and then marching to Malla a City of the enemies he surprised it slew all the men therein and burnt it with fire after which he destroyed Chaspomo Bosor and divers other places Shortly after Timothy leavied another great Army hired many of the Syrians and drew forth all his allies to his assistance with these he marched to Jordan exhorting them valiantly to oppose the Jews and to hinder their passage over the river telling them that if the Jews gat over they were sure to be put to the worst Judas hearing hereof marched hastily against his enemies and having passed the river he presently set upon them killing some and grievously affrighting the rest who casting away their arms immediately fled some of them to save themselves fled into a Temple called Carnain but Judas having taken the City and Temple slew them and burnt the same Then did he lead away with him all the Jews that lived in Galaad together with their wives children and substance and brought them into Judaea When he drew near to the town of Ephron they had baricadoed up his way that he could not pass then did he send Ambassadors to them to desire them to open his passage which when they refused he besieged the City took it by assault burned it down and slew all the men that were therein After having passed over Jordan they came into Judaea with great joy and gladnesse praising God and offering sacrifices of thanksgiving to him for the safe return of his Army for that in all those battels and encounters he had not lost one Jew But whilest Judas and Simon were gone upon these expeditions the two Captains which he had left to command the Garisons of Judaea being desirous to obtain the reputation of valiant men tooke their forces and went towards Jamnia against whom Gorgias Governor of that place issued out and slew two thousand of them the rest fled to Judaea Afterwards Judas and his brethren warred against the Idumaeans took divers of their Cities and with a great booty returned home with great joy Antiochus in the meane time being in Persia heard of a wealthy City called Elymais in which was a rich Temple of Diana c. thither he went and besieged it but the inhabitants sallied out and with great losse drave him from thence whereupon he returned to Babylon there also news was brought unto him of the overthrow of his Captains in Judaea and that the Jews were grown strong which together with his former defeat so wrought upon him that he fell sick and finding no hope of recovery he called his most familiar friends to him and told them that his sicknesse was violent and desperate and that he was plagued with this grevous affliction for that he had tormented the people of the Jews destroyed their Temple committed horrible sacriledge and contemned the reverence of God but now he vowed that if it would please the Lord to restore him he would become a Jew and do many great things for the people of God as also that he would goe through all the known world to declare the power of God Notwithstanding which the Lord knowing his hypocrisie continued to plague him after a terrible manner he had a remedilesse pain in his bowels and intollerable torments in all his inward parts His body bred abundance of worms which continually crawled out of the same yea he so rotted above ground that by reason of the intollerable stink no man could endure to come near him neither could he himselfe indure the same and thus this vile person who had formerly in a proud and insolent manner protested that he would make Jerusalem a common burying place and the streets thereof to run with the bloud of Gods people by Gods just judgement ended his life in extream misery but before his death he called Philip one of his chief Captains and made him governour of his kingdom requiring him to be very carefull of his son Antiochus Then was Antiochus proclaimed King and sirnamed Eupator About which time the Garisons and Apostates that were in the Fortress at Jerusalem did much mischief to the Jews for setting unawares upon those that came to the Temple to worship and to offer their sacrifices they slew them Hereupon Judas resolved to cut off these Garisons and to that end he assembled all the people and besieged them and having made certain Engins and raised divers Rams he earnestly prosecuted the siege but divers of those Apostates escaping by night went to Antiochus desiring him not to suffer them to perish who for his fathers sake had forsaken their Religion c. Then did Antiochus send for his Captains commanding them to raise a mighty Army which accordingly they did gathering together a hundred thousand footmen and twenty thousand horsemen and thirty two Elephants with these Forces he departed out of Antioch and made Lysias Generall of his Army Then did he besiege Bethsura a strong City but the inhabitants valiantly resisted him and sallying out burned his Engines which he had prepared for battery The King continuing the siege for a longe time Judas hearing of it raised his siege from before the Castle of Jerusalem and marched towards Antiochus his Army and when he came neer to the enemies Camp he lodged his Army in certain streights called Beth-zacharia The King hearing thereof raised his siege from Bethsura and marched to wards the streight where Judas with his Army was The King first caused his Elephants to march thorow the streight about each Elephant were a thousand Footmen and a hundred Horsemen for his guard each Elephant carried a Tower on his back furnished with Archers the rest of his Forces he caused to march two waies by the mountaines commanding them with huge shouts and cries to assail their enemies and to uncover their golden and brazen bucklers that the reflection thereof might dazle the eies of the Jews yet was not Judas at all amated but entertained the Army with a noble courage slaying about six hnundred of the forlorn hope But Eleazer Judas brother seeing a huge Elephant armed with royall trappings supposing that the King was upon him he ran against him with a noble courage and having slain divers that were about the Elephant he thrust his sword into the belly of the beast so that the Elephant falling upon him slew him with his weight Judas seeing the great strength of his enemies retired back to Jerusalem and Antiochus sent back part of his Army against Bethsura and with the rest he marched on towards Jerusalem The Bethsurites despairing of relief and their provisions failing them surrendred their City having the Kings oath that no out-rage should be offered to them yet he thrust them out of the City and placed a Garison in it He spent also along time in besieging the Temple at Jerusalem they within defending it gallantly for against every Engine that the King erected they set up
his performances of these things he shall go into the Holy land to fight against the Turke and never return againe into his owne country but by the leave of the Pope or his Legate Remund having read over these Articles shewed them to the King who advised him presently to mount on horseback least seising upon him they might the better become masters of all his estate which accordingly he did The Legate was much troubled that he had thus lost his prey and despairing to do any more by subtilty he resolved to set upon him by force and thereupon he besieged the Castle of Montferrand where Baldwin the brother of the Earl of Tholouse was governour Baldwin at least pretending inability to defend the place yielded it up and abjuring his opinions turned Papist The Earl of Tholouse seeing himselfe thus betrayed by his brother lamented exceedingly but a greater mischiefe soone after befell him For the Legate and Earl Simon wonne from him by their subtilty the King of Arragon his only prop under God and that by this meanes they agreed that the King of Arragons daughter should be married to Earl Simon 's eldest son in consideration whereof the King of Arragon invested Simon in the Earldom of Beziers and now they intend jointly to besieg Tholouse For which end the Bishop of Tholouse was sent to levy souldiers in France and at his returne hasted to Tholouse which Earl Remund hearing of sallyed out of the City with five hundred horse and some foot marching to the bridg which goeth over the river of Garenne not far from Tholouse hoping either to gaine it or to breake it down but being overpowered by multitude he was forced to make a retreat and the enemie pursued him to the very gates of Tholouse But Earl Remund seeing their insolency sallyed out againe with a greater strength and charged them so gallantly that he beat them back to the bridge which being but narrow he slew almost all of them there and took prisoner amongst them Aimery the son of Earl Simon Earl Simon hearing of this loss hasted with all his army to the City and gave a furious assault to it but the ditches were soone filled with the dead bodies of the enemie beaten from their scaling laddars and the Earl himselfe was beaten from his horse In the middest of this assault came the Earl of Campeigne soon enough to be well beaten for his welcome Earl Simon finding such stout resistance from the Citizens caused his Pilgrimes to spoil the Orchards Gardens and Vineyards about the city which being perceived the President of Argeves issued out of the City suddenly and slew a number of the Pilgrims and on another part the Earl of Foix slew as many as he could meet with The Earl of Bar seeing the disorder of the Popish Army cried out a Bar a Bar but the Citizens of Tholouse charged him so bravely that being discomfited he was faigne to fly amongst the rest After this victory Earl Remund returning to Tholouse caused publike and solemne thanks to be returned unto God for the same Earl Simon after this lead his Army into the country of the Earl of Foix who was now sick where he took some townes also the Legat with another part of the army went to Roquemaur and in his way took the Tower of Cassas and caused above an hundred men that were found therein most cruelly to be burned alive and levelled the Tower to the earth Earl Remund being much afflicted for the loss and alienation of his ancient friend the King of Arragon studied how he might regaine him and for that end propounded a match betweene his only son and heire and the King of Arragons daughter which motion the King readily imbraced and so their amity was againe revived Not long after the King of Arragon sent a letter of defiance to Earl Simon who sent the same all over Christendom to stir up Pilgrims to assist him for the destruction of the King who as he said was now become the Captaine of the Albingenses and in the meane time the Popes Legate raising an army in France went speedily into the Earldome of Foix and took some Towns putting all to the sword without distinction of sex or age and taking also St. Anthonies he caused thirty of the principall men to be hanged in cold blood after he had granted them their lives Anno Christi 1213. Peter King of Arragon with a great army of Arragonois and Tholousians besieged Muret a strong Towne scituated upon the river Garronne near unto Tholouse There was in his Army the Earls of Tholouse Comminges and of Foix but the night following the Popish Bishops sent two Friers to him desiring him to take pitty on the Church and not to undertake the defence of the Hereticks but they laboured in vaine for the King would not desert them whereupon they prepared the next day to give him battle and whilest Simon Montfort was encouraging his souldiers the Bishop of Tholouse carryed a crucifix in his hand whereupon the Captains a lighting adored it with and humble kiss Then the Bishop of Comminges getting upon an high place took the crosse in his hand and blessed the Army with it promising forgivenesse of all sins to all that dyed in that quarrell Hereupon Simon divided his army into three Battalia's in the name of the Trinity and so joyning battle they fought very gallantly on both sides till at length the King of Arragon was slaine and so God who doth not alwayes prosper the best cause gave the victory to the Popelings and they were slaine in the fight and pursute about two millions of the Albingenses as their enemies reported The Albingenses attributed this loss to Gods judgement upon the humane confidence of the King who trusted too much in his great numbers and was feasting whilest his enemies were plotting After this victory the Popes agents sent abroad their letters into divers countries for a new supply of Pilgrims utterly to root out the Hereticks With this victory Earl Simon was so puffed up that he summoned the Earls of Tholouse Foix and Comminges and the Prince of Bearn to deliver to him the keyes of those Cities and Castles which they possessed They returned no answer but each of them betooke himself to his own Territories to provide the best they could for their affairs Earl Remund retired to Mâ—ntalbon writing to them at Tholoâ—se that understanding that the Bishop of Arras was coming with a great Army of Pilgrims against them and that he was altogether disabled to defend their City he had advised them therefore that they should make the best terms they could for themselves with Earl Simon yet desired them to reserve their hearts for him till God should give him meanes to free them from those miseries In the interim the Earls of Foix Comminges and the Prince of Bearn did what they could to infest the enemies Armies Upon the former advice the Citizens
departure the popish Bishops Clergy and Nobles began to vex his Subjects for Religion contrary to that assurance which the King had given to them They attempted also the like in Prague the Jesuites daily threatning that their Liberty in Religion should not last long Then did they strictly prohibit the Protestants from printing any thing unlesse licensed by the Chancellor of the Kingdom themselves in the mean time divulging their own slanderous pamphlets and dangerous writings against the Protestants Then instructions were given to the Captains and Judges that they should suffer no meetings in Churches except themselves were present and except they had a Popish Priest to administer only in one kinde Then the Burgrave who had the custody of the Crown and priviledges of the Kingdom was apprehended because in the late Parliament he had stood for the free election of a King and delivered prisoner to one of the bitterest enemies of the Protestants In other places they destroyed the Churches of the Protestants In the begining of the year 1618 The Governors of the University and Consistory met together having formerly had power given them so to do and choosing six persons two Barons two Knights and two Citizens to consult what was best to be done in this time of their enemies insolency there presently came an injunction in Caesars name to inhibit them to call any together and that if any man was called he should not dare to appear upon the pain of high Treason Notwithstanding which the major part of the States met and when as new prohibitions and threats were spread abroad and the States were informed that those thunderbolts came not from the King but from the castle of Prague their abused patience was turned into severity and being guarded with a great Troop they went to the Castle and apprehended two of the chief Authors of these troubles and threw them headlong out of the Castle windows together with their Secretary that was privy to all their designs but God intending to preserve them to be the Bohemians scourges they caught no hurt in the fall falling upon the grasse and greate store of papers Hereupon a great tumult was raised in Prague but the States appeassed it the first thing they did was to banish the Jesuits out of Bohemia as the chief contrivers of these mischiefs then did they write to Caesar that they had no intention against his Royall Majesty but only to bring to punishment the disturbers of the publick peace being authorized thereto by his Majesties Letter and bound by their protestation yet he resolved to revenge this Treason as he called it by force of Arms and the Bohemians on the other side resolved to defend themselves and for that end they chose thirty Directors and the Moravians and Silesians resolved to joyn with them when they perceived Religion to be the cause of the quarrell And indeed this was that which the enemies aimed at and therefore they provoked the Bohemians by all waies that so they might make a conquest of Bohemia and for this end an Imperial Army presently entred the Kingdom under Dampier and a Spanish Army under Bucquoy In the mean time the States resolved not to admit Ferdinand to be their King who was so open an enemy both to their Religion and Liberties and who was obtruded upon them without a due election They sent also Embassadors to Franckford where the Electors were met together to choose a new Emperour desiring that Ferdinand might not be admitted amongst them as King of Bohemia notwithstanding which he was admitted and chosen Emperour The Bohemians in the mean time choosing Frederick Elector Palatine for their King This more enraged their enemies so that they sent another Army under Maximilian of Bavarie which took two Protestant Towns by storm and put all to the sword and every where made great slaughter of the Protestants Then the Imperiall Armies came to Prague which being struck with a Pannick fear the Protestant Army being overthrown in a set battell under the wals and their new King fled they delivered up the City to them the Conqueror promising to keep Articles agreed upon but performing nothing lesse For they did more mischief to the Church of Christ by their subtile and slow proceedings then lately by their outragious fury when the sword fire and wheel were the instruments of their rage against the faithfull For a little before when it was debated at Rome how they should deal with the Bohemians and Germans after the Conquest it was agreed that seeing their former strong purges which they had used to expell Hereticall humours had not proved effectuall they therefore resolved not to put them to death wherein they did glory as in Martyrdom but rather to weary them and to change the hatefull name of Inquisition into the milder name of Reformation And whereas there was a debate amongst the Imperialists at Prague whether all the protestants should be presently banished the negative was resolved on because they would then carry much away with them and so spoil the Province and indure their banishment with greater ease therefore they concluded that they must first be squeezed and deprived of their goods and for this end the souldiers at Prague were authorrized to plunder the houses of Noblemen and Citizens yet this was done at several seasons and mostly in the night by which meanes as the enemies boasted they took from the Protestants some millions of gold For indeed hither were all their riches brought in the time of war as to a place of the greatest security But as this fell to the Commanders shares so the neighbouring places were exposed to the fury of the rest the common souldiers robbing and spoyling Villages Towns and Churches burning and killing without any restraint The souldiers that were placed in Garrisons would not only have Free-quarter but extorted mony from their Landlords every day Then were Comissions sent abroad promising security to those Noblemen Knights Corporations and Ministers that would bring in a good Sum of money to pay the Army which yet they would not receive as a free gift but only desired to borrow it Caesars protection was also promised to those that were liberall the rest were threatned to be plundred by the souldiers They set down also what sums they expected from every one within such a time they promised also that when that was paid the Souldiers should be removed which made every one to bring in their Plate Money and Jewels the more willingly Then were Commissioners sent to require certain Cities that belonged to the Protestant Noblemen to mantaine the standing Forces of the Kingdome and to contribute corn for their publicke granaries but whilest they were fed with a vaine hope of lessening and removing the souldiers there were more listed which raised the taxes so high as was impossible for the people to pay
creatures yet that he might not openly discover the black design of the Council for extirpating of Hereticks before the hour of its execution he disguised his answers to them in such doubtful terms that though he gave them but cold comfort yet he left them not without some glimmering hopes at least of a day of audience for the hearing of their complaints that so during this interval of time all things might be in a better readiness for the day of slaughter as you shall hear in the next Chapter CHAP. XLIV A Narrative of the bloody cruelties which were exercised against the Protestants of the Valleys of Piemont during the heat of the late Massacre in April Anno 1655. UPon Saturday April 17 1655. whilst the deputies of the Protestants were by the subtilties of Pionessa detained at Turin as you heard before there arrived a great Army at St. Giovanni which was now with La Torre and all the lower parts unpeopled and in a sad and lamentable condition this Army continued there for some hours and in the dusk of the evening fell into La Torre where they met with none of the Protestants only about eight or ten persons not thinking of an enemy were seeking up and down for something to satisfie their hunger but so soon as they came near to the Convent they were saluted with a volley of shot which killed Giovanni Combe and hurt Peter Rostain whereupon the rest seeing the danger fled for their lives The next day being the Sabbath the enemy ranged about through the Communalties of La Torre and St. Giovanni plundering and pillaging all before them and the day after heir number being encreased to about Fifteen thousand they set upon the Protestants in several quarters amongst the little hills of St. Giovanni and La Torre But the poor people being prompted thereto by the Law of Nature stood upon their own defence and the enemy was vigorously opposed on every side in one place by Captain Jahier and in other places by the Officers of St. Giovanni Angrognia Roccapiatta and their Troops Tuesday April 20. The Popish Army made three several attempts to take away the Bell of St. Giovanni and to burn the Church but those of the poor people in arms did so couragiously resist them that they were driven to a shameful retreat with the loss of about Fifty of their men and had not their Cavalry defended the Plain they had been utterly routed But of the Protestants party there were onely Two slain upon whose dead bodies they basely revenged themselves Wednesday the 21. which was the fatal day to the Protestants the Marquess of Pianessa held the Deputies of the Valley of Lucerna in parley till noon and then entertained them with a large Dinner and sent them away with many fair promises that there should be no hurt done to any except those of St. Giovanni and La Torre as being the places specified in the Order of Gastaldo but for the rest if they would but quarter a few Troops as a token of their obedience and that but for a short time they might be fearless of the least inconvenience Hereupon the Agents of Angrogna bestired themselves to perswade their own party from making the least resistance the same did the Agents of Villaro and Bobio But no sooner were those Troops entred but they put all to fire and sword slaying all they met with that had but the likeness of mankind and that in the most barbarous manner they could possibly devise As you may see by this extract of a Letter written by some of those poor Protestants wherein they thus write The Army having gotten footing became very numerous by the addition of a multitude of the neighboring inhabitants who hearing that we were given for a prey to the Plunderers fell upon us with an impetuous fury To these were added a great number of Out-laws Prisoners and other Offenders who thought hereby to have saved their souls and filled their purses We were forced also to receive five or six Regiments of the French Army besides some Irish to whom as it was said our Country was promised and several other Troops of Highway-men and Vagabonds under a pretence of coming into the Valleys only for fresh Quarters The multitude being licensed by Pianessa encouraged by the Monks and led by our wicked Neighbors fell upon us with such violence on every side and in so treacherous a manner especially in Angrognia Villaro and Bobio to whom Pianessa had plighted his troth that if they would but quarter one Regiment they should be secure from all harm that in a moment of time all was turned into a confused heap and the inhabitants constrained after skirmishes that they made in the way to fiye for their lives together with their Wives and little children and that not onely the inhabitants of the Plains but of the Mountains also who had otherwise been certainly betrayed and surprised Yet was not all their diligence sufficient to preserve very many of them from destruction for in many places they were hemmed in on every side that there was no way left for their flight but they were most inhumanlâ— massacred In one place they cruelly tormented One hundred and fity Women and Children and afterwards chopped off the heads of some and dashed out the brains of others against the rocks Multitudes of Prisoners they took and such of them from fifteen years of age and upward who refused to go to Mass they hanged up some and nailed the feet of others to trees with their heads hanging downwards all which they constantly endured Mr. Gross one of the Pastors with some of his Family they sent to Turin They made such havock of all that there were neither any Cattel or other Provision left in the Valley of Lucerna Yea in the Communalties of St. Giovanni La Torre c. a Franciscan Friar and another Priest set fire on houses and Churches that they left not one of them unburnt In these desolations the Mother was bereaved of her sweet Childe the Husband of his dear Wife Those which were richest amongst us are forced to beg their bread yea they are weltring in their own blood and deprived of all outward comforts and whereas there were some Churches in St. Martino that were always formerly as a Sanctuary to the persecuted they are now commanded to quit their dwellings and every soul of them presently to depart without any respite and that under pain of death The pretence of these strange Massacres and cruelties are that we are Rebels to the Duke's commands in not pâ—â—forming a pure impossibility by immediate departing from our Habitations in Bubiana Lucerna Fenile Bricheras La Torre St. Giovanni and St. Secondo As also for our frequent petitioning his Royal Highness to take pity upon us To conclude Our beautiful and flourishing Churches are left desolate and that without remedy unless the Lord work miraculously for us c. The truth
dens The Kings Captains having intelligence hereof with the Garison that was in the Citadel at Jerusalem they pursued them into the desert and having overtaken them they first endeavoured by perswasions to draw them to Idolatry but the Jews absolutely refusing to yield to their wicked wils resolved rather to die then to submit to them and to commit such impiety whereupon these bloody persecutors assailed them on the Sabbath day and burned them in their caves who neither resisted their enemies nor closed up the mouths of their Caves supposing it to be a violation of the Sabbath if they should fight or work upon that day some thousands of men women and children were there stifled yet divers escaped who joined themselves with Matthias and chose him for their Captain Then did he inform them that they ought to fight on the Sabbath day if they were assailed by their enemies and prevailed with them not to be guilty of their own death by their neglect to defend themselves and so having assembled a sufficient number he destroyed the Altars and slew those that had forsaken their Religion commanding others to circumcise their Children and driving those from every place whom Antiochus had set to see his Laws executed But when he had thus governed one year he fell sick and perceiving his end to approach he called his sons and exhorted them to follow his steps in maintaining the Law of God and fighting for their Countrey telling them that then they should have God for their Assister who will not forsake those that love and fear him but taking pleasure in their vertues will once more grant them favour to recover their former peace and liberty and saith he God will establish you in the possession of your ancient Laws and though our bodies be mortal and subject unto death yet the memory of our virtuous actions is enfranchised by immortality make therefore no difficulty to hazard your lives in so good a cause But above all things I exhort you unto concord and in whatsoever any one of you shall be found more naturally apt and fitted then another let him prosecute the same without any contradiction from the rest I charge you to obey your brother Simon who is a Politick and valiant man in whatsoever he shall counsel you but make Judas your Captain who is both valiant and strong for he shall revenge the injuries and out-rages which have been done to our Nation and shall put our enemies to flight second him therefore with men of valour and such as fear God and by this means you shall be sure to prevail CHAP. IV. The Life of Judas Maccabeus AFter Matthias his death Judas took upon him the government of the wars and by the help of his brethren and other Jews he drave the enemies out of the countrey purgâ—ng the land of all the uncleaness that had been brought into it But when Apollonius who was Antiochus his Generall in Samaria heard of it he gathered his Army together and invaded Judea against whom Maccabeus went forth and after a terrible battel overthrew him slew Apollonius and many of his souldiers took his Camp and therein a very rich booty and Judas gat Apollonius his sword for his part in the spoil Then Seron Governor of Caelosyria gathered all his forces together and hired many Apostate Jews to joyn with him and so marched against Judas as far as Bethoron Judas also advanced towards him but when he perceived that his souldiers were unwilling to fight by reason of the inequality of their numbers and for that they had eaten no meat but had fasted for a long time he encouraged them saying that the means to obtain the victory consisted not in the greatness of their number but in their devotion towards God whereof they had evident examples in their forefathers who with a small number had often defeated many thousands of their enemies c. Hereby he so prevailed with his souldiers that dreadless of the number of their enemies they all together ran upon Seron and after a cruel fight routed his Army and slew him together with eight hundred of the Syrians The rest escaped by flight Antiochus hearing of these things was highly displeased and therefore he assembled all his forces and hired many mercenaries but having mustered his Army he found that his treasure failed him to pay so great a multitude whereupon he resolved first to go into Persia to gather up his tributes and in the meane time he made Lysias his Vicegerent a man of greate esteem with him and one that governed all the countries from Euphrates to the borders of Egypt with him he also left some Elephants and part of his Army commanding him expresly that when he had conquered Judaea he should make the inhabitants thereof his slaves and sell them to those that would give most for them and that he should destroy Jerusalem and utterly abolish that race Lysias having received this commandment sent Ptolemy Nicanor and Gorgias men of great authority about the King with an Army of forty thousand Foot and seven thousand Horsemen to invade Jury who marching as far as the City Emmaus encamped in the field and increased their Army with many Syrians and Apostate Jews There came also divers Merchants a long with them to buy the prisoners that should be taken bringing gieues along with them to manacle the prisoners withall Judas having viewed the Camp and number of his enemies encouraged his souldiers exhorting them to repose their confidence and hope of victory in God he also appointed a Fâ—st that they might humble themselves and call upon God by supplications and prayers for success in such an extreame danger Then he told them that God would have compassion upon them and give them strength to stand against their enemies and to put them to shame The next day he marshalled his Army by thousands and by hundreds and sent away all that were newly married or that had lately bought pessâ—ssions according to the Law And tâ—en he said unto the rest My countrymen and companions we never yet had any occasion more necessary wherein we ought to express our courages and contemn dangers then at this present for now if you fight valiantly you may recover your liberties which ought the more to be prised because thereby you may win opportunity to serâ—e God and so live an happy life but if ye prove cowards in the fight you shall be branded with perpetuall infamy and hazard the utter extirpation of our Nation Think therefore that if you fight not you must die and on the contrary assure your selves that in fighting for your Religion Laws and Liberty you shall obtain immortall glory be ready therefore that to morrow morning you may bid your enemies battel Immediately news was brought him that Gorgias with five thousand foot and a thousand horsemen was sent forth under the conduct of some fugitives by night to fall
upon him whereupon he resolved the same night to break into the enemies Army whilest they were thus divided Having therefore refreshed himself and Army leaving many fires in his Camp thereby to deceive the enemy he marched all night to seek them out Gorgias finding that the Jews had forsaken their Camp conceited that for fear they were fled into the mountains and therefore he resolved to search them out diligently But in the morning â—udas accompanied only with three thousand men and those but ill armed because of their poverty shewed himself to the enemies that were at Emmaus and having viewed their warlike discipline and mighty number and how well they were incamped he encouraged his followers to fight vâ—liantly telling them that God would deliver their enemies into their hands and thereupon causing his Trumpets to sound he rushed in upon his enemies with such fury and resolution as altogether affrighted and discouraged them and having slaine such as resisted he pursued the rest as farre as the plains of Idumaea c. In this fight â—bout three thousand of the enemies were slain yet would he not suffer his souldiers to take the spoil telling them that as yet they were to fight with Gorgias and his Army but so soon as they had through Gods mercy with the likâ— valâ—ur beaten them they might then securely enrich themselves by the prey of all their enemies Gorgias with his Army being upon an hill and discovering the flight of their friends and the Jews readinesse to give them battell were so affrighted that they also fled whereupon Judas with his men returned to gather the pillage and having found great store of gold silver scarlet and purple he returned to his dwelling with joy praising God for their happy success Lysias hearing of this overthrow was much enraged and presently assembled another army of neer sixthy thousand chosen foot and five thousand horsemen wherewith he went to invade Judaea and encamped in Bethsura Judas hearing of it came forth against him with ten thousand men and seeing the number of his enemies so farre to exceed his he earnestly cried unto God that it would please him to fight with and for him and then charged the vanguard of the enemy with so great force that he discomfited and slew about five thousand of them Lysias perceiving hereby the resolution of the Jews who would rather die then lose their liberty he returned with the rest of his Army unto Antioch where he continued and entertained many mercenaries to make a greater Army for the conquest of the Jews In the meane time Judas assembled the people and told them that having obtained so many victories through the mercy of God they ought now to go up to Jerusalem and purifie the Temple that was desolate and to offer unto God the sacrifices that were ordained by the Law Then going up with a great multitude of people he found the Temple desolate the gates burned and grass growing within the same grieving therefore at so sad a spectacle he began to weep and all the people that were with him and having chosen out some of his best souldiers he commanded them to force the garisons which were in the fortresses whilest himself purged the Temple Then he caused to be made a Table a Candlestick and Altar for incense all of gold he put up a rail also and set gates to the Temple and having thrown down the Altar of burnt-offerings that was profaned by Antiochus he built a new one of stones neither hewed nor hammered Then on the twenty fifth of Chasleu September were lights set in the Candlestick perfumes laid upon the Altar loaves set upon the Table and sacrifices offered upon the new Altar which was the same day three years wherein before the sacred service was changed into profane and hatefull impiety Then did Judas with his country-men celebrate a feast unto the Lord for eight daies praising God with Hymns and Psalms He enclosed the City also with a wall and built high Towers thereon in which he planted Garisons against the incursions of the enemies He fortified also the City of Betsura that it might serve as a Fort against the enemy But the nations round about them being greatly displeased with this prosperity of the Jews oppressed divers whom they surprised by ambushes and treachery whereupon Judas warred against them to hinder their incursions he slew many of the Idumaeans and brought away a great prey out of their country and shut up the sonnes of Baan their Prince who lay in waite for the Jews and after a siege he overcame them setting fire on their Towers and killing all the men that where therein After this he made warre upon the Ammonites who had a mighty Army under the conduct of Timotheus with these he fought and overcame them and took their City of Jazor and burned it leading their wives and children into captivity and so returned into Judaea But the neighbouring nations hearing of his departure assembled themselves together against the Jews in Galaad who retiring into the sort of Dathema sent to Judas requesting him to come and relieve them and whilest he was reading their Letters other messengers came out of Galile informing him that they were assaulted by the inhabitants of Ptolomais Tyre and Sidon and others there abouts Hereupon Judas commanded his brother Simon to take three thousand chosen men and with them to relieve those Jews that were assailed in Galile and himself with his brother Jonathan accompanied with eight thousand fighting men marched into Galaad leaving the rest of his forces under two other Captains whom he commanded to have a watchfull eye over Judaea yet not to joyn battell with any enemy till his returne Simeon in Galile fought against his enemies discomfited them pursued them to the gates of Ptolemais and slew about three thousand and having gathered their spoils he released many Jews that were prisoners restored their goods to them and so returned home But Judas having passed Jordan and marched three daies journey he met the Naâ—athians who told him that his brethren were besieged in their Castles and Cities and some of them were already brought into great exrteamity and penury Hereupon he first assailed the Inhabitants of Bosra tooke their City set it on fire and killed all the men that were able to beaâ— arms then marching all night he came early in the morning to the Castle where the Jews were besieged by Tymothies Army The enemies were just then raising their ladders to scale the walls and applying their engins for battery Then did he incourage his men to fight valiantly for their brethren that were in danger and causing his Trumpets to sound he distributed his forces into three battalions wherewith he assaulted the enemies but they hearing that it was Macâ—abaeus were struck with so great a fear that immediately they fled Judas with his men pursuing them slew about eight thousand
Army being reported to Demetrius he sent another Army under Bacchides vvho coming into Judaea and hearing that Judas vvas encamped at Bethzeth he marched against him vvith tvventy thousand footmen and tvvo thousand horsemen Judas had not in all above tvvo thousand men vvho seeing the multitude of Bacchides Army vvere afraid so that some forsaking the Camp fled avvay insomuch as there then remained vvith Judas but eight hundred men His enemies also pressed so upon him that he had no time to re-assemble his Forces yet he resolved to fight vvith those eight hundred men vvhom he exhorted to be of good courage and to fight valiantly but they answered That they were not able to make head against so great an Army and therefore they adviced him to retire and stand on his guard till he had gathered more Forces Judas replied God forbid that the Sun should see me turn my back upon the enemies though I die and spend my last blood in this battle yet will I never soil my former worthy actions by an ignominious flight And so having encouraged his souldiers he commanded them without apprehension of danger to bend themselves altogether against the enemy Bacchides drew out his Army arranged them in battle placing his horse-men in the wings his Archers and light-armed men in the front and then the Macedonian Phalanx and so causing his Trumpets to sound and his Souldiers to shout he charged his enemies Judas did the like and encountred Bacchides so that there was a most cruel conflict which continued till Sun-set Judas perceiving that Bacchides and the flower of his Army fought in the right wing he chose out the most resolute of his Souldiers and drew them towards that quarter and set upon them brake their squadron and thrusting into the midst of them he forced them to flie and pursued them as far as to the mount Aza but the left wing followed Judas and so enclosed him on the back part He seeing himself thus enclosed resolved with his followers to fight it out to the last He slew a great number of his enemies till at last he was so wearied that â—he fell to the ground and was there slain His souldiers seeing him dead betook themselves to flight Simon and Jonathan his brothers by intreaty recovered his body carried it to Modim where they interred it all the people weeping divers days for him and Jonathan his brother succeeded him in the Government CHAP. V. The Martyrdom of the Maccabees WHilst Antiochus Epiphanes was living he thrust out Onias the High-Priest from his Office and put into his room Jason his brother whereupon Jason promised to pay him yearly three thousand six hundred and sixty Talents of silver This wicked Jason presently forced all the people to forsake their Religion and to build Baths He hindered the defence and building of the Temple Hereat God was very wroth and stirred up Antiochus to go to Jerusalem where he was gallantly entertained by the Jews Then did he presently make an Edict That whosoever of the Jews refused to offer Sacrifice to the gods he should presently be broken to pieces on the wheel But those that were godly did little esteem that Edict Antiochus perceiving that the rigour of his Edict prevailed little and that many chose rather to die then to forsake their Religion he sitting in an eminent place and calling all the Jews together caused swines-flesh to be sacrificed on the Altar and to be offered to every Hebrew to eat Amongst the multitude thus assembled there was one Eleazer a Priest a man that feared God and one who was very aged of a reverend countenance and famous for his vertue To him Antiochus said Be advised by me holy old man to avoid those torments which are prepared for the obstinate preserve thy reverend age and contemn not the benefit of life take the sacrifice and eat of the swines-flesh for no wise man will credit the Jews opinion to refuse that meat which nature hath ordained for mans use as well as any other Why should this beast be more abominable then others c. Or suppose your Laws are to be observed yet will they excuse thee seeing thou sinnest not voluntarily but by compulsion To whom Eleazer answered We O Antiochus follow not vanity but the verity of Religion and fear of torments cannot make us embrace another but suppose that the Religion left us by our fore-fathers had no firm ground yet should not torments make me forsake it Do not esteem it a small matter to eat forbidden meat and to taste of that which is sacrificed to Idols for it is a profane thing to touch things that are prophane and we are taught by our Law to suffer with patience whatsoever for Gods cause is inflicted upon us c. And therefore I refuse this profane meat well knowing what I ought to eat as warranted by Gods Law which I have learned to obey c. and herein will I persist though with tyrannous hand thou pluck out mine eyes or with a sharp knife rip up my entrails Think not that because I am old my body is feeble If I must be sacrificed for Gods sake thou shalt find me as lusty and constant as a young man and most joyfull in torments Prepare an extraordinary fire or what else thou pleasest thou shalt find me more constant in the midst of all torments then I am now before they come c. The chaste and pure company of Fathers shall receive me into their number where I shall not fear O impious King thy threats c. Whilst Eleazer spake thus boldly the souldiers haled him to be tortured and stripping him naked they hanged him up and whipped him and whilst on either side he was thus beaten one cryed Obey the Kings pleasure and command But this worthy man was not overcome by torment but suffered as though he had been in a sleep and fixing his venerable eyes upon Heaven he knew in whom he believed and to whom he sacrificed his life and beholding the flesh on each side of his body rent and torn with stripes and the bloud issuing out abundantly he admired his own patience and thanked God the author of it At last finding his own frailty scarce able to endure such torments he fell upon his face which with stripes was all rent and torne still glorifying God as he did before Then a souldier to gratifie the King like a mad man did spurn and tread upon him to encrease his sufferings but Eleazer strong in body and minde like a Champion of the true God did never shrink at those pains but by patience overcame the cruelty of his tormentors so that his torturers admired that he should be able to bear them Then the Kinges Officers said How long wilt thou forbear to obey the King eat Swines flesh and free thy self from all that thou endurest Eleazer though hitherto he had been silent in all
thrown into the River Also in this persecution Justin Martyr through the malice of Crescens the Philosopher suffered Martyrdom Also one Alcibiades a man of a strict life eating only bread and water was cast into the prison where Attalus and other Christians lay and Alcibiades continued the same strict diet in prison but it was from God revealed to Attalus that he did not well in refusing the other good Creatures of God and that it was scandalous to his brethren whereupon he reformed and ate of all things boldly with thanksgiving About this time Clandius Apolinaris Bishop of Hieropolis and Melito Bishop of Sardis eloquent and learned men delivered to the Emperour excellent Apologies written by them in defence of the Christian Religion whereby they prevailed with him somewhat to stay the rage of his Persecution which also was furthered upon this occasion Marcus Aurelius and Marcus Antonius the Emperors going to War against the Quades Vandals Sarmates and Germans their Army by the multitude of their enemies was coopt up in some strait dry and hot places where the souldiers having been destitute of water for five days together were all like to perish Hereupon a Legion of Christian souldiers being in the Army with-drew apart from the rest and falling prostrate upon the earth by ardent prayer obtained of God a double relief for the Lord sent the Romans such showers as satisfied their necessities and flashed such lightnings against their enemies that thereby they were discomfited and put to flight This Miracle so pleased the Emperor that ever after he used the Christians gentler writing also to divers Rulers commanding them to give thanks to the Christians as for their victory so for the preservation of himself and his Army His letters was to this purpose That whereas himself and Army were invironed with nine hundred seventy five thousand fighting men and were like to perish for want of water the Christians praying to a God that he knew not obtained relief for him and by hail and lightning Destruction to his enemies whereby he perceived their God to be a mighty God Hereupon he decreed that none should be punished for the Christian Profession being guilty of no other crime and that the Accusers of the Christians should be burned alive Which degree he commanded to be recorded in the Senate-house proclaimed publickly in the Court of Trajan and sent diligently into all his Provinces that all might take notice of the same Yet not long after Apollonius a noble Senator of Rome was accused by his own servant before the Judge for being a Christian The Accuser according to the the Decree had his legs broken and was put to death But Apollonius having rendred an accocnt of his faith before the Senate was condemned to be beheaded notwithstanding the Decree because there was an old Law that any that was arraigned for professing Christ without a recantation could not be released Commodus the Emperor upon his birth-day calling the people of Rome together in a great royalty clothed in his Lions skin sacrificed to Hercules causing it to be proclaimed that Hercules was the Patron of the City whereupon Vincentius Eusebius Peregrinus and Pontentianus learned men and Pastors of the Congregations being stirred up with zeal went about from place to place converting the Gentiles to the faith of Christ and hearing of the madness of the Emperor and people they reproved that Idolatrous blindness exhorting them to believe in the true and living God and that forsaking the worshipping of devils they should honour God alone The Emperor hearing thereof caused them to be apprehended and required them to sacrifice to Hercules which they refusing to do he caused them to be grievously tormented and at last to be pressed to death with weights of lead Julius a Roman Senator having been converted by the preaching of these men afterwards sent for Ruffinus a Minister by whom himself and all his family were baptized and burning with holy zeal he made an open profession of the faith of Christ praying that he might not only believe but that he might have the honour to suffer for his Name The Emperor hearing that he was become a Christian sent for him to whom he said O Julius What madness possesseth thee thus to forsake the Religion of thy Fore-fathers to embrace a new and fond kind of Religion of the Christians Hereupon Julius made before him a free and open profession of his faith affirming that the Roman gods were false gods and that they that worshipped them should be punished with everlasting damnation The Emperor hearing that he despised his gods was much enraged and committed him to Vitellius a cruel and fierce man to compell him either to sacrifice to Hercules or to slay him But Julius nothing discouraged and perswading Vitellius to acknowledge and serve the true God was at his command with Cudgels beaten to death CHAP. XI The Fifth Primitive Persecution which began An. Christi 205. COmmodus being dead Pertinax succeeded in the Empire under whom the Church enjoyed peace and flourished exceedingly so that many of the Nobles of Rome embraced the true faith together with their whole housholds Pertinax being dead Severus succeeded and in the first ten years of his reign he was very mild and gentle to the Christians But afterwards through sinister suggestions and malicious accusations he was so incensed that by his proclamations he commanded that no Christians should any more be suffered to live Hereby great peâ—secution was stirred up on every side and an infinite number of Martyrs were slain The crimes objected against the Christians were sedition rebellion against the Emperor Sacriledge Murthering of Infants incestuous pollutions eating raw flesh worshipping the head of an Asse c. but especially that they would not worship their Idols The Places where this persecution most raged were Africa Capadocia Alexandria and Carthage The number of them that suffered was innumerable amongst whom was Leonides the father of Origen with whom Origen his son being but seventeen years old would have suffered such a fervent desire he had of Martyrdom had not his mother privily in the night conveyed away his shirt and cloths whereupon more for shame to be seen then for fear to die he was constrained to remain at home Origen was afterwards a Professor of Divinity at Alexandria and out of his school one Plutarch suffered Martyrdom as also Serenus his brother who was burned and another Serenus who was beheaded Potamiena also who was tormented with boiling pitch poured upon her and afterwards with her mother Marcella and Rhais burned in the fire This Potamiena being a beautifull Virgin was committed to Captain Basilides to see execution done upon her and as he led her to the place of Execution he repressed the rage of the multitude who followed her with many railings and revilings whereupon to requite his kindness she prayed to the Lord for his
to his bowels then basted with salt and vinegar then scraped and bemangled with sharp cutting shels that his whole body seemed to be but one wound yet afterwards through Gods goodness it was restored again whole And lastly was he burned In Alexandria Peter the Bishop and his Deacons constantly suffered Martyrdom as also many other Bishops in Egypt together with many famous and excellent men suffered about the same time A whole legion of Christian souldiers that lay at Thebes in Egypt under their Christian Col Mauritius because they refused to sacrifice to Idols were first tithed over by the Emperours command once and again and afterwards by the exhortation of Mauritius they died all together constant Martyrs The persecution raged not only in Asia and Africa but also in Italy France Spain c. in all which countries an innumerable company of Christians were martyred by sundry kindes of death In Trevers were so many Christians slain that their bloud ran like small brooks and discoloured great rivers yet this sufficed not the Tyrant but he sent abroad his horsemen to command all those which had apprehended any Christians immediately to put them to death At Collen also and in Rhetia many were martyred yea this persecution extended into our Britan where all the Christians were put to death Besides the kindes of death the punishments were so great and horrible as no tongue is able to express as whippings scourgings rackings horrible scrapings sword fire shipboats whereinto many were put and sunk into the sea Also hanging upon crosses binding some to the bodies of trees with their heads hanging downward hanging others by the middle upon gallowses till they died of hunger throwing others alive to Lions Bears Leopards wilde Buls c. Pricking others with bodkins and talons of beasts till they were almost dead In Thebaide they hanged up women naked by one of their feet the rest of their body hanging downwards with many other sorts of punishments most cruell to be thought of Some were bound to the boughs of trees and had their members torn asunder others were mangled with axes some choaked with smoak over a slow fire some had their hands ears and feet cut off others were scorched and broiled upon coals yet not to death but had the torment renued every day In Pontus the Martyrs had other horible torments inflicted on them Some had their fingers-ends under the nails thrust in with bodkins Some were sprinkled all over with boiling lead having their necessary members cut from them others suffred most filthy and intolerable torments in their bowels and privy members what the outrage of this persecution was in Alexandria Phileas a Bishop thus writeth Because saith he every man might torment the holy Martyrs as he listed some beat them with cudgels some with rods some with whips some with thonges some with cords some having there hands bound behind them were lifted upon timber-logs and with certaine instruments had their members and joints stretched out where their bodies hanging were subjected to the will of the tormentors who were commanded to afflict them with all manner of torments on their sides bellies thighs legges they scratched them with the claws of wilde beasts some were hanged but by on hand one the engine that they might feel the more grievous pulling out of the rest of their members Some were bound to pillars having no stay under their feet that wâ—th the weight of their bodies being drawn out they might feel the greater torment and these torments endured all day long the Judge commanding that they should not be let down till either by the extremity of torment or by the cold they were near death and then they were let down and haled upon the ground They devised also another greater torment for when the Christians were lamentably beaten they had a new kinde of rack wherein they lying upright were stretched by both the feet above the fourth hole with sharp shels strawed under them Others were cast down upon the pavement where they had so many torments inflicted upon them that their sufferings cannot be imagined what they were In the midst of which torments some died their enemies being confounded with their singular patience Some half dead were thrust into prisons where with their wounds and pain they ended their lives Others being cured of their wounds were again put to their choice whether they would sacrifice to the Idols and have their liberty or have the sentence of death pass upon them who did willingly chuse death for Christs sake rather then to sin against him In Nicomedia a Christian pulling down and tearing the Emperors Edict was stript and beaten till the bones appeared and then washed in salt and vinegar under which torments he died Yet notwithstanding the horribleness of these tortures the Christian Martyrs were so farre from being dismaied that they were confirmed and strengthned thereby merrily and joyfully undergoing whatsoever was inflicted upon them Eusebius saith that himself saw the cruel Persecution in Thebade where the swords of the Persecutors were blunted with the great slaughter of the Christians and they sat down with weariness to rest them whilest others took their places Yet still the Christians shewed their willingness and with courage joy and smiling received their sentâ—nce of death from the Judge and to the last gasp sang Psalms and Hymns of praise to God In Alexandria the holy Martyrs led with the love of better rewards did not only bear the menaces of the cruel souldiers wherewith they threatned them but also whatsoever torments they could devise for their destruction Yea saith Sulpitius then the Christians with more greedy desire pressed and sought for Maryrdom then now they do for Bishopricks Yet some through infirmity in this Persecution fell back for which they were excommunicated by the Church Damasus and others witness that there were slain in thirty daies seventeen thousand persons besides a great number that were condemned to the Metall-mines and quarries with the like cruelty In Alexandria were slain with axes three hundred At Collen three hundred Mauritius with his Christian legion six thousand six hundred sixty six whose story deserving perpetually to be remembred is this Maximian sent for his Mauritius with his legion of Thebane souldiers under a pretence of imploying them against his enemies When they came to Rome Marcellus the Blessed bishop laboured to confirm them in the truth to whom they promised perseverance in the faith unto the death Then they followed they Imperial army into France and when they were cowe thither Maximian offered sacrifice to the devils and called all his souldiers to the same strictly charging them to fight against his enemies and against the Christians which were enemies to his gods These Christian Thebans resolved rather to die then to sacrifice or to bear arms against the Christians wherewith the Tyrant being enraged commanded every tenth man of the legion to be put
harvest on the hill side of St. Germaine perceived a company of souldiers that were spoiling the inhabitants of St. Germain whereupon they made an out-cry upon which the people of Angrogne ran presently thither-ward some by the valley others over the mountain they which went by the valley being above fifty men met with the spoilers who were a hundred and twenty men well appointed with whom they fought and gave them a great overthrow some were hurt others drowned and but few hardly escaped not one of Angrogne being hurt in the fight The Monks were so affrighted with this defeat that they ran away from their Abbey to Pignerol to save their Reliques and Images which they carried thither and if the Ministers would have suffered their people to have attempted it they might easily have freed their brethren which were imprisoned in the Abbey After this these Monks being assisted by a Captain took many of the inhabitants of the valley of Luserne prisoners spoiling their goods driving away their Cattel and in the end ransomed them for great summs of money About this time a Gentleman of Campillan promised his Neighbours that if they would give him thirty Crowns he would secure them against trouble but when he had got the money he caused some souldiers to come to his house and in the night sending for the poor men which suspected no danger he trayterously endeavoured to deliver them into the hands of their mortal enemies but God who succours his in their greatest necessity discovered to one of them the danger they were in whereby they all fled and escaped Then were strict commands sent through all the Country to banish all the Waldenses together with the Gospel out of the mountains and vallies of Piedmount but the people still desired that they might have leave to serve God purely according to the Rules of the Word In the end of October a rumour was spread abroad that an Army was raising wholly to destroy them yea and such malefactors as were in prisons or banished were pardoned upon condition that they should take arms to destroy the Waldenses Hereupon the Ministers met together to consult what was to be done in so great an extremity And first they enjoyed a general and publick Fast to seek unto God for Direction and in the end concluded that they should not defend themselves by arms but that forsaking their houses and taking their best movables with them they should retire unto the high mountains but if their enemies pursued them thither that then they should take such advise as God should please to give them This Counsel all the people submitted to and for eight days space were as busie as Ants in summer to remove their goods and provisions which though they did in great danger yet with great courage and alacrity praising God and singing Psalms every one cheering up another But other Ministers hearing of this resolution wrote to them that they thought it strange that in such an extream necessity they should not rather resolve to defend themselves against violence proving that it was lawfull for them so to do to defend the true Religion and the lives of themselves wives and children knowing thar it was not the Duke but the Pope that thus stirred him up against them During this time their Adversaries cryed nothing but To the fire with them to the fire with them and presently by proclamations set up every where Angrogne was exposed to the fire and sword The Army also approached to their borders and the people retired into the mountains But when they saw some horse-men not only spoiling their goods but taking some of their brethren prisoners they came back and set upon them in which bickering some of the enemies were slain and the rest retired to their camp not one of the Waldenses was slain or hurt But two of these horsemen that fled galloping away before the rest when they came neer to the Army cryed out They come they come Whereupon the whole Army was so astonished that every man fled away none pursuing and the Captain could not all that day get them into order again The next day the Army under the Lord of Trinity was mustered in a meddow near to Angrogne They of the Town had sent some to stop the passages that the Army should not enter and in the mean time they retired into the meddow of Toure not expecting the Army so soon so that there were but few that kept the Passages but when those few perceived their enemies preparing themselves to fight they all fell down upon their knees praying earnestly unto God to pity them and not to look on their sins but on the cause that they maintained to turn the hearts of their enemies and so to worke that there might be no effusion of bloud but if it were his will to take them their wives and infants out of this world that it would please him mercifully to receive them into his Kingdome Their prayers being ended they perceived their enemies to come through the Vines to win the top of the mountain Whereupon the combat began in divers places and continued untill night The poor Waldenses being but few and only armed with slings and cross-bows were much oppressed by the multitudes of their enemies so that at last they retired to the top of the mountain where they defended themselves till night But having found a place where they might withstand their enemies they turned again and slew divers of them At Even the enemies began to encamp themselves which the Waldenses perceiving they fell to prayer desiring God to assist and succour them for which the enemies flouted and laughed them to scorn The poor people devised to send a Drum into a valley hard by and as they were at prayer the Drum beat up in the valley whereupon the Lord of Trinity caused his souldiers to retreat which was a great advantage to the Waldenses who were weary thirsty and in great perill if God by this meanes had not given them some rest Of the Waldenses there were but three slain but many of their enemies and more hurt of whom few recovered This combat much encouraged the Waldenses and as much terrified their enemies who in their retreat burnt many houses and destroyed the Wines that were in the Presse Then did the Lord of Trinity encamp in the vally of Luserne by a Village the people whereof had alwaies hated the Waldenses and much rejoyced at this hurt that was now done to them but they were paid back in their own coyn being all destroyed by the Army Then did the Lord of Trinity place four Garisons in four severall Fortresses so that the poor Waldenses found themselves in a sea of troubles Whereupon they first betook themselves to prayer then sent to their friends for aid who sent them all that they could make Then did the Lord of Trinity send his Army to Villars
and Tailleret The lesser part went towards Villars the people seeing their enemies approaching called upon God with fervent prayer then set upon their enemies slew some hurt others and the rest fled The other company going towards Tailleret they of that place were but few in number yet making their prayers to God and commending their cause to him they set valiantly upon their enemies during which bickering they of Villars encouraged by their late success came to help their friends and set so lustily upon their enemies that they put them to flight but in the pursuit of them they fell into an ambush and were environed by their enemies yet through Gods mercy they all escaped without the losse of one man on the enemies side there were so many slain that they were laid together by whole Cart-loads Another party of the enemies going to spoil a rich mans house some of his neighbours not being above seventy set upon them put them to flight took away their Drum and recovered their booty from them Then did the Lord of Trinity send to them telling them how much the Duke and his Dutchesse favoured them and promised himselfe to mediate for them that they might live in peace But whilest by these pretences he sought to make them secure he sent part of his Army to get the hill of Tailleret and another part had already gotten the way that led to the meddow of Tour whereby the Angrognians might have been easily enclosed but they perceiving it immediatly sent some to encounter with their enemies who gat the victory pursued them to their camp and slew very many of them without the losse of one man The Lord of Trinity cunningly excused this attempt and sent to them to draw up a supplication to the Duke which was accordingly done wherein they promised to render all honour and reverence unto God according to his Word and all due obedience to the Duk c. But in the mean time Trinity grievously vexed them of Tailleret upon pretence that they had not presented themselves to treat of this agreement taking their arms from them and causing them to ask pardon on their knees But presently after news was brought them that the enemies had gotten to the top of the mountaine and had taken all the passages whereat they were sore amazed and ran with all speed to defend their wives and children some they saved but the most of their goods were already in the enemies hands who at this time did them much mischiefe Yet after this the Lord of Trinity sent word again to them that were fled that if they would return he would receive them to mercy The poor people most of them trusting to his promise returned but the next morning the enemies came to apprehend them and their Ministers besetting the place on every side Then they that were swift of foot escaped all the rest were taken yet God miraculously delivered them for an old man that could not run so fast as the other was espied by a souldier who ran with a naked sword to have slain him the old man seeing the iminent danger caught him by the legs overthrew him and drew him by the heels down the hill the souldier cryed Help help this villain will kill me hereupon his fellows ran to his rescue but in the mean time the old man escaped and the rest seeing what the old man had done though they had lost their weapons yet took heart of grass and with stones and slings drave away their enemies and thereby they all escaped The next day the souldiers went again to Tailleret robbing spoiling and carrying away all that they could find but most of the people were retired towards Villars Then did the souldiers range all about and took divers prisoners whom they used cruelly and one souldier bit off one of their ears saying I will carry the flesh of this wicked Heretick with me into my Country They found also two women the mother and the daughter in a cave whom they wounded to death and in another cave an old man of an hundred years old with his grand-daughter of eighteen years old that fed him the man they slew the maid they would have ravished who flying from them tumbled down the mountains and died About the same time there was one John Martin that made his boasts every where that if he could meet with the Minister of Angrogne he would slit his nose but shortly after a wolf met him and setting upon him bit off his nose whereupon he ran mad and died miserably A certain souldier promised the Lord of Trinity to bring to him the Minister of Tailleret and accordingly never ceased till he found him but as he was pursuing of him some out of the mountains rescued the Minister and slew the souldier with stones These souldiers were so extream abusive to women that many Papists that lived by sent their daughters into the mountains to the Waldenses to preserve their chastity Then did the Lord of Trinity promise that if they would pay him eight thousand Crowns he would with-draw his Army and be gone They being desirous of Peace sold their Cattel to raise the money but when he had received it he continued his Army there still Then did the Lord of Trinity require them to send away their Ministers till the matter were determined before the Duke or else by his Army he would force them to it whereupon by mutual consent they agreed that the Ministers should with-draw for the present till the Army was retired which was not done without great sighs and lamentations and tears At that time there fell an extraordinary snow so that the people with great difficulty were fain to make way for their Ministers to pass But the Army hearing that the Ministers were gathered together they sent out a company of harquebushers to apprehend them who came but one hour too late to have taken them Then did they search every cave house and chest to seek them whereby they robbed the poor people of all their best things Then did they beset the Ministers house of Angrogne to whom the Lord of Trinity had promised safety but it pleased God that he escaped the souldiers pursued him into the mountains but could not overtake him whereupon they plundred his house burnt his books and writings and so returned The next morning command was given to the Rulers of Angrogne within twenty four hours to deliver up their Minister or else Angrogne should be put to fire and sword They answered that they knew not where he was for the souldiers had driven him over the mountains Then did the souldiers burn houses break the mils spoil the people and do all the mischief they could and so departed The Lord of Trinity left Garisons in the Fortresses and caused the poor Waldenses to maintain them who not content with their wages pillaged and robbed all about them and
having taken fourteen men they bound them and were leading them away prisoners but their wives and children pursued them so fiercely with stones that they were glad to let their prisoners go and had much ado to save themselves Two others that they caught they hung up by the heels and hands and having tormented them almost to death at last released them for a great sum of money Another Garison in the night went to Tailleret brake in at the windows and tops of houses spoiling all and took also fourteen prisoners whom they bound two and two together and were carrying them to the Fortress but two of them getting loose so valiantly assaulted the souldiers and beat them with stones that they forced them to let go their other prisoners Yet two others they took and carried them to the Fort one was but a child whom the Captain strangled with his own hands the other was sixty years old whom they bound and took a crature that lives in horse-dung and put into his navel covering them with a dish which in a short space did eat into his belly and killed him The Waldenses were in great perplexity by reason of these Garisons but especially for the want of their Ministers whereupon they resolved to call them back yet to have preaching only in private because they would not imbitter the souldiers till their messengers returned from the Duke These messengers were cruelly handled at the Court and at last sent back with a command that they should entertain Priests to say Mass c. When this Report was made to their brethren that sent them there was wonderfull lamentation weeping and mourning Then did they send two of their Ministers to the Church of Pragela to shew them of the pitifull condition of the Churches in Piedmont and to ask their advice how to prevent the danger and in the next place they all fell to prayer and having long called upon God for counsel and direction in so great a strait they resolved upon debate that the people in Piedmont and Dauphine should joyn in a League together wherein they promised through Gods grace and assistance to maintain the pure preaching of the Gospel and administring the holy Sacraments to yeeld obedience to their superior so farre as they were commanded by the Word of God and one to be aiding and assisting to the other that none should conclude any thing touching the estate of Religion without the consent of the rest of the Vallies During this Treaty all the housholders were required to be present at Masse and such as would do it should live in peace but such as refused should be condemned to be burnt or sent to the Gallies so that the people were constrained to fly die or renounce the Gospel The first they would have chosen but could not do it by reason of the great snow Whereupon they exhorted one another saying We shall be all called for to morrow to renounce God and to return to Idolatry let us therefore make a solemn protestation that we will live and die in the confession of Gods holy Word let us in the morning hear a sermon and then cast down to the ground all the Idols and Altars and to this all agreed In the morning they put their resolutions into execution beating down the Images and casting down the Altars Then they went to Villars to do the like there but by the way they encountred with a band of souldiers who where going to spoil a village and to fetch away the inhabitants prisoners These souldiers seeing them so ill provided mocked them and discharged their guns at them but they taking courage with stones beat the souldiers pursuing them to the Fortresse Then did they go to Villars and having destroyed the Idols and Altars there they returned to besiege the fortresse demanding the prisoners that were therein The Judge with many Gentlemen came that day to enroll their names that would go to Masse but seâ—ing the resolution of the people they fled into the Castle where they were besieged for ten daies Then did the Captain of Toâ—r go with a company of souldiers thinking to raise the siege but by those which kept the passages some of them were slain the rest were driven back again Then came they back with three bands which caused a furious fight wherein many of the souldiers were slain and hurt and not one of the besiegers was hurt The Waldenses attempted often to have taken the Fortresse but without Ordinance it was impossible also the Lord of Trinity was come back with his army and the next day would have raised the siege But it pleased God that very night that the souldiers in the Castle desired leave to depart with bag and baggage which was easily granted to them and the souldiers whiâ—h before had so cruelly persecu the Ministers were now fain to request them to protect their lives and to conduct them to a place of safty which the Ministers did willingly and the souldiers were very thankfull for it that night the Fort was razed to the ground The next day the Lord of Trinity cunningly sent to them of Angrogne that if they would not aid the other they should be gently dealt with but they knowing his fraud agreed with the rest to defend their Religion with their lives and that no one should make an agreement with out the consent of the rest Then did the Lord of Trinity assay with his Army to enter into the borders of Angrogne by certaine streights but the people having raised up some breast-works valiantly defended themselves and offended their enemies Trinities souldiers being weary fresh ones were brought in their stead so that the fight endured untill night wherein many of the enemies were slain more hurt and but two of the Waldenses and so the battell ceased for the present The next day the Army marched towards Angrogne five severall waies and there were none to resist but only a few that kept the Watch who valiantly fought for a space but seeing themselves in danger to be inclosed they retreated to an high place where the combate was renued with greater fiercenesse then before The Lord of Trinity seeing the losse of many of his men sounded a retreat and went to Angrogne but the people were fled into the medow of Tour therefore he burned and spoiled all before him He also oft set fire upon the two Churches where the word used to be preached but could not burne them and so he did to the Ministers house and yet it remained whole Amongst them of Angrogne there were but two that were enemies to the word of God and they were both slain that day Then did the Lord of Trinity send some to burn Rosa but the souldiers were driven back four daies together by them that kept the passages whereupon he sent his whole Army yet they valiantly withstood them from morning till night At last a party
gat behinde them over a mountaine so that the poor people seeing themselves environed saved themselves by running through the midst of their enemies and others of them gat into the rocks The enemies being entred Rosa destroyed all with fire and sword The people fled by secret waies toward Luserne wandring all night upon the mountains full of snow laden with their stuff carrying their infants in their arms and leading others by the hand with great pain and travell They of Luserne seeing them ran to them praising God for their deliverance and they all were very chearfull notwithstanding their extremities Shortly after the Lord of Trinity went to Luserne by three waies they which kept the passages resisted their enemies valiantly but when they saw themselves assaulted on every side they fled into the mountains Then did the souldiers sack and burn the houses staying all they could finde When they which were fled to the mountains saw their houses on fire they praised God and gave him thanks that thus accounted them worthy to suffer for his Name Then did the souldiers pursue them to the mountains but after they had called upon God a few of them beat back their enemies whereupon the Army retired They in the meddow of Tour perceiving a company of souldiers burning the rest of the houses in Angrogne they sent six harque-bushiers against them who from the higher ground discharging all their guns together the souldiers ran all away when none pursued them Shortly after as the Watch was hearing a Sermon they spied a company of souldeirs marching up the hill whereupon they ran to encounter them and easily discomfited them But whilest they pursued the chase some cried to them that another company was entred into the meddow whereupon they left the chase or else not one of their enemies had escaped Presently other companies came other waies which the Ministers and people seeing were much discouraged and therefore they fell to prayer and ardently called upon God with sighs and teares untill night And whereas seven spies were sent before the souldiers there went out five of the Waldenses against them and took some and chased the rest Then went out eight more against the whole company and pursued them with an undaunted courage from rock to rock and from hill to hill and then went out twelve more who joining with the other made a great slaughter of their enemies Another company from Luserne having a Minister with them as they used alwaies to have after they had made their prayers to God set upon another company of souldiers whose hearts were so taken from them that they presently fled One of the Waldenses a very young man carried a greate staff in his hand with which he laid so lustily at his enemies that he brake his staff and slew many of them he also brake four of their own swords in pursuing of them Also a boy of eighteen years old slew the Lord of Monteil Master of the Camp which much dismaid the enemies Another threw down Charles Truchet and then leaped upon him and slew him with his own sword upon which all the rest fled and were pursued till night hindred The Minister seeing the great effusion of bloud and the enemies flying cried to the people that it was enough and so exhorted them to praise God They that heard him obeyed and fell to prayer In this battell they gat much armour which was a great advantage to them afterwards Thanks were returned unto God in every place every one saying Who sees not evidently that God fighteth for us Presently after the Lord of Trinity returned to burn the Villages but especially to pursue the poor people in the mountains And one company with many horsemen ascended the mountain of Comb by an unsuspected way where were no Warders but they which were next seeing them called upon God for aid and though they were but thirty in number yet they valiantly beat them back twice many of the enemies were slain and not one of the Waldenses Trinity seeing his men thus beaten back sent out most of his Army to assist them which were about one thousand five hundred men And there came about a hundred to help the Warders The combat was very cruel at last the poor men were fain to retreat with the losse of two of their men at this the enemies exceedingly rejoyced blowing their trumpets and triumphing but the people crying all together to the Lord returned again with greater violence assaulting them with their slings So that the enemies being weary rested themselves and the while the Waldenses betook themselves to prayer which more affrighted their enemies then any thing else Then did the souldiers charge again furiously but by the hands of a few they were driven back yea little children fervently calling upon God threw stones at their enemies as also did the women Such as were unfit for war kneeled on the ground with their faces towards heaven crying Lord help us Then came one running that brought word that the Angrognians were coming to help them which the enemies hearing presently retreated Another party of the Army of an hundred and fourty went another way but by seven men they were strongly resisted and driven back A third party was met by the Angrognians and driven back The Lord of Trinity intending to be revenged upon them in the meddow of Tour assembled all the Gentlemen of the country and an Army of about seven thousand and when the poor people saw them coming glittering in their harnesse and so many in number they were at first astonished but pouring out their prayers unto God to succour them and to have regard to the glory of his Name c. They marched to encounter with their enemies and seasonably by the way they met with some aid that was coming to them from Luserne so that uniting themselves they soon discomfited their enemies The Captain of the enemies had in the morning promised to do great matters that day but in the evening he was carried back weak and wounded and not like to live Whereupon a Papist said to him Monsieur there religion is beter then ours Another part of the Army set upon an house in a passe wherein were but five men yet they lustily defended it drave out their enemies that had entred and kept the place till some of their friends came to relieve them Another half of the Army assaulted another Bulwork on the side of the mountaine And they within suffered them to come very near but then with slings and guns they slew many of them others rouled down great stones which killed divers so that when they had attempted all waies to take it they were forced to retire the Lord of Trinity weeping to see his men slain so fast and at last having lost very many of his men he was forced to retreate many of the Army crying out God fighteth for them and we do them wrong
requested the Albingenses to yield to this but the Albingenses answered that they would not forsake their religion for the base price of their frail life that God was able if he pleased to defend them but if he would be glorified by the confession of their faith it should be a great honour to them to die for his sake that they had rather displease the Pope who could but kill their bodies then God who could cast both body and soul into hell c. Then did the Popish party send their Bishop to the Legate beseeching him not to include them in the chastisement of the Albingenses and that the best way to win the others was by gentle means not by rigour the Legate grew into great choler at this swearing that if all the City diâ— not acknowledg their fault they should all taste of one cup without distinction of religion sex or age and accordingly he summoned the City presently to yield to his discretion which they refusing he caused that his Engines should play and that a generall assault should be given It was impossible for them within the City to resist so great violence being assaulted by above an hundred thousand Pilgrims so that the enemies entred and slew a great multitude and set the City on fire and burnt it to ashes When the City was first taken the Priests and Monks came forth of the great Church with Banners and Crosses singing Te Deum laudamus but the Souldiers who were commanded by the Legate to kill all ran upon them made their heads and arms to fly about the streets so that they were all cut in pieces In this City of Beziers they slew sixty thousand persons the Popes Legate saying to the Captains and souldiers Caedite eos omnes novit enim Dominus qui sunt ejus Kill them all Catholicks and Hereticks for the Lord knoweth who are his Then were these Pilgrims presently conducted to Carcasson before the fourty daies of service which they had vowed to the Church of Rome were expired The Earl of Beziers when he saw that he could obtain no favour of the Legate before the City was taken left his charge to the Bishop and went to Carcasson endeavouring to prepare and furnish it for a long siege but the Legates Army followed him presently unto which there came a new supply of crossed souldiers out of sundry Countries so that his Army now consisted of three hundred thousand fighting men Near to the City of Carcasson was a Town of the same name the City was seated on an hill and fenced with a double wall yet the Pilgrims thought to take it at the first sight and therefore ran with great violence upon the first Rampier filling the ditch with fagots but they were beaten back with such courage that the ground was covered with their dead bodies The young Earl of Beziers won much honor in this first encounter encouraging his men and telling them that it was better to die fighting then to fal into the hands of such cruel and merciless enemies c. The Albingenses much encouraged hereby swore to him that they would spend their lives for the preservation of the City The next morning the Legate commanded a general assault to be made upon the Town of Carcasson which was two miles from the City The people valiantly defended themselves but being oppressed with multitudes the souldiers entred the Town putting all to the sword and fire as they had done at Beziers Then came the King of Arragon to the Camp and told the Legate that he understood that his kinsman the Earl of Beziers was in the City and that with his leave he would go to him not doubting but that he should prevail with him to do his duty to the Pope and Church The Legate gave him leave and the King approaching to the Rampier called for the Earl who came to him then said the King that he desired to know of him what moved him to shut up himself in that City against so great an Army of Pilgrims the Earl answered that it was to defend his life goods and Subjects that he knew well that the Pope under the pretence of religion resolved to destroy his Uncle Remund and himselfe that he saw the cruelty which they had used at Beziers even against the Priests themselves adding also what they had done to the Town of Carcasson and that they must look for no mercy from the Legate or his Army and that therefore he rather chose to die defending himself with his subjects then to fall into the hands of so inexorable an enemy as the Legate was that though he had in his City some that were of another religion yet they were such as had wronged none and were come to his succour in his greatest extremity and for their good service he was resolved not to abandon them and that his trust was in God the defender of the oppressed that he would assist them against that world of ill advised men who forsook their own houses to burn sack and ransack and kill in their houses other men without reason judgement or mercy The King returning to the Legate told him that his cozen was much discontented with his former dealings against his Subjects of Beziers Carcasson that he believed seeing they spared not the Romish Priests their war was not for Religion but a kinde of theevery that he would not yield himselfe to the descretion of such mercilesse men c. The Legate after some debate told the King that for his sake he would receive the Earl of Beziers to mercy and that with him twelve more might come out with bag and baggage but for the rest he would have them wholly at his discretion and that they should all come forth stark naked men women maids and children without shirts smocks or other covering and that then they might hope well of his mercy he being the Popes Legate c. The King much distasted this propositions yet reported it to the Earl of Beziers who returned answer that he would not come forth upon such unreasonable and unjust propositions but would defend himself and his Subjects as God should enable him Then did the Legate cause all his Engines to play commanding that they should take the City by storm but he was little pleased when he saw the losse of a great number of his Pilgrims for they in the City threw down stones fire pitch brimstone and boiling water wherewith they so galled the assailants that the earthâ—â—s covered and the ditches filled with their deads bodies which 〈◊〉 a wondrous noysom stink both in the City an Camp This overthrow caused divers of the crossed souldiers having accomplished their fourty daies service and thereby gained Paradise to refuse to conquer more after so faire a purchase and therefore they returned home The Legate being much troubled to see his Army so decreased thought of this Stratagem he sent for
and where as some were allured to deny the truth that they might be eased of taxes and quarterings of souldiers this was not performed whereupon they complained that promise was broken with them but the Jesuits answered them that they had no cause to complain for they had provided for their souls and therefore they ought cheerfully to help the King by contributions and quarterings of souldiers and that Hereticks must be dealt with as mad men and children from whom â—f you desire to get a knife you must shew them something else though you never intend to give it them Thus the Kingdom being emptied of gold and silver counterfeit and adulterate money was coined in great abundance that so the common people might rejoyce in their plenty but in the mean time the souldiers would recâ—ive none but good money Gold and silver also was raised to ten times the price of it and on a sudden the Emperour diminished the value making every piece of money to be worth but the tenth part whereby the Bohemians were more impoverished suddenly then if they had lain under the burden of an Army ten years Then was it ordered that the creditor should lose all the money that he had lent in the time of the rebellion as they called it And thus they were first impoverished after which the enemies insulted over them by infamous books insolent pictures and proud words Then did they send abroad their Commissioners of Reformation who in every Town and Village endeavored to bring Protestantism into disgrace and highly to magnifie and set abroad their owne cause The most eminent men for honour and estates are invited to Apostasie the inferiour sort are either fooled by their examples or compelled by threâ—tnings Then was there an High-Court of reformers set up from which there was no appeal In the next place the souldiers exercised barbarous Tyranny against the Ministers of Jesus Christ. One aged minister lying sick in his bed they shot him to death as he lay The next day they robbed and murthered another Another as he was preaching to his people they came into the Church and shot him to death Another Nobleman and a Minister hearing of souldiers that were coming that way conveighed themselves away into a place of safety the souldiers when they came caught a Schoolmaster and binding him in cords examined him where the Lord of that place and the Minister were and where they had hid their treasure he professed that he knew neither the one nor the other whereupon they beat him first with their fists then with cudgels then stripping him naked they so extreamly singed him with fire that at last he promised to bring them where the treasure was shewing them a ditch full of stones which for greediness of gold they emptied but finding nothing they beat him afresh and when he professed that he knew of no treasure though through pain he had said so much they cudgelled him and with clods beat him into the ditch and buried him under the stones Presently after they lighted on another godly Minister whom they so miserably tortured that he â—ied within five daies shamefully abusing his daughters also whom they led away with them Another godly Minister for a moneth together they excruciated with new invented mockeries they spit in his face buffeted him with their fists exposed him to be beaten by every vile rascall They with a knotâ—y cord twisten about his forehead with a stick so strained his head that his very eyes were ready to start out Then they let loose a wilde horse upon him which yet leaped quite over him and did him no harm at last with much adoe he redeemed himself with five hundred Florences Another Pastor they lighted on and because he had a better estate then the former they tormented him more sometimes covering him over with hot burning coals sometimes with Ice till they had forced him to pay a thousand five hundred Florences for his ransome though shortly after through extremity of the pain he died Another Minister they fetched from his house and miserably tortured him by twisting a cord about his head then tied they his hands behinde him and his legs with a small cord intending the next morning to torture him with fire but in the night time as he was earnest at his prayers repeating those words In thee O Lord is my trust he perceived his hands and feet miraculously to be loosned Whereupon getting up he went to the gate where were three Watchmen one of them standing with his hand on his sword yet he passed by them undiscovered When he came to the Town-gate he was known by the Souldier that stood Sentinell but he being a Bohemian was overcome by entreaty and let him passe over the bridge whereby he escaped Another Minister together with his wife they cruelly burnt Another was hanged upon a crosse-beam and making a fire under him they broiled him to death Another they cut into small peeces Another Minister they sought for but he being escaped they took a young man in his house laid him on his back filled his mouth with gunpowder which setting fire to they miserably tore his jaws in pieces and then killed him When some souldiers came to the house of another he entertained them courteously and made good provision for them but when they knew he was a Minister they first beat him cruelly then killed him stripped and plundered his house they also burnt his Library and would not suffer his body to be buried for seven weeks during their abode there Another aged Minister and his wife were so sorely burned by a souldier that demanded money of them that presently after they died Another was hung up by the privy members being seventy years old and his own books burnt under him and at last was shot through and slain Another was first assessed at seven hundred florences then had his house plundred and lastly himself was murthered Another they caught and wounded cutting his neck half through but being afterwards carried by some friends to a Chirurgion he lived about two years but in much pain and torment Another being above seventy years old they carried into the market-place where laying him upon a fire they burnt him to death Another was beaten so that he died three daies after The Jesuites laid wait for one Pescinus a man eminent for learning and piety at last they suborned an Apostate to betray him who discovering him as he rode in a Coach with a Nobleman fourty horsemen came suddenly and took him away but by the importunity of some Noblemen he was ransomed for four thousand Florences and ended his life in banishment Another being bound to a Tree was made a mark for the Musquetiers to shoot at and though they did not hit him yet by reason of the affrightment he died within three daies Another being met by a
repentance obtained mercy of God Thereupon he cried unto God a whole year together night and day watering his bed with his tears because he thought himself damned but at last God saith he sent his Angel to me and I saw this glory brighter then the sun and I had gods Spirit bestowed upon me c. After which he was apprehended beheaded and quartered The pictures of John Husse and Jerom of Prague they defaced all the Bibles that they could meet with they burned the graves of the Ministers they opened took out their bones and burnt them The Statutes of King Frederick they beat in pieces and trampled them under their feet One man they fined at five hundred Dollars for giving his son the name of Frederick Before these calamities befell the Bohemians God gave them warning by sundry Prodigies In severall places divers Suns were seen together At Prague the Sun seemed to dart out bals of fire Also a flying Dragon flaming horribly was seen throughout all Bohemia and Silesia Also a spring flowed with bloud for an whole moneth together In another place a Fish-pond was wholly turned into bloud for the space of three daies A great flock of Crows and Daws fought together for a whole daies space whereby multitudes of them were slain At Prague it rained brimstone and the Image of the crucifix being set up was struck down with a thunderbolt The gates of some Cities opened of their own accord Many Bibles being thrown into a great fire were untouched only the margin a little scorched Many Apostates tormented by the sting of conscience cried out They were damned Some to avoid these terrors hanged themselves others drowned themselves Some died in fearfull despaire others died suddenly One as he was about to abjure was stricken dumb and being carried home was possessed with a great trembling all over and gnawing his own tongue he died miserably Dr Knapper a great persecutor was slain by the appointment of his wife an adultresse for which she was afterwards hanged Another vomited out his ungodly soul with bloud Another ran mad and cast him self down from the top of his house and so roaring fearfully he breathed his last Another shot himself to death with his own Pistoll Another ran mad fell into such a disease that none could come near him for stink and at last was choaked with vomiting up abundance of bloud Another being taken with a sudden disease waxed as black as a cole uttered his speech like the barking of a dog and within three daies died with terrible pains Another by the breaking of a great gun was torn all to pieces Another had a terrible disease in his throat his tongue rotted many holes were eaten in his throat whereout his food and medicines came so that he died myserably Collected out of a Book called Historia Persecutionum Ecclesiae Bohem. written by some Bohemian exiles HAving thus given you a brief Narrative of the Persecutions of the Church in Bohemia from the first planting of the Gospel amongst them to our present times Before I proceed any further let us a little look back to see how God fought for them against their Popish adversaries and thereby after a wonderfull manner plagued their persecutors Much may be read hereof in my second Part in the Life of Zisca but after his death there was a great fear and sorrow seized on his Army and the souldiers being divided amongst themselves one part of them chose for their Captain Procopius Magnus who still retained the name of Thaborites The other part thinking none worthy to succeed Zisca named themselves the Orphanes by reason of the losse of their Captain yet whensoever their Popish adversaries came against them they both joyned together to defend themselves and the liberty of the Gospel in Bohemia About this time Pope Martin perceiving the Gospel and the Professors of it to increase daily in Bohemia he sent the Cardinall of Winchester an English man into Germany to stirre up the Emperour and German Princes to make war against the Bohemians Hereupon three Armies were levied one under the Duke of Saxony the second under the Marquesse of Brandenburg the third under Otho Archbishop of Trevers These three Armies entred Bohemia three waies and at last joyning all into one besieged the City of Misna which but the night before was won from the Papists by one Prichicho a learned and zealous Protestant and therefore the Popish Armies resolved to take that place before they marched any further But so soon as news came that the Protestants had raised an Army and were hasting to the relief of Misna they speedily fled before they ever saw an enemy leaving all their Engines of warre and a great booty behinde them The Cardinall meeting them in their flight used all the arguments that possibly he could to the Nobles and Captains to turn them back again magnifying their number and prowesse and vilifying their enemies but when nothing would prevail himselfe was fain to accompany them in the flight Presently the Bohemians pursuing fell upon their rereward which made their flight much more fearfull and disordered then it was before neither did they leave flying till the Bohemians left pursuing of them The Emperour hearing of this shamefull flight went to Noremberg and by the assistance of the Cardinall a new Army was raised under the Command of Frederick Marquesse of Brandenburg which entred Bohemia one way and another great Army under Albert Arch-Duke of Austria which entred another way In these two Armies were all the chiefest Nobles and Bishops in Germany being above fourty thousand horsemen besides foot The Bohemians as soon as they heard of their enemies approach gathered their Host with all speed to encounter them But God marvellously fought for them for before the Bohemians came near them the Popish Army was struck with such a marvellous sudden fear that they began most shamefully to run away the Cardinall wondering at it went up and down to the Captains exhorting and encouraging of them telling them that they were to fight for their Lives Honour Religion and the salvation of souls c. but notwithstanding all that he could say and do the Ensignes were suddenly snatched up and every man ran headlong away so that the Cardinall was forced to do the like The Protestants encouraged hereby speedily pursued them and obtained a very great booty This so astonished both the Pope and Emperour that afterwards they sought rather by subtilty to entrap them then by force to compell them to forsake their religion as we have seen in the foregoing story CHAP. XXVI The Persecution of the Church in Spaine which began Anno Christi 1540. ANno 1540. there was one Francis Romane sent by the Spanish Merchants of Antwerp to Breme to take up some money that was due to them where being at a Sermon through the marvelous working of Gods Spirit he was so effectually wrought upon that after
with moderation he had been hardly to have been paralleld The death of so brave a Commander and the wound of Captaine Gianavel in that juncture of time did not a little startle the Protestants But necessity often puts inconsiderable men upon bold enterprizes for these poor men did not despond nor lose their courage but assembling shortly after in a Mountaine of Angrognia they descended into the plaine where twice they were assaulted with violence the last of which was by a dangeros Ambuscado where the enemies were at least six thousand and they not above one hundred But God of his infinite goodnesse so encouraged their hearts and guided their hands that they slew very many of their enemies and amongst them many principal Officers whereas the Reformed party lost onely one Michael Bertino a Serjeant of Angrognia and had but one common souldier wounded The sonne of the said Bertino seeing his father fall dead at his feet was so farre from being discouraged that he immediately stepped into his fathers place with these words Though my father be dead yet be of good courage my fellow souldiers for God is a father to us all Munday following they had a very sharp dispute at La Torre and about Tagliaretto where they killed and wounded a great number of their enemies without the losse of any of their own men Indeed in this time the enemies reaped their Corne in the plaines of Saint Giovanni but they could not carry it away but with the losse of many of their lives About the same time there came to them one Monsieur Andrion a Major of a Regiment of Horse with two other Gentlemen that were strangers who were followed with some Volunteers whose friendly visit of their poor afflicted Brethren and their good advice in such a juncture of time was taken as it deserved very kindly and God made it a singular means to uphold the fainting spirits of some weak Brethren who seeing others come in to the help of the Lord against the Mighty went on with a great deale more chearfulnesse and alacrity and these staid with them till the peace was concluded at Pignerâ—l July the eleventh 1655. Sieur John Leger Pastor of the Church at Saint Giovanni who deserves to be remembred for the great paines and many services performed by him in the behalf of the Churches of the Valleys having notice that the enemies were of opinion that he was come back from his journey with Armes and Money and Ammunition and thereupon presuming that they would suddenly make some notable attempt to prevent what they so much feared he went to Colonel Andrion and pressed him to put his designe in execution The poor people had as yet no standing Army but the Bands of each Commonalty were quartered at a great distance the one from the other and certainly they had been cut off every man of them within a few dayes had not their Centinels been very watchful and above all if Captaine Charforan had not on the one side timely discovered the enemy an the poor people on the other side been exceedingly heartned to the Battel by the great valour and singular conduct of the Sieurs Andrion Michelin and Leger The Enemy was very numerous having been lately reinforced with many Troops They encamped themselves within half a League of the Reformed party and early in the morning they divided themselves into four Brigades three whereof fell upon the Protestants with a marvelous Resolution in three several places at once the fourth stood still ready to succour their friends if there were need The fight continued at least four hours without intermission and was the sharpest that ever was fought in the open field and that which made the enemies more fierce was their hopes to have beaten back the Protestants from their Post called the Castelas which if they could have effected they had been certainly Masters of the Valleys Perosa Saint Martino and Lucerna But the poor people having lifted up their hearts by earnest supplications to the Lord of Hosts as they used to do upon all such occasions Major Andrion and the two other Captaines which he had brought with him gave forth such orders as were necessary encouraging their men exceedingly so that without budging a foot they kept their ground all save a few who were either quite tired or faint for want of food or that wanted powder or flints in their fire-locks But these the Sieurs Mechelin and Leger imployed in rolling down great stones upon their enemies heads as they came to attacque them which proved very successeful doing much execution upon the enemy and causing them to abate much of their fury and whereas in the beginning of the fight they cryed alwayes Advance Advance ye relicts of Jahier the Protestants now began to cry as fast Advance Advance ye relicts of Saint Secondo and withal they ran upon those murtherers as so many Lions and caused them to turn back and flie towards La Torre and Lucerna as fast as they were able leaving behinde them fifty five upon the place and about fourty that were killed in the flight besides many others who were carried either dead or dangerously wounded to Lucerna Themselves confessed that in this encounter they lost at least three hundred men amongst which were many Officers of a Bavarian Regiment When such multitudes of dead wounded and dying men were brought into Lucerna the Syndick who was indeed a Papist but not so superstitious as many others said to some Hitherto the Wolves devoured the Barbets But now the Barbets devour the Wolves which words being reported to Monsieur Marolles the Commander in chief in Lucerna he threatened to imprison him and to give him the Strappado for them which so terrified the poor man that he presently sickened and within a few dayes died Two dayes after this great fight the enemy being much enraged for their great losse spread themselves all over Angrognia and began to set the Corne on fire which being seene by the Company of La Torre who at that time were upon the Mountaine of Tagliaretto they speedily gave notice to those of Saint Giovanni and Angrognia who hasted thither and charged them so fiercely that they forced them to flie and to leave most of their Ammunition behinde them and in the meane time Captaine Belin assaulted the Towne of La Torre killed the Centinel and souldiers upon the works and gave the Towne such an hot Alarum that most of them fled towards the River of Pellice and probably if he had had a few more men with him he had at that time made himself Master of La Torre July the eighteenth the General of the Protestants gave Order to fall upon the Towne of La Torre which accordingly was put in execution Captaine Belin gave the first onset who being followed with many other Officers and Souldiers they quickly made a considerable breach in the Garden-wall next to the Convent which so encouraged the rest that they
to the slaughter as well by reason of its being very much frequented and grown famous as also because of the Synod there usually celebrated as likewise a famous University and Printing-house and books frequently published to the world When therefore in the year 1655. the Swedish Army out of Pomerania drew near to the borders of Poland and the Nobility were summoned to Arms according to the custome of the Countrey it came to passe that the Papists brake forth into many furious expressions crying out That the Hereticks had invited the Enemy and therefore they were first of all to be put to the sword and extirpated which reports though most falsly scattered abroad for the searcher of the heart and the reins knoweth that we never so much as dreamt of it yet they easily found credit among the sworn Enemies of the Gospel who sought nothing more than our ruine Hereupon they who first consulted to agree with the Swedish Army being terrified by its power concluded about the surrender of all Great Poland into the Kings protection and namely the Royal Cities of Posen Calissen Meserick c. to which also Lesna was expressely added In a little time after they endeavoured to cast off the Swedish Yoke and turned their Arms not against the Swedes but first against our Evangelical Professors as conspiring with the Swedes upon the account of Religion and none of them scrupled to take revenge upon them They first of all set upon those of Lesna with resolution of putting all to the sword and destroying that Heretical City by fire and they had effected both unlesse God had by sending some persons before who by signifying the coming of the Enemy and with what intent they came had possest the Citizens with a Panick fear so that leaving all their Estates they every man fled and thus within the space of one hour a most populous City abounding with all manner of wealth was left without Inhabitants who in a miserable condition wandered then into the neighbouring Woods and Marishes into Silesia But the Polish Nobility with their Army entring the City did what they pleased slaying a number of decrepit old people and sick persons that were not able to save themselves by flight then the City it self was first plundred and afterwards so destroyed by fire for three dayes together that no part of it remained beside rubbish and ashes In what manner they would have handled the Citizens especially their Pastors they shewed by their heroick actions performed in other places by the most savage slaughtering of divers Ministers of the Church and other faithful Members of Christ of both Sexes for of all that they laid hold on they gave not one man quarter but very cruelly put them to death with most exquisite tortures They endeavoured to force Master Samuel Cardus Pastor of the Church of Czuertzinen to renounce his Religion after they had taken him and miserably handled him with all manner of cruelty but he stoutly resisting they first put out his Eyes and led him about for a spectacle then they pulled off his Fingers-ends with pincers but he not yet condescending to their mad Fury they found out a new kinde of torment poured molten Lead into his mouth and at length while he was yet half alive they clapt his Neck between folding Doors and violently pulling them together severed his Head from his Body They took John Jacobides Pastor of the Church of Dembnick and Alexander Wartens his Colleague and another that was in company with them as they passed through the Toun of LUBIN and hurrying them up and down for divers hours and grievously handling them after the manner of Tyrants then last of all cutting their Throats with a Razor threw them headlong while they were yet breathing into a great pit which had been before-hand prepared for their Martyrs and stifled them by casting down Dung and Dirt upon them They a great while pursued Andrew Oxlitius a young man designed for the Ministery whom after long seeking they at last found in the open field and in the end having taken him they cut off his Head with a Sithe chopping it into smal pieces and the dead carcase also they slasht in a barbarous manner The same fate befell Adam Milta a Citizen of Lesna but they more grievously handled an old man of above seventy whose name was Simon Priten and many others whose names it were too tedious to relate Of that barbarous execution which they did upon the weaker Sex there were besides other examples horrid Trophies of Cruelty erected in the said City of Lesna a pious Matron there who was the mother of three children not being able quick enough to leave the City and being slain in the open street they cut off her hands feet cutting off her childrens heads they laid two of them at her breasts and the third by her side In like manner another woman having her hands and feet cut off and her tongue cut out being inclosed and bound in a Sack lived the space of two dayes making most miserable lamentation Grief forbids us to adde more for they behaved themselves so furiously towards us that there remains not an example of any one man saved of all those that happened to fall into their hands It is notoriously known how that fury of theirs tyrannized also over the dead some they dragg'd out of their graves and cut in pieces as at Zichlin others they exposed naked for a publick Spectacle as at Lesna of which outragious action we had an example even in the dead body of the most Serene Landgrave of Hassia which was drawn out of the grave who was heretofore slain in a most barbarous and tyrannical manner at Koscian but buried by our Friends at Lesna The like was acted also upon the Body of the most Noble Arciszevius heretofore the valiant Admiral of the Hollanders in Brazile which was likewise dragg'd out of the grave and being stript of the grave-clothes was found after the firing of Lesna There are divers other examples which the Christian Reader may finde in the Book Entituled Lesnae Excidium faithfully written and lately set forth in print but they are such examples onely as are commonly known for who is able to relate all things in particular as burning men alive drowning others with stones tied about their necks c. Now Lesna being destroyed the fury of the Enemy proceeded to the persecutions of others they in a short time utterly demolished all our Congegations not onely driving away the Pastors but also either burning or leaving most of the Temples desolate as at Karmin Dembnick Skochy Czriuczin c yea and the Auditories themselves were either slain as in the Town of Skochy where there was a very flourishing Church of the Bohemian Exiles Sixty persons both men and women were cruelly put to death or else they were scattered abroad so that there remained not one place wherein the Worship of God may be celebrated Lo
the King of Sweden his cousin for he is a younger brothers son of the house Palatine and the Landgrave of Hessen his Brother in Law did appear for him so farre that the Emperor and the Elector of Mentz fearing a new breach on his behalf did leave him unmolested Soon after the composure of this quarrel the Committee of Imperial Deputies met according to the appointment of the last Dyet at Ratisbon and they have continued at Franckford debating and disputing one with another concerning their respective rights in the several cases which remained undetermined This meeting of Deputies hath agitated matters in the years 1655 56 57. till these new affairs were come into consideration which the King of Sweden his war with Poland hath occasioned for from that time that he went into Poland and prospered there the Deputies although they did not dissolve their meeting yet did in a manner alter the course of their treating one with another as looking much upon the event of that war till the death of the late Emperour hath altered the Scene and a Dyet for the election of a new Emperour hath been called The King of Swedens war with Poland did alarm the Popish party in Germany and the house of Austria extremely and did terrifie the States of the Low-countreys lest if he should be master of the Baltick Sea their Trade should be thenceforward under his power with whom they had no friendly correspondence by reason of some reciprocally conceived injuries for which they could not trust him This moved those of Holland who are the chief traders in those Seas to stir up enemies against him and openly to appear for and correspond with Dantzick to oppose him and it is known to the Swedish that they have dealt underhand with the Muscovite with the Polish King with the Austrians and above-board with the King of Denmark to combine against him by which means after that he had conquered Poland his forces were distracted first to oppose the Muscovite in Livonia who besieged Riga and afterward to put himself in a defensive posture against the Austrians who came to the assistance of the King of Poland and lastly to retire from Poland into Germany to oppose the Danish forces who had invaded his Territories of Bremen Being come into Germany upon this design he did conquer from the King of Denmark the last Summer all Hostein and Jutland and although by these conquests he was able to live in his quarters in the Winter yet his enemies being round about him on all hands and he having neither money nor convenient places to recruit his Army it was expected that in the spring the Combination of his enemies who compassed him about would have swallowed him up but God was pleased to appear for him and direct him in a way to escape and overcome these difficulties For in January last he formed his design to assault the other Territories of the Danish King namely the Islands which lie between Germany and the Continent of Sweden and to that effect had prepared his men to march over into Fuenen either by a bridge of Ships if the Sea were not frozen so as to bear or over the Ice if it should be strong enough having then notice gotten that towards the latter end of January the Ice did bear he took of horse and foot not above six or seven thousand and therewith did march over the Sea into Funen where the Danish King had placed his chief forces to defend the place And although some dangetous and dreadfull accidents did befal him in that his march over the Sea yet he went on and fought the Danish forces more in number than he had with him which on firm land stood in a readinesse to receive him and beat them took the chief Commanders prisoners and the spoil of the Island which is one of the richest that belongs to that Kingdom Having made himself Master of that Island he went forward to the next Island over the Sea called Langland where he found a body of five hundred men to resist him but being charged they were instantly defeated so he went from thence to the next called Laland and from thence to Falster and from Falster to Zeland the frost still continuing to make a bridge for him in all these marches And from the time he came into Funen till he entred Zeland he spent onely five or six dayes In Zeland where the King of Denmark was at Coppenhagen M. Medows the publick Minister of the State sent from thence to reside with the King of Denmark came to him and desired him to admit the King of Denmark to a Treaty this he condescended unto and by the interposition of M. Medows and of the French Ambassadour for he would not admit the Hollands Ambassadour to be a Mediator the place was concluded about the twentieth of February after twelve dayes treaty The conditions are That he restore to the King of Denmark all what he had taken from him in Germany namely Holstein and Jutland and the Islands of Fuenen Langland Laland Falster and Zealand and in lieu thereof the King of Denmark quits unto him all his rights in the Provinces of Haland and Schonen and of Blieken which are the Continent of Sweden on the North side of the Sound and doth moreover surrender unto him the Island of Bornholm and the Lordships of Bahusen and of Drunthen in Norway which lie most convenient to cause the Trade of Sweden to flourish Some other conditions there are but lesse considerable The Peace being concluded and ratified by both Kings the King of Denmark feasted the King of Sweden for certaine dayes and at several times both Kings were together alone for the space of two or three hours at a time whereby it is conceived that they have contracted a nearer and stricter alliance together than the Publick Treatise can mention This being done the King of Sweden went into his own Countrey and hath convocated the States of his Kingdom at Gottenburg to dispose of his affairs with their advice and to take up further resolutions in time to come This unexpected and miraculous successe of the Swedish Kings enterprise hath disappointed all the Counsels and plots of his adversaries against him for which he is obliged to none but unto God alone and from hence his friends have just cause to gather that God hath raised him out of his straits and redoubled his strength to make further use of him towards the advancement of the common cause of Protestants in whose behalf he concluded the Peace at Munster and which he thinks himself in conscience and honour obliged to see maintained for the Protestant interest tanquam altera pars paciscens as in a letter of his to the Emperour he did expresse himself So that it seems the Protestant cause in Germany will finde in him a Protector of so much courage and resolution and conduct as any that could be expected or desired And it is known to
In all that conflict there were but two of the Waldenses slain and two hurt whereas they never shot at their enemies but they killed some and sometimes two at one shot The souldiers confessed that they were so astonished that they could not fight Others said that the Ministers by their prayers conjured and bewitched them It was a wonderfull work of God that shepherds and cowherds should encounter with so mighty a power of strong and brave souldiers well furnished with ammunition and themselves having nothing but slings stones and a few harquebushes and yet should beat them and in all those fights they lost not above fourteen men Shortly after a company of souldiers went to Angrogne to destroy the Vines c. and mocking the Waldenses they said that they were valiant men behinde their bulworks but if they came into the plain how they would beat them Then came thirty of the Waldenses and set upon them in the plain and fought with them a long time hand to hand slew many of them and at last forced them to run away and that with the losse of one only man of their own The night after some thought that it would have been an easie matter to take the Lord of Trinity and to have spoiled his whole Army but the Waldenses would not do it least they should offend God and passe the bounds of their vocation intending only to defend themselves Then did Trinity betake himself to his old shifts of entertaining a treaty for agreement but in the Interim he sent a company of Spaniards one way and other companies other waies to surprise the meddow of Tour. The Spaniards were entred the meddow before they were perceived but when the people spied them they betook themselves to prayer then winded their horns and so prepared for resistance The first that opposed themselves were but twelve men who yet stoped them in a Passe and others rolled down stones from the mountains upon them whereby many of the Spaniards were slain the rest were forced to retreat Shortly after the Ministers and chief Rulers of the Waldenses requested the Lord of Raconis to deliver a petition which they had drawn up to the Dutches of Savoy wherein they declared the equity of their cause protesting all due obedience c. and at last through Gods mercy they came to a good agreement and according to the promise of God all things turned to the best to those that feared him that were called according to his purpose After the death of the Duke and Dutchesse of Savoy Charles Emmanuel their son succeeded who maintained them in peace according to the treaty formerly made Yet the Inquisitors were alwaies watchfull to apprehend one or other of them and amongst others one Bartholmew Copin of Luserne being at Ast in Piedmont with his Merchandize and at evening supping with some other company one began to speak much to the disgrace of the Waldenses for their Religion Copin thought that he was bound not to be silent when he heard such blasphemies Whereupon he began to argue in their defence Are you then a Waldensian said the other to him he answered Yea. And do you not beleeve that God is in the Host No said Copin Fie upon you said the other what a false Religion is yours My Religion said Copin is as true as it 's true that God is God c. The next morning Copin was called before the Bishop of Ast who told him that he must either recant the opinions he held over night or be punished Copin said he had been provoked to that discourse yet he said nothing but what he would maintaine with his life Adding that he had some goods and a wife and children yet he had lost the affections that he bare unto those things neither were they dear to him to the prejudice of his conscience Yet said that behaving himself honestly he ought not to be molested when he came about his merchandize the Turks and Jews being permitâ—ed to come to Fairs without molestation Notwithstanding which the Bishop presently sent him to prison The next day the Bishops Secretary went to him professing great love and telling him that except he acknowledged his fault he was in great danger of his life Copin answered That his life was in the hands of God and he desired not to preserve it to the prejudice of his glory and having but a few paces to walk in his journey to heaven his hearty prayer to God was to give him grace not to turn back Some few daies after he was examined by an Inquisitor in the presence of the Bishop who exceedingly tormented him with sweet and gentle perswasions by fair words seeking to draw him to an abjuration But Copin alwaies convinced him by the word of God alleadging that if he should be ashamed of or deny Christ before men Christ would be ashamed of and deny him before his heavenly Father Then said the Monk Go thy waies thou cursed Heretick to all the devils in hell and when thou shalt be there tormented by them thou wilt remember this good and holy counsel that we have given thee c. After many violent encounters they caused his wife and son to come to him promising if he would confesse his fault he should have liberty to depart with them They suffered them also to sup together which time he spent in exhorting them to patience telling them that God would be more then a husband and father to them for his own part he was not bounde to love wife or childe more then Christ and that they should esteem it their happiness that God was pleased to do him the honour to be a witnesse to his truth with the losse of his life c. He enjoyned his wife to bring up his children in the fear of God his son he commanded to obey his mother he desired them to pray for him that God would strengthen him against all tentations and so taking leave of his wife and blessing his son he dismissed them his wife and son shedding fountains of tears and crying out in so lamentable a manner as would have moved the hardest hart to compassion The Bishop knew not well what to do with him If he let him go he feared a scandall and that many would be encouraged by his impunity If he punished him he offended against the agreement betwixt the Duke and the Waldenses And thereupon he sent his indictment to the Pope to know his pleasure Shortly after Copin was found dead in prison it appearing manifestly that he was strangled and after his death he was condemned to be burnt which was accordingly executed CHAP. XXII The Persecution of the VValdenses in Calabria ANno Christi 1370. The Waldenses of Pragela and Dauphine grew so numerous that they sent their younger people to seek some other country to inhabit In their travell they found in Calabria some wast and untilled