his body ever after found Yea God throughout the Roman Empire spred A ten-years plague t' avenge the blood was shed Brotherly love the Christians shew'd t' each other By visiting relieving one another But the Idolaters fled from neglected Cast out not succour'd those that were infected Shift onely for themselves go where they will This spreading punisment pursu'd them still Gallus succeeding Decius being dead This persecution continued The weight of his displeasure fell most heavy Upon the shoulders of the Tribe of Levi. He banish'd Cyprian and more Divines Condemned others to the Metal-Mines T'whom Cyprian wrote letters cons'latory Shewing affliction is the Saints true glory Deep wounds and scars are to a Christian brest As Ornaments to bring them in request With God himself to multiply their fame And not as markes of stigmatized shame And though the naked Mines afford no beds Can they want ease that lay in Christ their heads What if their aking bones lie o' th' cold floor Is 't pain to lie with Christ say they are poor Yet are they rich in faith suppose their hands Be manacled put ease coacted bands Hold their worn seet Can he be said to be Fetter'd with chains whom the Lord Christ doth free He lies ty'd in the stocks thereby whose feet To run a heav'nly race become more fleet Nor can a Christian be bound so fast But his life's crown adds wings unto his hast They have no clothes cold weather to resist Can he be naked who hath put on Christ Do they want bread Christ is the bread of life That commeth down from heaven in him is rise Man by the word which doth from God proceed Is said to live and not alone by bread What matter is 't though you deformed seem You shall be honour'd and of great esteem Your God will turn your miserable dayes To peace your mournings into songs of praise You sail through troublous Seas to be possest Of heaven the haven of eternal rest And do not grieve because you are forbid To serve the Lord as formerly you did In your Parochial places God's enclin'd T' accept th' endeavours of a willing minde The dayly sacrifices you impart God loves a broken and a contrite heart His soul takes pleasure in he doth regard His servants tears and will at last reward Fidelious brests which do confess his name Promis'd he hath and will perform the same SECT XII The eighth Primitive Persecution which began Anno Christi 259. VAlerian next adds fuel to the fire And blows the flames of persecution higher By an Egyptian Sorcerer beguil'd He now is cruel who before was milde The Christians are banished his Court Where lately he allow'd them to resort Nor was this all young men maids husbands wives All sorts and ranks must lose dear hearts their lives Three hundred souls then by the President Of Carthage were into a lime-kiln sent Three Virgins first had Vinegar and gall Forc'd down their throats then scourg'd then rack'd and all Besmeared were with lime then broil'd then cast To wild beasts and beheaded at the last When Cyprian long had born afflictions yoke His neck submitted to the fatal stroke Sixtus a Bishop of the City Rome And his six Deacons suffer'd Martyrdome Laurence the seventh as along he went With Sixtus going to his punishment Complain'd he might not seeing he had rather Suffer then live die with his Rev'rend father Sixtus reply'd before three dayes were out He should come after go and give about I' th' interim thy treasures to the poor Th' observing Judge supposing he had store Of wealth crock'd up commanded him to bring All that he had For to effect which thing Laurence crav'd three dayes respit in which stock Of time he gath'red a poor Christian flock Into a ring the fourth day doth afford New light and he must now make good his word Being enforc'd by a severer charge Couragious Laurence doth his arms enlarge Over the needy throng and said These be The precious Jewels of the Church see see Here treasure is indeed here Christ doth dwell But Oh! what tongue sufficiently can tell The raving fury which the Tyrant acted How he did stamp did stare like one distracted His eyes did sparkle his gnash'd teeth struck fire And 's mouth all in a foam thus wreak'd his ire Kindle the fire Faggots on Faggots fling What doth the villain thus delude the King Away away with him whip beat him sore Jesteth the Traitor with the Emperour Pinch him with red-hot tongs let candent plates Engird the Raskals loyns heat heat the grates And when y'have bound the Rebell hand and foot On with him rost him broil him look you do 't On pain of our displeasure toss him turn him I charge you do not leave him till you burn him And that to cindars too each man fulfill His office quick and execute my will Revenge findes nimble hands the tort'ters lay Him on a soft Down-bed I will not say A fi'ry iron one God made it so That it afforded Lanrence ease not woe Valerians heart burns Laurence flesh doth roft 'T is doubtful whether was tormented most Then Laurence thus Tyrant this side 's enough turn up the rest Or rost or raw try which thou likest best SECT XIII The ninth Primitive Persecution which began Anno Christi 278. CLaudius and after him Quintilian reign Both which but one and thrice three years did Maintain'd the Churches Peace while they endur'd The Saints were happy and their lives secur'd Aurelian nat'rally severe and cruel Succeeds his rage fomented by the fuel Of mis-informing sinister suggestions Prov'd Tyrannous his Nephew's life he questions And questioning abrepts then he begun To stir up the ninth persecution But thus it happ'ned while he went about To seal the Edict that was issuing out There did a Thunder-bolt so neer him fall That he was kill'd 't was the consent of all The Emp'rour strake with such astonishment Gave over his Tyrannical intent He after six years reign was murthered And the Church forty four years flourished Under a various Emp'rour O what peace Doth crown the Christians brows what large increase Of honour doth betide them they resort Unto the Court who lately were a sport T'insulting foes and they that were a prey Are prais'd and priz'd who now more great then they While thus the Christians bath'd themselves in quiet Their natures drew them to excessive riot T'indulge to idleness to scold and brawl For very trifles or nothing at all With railing words bespatt'ring one another Moving sedition against each other Bishops with Bishops and the vulgar train Do with the vulgar altricate for gain Thus thus their sins encreased ev'ry day Till Gods wrath came where sin chalk'd out the way And now the Christians enemies abound Laying their Churches level with the ground Burn sacred Writs I'th'open market-places Pursue their Priests and load them with disgraces Slanders and contumelious opprobries Abhor'd their Doctrine and their words despise SECT XIV
Yet have they alwayes held up their heads above water The more these Grapes have been pressed the more Wine have they yielded Juniper burnt smells savouriest so do they Chamomile trod growes fastest so do they pounded Spices smell sweetest so do they Affliction is Gods furnace the Saints are Gold put into it not to be consumed but to return more glorious That saying Veritas premi potest opprimi nunqam Truth may be blam'd but never sham'd herein is verifi'd Though Antiochus commanded the Book of Gods Law to be burnt in the fire and cut in pieces making it death for any man to keep it by him Though Dioclesian caused them to be burned in the streets and made the Churches and houses of God even with the ground as Euseb Lib. 8. Cap. 4. hath it the more it hath been suppressed the more it hath spread and encreased to the spiritual edification of the house of God whereof Jesus Christ is the Corner-Stone Hierom in his Epistle to Cormatius reports That in an whole years space there passed not one day the Calends of January excepted wherein five thousand Christians were not made away with And But I will not detain thee Gentle Reader in my Porch like a stranger lest I be thought churlish Well then in a few words for I will not now stand to strain complements with thee I have made no great preparation for thee And if thou wilt be pleased to accept of such poor entertainment as my Muse is able to afford thee she gives thee an invitation Come in fall to eat freely with a good will and thou art heartily welcome But if thy dainty palate be so nice as to make thee hanker after the most exquisit dishes and costli'st viands that can be got for love or mony I tell thee truly friend I han't it for thee thou had'st best go where such is to be had and that is all the harm I wish thee and so I bid thee Farewel In Amici sui charissimi NICH O LAI BILLINGSLY Brachy-hagio-Martyrologiam Distichon Panegyricum Hîc magnum in parvo veterū Monument a virorū Et Mortem Mores candide Lector habes IT skills no less large Tomest ' Epitomize Then at the first the same for to devise 'T was Homers praise his Iliads to indite Anothers in a Nut-shell them to write Like worth belongs to thee to thy book Wherein as in an Optick if we look We may at once more briefly far behold What Fox and others have at large us told Touching such Martyrs as did live and die I' th' faith of Christ whose sacred memory Thou do'st receive that they on earth again May live with us we'n heaven with them may raign God grant us this and so to make an end Thou them I thee cannot too much commend Aug. 11. 1656. T. C. de Ospringe Cleri◠DEO Opt. Max. GReat God who grasp'st in thine eternal fists The world boundest with appointed lists The swag'ring billowes thou who hast enroll'd Thy Marble Gallery with studs of Gold Whose throne the face-veild Seraphims on high Advance above the Porph'ry-Arched skie Who all things did'st and do ' st and wilt fulfill According to the counsel of thy will O shew thy power in thy servant weak Rouze my dull Muse enable her to speak Divinely of thy Saints that in this story The World as in a glass may see thy glory Finish this work this work in thee begun And make it live when I am dead and gon Those looser Poets who begin betimes To please vain fancies with lascivious Rhimes Thinking there by to eternize their name What do they leave but Monuments of shame Their works shall rot while such as have a sure Foundation shall eternally endure Let no man deck with Apollinean Bayes My browes thine be the Glory thine the Praise THE PERSECUTIONS Mentioned in the Old Testament SECT I. The Persecution of the Church in the first Ages of the World and so forward till Christ's Incarnation ADam being left unto his own free-will Satan the Primo-genitor of ill Maligning his so prosperous estate Did exercise his Diabolick hate Under the hood of friendship to o'rethrow Both root and branch at one pestiferous blow VVith large-pretending promises his suit He varnish'd thus if the forbidden fruit But kiss their lips they should more clearly see And full as wise as their Creator be Thus Satan's Engines play'd till in conclusion He took the Fort by his so smooth delusion Poor man made shipwrack of his Innocence Thwarting his God-requir'd Obedience Thus Adam fell and by his hapless fall Hath lost his happiness his God and all For ever Ah! he cannot any more Enjoy those blessings he enjoy'd before In his first state and all that he can win Is death Death is the VVages due to sin But what of that yet hath it pleas'd the High'st To give eternal life through Jesus Christ Our blessed Lord whoever do believe In him alone are certain to receive A glorious Crown O see what God hath done To save poor sinners he hath sent his Son His onely Son who willingly came down To bear the cross that we might wear the Crown Strange condescention the great God above Is pleas'd t' embrace us in the armes of love O groundless depths O love beyond degree The guiltless dies to set the guilty free Nor ceas'd the malice of the black-brow'd Prince Of the Low-Countries hell for ever since Mans forfeiture of his heav'n-granted lease He hath been active to molest the Peace Of Christ-confiding Saints and like a Lyon Hath seiz'd on those who bear good will to Siont Amongst the wheat he sows seditious tares And setteth men together by the ears Nay more unnatural then that one brother He instigates to persecute another VVitness nefandous Cain whose brothers bloud To heaven for vengeance cry'd and cry'd aloud Did not curs'd Ham his naked Father mock A graceless branch sprung from a righteous stock Did not the Sodomites deride Just Lot And spurious Ishm'el I saac did he not Jacob rough Esau hates young Joseph's sold To lshma ' itish Merchants and behold Oppressed Isr'el how their shoulder grones Beneath their massy loads hard hearted ones And must the new-born Males be stifled by The Mid-wives O unheard-of cruelty And if these fail may they not live a while No drown'd they must be in sepemfluous Nile Breast-hardned Phar'oh what did Moses do VVorthy thy wrath and may not Isr'el go From thy enslaving hands but bear the print Thy scourges leave O heart wall'd round with flint Years not a few the Isra'lites were drudges Unto th' I dolatrous and self-law'd Judges Compel'd to leave their homes and hide themselves In dens and caves from persecuting Elves And when Gods bounty fertiliz'd their land All was destroyed by the Midian band The Philistins thirty four thousand slay Of them and carryed Gods Ark away A Smith in Israel
Pope Al'xander the third his wrath did smoke When they shook off his Antichristian yoke He them condemn'd as Het'ticks yet they spred And many potent Towns inhabited Nay many Lords and Earls did with them side Against the Pope and constantly deny'd The Romish faith and resolutely spake Their willingness to suffer for Christs sake Beziers was stormed by the Pilgrim train And in it sixty thousand persons slain The Legat saies Souldiers kill old and young For why God knoweth those to him belong The Catholicks besieg'd and batter'd down On the inhab'tants heads Carcasson Town When Baron Castle was surpriz'd th' enclos'd Of th' Albigenses were disey'd disnos'd Then sent to Cab'ret with an one-ey'd guide Yet still like gold that 's in a furnace tri'd The Saints appear'd their sparkling zeal like fire Blown by afflictions bellows blaz'd the higher Now Luther rose the Antichristian terror And those that were seduc'd reduc'd from error SECT XXI The Persecution of the Church of God in Bohemia which began Anno Christi 894. BOrivojus Duke of Bohemia Entring the confines of Moravia By a strange providence was Christianiz'd And with him thirty Pal'tines were baptiz'd At his return he raised from the ground Churches and Schools and all the Country round Flock'd thither many of the Noble race As well as Commons did the Truth embrace Malicious Satan env'ing the progress The Gospel made gainst those that it profess Rais'd persecution up Borivojus Is sent into exile Sanguineous Drahomira ' the Christian temples locks Forbidding Ministers to tend their flocks And in the silent night three hundred lives Pay'd tribute to the bloody cut-throats knives But Gods just Judgement Drahomira follow'd The opening earth her and her Cart up swallow'd The Popish party having got the day Did all the obvious Bohemians slay At Cuttenburge four Thousand souls were thrown Into the Metal-Mines O hearts of stone The Priests cry out Blow out good people blow These sparks before into a flame they grow Water is us'd the more they did endeavour To drown the Saints they flamed more then ever Many are scourg'd some sent into exile Two German Merchants brought unto the pile Exceedingly encourag'd one another One sayes Since Christ hath suffered dear brother For wretched us let 's do the same likewise For him and such a high-bred savour prize That we are counted worthy so to die For his sweet sake the other did reply The joy that in my Marriage-day I found Was small to this O this doth more abound Both cry'd aloud the Faggots set on fire Blest Christ thou in thy torments didst desire Thine en'mies peace the like we also crave Forgive the King let not the Clergy have Thy scalding vengeance O forbear to plague The poor misled inhabitants of Prague O be thou pleas'd to let them Scot-free go For Ah! poor souls they know not what they do Their hands are full of blood they pray'd and wept And wept and pray'd till in the Lord they slept On Noble-men intolerable Fines Were laid two hundred eminent Divines Are exil'd some are burned others brain'd Some shot to death with blood the earth 's destain'd The Martyrs one by one that were in hold Are called forth who resolutely bold Hast to their sufferings with as great content As if they had unto a banquet went When one was called for he thus exprest Himself in taking leave of all the rest Farewel dear friends Farewel the Lord support Your spirits that you may maintain the fort Against the common foe and make you stout And resolute to keep all batt'ry out That what you lately with your mouths profest You may by your so glorious death attest Behold I lead the way that I may see My Saviours glory you will follow me To the fruition of my fathers sight O how my soul is ravish'd with delight This very hour all sorrow bids adieu To my glad heart O now my joyes renew Transcendent joyes heaven and eternity Is mine is mine Then did the rest reply God go along with you O heaven we pray Assist thy servant in his thorn-pav'd way O may the willing Angells come to meet Thy obvious body and direct thy feet Into thine and our Fathers Mansion Go go dear brother go and we anon Shall follow after and be all receiv'd To bliss through Christ in whom we have believ'd Farewel farewel let equal joyes betide To us that follow and to you our guide First the Lord Schlick a man as wise as grave Condemned to be quarter'd did behave Himself most gallantly and said My doom Me pleaseth well what care I for a Tombe A Sepulchre is but an easie loss Fear death not I welcom my crown my cross Let let these limbs be scatter'd here and there I have Gods favour and I do not fear The worst that foes can do see how the Sun Displaies his shining beams Jesuites be gon And build not Castles in the empty air For I dare die for Christ I that I dare Be pleas'd blest Jesus thorough deaths dark night To Manu-duct me to eternal light Eternal light O what a happy sound That word reports my soul at a rebound Catch heaven catch heaven no sooner had he spoke But he submitted to the fatal stroke His right hand and his head lop'd off his shoulders Are hung on high to terrify beholders The Lord Wenceslaus seventy years old B'ing next was asked why he was so bold In Fred'ricks cause he said My conscience run Along with me and what is done is done My God lo here I am dispose of me Thine aged servant as best pleaseth thee O send that grim-look'd messenger that staies For none to end these miserable dayes May I not see the ruines that do wait Upon our sinking our declining State Behold this Book my Paradise was never So cordial as now Judges persever In sucking Christian blood but know Gods ire Shall smoak you for 't Up starts a cowled Fryer And said Your Judgement errs With this reply He answer'd him I on the truth rely And not on bare opinion Christ's the Way The Truth the Life in him I cannot stray Then stroaking his prolixed beard he said My gray hairs honour serves you having pray'd And giv'n his soul to Christ his Saviour His cut-off head was fixed on the Tower Lord Harant next was call'd who bravely said I 've travell'd far and many journeys made Through barb'rous countries and escaped dangers By sea and land yet was my life by strangers Surrepted not b'ing safe returned home My friends and Country-men my foes become For whom I and my Grandsires have let fall And wasted our estates our lives and all Forgive them father I O Lord have grounded My faith in thee let me not be confounded Then on the Scaffold thus O Lord I give My spir't into thine hands in hope to live By Christ his death according to thy word And so he yielded to the murth'rous sword Sir Caspar Kaplitz eighty six years old Said to the Minister
from the Sacred Writ Two hundred sixteen years this faith did flame Amongst them till the Pagan Saxons came Religious Lucius without issue dy'd And now the Barons and the Nobles vy'd For King and while they for the crown contended In step'd the Romans so the quarrel ended For they usurp'd the crown and did o'rewhelm With misery and ruine the whole Realm Sometimes th'Idol'trous Romans bore the sway Sometimes the Christian Britans won the day By turns they got the best by turns they got The worst as Providence did them allot In Dioclesian's time and in the Reign Of Maximinian the Christians slain In Britany and elsewhere did amount To sev'nteen thousand One of great account Alban his name the Proto-Martyr was Of Englands Isle and many more did pass That way he went Religion decaid Bibles were burned and the Churches laid Laid level with the ground disord'red orders Took place and Piety forsook our borders But the fore-named Tyrants over-tir'd With blondy butcheries at last respir'd Experience telling them the more they shed The Christians blood the more the faith still spread They both went down from the Imperial seat Constantius next Constantine the Great Succeeding in the British government The Church was quiet and enjoy'd content Which peace continu'd till the Arrian Sect The novelty-affectors did infect Hereat God raised up the Picts and Seots Two barb'rous nations and to them alots The Victors wreath poor England was opprest And did for many years enjoy no rest Which made them send Embassadors to Rome With sad complaints entreating them to come To aid them so a Roman Legion came Slew some making the rest retreat with shame And quit these coasts advising us withal To raise betwixt us and the Scots a wall A wall being builded by the English men The Roman force returned home agen This news was brought unto the Picts and Scots One this side of the wall they landed boats O're-ran the country laid the corn-sields waste And bare down all before them as they past The Britans send their Legates unto Rome A second time the sent-for souldiers come And vaequish'd them the rest put to disorders Enforcedly desert the British borders Which done they told the Britans flat and plain They should expect no aid from them again Besides it stood not with their ease to take So long and tedious journeys for their sake Now therefore arm your selves and exercise In Warlike feats said they if yee be wise Go go and build you firmer walls that so You may be able to keep out your foe The Romans having took their last farewel Of Britany the Picts and Scots soon fell On the re-builded walls and put to flight The trembling Britains noitrain'd up to fight They that stood out were barb'rously destroy'd And all their goods the enemies enjoy'd Loan Aceldama of blood what store Of slaughtred Carkasses ev'n swim in gore Rome b'ing again solicited to send Relief refus'd the Britains in the end Took heart to grass when earthly comforts fail'd Sought God and ' gainst their enemies prevail'd Gave them the total rout the Picts began To keep their bound save onely now and than They inroads made into the Land the Land At last became under her own command The ground was now manur'd the Lord did bless Th' industrious Britains with a large encrease Of full-ear'd corn that such abundant store Scarce ever in the Land was seen before But Oh! mans sinful heart this Peace this Quiet This Plenty led them to excess and rior To pride contention envy and the like God sent the plague among them which did strike So many dead that the alive were all Unable to afford them burial Yet could the judgements that abroad were sent Not melt their hearts nor move them to repent The death of friends the danger they were in Themselves but hardened them more in sin Not work'd their Reformation oftentimes Judgements prove Shooing-horns to greater crimes They wax still worse and worse the Laity chose And Clergy too to live like ranc'rons foes Gods thundring vengeance which upon them fell My breathing Muse shall in the sequel tell SECT II. The Persecution of the British Church under the Heathen Saxons and English Anno 429 c. THE Britains with ill-neighbours re-infested Instead of turning to the Lord requested The Pagan Saxons aid for to oppose The raging fury of these Northern foes They came and coming conquer'd them at length The Saxons knowing their sufficient strength To over-pow'r the weaker Britains they Fell foul on them exacting greater pay And more provision or else they would Side with the Picts and do the best they could To spoil their country This their resolution No sooner said was put in execution All goodly edifices they destroy'd The Ministers the while they were employ'd In Divine service were of lives depriv'd And rev'rend Bishops with their flocks disliv'd Some left their country and beyond Seas fled Some on the mountaines tops were murthered Some pin'd with hunger creeping from their caves Were soon dispatch'd or made perpetual slaves The English Nobles summoned to treat Concerning peace did on a fix'd time meet At Almshury but by the faithless train Of Saxons were most treacherously slain At Stomheng and that they were bury'd there The yet-remaining monuments declare Now when the Britans found no other way Lay open to redress they fell to pray A fast was call'd and all with one accord Humbled their souls before th' Almighty Lord. Ambrosius Aurelian being chose To be their King did profligate their foes And from that day Gods hand appearing glorious They went out prosp'rous and return'd Victorious At last Aurelian with poyson dead Uter Pendragon reigned in his stead He bidding battail to the enemy Two of their Chieftains took who scaping fly To Belgia for more aid and in the mean The Saxons flock'd in conflicts past between Th'English and them now these and sometimes they As Providence saw good did win the day Octa and Cosa with a force renew'd Came o're again the Britans are subdu'd Their pastors slain Churches demolished No mercy 's shown King Vter sick in bed Seeing his Subjects fall would needs be brought Into his camp so resolutely fought His souldiers then they under God obtain The Victors wreath Octa and Cosa slain Soon ever this great Victory was won Uter of poyson dy'd Arthur his son Was crowned King who twice six Victories Obtain'd against the Saxon enemies His stranger acts and unbeliev'd success As fabulous I leave but questionless Much peace and safety to the British Isle Was in his happy reiga enjoy'd yet while They were at Peace with others they agin Returning to their loathed wayes of sin Fell to intestine broils embracing evil In stead of good and worshipped the Devil Under the notion of an Angel bright The Priests withheld the Gospels purer light From deviating souls which soon procur'd The wrath of God too great to be endur'd Driv'n out of house and home no ease no rest They
found the Saxons had the Land possest And turn'd out all the Christian Divines So done they did in the usurp'd confines The Heptarchy erect These Kings did smother All peace fell out and warr'd with one another Till disempowr'd they could not well defend Themselves much less with enemies contend King Lncius was the first that did receive The Gospel and in Jesus Christ believe From which time as 't in Chronicles appears It staid in Britain full four hundred years One hundred fourty and three years Gods word Grew cold but Austins comming it restor'd Some English children being brought to Rome There to be sold Gregory chanc'd to come Into the market-place when his fix'd sight Saw in their lovely cheeks pure red and white Contend for Mastership he much admir'd At their so sweet complexions and enquir'd What country they were of then being told That they were English heathens to be sold For slaves here 's choice enough if any wat 's Said he 't is pity such inhabitants So fair and so Angelical should dwell As subjects to the story Prince of hell Inform'd their Province Deira was said he Could wish them Manu-miss'd De ira Dei And further being given to understand That one nam'd Alle rul'd the British land There there saith he ought Praises to be given And Allelujab's to the King of heaven He also had a great desire to go To England and there preach but Rome said no. Pelagius dy'd he in his room assign'd Romes Bishop calling his intent to minde Austin and forty more Divines he sent To undertake this work they land in Kent At Thanets fertile Isle King Ethelbert In Canterbury City they convert And did baptize by whose example many Dayly came in the King enforc'd not any But much respected and affected those Who willingly with Christ would make a close Austin sends Greg'ry word how God did bless And crown their labours with desir'd success The joyful Bishop sendeth more Divines Over for to effect those great designs Were now on foot a letter of advise He writes to Austin not to be too wise In his own eyes not be puft up at all By those great miracles which did befall The English Church For why for this intent God onely us'd him as an instrument Ascribe all Austin to God's pow'r Divine His be the glory and the praise not thine And when thy heart t'ebulluate begins O think upon thy God-offending sins And that will humble thee all Gods elect Have of themselves no power to effect A miracle like this and yet heav'ns book Contains their names O do not do not look So much on thine own works be this thy strife To have thy name writ in the book of life What ever miracle the Lord hath brought To pass by thee know this it was not wrought For thy sake no 't was wrought for the salvation Of the seduc'd misguided English nation If I might be so worthy to advise The Temples built for heath'nish sacrifice I would not have demolish'd but th' abuse Remov'd converted to another use God go along with you and lest you stumble Through pride and glory keep you alwayes humble c. He an Epistle also did direct Unto the King which was to this effect He first prais'd God then did the King commend Wishing he might prove constant to the end In his professed faith and to his power Convert his Subjects to a Saviour Who holds forth life to those that will receive It freely and in 's promises believe And lastly he intreats his gifts may finde Acceptance coming from a willing minde Miletus by his preaching did convert Th' east Angles and the then-King Sigebert Who with his Unckle Ethelbert did found St. Paul his Church and built it from the ground Austin a Synod gath'red in this nation Of Bishops to consult of Reformation But nothing's done therein King Ethelbert Having a mighty force went to evert The Chestrian City where the Monks of Bangor Assembling pray'd God to divert his anger From their friends heads and turn it on their foes To shield the English from approaching woes When the King saw them so intent in pray'r Demand he did what sort of men they were And being credibly inform'd they pray'd For those that were his enemies he said Although unarm'd they fight against us do And with their prayers persecute us too My hearts fall bluntly on them upon pain Of our displeasure let them all be slain Eleven hundred Monks had their blood spill'd Which God reveng'd the bloody Tyrant's kill'd In fight by Christian Edwin who obtain'd The crown and the Christ-builded faith maintain'd The Idols and the Altars he destroy'd Making all ancient ceremonies voyd He caused brazen dishes to be tide By ev'ry fountain in the High-wayes side That so each passenger without controul Might be refreshed with a liberal boul He alwayes carried himself propitious Unto the good but rig'rous to the vitious So that a woman charg'd with gold might pass From Sea to Sea unquestion'd who she was At last by Penda and Cadwalla's might Subdu'd Josiah like he dy'd in fight His Christian Subjects felt the worst of woes Nay eruelst deaths by those insulting foes The Queen her daughter and Paulinus went To save their lives by water into Kent Oswald was crowned next whose pray'rs did gain A glorious Victory Cadwalla slain His love to piety his fervent zeal To spread the Gospel in his common-weal Was known to all From Scotland he procur'd Aidanus Bishop and the King inur'd To Scoth himself interpreted the words Aidanus preach'd unto his noble Lords And Subjects in their mother tongue more known To them then the exotique Scotish tone He to the poor was so compassionate That when on Easter-day at meat they sate And serv'd in silver he was told the poor Stood flocking thick and threefold at the door He caused them for to be serv'd in state With his own food taking a silver place And straight-way breaking it in pieces small Distribute it he did amongst them all Aidanus seeing this admir'd and got Him by the hand O may this never rot That to the poor so beneficial was Said he as Authors say it came to pass This Oswald also was a means to bring Kinigilsus of the West-Saxons King And Quicelinus King of Dorsetshire With many of their Subjects to the clear Knowledge of Christ under the Minist'ry Of Berinus famous for piety Thus Oswald having reigned nine years space Mercian Penda did his life uncase Oswic succeeded him Oswic as glorious A Prince as pious and no less Victorious He rais'd an army fought and overthrew A greater force and impious Penda slew And now the Bishops and the Ministers Sequester'd from the World and its affairs Preach'd freely to the people until they About the celebrating Easter-day Which bone amongst them Satan cast contended A Synod's call'd nor was the diff'rence ended Wolferus now a license having gain'd Converted the south-Saxons then there
armed men To cut him short the Church was round beset Yet he from them mirac'loufly did get Though many Arrians cast their eyes about For this intent t'indigitate him out Not much unlike a sheep ordain'd for slaughter Nor could this good man live in quiet after In banishment till he was forc'd to hide In a deep pit where he no light espide For twice three years and at last by a maid That us'd to bring him food he was betraid But God's directing spirit did befriend him He scap'd before they came to apprehend him Thirty Egyptian Bishops slain twice seven Were banished some in their way took heaven In Alexandria the Arrians urg'd Twice twenty Orthodox Divines were scourg'd The Emperour at his approaching death Griev'd for his changing of the Nicene faith Valens held on these damnable designs ' Gainst Christians fourscore eminent Divines He ship'd and fir'd so they resign'd their breath By patient suffering of a double death Many he caused to be crush'd to shivers Some to be drown'd i' ch' Sea others in rivers Some in the desarts wandred up and down Cloathed in sheeps-skins pityed by none While other-some so put unto their shifts Lurked in dens and hollow rocky clifts At last this Tyrant from the Goths did fly Who fir'd a village o're his head whereby He miserably dy'd unto his name Leaving behind a monument of shame SECT XVIII The Persecution by the Donatists Anno Christi 410. THe Donatists and Circumcellions In Sun-burnt Affrick rais'd rebellions The Orthodox innumerable wrongs Lay under Bishops lost their hands and tongues And others that remain'd sincere and sound This barbrous outrage either hang'd or drown'd Their goods are plunder'd and their houses turn'd To heaps of eindars and their Fanes are burn'd The sacred Scriptures are by flames devour'd Wives are defil'd and Virgins are deflour'd Where ever these profane Schisma ticks came They holy things profan'd nor was 't a shame Counted amongst them but a grace to feed Their mungrell currs with Sacramental bread But God's just judgements did not long forbear The Dogs run mad and their own Masters tear These furious persons cast into the stocks The godly Christians and the Orthodox All Affrick o're they empty out their gall Destroying many and affrighting all SECT XIX The Persecution of the Church in Affrick by the Arrian Vandales Anno Christi 427. THe Vandales under Genserick's command Remov'd their Quarters from th' Iberian land And march'd to Affrick as along they went Cut down the shrubs which yeilded aliment To the dispersed Saints what e're they found Unruin'd they laid level with the ground The Min'sters sinking underneath their loads Are pricked forward with sharp-pointed goads Some had until they crack'd again their legs Wrested with bow-strings grease and oily dregs Salt-water stinking mire and Vinegar Into the mouths of others forced are The Reverend gray hairs from them obtain'd No mercy as for infants they were brain'd Or torn in pieces from the fundament The Carthaginian Senators were sent To wander in exile without respect To sex or age the Roman City's sack'd Upon A sceation-day a Christian train Meeting at Church were by these her'ticks slain There was a Noble man nam'd Saturus The Tyrant seeing him bespake him thus Y' had best to execute my just commands Or you shall forfeit else your house and lands Your wife shall marry one that drives the plow Your children shall be sold nor did this bow The good mans faith his wife hearing her doom Was to be marry'd to a scurvy groom Runs to her husband doth her fine clothes tear And rends from off her head her curious hair Her brood of children hanging at her heels A suckling in her arms then down she kneels And said my deatest Oh some pity take On thy poor wife O for the Lord Chrift's sake Let not thy bantlings under slav'ry tire Nor me be linked to a filthy Squire Be rul'd sweet heart if by constraint th' art brought To act amiss thine will not be the fault He thus Thou speakest like a foolish wife Acting the Devils part thy husbands life If thou didst dearly tender as thou shouldst Entice him so to fin thou never wouldst Which will procure a second death to me Worse then the first I am resolv'd to be Obedient therefore to my Gods commands And quite forsake wife children house and lands To b'his Disciple Scarce these words were out He was despoil'd of all and sent about The Country begging Genserick being dead Hunrick succeeded in his fathers stead Well night five thousand that did Christ profess He banished into the wilderness He made his Courtiers dig the earth for corn And brought the women into publick scorn Mothers their little children followed Right glad that Martyrs they had born and bred One leading by the hand her little Son Hasting t'oretake them said Run Sirrah run Seest how the Saints do trudge along how fast They make unto their crown hast sirrah haft She 's thus rebuk'd How now why do you go So speedy woman whither haste you so She thus reply'd Good folks pray pray for me I go to exile with this child you see For fear the enemies corrupt his youth And so mislead him from the wayes of truth As the Saints went along to banishment Multitudes follow'd and with one consent Flinging their children down did this express And must we then be wedded to distress While you haste to your crown what will become Of us poor wretches as we are at home VVhat Ministers have we you gon to feed Our hungry souls with sacramental bread VVho shall baptize our infants tell us who Instruct us w'have a greater minde to go Then stay behinde but Ah! our feeble strength VVill not hold out so great a journeys length Now they that went and could not mend their paces Were dragged by the Moors through rugged places Their flesh all rent and torn they that were stronger Came to the wilderness to kill their hunger And barely are allow'd the Scorpions crawll About them but do them not hurt at all VVith their lethif'rous sting thus God did please After affliction to send them ease Hunrick sends Mandates throughout Affrica That all the Bishops should by such a day At Carthage meet on purpose by dispute To prop their faith and if they could confute The Arrian Bishops now the time drew near And they according to command appear Dispute began The Orthodox thought best To cull out some to answer for the rest The Arrians plac'd themselves on sublime thrones These stood o' th' ground and said Inequall ones Are too unfit to hold an argument No no it is by general consent That Disputants the controversie rear On equal termes until the truth be clear An hundred strokes on ev'ry one were laid For this bold speech whereat Eugeuius said The Lord in mercy look upon our woes And mark our sufferings under raging foes The Arrian Bishops moved to propound What they intended at the first gave ground
Declining the dispute the Orth'dox then A Declaration of their faith did pen And did it with this protestation show What our belief is if you long to know Here 't is the Arrians stormed at this thing Gave them foul words accus'd them to the King He all of them out of the City turn'd Who them reliev'd must by his Law be burn'd The Bishops which i' th' open fields did ly Bespake the Tyrant as he passed by What evil have we done we fain would know The reason why we are afflicted so If we be called to dispute we crave Why are we thus despoil'd of all we have Why must we live on dunghils in distress Afflicted housless cold and comfortless He bids and over them his horsmen ride Many are bruised sore then they deny'd B'ing urg'd unto an oath to put their hands And said Our God contrarily commands Nor are we mad-men or such fools as that We should subscribe before we know to what This was the tenour of the oath then read You all shall swear that when the King is dead Hildrick shall reign and that no man shall send Letters beyond the seas The King your friend Upon your taking it will you restore Unto the Churches you were at before They that did not and also they that did Were all enslaved and to preach forbid What doleful outeries what heart-rending grones Were throughout Affrick caus'd by bloody ones With cudgels either sex and age was bang'd Here some they burned there they others hang'd Women and naked gentlewomen were Openly tortur'd all their bodies bare Fair Dionysia bolder the rest Thus the conceptions of her mind exprest Afflict your fill God's favour I have got Onely my woman-hood disclose you not These words scarce out they more enraged strip'd her Expos'd her to all eyes and soundly whip'd her Untill the blood flow'd down that which you broach Satanick slaves said she for my reproach Is my best garland Then she wisely chear'd Her young and onely son who persever'd Patient in all his pains till he disburst His spirit unto him that gave it first Hunrick b'ing dead succeeding Gundabund Twice six years tyranniz'd mild Thrasamund And Ild'rick ruled well But in conclusion Bell'zarius brought the Vandals to confusion After they ninety years had been a rod To scourge the Saints and Israel of God THE Persecution of the Church Under the PAPACY SECT XX. The Persecution of the Waldenses which began Anno Christi 1160. WHen the black cloak of Popery was hurl'd Upon the shoulders of the christian world The saints still labour'd to dispel away Those shades Cimmerian and reveal the day With truth's bright lustre and withall devest The Roman glory One among the rest A learn'd and godly man at Lions whose name Was Peter Valdo much oppos'd the same Declaring plainly Transubstantiation To be no better then an Innovation He mov'd the cred'lous people to embrace The precious offers of the means of grace They which unto his Doctrine gave respect From him were called the Waldensian Sect Which like a Snow-ball rowling down a hill Decreased nothing but increased still Though ev'ry day and hour the Martyrs bleed Yet is the Martyrs blood the Churches seed This her'sy in a thousand Citys swarms Maintaining seventy thousand men of arms Nor could the popish Canons Constitutions Curses Decrees alter their resolutions To suffer wrong in body goods or name For Christ his sake was counted not a shame Valdo yet still proceeds nor can he hope Long life to publish to the world the Pope Is Antichrist the Mass abominable The Host an Idol Purgator ' a fable Pope Innocent the third did authorize Monkish Inquisitors for to surprize These Her'ticks as he call'd them by process That so the sec'lar power might them suppress Is any rich the inquis'cors had a trick To make him poor Oh he 's an Heretick Let him have such a death no power controul'd Or curb'd them in but what they would they would If any water or a pad of straw Gave to the Saints he was condemn'd by law If any advocate assaid to plead His kinsmans cause an Action indeed And if an Heir his father that way leans And that 's enough to rob him of his means Nay for to keep the people in more aw They prisoners do in their processions draw Triumphantly injoyning them to vex And scourge themselves with ropes about their necks A torch in either hand others along Must pass to terrify the gazing throng Besides all these they have a thousand Querks They send cut some to fight against the Turks And Infidels no need to seek for heires Their houses goods and chattels all are theirs At their return if any ask'd their wives VVho lay with them They ' ndangered their lives The foes confess'd they had not wherewithall To build up prisons for th' accused all And yet for all this persecution there Above eight hundred thousand Christians were The faith encreas'd and with a prosp'rous gale Clim'd o're the Alps came to Pragela's vale From thence the people bordered upon St. Martin Piedmont La Perouse Angrogne Wander there did innumerable flocks Upon the craggy cliffs and algid rocks Above three thousand being hid in caves VVere stifled by these marble-hearted slaves The poor Waldenses by their pray'rs and tears Oft mov'd the Lord to free them from their fears Two horsemen flying cry'd They come they come Another while the beating of a drum Caused their foes retreat which stones and slings They thousands kill'd at several skirmishings Thus God for his despised Saints did fight A handful putting num'rous foes to flight But when the godless party overcame They did commit their captives to the flame Or hang'd them up or cut them out in quarters All which discourag'd not the glorious Martyrs Through the industrious Waldenses toil Abundant store of Corn and VVine and Oil Enrich'd Calabria And God did bless Their pains in Provence with the like success At last when freely they the Gospels worth Began to publish Pope Pins the fourth Disturbing them they left behinde their goods VVith wives and children flying into th' woods But were pursu'd some slain and others wounded Some famine-pined souls in caves were found dead And they that were of St. Xist and la Garde VVere rack'd strip'd whip'd nor old nor young was Panza slays eighty and stakes up their joynts spar'd For thirty miles together he appoints A quarter to each stake Merindol Town VVas razed by Opede and batter'd down The Cabrierians brought into a field VVere hack'd to pieces cause they would not yield And in a barn replenished with straw VVomen were fir'd Opede himself did draw Young Infants from their mothers â—ip'd-up bellies His men kill'd them of Aix and Marseilles Some two and two together bound they slew And boots of scalding oil O cruell drew On others legs But heav'n at last decreed A woful end to that accurs'd Opede The Waldenses which into Albs came Of Albigenses thence receiv'd the name