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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01857	A full, ample and punctuall discouery of the barbarous, bloudy, and inhumane practises of the Spanish Inquisition, against Protestants with the originall thereof. Manifested in their proceedings against sundry particular persons, aswell English as others, upon whom they have executed their diabolicall tyrannie. A worke fit for these times, serving to withdraw the affections of all good Christians from that religion, which cannot be maintayned without those props of Hell. First written in Latin by Reginaldus Gonsaluius Montanus, and after translated into English.; Sanctae Inquisitionis Hispanicae artes aliquot detectae, ac palam traductae. English	González de Montes, R. (Raimundo), 16th cent.; Skinner, Vincent, d. 1616.	1625 (1625)	STC 11999; ESTC S117395	161,007	238

exchange hee withstood the enemies of Gods truth and took vp the Inquisitors sharply that sat in their seats of maiestie like Demigods saying that they were meeter to driue packs that such an office were more sit for them than to sit where they doe in seat of iudgement and take vpon them the determination of causes in religion wherin they were as blind yet as bold as Bayard declaring moreouer vnto them that for his own part he was heartily sorry and did most earnestly repent him and would doe while he had a day to liue for that hee had wittingly and willingly in their presence impugned the truth against the godly defendants of the same whereof hee himselfe was now become a defender Many other sharp rebukes so oft as he came to his answer the Inquisitours receiued at his hands But in the end hee was brought forth after their guise and accustomed maner of pomp arayed with all their robes honorable no doubt in the sight of God though in mans iudgement reproachfull and ignominious a man to bee reuerenced for hisage but specially for the hartie repentance of his former life for that notable confession of the truth which he made leaning vpon his staffe so departing from the stage to the stake with a merry and cheerfull countenance he made satisfaction to the Church of God by this notable example of repentance at his death for all the mischiefe that he had done thereto by his vnfaithfull and hypocriticall dealing in the rest of his life time before O man most happy of all other worthy to be shrined and to haue a seuerall place among the chiefe champions of Gods truth heer in this world that hast forsaken the greatest mischiefe and folly and returned to make the like protestation of Gods truth that other martyrs and confessors haue done before thee Paul that chosen and elect vessell of God placeth himselfe among the first sort of sinners because he had bin a persecuter of the Church of God tho of a good zeale yet not grounded vpon knowledge In what place then or degree shall we set this Arias of ours among the sinfull sort who wittingly and willingly secretly not openly behaued himselfe like an enemie and persecuted the same Paul referreth it to the secret purpose of almighty God that he might obtain the more mercy wherof he had made himselfe vnworthy so many wayes saying it was to this end that Christ in him might powre out all the aboundance of his mercie and graces for an example to all them that should truely beleeue in him How much then and how plentifully hath Christ opened his coffers and bestowed his mercies the treasures of his goodnesse vpon this new Paul if we may so tearm him How sure and certaine a token doth hee giue hereby of his exceeding great mercie grace and loue towards all sinners Therefore by this one example this lesson may we learne as by the true mirrour of Gods goodnesse to keepe our selues from rash iudgements and speeches towards such as wee see in the most desperate estate that can bee forasmuch as wee cannot certainely tell what God hath determined concerning them but ought rather to follow the counsell of Paul that is to hope the best D. Iohn Aegidio a Canon and Preacher in the Cathedrall Church in Siuill THis Doctour Aegidio albeit he was a man both apt to attaine learning and painfull besides yet hauing bestowed his time in vnprofitable studies notwithstanding that he had runne his full race and attained the highest degrees in Schooles and professed diuinitie a long time such was the state of learning in those dayes that he had scarcely his Latin tongue Besides this his small skill either in the tongues or in any other good learning he was a wicked contemner and blasphemer against the holy Scriptures Yea I haue heard himself be waile the euill successe of learning studie in his time the ignorance of that age confessing it to be such that whosoeuer had any wayes medled with the holy Scriptures in the Vniuersitie of Alcala where he himselfe studied was so farre off from being accounted of among the learned that many would scornfully and in great derision tearm him a good Bibler preferring L●mbardus Scotus Gregorius Arithmeticus and such other Dunses before the expresse word of God for profoundnesse of wisdome or deep diuinitie Afterwards being publike Reader of diuinitie at Siguenca he was sent for to Siuill by one Alexander that was his predecessor there to the intent he might be their Preacher in the Cathedrall Church in Siuill where he was so highly commended both for his vertue and learning that he was Subdeane of the Church contrary to their orders hauing neuer beene examined by the Doctours as the custome is And truely for such school-diuinitie as was generally and vniuersally receiued all Christendome ouer he was very famous and of great credite marry hee neuer attempted to preach openly nor had once opened the Bible to read or study the Scriptures And therefore the very first time that he came into the Pulpit contrary to all mens expectations he was found altogether so vnfit for such a function that he began to be greatly out of conceit with himselfe and to grow in contempt of others by the daily encrease whereof on both parts they fell so to repent them the one for admitting him so vnaduisedly the other for taking vpon him that office so arrogantly being vnable to discharge it that both they minded to remoue him and he himselfe determined to leaue them But in processe of time after hee had thus passed the pikes by the space of a yeare or two it was his chance to meet with one that gaue him such instructions or rather it was the ordinance of God that prouided so well both for him for the whole citie that within few howres conference he learned by that parties meanes the readie way for a Preacher to trauaile in and what the office and dutie of a Preacher was to the obtaining whereof it was told him that he must vse other meanes other bookes and other maisters then hitherto he had done Whereat D. Aegidio was somewhat astonied at the first hearing him make such a sermon vnto him but especially maruelled to see his boldnesse that being but a plaine fellow and as a man would say a very Russet-coat besides that one taken not to be very wel in his wits would presume so boldly to teach such a Doctour as hee was being neither familiarly acquainted with him nor knowing him to his thinking Yet D. Aegidio being of a gentle disposition by nature and hearing him discourse so largely of the dutie of a Preacher wherein hee acknowledged his owne infirmitie did the more easily bridle himselfe and gaue him the hearing quietly The force of whose perswasions being a man indued with Gods spirit was so great that from that day forward D. Aegidio was quite altered and become a new man thinking all

kept all and singular the customes rites and ceremonies of the Church of Rome and vsed to come often to shrift and to receiue his maker and in passing by any image or crosse if he haue done to them their due reuerence that it may appeare that he is none of Luthers sect Finally if hee can auerre generally that he hath beene quite contrary to that whereof he is now accused Which things if he proffer to prooue particularly the Inquisitors by solemne act in law doe openly declare in Court that they are content that he make his purgation accordingly within 9. dayes next after The whole charge whereof after that the party hath giuen in the names of those witnesses that deposed against him resteth wholly on the Aduocate as I haue said a little before Howbeit euery man hath not thus much fauor shewed him to make his purgation on this sort but onely in such cases where the witnesses in their depositions agreed not with their fellowes nor greatly with themselues in their owne tales For otherwise they haue but small succour or none at all to auoyd them by making their owne purgation but onely are admitted to take exception against the witnesses as I said before if they can deuise who they be And when the party is proceeded thus farre let him perswade himselfe that God hath brought him thither for tryall of his fayth whether it be pure and perfect yea or no. For if he vpon hope to auoide the present perill of the body determine to use such shifts for his succour in procuring his purgation by meanes aforesaid albeit he be throughly quit in this Court concerning his duty obedience to the Church of Rome and her Idolatries yet bee he well assured in that generall day of doome which will be so terrible to all creatures in the judgement of Gods true Church it will fall out against him farre otherwise It shall therefore stand a man vpon in this case to look well about him and to enter into his owne conscience and secretly debate with himselfe the causes of his imprisonment diligently For if it be for the glory of God and the free professing of the truth and he forsweare Christ treading the bloud of his testament vnder his feet denying the truth wherunto God hath called and raised him out of that deep dungeon of darknesse ignorance and sin hoping by these cursed and damnable meanes to escape the tyranny of men perhaps he may doe so for a season and purchase the favor of men again but let him him be most assured that he shall never escape the sharp and most just judgement of God from whose truth he is revolted whose power is not only over the carcasse to kill the body but afterwards to throw the soule into vtter darknesse Therefore if hee haue any sparke of grace left aliue within him or any zeale either of Gods glory or loue of his owne salvation or that the authority of our Redeemer may waigh with him any thing at all saying Whoso denieth mee before men him will I deny before my heavenly Father and he that acknowledgeth me before men him will I also acknowledge before my Father and his Angels in heaven c. he will wholly rest vpon that authority and sticke to his tackling in that pinch and vtterly renouncing with heart and mouth all these meanes to saue this temporall life offred vnto him by his Advocate and the Iudge whereunto he cannot giue his consent without great dishonour to his Creator and danger of his owne soule will yeeld a plaine and open confession of his faith thinking himselfe a thousand times in better case that God hath preserued him to that instant to suffer some affliction for Christs sake battering in pieces this earthly tabernacle that is to say a full weak and wearyish body for so noble a quarrell as is the honor of God and the building vp of his Church For these cursed meanes to saue a mans life which that holy house the very sinke of sin and iniquity vseth of like curtesie and compassion as is in the Crocodile to grant to these poore soules are not here reported to the end that the godly should learn hereby the shifts to saue themselues but rather that by knowing them they should vtterly auoyde and abhorre them and that the world may see that all the deuices and policies of this holy Inquisition tend to no other end but after they haue layd their cruell hands continually stained with the bloud of some of the Saints vpon any person if he relent and recant Gods glorious truth so to destroy him both body and soule if otherwise yet at the least to kill his body ouer which alone their power is able to extend it selfe in such as liue in the feare and seruice of God duly and truly Thus after that the party hath endured two or three months in prison at the discretion of these good Fathers they send for him foorth once againe to the place of this combate where the Inquisitor beginneth to declare vnto him how that the witnesses which he brought for his purgation haue beene heard what they can say and therefore he desireth to see what he can say for himselfe or else to draw to an end Then he after their accustomed manner falleth to exhortation that hee tell the truth which is alwayes one peece of their talke so that I beleeue a man should tell them a good long tale ere they would be satisfied Whereunto the party maketh them such reasonable answer as he thinketh best for his owne case Howbeit vnto diuers they vse to put sundry questions oppose them in their owne answer exhibited vp by thē in writing quarrelling at euery letter and syllable like to subtill Sophisters When the party hath spoken all that he hath to say the Fiscall concludeth vpon his sayings and lastly the Inquisitors with the assent of their Councell and Assistants giue sentence when and what they list or like themselues the Diuines Monks and other of the Clergy first waighing and considering such things as the party hath vttered touching doctrine and faith and so valuing it after their owne rate and measure and trying it by their own touch which they call the qualification of doctrine At what time if the party be able to prooue substantially that he neuer dealt in Christs Gospell which they by a new name of their owne coyning commonly call Luthers heresies either they absolue him and giue him his Quiet us est or else most commonly vse to order the matter and giue iudgement accordingly as they haue him in a certaine iealousie and suspicion stil either more or lesse Prouiding alwayes that none passe their hands without such markes and badges as he shall carry with him to his graue in token that hee hath bin within the Inquisitors paw● The marks are commonly these Confiscation of their goods imprisonment during life or for a great part of it A white

A FVLL AMPLE AND PVNCTVALL DISCOvery of the Barbarous Bloudy and inhumane practises of the SPANISH INQUISITION against Protestants With the originall thereof Manifested in their proceedings against sundry particular persons aswell English as others upon whom they have executed their Diabolicall TYRANNIE A Worke fit for these times serving to withdraw the affections of all good Christians from that Religion which cannot be maintayned without those ●rop● of 〈…〉 First written in Latin by Reginaldus Gonsaluius Montanus and after translated into English PSAL. 74. Arise O Lord and judge thine owne cause LONDON Printed for Iohn Bellamy and are to be sold at the three golden Lions in Corne-hill neere the Royall Exchange 1625. ❧ The speciall matters contained in this Treatise placed orderly in such wise as the Inquisitours proceed in their Court. Chap. 1. THe ordinary manner and forme commonly vsed of the Inquisitours as well in citing as apprehending such persons as are accused in their consistorie Fol. 1. 2. The Sequestration of their goods commonly called the Sequester 9. 3. The seuerall dayes of hearing 11 4. The publication of the witnesse as they terme it 27 5. The confutation of the same 36 6. The judgements and condemnation to the racke and the manner of execution thereof 42 8. Other practises of the Inquisition to driue the Prisoners to confesse such matters as the Inquisitors are desirous to vnderstand 56 9. Certaine other more secret then the rest 59 10. How the prisoners bee entreated concerning the whole manner of their diet 71 11. The visitations of the prisoners 84 12. The Acte containing the Publication of the sentences 88 13. The Interpretation of the sentences 110 14. Speciall examples plainely shewing the treacheries and legerdemaines of the Inquisition in practice and exercise 117 15. A list of certaine godly Martyrs who constantly dying for the truth the Inquisitors notwithstanding laboured to slander with apostasie and revolting 134 This Table is according to the chapters as they are printed the seuenth being mistaken for the eighth c. The translatour to the Reader THere is no good nature gentle Reader that beholding on a stage an old Tragedie wherein be represented the miseries of any one man or the ruine and desolation of a whole countrie will not accompany the outward motions of the players with some inward affection yea sometimes with teares and vehement compassion Which if we doe in a play whereof the matter is many times but inuented and howsoeuer it be true yet happened in Countries farre off and long agoe the parties neither touching vs in kindred nor the matter in example surely the dangerous practices and most horrible executions of the Spanish Inquisition declared in this booke which now is brought with fire and sword into the low Countries the sodaine imprisonment of honest men without processe of law the pitifull wandring in exile and pouertie of personages somtime rich and wealthy the wiues hanging on their husbands shoulders and the poore banished infants on the mothers brests the monstrous racking of men without order of law the villanous and shamelesse tormenting of naked women beyond all humanitie their miserable death without pitty or mercy the most reprochfull triumphing of the popish Synagogue ouer Christians as over Painimes and Ethnicks the conquering of subiects as though they were enemies the vnsatiable spoyling of mens goods to fill the side paunches of ambitious idle shauelings the slender quarrels picked against kingdomes and nations and all this onely to hoise vp a pild polling priest aboue all power and authoritie that is on earth these things ought surely much more to moue vs to compassion Being no stage-play but a matter fit for any Poet to make a Tragedie of hereafter either for that it will bee an argument most lamentable or most incredible to them which shall not haue seene it The persons which suffer being our neighbours by their habitation and dwelling place our acquaintance by entercourse our friends by long acquaintance of the same houshold of faith and our very brethren in Christ And if we weepe when we see cruelties set forth in playes because the like either hath happened to vs heretofore or hereafter may betide vs then have we not ouely good cause in these calamities of our poore brethren to bewaile that which happened to them but also to feare what will follow vpon vs. For if we that not many yeares since felt but a taste of this Iron whippe and since haue enioyed quietnesse and leisure to serue God thinke our selues sure and the storme passed and that wee be but hearers and seers and haue no parts in this Tragedie besides that we are vncharitable in so lightly esteeming the griefes of others we doe also foolishly and dangerously abuse our selues For who is so ignorant of the holy Complot and Conspiracie agreed on by the Pope and his Champions for the execution of the Councell of Trent and the generall establishing of this Inquisition Behold the attempts in Scotland the proceedings in France the executions in Flaunders and if we Englishmen haue one of the last parts let vs bee sure as in Tragedies the last parts and Actes be most dolefull so wee neuer knew yet what persecution meant in comparison to that is meant and threatned vs now If the Diuels holinesse and his lieutenant generall the Popes maiestie were a little moued then they bee now doubt ye not enraged and transubstantiate into furour and horne woodnesse to see their reuenues decay their Monasteries and Synagogues defaced their villanies detected their noble champions slain And therefore you must set before your eyes the Diuell in person and the Pope his chaplaine and Confessour gotten vp into the top of some high mountaine and from thence shewing the kingdomes of the earth to such Princes as will themselues fall downe and worship and thereto driue the world Which is so farre off from any figuratiue speech as it is knowne to be the very Platforme and foundation of all these broyles and troubles Be not deceiued good Reader vnderstand the world these men seeke no religion For how can they seeke Religion that thinke there is no God They seeke the honour and wealth of the world If the Gospell would allow ambition pleasure profite the Pope would haue long since beene a protestant If Popery had allowed preaching of the truth reformation of life pouertie Popery had beene esteemed as it is Heresie and so persecuted But the Pope would bee thought most holy and be indeed most mightie the world is falne from him he hath spent all nought comes in to supply he hath a great sort to entertaine a great sort to reward a great pompe and state to maintaine Trow yee these things will bee raised of the spoile of poore Protestants Nay be thou sure of it Papist or Protestant if thou be rich and hast any fleece it will be all one Thy land will vndoe thee thy goods will condemne thee Euen as the good Citizen of Rome Q.

fellow-citizens and furiously rush their swords and weapons into the very bowels of their owne naturall countrie and for none other cause in very deed but for the Inquisition it would make a wise man doubt in this case whether of them were madde the one side which maintaine the Inquisition as a thing most holy and wholesome for the Common-wealth or the other which seeke not to auoide any godly Inquisition and reformation of religion but to defend themselues like men worthy of liberty wherein they were borne and bred from a strange vnworthy and intolerable slavery For though they be both alike ready armed yet differing asmuch in their opinions and iudgements as they doe in their mindes and affections it cannot be that right and equitie should bee on both parts so that if the one haue iustly taken weapon in hand the other no doubt haue done it vniustly And to passe over the great number of inferiour estates it is not likely that the chiefe Soveraignes of the world who are perswaded that they ought by all meanes possible to maintaine the same and haue vowed the defence thereof with great deuotion and solemne o●th renued from yeare to yeare should erre from the truth or doe any thing against right or conscience specially being neither the first authors thereof nor maintaining it as a thing newly deuised or without any certaine originall but as that which being receiued from their forefathers and reuerenced both for the opinion of holinesse and countenance of antiquitie hath by a power greater then is the power of man beene esteemed here among men as a heauenly thing Besides these glorious titles there be also thereunto annexed other singular commodities to wit a diligent endeuour to remoue the infection that might grow aswell of the Iewish and Mahometicall heresies that daily doe arise besides the reuenues of the Exchequer encreased hereby and the sodaine and maruelous enriching of diuers priuate persons which though they be great matters in worldly respect yet are they not so greatly to be accompted of in this cause But forasmuch as by Christs owne saying and by naturall reason a man cannot haue a more easie or perfect iudgement of the qualitie of a tree whether it be good or bad then by the fruit thereof I may without offending of any man in the triall of this matter which is no lesse profitable then hard and difficult to doe obserue the same order since the mischiefe is now already so farre detected and men growne to be so curious that they feare not to call into question such things as they haue hitherto by great errour and doltishnesse worshipped and held for most holy and sacred Now if the Inquisition be a good tree or as they delight to terme it a Holy I doubt not but it will be content to shew the fruits openly by the goodnesse or holinesse whereof it may without fraud or enuie be esteemed how good or holy the stocke it selfe is For light loueth the light and he that dealeth truly and vprightly is willing to come into the light in despight of the diuell and all other darknesse that his workes done in the feare of God may come to light But he that worketh the things that be euill hateth the light and hauing power and authoritie bridleth mens tongues couering his faults with forced silence lest that the light should discouer them and shew them to be repro●eable Wherefore let all Christendome now behold these fruites of the Holy Inquisition which being otherwise very plentifull by the onely meanes of Gods goodnesse wee haue here and there plucked for a say and taste of the tree and by these let them iudge as casily they may whether this Holy Tree be worthy to stand still or to be turned vpside downe For herein resteth all and some concerning these matters whether the reports that I shall make in this Treatise of the Holy Inquisition be true or no. Secondarily how I came to the knowledge thereof for no man will doubt but that this tree doth worthily deserue to bee hewed downe if there be sufficient proofe that it buddeth forth such pestilent blossomes and beareth like fruites as these be Againe it were a dangerous and inconuenient matter if we heretickes that detest the Inquisition as a sharpe and iust plague of God and therefore worthy to be holden suspected should haue any credite giuen vs herein Wherefore I haue thought it a thing worthy the trauaile to shew the briefest and most certaine way whereby the truth thereof might without any great trouble be vnderstood That is to say if the King whose office it is specially to see to the administration of justice in his owne dominion would first bee brought to beleeue that both he might of his absolute authoritie and of dutie ought to call the holy Court of Inquisition to accompts and that no lawes or decrees of their making no Priuiledges no Bulls no Pardons or dispensations finally no Oath ought to let or hinder him from the doing of his dutie herein Secondarily if after he had appointed such a speciall Commission to examine the Inquisition he would seeke meanes to be ensormed of such matters by men of grauitie and good consciences who calling vnto them others such as might be thought to haue the most knowledge and best experience in these matters might learne out a truth as the best custome is in all other courts and consistories as they call them For the which purposes those that either presently are or haue beene heretofore fettered in the Inquisitours prisons were first to bee sent for and examined but vnbridled in any case hauing those worse then Iron bittes taken from their tongues with the which the Inquisition hath hitherto kept her tyrannie close that is to say their solemne swearing of them to be silent while they liue inhibiting them the vttering of any thing by any meanes that they either knew or saw or had experience of themselues touching the Holy Inquisition or their whole manner of proceeding against them in Court or otherwise but that they should rather repute themselues as dead persons for for that time concerning the knowledge or sense of any such matters And as though their oath for sooth were not a matter of force enough they annexe thereunto terrible threatnings By meanes where of all the trickes of the Inquisition haue hitherto beene secret and hidden and passed vnder couert to and fro with a cloake and shadow of a zeale of godlinesse and yet not so obscurely or secretly but that the whole world though confusedly and as it were a farre off hath at the length espied and found out their outragious tyranny And this is the onely cause that maketh all men keepe their tongues least it might bee their happes likewise to haue experience thereof in themselues This bridle I say must first bee remoued and taken away from them of whome these questions should be asked and libertie must be giuen to speake boldly and without

the holy 〈◊〉 of a Saint but he had also vnder his other garments a short hanger by his side and that forsooth only h●ndred his absolute honour This Inquisition you will say was not brought in to the end that any should thereby be instructed in the principles of true religion but onely that heresie by meanes hereof might bee abolished Marry so much we yeeld vnto them indeed For it appeareth plainely by the zeale that was in those good Princes that they had a better meaning with them at the first then that which through their wicked counsellours afterward was put in execution The Inquisition being th 〈…〉 established for the same ends and purposes which I haue before mentioned as some affirme before the battell at Granata which maketh nothing against me if it be so the charge of instructing the people in the principles of religion was first referred to I Tears and Curates and from them translated to the Wardens of the Church and afterward to the Clerkes in euery towne and parish who taught the simple abused people their Aue Maria Pater noster their Credo with Salua regina 〈…〉 in Latine shall I say nay in a barbarous kinde of Latine and that with sporting themselues and mocking the poore silly soules without any deuotion or zeale not without reward neither but very dearely and at a high price many times besides their common wages they were payd with the goodwi●es honestie or the daughters virginitie For the other fiue cōmandements of the holy Church which they s●ad were necessarie to saluation that is to say the hearing of Masse on holy dayes and sundayes The going to shrist and holy confession The receiuing of holy bread the due obseruing of Fasts enioyned by the Church and the true paying of their tithes and Church-duties these things I warrant you were beaten into their heads in plaine words and mother-tongue By which kinde of discipline what other thing I pray you could seeme to be sought th●n to bring men into a heape of perpetuall errours And the court of Inquisition being erected on the other part for reformation of errours they might be sure like good hunters to lodge the Deere and take their stand and so to obtaine a continuall prey But to proceed let vs grant them thus much that the Inquisition was ordained to none other end and that they be two seuerall and distinct offices to teach the faith and to roote out heresies yet were it the part and dutie of good and discreet counsellours to prouide that the authoritie committed to Bishops by the holy Scriptures of God should not thereby be taken from them neither should any other perswasion enter into their heads that there were any other fire or sword to root out heresies but only the sword of Gods word both the which things the holy Apostle did most euidently teach in the Epistle to Titus where among other qualities required in a Bishop hee would haue him embrace the word of God fit for instruction that he may be able to exhort by wholesome doctrine and to conuince the gainsayers and aduersaries For surely a true and iustifying faith cannot be forced the nature thereof is such no more can heresie be destroyed by the heretickes death But the word of God is most apt and sit for both purposes For thereby faith is not only engendred but increased and multiplyed meruellously and whatsoeuer is not agreeable to true faith if it be examined and tried by the light of this word shall soone be bewrayed Wherefore they ought first to haue resorted to the Scriptures and taken counsell of them whether they had limited any punishment for such as should shew themselues wilfull and obstinate against the truth or the most cruell execution that can be by fire For as concerning the confiscation of goods what can be thought more wretched and couetous or more vnjust and shamelesse or further from the profession of a Christian man And to let passe their open infamy the staine whereof will hardly be spunged out againe who can worthily speake enough against them that vse the same kinde of punishment euen against those poore wretches wh●● they haue perswaded to recant their errours Paul in the place aboue mentioned appointeth no penaltie for as much as it may well be that the partie condemned may in time be reclaimed and therefore mercy ought rather to be practised of euery good shepheard with all gentlenesse and loue then any such extremitie But let vs enter further and see what Paul appointeth for such as are obstinate persons Auoide the company of an hereticke saith he after one or two admonitions First hee would haue him charitably admonished of his error twice or thrice and that by the Bishop not cited into the court not put to the torments or otherwise punished for his erronious opinions with such extremitie and so continually Then if gentle admonition will reclaime him there is good cause why both the Bishop and the whole congregation may rejoyce of the winning of a brother to be a member of Christ But if such admonitions will not preuaile he counselleth vs to proceed to excommunication that is to say to cut him off and exclude him the company and fellowship of the Christians the which notwithstanding must not be executed in way of reuenge of his error but ministred as a medicine for his amendment And this judgement of the Disciple agreeth with the rule of his Master If hee wil not giue ea●e to thee nor other saith he that is to say them that haue giuen him admonition the second time Let him be thence forth accompted of as an Ethnicke or Publican Which is as much in vnderstanding as if he had neuer receiued the faith In this degree of seueritie which being duely considered is sharpe enough Christs discipline stayeth and proceedeth no further And this is the Court these be the lawes thereof and the whole manner of proceeding wherewith a true Christian man if there had beene any such among them should haue contented himselfe in proceeding against his brother being beside the right way or against any heresies of what sort or condition soeuer they be because Christ hath thought them to be sufficient and prouided these remedies which the Church hath alwayes vsed from time to time to great profite in the rooting vp of all heresies that at any time grew therein As concerning the putting of heretickes to death it is like altogether as if a Phisician to the intent to rid the patient of his disease should for the nonce rid him also of his life Moreouer they that doe pretend most of all now adayes the rooting vp of heresies by such meanes do not only not attaine thereunto for as yet the world is blinded to take falshood for truth but if it were so then by taking away his life they cut him off from all those meanes and possibilities whereby he might attaine his owne saluation For it might very well come to passe

his former life and labour euill spent and therefore beganne anew to tread another path which should lead him vnto perfect wisedome and learning whereof as then hee knew not one step Furthermore perceiuing his counseller to stand so long vpon that point which concerned the dutie of a good Preacher he took it to be a sufficient calling for him to that vocation whereof he knew he should neither reap commoditie nor estimation in this world Perhaps many will maruell to hear the party named that was the occasion of so suddaine a change and alteration of such a man in so short space taking vpon him to teach him the true way to perfect wisedome Truly I must needs disclose it to the end that the wonderful mysteries of Gods election may be manifested and reuerenced who by the foolish of this world confoundeth the wisedome of man His name was Roderico Valerio man long ago condemned at Siuill by the Inquisitors for a false Apostle a counterfait Prophet and a wicked deceiuer of the people and therevpon banished and in his exile suffred for the profession of the truth Whose wonderfull kind of calling to the true knowledge of Christ since I am occasioned to make mention of the person it shall neither be greatly impertinent briefly to speak of nor tedious to such as be godly disposed This Valerio a Citizen of Nebrissa a famous towne as any is in all the precinct of Granata both for the antiquitie thereof and chiefly for the fame of one Antonio de Nebrissa a notable Clerke as any was and one that first restored the puritie of the Latin tongue in Spaine in these our dayes was descended of a good house and of sufficient abilitie to maintaine the worship thereof howbeit he employed his wealth not to vertue but as commonly such men of abilitie doe which think all their honor to consist in the maintenance of a good stable the furniture thereof in games in costly and excessiue apparell in hunting other such like pastimes and exercises For in all these qualities he was singular aboue all the yong gentlemen of the whole citie insomuch that hee sought not only to match such as were his equalls in degree and abilitie but also to exceede them far In the middest of these vain phantasies a certaine motion came into his mind by what occasion or through whose perswasion or otherwise by what meanes God knoweth but he suddenly left all his old delights contemning the speech of the people which was a hard thing for a man to doe and bent himselfe wholly both body and soule to the exercise of vertue godlinesse that a man would searcely iudge him to bee a man of this world Moreouer the wonderfull change that appeared to be in him otherwise as well in his speech and behauiour as in his apparell that was fine and sutable before gorgious as might be and now quite altered into simple stuffe and plainest fashion was well liked of some but on the other side a great number thought it meere madnesse or starke folly But as the like false verdites giuen of the holy Apostles that were indued with the Holy Ghost were attainted by the effectes of the same spirit so the perfect feare of God with the bewayling of his former vanities the earnest desire of righteousnesse and his whole talke tending to these ends and concerning these matters alwayes framed according to the prescript rule of Gods word was a sufficient proofe and euidence to men of perfecter vnderstanding that the spirit of God most certainly possessed him In his youth time hee had gotten a little smack in the Latin by the help where of hee was conuersant in the holy Scriptures both day and night so that by continuall studie thereof hee had a great part of them by heart and could make application thereof to his purpose sensibly maruellous readily He had also dayly conflicts with the spiritual men as they call them the Priests and Monks which were the causes said he that not only the estate of the Clergy but also all Christendome was so fouly corrupted that they were almost hopelesse of remedy for which causes hee did also diuers and sundry times sharply rebuke them Whereat this pharisaicall generation much maruelling enquired of him how he attained so suddenly to all this skilin holy Scriptures how he durst presume so arrogantly to inuay against the very supporters and lights of the Church For indeed he spared none but would tell the proudest of them his minde being but a lay-man voide of all good learning and one that had spent the greater part of his time in vaine and vnprofitable studies Likewise they examined him by force of what commission hee did it who sent him how hee was called and by what tokens hee declared the same Alas for them good men when they cannot denie their abominations nor longer hold out the light which discouereth their darknesse euen now as in all other ages from time to time they are driuen to these shifts Howbeit Valerio answered them truly and with a bold courage to euery demand that he had not fished for that wisedome and caught it in their most filthie puddles and muddie ditches but had it by the only goodnesse of the Holy Ghost who poureth whole floods of grace into the hearts of true beleeuers most aboundantly As for his boldnesse he told them that both the goodnes of his quarrell and hee that sent him gaue him the encouragement and that the spirit of God which is bound to no estate or degree be it in name neuer so spirituall specially if it be corrupt hath heretofore chosen very idiots and fishermen and placed them in the roome of Apostles to controll the Synagogue of the learned touching the law to appeach them of ignorance to call the whole world to the knowledge of their own saluation that the same Christ had sent him whose name and authoritie hee had for his warrant but as for any signe to declare the same he said it was the token of a bastardly generation and of the branches degenerate from the true stocke of the children of God to aske for any signes in the time of such light when all things shine therewith yea verie darknesse it selfe as cleare as noone day At the length for these and such like matters he was called to his answer before the Inquisitors where he disputed very earnestly of the true Church of Christ and which were the markes to know it by how man was iustified in the sight of God and of such other points of religion the knowledge whereof he confessed that he had attained vnto by no meanes or help of man but by the onely handy worke of God and his wonderfull reuelation Howbeit his madnesse phrensie wherewith the Inquisitors supposed him to bee troubled excused him for this time yet to the end that he might the sooner come to himself again they condemned him in the losse of all his substance