them willing them to be of good cheer told them there was no more to be added Immediatly after this confession thus by them made they broke their necks with a trice ere the fire were kindled and forthwith began to noise abroad that they had added those words of the Romish Church in that article of their beliefe accordingly as they were willed to doe and so departed acknowleding and confessing the Church of Rome to be the true and Catholick Church Of foure women of Siuil IN the congregation at Siuill which the Inquisitours had wellnigh consumed by fire among those that had been a long time professours of the truth there were foure women most notable and famous aboue the rest for their good godly conuersation That is to say Isabella Vaenia Maria Viroesia Cornelia and one Bohorquia youngest of the four for she was scarcely 21. years of age yet for vertuous conuersation comparable to her other fellowes but in the knowledge of holy Scriptures which shee had gotten by continuall reading and studying and conference with godly and learned men whereof there were in Siuill a great number at that time shee became so singular that shee did not onely farre exceede and surpasse her fellowes but many of our Maisters that are taken for great learned Clerkes whom in the time of her imprisonment shee draue oftentimes to the wall by their owne confession and made them ashamed of themselues But Vaenia the first woman was a Matron for maners and her house a Schoole of vertue and a place of resort where the congregation assembled to sing Psalms and hymnes to God both day and night Nothing was there prophaned nothing done of hypocrisie and dissimulation all was pure perfect religion At the last the time being come that God had appointed for them to bee made ready and ripe for him and so to be both apt and able professors of his name and truth the Inquisitors sent for them at one draught caught these foure with diuers other of their neighbours The first thing that occasioned this Bohorquia to such earnest study of the Scriptures was a little skill which she had in the Latin tongue wherein it was lawfull to read the Scriptures both as often and as long as she listed being restrained and forbidden that in no case the common people should read them in their own tongue Yea her schoolmaister D. Giles a man whom she did specially chuse for his singular integritie of life as well as for his excellent learning was wont to giue this testimonie of her that he neuer came into her companie but he learned somewhat and so departed thence alwaies better learned than hee came During the time of her imprisonment the Monks and Dominicanes had great disputations with her marueiling as much at the passing excellencie of her wit in answering all their subtill and sophisticall obiections and as it were cutting them so quickly with the sword of Gods word as also at the wonderfull memorie which shee had in citing the holy Scripturs so readily insomuch that after they had done disputing reasoning with her they gaue very good testimonies of her constancy and sober behauiour albeit they termed it by the names of wilfulnesse and obstinacie After they had kept her a long time in that darke dungeon and there caused her to endure all the cruell and extream torments that might be by meanes wherof they forced her to confesse of her owne sister that shee was also one of the same religion which was the occasion first of her sisters imprisonment so consequently of her death being murthered most cruelly among those villains by extreame torments they brought her forth vpon the scaffold with diuers other godly men women wherof I made mention before How beit she came in such sort as one making a semblance of ioy and mirth and conquest ouer the holy Inquisition rather then otherwise The which strange countenance of mirth for so much as it was rare to see in her and vnaccustomed vttered by singing Psalms to God the Inquisitours of spite and malice sought to alter into another tune by setting a Barnacle on her tongue in the way as she went which notwithstanding ere they came to the scaffold they did vndoo againe When they had read their sentence vpon her openly and giuen iudgement of death the Inquisitours asked her whether she would recant yea or no acknowledging her heresies which heretofore shee had most willfully maintained Wherunto she answered them roundly that neither shee would nor truely could confesse so much And so from thence she passed with her other companions to the place of execution accompanied with these hypocrites still calling vpon her and her fellowes by the way to adde the Church of Rome in the article of their creed but shee among the rest most stoutly withstood them Notwithstanding the abominable villains to the intent to blemish their good name and renoune by their most villanous trecheries strangled them with halters as though they had at their last houres returned to the Romish Church in consideration whereof the Inquisitours taking pity on them would not suffer them say they to bee burned quicke Moreouer their tyranny did also extend to the very walles where these holy assemblies and congregations were kept For there was speciall commaundement giuen that the house wherein Vaenia dwelt should bee razed to the earth from the very foundation and conuerted to a perpetuall wast ground and in the middest of the plat an inscription to be set in marble for the wicked and idolatrous generation a monument of many misdeedes but to the Godly a perpetuall memoriall of the true seruants of God in whom Christ did most truely and perfectly dwell Ferdinando à Sancto Ioanno THis man likewise was one of the chiefe and most worthy members of the same congregation I meane for the true feare of God that was in him his singular honesty his seruent and exceeding zeale of doing good to his neighbours without any regard of his own commodity not in respect of his parentage or any curiosity about his body or otherwise in his behauiour or speech A young man indeede yet for integrity of life very notable and famous President of the House of learning as they terme it and chosen therunto by the iudgements of many godly men that were first founders thereof to instruct and teach the youth in the Colledge called the Colledge of children In the which office after he had remained by the space of 8. yeares to his great commendation he was perceiued to bee a Lutheran that is to say a man conformed to the very paterne of true and perfect piety wherevnto also as his duty required he had wrought his schollers as much as lay in him to do in a time of so great persecution and tyranny But his reward for his paines if we respect mans recompencing was much like vnto that which the common sort of thankless people yeeld a man
most necessarie members to scoure and ridde the world of such pestiferous persons Whiles all this geare is in rehearsing to the people they clappe vpon the parties tongue a cleft peece of wood in maner as it were a barnacle to his great and intolerable paine so that hee can answer ne gain-say nothing in defence of himselfe and his owne innocencie For if hee might be suffered and let alone he would openly giue them the lye to their faces as it hath hapned diuers times Howbeit the controuersie were not like long to continue For straightway the fellow should bee sure to haue his mouth gagged or his tongue stocked to teach him to be quiet to say nothing openly Moreouer that which is the parties confession in very deede is so peruerted and corrupted with the words so changed rechanged in reading that in a maner it may be very well said for him that hee neuer spake nor thought any such thing Wherof I will here shew some speciall examples because they be matters of weight and such as cannot easily bee contraried forasmuch as the whole world seeth and knoweth them well enough After that all the sentences bee read and the act uall degradation wholly finished the temporall magistrate taketh them into his hands very solemnely according as it is enioyned him by the holy House and so conueyeth them to the place of execution with a sort of the diuels owne Proctors about them calling crying vpon them with great importunity to forsake the truth which they haue receiued and professed And many times it chanceth that such as constantly perseuer in confessing the truth to the end doe breake their neckes against the stake with a trice and then they noise abroad among the coÌ„mon people that such such repentantly recanted their heresies at their verie last howre and came home again to the Church of Rome and therefore felt no force of fire at all by reason of the Inquisitours mercie and pittie extended vpon such as became conuerted By these and such like subtill practices they goe about to bury the truth as though God the auenger thereof were not able to raise it vp againe out of darknesse and dungeons The residue which be not condemned to dye are caried backe to prison againe and the next day after are brought out whipt such as had like sentence pronounced vpon them whereof diuers are afterward sent to the gally others remanded to perpetuall prison either to Triana the speciall prison for the Inquisition or to some place elswhere altogether as euill as a prison with this Item to them ere they goe that if they happen hereafter to call anything to minde that erst they haue not disclosed they immediately resort to the holy House and declare it whatsoeuer it be for if it be found otherwise that they haue craftily and closely concealed any thing they shall be reputed say they as persons without remorce of conscience and like-to be sharply and seuerely punished therefore But the chiefest matter that they giue them in charge is in no case to reueale any thing that they haue either heard or seene during the time of their imprisonment concerning the maner of their entreating in any respect either of punishment or imprisonment or otherwise how and after what sort they haue generally proceeded in Court against them and their fellow prisoners but for the time of their being there should take and repute themselues altogether as dead persons For if the contrary can be proued by them or that it come to the Inquisitours eares that they haue vttered any of their secrets they shall be taken for persons Relapsed aâ— they terme them and be punished with most seueritie And the iudgement appointed for such is death without redemption which surely is a deuise aboue al the rest and might worse be spared For by this their so strait enioyning them silence vpon paine of their liues they cope them as it were with needle threed and so keepe in all their knauery and tyranny as sure as vnder locke and key both close and secret to themselues They know full well I wis that if the king who authorised them should by any meanes vnderstand their false play which they vse the violence and iniurie that they offer the slanderous reports which they make the wonderfull fetches and diuellish deuices which they practise to entrappe diuers and sundrie poore innocents charging them with manie matters which neyther they said nor saw nor heard at anie time but specially if hee vnderstood of their couetous and cruell dealings as I may say more than barbarous growing of that greedie desire of theirs he would no doubt of it turne the Inquisition on their owne neckes and foresee the safetie aswell of his owne subiects as the common-weale of the countrey and prouide for it accordingly but chiefly hee would see to the execution of Iustice whereof he is appointed by God a lawfull Protectour rather than the enriching of his bagges and coffers won by such vnlawfull meanes Or else if the King sâ—acked herein to doe that appertaines to him the coÌ„mon people would be readie to fire them that haue been so fierce with fire to others Furthermore they labour so earnestly to burie the truth and are so carefull lest their crueltie should come to light that among other great penalies which they enioine to diuers men of worship and good reputation and some of honour and in authoritie after they haue kept them in prison a season and caused them to sustaine open infamie they inhibite them the company and conference of any other than such as they shal appoint allow them neither will suffer them to write to any friend of theirs without making them priuie vnto it that they might haue the perusing thereof Their colour for this matter forsooth is very prettie lest that by conference or writing of letters they should publish their hereticall opinions But in verie deede their drift is lest such men as haue good friends and bee well allied should complaine and make their mone to their friends allies of the iniuries that haue bin done vnto them and they make means to the King to enquire further of their doings so bring the practices of the holy House to light Wherof this is proof sufficieÌ„t that they vse not this kind of punishment to any of the meaner sort but only to them that be of good bloud parentage For at the very first beginning when the maner of their Triumph first came vp and was executed vpon the Lutheranes as they call them they that were present at the sight and beheld the order and fashion well were wont to write vnto their friends both within the Realme and abroad of all such things as there were done and seene especially of such as did penance also what sentences were pronounced vpon them with the causes and circumstances of all their other punishmentes and penalties But the holy House as dayly practice
ours aswell as for your owne Howbeit I will moue the rest of my Lords in the matter and what may be done shall be done But vpon these and such like foolish and blasphemous speeches neuer anie Commissioner made inquirie and thus departed hee out of the Parler wherein he had made such a clerke-like peece of worke to the poore prisoners in way of consolation and so like a gay-diuine casting a word out to the keeper verie solemnly and charging him by vertue of their Office to look to them narrowly that none escaped For if there did he should both seek them at his owne charge and be punished besides for his negligence in looking so slenderly to his duetie CHAP. XIII The interpretation of the sentences THere be also certaine speciall termes which the holy House vseth for euerie kinde of penance seuerally Wherein seeing there lyeth also sorne secret mysterie it shall not bee greatly impertinent to declare them in this place expounding them after the Inquisitours owne sense and vnderstanding First concerning the iudgements some are to bee burned quicke and that is for such as haue constantly perseuered vnto the end in the confession of a pure and perfect faith and these men they call obstinate Others are to bee burned also but after they be dead being first strangled at the stake Such are they that being once wonne by their owne frailtie and weaknesse haue beene content to submitte themselues to the Inquisitours and to footh wahtsoeuer the other will say yet haue by certaine euident and sufficient tokens giuen the Inquisitours good cause of suspicion to thinke that they remaine the same in heart still notwithstanding their mouth hath confessed the contrarie After the same maner are diuers also of the former sort whom they tearme obstinate strangled ere the fire bee kindled to make the people beleeue that so soone as they were sette to the stake they abiured and renouced all their heresies and returned to the holy mother-mother-Church of Rome But of these I haue made mention before Another sort of sentences there are that haue a shew of more mercie which they call reconciliations because such as haue renounced the truth are as it were purged and clensed by doing that penance in way of satisfaction and therby receiued againe into the very bosom of the Romish Church Such for the most part cary in their hands tapers vnlighted on the great day of their Triumph with ropes about their neckes and Sambenites vpon their backes aboue their other garments as badges tokens of guilt these they wear either during life or for some other certaine number of yeares or else are close kept and shut vp in some monasterie or some other priuate places whereof as there be sundry sortes so are there likewise seuerall names Some are Perpetuall without redemption Some onely perpetuall Some for a certaine season the which beeng expired they must notwithstanding remaine there still during the Inquisitours pleasures and some be no longer limited at the first than during the pleasure of the chiefe Inquisitour the Generall they call him because he is chiefe Iudge aboue all other Courts of the holy Inquisition throughout the Realme of Spaine there be also some at the pleasure of the inferiour Iudges that gaue the sentence in their owne Courts and priuate iurisdictions These diuersities of prisons are like the properties of Purgatorie for all the world excepting aswell certaine cases in matter of penance as also degrees of affinitie and bloud in cases of mariage For they are deuised to glean all the mony out of the poor Penitentiaries purses more or lesse according to the quality of the offence and after the rate and proportion of the penalty assessed on each of them therefore And all this forsooth must bee vnderstood to proceede from the Inquisitours owneclemencie and mercie of their own meer good will by the only meanes whereof the party that otherwise must necessarely perish for abiuring the truth may stand in state of grace againe and be in possibilitie to recouer his owne saluation When iudgement is giuen to weare the Habite for so they call the Sambenite by a more cleanly terme to perpetuall prison without bayle or maineprise it is to be vnderstood that there is no talk to be had of any remission thereof till the party hath worn that garment suffered imprisonment the space of nine or ten whole yeares except the partie haue so good hap as by meanes of his friends to obtaine his pardon at the Kings hand who onely may by his prerogatiue pardon it at his pleasure But after the expiration of those yeares vnlesse the party haue giuen some cause of suspicion againe the chiefe Inquisitour is commonly wont to remitte the residue howbeit with great crouching first and much entreatie When they adiudge a man to weare the Sambenite and to suffer perpetuall imprisonment without adding anie more it is commonly taken for 3. yeares if the chiefe Inquisitor doe so think good vpon whose pleasure it resteth either to giue the prisoner his discharge after those 3 years or else to his perpetuall ignominie there to detaine him all his life long But when they say that a man shall wear the Habite and suffer imprisonment so many yeares or moneths so soon as that certaine time is expired the partie is set at libertie except it be added moreouer besides the limitation of time certaine that it shal be further referred to the discretion and appointment of the Inquisitours The which clause they comonly vse to put in the latter end in the winding vp of all to choake men therewith to make them thinke themselues much bound to them while they liue for releasing the same But if the sentence be to weare the Sambenite with imprisonment during the chiefe Inquisitours pleasure it is left to their discretions to pardon or punish accordingly as they shall think good In summe how or after what sort soeuer their sentence be the matter is wholly referred to them and to their ordering Now the meanes to redeeme this imprisonment and to dispense with the wearing of these robes is the more common and ordinarie by reason that the King hath in his Court diuers young gentlemen to whom in respect of their seruice he vseth to grant pardons for those matters Then such as get the grant hereof doe commonly make inquirie for such persons as are therunto adiudged who they be and where they remaine to the intent to make their market of those pardons to their most aduantage as they can agree of price eyther more or lesse respecting alwaies both the abilitie of the person and the qualitie of the sentence For such as had iudgement without redemption pay more other for release of perpetuall imprisonment lesse other for certaine time and during the Inquisitours pleasure lesse againe and least of all that which onely resteth vpon the discretion and will of the Iudge Also at some times the King of his like
maidenly gaue her most hearty thankes for that exceding great benefit in taking the paines to instruct her and praied pardon at her hands if at any time she had offended her for that she was now at the point of taking her death and departing this life Whom her Aunt on the other side comforted as stoutly willing her to bee of good cheare and to let nothing disquiet her for she hoped in God that she should be with Christ ere it were long And this did she in the presence hearing of all the people but specially of all those of the holy House and their adherents This Aunt of hers was the selfe same woman which a yeare or two before being mad had detected the whole congregation to the Inquisitours whereof I made mention before who being restored to her former wits againe by the goodnes of God so well as the reliques of her disease would let her did now both confesse his truth and for the same endured most horrible and â—othsome imprisonment and torments moreouer was openly whipped and so remained in prison during the rest of her life But to returne to their practises CHAP. IX Certaine other more secret practises THe passing excellency of these practises which presently I entend to discouer is such that they rather deserue to haue some speciall place by themselues then to be thrust in heere confusedly among these other grosse and common deuices For they doo as far passe all the other that haue been spoken of heretofore as there is difference in dignitie betwixt a Court of Pipowders and the high Court of Parliament The first whereof in order as it falleth out and the most mysticall and I beleeue as beneficiall to their boxe as all the rest is the abuse of their sacrament as they terme it of Confession which by their owne decretals is no small offence But all is law in this holy House as I said before whatsoeuer they list Their deucie is this Whensoeuer any of the prisoners beginneth to be but a little crazie they aske him whether hee bee disposed to go to holy shrift The which is done for two especiall considerations The one is to proue whether he like well of their holy confession yea or no. The other to see if perchance he will be perswaded to say somwhat vnder Benedicite either touching himselfe or any other that this holy house may bee set on work If the party bee willing at hand is Sir Iohn and a Clerke behind him with pen and ink left behind the prison dore so the ghostly father falleth to his Confitetor in processe whereof he examineth the sicke man first generally then specially whether he hold any of Luthers articles chiefely in this or that article or haue at any time conferred with any other concerning the like causes finally of whom by what occasion he heard them c. willing him boldly to confesse it to feare nothing neither to think any such villany to be in him as to reueale it saying that hee hath authority immediatly from the high CoÌ„missioners to absolue him of all so that he discharge his conscienc with other such like talke to the same effect Now if the party follow him so far that hee begin to confesse ought then is he surely caught For when he hath poured out al said what he can say in these cases though he do it through the earnest wicked perswasions of the priest then doth he charge him further to confess the same before a Notary otherwise he tells him that his absolution is nothing auailable vnto him And if the party yeeld vnto him so much be content so to do then the clerk who lieth lurking not far off is straightway sent for and so is this matter dispatched But if he refuse either mistrusting him altogether or else halfe in doubt to credite him yet is he no lesse in dangered by disclosing it to the Priest than if he had confessed it before a Notary For this kind of confession is not right auricular but all is done aloud by meanes that the crafty confessor repeateth the words after him and so driueth the party to answer him almost in the self same note who knoweth not nor feareth any such matter that there lurketh any body â—o closly behinde the door to heare or write what he speaketh Then after they haue gotten thus much either they charge the party therewith or else by occasion hereof examin him further vpon greater matters therupon pick a new quarrel with him to the inteÌ„t to vse more extream tortures Neither doth this good ghostly Father either fear excommunication or feele any trouble in his conscience for reuealing his ghostly sonnes confession both because he is perswaded that a little loud speaking and in somewhat a higher note than the secrets of confession would wel allow is not to bee accounted any disclosing at all for that whatsoeuer he did was done in the seruice and behalfe of the holy â—louse Iulianus Apostata as histories of very good credite doe report spoiled the Christians of all that they had and coloured his theeuery with a false glose vpon the Gospel whereas Christ commanded all his Disciples to loue pouertie and to bee carelesse for things of this world At another time hee persecuted them most cruelly and exhorted them to patience saying that Christ had giuen them an example And no doubt these holy Fathers haue borrowed one of their deuices of him For when they see any constatly like a good Christian man to continue aswel in his faith towards God as charity towards his brethren they hedge him in with this argument Now surely Sir you are but aâ—faint Christian belike For you pretend the doctrine of the Apostles and Primitiue Church and the Apostles and Martyrs in those dayes being brought before the Ethnike Magistrates and examined whether they confessed Christ or no answered plainely that they did and being further demanded what fellowes companions they had would tell the truth at the first Therefore â—â—th you professe your selues to be followers of them their examples in like sort should you confesse of your selues and of your fellowes And this is their goodly reason that they make In very deed Iulianus Apostata spake truth that Christians in the time of affliction should not be wauering nor giuen to the gathering of these earthly treasures Euen so say the Inquisitors should a Christian man comming before a temporall Iudge and there examined of his beliefe yield a plaine and euident declaration of the same But they lye both of them by their leaue when they say that the Christians in those dayes did of like zeale betray their brethren vnto the Ethnike Iudges as they did make open confession of their faith for that were flat against the rule of charity And therefore it is a plaine matter that in all other things the Inquisitours are altogether as bad as euer Iulianus was because they vse the selfe
before this time came hee was much troubled in the first dayes of hearing with the Monkes and other such maintainers of iniquitie as they are by whom the Inquisitours being vtterly vnlearned themselues vse to controle and ouerrule hereticks From whom so oft as hee returned he delighted alwayes to sing that song in token of triumph ouer his aduersaries And on the great and solemne day of their Doom being brought out of his prison into the Court of the Castle Triana to be apparelled with such trinkets as are appointed for persons condemned like as other of his companions were the report is that with a maruellous good courage and countenance hee began to exhort them in this wise My brethren be of good cheere this is the howre wherein we must be faithfull witnesses to God and his truth before men like as it becommeth the true seruants and souldiours of Christ and within this little while wee shall haue him ready to witnesse with vs againe and shall within few howres triumph with him in Heauen for euer But immediately as hee was making this good and godly exhortation the villaines set a Barnacle on his tongue and so hee went to his execution How beit standing vpon the step whereon they that are to be executed vse to stand being not able in words to vtter the courage constancie of his mind in the patient sufferance of all these tormeÌ„ts for the Gospels sake the profession thereof he expressed no lesse in gestures and behauiour First kneeling downe and kissing the step whereon hee stood and afterwards being tyed to the stake and couered vp to the head and eares with fagots did diuers and sundry times shrinke his head into the middest of them as one most willing to receiue his death desirous to hasten the same whereby like a good souldiour of Christ hee did very well foresee and prouide to haue his confession notified and the infirmitie and weaknesse of his feeble brethren if any such there were among them holpen and remedied encouraging them by these signes and tokens which he gaue them both stedfastly to stand to the truth and lightly to esteeme of the punishment There was also present with him at his death one D. Ferdin ando Rodriguio a false Apostle whose importunity being not able any thing to remoue him from his profession caused it to appeare in the eyes of men so much the more glorious who supposing that the terrors of death would somewhat haue dismaied him obtained leaue of the chiefe officer that his tongue might be loosed vpon hope that he would sgnifie his conuersion to the common people by word of mouth Howbeit it fell out quite contrary For immediatly after that his tongue was at liberty this Iuliano made as plaine and solemne a protestation of his faith as euer he did at any other time in all his life As for his friend and acquaintance that gaue him so euil counsell speaking flatly against his owne conscience as he knew full well hee gaue him such an â—tem and so tooke him vp for stumbling that the villain hauing not a word to answer him for very shame to the end to be euen with him some other way fell into this outery exclamation O that Spain the conquerer and dame ouer so many countries should be thus troubled with such a caitife Kill him kill him And I warrant you there were butchers enow ready to doe as hee bad them and to giue him his deaths-wound The rumor also was spred of this man that he had likewise recanted during the time of his being in prison but God be thanked it fell out in the end far otherwise Iohn de Leon a Monke of Saint Isidors cloister THis man at the first was but a taylor in Mexico that famous Citie in the West Indies called Noua Hispania at his returne thence to Siuill againe felt in his conscience as many good men doe a certaine â—eaâ—e of God though blind and not proceeding of knowledge whereby hee was moued to become a Monk yet his hap was such by Gods good meanes who did so prouide for his desperate attempt that he entred into Saint Isidors cloister in Siuill wherein the greater part of the couent at that time was well affected in religion But after he bad been schooled there by the space of two or three yeares and conuersant among them hee began to bee wearie of this monkish and solitarie kinde of life seeking meanes to forsake his order as hee did indeede colouring the matter with his continuall disposition to sicknesse and yet being once out had such a desire to talke with his former schoolmaisters that had instructed him in the true and perfect religion that hee returned thither againe for conference sake and for their companie But all in vaine Form the time of his absence all they for whose respect hee entred into that ilfauored order once againe had left their coules and were fled into Germanie Whereupon hee perceiuing that there was no place of aboad for him determined to alter his purpose so soone as he could certainly learn what was become of his old companions and whither they were gone But here perhaps some euill disposed persons will call him a double Apostata in forsaking his order twice Marry the wiser sort will giue him double honour therefore and account him the godlier man two to one Therefore trudging after his fellowes and as it were tracing them he met with them at the length at Franckford with much ado both for the painfulnesse of his iourney the perils of passage from thence went with them to Geneua to meet with the rest of his acquaintance that were setled there About the same time by meanes of Queene Maries suddaine death and that the crown of England descended vpon the most gracious Lady Queen Elizabeth they of the English congregation that by occasion of the late tyrannie were dispersed here and there in Germanie were by Gods good grace called home againeinto their owne countrey wherupon diuers Spaniards that soiorned at Geneua thinking England a meeter place for their congregation did accompanie the Englishmen that returned homewards into England and for their more safety diuided themselues into seuerall companies For the Inquisitours tooke the departure of the Monkes in so euill part aswell in respect of forsaking their order as renouncing their religion that albeit they were but few in number yea but a handfull to speake of in respect of the world yet they determined to plague them soundly if they could come by them and thereupon sent out their flies to lie in wait for them euery where as they should passe specially at Colyne Franckford Antwerpe all the high waies that lay from Geneua that way in like case all the waies on the other side from Geneua to Millayne The charges whereof were allowed out of the kinges treasury largely enough both of the kings owne liberality and of the desire which the Inquisitours had
his ghostly father communicated the same vnto him Which after Arias had obtained he gaue him a friendly farwell and so left him At the day of disputation when both parts were assembled this Arias was also present ioined himself to the other side that were aduersaries to Ruizio The which when Ruizio beheld he was somewhat astonied therewithall and perceiued at the length his Legerdemane seeing him so readily out off his arguments which hee had made him priuie vnto two dayes before and to answer them so fully and exactly that hee had nothing to replie againe whereupon the silly soule being thus circumuented and spoiled of all his weapons yeelded himselfe leauing to Arias the honour of the field which hee most like a Iudas had gotten by treason and treachery The like honest part also for all the world he plaid with D. Aegidio For whereas hee meaning nothing but well as the most constant bruit is had referred the matter concerning the opinion of his knowledge and learning to this mans iudgement because he knew him to be as able to iudge as a great sort of others he gaue such a verdit as it had been somewhat reasonable for him to haue giuen in a matter of vntruth Notwithstanding he was the first in all Saint Isidors house in Siuill that started out of that dead sleep of superstition and ignorance wherein they were all dead and drowned and by meanes of a few sparkes which this man had set on fire a great part of the house beganne to shake off their drowsinesse and to see a glimmering of the truth afarre off appeare like the dawning of the day and to desire that the vaile might bee drawne to the end that they might the more easily see the shining beames of true religion For the whole scope of all his sermons for the which there was a space appointed as it fell out most conueniently sometime by night from two of the clocke in the morning till foure was wholly to ouerthrow all their profession howbeit not openly but couertly and as it were afarre off First hee taught them that singing and saying of their prayers all the day and night was no seruice nor praier vnto God that the exercises of a true Christian man were other then the common people took them to bee that the holy Scriptures were to bee reade and studied with diligence whence alone the true knowledge and seruice of God and of his holy will of true religion and such as was most allowable in his sight was to bee had and learned to the obtaining whereof we must quoth he vse praier as a mean proceeding as well of the sense and feeling of our owne infirmities and necessities as grounded vpon perfect trust confidence in God Thus by laying these and such like foundations of Christian religion he made them to loath that stale stuffe of their old forworn religion wrought in them an earnest desire of the better but specially moued thē to the study of holy Scriptures Moreouer besides his sermons hee read dayly a lecture vpon Salomons prouerbs very learnedly made application thereof with good iudgement and discretion and had priuate and familiar conference with diuers such as he was dayly conuersant withall and vsed to accompany onely to the same end and purpose And for this one thing his hap was alwaies very good to haue such schollers as were tractable and soone wrought and which was wonderfull to consider such as were not greatly wedded to their monkish superstitions though they were vowed whereby he had lesse to doe with them and might with more ease giue the assault and in short time batter downe this forced rampire of superstition with the perfect shot of Gods word Howbeit his head was so full of toyes and new deuices that after all these wholesome preparatiues wherwith he had so wrought in them that the rest of their superstitious dregs might more cōmodiously be expelled that they were halfe wonne to his doctrine he made them fall to vnseasonable fastings and watchings before the Sacrament whence they should looke for I know not what inspirations hee caused them to remoue all their stuffe bookes and beds out of their celles and to lye vpon the bare earth or else to sleep standing to weare a hairecloth in stead of their shirts and a hoope of Iron next vnto their skin with a number of such toyes moe as though those stinking weeds would not haue taken root fast enough of themselues except the earth had first been cared vp with the coulter of Gods word as was before declared For after hee had weeded the old superstition he did nothing else but sow a like seede againe more corrupt and perilous than the other that grew before By meanes whereof manie of his auditours got such good as is like to ensue of so dangerous a doctrine Insomuch that ma-many of them fell stark mad some so consumed with melencholy that they were halfe frantick some caught vncurable diseases and paines in the head and became almost brainlesse that they were not able to serue any turne thereafter but they that had stronger bodies and better stomackes to beare it out withall had such a pharisaicall pride and glory in themselues by meanes of that vaine perswasion of holinesse and perfectnesse that no wise man will account them in much better case than other of their fellowes And yet perhaps were Arias excusable herein from this so grieuous guilt either for want of better knowledge or by destiny if it were so first to take vpon him that office then so meanly to execute it but that I am right wel assured that his conscience did condemn all the trash which he had planted in place of truth For at the very same time being among his companions would take pleasure in remembring the folly of such men that were so forward to run any way that he would prescribe and appoint them Notwithstanding such is the force and might of Gods election that these few good seedes sowne among those fitches fructified in the end to the great encrease of godlines maruellously Insomuch that diuers and sundry of them hauing their consciences cleared purged of their old hypocrisie and scarcely well staied or quieted with these new deuices sought further by occasion hereof for some better instructions and vnawares hapned vpon the other sort of Preachers that taught the truth with more sinceritie Of whom after they had entred some acquaintance with them they learned the principles of pure and perfect religion leauing by little and little that euill opinion which they had generally conceiued against the Lutherans Afterwards being perswaded that they could by no meanes attaine the perfect knowledge of the truth except they would sometime peruse their writings God did likewise maruellously prouide for them herein that they had not onely such bookes brought vnto them by a miraculous means as they had a long time desired euen at such time as they securely
his former life and labour euill spent and therefore beganne anew to tread another path which should lead him vnto perfect wisedome and learning whereof as then hee knew not one step Furthermore perceiuing his counseller to stand so long vpon that point which concerned the dutie of a good Preacher he took it to be a sufficient calling for him to that vocation whereof he knew he should neither reap commoditie nor estimation in this world Perhaps many will maruell to hear the party named that was the occasion of so suddaine a change and alteration of such a man in so short space taking vpon him to teach him the true way to perfect wisedome Truly I must needs disclose it to the end that the wonderful mysteries of Gods election may be manifested and reuerenced who by the foolish of this world confoundeth the wisedome of man His name was Roderico Valerio man long ago condemned at Siuill by the Inquisitors for a false Apostle a counterfait Prophet and a wicked deceiuer of the people and therevpon banished and in his exile suffred for the profession of the truth Whose wonderfull kind of calling to the true knowledge of Christ since I am occasioned to make mention of the person it shall neither be greatly impertinent briefly to speak of nor tedious to such as be godly disposed This Valerio a Citizen of Nebrissa a famous towne as any is in all the precinct of Granata both for the antiquitie thereof and chiefly for the fame of one Antonio de Nebrissa a notable Clerke as any was and one that first restored the puritie of the Latin tongue in Spaine in these our dayes was descended of a good house and of sufficient abilitie to maintaine the worship thereof howbeit he employed his wealth not to vertue but as commonly such men of abilitie doe which think all their honor to consist in the maintenance of a good stable the furniture thereof in games in costly and excessiue apparell in hunting other such like pastimes and exercises For in all these qualities he was singular aboue all the yong gentlemen of the whole citie insomuch that hee sought not only to match such as were his equalls in degree and abilitie but also to exceede them far In the middest of these vain phantasies a certaine motion came into his mind by what occasion or through whose perswasion or otherwise by what meanes God knoweth but he suddenly left all his old delights contemning the speech of the people which was a hard thing for a man to doe and bent himselfe wholly both body and soule to the exercise of vertue godlinesse that a man would searcely iudge him to bee a man of this world Moreouer the wonderfull change that appeared to be in him otherwise as well in his speech and behauiour as in his apparell that was fine and sutable before gorgious as might be and now quite altered into simple stuffe and plainest fashion was well liked of some but on the other side a great number thought it meere madnesse or starke folly But as the like false verdites giuen of the holy Apostles that were indued with the Holy Ghost were attainted by the effectes of the same spirit so the perfect feare of God with the bewayling of his former vanities the earnest desire of righteousnesse and his whole talke tending to these ends and concerning these matters alwayes framed according to the prescript rule of Gods word was a sufficient proofe and euidence to men of perfecter vnderstanding that the spirit of God most certainly possessed him In his youth time hee had gotten a little smack in the Latin by the help where of hee was conuersant in the holy Scriptures both day and night so that by continuall studie thereof hee had a great part of them by heart and could make application thereof to his purpose sensibly maruellous readily He had also dayly conflicts with the spiritual men as they call them the Priests and Monks which were the causes said he that not only the estate of the Clergy but also all Christendome was so fouly corrupted that they were almost hopelesse of remedy for which causes hee did also diuers and sundry times sharply rebuke them Whereat this pharisaicall generation much maruelling enquired of him how he attained so suddenly to all this skilin holy Scriptures how he durst presume so arrogantly to inuay against the very supporters and lights of the Church For indeed he spared none but would tell the proudest of them his minde being but a lay-man voide of all good learning and one that had spent the greater part of his time in vaine and vnprofitable studies Likewise they examined him by force of what commission hee did it who sent him how hee was called and by what tokens hee declared the same Alas for them good men when they cannot denie their abominations nor longer hold out the light which discouereth their darknesse euen now as in all other ages from time to time they are driuen to these shifts Howbeit Valerio answered them truly and with a bold courage to euery demand that he had not fished for that wisedome and caught it in their most filthie puddles and muddie ditches but had it by the only goodnesse of the Holy Ghost who poureth whole floods of grace into the hearts of true beleeuers most aboundantly As for his boldnesse he told them that both the goodnes of his quarrell and hee that sent him gaue him the encouragement and that the spirit of God which is bound to no estate or degree be it in name neuer so spirituall specially if it be corrupt hath heretofore chosen very idiots and fishermen and placed them in the roome of Apostles to controll the Synagogue of the learned touching the law to appeach them of ignorance to call the whole world to the knowledge of their own saluation that the same Christ had sent him whose name and authoritie hee had for his warrant but as for any signe to declare the same he said it was the token of a bastardly generation and of the branches degenerate from the true stocke of the children of God to aske for any signes in the time of such light when all things shine therewith yea verie darknesse it selfe as cleare as noone day At the length for these and such like matters he was called to his answer before the Inquisitors where he disputed very earnestly of the true Church of Christ and which were the markes to know it by how man was iustified in the sight of God and of such other points of religion the knowledge whereof he confessed that he had attained vnto by no meanes or help of man but by the onely handy worke of God and his wonderfull reuelation Howbeit his madnesse phrensie wherewith the Inquisitors supposed him to bee troubled excused him for this time yet to the end that he might the sooner come to himself again they condemned him in the losse of all his substance