performe my vowes unto the Lord my God and so he was led bound fast to the wherry A certaine Priest who accompanied him presented unto him a wodden crucifix exhorting him to returne and to die in the favour of God reconciling himselfe unto the Church of Rome the holy Spouse of Christ But Ricetto rejecting that Crucifix besought the Priest and those that followed them to come out of the snare of the Devill to cleave to Iesus Christ and to live not according to the flesh but after the spirit for if you doe otherwise said he assure your selves your unbeliefe will bring you into that lake of fire that shall never be quenched For though you confesse with your mouth that you know Iesus Christ yet you not only deny him by your works but you persecute him in his members being seduced and 〈◊〉 by the Pope who is the open enemy of the Sonne of God When they were come nigh to the two castles the Captaine bound his hands now because it was very cold hée called for his cloke which they had taken from him Then said the wherry man fearest thou a little cold What wilt thou do when thou art cast into the Sea Why art thou not carefull to save thy selfe from drowning Doest thou not sée that the poore flea skippes hither and thither to save her life To whom hée answered And I am now flying to escape eternall death Being arrived at the place where he was to suffer the Captaine put a chaine of yron about his middle with a very heavy stone fastened thereto Then Ricetto lifting his eyes to heaven said Father forgive them for they know not what they doe And being laid on the planke hée said Lord Iesus into thy hands I commend my spirit then pulling this weighty stone towards him not waiting till the boats were sundred one from another as in such kind of executions they were wont to doe this holy man slept in the Lord which was no small terrour to the Magistrate in that there was never any that died this kind of death before with so much constancy and resolution ¶ Master Francis Spinola Martyr THe Sunday following Master Francis Spinola of Milaine being about the age sixe and forty yeares was apprehended and brought into the prison called Des cless de dix That of ten keyes where he found poore Francis Sega Two Francis Sega Martyr daies after which as the eight and twentieth day of February Spinola was brought before his Iudges where they delivered into his hands a little Treatise of the Lords Supper of which he fréely confessed he was the author shewing that the opinion which he there maintained was this That the bread and wine were the signes and not the things signified and therefore must not bée adored He was questioned with as touching the power of the Pope prayer to saints and about Purgatory He answered that the Popes power was from man which the Romane Consistory and certaine Princes had given him but that God the Father had given Iesus Christ to be the Mat. 28. 18. Head of the Church and to have all power in heaven and earth What is Peter then or what is Paul He further added that he would not worship nor pray to any other but to God only as it is written The memoirall of the Saints he well approved Luke 4. 8. Iohn 15. 5. as of those who were the true branches ingrafted into the Vine Christ Also for his part he acknowledgeth none other Heb. 1 3. Purgatory but the bloud of Christ as it is manifest in the Epistle to the Hebrews and in the first 1 Iohn 1. 7. Epistle of Iohn Then as Spinola was returned into his prison Francis Sega whom he was ignorant of waited his comming holding a candle in his hand and passing by with his Kéeéeper saluted him by his name whence it came to passe that they two conferred together about the doctrine of the Gospell Now howsoever Sega differed from The consancy of one martyr puts life into another Spinola touching the number of sacraments yet he referred himselfe to the judgement of the true Church of Christ in that behalfe But after that he had learned that Spinola had constantly stood to the defence of the truth he was very joyfull and much comforted saying That God had reserved him for such a time as this to make him partaker with him of so great consolation Hée wrote consolatory letters to Spinola committing his writings into his hands whereof some were preserved and the rest lost by the carelesnesse of a false brother Upon the thrée and twentieth day of February 1567. the Kéepers of the prison told Sega that he was to die within one houre after the shutting in of the evening At the hearing of which newes hée intreated Spinola to pray with him After prayer Sega telling him that his soule was heavy to the death Spinola gave him this answer Feare not for it will not be long before it shall feele those joyes which shall endure for ever Being brought out of his darke dungeon according to the time limited hée tooke his leave of Spinola and the rest of the prisoners As hée was entred into the boat a certaine frier began to perswade him to returne into the right way Sega answered that he was already in the way of our Lord Iesus Christ and passing on he called upon the name of God He séemed not to be much moved at the binding of his hands but was a little amazed at the fastening of his body to the chaine Yet by and by taking unto him a Christian resolution he tooke whatsoever they did unto him patiently Being laid upon the bourd or planke hée commended his soule into the hands of God Anno 1568. and being left of the two boats upon the edges whereof the planke was stayed the one declining this way and the other that way he fell into his spulchre the sea and died patiently Spinola soone after was presented the second time before his Iudges namely the tenth of March where he reproved the Popes Legate with his clergy there present as also the Lords of Venice who sat in judgement upon him because contrary to their consciences they so persecuted the truth of God calling them the offspring of the Pharisées Caiphas and the Gentiles who now As he did the first time hee was convented before them laid he kill Iesus Christ in his members The nine and twentieth of March following hée was the third time brought before them where they asked him if he would not recant his errors He answered that the Doctrine he maintained was not erroneous but the very same truth which Iesus Christ and his holy Apostles taught and preached and for which all the Martyrs as well of old time as now have willingly layd downe their lives and endured the paines of death After all this Spinola became so weake that Spinola begins to waver he determined to strike
from the Faith But Smetius being a man learned and of a quick understanding remained constant which so confounded his opposite that hée went away with shame The Fryer invented a recantation to which it was reported that Smetius had subscribed But an Elder of the Church whose name was Cornelius Specox comming to the knowledge thereof by the helpe of friends got a sight of the said Recantation Who in the presence of divers friends conferring a certaine Letter which Smetius had put his name unto with that writing found it in nothing to agree therewith and therefore the recantation to bée méerely counterfeited The eighth of February being Saturday Smetius having his feete tied under an horses belly on which he was set was thus brought to Vilvourd to the * Hee was apprehended by his Provost with 20. horsemen as he was preaching at Malives When Smetins saw them he exhorted the congregation to be quiet for they are come said he to take me but the assembly was by and by scattered Provost who himselfe was afterwards hanged for his villanies His Sergeants passing immediatly along with him through Malives went towards Malladery of Wallen where finding a ladder set up to an oake they hanged him thereon Smetius being on the Ladder used these words Lord forgive them for they know not what they doe And then singing certaine verses of a Psalme he yéelded up his soule into the hands of the Lord. ¶ Master Iohn Goris and Ioris of Asschen Martyrs Anno 1567. IOhn Goris Chirurgion borne in Audenard travelling towards Gaud was betrayed by two spies who signified the same to the Bayliffe himselfe also going the same way whither Goris was travelling him The Bailiffe hirsting after the bloud of this poore innocent rid on till hee had overtaken him asking him whether hée went I am going said Goris to the Parish of Nazaret And I purpose also said the Bayliffe to goe thither wee will beare you company Having passed on thus a little way the Bayliffe thinking himselfe sure of Goris began to lay hands upon him Goris séeing that leaped over a ditch and got into a little wood The wood was presently beset with Countrey people and being there apprehended he was carried to Audenard as a shéep to the slaughter where he was committed to prison They layed many things to his charge which they were not able to prove Being examined the second time upon divers articles hee answered thereunto with such wisedome that the Counsell admired how a man of so meane account could defend his cause in so good a manner But after they came to question with him concerning matters of Religion now I see saith he that you seek my bloud The night following hee was overtaken with By this we see that man stands not by his owne strength such an apprehension of the feare of death that for saving his life hee was almost resolved to deny the truth But by the assistance of Gods holy spirit calling his thoughts together hee instantly and ardently besought the Lord to deliver him out of this temptation that by the power of his grace he might overcome the infirmity of his flesh which prayer of faith the Lord had such respect unto that from that time he manifestly resisted all Satans assaults and maintained the truth Though I fall saith the Church yet I shall arise Mâ—ch 7. 8. Act. 7 60. unto his last breath Having received sentence he was nothing appalled thereat but like the holy Martyr S. Stephen prayed God that he would not lay his death to their charge Comming to the place where he was to be executed casting himselfe downe prostrate he made his prayer to God in which prayer albeit he sought the Lord to forgive his Enemies yet added he this withall I am perswaded that God being a just Iudge will not leave their sinne unpunished Which prediction fell out not long after for the Bailife who apprehended him rejoyced in standing by whilst the martyr was executed was not long after shot with a harquebuse whereof he presently died like a wretch After Goris was thus executed they brought forth his fellow prisoner called Ioris of Asschen who the same day suffered the same kind of death that is to say he was hanged upon a gibbet which death he endured for the name of Christ with like constancy as did the former Which courage of his he thus manifested to his parents and friends in a letter written to them a little before his death ¶ A Letter written by Ioris of Asschen to his Parents and Friends a little before the time of his Martyrdome MOst deare Father and Mother Sister and Brother I write here unto you comfortable newes namely that in all my life I never saw any day so pleasing to me as this is in which the Lord hath counted me worthy to be one of his Champions and to suffer for his holy Name For which I give him most humble and hearty thanks I also thanke you much good Father and Mother that in all my distresses you have beene beneficiall and helpfull unto me and carefull for me for which the Lord aboundantly reward you in his kingdome Rejoyce with me I pray you that God hath now called me to such a glorious and welcome marriage day Oh how precious in the sight of the Lord our God is the death of his Martyrs Deare friends two Priests yea and some of the Magistrates also have sought to terrifie me with many threats thinking to turne me aside from my holy profession but the Lord of his great mercy hath given me his grace to withstand them all for I plainly told them I was not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ but would be willing and ready to die in the defence thereof following my Lord and Master Iesus Christ thorow all afflictions to be made partaker with him at the last of his eternall joyes in his celestiall Tabernacle Wherefore if God shal cal any of you forth to suffer ought for his Names sake beare the same I beseech you with meeknesse and patience not declining from the Truth for feare or favour to the right hand or to the left but feare him rather who is able to cast soule and body into hell The time which God hath lent us to converse in this world is but short and therefore let us begin to abandon the love thereof with all things that are therein betimes that so we may be ready to follow the call of God Deare Father and Mother I doe take my last farewell of you untill we meet together againe in the Kingdome of heaven where we shall partake of that joy which shall last for ever all sorrowes teares and griefes being wiped away Be ye not therefore grieved I pray you but be patient for the affliction which is befalne me is most acceptable unto me for which also I blesse and praise the Lord. The Lord prosper you in all your wayes to his glory and your good Thanke all
chamber as we call it Bish These words must be taken of our ordinary eating which is cast saving your presence after it is eaten into the draught La Grange What becomes then of this swallowed flesh Bish The formes are turned into it and the flesh of Iesus Christ is gone but these things must not be too curiously examined La Grange This answer cannot stand the accidents which you call kindes cannot be changed thereinto it is the substance which is changed But let us come to a more substantiall argument you teach That whosoever receives this Bread which you call flesh receives Iesus Christ How 1 Cor 11. 27. 29. is it then that Saint Paul saith Hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eats and drinks damnation to himselfe c. Bish This argument hath some weight in it for thus you reason hee that receives Christ doth therewithall receive eternall life but by our Doctrine all receive Christ in the sacrament therefore they must needs have eternall life I confesse it is true according to your minor proposition that they receive him but I deny that all receive him unto life everlasting for if they receive not the flesh by the holy Ghost it profits them nothing La Grange I have taken the first part of my Iohn 11. 25. proposition out of Saint Iohn where Christ saith he is the life but séeing wée cannot receive so much as a common hearbe without the vertue of it much lesse can wee receive Christ without that life which is comprehended in him otherwise Simile we should receive a dead body without efficacy and not Iesus Christ who causeth those that eate him to live â—ternally For this sacrament was instituted of God by his sonne to manifest and set Iohn 6 51. forth his fatherly good will towards us not contenting himself to have received us once as strangers into his houshold by baptisme but as his owne Children and therefore hath ordained this Why the Lords supper was ordained We partake of Christ in the Sacrament by the effectuall working of the holy Ghost second sacrament of the holy supper that in his house wee might have wherewith to nourish and féed us continually Now as touching the holy Ghost it is by him that we eate the flesh of Iesus Christ and drinke his bloud conjoyning by his powerfull working those things together which by distance of place are severed farre off one from another causing all that is in Christ to become ours and as by a conduit pipe conveying unto us the true partaking of Christs flesh and bloud so as whosoever receives Christ hath eternall life Bishop That is if hee receive him by the holy spirit for otherwise the flesh profiteth nothing as Iohn 6. 63. saint Iohn saith La Grange Sir the place you alledge makes against you for Christ there reproves his disciples for thinking they should eate his flesh after a carnall manner as it appeares by the words following for the words said hée which I speake to you are spirit and life If then wee are so wise as to observe that the Sunne sending downe its substance on earth by the beames thereof doth after a sort cause the hearbes to spring forth and Simile grow shall not the influence of the spirit of Christ be of much more efficacy to bring us to the true participation of his flesh and bloud Bishop Then the Bishop was desirous to bée gone saying it grew late and so for want of time our conference ended The Bishop commended me to God and then tooke his leave of the company This is the summe of our communication so farre as I can remember By this briefe recitall we may observe what holy boldnesse mixed with meekenesse the Lord had indued this his worthy servant with even in the flower of his age being drawne from his studies and from the place of his birth to preach the Gospell to the Valencians and at length to seale up the same with his bloud A short narration of the life and death of these two valiant Champions of Christ Guy de Brez and Peregrin de La Grange Ministers and martyrs NExt to the pure preaching of the word nothing so much commends those whom the Lord culls out to give their lives for the same as doth an holy and blamelesse conversation continued unto their happy departure out of this world It remaines then in few words that we set forth the conversations of these two holy personages that thereby the mercies and graces of the Lord be stowed upon them may have the greater lustre Guy de Brez borne in Mons in Hainault béeing in his younger yeares much addicted to Popish superstitions came by continually reading of the Scriptures to taste the swéetnes of Christian Religion which knowledge brought forth no smal fruit in him in due season Yet so as it could by no meanes be relished or received by them of his Nation Whereupon he departed from Mons and having learned the art of painting Glasse came to London whilest good King Edward the sixth raigned who gave persecuted strangers leave to have harbour within his realme of England After his abode there a while and understanding that the preaching of the Gospell obtained some entertainment in the Low-Countries he went over to give his assistance to those of his owne Country The first fruits of his labours were most an end in bestwong some exhortations in such places where he found any willing to give him audience though never so few in number But above all he clave to them of the City of Lisle because he found there a great number of beléevers who desired nothing more than to heare the Gospell publiquely preached unto them At that time began also an holy conflict * Against which this godly man published a learned confutation in French which booke I have in my hands against the pestilent sect of the Anabaptists which as cockle mingled it selfe amongst the good corne In this city he continued untill the flock of Christ wer dispersed by reason of persecution and then went to Gaud where hée wrote his booke called the Staffe of Faith extracted out of the ancient Fathers After that béeing desirous to profit more and more in the knowledg of such things as were requisite to be in a Minister of the Gospell hée travelled towards Lausanna and thence to Geneva to furnish himselfe with the tongues and thence withdrawing himselfe into the Low-countries hée there established the churches of Lisle Tournay and of the Valencians in which cities God so prospered his labours that he was preserved by his divine providence as it were in the middest of the fiery flames from falling into the hands of his enemies And not to stand longer in relating the paines and travels of this faithfull servant of Christ not onely the reformed Churches of the said country can testifie but also these of Diex Mondidier and Amiens also which hée was an happy instrument to support whilest the
as now we may cry out with saint Paul O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory She was often admonished by him to make confession of her sinnes before God shewing that bodily diseases tended to the dissolution of nature and that death was the wages of sinne declaring Rom 6. 23. moreover that by this her chastisement she might discerne what she had deserved if God should now enter into iudgement with her not onely in regard of the fall of our first Parents in which guilt Rom. 5. 12. she was enwrapped as well as others but also by her owne personall sinnes séeing the best of men or women in the world are in themselves but poore miserable and wretched offendors yea if the Lord should punish us according to our demerits we could expect nothing at his hands but eternall death and condemnation At these words she began with her hands and eies lifted up to heaven to acknowledge that her Psal 19. â— sinnes which she had committed against the Lord were innumerable and therefore more then she was able to reckon up But yet she hoped that God for Christs sake in whom she put her whole affiance would be mercifull unto her From the later clause of her spéech the Minister tooke occasion to declare at large upon what ground she was to expect the fruit of this mercy of God in Christ séeing the whole have no need Mar. 2. 17. of Phisitian but they that are sicke and therfore Christ saith in that place Hee came not to call the righteous but sinners unto repentance And that he is ready to fill the hungry with good things Luke 1. 53. whereas in the meane while he sends the rich empty away Of all which said he you ought so much the rather to be perswaded in your conscience by how much the more the holy spirit witnesseth to your spirit that you are the childe of God Crying in you Abba Father For what is Rom. 8. 15. What faith is faith else but a firme trust and assurance of the good will of God manifested towards us in his blessed sonne Now the Minister fearing he might some way offend her by his overlong discourse held his peace the rather because the Physitians thought that a long continued spéech might bee hurtfull unto her but she on the contrary earnestly requested him not to forbeare speaking unto her about these matters of life and eternall salvation adding that she wow felt the want of it in regard that since her comming to Paris shee had béen somewhat remisse in hearing such exhortations out of the word of God And therefore I am now the more glad saith she to receive comfort out of it in this my so great extremity The Minister then endeavoured to set before her the happinesse of heaven and what those joyes Psal 16. 11. were which the faithfull there possesse in the presence of God which when the scriptures intend to discover unto us they onely tell us that the eie 1 Cor. 259. hath not seene nor hath the eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what these things are which God hath prepared for them that love him To which purpose he used this simllitude as if a King minding greatly to honor Simile some noble persome noble personage should bring him to his court and there shew him his state and attendance his Treasures with all his most precious Iewels even so saith he will the Lord one day reveale to all his elect and faithfull people his magniâ—cence and glory with all the treasures of his Kingdome after he hath gathered them home to himselfe decking and adorning them with light incorruption and immortality This happiness therefore being so great her highnesse he said ought to be the lesse carefull about the leaving of this transitory life seeing that for an earthly kingdome which she was now to forgoe she should inherit an heavenly and for temporall good things which vanish and come to nothing in the using she should for even enjoy those that were eterenall and everlasting For her faith being now firmely setled upon our Lord Iesus Christ she might be suffered to obtaine eternall salvation by him on which words he tooke occasion to direct his speech in more particualar manner unto her saying Madame doe you verily beleeve that Iesus Christ come into the world to save you and doe you expect the full forgivenesse of all your sinnes by the shedding of his bloud for you To which she readily answered she did believing that he was her only Saviour and Mediator looking for salvation from none other knowing that he hath abundantly satisfied for the sinnes of the whole world and therefore was assured that God for his sake according to his gracious promises in him would have mercy upon her Thus you have in part the goodly speeches which passed from this religious Lady in the beginning of her sicknesse all which was within the space of three or foure daies Howsoever before that and since also she ceased not to continue the same her fruitfull and comfortable communications now and then sending forth most affectionate slighings to God as a testimony of that hope and desire Anno 1567. she had in enjoying his presence often uttering these words O my God in thy good time deliver me from this body of death and from the miseries of this present life that I may no more offend thee and that I may attain to that felicity which thou in thy Word hast promised me Neither did she manifest her pious affection by these her words onely but therewithall shewed a joyfull and resolute countenance as the vehemency of her sicknesse could beare which gave sufficient proofe to all that beheld her that the feare of death could not drive her from the stedfastnesse of her Faith When she had finished these her consolatory spéeches they usually went to prayer intreating the Lord that he would arme her with constant patience and have mercy upon her Which praier it shall not be altogether impertinent to insert in this place serving as a forme of praier upon the like occasion ¶ The Prayer O Lord our God we confesse hee before thy Divine Majesty that wee are altogether unworthy of thy infinite mercies by reason of our manifold iniquities and that we are so farre off from deserving to be heard of thée in our requests that we are rather worthie thou shouldest reject both our persons and our sutes but séeing it hath pleased thée to make us a gracious promise of hearing and granting our requests we humbly beséech thee fréely to forgive all our offences and to cover them under the obedience and righteousnesse of thy deare Sonne that through him our selves and poore services may be well pleasing before thee For Lord we acknowledge that all our afflictions are measured out unto us by thine hand who art a most just Iudge in regard we have every way provoked
hearing this rebuked him sharply saying that then he thought himselfe wiser than the King and all those that professed as his Majestie did Insomuch as they who stood about Le Blanck began to handle him roughly so that hée had much adoe to escape with his life had not Montpessat rescued him from that danger because he was come thither upon his word The Governour said if he had béen there he would have slaine him The Governour being pressed to dispatch this massacre at Bourdeaur wist not well what to do For on the one side La Sieur de Vesins with sundry others comming from the Court assured him from the King that he wondred why the businesse was deferred so long shewing that he could not performe a more acceptable service unto him than it On the other side Strossi who hovered about Rochel to take it wished him to be well advised what he did what command soever he had to the contrary Foreséeing belike that if he went forward with this execution the Rochellers would have had the said Strossi in such a jealousie that his project would have béen defeated and so would be no small prejudice to the Kings affaires putting him in hope that he would stand betwéen him and all perils For the truth is the army by sea which was prepared against Rochel lying for a time at Burdeaux under pretence of conquering Florida would have béen ready enough to have made a generall massacre there but that they were afraid the Rochellers would be incensed thereat Yet in conclusion the Governour having ballanced things on both parts was perswaded by the Sieur Montpessat to put the massacre in execution To which purpose an oath being taken a catalogue was made of such as they meant to spoile On Saturday then which was the third of October 1572. the Governour having assembled together all the scum of the City to aide and assist him in so barbarous an act commanded them with other souldiers to be ready presently after dinner to put the Kings command into execution To which they were very forward comming in their Liveries attended on by Captaines of tens to direct them touching that they had to do The greater part of the massacrers had red hats given them by Peter Estounach and for the blood wherwith they dyed their armes they were called the Red Band others called them the Cardinalls Band. The Governor commanded them to kil all those of the Religion especially such as had taken armes and not to spare one And himselfe intending to shew them the way went to the house of Master Iohn Guilloch Lord of Obiere counsellor in the Court of Parliament to execute the hatred he had long since conceived against him who being about to escape away out at a backe doore they caught and brought him into the outer court before his house in the presence of the Governour who with a short sword massacred him which done his house was wholly pillaged At that time they brought a certaine Minister out of the Consciergery who a few daies before comming from the country Saintong to Bourdeaux for his better safety as he thought was there apprehended and imprisoned and as soon as he was come out of the prison they massacred him before the gates of the Palace Master William Savins house a Counsellor of the said Parliament who was one of the Religion was forced open pillaged and spoiled and himselfe cruelly murthered His Clarke called Simonet séeing his master about to be massacred embraced and comforted him and being asked whether he were of the Religion he answered yea and would die with his master for the same Thus they were slaine one in anothers armes The cruell Martyrdome of Du Tour a Deacon of the Protestant Church A Deacon of the reformed Church called Du Tour an old man who in the daies of his ignorance had béene a Priest in the popish church being sick in his bed was haled forth into the open stréet of whom it being demanded whether he would go to Masse and thereby save his life he fréely answered No especially now drawing so néere his end both in regard of his yeares and gréevous sicknesse I hope saith he I shall not so far forget the eternall salvation of my soule as for feare of death to prolong this life for a few dayes for so I should buy a short terme of life at too déere a rate They hearing him say so massacred him instantly It was lamentable to sée the poore Protestants wandring up and downe not knowing where to save their lives some were rejected of their owne parents and kinsfolkes who shut their doores against them pretending as if they knew them not others were betrayed and delivered up by those to whose trust they had committed themselves many were saved even by Priests and others from whom a man would have expected no such security Some were saved by their very enemies whose hearts abhorred such detestable outrages All the City was full of terrors and horrible threats against those of the Religion saying that the Kings commandement was that he would not have so much as one of them left in his Kingdome And if any refused to goe to Masse that an hole should be digged for him in the earth in which he should forthwith be buried without any more adoe Scoffing Ballads sung in contempt of the Admirall of Chastillon and other Protestants NEare the Palace and thorowout the City were defamatory Libels sung against the Admirall of Chastillon and the Huguenots In which regard such in whose hearts God had reserved but any sparkle of piety were so terrified and vexed with their blasphemies that the condition of the massacred séemed to be much better than theirs who were left alive who heard and saw those things without ceasing which to an honest minde was more bitter then death it selfe The Governor was very carefull after the massacre was ended to advertise the Sieur Montpessat by a Gentleman of all things which had passed according to the promise he had made unto him Which Montpessat was suddenly surprised with a disease wherein féeling Gods hand heavy Anno 1573. Montpesat suddenly surprised with a strange disease upon him he uttered such lamentable outcries that his bloud and soule were poured out at once a judgement justly inflicted upon him for all the innocent bloud the which he had shed without a cause The judgement of God upon one Vincent THe like judgement of God fell not long after upon another of these massacrers called Vmcent Advocate of the Court one who had had his hand déepely dyed in this bloudy enterprise not sticking to boast that with his own hands hee had murthered Agraulet doore kéeper of the Court This man also fell dangerously sick but in the end recovering againe and as he thought being in good health he told some of his friends that hée felt his armes strong enough to handle his Coutleare or short sword as well as ever he had done But within a
A CONTINVATION OF THE HISTORIES OF Forreine MARTYRS From the happy reign of the most renowned Queene Elizabeth to these Times With sundry Relations of those bloudy Massacres executed upon the Protestants in the Cities of France in the yeare 1572. WHERVNTO ARE ANNEXED the two famous Deliverances of our English Nation the one from the Spanish Invasion in 88. The other from the Gunpouder Treason in the yeare 1605. Together with the Barbarous cruelties exercised upon the Professors of the Gospell in the Valtoline 1621. LONDON Printed by RIC. HEARN for the Company of Stationers Anno Dom. 1641. POSSIDETE ANIMAS VESTRAS NH 1574 A TREATISE OF AFFLICTIONS AND PERSECVTIONS OF THE FAITHFVLL PREPARING THEM WITH PATIENCE TO SVFFER MARTYRDOME CHAP. I. Shewing That such as will live godly in Christ Jesus must needs suffer afflictions WE are all prone by nature to decline afflictions each one supposing to finde out some backe way to escape them First Some are of opinion that they can quit themselves by playing the Temporizers Secondly Others by hiding and concealing themselves Thirdly Another sort by flying from those places where Tyrants vexe and domineere Fourthly a fourth thinking to beare off blowes by their greatnes and credit they have gotten in the world Fifthly and lastly a fifth sort imagining to find some evasion either by reason of their allyes or good services which they have done dreaming forsooth that either these or the like projects should yeeld them good respect and preserve them from being called into question by those that hate them In a word which of us hath not some fetch or other to breake loose if he should be either examined or pursued This is the true cause that so few are prepared and carefull timely to foresee what belongs to suffering shame and disgrace for the truth as the discommodities of long imprisonment or what appertaines to the constant and patient bearing of hideous torments and death for the cause of the Gospell But alas all these are but as fig leaves and vaine hopes which being somwhat pleasing to the flesh do only dull and deceive us causing us to grow secure and carelesse and so unprovided to suffer till we be surprised and in safe custody in our enemies hands So that when we should be able to give a reason 1 Pet. 3. 15. of the hope that is in us we have not a word to say To prevent these so great inconveniences let us hold this for a sure principle That it is impossible to live godly and not suffer persecution For God hath so decreed that 2 Tim. 3. 12. Rom. 8. 20. if we will partake of the glory of his Sonne we must first be conformed to him in his sufferings Yea this is that strait gate and narrow way which leadeth unto life Through Mat. 7. 14. much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdome of God Acts 14. 22. and whosoever beares not the Crosse of Christ following him cannot be his Disciple The Apostle in Luke 14. 27. Heb. 12. 7. the Epistle to the Hebrewes plainly tels us That if we be children wee must taste of that discipline which God nurtures his withall in his Family It is and must be the portion of Gods beloved ones to live in this world as sheep amongst wolves Mat. 10. 16. Indeed if wee could live without sin we might then conceive some hope of freedome from the Crosse But whilest corrupt nature lives in us and brings forth such bitter fruits God hath and will in all ages raise up some Tyrant or other as means to mortifie and tame the pride and rebellion thereof Devils may as soone cease to be as that enmity should cease between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent As long as the Gen. 3. 15. Mat. 8. 24. Church continues to be Christs poore Barque in the salt sea of this world she must make her account to be tossed with storms and tempests of persecutions What should I say no Crowne is to be expected in Heaven if we will not fight the 2 Tim. 47. Psal 126. 5. 2 Cor. 4 10. good fight of faith here on earth nor to reap in joy if in this world we refuse to sow in teares The life of our Lord Iesus Christ cannot be manifest in us except we beare about in our body the dying of the Lord Iesus Let every Christian then hold this for certaine That when the world ceaseth to hate the Children of God and the Devill to envy them then may they looke and not before to live in the world without persecutions Hath not the Way the Life and the Truth said it In the world you shall have tribulation Iohn 16. 33. And therefore let not the great ones of the World thinke to be exempted out of this ranke more than the small For to the Saints and members of the true Church afflictions are even as ordinary as is Baptisme Faith and the Spirit of Adoption Was not Moses the adopted sonne of Pharaobs daughter saine to sly out of Aegypt to Exod. 2. 15. Act. 7. 29. Heb. 11. 27. 1 Sam. 26. 20 Saint Iereme in his Commentary upon Isaiah Dan 6. 16. save his life Was not David though anointed King hunted by Saul his pursuer as a Partridge into the mountaines Isaiah and Daniel were of the bloud Royall yet they escaped not the one from being cruelly rent in sunder with a Saw after he had preached to his Nation sixty yeares nor the other although next unto the King he swayed the affairs of the Babylonish Empire to be cast into the lyons den In the times of the great persecutions under Dioclesian the Emperour of Rome who were the first that were sacrificed but Nicomede and the principall Favourites of the Court Who is ignorant that two of the most noble Princes of our times that ever Germany had notwithstanding their munition and meanes were taken prisoners by the Emperour or held captive five or six yeares in great distresse What should I here mention Lady Iane Gray proclaimed Queene of England and yet cruelly put to death Or Thomas Cranmer Primate of England burned to ashes at Oxford Or the Lord Cobham that religious and valiant Knight hanged and burned hanging in Saint Giles in the fields All these with many more were apprehended and not long after put to death even then when they might seeme most to have flourished in the World Seeing then that neither age sex power nor place can secure us from suffering which are every where foretold in the holy Scriptures to abide us whether wee be high or low Act. 20. 23. let us in the name and feare of God prepare to take up the Crosse of Christ betimes learne we of the silly Ant in Summer to store up food against the cold and stormy Winter Prov. 6. 6. of Affliction Imitating those who dwelling in defenced cities are carefull to provide themselves of munition before they be besieged
finding kinder entertainment among strangers than in their owne countrey We had perished said he if we had not perished So may we say That did not our naturall life perish here by persecutions we had never been saved in the kingdome of heaven Run we then my brethren with patience the race that is set before us let us not be ashamed with Simon the Cyrenian to carry the reprochfull Crosse of Christ and seeing we must die once let us desire rather to die gloriously for righteousnesse sake than ignominiously by shunning it If Princes had rather die in a breach than in their bed and to lose their life in the field than an eye at tilt or tourney let us imitate them in this our spiritual conflict-earnestly intreating the Lord if it be his blessed will that we may fight and die valiantly in the defence of his Truth and for the honour of his sonne If worldly minded men can and will suffer many hard adventures some for their honour others for their profits and pleasures though but vaine and temporary with what longing should we aspire to that certaine and eternall happinesse rest and glory wherewith all those shall be crowned who fight manfully and constantly for the cause of Christ But the world and worldings smile at this wisedome counting it foolishnesse the flesh also joyning therewith thinks all we have said to be either idle phantasies or meere paradoxes and no marvell for both of them being from the earth can savour nothing but what is earthly as Christ saith Betweene the judgement of the Church and that of the World there is a broad difference when the question is of determining what is true honour profit or pleasure whence it is that in a manner the one scornes that which the other admires and adores So as they never consent in approving or condemning with one voice that which is questioned for the belly hath no eares If therefore we meane to be ruled aright either in the matter of faith or outward manners let us not bee guided therein either by the worlds judgement or yet that of the flesh for the world is poreblinde and the belly as we have said hath no eares Ponder we then these things that so wee may be prepared to obey the will of God let us not wilfully râ—sh into dangers onely if God shall call us forth to suffer purposing thereby to conforme us to our Head and so to accompany that great cloud of witnesses through the narrow way that leads to his kingdome yeeld wee our neckes to beare the sweet and easie yoke of Christ Be it that Satan and his confederates doe persecute the Church of Christ yet hath she an assured hiding place The faithfull may be imprisoned but in the meane while they leave the world in a worse prison viz. shut up under the wrath of God They may be in bonds yet is not that so bad as to lie bound in the bonds of iniquity they are oft shut up in darke and unsavoury places but how can darknesse be grievous to them who are the children of light especially when God shines upon them with the light of his countenance Stinking holes and odious smels cannot so offend and annoy them but that the sweet savour of a good conscience purified by faith surmounts all They may be put into dungeons in the world yet being chosen of God out of the world they have their conversation in heaven Be it that they lose a few commodities here it is but as if they forsook counters to receive gold things terrestriall for celestiall A Christian may suffer but he cannot die he may lose his life but hee cannot lose Christ when he leaves the world he goes to God Wherefore let us then put on the whole armour of God and as good souldiers of Eph. 6. 11. 2 Tim. 23. Rev. 2. 10 Iesus Christ enure our selves to endure hardnesse So shall it come to passe that continuing faithfull in this spirituall Warfare unto the death we shall at length receive the crowne of eternall life THE HISTORY OF FOVRE MARTYRS BVRNT AT LILE IN FLANDERS IN THE YEARE 1556. WHOSE NAMES ARE ROBERT OGVIER AND HIS WIFE BAVDICON AND MARTIN their two Sonnes THe example which is set before us in this so godly a Family may well serve for an entrance to the Continuation of the History of forrein Martyrs in that weâ— may thence learne what those true ornaments are wherewith both parents and their children ought to bee decked and adorned namely with such a light shining forth from the sound knowledge of the Gospell as whereby the Church of God may be edified and confirmed in seeing them to hold the profession of their faith coustantly even unto the death THe City of LILE may Anno 1556. well bee placed in the first ranke of those Cities of Merchandise in the Low-countrey of Flanders Artols and Haynault upon which the Lord hath multiplâ—ed his blessings not so much of worldly good things as of his spirituall graces yea in so abundent measure that even under the tyraumy of Antichrist in the Countries aforenamed few places can be named where the Gospell in that time was more fréely published and preached or with greater zeale received than there For for thrée yeares together the Gospell was secretly taught among them sometime in houses then in woods in fields and in caves of the earth not without the haâ—arding of their dearest life if they had béen discovered yet could not these apparent dangers under such tyranny coole or abate the burning zeale which almost consumed the heart of this people hungring and thirsting after the spirituall food of their soules What was among them preached was accordingly practised workes of mercy and charity were there exercised not onely towards those of the houshold of Faith but even towards them which were without so as many by means hereof were drawn and brought on to the knowledge of Christ They ordained in their assembly certaine Deacons to receive the almes which were given men fearing God being well approved of who went wéekely from house to house to collect the abnes of such as they knew to be faithful admonishing every one how to carry themselves themselves in their vocations and of their duty in contributing towards the reliefe of the poore Saints And thus each one according to his place endevoured to expresse and manifest his faith by the fruits thereof namely good works In a very short space of time the Lord by the Ministry of his Word though preached in secret erected here a flourishing Church so as the Congregation consisted of a competent number of men women and children not onely of the city but out of foure or five Willages besides bordering nigh unto it who came also with an eager appetite to be instructed In the meane while you may conceive that satan and his adherents ceased not to storm and rage hereat not being able long to endure these their holy méetings but
father his two sons and after many words passed they asked them whether they would submit themselves to the will of the Magistrates Robert Oguier and Baudicon his sonne with some deliberation said yes we will Then demanding the same of Mart. the younger brother he answered that he would not submit himselfe thereto but would accompany his Mother so he was sent backe againe to prison whilest the father and the son were aduidged to be burned alive to ashes Now as they went to receive the sentence one of the Iudges sitting in his place after sentence pronounced said to day you shall go to divell with all the Devils in hell fiâ—e which he spake as one transported with fury in beholding the great patience of these two servants of Christ for they tooke all things quietly vanquishing their enemies cruelty by patient bearing the Crosse and in praysing God for the same Having received the sentence of death they were returned to the prison whence they came being ioyfull that the Lord did them that honor to be enrolled in the number of his Martyrs No sooner entred they the prison but a band of fryers came in thither one amongst the rest told them the houre was come in which they must finish their daies Robert Oguier and his son answered we know it well But blessed be the Lord our God who now delivering our bodies out of this vile prison will receive our soules into his glorious and heavenly kingdome One of the Fryers whose name was Lazard a notable limme of Antichrist endeavoured to turnâ— them from their faith saying Father Robert thou art an old man let mée intreat thée in this thy last houre to think of saving thine owne soule And if thou wilt give eare to mée I warrant thée thou shalt do well The old man answered poore man how darest thou attribute that to thy selfe which belongs to the eternall God and so rob him of his honour for it séemes by thy spéech that if I will hearken to thée thou wilt become my Saviour No no I have one only Saviour Iesus Christ who by and by will deliver me from this miserable world I have one Doctor whom the heavenly Father Mat. 17 5. hath commanded me to heare and I purpose to hearken to none other A Fryer called the Father of Saint Clare exhorting him to take pitty of his soule which Christ had redéemed Thou willest me said Robert to pitty mine owne soule doest thou not sée what pitty I have on it when for the name of Christ I wiâ—ngly abandon this body of mine to the fire hoping to day to be with him in Paradise I have put all my confidence in God and my hope wholly is fixed upon the merits of Christ his death and passion he will direct me the right way to his Kingdome I beléeve whatsoever the holy Prophets and Apostles have written and in that faith will I live and die The Fryer hearing this said Out Dog thou art not worthy the name of a Christian thou and thy son with thée are both resolved to damne your bodies and soules with all the devills in the bottome of hell As they were about to sever Baudicon from his father he said Let my father alone and trouble him not thus he is an old man and hath an infirme body hinder him not I pray you from receiving the Crowne of Martyrdome Another of the Fryers said Away varlet thou art the cause of thy fathers perdition The Friers then turning themselves towards the Executioner said On on Officer doe thine Office for we will be gone we lose but our labour séeing the devill hath bewitched them Baudicon was then conveyed into a chamber apart and there being stripped of his clothes was fitted to be sacrificed now as one brought him Gunpowder to put to his breast an odde fellow standing by said Wert thou my brother I would sell all that I am worth to buy Fagots to burne thée thou findest but too much favour The yong man answered Well Sir the Lord shew you more mercy Some that were present saying Good God is it not a pittifull sight to behold these poore men A Doctor being by answered And what pity would you have shewed towards them I would in stead of allowing them this powder Saint Laurence was rosted on a gridiron by Pagans In this age the godly find in a manner the like from faiâ—e and fained Christians A gentle perswasion have them fryed on Gridirons as S. Laurence was Whilest they spake thus to Baudicon some of the Fryers closed in with the old man perswading him at least to take a Crucifixe into his hands lest the people said they should murmure against you adding further that he might for all that lift up his heart to God because you know said they it is but a péece of wood Thus they fastened it betwéen his hands but as soone as Baudicon was come downe and espied what they had done to his father he said Alas father what doe you now will you play the Idolater even at your last houre And then pulling the idoll out of his hands which they had fastned therein he threw it away saying What cause hath the people to be offended at us for not receiving a Iesus Christ of wood We beare upon our hearts the Crosse of Christ the Son of the everliving God féeling his holy word written therein in Letters of Gold As they were led to execution a band of souldiers were attendant upon them no lesse then if a Prince had béen conducted into his kingdome Béeing come to the place where they were to suffer they ascended up the scaffold which was there prepared for them Then Baudicon asked leave of the Sheriffes to make a confession of his faith before the people Answer was made That hée was to looke unto his ghostly Father and Confessor confesse your selfe said they to him He was then haled rudely to the stake where he began to sing the sixtéenth Psalme The Fryer cryed out Doe you not heare my Masters what wicked errours these hereticks sing to beâ—ile the people withall Baudicon hearing what he said replyed thus Now simple idiot callest thou the Psalmes of the Prophet David errors But no marvell for thus you are wont to blaspeme against the Spirit of God Then turning his eye towards his father who was about to be chained to the stake he said Be of good courage father the worst will be past by and by As the executioner was fastening him to the post he chanced to hit him with his hammer on the foot to make him stand néerer to the same The old man being sensible of the blow said Friend thou hurtest my foot why doest thou abuse me thus The Frier hearing this said Ah these heretickes They would be counted Martyrs forsooth but if they be but touched a little they cry out as they were killed To which Baudicon thus replyed Thinke you then that we feare the tormentors No such matter for
then doubt whether we are in the straight way or no when ye behold our sufferings would you have a better signe then this to know whether we are in the right way or no Compare our Doctrine with that of your Priests and Monkes we for our parts are determined to have but one Christ and him crucified we onely embrace the Scriptures of the old and new Testament Are we deceived in beléeving that which the holy Prophets and Apostles have taught One of the Fryers turning towards Martin said youngman be well advised for thy father and thy brother have acknowledged the seven Sacraments of the Church together with us and thou poore silly youth hast heard some wicked Heretique who hath deluded thée thinkest thou thy selfe wiser then so many learned Doctors as have lived in so many ages Martin answered I pray you Sir doth not Christ our Lord tell us that his Father hath hid the secrets of his Kingdome from the wise and prudent and revealed them to Mat. 11. 25. Iob 5. 13. babes And doth not the Lord oftentimes catch the wise in their owne craftinesse And whereas you say my Father and Brother have confessed seven Sacraments I well perceive by this that I ought not to give credit to ought you say knowye not that the Devill is the father of lies and all liers Is it not sufficient that I acknowledge so many Sacraments as God himselfe hath instituted and ordained to wit Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord Then came there into the prison two men of great authority in the City of Lisle the one called Mounsieur Barras the other Beaufremes who promised Martin great matters if he would recant and returne to the Roman Church Beaufremes among other spéeches said thus unto him Young man I have compassion on thy tender yéeres if thou wilt be ruled by us I will 100 〈◊〉 amount to two hundred crownes but this faithfull Martyr of Christ was not like Iudas who for love of money sold his Master promise thée thou shalt not die this shamefull death moreover I will give thée one hundred pounds sterling Martin gave him this answere Sir you present before me many temporall commodities but alas doe you thinke me so simple as to forsake an eternall Kingdome for enioying of a short transitory life No sir it is too late to speake to me now of worldly commodities but of those spirituall which God hath prepared for me today in his Kingdome nor doe I purpose to hearken after any other onely I pray you let me crave one houres respite to give my selfe to prayer and calling upon the Name of my God for you know now it is eight daies since my father departed this world and hitherto I have scarce enioyed an hours rest That which I have had hath rather béen to slumber in then have any quiet sléepe having continually had eight or nine persons invironing me about and talking unto me After these great men were forced to goe even as they came Martin declared the effect of this his combat to certaine Brethren who were there detained with him in prison saying moreover Let us lift up our heads Brethren the brunt is over this I hope is their last assault forget not I pray you the holy doctrine of the Gospell nor those good lessons which you have learned from our Brother Guy It is very likely hee meanes Guy de Brez a godly Minister of whom you shall read more God willing hereafter Manifest it now to all that you have received them not only into your eares but also into your hearts follow me we leade you the way feare not God will never leave nor forsake you farewell Brethren said he and so departed from them Soone after Martin and his mother were bound and brought to the place of their Martyrdome His mother having ascended the scaffold cryed to Martin Come up Come up my sonne And as he was speaking to the people she said Speake out Martin saith she that it may appeare to all that we die not Heretiques Martin would have made a confession of his faith but could not be suffered His mother being bound to the stake spake in the hearing of the Spectators We are Christians and that which we now suffer is not for murther or theft but because we will beléeve no more than that which the Word of God teacheth us Both reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the same The fire being kindled the vehemency thereof did nothing coole or abate the fervency of their zeale but they continued constant in the faith and with lifting up their hands to heaven in an holy accord said Lord Iesus into thy hands we The happy death of the mother and her sonne commend our spirits And thus they blessedly slept in the Lord. These were the fruits which these holy assemblies in the City of Lisle brought forth None néed to enquire whether the rest were suffered to live in peace for what other spectacles were to be espied in the high waies and fields but poore fugitives flying hither and thither for safegard of their lives So great was the cruelty which was then and there exercised among them and yet when all is done God will be glorified in his Saints and children ¶ Iohn Rebec Martyr burned at Aniers in France the 24 of Aprill 1556. THis Robert had his tongue cut out because he A Martyrs tongue cut out for refusing to call upon the virgin Mary would not pronounce Iesus Maria to joyne them both in one prayer for being urged thereunto with great threats he boldly answered that if his tongue should but offer to utter those words at their bidding himselfe would bite it asunder with his téeth ¶ Bartholomew Hector Martyr was burned according to the sentence of the parliament of Turin in Piedmont in the yeer 1556. Iune the 19. BEing called before Authority to be examined ' The Martyr would not answer the Adversary till he had first craved assistance from God he would answer them to nothing before he had made his prayer to God Whereupon falling downe there on his knées he besought him to open his mouth and to direct his spéech onely to utter that which might tend to his honor and glory and to the edification of his Church Afterwards when he was bound to the stake gunpowder and brimstone was brought to be placed about him he lifing up his eyes to heaven and saying Lord how sweet and welcome is this to me ¶ Charles Covincke or le Roy de Gand once Anno 1557. a Friar Carmelite at Gand in Flanders was apprehended and executed at Bruges in the same Countrey Anno 1557. Aprill 27. BEing perswaded by his brother to returne Charles would none of his popish habit which he had once rejected againe to his Order and take upon him his fryers habit he made him this direct answer what néeds that saith he now I have cast off that popish wéed I
execution a great multitude were assembled into the Market place to be hold the behaviour of these goodly men who as they were led to death protested That the cause why they dyed was only for bearing witnesse to the truth of the Gospell which words they uttered with such courage that the officers who invironed them round about strove to damp the same by a great noise which they made lest their voice should be understood Whilest the executioner fastened them to the stake there was on an instant such an hurlyburly amongst the people that with one voice they cryed Kill kill rushing There were they in great feare where no feare was for as saith the Psalmist God is in the generation of the righteous Psal 14. 5. one in upon another By and by the shops and doores of houses were shut up The hangman let fall all his preparations leaving the two patients standing at the stake The Margrave being on horseback could by no meanes get away being compassed in on each side The Officers trembling for feare threw downe their halberds The spy who attended there to hearken not knowing where to bestow himselfe forsook his horse and ran into a Church for feare And though one told him that a cutpurse had caused all this adoe he would not be drawn to beléeve him but said I know we are but dead men it is not the Théefe but the seditious people who now begin to work their revenge Thus God confounded these bloodthirsty shewing how he could have brought all their preparations to nothing if it had pleased him As soon as this hubbub was quieted the servant of the executioner ran and strangled the two Martyrs who had now a good space béen fastened to the stake still calling upon the name of the Lord. The fire being afterward kindled the bodies were consumed to ashes the 19. of Ianuary 1559. A Recantation fathered upon a Martyr called Cornelius Hallewin which he never consented to and how he tooke the same in the yeare 1559. THe father of this Cornelius solliciting the Margraue his wife who as it was thought was Godmother to Cornelius to get his sonne out of prison It was so agréed among them that a libell should be framed vnder the name of Cornelius wherein he should now acknowledge his error be confessed to a Priest would also receiue his Maker and come againe into the state of grace as a good childe of his holy mother the Church And further should say That Sermons were of no worth because they were not made upon holy ground Also requiring that if hée had failed in ought else the same should be attributed Anno 1559. to his young yeares and therefore craued pardon Howbeit the said Cornelius wrote letters daily in the meane while to the brethren shewing forth an admirable constancy in defending the faith gladding the hearts of many who gaue God thankes for the graces of his good Spirit wherewith he had indued him The Minister of the Flemish Church hearing of this Libell by the meanes of some friends got a Copy thereof and hauing read it considering how the tenor thereof tended to a great scandall made the Elders and Deacons of the Church acquainted therewith who were not a little grieued for the infirmity of their weake brother Whereupon the Minister wrote a sharpe letter vnto him willing him to turne and repent him of his backe sliding by making a true Confession thereof before the councel When Cornelius had receiued this letter read it he was so vexed perplexed in his spirit that he knew not how to demean himselfe so as all the godly his Prison fellowes had much adoe to stay and comfort him The blood gushed out of his nose hée spread abroad his armes and made pitifull outcries What to deny the truth said he God forbid Oh that the faithfull should conceiue so hardly of me Good God thou knowest that I am guiltlesse nor haue I this way offended Then the residue of the brethren aduised him to get a sight of his inditement which if it contained no such thing then to send it to the Church and so manifest to them his innocency touching that whereof he was accused besides making a plaine confession of his faith to impart the same to the Councell there withall to shew how he was abused by the Margraue and his Parents which he accordingly did The said Cornelius being condemned to die the Margraue offered him so much more fauour as to die a more easie kinde of death if he would but giue eare to the priests whom he had brought with him into the prison Cornelius replied no Sir God forbid I should do such a thing doe ye with my body what ye will As they bound him Herman Ianssen who both suffered together Herman willed the Margraue to take héed what he did for saith he this will not goe for paiment in Gods sight in bereauing vs thus of our liues I wish you to repent therefore before it be too late you cannot long continue this tyrannous course for the Lord will shortly auenge it The Margraue commanded they should haue a crosse or crucifixe put into their hands promising Cornelius that if he would so doe he should only be beheaded and not burned but they both reiected the Crosse saying They would not give the least signe that might be of betraying the truth and that it was all one to them what death they put them to so they dyed in and for the Lord. The punishment they said could last but for a while but the glory to come was eternall Then were they led towards the Market place and Herman reioycing in the Lord sung the hundred and thirtieth Psalme Cornelius followed him and gaue the people godly exhortations Being come to the place of execution the sword was laid there ready to behead them if they would take the Crosse into their hands and admit the Friers into their company But because they would not yéeld one whit vnto them wood was made ready to burne them Then Cornelius fell on his knées praying God to forgiue his enemies who had sinned through ignorance After which they were put into a little lodge made of fagots and strangled at the stake But whilest this was a doing there fell out such a tumult amongst the people that they were not a little afraid of an vprore the hangman be caught hold of his sword to defend himselfe thinking they would kill him first but the businesse was as suddenly quieted as raised The fire being kindled flamed forth vpon the bodies of these holy Martyrs The Margraue thought according to the vsuall course to haue quenched the fire that so conueying the bodies away halfe burnt they might be laid upon the whéeles nigh vnto the city in the accustomed places where they were to lie as spectacles to be gazed on But the peoples wrath being stirred crossed him in his purpose so as his Serieants and Halberdiers leauing him he stood as
there be seven or two hée will acknowledge no more then hée list for he had confessed there were but two The chiefe sheriffe demanded of him in these termes whither hée beléeved that the Lord remained upon the Altar flesh body and bone I answer saith Herwin with Saint Steven that the highest dwelleth not in temples made with hands Heaven saith the Lord is my throne and the earth is my footstoole Isai 66. 1. 2. what house will yée then make unto mée and where is the place of my rest Hath not my hand made all these And then tooke occasion to admonish the Iudges which sate there to examine the Doctrine of the Romane Church by the true touchstone which is the holy scripture that so they might discern how opposite and contrary the one is to the other Consider also saith hée what the words of saint Peter import where hée affirmes that we ought to obey God rather then man Yea it is high time for you to thinke upon Act. 4. 19. 5. 29. A godly admonition to Iudges and Magistrates what I say and that seriously also for at the last day it is neither your priests nor your placcards which you thinke to stop our mouths withall that shall any way excuse you then And as for the title of the Romane Catholike Church which you hold out against us I deny not but in the Apostles time and afterwards there was a true Church in Rome as well as in Corinth Galatia among the Philippians and in other churches but When the church of Rome was a true Church after that she fell from the pure word of God and falsified the Sacraments thereof turning ecclesiasticall discipline into auricular confession God hath also forsaken her she ought now no more to bée called a Church of God but rather the Synagogue of Satan As soone as the chiefe Sheriffe who is called the first speaker heard this he commanded him away Having then given sufficient testimony of his Faith before those of Houscot he craved for Iustice either one way or another But they on the contrary urged him to desist from his opinion To which he answered that his faith was not built of Psal 14. an opinion but said he the Lord hath taught me to eschew evill and do good Yea said they but séest thou not how these opinions have troubled the World And also how many of the learneder sort do contradict them Answer So far is it off that the doctrine of the Gospell should be the cause of troubles that it only is the meanes of quieting the troubles debates and strifes which raigne in the world These troubles arise indéed from the malice of men And as touching your learned men you speake of it is impossible for humane wisdome to comprehend the doctrine of God for which cause Christ saith Father I thanke thee that Mat. 11. 25. Luke 10. 21. thou hast hid these secrets from the wise men of the World and hast revealed them to babes Now as the Sergeants conveyed him to prison they counselled him to speake more mildly and then he might doe well enough Before his death he was sorely set upon by certaine Sophisters who alledged to him the sayings of many of the ancient Fathers upon the point of the Lords Supper but he overcame them by holding close the true sense of Christs words In prison he comforted himselfe in singing of Psalmes and spirituall Songs some of which he indited himself The Canons and priests séeing the people flock together to the prison doore to heare him especially upon the Sundayes and holy daies strove by all meanes to put him by his singing They coupled him with two malefactors to be a griefe unto him who obtaining certaine instruments by the helpe of their consorts brake prison and fled Herwin might thus have escaped if he would but fearing his flight might be imputed to the godly Christians in the City he resolved rather to remaine there than to flie His sentence in the meane while comming from the Court he was no sooner advertised of it but hée thanked God for advancing him to so high an honour as to be counted worthy to suffer for his name Testifying the joy he inwardly had by a Letter which he sent to the brethren praying and exhorting them to be constant and to persevere in that Doctrine which they had received from God The fourth day of November betwéene foure and five of the clocke in the morning Herwin was sent for by the Magistrates from prison into the place of Iudgement where by intreatings and goodly promises they urged him to recant and receive their breaden God which was then to bée offered up or at least to confesse that Iesus Christ was there corporally present upon which he should by and by be delivered out of all dangers Now Herwin refusing their offer was bound and brought by force into the Chappell but he in sign of his detestation turned his backe alwayes upon it shutting his eyes and stopping his eares At the elevation of their Host one who was knéeling to it asked him if Iesus Christ was not now betwéene the Priests hands No no said Herwin he is in Heaven at the right hand of his Father Soone after the sentence of death was read against him so was he delivered into the hands of the Tormentor As he passed out of the town-house standing upon the first step viewing the people who waited to sée him Sée here saith he how this wicked World rewards the poore servants of Iesus Christ Whilest I gave my selfe to drunkennesse to playiug at Cards and Dice living in all dissolution and ungodly behaviour I was never in danger of these bands lifting up his hands which were bound I was then counted a good fellow and at that time who but I But Anno 1561. no sooner began I by conversion to aske after a godly life but the world made war upon me and became my enemy persecuting and imprisoning me and now last of all sending me to the place where I must pay my last debt But the servant is no better than his Lord For séeing they persecuted Mat. 10. 24. Iohn 15. 20. him no question they will persecute us Being come to the place where he was to suffer one of the assembly reaching him forth his hand drew nigh unto him comforting him never leaving him till he entred into the Cabbin of wood in which he was to be burnt He then began to sing the thirtieth Psalme of which having sung only the first staffe a Fryer hearing the same hastned towards him not without much difficulty through the throng that he might come néere to interrupt him who knéeling on his knées said Oh Iohn turne there is yet time and space The Martyr sleighting his glosing words turned his back upon him And many there present cryed to the Fryer Turne thou thou hypocrite and thus was he suffered quietly to finish the Psalme The Fryer
séeing himself disappointed this way of his purpose continuing still in his impudency said to the people be ye not offended good people in hearing this Heretique sing of God They cryed againe to him Hold thy peace thou Balaamite here is no body offended Many sung with a soft voice with the Martyr and some againe sung aloud without faining There were more than foure hundred which encouraged him to continue to the end as he had well begun Then he said unto them Brethren I fight under the Standard and in the quarrell of my great Lord and Captaine Christ Having ended the psalme he made his prayer to God upon his knées Then rising up and being about to enter into his lodge made with an heape of fagots he said to the people I am now going to be sacrificed follow you me when God of his goodnesse shall call you to it When he was gone in the Fryer put him in minde againe that yet there was time to repent but he as one little minding what this deceiver said commended his spirit into the hands of God Hee that reached him forth his hand stood in the midst of the Sergeants and not far off from the Tormentor still encouraging the Patient and yet none laid hold on him they were stricken with such astonishment partly with the Martyrs courage and partly with their owne shame in putting to death an innocent The Executioner not being his craftsmaster strangled and burnt him most cruelly so as the people were heard to bewaile the manner of it whilest the Martyr yéelded up the ghost the said fourth day of Novenber Anno 1560. His body was consumed to ashes which were buried in the Market place of Honscot ¶ Here it shall not be amisse to insert a godly prayer which a like notorious wretch before his conversion made at his death after he was converted and suffered for the same cause His name was Lieuin Blekere by his Trade a Painter who dwelt in a little village in the Low Countries called Pamelle Anno 1566. O Heavenly Father I give thée thankes that thou hast pulled me out of darknesse and hast revealed the light of thy Gospell unto me for else I had perished everlastingly O father thou diddest ordaine me to be one of thy Witnesses even from my mothers wombe yea before the foundation of the world was laid Now therefore Lord let this sacrifice be acceptable unto thée receive me thy poore servant into thy grace and favour and pardon the sin of my persecutors To one that stood by he said Brother fight the good fight of faith with me and pray for me so long as you sée life to be in me And while he was yet speaking the tormentor strangled him The dead body being a little scortched with the fire was taken thence and hanged on a gibbet by Pamelle whence he was taken downe in the night and buried ¶ Iohn de Boschane drowned in a tub in prison the twenty eighth day of February in the City of Antwerpe Anno 1561. THe evening before he suffered many of the faithfull expected what should be done unto him But the Magistrates of the towne fearing an uprore knowing that he was a man frée of spéech and beloved of the people tooke counsell to drowne him secretly in the prison which could not be executed without murther and cruell torment For the tub in which he should be drowned being neither large nor déep enough the Martyr himselfe being tall of stature and the executioner having provided so little water that he could not possibly be drowned therein therefore he was constrained for the shortning of this so cruell a torment to wound him in the body with divers A sure way to make an end of him stabs of a dagger which were to be séen theron after he was dead Thus finished this Boschane Martyr his life being twenty six yeares of age in the City of Antwerpe in the yeare of our Lord 1560. ¶ The story of one Iohn de Buisons who was beheaded in the prison as Iohn the Baptist was in the night THis holy servant of Christ having valiantly stood to the profession of the Gospell was soone after condemned to die Now fearing lest any tumult or sedition should be raised in the City of Antwerp he was beheaded in the prison about one or two of the clocke in the night to the glory of God and the confusion of his adversaries Anno 1561. ¶ Simon Harme Martyr who had sentence of death pronounced two severall times upon him in the City of Lisle in Flanders THis Simon was accused to have uttered some spéeches long since agaâ—nst the Church of Rome Witnesses béeing produced against him in the towne-house the Magistrate condemned him to be beheaded Now according to their custome in that place his hat being taken from him after sentence pronounced he was returned backe againe to prison expecting the houre of his execution Then were sent unto him certaine friers to confesse or rather to vexe and torment him But this godly man being throughly fenced with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God made them know to their shame that they were greatly mistaken for the Friers returning backe to those who had imployed them in this businesse reported that this Simon was a most notorious heretique which the Magistrates of the Citie hearing caused him by and by to be called The Martyr had his hat sent him which was taken from him to judgement sending him his hat againe which they tooke from him in token that they had revoked the sentence first pronounced to enter a new processe against him Thus got Simon some leasure the better to dispose of his affaires also to comfort and counsell his friends by Letters not weighing the torments of death which he was to endnre Thrée dayes before he suffered sentence was pronounced touching another kind of death namely to be burned and his body to be consumed to ashes Which kind of Martyrdome did manifest to all the people of the sayd City the admirable power of the Lord by how much more the paines were excéeding great beholding how this his servant swéetly gave up the ghost in peace in the midst of the fiery flames ¶ A note of one Iohn Martin who bragged he would cut off a Ministers nose THe Church of God increasing so farre in the Valleyes of Angrongne in France that they were faine to build a Church wherein to preach the Word publikely in regard of concourse of people resorting thither it happened that the forenamed Iohn Martin boasting every where that he would cut off the ministers nose of Angrongne was soone after set upon by a mad wolfe who did indéed eat his nose from his face A remarkable judgement of God dying mad thereof himselfe and yet it was never observed that this Wolfe had ever hurt any before Which terrible judgement was so manifest that it was noysed among all the neighbour Villages thereabouts An. 1561. ¶
intreats for a pacification that those of her sex being with childe might not bee affrighted the péeces and pistols continually discharged sent in all haste to the Duke her husband with much entreaties to cease this persecution for frighting women with childe During this slaughter the Cardinall of Guise remained before the Church of the said Citie of Vassi leaning upon the wals of the church-yard looking towards the place where his followers were busied in killing and slaying whom they could Many of this assembly being thus hotely pursued did in the first brunt save themselves upon the roofe of the house not being discerned of those which stood without but at length some of this bloody crue espying where they lay hid shot at them with long pieces wherewith many of them were hurt and slain The houshold servants A lamentable spectacle of Dessalles Prior of Vassi shooting at the roofe people caused them to fall downe from the roofe like pigeons one of that wretched company was not ashamed to boast after the massacre was ended That he for his part had caused sixe at the least to tumble downe in that pittifull plight saying that if others had done the like not many of them could possibly have escaped The Minister in the beginning of the massacre ceased not to preach still till one discharged his piece against the pulpit where he stood after which falling downe upon his knées he entreated the Lord not onely to have mercy upon himselfe but also upon his poore persecuted floke Having ended his prayer he left his gowne behinde him thinking thereby to kéepe himselfe as unknown bâ—t whilest he approached towards the dore in his fear he stumbled upon a dead body where he received a blow with a sword upon his right shoulder Getting up againe and then thinking to get forth he was immediately laid hold on and grievously hurt on the head with a sword whereupon being felled to the ground and féeling himselfe mortally wounded he cryed Lord into thy hand I Psal 31. 5. commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me thou God of truth Whilest he thus prayed one of this bloody crue ran upon him to have houghed him but it pleased God his sword brake in the hilts Now to let you understand by what meanes he was delivered from so imminent a death two gentlemen taking knowledge of him as the rest were about to kill him said it is the Minister let him be conveyed to my Lord Duke These leading him away by both the armes brought him before the gate of the Monastery from whence the Duke and the Cardinall his brother comming forth said come hither and asked him saying Art thou the Minister of this place who made thée so bold to seduce this people thus Sir said the Minister I am no seducer for I have preached to them the Gospell of Iesus Christ The Duke perceiving that this short and pithy answer condemned his cruell fact began to curse and sweare saying Death of God doth the Gospell preach sedition Provost goe and let a Gibbet be set up and hang this bougrer At which words the Minister was delivered into the hands of two Pages who misused him vilely The women of the City being ignorant Papists caught up dirt to throw in his face and with extended outcries said Kill him kill this varlet who hath béen the cause of the slaughter of so many Much adoe there was to hold off the women from being revenged upon the poore Minister Whilst the Pages had him thus in their handling the Duke went into the barn to whom they presented a great Bible which they used for the service of God The Duke taking it into his hands calling his brother the Cardinall said Loe here the Title of the Huguenot books The Cardinall viewing it sayd There is nothing but good in this book for it is the Bible to wit the holy Scriptures The Duke being offended for that his answer suited not to his humor grew into a greater rage than before saying Blood of God how now what the holy Scripture It is a thousand and five hundred yéerey agoe since Iesus Christ suffered his death and passion and it is but a yéere since these bookes were imprinted how then say you that this is the Gospell by the death of God you say you know not what This imbridled fury of the Duke displeased the Cardinall so as he was heard secretly to mutter An unworthy Brother This Massacre continued a full houre the Dukes trumpeters sounding the whilst two severall times When any of these desired to have mercy shewed them for the love of Iesus Christ the murtherers in scorne would say unto them you use the name of Christ but where is your Christ now become And when they said Lord God they blasphemingly would A grievous scorne say Lord devill There dyed in this Massacre within a few daies fifty or thréescore persons besides these there were about two hundred and fifty others as well men as women who were wounded and spoiled Anno 1563. whereof some died some were maimed losing some a leg some an arme some their fingers cut off from their hands and caried away The poores The poores mony violently taken away and never after restored box which was fastned to the doore of the Church with two Iron hookes was wrested thence with twelve pounds therein and never restored again Nothing was to be séene in the stréets but Women with their haire hanging about their eares faces besmeared with blood being wounded in many places with swords and daggers with wéepings and lamentations Barbers and Chirurgians were so set on worke that he which had least had thréescore under his hand to be dressed and many perished for want thereof The Minister was kept close prisoner so as for foure and twenty houres none were permitted to supply him with any necessaries at all nor any suffered to sée him or speake with him and was oft threatned by his kéepers to be sowed up in a sack and drowned Faine would they have drawn him to have kept his Easter after the Popish guise under faire premises of his inlargement but he would by no means consent thereto Thus continued he prisoner untill the eight day of May 1563. at which time he was set frée by the suit of the most illustrious prince of Portion Whilest the Duke was at Esclairon the Lackeys and others of their sort put to sale unto such as would give most cloaks hats girdles Coifes Kerchiefes with other things which they had spoiled the massacred of Crying them with a loud voyce as if a common cryer had cryed houshold stuffe to be sold A memorable deliverance ONe called Iohn of the Gardens having lived a long time with his wife and childe in regard of the present troubles abroad in the fields nigh to a City called Seulis in France at length determining to goe backe againe into the Citie casting himselfe and his upon the providence of God were
to the number of nine or thereabouts with their daughters these Murtherers hearing of it ranne violently in among them thinking to have found a Minister preaching to them but when they saw how they were mistaken they dragged them out by the haire of the head into the middest of the stréet where loading them with abundance of stripes they cast them into the river in which calamity God endued them with such strength and skill being unbound that endeavouring to swimme at length they arrived at an Isle where being seised upon againe by certaine Ferrimen they were stripped naked and then throwne againe into the River and thinking yet to save themselves they were in the end knocked downe by the seditious in the suburbs of Vienna ¶ A pitifull and tragicall spectacle A Certaine poore woman of Tours whose husband they had not long before drowned having an Infant about sixe or seven wéekes old sucking at her breasts and holding by the hand a daughter of hers very beautifull to looke upon of the age of 15. or 16. yeares was by many insolencies haled to the river side where having made her prayer upon her knées the childe sucking at her breast she shifted it there in the sun and after laid it upon the grasse then knéeling downe againe commended it to God Meane while this hellish-rable used many words to turne the yong maiden from her religion some using sore threats others making her many faire promises One of the soldiers being a braver gallant than the rest promised her marriage so as the poore wench stood in a mammering not knowing what to doe Her Mother séeing her wavering earnestly exhorted her to persist in the truth her self being at that instant ready to be plunged into the water The daughter beholding such an outrage crying out used these words all which was afterwards testified by those who were consenting to this murther being also converted themselves by such a rare example of constancy I will said she live and die with my mother whom I know to be a vertuous woman as for your threates and promises I regard them not do with me as you please The Mother was not yet dead when these mercilesse wretches threw in the daughter after her who making towards her Mother and they both embracing each other yéelded up their soules into the hands of God The poore Infant was taken up by a soldier who having kept it a day and a night from the breast laid it the next day in a Church porch whence being taken up and given to a nurse to kéep it would never take the breast after but within two daies it dyed ¶ An history containing the singular constancy of a Christian Woman together with her gracious Answers to her adversaries IN the same City of Tours the death of an honest Matron called Glée is very remarkable This woman having much profited in the knowledge of Gods word was presented before Chavigny before whom she gave a reason of her faith confirmed by testimonies of scripture with such constancy in the presence of certaine Fryers and Priests that in the end they gave her no other answer but this that she was in a damnable estate It séemes so indéed said shée being now in your hands but I have a God that will neither leave nor forsake me for all that Thou hast said they renounced the Faith It is true said she I have renounced your faith which I am able to shew is rejected and accursed of God and therefore deserves not so much as to be called Faith Upon this they committed her to prison where she was againe sollicited to recant to which purpose they sent certaine women unto her into the prison but all in vaine for on the contrary she spake her minde fréely and comforted the prisoners which were in the same prison with her for religion Anno 1562. Now it happened one morning as shee was about to take some bodily refreshing newes was brought her that shee was condemned to be hanged with thrée men also Which newes she received with such joy and rejoicing that the officer had no sooner ended his message but forthwith she knéeling on her knées began to praise and magnifie the name of God in that he had shewed her so much mercy as to deliver her by such a kinde of death out of the troubles of this wretched world as also for that it pleased the Lord to honor her so far as to die for his truth and to weare his livery meaning the halter which the hangman had now put about her necke Then sitting downe at table to breake her fast with the rest of the company giving thanks to God shée exhorted them to be of good courage and to trust unto the end in his frée and only mercy Lastly having sent her children some such small trifles as shée then had about her shée called for a cleane linnen Wastecote making her selfe ready as if shée had béen going to a wedding Being conducted thus with the rest of the prisoners about two of the clocke in the afternoone and passing by Saint Martins Church she was commanded to receive a torch into her hand and to acknowledge shée had offended God and the King Away away said she with it I have neither offended God nor the King according to your meaning nor in respect of the cause for which I suffer I am I confesse a sinnefull woman but I need no such light for helping me to aske forgivenesse of God for my sins past or present use such things your selves who sit and walke in the darknesse of ignorance and error Then one of her kinsfolkes met her in the way and presented unto her view her little children praying her to have compassion on them séeing that by renouncing her religion she might yet preserve her life and sée them provided for Upon this méeting her motherly affection caused her to shed plenty of teares but by and by taking unto her new courage I must needs tell you said she that I love my children dearly but yet neither for love I bear to them or any thing else in this world will I renounce the truth or my God who is and will be a Father unto them to provide better for them than I could have done and therefore to his providence and protection I commend and leave them and so passed on chéerfully without being any further daunted Drawing nigh to the place of execution she called upon God without ceasing lifting her hands up to Heaven Now the men which came with her being ready to suffer when shée saw them about to die silent and not to call on God she exhorted them thereto and began aloud to rehearse the confession of sinnes which begins thus Lord God Almighty and everlasting Father c. and so continuing forth the ordinary prayers reciting also the Lords prayer and the Articles of the Créed shée with much peace and joy in the holy Ghost finished her life ¶ A Note touching the
of life But as soone as God of his goodnesse by the meanes of his word had revealed unto him his son Iesus Christ he by and by altered and changed his former conversation for having before lived in great dissolutenesse he now sharply reproved such as he knew to follow sinfull wayes yea he often taxed the Priests as well for their scandalous living as for their false doctrine wherewith they abused the people but principally for making them to fall downe to such a god as could not defend nor kéep himselfe from Rats and Nice and which is worse to offer it up for the sins of the quick and the dead For these with other such like spéeches those who erewhiles loved him began now to turne their love into hatred insomuch as he was faine to flie from them yea and out of the Countrey also being banished thence threatning him that if he were taken there againe he should be put to death not as an heretike but as one having offended the penall Lawes But not long after the Lord wrought such an alteration not only in the Politicall but in the Ecclesiasticall state also that not the Lawes concerning heresie alone were disanulled but frée liberty was granted to the Faithfull of the Low-countries to returne home into their houses againe and to have the exercises of Religion publikely and openly Among these Francis returned at that time unto the City in which he was borne But this fréedome so suddenly granted lasted not long For the devill not enduring the light so to shine out stirred up Imps afresh to oppresse the godly Francis then apprehending the danger was minded one morning to depart out of the City but God had another worke for him to doe For as he was passing along he was apprehended in the stréete by one of the City who with the Bailiffe met him The Bailiffe would faine have baulked him as if he had not séene him but said the other here he is hold him fast so they took him Being conducted to prison among other spéeches he said now yée have taken me you thinke to deprive me of life and so have your will of me purposing my great dammage and hurt but you are deceived for it is all one as if you tooke Counters from me to fill my hand with a great summe of gold In prison he had many disputes with Priests and Cloister-men But the Iailour of all other dealt harshly with him who could not endure to heare him speake of God But if at any time he heard him sing Psalmes and spirituall Songs he would rage like a Bedlam Once being very drunke he set open the prison doores and sitting on a bench he called to Francis saying come out thou naughty and wicked heretique I will now sée if thy God can deliver thée out of my hands Francis said as the case stands it might easily be effected If I were minded to escape away now as I was heretofore I could easily doe it but I will not for God hath called me to suffer and not to flie away and therefore I will not resist but rather obey his will The drunkard hearing him speake with such mildnes and moderation and séeing that he would not come forth being provoked thereto by him in his fury he tooke up his stoole on which he sat and laid at him therewith so as he had felled him to the ground if the servant had not stepped betwéene who tooke it out of his Masters hands by force yet was the poore prisoner very sorely hurt and lay long in the Chirurgions hands before his head could bée healed But to make him amends this cruell jaylour dieted him so strictly both for meate and drinke that hée had died with hunger had not God inclined the heart of his servant now and then to relieve him by conveying meate to him in secret After the Lord had thus by sundry trials prooved the patience and constancy of this his good servant the Magistrates of the City of Alost consulted how to put him to death having oft called the Executioner to this their consultation but they could not agrée in the manner how to effect it Some were of opinion it were best to have him put to death secretly in the prison others advised to execute him openly lest they should incurre the blot of being murderers In the end waxing more hardy having long detained him in bonds they called him forth into judgment and pronounced sentence upon him which was that because he had done contrary to the Kings Lawes in returning againe to the City from which he was banished he had therefore deserved to die séeing also hée held certaine opinions directly opposite to the Church of Rome Francis hearing his sentence read without any shew of distemper said Now seeing you are so thirsty after bloud I willingly yeeld it into your hands and my soule into the hands of my mercifull Lord God Almighty Francis said they we command you to hold your peace for if you will not wée will take order to bridle your tongue Hée then promised them to obey their command As hée went to suffer hée used that spéech of the Apostle saint Peter I must now shortly put off this my earthly tabernacle which 2 Pet. 1. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 14. the love of Christ Iesus my Lord constraines me to doe Being come into the market place where he was to be offered up a sacrifice he knéeled downe and having ended his prayer he sayed to the executioner doe now what you are commandded the will of God bée done and so presenting himselfe chéerefully to the stroke of death he was beheaded the first of May in the yéere 1566. his body being afterwards exposed to the foules of the aire for a prey ¶ Iohn Tuscaen of Andenard in Flaunders Martyr Iune the eighth Anno 1566. Behold here how God meant to awaken the men of this time out of their brutish security as it were with a thunder clap from heaven THis young man a maker of Tapistry about the age of two and twenty yéeres the son of one called Simeon Tuscaen dwelling in the suburbs of Andenard was trained up from his youth in all godly nurtrature He hearing news that things went more aukly to passe in Bruxels then hée could have wished determined in himselfe to make it knowne by the effect that the adoring of a breaden God which the Roman Church so much worshipped was nothing else but an abhominable and execrable sacriledge Having cast to and fro in his minde and thoughts the weightinesse of the busines he was to undertake at length hée determined to demonstrate the same more fully and apparently in a publike assembly which was the thirtieth day of May in the said yeare 1566. which after the custome of the Romanists is called the feast of God or Corpus Christi day Now by reason that two Cities of Andenard and Pamelle are joyned as it were in one there were two Temples dedicated there not to
from it and to cleave wholly to the Doctrine of the Gospell Then leaving them he went into another roome and called for a brush to brush his hat and cloake causing his shooes to be blacked For now said he I am bidden to the mariage of the Lambe where I am to feast with him for ever and ever Going thence some of the prisoners came to him and finding him sitting in the entry of the prison upon a bench with bread and wine set before him which was brought him for his breakefast they asked him if he went to suffer with those shackles on his héeles I would I might said hée yea and that they would bury them with mee to that they might manifest the inhumanity of my adversaries And as those brethren comforted him he replyed that he felt such joy of the holy Ghost in his heart that he could neither with mouth nor tongue expresse it adding That God shewed him a thousand times more favour to take him after this manner out of this transitory life than if he had let him die in his bed by sicknesse for now saith he I shall dye with enjoying the benefit of all the powers of my soule praying the Lord to have mercy upon me Then every one taking his leave of him they retyred and forthwith Guy and La Grange were led to the towne hall to receive the sentence of death namely to be hanged for transgressing the Kings commandement given at the Court of Bruxels And so not medling at all with any of the points of Doctrine which they had preached they especially insisted upon the administration of the Lords Supper against an expresse charge given them to the contrary To be short La Grange being brought to the place of execution and now upon the ladder hée protested with a loud voice notwithstanding the noise which the soldiers kept about the gibbe◠that he died onely for preaching to the people the pure truth of God taking heaven and earth to witnesse the same with him Then was Master Guy brought thither who knéeling downe to have made his prayer at the foot of the ladder was not suffered to make an end for lifting him up they made him by and by to ascend the ladder Being thereon he fastned his féet in the rundles exhorting the people to carry themselves with all due respect towards the Magistrates shewing how some had overshot themselves in that behalfe Then Master Guy exhorted them to stand stedfast in the doctrine which he had taught them avouching that it was the undoubted truth of God He could not finish his spéech fully because the Commissioners gave a signe to the Executiooner to hasten and make an end He was no sooner turned off the ladder but there fell out such a tumult among the souldiers being in armes in the market place that they ran up and downe the City shooting off their pieces against such as they met shooting off their pieces against such as they met as well Papists as others yea killing one another in a grievous manner so as some fell downe dead among many others that were wounded and hurt And thus were they smitten with great feare without any ground thereof at all ¶ Notes touching the estate of the Faithfull in the City of Venice and of some executed there for the Truth in the yeare 1566. IT pleased God for a long space to frée this noble City from being subjected to the cruell Inquisition of the Pope by reason whereof the face of a Church was to be discerned there from the yeare 1530 to the yeare 1542. They enjoyed such fréedome of conferring and scanning of the points of Religion there that they came in a manner to make profession thereof publiquely so as many strange nations came to take notice thereof But the Father of lies observing this began to bestirre himselfe by setting his Lieutenant on worke who hath his seat at Rome to disturbe these good beginnings for it came to passe that whilst multitudes of good Christians flocked thither from other parts in processe of time such a course was taken by Antichrists supporters that many of them were imprisoned and afterward sent thence to Rome The rest by a new found execution never till then heard of were cast into the sea and drowned in the bottome of the same The manner of it was thus After they had received sentence an yron chaine was fastened about their middle with a stone of great weight tyed thereto and then were they laid upon a planke betwéene two wherries which being come to the place appointed the wherries parting asunder the Martyrs were forthwith drowned Yet for all this many ceased not still to assemble together in a place appointed for that purpose to talke and discourse of heavenly matters yea and to make some collections for reliefe of the poore so as in the yeare 1566 the called to them a minister of the Gospell to establish constitute a church among them having also the Supper of the Lord administred to them But some false brethren créeping in under pretence of making the same profession with them betrayed them Then began the Popish Inquisition to be erected there with the greatest cruelty that might be towards the maintenance whereof the Pope sent every yeare a certaine summe of money to those holy Fathers to be distributed among such as were appointed to be spies and revealers of such secrets as they could come to the knowledge of Thus were many cast into the sea and drowned some were sent to Rome others were detained Anno 1567. so long in prisons which were like graves that they rotted there ¶ Master Anthony Ricetto Martyr AMongst others who were condemned to bée drowned there was one Master Anthony Ricetto of Vincence having a sonne about twelve yeares old who comming to visit his father according to the discretion of children besought him with teares to yéeld to those who had condemned him and to save his life that he might not be left fatherlesse A true Christian said his father is bound to forgoe goods children yea and life it selfe for the maintenance of Gods honor and glory For which cause he was now ready and resolved to lay it downe the Lord assisting him The Lords of Venice offered to restore unto him his patrimony which was partly morgaged and sold if he would submit himselfe to the Church of Rome But he refused whatsoever conditions they this way tendred unto him Some that wer prisoners with him namely one M. Iulius Ferlan hath reported much of the abstinence patience and holinesse of this excellent man so farre as to parallel him to another Iohn Baptist On the fiftéenth day of Fegruary 1565. which according to our computation is 1566. Captain Clairmont came unto him and told him that Francis Sega was resolved to recant To which Ricetto * This Sega was his fellow prisoner of whom see more hereafter by and by replyed What tell you me of Sega I will
saile as they say and to apply himselfe to the time being brought hereinto by the advice of some namely that he should faine a giving of his consent to what the Magistrate required of him by meanes whereof hée might escape their hands But about the tenth of September comming againe to himselfe and But soone after recovers himselfe espying whereunto this determination tended hée protested before all that he would stand in the confession he had made from the first of April last past Wherefore on the ninth of August hée was brought againe before the same Iudges where he openly confirmed the same His Iudges said that he should either be drowned or burned alive Then on the thirtéenth of Ianuary 1566. according to the Venetian account which according to our was 1567. on Tuesday morning being come before the Tribunall sentence was pronounced upon him that hée should be drowned as an Heretique To which he gave them this answer I am no heretique but the servant of Iesus Christ At which words the popes legate commanded him to hold his peace telling him that he lied The next day in the morning which was the last of Ianuary he was brought into Saint Peters Chappell where he was degraded because he had béen a Priest and the night following he was conducted unto the Sea and there drowned in the place appointed who died prayising and blessing God with invincible constancy ¶ A relation of such things as fell out under the government of the Duke of Alva and of many men put to death 1567. THe afflictions of the protestants in the Low-Countries were multiplied this yeare under the dominion of Ferdinando of Toledo Duke of Alva It is well knowne that the Spaniards using all their endeavours to rule over this Countrey at their pleasures had no better opportunity to accomplish their design then to establish among them their inquisition thereby to dominéere over the goods honors and lives of every one The Nobles Citizens and Commons did what they could to oppose the same to which purpose they had instantly besought the King to afford them his royall presence that hearing once their complaints his Majesty might take some order for matters of so great importance alledging to this end the example of the Emperour Charles his Father who upon a businesse fame inferiour to this adventured himselfe with much diligence to passe through the enemies country who were but a while before reconciled onele to stay some mutinies begun in the City of Gand. These things had so moved his Majesty that he made them a promise by letters of his comming But his intention was broken off by such as were the upholders of the inquisition that so they might with the more facility attaine the end of their desires In stead of their King then they had sent unto them the Duke of Alva who at his entrance found the prisons replenished with Gentlemen other personages of note whom the Dutches of Parma had left in bonds after her death Long di dthey languish in this captivity whilst the Duke of Alva by faire promises dissembled a kind of méeke and gentle carriage of minde towards them giving them some hope of a generall pardon procéeding from the Kings clemency that thus he might catch the lords and governors â—he more cunningly into his nets whereof the Lord Lemorall Earle of Egmond Prince of Gand Governor of Flanders and Artois and others of quality gave but too lamentable experience who being fed with vaine hopes were at length inhumanely put to death The sixéene Provinces also subjecting themselves To wit Brabant Lambourg Luxembourg Guelderland Flanders Artois Haynaut Holland â—ealand Namur â—utphein Friseland Malines Vtrecht Overâ—seiz and Graningu◠〈◊〉 Le Conseil de sang under this new government lost their antient liberties and priviledges which evidently appeared by the exploits done from the yere 1557. hitherto by a new counsell of twelve elected and setled there by the Duke the principall of which were Vergas and Delrio the Fathers of the inquisition which Councell was commonly called the Councell of bloud ¶ The death of two Barons of Battembourg the one called Gysorecht and the other Thierri brethren with certaine other Gentlemen executed the same day at Bruxells 1568. AMong many Gentleman and Captains who were apprehended after the discomâ—ture of the Assembly in Holland whom the Dutches of Parma had imprisoned in the castle of Villford the two brothers of Battembourg a most antient Barony scituated upon Mense about two miles off from Nieumegne did manifest above others how much they had profited by being instructed in the Church of Geneva The elder of them was Gysbrecht and the other Dietrich or Thierri who from the flower of their youth had constantly professed and confessed the pure Doctrine of the Gospell On Tuesday the first of Iune Anno 1568. the Duke of Alva began to declare to the world his fained méeknesse putting to death the same day these two breathren besides the Lords Heter Dandelet Philip Wingle c. They were first brought into Provost Spellans house néere the horse faire in the City of Bruxels compassed about with a strong guard and many drummes beating that none might heare what were their last spéeches As they went to their death Battembourg the elder séemed to be somewhat pensive whereas Dietrich his brother was very chéerefull comforting the other with his gracious words saying Ah brother is not this the day we have so much desired Be not sorrowfull now for it is the highest honor that can befall us here to suffer for the Doctrine of the Sonne of God It may be for the love you beare me you grieve to sée me dye first I am content that you should drinke of that cup before me in regard you are the elder if not all is one séeing we are going to our God Gysbrecht by and by replied Thinke not deare Brother that the joy of the holy Ghost is taken from me now I am drawing nigh to the Lord being ready to dye for his holy name Then ascending the scaffold after he had made his fervent prayers to God the Executioner taking off his head he slept happily swéetly in the Lord. His brother following him next with such alacrity as much astonished the spectators He desired as some say to sée his brother and when he had espied his head he cried I shall by and by be with thee my brother So after he had ended his prayer he was by a quicke dispatch united unto him Those who testifie these things report That the other Gentleman had so much favour as to bée buried but these two brethren were made a spectacle being hanged up the cause was for that in the very same morning they suffered as also before they directly set themselves against the Idolatries which were proposed unto them The Saturday after the fifth of Iune the Earles of Eagmond and Horne were beheaded and there made a publique gazing flock Of which two the
Earle of Home who died last gave an evident proofe of that true knowledge of God wherewith he was indued and in which hée had more especially increased in the time of his troubles and afflications ¶ An extract of a complaint with a protestation of the Prince of Orange and the Gentlemen of the Low countries touching their oppressions THis yeare in the month of Iuly the Prince of Ornage William and Nassau accompanied with many Lords and Gentlemen of the Low-Countries all professors of the Gospell for prevention of the slanders and pretences of rebelion put upon them by the enemies thereof published in writing a declaration that it might appeare to all that they were so farre off from plotting any treason against the Kings Majesty that on the contrary they did by all the meanes they could acknowledge him to be their naturall Prince and Soveraign The true causes indéed for which they tooke up armes under the authority of their Prince for their owne defence as also of those who professed the protestant religion were the extortions the confiscations of body and goods with the continuall condemnations and putting to death even of the most noble personages of the Countrey And that the Prince of Orange might make knowne to all what injustice and cruelties were exercised upon those of the Religion he discovered the notorious subtilties of the cardinall of Gravella and others who under the cloaks of the pretended catholique religion sought nothing else thereby but the diminishing of Gods glory the Kings authority and the welfare of the commonwealth shedding the bloud of many a true Christian by whose death followed the losse of their temporall estates and all forsooth under pretence of Iustice And for as much as tortures vexations banishments executions both by fire and water by strait imprisonments sword and gibbets did still increase more and more that for these considerations the cause was lawfull and good in taking upon them the defence of so miserable a people to whom the Dutchesse of Parma Governesse under his Majesty had expresly permitted the preaching of the Gospell for preventing of the perils and dangers which threatened the ruine of the said countries And as the said Prince had béen a faithfull and loyall servant to his Majesty in doing him many acceptable services without either sparing his person or goods so was he also ready prest to be imployed still in the like more then at any time heretofore And thus procéeding on further hée made it apparant to every one whose judgement was not forestalled that the Duke of Alva who in respect of the dignities conferred upon him ought himselfe to be a patterne and a protector of the Nobility and Gentry had notwithstanding put to death thréescore gentlemen with others of quality rich Burgemasters of Bruxels and of other Cities besides that this his ambition being risen to a notable height of cruelty durst put to death the Illustrious Earles of Egmond and Horne without any shew of law or equity who had so faithfully served the Emperour Charles of famous memory in his wars Yea that he might yet further debase the Nobility of the Countrey which is as it were the principall support of his Majesty hée caused the heads of the said Earles to be set upon poles and forkes By such spectacles charging upon their parents and friends much obloquy and disgrace Yea this horrible execution did strike such a feare and terror into many that to avoyd these oppressions they fled the countrey For a conclusion he added that all these things layd together the issue thereof tended to the extirpation of all true Religion and consequently the depriving of the faithfull not onely of their spirituall but corporall good also And therefore as a Prince being a native member of the Empire he held himselfe obliged in having compassion over the wrackes made among so many poore Christians to lend them his best helpe furtherance for the frée passage of the Gospell and the consolation of such of his Majesties good Subjects as were persecuted imprisoned and oppressed ¶ Before wée shut up the History of the yeare 1568. wée will adde to the former Martyrs some that were executed in the Low-countries at divers times in the said yeare without tying our selves to any strict order touching their death ¶ Schoblant the sonne of Barthel Iohn de Hues Ioris Coomans Martyrs THe eleventh of February there were taken and imprisoned in Antwerpe Schoblant the son of Barthel Iohn de Hues and Zoris Coomans After which they were all joyfull and glad in the Lord confessing that nothing fell out in this regard but by his divine providence as it appeares by Letters written to their brethren the seventéenth of March containing that which followeth Séeing it is the will of God that we should suffer for his holy name and in the quarrell of his Gospell we certifie you brethren that we are of good courage hitherto howsoever the flesh continually rebels against the spirit counselling it ever and anone according to the advice of the old serpent But we are well assured that Christ who hath bruised will also still bruise the Serpents head and not leave us comfortlesse True it is we are now and then pricked in the héele but that Ioh. 14. 18. Rom. 16. 20. Gen. 3. 15. Mat. 11. 35. is all the Serpent can doe nor are we discouraged but kéep our faith close to the promises of God who is the Lord of heaven and earth having created all things of nothing He forsooke not Ioseph in Egypt nor left the Gen. 39. 21. Dan. 3. 25. Dan 6. 22. thrée yong men in the fiery furnace no nor Daniel in the Lions Den. This is the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and of their righteous posterity so that we can without feare say with the Prophet David the Lord is my helpe tower Psal 1◠strength and refuge By such and the like Scriptures deare brethren we comfort our selves in our bands rejecting all confidence in any man whatsoever Be not dismaid then good brethren and sisters for our bands and imprisonment For so is the good will of God now towards us And therefore pray rather that he will give us grace to persevere constantly unto the end so be it ¶ The examination of Schoblant taken the 24. of March in the presence of the Marquesse of the Bailiffe of the Secretary and many others 1568. Marq. WHere were you borne Schob in Sommerswall Marq. Where did you marry your wife Schob At Middleborouth in Zealand Marq. Where were your children baptised Schob In the Church of Christ in which true Christians are bound to baptise their children Marq. Though you should say no more we have sufficient testimony from your owne mouth Have you received the Lords Supper Schob Ya sir Marq. Are ye not a Minister Schob No sir Marq. Ought not you to submit your judgement to that which hath béen decréed in a generall councell where so many learned
men were assembled Bishops and Cardinalls swaying the same Schob I have read of some Councels where the Spirit of God was not present Marquesse Would you not now willingly returne into the bosome of the holy Romane Church Schob I will cleave to whatsoever God shall teach me out of his holy word And thus for this time they parted On the seven and twentieth of March Schoblant received sentence of death whereat he was nothing terrified but began to sing the song of Simeon and the fortieth Psalme The night following he wrote his last farewell to his brethren and excuseth Ioris for not being condemned with him although they were both presented at the same time before the Iudges I pray you deare friends be not offended saith he that Ioris my fellow prisoner is not offered a sacrifice with me It is not I assure you for denying his Saviour But let us meditate on that which the Lord said to S. Peter If I will Iohn 21. that he tarry till I come what is that to thée follow thou me This I apply to my selfe at this time for which I render humble and hearty thanks to God who hath counted me worthy not only to confesse the Lord Iesus with my mouth but also to seale the same confession with my blood I new brethren bid you farewell waiting with a joyfull heart the call and cry of my husband who now invites me to come unto him Out of prison the same right before the day wherein I must be offered up a sacrifice Written with mine owne hand Schoblant the Sonne of Barthel THe next day he entreated the Iaylour with a great deale of earnestnesse that he would not suffer the Fryers and Monks to come into trouble him for said he such kinde of people can do me no good séeing the Lord hath already sealed up the assurance of my salvation in my heart by his holy Spirit I am now going to my spouse putting off this earthly mantle to enter into the relestiall glory where I shall be fréed from all superstitions And then he added farther would to God I might be last that these Tyrants should put ot death and that their thirst after blood might be so quenched with mine that the poore Church of God from henceforth might enjoy her rest and quiet Having sung the fortieth Psalme with his fellow prisoner concluding the same with saying the Lords prayer they kissed one another and commended one another unto God with many teares After which the executioner came in and when he had bound him he led him away In going out of the prison he said farewell Ioris I goe before thée follow thou me Ioris answered so will I brother I will follow thée In his passage towards the place of execution he forgot not his brethren but manifested his love to them by such signes as he could Being tyed to the stake he was burned alive calling upon the name of the Lord in the yeare 1568. the tenth day of Iuly ¶ Iohn Hues finished his course in Prison ¶ Here followeth a Letter written by Ioris Coomans out of Prison to the Church of God in Antwerpe BRethren I write unto you being left alone whereas we were thrée in number Iohn Hues is now dead in the Lord. I did my best to comfort him whilest he breathed So as now I am alone and yet not altogether alone séeing the god of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is with me He is Gen. 15. 1â— my excéeding great reward and will not faile to reward me as soone as I shall have law downs this earthly Tabernacle pray unto God that he will strengthen me to the end for from hours to houre I expect the dissolution of this house of Clay Not long after Ioris was examined by the Magistrates who questioning with him of his faith he answered frély thereto proving what he said by the holy Scriptures The Marquesse asked him if he were resolves to die for the faith he professed Yes saith Ioris I will not only venture to give my body but my soule also for the â—tion of it Marquesse How came you to understand the Scripture séeing you have not the Latine Tongue Ioris Call in hither you Doctors and I will let them sée that I have learning sufficient to confute them You greatly admire them but Christ gives thankes to his heavenly Father for hiding his secrets Mat. 11 25. from the wise and prudent and revealing them to babes Marq. I hithero spared you in hope to sée you recant but you grow still worse and worse Ioris Sir during the time of my imprisonment I have shed many a salt teare and by the grace of God I am become much more resolute and better But to fashion my selfe according to your appetite I have no stomack at all no although you burne me as you have done my brother Scoblant Marq. And I can tell you that it will cost you but little better cheape Ioris I am ready if it be to morrow Then said one of the standers by Sir he hath neither wife childe nor goods to lose and that makes him so willing to die Ioris Be it that I have none of all these yet must I suffer death for conscience sake But what care you for that I would you could be silent and be thinke yourselves well what you doe you shall answer these your doings at the last day where you must all appeare and then there will be no respect of persons Marq. If you use this kinde of language I will commit you to the hole where you shall be fed only with bread and water and that I thinke will tame your tongue Therefore be quiet and sing me no more of these Psalmes Ioris Well sir I may well restraine my outward voice but neither you nor all the World besides shall ever be able to let me from praising God in my heart nor shall you sit as Lords over my conscience Marq. We have heard you preach but too long Then he said Iaylor take him and cast him into the hole Then was he put among théeves as a Lamb among so many Wolves Thus this constant witnesse of Christ remained firm scorning both their threats and torments till they had burned him as they did Scoblant August 14. the yeare 1568. ¶ Giles Annik Iohn Annik his son and Lovis Meulen Martyrs 1568. Persecution grew still hot in Flanders GIles Annik with Iohn Annik his son were driven from Renay in Flanders and retired unto Emden in East Friesland But by reason of their so sudden departure they could not take their wives with them and therfore returned thither again in the yeare 1568. to convey theÌ„ thence The tyranny of the Duke of Alva and his Spaniards was then in the height by reason whereof they durst not enter the towne openly but take up their lodging in the evening at an honest mans house called Lovis Meulin Now it was this night in which the enemies had foreappointed to
make a secret search in the towne for such as professed the Gospell knowing nothing of these two who were but now come thither So passing by this house and séeing the light of a candle in it they imagined to méet with their prey there wherefore forcing the doore open they tooke these two prisoners together with their host God having appointed them to be the witnesses of Christ So after they had béen detained in bands they were all thrée condemned by the Magistrates to death as heretiques Giles was the first that they brought to the place of execution and when she Priests offered to put their Idoll into his hands he refused it whereat his adversaries being moved caused him to be gagged that the people might not heare him speake ought to their edification Then was he burned dying constantly and blessedly in the Lord. Forthwith the Sergeants were sent to fetch his son out of prison who being endued with a singular fortitude and constancy called to him one whose name was Iohn Camber being the first man that laid hold on him at his apprehension saying I forgive thée my death then preparing himselfe to die in the Lord the hangman cut off his head Likewise Lovis Meulen who having lodged these strangers according to the rule of the Apostle was executed by the sword which death he willingly endured for the name of Christ in the yeare 1568. ¶ Louyes de Kiken-Poost Martyr 1568. THis woman was the widow of one Huges Moybert borne in Renay about the age of sixty yeares one that truly feared God The Magistrate of Renay imprisoned her in the yeare 1568. because two yeares before she with her children had consented that a Minister should preach in an outhouse on the backside of her dwelling she was also very charitable in reléeving the poore every way shewing forth the fruits of a true saving Faith Having béen kept in prison seven moneths she was condemned to die the nine and twentieth of Iuly After her condemnation the Curate of Saint Martins came into the prison purposing to have heard her confession But the woman spake unto him with such a divine grace and with a spirit so replenished with zeale that the teares trickled downe his chéekes and going his way he said I came to comfort you but I have néed rather to be comforted of you Then being brought by the Sergeants to the place of execution she was beheaded unto which she yéelded her selfe with much boldnesse and joy of heart July the ninth A strange accident fell out upon the death of this woman for a cousin of hers being with child and ready to lie downe at the same time when this Martyr was going to be executed hearing the sound of the Bell which usually toules when any are to suffer she fell into a trembling and remained so thrée wéekes beyong her reckoning her fruit stirring to and fro in her wombe as if a Weaver had moved his shuttle from one end of his Web to another the neck of it bowing downe as if it had béen broken with some blow By which it appeared that these cruell tyrants were the cause of this poore innocents death The woman viewing this strange sight sent for the foresaid Curate who being come in and beholding this spectacle suddenly swounded and was never well after to his dying day ¶ Notes touching Christopher Gauderin Martyr and others THis Christopher was bred up under the Abbot of 〈◊〉 who dying the said Christopher addicted himselfe to the making of Linnen Cloth which he quickly grew â—pert in But having béen trained up in a bad schoole as soone as the Sunday was come he spent and consumed all his wéekes earnings Now by reason of a friend of his that wrought with him called Louys Stallens God brought him into the right way For the said Louis would often tell him that hée The fruit of good counsell ought rather to distribute of his gettings to the Poore than to spend them so wastfully for if he continued so God would surely call him to an account for it These and the like exhortations so wrought upon this spendthrift that he began to alter and change his course so as in stead of frequenting Tavernes he became a diligent hearer of Sermons and also gave himselfe much to the study of the holy Scriptures insomuch that not long after he was called by the Church to the Office of a Deacon the which he discharged carefully and faithfully Having occasion to go to a place called Audenaud in the moneth March 1567. to make distribution of certaine almes to the poore there hée was arrested and sent prisoner to the Castle by the Bailiffe who had formerly séene him in the said Abbats house The Bailiffe asked him how he came now to turne heretique for you learned not this said he of your Master the Abbat Nay Sir said Christopher I am no heretique but a right beléeving Christian which he taught mée not indéed but rather other vile qualities the which I am ashamed now to rehearse In prison he had many disputes touching matters of faith which he so defended and maintained by the Word of God that he put his adversaries to slience Some objecting against him his youth being about the age of thirty yeares he would tell them that mans life consisted but of two dayes viz. the day of his birth and the day of his death and therefore he must néeds die once for my part therefore said he I am now willing by death to passe into eternall life Perceiving in the evening that he was certainly to die the next day the striking off of his bolts being a signe thereof he ceased not to poure out his soule to God in prayer untill ten of the clock doing the like in the morning very early His prayer being ended he put on a cleane shirt and washed himselfe saying to his fellow Prisoners Brethren I am now going to be married I hope before noone to drinke of the wine of the kingdome of heaven When he came downe he found thrée prisoners who were prepared to suffer with him namely Io. Liebert William Spiere and a woman called Iannekin Bearts These foure exhorted one another and encouraged each other to suffer death constantly Which done a Fryer forthwith presented himselfe before them comming as he said to convert them But Christopher said unto him Away from us thou seducer of soules for we have nothing to doe with thée Whereupon he by and by departed Then came in the hangman who as he was busie about them to put into every one of their mouthes a gag they bad one another farewell Iohn Liebert said What shall we not have liberty in this our last houre to praise God with our voice tongue Christopher answered Brother let not this discourage A confident speech us for the greater wrong our enemies thinke to doe unto us the more assistance we shall finde from God and so never ceased to comfort them till himselfe was
at Gand tooke him thence bound him girding and straining him strangely with cords and would néeds have him burned As he was led thither they abused him shamefully with mockes thrusting him forward and striking him cruelly The Captaine of the band gave him a blow over the face with his Gantlet which much disfigured him Finally these tyrants handled him worse then any dog only because his patient and constant carriage of himselfe tormented and enraged them Being come to the place they thrust him into his little Cabbin piled up with fagots and wood and then set fire unto him where he was heard distinctly and plainly to use these words albeit they had gagged him Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Thus this faithfull witnesse of Ieuss Christ dyed quiently and constantly in the Lord April the fourth Anno 1568. ¶ Among these sad relations a little to quicken and refresh the spirit of the reader I will here insert a Letter full of consolations written out of prison to the faithfull by one William Touart Merchant who had his dwelling in the City of Lisle in Flanders THis honourable personage being come to the age of eighty yeares or thereabouts used his house for the space of fourtéene or fiftéene yeares as a Church wherein the assembly in the City of Lisle commonly met Being chased and banished thence in the yeare 1561. he withdrew himself for a while to Tournay whence he was constrained to flie and to goe to Amiens and Moundedier Cities of Picardy that there he might enjoy the pure preaching of the Gospell Afterward returning into his owne countrey he came to reside in the City of Antwerpe where after he had continued many yeares he was at length imprisoned and condenmed to be burned with two others who suffered for the same cause But it pleased God so to dispose of him that he dyed another kinde of death to shew that his chosen servants have to triumph over the same some one way and some another For being plunged into a cisterne or tub full of water he was drowned in prison and then they carried his body out of the City to a place called Berken where the dead bodies of the condemned are laid upon the whéels or crutch Among many letters which he wrote during the time of his imprisonment my author hath selected out this one which here followeth DE are brethren and sisters in Iesus Christ I most humbly thank my good God that he hath so fortified and comforted me by his grace that I féele my selfe more cheared by lying in this darke prison then if I were walking in the open stréets or fields I say this I féele according to the spirit for as touching the flesh what doth it apprehend here but stinking vapors and smoke Wherefore my beloved if it so fall out that you be apprehended for the name of Iesus Christ feare not the prison nor those that have power to kill the body for having done that they can goe no further Be yée not afraid then séeing it is the reward which our good Captaine Iesus Christ hath promised to all his faithfull soldiers and servants He who turnes his backe in this conflict goes by the losse but whosoever fights manfully obtaines in the end the crowne not a crowne of gold but of glory immortall We here lay downe Rev. 2. 10. a fading life filled with griefes and troubles to change the some for a life everlasting we put off the ragges of this mortall flesh to be clothed with robes immortall we forsake a loathsome life for joy and felicity eternall ought any gaine or exchange to be compared with this O swéet and happy Martyrdome how dost thou dignifie and enrich us in despite of the world devill and our owne flesh And which of us now can complaine séeing our Soveraigne Lord and Master hath Anno 1569. so expressely foretold it to all his followers will any man come after me saith he Let him then Mat. 16 24. take up his crosse and follow me Let us beare Oh let us then beare the crosse chéerefully and with ioyfulnesse that we may be received in the presence of his heavenly Father for it is not only Phil. 1 21. 1 Tim. 2. 12. given us to beleeve in Christ but also to suffer for his sake and if we suffer with him then wée shall also raigne with him Oh that wée could admire his bounty who no sooner imployes us in his worke but hath the wages ready in his hand wherewith to recompence Iohn 16. 20. Heb 12. 1. us Your sorrow saith he shall be turned into joy Let us then cast off every weight that presseth downe and whatsoever else that stands in our way to heaven-ward be if father mother Mat. 19 29. Mat. 13 45 46. brother sisters husband childe yea and our own life also Let us with the wise Merchant man sell all that with him we may purchase that pretious pearle How happy doe I estéeme them who are called to suffer and leave their life for confessing the name of Iesus Christ For the eternall Son of God will confesse their names before his heavenly Mar. 10. 23. Luke 12. 8. Father and his holy Angels They shall be clad with white robes and shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of Heaven filled with gladnesse in the presence of the Lambe They shal eat of the fruit of the trée of life which is in the midst of the Rev. 27. Paradise of God Let us fixe the eyes of our minds upon these so great pretious promises of Iesus Christ which he hath made to all those which persevere in well doing unto the end O how happy shall wée be when we are delivered from these bodies of death to live for ever with our God Let us continually pray then with the Disciples Lord increase Luke 15. 7. our faith O deare brethren remember mée alwayes in your prayers who am bound here in the Heb. 13. 3. bonds of Antichrist Remember those also who are in bonds as if you were bound with them pray Pet. 4. 5 I say without ceasing for our adversary the Devill is alwayes compassing us about with his fetches to cause our hearts to faint And you are not ignorant what a potent enemy our owne flesh Gal. 5. 17. Phil. 1. 6. is unto us But I confidently beléeve that our good God who hath begun this good worke in me will perfect the same even unto the day of Christ Fare ye well It was strange to see what spectacles of dead bodies saline by the bloudy Inquisition were to be gazed on in a manner in every place especially in the Cities of Tournay and of the Valencians in regard of the multitudes of beléevers both of men and women who had long languished in sundry prisons in great misery and necessities Now that we may not forget what fell out in the beginning of this yeare 1569. thus it happened In the City
fell sick of a continuall Fever and kept her bed which procéeded as it was given out from the griefe she had in her lights wherein by long continuance was bred an imposthume she being also distempered with the heat of the season and her extraordinary journeyes This burning Fever grew so strong upon her that within five daies after she died to the great griefe of the better sort but to the joy of the secret counsell The malady indéed was in her braine which was not searched in which the Quéen Mother had an hand though she séemed much to mourne for the affliction of her good friend Now forasmuch as in the time of her sicknesse she manifested with what spirit she was guided we will here set downe the true narration of her behaviour both in the same her sicknesse and also at her death Perceiving in her selfe by the strength of the disease howsoever others sleighted it that shée could not long continue she made her selfe ready to receive from the hand of God that which he had appointed concerning her and to that end requested she might have such nigh about her as might comfort her in this case out of the word of God as also to pray with her and for her according to that which Saint Iames saith Is any sicke among you Iohn 5. 14 16. Let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over such a one knowing that the fervent praier of righteous man availeth much with God Thus according to her desire a Minister resorting unto her shewed out of the Scriptures that Christians ought in all things to submit themselves to the will of God as to the Father of spirits Heb. 1◠that they might live And albeit the rigor of his chastisements doth somtimes séem to our flesh as if they were sent to none other end but for our ruine and destruction yet ought we to consider that because he is just he can do nothing but justily and being a father he cannot but therein séeke the welfare of his afflicted children To which she replyed I take all this saith she as sent from the hand of God my most mercifull Father nor have I during this extremity feared to die much lesse murmured against him for inflicting the same upon me knowing that what soever he doth he doth the same so as all in the end shall turne to my everlasting good The Minister continuing in his spéech added That the causes of sicknesses and diseases must be sought beyond the course of physiyke which alwayes lookes to the corruption of the humours or to the more noble parts of the body any way distempered for howsoever it was not amisse to have respect to these things as to second causes yet ought we to ascend higher namely to the first even to God himself who disposeth of all his creatures as it pleaseth him He it is That make the Deut. 32. 39. wound and heales that kils and makes alive And therefore to him we ought to direct our prayers for comfort in all our griefes and sufferings and in the end for full deliverance séeing it is no hard matter with him to restore health unto us if his good pleasure be such To this she answered that she depended wholly upon Gods providence knowing that all things are wisely disposed by him and therefore be sought him to furnish her with all such graces as he saw to be necessary for her salvation As for this life said she I am in a manner we aned from the love of it in regard of the afflictions which have followed me from my youth hitherto but especially because I cannot live without daily offending my good God with whom I desire to be with all my heart The Minister told her that long life how ful of troubles soever it were was notwithstanding to be esteemed among the blessings of God seeing Deut. 5. 16. his promise implyes so much and not onely so but because our life may many wayes serve to his glory and is both an honor and a pledge of his favor even as it is to him whom his prince imploys long in his service having had experience of his fidelity for many yeares together In which respect she was earnestly requested to pray that if it were the will of God to imploy her yet longer in his Anno 1566. service for the further inlargement of his Gospell that he would grant unto her such recovery of health and good disposition of body that with renued strength shée might bee encouraged to finish her course much more nobly than heretofore Whereupon she protested that in regard of her owne particular her life was not dear unto her séeing so long as she lived in this fraile flesh she was still prone and apt to sinne against God onely she said her care was somewhat for her Children which God had given her in respect they should be so soone deprived of her now in their young yeares yet not doubting said she but although it should please God to take me from them that himselfe will be a Father and a protector over them as he hath béen to me in my greatest afflictions and therefore I commit them wholly to his government and fatherly care these were her very words The Minister said that he blessed God to sée in her Majesty this assurance of faith and so to cast her care upon the providence of God praying her still to persevere therein which would sufficiently seale unto her truth of her faith And thus said he did the Patriarkes in times pasT commit the care of their posterity over into the hands of Gen. 24 1. Gen. 27. 48. 15. 49. God as may appeare by Abraham Isaac and Iacob touching their severall blessings But yet is was very requisite as he said that she should make choise of such who for their sincerity both in life and doctrine might continue to water in these young Princely plants the séeds of piety which had béen sowne in them by her so great paine and industry séeing it was to bée hoped that the example of her faith and constancy in the service of God which she had set before them would serve as a perpetuall inducement to imitate her so noble vertues Now whereas she had againe declared that death was not terrible unto her because it was the way by which we passe hence to our eternall rest The Minister told her that Christians had little cause to feare death in regard they should Because by death we passe to life Iohn 8. 51 52. Iohn 11. 26. Iohn 11. 13 14. Acts 7. 60. 1 Cor. 15. 55. not die at all according to Christs words in the Gospell of Iohn he that liveth and beléeveth in me shall never die For death to speake properly is no death to them but a sleep being often so called in the Scriptures and therefore Christ for their sakes hath overcome and triumphed over it in his owne person So
out his hand to receive you unto him Are you are you willing to goe unto him Yes I assure you saith she most willing and much more willing than to linger here below in this world where I see nothing but vanity The minister not willing to continue longer in this kinde of discourse asked if she were pleased that they should goe to prayer declaring that godly personages there present would willingly joyne their desires with hers To which she consenting the said Minister prayed by her a good space whilest this pious Lady manifested her ardent affection to call upon God When prayer was ended the Minister discerning in her the undoubted testimonies of her repentance and of the sorrow she conceived for the offences which she had committed against God together with the assured confidence which shée had in his mercies as a Minister of the Gospell amd Embassadour of the Son of God by the authority dispensed to him having committed to him the word of reconciliation he assured her in his name that all her sins were forgiven her of 1 Cor. 5. God and that they should never come into account before his judgement Seat yea that she should no more dount thereof then if the Sonne of God from heaven should say unto her Daughter thy sins are forgiven thee And to the end that troubled consciences might the better be quieted Christ hath used these words speaking to his Ministers saying Whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted Mat. 16. 14. and whose sins ye unloose they are unloosed The reason is because the word which they pronounce is not the word of a mortall man but of the immortall God being of no lesse weight than if himselfe uttered the same Then he asked of her Majesty if he accepted of so gracious a Message which assured her of the frée pardon of all her sins Yea I doe saith shee and make no doubt thereof Not long after these exhortations the Admirall comming in and with him another Minister shée also gave care to him for a good space together whose discourse tended to prepare her for death as he had done who had spoken to her immediatly before who having finished his spéech prayed also with her and for her which she heard with great attention and affection Then she requested that these two ministers might stay with her all night in her Chamber and that they would in no wise leave her The greater part of this night was spent in holy admonitions which these two ministers gave to this gracious Lady and Princesse one after another Besides these admonitions she commanding that some Chapters of the holy Scripture which were pertinent for her condition should be read unto her one of the Ministers read in her hearing certaine Chapters out of the Gospell of Saint Iohn namely from the fouretéenth to the seventéenth After he had read to her these Chapters he went to prayer which being ended the Quéene desired to take some rest but it was not long ere she commanded them to reade again whereupon the other Minister having made choise of certaine Psalmes of David full of ardent and affectionate prayers suiting to this Princesses present affliction he read them unto her and for a conclusion read the one and thirtieth Psalme Psal 31. 5. where the Prophet among other things doth there commend his spirit into the hands of God because saith he thou hast redéemed me O Lord God of truth The Quéene willed them to pray with her again and thus as I have said was the most part of the night spent in such vertuous exercises namely in exhortation in reading the holy Scripture and in prayer during all which time the ministers never discerned in any of her spéeches or behaviour the least impatiency Nay whereas some dayes before she fell sick she shewed how affectionately she was bent to provide things most magnificent for the day of her Sons marriage according as the State of so great an alliance required it was admirable to observe that after thâ—s sicknesse had seized upon her God wrought in her such aforgetfulnesse and neglect of all such matters that she never made shew of having so much as a thought thereof This night being thus passed and spent by this noble Queene she persevering in the expressions of like pious actions and ardency of Faith the next day in the morning betwéen eight and nine of the clocke she departed this life to take possession of a far better life swéetly yéelding up her spirit into the hands of God the ninth of Iune 1572. the sixth day after she fell sick in the 44. yeare of her age She had her perfect spéech alwaies even to the houre of her death shewing not only the stayednesse and soundnesse of her judgement which ever in times past she had in her care about the salvation of her soule but in her other worldly affaires also Now to avoide all jealousies and suspitions of her being wronged by poyson or otherwise in this matter of her so sudden sickenesse her body was opened by sundry expert and learned Doctors of Physick and Chirurgery with all exquisite diligence who found her heart and liver very sound and untouched her lungs only excepted which long before on the right side had béen very ill affected by reason of an extraordinary hardnesse which they had contracted and withall a great imposthume which so far as man could judge they concluded was the cause of her death But they had no command given them to open the braine and therefore finding somewhat out of frame in her body they delivered their opinions only concerning the same Thus you have with as much brevity as I could and as the merit of the thing required the true report of the manner of this vertuous Princesses sicknesse and death thus ar related unto you only my request is saith my Author that if any have a more perfect and particular knowledge of the excellent parts wherewith the Lord had adorned and beautified her they would not suffer the same to be buried in silence but to cause it to sée the light that on the one side it may serve as an example to posterity and on the other side that we may learne to blesse God for her piety and constancy ¶ An Introduction first into that which Anno 1572. leads to the death of the Admirall of France Then to the massacre at paris and so in some other Cities And first what moved the Admirall to come to Paris AFter the death of the Quéene certaine Princes were sollicited by the King to give their attendance at Paris for the folemnising the mariage of the Prince of Navarre now made king by the death of his mother according to the ceremonies which were thereto appertaining Among the rest letters were directed to the Admirall by the King himselfe to come to this marriage which were delivered unto him by Cavagues wherein the King assured him be would not tarry long after him Willing
began to be somewhat cheered so as the Chirurgious and Physitians gave out that they would â—â—â—rant the Admirals life because his arâ—â— having lost but little of its strength would soone be healed This newes was brought to the King who séemed to entertaine the same joyfully The new maried wife came also to visit the Admirall But all this was but a 〈◊〉 before death For that night there was heard a great clattering of armour in the City and many torches lighted every where borne by many of the people Some Gentlemen whose lodgings were nigh to the Admirals rose and went out asking some of their acquaintance the reason why there were so many up in armes at that houre of the night They answered That the King much destred to sée a castle assayled and defended devisâ—d onely in sport to give him content They passing yet further came to the Looure where they likewise saw many forthes lighted and troups of armed men The guard there could no longer contain themselves but began to picke a quarrell with them and as one of the said Gentlemen was about to speake a Gascoine souldier strucke at him with a Pâ—â—tizan and then they fell upon the rest The noise hereof spreading the Quéene Mothere said séeing it is not possible to retain the fury of the soldiers any longer from breaking out * That was the watch-word as you would say when the massacre was to begin The marke or signe by which the murtherers were to be distinguished from the rest was a white handkerchiefe knit about the left arm and a white crosse in their hats Proberb Let the bell of the Church of S. German be touled said she The Admirall comming to the knowledge of this uâ—rore though he had but feld of his followers about him was not much moved theâ—â—â—â— trusting as he often used to say upon the Kings favor whereof hee had large experience Also hee knew that when the Parisâ—ans should understand how much the king disliked their folly though they had an intention of doing him some mischiefe yet would they be quieted as soone as they saw Cosseins and his guard This Cosseins was appointed by the Duke of Anjou to defend the Admirals lodging wherein the old proverb was verified That the Wolfe was set to keep the sheep About breake of day August the foure twentieth 1573. being saint Bartholome was day they began to knocke at the doore where the Admirall lay La Bonne who lay not farre from him having the keyes perce thing that ther 's â—â—ere some who came on a message from the King to the Admirall came downe quickly and opened the doore presently Cosseing fell upon him and stabbed him with his dagger so that he dyed Then with his harquebusters rushing into the house killing such as they mat others fled Cornaton awaking with the noise that hee heard at the doore for he lay in the next Chamber by came thither causing the Switzers and other officers to fortifie it Cosseins hearing that cryed to him to open it in the Kings name and he so handled the matter that with the help he had he forced the doore open and after gained the staires The Admirall and those that were with him taking notice how they shot off pistols and guns finding themselves inclosed in their enemies hands fell to prayer begging pardon of God for their sâ—â—s The Admirall rising out of his bed and putting on his night gowne commanded Merlin the Minister to make the prayer He also calling earnestly upon Iesus Christ his God and Savior commended his spirit into his hands He that testified these things and made report thereof comming into the Chamber and being asked by the Admirall what that 〈◊〉 meant sir saith hee God is now sâ—â—oning us to looke to out end The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—red I have long since expected death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The admirals Christian and constant cariage of himselfe in these brosâ—s selves if it be possible for you cannot secure me I commend my soule into the hands of the mercifull God Those who were present and escaped have affirmed that the Admirall was no more affrighted at death which he said present before his eyes than if there had béen no likelihood thereof at all Forthwith every one in the Chamber getting up to the top of the house and having found a window neere the roofe saved themselves there but the greater part who were beneath in the next roome to the Admirall were flaire others miraculously escaped In the meane while Cosseins having made his way caused certaine Switzers of the D. of Anjous guard to enter into the house Beâ—â—ne Cosseâ—es 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with their Targets in one hand and their naked 〈◊〉 in the other broke open the Admirals chamber 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 which was afterwards 〈◊〉 himselfe by one Bertoville upon the way after hee 〈◊〉 escaped out of prison comming 〈◊〉 the Admirall holding the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 to his breast said 〈◊〉 Art not thou the Admirall I am the man said hee with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the murtherers afterwards confessed Then beholding the 〈◊〉 sword Young man said the Admirall thou oughtest somewhat to respect my yeares and my infirmity of body but it is not thou that canst shorten my dayes Beâ—â—â—â— deâ—â—erately thrust the Admirall into the body with his sword and than â—â—ote him therewith on the head the rest had every one a blow at The Admiral wounded to death him so as he presently fell downe wounded to death Whilst this mischiefe was in actâ—â—â— the Duke of Guâ—e being baâ—ow in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with other Roâ—â—sh Catholike Lords 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therer above Besine hast thou done It is done saith he Then the Duke replyed 〈◊〉 our knight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will not beleeve it unlesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it with his eyes throw him downe out of the window Then Besine and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 up the body of the Admirall cast him downe unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he lay naked on the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to all sort of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of the multitude 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pling â—n him with their feet 〈◊〉 because the blow which Besâ—â—◠〈◊〉 given the Admirall on his head had so covered his face with bloud 〈◊〉 thence that his visage could not be discerned the Duke of Gulfe stoopâ—â—g 〈◊〉 tooke his handkerchiefe and wiping his face therewith said It is he I know him well enouth and giving this poore dead body a spurne on the head with his foot whom all the murtherers in France feared whilst he lived he passed thence encouraging his soldiers saying We have made a good beginning now let us goe on to the rest for the King hath so commarded the King hath so commanded repeating it over twice An Italian of the Duke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 off the Admiralls 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sent to Rome to the Pppe and to the 〈◊〉 The admirals head sent to Rome of Lorâ—â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that time The 〈◊〉 people on the 〈◊〉
not yet satisfied But going from house to house with their associats Anno 1569. where they thought to find any Huguenots they brake open the doores then cruelly murthered whomsoever they met sparing neither sex nor age The pretence was this Report was raised there that a treason of the Huguenots was discovered who had conspired to kill the King his Mother his brethren having already killed fifteene of the guard Carts were laden with dead bodies of yong maidens women men and children which were discharged into the river covered in a maner all over with the slain and dyed red with their bloud which also streamed down the stréets from sudry parts thereof whereat the Courtezans laughed their fill saying That the warres were now ended and that hereafter they should live in peace c. But it would take up too much time to recite all the lamentable passages of this so sad and tuefull a tragedy ¶ This with some others which follow belonging to this History because they could not bee omitted are here under inserted TO begin then with Monsieur Pierre de la Place President of the Court of Requests whose story we will relate somewhat at large because his singular piety requires the same On Sunday morning about six of the clock one called Captaine Michael harquebusier of the king came into his lodging into which he had the more easie accesse for divers private respects This Captaine being armed having a harquebuse This was a token by which the murtherers were distinguished form others on his shoulder apâ—stoll at his girdle and his handkerchiefe tyed about his left arme presenting himself before the said De la Place the first words he spake were that the Duke of Guise had slaine the Admirall by the Kings appointment with many Huguenots besides and because the rest of them of what quality soever were destinated to death he was come to his lodging to exempt him from the common destruction onely he desired to have a sight of that gold and silver which was in the house The Lord de la Place somwhat amased at the audacious malapartnesse of the man who in the midst of ten or twelve persons which were there present in the roome durst presume to utter such language askt him if he knew where he was or whether he thought there was a King or no To this the Captaine blaspheming answered that he willed him to goe with him to know the kings pleasure The said Lord de la Place hearing this fearing also some danger to be towards by sedition in the City slipped forth at a backe doore behind his lodging purposing to get into a neighbors house In the meane while most of his servants vanished out of sight and this Captaine having stored himselfe with a thousand crowns was intreated by the Lady Marets daughter to the said Lord to convey her father with the Lord Marets her husband into the house of some Romane Catholike which he consented to doe and also performed it After this de la Place being refused at thrée severall houses was constrained to retire backe againe into his own where he found his wife very pensive and grieved beyond measure fearing lest this Captaine in the end would cast her sonne in law and daughter into the river as also for the imminent danger wherein her deare husband and all his family were But the said Lord de la Place being strengthened by the spirit of God with incredible constancy in the inner man sharply rebuked her and afterwards mildely demonstrated unto her that we must receive these and the like afflictions from the hand of God and so having discoursed a while upon the promises of God comforted her Then he commanded such servants and maids as remained in the house to be called togeher who being come into his Chamber according to his custome on the Lords dayes he made a forme of exhortation to his family then went to prayer and began to read a Chapter out of the booke of Iob with the exposition or sermon of Master Iohn Calvin upon it So having spoken somewhat of Gods mercy and justice which as a good and wise father useth to exercise his elect with sundry chastisements lest they should bée intangled here below with the things of this World he shewed how néedfull afflictions were for Christians and that it was beyond the power of Satan or men to hurt or wrong them unlesse the Lord of his good pleasure gave them leave What néed have we then said he to dread their authority which at the most can but prevaile over our bodies Then he went to prayer againe preparing himselfe and his whole family rather to endure all sorts of torments yea death it selfe than to speake or doe ought that might tend to the dishonour of God Having finished his prayer word was brought him that Senecay the Provost Marihall with many archers were at the doore of his lodging commanding the same to be opened in the Kings name saying that he came to secure the person of the Lord de la Place and to preserve his house from being pillaged by the common sort The Lord de la Place having intelligence of this spéech commanded the doore to be opened to him who entring in declared the great slaughter that was made upon the Huguenots every where in the city by the Kings command adding this withall in Latine that he would not suffer one to live Qui mingat ad Parietem Yet have I expresse charge from his Majesty saith he to sée that you shall sustaine no wrong but only conduct you to the Louvre because the King is desirous to be informed touching many things about the affairs of those of the Religion which he hath now in hand and therfore willed him to make himself ready to goe to his Majesty The Lord de la Place answered That he alwaies thought himselfe happy before he left this life to gaine any opportunity by which hée might render an account to his Majesty of his behaviour and actions But in regard such horrible Massacres were every where committed it was impossible for him to passe to the Louvre without the certaine danger of his person praying him to assure his Majesty of his willingnesse to come the whilest leaving in his lodging as many Archers as hee thought fitting untill the fury of theâ— people was somewhat pacified The Provost agréed to his request and left with him one of his Lieutenants called Toute Voye with some foure of his archers Not long after comes into his lodging Prestdent Charron then provost of the merchants with whom conferring a little in secret going his way he left with the foure archers which were there before foure more of the city archers The whole night following was spent in stopping up and fortifying of all passages from entring the house with logs and provision of Flint-stones damming up the windowes so as if séemed by this so exact and diligent a defence the
archers were left in the house to frée the said de la Place and all his family from the common calamity till Senecay returning the next day after two of the clocke in the afternoone declared that hee had expresse charge from the King to bring him to his Majesty without delay Hee replyed as before that it was dangerous as yet to passe through the City in regard that even the same morning there was an house pillaged next to his Seneca on the contrary insisted saying it was Anno 1572. the common spéech of these Huguenotes to protest that they were the Kings most loyall and obedient subjects and servants but when they were to manifest their obedience to his commands then they came off but slowly séeming rather much to abhor and detest it And whereas he pretended danger Seneca answered that he should have a Captain of Paris who was well known to the people to accompany him As SenecacoÌ„tinued this speech the Captaine of Paris surnamed Pazon a principall actor in this sedition entred the chamber of the said Lord of Place offering his service to conduct him through the city to the King which Dela Place would by no means yeeld unto telling Seneca that he was one of the most cruell bloudy minded men that was in all the City and therefore séeing he must néeds goe to the King he intreated that the said Seneca would be his guard To whom Seneca answered that having now other affaires to looke unto he could not conduct him above fifty paces Then his wife though otherwise a very gracious and good Lady out of that entire love which she bare to her husband prostrated her self at the féet of the said Seneca beseeching and intreating him to accompany her husband to the King But the said De la place who never shewed any signe of a dejected spirit came to his wife tooke her up from the ground rebuked her and told her that it is not the arme of flesh that we must stoupe unto but unto God onely Then turning himselfe about he perceived in his sonnes hat a white crosse which through infirmity he had placed there thinking thereby to save himselfe for which his father sharply chid him commanding him to plucke that marke of sedition thence telling him that we must now submit our selves to beare the true crosse of Christ namely those afflictions and tribulations which it shall please our good God to lay upon us as sure pledges of that eternall happinesse which he hath treasured up for all his elect servants Thus séeing himselfe pressed by the said Seneca to goe with him to the De la Place addresseth himselfe to go to the King King resolving upon death which hee saw he could not avoid he tooke his cloake embracing his wife earnestly wishing her above all things to have the feare of God and his honor in precious estéeme and then went on his way boldly Comming into the stréet where the glasse-house is over against Cocks stréet certain murtherers who attended there for his comming with their daggers in a readinesse killed him about thrée of the clocke He is first murthered â— then thrown into the river in the afternoon as an innocent lambe in the midst of ten or twelve of Senecas Archers who led him into that butchery and then pillaged and embezeled away what they found in his lodging for the space of five or six daies together His body whose soule was now received into heaven being carried into a stable and covering his face over with dung the next day they threw him into the river Peter Ramus the Kings professor in Logicke Peter Ramus massacred and afterwards disgracefully handled a man renowned among the learned was not forgotten He had many enemies among other one called Iames Carpenter who sent the murtherers to the Colledge of Priests where the said Ramus was hidden But being discovered hée offered a good summe of money to save his life yet was he massacred and cast downe out of an high Chamber window to the ground so as his bowels issuing out of the stones were afterwards trailed through the stréets the carkasse was whipped by certaine schollers being set on by their tutors to the great disgrace of good letters which Ramus professed I doe here saith the Historian forbeare to write what cruelties were exercised in this foresaid City of Paris on Sunday Munday Tuesday and the daies following because in such confusions those that survived had little leasure to think upon the murthers committed in their presence to observe every particular I content my selfe therefore to say in a word that no man living in Paris taking notice what was done there this Saint Bartholomewes day c. but will averre that there was never séen heard nor read of such perfidious â—â—sloyalties strange ravishments more then brâ—â—â—â—â—ruelties audacious robberies execrable blasâ—â—â—â—â—es as those that were committed in these few â—â—â—es wherein it was safe for one to be any thing rather then an honest man ¶ Of a young man who preferred his Mothers safety in these broyls before his own A Young man about the age of two and thirty yeares a sincere Christian and excellently well learned above many of his age and time going early abroad this Sunday morning upon some speciall occasion returning home and perceiving what a strange rumor there was concerning the death of the Admirall throughout the City of Parts he out of his singular and childelike affection to his Mother hastened to her with all possible spéed informing her what had happened and so wrought for her without delay not regarding his owne safety that he secured her in a place as you would say fitted for the purpose After which himselfe being found alone shut up in his study at prayer to which exercise he had long before devoted himselfe The furious Massacrers on that part of the City asked him if hée would obey the King he answered yes but I must also obey God Then they began presently with battle axes and staves to load him with blowes on the head that he received his owne bloud into his hands and then making an end of him they threw him into the river ¶ Two Ministers massacred TWo Ministers appertaining to the King of Navarre the one called More the other Desgoris fell also into the hand of these murtherers who killing them cast them into the water I cannot learne saith the historiographer by report that any moe Ministers were slaine at this time then these two At the writing hereof many were living who laboured in the worke of the Lord in the Church of Paris and were also miraculously preserved ¶ Aninhumane Cruelty PHilip le Doux a great Ieweller at his returne home from Guybray saire being gone to bed his wife at that time had the midwife attending upon her being ready to be delivered shée hearing these furies below bouncing at the doore commanding it to bée opened to them in the Kings name as till as she
such particular acclamations the whole army in every quarter did so deboutly at certaine times sing in her hearing in very tunable manner divers Psalmes put into forme of prayers in praise to Almighty God no waies to be misliked that she greatly commended them Anno 1588. and with very earnest spéech thanked God with them This that I write you may be sure I doe not with any comfort but to give you these manifest arguments that neither this Qéene doth discontent her people nor her people doe shew any discontent in any thing they be commanded to doe for her service as heretofore hath béen imagined The same day wherein the last fight was the Duke of Parma after his vowes offered to the Lady of Halla came somewhat late to Dunkerk and was received with some opprobrious words of the Spaniards as if in favour of Quéene Elizabeth he had slipped the fairest opportunity that could be to doe the service He to make some satisfaction punished the purveiours that had not made provision of beere bread and victuals which was not yet ready nor imbarked secretly smiting at the insolency of the Spaniards when he heard them glorying that what way soever they came upon England they would have an undoubted victory that the English were not able to endure the sight them Bernardinus Mendoza did indéed by Bookes in France sing a foolish and lying triumphant For which a Papist sticks not to taxe him writing upon this subject to Mendcza The Spaniards dismaied flâ—e away for feare song before the victory The English Admirall appointed Seimor and the Hollanders to watch upon the coast of Flanders that the Duke of Parma should not come out himselfe followed the Spaniards upon their backes untill they were past Edenborough frith The Spaniards séeing all hopes faile and finding no other help for themselves but by flight fled amaine and never made stay And so this great Navy being thrée yeares preparing with great cost was within a moneth overthrown and after And all their preparations blasted the English receiving small losse viz. not one hundred men in all nor one ship but that of Cockes many were killed being chased away of English there were not one hundred lost nor one ship lost saving that of Cocks was driven about all Britaine by Scotland Orcades Ireland tossed and shaken with tempests and much lessened and came home without glory Whereupon some money was coined with a Navy fléeing away at full saile and this inscription Venit Vidit Fugit Other were coined with the ships fired the navy confounded in honour of the Quéene inscribed Dux foemina facti As they fled it is certain that many of their ships were cast away upon the shores of Scotland and Ireland More then seven hundred soldiers and Mariners were cast up upon the Scottish shors who at the Duke of Parma his intercession with the Scots King the Quéene of England consenting were after a yâ—are sent into Flanders But they that were cast up upon the Irish shore by tempests came to more miserable fortunes for some were killed by the wilde Irish others by the Deputies command for he fearing that they might joyne themselves to the wild Irish Bingham the Governor of Connach being once or twice commanded to slay them having yeÌ„elded but refusing to doe it Fowle the under Marshall was sent and killed them which cruelty the Quéen much condemned whereupon the rest being afraid sick and hungry with their torne ships committed themselves to the sea and many were drowned Quéene Elizabeth came in publike thankesgiving to Pauls Church in a Chariot drawne Queen Elizabeth giveth thankes to God for so unexpected a deliverance with two horses her Nobles accompanying her with a very gallant traine through the stréets of London which were hung with blew cloth the companies standing on both sides were in their liveries the Banners that were taken from the enemies were spred shée heard the Sermon anpublique thankes were rendred unto God with great joy This publique joy was augmented when sir Robert Sidney returning out of Scotland brought from the King assurance of his noble minde and affection to the Quéene and to religion which as in sincerity he had established so he purposed to maintaine with all his power Sir Robert Sidney was sent to him when the Spanish fléet was comming to congratulate and to give him thankes for his propense affection towards the maintenance of the common cause and to declare how ready she would be to help him if the Spaniards should land in Scotland and that he might recall to memory with what strange ambition the Spaniard had gaped for all Britaine urging the Pope to excommunicate him to the end that he might be thrust from the Kingdome of Scotland and from the succession in England and to give him notice of threatning of Mendoza and the Popes Nuncio who threatned his ruine if they could worke it and therefore warned him to take especiall héed to the Scottish Papists The King pleasantly answered That he looked for no other benefit from the Spaniard then that which Polyphemus promised to Vlysses to devoure him last after all his Fellowes were devoured ¶ To close up this whole relation heare what The odore Beza writes in certaine gratulatory Verses written in Latine and sent unto her Majesty the effect of which Verses is this in English WIth Navy huge the Spaniard proud The English seas had spread And all to set the English Crowne Upon the Spanish head And would you gladly understand The cause of all this rout Ambition first did lay the plot And lucre brought them out How well this pride thus puffed up A puffe did overthrow And swelling wave such swelling wights How well did overflow How well that Worrier of mankinde That Spanish cruell Wolfe Was tost and tumbled up and downe Within the Ocean gulfe And you for whom both all the windes And all the waters fight O noble Queene of all the world The only true delight Goe forward still to rule for God Ambition laid aside Goe forward still for Christ his Flocke In bounty to provide That thou maist England governe long Long England thee enjoy As well a love unto the good As to the bad annoy From Geneva besieged by the Duke of Savoy the twelfth day of August Anno 1589. Your Majesties most humble Orator Theodore Beza ¶ The death of the Duke of Guise and Henry Anno 1598. the third King of France IT was not long after that the Duke of Guise who was slain by the Lord Lougna at the kings Chamber doore and King Henry the third were taken away he being the last of the house of Vallois and dying without any lawfull heires of his body begotten The manner of whose death was thus A Frier of the Order of Saint Dominicke called Iames Clement pretended hee had matters of great consequence to impart to the King who being admitted into his presence upon his knées presented the King with
the head of the visible Church 9 Now O Christian brethren Iudge you of that which I have said and sée if you can discerne Truth from Error Truth leads you to life honour and blessednesse Error and lies to death and destruction Be now either servants of Truth or the slaves of Error For my part I will cleave to the truth of the Gospell and doe condemne all errors and lies let Montalchin die and live thou O Lord Iesus Then threw he downe his two burning torches one this way and another that way offering his hands to be tyed and bound which caused a great tumult among the people Montalchin was returned back again to prison Now Reader it will not be hard for thée to imagine what entertainment he found there whether or no the Popes * Which was to put the martyrs to death privily as was noted in the beginning of this history Decrée was executed to the full upon this worthy Confessor who in the face of the world did so nobly triumph over Satan and Antichrist his Lieutenant Conclusion ¶ The invincible constancy of the Martyrs tyred the Persecutors their fiery burning zeale dryed up the Rivers the slaughter of mens swords séemed to be blunted the Hangmens halters to be utterly spent and wasted c. A TRVE NARRATION Of a bloody massacre committed upon the Protestants by the Papists in the greater part of the Valtoline in the yeare 1620. after the new stile Published for a necessary admonition to all Estates wherein the Gospell is professed amongst the Papists and for an example to all true Christians of constancy in the Profession of the Holy GOSPELL MAT. 5. 10. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven ¶ The true declaration of the Massacres of the Valtoline ALbeit that the Grison Lords being as it were the Soveraigne Magistrates had by sundry Decrées according to the common liberty of the two Religions in those countries granted that in the Countrey of Boalez a place belonging to thâ— territory of Tell there should be established a Church for the Religion which should receive the ordinary stipend which at that present was alloweâ—â—o other Churches of the Valtoline An. 1619. aâ— the moneth of May The Minister of the Church of Tell with the Ministers of Irian and Bruse together with the assistance of the principall Lords of Tyrano and Tegly did méet together in the said place of Boalez to preach in the Church of that place But so great was the multitude and concourse of the papists in that place in Armes that they were of necessity inforced to give over their purpose and at that time was Master Gaudentius Taches the Pastor of Bruse alâ—â—â—â— beaten to death with staves a young man â—â— Tyrano was slaine outright and others very cruelly handled by some of these villaines who by that occasion may worthily be called the first martyrs of the Country of Tyrano Within a short time after was murdered a servant of the Governour of that place where the rage and fury of those murderers grew unto that height that they did not only contemne the Proclamations published by the Governor but in Anno 1620. scorn and despite thereof they passed up and downe before the Palace threatening to kill the said governor and other principall persons of the Church of France Now for that the ordinary Magistrate of that place was not strong enough to represse the outrages and insolencies of those villaines from whom none could bee secure either in their houses or abroad by reason of the frequent attempts which they made upon the Protestants the rather for that they bordered néere upon a forraine jurisdiction to which they had recourse when they had committed any mischiefe the Governour was constrained to make his addresse for justice to the soveraigne Dabe of the countrey who about the midst of February anno 1620 granted a commission wherein were named these commissioners viz. the Lords Ioachinas Montalta at this time Vicar of the Valtoline Iohn Baptista of Salichi a Doctor of Law Ia. Rumel a captain Salomon Candeamma Buoli Landlaine of Tavos in the ten jurisdictions Dieteganus Fertmannus captaine of the Lordship of Meienfield and Iohn Andrea Miniardino for the Chancellorship c. By these persons besides the processes framed already by the Lords Iohn of Cappaul Governour of Tyrano and Andreo Enderlino of Tegly there were againe divers processes framed anew and upon the imprisonment and revealing of certain persons it was discovered and confessed there was a resolution made in the same place of Boalty to put to the sword not only the Preacher if he had preached but also all the people as many as professed the Gospell as they could light upon yea even the magistrate himselfe besides there were divers persons discovered and those of principall ranke who were the authors of those wicked and barbarous practises and had promised all possible ayde and assistance unto them And therefore the importance of the businesse being of great consequence it was thought expedient that those Lords Commissioners should return to Tavoz and report to the Court of justice which there resided all the businesse which resulted of these processes which they accordingly did about the midst of April last past Moreover they were intreated by divers noble persons of the protestant Church of the Valtoline that they would with all possible spéed provide a garrison of Grisons for the defence of the vally in regard that by the foresaid discovery they had great reason to feare a generall rebellion in case they should procéed to chastise the authors of those tumults and disorders and that such a businesse could not be without intelligence with the Spaniard and that so much the more likely that some certaine yeares agoe such another practise had bin discovered and attempted to be put in practise as came to passe 1584. and since of late All these businesses were considered but it was not possible to put same in effect for many reasons had it not béen that they received intelligence that a number of Spaniards approached néere to the thrée pleves which were places adjoyning to the Valtoline by which occasion the Magistrate and governors of the Valtoline were constrained to put a guard néere the trenches of Trahona and Morben about the Calends of Iuly 1620 thinking to secure the valley from the forraine enemy and that guard consisted of the Countrey-men and dwellers in the Valtoline this course wrought no other effect but that the Protestants by this meanes were inclosed in of all sides that they could not flée away on that side by the way already concluded but anticipated within eight daies which was the Sabboth day The ninth of Iuly 1620 followed the massacre in the countrey of Tyrane and Teglio as now since in Sondres a principall countrey of this Valley ¶ The massacre of Tyrane wherein were murthered about threescore persons THe beginning of their murthers was
Sondres In which place being gathered together with the Pastor they made their prayers to God and afterwards to the number of thréescore and thirtéene persons in all they passed the valley of Malenco which was beset by the enemy on two sides but those that kept those places were by the providence of God so astonished that they fled away and the protestants although they were pursued to the tops of the hils did miraculously escape with safety The enemy that is to say the proper Inhabitants of the valley with their ringleaders Iames Robustello Azzo Besta Iohn Guizziardi Lorenzo Paribello and others entred into the Palace they deprived the Magistrate of his office that is to say Giovanni Andrea Traersio of Scants of the upper Agnadua Captaine and Governour of the Valtoline who with his family had retired himselfe into the house of Paul Clamar untill Wednesday the eleventh of Iuly on which day under protestation to secure them they were conducted to Malenco where in the Village of Chissa against their faith given they were mads prisoners and detained for eight daies following They who by the commandement of the said captaine found themselves to bee made prisoners were delivered putting in their roome certaine of the Religion They immediately changed the Calender and gave for a prey the goods of the Protestants by which occasion great multitudes of persons assembled from all the parts of the Valtoline to rob and spoile and by reason of the swéetnesse which they found in pillaging the goods they met with in divers noble houses excellently well furnished grew an intolerable heate and outrage to spoile insomuch as brother robbed brother and the néerest of kindred pursued and robbed one another and followed one another to the death The peasants hoping by meanes hereof to be exempted from paying their yearely rents ranne with all fury and madnes about the woods bushes and mountaines searching after the poore Protestants who were scattered by feare whom they murthered as they found them with extreme cruelty Amongst these were these Gentlemen of greatest worth and resolution Doctor Bartolomeo Paravicino of Sondres from whom they tooke about two thousand crownes Doctor Nicolas his brother whose brother Doctor Lelio had before béen slaine in the Church of Tell Petronio Paravicino Doctor and Giovan Battista Mallerio of Antwerpe in the Low-Countries a man endued with excellent rare qualities of mind and body for he was both a good Philosopher and a learned Divine and very fit to instruct youth he was surprised in the house of Morone and when they had stoned him to death they cut off his head ripped his belly and tooke out his entrailes His Children Giovan Andrea and Catharine were carried to Millane Annaidi Lita wife of Anthony Grotti of Chio in the territory of Vincentine of an honorable and antient house was come out of Italy but some few yeares before for the liberty of her conscience This Anna was first by them exhorted with faire words to change her Religion but she constantly persevering therein was admonished that she would at the least have a care of her young infant which she held in her armes being about two months old otherwise shee would make reckoning that in the twinkling of an eie both she and her babe should die but she with a bold and undaunted courage answered That she had not A holy resolution departed out of Italy her native Countrey neither had she forsaken all the estate she had to renounce at last that faith which had béen inspired unto her by the Lord Iesus Christ yea that she would rather suffer if it were possible a thousand deaths And how saith she should I have regard in this case of my infant since God our heaâ—enly Father spared not his onely Sonne my Lord Iesus but delivered him up to death for the love of me and of all sinners Then giving them the child she said behold the childe the Lord God who hath care of the birds of the aire will much more be able to save this poore creature although by you it were abandoned and left in those wilde mountaines So unlacing her gowne shee opened Behold here the power of faith her breast and said Here is the body which you have power to kill but my soule on which you have no power to lay hand that I commend to my God and presently she was slain and afterwards cut in pieces being thirty five yeares old The infant because it was a lovely and a swéet babe to looke on was suffered to live God restraining the cruelty of those butchers and was delivevered to a popish woman to nurse up And here is to be observed that this blessed Martyr imitated the commendable example of her deare brother Giovanni Antonio who for the profession of the truth Gods Word and Gospell can never be bound in theâ— hearâ— of Gods elect of the Gospell having continued in the said Chio and endured a grievous imprisonment two yeres together was at last condemned to the Galley where he died within two moneths after When he was bound in chains being carried from Chio he said You may indéed bind my person but the word of God shall never the more be bound in the hearts of the elect that it doe not shew manifestly it selfe and bring forth fruit c. According to this most Christian example Iohn Stéeven Moron and Rodulfo Rivello being both of them of the Valley of Sondres did not onely in their proper persons seal with their bloud the truth of the Gospell but moreover exhorted their children Iohn Andrea and Iohn Antonio the one of them being fiftéene yeares of age the other ten that they should doe the like following the honourable example of the seven brethren in the Machabées and of their mother who chose rather to dye than to obey the King and to transgresse the Law of the Lord. And yet by reason of the money and jewels found in the houses and chests of the Protestants the eagernesse and fury of each of those miscreants increased daily more and more insomuch as that there were neither noble nor ignoble nor Lady no neither man woman young nor old of what condition soever who were not ransacked and spoiled some twise and others oft times thrise over Some honourable matrons had their rings pulled off their fingers insomuch as they would cut off their hands and fingers if they would not presently draw them off Some women were by force dragged up to the tops of high and craggy mountaines and threatened to be throwne downe headlong with their children unlesse they would goe to masse And although Lucretia the wife of Antonio Lavizaro and Katherina wife of Giulio Merlianico being moved and terrified with the horror of death had consented to change their Religion yet were they murthered for all that without any pitty at all The same befell to D. Io. Battista Salici of Soglio in the Pregaglia for although that his life was promised him