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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

same reasons that he did and all to one effect that is to say to make waste in the Church of Christ by cutting downe the branches thereof making but a iest of the lawes of true Religion As there was once an Inquisitour and one of the chiefest of them whom it shall not be greatly amisse to touch by name because if his friends hap to reade this they may acknowledge it to be true that I will report of him His name was Iohn Gonsalue borne at Siuil and Bishop of Tarracon It was his common saying which I beleeue other of his fellowes learned of him speaking of such as were brought before him for the profession of Christ that it was a wonderfull thing to consider how firmely these heretikes haue ingrauen in the tables of their hearts this commandement Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe which will neuer be brought to confesse of their fellowes till they be almost torne in peeces with torments and yet can ye not get it out of some of them by these meanes neither such notable testimonies hath true religion oftentimes euen of those that are her deadly enemies For the law of God concerning both the Tables is perfectly written and sealed in the hearts of true Christians and the print of this seale of Gods law is not elsewhere to be found but in these onely But all the Lawes of the flesh are signed with this marke To day mine owne man and yours to morrow And surely me thinketh a Christian Bishop ought to haue beene very much ashamed to bee so blind and ignorant therein and not alone so to be but thereunto to adde such blasphemy besides The selfe-same Bishop seeing we haue begun to talke of him was sent from the Kings Court to Siuil to be one of the Commissioners in the Inquisition there about two or three yeares before at what time so great a multitude of the faithfull were first espyed of the which euen till this day at certaine times appointed there be diuers sent to the fire For all his Predecessours were not worth a strawe in comparison of him neither halfe so stout as he nor so cunning in bringing their matters about as was this one man but specially such as concerned the holy Inquisition For vntill this time there was neuer an able man that was thought so prouident as to preuent so great a mischiefe before it hapned or otherwise able to vphold the Church of Rome drooping as it were by meanes thereof and in danger of ruine But for any other good qualities that were in him to commend him to this Office or sufficiency to discharge it I report me to himselfe I report mee to them that chose him to this roome yeal report me to all that euer knew him if there were any thing in him at all that might preferre him specially and aboue his fellowes either apparance of learning or skill in Diuinity or knowledge in the ecclesiastical Histories or any great reading of the anciēt Fathers or the late Writers whose authority the Church hath worthily in great estimation or if hee were greatly seene in matters of faith whereof they tearme themselues the Inquisitors and Iudges as it were both of oyer and terminer in these cases to be short if there were any knowne and approoued godlinesse of life and conuersation in this man wherein the whole packe of them flatter themselues so much that they arrogate vnto themselues a very gay and glorious title thereby but rather because he was more cruell and vnnaturall and somewhat more slie in the deuices and practices of the Inquisition than the rest were In respect whereof he obtained both a discharge from his seruice and a fat Bishopricke besides in recompence of his trauailes and partly in consideration that he was an old forworne soldiour and hauing now good leasure like a wicked impe of Rome returned to his old occupation againe At the self-same time whiles he remained in commission at Siuil so many were apprehended for professing the Gospel that he was driuen to bestow some of them in his owne lodging because all the prisons in the towne were not able to receiue them the number was so great Yet his Reuerend Lordship wanted neyther time nor leasure to take his pleasure abroad and to row vpon the riuer in Barges titled with purple and silke with such preparation as had better beseem'd one of Sardanapalus schollers than any sober man or Christian Bishop accompanied with Musicians but not with the Muses hauing a very great traine after him besides and so passing to his garden adioyning thereunto all the whole people gazing vpon him and running in heapes and throngs to see this sight In very deed these triumphs iollities were not greatly out of the way for him and his mates to delight in their matters being in such plight as they were and the Church of God whereunto he was a professed enemy so full of troubles vexations and afflictions But to returne to their practices againe Whensoeuer these good gentlemen are desirous to learne out a certaintie of such as liue altogether in one prison whom they suspect to haue some conference in matters touching saluation either by way of exhortation or by comforting confirming one another in the faith being in so great misery as they are they send in a Flie among them as the prisoners vse to tearme him whom the Inquisitors cast in prison craftily and for a colour to mark euery mans talke who after two or three dayes that hee hath once crept into their acquaintance will begin afarre off to offer some talke in matters of Religion making as though he would be glad either to teach others or to learn himselfe and by these subtill deuices many of the simple sort are soone beguiled Wherfore let euery man take heed after this faire warning that he bee not ouerlight of credite in trusting strangers too far I meane such as are put in prison with them hauing no manner of acquaintance with them before And to the intent that they may know such a Flie the better I will giue them one sure token to wit he will commonly be the first that will offer talke and pretend a zeale towards true Religion both beside time and without occasion and then shall they doe well to let him preach alone till his chaps ake giuing him neuer a word For if he chance to get any thing out of any of his fellowes that he longed for so soone as the Iayler commeth to visite his prisoners at his accustomable houres hee is straight-way in hand with him to craue a day of hearing for him as the manner is that sometimes the prisoners will sue for But so soone as he is out I warrant them the rest that tarry behind shall shortly after feele the fruites of his fellowship little to their liking A maruailous matter doubtless that men should be so diuellishly bent to be content for a small gaine of a little money to

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.

to haue killed the fatlings but to cherish the weakelings to binde the broken to seeke the stra●-sheep and bring them home to the folde like good and carefull shepheards without vsing such force and violence or cla 〈…〉 ing any iurisdiction or superioritie ouer them to whom they should rather submit themselues and become seruants considering that they are the folde of Christ But as for seeking they sought indeed and daily doe inquiring with great diligence after the wandring sheepe panting and fainting but it is to slay them not to sa●e them But to proceed As the D 〈…〉 ane were the first authors therof so for the authoritie and estimation that they were in with Princes they obtained the execution of this tyrannie vnder the pre●ence of teaching the true christian faith whereof they had of long time bin accounted the patrons But afterwards by meanes of their vnsatiable couetousnesse and ambition for the whech two vices they are already discredited among the common people as also for their crueltie and tyrannie which they practised being exalted to that high estate and dignitie they became so intolerable that the Princes themselues who lately before had aduanced them to those estates were enforced to displace them pretending diuers reasonable causes and allegations and so committed it vnto the Clergie Whereof the ancient Churches of the Dominicans hung round about with ancients and ensignes of victorie ouer such as they conquered during the time that they were in authoritie is proofe sufficient Ne from her heart the causes old of wrath and sore disdaine Was slaked yet but in her brest high spight did still remaine How Paris Venus beautie praised and hers esteem'd at nought She abhors the stock of Ganimede who loue to heauen had raught Howbeit they retaine till this day the title and name of Inquisitours still with tooth and naile and will one day no doubt haue a cast at the office againe and claime their right So that we may thanke these wicked counsellors and none other for the Inquisition at this day most diuellishly peruerting the godly purposes of Princes which tended to the weale of the Church and conuerting them wholly to the aduancement of their owne commoditie and estimation Or else whereto I beseech you appertained it that they which would be accounted diligent and faithfull sowers of the seede of christianitie and the zealous furtherers of the same should erect a new kind of Consistory so rare and strange to the whole world which is not set vp to informe the ignorant or to conuince the obstinate and bring them to the knowledge of true religion either by perswasion of learning or by charitable dealing the only meanes that Christ would haue his ministers to work by but to compell them by force and might by rigour and extremitie by commissions and authoritie by Racks Torments Chaines Halters Barnacles Sambenites by Fire and by Fagots which holy Consistorie of theirs is not assisted with men of godly conuersation or knowne to be learned in the mysteries of holy Scripture such as would labour painfully in the Lords vineyard and set forward his haruest but is garded with Sherifes Treasurers Notaries Sum●ers Iaylers Proctors Promoters or Familiars as they call them a foule and an insinite company And who would not iudge think ye that all these things were devised rather to lay new taxes and impositions vpon the people and to encrease the reuenues of the Eschequer than for the furtherance of religion As for the purpose if a man would chuse out a cunning huntsman with all his furniture hauing his art●●lery about him his 〈…〉 tres grinnes heyes dogges c. and send him thus arayed to preach the Gospel and publish Christ's religion what man I pray you that were well advised and should behold such a man hauing his hands daily imbrued with the change of preyes and spoiles would not account him a better hunter than a preacher For doubtlesse the commission an dauthoritie of preaching was giuen to good and godly Bishops and pastours if any such there were both by the lawes of God and constitutions of man that they should teach and instruct as well the young nouices as the elder schollers to tread the path of true godlinesse But these men being so blind or so carelesse or both that either they couldnot or wouldnot see to their office and duetie in this behalfe there was neuer a man of them all either Bishop or Diuine but he thought that a great part of his dutie touching his function was abbridged dispensed withall by meanes of erecting the court of Inquisition all good and godly laws concerning christianitie are so cleane raced out of the tables of their hearts And this Inquisition being erected in this wise at the first and ratisied afterwards by the greatest authoritie in the wor●d that is to say the Kings and the Popes though it had the opinion of holinesse to countenance it so that it should seeme to deserue the approbation of most men yet was it neuer generally receuied o● all For at what time king Ferdinando went about to establish it in Arragon which was his owne inheritance descended from his father the Nobles of the realme did first make humble supplication that it might not be established Afterwards being by violence forced vpon them they did also with force and violence withstand it alledging that it tended rather to the impeachment of the libertie of their countrie then to the reformation of religion In so much that it was not received if a man may say it were receiued at all that was forced vpon them against their wils till the settling of it had cost many a mans life And besides the hatred which the Nobles and Commons of that Realme beare against this their holy Inquisition at this day it d●th well appeare by the death of Seignor Aepila who being sent thither by the King with large commissions to execute the same was slaine of the Noble men at Sarragoss● in the Cathedrall Church The which caused many of the foolish superstitious people to worship him euen as a Saint For it is very certainely reported that the bloud issuing out of his body being newly slaine sprang out in such aboundance that it spirted to the Altar By the which miracle say they God declared both the innocencie of the person and the goodnesse of the quarrell wherein was slaine Notwithstanding all this and that diuers other miracles are sundry times seene vpon his tombe to confirme the same opinion and fa●sie of the common people such is the folly of men and the power of the diuell as Paul saith to deceiue men which haue re 〈…〉 ed the loue and zeale of the truth he could neuer yet 〈◊〉 to be canonized a Saint and called Saint Aepila forasmuch as enterprising a iust quarrell he was not only found to haue a s●●rt of male on at the time of his death which thing notwithstanding they say he might wellenough haue enioyed

good Lord if any other had beene so saucie but an Inquisitor specially if he had had any Iewes blood in him how would they haue handled him trow you Indeed Molonio was put out of office but he tarried not many dayes ere he was sent to be Inquisitour at Siuil for they might not lose so stout a souldier of the Inquisition for a trifle What should we here talke of the Popes authoritie they extoll and abase him they adore him and contemn him they reuenge his wrong and doe him wrong euen as hee serueth or hindreth their holy office Wee purpose not to prosecute these matters any further meaning only to touch them in way of Preface to declare by what beginnings and occasions the Inquisition is growne what antiquitie and holinesse it carryeth and what profite it hath brought to the world vnder the title of reforming religion These things being as we haue declared them so true in deed and such in qualitie as no honest man can either plainely denie them or justly excuse them no man ought to maruell if the people which haue otherwise hitherto beene most dutifully obedient to their Magistrates to driue so horrible a pestilence from their countrie haue be taken themselues to their weapons and defence of armes as hauing none other more reasonable meanes to helpe themselues They protest that they seeke not to auoide the reformation of religion which they heartily wish for so that it be such a one as is worthy of so good a name and bee directed by the prescript word of God which ought to be the onely rule of religion to all that loue true religion And in that behalfe what can they hope for of the Inquisition besides that it hath already yeelded They protest further that they owe to their lawfull gouernours and that by the expresse word of God obedience honour and tribute the which they are most ready to performe with their accustomed chearefulnesse and hearty good will Only they humbly pray and beseech that it may be taken of them without the dishonour of God and the most miserable capti●itie and thraldome of their consciences the which ought to bee more recommended and deare to good and godly men then their very liues They protest besides that they will not any manner of wayes shake off the yoake of just obedience to their Magistrates but they complaine and that not without great cause that besides the easie and gentle yoke which they haue hitherto borne with that meekenesse of heart that became them they are scourged with the Iron whips of the Inquisition which seeketh nothing but the slaughter of innocent Citizens and the confiscation and spoile of their goods They might haue in times past with some colour blamed the men of Arragon which receiued not the Inquisition without tumult and bloudshed for it was then couered with that goodly and fresh name and shew of holinesse neither as yet had it raged against all indifferently but only against the Iewes and Moores and that also for very plausible and apparant causes But now since it hath not ceased to bring forth such fruites as wee haue rehearsed for these threescore and fifteene yeares I thinke they shall not seeme to be madde that seeke by all meanes to them possible to driue it from their borders Nay they might rather be truly judged to bee madde men if in stead of their faithfull fathers and good shepheards and preachers of true religion they would wittingly and willingly receiue into their houses the very enemies and most cruell destroyers of all faith and religion And if there be any that know them not to bee such as wee terme them let them read but part of their sleights and manner of proceedings discouered in this booke for wee could not learne them all and let them well waigh and consider them and then judge A DISCOVERY AND plaine declaration of sundry policies practised in the Spanish Inquisition CHAP. I. The ordinary manner and forme commonly vsed as well in cyting as apprehending such persons aS are accused WHensoeuer any denunciation as they terme it or rather information is giuen against any person be it onely for matters of no great importance as nothing commeth into this court so small or simple but the parties accused are very greatly endamaged thereby the Inquisitors accustomably vse this kind of practice First they suborne some one out of a number such as have learned their lessons for the nonce commonly called Familiars who of purpose shall cast himselfe to meet one and being prouided afore hand what to say shall greet him on this wise Sir yesterday it was my chance to bee with my Lords the Inquisitors and as they happened to have speech of you they said they had to talke with you about certain of their affaires and therfore gaue me in charge to summon you to appeare before them to morrow at such an hour Now the party may not being once warned either refuse or differre to come but at his very great perill Whereupon the next day hee repaireth to the place where the Commissioners sit and requireth the porter to signifie vnto the Lords that he is come Whereof as soon as they haue intelligence all three if they be present or at least two of them meet in a Counsell chamber where the Court is commonly kept as at Siuil in the castle Triana and such like places else where in other Cities abroad and calling the party in before them they demand of him what his sute is Who answereth that yesterday he was warned vnder their precept to come and speake with them Then inquire they his name and that knowne what he would for as for vs say they we wot not whether you be the same man that we commanded to be here with vs yea or no. Marry now sithens you are come if you have any thing to enforme vs of in this holy Court either of your selfe or of any other in discharge of your conscience man let vs hear it Wherunto the party either answereth that he hath no such matters to enforme them of as indeed to stand vpon that point to the end with them who seeke nothing els but his vndoing and such as he shall appeach is the wisest safest way that may be taken or els of meere simplicity not knowing how he entangleth himselfe rashly vnaduisedly vttereth some thing of himselfe or of some other Then my Lords the Inquisitors glad that they haue caught him to the intent the more easily to fear and amase him that thus foolishly hath made himselfe so fit a morsell for them to prey vpon cast lookes one at another and reioycing as though they had smelled the rat all at once fix their eyes vpon him and behold him earnestly and whispering together a little while Iwot not whether they say ought or nought at the last either award the party to prison if the matter that he discloseth of himselfe seem any thing waighty or if

were a faire conditioned man very well learned and better seene in his faculty then a great sort of practifers bee yet would hee not graunt vnto him his good will for hauing his daughter to wife till hee were for a while become scholler to Doctor Aegidio and learned of him some godly and vertuous instructions A very hard condition surely for a learned man and one that thought himselfe sufficiently cathechised to submit himselfe to another mans instruction but specially to D. Aegidio that was commonly suspected in religion at that time Howbeit at the length he condescended thereunto whether for vertues sake as desirous of better instruction or for his wiues I knowe not But howsoeuer it were or in what respect so euer hee did it at the first he applied it so earnestly that notwithstanding he lost his maister ere he could well haue spared him yet after his maisters death he declared how much he had profited vnder him in so much that aswell for his singular learning and skill in Scripture as for his vertuous and godly conuersation he was thought the happiest and worthiest person to bee Superintendent ouer the whole congregation which was great in number though here and there dispersed in corners As indeede he tooke it vpon him and did very wel discharge the office of a preacher among them so far as hee might in such aduersity Afterwards by meanes of those bookes of Iuliano paruo hee was apprehended by the Inquisitours being a thing almost impossible that such a faithfull pastour should hide himselfe when his flocke was dispersed before whom hee made a plaine protestation of his faith for the which hee endured first hard and sharp imprisonment with most cruell torments and the open infamie of their solemne shew and lastly was committed to the fire Where he standing at the stake disputed very notably of true religion against those importunate hypocrites who vpon a false perswasion that they had to conuert him gaue him the liberty of his tongue to the intent he might haue answered their expectation And whereas they of policy fell out of their Spanish into Latine because the common people should not vnderstand them Losada also not greatly marking their meaning herein began to talk in Latin so copiously and eloquently that it was a strange thing to heare a man almost dead to this world to haue his wits so fresh and his tongue so ready as euer they were at any time in all his life Christophoro Arelliano CHristophoro Arelliano a Monke of the cloyster of Saint Isidore in Siuill was by the confession of the Inquisitours themselues simply the best learned of all that came before them and was betraied by his owne friends such I meane as had receiued a great deale more commoditie and honour by him then euer they had done by any yet by their meanes was brought within the Inquisition The cause why he was so highly esteemed accompted of for learning was because of his great reading and study in the schoole-doctours as they tearme them That is to say Aquinas Scotus Lombardus and such like that whatsoeuer had escaped them in all their workes making for the maintenance of the truth with a very good iudgement and a passing memorie next after the scriptures and the sounder sort of the fathers and doctours of the Church hee did both readily vouch and applied them to his purpose very directly and so brought to passe that all his aduersaries with whom the authoritie of such trifling writers weigh more then the holy Scriptures of God were confounded with their owne doctours Notwithstanding all this hee was condemned to the fire For with these maine tyrants fire and fagots is aboue learning and truth and able to controll ouerrule them both But ere he came so far he was first brought solemnly set vpon the scaffold to haue sentence pronounced vpon him where there was a shamefull matter most impudently laied to his charge That hee should affirm that the blessed and pure virgin Mary the mother of Christ was no more a maid then hee himselfe was A seemly speach for these good Fathers to publish and proclaime in such an open audience if it had beene so that any were so beastly or so wicked to say it Yet such meanes they vse to bring them into hatred among the common people whom they know many men to haue good opinion and estimation of for their singular and approued vertue Howbeit when Arelliano heard that horrible blasphemie hauing the vse of his tongue as GOD would haue it he cried out in the hearing of all the people that it was a most impudent and slanderous lie saying that as well at this present as also at all other times heretofore hee did euer firmely hold and beleeue the contrary being thereunto perswaded by diuers and sundry places of Scripture which hee could presently alledge if neede were Also for a further vexation there stoode of purpose one of the Monkes of the same house that had beene his greatest enemy laughing and reioycing at his misery thinking it belike not sufficient to cause so godly a man so excellently well learned and a very innocent besides to be brought into so pitifull a case but to amend the matter withall seemed to triumph ouer him in this extremity The suddaine sight whereof did somewhat moue this good man howbeit like a good christian hee put it vp quietly and pacified himselfe giuing a good example of patience to all that beheld it Finally standing at the very stake he comforted and encouraged a certaine monke of the same house called Iohn Chrysostome that sometime had beene his scholler and now become his fellow and so partaker aswell of his death as his doctrine But forasmuch as I certainly know not the very true cause why this Monke was executed I haue therfore not annexed him here vnto the rest Yet thus much I can truely say of him A preacher he was both reasonably well learned and of good conuersation and liuing for any thing that euer was obiected to the contrary And therefore those hogs that minded nothing but their bellies did not greatly like of him Garsias Arias commonly called Seignior Blanco THe wonderfull prouidence of God toward his elect which contrary to common course doth mightily saue defend many that deepely were drowned and lay a long season soused in superstition and blindnesse fansying it of will and withstanding the known truth against their owne conscences which sin the holy Scriptures call the sin against the holy Ghost declaring vnto vs that the prayers of the congregation shall not auaile such persons as are spotted therewith this prouidence I say did most maruellously appear by this one mans example to be of such force that the deeper that men are drowned in desperation the higher it afterwards aduanceth them in honour This Arias whom they commonly called Seignior Blanco because of his white haires and faire skin had a very sharp wit and for his time was

slept and sought for no such things but also all other sorts of books that were extant at that time either in Geneua or any part of Germany so that hauing such store both of bookes and maisters to instruct them they began to nosell their whole couent insomuch that where at the first there were onely two that durst giue the attempt in so dangerous an enterprise there were very few in the whole cloyster which at that time was very well furnished but they had some taste of true religion godlinesse thereby and none repined against it Their time that erst was spent in mumbling their mattens and prime was now bestowed vpon lectures of diuinity their dirges eyther cut off altogether or curtalled very short their charters of pardons granted by Popes in ancient time whereunto all that crue leaned before was now accounted for stale stuffe As for images they had a small deale of worship done vnto them or none at all Vaine fasting was turned into seemely sobrietie neyther was anie taught to bee monkish but to bee sincerely and truly religious nor anie mention made of proceeding in their former fashions but much talke rather in derision thereof and to haue them abolished Neyther did they put this light vnder a bushell imprisoning it within their owne walles but sent it abroad into the Citie and the townes and villages adioining as well by publishing of bookes as by other priuate conference Then all things being brought to so good passe that nothing was left in vse saue onely their stout Idoll of their masse and their monkish profession that rested in their coule and their crowne which could neyther with good conscience bee longer suffred nor attempted without present perill and yet no great good like to ensue thereof they beganne to deuise first and afterwards determined with themselues to forsake their neast and to flye into Germaine where they might liue with a great deale more safetie of their liues and freedome of their consciences A very bold enterprise doubtlesse and as some thought both rash and desperate For neither was there any great possibilitie or likelyhood that not one or two but so many at once and such as were not onely the soueraignes of the whole house and fellowship but famous ouer the whole citie for their excellent learning should forsake such a cloister as the like was not in all the territory of Granata leauing it in a maner desolate and escape in safety from the furthest part of Spaine into Germanie And if they should steale away in seuerall companies and at sundry times then were they like to be in euill case that should tarry hindmost For the Inquisitors that had been quiet a great while hauing intelligence hereof by some cankred knaue or other would bestirre themselues of all hands Therefore they concluded briefly that either all which were priuie to this counsell must depart speedily together or else looke to be apprehended shortly after But God seeing them in this distresse shewed them a meanes how vnder an honest pretence a dozen of them might take occasion to depart within one moneth and each betake himselfe a seuerall way towards Geneua where they determined to make their aboad purposed to meet all together within one tweluemoneth as for the rest being as yet but young nonices in religion which remained behind because they did not greatly like of going away they within a while after aboad the brunt of the hurly-burly when it came For at the very same time there were three burned out of that cloister and diuers of the rest diuersly punished Insomuch that from that day till this there was neuer any examination of matters touching faith in Siuill but that house hath alwaies made out a man or two And very likely it is that the truth sowen and planted there hath taken so deep root that it sticketh to the hard stone walls so that whilest any one stone standeth vpon another it will yearely yeeld them one or two Lutherans I haue by occasion entred into this discourse somewhat largely partly in respect of Christ's Church towards the which I should scarce behaue my selfe vprightly if I should rob these men of their renowne due vnto them in regard of the ouerthrow which they haue giuen to Idolatry and superstition behauing themselues as couragiously as they aduentured dangerously preferring vertue and godlinesse before authoritie and power voluntarily refusing their present estates wherein they liued with some worship and in much pleasure and instead thereof contenting themselues to be poor and disdained banished from their owne countrey to suffer shame and ignominy finally to be euery howre in danger of their liues which they led notwithstanding in very great misery Of the which good and prosperous successe a great part next vnto God wee doe owe vnto this Arias of whom our purpose is presently to entreat forasmuch as all this great fire that hath enflamed to Gods glory not onely that house but diuers places in the citie abroad besides a number of other without the citie which we meane not to touch bred of those few sparks which this man kindled at the first who by reason of his vnconstant and fickle nature being halfe suspected of his friends and hated of strangers was diuers and sundry times complained vpon to the Inquisitors conuented before them answered the matter and so discharged At the last it came to pasle in that troublesome time wherein euery man almost was apprehended for religion that Arias also went to the pot with his fellowes indeed though hee had diuers times shifted it off before The which end was foretold him two or three yeares before by Constantino and that with a vehement affirmation on a time when Constantino bad this Arias to his house to dinner where were present at the same time Aegidio and Varquio to the intent to take him vp somewhat roundly for his halting forasmuch as gentle admonitions vsed before would nothing preuaile But in processe of talke when they were rebuking him most earnestly he start out in a brauery and said that he feared greatly lest hee should shortly see Bulles set forth in open shew prophecying somewhat plainly of the Inquisitours Theatre Whereunto Constantine made him this answer Behold Arias before God I tell it thee that thou shalt not sit mounted alost as thou supposed to see and behold othes but shalt stand below and bee condemned thy selfe As indeed it came to passe by Gods secret and diuine prouidence that notwithstanding he had been in time before a faithlesse fellow yet his last apprehension turned not to his vndoing but wrought in him effectually and contrary to hope brought forth in him the fruites of of true repentance For hee did so earnestly and deepely lament and bewaile his former estate that whereas before time he had been as fearfull as euer was Hare of Hounds or Ape of whip now being vpon the racke with a maruellous constancy which argued in him a wonderfull