when his will is he will also deliver mee out of thy hands being more afflicted with the blasphemies which this varlet uttered then with all the torments which she endured on her body He having bemauled her shinnes with the pattents shée wore upon her féet shée told him his cruelty farre excéeded that of the Turkes and Infidels Whereupon he calling her a Huguenot whore told her That these were but the beginnings of her sorrowes so as if she did not disclose unto him her seven hundred pieces of gold hée would draw her chéeks and breasts with Lard and then fasten her to a forme and burne her quicke and after mount her up to the highest stéeple in the City and cast her thence downe headlong Well said she though my body fall never so low that shall not let my soule from being carried up into heaven This Captaine being herewith more inflamed with ire than before séeing that none of these cruelties could shake the faith and constancy of this poore woman he said unto her eat this Sugar taking loame or mortar from off the wall causing her to open her mouth with his dagger and to swallow it downe But not contenting himselfe herewith the villaine forced her to drink a glasse of Vrine which himselfe had made in her presence and then threw the glasse with what remained therein in her face Lastly he caused her to passe along through the troups of souldiers with intention to have had her slaine among them yet compassion moving them to spare her he brought her into his lodging where this inraged Wolfe by strange cruelties would have caused her to lose her life had not some of the inhabitants by giving him ten crownes redéemed her and so conveyed her to her owne house where within a short time after she finished her dayes One buried alive PEter Roch servant to the Lievtenant of Dignes being met withall in the countrey was buried alive they constrained him to dig his owne grave himselfe and so try whether it were large enough or no unto which he was compelled by Bartholomew Chause-grosse and his complices Provence Two women crowned with thornes THe wife of Andrew Renaud being brought through Saint Martins of Castillon was stripped stark naked and resisting such as would have violated her chastity she was whipped outragiously Anno 1566. then wounded with swords crowned with thornes then cast into the river and lastly shot to death with harquebuses Iannenta Calvin of the place of Cella being of the age of eighty yeres brought into the city of Brignole with a crowne of thornes platted upon her head being whipped till the bloud came excéedingly was first stoned and then burned alive Mascon THe Murtherers in this city having seised upon the body of Bonnet Bor in Mascon one of the most noble houses of the same a man of great learning and of an unblameable life who in other places had served in the Ministry twenty yeares having béen ransommed thrée severall times was carried along with a thousand scoffes and frâ—nps smitten with fists through the corners of the stréets with crying That whosoever would heare this devout and holy man preach should come to the slaughterhouse Whither having brought him they buffeted and mocked him two full houres Hée onely requested before hée died that they would permit him to make his prayers to God Whereupon cutting off the one halfe of his nose and one of his eares they said Now pray as long as thou wilt and then wee will send thee to all the Devils Then he knéeled down and lifting up his eies to Heaven prayed with such fervency of spirit that hée caused some of his murtherers to sigh within themselves Then directing his spéech to him who had cut off his nose he said Friend I am here ready to suffer what thou hast yet further to inflict upon me But this I intreat of thee and thy companions to bethinke you well of the outrages committed by you against this poore city for know there is a God before whose Tribunall you must give an account of these your cruelties At these words the bloud issued so fast out at his nose that it hindred him from procéeding on in that hée was about to have said A Captaine passing by cryed to the souldiers Send this wretched man to the Devill Which one of them hearing tooke him by the hand and brought him to the brimme of the river Saone somewhat above the slaughter house pretending to wash and cleanse him from the bloud wherwith his visage was besmeared conducting him to a boat for this purpose into which he was no sooner entred but he there presently turned him over into the river wherein he striving for life and crying to God for mercy these tyrants battered him with stones till he sunke under the water and so died Sée here in part saith the Historiographer the lamentable estate of the poore churches of France during the first troubles which ended with the end of the Duke of Guise the principall actor therein who was slaine at the siege of Orleance not without the immediate hand of God in the yeare 156â— by a poore gentleman whose name was Iohn Poltrot a man very desperate but of small stature and therefore commonly called the little Spaniard who shooting the Duke into the shoulder with a pistoll as he was riding to his tent in an evening uaon a little negge was for the same fact adiudged to be drawne in pieces by foure horses his head to be cut off and his torne body to be burnt to ashes ¶ A very comfortable Letter written by Wouter Oom Prisoner and Martyr in the City of Antwerpe and full of consolation against the feare of persecution directed to a Brother and Sister of his Grace and peace from God the Father and from his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen WElbeloved brother and sister whom I love dearely for the truths sake and for your faith in Christ Iesus These are to certifie you that I am in bodily health and enjoy the comfort or a good conscience I praise my Lord God therefore who is able to increase the same more and more by the powerfull operation of his holy spirit Whosoever they be that will forsake this present evill world and become followers of their Captain Christ must make account to méet with many persecutions and afflictions for Christ hath told us aforehand that we should be hated persecuted Mat. 10. 12. and banished out of the world for his names sake And this they will doe saith he because they have neither knowne the father nor Iohn 16. 3. me But be not afraid saith he for I have overcome the world Saint Paul also witnesseth the 2 Tim. 3. 12. same thing saying all that will live godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution And again to you it is given for Iesus Christ not onely to beléeve in him but also to suffer for his sake And Phil. 1. 24. Mat. 5. 11 12.
at Gand tooke him thence bound him girding and straining him strangely with cords and would néeds have him burned As he was led thither they abused him shamefully with mockes thrusting him forward and striking him cruelly The Captaine of the band gave him a blow over the face with his Gantlet which much disfigured him Finally these tyrants handled him worse then any dog only because his patient and constant carriage of himselfe tormented and enraged them Being come to the place they thrust him into his little Cabbin piled up with fagots and wood and then set fire unto him where he was heard distinctly and plainly to use these words albeit they had gagged him Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Thus this faithfull witnesse of Ieuss Christ dyed quiently and constantly in the Lord April the fourth Anno 1568. ¶ Among these sad relations a little to quicken and refresh the spirit of the reader I will here insert a Letter full of consolations written out of prison to the faithfull by one William Touart Merchant who had his dwelling in the City of Lisle in Flanders THis honourable personage being come to the age of eighty yeares or thereabouts used his house for the space of fourtéene or fiftéene yeares as a Church wherein the assembly in the City of Lisle commonly met Being chased and banished thence in the yeare 1561. he withdrew himself for a while to Tournay whence he was constrained to flie and to goe to Amiens and Moundedier Cities of Picardy that there he might enjoy the pure preaching of the Gospell Afterward returning into his owne countrey he came to reside in the City of Antwerpe where after he had continued many yeares he was at length imprisoned and condenmed to be burned with two others who suffered for the same cause But it pleased God so to dispose of him that he dyed another kinde of death to shew that his chosen servants have to triumph over the same some one way and some another For being plunged into a cisterne or tub full of water he was drowned in prison and then they carried his body out of the City to a place called Berken where the dead bodies of the condemned are laid upon the whéels or crutch Among many letters which he wrote during the time of his imprisonment my author hath selected out this one which here followeth DE are brethren and sisters in Iesus Christ I most humbly thank my good God that he hath so fortified and comforted me by his grace that I féele my selfe more cheared by lying in this darke prison then if I were walking in the open stréets or fields I say this I féele according to the spirit for as touching the flesh what doth it apprehend here but stinking vapors and smoke Wherefore my beloved if it so fall out that you be apprehended for the name of Iesus Christ feare not the prison nor those that have power to kill the body for having done that they can goe no further Be yée not afraid then séeing it is the reward which our good Captaine Iesus Christ hath promised to all his faithfull soldiers and servants He who turnes his backe in this conflict goes by the losse but whosoever fights manfully obtaines in the end the crowne not a crowne of gold but of glory immortall We here lay downe Rev. 2. 10. a fading life filled with griefes and troubles to change the some for a life everlasting we put off the ragges of this mortall flesh to be clothed with robes immortall we forsake a loathsome life for joy and felicity eternall ought any gaine or exchange to be compared with this O swéet and happy Martyrdome how dost thou dignifie and enrich us in despite of the world devill and our owne flesh And which of us now can complaine séeing our Soveraigne Lord and Master hath Anno 1569. so expressely foretold it to all his followers will any man come after me saith he Let him then Mat. 16 24. take up his crosse and follow me Let us beare Oh let us then beare the crosse chéerefully and with ioyfulnesse that we may be received in the presence of his heavenly Father for it is not only Phil. 1 21. 1 Tim. 2. 12. given us to beleeve in Christ but also to suffer for his sake and if we suffer with him then wée shall also raigne with him Oh that wée could admire his bounty who no sooner imployes us in his worke but hath the wages ready in his hand wherewith to recompence Iohn 16. 20. Heb 12. 1. us Your sorrow saith he shall be turned into joy Let us then cast off every weight that presseth downe and whatsoever else that stands in our way to heaven-ward be if father mother Mat. 19 29. Mat. 13 45 46. brother sisters husband childe yea and our own life also Let us with the wise Merchant man sell all that with him we may purchase that pretious pearle How happy doe I estéeme them who are called to suffer and leave their life for confessing the name of Iesus Christ For the eternall Son of God will confesse their names before his heavenly Mar. 10. 23. Luke 12. 8. Father and his holy Angels They shall be clad with white robes and shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of Heaven filled with gladnesse in the presence of the Lambe They shal eat of the fruit of the trée of life which is in the midst of the Rev. 27. Paradise of God Let us fixe the eyes of our minds upon these so great pretious promises of Iesus Christ which he hath made to all those which persevere in well doing unto the end O how happy shall wée be when we are delivered from these bodies of death to live for ever with our God Let us continually pray then with the Disciples Lord increase Luke 15. 7. our faith O deare brethren remember mée alwayes in your prayers who am bound here in the Heb. 13. 3. bonds of Antichrist Remember those also who are in bonds as if you were bound with them pray Pet. 4. 5 I say without ceasing for our adversary the Devill is alwayes compassing us about with his fetches to cause our hearts to faint And you are not ignorant what a potent enemy our owne flesh Gal. 5. 17. Phil. 1. 6. is unto us But I confidently beléeve that our good God who hath begun this good worke in me will perfect the same even unto the day of Christ Fare ye well It was strange to see what spectacles of dead bodies saline by the bloudy Inquisition were to be gazed on in a manner in every place especially in the Cities of Tournay and of the Valencians in regard of the multitudes of beléevers both of men and women who had long languished in sundry prisons in great misery and necessities Now that we may not forget what fell out in the beginning of this yeare 1569. thus it happened In the City
at their hands but they answered him That this was no time for pitty and favour but if he would sweare by the Popes Bull and abjure his Faith in that case they would shew him favor and grant him his life But he with a great and couragious resolution answered God forbid and defend that I for love of this temporall life should deny my Lord Iesus Christ who with his precious bloud upon the wood of the Crosse did at so deare a rate redéeme me and after that I have so long time through his grace fréely and publikely confessed him should now hazard the losse of eternall life to which I was elected before the foundation of the World I say God forbid Upon this spéech he was in most barbarous and savage manner murthered by them The very same evening was the gate of the palace burnt to the ground by those rebels who the next morning entred into the same raging with fury and tooke the Governour prisoner with his young sonne spoyling and ransacking wives and maidens and carrying away all they could lay hands on The Governour of the Palace was carried away prisoner to the house of the foresaid Dort Francesco and at last after he had long time béen tugged to and fro hee was miserably slaine with a shot Iohn Antonio Mazano endeavouring to make resistance against those rebels and his wife defending him was with her selfe and two young children miserably killed Another called Iohn Antonio Schlosser a Gardonese having made long resistance and killed one of the rebels was at the last taken and tyed to a trée and so shot to death To be short these villaines had no regard of any person neither young nor old nor weake nor strong but all of all sorts were either shot unto death or cut in pieces or in one manner or other destroyed and the number of those persons in estimation who in Tyrane received the crown of martyrdome for the profession of the Gospell was about sixty Of those who by the grace of God although with great danger escaped through the horrid and vaste Alpes into Retia and other parts were only thrée persons that is Doctor Iacobo Albertino Iacobo Nevio de Coyra and Egidio Venosta who left behind them wealth wives children and whatsoever goods they had The Ladies who were not slain were constrained to change their Religion and at this day goe to masse saving the wife of the said Lazarone and her daughters and her niece being the wife of the said Egidio who by the assistance of Almighty God continued in safety And there also the eighth of August the said Ladies were released who retired themselves into Retia viz. the wife of this Lazarone and her two daughters leaving behind them in the Valtoline one daughter and two yong sonnes who cannot obtaine leave to depart the countrey CHAP. 2. ¶ The massacre of Teglie wherein were murthered about sixty persons THese wicked traitors having in this manner committed the foresaid execrable massacre in Tyrane suddenly the strangers and the outlawes of the mountaines apparrelled in red cassockes and well mounted on horsebacke marched in the morning to Tel at the houre when the Sermon was and ran like ravening Wolves to the Volta Church being guided by two Friers Azzo and Carolo Besta by Antonio Besta their cousin germane The Protestants who were in the Church observing the evill intention of those villains arose suddenly from their seats and endevored to shut the Church doore and to barricadoe the place with the benches They without laboured with all their power to enter the Church but not being able so spéedily to do it some of them climed up unto the windowes and discharged their muskets among the people without respect of any person and killed very many of them At last they forced the doore entred and slew all they found saving a few who promised to go to masse Some of the men and ladies with their children fled into the belfrey to save themselves but they set fire to the place most miserably burnt all that were within Amongst those who were slaine in the Church the chiefest of note was the reverend Lord Iohn Piere Dante of Rozu of the higher Engadin a minister of the Protestant Church of Tell a man rarely endued with learning and the feare of God and in those respects honoured even of his enemies themselves who after he had with lively reasons exhorted that afflicted Church of his constantly to persevere unto death in the knowne and confessed truth to the honor of his Saviour even so long as the brevity of the time would permit him was to the griefe of very many miserably shot to death being of the age of 42 yeares Amongst these was one Iosui Gattia Doctor of the law Lievtenant to the Podesta of Tell and principall Iustice an honourable Gentleman and of excellent vertues about 43 yeares of age together with Daniel Gugelberge Gaudenzo Guizziardi a Gentleman of like worth and honour Cousin germane to the father of the forenamed Azzo Besta of the age of sixty foure yeares Margaritta his daughter of the age of fourtéene yeares or thereabouts was wounded with a musket shot in the head going about to bow her selfe by giving a last kisse to her deare father who was yéelding up the ghost Antonio the sonne of Scipion Besta a Gentleman very rich and of excellent parts although hee was the néere kinsman of Azzo Besta was shot to death and died in the arms of his wife being of the age of thirty seven Ascanio Gatti an Apothecary of Tell being seven and twenty yeres of age George his brother eightéen yeres old Ionata Piatti sixty five yeares old Maximilian Piatti foure and twenty yeares Vincenzo Frigerio Notary and Procurator of Tell age 39. Marssilio Piatti age 38. Filiberto his brother age 19. Virginio Piatti age 28. Lorenzo Piatti of Boaltie age 23. slaine with a musket shot at the window of the stéeple Philippo Nova likewise of Boaltie age 45. Bartolomeo his brother age 42. Petro Marcioninno Master of the school of Tell age 35. Thomas de Boruno age 64. together with his son Claudio Gatti a Notary age 43. Andrea Tempino a Gardonese age 41. Anna Gala di Zozio of the upper Agnadma wife of Bartolomeo Nova a Romane Catholike age 42. Benedetto Cattaneo age 17. Giouanni Pietio and Iohn Martin Cattaneo his sons Lucius Federicke age 60. Andruno Morello age 50. Iosepho his brother age 35. Alberto Marcumni 45. Federico Valentino of Zernezo of Agnadma the lower dwelling at Gura of the hundred of Chiure age 64. Ioanni Menghino of Posvavo dwelling in Gura 40 yeares of age In the Stéeple of the Church were burnt these which follow Horatio Gatti some of the abovesaid Iosue Gatti age 6. Doctor Lelio Paravicino of Berbenno a Physitian of great worth and excellently practised in his profession dwelling in Tell age 43. Azzo Guizziardi nephew of the above named Gaudenzo a young courteous gentleman and of rare
hope age 22 Friderico Guizziardi age 34. Horatio Paravicino sonne of Francisco age 6. Margareta Marlianica wife of Raphael Nova a Doctor of the Law a Gentleman of great worth age 43. Madalena her daughter wife of Daniel Gatti age 18. Anshelino Gatti Chancellor of the State of Tell age 67 Giovan Pauli Piatti son of Ionata age 48. Claudia Piatti daughter of Massimiliano age 7. Violante late wife of Theodore Gatti age 64. Giovanninna widow of Vincentio Nova age 34. Pietro Regenzano Chancellor of the above named Podesta of Tell age 46. Iosue Meda age 50. Martua of Borum age 53. Madalena Girardona wife of Claudio Gatti age 33. Augusto Gatti son of Abraham age 22. Abroad without the Church and Stéeple were slaine Vincentio Gatti brother of Anthelmo age 73. Andrea his sonne age 32. who was murthered in the stréet called Lagone Claudio Gatti sonne of Theodoro Ionatan Medasonne of Iosue Daniel Lazeroto Vincentio Cattaneo and Giovan Pietro Regenzano who comming from Morbegno from the garrison were slaine in a certaine place called Buffetto age 18. or thereabouts Thomazo Reaenzano brother of Giovan Pietro age 38. Melchior Marcionino wounded in the head but after five daies being found in his bed was solicited with great promises to renounce his Religion but he with great earnestnesse and resolution refusing was murthered in his bed age 65. Giovanni Antonio Federici Doctor of Law in Sonico in Valeamenica age 38. was very néer to be murthered in prison from whence at the instance of Antonio Piatti Curate of Tell he was set frée In this place it is worth the noting that Giovan Abondio Nova sonne of Doctor Raffaele a very learned young man albeit out of humane infirmity to save his life he had promised in the Church of Tell to goe to masse yet in short time recovering himselfe and acknowledging his oversight with much griefe and repentance for his fault he with all spéed departed from Tell towards Sondres supposing that he should be safely protected by his deare kinsman Nudar Marliemion but being required by the souldiers who kept the passage of Trisiria to deny his Religion for refusing the same he was slaine in the way being 22 yeares of age This young man is a singular example for them who fall méerly through infirmity and danger of death not in other respect but yet after their fall through the grace of God and the crowing voice of the word doe returne to repentance confessing their fault and with unfained sorrow of heart bewailing the same which even befel the blessed Apostle Peter himselfe CHAP. 3. The massacre following committed at Sondres in the mountaine of Sondrium and Malenk wherein were left dead above 140 persons THese wicked and savage wretches having in this manner executed and finished this their impious and execrable enterprise at Tyrane and Tell assembled themselves in the middest of the Valley of Sondres where the principall and chiefe Iustice of the Country made his residence having before placed secure guards upon every passage of the countrey about They came principally by the conduct of Giovani Guizziardi Prospero Swadino and Guilio Pozalis being all thrée of Ponte with an entire company of souldiers from Ponte Chiur and some few from Porti who the very same Sunday marched to the gate of Albosagia in which place they found Lorenco Paribello a doctor Giovan Iacomo and Floratio his sons with another company of souldiers attending the comming of the abovesaid Iohn Guizziardi with his company This businesse was fréely divulged all abroad in Sondres by the Romane Catholikes themselves that these banished came towards Sondres to execute the same designe which they before had practised at Tyrane and Tell who offered their ayd to the chiefe Iustice to defend him against the invasion protesting that they would no more endure any such villanous attempts Wherfore they took armes under pretence and shew of defence beating up the drummes ane ringing the bells for the alarme by which meanes not only great multitudes assembled in armes out of the countries adjoyning but also with one purpose and consent to doe mischiefe and to execute their malitious intentions against the protestants who suspected nothing lesse In the meane time the protestants trusting to the great promises which the Papists made them mixed themselves amongst them These persons concealing their mischievous intent killed at times sometimes one sometimes another of the Protestants in such manner as although divers of them were slaine yet they did not understand the secret of the practise Some of them endeavouring to flée towards the valley of Malenco which lies against Poschiaro Agnedma and Pregalia were murthered by certaine villaines of Ponchiero a place about Sondres and amongst other Gentle women were wounded and run through in many parts Frances Marliamio Giovanni Andrea Chissa and others particularly Doctor Bartholomed Paravicino Doctor of the Law in Berbenno called the Fatt who was cruelly murthered being of age 53 yeares The day after was slaine in the morning Nitholo Marlianco sonne of Fellosâ—o a man singularly affected to the publique good and to the advancement of the Gospell Hee was shot by his cousin germane Emilio Luvizaro méeting him in the stréet the said Marlianco going in the company of Lucio Orschletta of Zornezo Agnadina the lower to visit the court of guard in the quarrevoy of Sondres age 46. At this time it was delivered for certaine that the day before was murthered Cesar the sonne of Prospero Paravicino and of Hortensia Marteninga Countesse of Barco a Gentleman of most rare abilities travelling about his businesse towards Tresiar age 50. Besides Prospero his son was slaine of age 27. also Battista Girrardo with his sonne George and many others by which meanes these protestants were so scattered and left destitute of any head for their conduct that they could not possibly unite themselves to make defence against their enemies Onely the Chancellor Giovan Andrea Migardino calling to remembrance the matters contained in the abovesaid processes the same sabbath day the ninth of Iuly with his brother Gregory and others of the Church of Sondres withdrew themselves to the number of eightéene together with certaine Ladies and their young children into their owne house which is adjoyning to the Palace and there they fortified themselves with resolution to defend themselves even to the death séeing that in the stréet wherein they dwelt none durst come out of the doores nor enter into the Church which stood over against them Neverthelesse the enemy resolved to set upon the house with a thousand armed men threatening also the Magistrate to kill him in case any of them should take any harm by those who were retired into the house Whereupon the Magistrate commanded them in the house to depart who being well armed tooke their way on the sudden by Sondres towards the bridge where for a time they fortified themselves then returning again they drew unto them certain others and marched towards the Church of the Mountaine of
father his two sons and after many words passed they asked them whether they would submit themselves to the will of the Magistrates Robert Oguier and Baudicon his sonne with some deliberation said yes we will Then demanding the same of Mart. the younger brother he answered that he would not submit himselfe thereto but would accompany his Mother so he was sent backe againe to prison whilest the father and the son were aduidged to be burned alive to ashes Now as they went to receive the sentence one of the Iudges sitting in his place after sentence pronounced said to day you shall go to divell with all the Devils in hell fiâ—e which he spake as one transported with fury in beholding the great patience of these two servants of Christ for they tooke all things quietly vanquishing their enemies cruelty by patient bearing the Crosse and in praysing God for the same Having received the sentence of death they were returned to the prison whence they came being ioyfull that the Lord did them that honor to be enrolled in the number of his Martyrs No sooner entred they the prison but a band of fryers came in thither one amongst the rest told them the houre was come in which they must finish their daies Robert Oguier and his son answered we know it well But blessed be the Lord our God who now delivering our bodies out of this vile prison will receive our soules into his glorious and heavenly kingdome One of the Fryers whose name was Lazard a notable limme of Antichrist endeavoured to turnâ— them from their faith saying Father Robert thou art an old man let mée intreat thée in this thy last houre to think of saving thine owne soule And if thou wilt give eare to mée I warrant thée thou shalt do well The old man answered poore man how darest thou attribute that to thy selfe which belongs to the eternall God and so rob him of his honour for it séemes by thy spéech that if I will hearken to thée thou wilt become my Saviour No no I have one only Saviour Iesus Christ who by and by will deliver me from this miserable world I have one Doctor whom the heavenly Father Mat. 17 5. hath commanded me to heare and I purpose to hearken to none other A Fryer called the Father of Saint Clare exhorting him to take pitty of his soule which Christ had redéemed Thou willest me said Robert to pitty mine owne soule doest thou not sée what pitty I have on it when for the name of Christ I wiâ—ngly abandon this body of mine to the fire hoping to day to be with him in Paradise I have put all my confidence in God and my hope wholly is fixed upon the merits of Christ his death and passion he will direct me the right way to his Kingdome I beléeve whatsoever the holy Prophets and Apostles have written and in that faith will I live and die The Fryer hearing this said Out Dog thou art not worthy the name of a Christian thou and thy son with thée are both resolved to damne your bodies and soules with all the devills in the bottome of hell As they were about to sever Baudicon from his father he said Let my father alone and trouble him not thus he is an old man and hath an infirme body hinder him not I pray you from receiving the Crowne of Martyrdome Another of the Fryers said Away varlet thou art the cause of thy fathers perdition The Friers then turning themselves towards the Executioner said On on Officer doe thine Office for we will be gone we lose but our labour séeing the devill hath bewitched them Baudicon was then conveyed into a chamber apart and there being stripped of his clothes was fitted to be sacrificed now as one brought him Gunpowder to put to his breast an odde fellow standing by said Wert thou my brother I would sell all that I am worth to buy Fagots to burne thée thou findest but too much favour The yong man answered Well Sir the Lord shew you more mercy Some that were present saying Good God is it not a pittifull sight to behold these poore men A Doctor being by answered And what pity would you have shewed towards them I would in stead of allowing them this powder Saint Laurence was rosted on a gridiron by Pagans In this age the godly find in a manner the like from faiâ—e and fained Christians A gentle perswasion have them fryed on Gridirons as S. Laurence was Whilest they spake thus to Baudicon some of the Fryers closed in with the old man perswading him at least to take a Crucifixe into his hands lest the people said they should murmure against you adding further that he might for all that lift up his heart to God because you know said they it is but a péece of wood Thus they fastened it betwéen his hands but as soone as Baudicon was come downe and espied what they had done to his father he said Alas father what doe you now will you play the Idolater even at your last houre And then pulling the idoll out of his hands which they had fastned therein he threw it away saying What cause hath the people to be offended at us for not receiving a Iesus Christ of wood We beare upon our hearts the Crosse of Christ the Son of the everliving God féeling his holy word written therein in Letters of Gold As they were led to execution a band of souldiers were attendant upon them no lesse then if a Prince had béen conducted into his kingdome Béeing come to the place where they were to suffer they ascended up the scaffold which was there prepared for them Then Baudicon asked leave of the Sheriffes to make a confession of his faith before the people Answer was made That hée was to looke unto his ghostly Father and Confessor confesse your selfe said they to him He was then haled rudely to the stake where he began to sing the sixtéenth Psalme The Fryer cryed out Doe you not heare my Masters what wicked errours these hereticks sing to beâ—ile the people withall Baudicon hearing what he said replyed thus Now simple idiot callest thou the Psalmes of the Prophet David errors But no marvell for thus you are wont to blaspeme against the Spirit of God Then turning his eye towards his father who was about to be chained to the stake he said Be of good courage father the worst will be past by and by As the executioner was fastening him to the post he chanced to hit him with his hammer on the foot to make him stand néerer to the same The old man being sensible of the blow said Friend thou hurtest my foot why doest thou abuse me thus The Frier hearing this said Ah these heretickes They would be counted Martyrs forsooth but if they be but touched a little they cry out as they were killed To which Baudicon thus replyed Thinke you then that we feare the tormentors No such matter for
had we feared the same we had never exposed our bodies to this so shamefull and painfull a kinde of death Then he often reiterated these short breathings O God Father everlasting accept the sacrifice of our bodies for thy well beloved Sonne Iesus Christs sake One of the Friers cried Heretike thou liest he is none of thy father the Devill is thy father And thus during these conflicts he bent his eyes to heaven and speaking to his father said Behold for I sée the heavens open and millions of Angels ready prest to receive us rejoycing to sée us thus witnessing the truth in the view of the World Father let us be glad and rejoyce for the joyes of heaven are set open unto us Then said one of the Fryers I sée hell open and millions of Devils present to carry you thither But the Lord who never forsakes any that put their trustin him stirred up the heart and opened the mouth of a poore man who stood among the multitude beholding this spectacle who being moved with compassion cryed aloud Be of good comfort Baudicon stand thou to it thou 〈◊〉 in a good quarrell I am on thy side after which words he departed thence and a way being made for him saved himselfe from danger Fire was forthwith put to the straw and wood which burnt beneath whilest they not shrinking for the paines spake one to another Baudicon often repeating this in his fathers eares Faint not father nor be afraid Yet a very little while and wee shall enter into the heavenly mansions In the end the fire growing hot upon them the last words they were heard to pronounce were Iesus Christ thou Sonne of God into thy hands we commend our spirits And thus these two slept swéetly in the Lord. Within eight dayes after Iane the mother and Martin her sonne were executed in the same City of Lile but of this more hereafter Iane the wife of Robert Oguier and Martin her sonne Martyrs THe wife here followes her husband and accompanies her sonne her conversion is admirable for being severed from him the Friers having seduced her laboured with her to turne her some also out of the right way but he understanding thereof recovers his mother againe and so they both gaue their lives for the truth to the great confusion of their enemies But before we come to describe their happy ends we will as briefely as may be note by the way the great conflicts of spirit which both of them sustained There were sent unto them many of the popish rabble to turne them from their faith Now that this their devillish enterprise might the rather be effected they sundred one of them from the other so as by the politique deuice of a Monke the poore woman began to waver and let goe her first faith At this their enemies rejoyced not a little whilest the poore little flocke of Christ hearing such sad newes were in continuall perplexity but the Lord left them not in this mournfull condition For on a day one of the Monkes resorted to her in the prison counselling her to win her sonne Martin and to draw him from his errors which she promised to doe But when he was come to his Mother and perceiued that she was not onely fallen but also quite turned out of the right way he began with teares to bewayle her miserable estate O Mother saith he what have you done Have you denyed him who hath redéemed you Alas what evill hath he done you that you should requite him with this so great an iniury and dishonour Now I am plunged into that woe which I have most feared Ah good God that I should live to sée this which pierceth me to the very heart His Mother hearing these his pittifull complaints and séeing the teares which her sonne shed for her began againe to renue her strength in the Lord and with teares cryed out O Father of mercies be mercifull unto me miserable sinner and cover my transgression under the righteousnesse of thy blessed Sonne Lord enable me with strength from above to stand to my first confession and make me to abide stedfast therein even unto my last breath It was not long after this her change but the same instruments of Satan who had seduced her came in supposing to finde her in the same minde wherein they left her whom she no sooner espied but with detestation said Avoyd Satan get thee behinde me for henceforth thou hast neither part nor portion in me I will by the help of God stand to my first confession And if I may not signe it with Inke I will seale it with my blood And so from that time this fraile vessell who for a while relented after her recovery grew stronger and stronger The Iudges séeing their constancy delayed not to dispatch them out of the way condemning them to be burned alive and their bodies being reduced to ashes the same to be scattered and dispersed in the aire The mother and the sonne having heard their sentence read in the way as they were going backe againe to prison said now blessed be our God who causeth us thus to triumph over our enemies This is the wished houre our gladsome day is come Let us not then said Martin forget to be thankefull for the honour he doth us in thus conforming us unto the Image of his Sonne Let us remember those who have traced this path before us for this is the high way to the Kingdome of heaven Let us then good Mother goe on boldly out of the Campe with the Son Heb. 13. 13. of God bearing his reproach with all his holy Martyrs for so we shall finde passage into the glorious Kingdome of the everliving God Some of the company hearing but not being able to brooke these words said we sée now thou heretique that thou art wholly possessed body and soule with a divell as was thy father and brother who are both in Hell Martin said Sirs as for your railings and cursings our God will this day turne them into blessings in the sight of himselfe and of all his holy Angels A certaine temporizer said to Martin thou silly See here the sundry â—ights of Satan youth thou sayest thou knowest not what thou art too well conceited of thy selfe and of thy cause Séest thou not all this people here about thée what thinkest thou of them they beléeve not as thou doest and yet I doubt not but they shall be saved But you imagine to doe that which will never come to passe though you pretend never so much that you are in the faith and have the Scriptures for you The good woman hearing this answered Sir Christ Iesus our Lord saith that it is the wide gate and broad way which leades to destruction Mat. 7. 12. and therefore many gooe in thereat but the gate saith he is narrow that leades to life and few How we may know we are in the right way there be that finde it Doe ye
saile as they say and to apply himselfe to the time being brought hereinto by the advice of some namely that he should faine a giving of his consent to what the Magistrate required of him by meanes whereof hée might escape their hands But about the tenth of September comming againe to himselfe and But soone after recovers himselfe espying whereunto this determination tended hée protested before all that he would stand in the confession he had made from the first of April last past Wherefore on the ninth of August hée was brought againe before the same Iudges where he openly confirmed the same His Iudges said that he should either be drowned or burned alive Then on the thirtéenth of Ianuary 1566. according to the Venetian account which according to our was 1567. on Tuesday morning being come before the Tribunall sentence was pronounced upon him that hée should be drowned as an Heretique To which he gave them this answer I am no heretique but the servant of Iesus Christ At which words the popes legate commanded him to hold his peace telling him that he lied The next day in the morning which was the last of Ianuary he was brought into Saint Peters Chappell where he was degraded because he had béen a Priest and the night following he was conducted unto the Sea and there drowned in the place appointed who died prayising and blessing God with invincible constancy ¶ A relation of such things as fell out under the government of the Duke of Alva and of many men put to death 1567. THe afflictions of the protestants in the Low-Countries were multiplied this yeare under the dominion of Ferdinando of Toledo Duke of Alva It is well knowne that the Spaniards using all their endeavours to rule over this Countrey at their pleasures had no better opportunity to accomplish their design then to establish among them their inquisition thereby to dominéere over the goods honors and lives of every one The Nobles Citizens and Commons did what they could to oppose the same to which purpose they had instantly besought the King to afford them his royall presence that hearing once their complaints his Majesty might take some order for matters of so great importance alledging to this end the example of the Emperour Charles his Father who upon a businesse fame inferiour to this adventured himselfe with much diligence to passe through the enemies country who were but a while before reconciled onele to stay some mutinies begun in the City of Gand. These things had so moved his Majesty that he made them a promise by letters of his comming But his intention was broken off by such as were the upholders of the inquisition that so they might with the more facility attaine the end of their desires In stead of their King then they had sent unto them the Duke of Alva who at his entrance found the prisons replenished with Gentlemen other personages of note whom the Dutches of Parma had left in bonds after her death Long di dthey languish in this captivity whilst the Duke of Alva by faire promises dissembled a kind of méeke and gentle carriage of minde towards them giving them some hope of a generall pardon procéeding from the Kings clemency that thus he might catch the lords and governors â—he more cunningly into his nets whereof the Lord Lemorall Earle of Egmond Prince of Gand Governor of Flanders and Artois and others of quality gave but too lamentable experience who being fed with vaine hopes were at length inhumanely put to death The sixéene Provinces also subjecting themselves To wit Brabant Lambourg Luxembourg Guelderland Flanders Artois Haynaut Holland â—ealand Namur â—utphein Friseland Malines Vtrecht Overâ—seiz and Graningu◠〈◊〉 Le Conseil de sang under this new government lost their antient liberties and priviledges which evidently appeared by the exploits done from the yere 1557. hitherto by a new counsell of twelve elected and setled there by the Duke the principall of which were Vergas and Delrio the Fathers of the inquisition which Councell was commonly called the Councell of bloud ¶ The death of two Barons of Battembourg the one called Gysorecht and the other Thierri brethren with certaine other Gentlemen executed the same day at Bruxells 1568. AMong many Gentleman and Captains who were apprehended after the discomâ—ture of the Assembly in Holland whom the Dutches of Parma had imprisoned in the castle of Villford the two brothers of Battembourg a most antient Barony scituated upon Mense about two miles off from Nieumegne did manifest above others how much they had profited by being instructed in the Church of Geneva The elder of them was Gysbrecht and the other Dietrich or Thierri who from the flower of their youth had constantly professed and confessed the pure Doctrine of the Gospell On Tuesday the first of Iune Anno 1568. the Duke of Alva began to declare to the world his fained méeknesse putting to death the same day these two breathren besides the Lords Heter Dandelet Philip Wingle c. They were first brought into Provost Spellans house néere the horse faire in the City of Bruxels compassed about with a strong guard and many drummes beating that none might heare what were their last spéeches As they went to their death Battembourg the elder séemed to be somewhat pensive whereas Dietrich his brother was very chéerefull comforting the other with his gracious words saying Ah brother is not this the day we have so much desired Be not sorrowfull now for it is the highest honor that can befall us here to suffer for the Doctrine of the Sonne of God It may be for the love you beare me you grieve to sée me dye first I am content that you should drinke of that cup before me in regard you are the elder if not all is one séeing we are going to our God Gysbrecht by and by replied Thinke not deare Brother that the joy of the holy Ghost is taken from me now I am drawing nigh to the Lord being ready to dye for his holy name Then ascending the scaffold after he had made his fervent prayers to God the Executioner taking off his head he slept happily swéetly in the Lord. His brother following him next with such alacrity as much astonished the spectators He desired as some say to sée his brother and when he had espied his head he cried I shall by and by be with thee my brother So after he had ended his prayer he was by a quicke dispatch united unto him Those who testifie these things report That the other Gentleman had so much favour as to bée buried but these two brethren were made a spectacle being hanged up the cause was for that in the very same morning they suffered as also before they directly set themselves against the Idolatries which were proposed unto them The Saturday after the fifth of Iune the Earles of Eagmond and Horne were beheaded and there made a publique gazing flock Of which two the
men were assembled Bishops and Cardinalls swaying the same Schob I have read of some Councels where the Spirit of God was not present Marquesse Would you not now willingly returne into the bosome of the holy Romane Church Schob I will cleave to whatsoever God shall teach me out of his holy word And thus for this time they parted On the seven and twentieth of March Schoblant received sentence of death whereat he was nothing terrified but began to sing the song of Simeon and the fortieth Psalme The night following he wrote his last farewell to his brethren and excuseth Ioris for not being condemned with him although they were both presented at the same time before the Iudges I pray you deare friends be not offended saith he that Ioris my fellow prisoner is not offered a sacrifice with me It is not I assure you for denying his Saviour But let us meditate on that which the Lord said to S. Peter If I will Iohn 21. that he tarry till I come what is that to thée follow thou me This I apply to my selfe at this time for which I render humble and hearty thanks to God who hath counted me worthy not only to confesse the Lord Iesus with my mouth but also to seale the same confession with my blood I new brethren bid you farewell waiting with a joyfull heart the call and cry of my husband who now invites me to come unto him Out of prison the same right before the day wherein I must be offered up a sacrifice Written with mine owne hand Schoblant the Sonne of Barthel THe next day he entreated the Iaylour with a great deale of earnestnesse that he would not suffer the Fryers and Monks to come into trouble him for said he such kinde of people can do me no good séeing the Lord hath already sealed up the assurance of my salvation in my heart by his holy Spirit I am now going to my spouse putting off this earthly mantle to enter into the relestiall glory where I shall be fréed from all superstitions And then he added farther would to God I might be last that these Tyrants should put ot death and that their thirst after blood might be so quenched with mine that the poore Church of God from henceforth might enjoy her rest and quiet Having sung the fortieth Psalme with his fellow prisoner concluding the same with saying the Lords prayer they kissed one another and commended one another unto God with many teares After which the executioner came in and when he had bound him he led him away In going out of the prison he said farewell Ioris I goe before thée follow thou me Ioris answered so will I brother I will follow thée In his passage towards the place of execution he forgot not his brethren but manifested his love to them by such signes as he could Being tyed to the stake he was burned alive calling upon the name of the Lord in the yeare 1568. the tenth day of Iuly ¶ Iohn Hues finished his course in Prison ¶ Here followeth a Letter written by Ioris Coomans out of Prison to the Church of God in Antwerpe BRethren I write unto you being left alone whereas we were thrée in number Iohn Hues is now dead in the Lord. I did my best to comfort him whilest he breathed So as now I am alone and yet not altogether alone séeing the god of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is with me He is Gen. 15. 1â— my excéeding great reward and will not faile to reward me as soone as I shall have law downs this earthly Tabernacle pray unto God that he will strengthen me to the end for from hours to houre I expect the dissolution of this house of Clay Not long after Ioris was examined by the Magistrates who questioning with him of his faith he answered frély thereto proving what he said by the holy Scriptures The Marquesse asked him if he were resolves to die for the faith he professed Yes saith Ioris I will not only venture to give my body but my soule also for the â—tion of it Marquesse How came you to understand the Scripture séeing you have not the Latine Tongue Ioris Call in hither you Doctors and I will let them sée that I have learning sufficient to confute them You greatly admire them but Christ gives thankes to his heavenly Father for hiding his secrets Mat. 11 25. from the wise and prudent and revealing them to babes Marq. I hithero spared you in hope to sée you recant but you grow still worse and worse Ioris Sir during the time of my imprisonment I have shed many a salt teare and by the grace of God I am become much more resolute and better But to fashion my selfe according to your appetite I have no stomack at all no although you burne me as you have done my brother Scoblant Marq. And I can tell you that it will cost you but little better cheape Ioris I am ready if it be to morrow Then said one of the standers by Sir he hath neither wife childe nor goods to lose and that makes him so willing to die Ioris Be it that I have none of all these yet must I suffer death for conscience sake But what care you for that I would you could be silent and be thinke yourselves well what you doe you shall answer these your doings at the last day where you must all appeare and then there will be no respect of persons Marq. If you use this kinde of language I will commit you to the hole where you shall be fed only with bread and water and that I thinke will tame your tongue Therefore be quiet and sing me no more of these Psalmes Ioris Well sir I may well restraine my outward voice but neither you nor all the World besides shall ever be able to let me from praising God in my heart nor shall you sit as Lords over my conscience Marq. We have heard you preach but too long Then he said Iaylor take him and cast him into the hole Then was he put among théeves as a Lamb among so many Wolves Thus this constant witnesse of Christ remained firm scorning both their threats and torments till they had burned him as they did Scoblant August 14. the yeare 1568. ¶ Giles Annik Iohn Annik his son and Lovis Meulen Martyrs 1568. Persecution grew still hot in Flanders GIles Annik with Iohn Annik his son were driven from Renay in Flanders and retired unto Emden in East Friesland But by reason of their so sudden departure they could not take their wives with them and therfore returned thither again in the yeare 1568. to convey theÌ„ thence The tyranny of the Duke of Alva and his Spaniards was then in the height by reason whereof they durst not enter the towne openly but take up their lodging in the evening at an honest mans house called Lovis Meulin Now it was this night in which the enemies had foreappointed to
conscience As touching his carriage and behaviour if it pleased him he said to make enquiry thereof among the Merchants of Ast they could all resolve him as touching his honest dealing who also hee knew would witnesse with him that hee had wronged none in all that time hee had conversed among them And inasmuch as he was a Merchant traffiquing in and about his lawfull calling he ought to be dismissed and to be no further molested For if it were lawfull for Iewes and Turkes to trade in Faires and Markets and to use commerce throughout Piemont that favor ought much more to be permitted unto him who was a Christian And as touching the matter of Religion whereabout he was accused he medled not at all therewith for his owne particular but had questions propounded to him concerning the same by others in which regard leave was granted him to answer and to yéeld a reason of his faith in any place to any whomsoever they were that should aske what he thought of the same yea liberty was granted even by his Excellency to those of the Valleyes of Vandoyes to answer any man to a question demanded provided that hee procéeded not to teach and instruct others The Bishop regarded none of these allegations but commanded he should be put into prison The next day the Bishops Secretary came to visite Copin testifying how much good will hee bore him advising him as a friend that if he acknowledged not his fault he was in great danger of his life Copin answered that his life was in the hands Psal 89. 47 48. of God and that he would never séeke to save it to the prejudice of Gods glory also that he had not above two or thrée turnes to fetch here in this world before he arrived in heaven and therefore prayed God so to assist him by his grace that hee might never leave the strait way which leadeth thereto A few dayes after hee was examined by a Monke who was an Inquisitor in the presence of the Bishop who vexed him a long while with his sugred discourse and by faire words endeavoured to draw him to abjure his Religion But Copin resisted him still by the holy Scriptures shewing that if he should now be ashamed of Christ Mat. 8. 38. and deny him Christ might justly be ashamed of him and utterly deny him before his heavenly father The Monke finished his dispute with this dogged farewell Away thou cursed Lutherane thou shalt goe to all the Devils in hell and when thou commest to be tormented amongst those uncleane spirits then wilt thou remember these holy admonitions which wee have tendred unto thee for the saving of thy soule but thou haddest rather goe to hell than to reconcile thy selfe to thy holy Mother the Church It is not long since said Copin that I was reconciled to the true Church After many violent assaults they gave way for his wife to come unto him and with her one of his sons promising them to set him at liberty to goe home with them if hee would make amends for his fault committed by acknowledging the same They gave his son and wife leave to this purpose to stay supper with him in prison during which time he used many exhorâ—ations tending to patience albeit the wife should depart to her house without an husband or the child without his father for be you well assured said her that God will be a better husband and a father unto you than ever I was or can be For his owne part he said he was not bound to love wife or children more then Christ besides they had cause to rejoyce and to think him happy that God would honor him so farre as to beare witnesse to his truth with the losse of his life and hoped hee said that God would be so favorable to him as to support him under any torments he was to endure for his glories sake In conclusion hee commended his sonne and one daughter to his wives care which God had given them in the married estate charging her againe and againe to sée them brought up vertuously and in the feare of God He charged his sonne to obey his mother so should he be made partaker of the promised blessing He intreated them both to pray for him that God would fortifie him against all temptations And thus having blessed his son and taken leave of his wife they were conducted out of the prison and he shut up as hee was before The woman and her son were dissolved into teares sighing and crying out that it would have moved the stoniest heart to compassion but this holy man not contenting himselfe with that hee had said to them by word of mouth writ unto his wife this Letter ensuing the originall whereof she hath exhibited to us written and signed with the hand of the said Copin the inscription thus following ¶ To my wel-beloved wife Susanna Copin from the Tower of Lucerna DEare yoke-fellow I received much consolation by your comming to this place and by so much the more as it was beyond my expectation and I suppose you also were not a little comforted that you had such an opportunity offered you as to sup with me the last night being Saturday the fiftéenth of September 1601. I know not well what they aymed at in permitting you so to doe But God ordereth all these things But as farre as I can ghesse it shall be the last time that ever we shall sup together in this life and therefore pray to God that hee will not cease to be a comfort unto you Trust you still in him for hee hath promised never to leave nor forsake those that put their trust in him God hath endued you with wisedome governe your owne family in such sort that our children Samuel and Martha may be obedient unto you whom in the name and authority of God I command that they obey you for so the blessing of Almighty God shall light upon them Deare wife be not over pensive for mee for Anno 1605. if God hath ordained me now to attaine unto the end of my race and that I must render into the hands of the Almighty my soule which so long time he hath lent me my hope is that of his holy and divine mercy he will receive it into his Kingdome for his owne beloved Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord through whom I beléeve that my sinnes are forgiven for the onely merit of his holy death and passion Also my praier is that he will assist me by the power of his holy spirit unto my last breath Be fervent in praier and in all other parts of Gods worship and service for this is the way to true blessednesse Take no care about sending any thing unto me for these thrée wéeks and then I pray you send me some money if you thinke good to give the Iaylor and somewhat more for mine owne necessaries if it please God I live so long Also I pray you call
that place There were divers other good Christians honest men and fearing God both of rich of meane estate of Sondres from the mountain of Sondres and from the valley and communalty of Malenco that were in greater numbers cruelly murthered who in regard they were ready to seale the truth with their bloud our desire was for this reason that mention should be made of them And these were the reverend Gentlemen Marco Antonio Alba of Casale of Mont ferrato Pastor of the Church of Malenco a man full of zeale of the age of sixty thrée yeares Iohn Ptedro Mingardino Anastasia his sister Lorenzo Hicke slain above the bridge of Sondres and throwne downe into the water Andrea his son who had his nose cut off and his chéekes even to the furthest part thereof that they might afterwards put him to the more cruell death Andrea the son of Peter called Luther néere to the butchery of Sondres Iohn Oswaldo a carpenter of di Cyra néer to the palace of Sondres Daniel Newbecher néer to the floud of Sondres whereinto hee was cast being halfe dead before Iohn Lorence néere unto the Church at the mount of Sondres Gaudenzino di Mossini Iohn in Bonginono Battista and Andrea his sons Iohn Antonio son in law of Vicenzo Bruno Steffano Pagano of Poschiavo Antonio son in law of Vicenzo Bruno Stephano Pagano of Poschiavo Antonio Samadeno Paolo and Iacobo Demonegoni Andrea son of Pietro Ducheno Domenico his brother Pietro his son Nicolo Feacaiolo somtime Deacon of Sondres Eugenio Chiesa Giovanni Chiesa Barnardo his sonne Radolpho his brother dwelling in Malenco had promised to goe to masse for which cause his life was given him but because hee had furnished with victuals Signior Alessio and his company when they passed the mountaines he was shot to death Iohn Vientius Andreone Cani was he wed into many pieces of age 84. Zacharia Ventura of Bresdiano a poore lame dumb begger yet made he a signe with his finger how small accompt hee made of the masse Moreover Iohn Patara a member of the Church of Sondres being discovered to be one of the Religion was on the sudden shot with a musket in the backe and so died Many hid themselves in holes and caves and in woods out of which they durst not come but by night onely to get some food and that with great feare and terrour of the watching enemy others for want of convenient food to eat and others that fed onely upon roots leaves and grasse made an end of their lives and many were murthered in divers places who had no buriall at all so as many carkases were to be séene in groves and woods in the mountaines and in waters in many places CHAP. 4. ¶ The massacre of Berbenno wherein were slaine about eleven persons IN what manner also businesses passed in the noble Countrey of Berbenno it doth likewise plainly appeare for in that place also the rebels played their part of killing and spoyling the professors of the Gospell For after they had executed their cruelties and outrages as hath bin delivered before in Tyrane Bruse Tell Sondres in the mountaine of Sondres Malenco and other places they also received speciall commandement as may appeare by a letter written to them by Iohn Guizziardi of the twelfth of Iuly of the present yeare that they should with all their power and courage murther strangle massacre and in summe should use all diligence without favour or mercy to destroy all Lutheranes wheresoever by vertue of which commission they have not for their parts omitted any manner of outrage and villany against the Protestants And first there were presently murthered certaine persons of good ranke and quality and that with great cruelty against faith and promise given them The which was with so much the more rage and fury put in execution for that those Catholique Romans themselves who upon the first proposition refusing to give their consents on the sudden to those murders were without respect or favour on the sudden murdered themselves as happened to Bartolomeo Porret to and other Romane Catholikes The Protestants that were massacred were these that follow Theophilus de Piscatory of Ognano in Romagna who had dwelt in Berbenno twenty yeares past was slaine in a place above Berbenno called Luscione the tenth of Iuly of the age of sixty five yeares Anna di Cassavia of Pregaglia wife of the abovesaid Theophilus was before murdered at a house called the Chanons of Berbenno the day abovesaid aged fifty yeares Concordia Crotta of Tyrane the wife of Giovan Gugelman of the territory of Zuriz who had dwelt in Berbenno as many yeares was massacred in the place and on the day abovenained being of the age of forty thrée Aurelio the son of Nicolas Paravicino going from Berbenno to Sondres was slaine in the plaine of Castione the eightéenth of Iuly aged fifty seven Bartolomeo the son of David Paravicino was wounded to death in the head with the shot of a Musket who quite against the hope and expectation of the Chirurgions lived five daies after and then dyed being eightéen yeares of age Dttavio Paravicino of Capelli an honourable Gentleman was together with two others underwritten Iohn Battista and Horatio Paravicino detained as prisoners in the Chanons of Berbenno from the eleventh unto the sixe and twentieth day of Iuly on which day they were requested and accompanied to Sondres by the commandement of Robustello who pretended with all kindnesse and courtesie to entertaine them causing them to drinke and to be accompanied even unto Sassella But there by order of the said Robustello they were murdred who replyed being demanded why he did so That they must never kéepe faith with heretiques This Ottavio was thirty eight yeares of age Iohn Battista Paravicino of Capelli a Gentleman also of great honour who was kept prisoner as aforesaid and conducted to Sondres in his returne unto Sassella there with Ottavio was slaine béeing of the age of foure and thirty yeares Horatio brother of the said Iohn Battista was wholly and in all things his faithfull companion and in like manner rendred his life the day abovesaid being thirty two yeares of age Anna de Beveri of Gineura wife of the above-named Ottavio a Gentlewoman of an honourable estimation being desirous for the safety of her life to follow a company of Grison souldiers amongst whom was a cousin of hers and other kinsman of hers not being able to travell by reason of the sharpnesse and steepnesse of the way being a gentlewoman grave and tender was shot in the backe with a Musket and left for dead the third of August being forty yeares of age Theosina Paravicina of Capelli mother of the abovesaid Iohn Battista and Horatio a Gentlewoman of great worth was slaine in her owne house being of the age of fifty five yeares Adamo Scarumveio of Tyrane was at the time of the barbarous massacre of Tyrane in the garrison of Morbenno from whence notwithstanding he escaped and came to
betwéen that evening and the next day There were slaine at that conflict twenty seven persons and among them these which follow Bettino of Azzala sonne of Pietro of age fourty five yéers Perrotta his wife being of the age of fourty Pietro their sonne being of age twelve yéeres Andreino Zopo sonne of Ianotto age fourty Iames sonne of Iohn Domenico Quadernetto age thirty Iohn Monegatti age fifty eight Michaele della Kosa age 38. Iacomena de Burieo age thirty yéeres Iean Moneta age eighty This Woman was oftentimes advised to become a Romane Catholike and to favour her age telling her that if shée would shée should have her life given her but she with great resolution replied God forbid that I who now of long time have had one foote in the grave should come to forsake my Lord Iesus who hath so long time preserved me in the knowledgè and confession of his truth and to put my trust in creatures and to receive in stead of his holy word the traditions of men Upon which words this worthy Matron was instantly slaine Now there is no doubt but in this furious persecution at Bruse and in other places there have béene murdered many good men for the foresaid cause whose names have not been mentioned in this discourse but whosoever they were they have departed with this comfort that they have not suffered as murderers or robbers or malefactors or as busie bodies in those things which belong not to them but as holy Christians who at no hand would worship Images they beleeved that the bloud of Christ hath purged them from all sinne That Christ hath offered one onely sacrifice once for sins that we ought to worship the Lord God alone and onely serve him that wee are saved by grace by the meanes of faith and that not of our selves the same being the gift of God not by workes to the intent none might boast That we ought to worship God in all places holding up cleare hands unto him that every creature of God is good and none to be rejected being used with thanksgiving that mariage is honorable in every sort and condition of persons according to the expresse words of the holy Apostolique Scripture and by reason of this very confession were the inhabitants of Tyrano Teglio Sondro Malenco Berbenno Trahono Morâ—emâ—o Dabino Caspano and Bruso so cruelly persecuted and massacred There was of late time a booke printed in Italy how the pretestants of the abovesaid places should practise to execute upon the Catholiques about the 15. day of August the like which since hath befalne themselves but how divellish a slander and calumny this is may cleerâ—ly be gathered by this that where the protestants of those places are ten the popish Catholiques are a thousand Who then would beleeve that so smal a number should be able to make resistance against so great a multitude and especially against those desperate rebels and outlawd villaines who for their murders formerly committed for their corruptions of the commissaries and transgressions of the commandement of the Magistrate had before beene banished out of the Country being also suspected of sodomy of falsification of money and like ravening wolves being throughly armed entred like a most furious torrent on the sodaine slaughtering the poore naked protestants who suspected no such wrong even in those Churches which before had béen priviledged even among the Barbarous Pagans to the intent that they might put in execution that bloody designe which had béen resolved on about 17. yéeres before according to a Letter intercepted of a principall rebell in this action who is neither afraid nor a shamed to terme the same a holy resolution and an honourable enterprise which it is indéed if to spoile to rob to strangle to massacre to burn to hew in péeces children and women to cast them into fire and water to falsifieÌ„ faith ought to be accounted an attempt of holinesse if it ought to be estéemed a thing honorable and pleasing to God not to suffer the bodies of the dead being buried in the earth and in the Church to rest quietly but to take them up againe and being taken up to handle them in most barbarous manner as very lately had béen done in the Countries of Caspano and Trahone and in other places where the bodies digged out of the ground which before were entire and whole were throwne into rivers and water to be meat for the fishes and having bruised and ground their bones to powder most barbarously to cast them into the fire But here if ever the old tale of Aesop is verified where the poore silly shéepe was accused to have troubled the water of a malitious wolfe although the said shéep dranke below at the foot of the river Therefore it appeareth most clearely every way that the aforesaid persons underwent those sufferings for no other cause but only for the truth of the Gospell even as by the eternall decrée of God the holy Prophets Saint Io Battista the holy Apostles yea even our Lord and head Iesus Christ himselfe and after him those many millions of the elected martyrs in all ages have done before and especially in these miserable last times in Germany France England Scotland Low-countries Bohemia Italie Spaine Portugall c. Which martyrdome they endured willingly rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer blame for the name of Christ Iesus remembring the promise of this our Lord Blessed are they who Mat. 5. 10. are persecuted for righteousnesse sake because the Kingdome of heaven is theirs Blessed are you when others shall revile and persecute you and shall falsely speake all evill of you for my sake Rejoice and triumph for your reward is great in heaven for so have they persecuted the Prophets who were before you Reade to this purpose 1 Pet. 4. Verses 12 13 14 15 16. which words of all good Christians are to bee well pondered and weighed For first by such triall we perish not Secondly we are thereby made conformable to Christ our head Thirdly such sufferings cause unto us greater joy than sorrow Fourthly they are infallible markes that the spirit of God rests upon us Fifthly they manifest to all our unfained love to Christ and his Gospell Sixthly hereby wée have good proofe that the Lord doth correct us not as a severe Iudge but as a most loving and tender hearted Father to whom therefore with his blessed Son and holy Spirit be all glory and honour ascribed in all the Churches of the Saints world without end Amen ⧠SIGNES AND PRODIGIES WHICH HAPPENED BEFORE THE MASSAGRE IN THE VALTOLINE THe Protestants having appointed Gards and Sentinels in the stéeples of the Churches of the Valtoline besides others which were commanded to watch in certaine places to give the signe by fire to the intent that the whole Valley being warned partly by the Becons partly by the sound of the bells might together be ready on the suddaine to take armes for their defence against the Spaniard if he should make any incursion upon the Valley about the Calends of May 1620. in Sondres the foresaid Sentinels reported that in a night as they watched they heard in the Church of Gervase a murmuring as it were of many persons with great earnestnesse and vehemency of arguing and contesting among themselves and from the Church there shined upwards through the stéeple a great brightnesse in so much as the Sentinels lighted their torches and assembled themselves to goe downe into the Church to sée what the matter might be But as they were descending downe the staires their lights were put out and returning afresh to light their torches they were put out againe with greater strength and with much astonishment and trembling and the brightnesse which filled the Church suddenly vanished the weights also of the great Clocke fell downe and they heard about ten knells of a Bell in such manner as it useth to ring to give the alarme the which was heard by very many Likewise in Tyrane there were heard the like knells by the great Bell and the Magistratâ— commanded them suddenly to goe and know the cause but he found that it was not done by the act of men and instantly the servants running from the Belfrey and diligently attending to sée this businesse they discerned a thing like a Cat to descend downe into the place Signes and prodigies heard and séene in the Valtoline after the massacre as hath béen affirmed by divers persons of credit being departed from the said Valley and lying in the Valtolinâ— after the massacré In the Evangelike Protestant Church and principally from Teglio and Tyrane a voice hath béen heard to cry woe woe to you The vengeance of God is upon you for the blood of the innocent Moreover there was heard the Bell of the Evangelike Church of Tyrane to ring even at the same time that the sermon was used to be and in that Church a voice was heard like the voice of Senior Anthonio Basse who sometimes had béen there a Minister and was murdered in the said place as if himselfe had béen preaching in the same place In Londres there was séen to descend an army from the Mountains every way furnished which sight was the cause that many tooke their flight and departed out of Sondres but suddenly this apparition vanished like a cloud The which struck a great terror into the mindes of the people insomuch as many departed out of the Valley as men that feared a castigation and punishment from heaven FINIS