these things are too far above thy reach Said they the shrub is lower then the Beach I am said she indeed and yet my breath I 'll give in witness of my Saviours death O do not put me off with longer stay For Ah! I am impatient of delay My love hath wings it hovers up and down Nor can it rest till glory is her own My heart is fixed I will never go From what I said nor do as others do Then said the Bishop There 's no hopes to win her The devil leadeth her the devil is in her Not so my Lord quoth she Christ is my guide His Spirit upholds me that I cannot slide She when she heard deaths sentence past upon her Advanc'd her voice and said Unmated honour The Proverb 's true Long look'd for comes at last My Lord my God I thank thee that thou hast Granted to me this day my hearts desire In listing me with thy celestial Quire Woman said one be thou a happy wife By thy recanting O the sweets of life No said she by no means my life is hid With Christ in God now the good Lord forbid That for this life at best but transitory I should lose heaven and eternal glory I have two husbands but will onely cleave Unto my heavenly and my earthly leave The fellowship of Saints in heaven I trow Exceeds the having children here below And if my husband and my children prove Faithful then am I theirs they have my love God my good father is God is my mother God is my sister and God is my brother God is my kinsman God 's my faithful friend Who will stick close unto me till the end To execution then led along She was attended with a num'rous throng Bound to the stake she by the Popish Priests Was set upon again unwelcom guests To whom she thus for God's sake now give o're Your bibble babble trouble me no more With empty sounds fain would I Oh! divorce My self from your impertinent discourse O God be merciful to sinful me For Ah! I onely do depend on thee She stood with admirable patience Amidst the flames and so her soul flew hence Sh 'had such a cheerful look that one would say It was her wedding not her burning day She had been alwayes sober in her diet Neat in apparel peaceable and quiet Alwayes a doing never fitting still During her health and limbs by her good will Chain'd to her house she ever would refuse To gad abroad as most ill-houswives use To all that came to her her gracious heart Would streams of consolation impart Gods word was her delight she gave good heed Ther husband in the Lord a wife indeed According to her power she at her door And at their sev'ral homes reliev'd the poor And in the time of her calamity Would take no proff'red coyne for said she I Am going now to Heaven a City where No mony any Mastery doth bear And whilst I here remain the Lord will feed My craving stomack and supply my need It is his promise and full sure I be That he which feeds the Ravens will feed mâ— One Richard Sharp a Weaver by his trade In Bristel City apprehended made A large confession of his faith before One Dr. Dalby the there-Chancellour Who by perswasive Arguments so wrought Upon his weakness that he soon was brought To make a promise That he would appear And publickely recan and when and where But after this Apostacy Sharp felt His conscience gall'd hell's horrour so indwelt His soul that he his calling could not minde His colour went away his body pin'd Next Sabbath day going to Church he made To the Quire-door and with a loud voice said That Altar neighbours pray bear me record Is the Great Idol I deny'd my Lord But from the bottom of my heart am sorry For what I don in hazarding my Glory He caught condemn'd and burn'd with Thomas Hale Climb'd up to heaven from this tearful vale One Thomas Benson of the same town went To pris'n for saying That the Sacrament Was as they us'd it nothing else but bread And not the body of the Lord indeed As for the Sacraments which you call seven Five were ordain'd by men but two by heaven Give me the two which I acknowledge true And all the other five I 'll leave to you Soon after this he did receive death's sentence And executed to his God he sent hence His blessed soul which left its bodie 's jail For Paradise death having put in bail Now to conclude The last that did maintain The Gospel with their hearts-blood in the Raign Of Mary Queen that hell-begotten fury Were these five Citizens of Canterbury John Hurst John Cornford Captains in the fight Christopher Brown Alice Swoth and Kath'rine knight The things imputed to their charge were that Christs real presence they denyed flat Affirming onely those that do believe Not wicked men Christs body do receive The Pope they said was Antichrist the Mass Abominable that a sin it was To pray to Saints that cringing to a cross Was meer Idol'try and an errour gross c. Sentence of condemnation being heard Forthwith John Cornford was in spirit stirr'd And with an ardent zeal for God express'd In the name of himself and all the rest This doom I'th'name of Christ our Saviour The Son of God the High'st and by the power Of his most Holy-Ghost as also by The Holy and Divine authority Of the Apostolick and Cath'lick Church Never yet totally left in the lurch We here turn over to the Prince of hell As slaves eternally to howle and yell In sulph'ry flames the bodies of all those Blasphemers Hereticks who do oppose The living God and bolster up their errours Against the Truth hence to the King of Terrours So that by this thy righteous judgement shown Against thy foes great God thou mayst make known Thy true religion to thy greater glory And our souls comfort when we read the story Of thy great power and to th'edification Of all our well-nigh ruinated Nation Good Lord so be it be it so Amen And this his excommunication then Took great effect against truth's enemies Queen Mary within six dayes after dies And Tyrannie with her there is no hope Of any longer footing for the Pope In England now great joy betides to all The faith-ey'd Saints who wish'd proud Babels fall Yet the Archdeacon and 's associates quick Knowing the Queen was dangerously sick Condemn'd those pious persons to the flame And hurri'd them away When there they came In Christ his name they offer'd up their prayers As holocausis to the Almighties ears To God they pray'd to God for ever blest Preferring this request amongst the rest That if it were his will their blood might be The last that should be shed so Lord pray we No sooner had they pray'd but heaven return'd A gracious answer they the last that burn'd Great God said they we cheerfully resign Our souls into those blessed hands
wilt Know that to make thee answer for thy guilt Engines are ready if thou l't not be turn'd Thou shalt beheaded be or rack'd or burn'd What a small matter is 't not worth this strife To strew incense yet that shall save thy life Eulalia not reply'd but spurn'd abroad The incense heaps and did with spittle load The tyrants face the Hangmaa having retch'd her With wilde-beasts talons to the hard bones scratch'd But she ceas'd not to praise the Lord and prize her Th' attainment of these sublime dignities VVith th' iron grate her mangled body's gor'd Her brests with flaming torches are devour'd Her long hair set on fire she opened wide Her mouth and sucked in the flame and di'd The Judge told Agues if she did refuse To sacrifice there was a common stews And in she should the chast religious maid Unto the flock'd-lascivious youngsters said Christ will not suffer this I tell you true This spotless soul to be defil'd by you By you base slaves to lust then was she plac'd Naked i'ch'street and publickly disgrac'd Amongst the rest one scoffing at her shame A flame like to a flash of lightning came And struck out both his eyes he falling down Did wallow in the dirt while she did crown Her soul in praising God the Judge sends word To th'executioner to sheath his sword In her warm bowels Agnes maketh hast To meet with him she cannot run so fast O this said she this this is he whom I Am taken with I long I long to die My brest stands fair thrust souldier if thou wilt Thy glitt'ring rapier up unto the hilt Dear Father open wide the gates of heaven To entertain my soul her life 's bereaven SECT XV. The Persecution of the Christians in Perfia under Sapores about the same time ANd now the Persian Magicians bring In accusations to Sapores King Against the Christians for their adhering To Constantine the Great a crime past cleering The King incens'd herewith with taxes fines Oppress'd them sore and killed their Divines Simeon their Priest was into prison sent For slighting Idol-gods and as he went Vsthazares a Christian of late Since sall'n away who at the Court-gate sate Espying him led by obeysance did him But Simeon for Apostatizing chid him The conscious Eunuch suddenly let fall A briny showre his costly garments all Laid by he mourn'd and with dejected face Deplored thus his lamentable case Ah me with what a brazen brow shall I Look upon God see'ng Simeon doth deny His kinde salute He to the King must go Who gently ask'd him why he mourned so If in my Palace thou want'st any thing Speak man and by the honour of a King It shall be thine that tolerable were But Ah! who can a wounded spirit bear 'T is this said he that acerbates my woe I live who should have dyed long agoe This Sun I see to which I seem'd to bow Thereby denying Christ to pleasure you I 'll take a solemn vow for to adore The great Creator not the Creature more The King adjudged him to lose his head And at his death at his request 't was spread Here 's one that suffers not for any treason But for religion and no other reason The Christians which disheartened had bin By his Apostacy he sought to win By his profession and example too To take new courage and to undergo The like if need requir'd Good Simeon Rejoyc'd and prais'd the Lord for what was don When the next Sun had rais'd them from their beds He and a hundred more all lost their heads The King decreed no mercy should be us'd To them which to adore the Sun refus'd The sword rang'd over all the Persian bounds Devour'd whole Cities and unpeopled towns In brief in all during Sapore's reign Were more then sixteen thousand Christians slain SECT XVI The Churches Persecution under Julian the Apostata Anno Christi 365. NO sooner was Constantius deceas'd Julian his nephew of the West and East Is made sole Emperour he from his youth Was well instructed in religion's truth His good behaviour and ingenious parts Made him a Load-stone to attract all hearts In brief he had what 's difficult to finde The rare endowments of a vertuous minde But he Apostatiz'd Satan his tutor Learn'd him to be the Churches persecutor He op'd the Idol Fanes lock'd up before And when the Christian faith grew more and more By torments he was pityful and mild And by his gifts and flatteries beguil'd The weaker sort who avarous of gaia VVere drawn aside he also did ordain That none professing Christianitie Master of any Art should dare to be Or any Officer he did suborn Jesters to load them with contempt and scorn Himself put none to death yet did the crew Of Heathenish Idolaters imbrew Their hands in Christian gore brain'd them with stones And tore the flesh from off their naked bones Drench'd some in scalding water some were stipp'd Stark naked others had their bellies rip'd And stuff'd with barly for the greedy swine To champ upon while some with famine pine Some smear'd with honey up against the Sun In baskets hung for VVasps to feed upon The children neither spar'd father nor mother Nor parents chil'ren no nor brother brother The flesh-deprived bones of some were mix'd VVith asses bones here hangs on crucifix'd And there 's one drag'd about the streets a third Is taken captive like a twiglim'd bird VVhen Julian sacrific'd to Fortune one Maris Bishop of blind-ey'd Chaleedon Sharply rebuk'd him call'd him impious man Apostate Atheist to whom Julian Retorts Blind fool thy God of Galiles VVill not restore thy fight and make thee see Maris reply'd I am not so unkinde As not to thank my God which made me bliade Lest that mine eyes turn'd from a better fight Upon thy so ungracious face should light Cyrillus Deacon in Hier apolis Demolished the Gentiles Images He 's took his belly 's rip'd his liver drawn Out of his body with their teeth is gnawn A little tract of time b'ing wheel'd about Their tongues were rocted and their teeth fell out Of their loose sockecs their blind eyes no more Beheld the objects they beheld before While of Apollo's Delphick Oracle Julian enquir'd a flash of lightning fell From the collided clouds which overturn'd The Temple and Apollo's Image burn'd The fines were more then they were sessed at He scoff'd them thus You ought to undergo All wrongs does not your God command you so Ath'nafius said This persecution Is but a little cloud 't will soon be gon SECT XVII The Churches Persecution under the Arrian Hereticks which began An. Christi 339. GReat Constantine a while before he dy'd Amongst his sons did equally divide His Empire to the rule he did assigne Constantius Constans and Constantine Constantius that governed the East Was soon seduced by an Arrian priest Who him inform'd that Athanasius Return from exile was pernicious Unto the publick good incensed then The Emp'rour sent five thousand
rain'd Abundant showrs which fertiliz'd the land Laine barren for three years thus Gods good hand Appeared in a plenteous increase He sent his Gospel with his Gospel-peace Thus the South-Saxons with the Ifle of Wight Did last of all embrace the Gospels light About this time the Roman Church disown'd Her pristine beauty Antichrist enthron'd The Pope did Lord it over all he sent Italian Theodorus into Kent With many Monks there Masses must be sung And in the Latin not the mother-tongue Bishops and Ministers he did displace At 's pleasure so that in a little space Truth turn'd to errour Piety to vainness Zeal to contempt Religion to profaness Because their iterated crimes did urge Gods wrath the Pagan-Danes became their scourge SECT III. Of the Heptarchy united by Egbert and of the invasion by the Danes and of the Persecution of the English Church under them KIng Egbert after many battails fought United first the Heptarchy and brought In Monarchy into the British land The whole Realm his he gave a strict command That Britain should be England nam'd and all The Saxons answer to the English call The Pagan-Danes invaded several times To plague her for her execrable crimes This British Isle not striving to enjoy And conquer it but t'utterly destroy They whosoe're they met man woman child Kill'd or enslaved and the Churches spoil'd They sacked Canterbury in which place Above nine thousand souls they did uncase Throughout the Land their cruelty was such Of blood they thought theycould not shed too much This Isle was subject to a forreign power Till freed by William the Conquerour Who list to know the intercourse of things The Acts and the Successions of Kings May if he please for brevity's my mark Read them at large in famous Mr. Clarke SECT IV. The Persecution of the English Church under the Papacy ALthough Religion from the time this Isle Embrac'd grace first retain'd not all this while Its Prim tive splendour but grew more obscure More superstitious and no less impure Yet in those Pristine dayes the peoples crimes Were not equivalent to after-times The Church now being in the desarts hid Affraid to shew her face th' Almighty did Raise Bernard up and many more beside T' unmask and check the Antichristian pride And superstitious disordred orders Too too luxuriant in the British borders At which the Pope and his adherents urg'd They were imprison'd hang'd and burnt and scourg'd About the streets or branded in the sorehead With an Heret'cal character O horrid Yet many did most readily embrace Their Doctrine as the onely meanes of grace That man of sin that offspring of perdition Renounc'd and all the wayes of superstition God still preserv'd a Church unto his name From Christs time till the time that Luther came John Patrick Engina When Alfred reign'd The first Reader in Oxford was ordein'd He wrote a book about the Sacrament For which a Martyrs death he underwent They branded in the face and banish'd some Divines at Oxford who declam'd ' gainst Rome One Arnold there they butcher'd who decry'd Against the Priests lewd lives and Prelates pride In Henry's reign the second of that name Thirty Waldenses into England came Gerard their Pastor and without all pity Were whipped publickly through Oxford City They singing all the while Blessed are yee When you shall hated and misused be c. With want and cold they dy'd none might afford Them any comfort nor at bed nor board Gualdo who ' gainst the priests invectives wrote And also Doctor Gilbert Foliot Who oft blam'd Thomas Becket to his face Were persecuted much to them a grace Sylvester Gyrald by his writings tears Such Hornets up as fall about his ears One Alexander for his bitter stile Banish'd by Langton died in exile Ashton fellow of Merton colledge went Into perpetual imprisonment One William Sawtre Thorp and Swinder by With sundry more Divines condemn'd did die Under the Christian Banner and their spirits Pass'd into glory through Christ Jesus merits And now because my Muse finds nothing new But onely Martyrs names she dids adieu At present Reader but intends to meet Thy serious eye within another sheet SECT V. The Persecution of the English Church after the rising of Martin Luther THE Christian world appear'd not very clear Until the fifteen hundred eighteenth year Wherein God pleased to unbosome night The Art of Printing being brought to light Which furnished the Church with useful books And made them to discerne Religions looks From superstition as in a mirrour Substantial Truth from counterfeited errour God also rais'd up sundry men of parts Who by their learning and ingenious Arts Most strenuously opposed Barbarism Truths Sunshine breaking from the clouds of Schism Picus and Franciscus Mirandula Laurentius Valla Francis Petrarcha Erasmus Doctor Collet Wesalinus Rhenanus Grocinus and Revelinus c. Were in Gods vineyard faithful labourers Then Martin Luther and his followers By Gods appointment came into this nation To work his Church t' a fuller Reformation Six persons suff'red death at Coventry Onely for teaching of their family The Lords pray'r ten commandments and the creed I' th' English tongue Severity indeed One Thomas Harding on an Easter day When others worship'd Idols went to pray Within a silent grove where apprehended Condemn'd and burnt his soul to heaven ascended At London one John Raimond was abjur'd Who fifteen hundred Testaments procur'd Of Antwerp Print and brought five hundred over Into this Isle the darkness to discover One Sigar Nicholson was hung up by The ptivy members and the reason why Was this in Cambridge he a Stationer Kep'd in his house some works that Luther's were One Thomas Hitten a Divine in Kent After a tedious imprisonment Was over to the sec'lar power turn'd And by them in the Town of Maidstone burn'd Cardinal Woolsy persecuted sore Bilny Lome Garret Barnes and many more One Richard Bayfield was from Lollards tower Deliver'd over to the sec'lar power And after bound at stake when with the flame His left arm burned was he rubb'd the same With his right hand so hard that down it fell He pray'd until he went in heaven to dwell Edward Freese Johnstone Wylie Father Bates All shut up with their wives in Fulham grates During their hard imprisonment were fed O misery indeed with saw-dust bread After a tedious lying in the stocks Thay let them go but clog'd their legs with locks James Bainham when half burned at the stake To this effect unto the Papists spake Behold ye look for miracles and here A miracle indeed doth now appear For I am as insensible of pain As if I on a bed of down were lain All 's one to me both equally do please O t is a Rosy bed a bed of ease An Idol nam'd The Rood of Dover Court Was burnt and some in chains were hanged for 't Now suffer'd Andrew
stripped Then hang'd up by the hands and soundly whipp'd Her paps pull'd off she while her body sryes Lifts up her hands and eyes and prayes and dyes SECT IV. The Persecution of the Church from Christs time to our present age and first of those mentioned in the New-Testament HEROD the Great having intellegence That there was born unto the Jews a Prince At Bethleem a band of men he sent To do full execution as they went On smiling babes throughout Judea's land Supposing Jesus might not scape his hand Snatch'd from the breast the pretty little ones Were tost on Pikes and dash'd against the stones The Tyrant after this distracted grew And 's wife his children and familiars slew With sickness struck he knew not where to turn What course to take for a slow fire did burn His inward parts his canine appetite Was unsuffic'd his lungs corrupted quite His bowels rot his secrets putrify'd Consum'd with wormes he miserably dy'd Herod the Less incestuously wedded John Baptist for his plain reproof beheaded Peter and John restor'd a man born lame Preach'd Christ and were imprison'd for the same The High-priests and the Sadduces up-risen Against th' Apostles cast them into prison But in the night an Angel of the Lord Op'ning the doors their liberties restor'd They on the morrow for divulging Christ Re-apprehended were beaten dismist False witnesses suborned holy Steven Did through a Stony-volley go to heaven A gen'ral persecution breaking out At Solyma the Saints disperse about The Judean and the Samarian borders A persecting Saul the Church disorders The Jewish fury new-converted Saul Scapes by a basket let down o'r the wall James is beheaded while Agrippa storms Against the Church he was devour'd by worms Peter enlarged by an Angel was Sosthenes Silas Paul and Barnabas Were beaten whipp'd and forced several times To leave their Country and seek other climes Paul's ston'd at Lystra and for dead he lay But God reviv'd him he took Derbe-way Much he endur'd abroad and much at home And in the end was Martyred at Rome James Jesus brother from a Pin'cle cast Recov'ring on his knees thus spake his last Father thee on my bended knees I woo Forgive them for they know not what they do A Cameles knees were said to be more soft Then his by reason that he kneel'd so oft Vespasian did to him the Jews subject Titus Jerus'lem and the Temple sack'd Andrew and Philip's crucifi'd rough blows Kill Barthol'mew Thoumas as a dart o' rethrows Mathew's thrust through Simon Zelotes dead Upon the cross Mathi as loft his head And Judas brother unto James not mist A murth'rous stroke Mark the Evangelist Went up to heaven in a fi'ry Car One of the Deacons named Nicanor Did with two thousand Christians lay down This life to take up an immortal crown THE Persecution of the Church Under the Heathen ROMAN Emperours SECT V. The first Primitive Persecution which began Anno Christi 67. DOmitius Nero while in sheets of fire The Roman City caper'd sang t' his Lire The incendiums of Troy and from a Tow'r Feasted his eyes to see the flames devour Those goodly structures and high Tow'rs of state Which startled the beholders eyes of late The Circus fell the pondrous beams and stones Crushing to pieces many thousand ones The fire burns others and the flame and smoak Nine dayes continu'd a great number choak Thus Nero on himself an Odium brought And to excuse himself transfer'd the fault Upon the harmless Christians it was they Had done it out of malice no delay Detards his hasty feet from shedding bloud VVhere e're he comes he makes a crimson floud Flow down the streets in wild-beasts skins he wraps Christians and throws them to dogs worr'ing chaps In paper stiffened with molten wax He packs up some and puts on others backs A searcloth-coat and bolt upright them bound To axle-trees first pitched in the ground Then at the botom fir'd these constant flames Afforded light to Nero's nightly games Kept in his garden other some he takes And goar 's in length upon erected stakes This persecution through th' whole Empire spred So that the Cities were replenished With slaught'red carkases the old the young And naked women altogether flung Such was his rage a Christians loathed name He strove t'extirpate wheresoe're he came At four years end this direful blast expires In Paul and Peter two bright-shining fires Peter as he desir'd was crucifi'd With his head downward so a Martyr dy'd And Paul his faith's confession having spoke Yielded his neck unto the fatal stroke SECT VI. The second Primitive Persecution which began Anno 96. DOmitian his brother Titus slaies And doth the second persecution raise For whilst Vespasian and his son remain'd The Church with golden links of Peace was chain'd He flew the Roman Nobles and decreed The extirpation of David's seed John the belov'd Disciple boyl'd in oyl Unhurt was banish'd into Patmos lfle One Simcon Bishop of Jerus'lem dy'd Upon the cross a number more beside Of Christians he impoverish'd and sent Them out to lead their lives in banishment The Roman Senate passed this decree That Christians should not have their libertie VVhen brought before the Judgment-seat unless They deviate from their Religiousness The Heathenish Idolaters devise Against the Saints abomniabile lies And envious slanders That they were seditious Incestuous rebellious and pernicious Unto the Empire none could them importune By any means to swear by Casars fortune If famine plague or war amongst them came The Christians were the Authors of the same And look what accusations they related Domitian was the more exasperated And us'd what e're mans wicked wit invents Stripes Rackings Scourgings and Imprisonments Deep dungtons Stoning Strangling the Gridiron Cibbet and Gallows red-hot plates t'environ The tendrest parts the teeth of salvage bears The horns of Buls and sticking up on spears c. Thus kill'd a lawful burial was deny'd them Pil'd up and tear-throat dogs were left beside them Though Christians sufferings were very sore Yet still the Church encreased more and more In the Apostles doctrine deeply grounded And with the blood of Martyr'd Saints surrounded Good Timothy Religious from his youth Was stoned as a witness to the truth By those that worshipped Diana bright One Dionysius th' Arcopagite VVas slain at Paris by a treach'rous villan Protasius and Gervasius fell at Millain SECT VII The third Primitive Persecution which began Anno Christi 108. DOmitian being by his servants slain Nerva succeeded in whose gracious reign VVhich was but thirteen months the Saints enjoy'd A peaceful season and were not destroy'd Trajan next him the Roman crown put on He 't was rais'd the third Persecution VVorse then the former were which did incite An heathenish Philosopher to write I' th' Christians behalf to Trajan shewing That whereas many thousands in his viewing VVere killed yet contraite the Roman Laws None did which might such Persecution
Declining the dispute the Orth'dox then A Declaration of their faith did pen And did it with this protestation show What our belief is if you long to know Here 't is the Arrians stormed at this thing Gave them foul words accus'd them to the King He all of them out of the City turn'd Who them reliev'd must by his Law be burn'd The Bishops which i' th' open fields did ly Bespake the Tyrant as he passed by What evil have we done we fain would know The reason why we are afflicted so If we be called to dispute we crave Why are we thus despoil'd of all we have Why must we live on dunghils in distress Afflicted housless cold and comfortless He bids and over them his horsmen ride Many are bruised sore then they deny'd B'ing urg'd unto an oath to put their hands And said Our God contrarily commands Nor are we mad-men or such fools as that We should subscribe before we know to what This was the tenour of the oath then read You all shall swear that when the King is dead Hildrick shall reign and that no man shall send Letters beyond the seas The King your friend Upon your taking it will you restore Unto the Churches you were at before They that did not and also they that did Were all enslaved and to preach forbid What doleful outeries what heart-rending grones Were throughout Affrick caus'd by bloody ones With cudgels either sex and age was bang'd Here some they burned there they others hang'd Women and naked gentlewomen were Openly tortur'd all their bodies bare Fair Dionysia bolder the rest Thus the conceptions of her mind exprest Afflict your fill God's favour I have got Onely my woman-hood disclose you not These words scarce out they more enraged strip'd her Expos'd her to all eyes and soundly whip'd her Untill the blood flow'd down that which you broach Satanick slaves said she for my reproach Is my best garland Then she wisely chear'd Her young and onely son who persever'd Patient in all his pains till he disburst His spirit unto him that gave it first Hunrick b'ing dead succeeding Gundabund Twice six years tyranniz'd mild Thrasamund And Ild'rick ruled well But in conclusion Bell'zarius brought the Vandals to confusion After they ninety years had been a rod To scourge the Saints and Israel of God THE Persecution of the Church Under the PAPACY SECT XX. The Persecution of the Waldenses which began Anno Christi 1160. WHen the black cloak of Popery was hurl'd Upon the shoulders of the christian world The saints still labour'd to dispel away Those shades Cimmerian and reveal the day With truth's bright lustre and withall devest The Roman glory One among the rest A learn'd and godly man at Lions whose name Was Peter Valdo much oppos'd the same Declaring plainly Transubstantiation To be no better then an Innovation He mov'd the cred'lous people to embrace The precious offers of the means of grace They which unto his Doctrine gave respect From him were called the Waldensian Sect Which like a Snow-ball rowling down a hill Decreased nothing but increased still Though ev'ry day and hour the Martyrs bleed Yet is the Martyrs blood the Churches seed This her'sy in a thousand Citys swarms Maintaining seventy thousand men of arms Nor could the popish Canons Constitutions Curses Decrees alter their resolutions To suffer wrong in body goods or name For Christ his sake was counted not a shame Valdo yet still proceeds nor can he hope Long life to publish to the world the Pope Is Antichrist the Mass abominable The Host an Idol Purgator ' a fable Pope Innocent the third did authorize Monkish Inquisitors for to surprize These Her'ticks as he call'd them by process That so the sec'lar power might them suppress Is any rich the inquis'cors had a trick To make him poor Oh he 's an Heretick Let him have such a death no power controul'd Or curb'd them in but what they would they would If any water or a pad of straw Gave to the Saints he was condemn'd by law If any advocate assaid to plead His kinsmans cause an Action indeed And if an Heir his father that way leans And that 's enough to rob him of his means Nay for to keep the people in more aw They prisoners do in their processions draw Triumphantly injoyning them to vex And scourge themselves with ropes about their necks A torch in either hand others along Must pass to terrify the gazing throng Besides all these they have a thousand Querks They send cut some to fight against the Turks And Infidels no need to seek for heires Their houses goods and chattels all are theirs At their return if any ask'd their wives VVho lay with them They ' ndangered their lives The foes confess'd they had not wherewithall To build up prisons for th' accused all And yet for all this persecution there Above eight hundred thousand Christians were The faith encreas'd and with a prosp'rous gale Clim'd o're the Alps came to Pragela's vale From thence the people bordered upon St. Martin Piedmont La Perouse Angrogne Wander there did innumerable flocks Upon the craggy cliffs and algid rocks Above three thousand being hid in caves VVere stifled by these marble-hearted slaves The poor Waldenses by their pray'rs and tears Oft mov'd the Lord to free them from their fears Two horsemen flying cry'd They come they come Another while the beating of a drum Caused their foes retreat which stones and slings They thousands kill'd at several skirmishings Thus God for his despised Saints did fight A handful putting num'rous foes to flight But when the godless party overcame They did commit their captives to the flame Or hang'd them up or cut them out in quarters All which discourag'd not the glorious Martyrs Through the industrious Waldenses toil Abundant store of Corn and VVine and Oil Enrich'd Calabria And God did bless Their pains in Provence with the like success At last when freely they the Gospels worth Began to publish Pope Pins the fourth Disturbing them they left behinde their goods VVith wives and children flying into th' woods But were pursu'd some slain and others wounded Some famine-pined souls in caves were found dead And they that were of St. Xist and la Garde VVere rack'd strip'd whip'd nor old nor young was Panza slays eighty and stakes up their joynts spar'd For thirty miles together he appoints A quarter to each stake Merindol Town VVas razed by Opede and batter'd down The Cabrierians brought into a field VVere hack'd to pieces cause they would not yield And in a barn replenished with straw VVomen were fir'd Opede himself did draw Young Infants from their mothers â—ip'd-up bellies His men kill'd them of Aix and Marseilles Some two and two together bound they slew And boots of scalding oil O cruell drew On others legs But heav'n at last decreed A woful end to that accurs'd Opede The Waldenses which into Albs came Of Albigenses thence receiv'd the name
Pope Al'xander the third his wrath did smoke When they shook off his Antichristian yoke He them condemn'd as Het'ticks yet they spred And many potent Towns inhabited Nay many Lords and Earls did with them side Against the Pope and constantly deny'd The Romish faith and resolutely spake Their willingness to suffer for Christs sake Beziers was stormed by the Pilgrim train And in it sixty thousand persons slain The Legat saies Souldiers kill old and young For why God knoweth those to him belong The Catholicks besieg'd and batter'd down On the inhab'tants heads Carcasson Town When Baron Castle was surpriz'd th' enclos'd Of th' Albigenses were disey'd disnos'd Then sent to Cab'ret with an one-ey'd guide Yet still like gold that 's in a furnace tri'd The Saints appear'd their sparkling zeal like fire Blown by afflictions bellows blaz'd the higher Now Luther rose the Antichristian terror And those that were seduc'd reduc'd from error SECT XXI The Persecution of the Church of God in Bohemia which began Anno Christi 894. BOrivojus Duke of Bohemia Entring the confines of Moravia By a strange providence was Christianiz'd And with him thirty Pal'tines were baptiz'd At his return he raised from the ground Churches and Schools and all the Country round Flock'd thither many of the Noble race As well as Commons did the Truth embrace Malicious Satan env'ing the progress The Gospel made gainst those that it profess Rais'd persecution up Borivojus Is sent into exile Sanguineous Drahomira ' the Christian temples locks Forbidding Ministers to tend their flocks And in the silent night three hundred lives Pay'd tribute to the bloody cut-throats knives But Gods just Judgement Drahomira follow'd The opening earth her and her Cart up swallow'd The Popish party having got the day Did all the obvious Bohemians slay At Cuttenburge four Thousand souls were thrown Into the Metal-Mines O hearts of stone The Priests cry out Blow out good people blow These sparks before into a flame they grow Water is us'd the more they did endeavour To drown the Saints they flamed more then ever Many are scourg'd some sent into exile Two German Merchants brought unto the pile Exceedingly encourag'd one another One sayes Since Christ hath suffered dear brother For wretched us let 's do the same likewise For him and such a high-bred savour prize That we are counted worthy so to die For his sweet sake the other did reply The joy that in my Marriage-day I found Was small to this O this doth more abound Both cry'd aloud the Faggots set on fire Blest Christ thou in thy torments didst desire Thine en'mies peace the like we also crave Forgive the King let not the Clergy have Thy scalding vengeance O forbear to plague The poor misled inhabitants of Prague O be thou pleas'd to let them Scot-free go For Ah! poor souls they know not what they do Their hands are full of blood they pray'd and wept And wept and pray'd till in the Lord they slept On Noble-men intolerable Fines Were laid two hundred eminent Divines Are exil'd some are burned others brain'd Some shot to death with blood the earth 's destain'd The Martyrs one by one that were in hold Are called forth who resolutely bold Hast to their sufferings with as great content As if they had unto a banquet went When one was called for he thus exprest Himself in taking leave of all the rest Farewel dear friends Farewel the Lord support Your spirits that you may maintain the fort Against the common foe and make you stout And resolute to keep all batt'ry out That what you lately with your mouths profest You may by your so glorious death attest Behold I lead the way that I may see My Saviours glory you will follow me To the fruition of my fathers sight O how my soul is ravish'd with delight This very hour all sorrow bids adieu To my glad heart O now my joyes renew Transcendent joyes heaven and eternity Is mine is mine Then did the rest reply God go along with you O heaven we pray Assist thy servant in his thorn-pav'd way O may the willing Angells come to meet Thy obvious body and direct thy feet Into thine and our Fathers Mansion Go go dear brother go and we anon Shall follow after and be all receiv'd To bliss through Christ in whom we have believ'd Farewel farewel let equal joyes betide To us that follow and to you our guide First the Lord Schlick a man as wise as grave Condemned to be quarter'd did behave Himself most gallantly and said My doom Me pleaseth well what care I for a Tombe A Sepulchre is but an easie loss Fear death not I welcom my crown my cross Let let these limbs be scatter'd here and there I have Gods favour and I do not fear The worst that foes can do see how the Sun Displaies his shining beams Jesuites be gon And build not Castles in the empty air For I dare die for Christ I that I dare Be pleas'd blest Jesus thorough deaths dark night To Manu-duct me to eternal light Eternal light O what a happy sound That word reports my soul at a rebound Catch heaven catch heaven no sooner had he spoke But he submitted to the fatal stroke His right hand and his head lop'd off his shoulders Are hung on high to terrify beholders The Lord Wenceslaus seventy years old B'ing next was asked why he was so bold In Fred'ricks cause he said My conscience run Along with me and what is done is done My God lo here I am dispose of me Thine aged servant as best pleaseth thee O send that grim-look'd messenger that staies For none to end these miserable dayes May I not see the ruines that do wait Upon our sinking our declining State Behold this Book my Paradise was never So cordial as now Judges persever In sucking Christian blood but know Gods ire Shall smoak you for 't Up starts a cowled Fryer And said Your Judgement errs With this reply He answer'd him I on the truth rely And not on bare opinion Christ's the Way The Truth the Life in him I cannot stray Then stroaking his prolixed beard he said My gray hairs honour serves you having pray'd And giv'n his soul to Christ his Saviour His cut-off head was fixed on the Tower Lord Harant next was call'd who bravely said I 've travell'd far and many journeys made Through barb'rous countries and escaped dangers By sea and land yet was my life by strangers Surrepted not b'ing safe returned home My friends and Country-men my foes become For whom I and my Grandsires have let fall And wasted our estates our lives and all Forgive them father I O Lord have grounded My faith in thee let me not be confounded Then on the Scaffold thus O Lord I give My spir't into thine hands in hope to live By Christ his death according to thy word And so he yielded to the murth'rous sword Sir Caspar Kaplitz eighty six years old Said to the Minister
said the Shrieffe in the Queen's name To fling that Vip'rous book into the flame Then spake he with a cheerful voice and said Dear friends bear witness I am not affraid To seal Christ's Gospel with my dearest blood Knowing 't is true and was of late your food Though now surrepted from you and because I 'll not deny it to obey mans laws Condemn'd I be to dy see that you walk In answer to the truth of which you talk And as for those that do the Pope believe Hell 's theirs without Gods merciful reprieve Except said then the Sheriffe believe thou do The Pope th' art damn'd both soul and body too Pray to thy God that he may set thee free Or strike me down The Lord forgive said he Your temerarious words Dear Lord thou knowst How I left all to come to thee thou dost Draw with Magnetick-love to thee I fly For shelter Ah! but when my serious eye Darts on thy power and on my self looks down I fear the wrath of a condemning frown What shall I shrink no now the flames surround me I 'll trust my God although my God confound me Christ Jesus help Christ Jesus look upon me He cry'd and dy'd with Lord have mercy on me Iveson said All the treasure in the nation Should never draw him to a recantation I to the mercy of my God appeal And would be none of your Church for a deal Yea though an heaven-sent Angel came t' expound Unto me other Doctrine I 'm not bound For to receive it hereupon condemn'd And put into the fire he death contemn'd James Abbes a Godly man did shift about From place to place for safeties sake found out At last they carri'd him to Norwich town VVhere by the Bishop's threats he did disown VVhat he profess'd the Bishop seeing so Gave him some money and dismiss'd him too But conscience bringing him upon the rack The Bishops money he returned back Repenting e're he took it then again The Bishop strove to gain him but in vain Though Peter-like he fail'd now to persever Resolve he did and stood more fast then ever Even to his last-drawn breath the Bishop's fury Condemn'd him to be burn'd he burn'd at Bury John Denly Newman Partrick Packingham Dy'd constant Martyrs for their Saviours name Wright Coker Collier Hooper Stere and more Besides in Canterbury faggots bore Robert Smith Stephen Harwood Thomas Fust And William Hale dy'd for the truth their trust Eliz'beth Warne condemned to be burn'd By Bonner unto Bonner soon return'd These words Do what you will with me for why If Christ was in an errour so am I Otherwise not but Christ spake true I know Therefore then was she burn'd at Stratford-Bow About this very time George Tankerfield Did at St. Albanes to their rancour yield George King John Wade and Tho. Leyes with sore Usage fell sick and dy'd in Lollards tower In Suffolk Mr. Robert Samuel Of Barfold Min'ster who instructed well The flock committed to his charge was tost To Norwich goal there chained to a post And so erect that 's body did command For some small ease induc'd his tip-toes stand Hunger and thirst bad helpers are procur'd VVhat tongue can tell what he poor man endur'd At last brought to be burn'd an easie pain To what he felt before he did detain Some friends in telling them a most strange story Of what fell out while he was us'd so sory VVhen I much want said he had undergon I slept and then me thought appeared one Cloath'd all in white who whisp'red in mine ear Samuel Samuel be of good cheer Take heart to grass man thou hast past the worst Henceforth thou shalt nor hunger feel nor thirst VVhich came to pass such consolation did Sweeten his woes that modesty forbid Him tell the same So as he went along To execution amidst the throng A maid there was who after scap'd did fall About his neck and kissed him withall The while his body burn'd it shin'd as bright As new-try'd Silver or as Cynthia's light Next day Anne Potten and Joan Trunch field come From Ipswich prison unto Martyrdome Thomas Cob William Allen Roger Coo Death for the sake of Christ did undergo In Coventry and Litchfield-Diocess One Mr. Robert Glover did profess The Gospel he surprized had his doom To be confined to a narrow room And dark withall next to the dungeon Scarce having straw enough to lie upon No chair nor stool to fit on none might look To him though sick pen paper ink nor book Was not allow'd him yet a Teftament And Prayer-book by stealth he getting spent Most of his time in pray'r and meditation On Gods great love in working mans salvation Yea said he health began to come my peace Of conscience did more and more encrease God's spir't reviv'd me I had sometimes some Glimm'ring reflections of the life to come All for his own Son's sake to him alwayes Be Glory Honour and Obedience Praise Two dayes before his death he found his heart Less lightsome then it was and fear'd the smart Would too much try his patience for his pray'rs God heard not he unbosomed his fears Unto a Godly Minister his friend Who wish'd him to be constant to the end O play the man your cause is just and true God will appear anon I 'll warrant you The stake in fight he said I see him whom I call'd for Austin Oh he 's come he 's come And look'd so cheerful e'en as though new breath He should receive and not a painful death Cornelius Bongey Capper also came With him and burned in the self-same flame Mr. John Glover now was troubled sore Seeing his brother took for him therefore He would have suff'red in his brother's stead But by his friends importunings he fled Into the neighbouring Woods did there abide Till he with cares and cold sickned and dy'd His body privately was buri'd in The Church-yard they his bones dig'd up agin A twelvemonth after threw them out Opains For to be trampled on by Horses Wains And thus though in his life he scaped from Their rage yet after 's death on him they come William the third brother in Shropshire dead Might not by their consent be buried Wolsey and Pigot suff'red in the Isle Of Ely And within a little while Bishop Ridly and also Latimer Burned at Oxford Stephen Gardiner That day to dine till almost night deferr'd Th' old Norfolk Duke then with him having heard Word of their deaths he with a smiling brow Said to the Duke let us to dinner now The Table fill'd as merry as a Buck The Bishop was but on a sudden struck Two bits scarce eaten carry'd from the table To bed he was his pains intolerable Nature he could not ease for fifteen dayes His tongue was swoln and black his mouth 's assaies Could giv 't no house-room his pin'd body all Sadly enflam'd he gasp'd and gave a sprawl And now John Webbe George Roper Greg'ry Parke At Canterbury burn'd not