of Tholouse sent some Deputies to Earl Simon to profer him the keyes of their City whom he received honourably and presently wrote to Lewis son of King Philip that the City of Tholouse was offered to him but his desire was that he should come and have the honour of taking it The Prince went thither immediately and had Tholouse delivered to him Yet the Legate resolved that the pillage of it should be given to his Pilgrims and the City dismantled which was presently executed though contrary to the promise made to the Citizens that no wrong should be done to the City Then came there a new Legate of the Popes called Bonaventure with those that had taken on them the Crosse. Viz. the Earle of Saint Paul the Earle of Savoy the Earle of Alenzon the vicount of Melun Mathew de Montmorency and other great Lords The Legate seeing so many Pilgrims feared least Prince Lewis should take upon him to dispose of divers places held by the Albingenses to the prejudice of the Church Whereupon he presently sent to all those places Absolution and protection so that when the Prince came against them they shewed that they were under the protection of the Church Yea the Legate told the Prince that since he had taken upon him the Crosse he was to be subject to his commands because he presented the person of the Pope whose Pardons saith he you come to obtaine by obeying the Church and not by commanding as the son of a King The Prince dissembled his displeasure at this audaciousnesse and the poore Albingenses were so oppressed by new Armies of Pilgrims that they sunk under the burthen of it The Prince when his fourty daies service were expired retired himself being much discontented to see so much tyranny exercised against the Albingenses Then did Earl Simon besieg the Castle of Foix but having lain ten dayes before it he found to his cost that the place was not to be won by him For where as Earl Simons brother quartered at varilles the Earl of Foix dislodged him and slew him with his launce putting to flight all his men News hereof being brought to Earl Simon he swore that he would drive the Earl of Foix behinde the Pyrenaean Mountaines but presently he had intelligence that a great Army of the Arrogonois and Catalunians were come into the Earldom of Beziers threatning to be revenged on him for the death of their good King where upon he levied his siege in hast and marched thitherwards But the Earle of Foix who knew the passages better then he lay in ambush for him in a place fit for his turne and suddenly setting upon his Pilgrims slew a great number of them only Earl Simon with a few others escaped and went to Carcasson but before he came thither the Arrogonois were gone else might they easily have discomfited him yet shortly after they returned again and Earle Simon was foundly beaten by them so that he was forced to shut himself up in Carcasson till he had a new supply of Pilgrims Shortly after came Remund the son of Earl Remund out of England where he had been bred under his uncle King John with an Army and quickly made himself Master of the City of Beaucaire and almost famished them that held the Castle so that they yeelded it up to depart with their baggage There Earl Simon lost a hundred Gentlemen that he had laid in ambush neer unto the City whom young Remund in a sally cut in pieces Anno 1214. The Legate called a Councel at Montpelier for renuing of the Army of the Church and to confirm the authority of Earle Simon where they declared him to be Prince of all the Countries conquered from the Albingenses which title was confirmed to him by the Pope also Who stiled him the active and dexterous soldier of Jesus Christ and the invincible defender of the Catholick Faith But whilest Earl Simon was in the Council receiving this his new honour a great rumour was heard in the City and a messenger brought word that the people hearing that Earl Simon was there betook themselves to their Arms purposing to kill him whereupon he stole away by the walls of the City on foot without any company and so escaped so that in one houre he saw himself honoured as a God and flying disguised hiding himself like a base scoundrell for feare of the rascall multitude Anno Christi 1215. Their was a Councill held by the Pope at Lateran where they gave the Inquisitors such power against the Gospellers that poor people were every where horribly tortured that were but suspected for Heresie and as Tritemius saith Frier Conradus of Marpurg the Popes Inquisitor if he but suspected any as guilty of Heresie vsed to trie them by the judgment of red hot irons and such as were burned by the irons he delivered as Hereticks to the secular power to be burned in the flames whereupon most of those that were accused were by him condemned to be burnt few escaping the hot irons In so much as Noble Ignoble Clerks Monks Nuns Burgesses Citizens and countrymen were under the name of Heresie by too headlong a sentence of the Inquisitor on the same day where on they were accused cast into the cruell flames no refuge of appeale or defence doing them any good By the same Lateran Councill Earle Simon had the forementioned lands of the Albingenses confirmed to him and thereupon he hastened to the King of France to receive investiture and as he went saith the Monk of Sernay in every City and towne the Popish Clergy and people met him crying Blessed is he that commeth to us in the name of the Lord and every man thought himself happy that could but touch the hem of his garment When he had recived his Investiture from the King of France being attended with an hundred Bishops that had preached the Crosse in their Diocess and with an exceding great Army of Pilgrims he hasted to make himself Lord of all those countries which the Pope had given him So that all men trembled at his reproach and with this great Army of Pilgrims he took in divers places using great cruelty putting men women and children to the sword Then was he marching to Tholouse purposing to pillage and raze it to the ground But by the way his wife sent him word that he must speedily come to her relief being besieged in the Castle of Narbonnes by the Earl of Tholouse but by this time many of his Pilgrims were returned into France Yet Earl Simon hasted to the relief of his wife and being come before Tholouse the people by their frequent sallies made that place too hot for his abode The Legate perceiving that he was much astonished at it said unto him Fear nothing we shall quickly recover the City and then we will destroy all the inhabitants and if any of our Pilgrims are in the fight they
the way to kill him chap. 25.3 but when that was denied them they went to Cesarea to accuse him there whereupon he is forced to appeal to Caesar ver 11. Then he was sent to Rome and there committed Prisoner to the Captain of the Guard chap. 28.16 where he continued prisoner at large for two years and then being released he visited the Churches of Greece and Asia Afterwads he preached in Spain and France and at last returning into Italy he was again apprehended and imprisoned at Rome where also he suffered Martyrdom as afterwards you shall hear The Jews being much displeased that they could not reak their teen upon Paul turn themselves against James the brother of Christ him therefore they bring and set them in the midst of them requiring him publickly to renounce the faith of Christ but he on the contrary made a bold and open confession of Jesus to be the Son of God and the Saviour of the world Then did they set him upon a Pinacle of the Temple again requiring him in the audience of all the people to tell them which is the way of Jesus crucified to whom he answered Why ask you me of Jesus the son of man when as he sits at the right hand of God in Heaven and shall again come in the clouds of the air this so enraged the Scribes and Pharisees that they threw him down head-long but he not being dead with the fall gat upon his knees and said Father forgive them for they know not what they do Then one taking a Fullers Club struck him on the head and brained him This James was sirnamed Justus of whom Aegesippus writes that his knees were as hard as Camels knees by reason of his continual kneeling in prayer But shortly after his death Vespasian came into Judea and subdued the Jews and his son Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple Andrew the brother of Peter preached the Gospel to the Scythians Sogdians and Aethiopians and was at last crucified by Aegeas King of Edessa Philip preached the Gospel in Phrygia and at last was crucified at Hierapolis Bartholemew preached to the Indians and as some say was beaten with Cudgels to death or as others he was flaid alive and then beheaded Thomas preached unto the Parthians Medes and Persians c and in Indian he was slain with a dart Mathew preached to the Aethiopians and at last by the command of the King was ran thorow with a sword Simon Zelotes preached in Mauritania and Africk and at length was crucified under Traian being above 112 years old Judas the brother of James preached to the Edesseans and at last was slain by the command of the King Matthias preached first in Macedonia and afterwards coming into Judea he was by the Jews first stoned and then beheaded Mark the Evangelist preached in Alexandria and the neighbouring Regions and afterwards was burnt by the furious Idolaters Nicanor one of the Deacons was martyred together with two thousand other faithful Christians Collected out of the New Testament and Dorotheus THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH UNDER THE Heathen Roman Emperors CHAP. VII The First Primitive Persecution which began An. Christi 67. THis first Persecution was begun by Domitius Nero the sixt Emperour Anno 67. or thereabouts the occasion whereof was this Nero having passed over the first five years of his reign somewhat plausibly he then began to fall to all manner of prodigious impieties and amongst other wicked designs he had a great desire to consume the stately imperial City of Rome with fire pronouncing King Priamus an happy man because he beheld the end of his Kingdom and Countrey together yea said he let not all be ruined when I am dead but whilst I am yet alive and for the effecting of this villany he sent divers to kindle the fire in sundry places yea some of his own bed-chamber were seen to carry Flax Toe Torches c. to further it and when any attempted to quench it they were threatned for it others openly hurled firebrands crying They knew what they did there was one would bear them out This fire first began amongst the Oyl-men and Drugsters The night-watch and Praetorian guards did openly cherish it and when it was throughly kindled Nero went up to the top of Maecenas Tower which over-looked the whole City where he fed himself with the sight of infinite burnings and sang to his harp the burning of Troy Amongst other stately buildings that were burned down the Circus or race-yard was one being about half a mile in length of an oval form with rows of seats one above another capable to receive at least a hundred and fifty thousand Spectators without uncivil shouldrings but the particulars were innumerable the damage inestimable besides which many thousands of people perished the flame and smoak smothered some the weight of ruins crusht others the fire consumed others others threw themselves into the fire out of sorrow and despair and villains slew many But Nero finding that this fire which continued burning nine dayes brought a great Odium upon him to excuse himself he transferred the fault upon the Christians as if out of malice they had done it and thereupon he raised this first persecution against them For there was at this present a flourishing Church of Christians in Rome even before St. Paul's arrival there and Nero's own Court was secretly garnished and enriched with some of those Diamons whose salutations the Apostle remembers in his Epistle to the Philippians But whilst Nero with their blood sought to quench and cover his own infamy he procured to himself new envy whilst many that abhorred Christians for their Religion commiserated their sufferings as undeserved Some he caused to be sewed up in the skins of wild beasts and then worried them to death with dogs some he crucified others he burnt in publick to furnish his evening sports with Bonefires Many he caused to be packed up in paper stiffened in molten wax with a coat of sear-cloth about their bodies bound upright to Axletrees many of which were pitcht in the ground and so set on fire at the bottom to maintain light for Nero's night-sports in his gardens Some of them were gored in length upon stakes the one end fastened in the earth the other thrust into their fundaments and coming out at their mouths Nor did this Persecution rage in Rome alone but it was extended generally over the whole Empire insomuch that a man might then have seen Cities lie full of mens bodies the old lying there together with the young and the dead bodies of women cast out naked in the open streets without all reverence of their sex Yea his rage and malice was so great that he endeavoured to have rooted out the very name of Christians in all places Whereupon Tertullian said That it could be no ordinary goodness which Nero
his performances of these things he shall go into the Holy land to fight against the Turke and never return againe into his owne country but by the leave of the Pope or his Legate Remund having read over these Articles shewed them to the King who advised him presently to mount on horseback least seising upon him they might the better become masters of all his estate which accordingly he did The Legate was much troubled that he had thus lost his prey and despairing to do any more by subtilty he resolved to set upon him by force and thereupon he besieged the Castle of Montferrand where Baldwin the brother of the Earl of Tholouse was governour Baldwin at least pretending inability to defend the place yielded it up and abjuring his opinions turned Papist The Earl of Tholouse seeing himselfe thus betrayed by his brother lamented exceedingly but a greater mischiefe soone after befell him For the Legate and Earl Simon wonne from him by their subtilty the King of Arragon his only prop under God and that by this meanes they agreed that the King of Arragons daughter should be married to Earl Simon 's eldest son in consideration whereof the King of Arragon invested Simon in the Earldom of Beziers and now they intend jointly to besieg Tholouse For which end the Bishop of Tholouse was sent to levy souldiers in France and at his returne hasted to Tholouse which Earl Remund hearing of sallyed out of the City with five hundred horse and some foot marching to the bridg which goeth over the river of Garenne not far from Tholouse hoping either to gaine it or to breake it down but being overpowered by multitude he was forced to make a retreat and the enemie pursued him to the very gates of Tholouse But Earl Remund seeing their insolency sallyed out againe with a greater strength and charged them so gallantly that he beat them back to the bridge which being but narrow he slew almost all of them there and took prisoner amongst them Aimery the son of Earl Simon Earl Simon hearing of this loss hasted with all his army to the City and gave a furious assault to it but the ditches were soone filled with the dead bodies of the enemie beaten from their scaling laddars and the Earl himselfe was beaten from his horse In the middest of this assault came the Earl of Campeigne soon enough to be well beaten for his welcome Earl Simon finding such stout resistance from the Citizens caused his Pilgrimes to spoil the Orchards Gardens and Vineyards about the city which being perceived the President of Argeves issued out of the City suddenly and slew a number of the Pilgrims and on another part the Earl of Foix slew as many as he could meet with The Earl of Bar seeing the disorder of the Popish Army cried out a Bar a Bar but the Citizens of Tholouse charged him so bravely that being discomfited he was faigne to fly amongst the rest After this victory Earl Remund returning to Tholouse caused publike and solemne thanks to be returned unto God for the same Earl Simon after this lead his Army into the country of the Earl of Foix who was now sick where he took some townes also the Legat with another part of the army went to Roquemaur and in his way took the Tower of Cassas and caused above an hundred men that were found therein most cruelly to be burned alive and levelled the Tower to the earth Earl Remund being much afflicted for the loss and alienation of his ancient friend the King of Arragon studied how he might regaine him and for that end propounded a match betweene his only son and heire and the King of Arragons daughter which motion the King readily imbraced and so their amity was againe revived Not long after the King of Arragon sent a letter of defiance to Earl Simon who sent the same all over Christendom to stir up Pilgrims to assist him for the destruction of the King who as he said was now become the Captaine of the Albingenses and in the meane time the Popes Legate raising an army in France went speedily into the Earldome of Foix and took some Towns putting all to the sword without distinction of sex or age and taking also St. Anthonies he caused thirty of the principall men to be hanged in cold blood after he had granted them their lives Anno Christi 1213. Peter King of Arragon with a great army of Arragonois and Tholousians besieged Muret a strong Towne scituated upon the river Garronne near unto Tholouse There was in his Army the Earls of Tholouse Comminges and of Foix but the night following the Popish Bishops sent two Friers to him desiring him to take pitty on the Church and not to undertake the defence of the Hereticks but they laboured in vaine for the King would not desert them whereupon they prepared the next day to give him battle and whilest Simon Montfort was encouraging his souldiers the Bishop of Tholouse carryed a crucifix in his hand whereupon the Captains a lighting adored it with and humble kiss Then the Bishop of Comminges getting upon an high place took the crosse in his hand and blessed the Army with it promising forgivenesse of all sins to all that dyed in that quarrell Hereupon Simon divided his army into three Battalia's in the name of the Trinity and so joyning battle they fought very gallantly on both sides till at length the King of Arragon was slaine and so God who doth not alwayes prosper the best cause gave the victory to the Popelings and they were slaine in the fight and pursute about two millions of the Albingenses as their enemies reported The Albingenses attributed this loss to Gods judgement upon the humane confidence of the King who trusted too much in his great numbers and was feasting whilest his enemies were plotting After this victory the Popes agents sent abroad their letters into divers countries for a new supply of Pilgrims utterly to root out the Hereticks With this victory Earl Simon was so puffed up that he summoned the Earls of Tholouse Foix and Comminges and the Prince of Bearn to deliver to him the keyes of those Cities and Castles which they possessed They returned no answer but each of them betooke himself to his own Territories to provide the best they could for their affairs Earl Remund retired to Mâ—ntalbon writing to them at Tholoâ—se that understanding that the Bishop of Arras was coming with a great Army of Pilgrims against them and that he was altogether disabled to defend their City he had advised them therefore that they should make the best terms they could for themselves with Earl Simon yet desired them to reserve their hearts for him till God should give him meanes to free them from those miseries In the interim the Earls of Foix Comminges and the Prince of Bearn did what they could to infest the enemies Armies Upon the former advice the Citizens
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
the space of two or three moneths he caused fifty of them saith Mathew Paris either to be burnt or burned alive Anno Christi 1239. the King of France having garisoned divers Castles within the country of Albingenses who greatly oppressed them they betook themselves to Armes besieging those Garisons whereupon they sent to the King of France craving that present aid might be sent to them Then did the King of France send the Lord Iohn of Bellemont with a great Army to aid them who comming into that Country besieged the strong Castle of Mont-reall and at last took it together with divers others belonging to the Albingenses whereby the were suppressed for that â—ime But the year after the Earl of Tholouse took Armes againe and assaulted the Earl of Provence who presently sent to the French King for aid and the French that were about Avignion hasted to the reliefe of the Earl of Provence which the Earl of Tholouse hearing of he lay in Ambush in their way and suddenly setting upon them slew many and dispersed the rest and the war so prospered in his hand that in a short space he recovered to his former dominion above 20. Castles from the French and Earl of Provence and sharply punished his Rebels About the same time the Citizens of Millan being provoked thereunto by the Pope and Emperor burnt many of the Albingenses who were their fellow-Citizens Anno Christi 1241. The Earl of Tholouse continuing his warrs against the Earl of Provence almost beat him out of his country so that the Earl of Provence was feigne to send to the Kings of England and France who had married his second daughters to mediate for him and they writing to the Earl of Tholouse obtained peace for their Father in law Anno Christi 1242. the Bishops of Narbonne and Albium and the Seneschall of Carcasson apprehended two hundred of the Albingenses in a certaine Castle of Tholouse who had Bernard Martine of Cathavell and Raimund Agulbuerus for their Pastors and Ministers All these upon examination adhering constantly to the true faith without wavering were cruelly burnt in the flames Vignier Hist. Eccles. And the year following there were 224. more of them burnt likewise Shortly after it pleased God that great contentions arose between the Pope and Emperor whereby the Gospellers enjoyed some breathing time from their former miseries yet Anno Christi 1262. Pope Vrban hearing that through that peace their Doctrine was spread exceedingly he made a Decree in this tenour Albeit we be bound by our office alwaies to endeavour the rooting out the deadly poison of Hereticall pravity from all parts in the Christian world yet now in a speciall manner this duty is incumbent upon us when we perceive this plague to be growne up in our neighborhood through the iniquity of the times to the detriment of the Catho-Faith That therefore the office of the Inquisition may be the more effectually executed against the Hereticks in the province of Lombardy and parts adjacent we enjoyne you upon remission of your sins that you doe your uttermost endeavours for the extirpation of it and that you see that all Papall and Imperiall Lawes be executed against them and for my owne part I will implore the aid of Christian Kings and Princes that Heaven and Earth may be moved against them Anno Christi 1270 Petrus Cadarita and Gulielmus Calonicus were sent as Inquisitors from the Pope into the Kingdom of Arragon severely to punish those that had imbraced the Faith of the Albingenses and amongst others they condemned Arnaldus Castlebonius the viscount and his daughter Ermesenda Countess of Foix They also decreed their memory to be detestable commanding their bones to be digged out of their graves and to be burned They also called Roger the nephew of Ermesenda into judgement for the same crime Anno Christi 1281. There was a great persecution raised against the Gospellers in the Country of Albi by one William de gurdon Captain and president of Carcasson under Phillip the French King who by a proclamation commanded all the Albingenses to be extirpated and searched out of their dens and lurking holes and all such as favoured them to be utterly rooted out as also that the innumerable company of their children which would not be reduced to the Catholike faith and unity of the Church of Rome should not be admitted unto the City of Realmont or the territory thereof nor to the place of any honour or office That such likewise as favoured or concealed any of them should be banished forever from the City of Realmont and their goods wholly confiscated and their children be excluded from all honours and dignities Yet notwithstanding the severity of this Edict God hid and preserved many of them even in Realmont it selfe as Diamonds in dunghils though many of them fled into Arragon and Sicily where they might enjoy more freedom of Conscience Anno Christi 1285. Gareldus and Segarellus of Parma and Dulcinus of Noudria preached and spread the Doctrine of the Albingenses in Parma and in many cities of Lumbardy whereupon Pope Honorius by a publick Edict condemned their Doctrine and commanded them to be rooted out Bzorius Anno Christi 1300. Pope Boniface commanded Guido the Inquisitor to dig up the bodie of Hermanus one of the Albingenses and to condemne and burn it in Ferrara twenty yeares after his death Anno Christi 1315 The Friers Inquisitors raised a great persecution against the Gospellers in Passaw in Austria and burned many of them who continued very constant in the faith took their death very cherefully Amongst the rest one of them that was burnt at Vienna confessed that their were eighty thousand of them in Bohemia and Austria at that time their cheifest Ministers were Bartholomew Faustus Iames Iustus Bononatus William and Gilbert of whom James was murthered between two walls by the Mercilesse Inquisitors Bononatus was burned alive and William Gilbert and Bartholomew were condemned after their death the house where they used to preach was pulled to the ground and all that adhered to them were Anathematized Anno Christi 1322. Lollard Walterus from whom our English professors were called Lollards was taken at Collen where he had privately preached and through Gods blessings drawne many from ignorance and errors to imbrace the truth persisting constantly in his opinions he was condemned and burned alive Yet notwithstanding all cruelties used against them their enemies could never prevail to a totall extirpation of them but they still lay hid like sparkles under the ashes desiring and longing to see that wich now through Gods grace their posterity do injoy viz. The liberty to call upon God in purity of conscience without being inforced to any superstition and idolatry and so instructing their children in the service of God the Lord was pleased to preserve a Church amongst them in the middest of the Romish corruptions as a Diamond
that did bear the Host and then stepping forwards he plucked it out of his hands threw it to the ground saying aloud Ye wretched Idolaters do ye fall down to a morsel of bread This so provoked the People that they had almost torn him in pieces and yet they spared him and sent him to prison Complaint being made to Pope Clement the eighth he was so incensed that he appointed him to be burnt the same day but some of the Cardinals advised that he should rather be kept in prison and examined by exquisite torments to find out his abettors and setters on This accordingly was put in practice yet could they draw nothing from him but these words Such was the will of God Then was he adjudged to be led from the Capitol naked to his middle and to wear on his head the form of a Devil his breeches to be painted over with flames of fire and so to be carried all about the City and then to be burnt alive When he heard this sentence he lift up his eyes to heaven and implored the help of Almighty God As he passed through the streets he was mocked and derided of all the People but he continued his fervent Prayers to God At last he spake something against the filthy lives of the Cardinals which so enraged them that they caused him to be gagged which cruelty he patiently endured When he came before the Church where he cast down the idol the hangman cut off his right hand and set it on a pole in the Cart to which he was tied then did two Tormentors with flaming torches scorch and burn his flesh all the way as he went through the City of Rome all which he bore with admirable patience By that he came to the place where he was to be executed his body was all over scorched blistred and bloody having no part free but his head Then was he taken from the Cart and seeing the Post to which he should be tied he went of himself to it and kneeling down kissed the chains which should bind him to it The Friars urged him to worship an idol which they presented to him but he turning away his face shewed his detestation of it holding on his Christian course unto the end and when the flames of fire seized on him he bowed his head and quietly yielded up his soul to God The same year there was an old godly man that had long lain in the Inquisitors dungeons who was at last brought forth and condemned after which the Friars brought to him a Crucifix importuning him to kisse and adore it He seeing their impudence said unto them If you take not this idol out of my sight ye will constrain me to spit upon it The Friars hearing this sent him away immediately to the fire where with great courage and constancy he resigned up his spirit unto God CHAP. XXIX The Life and Martyrdom of William Gardiner in Portugal Anno Christi 1552. WIlliam Gardiner was born at Bristol and well educated and when he was grown up was placed with one Master Paget a Merchant by whom when he was twenty six years old he was sent into Portugal to Lisbone the regal City to be a Factor there he learned the countrey language and became a profitable servant both to his Master and others He was careful to keep close to God and to avoid the superstitions of that countrey and there being divers good men in that City he associated himself with them used good conference and often bewailed to them his own weaknesse as being neither sufficiently humbled for his sins nor yet enflamed with a love of godlinesse as he ought he had also good books which privately he made much use of Now whilst he was here abiding it so fell out that a great marriage was to be solemnized betwixt the King of Portugals sonne and the King of Spains daughter Great preparations were made for it and a great concourse there was of Persons of all Ranks that came to it and upon the wedding day they went to Church in great pomp and amongst multitudes of Spectators William Gardiner made one rather for the novelty of the businesse than for any desire that he had to see their Ceremonies and going to Church early in the morning he got a convenient place to hear and see in When all were come to Church a Cardinal began to say Masse The People standing with great silence and devotion The fight of these superstitions did wonderfully grieve the mind of William Gardiner not so much to see the folly of the common People as to see that the King himself and so many sage Nobles should be led away with such abominable idolatry wherewith he was so exceedingly moved in his spirit that he had much ado to refrain himself from doing something whereby he might manifest his dislike but the great throng that he was in hindred him that he could not come neere to the Altar When all was ended he returned home very sad seeking out solitary places where falling down prostrate before God with many tears he bewailed the neglect of his duty and studied how he might revoke that People from their impiety and superstition At length his mind was fully setlet not to defer the matter any longer whereupon he renounced the world exactly made up all his accounts both what he owed and what was owing to him to a farthing Then did he continue night and day in Prayer unto God and in continual meditation of the holy Scriptures so that he would scarce take any meat by day or sleep by night as one Pendigrace his bed-fellow testified The Sabbath following Masse was to be celebrated with the like solemnity Whereupon William Gardiner went early in the morning handsomely apparalled to Church setting himself neer to the Altar After a while the King and States came Gardiner with a New Testament in his hand stood near the Altar privately reading it all the while A Cardinal began the Masse consecrated the Host lifted it up an high shewed his God to the people they adored it yet Gardiner contained himself all this while Then the Cardinal took the Host tossed it to and fro about the Chalice made divers circles c. With that Gardiner stept to him took the Host out of his hand and trampled it under his feet and with his other hand overthrew the Chalice At first all that were present stood amazed then arose a great tumult and one drawing his dagger wounded Gardiner in the shoulder and as he was about to have slain him the King commanded him to forbear whereby his life was saved for the present the tumult being ceased the King demanded of him what Countryman he was He answered Most noble King I am not ashamed of my Countrey I am an Englishmam by birth and Religion and came hither as a Merchant and seeing so great idolatry committed in this
extirpate all the Protestant Churches because they had taken an Oath of fidelity to the French King neither was it groundless for the thing was really propounded in the Dukes Councel but it pleased God so to order affairs that the leading men amongst them did not at all approve of the business yea the Duke himself did extreamly mislike it and after he had retaken Mirebuc he did not a little revive the spirits of the Representatives of the Protestants of Lucerna who met with him at Villaro on purpose to assure his Highness of their fidelity and to beg the continuance of his grace and favour to whom in the presence of a great number of his Lords he returned this Answer Be but faithfull unto me and I will be sure to be a good Princâ— nay a Father unto 〈◊〉 and as to the liberty of your Conscience and the exercises of your Religion I shall be so far from innovating any thing against those liberties in which you have lived unto this present that if any offer to molest you have recourse to me and I shall effectually relieve and protect you These words being spoken in such a presence and in so obliging a manner were very advantagious to the poor peoples interest for some time after they served to counterballance the threats of their fiercest Enemies Yet were there some amongst the Popish party that thought it an unpardonable sinne to suffer them to live one year in peace and on the contrary an acceptable service to molest them either by secret stratagems or by open force and violence Such was the condition of this poor people from the year 1595. to the year 1602. at which time all the Masters of Families in the Valley of Lucerna professing the Protestant Religion were cited to appear before Count Charles of Lucerna the Governour Ponte the Arch Bishop Broglia and others and were by them commanded in the Dukes name either to go to Masse or to quit Lucerna and all their pretensions thereto without the least hopes of ever obtaining favour to return or in case of disobedience to prepare themselves for inevitable mischiefs and calamities which threats were pressed with so much violence that it caused many of the poor creatures to submit at least seemingly to the change of their Religion though many others of them were the deeplier rooted by these shakings From Lucerna the aforenamed Lords removed their seat to Bubiana where they found the Reformed so stiff in their Principles that they could not remove them an hairs bredth from the same wherefore they caused the chief of them to be summoned to appear at Turin thinking that the Dukes presence might prevaile more with them than all their threatning speeches The persons thus summoned were Master Valentine and Mr. Boules his brother with one Peter Morese and Samuel Falc who were brought one after another before hi Hisghnesse Mr. Valentine was the first whom the Duke perswaded to embrace the Roman Catholick Religion and to draw others to do the like promising him great rewards and preferments if he obeyed c. To this Mr. Valentine answered that next to the service of God he had no greater desire then to obey and please his Highness in whose service he would willingly adventure his person and estate when ever there should be occasion But as for his Religion which he knew to be true and confirmed by the Word of God he could not abandon it without disobeying God and wounding his own Conscience so as never to enjoy any comfort in his soul afterwards and therefore he humbly intreated his Highness to be satisfied with what he could do with a good conscience and to leave him to the liberty of his Religion which he valued above his life the Duke replyed that he also doubted not of the truth of that Religion which he professed and that such as embraced it should find how much they had gratified him in so doing yet would he not force the Conscience of any man and so he gave them leave to depart CHAP. XLII The Marquisate of Saluces described with its several troubles and Persecutions THe Marquisate of Saluces is on the South side of the Valleys of Predmont containing in it several Cities and considerable Valleys very fruitfull in all sorts of fruits It s most Northerly Valley is that of Po where the famous River Po hath its rise and source one onely Mountain separates this from the Valley of Lucerna on the North side In this Valley were those ancient Churches viz. Pravillem Biolets and Bietone who retained the purity of Christian Religion for several hundreds of years and lived in great union with their neighbouring Churches Anno Christi 1561. The Church of Dronier which was one of the most flourishing understanding that the publick exercise of the Reformed religion was permitted in France obtained Letters from the Kings Council to Sieur Lovis of Birague Governour of that Country in the Duke of Nevers absence whereby he was ordered to provide for the Petitioners a convenient place for the publick exercise of their Religion But not long after their Adversaries by their importunity prevailed so far that the said letters were revoked This occasioned the said Church to send Monsieur Francis Galatee their Minister into France with some others to recover if it were possible their former priviledges But this falling out in the time of their troubles in France all that they could obtaine was only bare promises In the mean time they received many hortatory and consolatory letters from the chief Ministers in the Churches of France and amongst others from those of Grenoble Lions c. to perswade them to patience and perseverance in that truth which they had embraced which accordingly they did notwithstanding all the malice and subtilty of their adversaries So that their Churches were continued and upheld convenient order being had for the preaching of the Word administration of the Sacraments exercise of their discipline c. only there wanted in some places liberty of having General Assemblies and publick Sermons For the better safety of their Ministers in the places that were most dangerous one Pastor had the charge of the faithful in several Cities and Communalties which rendred their residence and exercises less visible to their Adversaries Hereby the Gospel through Gods mercy made a very considerable progress at Dronier Verzo and some other places of moâ—e noâ—e The Church of Aceil in the Valley de Mairi was extraordinarily peopled and enjoyed more liberty than the others by reason of the scituation of the place but Satan the Enemy of Christs Church and Kingdom perceiving such a growth of the reformed Religion in those places ceased not to imploy all his power and policy to hinder the same and therein he made use of instruments for the effecting of it viz. first the Anticodemites whose ringleader was Baronius who lived at Valgrane and thereabouts accommodating himself to
Pomerania in the agreement of Uscia and had delivered to them expressely and by name the chief Cities Posnania Kalisch Fraustat Meseritz and Lesna and the rest after some weak resistance had yielded themselves up to the Swedes yet while the King of Sweden was slowly and as it proved dangerously busied in Prusia they took counsel together for the resuming of their armes to fight for the liberty of their Countrey and the Catholick Religion as they call it to drive the Swedes out of the Countrey and to root out all the dissenters in grosse That this their purpose might make the quicker progresse and be set on the more strongly there were Jesuites and Monks sent out every way to intimate these things to the multitude and to encourage them to so glorious an undertaking compelling those that were slow with the thunderbolt of Excommunication and promising the relaxation of the pains of Purgatory and eternal rewards to them that were forward To this end King Casamire being recalled out of Silesia they commanded the Nobility to flock to him and to give the King of Sweden a meeting in his return out of Borussia The Commonalty also they stirred up against the Professors of the Gospel making themselves their furious leaders and such was their successe that in lower Poland a great number of families it is not yet known how many because the furious tumult still continues almost within the compasse of a moneth in February and March were miserably butchered men and women young and old being murthered without distinction all save such as could escape into the neighbouring parts of Hungary and so save their lives by flight But the Nobility of the greater Poland most of them having retired themselves into Silesia began there to gather themselves into small companies in the beginning of April and to break forth by whose coming the rest being encouraged made a great slaughter of the Swedes that were garrison'd in the small towns so that General Muller was fain to go forth with an army of Swedes to restrain them As for Lesna the hereditary Lord thereof the Treasurer of the Kingdome was gone into Borussia to salute the King of Sweden some way to take care for the safety of his Countrey But about the beginning of April he returned to Lesna without seeing him the King then being full of action and ranging up and down This businesse procured much more envy both to himself and the City as if he had plotted with the Swedes against his Countrey having never been true and faithful either to the Church or his Countrey therefore they breathed out flames and belched out threats so much the more fiercely both against him and his City However there were not wanting such as by private messages gave him hope of pardon if he would but withdraw himself from them as afterwards he did But the enemies prepared themselves to destroy that so populous a City by force if they could or else by flames furnishing themselves with many sorts of weapons for that purpose Of this doing although the inhabitants of Lesna had notice by several messengers yet a fatal security prevailed with them to think that there was no fear of such an enemy as was not furnished either with Infantry or Artilery for such a designe Upon Easter day a 〈◊〉 of Poles broke into some territories belonging to an eminent Professor of the Gospel neer Lesna for whom they made diligent search but finding that he was from home for he had retired himself to Lesna for Religion sake they plundered all his movable goods and took his â—ervant Martin Multz a Bohemian and hanging a great stone about his neck threw him into the river that ran by and so drowned him On the third Holy-day in Easter the report was very hot that the Swedes had lost all and that the King was slain upon which account when the Lord Treasurer did betake himself to Wratislavia in Silâ—sia the Citizens of Lesna were something afraid although the Commanders of the Swedes that were there in Garrison being three coâ—ours of horse did encourage them as did also the Administrator of the City and County of Lesna who requiring anew the oath of fidelity from the Citizens did promise them to stay with them and bid them be of good courage Being lifted up with this hope and drawn on with the promises of new Auxiliary forces to come very suddenly to them they promised themselves all manner of security so that no man took any care to get out of the way or to carry any thing of his goods to a safer place yet they kept strong guards night and day sometimes the third part of the Citizens and sometimes half being upon duty The Swedish horse also ever and anon made excursions to see what the enemy was a doing and whether they were neer But they never brought back any other news but that there were no footsteps or signes of any enemy appearing Yea even that very day in which the Poles came in the afternoon the Swedes returned with good booty but not a word of the enemy But about three dayes after upon Thursday April the 27. an army of the Polonian Nobility mixed with a rout of peasants shewed themselves unexpectedly out of the Woods and anon they drew forth into the open field and so set themselves within sight of the City about five or six furlongs from the Suburbs When this was perceived the alarm was given and the Citizens hasten to their armes and place themselves on the walls yet not knowing who they were and with what intent they came and wondring much why according to the custome they did not send forth a Trumpeter For that which they did bruit abroad afterwards and many perhaps beleeved that the Lesnians gave the occasion of hostility by killing their Trumpeter is just nothing Heaven and earth will bear witnesse that this was devised meerly to colour over the hainousness of the fact At length they begin their work with firing a Brick-kiln that stood not far from the Suburbs Then the Swedish Troopers about one hundred and fifty in number which were already mounted gone out of the City going a little farther encountered with the Enemy in light skirmishes for the space of two hours in which many of the Poles and some of the Swedes were slain But while the Swedes were earnest with the Citizens for some help as it were to defend the Suburbs from further burning some were drawn forth about seventy of the younger Citizens who mixed themselves rashly and confusedly among the Horse-men which when the Poles saw they feighned a flight returning towards the Wood But as soon as they perceived that they had drawn them far enough from the Walls they wheeled about some fetching a compass to come behind the Lesnians and so to get between them and home and the rest returning straight upon them fell on in a full body The Swedish Horse when they saw this turned their backs
of the Kings house into Egypt And again under Asa by Baasha King of Israel 1 King 15.16 and by Zerah the Ethiopian who came against Judah with an Army of a thousand thousand men and three hundred chariots 2 Chron. 14.9 Yea so malicious and subtile is Satan that he sometimes stirs up one Saint to persecute another as he stirred up good King Asa to persecute the Prophet of the Lord who dealt plainly and faithfully with him by casting him into prison 2 Chron. 16.10 Michaiah also was persecuted and imprisoned by Ahab 2 Chron. 18.25 26. Under Jehosaphat the Church of God was persecuted by the Moabites Ammonites and Edomites whom God destroyed by setting of them one against another 2 Chron. 20.23 Elijah was persecuted by Ahab and Jesabel 1 King 18.10 and 19.2 The Prophets of the Lord were slain by Jesabel 1 King 18.13 Elisha was hated and persecuted by Jehoram 2 King 6.31 in the reign of this Jehoram the Philistines and Arabians mightily oppressed Judah 2 Chro. 21.16 17. Then Athaliah by murthering the Kings seed usurpeth the Kingdom and tyrannizeth five years 2 Chro. 22.10 Joash in his reign slayeth Zechariah for reproving him 2 Chron. 24.21 The Church was oppressed at the same time by the Syrians ver 23. and afterwards also in the reign of Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.5 and about the same time the King of Israel slew of Judah a hundred and twenty thousand and carried away captive two hundred thousand men women and children Judah was also oppressed by the Edomites ver 17. and by the Philistines ver 18. and by the King of Assyria ver 20. and chap. 32.1 Manasses persecuted the Prophet Isaiah for reproving him and caused him to be sawn a sunder with a wooden saw Josephus Afterwards Pharaoh Necho tyrannized over Judah 2 Chron. 36.3 and after him Nebuchadâ—ezzar v 6 c. and so the sins of Judah being come to the full the good figgs were carried away captive to Babylon and the land afterwards was wholly laid waste and destroyed which being foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah the wicked Jews first persecuted him with the tongue Jer. 18.18 then was he smitten and put into the stocks Jer. 20.2 then was he indanger of death by the Preists and false Prophets Jer. 26.8 then was he imprisoned by Zedekiah Jer. 32.2 3. then he is beaten and again put into prison Jer. 37.15 and after that cast into a dungeon where he stuck in the mire Jer. 38 6. then by the wicked Captains he was carried into Egypt Jer. 43.6 7. What grievous afflictions the Church and people of God endured about this time see it set forth to the life in the book of the Lamentations In the time of the Captivity the three Children were persecuted by Nebuchadnezzar and thrown into the fiery fornace for refusing to worship his golden Image Dan. 3.23 Daniel was persecuted by Darius his Courtiers and cast into the Lions den Dan. 6.16 Mordecai was hated and persecuted by Haman and a Decree procured for the murthering of all the people of God in one day Esth. 3.13 After the return of the Jews from captivity the people of the Land laboured to weaken the hands of the men of Judah and troubled them in the building of the Temple and hired Counsellors against them to accuse them to Cyrus and Ahasuerus they wrote also against them to Artaxerxes that they were a rebellious people and that if they should be suffered to build Jerusalem they would neither pay toll tribute nor custom to the King Ezra 4.4 c. and having by this malicious suggestion gotten authority they came upon the poor people of God and enforced them to give over thâ—ir worke Yea and afterwards when by the command of the Lord the Jews had again set upon the building Tatnai and Shether-Bosnai came up to discourage and discharge them from it and when this prevailed not they wrote against them to King Darius Again when Nehemiah came to Jerusalem and began to build the wall of the City how were they scorned and jeered by Sanballat Tobiah and Geshem And when the work prospered in their hands and jeers would not prevaile to stop it they then conspired to fight against Jerusalem and so to hinder it but neither that prevailing by reason of the prudent carriage of Nehemiah they then sought to entrap him and by destroying him to hinder the work Nehe. 6.2 Then they accused the people of God of treason and rebellion ver 6 c. Then they hired a false Prophet to terrefie Nehemiah ver 10 12. Then they corrupted and held intelligence with some of the Nobles of Judah to betray him notwithstanding all which designes God preserveth Nehemiah and the building of Jerusalem is finished And thus farre the sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament have given us a certain Register of the Persecutions Martyrdomes and sufferings of the Church and children of God for the space of about three thousand five hundred years from the creation of the world to the Restauration of the Jewish Polity under Nehemiah CHAP. II. The Persecution of the Church from Nehemiah to Antiochus his time AFter the death of Eliashib the High-Priest Judas his sonne succeeded and after him John his sonne which John had a brother called Jesus who was much favoured by Bagoses Generall of Artaxerxes who promised him the Priesthood which made him take occasion to quarrel with his brother John who thereby was so much provoked against him that he slew him in the Temple Bagoses being informed hereof came with his Army to Jerusalem and kept the Jews in bondage seven years making them tributaries so that before they could offer their daily sacrifice they were compelled to pay for every Lamb fifty Drachmes After the death of John Jaddus his sonne succeeded in the priesthood in whose time Alexander the Great passed over the Hellespont and having overcome the Lieutenant of Darius he conquered many countries in Asia minor intending suddenly to come upon Jerusalem Jaddus being informed of his intention was sore afraid he therefore offered sacrifice and commanded the people to make their prayers unto God for direction and protection in this common danger and when he heard that Alexander approached he caused the Priests and people to put on white garments and himself attired in his Priestly robes went before them when Alexander espied them he himself marched before the rest of his company and coming to the High-Priest he fell down on his face before him then did all the Jews circle him in round about and with one voice saluted him Alexanders chief Commanders were wonderfully astonished at this deportment of the King and thought he was out of his wits and Parmenio stepping to him asked him what he meant thus to adore the High-Priest of the Jews when as all other men adored him Alexander answered I doe not adore him but that God whom the
dens The Kings Captains having intelligence hereof with the Garison that was in the Citadel at Jerusalem they pursued them into the desert and having overtaken them they first endeavoured by perswasions to draw them to Idolatry but the Jews absolutely refusing to yield to their wicked wils resolved rather to die then to submit to them and to commit such impiety whereupon these bloody persecutors assailed them on the Sabbath day and burned them in their caves who neither resisted their enemies nor closed up the mouths of their Caves supposing it to be a violation of the Sabbath if they should fight or work upon that day some thousands of men women and children were there stifled yet divers escaped who joined themselves with Matthias and chose him for their Captain Then did he inform them that they ought to fight on the Sabbath day if they were assailed by their enemies and prevailed with them not to be guilty of their own death by their neglect to defend themselves and so having assembled a sufficient number he destroyed the Altars and slew those that had forsaken their Religion commanding others to circumcise their Children and driving those from every place whom Antiochus had set to see his Laws executed But when he had thus governed one year he fell sick and perceiving his end to approach he called his sons and exhorted them to follow his steps in maintaining the Law of God and fighting for their Countrey telling them that then they should have God for their Assister who will not forsake those that love and fear him but taking pleasure in their vertues will once more grant them favour to recover their former peace and liberty and saith he God will establish you in the possession of your ancient Laws and though our bodies be mortal and subject unto death yet the memory of our virtuous actions is enfranchised by immortality make therefore no difficulty to hazard your lives in so good a cause But above all things I exhort you unto concord and in whatsoever any one of you shall be found more naturally apt and fitted then another let him prosecute the same without any contradiction from the rest I charge you to obey your brother Simon who is a Politick and valiant man in whatsoever he shall counsel you but make Judas your Captain who is both valiant and strong for he shall revenge the injuries and out-rages which have been done to our Nation and shall put our enemies to flight second him therefore with men of valour and such as fear God and by this means you shall be sure to prevail CHAP. IV. The Life of Judas Maccabeus AFter Matthias his death Judas took upon him the government of the wars and by the help of his brethren and other Jews he drave the enemies out of the countrey purgâ—ng the land of all the uncleaness that had been brought into it But when Apollonius who was Antiochus his Generall in Samaria heard of it he gathered his Army together and invaded Judea against whom Maccabeus went forth and after a terrible battel overthrew him slew Apollonius and many of his souldiers took his Camp and therein a very rich booty and Judas gat Apollonius his sword for his part in the spoil Then Seron Governor of Caelosyria gathered all his forces together and hired many Apostate Jews to joyn with him and so marched against Judas as far as Bethoron Judas also advanced towards him but when he perceived that his souldiers were unwilling to fight by reason of the inequality of their numbers and for that they had eaten no meat but had fasted for a long time he encouraged them saying that the means to obtain the victory consisted not in the greatness of their number but in their devotion towards God whereof they had evident examples in their forefathers who with a small number had often defeated many thousands of their enemies c. Hereby he so prevailed with his souldiers that dreadless of the number of their enemies they all together ran upon Seron and after a cruel fight routed his Army and slew him together with eight hundred of the Syrians The rest escaped by flight Antiochus hearing of these things was highly displeased and therefore he assembled all his forces and hired many mercenaries but having mustered his Army he found that his treasure failed him to pay so great a multitude whereupon he resolved first to go into Persia to gather up his tributes and in the meane time he made Lysias his Vicegerent a man of greate esteem with him and one that governed all the countries from Euphrates to the borders of Egypt with him he also left some Elephants and part of his Army commanding him expresly that when he had conquered Judaea he should make the inhabitants thereof his slaves and sell them to those that would give most for them and that he should destroy Jerusalem and utterly abolish that race Lysias having received this commandment sent Ptolemy Nicanor and Gorgias men of great authority about the King with an Army of forty thousand Foot and seven thousand Horsemen to invade Jury who marching as far as the City Emmaus encamped in the field and increased their Army with many Syrians and Apostate Jews There came also divers Merchants a long with them to buy the prisoners that should be taken bringing gieues along with them to manacle the prisoners withall Judas having viewed the Camp and number of his enemies encouraged his souldiers exhorting them to repose their confidence and hope of victory in God he also appointed a Fâ—st that they might humble themselves and call upon God by supplications and prayers for success in such an extreame danger Then he told them that God would have compassion upon them and give them strength to stand against their enemies and to put them to shame The next day he marshalled his Army by thousands and by hundreds and sent away all that were newly married or that had lately bought pessâ—ssions according to the Law And tâ—en he said unto the rest My countrymen and companions we never yet had any occasion more necessary wherein we ought to express our courages and contemn dangers then at this present for now if you fight valiantly you may recover your liberties which ought the more to be prised because thereby you may win opportunity to serâ—e God and so live an happy life but if ye prove cowards in the fight you shall be branded with perpetuall infamy and hazard the utter extirpation of our Nation Think therefore that if you fight not you must die and on the contrary assure your selves that in fighting for your Religion Laws and Liberty you shall obtain immortall glory be ready therefore that to morrow morning you may bid your enemies battel Immediately news was brought him that Gorgias with five thousand foot and a thousand horsemen was sent forth under the conduct of some fugitives by night to fall
upon him whereupon he resolved the same night to break into the enemies Army whilest they were thus divided Having therefore refreshed himself and Army leaving many fires in his Camp thereby to deceive the enemy he marched all night to seek them out Gorgias finding that the Jews had forsaken their Camp conceited that for fear they were fled into the mountains and therefore he resolved to search them out diligently But in the morning â—udas accompanied only with three thousand men and those but ill armed because of their poverty shewed himself to the enemies that were at Emmaus and having viewed their warlike discipline and mighty number and how well they were incamped he encouraged his followers to fight vâ—liantly telling them that God would deliver their enemies into their hands and thereupon causing his Trumpets to sound he rushed in upon his enemies with such fury and resolution as altogether affrighted and discouraged them and having slaine such as resisted he pursued the rest as farre as the plains of Idumaea c. In this fight â—bout three thousand of the enemies were slain yet would he not suffer his souldiers to take the spoil telling them that as yet they were to fight with Gorgias and his Army but so soon as they had through Gods mercy with the likâ— valâ—ur beaten them they might then securely enrich themselves by the prey of all their enemies Gorgias with his Army being upon an hill and discovering the flight of their friends and the Jews readinesse to give them battell were so affrighted that they also fled whereupon Judas with his men returned to gather the pillage and having found great store of gold silver scarlet and purple he returned to his dwelling with joy praising God for their happy success Lysias hearing of this overthrow was much enraged and presently assembled another army of neer sixthy thousand chosen foot and five thousand horsemen wherewith he went to invade Judaea and encamped in Bethsura Judas hearing of it came forth against him with ten thousand men and seeing the number of his enemies so farre to exceed his he earnestly cried unto God that it would please him to fight with and for him and then charged the vanguard of the enemy with so great force that he discomfited and slew about five thousand of them Lysias perceiving hereby the resolution of the Jews who would rather die then lose their liberty he returned with the rest of his Army unto Antioch where he continued and entertained many mercenaries to make a greater Army for the conquest of the Jews In the meane time Judas assembled the people and told them that having obtained so many victories through the mercy of God they ought now to go up to Jerusalem and purifie the Temple that was desolate and to offer unto God the sacrifices that were ordained by the Law Then going up with a great multitude of people he found the Temple desolate the gates burned and grass growing within the same grieving therefore at so sad a spectacle he began to weep and all the people that were with him and having chosen out some of his best souldiers he commanded them to force the garisons which were in the fortresses whilest himself purged the Temple Then he caused to be made a Table a Candlestick and Altar for incense all of gold he put up a rail also and set gates to the Temple and having thrown down the Altar of burnt-offerings that was profaned by Antiochus he built a new one of stones neither hewed nor hammered Then on the twenty fifth of Chasleu September were lights set in the Candlestick perfumes laid upon the Altar loaves set upon the Table and sacrifices offered upon the new Altar which was the same day three years wherein before the sacred service was changed into profane and hatefull impiety Then did Judas with his country-men celebrate a feast unto the Lord for eight daies praising God with Hymns and Psalms He enclosed the City also with a wall and built high Towers thereon in which he planted Garisons against the incursions of the enemies He fortified also the City of Betsura that it might serve as a Fort against the enemy But the nations round about them being greatly displeased with this prosperity of the Jews oppressed divers whom they surprised by ambushes and treachery whereupon Judas warred against them to hinder their incursions he slew many of the Idumaeans and brought away a great prey out of their country and shut up the sonnes of Baan their Prince who lay in waite for the Jews and after a siege he overcame them setting fire on their Towers and killing all the men that where therein After this he made warre upon the Ammonites who had a mighty Army under the conduct of Timotheus with these he fought and overcame them and took their City of Jazor and burned it leading their wives and children into captivity and so returned into Judaea But the neighbouring nations hearing of his departure assembled themselves together against the Jews in Galaad who retiring into the sort of Dathema sent to Judas requesting him to come and relieve them and whilest he was reading their Letters other messengers came out of Galile informing him that they were assaulted by the inhabitants of Ptolomais Tyre and Sidon and others there abouts Hereupon Judas commanded his brother Simon to take three thousand chosen men and with them to relieve those Jews that were assailed in Galile and himself with his brother Jonathan accompanied with eight thousand fighting men marched into Galaad leaving the rest of his forces under two other Captains whom he commanded to have a watchfull eye over Judaea yet not to joyn battell with any enemy till his returne Simeon in Galile fought against his enemies discomfited them pursued them to the gates of Ptolemais and slew about three thousand and having gathered their spoils he released many Jews that were prisoners restored their goods to them and so returned home But Judas having passed Jordan and marched three daies journey he met the Naâ—athians who told him that his brethren were besieged in their Castles and Cities and some of them were already brought into great exrteamity and penury Hereupon he first assailed the Inhabitants of Bosra tooke their City set it on fire and killed all the men that were able to beaâ— arms then marching all night he came early in the morning to the Castle where the Jews were besieged by Tymothies Army The enemies were just then raising their ladders to scale the walls and applying their engins for battery Then did he incourage his men to fight valiantly for their brethren that were in danger and causing his Trumpets to sound he distributed his forces into three battalions wherewith he assaulted the enemies but they hearing that it was Macâ—abaeus were struck with so great a fear that immediately they fled Judas with his men pursuing them slew about eight thousand
the wilderness Thither came two Arrian Earls and with great subtilty sought to withdraw them from their stedfastness saying What mean you to be so obstinate as not to obey the Kings Laws whereas by complying with him you may be preferred to honour Then did they all cry out We be Christians we be Catholicks we believe and confess the Trinity in Unity Hereupon were they shut up in a grievous prison Many mothers also voluntarily followed their little children much rejoycing that they had born Martyrs Others sought to draw them to rebaptization by the Hereticks but through Gods grace they could not prevail As they passed on the way travelling more by night then by day because of the excessive heat a woman hasted after them leading in her hand a little child encouraging him saying Run Sirra seest thou all the Saints how merrily they go forwards and hasten to their Crown One of the company rebuked her and asked her whether she went To whom she answered Pray for me I go with this little boy my nephew to the place of banishment least the enemies finding him alone should seduce him from the way of truth into the way of Error The enemies being more enraged because of their constancy when they came to their lodgings penned them up in narrow places Then was denied to them all the comfort of access of their friends for permitting whereof formerly their Keepers had been beaten with staves These blessed Saints were tumbled one upon another as grains of corn neither could they have means of stepping aside to ease nature so that the stink of their excrements exceeded their other pain Then were they brought forth their garments heads and faces besmeared with dirt in a pitifull manner and by the clamorous Moors they were hastened forward in their journey yet they went singing with great joy unto the Lord Loe This honour have all his Saints Then came to them the blessed Bishop Cyprian who to their singular consolation comforted every one of them with fatherly affection and with streams of tears was ready to lay down his life for the brethren and would fain have accompanied them if he might have been suffered He bestowed all that he had amongst them for which he afterwards suffered imprisonment and much hard-ship and at last had his hearts desire in being banished There came great multitudes from sundry Countries and Cities to behold these servants of God and many casting their Children at their feet cryed thus To whom will you leave us wretches whilest you go forward to your Crown Who shall baptize our infants instruct and administer the Sacraments to us our hearts serve us well to go with you if we might But now none were suffered any more to go with them for their comfort but they were pressed forwards and made to run When any of the aged or tender Children fainted they were first punched forwards with staves Then were the Moors commanded to tie ropes to the feet of such as were unable to go and to hail them thorow the rough places so that first their garments were rent then their flesh and their heads were dashed against the sharp edges of rocks whereby very many of them died The rest that were stronger came at last to the wilderness where like beasts they had barly given them for their food there were also abundance of venemous serpents and scorpions in that place whose sting was deadly yet thorow Gods great Providence none of these servants of Christ gat any hurt thereby Hunrick in the seventh year of his reign directed his Mandate to Eugenius Bishop of Carthage and told all other Bishops in Africk that they should by such a day meet at Carthage to defend by disputation their faith against the Arrian Bishops but withal by the tenour of the decree they perceived that he would not suffer any of them to live within his dominions which caused great heaviness amongst them Eugenius returned answer that since it was the common cause of all the Christian Churches it was but equal that Bishops out of other Countries should be requested to be there present also and this he did not because they suspected their own abilities to defend the truth but because he knew that strangers might use more liberty of speech then they could and that other Bishops might be witnesses of their sufferings but this request did but more enrage this unreasonable Tyrant The appointed day approaching many Bishops resorted to Carthage worn out with afflictions and sorrows yet for many days after their coming there was no mention of disputing till in the mean time the King had singled out the learnedest and skilfullest of them that by sundry Calumniations he might make them away Amongst whom was Laetus a stout and learned man whom he first imprisoned and then burnt him in the fire that so he might strike a fear into the rest At last the Disputation began and the Orthodox to avoid tumult chose out some to answer for all the rest The Arrians placed themselves upon lofty Thrones whilest the Orthodox stood below upon their feet Whereupon they said Conference is to be taken in hand not where proud superiority of power bears sway but where by common consent the Disputants upon equal tearms debate the controversies that truth may come to light c. Then were all the Catholicks commanded to have an hundred stroaks a piece with a cudgel given them for this speech Whereupon Eugenius said The Lord from heaven behold the violence which we suffer and consider the tribulation which we sustain from our persecutors Then did the Orthodox Bishops desire the Arrians to propound what they intended But the Arrian Bishops seeing them ready to dispute with them sought out tergiversations and declined the dispute Hereupon the Orthodox drew forth a declaration of their faith excellently well penned and exhibited it with this Protestation If you be desirous to know our belief the faith which we hold is herein comprised The Arrians stormed exceedingly at this giving them outragious language and presently by false Calumnies they accused them to the King and so incensed him that by an Edict in one day he caused all the Christians Churches through Africk to be shut up giving to the Arrians all the goods and Churches of the Orthodox Then did he command that all those godly Bishops that were met together at Carthage should be spoiled of all that they had in their lodgings and so driven out of the City-gates having neither servant nor beast nor garment to sâ—ift them in left unto them and all men were forbidden either to harbour them or give them any sustenance the King threatning to burn him and all his family that should relieve them The Bishops being thus turned out lay in the open fields round about the Wals and when the Tyrant went forth to the fish-ponds they met him saying Why are we so
harvest on the hill side of St. Germaine perceived a company of souldiers that were spoiling the inhabitants of St. Germain whereupon they made an out-cry upon which the people of Angrogne ran presently thither-ward some by the valley others over the mountain they which went by the valley being above fifty men met with the spoilers who were a hundred and twenty men well appointed with whom they fought and gave them a great overthrow some were hurt others drowned and but few hardly escaped not one of Angrogne being hurt in the fight The Monks were so affrighted with this defeat that they ran away from their Abbey to Pignerol to save their Reliques and Images which they carried thither and if the Ministers would have suffered their people to have attempted it they might easily have freed their brethren which were imprisoned in the Abbey After this these Monks being assisted by a Captain took many of the inhabitants of the valley of Luserne prisoners spoiling their goods driving away their Cattel and in the end ransomed them for great summs of money About this time a Gentleman of Campillan promised his Neighbours that if they would give him thirty Crowns he would secure them against trouble but when he had got the money he caused some souldiers to come to his house and in the night sending for the poor men which suspected no danger he trayterously endeavoured to deliver them into the hands of their mortal enemies but God who succours his in their greatest necessity discovered to one of them the danger they were in whereby they all fled and escaped Then were strict commands sent through all the Country to banish all the Waldenses together with the Gospel out of the mountains and vallies of Piedmount but the people still desired that they might have leave to serve God purely according to the Rules of the Word In the end of October a rumour was spread abroad that an Army was raising wholly to destroy them yea and such malefactors as were in prisons or banished were pardoned upon condition that they should take arms to destroy the Waldenses Hereupon the Ministers met together to consult what was to be done in so great an extremity And first they enjoyed a general and publick Fast to seek unto God for Direction and in the end concluded that they should not defend themselves by arms but that forsaking their houses and taking their best movables with them they should retire unto the high mountains but if their enemies pursued them thither that then they should take such advise as God should please to give them This Counsel all the people submitted to and for eight days space were as busie as Ants in summer to remove their goods and provisions which though they did in great danger yet with great courage and alacrity praising God and singing Psalms every one cheering up another But other Ministers hearing of this resolution wrote to them that they thought it strange that in such an extream necessity they should not rather resolve to defend themselves against violence proving that it was lawfull for them so to do to defend the true Religion and the lives of themselves wives and children knowing thar it was not the Duke but the Pope that thus stirred him up against them During this time their Adversaries cryed nothing but To the fire with them to the fire with them and presently by proclamations set up every where Angrogne was exposed to the fire and sword The Army also approached to their borders and the people retired into the mountains But when they saw some horse-men not only spoiling their goods but taking some of their brethren prisoners they came back and set upon them in which bickering some of the enemies were slain and the rest retired to their camp not one of the Waldenses was slain or hurt But two of these horsemen that fled galloping away before the rest when they came neer to the Army cryed out They come they come Whereupon the whole Army was so astonished that every man fled away none pursuing and the Captain could not all that day get them into order again The next day the Army under the Lord of Trinity was mustered in a meddow near to Angrogne They of the Town had sent some to stop the passages that the Army should not enter and in the mean time they retired into the meddow of Toure not expecting the Army so soon so that there were but few that kept the Passages but when those few perceived their enemies preparing themselves to fight they all fell down upon their knees praying earnestly unto God to pity them and not to look on their sins but on the cause that they maintained to turn the hearts of their enemies and so to worke that there might be no effusion of bloud but if it were his will to take them their wives and infants out of this world that it would please him mercifully to receive them into his Kingdome Their prayers being ended they perceived their enemies to come through the Vines to win the top of the mountain Whereupon the combat began in divers places and continued untill night The poor Waldenses being but few and only armed with slings and cross-bows were much oppressed by the multitudes of their enemies so that at last they retired to the top of the mountain where they defended themselves till night But having found a place where they might withstand their enemies they turned again and slew divers of them At Even the enemies began to encamp themselves which the Waldenses perceiving they fell to prayer desiring God to assist and succour them for which the enemies flouted and laughed them to scorn The poor people devised to send a Drum into a valley hard by and as they were at prayer the Drum beat up in the valley whereupon the Lord of Trinity caused his souldiers to retreat which was a great advantage to the Waldenses who were weary thirsty and in great perill if God by this meanes had not given them some rest Of the Waldenses there were but three slain but many of their enemies and more hurt of whom few recovered This combat much encouraged the Waldenses and as much terrified their enemies who in their retreat burnt many houses and destroyed the Wines that were in the Presse Then did the Lord of Trinity encamp in the vally of Luserne by a Village the people whereof had alwaies hated the Waldenses and much rejoyced at this hurt that was now done to them but they were paid back in their own coyn being all destroyed by the Army Then did the Lord of Trinity place four Garisons in four severall Fortresses so that the poor Waldenses found themselves in a sea of troubles Whereupon they first betook themselves to prayer then sent to their friends for aid who sent them all that they could make Then did the Lord of Trinity send his Army to Villars
suspected to be of their Religion should be excluded from office bearing that all houses should be pulled downe wherein any of them should be found that all their goods and inheritances should be confiiscated That the like should be done to all that should aid or abett them or that should hinder or not assist the Inquisitors in the execution of their office That whosoever should be suspected of their Heresie should have an oath given him to keep the peace and the Catholike Faith That the houses of such as should be detected of Heresie after their death should be pulled downe That whosoever should refuse to weare the Cross should have his goods seized on c. The same year the Inquisitors were informed that in the territories of Brixia there had lately lived one Guido de Lacha who was much honoured for his austerity and integrity of life but that he dyed out of the communion of the Church of Rome having been infected with Heresie whereupon they ordered his bones to be digged up and burned The Earl of Foix and Comminges and the Prince of Bearne yet remained to be conquered and the Popes Legate thought that the Earl of Tholouse was the fittest person to deale with them whereupon he caused him to write to them to perswade them to embrace the Catholike Faith c. But the Earl of Foix returned answer That he could not forsake his faith in such a time wherein men might think that he did it rather out of feare then from any good grounds and that it was fitter for them to convince him of the truth of their way then to allure him by promises or force him thereto by Armes And that if they brought that world of Pilgrims against him which they threatned he trusted in God that he should make them know the Justice of his cause and repent of the rashnesse of their vow But the Earls subjects fearing that their Lord being aged and without wife and children should leave them to the mercy of the first Conqueror intreated him to come to a composition with the Legat whereupon he began to treat and at last yielded up diverse Castles into the hands of the King of France upon promise that he would rule with justice and equity Anno Christi 1234. the opinions of the Albingenses were much spread abroad in the parts of Spaiâ—â— and other adjacent countries and they had Bishops among them who boldly preached against the Romish errors and especially against Transubstantiation whereupon a Croisado was preached against them and a very great Army of Pilgrims being assembled together were by Pope Gregory sent against them who slew them all with their Bishops seized of their City and plundered them whereby saith Mathew Paris they returned rich and joyfully into their own countries Also about the same time another Army of these Pilgrims went against others of them on the borders of Germany who retiring into a Fenny place for there security were their all slaine But the same yeare the Lord raised up Trancavel the natural son of the Earl of Beziers deceased who was encouraged and assisted by a number of valiant Captaines as Oliver de Fumes Bertrand Hugon de Serrelong Bertrand de villenense Jordaine de Satiat who told him that they would assist him to revenge the outrages done to his father who was deprived of his land betrayed imprisoned and poisoned whereupon he resolved to recover by the sword what was so unjustly taken from him and before the enemies had notice of his designe he took in diverse strong Castles so that the Popes Legate and Bishop of Tholouse were much astonished to see these men stand up for the Albingenses whom they supposed to have been utterly suppressed Then did the Popes agents cause the cross to be preached and the Bishop of Narbonne animated the people of his Diocess to go against them and to make an end of the poor remainder of the Albingenses An army being raised the Popes Legate led it to Tholouse and when the Citizens appeared upon their ramparts he told them that he was come thither for their preservation They thanked him but withall told him that if he did not instantly retire himselfe they would give him the chase And presently came Trancavell who so bravely and valiantly set upon the Legates Troops that he quickly overthrew them and chased them to the very gates of Carcasson and the Legate had much adoe to save himselfe but that which most angered the Legate was that Trancavell found intertainement in some part of Carcasson so that the Pilgrims durst hardly peep out of the City gates and when he heard of any more Pilgrims comming to the Legate he used to meet them to lay Ambushes for them so that usually overthrowing them their designes were marred This man kept the field till the year 1242. and still prevailed against all the crossed souldiers that came against him whereupon Ameline the Popes Legate wrote to the Pope that if he caused not the cross to be preached in many parts of Europe the Church was like to sustain much damage by this enemy For saith he he is more cruell and subtile then any before him But a little before the Bishop of Tholouse was informed of a certain Matron who having her children brethren and friends about her was dying an Heretick whereupon he ran to her and found it even so by the confession of the woman her selfe who desired to die in the faith of the Albingenses and doubted not to be saved then did the Bishop condemne her and delivered her to the secular power who presently carried her forth in the bed wherein she lay sick and burned her Anno Christi 1235. Earl Remund getting from Paris returned into his owne country and forbad the Citizens of Tholouse to company with the Friers predicant and shortly after expelled them the City And the Monastery of Narbonne belonging to the same order of Friers was pulled down by the Albingenses And in June following Pope Gregory the ninth made new Inquisitors against the Albingenses in Arragon and France Anno Christi 1236. King Lewis of France wrote to the Pope that Earl Remund had violated the Covenants which he had made with the Church and had cast the Bishops Clergy and Friers out of Tholouse and brought Hereticks into their roomes whereupon he desired that he might be reduced into order c. And indeed by the power of the Pope and King he was forced to recall the Popish Clergy and to banish the Albingenses and to take upon him the signe of the Cross for the aid of the Holy land by way of Penance for his former deeds The same year many imbracing the faith of the Albingenses be-beyond the Alps Inquisitors were sent against them especially one Frier Robert who caused many of both sexes to be apprehended and when they continued constant in the true faith and would not renounce the same in
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
famous Assembly I neither ought nor could any longer suffer it neither could I forbear doing what you have seen which thing most noble Prince was not done in contempt of your Presence God is my witness but to seek the salvation of this People The King hearing that he was an Englishman and considering what alteration of Religion King Edward had made presently conceited that he was suborned by some body to do this in scorn to their Religion wherefore he asked him who was the Authour and procurer of this act Gardiner answered that he was not moved thereunto by any man but only by his own conscience For saith he there is no man under heaven for whose sake I would put my self into such manifest danger but that I owed this service first to God and then to your salvation and if I have done any thing which is dispeasing to you you ought to impute it to no man but to your self who so iâ—reverently use the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper to so great Idolatry c. Whilst he thus stoutly spake to the King by reason of the losse of much blood by his wound he was ready to faint Whereupon Chirurgions were sent for to cure him that he might be reserved for further torments Then were all other Englishmen in the City clapped up in prison especially his bed-fellow who was grievously tormented and examined more then all the rest and scarcely delivered after two years imprisonment the rest got off sooner They searched also all his writings and letters to see if they could find out any confederates then they went to him seeking by torments to extort the Author of this fact They also invented a new kind of torment exceeding Phalaris his brazen Bull which was this They made a ball of linnen cloth which with violence they thrust down his throat to the bottom of his stomack and with a string fastned to it they pulled it up again and this they did divers times which caused as bitter pains as the pains of death but when by this means they could get no confession from him they asked him if he did not repent of his wicked fact whereto he answered that he was so far from repenting that if it were to do again he should do it yet was he somewhat sorry that it was done in the Kings presence to his disturbance but they were not to blame him for it but the King was rather to be blamed who having power would not prohibit so great Idolatry When they had used all kinds of torments and that he was so weakned thereby that he was not like to live long they first cut off his right hand then carried him into the market-place where they cut off his other hand also then fastning a rope about his middle with a Pully they hoisted him up an high and making a great fire under him they let him down so that his feet only felt the fire and so often pulling him up and down they burned him by degrees and yet in all these great torments he remained constant and the more terribly that he burnt the more earnestly he prayed When his feet were consumed they asked him whether he yet did not repent him of his deed exhorting him to call upon our Lady and the Saints He answered that what torments soever they used the truth was the same that which he had confessed in his life he would not deny at his death and that when Christ ceased to be our Advocate he would pray to our Lady c. And when they laboured to stop his pâ—aying to and praising of God he with a loud voice reheased the 34. Psalm which being almost ended the rope was burned in sunder so that his body fell down into the fire where he changed his momentany pains for eternal rest But the Lord suffered not this cruelty to go altogether unpunished in this life for a spark of the fire wherewith he was burned was driven by the wind into the Haven where it set on fire one of the Kings great ships and consumed it The new-married Prince also died within half a year and the King himself not long after The Martyrdom of a Christian Jew in Constantinople Anno Christi 1528. THis Jew dwelling ar Constantinople through Gods grace was there converted baptized and became a good Christian which the Turks understanding were vehemently exasperated against him for it fearing lest his conversion should prove very prejudicial to their Mahumetan Religion and therefore they apprehended and cruelly murthered him and for his greater infamy they cast out his dead body into the open streets forbidding all strictly to bury it Thus his dead body lay in the streets nine dayes yet through the power of God it corrupted not at all yea there proceeded from it a certain delectable sent or odour which much astonished the Turks so that at last they took it up and carried it out of the City and buried it CHAP. XXX The Persecution of the Church in Germany which began Anno Christi 1523. THe Gospel being spread abroad in Germany by the means and ministry of Luther and his fellow-labourers the Pope having tried all other means for the suppressing of it and finding them ineffectual he at last provokes the Emperour Charles the fifth by war to destroy the Protestants and for that end gives him two hundred thousand crowns in money for the maintenance of these Wars and ties himself at his own cost to maintain twelve thousand foot and five hundred horse for six moneths yea out of his zeale for the cause he allows the Emperour the one half of the Revenues of the Clergy and gives him leave to sell off Abby-lands to the value of five hundred thousand crowns whereupon great preparation was made for this War both in Germany Spain and Italy the consideration wherereof caused the confederate Protestant Princes to raise a great Army also for their own defence upon which occasion they were proclaimed guilty of high treason by the Emperour The two Armies lay near together and the Protestants offered battel to the Emperour but he refused assuring himself that they could not long continue together The Army of the Protestants was commanded by the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave of Hessen who did not concur very well in their counsels besides they wanted both victuals and money so as they were forced to dislodge and retire further off the Emperour following forced the Elector to fight with disadvantage and God who doth not alwaies prosper the better cause gave the victory to the Emperour the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave being taken prisoners Anno 1547. Presently after ensued a great persecution in many places authority armed with laws and rigour striving against simple verity It was lamentable to hear how many poor men were troubled both Ministers and Christians some tossed from place to place others exiled out of their own Countryes some driven into
and shortly after three Suns appeared in the Heavens In the beginning of April Anno 1619. and Anno 1621. in March in the same Country of Austria were two Armies seen in the Heavens by clear day-light fighting furiously together with great thundering of Ordnance and Canons In the same Country Anno 1623. in the moneth of January just over the City of Lintz two swords were seen one over against the other and two great Armies fighting a pitched battel together which caused great terrour to the beholders At Heidleberg in February Anno 1622. were seen three Suns and three Rainbows Shortly after which that City was besieged by the Inperialists and at last taken where a grear slaughter was made of the Imhabitants and in Neckergemund three miles off all the inhabitants Men Women and Children were put to the sword In April Anno 1622. In the Country of Darmstad were trees whose leaves drop't blood and the year after in the same Country in divers Towns and Villages were seen bloody signes on Houses and stone-walls About Meyenfield and Malants as men were reaping their Corne their Hands and Sickles were all bloody In July Anno 1622. In the Dukedome of Wittemburgh it rained so much blood that it fell upon the hands and cloaths of people in the fields and was seen upon Trees Stones and other places May the twelfth Anno 1624. in the Dukedome of Anhalt there appeared a strange prodigie in the Heavens which continued from six till eight a clock at night First there came out of the clouds an Ancient-bearer After him came forth a grave man in the same habit then came forth a Chariot drawn with two particouloured Horses Then another Chariot with four armed Horses Then suddenly there brake out of the Clouds an infinite number of people like a swarm of Bees After them followed a man sitting on horseback with a long Robe putting the people before him A quarter of an houre after came forth another Army consisting of many horse and foot c. The two Armies fought till one of them was routed and presently after all vanished away Anno 1624. In May a strange tempest happened at Ratisbone The weather being very calme with little raine two dark clouds met together which suddenly belched out a great wind mingled with fire which raised such a tempest that near to the City it tore up trees by the roots and in a moment drave them into divers places and thence extending it self to the City it overturned above two hundred houses in the Towne and Suburbs not leaving a Chimney standing nor a roof to cover an house The Church of Emerans besides the shattered windows had one of the steeples laid flat to the ground and the other broke off in the middle two other of the chiefest steeples in the City were also broken down This tempest lasted not above a quarter of an hour nor extended beyond the City neither were there above four men slain by it Anno 1625. Near Troppash a great multitude of Jack-dawes met in the aire where they fought a great battel and that with so great eagernesse that many of them fell down dead so that the Countrey-men gathered up whole sackfuls of them Anno 1628. In Pomerland the heavens seemed to open and an Army came forth of the Northern part the Avauntguard consisting of Pioneres Musqueteres then followed great peeces of Ordnance and in the Reare came the Cavalry Another Army came forth on the other side and betwixt them there became a cruel battel The victory inclining to the Northern Army And at last a fiery beame followed upon the Northern Conquerour which continued for the space of some hours Anno 1631. At Hall in Saxony the water was turned into blood to the great astonishment of the inhabitants During the siege of Magdenburg a Captains wife being in travel when she could not be delivered and was near death she desired that when she was dead her body might be opened which being done there was found in her womb a boy almost as big as one of three years old with an head-piece and breastplate upon him great boots after the French fashion and a bag by his side with twoo things in it like musket bullets June the nineteenth Anno 1631. In the lower Saxony two great Armies appeared in the aire one in the North the other in the South which fought a great battel together After long fighting the Northern Army obtained the victory After the battel was ended there appeared a man in a long coat bearing a bow with which he shot at and overthrew the Commander of the Southern Army In the same Countrey a woman having bought a loafe of bread when she came home was dividing it and in the cutting of it there came forth blood Anno. 1633. In the Countrey of Altenburgh a fish-pond was turned into blood which stank so extreamly that if any Passengers did but touch it they could not wash off the stink thereof in three days space Anno 1634. At Berlin in Brandenburg it rained blood and brimstone Anno 1635. In Hessen there met two armies of strange birds which fought a set battel And not far off about that same time a multitude of dogs had their Randevouz which fought so eagerly that they would not be reconciled and when the Governour of a neighbour Garrison sent out four companies of Musqueteers against them they seeing a common enemy joyned together and in despight of their guns beat them away and devoured nine of them Here place the eighth Figure CHAP. XXXIII The Persecution of the Church in France which began Anno Christi 1524. ANno Christi 1209. There were certain learned men in France disciples of one Almericus at Paris whose names were Master William a sub-deacon of Poictiers well studied in the Arts and Divinity Bernard another sub-deacon William Goldsmith Steven a Priest Steven of the Seller and one John a Priest who upon examination held That God was no otherwise present in the Sacramental bread than in any other bread That it was Idolatry to build Altars to Saints or to cense their Images They mocked those that kissed the Reliques They said that the Pope was Antichrist and Rome Babylon That God was not seene in himself but by his creatures For which when they could not be drawn to recant they were condemned to be burnt at Paris which accordingly was executed Bzorius out of Caesarius And Almenneus who had been their Master had his body digged up in the Church-yard and was buried in the field And all French books of Divinity were for ever condemned and burned Anno Christi 1524. At Melden in France there was one John Clark who set up a Bill upon the Church-door against the Popes pardons lately come thither wherein he called the Pope Antichrist for which being apprehended he was adjudged three several days to be whipt then to have
to live with him for ever and so they all quietly slept in the Lord. Four others about the same time were condemned and cruelly burnt at Paris for the same cause Anno 1548. There was one Blondel a Merchant of precious stones that frequented many great Fairs in France and was well-known both in Court and Countrey he was a man of singular integrity and a Favourer of Gods Word being at an Inne in Lions he freely reproved the filthy talk and superstitious behaviour which he there heard and saw hereupon the Host complained of him to an officer withal informing him of his rich Coller of Jewels These two suborned one to borrow money of him which because Blondel refused to lend the fellow caused him to be apprehended for heresie thinking thereby to attach his goods but Blondels friends prevented it privily conveying them away Blondel being examined of his faith gave a plain and full Confession of it whereupon he was sent to prison in which he did much good amongst the Prisoners paying the debts of some and so loosing them feeding others cloathing others c. At length through the importunity of his Parents and friends he changed his Confession yet was he sent to the High Court at Paris where being examined again concerning his faith he adhered to his first Confession much bewailing his former fall Then was he condemned to be burnt and great haste was made for his execution left his friends at Court should save his life Anno 1549. One Hubert a young man of nineteen years old was so constant in the faith that neither the perswasions of his Parents nor the threats of his adversaries could remove him from his stedfastnesse for which he was burned at Dyion The same year there was a godly Minister called Florent Venote cast into prison at Paris where he lay above four years in which time there was no kind of torment which he did not endure and overcome amongst others he was put in to so narrow a place that he could neither stand nor lieâ— in which he remained seven weeks whereas there was never any Malefactor that could endure it fifteen dayes but he either grew mad or died At last when a great shew was made at the Kings coming into the City and divers other Martyrs in sundry places of it were put to death Florent also having his tongue cut out was brought forth to see their execution and lastly was himselfe burnt About the same time one Anne Audebert as she was going to Geneva was apprehended and brought to Paris where she was adjudged to be sent to Orleance and burned there when she was had forth to execution a rope being put about her she called it her wedding girdle wherewith she should be married to Christ and being to be burried upon a Saturday she said On a Saturday I was first married and on a Saturday I shall be married again She much rejoyced when she was put into the dung-cart and shewed such patience and constancy in the fire as made all the Spectators to wonder at it Not long after the Coronation of Henry the second King of France at whose coming into the City of Paris divers godly Martyrs were burned there was a poor Tailor that dwelt not farre from the Kings Palace apprehended for working upon an holy day Being by the Officer asked why he wrought upon that day He answered that he was a poor man living only upon his labour and that he knew no day but the Sabbath whereupon he might not work his necessity requiring it Then was he clapt up in prison this being noised in the Court some would needs have the Tailor sent for that the King might have the hearing of him Then was the Tailor brought thither and the King sitting in his chair of State commanded the Bishop of Mascon to question with him The Tailor being nothing amated at the Kings presence after he had done reverence to his Prince gave thanks to God for honouring him so greatly being such a wretch as to bring him where he might bear witnesse to his truth before so great a Prince The Bishop questioned with him about the greatest matters of Religion and he with an undaunted spirit so answered for the sincere truth and with such pregnant proofs of Scripture as was wonderfull and though the Nobles that were present jeered and taunted at him yet could they not dash him out of countenance but that still with much liberty and freedome of speech he defended the truth of Christ neither flattering their persons nor fearing their threats The King seeming to muse much within himself that so mean and simple a person should shew such audacity in such a presence the Bishop and Popish Lords taking notice of cryed out that he was an obstinate and impudent Heretick and therefore remanded him back to prison and within a few dayes after he was condemned to be burnt alive and left the King should be affected with what he heard from the Tailor the Bishops often suggested that the Lutherans were such as carried a vaine smoake in their mouthes which being put to the fire would soon vanish They also would needs have the King present at his execution but it pleased God to give such strength and courage to the Tailor at his execution as much more astonished the King than all his former carriage for having espied the King in the window where he sate he beheld him with so stedfast a countenance that his eyes were never off him yea when the fire was kindled about him he still kept his eyes so fixed upon the King that the King was constrained to leave the window and to withdraw himself and was so wrought upon thereby that he confessed that he thought the shadow of the Tailor followed him whithersoever he went and for many nights after he was so terrified with the apparition thereof that he protested with an oath that he would never see nor hear any more of those Lutherans though afterwards he brake his oath as it follows in the story of Anne Du Bourg About the same time one Claudius a godly man was apprehended as he came from Geneva and burned at Orleance Anno 1551. One Thomas a young man of about eighteen years old coming from Geneva to Paris rebuked one for swearing whereupon he was apprehended for a Lutherane and carried before the high Court by them he was committed to prison and cruelly racked to confesse his companions which he still refused to do whereupon they continued to rack him till one of the bloody Inquisitors turned his back and wept and till the Hangman was a weary then was he carried to be burned and was let down with a pully into the fire and after a while being pulled up again they asked him if he would yet turn To whom he said That he was in his
horrible blasphemies they murthered him and then plundred his house About the Ramparts of the wall inhabited many of the Religion amongst whom all night was heard nothing but shooting of guns and pistols breaking open of doors fearful out-cries of the men women and children that were massacred trampling of horses rumbling of Carts that carried the dead bodies away and the cryings out of the murtherers that went up and down howling out Kill kill them all and then take the spoile This Massacre continued all the week long the bloody beasts crying out to those whom they murthered Where is now your God What is become of all your Prayers and Psalms now Let your God whom you call'd upon save you if he can Others sang in scorn to them the 43. Psalm Judge and revenge my cause O Lord. Others Have mercy on me O God c. Yet notwithstanding all these taunts the faithful died couragiously In this Massacre the Papists boasted that they had slain above twelve thousand men besides women and children some of them said eighteen thousand On Tuesday night some of these murtherers came and knocked at the door of a Doctor of the Civil Law and when he opened it to them they told him that he must die whereupon he fell to Prayer with such ardency and affection that they being amazed and over-ruled by a divine power only robbed him and went away The next day came some Scholars to his house desiring to see his Library which he shewed them then they asked some one book some another which he gave them yet they told him they were not satisfied but they must kill him whereupon betaking himself to prayer when he had done he desired them to kill him there which they refused forcing him out into the streets leading him by the schools and there he again desired them to kill him in that place where he had taught so long but they still refused and when they had led him a little farther they knockt him on the head Others meeting with an Apothecary who had brought Physick to a Patient cut off one of his armes and then had him forth into the market-place where they murthered him A Cook that had hid himself three dayes was at last through hunger forced to come forth and so was slain And to fulfil the measure of their cruelty such Protestants as through fear revolted to them they placed them in the fore-front of their companies putting weapons in their hands compelling them to give the first onset crying Smite them smite them are they not your holy brethren and sisters and if any refused they presently slew him In Lyons Mandolet Governour thereof hearing of the Massacre at Paris presently caused the City gates to be shut raised forces commanding them that if any of the Protestants came out of their houses though but with swords they should presently kill them but the Protestants seeing a storme coming which they knew could not arise without the special providence of God set themselves to bear it with invincible patience The day following if any of them did but go abroad about their necessary occasions they were presently clapt up in prison and when night came the murtherers entred their houses which they rifled and plundred and pretending to carry the Protestants to prison some they stabbed in the streets others they threw into the river whereof some were carried down the stream half a mile below the City by which means they escaped The day after Proclamation was made by sound of Trumpet that all of the Religion should appear at such a place to know the Kings pleasure concerning them many went but so soon as they came they were sent to several prisons and the night following every corner and part of the City was full of lamentable cries and shreekings partly of such as were massacred in their houses partly of such as were but half murthered and so haled to be thrown into the river and from that time there were such horrible murthers committed in the City as if the Divels in the likenesse of men ran roaring about to do mischief The Sabbath morning following those that had hitherto escaped massacring were then dispatched In the Arch-bishops house there were three hunded and fifty Prisoners shut up and a bloody crue of cutthroats were appointed to murther them to whom the keyes were delivered and they rushing into the great Court gave notice to the prisoners with a loud voice that they must die then having first taken all the Prisoners purses they fell upon them with barbarous cruelty hacking and hewing them in a furious manner so that within an hour and an half they were every one cut in pieces The prisoners were all slain with their eyes and hands lift up to heaven whilst their hands and fingers were cut off There was a Merchant called Francis de Bossu that had two sonnes the father seeing the horrible Massacres said to his sons Children we are not now to learn that it hath alwayes been the portion of believers to be hated persecuted and devoured by unbelievers as Christs sheep of ravening wolves if we suffer with Christ we shall also reign with him let not therefore these drawn swords terrifie us they will be but as a bridge whereby we shall passe to eternal life we have lived long enough amonst the wicked let us now go and live with our God let us joyfully go after this great company that is gone before us c. When he saw the murtherers come he clasped his armes about his two sons and they theirs about him as if they strove mutually to ward off the blows each from other who were afterwards found dead in these mutual imbraces The murtherers went up and down the City boasting that they had died their white doublets red in the blood of the Huguenots one bragging that he had killed an hundred and some more and some lesse when the people went into the Arch-bishops house and saw the slaughter that had been made there though they were Papists yet they said that surely they were not men but Devils in the habit of men that had done this The dead corpses were carried out and lay spread like dung upon the face of the earth and when they were about to throw them into the river an Apothecary told them that much money might be made of their grease whereupon all the fat bodies were sought out ripped up and their grease sold for three shillings a pound which being done after many jears bestowed upon the dead carcasses some were tumbled into a great pit others thrown into the river The Countries which lay below upon the river were amazed to see such multitudes of dead bodies to come down the streame some with their eyes pulled out others their noses eares and hands cut off stabbed into every part of their bodies so that some had no part of humane shape remaining Shortly after
lurk as a man ashamed that dare not shew his face hereby they perceived that his desire was to preach whereupon they said to him It 's most comfortable to us to hear â—ou but because we know the danger wherein you stand we dare not desire it But said he if you dare hear let God provide for me as best pleaseth him and so it was concluded that the next day he should preach in Leith his text was of the Parable of the Sower Mat. 13. The Sermon ended the Gentlemen of Louthâ—â—â— who were earnest Professors of Jesus Christ would not suffer him to stay at Leith because the Governour and Cardinal were shortly to come to Edinburgh but took him along with them and so he preached at Brunstone Languedine and Ormstone then was he requested to preach at Eneresk neer Muscelbrugh where he had a great confluence of people and amongst them Sir George Dowglas who after Sermon said publickly I know that the Governour and Cardinal will hear that I have been at this Sermon but let them know that I will avow it and will maintain both the doctrine and the Preacher to the uttermost of my power This much rejoyced those that were present Amongst others that came to hear him preach there were two Gray-friars who standing at the Church door whispered to such as came in which Wischard observing said to the people I pray you make roome for these two men it may be they come to learn and turning to them he said Come neer for I assure you you shall hear the Word of truth which this day shall seale up to you either your salvation or damnation and so he proceeded in his Sermon supposing that they would be quiet but when he perceived that they still continued to disturb all the people that stood near them he said to them the second time with an angry countenance O Ministers of Satan and deceivers of the souls of men will ye neither hear Gods truth your selves nor suffer others to hear it Depart and take this for your portion God shall shortly confound and disclose your hypocrisie within this Kingdom ye shall be abominable to men and your places and habitations shall be desolate This he spake with much vehemency and turning to the people he said These men have provoked the Spirit of God to anger and then he proceeded to the end of his Sermon Afterwards he preached in divers other places the people much flocking after him In all his Sermons foretelling the shortnesse of time that he had to travel and the near approaching of his death Coming to Haddington his auditory began much to decrease the cause as it was conceived was this The Earle Bothwell who had great observance in those parts by the instigation of the Cardinal had inhibited both those of the Town and Countrey from hearing him Presently after as he was going to Church he received a letter from the West-countrey Gentlemen and having read it he called John Knox who had diligently waited upon him since he came into Lothaine to whom he said that he was a weary of the world because he saw that men began to be weary of God for saith he the Gentlemen of the West have sent me word that they cannot keep their meeting at Edinburgh John Knox wondring that he should enter into conference about these things so immediately before his Sermon contrary to â—his custome said to him Sir Sermon-time approaches I will leave you for the present to your meditations Then did Master Wischard walk up 〈◊〉 down about half an hour his sad countenance declaring the grief of his mind at last he went into the Pulpit and his Auditory being very small he began on this manner O Lord how long shall it be that thy holie Word shall be despised and men shall not regard their own salvation I have heard of thee O Haddington that in thee there used to be two or three thousand persons at a vain and wicked play and now to hear the Messenger of the eternal God of all the Parish can scarce be numbred one hundred present Sore and fearful shall be the plagues that shall ensue upon this thy contempt with fire and sword shalt thou be plagued yea thou Haddington in special strangers shall possesse thee and you the present inhabitants shall either in bondage serve your enemies or else you shall be chased from your own habitations and that because ye have not known nor will know the time of your visitation This Prophesie was accomplished not long after when the English took Haddington made it a garrison enforced many of the inhabitants to flie oppressed others and after awhile a great plague breaking forth in the Town whereof multitudes died the English were at last forced to quit it who at their departure burnt and spoiled great part of it leaving it to be possessed by such as could first seize upon it which were the French that came as Auxiliaries to Scotland with a few of the ancient inhabitants so that Haddington to this day never recovered her former beauty nor yet men of such wisdome and ability as did formerly inhabit it That night was Master Wiseheart apprehended in the house of Ormeston by the Earle Bothwel suborned thereunto by the Cardinal The manner was thus After Sermon he took his last farewel of all his friends in Haddington John Knox would faine have gone with him but he said Return to your children and God blesse you One is sufficient for one sacrifice Then went he the Laird of Ormestons with some others that accompanied him After Supper he held a comfortable discourse of Gods love to his children then he appointed the 51. Psalm to be sung and so retired to his chamber Before midnight the house was beset and the Earle Bothwell called for the Laird of the house and told him that it was in vain to resist for the Governour and Cardinal were within a mile with a great power but if he would deliver Master Wischard to him he would promise upon his honour that he should be safe and that the Cardinal should not hurt him Master Wischard said Open the gates the Will of God be done and Bothwell coming in Wischard said to him I praise my God that so honourable a man as you my Lord receive me this night for I am perswaded that for your honours sake you will suffer nothing to be done to me but by order of Law I lesse feare to die openly than secretly to be murthered Then said Bothwel I will not only preserve your body from all violence that shall be intended against you without order of Law but I also promise in the presence of these Gentlemen that neither the Governour nor Cardinal shall have their will of you but I will keep you in mine own house till I either set you free or restore you to the same place where I receive you Then said the Lairds My Lord
creatures yet that he might not openly discover the black design of the Council for extirpating of Hereticks before the hour of its execution he disguised his answers to them in such doubtful terms that though he gave them but cold comfort yet he left them not without some glimmering hopes at least of a day of audience for the hearing of their complaints that so during this interval of time all things might be in a better readiness for the day of slaughter as you shall hear in the next Chapter CHAP. XLIV A Narrative of the bloody cruelties which were exercised against the Protestants of the Valleys of Piemont during the heat of the late Massacre in April Anno 1655. UPon Saturday April 17 1655. whilst the deputies of the Protestants were by the subtilties of Pionessa detained at Turin as you heard before there arrived a great Army at St. Giovanni which was now with La Torre and all the lower parts unpeopled and in a sad and lamentable condition this Army continued there for some hours and in the dusk of the evening fell into La Torre where they met with none of the Protestants only about eight or ten persons not thinking of an enemy were seeking up and down for something to satisfie their hunger but so soon as they came near to the Convent they were saluted with a volley of shot which killed Giovanni Combe and hurt Peter Rostain whereupon the rest seeing the danger fled for their lives The next day being the Sabbath the enemy ranged about through the Communalties of La Torre and St. Giovanni plundering and pillaging all before them and the day after heir number being encreased to about Fifteen thousand they set upon the Protestants in several quarters amongst the little hills of St. Giovanni and La Torre But the poor people being prompted thereto by the Law of Nature stood upon their own defence and the enemy was vigorously opposed on every side in one place by Captain Jahier and in other places by the Officers of St. Giovanni Angrognia Roccapiatta and their Troops Tuesday April 20. The Popish Army made three several attempts to take away the Bell of St. Giovanni and to burn the Church but those of the poor people in arms did so couragiously resist them that they were driven to a shameful retreat with the loss of about Fifty of their men and had not their Cavalry defended the Plain they had been utterly routed But of the Protestants party there were onely Two slain upon whose dead bodies they basely revenged themselves Wednesday the 21. which was the fatal day to the Protestants the Marquess of Pianessa held the Deputies of the Valley of Lucerna in parley till noon and then entertained them with a large Dinner and sent them away with many fair promises that there should be no hurt done to any except those of St. Giovanni and La Torre as being the places specified in the Order of Gastaldo but for the rest if they would but quarter a few Troops as a token of their obedience and that but for a short time they might be fearless of the least inconvenience Hereupon the Agents of Angrogna bestired themselves to perswade their own party from making the least resistance the same did the Agents of Villaro and Bobio But no sooner were those Troops entred but they put all to fire and sword slaying all they met with that had but the likeness of mankind and that in the most barbarous manner they could possibly devise As you may see by this extract of a Letter written by some of those poor Protestants wherein they thus write The Army having gotten footing became very numerous by the addition of a multitude of the neighboring inhabitants who hearing that we were given for a prey to the Plunderers fell upon us with an impetuous fury To these were added a great number of Out-laws Prisoners and other Offenders who thought hereby to have saved their souls and filled their purses We were forced also to receive five or six Regiments of the French Army besides some Irish to whom as it was said our Country was promised and several other Troops of Highway-men and Vagabonds under a pretence of coming into the Valleys only for fresh Quarters The multitude being licensed by Pianessa encouraged by the Monks and led by our wicked Neighbors fell upon us with such violence on every side and in so treacherous a manner especially in Angrognia Villaro and Bobio to whom Pianessa had plighted his troth that if they would but quarter one Regiment they should be secure from all harm that in a moment of time all was turned into a confused heap and the inhabitants constrained after skirmishes that they made in the way to fiye for their lives together with their Wives and little children and that not onely the inhabitants of the Plains but of the Mountains also who had otherwise been certainly betrayed and surprised Yet was not all their diligence sufficient to preserve very many of them from destruction for in many places they were hemmed in on every side that there was no way left for their flight but they were most inhumanlâ— massacred In one place they cruelly tormented One hundred and fity Women and Children and afterwards chopped off the heads of some and dashed out the brains of others against the rocks Multitudes of Prisoners they took and such of them from fifteen years of age and upward who refused to go to Mass they hanged up some and nailed the feet of others to trees with their heads hanging downwards all which they constantly endured Mr. Gross one of the Pastors with some of his Family they sent to Turin They made such havock of all that there were neither any Cattel or other Provision left in the Valley of Lucerna Yea in the Communalties of St. Giovanni La Torre c. a Franciscan Friar and another Priest set fire on houses and Churches that they left not one of them unburnt In these desolations the Mother was bereaved of her sweet Childe the Husband of his dear Wife Those which were richest amongst us are forced to beg their bread yea they are weltring in their own blood and deprived of all outward comforts and whereas there were some Churches in St. Martino that were always formerly as a Sanctuary to the persecuted they are now commanded to quit their dwellings and every soul of them presently to depart without any respite and that under pain of death The pretence of these strange Massacres and cruelties are that we are Rebels to the Duke's commands in not pâ—â—forming a pure impossibility by immediate departing from our Habitations in Bubiana Lucerna Fenile Bricheras La Torre St. Giovanni and St. Secondo As also for our frequent petitioning his Royal Highness to take pity upon us To conclude Our beautiful and flourishing Churches are left desolate and that without remedy unless the Lord work miraculously for us c. The truth
Popish Clergy preached that the way to pacifie Gods wrath and to remove the plague was to cut off Hereticks whereupon these two godly men were brought out and condemned and presently after burned Also one Nicholas a godly man was apprehended at Antwerp bound up in a sack cast into the river and drowned Also Pistorius a learned and godly Preacher coming from Wittenburg into Holland preached against the Masse Popish pardons c. Whereupon he was cast into prison amongst Malefactors whom he instructed and much comforted in their distressed condition and one of them being half naked he gave him his gown His father visiting him in prison encouraged him to constancy At last he was condemned and carried forth to execution with a fools coat on his back when he was tied to the stake he said O death where is thy victory and so he was first strangled and then burned Another for speaking against the Masse and Reliques was hanged in Suevia Another godly Minister being commanded to go to sixteen men that were to be beheaded to counsel and comfort them at their death when they were executed was himself bidden to kneel down and so they cut off his head Also George Scherter a godly Minister that took great pains in instructing his people in the knowledge of the Gospel in a town near Salizburg was apprehended and cast into prison where he wrote a Confession of his faith and afterwards was condemned first to be beheaded and then burned As he went to the execution he said to the Spectators That you may know that I die a true Christian I will give you a signe and accordingly when his head had been cut off so long as whilst a man might eat an egge his body all the while lying upon the belly it turned it self upon the back crossing the right foot over the left and the right hand over the left by which miracle many were induced to believe the Gospel Another godly man was burned at Dornick Anno 1539. A godly minister not far from Basil was murthered in his own house by a Popish Priest whom he had kindly entertained many other Ministers about that time were some drowned some beheaded Anno 1543. Notice was taken that there were divers godly persons in Lovain whereupon an Inquisitor came from Bruxels thither and having gotten a company of souldiers in the night time he brake into their houses plucking men and women out of their beds from their children and casting them into prison Thither the Doctors of Lovain came thinking either to convert them or confound them but the spirit of God assisting his Saints the doctors went away confounded themselves Then did they cruelly torment every one of them by themselves amongst these an aged Minister of about sixty years old was condemned to perpetual imprisonment in a dark and stinking dungeon where he could neither read nor write nor might any man come to him and he was fed onely with bread and water Two were burnt alive in the fire an aged man was beheaded Two aged women were buried quick others for refusing to do pennance were burned also All which took their death very patiently and cheerfully The year after in the same University of Lovain was one Master Persival a very learned and godly man cast into prison and because he could by no means be brought to recant he was adjudged to perpetual imprisonment and there to be fed only with bread and water neither would they suffer the Citizens to send any relief to him shortly after he was made away in prison Also one Justus Insberg in the same city for having a New Testament and some of Luthers Sermons found in his house was cast into prison and command given that none should speak with him At the same time there were prisoners in a room under him Aegidius and Encenas metioned before whose door being left open accidentally they went to this poor man and much confirmed and strengthned him in the faith insomuch as when the Lovain Doctors came to perswade him to recant he before them all made a bold confession of his faith from which he would not be disswaded whereupon he was condemned and beheaded About the same time there was one Giles Tilleman a Cutler at Bruxels who by diligent reading of the Scriptures through Gods grace was converted and became very zealous for the truth he was also very humble mild and merciful whatsoever he could spare from his own necessity he gave it to the poor living by his trade himself Some he refreshed with meat others with cloathing to others he gave shooes to others houshold-stuffe to others he ministred godly exhortations for their edification One poor woman being delivered of a child and wanting a bed to lye on he sent her his bed and himself was content to lie on the straw At last he was discovered and cast into prison where much pains was taken to bring him back to Popery but alwayes his adversaries went away with shame After eight months imprisonment he was sent to Bruxels to be judged in which place he comforted many that he found in prison there exhorting them to constancy that they might attain the Crown Most of his food he divided amongst them contenting himself with some few scraps He was so ardent in Prayer kneeling by himself in some secret place that often he forgat himself and being many times called to his meat he neither heard nor saw them that stood by him till he was lifted up by the armes Divers Friars coming to reduce him he would still request them to go their wayes for he was at a point and when they reviled him he would not answer them again insomuch as they reported abroad that he had a dumb Devil in him But when they spake of matters of Religion he answered them freely mightily confuting them by the Scriptures Often he might have escaped the prison doors being set open but he would not that he might not bring his Keeper into trouble Afterwards he was removed to another prison where they sought by torments to enforce him to recant and when all would not prevail he was condemned to the fire which when he heard of he gave hearty thanks to God for that the hour was come wherein he might glorifie his name Seeing a great pile of wood prepared for his burning he desired that most of it might be taken away and given to the poor for a little said he will serve to burn me and seeing a poor man by that lacked shoos he gave him his Being tied to the stake the hangman would have strangled him but he refused saying It needs not I fear not the fire and so in the midst of the flames he gave up the Ghost Anno 1543. and 1544. There was a great persecution all over Flanders so that there
was neither town nor City in all the Countrey wherein some were not banished beheaded or condemned to perpetual imprisonment neither was there any respect either of age or sex But especially at Gaunt many of the chief men were burned for Religion Also at the Emperours going to Bruxels there was a terrible persecution and slaughter made of Gods People in Brabant Artois c. so that two hundred men and women were apprehended at one time whereof some were drowned some buried quick some privily made away others sent to perpetual prison yea so many others were put to death that the hands of the hangman were tired with slaying of men Anno 1545. There was one Martin at Gaunt a Fishmonger who lived very dissolutely to his old age but it pleased God by a Sermon that he heard to bring him to the knowledge of the truth and to repentance for his former sins whereupon he left Gaunt and sought out the company of godly Christians who used much reading of the Scriptures by whom he was further instructed and grounded in the truth Then after three moneths he returned to the City again where he visited the Captives in prison comforted them in persecution and confirmed them in the truth which were led to the fire The Friars seeing this though formerly he had been very bountiful to them yet now they conspired against him whereby he was laid in bands and by sharp and cruel torments they would have enforced him to recant but not prevailing he was condemned and his goods confiscated as he stood at the stake a Friar said to him Martin except thou dost turn thou shalt go from this temporal to everlasting fire to whom he answered It is not for you to judge me and so he quietly slept in the Lord. The next day after two other men were burned and a woman buried alive for the same cause who joyfully and cheerfully suffered Martyrdome At Delden two Virgins of a noble stock who frequently and diligently attended Sermons being apprehended and examined couragiously confessed and maintained the truth whereupon they were condemned and the younger was first burned In the fire she prayed so ardently for her enemies that the Judges greatly marvelled at it Then did they exhort the elder that if she would not recant yet at least that she would petition to have her punishment changed into beheading instead of burning whereupon she answered that she held no errour of which she had cause to repent but the truth which was consonant to the Scriptures in which she trusted to persevere unto the end And for the kind of her punishment she feared not the fire but would rather follow the example of her dear sister and so being put into the fire she quietly slept in the Lord. But this was marvellous that after their death the bodies of them both remained white and unhurt by the fire whereupon some Christians privily in the night buried them Anno Christi 1545. There was in Mechlin one Andrew Thiessen who had three sonnes and a daughter whom he carefully brought up in the knowledge of the truth after which he went into England and there died Two of his sonnes went into Germany to study there and after a time returned home again instructing their mother brother and sister in the right knowledge of Christ which being taken notice of they were all carried before the Magistrate and exhorted to returne to the Church of Rome again The younger brother and sister being not so throughly grounded in the truth by reason of their yeares yielded something and so were sent home again the mother who remained constant was adjudged to perpetual imprisonment the two elder brethren defended the truth stoutly against the Friars Disputation not prevailing they proceeded to torments endeavouring to know of them who was their Master and what fellows they had they answered that their Master was Christ who bare his Crosse before them and for fellows they had innumerable dispersed in all places At last they were condemned to the fire and at the place of execution they began to exhort the people whereupon bals were put into their mouths which through vehemency in desiring to speak they thrust out again intreating them for the Lords sake that they might have leave to speak and so singing with a loud voice they were fastened to the stake where they prayed for their Persecutors exhorted one another and endured the fire patiently One of them feeling the violence of the flame said O what a small pain is this compared with the glory to come and so committing their spirits into the hands of God they finished their race Anno 1545. There was a great persecution in Dornick and amongst others there was one Adrian Tailor and his Wife apprehended and upon their examination the man being somewhat timorous relented something and so was beheaded but the woman being more constant was put into an iron grate and so buried alive There was also one Master Peter Bruly about the same time sometimes a Preacher in Strasburg but now at the request of the faithful in Dornick a diligent Preacher there He used to preach in houses the door standing open the Magistrate hearing of it laid wait for him shutting up the City gates and searching three days for him but the brethren in the night time let him down in a basket over the wall and when he was down one of them leaning over the wall to bid him farewel unawares threw down a loose stone which falling upon his leg brake it in pieces He complaining of his hurt the watchmen heard him and apprehended him Then did he give thanks to Almighty God who by that providence staid him there to bear witnesse to his truth whilst he was in prison he ceased not to instruct and confirm all them that came to him in the Word of grace after four moneths imprisonment he was condemned to be burnt and his ashes to be cast into the river The Friars took care that he should have but a small fire that his pain might be the more increased yet he constantly and chearfully suffered Martyrdom God made the Ministry of this good man very powerful to many amongst others there was one Peter Mioce who had lived long in all manner of wickedness and licenciousness but being through Gods grace converted he excelled all the rest of the brethren in zeale and holinesse at last he was apprehended and being asked whether he was one of Peter Brulies disciples he said that he was and that he had received much benefit by his Doctrine withall professing that his doctrine was consonant to the holy Scriptures whereupon he was let down into a deep dungeon full of Toads and other vermine Afterwards he was brought forth before the Senate who had provided some Friars to convert him To whom he said When I lived an ungodly life in all manner of