the very bottome of our souls we grieve and sorrow for it and that in the presence of God and of his holy Angels and in the sight of those who have been witnesses of our conversion we do abjure and detest the Masse the authority of the Pope and in general all sorts of beliefs and worships dependent upon them we recant whatsoever we may have pronounced to the prejudice of the Evangelical Truth and promise for the future through the Grace of God to persevere in the profession of the Reformed Religion to the last moment of our life and rather to suffer Death and Torments than to renounce that holy Doctrine that is taught in our Church according unto the word of God even as we swear and promise with our bended knees upon the earth and our hands lifted up to the Eternal our Almighty God and Father Sonne and Holy Spirit As we desire his assistance to do this even so help us God Amen The Motives of the late Persecution in the Valleys of Piemont Anno Christi 1655. with the publication of that bloody Order of Gastaldo and the flight of the Protestants in the middest of Winter THe chief Officers and Gentry of Savoy are moved to endeavour the extirpation of the Reformed party chiefly for these Causes 1. That by evil entreating the Reformed Churches they may conserve the Papal authority of which they have oft-times so much need to cover and cloke their Incestuous marriages contracted by Dispensations from the Pope and thus they become engaged to maintaine Popery for fear of being declared guilty of Incest 2. Because the Courtiers for persecuting the Reformed party are rewarded with Prebendaries Bishopricks Abbies and Priories especially such as are members of the Council for extirpating of Hereticks 3. Under this pretext the poor people of the Valleys become a prey to the said Courtiers who daily rob and spoil them extorting the best part of their livelishood by sundry subtile devices 4. The Gentry of Lucerna who are very poor promote this work all they can by perpetual calumnies against them rendring themselves by such good Offices capable of meriting and receiving those pensions which are assigned them by the Court of Rome for the same purpose 5. For this end of late they have made the Gentlemen of the respective Valleys subordinate to the Monks and Masse-Priests who teach and appoint them what to do as to the bearing of false-witnesse against their Neighbours sowing discord amongst them murthering of some procuring the Assasination of others stealing and carrying away their children c. without the performance whereof they refuse to pay them their yearly Pensions 6. But the chief ground of all why the Court of Savoy strives so much to extirpate this poor people is the Designe that they have to wrest Pignorolio out of the hands of the King of France to which the habitation and liberty of those people are a great hindrance For they inhabiting the neighbouring parts of Pignorolio both in the Plaine and Mountains cannot upon the account of conscience be brought to make any agreement with the Spanish party for assaulting and surprizing that place Hence the Court of Savoy seeks all manner of occasions to root them out especially those of Lucerne Fenile Bobio Campiglione Bricheras and Saint Secondo which are near Pignorolio and to deprive it thereby of all sorts of commodities which it receives from the Valleys which alone doth furnish it with more than all the neighbouring Valleys which belong to the Duke Now if these people were extirpated and others put in their places men forward to execute their Designes they might easily seize on Malange a narrow passage above Pignorolio on that side which looks towards France where a very few persons would be able to hinder the French Armies from relieving Pignorolio Upon these and the like grounds the Court of Savoy hath sought their destruction though its true that in all the persecutions which they have raised against them especially in this last 1655. those ravening wolves approached in sheeps cloathing the better to deceive and destroy the innocent Lambs of Christ. For these Evangelical Churches had long before that fatal year cleared themselves of all those calumnies which the Council for the extirpation of Hereticks to the end that they might enjoy their promised Pensions had cast upon them Yea his Royal Highnesse had now given an ample testimony of his being fully satisfied in this point and by an authentick Decree published Anno Christi 1649. had confirmed all former Confessions which confirmation was again renewed Anno 1653. confirming the Grants made to them in the years 1603. and 1620. without any addition or diminution amplification or restriction whatsoever Now as these poor people sought for an Interination of these Grants His Royal Highness knowing that the delay thereof proceeded not from any negligence of their part but was occasioned by the multitude of Troops that were then quartered upon them whereby they could not possibly have the convenience of assembling c. out of his goodness towards them he declared by an Edict of May 19. 1654. that his intention was that they should enjoy the Concessions as effectually as if they had been again interinated upon condition that they did procure the Interination thereof within three moneths following So that till this time of May 19. 1654. none can say that those of the Reformed Religion had committed any thing whereby to be deprived of the benefit of their Concessions yet contrary to all their expectations shortly after viz. January 25. 1655. this infamous Order was published by Andrew Gastaldo Doctor of the Civil Law Mr. Auditor Ordinary c. That every Head of a Family with its members of the Reformed Religion of what rank degree or condition soever none excepted inhabiting and possessing estates in the places of Lucerna Lucernetta St. Giovanni La Torre Bubbiana and Fenile Campiglione Bricherassio and S. Secondo within three days after the publication therof should withdraw and depart and to be with their families withdrawn out of the said places and translated into the places and limits tolerated by his Highness during his pleasure as namely Bobbio Villaro Angrogna Rorata and the Country of Bonetti under pain of death and confiscation of houses and goods situated or being out of the said limits Provided if they make it not appear to us within twenty days following that they are turned Catholicks or that they have sold their goods to the Catholicks And that it was not the mind of his Royal Highness by any Act whatsoever to enlarge the said limits But on the contrary he declares by these presents that the said Acts are meer usurpations contrary to the intention as well of his Orders as of his Magistrates published to that end and that therefore the transgressors have incurred the punishment therein contained Besides in the aforesaid places favorably tolerated he wills that in every one of them shall be celebrated
marched to another coming just at the time when the Protestants were at Church hearing a Sermon They were guided to the place by two Friers the Protestants seeing them coming shut the Church doors barricadoing them up with benches these villaines laboured to break open the door but when they could not readily do it they clambred up into the windows through which they shot with their musquets at the people whereby they wounded and killed many The Minister beiâ—g a man rarely endued with learning and piety according to the shortnesse of time exhorted them with lively reasons to persevere in the truth notwithstanding all the danger but in the mean time these barbarous Papists had forced open the door where they fell to murthering of all without respect of quality sex or age Some Lords and Gentlemen were here slaine the Minister was shot to death divers Ladies and children gate into the Belfree to save themselves but these hell-hounds set fire to the place and miserably burnt them all These savage wretches having thus glutted themselves with innocent blood in this place they marched to Sondresse The Papists in that place hearing of their coming went to the Justice protesting that they would guard him from danger and that they would not suffer such villanies to be committed amongst them Then did they beat their Drums ring their Bells and arme themselves under pretence of securing the Protestants who trusting to their promises mixed themselves amongst them to stand for their own defence These Popelings concealing their mischievous intent killed now one then another as if it had been by accident so that though divers of them were slain yet they found not out the mystery of the practice yet some both men and Gentlewomen sought to escape but all passages being shut up they were met with and cruelly murthered Then did they more openly discover their malice killing the Protestants where ever they met them hereupon some eighteen of the Protestants together with some Ladies and young children gat together and the men being well armed they marched close together repulsing their enemies and at last came to a Church in the mountain of Sondresse unto which place a Minister and some others in all about seventy three men were gathered together and after their prayers made unto God they passed the Valley of Malaneo which was beset by the enemy on two sides but such as kept the passages were by Gods special providence so astonished that they fled away and the Protestants though they were pursued to the tops of the mountains yet did miraculously escape with safety Then did the Pesants joyne with these villaines to rob and plunder the houses of the Protestants and amongst them divers Noblemens houses richly furnished with great abundance They ran up and down also through fields woods and mountains searching every bush for the Protestants and as they found any of them they presently murthered them There was an honorable Lady that not long before came out of Italy to enjoy her liberty of conscience whom they exhorted to change her Religion which she refusing they advised her that yet at least she would do it out of a care of her young infant which she held in her armes which otherwise together with her self should presently be slain But she with an undaunted courage answered I have not departed out of Italy my native countrey nor forsaken all the estate that I had there to renounce now the faith which I had wrought in me by the Lord Jesus Christ yea I will rather suffer if it were possible a thousand deaths And how shall I have regard in this case to my infant since God my heavenly Father spared not his own Sonne my Lord Jesus Christ but delivered him up to death for his love to me and such sinners as I am and so giving her childe to one she said Behold my child the Lord God who hath care of the birds of the aire is much more able to save this poore creature although by you it should be left to these wild mountains Then unlacing her gown she opened her breast saying Here is the body which you have power to kill but my soul on which you have no power to lay your hands that I commend to my God and so she was presently slain and hewed in pieces The infant being a lovely and sweet Child they spared and delivered it to a Popish Nurse to be brought up These miscreants finding such sweetnesse by the plunder of the Protestants they spared none plundering their houses twice or thrice over Some noble Matrons had their rings pul'd off their fingers and if they refused presently to draw them off they would cut off either their hands or fingers from them Some women with their children were dragged to the tops of high Mountains and threatned to be thrown down headlong with their children if they would not promise to go to Masse and though one amongst them was found that through terrour promised them to do it yet did they throw her down with the rest without all pity One Dominico Berto of sixteen years old they set upon an Asse with his face to the tayle and the tayle in his hands for the bridle and thus with many jears they led him to the Market-place then they cut off his nose ears and cheeks then burned many holes in several parts of his body with hot irons continuing these torments till in that barbarous manner they had killed him Yet through the wonderful goodnesse of God some Ministers with their wives and children by great travel dangers and difficulties amongst the craggy and high mountains were delivered out of the hands of these bloody persecutors Theophilus Messino was shot with a Musket but being not slain they set open his mouth with a gag filled it with gunpowder and giving fire to it tore his head miserably his son was slain with many wounds Another being wounded and stripped naked was carried out and thrown into the woods yet afterwards he gat up and went home to his own house where he had mountains of gold profered him if he would turn Papist yet through Gods mercy he continued faithful to the death A young Gentleman too much addicted to the vanities of the world being earnestly sollicited to forsake the Protestant Religion stoutly refused whereupon they shot him with a Musket and having layn a while and then raising himself up he besought them to dispatch him that he might render his soul to his Creator Divers men and women were thrown down from Bridges into the river Adda and drowned for their constancy in the truth Some had their mouthes sâ—iâ— up to their ears others had the flesh cut from their faces others were slashed in other parts of their body till they dyed and others were often put to the strappado and then hewen in pieces A noble Virgin that was come to Sondres for
Religion sake these villains took and carried her through the streets with the greatest shame and disgrace that could be they put a mitre of paper on her head besmeared her face with dirt buffeted her on the cheeks then exhorted her to call upon the Saints but she smiling thereat said My trust and my salvation is only in my Saviour Jesus Christ and upon him only will I rest as for the Virgin Mary though she be blessed above all women yet is she not omniscient and therefore knows not our requests yea she her self had need of the merits of her own son without which she could not have been saved c. They still continuing to scorn and deride her she manfully said I willingly endure all this as it becomes me to do desiring no better usage seeing the same was done to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and to his Apostles and to thousands of the holy Martyrs Then was she carried away and murthered in the fields Some Ministers and many other godly Christians men and women noble and ignoble were murthered sundry wayes Many hid themselves in holes and caves and woods out of which they durst not come but by night only to get them food yet were they so watched that many times they were murthered Others in those places were famished for want of food Others living upon roots herbs grasse c. contracted diseases whereof they dyed so that the mountains and woods lay scattered with dead carcasses everywhere Then came there a letter to these blood-suckers from a Governour that they should with all their power murther strangle and massacre without all pity and mercy all the Lutherans wheresoever they were whereupon these murtherers having slain all in Tyrane Bruse Tell Sondres and Malenâ—â— they went to Berbenno where they presently murthered sundry persons of good rank and quality and that with great cruelty contrary to their faith and promise given them the like they did in Caspano and Trahen and divers other places shewing neither pity nor favour to any In one house they slew a man and his wife and seeing an infant of three years old lying in a Cradle the child being a girle of a sweet and amiable countenance and seeming to smile upon them they took her by the heeles and dashed out her braines Then did these villains march to Braâ—e where also they murthered many shooting some drowning others stoning others burning others and grinding their very bones to powder Amongst others finding an aged Matron of eighty years old they much sollicited her to hear Masse wishing her to have respect to her age to whom she answered with a noble resolution God forbid that I who now of a long time have had one foot in the grave should forsake my Lord Jesus Christ who hath so long time preserved me in the knowledge profession of his truth to put my trust in creatures and instead of his holy Word to receive the traditions of men whereupon they instantly slew her CHAP. XXXVIII The Persecution of the Church in Scotland which began Anno Christi 1527. MAster Patrick Hamilton of an ancient and honourable family called Abbot of Fern as one hating the world and the vanity thereof left Scotland and went into Germany and the fame of the University of Wittenberg being greatly divulged thither he went and became familiar with those great lights and notable servants of Jesus Christ Martin Luther and Phil. Melancthon whereby he greatly encreased in godly knowledge and learning from thence he went to the University of Marpurg which was then newly erected by Philip Lantgrave of Hessen where he was intimate with other learned men especially with Francis Lambert by whose instigation he was the first that there publickly set up conclusions to be disputed of concerning faith and good works By reason of his learning and integrity of life he was had in admiration by many But the zeal of Gods glory did so eat him up that he could not rest till he returned into his own Countrey where the bright beams of the true light which by Gods grace was planted in his heart began most abundantly to break forth as well in publike as in secret In processe of time the fame of his doctrine troubled the Clergy and came to the ears of James Beton Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews who grew impatient that by this means the kingdom of darkness was disturbed and therefore he so laboured with Patrick Hamilton that he gat him to Saint Andrews where after divers dayes conference he had his freedom and liberty the Bishop seeming to approve his doctrine acknowledging that in many things there needed a reformation in the Church But withall fearing that their Kingdom should be endamaged they laboured with the King who was then young and much led by them to go on Pilgrimage to Saint Dothesse in Rosse that so by reason of his absence no intercession might be made to him for the saving the life of this innocent servant of Jesus Christ who not suspecting the malice that lodged in their hearts remained as a Lambe amongst Wolves The King being gone upon a night Master Hamilton was seised upon by the Bishops officers and carried to the Castle and the morrow after he was brought forth unto judgement and was condemned to be burnt for the testimony of Gods truth The Articles for which he suffered were about Pilgrimages purgatory prayer to Saints and for the dead c. And that his condemnation might have the greater Authority they caused it to be subscribed by all those of esteem that were theâ—e present and to make their number great they took the subscription of very children if they were of the Nobility Immediately after dinner the fire was prepared and he was led to execution yet most men thought that it was only to terrifie him and to cause him to recant But God for his own glory the good of his servants and for the manifestation of their beastly tyranny had otherwise decreed for he so strengthned him that neither the love of life nor fear of that cruel death could once move him to swerve from the truth which he had professed At the place of execution he gave to his servant that had long attended him his Gown Coat Cap and his other garments saying These will not profit in the fire they will profit thee After this of me thou canst receive no commodity except the example of my death which I pray thee to beat in minde for though it be bitter to the flesh and fearful before men yet it is the entrance into eternal life which none shall possesse which denies Christ Jesus before this wicked generation and so being tyed to the stake in the midst of coals and timber they gave fire to some powder which with the blast scorched his left hand and the side of his face but neither killed him nor kindled the wood and coals till they ran
Then turning to the people he said Christian brethren and sisters I beseech you be not offended at the Word of God for the torments which you see prepared for me but I exhort you that ye love the Word of God for your salvation and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort I pray you also shew my brethren and sisters which have often heard me that they cease not to learne the Word of God which I taught them according to the measure of grace given to me for no persecution or trouble in this world whatsoever and shew them that the doctrine was no old wives fables but the truth of God for if I had taught mens doctrine I had had greater thanks from men but for the Word of Gods sake I now suffer not sorrowfully but with a glad heart and minde For this cause I was sent that I should suffer this fire for Christs sake behold my face you shall not see me change my countenance I feare not the fire and if persecution come to you for the Words sake I pray you fear not them that can kill the body and have no power to hurt the soul c. Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech thee father of heaven forgive them that have of ignorance or of an evil mind forged lies of me I forgive them with all my heart I beseech Christ to forgive them that have condemned me this day ignorantly Then turning to the people again he said I beseech you brethren exhort your Prelates to learn the Word of God that they may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good or else there shall shortly come upon them the wrath of God which they shall not eschew Then the Executioner upon his knees said Sir I pray you forgive me for I am not the cause of your death and he calling him to him kissed his cheeks saying Lo here is a token that I forgive thee My heart do thine office and so he was tied to the stake and the fire kindled The Captain of the Castle coming near him bade him be of good courage and to beg for him the pardon of his sin to whom Master Wischard said This fire torments my body but no whit abates my spirits then looking towards the Cardinal he said He who in such state from that high place feeds his eyes with my torments within few dayes shall be hanged out at the same window to be seen with as much ignominie as he now leans there with pride and so his breath being stopped he was consumed by the fire This Prophesie was fulfilled when after the Cardinal was slain the Provost raising the Town came to the Castle gates crying What have you done with my Lord Cardinal Where is my Lord Cardinal To whom they within answered Return to your houses for he hath received his reward and will trouble the world no more But they still cryed We will never depart till we see him Then did the Leslies hang him out at that window to shew that he was dead and so the people departed But God left not the death of this holy man long unrevenged for the people did generally cry out of the cruelty used against him especially John Lesley brother to the Earle of Rothes and Norman Lesley his Cousin fell foul upon the Cardinal for it but he thought himself strong enough for all Scotland saying Tush a fig for the fools and a button for the bragging of Hereticks Is not the Lord Governour mine witnesse his eldest sonne for a pledge at my table Have I not the Queen at my devotion Is not France my friend why should I fear any danger yet he had laid a designe to cut off such as he feared and hated which was discovered after his death by letters and memorials found about him He kept himself for his greater security in his Castle and on a Friday night there came to the Town of Saint Andrews Norman Lesley William Kircaldy John Leslley and some others and on the Saturday morning they met together not far from the Castle waiting till the gate was opened and the draw-bridge let down for the receiving in some lime and sand to repair some decays about the Castle which being done Kircaldy with six more went to the Porter falling into discourse with him till the Leslies came also with some other company the Porter seeing them would have drawn up the Bridge but he was prevented and whilst he endeavoured to keep them out at the gate his head was broken and the Keys taken from him The Cardinal was asleep in bed for all night he had for his bedfellow Mistris Mary Ogleby who was a little before gone from him out at the Postern gate and therefore the Cardinal was gone to his rest There were about one hundred workmen in the Castle which seeing what was done cried out but without hurt they were turned out at the wicket gate Then VVilliam Kircaldy went to secure the Postern lest the Cardinal should make an escape that way The rest going to the Gentlemens chambers who were above fifty without hurting them they turned them all out at the gate They which undertook this enterprise were but eighteen men The Cardinal being awaked with the noise asked out at the window what was the matter Answer was made that Norman Lesley had taken his Castle Then did he attempt to have escaped by the Posterne but finding that to be kept he returned to his chamber and with the help of his Chamberlain fell to barrica-doing up the door with chests and such things Then came up John Lesley and bids open the door The Cardinal asked who was there He answered John Lesley The Cardinal said I will have Norman for he is my friend Content your self said the other with those that are here and so they fell to breaking open the door in the mean time the Cardinal hid a box of gold under some coales in a secret corner Then he said to them Will ye save my life John Lesley answered It may be that we will Nay said the Cardinal sweare unto me by Gods wounds that you will and then I will open the door then said John that which was said is unsaid and so he called for fire to burn down the door whereupon the door was opened and the Cardinal sate him down in his chair crying I am a Priest I am a Priest ye will not slay me Then John Lesley and another struck him once or twice But Master James Melvin a man that had been very familiar with Wischard and of a modest and gentle nature perceiving them both to be in choler plucked them back saying This work and judgement of God although it be secret ought to be done with great gravity And so presenting him the point of his sword he said Repent thee of thy former wicked life but especially
extirpate all the Protestant Churches because they had taken an Oath of fidelity to the French King neither was it groundless for the thing was really propounded in the Dukes Councel but it pleased God so to order affairs that the leading men amongst them did not at all approve of the business yea the Duke himself did extreamly mislike it and after he had retaken Mirebuc he did not a little revive the spirits of the Representatives of the Protestants of Lucerna who met with him at Villaro on purpose to assure his Highness of their fidelity and to beg the continuance of his grace and favour to whom in the presence of a great number of his Lords he returned this Answer Be but faithfull unto me and I will be sure to be a good Princâ— nay a Father unto 〈◊〉 and as to the liberty of your Conscience and the exercises of your Religion I shall be so far from innovating any thing against those liberties in which you have lived unto this present that if any offer to molest you have recourse to me and I shall effectually relieve and protect you These words being spoken in such a presence and in so obliging a manner were very advantagious to the poor peoples interest for some time after they served to counterballance the threats of their fiercest Enemies Yet were there some amongst the Popish party that thought it an unpardonable sinne to suffer them to live one year in peace and on the contrary an acceptable service to molest them either by secret stratagems or by open force and violence Such was the condition of this poor people from the year 1595. to the year 1602. at which time all the Masters of Families in the Valley of Lucerna professing the Protestant Religion were cited to appear before Count Charles of Lucerna the Governour Ponte the Arch Bishop Broglia and others and were by them commanded in the Dukes name either to go to Masse or to quit Lucerna and all their pretensions thereto without the least hopes of ever obtaining favour to return or in case of disobedience to prepare themselves for inevitable mischiefs and calamities which threats were pressed with so much violence that it caused many of the poor creatures to submit at least seemingly to the change of their Religion though many others of them were the deeplier rooted by these shakings From Lucerna the aforenamed Lords removed their seat to Bubiana where they found the Reformed so stiff in their Principles that they could not remove them an hairs bredth from the same wherefore they caused the chief of them to be summoned to appear at Turin thinking that the Dukes presence might prevaile more with them than all their threatning speeches The persons thus summoned were Master Valentine and Mr. Boules his brother with one Peter Morese and Samuel Falc who were brought one after another before hi Hisghnesse Mr. Valentine was the first whom the Duke perswaded to embrace the Roman Catholick Religion and to draw others to do the like promising him great rewards and preferments if he obeyed c. To this Mr. Valentine answered that next to the service of God he had no greater desire then to obey and please his Highness in whose service he would willingly adventure his person and estate when ever there should be occasion But as for his Religion which he knew to be true and confirmed by the Word of God he could not abandon it without disobeying God and wounding his own Conscience so as never to enjoy any comfort in his soul afterwards and therefore he humbly intreated his Highness to be satisfied with what he could do with a good conscience and to leave him to the liberty of his Religion which he valued above his life the Duke replyed that he also doubted not of the truth of that Religion which he professed and that such as embraced it should find how much they had gratified him in so doing yet would he not force the Conscience of any man and so he gave them leave to depart CHAP. XLII The Marquisate of Saluces described with its several troubles and Persecutions THe Marquisate of Saluces is on the South side of the Valleys of Predmont containing in it several Cities and considerable Valleys very fruitfull in all sorts of fruits It s most Northerly Valley is that of Po where the famous River Po hath its rise and source one onely Mountain separates this from the Valley of Lucerna on the North side In this Valley were those ancient Churches viz. Pravillem Biolets and Bietone who retained the purity of Christian Religion for several hundreds of years and lived in great union with their neighbouring Churches Anno Christi 1561. The Church of Dronier which was one of the most flourishing understanding that the publick exercise of the Reformed religion was permitted in France obtained Letters from the Kings Council to Sieur Lovis of Birague Governour of that Country in the Duke of Nevers absence whereby he was ordered to provide for the Petitioners a convenient place for the publick exercise of their Religion But not long after their Adversaries by their importunity prevailed so far that the said letters were revoked This occasioned the said Church to send Monsieur Francis Galatee their Minister into France with some others to recover if it were possible their former priviledges But this falling out in the time of their troubles in France all that they could obtaine was only bare promises In the mean time they received many hortatory and consolatory letters from the chief Ministers in the Churches of France and amongst others from those of Grenoble Lions c. to perswade them to patience and perseverance in that truth which they had embraced which accordingly they did notwithstanding all the malice and subtilty of their adversaries So that their Churches were continued and upheld convenient order being had for the preaching of the Word administration of the Sacraments exercise of their discipline c. only there wanted in some places liberty of having General Assemblies and publick Sermons For the better safety of their Ministers in the places that were most dangerous one Pastor had the charge of the faithful in several Cities and Communalties which rendred their residence and exercises less visible to their Adversaries Hereby the Gospel through Gods mercy made a very considerable progress at Dronier Verzo and some other places of moâ—e noâ—e The Church of Aceil in the Valley de Mairi was extraordinarily peopled and enjoyed more liberty than the others by reason of the scituation of the place but Satan the Enemy of Christs Church and Kingdom perceiving such a growth of the reformed Religion in those places ceased not to imploy all his power and policy to hinder the same and therein he made use of instruments for the effecting of it viz. first the Anticodemites whose ringleader was Baronius who lived at Valgrane and thereabouts accommodating himself to
interpreted it and divers others can bear witness to the truth hereof and the Lord of the place laid it up among his rarities What now should Sion do but cry out under the cruel oppression of the Enemy Render unto them a recompence O Lord according to the works of their hands Lament 3.64 And indeed God began to revenge his peoples wrongs the fourth day after when they furiously assaulted Costena a Town four miles from Lesna where they were often repulsed stoutly by the Swedish Garrison and having suffered a great slaughter about five hundred of them being wanting they were forced to retire in great confusion The like also they met withall at Kalissia and other places being slain and put to flight by the Swedes Herein it hapned unto them much after the same manner as it did to Tilly formerly when he had ruined Magdeburg the God of vengeance manifesting himself the avenger of his people And now they begin to acknowledge and upbraid one another with their folly the Nobles in that they have spoiled their mart and treasury and the Clergy in that it is hapned otherwise than they intended For their purpose was utterly to ruine the Hereticks as they term them with their nest but now that they see the nest spoiled and the birds saved it is much more matter of grief and vexation than of joy to them For here God performed what he promised of old to Baruch I will give thee in the midst of thy Countryes ruines thy life for a prey Jer. 45.5 So God gave to thousands of his worshippers who were snatched out of the midst of those ruines their life for a prey having set bounds to the fury of the Devil which he could not pass as he did of old when he gave Job into his hands as to all that he had but so that he should spare his life Blessed be the name of the Lord. Truly we have cause to say with David Psalm 124. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul then the proud waters had gone over our soul Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us a prey to their teeth Our soul is escaped as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped our help is in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth Oh the wonderfull providence of our God! which then saves when he seems to have forsaken and then makes alive where he seems to have killed We had been undone if we had not been undone We had been undone in our lives those furies gathering together soon after in far greater troops if we had not been undone in our estates which were left to them for a prey by our flight which the fatherly providence of God fore-seeing greater evils procured by sending that fright among us Blessed be the Name of the Lord again and again We notwithstanding with other afflicted ones in what Nation soever whom that proudest Babylonian flood of waters seeks to swallow up will not cease to cry How long O Lord wilt thou be angry with thy people How long shall thy jealousie burn like fire O remember not against us former iniquities let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us c. Psalm 79. And with the souls of those that were slain for the word of God that lie under the Altar of Christs merits for whose faith we are killed How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth Rev. 6.9 10. The Delegates of these poor persecuted Protestant Churches coming over into England to move for a Contribution towards the relief of their distressed Brethren Published this ensuing Narrative The utmost Fury of Antichrist against the Protestants or Reformed Church of the Bohemian Confession in Poland set down in a brief but faithful Narrative and according to the truth of the matter THe Spouse of Jesus Christ she who in the Cradle was besprinkled with the blood of a Protomartyr hath alwayes brought forth into the world men like Abel or Stephen that so there might never be wanting to cry from the earth unto God and that the wounds of that Rose which lies among the Thorns of Persecution might not be concealed Every age and every year in each age and every moneth and day in each year hath produced new inundations of blood unto this day and yet the little flock of the Lord hath alwayes encreased under persecutions one while here another there shifting their seats and habitations While it pleased God by the means of Wicklef to kindle the light of the Gospel in Great Britain John Huss asserted the truth of Jesus Christ in the midst of thick darknesse of Popery in Bohemia many thousands being stirred up by God to receive it who despising all the cruelty of Tyrants received it with joy untill by Gods assistance they took rooting in the Kingdom and grew up into flourishing Churches In a short time after Antichrist breathing out his fury the Truth was banished out of Bohemia and the Confessors being driven out transplanted the Gospel into Poland where being favourably entertained by King Sigismond they in a short time encreased to so great a number that being little inferiour to the Papists they were able to boast of an equal authority and priviledges with them Hence it came to passe that the Kings at their Coronations were wont not only to promise but solemnly to swear protection to such as disagreed from the Roman Religion and therefore they proceeded not to open persecutions save only in those Cities where the Jesuits had seated themselves in power to wit Cracovia Posen Lublin Vilna c. where by their disciples and by stirring up the common people to fury the Churches of the Reformed Professors were a good while ago demolished and divers Ministers cruelly massacred Neverthelesse the malice of the Enemies being no whit allayed they were many ways afflicted first indirectly afterwards by pretences under colour of Law until those Churches being worn out by degrees and overthrown were not many years ago reduced to a very inconsiderable number especially when as in the Reign of the late King the Enemies being confident they might do any thing brought things to this passe at length that there were no more than twenty one Congregations remaining in the Greater Poland and those also ready to perish But among these twenty one remaining Churches the chief and as it were the Mother of them all was that of Lesna which was divided into three Congregations the Bohemian the Polonian and the German each of which had their own Pastors but the Communicants joyntly were about two thousand Therefore it was that this Church was in the first place exposed to the Enemies malice and of late designed
the Sermon he went to the Preacher and repeated the contents of his whole Sermon to him and then betaking himself to the searching of the Scriptures and conferring with learned men in a short space he had attained to a great measure of knowledge in the Word of life which the Minister observing and withal finding him of a fervent spirit he directed and exhorted him to circumspection in his carriage more and more instructing him in the knowledge of the Gospel which he so greedily received as one that could never be satisfied This made him give over seeking after temporal treasure and instead thereof he bought good books by reading of which and conference with the Minister he much improved his knowledge in all the chief Articles of Religion Then did he write letters to his countrey-men at Antwerp wherein he first gave thanks to God for revealing his truth to him then did he bewaile the grosse ignorance of his countrey-men beseeching God to open their eyes to understand the word of salvation and so promised shortly to returne to them to conferre with them about the grace of God which he had received and lastly he declared his purpose of going into Spaine to acquaint his parents and friends with that wholesome Doctrine which God had communicated to him Then wrote he other letters also to the Emperour Charles the fifth opening to him the miserable state of Christs Church desiring him to tender the good thereof especially to reforme the grosse corruptions of the Church of Spaine he wrote also a Catechisme and some other Treatises in the Spanish tongue The Merchants at Antwerp having received his Letters sent for him pretending much good will but secretly practising his destruction For against his coming they suborned some Friers who so soon as he was alighted from his horse seized upon him rifled his books and carrying him into a Merchants house examined him But he mightily confuting them they bound him hand and foot calling him Lutheran they also burnt his books before his face threatning to burn him likewise Then was he sent Prisoner to a Tower six miles from Antwerp and cast into a deep dungeon where he endured much misery for eight moneths at the end whereof the Merchants supposing that he would be better advised for the time to come released him Then did he go to Lovain where he had much conference with Driander who advised him to continue in his calling of a Merchant wherein he might have many opportunities of doing good and for Religion that he should do nothing for favour of men whereby the glory of God should be diminished He advised him also to take heed of inconsiderate zeal lest he should do as some who going beyond the bounds of their vocation thinking to do good and to edifie they destroy and do harme For said he it is God that takes care of his Church and will raise up faithful Ministers for the same neither doth he approve such as rashly intrude themselves into that function without any calling thereto This advice Francis willingly hearkned unto promising to follow the same Not long after going to Ratisbone where the Emperial Diet was held having opportunity he boldly stept to the Emperour beseeching him to deliver his countrey and subjects of Spaine from false Religion and to restore them to the sincerity of Christs doctrine protesting that the Protestants of Germany were in the truth and that the Religion of Spaine was greatly dissonant to the Word of God c. The Emperour all this while heard him gently promising him to consider of the matter and so to do therein as he trusted should be for the best Francis being encouraged with this answer went again to the Emperour a second and third time and still received a quiet answer as before yet not satisfied herewith he went a fourth time but was repulsed by some Spaniards about the Emperour who were so incensed against him that immediately they would have thrown him headlong into the river Danubius if the Emperour had not restrained them willing that he should be judged by the Lawes of the Empire Then was he cast into prison till the Emperours voyage into Africk at which time he with some other Captives was carried into Spaine and there delivered unto the Inquisitors who cast him into a dark prison under ground He was oft examined loaden with many reproaches and contumelies yet ever remained firme and unmovable so that at last they condemned him to be burnt for an heretick As he was led to the place of execution they put upon him a Miter of paper painted all over with ugly Devils as he passed by a woodden crosse they required him to worship it to which he answered that the manner of Christians was not to worship wood Being laid upon the pile of wood when he first felt the fire he lifted up his head towards heaven whereupon the Inquisitors thinking that he would recant caused him to be taken down but when they found his constancy they threw him on again where he slept in the Lord. Then did the Inquisitors proclaime that he was damned and that none should pray for him and that they were hereticks whosoever doubted of his damnation There was also dwelling at Saint Lucaâ— in Spaine one Rochus a skilful graver of images but the Lord pleasing to enlighten him with the saving knowledge of his truth he gave over making of idolatrous images and imployed himself in making of seals only he kept standing on his stall an image of the Virgin Mary artificially graven for a signe of his occupation An Inquisitor passing by and liking the image asked the price of it Rochus set him a price but was not willing to sell it the Inquisitor bade him half so much the other answered that he could not afford it so and that he had rather break it than sell it yea said the Inquisitor let me see that if thou darest with that Rochus with a Chisel cut off the nose of the image whereupon the Inquisitor presently commanded him to prison and within three dayes he was condemned to be burnt At the place of execution he poured out his fervent prayers to Almighty God and so made a blessed end Anno 1545. Divers other godly persons being by the Inquisitors cast into loathsome dungeons ended their lives there Anno 1550. At Validolid the Inquisitors brought forth thirty prisoners together of high and low estate as also the Coffin of a certain noble woman with her picture lying upon it she being dead long before to eceive judgement and sentence for the solemnities whereof they had erected three great stages the first for the Kings sister the Lady Jane and his eldest sonne Prince Philip with other States The second for the Fathers Inquisitors And the third for the Prisoners Multitudes of people being assembled together these dear servants of Jesus Christ clothed with Sambito's a yellow cloth hanging
dare say nothing to the purpose for fear of angring the Inquisitors only he chears up his Client and bids him tell the truth in any case as the only way to prevail in that Court and then is the Prisoner sent back again who hopes that now his cause will be heard and his businesse dispatched whereas usually these good fathers let him lie two three or four years in prison without ever calling for him again and if through loathsomnesse and intolerablenesse of the prison any sue to come to hearing it may be with much ado he obtains it but usually that favour is denied him yet at length when they please they call for him to hear the depositions of the witnesses against him which yet is not done till the poor Prisoner by his grievous imprisonment is brought so low as that they think he will rather choose death than such a life and therefore will be willing to tell all that so he may be rid out of his misery Then between rebuking and a gentle admonition they tell him that though he hath stood out so long yet at length they would have him wiser to confesse the truth but if he yet refuse to be his own accuser then the Fiscal produceth the depositions which are delivered to the Prisoner but they are drawn up so intricately and ambiguously that he knows not what to make of them and this they do to conceal the witnesses lest he should except against them and to set him on guessing that so if he chance to reckon up any others to whom he spake any thing about any of those matters they may thereby get more grists to their mill For they presently out-law such persons as favourers of hereticks for suffering an heretick to sow such pestilent seeds amongst them without complaining thereof to the Inquisitors The Keeper of the Prison also is examined what he hath seen and observed of him in the Prison and his testimony is as good as two witnesses to take away the Prisoners life They have also Promoters to bring in accusations who are admitted though frantick Bedlams or the veriest Varlets that be and in their informations if they chance to want words of weight the Inquisitors will help them out and prompt them word by word Then after three or four dayes the Prisoner is called again to put in his answer to the depositions but in the interim his Advocate never comes at him to assist or direct him but he is left to himself without all help save of God alone His answer being viewed he is remanded to prison again with this Item that if he confesse not the truth they will extort it out of him by extremity After two or three moneths more he is called for once again and required to speak what he hath for himself or else they must draw to an end and if he still shrinks not but stands firme in his own Justification they proceed to other dealings in comparison of which all their former proceedings are not only sufferable but seeme very reasonable and full of gentlenesse For their future actions farre exceed all barbarousnesse the Devil himself being not able to go beyond them in their monstrous tyranny For not long after the Prisoner is called in before the Inquisitors who tell him that they have deeply considered his whole case and found out that he doth not declare the whole truth and therefore they are resolved that he shall be racked that by force they may draw from him what by fair means he will not acknowledge and therefore they advise him rather to do it voluntarily and thereby to avoid the paine and peril that yet attends him yet whether he confesse or not confesse all is one for to the Rack he must go Then is he led into the place where the Rack standeth which is a deep and dark dungeon under ground with many a door to passe through ere a man come to it because the shreekes and cries of the tormented should not be heard then the Inquisitors set themselves upon a scaffold hard by the Rack and the torches being lighted the Executioner comes in all araied from top to toe in a sute of black canvas his head is covered with a long black hood that covereth all his face having only two peep-holes for his eyes which sight doth more affright the poor soul to see one in the likenesse of the Devil to be his tormentor The Lords being set in their places they begin again to exhort him to speak the truth freely and voluntarily Then with sharp words they command him to be stripped stark naked yea though the modestest maid or chasest Matron in the City whose grief in regard of the Rack is not half so great as to be seene naked in the presence of such manner of persons For these wicked villains without any regard of honesty will not by any Prayers of godly Matrons or chast Maidens forbear one jot of that barbarous impudence as if a shirt or smock could hinder the violence of the Rack from sufficiently tormenting them The Party being thus stripped the Inquisitors signifie to the Tormentor how they would have him or her ordered The first kind of torment is the Jeobit or Pully but first one comes behind him and binds his hands with a cord eight or ten times about the Inquisitors calling upon him to strain each harder than other they cause also his thumbs to be bound extream hard with a small line and so both hands and thumbs are fastened to a Pully which hangs on the Jeobit then they put great and heavy bolts on his heels and hang upon those bolts between his feet certain weights of iron and so hoise him or her up from the ground and whilst the poor wretch hangs in this plight they begin to exhort him again to accuse himself and as many others as he knows of Then they command him to be hoised up higher to the very beam till his head touch the Pully Having hung thus a good while they command him to be let down and twice so much weight to be fastened to his heels and so hoised up again and one inch higher if it may be Then they command the hangman to let him up and down that the weights of the iron hanging at his heels may rent every joynt in his body asunder With which intolerable pains if the Party shreek or cry out they roare out as loud to him to confesse the truth or else he shall come down with a vengeance Then they bid the hangman suddenly to slip the rope that he may fall down with a sway and in the mid-way to stop then give him the Strappado which being as soon done it rends all his body out of joynt armes shoulders back legs c. by reason of the sudden jerk and the weights hanging at his legs If he yet remain constant they adde more weight to his heels the third time and the poor wretch already half
condemned to be burnt but he told his Judges that his time was not yet come and so it fell out for shortly after he was removed to Ferrara where he continued in prison two years Then was he again condemned by the Popes Inquisitors and yet his time being not come he remained a good while after in prison in which time many godly people came to visit him which caused the Pope to commâ—â—d him to be kept more strictly Then was he kept close Prisoner for eighteen moneths wherein he endured many and great torments After this he was brought into another prison where were many Nobles great Lords and Captains for stirring up sedition who when they first heard him speak set him at naught and derided him and some of the gravest of them supposing it to be but a melancholy humour exhorted him to leave his opinion c. Faninus gave them thanks for their friendly good will but withal modestly and plainly he declared to them that the doctrine which he professed was no humour nor opinion of mans braine but the pure truth of God held forth in his Word which truth he was fully resolved never to deny c. With which instructions they were through the mercy of God clean altered in their carriage and judgement highly admiring and honouring him now whom a little before they derided and contemned Then did he proceed still to impart the Word of grace to them declaring that though he knew himself to be a miserable sinner yet through faith in Jesus Christ and his grace he was fully perswaded that his sins were forgiven assuring them likewise that if they did repent and believe on our Lord Jesus Christ they also should have their sinnes remitted unto them There were in that prison also some that having formerly lived very delicately could not now endure the hardship of prison to whom he administred much comfort in this their distresse insomuch as they rejoyced in â—hese their sufferings by which they had learned a better kind of liberty than ever they had before His Kinsfolk hearing of his imprisonment his wife and sister came to him pitifully weeping and intreating him to consider and remember his poor family c. To whom he answered that his Lord and Master had commanded him not to deny his truth for his families sake and that it was too much that once for their sakes he had fallen into that Cowardise which they knew of Therefore he desired them to leave him and not to solicit him any further in that kind for he knew that his end now drew near and so he commended them to the Lord. Presently after the Pope sent a command that Faninus should be executed whereof when an officer brought him word he much rejoyced at it thanking the Messenger Then did he begin to make a long exhortation to his fellow-prisoners about the felicity of the life to come He had life proffered him if he would recant and he was put in mind what a sad condition he would leave his wife and children in whereupon he answered that he had committed them to an Overseer that would sufficiently care for them and being asked who that was he answered Even the Lord Jesus Christ a faithful Keeper of all that are committed to him the next day he was removed into the common Prison and delivered to the secular Magistrate In all his words gestures and countenance he shewed such modesty constancy and tranquillity of mind that they which before extreamly hated him and thought that he had a devil began now favourably to hearken to him and to commend him yea with such grace and sweetnesse he spake of the Word of God that many of the Magistrates wives which heard him could not abstain from weeping yea the Executioner himself wept As he was going to execution one that saw him so merry and chearful asked him what was the reason of it whereas Christ before his death sweat blood and water To whom he answered that Christ sustained all the sorrows and conflicts with hell and death that were due to us that by his sufferings we might be freed from the sorrow and fear of them all At the place of execution after he had made his most earnest prayers to the Lord he meekly and patiently went to the stake where he was first strangled and afterwards burned And during the time of his burning there came a most fragrant and oderiferous smell to the Spectators the sweetnesse whereof did so delight and refresh their senses as his words would have done if they had heard him speak There was also one Dominicus sometimes a souldier under Charles the fifth in Germany where he received the first taste of the Gospel of Jesus Christ after which by his confâ—rence with learned men he much increased in knowledge insomuch as he was able to instruct others whereupon he returned into Italy and in the City of Naples he taught the Word of God to many Anno 1550. From thence he went to Placentia where he instructed the People also in many of the fundamentals of Religion promising that he would next speak to them of Antichrist whom he would paint out in his colours but when he came the next day he was apprehended by the Magistrate whom he readily obeyed saying that he wondered the devil had let him alone so long and being asked whether he would renounce his doctrine he answered that he maintained no doctrine of his own but the doctrine of Christ which also he was ready to seal with his blood giving hearty thanks to God for accounting him worthy to suffer for his name Then was he committed to a filthy and stinking prison where he remained some moneths and was often solicited to revoke his opinions or else he must suffer death but through Gods mercy nothing could remove him from his constancy being therefore condemned to death he was brought forth into the market-place where he most heartily prayed for his enemies instructed the People and then was hanged resting in peace in the Lord. In Saint Angelo there was an house of Augustine Friars to whom there often resorted a Friar from the City of Pavia who was a man very expert in the Scriptures and of godly conversation by whose labours not only divers of the Friars but other Townsmen were brought to the knowledge and love of Gods Word and amongst the rest one Galeacius Trecius a Gentleman of good quality very wealthy and bountiful to the poor was wrought upon to embrace the truth and was afterward much confirmed and strengthened by Caelius Secundus who being persecuted from Pavia came to this place After some time Galeacius having much profited in knowledge was inflamed with a godly zeal to promote and propagate the knowledge of the truth unto others But a light shining in such darknesse could not be long hid Insomuch as Anno 1551. he was apprehended and carried before the Bishop
after another by the hand and so dispatching them all no otherwise than as a Butcher doth kill his Calves and Sheep This was in Calabâ—ia Anno Christi 1560. Persecution raised by the Pope in Venice THe City of Venice was a long while from the cruel Inquisition whereby the face of a Church was discerned there from the year 1530. to the year 1542. yea and multitudes of good Christians flocked thither from other parts which so provoked the Divel to envy that he stirred up the Pope to send Inquisitors which erected an Inquisition in that City and for divers years the Pope sent them money to distribute amongst their Flies and such persons as would betray the faithful to them By this means many of the worthy servants of Jesus Christ were apprehended imprisoned and after a while sent to Rome to be there butchered Then was a new-found manner of death inflicted upon divers others never till then heard of whereby they were drowned in the bottome of the Sea The manner of it was thus After any of them had received the sentence of death by the Inquisitors an iron chain was fastned about their middle with a very heavy stone tyed thereto then were they laid upon a plank between two boats and so rowed to an appointed place in the Sea where the boats parting asudder the Martyrs presently sunk into the bottome of the Sea and were drowned Yet notwithstanding this cruelty many godly persons ceased not to assemble together in a place appointed for that purpose where they talked and discoursed of heavenly matters for their spiritual edification and made collections for the relief of the poor amongst them And Anno 1566. they called to them a Minister of the Gospel and constituted a Church where they enjoyed all the Ordinances with much comfort but some false brethren creeping in amongst them after a while betrayed them then were many apprehended cast into the Sea and drowned Others were sent to Rome where they were cast into prison till they rotted and dyed there Amongst others that were condemned to be drowned at Venice was one Mr. Anthony Ricetto to whom after his condemnation his sonne a youth about twelve years old came beseeching him with tears to yield that his life might be saved and himself not left fatherlesse To whom he answered A good Christian is bound to forgoe children goods yea and life it self for the maintenance of Gods honour and glory For which cause said he I am now resolved to lay down my life the Lord assisting me The Lords of Venice offered to restore to him his Patrimony which was partly morgaged and partly sold if he would submit to the Church of Rome but he resolutely refused that condition Not long after came a Captain to him and told him of one Francis Sega his prison-fellow that waâ— resolved to recant To whom he answered What tell you me of Sega I am resolved to performe my vows to the Lord my God Then was he carried forth bound to the boats and by the way a Priest presented him with a wooden Crosse exhorting him to recant c. But he on the contrary perswaded him and others to come out of the snares of the Divel and to cleave to Jesus Christ and to live not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit For said he otherwise your unbelief will bring you into the lake of fire that never shall be quenched When he came to the place where he was to suffer the Captain lastned the chain and stone to him whereupon lifting his eyes to heaven he said Father forgive them they know not what they do Lord Jesus into thy hands do I commend my spirit and so in the sea he ended his life A few dayes after one Mr. Francis Spinola was apprehended and committed to prison and when he was brought forth before the Inquisitors they shewed him a Treatise about the Lords Supper demanding whether he was the Author of it which he acknowledged avouching that the doctrine that was contained therein was agreeable to the holy Scriptures Then was he return'd to his prison where the aforementioned Sega was who waiting for his coming as he passed by saluted him by his name after which they conferred together about the doctrine of the Gospel and Sega having heard that Spinola had stood stoutly in the Confession of the truth he was much comforted saying that God had reserved him for such a time as this to make him Partaker of so great consolation Shortly after the Jailor told Sega that he was to die one hour within night at the hearing whereof he entreated Spinola to pray with him and after prayer he said that his soul was heavy unto death Spinola answered Fear not for it will not be long before your soul shall partake of those joyes which shall endure for ever At the appointed time he was fetched out of the dungeon where he took his leave of Spinola and the other Prisoners As he went into the boat a Friar perswaded him to return to the Church of Rome Sega answered that he was already in the way to our Lord Jesus Christ and so passing on he called upon the name of God He seemed to be a little amazed at the fastning of the chaine and stone to his body yet presently recollecting his spirits he took it patiently and so commending his soul into the hands of God he quietly slept in the Lord. Spinola being again called before the Inquisitors he boldly reproved the Popes Legate and the other Judges for that contrary to their consciences they persecuted the truth of God calling them the off-spring of the Pharisees c. The third time that he was called before them they asked him if he would not recant his errours he answered that the doctrine which he maintained was not erroneous but the same truth which Christ and his holy Apostles taught and for which all the Martyrs both in former and later times did willingly lay down their lives and endured the pains of death Yet after all this Spinola by the crafty perswasions of some seeming friends began to strike saile and to faint but through Gods goodnesse he soon recovered again and being called before the Judges he openly confirmed the truth and so had sentence passed upon him that he should be drowned as an Heretick To which he answered I am no Heretick but the servant of Jesus Christ at which words the Popes Legate commanded him silence and told him that he lyed the night after he was conveyed into the sea and there drowned praising and blessing God with invincible constancy Anno 1595. There was at Rome a young Englishman who going into a Church and seeing their grosse idolatry was so inflamed with zeal that he could not endure the sight of those horrible impieties and therefore he went out into the Church porch and as the Procession passed by him he waited till the Bishop came
was neither town nor City in all the Countrey wherein some were not banished beheaded or condemned to perpetual imprisonment neither was there any respect either of age or sex But especially at Gaunt many of the chief men were burned for Religion Also at the Emperours going to Bruxels there was a terrible persecution and slaughter made of Gods People in Brabant Artois c. so that two hundred men and women were apprehended at one time whereof some were drowned some buried quick some privily made away others sent to perpetual prison yea so many others were put to death that the hands of the hangman were tired with slaying of men Anno 1545. There was one Martin at Gaunt a Fishmonger who lived very dissolutely to his old age but it pleased God by a Sermon that he heard to bring him to the knowledge of the truth and to repentance for his former sins whereupon he left Gaunt and sought out the company of godly Christians who used much reading of the Scriptures by whom he was further instructed and grounded in the truth Then after three moneths he returned to the City again where he visited the Captives in prison comforted them in persecution and confirmed them in the truth which were led to the fire The Friars seeing this though formerly he had been very bountiful to them yet now they conspired against him whereby he was laid in bands and by sharp and cruel torments they would have enforced him to recant but not prevailing he was condemned and his goods confiscated as he stood at the stake a Friar said to him Martin except thou dost turn thou shalt go from this temporal to everlasting fire to whom he answered It is not for you to judge me and so he quietly slept in the Lord. The next day after two other men were burned and a woman buried alive for the same cause who joyfully and cheerfully suffered Martyrdome At Delden two Virgins of a noble stock who frequently and diligently attended Sermons being apprehended and examined couragiously confessed and maintained the truth whereupon they were condemned and the younger was first burned In the fire she prayed so ardently for her enemies that the Judges greatly marvelled at it Then did they exhort the elder that if she would not recant yet at least that she would petition to have her punishment changed into beheading instead of burning whereupon she answered that she held no errour of which she had cause to repent but the truth which was consonant to the Scriptures in which she trusted to persevere unto the end And for the kind of her punishment she feared not the fire but would rather follow the example of her dear sister and so being put into the fire she quietly slept in the Lord. But this was marvellous that after their death the bodies of them both remained white and unhurt by the fire whereupon some Christians privily in the night buried them Anno Christi 1545. There was in Mechlin one Andrew Thiessen who had three sonnes and a daughter whom he carefully brought up in the knowledge of the truth after which he went into England and there died Two of his sonnes went into Germany to study there and after a time returned home again instructing their mother brother and sister in the right knowledge of Christ which being taken notice of they were all carried before the Magistrate and exhorted to returne to the Church of Rome again The younger brother and sister being not so throughly grounded in the truth by reason of their yeares yielded something and so were sent home again the mother who remained constant was adjudged to perpetual imprisonment the two elder brethren defended the truth stoutly against the Friars Disputation not prevailing they proceeded to torments endeavouring to know of them who was their Master and what fellows they had they answered that their Master was Christ who bare his Crosse before them and for fellows they had innumerable dispersed in all places At last they were condemned to the fire and at the place of execution they began to exhort the people whereupon bals were put into their mouths which through vehemency in desiring to speak they thrust out again intreating them for the Lords sake that they might have leave to speak and so singing with a loud voice they were fastened to the stake where they prayed for their Persecutors exhorted one another and endured the fire patiently One of them feeling the violence of the flame said O what a small pain is this compared with the glory to come and so committing their spirits into the hands of God they finished their race Anno 1545. There was a great persecution in Dornick and amongst others there was one Adrian Tailor and his Wife apprehended and upon their examination the man being somewhat timorous relented something and so was beheaded but the woman being more constant was put into an iron grate and so buried alive There was also one Master Peter Bruly about the same time sometimes a Preacher in Strasburg but now at the request of the faithful in Dornick a diligent Preacher there He used to preach in houses the door standing open the Magistrate hearing of it laid wait for him shutting up the City gates and searching three days for him but the brethren in the night time let him down in a basket over the wall and when he was down one of them leaning over the wall to bid him farewel unawares threw down a loose stone which falling upon his leg brake it in pieces He complaining of his hurt the watchmen heard him and apprehended him Then did he give thanks to Almighty God who by that providence staid him there to bear witnesse to his truth whilst he was in prison he ceased not to instruct and confirm all them that came to him in the Word of grace after four moneths imprisonment he was condemned to be burnt and his ashes to be cast into the river The Friars took care that he should have but a small fire that his pain might be the more increased yet he constantly and chearfully suffered Martyrdom God made the Ministry of this good man very powerful to many amongst others there was one Peter Mioce who had lived long in all manner of wickedness and licenciousness but being through Gods grace converted he excelled all the rest of the brethren in zeale and holinesse at last he was apprehended and being asked whether he was one of Peter Brulies disciples he said that he was and that he had received much benefit by his Doctrine withall professing that his doctrine was consonant to the holy Scriptures whereupon he was let down into a deep dungeon full of Toads and other vermine Afterwards he was brought forth before the Senate who had provided some Friars to convert him To whom he said When I lived an ungodly life in all manner of
a mark burned in his forehead as a note of infamy his mother a good woman when she saw her son so pitiously scourged branded encouraged him crying with a loud voice Blessed be Christ and welcome be these marks for his sake Afterwards he removed from thence and went to Metz in Lorrain where for a time he followed his calling of a Woolcarder But the people of the City used once a year all of them to go forth into the Suburbs to worship some Idols there whereupon John Clark inflamed with an holy zeal went the night before and brake down all those images The next morning when all the Clergy and people came to the place to worship them they found all their Idols broken upon the ground This set all in a tumult and great searching there was after the Author of this deed and quickly was John Clark suspected and apprehended he presently confessed the fact and told them the reasons why he did it The people hereupon cried out against him in a great rage Before the Judges he professed the pure doctrine of the Sonne of God and thereupon was condemned to a cruel death which he sustained with admirable patience and constancy First his right hand was cut off then was his nose with sharp pincers pulled violently from his face then were his armes and breasts pulled off with the same instrument yet he through Gods grace endured all with great quietnesse pronouncing the while that of Psalm 115. Their Idols are silver and gold the works of mens hands Lastly he was cast into the fire and there consumed Not long after Master John Castellane Doctor in Divinity borne at Tourney being through Gods mercy called to the knowledge of the truth became a zealous fervent and faithful Preacher of it in divers places and at last he was taken Prisoner by the Cardinal of Lorrains servants by whom he was carried to the Castle of Nommenie where he endured much cruel usage yet still he persevered in confessing the true doctrine of the Sonne of God then was he carried to the Castle of Vik and after a time was condemned degraded and delivered over to the secular power with this hypocritical speech My Lord Judge we pray you as heartily as we can for the love of God and the contemplation of tender pity and mercy and for respect to our Prayers that you will not in any point do any thing that shall be hurtful to this miserable man or tending to his death or the maiming of his body Then was he burnt alive which death he underwent with much patience and comfort At Paris one James Panane a Schoolmaster was burnt for the truth Also at Melda Dennis de Reux was burned for saying that the Masse was a plain denial of the death and passion of Christ He used often to meditate of and to repeat those words of Christ He that denies me before men him will I deny also before my Father he was burnt in a slow fire and so abode much torment John de Cadurco preaching to his Countrymen of Limosine was apprehended and degraded The Friar that was to preace at his degradation took that text 1 Tim. 4. The spirit speaks expresly that in the latter dayes men shall depart from the faith giving heed to lying spirits and doctrines of errors Then did John call to him to read on but the Friar stood dumb and could not speak a word more Then did John read on Teaching false doctrine in hypocrisie having their consciences seared with an hot iron forbidding to marry and to eat meats created by God to be received with thanksgiving c. Presently after he was burned About the same time five men for scattering about certain papers against the Masse and other popish superstitions were apprehended and burnt at Paris One of them for speaking freely had his tongue burned through and with a wire tied fast to one of his cheeks Alexander Canus a godly Minister for preaching and confessing the truth of Christ was burned at Paris with a small fire whereby he endured great paine Also John Pointer a Chirurgeon had his tongue first cut out and then was burnt about the same time Peter Gaudet living at Geneva was by a popish Uncle trained into France apprehended condemned and after many and long torments sustained in prison was burned Divers others were apprehended condemned and burned at Arras A godly Virgin was burned at Fountains Anno 1534. As also one John Cornon an husbandman but one endowed with such wisdome by God that all his Judges were amazed at it yet was he condemned and burned Martin Gonin was cast into the river and drowned Anno 1540. One Claudius endeavouring to convert his friends and kinsfolk in Paris was by them betrayed adjudged to have his tongue cut out and then burned Stephen Brune at Rutiers being for the constant Profession of his faith condemned to be burned when the fire was kindled a great winde so drave away the flame from him that he stood for ean hours space exhorting and instructing the people Then did they bring oile vessels and more fagots yet still was the flame driven from him Whereupon the hangman took a staffe and struck him on the head to whom he said I am condemned to be burned and do you strike me with staves like a dog with that the hangman with a pike thrust him through the belly and threw him down into the fire and afterwards scattered his ashes in the wind At Roan four Christians were condemned to be burned and being carried to the stake in a dung-cart they said Blessed be God we are here reputed as the excrements of this world but yet our death is a sweet savour unto God John de Beck a godly Minister being condemned for the doctrine of the Gospel constantly endured the torment of the fire at Troyes Aymond de Lavoy a godly Minister preaching the truths of God faithfully was complained of by the Popish Clergy to the Magistrates of Bourdeaux who sent to apprehend him hereupon some of his friends perswaded him to flie but he refused saying that thereby he might cause the People to think that he had fed them with dreames and fables and not with the pure Word of God whereas he feared not to yield up both soul and body in the quarrel of the truth which he had taught saying That with Paul he was ready not onely to be bound for the testimony of Christ in the City of Bourdeaux but to die also After the Sumner came he stayed three dayes and preached three Sermons and whereas the people would have rescued him out of the Sumners hand he desired them not to stop his Martyrdome for said he Since it is the Will of God that I shall suffer for him I will not resist his will At Bourdeaux many witnesses came in
if you make good your promise which we presume you will we our selves will not only serve you but we will procure all the Professors in Lothain to do the same c. These promises being made in the presence of God and hands being stricken by both parties the Earle took Master Wischard and so departed Master Wischard was carried to Edenburgh But gold and women easily corrupt fleshly men for the Cardinal gave Bothwel gold and the Queen that was too familiar with him promised him her favour if he would deliver Master Wischard into Edenburgh Castle which he did and shortly after he was delivered to the blood-thirsty Cardinal who seeing that it was forbidden by their Cannon Law for a Priest to sit as a Judge upon life and death he sent to the Governour requesting him to appoint some Lay-Judge to passe sentence of death upon Master Wischard The Governour would easily have yielded to his request but that David Hamilton a godly man told him that he could expect no better an end than Saul if he persecuted the truth which formerly he had professed c. Hereupon the Governour sent the Cardinal word that he would have no hand in shedding the blood of that good man The Cardinal being angry returned this answer that he had sent to him of meer Civility and that he would proceed without him and so to the great grief of the godly the Cardinal carried Master Wiseheart to Saint Andrews and put him into the Tower there and without any long delay he caused all the Bishops and other great Clergy-men to be called together to Saint Andrews Feb. ult 1546. Master Wischard was sent for to appear before them to give an account of his seditious and Heretical doctrine as they called it The Cardinal caused all his retinue to come armed to the place of their sitting which was the Abby-church whither when Master Wischard was brought there was a poor man lying at the door that asked his almes to whom he flung his purse when he came before the Cardinal there was a Dean appointed to preach whose Sermon being ended Wischard was put up into the Pulpit to hear his charge and one Lawder a Priest stood over against him and read a scrowle full of bitter accusations and curses so that the ignorant people thought that the earth would have opened and swallowed up Wischard quick but he stood with great patience without moving or once changing his countenance The Priest having ended his curses spat at Master Wischards face saying VVhat answerest thou thou Runnagate Traytor Thief c. Then did Master VVischard fall upon his knees making his prayer unto God after which he said Many and horrible sayings unto me a Christian man many words abominable for to hear have ye spoken here this day which not onely to teach but even to think I ever thought it a great abomination c. Then did he give them an account of his doctrine Answering every Article as farre as they would give him leave to speak But they without having any regard to his sober and godly answers presently condemned him to be burnt After which sentence he falling upon his knees said O immortal God how long wilt thou suffer the rage and great cruelty of the ungodly to exercise their fury upon thy servants which do further thy Word in this world whereas they on the contrary seek to destroy the truth whereby thou hast revealed thy self to the world c. O Lord we know certainly that thy true servants must needs suffer for thy names sake persecutions afflictions and troubles in this present world yet we desire that thou wouldest preserve and defend thy Church which thou hast chosen before the foundations of the world and give thy people grace to hear thy Word and to be thy true servants in this present life Then were the common people put out the Bishops not desiring that they should hear the innocent man speak and so they sent him again to the Castle till the fire should be made ready In the Castle came two Friars to him requiring him to make his Confession to them to whom he said I will make no confession to you but fetch me that man who preached even now and I will speak with him Then was the Sub-Prior with whom he conferred a pretty while till the Sub-prior wept who going to the Cardinal told him that he came not to intercede for Master Wischards life but to make known his innocency to all men at which words the Cardinal was very angry saying We knew long ago what you were The Captain of the Castle with some friends coming to Master Wischard asked him if he would break his fast with them yea said he very willingly for I know you be honest men In the mean time he desired them to hear him a little and so he discoursed to them about the Lords Supper his sufferings and death for us exhorting them to love one another laying aside all rancor and malice as becomes the members of Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for us to his Father Afterwards he gave thanks and blessing the bread and wine he took the bread and brake it giving it to every one saying eate this remember that Christ died for us and feed on it spiritually so taking the Cup he bade them remember that Christs blood was shed for them c. Then he gave thanks and prayed for them and so retired into his chamber Presently came two Executioners to him from the Cardinal one put on him a black linnen coat the other brought him bags of powder which they tied about several parts of his body and so they brought him forth to the place of execution over against which place the Castle windows were hung with rich hangings and Velvet Cushions laid for the Cardinal and Prelates who from thence fed their eyes with the torments of this innocent man The Cardinal fearing lest Wiseheart should be rescued by his friends caused all the Ordnance in the Castle to be bent against the place of his execution and commanded his gunners to stand ready all the time of his burning Then were his hands bound behind his back so he was carried forth In the way some beggars met him asking his alms for Gods sake To whom he said My hands are bound wherewith I was wont to give you almes but the merciful Lord who of his bounty and abundant grace feeds all men vouchsafe to give you necessaries both for your bodies and souls Then two Friars met him perswading him to pray to our Lady to mediate for him to whom he meekly said Cease tempt me not I entreat you and so with a rope about his neck and a chaine about his middle he was led to the fire then falling upon his knees he thrice repeated O thou Saviour of the world have mercy upon me Father of heaven I commend my spirit into thy holy hands
of sheding the blood of that notable Instrument of God Master George Wisheart who though he was consumed by the fire before men yet cries it for vengeance upon thee and we from God are sent to revenge it for here before my God I protest that neither the hatred of thy person the love of thy riches nor the feare of any hurt thou couldst have done me moveth me to strike thee but onely because thou hast been and still remainest an obstinate enemie against Jesus Christ and his holy Gospel and so he thrust him through the body who falling down spake never a word but I am a Priest I am a Priest Fie Fie all is gone The death of this Tyrant was grievous to the Queen Mother with whom he had two much familiarity as with many other women as also to the Romanists though the people of God were freed from their fears in a great measure thereby Anno 1550. There was one Adam Wallace a man that had no great learning but was zealous in Godlinesse and of an upright life him the Bishop of Saint Andrews caused to be apprehended and carried to Edenburgh where after a while he was brought to judgement before Duke Hamilton Huntly and divers others The Bishops and their instruments accused him First that he took upon him to preach to which he answered that he never judged himself worthy of so excellent a Vocation and therefore never took on him to preach yet he denyed not that in private places he used to read the Word and out of it to exhort such as were willing to hear him Knave quoth one What have you to do to meddle with the Scriptures I think said he it s every ones duty to labour to know the will of God and to get assurance of his salvation which is to be found in the Old and New Testament What then said another shall we leave to the Church-men to do To whom he answered their work is publickly to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to feed the flock which he hath redeemed with his own blood as all true Pastors are commanded to do c. The Bishops being angry hereat caused his charge further to be read as that he denyed Purgatory praying to Saints and for the dead c. To which he answered that he had oft read over the Bible and yet found no mention of Purgatory nor command to pray to the Saints or for the dead Therefore I believe said he they are but meer inventions of men devised for covetousnesse sake Then did they ask him what he thought of the Masse He answered I say as my Lord Jesus Christ said That which is greatly esteemed before men is abomination before God Then cryed they all out Heresie Heresie and so and so adjudged him to the fire which he patiently underwent the same day upon the Castle-hill Anno 1553. Henry Forrest was accused of Heresie but when they brought him to trial nothing could be proved against him whereupon they sent him to Friar Langius to be confessed The Friar amongst other questions asked him what he thought of Patrick Hamilton who had been formerly burned for Religion He answered that he was a good man and that his Articles were to be maintained This wicked Friar discovered his Confession which was taken as a sufficient proof against the poor man who thereupon was condemned to be burnt As he went to the place of execution he complained of the Friar who had betrayed him saying Let no man trust the false Friars after me They are despisers of God and deceivers of men and so in the flames he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno 1558. Andrew Oliphant accused one Walter Mill formerly a Priest who being at Prayer Oliphant said to him Rise up Sir VValter But when he had ended his prayers he said My name is VValter I have been too long one of the Popes Knights Then said Oliphant Thou keepest my Lords too long here therefore make an end He answered I must obey God rather than men When he was brought forth to judgement they asked him concerning Priests marriage he answered It is Gods Ordinance that they which cannot abstain should marry But you abhor it vowing chastity which you cannot keep but take other mens wives and daughters Then they asked him if there were not seven Sacraments he answered Give me two and take you the rest after other questions they asked him if he would recant He answered I am corn and not chaffe I will not recant the truth Then they commanded him to go to the stake but he said By the law of God I am forbidden to lay hands on my own self therefore do you put me into the fire and you shall see my resolution Having made his Prayer to God he said to the people Although I have been a great sinner yet it is not for that but for Gods truth contained in his VVord of the Old and New Testament that I now suffer and God out of his abundant mercy doth honour me so farre as to make me amongst other of his servants seale his truth with my blood Dear friends as you would escape eternal death be no more seduced with lyes of Archbishop Bishops Abbots Priors c. but only trust in God and so he quietly slept in the Lord and was the last man that died for Religion in Scotland Collected out of the History of the Reformation in Scotland CHAP. XL. The Persecution of the Church in Ireland Anno Christi 1642. THough the barbarous cruelty used by the Irish against the English go usually under the name of Rebellion yet I rather look upon it as and chuse to call it a persecution because their cruelties were exercised upon Protestants only so farre as ever I could hear neither were the English Papists murthered yea they joyned with the Irish in murthering of their brethren Besides the Jesuites Priests and Friars were the chief instigators to these murthers stirring up continually all sorts both of the Gentry and Communalty to shew the utmost of their zeal therein and when their designe was so surely laid that they thought it impossible to be prevented they did in their publick devotions recommend by their Prayers the good successe of a great designe tending much to the advancement of the Catholick cause and that they might stir up the people with the greater animosity and cruelty to put it in execution they everywhere declaimed loudly against the Protestants saying That they were Hereticks not to be suffered any longer to live amongst them that it was no more sin to kill one of them than to kill a dog and that it was a mortal and unpardonable sin to relieve or protect any of them They also with much acrimony represented the severe courses taken by the Parliament of England to suppresse the Romish Religion and utterly to extirpate the Professors of it They told
this is the most miserable state and condition of our Churches moreover our Countrey-men to the number of five thousand besides youths and children being dispersed in banishment which hath now befallen most of us the second time especially throughout Silesia as also through the Marck Lusatia Hungary c. find no comfort but much misery and are there exposed to the hatred and envy of men We that are Pastors dare not openly minister to our Auditories with the Word and Sacraments but onely in private Meetings or in Woods among Fenny places God onely seeing us who is witnesse of these calamities and our comfort in extremities Indeed being thus destitute of all things we lead a wretched life in banishment being afflicted with hunger and nakednesse and are become next to the most miserable Waldenses the greatest spectacle of calamity to the Christian world for so it hath seemed good to that Soveraign Wisdome that governs all things that we should be inheritors of the Crosse and persecution of those men from whom we have derived the original of our Doctrine and external Succession For truly we are the remaining Progeny even of the Waldenses with whom being raised from the ashes of blessed Huss and with whom combining into the same holy Fellowship of the Faith and afflictions of Christ we have for two whole ages and more been perpetually subject to the like storms of Calamities until at length we fell into this calamity greater than ever was known in the memory of our Fathers and which threatens us with utter destruction unlesse God prevent it The truth is this businesse constrains us to amazement and tears greater than can be exprest in words to set forth our affliction and sorrow If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies we desire that this affliction of Joseph may be recommended especially to all that are of the houshold of Faith Let them not suffer those to perish whom the same Faith and the same Spirit of Christ hath joyned with them in so near a relation we beseech them in the name of Christ that they would rather make haste to relieve those who are ready to perish we being assured that we suffer this persecution upon no other account than for the confession of the Truth from those Enemies who have acted such things as these are against us in times past and are now at length by Gods permission pouring out their fury upon us Signed in the name of the said distressed Churches by their Delegates and now Exiles for the Cause of Christ Adam Samuel Hartman Pastor of the Church of Lesna in Poland and Rector of the famous University there Paul Cyril a late Member of the University of Lesna A BRIEF REPRESENTATION OF THE Protestant Cause in GERMANY In what Case it hath been since the Peace of MUNSTER and how it stood in the year 1657. and how it is now this present year 1659. THe Justice of the late civil warres in Germany which were composed at the Peace concluded in Munster and Osnaburgge in the year 1648. was grounded upon this That the Protestants were necessitated to enter into a League or mutual union together for the maintaining of their rights and priviledges in the Empire against the infections thereof and manifold disturbances of their profession which contrary to former agreements at Imperial Dyets did befal unto them in many places by the Popish and Jesuites practices whereof they could obtain no redresse by any peaceable Treaties Therefore finding that there was a design formed in the Conclave and by the house of Austria to be put in execution tending by little and little to wear out and deprive them of their liberties they formed an union among themselves to stand upon the defence of their rights and to oppose the power of the house of Austria by whose means both in Germany and in Bohemia the Jesuites did drive the design of rooting out Protestants The head of this union who by his place was bound to appear in it was the Elector Palatine but he being a soft man of no experience in war and beset in his Counsels and enterprises with such as did betray him the cause was soon overthrown and by his overthrow the intended persecution against Protestants to root them out what by power and what by policie was openly carried on by the house of Austria which moved the King of Denmark Christian the IV. and after him the King of Sweden to come upon the Stage the Dane was soon overthrown but God gave such successe unto the Swedes to the Landgrave of Hessen their associate and to the French who joyned with them to ballance the power of Austria after the Elector of Saxony had made his peace at Prague with the Emperour and deserted the Protestant interest that from the death of King Gustavus they continued the war with various successes till the year 1648. at which time the Swedish being masters in Bohemia and the Emperour brought so low that he saw little hopes to recover his strength without a Peace he yielded to the conditions which the Protestants and the French stood upon The Swedish stood upon their satisfaction and to keep a foot in the Empire to be able upon all occasions to secure or help the Protestant party And the Protestant Princes they stood upon the setling of all things and of themselves in their former rights and possessions as before the war and chiefly upon this point the reformed party and the Landgrave of Hessen who headed them stood that thence forward the reformed Protestants alias called Calvinists should have equal freedom and liberty of conscience for the exercise of their profession in the Empire with the Papists and Lutherans This condition being obtained and a way determined to give the agrieved parties in point of dammage further satisfaction Armies were dismissed a new convention of States was held at Nurenberg to settle the remaining matters within the Empire which at Munster and Osnabrugge could not well be handled by reason of the Treatie with forreigne States and afterward a Dyet was called at Ratisbon to confirme all what formerly had been treated on and concluded and to put the remainder of grievances in a way to be rectified To which effect at the dissolution or rather adjournment of the Imperial Dyet at Ratisbon a Committee of Deputies from all the States of the Empire of equal number of both parties that is so many of the Protestants as of the Popish partie were named to meet at Franckford and prepare by way of disquiry of rights the matters then remaining undecided that at the next Session of the Dyet there might be a full decision and determination of them but before these Delegates did meet the Elector of Mentz did broach a new quarrel with the Elector Palatine tending to abridge him of much of his right and to make him inconsiderable to the Protestant party but