this chaine and thus fettered with Irons I doubt not but they have given such a reason of their faith that whosoever shall read their answers and weigh the same without partiality must néeds judge thereof even as wée doe And for my owne part I am ready to make it good before any whom it conceres that the doctrine I now hold and 1. Tim. 6. 3. Deut. 12. 32. teach is according to godlinesse taken out of the pure fountaines of the holy scriptures without adding diminishing or varying any way therefrom Bishop We reade that in all times men have béen wont to shelter themselves under the Title of Gods word in so much that all the old heresies maintained by heretiques have run to this covert so as great héed is to be taken lest under this pretence men rush into errors La Grange I am not ignorant sir hereof in regard that Satan knows how to transform himselfe into an Angel of light thereby to establish his delusions causing darknesse thereby to be taken 2. Cor. 11. 14. Iohn 14. 17. for light But the holy Ghost who is the Spirit of truth hath in such wise discovered his jugglings that none are deluded thereby but those who at noone day close their eyes that they may 2 Cor. 4. 4. not behold the light Bishop Doe you thinke that the holy Ghost hath given you such an illumination that the truth should only be revealed to you and to none other La Grange God forbid sir I should have any such thought I am not of the minde of those dreamers who at this day bragge of their having particular revelations of the holy Spirit He means the Anabaptists and their like Eph. 2. 20. But I speake of an ordinary and generall revelation such as is taught us out of the Bible which we call the holy Scriptures according as it is therein declared unto us by the Prophets and Apostles This was the effect of the Bishops first communication with de la Grange after which hée was heard to say twice or thrice to the Kings Commissioners that hée had no will to meddle any further with him Being called for to be examined elsewhere before the said Commissioners Peregrine tooke his leave of the Bishop entreating him to intercede for him that hée might be eased of his irons alledging that the Prison was strong enough and sufficiently garded The second time they met together the Bishop having a prompt memory made a rehearsall of what passed betwéen them the day before and after began thus with the said Peregrine Bishop Séeing that which I hold as touching the Sacrament of the Altar is agréeable to the Scriptures confirmed so long since by the consent of all the ancient fathers wherefore doe you not agrée with us therein Had you rather hold with these Novelists as with Calvin and with the confession of Auspourge Grange Sir I am neither Calvinist nor Papist I am a Christian and what I hold concerning religion is taken out of Christs doctrine who to the only Doctor of his Church What Calvin hath taught conformable to the word of God I am of the same minde with him and whereas you call your Religion the old Religion and ours the new it troubles me not at all since the Father of lies hath long since forged the same to disgrace the truth and to establish and maintaine the multitudes of falshoods and absurdities of your Tenents which you hold For example because Christ in giving his disciples bread in the Sacrament said This is my body thence they would make us beléeve that the bread is become the body of Christ as if the verbe est signified a change of the bread into another substance which is found in no language whatsoever Bishop We maintaine not the Transubstantiation of the bread from this Verbe est knowing that the Hebrews use the Participle of the Present tense in stead of a Verbe but rather from hence because Christ said This is my body La Grange I told * For they had many disputes touching this point which are not here inserted you that Iesus Christ in his Supper gives us that body which was conceived by the holy Ghost in the wombe of the virgin Mary which was crucified dead and buried raised againe the third day and is ascended into heaven yet wee utterly deny that there is any change made of the bread Therefore if you would have us beéeve it let us have some proofe of scripture for it Bish To speake properly the Transubstantiation of the bread cannot be proved by the Word of God and yet we must beléeve it for the reasons above said La Grange Your glorying then that you have the Word of God on your side is as you sée come to nothing And why have you then burned so many of Gods saints for denying that which you cannot maintaine by the scriptures For our parts we should blush to affirme that the substance of bread remaines after the words of consecration if we could not prove the same from the very forme of the institution of the sacrament wherein Christ tooke bread and having given thankes hee brake bread and gave to his Disciples bread and they tooke and did eat bread yea Saint Paul rehearsing 1 Cor. 11. 23 26. 17. the institution calls it bread thrice Bish You know that in the Hebrew Tongue bread is taken for the remainders of what was eaten Paul therefore in that place speakes of those viands which the Corinthians did eate in their Love-feaste reproving their abuse So also howsoever Paul calls it bread there and that in the second of the Acts of the Apostles mention is Act. 〈◊〉 42. made of the breaking of bread all this serves not your turne La Grange I grant that bread is taken in the Scripture in this sence but be it that bread be taken for the meat that was left yet you reade not that the substance was changed into the substance of other meate or lost the property thereof It is certaine that the Scripture useth not this phrase of breaking of bread in the use of the Lords supper for nothing for thereby we are given to understand that it is not a signe onely in appearance or shew but the true substance of bread Bish Let it be what it will wee hold close to the words of Iesus Christ where he saith This is my body and therefore also beéeve what wee speake I care not if I be deceived in this matter nor for bearing reproofe for the same either Vnderstand the words sacramentally and all is wel before God or men for before God himself I will pleade thus Lord thou hast said it and I beleeve it La Grange We rest in the same thing also but withall we have an eie unto Christs meaning and intent which was to establish a sacrament we also receive from his mouth the same words as well as you but sacramentally where the outward signe beares the name
conscience the holy spirit of God seeing us cast downe and humbled sets before our eies Gods mercy in Christ Whose bloud applyed by faith purgeth and heales the wound which is made therein This done he will carry such an hand over us as shall withhold us from vice and draw us on to the love of vertue And thus we see how the Lord doth by little and little correct our sinnefull disposition by exercising us with manifold afflictions whereby the whilest hee provides for his owne glory Let us therewith consider his admirable bounty seeing thus he covers our shame for whereas he might justly cause us to suffer for our sinnes which we have committed against his Majesty he in stead thereof turns it to suffering for his truth and holy names sake putting this honourable Title as a veile over us to shadow our nakednesse For first he alters the nature of the punishment which is due unto us for our misdeeds into an assured hope of recompensing all our labour and travell we undergoe for righteous causes And in the second place he turnes the dishonour which we ought to receive as a token of the vengeance which he might to our ignominy execute upon us into an immortall Trophee of Honour wherewith wee are crowned in the presence of God and of his Angels Thirdly hereby he graciously provides for the peace of our consciences which in stead of sorrow and griefe wherewith they might be wounded for guilt of sinne on the contrary do sensibly rejoice and glory in these sufferings for the name of Christ And fourthly in the midst of all these joyes and most singular consolations yet the conscience for all that ceaseth not to retain a scruple or dramme of Rubarb mingled herewith to purge out now and then some corrupt humors and by persecutions to put us in mind of our sinnes committed against the Lord in times past But yet he so tempers and moderates these his drugges and that in so exquisite and artificiall a manner that while he humbleth us with his left hand hee supporteth us with his right hand if he causeth griefe by and by he comforts us in smiting he heals us in which mixture and tempering of things so much diffring in nature and quality consists the salvation of our soules Even as the skilfull and expert Physitian by measuring out an equall and just proportion of contrary drugs meeting with our corrupt humors provides for the safety of our bodies We see that an hot or dry Summer or a faire Spring time brings many diseases therwith Sâ—mile and how fast weeds sprout forth among the good herbs besides filling our houses with flies fleas and like annoyances the aire and streets with unsavory and infectious smels all which in Winter in cold and frosty weather do take their leave and are gone So whilest outward joy and prosperity with other contentments last the body of the Church is pestered with sundry and divers spirituall bad humors and dangerous diseases which on the contrary it is preserved and freed from by the variety of Gods fatherly rods and chastisements Now to proceed to the fourth benefit of afflictions which is to kill the pride of our 4 rebellious nature The Hebrewes use these two words to afflict and humble for one and the same thing as if the latter were the fruit of the former Nor doe we want examples which may sufficiently admonish us that as worldly prosperity usually causeth our hearts to swell and to be puffed up so on the contrary adversities and afflictions deject and humble us Whilest Nebuchadnezzar abounded in all his delights his heart was Dan. 4. 30. Dan 315. swolne so farre with pride that he began not only to oppresse his subjects but to justle even against God himselfe by his blasphemies But when God had once cast him into the furnace of affliction hee then became as meeke and humble a person as was in all his kingdome Dan. 4. 37 2 Chr. 33. from verse 1. to vers 24. Manasses raigning in peace and liberty over the people of Iudah grew so inso lent that there was no impiety or injustice wherein he overflowed not but being surprised by his enemies and laid in yron bands and fetters he was changed in an instant and became as low in his owne esteeme as ever he thought himselfe high which appeareth in his prayer made to God in his affliction wherein he prostrates himselfe before him confessing his offences with great compunction of heart and humility Saint Paul bare himselfe like a fierce and cruell Lyon all the while hee enjoyed favor Acts 9. from verse 1. to verse 24. from the high Priests raging hither and thither breaking forcibly into houses and apprehending such as he found to be professors of the Gospell but the same man being touched by Gods hand in the way as he was journying towards Damascus intending there to exercise his Commission upon the Saints and servants of Christ suddenly became also as meeke as a Lambe and was ready to proffer his service in whatsoever the Lord would enjoyne him to doe Eusebius in his Prologue to the eighth booke of his Ecclesiasticall history relates how God seeing the pride which began to bud and spring forth in the Church and principally among the Pastors thereof who out of their ambition strove about dignities and preferments therein was moved for that very thing to raise up that great persecution which befell the Church under the reigne of Dioclesian and Maximinian to crack their pride and to provoke them to prayer yea rather to watch over their flocks than to contend who should be the greatest Wherein we may see that by the blessing of God there is a kind of vertue in afflictions to humble and bring those home who through prosperity have forgotten themselves and strayed out of the right way Nay so forcible are they to abate and take downe the pride of such who otherwise are hardened and growne obstinate that even Pharaoh as Exo. 8. 8. 9. 27. 10. 16. rebellious and stiffe necked as he was seemed somtimes to bend and bow under the mighty hand of God Whilst God gave him some respite it is true he still hardened his heart but when the next judgement fell upon him and his people he by and by became as pliable as a glove for ones hand Seeing then all of us naturally are thus inclined to waxe proud by prosperity a vice which God sets and opposeth himselfe against above other as most abhominable in his sight we ought not me thinkes so much to be terrified at the approach of persecutions forasmuch as they withhold from and correct in us the same our pride sooner than all the instructions which are taught us by word of mouth The next benefit afflictions bring us is to quicken us up to the prayer of faith which is never better discerned than when afflictions lie heaviest upon us In my distresse saith David Feried unto the
then doubt whether we are in the straight way or no when ye behold our sufferings would you have a better signe then this to know whether we are in the right way or no Compare our Doctrine with that of your Priests and Monkes we for our parts are determined to have but one Christ and him crucified we onely embrace the Scriptures of the old and new Testament Are we deceived in beléeving that which the holy Prophets and Apostles have taught One of the Fryers turning towards Martin said youngman be well advised for thy father and thy brother have acknowledged the seven Sacraments of the Church together with us and thou poore silly youth hast heard some wicked Heretique who hath deluded thée thinkest thou thy selfe wiser then so many learned Doctors as have lived in so many ages Martin answered I pray you Sir doth not Christ our Lord tell us that his Father hath hid the secrets of his Kingdome from the wise and prudent and revealed them to Mat. 11. 25. Iob 5. 13. babes And doth not the Lord oftentimes catch the wise in their owne craftinesse And whereas you say my Father and Brother have confessed seven Sacraments I well perceive by this that I ought not to give credit to ought you say knowye not that the Devill is the father of lies and all liers Is it not sufficient that I acknowledge so many Sacraments as God himselfe hath instituted and ordained to wit Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord Then came there into the prison two men of great authority in the City of Lisle the one called Mounsieur Barras the other Beaufremes who promised Martin great matters if he would recant and returne to the Roman Church Beaufremes among other spéeches said thus unto him Young man I have compassion on thy tender yéeres if thou wilt be ruled by us I will 100 〈◊〉 amount to two hundred crownes but this faithfull Martyr of Christ was not like Iudas who for love of money sold his Master promise thée thou shalt not die this shamefull death moreover I will give thée one hundred pounds sterling Martin gave him this answere Sir you present before me many temporall commodities but alas doe you thinke me so simple as to forsake an eternall Kingdome for enioying of a short transitory life No sir it is too late to speake to me now of worldly commodities but of those spirituall which God hath prepared for me today in his Kingdome nor doe I purpose to hearken after any other onely I pray you let me crave one houres respite to give my selfe to prayer and calling upon the Name of my God for you know now it is eight daies since my father departed this world and hitherto I have scarce enioyed an hours rest That which I have had hath rather béen to slumber in then have any quiet sléepe having continually had eight or nine persons invironing me about and talking unto me After these great men were forced to goe even as they came Martin declared the effect of this his combat to certaine Brethren who were there detained with him in prison saying moreover Let us lift up our heads Brethren the brunt is over this I hope is their last assault forget not I pray you the holy doctrine of the Gospell nor those good lessons which you have learned from our Brother Guy It is very likely hee meanes Guy de Brez a godly Minister of whom you shall read more God willing hereafter Manifest it now to all that you have received them not only into your eares but also into your hearts follow me we leade you the way feare not God will never leave nor forsake you farewell Brethren said he and so departed from them Soone after Martin and his mother were bound and brought to the place of their Martyrdome His mother having ascended the scaffold cryed to Martin Come up Come up my sonne And as he was speaking to the people she said Speake out Martin saith she that it may appeare to all that we die not Heretiques Martin would have made a confession of his faith but could not be suffered His mother being bound to the stake spake in the hearing of the Spectators We are Christians and that which we now suffer is not for murther or theft but because we will beléeve no more than that which the Word of God teacheth us Both reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the same The fire being kindled the vehemency thereof did nothing coole or abate the fervency of their zeale but they continued constant in the faith and with lifting up their hands to heaven in an holy accord said Lord Iesus into thy hands we The happy death of the mother and her sonne commend our spirits And thus they blessedly slept in the Lord. These were the fruits which these holy assemblies in the City of Lisle brought forth None néed to enquire whether the rest were suffered to live in peace for what other spectacles were to be espied in the high waies and fields but poore fugitives flying hither and thither for safegard of their lives So great was the cruelty which was then and there exercised among them and yet when all is done God will be glorified in his Saints and children ¶ Iohn Rebec Martyr burned at Aniers in France the 24 of Aprill 1556. THis Robert had his tongue cut out because he A Martyrs tongue cut out for refusing to call upon the virgin Mary would not pronounce Iesus Maria to joyne them both in one prayer for being urged thereunto with great threats he boldly answered that if his tongue should but offer to utter those words at their bidding himselfe would bite it asunder with his téeth ¶ Bartholomew Hector Martyr was burned according to the sentence of the parliament of Turin in Piedmont in the yeer 1556. Iune the 19. BEing called before Authority to be examined ' The Martyr would not answer the Adversary till he had first craved assistance from God he would answer them to nothing before he had made his prayer to God Whereupon falling downe there on his knées he besought him to open his mouth and to direct his spéech onely to utter that which might tend to his honor and glory and to the edification of his Church Afterwards when he was bound to the stake gunpowder and brimstone was brought to be placed about him he lifing up his eyes to heaven and saying Lord how sweet and welcome is this to me ¶ Charles Covincke or le Roy de Gand once Anno 1557. a Friar Carmelite at Gand in Flanders was apprehended and executed at Bruges in the same Countrey Anno 1557. Aprill 27. BEing perswaded by his brother to returne Charles would none of his popish habit which he had once rejected againe to his Order and take upon him his fryers habit he made him this direct answer what néeds that saith he now I have cast off that popish wéed I
execution a great multitude were assembled into the Market place to be hold the behaviour of these goodly men who as they were led to death protested That the cause why they dyed was only for bearing witnesse to the truth of the Gospell which words they uttered with such courage that the officers who invironed them round about strove to damp the same by a great noise which they made lest their voice should be understood Whilest the executioner fastened them to the stake there was on an instant such an hurlyburly amongst the people that with one voice they cryed Kill kill rushing There were they in great feare where no feare was for as saith the Psalmist God is in the generation of the righteous Psal 14. 5. one in upon another By and by the shops and doores of houses were shut up The hangman let fall all his preparations leaving the two patients standing at the stake The Margrave being on horseback could by no meanes get away being compassed in on each side The Officers trembling for feare threw downe their halberds The spy who attended there to hearken not knowing where to bestow himselfe forsook his horse and ran into a Church for feare And though one told him that a cutpurse had caused all this adoe he would not be drawn to beléeve him but said I know we are but dead men it is not the Théefe but the seditious people who now begin to work their revenge Thus God confounded these bloodthirsty shewing how he could have brought all their preparations to nothing if it had pleased him As soon as this hubbub was quieted the servant of the executioner ran and strangled the two Martyrs who had now a good space béen fastened to the stake still calling upon the name of the Lord. The fire being afterward kindled the bodies were consumed to ashes the 19. of Ianuary 1559. A Recantation fathered upon a Martyr called Cornelius Hallewin which he never consented to and how he tooke the same in the yeare 1559. THe father of this Cornelius solliciting the Margraue his wife who as it was thought was Godmother to Cornelius to get his sonne out of prison It was so agréed among them that a libell should be framed vnder the name of Cornelius wherein he should now acknowledge his error be confessed to a Priest would also receiue his Maker and come againe into the state of grace as a good childe of his holy mother the Church And further should say That Sermons were of no worth because they were not made upon holy ground Also requiring that if hée had failed in ought else the same should be attributed Anno 1559. to his young yeares and therefore craued pardon Howbeit the said Cornelius wrote letters daily in the meane while to the brethren shewing forth an admirable constancy in defending the faith gladding the hearts of many who gaue God thankes for the graces of his good Spirit wherewith he had indued him The Minister of the Flemish Church hearing of this Libell by the meanes of some friends got a Copy thereof and hauing read it considering how the tenor thereof tended to a great scandall made the Elders and Deacons of the Church acquainted therewith who were not a little grieued for the infirmity of their weake brother Whereupon the Minister wrote a sharpe letter vnto him willing him to turne and repent him of his backe sliding by making a true Confession thereof before the councel When Cornelius had receiued this letter read it he was so vexed perplexed in his spirit that he knew not how to demean himselfe so as all the godly his Prison fellowes had much adoe to stay and comfort him The blood gushed out of his nose hée spread abroad his armes and made pitifull outcries What to deny the truth said he God forbid Oh that the faithfull should conceiue so hardly of me Good God thou knowest that I am guiltlesse nor haue I this way offended Then the residue of the brethren aduised him to get a sight of his inditement which if it contained no such thing then to send it to the Church and so manifest to them his innocency touching that whereof he was accused besides making a plaine confession of his faith to impart the same to the Councell there withall to shew how he was abused by the Margraue and his Parents which he accordingly did The said Cornelius being condemned to die the Margraue offered him so much more fauour as to die a more easie kinde of death if he would but giue eare to the priests whom he had brought with him into the prison Cornelius replied no Sir God forbid I should do such a thing doe ye with my body what ye will As they bound him Herman Ianssen who both suffered together Herman willed the Margraue to take héed what he did for saith he this will not goe for paiment in Gods sight in bereauing vs thus of our liues I wish you to repent therefore before it be too late you cannot long continue this tyrannous course for the Lord will shortly auenge it The Margraue commanded they should haue a crosse or crucifixe put into their hands promising Cornelius that if he would so doe he should only be beheaded and not burned but they both reiected the Crosse saying They would not give the least signe that might be of betraying the truth and that it was all one to them what death they put them to so they dyed in and for the Lord. The punishment they said could last but for a while but the glory to come was eternall Then were they led towards the Market place and Herman reioycing in the Lord sung the hundred and thirtieth Psalme Cornelius followed him and gaue the people godly exhortations Being come to the place of execution the sword was laid there ready to behead them if they would take the Crosse into their hands and admit the Friers into their company But because they would not yéeld one whit vnto them wood was made ready to burne them Then Cornelius fell on his knées praying God to forgiue his enemies who had sinned through ignorance After which they were put into a little lodge made of fagots and strangled at the stake But whilest this was a doing there fell out such a tumult amongst the people that they were not a little afraid of an vprore the hangman be caught hold of his sword to defend himselfe thinking they would kill him first but the businesse was as suddenly quieted as raised The fire being kindled flamed forth vpon the bodies of these holy Martyrs The Margraue thought according to the vsuall course to haue quenched the fire that so conueying the bodies away halfe burnt they might be laid upon the whéeles nigh vnto the city in the accustomed places where they were to lie as spectacles to be gazed on But the peoples wrath being stirred crossed him in his purpose so as his Serieants and Halberdiers leauing him he stood as
intreats for a pacification that those of her sex being with childe might not bee affrighted the péeces and pistols continually discharged sent in all haste to the Duke her husband with much entreaties to cease this persecution for frighting women with childe During this slaughter the Cardinall of Guise remained before the Church of the said Citie of Vassi leaning upon the wals of the church-yard looking towards the place where his followers were busied in killing and slaying whom they could Many of this assembly being thus hotely pursued did in the first brunt save themselves upon the roofe of the house not being discerned of those which stood without but at length some of this bloody crue espying where they lay hid shot at them with long pieces wherewith many of them were hurt and slain The houshold servants A lamentable spectacle of Dessalles Prior of Vassi shooting at the roofe people caused them to fall downe from the roofe like pigeons one of that wretched company was not ashamed to boast after the massacre was ended That he for his part had caused sixe at the least to tumble downe in that pittifull plight saying that if others had done the like not many of them could possibly have escaped The Minister in the beginning of the massacre ceased not to preach still till one discharged his piece against the pulpit where he stood after which falling downe upon his knées he entreated the Lord not onely to have mercy upon himselfe but also upon his poore persecuted floke Having ended his prayer he left his gowne behinde him thinking thereby to kéepe himselfe as unknown bâ—t whilest he approached towards the dore in his fear he stumbled upon a dead body where he received a blow with a sword upon his right shoulder Getting up againe and then thinking to get forth he was immediately laid hold on and grievously hurt on the head with a sword whereupon being felled to the ground and féeling himselfe mortally wounded he cryed Lord into thy hand I Psal 31. 5. commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me thou God of truth Whilest he thus prayed one of this bloody crue ran upon him to have houghed him but it pleased God his sword brake in the hilts Now to let you understand by what meanes he was delivered from so imminent a death two gentlemen taking knowledge of him as the rest were about to kill him said it is the Minister let him be conveyed to my Lord Duke These leading him away by both the armes brought him before the gate of the Monastery from whence the Duke and the Cardinall his brother comming forth said come hither and asked him saying Art thou the Minister of this place who made thée so bold to seduce this people thus Sir said the Minister I am no seducer for I have preached to them the Gospell of Iesus Christ The Duke perceiving that this short and pithy answer condemned his cruell fact began to curse and sweare saying Death of God doth the Gospell preach sedition Provost goe and let a Gibbet be set up and hang this bougrer At which words the Minister was delivered into the hands of two Pages who misused him vilely The women of the City being ignorant Papists caught up dirt to throw in his face and with extended outcries said Kill him kill this varlet who hath béen the cause of the slaughter of so many Much adoe there was to hold off the women from being revenged upon the poore Minister Whilst the Pages had him thus in their handling the Duke went into the barn to whom they presented a great Bible which they used for the service of God The Duke taking it into his hands calling his brother the Cardinall said Loe here the Title of the Huguenot books The Cardinall viewing it sayd There is nothing but good in this book for it is the Bible to wit the holy Scriptures The Duke being offended for that his answer suited not to his humor grew into a greater rage than before saying Blood of God how now what the holy Scripture It is a thousand and five hundred yéerey agoe since Iesus Christ suffered his death and passion and it is but a yéere since these bookes were imprinted how then say you that this is the Gospell by the death of God you say you know not what This imbridled fury of the Duke displeased the Cardinall so as he was heard secretly to mutter An unworthy Brother This Massacre continued a full houre the Dukes trumpeters sounding the whilst two severall times When any of these desired to have mercy shewed them for the love of Iesus Christ the murtherers in scorne would say unto them you use the name of Christ but where is your Christ now become And when they said Lord God they blasphemingly would A grievous scorne say Lord devill There dyed in this Massacre within a few daies fifty or thréescore persons besides these there were about two hundred and fifty others as well men as women who were wounded and spoiled Anno 1563. whereof some died some were maimed losing some a leg some an arme some their fingers cut off from their hands and caried away The poores The poores mony violently taken away and never after restored box which was fastned to the doore of the Church with two Iron hookes was wrested thence with twelve pounds therein and never restored again Nothing was to be séene in the stréets but Women with their haire hanging about their eares faces besmeared with blood being wounded in many places with swords and daggers with wéepings and lamentations Barbers and Chirurgians were so set on worke that he which had least had thréescore under his hand to be dressed and many perished for want thereof The Minister was kept close prisoner so as for foure and twenty houres none were permitted to supply him with any necessaries at all nor any suffered to sée him or speake with him and was oft threatned by his kéepers to be sowed up in a sack and drowned Faine would they have drawn him to have kept his Easter after the Popish guise under faire premises of his inlargement but he would by no means consent thereto Thus continued he prisoner untill the eight day of May 1563. at which time he was set frée by the suit of the most illustrious prince of Portion Whilest the Duke was at Esclairon the Lackeys and others of their sort put to sale unto such as would give most cloaks hats girdles Coifes Kerchiefes with other things which they had spoiled the massacred of Crying them with a loud voyce as if a common cryer had cryed houshold stuffe to be sold A memorable deliverance ONe called Iohn of the Gardens having lived a long time with his wife and childe in regard of the present troubles abroad in the fields nigh to a City called Seulis in France at length determining to goe backe againe into the Citie casting himselfe and his upon the providence of God were
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.
doth not our Lord Iesus Christ say blessed are you when men persecute you and speake all manner of evill falsly against you for my name sake Rejoice therefore and be glad for great is your reward in heaven Now whereto serveth all this my beloved but to bring us into a conformity with our Lord and Master Iesus Christ For Christ hath suffered for us saith the Apostle saint Peter 1 Pet. 2. 21. leaving us an example that we should walke in his steps who also endured the crosse and despised Heb. 12 2. the shame for the obtaining of that joy which was set before him and became poore to make us rich 2 Cor. 8. 9. By him also are we brought by faith into that Rom. 5 2. state of grace wherein we stand rejoycing in the hope of the glory of God knowing that tribulation worketh patience c. Wherefore deare brother and sister be not afrayd of the fiery tryall which is now sent amongst us to prove us For what Father loving his childe doth not correct it Heb. 12. Even so doth the Lord chastise those whom he loveth for if we should be without correction wherof all true Christians are partakers then were we bastards and not sons And therefore Salomon saith my sonne despise not the chastening of the Prov. 3. 11 12. Lord neither faint when thou are corrected of him for whom the Lord loveth the same he correcteth even as a Father the sonne in whom he delighteth Feare not then to follow the footsteps of Christ for he is the head and we are his members Even as Christ then hath obtained full joy glory by suffering of anguishes and sorrowes so we also according to his example must through Acts 14 21. many tribulations enter into the heavenly places even into the new Ierusalem Let us then say Phil. 1. 21. with saint Paul Christ unto me is in life and in death advantage Let us cry out with him O Rom. 7 24. wretched creatures that we are who shall deliver us from this body of death Sée here how the faithfull have desired to be with Christ for with Abraham they had an eye to that holy City Anno 1562. which hath foundations whose builder and maker Heb. 11. 10. is God Let vs then my beloved chéerefully and willingly follow the Lord possessing our soules by patience For it is a good thing as saith the Prophet Ieremiah both to hope and quietly to Lam. 3. 26. waite for the salvation of the Lord and good also it is for a man to beare the yoke in his youth for such the Lord will comfort in the end and restore unto them the joy of his salvation Loe here deare brother and sister what consolations our God hath treasured up for us in his holy word for us I say whose desire it is to feare the Lord and to trust in his grace and mercy For Psal 37. 39. the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord hée is their strength in the time of trouble Wherfore q giving all diligence let us adde to faith vertue 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8. and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse love for if these things be in us and abound they will cause us neither to be idle nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ The which God our Father grant us for his Sonnes sake our Lord Amen Out of my hole December the eleventh 1562. Wouter Oom prisoner for the truth Now because ye may see that this Letter was not without its happy effect hearken to the relation of the History following THere was one Iohn Wolfe of the City of Audenard who because he could no longer inhabite there without either the danger of his life or wounding of his conscience his wife being great with childe and as yet but weake in the knowledge of the Gospell he was forced for these respects to joyne himselfe to the assembly of the Church in Antwerpe where thinking himselfe in safety a neighbour of his owing him ill will accused him to the Margrave about the baptising of his childe Whereupon being then committed and examined where and in whose presence his childe was baptized he without staggering answered that he had it baptised according to the institution of Christ by a Minister set apart to that Office The Margrave not content with this answer often pressed him with sundry threats of the torture to accuse such as he knew But the sharpest combat he endured was from his owne flesh counselling him during his imprisonment for the safegard of his life to dissemble and halt betwéen two opinions The cause was from the inward affection he bore towards his wife and childe being yet but young and of singular beauty in regard whereof many of the congregation expected no other but that he would sinke under this tryall But in the middest of these assaults hée was heard with prayers and sighes to cry mightily to God to bée delivered from this temptation Which prayers of his were heard in due season even then Whither wee ought to fly in time of temptation when in the judgement of man he was supposed to be overcome thereof meanes was made of bringing to his hands consolatory letters as also the said Wouter Dom then prisoner with him comforted him not a little by his letters Whereby in the end he continued so strong in the Lord as also constant in the confession of the truth that in conclusion he received the sentence of death with the aforesaid Wouter After which his wife came unto him and they were permitted to talke together bursting out each of them into such abundance of teares that it would have moved the most stony heart that ever was At parting with a bitter cry hée commended her to Gods mighty protection and his childe to be trained up in the true Religion Soone after hée was drowned in the tub or fat of the prison and the next day hanged upon one of the Gibbets néer unto the City ¶ A relation of the troubles and martyrdome of Christian Quekere Iaques Dionssart and Iean de Salomez of Steenwerk in Flanders To whom God gave such ability to answer their enemies demands as if they had come from persons much more learned Which shewes that God measures out to all the gifts and graces of his holy Spirit according to his good will and pleasure WHilest the persecution continued at this time in sundry places of Flanders under Philip King of Spaine and that many fled into England under the protection of Quéene Elizabeth these thrée above mentioned were of the same number who joyned themselves to the Dutch Church in London having given publique testimony of their faith before all the Congregation In which place they continuod not long but they were constrained upon some speciall occasions to
from the Faith But Smetius being a man learned and of a quick understanding remained constant which so confounded his opposite that hée went away with shame The Fryer invented a recantation to which it was reported that Smetius had subscribed But an Elder of the Church whose name was Cornelius Specox comming to the knowledge thereof by the helpe of friends got a sight of the said Recantation Who in the presence of divers friends conferring a certaine Letter which Smetius had put his name unto with that writing found it in nothing to agree therewith and therefore the recantation to bée méerely counterfeited The eighth of February being Saturday Smetius having his feete tied under an horses belly on which he was set was thus brought to Vilvourd to the * Hee was apprehended by his Provost with 20. horsemen as he was preaching at Malives When Smetins saw them he exhorted the congregation to be quiet for they are come said he to take me but the assembly was by and by scattered Provost who himselfe was afterwards hanged for his villanies His Sergeants passing immediatly along with him through Malives went towards Malladery of Wallen where finding a ladder set up to an oake they hanged him thereon Smetius being on the Ladder used these words Lord forgive them for they know not what they doe And then singing certaine verses of a Psalme he yéelded up his soule into the hands of the Lord. ¶ Master Iohn Goris and Ioris of Asschen Martyrs Anno 1567. IOhn Goris Chirurgion borne in Audenard travelling towards Gaud was betrayed by two spies who signified the same to the Bayliffe himselfe also going the same way whither Goris was travelling him The Bailiffe hirsting after the bloud of this poore innocent rid on till hee had overtaken him asking him whether hée went I am going said Goris to the Parish of Nazaret And I purpose also said the Bayliffe to goe thither wee will beare you company Having passed on thus a little way the Bayliffe thinking himselfe sure of Goris began to lay hands upon him Goris séeing that leaped over a ditch and got into a little wood The wood was presently beset with Countrey people and being there apprehended he was carried to Audenard as a shéep to the slaughter where he was committed to prison They layed many things to his charge which they were not able to prove Being examined the second time upon divers articles hee answered thereunto with such wisedome that the Counsell admired how a man of so meane account could defend his cause in so good a manner But after they came to question with him concerning matters of Religion now I see saith he that you seek my bloud The night following hee was overtaken with By this we see that man stands not by his owne strength such an apprehension of the feare of death that for saving his life hee was almost resolved to deny the truth But by the assistance of Gods holy spirit calling his thoughts together hee instantly and ardently besought the Lord to deliver him out of this temptation that by the power of his grace he might overcome the infirmity of his flesh which prayer of faith the Lord had such respect unto that from that time he manifestly resisted all Satans assaults and maintained the truth Though I fall saith the Church yet I shall arise Mâ—ch 7. 8. Act. 7 60. unto his last breath Having received sentence he was nothing appalled thereat but like the holy Martyr S. Stephen prayed God that he would not lay his death to their charge Comming to the place where he was to be executed casting himselfe downe prostrate he made his prayer to God in which prayer albeit he sought the Lord to forgive his Enemies yet added he this withall I am perswaded that God being a just Iudge will not leave their sinne unpunished Which prediction fell out not long after for the Bailife who apprehended him rejoyced in standing by whilst the martyr was executed was not long after shot with a harquebuse whereof he presently died like a wretch After Goris was thus executed they brought forth his fellow prisoner called Ioris of Asschen who the same day suffered the same kind of death that is to say he was hanged upon a gibbet which death he endured for the name of Christ with like constancy as did the former Which courage of his he thus manifested to his parents and friends in a letter written to them a little before his death ¶ A Letter written by Ioris of Asschen to his Parents and Friends a little before the time of his Martyrdome MOst deare Father and Mother Sister and Brother I write here unto you comfortable newes namely that in all my life I never saw any day so pleasing to me as this is in which the Lord hath counted me worthy to be one of his Champions and to suffer for his holy Name For which I give him most humble and hearty thanks I also thanke you much good Father and Mother that in all my distresses you have beene beneficiall and helpfull unto me and carefull for me for which the Lord aboundantly reward you in his kingdome Rejoyce with me I pray you that God hath now called me to such a glorious and welcome marriage day Oh how precious in the sight of the Lord our God is the death of his Martyrs Deare friends two Priests yea and some of the Magistrates also have sought to terrifie me with many threats thinking to turne me aside from my holy profession but the Lord of his great mercy hath given me his grace to withstand them all for I plainly told them I was not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ but would be willing and ready to die in the defence thereof following my Lord and Master Iesus Christ thorow all afflictions to be made partaker with him at the last of his eternall joyes in his celestiall Tabernacle Wherefore if God shal cal any of you forth to suffer ought for his Names sake beare the same I beseech you with meeknesse and patience not declining from the Truth for feare or favour to the right hand or to the left but feare him rather who is able to cast soule and body into hell The time which God hath lent us to converse in this world is but short and therefore let us begin to abandon the love thereof with all things that are therein betimes that so we may be ready to follow the call of God Deare Father and Mother I doe take my last farewell of you untill we meet together againe in the Kingdome of heaven where we shall partake of that joy which shall last for ever all sorrowes teares and griefes being wiped away Be ye not therefore grieved I pray you but be patient for the affliction which is befalne me is most acceptable unto me for which also I blesse and praise the Lord. The Lord prosper you in all your wayes to his glory and your good Thanke all
my friends for their love expressed toward me and salute them kindely with an holy kisse in the Lord. Your humble and obedient sonne Iohn Ioris of Asschen Thus were these two witnesses of Iesus Christ executed the fourtéenth of April 1567. ¶ A worthy answer of a constant Martyr called Guy de Brez Anno. Dom. 1567. GUy be Brez a Minister of the Gospell being committed prisoner into the Castle of Tournay was visited by many Ladies Gentlemen onely out of a desire to sée him in regard hee was a man so highly estéemed Some at the first view scoffed others railed on him but others were moved to take pitty and compassion on him Among the rest the Countesse of Ren accompanied with certaine Gentlewomen comming into the prison and at the first entrance beholding the iron chain to which he was fastned Master Guy said she I wonder how you can either eate drinke or sléepe in quiet for were I in your case the very terror thereof would goe nigh to kill me O Madam said he the good cause for which I suffer and that inward peace of conscience wherewith God hath endued me makes me eate and drinke with greater contentment than my enemios can which séeke my life yea so farre off is it that my bonds or chaine doe any way terrifie me or breake off my sléepe that on the contrary I glory and take delight therein estéeming them at an higher rate than chains and rings of gold or any other jewels of price whatsoever for they yéeld me much more profit Yea when I heare the raâ—ing of my chaine me thinkes I heare as it were some swéet instrument of Musicke sounding in mine eares not that such an effect comes méerely from my chaines but in regard I am bound therewith for maintaining the truth of the Gospell ¶ The same Martyr in a Letter to his wife acquaints her with Gods gracious dealing with him in all his assaults SPeaking of his apprehension he shewes how carnall reason began to play its part against the providence of God for saith he these thoughts came througing into my head What meant we to go so many in company together as we did had it not béen for such and such we had never béen discovered nor taken Vnder such like cogitations I lay for a while saith he even in a manner overwhelmed till by the assistance of Gods holy Spirit my minde was raised up to meditate on Gods providence After which my heart began to féel wonderfull rest and contentment saying thus in my selfe O my God the day and houre of my birth was before ordained by thee and ever since thou hast preserved and kept me in great perils and dangers and hitherto delivered me out of them all And if now the houre be come wherin I must passe out of this life into thy kingdom thy holy will be done I cannot escape out of thy hands yea though I could yet Lord thou knowest I would not seeing all my felicity depends upon conforming my will unto thine From these considerations I received no small consolation and therefore deare wife rejoyce with me I pray you and blesse our good God for these his mercies towards me for he doth nothing but that which is equall and right You have béene privy to and acquainted with all the travels crosses and persecutions which have befallen me yea and have your selfe béene partaker with me therein when you accompanied me in my voyages during the time of my exile and now after all these you sée my welbeloved in the Lord how he holdeth forth unto me his hand of providence to drive me home to himselfe into his blessed kingdome I now lead you the way and when his will is you shall follow me thither Our separation shall not be for ever it will not be long ere we be gathered under one head Iesus Christ This world is not the place of our rest no heaven is our home this is but the place of our banishment Let us therefore aspire after our true countrey namely heaven and long to be received into the Mansions of our heavenly father where we shall sée our head and Brother our husband and Saviour Iesus Christ with the noble triumphant assemblies of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and so many millions of Martyrs to whom I hope shortly to be gathered having finished the course of that administration which I have received of the Lord Iesus Wherefore deare wife be you comforted in the meditation of these things Take into your consideration the honour the Lord doth you in giving you a husband who is not only called to be a Minister of Christs Gospel but also so highly advanced of God as to be accounted worthy to partake of the crowne of martyrdome It is an honour which the Angels in heaven are Angels not capable of being Martyrs not capable of I now rejoyce in my sufferings my heart leapeth within me in my afflictions I finde nothing wanting unto mee I am filled with the abundant riches of my God yea so far am I comforted therewith that I have sufficient store not onely for my selfe but to impart thereof also to as many as I have opportunity to speake unto Which bounty and favour I beséech my Eternall Lord God to continue to me his poore prisoner yea I am perswaded that he will perform it unto the end for by good experience I féele that he never forsakes them that trust in him I Gods goodnes to his afflicted children is oft above and beyond their expectation could never have imagined that God would have béene so gracious as he hath béen to me his poore creature I now taste of the fidelity and bounty of Christ my Saviour I am here taught to practise what I have preached unto others Yea let me not be ashamed to confesse that when I heretofore preached I spake but as a Parrat in regard of that which I have now better learned by proofe and experience I have profited more in the schoole-house of this prison than ever I did in all my life before Prisons prove Gods schoole-houses to the faithfull for I have the holy Ghost who is my constant instructor and schoolmaster teaching me how to handle my weapons in this fight of afflictions Satan on the other side who is the sworne enemy of all Gods Elect compasseth me about on every side as a roaring Lyon thinking to devoure me But he who hath said Feare not I have overcome the world puts as it were new courage into Iohn 16. 33. Rom. 16 20. 2 Cor. 12. 9. me and then I sée the Lord bruising Satan under my féet féeling the power of God perfected in my weakenesse And thus the Lord causeth mee one while to féele my infirmity and weakenesse that so I may take knowledge how I am but a poore earthen Vessell even weakenesse it selfe to humble mee that God may have all the glory It is profitable for the godly sometimes to feele their
chamber as we call it Bish These words must be taken of our ordinary eating which is cast saving your presence after it is eaten into the draught La Grange What becomes then of this swallowed flesh Bish The formes are turned into it and the flesh of Iesus Christ is gone but these things must not be too curiously examined La Grange This answer cannot stand the accidents which you call kindes cannot be changed thereinto it is the substance which is changed But let us come to a more substantiall argument you teach That whosoever receives this Bread which you call flesh receives Iesus Christ How 1 Cor 11. 27. 29. is it then that Saint Paul saith Hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eats and drinks damnation to himselfe c. Bish This argument hath some weight in it for thus you reason hee that receives Christ doth therewithall receive eternall life but by our Doctrine all receive Christ in the sacrament therefore they must needs have eternall life I confesse it is true according to your minor proposition that they receive him but I deny that all receive him unto life everlasting for if they receive not the flesh by the holy Ghost it profits them nothing La Grange I have taken the first part of my Iohn 11. 25. proposition out of Saint Iohn where Christ saith he is the life but séeing wée cannot receive so much as a common hearbe without the vertue of it much lesse can wee receive Christ without that life which is comprehended in him otherwise Simile we should receive a dead body without efficacy and not Iesus Christ who causeth those that eate him to live â—ternally For this sacrament was instituted of God by his sonne to manifest and set Iohn 6 51. forth his fatherly good will towards us not contenting himself to have received us once as strangers into his houshold by baptisme but as his owne Children and therefore hath ordained this Why the Lords supper was ordained We partake of Christ in the Sacrament by the effectuall working of the holy Ghost second sacrament of the holy supper that in his house wee might have wherewith to nourish and féed us continually Now as touching the holy Ghost it is by him that we eate the flesh of Iesus Christ and drinke his bloud conjoyning by his powerfull working those things together which by distance of place are severed farre off one from another causing all that is in Christ to become ours and as by a conduit pipe conveying unto us the true partaking of Christs flesh and bloud so as whosoever receives Christ hath eternall life Bishop That is if hee receive him by the holy spirit for otherwise the flesh profiteth nothing as Iohn 6. 63. saint Iohn saith La Grange Sir the place you alledge makes against you for Christ there reproves his disciples for thinking they should eate his flesh after a carnall manner as it appeares by the words following for the words said hée which I speake to you are spirit and life If then wee are so wise as to observe that the Sunne sending downe its substance on earth by the beames thereof doth after a sort cause the hearbes to spring forth and Simile grow shall not the influence of the spirit of Christ be of much more efficacy to bring us to the true participation of his flesh and bloud Bishop Then the Bishop was desirous to bée gone saying it grew late and so for want of time our conference ended The Bishop commended me to God and then tooke his leave of the company This is the summe of our communication so farre as I can remember By this briefe recitall we may observe what holy boldnesse mixed with meekenesse the Lord had indued this his worthy servant with even in the flower of his age being drawne from his studies and from the place of his birth to preach the Gospell to the Valencians and at length to seale up the same with his bloud A short narration of the life and death of these two valiant Champions of Christ Guy de Brez and Peregrin de La Grange Ministers and martyrs NExt to the pure preaching of the word nothing so much commends those whom the Lord culls out to give their lives for the same as doth an holy and blamelesse conversation continued unto their happy departure out of this world It remaines then in few words that we set forth the conversations of these two holy personages that thereby the mercies and graces of the Lord be stowed upon them may have the greater lustre Guy de Brez borne in Mons in Hainault béeing in his younger yeares much addicted to Popish superstitions came by continually reading of the Scriptures to taste the swéetnes of Christian Religion which knowledge brought forth no smal fruit in him in due season Yet so as it could by no meanes be relished or received by them of his Nation Whereupon he departed from Mons and having learned the art of painting Glasse came to London whilest good King Edward the sixth raigned who gave persecuted strangers leave to have harbour within his realme of England After his abode there a while and understanding that the preaching of the Gospell obtained some entertainment in the Low-Countries he went over to give his assistance to those of his owne Country The first fruits of his labours were most an end in bestwong some exhortations in such places where he found any willing to give him audience though never so few in number But above all he clave to them of the City of Lisle because he found there a great number of beléevers who desired nothing more than to heare the Gospell publiquely preached unto them At that time began also an holy conflict * Against which this godly man published a learned confutation in French which booke I have in my hands against the pestilent sect of the Anabaptists which as cockle mingled it selfe amongst the good corne In this city he continued untill the flock of Christ wer dispersed by reason of persecution and then went to Gaud where hée wrote his booke called the Staffe of Faith extracted out of the ancient Fathers After that béeing desirous to profit more and more in the knowledg of such things as were requisite to be in a Minister of the Gospell hée travelled towards Lausanna and thence to Geneva to furnish himselfe with the tongues and thence withdrawing himselfe into the Low-countries hée there established the churches of Lisle Tournay and of the Valencians in which cities God so prospered his labours that he was preserved by his divine providence as it were in the middest of the fiery flames from falling into the hands of his enemies And not to stand longer in relating the paines and travels of this faithfull servant of Christ not onely the reformed Churches of the said country can testifie but also these of Diex Mondidier and Amiens also which hée was an happy instrument to support whilest the
cruell persecutions in his owne Land would not permit him to continue his Office of teaching there The Duke of Bovillon obtaining him drew him to his city of Sedan where he also continued a while in publishing the glad tidings of salvation untill the Church of Antwerpe began in the moneth of August 1576 to call him to be their Pastor But he could not obtaine leave of those of Sedan to depart from among them without a great deale of difficulty because they evidently foresaw by the beginning of persecutions in the Low-countries into what a Sea of troublous tempests bée should bée cast and yet perceiving how the heart of this holy man longed to be gone to yéeld his assistance to those of his own nation at length they consented to let him goe with them that requested to have his helpe Now having stayed but a while there the brethren determined to send him to his ancient Church of the Valencians who received him with no little joy in regard the Lord had formerly ordayned him to erect a Church there peculiarly To come now to Peregrine de la Grange hée Peregrin de la Grange was borne in Chute nigh to Saint Marcellin in Daulphine In the moneth of Iune in the yeare 1565 he was sent from the Schooles of Geneva at the request and instance of the Valencians to serve in the ministery among them Such was His meeke disposition won him much respect his méeke and milde disposition that it won him much love and respect and made his ministery to be so much the more acceptable in the eyes of all men After the demolishing of Images in the City of the Valencians two Churches were imployed by those of the reformed Religion for the use of prayer preaching the word and administration of the Sacraments Now the detaining of these Churches the one of them being used by a stranger◠namely by the said la Grange who was none of King Philips Subjects being also against the Decrée of Margaretn then Regent of the Low-Countries gave occasion to Noicurin as then principall Bayliffe of Hainault and Valence not onely to frustrate and break all accords with the said Valencians but moreover to afflict and besiege them extremely During which siege because the supper of the Lord was administred in both the said Churches it did so much the more enkindle the rage of the enemy against them so as when the city was taken La Grange was the more cruelly used as you shall reade when wee come to speake of his death The same adversaries who encountred Guy de Brez his companion assailed him also but he overcame them by the helpe of Gods holy Spirit who gave them both such power as their enemies were not able to resist They were imprisoned the eleventh of Aprill and on Saturday the last of May the Provost of the bands came into the prison about thrée of the clocke in the morning to give these two prisoners warning to prepare themselves for death for they were to die at sixe or therabouts Whereupon both of them began highly to magnifie God for his goodnesse and gave the Provost thankes for the good newes which he had brought them Assoon as they were up and ready Master Guy entred into the fore Court bidding the rest of the Prisoners good morrow and then testifying to them his joy spake after this manner Brethren I am this day to die for the doctrine of the Gospell and now blessed be God I joy and rejoyce therein I had not thought that God would ever have done me this honour I feele my selfe replenished with joy more and more from minute to minute my God addeth new courage unto me and my heart leapes for joy within me Then exhorting the prisoners to be of good chéer he told them it was no hard matter to die and so by way of acclamation alledged that place out of the Apocalips O how happy are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Hée further besought the prisoners to stand fast in the doctrine of the sonne of God which he had taught them avowing it to bée the undoubted truth which was mainteined * Which disputes were formerly omited in regard that in a manner they were the same with those of Peregrin do la Grange by him before the Bishop of Arres and many others Beware you do nothing said he against a good conscience for I foresée that the enemies of the Gospell will execute the utmost of their rage against us thinking thereby to weaken our faith that so they might turne you from the truth and so causing you to doe such things as should bring dishonor to the cause for which you are in bonds Take heed therefore ye shrinke not for if yée doe you shall certainely féele such an hell in your consciences as will never cease to vex and torment you O my brethren how good a thing is it to nourish a good conscience One of the prisoners asking him whether hée had finished a certaine work which he had begun he answered No For now I must cease to labour because I am passing along towards the heavenly rest the time of my departing is at hand I goe to reape that in heaven which I have sowne on earth I have fought a good fight I am at the point of finishing up my course from henceforth the Crowne of Glory is layd up for me which the Lord the righteous Iudge shal give unto me Me thinks said he with a joyfull and smiling countenance that my spirit hath obtained wings to soare aloft into heaven being invited this day to the mariage Supper of the Lambe As he was speaking the Provost came in with bands into the Court and putting off his hat saluted him Master Guy bad him welcome and gave him thanks againe for his good newes The Provost replied It grieveth me much that things should be carried thus To which Guy joyfully answered I accept of you as of my good Friend I love you with all mine heart Then taking his leave of the prisoners he went into the little hall of the prison Soone after Peregrine de la Grange entred into the same Court who as he carried himselfe comfortably during all the time of his imprisonment so then after his accustomed manner he hegan with an amiable countenance to chéere the prisoners with bidding them good morrow and then said thus unto them I am this day to die for the Truth and then the heavenly Inheritance is prepared for mee my name is written in the Phil. 4. 3. Rom. 11. 29. Booke of life never to be blotted out because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance He protested also That for his part he never taught ought there but the pure Word of God as for the doctrine of the Papists it led soules he said to perdition and destruction and thence took occasion to exhort the prisoners to separate themselves
performe my vowes unto the Lord my God and so he was led bound fast to the wherry A certaine Priest who accompanied him presented unto him a wodden crucifix exhorting him to returne and to die in the favour of God reconciling himselfe unto the Church of Rome the holy Spouse of Christ But Ricetto rejecting that Crucifix besought the Priest and those that followed them to come out of the snare of the Devill to cleave to Iesus Christ and to live not according to the flesh but after the spirit for if you doe otherwise said he assure your selves your unbeliefe will bring you into that lake of fire that shall never be quenched For though you confesse with your mouth that you know Iesus Christ yet you not only deny him by your works but you persecute him in his members being seduced and 〈◊〉 by the Pope who is the open enemy of the Sonne of God When they were come nigh to the two castles the Captaine bound his hands now because it was very cold hée called for his cloke which they had taken from him Then said the wherry man fearest thou a little cold What wilt thou do when thou art cast into the Sea Why art thou not carefull to save thy selfe from drowning Doest thou not sée that the poore flea skippes hither and thither to save her life To whom hée answered And I am now flying to escape eternall death Being arrived at the place where he was to suffer the Captaine put a chaine of yron about his middle with a very heavy stone fastened thereto Then Ricetto lifting his eyes to heaven said Father forgive them for they know not what they doe And being laid on the planke hée said Lord Iesus into thy hands I commend my spirit then pulling this weighty stone towards him not waiting till the boats were sundred one from another as in such kind of executions they were wont to doe this holy man slept in the Lord which was no small terrour to the Magistrate in that there was never any that died this kind of death before with so much constancy and resolution ¶ Master Francis Spinola Martyr THe Sunday following Master Francis Spinola of Milaine being about the age sixe and forty yeares was apprehended and brought into the prison called Des cless de dix That of ten keyes where he found poore Francis Sega Two Francis Sega Martyr daies after which as the eight and twentieth day of February Spinola was brought before his Iudges where they delivered into his hands a little Treatise of the Lords Supper of which he fréely confessed he was the author shewing that the opinion which he there maintained was this That the bread and wine were the signes and not the things signified and therefore must not bée adored He was questioned with as touching the power of the Pope prayer to saints and about Purgatory He answered that the Popes power was from man which the Romane Consistory and certaine Princes had given him but that God the Father had given Iesus Christ to be the Mat. 28. 18. Head of the Church and to have all power in heaven and earth What is Peter then or what is Paul He further added that he would not worship nor pray to any other but to God only as it is written The memoirall of the Saints he well approved Luke 4. 8. Iohn 15. 5. as of those who were the true branches ingrafted into the Vine Christ Also for his part he acknowledgeth none other Heb. 1 3. Purgatory but the bloud of Christ as it is manifest in the Epistle to the Hebrews and in the first 1 Iohn 1. 7. Epistle of Iohn Then as Spinola was returned into his prison Francis Sega whom he was ignorant of waited his comming holding a candle in his hand and passing by with his Kéeéeper saluted him by his name whence it came to passe that they two conferred together about the doctrine of the Gospell Now howsoever Sega differed from The consancy of one martyr puts life into another Spinola touching the number of sacraments yet he referred himselfe to the judgement of the true Church of Christ in that behalfe But after that he had learned that Spinola had constantly stood to the defence of the truth he was very joyfull and much comforted saying That God had reserved him for such a time as this to make him partaker with him of so great consolation Hée wrote consolatory letters to Spinola committing his writings into his hands whereof some were preserved and the rest lost by the carelesnesse of a false brother Upon the thrée and twentieth day of February 1567. the Kéepers of the prison told Sega that he was to die within one houre after the shutting in of the evening At the hearing of which newes hée intreated Spinola to pray with him After prayer Sega telling him that his soule was heavy to the death Spinola gave him this answer Feare not for it will not be long before it shall feele those joyes which shall endure for ever Being brought out of his darke dungeon according to the time limited hée tooke his leave of Spinola and the rest of the prisoners As hée was entred into the boat a certaine frier began to perswade him to returne into the right way Sega answered that he was already in the way of our Lord Iesus Christ and passing on he called upon the name of God He séemed not to be much moved at the binding of his hands but was a little amazed at the fastening of his body to the chaine Yet by and by taking unto him a Christian resolution he tooke whatsoever they did unto him patiently Being laid upon the bourd or planke hée commended his soule into the hands of God Anno 1568. and being left of the two boats upon the edges whereof the planke was stayed the one declining this way and the other that way he fell into his spulchre the sea and died patiently Spinola soone after was presented the second time before his Iudges namely the tenth of March where he reproved the Popes Legate with his clergy there present as also the Lords of Venice who sat in judgement upon him because contrary to their consciences they so persecuted the truth of God calling them the offspring of the Pharisées Caiphas and the Gentiles who now As he did the first time hee was convented before them laid he kill Iesus Christ in his members The nine and twentieth of March following hée was the third time brought before them where they asked him if he would not recant his errors He answered that the Doctrine he maintained was not erroneous but the very same truth which Iesus Christ and his holy Apostles taught and preached and for which all the Martyrs as well of old time as now have willingly layd downe their lives and endured the paines of death After all this Spinola became so weake that Spinola begins to waver he determined to strike
Earle of Home who died last gave an evident proofe of that true knowledge of God wherewith he was indued and in which hée had more especially increased in the time of his troubles and afflications ¶ An extract of a complaint with a protestation of the Prince of Orange and the Gentlemen of the Low countries touching their oppressions THis yeare in the month of Iuly the Prince of Ornage William and Nassau accompanied with many Lords and Gentlemen of the Low-Countries all professors of the Gospell for prevention of the slanders and pretences of rebelion put upon them by the enemies thereof published in writing a declaration that it might appeare to all that they were so farre off from plotting any treason against the Kings Majesty that on the contrary they did by all the meanes they could acknowledge him to be their naturall Prince and Soveraign The true causes indéed for which they tooke up armes under the authority of their Prince for their owne defence as also of those who professed the protestant religion were the extortions the confiscations of body and goods with the continuall condemnations and putting to death even of the most noble personages of the Countrey And that the Prince of Orange might make knowne to all what injustice and cruelties were exercised upon those of the Religion he discovered the notorious subtilties of the cardinall of Gravella and others who under the cloaks of the pretended catholique religion sought nothing else thereby but the diminishing of Gods glory the Kings authority and the welfare of the commonwealth shedding the bloud of many a true Christian by whose death followed the losse of their temporall estates and all forsooth under pretence of Iustice And for as much as tortures vexations banishments executions both by fire and water by strait imprisonments sword and gibbets did still increase more and more that for these considerations the cause was lawfull and good in taking upon them the defence of so miserable a people to whom the Dutchesse of Parma Governesse under his Majesty had expresly permitted the preaching of the Gospell for preventing of the perils and dangers which threatened the ruine of the said countries And as the said Prince had béen a faithfull and loyall servant to his Majesty in doing him many acceptable services without either sparing his person or goods so was he also ready prest to be imployed still in the like more then at any time heretofore And thus procéeding on further hée made it apparant to every one whose judgement was not forestalled that the Duke of Alva who in respect of the dignities conferred upon him ought himselfe to be a patterne and a protector of the Nobility and Gentry had notwithstanding put to death thréescore gentlemen with others of quality rich Burgemasters of Bruxels and of other Cities besides that this his ambition being risen to a notable height of cruelty durst put to death the Illustrious Earles of Egmond and Horne without any shew of law or equity who had so faithfully served the Emperour Charles of famous memory in his wars Yea that he might yet further debase the Nobility of the Countrey which is as it were the principall support of his Majesty hée caused the heads of the said Earles to be set upon poles and forkes By such spectacles charging upon their parents and friends much obloquy and disgrace Yea this horrible execution did strike such a feare and terror into many that to avoyd these oppressions they fled the countrey For a conclusion he added that all these things layd together the issue thereof tended to the extirpation of all true Religion and consequently the depriving of the faithfull not onely of their spirituall but corporall good also And therefore as a Prince being a native member of the Empire he held himselfe obliged in having compassion over the wrackes made among so many poore Christians to lend them his best helpe furtherance for the frée passage of the Gospell and the consolation of such of his Majesties good Subjects as were persecuted imprisoned and oppressed ¶ Before wée shut up the History of the yeare 1568. wée will adde to the former Martyrs some that were executed in the Low-countries at divers times in the said yeare without tying our selves to any strict order touching their death ¶ Schoblant the sonne of Barthel Iohn de Hues Ioris Coomans Martyrs THe eleventh of February there were taken and imprisoned in Antwerpe Schoblant the son of Barthel Iohn de Hues and Zoris Coomans After which they were all joyfull and glad in the Lord confessing that nothing fell out in this regard but by his divine providence as it appeares by Letters written to their brethren the seventéenth of March containing that which followeth Séeing it is the will of God that we should suffer for his holy name and in the quarrell of his Gospell we certifie you brethren that we are of good courage hitherto howsoever the flesh continually rebels against the spirit counselling it ever and anone according to the advice of the old serpent But we are well assured that Christ who hath bruised will also still bruise the Serpents head and not leave us comfortlesse True it is we are now and then pricked in the héele but that Ioh. 14. 18. Rom. 16. 20. Gen. 3. 15. Mat. 11. 35. is all the Serpent can doe nor are we discouraged but kéep our faith close to the promises of God who is the Lord of heaven and earth having created all things of nothing He forsooke not Ioseph in Egypt nor left the Gen. 39. 21. Dan. 3. 25. Dan 6. 22. thrée yong men in the fiery furnace no nor Daniel in the Lions Den. This is the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and of their righteous posterity so that we can without feare say with the Prophet David the Lord is my helpe tower Psal 1◠strength and refuge By such and the like Scriptures deare brethren we comfort our selves in our bands rejecting all confidence in any man whatsoever Be not dismaid then good brethren and sisters for our bands and imprisonment For so is the good will of God now towards us And therefore pray rather that he will give us grace to persevere constantly unto the end so be it ¶ The examination of Schoblant taken the 24. of March in the presence of the Marquesse of the Bailiffe of the Secretary and many others 1568. Marq. WHere were you borne Schob in Sommerswall Marq. Where did you marry your wife Schob At Middleborouth in Zealand Marq. Where were your children baptised Schob In the Church of Christ in which true Christians are bound to baptise their children Marq. Though you should say no more we have sufficient testimony from your owne mouth Have you received the Lords Supper Schob Ya sir Marq. Are ye not a Minister Schob No sir Marq. Ought not you to submit your judgement to that which hath béen decréed in a generall councell where so many learned
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
gagged also Then the Executioner brought them to the Towne house to heare their sentence read which in summe was this That they should be hanged because they had béen present at the hearing of sermons Thus these thrée men yéelded up their soules to God with admirable constancy at the Gallowes The woman being every way veriuously given was condemned to be beheaded because shée had sung Psalmes and made a certaine exhortation out of the word of God to her neighbours at a womans up-sitting She was beheaded on the back side of the Townehouse Now because her body was much enféebled she was caused to sit upon a stoole receiving thrée blowes with the sword overthwart the téeth Yet shée constantly sate still till she obtained the Crowne of Martyrdome the same day in which the forementioned Martyrs dyed which was the second of Iune Anno 1568. ¶ Piere Coulogue and Betken his Maid servant Martyrs Anno 1568. THis Peter Coulogue by his Trade being a Goldsmith dwelling in Bzeda had long served the Church there in the office of a Deacon wherein he caried himselfe with the good approbation of all His house also was frée for the assembly to méet in as oft as the exercises of Christian religion were performed amongst them But the enemies of the truth not enduring the swéet favour hereof imprisones him and laid him in irons which the faithfull there tooke very heavily using all the meanes they could to have accesse to visit him But the enemies taking knowledge thereof caused him to be conveyed into the Castle whence both his and the Churches sorrow was yet further encreased because they could not now come to be a comfort one to another His servant Betken being very zealous and well read in the Scriptures brought him his ordinary dyet from day to day never ceasing to comfort and confirme him out of the Word of God All which she had liberty to do nine moneths together At length they imprisoned her also whereof she was right glad thinking her self happy to suffer ought for righteousness sake Not long after Peter was put to the torture which after he had endured they came in like manner to his maid servant Betken who spake unto them after this maner My masters wherefore will you put me to this torture séeing I have no way offended you Is it for my faiths sake You néed not torment me for that for as I was never ashamed to make a confession thereof no more will I be now at this present before you I willfréely shew you any minde therein But for all this they procéeded on with that which they intended Which she perceiving said Alas my Masters it it be so that I must suffer this paine then give me leave first to call upon God To which her request they yéelded Now whilest she was making her prayer one of the Commissioners was so surprised with feare and terror that by and by he swouned and could not be fetched again And thus the poore maid escaped the torture Soone after being examined touching her faith they condemned these two innocents to be burned Now as they were led to be executed great sorrowings and complaints were heard among the people But as for Peter and his Maid they praied to God with ardent affection that he would perfect the good work which he had begun in them and assist them with the power of his holy spirit untill they had finished their course The courage and constancy of the said Betken did so move many of the godly both men and women that not casting what perill or danger might ensue thereof they brake through the multitude embracing the Prisoners and praising God for their constancy saying Fight manfully for the crowne is ready prepared for you After they were come where they should suffer Betken began to speake unto the people with an Anno 1568 amiable countenance saying thus unto them Brethren and sisters be you alwaies obedient to the word of God and feare not those that can kill the body for on the soule they can have no power as for me I am now going to méet my glorious Spouse the Lord Iesus Christ And then falling both downe upon their knées they prayed to the Lord with great devotion Being risen up from prayer the executioner laying hold of them bound them with chaines to the stake and then stranled Peter but would not strangle the other who encouraged her Master till he had yéelded up the ghost and till the fire had taken hold of her selfe Then was she heard and séen to magnifie the Lord out of the middest of the flames so as many among the multitude were ravished at her invincible constancy Thus did these two Martyrs of the Lord give up their last breath in the fire May the 29. Anno 1568. Giles Meyere Martyr Anno 1568. IN. Flanders at a place called Vinderhout distant from Gand about a mile there was a certaine Curate called Giles de Meyere whom it pleased God illuminate with the true knowledge of his Gospell Now having received a talent from God he would not hide it with the Evill servant but sought all meanes how to imploy Mat. 25. 18. the same He had the feare of God alwaies before his eyes manifesting the same as well in his Doctrine as in his conversation being carefull to instruct those whom God had committed to his charge Yea he went from house to house comforting Acts 20. 20. and exhorting every one as occasion served out of the word of God above all labouring with them to beware of the abhominable superstitions of the Papacy He taught them that forgivenesse of sins the grace of God and eternall life was not to be obtained by our own merits but by the frée and only grace of God in Iesus Christ The Clergy of Gand having notice given them hereof namely that their Doctrine and authority would come to be little set by if this Curate should procéed on thus in his course without let they never rested untill they had pursued him to the death They imprisoned him then in the moneth of March anno 1567. casting him into a déep and dark hole where for a certaine space hée remained bearing this his affliction patiently and constantly calling upon God night and day praising him for estéeming him worthy to suffer for his sake In which his afflictions many good people who came often to visite him received such instruction and consolation from him that they were hardly drawn to leave him till of necessity they must their departure was alwayes accompanied with abundance of teares The Priests and others of that rabble ceased not likewise to ply him with disputations thinking by that meanes to make him renounce his Faith but to no purpose for he remained still firme and constant kéeping himselfe close to the word of God written which so vexed them that they procured him to be laid in the Castle where his sentence was to be hanged The Spaniards being then
as now we may cry out with saint Paul O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory She was often admonished by him to make confession of her sinnes before God shewing that bodily diseases tended to the dissolution of nature and that death was the wages of sinne declaring Rom 6. 23. moreover that by this her chastisement she might discerne what she had deserved if God should now enter into iudgement with her not onely in regard of the fall of our first Parents in which guilt Rom. 5. 12. she was enwrapped as well as others but also by her owne personall sinnes séeing the best of men or women in the world are in themselves but poore miserable and wretched offendors yea if the Lord should punish us according to our demerits we could expect nothing at his hands but eternall death and condemnation At these words she began with her hands and eies lifted up to heaven to acknowledge that her Psal 19. â— sinnes which she had committed against the Lord were innumerable and therefore more then she was able to reckon up But yet she hoped that God for Christs sake in whom she put her whole affiance would be mercifull unto her From the later clause of her spéech the Minister tooke occasion to declare at large upon what ground she was to expect the fruit of this mercy of God in Christ séeing the whole have no need Mar. 2. 17. of Phisitian but they that are sicke and therfore Christ saith in that place Hee came not to call the righteous but sinners unto repentance And that he is ready to fill the hungry with good things Luke 1. 53. whereas in the meane while he sends the rich empty away Of all which said he you ought so much the rather to be perswaded in your conscience by how much the more the holy spirit witnesseth to your spirit that you are the childe of God Crying in you Abba Father For what is Rom. 8. 15. What faith is faith else but a firme trust and assurance of the good will of God manifested towards us in his blessed sonne Now the Minister fearing he might some way offend her by his overlong discourse held his peace the rather because the Physitians thought that a long continued spéech might bee hurtfull unto her but she on the contrary earnestly requested him not to forbeare speaking unto her about these matters of life and eternall salvation adding that she wow felt the want of it in regard that since her comming to Paris shee had béen somewhat remisse in hearing such exhortations out of the word of God And therefore I am now the more glad saith she to receive comfort out of it in this my so great extremity The Minister then endeavoured to set before her the happinesse of heaven and what those joyes Psal 16. 11. were which the faithfull there possesse in the presence of God which when the scriptures intend to discover unto us they onely tell us that the eie 1 Cor. 259. hath not seene nor hath the eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what these things are which God hath prepared for them that love him To which purpose he used this simllitude as if a King minding greatly to honor Simile some noble persome noble personage should bring him to his court and there shew him his state and attendance his Treasures with all his most precious Iewels even so saith he will the Lord one day reveale to all his elect and faithfull people his magniâ—cence and glory with all the treasures of his Kingdome after he hath gathered them home to himselfe decking and adorning them with light incorruption and immortality This happiness therefore being so great her highnesse he said ought to be the lesse carefull about the leaving of this transitory life seeing that for an earthly kingdome which she was now to forgoe she should inherit an heavenly and for temporall good things which vanish and come to nothing in the using she should for even enjoy those that were eterenall and everlasting For her faith being now firmely setled upon our Lord Iesus Christ she might be suffered to obtaine eternall salvation by him on which words he tooke occasion to direct his speech in more particualar manner unto her saying Madame doe you verily beleeve that Iesus Christ come into the world to save you and doe you expect the full forgivenesse of all your sinnes by the shedding of his bloud for you To which she readily answered she did believing that he was her only Saviour and Mediator looking for salvation from none other knowing that he hath abundantly satisfied for the sinnes of the whole world and therefore was assured that God for his sake according to his gracious promises in him would have mercy upon her Thus you have in part the goodly speeches which passed from this religious Lady in the beginning of her sicknesse all which was within the space of three or foure daies Howsoever before that and since also she ceased not to continue the same her fruitfull and comfortable communications now and then sending forth most affectionate slighings to God as a testimony of that hope and desire Anno 1567. she had in enjoying his presence often uttering these words O my God in thy good time deliver me from this body of death and from the miseries of this present life that I may no more offend thee and that I may attain to that felicity which thou in thy Word hast promised me Neither did she manifest her pious affection by these her words onely but therewithall shewed a joyfull and resolute countenance as the vehemency of her sicknesse could beare which gave sufficient proofe to all that beheld her that the feare of death could not drive her from the stedfastnesse of her Faith When she had finished these her consolatory spéeches they usually went to prayer intreating the Lord that he would arme her with constant patience and have mercy upon her Which praier it shall not be altogether impertinent to insert in this place serving as a forme of praier upon the like occasion ¶ The Prayer O Lord our God we confesse hee before thy Divine Majesty that wee are altogether unworthy of thy infinite mercies by reason of our manifold iniquities and that we are so farre off from deserving to be heard of thée in our requests that we are rather worthie thou shouldest reject both our persons and our sutes but séeing it hath pleased thée to make us a gracious promise of hearing and granting our requests we humbly beséech thee fréely to forgive all our offences and to cover them under the obedience and righteousnesse of thy deare Sonne that through him our selves and poore services may be well pleasing before thee For Lord we acknowledge that all our afflictions are measured out unto us by thine hand who art a most just Iudge in regard we have every way provoked
out his hand to receive you unto him Are you are you willing to goe unto him Yes I assure you saith she most willing and much more willing than to linger here below in this world where I see nothing but vanity The minister not willing to continue longer in this kinde of discourse asked if she were pleased that they should goe to prayer declaring that godly personages there present would willingly joyne their desires with hers To which she consenting the said Minister prayed by her a good space whilest this pious Lady manifested her ardent affection to call upon God When prayer was ended the Minister discerning in her the undoubted testimonies of her repentance and of the sorrow she conceived for the offences which she had committed against God together with the assured confidence which shée had in his mercies as a Minister of the Gospell amd Embassadour of the Son of God by the authority dispensed to him having committed to him the word of reconciliation he assured her in his name that all her sins were forgiven her of 1 Cor. 5. God and that they should never come into account before his judgement Seat yea that she should no more dount thereof then if the Sonne of God from heaven should say unto her Daughter thy sins are forgiven thee And to the end that troubled consciences might the better be quieted Christ hath used these words speaking to his Ministers saying Whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted Mat. 16. 14. and whose sins ye unloose they are unloosed The reason is because the word which they pronounce is not the word of a mortall man but of the immortall God being of no lesse weight than if himselfe uttered the same Then he asked of her Majesty if he accepted of so gracious a Message which assured her of the frée pardon of all her sins Yea I doe saith shee and make no doubt thereof Not long after these exhortations the Admirall comming in and with him another Minister shée also gave care to him for a good space together whose discourse tended to prepare her for death as he had done who had spoken to her immediatly before who having finished his spéech prayed also with her and for her which she heard with great attention and affection Then she requested that these two ministers might stay with her all night in her Chamber and that they would in no wise leave her The greater part of this night was spent in holy admonitions which these two ministers gave to this gracious Lady and Princesse one after another Besides these admonitions she commanding that some Chapters of the holy Scripture which were pertinent for her condition should be read unto her one of the Ministers read in her hearing certaine Chapters out of the Gospell of Saint Iohn namely from the fouretéenth to the seventéenth After he had read to her these Chapters he went to prayer which being ended the Quéene desired to take some rest but it was not long ere she commanded them to reade again whereupon the other Minister having made choise of certaine Psalmes of David full of ardent and affectionate prayers suiting to this Princesses present affliction he read them unto her and for a conclusion read the one and thirtieth Psalme Psal 31. 5. where the Prophet among other things doth there commend his spirit into the hands of God because saith he thou hast redéemed me O Lord God of truth The Quéene willed them to pray with her again and thus as I have said was the most part of the night spent in such vertuous exercises namely in exhortation in reading the holy Scripture and in prayer during all which time the ministers never discerned in any of her spéeches or behaviour the least impatiency Nay whereas some dayes before she fell sick she shewed how affectionately she was bent to provide things most magnificent for the day of her Sons marriage according as the State of so great an alliance required it was admirable to observe that after thâ—s sicknesse had seized upon her God wrought in her such aforgetfulnesse and neglect of all such matters that she never made shew of having so much as a thought thereof This night being thus passed and spent by this noble Queene she persevering in the expressions of like pious actions and ardency of Faith the next day in the morning betwéen eight and nine of the clocke she departed this life to take possession of a far better life swéetly yéelding up her spirit into the hands of God the ninth of Iune 1572. the sixth day after she fell sick in the 44. yeare of her age She had her perfect spéech alwaies even to the houre of her death shewing not only the stayednesse and soundnesse of her judgement which ever in times past she had in her care about the salvation of her soule but in her other worldly affaires also Now to avoide all jealousies and suspitions of her being wronged by poyson or otherwise in this matter of her so sudden sickenesse her body was opened by sundry expert and learned Doctors of Physick and Chirurgery with all exquisite diligence who found her heart and liver very sound and untouched her lungs only excepted which long before on the right side had béen very ill affected by reason of an extraordinary hardnesse which they had contracted and withall a great imposthume which so far as man could judge they concluded was the cause of her death But they had no command given them to open the braine and therefore finding somewhat out of frame in her body they delivered their opinions only concerning the same Thus you have with as much brevity as I could and as the merit of the thing required the true report of the manner of this vertuous Princesses sicknesse and death thus ar related unto you only my request is saith my Author that if any have a more perfect and particular knowledge of the excellent parts wherewith the Lord had adorned and beautified her they would not suffer the same to be buried in silence but to cause it to sée the light that on the one side it may serve as an example to posterity and on the other side that we may learne to blesse God for her piety and constancy ¶ An Introduction first into that which Anno 1572. leads to the death of the Admirall of France Then to the massacre at paris and so in some other Cities And first what moved the Admirall to come to Paris AFter the death of the Quéene certaine Princes were sollicited by the King to give their attendance at Paris for the folemnising the mariage of the Prince of Navarre now made king by the death of his mother according to the ceremonies which were thereto appertaining Among the rest letters were directed to the Admirall by the King himselfe to come to this marriage which were delivered unto him by Cavagues wherein the King assured him be would not tarry long after him Willing
by the will of my heavenly Father humbly thanking his Majesty in that hée is pleased to honor me so farre as to suffer any thing for his holy name Let us pray unto him that he would grant unto me the gift of perseverance Then looking upon the said Minister who wept This Merlin was miracylously delivered in the massacre of Paris over him Oh Master Merlin saith he what will not you comfort me Yes sir said he for wherein may you take greater comfort then in calling to mind how greatly God hath alwaies honored you in estéeining you worthy to suffer rebuke for his names sake and true religion The Admirall replied alas if God should deale with me according to my deserts he might have put mée to worse forments then these But blessed be his holy name in that he is pleased to take pity on mée his poore and unworthy servant Be of good chéere sir then said another unto him for séeing God hath spared your more noble part whole you have cause therein to magniste his goodnes In these wounds you have received from God a testimony of his love rather then of his displeasure séeing hée hath preserved your head and understanding safe Then said Merlin sir you doe well in turning your thoughts away from him who hath committed this outrage upon you in looking onely unto God for no doubt it is his hand that hath smitten you therefore for the present cease to thinke on the malefector I assure you said the Admirall I doe fréely forgive him from the bottome of my heart and those also that are his abettors being fully perswaded that none of them all could have done me the least hurt no though with violent hands they had put me to death For what is death it selfe in Gods children but an assured passage to an eternall rest and life Now as the said Minister declared how the evils which happen to the children of God in this present life doe often incite and quicken them up to poure out their prayers into the bosome of the Almighty the Admirall presently with a loud voice and ardent affection prayed thus ¶ The admirals godly and devout Prayer LOrd God and heavenly father have pity upon The admirals godly and debout prayer me for thy goodnesse and mercies sake remember not Lord the sinnes of my life past nor the offences which I have committed against thée for if thou narrowly marke our sinnes the loosenes of our behaviour and distoyalties in transgressing thy holy commandements Lord who shall stand who is able to beare the weight of thy displeasure I renounce all Idoll Gods I acknowledge thée to be the onely true God and worship thée alone O Eternall Father in thine Eternall some Iesus Christ I beséech thée for his sake that thou wouldest give unto mée thy holy spirit and therewithall the gift of patience I put my trust in thy frée mercy for therein consists the stay and prop of all my hope whether I die now at this present or live for the time to come Behold Lord here I am doe with me as it pleaseth thée having this confidence in thée that if I now depart hence thou wilt receive me into the blessed rest of thy kingdome If it please thée to lengthen out my daies here on earth O heavenly Father give me grace that I may spend the residue thereof in setting forth the glory of thy holy name and in maintaining to the utmost of my power thy pure worship and service Amen Having ended this prayer Merlin asked him The Ministers pray with him if it pleased him that the Ministers of Christ should now pray with him and for him To whom hée said yes with all my heart I pray you begion Whilest Merlin pronounced the prayer applying the same to the present occasion the Admirall with his eles looking up to heaven expressed the ardency of his affection in consenting thereunto Prayer being ended Merlin began to propound unto the Admirall the examples of the Martyrs shewing that from Abel to Abraham and consequently hitherto whosoever carried themselves in any degrée of faithfulnesse in the house of God felt at one time or other the smart of afflictions in divers kinds The Admirall answered that when hée called to minde the sufferings of the Patriarchs and Martyrs it much comforted him and helped him somewhat to allay the fartnesse of his afflicted estate The King of Naverre and the Prince of Conde having bitterly bewayled this outrags committed upon the Admirall as you heard before about two of the clocke in the afternoone the King accompanied The King Queene Mother came to visit the Admirall with the Quéene MOther his Brother and other of the Lords went to visite the Admirall The King with teares séemed to be excéeding sorry for that which was come to passe promising him with one blasphemous oath upon another to revenge the fact no lesse than if it had béen committed upon his owne person praying him to come and take up his lodging with him in the louvre for his greater security and safety Wherupon the Admirall after some discourse made to the King in secret gave him most humble thankes for so great a favour as to visite him in his owne person Upon the motion made by the King Mazilles his chiefe Physitian was called demanding of him whither the Admirall might safely be removed thence into the Louvre or no His Answer to the King was that it could not be done without danger Some of the Admirals friends thought if fitting to request a guard of souldiers to be assigned by the King unto him for his better security The King answered he liked well of that device being fully determined to provide for the admirals safety as his owne and would preserve him no lesse then the apply of his eie After this the King called for the bullet of brasse wherewith the Admirall was hurt that he might sée it asking whither hée was not put to great paine when his finger was cut off as likewise touching the dressing of his arme Now as Cornaton shewed the bullet having his sléeve all bloudy because he was appointed to hold the Admirals arme while it was in dressing the King asked if that were of the Admirals bloud and whither so much bloud issued out of his wounds adding after Cornatons answer he never saw man in his life shew greater constancy and magnanimity of spirit then the Admirall did Then was the Quéene Mother desirous to sée the Bullet saying I am glad the bullet is taken out for I remember when the Duke of Guise was killed before Orleance the Phisitian told me that if the Bullet were gotten out there was no danger of death though it were poysoned Then Cornaton answered we have foreséene that Madame for being carefull to prevent that danger the 〈…〉 him 〈…〉 the poison if 〈◊〉 any such thing should be Some good hopes of the Admirals recovery The Saturday before the Admirall was 〈◊〉 he
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
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