cast into several prisons yet remained chearfull praising God for accounting them worthy to suffer for his truth and after a few dayes they were all brought forth before the Magistrates who speaking to Robert Oguire said We hear that you never come to Masse That you disswade others from it That you keep Conventicles in your house where erroneous doctrine is preached c. Robert answered I indeed refuse to go to Mass because the death and precious blood of Christ is utterly abolished there and troden under foot c. And I cannot deny but there have met together in my house honest people fearing God Not with intention to harm any I assure you but for the advancement of Gods glory and the good of many c. Then one demanded what they did when they met together To which Baudizon ansvvered When vve meet together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to hear the Word of God vve first falling on our knees before God in the humility of our spirits do make confession of our sins before his Divine Majesty then we pray that the Word of God may be rightly divided and purely preached then we pray for our Soveraign Lord the Emperour that the Common-wealth may be peaceably governed to the glory of God yea we forget not you whom we acknowledge our Superiours intreating our good God that you may maintain this City in tranquillity c. Thus you hear what we do in our Assemblies and if you will not be offended to hear the summe of our prayers I am ready to recite the same unto you One of the Magistrates wished him to go on whereupon kneeling down he prayed before them all with such fervency of affection and ardency of zeal that it forced the Magistrates to break forth into tears Baudizon rising up said Your Masterships may hereby take a scantling how we are imployed in our meetings Being further examined every one of them made an open Confession of his faith and so were returned to prison again And not long after they were tortured upon the Rack to make them confesse who they were that met at their house but they would discover none but such as they knew were at that time out of their reach Four or five dayes after the men were again convented before the Magistrates who asked them if they would submit themselves to the will of the Magistrates Robert and Baudizon said they would but Martin the younger sonne said he would not submit thereto but would accompany his Mother and so he was sent back to prison and the Father with his eldest son were presently adjudged to be burnt alive Sentence being pronounced one of the Judges said This day shall you go to dwell with all the Divels in hell fire Then were they returned to prison praising God and by their patience and constancy conquerred the rage and fury of their enemies In prison there came some Friars to them telling them that the hour was come wherein they must finish their dayes They answered Blessed be the Lord our God who now delivering our bodies out of this vile prison will receive our souls into his glorious and heavenly Kingdom Then said one of the Friars Father Robert thou art an old man I intreat thee in this thy last hour think of saving thy soule and if thou wilt give ear to me I le warrant thee thou shalt do well Robert answered Poor man how darest thou assume that to thy self which belongs to God alone and so rob him of his honour c. Another wishing him to pity his soul he said Dost thou not see what pity I have on it when for the name of Christ I am willing to give my body to the fire hoping to day to be with him in Paradise c. Then said a Friar Out Dog thou art not worthy the name of a Christian thou and thy sonne are resolved to damne your soules with all the Divels in hell Then would they have severed the Father from his son which Baudizon perceiving said Pray you let my Father alone he is an old man hinder him not from receiving the Crown of Martyrdome Another Friar said Away Varlet thou art the cause of thy Fathers perdition Whilst Baudizon was stripping and fitting himself to be sacrificed some of the Friars had fastned a Crucifix in the old mans hands perswading him that it would please the People and that for all that he might lift up his heart to God c. But so soon as Baudizon saw it he said Alasse Father what do you now will you play the Idolater at your last hour and so pulling the Idol out of his hand he threw it away At the place of execution they were set upon a Scaffold and Baudizon desired leave to make a Confession of his faith answer was made that he might confess himself to a Friar if he would which he refusing was readily haled to the stake where he began to sing the 16. Psalm then said a Friar Do you not hear what wicked errors these Hereticks sing to beguile the people withall Baudizon hearing him replyed Thou simple Idiot callest thou the Psalms of David errours but no marvel for thus are ye wont to blaspheme against the Spirit of God Then seeing them about to chain his Father to the stake he said to him Be of good courage Father the worst will be past by and by Then did he often breath forth Oh God Father everlasting accept the sacrifice of our bodies for thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ his sake A Friar cryed Out Heretick thou liest God is none of thy Father the Divel is thy Father Baudizon fixing his eys upon heaven said to his Father Behold I see the heavens open and millions of Angels ready to receive us and rejoycing to see us thus bearing witness to the truth in the view of the world Father let us rejoyce and be glad for the joys of heaven are opened to us Then said a Friar I see Hell open and millions of Divels are ready to carry you thither A poor man in the croud cryed out Be of good comfort Baudizon stand to it thou fightest in a good quarrel I am on thy side which words so soon as he had spoken he departed and so hastened himself from danger The fire being kindled Baudizon oft said to his Father Yet a very little while and we shall enter into the heavenly mansions the fire encreasing the last words which they spake were Jesus Christ thou Sonne of God into thy hands we commend our spirits and so they sweetly slept in the Lord. After the death of these worthy champions of Christ many of the Popish rabble were sent if possible to seduce the Mother and son remaining in prison and coming to them the first subtilty they used was to separate them asunder then they set upon the woman as the weaker vessel and so wrought upon her
dare say nothing to the purpose for fear of angring the Inquisitors only he chears up his Client and bids him tell the truth in any case as the only way to prevail in that Court and then is the Prisoner sent back again who hopes that now his cause will be heard and his businesse dispatched whereas usually these good fathers let him lie two three or four years in prison without ever calling for him again and if through loathsomnesse and intolerablenesse of the prison any sue to come to hearing it may be with much ado he obtains it but usually that favour is denied him yet at length when they please they call for him to hear the depositions of the witnesses against him which yet is not done till the poor Prisoner by his grievous imprisonment is brought so low as that they think he will rather choose death than such a life and therefore will be willing to tell all that so he may be rid out of his misery Then between rebuking and a gentle admonition they tell him that though he hath stood out so long yet at length they would have him wiser to confesse the truth but if he yet refuse to be his own accuser then the Fiscal produceth the depositions which are delivered to the Prisoner but they are drawn up so intricately and ambiguously that he knows not what to make of them and this they do to conceal the witnesses lest he should except against them and to set him on guessing that so if he chance to reckon up any others to whom he spake any thing about any of those matters they may thereby get more grists to their mill For they presently out-law such persons as favourers of hereticks for suffering an heretick to sow such pestilent seeds amongst them without complaining thereof to the Inquisitors The Keeper of the Prison also is examined what he hath seen and observed of him in the Prison and his testimony is as good as two witnesses to take away the Prisoners life They have also Promoters to bring in accusations who are admitted though frantick Bedlams or the veriest Varlets that be and in their informations if they chance to want words of weight the Inquisitors will help them out and prompt them word by word Then after three or four dayes the Prisoner is called again to put in his answer to the depositions but in the interim his Advocate never comes at him to assist or direct him but he is left to himself without all help save of God alone His answer being viewed he is remanded to prison again with this Item that if he confesse not the truth they will extort it out of him by extremity After two or three moneths more he is called for once again and required to speak what he hath for himself or else they must draw to an end and if he still shrinks not but stands firme in his own Justification they proceed to other dealings in comparison of which all their former proceedings are not only sufferable but seeme very reasonable and full of gentlenesse For their future actions farre exceed all barbarousnesse the Devil himself being not able to go beyond them in their monstrous tyranny For not long after the Prisoner is called in before the Inquisitors who tell him that they have deeply considered his whole case and found out that he doth not declare the whole truth and therefore they are resolved that he shall be racked that by force they may draw from him what by fair means he will not acknowledge and therefore they advise him rather to do it voluntarily and thereby to avoid the paine and peril that yet attends him yet whether he confesse or not confesse all is one for to the Rack he must go Then is he led into the place where the Rack standeth which is a deep and dark dungeon under ground with many a door to passe through ere a man come to it because the shreekes and cries of the tormented should not be heard then the Inquisitors set themselves upon a scaffold hard by the Rack and the torches being lighted the Executioner comes in all araied from top to toe in a sute of black canvas his head is covered with a long black hood that covereth all his face having only two peep-holes for his eyes which sight doth more affright the poor soul to see one in the likenesse of the Devil to be his tormentor The Lords being set in their places they begin again to exhort him to speak the truth freely and voluntarily Then with sharp words they command him to be stripped stark naked yea though the modestest maid or chasest Matron in the City whose grief in regard of the Rack is not half so great as to be seene naked in the presence of such manner of persons For these wicked villains without any regard of honesty will not by any Prayers of godly Matrons or chast Maidens forbear one jot of that barbarous impudence as if a shirt or smock could hinder the violence of the Rack from sufficiently tormenting them The Party being thus stripped the Inquisitors signifie to the Tormentor how they would have him or her ordered The first kind of torment is the Jeobit or Pully but first one comes behind him and binds his hands with a cord eight or ten times about the Inquisitors calling upon him to strain each harder than other they cause also his thumbs to be bound extream hard with a small line and so both hands and thumbs are fastened to a Pully which hangs on the Jeobit then they put great and heavy bolts on his heels and hang upon those bolts between his feet certain weights of iron and so hoise him or her up from the ground and whilst the poor wretch hangs in this plight they begin to exhort him again to accuse himself and as many others as he knows of Then they command him to be hoised up higher to the very beam till his head touch the Pully Having hung thus a good while they command him to be let down and twice so much weight to be fastened to his heels and so hoised up again and one inch higher if it may be Then they command the hangman to let him up and down that the weights of the iron hanging at his heels may rent every joynt in his body asunder With which intolerable pains if the Party shreek or cry out they roare out as loud to him to confesse the truth or else he shall come down with a vengeance Then they bid the hangman suddenly to slip the rope that he may fall down with a sway and in the mid-way to stop then give him the Strappado which being as soon done it rends all his body out of joynt armes shoulders back legs c. by reason of the sudden jerk and the weights hanging at his legs If he yet remain constant they adde more weight to his heels the third time and the poor wretch already half
be objected against her This petition the Emperour granted Her husband perceiving that he was frustrated of his expectation went and accused Ptolemaeus who was her instructer in the faith of Christ that he was a Christian. Ptolemaeus loving the truth and not thinking it good to hide his profession confessed it Therefore being brought before Vrbicius the Judge he was by him condemned to die Whereupon one Lucius a Christian standing by said to the Judge What reason I pray you or equity is this that this man who is neither Adulterer Fornicator Murtherer nor Felon nor guilty of any other crime should he condemned for his name and profession of Christianity These manner of Judgements O Urbicius are neither honourable for the Emperor nor for the estate of the Senate of Rome Then said Vrbicius Methinks thou also art a Christian which Lucius confessing the Judge without any further delay commanded him also to be had away to the place of Execution to whom he answered I thank you with all my heart that hereby you release me from most wicked governors and send me to my good and loving Father who is God of gods and King of Kings Also a third man coming to the Judge and using the like liberty of speech had the like sentence of death and was crowned with the same crown of Martyrdom Also one Concordus a Minister of the City of Spoleto because he refused to sacrifice to Jupiter and did spit in the face of the Idol after divers cruel torments sustained was beheaded with the sword Many others also suffered Martyrdom at the same time because they sharply reprehended Idolatry and refused at the Emperors command to offer sacrifice to Idols for which they were beheaded Many Christians also suffered in France the History of whom was written and set forth by their own Churches and directed to the brethren of Asia and Phrygia wherein they write that Satans Instruments were so maliciously active against them that they could not be safe any where neither in the Markets Shops nor their own Houses Yea they were forbidden to come into any publick places But God in Mercy took out of the Tyrants hands such as were weak amongst the Christians and sets up others as Pillars who are able to abide all sufferings and valiantly to withstand the enemy notwithstanding all the opprobrious punishments they could devise yea by their admirable patience they shewed that all the sufferings of this present time were not to be compared with the glory which they expected to be revealed in them First they suffered whatsoever the frantick multitude could inflict upon them by railings scourgings drawings and halings flinging of stones imprisonment c. Then were they led to the Market-place vvhere the Captain and other City-Officers commanded them to prison after they had made confessions of their faith publickly till the return of the chief Governor Who being come back he used all extremity that possibly he could against them At which time a noble young man called Vetius Epagathus being replenished with fervent zeal and love both to God and the brethren could not suffer the wicked Judgement which vvas given against the brethren Whereupon he desired the Governor to hear vvhat he had to say in their behalf in whom vvas no impiety found But the people cryed out against him and the Justice denied his lawfull request withal asking him vvhether he himself vvere not a Christian unto which vvith a loud and bold voice he answered I am a Christian And thus was he received into the fellowship of the Martyrs By this worthy example the rest of the brethren were more animated to suffer Martyrdom Yet some there were as yet weak and not so well prepared for sufferings of vvhom there vvere ten that fainted vvhich filled the rest vvith great heaviness Their example also caused such as vvere not yet apprehended to be less forward in adventuring themselves yet every day were some apprehended which were worthy to fill up the number of them which vvere fallen Against the Christians vvere their heathen servants examined and being threatned vvith extream torments they vvere enforced to confess against their Masters that at their meetings they kept the feasts of Thiestes and incest of Oedipus and many other such like crimes not fit to be named which things being bruted abroad every one began to exercise their cruelty against the people of God yea their familiar friends disdained and vvaxed mad against them Then vvas all manner of cruelty used against them especially against Sanctus Deacon of the Church of Viena and Maturus but a little before baptized but yet a worthy souldier of Christ. Also against Attalus and Blandina concerning whom vve vvere all afraid especially her Mistress lest through vveakness she should not stand to her profession but through Gods Grace she vvas so admirably replenished vvith strength and boldness that they vvhich had the tormenting of her by course from morning till night for very vveariness gave over and fell dovvn confessing that they could do no more against her marvelling that she yet lived having her body so torn and rent as it vvas professing that any one of those torments alone had been sufficient to bereave her of life But this blessed Virgin became stronger and stronger in her sufferings and as often as she spake these vvords I am a Christian and have not committed any evil she was vvonderfully comforted Sanctus also who in his torments had endured more pains then the nature of man vvas able to stand under when the wicked thought to have heard him utter some blasphemous vvords through the intollerableness of his pains abode notwithstanding so constant in mind that they could neither extort out of him vvhat Countryman he vvas where brought up what his name was vvhether a bond-man or a free but to every question he answered I am a Christian When therefore they had used all other kinds of torments they clapped plates of brass red hot to the tenderest parts of his body wherewith though he was grievouslly scorched yet shrunk he not for the matter yea though his body was all drawn together with the scorching fire so that he retained not the proper shape of a man yet did he draw comfort from Christ so as to rejoyce in these tribulations After a while they brought him again to new torments hoping thereby to enforce him to a recantation at which time his body was so sore and swoln that he could not suffer a man to touch him but contrary to their expectation his body in these latter torments was so suppled and restored that he recovered the former shape and use of his members so that these second torments through the Grace of Christ proved a soveraign medicine to him Satan also now thinking that he was sure of Biblides who was one of those that had denied Christ and hoping to prevail with her a
commending his soul to Christ his head was cut off and set on the Tower The next was the Lord Harant a man that had gained much experience by his travels in Asia Africa and Europe his crime was that he had taken an oath to be true to Frederick and durst not violate it As he was going to suffer he called the Minister to him and told him that he much feared his wives inconstancy in Religion and therefore desired him to exhort her to constancy and not to suffer her self to be drawn from her Religion by any allurements assuring her that it is the infallible way to salvation Then to exhort her to use more clemency to his subjects rather easing then over-charging them with burthens Lastly to require her to have a care of his children and to bring them up in the pure Religion c. Being called to execution he said I have travelled through many Countries through many barbarous Nations escaped many perils by sea and land and now suffer innocently in my own Countrey and by them for whose sake I and my forefathers have spent our Estates and Lives Father forgive them Then he said In thee O Lord have I hoped let me not be confounded On the Scaffold he said Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit In the O Lord have I trusted from my youth I am confident that I shall be accepted by that ignominious death of my Saviour and falling upon his knees he said To thee O Lord I commend my spirit for thou O God just and true hast redeemed me and so he received the fatall stroke with the sword The next was Casper Kaplitz a Knight of eighty six years old When the Minister came to him after his condemnation he said See me a miserable old man who have often intreated my God that he would have mercy upon me and take me out of this miserable life but have not obtained it for God hath reserved me to be a spectacle to the world and a sacrifice to himselfe Gods will be done My death indeed is disgracefull in the eyes of men but glorious in the sight of God for God will account that death precious in his sight which I suffer for his glory and truth And when it was told him that he might have his life if he would ask pardon he answered That he would ask pardon of him against whom he had committed many sins all his life but he never offended the Prince and therefore would not give occasion to suspect that he had committed some crime for which he had deserved death c. God forbid therefore said he that I should be separated from this holy company of Martyrs As he was going to the Scaffold being feeble with age he said Oh my God strengthen me lest I fall down and become matter of scorn to the enemies Being crooked with age and hanging down his head the executioner could not well come at his neck whereupon the Minister said to him My noble Lord as you haâ—e commended your soul to Christ so now offer up your heavy head chearfully to God and lift up your selâ—e towards heaven Then lifting up his head as well as he could he said Lord Jesus into thy hand I commend my spirit and so is head was cut off The next was Procopius Dorzecki who after his condemnation said to the Minister I haâ—e had a great contention all night with old Adam so that it made me sweat againe but thanks be to my God by whom my soul hath overcome all tentations saying further O Almighty God strengthen thy servant that I may not be made a derision to mine enemies by any fear of death and as thou waâ—â— wont to encourage thy holy Martyrs so I â—trongly beleeâ—e thou wilt comfort me When he was called forth to execution he said Thanks be to my God who doth now call me to himselfe to him I have lived and for him I will die for my Saviour hath therefore died and risen again that he might be Lord both of the living and the dead I know that my soul shall liâ—e and my body shall be raised like to his glorious body Upon the Scaffold he said to the Imperiâ—ll judges Tell Caesar that we are now under his â—udgement buâ— he shall undergoe a more grievous yet just judgement of God And seeing a gold Medal hanging about his neck wherein was ingraven the Coronation of Frederick he delivered it to one that stood by saying I require â—hee that when my dear King Frederick shall recover the Throne of this Kingdom thou deliver him this and tell him that for his sake I wore it till my death and that now I lay down my life willingly for God and my King and so presently after he lost his head The next was the L. Frederick de Bile who suffered death likewise patiently and piously The next was the L. Hen. Otto a man of great judgment who having received the sentence of condemnâ—tion said O Caesar do you indeed establish your Throne by our bloud but what account will you make to God of it in the day of judgement c. kill my body dispâ—â—se my members whither you please yet dâ— I beleeâ—e â—hat my Saviour will gather them together againe and clothe 〈…〉 so that with thâ—sâ— eyes I shall see hâ—m with these ears I shall hear him with â—his toâ—gue I shall praise him and rejoyce with this heart fâ—reâ—er Afterwards when the Minister came to him amongst other 〈◊〉 he saiâ— I was â—roubled but now I feel a wonderfull refreshing in mâ— heart adding with his hands lift up to heaven I give thee thanks O most mercifull Saviour who hast beâ—n pleased to fill me with so much 〈◊〉 now I fear death no longer I will die with joy As he was going to the â—caâ—fold he said to the Ministâ—r I am sure that Christ Jesus will meet my soul with his Angels that he may bring it to an everlasting marriage where I shall drink of a new cup a cup of joy for ever This death I know shall not separate me from him Upon the Scaffold lifting up his eyes to heaven he said Behold I see the Heavens open pointing with his hand to the place where others also observed a certain brightnesse which dazled their eyes after he had prayed silently he said Into thy hands O Lord God I commend my spirit have pitty on me through Jesus Christ and receive me that I may see thy glory and so he received the stroak of the sword The next was Dionysius Zervius formerly a Papist but being told of the promises made to the people of God concerning the pardon of sins and assurance of salvation to those that believe in Christ he struck his breast and with tears in his eyes cried out This is my faith and in this I die I rest in the grace of Christ and I
trust in my God that he will graciously accept my contrite spirit When upon the Scaffold the Jesuites exhorted him he listned not to them but turned from the Crucifix and falling down on his knees he prayed softly Then looking up towards heaven he cried They can take away the body but they cannot take away the soul O Lord Jesus I commend that unto thee and so he ended his life being fifty six years old The next was an aged man about seventy years old that had been long lame his crime was that he had assisted Frederick with his counsel and wealth at the time of his death he said O Lord Jesus who being innocent didst undergo death grant that I may die the death of the righteous and receive my soul into thy hands The next was the Lord of Rugenia a man of excellent parts and full of zeal for God when he was iudged to die he said that it was more welcome to him then if the Emperour had given him life and restored him to his estate with addition of more afterwards he said to the Minister God is our witnesse that we fought for nothing but the Liberty of Religion and in that we are overcome and condemned to die we acknowledge and finde that God will not have his truth defended by our swords but by our bloud c. When he saw divers called out before him he said What is the matter my God thou knowest that I resign my self wholly unto thee Ah do not despise thy servant but make haste to take me away and when the Sheriff came for him he rejoyced and said Praised be my God that I shall now be taken out of the world that I may be with Christ and so he went to meet him On the Scaffold he comforted himself with that promise Father I will that where I am my servants may also be to behold that glory which thou gavest me Therefore said he I make haste to die that I may be with Christ and see his glory and so he suffered Martyrdom couragiously The next was Valentine Cockan of about sixty years old During his imprisonment he was full of heavenly discourse and at the Scaffold he said Grant me O God to passe through this valley of death that I may presently see thee for thou knowest my God that I have loved thy word bring me O God through the paths of life that I may see fulnesse of joy in thy presence and kneeling down he said into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit and so holily ended his life The next was Toby Steffick a man of a composed temper and sincere in Religion he spent most of the time of his imprisonment in silent sighs and tears Before his Execution he said I have received many good things of the Lord all my life long shall I not therefore receive this cup of affliction I imbrace the will of God who by this ignominious death makes me conformable to his son and by a narrow way brings me to his heavenly Kingdom I praise God who hath joyned me undeservedly to these excellent men that I might receive with them the crown of martyrdom When he was called to die he said My Saviour being about to die said Father not as I will but as thou wilt thy will be done Shall I therefore who am but a worm yea dust and a shadow contradict his will far be it from me yea I come willingly my God only have mercy on me and cleanse me from my sins that no spot or rinckle may appear in me but that I may appear pure in thy sight and so he lifted up himself full of sighs yet full of hope and as he was praying he rendered up his spirit unto God Then was Jessenius a Doctor of Phisick called forth a man famous for piety and learning all over Europe Having hard his sentence he said You use us too cruelly and disgracefully but know that our heads shall be buried which you ignominiously expose for a spectacle which afterwards came to passe Anno 1631. when the King of Sweden with his Army took prague and caused the Martyrs heads to be taken from the Tower and solemnly and honourably buried When the Hangman required his tongue to cut it off he willingly put it out and falling upon his knees as he was praying his head was cut off his body quartered and set upon four stakes The next was Christopher Chober who much encouraged his fellow-Martyrs and then cited the words of Ignatius I am Gods corn and shall be ground with the teeth of wilde beasts So we saith he are Gods corn sown in the field of the Church and that we may be for our Masters use we are now to be torn by beasts but be of good chear the Church is founded in bloud and hath ever encreased by bloud God is able to raise up a thousand worshippers of himself out of every drop of our bloud for though truth now suffers violence yet Christ reigns and no man shall throw him from his Throne Being called to execution he said I come in the name of my God neither am I ashamed to suffer these things for his glory for I know whom I have beleeved I have fought the good fight of faith and finished my course c. then praying into thy hands Lord I commend my spirit he received the Crown of Martyrdom John Shultis was next who on the Scaffold said Why art thou so sad O my soul Hope thou in God for thou shalt yet praise him c. The righteous seem to die in the eyes of fools but indeed they go to their rest Lord Jesus thou hast promised that whoso comes to thee thou willt not cast off Behold I now come look on me pity me pardon my sins and receive my soul to thy self then kneeling down he said Come come Lord Jesus and doe not tarry and so he was he headed The next was Maximillian Hostialick a learned and pious man after his condemnation he was sadder then the rest and being asked by the Minister the reason of it he said The sins of my youth doe now come into my minde for though I know that nothing remains to condemn them which are in Christ Jesus yet I know that God exerciseth justice as well as mercy towards his own Being called to death he said Look upon me O Lord my God and lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death and lest mine enemies say We have prevailed Afterward repeating the words of Simeon Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation he was beheaded The next was John Kutnaur who when the Jesuites began to speak to them said Pray you trouble not our consciences we are sufficiently furnished against the fear of death we need none of your help and when they would have proceeded
the City for ten years with this writing on her head A favourer and aider of Hereticks And whereas all other sort of persons in prison and bondage are allowed to recreate and refresh themselves with singing at their pleasure these poor souls are forbidden this small solace in their great misery for if any of them sing a Psalm or openly recite any portion of Scripture the Inquisitors take it very hainously and presently send to them requiring them to be silent upon the pain of Excommunication and if the prisoner make light of this warning he shall have a bit set on his tongue to teach him obedience and this they do both to deprive the poor souls of all kind of solace and to keep other Prisoners from knowing how their friends do So that it often falls out that a man and his friend the Father and Sonne yea the husband and wife shall be in one prison-house two or three years together and not know of each others being there till they meet upon the scaffold upon the great day of triumph By reason of this cruel usage many of the Prisoners die some of their torments others of the stink of the prison and others of diseases contracted by hunger cold ill diet c. They have also an Hospital unto which they remove such as fall sick in their prisons where yet they are not dealt more gently with in any thing save that they have Physick allowed them for their healths sake But none are suffered to come to them but the Physician and the servants of the Hospital And as soon as the Patient is on the mending hand he is carried back to the place whence he came If the Prisoner be half naked or want something to lie on and thereupon pray the Inquisitor that his necessity may be considered The answer which he receives is this Well now the weather is warm you may live full well without either cloaths or couch And if it be winter time his answer is True it hath been a great frost of late but now the cold is come down again and it will be more seasonable weather Care you for the garments wherewithal you should cloath your soul which consisteth in uttering the truth and discharging your conscienâ—e before this holy house And if the Prisoner desire to have some good book or the holy Bible to enable him to passe that troublesome and careful time to some profit The Inquisitor answers him that the true book is to speak the truth and to discharge his conscience to that holy Court and that he ought to be occupied in laying open his wounds to their Lordships who are ready to give him a plaister whereby it appears that all their care and desire is that the poor Prisoner may have nothing to look on or think on but his present miserable state that the grief thereof grating upon him may force him to satisfie their requests The last act of the Tragedy remaineth wherein both Parties are pleased and have their desire the Inquisitors in obtaining their prey the Prisoners in finding some end of their miserable usage but two or three dayes before the solemnity they use severally to call before them all such whose estates are confiscated examining them what lands or goods they have where they lie charging them upon great penalties not to conceal one jot telling them that if any thing be afterwards found felony shall be laid to their charge and he with whom it is found shall pay foundly for it and when all is confessed they are returned to prison again The night before the Festival they cause all the Prisoners to be brought into a large roome where they are informed of the several kinds of pennances that they are to do the next day The next morning very early the Familiars come and attire the Prisoners in their several habits in which they are to appear before the people Some in Sambenito's which is a long garment painted all over with ugly devils on his head he hath an high-crown'd hat whereon a man is painted burning in the fire with many devils about him plying him with fire and fagots Besides their tongues have a cleft piece of wood put upon them which nips and pincheth them that they cannot speak they have about their necks cords and their hands fast bound behind them On this sort come these constant Martyrs disguised first to the stage and then to the stake and in the like sort do all the rest come forth arraied as the other and set forth with the like notes of infamy either more or lesse as the Inquisitors please to disgrace them in the sight of the people On each hand of every Prisoner goeth a Familiar all armed to guard him as also two Friars with every one that is to die who perswade him tooth and nail to deny that doctrine that formerly he hath professed now at their going out of this world which wicked importunity is a great grief to the poor servants of Jesus Christ. The Inquisitors also passe in great pomp from the Castle of Triana to their scaffold And when all are set in their places a Sermon begins framed on purpose in commendations of the holy house and in confutation of such Heriticks as are presently to suffer but the greatest part is spent in slanderous reproaches wherewith they vilifie and disgrace the truth and the Professors of it The Sermon being ended the sentences against the Prisoners are read First against such as have easiest punishments and so in order to the greater Which sentences are commonly these Death without mercy Whipping in such extremity that the Persons seldome escape with their lives Condemnation to the Gally Forfeiture of all their estates c. Then doth the chief Inquisitor absolve all such as have forsaken Christ and are come home to the Church of Rome from all the errours for which they shewed themselves penitent but though hereby they are absolved from the fault yet not from the punishment for notwithstanding their Recantation they must abide the punishment without mercy And whereas multitudes of people resort to this spectacle some coming twenty Leagues to see it The Inquisitors have this trick to uphold their Kingdome They cause all the people present to take an oath to live and die in the service of the Church of Rome hazarding both life and goods against any that shall oppose it as also to their power to uphold and maintain the holy Inquisition and to defend all the officers thereof c. Then if there be any amongst the Prisoners to be degraded they proceed after this manner First they apparel him in his massing Robes then they despoil him again of every part thereof then are his hands lips and the Crown of his head scraped with a piece of glasse or a sharp knife till they bleed again to scrape off the holy oyle wherewith he was anointed at his ordination In the end of
get leave to write to or speak with any of his Countreymen Afterwards they brought him forth with many other godly persons upon their publick day of triumph in his Sambito painted all over with ugly devils tormenting a soul in flames of fire and with a Barnacle upon his tongue where he received sentence of death and so with the rest was carried to the place of execution to be burnt and he endured the flames with so much patience and cheerfulnesse of countenance that his Popish adversaries said that the Devil had his soul before he came to the fire whereby his sense of feeling was taken away They also sequestred all his goods which could never be recovered out of their hands though great means were used for the same This was in Queen Maries days There was burned with him at the same time another Englishman and not long after two more called John Baker and William Burgate And about the same time William Burges Master of an English ship was burned there also and William Hooker a youth of about sixteen was there stoned to death for the bold profession of his faith Here place the seventh Figure CHAP. XXVIII The Persecution of the Church of Christ in Italy which began Anno Christi 1155. ANno Christi 1155. Adrian the fourth an English man being Pope there was one Arnald of Brixia who coming to Rome preached boldly against the corruptions which were crept into the Church and found great favour amongst the Senators and people insomuch as when the Pope commanded this Arnald to be driven away as an Heretick they resisted his command and defended Arnald till at last the Pope interdicting the whole City at the importunity of the Clergy the Senators and Citizens were forced to send him away and shortly after he was apprehended by the Popes Legat Cardinal of St. Nicholas out of whose hands he was rescued by the Vicounts of Campany with whom he remained and to whom he preached the Gospel of Christ and was had in such esteem that he was accounted a Prophet Shortly after Frederick Barbarossa the Emperour coming unto Italy to be crowned the Pope sent some Cardinals to him requesting that he would deliver Arnald of Brixia into their hands whom the Vicounts of Campania had taken from his Legat at Otriculi whom they held for a Prophet in their Countrey and greatly honoured him The Emperour receiving these commands from the Pope presently sent forth his Apparitors and took one of the Vicounts prisoner wherewith the other were so terrified that they delivered up Arnald to the Cardinals and this the Emperour did to gratifie the Pope that was to set the Imperial Crown upon his head Not long after the Pope being in his Ruff marching with a brave Army into Apulia commanded his Prefect at Rome to do execution upon Arnald who accordingly most cruelly first hanged and then burned him for an Arch-heretick at the appointment of the Pope This Arnald was born in Italy and was trained up under Peter Abailardus in France His heresies were that he preached against the Pride and Covetousnesse of the Clergy and Monks That he inveighed against the corruptions which were crept into the Sacraments c. He first Preached in Brixia and expounded to the people the sacred Scriptures who earnestly embraced his doctrine whereupon the Bishops and Monks of that City complained of him to the Council that was held at Rome by Pope Innocent who to prevent the spreading of his Doctrine injoyned him silence and banished him Italy Then did he go beyond the Alps into a Town of Germany called Turengum where for a time he preached the truth and did much good till he heard of the death of Pope Innocent his old Adversary at which time he returned into Italy and went to Rome where what his successe was we heard before after his body was burnt they gathered up his ashes and threw them into the River Tybur Otho Frising Anno Christi 1546. There was one Encenas or Driander a Spaniard born in Bruges who in his youth was sent by his superstitious Parents to be educated in Rome where in process of time through God mercy he came to the knowledge of the truth and thereupon manifesting his dislikes of the impure doctrine of the Church of Rome he was betrayed by some of his own Countrymen and houshold friends and by them carried before the Cardinals who committed him to strait prison and afterwards being called forth to declare his judgement in matters of Religion he gave a notable testimony to the truth before the Cardinals and the Popes whole retinue whereupon they cried out upon him that he should be burned yet the Cardinals proffered him life if he would wear the Sambito but he constantly refused to wear any other badge save the badge of our Lord Jesus Christ which was to seal his Profession with his blood Hereupon he was condemned to the fire and suffered Martyrdome with great patience and constancy His brother Francis Encenas a very learned and godly man as any was in Spain being in the Emperours Court at Bruxels offered to Charles the fifth the New Testament translated into Spanish for which he was cast into prison 〈…〉 remained in great misery for the space of fifteen months looking for nothing but present death but at last through the marvellous Providence of God at eight a clock at night he found the prison doors standing wide open and a secret motion in his minde to make an escape whereupon going out of prison with a leasurely pace he went without interruption and so from thence went strait into Germany Anno 1550. There was at Ferrara one Faninus who by reading of good books was through Gods grace converted to the knowledge of the truth wherein he found such sweetnesse that by constant reading meditation and prayer he grew so expert in the Scriptures that he was able to instruct others and though he durst not go out of the bounds of his calling to preach openly yet by conference and private exhortations he did good to many This coming to the knowledge of the Popes Clients they apprehended and committed him to prison where by the earnest solicitations of his wife and children and other friends he was so overcome that he renounced the truth and so was dismissed out of prison But it was not long before the Lord met with him so that falling into horrible torture of conscience he was near unto utter despair for his Apostacy and for preferring the love of his kindred and friends before the service of Jesus Christ neither could he possibly by any means be free from these terrours before he had fully resolved to adventure his life more faithfully in the service of the Lord. Wherefore being thus inflamed with an holy zeal he went about all the Countrey doing much good wheresoever he came whereupon he was again apprehended and cast into prison and
by whom he was kept in bands having only a pad of straw to lie on and though his wife sent him a good bed and sheets yet did the Bishops officers keep them from him dividing it as a booty amongst themselves Thrice he was brought before the Commissioners where he boldly rendred a reason of his faith answering all their interrogatories with such evidence of Scripture and constancy of mind as astonished all that heard him yet afterwards at the importunity of his friends and kindred he was by much perswasion brought to assent to certain Popish points But through the mercy of God he was after a while brought to such repentance and bewailing of this fact that afterwards he became more valiant in the defence of Christs quarrel neither did he desire any thing more than to have occasion to recover again by confession that which he had lost by denial affirming that as he never had felt more joy of heart then when he constantly professed the truth so he never tasted more sorrow in all his life then when he turned from the same by dissimulation Professing to his Christian friends that death was much more sweet to him with testimony to the truth then life with the least denial of it and violation of a good conscience thereby So that afterwards through Gods mercy he was so full of comfort that divers which talked with him continued all day without meat or drink and if they might would have stayed all night too they were so delighted with him Galeacius thus waiting for some occasion to manifest his Recovery it so fell out that the Inquisitors came into the Prison to him supposing that now he would have confirmed what before he had granted unto them requiring him so to do But Galeacius on the contrary retracted that and boldly asserted the truth with more courage than he did before and hereby his mind was greatly refreshed and his adversaries went away ashamed yet did they condemn and deliver him to the secular Judge to be burned Then was he brought forth in the morning to the market-place and bound to a stake where he was left till noon to be a gazing stock to all the people during which time many came to see him exhorting him to recant and not so wilfully to cast away himself and thereby to undo his loving wife and young children c. But nothing could alter the firme mind of this constant Martyr and therefore at length fire was put to him and so he quietly slept in the Lord. A little before his execution he hearing that there was a controversie between the Bishop and Major of the City which of them should be at cost to buy wood for his burning he sent to them to end that quarrel for that he himself would be at the cost of it out of his own goods The life of John Mollius THere was at Rome one John Mollius who at twelve years old was placed by his Parents in the house of the Gray-friars where being of an excellent wit in a short time he so profited both in the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues that at eighteen years old he was made a Priest Then was he sent to study at Ferrara where he so profited in six years time that he was made Doctor and Reader of Divinity in that University and by his Sophistry shewed himself an utter enemy to the Gospel From thence he went to Brixia and the year following to Millaine where he read openly Then by Francis Sforce he was brought to the University of Papia to be the Philosophy Professor where he remained four years Then was he called to the University of Bononia about which time it pleased God so to inlighten him with the knowledge of his truth that he began secretly to expound The Epistle of Paul to the Romanes to a few but presently his Auditors increased so fast that he was compelled to read openly in the Church where the number of his Auditors daily increased and withal they shewed such fervency of mind that most of them came with pen and ink to write what they heard taking great care to come so early that they might have room to hear him This was Anno 1538. Hereupon Cardinal Campeius set up one Cornelius an arrogant Babler to expound the same Epistle who cried up the Pope and his traditions as John on the contrary commended and extolled Christ and his merits to the People But Cornelius his Auditors quickly decreased and the others increased exceedingly This angred Cornelius insomuch as by Cardinal Campeius his advice they came to an open disputation and when they could not agree as John was returning home in a narrow place where his friends could not come to his rescue he was apprehended and clapt up in prison but this caused such stir in the City that Cornelius was faine to hide himself Then did the Bishop send word to John in prison that he must either recant or be burnt To the first he answered that he would by no means condescend only it grieved him that he should be condemned and his cause not heard yet by the mediation of a friend he was released out of prison upon condition that within three moneths he should appear at Rome some of his friends disswaded him from going to Rome advising him rather to go into Germany and they would give him mony to bear his charges but he refused saying that he must preach the Gospel at Rome also When he came thither he requested of the Pope that he might have a publick hearing but that was denied him and he was commanded to write his opinion which accordingly he did About Original sin Justification by faith only Free-will Purgatory c. All which he confirmed by the Authority of Scripture and Fathers and so exhibited it to the Pope who referred it to some Cardinals and they disputed with him three dayes upon those points but could not confute them then was he answered That it was truth which he said yet not meet for the times and therefore he was commanded to abstain from preaching and to returne to Bonony to be the Philosophy Professour When he came back all men longed to hear how he had sped and in the Pulpit he openly declared the whole proceedings to them giving God thanks for his safe return But this so offended the Cardinal that by order from the Pope he was removed from Bononia to Naples There also his doctrine was so distasted by the Viceroy that he laid wait to take away his life yet through Gods mercy he escaped and wandred up and down Italy preaching the Gospel of Christ wheresoever he came At last he was called back to Bonony where privately he expounded Pauls Epistles which could not be long concealed whereupon he was apprehended and carried to Faventia where he was cast into a filthy stinking prison and lay there foure
Woods and forced to dwell in Caves some tormented upon the Rack and some burned with fire and faggot Amongst others two young men were burnt at Bruxels viz. Henry Voes and John Esch formerly Augustine-Friars When they came before the Inquisitors they were examined what they did believe they answered the books of the Old and New Testament wherein were contained the Articles of the Creed Then were they asked whether they did not believe the decrees of the Councels and Fathers they answered such as were agreeing to the Scriptures they believed c. When they were condemned they gave thanks to God their heavenly father which of his great goodnesse had delivered them from that false and abominable Religion making them Priests to himself and receiving them to himself as a sacrifice of a sweet odour They went joyfully to the place of execution protesting that they died for the glory of God and the doctrine of the Gospel as true Christians and that it was the day which they had long desired They joyfully embraced the stake and endured patiently the torments of the fire singing Psalmes and rehearsing the Creed in testimony of their faith whereupon one said to them that they should take heed of glorifying themselves so foolishly but of them answered God fobid that we should glory in any thing but in the Crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ When the fire was kindled at their feet one of them said Methinks you do strow Roses under my feet presently after they quietly slept in the Lord. Henry being before demanded if Luther had seduced him he answered Even so as Christ seduced his Apostles The year after there was one Henry Sutphen who having been with Luther came to Antwerp from which he was driven for his Religion Then did he go to Breme where he was requested by some godly Citizens to preach to them and the Citizens hearing him preach the Gospel so sinâ—rely they were so in love with his Doctrine that they requested him to tarry amongst them to be their Minister but the Popish Clergy presently complained of him to the Magistrates accusing him of Heresie and desiring that he might be banished the town but not prevailing there they complained to the Archbishop and sent their Chaplains daily to his Sermons to entrap him in his words but it pleased God so to work upon them by his Ministery that most of them were converted and did openly witness that he taught nothing but the truth of God Not long after he was set for to Meldorp to preach the Gospel to them also wherefore he thought good to try what God would work by him there but the Citizens of Breme were very unwilling to part with him because the Gospel had not as yet took much deep root amongst them and because the persecution was very great c. Yet Sutphen alledged that in Diethmarch there was more need of his labours the people being as sheep amongst Wolves and that with a safe conscience he could not deny their request and that he did not intend utterly to forsake Breme but only for a moneth or two after which he would return to them again So having made all things ready he went into Diethmarch to Meldorp were he was joyfully received But before he began to preach the Divel and his instruments began to fret and fume and consulting together they resolved to hinder him from preaching fearing that if the people once heard his doctrine it would be too late to stop it Hereupon they grievously complained to the Magistrates telling them that if they suffered this Heretick to preach he would infect all the Country as he had done at Breme and that it would be a most gratefull service if they would put him to death This so far prevailed with these ignorant men that they resolved that he should be put to death unseen and unheard They wrote also to forbid him to preach whereunto he answered that since he was come at the request of the whole Parish to preach he resolved to answer that call and rather to obey God than man and that if God had determined that there he should lose his life there was as near a way to heaven from thence as from any other place assuring himself that sooner or later he must die for the Gospels sake And accordingly the next day he preached and the people so liked him that they resolved to have him for their Preacher and to defend him to their power in the afternoon he preached again afterwards also he preached a third time with such a spirit and grace that all men admired him praying God earnestly that they might long enjoy such a Preacher But his enemies were not all this while idle for going to the Rulers of the Country they procured some of them to joyn with them and privately raised five hundred men with whom they went in the night time to Meldorp brake into the house where Sutphen lay pulled him out of his bed naked and in their rage had almost pulled him to pieces they then bound him and asked him for what cause he came into Diethmarch he gently declared it to them yet they led him away barefoot so that his feet being pitifully cut with the ice he desired a horse to ride on for which they jeared him saying Must we provide an horse for an Heretick thou shalt go on foot whether thou wilt or no Afterwards they bound him with chains and set him in the stocks Then was he removed to another place and shut up in a Cupboard The next day binding him hands feet and neck they carried him forth to be burned Then a certain woman came to them and proffered her self to suffer two thousand stripes and to give them a great summe of mony if they would but respite his life till he had a publick hearing but they threw her underfoot and trod upon her They also fell upon Sutphen cutting and mangling of him in several parts The fire was often kindled yet would not burn then they fell upon him again cutting and slashing him and at last bound him to a ladder and threw him into the fire and when he began to pray one of them him struck saying Thou shalt first be burnt and then pray and prate thy fill another trode upon his breast and another endeavoured to strangle him another ran him through with an Halberd another struck him on the breast with a Mace till he died and lastly they rosted him upon the coals and so he finished his Martyrdom About the same time many other godly persons were thrown into the River of Rhene and drowned and in the Town of Diethmarch another faithful servant of God suffered Martyrdom In Hala a godly preacher was slain by a company of cut-throats set on by the Friars And not long after the Town of Miltenburg was taken sacked many slain and others imprisoned for maintaining Caralostadius
vice and wickedness you never said word to me but now for savouring and favouring the Word of God you seek my blood Then did they examine him about sundry Articles of Religion to which whilst he was making a full answer they cut him off bidding him answer in two words Yea or No Whereupon he said If you will not give me leave to answer fully to things of such importance send me again to my dungeon amongst the Toads and Frogs who will not interrupt me whilst I talk with my Lord my God Shortly after he was condemned to be burned and having a bag of powder hung about his neck when the fire came to it it gave a crack whereupon the Friars told the People that the Divel came out of him and carried away his soul to hell A tyrannous Prince in Germany apprehended a godly Minister and for his constancy in the truth put out both his eyes and kept him a long time in prison afflicting him with divers kinds of torments Then did he cause him to be degraded shaving the skin off his head and rubbing it with salt till the blood ran down his shoulders and paring off the ends of his fingers so that four days after he patiently yielded up the Ghost Not long after there was a godly Minister in Antwerp called Christopher Fabri that was betrayed by a woman who pretended a great zeal to Religion and was cast into prison where he lay for a long time and endured much misery at last he was brought forth and condemned to be burnt alive And when the Margrave brought him forth to execution the people having first sung Psalmes fell to casting of stones against the Executioner so as the poor Prisoner being bound and fire set to him the Margrave durst stay no longer but ran away and so did the executioner but before he fled by the command of the Margrave he took a hammer and beat out Fabrie's brains and stabbed him into the back with a dagger so that the people running to save him from the fire found him dead after which by the command of the Margrave he had a great stone tied about his neck and was thrown into the river Anno 1549. One Nicholas and Barbara his wife and one Austin and Marrian his wife Germans by birth went to Geneva where they lived for a space then returning through Germany they intended to go into England but having passed through Dornick they were discovered to the Lieutenant thereof who speedily pursuing them overtook them yet at that time God delivered Austin out of their hands but Nicholas and the two women were apprehended and carried back by the souldiers Coming to an Inne by the way at table Nicholas gave thanks whereat the wicked Captain swearing grievously said Let us see thou lewd Heretick if thy God can deliver thee out of my hand Nicholas replyed Hath Christ ever offended you that by your blasphemous swearing you thus tear him in pieces Pray you if you have any thing against Christ rather wreak your anger upon this poor body of mine and let the Lord alone Then did he bind them hands and feet and carried them to Burges and cast them into the dungeon Divers Friers coming to them Nicholas in disputing with them so confounded them that they went away ashamed saying that he had a divel crying To the fire with the Lutherane Afterwards the Magistrate sought to pump out of Nicholas what acquaintance he had in that City but not prevailing with him he went to his wife and by flattering speeches and fair promises he wrought so upon her weaknesse that he gat out all that she knew whereupon ensued a great persecution Shortly after Nicholas was condemned to be burned at the hearing of which sentence he blessed the Lord who had counted him worthy to be a witnesse in the cause of his dear and wel-beloved Son Jesus Christ At the place of execution hew a commanded not to speak to the People for if he did he should have a woodden ball thrust into his mouth yet as he was binding to the stake forgetting the command he cryed out O Charles Charles how long shall thy heart be hardned With that one of the Souldiers gave him a great blow Then he said Ah miserable People who are not worthy that the Word should be preached to you The Friars crying out that he had a Divel he answered them in the words of David Depart from me all ye wicked for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping and so commending his spirit into the hands of God he ended his life in the midst of the flames Marrian was condemned to be buried quick and when some earth was thrown upon her the hangman stamped upon her with his feet till she died Afterwards Austin that had before escaped was apprehended and being examined though by nature he was a very timorous and weak man yet did he stand to the defence of the truth valiantly and answered his adversaries very boldly Being condemned to be burnt as he was going to execution a Gentleman drank to him in a cup of wine exhorting him to pity himself at least not to destroy his soule Austin thanked him saying What care I have of my soule you may see by this in that I had rather give my body to be burned then to sin against my conscience Being tyed to the stake and fire set to him he heartily prayed to the Lord and so patiently departed Anno 1551. The Emperour Chales the fifth having obtruded the Interim upon Germany many godly Ministers were persecuted and driven from their places for opposing the same as may be seen in my first part of Lives The city of Magdenburg also for refusing it had an army sent against it which besieged it for a whole year together whereby many of the godly Citizens lost their lives and others endured great miseries But at last Gods providence so ordering of it warre arose betwixt the Emperour and the King of France whereupon peace was granted unto Magdenburg upon good terms and the inhabitants enjoyed their former Religion quietly Anno 1555. There was one Hostius born at Gaunt who for some time was a member of the French Church here in London in King Edwards days but in the beginning of Queen Maries reign he went vvith his family to Norden in Frizeland and aftervvards having some businesse to Gaunt he went thither where he instructed many of his friends in the truth and hearing that a Friar used to preach good doctrine he went to hear him but the Friar that day defended transubstantiation which so grieved him that he could scarce refrain from speaking till the Sermon was ended When the Friar was come down from the Pulpit he charged him for preaching false doctrine perswading the people by the Scripture that the bread was but the Sacrament of the
that she began to waver and let go her first faith this the adversaries much rejoyced in and the poor flock of Christ in that place hearing of it were as much afflicted with the news but God left them not in this mournful condition long For a Monk one day going to her perswaded her to draw her sonne Martin to the same recantation with her self which she promised to do but when they came together Martin perceiving the grievous Apostacy of his Mother bewailed it with many tears saying to her Oh Mother what have you done have you denied him that redeemed you Alas what injury hath he done you that you should requite him with so great an injury and dishonour Now am I plunged into that woe which I most feared Ah good God that I should live to see this which pierceth me to the very heart His mother hearing his pittiful complaints and seeing him drowned in tears for her sake began again to renew her strength in the Lord and with tears cryed out Oh Father of mercies be merciful to me miserable sinner and cover my transgression under the righteousnesse of thy blessed Son Lord enable me with strength from above to stand to my first confession and make me to abide stedfast therein even to my last breath Presently in came the seducers hoping to finde her in the same minde that they left her but she no sooner saw them but cryed Avoid Satan get thee behind me for henceforth thou hast nether part nor portion in me I will by the help of God stand to my first Confession and if I may not sign it with ink I will seal it with my blood and so after this time through Gods gracious assistance she grew stronger and stronger Then were they both condemned to be burnt alive and their ashes to be sprinkled in the aire When the sentence was passed as they returned to prison they said Now blessed be God who causeth us thus to triumph over our enemies This is the wished hour our gladsome day is come let us not therefore forget to be thankfull for that honour that God doth us in thus conforming us to the image of his Sonne Let us remember those that have troden this path before us for this is the high-way to the Kingdom of heaven c. Hereupon some of the Friars being ready to burst for anger said unto Martin that was most valiant We see now Heretick that thou art wholly possest body and soul with a Divel as were thy father and brother who are now in hell Martin answered As for your railings and cursings God will this day turn them into blessings in the sight of himself and all his holy Angels When they came into prison there came to them two persons of great quality of whom one of them said to Martin Young man I have compassion on thee if thou wilt be ruled by me and return to the Church of Rome thou shalt not only be freed from this shameful death but I will also give thee an hundred pounds Martin presently replyed Sir you present before me many temporal commodities But alas do you think me so simple as to forsake an eternal Kingdome for the enjoyment of a short temporal life No Sir it s now too late to speak to me of worldly commodities I will hearken to no other speech but of those spiritual commodities which I shall enjoy this day in Gods Kingdome c. Soon after Martin and his mother were carried to the place of their Martyrdome and being bound to the stake the woman said We are Christians and that which we now suffer is not for murther nor theft but because we will believe no more than the Word of God teacheth us The fire being kindled the heat of it did nothing abate the fervency of their seal but they continued crying Lord Jesus into thy hands we commend our spirits and so they blessedly slept in the Lord. A Friar at Gaunt called Charles Coninck being through Gods mercy converted to the truth left his Friars weed and joyned himself to the brethren for which he was apprehended and remaining constant was condemned then came a special friend perswading him to recant and he would procure him a Cannonship To whom Charles answered Sir I thank you for your good will and kind offer but I cannot accept them without offending God and that rest is no true rest and quietnesse which is obtained against the peace of a good conscience Shortly after his death one of his adversaries which had the greatest hand in procuring of it fell into grievous terrour and horrour of conscience whereof within a few dayes he died The Persecution of the Duke de Alva in the Netherlands WHen the light of the Gospel was much spread abroad in the Netherlands King Philip of Spaine sent the Duke de Alva with a great Army to root out the Professors of it who exercised unparalell'd cruelty against all sorts of persons both of the Nobility and Commons permitting his souldiers to ravish honest Matrons and Virgins many times causing their husbands and Parents to stand by and behold it This Duke on a time boasted at his own table that he had been diligent to root out heresie for that beside those which he had slain in war in the space of six years he had put into the hands of the common hangman above eighteen thousand persons His sonne also Don Frederick being sent by him to Zutphen was re-received by the Bourgers without any opposition yet was he no sooner entred but he fell to murther hang and drown a number of the inhabitants with infinite cruelties shewed upon wives and virgins yea not sparing the very infants From thence marching to Naerden in Holland the inhabitants made an agreement with him and he entred the town peaceably but never did Turks or Scythians or the most barbarous and inhumane Nations in the world commit more abominable cruelties than Don Frederick did in this town for when the Bourgers had given the best entertainment that they could to him and his souldiers he caused it to be proclaimed that they should all assemble themselves together in the Chappel of the Hospital where they should be made acquainted with such Laws according to which they should hereafter govern themselves but when these poor people were thus assembled he commanded his souldiers to murther them all without sparing any one the men were massacred the women were first ravished and then murthered most cruelly the children and infants had their throats cut and in some houses they tied the inhabitants to posts and then set fire on the houses and burnt them alive so that in the whole town neither man wife maid nor child old nor young were spared and then the town was wholly razed to the ground without pity or mercy After this Don Frederick besieged Harlem which held out against him for a long time
way to God and therefore he desired them to let him go and so he quietly slept in the Lord. Anno 1553. There was apprehended at Lions one Peter Bergerius who for his bold and constant confession was cast into prison and put into a dungeon where was a thief that had lain there seven or eight moneths who being in great pain and torment cryed out of God and cursed his Parents that begat him being almost eaten up with lice and fed with such bread as dogs and horses had refused to eat but it pleased Almighty God of his goodness through the instructions and prayers of Bergerius that he was converted and brought to the knowledge of the truth after which the very next day his lice which before extreamly abounded so went away that he had not one remaining and God so stirred up the hearts of good men that he was fed plentifully and that with white bread so that with much patience and joyfulness he bore his imprisonment and had great comfort afterwards in his soule About the same time three godly men were apprehended at Lions and being condemned for the truth when they were to be led forth to execution two of them had ropes put about their necks the third having served the King in his wars was favoured to have none whereupon he said to the Lieutenant that he also desired to have one of those precious chains about his neck in honour of his Lord the which being granted they all went singing to the fire where with much patience they yielded up their spirits unto God Not long after in the same place was apprehended one Matthew Dimonet who formerly had lived a most wicked life full of all filthiness and abominations he had been also a searcher out of the Professors of the Gospel and a great Persecutor of them yet at last it pleased God to shew him mercy and he was converted to the knowledge of the truth after which being apprehended and examined he made a stout profession of his faith and during his imprisonment he had great conflicts with the infirmity of his own flesh but especially with the temptations of his Parents kindred and friends yet the Lord did so strengthen him that he endured constant to the end At his burning he spake much to the people and was hearkned to with great attention Simon Laloe coming upon some occasions from Geneva into France was apprehended by the Bayliffe of Dyon by whom he was imprisoned and racked to force him to confesse what fellows he had but that not prevailing he was condemned to be burned At his death the Executioner seeing his great faith patience and constancy was so wrought upon therereby that he fell into great terrors of conscience so that he was neer to utter despair and all the promises of the Gospel could scarce comfort him yet at last through Gods mercy receiving comfort he with all his family removed to the Church of Geneva where he afterwards lived till his death Nicholas Naile carrying some good books to Paris was there apprehended and made a bold confession of the faith for which he was cruelly tormented sundry wise and racked all his joynts asunder and lastly being condemned when he was carried to the stake they put a gag into his mouth vvhich they tied in so hard vvith a rope about his head that blood gushed out of his mouth they also besmeared all his body vvith oyle and brimstone so that at the first taking of fire all his skin vvas shrivelled together vvhilst his invvard parts vvere untouched the cord being burnt in sunder and the gag falling out of his mouth he praised God in the midst of the fire till he yielded up his spirit unto God Peter Serre vvas at first a Priest but God of his mercy revealing his truth to him he vvent to Geneva and there learned the Shoomakers craft vvhereby he maintained himself and having a brother at Tholouse out of a singular love to his soule he vvent thither to instruct him his brothers vvife being not vvell pleased herevvith revealed it to one of her Gossips vvho informed the Officiall against him hereupon he vvas apprehended and carried before the Inquisitor to vvhom he made an excellent declaration of his faith and so vvas delivered to the Judge vvho asked him of vvhat occupation he vvas He said that of late he was a Shoomaker then did the Judge ask him of vvhat Occupation he had formerly been he said he had been of another formerly but he was ashamed to utter it or to remember it being the worst and vilest Science of all others in the world the Judge and people supposing that he had been some Cutpurse or thief were more importunate to knovv vvhat it vvas but shame and sorrovv so stopped his mouth that he could not declare it at last through their importunate clamour he told them he had been a Popish Priest this so incensed the Judge that he presently condemned him to be degraded to have his tongue cut out and to be burned vvhich vvas accordingly executed In the fire he stood so quiet looking up stedfastly to heaven at the time of his burning as if he felt no pain at all which caused wondeful admiration in the people and one of the Parliament said that it was not the best way to bring the Lutherans to the fire for it would do more hurt then good Anno 1554. There were two godly men with one of their sons and daughter going towards Geneva whom a Lieutenant overtaking by the way like a Judas he insinuated himself into their company pretended great favour to them and to that Religion which he said he supposed them to be of and so with fair words he circumvented them and drew out of them that they were Protestants and their wives at Geneva whither they were now travelling Then did he apprehend them and carry them to the Castle of Niverne During their imprisonment they were examined of many Articles to which they made a full and clear answer according to their faith after this they were racked extreamly for three houres together to force them to recant which they bore with admirable patience being therefore condemned as they went to execution the Officer bound a woodden crosse between their hands but they pulled it out with their teeth and threw it away whereupon their tongues were cut out notwithstanding which God gave them utterance so that they spake plain saying We bid sin the flesh the world and the devil farewel for ever with whom we shall never have more to do hereafter and much more to the like purpose When the Officer came to besmear them with brimstone and gunpowder they said Go to salt on salt on the stinking and rotten flesh and so persisting constant in the flames they finished their Martyrdome Anno 1557. Philbert Hamlin a Priest was through Gods
grace brought to the knowledge of the truth whereupon he went to Geneva where he exercised Printing and sent books abroad Afterwards he was made a Minister and preached at the Town of Alenart in which and in some other places he did much good At last he with his Host a Priest whom he had instructed in the knowledge of the Gospel were apprehended and cast into prison at Bourdeaux and whilst they lay there in came a Priest with his furniture to say Masse but Philbert inflamed with a holy zeal went and plucked the garments from his back and overthrew the Chalice and Candlesticks saying Is it not enough for you to blaspheme God in the Churches but you must also pollute the prison with your idolatry the Jailor seeing this fell upon him and beat him with his staffe and also removed him into a dungeon loading him with irons which made his legs to swell there he lay eight dayes The Priest his Host terrified with the prison and fear of death renounced Christ and his Word and was set at liberty whereupon Philbert said to him O unhappy and more then miserable man Is it possible that you should be so foolish as for to save your life a few dayes you should so start away from and deny the truth Know you therefore that although hereby you have avoided the corporal fire yet your life shall be never the longer for you shall dye before me and yet shall not have the honour to die for the cause of God and you shall be an example to all Apostates Having ended his speech and the Priest going out of Prison he was presently slain by two Gentlemen who formerly had a quarrel to him Philbert hearing of it professed that he knew of no such thing before but spake as it pleased God to guide his tongue Philbert being condemned and had to execution they laboured to drown his voice by sounding of trumpets and so in the midst of the flames praying and exhorting the people he rendred up his soul unto God Anno 1558. Nicholas of Jenvile a young man that had lived at Geneva coming into France to get up some mony that was owing to him was betrayed by a Lady apprehended and condemned and being carried in a Cart to execution his Father met him and would have beaten him with a staffe but the Officers not suffering it were about to have stricken the old man the son seeing it cryed to them to let his father alone saying that he had power over him to do to him what he would At the place of execution he had an iron ball put into his mouth and so he patiently took his Martyrdom at Jenvile About the same time a company of the faithful of about three or four hundred were met together at an house in Paris in the beginning of the night to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper some Priests getting intelligence of it gathered many of that faction together and came and beset the house making an outcry that the watch might come and apprehend them so that in a short time most of the City of Paris was up in armes supposing that there had been some conspiracy The people following the noise and perceiving that they were Lutherans they grew into a great rage seeking to murther them and thereupon stopped the streets and lanes with Carts and made fires that none might escape them but through Gods mercy before this tumult began the faithful had finished their administration and prayers with as much quiet as ever they had done and now seeing this sudden danger they were somewhat amazed whereupon the Pastors of the Congregation exhorted them and fell to prayer after which considering the cowardliness of the multitude it was resolved that such as had weapons should adventure through the press which being put in practice the admirable power of God appeared in that notwithstanding the fires and stopping of the passages yet they all escaped safe only one was beaten down with stones and slain The rest which wanted weapons being about one hundred and twenty stayed in the house with the women and children some of which leaped into Gardens where they remained till the Magistrates came The women which were all persons of good quality save six or seven perceiving their danger by reason of the fury of the people went up into the windows shewed their innocency and desired that they might be tryed in an ordinary way of Justice yet there they were inclosed by the rabble for six or seven houres At last came the Kings Atturney with many Serjeants and Officers who with much ado appeasing the people entred into the house and their seeing the quality of the persons and their innocency the Atturney much pitied them yet carried them to prison in the little Castle but as they went the furious multitude plucked and haled the Gentlewomen tore their garments pulled their hoods from their heads and all besmeared their faces with dust and dirt In the prison they were used no better for the Villains and Thieves being let out of their holes and stinking Caves these Lambs of Christ were put into their rooms Then followed the cruel and slanderous reports of the Friars who in their Sermons railed upon them told the people that they were assembled to make a banquet in the night after which putting out the candles they went together Jack with Jill after a filthy and beastly manner they charged them also with sedition as if they conspired against the King c. And these cursed defamations were no sooner vented but they were spread abroad farre and wide yea in the Court itself and the Cardinal of Lorraine procured a certain Judge to come to the King who testified that he found in the House divers Couches upon which they intended to commit their whoredomes and adulteries which much enflamed the King against them These things made the enemies to triumph exceedingly and on the contrary the brethren which escaped were full of perplexity and lamentations sorrowing not so much for themselves as for the imprisonment of their friends yet they much comforted themselves in the consideration of ther own wonderful deliverance They upon debate also resolved First that all of them should humble themselves before God in their own families Secondly That they might stop the false rumours to write two Apologies one to the King and another to the People Thirdly to write consolatory letters to their friends in prison The Apology to the King was written and conveyed privily into his Chamber where it was met with and read openly before the King and his Nobles yet this prevailed little for their adversaries suggested to him that all was false and a pretence to hide their wickedness But that to the people did very much good and so did their consolatory letter to their friends in prison The adversaries all this while did bestir themselves to bring them
the President of the Huguenots Shortly after came thither the Duke de Monpensier who caused gibbets wheels and stakes to be set up whereupon many more especially of the richer sort were murthered to the number of some hundreds when they put any man or woman to death they entred their houses murthered their children and took all their goods A poor woman whose husband was a little before drowned having a young infant sucking at her breasts and a beautiful daughter of about sixteen years old in her hand These bloody villains drew them to the River there the woman on her knees prayed ardently unto God then took her infant and shifting it in the Sun laid it upon the grasse In the mean while this hellish Rabble endeavoured partly by threats partly by fair promises to seduce the young maid and one of them finer then the rest promised to marry her if she would do it so that the poor wench stood in a disway which her mother perceiving who was now ready to be thrown into the River she earnestly exhorted her daughter to persist in the truth the daughter hereupon cryed out I will live and die with my Mother whom I know to be a vertuous woman as for your threats and promises I regard them not do with me what you please The mother was not yet dead when they threw in the daughter after her where making towards her mother they mutually embraced each other and so yielded up their souls into the hands of God Also in the same City there was a godly Matron called Glee who was carried before the Captain where she gave a reason of her Faith and confirmed it by evident testimonies of Scripture She dispuited also with some Friars whom she so silenced that they had nothing to say but that she was in a damnable condition It seems so indeed saith she being in your hands But I have a God that will not faile nor forsake me c. Then was she committed to prison where she was much sollicited to recant but all in vain for she spake her mind freely and comforted the prisoners which were in the same Prison for Religion News being brought her that she was condemned to be hanged when the rope was put about her neck she kneeled down praising and magnifying the name of God in that he shewed her such mercy as by this death to deliver her out of the troubles of this wretched world as also for that it pleased the Lord to honor her so far as to die for his truth and to wear his livery meaning the halter Then she brake her fast with the rest of the company and giving thanks to God she exhorted them to be of good courage and to trust to the end in his free mercy c. As she went to execution a Kinswoman met her with her little children perswading her to recant telling her that thereby she might preserve her life and see those her Babes provided for This meeting wrought so upon her motherly affection as made her shed plenty of tears but presently taking new courage she said I love my children dearly yet neither for love to them nor for any thing else in the world will I renounce my God or his truth God will be a Father to these my children and will provide better for them then I could have done and therefore to his providence and protection I commend and leave them At the place of execution having prayed to and praised God with a chearful heart and voice she quietly resigned up her spirit unto God The Duke de Aumale in Normandy took Pontea de Mer by subtilty where he used all kinds of cruelty especially against the Minister Master Brione Shortly after Roan was besieged and two Forts taken wherein they put all to the sword the Queen-mother in an impudent manner leading the King who was but twelve years old to shew him the naked bodies of the women weltring in their own blood After divers assaults the City of Roan was taken wherein the Kings souldiers used all kinds of monstrous cruelty massacring all they met many English and Scots souldiers were hanged the sick and wounded were cast into the river Divers Ministers were retreated into a strong Tower which they yielded upon promise of safety but contrary therereto they were cast into prison Augustine Marlorat with three Counsellors were condemned to be hanged which was presently executed with many opprobrious speeches against Marlorat The sackage of this Town lasted foure moneths together in which space divers were executed In Valougnes divers persons of good quality were massacred and the houses of the Protestants were filled with souldiers that did what they listed therein Amongst other outrages they slew a godly Minister called Monsieur de Valougnes whose body they stripped naked dragd it up and down his house with many scorns and jears at last bringing it into the chamber where he used to preach to his people they spurned his corpse saying Now pray to God and preach if thou canst The Priests that were present stuffed his mouth and wounds with the leaves of his Bible saying to him Preach the truth of thy God and call upon him now to help thee In Vire as they came from a Sermon some were slain some stoned and a while after many were put to the sword In and about Agen Monluc killed and massacred many two young children were roasted In the Castle of Reime Monluc used great cruelty against those of the Religion sparing none but murthering young children in their mothers armes and then killing the mothers some other women they reserved for their lust which they so abused that saith mine Author I abhorre to write it Above five hundred men were hanged upon gibbets amongst whom was a grave Counsellor in his long gown and square cap. One poor man they cut and mangled in several parts of his body filling all his wounds with salt In the City of Blois there was a godly woman called Nichola at whose house some holy people used to meet to pray and confer together for their mutual edification and comfort The murtherers hearing of it came rushing in thinking to have found a Minister preaching but being disappointed in their expectations they dragged these good women out by the haire of the head loaded them with many stripes and then threw them into the river but behold a singular Providence God so endowed them with strength and skill that they swam safely to an Island yet after a while some watermen finding them there they stript them stark naked and threw them again into the river yet they still sought to save themselves by swimming and coming at last to the Suburbs of Vienne they were there most cruelly knocked on the head by the bloody Papists Monluc having defeated a party of the Protestants under Monsieur Duras he took divers Prisoners most of which he hanged
purged him but to no purpose for by degrees he so faded away as caused great astonishment to many He long strugled against his disease but at last was faine to betake himself to his bed and the two last weeks of his sicknesse much blood issued from divers parts of his body and once he rolled himself in his own blood and a little before he died he desired his mother to pursue his enemies to the uttermost with great vehemency reiterating his speeches saying Madam I pray you heartily to do it and so he breathed forth his soul May the thirtieth Anno Christi 1574. I shall here adde a few words also of the great miseries which the people of God endured in Rochel Anno Christi 1628. expecting help from England which proved but a staffe of reed which whilst they leaned upon it ran into their hands The City being besieged by the King of France his Army the inhabitants were brought to such extremity that for want of other meat the Citizens and Souldiers having eaten up all the horses dogs cats rats and mice lived two moneths with nothing but Cow-hides and Goats-skins boiled then did they eat up all the old gloves and whatsoever was made of leather yea the poor people cut off the buttocks of the dead and did eat them Young maids of fourteen or sixteen years old did look like old women of one hundred years old All the English that came out after the surrender of the City looked like Anatomies The prizes of things were as followeth a Bushel of Wheat twenty pounds A pound of bread twenty shillings a quarter of mutton above sixe pounds A pound of butter thirty shillings An egge eight shillings An ounce of Sugar two shillings and six pence A dried fish twenty shillings A pint of French wine twenty shillings A pint of milk thirty shillings A pound of grapes three shillings c. Anno 1593. There was one Margaret Pierron of the Town of Sansay in France who by her maid-servant was accused to the Jesuites for not going to Masse and for keeping a Bible in her house in reading whereof was her whole delight The Jesuites complaining hereof to the Magistrate caused her to be apprehended yet had she some notice of it before-hand from her friends that advised her to flie from the danger but God had a purpose that she should bear witness to his truth so that she was taken and cast into prison After a while the Judges sent for her saying Margaret Are you not willing to returne home to your house and there to enjoy your husband and children Yes said she if it may stand with the good Will of God Then said they if thou wilt do but a small matter thou shalt be set at liberty If said she it be not contrary to Gods glory and mine own salvation you shall hear what I will say to you No such thing said they for all that we require is but this that a Scaffold being set up in the chief part of the City you shall there crave pardon for offending the Law and a fire being by you shall burne your Bible in it without speaking a word I pray you my Masters said she Tell me is my Bible a good Book or no Yea said they we confesse it is Why then said she would you have me cast it into the fire Only said they to give the Jesuites content imagine it to be but paper and then you may burne it and you may buy you another Bible at any time and hereby you may save your life Thus they spent above two hours in perswading her that thereby she might do a lesse evil and a greater good would come of it But she confidently answered that by the help of God she would never do it What will the people say said she will they not say Yonder is a wrethed woman indeed that burns the Bible wherein all the Articles of Christian Religion are contained I will certainly burne my body rather than my Bible Then did they commit her close prisoner fed her only with bread and water and her friends were debarred from coming to her but when nothing could remove her from her constancy she was condemned to be set upon a scaffold to have her Bible burnt before her face her self to be strangled and her body to be dragged through the streets to a dunghil which sentence she underwent cheerfully and so slept in the Lord. Collected out of the History of the Tragical Massacres of France under Henry the second Francis the second Charles the ninth Henry the third and Henry the fourth Translated out of French Here place the ninth Figure CHAP. XXXVII The Persecution of the Church of Christ in the Valtoline Anno Christi 1620. THe Grison Lords who were the Soveraign Magistrates of this Countrey had by sundry Decrees granted liberty to the Protestants to exercise their Religion freely But when as the Minister of Tell with his Congregation were met together about the service of God the bloody Papists rising in arms set upon them slew one and beate others so cruelly with staves that they were forced to desist from their purpose Shortly after they murthered some others and conspiring with some other bloody villaines they set guards upon all the passages of the valley that so none of the Protestants should escape them then ringing their bells they raised all the Countrey and if any Protestants stirred out of their houses they murthered them in the streets they also brake into the houses of others drew them out of their beds and murthered them Some of the Protestants retired to the houses of Papists that were neer of kin or otherwise engaged to them to secure themselves but there they were betrayed and murthered Some they strangled some they shot Of some they beate out their brains and others they drowned in the river Alba. A noble Gentleman that had hid himself in the river was found by them who requested them to spare his life for his dear childrens sake But they told him that this was no time for pity except he would abjure his faith and swear by the Popes Bull Nay said he God forbid that to save this temporal life I should deny my Lord Jesus Christ who with his precious blood upon the Crosse redeemed me at so dear a rate and having through his grace so long freely and publikely professed him that I should now hazard the losse of eternal life to which I was elected before the foundation of the world I say God forbid Hereupon in a barbarous and savage manner they murthered him They brake also into the Palace of the Governour and murthered him women and maidens they defloured and of all the Protestants in that part of the Countrey there were onely three that escaped over the horrid and vast mountains of the Alps into Rhetia These wicked villaines having thus dispatched the Protestants in this place they
to the Castle for more powder and more combustible matter which being at last kindled with a loud voice he cryed Lord Jesus receive my spirit how long shall darknesse overwhelme this Realme and how long wilt thou suffer the tyranny of these men The fire was slow and therefore put him to the greater torment but that which most grieved him was the clamour of some wicked men set on by the Friars who continually cryed Turn thou Heretick call upon our Lady say Salve Regina c. To whom he answered Depart from me and trouble me not thou messenger of Satan And speaking to one Campbel a Friar that was the Ringleader who still roared on him with great vehemency he said to him Wicked man thou knowest the contrary and hast confessed the contrary to me I appeale thee before the Tribunal seat of Jesus Christ after which words he resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1527. And within few dayes after the said Friar died in a phrensie and as one that despaired Anno 1534. The said Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews convented before him David Straton a Gentleman and Master Norman Gourlay The first of these having a Fisher-boat that went to sea the Bishop of Murray demanded tithe fish of him to whom he answered that if they would have tithe of that which his servants caught in the sea they should take it in the place where it was caught and so caused his servants to throw the tenth fish into the sea again All this while he had nothing in him for Religion But when hereupon he was summoned to answer for Herâ—sie it troubled him exceedingly and then he began to frequent the company of such as were godly and there appeared a wonderful change in him so that whereas before he despised the word of God now all his delight was in hearing of it read to him and he was a vehement exhorter of all men to peace and concord and contempt of the world He much frequented the company of the Laird of Dun Areskin whom God in those dayes had marvellously illuminated hearing the text read for he could not read himself He that denieth me before men or is ashamed of me in the midst of this wicked generation I will deny him before my Father and his holy Angels At those words being suddenly as one revived he fell upon his knees and stedfastly lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven at length he burst forth into these words O Lord I have been wicked and justly mayst thou withdraw thy grace from me but Lord for thy mercy sake let me never deny thee nor thy truth for fear of death or any corporal paine Being afterwards together with Master Norman brought to judgement in holy Rood-house the King himself being present much means was used to draw this David Straton to make a recantation but he persevered in his constancy still denying that he had offended and so they were both condemned to the fire and after dinner Anno 1534. they were both first hanged and afterwards burnt Not long after the burning of these two holy men There was one Deane Thomas Forret who used to preach every Lords day to his Parishoners out of the Epistles and Gospels as they fell in order This was counted a great novelty for none used to preach but the Friars and therefore they envying him accused him to the Bishop of Dunkelden for an Heretick and one that shewed the mysteries of Scripture to the vulgar people The Bishop instigated by the complaint of the Friars called the said Deane Thomas before him to whom he said My joy Deane Thomas I love you well and therefore I must give you counsel how to govern your self The Deane thanked him and then he proceeded My joy Deane Thomas I am informed that you preach the Epistle and Gospel every Sunday to your people and that you take not your dues from them which is very prejudicial to the Churchmen and therefore my joy Deane Thomas I would have you take your dues or else it s too much to preach every sunday for by so doing you make the people think that we should do so also It s enough for you when you find a good Epistle or Gospel to set forth and preach the liberty of holy Church and let the rest alone Thomas answered My Lord I presume none of my Parishoners complaine for my not taking my dues and whereas you say it s too much to preach every Sunday I think it is too little and wish that your Lordship would do the like Nay nay Deane Thomas said the Bishop let that be for we 〈◊〉 not ordained to preach Then said Thomas whereas you bid me preach when I meet with a good Epistle and Gospel I have read them all over and I know 〈◊〉 â—ad ones amongst them but when your Lordship shews me such I will passe by them Then said the Bishop I thank God I never knew what the Old and New Testament was and Deane Thomas I will know nothing but my Portuise and Pontifical Go your wayes and let all these fancies be for if you persevere herein you will repent you when t is too late I trust said Thomas my cause is good and just in the presence of God and therefore I care not what follows thereupon and so he went his way But shortly after he was summoned to appear before the Cardinal by whom he was condemned and burned for a chief Heretick and teacher of Heresies But notwithstanding all their bloody tyranny the knowledge of God did wonderfully encrease in that Kingdom partly by reading partly by brotherly conference which in those dangerous days was much used to the comfort of many which so enraged the Popish party that Anno 1538. there were burned in one fire foure persons of good quality The year after there were apprehended Jerome Russel a man of a meek and quiet naturâ— and Alexander Kennedy of about eighteen years old these two poor servants of Jesus Christ being brought before the Arch-bishop and his Associates to judgement Kennedy at first was faint and would faine have recanted but when all place of repentance was denied him the Spirit of God which seasonably comes in with comfort began to refresh him yea the inward comfort began to burst forth as well in his visage as in tongue and words for with a chearful countenance and joyful voice falling on his knees he said O eternal God how wonderful is that love and mercy that thou bearest unto mankind and to me a vile Caitiffe and miserable wretch above all others for even now when I would have denied thee and thy Sonne our Lord Jesus Christ my only Saviour and so have cast my self into everlasting damnation thou by thine own hand hast pulled me from the very bottome of Hell and made me to feele that heavenly comfort which takes from me that ungodly feare wherewith before
if you make good your promise which we presume you will we our selves will not only serve you but we will procure all the Professors in Lothain to do the same c. These promises being made in the presence of God and hands being stricken by both parties the Earle took Master Wischard and so departed Master Wischard was carried to Edenburgh But gold and women easily corrupt fleshly men for the Cardinal gave Bothwel gold and the Queen that was too familiar with him promised him her favour if he would deliver Master Wischard into Edenburgh Castle which he did and shortly after he was delivered to the blood-thirsty Cardinal who seeing that it was forbidden by their Cannon Law for a Priest to sit as a Judge upon life and death he sent to the Governour requesting him to appoint some Lay-Judge to passe sentence of death upon Master Wischard The Governour would easily have yielded to his request but that David Hamilton a godly man told him that he could expect no better an end than Saul if he persecuted the truth which formerly he had professed c. Hereupon the Governour sent the Cardinal word that he would have no hand in shedding the blood of that good man The Cardinal being angry returned this answer that he had sent to him of meer Civility and that he would proceed without him and so to the great grief of the godly the Cardinal carried Master Wiseheart to Saint Andrews and put him into the Tower there and without any long delay he caused all the Bishops and other great Clergy-men to be called together to Saint Andrews Feb. ult 1546. Master Wischard was sent for to appear before them to give an account of his seditious and Heretical doctrine as they called it The Cardinal caused all his retinue to come armed to the place of their sitting which was the Abby-church whither when Master Wischard was brought there was a poor man lying at the door that asked his almes to whom he flung his purse when he came before the Cardinal there was a Dean appointed to preach whose Sermon being ended Wischard was put up into the Pulpit to hear his charge and one Lawder a Priest stood over against him and read a scrowle full of bitter accusations and curses so that the ignorant people thought that the earth would have opened and swallowed up Wischard quick but he stood with great patience without moving or once changing his countenance The Priest having ended his curses spat at Master Wischards face saying VVhat answerest thou thou Runnagate Traytor Thief c. Then did Master VVischard fall upon his knees making his prayer unto God after which he said Many and horrible sayings unto me a Christian man many words abominable for to hear have ye spoken here this day which not onely to teach but even to think I ever thought it a great abomination c. Then did he give them an account of his doctrine Answering every Article as farre as they would give him leave to speak But they without having any regard to his sober and godly answers presently condemned him to be burnt After which sentence he falling upon his knees said O immortal God how long wilt thou suffer the rage and great cruelty of the ungodly to exercise their fury upon thy servants which do further thy Word in this world whereas they on the contrary seek to destroy the truth whereby thou hast revealed thy self to the world c. O Lord we know certainly that thy true servants must needs suffer for thy names sake persecutions afflictions and troubles in this present world yet we desire that thou wouldest preserve and defend thy Church which thou hast chosen before the foundations of the world and give thy people grace to hear thy Word and to be thy true servants in this present life Then were the common people put out the Bishops not desiring that they should hear the innocent man speak and so they sent him again to the Castle till the fire should be made ready In the Castle came two Friars to him requiring him to make his Confession to them to whom he said I will make no confession to you but fetch me that man who preached even now and I will speak with him Then was the Sub-Prior with whom he conferred a pretty while till the Sub-prior wept who going to the Cardinal told him that he came not to intercede for Master Wischards life but to make known his innocency to all men at which words the Cardinal was very angry saying We knew long ago what you were The Captain of the Castle with some friends coming to Master Wischard asked him if he would break his fast with them yea said he very willingly for I know you be honest men In the mean time he desired them to hear him a little and so he discoursed to them about the Lords Supper his sufferings and death for us exhorting them to love one another laying aside all rancor and malice as becomes the members of Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for us to his Father Afterwards he gave thanks and blessing the bread and wine he took the bread and brake it giving it to every one saying eate this remember that Christ died for us and feed on it spiritually so taking the Cup he bade them remember that Christs blood was shed for them c. Then he gave thanks and prayed for them and so retired into his chamber Presently came two Executioners to him from the Cardinal one put on him a black linnen coat the other brought him bags of powder which they tied about several parts of his body and so they brought him forth to the place of execution over against which place the Castle windows were hung with rich hangings and Velvet Cushions laid for the Cardinal and Prelates who from thence fed their eyes with the torments of this innocent man The Cardinal fearing lest Wiseheart should be rescued by his friends caused all the Ordnance in the Castle to be bent against the place of his execution and commanded his gunners to stand ready all the time of his burning Then were his hands bound behind his back so he was carried forth In the way some beggars met him asking his alms for Gods sake To whom he said My hands are bound wherewith I was wont to give you almes but the merciful Lord who of his bounty and abundant grace feeds all men vouchsafe to give you necessaries both for your bodies and souls Then two Friars met him perswading him to pray to our Lady to mediate for him to whom he meekly said Cease tempt me not I entreat you and so with a rope about his neck and a chaine about his middle he was led to the fire then falling upon his knees he thrice repeated O thou Saviour of the world have mercy upon me Father of heaven I commend my spirit into thy holy hands
condemned to be burnt but he told his Judges that his time was not yet come and so it fell out for shortly after he was removed to Ferrara where he continued in prison two years Then was he again condemned by the Popes Inquisitors and yet his time being not come he remained a good while after in prison in which time many godly people came to visit him which caused the Pope to commâ—â—d him to be kept more strictly Then was he kept close Prisoner for eighteen moneths wherein he endured many and great torments After this he was brought into another prison where were many Nobles great Lords and Captains for stirring up sedition who when they first heard him speak set him at naught and derided him and some of the gravest of them supposing it to be but a melancholy humour exhorted him to leave his opinion c. Faninus gave them thanks for their friendly good will but withal modestly and plainly he declared to them that the doctrine which he professed was no humour nor opinion of mans braine but the pure truth of God held forth in his Word which truth he was fully resolved never to deny c. With which instructions they were through the mercy of God clean altered in their carriage and judgement highly admiring and honouring him now whom a little before they derided and contemned Then did he proceed still to impart the Word of grace to them declaring that though he knew himself to be a miserable sinner yet through faith in Jesus Christ and his grace he was fully perswaded that his sins were forgiven assuring them likewise that if they did repent and believe on our Lord Jesus Christ they also should have their sinnes remitted unto them There were in that prison also some that having formerly lived very delicately could not now endure the hardship of prison to whom he administred much comfort in this their distresse insomuch as they rejoyced in â—hese their sufferings by which they had learned a better kind of liberty than ever they had before His Kinsfolk hearing of his imprisonment his wife and sister came to him pitifully weeping and intreating him to consider and remember his poor family c. To whom he answered that his Lord and Master had commanded him not to deny his truth for his families sake and that it was too much that once for their sakes he had fallen into that Cowardise which they knew of Therefore he desired them to leave him and not to solicit him any further in that kind for he knew that his end now drew near and so he commended them to the Lord. Presently after the Pope sent a command that Faninus should be executed whereof when an officer brought him word he much rejoyced at it thanking the Messenger Then did he begin to make a long exhortation to his fellow-prisoners about the felicity of the life to come He had life proffered him if he would recant and he was put in mind what a sad condition he would leave his wife and children in whereupon he answered that he had committed them to an Overseer that would sufficiently care for them and being asked who that was he answered Even the Lord Jesus Christ a faithful Keeper of all that are committed to him the next day he was removed into the common Prison and delivered to the secular Magistrate In all his words gestures and countenance he shewed such modesty constancy and tranquillity of mind that they which before extreamly hated him and thought that he had a devil began now favourably to hearken to him and to commend him yea with such grace and sweetnesse he spake of the Word of God that many of the Magistrates wives which heard him could not abstain from weeping yea the Executioner himself wept As he was going to execution one that saw him so merry and chearful asked him what was the reason of it whereas Christ before his death sweat blood and water To whom he answered that Christ sustained all the sorrows and conflicts with hell and death that were due to us that by his sufferings we might be freed from the sorrow and fear of them all At the place of execution after he had made his most earnest prayers to the Lord he meekly and patiently went to the stake where he was first strangled and afterwards burned And during the time of his burning there came a most fragrant and oderiferous smell to the Spectators the sweetnesse whereof did so delight and refresh their senses as his words would have done if they had heard him speak There was also one Dominicus sometimes a souldier under Charles the fifth in Germany where he received the first taste of the Gospel of Jesus Christ after which by his confâ—rence with learned men he much increased in knowledge insomuch as he was able to instruct others whereupon he returned into Italy and in the City of Naples he taught the Word of God to many Anno 1550. From thence he went to Placentia where he instructed the People also in many of the fundamentals of Religion promising that he would next speak to them of Antichrist whom he would paint out in his colours but when he came the next day he was apprehended by the Magistrate whom he readily obeyed saying that he wondered the devil had let him alone so long and being asked whether he would renounce his doctrine he answered that he maintained no doctrine of his own but the doctrine of Christ which also he was ready to seal with his blood giving hearty thanks to God for accounting him worthy to suffer for his name Then was he committed to a filthy and stinking prison where he remained some moneths and was often solicited to revoke his opinions or else he must suffer death but through Gods mercy nothing could remove him from his constancy being therefore condemned to death he was brought forth into the market-place where he most heartily prayed for his enemies instructed the People and then was hanged resting in peace in the Lord. In Saint Angelo there was an house of Augustine Friars to whom there often resorted a Friar from the City of Pavia who was a man very expert in the Scriptures and of godly conversation by whose labours not only divers of the Friars but other Townsmen were brought to the knowledge and love of Gods Word and amongst the rest one Galeacius Trecius a Gentleman of good quality very wealthy and bountiful to the poor was wrought upon to embrace the truth and was afterward much confirmed and strengthened by Caelius Secundus who being persecuted from Pavia came to this place After some time Galeacius having much profited in knowledge was inflamed with a godly zeal to promote and propagate the knowledge of the truth unto others But a light shining in such darknesse could not be long hid Insomuch as Anno 1551. he was apprehended and carried before the Bishop