doth not our Lord Iesus Christ say blessed are you when men persecute you and speake all manner of evill falsly against you for my name sake Rejoice therefore and be glad for great is your reward in heaven Now whereto serveth all this my beloved but to bring us into a conformity with our Lord and Master Iesus Christ For Christ hath suffered for us saith the Apostle saint Peter 1 Pet. 2. 21. leaving us an example that we should walke in his steps who also endured the crosse and despised Heb. 12 2. the shame for the obtaining of that joy which was set before him and became poore to make us rich 2 Cor. 8. 9. By him also are we brought by faith into that Rom. 5 2. state of grace wherein we stand rejoycing in the hope of the glory of God knowing that tribulation worketh patience c. Wherefore deare brother and sister be not afrayd of the fiery tryall which is now sent amongst us to prove us For what Father loving his childe doth not correct it Heb. 12. Even so doth the Lord chastise those whom he loveth for if we should be without correction wherof all true Christians are partakers then were we bastards and not sons And therefore Salomon saith my sonne despise not the chastening of the Prov. 3. 11 12. Lord neither faint when thou are corrected of him for whom the Lord loveth the same he correcteth even as a Father the sonne in whom he delighteth Feare not then to follow the footsteps of Christ for he is the head and we are his members Even as Christ then hath obtained full joy glory by suffering of anguishes and sorrowes so we also according to his example must through Acts 14 21. many tribulations enter into the heavenly places even into the new Ierusalem Let us then say Phil. 1. 21. with saint Paul Christ unto me is in life and in death advantage Let us cry out with him O Rom. 7 24. wretched creatures that we are who shall deliver us from this body of death Sée here how the faithfull have desired to be with Christ for with Abraham they had an eye to that holy City Anno 1562. which hath foundations whose builder and maker Heb. 11. 10. is God Let vs then my beloved chéerefully and willingly follow the Lord possessing our soules by patience For it is a good thing as saith the Prophet Ieremiah both to hope and quietly to Lam. 3. 26. waite for the salvation of the Lord and good also it is for a man to beare the yoke in his youth for such the Lord will comfort in the end and restore unto them the joy of his salvation Loe here deare brother and sister what consolations our God hath treasured up for us in his holy word for us I say whose desire it is to feare the Lord and to trust in his grace and mercy For Psal 37. 39. the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord hée is their strength in the time of trouble Wherfore q giving all diligence let us adde to faith vertue 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8. and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse love for if these things be in us and abound they will cause us neither to be idle nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ The which God our Father grant us for his Sonnes sake our Lord Amen Out of my hole December the eleventh 1562. Wouter Oom prisoner for the truth Now because ye may see that this Letter was not without its happy effect hearken to the relation of the History following THere was one Iohn Wolfe of the City of Audenard who because he could no longer inhabite there without either the danger of his life or wounding of his conscience his wife being great with childe and as yet but weake in the knowledge of the Gospell he was forced for these respects to joyne himselfe to the assembly of the Church in Antwerpe where thinking himselfe in safety a neighbour of his owing him ill will accused him to the Margrave about the baptising of his childe Whereupon being then committed and examined where and in whose presence his childe was baptized he without staggering answered that he had it baptised according to the institution of Christ by a Minister set apart to that Office The Margrave not content with this answer often pressed him with sundry threats of the torture to accuse such as he knew But the sharpest combat he endured was from his owne flesh counselling him during his imprisonment for the safegard of his life to dissemble and halt betwéen two opinions The cause was from the inward affection he bore towards his wife and childe being yet but young and of singular beauty in regard whereof many of the congregation expected no other but that he would sinke under this tryall But in the middest of these assaults hée was heard with prayers and sighes to cry mightily to God to bée delivered from this temptation Which prayers of his were heard in due season even then Whither wee ought to fly in time of temptation when in the judgement of man he was supposed to be overcome thereof meanes was made of bringing to his hands consolatory letters as also the said Wouter Dom then prisoner with him comforted him not a little by his letters Whereby in the end he continued so strong in the Lord as also constant in the confession of the truth that in conclusion he received the sentence of death with the aforesaid Wouter After which his wife came unto him and they were permitted to talke together bursting out each of them into such abundance of teares that it would have moved the most stony heart that ever was At parting with a bitter cry hée commended her to Gods mighty protection and his childe to be trained up in the true Religion Soone after hée was drowned in the tub or fat of the prison and the next day hanged upon one of the Gibbets néer unto the City ¶ A relation of the troubles and martyrdome of Christian Quekere Iaques Dionssart and Iean de Salomez of Steenwerk in Flanders To whom God gave such ability to answer their enemies demands as if they had come from persons much more learned Which shewes that God measures out to all the gifts and graces of his holy Spirit according to his good will and pleasure WHilest the persecution continued at this time in sundry places of Flanders under Philip King of Spaine and that many fled into England under the protection of Quéene Elizabeth these thrée above mentioned were of the same number who joyned themselves to the Dutch Church in London having given publique testimony of their faith before all the Congregation In which place they continuod not long but they were constrained upon some speciall occasions to
when his will is he will also deliver mee out of thy hands being more afflicted with the blasphemies which this varlet uttered then with all the torments which she endured on her body He having bemauled her shinnes with the pattents shée wore upon her féet shée told him his cruelty farre excéeded that of the Turkes and Infidels Whereupon he calling her a Huguenot whore told her That these were but the beginnings of her sorrowes so as if she did not disclose unto him her seven hundred pieces of gold hée would draw her chéeks and breasts with Lard and then fasten her to a forme and burne her quicke and after mount her up to the highest stéeple in the City and cast her thence downe headlong Well said she though my body fall never so low that shall not let my soule from being carried up into heaven This Captaine being herewith more inflamed with ire than before séeing that none of these cruelties could shake the faith and constancy of this poore woman he said unto her eat this Sugar taking loame or mortar from off the wall causing her to open her mouth with his dagger and to swallow it downe But not contenting himselfe herewith the villaine forced her to drink a glasse of Vrine which himselfe had made in her presence and then threw the glasse with what remained therein in her face Lastly he caused her to passe along through the troups of souldiers with intention to have had her slaine among them yet compassion moving them to spare her he brought her into his lodging where this inraged Wolfe by strange cruelties would have caused her to lose her life had not some of the inhabitants by giving him ten crownes redéemed her and so conveyed her to her owne house where within a short time after she finished her dayes One buried alive PEter Roch servant to the Lievtenant of Dignes being met withall in the countrey was buried alive they constrained him to dig his owne grave himselfe and so try whether it were large enough or no unto which he was compelled by Bartholomew Chause-grosse and his complices Provence Two women crowned with thornes THe wife of Andrew Renaud being brought through Saint Martins of Castillon was stripped stark naked and resisting such as would have violated her chastity she was whipped outragiously Anno 1566. then wounded with swords crowned with thornes then cast into the river and lastly shot to death with harquebuses Iannenta Calvin of the place of Cella being of the age of eighty yeres brought into the city of Brignole with a crowne of thornes platted upon her head being whipped till the bloud came excéedingly was first stoned and then burned alive Mascon THe Murtherers in this city having seised upon the body of Bonnet Bor in Mascon one of the most noble houses of the same a man of great learning and of an unblameable life who in other places had served in the Ministry twenty yeares having béen ransommed thrée severall times was carried along with a thousand scoffes and frâ—nps smitten with fists through the corners of the stréets with crying That whosoever would heare this devout and holy man preach should come to the slaughterhouse Whither having brought him they buffeted and mocked him two full houres Hée onely requested before hée died that they would permit him to make his prayers to God Whereupon cutting off the one halfe of his nose and one of his eares they said Now pray as long as thou wilt and then wee will send thee to all the Devils Then he knéeled down and lifting up his eies to Heaven prayed with such fervency of spirit that hée caused some of his murtherers to sigh within themselves Then directing his spéech to him who had cut off his nose he said Friend I am here ready to suffer what thou hast yet further to inflict upon me But this I intreat of thee and thy companions to bethinke you well of the outrages committed by you against this poore city for know there is a God before whose Tribunall you must give an account of these your cruelties At these words the bloud issued so fast out at his nose that it hindred him from procéeding on in that hée was about to have said A Captaine passing by cryed to the souldiers Send this wretched man to the Devill Which one of them hearing tooke him by the hand and brought him to the brimme of the river Saone somewhat above the slaughter house pretending to wash and cleanse him from the bloud wherwith his visage was besmeared conducting him to a boat for this purpose into which he was no sooner entred but he there presently turned him over into the river wherein he striving for life and crying to God for mercy these tyrants battered him with stones till he sunke under the water and so died Sée here in part saith the Historiographer the lamentable estate of the poore churches of France during the first troubles which ended with the end of the Duke of Guise the principall actor therein who was slaine at the siege of Orleance not without the immediate hand of God in the yeare 156â— by a poore gentleman whose name was Iohn Poltrot a man very desperate but of small stature and therefore commonly called the little Spaniard who shooting the Duke into the shoulder with a pistoll as he was riding to his tent in an evening uaon a little negge was for the same fact adiudged to be drawne in pieces by foure horses his head to be cut off and his torne body to be burnt to ashes ¶ A very comfortable Letter written by Wouter Oom Prisoner and Martyr in the City of Antwerpe and full of consolation against the feare of persecution directed to a Brother and Sister of his Grace and peace from God the Father and from his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen WElbeloved brother and sister whom I love dearely for the truths sake and for your faith in Christ Iesus These are to certifie you that I am in bodily health and enjoy the comfort or a good conscience I praise my Lord God therefore who is able to increase the same more and more by the powerfull operation of his holy spirit Whosoever they be that will forsake this present evill world and become followers of their Captain Christ must make account to méet with many persecutions and afflictions for Christ hath told us aforehand that we should be hated persecuted Mat. 10. 12. and banished out of the world for his names sake And this they will doe saith he because they have neither knowne the father nor Iohn 16. 3. me But be not afraid saith he for I have overcome the world Saint Paul also witnesseth the 2 Tim. 3. 12. same thing saying all that will live godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution And again to you it is given for Iesus Christ not onely to beléeve in him but also to suffer for his sake And Phil. 1. 24. Mat. 5. 11 12.
the head of the visible Church 9 Now O Christian brethren Iudge you of that which I have said and sée if you can discerne Truth from Error Truth leads you to life honour and blessednesse Error and lies to death and destruction Be now either servants of Truth or the slaves of Error For my part I will cleave to the truth of the Gospell and doe condemne all errors and lies let Montalchin die and live thou O Lord Iesus Then threw he downe his two burning torches one this way and another that way offering his hands to be tyed and bound which caused a great tumult among the people Montalchin was returned back again to prison Now Reader it will not be hard for thée to imagine what entertainment he found there whether or no the Popes * Which was to put the martyrs to death privily as was noted in the beginning of this history Decrée was executed to the full upon this worthy Confessor who in the face of the world did so nobly triumph over Satan and Antichrist his Lieutenant Conclusion ¶ The invincible constancy of the Martyrs tyred the Persecutors their fiery burning zeale dryed up the Rivers the slaughter of mens swords séemed to be blunted the Hangmens halters to be utterly spent and wasted c. A TRVE NARRATION Of a bloody massacre committed upon the Protestants by the Papists in the greater part of the Valtoline in the yeare 1620. after the new stile Published for a necessary admonition to all Estates wherein the Gospell is professed amongst the Papists and for an example to all true Christians of constancy in the Profession of the Holy GOSPELL MAT. 5. 10. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven ¶ The true declaration of the Massacres of the Valtoline ALbeit that the Grison Lords being as it were the Soveraigne Magistrates had by sundry Decrées according to the common liberty of the two Religions in those countries granted that in the Countrey of Boalez a place belonging to thâ— territory of Tell there should be established a Church for the Religion which should receive the ordinary stipend which at that present was alloweâ—â—o other Churches of the Valtoline An. 1619. aâ— the moneth of May The Minister of the Church of Tell with the Ministers of Irian and Bruse together with the assistance of the principall Lords of Tyrano and Tegly did méet together in the said place of Boalez to preach in the Church of that place But so great was the multitude and concourse of the papists in that place in Armes that they were of necessity inforced to give over their purpose and at that time was Master Gaudentius Taches the Pastor of Bruse alâ—â—â—â— beaten to death with staves a young man â—â— Tyrano was slaine outright and others very cruelly handled by some of these villaines who by that occasion may worthily be called the first martyrs of the Country of Tyrano Within a short time after was murdered a servant of the Governour of that place where the rage and fury of those murderers grew unto that height that they did not only contemne the Proclamations published by the Governor but in Anno 1620. scorn and despite thereof they passed up and downe before the Palace threatening to kill the said governor and other principall persons of the Church of France Now for that the ordinary Magistrate of that place was not strong enough to represse the outrages and insolencies of those villaines from whom none could bee secure either in their houses or abroad by reason of the frequent attempts which they made upon the Protestants the rather for that they bordered néere upon a forraine jurisdiction to which they had recourse when they had committed any mischiefe the Governour was constrained to make his addresse for justice to the soveraigne Dabe of the countrey who about the midst of February anno 1620 granted a commission wherein were named these commissioners viz. the Lords Ioachinas Montalta at this time Vicar of the Valtoline Iohn Baptista of Salichi a Doctor of Law Ia. Rumel a captain Salomon Candeamma Buoli Landlaine of Tavos in the ten jurisdictions Dieteganus Fertmannus captaine of the Lordship of Meienfield and Iohn Andrea Miniardino for the Chancellorship c. By these persons besides the processes framed already by the Lords Iohn of Cappaul Governour of Tyrano and Andreo Enderlino of Tegly there were againe divers processes framed anew and upon the imprisonment and revealing of certain persons it was discovered and confessed there was a resolution made in the same place of Boalty to put to the sword not only the Preacher if he had preached but also all the people as many as professed the Gospell as they could light upon yea even the magistrate himselfe besides there were divers persons discovered and those of principall ranke who were the authors of those wicked and barbarous practises and had promised all possible ayde and assistance unto them And therefore the importance of the businesse being of great consequence it was thought expedient that those Lords Commissioners should return to Tavoz and report to the Court of justice which there resided all the businesse which resulted of these processes which they accordingly did about the midst of April last past Moreover they were intreated by divers noble persons of the protestant Church of the Valtoline that they would with all possible spéed provide a garrison of Grisons for the defence of the vally in regard that by the foresaid discovery they had great reason to feare a generall rebellion in case they should procéed to chastise the authors of those tumults and disorders and that such a businesse could not be without intelligence with the Spaniard and that so much the more likely that some certaine yeares agoe such another practise had bin discovered and attempted to be put in practise as came to passe 1584. and since of late All these businesses were considered but it was not possible to put same in effect for many reasons had it not béen that they received intelligence that a number of Spaniards approached néere to the thrée pleves which were places adjoyning to the Valtoline by which occasion the Magistrate and governors of the Valtoline were constrained to put a guard néere the trenches of Trahona and Morben about the Calends of Iuly 1620 thinking to secure the valley from the forraine enemy and that guard consisted of the Countrey-men and dwellers in the Valtoline this course wrought no other effect but that the Protestants by this meanes were inclosed in of all sides that they could not flée away on that side by the way already concluded but anticipated within eight daies which was the Sabboth day The ninth of Iuly 1620 followed the massacre in the countrey of Tyrane and Teglio as now since in Sondres a principall countrey of this Valley ¶ The massacre of Tyrane wherein were murthered about threescore persons THe beginning of their murthers was
betwéen that evening and the next day There were slaine at that conflict twenty seven persons and among them these which follow Bettino of Azzala sonne of Pietro of age fourty five yéers Perrotta his wife being of the age of fourty Pietro their sonne being of age twelve yéeres Andreino Zopo sonne of Ianotto age fourty Iames sonne of Iohn Domenico Quadernetto age thirty Iohn Monegatti age fifty eight Michaele della Kosa age 38. Iacomena de Burieo age thirty yéeres Iean Moneta age eighty This Woman was oftentimes advised to become a Romane Catholike and to favour her age telling her that if shée would shée should have her life given her but she with great resolution replied God forbid that I who now of long time have had one foote in the grave should come to forsake my Lord Iesus who hath so long time preserved me in the knowledgè and confession of his truth and to put my trust in creatures and to receive in stead of his holy word the traditions of men Upon which words this worthy Matron was instantly slaine Now there is no doubt but in this furious persecution at Bruse and in other places there have béene murdered many good men for the foresaid cause whose names have not been mentioned in this discourse but whosoever they were they have departed with this comfort that they have not suffered as murderers or robbers or malefactors or as busie bodies in those things which belong not to them but as holy Christians who at no hand would worship Images they beleeved that the bloud of Christ hath purged them from all sinne That Christ hath offered one onely sacrifice once for sins that we ought to worship the Lord God alone and onely serve him that wee are saved by grace by the meanes of faith and that not of our selves the same being the gift of God not by workes to the intent none might boast That we ought to worship God in all places holding up cleare hands unto him that every creature of God is good and none to be rejected being used with thanksgiving that mariage is honorable in every sort and condition of persons according to the expresse words of the holy Apostolique Scripture and by reason of this very confession were the inhabitants of Tyrano Teglio Sondro Malenco Berbenno Trahono Morâ—emâ—o Dabino Caspano and Bruso so cruelly persecuted and massacred There was of late time a booke printed in Italy how the pretestants of the abovesaid places should practise to execute upon the Catholiques about the 15. day of August the like which since hath befalne themselves but how divellish a slander and calumny this is may cleerâ—ly be gathered by this that where the protestants of those places are ten the popish Catholiques are a thousand Who then would beleeve that so smal a number should be able to make resistance against so great a multitude and especially against those desperate rebels and outlawd villaines who for their murders formerly committed for their corruptions of the commissaries and transgressions of the commandement of the Magistrate had before beene banished out of the Country being also suspected of sodomy of falsification of money and like ravening wolves being throughly armed entred like a most furious torrent on the sodaine slaughtering the poore naked protestants who suspected no such wrong even in those Churches which before had béen priviledged even among the Barbarous Pagans to the intent that they might put in execution that bloody designe which had béen resolved on about 17. yéeres before according to a Letter intercepted of a principall rebell in this action who is neither afraid nor a shamed to terme the same a holy resolution and an honourable enterprise which it is indéed if to spoile to rob to strangle to massacre to burn to hew in péeces children and women to cast them into fire and water to falsifieÌ„ faith ought to be accounted an attempt of holinesse if it ought to be estéemed a thing honorable and pleasing to God not to suffer the bodies of the dead being buried in the earth and in the Church to rest quietly but to take them up againe and being taken up to handle them in most barbarous manner as very lately had béen done in the Countries of Caspano and Trahone and in other places where the bodies digged out of the ground which before were entire and whole were throwne into rivers and water to be meat for the fishes and having bruised and ground their bones to powder most barbarously to cast them into the fire But here if ever the old tale of Aesop is verified where the poore silly shéepe was accused to have troubled the water of a malitious wolfe although the said shéep dranke below at the foot of the river Therefore it appeareth most clearely every way that the aforesaid persons underwent those sufferings for no other cause but only for the truth of the Gospell even as by the eternall decrée of God the holy Prophets Saint Io Battista the holy Apostles yea even our Lord and head Iesus Christ himselfe and after him those many millions of the elected martyrs in all ages have done before and especially in these miserable last times in Germany France England Scotland Low-countries Bohemia Italie Spaine Portugall c. Which martyrdome they endured willingly rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer blame for the name of Christ Iesus remembring the promise of this our Lord Blessed are they who Mat. 5. 10. are persecuted for righteousnesse sake because the Kingdome of heaven is theirs Blessed are you when others shall revile and persecute you and shall falsely speake all evill of you for my sake Rejoice and triumph for your reward is great in heaven for so have they persecuted the Prophets who were before you Reade to this purpose 1 Pet. 4. Verses 12 13 14 15 16. which words of all good Christians are to bee well pondered and weighed For first by such triall we perish not Secondly we are thereby made conformable to Christ our head Thirdly such sufferings cause unto us greater joy than sorrow Fourthly they are infallible markes that the spirit of God rests upon us Fifthly they manifest to all our unfained love to Christ and his Gospell Sixthly hereby wée have good proofe that the Lord doth correct us not as a severe Iudge but as a most loving and tender hearted Father to whom therefore with his blessed Son and holy Spirit be all glory and honour ascribed in all the Churches of the Saints world without end Amen ⧠SIGNES AND PRODIGIES WHICH HAPPENED BEFORE THE MASSAGRE IN THE VALTOLINE THe Protestants having appointed Gards and Sentinels in the stéeples of the Churches of the Valtoline besides others which were commanded to watch in certaine places to give the signe by fire to the intent that the whole Valley being warned partly by the Becons partly by the sound of the bells might together be ready on the suddaine to take armes for their defence against the Spaniard if he should make any incursion upon the Valley about the Calends of May 1620. in Sondres the foresaid Sentinels reported that in a night as they watched they heard in the Church of Gervase a murmuring as it were of many persons with great earnestnesse and vehemency of arguing and contesting among themselves and from the Church there shined upwards through the stéeple a great brightnesse in so much as the Sentinels lighted their torches and assembled themselves to goe downe into the Church to sée what the matter might be But as they were descending downe the staires their lights were put out and returning afresh to light their torches they were put out againe with greater strength and with much astonishment and trembling and the brightnesse which filled the Church suddenly vanished the weights also of the great Clocke fell downe and they heard about ten knells of a Bell in such manner as it useth to ring to give the alarme the which was heard by very many Likewise in Tyrane there were heard the like knells by the great Bell and the Magistratâ— commanded them suddenly to goe and know the cause but he found that it was not done by the act of men and instantly the servants running from the Belfrey and diligently attending to sée this businesse they discerned a thing like a Cat to descend downe into the place Signes and prodigies heard and séene in the Valtoline after the massacre as hath béen affirmed by divers persons of credit being departed from the said Valley and lying in the Valtolinâ— after the massacré In the Evangelike Protestant Church and principally from Teglio and Tyrane a voice hath béen heard to cry woe woe to you The vengeance of God is upon you for the blood of the innocent Moreover there was heard the Bell of the Evangelike Church of Tyrane to ring even at the same time that the sermon was used to be and in that Church a voice was heard like the voice of Senior Anthonio Basse who sometimes had béen there a Minister and was murdered in the said place as if himselfe had béen preaching in the same place In Londres there was séen to descend an army from the Mountains every way furnished which sight was the cause that many tooke their flight and departed out of Sondres but suddenly this apparition vanished like a cloud The which struck a great terror into the mindes of the people insomuch as many departed out of the Valley as men that feared a castigation and punishment from heaven FINIS
when the time was now come that God had given them power to prove and try his Church they foreflowed not to exercise their cruelty upon if which long before they had plotted and contrived Upon Saturday then the sixth of March Ann. 1556. betwéene nine and ten of the Clocke in the night the Provost of the City with his Sergeants armed themselves to make search if they could finde any met together â—t houses but as then there was no assembly Therfore they came to the house of one whose name was Robert Oguier which was a little Church for all both great and small men-servants and maâ—ds were familiarly instruded thers in the knowledge of God as the issue well manifested Being violently entred into the said house and séeking here and there for their prey they found certaine bookes which they carried away But he whom they principally aimed at was not then in the house viz. Baudicon the sonne of the said Robert Oâ—â—uler who at that time was gone abroad to commune and talke of the word of God with some of the brethren as he oft used to do Returning home he knocked at the dore Martin his younger brother watching his conunting bad him be gone willing him not to come in But Baâ—dicon thinking his brother mistooke him for some other said it is I open the dore with that the sergeants approching nigh unto it opened the same and causing him to enter in said Ah Sir you are well met to whom he answered I thank you my friends you also are welcome hither Then said the Provost I arrest you all in the Emperors name and with that commanded each of them to be bound to wit the husband his wife with their two sons leaving their two daughters to looke to the house Now as they conveied them along through the stréets Baudicon with a voice somewhat extended which might easily be heard The prayer which Baudicon made as he was led to prison at that time of the night said O Lord assist us by thy grace not onely to be prisoners for thy name sake but to confesse thy holy truth in all purity before men so farre as to seale the same with our blouds for the edification of thy poore Church Thus were they brought into severall prisons where they were severally handled yet ceased they not to praise and blesse the Lord with one consent within a few daies after the prisoners were presented before the Magistrates of the City and examined as touching their course of life who directed their spéech first to Robert Oguier in these words It is told us that you never come to masse yea and also dissuade others from comming thereto wee are further informed that you maintain conventicles in your house causing erroneous doctrines to be preached there contrary to the ordinance of our holy Mother the Church whereby you have transgressed the lawes of the Imperiall Maiesty Robert Oguier answered whereas first of all you lay to my charge that I goe not to Masse I refuse so to do indéed because the death and pretious bloud of the sonne of God and his sacrifice is utterly abolished there and troden under foot For Christ by one sacrifice hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified The Apostle saith by Heb. 10. 14. one offering For do we read in all the scriptures that either the Prophets Christ or any of his Apostles ever said masse for they knew not what it meant Christ indéed instituted the holy Supper in which all Christian people doe communicate together but they sacrificed not If you please to read the Bible over you shall never finde the Masse once mentioned therein And therefore it is the méer invention of men You know then what Christ saith In vain do they worship me Mat. 15. 9. teaching for doctrines the commandements of men If either my selfe or any of mine had béene at Masse which is ordained by the commandement of men Christ would have told us we had worshipped him in vaine As for the second accusation I cannot nor will deny but there have met together in my house honest people fearing God I assure you not with intention to wrong or harme any but rather for the advancement of Gods glory and the good of many I knew indéed that the Emperor had forbidden it but what then I knew also that Christ in his Gospell had commanded it Where two or Mat. 18. 20. three saith he are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Thus you sée I could not well obey the Emperour but I must disobey Christ In this case then I choose rather to obey my God then man One of the Magistrates demanded what they did when they met together To which Baudicon the eldest son of Robert Oguier answered if it please you my Masters to give mée leave I will open the businesse at large unto you The Sheriffes séeing his promptnes looking one upon another said well let us heare it then Baudicon lifting up his eies to heaven began thus when we méet together in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ to heare the word of God we first of all prostrate upon our knées before God and in the humility of our Spirits doe make a confession of our sinnes before his divine Maiestie Then we pray that the word of God may be rightly divided and purely preached wee also pray for our Soveraigne Lord the Emperour and for all his honourable Counsellors that the Common-wealth may be peaceably governed to the glory of God yea we forget not you whom we acknowledge our superiors intreating our good God for you and for this whole City that you may maintaine it in all tranquility Thus I have summarily related unto you what we do thinke you now whether wée have offended so highly in this matter of our assemblies Moreover if you will not be offended to heare the tenour of the prayers we make there I am ready to recite the same unto you One of the Magistrates gave him a signe by which hée might understand that they desired to heare it Baudicon then knéeling downe before them prayed with such fervency of affection that the like ardency of zeale never appeared in him in so admirable a maner as at that time Insomuch that the Magistrates were forced to burst forth into tears beholding what a gratious Spirit the yong man was endued withall Then standing up hée said now your Masterships may take a scantling by this how wée are imployed in our méetings Whilst they were thus examined ech of them made an open confession of the faith which they held After this being returned againe into prison they not long after were put to the torture to make them confesse who they were that frequenteÌ„d their house but they would discover none unlesse such as were well knowne to the Iudges or else were at that time absent About foure or five daies after they were convented againe before their Iudges namely the
had we feared the same we had never exposed our bodies to this so shamefull and painfull a kinde of death Then he often reiterated these short breathings O God Father everlasting accept the sacrifice of our bodies for thy well beloved Sonne Iesus Christs sake One of the Friers cried Heretike thou liest he is none of thy father the Devill is thy father And thus during these conflicts he bent his eyes to heaven and speaking to his father said Behold for I sée the heavens open and millions of Angels ready prest to receive us rejoycing to sée us thus witnessing the truth in the view of the World Father let us be glad and rejoyce for the joyes of heaven are set open unto us Then said one of the Fryers I sée hell open and millions of Devils present to carry you thither But the Lord who never forsakes any that put their trustin him stirred up the heart and opened the mouth of a poore man who stood among the multitude beholding this spectacle who being moved with compassion cryed aloud Be of good comfort Baudicon stand thou to it thou 〈◊〉 in a good quarrell I am on thy side after which words he departed thence and a way being made for him saved himselfe from danger Fire was forthwith put to the straw and wood which burnt beneath whilest they not shrinking for the paines spake one to another Baudicon often repeating this in his fathers eares Faint not father nor be afraid Yet a very little while and wee shall enter into the heavenly mansions In the end the fire growing hot upon them the last words they were heard to pronounce were Iesus Christ thou Sonne of God into thy hands we commend our spirits And thus these two slept swéetly in the Lord. Within eight dayes after Iane the mother and Martin her sonne were executed in the same City of Lile but of this more hereafter Iane the wife of Robert Oguier and Martin her sonne Martyrs THe wife here followes her husband and accompanies her sonne her conversion is admirable for being severed from him the Friers having seduced her laboured with her to turne her some also out of the right way but he understanding thereof recovers his mother againe and so they both gaue their lives for the truth to the great confusion of their enemies But before we come to describe their happy ends we will as briefely as may be note by the way the great conflicts of spirit which both of them sustained There were sent unto them many of the popish rabble to turne them from their faith Now that this their devillish enterprise might the rather be effected they sundred one of them from the other so as by the politique deuice of a Monke the poore woman began to waver and let goe her first faith At this their enemies rejoyced not a little whilest the poore little flocke of Christ hearing such sad newes were in continuall perplexity but the Lord left them not in this mournfull condition For on a day one of the Monkes resorted to her in the prison counselling her to win her sonne Martin and to draw him from his errors which she promised to doe But when he was come to his Mother and perceiued that she was not onely fallen but also quite turned out of the right way he began with teares to bewayle her miserable estate O Mother saith he what have you done Have you denyed him who hath redéemed you Alas what evill hath he done you that you should requite him with this so great an iniury and dishonour Now I am plunged into that woe which I have most feared Ah good God that I should live to sée this which pierceth me to the very heart His Mother hearing these his pittifull complaints and séeing the teares which her sonne shed for her began againe to renue her strength in the Lord and with teares cryed out O Father of mercies be mercifull unto me miserable sinner and cover my transgression under the righteousnesse of thy blessed Sonne Lord enable me with strength from above to stand to my first confession and make me to abide stedfast therein even unto my last breath It was not long after this her change but the same instruments of Satan who had seduced her came in supposing to finde her in the same minde wherein they left her whom she no sooner espied but with detestation said Avoyd Satan get thee behinde me for henceforth thou hast neither part nor portion in me I will by the help of God stand to my first confession And if I may not signe it with Inke I will seale it with my blood And so from that time this fraile vessell who for a while relented after her recovery grew stronger and stronger The Iudges séeing their constancy delayed not to dispatch them out of the way condemning them to be burned alive and their bodies being reduced to ashes the same to be scattered and dispersed in the aire The mother and the sonne having heard their sentence read in the way as they were going backe againe to prison said now blessed be our God who causeth us thus to triumph over our enemies This is the wished houre our gladsome day is come Let us not then said Martin forget to be thankefull for the honour he doth us in thus conforming us unto the Image of his Sonne Let us remember those who have traced this path before us for this is the high way to the Kingdome of heaven Let us then good Mother goe on boldly out of the Campe with the Son Heb. 13. 13. of God bearing his reproach with all his holy Martyrs for so we shall finde passage into the glorious Kingdome of the everliving God Some of the company hearing but not being able to brooke these words said we sée now thou heretique that thou art wholly possessed body and soule with a divell as was thy father and brother who are both in Hell Martin said Sirs as for your railings and cursings our God will this day turne them into blessings in the sight of himselfe and of all his holy Angels A certaine temporizer said to Martin thou silly See here the sundry â—ights of Satan youth thou sayest thou knowest not what thou art too well conceited of thy selfe and of thy cause Séest thou not all this people here about thée what thinkest thou of them they beléeve not as thou doest and yet I doubt not but they shall be saved But you imagine to doe that which will never come to passe though you pretend never so much that you are in the faith and have the Scriptures for you The good woman hearing this answered Sir Christ Iesus our Lord saith that it is the wide gate and broad way which leades to destruction Mat. 7. 12. and therefore many gooe in thereat but the gate saith he is narrow that leades to life and few How we may know we are in the right way there be that finde it Doe ye
will never resume it againe Christ hath now set me frée I will be no longer of the Order of the slaves of Satan One of the Magistrates of Bruges conferring with him promised to procure his deliverance if he would yéeld but a little and if his fryers coate displeased him he would get him a dispensatton from the Pope to forbeare the wearing of it and provide him a Canonship Sir said Charles I give you many thankes for your good will and these your kinde offers would to God I could accept of them without offending his Maiesty you offer me a Canonship that I might live quietly and in security but know you sir That rest is That is not worthy the name of rest which is procured with offence of conscience A judgement of God upon a persecutor no true rest and quietnsse which is obtained against the peace of a good conscience A few dayes after his execution one of them who had his hand déepest in procuring his cruell death died himselfe in such terror and horror of conscience that it gave sufficient testimony to those of Brugoes that they had put to death an Innocent and that God was highly offended with those that had persecuted him ¶ Philibert Hamelin of Tournay Minister and Martyr was there executed in the yeere 1557. WHilest he remained prisoner some of his friends dealt with him to breake prison and offered him meanes tending thereto But he on the contrary having resolved to give his life for so just a quarrell as he maintained refused saying I esteeme it altogether unbeseeming for a Preachers must be no breakers of prisons man that is called to preach Gods Word to others to run away and breake prison for fear of danger but rather to maintaine the Truth taught even in the midst of the flaming fire After sentence of death was passed upon him by the court whereby he knew he had not long to live yet did he eat his dinner with the rest of the prisoners as joyfully as though he had béen in no A good conscience is a continuall feast danger speaking unto them of the happinesse of eternall life comforting all that sate at table with him in the Consciergery That none might hear what he said at the place of execution the trumpets were caused to be sounded continually yet might it be séene both by his gestures and chéerefulnesse of his countenance that they could not let him from speaking to God ¶ Archambant Seraphon Martyr in the yeere 1557. BEing demanded what he thought of the Pope and his authority he answered I think verily A practise of the Papists that same is he of whom Saint Paul speakes in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians Chapter the second Which words he being willed to signe with his hand Yea yea sir said he I am now ready to signe it with my blood rather than with Inke Hee reports in a Letter written to his wife The Martyrs ready to scale the truth with their blood A Iaylor of a Lyon became a Lamb. and friends that whereas this Iaylor was wont to carry himselfe as sternly towards him as a Lyon roaring alwaies in such wise upon him that all the prisoners were amased at it the Lord had now so mollified his heart that he became as méek as a Lambe declaring how he would come and visite him himselfe in his prison and as well as he was able comforted him saying Take no care God will assist you nor shall it be so ill with you as you thinke for For what doe your enemies say Alas he is but a silly pedler who passing along this way broached his opinions to none that also which he holds concerning the same he keepes to himselfe therefore be of good cheere Sir said he I praise God I am of good comfort being ready to receive whatsoever it shall please him to appoint If life life if death death be it One thing I had like to have omitted concerning him which yet is worth the noting namely this This Archambant in a letter to his wife puts An exhortation to get the Psalmes without booke his brethren in minde to learn Davids Psalms My brethren saith he I exhort you in the Name of God that you would learne yea learne the Psalmes without booke whilest you have time and leasure for when you shall be cast into dark prisons I say when God shall call you to suffer for his sake you shall then have no booke with you whether of a small or great Print to sée what part succeeds another which I now utter to my great griefe and shame for if I should tell you I lacked forewarning long agoe you can beare witnesse to the contrary Nor doe I know now what to doe but even to humble my selfe before the Lord crying unto him Mercy mercy Lord have mercy upon me Blessed and happy are they who are carefull to get knowledge and faith as oyle into their vessels before the Bridegroome come When he looked on his hands he was wont to say ô flesh thou must suffer and be turned into ashes untill the last day Ieffery Vergale Martyr in the yeare 1557. He was burned at Turin the last of December STanding upon a stoole at the stake the executioner according to the custome prayed him to forgive him his death Ieffery answered him I not onely forgive thee but those also who first imprisoned me at Burges yea those that brought me to this City and have condemned me to this death Be not afraid doe thine office my death shall not be unprofitable The death of the Martys is not without fruit Nicolas Ieuville Martyr in the yeere 1557. who with two others mentioned hereafter were burned in the place called Mawbert without Paris in France THis godly Martyr being condenmed to be burned alive and his tongue to be cut out the Tormentor being there present offered to put the halter about his necke but he repulsed him twice appealing from the Sentence But because he was pressed upon to receive it the third time and thinking his appeale would not take place he took it saying Praysed be God for I am now counted worthy to be one of the heavenly Order Two innocents condemned to suffer death the one of them being called Henry the Taylor THis Henry reioyced at the hearing of the These two were burnt at Antwerpe The Martyrs willingly give their necks to the blocke but left the punishment to their persecutors sentence read saying This is the day we have long expected and therefore give our selves willingly to die but as for the punishment my masters that we leave to you yet we pray that God would pardon you this injustice At which spéeches the Magistrates turned away their faces not willing to heare it but Adrian who was the other Martyr told them boldly That God would require the blood of the iust at their hands whom they daily put to death The next day being appointed for their
execution a great multitude were assembled into the Market place to be hold the behaviour of these goodly men who as they were led to death protested That the cause why they dyed was only for bearing witnesse to the truth of the Gospell which words they uttered with such courage that the officers who invironed them round about strove to damp the same by a great noise which they made lest their voice should be understood Whilest the executioner fastened them to the stake there was on an instant such an hurlyburly amongst the people that with one voice they cryed Kill kill rushing There were they in great feare where no feare was for as saith the Psalmist God is in the generation of the righteous Psal 14. 5. one in upon another By and by the shops and doores of houses were shut up The hangman let fall all his preparations leaving the two patients standing at the stake The Margrave being on horseback could by no meanes get away being compassed in on each side The Officers trembling for feare threw downe their halberds The spy who attended there to hearken not knowing where to bestow himselfe forsook his horse and ran into a Church for feare And though one told him that a cutpurse had caused all this adoe he would not be drawn to beléeve him but said I know we are but dead men it is not the Théefe but the seditious people who now begin to work their revenge Thus God confounded these bloodthirsty shewing how he could have brought all their preparations to nothing if it had pleased him As soon as this hubbub was quieted the servant of the executioner ran and strangled the two Martyrs who had now a good space béen fastened to the stake still calling upon the name of the Lord. The fire being afterward kindled the bodies were consumed to ashes the 19. of Ianuary 1559. A Recantation fathered upon a Martyr called Cornelius Hallewin which he never consented to and how he tooke the same in the yeare 1559. THe father of this Cornelius solliciting the Margraue his wife who as it was thought was Godmother to Cornelius to get his sonne out of prison It was so agréed among them that a libell should be framed vnder the name of Cornelius wherein he should now acknowledge his error be confessed to a Priest would also receiue his Maker and come againe into the state of grace as a good childe of his holy mother the Church And further should say That Sermons were of no worth because they were not made upon holy ground Also requiring that if hée had failed in ought else the same should be attributed Anno 1559. to his young yeares and therefore craued pardon Howbeit the said Cornelius wrote letters daily in the meane while to the brethren shewing forth an admirable constancy in defending the faith gladding the hearts of many who gaue God thankes for the graces of his good Spirit wherewith he had indued him The Minister of the Flemish Church hearing of this Libell by the meanes of some friends got a Copy thereof and hauing read it considering how the tenor thereof tended to a great scandall made the Elders and Deacons of the Church acquainted therewith who were not a little grieued for the infirmity of their weake brother Whereupon the Minister wrote a sharpe letter vnto him willing him to turne and repent him of his backe sliding by making a true Confession thereof before the councel When Cornelius had receiued this letter read it he was so vexed perplexed in his spirit that he knew not how to demean himselfe so as all the godly his Prison fellowes had much adoe to stay and comfort him The blood gushed out of his nose hée spread abroad his armes and made pitifull outcries What to deny the truth said he God forbid Oh that the faithfull should conceiue so hardly of me Good God thou knowest that I am guiltlesse nor haue I this way offended Then the residue of the brethren aduised him to get a sight of his inditement which if it contained no such thing then to send it to the Church and so manifest to them his innocency touching that whereof he was accused besides making a plaine confession of his faith to impart the same to the Councell there withall to shew how he was abused by the Margraue and his Parents which he accordingly did The said Cornelius being condemned to die the Margraue offered him so much more fauour as to die a more easie kinde of death if he would but giue eare to the priests whom he had brought with him into the prison Cornelius replied no Sir God forbid I should do such a thing doe ye with my body what ye will As they bound him Herman Ianssen who both suffered together Herman willed the Margraue to take héed what he did for saith he this will not goe for paiment in Gods sight in bereauing vs thus of our liues I wish you to repent therefore before it be too late you cannot long continue this tyrannous course for the Lord will shortly auenge it The Margraue commanded they should haue a crosse or crucifixe put into their hands promising Cornelius that if he would so doe he should only be beheaded and not burned but they both reiected the Crosse saying They would not give the least signe that might be of betraying the truth and that it was all one to them what death they put them to so they dyed in and for the Lord. The punishment they said could last but for a while but the glory to come was eternall Then were they led towards the Market place and Herman reioycing in the Lord sung the hundred and thirtieth Psalme Cornelius followed him and gaue the people godly exhortations Being come to the place of execution the sword was laid there ready to behead them if they would take the Crosse into their hands and admit the Friers into their company But because they would not yéeld one whit vnto them wood was made ready to burne them Then Cornelius fell on his knées praying God to forgiue his enemies who had sinned through ignorance After which they were put into a little lodge made of fagots and strangled at the stake But whilest this was a doing there fell out such a tumult amongst the people that they were not a little afraid of an vprore the hangman be caught hold of his sword to defend himselfe thinking they would kill him first but the businesse was as suddenly quieted as raised The fire being kindled flamed forth vpon the bodies of these holy Martyrs The Margraue thought according to the vsuall course to haue quenched the fire that so conueying the bodies away halfe burnt they might be laid upon the whéeles nigh vnto the city in the accustomed places where they were to lie as spectacles to be gazed on But the peoples wrath being stirred crossed him in his purpose so as his Serieants and Halberdiers leauing him he stood as
hapned in a city of Suitzerland among the papists An. 1559. He expresseth neither the Consuls name nor the city the thing being sufficiently knowne to the inhabitants thereabouts This Consul being a rich and potent man intending to build a brave and magnificent house sent far and neere for the rarest and most exquisite workemen he could heare tell of Amongst the rest he sent to the city of Trent so much renounced among Papists in regard of the last Councell the Pope had there for an excellent carber and master Builder called Iohn a man very religious and a lover of the Truth for which cause the said Iohn refused at the first to goe thither alledging for himselfe that he was of a contrary religion to that which the Consull professed and therefore could not safely inhabit among such as would observe his contempt of the Masse and their other ceremonies The Consull promised him safety in respect of his person and that he should be forced to nothing against his conscience Upon this his promise Iohn came and wrought a long time with the consull but when he came to demand his wages they entred into some termes of discontent In the end at the command of this Consull Iohn was committed to prison and by the same Consull accused for a sleighter of the Romish religion yea to have spoken unreverently thereof wherefore he was condemned to be beheaded As they led him to execution he went towards it with undaunted courage and died very constantly protesting in the presence of all the Spectators that he most gladly layd downe this life present for the maintenance of that religion whereof he had made profession beleeving undoubtedly that it was the Truth but added that the consull who was the author of his death should himselfe die within three daies and appeare before Gods judgement seat to render an account of his sentence Which came to passe according as this pious man foretold for the Consull being then in the prime of his youth and of an healthfull disposition of body from that day began to be assailed first with an exceeding heate and then with an extraordinary cold and thus was he smitten with a new kinde of sicknesse so as within three dayes he followed him of whom he had bin both the most unjust accuser and judge ¶ The speech of a poore Porter called Chevillon whipped for the Truth and after confined to the Gallies BEing whipped thorow the stréets of Romans he said to him that lashed him Lay on my friend lay it on and spare not chastise this flesh which hath so often rebelled against his God thinking himselfe happy that he suffered in so good a quarrell ¶ The miserable end of one called Aubespine a Counsellor of Grenolle and a persecutor AFter these bloody persecutions this Aubespine fell in love with a gentlewoman and therein gave such way to his passion that he forsooke his calling casting off all care of his owne welfare to follow her whithersoever she went But she disregarding him he tooke it so to heart that he neglected his owne person by reason whereof swarming full of lice he could by no meanes be rid of them for they increased upon him and came out at all the parts of his body as they are seen to issue out of a dead carkasse It was not long before his death but feeling himselfe smitten with Gods hand he began to despaire of his mercy and to shorten his dayes he concluded to famish himselfe in the meane while the lice gathered so thick about his throat as if they would strangle him Some beholding this so lamentable a spectacle being much mooved therewith in commiserating his estate agréed to make him eat whether he would or no forcing him to take some broth or a Cullis which he resisting with all his might they bound his armes gagging his mouth with a sticke to kéepe it open whilest they put somewhat thereinto Being thus gagged he died like an inraged beast with the abundance of lice which crept towards his throat And thus it was spoken even Gag them said he for it wee suffer them to speake they will doe more harme at their death than in their life which practise was not onely liked but executed by some of the Romish Religion that looke what torment he had devised for the ministers of Valence sending them gagged to their execution he was by the just judgment of God punished after a sort in the same kind Iohn Ponce of Leon a Gentleman of Seuill in in Spaine AMong those that with a firme faith sealed the truth of the Gospel with their bloud in the Spanish inquisition at Sevill the foure and twentieth of September 1559. Don Iohn Ponce of Leon the sonne of Roderic Ponce of Leon Count of Baylen may of good right deserve to be placed in the first ranke For besides the noble race from whench he sprang the Lord had indued him with singular vertues well beséeming so worthy and Christian a Gentleman Those who were of his familiar acquaintance and did well observe his conversation gave this testimony of his sincerity that his like was not knowne in Spaine of a long time in that a man of his estate was so forward to exercise his charity towards such in whom he saw but any good inclination to religion yea his yearely revenues which were also great were not onely imployed that way but he séemed to excéede the chiefest of his ranke in yéelding his helpe and aide towards the reliefe of the poore All which the world taking knowledge of attributed as it is woont that which procéeded from his so Christian bounty rather unto wastfulnesse and prodigality The Inquisitors of Sevill envying the swéete savour of such a life and conversation as he led before them flowing from an inward taste of true Religion spared him no more than those of meaner condition For having gotten him into their hands they left no meanes unassayed but used the utmost of their devices to weaken his faith The truth is that at the first this noble personage was much perplexed but at the last the Lord fortified him so with his grace that he was set in the first rounde of the guilty Concerning his sentence howsoever this holy tribunall mixed the same with many untruths to bleare the eyes of the ignorant withall yet may it easily be collected out of the tenor of his sentence what he confessed and professed For in the said sentence were read his articles for which he was principally condemned to the fire namely That hée abhorred the Idolatry which is committed in adoring the Sacrament calling it a breaden god Also that when he met it as it was carried through the stréets either in solemnity or to some sicke body he passed into another stréet going apace before it that he might give no reverence unto it That comming often into the Cathedrall Church where masse was said he turned his back towards the Priest because he would not sée
was in his body And thus yée have heard the godly life and blessed end of this constant martyr ¶ Martin Bayart Claude du Flot with Io. Dantricourt borne in the Countrey of Artois and Noel Tournemine of Hering neere Seclin Martyrs 1566. YOu may easily discerne by the former Histories that the cruelties exercised against the Faithfull in Flanders nothing diminished the increasing of them for the innocent bloud thus shed was a meanes to bring many ignorant soules to the knowledge of the Truth These foure above named dwelling in the City of Lisle walked in the feare of the Lord with zeale according to knowledge as the event well manifested There was a Iesuit in the said City who had a servant that was cousin to one of the Martyrs with whom they laboured not without some perill first to shew him the odiousnesse of that sect and then to instruct him in the doctrine of the Gospell To which purpose they lent him a booke containing good instructions drawne out of the holy Scriptures The silly fellow not considering the hurt that might follow shewed it soone after to his Master The false Prophet by and by knew that this booke was not forged upon his anvile and therefore diligently enquired of his man where he had it Now that he might with the more expedition attaine his desire he gave him a piece of seven stivers telling him he should do well to bring him to the knowledge of them from whom he had received it which was not hard to doe in regard they all foure wrought upon their Trade which was to dresse sayes in an honest widowes house who professed the same Religion with them The Iesuite comming to the knowledge hereof failed not according to their guise to reveale it to the Magistrate Now lest he might be suspected to be the betrayer of them the Fox withdrew himselfe the same time out of the City whilst on a saturday morning about two of the clocke these foure were apprehended and imprisoned by the Magistrate It fell out the same day that certain writings were set up upon the Towne-house against the horrible tyranny of the Spanish Inquisition which was then intended to be brought in and executed throughout the Low-Countries which no doubt was the meanes wherby the Magistrates were the rather incensed against the prisoners But forasmuch as they were not found guilty of having any hand in this businesse they were onely examined about matters concerning their Faith To which they answered with such Anno 1566. courage and constancy without varying or wavering that the Iailour wondred how they could answer the Iudges so directly and pertinently as it were with one consent being notwithstanding severed one from another in the prison The second of March 1566. they were condemned for heretiques by the Provost of the City to which they replyed that if they were Heretiques then Gods word must néeds be heresie which could not be and therefore they fréely protested before all that they were Christians and held nothing but that which was agréeable to the word of God They were asked if they would submit themselves to the will of the Magistrates They answered they would submit themselves to the will of God Then was sentence of death forthwith pronounced upon them which was that they should be burned alive before the Towne-house When they were brought out of Prison to be executed Noels father came and embraced him and kissing him said Art thou led my son in this sort unto death This is nothing Father said hée for now am I going to life And howsoever Noel wept in going up to the Scaffold séeing his father so dissolved into teares yet recovering himselfe and being armed with new courage he cryed O yée Priests if we would have gone to your Masse we néeded not to have béen here but Iesus Christ never commanded nor instituted any such thing The Priests standing at the foot of the scaffold laboured to make the people beéeve they were Heretiques and that their faith was the faith of devills because they rejected the Sacraments But to that one of them answered that their Faith was nothing like to that of devills and as touching the Sacraments they held so many as Christ ordained Then said Martin suffer us to die in peace for we are in the right way and are going to Iesus Christ hinder us not in this our journey with these and the like spéeches the Priests mouthes were stopped not daring to come up upon the Scaffold as they were wont to doe Iohn Dauticourt comming up recited the articles of the Créed adding somewhat by way of exposition upon every Article Those who knew him before his imprisonment marvelled to heare him speake so judiciously The executioner thinking to please his Masters offered to gag him but the patient promised to hold his peace Yet being straitly fastened to the stake by the necke he said to the people O my friends were it for speaking wickedly that they commanded me to be silent it were somewhat but I cannot be permitted to speake unto you the word of God and with a loud voice said Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or anguish O Lord we are delivered to death for thy sake and are appointed as sheepe for the slaughter But let us be of good cheere my brethren for wee shall be more than conquerours through him that loved us The other thrée on their parts cryed and said Mat. 7. 14. This this is the way that leads to life this is the strait way by which we must enter thereinto as Christ our Lord hath taught us Noel likewise said Enter you my brethren and whilest I am alive pray for me for after death prayers prevaile not When all of them were fastened to their stakes and covered with fagots with fire ready to set thereto they began with one voice to sing the first part of the seven and twentieth Psalme and after that the song of Simeon to the end after which the fire began to be kindled in the middest whereof they were heard to cry ten or twelve times to the Lord especially Iohn and Noel with loud voices calling and saying Lord receive us this day unto mercy and unto thy kingdome And thus ceasing to cry any more they yéelded up their soules into the hands of God This constancy of theirs procéeding from the worke of Gods Spirit was not without singular fruit for the inlarging of the Church for many being touched therewith went home thence as if they had gone from a powerfull sermon ¶ Francis D' Alost in Flanders Martyr in the yeare 1566. THis yong man being by his trade a Cutler during the time of his ignorance frequented the Court much and tooke great delight in the vanity of this world which gat him much respect of many but chiefly among those of the Romish Religion namely Priests and Monkes who willingly conversed with him taking much contentment in his carriage and course
from the Faith But Smetius being a man learned and of a quick understanding remained constant which so confounded his opposite that hée went away with shame The Fryer invented a recantation to which it was reported that Smetius had subscribed But an Elder of the Church whose name was Cornelius Specox comming to the knowledge thereof by the helpe of friends got a sight of the said Recantation Who in the presence of divers friends conferring a certaine Letter which Smetius had put his name unto with that writing found it in nothing to agree therewith and therefore the recantation to bée méerely counterfeited The eighth of February being Saturday Smetius having his feete tied under an horses belly on which he was set was thus brought to Vilvourd to the * Hee was apprehended by his Provost with 20. horsemen as he was preaching at Malives When Smetins saw them he exhorted the congregation to be quiet for they are come said he to take me but the assembly was by and by scattered Provost who himselfe was afterwards hanged for his villanies His Sergeants passing immediatly along with him through Malives went towards Malladery of Wallen where finding a ladder set up to an oake they hanged him thereon Smetius being on the Ladder used these words Lord forgive them for they know not what they doe And then singing certaine verses of a Psalme he yéelded up his soule into the hands of the Lord. ¶ Master Iohn Goris and Ioris of Asschen Martyrs Anno 1567. IOhn Goris Chirurgion borne in Audenard travelling towards Gaud was betrayed by two spies who signified the same to the Bayliffe himselfe also going the same way whither Goris was travelling him The Bailiffe hirsting after the bloud of this poore innocent rid on till hee had overtaken him asking him whether hée went I am going said Goris to the Parish of Nazaret And I purpose also said the Bayliffe to goe thither wee will beare you company Having passed on thus a little way the Bayliffe thinking himselfe sure of Goris began to lay hands upon him Goris séeing that leaped over a ditch and got into a little wood The wood was presently beset with Countrey people and being there apprehended he was carried to Audenard as a shéep to the slaughter where he was committed to prison They layed many things to his charge which they were not able to prove Being examined the second time upon divers articles hee answered thereunto with such wisedome that the Counsell admired how a man of so meane account could defend his cause in so good a manner But after they came to question with him concerning matters of Religion now I see saith he that you seek my bloud The night following hee was overtaken with By this we see that man stands not by his owne strength such an apprehension of the feare of death that for saving his life hee was almost resolved to deny the truth But by the assistance of Gods holy spirit calling his thoughts together hee instantly and ardently besought the Lord to deliver him out of this temptation that by the power of his grace he might overcome the infirmity of his flesh which prayer of faith the Lord had such respect unto that from that time he manifestly resisted all Satans assaults and maintained the truth Though I fall saith the Church yet I shall arise Mâ—ch 7. 8. Act. 7 60. unto his last breath Having received sentence he was nothing appalled thereat but like the holy Martyr S. Stephen prayed God that he would not lay his death to their charge Comming to the place where he was to be executed casting himselfe downe prostrate he made his prayer to God in which prayer albeit he sought the Lord to forgive his Enemies yet added he this withall I am perswaded that God being a just Iudge will not leave their sinne unpunished Which prediction fell out not long after for the Bailife who apprehended him rejoyced in standing by whilst the martyr was executed was not long after shot with a harquebuse whereof he presently died like a wretch After Goris was thus executed they brought forth his fellow prisoner called Ioris of Asschen who the same day suffered the same kind of death that is to say he was hanged upon a gibbet which death he endured for the name of Christ with like constancy as did the former Which courage of his he thus manifested to his parents and friends in a letter written to them a little before his death ¶ A Letter written by Ioris of Asschen to his Parents and Friends a little before the time of his Martyrdome MOst deare Father and Mother Sister and Brother I write here unto you comfortable newes namely that in all my life I never saw any day so pleasing to me as this is in which the Lord hath counted me worthy to be one of his Champions and to suffer for his holy Name For which I give him most humble and hearty thanks I also thanke you much good Father and Mother that in all my distresses you have beene beneficiall and helpfull unto me and carefull for me for which the Lord aboundantly reward you in his kingdome Rejoyce with me I pray you that God hath now called me to such a glorious and welcome marriage day Oh how precious in the sight of the Lord our God is the death of his Martyrs Deare friends two Priests yea and some of the Magistrates also have sought to terrifie me with many threats thinking to turne me aside from my holy profession but the Lord of his great mercy hath given me his grace to withstand them all for I plainly told them I was not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ but would be willing and ready to die in the defence thereof following my Lord and Master Iesus Christ thorow all afflictions to be made partaker with him at the last of his eternall joyes in his celestiall Tabernacle Wherefore if God shal cal any of you forth to suffer ought for his Names sake beare the same I beseech you with meeknesse and patience not declining from the Truth for feare or favour to the right hand or to the left but feare him rather who is able to cast soule and body into hell The time which God hath lent us to converse in this world is but short and therefore let us begin to abandon the love thereof with all things that are therein betimes that so we may be ready to follow the call of God Deare Father and Mother I doe take my last farewell of you untill we meet together againe in the Kingdome of heaven where we shall partake of that joy which shall last for ever all sorrowes teares and griefes being wiped away Be ye not therefore grieved I pray you but be patient for the affliction which is befalne me is most acceptable unto me for which also I blesse and praise the Lord. The Lord prosper you in all your wayes to his glory and your good Thanke all
Lord so as she was nothing altered in her colour after shee was dead leaving to the Valencians the truth of this sentence Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the martyrdome Psal 116. 15. of his Saints and to the Iudges and her hangmen the Iesuites a perpetuall corrasive to their consciences ¶ An English man burned at Rome IN the yeare 1595. about the end of May there was executed a young man at Rome about the age of five and twenty yeares who went into the Church of Magdalen where beholding their behaviour being pricked forward with religious zeale and constant resolution not being able to endure the sight of those horrible impieties which were there committed amongst them As the Bishop was setting forward to goe on procession this young man directed his way towards the Church porch and as the procession began to passe forward he waited till the Bishop came that bare the Host and in his going forth stepped to the pixe plucking it out of his hands threw it to the ground saying aloud ye wretched Idolaters doe ye fall downe to a morsell of bread The people presently fell fell upon the young man yet without touching his person notwithstanding the great stirre they made he was from thence sent to prison to the Capitoll Complaint being made thereof to Pope Clement the eighth touching all that which had happened He presently ordained that he which had done it should be burned the same day for an example and terrour to all his companions But some of the Popes Cardinals being then at hand advised that he should be detained rather a while in prison to be examined by all exquisite tortures to make him confesse his fellowes and who had set him on Having kept him eight daies in prison nothing could be drawne from him but this speech Such was the will of God When they saw they could not prevaile his inditement was framed and his sentence registred namely that he was to passe from the Capitoll naked unto his middle and to weare on his head the forme of a Devill or Dragon his breeches painted all over with flames of fire and thus being bound in a cart to be burned alive being first carried in this manner about the City The Patient understanding how he was to be handled lifting up his eies implored helpe from the Almighty and séeing how he was derided of all continued in his devotion and prayers He could not refraine from uttering somewhat against the life of the Cardinals and their associates who hearing it began to be in a rage and that he might no longer bewray their wickednesse they caused a great gagge to be forced into his mouth which vexed him more then all the rest when he testified saying How shall I call upon my God But he patiently submitted himselfe to endure all their cruelties In this plight he was brought to Magdalens where he had cast downe the Idoll and there one of the hangmen cut off his hand before the doore at which the patient being not much moved his hand being set on a pole in the cart the two tormentors made him féele the force of the fire taking each of them a great torch in his hand flaming with which they scortched and burned his flesh through all the city of Rome At length they arrived at the place called Campio de Pior by which time the young man was brought into a pittifull case being scortched all over his body all blistered and bloudy having nothing whole but his head which he now and then lifted up Being taken downe out of the cart and séeing the post whereunto he was to be fastened with thrée chaines of yron he went of himselfe to the post and falling on his knées kissed the chaines with which he was there to be bound till the sacrifice should be ended But before the fire was put to him he was urged by Friers and Priests to worship an Idoll which they presented there before him From which turning away his face he shewed unto them his constant resolution to the contrary holding on his Christian course unto the end which he truly testified for as soone as the flames of fire seised on him bowing his head hee quietly yéelded up his soule into the hands of God ¶ The death and martyrdome of an old man of Millan who was burned at Rome THe same yeare they burned an old man who for a long time had lyen in the Inquisitors cares He dyed with great constancy and resolution Before his death he was exhorted and importuned by the Monks to kisse a crucifix He séeing their impudency said If ye take not this Idoll out of my sight you will constraine me to spit upon it which when they heard he was sent away to the fire and consumed to ashes ¶ The troubles and persecution of Bartholomew Copin a godly and religious martyr of Christ IN the yeare 1601. Bartholomew Copin of the valley of Luserne resorted unto a place called Ast in Piemont with certaine merchandise purposing to vent the same at a Faire there which was to be kept the day following It so fell out that sitting at supper in the evening with sundry other Merchants one amongst the rest began to use some spéech about the diversitios of Religions and there withall spake somethin◠tending to the disgrace of those of the valleyes of Angrougne and the neighbour villages Copin hearing such spéeches cast forth against his Brethren as he little expected from men of that sort and also against their Religion all which tended to the dishonour of God hee feared lest it should be offensively taken if he should not make some reply unto those blasphemies which he heard with his eares and so answer him who held such a discourse against the religion which himselfe professed He who reproved Copin asked Are you one of Vandois He answered yes I am And Anno 1601. what said the other beléeve you not that God is in the Host No said Copin Oh said the other sée how false your Religion is My religion said Copin is no lesse true then God is God and as certaine as I am sure to die The next day Copin was called before the Bishop of Ast who told him that report had béen made to him of some offensive spéeches which hee had used the night past in his lodging and therefore it behoved him now to acknowledge his fault if he meant to obtaine pardon for the same otherwise he must looke to be chastised according to his demerits Copin answered he had uttered nothing but that which he was first provided to speake nor had he said ought but what he was resolved to maintain to the hazard of his life He affirmed that God had bestowed upon him some worldly goods as also a wife and children but that he was not so glued in his affection to any of them but he could bee Luke 9 23. content to forgoe them all rather than the peace of a good