his performances of these things he shall go into the Holy land to fight against the Turke and never return againe into his owne country but by the leave of the Pope or his Legate Remund having read over these Articles shewed them to the King who advised him presently to mount on horseback least seising upon him they might the better become masters of all his estate which accordingly he did The Legate was much troubled that he had thus lost his prey and despairing to do any more by subtilty he resolved to set upon him by force and thereupon he besieged the Castle of Montferrand where Baldwin the brother of the Earl of Tholouse was governour Baldwin at least pretending inability to defend the place yielded it up and abjuring his opinions turned Papist The Earl of Tholouse seeing himselfe thus betrayed by his brother lamented exceedingly but a greater mischiefe soone after befell him For the Legate and Earl Simon wonne from him by their subtilty the King of Arragon his only prop under God and that by this meanes they agreed that the King of Arragons daughter should be married to Earl Simon 's eldest son in consideration whereof the King of Arragon invested Simon in the Earldom of Beziers and now they intend jointly to besieg Tholouse For which end the Bishop of Tholouse was sent to levy souldiers in France and at his returne hasted to Tholouse which Earl Remund hearing of sallyed out of the City with five hundred horse and some foot marching to the bridg which goeth over the river of Garenne not far from Tholouse hoping either to gaine it or to breake it down but being overpowered by multitude he was forced to make a retreat and the enemie pursued him to the very gates of Tholouse But Earl Remund seeing their insolency sallyed out againe with a greater strength and charged them so gallantly that he beat them back to the bridge which being but narrow he slew almost all of them there and took prisoner amongst them Aimery the son of Earl Simon Earl Simon hearing of this loss hasted with all his army to the City and gave a furious assault to it but the ditches were soone filled with the dead bodies of the enemie beaten from their scaling laddars and the Earl himselfe was beaten from his horse In the middest of this assault came the Earl of Campeigne soon enough to be well beaten for his welcome Earl Simon finding such stout resistance from the Citizens caused his Pilgrimes to spoil the Orchards Gardens and Vineyards about the city which being perceived the President of Argeves issued out of the City suddenly and slew a number of the Pilgrims and on another part the Earl of Foix slew as many as he could meet with The Earl of Bar seeing the disorder of the Popish Army cried out a Bar a Bar but the Citizens of Tholouse charged him so bravely that being discomfited he was faigne to fly amongst the rest After this victory Earl Remund returning to Tholouse caused publike and solemne thanks to be returned unto God for the same Earl Simon after this lead his Army into the country of the Earl of Foix who was now sick where he took some townes also the Legat with another part of the army went to Roquemaur and in his way took the Tower of Cassas and caused above an hundred men that were found therein most cruelly to be burned alive and levelled the Tower to the earth Earl Remund being much afflicted for the loss and alienation of his ancient friend the King of Arragon studied how he might regaine him and for that end propounded a match betweene his only son and heire and the King of Arragons daughter which motion the King readily imbraced and so their amity was againe revived Not long after the King of Arragon sent a letter of defiance to Earl Simon who sent the same all over Christendom to stir up Pilgrims to assist him for the destruction of the King who as he said was now become the Captaine of the Albingenses and in the meane time the Popes Legate raising an army in France went speedily into the Earldome of Foix and took some Towns putting all to the sword without distinction of sex or age and taking also St. Anthonies he caused thirty of the principall men to be hanged in cold blood after he had granted them their lives Anno Christi 1213. Peter King of Arragon with a great army of Arragonois and Tholousians besieged Muret a strong Towne scituated upon the river Garronne near unto Tholouse There was in his Army the Earls of Tholouse Comminges and of Foix but the night following the Popish Bishops sent two Friers to him desiring him to take pitty on the Church and not to undertake the defence of the Hereticks but they laboured in vaine for the King would not desert them whereupon they prepared the next day to give him battle and whilest Simon Montfort was encouraging his souldiers the Bishop of Tholouse carryed a crucifix in his hand whereupon the Captains a lighting adored it with and humble kiss Then the Bishop of Comminges getting upon an high place took the crosse in his hand and blessed the Army with it promising forgivenesse of all sins to all that dyed in that quarrell Hereupon Simon divided his army into three Battalia's in the name of the Trinity and so joyning battle they fought very gallantly on both sides till at length the King of Arragon was slaine and so God who doth not alwayes prosper the best cause gave the victory to the Popelings and they were slaine in the fight and pursute about two millions of the Albingenses as their enemies reported The Albingenses attributed this loss to Gods judgement upon the humane confidence of the King who trusted too much in his great numbers and was feasting whilest his enemies were plotting After this victory the Popes agents sent abroad their letters into divers countries for a new supply of Pilgrims utterly to root out the Hereticks With this victory Earl Simon was so puffed up that he summoned the Earls of Tholouse Foix and Comminges and the Prince of Bearn to deliver to him the keyes of those Cities and Castles which they possessed They returned no answer but each of them betooke himself to his own Territories to provide the best they could for their affairs Earl Remund retired to Mâ—ntalbon writing to them at Tholoâ—se that understanding that the Bishop of Arras was coming with a great Army of Pilgrims against them and that he was altogether disabled to defend their City he had advised them therefore that they should make the best terms they could for themselves with Earl Simon yet desired them to reserve their hearts for him till God should give him meanes to free them from those miseries In the interim the Earls of Foix Comminges and the Prince of Bearn did what they could to infest the enemies Armies Upon the former advice the Citizens
was neither town nor City in all the Countrey wherein some were not banished beheaded or condemned to perpetual imprisonment neither was there any respect either of age or sex But especially at Gaunt many of the chief men were burned for Religion Also at the Emperours going to Bruxels there was a terrible persecution and slaughter made of Gods People in Brabant Artois c. so that two hundred men and women were apprehended at one time whereof some were drowned some buried quick some privily made away others sent to perpetual prison yea so many others were put to death that the hands of the hangman were tired with slaying of men Anno 1545. There was one Martin at Gaunt a Fishmonger who lived very dissolutely to his old age but it pleased God by a Sermon that he heard to bring him to the knowledge of the truth and to repentance for his former sins whereupon he left Gaunt and sought out the company of godly Christians who used much reading of the Scriptures by whom he was further instructed and grounded in the truth Then after three moneths he returned to the City again where he visited the Captives in prison comforted them in persecution and confirmed them in the truth which were led to the fire The Friars seeing this though formerly he had been very bountiful to them yet now they conspired against him whereby he was laid in bands and by sharp and cruel torments they would have enforced him to recant but not prevailing he was condemned and his goods confiscated as he stood at the stake a Friar said to him Martin except thou dost turn thou shalt go from this temporal to everlasting fire to whom he answered It is not for you to judge me and so he quietly slept in the Lord. The next day after two other men were burned and a woman buried alive for the same cause who joyfully and cheerfully suffered Martyrdome At Delden two Virgins of a noble stock who frequently and diligently attended Sermons being apprehended and examined couragiously confessed and maintained the truth whereupon they were condemned and the younger was first burned In the fire she prayed so ardently for her enemies that the Judges greatly marvelled at it Then did they exhort the elder that if she would not recant yet at least that she would petition to have her punishment changed into beheading instead of burning whereupon she answered that she held no errour of which she had cause to repent but the truth which was consonant to the Scriptures in which she trusted to persevere unto the end And for the kind of her punishment she feared not the fire but would rather follow the example of her dear sister and so being put into the fire she quietly slept in the Lord. But this was marvellous that after their death the bodies of them both remained white and unhurt by the fire whereupon some Christians privily in the night buried them Anno Christi 1545. There was in Mechlin one Andrew Thiessen who had three sonnes and a daughter whom he carefully brought up in the knowledge of the truth after which he went into England and there died Two of his sonnes went into Germany to study there and after a time returned home again instructing their mother brother and sister in the right knowledge of Christ which being taken notice of they were all carried before the Magistrate and exhorted to returne to the Church of Rome again The younger brother and sister being not so throughly grounded in the truth by reason of their yeares yielded something and so were sent home again the mother who remained constant was adjudged to perpetual imprisonment the two elder brethren defended the truth stoutly against the Friars Disputation not prevailing they proceeded to torments endeavouring to know of them who was their Master and what fellows they had they answered that their Master was Christ who bare his Crosse before them and for fellows they had innumerable dispersed in all places At last they were condemned to the fire and at the place of execution they began to exhort the people whereupon bals were put into their mouths which through vehemency in desiring to speak they thrust out again intreating them for the Lords sake that they might have leave to speak and so singing with a loud voice they were fastened to the stake where they prayed for their Persecutors exhorted one another and endured the fire patiently One of them feeling the violence of the flame said O what a small pain is this compared with the glory to come and so committing their spirits into the hands of God they finished their race Anno 1545. There was a great persecution in Dornick and amongst others there was one Adrian Tailor and his Wife apprehended and upon their examination the man being somewhat timorous relented something and so was beheaded but the woman being more constant was put into an iron grate and so buried alive There was also one Master Peter Bruly about the same time sometimes a Preacher in Strasburg but now at the request of the faithful in Dornick a diligent Preacher there He used to preach in houses the door standing open the Magistrate hearing of it laid wait for him shutting up the City gates and searching three days for him but the brethren in the night time let him down in a basket over the wall and when he was down one of them leaning over the wall to bid him farewel unawares threw down a loose stone which falling upon his leg brake it in pieces He complaining of his hurt the watchmen heard him and apprehended him Then did he give thanks to Almighty God who by that providence staid him there to bear witnesse to his truth whilst he was in prison he ceased not to instruct and confirm all them that came to him in the Word of grace after four moneths imprisonment he was condemned to be burnt and his ashes to be cast into the river The Friars took care that he should have but a small fire that his pain might be the more increased yet he constantly and chearfully suffered Martyrdom God made the Ministry of this good man very powerful to many amongst others there was one Peter Mioce who had lived long in all manner of wickedness and licenciousness but being through Gods grace converted he excelled all the rest of the brethren in zeale and holinesse at last he was apprehended and being asked whether he was one of Peter Brulies disciples he said that he was and that he had received much benefit by his Doctrine withall professing that his doctrine was consonant to the holy Scriptures whereupon he was let down into a deep dungeon full of Toads and other vermine Afterwards he was brought forth before the Senate who had provided some Friars to convert him To whom he said When I lived an ungodly life in all manner of
cast into several prisons yet remained chearfull praising God for accounting them worthy to suffer for his truth and after a few dayes they were all brought forth before the Magistrates who speaking to Robert Oguire said We hear that you never come to Masse That you disswade others from it That you keep Conventicles in your house where erroneous doctrine is preached c. Robert answered I indeed refuse to go to Mass because the death and precious blood of Christ is utterly abolished there and troden under foot c. And I cannot deny but there have met together in my house honest people fearing God Not with intention to harm any I assure you but for the advancement of Gods glory and the good of many c. Then one demanded what they did when they met together To which Baudizon ansvvered When vve meet together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to hear the Word of God vve first falling on our knees before God in the humility of our spirits do make confession of our sins before his Divine Majesty then we pray that the Word of God may be rightly divided and purely preached then we pray for our Soveraign Lord the Emperour that the Common-wealth may be peaceably governed to the glory of God yea we forget not you whom we acknowledge our Superiours intreating our good God that you may maintain this City in tranquillity c. Thus you hear what we do in our Assemblies and if you will not be offended to hear the summe of our prayers I am ready to recite the same unto you One of the Magistrates wished him to go on whereupon kneeling down he prayed before them all with such fervency of affection and ardency of zeal that it forced the Magistrates to break forth into tears Baudizon rising up said Your Masterships may hereby take a scantling how we are imployed in our meetings Being further examined every one of them made an open Confession of his faith and so were returned to prison again And not long after they were tortured upon the Rack to make them confesse who they were that met at their house but they would discover none but such as they knew were at that time out of their reach Four or five dayes after the men were again convented before the Magistrates who asked them if they would submit themselves to the will of the Magistrates Robert and Baudizon said they would but Martin the younger sonne said he would not submit thereto but would accompany his Mother and so he was sent back to prison and the Father with his eldest son were presently adjudged to be burnt alive Sentence being pronounced one of the Judges said This day shall you go to dwell with all the Divels in hell fire Then were they returned to prison praising God and by their patience and constancy conquerred the rage and fury of their enemies In prison there came some Friars to them telling them that the hour was come wherein they must finish their dayes They answered Blessed be the Lord our God who now delivering our bodies out of this vile prison will receive our souls into his glorious and heavenly Kingdom Then said one of the Friars Father Robert thou art an old man I intreat thee in this thy last hour think of saving thy soule and if thou wilt give ear to me I le warrant thee thou shalt do well Robert answered Poor man how darest thou assume that to thy self which belongs to God alone and so rob him of his honour c. Another wishing him to pity his soul he said Dost thou not see what pity I have on it when for the name of Christ I am willing to give my body to the fire hoping to day to be with him in Paradise c. Then said a Friar Out Dog thou art not worthy the name of a Christian thou and thy sonne are resolved to damne your soules with all the Divels in hell Then would they have severed the Father from his son which Baudizon perceiving said Pray you let my Father alone he is an old man hinder him not from receiving the Crown of Martyrdome Another Friar said Away Varlet thou art the cause of thy Fathers perdition Whilst Baudizon was stripping and fitting himself to be sacrificed some of the Friars had fastned a Crucifix in the old mans hands perswading him that it would please the People and that for all that he might lift up his heart to God c. But so soon as Baudizon saw it he said Alasse Father what do you now will you play the Idolater at your last hour and so pulling the Idol out of his hand he threw it away At the place of execution they were set upon a Scaffold and Baudizon desired leave to make a Confession of his faith answer was made that he might confess himself to a Friar if he would which he refusing was readily haled to the stake where he began to sing the 16. Psalm then said a Friar Do you not hear what wicked errors these Hereticks sing to beguile the people withall Baudizon hearing him replyed Thou simple Idiot callest thou the Psalms of David errours but no marvel for thus are ye wont to blaspheme against the Spirit of God Then seeing them about to chain his Father to the stake he said to him Be of good courage Father the worst will be past by and by Then did he often breath forth Oh God Father everlasting accept the sacrifice of our bodies for thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ his sake A Friar cryed Out Heretick thou liest God is none of thy Father the Divel is thy Father Baudizon fixing his eys upon heaven said to his Father Behold I see the heavens open and millions of Angels ready to receive us and rejoycing to see us thus bearing witness to the truth in the view of the world Father let us rejoyce and be glad for the joys of heaven are opened to us Then said a Friar I see Hell open and millions of Divels are ready to carry you thither A poor man in the croud cryed out Be of good comfort Baudizon stand to it thou fightest in a good quarrel I am on thy side which words so soon as he had spoken he departed and so hastened himself from danger The fire being kindled Baudizon oft said to his Father Yet a very little while and we shall enter into the heavenly mansions the fire encreasing the last words which they spake were Jesus Christ thou Sonne of God into thy hands we commend our spirits and so they sweetly slept in the Lord. After the death of these worthy champions of Christ many of the Popish rabble were sent if possible to seduce the Mother and son remaining in prison and coming to them the first subtilty they used was to separate them asunder then they set upon the woman as the weaker vessel and so wrought upon her