had we feared the same we had never exposed our bodies to this so shamefull and painfull a kinde of death Then he often reiterated these short breathings O God Father everlasting accept the sacrifice of our bodies for thy well beloved Sonne Iesus Christs sake One of the Friers cried Heretike thou liest he is none of thy father the Devill is thy father And thus during these conflicts he bent his eyes to heaven and speaking to his father said Behold for I sée the heavens open and millions of Angels ready prest to receive us rejoycing to sée us thus witnessing the truth in the view of the World Father let us be glad and rejoyce for the joyes of heaven are set open unto us Then said one of the Fryers I sée hell open and millions of Devils present to carry you thither But the Lord who never forsakes any that put their trustin him stirred up the heart and opened the mouth of a poore man who stood among the multitude beholding this spectacle who being moved with compassion cryed aloud Be of good comfort Baudicon stand thou to it thou 〈◊〉 in a good quarrell I am on thy side after which words he departed thence and a way being made for him saved himselfe from danger Fire was forthwith put to the straw and wood which burnt beneath whilest they not shrinking for the paines spake one to another Baudicon often repeating this in his fathers eares Faint not father nor be afraid Yet a very little while and wee shall enter into the heavenly mansions In the end the fire growing hot upon them the last words they were heard to pronounce were Iesus Christ thou Sonne of God into thy hands we commend our spirits And thus these two slept swéetly in the Lord. Within eight dayes after Iane the mother and Martin her sonne were executed in the same City of Lile but of this more hereafter Iane the wife of Robert Oguier and Martin her sonne Martyrs THe wife here followes her husband and accompanies her sonne her conversion is admirable for being severed from him the Friers having seduced her laboured with her to turne her some also out of the right way but he understanding thereof recovers his mother againe and so they both gaue their lives for the truth to the great confusion of their enemies But before we come to describe their happy ends we will as briefely as may be note by the way the great conflicts of spirit which both of them sustained There were sent unto them many of the popish rabble to turne them from their faith Now that this their devillish enterprise might the rather be effected they sundred one of them from the other so as by the politique deuice of a Monke the poore woman began to waver and let goe her first faith At this their enemies rejoyced not a little whilest the poore little flocke of Christ hearing such sad newes were in continuall perplexity but the Lord left them not in this mournfull condition For on a day one of the Monkes resorted to her in the prison counselling her to win her sonne Martin and to draw him from his errors which she promised to doe But when he was come to his Mother and perceiued that she was not onely fallen but also quite turned out of the right way he began with teares to bewayle her miserable estate O Mother saith he what have you done Have you denyed him who hath redéemed you Alas what evill hath he done you that you should requite him with this so great an iniury and dishonour Now I am plunged into that woe which I have most feared Ah good God that I should live to sée this which pierceth me to the very heart His Mother hearing these his pittifull complaints and séeing the teares which her sonne shed for her began againe to renue her strength in the Lord and with teares cryed out O Father of mercies be mercifull unto me miserable sinner and cover my transgression under the righteousnesse of thy blessed Sonne Lord enable me with strength from above to stand to my first confession and make me to abide stedfast therein even unto my last breath It was not long after this her change but the same instruments of Satan who had seduced her came in supposing to finde her in the same minde wherein they left her whom she no sooner espied but with detestation said Avoyd Satan get thee behinde me for henceforth thou hast neither part nor portion in me I will by the help of God stand to my first confession And if I may not signe it with Inke I will seale it with my blood And so from that time this fraile vessell who for a while relented after her recovery grew stronger and stronger The Iudges séeing their constancy delayed not to dispatch them out of the way condemning them to be burned alive and their bodies being reduced to ashes the same to be scattered and dispersed in the aire The mother and the sonne having heard their sentence read in the way as they were going backe againe to prison said now blessed be our God who causeth us thus to triumph over our enemies This is the wished houre our gladsome day is come Let us not then said Martin forget to be thankefull for the honour he doth us in thus conforming us unto the Image of his Sonne Let us remember those who have traced this path before us for this is the high way to the Kingdome of heaven Let us then good Mother goe on boldly out of the Campe with the Son Heb. 13. 13. of God bearing his reproach with all his holy Martyrs for so we shall finde passage into the glorious Kingdome of the everliving God Some of the company hearing but not being able to brooke these words said we sée now thou heretique that thou art wholly possessed body and soule with a divell as was thy father and brother who are both in Hell Martin said Sirs as for your railings and cursings our God will this day turne them into blessings in the sight of himselfe and of all his holy Angels A certaine temporizer said to Martin thou silly See here the sundry â—ights of Satan youth thou sayest thou knowest not what thou art too well conceited of thy selfe and of thy cause Séest thou not all this people here about thée what thinkest thou of them they beléeve not as thou doest and yet I doubt not but they shall be saved But you imagine to doe that which will never come to passe though you pretend never so much that you are in the faith and have the Scriptures for you The good woman hearing this answered Sir Christ Iesus our Lord saith that it is the wide gate and broad way which leades to destruction Mat. 7. 12. and therefore many gooe in thereat but the gate saith he is narrow that leades to life and few How we may know we are in the right way there be that finde it Doe ye
as now we may cry out with saint Paul O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory She was often admonished by him to make confession of her sinnes before God shewing that bodily diseases tended to the dissolution of nature and that death was the wages of sinne declaring Rom 6. 23. moreover that by this her chastisement she might discerne what she had deserved if God should now enter into iudgement with her not onely in regard of the fall of our first Parents in which guilt Rom. 5. 12. she was enwrapped as well as others but also by her owne personall sinnes séeing the best of men or women in the world are in themselves but poore miserable and wretched offendors yea if the Lord should punish us according to our demerits we could expect nothing at his hands but eternall death and condemnation At these words she began with her hands and eies lifted up to heaven to acknowledge that her Psal 19. â— sinnes which she had committed against the Lord were innumerable and therefore more then she was able to reckon up But yet she hoped that God for Christs sake in whom she put her whole affiance would be mercifull unto her From the later clause of her spéech the Minister tooke occasion to declare at large upon what ground she was to expect the fruit of this mercy of God in Christ séeing the whole have no need Mar. 2. 17. of Phisitian but they that are sicke and therfore Christ saith in that place Hee came not to call the righteous but sinners unto repentance And that he is ready to fill the hungry with good things Luke 1. 53. whereas in the meane while he sends the rich empty away Of all which said he you ought so much the rather to be perswaded in your conscience by how much the more the holy spirit witnesseth to your spirit that you are the childe of God Crying in you Abba Father For what is Rom. 8. 15. What faith is faith else but a firme trust and assurance of the good will of God manifested towards us in his blessed sonne Now the Minister fearing he might some way offend her by his overlong discourse held his peace the rather because the Physitians thought that a long continued spéech might bee hurtfull unto her but she on the contrary earnestly requested him not to forbeare speaking unto her about these matters of life and eternall salvation adding that she wow felt the want of it in regard that since her comming to Paris shee had béen somewhat remisse in hearing such exhortations out of the word of God And therefore I am now the more glad saith she to receive comfort out of it in this my so great extremity The Minister then endeavoured to set before her the happinesse of heaven and what those joyes Psal 16. 11. were which the faithfull there possesse in the presence of God which when the scriptures intend to discover unto us they onely tell us that the eie 1 Cor. 259. hath not seene nor hath the eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what these things are which God hath prepared for them that love him To which purpose he used this simllitude as if a King minding greatly to honor Simile some noble persome noble personage should bring him to his court and there shew him his state and attendance his Treasures with all his most precious Iewels even so saith he will the Lord one day reveale to all his elect and faithfull people his magniâ—cence and glory with all the treasures of his Kingdome after he hath gathered them home to himselfe decking and adorning them with light incorruption and immortality This happiness therefore being so great her highnesse he said ought to be the lesse carefull about the leaving of this transitory life seeing that for an earthly kingdome which she was now to forgoe she should inherit an heavenly and for temporall good things which vanish and come to nothing in the using she should for even enjoy those that were eterenall and everlasting For her faith being now firmely setled upon our Lord Iesus Christ she might be suffered to obtaine eternall salvation by him on which words he tooke occasion to direct his speech in more particualar manner unto her saying Madame doe you verily beleeve that Iesus Christ come into the world to save you and doe you expect the full forgivenesse of all your sinnes by the shedding of his bloud for you To which she readily answered she did believing that he was her only Saviour and Mediator looking for salvation from none other knowing that he hath abundantly satisfied for the sinnes of the whole world and therefore was assured that God for his sake according to his gracious promises in him would have mercy upon her Thus you have in part the goodly speeches which passed from this religious Lady in the beginning of her sicknesse all which was within the space of three or foure daies Howsoever before that and since also she ceased not to continue the same her fruitfull and comfortable communications now and then sending forth most affectionate slighings to God as a testimony of that hope and desire Anno 1567. she had in enjoying his presence often uttering these words O my God in thy good time deliver me from this body of death and from the miseries of this present life that I may no more offend thee and that I may attain to that felicity which thou in thy Word hast promised me Neither did she manifest her pious affection by these her words onely but therewithall shewed a joyfull and resolute countenance as the vehemency of her sicknesse could beare which gave sufficient proofe to all that beheld her that the feare of death could not drive her from the stedfastnesse of her Faith When she had finished these her consolatory spéeches they usually went to prayer intreating the Lord that he would arme her with constant patience and have mercy upon her Which praier it shall not be altogether impertinent to insert in this place serving as a forme of praier upon the like occasion ¶ The Prayer O Lord our God we confesse hee before thy Divine Majesty that wee are altogether unworthy of thy infinite mercies by reason of our manifold iniquities and that we are so farre off from deserving to be heard of thée in our requests that we are rather worthie thou shouldest reject both our persons and our sutes but séeing it hath pleased thée to make us a gracious promise of hearing and granting our requests we humbly beséech thee fréely to forgive all our offences and to cover them under the obedience and righteousnesse of thy deare Sonne that through him our selves and poore services may be well pleasing before thee For Lord we acknowledge that all our afflictions are measured out unto us by thine hand who art a most just Iudge in regard we have every way provoked
then doubt whether we are in the straight way or no when ye behold our sufferings would you have a better signe then this to know whether we are in the right way or no Compare our Doctrine with that of your Priests and Monkes we for our parts are determined to have but one Christ and him crucified we onely embrace the Scriptures of the old and new Testament Are we deceived in beléeving that which the holy Prophets and Apostles have taught One of the Fryers turning towards Martin said youngman be well advised for thy father and thy brother have acknowledged the seven Sacraments of the Church together with us and thou poore silly youth hast heard some wicked Heretique who hath deluded thée thinkest thou thy selfe wiser then so many learned Doctors as have lived in so many ages Martin answered I pray you Sir doth not Christ our Lord tell us that his Father hath hid the secrets of his Kingdome from the wise and prudent and revealed them to Mat. 11. 25. Iob 5. 13. babes And doth not the Lord oftentimes catch the wise in their owne craftinesse And whereas you say my Father and Brother have confessed seven Sacraments I well perceive by this that I ought not to give credit to ought you say knowye not that the Devill is the father of lies and all liers Is it not sufficient that I acknowledge so many Sacraments as God himselfe hath instituted and ordained to wit Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord Then came there into the prison two men of great authority in the City of Lisle the one called Mounsieur Barras the other Beaufremes who promised Martin great matters if he would recant and returne to the Roman Church Beaufremes among other spéeches said thus unto him Young man I have compassion on thy tender yéeres if thou wilt be ruled by us I will 100 〈◊〉 amount to two hundred crownes but this faithfull Martyr of Christ was not like Iudas who for love of money sold his Master promise thée thou shalt not die this shamefull death moreover I will give thée one hundred pounds sterling Martin gave him this answere Sir you present before me many temporall commodities but alas doe you thinke me so simple as to forsake an eternall Kingdome for enioying of a short transitory life No sir it is too late to speake to me now of worldly commodities but of those spirituall which God hath prepared for me today in his Kingdome nor doe I purpose to hearken after any other onely I pray you let me crave one houres respite to give my selfe to prayer and calling upon the Name of my God for you know now it is eight daies since my father departed this world and hitherto I have scarce enioyed an hours rest That which I have had hath rather béen to slumber in then have any quiet sléepe having continually had eight or nine persons invironing me about and talking unto me After these great men were forced to goe even as they came Martin declared the effect of this his combat to certaine Brethren who were there detained with him in prison saying moreover Let us lift up our heads Brethren the brunt is over this I hope is their last assault forget not I pray you the holy doctrine of the Gospell nor those good lessons which you have learned from our Brother Guy It is very likely hee meanes Guy de Brez a godly Minister of whom you shall read more God willing hereafter Manifest it now to all that you have received them not only into your eares but also into your hearts follow me we leade you the way feare not God will never leave nor forsake you farewell Brethren said he and so departed from them Soone after Martin and his mother were bound and brought to the place of their Martyrdome His mother having ascended the scaffold cryed to Martin Come up Come up my sonne And as he was speaking to the people she said Speake out Martin saith she that it may appeare to all that we die not Heretiques Martin would have made a confession of his faith but could not be suffered His mother being bound to the stake spake in the hearing of the Spectators We are Christians and that which we now suffer is not for murther or theft but because we will beléeve no more than that which the Word of God teacheth us Both reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the same The fire being kindled the vehemency thereof did nothing coole or abate the fervency of their zeale but they continued constant in the faith and with lifting up their hands to heaven in an holy accord said Lord Iesus into thy hands we The happy death of the mother and her sonne commend our spirits And thus they blessedly slept in the Lord. These were the fruits which these holy assemblies in the City of Lisle brought forth None néed to enquire whether the rest were suffered to live in peace for what other spectacles were to be espied in the high waies and fields but poore fugitives flying hither and thither for safegard of their lives So great was the cruelty which was then and there exercised among them and yet when all is done God will be glorified in his Saints and children ¶ Iohn Rebec Martyr burned at Aniers in France the 24 of Aprill 1556. THis Robert had his tongue cut out because he A Martyrs tongue cut out for refusing to call upon the virgin Mary would not pronounce Iesus Maria to joyne them both in one prayer for being urged thereunto with great threats he boldly answered that if his tongue should but offer to utter those words at their bidding himselfe would bite it asunder with his téeth ¶ Bartholomew Hector Martyr was burned according to the sentence of the parliament of Turin in Piedmont in the yeer 1556. Iune the 19. BEing called before Authority to be examined ' The Martyr would not answer the Adversary till he had first craved assistance from God he would answer them to nothing before he had made his prayer to God Whereupon falling downe there on his knées he besought him to open his mouth and to direct his spéech onely to utter that which might tend to his honor and glory and to the edification of his Church Afterwards when he was bound to the stake gunpowder and brimstone was brought to be placed about him he lifing up his eyes to heaven and saying Lord how sweet and welcome is this to me ¶ Charles Covincke or le Roy de Gand once Anno 1557. a Friar Carmelite at Gand in Flanders was apprehended and executed at Bruges in the same Countrey Anno 1557. Aprill 27. BEing perswaded by his brother to returne Charles would none of his popish habit which he had once rejected againe to his Order and take upon him his fryers habit he made him this direct answer what néeds that saith he now I have cast off that popish wéed I
there be seven or two hée will acknowledge no more then hée list for he had confessed there were but two The chiefe sheriffe demanded of him in these termes whither hée beléeved that the Lord remained upon the Altar flesh body and bone I answer saith Herwin with Saint Steven that the highest dwelleth not in temples made with hands Heaven saith the Lord is my throne and the earth is my footstoole Isai 66. 1. 2. what house will yée then make unto mée and where is the place of my rest Hath not my hand made all these And then tooke occasion to admonish the Iudges which sate there to examine the Doctrine of the Romane Church by the true touchstone which is the holy scripture that so they might discern how opposite and contrary the one is to the other Consider also saith hée what the words of saint Peter import where hée affirmes that we ought to obey God rather then man Yea it is high time for you to thinke upon Act. 4. 19. 5. 29. A godly admonition to Iudges and Magistrates what I say and that seriously also for at the last day it is neither your priests nor your placcards which you thinke to stop our mouths withall that shall any way excuse you then And as for the title of the Romane Catholike Church which you hold out against us I deny not but in the Apostles time and afterwards there was a true Church in Rome as well as in Corinth Galatia among the Philippians and in other churches but When the church of Rome was a true Church after that she fell from the pure word of God and falsified the Sacraments thereof turning ecclesiasticall discipline into auricular confession God hath also forsaken her she ought now no more to bée called a Church of God but rather the Synagogue of Satan As soone as the chiefe Sheriffe who is called the first speaker heard this he commanded him away Having then given sufficient testimony of his Faith before those of Houscot he craved for Iustice either one way or another But they on the contrary urged him to desist from his opinion To which he answered that his faith was not built of Psal 14. an opinion but said he the Lord hath taught me to eschew evill and do good Yea said they but séest thou not how these opinions have troubled the World And also how many of the learneder sort do contradict them Answer So far is it off that the doctrine of the Gospell should be the cause of troubles that it only is the meanes of quieting the troubles debates and strifes which raigne in the world These troubles arise indéed from the malice of men And as touching your learned men you speake of it is impossible for humane wisdome to comprehend the doctrine of God for which cause Christ saith Father I thanke thee that Mat. 11. 25. Luke 10. 21. thou hast hid these secrets from the wise men of the World and hast revealed them to babes Now as the Sergeants conveyed him to prison they counselled him to speake more mildly and then he might doe well enough Before his death he was sorely set upon by certaine Sophisters who alledged to him the sayings of many of the ancient Fathers upon the point of the Lords Supper but he overcame them by holding close the true sense of Christs words In prison he comforted himselfe in singing of Psalmes and spirituall Songs some of which he indited himself The Canons and priests séeing the people flock together to the prison doore to heare him especially upon the Sundayes and holy daies strove by all meanes to put him by his singing They coupled him with two malefactors to be a griefe unto him who obtaining certaine instruments by the helpe of their consorts brake prison and fled Herwin might thus have escaped if he would but fearing his flight might be imputed to the godly Christians in the City he resolved rather to remaine there than to flie His sentence in the meane while comming from the Court he was no sooner advertised of it but hée thanked God for advancing him to so high an honour as to be counted worthy to suffer for his name Testifying the joy he inwardly had by a Letter which he sent to the brethren praying and exhorting them to be constant and to persevere in that Doctrine which they had received from God The fourth day of November betwéene foure and five of the clocke in the morning Herwin was sent for by the Magistrates from prison into the place of Iudgement where by intreatings and goodly promises they urged him to recant and receive their breaden God which was then to bée offered up or at least to confesse that Iesus Christ was there corporally present upon which he should by and by be delivered out of all dangers Now Herwin refusing their offer was bound and brought by force into the Chappell but he in sign of his detestation turned his backe alwayes upon it shutting his eyes and stopping his eares At the elevation of their Host one who was knéeling to it asked him if Iesus Christ was not now betwéene the Priests hands No no said Herwin he is in Heaven at the right hand of his Father Soone after the sentence of death was read against him so was he delivered into the hands of the Tormentor As he passed out of the town-house standing upon the first step viewing the people who waited to sée him Sée here saith he how this wicked World rewards the poore servants of Iesus Christ Whilest I gave my selfe to drunkennesse to playiug at Cards and Dice living in all dissolution and ungodly behaviour I was never in danger of these bands lifting up his hands which were bound I was then counted a good fellow and at that time who but I But Anno 1561. no sooner began I by conversion to aske after a godly life but the world made war upon me and became my enemy persecuting and imprisoning me and now last of all sending me to the place where I must pay my last debt But the servant is no better than his Lord For séeing they persecuted Mat. 10. 24. Iohn 15. 20. him no question they will persecute us Being come to the place where he was to suffer one of the assembly reaching him forth his hand drew nigh unto him comforting him never leaving him till he entred into the Cabbin of wood in which he was to be burnt He then began to sing the thirtieth Psalme of which having sung only the first staffe a Fryer hearing the same hastned towards him not without much difficulty through the throng that he might come néere to interrupt him who knéeling on his knées said Oh Iohn turne there is yet time and space The Martyr sleighting his glosing words turned his back upon him And many there present cryed to the Fryer Turne thou thou hypocrite and thus was he suffered quietly to finish the Psalme The Fryer
séeing himself disappointed this way of his purpose continuing still in his impudency said to the people be ye not offended good people in hearing this Heretique sing of God They cryed againe to him Hold thy peace thou Balaamite here is no body offended Many sung with a soft voice with the Martyr and some againe sung aloud without faining There were more than foure hundred which encouraged him to continue to the end as he had well begun Then he said unto them Brethren I fight under the Standard and in the quarrell of my great Lord and Captaine Christ Having ended the psalme he made his prayer to God upon his knées Then rising up and being about to enter into his lodge made with an heape of fagots he said to the people I am now going to be sacrificed follow you me when God of his goodnesse shall call you to it When he was gone in the Fryer put him in minde againe that yet there was time to repent but he as one little minding what this deceiver said commended his spirit into the hands of God Hee that reached him forth his hand stood in the midst of the Sergeants and not far off from the Tormentor still encouraging the Patient and yet none laid hold on him they were stricken with such astonishment partly with the Martyrs courage and partly with their owne shame in putting to death an innocent The Executioner not being his craftsmaster strangled and burnt him most cruelly so as the people were heard to bewaile the manner of it whilest the Martyr yéelded up the ghost the said fourth day of Novenber Anno 1560. His body was consumed to ashes which were buried in the Market place of Honscot ¶ Here it shall not be amisse to insert a godly prayer which a like notorious wretch before his conversion made at his death after he was converted and suffered for the same cause His name was Lieuin Blekere by his Trade a Painter who dwelt in a little village in the Low Countries called Pamelle Anno 1566. O Heavenly Father I give thée thankes that thou hast pulled me out of darknesse and hast revealed the light of thy Gospell unto me for else I had perished everlastingly O father thou diddest ordaine me to be one of thy Witnesses even from my mothers wombe yea before the foundation of the world was laid Now therefore Lord let this sacrifice be acceptable unto thée receive me thy poore servant into thy grace and favour and pardon the sin of my persecutors To one that stood by he said Brother fight the good fight of faith with me and pray for me so long as you sée life to be in me And while he was yet speaking the tormentor strangled him The dead body being a little scortched with the fire was taken thence and hanged on a gibbet by Pamelle whence he was taken downe in the night and buried ¶ Iohn de Boschane drowned in a tub in prison the twenty eighth day of February in the City of Antwerpe Anno 1561. THe evening before he suffered many of the faithfull expected what should be done unto him But the Magistrates of the towne fearing an uprore knowing that he was a man frée of spéech and beloved of the people tooke counsell to drowne him secretly in the prison which could not be executed without murther and cruell torment For the tub in which he should be drowned being neither large nor déep enough the Martyr himselfe being tall of stature and the executioner having provided so little water that he could not possibly be drowned therein therefore he was constrained for the shortning of this so cruell a torment to wound him in the body with divers A sure way to make an end of him stabs of a dagger which were to be séen theron after he was dead Thus finished this Boschane Martyr his life being twenty six yeares of age in the City of Antwerpe in the yeare of our Lord 1560. ¶ The story of one Iohn de Buisons who was beheaded in the prison as Iohn the Baptist was in the night THis holy servant of Christ having valiantly stood to the profession of the Gospell was soone after condemned to die Now fearing lest any tumult or sedition should be raised in the City of Antwerp he was beheaded in the prison about one or two of the clocke in the night to the glory of God and the confusion of his adversaries Anno 1561. ¶ Simon Harme Martyr who had sentence of death pronounced two severall times upon him in the City of Lisle in Flanders THis Simon was accused to have uttered some spéeches long since agaâ—nst the Church of Rome Witnesses béeing produced against him in the towne-house the Magistrate condemned him to be beheaded Now according to their custome in that place his hat being taken from him after sentence pronounced he was returned backe againe to prison expecting the houre of his execution Then were sent unto him certaine friers to confesse or rather to vexe and torment him But this godly man being throughly fenced with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God made them know to their shame that they were greatly mistaken for the Friers returning backe to those who had imployed them in this businesse reported that this Simon was a most notorious heretique which the Magistrates of the Citie hearing caused him by and by to be called The Martyr had his hat sent him which was taken from him to judgement sending him his hat againe which they tooke from him in token that they had revoked the sentence first pronounced to enter a new processe against him Thus got Simon some leasure the better to dispose of his affaires also to comfort and counsell his friends by Letters not weighing the torments of death which he was to endnre Thrée dayes before he suffered sentence was pronounced touching another kind of death namely to be burned and his body to be consumed to ashes Which kind of Martyrdome did manifest to all the people of the sayd City the admirable power of the Lord by how much more the paines were excéeding great beholding how this his servant swéetly gave up the ghost in peace in the midst of the fiery flames ¶ A note of one Iohn Martin who bragged he would cut off a Ministers nose THe Church of God increasing so farre in the Valleyes of Angrongne in France that they were faine to build a Church wherein to preach the Word publikely in regard of concourse of people resorting thither it happened that the forenamed Iohn Martin boasting every where that he would cut off the ministers nose of Angrongne was soone after set upon by a mad wolfe who did indéed eat his nose from his face A remarkable judgement of God dying mad thereof himselfe and yet it was never observed that this Wolfe had ever hurt any before Which terrible judgement was so manifest that it was noysed among all the neighbour Villages thereabouts An. 1561. ¶
when his will is he will also deliver mee out of thy hands being more afflicted with the blasphemies which this varlet uttered then with all the torments which she endured on her body He having bemauled her shinnes with the pattents shée wore upon her féet shée told him his cruelty farre excéeded that of the Turkes and Infidels Whereupon he calling her a Huguenot whore told her That these were but the beginnings of her sorrowes so as if she did not disclose unto him her seven hundred pieces of gold hée would draw her chéeks and breasts with Lard and then fasten her to a forme and burne her quicke and after mount her up to the highest stéeple in the City and cast her thence downe headlong Well said she though my body fall never so low that shall not let my soule from being carried up into heaven This Captaine being herewith more inflamed with ire than before séeing that none of these cruelties could shake the faith and constancy of this poore woman he said unto her eat this Sugar taking loame or mortar from off the wall causing her to open her mouth with his dagger and to swallow it downe But not contenting himselfe herewith the villaine forced her to drink a glasse of Vrine which himselfe had made in her presence and then threw the glasse with what remained therein in her face Lastly he caused her to passe along through the troups of souldiers with intention to have had her slaine among them yet compassion moving them to spare her he brought her into his lodging where this inraged Wolfe by strange cruelties would have caused her to lose her life had not some of the inhabitants by giving him ten crownes redéemed her and so conveyed her to her owne house where within a short time after she finished her dayes One buried alive PEter Roch servant to the Lievtenant of Dignes being met withall in the countrey was buried alive they constrained him to dig his owne grave himselfe and so try whether it were large enough or no unto which he was compelled by Bartholomew Chause-grosse and his complices Provence Two women crowned with thornes THe wife of Andrew Renaud being brought through Saint Martins of Castillon was stripped stark naked and resisting such as would have violated her chastity she was whipped outragiously Anno 1566. then wounded with swords crowned with thornes then cast into the river and lastly shot to death with harquebuses Iannenta Calvin of the place of Cella being of the age of eighty yeres brought into the city of Brignole with a crowne of thornes platted upon her head being whipped till the bloud came excéedingly was first stoned and then burned alive Mascon THe Murtherers in this city having seised upon the body of Bonnet Bor in Mascon one of the most noble houses of the same a man of great learning and of an unblameable life who in other places had served in the Ministry twenty yeares having béen ransommed thrée severall times was carried along with a thousand scoffes and frâ—nps smitten with fists through the corners of the stréets with crying That whosoever would heare this devout and holy man preach should come to the slaughterhouse Whither having brought him they buffeted and mocked him two full houres Hée onely requested before hée died that they would permit him to make his prayers to God Whereupon cutting off the one halfe of his nose and one of his eares they said Now pray as long as thou wilt and then wee will send thee to all the Devils Then he knéeled down and lifting up his eies to Heaven prayed with such fervency of spirit that hée caused some of his murtherers to sigh within themselves Then directing his spéech to him who had cut off his nose he said Friend I am here ready to suffer what thou hast yet further to inflict upon me But this I intreat of thee and thy companions to bethinke you well of the outrages committed by you against this poore city for know there is a God before whose Tribunall you must give an account of these your cruelties At these words the bloud issued so fast out at his nose that it hindred him from procéeding on in that hée was about to have said A Captaine passing by cryed to the souldiers Send this wretched man to the Devill Which one of them hearing tooke him by the hand and brought him to the brimme of the river Saone somewhat above the slaughter house pretending to wash and cleanse him from the bloud wherwith his visage was besmeared conducting him to a boat for this purpose into which he was no sooner entred but he there presently turned him over into the river wherein he striving for life and crying to God for mercy these tyrants battered him with stones till he sunke under the water and so died Sée here in part saith the Historiographer the lamentable estate of the poore churches of France during the first troubles which ended with the end of the Duke of Guise the principall actor therein who was slaine at the siege of Orleance not without the immediate hand of God in the yeare 156â— by a poore gentleman whose name was Iohn Poltrot a man very desperate but of small stature and therefore commonly called the little Spaniard who shooting the Duke into the shoulder with a pistoll as he was riding to his tent in an evening uaon a little negge was for the same fact adiudged to be drawne in pieces by foure horses his head to be cut off and his torne body to be burnt to ashes ¶ A very comfortable Letter written by Wouter Oom Prisoner and Martyr in the City of Antwerpe and full of consolation against the feare of persecution directed to a Brother and Sister of his Grace and peace from God the Father and from his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen WElbeloved brother and sister whom I love dearely for the truths sake and for your faith in Christ Iesus These are to certifie you that I am in bodily health and enjoy the comfort or a good conscience I praise my Lord God therefore who is able to increase the same more and more by the powerfull operation of his holy spirit Whosoever they be that will forsake this present evill world and become followers of their Captain Christ must make account to méet with many persecutions and afflictions for Christ hath told us aforehand that we should be hated persecuted Mat. 10. 12. and banished out of the world for his names sake And this they will doe saith he because they have neither knowne the father nor Iohn 16. 3. me But be not afraid saith he for I have overcome the world Saint Paul also witnesseth the 2 Tim. 3. 12. same thing saying all that will live godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution And again to you it is given for Iesus Christ not onely to beléeve in him but also to suffer for his sake And Phil. 1. 24. Mat. 5. 11 12.
not yet satisfied But going from house to house with their associats Anno 1569. where they thought to find any Huguenots they brake open the doores then cruelly murthered whomsoever they met sparing neither sex nor age The pretence was this Report was raised there that a treason of the Huguenots was discovered who had conspired to kill the King his Mother his brethren having already killed fifteene of the guard Carts were laden with dead bodies of yong maidens women men and children which were discharged into the river covered in a maner all over with the slain and dyed red with their bloud which also streamed down the stréets from sudry parts thereof whereat the Courtezans laughed their fill saying That the warres were now ended and that hereafter they should live in peace c. But it would take up too much time to recite all the lamentable passages of this so sad and tuefull a tragedy ¶ This with some others which follow belonging to this History because they could not bee omitted are here under inserted TO begin then with Monsieur Pierre de la Place President of the Court of Requests whose story we will relate somewhat at large because his singular piety requires the same On Sunday morning about six of the clock one called Captaine Michael harquebusier of the king came into his lodging into which he had the more easie accesse for divers private respects This Captaine being armed having a harquebuse This was a token by which the murtherers were distinguished form others on his shoulder apâ—stoll at his girdle and his handkerchiefe tyed about his left arme presenting himself before the said De la Place the first words he spake were that the Duke of Guise had slaine the Admirall by the Kings appointment with many Huguenots besides and because the rest of them of what quality soever were destinated to death he was come to his lodging to exempt him from the common destruction onely he desired to have a sight of that gold and silver which was in the house The Lord de la Place somwhat amased at the audacious malapartnesse of the man who in the midst of ten or twelve persons which were there present in the roome durst presume to utter such language askt him if he knew where he was or whether he thought there was a King or no To this the Captaine blaspheming answered that he willed him to goe with him to know the kings pleasure The said Lord de la Place hearing this fearing also some danger to be towards by sedition in the City slipped forth at a backe doore behind his lodging purposing to get into a neighbors house In the meane while most of his servants vanished out of sight and this Captaine having stored himselfe with a thousand crowns was intreated by the Lady Marets daughter to the said Lord to convey her father with the Lord Marets her husband into the house of some Romane Catholike which he consented to doe and also performed it After this de la Place being refused at thrée severall houses was constrained to retire backe againe into his own where he found his wife very pensive and grieved beyond measure fearing lest this Captaine in the end would cast her sonne in law and daughter into the river as also for the imminent danger wherein her deare husband and all his family were But the said Lord de la Place being strengthened by the spirit of God with incredible constancy in the inner man sharply rebuked her and afterwards mildely demonstrated unto her that we must receive these and the like afflictions from the hand of God and so having discoursed a while upon the promises of God comforted her Then he commanded such servants and maids as remained in the house to be called togeher who being come into his Chamber according to his custome on the Lords dayes he made a forme of exhortation to his family then went to prayer and began to read a Chapter out of the booke of Iob with the exposition or sermon of Master Iohn Calvin upon it So having spoken somewhat of Gods mercy and justice which as a good and wise father useth to exercise his elect with sundry chastisements lest they should bée intangled here below with the things of this World he shewed how néedfull afflictions were for Christians and that it was beyond the power of Satan or men to hurt or wrong them unlesse the Lord of his good pleasure gave them leave What néed have we then said he to dread their authority which at the most can but prevaile over our bodies Then he went to prayer againe preparing himselfe and his whole family rather to endure all sorts of torments yea death it selfe than to speake or doe ought that might tend to the dishonour of God Having finished his prayer word was brought him that Senecay the Provost Marihall with many archers were at the doore of his lodging commanding the same to be opened in the Kings name saying that he came to secure the person of the Lord de la Place and to preserve his house from being pillaged by the common sort The Lord de la Place having intelligence of this spéech commanded the doore to be opened to him who entring in declared the great slaughter that was made upon the Huguenots every where in the city by the Kings command adding this withall in Latine that he would not suffer one to live Qui mingat ad Parietem Yet have I expresse charge from his Majesty saith he to sée that you shall sustaine no wrong but only conduct you to the Louvre because the King is desirous to be informed touching many things about the affairs of those of the Religion which he hath now in hand and therfore willed him to make himself ready to goe to his Majesty The Lord de la Place answered That he alwaies thought himselfe happy before he left this life to gaine any opportunity by which hée might render an account to his Majesty of his behaviour and actions But in regard such horrible Massacres were every where committed it was impossible for him to passe to the Louvre without the certaine danger of his person praying him to assure his Majesty of his willingnesse to come the whilest leaving in his lodging as many Archers as hee thought fitting untill the fury of theâ— people was somewhat pacified The Provost agréed to his request and left with him one of his Lieutenants called Toute Voye with some foure of his archers Not long after comes into his lodging Prestdent Charron then provost of the merchants with whom conferring a little in secret going his way he left with the foure archers which were there before foure more of the city archers The whole night following was spent in stopping up and fortifying of all passages from entring the house with logs and provision of Flint-stones damming up the windowes so as if séemed by this so exact and diligent a defence the
betwéen that evening and the next day There were slaine at that conflict twenty seven persons and among them these which follow Bettino of Azzala sonne of Pietro of age fourty five yéers Perrotta his wife being of the age of fourty Pietro their sonne being of age twelve yéeres Andreino Zopo sonne of Ianotto age fourty Iames sonne of Iohn Domenico Quadernetto age thirty Iohn Monegatti age fifty eight Michaele della Kosa age 38. Iacomena de Burieo age thirty yéeres Iean Moneta age eighty This Woman was oftentimes advised to become a Romane Catholike and to favour her age telling her that if shée would shée should have her life given her but she with great resolution replied God forbid that I who now of long time have had one foote in the grave should come to forsake my Lord Iesus who hath so long time preserved me in the knowledgè and confession of his truth and to put my trust in creatures and to receive in stead of his holy word the traditions of men Upon which words this worthy Matron was instantly slaine Now there is no doubt but in this furious persecution at Bruse and in other places there have béene murdered many good men for the foresaid cause whose names have not been mentioned in this discourse but whosoever they were they have departed with this comfort that they have not suffered as murderers or robbers or malefactors or as busie bodies in those things which belong not to them but as holy Christians who at no hand would worship Images they beleeved that the bloud of Christ hath purged them from all sinne That Christ hath offered one onely sacrifice once for sins that we ought to worship the Lord God alone and onely serve him that wee are saved by grace by the meanes of faith and that not of our selves the same being the gift of God not by workes to the intent none might boast That we ought to worship God in all places holding up cleare hands unto him that every creature of God is good and none to be rejected being used with thanksgiving that mariage is honorable in every sort and condition of persons according to the expresse words of the holy Apostolique Scripture and by reason of this very confession were the inhabitants of Tyrano Teglio Sondro Malenco Berbenno Trahono Morâ—emâ—o Dabino Caspano and Bruso so cruelly persecuted and massacred There was of late time a booke printed in Italy how the pretestants of the abovesaid places should practise to execute upon the Catholiques about the 15. day of August the like which since hath befalne themselves but how divellish a slander and calumny this is may cleerâ—ly be gathered by this that where the protestants of those places are ten the popish Catholiques are a thousand Who then would beleeve that so smal a number should be able to make resistance against so great a multitude and especially against those desperate rebels and outlawd villaines who for their murders formerly committed for their corruptions of the commissaries and transgressions of the commandement of the Magistrate had before beene banished out of the Country being also suspected of sodomy of falsification of money and like ravening wolves being throughly armed entred like a most furious torrent on the sodaine slaughtering the poore naked protestants who suspected no such wrong even in those Churches which before had béen priviledged even among the Barbarous Pagans to the intent that they might put in execution that bloody designe which had béen resolved on about 17. yéeres before according to a Letter intercepted of a principall rebell in this action who is neither afraid nor a shamed to terme the same a holy resolution and an honourable enterprise which it is indéed if to spoile to rob to strangle to massacre to burn to hew in péeces children and women to cast them into fire and water to falsifieÌ„ faith ought to be accounted an attempt of holinesse if it ought to be estéemed a thing honorable and pleasing to God not to suffer the bodies of the dead being buried in the earth and in the Church to rest quietly but to take them up againe and being taken up to handle them in most barbarous manner as very lately had béen done in the Countries of Caspano and Trahone and in other places where the bodies digged out of the ground which before were entire and whole were throwne into rivers and water to be meat for the fishes and having bruised and ground their bones to powder most barbarously to cast them into the fire But here if ever the old tale of Aesop is verified where the poore silly shéepe was accused to have troubled the water of a malitious wolfe although the said shéep dranke below at the foot of the river Therefore it appeareth most clearely every way that the aforesaid persons underwent those sufferings for no other cause but only for the truth of the Gospell even as by the eternall decrée of God the holy Prophets Saint Io Battista the holy Apostles yea even our Lord and head Iesus Christ himselfe and after him those many millions of the elected martyrs in all ages have done before and especially in these miserable last times in Germany France England Scotland Low-countries Bohemia Italie Spaine Portugall c. Which martyrdome they endured willingly rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer blame for the name of Christ Iesus remembring the promise of this our Lord Blessed are they who Mat. 5. 10. are persecuted for righteousnesse sake because the Kingdome of heaven is theirs Blessed are you when others shall revile and persecute you and shall falsely speake all evill of you for my sake Rejoice and triumph for your reward is great in heaven for so have they persecuted the Prophets who were before you Reade to this purpose 1 Pet. 4. Verses 12 13 14 15 16. which words of all good Christians are to bee well pondered and weighed For first by such triall we perish not Secondly we are thereby made conformable to Christ our head Thirdly such sufferings cause unto us greater joy than sorrow Fourthly they are infallible markes that the spirit of God rests upon us Fifthly they manifest to all our unfained love to Christ and his Gospell Sixthly hereby wée have good proofe that the Lord doth correct us not as a severe Iudge but as a most loving and tender hearted Father to whom therefore with his blessed Son and holy Spirit be all glory and honour ascribed in all the Churches of the Saints world without end Amen ⧠SIGNES AND PRODIGIES WHICH HAPPENED BEFORE THE MASSAGRE IN THE VALTOLINE THe Protestants having appointed Gards and Sentinels in the stéeples of the Churches of the Valtoline besides others which were commanded to watch in certaine places to give the signe by fire to the intent that the whole Valley being warned partly by the Becons partly by the sound of the bells might together be ready on the suddaine to take armes for their defence against the Spaniard if he should make any incursion upon the Valley about the Calends of May 1620. in Sondres the foresaid Sentinels reported that in a night as they watched they heard in the Church of Gervase a murmuring as it were of many persons with great earnestnesse and vehemency of arguing and contesting among themselves and from the Church there shined upwards through the stéeple a great brightnesse in so much as the Sentinels lighted their torches and assembled themselves to goe downe into the Church to sée what the matter might be But as they were descending downe the staires their lights were put out and returning afresh to light their torches they were put out againe with greater strength and with much astonishment and trembling and the brightnesse which filled the Church suddenly vanished the weights also of the great Clocke fell downe and they heard about ten knells of a Bell in such manner as it useth to ring to give the alarme the which was heard by very many Likewise in Tyrane there were heard the like knells by the great Bell and the Magistratâ— commanded them suddenly to goe and know the cause but he found that it was not done by the act of men and instantly the servants running from the Belfrey and diligently attending to sée this businesse they discerned a thing like a Cat to descend downe into the place Signes and prodigies heard and séene in the Valtoline after the massacre as hath béen affirmed by divers persons of credit being departed from the said Valley and lying in the Valtolinâ— after the massacré In the Evangelike Protestant Church and principally from Teglio and Tyrane a voice hath béen heard to cry woe woe to you The vengeance of God is upon you for the blood of the innocent Moreover there was heard the Bell of the Evangelike Church of Tyrane to ring even at the same time that the sermon was used to be and in that Church a voice was heard like the voice of Senior Anthonio Basse who sometimes had béen there a Minister and was murdered in the said place as if himselfe had béen preaching in the same place In Londres there was séen to descend an army from the Mountains every way furnished which sight was the cause that many tooke their flight and departed out of Sondres but suddenly this apparition vanished like a cloud The which struck a great terror into the mindes of the people insomuch as many departed out of the Valley as men that feared a castigation and punishment from heaven FINIS
to age her desire was that she might be joyned in marriage to some Prince of the same religion by the counsell and advice of the Cardinall of Bourbon and Gasper Count of Colligny Admirall of France whom she made Executors and overséers of her said Testament But here it may not be omitted briefly to relate another conference which she had with a Minister of the Gospell before her departure The eighth of Iune which was the day before her death she caused a Minister of the Gospel to be called for and finding that she was drawing nigher unto her end than before she willed him to speake somewhat largely of such temptations as Satan is wont to assaile Gods elect withall in their last conflict To which the Minister answered that then was the houre indéed wherein that sworne enemy of all the faithfull did most busily bestir himselfe if he could to deprive them of the comfort of their salvation not sparing at that time especially to set upon them with might and maine but yet even then the Lord is not nor will be wanting to his filling their hearts with such joy and comfort of the holy Ghost as shall make them through the same more than conquerours The first engine then which satan useth against the Saints to cause them to despaire is to present before their eyes the innumerable heapes of their sins and pollutions wherewith they have any way béen defiled in their whole life and then presents unto them Gods justice before which no flesh can be able to subsist unlesse it be pure and spotlesse whence he infers that miserable sinners can expect and looke for nothing but an horrible desolation and condemnation But against these assaults in the first place must be opposed as David doth in the one and fiftieth Psalme the infinite multitudes of Gods compassions which doe infinitely surpasse the multitudes of our sins And as touching the justice of God we confesse that no creature that is defiled with sin can in any sort abide to be strictly examined by it if he shall call the same to a severe account but we also know that God will never enter into judgement with those that beléeve in his son but allowes unto them that righteousnesse and obedience which was accomplished in him which is only sufficient for us being imputed unto us to oppose against the judgement of God therefore in it alone they expect to stand before his face and not by their owne dignity or worthinesse Indéed if they were to appeare before the throne of Iustice to receive thence what they have deserved they had good reason to be overwhelmed in utter despaire as off as they thinke upon or looke on the same but turning their eyes upon him who being the eternall Son of God hath clothed himself with our humane nature to beare in the same the punishment due to our sins and therein acquitted us then Gods justice doth no way affright us but rather yéelds us assured comfort because they make this their full resolution that forasmuch as God is just he cannot require the same debt twice Having therefore received full and perfect satisfaction of him whom he hath ordained to be our surety and paid our debts for us thence we gather assurance that he wil no more require them of us To which purpose these sentences are to be well observed It is Christ who hath borne our griefes and carried our sorrows That the chastisement Isa 53 4. 5. of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed That we all like shéep have gone astray and have turned every one to his owne way and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all Christ is our peace and the propitiation for our sins The Lambe of God which taketh Eph. 2. 14. 1 Iohn 2. 2. Iohn 1. 29. away the sins of the world These with many the like sentences the Minister propounded by way of answer to this vertuous Ladies demand concluding the same thus that Gods justice ought not to terrifie those that beleeve in Christ of whose 1 Cor. 1. 30. righteousnes and redemption they are partakers knowing that Iesus Christ who knew no sinne was made sin that is to say an oblation for sin 2 Cor. 5. 21. for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him I grant saith he that these things belong not to all indifferently but only to such as beléeving in the Son of God doe wholly rest themselves satisfied in the merit of his death and passion which Acts 4 12 merit of his as Saint Peter witnesseth sufficeth for their salvation After these matters premised he asked her whether she placed whole confidence on Christ crucified who dyed for her sins and rose againe for Rom. 4. 25. her justification To which the noble Princesse answered that she neither expected salvation righteousnesse nor life from any else then from her only Saviour Iesus Christ being assured that his only merit abundantly sufficed for the full satisfaction of all her sins albeit they were innumerable This being your Faith Madam said the Minister you cannot come into condemnation but Iohn 5. 24. are passed from death to life Then taking an occasion again to resume her former spéech that she had no cause to be afraid of Gods Throne of Heb. 4 16. Iustice séeing it was turned into a Throne of Grace and Mercy unto her and that the houre of death should now be excéedingly welcome to her séeing it could be nothing else but a swéet passage into a far better life as also the time in which all Phil 1. 23. Rev. 21. 4. feares should be wiped away from her eyes He likewise shewed that she should doe well continually to be thinking on that excellent sentence Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord because Rev. 14. 13. from thenceforth they rest from their labours and their workes follow them For then said he the time approacheth wherein she should enjoy the visible presence and society of her husband Christ and have fellowship with the blessed Angels and celestiall spirits with the holy Patriarkes Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Anno 1572. of the Son of God to partake with them of the same felicity and glory The Minister minding yet further to sound her whether she were loth to leave this life used these words And now good Madam said he if it should please God by this your sicknesse to put an end to this wearisome pilgrimage of yours where yet you remaine with us and to call you home to himselfe whereof he gives us to sée some evident signes and tokens are you willing I beséech you to goe unto him To which this excellent Princesse with great magnanunity and courage without any astonishment replyed Yes I assure you Then he once againe added good Madam open the eyes of your Faith and behold Iesus your great Redéemer sitting at the right hand of his Father reaching
out his hand to receive you unto him Are you are you willing to goe unto him Yes I assure you saith she most willing and much more willing than to linger here below in this world where I see nothing but vanity The minister not willing to continue longer in this kinde of discourse asked if she were pleased that they should goe to prayer declaring that godly personages there present would willingly joyne their desires with hers To which she consenting the said Minister prayed by her a good space whilest this pious Lady manifested her ardent affection to call upon God When prayer was ended the Minister discerning in her the undoubted testimonies of her repentance and of the sorrow she conceived for the offences which she had committed against God together with the assured confidence which shée had in his mercies as a Minister of the Gospell amd Embassadour of the Son of God by the authority dispensed to him having committed to him the word of reconciliation he assured her in his name that all her sins were forgiven her of 1 Cor. 5. God and that they should never come into account before his judgement Seat yea that she should no more dount thereof then if the Sonne of God from heaven should say unto her Daughter thy sins are forgiven thee And to the end that troubled consciences might the better be quieted Christ hath used these words speaking to his Ministers saying Whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted Mat. 16. 14. and whose sins ye unloose they are unloosed The reason is because the word which they pronounce is not the word of a mortall man but of the immortall God being of no lesse weight than if himselfe uttered the same Then he asked of her Majesty if he accepted of so gracious a Message which assured her of the frée pardon of all her sins Yea I doe saith shee and make no doubt thereof Not long after these exhortations the Admirall comming in and with him another Minister shée also gave care to him for a good space together whose discourse tended to prepare her for death as he had done who had spoken to her immediatly before who having finished his spéech prayed also with her and for her which she heard with great attention and affection Then she requested that these two ministers might stay with her all night in her Chamber and that they would in no wise leave her The greater part of this night was spent in holy admonitions which these two ministers gave to this gracious Lady and Princesse one after another Besides these admonitions she commanding that some Chapters of the holy Scripture which were pertinent for her condition should be read unto her one of the Ministers read in her hearing certaine Chapters out of the Gospell of Saint Iohn namely from the fouretéenth to the seventéenth After he had read to her these Chapters he went to prayer which being ended the Quéene desired to take some rest but it was not long ere she commanded them to reade again whereupon the other Minister having made choise of certaine Psalmes of David full of ardent and affectionate prayers suiting to this Princesses present affliction he read them unto her and for a conclusion read the one and thirtieth Psalme Psal 31. 5. where the Prophet among other things doth there commend his spirit into the hands of God because saith he thou hast redéemed me O Lord God of truth The Quéene willed them to pray with her again and thus as I have said was the most part of the night spent in such vertuous exercises namely in exhortation in reading the holy Scripture and in prayer during all which time the ministers never discerned in any of her spéeches or behaviour the least impatiency Nay whereas some dayes before she fell sick she shewed how affectionately she was bent to provide things most magnificent for the day of her Sons marriage according as the State of so great an alliance required it was admirable to observe that after thâ—s sicknesse had seized upon her God wrought in her such aforgetfulnesse and neglect of all such matters that she never made shew of having so much as a thought thereof This night being thus passed and spent by this noble Queene she persevering in the expressions of like pious actions and ardency of Faith the next day in the morning betwéen eight and nine of the clocke she departed this life to take possession of a far better life swéetly yéelding up her spirit into the hands of God the ninth of Iune 1572. the sixth day after she fell sick in the 44. yeare of her age She had her perfect spéech alwaies even to the houre of her death shewing not only the stayednesse and soundnesse of her judgement which ever in times past she had in her care about the salvation of her soule but in her other worldly affaires also Now to avoide all jealousies and suspitions of her being wronged by poyson or otherwise in this matter of her so sudden sickenesse her body was opened by sundry expert and learned Doctors of Physick and Chirurgery with all exquisite diligence who found her heart and liver very sound and untouched her lungs only excepted which long before on the right side had béen very ill affected by reason of an extraordinary hardnesse which they had contracted and withall a great imposthume which so far as man could judge they concluded was the cause of her death But they had no command given them to open the braine and therefore finding somewhat out of frame in her body they delivered their opinions only concerning the same Thus you have with as much brevity as I could and as the merit of the thing required the true report of the manner of this vertuous Princesses sicknesse and death thus ar related unto you only my request is saith my Author that if any have a more perfect and particular knowledge of the excellent parts wherewith the Lord had adorned and beautified her they would not suffer the same to be buried in silence but to cause it to sée the light that on the one side it may serve as an example to posterity and on the other side that we may learne to blesse God for her piety and constancy ¶ An Introduction first into that which Anno 1572. leads to the death of the Admirall of France Then to the massacre at paris and so in some other Cities And first what moved the Admirall to come to Paris AFter the death of the Quéene certaine Princes were sollicited by the King to give their attendance at Paris for the folemnising the mariage of the Prince of Navarre now made king by the death of his mother according to the ceremonies which were thereto appertaining Among the rest letters were directed to the Admirall by the King himselfe to come to this marriage which were delivered unto him by Cavagues wherein the King assured him be would not tarry long after him Willing