the publicke conuocation of the cleargy by the said bishop of Worcester to aunswere vnto his wrytings This was an 1422. the 11. day of Februarie Unto the which conuocation the sayd William being presented his wrytings were read to him which he woulde not nor could not deny to be of his owne hand wryting The tenour and effect of whose wryting onely tended to prooue that euery petition and prayer for any supernaturall gift ought to be directed to God alone to no creature All be it in this his wryting he did not vtterly deny that it was not lawfull in no respecte to pray to Saintes and bringeth for the same Thomas Aquine but onely in respect of that worship whych is called Cultus latriae And further so prosecuteth his minde herein that he semeth little or nothing to differ from the superstition of the papists as most plainely appeareth by his owne wordes saying Nunquam tamen negaui aut negare intendo merita aut sanctorum suffragia tam beatorum quam viantium tam viuis quam mortuis ad hoc dispositis quantum possunt suffragari vel proficere quia hoc est elicibile ex Scriptura quae non fallit ex consona ratione c. And moreouer hee inferreth the example of Moses who prayed vnto God alleadging the merites of Abraham Isaac and Iacob which were deade c. And furthermore passing from the testimony of Hierome and alledging the example of Steuen sayeth Quod nunc magis exauditur pro veneratoribus suis quam tunc exauditus est pro lapidatoribus And at length he commeth to this cōclusion proouing by S. Austen in this maner Ne igitur cum impijs idolatris in veteri testamento in circuitu ambulemus nunquam deueniendo ad centrum sanū est quod faciamus secundum consilium Apostoli sic dicentis Accedamus cum fiducia ad thronum gratiae eius vt misericordiam consequamur gratiam inueniamus in auxilio oportuno c. That is And therfore least we runne about in circles with the wicked and wyth the idolaters of the old Testament and neuer come to the center therfore it is wholesome good counsaile that we followe the minde of the Apostle saying Let vs resorte wyth boldnes vnto the throne of his grace that we may obtaine mercy and finde grace in time or oportune helpe c. Thus much out of the foresayde wryting of W. Tailor I haue excerped to the intent that the indifferent reader vsing his iudgement herein may see how litle matter was in this wherefore he should be condemned by the Papists And yet notwythstanding the same wryting being deliuered by the archbishop to the four orders of Friers of London to be examined was founde erroneous and hereticall in these poyntes 1. First that euery prayer which is a petition of some supernaturall gift or free gift is to be directed onely to God 2. Item that prayer is to be directed to God alone 3. Item to pray to any creature is to commit idolatry 4. Also an other opiniō there was much like to the other to make vp the fourth so that although all these opinions agreed in one yet to make vp a number euery order of the foure sortes of Friers thought to finde out some matter to offer vp to the Archb. against him least one order shoulde seeme more cunning or pregnant in finding out more then could an other or els perchaunce least any of them should seeme to fauor the party in bringing nothing against him as the rest had done The burning of William Tailour Priest When the Saterday was come which was the 20. day of
dyed of no naturall pang but of some violent hand Some suspected him to be strangled some that a whole spytt was priuily forced into his body some affirme that he was styfeled betweene to fether beds After the death of this Duke and hys body being enterred at S. Albons after he had politikely by the space of 25. yeares gouerned this realme 5. of his housholde to wit one knight 3. Esquiers and a Yeoman were arreigned conuict to be hanged drawn quartered Who being hanged and cut downe halfe aliue the Marques of Suffolke there present shewed the charter of the kinges pardon and so they were deliuered Notwithstanding all this could not appease the grudge of the people saying that the sauing of the seruauntes was no amends for the murdering of the mayster In this cruell facte of these persons which did so conspire and consent to the death of this noble man whiche thought thereby to worke their owne safety the meruailous work of gods iudgement appeareth herein to be noted who as in all other like cruell pollices of maÌ„ so in this also turned al theyr pollices clean contrary So that where yâ— Queene thought most to preserue her husband in honor and her selfe in state thereby both she lost her husband her husband lost his realm the realm lost Angeow NormaÌ„dy the Duchy of Aquitane with all her partes beyond that sea Calice only except as in sequele of the matter who so will read the storyes shall right well vnderstand The next yeare following it followed also that that Cardinall who was the principall artificer and ringleader of all this mischiefe was suffered of God no loÌ„ger to liue Of whose wicked conditions being more largely set foorth in Edward Halle I omitte here to speake What he himselfe spake in his deathbed for example to other I thought not best to pretermit Who hearing that he shuld dy that ther was no remedy murmured grudged wherfore he shuld dye hauing so much riches saying that if the whole realm would saue hys life he was able either by pollicy to get it or by riches to buy it adding saying moreouer fit quod he will not death be hyred nor will money doe nothing wheÌ„ my nephew of Bedford dyed I thought my selfe halfe vp the wheele but wheÌ„ I saw mine other nephew of Glocester deceassed then I thought my selfe able to be equal with kinges and so ought to encrease my treasure in hope to haue worne the triple crown t. Ex Edou Hallo And thus is the rich byshop of Winchester with all his pompe and riches gone with the which riches he was able not onely to build scholes colledges and Uniuersities but also was able to susteine the kinges armies in warre as is specified in storyes without any taxing of the commons In whose seate next succeeded William Wanflet preferred to the byshopricke of Winchester who though he had lesse substaunce yet hauing a minde more godly disposed did found and erecte the Colledge of Mary Magdalen in Oxford For the which foundation as there haue ben and be yet many studentes bound to yeld gratefull thanks vnto God so I must needes confesse my selfe to be one except I will be vnkinde Among that other mischieuous aduersaries which sought and wrought the death of Humfrey Duke of Gloucester next to the Cardinall of Winchester who as is sayd dyed that next yere following was William de la Pole Marques of Suffolk who also liued not long after nor long escaped vnpunished For although he was highly exalted by the meanes of the Queene whose maryage he onely procured vnto the fauour of the king was made Duke of Suffolke magnified of the people and bare the whole sway in the realme whose actes and facts his vayne glorious head caused also by the assent of the commons to be recorded substantially to be registred in the rolles of the Parliament for a perpetuall renowne to him and all his posteritie for euer yet notwtstanding the hand of Gods iudgement still hanging ouer hym he enioyed not long this his triuÌ„phant victory For within 3. yeares after the death and ruine of the Cardinall the voyces of the whole commons of England were vtterly turned against him accusing him in the Parliament at the blacke Fryers for deliuery of the Duchye of Angeow and Barledome of Maine also for the death of yâ— noble Prince Humfry Duke of Glocester They unputed moreouer to hym the losse of all Normandye saying vnto him that he was a swallower vp and consumer of yâ— kings treasure the expâ—iler of al good and vertuous counsaylers from the king and aduancer of vicious persons apparant aduersaryes to the publicke wealth so that he was called in euery mouth a traytour a murderer and a robber of the kinges treasure The Queene albeit she tenderly loued the Duke yet to appease the exclamation of the commons was forced to committee hym to the tower where he with as much pleasure and liberty as could be remayned for a month whiche being expired he was deliuered and restored agayne into his old place former fauour with the kyng where at the people more grudged then before It happened by the occasion of a commotion then beginning amongest the rude people by one whom they called Blewbeard that the parliament was for that tyme adiourned to Leycester thinking to the Queene by force and rigour of lawe to repâ—esse there the malice and euill will conceiued against the duke But at that place few of yâ— nobilitie would appeare Wherfore it was againe reiourned vnto LondoÌ„ kept at Westminster where was a whole company a ful appearance with the king and Queene with them the duke of Suffolke as chiefe counsailour The commons not forgetting their old grudge renewed agayn their former articles and accusations agaynst the sayde duke agaynst the byshop of Salisb. syr Iames Fynics Lord Say and other When the kyng perceaued yâ— no glosing nor dissimulation would serue to appease the continual clamour of the importunate coÌ„mons to make some quiet pacificatioÌ„ first he sequestred from hym the Lord say treasurer of Englande other the Dukes adherentes from theyr offices Then he put in exile the Duke of Suffolke for the terme of 5. yeares supposing by that space the furious rage of yâ— people would asswage But the hand of God woulde not suffer that giltles bloud of Humfrey Duke of Glocester to be vnreuenged or that flagitious person further to continue For wheÌ„ he shipped in Suffolke intending to be transported into Fraunce he was encountred with a shippe of warre belonging to the tower whereby he was taken and brought into Douer rode and there on the side of a ship boat one strake of his head which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1450. And thus haue ye heard the full storye and discourse of Duke Humfrey and of all hys aduersaries also of Gods condigne
enemies ij or iij. dayes and he would follow with all possible speede with a puissaunt army Who accordyng to their cōmaundement defended the Citie with all their power but yet to litle purpose For the Citizens consulting with thēselues for their owne most indēnitie hauing no walles to defend thē thought best to take that way which seemed to thē most sure safe therfore concluded to take part with kyng Edward This was not so soone knowne abroad but the cōminaltie rāue out by heapes to meete kyng Edward to salute him as their king Wheupon the Duke of Somerset with other of kyng Henries Coūsaile hearing therof wonderyng at the sodayne chaunge of the world to shift for themselues fled away left there kyng Henry alone who the same day beyng caused by the Archbyshop of Yorke to ryde about London like a kyng was before night made captiue and reduced agayne to the Tower It was not long after these thyngs thus done at London but the cōming of the Earle of Warwicke was heard of who thinking to preuēt mischiefes with making speede came a litle to late missed of his purpose In the Earles army were Iohn Duke of Exceter Edmūd Earle of Somerset Iohn Earle of Oxford and Marques Moūtacute the Earles brother The Earle had now passed a great part of his iourney whē he hearing newes of the world so chaūged of the captiuitie of king Henry was not a litle thereat appalled in his mynde wherfore he stayd with his army at S. Albons to see what way further to take And for somuch as there was no other remedy but either he must yeld or one conflict must finish the matter he remoued to Barnet x. myles from S. Albons Against him set forth K. Edward well appointed with a strong army of piked able persons with artillerie engines instrumētes meete for the purpose bringing with him also kyng Hēry On Easter euē he came to Barnet there he embattelled himselfe In the mornyng vpon Easter day the battaile begā and fiercely cōtinued almost till noone with murder on ech side much doubtfull till both partes were almost wery with fightyng and murderyng King Edward thē desirous to see an end of or on with a great crew of new fresh souldiours set vpon his weried enemies Wherby the Earles mē although encouraged with wordes of their captaine stoutly fought but they sore woūded weried could not lōg hold out The Earle rushing into the middest of his enemies ventured so farre that he could not be rescued where he was strikē downe slayne and there lay he Marques Mountacute thinkyng to succour his brother whō he saw to be in great ieopardy was likewise ouerthrowne and slaine After that Richard Neuell Earle of Warwike his brother were gone the rest fled many were takē The number of them which were in this field slayne are iudged about x. thousand as Polydore Virgill reciteth Fabian numbreth of them that were slayne but xv hundreth The Duke of Somerset Earle of Oxford thinkyng to flye to Scotland turned to Iasper Earle of Pēbroke in Wales The Duke of Exceter hardly escaped to Westminster there tooke sanctuary For the death of the Earle of Warwike the K. was not so glad as he was sory for the Marques Mountacute whō he tooke to be his frend The corpes of these two were brought to the Church of Paules where they lay open in two coffins two dayes and then were interred Ex Polyd. alijs ¶ In the narration of this Hystory Polydore Virgill whom Hall followeth word for word doth some deale differ from Rob. Fabian Neither doe I doubt but both these had their authors by whō they were directed Notwithstādyng this I maruaile that Polydore writyng of so many thynges which he neuer saw doth not vouchsafe to cite vnto vs those writers of whom he borowed And more do I meruaile or rather lamēt if it be true that I haue heard that he not onely nameth no author vnto vs but also burned an heape of our English stories vnknowen after the finishyng of his in the dayes of kyng Henry the 8. But now to our text agayne All this while yet Queene Margaret with yoūg prince Edward her sonne was scarce come ouer beyng long let with contrary windes who at length in the moneth of Aprill arriuyng at Waymouth in Dorsetshire hearing the sorrowfull tidings of these thinges lately happened to her husbād and to the Earle of Warwike and his brother and of the prosperous successe of K. Edward was so dismayd diquieted and pierced with sorrow seyng all things contrary to her expectatiō so to frame agaynst her that she fared and tooke on with her selfe lamenting her husbād bewayling hir sonne cursing her comming and crieng out of Fortune as though blinde Fortune were she that gouerneth times and tides rewarding iust punishments to vniust deseruings of men and not the secret power and terrible iustice of almighty God Such was then the impaciency of that Queene being not able to beare the vehemency of her passion who rather should haue sorrowed the dolorous death of Duke Humfrey whome before she neglected but now she lacked that her senses failed her spirites were taken her speach decayed and life almost gone she fell to the ground as one that would rather dye then liue In this desolate case Queene Margaret learning now to know her friends frō her foes when it was too late fraught ful of heauines without solace or hope of remedy she with her son her company departed for her next refuge to a Monastery of Monkes called Beaulie in Hainshire there to take sanctuary priuiledge of the house Yet all harts were not sound nor subdued in England especially Edmond Duke of Somerset with Lord Iohn his brother Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Iasper earle of Pembroke Lord Wenlocke Iohn Longscrother being Prior of the Knights of Rhodes in Saint Iohns These hearing of the Queenes returne with speede resorted to her by whome she being somewhat quickened in her spirits and animated to warre began to take some hart and to follow their counsaile which was in all the whote hast to renew warre against King Edward being now vnprouided by reason his army was now dispersed and chiefest of his souldiours wasted Heere great hope of victory was shewed great promises made Although the Queenes mind was beeing more carefull for the yong Prince then for her selfe to sende him ouer into France before some proofe of triall made yet following the contrary counsaile of them and partly cut off by shortnesse of time which required haste she began with all expedition to gather power Likewise Iasper Earle of Pembroke posted into Wales to do the same King Edward hauing intelligence of all these doings first sendeth out certain light horsemē to espy abroad thorough the West parts what waies his enemies did take In the meane time he
Athens Beocia likewise Aetolia Acarnauia with all the region beyond Peloponesus vnto the coast of Corinth to whome S. Paule also wrote other two epistles were brought in bondage and slauery vnto the Turke In Epirus and in that quarter that adioyneth to Macedonia named Albania reigned then one Ioannes Castriotus who perceiuing himselfe too weake to matche with the Turkes power made with the Turke this cōuention that he should haue Croia a famous Citie in Grecia and also gaue to him his three sonnes for hostages to wit Constantinus Reposius and Georgius In this George such towardnes of noble courage such vigour of minde and strength of body singularly did appeare that the Turke caused him more freely to be instructed after the Turkish religion and maner in his owne court where he being traded vp did so shoote vp as well in feates of actiuitie as in strength of body that he excelled all his equals in so much that he was named Scanderbeins which soundeth as much as Alexander Magnus After this Alexander was grown vp to mature ripenes of age and was well trained vp in feates of war he was sent out by the Turke to warre against Caramannus of Cilicia The Turkes enemy In which expedition he sped himselfe most manfully fighting hand to hande first with a footeman of Scythia then with an horseman of Persia being chalenged by them both to encounter first with the one after with the other whom he so valiantly ouerthrew the he wan great renoun with the Turk In so much that he trusting to the Turks fauour whē he heard of the decease of his father durst aske of the Turke the graunt of his fathers dominion to be giuen vnto him Which request although Amurathes y◠Turke did not denie him yet notwithstanding he perceiuing the matter to be dalied out with fayre wordes by subtill meanes and policie slipt out of the Turks court and came to Epirus his owne inheritance where first by forged letters he recouered Croia The other Cities of their voluntary minde yeelded themselues vnto him who then gathering vnto him the people of Epirus Macedonia which were not so many in nūber as with good willing minds they stucke vnto him so māfully and valiantly behaued himselfe that against all the puissance both of Amurathes and also of Mahumete he mainteined his owne repulsed their violence and put to flight their armies many yeres together But to returne againe to the course of Amurathes victories after he had thus preuailed as is before signified agaynst the East parts of Europa and Grecia and had conuented thus for the dommion of Epirus he inuaded Iluricum otherwise called now Sclauonia conteining in it Dalmatia Croacia Isiria and Liburnia which Countreys after he had spoiled and wasted he continued his course to Albania and Bosna In which regions when he had subdued a great part and had led away an innumerable multitude of captiues he moued further to Walachia and Seruia vpon hope to conquere all Pannonia There reigned at the same time in Seruia a certayne prince named Georgius Despota who made great sute to the Turke for truce peace promising to giue his daughter to mariage for by y◠Turkes lawe they may marry as many wiues as they lust It was not long after Amurathes had maried the daughter of Despota but he contrary to his league and promise made warre vpon Despota his father in law and expelled him out of his kingdome taking from him diuers Cities as Scopia Nouomonte Sophia and all Misia Georgius himselfe fled into Hungary leauing behind him his son to defed the town of Sinderonia Amurathes vnderstāding of the flight of Despoto his father in law compassed the Citie of Sinderonia with a strōg siege which whē he in few daies had expugned he tooke his wiues brother sonne of Despota and without regard of all mercy and affinitie after the barbarous tyranny of the Turkes put out his eies with a basen red hoat set before his eies and after that led him about with him in derision and despite of his cowardly father Ex Christof Rhicherio Gallo Gasp. Peuc alijs Seruia beeing thus wonne and gotten Amurathes thinking to go further into Hungary besieged the Citie called Belgradum and no doubt had also suppressed the same had not the prouidence of God found a meanes that partly through slaughter of his men partly for lacke of victuall and other forage he was compelled to raise his siege and retire In the meane time Ioannes Huniades of whom mention was made before pag. 720. had got great victories against the Turkish power and had recouered parte of Seruia and all Muldauia against whome Amurathes the Turke with a mighty army moued into Pannonia But Huniades with the power and ayde of Ladislaus King of Polonia but specially by the power of the Lord did soone infringe the puissance of the Turke and gaue him the ouerthrow recouering vnto the Christians the greatest part of Seruia and Bulgaria In this battaile Huniades had fiue sundry conflictes with the Turks vpō one day and with fiue victories put them to the worse and toward night did so discomfit and ouerthrow the great captaine of Amurathes called Bassa the Duke of Anatolia which is otherwise named Asia Minor that he slue of the Turks that day to the number of 30. thousand Amurathes although he was not a little thereat discouraged yet dissembling his feare with stout counteuace sent for Carambeius his principal stay captaine with a new power brought out of Asia to assist him in his warres Then Carambeius in the downes of Trasiluania Ladislaus the foresaid king of Polonie the Lord so working through the industrie of Ioannes Huniades so receiued with such celerity oppressed him vnprouided that all his stout sturdy army either was slaine downe right or else put to flight disparcled Carambeius the Captaine being himselfe taken prisoner in the same field These victories of Huniades strooke no little terror to Amurathes in somuch that for distresse of minde he was ready to destroy himselfe as some do write but being cōfirmed by Helibeus Bassa his coūsailer he kept himselfe wtin the streites of the moūt Rhodope Who then hearing that Caramannus inuaded the same time the countrey of Bithinia and Pontus in Asia was glad to take truce wyth Ladislaus and Huniades vpon such conditions as they listed to make themselues which conditions were these that Amurathes should depart clearely from all the region of Sernia and should remoue from thence all his garrisons which were placed in the Castles and forts of the same Also he should restore George Despota which is to say Prince of Seruia vnto his possession and set his children free whome he had in captiuitie and restore them to their inheritance Item that he shoulde make no more claime nor title to the countrey of Moldonia aboue mentioned nor to that part of Bulgrauia which he
and by reason of their multitude ouercharged their horsemen Amongst whom was slaine the same tyme the Archb. Frier aforesayd wyth the Bishops of Strigone and Uaradine many other nobles besides Also the kyng himselfe being destitute of hys necessary aide and succour was compelled to flie into a marish where he falling from his horse being heauy loden with his harneis was not able to rise againe but there miserably perished Solyman the Turke marueiled at the foolyshnesse of Ludouike the King who wyth so small an armye woulde presume to encounter wyth such a great hoste of two hundreth thousande This battaile in Hungarie was fought Anno. 1526. After the deceasse of Ludouicke Ferdinandus succeded in the kingdome being Duke of Austria and king of Hungarie Then Solyman setting contention betwixt Ioannes Uaiuoda and Ferdinandus for the kingdom of Hungarie spedde his viage to the Citie of Buda whych also in short time he made to be yelded vnto hym vpon condition that they should escape with their liues and goodes whych cōdition some say he kept and some say he did not Besides Buda diuers places and munitiōs the sayd Turk contrary to his league made before did spoile and waste as Varadinum Quinque Ecclesias and other fortes and munitions moe bordering about the coastes of Hungary In the yeare of our Lorde 1529. Ferdinandus king of Hungarie aforesaid recouered diuers holdes gotten of the Turke before and also warring againste Ioannes Uaiuoda his enemy with whom he had variance as ye heard before expulsed him out of his kingdom Wherupon Uaiuoda flying to the Turke desired his ayde The Turke glad to take that occasion wyth great preparatiō addressed himselfe to returne into Hungary where he recouering againe the Citie of Buda which Ferdinandus had gotten from him a little before remooued his armye into Austria spoyling and destroying by the way all that came to hys handes shewing many examples of great cruelty tyranny most lamentable to here and vnderstand For of some he put out their eies of some he cutte of their handes of some their eares and noses and of their children he cut of theyr priuy members The maidens he corrupted the matroues had their brestes cut of and such as were with childe were ript and their childrē cast into the fire And these examples of horrible and barbarous tyranny thys wretched Turke perpetrated by the way comming toward Uienna a noble City in Austria besides the captiues which he tooke by the way and led into seruitude moste miserable mounting to the number of 30. thousand Among other holdes by the waye as the Turke came there was a castle called Altenburch strongly by nature situated and by art defenced which castle the Turke entending not to ouerpasse because he woulde make all thynges sure behinde him began to make hys assault and lay hys ordinance against it The warders and kepers of the Castle so soone as the Turks began to lay siege against them making no resistance of a womanly cowardnes sent their messengers to the Turke to yelde themselues ready to doe his commaundement and further him with their vitaile Amongest whome were three hundreth Bohemians who were commaunded to followe the hoste that the Turke by them might learne what strength was in the city of Uienna also where the king was and what was to be done for the winning therof Of whom when the Turke had vnderstanding howe all things stoode and how that there was but 20. thousand men in Uienna able to beare armour and that other cities of Austria would soone yeelde if that were gotten and that Uienna was vitailed but for 2. monthes and that the king was of late in Boheme thus the Turk of all things being certified hauing no doubt in hys minde of victorie made speede toward Uienna and first comming to Neapolis a city but 8. miles distant from Uienna he required them to yelde themselues who notwithstanding withstoode them and repulsed them valiantly Then the Turkes assigned a place for the pitching of their tents whych because it semed some thing too litle for such a great multitude they tooke in more ground to the compasse of 7. miles circuit The multitude of his armye which hee there planted is accompted of some to extend to 250. M. souldiours The Turke thus being planted made daily excourses ouer all the countrey of Austria specially about the citie of Uienna wasting and spoyling with great crueltye murther amongst the poore Christians Moreouer to make al things more sure toward the preparation of the siege scoutes were sent abroade and bushments were laid about the riuer side of Danubius to prouide that no aid nor victual should be brought to Uienna So it pleased the prouidence of the Lord who disposeth all things that 3. daies before the comming of the Turk Fridericus the Earle Palatine which was then assigned by that Empire to take the charge of Uienna was come downe by the riuer of Danubius with 14. M. and with a certaine troupe of horsemen well apoynted and picked for the purpose After the comming of thys Fridericke prouision also of victuall was appoynted to followe shortly after by the sayd riuer of Danubius In the meane time they which had the cariage trāsporting therof hearing how the waies were laid all the passages 10. miles about Uienna stopped by the Turkes although they knew the city to stand in great nede of vitail yet seing there was no other remedy rather then it should come to the ennemies hande thought it best to sincke theyr boats with their cariage and so they did Wherby all be it the christians wanted their reliefe yet were the Turks disappoynted of their pray purpose The captains whych had the keeping of the City which were chiefly Fridericus the Earle Palatine Gulielmus Rogendorffius and Nicolaus erle of Salme seing themselues so straightned contrary to their expectation although they had great causes to be discouraged yet calling their courage vnto them they consulted together for the best way to be taken and seing that the little city Neapolis aboue mentioned being 8. miles distaunt from them so valiauntly withstoode the Turkes that in one day they sustained 7. greuous assaultes against all the maine force of the Turkish armye by their example and manfull stāding being the more animated and encouraged thought to abide the vttermoste before they woulde geue ouer and first plucking downe all the suburbes and buildings wythout the walles wherby the enemy myght haue any succor they willed all the farmers inhabitantes about the Citye to saue themselues and to bryng in theyr goods wtin the walles Such places as were weake wythin the walles they made strong About the towers munition of the walles they prouided rampires bulwarks distant 80. foote one from another to kepe of the shot and euery man hadde hys place and standing awarded to hym vpon the wal and his office appoynted what
the Turke and to deliuer the other parties of Christendome from the feare of the Turke an 1542. Whiche Ioachimus at his first setting foorth appeared so couragious and valiaunt as though he would haue conquered the whole world but this great heate was so slaked in short time by the Turke that before any great ieoperdy was offered vnto him he was glad to to be discharged of the viage and with shame enough returned home againe And would God he had left behynde him in the field no more but his owne shame For the enemies hauing intelligēce before of his cowardly departure thinking to worke some poynt of maistry or victory before his goyng did set vpon the right wing of his army which chiefly consisted of Dutchmen of low Germany out of the which they tooke awaye with them aboue 500. strong and valiaunt souldiours not killing them but carying them away aliue For whome it had bene muche better to haue stand to their weapon and to haue dyed manfully vppon the turkes then by yealding themselues to be disgarnished of weapon and armoure and so to be lefte to the cursed curtesie of the foule Turkes To whome what curtesie was sheweed by the sequele did appeare For after the Turkes had led them out of Hungary into their own dominiō after a most horrible beastly sort they disfigured mangled them so sent them abroad through all Grecia to be witnessrs of the Turkes victory Their kind of punishment was thus First they had their right arme thrust through with an iron red hot whereby they should be vnable and vnmeet to all labour warefare Secondly theyr heades were shauen to the very sculles after the maner of our Friers monks when they are newly shauen Thirdly they had all their priuy members cut of frō their bodies to the intent to make thē vnfruitful for propagation which wound was so grieuous vnto them that the greatest part of them died therupon the few that recouered the torment therof led a life more bitter more miserable then death it selfe And this kinde of cruelty was executed in order vpō them all In much like sort did cruell Pharao exercise hys tyranny agaynst the people of God in Egipt who to destroy the generation of them caused all the male children to be drowned in the riuer Whereby it is the more to be hoped that seing the tiranny of this turkish Pharao is come to such an extremetie the mercifull goodnesse of God will the more shortly send some Moses or other vnto vs for our speedy deliueraunce This was by the cruell Turkes done an 1542. witnessed by Ioannes Ramus which not onely writeth the story but by the testimony also of hys owne eyes recordeth the same to be true beholding with his eies one of the same number in the city of Uienna who hauing wife and children in Bruxelles eyther for shame or sorrow had no minde to returne home to his own house Ex Ioan Ramo But to returne agayne to the city of Buda from whēre we haue digressed here is not to be pretermitted what falshood and what cruelty the turkes vsed toward the Christians there after theyr victory For after that Solyman the Turke vpon the yelding and submission of the men of Buda had geuen to them his promise of safety and life within short time the sayd turke picking a quarrell with them for selling Oxen vnto the Christians and for barganing with them slue all the Magistrates of the sayde Citty of Buda like as in all other Citties where so euer the Christians yelded vnto him he neuer or very rarely kept his promise with them neyther did euer any christians speed better with the turke then they which most constantly did resist him And as hys promise with the Magistrates of Buda was false and wretched so hys cruelty with the souldiors therof was more much notorious abhominable For in the expugnation of Buda among that rest whiche were slayne ij cohortes or bands of Christian souldiors came alyue to his hands To whom when he seemed at the first to graūt pardon of life he commaunded to put on their armour agayn and to dispose themselues in order and battayle array after the warlike maner of the christians whiche when they had accomplished readily according to his commaundement he riding about the ranckes of them had dilligently vewed and be holden them a certain space at length he commaunded thē to put of their armour againe which done certaine of the tallest and strongest of them he pyked out the residue he commanded by his souldiors comming behinde them with swordes to be cut in peeces and slayne Of the other whome he had elected and chosen some he set for markes and buttes to be shot at some he appointed to his two sonnes for them to slash with their swordes try theyr strength which of them could geue the deper woūd and as they termed it the fayrer blowe whereby moste bloud might follow out of their Christian bodies Ex Mart. Stella De successibus Turcarum After the winning of Buda the Turke purposing not so to cease before he had subdued and brought vnder his obedience all Hungary proceeding further with his armye first brought vnder a strong hold of christians named Pestum or Pesta where a great number of Christian souldiours partly were slayne partly were ledde awaye to more cruell affliction Then he came to an other Castle called Walpo situate in the confines of Bosna Croatia and Hungary Whiche forte or castle he besieged three mōthes while no rescue nor ayd was sent vnto them neyther from Ferdinandus king of Hungary nor from any other christian Prince or Princes Whereupon at length the forte was geuen vp to the Turke but more through the false treachery or cowardly hart of the souldiours then of the Captaine Wherein is to be noted an example not vnworthy of memory For when the cowardly souldiours eyther for feare or flattery wold needs surrender themselues the peece vnto the Turke contrarye to the minde of the Captaine whiche in no case would agree to theyr yelding they thinking to find fauour with the turke apprehended theyr captaine and gaue him to Solyman But see howe the iustice of God sometymes by the hands of the enemy disposeth the end of things to the rewarding of vertue punishing of vice For where they thought to saue themselues by the daunger of the faithfull Captain the euent turned cleane contrary so that the Turk was to the captayne bountifull and very liberalll and the souldiours notwithstanding that they had all yelded thēselues yet were all put to death and commaunded pitiously to be slayne Ex Ioan. Martino Stella De Turcarum in Hungaria successibus c. There is in Hungary an other towne bearing the name of fiue Churches called Quiquecclesiensis partly spoyled before as is aboue mentioned pag. 751. but nowe thorough the losse of Walpo by the