this chaine and thus fettered with Irons I doubt not but they have given such a reason of their faith that whosoever shall read their answers and weigh the same without partiality must néeds judge thereof even as wée doe And for my owne part I am ready to make it good before any whom it conceres that the doctrine I now hold and 1. Tim. 6. 3. Deut. 12. 32. teach is according to godlinesse taken out of the pure fountaines of the holy scriptures without adding diminishing or varying any way therefrom Bishop We reade that in all times men have béen wont to shelter themselves under the Title of Gods word in so much that all the old heresies maintained by heretiques have run to this covert so as great héed is to be taken lest under this pretence men rush into errors La Grange I am not ignorant sir hereof in regard that Satan knows how to transform himselfe into an Angel of light thereby to establish his delusions causing darknesse thereby to be taken 2. Cor. 11. 14. Iohn 14. 17. for light But the holy Ghost who is the Spirit of truth hath in such wise discovered his jugglings that none are deluded thereby but those who at noone day close their eyes that they may 2 Cor. 4. 4. not behold the light Bishop Doe you thinke that the holy Ghost hath given you such an illumination that the truth should only be revealed to you and to none other La Grange God forbid sir I should have any such thought I am not of the minde of those dreamers who at this day bragge of their having particular revelations of the holy Spirit He means the Anabaptists and their like Eph. 2. 20. But I speake of an ordinary and generall revelation such as is taught us out of the Bible which we call the holy Scriptures according as it is therein declared unto us by the Prophets and Apostles This was the effect of the Bishops first communication with de la Grange after which hée was heard to say twice or thrice to the Kings Commissioners that hée had no will to meddle any further with him Being called for to be examined elsewhere before the said Commissioners Peregrine tooke his leave of the Bishop entreating him to intercede for him that hée might be eased of his irons alledging that the Prison was strong enough and sufficiently garded The second time they met together the Bishop having a prompt memory made a rehearsall of what passed betwéen them the day before and after began thus with the said Peregrine Bishop Séeing that which I hold as touching the Sacrament of the Altar is agréeable to the Scriptures confirmed so long since by the consent of all the ancient fathers wherefore doe you not agrée with us therein Had you rather hold with these Novelists as with Calvin and with the confession of Auspourge Grange Sir I am neither Calvinist nor Papist I am a Christian and what I hold concerning religion is taken out of Christs doctrine who to the only Doctor of his Church What Calvin hath taught conformable to the word of God I am of the same minde with him and whereas you call your Religion the old Religion and ours the new it troubles me not at all since the Father of lies hath long since forged the same to disgrace the truth and to establish and maintaine the multitudes of falshoods and absurdities of your Tenents which you hold For example because Christ in giving his disciples bread in the Sacrament said This is my body thence they would make us beléeve that the bread is become the body of Christ as if the verbe est signified a change of the bread into another substance which is found in no language whatsoever Bishop We maintaine not the Transubstantiation of the bread from this Verbe est knowing that the Hebrews use the Participle of the Present tense in stead of a Verbe but rather from hence because Christ said This is my body La Grange I told * For they had many disputes touching this point which are not here inserted you that Iesus Christ in his Supper gives us that body which was conceived by the holy Ghost in the wombe of the virgin Mary which was crucified dead and buried raised againe the third day and is ascended into heaven yet wee utterly deny that there is any change made of the bread Therefore if you would have us beéeve it let us have some proofe of scripture for it Bish To speake properly the Transubstantiation of the bread cannot be proved by the Word of God and yet we must beléeve it for the reasons above said La Grange Your glorying then that you have the Word of God on your side is as you sée come to nothing And why have you then burned so many of Gods saints for denying that which you cannot maintaine by the scriptures For our parts we should blush to affirme that the substance of bread remaines after the words of consecration if we could not prove the same from the very forme of the institution of the sacrament wherein Christ tooke bread and having given thankes hee brake bread and gave to his Disciples bread and they tooke and did eat bread yea Saint Paul rehearsing 1 Cor. 11. 23 26. 17. the institution calls it bread thrice Bish You know that in the Hebrew Tongue bread is taken for the remainders of what was eaten Paul therefore in that place speakes of those viands which the Corinthians did eate in their Love-feaste reproving their abuse So also howsoever Paul calls it bread there and that in the second of the Acts of the Apostles mention is Act. 〈◊〉 42. made of the breaking of bread all this serves not your turne La Grange I grant that bread is taken in the Scripture in this sence but be it that bread be taken for the meat that was left yet you reade not that the substance was changed into the substance of other meate or lost the property thereof It is certaine that the Scripture useth not this phrase of breaking of bread in the use of the Lords supper for nothing for thereby we are given to understand that it is not a signe onely in appearance or shew but the true substance of bread Bish Let it be what it will wee hold close to the words of Iesus Christ where he saith This is my body and therefore also beéeve what wee speake I care not if I be deceived in this matter nor for bearing reproofe for the same either Vnderstand the words sacramentally and all is wel before God or men for before God himself I will pleade thus Lord thou hast said it and I beleeve it La Grange We rest in the same thing also but withall we have an eie unto Christs meaning and intent which was to establish a sacrament we also receive from his mouth the same words as well as you but sacramentally where the outward signe beares the name
upon all namely I acknowledge that the seven Sacraments be Baptisme Confirmation the Eucharist which is the holy Sacrament of the Altar Penance extreame Vnction Orders and marriage and that of these Baptisme Confirmation and Orders cannot be reiterated without sacriledge That the said Sacraments confer grace and have those effects which the Church hath taught and that the forme and use according to which they are administred to Christians is holy and necessary 5. I further acknowledge that the holy masse is a Sacrifice and oblation of the true body and blood of Iesus Christ under the formes of bread and wine mingled with water whcih bread and wine under the foresaid formes are in the Masse by the words of Consecration there pronounced by the Priest transubstantiated and changed into the said body and blood of Christ albeit the qualities and accidents remaine in the said formes after Consecration and that the Masse is profitable and available both for the liuing and for the dead 6. I acknowledge and confesse the concomitance namely that in receiving the body of Christ under the forme of bread only I then likewise receive the blood of Iesus Christ 7. I confesse that prayer to and intercession of Saints for the living and for the dead is holy good and profitable for Christians and in no sort contrary to the honour of God 8. That prayers made in the Church for the faithfull departed are beneficient for them for the remission of sinss and mitigating of their paines deserved for the same 9. That there is a Purgatory where the soules of such as are detained there are relieved by the prayers of the faithfull 10. I confesse that honour ought to be given to th Saints 〈◊〉 with Christ in heaven that they ought to be prayed to and that they make intercession for us to God and that their reliques ought to be worshipped 11. That the commandements and traditions of the saide church consisting of divine ceremonies are holy and good fastdayes abstinence from meates observation of feastes and other Ecclesiasticall rites and ought to be observed according to the traditions of the Apostles and ancient Fathers continued from the Primitive times and since brought into the Church by the decrées of Councels received thence long agoe or lately Also that I will and ought to obey them as prescribed and authorized by the holy Ghost the ordainer of those things which serve to the upholding of Christian religion and of the holy Catholike and Apostolike Romane Church 12. I likewise beleeve and consent to all the Articles concerning originall sinne and Iustification 13. I also stedfastly believe that the 〈◊〉 or Christ of his holy Mother and of all the Saints ought to be reâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 the Church 〈◊〉 the uses of them are very profitable and that they ought to be worshipped 14. I confesse that the power of 〈…〉 and pardons is left to the Church by Jesus Christ and the use of them is greatly aâ—â—â—â—â—le as also I acknowledge the Church of Rome to be the 〈◊〉 Mother of all Churches and that she hath the holy Ghost for her guide and that all private and pretended inspirations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ing the same are of the Devill the 〈…〉 who would rent in sunder the â—â—â—â—â—â—esse Coat of Jesus Christ 15. Lastly I strictly promise to observe and kéepe whatsoever was decréed and ordained by the last Councell of Trent and do promise before God and you never to depart from the Catholike and Apostolike Romane Church And if I shall which God forbid I submit me to the correction and Canons of the said Church made decréed and ordained against them which fall into Apostasse To which abjuration and confession I have subscribed with my hand c. Some of those who for feare abjured afterwards relented others grew more and more hardened insomuch that in going oft to Masse they tooke part with the priests and murtherers as if they had never made any profession at all of the truth Persecution at Boardeaux the third of October 1572. Soone after the massacre at Paris tidings thereof came to Bourdeaux Where it happened on a morning as the Protestants were taking boat to heare a Sermon in a meadow where they were wont to meet being about three miles from Bourdeaux betweene the river of Garonna and the brooke of la Jalla that the Governour Mountferrand commanded them to come backe again He had the shift to cloake the same under a plausble pretence namely that they should not be set upon there by the multitude After their returne they began to set a strong watch and ward at the gates so as none of the religion could have leave to passe forth unlesse he had a passeport from the Governour yet meanes was made for their Ministers escape without being perceived who went to Medoâ— expecting what the event of this businesse at Bourdeaux would be Having intelligence of what was executed there they staid certaine daies and nights hiding themselves in the rocks and marshes untill they had opportunity to take shipping and so saile into England Instantly thereupon there arrived at Bourdeaux the Lord of Montpesat from the King who at his first comming fained as if he meant to settle all things in peace Yet he wrought under hand in such wise with the Governour that the massacre was resolved of to which he was sollicited by a Jesuite called Edmund Angier who out of the pulpit used horribly and bitterly to thunder and inveigh against the remisnesse and faint-heartednesse of the said Governour Insomuch as on S. Michaels day as they called it speaking of the Angels by whom God executes his iudgements he cryed out by way of Interrogation Who executed Gods iudgements 〈◊〉 the Hugenots in Paris The Angell of God Who hath executed the like upon other Cities in this Kingdome The Angell of God In a word he never ceased in publique and priâ—ate to sollicite the Papists of Bourdeaux to follow the example of the Parisians And then as a croking Raven day by day he thâ—â—â—ted those of the religion with the approaching of an utter ruine and desolation if they did not betimes returne into the bosome of the Romane Church which offer if they 〈◊〉 refuseâ— they should not be received in when they would Many being terrified with these threates as also by the intreaties of their kindred who set before fore them the imminent danger which hung over Anno 1572. their heads revolted and abjured The said Sieur of Montpasset caused Master William Blanck an Advocate in the Court of Parliament to be called before him who was counsellor to him and to his father in law exhorting and perswading him to returne to the unity of the Romane church Le Blanck answered that he had sufficiently weighed and compared all things together before he tooke upon him the profession of that Religion which he now professed which he said was the true religion acknowledging the same in every respect far to excéed the other Montpessat
him elevate his God That hée used much to walke to and fro about the scaffold where the faithfull were executed with a kinde of delight coveting to stand neere unto them that by accustoming himselfe in beholding the place and torments he saw others indure he might bee the better emboldened to suffer the like when God should call him thereunto These were in effect the Articles which were inserted in his sentence a part whereof also was drawne out of the confession of his faith the sum being this First That a man is justified and accepted of God onely for the merrit of Iesus Christ apprehended by faith That the popes pardons and indulgences sent from Rome are méere delusions and that the Pope is Antichrist c. That it was the desire of his heart to be burned or to suffer some other extremity for the maintenance of the Faith which he professed That he endevored to imploy the goods and riches wherwith God had blessed him only for the defence and further inlarging of the doctrine of the Gospel Yea to forsake life wife children and all for the same to which end hee had daily sent up many hearty prayers to God In all this busines the holy tribunall labored by cunning devices to obscure this confession causing it to be bruited that he held not out to the end with many other like inventions to make the people beleeve they had turned him to their Law but herein they shewed themselves not well advised in that they belied both him and themselves For in publishing his crimes and offences with the manner of his death what did they else but declare and manifest the truth of the fact which plainly appeareth in these words of the sentence Iohn Ponce of Leon burned for an heretike and an obstinate Lutheran c. Which words made their fraudulent dealing apparent to such as doubted any way of the constancie and perseverance of this pious Christian knight Iohn Gonzalve a Preacher in Sevill Martyr with whom were executed two of his sisters their mother remaining in prison reserved to act her part in another tragedie GOnzalve a renowned Preacher throughout the Countrey of Andalousie was also led in this inquisitoriall triumph who forsaking his Schoole Divinity in which learning he excelled all his fellowes gave himselfe wholly to the study of the holy Scriptures according to the purity whereof his whole conversation was ordered both inwarly and outwardly Hee was often observed in all his Sermons to ayme at this marke namely to deliver mens minds from that blind conceit of meriting by works that so way might be made for justification onely by Faith in Christ Iesus and déeply to in graft into them the knowledge of the sole merit of his plenary satisfaction For which his labour hee expected to receive from man the same reward which all the true servants of God have had in their times Being then seized upon by those of this Spanish inquisition hee yeelded a reason of his faith in that purity and sincerity as did the aforesaid Iohn Ponce who as they had beene friends and of familliar acquaintance so were they joyned together in the same confession and led to the same execution together The night before he suffered he had a sore conflict with an old sect of Priests who were of the Inquisition but in the end he caused them to returne vanquished and ashamed He was led from the castle and prison of Trion with his two sisters unto the place appointed for his end that they with him might drinke of the same cup leaving his mother and one of his brethren behind him in prison reserved to be executed when their turn came about He never shewed the least signe of being dismaid but contrariwise with great constancy and courage of heart standing above all the people to whom he had formerly preached and delivered the patterne of sound Doctrine He began with a loud voyce to recite the Psalme which begins thus O Lord my Rocke Psal 28. 1. be not thou silent to me c. not changing his conntenance at all upon the Scaffold though they had gagged him there because he comforted and fréely exhorted one of his sisters to be constant whose spirit he feared might otherwise faint Hearkening very attentively to his sentence which was there againe recited he was not any thing at all abashed or troubled thereat but tooke his solemne degrading patiently receiving the markes and garments of his confession to wit his yellow robe an haltar and a painted miter with a joyfull and chéerefull heart knowing that howsoever they were disgracefull in the eyes of the world yet he estéemed of them as ornaments of honour in the sight of God and his Angels abhoring his massing attire whereof they had disrobed him When the time was come that those which should be burned were brought to the place of execution they were every one commanded to recite the articles of their beléefe which they willingly did but when they came to the Article I beleeve the holy Catholique Church they were bidden to adde this word Romane whereupon they were silent then did the Monkes and Fryers importune Gonzalves sisters and other Christian women who were to be burned with them to repeat the said word Romane who answered they would if they might heare Iohn Gonzalva pronounce it not that they intended so to doe but being confident of his renouncing the same hoping by this meanes to frée him of his gagge and so to obtaine the liberty of spéech by which he might render a reason of his faith and so of this article among the rest Being ungagged the first word he spake was that they should be of good courage and not to adde one word more than what they had recited Vpon this their last confession they were forthwith strangled as the fire was kindled upon them to burne and consume them ¶ Isabell of Vaenia Mary of Viroes Cornella Mary of Bohorques and Iane her sister burnt at Sevill in Spaine AMong all the most ancient professors of true religion that had their abode in the Church of God at Sevill who in a manner were all wasted by the Tyranny of the Inquisition the power of faith appeared in these foure women above specified Now howsoever they were all endued with singular piety and godlinesse yet the yonger of them named Bohorques being under the age of one and twenty was instructed above the rest in holy letters by dayly reading and conference with good and godly men wherewith Sevil at that time was well furnished shée had obtained such promptnesse in the knowledge of the Texts of the old and new Testament that many who were estéemed learned in that City have confessed they were often put to a non-plus by such reasons as shée alledged out of the Scriptures As touching the first of these Vaenia her house was a schoole or colledge of piety being the place also where all the méetings were to publish the praises of God
returne into their owne countrey againe taking boat about the end of Iune Anno 1560. They were no sooner arrived at Nieuport but two of them to wit Iames and Ieane endeavored to passe on to Honscot leaving Christian to come at his leisure because he was not well at ease having also a fardel of small books of religion The Bailife with some others méting him upon the way asked him whence he came and whither he was going as also what he was Christian framed them such an answer that they could take no advantage against him travelling as hée did upon the way onely they spied about him that fardell of books by occasion whereof they brought him backe into the City and having learned that he came over wish two others the Bailiffe forthwith sent his lievtenant towards Honscot who so wilily handled the matter that in the end he caught them and brought them bound to the City of Furn. Where for a few daies they were prisoners together with the foresaid Christian in which condition they mutually comforted and encouraged one another but their adversaries soone separated them thinking therby to weaken their strength constancy and fortitude Upon the first of their interrogatories which was about the third and fourth of Iuly they asked Iames why he separated from the church of Rome Ans Because it is not the church of Christ Quest How know you that Answer Because it hath neither the Word of God soundly preached the Sacraments duly administred nor the Ecclesiasticall Discipline after a right manner executed Iames gave good and solid reasons hereof shewing that in their Church was taught that soules must bée saved by saying of Masses long prayers invocation of saints pilgrimages with other such vaine and deceivable hopes yea said the Priest doe you thus judge of those who give to Iesus Christ bread when he is hungry and drinke when he is thirsty and cloath Anno 1563. him being naked c. And so went on with multiplying many words not suffering the said Iames to finish what he was about to have said Others asked him if he could prove that they had not the true administration of Baptisme Answer You have so obscured it with your owne additions that a man can scarce discerne it to be Baptisme Quest What thinke you then of your owne Baptisme Answ Were I now to be baptised I would not receive it from your Church so well it likes me that I have received it from you Being demanded what he said to the Sacrament of the Altar he proved evidently how farre off it was from the first institution of the Lords supper And as concerning the Ecclesiasticall discipline hée uttered more of their corrupting of it then they were willing to heare After this they were examined by two friers who were chosen out for the purpose one of them was Iohn Campo superintendent of the Gray Friers of Dixmude the other was called Peter Pennet Prior of the Carmelites in Ypre These two examined the thrée prisoners first upon the articles of the faith and then if they beléeved that Christ was made of the séed of the woman Iames answered we are all perswaded that Iesus Christ was made of the séed of the woman according as God hath promised Gen. 3. 15. Moreover of the séed of Abraham add of David and Gal. 4. 4. Rom. 1. 3. Heb. 4. 15. that he was in all things made like unto his brethren sinne onely excepted After many other questions upon divers points they were asked whether in the consecration of the Masse the body of Christ was present there or no No said Iames It is nothing like the Lords Supper which Christ gave to them that sate at table with him According to which institution the faithfull being assembled together Acts 2. 42. brake bread c. Nor shall ye find in the Scriptures that one alone receiveth or that the rest stood and looked on And if Saint Paul justly challenged the Corinthians because every oue was forward to eat his owne supper apart 1 Cor. 11. 20. much more are you worthy of their reprehension I doe therefore ranke you amongst those false prophets which our Lord Iesus Christ hath warned Mat. 24 23. us of who will say thus unto us Lo here is Christ and there he is Hereunto the adversaries replyed Doth not Christ in expresse words say This is my body This is my bloud Answer The words must not be taken as they sound in a literall sence for so they shall have no agréement with other like places of Scripture You know the words belonging to the antient Sacraments were expounded by the holy Ghost himselfe Circumcision is called the Covenant and the Lambe is called the Passeover albeit they were but the signes thereof They asked if God were not omnipotent Yes said Iames but yet he will doe nothing against his Word Quest If the bread be not changed why doth 1 Cor. 11. 29. Saint Paul affirme That whosoever eats of this bread unworthily eats judgement to himselfe not discerning the Lords body Wée acknowledge all this said they because a man ought to examine himselfe before he presume to come to that holy banquet for in the Supper we receive not only bread and wine but doe also truly partake of the body and bloud of Christ as Saint Paul teacheth us 1 Cor. 10. 16. Matrimony In the fourth place they were asked if mariage were not a Sacrament No said Iames for sacraments are not things indifferent to Christians as mariage is for Saint Paul saith he that gives 1 Cor. 7. 8. 29. 38. his Virgin in mariage doth well but hee that gives her not in mariage doth better We hâ— wedlocke to be an holy ordinance of God instituted in Paradise from the beginning of the world Gen. 2. Iohn 〈◊〉 Heb. â—3 4. honoured by Iesus Christ with his first miracle yea we adde further that as mariage is honourable among all and the bed undefiled so whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Quest But saint Paul saith it is a great Sacrament Answer Why doe you forbid it then But that place of Paul by you alledged is not to bée understood Ephes 5. 32. of mariage but is meant of that speciall mysticall union and Communion which is betwéen Christ and his Church Quest They asked him if confession were a Confession Sacrament Answer I finde but two Sacraments mentioned in the New Testament If you can finde out any more you shall doe well to shew them But as touching confession it is to God to whom we must confesse our sinnes according to Davids Psal 32. 5. Luke 15. 18. 21. example and of the Prodigall sonne and sundry others who with true repentance acknowledged their offences to God who is faithfull and just to 1 Iohn 1. 9. pardon and forgive them But to confesse them to a priest it is so farre off from being necessary that I hold it altogether unlawfull These Fathers
cruell persecutions in his owne Land would not permit him to continue his Office of teaching there The Duke of Bovillon obtaining him drew him to his city of Sedan where he also continued a while in publishing the glad tidings of salvation untill the Church of Antwerpe began in the moneth of August 1576 to call him to be their Pastor But he could not obtaine leave of those of Sedan to depart from among them without a great deale of difficulty because they evidently foresaw by the beginning of persecutions in the Low-countries into what a Sea of troublous tempests bée should bée cast and yet perceiving how the heart of this holy man longed to be gone to yéeld his assistance to those of his own nation at length they consented to let him goe with them that requested to have his helpe Now having stayed but a while there the brethren determined to send him to his ancient Church of the Valencians who received him with no little joy in regard the Lord had formerly ordayned him to erect a Church there peculiarly To come now to Peregrine de la Grange hée Peregrin de la Grange was borne in Chute nigh to Saint Marcellin in Daulphine In the moneth of Iune in the yeare 1565 he was sent from the Schooles of Geneva at the request and instance of the Valencians to serve in the ministery among them Such was His meeke disposition won him much respect his méeke and milde disposition that it won him much love and respect and made his ministery to be so much the more acceptable in the eyes of all men After the demolishing of Images in the City of the Valencians two Churches were imployed by those of the reformed Religion for the use of prayer preaching the word and administration of the Sacraments Now the detaining of these Churches the one of them being used by a stranger◠namely by the said la Grange who was none of King Philips Subjects being also against the Decrée of Margaretn then Regent of the Low-Countries gave occasion to Noicurin as then principall Bayliffe of Hainault and Valence not onely to frustrate and break all accords with the said Valencians but moreover to afflict and besiege them extremely During which siege because the supper of the Lord was administred in both the said Churches it did so much the more enkindle the rage of the enemy against them so as when the city was taken La Grange was the more cruelly used as you shall reade when wee come to speake of his death The same adversaries who encountred Guy de Brez his companion assailed him also but he overcame them by the helpe of Gods holy Spirit who gave them both such power as their enemies were not able to resist They were imprisoned the eleventh of Aprill and on Saturday the last of May the Provost of the bands came into the prison about thrée of the clocke in the morning to give these two prisoners warning to prepare themselves for death for they were to die at sixe or therabouts Whereupon both of them began highly to magnifie God for his goodnesse and gave the Provost thankes for the good newes which he had brought them Assoon as they were up and ready Master Guy entred into the fore Court bidding the rest of the Prisoners good morrow and then testifying to them his joy spake after this manner Brethren I am this day to die for the doctrine of the Gospell and now blessed be God I joy and rejoyce therein I had not thought that God would ever have done me this honour I feele my selfe replenished with joy more and more from minute to minute my God addeth new courage unto me and my heart leapes for joy within me Then exhorting the prisoners to be of good chéer he told them it was no hard matter to die and so by way of acclamation alledged that place out of the Apocalips O how happy are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Hée further besought the prisoners to stand fast in the doctrine of the sonne of God which he had taught them avowing it to bée the undoubted truth which was mainteined * Which disputes were formerly omited in regard that in a manner they were the same with those of Peregrin do la Grange by him before the Bishop of Arres and many others Beware you do nothing said he against a good conscience for I foresée that the enemies of the Gospell will execute the utmost of their rage against us thinking thereby to weaken our faith that so they might turne you from the truth and so causing you to doe such things as should bring dishonor to the cause for which you are in bonds Take heed therefore ye shrinke not for if yée doe you shall certainely féele such an hell in your consciences as will never cease to vex and torment you O my brethren how good a thing is it to nourish a good conscience One of the prisoners asking him whether hée had finished a certaine work which he had begun he answered No For now I must cease to labour because I am passing along towards the heavenly rest the time of my departing is at hand I goe to reape that in heaven which I have sowne on earth I have fought a good fight I am at the point of finishing up my course from henceforth the Crowne of Glory is layd up for me which the Lord the righteous Iudge shal give unto me Me thinks said he with a joyfull and smiling countenance that my spirit hath obtained wings to soare aloft into heaven being invited this day to the mariage Supper of the Lambe As he was speaking the Provost came in with bands into the Court and putting off his hat saluted him Master Guy bad him welcome and gave him thanks againe for his good newes The Provost replied It grieveth me much that things should be carried thus To which Guy joyfully answered I accept of you as of my good Friend I love you with all mine heart Then taking his leave of the prisoners he went into the little hall of the prison Soone after Peregrine de la Grange entred into the same Court who as he carried himselfe comfortably during all the time of his imprisonment so then after his accustomed manner he hegan with an amiable countenance to chéere the prisoners with bidding them good morrow and then said thus unto them I am this day to die for the Truth and then the heavenly Inheritance is prepared for mee my name is written in the Phil. 4. 3. Rom. 11. 29. Booke of life never to be blotted out because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance He protested also That for his part he never taught ought there but the pure Word of God as for the doctrine of the Papists it led soules he said to perdition and destruction and thence took occasion to exhort the prisoners to separate themselves
saile as they say and to apply himselfe to the time being brought hereinto by the advice of some namely that he should faine a giving of his consent to what the Magistrate required of him by meanes whereof hée might escape their hands But about the tenth of September comming againe to himselfe and But soone after recovers himselfe espying whereunto this determination tended hée protested before all that he would stand in the confession he had made from the first of April last past Wherefore on the ninth of August hée was brought againe before the same Iudges where he openly confirmed the same His Iudges said that he should either be drowned or burned alive Then on the thirtéenth of Ianuary 1566. according to the Venetian account which according to our was 1567. on Tuesday morning being come before the Tribunall sentence was pronounced upon him that hée should be drowned as an Heretique To which he gave them this answer I am no heretique but the servant of Iesus Christ At which words the popes legate commanded him to hold his peace telling him that he lied The next day in the morning which was the last of Ianuary he was brought into Saint Peters Chappell where he was degraded because he had béen a Priest and the night following he was conducted unto the Sea and there drowned in the place appointed who died prayising and blessing God with invincible constancy ¶ A relation of such things as fell out under the government of the Duke of Alva and of many men put to death 1567. THe afflictions of the protestants in the Low-Countries were multiplied this yeare under the dominion of Ferdinando of Toledo Duke of Alva It is well knowne that the Spaniards using all their endeavours to rule over this Countrey at their pleasures had no better opportunity to accomplish their design then to establish among them their inquisition thereby to dominéere over the goods honors and lives of every one The Nobles Citizens and Commons did what they could to oppose the same to which purpose they had instantly besought the King to afford them his royall presence that hearing once their complaints his Majesty might take some order for matters of so great importance alledging to this end the example of the Emperour Charles his Father who upon a businesse fame inferiour to this adventured himselfe with much diligence to passe through the enemies country who were but a while before reconciled onele to stay some mutinies begun in the City of Gand. These things had so moved his Majesty that he made them a promise by letters of his comming But his intention was broken off by such as were the upholders of the inquisition that so they might with the more facility attaine the end of their desires In stead of their King then they had sent unto them the Duke of Alva who at his entrance found the prisons replenished with Gentlemen other personages of note whom the Dutches of Parma had left in bonds after her death Long di dthey languish in this captivity whilst the Duke of Alva by faire promises dissembled a kind of méeke and gentle carriage of minde towards them giving them some hope of a generall pardon procéeding from the Kings clemency that thus he might catch the lords and governors â—he more cunningly into his nets whereof the Lord Lemorall Earle of Egmond Prince of Gand Governor of Flanders and Artois and others of quality gave but too lamentable experience who being fed with vaine hopes were at length inhumanely put to death The sixéene Provinces also subjecting themselves To wit Brabant Lambourg Luxembourg Guelderland Flanders Artois Haynaut Holland â—ealand Namur â—utphein Friseland Malines Vtrecht Overâ—seiz and Graningu◠〈◊〉 Le Conseil de sang under this new government lost their antient liberties and priviledges which evidently appeared by the exploits done from the yere 1557. hitherto by a new counsell of twelve elected and setled there by the Duke the principall of which were Vergas and Delrio the Fathers of the inquisition which Councell was commonly called the Councell of bloud ¶ The death of two Barons of Battembourg the one called Gysorecht and the other Thierri brethren with certaine other Gentlemen executed the same day at Bruxells 1568. AMong many Gentleman and Captains who were apprehended after the discomâ—ture of the Assembly in Holland whom the Dutches of Parma had imprisoned in the castle of Villford the two brothers of Battembourg a most antient Barony scituated upon Mense about two miles off from Nieumegne did manifest above others how much they had profited by being instructed in the Church of Geneva The elder of them was Gysbrecht and the other Dietrich or Thierri who from the flower of their youth had constantly professed and confessed the pure Doctrine of the Gospell On Tuesday the first of Iune Anno 1568. the Duke of Alva began to declare to the world his fained méeknesse putting to death the same day these two breathren besides the Lords Heter Dandelet Philip Wingle c. They were first brought into Provost Spellans house néere the horse faire in the City of Bruxels compassed about with a strong guard and many drummes beating that none might heare what were their last spéeches As they went to their death Battembourg the elder séemed to be somewhat pensive whereas Dietrich his brother was very chéerefull comforting the other with his gracious words saying Ah brother is not this the day we have so much desired Be not sorrowfull now for it is the highest honor that can befall us here to suffer for the Doctrine of the Sonne of God It may be for the love you beare me you grieve to sée me dye first I am content that you should drinke of that cup before me in regard you are the elder if not all is one séeing we are going to our God Gysbrecht by and by replied Thinke not deare Brother that the joy of the holy Ghost is taken from me now I am drawing nigh to the Lord being ready to dye for his holy name Then ascending the scaffold after he had made his fervent prayers to God the Executioner taking off his head he slept happily swéetly in the Lord. His brother following him next with such alacrity as much astonished the spectators He desired as some say to sée his brother and when he had espied his head he cried I shall by and by be with thee my brother So after he had ended his prayer he was by a quicke dispatch united unto him Those who testifie these things report That the other Gentleman had so much favour as to bée buried but these two brethren were made a spectacle being hanged up the cause was for that in the very same morning they suffered as also before they directly set themselves against the Idolatries which were proposed unto them The Saturday after the fifth of Iune the Earles of Eagmond and Horne were beheaded and there made a publique gazing flock Of which two the
to minde what I have often told you namely how God prolonged King Hezechias Isa 38 5. life for fiftéen yeares But he hath preserved my life much longer for it is many yeares agoe since you saw me at the point of death and through Gods goodnesse I am alive and I hope yea I am assured that he will so long preserve me as shall be for his glory and my eternall good through his only frée grace From the prison of Ast the sixteenth of September 1601. The Bishop of Ast was somewhat troubled about this his prisoner for if he had let him go he feared it would bréed some scandall and many might thereby be emboldned to open their mouths wide against the Romane religion Besides there was a clause in the Contract made betwéene his Excellency and the people of Vandois which exempted those of the religion from offence in these words And if it shall fall out that they be asked or questioned withall in Piemont about the cause of Religion by any of his excellencies subjects it shall be lawfull for those of the said Religion to answer without suffering any penall or personall punishment for the same Now Copin had a question put to him in which respect he ought to have béen cléered But the Bishop would by no meanes heare that hee had unâ—ustly imprisoned him and therefore that his death should not be laid to his charge nor yet that hee should be sent away absolved he sent the cause of his Endictment to Pope Clement the eighth to know what should be done with him We cannot learne what answer the Pope returned to the Bishop but not long after this good man was found dead in prison not without some apparent suspition of his being strangled there lest if they had executed him in publique the people should have been edified by his constancy Being dead he was condemned to bee burned and therefore having caused him to be brought out of prisoâ— they read his sentence openly and the body was cast into the fire Thus have you the last among the Vandois which is come to our knowledge that were persecuted to death for the cause of Religion ¶ Mention hath heretofore been often made of sundry bloudy massacres in forreine parts but wee are now come to fall upon the report of a businesse neerer home which if the most wise and watchfull providence of God had not timely and graciously prevented it would have to the ruine of our Church and state proved such a massacre the like whereof the heart of man never conceived the care of man never heard of nor the tongue or pen of man could scarse ever have utteted namely at one blow to have blowne up not onely the King Quéene and royall posterity but the whole body of the state in generall Now as the Church and State had each of them a share in this so admirable a deliverance from God upon the fifth day of November Anno 1605. so each of them shewed their care if it might be for ever to perpetuate the praise of God for the same on the said day the one by stablishing an act of Parliament for it the other by publishing a forme of thanksgiving the better to effect it some expression whereof the Reader may hap to méet with at the end of the discourse following ¶ A discourse touching the manner of the discovery of the Pouder-treason with the examination of some of the Prisoners WHile this land and whole Monarchy flourished in a most happy and plentifull peace as well at home as abroad sustained and conducted by these two maine pillars of all good government Piety and Iustice no forraine grudge nor inward whispering of discontentment any way appearing the King being upon his returne from his hunting exercise at Royston upon occasion of the drawing néere of the Parliament time which had béen twise prorogued already partly in regard of the season of the yeare and partly of the Terme as the winds are ever stillest immediately before a storme and as the Sunne blenks often hottest to foretell a following showre so at that time of greatest calme did that secretly hatched thunder begin to cast forth the first flashes and flaming lightenings of the approaching tempest For the Saturday of the wéeke immediately preceding the Kings returne which was upon a Thursday being but ten daies before the Parliament the Lord Mountegle sonne and hoire to A letter delivered to the L. Mountegle the Lord Morley being in his owne lodging ready to goe to supper at seven of the clocke at night one of his Footmen whom he had sent of an errand over the stréet was met by an unknowne man of a reasonable tall personage who delivered him a Letter charging him to put it in my Lord his Masters hands Which my Lord no sooner received but that having broken it up and perceiving the same to be of an unknowne and somewhat unlegible hand and without either date or subscription did call one of his men unto him for helping him to read it But no sooner did he conceive the strange contents thereof although hee was somewhat perplexed what construction to make of it as whether of a matter of consequence as indéed it was or whether some foolish devised Pasquil by some of his enemies to â—karre him from his attendance at the Parliament yet did he as a most dutifull and loyall subject conclude not to conceale it what ever might come of it Whereupon notwithstanding the latenesse and darkenesse of the night in that season of the yeare hee presently repaired to his Majesties Palace at Revealed to the Earle of Salisbury Whitehall and there delivered the same to the Earle of Salisbury his Majesties principall Secretary Whereupon the said Earle of Salisbury having read the Letter and heard the manner of the comming of it to his hands did greatly encourage and commend my Lord for his discretion telling him plainly that whatsoever the purpose of the Letter might prove hereafter yet did this accident put him in minde of divers advertisements he had received from beyond the seas wherewith he had acquainted as well the King himselfe as divers of his privy Counsellors concerning some businesse the Papists were in both at home and abroad making preparation for some combination among them against this Parliament time for enabling them to deliver at that time to the King some petition for toleration of Religion which should be delivered in some such Purpose of the Papists for delivering a petition to his Majesty to crav toleration of religion order and so well backed as the King should be loth to refuse their request Like the sturdy Beggers craving almes with one open hand but carriing a stone in the other in case of refusall And therefore did the Earle of Salisbury conclude with the Lord Mountegle that he would in regard of the Kings absence impart the same Letter to some more of his Majesties Counsell whereof my Lord Mountegle
Clavenno afterwards meaning to returne with the Land of Grisons to the Valtoline and to accompany the said Theosina to Sondres was murdered being twenty yeares of age He was a young man of singular expectation CHAP. 5. ¶ The Massacre of Caspano and Trahon wherein there were murdered eleven persons or thereabouts BUt for all this the Trahonesse could not passe in the lower Valtoline but that he received his part in this persecution with the persecution of divers persons which the Reader may sée by the Catalogue insuing Iosua the son of Hortensio Malacrida comming from Gaspano in his journey to Bulio being encountred at the bridge of Masino and being demanded if he would goe to Masse answering that he would not was forthwith slaine and cast into the river of Masino being of the age of thirty yeares The like befell to his brother Plinit he was sought for in Bulio by 25. persons and not being found there was met in his return betwixt Arden and Bulio and killed being 26. yeares of age Andrea Paravicino of Bugo of Caspano Sarto by his trade a Tailor stayed there from the 9. of Iuly untill the comming of the Grison Band into the Valtoline but after the sudden departure of the said Band being discovered by his countrimen and kinsfolkes was taken and carried to Morbegnio and being solicited to forsake the true Religion and to embrace the Romane and standing constantly with great manfulnesse thereto was condemned to the fire and was placed betwéene two heapes of wood to make him to recant But all was in vaine for being asked if he were a Catholike he answered That he was Then if he were a Romane Catholike he also affirmed likewise that he was so But being demanded if he held the Romane faith as it is at this day he answered no. It is true said he that I hold the ancient Catholique Romane faith which was preached by S. Paul That a man is saved hy grace by the meanes of faith and not by workes lest any man should boast Being demanded if he beléeved the Pope to be head of the Church he answered No because Christ only is the head of the Church according to the promise I will be with you unto the end of the world And although the fire was first kindled and then put out of purpose to draw him to a recantation neverthelesse he persevered and endured that cruell death with admirable consâ—â—ncy the 15. of August being sixty yeares old Giovan Pietro Malacrida although he were little of stature yet was he great and mighty in the confession of the truth insomuch that for the love of his Saviour he suffered death with singular chéerefulnesse being forty yeares of age His example was devoutly and constantly imirated by Elizabeth his wife who was killed in the eight and thirtieth yeare of her age and moreover these Herodian murderers not therewith content but joyning one barbarous inhumanity to another observing a daughter of hers being an infant of thrée yeares old to lie in the cradle although it was a childe of a swéet countenance and these wretches séeing that the babe did looke lovingly and chéerefully on them which would have béen enough to have moved any adamantine heart to compassion notwithstanding they tooke the poore babe by the féete and pashed her against the wall and in this manner most barbarously murdered the same Thomaso Maestreilla Carpenter and a principall enginer excellent in building of mills and other buildings was murdered in one of his mils at Melle being eighty yeares of age Dominico of Paguno called Luther of Scermele of the hundred of Canvicke in Trahonesse being at his worke at Morbegno was killed the fourtéenth of August age forty eight he was followed by his son Iacomo age eightéene and Peter his son of age fiftéene also of Maria his sister all which in one day being the fourtéenth day of August were for the faith of the Gospell professed by them sacrificed to God their Creator and Saviour CHAP. 6. ¶ The Massacre of Bruse in which were murdered to the number of 27. persons THese wretched murderers were not contented in the places abovenamed which were subjects to the Lords Grisons at Tyrane Tell Sondres Monte di Sondrio Berbenno and Malenco to have massacred so many persons who feared God honorable noble learned wise and sober of authority and reverence young and old men women yea even their next alliance straitest friends and kinsfolks by shooting them by throwing them headlong from mountaines by stoning them by hewing them in péeces by casting them in rivers by burning by mangling them and by all cruell meanes making them away but they also executed the like cruelty in Retia it selfe the countrey of their naturall Lords and Commanders For example on Sunday the ninth of Iuly a young man called Iohn the son of Dominico of Ada a Romane Catholike early in the morning travelled to the bridge of the castle of Bruse being the way to Tyrane to buy corn for his house there he met Ambrosio the son of Baruffino his host in Tyrane with a company of people who were at the time endeavouring to breake down the bridge not suffering any passage to the said Iohn but commanded him to returne back again At which the man wondering and asking the reason they answered That they meant not only to stop the passage of the Lutheraues of Bruse but also at once utterly to root them out This young man suddenly returned to Bruse and reported unto Martine Martino the son of Dominico this which he had séen and heard Vdillo being then his servant who was a Protestant runs with great spéed to give warning to the Protestants not thinking that they were in the Church but although they were diligently attending the sermon he was bold to publish the notice thereof to them all The people were much astonished at the newes and were about to depart out of the church but they were earnestly desired by the Pastor to stay still protesting that he would not forsake them but would live and die with them So they continued still untill the Sermon and Prayers were ended Then they armed themselves and assembled in the house of Michael Montio Soone after they marched in their armes toward another bridge which was nèere to the countrey of Bruse and there they descryed soone of their enemies who then were comming to cut off that bridge But perceiving the Protestants ready to resist them they returned back without any further attempt On Sunday and Munday the Protestants stood upon their guard on the Tuesday following in the evening came the enemies with a multitude of people being accompanied with a great company of the Roman Catholikes of Bruse They set fire on the house of Anthonto Montino and Pietro Agestino and other houses adjoyning The protestants seeing so great a multitude of enemies finding themselves fewer in number and weaker in strength some of them tooke themselves to their heeles the rest were slaine