to be of their opinion whereupon Conradius Bishop of Portua the Popes Legate wrote to the Arch-Bishop of Roan and his Suffragan Bishops to meet with others Bishops at a Councill to be held at Sens against the said Bartholmew who saith the Legate in his letters stiles himself servant of the servants of God and runs about Creating Bishops and endeavoring perfidiously to gather Churches Mathew Paris Anno Christi 1226. saith the same Author the Crosse was preached all over France by Romanus the Popes Legate against the Albingenses where in he commanded all that were able to beare arms to signe them selves with the signe of the Crosse against the Earl of Tholouse and his people and at his preaching a great multitude of Prelates and Lay men tooke upon them the signe of the Crosse yet more for fear of the King of France and for favour of the Legate then induced by the justness of the cause But the King of France being signed with the Crosse would not take upon him the expedition unlesse the Pope would forbid the King of England under paine of excommunication to move war against him for any land that he possessed at that present either iustly or unjustly which accordingly the Pope did and our King Henry the third upon receipt of the Popes letters assembled his Nobles to consult with them what he should do upon this inhibition at which time their was present one Mr William Perepund skilfull in Astronomy who constantly affirmed before the King That if the King of France took upon him this expedition he should either never returne alive or else should meet with as greate confusion as might be both of his person estate and followers The King of France having thus settled his affaires at home he together with the Legate appointed a Peremptory day for the Crossed-souldiers to come to a rendevous with their horses and Arms at Lyons from which at the time appointed he began his expidition with an huge Army which was accounted Invincible whom the Legate followed with Arch-Bishops Bishops c. In the Army there were reckoned to be fifty thousand Knights and men at Arms on horsback besides an innumerable company of footmen and then did the Legate publickly excommunicate the Earl of Tholouse putting all his favourers and lands under Interdict The King thus marching with his glittering Arms and terrible Army on Whitson-Eve came to Avignion the first City in Tholouse purposing to destroy the whole land of the Earl from one end to the other and utterly to root out the Inhabitants thereof yet very cunningly the King and the Legate sent to the Citizens only desiring passage through the City that they might follow their iourney the neerest way The Citizens consulting together returned answer That they suspected fraud neither would they admit them into the City where upon the King in a great rage swore that he would not depart thence till he had taken the City The Citizens valiantly defended themselves so that the sieg lasted long and the Earl of Tholouse being a skilfull warrior before the comming of the French Army had withdrawne all kind of victualls together with the women children and cattell into places of safety Hereupon the Kings Army fell into great wants so that multitudes perished by famine Their horses and beasts also were starved for the Earl had caused all the meddowes to be plowed up in the whole country so that they had no fodder but what was brought out of France And their wants daily increasing many Legions went out of the Kings Camp to seek for food and fodder but the Earl of Tholouse with a flying Army many times lay in ambush for them and cut off multitudes of them They also that lay in the siege before the City were miserably wasted by darts and stones shot in ingines from the walls by the Citizens valiantly defending themselves and a generall famine overspread all but it raged most amongst the poorer sort who had neither food nor money Also out of the dead carkasses of men and beasts their bred certaine great and blackflies which comming into there tents by swarms with an horible humming infected their meat and drink and when they were not able to drive them from their cupps and dishes many of the Pilgrims perished suddenly by their meanes But the King and Legate were especially troubled and confounded to think what reproach it would be to them and to the Church of Rome that so gallant and numerous an Army should vndertake such an expedition and be able to effect nothing Then the chiefe Princes and Captains being weary of the long siege amongst so many deaths sollicit that a generall storme might be given to the City hoping by their multitudes to oppresse the Citizens which being resolved upon such a great multitude of Armed men thronged upon the bridge that goes over the river of Rhodanus that the bridge breaking under them three thousand of them were drowned in that swift river Presently after as the French were one day at dinner the Citizens discovering there carlesness suddenly sallied forth violently setting upon them suddenly slew Twenty thousand of them with out any losse to themselves and so retired and the King of France commanded the dead bodies to be throwne into the River affording them no other buriall Then did he also remove his sieg to afarther distance and to prevent the like attempts caused a great ditch to be cast up between the City and his camp and the Legate with his Prelates not knowing how otherwise to reveng themselves Anathematized the Earl of Tholouse and all the subjects But whom they cursed the Lord blessed For shortly after he sent a very great plague into the French campe so that king Lewis to escape the same retired himself into the neighbouring Abbey of Monpensier where he resolved to remain till the City should be taken unto whom came Henry Earl of Compaigne desiring to be dismissed having now sereved his fourty daies but the King denyed his request To whom the Earl said that having performead what was injoyned he neither might nor would be staid any longer The King being very angry hereat swore that if he departed he would wast his whole land with fire and sword yet the Earl according to his former resolution went his waies and shortly after the Lord struck the King with sickness whereof he dyed The Legate and great Captaines concealed his death for a month together and in the interim sent messengers laboring to draw the Citizens to a composition and Commissioners being sent to the Camp the Legate perswaded them to resigne up their City to him upon promise that they should injoy their lives estates and liberties in a better manner then they had formerly but they answered that they would not live under the power of the Frenchmen whose pride and insolency they had often tryed After along Parlee the Legate desired that himself and the
that were in prison to execution and procured a Commission from the King to certain Judges to hasten their trial But it fell out by Gods Providence that at this time the Protestant Princes of Germany were met at a Colloquy at Wormes to whom divers learned men resorted from Geneva requesting them to send their Ambassadors to the French King in the behalf of these poor Christians thus imprisoned by whose mediation and the Kings other business who was now in war with the King of Spain many of them were delivered yet some of them were executed before the coming of the Ambassodors Amongst them were Nicholas Clivet and one Granvelle both of them elders of the Congregation who stoutly defended the truth against the Sorbone Doctors and afterwards patiently resigned up their soules to God in the cruel flames Also a young Gentlewoman of about twenty three years old which came from Gascoigne to joyn her self to the Church at Paris was brought forth with the former and endured many conflicts with the Judges and Sorbonists who when she was urged to recant said That she had learned her faith from the Word of God and therefore therein she would live and die Her neighbours testified against her that there was much singing of Psalms in her house and that sometimes they had seen abundance of people come out of it and that at the death of her husband no Priest was called for c. But presently after two of these witnesses fell out and one slew the other with a knife The Cardinal of Sens much hastened this Gentlewomans death that he might have her estate When she was condemned she had her tongue cut as the two former also were served Going to execution she dressed her self like a Bride being that day to be married to her Spouse Jesus Christ she went to the fire without ever changing countenance and so quietly yielded up her spirit to God Divers others of this Congregation suffered in the like sort the rest at the mediation of the Prince Elector Palatine and the Protestant Switzers were released In other parts of France also sundry faithful Christians were imprisoned cruelly racked had their tongues cut out and finally were burned concerning whom because I find nothing extraordinary I have forborn to mention them Anno 1559. The King of France Henry the second coming into the the Parliament in Paris there was one Anne Du Bourg a noble Counsellour a man of singular understanding and knowledge bred and nursed up in the bosome of the Church of Christ who made a bold speech before him wherein he rendred thanks to Almighty God for moving the Kings heart to be present at the decision of so weighty a cause as that of Religion was humbly intreating him to consider well thereof being the cause of Christ himself which of good right ought to be maintained by Princes c. But the King instead of hearkening to his good advice was so far incensed against him that he caused him to be apprehended by the County of Montgomery Constable of France and to be carried to prison protesting to him in these words These eyes of mine shall see thee burnt and presently after he sent a Commission to the Judges to make his processe During his imprisonment there was a godly woman who was Prisoner also in a Chamber just over against his who at her window sometimes by words other sometimes by signes did much encourage him to persevere constantly in the truth whereby he was so comforted that when some of his friends perswaded him to recant he said God forbid for a woman hath taught me my lesson how I ought to carry my self in this business He was often examined about sundry points of Religion and being once asked whether he had conferred with any one about them he answered that he had conferred with his books especially with the holy Scriptures Having drawn up a confession of his Faith he intended to present it to the Parliament but some Advocates that belonged to that Court who pretended great love to him laboured to draw him to make another confession not contrary to the truth but in such ambiguous terms as might satisfie his Judges who would not stand strictly to examine it Du Bourg long resisted but at last was prevailed with to draw up such a confession supposing it sufficient that himself knew his own meaning So soon as this his confession came into the hands of his Judges great hopes were conceived of his enlargement but when the Christian Congregation had gotten a copy of it they were much grieved whereupon they ordered Master Augustine Marlorate a learned and godly Minister to write a large discourse concerning the duty of such as were called to bear witnesse to the truth of God before Magistrates wherein he set down Gods threatnings and judgements against such as either directy or indirecty deny the truth exhorting him more highly to prize the glory of God then his own liberty the truth of his Gospel then a short and transitory life shewing that he ought not now to give over having made so happy a beginning and progresse in his Christian course That the same of his constancy was spread not only through France but all Christendom over that he had been a means to confirm many weak ones and caused others to enquire after the means of salvation that all mens eyes were fixed on him to enquire by what means he gat out of prison so that if through fear and faint-heartedness he should enterprize ought that should contradict his first Profession he would give much scandal and offence and therefore he exhorted him to give glory to God to edifie his Church telling him that then he might assure himself that God would neither leave nor forsake him These Letters brought Du Bourg to a sight of his sin for which asking pardon of God without any further delay he wrote to the Judges retracting his last and protesting to stand to his first confession so that shortly after he was condemned In the mean time great feasts were preparing in the Court for joy of the marriages that should be of the Kings daughter and sister The day whereof being come the King imployed all the morning in examining the President and other Counsellors of the Parliament against Du Bourg and other his companions that were charged with the same doctrine intending to glut his eys in seeing their execution and then went to dinner After dinner the King being one of the Defendants at the Tilting which was near the prison where Du Bourg and his fellows lay entred the lists and behaved himself valiantly breaking many spears against Count Montgomery and others whereupon he was highly commended of the Spectators and all thinking that he had done enough desired him to give over with praise But he being puffed up with their commendations would needs run another course with Montgomery who kneeling
The skilfull'st Physiognomers who Scan Each line and wrinkle in the face of man Can tell no more what Soules dwell there then wee By Seing Stars can tell what Angels be Then ask not at the door who 't is if so This Shadow cannot tell thee Read and know A Generall Martyrologie CONTAINING A COLLECTION Of all the greatest PERSECUTIONS which have befallen the CHURCH OF CHRIST From the Creation to our present Times Both in England and all other Nations Whereunto are added two and twenty LIVES OF ENGLISH Modern Divines Famous in their Generations for Learning and Piety and most of them great Sufferers in the Cause of CHRIST As also the Life of the Heroical Admiral of France slain in the Parisian Massacre and of Joane Queen of Navar poisoned a little before By Sa. Clarke Pastor in Bennet Fink London The second Edition Corrected and Enlarged having the two late Persecutions inserted the one in Piemont the other in Poland PSAL. 44.22 For thy sake are we kiâ—â—led all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter Nihil crus seâ—tit in nervo cum animus est in caelo Tertul. Printed by Tho. Ratcliffe for 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 in Saint Pauls Church-yard near the little North-door MDCLX TO THE CHRISTIAN READER Especially to the suffering Saints in these three Nations Christian Reader THou hast here presented to thy view that strange sight which so much astonished Moses Exod. 8.3 A bush burning with fire and not consumed A lively Emblem of the Church oft times all on a light flame with the fire of Persecution and yet so far from being consumed that The bloud of the Martyrs proves the seed of the Church And indeed she is the only and true Salamander that can live in the fire Yet this not by any strength of her own but because the Angel of the Covenant even the Lord Jesus Christ is in the bush either to slack the fire or to strengthen the bush and make it incombustible In this Book thou maiest see as in a Mirrour what hath been the lot and portion of the Church and people of God from the Creation hitherto viz. Through many tribulations to enter into the kingdom of heaven Here thou hast a certaine and infallible mark of the true Church of Christ viz. To be hated and persecuted by the Devil and his instruments Here thou maiest see what is the constant concommitant of the Gospel when it is received in the love and power of it viz. Persecution according to that of the Apostle Ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction c. Neither yet is God an hard Master in dealing thus with his faithfull servants He knows that heavy afflictions are the best benefactors to heavenly affections and that grace is hid in nature here as sweet water in rose leaves which must have the fire of affliction put under to distill it out He knows that when afflictions hang heaviest corrupt affections hang loosest upon his children Yet doth not the Lord afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men to crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth but he will hereby try who are his indeed and in truth not in name and profession only For as the Eagle tries her young ones by turning their faces to the sun beams so those Christians that can outface the sun of Persecution are sincere indeed One thing is very remarkable in this History that usually before any great Persecution befell the Church the holy men of those times observed that there was some great decay of zeal and of the power of godliness or some mutuall contentions and quarrels amongst the people of God or some such sin or other that provoked God against them and then as the shepherd sets his dog upon his sheep when they go astray to bring them in and then rates him off again So God le ts loose wicked Persecutors upon his own children but it 's only to bring them in unto him and then he not only restrains their rage but casts the rod into the fire If judgement begin at the house of God what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God Much excellent use may be made of this History As teaching us That whosoever will take Christ truly must take his Crosse as well as his Crown his Sufferings as well as his Salvation That persecution is the bellows of the Gospel blowing every spark into a flame and that Martyrs ashes are the best compost to manure the Church their bloud to water it and make it fertill That Gods children are like Starres that shine brightest in the darkest night Like Torches that are the better for beating Like Grapes that come not to the proof till they come to the presse Likes Spices that smell sweetest when pounded Like young Trees that root the faster for shaking Like Vines that are the better for bleeding Like Gold that looks the brighter for scouring Like Glow worms that shine best in the dark Like Juniper that smels sweetest in the fire Like the Pomander which becomes more fragrant for chafing Like the Palm tree which proves the better for pressing Like the Camomile which the more you tread it the more you spread it Yea God knoweth that we are best when we are worst and live holiest when we die fastest and therefore he frames his dealing to our disposition seeking rather to profit then to please us That when God exposeth us to Persecution he expects our speedy and thorow Reformation if we desire the affliction to be removed For as it were to no purpose for the Finer to put his gold into the fire except it lie there till it be refined So were it to small purpose for God to lay afflictions on us if so soon as we whine and groan under his hand he should remove them before we be bettered thereby Whereas afflictions like Lots Angels will soon away when they have done their errand Like plaisters when the sore is once whole they will fall off of their own accoâ—d That we should with patience submit to the afflicting hand of the all wise God and our mercifull Father saying with the Church I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Considering also that impatience under affliction makes it much more grievous As a man in a feaver that by tossing and tumbling exasperates the disease and encreaseth his own grief That all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution It hath been the portion of all the Saints from the creation hitherto What son is there whom the Father chasteneth not One son indeed God had without sin but not without sorrow for though Christ his naturall Son was sine corruptione without corruption yet not sine correctione without correction though he was sine flagitio with out crime yet not sine flagello without a scourge
Narrative of the War between the Papists and Protestants there 431 Who interceded to the D. of Savoy in the behalf of the Protestants 442 A Description of Piemont and the valleys thereof 447 The late persecution of the Church of Christ in Poland 451 The Destruction of Lesna 452 The cause of Religion as it stands now in Germany 454 THE PERSECUTIONS Mentioned in the Old Testament CHAP. I. The Persecution of the Church in the first Ages of the World and so forward till the Incarnation of Christ. THE first Murtherer and Persecutor that was in the World was the Devil and the first method and means that he made use of to carry on this persecution was by subtilty and large promises that by eating the forbidden fruit they should have their eyes opened and should be as gods knowing good and evil and hereby he drew our first Parents from their Obedience unto God and cheated them of that blessed and happy estate which God had created them in Since which time his enmity against the Church and Children of God hath never ceased but by his effectual working in the Children of disobedience he hath provoked and stirred up one man to be the Persecutor and Devourer of another Thus he provoked Cain to rise up against and to slay his brother Abel and though the Scripture be silent how the wicked Cainites the sons of men behaved themselves towards the sons of God yet doubtless they persecuted them with the tongue if they proceeded no further Can we imagine that Noah that was a Preacher of Righteousness in the midst of a perverse generation could escape without hatred scorn and contempt How many jeers think ye had he whilest he was building the Ark as doting and dreaming not of a dry Summer but of a wet winter the earth in his days was said to be corrupt and filled with violence which violence certainly was principally exercised against the Church of God And afterwards when the world was reduced to a very small number yet then Satan had his cursed Ham that persecuted and mocked his own father the righteous Noah Was not Lot also persecuted and scoffed at in Sodom Gen. 19.9 Isaac in Abrahams house mocked by Ismael Gen. 21.9 Was not Jacob hated and persecuted by his brother Esau Gen. 27.41 Joseph by his brethren Gen. 37.4 and that because he brought unto his father their evil report verse 2. Was he not afterwards cast into a pit by them ver 24. Then sold to the Ishmaelitish Merchants who carried him into Egypt ver 28. There he was persecuted by his whorish Mistriss Gen. 39.17 18. Cast into prison where his feet were hurt with fetters and he was laid in irons Psal. 105.18 But these were but small persecutions in comparison of those which followed For when the Children of Israel were multiplied in Egypt Pharaoh King of Egypt set over them Task-masters to afflict them with their burdens Exod. 1.11 thinking thereby to eat up and wear them out and when that prevailed not they made them serve with rigour and they made their lives bitter with the hard bondage in Mortar and in Brick and in all manner of service in the field all the service wherein they made them serve was with rigour ver 13 14. And when this prevailed not the King commanded the Midwives Siphrah and Puah when they did the office of a Midwife to the Hebrew women and saw them upon the stools if they were delivered of a son they should presently kill him ver 15 16. and when these Midwives neglected his commands he charged all his people that every son that was born to the Israelites should be cast into the river Nilus v. 22. Moses was persecuted by Pharaoh who sought to slay him which caused him to fly into the Land of Midian Exodus 2.15 And when God sent him back into Egypt to deliver his people from the house of bondage how did Pharaoh persevere and proceed in his persecuting the people of God he caused straw to be taken from them and yet the number of Bricks to be continued and when the task was not done the Officers of the Children of Israel were cruelly beaten ver 14. And when God had brought out his people with an high hand from under the Tyranny of the Egyptians and carried them into the wilderness how did Satan stir up some sons of Belial against Moses and Aaron even Korah and his complicies two hundred and fifty Princes who cried out against them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation are holy even every one of them Numb 16.3 Afterwards when the children of Israel were setled in the land of Canaan they were often grievously oppressed and persecuted by the wicked and Idolatrous nations that lived amongst them and round about them as first by Chushan-Rishathaim King of Mesopotamia who tyrannized over them eight years Judg. 3.8 Then by Eglon King of Moab who slew many of them and oppressed them eighteen years v. 13 14. Then by the Philistines v. 32. Then were they mightily oppressed for twenty years together by Jabin King of Canaan Judg. 4.2 3. Then did the Midianites persecute them with so much cruelty that they were forced to forsake their houses and to make them Dens and Caves in the Mountains to shelter and hide themselves from them Judg. 6.2 yea for seven years together they tyrannized over them and when the Israelits had sowen their land they came up in such multitudes that they destroyed the increase of the earth and left no sustenance for Israel neither sheep nor oxe nor asse ver 3 4. Then the Philistines again and the Ammonites Lorded it over Israel and brought them into great distresse for eighteen years Judg. 10. â— After that the Philistines yet againe oppressed them for forty years together Judg. 13.1 And afterwards they slew of them in two battels thirty four thousand and carried away the Ark of God also 1 Sam. 4.2 10 11. Then in Sauls time these Philistines so distressed Israel that the people were forced to hide themselves in caves and thickets and in rocks and in high places and in pits yea some of them forsook their own country and fled beyond Jordan 1 Sam. 13.6 7. and the land was so enslaved to them that there was not a Smith to be found in Israel but the Philistines either slew them or carried them away captives so that the Israelites were fain to go to the Philistines to have their instruments of husbandry set in order ver 19 20. How David was persecuted by Saul all his time the Scripture doth amply set forth 1 Sam 19. c. and was not he persecuted grievously when cursed and railed upon by Shimei 2 Sam. 16.5 6 c. The Church of God was afterward persecuted under Rehoboams reign by Shishak King of Egypt who took Jerusalem and carried away the Treasures of the Lords house and
sent me He hearing these things first as in a maze stood still lost his courage cast down his weapons then trembled and vvept bitterly and coming to the old man he embraced him with many tears only his right hand he kept hid and covered Then the Apostle after he had promised and assured him that he should obtain pardon of our Saviour falling upon his knees he prayed for him kissing his murthering right hand vvhich for shame he durst not shevv before and then brought him back to the Congregation where he fasted and prayed continually for him comforted and confirmed him with many Scripture-promises and left him not till he had restored him to his former Office and made him a great example of Gods Mercy to repentant sinners In this Persecution Simeon Bishop of Jerusalem after many torments was crucified to death and an innumerable company of Martyrs suffered for the like testimony of the Lord Jesus amongst whom vvas Flavia the daughter of Flavius Clemens a Roman Senator and Consul vvho amongst many others vvas banished into the Isle of Pontia This Lavv also vvas made by the Roman Senate Non debere demitti Christianos qui semel ad tribunal venissent nisi propositum mutent that Christians should not be let go that vvere once brought before the Tribunal seat except they renounced their Religion Yea that vvhich stirred up the Emperor more to persecute the Christians vvere those abominable lies and malicious slanders raised against them by the Heathen Idolaters as that they were a people that lived in incest that in their nightly meetings putting out the Candles they ran together in all filthy manner that they killed their ovvn Children and used to eat mans flesh that they vvere seditious and rebellious and refused to svvear by the fortune of Caesar and vvould not adore his Image in the Market place and in brief that they were pernicious to the Roman Empire yea whensoever any thing happened amiss to the City of Rome or to her Provinces either by famine pestilence Earth-quakes Wars unseasonable Weather c. it vvas presently imputed to the Christians Besides also there vvere a number of vvicked Promoters and Accusers that for lucre's sake to have the possessions of the Christians accused and persecuted them to the death Also vvhen the Christians vvere brought before the Magistrates they gave them an Oath requiring them to declare the truth vvhether they vvere Christians or no and if they confessed then by the Lavv sentence of death vvas passed against them Yet vvere not these Tyrants content by death to destroy their bodies but the kinds of death vvere divers and horrible vvhatsoever the cruelty of mans vvitty and vvicked invention could devise for the punishment of mans body vvas practised against the poor Saints of God Imprisonments Stripes Scourgings Rackings Tearings Stoning plates of iron burning hot laid to the tenderest parts of their bodies deep Dungeons strangling in Prisons the teeth of wild Beasts Gridirons Gibbits and Gallows Tossings upon the Horns of Bulls c. And when they were thus killed their bodies were laid on heaps and dogs left to keep them that none might come to bury them neither could any prayer or entreaty obtain leave that they might be interred Notwithstanding all which horrible punishments the Church of Christ daily increased being deeply rooted in the Doctrine of the Apostles and Apostolical men and watered plenteously with the blood of the Saints Also in this persecution Protasius and Gervasius were martyred at Millaine Timothy was stoned to death at Ephesus by the Worshippers of Diana Dionysius Areopagita was slain with the sword at Paris c. CHAP. IX The third Primitive Persecution which began Anno Christi 108. DOmitian being slain by some of his own servants Nerva succeeded him who was a good and mercifull man stayed the persecution against the Christians called them home from banishment so that the Church enjoyed peace in his time but he reigning only thirteen moneths Trajan a Spaniard succeeded him who in the tenth year of his reign raised the third persecution against the Church which was far more cruel then either of the former inasmuch as Plinius Secundus an heathen Philosopher seeing the lamentabte slaughter of the Christians moved with pity he wrote to Trajan concerning the same that whereas there were many thousands of them daily put to death there were none of them which did any thing contrary to the Roman Laws worthy of persecution saving that they used to gather together in the morning before day and sing Hymns to a certain God that they vvorshipped called Christ in other things they were godly and honest and for proof hereof saith he I caused two Maidens to be laid on the rack and with torments to be examined about the same but finding nothing in them but only lewd and immoderate superstition I resolved to surcease further enquiry till I received further instructions from you about this matter c. Trajan having read this Epistle returned answer that it was his mind that the Christians should not be sought after but if they were brought and convicted that then they should suffer execution whereof Tertullian speaking saith O confused sentence He would not have them sought for as men innocent and yet would have them punished as men guilty Now though upon this act the rage of the persecution was somewhat abated yet many evil disposed men and cruel Officers there were vvhich ceased not to afflict the Christians in divers Provinces especially if any commotion was raised in any of them then presently were the Christians blamed for it Trajan sent a command to Jerusalem that whosoever could be found out of the stock of David should be enquired for and put to death hereupon some Sectaries of the Jewish nation accused Simeon the son of Cleophas to come of Davids line and that he was a Christian of which Accusers it happened that some of them were taken to be of the stock of David and so most righteously were executed themselves who sought the destruction of others In this Persecution suffered Phocas Bishop of Pontus whom Trajan because he would not sacrifice to Neptune caused to be cast into a hot lime-kilne and afterwards to be put into a scalding bath where he ended his life in the cause of Christ As also Sulpitius Servilianus and Nereus and Achilleus suffered Martyrdom in Rome Sagaris in Asia Then also Ignatius Bishop of Antioch was apprehended and sent to Rome where he was devoured of wild beasts and besides these many thousand others After the death of Trajan succeeded Hadrian who continued this third persecution against the Chrstians at which time Alexander Bishop of Rome with his two Deacons as also Hermes and Quirinus with their families suffered Martyrdom Also about this time Zenon a noble man of Rome with above ten thousand more were slain for Christs sake Also
subtilty allured to him three or four holy men that had been Confessors Then he entised three weak Bishops that lived in Italy to come to Rome and there perswaded them by imposing hands upon him to make him Bishop for which fact two of them afterwards were suspended and the third upon his repentance vvas re-admitted Novatus being thus made a Bishop grew proud and sought by all means to with-draw the people from Cornelius to himself yea he made many of them to swear that they would not leave him to go to Cornelius But the holy Confessors before mentioned vvhen they perceived the crafty subtilty of Novatus left him and much grieving for their sin were reconciled to Cornelius again Novatus held this opinion that they which once renounced the faith and for fear of torments had offered incense to the Idols although they repented yet could never be re-admitted into the Church of Christ again To suppress this error there was a Synod called at Rome of sixty Bishops Anno 255. who condemned it Cyprian also relates of Aurelius a godly and valiant young man who for his constancy in the cause of Christ suffered great and many torments and afterwards was banished And of Mappalicus who the day before he suffered in the midst of his torments told the Proconsul Videbis cras agonem to morrow you shall see the running for a Wager and accordingly the next day being brought forth to his Martyrdom he with no less constancy then patience endured faithfull unto the death But Decius the Author of this persecution escaped not the revenging hand of God for warring against the Goths and being overcome by them lest he should fall into their hands he leaped vvith his horse into a whirlpit where he was drowned and his body was never found after Yea God avenged the blood of his Saints upon the whole Roman Empire by sending a general plague of pestilence upon it which continued ten years together and Dionysius saith that in Alexandria vvhere he vvas Bishop there vvas scarce any house clear and though some Christians died in this plague yet it fell most heavy upon the Gentiles The Christians also in this plague shewed much brotherly love each to other by visiting comforting and relieving one another Whereas the Idolaters being stricken with extream fear of the plague none considered his Neighbour but every man shifted for himself and of those that were infected some they cast out of doors half dead to be devoured of dogs and wild beasts some they let die in their houses without all succour others they suffered to lie unburied and durst not come near them notwithstanding vvhich the pestilence followed them whithersoever they vvent and miserably consumed them so that the most part of the Inhabitants were consumed by it in every Country especially in those Provinces where had been the greatest persecutions raised against the Christians After the death of Decius there succeeded Gallus and Volusianus in the Empire Anno Christi 255. who continued this persecution against the Christians which fell most heavy upon the Pastors and Ministers of the Congregations for about this time Cyprian and many other Ministers were banished others were put into the mettal Mines to whom Cyprian wrote an Epistle consolatory wherein he writes thus Wounds and scars are an Ornament to a Christians brest such as bring not shame but honoureth them before the Lord and though in the Mynes there be no beds for their bodies to rest on yet they have rest in Christ and though their weary bones lie on the cold ground yet it 's no pain to lie with Christ. Their feet are fettered with chains but he is bound of man whom the Lord Christ doth loose he lies tied in the stocks whose feet thereby are made swifter to run to heaven neither can any man tie a Christian so fast but he runs so much the faster for his garland of life They have no garments to save them from cold but he that puts on Christ is sufficiently clothed Doth bread fail to their hungry bodies Man lives not by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God Your deformity shall be turned to honour your mourning to joy your pain to pleasure and felicity infinite And if this grieve you that you cannot serve God in your places as formerly yet your daily sacrifice ceaseth not which is a contrite and humble heart and though your travel be great yet shall your reward be greater for God beholding them which confess his name approveth their willing minds in their strivings helpeth them in their victory crowneth them rewarding that in us which he hath performed and crowning that which he hath in us perfected Again he tells them that they are now in a joyfull journey hasting apace to the mansions of the Martyrs there to enjoy after darkness durable light and comfort above all their sufferings c. About the same time also Lucius Bishop of Rome was banished After the death of Gallus and Volusianus there succeeded Valerianus who ceased the persecution and carried himself exceeding friendly to the Christians so that his whole Court was replenished with holy Saints and servants of Christ whereby his house seemed a Church of God But the Devil envying the peace of the Church by the means of an Egyptian Enchanter who was hindred from doing his feats by the presence of the Christians stirred up the Emperor against them who grew to such impiety himself that he sacrificed young infants to his Idols quartered their bodies divided the Entrails of young Children new born c. as hereafter follows CHAP. XIV The eighth Primitive Persecution which began An. Christi 259. VAlerianus being seduced by the Egyptian Inchanter as is before related stirred up the eighth persecution against the Church of Christ concerning which Cyprian writeth thus We must confess that this great calamity which hath wasted for the most part all our Churches and still dayly consumes us ariseth chiefly from our own wickedness while we walk not in the way of the Lord nor observe his precepts as we ought whilst we are full of lucre pride emulation dissention void of simplicity and faithfull dealing renouncing the world in word but not in deed every man pleasing himself and displeasing others and therefore we are thus worthily scourged For what stripes do we not deserve when the Confessors themselves do keep no Discipline c. Concluding Non venissent fratribus haec mala si in unum fraternitas fuisset animata These evils had not happened to the brethren if they had joyned together in brotherly unanimity A little before this persecution began God by a vision revealed it to Cyprian saying to him Be quiet and of good comfort for peace will come albeit a little stay there is for a while for that some remain yet to be proved and tried c. The crimes and accusations that were laid
Kings Court To whom the lad answered You shall not get me from the fellowship of these holy men who bred me up with whom I lived in the fear of God and with whom I desire to die and with whom I trust I shall obtain the glory to come And so being all put into the ship they were burned together After the death of Hunrick Gundabund succeeded in the Kingdom who continuing in the steps of his cruel predecessors afflicted the Christians grievously by sundry kinds of persecution during the space of twelve years at the end whereof he died and Thrasamund succeeded him a man that excelled all his Predecessors in magnanimity and courage His manner was by perswasions flatteries promises and rewards to seek to draw the Christians to his Arrian Heresie but they which would not be prevailed with hereby he no way punished or molested them In his time there were great Wars between the Moors and Vandals the Moors had one Cabaon for their General who commanded all his souldiers to use abstinence in their diet and to abstain from women and from all Injury and wrong-doing The women he enclosed within trenches by themselves commanding that under pain of death no man should have access to them Then did he send forth a certain company of Moors commanding them privately to follow the Camp oâ— the Vandals and that wheresoever the Vandals profaned any Church of the Christians presently after their departure they should follow and purge the same For saith he if the Christians God be a good God then will he assist them that are devoted to him and punish the Blasphemers These men in counterfeit base attire followed the Vandals Camp and whereas the Vandals where ever they came took up the Christians Churches for their Horses and Beasts of burthen carrying themselves very insolently against God and his House beating and abusing the Ministers and Church-Officers making them to attend upon them as their slaves After their departure the Moors on the contrary cleansed the Churches carried out the dung kneeled down to and reverenced the Ministers and distributed money to the poor and thus they did continually Then did Cabaon prepare to give his enemies battel and whereas the Vandals were all Horse-men and very well mounted their Horses were so afrighted at the sight of the Moors Camels that they were presently put into disorder and the Moors with darts and arrows did so pelt them that they put them to flight and slew many of them whereupon Thrasamund shortly after died of grief Then did Ilderick the son of Hunrick succeed in the Kingdom who was equally mild and gentle both to the Vandals and Christians and one that kept very fair correspondence with the Emperour Justinian But Gilimer a cunning and ambitious man deposed him and usurped the Kingdom to himself Whereupon Justinian sent against him that brave and gallant General Billisarius who overcame him in several battels took him prisoner freed the Christians from persecution and subverted the Empire of the Vandals in Africk after they had reigned there for the space of ninety years wherein for the most part they had been cruel persecutors of the true Church of God Salvian who was Bishop of Masilia and lived at the same season complaineth that before these brutish Vandals came into Africk the Church of God there was much degenerated from its ancient purity and the power of Godliness was much decaid insomuch as they which lived exactly according to the Rule of Gods Word were hissed at as they went in the streets as if they had been monsters Whereupon saith he the passage of the Vandals into Africk was not to be imputed to Gods rigour but to the Africans wickedness c. Collected out of a Book written by Victor Bishop of Utica who lived at the same time and was himself a Sufferer under this persecution Here place the fifth Figure THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH UNDER THE PAPACY CHAP. XXI The Persecutions of the Waldenses which began Anno Christi 1160. WHen the darkness of Popery had overspread the Christian world so that Kings and Princes imploied their Authority to establish the Romish Idolatry appointing to slaughter such as denied Transubstantiation Adoration of the Host bowing the knees before it c. this occasioned many Christians to detest this superstition as unknown to the Apostles and primitive Church And first of all God raised up Berengarius presently after the year one thousand who boldly and faithfully preached the Truth and against the Romish Errors continuing his Ministry till about the time that William the Conqueror came into England whereupon the Gospellers were called Berengarians till about the year 110. At which time common notice being taken of their separation from the Church of Rome and their disagreeing from so many of their Tenents they were branded with the odious name of Hereticks And twenty years after when they were grown into a very great multitude they had one Peter Bruis for their most famous Preacher who taught long and publickly at Tholouse under the protection and favour of a noble Earl called Hildephonsus whereupon in those parts they were called Petro-Brusians For Peter Bruis Anno Christi 1120. published their Tenents in a book called Anti-Christ wherein he declared both the ground of their Doctrine and the causes of their separation from the Romish Church Twenty years after this they were grown into a mighty multitude about Anno Christi 1140. whereupon the Popes of Rome now began to lay about them for their Extirpation For which end he stirred up his most learned followers to write against them and warned Princes to take heed of them and to banish them out of their Territories Anno Christi 1147. they had Henry of Tholouse for their most eminent Preacher whereupon they began to be called Henericians and because they were well red in the Scriptures especially in the Epistles of St. Paul whom by way of eminency they called the Apostle alleadging Texts out of him nnd would admit of no Testimonies for the proof of Religion but only out of Scripture they were called Apostolicks And shortly after God raised up Peter Valdo a Citizen of Lions in France who shewed himself most couragious in opposing the Popish inventions withal taxing divers other innovations which were crept into the Church of Rome and he was the more eagerly hearkened unto because he was in high esteem for his Learning and Piety and his liberality to the poor for besides the nourishing of their bodies he did also feed their souls by exhorting them to seek Jesus Christ and salvation by him The Arch-Bishop of Lions being informed that Valdo used thus to instruct the people boldly taxing the vice luxury and pride of the Pope and his Clergy forbad him the same upon pain of Excommunication and proceeded against him as an Heretick Valdo replied that he could not be silent in a cause of so great importance
the King to go to Masse upon pain of forfeiting their lives and goods but they answered that they could not obey such commands against the command of God Then he commanded that twelve of the Principal of them together with all their Ministers and Schoolmasters should presently yeeld up their bodies to the prisons of Turin c. They answered that they could not obey that command or appear at Turin because they should thereby endanger their lives The Parliament was so incensed at this answer that as many as they could apprehend they burnt amongst whom was Jeffery Varnegle Minister of Angrogne Anno 1557. by whose death the people that were present were much edified seeing his constancy of invocating God to the last The Protestant Princes of Germany hearing of this great Persecution interceded in their behalf to King Henry the second of France Who promised to have regard to this request of theirs and indeed they enjoyed peace afterwards till the peace was concluded betwixt the Kings of France and Spain and that the Duke of Savoy was restored to his Estate which was Anno 1559. The year after the Popes Nuntio reproved the Duke for that with all his power he had not persecuted the Waldenses and that if he did not now endeavour to reduce them to the Romish Church or to root them out his Holinesse should have cause to suspect that he was a favourer of them Hereupon the Duke presently commanded them to go to Mass upon the pain of their lives But the not obeying him he set upon them by open force and yet at the same time he caused them to be pursued by the Monks Inquisitors also So that a great Persecution was raised against the poor Christians Some were taken and burnt who shewed invincible constancy in all their torments and death To recite all the outrages cruelties and villanies practised against them would be too tedious Many fled and their houses and goods were ransacked and spoiled One of their Ministers was apprehended and put to a shamefull and cruell death but he shewed such admirable patience therein as astonished his very adversaries Some also were taken and sent to be Gally-slaves Yet some through weakness yeelded to the adversaries and were more cruelly handled then those that remained constant in the truth Three of the most cruel persecutors of these faithfull servants of Jesus Christ were first Thomas Jacomel a Monk an Apostate that had renounced the known truth and persecuted mortally and maliciously the poor Christians against his own conscience he was a whoremonger and given over to all villanies and filthy living a Sodomite c. his delight was to spoil rob and torment the captives of these Waldenses The second was a collaterall called Corbis who in the examination of the prisoners was very rigorous and burnt many of them but in the end feeling a remorse in his conscience he protested that he would meddle with them no more The third was the Provest of Justice who lay in wait in the high waies to apprehend them when they went abroad in the morning or as they went to the Market The Monks also of Pignorol vexed the Churches near about them grievously some they took prisoners and kept them in their Abbies then they assembled a company of Ruffians sending them to spoil the Churches and to take prisoners men women and childen of whom some by torments they forced to abjure others they sent to the Galleys others they burnt The gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin vexed their tenants grievously spoiling some of their goods imprisoning others and vexing them by all means Two of those gentlemen getting some Ruffians to them in the night time set upon a village called Renclaret which the Inhabitants perceiving fled into the mountains covered with snow naked and without victuals in the morning these villains took a Minister of that Valley who was coming to visit these people of Renclaret and burnt him but three nights after they of Pragela pitying their friends of Renclaret sent four hundred men against the Ruffians who fought with them and without the losse of one man put them to flight and restored their friends to their houses A year after one of these gentlemen called Truchet with a company of Ruffians arrested the Minister of Renclaret as he was at his sermon but the people were so moved at his outragious dealing especially the women that they had almost strangled Truchet and so canvased the rest of his company that they had no minde to come any more Shortly after they took another Minister as he was going to preach in a parish a mile from his house but the people hearing of it speedily pursued them and recovered their Minister again but when the villains saw that they were like to lose their prey they so wounded him that they left him for dead The Monks of Pignerol sent some Ruffians by night to the Ministers house of S. Germain who were conducted by a Traitor that knew the house and formerly had frequented it this fellow knocking at the door and the Minister knowing his voice opened the door but perceiving himself to be betrayed he fled at a back-door yet was quickly taken and sorely wounded notwithstanding which they pricked him with halberds to hasten his pace as they carried him away they also slew and hurt many others The Minister after sore imprisonment endured a cruel death with much constancy at his death the Inquisitors caused two poor women that they kept in prison to carry faggots to burn him and to say to him their Pastor Take this thou wicked Heretick in recompence of that naughty Doctrine that thou hast taught us To whom he replied Aâ— good women I have taught you well but you have learned ill In brief they so persecuted these poor people that they forced them to forsake their houses and to fly into the mountains loosing all their estates so that many that had lived well and relieved others were now fain to crave relief and succour of others The Monks with their Troops of Ruffians continued thus to molest and persecute these poor people They asked of their Ministers Whether it were not lawfull for them to defend themselves against such violence The Ministers answered that it was only they advised them to avoid blood-shed as much as might be This question being resolved they of Luserne and Angrogne sent some to aid their friends of St. Germain against the Monks In June divers of these Waldenses went out into the country to reap their harvest and in sundry places were all taken prisoners not knowing of each others calamity but God so wrought that miraculously they all escaped out of prison to the great astonishment of their adversaries At the same time also others who had been long in prison and longed for nothing but death through Gods providence were delivered after a wonderful sort In July they of Angrogne being at their
fire casting them into the same and burning them God fridi Annales Also after his taking of the said Castle he caused a Frier to preach to the people and to exhort them to acknowledge the Pope and Church of Rome but they not staying till he had done cried out We will not forsake our faith you labour but in vain for neither life nor death shall make us abandon our beliefe Then did the Earl and Legate cause a great fire to be made and cast into it a hundred and fourscore men and women who went in with joy giving God thanks for that he was pleased so to honour them as to die for his Names sake They also told Earl Simon that he would one day pay dear for his cruelties All that saw their valour and constancy were much amazed at it Then did the Earl besiege the Castle of Termes which also at last was taken for want of water yet they within the Castle when they perceived that they could hold out no longer one night quit the place and passed away undiscovered The Castle de la Vaur was also besieged in which there were many godly people Thither came many Pilgrims to the Legate from all Countries and amongst others six thousand Germanes of whose coming the Earl of Foix hearing he laid an ambush for them overthrew and slew them all not one escaping but an Earl that carried the news to Earl Simon After six moneths siege the Castle of Vaur was taken by assault where all the souldiers were put to the sword save eighty Gentlemen whom Earl Simon caused to be hanged and the Lord Aimeri on a gibbet higher then all the rest the Lady his sister was called Girauda was cast into a ditch and there covered with stones And for the rest of the people a very great fire was made and they were put to their choise whether they would forsake their opinions or perish by the flames There were scarce any of them found that would doe the first but exhorting one another they went into the kindled fire of their own accord saith Altisiodore but more probably they were forced into the same where joyfully they resigned up their spirits unto God Some say that they were about foure hundred persons that thus perished by fire After the return of the Earl Remund from the Pope the Legate still fought to entrap him but the Earl would not come againe within his reach Then did the Legate send the Bishop of Tholouse to him who pretended a great deal of love and friendship to the Earl and by his subtilty at last prevailed with him to profer his strong Castle of Narbonnes to them to lodge in as they passed that way but as soon as the Legate and his company were entred they seised upon it and put into it a garison which was a continuall vexation to all his subjects Then did the Legate resolve upon the utter extirpation of Earl Remund and all his house as the head of the Albingenses but presently after this Legate dying Earl Simon was frustrated of this hope About this time the English who now possessed Guienne which bordereth upon the Earldom of Tholouse began to help the Albingenses being stirred up thereto by Reinard Lollard a godly and learned man who by his powerfull preaching converted many to the truth and defended the faith of the Albingenses for which they were so eagerly pursued and constantly suffered Martyrdom And this they did the rather not only for their neighbour-hoods sake or for that Simon Earl of Lecester was a rebell and traitour to their King but because this Remund Earl of Tholouse whom they so cruelly whipped and other wise abused and had now also excommunicated was brother in law to King John For his former wife was Joane sometimes Queene of Sicilie which Joane was Kâ—ng Johns sister and bare to the Earl of Tholouse Remund who succeeded his father both in the Earldome and in his troubles John le Maier much commendeth this Lollard saying that he foretold many things by Divine Revelation which saith he came to passe in my time and therefore he putteth him into the rank of holy prophets And for his learning it is evident by his comment upon the Revelation where he setteth forth many things that are spoken of the Roman Antichrist This worthy man was afterwards apprehended in Germany and being delivered to the secular power was burnt at Collen Anno 1211. A new Legate called Theodosius was appointed to succeed who excommunicated Earl Remund and the Bishop of Tholouse thereupon sent the Earl word that he must depart out of the City for that he could not say Masse whilest an excommunicated person was in the City The Earl returned this answer being netled at his insolency that he the Bishop should presently depart out of his Territories and that upon pain of his life accordingly the Bishop departed and took with him the Canons of the Cathedrall Church with the Crosse Banner and Host and all of them barefooted in Procession Coming thus to the Legates Army they were received as persecuted Martyrs with the teares of the Pilgrims and generall applause of all Then the Legate thought that he had sufficiâ—nt cause to prosecute Earl Remund as a relapsed and impenitent man but first he sought by craft to get him into his power and with his fair flatering letters he at last drew him once again to Arles The Earl had requested the King of Arragon to meet him there When they were both come the Legate commanded them upon the pain of his high indignation that they should not depart but with his leave Whilest they were there the Earl was privately shewed by a friend The Articles of the Legate to which he would enforce him to subscrib which were these 1. That the Earl of Tholouse should presently dismiss and cashiere all his men at Armes not restraining one 2. That he shall be obedient and subject to the Church and repaire all the costs and damages which the Church hath been at 3. That in his lands no man should eat of more then two sorts of flesh 4. That he shall expell out of his territories all the Hereticks and their allies 5. That he shall deliver into the hands of the Legate and of Earl Simon all those persons that shall be named unto him 6. That no man in his lands whether noble or ignoble shall were any costly apparell but black course clokes 7. That All his Castles of defence shall be razed to the ground 8. That no Gentlemen of his shall live in any City or Castle but in country houses or villages only 9. That he shall not levie in his land any taxes or tolls but such as in old time were accustomed 10. That every Master of a family shall pay yearly four Tholousian pence to the Legate 11. That when Earl Simon shall passe through his countries he shall beare their charges 12. That after
called together in a Synod in the mountaines to ordain Ecclesiastical Laws whereby they should be governed they appointed also sundry daies of Fasting and Prayer for themselves and their dispersed friends taking counsell from Gods Word concerning those things which were required to the fuller Reformation both of life and doctrine That which most afflicted them was for want of Pastors not knowing where they should have new ones after those were dead who then lived with them but after debate they resolved that Christ had given this authority to his Church that such as were ordained themselves might ordain others Yet some scruple arose whether such as were but Presbyters might ordaine without a Bishop For which cause they met together and with fasting prayers and teares they sought unto God to reveal his will to them in this difficulty and afterwards making a scrutiny by lot the Lord answered them that it was lawfull for Presbyters to ordain Presbyters which occasioned great joy unto them Then did these Brethren deliberate among themselves whether they should joyn with the Waldenses in Moravia and Austria and so be one people with them and one Church The purity of their Doctrine and Christian Conversation did much please but again it much displeased them that they concealed the truth not openly professing it as they ought but to avoid persecution they frequented the Churches of the Papists and so communicated with Idolaters Therefore they concluded to admonish them of this evil and for this end they sent some able men to them to acquaint them with it The Waldenses answered that to be in unity with them was very gratefull and for the evils objected against them they were not ignorant of them nor would defend them but rather would labour to amend them Concluding that they desired to have a sixt day of meeting with the Brethren in which they would take some further order about this businesse But before the time came the Papists having some intelligence of it raged so violently against the Waldenses that they burnt one of the chiefest of them at Vienna and so persecuted the rest that they were fain to provide for their own safety by flight Anno 1468. There came out a new Decree against these Brethren requiring all the Nobles of Bohemia within their severall jurisdictions to apprehend as many as they could and to proceed against them Many therefore were apprehended and put into prison where they were kept for a long time But thrâ—â—gh the wonderfull working of God the more the enemies laboured to put out this spark the more it brake forth into a great flame for many of their Peers submitted to the Discipline of the Brethren building Churches for them in their Towns and Villages so that Anno 1500. they had in Bohemia and Moravia about two hundred Churches After the death of Pogiebracius Uladislaus a Polonian succeeded in the Kingdom to whom the Brethren wrote an Apology by reason of many foul accusations that were carried to him against them This so exasperated their enemies that they endeavoured by a most impudent invention to stir up the hatred of all men against them The way they used was this They suborned a wicked villain to say that he came from amongst them and that he had been an Elder but had therefore forsaken them because in their meetings they used to blaspheme God the Virgin Mary and the Saints to traduce the Sacraments to mingle themselves incestuously after the manner of the Adamites to commit murther and practise witchcraft c. This man they led through the Townes and Cities as a spectacle they brought him to their Church where he must abjure his errors and beseech the people to pray for him a most miserable sinner and to take heed by his example of the wicked Piccards They also published his confession in writing being confirmed with the seals and subscripâ—ons of some Deans and Priests causing them to be read in the Churches to the people But the devil was befooled herein for the Brethren by publick writings did confute these lies and the villain trembling so often to forswear himself in the sight of the people confessed at last that he was suborned to do what he did and that he knew not any of the Piccards Yet thus far it made for good that some to make experience of so great villanies began privately and disguised to frequent the Assemblies of the Brethren and finding it to be farre other wise then it was reported did associate themselves with them as with true Christians Anno 1488. Mathias King of Hungary banished the Brethren from Moravia which caused some hundreds of them taking a Minister along with them to go into Moldavia Whereupon the Brethren in Bohemia sent one of their Elders to them to exhort them unto patience under this persecution which was for the truth Shortly after the restless enemies of God and his Church raised another persecution against the Brethren in Bohemia for some Bishops consulting together suborned the Queen great with childe so that they conceived that the King would deny her nothing in that state to request of him that he would severely punish the Piccards The King displeased at her request only nodded his head but gave no answer at all Yet the Bishops in his presence began to draw up the Edict The King going into his chamber fell down on his knees and with tears besought God to forgive the guilt of those bloudy counsels and to grant no successe to them and God heard his prayers and shewed some examples of his severe judgements on the Authors of this conspiracy The Queen who proposed to her fancy what gratefull spectacles she should have in seeing the Piccards brought to Prague and there some burnt some beheaded and others drowned in the water presently fell in travell and when she was not able to bring forth the Physitians advised that the childe should be cut out of the mothers womb which was accordingly done whereby the childe lived but the mother died Two years after the Bishops by their importunity prevailed with the King that sharp remedies should be used against those growing evils as they were pleased to call them whereupon an Edict was sent forth that all the Piccards without distinction of sex age or quality should be slain This Mandate was brought to the Assembly of States at Prague by two Bishops but divers of the chiefest Nobles opposed it so that eighteen moneths were spent in debate before any thing was done but at last by the cunning artifice of the Chancellor and his bloudy associates it was confirmed by the greatest part of the Nobility in the presence of the King and a mutuall confederacy was entred into that it should be prosecuted with an armed power but God following some of the chiefe contrivers of it with sundry judgements it almost came to nothing Yet in these troubles
the Sacraments of Baptism or the Lords Supper c. he answered that he had neither laide down nor slacked his Ministry which he received from Christ and not from Caesar Being profferred life if he would change his Religion he answered This body of mine is subject to corruption and now it begins to decay already Why Would you have me hinder it Being brought forth to execution the Crier with a loud voice proclaimed that he was guilty of sedition But he with a loud voice said I suffer for the truth of Christ. None of the Citizens were suffered to accompany him yea they were threatned to be shot if they did but look out at their windows And that his voice might not be heard the Drums and Trumpets sounded continually As he was passing on he chearfully said This day shall my soul be with Christ The Captain said With the devil in hell The Martyr replied But you with your impious crew will run headlong thither except ye repent Then was his right hand cut off wherewith he gave the Cup in the Sacrament Then was his head cut off his bowels taken forth and wrapped in his shirt his quarters set upon four stakes and his head upon the fifth Then did the Commissioners go into Moravia to a Noble Baron called Charles de Zerotina a man for wisdom and vertue famous through all Europe a constant professor of Religion and one who maintained twenty four Ministers of the Brethren within his jurisdiction They told him that they had an express command from Cardinall Ditrichsteine to expell all those Ministers out of the Country He answered That in matters of Religion he ought not to be subject to the Cardinall and therefore from him he appeals to Caesar. Then did they grant him fourteen daies to prosecute his appeale but the Baron being not in health could not go in that time to Caesar Then they came again to him an told him that it should be in his choice whether he would send them a way himself or suffer them to do it the Baron answered that he could not banish those whom he knew to be the servants of Jesus Christ nor could consent that they should do it Yet that night they sent abroad their citations to require all the inhabitants of that Village to appear before them the next morning at which time the Minister and people came then did they read to them Caesars Edict asking them if they would submit to it they answered that they wholly relied upon the will of God whom they served in the Gospell of his Son and therefore they were resolued to undergo what punishment they should inflict seeing they suffered only for the Name of Jesus Christ and not for any ill deeds Then they demanded of them whether the would forsake their heresie and returne to the Catholick Church which they unanimously denied The Commissioners would have given them time to consider of it but they all answered that in so religious a cause as this they needed no deliberations Hereupon in Caesars name they banished them commanding them to depart within eight daies These godly persons obeyed and by the Baron at his own charge they were conveyed into Hungary The like they did in other places so that the Ministers of the Gospel through all Bohemia and Moravia were thrust out and ignorant and illiterate persons set in their rooms The next design of the enemies was against the Nobles The crime was for taking up arms for Frederick their lawfull King against an Usurper For though hope of pardon was granted if laying down arms they would submit to Caesars mercy yet divers of them were apprehended And first they seized upon some that were of the rank of Defenders of the Kingdoms Liberties and then all those whom they knew to have done any thing for the common good of Religion and Liberty or feared that they might be able to do for the time to come and all such as feared to break their faith given to Frederick These were about the number of fifty men famous for learning skill in military affairs and prudence in government who were the light delight and safeguard of their Countrey All of these in one night and at one hour were apprehended in their houses when they suspected no danger and by the Captains were commanded to get up into Wagons and so some of them were carried to the Castle of Prague others to the Majors house The next day Proclamation were issued out requiring all those that had hid themselves or departed the Kingdom to appear within six weeks but they not appearing sentence was pronounced that all such as were guilty of Treason should forfeit Goods Honours and Lives and then their names were set upon the Gallows The next day sentence was pronounced against their Heirs that all their Goods should be confiscate to the King Then did they proceed to the triall of the Noble men whom they had taken Two Appostate Civilians were appointed to examine them with some of the Nobility who tired them out with a thousand impertinent questions labouring to extort that from them whereof they were never guilty Which one of them not able to endure renting his garments and opening his breasts said Tear into a thousand pieces this body and search into my heart and you shall finde nothing there but what is expressed in my Apology The love of Religion and Liberty made us unsheath our swords but seeing God would have Caesar prevail and hath delivered us into your hand his will be done Others of them also stoutly maintained that their cause was not the worse because of the successe After some time when none of these Noble men would yeild or acknowledge themselves in an errour or sue unto them for mercy they proceed to execution their judgements were committed to such as were sworn enemies to the Gospel After sentence was passed it was sent to Caesar to consider of it And he was so troubled that he slept not that night and the next morning calling his Confessor he said to him I adjure thee upon thy conscience to tell me whether I may with a safe conscience pardon these that are condemned or whether I should suffer execution to passe on them The Confessor answered O Caesar both are in thy power Then did he with his pen pardon some and left others to execution with a great addition of shame and ignominy Presently after they were brought out singly to hear their sentence wherein some were condemned to death others to perpetuall imprisonment others to banishment and some were reserved to Caesars further pleasure Then were each sort of prisoners carried to their severall prisons the Noble men into the inward prison of the Castle the Citizens to the Majors house and as they went some villains were suborned to insult over them saying Why doe they not now sing The Lord reigneth Then did the wives children and kinsfolk
punishment for the truth which I have professed I esteem not of this world nor the treasures of it more than for my necessary uses and the rest to bestow in the propagation and maintenance of the Gospel And I beseech God daily upon my knees for my wife and children that they may all continue in this quarrel even to the death And when he came to his execution he patiently and comfortably slept in the Lord. At the same time there was also brought forth one John Gonsalvo formerly a Priest but by his diligent study of the Scripture it pleased God to reveal his truth to him so that he became a zealous Preacher of it labouring in all his Sermons to beat into mens minds the true way and means of our Justification to consist in Christ alone and in stedfast faith in him for which he was apprehended and cast into prison where he endured all their cruely with a Christian courage At last with two of his Sisters he was condemned His mother and one of his brothers were also imprisoned with him for the truth and executed shortly after When he with his sisters went out at the Castle gate having his tongue at liberty he began to sing the 106. Psalm before all the People who had oft heard him make many godly Sermons He also condemned all hypocrites as the worst sort of People Whereupon they stocked his tongue Upon the stage he never changed countenance nor was at all daunted When they all came to the stake they had their tongues loosed and were commanded to say their Creed which they did chearfully when they came to those words The holy Catholick Church They were commanded to adde Of Rome but that they all refused whereupon their necks were broken in a trice and then 't was noised abroad that they had added those words and died confessing the Church of Rome to be the true Catholick Church There was in Sivil a private Congregation of Gods people most of which the Inquisitors consumed in the fire as they could discover any of them amongst others that were apprehended they took four women famous above the rest for their holy and godly conversation but especially the youngest of them who was not above one and twenty years old who by her diligent and frequent reading of the Scriptures and by conference with godly and learned men had attained to a very great measure of knowledge so that whilst she was in Prison she non-plus'd and put to shame many of those Friars that came to seduce her Another of these women was a grave Matron whose house was a School of vertue and a place where the Saints used to meet serve God day and night but the time being come wherein they were ripe for God they together with other of their neighbours were apprehended and cast into prison where they were kept in dark dungeons and forced to endure all the cruel and extream torments which are before mentioned At last they were condemned and brought forth to the scaffold amongst other Prisoners The young maid especially came with a merry and cheerful countenance as it were triumphing over the Inquisitors and having her tongue at liberty she began to sing Psalms to God whereupon the Inquisitors caused her tongue to be nipped by setting a Barnacle upon it After sentence read they were carried to the place of execution where with much constancy and courage they ended their lives Yet the Inquisitors not satisfied herewith caused the house of the Matron where the Church used to meet to be pulled down and the ground to be laid waste and a pillar to be erected upon it with an inscription shewing the cause There was also apprehended another worthy member of the same Congregation called Ferdinando he was of a fervent spirit and very zealous in doing good A young man but for integrity of life very famous He had spent eight years in educating of youth and had endeavoured to sow the seeds of Piety in the hearts of his Scholars as much as lay in him to do in a time of so great persecution and tyranny being at the last apprehended for a Lutheran he was cast into prison and terribly tormented upon the Jeobit and in the Trough whereby he was so shaken in every joynt that when he was taken down he was not able to move any part of his body yet did those cruel tormentors draw him by the heels into his prison as if he had been a dead dog But notwithstanding all his torments he answered the Inquisitors very stoutly and would not yield to them one jot During his imprisonment God used him as an instrument to recal and confirme a Monk who had been cast into prison for confessing the Gospel openly But by means of the Inquisitors flatteries and fair promises he had somewhat relented Gods Providence so ordering it that Ferdinando was cast into the same prison and finding the Monk wavering he rebuked him sharply and afterwards having drawn him to a sight of and sorrow for his sinne he at last strengthned him in the promises of free grace and mercy Hereupon the Monk desired a day of hearing where before the Inquisitors he solemnly renounced his recantation desiring that his former confession might stand whereupon the sentence of death passed against them both after which the Inquisitors asked Ferdinando whether he would revoke his former heresies to which he answered That he had professed nothing but what was agreeable to the pure and perfect Word of God and ought to be the profession of every Christian man and therefore he would stick to it to the death Then did they clap a Barnacle upon his tongue and so they were burned together There was also one Juliano called The little because he was of a small and weak body who going into Germany was there conversant with divers learned and godly men by which means he attained to the knowledge of the truth and became a zealous Professor of it and earnestly longing after the salvation of his Countreymen he undertook a very dangerous work which was to convey two great dry Fat 's full of Bibles printed in Spanish into his own Countrey In this attempt he had much cause of fear the Inquisitors had so stopped every Port and kept such strict watch to prevent the coming in of all such commodities but through Gods mighty protection he brought his burden safely thither and which was almost miraculous he conveyed them safe into Sivil notwithstanding the busie searchers and catch-poles that watched in every corner These Bibles being dispersed were most joyfully and thankfully received and through Gods blessing wrought wonderfully amongst Gods people to ripen them against the time of harvest But at last the matter broke out by the means of a false brother who going to the Inquisitors played the Judas and betrayed the whole Church to them So that there
by whom he was kept in bands having only a pad of straw to lie on and though his wife sent him a good bed and sheets yet did the Bishops officers keep them from him dividing it as a booty amongst themselves Thrice he was brought before the Commissioners where he boldly rendred a reason of his faith answering all their interrogatories with such evidence of Scripture and constancy of mind as astonished all that heard him yet afterwards at the importunity of his friends and kindred he was by much perswasion brought to assent to certain Popish points But through the mercy of God he was after a while brought to such repentance and bewailing of this fact that afterwards he became more valiant in the defence of Christs quarrel neither did he desire any thing more than to have occasion to recover again by confession that which he had lost by denial affirming that as he never had felt more joy of heart then when he constantly professed the truth so he never tasted more sorrow in all his life then when he turned from the same by dissimulation Professing to his Christian friends that death was much more sweet to him with testimony to the truth then life with the least denial of it and violation of a good conscience thereby So that afterwards through Gods mercy he was so full of comfort that divers which talked with him continued all day without meat or drink and if they might would have stayed all night too they were so delighted with him Galeacius thus waiting for some occasion to manifest his Recovery it so fell out that the Inquisitors came into the Prison to him supposing that now he would have confirmed what before he had granted unto them requiring him so to do But Galeacius on the contrary retracted that and boldly asserted the truth with more courage than he did before and hereby his mind was greatly refreshed and his adversaries went away ashamed yet did they condemn and deliver him to the secular Judge to be burned Then was he brought forth in the morning to the market-place and bound to a stake where he was left till noon to be a gazing stock to all the people during which time many came to see him exhorting him to recant and not so wilfully to cast away himself and thereby to undo his loving wife and young children c. But nothing could alter the firme mind of this constant Martyr and therefore at length fire was put to him and so he quietly slept in the Lord. A little before his execution he hearing that there was a controversie between the Bishop and Major of the City which of them should be at cost to buy wood for his burning he sent to them to end that quarrel for that he himself would be at the cost of it out of his own goods The life of John Mollius THere was at Rome one John Mollius who at twelve years old was placed by his Parents in the house of the Gray-friars where being of an excellent wit in a short time he so profited both in the knowledge of the Arts and Tongues that at eighteen years old he was made a Priest Then was he sent to study at Ferrara where he so profited in six years time that he was made Doctor and Reader of Divinity in that University and by his Sophistry shewed himself an utter enemy to the Gospel From thence he went to Brixia and the year following to Millaine where he read openly Then by Francis Sforce he was brought to the University of Papia to be the Philosophy Professor where he remained four years Then was he called to the University of Bononia about which time it pleased God so to inlighten him with the knowledge of his truth that he began secretly to expound The Epistle of Paul to the Romanes to a few but presently his Auditors increased so fast that he was compelled to read openly in the Church where the number of his Auditors daily increased and withal they shewed such fervency of mind that most of them came with pen and ink to write what they heard taking great care to come so early that they might have room to hear him This was Anno 1538. Hereupon Cardinal Campeius set up one Cornelius an arrogant Babler to expound the same Epistle who cried up the Pope and his traditions as John on the contrary commended and extolled Christ and his merits to the People But Cornelius his Auditors quickly decreased and the others increased exceedingly This angred Cornelius insomuch as by Cardinal Campeius his advice they came to an open disputation and when they could not agree as John was returning home in a narrow place where his friends could not come to his rescue he was apprehended and clapt up in prison but this caused such stir in the City that Cornelius was faine to hide himself Then did the Bishop send word to John in prison that he must either recant or be burnt To the first he answered that he would by no means condescend only it grieved him that he should be condemned and his cause not heard yet by the mediation of a friend he was released out of prison upon condition that within three moneths he should appear at Rome some of his friends disswaded him from going to Rome advising him rather to go into Germany and they would give him mony to bear his charges but he refused saying that he must preach the Gospel at Rome also When he came thither he requested of the Pope that he might have a publick hearing but that was denied him and he was commanded to write his opinion which accordingly he did About Original sin Justification by faith only Free-will Purgatory c. All which he confirmed by the Authority of Scripture and Fathers and so exhibited it to the Pope who referred it to some Cardinals and they disputed with him three dayes upon those points but could not confute them then was he answered That it was truth which he said yet not meet for the times and therefore he was commanded to abstain from preaching and to returne to Bonony to be the Philosophy Professour When he came back all men longed to hear how he had sped and in the Pulpit he openly declared the whole proceedings to them giving God thanks for his safe return But this so offended the Cardinal that by order from the Pope he was removed from Bononia to Naples There also his doctrine was so distasted by the Viceroy that he laid wait to take away his life yet through Gods mercy he escaped and wandred up and down Italy preaching the Gospel of Christ wheresoever he came At last he was called back to Bonony where privately he expounded Pauls Epistles which could not be long concealed whereupon he was apprehended and carried to Faventia where he was cast into a filthy stinking prison and lay there foure
after another by the hand and so dispatching them all no otherwise than as a Butcher doth kill his Calves and Sheep This was in Calabâ—ia Anno Christi 1560. Persecution raised by the Pope in Venice THe City of Venice was a long while from the cruel Inquisition whereby the face of a Church was discerned there from the year 1530. to the year 1542. yea and multitudes of good Christians flocked thither from other parts which so provoked the Divel to envy that he stirred up the Pope to send Inquisitors which erected an Inquisition in that City and for divers years the Pope sent them money to distribute amongst their Flies and such persons as would betray the faithful to them By this means many of the worthy servants of Jesus Christ were apprehended imprisoned and after a while sent to Rome to be there butchered Then was a new-found manner of death inflicted upon divers others never till then heard of whereby they were drowned in the bottome of the Sea The manner of it was thus After any of them had received the sentence of death by the Inquisitors an iron chain was fastned about their middle with a very heavy stone tyed thereto then were they laid upon a plank between two boats and so rowed to an appointed place in the Sea where the boats parting asudder the Martyrs presently sunk into the bottome of the Sea and were drowned Yet notwithstanding this cruelty many godly persons ceased not to assemble together in a place appointed for that purpose where they talked and discoursed of heavenly matters for their spiritual edification and made collections for the relief of the poor amongst them And Anno 1566. they called to them a Minister of the Gospel and constituted a Church where they enjoyed all the Ordinances with much comfort but some false brethren creeping in amongst them after a while betrayed them then were many apprehended cast into the Sea and drowned Others were sent to Rome where they were cast into prison till they rotted and dyed there Amongst others that were condemned to be drowned at Venice was one Mr. Anthony Ricetto to whom after his condemnation his sonne a youth about twelve years old came beseeching him with tears to yield that his life might be saved and himself not left fatherlesse To whom he answered A good Christian is bound to forgoe children goods yea and life it self for the maintenance of Gods honour and glory For which cause said he I am now resolved to lay down my life the Lord assisting me The Lords of Venice offered to restore to him his Patrimony which was partly morgaged and partly sold if he would submit to the Church of Rome but he resolutely refused that condition Not long after came a Captain to him and told him of one Francis Sega his prison-fellow that waâ— resolved to recant To whom he answered What tell you me of Sega I am resolved to performe my vows to the Lord my God Then was he carried forth bound to the boats and by the way a Priest presented him with a wooden Crosse exhorting him to recant c. But he on the contrary perswaded him and others to come out of the snares of the Divel and to cleave to Jesus Christ and to live not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit For said he otherwise your unbelief will bring you into the lake of fire that never shall be quenched When he came to the place where he was to suffer the Captain lastned the chain and stone to him whereupon lifting his eyes to heaven he said Father forgive them they know not what they do Lord Jesus into thy hands do I commend my spirit and so in the sea he ended his life A few dayes after one Mr. Francis Spinola was apprehended and committed to prison and when he was brought forth before the Inquisitors they shewed him a Treatise about the Lords Supper demanding whether he was the Author of it which he acknowledged avouching that the doctrine that was contained therein was agreeable to the holy Scriptures Then was he return'd to his prison where the aforementioned Sega was who waiting for his coming as he passed by saluted him by his name after which they conferred together about the doctrine of the Gospel and Sega having heard that Spinola had stood stoutly in the Confession of the truth he was much comforted saying that God had reserved him for such a time as this to make him Partaker of so great consolation Shortly after the Jailor told Sega that he was to die one hour within night at the hearing whereof he entreated Spinola to pray with him and after prayer he said that his soul was heavy unto death Spinola answered Fear not for it will not be long before your soul shall partake of those joyes which shall endure for ever At the appointed time he was fetched out of the dungeon where he took his leave of Spinola and the other Prisoners As he went into the boat a Friar perswaded him to return to the Church of Rome Sega answered that he was already in the way to our Lord Jesus Christ and so passing on he called upon the name of God He seemed to be a little amazed at the fastning of the chaine and stone to his body yet presently recollecting his spirits he took it patiently and so commending his soul into the hands of God he quietly slept in the Lord. Spinola being again called before the Inquisitors he boldly reproved the Popes Legate and the other Judges for that contrary to their consciences they persecuted the truth of God calling them the off-spring of the Pharisees c. The third time that he was called before them they asked him if he would not recant his errours he answered that the doctrine which he maintained was not erroneous but the same truth which Christ and his holy Apostles taught and for which all the Martyrs both in former and later times did willingly lay down their lives and endured the pains of death Yet after all this Spinola by the crafty perswasions of some seeming friends began to strike saile and to faint but through Gods goodnesse he soon recovered again and being called before the Judges he openly confirmed the truth and so had sentence passed upon him that he should be drowned as an Heretick To which he answered I am no Heretick but the servant of Jesus Christ at which words the Popes Legate commanded him silence and told him that he lyed the night after he was conveyed into the sea and there drowned praising and blessing God with invincible constancy Anno 1595. There was at Rome a young Englishman who going into a Church and seeing their grosse idolatry was so inflamed with zeal that he could not endure the sight of those horrible impieties and therefore he went out into the Church porch and as the Procession passed by him he waited till the Bishop came
the holy Mass forbidding those of the pretended Reformed Religion any ways to molest either by deed or word the Missionary Fathers or their Attendants much less to disswade any that would turn Catholicks under the same pain of death giving it in charge particularly to the Ministers of the said pretended Religion inviolably to observe the same upon pain of answering it in their proper names c. It 's easie to conjecture the miserable inconveniencies of a flight in the midst of winter especially to such a people amongst whom were many aged and decrepit many sick and diseased besides a multitude of women big with childe or newly brought to bed together with a number of tender Infants yet all forced to flye and none being in capacity to succor another Yet did these bloody beasts in the most violent and rigorous winter-season chase and drive out of their houses all on a sudden those poor people who scarce had clothes to cover their nakedness much less were they provided to resist the extremities of cold and hunger thinking hereby either to force them to change their Religion or to cause them to dye in the craggy Rocks and snowy Mountains yea they were so subtilly malicious as to chuse those very days when by reason of the multitude of violent waters in the Plain and of snow upon the Mountains they judged it impossible for those silly sheep ever to escape But these poor people considering that the Apostacy propounded was the way to eternal damnation chose rather to follow Christ in bearing his cross and to hazard their temporary lives rather than to lose their souls for ever yet that they might leave no lawful means unattempted they presently dispatched their Deputies to the Governor to represent to him the strangeness of this command to force them with their Families to abandon their antient habitations as also that it was impossible for so many souls as there were in number to subsist in the said place to which by the Edict they were confined they being scarce sufficient to supply in any sort those that inhabited them As likewise that this command was contrary to all their former Concessions upon which account they protested and appealed to his Royal Highness But the Governor knowing well the intention of the Council for the extirpating of Hereticks would neither admit of the one or of the other Hereupon the poor people seeing they could obtain nothing of him entreated him to grant them at least some time to have recourse to the Duke by humble supplications but this also was denied unless they would draw up their Petition by a model which he should prescribe which indeed was prejudicial both to their just Rights and Consciences These poor people I say seeing this to the end that they might remove all pretext for accusing them of Rebellion under that colour to ruine and destroy them hoping also that at last they might finde some means to lay their griefs at the feet of his Royal Highness and that his Clemency and Justice would in the end re-establish them in their ancient habitations they chose rather to suffer this violence and therefore recalling their Protestation thereby to testifie their profound respect to their Prince they quitted their houses and goods and retired with their Familes their Wives and Children great and small young and old whole and sick yea halt lame and blind draging after them such as were infirm by sickness or age through Rain Snow Ice Waters and a thousand difficulties Oh think with your selves what bitter tears what wringing of hands what smitting upon the breasts what mournings sighings and lamentations there were in the families of these miserable and distressed Creatures who were now reduced to the utmost of extremities before them were a multitude of violent and roaring waters on each hand most barbarous and snowy mountains behinde them men sevenfold worse than the Egyptians ready to butcher and destroy them yet recommending themselves Souls and Bodies to Gods protection they are resolved to undergo the worst of temporary miseries rather than by denying their Religion to damn their Souls This their Constancy and Resolution was no small comfort to other Churches and a matter of great astonishment to their Persecutors the rather considering the great advantages they might have purchased by quitting their Religion as Pardon for all crimes Liberty if in Prisons exemption from all manner of Taxes c. They were no sooner departed from their houses but a number of Thieves and Robbers entred them spoiling and pillaging whatever the people had left behinde them pulling down their houses cuting down all their trees and turning their habitation into a desolate wilderness of which violence the poor people complained to the Duke and received from him such an answer that they apprehended his intentions were not that they should wholly quit their houses till their cause might be heard and judged in confidence hereof they sometimes returned to their houses to guard them from these Robbers and to husband their ground that so they might have wherewithal to pay their Taxes yet for this they were branded with Rebellion though they had neither taken up arms nor acted any other hostility every one living peaceably without giving any cause of offence Gastaldo having thus driven these poor people from their antient inheritance without legal citing them hearing their plea or giving them the least time to provide for so sad a flight their last refuge was to have recourse to the Lord by fervent prayers and to their Prince by humble supplications which was done not only by those that were driven from their houses but by the other Churches of the Reforned Religion the cause being common to them all But alas they found both his and all other his Ministers ears stopped to their wosull crys neither could they obtain so much as admittance into the presence of his Royal Highness Amongst other cunning Artifices used by their malicious Adversaries to imbitter the spirits of his Highness and the Dutchess his Mother against these poor Protestants this was one John Ressan President of the Province of Pignorolio having for many years born a deadly spleen against the popish Priest of Fenile hired one to assassinate him and then by his Secretary he spread it abroad all over the Country that the Protestants were the Authors of the murther who yet five days before were driven out of Fenile which report flew far and near being entertained as an undoubted truth by those Papists who lived far off encreasing also with carriage though upon the place the author of this murther was well known so that by all their reports they were not able to fasten any blemish in the minds of the dead Priests friends and Kindred nor to hinder them from apprehending both the Master and his Secretary by which means the innocency of the Reformed party was so cleared to the world that the Marquess of Pionessa in his
hither out of the neighbouring Silesia and so the use of the German tongue was brought in together with them As for Religion it was reformed in Lesna about the same time by the most illustrious Count Andrew Palatine of Bernstien according to the rites of the Bohemian Confession which it hath retained to this day and became as it were the Metropolis of the Churches of that Confession throughout all the greater Poland And when after the year 1620. a very sharp persecution was raised against the Professors of the Gospel in Bohemia and not long after the Ministers and Nobility were banished they were fain to seek refuge in Poland whom that most pious Noble man the Lord Raphael de Lesna Palatine of Belse received under his protection appointing Lesna Wlodava Baranovia for their places of refuge But for as much as the greater part did seat themselves at Lesna because of the neernesse thereof and not long after a far greater company flocked thither out of Silesia for there also the butchery of souls grew wonderful fierce in the years 1628. and 1629. it came to passe that Lesna by the addition of many streets grew into a large City having three market places four Churches a large School above twenty streets one thousand six hundred houses two thousand freemen of the City and abundance of other company There was built also a very fair Church for the service of God according to the rites of the Augustane Confession which had over it three Pastors learned men and a School for the mother tongue with some Schoolmasters beside the Free-schoole which had a learned man of the forementioned Confession appointed over it by the title of Prorector The Citizens also having ordered themselves according to the best policy they could there were found out handsome wayes for a publick revenue that made no noise and were little felt and without any mans dammage or burden so that they were able for some years to maintaine workmen for the compassing of the City about with a Bulwark and Trench and for the building of gates with walls and faire turrets And lastly there was built a very fair Court-house in the middle of the market-place of the old City there was scarce the like in all great Poland except at Posnania In a word Civility trading merchandize for all things were here bought and sold and Religion did so flourish here that this City did not come behinde any City in Poland for its admirable pleasantnesse All this was matter of joy not only to those pious Christians that were scattered out of several places for the Gospels sake and here gathered together under the protection of God but to others also that came hither from all parts as strangers but it galled the enemies of the Gospel extremely so that it made them leave no designe unassayed for the overthrow of this City of refuge for the godly At the first Annis 1628 1629. they made use of several accusations and slanders to King Sigismund the third suggesting to him that it was a confluence of all sorts of men that were enemies and traytors to his Majesty that it was good to nip them in the bud c. But through the prudence of that great Senator the Lord of the place whose wisdome went beyond their envy and who knew well enough how to counter-work all malicious projects of that kinde all those their battering-rams were at that time used in vain But Anno 1653. after that the Swedes were broken by the Emperours army in Germany and were driven out of Silesia new plots were hatched at Glogaw to send out one or two of the Emperours regiments who should suddenly invade Lesna sack the town and put the inhabitants to the sword or at least scatter them But it pleased God so to order it that this plot was discovered by some of themselves two days before the appointed time and so vanished into smoak though the smoak of their devices did not yet cease to rise For after the death of the most illustrious Prince Palatine of Belse when his estate was divided amongst his sons and heirs and the County of Lesna fell to the illustrious Lord Boguslaus his third son then newly returned from travelling the Plotters were not wanting so to lie in wait to insnare this candidate of great wisdome and vertue that after they had wearied him for some years with the promises of honours unto which there was no door of entrance but by entertaining the Roman-Catholick Religion at last they enticed him to professe Popery But however they heaped many honours upon him procuring him some Captainships afterwards the Generalship of great Poland and lastly the Arch-treasurership of the Realme yet could they not procure his hatred of the Professors of the Gospel and the dissipation of his subjects which was the thing they hoped for but he still preserved intire to his Lesna those priviledges both Civil and Religious which his father of blessed memory had promised offered or confirmed to them They attempted therefore this other device The Bishop of Posnania ventured to redemand the old Parish-Church because it was of ancient foundation and pretended that it might not any longer be left to the use of Hereticks The Lord Treasurer answered that his Grandfather Andrew Palatine of Brenstien had built another Church for the Catholicks whose number was very small in the town scarce ever above three or four Citizens to exercise their Religion in and endowed it with revenues to that purpose that the greater number of Citizens might enjoy the greater Church But all was in vain though he doubled the maintenance of the Roman Parish-priest for Anno 1652. they brought the Lord Count before the tribunal of the Realme where the cause must needs go against him the very same persons being accusers witnesses and Judges yet he obtained that this Church should not suddenly be taken away from his Subjects the inhabitants of old Lesna until they had built themselves a new one This building they presently set about with the help of forrein Churches according as they were in a capacity to help things being every where in confusion But when the adversaries saw that it went on apace and that this was like to be bigger than the other for so great now was the multitude of Citizens of this Confession that the old Church was not able to contain them they began again to mutter and threaten that this might not be endured that the Hereticks should have a bigger Church than the Catholicks that they did but build this also for the Catholicks c. At length the irruption of the Swedes into Poland Anno 1655. gave them the long wished for occasion of oppressing and rooting out not only the Lesnians but also all the Professors of the Gospel or as they were wont to be called the Dissenters from the Roman Religion throughout Poland For although the Papists themselves had transacted with the Swedes at their coming out of
this is the most miserable state and condition of our Churches moreover our Countrey-men to the number of five thousand besides youths and children being dispersed in banishment which hath now befallen most of us the second time especially throughout Silesia as also through the Marck Lusatia Hungary c. find no comfort but much misery and are there exposed to the hatred and envy of men We that are Pastors dare not openly minister to our Auditories with the Word and Sacraments but onely in private Meetings or in Woods among Fenny places God onely seeing us who is witnesse of these calamities and our comfort in extremities Indeed being thus destitute of all things we lead a wretched life in banishment being afflicted with hunger and nakednesse and are become next to the most miserable Waldenses the greatest spectacle of calamity to the Christian world for so it hath seemed good to that Soveraign Wisdome that governs all things that we should be inheritors of the Crosse and persecution of those men from whom we have derived the original of our Doctrine and external Succession For truly we are the remaining Progeny even of the Waldenses with whom being raised from the ashes of blessed Huss and with whom combining into the same holy Fellowship of the Faith and afflictions of Christ we have for two whole ages and more been perpetually subject to the like storms of Calamities until at length we fell into this calamity greater than ever was known in the memory of our Fathers and which threatens us with utter destruction unlesse God prevent it The truth is this businesse constrains us to amazement and tears greater than can be exprest in words to set forth our affliction and sorrow If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies we desire that this affliction of Joseph may be recommended especially to all that are of the houshold of Faith Let them not suffer those to perish whom the same Faith and the same Spirit of Christ hath joyned with them in so near a relation we beseech them in the name of Christ that they would rather make haste to relieve those who are ready to perish we being assured that we suffer this persecution upon no other account than for the confession of the Truth from those Enemies who have acted such things as these are against us in times past and are now at length by Gods permission pouring out their fury upon us Signed in the name of the said distressed Churches by their Delegates and now Exiles for the Cause of Christ Adam Samuel Hartman Pastor of the Church of Lesna in Poland and Rector of the famous University there Paul Cyril a late Member of the University of Lesna A BRIEF REPRESENTATION OF THE Protestant Cause in GERMANY In what Case it hath been since the Peace of MUNSTER and how it stood in the year 1657. and how it is now this present year 1659. THe Justice of the late civil warres in Germany which were composed at the Peace concluded in Munster and Osnaburgge in the year 1648. was grounded upon this That the Protestants were necessitated to enter into a League or mutual union together for the maintaining of their rights and priviledges in the Empire against the infections thereof and manifold disturbances of their profession which contrary to former agreements at Imperial Dyets did befal unto them in many places by the Popish and Jesuites practices whereof they could obtain no redresse by any peaceable Treaties Therefore finding that there was a design formed in the Conclave and by the house of Austria to be put in execution tending by little and little to wear out and deprive them of their liberties they formed an union among themselves to stand upon the defence of their rights and to oppose the power of the house of Austria by whose means both in Germany and in Bohemia the Jesuites did drive the design of rooting out Protestants The head of this union who by his place was bound to appear in it was the Elector Palatine but he being a soft man of no experience in war and beset in his Counsels and enterprises with such as did betray him the cause was soon overthrown and by his overthrow the intended persecution against Protestants to root them out what by power and what by policie was openly carried on by the house of Austria which moved the King of Denmark Christian the IV. and after him the King of Sweden to come upon the Stage the Dane was soon overthrown but God gave such successe unto the Swedes to the Landgrave of Hessen their associate and to the French who joyned with them to ballance the power of Austria after the Elector of Saxony had made his peace at Prague with the Emperour and deserted the Protestant interest that from the death of King Gustavus they continued the war with various successes till the year 1648. at which time the Swedish being masters in Bohemia and the Emperour brought so low that he saw little hopes to recover his strength without a Peace he yielded to the conditions which the Protestants and the French stood upon The Swedish stood upon their satisfaction and to keep a foot in the Empire to be able upon all occasions to secure or help the Protestant party And the Protestant Princes they stood upon the setling of all things and of themselves in their former rights and possessions as before the war and chiefly upon this point the reformed party and the Landgrave of Hessen who headed them stood that thence forward the reformed Protestants alias called Calvinists should have equal freedom and liberty of conscience for the exercise of their profession in the Empire with the Papists and Lutherans This condition being obtained and a way determined to give the agrieved parties in point of dammage further satisfaction Armies were dismissed a new convention of States was held at Nurenberg to settle the remaining matters within the Empire which at Munster and Osnabrugge could not well be handled by reason of the Treatie with forreigne States and afterward a Dyet was called at Ratisbon to confirme all what formerly had been treated on and concluded and to put the remainder of grievances in a way to be rectified To which effect at the dissolution or rather adjournment of the Imperial Dyet at Ratisbon a Committee of Deputies from all the States of the Empire of equal number of both parties that is so many of the Protestants as of the Popish partie were named to meet at Franckford and prepare by way of disquiry of rights the matters then remaining undecided that at the next Session of the Dyet there might be a full decision and determination of them but before these Delegates did meet the Elector of Mentz did broach a new quarrel with the Elector Palatine tending to abridge him of much of his right and to make him inconsiderable to the Protestant party but
all that know him that he is earnestly bent to take away the differences and advance the reconcilement of Protestants within themselves and that he makes no difference between Lutherans as they are called and Calvinists but makes use of both alike according to their abilities as he findes them fitted for employment to forreign affairs for within the Kingdom of Sweden no forreigners and none but Lutherans are to be admitted to the civil charges of trust others are employed in military charges both there and elsewhere according to their deserts But presently after the Elector of Brandenburg was by subtile artifices withdrawn from the King of Sweden and joyned with the Emperour and the King of Poland against him the King of Denmark was prevailed with to break his late-made League and the States of the United Provinces have joyned with the Dane against him and God having taken away his great friend Oliver Lord Protector he hath conflicted with many and great difficulties and yet hitherto God hath upholden him from sinking under them What the issue will be time must discover FINIS A Table of all the principal Things contained in this General MARTYROLOGIE A ANabaptists wickedness Pag. 281 Anger implacable 355 Apostacy dangerous 43 50 53 82 171 183 202 205 210 264 324 349 Apostates wickedness 6 15 177 B BIbles sacred Scriptures burnt 7 62 204 210 283 332 333 334 388 Bibles in French first printed 118 Blasphemy 16 44 72 84 86 172 186 189 190 209 290 295 310 334 336 337 338 339 348 384 388 C CHarity of Christians 70 92 96 103 285 286 293 303 320 323 367 369 Chastity eminent 52 Children martyred 44 48 51 72 73 91 99 110 346 391 Children encouraged by their parents to sufferings 23 24 75 88 95 98 315 Christ preferred above all 132 269 283 350 359 Christians slandred as the Authors and causes of mischief 31 34 37 41 46 56 63 80 87 98 105 112 115 136 174 177 179 325 Christians murthered in Churches 65 93 329 360 Christians reproached 82 241 Comfort at death 177 193 196 266 270 279 282 289 320 Conscience evil 92 Constancy of Gods children 18 39 42 44 53 63 73 76 78 81 92 94 95 117 132 147 171 188 204 209 254 264 266 269 270 272 277 288 301 304 305 341 361 364 415 Conversions strange 47 48 58 179 268 279 286 287 289.299.303 329 364 Courage and Constancy of Gods children 7 9 18 20 21 22 23 51 52 57 63 66 67 71 73 77 83 85 86 98 99 103 118 142 189 191 192 256 259 269 288 290 291 292 293 295 299 302 317 319 321 323 326 360 362 370 389 400 406 429 Cruelty of heathens to Gods people 7 9 31 52 65 69 71 76 77 83 84. Cruelty of Heriticks to them 87 89 91 93 94 95 96 97. Cruelty of Papists to them 103 105 108 110 111 113 115 125 126 134 135 137 143 146 153 171 173 183 184 188 201 203 206 207 208 209 240 241 242 272 279 282 286 288 292 297 298 305 308 309 c. 323 325 328 330 332 c. 344 361 380 c. 414 c. 421 c. 451. D Devils subtilty 59 Dissimulation 199 252 341 342 343 345 402 416. E Edicts good 145 Edicts and Lawes cruel 49 62 70 97 106 137 155 160 164 173 175 179 198 199 319 335 362 397 405 413. Envie 94 Examples prevalent 98 F Faith of Gods children 77.78 190 193 266 304 331 336 338 361 False witnesses 282 Famines terrible 69 157 159 298 352 355 356. Fasting and Prayer 122 Fidelity 193 Flattery 73 249 Flight in time of persecution 51 Flight refused 287 300 317 H Hereticks profane 90 100 Hereticks proud 97 Heretickes subtile 96 97 Hereticks impudent 98 Heroical acts 274 292 Humane frailty 41 51 63 66 120 134 249 267 273 296 319 327 366 Humility 275 Husbands malice against his wife 40 Hypocrisie 68 70 248 316 350 I Idolatry gross 276 Idolatry reformed 282 Jewes murthered refusing to fight on the sabbath 8 Ignorance 256 285 365 Jmage of Apollo broken with lightning 85 Ingratitude 36 184 281 348 Inquisition begun 118 236. Joy unspeakable 44 193 â—67 Joy in tribulation 128 190 209 270 294 296 302 336 366. Judgments of God 16.116 154 157. L Life refused 266 Love of Christians 54.115 M Meekness of Christians 287 Ministers Mâ—rtyred 53.56 80 88 172 187 280 284 285 286 290 293 298 310 311 329 336 340 346 350 351 352 Ministers sheltred in times of Persecution 198 Miracles Miracles of mercy 13 23 32 41 49 51 63 83 87 121 279 282 285 288 320 322 324 337 343.395 N Nobility true 72 O Ordination of Ministers 174 P Patience of Gods children in sufferings 19 40 50 66 191 203 271 274 292 296 323 338 349 373 Perfidiousness 15.243 See Popish perfidiousness Persecution spreads the Gospel 104 156 164 174 178 328. Persecutors plagued by God 13 26 28 48 53 54 59 67 69 70 84 89 100 112 116 125 138 139 168 175 176 177 210 211 257 277 283 284 297 305 321 326 328 330 354 355 364 389 392 393 394 433 Persecutors converted 27.64.322 Plagues terrible 54.69.158 Popish malice 103.104.106.115.119 120.173.175.178.179.208.235.251 279.284.289.300.320.326.329 367.399 Popish Prrfidiousnesse 122.124.125 131.145.149.150.151.159.183 201.233.264.290.298.299.316 335.338.339.340.362.378.380 390.393 Popish subtilty 113.114.122.124 128.140.147.151.170.172.174 180. c. 199.203.206.207.233 237.239.290.296.306.331.351 364.405 c. 432 Popish uncleanness 113.138.139.144 207.336.376.378.391.392 Prayer in times of danger â—5 10.11 126.129.130.287 Prayer powerfull and prevalent 44. â—9 123.191.294.370 Predictions and Prophesies 195.265.324.368.370.371.372.375 Pride 62.92.148 Profanness 93 118.121.123.135.139.17â—.207 Providences special 14.40.52.54.58.61.78.85.88.91.92.93.96.114.116.118.120.123.124.125.126.128.129 130.134.145.167.178.179.184.202.251.255.259.261.264.265.266.269.277.286.289.292.299.303 307.316.317.325.326.328.330.331 332 338.347.351.352.354.360.361.367.369.404.432.433 Prudence of Chrisâ—ians 119.326.401 R REcovery after falls 43.53.79.202.249.251 256.264.267.273 296.320.328 Riches are snares 50 S Scismaticks plagued by God 90 Scismaticks bloody 86 Scismaticks profane 90 Scismaticks subtile 86 Scisme comes from pride 54 172 Scriptures see Bible Sectaries dangerous 48 Sin the forerunner of persecution 56.61.100.180.341 Son dutifull and loving 346 Southsayers wickedness 49 55 79 80 Speeches excellent 293.295 300.304.317.322 327.334.352.362 Stories excellent 33.78.88.95.125.322 353 Subtilty of the Churches enemies 16.18.20.23.82.84.87 Success no sign of a good cause 189.278 Sympathy 95 Synods 173 T TEntations resisted 77.79.94.95.99.132 176 187 190 .203.265.268.270.271.272.284.291.293.300.322.327.336.361.365 Thanksgiving for mercies 129.154 Thanksgiving for sufferings 266 300 Trechery rewarded 45.323.359 360 V Visions 53.56 W WAldenses their opinions 103 Wife loving to her husband 171 Wisdom of Christians 84 see prudence Witnesses false plagued by God 47 Womens courage 356.360 Z ZEal 8.19.41.45.46.50.51.53.58 63 76.79.86.107.116.117.131 133.135 â—51 258.268.275.289.290.291.295.299.300.304.315.319.321.324.345.363 FINIS This Book being printed most of it by the printed Copy I looked not over the Proofes and so through the carelesness of the Correctors and Compositors many faults have escaped